That's right - you and a special friend could be enjoying a spicy Vancouver Valentine's dinner for only $19.99. Just think - for $19.99 you would still have money left over for breakfast This deal is only for our email subscribers though - so sign up today!

Living in Vancouver, we have been spoiled with the beauty and cleanliness of our environment, and we can't always comprehend that the rest of the world doesn't have the same wonderful environment  to live in.  Having spent several years of my life in Thailand, I have a true love for the landscape, culture, and people of the country. That is why it kills me to know that the pollution levels of the country have risen to 2.5 times WHO standards , and since we all live in this big, beautiful world together,  I have to suggest that we're all in this together.

One of the things that we can all do is support eco-tourism when you travel.  According to the Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association, there's a reluctance from Thai operators to switch to eco-friendly programs, because they believe it will be too large of an investment, and the belief that customer's aren't interested.  However, the association also points out the operators who do offer green choices, have larger revenues.

So when you make your plans, ask for eco-friendly options, let the businesses of Thailand know that we all care about the air that they breathe.

The pink slime debacle of last week is nothing less than a screaming reminder that we, as consumers, need to be asking more questions as to what exactly is going into the products, that are going into our bodies.

At Thai Away Home, we are proud to display our ingredient list, because it’s fresh, it’s real, and there’s nothing on it that is unpronounceable.  That is why were happy to sign up for the Informed Dining Program, designed and monitored by Healthy Families BC. We've been part of the Vancouver restaurant community for 15 years, and have always been happy to answer any questions that our customers have. With the Informed Dining Program, we now just have a public forum in which to answer all your questions at once.

But beyond being able to share our information with you, this program also gives us all a reminder to take ask these questions of everyone that we buy food from, be it restaurant or grocery store.

We all get comfortable with our brands, and we forget to read the fine print. But the onus can’t be all on us.  Most of us live a life that barely leaves us time to eat, never mind taking the time to really compare labels.  Food producers make billions of dollars each year; they can afford a consumer education program.

With diabetes, food allergies and obesity on the rise, it's no secret that our diet can actually kill us, and with death and illness actually on the line, it is imperative that the food industry steps up and lets you know, in black and white, exactly what is going into your body.  You have the right to know and you have the right to know without spending an hour with an ingredient list and an encyclopedia.

Enrollment in the Informed Dining Program involves a few steps and processes, and we will keep you updated as we progress through them. In the meantime, never hesitate to drop us a note with any questions you may have of us or the Informed Dining Program. We fully believe in this process and will do whatever we can to encourage the adoption of the program wherever we can.

Sure, we’ve been on Cambie street for 12 years, sure, we made it through the Canada Line construction, the recession, the HST, and every other calamity that has hit the restaurant industry in the past decade.  So we realize that you are simply used to us being here, we are like the sweater in the closet, ready to pull out when you need a dose of your comfort Thai Food.

But although we know you are comfortable with us, the last thing we have done is sit still and become comfortable with ourselves.  We are always pushing ahead, looking for new ways to innovate, to ensure that we are being the best we can for our customers and our environment.

Our ingredient list reads like a trip to the farmer’s market. We don’t use msg, we don’t use preservatives, so you can be confident that only the freshest ingredients and finest Thai spices are going into your body.

We are here for our earth and have been living green since long before it was cool and trendy.  We have climate smart programs, ghg reduction programs, and recycling programs.

Of course we recycle the paper, cardboard and plastic that the restaurant generates, but we also give you a 10% discount on your take out order if you bring in your own container. So next time you bring some yellow curry home, wash out the container and bring it back.  We will reward you for the effort.

Beyond all of this however, we care about what you think about us.  We are proud to have won the amount of awards that we have won, and yes, we want to keep winning, because that tells us that we are doing the right thing for you.

So the only thing we ask of you, the Thai Away customer,  is to let us know what you think, let us know if you have any ideas, and let us know often.  Review us on yelp, review us on urban spoon, or just take our own survey.  We do listen, because we do care.

Thai Away is a very environmentally minded organization,  but when surrounded by the beauty of Vancouver, I think it's difficult not to be.  Our team wants the green and lushness of our home to be here for our children and grandchildren. The only way that is going to happen is if we all turn our attention towards preserving this beautiful world of ours. That is why we are happy to celebrate the enthusiasm and commitment of our fellow restauranteurs in the U.S.  The Huffington Post has just released their "10 Best Sustainable Restaurants in the U.S. ", which introduces us to a group of extremely innovative business people.  Recycling cooking oil, powering with wind, composting, and buying locally are just some of the steps these companies have taken to lessen their carbon footprint.

According to the Vancouver Sun, Gluten-Free was one of the prevailing topics in food for 2011. I find that encouraging because I believe that many people are effected by gluten allergies and they don't know it yet.  When I was in University, I had a dear friend who became incredibly sick one day.  After a few tests, her wheat allergies were discovered.  As she changed her diet, her skin improved greatly, her weight dropped and she was happier and healthier than she had been in her entire life.

The problem with gluten allergies is that the symptoms can be so varying, and attributable to other ailments.  That's why we need to spread awareness and take control of our health. Fortunately, Thai food is naturally gluten free, letting us know that gluten free can still mean spicy, exciting, and something to actually look forward to.

Funny Enough - just after I wrote about the ease of composting - I stumbled across this funny story from Sweden and thought I would share it on this Blue Monday.   Apparently this woman lost her engagement ring 17 years ago, and was absolutely stunned when she went out to the garden this year, and found it encircled on a carrot that she pulled out of the ground.  Her family assumes that her ring got mixed up in the composting and ended up in the garden, only to be pushed back up all these years later. The Universe must have been rewarding her for all of her hard work.  Congrats to her!

Our customers mean the world to us. Without You - there is no Thai Away Home. So to show our appreciation, every week we will be drawing a name from our Facebook "Like" list and that person will win a Dinner for Two. With any luck, our hot and spicy food will provide you with a hot and spicy evening - we try to help wherever we can

I stumbled across this great article in the Province that validates what I've thought all along - composting doesn't have to be hard. When you're done dinner at night, scrape all of your left over veggies into the blender, and then dump them into the garden. Simple. You'll have great soil that will help you grow a garden your neighbours will be envious of. Stay away from any animal based leftovers however, because that will attract the annoying critters we have all around us in Vancouver, which will cause your neighbours to dislike you - and if they're busy disliking you, they will be too busy to be jealous of your beautiful garden

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

The season of joy, peace and love has arrived.

Your favourite holiday tunes are back in the rotation.

Festive décor and holiday treats have made their way to the mantle.

Canadians enjoy the traditions of our culture and we take pride in our selections of wrapping paper, ribbons, boxes and bows. Our love for gift giving is as strong as our love for hockey. There is an overwhelming amount of newer and more desirable products hitting the shelves daily. This season Canadians will generate approximately 545 000 tonnes of holiday waste.

It is difficult to balance our desire to give with our need to conserve. We hope to inspire you with some unique ways to reduce your environmental footprint.

RECYCLE CANDY CANES AND HOLIDAY CANDY: Grind mint candy canes in a clean coffee grinder to make instant peppermint powdered sugar. Store in a small jar and add to coffee, hot chocolate or cappuccino, or sprinkle over vanilla ice cream.

HOLIDAY WREATHS: Remove all the holiday ornamentation from the wreath (save for next year if silk), and use the bare wreaths to make a giant bird's nest centerpiece, perfect for a year-round display.

HOLIDAY CANDLES: Recycle old holiday candles into new candles. Melt and pour wax into wine glasses that have been chipped from all the festive cheer for brand new, very elegant candles. Make a large candle in a trifle dish, too.

CHEAP AND EASY STORAGE IDEAS FOR LIGHTS AND ORNAMENTS: Keep ornaments organized and protected with two easy ideas: One, store delicate ornaments in egg cartons to keep them separated and stored neatly. For lights, use squares of cardboard and cut notches along the edge. Then, wrap the square in the lights.

NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL: Bundle two to three strings of white Christmas lights into a large ball; just wrap them on themselves over and over to make a large ball and hang in your home for New Year's, just like the famed Times Square ball!

RECYCLE COOKIE BOXES: Transform those holiday theme candy and cookie tins into useful storage bins for around the house.

RECYCLE HOLIDAY CARDS: Make tabletop luminaries out of holiday cards. Start with two cards identical in size. Stack them on top of each other, both with the folded side to the left. With a hole puncher, cut holes along the open-side edge, approximately every 1/4 inch. Thread a needle with twine, and sew the two cards together to create a box shape. Use a well-protected candle in a glass container or rechargeable light to illuminate your craft.

GIVE EXPERIENCES: Laughter, Relaxation, and Learning are quality choices when it comes to memorable experiences. We live in a land of exciting outdoor opportunities, culinary arts, music, theatre, travel opportunities and philanthropic options that will ensure a lasting and meaningful memory that is attached to your thoughtful intentions.

• Give chickens, goats and cows for Christmas – yes, really - Buy a family in Africa an animal that will allow them to feed themselves and their community.
• Give services – a soothing massage, facial or
• Give Yoga – the gift of balance and breath. A great start to the New Year.
• Give Food - Food is the essence of life – does someone you know have a favourite restaurant or maybe they’ve mentioned a restaurant they’d like to try.
• Give a Local Mini Holiday - $89.00 will buy you a week night getaway at Harrison Hot Springs with as much time in the “Healing Springs” as needed.
• Give a Lesson - Pottery, Snowboarding, Cooking, Fishing, Scuba Diving, Jewellery Making...

THAI AWAY GIFT CARDS: $10, $15 or $25 denominations buys you lunch for 1, dinner for 1 or dinner for 2. Great value for the Thai Food lover on your list and an excellent choice for busy students or young professionals. Gift Card Purchases of $50 or more will receive a 10% discount. Available for purchase at our Cambie location.

FaceBook Challenge: What other ideas have you got for gifts that have a positive impact on our world? Post your ideas here…