The Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver to be Demolished

The hotel was attached to Pacific Centre on West Georgia

Back in the early 1990s, a friend was a car jockey at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Vancouver. He had a lot of fun driving and parking luxury and sports cars, and getting a lot of cash tips, while meeting the odd celebrity.

However those days are but a distant memory, now that there are plans to demolish the building that housed the hotel.

Power lunches were held at Yew Restaurant 

For over 40 years it was located on West Georgia Street, attached to Pacific Centre shopping mall, and its Yew Restaurant was where power lunches took place.

But it has stood empty for the past four years after the lease was not renewed because landlord Cadillac Fairview alleged in 2018 the hotel looked "tired" and outdated, not keeping "with typical first-class luxury hotels", though Four Seasons rejected the claims.

After the hotel closed its doors, Cadillac Fairview was planning to renovate the hotel and have another operator come in, but the City of Vancouver confirmed to the CBC that the landlord's development permit application for renovations was withdrawn and instead decided to demolish the structure.

Last month a new application was submitted for the building's deconstruction, which, according to the city, will involve removing the concrete facade, columns, slabs and asbestos abatement. The new permit is currently under review.

The landlord says a multi-use tower will be built

Apparently Cadillac Fairview is looking to replace the 370-room building with a "new, modern, and efficient" multi-use tower that includes a "hospitality offering."

That space was the perfect location for a hotel and now the chances of that happening are very slim. In Hong Kong it's a given to have hotels anchoring shopping malls and why Cadillac Fairview is choosing to go the opposite direction with Pacific Centre is frankly disappointing.

Picture of the Day: Canele

Caneles are the Mt Everest of pastry baking

Caneles. They are a small slightly sweet treat made from vanilla, rum, egg, flour, butter and sugar. They are mixed together, then the batter is left to rest for a few days in the refrigerator for the flour to fully absorb the ingredients before it is poured into small, round copper molds and baked.

The end result is a deep brown colour on the outside, and a knife should be able to make a pretty clean cut, revealing a bubble interior that is almost like custard, slightly soft, yellow and have a hint of alcohol.

Apparently making caneles is not easy -- one food blogger gave the analogy that if making panettone is the Mt Everest of baking, then making caneles is the Mt Everest of pastry baking.

The word canele means "fluted", and this pastry dates back to sometime between the 15th and 18th centuries in Bordeaux, France. Back then winemakers used egg whites to clarify their wine, and the leftover egg yolks giving to nuns to feed impoverished children, while other yolks were used to make caneles.

About a month ago, a new bakery opened in Vancouver called Tona and the caneles there are impressive.

The exterior is slightly crunchy thanks to the caramelised, slightly sweet exterior, while the inside is a fantastic contrast that is not pillowy soft, but rather a moist softness with hints of vanilla and rum, making the taste and texture so complex and beguiling.

While they're a bit expensive at C$4.50 each at Tona, a lot of skill and technique is involved in making these, and the caneles here are irresistible!

A Chilly Plunge to Start 2025

A group of people took the plunge into English Bay today

January 1 not only marks the first day of the new year, but it's also the day for the annual Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, and in parts of British Columbia.

Thousands of people showed up at the English Bay to either dip their toe into the freezing water, or plunge their entire body into the water. While the outside temperature was 7 degrees, the water was much colder, and it's still chilly even in the summer.

The Polar Bear Swim is in its 105th year

The key to a successful polar bear swim is preparation. Old hands advise having a towel, shoes, and clothes laid out before taking the plunge so that you can quickly get warmed up. It also helps if you have friends or family to assist.

The Polar Bear Swim is in its 105th year, started by Vancouver restaurant owner Peter Pantages in 1920. His granddaughter Lisa Pantages says her Greek immigrant grandfather always swam in the ocean every day -- which is why he decided to make it an event on New Year's Day that year.

"It was sponsored. My grandfather would have people back to his restaurant. Anybody who swam got a free hot meal afterwards," she said in a CBC radio interview.

These days cold plunges are very popular, though there isn't much scientific evidence that claim it eases inflammation and improves mood, among other purported benefits. But it's something about a group of people gathering together and running into the water to start the new year that makes it extra special.

Happy New Year!

Can't believe it's 2025!

For me, 2024 was a challenging year, but came out with some positives: I did a lot more walking than the year before and a bit more swimming. Pilates class is something I am enjoying a lot, where once a week for an hour I get to challenge my muscles and core in a fun way and entertained with dad jokes from our instructor.

I finally got a family doctor and was given a clean bill of health which is a relief, after not having had any comprehensive check-up in years.

This year was great professionally, writing more stories and being able to interview people from around the world.

On the travel front, I was able to fly to Hong Kong and Singapore to catch up with friends and family and had such a memorable trip. I also went on an Alaska cruise for the first time and seeing icebergs and glaciers, and even black bears! I also went to San Francisco to see extended family, and an annual trip to Palm Springs.

I hope to be able to travel again in the new year.

Wishing good health and happiness to everyone in 2025!