This is the best public market HG has ever visited. Number two is the one in Barcelona. Tokyo (and Kyoto) have great markets but HG finds them too overwhelming. The Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver, B.C., has Oyama, the extraordinary French Canadian sausage, charcuterie, and cheese store (there are three more cheese places in the market, all splendid). There are butchers, fishmongers, bakers, candy makers; spice, coffee and tea specialists; fruit and produce vendors and more. Much, much more. HG/BSK visited to purchase the makings for dinner at home. (details to follow later in this post). HG/BSK’s Vancouver day started with exercise, swimming, and hot tub relaxation. Then, off to Vancouver Art Gallery for a Cindy Sherman retrospective. The show displayed the art museum’s expertise in lighting and mounting a show. The work of this innovative, original woman captivated HG/BSK. Highlight for HG/BSK was the group of photos entitled “Elderly Women.” Somehow, using her own face and body as the model — alongside makeup, costumes, sometimes prosthetics — Ms. Sherman manages to capture the societal pressures (and the deep neurosis as a result) placed upon aging women to pursue “looking young.” Before the gallery visit, HG/BSK had a brunch at Peaceful Restaurant, a very good Chinese restaurant on Fourth Avenue in the Kitsilano neighborhood. Braised eggplant. Szechuan string beans. Cumin lamb with noodles. Wontons in chili oil. Great food served deftly in a pretty room. The Market dinner at night consisted of duck rillettes, pheasant terrine, country pate, Italian and French ham, Greek salad, cornichons, English mustard. Italian truffle cheese, brie de meaux, Winnipeg cream cheese, fresh figs. HG started the festive dinner with Dutch herring and icy vodka. French baguette from Terra Bakery. Lots of the fabulous pinot noir BSK discovered at Vij’s. Another joyous Vancouver day.
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