Le diner en blanc

A while ago, I read an article listing the top 10 things to do in Vancouver this summer.  On the list was Vancouver’s inaugural Diner en blanc, taking place August 30.  After checking out the website,  I was sold and decided I had to try for tickets, although I did not hold out much hope of getting one of these coveted items.  A couple of weeks later, to my surprise I received an invitation and a sign-up code.  I still didn’t think I would be lucky enough to secure 2 spots, but luck was with me on the day, and I managed to get in!
Now came the hard part – securing white clothing for Dave and I, a square folding table in the correct dimensions, as well as 2 folding white chairs, preferably without spending a fortune.  I immediately began scouring the internet for possible finds – and the malls for clothing.  Turns out that by the time August rolls around, the number of white items of any kind are few and far between, let alone fancy dresses (and God forbid – men’s dress pants – who wears these anyway??).  After 2 days of searching, I am happy (and relieved) to report that I managed to come up with most of the required gear!
For myself, so far I have the option of these three dresses (with possibly more to follow after our upcoming trip to the States) – or I suppose I could even wear pants in a pinch.

My biggest score was these shoes from the YMCA Thrift Shop – $8!  I figure I could even jazz them up with a bead or a flower.

For Dave, I managed to buy white dress pants at RW & Co. – and this jaunty hat from The Bay.

These chairs were $1 each on Craigslist!  Granted, I had to drive to Coquitlam, but what a deal!  And the awesome table (Canadian Tire) folds up into its own carrying bag – genius!

Now all that’s left is a white shirt for Dave (easy) and a pair of white shoes (possibly have to rent those).  It promises to be a fabulous event!

Cake Boss

Today is my nephew’s 2nd birthday, so I decided to try a different sort of cake for his birthday party tonight.  I managed to find a template on the internet for the number “2” and figured it would be pretty easy.  I made this recipe for chocolate cake and baked it in a 9” x 13” pan.  This was the perfect size, as the cake rose up to about 2” thick, nice and high.  I overcooked the bottom just a tad, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the cake was easier to cut into the required pieces.

These photos show the template (cut from parchment paper) secured to the cake with toothpicks, then assembled in the correct formation, and finally with the parchment paper removed.  For the base, I used an overturned cookie sheet (make sure it lays flat when turned over) covered with tin foil.

For the frosting, I used this recipe for buttercream icing.  The only modification was that I used 3 tablespoons of cream instead of 4 as it is a hot day and I don’t want the whole thing to melt.  The icing had a perfect consistency for spreading – not too firm but not too runny.  I think the secret may have been not letting the butter get too soft – the recipe said it should be like ice cream (I had always thought it should be softer than that).  Now I am off to find some decorations for the top.

 

The final product!  I think Kienan was pretty happy with it – especially the icing, which he dug right into.

Cariboo Weekend

Last weekend, we ventured up to Horse Lake and 100 Mile House for a little R & R, and also to prepare Dave's mom's cabin property for sale.  We stayed at Dave's aunt's on her hobby farm that is also for sale.  The trip up through the Fraser Canyon is always picturesque (and hot) - by the time you reach Boston Bar/Cache Creek, the car thermometer always registers well above 30 degrees.  The temperatures moderate a bit, however, once you enter Cariboo country.  We stopped at the Olde Towne Inne for lunch in Boston Bar - highly recommended as they have a gigantic menu with home-cooked food and even water for the dogs (we ate outside).


It’s nice to get away from it all into completely new surroundings.  We ate lots of good food, courtesy of Dave’s aunt and cousin, watched tons of Olympics coverage, coffeed at my favorite coffee shop, the Chartreuse Moose, and generally spoiled ourselves.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday night it was off to see Florence and the Machine at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby.  This was my first time seeing a concert in this venue, and it did not disappoint.  Small enough to be intimate, with a sloped lawn for "seating" (ie.  grab your blankets).  The best part was that although it had rained most of the day off and on, it managed to stay dry for the entire show.

Florence Welch proved once again that she has a voice to be reckoned with - and hearing it outside was all the better.  The crowd was really into it and by the end, she had everyone jumping up and down right along with her.  Great artist + great venue = great night.

Saturday night, we found ourselves in Abbotsford for dinner at Jeff & Heidi's.  Always a gourmet treat, this time was no exception.  Tonight's menu was home-made tortillas with all the fixin's - delicious!  For dessert - fresh peach crisp with ice-cream.  Yummm!

Homemade tortillas cooking on the barbecue.

Sunday we scouted the hood once again and this time ended up at Pop-Up Pizza on Kingsway in that now-famous block.  This was a bit like eating in someone's 1970's rec room decor-wise - but the pizza was fantastic!  The 2 owners are looking to expand into the property next door, which entails knocking out a dividing wall - but while waiting for permits and such, they decided to use the existing pizza oven  and learn how to make pizza.  You may recognize one of the owners as a former house manager at Vij's (I knew he looked familiar) who has now ventured out on his own.  Interestingly, he told us he thinks the Vancouver food scene has gone quite "hoity-toity" and has lost its sense of community - which he hopes to bring back in the Fraser/Kingsway neighborhood.  With Sal y Limon, Matchstick Coffee, Che Baba, Pop-Up Pizza, and of course, Les Faux Bourgeois now within a stone's throw of each other, this little strip is fast becoming a foodie's dream.

Our leftover pizza, conveniently wrapped as a "muskox" for take-out!