Filed under: Foodie Swellness
When I was in Chicago last weekend for the Chicago Marathon (have you checked out my race recap?), one of the many awesome things from my weekend with Nike (besides Nike Chicago surprising me with my own Nike billboard on Michigan Ave.!) was getting to attend a session on Friday with Elyse Kopecki, co-author with Shalane Flanagan of Run Fast, Eat Slow and its sequel Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow.
I got a copy of the second cookbook signed and personalized and chatted a bit with Elyse about carbloading, which I’d been stressing about that week after being recently reminded by an article about the daunting amount of carbs that is recommended. “In the days before a race, you don’t need to force feed yourself,” she said. “Eat so you feel good and don’t feel overstuffed. Eating easy to digest carbs like rice and sweet potatoes, and the treats we have in here, the sweet potato breakfast cookies in our first book and the superhero muffins in this book, and in the final weeks leading up to a race, adding in an extra snack per day to get those extra carbs will help you, but you don’t have to force feed self to eat huge bowl of pasta day before the race. You don’t want to change your diet too much.”
On Saturday, the Nike crew hosted us for a family-style brunch so we could fuel well for the race, and we all received a signed copy of Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow…and since I already have my own copy, I’ve decided to give this one away!
You can enter on my Instagram (details on how to enter are on the IG post — look for the pic that is at the top of this blog post on my Insta feed), but here on the blog, you can get one additional entry by commenting on this post and sharing what you like to eat before a run. For me, if it’s in the morning, i’ll have some toast with peanut butter, or some steel-cut oats. If my run is after work or mid-aft, I might have an apple or a Kind Snacks bar.
This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, October 22. The winner will be chosen at random. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the U.S. and the prize is awarded as is.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy the cookbook as much as I have so far! I’ve made the superhero muffins and a soup from the first book, and the slow cooker beef and minestrone from the second book, yum!
October 15, 2018
Um, can someone explain to me how it’s almost August? Geez. This summer’s flying by, which is giving me all the more reason to enjoy the rest of the season to its fullest, including some amazing cocktails like the Le Grand Fizz (recipe below!).
With my friend Amanda Phuong
Not that I’ve wasted the first half of summer. For one, I was lucky enough to attend this year’s Grey Goose event in Toronto twice: first to an exclusive lunch with Michelin-starred chef Christophe Dufau, and then the next day for cocktails.
While last year’s theme was a sunset soiree picnic, this year’s theme was Grey Goose Marché held on the grounds at Campbell House and they had some of Toronto’s food purveyors (such as Fifth Town Artisan Cheese (which I’ve visited in Prince Edward County), Nadege Patisserie and Thobors Boulangerie, to name a few) at the charming market set-up. It made me ache to be back in the south of France…
Chef Christophe Dufau was very stylish and charming and his food was dreamy. My favourite course was probably the Provence-style smoked fresh cheese. My only regret was not being able to eat enough of it…I wasn’t familiar with Chef Dufau or his restaurant Les Bacchanales but now if I ever find myself in Vence I’ll have to go.
When I returned the next day for cocktails, I took this as my opportunity to shop the market, and picked up some Truffalino cheese, a baguette and some of the best strawberries I’ve had in ages.
Shopping done, I said bonjour to a few cocktails. I love the Le Grand Fizz and now that I’m stocked with a limited-edition bottle of Grey Goose, I’m all set to enjoy these through the rest of this summer.
Thank you Grey Goose Canada for yet another memorable meal. It’s truly one of my favourite events of the summer (and in the fall, the Grey Goose events for TIFF aren’t too shabby either!)
Grey Goose Le Grand Fizz
1 1/2 parts Grey Goose vodka
1 part St-Germain elderflower liqueur
2 parts chilled soda water
1/2 part freshly squeezed lime
Method
Build ice into an oversize cabernet wine glass with lots of ice. Add Grey Goose vodka, then squeeze fresh lime and discard. Top with St-Germain and chilled soda water. Garnish with fresh lime wedges.
Cheers!
Photos (with Amanda, flowers, table setting): Ryan Emberley
July 28, 2018
I’m always for making your commute into a way to keep active whenever possible. So I was super into helping to launch Bike Month with Bike to Work Day last Monday in partnership with CLIF Bar.
Bike Month, if you’re not familiar with it, is an annual event to promote cycling in Toronto and Hamilton running from May 28th until June 30th. It’s the 29th anniversary of this event, which brings together cyclists at events, races, tours and more through the month of June. In fact, have you heard that every Wednesday during the month of June Bike Share in Toronto is free!
I rode Bike Share for the first time this Monday for the launch event during which we rode from Yonge and Charles down to City Hall with Mayor John Tory. The police shut down traffic so we could do the ride there and it was a fun leisurely ride that, hello, ended with a CLIF-powered pancake breakfast, some speakers and photo opps (check out the cute CLIF Bar bike below, couldn’t resist getting a fun shot with Hawley Dunbar of Sidewalk Hustle and Gracie Carroll of Edit Seven).
I don’t ride my bike to commute that often but I’ve been slowly trying to do more. Last summer, I rode my bike to a few dance classes and to get to an event or two (and then got a flat but I just got my tired fixed so I’m back on the road!). I will admit that I am a little afraid of riding my bike on the busy city streets but with careful planning using the Toronto cycling map, I can usually find a route with a bike lane or a quieter street i can take where I can confidently ride to get where I need to.
As for CLIF Bar, did you know the company was born on a bike? Founder Gary Erickson was exhausted and craving a good tasting and nutritious energy bar dying a 175-mile bike ride in 1990. Talk about the perfect match, Bike Month and CLIF Bar. Their bars are what I pack in my bag when going on a hike or for a bike ride (or eat before I head out for one) so I can be sure I’ve got the energy I need for my adventures of the day. And whether you bike as a means to commute to work or just a fun ride on the trails or in the Leslie Spit (where I’ve ridden to view some epic sunsets) there’s a CLIF Bar variety that’ll tempt your palate. And by the way, if you need something new to tempt your tastebuds, just launched in Canada are two new CLIF Nut-Butter Filled energy bar varieties: Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter and Caramel Chocolate Peanut Butter. My fave of the two is the sweet and savoury Caramel Chocolate Peanut Butter.
Plus, a little hat tip to Canada: those oats in the Nut-Butter Filled energy bars? None other than organic Canadian oats and the Nut-Butter Filled Bars are made in Canada!
With a both a Bike Share membership and my bike, and a new helmet, I’m excited to bike more often during Bike Month and beyond! I’d love to see where your bike takes you, be sure to share with the hashtag #feedyouradventure and #bikemonthTO!
If you’d like to learn about more Bike Month events, be sure to check out the site!
(sponsored)
June 4, 2018
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