NEW RESTAURANT 2017 | Kokomo / September 2, 2017 by Jenn Chan

"Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take ya. Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama. Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go? Jamaica, off the Florida Keys, there's a place called Kokomo. That's where you want to go to get away from it all."

If you're in North America's second largest Chinatown, located, proudly, in Vancouver, Kokomo is still a pretty delightful escape. The vegan, gluten-free mecca, "plant-focused cafe", Kokomo can be seen routinely sporting a line around the block. People clammer to dive into a heaping bowl of acai, granola and berries, a Hemp Caesar salad or a Coastal Macro bowl, their best seller, and wash it down with one their oh so healthy smoothies. Jenn indulged in the Coastal Macro bowl, which she devoured greedily, and I nibbled on the Hemp Caesar and washed it down with the Orange Dream smoothie which is simply to die for! Jenn himmed and hawed between the charcoal lemonade and the Lush Greens smoothie, but ultimately opted to see how charcoal's flavours marry lemonade's. She loved it, but we'll both be back for a nice healthy lunch before too long. Hopefully we'll see you there!

Lunch Spread: Hemp Caesar, Coastal Macro Bowl, Acai Bowl, Orange Dream Smoothie, Charcoal Lemonade

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Travel: The Sukhothai Bangkok / August 21, 2017 by Jenn Chan

Sukothai is roughly translated as the 'Dawn of Happiness' and Thailand is known as 'The Land of Smiles'. Bangkok I did not want to Google to save myself from similar keywords leading me down a rabbit hole, but I can attest to its vibrancy. Each day of the two weeks I was in Bangkok I'd jump on my 125cc Honda PCX, a beautiful, powerful beast, and navigate the streets of Thailand's capital amidst a glut of scooters that flow along like logs in a river in packs of 20-30 through stop sign-less streets. Retreating to The Sukothai Bangkok each night and relaxing in their palatial, very Thai suites was like a lake in the desert!

You enter the Sukothai through a glistening lobby with rich woods, stones and ceilings high enough to accommodate giraffes. Standing on one another's shoulders. On our way to the room, that we did not yet know was so incredible, we passed windows that offered glimpses into the private courtyard pond, secluded from the public by each of the four wings of the hotel that border it. The doors open and a smile passes your face that won't fade until after you've left days later. The bathroom, spa room really, is almost as big as the adjacent bedroom and seating area. A very useful desk space bookends the lounging area and a pair of love seats face each other and look upon the tv and its sophisticated entertainment options. A lazy Susan under the tv swivels the flat screen towards a very comfortable bed and ornately carved wood shutters slide into place over the windows and provides a very cozy, dark sleeping space.

The service at the Sukothai is fantastic! Sincere smiles and humble bows were gratefully reciprocated, pillows and ice were delivered to the room hastily and appreciation for gratifies was clearly heartfelt. If you take care of your employees they will take care of your customers and Sukothai gets this right! The food, as one would expect from the grandeur of the property, was fresh and plentiful. Certainly an option for anyone and we will certainly return once repairs to the pool are complete. I'm told the space is lovely so please drop us a line at JennChanPhotography.com and let us know your experiences! The Sukothai is a beautiful place to stay whether you're in Bangkok for business or pleasure and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Jubilee Tea Set at TWG Tea / August 9, 2017 by Jenn Chan

TWG is the world's première tea brand. It is a brand synonymous with luxury and quality from Singapore to Saigon to Surrey. Everywhere you go, where they give a damn at least, you'll see TWG and now you'll know you're in the presence of tea with a high assurance of freshness, unbeatable terroir and flavour combinations the folks over at Tetley, Earl Grey or Lipton simply can't pull off or wouldn't even try. TWG Vancouver does tea better than anyone in the city! Sure luxury restaurants and lounges have jumped on the bandwagon and offer a small selection of TWG wares, but you can rest assured they aren't getting the absolute freshest teas and I will bet $1,000,000 that they won't have half the selection!

The Jubilee Tea Set, created by the venerable Chef Cliff Hohl, - celebrates Canada turning 150 by offering ingredients that are truly Canadian. There's elk, salmon, all maple erythang and Canadian bacon so delicious it will satisfy even the ficklest of swine enthusiasts. The Jubilee tea was made specifically to celebrate the Canada's centennial and a half and is the first tea inspired by Canada.

Now Chef Cliff, happily a friend of Jenn and I, will take his recipes to his grave, but I can tell you this: if you crack these secrets you too can be the Executive Chef at one of Vancouver's best eateries. Miso sablefish is an iconic TWG staple; delicious, light and flaky, but TWG has added Canada's national treasure, maple syrup, to the mix and the results are deafening. Run, don't walk, and get down there and try it!

Ahhhhhh Wagyu... Why are you so delicious? How do you get that sought after marbling? The answer to these questions is... I haven't the faintest, foggiest idea, but what I do know is I once had a $152 Wagyu steak that changed the way I look at cows. Literally. For their Jubilee tea set TWG included a Wagyu beef burger that was so incredibly tender and savoury that I got angry. I was noticeably irritated. How do you do it Chef Cliff!?

Wagyu Beef Slider with Maple Beef Bacon and Moroccan Mint Tea infused BBQ sauce, Miso Maple Sablefish infused with Caramel Tea

The salmon came poached and accompanied with lemon Panna cotta and popcorn. I don't know about you, but when I think about going to the movies I invariably also think about eating fistfuls of buttery popcorn and getting 3 out of every 5 kernels into my mouth as the blur that is my eating arm pitches them from waist height to reduce the time it takes to reach back into the tub and repeat the process. You'd be hard pressed the find a dish that includes popped corn that I wouldn't like and today is not the day I start. Delicious!

Salmon Confit and Lemon Bush Tea infused Panna Cotta, Tourtière with Weekend in Hong Kong infused rhubarb chutney, Imperial Lapsang Souchong infused Chicken Cone

There is a movement in the foodie community that has been around for a whole, but is really starting to take hold of late as we destroy our planet just a little bit more every year: sustainability. It can mean different things to different people, but the gist is "eat in a manner that is viable long term." So how do we do it? It must start by moving away, ever so slowly, from beef. Yes, I waxed poetically about my Wagyu lust above, but then just said that. But why? There are 3 main arguments against beef: Deforestation. We clear more carbon dioxide guzzling trees to accommodate these three-stomached behemoths than most other pursuits. Farts. The methane emitted from the flatulence of these giant beast is a major contributor to global warming. Google it. And finally shipping. Do you live near the Amazon where millions of these creatures roam where once the pieces of the mighty Amazon jungle stood majestically? Me neither. That's a lot of trucks and a lot of kilometres to cross before it gets in my tummy! Wild game is becoming more and more common on dining tables and restaurants and it is a good thing! The tourtière at TWG is a blend of Wagyu beef and elk, baby steps, and was my favourite dish in the tea set! It has amazing flavours words won't do justice. You'll have to go check it out!

Once you get to the dessert level of the tower of deliciousness (my suggestion for any possible future renaming of this tea set) your expectations are high. TWG wouldn't dare disappoint you at this point. Included is a maple eclair, delicious and not as sweet as you would imagine. Insider's tip: eat it upside down to avoid a mess! There was also a croque en bouche and a passionfruit and mango tart. The croque is worthy of any French bistro and the tart is absolutely delicious and the mousse just melts in your mouth! This post may spur you to try TWG for the first time, but service, their incredible newly renovated dining room and quality, absolute top quality, will be what keeps you coming back!

Sweets: Petite Maple Éclair, Red Balloon Tea Macaron, Napoleon Tea infused Croque-en-bouche, Passion Fruit Tea infused Passion Fruit and Mango Tartlet

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Travel: Movenpick Bangkok / August 8, 2017 by Jenn Chan

I was a water baby. Turn around at the beach and I was neck deep. Leave me to my own devices at home and I'd draw a bath. To this day I retreat to the water to recharge and refocus. That's why pools are so important to me! Mövenpick Bangkok has a really nice rooftop pool. Ultra comfortable chaise lounges sit in a specially designed area in 2 feet of water at the edge of the deep end. I posted up there for hours and hours and never once felt the scourge of FOMO; fear of missing out. Surrounded by lush greenery and a fully stocked bar there is no reason to leave. Ever.

The lobby of the Mövenpick screams luxury. The tiling is so intricate and time consuming that the average home owner or non-mega corporation hotel builder would have a hard time justifying the cost. Here's how the conversation with your contractor might go: "we can put the marble in a regular pattern and liven up the design through wood details on the walls and crown moulding OR we can lay it in a pattern undecipherable to anyone save for those well versed in the matrix and that'll run you around... 40-50 times more." Tough pill to swallow, but the end result speaks for itself. The folks at Mövenpick decided to do the kaleidoscope tile AND ornate wood work. Everywhere. It's truly a feast for the eyes!

A bedroom is only as good as its bed. That sounds obvious, right? Well it clearly isn't obvious to everyone because I've stayed in a lot of places where the TV was the big expenditure. Or the bed frame matched the end tables, which matched the wardrobe which matched the dressers which matched the coffee table which matched the... you get it. And then you spring onto the bed only to find a limp, lifeless spring mattress. Maybe a puff of dust flies up. Maybe bed bugs. Maybe it's a hide-a-bed couch and you wonder what you've done to your friend or family member to subject you to this torture. "Why is there a bar directly in my back?" you ask yourself as you re-examine your life choices. At Mövenpick they spend money to make money. This bed is money! Combine that with an amazing spa-like bathroom, meticulous cleanliness and modern conveniences and you've got a home away from home you may never want to leave!

What do humans need to live? If you thought to yourself "food and water" and neglected to think about sleep and oxygen you better take a sober second look at how you're living your life. While I didn't try the water, though I'm told locals drink it and live long lives, I can attest to the food; delicious! The included breakfast buffet has something for everyone and the food is very high quality and fresh. This is not a place that sees so few guests it keeps its ingredients frozen to avoid spoilage leaving you with a reheated burger that feels like an icicle in the middle or veggies that don't quite make that satisfying snap noise when you bite into them. Everything at Mövenpick is top shelf! The perfect combination of service, location, ambience and luxury make this hotel a perfect option whether you're visiting Bangkok long term or it's a pitstop on your way to the lush paradises of Thailand's north and south. Highly recommended!

Movenpick Bangkok Breakfast - Omelette Bar

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Travel: Akyra Manor Chiang Mai, Thailand / July 31, 2017 by Jenn Chan

Chiang Mai is a jewel in the mountains of northern Thailand! From the ancient, walled 'Old City' to the Riverside district to the mountainside temples overlooking the Valley containing the city of Chiang Mai, the sprawl of which would have awed its founders in 1296! There's a thousand and one things to do and restaurants to try. The experience has been described by people who have travelled more throughout the country as authentically Thai.

Travelling by scooter is about 5 times faster than travelling by car. And on this morning, I left Jenn and a taxi driver, and the charming doormen at Akyra Manor in charge of the luggage, and took off on the scooter for a short tour, and STILL beat Jenn and the taxi to Akyra. Not having any documentations to check in to the room, I headed straight to the renowned Rise Rooftop Pool Bar, famous for its glass-sided, Aquarium style pool where swimmers become an aquatic mealtime show.

Akyra Manor Hotel is one of the top luxury hotels in Chiang Mai! As you walk in the front doors, you're struck by the irregular, birds nest like embellishments that crown the exterior. Once inside, modern furnishings meet kitsch meet ten foot candelabra chandelier, and a full sized horse lamp. As we were whisked what would turn out to be a futuristic, jetsons-like slice of modern luxury, we were ushered down curtained hallways, lighted from behind, giving the effect of a movie theatre atmosphere.

The door swings open to our suite and were greeted with a plush looking, leather bench, overlooking an 8-foot fishbowl tub, which sits outside on the patio. Above it, a chandelier of softball sized ball bearings dangle preciously, illuminating the bamboo growing on the outer edge of the patio, providing privacy for the bathers. A right turn into the suite, leads you into a bathroom fit for a 5 star luxury spa. A large sliding window leads you to a tiled path surrounded by small river stones to the outdoor tub. A symmetrical sliding door on the other side is a shortcut to the master bedroom. The centrepiece of the master bedroom is a slick double-sided wardrobe. One side conceals a large flatscreen TV facing the large King sized bed, the other side sports a halo lit mirror vanity and small seating space. The bed is a plush pillow top that comes with a pillow bar menu, which allows you a choice of 7 different types of pillows; seriously. We rang the front desk and asked for one of each and tested them out. A smiling staff member was at our door with our pillows within a few minutes and shared a good laugh with us having ordered all of them. On the wall behind the bed, inside the built in cupboards, are the master controls to the room, doing everything from dimming the lights, to closing the drapes, to turning off the tv. We slept well.

A breakfast buffet at italics is included with every stay at Akyra and the food is very good. Fresh pastries, delicious tropical fruit, delicious coffee, fresh squeezed juices and a selection that will make sure everybody will find something they will like. Every night they drop off a cocktail of the day for you to make yourself in your room. All the non-alcoholic ingredients are included free of charge, and there's an option to add the corresponding liquor at a very affordable price. Taking everything into account: the modern rooms, the world class rooftop pool, excellent food, perfectly adequate gym and beaming staff make Akyra an excellent choice for your stay in Chiang Mai!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

"Give Peas a Chance" at ARC Dining, Fairmont Waterfront / July 23, 2017 by Jenn Chan

Fairmont Waterfront will always have a special place in my heart. It is the first restaurant that we covered for JennChanPhotography.com/blog, the food is amazing and we have made some wonderful friends amongst the incredible Fairmont staff. Recently returning from a life changing two month odyssey through Southeast Asia it seemed fitting that one of the first restaurants we visited was Arc!

We arrived bright and early to a bustling lobby, sun shining through the signature mile high Arc windows and Kristyna, one of our favourite Fairmonters, waiting with her signature beaming smile. I ordered a latte and sat back and enjoyed the ambience and pleasant conversation. You will not have a bad meal at Arc, I will personally guarantee that!

I ordered the 2 Egg Breakfast and Jenn had the Pork Belly and Egg and the Spring Pea Toast. Perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs, an excellent chicken sausage, oven fresh bread toasted just right and delicious roasted potatoes. It is as good as it sounds and I know it sounds damn good! The belly has got to be the tastiest part of the pig; flavourful and tender. Combine that with an organic egg and a delightful parsley root purée and I regretted not ordering it myself. Next time! The Spring Pea Toast uses feta cheese, delicious, greens from Arc's own rooftop garden, peas and beans, the same organic egg atop a fresh slice of sourdough bread. I generally don't like peas, but I found this dish very appealing and snuck several bites whenever Jenn turned her back. A couple of glasses of fresh squeezed orange juice to wash everything down and that is a great way to start a day!

The Canada Place area of Vancouver is tourist central. I state that without a hint of negativity; it's a high compliment coming from me! Tourist areas are shining examples of your town that attracts people from literally 1,000's of miles away to take them in. Fairmont Waterfront is in the centre of centre. The rooms are amazing, the pool is absolutely world class and the food, as above, will suit any tastes or budgets. Tell them Jenn sent you and enjoy!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan