Westwood Lake in Nanaimo is a man-made recreational oasis with 5.5km of hiking and walking trails, a playground, a dog off-leash area, and a sandy beach. It’s located just up the hill from the Harbour City, across the highway and at the base of Mount Benson. On its shores you’ll also find the Westwood Lake […]

Situated in the bountiful Cowichan Valley (Cowichan Bay being North America’s first Cittaslow designated region) Duncan is at the epicentre of farm-to-table goods on Vancouver Island and Chef Daniel Hudson is definitely taking advantage with his new restaurant Hudson’s on First. Fresh off an appearance on Top Chef Canada where he competed for five weeks, […]

Sounds of a city rushing by outside fades as you step into Cibo Trattoria located inside the Moda Hotel in the heart of Vancouver’s entertainment district. This boutique hotel’s Italian-themed culinary gem offers a comfortable and romantic oasis with candles, smooth music, and bottles of wine adorning the walls. John and I were recently invited […]

Yesterday the winners of Vancouver Magazine’s 24th Annual Vancouver Restaurant Awards were announced during a ceremony at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre. Hosted by Fiona Forbes and Michael Eckford, industry members and media were on hand to sip, sample, and tweet about the winners. There are over three dozen categories, with all those honoured listed […]

Diva at the Metropolitan Hotel on Howe Street’s focuses on delivering Pacific Northwest flavours through breakfast, lunch, and dinner with playful twists on classic dishes. I popped in for a power lunch earlier this month to experience Executive Chef Hamid Salimian’s latest offering – the Food Truck-Inspired Lunch. John and I first met Chef Hamid […]