Bento Box Bash at the Bastion

Okay, I guess it wasn't exactly a bash. But the two out of eight of us who ordered bento boxes during the company lunch felt we'd chosen best. Before I tell you why, did you know, those of you who live in or near Nanaimo, that Minnoz (the restaurant/bar at the Coast Bastion Inn) has a daily bento box special? Well, now you do.

So onto the delicious details. The bento box is like a food adventure -- in each little compartment you get to discover a different taste sensation: here a little sushi, there a little tempura and everywhere wasabi and pickled ginger to spice things up. Yum! And each daily bento box at the Bastion comes with something a little bit different -- one day it might be a spicy tuna roll and ginger beef, the next a california roll and lemon chicken. And yes, if your colleagues like to have their adventures well away from the restaurant table there is more traditional fare -- like a bacon, brie chicken sandwich (gluten-free bread available if you want) and of course, fries.

Location: 11 Bastion Street, Nanaimo, BC
Price: lunches, $9-$15 

Walking (and Spelunking and Snowshoeing) in a West Coast Winter Wonderland

A foggy walk through Nanaimo's Swy-a-lana. www.bradpowellphoto.com

The beautiful thing about west coast winters is the dramatic weather. One day there’s a foot of snow; the next a torrential downpour; and then a day of bright sunshine and blue skies. But, the best part is the thermometer rarely dips to the “frozen wasteland” temperatures that most of our compatriots have to deal with. And that’s why, even when there’s snow on the ground, we still get to go outside and play. One of my favourite Vancouver Island ways to do that is bundling up and going on a leaf-crunching walk through the plethora of city and wilderness trails that criss-cross the island. 

My favourite Vancouver Island city walk is along the Nanaimo harbourfront. It doesn’t have the grandiose views of Victoria’s Harbour, with the Empress Hotel and Parliament Buildings, but I’m happier with the unimpeded views across the Strait of Georgia to the sky-scraping North Shore Mountains (or a cosy stroll through foggy winter mornings), as well as the delicious hot chocolate at the marina-side Javawocky Café.   

Head just north of Nanaimo and you’ll discover a plethora of trails between Parksville and Qualicum Beach. You can follow them through old growth forests, by stunning waterfalls, and across rolling rivers where, if you’re lucky, you’ll catch site of the resident eagles swooping in to pick up dinner – even during the winter.

If you’re afraid of small cramped spaces, oh, and the dark, the next hike may not be up your alley. But if you’re up for it then spelunking through the caves at Horne Lake might be just your thing. Be prepared though – this trip isn’t called wet and wild for nothing.

And then there’s Mount Washington and Strathcona Park. Sure you can ski in both places but why not try something a little different (and cheaper) like strapping on the light-weight modern day version of the snowshoe and literally trekking through a winter wonderland. Mount Washington hastrails mapped out for you; the more adventurous can bushwhack through the pristine wilderness of BC’s oldest provincial park – 250,000 hectares of pristine wilderness to be exact.

Photo Credit: www.bradpowellphoto.com

Girls' and Boys' Toys

A girl (in her blue jeans, blue shirt, and blue shoes) and her Lego.

Last Sunday I had the displeasure of going into Toys 'R' Us to buy a birthday present for my son’s friend. Usually I avoid this store at all costs. As a dear friend described, the store makes one itchy, with its sky-high piles of televisions and pop star branded toys. Unfortunately, it was the only store in town to have this particular toy. After my experience though, I will never step foot into it again. Here is the conversation I had with a staff member: 
Me: "Do you have BeyBlades?"
Staff member: "Yes. Those are in the boys’ toy section."
Me (now looking aghast at said staff member): "Gasp. Boys’ toy section? You have a ‘boys’ toy section’? Oh…never mind."
With that I marched off to find out which toys this massive retailer has deemed suitable only for the boys among us. It was filled with Transformers (which I loved as a child), Lego (ditto) and yes, BeyBlades (no comment, as I’d never heard of such a thing till this weekend). The girls’ toy section was so blindingly pink I had to shield my eyes as I walked by, but I caught glimpses of Barbies, dolls and Hannah Montana. 
Now, as the mother of a son I’m fully aware boys and girls are different, and not just physically. But do we need a major toy retailer deciding whether a toy is suitable for girls or boys? 
What’s next? A ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ section in the bookstores? 
Children and their parents are the ones to decide if a toy is suitable based on their family values, not on gender. 
If a girl fancies the newest action figure, or a boy wants to play with Barbie, then no one, especially not a massive corporation, should be sending any other message than “that’s okay.”

Happy Robbie Burns Day! Bring on the Haggis

It's Robbie Burns Day tomorrow. Anyone up for Haggis at Mclean's Specialty Foods? Remember, if Haggis isn't your thing, Mclean's has one of the most amazing cheese selections this side of France.

Discover One of Nanaimo's Hidden Restaurants

Hidden at the end of a long hallway behind Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) bustling cafeteria is a place you can enjoy a gourmet three-course-meal for a fraction of the cost accompanied by a million dollar view of Georgia Strait and the North Shore mountains. What? You’ve never heard of VIU’s Discovery Room restaurant? Not to worry – neither had I until I started working at the university. But I'm here to tell you it's not one to miss.

We were greeted at the non-descript door by a very helpful Hospitality student who took our coats and led us to our window-side table. During the course of the meal we had two students fussing over us, filling up our water even before we asked and consistently checking in just to make sure all was well.

A complimentary amuse bouche (I love that this phrase literally translates as 'mouth amuser') started us off and then we were asked to chose from a selection of appys and mains. I chose a New England Clam Chowder swimming with veggies and clams and just the right consistency. My lunch partner had a delicate dish of wasabi and sesame crusted Albacore tuna -- seared just right. We both chose lamb medallions for our main and they were presented on a bed of mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables with a delicious red wine sauce reduction. 

And for dessert? Profiteroles

Best of all the bill didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth because this gourmet food is prepared by VIU’s stellar chefs-in-training so at the Discovery Room it costs a fraction of the price these chefs will be charging once they graduate. What a treat!

Location: 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada V9R 5S5

Price:$10-$15

Slurping up International Flavours at Atlas Cafe

Heading up island this weekend? Then you should pay a visit to the Atlas Café in Courtenay and treat your taste buds to some international flavours. Although our server seemed a little distracted (perhaps Santa didn’t bring him what he wanted), the food more than made up for it.

Check out these mussels – direct from the waters of Saltspring Island, they were some of the plumpest, most flavourful crustaceans I’ve had the pleasure of slurping up in a long time.

My companions decided they needed to warm up with some Mexican flavours and indulged in a massive baked burrito – good thing we were heading up to Mount Washington for cross-country skiing the next day.

If you’re not into Mexico (although how could you not be?) then the menu features flavours from around the world with nods to Japanese, Morroccan and Italian cuisines. And yes, there are even burgers for those who don't went to venture to far afield in the culinary world. Best of all , much of it is made with ingredients sourced right here on Vancouver Island. Happy island weekend!

Location: 250 6th Street, Courtenay, BC
250.338.9838

Price: Dinner entrees from $12-$25

Yoga isn't bad for your body -- you are!

     The yoga world is in a twist this week after this New YorkTimes article suggested yoga can be harmful to your body. Of course like any headline making story it just focused on all the bad stuff listing a huge array of injuries people had suffered in the pursuit of yoga.

      Can yoga wreck your body? Nope. But you can wreck it doing yoga. That’s right – like everything it’s your responsibility to say “Um, I’m sorry, but I really, really can’t wrap my leg around my neck this morning and seriously, I have no desire to do that.” If your teacher insists you do it, leave the class and find a new teacher.

       Personally I think the crux of the problem is most of us are either too scared or too competitive to admit we can’t do something AND most of us (unlike dedicated yoginis) do not have the time to practice three hours a day and create a body capable of bending into knots, or doing full headstand for five minutes.

        So when we’re in class and our gorgeous yoga teacher (who does practice three hours a day) bends over backwards we think, “If I just push a little harder I can do that, too.” Of course, what we should be thinking is, “OMG, if I do that I’m gonna pop a disc.”

         If you want to keep enjoying yoga then find a teacher who truly means it when she says “listen to your body” (Nanaimoites can head to Steph's class at OmTown yoga). And when your body is screaming ‘dear god stop’ then, stop.