Miscellaneous – Goboroot.com

Reminder of Thankfulness for Life’s Ordinary Things

Today in particular, I feel pain in my heart. At the same time, I take time to be thankful for everything that I have. It’s been only two years since the Tsunami disaster occurred; however, I wonder how survivors have been recovering. Or should I say, it’s been two years, and I wonder if these survivors have found a way to heal their broken hearts. I cannot even begin to imagine. I truly hope that these people will be able to move forward, and find more moments of happiness as time marches on. I hope my little prayer will reach them.

この日は心に痛みを感じる日。そして平穏な日々に特に感謝をする日。僅か二年だが津波に襲われた人々の人生はどのように回復しているのか、それとももう二年もの日々が過ぎたというのに、いったい少しでも心の傷を癒すすべさえ見つける事が出来たのか、私にはとても想像すら出来ない。ただ思う事は、どうか被災者の方達がこの災難を乗り越えて、それぞれの人生に少しの瞬間でも、幸せを見つけられたらと。こんな私の小さな願いがどうか届きますように。

Denman Island

It is always a treat when our dear friend Brian invites us to his family cabin on Denman Island off Vancouver Island. It’s a two ferry ride trip but it is worth the time when we see the gorgeous view emerge as we get closer to shore, and feel the sense of tranquility surrounding the island.

Today, I’d like to jot down some food ideas for lazy summer days in a cabin or such. Preparing the right food to pack can make a trip much more enjoyable, especially when you go into a remote place. Little things like tucking away a jar of cane sugar, homemade sauce and pre-cut fresh vegetables in a cooler will help a great deal.

I have found that living with foodie friends for a few days is always an eye opening experience, and always helps me better develop my palate. Last week when we were there, we ate great food, chugged a lot of gin and tonics with a refreshing twist of limoncello, walked, photographed, ate some more, visited a farm, breathed the freshest possible air, and ate again till late.

Here are some of the delicious food we devoured:

Freshly picked snap peas and turnips served with goma ae vinegar sauce.

Tapas platter of organic turkey salami, prosciutto, pickled tomato and mixed olives from Whole Foods.

Raincoast crisps and St. Benoit Ermite blue cheese.

Crab cakes served with pepper jelly, and fresh shrimp from a local fishmonger in Buckley Bay.

Homemade pizza Margherita and a big bowl of green salad from my garden.

A slice of buttermilk pound cake served with freshly picked local strawberries, vanilla ice cream and a glass of Grand Marnier.

Cheese & dill scones, soda bread and Italian bread from Savary Island Pie Company.

French toast made with Italian bread served with make-do Grand Marnier orange syrup (with this, one can almost do without maple syrup!) and organic pork sausage on the side.

Grilled asparagus.

Slightly overcooked roasted sirloin tips and roasted vegetables in tomato sauce served with a loaf of the soda bread.

Homemade rhubarb bars and a bowl of fresh fruit with a big dab of mocha yogurt.

All of the above food we managed to eat in only three days!

If you are still reading this, you may be wondering what else happened. I don’t have a satisfactory answer, since everything else seems to have faded into fuzzy memories thanks to my indulgence in more than one warm glass of Grand Marnier.

Beyond Bread

Although I come from a country of rice aficionados, I have always been a big bread eater, as has the rest of my family. I grew up eating Japanese silky textured white bread smeared with margarine and red bean paste until, as an adolescent, I started to have a burning desire to be like French models who eat a long piece of baguette every morning with a block of butter all washed down with an espresso, a glass of orange juice and a bottle of Evian water. Little did I know that they had to work out many hours and eat vegetables for the rest of the day to support this habit! Later, when I became an adult, I fell in love with heavy rustic bread for its dense texture and profound flavour. I loved to serve it with a big pot of soup and a matured cheese wheel (not quite as big), just like the ones you may have seen as a child in “Heidi, Girl of the Alps,” the Japanese anime series based on the Swiss novel.

So I greatly miss the time when I lived in Kitsilano, Vancouver where I used to take short walks with a charming view of the nearby bakeries. There it was so easy to find an amazing variety of rustic breads… since then, I have been baking at home, as we live far away from that neighbourhood, but despite my best efforts, I have never achieved that complex flavour and texture that I crave. As a result, I have an enormous appreciation for artisan bakers. Today, I’d like to introduce you to an artisan bakery that I love in the heart of Kitsilano, Vancouver, just a few blocks from the beach! Your next visit to Kitsilano will be a more exciting experience with a stop at this delectable bakery, where you can enjoy a tasty baguette sandwich and a rich cup of coffee, plus purchase a loaf of whole wheat peasant to enjoy back at home! A big thank you to Jim at BEYOND BREAD for the opportunity to capture his artistry.