March 2016 - West Coast Food

Where to Eat March 31, 2016

48 Foodie Hours in Richmond

By Visit Richmond BC Looking for a quick getaway? 48 hours gives you time to explore some amazing cuisine in Richmond, the only problem is figuring out where to eat. Read on for a list of some of Tourism Richmond’s favourite places to help you make the most out of your culinary adventures. Keep in mind, many Asian restaurants are accommodating to patrons who aren’t experienced in non-Western cuisine and do offer English menus or have photos of food items to help you with your selections. But remember to bring cash – some don’t accept credit or debit cards. Day 1: 10:00am – Dim sum at Shanghai River Shanghai River is the perfect place to start your day off right with delicious dim sum. Through glass windows, diners can watch the chefs hard at work, hand rolling their famous dumplings. The xiao long bao are clear standouts of the menu.…

Farms March 28, 2016

Sharing Field-to-Fork Freshness at Lepp Farm Market in the Fraser Valley

By Kathy Mak At the entrance of Lepp Farm Market, you’re greeted with heaps of fresh produce. Initially, you may get the impression that this is a convenient food shop, located at the crossroads of Clayburn Road and the Abbotsford Mission Highway. However, Lepp Farm Market is unexpectedly much more than just a grocery store. The family-owned and operated market is the natural union of Rob Lepp’s farming expertise and Charlotte Lepp’s foodie flare. Together, their focus is on sharing fresh farm direct products and local food experiences. One would be hard-pressed to find a couple that is more passionate about farm-to-table goodness than Rob and Charlotte Lepp. The duo brings together a variety of elements to achieve a quality, locally grown, field-to-fork environment all on its own. Their love for farmed products is rooted in their families, both sides farming in the Fraser Valley since 1948 raising cattle, hogs,…

Cafés March 23, 2016

Fresh Coffee Along the Brick Roads of Vancouver’s Gastown

By Joyce Chua Vancouver Foodie Tours A stroll around Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood will tell you just how much locals love their coffee. Artisan cafes mark every street corner ready to re-fuel shoppers, wanderers and to tide over diners before their reservations are ready. You won’t find coffee like this in every city, let alone the passionate purveyors in Gastown who live and breathe quality beans. Here’s some places to start: Consider Purebread. The Whistler-born bakery entices patrons with piles (literally) of fresh pastries, cakes, brownies, breads and oversized meringues. Heaven would be envious of how the little bakeshop smells. It’s one of the only places in Vancouver that you’ll find Stumptown coffee – the sweetheart success from Oregon. In Gastown’s iconic Woodward’s Building, JJ Bean Coffee Roasters is simultaneously perfecting French-pressed single-origin coffee and freshly baked goods. With 18 locations in Vancouver, this family business knows the city inside and…

Shops & Markets March 21, 2016

Freshly Crushed All of Oils in Surrey and Langley

by Catherine Dunwoody Any serious food lover knows that not all olive oils are created equal, not by a long shot. As wide in variety and as subtle in nuances for the palette as wine, the Fraser Valley is home to All of Oils, with 2 locations; one in Langley and the other in Surrey. Wife and husband proprietors Kimm Brickman-Pineau and Glenn Pineau carry only certified, ultra-premium extra virgin olive oils (EVOO), plus a number of flavoured oils and balsamic vinegars. “Many of our products are also certified organic and our supplier, Veronica Foods Company of Oakland, California is registered on the Non-GMO Project,” says Glenn. The products are sourced from select, high-quality growers all over the world, some of the Italian balsamic vinegars are aged up to 18 years, and every item sold in the stores, or online, has a complete backstory, referencing when it was made, the country…

Coquitlam March 15, 2016

Rock Your Taste Buds in Coquitlam

By Sheliza Mitha Six tempting restaurants. Countless culinary experiences. One dynamic venue. Welcome to the Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam. A quick tour of the Hard Rock reveals a world of excitement and opportunity – including casino games, fun memorabilia, live entertainment and some remarkable cuisine. Along with slots, about a dozen table games and live shows (think comedy and concerts), you’ll also find innovative and eclectic restaurants with names that include: Asylum, Chip’s Sandwich Shop, Fú Express, Fuel Café, Roadies’ Burger Bar and (because this is a casino after all) The Buffet at Unlisted. With a reputation for world-class dining and experiences, it should come as no surprise that Coquitlam’s Hard Rock Casino – the only one in Canada, by the way – delivers at every turn. Here, each of the seven restaurants is focused on sourcing fresh and local as much as possible. The idea is to satisfy…

Craft Beer March 11, 2016

Steel & Oak Beer Pairings with Local New Westminster Food

By Alexis Baran Meandering up and down the hilly riverside streets of New Westminster is a great way to work up an appetite and a thirst. If you are down to hunt for the perfect local food to pair with locally brewed beer, the walk from restaurants to the neighbourhood brewery with your take-out feast in-hand is a great way to explore the streets on a nice day. Here are pairing suggestions from the crew at Steel & Oak Brewing: Restauraunt: Rivers Reach Food: New West Deli Pizza Beer: Smoked Hefeweizen Daniel Johnston, front of house manager, recommends that the “rich, meaty and savoury pizza is balanced perfectly by our smoky and subtle Hefeweizen. Great pizza and great beer, how could you go wrong?” With all of the meat piled on this pizza – salami, pepperoni, ham, ground beef, and Italian sausage, a smoked Hef is both complementary and refreshing.…

Recipes March 9, 2016

Recipe: Chicken Adobo

By Kulinarya in Coquitlam Ingredients: Chicken (800 grams) Garlic (6-8 cloves) Oil (1/4 cup) Peppercorn (1/2 tbsp) White vinegar (1 cup) Soy sauce (1/4 cup) Bay leaves (2) Rice water Preparation: Slice chicken in pieces Crush and peel garlic Crack the black peppercorns Directions: In a pot, combine the crushed garlic and cracked peppercorn with vinegar, soy sauce, peppercorn and bay leaves. This creates the adobo mixture. Add chicken pieces and enough water to cover the meat. Simmer until chicken is cooked. Remove chicken from adobo mixture and set aside mixture for later. In another heated pan, add oil, garlic. Add chicken and fry until brown. Just when ready to serve, gently pour the adobo mixture. Serve with rice.

Canadian/American March 8, 2016

There’s No Gambling with the Grub at Starlight Casino

By Tim Pawsey Only a few minutes from Richmond, YVR or downtown New Westminster, smart and sparkling Starlight Casino blends a range of dining options with everything from Blackjack to Roulette. If you’re having a tough time leaving your favourite slot spot or roulette table, barely a few paces away, the Buffet at Starlight offers a set price brunch, lunch or dinner, with themed buffets that vary by the day, from Italian to Mediterranean and Mexican. Feeling a need to celebrate those winnings? Cozy in to a booth at the red velvet festooned Redbar Lounge, where you can also cut loose on the dance floor with live entertainment. Adjoining the main casino, expansive Match Eatery & Public House offers a friendly welcome, along with an army of taps, featuring a full spectrum of local and imported brews, as well as good pub fare. Pasta, fish ‘n chips, gruyere stuffed meatballs,…

Shops & Markets March 2, 2016

Le Meadow’s Pantry – A Passion for Preserves in Burnaby and Vancouver

By Kathy Mak In an ideal world, we’d probably all like to make our own preserves; but most of us don’t have the time or the talent. Preserving food requires patience and practice. Making exquisite artisan preserves is an art form, which Geneviève Blanchet has mastered. A cut above ordinary homemade spreads, her handcrafted preserves uniquely capture the vibrant fruit flavours of the seasons by using traditional techniques blended with a holistic approach, wholesome values, and some French flare. When you understand her passion for preserves, you can fully appreciate why so many of us have upgraded our pantry with her remarkable jams, jellies and marmalades. Designing and creating interesting preserves come naturally to Geneviève. Influenced by nature and neighbours that lived off the land in the Quebec countryside, she learned to forage and use healthy ingredients, as well as make jams, at a young age. An early interest in…

Recipes March 2, 2016

Recipe: Orange Rice Pudding

By Geneviève Blanchet, Le Meadow’s Pantry This unctuous rice pudding will bring warmth and comfort on cold winter days. A tart blackcurrant or blackberry jam would work equally well during the summer months. I would substitute the cinnamon and saffron for fresh mint and fresh lemon balm for a cooling effect. INGREDIENTS Jasmine rice (1/2 cup) Sea salt (a pinch) Fresh almond or nut milk (2 cups) Saffron (1 teaspoon) Ground cinnamon (1 teaspoon) Thick-cut orange marmalade (2 tablespoons) Pieces of walnut for garnish Maple syrup or honey for garnish DIRECTIONS Place the rice in a saucepan, cover with cold water and a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and drain. Combine milk and saffron in a saucepan and heat over high heat to a boil. Add the rice, cover, lower the heat to very low, and cook, stirring occasionally so the rice doesn’t…