Lime and Moon Pie Company, Bowen Island and Yaletown makes two...

Who doesn't love pie?!

This is where it all began...(well, actually it all began in a kitchen on the other side of the island but that's another story). I met Stanka Oben about twenty years ago in Vancouver. Little did I know that she would become an entrepreneur with a little pie shop on Bowen Island and now with another location in Vancouver's Yaletown.  When she became Mrs. Oben, as an old friend of hers, I had the good fortune of getting a ride to the wedding from my future husband, an old friend of Stanka's husband.

As she readied for her first opening, I was called on as a tea sommelier to help out with tea selections. You'll find the original Lime and Moon Pie Company nestled in Snug Cove next to the ferry terminal on Bowen Island.  Lime and Moon specializes in hand-made organic pies, organic espresso and tea based drinks.

 Stanka and me

Photo: Drew Taylor

 Mmm, pie...Strawberry Rhubarb Fields Forever

And this is the new location!  1066 Mainland Street in Vancouver's Yaletown...

Photo: Carrie Riches

Interior of the shop

Photo: Stanka Oben

Chef Farhad and Stanka in the new shop with some of the organic goodies, savory and sweet pies. They also offer vegan and gluten-free options. 

Photo: Chris Oben

I was happy to be able to help again to curate the teas that she'll be offering at the new location. Organic high quality loose leaf teas that will pair well with her delicious baked organic pies.

I can hardly wait to to taste my pairings with her pies but unfortunately I am not able to make the opening since I am based in Toronto again.  Hopefully someone reading this in Vancouver will be able to visit the new shop and give a review in the comments!

Being a mother is awesome but it sure has taken me a while to get back to blogging. Now I am going to be juggling work and a baby as well. Wish me luck!

Time (and Rita) Flies!

My, how time flies! Can you believe October is coming to an end already?!  I've been busy traveling, attending food shows, tea events, taking tea workshops and visiting tea shops since my last post.  I've been to Seattle, Vancouver, Montreal and now getting ready to go to Vancouver again for the inaugural Vancouver Tea Festival this Saturday!  And after that, who knows, maybe Ottawa for their tea festival too!

I'm also busy sorting through my Spring China Tea Tour photos looking for worthy candidates to submit for the Tea & Art section for next year's Toronto Tea Festival.

I thought I'd share some of my photos from the travels with you here.

 

 

You might recognize some of the people in these! More details and pictures to come!

Vancouver in the Springtime

On my way back from China, I will be stopping off in Vancouver to visit some good friends and take in some of that city's beautiful scenery.  If you've never been out to this West coast city, I highly recommend it, especially during the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.  It's so pretty that it almost makes one forget how wet, cold to the bones, grey and dreary a Vancouver winter can be...I've experienced their notorious winters before, can you tell?!

Photo: Drew Taylor

 I'll be looking forward to visiting some of the cool tea shops out there!

Pekoe Tea Lounge

 Tower of tea to sniff before you decide which one you'd like

Pierre, the owner (soon to be Certified Tea Sommelier)

 Soon to be Certified Tea Sommelier, Del Tamborini

 Well, with service like this, how can a girl refuse...

O5 Rare Tea Bar - stop by for a flight of teas or see if I am in time for a tea and food pairing event

pick up some great Kale + Nori bitters or a cool tea bowl

Pedro, owner of O5

See you in a few weeks, Vancouver

O5 Tea + Kale & Nori = Cocktails, Tapas and Tea Event (An Impression)

On the lovely dry fall evening of October 17th,  my impromptu field reporter Drew Taylor walked into the O5 Rare Tea Bar in Vancouver as part of a birthday gift from me.  

 Some readers may recall Drew from a previous post, when my coffee drinking friend joined me at the Urban Tea Merchant for their Sakura Westcoast Tea Service.  Little did he know what he was in for as he took another leap into the world of fine teas.  

 What happens when you add a rare tea hunter, a creative mixologist, and a talented chef?   

A collaboration of fine teas, cocktails and culinary delights!   Pedro Villalon of O5 Tea, Lauren Mote and Chef Jonathan Chovancek of Kale & Nori Fine Culinary Arts joined together to combine each of their special talents and showcase the beautiful teas of Yunnan, China. 

You can find the full menu and tea influenced cocktail recipes here.

Drew's impression of the evening, in his words: 

"The drinks took the edge off the gathering and allowed the ensemble of tea enthusiasts to relax and meet while enjoying succulent dainties, all infused with many fine teas.  All the hosts were passionate, articulate and informed.  For the ticket price of $50, people definitely got their money's worth."

Photos by: Drew Taylor

Kale & Nori's line of bitters created by Lauren Mote

That's a matcha tea grinder on the left

Pistachio crusted turkey marble, Moondog spice, apricot - Moonlight tea puree (paired with the "Moonlight Desires")

"Moonlight Desires" (Gin & Marigold Flower Cordial with O5 "White Moonlight" tea syrup)

Kombucha Squash-tea emulsion, sherry-maple-pecan glazed pork belly (paired with the "Hekou-Lao Cai")

"Hekou-Lao Cai" (with Bison Vodka influenced by "Golden Curls" tea)

hmm, this must have been good, Drew had seconds!

O5 Tea Hunter - Pedro Villalon and Kale & Nori Chef - Jonathan Chovancek

Silver needles braised mushroom and rice croquette, wild ramp kim chi, green onion tofu aioli (a vegetarian addition to the menu paired with the "Misterios")

"Misterios" (Mezcal with Silver Needle & Rosemary Syrup component)

Silver Needles tea steamed Gulf Island mussels, Chinese sausage, Indian carrot pickles (also paired with the "Misterios")

 Sakekasu beef kababs, sweet & hot peppers, rockets, coronation raisin (paired with the "Ushky")

 

The "Ushky" (with a pu'er component)

Kale & Nori mixologist - Lauren Mote

O5 Tea Server (Kendra)  and Event Photographer (Issha Marie)

Teas from Yunnan - the Inspiration

 

 Oh snap!  I should have been there!  Maybe next time...