I ♥ VANCOUVER

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games are now underway in Vancouver, so I thought I'd pay tribute to my beautiful hometown by sharing some of my favorite places, activities and things to eat...

GRANVILLE ISLAND PUBLIC MARKET
FOODIE HEAVEN. Pick up a warm honey dip donut from Lee's Donuts. Indulge in some chocolate walnut rugolach from Siegel's Bagels. Build-your-own picnic with charcuterie from artisanal sausage-maker Oyama Sausage. Grab a piece of blueberry white chocolate foccacia at Terra Breads. And lastly, stop in at Edible BC's retail store for locally made gourmet souvenirs to take home (super friendly staff too).




ZIPTREK ECOTOURS
During our last trip to Whistler, I somehow managed to convince Kris to go ziplining with me on Ziptrek's Bear Tour ("It's totally safe, honey!")

But I may have neglected to mention that the longest zipline we'd be doing was 1100 feet long. Or that the last zipline was done hanging upside down! And I might have forgotten to tell him that there was a tiny possibility that you could get stuck while ziplining. Sure enough, poor Kris actually got stuck on the zipline and had to hang suspended 100 feet in the air for several minutes while waiting for rescue! And yes, we got it all on video (Kris getting stuck at 1:10, Phyllis zipping upside down at 3:21):



Mixed in with the adventure is also a educational component - during the 3 hour tour, guides discuss sustainability and minimizing our environmental impact. We also got a exciting sneak peak of the Whistler Sliding Centre (bobsled/skeleton/luge) during the ride up to the old growth forest. If you haven't tried ziplining before, the Ziptrek Bear tour is a great beginner experience. And despite getting stuck, Kris has agreed to do the more exciting (and steeper) Eagle tour with me the next time around!

For a limited time (during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games) zipline for FREE in Robson Square!


NANAIMO BAR
This popular Canadian no-bake dessert hails from Nanaimo, BC (approx 2 hr ferry ride from Vancouver). Basically layers of butter upon butter, what's not to like? I made these for Thanksgiving last year, recipe here.



ALL DRESSED POTATO CHIPS
Why is this flavor only available in Canada? Tangy, savory blend of spices, with a hint of sweetness, my favorite potato chip flavor of all time. I pack as many bags as I can fit in my carry-on whenever I visit Canada!



VANILLA FUDGE CLODHOPPERS
They're not kidding when they say these vanilla fudge graham wafer clusters are 'highly addictive'. Before I found out they carry them at Dylan's Candy Bar in NYC, I actually thought about ordering a giant case from Canada.



POUTINE
How much do I love poutine? Enough to eat 12 poutines in 12 days last year. And although the cheese curds aren't as squeaky and fresh as what you'd find in Quebec, you can still find some decent versions of poutine in Vancouver. My favorite last year was from Brado Pizza:



QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK
Amazing views, gorgeous 'sunken' Quarry Gardens, the Bloedel Floral Conservatory, and years of family picnics and wonderful memories at Queen Elizabeth Park.

Can you believe it took me over 25 years to finally go inside the Bloedel Conservatory? But it's become one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in town. The conservatory is home to exotic plants and tropical flowers...

and a hundred species of colorful birds...

Worth the $5 admission just to see long-time resident Charlie the cockatoo ham it up for the camera:



Sadly, the Bloedel Conservatory is currently facing closure due to budget cuts. Visit while you still can. You can also help save the conservatory at www.friendsofthebloedel.ca


TROUT LAKE FARMERS MARKET
A weekly farmer's market located at pretty Trout Lake, where you'll find local organic produce (gorgeous heirloom tomatoes, chive flowers, stinging nettle, exotic mushrooms, fresh herbs etc), freshly baked goods, specialty foods, local honey and cheese, fresh seafood, seedlings/bulbs from herb farms and nurseries, local artisans, and a psychadelic purple crepe truck.



We loved the honey almond nougat from local candymaker Kalley Kandy:



JAPADOG
Kurobuta pork terimayo dog!



RICHMOND SUMMER NIGHT MARKET
Late night nibbles at this Asian night market, running from May thru Oct annually. Read more here.



POLENTA FRIES AT CASCADE
A big thanks to our friend Ly for introducing us to Cascade and these fabulous polenta fries - crispy perfection on the outside, creamy deliciousness inside, served with an addictive curry mayo dip.



THOMAS HAAS CHOCOLATES
Best chocolates EVER. Read more about truffles, almond croissants and chocolate sparkle cookies here.



STANLEY PARK
Vancouver’s first and most famous park, bordering downtown Vancouver, a thousand acres of evergreen parkland surrounded by a 5.5 mile circular seawall where you can walk, bike, or rollerblade to your heart’s content.

I was lucky enough to live a block away from this lush urban oasis and would jog the seawall every Saturday morning. In 2006, my heart ached when I heard about the devastating windstorm that knocked down thousands of trees, some of them hundreds of years old. A massive restoration effort (funded by donations) resulted in the planting of 16,000 trees in the damaged areas over the next 2 years. We visit Stanley Park every time we're in town. Don't miss it.



VANCOUVER AQUARIUM
Adorable otters and smiley beluga whales :)




SPOT PRAWNS
Sustainably harvested from BC waters, spot prawns are the sweetest prawns you'll ever eat. We timed our visit last year to coincide with Vancouver's 3rd Annual Spot Prawn Festival, allowing us to indulge in spot prawns over a dozen times!

Freshly caught beauties from fisherman Steve Johansen (Organic Ocean at False Creek Fisherman's Wharf):



GO FISH!
A fish shack located in False Creek Fisherman's Wharf, only steps from Granville Island.

Selection changes daily based on what's fresh. Best fish 'n' chips in town (fish tacones aren't bad either). Expect a huge line-up!



ENGLISH BAY



YUCCA FRIES FROM RINCONCITO SALVADORENA
I came here for pupusas after seeing them featured in Vancouver Magazine's Best Things to Eat & Drink 2008 but ended up falling in love with the yucca fries (served with crispy pork bits):



JERICHO BEACH



SAUSAGE ROLL
When I first moved to New York, I assumed that sausage rolls would be as ubiquitous as they were in Vancouver. Well I was wrong. Now I almost get heart palpitations whenever I spot one.



BANH MI (VIETNAMESE SANDWICHES)
I grew up eating sandwiches from Ba Le, but found a new favorite at Tung Hing during last year's banh mi roundup.



CARMELITAS FROM CHOCOLATE ARTS
My thoughtful friend Liz always gives me a box of Chocolate Arts whenever we see each other. My favorite is the carmelita, soft buttery caramel oozing from a dark chocolate shell:


Hungry for more? Checkout Vancouver Magazine's annual feature, Best Things to Eat & Drink in Vancouver.

I ♥ VANCOUVER

Santa got run over by a reindeer?!

No. But he did encounter some unexpected turbulence on his long flight from Vancouver.

This chocolate art sculpture by Thomas Haas (my favorite chocolatier!) was a belated Christmas gift from my good friend Liz. Despite a valiant effort from Liz to keep Santa safe during his flight, he still sustained several injuries along the way.

Poor Santa. But nothing I couldn't fix with some melted chocolate and a tube of white icing.


Well, I'm happy to say that Santa and his chocolate house have been restored to their former glory :)


Happy New Year!

Santa got run over by a reindeer?!

Thomas Haas Fine Chocolates & Patisserie

Have you heard of Thomas Haas yet? Perhaps you've seen him before on Martha Stewart, or maybe you remember him as the pastry chef at Daniel in NYC? Twilight fans will soon know him as the creator of Bella's birthday cake, appearing in the upcoming New Moon movie. Regardless of what you've heard, this award winning 4th generation pastry chef is sure to become one of your favorite chocolatiers!

During our trip to Vancouver last month, hubby Kris and I heard so much praise about Thomas Haas and his handmade chocolates, we decided to make a pilgrimage out to his patisserie in North Vancouver, oddly situated in an quiet industrial park on the northshore of Burrard Inlet (perhaps I'm being overly dramatic by using the word 'pilgrimage' - going to North Vancouver is not really that big of a deal, it's just across the bridge from downtown Vancouver).

Despite the busy lunch crowd (the patisserie also serves soup and sandwiches), we were lucky enough to find a parking space right in front:


Inside the patisserie (notice the gorgeous red damask-covered ceilings):


Some awards/accolades:


Handmade chocolates (a bargain at only $1.05 each):


Individual desserts ($5.25):


Hot chocolate (how cute is that heart on top?):


Goodies to take home (more about the award winning Chocolate Sparkle Cookies below):


We shared a double baked almond croissant ($3.75), #4 on Vancouver Magazine's 101 Things to Eat before you die:

Toasted almonds, buttery soft interior filled with melt-in-your-mouth marzipan:


A sampling of 6 handmade chocolates/truffles (made in small batches and preservative free):

These chocolates were some of the best we've ever tried (and my chocolate snob hubby has tried a LOT of 'designer' chocolate, usually at double the price). Our favorites out of this bunch were the green cardamom (hint of whisky warmed you up like a cup of Indian chai) and the lychee (dark chocolate ganache with a thin layer of fresh lychee).

Hey, isn't that Thomas Haas behind the counter?


Ever the gracious host, he came over to say hello, thrilled that we came all the way from New York to visit his patisserie:


And then to our surprise, he treated us to a piece of his Manjari Chocolate cake - layers of chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, and rum creme brulee, made with Valrhona Manjari dark chocolate (Madagascar):

Heaven!

A sampling of chocolates, selected by Thomas Haas (lemon thyme, hazelnut lemon zest, cocoa nib, and aztec):

Seriously amazing, flavors were so fresh, especially the lemon thyme.

And for Kris, a cafe mocha made with Valrhona Guanaja dark chocolate (South America):


Chef Haas even brought out some Valrhona couverture for us to try (Manjari and Guanaja):

Honestly, we just meant to stop in for a couple minutes, only to be treated to a chocolate feast! Thank you to Thomas Haas (who so humbly told me to write "anything I want" about his chocolates on my blog, "good or bad!") for making our visit so special.

So why hasn't such a celebrated chocolatier opened a shop in NYC or in other foodie meccas around the world? Because he's perfectly happy right where he is, enjoying the customer interaction that comes with an owner-managed business, with his lovely wife/co-owner Lisa behind the counter (I only realized later on that it was Lisa who helped us pick out chocolates when we first got there).

And for those who still refuse to make the trek out to North Vancouver, Thomas Haas will be opening his 2nd location this August in Vancouver, next to Daniel Boulud's Lumiere and DB Bistro Moderne!

You can also order Thomas Haas chocolates and cookies online, or find his creations at fine retailers throughout the Lower Mainland.

Thomas Haas Fine Chocolates & Patisserie
Unit 128, 998 Harbourside Drive
North Vancouver, BC V7P 3T2
(604) 924 -1847

Thomas Haas Chocolate Sparkle Cookies, the Best Cookie in the World?

A week prior to our visit to Thomas Haas, we stopped at Granville Island Public Market. As we strolled by Edible BC, I couldn't help but notice this sign:

Who could ignore a sign like this?

The cookies are sold frozen and need to stay frozen until baked. So we quickly paid for them (6 for $8.95), abandoned our plans for the next few hours and headed for our friend (and fellow chocoholic) Liz's house. Her toaster oven would do just fine.

Here they are before being baked:


After 12 minutes at 350 degrees F:


And 'dusted' with powdered sugar as per instructions (OK, more like slopped on, who has time to look for a sieve?) Check out the molten goodness:

Yum!

But is it the world's best cookie? Not exactly. Although delicious, they weren't very cookie-like, more like mini flourless chocolate cakes. But they certainly lived up to the claim on the packaging: "the only chocolate truffle in the world you can bake!" If I lived in Vancouver, I would always have these gourmet delights on hand in my freezer (perfect for last minute company). And good news for celiacs - these cookies are gluten-free! And if you don't live in Vancouver, order them online here. Or make them at home with this easy recipe.

Thomas Haas Fine Chocolates & Patisserie