Minerva Award Recipient

Congratulations to Chef Karen Barnaby!!!

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Food+theme+this+year+Minerva+Awards/2180394/story.html

Edible Gifts!

These are some of the edible gifts we made in the last class!

Bourbon vanilla caramel,

Cranberry orange vodka,

Ginger spiced cookies,

Spiced nuts.

Cute n' yum!

Trying to hunt down...

MINI CANDY CANE IN RED AND WHITE...the most classic looking ones. For some reason, I only see them being available in red, green and white. I've tried several stores already. If anyone has seen red and white mini candy cane anywhere in town, please give me a call. Thanks a bunch! (I NEED them for my class tomorrow!)

Bad! Wanda. Bad!!

I apologize for being such an awlful blogger in the last couple of month. I totally neglected my blog cause I've been too busy baking, cooking and teaching. I didn't even realise my last post was published more than 2 months ago until a client of mine phoned me to make sure I'm back in town, still running bah! and taking orders. YES! Wanda and bah! are both still alive. I'm now accepting orders for holiday gifts and parties. Thank you!

Sailing to Alaska

I'm boarding onto cruise ship Princess Sapphire in an hour, sailing to Alaska with my family. I'll be back in Vancouver on September 25. I'll be returning phone calls and emails then. Thanks!

Chicken oatmeal I didn't invent...

I'm thrilled that Chef Karen Barnaby mentioned about my chicken oatmeal on her Vancouver Sun Column on Wednesday, however she said that I invented it and I think I should make a clarification here. I did NOT invent chicken oatmeal but I stole the idea from Quaker, Asia. Instant oatmeal have been extremely popular in Hong Kong just like instant noodles. When I was there in 2007, I found a huge variety of instant oatmeal available in grocery stores, in both sweet and savory flavors. We bought a few of the savory ones to try, they were all rather tasty however they all contain artificial ingredients in them like MSG. I decided to come home and start making my own simply with rolled oats, water, chicken, broth and cream, salt and pepper. My husband and I are still in love with my version of chicken oatmeal, we eat it for breakfast very often, sometimes with a sprinkle of ground flax.http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Karen+Barnaby+stalks+missing+meal+breakfast/1951977/story.html

Julie & Julia

Absolutely love it! "Mmm...what do I enjoy doing?" I asked myself many years ago. " My other half and myself both absolutely love to eat. Why don't I go to cooking school!" That's exactly how I started, didn't know that's how Julia Child started until I watched the movie tonight. Wish I can be as dedicated to my blog like Julie Powell.

Email me.....

Hi to the lady who was in my cooking class last Saturday who left me your email address for the bakery I like that makes good spelt bread. If you happen to see this post, please email me. I emailed you twice to the address you wrote down but unfortunately they were bounced back to me...Hope to hear from you! Cheers.

Getting addictive...

I'm getting addicted on creating these hens and chicks arrangements. I've put this one together for my mother-in-law.

Happy Birthday to Mammy!!

Hens & Chicks for Granny

As some of you may know, I'm pretty proud of my hens and chicks collection and they're growing well and fast enough that I can share. I put this small arrangement together for Grandma the other day in a cute little pot I bought in Chinatown. I think it's rather good looking!

Classes went super well!

I'm so happy that last Sunday's dessert class and last night's vegetarian class both went very well. I had a lot of fun, and also received some seriously good feedbacks from my audiences. Thank you very much to the ones who attended these classes, it was lovely to meet you and I look forward to seeing you all again. For the ones who couldn't attend, I hope you can join me at my future classes. I'll be teaching at the Cookshop again on August 15, September 5 & 12. If none of those can fit into your busy schedule, keep in mind I also do private classes, please feel free to inquire!

My sunflowers!

We planted a pack of sunflower seeds in early April. I thought since they're recommended for kids to grow, they would be perfect for a non green thumb like me. That was easy! Here it is, first bloom in late June, however, with a few bugs kicking around, I don't know what they look like, all I see are holes on the leaves...?

The Unexpected!

I'm not even sure if we should call it a starfish or a sea star? Does anyone know? I think it could be edible but he's definitely too cute to be cooked. Mr. Sea Cucumber...you're just a little too strange and soft comparing to the ones I had cooked and eaten before. Perhaps you're some other sea creature that happen to look like sea cucumber? Or you're just a weirdo? Nice meeting you both. Back into the ocean you go. I'm sorry that we created a little hole on you. Bye!

Uni so yummy!!

When we were fishing on Hornby Island, we also accidentally caught a sea urchin. Need I say how delicious? Two billion times better than what you can get at any Japanese restaurant in Vancouver. However, it's still not as good as what hub and his buddy got from Bowen Island when they went scuba diving two years ago.

Beautiful Hornby Island

Oysters of Sandpiper Beach, Hornby Island

Fish we caught...

Gone fishing!

I'm away from June 8 to June 10, going fishing on Hornby Island. Please feel free to leave me a message or email me for orders and inquiry, I'll get back to you as soon as I return. Thanks!

Congratulations to Seacliff!

On May 21st, I successfully accomplished the grand opening party of http://www.seacliffconstruction.ca/ Seacliff Construction's new office location in Richmond. If anyone would like to see any sample menus for cocktail party, please feel free to email me.

Sempervivum. Live forever.

My tulips are done and gone. I've done some clean up in the garden, repotted some of my hens and chicks. They're always doing so well, looking so cute. They didn't only survive the past long winter, they actually grew bigger. How amazing is that! I love 'em. I love 'em. I totally love 'em! Thanks to Karen who generously let me pick a whole bunch of babies out of her garden last Summer. She always tells me, if I can't grow hens and chicks, may as well I'd give up gardening.

Tomatoes!

Today we've finally planted tomato seeds we collected from last year. A variety of organic heirloom tomatoes including the Sungolds we got from our most wonderful and famous farmer, "the" Tomato Man, Milan. That makes our first tomato seed sowing experience very special, and hopefully it'll be successful.

My first blooming tulips!

Isn't it beautiful! I guess Spring is really here! My tulips have finally started to bloom. I planted over thirty bulbs in November, so I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more to bloom. Mom. Look! Tulips for you.

Happy Birthday to Karen!

It's been great!

Ever since the new menu started, everything has been running smoothly. I've been busy baking at home, as well as helping clients with parties. If anyone is about to throw a party or needs any food ideas, please feel free to email me. I'll be more than happy to create a custom menu for you.

Little twists!

Here we have some appetizers with a little twist. Caesar salad rolls with shrimps(left) are wrapped in rice paper like Vietnamese salad rolls. Wings stuffed with blue cheese(right). These wings are de-boned, stuffed then rolled in parmesan cheese and panko breadcrumbs, baked in the oven. For the rest of this menu, I had truffled mac n' cheese with lobster, banana ice-cream sandwich in banana bread. Fun and yum indeed!

NEW MENU is here!

Yes! Menu has finally been updated!! I have quite a few fruity and citrusy yummies replacing the wintery items. Hopefully Spring will hit us soon!

Wontons!

These wontons are filled with ground pork, watercress and Shanghai bok choy, an all-time family favorite! I remember grandmom, mom and I would all sit down and wrap hundreds of them because my grandpa and dad could each eat up to fifty of

these for dinner at one sitting. They are that good!

Baby shower party!

Eight dozens of cupcakes I made for a baby shower party at the Intrawest office, I had them set up in tiers and platters, looking all cute and adorable. Unfortunately, we won't get to see them because I left my camera home, couldn't take any picture when I was there.

Congratulations to the mothers-to-be, Helena and Mariana!

Another beautiful one!

Another beauty! This gorgeous lady's slipper orchid, is for Karen.

Beautiful bloom!

Orchids is our new toy. We have four of them now, two of them are lady's slippers. This one has been blooming for over a month now, and it looks amazing!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Happy Chinese New Year!

It's Year of the Ox!

Moo.....

Best seller in 2008...

Is anyone curious about which is the most popular item of bah!? Out of over 150 dozens of cookies I had baked over the holiday season, I find it funny that my best seller can't actually be found on my menu. Surprise! The winner is Lavender Vanilla Shortbread!! I'll be putting it on my new menu since everyone loves it so much.

Thank you all for keeping me busy!

I'm glad to tell you that bah! has been very well received. It's only been a little over a month, bah! is doing extremely well and honestly much better than what I expected. I had a really good Christmas and I know the New Year will continue to be awesome. Great big hugs and thanks to all my lovely clients, family and friends. You all have been a great support. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

2009!

I'm exhausted from baking the past one month. I'm taking a day off, staying home but away from the oven, just sit back and relax! Happy New Year to you all! May 2009 be a fabulous one for you!!

Mini shepherds pie? O'rely?

When I told my hubby about making mini shepherds pies as hot hor d'oeuvres, he thought I was insane. Why not! It's the coldest time of the year. everyone loves comfort food. What's more comforting than a shepherds pie!? I don't blame him, his standard portion of shepherds pie is usually, a quarter to half of a 9" by 13" casserole dish. Yes, I'm serious. I can understand that putting a shepherds pie into a little 1.5" paper cup would make him a little upset. He probably doesn't want the comfort to be gone after two bites. Oh well. I'm not making them for him but Liv's party anyways!

Merry Christmas!

Great! A gorgeous white Christmas we have.

Wish everyone a Merry Christmas full of laughter and good eats!

Snowing like crazy!

It's snowing again!! I've taken some time to take pictures out of my windows. Downtown Vancouver being covered with snow. I love the way it looks but it also worries me. Will my plants on the balcony survive? Our water plant tank is now totally solid, I wonder how my hubby's little goldfish is doing. Hang in there, Little!!

Snow...and my snow balls!

I have been busy baking, putting together gift boxes, working on orders. I noticed that it snowed, but totally didn't take the time to enjoy it. I might have looked out of the window twice. I dusted my own snow, icing sugar of course, on my Chai Spiced Butter Balls. Instead of going outside to play with the snow, I made 10 dozens of snow balls! Same kinda fun and just as pretty!!

Macdonald Realty Kerrisdale

Thank everyone at Macdonald Realty for having me. It's my first bah! presentation, it's my first time in a realtors' office; my first time meeting over 40 realty agents. I hope everyone enjoyed the cookie samples I brought and gift options I put together. Many thanks to Cecile for bringing me into her office. http://www.manyeelui.com/MeetCecileYuen.ubr

Congrats on your big day, Yvonne!

CONGRATUALATIONS!! I also want to say I'm sorry for not being able to make it to your wedding, can't fly all the way to Hong Kong. Sending you my best wishes, hugs and kisses and an I. O. U. a wedding cake. I'll make you a 25th anniversary cake I promise.

Dust brownies with cocoa or icing sugar?

I couldn't make up my mind! I made these triple chocolate brownies for my hubby to take to work, they're having a potluck party at lunchtime today. " Don't worry about it! ", he said, " They'll be gone within minutes. " I ended up going half and half as you can see...

You may also find bah! on canada.com

http://www.canada.com/topics/lifestyle/food/story.html?id=1026779&p=1

bah! on the Sun....

Eight years ago, not long after I graduated from VCC, I was lucky enough to beome Chef Karen Barnaby's apprentice at the Fish House; and I worked my way up and became her Sous Chef. There is a very special bond between Karen and I and the Fish House. Cookie exchange is definitely in the Top 5 of my good Fish House memories, and I always managed to have the third best looking plate of cookies. Who were first and second? Karen and the Pastry Chef...of course...

I'm thrilled to be mentioned in the Vancouver Sun and the FinancialTimes.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/todays-paper/undeniable+ecstasy+cookies/1022484/story.html

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1022484

Thank you, Chef.

My Menu!

My menu is finally done! There were many nights of strabismus caused by staring at the computer screen behind it. I couldn't have done it without my awesome friends, Ena and Karen; and Jeannie, the expert of formatting. In order to keep my menu nice and simple, easy to read, I chose not to throw too many items on it. If there is anything you're craving, please don't hesitate to let me know. I'll be happy to fulfill your request.

To order or enquire, please feel free to call me 604.307.1802 or e-mail me chefwandachau@hotmail.com

What does bah mean?

I can't even remember how I came up with bah! (sigh) You know how people often say the memory part always starts to fade once you hit 30, and wrinkles on your face do the opposite. Well...bah! in my world stands for baked at home and I totally love it, I think it sounds rather cute and tells everyone what I have to offer. Something scrumptious being freshly baked at home. I was googling the other night making sure "bah" doesn't mean anything too weird; and I found http://bah.org/ the BIG ASS HAM and I laughed so hard...Please don't get my bah! mixed up with Mr. Giant Can of Spam! I really appreciate his sense of humor. (lol) Thanx.