From Café Picnic to Home Café

How we pivoted for our May Vancouver Cookbook Club

Last Saturday, Cynthia and I hosted our fifth Vancouver Cookbook Club event of the year. This time, we embraced a "Home Café" theme where everyone brought pastries, cookies, and breads from Joanne Chang’s Pastry Love cookbook. Although it was the long weekend and we had a smaller, more intimate group of about 20 people, we still had a wonderful time bonding over sweet treats, Cold Brew and Matcha Yuzu Soda from Coastal Eden Café, and warm conversations in a cozy amenity room.

Funny enough, this wasn’t our original plan—but it turned out even better than expected.

About a month ago, we were basking in week-long sunshine, which made us optimistic. We initially envisioned a "Café Picnic" theme, with colourful checkered blankets spread out by the pond in a beautiful park. But we forgot one important detail: we live in Vancouver.

A week before the event, the forecast predicted a slight drizzle. We figured we could manage—just tuck under the canopy of tall trees. But two days before the event, the Weather Network announced heavy rain.

That Thursday morning, I was frantically scrolling through Facebook Marketplace, pricing out tents. After a few sighs and quick texts, Cynthia and I decided to pivot from a café picnic to a home café. Looking back, it was the right call—no one wants to mingle over pastries in muddy shoes and soggy clothes.

Embracing the home café vibe we did back in February, we laid out craft paper and personalized the pastry display. Cynthia handwrote each person's name beside their baked contribution. Our last-minute pivot sparked our creativity: Cynthia even watercoloured a beautiful drinks menu, complete with poetic drink descriptions inspired by our shift from outdoor picnic to indoor café.

Though our May cookbook club wasn’t what we originally envisioned, it turned out beautifully and maybe even more meaningful.

Interested in joining our Vancouver Cookbook Club? Make sure to sign up for our Interest Form!

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Josh’s Diary: What I’ve Learned from Unexpected Changes

Sometimes I feel like my life has five times more twists and turns than most people I know—mostly because I keep inviting change into it.

In 2016, I graduated as Class Valedictorian from my Culinary Arts Program in Winnipeg. I was offered a three-year apprenticeship at a luxury hotel in Whistler, British Columbia, which I accepted. But within a week of moving, I realized the lifestyle wasn’t for me. I handed in my notice and returned home.

In 2017, I took a leap and flew to Vancouver for a job fair. I flew back to Winnipeg the next day, but a few weeks later, I received an offer. I packed my bags once again and moved to Vancouver, and this time, I stayed.

In 2019, I hit a quarter-life crisis and decided to change career paths. I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I worked at a coffee shop while figuring it out. Two years later, I applied to the Marketing Management program at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

By 2023, I graduated from BCIT with distinction and received three scholarships. But even then, life threw curveballs (long story). I also got married that year to the love of my life, Cynthia. We moved to Maple Ridge, then after five months, we moved to Yaletown, and after a year eventually settled in Richmond—where we’re now planning to stay for good.

With all these changes, it’s a wonder I’ve stayed sane. But through it all, here’s what I’ve learned:

Take It Day by Day

Changes can be overwhelming, especially when it’s not something you’re expecting. You might plan something in your life, or expect things to turn out, but when things don’t go as planned, remember that things happen for a reason. There’s been times in my life where I feel so overwhelmed over things not going as planned that I need to step out of what I’m currently doing and create a space where I can just let it all out. From walk-in fridges to bathrooms, I’ve broken down quite a few times in unexpected places but remembering to take it one day at a time helped remove the pressure off.

Stay Grateful

No matter the situation, there’s always something to be thankful for. When I first moved to Whistler and felt completely lost, I took a walk around the village. I ate ice cream from COWS, admired the mountains, and called my parents. Gratitude has a way of grounding you—even when you feel like everything’s falling apart. (And ice cream will always be on my gratitude list.)

Be Resilient

While it’s okay to break down, sometimes you just need to rally. When I first moved to Vancouver, I felt alone and uncertain. I woke up each day feeling anxious and empty, but eventually, I pushed myself to get out of the house and hit the gym. Healthy coping mechanisms helped me climb out of that emotional fog.

Trust and Surrender Your Plans

This might not be for everyone, but as a Christian, I’ve found the most peace in remembering God’s faithfulness. Trusting that He has a plan—even when mine crumbles—has brought me comfort time and time again. It’s a peace that surpasses understanding.

Change can be hard, especially when it’s unexpected. But sometimes, change leads to something even better—just like how our home café ended up being a heartwarming surprise.

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