New York, New York

Barbara-jo and Mark are jetting off to the Big Apple tomorrow for the James Beard Foundation Awards.

We have our fingers crossed for some of our fellow Canadians nominated for a James Beard Award: Araxi by James Walt in the Cooking From a Professional Point of View book category and that French Cooking at Home with Laura Calder in the Television Show category.

Annual (Brussels) Sprouts were a Gas!

On April 8, Barbara-Jo's Books to Cooks hosted the Fourth Annual Sprouts Cookbook Awards. This fundraiser for the Cultch and celebration of the arts, excellence in culinary writing and fine food was jumpstarted by titillating readings of Lorna Crozier's The Sex Lives of Vegetables by local actress Joy Coghill.

Throughout the jovial evening, Books to Cooks staffers Carol Watterson and Barb Wong circulated the room with delectable hors d'oeuvres including a zesty papri chat and savoury samosas catered by Vikram Vij and Meeru Dhalwala. Our own Mark Holmes prepared an indulgent selection of Brussels sprouts delicacies from Tender Volume 1 by Nigel Slater.

As guests raised a glass, artist Robert Chaplin presented his coveted sterling silver Brussels Sprouts Award to this year's People's Choice Sprouts winner, Matthew Stowe, for his most deserving book, The Tastes of Sonora Resort.

While guests enjoyed good cheer, Laura Nairn spearheaded raffle ticket sales with all proceeds benefiting the Cultch.

The mirthful evening was capped off with Lawren Moneta's version of passionfruit ice cream from The Tastes of Sonora Resort served in darling handmade cones.

Celebrating the Sprouts and the Arts

The Fourth Annual Sprouts cookbook awards will soon be upon us. On Thursday, April 8 at 6 p.m. we honour Tender Volume 1 by Nigel Slater (Judges' choice) and The Tastes of Sonora Resort by Matthew Stowe (People's choice) with a festive evening of good cheer, hors d'oeuvres prepared by Vikram Vij and Meeru Dhalwala and the presentation of the much coveted silver Sprouts award. Since April is Poetry Month, we will be entertained with recitations of poetry by local actress, director and teacher, Joy Coghill, including Lorna Crozier's The Sex Lives of Vegetables. All proceeds from this evening's event will be donated to the Vancouver East Cultural Centre.

Tickets to this festive fundraiser are $75.00 and are selling quickly. Don't miss this unique opportunity to support the arts and to celebrate the best in culinary writing. To purchase tickets call 604-688-6755.