February 2016 - West Coast Food

Cafés February 25, 2016

Break for Afternoon Tea in Richmond

By Visit Richmond BC Afternoon tea is a long-standing British tradition that has become an international food craze. Tea shops and eateries are now offering tea service all over the world and Richmond is no exception. With a diverse range of restaurants and cafés serving afternoon tea, here are three of our favourites in Richmond. Sugarholic Café Sugarholic Café at Aberdeen Centre is one of the newest additions to the afternoon tea scene in Richmond. Although the café is decorated in a luxurious European style, Sugarholic is considered a fusion-style tea house. Drawing on flavours from both East and West, the Taiwanese owners offer a variety of teas, including Chinese Rose and Red Date Longan Tea, as well as more traditional teas such as Earl Grey. Almost all of the desserts offered are made in-house. Highlights include the Ferrero Rocher chocolate cake, a triple chocolate cream and Japanese cheesecake. Afternoon…

Festivals & Events February 23, 2016

Traditional French Canadian Food at the Festival du Bois

By Catherine Dunwoody Say oui! Western Canada’s largest francophone festival for 27 years is back for another fun weekend of all things French Canadian – right in Coquitlam, BC. From March 4 to 6, 2016, the Festival du Bois showcases our fabulous and proudly French traditions and culture in Canada by way of the real deal when it comes to food, traditional music, entertainment and fun activities. Taking place in Coquitlam’s Mackin Park the fest is definitely family-friendly and very affordable. Kick off the festival at Dîner en Plaid, with its traditional French Canadian cuisine, and rollicking music from a New Brunswick band. Plaid dress code in effect? Absolument! Be sure and sip a pint of the signature craft beer, French Lumberjack Ale, from Port Moody’s Yellow Dog Brewing – especially while you cheer on participants in the arm wrestling competition and saw contests. Salut! Festival du Bois is known for…

Farms February 19, 2016

Meet the Pigs at Urban Digs

By Joanne Sasvari At Urban Digs Farm, the pigs are brown and black and copper coloured, with jauntily spotted wiry coats, twirly tails and alert ears. You’d swear they’re smiling at you. And why not? These are some of the happiest pigs around. “We carry pigs that make good bacon and have good personalities,” says Julia Smith, co-founder and operations manager of Urban Digs. “Adorableness is one of the important characteristics we look for.” Smith and her partner Ludo Ferrari started the farm in 2012 on two weed-choked acres in Burnaby. Right from the beginning, they wanted to raise free-range, pasture-fed heritage pigs, not the big, pink commercial pigs we all know so well. Those commercial pigs have been bred for size, weight, uniformity and a lean, mild meat. They grow quickly and produce many litters of piglets, often without ever leaving the inside of a barn, making them ideal…

Craft Beer February 16, 2016

Follow the Tracks to New Westminster’s Steel & Oak Brewing

By Tim Pawsey The craft beer revolution has made itself at home along the Fraser River, down from the hills in New Westminster. Steel and Oak Brewing Co. is a delightful discovery, tucked away in a still fairly industrial part of town, cheek by jowl beside automotive repair shops and train tracks – yet a short walk away from the bustling River Market and the rest of Downtown New West. Steel & Oak arrived with a bit of a bang upon their arrival into the scene in the summer of 2014 by quickly scooping first place in the 2015 BC Beer Awards Amber / Dark Ale category with its gently bitter and quite floral Flagship Royal City Ale. Step inside and chances are you won’t be alone, as the word is out on S&O, which has already built a strong following. Open for just over a year, this compact, wood-trimmed…

Sweets February 12, 2016

International Dessert Inspiration at Mosquito

By Joyce Chua, Vancouver Foodie Tours This Valentine’s Day, the only dessert-focused fine dining spot in Gastown is having their one-year anniversary. The stylish dining room of Mosquito is chic, dark, and a delightfully dramatic way to share some bubbly and sweets (or cheese and charcuterie). It was a beautiful day in Gastown when I met with Mosquito owners, Alice Wu and Johan Friedrich. As I hustled down the lively cobbled streets, I noted the many signs and sandwich boards straining to catch the attention of those passing by. There was nothing to be seen for Mosquito, but I bustled along, knowing their non-descript door would appear somewhere soon and welcome me to a quiet oasis. As Johan described the inspiration for Mosquito as an “out-of-world experience that heightened all senses,” I could not help but smile, as the idea has completely come to life. The high-ceilings, dark furnishings, sparkling…

Shops & Markets February 11, 2016

In Praise of Winter Markets and Comforting Community Flavours

by Kathy Mak Winter may seem an unlikely time to visit an outdoor farmers market in Canada, but the milder climate in the Lower Mainland allows the markets and abundance of seasonal products to thrive. Deserving of more recognition, a winter market’s appeal lies not only in the quality and range of offerings, but also in knowing that it’s served by a passionate community of both food artisans/farmers and shopping foodies, all prepared to brave the elements in support of fresh local products. The charm of a winter market is in the smaller and manageable crowds. With shorter line ups, there’s time to sample and chit-chat with merchants. Live entertainment, food trucks and heating stations are also on hand to add some extra warmth. To visit a winter market is to crave comfy and warming flavours. It’s easy to take inspiration for cozy dishes from the bounty of seasonal products…

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…

Canadian/American February 4, 2016

Tap Into Modern Cuisine in Surrey

By Tourism Surrey You can’t help but feel as if you’ve stumbled across a well-kept secret on a first visit to Tap Restaurant in South Surrey. A few blocks away from busy 152nd Avenue, Tap is nestled in between designer homes in a commercial complex in the Rosemary Heights/Morgan Creek area. The cuisine is distinctly French-inspired with a contemporary West Coast perspective. A refined menu features just a handful of appetizers, soups, salads, and plates principaux from which to select. Chef Alistair Veen partners with farmers to provide customers with the best in local meats and vegetables. Dining at Tap Restaurant is an intimate experience, with the kitchen fully open and looking out on the small, romantically lit dining room. Veen steps out from behind the counter often to deliver plates and check in on tables, with many patrons addressing him by name. Based on the freshness of ingredients, caliber…

Chinese February 3, 2016

Celebrate Chinese New Year in Richmond

By Catherine Dunwoody Gung hay fat choy! The Year of the Monkey begins on Monday, February 8, and why not celebrate in Richmond? Considering there are over 400 Asian restaurants in the area, finding the feast that suits you best should be easy. Traditionally, families gather on Lunar New Year’s Eve (this year on Sunday, February 7) for a reunion dinner to kick things off. Numerous dishes are served, most of them having a symbolic meaning to inspire good luck and prosperity. Fish is served whole with the head and tail attached, marking the end and beginning of a new year. Noodles represent long life. Dumplings and spring rolls resemble ancient Chinese currency and gold bars. To really eat like a local, you simply can’t miss these important delicacies to bring in the New Year: Chinese New Year Cake or Nian Gao The literal translation means sticky cake in Chinese.…