South China Seas

Being an International foodie and spending most of my adult years living in Vancouver, Granville Island has always been a favourite market to do my weekly shopping.  
South China Seas is a little retail store located inside the Granville Island Market.
They sell Mexican, Indian, Chinese, and Thai ingredients.  All sorts of chiles, sauces, noodles, vegetables, etc.  I have been going there for the passed years to buy their big bags of corn tortillas made locally in Vancouver.  
It is also one of the places on the island that sell Poblano Chiles which I love to stuff and make Chile Relleno.
If I get super excited I also buy a little ball of Oaxaca queso for a treat:)
They sell tons of different lentils, Mexican dried Chiles (Ancho, Guajillo. Chipotle, Arbol) Nopales(cactus) fresh peppercorn, all sorts of mushrooms, french cilantro, key limes, a sorted Mexican hot sauce including Valentina and so on. 
If you head down to the island be sure to check these guys out, they often advertise cooking classes as well, which Im sure would be worth the experience.

http://southchinaseas.ca/Pages/retailstores.html

Akaroa, New Zealand

Akaroa is a little French inspired town situated on New Zealand's South Island only 75km from Christchurch. It was my favourite spot in New Zealand for its beautiful charm and warm kind locals. The French feel of the place made me want to stay. Akaroa sits on a beautiful bay where dolphins jump and fisherman play. There seems to be an artist feel to this village.  The often local markets and the outdoor patios along the water draws people in from all around the globe.


While working on the Cruise Ship we had a change of ports after Christchurch's last earthquake. It made it no longer possible for ships to come into port.  I am so grateful for the change as I did see Christchurch as well and it only saddens me to see it a beautiful place gutted like it has been.


Around the rolling green hills of Akaroa there are many sheep farms and I did a home visit to one and it was amazing.  We watched the farmer's Boarder Collie heard all the sheep down the hill, and also witnessed one sheep become very naked ;)

Many benches along the water side to sit and enjoy the lovely view of the bay. 

This gentleman still marches around like the French did when they founded Akaroa in 1838.  

The four empty paddle boats, a beautiful almost calming artistic touch in the bay as you arrive into Akaroa.

Jack herding his people.

A very naked sheep, and touching that wool was so much more oily then I thought.

One of my favourite pictures, the sheep relaxing under the
 New Zealand olive groves. 

The Little Bistro a very elegant little restaurant situated at the end of the main strip, excellent food and drinks.

Many hostels around, as Akaroa has a very backpackers feel.

The daily artisan market.

The Giants House, a beautiful masterpiece by an artist that has worked for 15 years building a beautiful garden full of Mosaic tile art throughout her whole yard.  I would compare her to the Gaudi of the South.  Her house an old Bank estate is filled with her abstract paintings and most elegant turkish rugs. Well worth walking up the hill to meet her and visit her magical museum.

http://www.thegiantshouse.co.nz/

Julio's Barrio

A friend mentioned beforehand visiting Edmonton that if it was sunny to make sure to check out Julio Barrio's patio and to have their famous Bulldog, and mentioned I would thank her later.. well I haven't yet but I will!
So we gathered some friends together on a sunny night and went to Julio's for a drink or two;)
Sangria was the Sunday special so most of us tried that. It was great Sangria for a Mexican place. 
Everyone switched over to the bulldog because mostly that is why people gather at Julios.
I went for the shot of Mezcal on ice since not very often do you see that in restaurants in Canada. When the waitress brought it around everyone looked at me like what a hardcore.  Well indeed I am a Mexican culanary prisoner. 
The waitress had to get the bartender to go look in the back for the Mezcal bottle, most people have no idea what Mezcal is.. and for that fact they are missing out! 
http://www.mezcal.com/


The decor was very Mexican and for that I felt just at home :)

                                               Sangria and Bulldog in background.

http://www.juliosbarrio.com/

Sabzy Persian Grill

Strolling Whyte Ave my friend and I were looking to locate a nice lunch spot. I am not picky at all, and love to taste the ethnicity in all cities.
We found a charming little Persian Cafe and as we walked in my eyes zeroed into the front window seat, a low table with with seats lined in beautiful persian rugs where you get comfortable with your shoes off:) 

 I was dying for a coffee and they so happened to have French Press my favourite, so instantly I ordered that to drink.

We decided to share the four dips with pita bread and Tyler got the chicken skewer and I got this amazing pear, apple lentil soup. Our server was very kind asked why on Earth I would leave the beautiful Okanagan to come to Alberta on the long weekend, so even the Albertans understand ;)

http://www.sabzy.net/

Three Boars Eatery

This May long weekend I made the trek East and North to visit a friend in good ol Alberta! 
Growing up in BC most of the Canadian flat lands are totally dissed.. we all know that the Albertans have all the money and all the BEEF! I decided to venture to Edmonton and it was quite the surprise! 
Very flat as one would of thought but being compared to growing up in the Okanagan Valley we are so use to being surrounded by big blue Mountains that you forget how big and beautiful the sky can be with nothing towering beside it.  I never managed to see one of their famous sunsets, but sure I will one day soon.  


I decided to check out a few blogs before hand to see their local Eateries and what Edmonton would have to offer.  I came across the Three Boars Eatery and thought it looked very relaxed and seemed to have quite a large beer list which is always a valuable sign :)

My friend touring me around had never heard of it, so I looked it up and one afternoon it so happened to be close to where we were shopping on Whyte Ave. 


I had a great beer that the waitress suggested the Phillips Hoperation it was a good hefty 8% and HUGE so made the walk home that much more enjoyable. Tyler had a spiced rum highball with rosewater :) A very inspiring place in Vancouver is East is East cafe. The Himalayan High drink with either frozen yogurt or ice cream with pistachio, mango, cardamon and rosewater! delightful.
(http://www.eastiseast.ca/)

It was very quite since we were just their for afterwork drinks which isn't so popular in Canada. It started picking up as we left, because its such a small place I imagine their can be a wait at busy times. I would of liked to go back to try some of their tapas or food items. They only use seasonal local ingredients which their menu changes weekly which makes life all that more interesting:)

                     http://www.threeboars.ca/

Dockside Hotel

Dockside located on Granville Island.  The finest of the patio's in Vancouver.  Hidden off of the beaten track on the island.  It faces east towards the beautiful Science World and the harbour.  These guys brew their own in house beer, try their Hibiscus Jamaican beer only sold seasonally. Lauren is extremely excited

"Which one first, which one first?."

The Patio has a fireplace near the water, low seated cushion/couches tables and a tented area with scorching hot heaters for when the wind picks up!

http://www.docksidevancouver.com/