Two Wild Princes

Debby Peng grew up in the lower mainland and moved to the Northern BC six years ago for work. She has had the opportunity to explore many nooks and crannies along highway 16 and on the way met interesting people and enjoyed many amazing experiences. She picked up some new hobbies as well, including her new found love for making sourdough bread. Her speech tonight is entitled, “Sour Dough, Sweet Life”. Sour Dough, Sweet Life I cannot play the violin. I cannot do backflips and I am absolutely hopeless in a pair of skis on top of mountain. But, I can make a fantastic loaf of sourdough bread. By fantastic, I mean a crackling, crisp crust, soft-chewy interior, moist crumb, tart tangy flour. Something that is rustic and delicious with butter as morning toasts, makes a mean sandwich with some mustard for lunch, and a lovely sponge to mop up any sauces or stews at dinner time. I can go on.  Sourdough gets its yeasty rise and tantalizingly tangy aroma from wild yeasts th...

Debby Peng grew up in the lower mainland and moved to the Northern BC six years ago for work. She has had the opportunity to explore many nooks and crannies along highway 16 and on the way met interesting people and enjoyed many amazing experiences. She often reflects upon her Chinese heritage as her up bring has shaped her perspective and outlook on life. Her speech tonight is entitled, “Chinese Zodiac Explained”. Chinese Zodiac Explained.  I was recently in a Chinese restaurant on Hwy 16 in my travels and I came across a paper placemat that was familiar.   I found that it was a diagram of the Chinese Zodiac, , or 生肖, as we say in Mandarin. You may have seen the same before. Don’t underestimate it, this is a piece ancient Chinese knowledge and wisdom that dates back thousands of years. And as the Chinese Zodiac influences about a quarter of the world’s population, which would be close to 2 billion people from China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambo...