Kinfolk Gathering – Beneath The Surface (Vancouver, BC)

I love an intimate gathering and this Kinfolk event did not fall short. So much thought and attention to detail goes on behind-the-scenes to ensure that from an onlooker’s perspective, it’s a feast for the eyes. From the flower arrangement to the menu design, each component had been carefully selected to cohere to a theme that’s representative of the magazine. It was an afternoon filled with good vibrations, sharing stories among like-minded individuals. We all shared a common interest – to live simply and eating good, honest food. A big thank you to Annabelle Choi and her team for spoiling us with a wonderful selection of hand-crafted treats and Here There for organizing the event. Of course, I could not have asked for a better location than Le Marché St. George itself, who opened their beautiful space for us to use. To the endless list of local suppliers that collectively contributed to making the event as beautiful as it was, the food as delicious as it was, thank you. It was a success and I have a feeling that this is what these gatherings aspire to accomplish about: building community.

          

It’s The Greatest Time of the Year

Cozying up with mountains of furry blankets, watching old Christmas movies with my gals, having daily brunch, no worrying about due dates… This is the sound of the holidays my dear ones. Though the weather is getting chillier by day (and wetter), I’ve found myself on a little granola kick… I used to be the type of person who thought it was pointless to order it at breakfast places since it’s so easy to make at home (and cheaper too!). Now however, I’ve become so smitten with trying as many versions of it as possible that it seems to be the only dish I order when I am out for breakfast. How adventurous, I know. Even though I’ve been MIA on here, I still have been keeping up on my Instagram, @longlivefeasts to highlight some meals I’ve enjoyed without going through the whole shebang of writing a blog post. Don’t worry, I’ll slowly start rolling them back again since I’m officially all done with exams! I’ve seriously had such a great first term experience, it’s surreal and I couldn’t be happier. Anyway, I’ve included snippets of some outings, which hopefully will inspire you to make plans yourself this holiday season. Better yet, maybe create a spread similar. Those are always a winner.

– Granola from Butter Baked Goods

– Granola from Le Marche St. George

– Granola from Terra Breads

– Latte by Au Comptoir

– Croissant and Granola by Au Comptoir (My favourite croissant in the city!)

– Pancakes at Yew Restaurant at Four Seasons

– Pumpkin Spiced Oatmeal By Myself

– Fish Tacos from Market by Jean-Georges

– Almond Croissant from Beyond Bakery

– Tiramisu from Doughgirls

– Chicken Sandwich from The Sweet Spot

– Mac And Cheese from Doughgirls

– Whole Wheat Scone from The Secret Garden Tea Company

– Croque Madame from Au Comptoir

– Cannolis from Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill

– Sticky Toffee Pudding with Caramel Sauce from Rain or Shine Ice Cream

– Apple Pie from Bella Gelataria Yaletown

– Siciliana Pizza from Bella Gelateria Yaletown

– Pies from The Pie Shoppe

– Prosciutto and Arugula from NOVO Pizzeria and Bar

– Mushroom Pizza from NOVO Pizzeria and Bar

– Stuffed Mushrooms from Felico’s

– Sweet Potato + Cashew Soup with Charred Brussel Sprouts at The Acorn

– Vegetarian Platter at Felico’s (All my favorite components!)

– Brownie Mountain at Seasons at the Park

– Gnocchi at Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill

– Lunch at Joe Fortes

– Pumpkin Cheesecake at Bel Cafe

– Turkey Sandwich and Tomato Soup from Bel Cafe

– Lemon Tart from Seasons at the Park

– Pasta Bake by Myself

– Avocado toast from Dock Lunch

Le Marché St. George

A relaxing afternoon requires a visit to my favourite neighbourhood cafe.Caramelized Onions and Olive FlatbreadSmoked Salmon and Dill Quiche

Le Marché St. George

I think I’ve developed an obsession with this quant little cafe located near Queen Elizabeth Park. If you are ever in the need of a mini vacation to Paris, this will do. After a scrumptious snack, I felt completely rejuvenated and inspired by everything I saw… Perfect weekend spot to say the least.

Nestled in a lovely neighbourhood, the place is packed with locals who are looking for a simple meal. Le Marché St. George is also available for those who are in need of a place to stay. The interior of the little shop. This was a perfect snack for me after dim sum. The crêpe was a delicious concoction of cheese, mushrooms, smoked turkey, and béchamel sauce. The leafy greens presented on the side were fresh, lightly dressed, and added colour to the meal. The serving tray and utensils were what really impressed me as they simply exude elegance and minimalism. To me, anything on them would look delicious. The London Fog reminded me of a warm rose milk tea that can be found in typical taiwanese joints. The fragrance was terrific and sweetened just so and I found myself thoroughly enjoying my drink from a bowl. People watching.