Vancurious Blog

Flavours

History of the Chocolate Orange

Terry's Chocolate Orange is a chocolate product created by Terry's in 1932 at Terry's Chocolate Works in York, England.  In 1823, chemist Joseph Terry joined a York sweets company, where he developed new lines of chocolate, candied peel, and marmalade . At the onset of World War II, confectionery production was immediately halted. The factory was taken over by F.

Beer Benevolence

A Vanilla Story

Wikipedia tells us that the Aztecs acquired the vanilla discovery from the Totonac people. The Aztecs drank their chocolatl with a dash of vanilla, and Europeans, once they got used to the stuff (one appalled Spaniard described chocolate as “a drink for pigs”), followed suit.

Beer Benevolence

Speedway Stout - Next Generation

Very nice tingle that hits the back of your throat. Nice malty flavour but not overly so. Picking up some of the chili spice and some of the chocolate. Liked it - but I think i liked the original more! This one does not have as much of the mouth watering milky-ness nor the cheek widening liquorice-ness as other stouts. It's a bit sharp without enough of the spicy and a bit flat in a steely sort-a way. However, since we've just bought the fourth four-pack, I guess we do kinda like it enough - it is not boring and different enough.

Beer Benevolence

Whistler Brewing "Dunkel"

Do you like Chocolate Orange? Is that the thing you were hoping to get in your stocking, feeling for the square shape when it was your turn? Then this is YOUR beer. Pour it into your glass and just ... breathe in the fragrance. There's a liquid Christmas morning for you!

Gold winner at the Annual Canadian Brewing Awards in the 2019 category "herb and spice" and back with a strong showing for 2022!

Diversions

Finn Slough - a Richmond community

We crossed the bridge from this reality to the next. Bob said it was okay: "tell them Bob told you so!". The rain had just started to come down something dreadful.... this was the start of the thing we've now learned to call an 'atmospheric river'. When I first heard Johanna Wagstaffe use the term a week or two ago, I thought she had invented a beautifully poetic expression.

Coffee Cravings

Coffee at Andrew's on Eighth [building from 1912]

Andrew's on Eighth, located at - as you may suspect :) - at the corner of St Andrews Ave and 8th Street in North Vancouver (maplink), is a super-cozy coffee and lunch place with some of the best breakfast croissants in Vancouver. Their Chai lattes are also pretty awesome.  The building has a fascinating history, see below!

Art Admiration

Megaphone en-route to the Vancouver Art Gallery

Image removed.

At the corner of Georgia and Burrard, sits a Megaphone vendor. Since I had some cash on me, I bought the October issue.

"Where are you heading?" the vendor asked. I shared my planned destination. "The Art Gallery? If I may ask, why do you go to see Art? What do you like about Art?"

Art Admiration

Inspirational Chalk Art by Bren Vancouver

Walking the winding asphalt path through Grand Boulevard Park in North Vancouver, you may encounter the uplifting chalk art by artist Bren. This person has made my day so many times!

The picture below is from October 27th, when a pothole repair on the Second Narrows snarled the traffic... we decided to walk instead and were rewarded!

Art Admiration

Jan Wade - interview with the Artist, Oct 21 2021

The Vancouver Art Gallery has been putting on some amazing webinars; one of them is this session with Jan Wade in conversation with her friend Glenn Alteen. (also check out my other blog post about Jan Wade's current exhibition in the Vancouver Art Gallery).

Highly recommend a listen to this one - it feels very intimate, like listening in on two friends at the table next to you in the coffee shop.