Vancouver: Good Enough to Eat

Posted on by
Reply

“There are two things Vancouver is good at; coffee and breakfast”.                     Jessica Callaghan, Century Plaza Hotel

Sunday brunch at Joe's Grill by English Bay. We're not going to starve.

Well that explains it then! Two of my favourite things is what makes my favourite city great!

North America is not known for its great food and 6 months in New York is testimony to this – I think I lost weight! I’m not talking about the umpteen great restaurants but every day food from cafés, supermarkets and delicatessens. Vancouver is different.

When I travel, I like to eat like the locals – ‘fine dining’ (what a term!) can be done any time and for me reserved for occasions. In Vancouver, as ever, we ate like the locals. The public markets in the city are fantastic sources of a variety of (local)

All the shopping malls have good food halls

food and arts & crafts and throughout our nine days, we ate well, on the go, in coffee shops, diners and once or twice at home. (although we forgot to eat fairly often, being distracted by sun, snow topped mountains, the beach, the people, coffee shops)

Peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake in Vilagio, Coal Harbour

Key lime cheesecake from Trees Organic "The best cheesecake in the city"

The supermarkets; my local in Montreal & Vancouver AIG (real name IGA but I never remember that), Choices, established in 1990 are organic biased stores and there is new to us Urban Fare plus my nostalgic favourite long-gone from the UK Safeways, all have hot deli counters that offer complete meals or snacks as well as cafeteria style seating areas. Urban Fare feels like an indie but is a three store spin-off from a large supermarket group, the brilliantly named Overwaitea Food Group! There are also a few of my New York faves Whole Foods popping up; it was a sharp intake of breath moment when we came across one in Kitsilano (Kits), a gorgeous neighbourhood I hadn’t gotten to previously.

One thing that amazes me is that there isn’t a plethora of cup cake shops but I can get them. Similarly cheese cake isn’t as
obvious but easy to find, especially in supermarkets, however crazily expensive, between $4-8 per slice.

And of course, as I have maintained all my adult travelling life, the coffee varies from good to fantastic wherever I go, local diner or one of the many new (independent) coffee shops springing up – just like they are in

Good old crazily expensive Whole Foods Market

the UK. Phew.

More to come.

Follow @RickieWrites for updates

Vancouver 2012 – West End

Posted on by
1

So 54 weeks after the last trip, I am back in glorious Vancouver, this time with the beloved, on his first visit to Canada.

The West End, also home to the delightfully colourful and gay (really) Davie Village is our ‘hood, AKA where the glorious Century Plaza is. More about that wondrous, long-standing independent hotel later, but first…

On the corner of our street, as we turn into Davie Street we have a lovingly tendered community garden. You can see the tall buildings in the back ground. The West End is right on edge of the commercial area, leading straight to    English Bay. About 15 minutes walk from the hotel, which is 10 minutes walk from the big

shopping malls the other way. This delightful beach is clean and relatively quiet with locals simply enjoying the sunshine when it appears, which this week is daily.

There’s something about the sunshine

that I noticed last year too; one its frequent, even on rainy days and secondly its warmer. Their 12c feels like the UK 18c so we were out mostly with cardigans rather than jackets each day, except for when we went up icy Grouse mountain but again, more later.

I’m disappointed to learn the only book shop in the area (which to me seems very writer-ish) is closing but only because the owner is retiring so it’s not gloomy news. However, I’m surprised he wasn’t able to sell it as a going concern as the nearest outlet now is down town. Hopefully there’s a new (independent) book store when I return.

What is a delight to frequent on more than one occasion is Melriches, the coffee store I only discovered on the last day of the previous trip, selling Jersey (UK) roasted ‘Bean Around the World‘ coffee. Learn something new every single minute.

Finally, can you see the little rock structures the guys are making on the beach? There is art everywhere in this city.

More to come…

Follow my updates on RickieWrites

 

Meet Up: Using the internet to get people of the internet

Posted on by
Reply

As published by Enterprise Nation

Evangelical networker Rickie Josen has previously written about the co-working group Jelly on Enterprise Nation and can often be found chatting on Twitter during our own #watercoolermoment. But she’s also a fan of Meetup, which enables people to form local groups around a shared interest. Here are Rickie’s thought on the benefits of Meetup for independent workers and homegrown-business owners.

I wrote about another New York phenomenon a few months ago but whereas Jelly is all about the freelance and home-based community co-working, Meetup is just about getting people together to chat, writes Rickie (left).When I was in New York four years ago, ‘Meetup’ had already become a known phrase. Friends would say: ‘I’ve got a ‘Meetup’ tonight’. On my return to the UK, I’m delighted to learn that Meetup has grown in the UK and today many more people know what I mean when I use the term.

Read the rest of the article here

 

A Coffee Lover’s view of London Coffee Festival

Posted on by
Reply

My first time at the London Coffee Festival because a) I love coffee and b) to support the boyfriend’s brilliant new venture Coffee Birmingham.

The coffee festival, surprisingly only in its second year and not UK wide – just the focus on London’s coffee shops, was full of gorgeous gadgets to play with, a little chocolate (Kokoa), some food (Propercorn, Popchips –both available in Waitrose) and tons and tons of coffee tastings.  A coffee highlight was Glasgow’s roaster Matthew Algie and the gentlemen on the stand kindly offered us a look around their premises so I will to sure be taking them up on that next time I’m there.

From an organiser point of view, I re-imagine every event I go to and in this case I would have put water coolers on every corner.  Or, because Evian are a sponsor more availability of their water as they were selling water to raise money for Waterfall on their stand.  The event is (partly) for coffee tasting (especially on the traders day when we went) so one needs water to cleanse the palate as it were. In fact one needs water to balance out the caffeine.

Also, there really shouldn’t be a line to get in (in the rain) 15 minutes after it opened. Surely they anticipated people who had bought a day ticket to be their most of the day and to have more staff at this crucial time?

But back to loving the coffee

It’s fitting I’m writing this in Benz Coffee in Vancouver.

Back in the day, people used to suggest I was a coffee snob because I couldn’t handle instant coffee. I come from Bedford, AKA Little Italy and I have grown up with little Italian coffee shops and also drank coffee pre-school, before I ever tried tea. (I went off tea again about a decade ago & still can’t stomach it but I do drink chai). This meant growing up with little coffees and it wasn’t until I started visiting New York in the 90s that I started loving coffee by the pint; giant take-out cups of filter.

Because I feel I’ve always known what good coffee should taste like, I refuse to drink hot milky cups of froth or those disguised with syrups (or sugar – I maintain that if you need sugar it’s just to disguise the bad taste) (Except egg nog or gingerbread, I’m a sucker for those in the holiday season). I went off latte the same time as tea, I don’t’ like milk so I dislike tasting it in something that should taste of coffee.

Social coffee is different but most days, I’m working from coffee shops and I want a long, hot coffee rather than filter so I can sip it (takes to long to make so it’s cold on arrival). I have Americano, in a take-out cup, with hot milk.  I want my coffee to stay hot for longer than it takes to get it to my table.

How I like my coffee

  1. Hot
  2. To taste of coffee not milk
  3. I can only drink cappuccino at breakfast, it is a morning drink as the Italian coffee gods designed it. It is most definitely not for after dinner, when you’re full. That’s what a little espresso is for. Espresso – or coffee (caffé) as they call it in Italy, of course, is perfect any time of day.
  4. Without the aid of loud music; I’m either working or socialising and I can’t do either with loud music
  5. In a mug (or take out cup) not a fiddly cup and saucer, especially the really wide ones that make the coffee cold before it’s even left the barrista’s hand. (see no 1) Unless it’s black or espresso.

So basically I want Italian coffee served in the American way, hot and plentiful.

 

Book – Don’t You Want Me? India Knight

Posted on by
Reply

Oh what a delight; having just read one India Knight book I’m straight into another, rush reading to clear my current reading list before I go on my travels.

Again written in the author’s ‘keeping it real’ style, India’s characters are this time based in the obviously familiar North London but still well to do and hilariously eccentric. The book centres around Stella, twice married (well sort of) single mother, who kept the house after her ‘divorce’ from father of her child, Honey, a generous and wealthy art dealer, Dominic. She has a housemate, the ridiculously promiscuous Geordie (I know, unlikely!) Frank, a successful (are there any other type in books?) artist looked after by Dominic. Stella, Honey and Dominic live happily together but she is severely lacking in friends, a social life and indeed a sex life.

French-born Stella’s escapades back into dating are worth the read but in addition we have the still friendly ex-husbands, pretentious mother and baby groups, the baby that is learning to speak but with a west country accent and ginger haired (yes, that is relevant) housemate Frank teaching Stella the art of pulling.

Not the cast of characters that are in Comfort and Joy but a hugely entertaining read.

8/10

Inspiration factor 9/10

Follow updates on Twitter @RickieWrites

Movie – The Avengers Assemble

Posted on by
Reply


I was hesitant to see this as I didn’t think the makers could pull off that many superheroes in one film.  I should preface by saying I love Iron Man, not so much the follow-up and loved Captain America even more. But as I say, it would be difficult to pull this off.

With all the different characters having their own individual issues and demons, the film relies heavily on humour to trot this film out and after Thor’s joke about the evil brother taking -over-the-world, Loki, being adopted; all the jokes were predictable, unless you’re twelve years old. 12-year-old boys of course are the core market for this film but I’m disappointed that unlike Iron Man and especially Captain America, it was that predictable and didn’t bring out the kid in me that those did.

I would have rather a part two on Captain America (which I believe is coming), with maybe one or two heroes and villains featured.

I did laugh at times but really I was waiting for all the heroes to come out and save the world together. If like me you want that too, I’d wait and just go and see the last 20-30 minutes of this 143 minute feature (yes really!).

6/10

Smile factor 6/10

Q&A with Sir Clive Woodward

Posted on by
Reply

I’m delighted to be invited to this Sunday Times event that happens in London but for the first time is beamed live across Cineworlds’ in the country. It’s safe to say it’s a huge success although I may have been the only person in the audience who went in from a business angle rather than a rugby follower.

I’ve been a slight fan ever since Sir Clive said that the business world can learn from sports coaching methodology. I’ve always subscribed to this and have read many sports autobiographies. The main learning is always that sports people aim to win, achieve & improve and everything they do all day long, every day, is to get to this point. And then they set new goals. Also, sports people train this hard to come first (not second).

 What makes a champion:

  1. Talent
  2. The capacity to learn
  3. Attitude
  4. And something else I’ve momentarily forgotten but I think the above should take you far!

Coaches

The importance of the coaching team is discussed and this is built carefully. Just putting together the best managers in the world because they have had successful elsewhere does not necessarily mean they will make a dream team.

Clive (as he was addressed throughout) believes a coaching degree, other than a sports science qualification, where student’s specialise in their chosen sport will mean GB will boast more world-class home-grown coaches.

The world cup winner also believes coaches can work in different sports but when asked the question if he could take on the (then soon to be filled) England football manager job, he said no. At this, the very highest level, a coach needs to have earned respect in the sport.

One of Clive’s successful ways is to concentrate on winning the next game, rather than the world cup that is years away. In the same way, I have something I want to achieve this year I break down that main goal to tiny ones and make sure every day I am doing something towards it. Eg. I’m writing my first book and even on the days I’m not writing or editing it, I write other pieces, read, learn or research on how to best write it – and of course get the book published!

Regarding his involvement in the Olympics, Clive is passionate that this is a huge opportunity not just for the athletes with the home advantage but for the nation as a whole. I believe him.

To summarise, as with anything I have heard or read about Sir Clive Woodward before, he speaks some very sensible and inspiring words and despite amusingly being referred to as a ‘hard core’ reader because this event was for Times Plus members (I felt like I was in a cult!), this evening is worth every minute out of busy schedule.

 

Domestic Goddess in Training: month 4

Posted on by
Reply

Back to leaning to crochet this month. I’ve found it much more difficult than I imagined. It certainly seems harder than the knitting I recall from early school days.

I did this in class, the last one of four Close Knit sessions, where everyone involved sits together to crochet or knit with tutors on hand. I feel as a novice, I need one to one tutoring on this.

and then I tried to make it home. Next up, I’m going to attempt to follow patterns in a good magazine. I’ve not seen any in the UK (£10 for a magazine?!) so going to look for some whilst I’m in Canada! Yay!

Oh and we made Battenburg cake, not the traditional cake but walnut and coffee Battenburg!

Domestic Goddess in Training – month 3

Posted on by
Reply

In March 2012, I crotched for the very first time! Until this time I had no idea what was involved but I produced this over a couple of classes with Cow.

In April, I got the little dinky sewing machine a few weeks back to good use.

I made a garland for the Crafty Coffee event I organised. It was what I was taught by Hannah at Christmas when we made festive decorations. First to make the letters….

Then the finished article, which we hung in the venue of Six Eight Kafe on the day of the event.

 

 

Book – Comfort & Joy, India Knight

Posted on by
1

You know when you are on the first page of a book and you love it? That.
I don’t think this has happened before but somewhere near the bottom of that first page, I fell in love with this book. Not that’s its surprising, India Knight is one of my favourite (Sunday Times) writers but I have had a disappointing experience with one before. What I love immediately is the language, it’s ordinary, and it’s how we speak which fills me with inspiration by the end of the page one. Why? Because I write how I talk too, as you can see.
It’s not just me who thinks the book opens well, there’s a review on the back cover talking about the fantastic descriptive scenes of Oxford Street a couple of days before Christmas. Only a man from the moon would go to this shopping heaven/hell at this time of year (him and the 2 million other people there) and our heroine Clara, despite loving Christmas and being organised, has still forgotten some presents.
Clara has grown up in Notting Hill (‘when it wasn’t ‘Notting Hill’’) and works for a glossy magazine. India Knight insists this is fiction but we do draw from our own lives and it is not clear what Clara does but she probably writes as she has an editor. However, the book doesn’t delve into her work as it is set over three Christmases.
The scores of cast are full on as there are many extended families. Clara has been married twice, Kate – as she calls her Mum, 4 times and there are two sisters. That’s before we get into husbands’ families and best friends husbands etc.
With all this chaos, somehow the book grips you as you wait to see what unfolds for every brilliant character, even those with bit parts that pop up now and then. Yes it’s a Christmas book, which I didn’t notice until before I selected it but it doesn’t take reading during the holidays to make this magical.
The book is a joy to read and as a writer, an inspiration.
8½/10
Inspiration factor 10/10