We are delighted to be working with alumni UBC to publicize Fashioning Cancer, a fundraiser in support of the Canadian Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Centre at UBC. The event, part of Western Living Design Week, will feature the auction of ten exquisite evening gowns that were designed as works of art by Jacqueline Firkins, Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Theatre and Film, to encourage honest and open conversations about cancer.

The gowns were inspired by colourful microscopic images of cancer cells and cellular systems and auction and ticket proceeds from the event will go to the Canadian Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Centre at UBC.

In addition to the auction there will be a live performance by Canada’s queen of punk, singer/songwriter and cancer survivor, Bif Naked.

The Fashioning Cancer fundraiser will take place in the Porsche Centre Vancouver on Tuesday, September 23

For further information and to buy tickets, visit www.alumni.ubc.ca/fashion.

Local company Mahony & Sons opened the doors to their newest location in South False Creek earlier this week and Vancouverites have been flocking to the new restaurant to check out the detailed authentic Irish décor and sample delicious dishes and drinks on the stunning waterfront patio.

Prior to the opening Breakfast Television’s Dawn Chubai came down to Mahony & Sons to broadcast four cooking segments with Executive Chef Paul Nguyen and the Mahony brothers.  Viewers learned how to make Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos (a Mahony & Sons best-seller), Lily Belle’s Shrimp Salad, and Lee’s Lamb Dip, and Bar Manager Barry Quinn gave some useful tips on how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness.

Executive Chef Paul Nguyen prepares a shrimp salad at Mahony & Sons for BTV

The opening of Mahony & Sons Stamps Landing has proved of great interest to the local media and food bloggers with rave reviews appearing on the Georgia Straight website, Vancity Buzz, Modern Mix, and My VanCity (to name just a few), as well as on the websites of national food trade publications such as Canadian Restaurant News and Foodservice and Hospitality.

Follow @MahonyAndSons on Twitter for details on further coverage in the coming days and weeks.

Mahony & Sons Stamps Landing

The craic was mighty on Thursday evening as Mahony & Sons hosted a special sneak preview for media of their much-anticipated Stamps Landing restaurant.

The family-run company has just completed a complete overhaul of the former Monk McQueen’s site in South False Creek and will be officially opening the new 10,000 square foot location on Monday, August 18 at 11am.

Guests at last night’s media event were invited to experience true Irish hospitality and enjoyed the perfect pairing of Guinness and oysters upon arrival, followed by a tour of the new premises before sampling a number of signature Mahony & Sons dishes prepared by Executive Chef Paul Nguyen.

The Mahony & Sons Stamps Landing Media Launch

Mahony & Sons, Mahony and Sons, Stamps Landing, False Creek, Restaurants, Irish pub

Mahony & Sons Stamps Landing can seat up to 600 people spread across two levels - 150 upstairs, 150 downstairs, and 300 on the four waterfront patios. Key features include an Oyster Bar, an extensive patio with double-sided fireplace, and a private sunset patio perfect for small groups.

Executive Chef Paul Nguyen

Thank you to all media who attended – Mahony & Sons appreciates your support!

We are delighted to be working with Muscular Dystrophy Canada in the run up to their Empowerment in Action Summit 2014.  This engaging and informative event will take place at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport from the 22nd – 24th August and will feature interactive workshops and panel discussions providing valuable information and inspiration to anyone whose life is directly impacted by a neuromuscular disorder. If you would like more information go to http://muscle.ca/we-can-help/educational-events/empowerment-in-action/

The deadline for registration is 8 August 2014.

Vancouver Magazine's Editor-in-Chief John Burns, Dara Young and David Gunawan of Farmer's Apprentice, and Lori Chalmers, Publisher of Vancouver Magazine

On Tuesday, Vancouver Magazine announced the winners of their 25th Annual Restaurant Awards at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel.  This year marked the event's silver anniversary and hundreds gathered to celebrate the city's finest culinary talent. The festivities were hosted by CBC's Gloria Macarenko and Stephen Quinn and saw Gold awards handed out in 49 categories.  The night's big winner? The Farmer's Apprentice, taking home Restaurant of the Year, Best New Restaurant of the Year, and Best Casual Restaurant.

So who else took top honours? Click through for full coverage on vanmag.com.

In this month's Western Living, there is a great feature on Western Canada's hottest new hotels. Check out the full page feature on The James alongside The Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Hotel Le Germain (Calgary), and the Oak Bay Beach Hotel (Victoria).

The Richmond News picked up our release about the YVR Penny drive. Check out their full article here.

Got a jar of old pennies at home? Put those coins to good use through YVR's Penny Drive. YVR is calling on travellers and the airport community to donate their pennies to help fund lunches for children in need this summer.

According to Quest Food Exchange, a Vancouver-based not-for-profit organization that helps those in need access affordable, healthy food, many kids rely on school lunch programs for healthy food. When schools are closed in the summer, providing lunch can be an extra burden for families that are already struggling financially.

From June 13 to 28, YVR will be collecting pennies to fund food vouchers that be provided to families to shop in Quest’s three not-for-profit grocery markets.

Check out the full release here.

Jennifer HornMedia in Canada January 11, 2012

Apparently, the adage of “less is more” really speaks to the execs at Canadian Direct Insurance.

Therein lies the reason behind the brand jumping on the idea of having the advertising pitch process portrayed in a series of new commercials for its simple, to-the-point tagline of “Say Yes To Savings.”

In three new spots, the ad guys at Noise (a Vancouver-based agency that handled both the media and creative) make fun of themselves and the industry they work in by portraying what turns out to be a disaster pitch. While the two creatives work their hearts out to present a flashy campaign, the insurance exec doesn’t budge, requesting that they “just keep it simple” and to show how the insurance company can help people save money. The ask falls on deaf ears with the ad men churning out ideas of a cyborg and a rollerblading kitten with chiseled abs as its next spokesperson.

The spots are in fact a play on a real-life situation that happened a year ago, when the president of the company jokingly asked a Noise creative and account director what kind of “out-there” idea they were going to pitch next, Trevor Carr, president and CEO, Noise tells MiC.

Read Media in Canada's full story here.

Jonathan PaulStimulant January 11, 2012

Canadian Direct Insurance is keeping it simple with its latest campaign, care of Vancouver-based Noise. It wants consumers to know, simply put, that it saves people money and that’s a message that doesn’t require crazy artwork to convey in commercials…or does it?

Watch the spots and read the full creative credits on Stimulant online.

Eve LazarusJanuary 10, 2012 Marketing Magazine

Michael Milardo, creative director at Noise Digital, was waiting to unveil a presentation to client Canadian Direct Insurance when its chairman walked by and asked why they couldn’t just say the company saved people money instead of wrecking cash with flame throwers, chainsaws and graters (i.e. the concept of the last campaign).

The idea became the basis of three television ads that launched this month in a campaign called “Say yes to savings.”

Read the rest of Marketing magazine's story here.

Meetingmax recently announced that it had signed an agreement with Oklahoma City to manage their online housing needs. Read the full release here.

JOEY Restaurants' Executive Chef Chris Mills was recently on Urban Rush making pumpkin spice doughnuts and the new Triple Threat specialty coffee. You can watch the full clip here.

And if you are interested in making them at home. Here is the recipe:

Wet Ingredients

1 cup Pumpkin puree

½ cup Buttermilk

1/3 cup Sugar

2 each Eggs

¼ cup Brown sugar

¼ cup Butter, melted

Dry Ingredients

1 ½ cups Flour, all purpose

1 tbs. Baking powder

1 tbs Pumpkin spice (4 cin. 4 clove, 2 all, 2 nut meg)

1 tsp. Salt

½ t Baking soda

Method:

Combine wet ingredients in a stainless steel bowl

Sift dry ingredients.

Add wet to the dry ingredients and mixing as little as possible. Until there are no lumps.

Refrigerate for up to 12 hours.

To fry – use a home deep fryer or prepare a stove top pot of oil heated to 350F using a deep-fry or candy thermometer to measure the temperature. Gently drop marble size pieces of the dough into the fryer being careful not to splash hot oil. The doughnuts take about 2½ minutes. You can turn them using a slotted spoon or chopsticks. Once cooked transfer them to a paper towel lined plate or tray to drain. Verify that the center of dough is cooked through and adjust timing accordingly.

Once the doughnuts have a chance to cool – toss them in the cinnamon sugar to coat and serve with a coffee cup of the dulce de leche, Enjoy!

Cinnamon Sugar

1 cup Sugar

1 tbs. Cinnamon, ground

Combine the ingredients and reserve for the doughnuts.

Coffee Dulce de Leche

1½ cups Cream

¾ cup Brown sugar

¼ cup Butter

¼ t Vanilla Extract

4 g Instant coffee, mixed with just enough water to dissolve

Method:

Reduce cream, brown sugar and butter in a heavy bottomed saucepan by 1/3rd.

Allow the sauce to cool then add the vanilla and instant coffee

Reserve until the doughnuts are done.