Vancouver Low-carb Barb!

[Karen]

Vancouverites! Come one, come all!

We're planning a barbecue/potluck for Sunday, July 22.
Area: Downtown Vancouver
Time: 6:00 p.m.

Anyone interested in joining the fun??

Karen

[Karen]

Umm, Wai'l? Rachel?

Karen

[tamarian]

Oops! I thought by now everyone knows I'be there by default :)

Yes, I'm definitly in!

Wa'il

[doreen T]

:( .. :mad: .. :( .. :mad: .. :(

Wallet + Air Miles = just enough to get me to Calgary by the 22nd ... I have this picture in my mind, being at 20,000 feet .... and the flight attendant handing me my luggage and a parachute, saying, "Your ticket runs out right about here. Get off. Safe landing."

:eek:

Doreen

[Karen]

I'm encouraging all Ontario people to create a Magic Low-Carb Bus to travel across Canada to Vancouver. Whadaya think?

K

[doreen T]

Originally posted by Karen
I'm encouraging all Ontario people to create a Magic Low-Carb Bus to travel across Canada to Vancouver. Whadaya think?

K A gazillion years ago, I contemplated taking a bus from Toronto to Winnepeg ... hey I was too young, stupid and in love -- bad combination ....... I was rudely awakened to reality when I discovered the trip would take about 3 days!! :eek: ... a bus to Vancouver would be 5 or 6 days... I would have a numb-bum, a dead-end..... I would be so foul from the trip, all of you would send me back east via cannon blast.

I will be with you in spirit nonetheless ...

Doreen

[Karen]

But Doreen, it would be the Electric Sugar-Free Kool-Aid Low-Carb Test!

Can't you see it? The Merry Low-Carb Pranksters spreading low-carb thoughts across Canada! You could be the low-carb Ken Kesey! You just have to get the rest of the Pranksters together. ;) :D

[r.mines]

Gee, I don't know what to respond to first....you guys are too quick for my morning brain....

Karen, I will be at the BBQ!!!

Doreen, I've done the bus trip from Vancouver-Toronto - a couple of times - when I was young and stupid - it truly sucks! I didn't sleep for three nights! It's a pity you can't be here, though. We'll raise a pork chop in your general direction....

The Merry Low-Carb Pranksters, I love it!

Rachel

[Karen]

Just think!

The Pranksters could create havoc in grocery stores across the nation! Bread would be replaced by heads of lettuce, skim milk cartons would mysteriously contain whipping cream, the snack aisle would have nothing but pork rinds and in the cookie aisle, free weights would replace the packages. With every purchase over $100.00, the Pranksters would be at the cash, handing out free Ketostix.

Come to think of it, the Prankster shirt should be striped in the same colours as the indicator on a bottle of Ketostix. The bus would be purple and pink and decorated with plastic replicas of meat and vegetables.

Come on Doreen! You have the power!

Karen

[Ruth]

All of you are too amusing! I'm not even going to try to keep up with your quick wits late on a Friday afternoon. My brain is already sunbathing @ poolside out in Port Kells (my sister's pool). Another weekend in tranquil suburbia.

I'll be there Karen, however, I do confess to feeling *slightly* intimidated :eek: about potlucking with a gourmet chef hostess. What to bring?!?!???

signed, Tired Merry Prankster, can't wait til 4PM

R

[Karen]

Prankster Ruth!

Don't worry about it! You know that I'm pretty casual. I'll cook something non-intimidating, but on the other hand...maybe I won't! ;)

You will be recieving your instructions in a secret low-carb communique, from a secret low-carb source, at a secret, low-carb location.

Until then,

Prankster K

[Ruth]

:) Ok, I can live with that.

signing off until Mon 8AM. ;)

Prankster Bond (007)

[Ruth]

K,

You do realize I'm not intimidated by what you bring but about my *own* contribution. Pul-lease make sure I get simple instructions. *LOL*

Bond

[debbiedobson]

hey ruth, i wouldn't worry to much about what to feed karen! from what i've heard about chef's, they're only too delighted when someone else cooks for them! i'm sure she'll love whatever you bring!:D

[debbiedobson]

hey doreen, i could be on the lowcarb bus with you! i'm great at creating mayhem!!! i want a ketostix coloured shirt! yessss!:D

[r.mines]

.....which you will have to eat immediately after reading. Low carb, of course.

Instructions written on a pork rind.....

Some poetry in that, no?


Low carb haiku:

Poem on a pork rind
oh, that crunch between my teeth
gone before midnight.

Rachel

[doreen T]

Originally posted by debbiedobson
i want a ketostix coloured shirt! yessss!:D Hmmm... with my luck it would turn dark purple from the SWEAT stains ...

Actually, I'm not sure that changing the grocery stores is the way to go. I'd much rather go cross country, and in every town and city, round up the lowfat dieticians and processed-grainfoods advertisers and promoters, and in the public square, lash them to chairs with rawhide, and force feed them pork rinds, and great big steaks, gobs of butter and hollandaise made with extra egg yolk. Full fat cheese too. And have a video camera handy to catch them on the sly later when they slip back for second helpings thinking no-one's watching! :D < Wa'il, we need an "evil grin" icon >

Doreen

[Karen]

It's a two pronged plan of attack! Round up the "pushers" and infiltrate the grocery stores.

After lashing and force feeding the dieticians et al in the publc square, we could play pie in the face - using real whipped cream of course - and throw pies at CEO's of junk food companies, sugar barons, and whoever is responsible for Hagen Dazs <sniffle>.

Then after that, we'd have a big bonfire made out of bags of potato chips and roast pure beef hot dogs over it, chanting "down with carbs, down with carbs!"

And then, and then....

Think it's time to have a coffee and contemplate Rachel's low-carb haiku. ;)

Karen

[IslandGirl]

Assuming we ever leave, never mind survive the trip, I (we) will be in downtown Toronto, visitintg with the ILs... after driving from Victoria to T.O., that is. Does a volkswagen semi-camperized w boneyard parts cargo van qualify as more so or less so than a bus tour of the prairies in July ?!? :eek:

Oh, DANG I'd rather be in gastown! Don't tell the ol' man :p but he just doesn't COMPARE to a lashing of dieticians! ROTFLMAO!

I'll just wish my lemon-garlic artichoke hearts in your general direction, and see what I can rummage up in ketostix colours for the fateful day! :D

Agent 99.5

[Karen]

Originally posted by IslandGirl
Assuming we ever leave, never mind survive the trip, I (we) will be in downtown Toronto, visitintg with the ILs... after driving from Victoria to T.O., that is. Does a volkswagen semi-camperized w boneyard parts cargo van qualify as more so or less so than a bus tour of the prairies in July ?!? :eek:


Just paint a purple and pink stripe on it and it will become the Magic Bus! A dirty job, driving from Victoria to TO in the Magic Bus, but somebody has to do it!

Why don't you get a crash test dummy as a stand in and come to the 'que instead?

Karen

[IslandGirl]

Why don't you get a crash test dummy as a stand in and come to the 'que instead?

Great Plan, think he might not notice for a while but the dog will! LOL! Nah, too late... Rent-A-Dummy is all booked up :rolleyes:

On the other hand, if the transmission never makes it back into the van... well, I'll call ya :D

sig: Prankster 99.5

[Karen]

sig: Prankster 99.5

Ahhh! The Prankster thing is catching on. See, we could all have different code names and secret decoder rings. Maybe even a few Sea Monkeys and x-ray glasses? ;)

Judi, I thought Agent 99.5 was hysterical!

Karen

[Liz]

Judging by the merry prankster line of mania going on this last while, I think there may be a heretofore unspecified effect of lowcarbing: drugfree hallucinations (or getting high with a little help from your friends). Rolick on!
I've been lurking through the BBQ line as I wasn't sure when I would be going away for some R&R with nature. As it turns out, it'll be next week. If I'm back in time, I'd like to join in. Just in case, is there a general line of food that would supplement what other people are bringing?

[Karen]

I'm going to make Thai BBQ Chicken. Boneless - not skinless! - chicken marinated with cilantro, garlic and black pepper. This is the funnest dish to eat. You wrap the chicken with lettuce leaves, mint, cucumber and cilantro Then you dip it in a sweet and sour sauce with peanuts and eat it. Very yum!

I'll make dessert too. What does everyone else want to bring?

I also promised Wa'il that I would make ful mudammas. If you want to find out what this bit of exotica is (and to recieve your secret decoder ring), you'll have to come!

Karen

[Liz]

If I'm back in time from holiday, I'll bring something salady. Greeny, goat cheesy, nutty, etc. Directions to your place will come via e-mail? Parking nearby? If not, I could catch a False Creek Ferry to Roundhouse and walk over.

[Karen]

Sounds yummy Liz!

Secret instructions have been sent. We all hope you can make it!:D

Karen

[Skinny2]

Karen, I'd like to come to the barbecue on Sunday. Can you give me the lowdown?

Thx...

[Karen]

Yes I will Skinny. I'll be sending instructions en masse next week. It's taking place in Gastown.

I will remind everyone that there will be a few dogs involved. If you have a dog, you are welcome to bring them. If they are male, they have to have been neutered. If you want to bring a friend, it would be great! Post here again so the numbers can be tallied up so everyone knows how many to prepare for.

Karen

[Skinny2]

Hi Karen,

Count me in. I'll see if a friend wants to join me, but for now, it's just me. No dog...just 2 cats...Sam 'n Ella.

[Karen]

OK! So this is the roster for the potluck...Anyone else coming?

Wa'il
Rachel
Ruth
Skinny2 + friend?
Karen
3 of Karen's, struggling LC friends
2 low-carb dogs

So that's 7 or 8 people and 2 dogs confirmed.

Maybe...Liz, Mrs.Yogi...

What are y'all thinking of bringing? Rachel I never got back to you about if you should bring something else besides whazzed up dip for pork rinds. The answer is sure!

Karen

[Sarlye]

I am SOOOOOO excited. :D

Yes, please include my husband and I to your BBQ. I have been on a chicken wing phase so I will probably bring some wings.

I am relatively new and my dh have joined me on this WOEand now my closest friend and her man is on the Atkins diet.

I would love to meet you all and get more psyched in this WOE.

See you Sunday, rain or shine? ;)

[tamarian]

Originally posted by Karen

What are y'all thinking of bringing? Rachel I never got back to you about if you should bring something else besides whazzed up dip for pork rinds. The answer is sure!


I'll make some ground beef skewers/kabobs.

Wa'il

[Sarlye]

ok, I am having a moment... maybe because I just dyed my hair yesterday and I left the chemicals in too long. Or all the medication from my yucky coughs the last 2 weeks finally killed some brain cells...

Wa'il, how do you stick the ground beef to the shishkamabob stick? :confused:

[tamarian]

Should be easy, I think there are various Indian/Middleastern recipes for it. I'll look up a recipe for it by the time we're there :)

Wa'il

[Ruth]

Arrgghh, I don't really know what to bring, but my thoughts are turning to a salad or veg & dip, something I can make just b4 because I'll be out Fri eve & all day Sat. Social butterfly, that's me :D. Ruth

[Karen]

OK! So this is the updated roster for the potluck...

Anyone else coming?

Wa'il
Rachel
Ruth
Skinny2 + friend?
Sarlye + DH
Karen
3 of Karen's, struggling LC friends
2 low-carb dogs

So that's 10 or 11 people and 2 dogs confirmed.

Maybe...Liz, Mrs.Yogi...

A salad would be great Ruth! So would wings and shishkamabobs!

I'm thinking of doing a salmon now, and some grilled portabello mushrooms with blue cheese dressing on the side, because others are bringing meaty things. And dessert of course!

Karen

[r.mines]

I'll bring some Brie, as well as pork rind dips. I'll have tons of work this weekend, so no extra time to cook. :(

Also, can anyone pick me up in the West End and give me a lift to Karen's?

Rachel

[doreen T]

Hope your lowcarb-barb goes splendidly, fine weather and all. I'll be thinking about you ... with the time difference, I'll likely be home from the Toronto get-together before you folks get started up. Have a good one .. :)

Doreen

[Karen]

Thanks Do!

It's grey here today, though it may clear up by tomorrow. You must give a full report on the your dinner. Is anyone bringing a digital?

Tried out a cheesecake recipe - a no bake thingy that's lookin' pretty good. Tonight I'll make coffee jelly.

Will I ever stop being excited about dessert? Probably not! ;)

You must be sooo excited. Have a great time!

Karen

[tamarian]

Originally posted by r.mines
Also, can anyone pick me up in the West End and give me a lift to Karen's?


Rachel, I'll pick you up. Initially I was planning to walk, but thinking of the uncooked meat, and not sure about the weather, I don't want to risk spoiling it with a 45-60 mins walk in hot weather (hopefully it's cool and gray!) :)

Wa'il

[debbiedobson]

Originally posted by Karen
Will I ever stop being excited about dessert? Probably not! ;)

Karen

oh karen! i DO know what you mean! hehehe!:D

have a great time tomorrow vancouverites. we'll be thinking of you at our lunch tomorrow!

[Liz]

I'm ba-ack. I can see now that I have chosen a rainy gray week sandwiched between summery weather for my holiday. Still, the sunshine coast is less gray and wet than I gather it's been here. And it's been wonderful hearing the waves lapping as I went to sleep and and loons in the morning. Many eagles doing their soaring, magnificence thing too. So, I'll be there tomorrow with the salad, goat cheese, nuts etc. The friend I travel with is preternaturally thin, but has been very interested in the low carb recipes. I'd like to bring her and she can contribute a nice green, yellow, red peppers, tofu sald thing she makes.

See you at 6.

Liz

[Karen]

Very groovy Liz!

I have a thin, LC intrigued friend coming too. Maybe they can bond!

Karen

[Karen]

All Low Carb Barb-ers!

Does anyone have a digital camera that they can bring?

Karen

[tamarian]

Thanks everyone for a great evening. Karen, you alway amaze me with how far you can streach low-carb taste buds! :)

It was a real pleasure to meet all the new faces, and make new friends. I think this is a record so far, 13!!!

Wa'il

[Karen]

All of you Ontari-airy-o-ans are snugly asleep in that wonderfully hot and humid Province that you insist on living in, while we Vanouverites have just wrapped it up and will be counting sheep, while a cool breeze soothes our well fed bodies and contented minds.

The second Vancouver potluck dinner was extremely successful! We discovered that all of us Vancouverites are fabulous cooks. Fourteen people experienced the wonders of low-carb eating and five hours of unbridled merriment. I am happy to report that there are hardly any leftovers!

This is what we had, along with a few bottles of wine, mineral water and Diet Coke…

Spring and sockeye salmon, soy-sesame sauce, tomato, basil and olive oil sauce
Five-spice chicken wings
Shrimp and egg cakes with cilantro
Prosciutto and ham with grilled vegetable relish
Leaf lettuce with goat's cheese, pecan and grape salad
Roasted portabello mushrooms with blue cheese dressing
Brie cheese and cucumbers
Feta, pepper, marinated tofu and sour cream salad
Spinach salad with mushroom vinaigrette, shaved ricotta salata and avocado
Cheesecake with creamy lemon sauce
Coffee Jelly
Blueberries and raspberries

Next LC Bash in January. Theme - Beating Back the Winter Blues! All Ontario-ites are welcome. Bring a raincoat!

Karen

[Sarlye]

Thanks for the LOVELY get together. We would like to thank you for your hospitality and the opportunity to meet so many supportive and interesting fellow low carbers.

I am so inspired now to try out some of the yummy recipes and be more adventurous with gourmet cheese in my cooking.

Have a good night!

Sarlye & DH Paul :D

[r.mines]

So THAT's what we ate, Karen! Dinner was such a cornucopia of delights I didn't even know the names of half the things on my plate! (Let's see, there was Harold - crunchy - and Jill - went down nicely - was the prosciutto Gina or Ginnette, always get those names confused.... :D ....)

Seriously, folks, I even ate TOE FOOD! Granted, it was well hidden among the peppers and lettuce leaves, but .... can I admit it .... it was actually pretty yummy .... OK, my secret is out.

Food was great, company was great, the dogs were great. My scale is up two pounds this morning. Guess I had a good time!

Rachel

[Karen]

Originally posted by Sarlye
Thanks for the LOVELY get together. We would like to thank you for your hospitality and the opportunity to meet so many supportive and interesting fellow low carbers.


Thank you to Sarlye! I was very happy that we had such a great turnout. :D

Karen

[debbiedobson]

did any one get any pictures to post!

[Liz]

What a great evening. The food people brought was wonderful--all beautiful colours, textures, tastes. Everyone chatted mightily for hours, a very interesting, friendly mixture of people and four happy dogs. Karen, thanks for sharing your place with us, and what a great condo--all lofty and vertical, not to mention your expert touch with the salmon and those wonderful desserts. I definitely want to make the coffee jelly.

For the Ontario folks, a little travelogue. The evening spun along, with clusters of people in the kitchen, living room, upstairs on the balconies while the sun set behind the sails of the Panpacific, and cool breezes wafted in the huge windows. It was a terrific get together.

[Karen]

Thanks Liz! I must guiltily confess that I was happy your friend left the sour cream and feta behind. The sour cream is made at the store she got it at on Robson Street. It's amazing! I'm going to check the place out and post it in the local shopping section.

I'm thinking that the January "Winter Blues" gathering should be an "All You Can Eat Prime Rib Extravaganza." I'll supply the beef!

Karen

[Karen]

Originally posted by debbiedobson
did any one get any pictures to post!

Nooooo!!!

This morning I remembered that no picures were taken and no one brought a digital. I have a camera, but completely forgot about it in the excitement!

Can't wait to see yours though!

Karen

[PaulW]

Hello everybody. Just wanted to say I had a great time at the potluck. Great location, great people, and no explaining to do.

Karen, I like the sound of "All You Can Eat Prime Rib Extravaganza"

[tamarian]

Welcome aboard Paul!!

It was a pleasure talking to you last night. And I love your avatar!! Looks very much like you! :)

Wa'il

[Karen]

Great to meet you too Paul! I forgot to tell you both last night that the wings were wonderful. Were they braised rather than baked. Was that a hint of star anise or five spice? You should post the recipe, or at least the method.

Karen

[Sarlye]

This is the first time I saw Paul's Avtar, freaky..uh. At least mine is my concept of what I would look like in a cartoon once I reach goal weight and my dermatologist have taken care of my 'waddle'.

Anyway I used 5 spice powder for the wings.

I will post the recipe in the recipe section.

I checked out the Gourmet Warehouse on Monday and spent some $$ there. I love it. Now only if I can justify the cost to my dh. (hee..hee...)

[fiona]

I am sooooo jealous. Wish I had been there.

But thank you for sharing. I almost feel as if I was there reading all your posts. It motivates me further to get something like this going in the UK. Ooh but I would have loved to meet in person all those wonderful people. I feel like I know you through your posts.

Take care.

[tamarian]

Fiona, I remember you mentioned before that you have family in Vancouver? So you are already an honorary member :) And if you are ever coming over to visit family, let us know and we will organize an LC event to coincide with your visit. :)

Wa'il

[Karen]

We sure will, but you have to bring us some real Devon Cream! ;)

Karen

[fiona]

:D

That is sooo sweet of U Tamarin/Karen. Guest of Honour eh? Torn between whether I should be nervous (all that attention on me) or delighted.

Hey I hadn't thought of it but I can really really go SE and enjoy that Devon Cream that I could only look longingly at the last time! Wow! what a pleasure awaits me. .... confesion time .... I'll be honest I didn't just look last time - I did sneakily eat a scone with Devon Cream in it. It is soooo rich. Wrong combination though - High carb white flour with yummy yummy cream. Have you had some Karen?

Yes Tamarian I do have family in Vancouver. My sister and Mum, who BTW is struck down with the bug Mrs Yogi talked about in her Journal. Poor thing is so bad at the moment I'm not even getting e-mails.

I've been working on my promise about Regions in UK. I know there's a separate thread for it somewhere but I'll post what I have so far for you to enter in Tamarian.
Alderney
County Antrim
County Armagh
Avon

Bedfordshire
Berkshire
Borders
Buckshire

Cambridgeshire
Central
Cheshire
Cleveland
Clwyd
Cornwall
Cumbria

Derbyshire
Devon
Dorset
County Down
Dumfries and Galloway
County Durham
Dyfed

Take care.

[Karen]

Wrong combination though - High carb white flour with yummy yummy cream. Have you had some Karen?

More than I care to admit! ;) But that was in another place, in a time long ago!

We serve afternoon tea at the restaurant, but the Devon cream is local. It's pretty good though!

Karen

[Ruth]

Karen,

A huge thank you for being such a marvellous hostess. Have you posted the LC cheesecake & lemon sauce yet?

Folks, I have to confess I called Karen at the last minute to cancel due to a bad hip - trochanteric bursitis or sciatica, it's hard to tell.
:(

Anyhooo, she BRIBED me into coming by offering fabulous LC Cheesecake *and it was!* 2nd bribe: wild spring salmon *yum* 3rd bribe: a guest room to lie down in to rest the painful hip. :eek: Never mind that I'd be missing a great party if I didn't drag my butt out of the house. So thank you Karen for being a true friend, talking me into partying rather than moping at home by myself. Your dogs are sweeties, I love them!

It was an amazing thing to learn that Rachel had eaten t**u. Wish I could have seen it, but I was upstairs on the deck when the dirty deed happened :D :p :D

To the rest of the Vancouverites lurking around: Don't miss the next get-together, you missed a great time!

[Karen]

Thanks Ruth! It was all of the LC'ers that attended who made the party a fabulous success! :D

A friend (a Zoner to boot!) mentioned last night that she couldn't believe what a great party it was and what a great bunch of people she met.

The cheesecake recipe is posted in the Karen section. No sauce though! It was sour cream mixed with lemon rind, water, cream and Splenda.

How are you feeling this week?

Karen

[Ruth]

Hi ya, glad to see your PC is back. It's been a tough week, no work for me (but a good sick leave plan) Saw the Dr Mon, got an Rx for anti-inflamms, back Wed to say, that's not helping enough, she gave some samples to try of the "latest kid on the block" anti-inflamms. Tried 1 pill today, it's not enough to sit w/o pain so will take 2 tomorrow & if that works will get my scrip filled.

I'm out in Surrey at the sis's to get some exercise in her pool and work on my tan. This business of sitting in a chair in front of a PC is painful :( but I haven't lost my sense of haha so it could be worse. :D The plan is this new drug Mobicox will help & with continued rest & gentle swimming, I'll be back at work Mon. I sure hope so, I be tired of being in pain & lying around & desperately desire to be back @ the office. :eek: Just can't imagine how Doreen & others with FM & other chronic illnesses manage. Pain makes me grumpy & only my family could love me then.:p:p

Gotta go & throw my steak on the barbie & make a salad. BTW Bought some delicious blueberries at a farm just off 176th St on 88th Ave for $1.25/lb. Still warm from the fields. If we have a Sunday coffee soon, I might be able to take orders for my LC buddies :)

[Karen]

Hi ya, glad to see your PC is back.

It's not! Probably won't be back till Monday. :( I'm posting from a top secret, high security location. ;)

Gotta go & throw my steak on the barbie & make a salad. BTW Bought some delicious blueberries at a farm just off 176th St on 88th Ave for $1.25/lb. Still warm from the fields. If we have a Sunday coffee soon, I might be able to take orders for my LC buddies

Yep! We should do it soon! But Rachel is always busy now! :(

Karen

[alan]

Karen,

Me being in Fort Lauderdale FL and you being in Vancouver BC makes it kind of impossible for me to be there even though it sounds like all you gals could use a man there to move the heavy stuff.
Have fun. I love the web site and I loved Vancouver, Stanley Park, Gas Town, Granville Island and the drive up to Whistler. A beautiful city. We took the Westerdam on the insland passage cruise and then stayed in RIchmond for five days and saw the sights. Loved Victoria and Bouchard Gardens.

Keep up the good work. I am down 45 lbs and still have a ways to go.

[tamarian]

Originally posted by alan
sounds like all you gals could use a man there to move the heavy stuff.

Ouch, this hurts, Alan!!

Life aint easy for a man named Sue ;)

Wa'il

[Karen]

Nah, we can move all the heavy stuff. We use men for different things! ;)

Congrats on the 45 down!

Karen

[tamarian]

Fine Karen, now the secret is out! As if 5 men weren't enough for the evening!! ;)

BTW, did you say somewhere the one of the guests was following the Zone? Who was that?

Wa'il

[Skinny2]

Thanks for the nice evening, Karen. It was great meeting everyone and I look forward to the next time. Still can't get the grilled portobello mushrooms with blue cheese dressing off my mind, so I'm having them tonight with steak.

It was weird being introduced to people by my login name, Skinny. When I chose that name to log in, I never thought I'd ever meet anyone!

P.S. Great condo!