The Straight is deeply saddened to learn that yesterday, James Barber, the Urban Peasant, died at home in the Cowichan Valley, on Vancouver Island.

James was a long-time contributor to the Straight, and a larger-than-life food enthusiast. His can-do attitude - to life, and to cooking - was legendary. A generation learned from James that substitutions could be made to recipes without the sky (or the quiche) falling.

Angela Murrills, a long-time colleague of James's, wrote this piece earlier this year, on the republication of James's cookbook, Cooking for Two.

Our hearts go out to his family, including his wife (and fellow Straight contributor) Christina Burridge. He was one-of-a-kind. We raise a glass to his memory.

Links: Read people's thoughts on James at his Web site.