Tonight Emile and I attended an underground dinner party. As you’ll recall, the one we signed up for was a social one, meaning nobody there (aside from if you signed up with a friend) knew each other. There were nine attendees in total:
- Emile & I
- Amanda, a Yoga instructor who used to own a fashion boutique and use also be in film
- Daniela, One of the co-owners of “We are Local“
- Stephanie, a federal government employee who moved here after falling in love with Vancouver working on the Olympics
- Chance, her husband and working for Health Canada who told many stories of their travel adventures
- Daniel, a young and quiet man from Columbia who could not decide his favorite Canadian city between Montreal and Vancouver
- Dusank (misspelled I think), a mechanic on multi million dollar yachts who had a varied stories from broken bones to bear hunting
- Eddie, a former mormon, current interior designer, from Argentina
All people from varied and different backgrounds that shared a common goal – to meet new people and experience something a little different.
A couple days before the event, we were emailed the location details – which until then were just known as “Gastown”. It was held in an apartment featuring art from local artists and where the host lived.
Dinner was fantastic – pulled pork & guacamole appies and then followed by corn & bacon chowder, lemongrass chicken, roasted cauliflower with whipped goat cheese, smashed potatoes, walnut sweet beet salad, and ribboned spicy carrots. I think I covered everything. Dessert was sweet buttermilk cream with rhubarb strawberry topping. It was family style so it really felt like a group of friends together for a meal. Everyone brought wine to have with dinner.
Kristen, the host, was quietly in the background taking care of all the details, cooking in her personal kitchen, and serving us. Helping the conversation roll when there was quiet moments – though there were very few.
What I liked about the evening is how I felt – inside the pulse of Vancouver, trying something different. Someone who knows the hip spots, the places to the be.
So try it, you’ll be happy you did.
May 17th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: In the heart of it all, in Vancouver.
The Daily EO 