Flavour

Words Joan Saunders Photos Sarah Hartley Photography I have always thought that Lava Cakes were quite a sexy, sort of dramatic dessert. After all, cutting them open and having chocolate ooze out onto a dessert plate is a gorgeous way to end a meal. What most people don’t know about this treat is that it’s [...]

Crafted by Food & Beverage Director Aaron Turner & Chef de Cuisine Kelley Storey (Brentwood Bay Resort) Photo Janis Jean Earthy, comforting, and perfectly suited to the colder months, delicata squash from North Star Organics celebrates the beauty of winter cooking. Grown less than 10 kilometres from Brentwood Bay Resort, this seasonal ingredient brings warmth

Words Richard Hope Valentine's Day approaches, and I’m back at Vessel staring at a wall of sparkling wine. With a huge selection to choose from, if you’re like me, it can be a bit of a minefield. There is an extensive range of sparkling wines available, from locally made Charme de l'Île in B.C. to

Words Joan Saunders Photos Sarah Hartley Photography If you’re like me, you spend the first three-quarters of January correcting yourself as to what the date is. It’s not 2025 anymore; it’s a whole new ball game. I’m not one of those people who believes that I am going to suddenly change all of my old

Words Richard Hope Dry January has always struck me as needlessly punitive. The concept, launched by British charity Alcohol Change UK in 2013, asks wine lovers to abandon one of life's great pleasures during the year's most miserable month. It's a hard sell, even if the health benefits are real. But here's the thing: the

Words Joan Saunders Photos Sarah Hartley Photography Creating this Christmas tree truck was a labour of love, of nostalgia and, I have to admit, a little bit of frustration. For a number of years when our son was younger, he and my mom would get together and work on a gingerbread creation. She would have

Words Brian Suckling, Brentwood Bakery  Photo Janis Jean Props & Decorations Hansell & Halkett Vintage Home Décor Here at Brentwood Bakery we look forward to the Christmas season. This is when we can make shortbread cookies in a variety of ways; we find that it’s an easy recipe to whip up a batch of. We

Words Richard Hope 2025 has been a difficult year for the wine industry. Still recovering from the twin calamities of fire and frost from 2023 and 2024 and the ever-changing tariff and market conditions, B.C. winemakers continue to produce world-class unique products. With the recent strikes now over, Christmas is a great time to try

Words Alice Bacon, Brentwood Bay Village Empourium Photo Janis Jean As the weather gets cooler, the thought of turning on the oven and letting the kitchen fill with the delicious scent of slow-cooked meals, and of course, filling our tummies with comfort foods, is very appealing. Pork is versatile, affordable and can be casual or