You may have heard the word ‘taste-maker’ buzzing around in your lifestyle magazines. I’ve got a few friends around the world who I could easily peg as one and what I love about them is that they have style that is true to themselves. They aren’t followers but leaders when it comes to how they live their lives. It doesn’t necessarily mean having loads of money. Having worked in the fashion magazine industry it’s apparent that style and taste are not about what you wear but how you wear your life. Style and taste are very individual and a reflection of yourself. To me, it’s also about understanding why you choose a certain object of desire or even a vacation spot …and it’s about emotion or memory.
I am known to get a little verklempt at the sight of a beautiful Lucian Matis dress on the runway because I know how hard this young designer works at his passion and his attention to detail is amazing (hey, I’m a Scorpio and I don’t hold my emotions in, trust me). I am someone who is aware of what happens behind the scenes as much as what’s in front of me.
amazing tasting menu created by the chefs at Ursa.
I had an amazing invitation to an event this week hosted by vitaminwater at URSA restaurant in the Trinity-Bellwood area in downtown Toronto. I love this area for it’s raw coolness factor. I use to live in this area BK (before kids) and it brings back so many great memories. I miss it dearly.
It was an eclectic mix of individuals brought together to experience this gastronomic journey. URSA is noted as one of Toronto’s top restaurants for true foodies. It’s very unique. Sure you may have had dishes that are presented as sea foam or have smoke rising from dishes created with liquid nitrogen or visually stunning nests made of thread-thin spun candy. But URSA goes beyond expectations. They are known not just for offering taste sensations that heighten all your senses but, as Toronto Life magazine says, “it’s modern Canadian cuisine that’s secretly good for you too.” It’s been a while since I’ve experienced a meal that truly challenges food lovers and pushes the culinary passions to the next level.
Georgian Bay whitefish – spring peas, roasted barley, preserved lemon, wild mint.
Our event host Winnie Chiu, a food scientist with George Brown Culinary Arts, led us through a variety of palate tests and shared fascinating information on how our emotions connect with food. Our first test determined our level of taste. About 25 per cent of us are super-tasters, 25 per cent can’t taste much, and 50 per cent are average tasters. No surprise that many at this event were super-tasters. Within the super-taster category, about 20 per cent more are women.
housemade tofu-edamame, yuba, morels, summer truffle, spruce tips, kinome
This all translates to how you react and connect to flavours which would explain why some people can’t stand the taste of cilantro, for example. As super-tasters many of us were quick to identify the hint of pine in our salad. And apparently tastes are hereditary which explains my older kid completely.
So, we know that tastes are very personal and there’s no right or wrong. Taste is all about what appeals to you and what emotions you have attached to them. At the event, we were asked, “if you were to create a new flavour combination for vitaminwater what would it be?” We were buzzing since our senses were already having orgasms after the meal.
Now, here’s your chance to be a taste-maker! What flavours bring you back to that happy place? Are there flavours that you associate with, say on a vacation sipping on a tart but sweet limeade while enjoying lobster along the seashores in PEI? Could it be the memory of enjoying a slice of juicy watermelon on an easy summer day sitting on the a dock in cottage country? Or sipping on Champagne people watching on a patio in France? Create your own vitaminwater flavour and your creation could earn you a chance to win a trip to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi!
Simply visit the vitaminwater Facebook page and get started! You can help create Canada’s new vitaminwater flavour! Remember to LIKE them first! All the details are there.
The sweet multi-v surprise
Oh…and hey, I want to share this quick recipe that is just too good!
The vitaminwater Creamsicle (for adults)
1 oz Vanilla Vodka mixed with vitaminwater essential flavour (and ice, of course)
While you pick up your favourite flavours be sure to check out the cheeky labels too *smirks*
Mega C is one of my favourites especially when I’m travelling…
mega c for crime-fighting superheroes!
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