Blog

FAMILY TREASURES WORTH SAVING

WRITTEN BY MARESA GIOVANNINI

We are at a silver-plated fork in the road. Generations before us commonly had minimal belongings or emigrated from other countries with next to nothing. They survived the Great Depression, started over after World War II, and then held tightly to what they had and accumulated more. Today, people inherit treasures from two or three generations instead of a handful of items from “the old country.” So, what do you keep, what do you part with, and how do you honor your family history without weighing down your family’s future? How do you honor family heirlooms amidst the collective desire to have what you need, declutter for daily clarity, and reuse for sustainability? Here, we start the Sunday-dinner conversation.

A melting pot of delicious dishes. (part 1)

VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA

WRITTEN BY ROBYN ROEHM CANNON

Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, Canada, is a year-round tourist destination, with something magical to offer visitors in every season. And we aren’t the only ones who think so: it was voted the 2023 best city in the world by Condé Nast Traveler readers. Here, a few reasons why.

Living Large in an Intimate Backyard Garden

WRITTEN BY KATHRYN O’SHEA-EVANS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON INGRAM & HARRIET CHALLIS

Anglophiles know that a British garden is bound to be verdant and green, given the locale’s trademark drizzly weather. But how do you maximize your green space in a plot that’s not exactly as colossal as the sweeping grounds of Buckingham Palace? Whether you have a town house in Toronto or a cozy cottage in Southern California, you can learn from the botanical wisdom applied in this alfresco space designed by Cameron, a London-based garden design, build, and maintenance firm.

New Build Meets Old Growth

WRITTEN BY VICTORIA HITTNER / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT SHANNON / www.mattshannon.ca

When Bianca Bodley was asked to design the landscaping for this home nestled in the coastal rainforest of British Columbia, she was determined to honor its roots—quite literally. The old growth forest in and around Ucluelet is remarkable not only for its towering trees, but for its distinction as one of the largest remaining temperate rainforests in the world.

Basic Elements Guide a Fresh Garden Design

WRITTEN BY RONDA SWANEY / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIE BUCK

“Deep down, we’re all cavemen; we need fire, water, shelter. If those needs are met, we know everything’s going to be okay,” says Molly Wood, owner of her eponymous garden design firm based in Costa Mesa, California.

arugula & radicchio salad

Serves 4

• 4 cups arugula
• 1 cup radicchio, rough chopped
• 2 sprigs fresh dill, chopped
• 4 radishes, thinly sliced
• 12 asparagus spears, blanched and chilled
• ½ cup snap pea pods, halved, shelled or both
• 2 tablespoons shaved Parmesan cheese
• 1 pint Raspberry Vinaigrette (recipe to follow), for serving
• Raspberry Vinaigrette
• 6 ounces raspberries, fresh or frozen
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ¼ cup (4 fluid ounces) canola or olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 clove garlic
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• ½ cup (4 fluid ounces) honey
• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

To make the vinaigrette, combine all the ingredients in a blender and emulsify until smooth in consistency. Pass the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove and discard the seeds.

Store vinaigrette in a jar or container with a lid. Although some separation may occur, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Toss the arugula with the radicchio, fresh dill, and sliced radishes. Top with blanched asparagus spears, pea pods, and shaved Parmesan. Serve with raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH BY KRISTEL MATOUSEK
WWW.PHOTORICALFOOD.COM

Reviving an Overgrown Urban Garden with Modern Design

WRITTEN BY BLAKE MILLER / PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER SCHIAZZA

When Adolfo Harrison first walked into his clients’ backyard, he wasn’t fazed. After all, the landscape architect was accustomed to being tasked with overhauling a home’s landscape design even if that meant tackling a completely overgrown backyard. “Their yard was a bit overgrown, yes,” laughs Harrison, founder of his London-based eponymous landscape architecture firm. But the seasoned landscape designer could look past the weeds and through the overgrown grasses and dead plantings to see that this particular lot had serious potential.

A SPOTLIGHT ON ART IN BLOOM

WRITTEN BY JEANINE MATLOW

Early in her career, Birmingham, Michigan-based photographer and artist Laurie Tennent did commercial work for clients like Crate and Barrel and Ford Motor Company. She also had a wedding and portrait business while maintaining her art practice and gallery showings. Her current focus, which captures nature in all its glory with dramatic botanical images, allowed her to switch gears. “I did commercial art, but now I throw my concentration into my art world,” she says. “Still, if someone asked me to shoot a [wedding] weekend in Italy, I’d probably do it.”

ENLIVEN YOUR KITCHEN AND PALATE WITH HERBS

WRITTEN BY VICTORIA HITTNER

“Herbs are the friend of the physician and the pride of cooks.” It’s a quote attributed to Charlemagne the Great, but the sentiment rings true centuries later. Whether blooming in a garden or simmering in a pot, herbs are an enticing delight for the senses. And while North American kitchen staples like rosemary, basil, and thyme are culinary stalwarts for a reason, there’s an entire world of herbs to explore. Try these less-common delights the next time you plant your garden or reach for a new recipe.