Contributor: Talia Kleinplatz
Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Talia Kleinplatz fell in love with food at the apron strings of her mother and grandmother whose kitchens wafted the intoxicating aromas of fresh dill, homemade pies and painstakingly slow-cooked brisket. She completed her degrees at Concordia and McGill, graduating with a Master’s in Social Work in 2009. Her six years in Montreal taught her to eat well but it was her move to Vancouver in 2011 that taught her to drink well. In 2013 she launched her award-winning cocktail blog, Two For The Bar. She lives in South Granville with her husband and her three-legged, curmudgeonly cat.
On Taking Criticism Poorly and Dishing Out Gastrointestinal Death Sentences
The latest food and drink headlines reveal the wrong way to order Pad Thai and the scope of the fires burning California wine country.
On Millennials Killing Chain Restaurants and How to Get a Busy Bartender’s Attention
The latest round-up of local and international food and drink headlines sees wine country burning, staff shortages and much more.
On Eating Bird Feathers and Lamenting the Loss of a Rotating Tourist Trap
Top marks for the West End's new Lucha Verde, last rites for a novelty eatery, machines making perfect highballs and more.
You Need to Try the “Rolling Thunder” Cocktail at Nomad on Main Street
In a recent cocktail comp, Nomad barman Matt Benevoli set out to recreate the experience of a thunderstorm in a glass...
You Need to Try the Tiki-Inspired ‘Passionately Nuts’ Cocktail at Uva
This delicious gateway tiki sipper (conceived by Jasmine Radu) features tequila, passionfruit, orgeat, lime juice and bitters.
On the Value of Lucky Peach and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Botanist gets reviewed and chefs talk drinks in our weekly compendium of food and drink-related news stories.
On the Trouble with Food Festivals and the Conspiracy to Drug Donald Trump with Soda Pop
This week's intel report brings everything from bug consumption to the precarious future of the hamburger into focus.
Meet the ‘Malibu’ — One of the More Interesting Cocktails Being Made in Gastown Right Now
Let's see...strawberry, dill, coconut-washed gin...what else? French vermouth and salted Aperol? OK...you need to try this!
On Wine Rescuers and Where the New York Times Thinks You Should Go in Vancouver
Tracking the latest food and drink headlines, from Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart's show to the cover art of doomed Lucky Peach.
Sip this Impactful, Smoky-Edged ‘El Milano’ Cocktail at Kitsilano’s AnnaLena
Tequila, grapefruit, Campari, lime, ginger and Islay scotch combine for a refreshing sipper for summer's end and autumn's start...
On Digging Up Ancient Sicilian Wine and Feeding First Responders in a Disaster Zone
Digging into the international food headlines of the week to find out about tater tots, Brexit's culinary consequences, and more.
On Punishing Staff by Docking Their Tips and the Transformative Power of Craft Beer
Talia explains, among other things, how Trump's continuing failure can lead to cheaper drinks
On Carbon Farming, Converting Electricity into Food, and Making the Most out of Cheetos
The weekly food news round-up delves into low waste cocktails, culinary cartography, African-American culinary history and much more.
Sip the Genius of Kaitlyn Stewart’s ‘Diced Pineapples’ Cocktail at Royal Dinette
This tall, refreshing drink by Kaitlyn Stewart combines all parts of the pineapple with gin and sake.
On Infusing Beer with Fried Chicken and the Importance of a Good Dishwasher
Talia shares the latest food and drink news, catching us up on moonlighting dishwashers, weird beers and more.
Clarified Milk in a Cocktail? Studying Big Sips of ‘Yes Whey’ at Botanist (for Science!)
It combines rum, brandy, stout, lemon and clarified milk to create a surprisingly rich cocktail.
On Lessons from Legends and How the Olympics can Change a City’s Culinary Landscape
Talia updates us on the week's essential food news, everything from food styling tips to last call at a doomed local eatery
You Need to Try Andrew Schneider’s ‘Strange Animal’ Cocktail at South Granville’s Rangoli
You need to try this simultaneously refreshing yet complex sipper.
The Very Best Cocktail Bars In Vancouver, Ranked By Scout Readers
Drinks expert Talia Kleinplatz details Vancouver's best drinking spots and asks readers to pick their faves.
On $15 Cups of Coffee and the Best Wine Movies Ever Made
This week's briefing includes news about expensive coffee, dumpling porn, the trouble with bacon and much more.
Gently Fizzed ‘Ri-Kyu’ Kombucha Cocktail At Grapes & Soda
A light yet complex cocktail with a touch of effervescence from the kombucha.
On Dessert Cocaine & Casino Restaurants Coming To The Seawall
On St. Lawrence Love & Predicting Doom For Mid-Level Restaurants
On Awaiting Yogurt Jerky And The Things People Steal From Bars
On Gryffindor Eats & City Hall Making Restaurants Do Dumb Things
On Vancouver’s Best Restaurants & Peacocks That Drink Too Much
Five Vancouver Cocktails You Should Try In Celebration Of Summer’s Arrival
On Amazing Burgers And What Trump Means To Restaurant Labour
