de'lish - Tweed Curtain Treats

Years ago it was a bakery, now (for the past few years) this tiny St. Patrick street storefront holds a fresh new array of baked goods. Gone are the brown-paper wrapped loaves of bread with your family's name on them (hands up those who remember THAT!); replaced by a shiny red espresso machine, caramelized onion tarts, homemade soups, rhubarb compote topped porridge and seating inside & out.

You'll find de'lish on St Patrick Street, near the corner of Central Avenue - just a short stroll up from Beach Drive.

de'lish on St. Patrick Street in Oak Bay

Once you step through the door, de'ish's tasty looking creations are laid out in front of you.

Over Easy Breakfast (YYC) - boxed happiness

I was recently in Calgary, the home of the Stampede and, as I soon found out, amazing breakfast joints (those Calgarians take their brunches as seriously as we do here on the coast). By some accommodation fairy luck, my friends and I found ourselves within three short blocks of 3 of Calgary's great breakfast places.

Our timing wasn't the greatest on our first morning out - but after carefully strategizing the second morning, we found ourselves tucked into Over Easy Breakfast (OEB) in the NE.

OEB on Edmonton Trail NE + light dusting of snow.

The retro-inspired interior is bright, fun & comfortable. There's a communal table that runs down the middle and individual tables around the perimeter. Look up and check out.....

Jam - they're worth the wait

Jam Cafe in Victoria is a great little breakfast spot on Herald Street.

It's no secret though....

When you arrive, it may look like the picture on the left....or, if it's the weekend and you're arriving at peak brunch time - you may take part in the photo on the right.

All quiet on the Western front (aka 8am)

An eager crowd awaits, 8:05.....kidding (more like 9:05)

Once you're inside - great things await you...

Zambri's - classy Italian at the Atrium

Zambri's has been a fixture of Victoria's restaurant scene for over fourteen years.

The restaurant is located in the beautiful Atrium building, adjacent to the main entrance on Yates Street. Prior to opening up shop in their glass walled setting, they were tucked into a non-descript spot between London Drugs and the Market on Yates. Back then, weekdays lunches were ordered & paid for at the counter and brought out to your table. Dinners were usually a wait for one of the unreservable few tables (or you might luck-out and grab a stool at the tiny bar). Scene-change: Atrium - now Zambri's is open for lunch six days a week (with table service) and reservable for dinner seven nights a week. They're also open for a fabulous brunch on Sundays.

Zambri's Atrium location

Everything about the restaurant setting has changed. Nothing about the quality of the food has.

Jubilee Pharmacy...there's food too!

Pharmacy?
A food blog with a Pharmacy entry?
Yes, it sounds like a miss-post, but you need to know about this store.

Jubilee Pharmacy has two locations - one kitty-corner from the Jubilee Hospital (that one you could see coming, I'm sure) and the brand-new, second location on Johnson Street at Quadra. If you're now performing a mental Google Map - this location used to house a rotating array of carpet vendors (and Fabricland, way back when). The rugs are gone, the reno's are done and the food is here.

Yes, it's THAT old carpet building

Jubilee Pharmacy AND MARKET!

The original location is always an interesting place to shop for groceries. Two jam-packed aisles are loaded with an incredible selection of sauces, spices, pasta, gluten-free items, dried fruits, exotic chocolates, pop, jams and so much more. Shoppers brave tight aisles, barely allowing two people with hefted baskets to pass, to access the unique selection and amazing prices.

The second location?...

Roast Carvey - a slice of heaven

The Victoria Public Market is open!
Hip-hip-hooray!

I'm actually relieved that the places are rolling out at a slower pace (if they were all open at once, I would probably agonize over the decision on where to eat).

First stop:

I just met up with a friend for lunch so we can check-out Roast Carvery. The stall is in the middle of the market with a simple sign hanging high out front...generally with a line of eager patrons waiting beneath it.

It's not hard to see what their "wares" are - right at the front of the stall, the owner is slicing off roasts of pork, beef and chicken (and occasionally lamb, as a recent tweet informed me). There is also a veggie sandwich as well - in case you're not hankering for roast beast.

Portland : Pine State Biscuits & Blue Star Donuts & Trucks!

We're in Portland and the biscuits are calling.

Pine State Biscuits.

P.S.B. started off as a vendor at the Portland State University Farmer's Market (PSU, more important initials to remember) and became so popular, they opened up first one, then another brick & mortar. The original has recently closed to make way for the opening of another permanent biscuitery. Fortunately for all of Portland, they still come to the PSU.

And we were there waiting for them (we and a bunch of other blokes). This is the scene minutes (maybe seconds!) after the 8:30am opening...those aren't people loitering, that's the line-up.

Pine State Biscuit at PSU

But it goes fast, my friends. And Pine State doesn't scrimp on menu offerings just because it's a market stall. They have all their best sellers, including the Reggie (fried chicken, bacon & cheese) and the Moneyball (biscuit & gravy & a fried egg). They have a traditional sausage gravy as well as a mushroom gravy on offer. Being a Canuck, this biscuit & gravy thing is new'ish to me - but once you taste a good one (and Pine State fits the bill perfectly) - you begin to understand the love for this legend of a dish.

Portlandia - Toro Bravo....Bravo! Bravo!

We have set off on a road trip.
And we are eating well.

Portland, here we are. We have missed you. Your food trucks. Your donuts. Your fabulous biking culture. But back to the food.

This stop for us in Portland doesn't target the famous food trucks (sometimes one needs to check brick & mortar places off the list as well). Our first meal is dinner and we're lucky enough to be staying within walking distance of Toro Bravo, a Spanish tapas restaurant, brought to us by the same folks who run Tasty & Sons and Tasty & Alder. First night walk by posed a 90min wait for an inside table and a significant amount of 'table-shark' hovering for the 1st-come-1st-served outside stools. We return the next night a few minutes after opening to scoop a lovely spot on the sidewalk (our seating target, inside, already filled minutes after opening with the first diners lining up 40 minutes before opening...!). We kept our whistles wet while perusing the ample menu with a Spanish beer and glass of sangria.

Toro Bravo Crowds

Estrella beer & Sangria on the sidewalk

All items on the menu sounded amazing and made narrowing down from "feeding an army" to "dinner for two" a bit of a challenge. But we persevered and shortlisted the octopus a la plancha, meatballs, toasted almonds, grilled corn and salt cod fritters.

YVR - Kishimoto - lighting my sushi fire!

Another meal in the Big Smoke of Vancouver while visiting/businessing. We had targeted either Mexican or Sushi and my niece was in a sushi mood....so off we went to try Kishimoto.

Tucked among a million other restaurants and stores on Commercial Drive, Kishimoto can easily be found by the line-up out front. We (being newbies) were not versed in the customs, but didn't fare badly (meaning - when you get to the line-up, go write your own name on the list found at the front door; fortunately, we didn't lose our placing by missing this rather important step).

Once seated inside the bustling room we ordered some drinks and a few different items to share together. The menu is large with selections of sashimi, sushi, inventive rolls & box sushi, donburri, tempura and a whole lot more.

We started off our little buffet with a dish of agedashi tofu - piping hot and delicious....and the picture may be missing a piece as we dove in right away....

The first sushi plate to hit our table silenced us with it's sheer presentation. A cucumber roll.  Yes, a simple cucumber roll. Not sure if they fancied the plate up because it was for my niece, but it was stunning (and then closely followed by our platter, with more stunning garnishes).

YVR - Bestie - the wurst doesn't get much better

Road trip! (well, Ferry trip! at least)

We have popped over to Vancouver for some visiting and socializing (which should actually read, targeting restaurants and dragging friends and family to them, but who's splitting hairs?).

First stop is Bestie, a new sausage restaurant in Vancouver's Chinatown, that's bringing the taste of Berlin to the west coast of Canada: currywurst, my friends. Currywurst is a Bavarian sausage cooked, sliced into small rounds, set atop fries and covered with a curry-ketchup sauce.

Nestled into a storefront in Chinatown, complete with the existing signage from a few of the previous tenants, is Bestie. Neon sausage outline to beckon you, stylin' oranage seats to get comfy if there's a wait.

Currywurst: it's a big thing in Germany's capital city - they even have a museum dedicated to currywurst....

Ca Va Bistro Moderne - Tres Tres Bien!!

Tucked into Fernwood, across the square from the Belfry Theatre, an array of restaurants have come and gone from the tiny store fronts. Some were/are just take-away, but one spot allows for a sit-down restaurant with cozy patio seating that has been home to some nice, but apparently temporary, food establishments.

The latest to lay roots is Ca Va Bistro Moderne (and if the lunch crowds when we were there are any indication...these roots have spread deep already!).

Ca Va Bistro Moderne in Fernwood Square

My "ladies-who-lunch" partner and I decided to try out Ca Va on a weekday for a late'ish lunch, we arrived around 1:30 and claimed one of the last remaining tables. The lunch service was in full swing (running until 2pm).

The lunch menus arrived at our table along with a bottle of water and a nicely rounded out wine & drink menu - so we ordered some...

India Bistro - bringing some spice to Wharf Street

India Bistro has recently opened in Victoria; although they're not new to the restaurant scene (with several other Vancouver restaurants in the family, including a sister 'India Bistro' on Davie Street), they're new here on the island.  Located at the corner of Wharf Street and Yates Street - you can settle onto a comfy leather chair inside or a patio seat outside.

India Bistro corner of Wharf St & Yates St

I'm not an expert on Indian food (having only recently begun to elevate my spice-tolerance), but a friend (who does nosh-out on this and other spicy cuisines regularily) had recently been and quite enjoyed the meal. So onto the hit-list it went.

Melt Truck - Giving Cheese a Chance

The Melt Truck is a newer food truck on the scene in Victoria. Parked currently on Rock Bay Avenue, near to Bay Street - you can find them nestled under the giant 'Bayliss Sign' sign. It's easy to pull up and get food from them - lots of free street parking...and they're situated IN a small parking lot.

Like you need another reason to stop and have a grilled cheese sandwich?

Melt Truck parked under the 'Bayliss Sign' on Rock Bay Ave

It's a shiny new truck with the daily menu posted to the right of the order window. You can also check their Facebook site for menu updates.

They're open from 7am-2pm Monday to Friday - plenty of time to feed your grilled-cheese needs....

Fan Tan Cafe - filling stomaches in the heart of Chinatown

The Fan Tan Café has been a fixture in Victoria’s Chinatown for decades (their website says 28 years and I’m apt to believe them). Tucked in the middle of Chinatown, they form half of the gateway to Fan Tan Alley.

Fan Tan Cafe right at entrance to Fan Tan Alley

A large fish tank greets you as you open the door, acting as a visual screen between the entrance and the rest of the restaurant. The tables are cosy, the chairs are comfy and the drinks are classic. Being there on a Thursday, Long Island Ice Teas were on sale – so we ordered up a couple and tasted the 80’s again.

Hot & Cold Cafe - you'll warm right up to this place

Unfortunately, The Hot & Cold Cafe has closed this location on Pandora.
…fortunately, they still have their Cook St. Village location!


The Hot & Cold Café has recently opened up a second location on Pandora Avenue (the first one is tucked into Cook Street Village, just up from the Beagle pub). This new location is nestled up to Relish, a favourite restaurant of mine (best scones ev-a, and the breakfast isn’t a slouch either), but I digress…

The Hot & Cold is open Monday-Friday from 9:30 for coffee & baked goods and at 11am, they roll out their full lunch menu. The lunch menu includes soups, salads, sandwiches & rice bowls (plus they have a special of the day).

Lots of delish looking baked goods to liven up your morning coffee and then even more tasty-looking items for lunch….

Foo Asian Street Food - thousands of people (& a TV show) can't be wrong

Victoria's Foo, at the corner of Blanshard Street and Yates Street, is housed in a small building, once just used for storage, then a liquor store and finally, now, to some fabulous asian-inspired street food. You can take your food away, saddle up to the stools inside, or (if the weather is nice) pull up a seat on the patio.

Foo Asian Street Food at Yates & Blanshard

All the food offerings are listed on large blackboards, above the counter that overlooks the kitchen. The two larger ones show the regular menu and the smaller one above the register shows the day's specials.

Relish - Weekend Brunch Happiness

Relish is a lovely little cafe located on Pandora Avenue, just east of Quadra Street. Bookended on the corners by McD's and a Provincial Government office, a few older, one-storey buildings house a large amount of food-goodness. Relish is one of them (the Blair-Mart and Hot and Cold Cafe are worth standalone future blog write-ups). Relish is open Monday-Friday for breakfast & lunch and on Saturdays for brunch. A weekend brunch was our meal destination – so we slid into the last available table at the time.

Relish's sunny tables on Pandora Ave.

The menu is not long but it is diverse – including granola, french toast, bennies, sandwiches and a burger. Some of the menu items have very interesting Korean & Chinese influences, as well. They also have a beautiful espresso machine - so you can start your meal off...

Devour - and we did...every last morsel

Unfortunately Devour has closed their doors :-(
For fans of this little gem of a place, they are coming out with a cookbook.


A tiny little lunch and early dinner spot tucked away on Broughton Street (near Blanshard) is Devour Bistro. The name aptly explains what you'll be doing. There's seating inside and a few tables outside, where you can soak up the sun (which we did).

Recently I met up with a friend and we pretended to be a ladies-who-lunch. And ladies who lunch can start the meal properly....

Paul's Drive-In Restaurant - Summertime Fun

**it appears right now that Paul's is not operating the Drive-In :-(
- but even if the carhops aren't there, the good food is....maybe you can talk them into bringing it out to your car on a tray from the restaurant....

Paul’s Motor Inn on Douglas Street has transformed their front parking lot for the summer into Paul’s Drive-In. What’s better than a great diner burger? Eating it from a tray clipped to your car window! Whether having dinner like this will bring back memories or make a new one – it’s definitely fun.

They have classic drive-in fare: burgers, hot dogs, BLT’s, fish & chips, plus a kids menu including grilled cheese & chicken fingers. From the fountain (as in soda) there are milkshakes, floats, sundaes, pies and more.

The drive-in is open for business Friday nights and all day Saturday and Sunday. Flags stretched across the parking lot mark off the drive-in and the sizable menu is posted right on the building.

And one of the best parts of it all?....

AYO Eat - a delicious, spicy corner of Market Square

Ayo Eats in Market Square is a tiny take-out window that produces some big tastes: Indonesian food including green curry, chicken satay, beef curry and egg sambal.

AYO eat in NW corner of Market Square

If you’re not trucking your food back to the office/home, there are picnic tables & benches around the Market to sit and eat at (and I saw a few people chowing down right on the steps below Ayo…couldn’t wait to dig in!). Set in the Northwest corner of the Market (near to Paboom’s back door) – a half door swings open...

Clay Pigeon - early bird gets the breaky

The Clay Pigeon does breakfast and I finally made it there! I can't be the only one out there who drives/walks/bikes by a restaurant and proceeds to act out a V8 commercial. After said head-smacks and mentions by friends, we finally pulled in there to saddle up to some breakfast fixin's.

Located right on the corner of Blanshard Street and Broughton Street, the Clay Pigeon serves up breakfast everyday, starting at 7:30. Yes, everyday (which makes my head-smack even bigger - 7 days a week - it's not like their hours were stopping me from coming). A cozy interior holds the majority of the seating - but you might luck-out (and if the sun is shining) and snag one of the spots right outside.

We plunked ourselves down inside and started breakfast off the proper way...with a....

Norte - New Tacos on the Block

Unfortuntely Norte has recently tweeted out to their followers that they won't be reopening for 2014.
:-(
They have another exciting project that is taking all their time.
A very sad adios to Norte.



There’s a new taco place in town – Norte Street Food. They're located in Fernwood (on Gladstone Avenue, near Fernwood Avenue). The tacos (served using fresh, in-house made corn tortillas) are "from the pueblos of Northern Mexico". I haven't been to this part of Mexico, but I have made a few trips to this corner of Victoria.

They previously sold their tacos on Bridge Street – but have now set-up permanently, in a cozy little spot between Aubergine Foods and The Fernwood Inn.

It's a tiny place - but....

Mortiscycle Doughnuts @ the Superior Point Espresso Bar

Update part deux:
While Mortiscycle currently is no more, I've heard rumours (June 2014) that their doughnuts may live on - Empire Doughnuts. And they are linked with PiCNic (upper Fort St location), possibly after their expansion into the adjacent space. More to come....I'm sure.


Update:
Currently the Mortiscycle Doughnuts have not set-up shop for 2014. The previous owner has moved on from Victoria and the currently owners of the Superior are concentrating on the restaurant portion.
Hopefully they'll open the espresso bar outside and maybe some delish doughnuts...




The Superior Point Espresso Bar is a lovely little coffee “stand” at the corner of Superior Street and Kingston Avenue (kitty-corner from the main entrance to Fisherman’s Wharf). It’s been opened by The Superior Café, whose owner is no stranger to the restaurant industry in Victoria (I’m sure there are some of you who remember having coffee -before it was “having coffee”- at La Boheme or Bohemetea).

They serve 2% Jazz coffee and homemade baked goods including Mortiscycle Doughnuts. Like I wrote before, doughnuts are popping up everywhere (and I say…..awesome-sauce!). I recently stopped in for a quick latte and (twist my rubber arm) a doughtnut to go with it. As I pulled in on two-wheels – I even got a special deal on my morning snack.

Love the vintage Coleman cooler...

You can hang out at the stand, making yourself comfortable on the steps, chairs or...

The Black Hat Bistro - Local Goodness in Touristville

**Update**
The Black Hat Bistro is currently renovating and changing names to North 48….and we checked them out and liked what we had!


There are some people in Victoria who are convinced that the Government Street/Wharf Street area near to the Visitors Information Centre is lost to tourists, restaurant-wise. And while the recent introduction of a BK doesn’t scream ‘fresh’ or ‘local’ – there are some bright spots. At a recent birthday dinner, a group of us enjoyed the upscale Black Hat Bistro. Not been? Scratching your head where it is? Langley Street at Broughton Street. Depending on your arrival time, you may be serenaded by a lone saxophone player out front.

The room is open, with the kitchen and a few tables situated on a level 2-3 steps up from the main floor. If bar seating is more your style – you can saddle up and enjoy your dinner there and have a first-hand view of the spirit inventory and the wine preservation system that allows for a long list of wines by the glass.

The Village - now feeding Royal Oak

The Village Cafe has now opened its second location. The original is located in the Estevan village, in Oak Bay, just a hop, skip & a jump away from Willow's Beach. Location number two is in Royal Oak - in the Shady Oak Plaza (a small set of stores across the street from the Royal Oak shopping centre). It's just past the Petro-Canada gas station, if you're driving north on Royal Oak Drive.

Another revolving door of a location (who remembers Cakes by Mary-Ann? Man, those were great cakes!) - but I'd lay bets that the revolving ends now. The inside has been renovated and is bright, modern and open....

Tacofino - YAX, then YVR, finally YYJ!

Tacofino has finally landed in Victoria....and it hasn't taken long for the food truck aficionados to 'suss it out. They opened on a Monday and with a few tweets and Facebook posts - there are small line-ups forming by the Thursday we're there for lunch.

Tacofino started in Tofino and then opened another truck in Vancouver. Their third meals-on-wheels is back on the island, landing smack dab in the middle of the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre parking lot. They also bring their own seating - with 3-4 picnic tables to enjoy your tacos (or burritos) at. Note: this is the back parking lot, off Quadra, in behind the police station (hey, how did the police get so lucky with a taco truck in their backyard?).

We join the line-up and start targeting lunch selections....

Donuts - the new cupcakes in town

We've had the cupcake craze happening in Victoria for several years now (the stores run the gamut - big, small, vegan, tv show tie-in, you name it). It wasn't like cupcakes didn't exist before this proliferation about five years ago - but the grocery store versions were mere shadows of the gourmet goods getting iced today. And now, I'm quite sure, the next big thing is gaining momentum - doughnuts. And like the aforementioned barbie-sized cakes, these are not your garden-run timmy's old fashioned plain.

In the name of exhaustive research, I will endeavour to try as many as I can (read: before I have to move the notch on my belt). To start off - I've hit two purveyors recently - Doughboy Donuts and Yonni's.

Doughboy Donuts can be found at some of the nicer coffee shops around town, but also Saturdays at the Moss Street Market. Inside the courtyard, tucked in the corner, the day's offerings are on display, each identified on the butcher paper covering the table.
**UPDATE**
Doughboys is currently not creating their fabulous donuts - but hopefully we'll see them around soon.

Doughboys Donut Stall at Saturday Moss St. Market

Doughboys Saturday Selection

On the two occasions I've visited the stall (research people, research!)...it's a steady stream of people coming...and the inventory doesn't last long...

Charelli's & Co. - say Cheese...sandwich.

Charelli's is a great little cheese shop in Oak Bay (well, truthfully it's on the edge - across the street is Victoria) - but it's not quite in my 'hood, and I find I don't get there as often as I'd like (which could be daily, but I'd settle for once every couple of weeks). And now I really need to get to them more because they have a tiny cafe to go along with their amazing cheese shop & deli.

The original cheese shop was two doors to the left from where it is now and they've turned this spot into Charelli's & Co. It's a lovely little counter/restaurant open for breakfast and lunch (2863 Foul Bay Rd, Tue-Sun, 8am-3pm). The menu changes weekly and is posted on their facebook site, if you want to pre-plan your attack.

This was my third attempt at eating here - the first time we arrived at 3:10....the next time we got in the door, clutching our debit cards and read the "cash only" sign. So onto lucky visit number three - we're through the door, seated on stools with menu items picked from the blackboard above the "kitchen".

Breakfast items look and sound great (skillet eggs with creamed spinach on this week's menu and the granola in the giant glass jar adjacent to our bar stools is chock full of dried fruits and nuts). Today some of their offerings include five different sandwiches, pizza and a ploughman's platter for two. We begin by wetting our whistles with glasses of homemade ginger and lemonade with fresh cilantro.

Homemade Ginger Lemonade with Cilantro

We settle on two sandwiches - a Brie & Pear and a PB PB & C.

Taco Justice League - showing your hunger who's boss

Bring on another food truck! We may not have many of these mobile-kitchens in Victoria, so we're slowly trying to hit them all (or at least a good chunk of them). My last truck post was Refiner Diner, and now we're stepping into the ring with Taco Justice League.  You can find them in the Wellburn's parking lot on Cook Street, near the corner of Pandora.

Taco Justice League Food Truck

It's a small menu...but everything sounds good, so it's still a hard choice...

West Coast Waffles - not just breakfast food

Decided to do breakfast for dinner at West Coast Waffles on Broad Street tonight. Well, not exactly breakfast – but they were waffles. Encouraged by a recent Groupon offer (valid M-F), we made our premier trek there for some waffle-iron action.

They have both the savoury and sweet side covered here – savoury choices include smoked salmon with cream cheese, brie and apple, chicken and BBQ sauce, and pizza. For the sweet tooth there are lots of fresh fruit selections, chocolate and almonds, Nutella and one with frozen yogurt. Some have ingredients mixed in before hitting the iron, others are topped with fun stuff. They’re a good size for sharing too.

You also get to choose your batter type – they have traditional, buckwheat, and spelt/oatmeal (that's diabetic friendly) – so these guys are really covering lots of dietary options. First step was figuring out what we wanted – so we joined other diners, blankly staring up at the huge menu, trying to narrow down the choices.

Order/cashier with full menu on display

And finally we made some decisions…

Paul's Restaurant - Breakfast with a side of Victoria history

Paul’s Restaurant (at Paul's Motor Inn) on Douglas Street (between Discovery & Chatham) is definitely a Victoria institution. You probably know someone (or maybe it’s you) who remembers when you would see the who’s who of Victoria at Paul’s (and if they weren't there, they were at the Princess Mary). The hours may have changed (not 24/7 anymore) and locations (the Finalyson/Douglas one is no more), but the classic booths and diner meals haven’t.

Three of us dropped in for breakfast on a recent Sunday (one of us had never been, one hadn’t been in decades and one was there the day before!). The booths are built in a u-shape around the service area and kitchen opening. They have openings on both sides – so the waitress can easily serve and clear. Love it.

Classic side booth access for the waitress.

Then we ordered-up some breakfast...

Finest at Sea - fish & chowda!

Another (somewhat) sunny Saturday in Victoria and we find ourselves on the search for some fish & chips again – this time next door to Fisherman’s Wharf. Finest At Sea (FAS) seafood (in a green heritage house) on Erie St in Victoria, overlooking Fisherman’s Wharf Park, is a great fish-monger, now wearing a restaurant hat (well, at least a take-out kiosk cap).

The retail fish store inside the house is under construction currently - so sales have been moved outside to a shiny trailer in the parking lot. And the best part - now they're cooking fish in this kiosk to serve! Fish, chips and chowder, to be exact. The small crowd ordering when we're there is an even split between those picking up fresh halibut & salmon fillets and those ready to dive into some yam fries with their halibut burger.

F.A.S. kiosk in parking lot beside store

Bring on the fish!...

Seattle - Some Serious Toulouse Crow Flair with Theo and the Top Pots

So I'm already cheating on Victoria restaurants, 15 posts into my new blog - but sometimes travel just happens.

So we're in Seattle...and we're eating....so I'm blogging.

Our hotel is in the Queen Anne district, so I base a few of our meals nearby. Dinner is at Crow (with our other choice being its sister resto, Betty).  It's the last day of Seattle's "Dine-Around" - $30 for an appetizer, main and dessert.

We're seated at the kitchen bar and after seeing the incredible main courses being cooked, plated and sent out, we quickly decide that our stomaches probably couldn't do justice to three courses and opt for just mains (which, refreshingly, are the same on both the dine-around and regular menus). We will be back another time to try the delicious sounding appetizers. We loved being seated at the kitchen bar, it's mesmerizing watching the perfectly choreographed dance of the chefs and their timing with putting out great food.

Crow: view from the bar of the evening's chefs

And after watching these talented guys prep a load of entrees, we were able to narrow down our choices...

Empress Tea Lobby - Pinkies up, it's afternoon tea

Living in Victoria, the Fairmont Empress Hotel can sometimes fall into the same category as Butchart Gardens or Fisherman's Wharf - not somewhere you frequent, but that you take out-of-town guests to see, enjoy and make a bit jealous that Victoria has it. Having tea in the Tea Lobby at the hotel is that for me - you hear about visitors "having-tea" but it's not the first thing that pops into your head for a unique experience for an afternoon.

But on a recent Saturday, after my friend decided to cross off something on her "things I still need to do in Victoria", we made reservations and headed there to cross it off. I have been to tea here before - having brought my mother and aunt here  (and *hot tip* I've also been during the Feb/Mar Be-A-Tourist promotion when your ticket gets you tea for 50% off...but you gotta make that reservation pronto). Which brings us around to the price.  Is it cheap? No. Is it a traditional tea with sandwiches, scones, desserts, tea and fruit served with CP Hotel stamped silver and in Royal Dalton bone china? Yes. Will you feel all fancy-pants as waiters treat you royally and your background music is a live pianist on a baby grand? Check and check.

We both opted for the Fairmont Empress blend of tea (but there are about eight choices including Earl Grey, Darjeeling, their Willow Stream spa blend and an orange-pineapple).

Ahhh - serving tea the right way.

Chorizo & Company - Friday night tapas

A great way to spend a Friday night after a hard week of work is to tuck into some appetizers and a beverage. For a european twist - we opted for some Spanish appetizers (aka tapas).

Chorizo and Company at 807 Fort Street has been feeding the lunch masses of downtown Victoria - but on Friday nights the candles and clay tapas dishes come out. There's seating both upstairs (a large wooden table and a couple smaller ones) and on the main floor (tables and the window counter). The setting is very intimate and enhanced nicely with a flamenco guitarist playing on the main floor.

Bring on the tapas!

The Fish Store - A great chippy at fisherman's wharf

With the sun out and the temperatures hitting the shorts'n't-shirt range these past few days - it seemed like the perfect time to hit Fisherman's Wharf - and we weren't alone in this decision - the wharf was hopping like it was tourist season.  So we headed to one of my favourite places for fish & chips - The Fish Store.

They have you covered here - half fish store, half kitchen - you can get provisions for tonights dinner and something for lunch right away.  And you can feel good about the fish & shellfish too - it's all 100% OceanWise certified (environmentally friendly seafood).  My heart says "yay!" and my stomach says "bring it on!"

And then onto the food...

Refiner Diner - trucking in good food

Update (May 2014)
Unfortunately the Refiner Diner Food Truck is no more :-(
But....I saw it being reimagined as a new food truck....currently parked in the same space (beside Shatterbox Coffee on Yates St.).
I'll be waiting to visit them when they open.



Food-trucks - I love 'em.

Wish we had more of them here in Victoria - and hopefully, one day, zoning and permit requirements will allow more of these fun and interesting mobile kitchens in town.  Talk to anyone about a great food-truck scene and Portland is usually the first answer (and it's fabulous - the worst part is having to make a choice from so many when you have limited meals while in town).  We may not get to that point in Victoria - but a few more around the garden city would be awesome.

...but I'm loving the ones we have already.

We finally had a chance to try Refiner Diner.  They have recently moved to their new location at 950 Yates St, nestled up to Shatterbox coffee (across from the London Drugs complex).

Look for the diner-sign...

The truck is tucked in from the street...

Argyle Attic - Canadiana Breakfast

On the advice of a friend - we visited the Argyle Attic restaurant this past weekend. We love eating breakfast out....and they were open....the equation worked.

The restaurant is situated above Smith's pub on Courtney Street and can also be accessed through the Quality Inn Hotel on the corner of Blanshard Street. Decorated in rustic Canadiana - it was a comfortable setting of folk-art pictures, 70's table lamps, Hudson Bay blankets and a scarf-wearing mounted stag's head. Nice mix of music playing too.

Breakfast pricing is simple - $12 for everything - and includes a tea or coffee. The menu includes waffles, pancakes, omelettes, traditional eggs & bacon/sausage, and poutine. Our table chose the poutine, an omelette and the pancakes.

The poutine came with a choice of red curry or sausage gravy (the former was opted for). Two perfectly soft-poached eggs were set atop a great amount of cheese, chopped bacon and hash browns, all covered in a lightly spiced curry gravy.

Poutine with red curry gravy & poached eggs

And then the hotcakes and ommy.....

Tartan Toque - Winging It

The Tartan Toque, located in the Stadacona Centre (Pandora St. side) is a newer restaurant on the scene in Victoria - opened by the great people from the Shine cafes.  This time they're doing lunch and dinner (because their former places cover breakfast quite nicely).

The Tartan Toque focuses on chicken wings - with twenty (20!) different types of wings - including candied bacon, chipotle maple, dry maple and the list goes on.  But - they also do these sauces with fried tofu sticks!  So if you feel like tofu instead of chicken - they have you taken care of.

Candied bacon chicken wings

Sweet chill tofu sticks

But there's more than wings...

Culinaire Bites of 2013

It seems odd to do a review of a one-time event that you'll have to wait 364 more days to get to experience - but I think the intent of Culinaire (and Dine-Around and Feast of Fields and other food events) is to raise money for a cause and awareness of the incredible restaurants we have here in Victoria.

At Culinaire, they are out in force, trying to entice you into their restaurant....all in one bite.

Bring it on.

This is in no way an exhaustive (or National Geographic photography level) example of what was served at the Crystal Gardens tonight - but it was some of the bites that I thought were extra-tasty.

Housemate lamb sausage with mango dressing wrapped in naan bread.....from the Butchart Gardens, yes, the Butchart Gardens! Not my first thought for a dinner destination (when I'm doing the mental "drive-around" Victoria thinking of places to go) - this bite was really great - sausage was flavourful and nicely spiced.

And then the next bite....

Dunlop House - part deux

Another chance to dine at Camosun College’s Dunlop House with the Hospitality Management students taking care of everything.  You can check out our first visit here.

Again we were greeted at the door, our coats taken and led, this time, into the main dining room. Here’s a quick snap of it as we were leaving (as it was shutting for the evening) – a really bright, beautiful room with comfortable chairs.

And then the food choices...

Aura - putting the 'special' in occasion

We are out for dinner to celebrate a friend's birthday- a milestone one - so we're pulling out all the stops. We don't do this all the time (read: once before), but it's nice to pretend to be rich and famous once and a while. This blog will include extensive food-porn shots - I hope you enjoy.

We booked a chef's tasting menu at Aura Restaurant at the Laurel Pointe Inn. The restaurant itself has a stunning view of the inner harbour, right from the Legistlative buildings over to the Songhees. As an unexpected bonus, our table has been set-up in the private dining room (which looks to hold up to twelve comfortably). Printed menus lay out the meal we're about to experience - complete with wine pairings with each course.

Feeling like Rock-Stars already...

Table in the private dining room

Menu for our meal.

Bring it on.....

Italian Brunch at Zambri's

I really love heading out for breakfast/brunch. I’m not in the minority in that love as most breakfast restaurants around Victoria suddenly spring line-ups on weekends (and the really good ones have line-ups DURING the week!). Whether our timing was right or not many know about it yet – we were able to waltz right into Zambri’s and grab a lovely table for two just before 11am on a Sunday for their brunch.

As with any meal at Zambri’s, the setting, service and food are really great.

We ordered the meatballs & eggs and Italian scramble. The meatballs were sliced, sitting on two solid pieces of polenta and topped with soft poached eggs. The polenta was sitting on a delicious, fresh tomato sauce with a lovely drizzle of olive oil. Beautiful, tasty, but watch out for errant pieces falling off your fork and into the sauce. I may have splattered a tiny bit of sauce….around the plate…and onto my teapot…and cup…but my napkin remained pristine and white!

Meatballs and Eggs (before sauce disbursement)

The other dish wasn't as napkin challenging.....