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Food and Drink

Diary | Corks and Corky, My New (Four-legged) Golf Buddy

Is there anyone who doesn’t dream of owning a vineyard one day? It’s the life. Work, yes. All-consuming, sure. But a dream nonetheless.

When we were filming the series I hosted for Tourism Kelowna and Vitamin Daily (you’ll find a behind-the-scenes recap here) I wined and dined with Spierhead Winery owners Virginia and Brian Sprout, two people who are living the dream. Actually, Brian is living two dreams — he’s also a superstar photographer who took many of the stunning shots you see in Tourism Kelowna ads, brochures and the like.

When I visited their winery I employed their dog to help me cheat at golf (that’s Corky in the distance and my wicked golf stance in the foreground).

And drank wine straight from the barrel (which, it turns out, does not mean sticking your face under the tap). Take a look…

Thanks for having me, Tourism Kelowna, Vitamin Daily and Spierhead Winery! Thanks again, Bent Matter Productions!

P.S. Live the dream and follow The Anthology on Facebook and on Twitter @TheAnthology.

P.P.S. Watch the first instalment of the series at Summerhill Pyramid Winery here, the very psychedelic second instalment at the Vibrant Vine here and the Rolling Stones-tastic third instalment here.

September 11, 2012 by

Diary | Making Like Mick Jagger at Ex Nihilo Vineyards

What do Mick Jagger and I have in common (aside from the fact that we’re both rock and roll legends)? We both enjoy the same drank: Ex Nihilo’s Sympathy for the Devil ice wine.

As I sipped and swirled my way along the Kelowna Wine Trails — where I visited wine cellar pyramids  and played vineyard frisbee golf — I couldn’t wait to try the nectar of the rock gods.

(Hi Mick!)

It was one of my favourite parts of the series I hosted for Tourism Kelowna and Vitamin Daily (you’ll find a behind-the-scenes recap here). So take a look and see if you can’t get no satisfaction…

Thanks for having me, Tourism Kelowna, Vitamin Daily and Ex Nihilo! Thanks again, Bent Matter Productions!

P.S. Make like Mick Jagger (I wish) and follow The Anthology on Facebook and @TheAnthology.

P.P.S. Watch the first instalment of the series at Summerhill Pyramid Winery here and the very psychedelic second instalment at the Vibrant Vine here.

August 19, 2012 by

Diary | Trekking Through the Kelowna Wine Trails, part deux

The Vibrant Vine isn’t your average winery. For one thing, they hand you 3D glasses the minute you walk in their tasting room. For another, their grape-pickers double as lunchtime musicians. And — my personal favourite — they have a vineyard frisbee golf course, where a few of my errant shots trimmed the vines.

At the Vibrant Vine, we shot part two of the Wine Trails series I hosted for Tourism Kelowna and Vitamin Daily (you’ll find a behind-the-scenes recap here). When we were taping the final scene of my psychedelic trip, proprietor Tony Lewis donned an, um, vintage costume (wine pun!) and I had NO idea.

Still had no idea.

Finally turned around and found out just how seriously they take their wine at the Vine.

Watch the clip to see how it all played out. Bonus: you’ll also find out how many Ogopogo puns you can fit into one Kelowna-themed video…

Thanks for having me, Tourism Kelowna, Vitamin Daily and Vibrant Vine! Thanks again, Bent Matter Productions!

P.S. Put on your 3D glasses and follow The Anthology on Facebook and @TheAnthology.

P.P.S. Watch the first instalment of the series at Summerhill Pyramid Winery here.

August 7, 2012 by

Diary | Happily Sipping my Way Through the Kelowna Wine Trails

Oooooooh boy. I can barely contain my excitement. A few weeks ago I trekked to BC’s Okanagan to host a series for Tourism Kelowna and Vitamin Daily. (You’ll find a behind-the-scenes recap here.)

My task? To sip my way along the Kelowna Wine Trails.

First stop: Summerhill Pyramid Winery where I wined and dined with the best of them. (Despite what it looks like, I’m not blowing a kiss to the chef.) Take a look…

Thanks for having me, Tourism Kelowna, Vitamin Daily and Summerhill Pyramid Winery! Thanks again, Bent Matter Productions! Can’t wait for the next instalment!

P.S. Follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

July 26, 2012 by

Trippin’ | Cheesecake-less in Seattle

The last time I was in Seattle I had brunch at the Cheesecake Factory. Don’t judge me — it was New Year’s Day and it was the only restaurant near our hotel that didn’t have a long lineup. But still, I know, I know, it was the lowest point in my dining career. So when I went to Seattle a few weeks ago I was on a mission to eat at local joints where the menus don’t come with a separate (and frightening) nutritional info binder.

After much research, many recommendations (thank you, Anya!), and some quality time on OpenTable, my ladyfriends and I went on quite the culinary tour — park picnics and all:

1. Le Pichet means “Pitcher” in French, so naturally we had one filled with wine at brunch. Was it after noon? No, but we were on vacation for crying out loud.

2. I ate neither anchovies nor olives at Anchovies and Olives, but I did have squid ink pasta, which was the most delicious pasta I’ve ever had. Which reminds me, I need to get my tentacles on some more.

3. Even though their rooftop patio was closed, we had brunch at Terra Plata, where they make kombucha cocktails. Just sayin.

4. We ate a late, late dinner at Barrio, where the tacos aren’t quite as good as La Taqueria’s, but they come close.

Though we stayed downtown at the Hotel Monaco (where this stellar self-portrait was taken) we spent a lot of time on Capitol Hill — had a happy hour picnic in Anderson Park (see first photo), took a quick stroll through Totokaelo’s new location (which is gorgeous!).

And stocked up on exotic salts at Sugar Pill. We even managed to squeeze in some spa time at the Four Seasons.

The only thing we didn’t do? Go to the Cheesecake Factory.

P.S. Come along next time — follow @TheAnthology on Twitter.

June 25, 2012 by

Trippin’ (and Shootin’) | Kelowna Wine Trails

I spent last week in Napa of the North, trekking along the Kelowna Wine Trails, drinking a lot of vino (for research purposes) and playing vineyard frisbee golf on a barrel bull (for footage purposes).

I was hosting segments for Tourism Kelowna and Vitamin Daily. Six segments, in fact, and the videographers from Bent Matter and I shot them in two short days. (Do you know how many in-the-car wardrobe changes that entails?)

I talked sustainability and time travel with Gabe Cipes of Summerhill Winery.

Discussed different types of psychedelic libations with Tony Lewis of the Vibrant Vine.

Explored culinary gardens behind some of Kelowna’s swankiest restaurants and then ate with the chefs.

And met plenty of friendly characters (hi Gordon!). It will all add up to must-watch footage, I’m sure, and I can’t wait to share it with you!

[Just realized how much J.Crew I wore on this shoot. Don’t judge me.]

P.S. Be a pinner-winner and follow Kelsey Dundon on Pinterest.

June 11, 2012 by

Bookmark | What Katie Ate

In The Anthology’s Bookmark column we explore some of the most inspiring places on the wild, wild web. 

Food photography is hard. Like, really hard. At my former agency I worked with a restaurant client and our photo shoots would last all day and involve a photographer, assistant, chef, writer (that’s me!), model (that was also me once!), intern, art director, at least a couple reps from the client and whoever else wanted to get amongst it. There could easily be a dozen of us hovering around a tiny little hamburger, while the food stylist made sure every glob of sauce was just so.

It takes quite a bit to get a food shot right.

Sydney-based photographer Katie Quinn Davies makes it look easy. Her blog What Katie Ate is filled with delicious photos and simple recipes that you don’t have to be a chef to attempt (confession: I have yet to try one). She shares quite a bit about her creative career and her favourite webby finds, too so it’s the perfect blog for those who like eating and looking at things (and I’m pretty sure that’s every single one of us).

So, my foodie friends, bookmark What Katie Ate. And bookmark The Anthology while you’re at it.

[Images from What Katie Ate, obviously.]

Thanks, Larissa, for sending this in!

June 4, 2012 by

Diary | Cento Notti Spring Menu Tasting

A few weeks ago my girlfriends and I made ravioli by hand. Have you ever? With all the rolling and filling and mixing, it is the tastiest thing in the world, but very, very time-consuming. I find it’s much easier to have someone else prepare Italian food for you. Especially when that someone else is Paul Marshall, executive chef of Cento Notti.

I went to the spring menu tasting at proprietor John Evans’s home (not pictured: his trillion dollar view of Coal Harbour) and as much as I loved the ahi tuna carpaccio and pan-seared halibut, it reminded me why caprese salad is the best. And it’s hardly time-consuming at all.

May 17, 2012 by

Diary | Brunch at the Birds Nest

Brunch is such a luxury. To find the time between work (sadly, it can be tough even on the weekends) and errands to actually sit for a few hours with your ladyfriends as you sip champagne and plan your next road trip — there’s nothing better. And I have a new favourite brunch spot: an underground restaurant where you dine like a guest of the chef in a home that feels like it belongs in Paris, though it’s actually smack dab in the middle of the ‘Couv.

Its name? The Birds Nest.

Do you have underground restaurants in your city? They’re absolutely delightful, especially since the chefs are often very accommodating to dietary idiosyncrasies — no red meat? No eggs? No dairy? No problem. And very patient as you linger well past mealtime. In Vancouver, underground restaurants can’t serve booze (we brought our own bottle of bubbly) and because they can’t technically charge you for your meal, you leave a donation. We left $25 a pop, which makes this one of life’s least expensive luxuries.

P.S. Not only was Erika Renfrew one of the best interns I’ve ever had, she’s also one of the sweetest — take a peek at the article she wrote about yours truly. Thanks again, Erika!

May 7, 2012 by

Drink it in | The wake-me-up smoothie

Ugh. Daylight savings. I’m not a morning person at the best of times and I’m definitely not a morning person after we’ve lost an hour. To make matters even sleepier, I’m such a caffeine addict that an extra latte won’t do much to revive me.

In the same slow-moving boat? This power-packed smoothie will give you a little perk-me-up. It’s my own variation on the recipes created by vegan Ironman athlete Brandon Brazier. I down one almost every morning and now that we’re springing ahead, I think I’ll down two.

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March 10, 2012 by