Foraging

4 Great Reasons to Fall in Love with Nettles

Stinging nettles

My love affair with Stinging Nettles is a relatively recent occurrence. When I was growing up, in England, it seemed they were everywhere, including at the bottom of our garden. It was definite ‘no-go’ zone, a land of lost tennis balls, rusty cans and who knew what else? At junior school, the shooting range (air […]

Read more February 16, 2015 Dining

Blue Water Café Unsung Heroes: the 10th Anniversary Edition

Unsung Heroes jellyfish, John Sherlock photography

It was a decade ago that Frank Pabst rolled out his first Unsung Heroes seafood festival. Interestingly, at the time, it was considered to be not only cutting edge but a risky proposition. Pabst served ingredients such as sea urchin, jellyfish and poached periwinkles to a segment of the population entirely unaccustomed to such delicacies! […]

Read more January 16, 2014 Dining

Waste Not, Want Not: Concerned about wasteful consumption, local chefs go whole hog

The Essential Vancouver 2013/2014

Unless you’re a regular overnight visitor to Vancouver’s higher end hotels, chances are you’re not aware of the Essential Vancouver. It’s the sister publication to monthly WHERE magazine, with whom I’ve enjoyed a much-valued relationship over many years. I’ve also been lucky enough to write for the Essential Vancouver since its inception. It’s a stunningly […]

Read more November 29, 2013 Belly's Best Bites

A Tale of Kale: One of the Healthiest Cookbooks Ever …

Sharon Hanna, Joe Lederer photo

UPDATE: Congratulations to Queen of Kale Sharon Hanna! A Tale of Kale—The Book of Kale: The Easy-to-Grow Superfood—won the 2013 Taste  Canada Single Subject Cookbook Award. “It has real personality and charm and the overall results are delicious.” “The book has integrity, heart and pure deliciousness.” – The jury The Hired Belly has been busy […]

Read more September 13, 2013 Sustainable

Road 13 Vineyards & Joy Road Catering Team Up for a Not-to-be-Missed Epicurean Dinner

Locally sourced and impeccably paired ... TP photo

If you’re a regular visitor here, you’ll know that one of the best meals we enjoyed last year was a lunch that blended the talents of Joie Farm and Joy Road Catering. Joy Road returns to Vancouver on April 3rd, this time for a dinner with Road 13 Vineyards at Vancouver Urban Winery. Guaranteed, it […]

Read more March 20, 2013 Hired Belly's Best Wines

Grasping the Nettle (with Care): How to Put a Delicious Spring in Your Step

Tongs tend to work better in the sink than gloves

Depending on where you are, chances are it’s almost Spring—which means that nettle season is here! If you know how to handle nettles they can be the most delicious and beneficial of ingredients. Armed with a good pair of gardening gloves (check for holes!) and a couple of stout plastic bags we recently set off to find a crop of […]

Read more February 21, 2013