Month: July 2016

Half Note Trail, Whistler

Published by Molly Catherine

This past Friday Irek and I planned to do my favourite hike in Whistler called: High Note Trail. However, once we got to the top of Whistler Mountain, we quickly realized that the weather was not going to cooperate. It was looking as though we had a few chilly hours ahead of us… It was 10 degrees on the top of Whistler Mountain, at the most. The forecast was showing full sun and mid twenties, so we thought we’d both be okay with shorts and a t-shirt. We did this hike a couple years ago, and we both recall how hot we were! The sun was beating down and since it’s a black diamond hike (the most challenging hike on Whistler Mountain), we thought we’d quickly work up a sweat… This was not the case on Friday. We started the hike around 11am and quickly into the first hour the clouds rolled in- some not so happy looking, and the wind picked up. We were both shivering and knew it was going to be a …

Mission Hill Family Estate

Published by Molly Catherine

There is the most beautiful winery in Kelowna called Mission Hill Family Estate. I fell in love with it the first time we visited a few years ago. It’s such a dreamy, magical place, with vineyards surrounding the entire grounds and beautiful views of Lake Okanagan. Mission Hill is also home to The Terrace Restaurant, which is easily one of my favourite restaurants in The Okanagan Valley. They grow most of their own fruits and veggies and work closely with local farmers to source the rest. Irek and I both feel it deserves a 10/10 as the service is unparalleled and the food is to die for… There aren’t too many vegan options on the menu, but the chef was super accommodating and we couldn’t have been happier with our meals. Irek and I will probably head back to The Okanagan Valley a few more times before the season is over, and I recommend you do as well! Just keep in mind that since Mission Hill is one of the most well-known wineries in Kelowna, it …

The Okanagan Valley

Published by Molly Catherine

Irek and I spent the last couple of days in The Okanagan Valley, which is about a 4.5 hour drive from Vancouver. It’s a gorgeous place, with more wineries than you can imagine! I fell in love with this area the first time we discovered it, 3 years ago. There is nature all around and the climate is desert-like so it gets super hot in the summer. The valley is also home to the warmest lakes in all of Canada, so it’s a great place to explore if you like to be on the water (great for supping, kayaking, boating etc). Just outside of Kelowna (which is the main city) is a smaller town called Vernon. At the top of this beautiful hill in Vernon is a resort called Sparkling Hill, our favourite in all of British Columbia. We spent Christmas there this past year with our beautiful friends from Australia, Robyn and Lewis, and they fell in love as well. The resort has 8 different saunas and steam rooms, and it’s also decked out in …

Quinoa Pasta

What I Eat in a Day – Part 2

Published by Molly Catherine

For breakfast I had a big blueberry smoothie… It was super filling, and very similar to the smoothie recipe I posted a few weeks back: Banana Berry Smoothie. I had this smoothie around 9am and a couple hours later I also had a big bowl of pineapple (to keep me full until lunch). For lunch I made a very simple quinoa pasta salad and on the side some sourdough bread with hummus and hemp hearts. In the summer I love making traditional salads like pasta salad, potato salad, coleslaw etc. It’s so easy to make them vegan and actually healthy for you! For dinner I made my own version of Lebanese Mujadra. Not sure how close it was to a traditional Mujadra, as I’m not really one to follow a recipe… I prefer just to wing it, be creative, and hope for the best! In this case, it worked out and was very delicious (Irek rated it a 10!!!). I will definitely be making this again soon. In addition to the 3 meals above, I also …

CHAU Veggie Express

Published by Molly Catherine

Yesterday, Irek and I had a lovely vietnamese meal at CHAU Veggie Express. They have a few locations around Vancouver and we’ve actually been wanting to visit for quite some time. CHAU Veggie Express opened in 1986 and originally served dishes rich in animal products, but over the years, they evolved into a restaurant that serves predominantly vegan dishes. The owners listened to their customers, their friends, and their own personal beliefs that eating meat, dairy and eggs was not ideal and not what our bodies need to survive & thrive. The dishes at CHAU are colourful, aromatic, and super delicious. The portion sizes are also quite large, so you definitely won’t go home hungry! Irek and I probably could have shared a main course… but what’s the fun in that?! Haha. Also, Irek’s not the best at sharing when it comes to food… But seriously, if you’re into Vietnamese food, and located in the Vancouver area, this place is fabulous (and also a great option for take-out). Go try it out and let me …