nuts Archives - West Coast Food

Recipes February 4, 2020

Recipe: Foraged Mushroom and Aggasiz Hazelnut Soup

By Chef Alessandro Fairmont Hotel Waterfront This soup has been a favorite with guests in ARC since Chef Alessandro put it on the menu – with its rich creamy texture it isn’t hard to see (or taste) why. The mushrooms are foraged on Vancouver Island while their culinary apprentices hand-picked the hazelnuts in nearby Agassiz. INGREDIENTS Portobello mushrooms (500g) White button mushrooms (1kg) Garlic (30g) Carrots (250g) White Onion (500g) Rosemary (2g) Tarragon (2g) Lemon juice Miso paste (60g) Dried Porcini mushroom, in hot water (60g) Vegetable stock (2L) Salt and pepper to taste Sherry vinegar (15mL) Butter (60g) Cream (250mL) Hazelnuts (200g) DIRECTIONS 1. Sweat the onions, carrots, garlic and the rosemary in the butter. 2. Once translucent, add the button and porcini mushrooms, and sweat for about 10 minutes. 3. Add the miso, vegetable stock, cream, porcini mushrooms and the soaking water. 4. Add the hazelnuts and simmer…

Shops & Markets September 10, 2018

Taste Middle Eastern Roasting Traditions at Ayoub’s Dried Fruit & Nuts

By Ashley Lockyer The scent of toasted cashews wafts into the streets and ornate Persian silverwork adorns a shop brimming with baskets of colourful flavours. But, this isn’t a bazaar in the middle east, this is Coquitlam. Step inside Ayoub’s Dried Fruits & Nuts here or in several locations across Metro Vancouver to sample the roasting traditions and ambiance that embrace the shop’s origins in Iran. “In the middle east, there are nut stores on every corner, people are used to them. But here, we had to build a culture,” said Amir Hosseini, owner of Ayoub’s Dried Fruits & Nuts. Amir’s father, Ayoub himself, opened a small roasting store in Iran. The country is completely saturated with toasted nuts shops, so it’s a tough market to crack. Ayoub worked at crafting distinct recipes and mixes, and people went nuts! Soon, he had a million dollar business shipping all over the…

Middle Eastern July 4, 2016

Glen Drive’s Hidden Persian & Iranian Eats in Coquitlam

By Nikki Hillman In Coquitlam’s city centre, Glen Drive is evolving into a great place to stop for lunch or dinner. There are several Pho, sushi, and waffle stores – and there is a wealth of hidden Persian and Iranian gems. I found myself drawn to The High Street and stopped in at the Urban Gate Bar and Grill for some dinner, and was surprised to find a traditional Iranian/Persian Market attached to the restaurant. The scents of the sweets were enticing as I sat down to order. I asked my server to recommend a traditional Iranian meal and she instantly pointed out her favorite on the menu; Jujeh. This is a classic kebab of chicken, marinated in lemon, yogurt and saffron. The meal also comes with a small salad, barbecue Roma tomato, lemon, onion and saffron rice. The combination of the flavors was delicious but I was won over…