Deana Lancaster Does Shrooms And Eats Horse at L’Altro Buca

by Deana Lancaster | It’s autumn. Curled and broken leaves layer the sidewalk like sodden paper mâché, and a cement sky is gray with rain. It’s my favourite season, but still, it weighs heavily. Time to pull the crock-pot from its hiding place behind the toaster and load it with browned meat, fistfuls of herbs, and wild mushrooms that taste of the forest they were found in.

Even better: to slip into the quiet, art deco elegance of L’Altro Buca in the West End to satisfy my craving for crispy-skinned meats and the lusty flavours of fungi at Andrey Durbach’s annual Game and Wild Mushroom Festival. The ingredients that Durbach sources – locally foraged morels, chanterelles, matsutake, porcini and field mushrooms – are more varied and pristine than what I can dig up (figuratively, if not literally), and his cooking is much more refined than I can accomplish (with crock-pot or not). Read more

So Your Kid Wants To Be A Restaurant Critic?

I’m not as appalled as the Slate magazine writer who complained about the emergence of the child foodie movement. Actually, the NY Times story about 12-year-old restaurant critic David Fishman is a gem. Clearly, he’ll have to get sorted on the note-taking while on the job — these days, most critics are using their smartphones — but otherwise he’s on the right track…especially by sampling the tripe. A chicken fingers-only diet won’t cut it if you want to be a food writer — you’ve got to be willing to sample the surprising, the intimidating…the downright unappetizing. So I’m not feeling threatened in my own food editor gig. The number of North American youngsters who will opt for offal over McMeat is infinitesimal, frankly. I am more befuddled by the magazine’s feature, Cooking with Dexter. Are we to believe that this four-year-old drinks “two ounces of good, strong coffee” every morning (after grinding his own beans, to boot)? His dad, and writer of the piece, Times dining editor Pete Wells, is obviously unhinged. Or at least, he soon will be, with a pre-schooler all hopped up on caffeine running amok.

—————————————————————-

Deana Lancaster is an authentic pop culture vulture who will cop to an addiction to EW.com that is as insatiable as those she has for all things gourmet, great shoes, cool tunes and the Huffington Post. A 12-year staffer at the North Shore News, she serves as the paper’s food & wine editor, features editor, and dabbles in some selective freelancing. If she’s not at her computer, she’s likely hanging with her family — or depending on the season — surfing at Long Beach or snowboarding Cypress.

—————————————————————-

An Open Fan Letter To Donavon Frankenreiter

Oh, Donavon (Frankenreiter),

I don’t even care how, well . . . toasted you seemed at the Commodore on Tuesday night during your aptly titled Pass It Around show. There’s something about the way you play a guitar and sing those sandy, sun-kissed tunes that makes me long for a summer drive to Long Beach; and the vibe in the room was just so warm and happy. From the soothing slices of tropical-hued beach tunes from your eponymous first album, through the funkier ’70s-flavoured tracks from Move By Yourself, and back to the mellow on Pass it Around (especially those poppy horn hooks in the song Your Heart) I — and everybody else on that famous dance floor — was digging it.

I like your pal Gary Jules too. We were thinking we’d just skip the opening act (headed to Salt for killer cheese and wine combos) but he came on late and I’m glad for it. Like everyone else in the room we talked through his first couple of songs, until we started to hear them, and then we were inexplicably drawn closer to the stage to listen to his stripped-down folk-rock.

On this night anyway, the crowd spilling out onto Granville Street at the end of the show was a shiny, happy bunch.

Thanks for that.

Yours truly,

Deana

—————————————————————-

Deana Lancaster is an authentic pop culture vulture who will cop to an addiction to EW.com that is as insatiable as those she has for all things gourmet, great shoes, cool tunes and the Huffington Post. A 12-year staffer at the North Shore News, she serves as the paper’s food & wine editor, features editor, and dabbles in some selective freelancing. If she’s not at her computer, she’s likely hanging with her family — or depending on the season — surfing at Long Beach or snowboarding Cypress.

—————————————————————-

Defrost The Visa For Economic Stimulus’ Sake

All this talk of economic stimulus is working. . .I’m stimulated already! My fingers are all a-tingle to defrost the Visa and go shopping. Must. Hold. Back.

The BC Home + Garden Show is not where you’d expect to fall in love. Well, with a hot, toolbelt-wearing contractor perhaps, but not with a necklace. And yet, that’s just what happened when I was there late last month. In the mini Portobello West marketplace I found North Shore jewelry designer Trudy Wynans. She’s the creative force behind Toodlebunny Designs; and don’t let the cute name fool you — her alluring work has some feisty rock-and-roll edge. I fell hard for a slender tusk on a long gold chain . . . I’m putting it on my wishlist for spring. The rest of you are free to peruse and purchase from her many other pieces: multi-strand necklaces, mismatched earrings, offbeat charm bracelets. If you’d like to look at her work in person rather than online, make plans to attend the first Portobello West Fashion & Art Market of the season, March 28 and 29 at the Rocky Mountaineer Station.

Joe Fresh Style cosmetics

New at Superstore this week: Joe Fresh Style cosmetics. I was there picking up cereal, and tossed a tinted lip balm and eyeshadow trio into my basket. The packaging is sleek, the products feel and smell lovely, and they make the grocery budget: they top out at $8.

Score Tahari, Tracy Reese, Michael Kors, Rich and Skinny. . .my fingers are getting fatigued here, so I’ll leave you to discover the other designers at the Wear Else warehouse sale yourself. Thursday March 5, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday March 6, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday March 7 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 28 West 7^th Ave., Vancouver.

If you’re cruising around Coquitlam this weekend (and if you’re not, you may want to head in that direction. East, I think.) be sure to hit the Marilyn’s warehouse sale. Among the lines offered at 50 to 80 per cent off are Betsey Johnson, Nicole Miller, Rock & Republic, Paige, Joes; plus there’s an extra 20 per cent off on Saturday. Friday March 6, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m; Saturday March 7, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Executive Plaza, 405 North Rd., Coquitlam.

Nanette

Now let’s be clear, while I am an ardent admirer of the work that many of today’s top designers do, I can’t afford it (seriously: $2,000 for a purse?). I’m more likely to troll the blogs, surf the websites, and shop the sample sales than pay full retail. Or I’ll style my look after theirs, using my own thrifty ways and means. Let’s take Nanette Lepore for example. I heart her. And perhaps because it’s an unrequited sort of love I entertain regular fantasies about her pretty colour palettes, ruffles and delicate beading details. Her spring collection is no exception. Forget the mood-killer of dour deflation colour schemes, this “exotic garden” is a lovely jumble of apple green, poppy and turquoise, balanced against warm cocoa brown. Delicious! I’ll be looking for ways to emulate the line when I shop my own closet, and if she ever does create budget clothes with H&M or Target, I will beat you all down to get there first (yeah, that’s right…I said you). In the meantime, if I meet you at a cocktail party and you strike up a conversation about this very column, please understand that by Recessionista I am not referring to 10% off a $1,000 suit at Holt’s. I get excited when I score $6 lipgloss at the grocery store (see above). That’s what I’m talking about.

—————————————————————-

Deana Lancaster is an authentic pop culture vulture who will cop to an addiction to EW.com that is as insatiable as those she has for all things gourmet, great shoes, cool tunes and the Huffington Post. A 12-year staffer at the North Shore News, she serves as the paper’s food & wine editor, features editor, and dabbles in some selective freelancing. If she’s not at her computer, she’s likely hanging with her family — or depending on the season — surfing at Long Beach or snowboarding Cypress.

—————————————————————-

Unloading At Joyce Ma And Narcissist

Local designer Joyce Ma is unloading past seasons’ styles for all four of her lines: Tension, Sweet Chemise, T by Tension and Coy Cat at up to 80 per cent off retail, at a warehouse sale running Jan 29-31| Thursday 12–8pm, Friday 12–8pm, Saturday 12–5pm at 112 East Third Ave (enter through the back alley). Also, as mentioned in another post on Scout, don’t miss the Narcissist Annual Warehouse Sample Sale, (dresses as low as $29 and $39), from their warehouse in Gastown. Jan 30-Feb 1 | Friday 12–8 pm, Saturday 11am–6pm, Sunday 11am–4pm at #307 – 340 W. Cordova (at Homer).

My Favourite Things

Nothing screams summer, and drops you back in the melting heat of it, like the scent of Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil. But slathering myself in it before I layer on tights, skirt, two sweaters, a coat, hat and gloves might garner a few raised eyebrows from my coworkers. Instead, I’m happy to indulge in the more subtle, but equally exotic fragrances, of Pacifica perfume. In late summer a pal bestowed Hawaiian Ruby Guava spray and Waikiki Pikake solid upon me, and I turn to either one when I need a lift. Best of all, they’re affordable: find them at gift shops for about $15 – $25. The line also includes candles, soaps, lotions and more.

Enter McQ

Set the alarm on your iPhone kids, because you don’t want to be asleep at the keyboard on March 1. That’s the day the collection designed for Target by the hooligan of English fashion, Alexander McQueen, hits stores and target.com. As the first participant in Target’s Designer Collaborations (different from the retailer’s Go International program, which focuses on young or emerging designers), McQueen told Women’s Wear Daily he is eager to expose a new customer to his aesthetic. McQueen’s muse for the collection — called McQ Alexander McQueen for Target — was Leila Moss, lead singer of The Duke Spirit. Her style has infused the designs with a rock ’n’ roll–punk vibe: look for lightweight sweaters, skinny jeans, a grey denim cropped studded jacket, a men’s wear-inspired tuxedo blazer and a color-blocked one-shoulder dress with bubble hem. None of the pieces will cost more than $130.

Here’s Looking at You

Grey and gloomy January, coupled with a spending freeze on the clothing budget, doesn’t loan itself well to rocking a fresh look (really . . . what else can I wear with these boots?) If you too find yourself in need of a spark when getting your gear on, check out lookbook.nu. As much photo gallery and guerrilla fashion mag as it is a “source of fashion inspiration,” it’s not hard to get past moody self-portraits and poorly constructed headlines to reap divine ideas from the clever self styling. So, when next you see me, I’ll be working it.

——————————————–

Deana Lancaster is an authentic pop culture vulture who will cop to an addiction to EW.com that is as insatiable as those she has for all things gourmet, great shoes, cool tunes and the Huffington Post. A 12-year staffer at the North Shore News, she serves as the paper’s food & wine editor, features editor, and dabbles in some selective freelancing. If she’s not at her computer, she’s likely hanging with her family — or depending on the season — surfing at Long Beach or snowboarding Cypress.

—————————————————————-

What To Buy When Cashing In Your Grow Op

I know at least a couple of guys who are Volkswagen van aficionados (ahem, Andrew Morrison). Get them together in a room and they are soon talking technical specs…and repairs, of course. Now I can one-up them.

[imgset:72157612690833198,square,true]

Meet the Verdier, a solar and ground-powered camper made in California (of course). True, it’s $129,000 USD for the model that’s fully kitted out with a hybrid engine, solar panel (with sun tracker to maximize power yield), pop-top, swivel door with cooking range and table, two gazebos, folding furniture, refrigerator and freezer, but damn, it’s cool. Fits right in with my plan to retire early and travel the coast for half the year. Now the only thing left to sort out is whether we go for my husband’s pick of the Woody, or my first choice, the tropical ocean-hued Blueberry.

For all the info on the Verdier, visit http://www.verdier.ca

—————————————————————-

Deana Lancaster is an authentic pop culture vulture who will cop to an addiction to EW.com that is as insatiable as those she has for all things gourmet, great shoes, cool tunes and the Huffington Post. A 12-year staffer at the North Shore News, she serves as the paper’s food & wine editor, features editor, and dabbles in some selective freelancing. If she’s not at her computer, she’s likely hanging with her family — or depending on the season — surfing at Long Beach or snowboarding Cypress.

—————————————————————-

Recessionista: Raybans and Long Blazers

We’ve only just tunneled out from that wacky holiday snowfall and already the fashion mags, blogs and even local stores are highlighting spring styles – and there’s change on the way. Better start saving your pennies, because unless you stashed your wardrobe from 1986 (minus the braces and coke-bottle glasses in my case) you may have some shopping to do.

The Colour Purple

The Pantone Fashion Color Report, compiled each year during New York Fashion Week, is out, and it seems moody winter hues are giving way to clear, optimistic colours: pretty greens, zesty lemon, cerulean blue, luminous, rosy shades of peach. So here’s what I want to know: what the heck happened to purple? Oh sure, there’s a bit of lavender (sweet in its own way) but there’s no sign of the majestic plum that ruled fall’s runways, and is currently playing a starring role in my own closet: blouses, skirts, scarves, even my favourite bag…all deep shades of purple. Oh snap…guess I got carried away again.

In The Bag

While some girls might keep their get-pretty secrets on the QT, not so for Tracy Silvester, owner of South Surrey’s hip house of style, In the Pink. Silvester unloaded her makeup bag for us and showed off a few of her favourites: MAC select tint SPF 15 to protect and brighten her skin; MAC eyeshadow in Pink Venus, easily applied with MAC eye brush 213; Stila Major Lash Mascara in Brown; MAC blush powder in Cubic Satin (for the apples of the cheeks); and Stila lip gloss in Pink Shine. Find out more about In the Pink (and its sister store, In the Pink @ Home) at www.inthepinkboutique.ca.

Trends

Cropped pants. Peg-legged or slim fitting, but ending at the ankle. If you like your fashion with a side of crazy, you might even try droopy crotched MC Hammer pants, but I’m not going there. Just sayin’.

The long blazer. Worn with skinny jeans or the aforementioned cropped pants, a T-shirt and a chain necklace or two. Some fashion editors are suggesting power shoulders, but frankly, I think that’s taking it too far.

Ray-Ban Wayfarers. The retro-cool classics in white and red first (re)appeared on Hollywood starlets a couple of years ago, and now, with the ’80s influence going mainstream, even your postie will be wearing them.

Hot heels. The front of the foot rules the school: from open-toed booties to sandals with criss-crossed or T-straps, all eyes will be on your feet, especially when you’re wearing peg-legged crops that show ‘em off.

The Sale

Don’t have the cash to rock a brand new wardrobe? This seems like just the season to shop the thrift stores. It’s easy on the wallet, the ultimate in recycling, and hey, if you find a great, yellow bag, pick it up for me, will you?

If you were done in by Christmas shopping and then Boxing Day sales, this would be a good time to pull yourself together. Local designers like Togs, Mod to Modern, Peel, Two of Hearts and others are knocking out last year’s styles at Madison on Main during their January Blowout until Sunday, from 11am to 6 pm every day, at 3728 Main St.

Donate

Clear out the clutter and make room for 2009. The Canadian Diabetes Association’s Clothesline program wants your clothes, shoes, jewelry and other stuff, and they’ll even pick it up for free; call 1-800-505-5525. Proceeds raised through the program help provide funding for research for the disease. To find out more, visit www.diabetes.ca.

—————————————————————-

Deana Lancaster is an authentic pop culture vulture who will cop to an addiction to EW.com that is as insatiable as those she has for all things gourmet, great shoes, cool tunes and the Huffington Post. A 12-year staffer at the North Shore News, she serves as the paper’s food & wine editor, features editor, and dabbles in some selective freelancing. If she’s not at her computer, she’s likely hanging with her family — or depending on the season — surfing at Long Beach or snowboarding Cypress. that is as insatiable as those she has for all things gourmet, great shoes, cool tunes and the

—————————————————————-

Krispy Kreme Versus US Right To Lifers

U.S. right-to-lifers aren’t doing themselves any favours in the sanity department by equating Krispy Kreme’s offer of a free “choice of doughnut” to customers on Inauguration Day, to support for abortion. The money quote from the American Life League press release: “The unfortunate reality of a post Roe v. Wade America is that ‘choice’ is synonymous with abortion access, and celebration of ‘freedom of choice’ is a tacit endorsement of abortion rights on demand.”

Bunch of wackjobs.

Dreambank And My Shoe Fetish

I have a dream.

It’s of a perfect pair: shiny and black, with scarlet soles. I’m talking about Christian Louboutin Very Privé patent leather peep-toe pumps. There are others that I similarly adore: the Peniche patent loafer pump, the C’est Moi shoe boots, but the pumps are exquisite, timeless, the brilliant soles a flash of unexpected audacity.

But at $950, it has seemed unlikely that I will slide my size 7 1/2 feet into a pair while I am still young enough to walk in them. When I dragged my husband into the Louboutin boutique in Harvey Nichols during a spring trip to London, he didn’t seem to share my unadulterated enthusiasm for the high-heeled beauties. Funny. He has some kind of hang-up about feeding and clothing our kids I guess.

But now I’ve found a better way.

DreamBank is a website founded by Vancouver entrepreneur Dawn Bowles. It is the outcome of an epiphany she had while lusting after a new roadbike and planning for a university degree at the same time. She thought it would be perfect if her friends and family had some way of contributing to her dream gift for her birthday, Christmas and other occasions.

So much nicer than showering her with loads of stuff she didn’t want or need.

Here’s how it works: dreamers visit www.dreambank.org and post a description of their dream present, why it matters to them and the amount of cash they need to make it a reality. Then they inform friends and family where to go to contribute.

Each time someone puts money towards your dream (through PayPal) DreamBank gets $2.25, which is not too bad considering the convenience of not trekking to the mall, and that there are no shipping and handling charges. According to Bowles, the average amount contributed is $50. When you cash out, DreamBank earns 2.5% — it is a business, after all. And as well as helping the environment by not accumulating more unwanted crap for Christmas, you donate to charity: 10% of net transaction revenue goes to one of six charities (you choose).

Sounds like a win-win-win to me. Red-soled shoes, here I come.

From Proroguing To Ice-Jacking

The word of the day? Ice-jacking!

CTV reports on today’s gondola tower collapse up in Whistler:

The tower collapsed around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, trapping 53 skiers and snowboarders for several hours in unheated cabins on the Excalibur Gondola lift. All were rescued, with 12 suffering minor injuries. One staff member was also cut during the evacuation process and sought medical attention.

The most serious injury was a fractured vertebrae, Doug Forseth, senior vice-president of operations for the resort, told reporters at a news conference Wednesday.

Most of the injured had bumps and bruises.

He said the tower failure occurred when water seeped into a splice on a section of tower four on the lift. Water flowed into the tower, then froze, rupturing the splice as it expanded.

“Water had seeped into the tower which had turned to ice with the recent extreme cold temperatures,” the statement said.

It’s “an extremely unusual situation referred to as `ice-jacking,”‘ he said.

Seriously…what is with the ridiculous terminology being bandied about in the media these days? Apparently ice-jacking is an actual scientific term, and not, as I initially suspected, invented on Tuesday by an enterprising engineer who looked at the damage to the gondola tower on Blackcomb and wondered how to describe it. “Will we say it’s a fracture due to ice? A rupture, a schism, a snap? No, no, that’s not right. We could say it broke. No. Too straightforward. The tower was injured by the ice…overthrown by the ice…hijacked by the ice. That’s it! It was ice-jacked!”

In fact, the term refers to the phenomenon of ice expanding as it slightly thaws and refreezes, growing ever-bigger and wreaking havoc along the way. But that doesn’t mean that we in the media have to use it. It would be perfectly fine to say that expanding ice caused the tower to collapse. After all, this comes not two weeks after we had to endure every reporter between here and Halifax wrapping their tongues around prorogue, when really, they could have said postpone.

————————-
Flickr photo by martapiqs

Next Page »