October 2015 - West Coast Food

Canadian/American October 28, 2015

Lakeside Dining in a Tudor Manor at Hart House

By Tim Pawsey Nestled on the shores of Deer Lake, Hart House was built by Frederick Hart well over a century ago. The mock Tudor manor and immaculate gardens were privately owned and developed by the Moore family and others, over the better part of the last century, until being acquired by the City of Burnaby in 1979. The restaurant, which opened in 1988, offers an idyllic escape from the nearby bustle of Burnaby and Vancouver. In many ways, Hart House’s dining history parallels the story and rise of regional cuisine in Vancouver. For years it specialized in the tried and true formula of continental cuisine, with a solid emphasis on roasted meats and grilled fare. In short, a protein lover’s paradise, with a cellar to match. More recently, though, the restaurant has changed course to embrace the notion of Pacific Northwest cuisine, perhaps no more so than today, with…

Sweets October 28, 2015

How Belgian Chocolate Makers Fell for Abbotsford

By Tracy Rayson Belgium expats Wim and Veve Tas chose a career that would provide them with a great measure of joy and pleasure, in other words — happiness. Making and selling chocolate at ChocolaTas (half shop; half 5,000-sq-ft production facility) in Abbotsford has done just that; they’re happy every day. Coincidentally, a substance in chocolate acts as a natural antidepressant and perhaps is one more reason for all their smiles — customers’ too. Before pursuing his passion with the cacao bean, Wim worked in auto parts where people were often irritable — an environment with little joy he realized. After all, customers were getting their vehicles repaired — an inconvenient and unwelcome expense. “I told Wim that if he wasn’t happy with what he was doing, he needed to find something else,” says Veve. “Something where his heart was; something he loved.” Wim enrolled in night classes at first and went…

Korean October 19, 2015

North Road’s Very Own Koreatown

By Sheliza Mitha When you consider that Korean-Canadians are one of Coquitlam’s largest visible minorities, it should come as little surprise that a section of this city has unofficially become known as “Koreatown” – specifically the corner of North Road and Lougheed Highway. Chances are, you’ll know you’ve arrived in the right place when you hit the colourful English- and Korean-language shop and restaurant signs. Once here, kick off your culinary adventure with a visit to the Hanahreum Mart (known as H-Mart by locals), home to a dazzling array of Korean delicacies (think marinated meats, salty snacks, sweet treats, luscious breads, pastries and more.) The kimchi corner is particularly worth a visit. Korea’s national dish is well represented here with a seemingly-endless variety of this spicy pickled vegetable: cabbage, green bean, radish, daikon, scallion, eggplant, cucumber. If you’re feeling peckish, pick up lunch or a snack from the store’s hot…

Asian October 16, 2015

An Exotic Culinary Tour in Coquitlam’s City Centre

By Sheliza Mitha Anchored by Coquitlam Centre (one of BC’s largest shopping centres) and the 100-acre Town Centre Park, Coquitlam’s City Centre is an evolving, ever-changing neighbourhood overflowing with delicious culinary opportunities around every corner. Take a quick tour, and you’re sure to discover all the ways that the dining scene here so aptly represents the best of the city’s diversity – and could very well act as a sort of multicultural microcosm of Vancouver’s Lower Mainland. Here, you’ll find Chinese, Japanese and Thai restaurants sharing the same city blocks with hip eateries and Middle Eastern specialties. Lounge over drinks and appetizers at Browns Socialhouse, a perfect urban hangout with an eclectic menu to please nearly ever palate (think tacos, burgers, pizza, pasta and the list goes on). Just a few steps away is Legend House, boasting more handmade savoury, seasoned noodle dishes that you can possibly imagine – hot,…

Chef Stories October 16, 2015

Farm to Table with Andrea Carlson

By Nikki Bayley Cited as one of the key players of the city’s culinary scene, chef Andrea Carlson has been quietly shaping the way that Vancouverites eat for more than a decade. From the (now closed) C Restaurant and the Rain City Grill, to Sooke Harbour House and Bishop’s, Andrea has worked at some of the province’s most important restaurants, whose locavore seasonal menus helped to lay down the foundations of a more sustainable way of eating in B.C. and beyond. Now chef/co-owner at Burdock & Co. on Main Street, and the celebrated local community store/delicious noodle soup bar, Harvest Union, we spoke to Andrea to find out more. “The driving force behind Burdock & Co is to present farm to table food in a casual environment and bring what used to be a bit elitist to families and the neighbourhood at a more accessible price point. I wanted to…