Many gardeners feel a little overwhelmed, come late spring and summer, by the demands of those in their care. Yes, vegetables and berries are less high-maintenance than children, chickens, or cattle. But you can’t just walk away and leave them to their own devices. Not if you want them to survive.

Ideal ways to explore North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Avenue:

• Take the SeaBus.
• Go on a Saturday so you can visit the farmers’ market at Lonsdale Quay (10am–3pm every Saturday).
• Bring your appetite and a large shopping bag.

It’s a long, steep walk all the way up to 18th Street; if you attempt this you will definitely earn a doughnut or a cookie or six for your efforts. (Remember, you can always take the bus a few blocks if you get tired.) Cycling is another option; the uphill is certainly daunting, but just imagine the easy ride back.

Some 70 per cent of all processed foods likely contain genetically engineered ingredients. That may sound like I’m hedging my bets, but since we have no labelling laws, and the companies that produce GE food aren’t offering any information on the subject, we are left to extrapolate.

Catching Up with Vikram Vij & Meeru Dhalwala

By Ngaio Hotte • Photo by Leeanne Munn

Vij’s Restaurant has earned its place on the tongues of Vancouver’s gastronomes, but Bombay-born Vikram Vij and his partner, Meeru Dhalwala, have been working hard to share their passion for Indian-inspired cooking with an expanding group of devotees. With the opening of the more casual Vij’s Rangoli in 2004, and last year’s release of their second cookbook, Vij’s at Home: Relax, Honey, the couple have found a broader audience for their renowned Indian cuisine.

Central City Brewing - Easy to get to and easy to love

by Soleil Aellen

Big things are brewing at the Central City Brewing Company. Their first-time entry at the 2010 Canadian Brewing Awards netted them a handful of medals, including the prestigious Brewery of the Year and Beer of the Year. The 2010 Vancouver CAMRA Awards named them Best BC Brewery (tied for Silver), Best BC Beer (Red Racer IPA won Gold), and Best Local Brewpub (Gold). The popularity of casks and the distinctive Red Racer cans is growing daily, and interest continues to pour in from unexpected corners of the continent. But nothing can top a trip to their showcase brewpub—located just steps from the SkyTrain station at Surrey’s Central City—to fully appreciate this homegrown success story.