Where should I go in 2017?

The end of the year is here.   Victoria In Person went on a long hiatus after I lost the blogging challenge to Andrea. With Fringe and a lot of work in the last quarter of the year, I had to let something slide a little. And this blog was the casualty.

In the end, I think it was good to take a break. There's still lots of places I want to visit but some of the joy of writing had slipped by.  It's back now. I think. I've seen many blogs before going on a break, announce their return, post once more and then fade away for ever. So there's a chance that might happen.

But planning for success, myself and Andrea have a new challenge. She's going to try 25 new things this year. With five picked by her loyal readership, and a little filtering by her friends... so we can avoid her choosing easy things like picking up a copy of the Vancouver Sun.

I'm going to review twenty of the top rated places in Victoria (whether repeats or not), with five extra chosen by you, dear reader. 

The Top Ten on tripadvisor are as follows:

1. Saveur
2. Fishhook
3. Ithaka Greek Restaurant
4. Il Terrazzo
5. Cafe Brio
6. The Blue Fox
7. John's Place
8. The Fish Store at Fisherman's Wharf
9. Olo
10. Restaurant Matisse

Thank goodness Cora's is #12 on this list. Which also makes me question the validity of this list, as it's the most soulless, miserable place I have eaten in Victoria.

As my normal eating buddies are brunch specialist, I also took the top ten from Yelp for breakfast:

1. Jam
2. Blue Fox Nourish in the Harbour
3. John's Place The Ruby
4. Frankie's Modern Diner
5. Mo:Le
6. Hawk and Hen
7. Spoons
8. Floyd's
9. Frank's Honeybun Cafe
10. ReBar Modern Food

And I miss out on Cora's again, being #13 on Yelp. Seriously, apart from fruit platters and the longing for the original version back east, why is this place so loved when it serves industrial grade breakfast in surroundings that would not be out of place in a middle school cafeteria?.

Reply here, or twitter at me to pick one of the extra five that I really should visit. I will veto Cora's. Won't veto anywhere else. Will also visit bars and other interesting Victoria places that I don't have to stuff food into my face at.

Bout Time, Paper Street Studio Sessions, Victoria

Paper Street Studios do a variety of things in improvisational acting space... lessons, shows, team building and studio sessions.  The latter are smaller sessions in their studio space on Fort. I assume they are moving sometime as the Black/White development takes over on that corner of Fort and Cook.  They are also a great way to see very talented performers, up close, for not much money.

Bout Time is compered by Brooke Cameron, based on a format she developed in Ontario, and has shipped it up into British Columbia for our enjoyment.  It's a competitive format, with two teams of three duking it out to build scenes for the crowd's approval; but with a twist in the rules.  if you've done theatre games or improv sessions, you'll recognize the rough concepts.  But Brooke's imagination seems to take them to evil, twisted places to make it harder for the players.  Watching the verbal and acting gymnastics as they struggle to keep up is all the fun.

Last night, I saw one team attempt to keep a scene about playing jazz in line while Brooke forced them to play the scene backwards and forwards at her whims.  Watching them try to recall the order they had added and removed new elements was as much fun as watching the story line they tried to create unfold.  The best piece was by the female team of '3 Cigs' that made a musical number about living in the South, and turned into a piece about feminism....  taking down the 'father' of the nuclear family for singing over the mother and daughter was an absolute brilliant move.  The discovery of moments like this out of chaos is what makes improv both fun, but also thoughtful and interesting.

The best improv is all about the collaboration between the parts, with each person supporting and building with others to create something... often something that's only seen by the observers.  With the offer of a word or a movement being taken and built on, there's no one person with control.  But the whole team is in some sort of control, all steering and pushing forward to create.

So there was laughter, no-one taking anything too seriously.  But it's not flippant.  The energy of compere kept the audience engaged, while the music from  Matt Cowlrick added to the atmosphere.  3 Cigs won the bout, and will be back again to defend their crown.

Well worth checking out the next one, with the fringe coming up next month it might be a little delayed.

Victoria Sushi, Victoria West

I'm currently using some space in Vic West to rehearse a show for the Victoria fringe (see: aQuietSeason.com).  The scary part about doing my own show is that someone out there will be reviewing it with the same critical eyes I've done to other fringe shows.  But I'm pretty happy with what's been built so far, so we'll see how it goes.

And as a bonus for me, it means I can check out a couple of places in Vic West for dinner beforehand. Last week, I walked into Victoria Sushi, in Westside Village Mall.  This square is just over from the Dockside Green development but has been around far longer than that new build.  The Sushi restaurant is on one corner, so has plenty of natural light to offset the black and dark brown tones inside.  The lighting is kind of moody in there, with diffuse light, and there are lots of glass panels with bamboo strips stuck to them...

Service didn't blow me away.  I was sat on my own at a large table (six-person table) in one corner.  It then took a while to get an order taken, once I had green tea served.  And then a while for the food to arrive.  I went for my typical choice of Pork Katsu and BC rolls.

The Katsu was served on a small bed of lettuce, with about three tablespoons of rice and a ramekin of a thick, brown sauce.  The Tonkatsu sauce was the best part of the meal.  It had a tingly spice and a pleasant gingery flavour, as well as being unctuous and gloopy over the breaded pork.  The pork had been pounded flat o make a very thin, crisp cutlet.   It was a bit dry but otherwise was okay, but nothing superb.  I've had better.

The BC Rolls were also fine, but again nothing wonderful.  They also arrived so late into the meal, I thought they'd forgotten about me.  I have kind of forgotten about the BC rolls now, so it's a mutual disinterest.  But I did note that there wasn't much of the crisp, BBQ-smokiness to the salmon skins the role.  Which is the combination of flavours I love to have in my food.

I'd not pass up on Victoria Sushi if I am over there again, and the ambience did start to grow on me.  But there was nothing that made me want to travel to visit.  And nothing that made me completely avoid ever again

A First Nations Potluck Feast and 200 posts

This is my 200th blog post on Victoria in Person.  I hope someone made a cake for me.  Ah, here it is... but is looks like it got mostly eaten on the way.

The above is a pretty awesome cake made with yoghurt by the Brunette of My Acquaintance. And it was not made for this blog, but instead for a potluck.  This was held outside the Mungo Martin house, next to the BC Museum, in honour of a visit from Kamloops by one of her friends. Forty of her friends and family gathered to meet up and share food from all sorts of places.

There was a massive pot of fish soup which was damn tasty.  Or the portion I had without Oolichan oil (aka Grease) was.  I was warned by the First Nations's folks who invited me to share the meal that it was a rather distinctive flavour and an acquired taste.  Super fishy, and strong, cloying smell.  Reading up on the fish itself, the smoked or fresh meat was a big part of the diet for the coastal peoples, and the oil was traded extensively into the interior. Creating the trade routes known as the 'Grease Trails'.

There was also Bannock.  Bannock was a Scottish way of prepping bread, mostly by frying the dough on hot stone. It was either taken up by the First Nations or very closely aligned to a way of preparing maize before the Scots brought their version over, and the two things became aligned.  In any case, the style here was plain but tasty.  If you took all the bad things on a Krispy Kreme donut away (the terrible sugary coating, the nasty oil taste), and squished them down in a flat patties about the size of your palm, you'd get this Bannock.  Except I'd probably eat it before you got it.

Finally, for dessert, there was Sxusem, more commonly known as Indian Ice cream.  This is a whipped mix of soap berries, water and sweetners.  It makes a big pink-orange frothy mousse, eaten with a spoon.  Soap berries are well, soapy tasty, and bitter. The soap flavour sort of fades after the first taste, and it's a pleasant sort of bitterness, not unlike the pleasant bittering of hops in beer.  What is neat is that berries are a source of saponins, that have the effect of creating the foamy mass to make the dessert.  The saponins might have some positive effects on digestion and reducing inflammation, though the research is still out.  The lady who gave me some of the juice left over swears by drinking some very day, diluted with water.  Though she also said harvesting the berries is not the easiest thing to do either.

I'm very grateful for being part of this gathering, even if my contribution was carrying some boxes, and chopping up a salad (which was not my finest pile of greens ever...).

So here's to number 300, I'm keeping at this, Andrea!

Famous Original Pizza, Downtown Victoria

I think calling your pizza joint 'Famous' is hubris, especially when there's only one in the chain.

I think calling it 'Original' when your knocking off the New York style seems odd, even if you acknowledge you are inspired.

I think calling it 'Pizza' is spot on.

The venue is hot, and narrows, funnel like into the gloom.  Up front you have big picture windows, brightly showing the city passing by on Yates Street. As you walk up to order, though, it gets darker, and the venue thins to narrow booth and a skeeball corner.  The heat from the lamps and ovens starts to wash over you, and the aroma of freshly baking pizza hits you.

You can see the pizza's ready to buy by the slice, but you do have to ask what they are... there's no signage or labels up to tell you whats currently on offer.  The harried staff must get bored of folks whats up and ready.  In between serving, pouring drinks, massaging the dough, prepping the sauce and piling on the toppings.

The pizzas here are BIG thin-crusted pies.  Generous but not deep on the toppings, baked onto a just thick enough base.  The base, in fact, is the single greatest thing with these pizzas.  Crispy at the rim, but soft in the centre, so you have to fold the slice to get enough structural support to eat the point. The point oozing with cheese and a flavourful tomato sauce base, and maybe anchovies, or bacon or pepperoni, or a medley of vegetables.

That base... it just has a freshness to it, and a mouthfeel to it that's a delight.  Often the crust is the worst part... here, it's not the -best- but after the rich toppings, there's something pleasant about the way the crust just crunches.

I'm not sure it's famous (yet) or original (really).  But I guess 'The Good NY-Style Pizza' isn't quite the marketing dream.

It's good pizza. Probably the best ready-to-go place in town.  A slice is a deal at $3.75... and you can wash it down with a decent craft brew as well. I would recommend getting your face around a slice.  And they have anchovies.

Crows Restaurant, Gorge Road, Victoria

The Crows restaurant is in the Ramada on Gorge, in the same space that used to be occupied by the Cecelia Creek Restaurant. The Creek did really good food when it first opened, but was marred by a very odd attitude to splitting bills and taking cards.  They had a change of ownership last year, but that seems to not have saved the venue; and it's now under a brand new name; and another set of owners.

So, we headed of for brunch on Sunday morning, as two of my friends have moved within walking distance.  No lines, but there was a good number of people eating in there. Quietly busy.  Which is probably the sweet spot for any brunch joint. Enough to keep things lively, but not crammed in so it's a rushed, painful experience.

The coffee is brewed dark and strong, and has kept wired until 11 o'clock. Cream is sadly single server creamer in plastic cartons, which doesn't jive with the hipster mason jars of brown sugar and a tiny coffee spoon. The water is provided in big glass bottles, so no waiting for the servers to keep you hydrated.  Much prefer little jugs of milk or cream.  It seems more homely and welcoming.

The menu is extensive, but doesn't over stretch itself into too many options.  You have a variety of benny's, a variety of traditional meat/eggs/potato combinations, some waffley/pancakes and a small set of specials.  Including Shakshouka, poached eggs in Moroccan tomato sauce, with garlic bread.  Which sounded awesome, but the Trueman grabbed my eyes.

Spoons and Floyd's have their own 'dealer's choice' options, and the Trueman is the Crows version.  Choose either breakfast or lunch, omnivore or veggie, sweet or savoury, and for $11, the chef will send out something random.

I like random. I like surprises. I also liked the $11 price tag.  So I went for that, and got a plate of potatoes and double deck burger bun stuffed with a sausage+chicken omelette, with big chunks of tomato.

The Trueman

It was indeed delicious, as promised, and not so huge my stomach muscles were over stretched.  A hearty breakfast, not an idiot sized one.  I did have to ask for ketchup and hot sauce (neither were offered), but the mole spicy sauce was worth asking for, and added a pleasant level of heat and pepped up the eggs just how I like them.    The potatoes were cooked to a dark crisp.  They looked burnt and not incredibly appetizing... until I tasted them, and they were crunchy yet soft on the insides.  I am not sure it was intentional to have a couple of stray yams pieces in there as well, but there they were, and they seem like a happy accident.

Two of my friends ordered the Goat Benny, which was reported back as tasty, with a good (not great, but good) Hollandaise.  The sausages that came with Crow's nest (French toast with eggs) were huge fat boys.  Reported back as juicy and full of flavour, though they also looked like they had been over-cooked, they weren't.

The general verdict was to visit again.  It was a good price, and they were more than happy to split bills and let us pay in any way we saw fit.  The need to do it as one big bill seems to have gone with the new ownership.  Thank goodness.  The visual presentation possibly needs a bit of a tweak, but this was a solid breakfast, with no lines, no mucking around and decent size servings to keep you going all day.

The Crows space doesn't seem to have changed much.  Lots of big wooden tables, plenty of space and light making a farm house/country kitchen feel.  The owners are supportive of the gamer community in Victoria, hosting a regular Board Game night every month (see facebook for more details).  Being tied to the hotel as well should keep a good flow of customers through as well.

Gabriel's Gourmet Cafe, Nanaimo

Myself and the Brunette of my Acquaintance headed up to Newcastle Island for the May stat holiday.  Newcastle is my favourite of the BC campsites I've been too.  You can't drive in, so have to limit what you drag over.  This means there's no huge RVs looming over you, and no cars heading off at 5am as the driver has sobered up enough to head home.  It's quiet, and the sites have more space around them.

But there's still a shop, and lots of trails to walk, and the lights of Nanaimo are right there.  So you can head into the city if you've run out of beer, lost a can opener or just need to get back to the concrete jungle.  The foot ferry over costs $9 return, so you really have to want to make the day trip, but it's a comfortable safety blanket.

So we had a very nice relaxing weekend, cooking over the open fire some incredibly tasty burgers from Glenwood Meats.  All the wood smoke and good quality beef made for great outdoors feed.  The bean stew we made also was enhanced by wood fire and the fresh air.  And chicken we slapped directly on to the grill after weekend marinating was so tender and moist.

So after all that good food, the Monday morning we struck camp and headed in the city to grab breakfast before we headed home.   Gabriel's Gourmet is on the main street through Nanaimo.  They believe in local food from local farms and producers.  They tell you in great length on their website.  The cafe is full of pine wood, and fresh herbs growing on shelves, and art made from rusty old saws. They have a small patio, and about space for 20-30 inside.  You head to the back, order then get seated.  Means you have to think on your feet on what to order, but that probably speeds things up, and the wait staff not having to dance around through the coffee and perusal of long menus for twenty minutes will increase turn over.

I went for the Weekend Benny, which was a delicious pile of kale and bacon in a chive-enhanced Hollandaise.  Country potatoes rounded it out.  Every forkful was full of bright, rich flavours.  The bacon was thick cut, and cooked to just crispy.  Rounded out with coffee that was neither weka nor over strong, the day continued to maintain it's lvel of good.

The Brunette got the eggs on corn cakes with a mess of beans and salsa. The mouthfuls I tried were on par with the with the Benny.  Cooked well to combine the flavours, but not over cooked to a much.  And her daughters salmon wrap had perfectly cured salmon, with that rich, sea-salt sweetness that says to me it's great.

Overall, an excellent meal.  Kept me going until Duncan, where I did need to top off the caffeine with a can of Rockstar coffee.  Not a patch on the hot brew served in Nanaimo, or boiled up on the stove at the campsite, but the jolt was needed.

True Confections, English Bay, Vancouver

Two of my old university friends came over to see family in Vancouver a month ago, and asked me to come say hello.   As I wanted to take a quick bike tour of False Creek for a project I'm working on), I combined the two things.  And added in a visit to meet another Vancouverite (The Marmot).  In one day.

Travelling to and from Vancouver, in one day, by ferry is a lot of time sitting on ferries and buses and skytrains.  I drove Schwartz Bay, and then went over on the 9 am ferry.  I decided the 7 am was for the birds. Plus, the coach service into Vancouver is now a lot less regular.  Which seems like a big shame, as it was cost effective way to get from Victoria to Vancouver, when ever you needed with out having to wait for transit at both ends.  That turns a three hour plus journey into five hours or more.

The winning way is to take a float plane.  Of course, that also costs more, but it is the best view of the lot.

I got into town around eleven thirty and hiked over to City Cycle Tours, and picked up a bike.  Disc brakes, thick tyres, well maintained.  I zoomed off over the Burrard Street Bridge and did the cycle path around False Creek from Kits to English Bay, via the Science Museum.  A really fun ride.  Mostly flat, lots of scenery across the Bay, and interesting sights.

Once in English Bay, I met up with my friends and their tiny baby.  We had lunch at the Sylvia after a short walk around the local area.  And then dessert at True Confections.

Where our friendship was put to the test.

Apparently friends don't let friends eat carrot cake.  Not when sky-high towers of New York style cheesecake are on offer.  Thing is, I really like carrot cake, and I've been told True Confections makes the best desserts in town.  They are a dessert-only cafe, set up 1989 to serve just for the sweet course.  And they've been going ever since.  The space isn't that large, seating about 40 people.  They don't take reservations. Just turn up, eat pie and drink coffee.  A nice little niche, especially as you can often go to a great restaurant where dessert is just an after thought.

They weren't that busy, and made room for the bairn's pushchair, though we were kinda stuffed into one corner.  But we had a good view of the street, and massive array of sweets.  After much arguing about what to eat, and recriminations about carrot cake, we got some coffee, and drinks and food.

The Carrot Cake, I can report, is not worth losing a friend over.  It is excellent. Just not the central blissful nirvana that would mean writing off close to twenty years of friendship.  But after trying a forkful, they did decide they could at least see why it was a valid (if still questionable choice). It was moist, light and tasty, with a good slathering of cream cheese frosting on top.

The cheesecake was rich and glorious.  Thick wodges of cake on a buttery biscuit base (yes!), served with a fruit sauce that combined a sweetness and tartness to balance the unctuous cake.

All very good.  And friendships saved. And babies cooed over. And old times remembered.  Great to see those guys again.

So afterwards, I headed back on my bike to the Tour shop, happy with some exercise to balance the calories of the day, and headed to see the Marmot on Main.  We also caught up, and talked business and friends and the future. And she then graciously gave me a ride back to Tsawwassen in time for the last ferry home.

So you can do Vancouver in a day, complete the first stage of a work project, see two sets of old friends AND solve a bunch of puzzles for the Puzzled Pint.  I just wouldn't want to do it every day.

It was a long day.  But good for the soul.

True Confections, 866 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC

McRaes Bistro, Saanich

Myself and the brunette of my acquaintance took an evening stroll down Shelbourne.  We headed for McRae's for a pint and bite to eat, enjoying a spot of sunshine on a glorious May 1st.  We had decided it'd be nice to see a different local bar from Maude Hunter's.  And I really needed a beer to unwind from a long day.  So a short walk and we found the bistro half full and buzzing.  There was space on the patio, but no-one up front to seat people.

I just deleted many paragraphs on how long it took to get seated and served a beer. I re-read it.  It wasn't actually interesting.  Summary: it was close to twenty minutes.  The two servers were busy, the bar staff were busy, and no-one seems to have given the front of house staff a quick overview of how to deal with days when there's too much to do.  The experience is what your are selling when eating out. Make the customer feel welcomed and comfortable, and that goes a long way to making them happy and coming back again.

Good food and cold beer also helps but isn't enough on it's own.  So while getting served a pint of cold Hop Circle and Pimms Cup took far too long, there's no complaints on the beverages.  The Pimms came with a suitably large slice of cucumber and a shaving of lemon.  Something that always helps.  The pint of Hop Circle was $5.00, which is a great price for a good beer.  So that made up for the wait.  A little.

On to the food.  A Salmon Flatbread and McRae's salad.   The flatbread was side-plate sized, but smothered in cream cheese, big chunks of smoked, pink fish and a pile of arugula. Had to shove that aside and put it in the salad.  The bread was crisp on the base, but the dough was soft on top, golden and slightly chewy.  A really pleasant mix of textures. The fish and cheese were complimented with capers, making a savoury, salty mouthful that just combined things right.

The salad was a big.  I always think $10 for a bowl of greens is a little excessive, but they did a good job here, with some sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, shaved carrots and beets.  Lots of greens, from a variety of lettuce leaves. And tasty dressing, which was slightly sweet, but mostly tangy flavour.  I just guessed it had balsamic vinegar in it, which on review of the menu is correct:  a maple balsamic dressing.

Sitting out on the deck with a cold beer and good food and good company is a very pleasant way to spend a sunny Sunday.

http://www.mcraesbistro.com/ - 1652 McRae Avenue Saanich, BC 

Saveur, Downtown Victoria

Saveur has a website that looks like Save Ur Restaurant (http://saveurrestaurant.ca/).  This might be a service like Bar Rescue, to come in to turn around failing food joints.  Maybe complete with a fake Gordon Ramsay to tell someone to F--- Off.  Perhaps it's really cheap, fast-food diner that offers quick Mesopotamian cuisine, served for the modern palate?

Instead, it offers modern French-inspired food.  According to the website, at least.  The space is starkly modern.  Matt-black walls.  Hardwood floors. A bar and cash register that wouldn't be out of place in a fancy hair salon. The kitchen eschews the little window you can peak into, instead, the range and prep stations open on to the dining floor.  Concrete flooring marks the edge of the chef's domain, and the start of the maitre'd's empire.

The restaurant is just one block up from Jam on Herald Street, and the long narrow space has suddenly reminded me of 'Solomon's', my ideal bar that's long been closed.  Space is going to be limited here, with maybe 30 covers.  The menu is concise, with the Chef's tasting menu looking like a fine array of good things, like Pork Belly with Fiddle head ferns, and Halibut with cheese grits.

BUT, this was brunch. And for brunch, there's the traditional breakfast; a hangover cure breakfast of  all the meats for $23, and my old favourite - Huevos Rancheros.  Plus a variety of Eggs Benny and a couscous porridge served with apricots and dates.

A photo posted by Chris (@thecesspit) on Apr 17, 2016 at 11:33am PDT

I went for the Huevos. Before they arrived we got ultra tiny scones.  Served with a house-made blackcurrant jam, these bite sized scones were warm and buttery.  The jam was sweet and tangy.  As my friend said... we could do with a bag of these to take home.

We also got coffee. It wasn't bad coffee, though I'd like to have had a teaspoon to stir my cream in with, and not to have to use the end of a butter knife.  And then use the thick, paper napkin to dry it on.  Just saying.

The Huevos were excellent.  A well toasted tortilla, topped with refried beans that had been cut with peppers and (I think) cilantro.  This lifted the flavour up a notch, and combined with the cheese and eggs and tortilla to make a great mouthful.  The eggs were served sunny-side up - no option was given on when I ordered, but I'm guessing they could have been done another style.  I don't mind my eggs that way, but I know some people -hate- it when the eggs white doesn't cook all the way through.

The guacamole was fresh, the pico de gallo tangy, and the cumin creme fraiche and great twist on serving it.  A good scattering of friend potato cubes added to the dish to make a sizable (though not super large meal).  A really good Huevos, and the price ($15) matched that... this is not a cheap and plenty type place.

For the price and vibe, I'd like to have seen the settings one step up.  The things I've not liked would get a pass at other places which weren't going for a fine dining vibe.  The food is excellent.  The service staff friendly.  They were doing plenty of trade, and feel there's plenty more people coming there to discuss their latest business projects and deals.  There's a seriousness about it all.  And good for them, it's a good addition to the scene in Victoria.

658 Herald Street, Victoria BC - info@saveurrestaurant.ca - 250.590.9251

La Taqueria Pinche, Downtown Victoria

La Taqueria is the fourth shop in a Taco chain stretching from North Vancouver to Victoria, by way of central Vancouver.  Okay, so it's not Taco Bell, but it is a mainland import, snuggling into the crowded taco/burrito market, with La Taquisa, Tacofino, Hernande'z, Taco Justice and all the other places that sell you filling wrapped in a thin corn dough shell.

Seriously, there's a LOT of it about, and it seems every version possible is for sale, and every odd, gourmet version is out there to be tried.  Not that having good tacos is a bad thing, given the jokes about the poor quality of Mexican food in Canada I've heard.  I'm just saying it's time to start a new fad, a new cheap-street-food-done-to-the-extreme to take over.

I went to La Taqueria with Andrea for a catch up.  I have proof.  She took a selfie of us.

Yes, I can look like a swivel-eyed loon.  Why do you ask?

We went in, with a very skeptical Andrea, who a bit later told me her reticent was that it looked like the interior of a very clean public bathroom.  The white walls and tiled floors do, I guess, look a bit like the communal bathroom on a very clean hospital ward.  I thought it was her concern that the queue was not long enough... as long queues are always a sign of great food.  You only have to see the line up at a MacDonald's after 11pm to know that.

We walked up to the cash desk and ordered from the wall menu. I went for a pair of veggie tacos (Kale and Mushroom) and a pair of chicken tacos (La Tinga).  Her Andreaness went for the fish tacos she was craving.  One Tuna, one beer battered white fish.

The Hongos Con Kale had a great name.  This is the best thing about them if you love kale.  If you love the taste of stewed mushroom, where the mushroom produce that rich, liquid juice that mingles with the rest of the sauce, you'll like them too.  Personally, I though it was all mushroom juice and nothing much else going on. Certainly no brassica savoury bite I was expecting from my favourite green leafy plant.

The Tinga Del Pollo also have a good name to say. Not as great as anything names 'Hongos', but pretty good.  They tasted fantastic, with the pulled chicken merged in with slightly sweet tomato-ey sauce, but with a bite of the chipotle in there too.  The sauce is not a runny goopy mess, but just a bit to mix up in the meat.  The topping of cheese and sour cream doesn't over load the main flavours, but just compliments it nicely.

Andrea said the white fish beer battered tacos were great, much to her surprise.  I won't describe exactly how she talked about the consistency of them, as it doesn't sound like a good metaphor.  Though it was meant to be, I think.  I was a bit confused on this point.  I'm pretty sure she said she'd go back.

All the tacos were double shelled, with two small, soft corn tortillas per taco. As there are no utensils provided, this allows you to mop up any spillage when eating. Worth it, as the fillings are generous; though not over flowing.  I was pleasantly full after the four tacos, and also felt well nourished.  This was not heavy, greasy food.  It was fast, but fresh.

I'd go back for more.  It's another good addition to the food scene in Victoria.

Dak, Downtown Victoria

So, someone asked, where were you last week?  Does that mean you lost your ongoing blogging challenge with Andrea?  Nope.  We've agreed to go biweekly... though nothing stops us over posting.  Both of us are a little busier with other projects... and I'm eating out a little less as I tighten the belt as I start up my own business.

Though the belt seems to be plenty tight enough at the moment, which is another story entirely.

Dak is another venue run by the people who brought you Picnic and Picnic Too. I believe the owner, John Perkins, has some interest in the Northern Quarter too. Dak means Chicken in Korean.  So they specialize in Chicken served Korean style.  Rotisserie chicken, served warm on rice.  Or on a bun. Or in salad.

They do other dishes without chicken. Spicy pork is one option, as is roasted mushrooms. Andrea's met me for lunch.  She goes for a Mushroom Bop Bowl.  I go for the Chicken Bop Bowl.  It's under $10 for lunch.  That's a bargain.  Even more so when you see the fully loaded bowl of sticky rice, meat and piles of vegetable matter on top.

There's a big helping of spicy kimchi.  The ferment cabbage isn't to everyone's taste, sure, but this is spicy, crunchy and sharp, without being overpoweringly 'savoury'.  There's a splodge of green onion pesto, which with the chicken combines into a very tasty mouthful.  The meat. The slight bite of the onion, coupled with the pine nuts.  So, so good.

There's some sprouts and greens too, and some sesame seeds sprinkled on top.  The rice is super sticky, chunk easily eaten with the chopsticks, soaking up the juices from the chicken, and the squirt of soy sauce I added into the bowl.  I felt almost as healthy and refreshed as I do when eating at Be Love.  That clean feel from a well balanced meal.

The venue is super basic.  A couple of plain wood with high stools along, sitting almost bar style. But one of those tables faces out on to the street, so you can watch the world go by.  And wave at random friends heading else where.  And you can have a super intense conversations about new jobs and spiritual rebirth with Andrea.

The menu is concise - nine options for lunch, four for breakfast.  And you have to like Congee for the breakfast.  I like small menus at times. You get on with the ordering without the problem of reading -all- the choices.  At it means the kitchen will be on point to make everything spot on.  They don't have to deal with twenty seven options, fourteen of which only get ordered once a week.  The kitchen is tiny, unless it's a Tardis.  There seemed to be at least two people back there, with one popping out to serve customers while the other one kept on prepping dishes.  Food was out in a matter of minutes after ordering.

So it's a fast dinner, at a great price, with lots of good stuff in the dinner.  What's not to love?  The fact it's an extra two blocks walk past Picnic Too, and that often captures me with the Breakfast Sandwich for a fast lunch.

One down side... the toilets in the space Dak shares with a bunch of tech start ups and incubators are camp chic.  They aren't dirty, or nasty.  Just basic plywood on the walls and some how feel... unwelcoming. That's not Dak's fault.

The Old Spaghetti Factory, Downtown Victoria

Reasons to go to Old Spaghetti Factory

• It's Dine Around Victoria time, and they've made a $20 menu offer.
• The lovely Brunette of my Acquaintance's daughter has wanted to go for ages.
• It seems like a nice treat to take her, and not break the weekly budget.
• They do family style food effectively and fast, with a good range of choices.
• You like pasta dishes that aren't too crazy.
• You like fresh goats cheese on your spinach salad... and fresh, rich green leaves mixed in with tart dried cranberries
• You like a good, thick, New England style clam chowder.  One which will make you lick the bowl clean.
• A decent chunk of cheese cake finishes a meal for you.
• A pile of varied veggies in the lasagne makes a good meal for you, especially if it's enough for a second serving to take off to school the next day.
• In fact, you like options that contain something fresh and nutritious for yourself, or your kids.

Reasons to not go to the Old Spaghetti Factory

• You want panache and spark in the cooking.
• You want anything that isn't pasta.
• You want pasta that has complex set of flavours, rather than a cream and pesto dish with some random chunks of white chicken breast.
• You think a broccoli starter should be more than fresh cooked florets drowned in grated cheese.
• You like your dishes served with a style beyond 'shove it on the plate'.
• You want the waiters to have a deep knowledge of the wine list.
• You want a long wine and beer list.
• Warm bread white bread and whipped butter is not your idea of a interesting start to the meal.

In summary:  It was a enjoyable family meal, at a fair price in surroundings that have been taken care of.  The staff are young and slightly naive, but enthusiastic, polite and fast.  The food is well cooked, but won't win awards for presentation or innovation. It's not trying to win awards for presentation or innovation.  Three of us ate a good meal and had good conversation.  

There's better places in town for pasta. They are catering to a different market and price.  There's place in town that do family-orientated food.  They are often tacky, dishevelled and serve crappy food straight from the freezer.

Foo Ramen, Downtown Victoria

I have a confession.  I ate Brussel Sprouts on Friday and I didn't hate them.

For years and years, my mother has been trying to get me to eat my sprouts. Just one with a meal when I was about six.  I was probably a pain, but eventually would eat one if soused in vinegar.  To take away that awful vegetal taste.  Then one was two. Then three.  I still hated the taste, but without eating some, it was no dessert.

Mum tried all sorts of ways to get me to meat sprouts.  Chopped up in a stir fry. Boiled.  Steamed. Baked.  Pureed. In a cream sauce.  Wrapped in bacon.  Stuffed inside a donut, sprinkled with chocolate flakes*.

They still tasted of sprouts.  Like Morissey's voice ruined The Smiths (ducks) for me. I don't care how good the music and the lyrics are, that whining is still there under or over it all.  The taste of sprouts pervaded all the tricks and preparation Mum tried.

So I grew up, and then could be an adult and refuse the Brussel Sprouts (or devil's little cabbages, as I like to know them as).  And Mum could have sprouts however she wanted with out a bratty son not wanting them.

And the on Friday, I went in Foo Ramen.  A tiny little space, dedicated to serving big hot bowls of ramen noodles, prepped in about half a dozen ways.  I'd just finished up at Discover Tectoria and wanted something fast and full of good stuff before heading home.  Ramen in good vegetable broth seemed like the answer.

So clearly I ordered the Pork Donburi special.  Rice, pork and greens.   I didn't read the list of greens to hard.  I may have seen 'sprouts' and just parsed them as pea shoots or bean sprouts.  When my bowl came out, I still didn't notice the little cabbages of doom.

Instead I coated the rice in a thin layer of the spicy, savoury sauce they have on the side there.  Spicy, slightly sweet but with big layer of savoury happiness.  Combined with the simple white rice, my stomach and taste buds were happy, and fast.

I tried the pork, which was crispy, shredded little pieces, generously piled against the heap of rice.  Also really good, with the crunch of the meat added to the flavours and textures so well.  The chimichurri paste also added to medley of good stuff going on.

Then I lifted a fork of the mixed greens up and noticed this quarter of a brussel sprout sitting there, spiked on the tines.  I frowned.  Why was this in my awesome meal?  What devilry had turned this awesome pork donburi into a flash back to one of the few foods that I can't stand? Where was the vinegar?

Sod it, I thought, and ate it.

Oh.  It wasn't crunchy and dense and full of a sharp, bitter tasting flavour.  It was soft, and really didn't taste of much except for a very mild kale.  I didn't hate the chef.  I didn't send it back for containing undercover Brussel Sprouts (the menu is pretty clear).  Instead I added a touch more of the chill paste, and polished of the whole bowl.  Including three or four more of these pan-fried sprouts.  And a big bunch of crisp pea shoots.

This doesn't mean you can feed me sprouts now.  But it does mean my taste buds may just have changed.

And I really should go back for the ramen sometime.

Foo Ramen Bar, 762 Broughton Street : http://www.fooramenbar.ca/

(*) Okay, I may be lying about some of these preparations.

Ampersand 27, Whyte Avenue, Edmonton

At the start of the year, I went to Edmonton. On the train.  Most of the train ride there was awesome, but for some reason, the last three hours I felt horribly ill.  On arrival, my friends picked me up and I retired straight to the bedroom, where I continued to feel the after effects of whatever I had eaten that upset me.

So that pretty much wrote of my first day in Edmonton.  Luckily, a solid diet of cheesy films, hot tea and a good company sorted me out, and by the next day, I was ready to face the cold, frigid, Edmonton day.

After a walk around the legislature building, the parks and looking out over the frozen Athabasca, we went to Whyte Avenue to play boardgames at HXGN.  A cafe not unlike Victoria's own Interactivity Board Game Cafe. Just only 90% as awesome.  We played some good games, drank hot coffee, and then wandered along Whyte to '&27'.   It was cold on that walk.  I am very glad for the warm scarf my friend had given me (in the silver and honolulu blue of the Detroit Lions, naturally).  I was also very glad to eat here.

Even though I didn't have too much (didn't want to risk too much), what we did eat was all full of flavour. It showed a lot of innovation and flair in the kitchen.  Except for one item, where I was just confused.

Firstly, I paid for filtered, pure water... advertised with the promise that all profits went to Mealshare.  I like the Mealshare concept.  I don't like paying for a simple glass of water, and I really don't know who Q-Water is and why I should think their water is any different from what comes out of the tap.  Then again, the assumption that someone is looking after your tap water leads to Flint, Michigan.

But, my friend, the Book Seller and Gourmet, did get a very tasty cocktail which lead to much grins and happiness spreading across her face.  But not as much grins and happiness as the shared starter of peanut fries.

I did not quite know what peanut fries would be, half expecting them to be some sort of extruded peanut mass, deep fried and kinda sickly.  Instead it was a generous cone of chips with a salty, savoury dusting of something peanutty.  We suspected it was some sort of peanut super powder, used in fitness shakes or something like that.  They were incredibly moorish, but also quite rich tasty so hoovering them down wasn't an option. Instead we just ate them one at a time, slowly, savouring the flavour of hot potato and peanut goodness.

We shared a portion of the Smoked Chicken Gnocchi.  I was expecting chicken and gnocchi. What we got was a pile of big, chunky pasta-dumplings, covered with some squeaky curds and a poached egg.  There was a pepper and rosemary strewn over it as well. This made for a dish that had an interesting mouth feel, with lots of warm, chewy flavours.  The chicken?  Hidden IN the gnocchi, in tiny little bits, with a not super-obvious level of taste.  But it was there, though I didn't get much of the smokiness I expected.

To finish, as my stomach was already feeling full, we got the pork belly on a bed of corn and beans.  I really want to know if the dish was intended to have the pork cold. If it was intentional, fair enough. it worked, though I much prefer pork belly to me hot and steaming.  Then the fat combines with the beans and corn to add all sorts of extra flavours.  Cold, it was still tasty, but the flavours didn't combine with the home baked beans and the spicy mesquite corn.  Which I loved.  The fritters tasted like a very savoury custard to me, but the Book Seller and Gourmet didn't agree, and we couldn't pin down the rich, slightly creamy flavour in there.

The space itself would fit right into Victoria.  Slightly pretentious, without being overbearing.  Keen and friendly waiters.  The long curved bar takes up one big corner, while the dining area has a mix of tables... large family style rounds and smaller intimate two person squares.  Big glass frontage, but double glazed to keep us warm in the winter.  And a Whyte Avenue side patio space for when this becomes the buzzing place it is in the summer.

Free Birthday Food - Denny's and Red Robin, Mayfair, Victoria

This past Monday I turn another year older.  I went in search of free stuff you might get for your birthday.  Plenty of offers for 2 for 1 deals, or 25% off.  But the two good offers I found (and used) were:

a) Free Denny's Grand Slam
b) Free Red Robin Gourmet Burger.

So as part of my birthday fun day, I went off on my bike to try out these two (and get in a 25km bike ride as well to burn of some of the calories).

Denny's, 3100 Douglas Street

Denny's offer a free Grand Slam breakfast for you on your birthday.  You can mix and match four items from their list, so I decided on pancakes, bacon, hash browns and sunny-side up eggs.  Coffee is extra, but a three bucks for bottomless coffee, that's not so bad.

It was a very wet and raining Monday morning, so I had the place pretty much to myself.  This didn't stop my table having a good speckling of toast crumbs for whoever was their last.  The staff were pretty fast attentive all throughout, and the coffee was kept well topped up.  Two of my friends joined me, including a big Denny's Breakfast fan ("I love me some Denny's" - true quote).  We all got slams.

Mine was fair to good.  The pancakes were the size of large side plates, fresh, and cooked beyond the point they taste like paste and before the point they taste like cardboard.  There was a whipped scoop of butter on top.  Don't think this is a tiny ice cream scoop. It's not.

The hash-browns are the real deal, grated potatoes, fried up and still slightly greasy, yet crispy on the outside.  The eggs were done okay...  I could have tested them further with scrambled eggs, but as I had a long day ahead of me, bad eggs would have put a damper on things.  But based on what I got, I'd try it next time.   The bacon was probably mostly water when it was put on the grill.. as it came out as two shriveled rashers, crisped to nothing much at all.  Sad loss of a pig to the world.

Everyone seems to have a Denny's horror story, about how there local one is the worst in the city/province/country.  I've heard it about Victoria, but it's been there so long, in a town with lots of breakfast joints, it can't be the WORST.   It was just breakfast done the way it's done in 2,000 other places.  No flair, but the same meal every time, more or less.

Still, it did what it said, it wasn't bad, it filled me up too.  It was free. Same time, same place next year?

Red Robin, 800 Tolmie Avenue

I went off from Denny's, avoiding a rainstorm, and headed out toe Cecelia Creek Gorge park.  I went down the mountain bike trials course there a couple of times (easy route, I've got a road bike, and bad balance).  That was fun.  Then I head over to The Pedaler to start a loop of Victoria they've designed and I'm writing a puzzle hunt for.  More to come on that, hopefully.

18km later, I was outside the Red Robin, which sits proud above the triple-lane highway into downtown core.  It has no bike parking outside, so I strapped my bicycle to one of the concrete posts that hold up the signage.

The building is under renovations, so half the place is torn up, and a lot of the walls and floors are bare, or tarped over.  It's not so bad that it's dusty and dirty, just a bit battered while they work on it.  I got a seat in the bar area (it might have been called the club lounge, which is a five dollar description of a twenty-five cent place).  Found out the free burger deal, which had just gone to an online club I had to join. They have about twenty burgers on the gourmet list, which is the birthday freebie, plus another set of premium sandwiches.  And the normal hodge podge of starters.

But I wanted free, but nothing super heavy, so went with the turkey burger.  Topped with lettuce, tomato, cheese and bacon, it's a super with extra cheese and turkey.  I wasn't expecting much, and had the broccoli option as my side.  You know, for healthy reasons.

The burger was actually damn fine.  Moist, flavourful and the veggies were all crisp.  The ciabatta bun soaked up some of the juices, which made it extra tasty.  The bacon was far better cooked than the rubbish at Denny's.  All over, a good burger.

The broccoli was cooked to the bright green (or a little beyond), not soggy.  Covered in butter, I think, so maybe not that healthy, but still, felt better than a bunch of supersized fries. The sides are meant to be bottomless. I would have got more broccoli, but didn't see a server again until checking out to leave, and I really didn't need it.  I did quite like the Red Robin special flavouring salt, which has a bunch celery salt, dried tomatoes, garlic and onions in it.  This tasted good on the greens.

I would have paid $10.49 for this burger normally.  That's a pretty good price.  On the flip side, the beer isn't.  I paid $8 for a 'jumbo size' Sam Adams. It looked like a normal sized beer to me.  And no where did I see the price quoted at such a rip off price.  I drank better beers for less at Churchill later on in the evening.

Would go back again for the food.  Was very pleasantly surprised by the quality for the price.  Would not drink there. Was unpleasantly surprised by the quality for the price.

Agrius by Fol Epi, Downtown Victoria

Fol Epi has a reputation as an artisanal bakery, turning out bread thats made with the best flour, wood fired ovens and an 'old time' feel.  They've recently moved into a space on Yates Street, and opened up a restaurant to go along with the baked goods and coffee sales.

So, my intrepid breakfast eating friends and I descended this morning to try out the brunch.

The staff set us up a table for eight, moving together a set of two-person tables into one long affair.  They were super happy to organize us into the space, and took care of us quickly once seated, bringing out coffee and water as a platoon, not just one server dealing with one table.  Though the space is large, and would appear to be noisy, it was very comfortable to sit and have a good conversation, while still seeing across the restaurant, into the kitchen and behind the bar.  One guy was squeezing ALL the oranges... so if you need OJ, you knew it'd be super fresh.

We could also order house made 'ferments'.  Which I assume is Kombucha and other items that are made by invoking the right mold and bacteria to grow in a liquid or solid... and instead of throwing it out as spoiled, serving it.  And why not 'black mushroom tea' is kinda of tasty, even if the mold culture that transforms the sweet tea into the slightly fizzy, slight sour drink is gross looking.

But I choose the coffee.  It was dark roasted.  it was hot. it wasn't bitter.  I liked it.  I choose coffee over the APA beer on tap, as it was 10.30am, and I had just driven down.  I can adult sometimes.

For my meal, I ordered the eggs, sausage and hashbrowns.  The eggs were soft poached, but not overly tasty... the pale yellow yolk suggests these weren't from hens with a wide diet.  There wasn't a richness in flavour I've had from other eggs, though my reading suggests the yolk colour isn't really a great indicator of the provenance of the ovum.

The sausages were house made, and a great combination of rich dark meat and a enough herbs to bring the flavour up with out overpowering the meat.  Very good.  The potatoes were cubed and friend 'country style'. They were advertised as hash browns.  The lovely Brunette was not in attendance, so she my monthly gripe.  They were good solid cubes of potato, and set well with the rest of the food.  Two slices of an airy, floury bread were served with the meal as well.  And a big dish of house made ketchup as well. The ketchup was good.

The house made hot sauce was really good.  Served with a eye dropper bottle, this added a little kick to the eggs, but also added flavour more than pure heat.  Really nice way of serving it, and a really good sauce.

All in all, I thought it was done well, but without amazing me in anyway.  The prices were a little bit of a premium to other places, and some of their competition other out does them on the creativity, or on portion sizes.  And some can easily match the quality of the source material as well.

I'd probably return for the dinner service, as there looked to be several interesting choices, and the bar drinks where interesting and wide ranging.  But for brunch...  I'd rate Relish, Veneto and Glo ahead of Fol Epi, all of whom serve a similar style of menu and food.  It's not a bad fourth place to be, and there's a lot worse places to go.

Agrius by Fol Epi, 732 Yates Street, Victoria: www.folepi.ca

Describe My Lonely, Catador Theatre, Victoria

In an aside from my normal talking about food, here's a theatre review.

But to start, I did grab a quick rice and chicken meal from the Cozy Place, 1692 Douglas. Fresh made, in an open kitchen.  Not fantastic, but it was fast cooked rice, with plenty of veg and cubes of fried chicken.  And a big portion of it, with some egg stirred in too.  Tasty enough, definitely filling, and definitely made to order.  I suspect the veg was frozen before it hit than pan, but with sweetcorn and peas, that always seems the best way to get it almost as fresh as it was in the field.

The Cosy Place used to house the Green Wasabi, which had made a play downtown from it's base in Sidney.  I really couldn't see much difference, except the menu is fast chinese food, and the windows don't give any indication of the price of the dishes, just the range of them.

----

So onwards, and into the Intrepid Theatre, where Catador were presenting Robbie Huebner's "Describe My Lonely". Originally created as a one-act solo show about dating; it was revised to play almost the same story twice. First,  the story is told by a character male (dating female) Cooper and then female (dating males) Cooper.  The challenge to the audience is to consider the differences in the stereotypes and tropes and challenges in dating from each genders point of view.  The challenge for the staging was to keep it interesting for the audience while telling the same story twice.

A smart reviewer would now write two reviews of this show, broadly similar, one for the first act, and one for the second.  I am not that smart reviewer.

I think they succeeded overall.  While the story was broadly similar, some of the puns were different.  The characters were imagined differently by the two leads.  The small changes kept you engaged, trying to spot the divergent parts, and then to think about if these changes are because of the gender changes (and how society expects men and women to behave, especially when dating), or just because it helped to keep it interesting.

Cooper is nerdy, obsessive and takes a scientific approach to dating... reading all the self articles they can find. Hoping that online, the facts they can learn hold the key to happiness.  Their best friend (who is probably the biggest difference between the two acts) tries to help as well, though I am not sure if they are really the sort of help you'd want.  In all cases, the single act takes on almost all the parts, playing Cooper and the other party, flitting between the roles.  In both cases, the leads did it was an apparent ease, making it clear by positioning and voice which character was speaking.

My biggest thought at the end was if they staged the show male/female every night. They don't, and alternate nights switched the order of the acts.  Which means some people would have a different feel for the two tales than I did.  Which reminds me a bit of the Clue: The Movie.  The same story, two results motif has recurred before... in 'Two', their 2015 fringe show.  I didn't really enjoy Two, as the motif didn't work for me.  In "Describe My Lonely", the acting was crisp.  The way they showed the use of the internet (with sound effects) was done very well, with me 'seeing' the computer interface they were showing.

I liked Cooper.  I liked their naiviety, their sense of wonder and nerdy obsessions.  And the finale moral was an uplifting revelation for Cooper, and for me too.

----

Couple of side notes:  I'm not sure (and I should ask) but Catador seems to come from the Spanish for a cigar factory... or the tradition someone reading out a novel or newspaper inside the cigar factory.  The later seems such a good name for a theatre group whose trying to tell interesting stories.

And, on the other hand, the Intrepid Theatre is small. 49 seats.  That's not a problem,  but, people, lets be smart and move into the corners and sides were we can when sitting down.  Sitting in the middle of the row is fine, but don't be surprised that people might have to climb over to sit down on a sale out night...

Cafe Veneto, Downtown Victoria

I'm surprised.  I could have sworn I had reviewed the Cafe at Veneto at some point in the past, but my search-fu suggests I have not published anything.  Or even mentioned before how much I like the cocktail bar and restaurant.  I would of sworn on my copy of Nigel Slater's "Real Fast Food" I once wrote a paragraph on how awesome the breakfast tagine was.  Pulses and lentils and eggs, all steamed and crammed together into a wholesome, filling brunch.  But, I must have been feverish that week, and dreamed the whole 'writing it down' part.

The tagine is no longer on the menu.  The list is relatively standard for Victoria: a classic breakfast, a benny, a hash, something super sweet, huevos rancheros and a lighter option.  This is not a criticism.  Having crazy or odd food is great. If you can pull it off.  Of course, if you can't pull of a good traditional breakfast either, then your not going to get a good review from me.

The Veneto Cafe can pull of their menu with good skill. I went for the traditional breakfast, and was rewarded with two perfectly, medium poached eggs, perfectly toasted bread (pre-buttered just right) and a pile of breakfast potatoes, crisp yet floury on the inside.  For the meat, I went with the bacon, and was rewarded with four rashers, cooked crispy so they crunched and shattered under my bite.  And there was hot coffee, medium roasted with just enough of an eye opening caffeine hit.

One of my friends ordered the short rib beef hash.  Piles and piles of meat in the bottom of the skillet, covered with potatoes and onions and arugula and curds and eggs.  Massive meal, he took half it home, after raving about how good the first half was.

Legendary Noodles, English Bay, Vancouver

I took a trip at the start of the year, which led to a very pleasant couple of days in Vancouver with the Brunette of my Acquaintance.  We had a nice couple of nights on English Bay, staying in the Sylvia Hotel.  The Sylvia is a 1912 block that once dominated over the beaches, big square, with rows of square windows, brick cladding and a creeping vine all over one side.  It imposes itself on the front, even if now dwarfed on all sides by apartment buildings.

English Bay is lovely to watch the sun set over, with the calm edge of the Georgia Strait in the foreground and the ridge of the University endowment land across the Bay.  And just out to sea there's always a half dozen big ships floating high up, waiting to be filled with whatever commodities Canada is sending over seas.  The red hulls stand out against the blue of the oceans, and the white super structures sitting like cheap apartment blocks against the sky.

The other good thing about the area is a whole abundance of good, cheap food from a variety of ethnicities. More on some of the other in the future... (Victoria, In Person maybe a little mainland based for a bit), but we stepped into Legendary Noodles on a whim one night... and super happy we did.

Legendary Noodles is small, seating maybe 30 people throughout.  The back corner is taken up with the kitchen, and one wall has two person tables, with a little shelf above for drinks... as the table is just big enough for the plates of food.  The kitchen is all open concept, and there you can see the chef hand stretching and prepping the fresh noodles.

I ordered the Szechuan Chicken noodles, first checking that they wouldn't be too spicy.  The server smiled and said they had made them less spicy than real authentic Szechuan food, to suit the tastes of Vancouver.  The Brunette ordered the Lemon Garlic Noodles with Prawns.

It seemed in the blink of an eye our food arrived.  Two steamy bowls of noodles, with a good, sized portion of food.  The white noodles on the chicken were streaked with little pieces of chilli and thick but clear brown sauce.  The sauce had some kick, such that I was glad they'd toned down the spice levels a bit.  I like a fair bit of heat sometimes, but tonight this was just the right level for me. The tangy of the spicy sauce coated the noodles, which had this beautiful silk like texture ate them, but were not a slick mess.  Instead they carried the sauce up to be savoured with the al dente bite of fresh noodle.

I tried the garlic lemon noodles as well.  These ha d a very mild spice to them, with a mix of flavours that had some complexity: the citrus tang of the lemon cut into the garlic and spice, and mingled with the green onions as well to create something more savoury than the sum of it's parts.  And again, the fresh dough of the hand-pulled noodles was a joy to eat.

At just a shade over $20 (plus tips) for two excellent bowls of fresh cooked food, this was a great meal, in a nice location.  The Brunette was impressed enough to get two 'to-go' orders to take back to the family in Victoria... who also enjoyed them, even after a four hour journey by bus, coach, ferry and car.


http://www.legendarynoodle.ca/ - 1074 Denman St, Vancouver,