Thomas Haas

Thomas Haas – a name, that just until recently, was solely subject as an elusive element in my life. It is the name of a German-born man who now works locally as a pastry chef, a chocolate maker and all in all, a sensory seducer. I find it fascinating that one can glide so long in oblivion to something so enticing, and upon its accidental discovery, be suddenly seized by the immediate integration of its presence.

Last week, I wanted to surprise a companion of mine by breaking through his busy day with chocolate to serve as a momentary distraction. Knowing well of his sweet tooth and discriminating eye for design, I embarked on a lunch hour excursion to find him a blend of both. Urban Fare immediately became my initial destination, as they typically do well in featuring food products of both quality in taste and packaging design. So there I was, blowing through time and circling swiftly around their thick pillar of chocolate, when suddenly, my sight sunk on to a shelf of chocolate made by Thomas Haas. While trying to decide if my friend would like white, dark or something in between, I faintly recall him saying that he doesn’t eat a percentage of chocolate that scores better than him on a test. I grabbed the “Wild” bar at 67% and later, of course, learn that this would serve as a slight, albeit amusing insult.

The bar itself is made out of 45% Criollo and 55% Trinitario beans out of Bolivia, and the flavor profile promised brawny beans with nuances of banana and mango. Its design brazed bold and sober lines of colors in silver, brown and orange. I was impulsively sold.

Further to this introduction of epicurean serendipity, the following weekend had somehow weaved itself around a similar theme. Not only did I consistently continue to taste bits of this chocolate, but perhaps in retribution to my surprise delivery, I was driven out to the Thomas Haas cappuccino bar & Patisserie on Harbourside Drive in North Vancouver. Concealed to the side at the end of an industrial road, this is clearly a store that not only requires no advertising to gain attention, but no foot traffic to succeed in sales and flourish within its community. Indeed, a solid sign of quality work. While attempting to internalize my giddiness, my eyes glazed over the rows of truffles like honey. We went for one of each of their best sellers, which included the white chocolate ganache with fresh passion fruit filling, Tahitian vanilla beans and a splash of vodka, and the bittersweet dark chocolate ganache with delicate caramel and a touch of Fleur de Sel. As we bit into each truffle on our drive back home, we observed time slowly coming to a halt to capture the moment within. They were that good.

For after dinner, we brought back their award-winning Chocolate Sparkle Cookies that you bake yourself. Vij’s in South Granville also sells these and the Vancouver Sun called them “the best cookies in the world”. My verdict? Orgasm ensuing. Any further words here and I’ll have to pump you out a poem. I’ll be gracious and spare you the sappy sentiment, so long that you promise me to go on and explore.  

Oh, and thank-you, Thomas Haas, for not working at Lindt. 

| Photo courtesy of Michael Yung 

Innis & Gunn - Oak Aged Beer

Every so often, I make it a point at being rebellious by breaking free from the permissible tangles of vines. But it becomes necessary, when something so delicious, so revolutionary & yet so simple surfaces, that there is nothing left to do but crush all your own rules with a hedonistic hammer. Such is the pleasure of Innis & Gunn.

The oak aged process of this beer was made by accidental blessing in 2002, when Dougal Sharp was commissioned by whisky producer, William Grant & Son, to infuse the bourbon barrels with a smooth character to create an ale-finished whisky. Months later, the staff at the distillery began emptying out the barrels & upon “analysis”, were astounded to discover that time between the blend of the beer & oak had entirely reformed the taste of the beer. The metamorphosis was received with delight in its discovery & thus, Innis & Gunn was born.

This first born brew matures in American white oak barrels for 77 days, resulting in a tawny taste of toffee, vanilla & citrus. It tops my list as the most delicious beer ever tasted.

To celebrate Canada Day 2009, the Scottish brewer will be releasing a limited edition of their ‘Canadian Cask’ beer, which was made using antique whisky casks, some as old as 50 years. These beers will be available in eight Canadian provinces, including my own province of British Columbia. Perhaps stereotypically so, but the prominent flavour is said to be maple, with a trace of vanilla & then rye, to give it a raisin like character with a deep, red color.

The complexity of wine, the malty structure of whisky & the classic hops of beer, produce a ménage à trois marriage that could only survive with the beer goggles provided for by this particular brew.

It’s still uncertain of what the Canadian edition beers will go for, but the originals are sold individually for $3.45 at your LDB store.

Driftwood & Silk Squares

One of my most recent & adored design firms of discovery is Amsterdam-based, UN Studio, which focuses primarily on architectural design but extends it’s eye & ability out to a variety of products as well.

One of these is a flooring design, united between both natural & artificial elements of wood, silk & laminate flooring. It is expressed as furniture & links the dualism of both genuine & simulated material from the outside to the in, appearing somewhat like the exterior pages of a book.

The pragmatic result is a design that  harbors a link to lifestyle whilst serving as an integral ingredient for the overall interior of a space.

Photos Courtesy of UN Studio.

Review: Au Petit Chavignol

Vancouver, being the big, blue-eyed toddler that it still is has remained sadly sparse in its offering of cheese & wine bars. The Salt Tasting Room, which finally opened its doors a couple of years ago, has since had a gradual following with the opening of UVA Wine Bar last year. But just a few months ago I was suddenly teased by a furious buzz of words that left me full of feverish excitement: a 36-seat cheese & wine bar to open in the somewhat stark area of Vancouver at 845 East Hastings Street. &, as if I needed another reason for my heart to suddenly stop beating, I then hear that the restaurant is set to open by Alice and Allison Spurrell, the owners of les Amis du Fromage, alongside with Joe Chaput: the Duke of cheese & salami in the city. oh, Vancouver - just when I instinctively begin to glance outside of our relationship in yearning to fill the void that you constantly leave me with, here you are drawing me back in at the brink of our collapse. You’re beautiful & all, but bless you for finally realizing that I can’t eat your mountains.

A few have criticized Au Petit Chavignol’s location, in saying that the area is gritty & the restaurant displaced. Personally, I’m drawn to the more desolate & disconnected part of the city, where conformity to a district does not yet exist, & the neutrality of its neighborhood provides its visitors with the chance to focus on the food away from the distraction of trends. From layout to lighting, the restaurant is intimate & diffused of pretention. There were booths hugging tight corners of the room but I sat at the bar to subtly spy on the swarm of passionate activity.

Everything is made fresh & in-house on a daily basis. Characteristically, the food menu consists mainly of cheese but also offers home-made terrines, Iberico Ham & Prosciutto di Parma. The pleasant difference between this particular cheese & wine bar & that of any others in the city is that here they also offer soups, salads, fondue & other cheese-infused meals. I ordered a selection of cheeses from the cow (comté de montagne), goat (marcella) & sheep (pecorino brillo). The cheese, fixed in its own presence of flavor ranging from wood to aged chalky saltiness & red wine, bode well with the adequate & diverse selection of wine (by bottle or glass), & was on par with the Riesling; the obvious pet in the room. As per recommendation, I had two glasses of the German Leitz Riesling & found that it was the ideal balance between all the varying flavors on my plate.

I had plans that night already & sadly could not linger, but am already planning on re-visiting again soon. For now I remain comforted with the evidence of effort that my city is displaying & plan on holding steady for.. at least another month.

Studies in Motion

An old high school friend, who now works for the Playhouse Theatre Company, sent me an invitation to attend Studies in Motion: The Hauntings of Eadweard Muybridge. I’m not typically interested in the theatre, but was drawn to going after I found out that it was about photographic investigations into animal locomotion & human movement, at a time when photography was beginning to gain traction as a new & near spellbinding technology.

Although Muybridge was not a filmmaker, he was dubbed the “Father of Motion Picture”, for his inventive work & studies of visual phases in movement. Muybridge’s determination was initially driven by his obsession to prove that there is a moment in a horse’s gallop when all four hooves are off the ground. Although he considered himself an artist, his work has since been accepted as scientific research into the studies of movement. However ambitious, his commitment & looming madness with the documentation of his work was nearly swallowed by the dramatics of his personal life. An early stage accident and a resulting head injury forced him out of his early work in San Francisco & back to England for healing. Muybridge returned to San Francisco, accumulated appraisal & success in his work & fell in love, only to be betrayed by infidelity & left with a pregnant wife: identity of the father unknown. Muybridge shot & killed his wife’s lover, but was later acquitted for reasons of a “justifiable homicide”. Despite his lingering feelings of transgression, Muybridge carried on with his studies in motion, progressing the art of photography as if forever cursed by the creative demon of his conscience.

The play was created by Kevin Kerr & directed by Kim Collier of the Playhouse Theatre Company. The music, the somber & yet violent lighting aligned flawlessly with both the acting & choreography.

Despite the play’s ominous mood, it was still surprisingly hilarious & full of scandalous nudity.

Rolf Binder Hales 2006 Shiraz

Oenophiles, detain your disappointment as I proudly admit that I carry a consuming crush on full-bodied, fruit-bomb wines. The types that are so chock-full of complexity that the smell of these ball-busters consolidate my senses solely to the nose immediately after opening. This might have something to do with how I often times substitute dessert for wine & may subconsciously be yearning for a similarity in taste. You see, as much as I love gorgeous pastries & other such sweets, (see: sidebar links - David Lebovitz), I have a ridiculously slow metabolism & am forced to maintain some type of balance, (sometimes). It’s torturous. I have, however, been recently laying the palate-killer grapes to rest & diversifying my selection. Just, not so much with this bottle. Tomorrow, I promise.

Naturally, what I was initially looking for was a fruit-bomb but what I really got was an Australian Shiraz variety that lingered slightly off that path with the addition of Mouvedre & Grenache. That certainly does not exclude it from being tasty & thoroughly enjoyed. It’s quite floral & bodes cayenne-like spice with a citrus edge. What hit me the most above all were jammy, dark & delicious blueberries. Lovely. Finish was long but slightly acidic. Not the best balance for me but the structure may have shifted with an hour or two in the decanter. Something I don’t use often because I’m the most Impatient Person in the World.

It’s not a legendary value-wine, but for $22 CDN at the local LDB store, it’s certainly worth a go.

Dirty Librarian Chains

Librarians everywhere rejoice for reason to riot against the stale stereotype of your supposed dry intellect, & elect to exhibit evidence of your sly, scholastic sexiness.

Dirty Librarian Chains. Vintage, awry & all a little different, these designs were made by Susan Domelsmith, who knotted, draped, clustered & classically created her pieces after claiming defeat in a crusade to find jewelry of similar iconoclastic style. All Domelsmith’s work is appropriately directed towards the bibliophile beauty by boasting such names as Poetry, Archive, Critique, Publication & Renewal.

As a writer & lover of books myself, I personally adore these erratically charming webs of chain. Come hither towards the full collection here.

Courtesy of Kaboodle.

Courtesy of Real Simple.

Douglas Coupland - Mom & Dad

Last night I attended Douglas Coupland’s opening reception for his most recent art exhibit, entitled Mom & Dad, & held at the Monte Clark Gallery in South Granville.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Coupland’s work, he is a Canadian novelist who is most notably known for his international bestseller, Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture. He’s since published twelve novels, seven non-fiction & has written work for both film & television. He’s also studied art & design in Canada, Japan & Italy. 

In this solo exhibition, Coupland stands at the unavoidable intersection of Andy Warhol as he blends years of his own personal family experiences with his studies & work in pop-culture. The first visual component was a series of flat, framed wigs, made to represent the collection that Warhol use to wear. These were made out animal furs sourced from a taxidermist, which reflected Coupland’s family upbringing in British Columbia. The second part of the show was a vibrant & deeply disturbing re-work of Warhol’s Marilyn paintings & prints. Black, dripping eyes & cigarette foils were some of the peculiar materials used to define his own perception of Warhol. The last & certainly not least part of the show was tucked away on the gallery’s top floor & featured a series of graphic work displaying anime-style Japanese porn with a pop-culture touch. In my words, “pretty porn”. 

As per the Coupland’s exhibit schedule, yesterday’s Mom & Dad show was the only one in Vancouver, but if you live in Toronto, do try & make an effort to catch this show there on June 18th. There will be free wine. Many a motivation. 

Also, if you’re part of the twitter community like I am, follow Coupland’s tweets here. 

| coupland.com

Therapy Vineyards in Naramata, BC

For a girl out of Europe, I have done an embarrassingly meager amount of traveling in the last.. well - undisclosed & embarrassing amount of time. I have, at least, managed to target Wine Country BC as my feature destination over the hotter months of these last two years.

A rich, rolling scenery of grapes, stretching wide across barren cliffs that tower majestically over a long, glistening lake is nothing short of spectacular to me. The drive there, for as short as it is in its five hours away from the city, is a plethora of morphing landscapes; wavering swiftly from gorgeous greenery to thirsty, desert-ridden trees. The winery & guesthouse that I stay at in Naramata, which is located on the east shore of Lake Okanagan, is called Therapy Vineyards. Let me just say first, that I love Naramata. It’s my most adored of all the communities in the Okanagan & for me offers all the isolation & charm necessary for a tranquil refuge. The air there is sultry & the energy of the land harmonious. You could not ask for a more convenient & yet contrasting escape away from the city.

I first came across the Therapy Vineyards label while purchasing their dry, fruit-driven Pink Freud rosé at Marquis Wine Cellar in Vancouver. I was drawn to their canny marketing tactic of tying in the Therapy label by illustrating Sigmund Freud in a facetious manner. Their other, more complex wines, such as the Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Merlot & Chardonnay, all bare psychoanalytical labels, by using the Rorschach Inkblot Test illustrations by asking the consumer, “What do you see in this wine?”. A marketing strategy created by Brandever.

All that aside, their tastiest bottle to touch my lips, would most certainly be the Super Ego, which is a blend of 55% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 8% Shiraz. Those who know me know I like to torture my taste buds with fruit bombs & big reds. This one did no less harm. It’s sold for about $56 in private wine shops throughout Vancouver, but you can grab it for $37 on the vineyard, when they’re not sold out as they usually are.

Their guesthouse itself is totally serene & sits motionless on a cliff next to the vineyard, over-looking the water & the intertwining boaters below. Breakfast is an array of local cheeses, fruits & freshly made morning pastries. Their hot tub is sublime & I am yet to come by a better scenery to sip wine within.

The Naramata bench is scattered with gorgeous vineyards, but in terms of staying on one, this particular winery truly rephrases what therapy should really be about.

Wine Labels & the Allure of Aesthetic Design

Judging a wine solely by its label is not exactly the most accurate method of delicious discovery, but I personally find it difficult to steer away from being swayed by a classically radiant, clean or witty label that harbors all the elements necessary to lure such a credulous consumer such as myself.

I’m occasionally guilty in extending the benefit of doubt to the design of a product, & invest belief in that the marriage between the wine & the bottle will balance together in a sensory success. I also generally enjoy a product that appeals to a variety of my senses & feel that it adds benefit to the entirety of the experience.

That being said, I don’t always allow myself to fall prey to the aesthetics of a wine label, but at times surrender to what my eyes first tell me. Perhaps I’m shallow that way, but in the end, I’m still drinking wine.

Frank B | Designed by Talia Cohen 

In-house design | Magnificent Wine Co.

Michael Austin | Designed by Hatch