Chris Stenberg dot com » Life in General

Bacheloritis: Lone Steak

Chris Stenberg — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:21:40 +0000

Every now and again bacheloritis sets in and rather than try to fight it sometimes it’s best to run with it. Like the old saying goes, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”

For this dinner I decided to go with the culinary equivalent of leaving the toilet seat up — a plain steak. No toppings, sauces, garnish, or side dishes required, yep, this is just plain meat reveling in its own delicious meat juices — giddy up.

Biking in the Rain

Chris Stenberg — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 07:14:34 +0000

A friend of mine said “sometimes the best views come after the storm.” This couldn’t be more true in the Okanagan. In a place where it doesn’t rain very often and the weather is amazing there is something refreshing about the rain.

It might be a little nostalgic of me, but it reminds me of growing up in the rainy city of Vancouver. I mean, it’s raining, so whatcha gonna do about it? When life throws you a mud puddle it’s best just to jump around in it.

Saturday Night at the Real Canadian Wholesale Club

Chris Stenberg — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:58:46 +0000

Via Shittygreat.com

One way of living the definition of the term “Shittygreat” is by spending your Saturday night at the local warehouse club store gawking at oversize bottles of ketchup, army sized toilet paper packs, and not only enjoying it, but realizing that you can buy 196 Freeze Pops for $7.98.

I am officially ready for summer. Not just this one, but the next 13 of them.

Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese

Chris Stenberg — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:55:19 +0000

I recently had a great homestyle gourmet Mac and Cheese at The Bench in Penticton. There is nothing wrong with a little cholesterol laden loving on a dreary winter day.

On another note, check out this Mac & Cheese recipe from Jamie Oliver and this one by Gordon Ramsay because you know the British can make a great heart stopping coronary event out of noodles and cheese.

Carlos Del Junco at the Dream Cafe

Chris Stenberg — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:30:37 +0000

I caught the Carlos Del Junco show at the Dream Cafe in Penticton and I have to say it was pretty amazing. I didn’t know what to expect but I was blown away by his mastery of the harmonica and bluegrass. The show was also a testament to the quality of musician that plays the Dream Cafe. If you get a chance check him out. It is well worth it.

John Chow Dot Com Pho

Chris Stenberg — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:38:01 +0000

As part of my “do something that scares you daily” campaign for personal greatness I decided that I would attend one of John Chow’s Dot Com Pho Meet/Tweet-ups. This week was the Dot Com Pho Epic Sweats edition — in reference to the promo sweatpants that Epic Advertising sent to John, not anything weird or food related. This week’s edition of the Pho meet-up was held at Pho Vancouver aka Happy Pho at 4136 Main Street at King Edward.

For anyone not familiar John Chow is a blogger and internet marketer well known as a guru of making money online. His blog chronicles his journey from the beginning of his blog to the present where he now makes a very significant income that has afforded him a nice lifestyle in West Vancouver.

I didn’t really know what to expect, and to be honest was a bit intimidated, but I have to say that John is a very friendly and nice guy. It’s easy to want to discredit someone who writes about making money, but it’s clear to me after meeting him that John is not just writing about money he’s writing about his passion, which happens to be money. He has created his own rags to riches tail, so it is fitting that he is proud.

I think that the common perception of generating an income through affiliate marketing and blogging is that it is somehow easy, but I can assure you from my own ventures and knowing how much time it takes to update and write articles, that it is no cakewalk. Maintaining a website, particularly one that generates revenue, is as much a job as anything else. It just happens in a way that most people don’t understand.

Going to the Dot Com Pho was a great chance to meet John Chow in person, but also to meet a bunch of other really interesting people involved in the social media scene. If any of you are reading this it was a real pleasure to meet all of you and I hope to see all of you again sometime in the near future!

Lynn Valley Bikes

Chris Stenberg — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:53:11 +0000

My friends and former co-workers Ken Maude and Rick Loader have opened a new bike shop in North Vancouver called Lynn Valley Bikes. It has been a few years since I’ve lived in North Vancouver and it has changed so much. Lynn Valley has gone from residential hub to burgeoning yuppie neighbourhood seemingly overnight — the perfect place for a bike shop.

Between Rick & Ken this shop has generations worth of road and mountain bike expertise, and is situated perfectly in the Valley at the foot of Mt. Fromme and the best of the North Shore trails. If you’re in the area go check out the shop as they continue to fill it up with awesome bike stuff!

For more information see the Lynn Valley Bikes website.

Barney Bentall at the Dream Cafe Penticton

Chris Stenberg — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:40:06 +0000

A friend of mine came to Penticton from Vancouver keen to see Barney Bentall at The Dream Cafe. Of course I had no idea he was playing there, and the show was sold out, but I managed to beg and grovel to get two tickets.

The Dream Cafe is a great space that really is all about the music. Acoustically it is a hidden gem and the restaurant/stage draws a music savvy and respectful crowd. To see a musician of Barney Bentall’s character in such a small and intimate setting was a treat. Barney, accompanied by a fantastic Eric Reid, played a mix of new and old in a folky acoustic set. It was great to hear some of the old favourites like Something to Live for and Do Ya slowed down to melodic ballads.

Back in the day I used to go to school with Barney’s kids and he would join us occasionally when we were out on our bikes. He was always a down to earth and friendly guy, and nothing has changed. It was a pleasure to listen to some great music and have a quick chat and beer after the show. Although you could argue that I’m slightly biased, I would have to say that it was the best show I have seen at The Dream Cafe.

Thanks for a great show and do come back and play soon!

(this is not the greatest photo, but gives you an idea of the space)

First Ride of 2010

Chris Stenberg — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:39:21 +0000

Went for the first mountain bike ride of 2010 in Penticton with my friend Geoff. We did a quick rip up the West Bench and down the trails looking over Lake Okanagan. The unseasonably mild winter has left the trails in mint condition. Now if only I could say the same for my fitness…

Grilled Fillet Steak and Leek

Chris Stenberg — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:59:02 +0000

This is one of my favourite quick/cheap recipes to make from Jamie Oliver’s website. It’s a great winter dish. Beans always seem to equal winter — except for garbanzo beans — they’re all summer. I almost always forget the thyme (by accident), sub vermouth for white wine, and use a New Zealand sirloin cut from my local IGA in Penticton (great place to buy meat if you’re in Penticton. I usually cut the recipe in half (for two, or two meals) and use a cast iron pan for the steak. Fillet steak seems to be some fancy British way of saying boneless cut, so basically any steak will do!

Check out the recipe at JamieOliver.com

(click to enlarge)

On another note. I made the steak in the picture and snapped a shot with my iPhone under the stovetop light. It actually doesn’t look that bad!