February 04, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Dining
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The Granville Entertainment District, a five block stretch of Granville St. (between Drake St and Robson St), is crammed with bars and pubs that attract partyers pretty much every night of the week.
How do I know this? Well, not only have I had my fair share of night outs here but I also happen to live close by so I can hear (far too often) the sounds of these late-night partyers.
Reasons to go:1. The choice: there are bars, lounges, clubs, concert venues and restaurants for almost everyone. And since they’re sandwiched close together, you can easily bar-hop.
2. The streets are closed to vehicle traffic after 7pm (on weekends and during summers) ensuring it’s pedestrian-friendly.
3. There are numerous post-bar snack places that offer a greasy piece of pizza or a hotdog. A must.
My favorites:The Roxy: It’s been around for awhile and still it’s a Vancouver favourite. This includes our beloved Canucks who often enjoy a post-hockey game celebration here. What’s good? Live music and theme nights. What’s not? Long line-ups.
El Furniture Warehouse: No, it’s not a furniture store. This hole-in-the-wall kinda of bar is endearingly laid back. My favorite part though? Nothing on the menus is over $4.95. Seriously.
Other notables: Doolin’s Irish Pub for pints of Guinness; Whineo’s for a great selection of wine and appies; The Yale Hotel for live jazz music; and Sip Lounge where every food item incorporates alcohol.
Locations: The Roxy, 932 Granville St; El Furniture Warehouse, 989 Granville St; Doolins, 654 Nelson St; Whineo’s, 1017 Granville St; The Yale, 1300 Granville St; Sip Lounge, 1117 Granville St.
January 28, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Dining
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I couldn’t get that donut out of my mind.
Ever since a friend brought over some Chinese baked goods, I’ve had black bean filled sugar donut on the brain. So, I did the logical thing and went on a donut field trip to New Town Bakery in Chinatown (158 East Pender St.).
So what does a black bean filled sugar donut taste like? The dough portion is pretty standard donut fare, and the sugar surrounding it is granulated (not icing) sugar. The black bean filling is what makes it special. It’s a thick paste, almost the texture and colour of dates, and sweet tasting, but not as sweet as jam or custard. Totally unique as far as donuts go.
I also picked up a few more Chinese bakery goodies to go: a buttercream filled coconut bun, a regular coconut bun, apple tarts, a buttercream horn, an egg tart, a winter melon tart and a mystery white blob with coconut and red bean filling. I think all the items were under a $1 a piece.
Steamed buns fans: I haven’t had them here, but I’ve heard they’re amazing.
January 25, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Dining
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Have a sweet tooth? Head to Denman Street in Vancouver's West End. The six block section of Denman between Davie and Robson is known as “Dessert Row”. Here are a few of my favorites, as determined by intense product tasting (all in the name of research, of course).
Cupcakes: The cupcakes at Cupcakes aren’t so much delicately iced – they’re positively slathered. A giant swirl of buttercream icing tops each cake (enough to sink your teeth into), which have fun names like Diva, Lava Flow and Koo Koo. Try the Lemon Drop; it comes garnished with a citrus candy.
Creampuffs: When Beard Papa’s moved in, I had no idea what they sold but I was hooked by the name. Turns out they specialize in freshly made creampuffs. How fresh? They inject the cream into the puff when you order. Classic vanilla is my choice.
Cookies: Cookies by George’s slogan is “Because you can’t eat flowers,” and they have great cookie gift tins along with individual cookies for sale. I recommend the Reverse Almond Chocolate Chunk or the Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk.
Frozen Yogurt: Qoola has the healthiest dessert option on Denman: fat-free, gluten-free, probiotic, Kosher-dairy frozen yogurt. Try the green tea flavour – it’s only 140 cal per small serving. Of course, that’s before you load it with some of the 40 toppings available, like Oreos or organic bee pollen.
Also on Denman Street are: Dulcinea, an all-chocolate café; True Confections, the “date place” that serves cake slabs so big they could double as dinner; Delany’s, the locals’ coffee shop with great cinnamon buns; Dairy Queen, for Blizzards and Buster Bars; and Mondo Gelato, with dozens of creatively decorated flavours to choose from.
November 16, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Dining
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I was lucky enough to receive a hefty gift certificate to MARKET at Shangri-La, Vancouver’s newest (and tallest) hotel. I invited a few friends to join me for a mid-week fancy night out. If you’re thinking of going to MARKET, make your reservations early – the only time I could reserve that week was 8:30 pm on a Wednesday night.
The restaurant is split into a few different sections; we were seated in the “sophisticated fine-dining room.” The bar area was more casual and catered to the after-work suit crowd (they even had their laptop plugged in – I guess drinks and eats in a swanky bar is the norm for that crew).
Our table ordered a bit of everything to maximize our shot at the good life. All the dishes were delish, but there were a few stand-outs: butternut squash soup with mushrooms and chives; truffle mashed potatoes; and cheesecake with roasted figs and concorde grape sorbet.
The food was rich, we never felt rushed during dinner, and the presentation was creative. Merci, Jean-Georges!
July 02, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Dining
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It was the last night of my brother and families vacation and we were trying to decide where to take them for their last meal. Metro Vancouver residents are spoiled with so many amazing restaurants, not just from the freshness and quality of the food but also from the variety of styles. I would make suggestion after suggestion to my wife but it wasn't until I mentioned Hapa Izakaya that her face lit up with excitement. It seemed that we had chosen somewhere to go.
Hapa is not just another Asian restaurant, the food is spectacular, the staff are a great balance of professional and friendly and the atmosphere is open but private at the same time. We visited the Robson Street location where the interior is dark, dimly light and has a mixture of seating arrangements, from a traditional round table where you remove your shoes to more western style seating.
Traditionally Izakaya bars are where business men gather after work in Japan. They are never advertised and people are invited by another to join them. The bars themselves are not located on high streets, but are 'hidden' down a street alley, down a flight of stairs and through an unmarked door. Offering up a balance of food, music, and a space to bond with your guests.
When the owner of Hapa Justin Ault and wife decided to bring the concept of the Izakaya to Vancouver they were faced with an interesting challenge of promoting the concept of the Izakaya in a Western landscape. Firstly, you will notice that the sign outside of the restaurant is minimal. Secondly, on opening night of the
restaurant friends and influencers in the city were invited to enjoy the food and experience Hapa. After the guests were informed that their meal was 'on the house' they were asked if they enjoyed their experience that evening, that if they recommended Hapa to a friend then for the next two weeks they would also be offered a complimentary meal. In summary, they spent their marketing dollars offering food rather than more traditional advertising methods that would be expected in Western culture. It is brilliant marketing method. Obviously, word spread like wild fire throughout the city and Hapa has been busy ever since.
Everyone I talk to who has eaten at Hapa seem to have their favourites. Only a certain amount of the menu is permanent the rest changes year round, often depending which fish has been freshly caught that day. My favourite is the Ebi Mayo, deep fried shrimp, tossed in a spicy mayonnaise sauce (to die for), it is rare that we don't order more than one serving.
Not really a place where you take the kids, more of a setting for a romantic dinner with a loved one, or a gathering for friends who enjoy Japanese food but want something a little more special than a 'sushi' restaurant.
Visit the restaurant at 1479 Robson Street or in Kitsilano 1516 Yew Street (right next to the beach).
July 02, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Dining
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In summary of the following post, may I say, 'Yummmmmmmmm'.
I originally heard of “Qoola” on my quest to find lactose free yogurt.
The owner said in response to an earlier blog post "We are the only
frozen yogurt establishment in Vancouver (that we know of) that can
display the Live and Active Cultures seal, signifying that our
product does contain at least 10 million helpful bacteria per gram.
Our own yogurt contains well over 100 million per gram. Thus, the
more bacteria, hopefully the greater the likelihood that people that
are lactose intolerant will be able to enjoy our products".
Whilst my brother and his family were visiting we decided to finish
off our night with a trip to Qoola. I was very excited to try the
yogurt for the first time and to hopefully not be effected. I was
impressed by the interior of the establishment. It was modern, clean
and we were welcomed by friendly staff. Even when I was being
indecisive about which of the many topping extras I wanted and I was
holding up the line, the staff didn't make me rush and they were very
accommodating. I also quizzed them about the yogurt and myself being
lactose intolerant and they were very knowledgeable and helpful.
My initial reaction was that the cost was a little on the high side,
but when you consider it is next to English Bay, it is a treat and
personally for myself I can actually enjoy yogurt it was well worth
the price.
Cold treats are good any time of the year, but especially on a hot
summers day, so go treat your self this summer at Qoola Yogurt + Fruit.
Qoola Yogurt + Fruit is located at 1116 Denman St in English Bay
June 14, 2009 | Field Reports >
Vancouver, Dining
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Vancouver is a great place to watch hockey even if you don't have
tickets to the game. Tourism British Columbia Field Reporter Ivan
Hughes takes a tour of some Vancouver sports bars to see what it might
be like in 2010 when the Olympic hockey finals are being played.
November 25, 2008 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Dining
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Traveling to Vancouver and want to enjoy a fine meal, in an informal, yet intimate setting, personally served to you by one of Vancouver's finest chefs? Then sign up for one of Edible British Columbia's many great events...including Cooking with BC's Best which I attended last night.
Vikram Vij, one of Vancouver's finest chefs, most gracious hosts, owner of Vij's and Rangoli, and generally enteraining guy, taught us some Indian cooking basics and took the intimidation right out of the preparation. Five delicious courses later (including three different curries), including each of the 20 guests attempting to make their own Naan bread, and accompanied by Eric Pateman of Edible BC's carefully chosen beer and wine accompaniments for each course (including two delicious, hard to get Orofino whites), we were fat and happy and ready to take advantage of Eric's kind gift of discounts on the delectable BC-only products sold in the Edible BC store.
The Edible BC store is in the heart of the Granville Island market and features an assortment of BC artisan-made culinary delights from sea salt, to jam, to marinated cherries, to hazelnut oil, to adventurous organic chocolate bars and everything in between. These make great gifts to take home to your family and friends who will be jealous of your trip to this foodies destination.
Find out more about Edible BC and the great events it hosts including chef for a day, shop like a chef, cooking with BC's best, gourmet kayaking and more at:
http://www.edible-britishcolumbia.com/
June 25, 2008 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Dining
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I had great seafood on Granville Island during my last trip to Vancouver. I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but the miso seared black cod was fabulous, and the fresh oysters were great too.
May 23, 2008 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Dining
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If you're looking for mouth watering sashimi and the biggest sushi rolls in Vancovuer, make sure you visit Samurai in the West End. Located on Davie Street, right opposite the Shopper's Drug Mart, you will not be disappointed. The mountain sized plate of fresh salmon sashimi is sure to please. Other favorites are the agadashi tofu and the spinach gomae. Yum!!