Category: British Columbia

You read that right!
Artisanal cashmere – crafted in a country built on the fur trapping, canoe portaging, down-filled coats, Hudson Bay blankets, and Kodiak boots! Artigiani Milanesi established its bespoke Italian cashmere tailoring on Bowen Island in 2014.

The story of how luxury Italian-inspired weaving ends up on Canada’s wet coast began with a girl in a convent in Cremona, Italy. Rosa Palmira Feroldi (Rosetta) was only two-years-old when she and her five sisters, orphans of WWII, were taken in by the nuns at the Cremona convent. The nuns would knit clothing for the children, and Rosetta insisted they teach her how to use the knitting machines – a skill she honed for the next chapter of her life. At 21 years old, she left the convent and headed for the industrial city of Milan in 1958.
Milan was booming in the 1960s, rapidly becoming recognized as a fashion capital. Rosetta quickly put her knitting skills into practice and establishing her…

Recipes & Travel:
Artigiani Milanesi, Artisan, Bowen Island, Cashmere, Designers, Italian design, Weaving, Yoga

Summer is short-lived in Calgary.
The dying days of May are often peppered with pelting snow flurries.
June can show early promise of the warm days ahead – or a month of misery sheltered under rain gear.
Finally, by August hardy residents are able to enjoy a few warm days and the mosquitoes have even started to drop off.
Then the letter arrives…Winter is not far off.

 
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Recipes & Travel:
Backcountry safety, Backcountry Skiing, Canadian Rocky Mountains, Lake O'Hara Lodge, Travel British Columbia

Pure, simple and real…DEEP
and that is the way they like it.
Too bad for the gal who had a business trip crop up. Nutmeg happily took her spot on a girls ski weekend to legendary Whitewater Ski Resort.

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Recipes & Travel:
Nelson British Columbia, Skiing in British Columbia, Travel British Columbia, Whitewater Ski Resort

It has been about 7-8 years since Ginger and Nutmeg had been in Whistler and had a chance to partake in the Sunday Farmer’s Market.

Wow!  What a transformation, the market has grown about 10-fold.  (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Farmers Markets, Things to do in Whistler, Travel British Columbia

It has been years since Ginger and Nutmeg had last been to the Rimrock Cafe in Whistler. So all it took, was for some Vancouver friends to suggest that it was their favourite restaurant in the valley, for Nutmeg to make a reservation.  The restaurant has been around since 1987, it specializes in fish and game.  The inside is very cosy with two operational fireplaces in the winter months.  Outside they have two patios, a garden patio in the back and a deck out front.  Ginger and Nutmeg lucked out with a sunny evening, so chose to sit on the front deck.
The wine selection is broad and includes a very good base of BC wines (which you should try).  The restaurant has been featured in the Wine Spectator for their selection. Many wines are offered by the glass and they even have a decent selection of half bottles.  Ginger chose a lovely 2007 Laughing Stock blend called ‘Portfolio’ from…

Recipes & Travel:
Restaurant Reviews, Rim Rock Cafe, Things to do in Whistler, Travel British Columbia

If your daily coffee cravings are satisfied by the retail chain with the green and white signage, you do not need Nutmeg’s help.  For that, there is an app you can download on your phone, and several locations to choose from.   If you want to support some local businesses, and experience a bit of the Whistler Village culture, while drinking your favourite cuppa joe then read on. (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Coffee Shops in Whistler, Restaurant Reviews, Things to do in Whistler, Travel British Columbia

Nutmeg almost did it…she almost Googled Markets in Vancouver, then she remembered…. Granville Island Public Market.  Of course!!!
It is possibly the best market in Canada, and definitely the best in Western Canada. The Granville Island Market is of course, located on the spit of land by the same name. The public market is open daily from 9am to 7pm and features: a food court, specialty stands with fantastic breads, fresh bagels, seafood, cheeses, antipasto, prepared meals, unique spices, coffee bars and many permanent stands with really fresh fruit and vegetables.

On Thursdays, June through October they have a farmers market outside (unfortunately Nutmeg was there on a Tuesday).  The list of farmers is updated weekly, as the season progresses.

The island of has many other great features; a focus on the arts (4 pages of artisans on the web site),  the Emily Carr University, a focus on Maritime activities (sailing, whale watching, kayaking etc.), a brewery, a hotel, a music scene and…

Recipes & Travel:
Farmers Markets, Granville Island Market, Organic Food in Vancouver, Travel British Columbia, Vancouver Farmers Markets

For eight years running Ginger and Nutmeg and a crew of very spicy friends have trudged up the Lake O’Hara access road in March.  The conditions have varied every year from deep winter to nearly spring.  The equipment ranges from light to touring to teli and alpine touring – this year the gals got really smart and went in on snow shoes.  Everyone arrives parched, hungry and feeling like they have accomplished something and they have – 11kms of hills!!  This year’s crew included Cilantro and Mr. High Maintenance, Curry Murray and Mr Curry, Mountain Pepper and Cayenne, Cinnamon, the salsa twins, Oregano and his lovely wife.
Why is Lake O’Hara a slice of paradise?  So many reasons;

An endless amounts of great BC wine – the group tried very hard to get to the bottom of the supply
Gluten free offerings included a flour-less dark chocolate cake on arrival from Mrs Oregano
Arrival snacks including; salt/pepper/lime chicken wings and mini croque monsieurs…

Recipes & Travel:
Backcountry safety, Backcountry Skiing, Lake O'Hara Lodge, Skiing in British Columbia, Travel British Columbia