“Experience the civilized pleasures of the salon with fine SALONTEAs”—Tracy Stern

By Eudora Koh, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

This past weekend, Modern Mix Vancouver was invited to a lavish and modern day tea party on South Granville at the official Canadian launch of Tracy Stern’s’ SALONTEA.  The concept originated from New York, which explains its stylish name as well as its ability to draw together some of the trendiest from Vancouver’s lifestyle scene. The glamorous Tracy Stern, CEO and visionary of SALONTEA, and author of “Tea Party: 20 themed tea parties” book, was available at the event for interviews and autograph signings.

Tracy Stern’s SALONTEA is a unique and one of a kind tea boutique, serving your traditional teas and treats, but in an environment that is not your typical Vancouver tea house. Walk into SALONTEA and immediately be dazzled by its high ceilings, bright accents (mainly orange, pink and brown), splashed against the store’s shiny white tile walls. It feels like you are in an adorned salon or boutique, as its design and interior decor is decorative, fresh and contemporary.

And of course as it is a tea house, you can purchase high tea for two or more, complete with your choice of their beautifully named teas like The Musician (rooibos), The Writer (Indian chai), The Romantic (green tea), The Lover (chocolate chai), The Natural Beauty (rooibos), The Sleeping Beauty (chamomile), and The Fashionable Dandy (black tea). All very sensuous and seductive names, and very appropriate for the entire experience SALONTEA has to offer.

To enhance the baroque SALONTEA house experience at the grand opening, there were two girls dressed in bright pink and orange Mary Antoinette costumes—from head to toe (yes they even wore pink and orange wigs!) And of course, what’s a tea party without the teas and sweet and savory treats?  Guests were invited to try a few different SALONTEA favorites like iced chai latte, infused iced romantic green tea with jasmine and pomegranate juice, and traditional warm vanilla flavored teas. And the dainty tiers of bite sized treats included macaroons, salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, croissant sandwiches, pastries, scones and cupcakes galore!

Prices for high tea are still being finalized, but you can look forward to SALONTEA opening up very soon in the South Granville neighborhood, offering up a stylish way of having tea in a very modern and polished boutique styled tea house. And if you’re not in the mood to stay for tea, there are packs of SALONTEAs you can purchase to drink at home. SALONTEA books and trinkets are also available for purchase too. Either way, the next time you do decide to go for high tea, be sure to visit SALONTEA; it’s definitely the fanciful and exclusive New York twist on Vancouver afternoon tea—one that every girl is sure to adore!

Earlier this month, I got my hair cut and coloured, compliments of the owner and creative director of Verve Hair Lounge, Amber George. Located in Lonsdale in North Vancouver, a quick seabus ride away from downtown Vancouver, Verve Hair Lounge prides itself on being a customer-centric and welcoming lounge with a downtown feel.  When you’re getting a 3+ hour hair cut and colour, you have plenty of time to make yourself comfortable and get to know your stylist!

Fourteen years in the industry, and born and raised in BC, Amber was originally training to be a make-up artist. However, she was drawn to the 3D aspect of hair styling, which adds a whole new layer of creativity – of textures, colour, length and style.  In 2009, Amber opened her own hair salon.  The small but growing team of 4 at Verve are all staff members, which means no chair rentals from random stylists.

For my hair cut and colour, Amber used a new Redken hair colour line on me.  The product was just launched on April 1st. It is an ammonia-free hair colour that is odor free and leaves the hair 2x fortified.  In fact, I was given a mini science lesson on how hair absorbs colour.  Basically, with traditional hair dye, the ammonia opens up the hair cuticles (like shingles on a roof) to absorb colour.  This leads to hair damage from heat (ie. your curling or straightening iron) or cheap shampoo.  However, with the new Redken ammonia oil-based colour line, the science behind it is based on the principle of how oil and water don’t mix.  The oil-based product pushes the colour into the hair, without having to open up the hair cuticles, and also fortifies the hair because of proteins and amino acids being absorbed into the hair.

Being more conservative with my hair, and wanting a hair cut and colour that is relatively low maintenance, I asked for a “good girl brown”. Although Amber hadn’t heard of that term before, she quickly laughed and agreed it was a good description to use because a colour image came to mind right away.  She suggested using three layers of subtly different shades of brown in my hair – with the lightest at the top of my head, and a gradual, subtle darkening to my ends.  As a result, my hair is given the illusion of a naturally sunkissed look, as sunshine tends to lighten the top of our heads and less so at the ends.

For the first week, the colour wasn’t really noticeable, but after 2 – 3 washes, the gradual colour change is beginning to show through and I’m getting frequent compliments about my subtle change in hair colour.

But enough about my hair, what about other Vancouverites Amber has styled for?

Throughout her career, Amber has been heavily involved in the Vancouver fashion industry.  She is a popular pick for local designers and their photoshoots – having styled for Vancouver designers including Nicole Bridger, Adhesif, and Carlie Wong.  In fact, by coincidence, I ran into Amber again a week later in downtown Vancouver on her way to Vancouver Eco Fashion Week!

Nicole Bridger

Adhesif Clothing

Carlie Wong

In addition, Amber recently was crowned the national winner of the Rowenta Beauty Versa Style Competition, which consisted of members of the Canada’s beauty industry competing to create the best look using the Rowenta Versa Style iron. As part of her prize package, Amber was invited to join the hair team at Toronto Fashion Week.  Amber had the opportunity to style hair for designers such as Joe Fresh, Matis by Lucien Matis, Holt Renfrew, Adrian Wu, Laura Siegel, Chloe Comme Paris, Soia & Kyo and Eva Chen.

The definition of “Verve” is: the spirit and enthusiasm animating artistic composition or performance.   As you can see, Amber’s creative flair is aligned with her aptly named “Verve” Hair Lounge.  Experience Verve for yourself.  Verve Hair Lounge is located at 227 Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver.  To book an appointment with Amber or another member of her team, call: 778-340-4654.

At Ayoub’s Dried Fruits and Nuts, you can literally go nuts, over nuts!  When I first stumbled across this brightly lit shop on Denman Street, I felt like I was in a glorified version of the bulk food section of IGA.  At least 50 round bins textured with middle Eastern detailing, like oversized chalices or trophies, held a variety of roasted nuts and dried fruit mixtures. Along the side of the shop, a vast selection Persian sweets and spices are lined up neatly on shelves.

At Ayoub’s, you can go nuts over dry-roasted hazelnuts, roasted peanuts with a hint of salt and spice and crunchy pistachios.   Not only are nuts delicious, they also have health benefits.  The “good fat” in nuts helps regulate brain function, build muscle and keep you feeling great.  If you’re an athlete, a nutty snack can give you a competitive edge because nuts are an excellent source of energy and perfect before and after a workout.

So who is Ayoub anyway?  Ayoub Hosseini is a professional chef with literally 20-plus years of experience and expertise in the fruit and nut business. For Ayoub, it’s more than just a job. It’s a way of life – a passion that’s been driving him to perfect all of his recipes and methods since he first learned his craft back in the early 1980’s.

The notion behind his dried fruits and nuts shop is based on a simple concept: to select only the highest quality raw ingredients from trusted suppliers around the world, and combine those quality ingredients with a variety of sophisticated flavours and textures, resulting in a snack food sensation that’s healthy, satisfying and “nut”ritious.  According to Ayoub, the key to great tasting roasted nuts is to eat them right after they come out of the roaster.  Ayoub hand-roasts all of his products on site at the store.

In addition to nuts, you can also purchase a variety of unique, delicious and healthy dried seeds including, Chubby Pumpkins and Wonderful Watermelons. Chewy and delicious, these seeds are a mainstay of a healthy diet and are very high in fibre.

Meanwhile, for Ayoub’s dried fruit, they remain “wonderfully moist and chewy” because “dried fruit should not be dried-out fruit”.  Ayoub features a wide variety of family-recipe dried fruits and nuts.  A must try is Ayoub’s Dried Fruit Mix which features kiwis, plums, mangos, figs, dates, lemons, oranges, apples, bananas and persimmon fruit.

Lastly, in addition to nuts, seeds and dried-fruit, you can purchase a range of specialty Middle Eastern treats from Ayoub’s. Turkish coffees, candy, tea and chocolate are just a few of the many specialties available.  These are great as a sweet treat for yourself, or as a gift.

As you can see, there is an incredibly wide selection of snacks available at Ayoub’s.  For the bulk items, you pay by the gram, so you can mix and match at an affordable price and find your favourite.

Ayoub’s Dried Fruits and Nuts has two retail locations – in the Downtown Vancouver West End at 986 Denman Street and also in North Vancouver at 1332 Lonsdale Avenue.

]]> http://modernmixvancouver.com/index.php/2012/04/15/go-nuts-with-ayoubs-dried-fruits-nuts-on-denman-street/feed/ 0 http://modernmixvancouver.com/index.php/2012/03/22/violet-hill-fashion-boutique-in-steveston-village-mmv-giveaway-for-a-50-gift-certificate/ http://modernmixvancouver.com/index.php/2012/03/22/violet-hill-fashion-boutique-in-steveston-village-mmv-giveaway-for-a-50-gift-certificate/#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:30:10 +0000 vanessa http://modernmixvancouver.com/?p=7146

By Eudora Koh, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

Deep in the heart of Richmond lays the seaside town of Steveson, known for its boardwalk and fishing culture. What may not be top of mind for many when it comes to Steveson is clothing, fashion and style. But those were the only things on everyone’s mind last Friday at Violet Hill Boutique, nestled amongst other small shops in the small community.  Modern Mix Vancouver was invited to the exclusive media event, which drew some of the city’s most influential fashionistas and offered colourful macaroons, tasty cheeses, lots of bubbly, and most important, beautiful and one of a kind designer pieces handpicked by Nicola Gillam, owner of Violet Hill boutique.

Nicola grew up in Steveson and wanted to share with her community the boutique experience when it comes to clothing, fashion and accessories. With a major in History and Political Sciences, Nicola realized later, like many graduates, that she wanted to do something in life unrelated to her education. With her love of fashion, her natural ambition, and a business saavy mindset, Nicola opened up Violet Hill Boutique in August 2011, naming it after her favorite Cold Play song.

We heard several remarks about how the pretty boutique decor of Violet Hill makes you think it belongs in Yaletown or Kitsilano.  But that’s the beauty of it! Violet Hill boutique itself is such a cozy little shop that is decorated and furnished just like a teahouse, brightly lit with high celings, detailed white trimming around the walls and windows, and a deep blue that cover the walls.

With a bohemian flair as a common theme amongst all selected pieces, labels at Violet Hill boutique range from the recognizable Gentle Fawn to Alternative Apparel, to labels I was introduced to (and fell in love with!) such as Eryn Brinie, Liebeskind and Valerie Dumaine. Along with the many neutral and earthy tones available in store, there are also a select few bright and funky colors that will pair well with your wardrobe staples. Both the dressier and more casual pieces were consistent with the practicality, trendiness and femininity that encompass Violet Hill.

Many of the tees and blouses caught my eye, as well as spring dresses made from stiffer material, but still held that cute nautical and classic style. There are so many unique pieces in store, that are decently priced and ones that you won’t find anyone else wearing on the busy downtown streets. Similarly, the accessories sold in Violet Hill are one of a kind, including the Social Experiment collection of Westcoast-inspired cocktail rings ($28). Georgia Heraty, designer and creator of the cocktail rings, was at the event to take custom orders for her gorgeous rings, two of which I purchased at the event and can’t stop wearing!  Meanwhile, Vanessa purchased a 14k gold and amethyst necklace ($89) from another Vancouver designer, Chantale Jewelry Designs.

So the next time you’re in Steveson, be sure to check out the purple jewel by the sea, Violet Hill, which is just as stylish and chic as any other boutique you will find in downtown Vancouver. You can’t miss it!  For more photos, check out the gallery below with photos by MCS Photos.

MMV Giveaway: Modern Mix Vancouver is giving away a $50 Gift Certificate to Violet Hill Boutique! Leave a comment below telling us what your favourite springtime accessory is.  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. Contest ends Sunday, April 8th (11:59pm PST).  Winner will pick up their $50 Gift Certificate in store at Violet Hill (12211 No 1 Road, Richmond).

For additional entries, you can do the following things;

• For a second entry: Follow @ModernMixVan on Twitter and tweet “I want to win $50 to @VHillBoutique from @ModernMixVan http://bit.ly/GT16nI . RT to enter!”
• For a third entry: “Like” the Modern Mix Vancouver Page on Facebook and post on the wall “I want to win $50 to Violet Hill Boutique from Modern Mix Vancouver! http://bit.ly/GT16nI”

By no means a pub crawl, explore Gastown’s exciting craft beer scene on Vancouver Food Tour’s beer-centric culinary tour.  Upon signing up for the craft beer and bites tour, we knew we’d be stopping by four different destinations during the three-hour tour, but the locations aren’t revealed until you meet your tour group.  We met our tour guide, Nicole Coetzee, and the other 8 – 10 members of the tour at Waterfront Station in Gastown.

The four Gastown locations we went to were Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar, Pourhouse, Clough Club and Bitter Tasting Room.   Each destination features unique aspects of beer including beer history and brewing process, beer cocktails, modern gastropub snacks and how to pair beer and food.

At the first location, Rogue Kitchen and Wetbar, all three beer selections were from British Columbia – Central City (Surrey), Driftwood Brewery (Victoria) and R&S Brewing Co. (East Vancouver).  We had a lobster macaroni and cheese, a hearty, spicy chilli and a bite-sized vietnamese sandwich to pair with our drinks.

Our Vancouver tour guide, Nicole, was really knowledgeable and personable.  She was well rehearsed in her tour speeches, yet the way she spoke about her craft beers was in a conversational, storytelling style, rather than a textbook lecture.  Nicole was able to describe craft beer with the five senses:

• sight - how beer should look, the significance of the glass beer bottle colour
• sound - what the “pop” of a beer cap should sound like to ensure the beer is fresh
• smell - the typical aromas of different styles of beer
• touch - the texture of beer on your palette (is it creamy? smooth? velvety?)
• taste - the actual flavour of the beer and the styles of food it would be best paired with.

In addition, not only was she able to give us the spheal on the beer itself, she also produced snippets of information on Gastown history as we hopped from location to location.

Next up was Pourhouse. There, we sampled another beer from Driftwood Brewery, but were also introduced to two American brewery creations – a Pale Ale from Mirror Pond (Oregon) and and the Imperial 8 Ball Stout from Loast Coast Brewery (California).  For food pairings, see image below:

Most of the patrons of the beer tour came in pairs.  In our group, most of the people were from Vancouver, although we had a couple from New Zealand as well! In general, I found that conversation flowed easily with everyone in the group.  Because we switched locations every 40 minutes or so, conversations didn’t run stale because you could sit beside a new person at the next location.  If you ever ran out of things to say, you could always divert your attention back to food and drink.

At the Donnelly Group’s newest restaurant, Clough Club, we were served an “orange hop-sicle” beer cocktail which consisted of 2 oz of Cointreau, 3 oz of Driftwood Far Tug IPA, 1/2 oz dash of simple syrup and 3 dash Peychaud’s bitters to round it all out.  The cocktail was strong, with contrasting flavours of sweet and bitter.  Keep your eyes peeled for more and more innovative beer cocktail concoctions – that seems to be a recent alcoholic beverage trend in Vancouver.

Lastly, at Bitter Tasting Room, we had another flight of beers paired with dessert.  Dessert was made up of multi layers of cream, nuts, cake and cherry, served in a jam jar.  At the last location, we were encouraged to stay as long as we liked to continue to social with our tour group.

Convinced?  Hop on board and meet fellow beer devotees as you taste, sip, and bite through historic Gastown.  With a passionate beer educator as your guide, curious beer lovers and serious beer enthusiasts alike will discover, enjoy and discuss craft brews alongside a variety of food pairings.

The next Craft Beer & Bites tour will be on April 3.  The $80 tour includes beer tastings at each of the 4 destinations, hand-selected food pairings and an informative and interactive guided walking tour.  Click here for more information and to register online for the tour.

By Kuan Ho, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

With St. Patrick’s Day coming around the corner, what better fit that to feature The Irish Heather and its true Irish heritage on Modern Mix Vancouver?

Located at 210 Carrall Street, The Irish Heather has been a Gastown staple since 1997 when Irishman Sean Heather opened his first establishment.  We were greeted by Mike Mitchell, Director at the Heather Hospitality Group, who explained to us that the company has always strived to keep the pub as authentic as possible. The beautiful exposed brick walls are decorated with original Guinness posters from the 1950s and the menu is populated with familiar Irish fare such as bangers & mash and pot pie. More importantly, there is zero tolerance for cheesy “plastic paddy” decorations: no green plastic hats, no pictures of shamrocks, and certainly no green beer. This place is the real deal.

We also heard that The Irish Heather serves the “best pint of Guinness in town”. As a casual fan of Guinness, the thought of having the “best” certainly piqued my interest.  I ordered a traditional pint of Guinness while Vanessa had the Guinness & Black, which is made with an ounce of Ribena blackcurrent cordial.

We watched as our bartender Bucky (who has worked at the Heather since day one) showed us the proper pour: the glass must be tilted at a 45 degree angle and held not too close but also not too far away from the tap, given a half twist while being poured, and then left alone to “settle” once 3/4 full. After about 90 seconds, the glass is then topped off, with the foam forming a dome shape over the top of the glass and a sharp, distinct separation between the beer and the foam.

Mike went on to talk about the more technical aspects such as hose length, storage and serving temperatures, and proper glassware, but concluded with two big things:

1. Every bartender at the Heather knows how to make a proper pour
2. Every drop of Guinness served at the Heather comes directly from Ireland, not from a distillery in Toronto

With my mouth watering, I took a big gulp of Guinness. Smooth, rich, and wholesome. Definitely hit the spot. How can you tell if you had a good pint of Guinness? Look at the glass when you finish — there should still different levels of foam stains on the glass to ensure a proper pour.

In conclusion, the guys at Irish Heather are serious about their stout and it really shines through when you step in and take a sip. Be sure to check them out on St. Patrick’s Day or any other day to grab a pint.  The Irish Heather is open Monday – Thursdays & Sundays from 11:30am to Midnight, and Fridays & Saturdays 11:30am to 2am.

By Manveet Virk, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

When you think of boutique hotels, there are four key traits that come to mind; it’s a one-of-a-kind property, it has a creative concept, it has fabulous service and of course, it is probably in a really cool location.  Last month, I discovered a true gem when it comes to Vancouver boutique hotels. An option that should really be on everyone’s radar is the Listel Hotel.

Located just seconds from the shopping haven of both Robson and Burrard Streets, Listel Hotel is probably the most unique boutique hotel I’ve discovered in Vancouver thus far. There are two words to describe it in a snap shot: Cultured + Sustainable.

Art Culture at Listel Hotel

 If you are looking for a cultural experience, you are going to get one without even setting foot outside of the hotel. With a boutique hotel allure, Listel Hotel houses over $2,000,000 worth of original and limited edition art. Curated by the Buschlen Mowatt Galleries, Listel Hotel is nothing short of an art gallery with distinct pieces featured in the lobby, at each level’s entrance off of the elevator, in various sections of the hotel and of course, in each guest room and suite.

While taking a tour with Lise Magee, Listel Hotel’s Director of Public Relations, she mentioned that guests even purchase art pieces right off the walls from time to time. The guest rooms each profile an artist’s work. The most intriguing of all room types were the premier rooms on the gallery floors. Each room as been designed as an individual gallery featuring original and limited edition works by artists at the forefront of the International and Canadian art scenes. Plus, the rooms offer a truly charming and luxury stay with fluffy goose down duvets, comfortable beds and a chaise lounge to overlook the streets of locals and tourists alike.

Sustainable, Green Initiatives

What is a big reason why guests return to Listel Hotel time and time again? It has a large part to do with the eco-initiative ‘Environment Matters’ program at Listel. With a zero waste policy of turning all of our organic waste into compost, converting our non-recyclables into electricity, reusing all our recyclables and working diligently to minimize waste and conserve natural resources, particularly through water and energy conservation (ie. the first Vancouver hotel to install solar roof panels), Listel is making its mark for a greener Vancouver.

Also, as the host hotel of the Vancouver Jazz Festival, the Vancouver International Film Festival and the Vancouver Sculpture Biennale, the arts and cultural scene is serious business at Listel. My verdict? Mr. Governor says it best… I’ll be back.

MMV Giveaway: Modern Mix Vancouver is giving away a FREE night stay* at Listel Hotel! Leave a comment below telling us what makes you want to stay at the Listel Hotel and 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. Contests ends Sunday, March 11th (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 FREE night stay at @ListelVancouver from @ModernMixVan http://bit.ly/ydc27r RT to enter!”
• For a third entry: “Like” the Modern Mix Vancouver Page on Facebook and post on the wall “I want to win a FREE night stay at Listel Hotel Vancouver from Modern Mix Vancouver! http://bit.ly/ydc27r”

*This MMV giveaway is valid from April 1 to April 30, 2012 and October 1 to November 30, 2012. It is subject to availability and blackout dates, is based on double occupancy, and cannot be combined with any other promotion. Once prize is awarded, the winner will need to contact Listel Hotel for availability and bookings.

“It’s not just a drop in the bucket.  Its the chance to participate in change. It’s the opportunity to share the message. It’s all about the love. Love Love.”

By Eudora Koh, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

Last week, I was among a fashionable, artistic and elegant crowd at Hawksworth Restaurant for the unveiling of Sancha Jewelry’s latest and greatest, the Love Love Project, which has generated buzz for its initiative to help create positive change in the world. Love Love allows and encourages consumers to wear uniquely hand-crafted jewelry pieces not only in the name of fashion and style, but also in love and goodness.

The goal of Love Love is to bring awareness to and raise funds for international water related crises around the world, through sales of the jewelry and the discussion that emerges from it. At this particular time, all profits from Love Love sales will be donated to Oxfam Canada to raise money for the drought in East Africa. As for the pieces in the Love Love Project, there are three in the collection—a bangle, a necklace and a pendant—each is handmade in copper, a natural element noted as a positive conductor of energy, and all pieces are available in tarnished or rose gold copper.

The designer behind it all is the radiant and very talented Sancha Tatlock. Sancha Jewelry features Canadian hand-crafted designs featuring many raw and organic materials such as gemstones, crystals, antique relics and precious jewels, all of which Sancha believes has their own power as natural elements. Sancha explained to me that her designs have been inspired by her love for nature and the wilderness, both in which she was surrounded while growing up as a child.

Combine that passion for nature with an attraction to reading French fashion magazines, and that epitomizes Sancha’s bohemian childhood.  Sancha also has a love for water and the ocean, inspiring some of her other collections, such as Resort, which consists of sea shell designs and turquoise-blue tones. Speaking specifically to the Love Love Project, Sancha says “The Love Love Project was inspired by the work of Japanese scientist, Masaru Emoto who studied water’s response to positive and negative emotions”.

Currently, Love Love Project pieces, as well as selections of Sancha’s current and permanent collections, are available at these independent Vancouver boutiques: Dream, Little Dream, Spill It Sister, Body Politic, Tenth & Proper, and Dr. Vigari Gallery. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, consider purchasing some jewelry for your loved ones while supporting a fashionably worthy cause, all in the name of Love Love. For more information (including price points and how to purchase online) about Love Love Project and to view its entire collection along with Sancha’s other collections, visit the website: http://www.sanchajewelry.com.

By Carolyn Fung, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

You haven’t had a real hot chocolate until you’ve tried one form CocoaNymph.  Unlike the milky, water downed version you might expect from ice skating rinks and ski chalets, real hot chocolate is an entirely different experience.

Thick and creamy I had the pleasure of being one of the first to taste CocoaNymph’s newest creation for the hot chocolate festival: Maple Cinnamon drinking chocolate with a caramelized apple ring. This flavorful combination is just one of 15 flavors available at CocoaNymph throughout the year. When asked how this creation came to be, owner Rachel Sawatzky immediately gave credit to a team effort. A true believer in the power of collaboration, Rachel and her team regularly come up with new pairings that are sure to leave you wanting more.

Going into their fourth year in Vancouver, CocoaNymph is located near 10^th and Alma. The first thing you notice when you walk into the store is smell of chocolate so rich you can literally feel the room start to warm you inside. In the front of the room is a white baby grand piano where beautifully decorated truffles are featured. The décor gives you a comforting feeling, as if every single piece of furniture was lovingly created to be a part of the room. Next to the cashier you’ll find a display of truffles and 2 chalkboard menus that include 10-15 flavors of drinking chocolate, 9 flavors of home made marshmallows, coffee drinks and tea.

Originally from Winnipeg, Rachel acknowledges how nice it is to have her business in Vancouver. Recognizing the growing recognition for her art as a chocolatier, she feels it’s a great city with access to an extreme variety of ingredients she can play with. Always creating and being inspired the food culture in the city, Rachel is currently experimenting with pairings like beer and chocolate. Among her latest challenges include the creation of a chocolate dress, complete with chocolate accessories.

With Valentines days just around the corner, Rachel & her team are gearing up with a line of 4 bon bon creations so tempting that you might just want to treat yourself . Here’s a list of what you can expect:

• Mischief – Milk chocolate champagne ganache in a milk chocolate shell. Created with the perfect mixture of a hard shell complimented with a soft centre.
• Blush – Dark chocolate and rose ganache. You can taste sweet hint of rose that isn’t overpowered by the chocolate taste. It’s a match made in heaven.
• Desire – Milk chocolate whipped ganache with cinnamon (airy and light) with a dark chocolate shell
• Luscious – Dark chocolate with a cherry centre in dark chocolate shell.

These unique creations can be bought as single pieces or as set. CocoaNymph has 5 box sizes and has created 3 special Valentines Day boxes including one that is made entirely of chocolate.

On February 14, CocoaNymph will also be hosting a Valentines special. For $12.00 each you and a loved one could cozy up to a solo classical cellist while enjoying some delicious chocolate treats.  You can also find CocoaNymph chocolate at local retailers including Whole Foods, Urban Fare and Edible BC. Year round, the location on 10^th & Alma offers workshops, chocolate pairings, and a list of chocolate combinations that are sure to make you melt.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

By Manveet Virk, Modern Mix Vancouver Writer

It is officially safe to say 2012 is in full gear, and with the next long weekend a long trek away, a downtown Vancouver staycation may be the perfect remedy for a mini but sure needed break. When trying to choose a boutique hotel, if you’re anything like me, you sometimes want all the typical hotel bells and whistles but not have the 5-star rates, correct? If you want a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel experience that still includes a complete list of amenities and friendly concierge team, the Loden Hotel gives you just that, and is right smack in the middle of the best that downtown Vancouver has to offer. Plus, being in Coal Harbour, the views, atmosphere and proximity to Stanley Park gives this hotel a location advantage.

Upon entering the lobby of the Loden, there is the instant feeling of opulence with the very retro-mod inspired décor. While taking a tour with the Director of Sales, Richard Graham, he mentions that the guests of the hotel are “trendy, design centric individuals,” and I immediately see why. It’s cool yet mature and refined. From the colour-rich artwork to the floor-to-ceiling striped marble fireplace, and learning that A-list celebrities are known to frequently stay at Loden, I wouldn’t mind lounging here all afternoon long and perhaps capture a star-sighting too.

Once we make our way to view the rooms, I can’t help but think, ‘gosh, no wonder celebrities like coming here!’ The guest rooms offer a stunning first impression; soft hues with nature-inspired contrasts, oh-so-comfortable beds, über-luxurious bathrooms, technology plugins and best of all, rooms so quiet that you’ll forget you’re in the middle of the city’s hustle and bustle or that there are rooms right next door.

Then it’s time to see what else a stay includes and I discover that the Loden has it all. The BeFit Studio fitness centre is complete with on-site personal training options, the spa room can be booked for solo or couple services, the business centre is small yet private to get work done if needed and the top amenity is the French bistro, Tableau Bar and Bistro located off the lobby.

Tableau, voted Best in the City by Georgia Straight in 2011, is such a nice recent addition to Loden. Richard mentioned that the menu that has been brilliantly crafted by Executive Chef Marc-André Choquette, was inspired greatly by New York and Paris culinary scenes to offer a unique option to our very high caliber Vancouver restaurants’ list. What really stood out to me was the growing popularity of brunch at Tabeau. In a city that needs more options for winding down on Saturdays and spending time with your loved ones on Sundays, we all can really use a weekend brunch tradition. Tableau is becoming the choice for locals and hotel guests, and quite simply, must really be experienced.

So my verdict? A Loden weekend staycation (especially with Valentine’s Day coming up!) and brunch at Tableau are really going to be hard to resist doing over and over again.

MMV Giveaway: Modern Mix Vancouver is giving away a $70 gift certificate for brunch at Tableau Bar & Bistro. Leave a comment below telling us your favourite brunch item on the Tableau brunch menu (click here to see the menu) and 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. Contests ends Tuesday January 31st (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 $70 to @TableauBistro at @LodenHotel from @ModernMixVan http://bit.ly/AERGRo RT to enter!”
• For a third entry: “Like” the Modern Mix Vancouver Page on Facebook and post on the wall “I want to win a $70 gift certificate to Tableau Bistro at Loden Hotel from Modern Mix Vancouver! http://bit.ly/AERGRo”

LASTLY, want to try out the award winning Loden Hotel for yourself? Contact Director of Sales, Richard Graham at Richard.Graham@theLoden.com and mention Modern Mix Vancouver or this article to receive a special 15% off* the Best Available Rate of the day!

*This MMV offer is valid until February 29, 2012, subject to availability, is based on double occupancy, cannot be combined with any other promotion and is not valid on February 14, 2012.