special features - 2012 west vancouver living

Livingwest vancouver

Living SPRING 2012Living

west vancouver

Living SPRING 2012

West Van ‘HouseWiVes’

unWrappedJody and Ronnie

talk plastic suRgeRy, young pRegnancies

and philanthRopy.

tHe aCCidentaL WineMaKer

Ray signoRello’s uncultivated path

to the vineyaRd.

2 West VancouVer LiVing / sPring 2012

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SPRING 2012 / WeSt VaNcouVeR LIVING 3

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PublisherGreg [email protected]

Contributing WriterMaria Spitale-Leisk

PhotographerRob Newell

Creative ServicesDoug Aylsworth Maryann ErlamTannis Hendriks Advertising RepresentativesNick Bellamy 604.903.1042

Hollee Brown 604.903.1017

Dianne Hathaway 604.903.1012

Pat Paproski 604.903.1014

Tracey Wait 604.903.1020

Copyright and property rights subsist in all display advertising and other material appearing in West Vancouver Living. If, in the Publisher's opinion, an error is made that materially affects the value of the ad to the advertiser, a corrected advertisement will be inserted upon demand without further charge. Make good insertions are not granted on minor errors which do not lessen the value of the advertisement. Notice of error is required before second insertion.

Contents10 The Accidental Winemaker

13 Prosecco with a Twist

16 Flirty Frocks

20 ‘Housewives’ Dish the Drama

22 Ten 2 Try

26 Sailing into Spring

28 Camp Canine

30 What’s On: West Van

31 Taiwanese Culinary Adventure

32 Taste of Tuscany on Bowen

34 Binning’s Many Angles

Livingwest vancouver

On the cover: Jody Claman

Cover photo by SliceLivingSPRING 2012

104-980 West 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3N4

16

30

22

West Vancouver was incor-

porated on March 15, 1912

and this year the District

of West Vancouver, Brit-

ish Pacific Properties Ltd.

and Park Royal are joining

other community partners

in a yearlong celebration to

honour our past, celebrate

our present and imagine

our future.

Visit www.westvan100.ca

to learn more about West

Vancouver’s history, find

out what’s happening and

who is performing at the

big waterfront community

party on June 2nd, and stay

in touch with other com-

munity events throughout

the year!

Happy 100th BirthdayWest Vancouver!

www.westvan100.ca


by Maria Spitale-Leisk

At first, it’s hard to not feel somewhat disenchanted when Ray Signorello Jr. tells you the story behind how his Napa Valley winery was conceived is not a romantic one.

We’re standing inside one of two custom-built cellars on the lower floor of his British Properties home, overwhelmed by a generous sampling of the 8,000-plus vintages in his personal catalogue safeguarded under meticulous temperature control.

“I’m starting to slow down because I’ve got enough,” he says, a grin on his face.

You naturally anticipate Signorello saying his father’s Sicilian ancestry had an influencing hand in this wine obsession, confident that his Napa Valley estate is blossoming with transplanted grape vines from the fertile soil of the Old World.

Signorello shoots down that fantasy, not disrespectfully, more like matter-of-factly. He unfolds the real story, now relaxed on a plush, ivory–coloured sectional sofa in the split-level, upstairs living room.

The floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer unobstructed vistas of the ocean and Stanley Park.

An American, Ray Signorello Sr. was in the natural resources business. In the mid ‘60s that work took his young family from San Francisco, where Ray Jr. was born, to Vancouver.

Meanwhile, his business partner, “a wealthy gentleman from Las Vegas,” as the younger Signorello describes him, owned a 100-acre estate in rural Napa County then known for prunes and the Napa State Hospital.

“It was virgin ground,” says Signorello, of the property.

There were no vines yet, just an open space for retired race horses to go to pasture.

After surveying the unspoiled land on many fortunate occasions, Signorello Sr. brokered a deal with his associate and purchased the estate

in 1977. A few years

later, back in Vancouver, the junior Signorello was working on his commerce degree at the University of BC. Retreating to the sprawling family estate and immersing in the bustling wine country culture was never his intention.

“I was eager to get in the real world and start working,” recalls Signorello.

Interviewing on Wall Street in the ‘80s offered him a reality check. Looking around the room in the final interview stage, Signorello felt stifled by the competition.

“It’s an old boys’ club down there. I mean UBC is a great school and all but it doesn’t have the stature of Harvard,” he says.

Instead, Signorello wound up back in San Francisco selling commercial real estate. The nearby Napa Valley beckoned him in his downtime.

Eventually father and son would haphazardly grow some grapes vines around the property “for fun” and a sprinkling of ambience.

“We thought that’s easy because you can hire somebody to plant it, grow the grapes and sell them and give you a cheque once a year,” says Signorello.

That was the genesis of Signorello Estate: it started as a vineyard that would sell grapes to some of the famous wineries of Napa Valley.

Then in 1985 their venture turned serious. There were some leftover grapes that year, so father and son turned to each other and said let’s make some wine.

It was a whole different ballgame, they quickly learned, and the younger Signorello was hooked. He was ready to quit the rat race in

San Francisco. Soon he found himself standing in a vineyard

that he had just planted, questioning if there would be a yield for this time investment.

“I remember saying at 27, ‘Wow when is this vineyard ever going to be mature?’ Because usually they take about 15-20 years to get fully mature, when they are really good. And now I’m there,” says Signorello.

Making a name for himself among the hundreds of wineries that dot the Napa Valley was no easy feat for the wet-behind-the-ears winemaker.

His dad, “the ambassador,” had become a little distracted. Some of his friends were big Hollywood types.

“My dad got introduced to everybody. Mike Douglas and all those kind of guys. He was meeting them all the time. I was more working then. That’s the way it always was,” says Signorello, with a smile for his late father that insinuates ‘to each their own’.

Signorello Estate starts at the edge of the Silverado Trail — a quieter thoroughfare in the Napa Valley — and meanders up the side of the hill.

Approximately 4 million tourists invade these rural roads every year. Signorello tries to side-step the blanket commercialism of wine country.

“We’re selective,” he says. And I don’t mean selective in a snobby way, because our wines are limited and expensive. So we’re not the bus tour type of place.”

The accidental winemaker:Genesis of

Signorello Estate

Ray Signorello at home in his WV wine cellar – and in his Napa Valley vineyard.


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Signorello shows more hospitality, inviting guests into the “Enoteca Signorello,” meaning wine and food area in Italian. Four courses impeccably paired with a red or white vintage, served at a large dining table in a private area inside the bricks and mortar winery.

Celebrated chefs have been invited to cook in Signorello’s kitchen: Emeril Lagasse and Vancouver’s own iron chef, Rob Feenie, to name but two.

Across-the-board accolades confirm Signorello’s dedication to his own craft.

“I think more importantly than one is that we get them from everybody... If everybody thinks your wine is good it must be good.”

His vision for Signorello wines is unwavering: estate grown, estate bottled, which is a rare find in the Napa Valley.

There are three primary labels in the Signorello family of wines: Padrone ($165 a bottle in BC) – an homage to his late father who passed away in 1998. Signorello himself was in the vineyard with his crew picking the grapes for that vintage; Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($70); and Hope’s Cuvee Chardonnay ($90) – in memory of his mother.

It was a decade ago that Signorello began developing wines that were less expensive, but still contained the integrity and quality of top-notch Signorello wines.

Edge Napa Valley Cabernet came first. At $30, it’s the number-one selling wine in B.C. for that price point, says Signorello.

Fuse and Trim wines, at $40 and $20 respectively, soon followed. For these ventures Signorello brought in a dozen of his closest

friends – each has an assigned label to promote — and cut them a piece of the company’s pie.

The wines are sold globally in Europe, Asia, Canada and the U.S. Signorello has also started his own wine distribution company in Canada called Evolution Fine Wine, with headquarters in Vancouver.

It’s also where his family is based. Signorello speaks just as fondly of West Vancouver as he does the Napa Valley.

Perhaps it’s because both areas contain unparalleled vistas and sentimental value for him.

Fate introduced Signorello to his partner Tanya Todd in 2005. Her best friend and his best friend were getting married, and Signorello and Todd were in the bridal party.

After a glass of courage he asked her out. They set a date for the Sandbar restaurant at Granville Island.

“It was lot of fun. He was gregarious,” smiles Todd, as she scurries around the house, readying herself for her job in communications at Vancouver-headquartered Goldcorp, the world’s second-largest gold producer by market value.

After that textbook-perfect first date ended, Todd needed to walk away. She had just gotten out of a relationship and wasn’t ready.

A year later fate intervened again: they bumped into each other at the Bacchanalia gala dinner, a celebration of fine wine.

According to Todd, Signorello orchestrated it so she would be seated next to him at dinner.

“Well you do what you got to do,” confirms Signorello, with a smile.

Last year their daughter Athena was born. Being a world-class father and wine proprietor

leaves little time for hobbies.In those rare moments Signorello loves golfing

at Capilano Golf and Country Club and skiing at Whistler.

He also introduces us to an unexpected pastime from his youth: martial arts.

He idolized Bruce Lee as a kid and took up kung fu, committing to practising every day.

His martial arts have since taken a backseat to the wine making.

He’s found his passion in life. He will stroll through those vineyards for years to come.

“Oh yeah sure, I mean where do you go from here,” says Signorello.


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This straw-coloured bubbly pairs nicely with seafood, es-pecially fresh calamari and crab meat which is never in short supply in Vancouver.

Considered an aperitif or ombrette (pick-me-up), Prosecco is a primary ingredient in the girls’ night out staple cocktail, the Bellini.

Antonio Sauro, co-owner of Mangia E Bevi Italian restau-rant in West Vancouver, explains why Prosecco is a menu mainstay.

“Well that’s the nice thing about Prosecco, it compliments anything you are eating,” says Sauro.

Like any sparkling wine, Prosecco comes in sweet, dry and extra dry varieties.

Sauro has found chefs and bartenders are becoming more adventurous as they experiment with Prosecco cocktails.

Here, and pictured above from left to right, are traditional Prosecco beverages.

Prosecco is a refreshing twist on the typical patio wine, with hints of melon, lemon, almonds and honey. Antonio Sauro, co-owner of Mangia E Bevi Italian restaurant in West Vancouver, explains why Italy’s answer to champagne is a menu mainstay. “Well that’s the nice thing about prosecco, it compliments anything you are eating,” says Sauro. Like any sparkling wine prosecco comes in sweet, dry and extra dry varieties. Sauro has found chefs and bartenders are becoming more adventurous as they experiment with prosecco cocktails.

Here are some takes on prosecco – pictured above.

Col Dei Salici: Prosecco, plain and seductive.

Kir Royal: crème de cassis and Prosecco. This a classic drink that you enjoy with dinner. A bubbly black currant infusion to get your palate excited.

Negroni Sbagliato: sweetvermouth, campari and Prosecco. Even though you can enjoy it as an aperitif, it’s a refined beverage served at Italian discos.

Gin Secco: fresh lemon juice, a pinch of sugar, finished off with Prosecco. Pair with a patio on a nice warm day.

re

fre

sh

ing

su

mm

er

twis

t

Italy’s answer to champagne, Prosecco is a refreshing twist on the typical patio wine with hints of melon, lemon, almonds and honey.

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Deborah and Julia pair refreshing Prosecco cocktails (see page 13) with Mange E Bevi’s antipasti plate: prosciutto, in house-made grissani bread sticks, deep fried calamari, mixed olives, Sicilian meatballs, smoked duck breast, bite-sized pastries filled with grilled pears, blue cheese, caramelized onions and drizzled with honey on top.Mange E Bevi is located at 2222 Marine Dr., West Vancouver.

Deborah sporting a slinky little number from Vancouver designer

Nicole Miller ($420, Blush: 1403 Bel-levue Ave., West Vancouver) and Julia

wearing a JS little black dress $268, Phoenix: 2nd level, Park Royal South) catch up over Prosecco cocktails and antipasti at Magia E Bevi. The ladies’

jewelry is from LaLa’s (lalas.ca).

West VancouVer LiVing cocktail Dress

Flirty frocks ~ withWarmer weather signals

the return of the flirty hemline.

Ruffles, ruching and sequins are giving snazzy cocktail dresses some added drama this season. The embellishments extend right down to the toes: jewel-encrusted flats and heels with elegantly-tied bows play up a fancy frock. Cocktail dresses are never in short supply in this city that loves a good soiree. Check out Park Royal, the boutiques that dot Bellevue Avenue and Marine Drive, and Caulfeild Village where you’ll find special occasion maven, Marilyn’s of West Vancouver.

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Long-time North Shore resident Julia Spitale is a

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Deborah Braun is a registered clinical counsellor in private practice at Complement Health Care at the West Vancouver Community Centre. She helps individuals build the skills, motivation and confidence to take strides towards a more desirable future - despite difficult changes in health, heart or home. Complementhealthcare.com

Julia joins the party in a Joseph Ribkoff navy zip

dress ($248, Phoenix: 2nd level,

Park Royal South)

Deborah is ready for cocktail hour in a JS red ruffled dress ($358, Phoenix: 2nd level, Park Royal South).

delectable antipasti

If it’s been awhile since you’ve spent time in the village of Horseshoe Bay, come for the afternoon – it’s a perfect place to be. And if it’s your first time here – enjoy!

The setting is extraordinary. With the Coastal Mountains bowing right to water’s edge and framing Howe Sound, your first impression is of something fresh and wild.

You know it because you feel it: outside adventure is right here at your fingertips.

With minimum fuss you can be out on the water; on the fairway; or at the trailhead. Choose your pas-sion – fishing, boating, kayaking, scuba diving, golfing, hiking, biking, and more. Best of all? Local experts are on hand to advise and organize everything you need. Check out the marina – they’re at your service for anything at all to do with

the water (boat rentals, guided charters, sea safaris…). Ask about the Baden-Powell trail and other hiking access points, And the golf course? It’s minutes away.

Back on land, options for your afternoon have a decidedly more cozy and personal feel. The shops are eclectic – ranging from exotic imports, vintage collectibles, rare gifts, native arts, and fun finds. It’s easy to wander the sidewalks, stop in wherever you like, chat with the merchants and discover what’s new in the village. Need a massage? Hair style? Manicure/pedicure? It’s all available at the Bay!

Here with the kids? No worries. The beach is always good for skipping stones and splashing about. There’s a waterfront playground complete with swings, teeter-totter, a magic house and a whale. In summer, grab an ice cream cone and walk out on the pier. Look through the water under the dock to see if you can spot migrating sunstars (16-tentacle relatives of the star fish). Even the family pooch is in for a treat. Professional groomers will tune-up Fido while you and yours go ahead and find the perfect spot for lunch.

Good. It’s time to eat. Horseshoe Bay has a great selection of restaurants, cafés, bistros and pubs. Take your pick from ocean-view dining rooms, sunny sidewalk tables, take-out windows (fish & chips in the park, anyone?), coffee shops and

sweet/savory bakeries. For breakfast, lunch or diner, you’ll be deliciously impressed with any choice you make.

Take a constitutional stroll on the pier, maybe one last turn about the village…and you’ve earned a stop at the pub for a pint or a glass of wine. If you time it right, you might find yourself in the middle of a karaoke evening or an all-star jam featuring local talent. You can even stay the night if you like. (At the motel, not the pub!)

Come out anytime and see what’s happening in Horseshoe Bay. But mark your calendar and be sure to join us for the 5th Annual Taste of the Bay on April 26th, (Thursday), from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. See you in the Bay!www.horseshoebayvillage.ca

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20 WEST VANCOUVER LIVING / SPRING 2012 SPRING 2012 / WEST VANCOUVER LIVING 21

How they found out they were going to be on the show:

RN: I was in bed. I hadn’t slept the entire night because I had just had my teeth bleached the day before. It hurts, I’m not kidding.

JC: I came home from London [England] and I had a Facebook request and I thought it was a joke. I said I wasn’t interested.

The reality TV ride:

JC: There were incredible highs and lows. I think both for Ronnie and I, we are not delusional at all. We’re real. We are both extremely well off and self-made. I have very little patience for (expletive).

RN: There were moments where I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience on the show. The heat got a little hot at times.

Ronnie, on defending Jody: All of the other [Housewives] would always be commenting on what Jody had to wear, and I would always say I love it. If we were all the same this world would be a very boring place.

Ronnie, brushing off cyber gossip: What bothers me is I’ve had some strange followers on Twitter. I think sometimes jealousy sparks contempt. You have to develop a thick skin.

Early beginnings:

JC: I grew up on a ranch outside of Merritt. Beautiful countryside, beautiful values. We didn’t know there was such a thing as a class system. We learned to work very hard. We didn’t have a choice we had to get an education. [Our parents] wanted us to go to UBC. But I didn’t go to UBC full-time, I got married.

Seattle native Ronnie, on also being a young bride: The first time was sort of a six-minute marriage. A year and a half before that I was cheerleader in high school and the next thing you know I’m pregnant, and getting married and having a baby. Today I’ve got this most speculator and beautiful 23-year-old son who is one of my dearest and best friends. He’s on the show quite a bit.

On the value of hard work:

JC: I’m a corporate mom. When everyone is socializing from 9 [a.m.] until 3 in the morning I’m either doing laundry or cooking or cleaning. To work, it means that you get

money and money is power. (cheers) We love money.

RN: My children have all had to have a job. I’ve never given my child a car. They make their beds. I clean all the time. I’m a weird neat-freak.

Cosmetic surgery revelations:

JC: I think cosmetic surgery is amazing. I am not so familiar with it yet. My daughter chose to do her nose and she got a horrible, horrible infection. She got a really bad superbug. She almost died.

RN: I remember our first [Housewives] meeting up in Whistler and I was like I get as much Botox stuffed in my face as I can. I love Botox. And I remember a few people saying I’ve never had Botox. And I was like shut up. Quit lying. It’s like brushing your teeth.

Humble abodes:

RN: We just take turns living in there [the four houses] when we get mad at each other. He lives in one, I live in another. One of the homes, we call it the man cave. What’s not in the man cave? You can write on all of the walls. We’ve got a climbing wall.

JC: I live in a beautiful apartment. It’s concrete, it’s on the top of the hill. It’s not massive, honestly. It’s 3,400 square feet. It has a beautiful built-in elevator, two wine cellars.

Prized possessions:

JC: My husband.

RN: I think our view is worth a bizallion dollars. When you are in my bedroom, in my bed you don’t see land you only see ocean.

Famous friends:

RN: Jacqui [Cohen] is a very good friend of mine.

JC: I have lovely friends but I am extremely private.

Escaping reality:

JC: I spend a ton of time of time in Whistler and London. I have a gorgeous ski in, ski out home.

RN: Have plane, will travel. It’s great, you just drive up to the plane and get on.

Ronnie, opening up about her nine-year-old daughter: My daughter was born at 26 weeks gestation and was on life support for 207 days. She has slight celebral palsy and difficultly with speech. She was tube fed for four years. We had a bit of a scare on Feb. 13. She choked on a piece of steak and turned blue for 22 minutes and was in critical condition and on life support again. She has made our family so much stronger. I am so grateful for little things in my life, like if I can’t find a parking spot and I have to walk a little further. I have two legs.

Jody, on project Larry Lunch Bucket: We feed the impoverished down in Oppenheimer Park. We have fed about 18,000 people in the last four months. I make all the food.

Where they will be for their reality show debut:

RN: I’ll be shopping in Paris.JC: I’m having a huge party and inviting all of

my friends to appease them.

The local ladies join a cast of five ‘Housewives’ that also includes free-spirited jet-setter Christina Kiesel; Mary Zilba, a singer and former pageant queen; and Reiko MacKenzie, an adrenaline junkie with a need for speed. Tune in to Slice every Wednesday starting April 4 for the The Real Housewives of Vancouver (the premiere episode starts at 9 p.m, subsequent episodes start at 10 p.m.) for the lifestyles of the The Real Housewives of Vancouver.

West Van ‘Housewives’ dish about the drama

Admit it, you will tune into the Real Housewives of Vancouver reality TV show, for vicarious escape alone.

We have this fascination with the rich and famous. So West Vancouver Living is opening a window to the lives of two ‘Real Housewives’ from our community, Jody Claman and Ronnie Negus.

Claman, a successful caterer (Jody’s Fine Foods), real estate mogul and queen of a fashion empire calls herself “Martha Stewart on acid.” Her daughter Mia’s fashion line — MIA — is apparently gracing the frames of the Kardashian girls, according to Claman. Her second husband is “a

handsome and extremely successful businessman.” Negus is a jet-setting philanthropist who cares for her daughter with

special needs, lives in a gated compound in Lions Bay — four houses side-by-side — owns a private jet, a yacht, oh yeah, and a 200-acre Napa Valley vineyard. She is the wife of Russell Negus, founder and executive chairman of Abacus Private Equity — and friends with Taylor Armstrong of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fame.

On a frigid morning in February, we sat down with the pair at Cafe Crema. Here’s their story in their own words:

Photos supplied by Slice

Left to right:Christina Kiesel,

Reiko MacKenzie, Jody Claman, Mary Zilba and Ronnie Negus.

SPRING 2012 / WeSt VaNcouVeR LIVING 2120 WEST VANCOUVER LIVING / SPRING 2012 SPRING 2012 / WEST VANCOUVER LIVING 21

How they found out they were going to be on the show:

RN: I was in bed. I hadn’t slept the entire night because I had just had my teeth bleached the day before. It hurts, I’m not kidding.

JC: I came home from London [England] and I had a Facebook request and I thought it was a joke. I said I wasn’t interested.

The reality TV ride:

JC: There were incredible highs and lows. I think both for Ronnie and I, we are not delusional at all. We’re real. We are both extremely well off and self-made. I have very little patience for (expletive).

RN: There were moments where I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience on the show. The heat got a little hot at times.

Ronnie, on defending Jody: All of the other [Housewives] would always be commenting on what Jody had to wear, and I would always say I love it. If we were all the same this world would be a very boring place.

Ronnie, brushing off cyber gossip: What bothers me is I’ve had some strange followers on Twitter. I think sometimes jealousy sparks contempt. You have to develop a thick skin.

Early beginnings:

JC: I grew up on a ranch outside of Merritt. Beautiful countryside, beautiful values. We didn’t know there was such a thing as a class system. We learned to work very hard. We didn’t have a choice we had to get an education. [Our parents] wanted us to go to UBC. But I didn’t go to UBC full-time, I got married.

Seattle native Ronnie, on also being a young bride: The first time was sort of a six-minute marriage. A year and a half before that I was cheerleader in high school and the next thing you know I’m pregnant, and getting married and having a baby. Today I’ve got this most speculator and beautiful 23-year-old son who is one of my dearest and best friends. He’s on the show quite a bit.

On the value of hard work:

JC: I’m a corporate mom. When everyone is socializing from 9 [a.m.] until 3 in the morning I’m either doing laundry or cooking or cleaning. To work, it means that you get

money and money is power. (cheers) We love money.

RN: My children have all had to have a job. I’ve never given my child a car. They make their beds. I clean all the time. I’m a weird neat-freak.

Cosmetic surgery revelations:

JC: I think cosmetic surgery is amazing. I am not so familiar with it yet. My daughter chose to do her nose and she got a horrible, horrible infection. She got a really bad superbug. She almost died.

RN: I remember our first [Housewives] meeting up in Whistler and I was like I get as much Botox stuffed in my face as I can. I love Botox. And I remember a few people saying I’ve never had Botox. And I was like shut up. Quit lying. It’s like brushing your teeth.

Humble abodes:

RN: We just take turns living in there [the four houses] when we get mad at each other. He lives in one, I live in another. One of the homes, we call it the man cave. What’s not in the man cave? You can write on all of the walls. We’ve got a climbing wall.

JC: I live in a beautiful apartment. It’s concrete, it’s on the top of the hill. It’s not massive, honestly. It’s 3,400 square feet. It has a beautiful built-in elevator, two wine cellars.

Prized possessions:

JC: My husband.

RN: I think our view is worth a bizallion dollars. When you are in my bedroom, in my bed you don’t see land you only see ocean.

Famous friends:

RN: Jacqui [Cohen] is a very good friend of mine.

JC: I have lovely friends but I am extremely private.

Escaping reality:

JC: I spend a ton of time of time in Whistler and London. I have a gorgeous ski in, ski out home.

RN: Have plane, will travel. It’s great, you just drive up to the plane and get on.

Ronnie, opening up about her nine-year-old daughter: My daughter was born at 26 weeks gestation and was on life support for 207 days. She has slight celebral palsy and difficultly with speech. She was tube fed for four years. We had a bit of a scare on Feb. 13. She choked on a piece of steak and turned blue for 22 minutes and was in critical condition and on life support again. She has made our family so much stronger. I am so grateful for little things in my life, like if I can’t find a parking spot and I have to walk a little further. I have two legs.

Jody, on project Larry Lunch Bucket: We feed the impoverished down in Oppenheimer Park. We have fed about 18,000 people in the last four months. I make all the food.

Where they will be for their reality show debut:

RN: I’ll be shopping in Paris.JC: I’m having a huge party and inviting all of

my friends to appease them.

The local ladies join a cast of five ‘Housewives’ that also includes free-spirited jet-setter Christina Kiesel; Mary Zilba, a singer and former pageant queen; and Reiko MacKenzie, an adrenaline junkie with a need for speed. Tune in to Slice every Wednesday starting April 4 for the The Real Housewives of Vancouver (the premiere episode starts at 9 p.m, subsequent episodes start at 10 p.m.) for the lifestyles of the The Real Housewives of Vancouver.

West Van ‘Housewives’ dish about the drama

Admit it, you will tune into the Real Housewives of Vancouver reality TV show, for vicarious escape alone.

We have this fascination with the rich and famous. So West Vancouver Living is opening a window to the lives of two ‘Real Housewives’ from our community, Jody Claman and Ronnie Negus.

Claman, a successful caterer (Jody’s Fine Foods), real estate mogul and queen of a fashion empire calls herself “Martha Stewart on acid.” Her daughter Mia’s fashion line — MIA — is apparently gracing the frames of the Kardashian girls, according to Claman. Her second husband is “a

handsome and extremely successful businessman.” Negus is a jet-setting philanthropist who cares for her daughter with

special needs, lives in a gated compound in Lions Bay — four houses side-by-side — owns a private jet, a yacht, oh yeah, and a 200-acre Napa Valley vineyard. She is the wife of Russell Negus, founder and executive chairman of Abacus Private Equity — and friends with Taylor Armstrong of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fame.

On a frigid morning in February, we sat down with the pair at Cafe Crema. Here’s their story in their own words:

Photos supplied by Slice

Left to right:Christina Kiesel,

Reiko MacKenzie, Jody Claman, Mary Zilba and Ronnie Negus.

1. 1948 Massandra Tokay: This rare and expensive vintage is closely guarded behind the counter at the Dundarave Wine Cellar. History buffs will appreciate the label marked with CCCP, meaning it was made during the Soviet occupation of Hungary. $720.991964 Massandra Muscat: This dessert wine from the Ukraine should be savoured during a special occasion. $483.99Dundrave Wine Cellar 2448 Marine Dr., West Vancouver.www.dundaravewine.com

2. TokyoMilk lip balm: Frost your thirsty lips with a decadent blend of vanilla bean, spun sugar and the slightest hint of caramelized cream. $12Glynda (the good witch) Cards, Canvas & Cool Things 1425 Marine Dr., Ambleside. www.glyndathegoodwitch.com

3. Bananagrams: a wildly popular scrabble game for two to six people, conveniently stored in a banana-shaped pouch. Create as many words as possible until the tiles run out. $19 Nognz brain fitness 1517 Bellevue Ave., Ambleside.www.nognz.com

4. 100 per cent hemp shower curtain: no liner required, antibacterial, machine washable, highly absorbent. Available in three pastel shades: green, blue and beige. $89.99Dream Designs 1502 Marine Dr., Ambleside.www.dreamdesigns.ca

5. Monkey Toast: a nut-free, flavour-packed fruit crisp made from 100 per cent organic whole wheat flour and organic cane sugar. Three flavours to snack on: banana blueberry, apple cinnamon and pumpkin cranberry. Available in West Vancouver at the Pharmasave in Caufeild Village, and in North Vancouver at Save-On-Foods and Thrifty Foods.Monkey Toast is created by Horseshoe Bay culinary goddess, Dale Ferris. $6.99. Monkeytoast.ca

6. Fair trade Suar wood chairs: These oversized conversation pieces are hand-carved by locals in Ubud, Bali. $200Indah Imports 6406 Bruce St., Horseshoe Bay

7. Hand-dyed and felted scarflet: Fine merino wool with lace embellishment. $76.Presence 6607 Royal Ave., Horseshoe Bay

8. Mamma Mia! Pizza in a bag: mozzarella cheese, fresh sauce and homemade dough. Hand toss in your own home. $10. You can also add a variety of sliced Italian meats, cheeses and antipasti for an additional charge.Verdicchio’s Deli2409 Marine Dr., Dundarave.

9. Caviar Skincare by Kerstin Florian: this delicacy-laden skincare line promises to reduce wrinkles by 40 per cent in 54 days.$85 – $183 per product. Refine Express Spa 1570 Marine Dr., Ambleside.

10. Tortoise shell glasses: An absolute must-have for summer. $35lalli loves it 6605 Royal Ave., Horseshoe Bay


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The Easter long weekend brings the West Vancouver Yacht Club’s signature regatta: the annual Southern Straits Classic. This gruelling overnight race, now in its 44th year, attracts seasoned sailors from up and down the Pacific Northwest. They will journey up to 132 nautical miles in the Georgia Straight where there is the potential for high winds and rough seas “It isn’t a Sunday afternoon sail with the family. It’s pretty serious stuff. It’s a real slog for the sailors,” explains Martin Wale, WVYC general manager. Landlubbers will also get a chance to join in the fun that weekend: live music, a pancake breakfast (by donation) and the Easter Bunny will help kick off the Southern Straights Classic at Dundarave Pier on April 6 at 10 a.m.More info: www.wvyc.bc.ca

Ladies who lunch: Maegan and Caralyn have their sights set on the West Vancouver Yacht Club patio.

Maegan, top left, is wearing:

French navy skirt -$185

French navy blouse-$98

Scarf in a sheer viscose melange of tangerine, navy and tabac - $185

Gold fill bangle by Monteiro Designs $460

Red open toed pumps by Nine West.

Caralyn, top right, is wearing: French navy/taupe striped boatneck top-$130

French navy pant-$295Scarf in tangerine /summer brown-$165

Open toed Luz Da Lua shoes in tangerine /tabac-$204

Cross body wallet in tangerine-$198

All clothing is by Cinque and available at Pret-a-Porter: 1445 Bellevue Ave., West Van

At left, Caralyn disembarks, ready to explore the shores of West Vancouver in a purple sundress by Sandwich ($130) paired with a white mesh cardigan, also by Sandwich ($110), an oversized tote by Co Lab ($70) and a scarf by Sandwich ($50). Outfit available at So Blu Clothing Co. - 1519 Bellevue Ave., West Van. Caralyn’s platinum leather Luz Da Lua sporty shoes ($230) are from Pret-a-Porter: 1445 Bellevue Ave., West Van.


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For the passionate yachtsman, the West Vancouver Yacht Club. Are you dedicated to having fun? Whatever your boating passion, whatever your age – it starts here.

Caufeild native Caralyn Clark is an executive assistant at Rocky Mountaineer, volunteers for Dress for Success and, most importantly, is a mother to 8-month-old Lauren.

Maegan Warren is chief embellishment officer for her fascinator line, Notice Me Hats, made locally in North Vancouver, and a retail stylist extraordinaire.

Clockwise from top: Caralyn is looking shipshape in white cotton pants by Sanctuary ($135), a Language blouse ($165) and an asymmetrical cardigan by John & Jenn ($110) from So Blu Clothing Co: 1519 Bellevue Ave., West Van. The platform heels in navy and cream hues she’s holding ($215) are from Pret-a-Porter: 1445 Bellevue Ave., West Van.

Maegan is ready for a soiree on the West Vancouver Yacht Club deck in a navy Joseph Ribkoff number ($179.95) from Aldila Boutique:1545 Marine Dr., West Van). Maegan sets sail in a navy, ruched Luna Luz cotton dress ($199) from BJ’s of West Van: 2463 Marine Dr., Dundarave.


Camp Canine

In a pinch, how many times have you schlepped Fido to homes belonging to a tenuous family or friend connection for dog sitting?

Sometimes Fido needs a change of scenery - like, say, a canine camp on Bowen Island. There’s even a shuttle to transport them to and from their vacation at the Bowen Island Dog Ranch. Big send-offs with slobbery kisses occur three days a week in the Caulfeild Village and Centennial Theatre parking lots. After a 20-minute ferry ride the dogs reach the ranch - then off goes the leash and collar. The owners of the dog ranch, Scott and Karen Munro, look forward to every week when a new

group of four-legged friends comes to play on their several acres of varied terrain. “And this property is ideal for dogs. It’s got multi levels and forest and trails,” explains Karen. You can also relax knowing that your dog is in good hands. Scott is a long-time dog trainer who has worked with the Seattle Police Department’s canine unit. He also had his own dog hiking company in the Emerald City. “The hiking element to us is important because it gives the dogs freedom to run and play and sniff without the control of a leash and collar,” says Karen. The dogs’ daily routine includes hours of

outdoor playtime, followed by eating and then napping, repeated three times. Can humans sign up? And how about the luxurious digs: the rooms in the heated boarding facility are outfitted with big, comfortable beds and an automatic refillable water bowl to keep Fido from becoming parched. With summer holidays around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about signing up your pooch for the Bowen Island Dog Ranch. “Any time the kids are out of school we are busy,” advises Karen. Check out www.bowendogranch.com for more information or to fill out a reservation online.


Karen Munro, Nikki, and friends hiking the lower trail at Bowen Island Dog Ranch.

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West Vancouver’s cultural jewel – the Kay Meek Centre – preserves its sparkle in part through its annual fundraising gala, this year on June 15.

Improv comedians Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, of TV’s Whose Line Is It Anyways? fame, are bringing the laughs.

The evening starts at 7:30 p.m. with a welcome reception: Mangia E Bevi’s delectable Italian appetizers, wine and champagne offerings and a raffle draw. You could win a trip for two anywhere Westjet flies or shoes for a year from Fluevog, among other fabulous prizes.

Under the marquis, Rodney’s Oyster House master shucker (12 oysters a minute!) Shawn Chesney will be at the helm of his John Dory boat filled with oysters, appies and desserts. Roving jesters from Vancouver TheatreSports League will also be on hand to break the ice.

Celebrity host and West Van gal Vicki Gabereau hosts the evening’s headliner: Mochrie and

Sherwood’s side-splitting improvisational comedy act.

Monies raised from the evening will benefit the Kay

Meek’s Legacy Fund for Artistic Excellence and Youth

Opportunity programs. “The gala is certainly is an

important piece of the puzzle for us in terms of our programming and

our annual financial and fiscal health,” says Kay Meek managing and artistic director

Claude A. Giroux.Tickets for the gala package are $159. For an extra $20 you can

mingle with Mochrie and Sherwood at a post show reception. More

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Ambleside has the distinction of being home to only the fifth location in the world of the award-winning Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle restaurant. So stray from your weekly sushi date and take an Asian food adventure filled with spirit-lifting soups. Take added comfort in the fact they are MSG free. First choose your noodle: flat, thin, rice or vermicelli. Then your beef: brisket, shank, tripe or tendon. Tripe is an animal’s stomach lining, in this case, cow. There is also marinated pork intestine and ear on the menu. It’s a culinary adventure, remember. Many Westerners find these delicacies quite tasty, reports Judy Wong, manager of the West Vancouver Chef Hung restaurant. Chef Hung Ching-Lung has won armloads of awards for his beef noodle recipe at an annual festival in Taipei. Snacking all the time is common practice in Taiwan, says Wong. Chef Hung offers an assortment

of small plates including chicken wings, braised beef shank, cold mixed cucumbers and pan-fried stuffed tofu. Save room at the end for dessert: shaved ice in green tea, mango or strawberry flavours.

Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle is located at 1560 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Mon-Fri and until 10 p.m. on weekends.

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With a restaurant name like Tuscany the pressure is on to deliver unforgettable authentic eats. Interestingly, the head chef at the homely Bowen Island establish-ment is French. But with culinary influences that inspire a menu of the most mouth-watering food this side of Siena, no one’s complaining. Patio tables set up in the lush garden, under twinkling lights at night, also help recreate a familiar outdoor dining scene. “After they have taken the ferry and arrived at Tuscany and are sit-ting in this lush garden patio, [a lot people] just say ‘I feel like I am in Italy.’ They just feel so away,” describes Tuscany co-owner Julie Cree. The other owner is Christophe Langlois, her husband and the aforementioned French chef. A decade ago they were working together at some of the finest dining establishments in the city: C Restaurant and Raincity Grill. A torrid workplace affair, as Cree puts it, ensued. On weekends off together they made attempts to get out of the city. Eight years ago they chose a different lifestyle and relocated to Bowen Island, Langlois’ culinary talents in tow. They set up shop in a heritage-style house built in the 1920s. The original owners of the house, the Elliotts still live on the island and recently cel-ebrated Mrs. Elliott’s 80th birthday at Tuscany. In the wintertime, the brick oven fire creates a warm ambience. The thin crust pizzas topped with Italian cheeses and meats that emerge from the oven are worthy of a trek from the city. Tuscany patrons savour the quality of the homemade lamb sausages made from natural, non-medicated meat or the pasta dishes that incorporate freshly caught, sustainable seafood. “I’ve had people come from White Rock and say ‘I came all the way over here just to have your pizza,’” says Cree. Talk about a compliment. Tuscany also has somewhat of a celebrity following: actors Terry David Mulligan and Jason Priestly have popped by for dinner. Nicolas Cage came for the pizza once too. It was a Moonstruck mo-ment, reminiscent of his down-on-his-luck role in the movie. “He walked up the host stand and said to me ‘I’d like to get a pizza,’” recalls Cree. “We weren’t open yet. The oven takes a few hours to heat up so I couldn’t just say even for Nicolas Cage ‘Yeah sure we’ll give you some pizza.’” Tuscany restaurant is located at 451 Bowen Trunk Rd, Bowen Island. www.tuscanypizza.com.


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When the District of West Vancouver celebrated its centennial on March 15 there were walks down memory lane as residents reflected on the early beginnings of this one-time cottage community.

The Binning House on Mathers Avenue is heralded as avant-garde architecture of the day. Built by renowned artist Bertram Charles (B.C.) Binning in 1941, the home is a template of West Coast post-and-beam style.

“It was so far ahead of its time that actually now culture has caught up with what this house was after: how do you break down the boundaries between inside and outside? How do you bathe it with natural light and ventilation? When the house was built it was incredibly radical,” says Binning House caretaker Matthew Soules, an architect in his own right.

Dump trucks routinely rumble past the diminutive bungalow these days; newly-built monster homes are encroaching.

If it wasn’t for an astute Darren Morrison, curator at the West Vancouver Museum, who knows what would have become of the site.

Years ago he pulled aside Peter Miller, now president of the North Shore Heritage Preservation Society, at a function to inform him that houses were being bought and sold on either side of the Binning House.

“We know from the past that when a developer has an eye on a property they can be very persuasive and if there’s nothing else protecting it a council can say well it seems to be a pretty good argument,” said King.

The Binning House was designated a national historic site in 1997, and since 2008 the site has been owned and managed by The Land Conservancy of British Columbia.

Before Binning’s widow, Jessie, died in 2007 at the age of 102 she stated in her will that the contents of the house be left intact for the pleasure and interest of visiting artists and students.

Meandering from room to room and seeing the rotary phone and resting paintbrushes in Binning’s studio you realize you are in a time warp. Looking through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors in the living room out to the lawn, you imagine renowned architect Arthur Erickson and acclaimed painter Gordon Smith, Binning’s friends, sitting in the sun.

The bungalow design is paired with seamless integration of art and architecture. Binning’s murals figure prominently outside the entrance and on several interior walls.

He was also the master of architectural optical illusions. In the main hallway Binning ever so slightly narrowed the width from one end to the other, making a mural on the far wall appear subconsciously closer.

And almost every room in the house has one wall that is not parallel with the others. Even Binning’s headboard was asymmetrical.

“He’s obsessed with angles. His life is devoted to how you represent things. It’s fascinating,”says Soules.

The Different Angles of

Binning

North Shore Heritage Preservation Society president Peter Miller appreciates B.C. Binning’s marriage of art and architectural optical illusions.

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