160: SCIUE

I went to Sciue, an Italian bakery and cafe on Davie Street, for lunch. I had the Sardegna panino (roasted lamb, goat cheese, sundried tomato, roasted garlic). Delicious, but it was no match for Finch's or Meat & Bread.

I just realized that my blog is turning into a food/concert blog. That seems to be all I do - take pictures of my food and go to concerts!

159: THIS AND THAT

Started off the day with a sandwich at Finch's. Actually not just one sandwich, TWO sandwiches, because the first sandwich was just so good I had to order another one. It was a baguette with pear, blue brie, prosciutto, and roasted walnuts. I have to say it is on par with the porchetta sandwich at Meat and Bread. It was a very excellent sandwich.

Hung out with the girls during the afternoon. I took my slr out thinking I would take tons of photos, but the weather was so gloomy and I was so sleepy from my two sandwiches that I lost all inspiration.

Then headed out to the Black Keys concert. Rae and I lost Jamie and Thompson during the show because the phones don't work at Deer Lake Park, but we got some sweet t-shirts. They say The Black Keys are our Brothers (their album is called Brothers!). No photos of the concert because my point and shoot took horrible pictures.

158: OLD SINK

My parents got a new sink, so the old sink sat on the lawn for a few days.

157: REFUEL

smoked trout crostini
horseradish, fennel, lemon 

For my mom's birthday we went to Refuel for dinner. We chose to do the family style four course dinner, but we didn't realize how big everything would be. Usually when it's multiple courses, the dishes are a bit smaller than regular size, but no...these dishes were all the usual size they come in (I compared with other tables). I thought the appetizers were the best part, but it could have been because I was hungry in the beginning. I was full by the time we finished the second course of appetizers though, and we still had to go through the main course plus dessert! I am stuffed like a turkey right now. We ended up sharing 15 dishes between the four of us.

My favourite dishes were the octopus salad and the salami plate.

warm octopus & chicory salad
potato vinaigrette, romesco 

crispy pork cheek terrine
asparagus, salsa verde, fried egg

ramp top risotto
albacore tuna tartare, smoked butter

wild arugula salad
orange, walnut pesto

the cure's salumi

steamed local manila clams
fennel sausage, red chili

roasted bone marrow
celery root, capers

buttermilk marinated fried chicken
coleslaw, jalapeno biscuits

lingcod

sloping hill pork 
caramelized mushrooms, ramps, potato purée

warm rhubard crumble
whipped vanilla creme fraiche

peanut & chocolate parfait
honeycomb, vanilla ice cream

tahitian vanilla creme brulee
shortbread cookie, candied citrus 

156: HOSPITAL GRADUATION

Today I went to Anna's hospital graduation. It was a small one, with only eight interns finishing up their internships. It was mostly parents and staff there, plus me and Phil. Afterwards, as we all had some cake, Anna's mom mentioned that Phil and I were such good friends to come all the way to the hospital to attend the ceremony.

Anna: Yes mommy, I have really GOOD friends. They're the kind of people I hang out with. My friends don't do drugs!
Anna's mother: (pointing at me) But she SELLS drugs!
Phil: You just got owned by Anna's mom.
Me: I think you're right...

Anyway, congratulations Anna! I'm glad you survived those grueling ten months.

155: ROCOCODE & AN HORSE AT THE BILTMORE

I had the pleasure of interviewing Australian band An Horse before the show (I got to watch part of soundcheck) and then photographing them plus opening band Rococode.

Rococode is a pretty new band, but their sound is so tight when they play that they don't even sound like a supporting act. I've been a fan since I saw them perform a few months ago at the Red Room. I love their song Empire!

My interview with An Horse was my very first interview ever, but they were so nice about it. We talked about performing, touring, Vancouver, and broccoli. Funny Aussies.

154: RIOT WALL

After the riots, many businesses in downtown Vancouver had wooden boards erected to temporarily replace the glass that had been smashed that night. Messages of love have been scrawled all over these boards as a testament of how the vast majority of residents in Vancouver did not support the riots.

153: FATHER'S DAY FOOD

Happy Father's Day! I took my family to lunch at Bistro Pastis on West 4th, where I had a croque madame (the croque madame comes with an egg, but the croque monseiur doensn't, because men don't have eggs - get it??)

Then my brother took us out for dinner at West. Yum yum yum

DUNGENESS CRAB CAKE
SAWMILL BAY MUSSELS, SOYBEAN AND RADISH SALAD, OLIVE OIL HOLLANDAISE

PRING LAMB RISOTTO
BIODYNAMIC 1YR AGED RICE, BRAISED PEACE RIVER LAMB 
GRILLED RADICCHIO, ARUGULA, MANCHEGO

LAMB CHOP WRAPPED IN SAUSAGE, SMOKED EGGPLANT PUREE, 
CHICKPEA FRITTERS
GREEN ASPARAGUS AND ARUGULA SALAD, VERJUS AND YOGHURT

CHOCOLATE BUTTERSCOTCH GANACHE TARTLETTE, HAZELNUT ICE CREAM

CREPES LAYERED WITH BROWN BUTTER SAUTEED APPLES AND MELTED BRIE
BUTTERMILK GENOISE CUSTARD AND BACON MAPLE SYRUP

152: KEREN ANN AT THE BILTMORE

I caught the lovely Keren Ann in concert at the Biltmore. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that early shows actually start right when the doors open, so I missed most of the opening act.  I thought Keren Ann's performance had a lot of diversity, considering that her band consisted of her plus a trumpet player. She was like a mix of Cat Power and Feist.

151: LEAVING COURTENAY

I like Courtenay, I really do, even though there's not much to do in that town. But today was my last day and I was off to take the plane back to Vancouver. It was a tiny 16-seater plane that I had to scoot myself into because it was too small to stand up in.

150: SOME PRETTINESS TO OFFSET MY SORROWS AND DISGUST

Today was the Stanley Cup finals. I went out with a coworker from Vancouver as well as the pharmacy manager and her family to eat and watch the game at Boston/Vancouver Pizza. I was prepared for cheering and (happy) madness, but it was the opposite, as the Canucks lost 4-0 to Boston. Needless to say, it was very disappointing and I had to drown my sorrows with pizza and a fancy cocktail. I went out for a walk afterwards, and it was so pretty by the water with the sunset, which put me into a better mood. I love the snow capped mountains around the city. They're gorgeous in real life when the sun is out.

When it got dark, I joined my coworker at the hotel gym, where the two of us worked out while watching in disbelief as downtown Vancouver was destroyed by the riots. I was riveted to the tv. The riots, with all the looting and burning and smashing and fighting, were so much worse than I could have ever imagined. I was so disgusted by these rioters. What I couldn't believe was that these people were breaking into stores and stealing things, even while they were on live tv! What idiots. After watching the live news coverage for a couple of hours, I didn't even care about the Stanley cup at all. All I wanted was for the rioters to leave downtown and to stop ruining my city. These hooligans are NOT representing Vancouver.

149: AIRPARK

There is an airpark right behind my hotel, so I went for a walk even though it was starting to rain. I went to dinner by myself downtown, and I was so surprised when I got my food just five minutes after ordering. I didn't even have time to check my twitter on my phone because the food came so fast! My coworker told me afterwards that it was probably because they felt sorry for me, because people in small towns don't eat by themselves. I really don't mind going to restaurants by myself since I do it all the time because of my work, and I got to enjoy a nice but efficient candlelit dinner, as I was in and out of the restaurant in half an hour!