VANCOUVER, British Columbia

The Steam Clock in Gastown

Quaint Street of Shops in Gastown

 The Grandville Public Market in Vancouver

Look at the way these fruits are stacked with such precision!

Unbelievable selection of pastas for sale!

Fileted Salmon display over a wide variety of oysters for sale.

 Bakery Goods at Grandville Market

Herb Infused Vinegars

 Gorgeous bouquets of flowers for only $15

  Watermelon Salad at Lift - a restaurant on the water with wonderful views!

Scallop Appetizer at Lift in Vancouver

A selection of desserts at Thierry - a boutique coffee and pastry shop!

Mr. RTH and I just returned from a west coast trip, visiting four cities in 11 days.  We started in Vancouver, British Columbia, then Victoria, next Seattle and finally San Francisco.  It was going to be a "foodie trip" as we wanted to explore the wonderful food markets in three of these cities.  Vancouver's Grandville Public Market was my favorite- it was compact and had everything  imaginable under one roof. The bouquets of flowers were large and amazing, the food presented in interesting ways, and unique vendors were found.  Maison Cote was a purveyor of wonderful infused salts and oils, such as merlot salt or raspberry rosemary salt.  

The city is surrounded by water on 3 sides and is modern, but has some historic areas such as Gastown.  The street is quaint, somewhat touristy, but I did manage to find a couple of interesting stores on Water Street.  A few antique stores are sprinkled throughout this area too!   My favorite dining experience was at Lift, a waterfront restaurant located near Stanley Park.  In addition to a  spectacular view, the food was plated beautifully and delicious. If you ever visit the city, put this restaurant on your list, along with the Grandville Public Market.  Go early, because it does get very crowded in the middle of the day.  

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebration Table

There is something about the British Royalty that is fascinating to watch- such an archaic system, yet so enchanting and fairytale like.  Afterall, everyone loves a great fairytale.  I couldn't help but want a little piece of the celebration- 60 years as Queen Elizabeth- a little piece of this history lesson to have as my own.  So I ordered the dessert plates designed for the celebration from The Royal Collection  (www.royalcollectionshop.co.uk). They are beautifully made with a gold band and the royal crest - God Save The Queen!  Setting the table with my  crown embellished china from the old Helmsley Hotel in New York and hotel silver from Pottery Barn, I felt quite royal myself!  An assortment of crowns from my daughter's collection were used to embellish the table, along with just three single white roses placed in a crystal compote.  Vintage crystal from France added the necessary sparkle to the setting.  A blue taffeta tablecloth russels softly as one sits at the table and leans back against the beaded and crested  pillows.  Time for tea anyone?  We will be joining www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com for Tablescape Thursday.  Please visit.

Beets and Blue Bowtie Pasta Salad

When my daughter  spotted this beautiful pasta, I knew I had to buy it and  create a pretty dish.  The turquoise and black color was striking and very unique.  Contrasting the colors, I roasted red beets and cubed them, tossed in yellow cherry tomatoes, and a little sprinkling of  room temperature goat cheese. To finish the dish, I   I drizzled a champagne vinaigrette over the top and garnished it with viola's from the garden.  It was perfect for a light summer dinner.  I found this bag at Home Goods and after googling  to find where I could purchase it regularly, I did not have any luck. But I did find a similar one on Amazon that's black and white striped bow ties- very cute and has  lots of possibilities!

Monches Farm in Wisconsin

Yesterday, Jill and I made our annual spring pilgrimage to Monches Farm in Wisconsin.  Every time we go there, we find something new to delight us.  Yesterday, we were able to find lovage, a celery tasting plant that I had seen at Blackberry Farm.  While its leaves are perfect to spice up a salad, it is the stems that are the prize.  Hollow  inside and tasting of celery, they are perfect straws for sipping Bloody Marys  in the summer.  Hopefully, they will be ready by the 4th of July!  Monches Farms perennials grow better than most, I think because they over-winter them in the ground. To purchase them, you dig the pot and plant from it's resting place in the ground, a technique that I have never seen before.  They sell old fashioned scented geraniums-  chocolate mint, rose, lemon scents- that I love to use in flower arrangements. They emit a scent that is delightfully intoxicating in the house.  One of the most amazing plants is the heart shaped vine that covers the side of the entrance to the store.  Every year it grows back and continues to get bigger.  Iron structures are placed through out the property and planted with vines that entirely cover the roofs, creating little places to rest in the shade during the hot summer months.  A pond filled with lily pads gurgles softly near one of these structures.  Beautiful statuary is placed through out the gardens, along with gorgeous cement benches. So Jill and I filled the car with our selected plants, tucking them in among the antiques that we had collected along the way. Somehow we know exactly how much to purchase and not leave an inch of space in the car!  This is a fun day trip and I highly recommend it for anyone living near Milwaukee.  Monches Farm is located north west of Milwaukee and it about an hour and a half drive from the northern suburbs of Chicago.

Hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria

Mr. RTH and I helped our daughter, Julie, move to Alexandria, Va. this weekend.  Very sad and  almost bittersweet for me, as she just accepted a  job promotion in the very state where her father and I were born and raised.  While it is very sad to let your children leave, it is also very exciting.  You get to visit and learn about new places.  I grew up in southwestern Virginia and later moved to Richmond, where I met my husband.  But one part of the state never ventured into was the DC area, too congested for us !  But do I love it now!  I can't wait go back and explore this delightful area of the country. Built in the 1700's,  Old Town Alexandria is an historic charming  part of the city, full of charming stores, restaurants, and hotels.  We had dinner in the restaurant of this delightful boutique hotel, the Hotel Monaco.   I love the turquoise walls, red leather and green combinations.  In the center of the back to back sofas was a bubbling confection of blown art glass in a glass vase -  too too cool!  A little bit of Asian, a little bit antique and a lot of wonderful !  The faux painted fireplace in a leopard motif stood out beautifully on the painted turquoise paneling- divine inspiration!  Notice the crazy light fixture in the center of room - really ties the space together.   I can't wait to go back and explore the area more.

Blackberry Farm's Mr. John Coykendall

Mr. John Coykendall drawing a sketch for me to take home.

INTERIOR DESIGN BY SUZANNE KASLER - GORGEOUS DINING SPACE

Drawing by John Coykendall

Mr. John Coykendall made a lasting impression on me.  He is the master gardener at Blackberry and I had the great privilege of spending quality time with him last week in the gardens at Blackberry Farm.  But what is far more interesting about him- he is an artist and his drawings have been the inspiration for the dinner china used at the resort.  His drawings were reproduced on the dinnerware plates for the inn .   Not only is it used for serving dinner, it graces the wall on the main house dining room.  I love the orange chargers with the barn drawing in the center.  All of this dinnerware is available for purchase on line from the Blackberry Farm gift shop. We will be joining www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com for Tablescape Thursday.