VanEats

I'd like to think all of our readers (and especially those who navigated the gauntlet of our registration system and left comments) for their support and for checking out the site. Have a great 2007 and eat well!

As seen in Today's Vancouver Province (link will die due to the Province's antiquated we

This year I didn't have the energy to do my usual Christmas baking (8 dozen each of 6 to 8 varieties of cookies). So for gifts I made a few different appetizers, froze them and packaged them up in lovely boxes with charming labels. I made lamb sausage rolls based on a recipe I found in the Canadian Living Holiday Baking guide, Turkish spinach and feta sigaras and mushroom almond turnovers (recipes to follow!)

These were a hit and were much less labour intensive!

Breka (6533 Fraser Street, 604 325-6612) is the new (new to me, I think they have had the new name for over a year!) name for the Fraser Bakery and Konditorei.

Last Saturday after the Heritage Hall market, we went to Kwong Chow for a cheap and tasty lunch. For $5.75 you get slow simmered Chinese soup, one of their lunch specials and coffee. Still highly recommended in 2006. We had 3 dishes for less than $20. Enough food for four but there were only three of us.

Here's what we had:

Congee with beef (or was it chicken :-) ! ?)

Adobo Chicken with Rice value meal at Pinpin:

Boneless BBQ Pork Skewer value meal at Pinpin:

A picture of ChocolaTas is worth a thousand words!

While vending Midnight Kitchen cookie dough at Granville Island over the past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to get to know many talented local food producers. I am in love with the chocolates made by ChocolaTas! The chocolates are stunningly beautiful and equally delectable. Check them out this weekend until Sunday.

Despite what the Courier said in a recent Green Village "review" in their Cheap Eats section, Green Village is an amazing place for cheap, flavourful northern style Chinese food, you just have to know what to order.