Roundish Mini Bowls

One of our stylists, Nicole Sjõstedt, and I are going to be at the BC Home and Garden Show next Friday, February 21, to talk about “Everyday Colour,” so I was in a colour frame of mind when I poked around Robson Street on the weekend. I fell for these candy-coloured “roundish” mini bowls from CB2. They’re right on trend with the ’80s-inspired colours and designs we’re seeing in both fashion and homewares (I also happened to be wearing a puffed sleeve top at the time, natch) and perfect for Friday night get-togethers—a few small bites alongside a glass (or two) of wine.

Roundish Mini Bowls, $2.95 each, available at CB2, cb2.com

Black and White Server

I recently opted for an ottoman to pair with my sofa, which to be fair, has taken some getting used to. It’s perfect for kicking back on a marathon Arrested Development and knit session; it’s less ideal for balancing a cocktail for Sunday night Mad Men. (Yes, my arguments pro and con essentially revolve around television.)

Solution? Every stylist’s go-to: a tray. Now, thanks to this handy number from Bouclair, I’ve got room for my feet and for my Old Fashioned.

Black and white server, $20, Bouclair, Vancouver and Calgary, bouclair.com

Trellis Cocktail Napkins

I’ve got a few annual celebrations that I host at my place: a pre-Christmas party (mainly focused around cookies), a Slovak Christmas party (cabbage and potatoes) and an Easter brunch (yes, more food). The best thing about brunch? It’s a toss up between the mimosas and the hot-cross buns—but both require pretty cocktail napkins, in my humble opinion. Thankfully, Crate and Barrel opens this week in Vancouver, where there’s pretty cocktail napkins aplenty. My pick: these Trellis cocktail napkins, light and Springy, elegant enough for a mimosa and practical enough to hoist a hot-cross bun. Trellis cocktail napkins ($25.79), available in Vancouver and Calgary at Crate and Barrel, crateandbarrel.ca.

Japanese Santoku Knives

When rain and high winds kept us off the mountain at Mt Baker this past weekend, my friends and I turned to the next best thing: prepping great food for each other in our cabin (with requisite breaks for prosecco and some hot tub time). I tested out these new Santoku knives from Canadian company Trudeau—which, admittedly, I’d been drawn to because of the colour. But I was presently surprised at their efficiency—Japanese Santoku knives are shaped slightly differently than traditional western knives, and known for their excellence in slicing and dicing—and even more thrilled at the price. At three for $30, they’re the perfect set for the cabin. Santoku knives by Trudeau, $29.99/set of three, available in Vancouver at Ming Wo, mingwo.com; in Calgary at the Compleat Cook, compleatcook.ca.

Le Creuset in Quince

I’m gearing up for a ski weekend at Mt Baker, and by gearing up, I mean planning our menu. (Truth be told, we get almost as much excitement about the great meals we’ll eat as we do about an epic powder day). I’m keeping it relatively simple for the first night, with a go-to bouillabaisse recipe from one of my favourite James Barber cookbooks, One Pot Wonders. (We featured his simple but tasty fishcakes from the same book in the magazine a few years ago). Recipe down, now I just need the perfect pot to cook it in—and wouldn’t you know it, Le Creuset has just launched a new colour. A dutch oven in Quince, a warm yellow that’s a perfectly sunny shade for a winter weekend, will host the bouillabaisse on top the stove, and stay warm in the oven for those Nexus-less friends stuck at the border. Le Creuset Signature Oval Dutch Oven, from $408.28 at Williams-Sonoma, williams-sonoma.ca

Stylish Walnut Cutting Board

I’m starting to gear up for holiday party season, and one of the things I collect are great presentation platters. (My sister started me off a few years ago with a Denby “Fire,” and I’ve been adding one every holiday season since). This year I’ve got this walnut cutting board from Tanja Hinder on my wish list. Hinder is one half of past Designer of the Year MTH Woodworks, and if you’re familiar with her work—MTH is best know for their tables crafted from stumps embedded in eco-friendly resin—you’ll know this new project is in keeping with her other designs. She calls it a cutting board, but it’s far too pretty for that. A few simple items—some brie, a few figs, good aged cheddar and some creamy blue—on a gorgeous setting like this one, and you’ve got an appetizer platter for your guests. Walnut cutting board by Tanja Hinder, $190, tanja@mccarthyhinder.com

Simple Servingware

I’m into my 12th year of living in Vancouver, which means I’m about to host my 12th orphan Thanksgiving. My nearly 20 years of vegetarianism means someone else handles the turkey (though I’ll admit, I’ve been known to dabble in the odd piece), but I’ll cover some favourite side dishes (like this Smashed Yam and Sweet Potatoes with Brown Butter and
Maple) and the easiest appetizer I know: a cheese platter. But easy can be pretty too, and this simple slate board from Trudeau fits the bill. With a piece of chalk, I can write the name of each cheese for my guests—and you know I’ll be grabbing a nice slice of this one for myself. Venti Slate Cheese Board by Trudeau, $30, available in Vancouver at Ming Wo, mingwo.com, and in Calgary at the Happy Cooker, happycooker.ca.