JERKY BARON'S BEEF JERKY

I just discovered the best beef jerky I've had... possibly ever. I had no idea what it was at first, but I wanted to buy it immediately anyway - I'm such a sucker for good packaging. But branding isn't the only thing Jerky Baron does well. They certainly know what's up when it comes to jerky. This is not your run-of-the mill gas station bag 'o' jerky. Locally based in Mt. Pleasant, their beef is free range, grass fed, and grain finished black and red angus. "Love and care" are cited as ingredients, along with molasses, garlic, cardamom, cumin, cayenne pepper, and more... I dig it.

I scored this amazing find while wandering around Gastown at Crome Yellow. (If you're local, I know what you're thinking - they sell beef jerky?! They were surprised, too, but as they said, this jerky is just that good).

You can also get it at the lovely Le Marche St. George and a few other local vendors, but allegedly Crome Yellow sells it for the best price in town at $14 a package. Jerky Baron boasts many flavors. For the first go, I decided to stick with what I'm told is 'the original,' Mt. Pleasant, but I can't wait to try Maui and Tartufo.

SWALLOW TAIL CANADA'S SECRET SUPPER CLUB BBQ

I was lucky to be able to work with the lovely Robin of Swallow Tail Canada shooting a secret supper club recently, where red wine and BBQ were the themes of the evening. Red wine and BBQ - can't go wrong there, right? Summer has finally arrived here in Vancouver, just in time for everyone to enjoy dining outside in the gorgeous gardens at the secret location. Sunshine even made a guest appearance (and if you live in the Pacific NW, you know how scarce that's been these days).

The family style dinner was a delicious 5 courses, which included fig wood smoked duck confit, ribs, and the most amazing barbecue chicken I've tasted in recent memory (I'm talking awesome chicken). Thanks to Robin, her crew, and everyone there for such a fun evening!

HERE GOES NOTHING!

Well, here I am! Truth be told, I never thought I'd start a blog. In fact, I used to swear I wouldn't. But the more time went on, the more I started following other blogs (I even started to have blog envy!), and the more I could imagine couldn't wait to start one of my own. I used to think I would never have enough interesting things to say to keep a blog going. While I guess that's still yet to be determined, I realized my career as a food and lifestyle photographer along with my constant quest for all the good stuff life has to offer just might be interesting to someone out there. If not, at least I'm sure I'll have fun along the way. So here goes nothing!