soup Archives - West Coast Food

Recipes September 26, 2023

Recipe: Miso Vegetable Barley Soup

By Flourist Bakery This soup features purple barley from Shelley and Tony at Against The Grain Farm in Ontario. The barley is pre-cooked in this recipe and adds just the right amount of chew. INGREDIENTS Dry organic purple barley (1/2 cup) Butter (2 tbsp) Olive oil (2 tbsp) Salt (1 tsp) White onion, chopped (1 large) Celery, sliced into half-moons (2 stalks) Carrots, peeled, halved, and sliced (2 medium) Garlic cloves, minced (1-2) Whole peeled tomatoes (1 large can (2oz. or 798g) Had green cabbage, thinly sliced (4 cups chopped/1/4 large) Kale, stemmed and chopped (1 bunch) Vegetable Broth (4 cups -1 litre) Dry or fresh parsley (1 tbsp) Honey (1 tbsp) Dark miso (1/3 cup) More salt to taste Black pepper to taste INSTRUCTIONS First, cook the dry barley in plenty of water (about 8 cups) according to the directions for Farro here. The barley should be ready in about…

Where to Eat January 5, 2022

It’s Soup Season in Metro Vancouver

By Avneet Takhar As the snowy weather continues and temperatures drop; winter’s in full flow and it’s time to revel in “hygge”. The Nordic term for coziness and contentment, whereby hot cups of soup are a must! Here are our top 5 snug spots to cop a cup: Boiling Point 4148 Main St, Vancouver Transit: 3 bus, get off at E 26th Ave on Main With locations in Canada, USA and Japan, Boiling Point is a Tawainese-inspired concept known as the original #wokinabox, and goes against the grain in providing an atypical mix of ingredients in their hot soups. Having personally taste-tested the “House Special”, at a medium spice level containing tofu, pork blood, pork intestine, mushrooms and a sophisticated quail egg my tastebuds were overwhelmed- in the best possible way! The best thing is, it also comes as a trio with a green/black tea and either vermicelli or rice…

Recipes February 17, 2020

Recipe: Hearty Vegetable Lentil Soup

By Caren McSherry, Founder/President of The Gourmet Warehouse It’s that time of year again when the temperatures are still low, the weather can be on the gloomy side and a bowl of soup is the perfect thing to warm your body and soul. This soup is full of hearty, delicious (and easy to find) ingredients and is guaranteed to take the chill off any West Coast winter evening. INGREDIENTS Yellow onion, diced (1 large) Carrot, peeled and diced, about 1 cup Celery diced (2 stalks) Garlic cloves, minced (2) Leek, sliced, white part only (1 large) Olive oil (¼ cup) Anchovy fillets (optional) (3) Cauliflower, cut into small florets (2 cups) Broccoli cut into small pieces (1 cup) White or brown mushrooms cut into quarters (2 cups) Napa cabbage shredded (3 cups) Lentils (1 cup) Cannellini beans, drained (1 – 14-ounce can) Black beans (1 – 14-ounce can) Zucchini, diced (1…

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…

Recipes October 1, 2019

Recipe: Beer Cheese Soup

By Trading Post Brewing Trading Post’s Beer Cheese Soup – a beer lover’s soup and a customer favourite. Not for the faint of heart, this is a bold soup, rich & creamy, perfect for the fall and pairs perfectly with Trading Post’s Amber Ale. Since they focus on local producers the ingredients include Birchwood Dairy’s cheddar cheese & cream, Johnston’s bacon and of course their own beer. Serves 4-6 people INGREDIENTS Butter (100 g) Onion, diced (1 medium) Carrot, peeled & diced (1) Leek, diced (1) Garlic, minced (4 cloves) Tabasco (2 dashes) Bay leaf (1) Thyme (1 sprig) Flour (120 g) Trading Post Amber Ale (400 ml) Chicken Stock (1L) Dry Mustard (1 tsp) Whipping cream (400 ml) Cheddar cheese, grated (400 g) S&P to taste – depending on the cheese & the stock used you may not have to add additional seasoning, so you should always season last.…

Recipes April 4, 2019

 Recipe: Mini Tomato Soups with Crispy Parmesan Tuiles

By Caren McSherry, Founder/President of The Gourmet Warehouse These little soup cups are a perfect starter for any dinner party. The cute factor impresses everyone and leftovers are always welcome for a nice lunch the next day. INGREDIENTS: Olive oil (2 tablespoons) Unsalted butter (2 tablespoons) Yellow onion, peeled and diced (1 small = about 1 heaping cup) Sweet potato, peeled and diced (1/2 cup) Garlic clove, minced (1 large) San Marzano tomatoes (One – 28 ounce can) Chicken stock (2 cups) Fresh thyme (2- 2 inch sprigs) Coffee cream (2/3 cup) Sea salt to taste Fresh ground pepper to taste 12 large fresh basil leaves, stacked and cut into chiffonade* DIRECTIONS: Place the oil and butter in a 2 quart stainless steel pot, add the onion, potato and garlic. Stir to combine, place the lid on, turn the heat to medium, let the mixture sweat until the onion and sweet…

Korean February 8, 2019

Soup’s On at this Korean Hidden Gem: South Castle on Vancouver’s North Shore

By Wade Kinley If we weren’t looking for it, we might not have found it. Even then, we almost didn’t. In a little retail complex that blends into the space between the rest of the progress on 2nd Street in North Vancouver, tucked away under signs for other businesses, sits South Castle Korean. A tiny sign in otherwise black tinted window, the only suggestion of the bustle happening inside. When we showed up on a sunny Sunday afternoon, an easy walk from the Lonsdale Quay where the Seabus brings you from downtown Vancouver, the business next door had been closed and emptied, so that we thought for a minute that we had left it too late – had they gone out of business? Quite the opposite. Inside the little room of no more than 30 seats, every one of them was full of happy lunchers slurping soup and digging into…

Where to Eat October 30, 2018

Where to Eat Ramen in Metro Vancouver

By Kristi Alexandra When the weather cools and our palate warms up, sending Metro Vancouverites on the search for soups, stews and steaming bowls of noodles. Welcome to ramen season! Traditionally, ramen is a Japanese noodle dish served up in a meat or fish-based broth, flavoured by shoyu or miso, and topped with accoutrements such as sliced meat, eggs, dried seaweed and more. There’s no one-way to do ramen, as evidenced by the ramen variations that represent different regions of Japan—from the mild-tasting, cloudy ramen of Kagoshima to the miso-style ramen of Sapporo. So, perhaps there’s really no tradition at all. In fact, a great ramen experience is all about choice and customization. One can choose to have their noodles thick or thin, chewy or soft; their broth with a pork-bone base (tonkotsu), or with fish or miso; then topped off with dressings to their heart’s content. We’ve rounded up…

Japanese September 11, 2018

Three Cheers for Beer Ramen in Richmond

By Kristi Alexandra While most noodle lovers equate ramen to a warm bowl of comfort, Yuu Japanese Tapas presents its noodles in a way more familiar to college kids—cold, foamy and in a beer glass. Teetotalers need not worry, though. There’s not a drop of actual beer (or any alcohol at all) here. The Richmond eatery—which boasts a full menu of tapas such as takoyaki and deep fried tentacles in sriracha mayo along with housemade drinks like the “shot slush”—is more concerned with innovation than authenticity. Owner Julia Kubotani along with masterchef (and her uncle) Sam Chan blend fusion tastes and a warm environment for an experience that has adventure-seekers and ramen-lovers alike coming in for the novelty, and staying for the tastebud-tantalizing fare. “For me, personally, I like to eat and I love variety,” says Kubotani, who first opened Yuu in 2010. “I don’t like to eat the same…

Brunch November 29, 2017

Chez Meme French Bistro keeps Burnaby Heights Satiated on Breakfast and Baguettes

By Kristi Alexandra If there’s one thing to be known about Burnaby’s Mountain Heights area, it’s that the local eateries are deeply tied to a sense of community. Chez Meme, a resident favourite breakfast and lunch haunt, is no exception. Isabelle and Ross Spence moved into the neighbourhood eight years ago, opening up the intimate seven-table bistro. The couple hoped to serve up comforting breakfasts and fresh lunches while still maintaining some leisure time in their lives. Enter Chez Meme, the baguette bistro serving up breakfast, lunch, and a full wine menu from 8 am to 3 pm, Monday to Friday. “We used to own a creperie in downtown Vancouver, and we were open every day, so we had no life,” Isabelle tells WestCoastFood. “We just had two children, so we decided to sell [the creperie] and try to have a nice lifestyle. We wanted to still have a restaurant…

Where to Eat November 24, 2017

Get Slurping: 5 Places to Try Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup in Richmond

By VisitRichmondBC.com These five spots for Taiwanese beef noodle soup showcase how one seemingly simple comfort dish can be interpreted in a variety of ways by chefs around Richmond. Regardless of the version you choose, you’ll leave very satisfied. Joy’s Taiwanese Food Parker Place, 4380 No 3 Road, Richmond BC At first glance, the food court at Parker Place doesn’t seem like the place to find mind-blowing eating experiences. Vendor stalls are basic, with the kind of efficient service and plating you’d expect of mall dining. However, a stall like Joy’s Taiwanese Food with its elevated beef noodle soup embodies much of the spirit of Richmond eating: unassuming cooking that is affordable and deliciously authentic. The menu includes all sorts of Taiwanese classics like marinated tripe. Being an island nation, Taiwanese cuisine represents a confluence of culinary influences, as well as resourcefulness due to limited ingredients. Its food is superficially…

Recipes November 8, 2017

Recipe: Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

By Angie Quaale, Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store INGREDIENTS: Vegetable oil (2 teaspoons) Sliced mushrooms (1 cup) Chopped red bell pepper (½ cup) Minced peeled fresh ginger (4 teaspoons) Garlic cloves (4, minced) Lemongrass (1 3-inch stalk, halved lengthwise) Sambal oelek (2 teaspoons) Chicken stock (3 cups) Coconut milk (1 ¼ cups) Fish sauce (4 teaspoons) Sugar (1 tablespoon) Shredded cooked chicken breast (2 cups) Green onion strips (½ cup) Chopped fresh cilantro (3 tablespoons) Fresh lime juice (2 tablespoons) INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat. 2. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. 3. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, ginger, garlic, and lemongrass; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. 4. Add chili paste; cook 1 minute. 5. Add Chicken Stock, coconut milk, fish sauce, and sugar; bring to a simmer. 6. Reduce heat to low; simmer for 10 minutes. 7. Add chicken to pan; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly…

Chinese October 17, 2017

Richmond Hot Pot: To Hot vs. Yuan’s Chuan Chaun Xiang

By Tara Lee Hot pot takes on many different forms within China and across Asia, including countries like Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. In the past year, Richmond has seen the opening of many new restaurants that offer a spicy kick. Chongqing and Chengdu are styles of hot put and cities in southwestern China that share cultural roots in Sichuan cooking. Chongqing is known as the birthplace of hot pot and a visit to either city necessitates a hot pot eating experience. If you’re looking to get a taste of this southwestern Chinese style of hot pot, Richmond has much to offer you. Two establishments worth visiting are To Hot (130-8171 Ackroyd Road) and Yuan’s Chuang Chuang Xiang (Aberdeen Centre, 4151 Hazelbridge Way). They’re both innovative in their own ways, modern in their décor, and definitely lip-smacking in flavour profiles. Armed with an open palate – and an empty stomach, I decided to pay a…

Vancouver's North Shore February 2, 2017

Warm Up with these Inspired Soups on Vancouver’s North Shore

By Jaclyn Jularbal Vancouver’s North Shore boasts some of the most incredible views of the city. Surrounded by lush trees and snow-covered mountains, it’s a great place to enjoy many of winter’s finest things – snowboards, sweaters, and soup. Warm up with some of the tastiest soups in town and try some comforting flavours from around the world. Tamarind Hill 1440 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver If you’re a laksa fan, look no further. With delicious noodles, savory vegetables, and the perfect amount of spice – the milky essence of laksa is sure to warm you up from the inside out. Choose from your choice of Assam Seafood, Malaysian, and Singapore laksa. Be sure to pair it with an order of Roti Canai, the sweet fried bread makes a great add-on. The Neighbourhood Noodle House 1352 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver Don’t be fooled by the name – The Neighbourhood Noodle House…

Shops & Markets January 23, 2017

Healthy Meals Made Easy by Simply Delish Soup and Salad in Langley

By Kathy Mak Finding time to cook healthy and hearty meals can be a challenge for people with a hectic lifestyle, and that is why Paulette Hawkings created a line of flavourful, nutrient-rich meal options that are fuss-free to make. Her Simply Delish Soup and Salad products are wholesome and tasty meals made easy with blends of dry ingredients for whipping up a delicious soup, chilli, Jambalaya, salad or dessert. All dishes require minimal effort but are maxed on comforting, home-cooked flavours! Based in Langley, Paulette launched the family-run business in 2010 after diligently sourcing the right balance of quality ingredients, and trialing a variety of unique recipes to shorten the time of meal preparation at home. Nowadays, Brad (Paulette`s son) and his wife, Chelsey are running the company. Their 24+ deliciously handcrafted products use all natural and non-processed ingredients (local and organic when possible). These nourishing and simple-to-cook meals…

Vietnamese April 18, 2016

Chopsticks on Pho: A Love Story in Surrey

By Joanne Sasvari Long before they met, Lynn Le and Steven Lee knew they wanted to open a restaurant. But it took a long time – and an even longer journey – before they would see their dream become reality. Reality it is, though. On Aug. 1, 2012, the couple opened Chopsticks on Pho in Surrey. They’ve since developed a loyal following for their fresh, healthy and flavourful Vietnamese fare. They’ve also become proud members of their community, even though it is a world away from where they started out. Vietnam is where they started, back in the bad old days that followed the end of the war in 1975. Many Vietnamese, especially in the south, feared retribution from the Communist government of the newly unified country, and rightly so: It is estimated that a million Vietnamese were sent to brutal prison camps after the war and some 65,000 executed.…

Coquitlam February 9, 2016

The Heights of Culinary Adventure

By Sheliza Mitha Across a few short, bustling and walkable blocks of Coquitlam is where you’ll find Austin Heights – an unassuming culinary gem that’s home to some of the most delicious and densely concentrated restaurants anywhere in the Lower Mainland. Overflowing with restaurants representing nearly every corner of the globe, the area is relatively small in size (making it easy to explore by foot) but big on taste serving up the height(s) of culinary adventure with almost every step. Here, you’ll find a veritable foodie destination that requires some serious and dedicated exploration – which is just what I set out to do one bright, sunshine-filled day. The goal was to spend a good part of my day in a self-guided food tour of the area. This meant nearly five-hours of restaurant hopping to experience just a few of the area’s tastiest and most unique experiences – only because…