June 2016 - West Coast Food

Farms June 28, 2016

Guide Yourself Through Burnaby’s Big Bend Farms and Gardens

by Catherine Dunwoody Such a glorious way for any food aficionado to spend some time – exploring all the bounty Burnaby’s Big Bend offers. Burnaby Food First, in partnership with the City of Burnaby and with support from Tourism Burnaby, has just released a self-guided map listing participating farms and nurseries that are opened to the public within Burnaby’s Big Bend area. Talk about buying local. Sustainable food, all grown right in the area, plus Burnaby Food First is offering local workshops on growing and cooking healthy. Fill up your bike basket with the freshest summertime vegetables and fruit around, or pile the family in the SUV and shop big. Soon enough it’ll be pickle and canning season after all, but visit throughout the summer season as the variety will change as produce becomes in-season. Participating farms and nurseries include, Urban Digs, Hop on Farms, Gardenworks at Mandeville, Wing Wong’s…

Richmond June 27, 2016

Eat Your Way through Richmond via the Canada Line

By VisitRichmondBC.com If you feel like eating some of the best Asian food available but don’t have a car, don’t worry! You can hop on the Canada Line Skytrain, Metro Vancouver’s fully-automated rapid transit line that connects travelers to Richmond’s diverse culinary scene. Bring your appetites because this easy-to-navigate self-guided tour is bound to fill you up! Richmond Brighouse Station Located in the heart of Richmond city centre, Brighouse is the first stop on the Canada Line, and it’s also where our tour begins. Your self-guided food tour begins at Pepper Lunch (150-5951 No. 3 Road). With over 200 branches in Asia, this particular Pepper Lunch was the first one to open in Canada. To get there, head for a leisurely stroll north along No. 3 Road for about 1.5 blocks towards Westminster Highway. Located on the west side of the street, you’ll find Pepper Lunch tucked away beside a…

Wineries June 21, 2016

New Westminster’s Pacific Breeze Winery’s Artisanal Approach to Wine

By Kristi Alexandra When wine connoisseurs in BC want a sip of the perfect cabernet sauvignon or a pinch of pinot, they usually look no further than the Okanagan Valley, Canada’s proclaimed wine country. With rolling country hills and miles and miles of ripening vineyards, anywhere from Kelowna to the Naramata Bench to Osoyoos is the prime destination for a carafe of the best wine on offer to British Columbians — or so we thought. Enter Pacific Breeze, Canada’s first garagiste winery located in the most unlikely of settings. Owned by Maurice Hamilton and Frank Gregus, Pacific Breeze sits in an industrial sliver of New Westminster located behind the waterfront quay and a busy set of train tracks, with no vineyard to speak of. “The garagiste concept is very much the idea of being a small, independent operator who doesn’t necessarily own this giant vineyard, but is buying a small…

Street Food June 15, 2016

Coquitlam’s Cheese Street Grill Food Truck

By Catherine Dunwoody Scott Harper watched the movie Chef one night, and the next morning looked in the mirror and said “I don’t want to spend another minute of my life doing anything I don’t love to do.” And added, “one day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” According to his wife Debbie, she laughs and says, “Scott’s a dreamer, he built me a beautiful food truck… I’m the real Chef.” The couple are a secondgeneration family born and raised in Coquitlam, with a strong pull to give back to the local community that supports them. Cheese Street Grill food truck is their baby, and they travel the food truck festival circuit, plus other events and markets throughout the Lower Mainland. What do they serve? Handcrafted grilled cheese sandwiches, seasonal soups, all made with locally sourced, highest quality ingredients. And love. Their “mac…

Shops & Markets June 9, 2016

Try Tasty Plants at Coquitlam Farmers Market

By Catherine Dunwoody Vegans and vegetarians will want to add Sunday visits to the Coquitlam Farmers Market to their calendars, from now until end of October. Jessica Kralj, owner of Tasty Plants, has a love for plant-based foods, and a knack for preparing a variety of delicious dishes, that she sells at the market. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Kralj offers fresh and frozen prepared meals plus brownies, cookies, bars, and snacks. Customers line up for her three bean and quinoa chili, enchiladas, curried chickpeas and cauliflower soup. Sweet tooth? Try the energy bites (2 flavors: dark cocoa-coconut and key-lime coconut), and vegan brownies. Tasty Plants does not use any animal products/by-products, supports BC farmers and suppliers, and is an environmentally friendly business. “There are so many health issues associated with the consumption of meats and dairy, as well as so many people with allergies to these products and not many…

Seafood June 6, 2016

Fish n’ Chips on the Patios of Steveston’s Fisherman’s Wharf

By Jaclyn Jularbal The Steveston Fisherman’s Wharf in Richmond boasts an amazing view of the Fraser River and it’s also home to some of the best fish and chips around. Whether you’re a cod, halibut, or even a prawn fan – the deliciously deep-fried choice is up to you. In rain or shine, for here or to go, the wharf is open year-round to serve you up some world-famous eats. Pajo’s 12351 3 Ave, Richmond, BC One of the most recognizable, long-standing places along the wharf is Pajo’s. Having been around for over 30 years, its yellow banner and unique dock-style entranceway has been a staple in Steveston for decades. Don’t let the lineup of people fool you, the cooks and counter clerks are speedy and the food is worth the wait. Ask anyone in line and they’ll be able to attest that what they’re waiting for is fish-and-chip perfection. Pajo’s…

Thai June 1, 2016

Bangkok Comfort Food and Canadian Diner Favorites at Surrey’s Snak Shak

By Lenée Son Anyone who has been Thailand can tell you how significant food is to Thai culture. Particularly in Bangkok, food is a social affair and both locals and tourists alike can be found in the lively city enjoying and sharing food – and you can get a taste of the dishes they share in Surrey. From the crack of dawn to all hours of the night, the streets of Bangkok are constantly stirring with street vendors. Food is the social glue in Thai culture, and dishes are made to share with friends and family. Whether it’s a steaming pot of joke (Thai rice congee) for breakfast, fresh fruit for a mid-day snack, a bowl of Gang Dang (red curry) for lunch, or heaping plate of pad kee-mao (drunken hot and spicy noodles) after a night out, Thai dishes are a social occasion. In Surrey, many of these Bangkokian…

Recipes June 1, 2016

Recipe: Bangkokian Pad Thai

By Snak Shak in Surrey Kathy Thongprasert, daughter of Snak Shak owners Jeerya and Supakan Thongprasert, says her dad’s Pad Thai is her absolute favourite. “It reminds me of home and it’s very flavorful.” Read Snak Shak’s story here. INGREDIENTS Dried flat rice noodles (1 package or 12 ounces) Palm sugar (1/2 cup) Distilled white vinegar (1/2 cup) Crushed chilli (1/4 cup or to taste) Fish sauce (1/4 cup) Tamarind paste (2 tablespoons) Oyster sauce (1 tablespoon) Vegetable oil (2 tablespoons) Protein of your choice (firm tofu, 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, beef, pork, or shrimp, sliced into thin strips) Garlic (4 cloves, minced) Eggs (4) Coarsely ground roasted peanuts (1 cup) Bean sprouts (2 cups) Carrots (1 cup, match sticks) Cabbage (1 cup, finely chopped) Fresh chives (1/2 cup, chopped) Lime (1, cut into wedges) DIRECTIONS To soften noodles, place rice noodles in a large bowl and cover…