Since creating Shady Morels, my approach was always to spare you my personal life story as much as possible, and focus on what really matters — the food. Now is no time to deviate, so I won’t go into details regarding the lengthy period of […]
Pea and Bacon Risotto for the Nourish Project
Back in the summer I had to opportunity to be part of a very cool project by Gordon Neighbourhood House and the very talented photographer Matt Hanns Schroeter. The project is called Nourish, it’s an intimate community-based photo series showcasing people of Vancouver’s West End community […]
Porcini Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Reduction and Celeriac Puree
Returning to the Pacific Northwest yesterday from a three week surfing and fish taco eating getaway to sunny Sayulita, Mexico; I’m back with a post containing some very wintery food. The eating experiences I enjoyed in Sayulita will definitely inspire some future posts once ingredients […]
Lamb Merguez, Cous Cous, Spiced Carrots, and Lemon Yogurt Tahini Sauce
This meal was just constructed and subsequently devoured. I feel compelled to write about the experience while basking in the aftermath of its epic-ness. There’s nothing overly complicated about this food, it’s just simple and fucking tasty. In my opinion, that is the epitome of good food. The ingredients […]
Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Honey Lemon Thyme Almonds and Pomegranate
I made this panna cotta to end an epic four course meal with wine pairings. For me, this was the highlight of the whole meal, and I’m not normally a dessert person! It’s a simple dessert, amplified by a few exotic ingredients. The thyme really works well, and […]
Wild Mushroom Risotto
Risotto is epic. Think of it as a canvass to unleash your culinary creativity, since it is the perfect vehicle to carry an inspiring flavour to the plate! Follow the formulaic process for creating the risotto base, and then finish it with literally countless variations of accenting flavours. […]
Steelhead Trout with Chanterelles
Early autumn is my favourite time of year. West swell begins to roll into the West Coast again, re-surging the various reef and point breaks back to life; the days are still reasonably long; amazing produce is abundant and inexpensive; and a plethora of delicious […]
Broccolini with Garlic and Red Chilli
Broccolini and chilli form a killer combination. This dish is a go-to when you want something easy and delicious. Usually I pair this with some form of grilled meat and call it dinner. As I write this, I’m realizing it would make a perfect side for […]
Camping Post: Chicken with Red Wine Sauce
I’m currently on the north coast of Barkley Sound. Three days ago I was on the South coast in Bamfield. My life over the last week has involved mainly surfing and fishing for halibut and salmon. I’ve scored on both accounts. Fishing was the best I’ve […]
Romesco Sauce
You can put this stuff on anything! There are a tonne of variations; for this one I just took one of the simplest recipes I could find and added roasted tomato and dried chilis. I made a big batch last week, and it was gone […]
The Port Renfrew (aka Port Manhattan)
I’ve been experimenting with a recently made a batch of cherry hazelnut bitters from the indispensable book Bitters by Brad Parsons. These bitters are exceptionally cool, inspired by West Coast flavours of hazelnut, cherry, and devil’s club root. I’m very excited about playing around with these bitters […]
Mussels and Frites
A classic dish that’s great to share on a warm summer evening on the west coast. This one was made with a spicy thai red chili coconut curry broth, which pairs perfectly with the rich mussels. I’ve perfected fries over the years, I hate deep […]
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