Happy Canada Day to all of our Canadian Family and Friends…..try new new dishes in the spirit of a great summer weekend…….fire up the grill and have fun with flavours you have always wanted to try and inspire yourself by getting out to one of the great farmers markets around the lower mainland.
Enjoy……
Happy Thursday happy foodie friends,
To Die For Fine Foods and Erin Ireland are definitely on to something here!
I was fortunate to first try Erin’s To Die for Banana bread on the recommendation of one of my favorite food trucks…. (Yolks breakfast by the way) and I was hooked!
I reached out to the more than pleasant Erin and decided to do a larger sampling and try it a few different ways….
My first bite was
to die for
and it just got better from there…
Lets be honest, you first have to like bananas to want to dive in and then what we do is always compare a traditional banana bread that we may all know from days gone past and ask is it at least as good as mine or possibly even better?!
Did I mention that this was Chocolate macadamia nut banana bread?
The subtle but perfect added flavors from these two ingredients kick up the wow/to die for factor…..
ahhhh nothing better with my Saturday morning coffee
I tried this wonderful to die for banana bread simply fresh cut and with my favorite coffee and immediate satisfaction overcame me….
The next slice was warmed up with just a little dab of butter….. More heaven!
Wow, could this sweet and healthy treat actually be even better than my first bite?
Oh yes it was……
Hmmmm I wonder……? to die for banana bread french toast?…. Why not!
The aroma started to fill my kitchen and my mouth truly started to water at the prospect of what I was about to try…..
Just a little bit of pure maple syrup and guess what!
It was
To Die For!
Truly the flavors just enhanced to new heights and made the best French toast I have ever created in our kitchen…..
I love Erin’s approach to creating her delectable products: “Food is not to be enjoyed without health”
You can read more about Erin’s approach to social causes and attention to using healthy and quality ingredients in all of To Die For Fine Foods products on their website.
To Die For Fine foods -click here
A message from Erin on her new To Die For Banana Bread:
I have been dying to shout these words for months (years?)…
“Gluten Free To Die For Banana Bread has arrived!”
Apologies to the celiac population for taking so long. I promised it would happen and it has, thanks to a wonderful gluten free bakery called Two Daughters Bakeshop. Lisa, the owner and baker of this adorable hidden gem, is mom to a celiac daughter and has mastered GF bread, donuts, muffins, etc. Her baking is egg free, too.
The gluten free loaves will be available on a limited edition pre-order / pick-up basis. They are very freezer friendly, so feel free to stock up as the next bake sale is yet to be determined.
How To Order Gluten Free “To Die For Banana Bread”
How to order: Fill out this form
When: Loaf pick-up is Saturday, July 6, 10am – noon
Where to pick-up: 121 E. 1st Street in North Van (entrance is in the alley between 1st and esplanade – look for yellow balloons and signage!)
Place your orders by: Thursday, June 27
Price: One for $14, two for $26, five for $60, ten for $110
Please note: Gluten free To Die For Banana Bread contains macadamia nuts, milk products (Callebaut Milk Chocolate), and eggs. Have a question? Tweet at me: @erinireland or email: erin at itstodiefor dot ca.
Who is Erin Ireland:
Owner of To Die For Fine Foods | Editor of Vancouver Food Site itstodiefor.ca | Contributing Food Reporter for @TheRushTV & @CTVMorningLive
Next up…. To Die For Lemon loaf…. I can’t wait!
You Gotta Try This!
Happy 1st days of summer great foodie friends…
Don’t you love the liquid sunshine!?
Aussie Pie Guy hits the streets of Vancouver! And yes, there is an Aussie behind this name!
Aussie Pie Guy was founded by Matt Fitzhardinge of Perth, Australia, and his partners Kayleigh Lum and Linda Lowery (both of Vancouver)
When you pent your name on “pie” you have to be confident in your pie crust…
The proof is in the pie…. The first try of the pie the crust was flakey and flavorful and the filling was so full of complex but heartwarming flavors and textures that you wanted the next bite right away!
I know truly that any food truck or restaurant needs to understand before they even turn the lock to open the doors, that the heart and soul has to be fired up in the kitchen to shout out loud in their flavors and delivery.
I mention this because it truly shows in the product and Aussie pie guy so far has hit the mark! Consistency is what everyone needs now and that will be the recipe to great business.
The minute you walk up the smiles await…
Kayliegh and Talia are there to walk you through their recommendations and know their menu down to the last bit…
First up the signature pie:
AUSSIE PIE
A traditional Aussie pie made with chunks of free range BC beef and organic onion in a pepper gravy made with Howe Sound Rail Ale from Squamish, B.C.
The perfect flavors created inside this little pie were heartwarming and so delectable…
Next…..
SWEETIE PIE
Apple pie the Aussie way. Organic BC apples and cinnamon with a layer of creamy vanilla custard made with real vanilla bean.
A traditional North American favorite with some subtle twists that make this sweet treat a wonderful sweet treat! If you can resist biting into it, take it home and pair it with a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream!
If you like pie, and let’s be honest…. Who doesn’t like pie ?! Get on down to try the Aussie Pie Guy
Aussie Pie Guy menu- click here
You Gotta Try This!
Hi good foodie friends,
Just a good article I found from Eater Las Vegas on great lunch or dinner plans for Father’s Day in Vegas!
Thank you Eater Las Vegas! And http://vegas.eater.com/authors/susan-stapleton
22 Ways to Eat and Drink Your Way Through Father’s Day
Wednesday, Jun 12, 2013, by Susan Stapleton
Fuel up dad for Father’s Day with steaks, barbecue, beer and more as the holiday creeps up early this year. Restaurants have put together special tasting menus, additional hearty dishes and even a brunch special and sushi roll in honor of pops. Here, a look at 22 ways you can eat and drink your way through Father’s Day.
1.
Bar + Bistro
107 E. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89104, USA
(702) 202-6060
Bar + Bistro has a Father’s Day cookout from 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday that includes New York steaks, chicken drumsticks, country-style pork ribs, kielbasa sausage and all-beef hot dogs.
2.
Rice & Company
3.
Fogo de Chão
4.
Rhumbar
5.
Central Michel Richard
6.
PBR Rock Bar & Grill
7.
Meatball Spot
8.
Pizza Lounge
9.
Tender Steak & Seafood
10.
Strip House
11.
Dos Caminos
12.
T&T Tacos & Tequila
13.
Hofbräuhaus
14.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
15.
Top of the World Restaurant
16.
McCall’s Heartland Grill
17.
Cantina Laredo
18.
Poppy Den
19.
Bouchon Bistro
20.
Dom Demarco’s Pizzeria & Bar
21.
Old Homestead Steakhouse
22.
Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill
click on the Eater Las Vegas link here for a full view of the restaurants
You Gotta Try This!
Blog post coming shortly for this truly “To die for” banana bread…. Not a statement you should use lightly unless you can back it up! By the way, Erin Ireland and To Die For Vancouver can claim that it’s is truly to die for!
Happy Tuesday great foodie friends.
This spring I had the pleasure of attending a work function in the wonderful Napa Yountville California region. I have always wanted to visit the area but never had made it before this spring.
Once you have visited this region (well if I am honest… And I am…. Once you visit ANY wine region) you feel a certain connection to the wines, the people and not to mention the need learn more about the age old art and magic created in the sips that we all enjoy!
The scenery and the views are enough to set you in the mood. Look on the Internet and then talk to your concierge or front desk person at your hotel or bed and breakfast… Make sure they have an objective view on which wineries to send you to and then when you are at a winery, ask them where else they suggest…. That is how we found the
Gem
of a boutique winery that I fell head over heals for!
Elizabeth Spencer
Location:
They are located at 1165 Rutherford Road, Rutherford, California 94573. We are just across the street from Rutherford Grill and Beaulieu Vineyards. Travel time is approximately one hour from San Francisco, Sacramento and Santa Rosa airports. Get Directions
Tasting Room Hours and Fees:
They are open daily from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm and, with 48-hour advance reservation, offer 9-10 am Early Flight and 6-7 pm Evening Cottage and Courtyard Tastings. Daily Charter Tastings are available in the Tasting Room for $20 and in our Courtyard for $25.
This gem of a winery is located in the original Rutherford post office.
A word from the Wine makers:
Our belief is that wine should be delicious and representative of its appellation of origin.
We make wines to drink — inviting wines that we and our friends (and by extension, our customers) truly enjoy.
The model for all of our wines is intensity without excess weight, purity, persistence and length.
Vineyards
We source fruit from a handful of dedicated growers and a dozen vineyard blocks.
Our growers provide us with continuity of high quality fruit, and we pay them fairly and reliably, in vintages of scarcity and excess.
In an era of corporate grape contracts, our long-term agreements consist simply of mutual high regard and a handshake. We make Cabernet Sauvignon from select vineyards in the Napa Valley. Our Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah come from the Sonoma Coast appellation. We produced very small quantities of Napa Valley Chardonnay, Mendocino Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Riesling and Sonoma Coast Rosé of Pinot Noir.
The tasting room is tasteful and full of friendly education from knowledgable staff.
The flavors of their small batch releases are so intense but smooth at the same time. A single drop of 2001 reserve Chardonnay from Elizabeth Spencer has won me back to the varietal grape when I had written it off so many years ago…
I classified this first few tastes of this great wine as “fun” and it was. Not your traditional heavy oaky flavors of your mom and dads Chardonnays but rather a cleaner finish and a freshness making each sip better than the next.
The next “Hit out of the park” wine for me was their 2009Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine truly was a smile in a bottle. The smooth and deep rich flavors with a perfect finish were something that brought you back again and again to such a point it was the bottle (s) that we chose to take to dinner at Bistro Jeanty…. And to the delight of our work mates…
This wine was a winner and truly what pushed some of us into the decision to join their wine club.
The tasting room was un-pretentious and very comfortable. We were treated by Francesca who unfortunately had to go back to England…. She was a great help and a world of education about the valley, Elizabeth Spencer philosophy and wines….
If you get down to Napa, do yourself a favor and visit ES and discover the magical sips and intense but clean flavors and notes that ES aspire to share.
A perfect pairing…….
You Gotta Try This!
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Yes - just a repost
This was in February? Chris Edwardson Chrisgedwardson@gmail.com (604) 809 6391 >
Thank you so much
Still would love to try!
bcfoodieblogger 