Food Events in May – Vancouver and BC

Foodies…gather around. May is going to be an exciting month for food in BC and I’m here to tell you all about it. These are just a few things that are going on in May around our beautiful city:

Spring Farmer’s Markets – Saturday, May 11 & Sunday, May 12
Farms, orchards, and gardens are all brimming with seasonal fruits and vegetables and that marvelous time of year, where local producers expand their weekly farmer’s markets, is upon us. Pop into the Farmer’s Markets at Trout Lake and Kitsilano for a taste of what BC has to offer. On until the end of summer.

Annual Spot Prawn Boil – Saturday, May 11
What screams “Spring has arrived!!” more than the arrival of those sweet, tasty spot prawns that BC is so well known for? The short-lived season (only about 6 to 8 weeks) is celebrated with the annual spot prawn boil. It is a chance to sample a plate of fresh-off-the-boat BC spot prawns, watch some cooking demonstrations, and buy prawns direct from the fishermen. Get your $12 tickets here but do it quickly as tickets are selling fast!

Edible Canada’s Market Dinners
I attended my first Market Dinner this year and would love to go to another. This month showcases some pretty amazing local talent including, Chef Ted Anderson from Campagnolo Roma (sold out), Chef Ned Bell from YEW at the Four Seasons (Tuesday, May 14), and Chef Brian Skinner from The Acorn (Monday, May 27). This informal cooking demonstration/meet-the-chef/dinner event is great value for money ($80 per ticket) and includes wine.

Food from Chef Brian Skinner of The Acorn

Spring Long Table at The Irish Heather
For only $18 you can grab a seat at the Long Table, meet some friendly folk, and fill up on a home-cooked meal and a beer. The menu is dependent on what night of the week you visit but you could be feasting on roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, Cortez Island mussels, or porchetta with salsa verde. Vegetarians are also catered for but you need to request this when you make your reservation. Menu and details: http://ltsmenu.blogspot.ca/

Eat Vancouver – May 24/25/26
Vancouver’s largest food expo is back! The crowds are insane so get there early to experience food, drinks, cooking demonstrations, and new products. There will also be some Food Network cooks present that you can schmooze with.

Vancouver Craft Beer Week – May 31 to June 8
The VCBW squeaks in just on the last day of May. For 8 days craft beer lovers will be in heaven. The week includes many beer-focused events including a gala, a beer and BBQ event, food and beer pairings, and a beer festival.

Spring in BC

If you want to venture further afield, Whistler has some incredible value-for-money spring menus. My favourites are the 5 course $31 Araxi menu, Rim Rock’s 3 course $45 menu, and Bearfoot Bistro’s 5 course $48 menu.

Feast Tofino is also taking place in (duh) Tofino during the month of May. If the 21 different events aren’t enough to entice you, perhaps the beach will?

As you can see we are certainly not short of events throughout May. There is plenty to do, regardless of taste or budget. Hope to see you out there!

Weekend Round Up – April 2013

Like most people, I tend to get caught up in returning to my favourite restaurants/cafés/bars time and time again. Let’s be honest, it can be difficult to continue exploring new places when you know exactly where to find your favourite pizza/burger/pasta/whatever. It is a habit I occasionally slip into and so this weekend I made an effort to visit some places that I’ve had on my radar but hadn’t managed to get to yet.

Beta 5 (Industrial Ave/Main Street)

I have been wanting to visit their location for months and I finally made it there. As I’ve already tried their chocolates before,  I was keen to visit them more so for their fresh baked goods. Their baked goods absolutely did not disappoint – in fact, I returned today for another pastry hit. I sampled their butter croissant and their vanilla cream puff, which was texturally very interesting. It was similar to the cream puffs that Beard Papa sells however this had a firmer, crisper shell, which provided a really interesting texture to the bite. Just look at that bite…

Vanilla Cream Puff

Beta 5 makes some tantalizing pastries, such as their chocolate croissant and their twice-baked croissant, but I had to go with the original butter croissant. At just $2.50, this is incredible value. There was a lot of butter, a lot of layers, and many flakes – just how I believe a croissant should be. I would definitely recommend their baked goods (and their chocolates). I also picked up one of the Snickers-inspired peanut and nougat bar, which was well-worth the calories.

Butter Croissant

Hawkers Delight (Main Street)

This is a hole-in-the-wall on Main at King Ed and they do cheap (super cheap) dishes from Malaysia and Singapore, which happen to be some of my favourite cuisines. The restaurant is quite small and was an absolute mad house when I visited, which added to the charm of the place. With all the yelling and chaos I felt as though I could have been in humid, exotic South East Asia (for a few minutes anyway). I ordered the mee goreng, which is essentially fried noodles, and I was surprised at two things. 1/ The price – only $6.50 and 2/ They were really good! The reason why this place is so busy would come down to the value for money – serving sizes were huge and the prices are cheap.

Mee Goreng

Harvest Union (Union Street)

I’m really starting to love that stretch of Union Street that is home to The Union, The Parker, and Harvest Union. I visited Harvest with one thing in mind; green onion and cheddar waffles with bacon and a fried egg. It is one of the items on their brunch menu, however, once I got there the ramen with pork shoulder and candied bacon somehow managed to persuade me. Harvest is super cute inside and they have a simple menu (mostly ramen or udon) with a focus on local foods. Their small store also sells local products, such as Earnest Ice Cream and Beta 5. I really enjoyed the ramen, particularly with the addition of some chilli oil, which gave it a great kick. I’ll be returning for the waffles.

I love exploring new spots and this weekend reminded of how many great new places pop up in Vancouver and why I should continue to keep exploring, even when sometimes I just want something familiar.

Photo Visit – Bao Bei – April 2013

163 Keefer Street
Vancouver, BC
V6A 1X3

T: 604 688 0876
www.bao-bei.ca

Brief Description: A funky, Chinatown-based restaurant offering non-traditional Chinese fare in tapas style. Bao Bei appeals to those who aren’t necessarily looking for an authentic Chinese experience but more of a modern, up-market version of that experience. Prices are between $4 (for small “schnacks”) but most are around the $14 mark.

It has been some time since I was last at Bao Bei but after tonight’s dinner I am wondering why I had left it so long. The flavours were popping tonight, the serving sizes were spot on, and the price (without drinks) was an affordable $43. One of my previous complaints about Bao Bei was the cost of their simple fried rice dish. At $17 a bowl I had a hard time justifying it, even though it was delicious. Well, I’m happy to report that the price (and size) of the fried rice has come down to a reasonable $12. This makes me much happier as the decrease aligns it with the cost of most of the other menu items (understandably, lamb and salmon are slightly more expensive).

Truffled Pork Dumplings – $7.50

Shao Bing – $12

Mantou – $9Seasonal Fried Rice – $12

The shao bing was well-rounded with a lot of flavour from the cumin lamb, punctuated with pickled onions and the fiery heat of the salted chillies. The seasonal fried rice sounded unusual (with iceberg lettuce and prosciutto) but the end result was actually very good but made even better by the addition of the chilli oil condiment available. The truffled pork dumplings were warming, with a light splash (more like an aroma) of truffle oil, and the mantou buns were soft, and spongey with just the right amount of pork belly (cubes rather than a big slab).

For a Tuesday night, the restaurant was steady and they still aren’t taking reservations in advance so either show up on a weeknight or plan for a bit of wait. Thankfully, there are now a few bars in the area where you can whet your appetite before waiting for a table to become free (I recommend The Keefer or The Union).

Photo Visit – Bob Likes Thai (Fairview) – April 2013

1521 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3G6

T: 604 558 3320
www.boblikesthaifood.com

With so many recent restaurant closures in Vancouver it is uplifting to see a restaurant that is expanding, rather than closing. Bob Likes Thai opened their original location on Main street in 2010. Following their success in that location, they quietly opened their Fairview location at the end of last year in the space that once housed Go Fish 2, and prior to that, Bin 942. This location seems to be a tricky one – lots of people coming and going but they are not necessarily looking for somewhere to eat. Having said that, there were a few other diners in there with us on Sunday night.

Miang Kham – $7Pad Pik King Chicken – $13Pad Si-ew – $13Caramelized pineapple – $5

It has been my experience, at this location and the original, that the food is good but not necessarily rave-worthy. I think it is a decent spot for Thai (in a city with few worthy options) and it is quite affordable but it wouldn’t be my first choice for Thai.

I was a little disappointed with the Miang Kham, which is a snack dish that translates into “eating many things in one bite”, at this location. I have eaten the same dish at the Main street restaurant and found them to be fresh-tasting and bursting with flavour. The ones we had on Sunday were covered in a sweet sauce which, unfortunately, drowned out the other flavours. The Pad Pik King Chicken was good but I would have liked to have seen some more noodles in the Pad Si-Ew. The Caramelized Pineapple with vanilla ice cream was simple and tasty. Bob Likes Thai hit the spot for a quick and cheap dinner on a Sunday night.

Photo Visit – Forage – April 2013

1300 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC
V6E 1C5

T: 604 661 1400
www.foragevancouver.com

As a constant bruncher, I am always on the hunt for new brunch spots. I typically tend to visit the same places, week after week, until I hear of a new place that piques my interest. The thing that always surprises me about downtown Vancouver is that there are so few brunch spots – you’d think in a city this size that there would be many options but the sad reality is that, unless you go to a hotel for brunch, you are almost out of luck. I have been hearing some pretty good things about Forage, a sustainable restaurant that has opened in the Listel Hotel on Robson street. Even though Forage is technically a hotel restaurant, it feels removed from the hotel and the price point isn’t as high as other hotel brunch spots (Yew and Hawksworth, for example).

The restaurant interior feels very clean and modern with lots of light wood highlights and natural light from the many windows. The brunch menu has all of the traditional, feel-good breakfast options that you’d expect, such as bacon and eggs, buttermilk pancakes, and a classic benny, but they also have a few meatier options, such as the delicious Rangeland Game Burger, or deep-fried pork cutlet. At $16, the burger is the most expensive item on the menu so brunch here isn’t going to break the bank.

Buttermilk pancakes with blueberries and honey butter – $11

Rangeland Game Burger – $16

We had a very pleasant brunch there yesterday and it hit the spot for a non-fussy, tasty breakfast. I believe it is worth a visit if you are in the West End and looking for an affordable brunch. I’m looking forward to returning to try dinner there.

Vancouver’s Sweet Side – Part 4 – Chocolate

Chocolate. That word alone makes some people go weak in the knees. If you are one of those people, keep reading! I’m about to tell you about some local Vancouver places where you can indulge that sweet-tooth.

Thomas Haas (Kitsilano)
2539 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC

There is no denying Thomas Haas’ popularity in this town when it comes to chocolate. In addition to his elegant cakes and desserts, macarons, and delicate pastries, Thomas Haas also finds time to create house-made chocolates and truffles. His collection is extensive and includes chocolates that are fruit-filled, ganache-filled, caramels, nut-based, or chocolates infused with exotic flavours, such as Earl Grey tea. Is there anything this man can’t do?! If you can’t make it to the store, some stores (like Whole Foods) do stock some of his stuff.

XOXOLAT (Kitsilano)
2391 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC

XOXOLAT, located on West 8th and Burrard, sell their own selection of house-made specialty chocolates (even some shaped as high-heels), in addition to a variety of imported choccies. Prices are expensive here because you are paying for quality and workmanship. I’m a huge fan of their house-made peanut butter cups, their elusive “PBJ” bar, and their chocolate-coated marshmallows. XOXOLAT also put on regular “Chocolate 101″ tasting classes – but book ahead as they sell out fast.

BETA5 Chocolates (Strathcona)
413 Industrial Ave
Vancouver, BC

BETA5 has been on my radar since they first exploded onto the scene in late 2011 but I was truly hooked when I saw owner, Adam Chandler, talk passionately about his love of chocolate at a Pecha Kucha event. Like most of the other chocolate purveyors in my recommendations, BETA5 offers high-quality, house-made chocolates in a variety of selections. Options include ganache-filled chocolates in unique flavours, such as tobacco or Imperial Stout, assorted bars of chocolate, and coated nuts and fruits. My personal favourites are the salted chocolate caramels. The shop also bake fresh pastries daily and they make their own jellies, preserves, and individual-sized desserts in a jar. If you can’t make it to their store, you can also pick up some BETA5 supplies from The Dirty Apron deli.

Signature chocolates from BETA5

Salted chocolate caramels from BETA5

Thierry (Downtown)
1059 Alberni Street
Vancouver, BC

Thierry Busset is a veteran local pastry chef who also creates sophisticated chocolates at his beautiful downtown space. Selections include fruit and flavoured ganache, such as whiskey truffle or passionfruit, as well as praline and marzipan options. Prices aren’t cheap but the quality is worth the splurge.

Chocoholic Buffet at Sutton Place Hotel (Downtown)
845 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC

Although I haven’t been for years, you can’t argue with a buffet. Of CHOCOLATE! Sure, the quality is not in the same realm as my other recommendations, but who cares? Sometimes you just want to gorge and for $28 (for adults), it can be all yours! Chocolate cakes, chocolate pastries, chocolate pies, chocolate ice cream, chocolate slices, chocolate fondue, crepes…with chocolate – it’s all yours! My stomach hurts just thinking about it.

Other places worth noting that I haven’t personally visited enough (yet) are CocoaNymph, Mink Chocolates, and Chocolate Arts.

Edible Canada’s Guest Chef Dinner

Earlier this month I attended a dinner event that I have been wanting to do for years; a Guest Chef Market Dinner at Edible Canada.These group events are held every few weeks in the Edible Canada restaurant/store on Granville Island and offer exceptional value. This is your chance to meet a local chef from BC, such as Vikram Vij of Vij’s or Ned Bell from YEW, and over a few hours they will prepare your multi-course dinner in front of you whilst you kick back and absorb the chef’s knowledge. I chose the evening with Jeff Van Geest, who is the Executive Chef at Miradoro in the Okanagan. Although he now lives in the Okanagan, Jeff was based in Vancouver for a number of years when he owned and operated Aurora Bistro and worked at Diva at the Met.

A hands-on cooking class this is not – as a guest you don’t lift a finger – it is purely a demonstration by the chef and a chance to get to know them in their “happy place”. This was absolutely fine with me. After doing a few cooking classes recently, I was happy to leave the work to someone else. The menu was quite simple (it has to be, he is cooking for 24 people!) but the food was all very good. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so I don’t have any pictures to share (although I have some really shitty ones on my Twitter feed), which means that you’ll have to use your imagination!

Sparkling wine on arrival

Course 1: Roasted olives and almonds – paired with Tinhorn Creek Gewurtztraminer 2011

Course 2: A simply lovely crisp pancetta salad of butter lettuce, egg and caper dressing, finished with sourdough crostini – paired with Tinhorn Creek Two Bench White 2011

Course 3: Smoked ham hock terrine – paired with Tinhorn Creek Rosé 2011

Course 4: Roast Polderside Farm Chicken Breast, finished with fried alpindon cheese and olive potatoes, salsa romesco and mojo verde – paired with Tinhorn Creek Two Bench Red 2009

Course 5: Organic pear upside down cake topped with whipped mascarpone cream – paired with Tinhorn Creek Kerner Ice Wine 2011

All of our dishes were paired with Tinhorn Creek wines because Miradoro is the restaurant onsite at the Tinhorn Creek Winery but this isn’t typical. Usually the wines will be from assorted wineries, rather than just focused on one.

If you are looking to attend a dinner that is different from your typical restaurant meal, then try one of these Guest Chef Market Dinners. At $80 per person, the cost is quite reasonable (remember that includes wine) and I left happily full, with a wine buzz in tow. I am now planning to go back for another dinner later in the year but it will be hard to select the next chef that I would like to “meet” as there are many interesting chefs being showcased. Ahh, foodie problems.

Photo Visit – Blue Water Cafe – February 2013

1095 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 5T4

T: 604 688 8078
www.bluewatercafe.net

Brief Description: As a member of the Top Table family, Blue Water Cafe is known as one of the city’s superior seafood restaurants. The menu is comprised of a raw bar and hot seafood dishes. Price point is high-end.

If you are someone who just loves, loves, loves seafood and you have decided to splurge on a meal out, look no further than Blue Water Cafe. This spot is jumping – even when I visited on a Wednesday night a few weeks ago. The place was packed so be sure to book ahead!

After limiting what I have been eating (kinda) since the new year, I really like to splurge when I go out for dinner now. That is why I had to order the pearl barley risotto because, quite simply, I am a sucker for risotto. I did add some pan seared scallops, which were perfectly cooked, and I started with an assortment of fresh oysters. Dessert was a must-order and with a really strong dessert menu, it was hard to narrow it down but the rich, warm dark Cuban chocolate cake was highly recommended by our server and it didn’t disappoint.

Pearl Barley Risotto with Pan Seared Scallops – $24.50 + $4.50 per scallopsSmiley-faced Warm Dark Cuban Chocolate Cake – $12.50

Overall, Blue Water continues to deliver the same high quality and standards that I’ve come to expect from the Top Table Group (West, Araxi, Thierry). I do have to mention that prices are high. Without any drinks this meal cost me about $80, so depending on your situation, this may be a once-in-a-while splurge or a more frequent treat.

Thierry – Beignets de Carnaval

1059 Alberni Street
Vancouver, BC
V6E 1A1

T: 604 608 6870
www.thierrychocolates.com

Brief Description: A sophisticated patisserie (and café, and chocolaterie) that comes to us from veteran local pastry chef, Thierry Busset. Prices aren’t cheap but the quality is worth the splurge.

Have you heard of beignets before? Perhaps I have been living under a rock all my life, but I was not familiar with these deep-fried morsels of goodness until just recently. Beignets are essentially deep-fried dough, commonly served with a sprinkling of icing sugar (powdered sugar) as a dessert, although they can also be served as a savory dish. They originated in France and are extremely popular in New Orleans, however, you won’t have to travel that far to sample them. Thierry, the fancy patisserie/café/chocolaterie located Downtown, is currently in the midst of their “Beignets de Carnaval“. Although there are no circus tents, nor balancing trapeze, you will find piles of freshly fried beignets, ready for the munching. They are served with either melted chocolate, or house-made jam, for $7.95. I popped in to Thierry last night to enjoy my first ever beignets and I was happy indeed. They are basically warm, less-sweet versions of donut-holes, with most of the taste coming from the melted chocolate or the jam (I recommend the jam). Get there before the after-dinner rush to nab a seat – it was packed when I was in there! The carnaval only runs until March 16.

Vancouver’s Sweet Side – Part 3 – Bakeries & Patisseries

I have no qualms about putting up my hand and proudly declaring that I love baked goods. I friggin’ love ‘em! Whether it is croissants, cakes, cupcakes, pastries, I love it all – but I do have my standards. If I am going to splurge on calories for baked goods then they better be amazing. I don’t want a shitty, dried-out croissant, no thank you ma’am. Thankfully, I don’t have to settle for anything less than perfect when I have these inspiring bakeries and patisseries making the good stuff!

Beaucoup Bakery (Fairview)
2150 Fir Street
Vancouver, BC

A small, chic bakery located at Fir and West 6th that offers freshly baked, exquisite pastries, including croissants, chocolate éclairs, and chausson aux pommes. Seating inside the small café is limited so if you can’t get a table, get your pastries to-go instead. Pack a few extra pennies (as prices aren’t cheap), forget about the calories, and enjoy what Beaucoup has to offer.

Butter CroissantKouign Amann

Cadeaux Bakery (Gastown)
172 Powell Street
Vancouver, BC

Cadeaux is a diamond in the rough – a beautiful little café in an area that has seen better days (Powell at Main Street). The café is a tribute to everything feminine – think flowery wall paper, tea cups, chandeliers, and pretty cake stands – and the counters are full of tantalizing pastries and danishes, cupcakes, cookies, and cakes. I love the peanut butter and jelly cupcakes, the seasonal fruit danishes, and the bacon twist (below) might just be my new favourite pastry.

Raspberry DanishBacon Twist

Thierry (Downtown)
1059 Alberni Street
Vancouver, BC

A sophisticated patisserie (and café, and chocolaterie) that comes to us from veteran local pastry chef, Thierry Busset. Prices aren’t cheap but the quality is worth the splurge. Everything looks picture-perfect at Thierry and they sell a wide range of macarons, individual or large cakes and tarts, loaves, and viennoise. Chocolates, caramels, or nougats are beautifully packaged and make great gifts. Personal favourites of mine are the macarons (some with real fruit inside) and the warm apple tart.

Thierry’s Cake SelectionsTrio Cake

Thomas Haas (Kitsilano)
2539 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC

A popular patisserie and chocolate store, owned and operated by renowned pastry chef and all-round nice guy, Thomas Haas. The café’s display cabinets proudly exhibit handmade chocolates and truffles, elegant cakes, colourful macarons, and delicate pastries. Personal favourites of mine are the lemon tart, the salted caramels, and the sandwiches. Prices are above average, but then again, so is the quality.

Thomas Haas Chocolate SelectionsI just gained 5 pounds looking at this pictureLemon Tart

Faubourg (Kerrisdale)
2156 West 41st Ave
Vancouver, BC

This busy bistro/café way up in Kerrisdale has made itself very popular by offering delicious viennoise, loaves of authentic breads, and afternoon tea. Although I found the croissants disappointing on my last visit, I am still thinking about the baguette and the tri-chocolate decadent cake (which unfortunately I ate before I got a picture of it). Coffee was disappointing but make the trip for the breads and the cakes.

Mix the Bakery (Point Grey)
4430 West 10th Ave
Vancouver, BC

At Mix the Bakery, it is all about the breads. I haven’t been to their store a lot but when they have their stand at the Farmer’s Markets, I always stop in for some bread. They bake many varieties of bread, including not-your-average types, such as Three Chili Cheese and Yukon Gold & Scallion Focaccia, as well as sweets and pastries.

Cassia Cupcakery (Commercial)
1706 Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC

I’m not impressed by the well-known cupcake chain in Vancouver – I find them to be too processed and sweet – so I’d rather bake them myself or hunt for other contenders. Whilst they are not the best cupcakes that I’ve ever had (can anything really beat fresh-out-the-oven?) I found the cupcakes at Cassia, an unassuming, cute cupcakery, to be quite delicious. Flavours include red velvet, peanut butter, vanilla, and banana but they also have gluten-free and vegan cupcakes.

This list will continue to grow as I keep on my search for Vancouver’s best patisseries and bakeries. Please let me know if you have any recommendations!

Also, I recently completed a croissant crusade, where I visited five different pastry stores in search of Vancouver’s best croissants. You can read all about that here.