A Tale of Two Events: The Lazy Gourmet Menu Launch, Plenty F/W 2012 Preview

One of the beautiful floral arrangements at the Lazy Gourmet launch

Last night, I attended a tasting event to celebrate the new fall/winter menu from The Lazy Gourmet in the heart of Gastown. Then I hightailed it to Kitsilano where I got a glimpse of the fall/winter 2012 offerings from local fashion retailer Plenty. Oh, what I rough life I do lead.

Winter Berry Martini and Spicy Ginger Man. Yes, that's a full cinnamon stick as a swizzle stick in the Spicy Ginger Man.

Thoughts of Christmas rarely cross one's mind while in the throes of an Indian summer, but the holiday season--and the pressure to host the perfect party--are just around the corner. Luckily, the harried and the cooking-challenged alike can count on catering companies like The Lazy Gourmet to deliver. Aside from staple fare like fruit, cheese, and charcuterie platters, the classic caterer (founded in 1979 and one of the oldest in Vancouver) has revamped its fall/winter 2012 menu with new hors d'oeuvres and dishes. "At The Lazy Gourmet, we are always looking to reinvent classics and favourites, but still echo the type of nostalgia people love during the feasting season,” says general manager Kevin Mazzone. True to that ethos, last night's menu featured a number of items that tickled adult palates while pleasing the child in all of us. Standouts: maple bacon cupcakes (the saltiness of the bacon garnish contrasted well with the sweet icing and cake); kale Caesar salad with horseradish dressing on endive (nice presentation, melt-in-your-mouth texture); portobello fries with garlic aioli (crispy tempura-like texture on the outside, tender savoury mushroom on the inside); and the bevy of custom cocktails (Sage Bulldog, Winter Berry Martini, Spicy Ginger Man) that highlight traditional holiday flavours in a more sophisticated way.

And from food to fashion: The Plenty flagship store in Kitsilano was packed with guests eager to check out the fall/winter 2012 merchandise and hear FASHION magazine's West Coast editor, Joy Pecknold, present her take on the season's trends. Pecknold did not disappoint with her hilarious commentary and the casual looks she put together using Plenty's pieces. Expect coloured denim in muted yet rich shades rather than the brights of seasons past; soft knits; notice-me outerwear like capelets and fur-trimmed blanket coats; and lots of layer-able separates like sheer blouses, crop tops, silk tunics, and long but lightweight cardigans.

A quick browse around the store revealed some covet-worthy labels. I spotted Herschel Supply backpacks, Matt & Nat handbags, Cheap Monday denim, and Lifetime Collective separates. Affordably priced scarves, shoes, and accessories (including the cutest and most inexpensive little satchel I've seen in a while) rounded out the selection.