Archive for August 2009
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(Photos: L to R - The Ginger Ninjas playing, Emila making the power for the music and the other power making bikes)
I had no idea where I was going to on Saturday afternoon, except that it involved bike riding and music.
My flatmate Veronica had me kitted out with a bike and helmet and off we went cycling down the seawall to the Vancouver Museum for the Bike Music Festival. When we got there I was literally stuck in a bike jam with every kind of bike known to man. Some bikes had prams attached to them, others with trailers and a few very special bikes decorated with flowers.
The festival showcased groups of musicians who had cycled from San Francisco up the coast holding free concerts fully powered by pedal power. No electricity was used to power the PA for the electric guitars, mics or drums and man was there some volume!
The Ginger Ninjas had the whole crowd jumping while our friend Emila volunteered to cycle one of the power bikes to keep the music flowing. They are the only music festival in the world to be literally hauling their own weight carrying all their instruments and equipment by bike. Read more about their trip here.
It blew me away how great the music was, accompanied by a gorgeous backdrop of the Vancouver city skyline and not an ounce of electricity used, it certainly made me happy to be using my own pedal power to bike my way home.
Making Music with Pedal Power
Full View
Labels:
Bike Music Festival,
bikes,
seawall,
The Ginger Ninjas,
Vancouver,
Vancouver Museum
..........
...........(Photos: L to R - The Ginger Ninjas playing, Emila making the power for the music and the other power making bikes)
I had no idea where I was going to on Saturday afternoon, except that it involved bike riding and music.
My flatmate Veronica had me kitted out with a bike and helmet and off we went cycling down the seawall to the Vancouver Museum for the Bike Music Festival. When we got there I was literally stuck in a bike jam with every kind of bike known to man. Some bikes had prams attached to them, others with trailers and a few very special bikes decorated with flowers.
The festival showcased groups of musicians who had cycled from San Francisco up the coast holding free concerts fully powered by pedal power. No electricity was used to power the PA for the electric guitars, mics or drums and man was there some volume!
The Ginger Ninjas had the whole crowd jumping while our friend Emila volunteered to cycle one of the power bikes to keep the music flowing. They are the only music festival in the world to be literally hauling their own weight carrying all their instruments and equipment by bike. Read more about their trip here.
It blew me away how great the music was, accompanied by a gorgeous backdrop of the Vancouver city skyline and not an ounce of electricity used, it certainly made me happy to be using my own pedal power to bike my way home.
I'll be honest. I had no idea who Julia Child was...I had never made one of her recipes or eaten any of her food, but I love to cook, love to eat and love wine so really how could I not like the new film Julie and Julia?
When I asked one of my workmates who Julia Child was, he replied with a loud, drawn out voice "hello"! He also believes that with each glass of wine she used in her cooking she would drink the same amount. So with only this knowledge I went to see the new film directed by veteran romance comedy writer-director Nora Ephron.
The film follows Julia Child's rise to cooking fame from her days of living in Paris and learning how to cook French cuisine. Played by the faultless Meryl Streep, the character driven script gives way to Julie a 30 year old failed writer who decides to cook a recipe a day from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and blogging about each recipe and her life as it unfolds.
Amy Adams plays the role of Julie Powell and does well to draw you into her want to cook to perfection, but in all honesty I was waiting out to see more of Meryl Streep the minute they story would cross back to Julie's blogging! With Streep's pizazz and attention to detail the films two story lines meld well together but leave you with a few unanswered questions at the end.
Of course the film makes you hungry, exhibiting some very fine French cuisine and red wine...so much red wine! I think the best reaction to the film was from my fellow movie goer (keep in mind she was the Pastry Chef amongst us) who summed up her thoughts on the film in one sentence "I just want to move to Paris and smoke cigarettes," and that's pretty much what the film does - makes you fall in love with Paris, food and red wine!
Julie and Julia = Smoking, Red Wine and Food...
Full View
Labels:
French Cusine,
Julia Childs,
Julie Powell,
Paris,
Red Wine
I'll be honest. I had no idea who Julia Child was...I had never made one of her recipes or eaten any of her food, but I love to cook, love to eat and love wine so really how could I not like the new film Julie and Julia?
When I asked one of my workmates who Julia Child was, he replied with a loud, drawn out voice "hello"! He also believes that with each glass of wine she used in her cooking she would drink the same amount. So with only this knowledge I went to see the new film directed by veteran romance comedy writer-director Nora Ephron.
The film follows Julia Child's rise to cooking fame from her days of living in Paris and learning how to cook French cuisine. Played by the faultless Meryl Streep, the character driven script gives way to Julie a 30 year old failed writer who decides to cook a recipe a day from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and blogging about each recipe and her life as it unfolds.
Amy Adams plays the role of Julie Powell and does well to draw you into her want to cook to perfection, but in all honesty I was waiting out to see more of Meryl Streep the minute they story would cross back to Julie's blogging! With Streep's pizazz and attention to detail the films two story lines meld well together but leave you with a few unanswered questions at the end.
Of course the film makes you hungry, exhibiting some very fine French cuisine and red wine...so much red wine! I think the best reaction to the film was from my fellow movie goer (keep in mind she was the Pastry Chef amongst us) who summed up her thoughts on the film in one sentence "I just want to move to Paris and smoke cigarettes," and that's pretty much what the film does - makes you fall in love with Paris, food and red wine!
When I agreed to go and see Shaun of the Dead at IMAX I didn't expect to be honouring one of the world's most famous dances... Thriller!
I remember seeing the Thriller film clip for the first time as a kid - I would have been all of four or five years old and it scared the beejiibers out of me! I couldn't sleep for days and I kept seeing zombies rising out of the carpet of my bedroom floor.
Twenty years later and I have to admit, learning the Thriller dance is more fun then watching the famous film clip. At first I was a little timid. my zombie walk was not so zombie like, and my shoulder tap, so scary but once I heard the music start there was no stopping me.
Rachael my Thriller wing man was just as excited about learning the dance (see clip below), so much so that we've decided to enter Vancouver's Thrill The World Day on the 24th October which will see all of Vancouver lining up to do the dance in the same place at the same time to raise money for the Vancouver Food Bank.
Just remember if you're trying to give it a go try reciting the following... step, nothing, step, shoulder, shoulder step shoulder step...it doesn't help that much, but once you hear the music MJ will show you the way.
N.B - Sorry for the side on view - was trying to dance and film at the same time!
Learning to Dance THE Thriller...
Full View
Labels:
Dance,
Michael Jackson,
Thriller,
Vancouver Science World
When I agreed to go and see Shaun of the Dead at IMAX I didn't expect to be honouring one of the world's most famous dances... Thriller!
I remember seeing the Thriller film clip for the first time as a kid - I would have been all of four or five years old and it scared the beejiibers out of me! I couldn't sleep for days and I kept seeing zombies rising out of the carpet of my bedroom floor.
Twenty years later and I have to admit, learning the Thriller dance is more fun then watching the famous film clip. At first I was a little timid. my zombie walk was not so zombie like, and my shoulder tap, so scary but once I heard the music start there was no stopping me.
Rachael my Thriller wing man was just as excited about learning the dance (see clip below), so much so that we've decided to enter Vancouver's Thrill The World Day on the 24th October which will see all of Vancouver lining up to do the dance in the same place at the same time to raise money for the Vancouver Food Bank.
Just remember if you're trying to give it a go try reciting the following... step, nothing, step, shoulder, shoulder step shoulder step...it doesn't help that much, but once you hear the music MJ will show you the way.
N.B - Sorry for the side on view - was trying to dance and film at the same time!
(Photos: L -Veronica & I eating Taiwanese Car Wheel Cakes, R-Market stall)
(Photos: Above- L to R: Pastry Chef making the Taiwanese Car Wheel Cakes, Below- underwear for sale with food stalls in the background & Veronica eating dumplings!)
Ever since I arrived in Vancouver in January, one of the number one things on 'my list' to do was to go to the Summer Night Markets in Richmond. I sat patiently through days of rain in Winter, enjoyed seeing the sun come out in Spring and now with Summer all but nearly over I finally got to experience the food and atmosphere of the famous markets.
No trip with three girls in a co-op car can really go right from the start can it? With a Brit who hadn't driven in awhile, a Canadian who sort of remembered where to go and a whinny Australian who wanted to eat, the trip from downtown Vancouver wasn't to be a simple one! But with no Thom Thom, no directions and two hours of driving around (and multiple stops!) we arrived at one of Canada's biggest night markets.
I had been told by Veronica (the Canadian) that this was THE place for Chinese food and also cheap underwear! What more could you want from a market really?
Despite arriving at 11pm and only having an hour to feast on all the delights we certainly made the most of it. Veronica steered us first to the dim sum and chow mien stalls that had mountains of noodles fried and ready for eating! Each stall was yelling in multiple languages about what they had to offer and why there place was better than the stall next door - which would look exactly the same and be offering the same food.
As usual though my eyes were already set on dessert...there was bubble teas, ice-creams, crepes, cookies, but one of the most fascinating stalls to watch was the Taiwanese Cakes or Car Wheels. Essentially a waffle with different oozing centres such as Nutella, custard or fruit, all wrapped and cooked fresh on the spot. The pastry makers had huge custom cut irons which were kept constantly hot while batter was poured and centres added. They were churning out more than 15 a minute, all with a cool calm tone to serve the hungry crowds.
I was in heaven and I should admit to running back just before close to try the same cakes but made at a different stall in the shape of fish! (see photo above)
Food aside, jewellery, knock off bags, socks, underwear, orchards and even animated shirts that had small screens which moved to the beat of a song (see video below) where all lined up neatly, line after line making it possible to buy just about anything.
Personally I think it was good thing we arrived with only an hour before the markets closed, because I certainly put on 1-2kgs in less than 60 minutes! The Richmond Summer Night markets are a must for any foodie, just make sure you wear your elasticised pants. Oh and ladies don't forget if you're looking for a cheap pair of lacy red underwear you can get that too!
So Much Food So Little Time!
Full View
Labels:
chinese food,
food,
General Motors Place Vancouver,
markets,
Richmond
(Photos: L -Veronica & I eating Taiwanese Car Wheel Cakes, R-Market stall)
(Photos: Above- L to R: Pastry Chef making the Taiwanese Car Wheel Cakes, Below- underwear for sale with food stalls in the background & Veronica eating dumplings!)
Ever since I arrived in Vancouver in January, one of the number one things on 'my list' to do was to go to the Summer Night Markets in Richmond. I sat patiently through days of rain in Winter, enjoyed seeing the sun come out in Spring and now with Summer all but nearly over I finally got to experience the food and atmosphere of the famous markets.
No trip with three girls in a co-op car can really go right from the start can it? With a Brit who hadn't driven in awhile, a Canadian who sort of remembered where to go and a whinny Australian who wanted to eat, the trip from downtown Vancouver wasn't to be a simple one! But with no Thom Thom, no directions and two hours of driving around (and multiple stops!) we arrived at one of Canada's biggest night markets.
I had been told by Veronica (the Canadian) that this was THE place for Chinese food and also cheap underwear! What more could you want from a market really?
Despite arriving at 11pm and only having an hour to feast on all the delights we certainly made the most of it. Veronica steered us first to the dim sum and chow mien stalls that had mountains of noodles fried and ready for eating! Each stall was yelling in multiple languages about what they had to offer and why there place was better than the stall next door - which would look exactly the same and be offering the same food.
As usual though my eyes were already set on dessert...there was bubble teas, ice-creams, crepes, cookies, but one of the most fascinating stalls to watch was the Taiwanese Cakes or Car Wheels. Essentially a waffle with different oozing centres such as Nutella, custard or fruit, all wrapped and cooked fresh on the spot. The pastry makers had huge custom cut irons which were kept constantly hot while batter was poured and centres added. They were churning out more than 15 a minute, all with a cool calm tone to serve the hungry crowds.
I was in heaven and I should admit to running back just before close to try the same cakes but made at a different stall in the shape of fish! (see photo above)
Food aside, jewellery, knock off bags, socks, underwear, orchards and even animated shirts that had small screens which moved to the beat of a song (see video below) where all lined up neatly, line after line making it possible to buy just about anything.
Personally I think it was good thing we arrived with only an hour before the markets closed, because I certainly put on 1-2kgs in less than 60 minutes! The Richmond Summer Night markets are a must for any foodie, just make sure you wear your elasticised pants. Oh and ladies don't forget if you're looking for a cheap pair of lacy red underwear you can get that too!
Firstly I'm not a big fan of stadium gigs - the lack of intimacy, big crowds and long drink lines usually spoil it for me. Although all were present at General Motors Place for Kings of Leon (KOL) on Sunday night, their encore made their second show in Vancouver worth the stadium setting.
Opening right on 8:50pm, the three brothers and their cousin played a solid ninety minutes catering very much for their North American crowd who were really only familiar with their current album Only By the Night.
For the old school fans like myself, Fans mid way through the set was a definite highlight with glaringly bright blue lights and a tempo change that brought down the house.
Even though lead singer Caleb Followill did admit he was a bad public speaker, his on-stage banter was all over the place, telling the crowd about his days of construction and how his boss expected to see him back after he resigned to play music in Nashville. Followill then launched into an apology to all the men in the audience who were obviously 'dragged by their girlfriends' to the gig?!?
Despite the disjointed chit chat, Followill's singing voice was strong considering the band has been on the road for over a year. It may have been the tequila he sprouted about drinking the night before (and on stage) that has kept his vocal chords in check!
The encore bought the gig to a loud sing-a-long end with Knocked Up, Slow Night So Long, Manhattan and Black Thumbnail all showing that the boys from Nashville may be more popular than ever but can still leave an old fan happy and content.
Kings of Leon's Night of Sing-A-Long!
Full View
Labels:
General Motors Place Vancouver,
gig reviews,
Kings of Leon,
music
Firstly I'm not a big fan of stadium gigs - the lack of intimacy, big crowds and long drink lines usually spoil it for me. Although all were present at General Motors Place for Kings of Leon (KOL) on Sunday night, their encore made their second show in Vancouver worth the stadium setting.
Opening right on 8:50pm, the three brothers and their cousin played a solid ninety minutes catering very much for their North American crowd who were really only familiar with their current album Only By the Night.
For the old school fans like myself, Fans mid way through the set was a definite highlight with glaringly bright blue lights and a tempo change that brought down the house.
Even though lead singer Caleb Followill did admit he was a bad public speaker, his on-stage banter was all over the place, telling the crowd about his days of construction and how his boss expected to see him back after he resigned to play music in Nashville. Followill then launched into an apology to all the men in the audience who were obviously 'dragged by their girlfriends' to the gig?!?
Despite the disjointed chit chat, Followill's singing voice was strong considering the band has been on the road for over a year. It may have been the tequila he sprouted about drinking the night before (and on stage) that has kept his vocal chords in check!
The encore bought the gig to a loud sing-a-long end with Knocked Up, Slow Night So Long, Manhattan and Black Thumbnail all showing that the boys from Nashville may be more popular than ever but can still leave an old fan happy and content.
A spice that I've noticed is added to nearly everything in Canada ended up making one of my favourite classic Spanish drinks better than any I had ever tasted in Spain.
Having tried sangria in Granada, Spain last year, I thought I had tasted the best Spain had to offer but apparently it was missing a vital and very Canadian ingredient.
Lucky for me, when your house mate's boyfriend is visiting from Spain, you get nothing short of the best sangria made to man!
I was eager to help in the preparation process, so I peeled and chopped pieces of fruit in the hopes that 'more hands would make fast work'...and being the stereotypical Aussie I thought 'the quicker we work the quicker we drink!'
Yet as most Spanish people see fit, it's about relaxing and appreciating the time it takes for the drink to be just right, so the red wine was poured over the fruit, allowing it to soak in the flavours of the red wine.
Two hours later and the jugs of sangria were topped with lemonade and the secret ingredient that made this sangria the best I have ever tasted...CINNAMON!
If it's getting hot at your place or if you're feeling like a slice of Spain - add a little Canadian flavour to your next sangria and I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised!
Nacho's Sangria Recipe - Canadian Style
1. Peel and cut 2 pieces of the following fruit- Apple- Oranges- Bananas- Mangoes
2. Let the fruit soak for a minimum of two hours in a dry red wine - chill in the fridge.
3. Top with lemonade and add a sprinkle of cinnamon, stir and enjoy!
**Nacho believes that if you make two jugs of sangria at a time there is always one better than the other
(Photo: Nacho left - Kade our fellow taste tester right)
The Secret to Perfect Sangria - Que Rico!
Full View
Labels:
drinks,
recipes,
sangria,
Spain,
summer
A spice that I've noticed is added to nearly everything in Canada ended up making one of my favourite classic Spanish drinks better than any I had ever tasted in Spain.
Having tried sangria in Granada, Spain last year, I thought I had tasted the best Spain had to offer but apparently it was missing a vital and very Canadian ingredient.
Lucky for me, when your house mate's boyfriend is visiting from Spain, you get nothing short of the best sangria made to man!
I was eager to help in the preparation process, so I peeled and chopped pieces of fruit in the hopes that 'more hands would make fast work'...and being the stereotypical Aussie I thought 'the quicker we work the quicker we drink!'
Yet as most Spanish people see fit, it's about relaxing and appreciating the time it takes for the drink to be just right, so the red wine was poured over the fruit, allowing it to soak in the flavours of the red wine.
Two hours later and the jugs of sangria were topped with lemonade and the secret ingredient that made this sangria the best I have ever tasted...CINNAMON!
If it's getting hot at your place or if you're feeling like a slice of Spain - add a little Canadian flavour to your next sangria and I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised!
Nacho's Sangria Recipe - Canadian Style
1. Peel and cut 2 pieces of the following fruit
- Apple
- Oranges
- Bananas
- Mangoes
2. Let the fruit soak for a minimum of two hours in a dry red wine - chill in the fridge.
3. Top with lemonade and add a sprinkle of cinnamon, stir and enjoy!
**Nacho believes that if you make two jugs of sangria at a time there is always one better than the other
(Photo: Nacho left - Kade our fellow taste tester right)
