Fred Lee’s Pop Culture Diet

“As most of our friends know, Joshua and I do not cook.”

You’ll no doubt recognize the energetic and enigmatic Fred Lee from a few different media outlets around town. A society columnist for the past 15 years, Fred covers Metro Vancouver’s social landscape in his weekly social column “Fred UnLEEshed” in the Vancouver Courier Thursdays and his “Fred Lee’s Social Network” column appears every Sunday in the Province, as well as every Monday morning on CBC Radio One’s The Early Edition.

What I’m reading… 

Solitude: A Singular Life in a Crowded World by Michael Harris.As a very social person that likes to be around people, I’m intrigued of Harris’ argument that cultural norms and social media deter us from experiencing solitude or being comfortable alone. In today’s tech-fueled world of ceaseless pings, I think all of us are trying to strike a balance and look at ways to disconnect from our devices and constant online chatter. Harris makes a compelling case of solitude’s worth.

What I’m listening to…

Alessia Cara, Know-It-AllThe young Canadian pop singer has a bit of a Lorde/Amy Winehouse vibe going on. Clearly a star on the rise, I have been enjoying her gritty-pop brand of music, particularly “Scars to Your Beautiful” and her message of self-love and acceptance; an anthem I’m sure that resonates with many—young and old.

What I’m streaming…

Love It or List It VancouverI don’t watch much television, but of late, I have been fixated on HGTV and a series of television shows that satisfies my obsession with design and the real estate market. Of note, Fixer Upper, Flip or Flop, and Love It or List It Vancouver, featuring our beautiful city. The difference in home prices between Waco, Texas, Orange County, California and Vancouver is staggering.

What I leave the house for…

Easy one. Food. As most of our friends know, Joshua and I do not cook. So when not gala-vanting, exploring the Lower Mainland’s vibrant culinary scene is a weekly adventure. Recent visits included David Wu’s Rhinofish in historic Chinatown for a delicious bowl of Taiwanese beef noodle; braised beef, vegetables, and Chinese noodles swimming in a hearty beef broth. In Burnaby, we happened upon Peaceful Restaurant’s newest location near Metrotown. Serving up authentic Northern Chinese cuisine, the eatery’s signature hand-pulled Sichuan noodles and flakey beef roll are a must. Excited for the return of Marc-André Choquette to Vanhattan, an impressive CV that includes West, Lumière and most recently, Tableau Bar Bistro at the Loden Hotel, we raced downtown to Hawksworth Restaurant to enjoy a royal repast that started with a perfectly prepared pan-seared foie gras.

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