FoodTrek: Get Whisked Awhay to Whistler for a Wheekend!

Whistler for a weekend?! Don't forget Wil Wheaton and Wheat Thins! It's rare that I get to use the so-often underused letter "W," so pardon my enthusiasm. Last week, I tantalized with a recap of this year's Cornucopia food/wine festival in Whistler BC, but, as promised, I wanted to share some truly wonderful dining experiences that are available year-round, as well as the overall charm of this lovely resort town in the Great North. Whistler - ONWARDS!

An apple white chocolate mousse that tastes like clouds, from Alta Bistro - Photo by Wasabi Prime

Food Trek: Vancouver's Natural Wonders, From Sunrise to Sunset

Seattle has a great affection for its Canadian neighbour, Vancouver, and it's not just because we're close enough to knock on their door and borrow a cup of sugar. The moment you see the distinctive skyline, populated with beautifully modern glass towers, you're also welcomed by Vancouver's natural beauty. The lush greenery and expanse of Stanley Park, the picturesque harbor community of False Creek, the forested views of North Vancouver just across the Burrard Inlet, all set against the glorious surrounding mountain views that the Pacific Northwest region is lucky to have. It's an ideal balance of urban and rural, having the cultural benefits of a metropolitan city, but never being so far removed from the abundance of natural resources that built and continue to allow Vancouver to flourish. I fell in love with Vancouver when I first moved to Washington over a dozen years ago when I took the trek up north to play tourist -- I was hooked. Every time I go, I fall in love with this beautiful city that feels like a breath of fresh air. And awwww yeah, they've got poutine. 

The natural wonders of Vancouver... in a skillet. Edible Canada's outstanding duck poutine - Photo by Wasabi Prime

UnRecipe: The Tao of Spaetzle

Spaetzle. What a ridiculously fun word to say out loud: schPAT-zel. And it kind of looks like how it sounds, those marvelous little asymmetrical nuggets of handmade pasta goodness, all messily piled on a plate, usually coated in a butter sauce. They're delicious and perfect with a wintery dish like stew or a big hunk o' meat. Spaetzle is the realm of European grandmas who would make it from scratch for Sunday dinners and countless YouTube videos that show how effortless the process seems, at least until you make it for the first time. Spaetzle isn't difficult, but it requires a bit of finesse, and I'm the first one to say I don't have it, but on my list of to-do's in life, it's my goal to get some of that finesse and truly learn the Tao of Spaetzle.

Spaetzle attempt, Numero Uno - not bad, but could always be better - Photo by Wasabi Prime

FoodTrek: Our Journey to Northern France - Alsace that Ends Well

I shared the German half of our trip to Europe, and now I'm sharing the French-German portion that drew our adventure to a delicious close. Since we were on a tour that followed the Rhine, we visited the Alsace region of France, a beautiful area that has as much German influence as it does French, since cities and towns changed hands between the two countries over the last few hundred years. As a result, you get a distinctive combination of both cultures, delicious food and wine, and some interesting history. Shall we proceed? Allez!

Welcome to France, commence pastry gorge - Photo by Wasabi Prime

FoodTrek: Wine and Dine on the River Rhine

"So, what did you guys do on your trip to Germany?" My gut (har-har) response is, "We drank a lot of local wine and ate a lot of local food." You really do explore a region through its meals, because for places that are centuries-old like Germany, a lot of its living history is in its traditional cuisine. We weren't necessarily having nothing but bratwurst and sauerkraut for the duration of our visit, but we did try to eat and drink things that were directly related to the places we were at. If I were to sum up our visit through Germany, cruising along the Rhine, what we had on the plate and in our glass certainly added additional flavor to all the incredible sights we were treated to.

View from atop Heidelberg Castle - a true feast - Photo by Wasabi Prime