By Eudora Koh, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

I admit, I do not frequent the nail salon as often as I should (just look at my boy nails and you’ll understand), but I have gotten my nails done a couple of times for special occasions so I know how nice it is to be pampered and the wonders that nail salons do for us ladies and our cuticles. But what a treat it was to visit Spoiled Nail Bar, a sleek and sassy version of the traditional nail salon that I–along with many others I assume–are used to seeing.

I had the pleasure of attending Spoiled Nail Bar’s official launch party awhile ago, which hosted lifestyle and fashion bloggers and writers. The event was intimate and offered guests a sneak peek of the new store as well as its services, with nail technicians doing nails for the earlier part of the evening. Spoiled Nail Bar is a modern version of your traditional nail salon, located on West Broadway, close to Hemlock.

This fresh and modern rationale explains why the salon is called a “bar” and is even set up like one for your nails. The bright space has a large counter similar to one in a pub/bar, butis innovatively designed to efficiently cut, buffer and polish your nails. There are even high chairs which also add style to the already trendy nail bar, that has a vibrant purple, red and white theme. Spoiled Nail Bar’s owner, Wendy Chiang says she is excited about her new business venture that offers a wide range of services including bare and beautiful or glammed up nails, all at affordable prices.

The warm purple and red accents, which can be seen throughout Spoiled Nail Bar on the walls, furniture and decor, really emphasize its uupscale and ritzy feel, which is exactly what girls want when getting a manicure or pedicure–it all adds to the experience when visiting the new and hip nail bar.

Though french manicures and pedicures are always popular, Wendy told me that at the moment she’s seeing a lot of ladies come in to get gel enhancements for their nails, which are essentially a gel covering that is applied to nails and cured under ultra violet light, resulting in strengthening and length extension of your nails. Gel enhancements are common and ideal for brittle, soft, or weak nails. But aside from gel enhancements, there are also the typical services you would see in a nail salon which include express manicures, pedicures, or both if you really feel like spoiling yourself!

And if you’re thinking of what to do with your girlfriends the next time you get together, Spoiled Nail Bar offers parties for groups of up to 20, where you can watch movies, listen to music or just chit chat with your girlfriends while getting your nails done.

If this is the first time you’ve heard of Spoiled Nail Bar, there’s no better time to drop by and pay them a visit this weekend.  To celebrate Mother’s Day, Spoiled Nail Bar is offering a promotion on their Spoiled Combo for you and your Mom: A “Me Me Me Mani + Pamper Me Pedi = Spoiled fingers and toes” for only $42! To find out more about this Mother’s Day special and more, visit their website. Spoil yourself and your nails at Spoiled Nail Bar. You deserve it!

Reebok Canada, the official outfitter of the Canadian Football League, unveiled the new uniform of the BC Lions today.  Just in time for training camp, the eight CFL teams will start the new season with a brand new reengineered jersey. Each of the teams played an active role in developing not only their new reengineered on field jerseys, but also the look of the new Premier jersey available to their fans.

“The year of the 100^th Grey Cup is an opportunity for us to celebrate our proud past and launch our bright future,” said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon. “And through our partnership with Reebok, with their expertise in professional football jersey design, CFL teams will kick off this historic season with brand new jerseys that feature the latest in technology as they travel the road to the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto.”

Reebok is also expanding its jersey line for fans by offering a new Premier jersey. The Premier jersey was inspired by the on field jersey but has more of a lifestyle fit so fans can go from the stadium straight to their favourite sports bar without feeling the need to change. The new model is made of a double polyester mesh for improved durability. Some teams offer jerseys with topstitched lettering instead of prints. “Reebok wanted to offer a new version of the fan jersey that’s as close as possible to those worn on the field. We’re delighted with the results and I think we can honestly say mission accomplished!” said Stewart Clark, Marketing Director at Reebok Canada.

Fans can purchase the new jersey on CFLshop.ca, on each team website as well as at their respective stores. Starting Tuesday, May 8, the jersey will also be available at Sport Chek, Sports Experts, River City Sports, Jersey City Canada and other select retailers. The suggested retail price is $110.

MMV Giveaway: Modern Mix Vancouver is giving away a BC Lions Women’s Premier Jersey in Size M.  To enter, leave a comment below telling us why you want this new jersey.  A random winner will be chosen from the comments below. Be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you’re a winner. BC mailing addresses only. Contest ends Sunday, May 20th (11:59pm PST).  

For additional entries, you can do the following things;

• For a second entry: Follow @ModernMixVan on Twitter and tweet “I want to win a @BCLions women’s premier jersey from @ModernMixVan. http://bit.ly/IKBPd5 RT to enter!”
• For a third entry: Like” the Modern Mix Vancouver Page on Facebook and write on the wall: “I want to win a BC Lion’s women’s premier jersey from Modern Mix Vancouver! http://bit.ly/IKBPd5″

Edible Canada at the Market on Granville Island is a full service 150-seat bistro, focusing on new Canadian cuisine. Unpretentious, welcoming and accessible, Edible Canada features menu items sourced from across Canada. I have recently heard a lot of buzz about the local and sustainable menu at the Edible Canada Bistro and decided to check it out for brunch.

Menus are ever-changing following the seasons and what Edible Canada chefs find in the Granville Island Public Market on a day-to-day basis.  When I went last weekend, I had the Yarrow Meadows Duck Confit Hash ($15).  The shredded duck was mixed into small, diced hashbrowns, which is unusual from the big chunks of potatoes I’m used to.  Because of the small cubes of potatoes, I found that they were extremely flavourful as the sauce marinated the hashbrowns. I may have tasted a bit of sweetness in there, so there was a playful salty and sweet contrast on the pallet.  If you’re going to order this dish, make sure you LOVE mushrooms because there sure were a lot of different varieties in hash.

My friend had the Wild Mushroom Benny ($11) which he thought was a well-balanced meal – creamy hollandaise on bright white poached eggs.

I initially thought the portions were a bit small, but we were both quite satisfied after our meals.  If you’re on a budget, there are definitely breakfast and brunch menu items in the $10 range – such as the brioche Grilled Cheese with brie, cheddar, olive jam and okangan apple ($10) and the Edible Canada Breakfast with free range eggs, pork & apple sausage and crispy duck fat fried hashbrowns ($12). It’s only if you get into the seafood items for brunch where it gets slightly more pricy – for example the East Coast Lobster Mac & Cheese ($19)

For those of you looking for an additional kick to your morning meal, try the  Maple Caesar, a truly Canadian experience – the maple leaf prevails on the Canadian flag, while the Caesar drink recipe originated from Calgary.

For those of you in a rush there is a  take out window for tasty bites and Salt Spring Coffee to go.  In addition to weekend brunch, Edible Canada is open daily for lunch and dinner.

by Alicia Woodside, Modern Mix Vancouver Fitness Writer

Growing up, I was a wimpy skier, as my body didn’t adjust well to cold temperatures. Even now, I still feared those cold windy days on the mountain.

A couple years back, I was skiing in BC’s spectacular Kootenays and although the landscape is unreal, so is the temperature, at -20 plus wind chill! In an effort to help me still ski the area’s beautiful mountains, my mom presents me with the ultimate weather defense– a face mask! I was quite grateful for some protection for my neck and face, until I looked in the mirror, and realized that I was still cold, and now I looked like Darth Vader. Needless to say, there were some interesting photos of me up on the mountain looking scary.

This past Easter that I was able to revisit BC’s coldest corridor on skis, and thankfully, this time I was equipped with a Nibz Bandana, created by Whistler snowboard cross gal Sara Niblock. With Nibz, Sara has created a selection of vibrant, groovy “bandanas” to protect the face and neck on the slopes, in a clear stand against the Darth Vader-esque look that the previous face masks achieved.

My first impression of Nibz was a good one. Sara took something that could look nerdy, and made it into a fashionable accessory. Given my experience wearing Nibz’ Darth Vader competitor, I was ecstatic about the idea that face masks can actually look rad. Nibz’ online store was fun, with so many bright and fun prints to peruse. Finally I chose the ultimate fashion piece– the Marilyn Monroe print!

Immediately when I put on the bandana, I received a compliment, and I wasn’t even out of the parking lot. So at this point, I was happy to wear the Nibz, regardless of function. But how would it do on the slopes?

I was able to try Nibz with and without helmet, and with several jacket styles, too investigate use in different scenarios. On my first day, I wore the Nibz together with no helmet, and only a toque, and I found the bandana was great. It stayed in place, and succeeded to block the small amount of wind that lingered that day on the mountain. I was impressed, the three-layer construction provided a good layer of insulation against whatever came my way. On day two and three, I experimented with different uses. First I tried the bandana together with a helmet, with less success– I found that this particular helmet interfered with the bandana’s ideal fit on my face, because the chin strap forced it lower. Next, I tried the bandana with a jacket that comes high on the chin, zipped all the way up. In this case I found that the bandana was essentially redundant, as this jacket zipped up to the same level as the bandana.

Overall, the functional potential of Nibz has a lot to do with the combination of garments you wear, and I would recommend the bandana as most useful if your jacket does not come quite high enough to protect your neck and chin. But regardless of that, I’m certain that this little piece can go a long way to spicing-up your mountain fashion– and for only $29.99 and made locally, it’s a no-brainer.  Nibz Bandanas are available for purchase online at nibz.ca.

Enjoy what’s left of Spring Skiing!

A sure sign that warmer weather is on its way, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia is delighted to announce the re-opening of Reflections, an elegant alfresco rooftop bar and lounge, in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Located on the hotel’s fourth floor and surrounded by the storied walls of the 85 year-old historic building, Reflections embodies Rosewood Hotels & Resort’s guiding principle, “A Sense of Place” with locally- sourced menu ingredients, classically-inspired cocktails, sleek teak furniture and a striking peak-through of the Vancouver skyline.

Vibrant and effortlessly stylish, Reflections is surrounded by soothing infinity water features and flowing art installations. On one side, six exclusive cabanas face a roaring stone fire pit, complete with plush cushions and warming heaters for cooler nights; on the other, oversized teak couches and polished tables are flanked by a gleaming chrome cocktail bar and grill, home to an exceptional team of bartenders and talented cooks.

Leading the culinary program at both Reflections and all hotel dining venues, Chef Ken Nakano has created a classically-inspired, locally sourced light-bite menu. Signature items include: scallop ceviche with endive salad, tomato aioli and lime vinaigrette; striped shrimp terrine with red pepper romesco sauce; smoked sablefish & salmon croquetas; and grilled chorizo sausage with honey mussels and saffron vinaigrette. Vintage and original cocktails to complement include the Cosmopolitan Daisy (Tanqueray 10 gin, Cointreau, lime and house- made raspberry syrup), Penicillin (blended Islay scotch, lemon juice and candied ginger) as well as the ever popular Hotel Georgia, recently noted by enRoute magazine as Cocktail of the Year. A well chosen wine list offers global selections with an emphasis on boutique BC wines, quality and value.

Enjoy Life. Drink Tea. Celebrate Often.  Introducing Tracy Stern SALONTEA, a New York-based tea boutique that’s opening up its first Canadian boutique in Vancouver’s South Granville district in May 2012.  Not just your average cup of tea, SALONTEA is a sought-after sipping-must for Royals and celebrities such as Oprah and Rihanna; attracting widespread global attention and demand from as far away as Dubai, Moscow, Guatemala and Cannes.

SALONTEA’s Vancouver location embraces the rich artistry of tea blending and tasting; fusing it with a unique, modern-day appeal.  SALONTEA will offer a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere to patrons in search of a unique tea experience where they can connect, think, write and celebrate. In addition to more than a dozen tempting, estate blended teas, customers can partake in daily tea service while perusing a selection of baked offerings, sweets and other gourmet tea-worthy treats, courtesy of Meinhardt’s next door.

With the expansion of SALONTEA (including themed tea parties!) to Vancouver, locals can look forward to browsing through an extensive selection of teas, accessories and tea beauty care products which are all part of the SALONTEA line.  Also available at the boutique: signed-copies of Tracy Stern’s popular book, ‘Tea Party: 20 Themed Tea Parties with Recipes for Every Occasion, from Fabulous Showers to Intimate Gatherings’.

Vancouver SALONTEA hours is anticipated to be 10am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 5pm weekends & holidays.  Stayed tuned on Modern Mix Vancouver for more information when SALONTEA actually opens!

By Eudora Koh, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

Modern Mix Vancouver was invited to the spring/summer 2012 showcase hosted by Oak and Fort.

The quaint and delicate Oak and Fort boutique is situated in gastown, such an appropriate neighborhood as it is also home to many underground and fashion forward styles and shops. I love seeing collections that smaller boutiques choose every season because I know their pieces will be unique and different than what is sold at mainstream retail chains.  The store was founded in 2010, and has since been offering Vancouverites a selection of international and quality garments. The very special part is that sometimes their in-house designers fuse together collections with their own (Oak and Fort’s) designs, resulting in one of a kind pieces that Oak and Fort can call unique to their brand.

The media event that evening was lovely, from the breads, cheese, drinks, pastel decorated cupcakes and the harpist in the window case (yes, a harpist!), playing beautiful music for guests. The in-store setting was very intimate, with models posing every 15 minutes to showcase Oak and Fort’s spring/summer collection, giving guests the opportunity to take some great photos.

From initial observations, the Oak and Fort ss2012 collection is full of very soft colors and light and flowing material. You can expect to see sheer blouses, long dresses and skirts, light weight trousers, shorts, and shawls, as well as neutral and versatile tops. The collection very much embodies their buying team’s vision of culture, art, fashion and exploration. You can be certain you will make full use of Oak and Fort pieces because the colors are neutral enough to mix and match with various outfits so that one piece can create so many different looks, both casual and formal.

The ss2012 collection represents that effortlessly chic look—what you expect a trend setter to wear in the upcoming warmer seasons. Unlike many smaller boutiques that carry international designers, the nice thing about Oak and Fort is their reasonable and affordable pricing.  I highly recommend checking Oak and Fort out if you haven’t already. Alternatively, you can visit the Oak and Fort website to view the spring/summer 2012 collection and shop online.

Ensemble Tap (990 Smithe Street), or eTap as commonly referred to, is the second urban eatery from Chef Dale MacKay, winner of 2011′s Top Chef Canada.  eTap opened in December 2011, and offers casual dining with an extensive beer on tap, as the name suggests.

eTap is a 130-seater pub-style restaurant offering tap-house favourites like chicken wings, meat pies, ribs, fish and chips, burgers and sandwiches – food that pairs with fabulous beer or wine.  A 35-foot bar, made from reclaimed fir and galvanized barn lights spans across the first floor of the restaurant.   A 40-seat private party area in the mezzanine overlooks the bar and is situated above the keg cooler.

Although MacKay’s niche and forte may be in fine dining, his love of simple, classic foods stem from his mother and his Prairie background.  For instance, eTap’s bone-on pork rack chop with sauerkraut signifies one of MacKay’s favourite childhood meals.  This signature dish is soaked in brine for eight hours before being smoked, grilled, and served.   Other notable dishes include the Top Chef-winning pulled pork sandwich ($13) with MacKay’s famous BBQ spice, Mussels and Fries ($18) in a Thai Curry Broth, and Thai chicken wings ($12/pound).

ensembleTap is located on Smithe Street by Scotiabank Theatre and is a perfect pre or post-movie dinner spot, or a lively location to watch the game.

By Joanna Lee, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

Caché Bistro & Lounge is a French-Asian fusion restaurant and true to its French name, is hidden in a corner of Yaletown at Drake and Hamilton.  Only four months since its inception, Cache has already received praise from the local dining industry and has even won OpenTable’s 2012 Diner’s Choice Award.

Caché is helmed by brothers Jason and Alex Mok, who previously worked with the former chef to the King of Belgium.  Alex and his wife, Zoe, hosted “underground supper clubs,” cooking and serving friends and locals at their Vancouver apartment.  Custom menus were designed by Alex and the two hosted intimate dinner parties before bringing their passion for food into the restaurant industry.

The menu is French and Asian inspired and primarily “nibblies” and tapas style.  Fairly priced for their size, dishes include the signature spinach and cream cheese stuffed portobello cap ($13), veal tenderloin tataki ($14) and the foie gras creme brulee with flying fish caviar ($10).  Sides include yam fries ($5) with a special house made ketchup (sans preservatives we were told) and lotus chips with chipotle mayo.  Instead of the conventional bread served as an appetizer, Cache serves deep fried pickles coated in cornmeal and crispy chickpeas with a lemon vinaigrette before you even order.  Drinks include hand-crafted cocktails such as a blueberry mojito and the Pineapple Express and one will also find German and Belgian beers on the menu.  Cache serves brunch seven days a week as well as a seasonal 3-course $35 set menu, with a variety to choose from and changing every two weeks.

Cache is a hidden gem with upbeat french music and great ambience conducive for lounging.  The food is affordable, fresh, and focuses on seasonal ingredients.  Cache is a great addition to Yaletown and absolutely worth trying.

Part of the Thai House Restaurant Group, Pink Elephant Thai, the baby of the family, will be celebrating its first anniversary this month.  Did you know, that over the course of one year, the busy restaurant used 8,352,000 ml of coconut milk, 20,000 kg of rice, 800 pounds of basil leaves, and 9,880,000 grams of curry paste?!

I went last week for dinner and noticed that they were playing the Canucks game on multiple screens.  I can see why Pink Elephant Thai is a great alternative hotspot to catch the game on the big screen, while enjoying authentic Thai food, cocktails or Singha beer (a popular beer in Thailand).  To cheer on the Canucks, Pink Elephant Thai is offering $5 appetizers and $3 local beers on all Canucks game nights. For those who want to escape the hockey game but still enjoy some Thai favorites, Pink Elephant’s upstairs dining room is tucked away from the sports action.

In the main portion of the restaurant, Pink Elephant Thai features a popular communal table running the length of the restaurant, as well as oversized booths, and a chef’s table to catch all the kitchen action. Overall, the look is ultra sleek with gleaming white, cool grey, polished black, and lots of the restaurant’s bright, signature pink.

Pink Elephant Thai’s menu offers both New World and Traditional set dinner menus for parties of two to six, as well options for shared appetizer platters. In my party of two, we ordered a la carte and shared Thai Spring Rolls ($9) and the Yum Woon San ($10) salad, which is a traditional Thai salad with minced pork and tiger prawns mixed with vermicelli noodles, and flavoured with various Thai spices.  Because the springrolls are deep-fried, crispy and oily, I requested a side of fresh lettuce, which I wrapped my spring rolls in.  I loved the combination of cool, crisp lettuce, contrasting against the hot crunch of the spring rolls – try it out, it’s a totally different spring roll experience.  As for the salad, I was pleasantly surprised that the glass noodle salad was served warm.  For the main course, we shared a Green Curry Chicken ($12) with a side of jasmine rice ($3).

The next time I visit Pink Elephant Thai, I would like to try the Pad Thai (a classic Thai noodle dish), which is on special for $9 on every Monday night.

Pink Elephant Thai is located at 1152 Alberni Street and open seven days a week, from 11:30am through 10:30pm. It’s open late for special parties and on weekends, always serving lunch, dinner, cocktails, plus everything in between.