#east20th

Nestled in the heart of Railtown, Vancouver’s very own Soho, Dish Jeans is the next lust worthy brand on the rise. Founded by Gary Lenett, Dish is the epitome of an urban, chic, and timeless company. It is reinventing the concept of denim by creating durable yet stylish jeans that can be seamlessly transitioned from day to night and suit any occasion.

 I want to be able to be able to ride my bike to work and attend a business meeting afterwards.

Gary was born into a family of multigenerational fashion entrepreneurs, so it was always his dream to pursue a career in this industry, right?  Wrong. In fact, the years Gary spent as a child assisting his father in his garment manufacturing business, turned him off the fashion industry completely. Nevertheless, after many years, degrees, and career changes later, Gary found himself the head of Dish Jeans. However cliché it sounds, I guess you could say it was meant to be.

Being just over 14 years old, Dish is still a relativity new company. However, over the years, Gary has perfected his craft and found his niche with the jeans he creates. Performance denim, a diesel-pioneered hybrid fabric, is what makes Dish stand out among competing companies. It allows jeans to be adapted into an active lifestyle because the material is resistant and light. Function over trend.

Take risks. If I was a realist guy, would I have started this company?

After a long tiring week, my ideal Friday night consists of a home-cooked meal and a good book or movie. I love going out and seeing friends, but when it's cold and raining I prefer to spend my evenings in.

I was the only one home around dinner time, so I decided to make one of my favourite foods: spaghetti with tomato sauce. It is a timeless dish that is extremely delicious and satisfying.

If you are keen on eating healthy I recommend staying away from white pasta, and instead opting for quinoa, brown rice, or whole wheat. It tastes even better, and is packed full of nutrition and goodness. Tonight I decided to try black-bean pasta. I filled a large pot 3/4 full of water and put it on to boil. Next, I moved onto the sauce.

Ingredients for sauce: One 28oz can of crushed tomatoes, 3 cloves of garlic (or more!), 1 medium yellow onion, 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro, 10-20 basil leaves, 1-2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, chilli flakes (to taste)

Begin by placing the onion and garlic in a food processor and blend until finally In a large saucepan add a dash of olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic for about 2 minutes. Once the onion is beginning to brown add the can of tomatoes, cilantro, basil, and vinegar. To finish off the sauce, add a few pinches of chilli flakes if you'd like, and let it simmer on low/medium heat while you deal with the pasta. 

By this time the water is boiling so add your preferred spaghetti and follow the cooking directions on the packet.  When the pasta is cooked and drained, place some in your bowl and spoon the sauce over it. 

To top it off I like to add some sliced heirloom tomatoes, pepper, and fresh basil leaves.

Who says a heaping bowl of scrumptious pasta can't be your Friday night date?