Recipe by Ben Kiely – Armenian Easter bread recipe

Choereg is a traditional, slightly sweet bread, especially made for Easter time. It is delicious for breakfast with a nice cup of coffee, similar to a French brioche bread. Choereg can be made individually or as a large braided loaf of bread. One of the ingredients is a spice called Malheb, which is used in cooking throughout the…

Cultural Calendar

Autumn is here! Looking for interesting ways to kick off the crisp autumn season? There are many events, festivals, art exhibits, plays and conferences to check out around the city. Let your inner poet explore the Word Vancouver Festival. Afterwards, put on your Vulcan ears and nerd-out at VCON 42 in Richmond. And, if you’re…

Arroz con Leche

Having grown up in the Philippines, rice-based desserts are very familiar to me and, when done right, can be some of my favourite desserts! With the right balance of sweetness and richness, arroz con leche – Colombian rice pudding – is a fantastic finish to a meal. I enjoy rice pudding warm or cold, and…

Gyoza

This delicious snack is a staple appetizer at every Japanese restaurant, and can be found in the frozen-food section of your neighbourhood supermarket… but it’s just as easy to make them from scratch at home. In fact, if you’re having company over, I suggest bringing the party into the kitchen and having everyone lend a…

Noodle Kugel

When I was deciding what to make for this edition, I was immediately drawn to the noodle kugel for its familiarity. This casserole-like dish reminds me of a cross between bread pudding, stuffing and baked mac all in one. I’ve since discovered is an essential staple and side dish at many Jewish gatherings! After researching…

Ebi Sunomono

Vinegar is a much underutilized ingredient in the kitchen, in my opinion. It can transform ingredients that are ordinary or plain into a magical dish. In wintertime, I feel we often end up eating dishes that are heavy or rich, due to the fact it’s the holidays, or because it’s comforting in the cold. While…

Cà phê sữa đá

It’s rainy, windy, dark and cold out – welcome to November in Vancouver. My final recipe of the year is a very simple one… but if you’ve never tried it before, it’s sure to become a staple for you this season (and, frankly, all year round). The French introduced coffee to Vietnam in the mid-19th…

Semla

Semla (or semlor, if there are many) is a traditional sweet dessert commonly found throughout the Scandinavian region. Historically, it began as a bread bun soaked in a bowl of warm milk, which has since evolved into a more refined pastry. The roll is typically a brioche-style sweet yeast bread, flavoured with cardamom and filled…

Mini Tourtières

Though typically served during the holiday season, the French-Canadian tourtière is a brilliant dish to have in cooler months in general. A warm, hearty meat pie is a delectable comfort food – perfect now that our weather has turned chillier. Traditionally, the contents of the pie vary depend upon the region you’re from; most commonly,…

Can sugar be making you hangry?

Most people know that consuming too much sugar is unhealthy. Yet, one in every five calories that Canadians consume come from sugar. This includes both naturally occurring sugars, such as those found in fruit and milk, or added sugars, for instance in cereal or salad dressings. Although the body handles naturally occurring and added sugar…

Som Tam Thai

It’s incredible how much taste and flavour can impact one’s memories. Growing up in Southeast Asia for over a decade, I have had the opportunity to expand my palate and devour the cuisine of the region, but it wasn’t til I moved back to Canada that I really dove headfirst into my love for Thai…

Savijača

Regardless of the time of year, a warm, delicious apple dessert is always my weakness. There’s just something about apples and pastry that go together perfectly. Couple it with a luscious scoop of vanilla ice cream and it’s even more perfect. This savijača is better known to most of us under another name, the strudel.…

Buddha’s Delight

Buddha’s delight – also known as the world’s ultimate veggie stir fry – is quite the adventure for the palate. Named as such because it is a vegetarian dish, Buddha’s Delight is typically served on the first day of Chinese New Year as a part of the feast. It’s absolute proof that a dish can…