August 2016 - West Coast Food

Festivals & Events August 30, 2016

BBQ Off the Bypass Sizzles in Langley

By Catherine Dunwoody September 11th should be a fun day when the annual BBQ Off the Bypass competition returns for its 11th year, and includes the Great BC Bake-Off. Free to attend, but with admission donations much appreciated in support of this year’s charitable partner, Tiny Kittens, the event is family-friendly. Teams of BBQ-skilled folks from BC and Saskatchewan, plus our neighbors in the USA including Washington State and Montana, compete for the grand prize of $5,000. That winner qualifies then to compete in the Jack Daniels World BBQ Championships in Tennessee, and the American Royal BBQ in Kansas City. The audience attending gets to reap the rewards right off the grill, sampling slow-cooked meat and vibing to live music. Lover of good Southern-style BBQ? Get ready to witness grill masters show off their culinary talents in the categories of chicken, brisket, ribs, and pork. Returning for its 7th year…

Chef Stories August 29, 2016

Boy With A Knife Carves A Niche In Richmond

by Catherine Dunwoody Here’s some insider’s intel you’ll want to get in on. One of Vancouver’s most sought after catering companies has opened a restaurant in Richmond. Yep, located just on the other side of Knight Street near IKEA, in the business area, Boy With A Knife Catering is serving up lunch – and locals couldn’t be happier. The 55-person full service restaurant has a licensed patio and a grab ‘n go deli serving soups and grilled sandwiches, espresso and pastries. If you’ve ever attended a wedding, corporate event, or party catered by these ‘boys’ – you know how skilled owners Chef Brandon Dac and Sean Fay are. I chatted with Sean recently about their new venture. CD: Tell me about your background, for starters. SF: The business came about pretty organically. Brandon was working for a catering company in the city and I was working a corporate job in…

Where to Eat August 25, 2016

Eat Well on the Cheap: Five Combos under $15 in New Westminster

By Kristi Alexandra Often hailed by locals as the future “little Brooklyn” to Vancouver’s NYC, Downtown New Westminster has undergone significant revitalization in the past few years. Along with it came a new shopping centre, Shops at New West, located right inside the New Westminster Sky Train Station. The transit hub — populated by shops, restaurants and even a movie theatre — has become its own culinary destination, with a plethora of regional cuisines to choose from. We took a trip to the Shops at New West to bring you five food pairings on offer for under $15. Four Tacos & Café Mexicano at Originals Restaurante Mexicano (Pictured above.) For $11.50, Original’s Restaurante Mexicano offers up four traditional-style tacos. You can mix and match your flavours from nine options, including pastor (pineapple marinated pork), Baja Fish (chipotle-crusted tilapia with cilantro and avocado), barbacoa (lamb) and lengua (beef tongue). We washed…

Farms August 23, 2016

Small Batch Hand-Crafted Sips from Fraser Valley Cider Co.

By Catherine Dunwoody Owner Rachel Bolongaro was a chemical engineer for 20 years in Switzerland at a pharmaceutical company, which she claims was “quite useful,” when it comes to running her Fraser Valley Cider business. “I figured that if I could do that I could probably whip up a batch of cider,” she laughs, “I’ve always been a home brewer/winemaker and I decided to take this idea further and start my own cidery.” “There are cideries in the Okanagan and on the Island but nothing here on the Lower Mainland. My engineering training has been invaluable when it came to project managing the construction of the cidery and navigating the regulations and permitting requirements,” she says. “We’ve also been able to engineer most of our own equipment which has saved us considerable amounts in our set up costs. And of course when something goes wrong its super-fun to roll up my…

Craft Beer August 19, 2016

Ascot Beer Cocktails in Vancouver Put a Bit of Class in Your Glass

By Catherine Dunwoody “Put a bit of class in your glass,” so say the creators of Ascot Beer Cocktail Company – a unique new collection of beer cocktails using fresh, natural ingredients that offer the sophistication of a cocktail – as easy as cracking a cold beer. Well known in Vancouver’s bar scene, Nick Devine is the creator of the brand; starting out behind the bar in the famous horseracing town of Ascot (hence the name), then on to tend bars in London and San Francisco, until settling in Vancouver. Here he won Vancouver Magazine’s Bartender of the Year. A partner in Vancouver’s Cascade Company, which owns The Cascade Room, El Camino’s, The Union, Charlie’s Little Italian, as well as Main Street Brewing, Devine, is skilled in designing cocktails for a variety of tastes. “I set out to try bottling liquor-based cocktails years ago, but stalled after encountering logistical problems,”…

Festivals & Events August 16, 2016

Langley’s Fork & Finger Foodie Event

by Catherine Dunwoody Summer in downtown Langley just got even better, especially for food aficionados. On August 27 11am-4pm, downtown Langley’s best restaurants gather in McBurney Plaza featuring exciting demonstrations by local chefs and live music performances to set the tone. Featured culinary on-stage demos like summer grilling, al fresco entertaining, and paella with Chef John Walls are not to be missed. Here’s how it works: you pick up your Fork & Finger Passport in McBurney Plaza, and then collect Passport stamps by visiting participating restaurants to purchase a $5 Sampler. Return completed passports to McBurney Plaza and be entered to win over $1000 Downtown Dollars. Some foodie samplers to whet your appetite? How does gelato with your choice of flavoured olive oil and Maldon sea salt from All of Oils sound? Or a crispy rice lettuce wrap with cured pork, shredded coconut from Naka Bistro Lao & Thai Cuisine?…

Shops & Markets August 11, 2016

Meet the Kidpreneur Behind Rebel Pops – Sold at BC Farmers Markets

By Kathy Mak When most kids are playing and vacationing during their summer break, Jonah Daniels is pursuing his dream of building and running his artisan food business. He is the precocious 13-year-old founder and kidpreneur behind Rebel Pops which are 100% all natural, healthy, homemade, whole fruit popsicles or ice pops made from the finest organic and wild ingredients that are mostly harvested by Jonah and his family. His Rebel team of five family members, based in the Lower Mainland, includes his mom, Roxayn, (ice pops designer) and dad, Jamey. Now in his 3rd year of business, Jonah’s company produces and sells over 80 licklicious handcrafted popsicle flavours. They are primarily sold at the White Rock Farmers Market, Granville Island Farmers Market, and a few other markets from early spring to fall, and are also available for special or custom orders. Rebel Pops are $3.50 for individual ice pops…

Sweets August 10, 2016

Learn how to Pair a Pie at Hilltop Cafe in Langley

By Ashley Lockyer “Decide on a pie, yet?” A voice sings the question while the coffee is topped up. I’m on my second fork-full of an omelette at Hilltop Cafe in Langley, BC. Pie pushing at 8:30am might seem odd elsewhere but here there’s one for every occasion, including breakfast. Despite a sign that has read “home of famous pies” since 1950, slices had been going out of style at Hilltop Cafe for decades. When sisters Andrea Zaiser and Sandy Parley took over in 2011, it became their mission to bring back the pies! It’s been a hit, drawing people far and wide and has even started a food trend for wedding pie instead of cake. These sisters pair pies with meals like sommeliers pair wines with cheese. Andrea offered some advice on what to try when you stop by. What’s best for breakfast? After a hearty, savoury breakfast satisfy…

Coquitlam August 9, 2016

Catch Some Rays at Coquitlam’s Outdoor Patios

By Sheliza Mitha & The City of Coquitlam Whether you’re interested in people watching or simply soaking up some sun, dining al fresco has never been easier or more enjoyable with Coquitlam’s outdoor restaurant patios. All you have to do is settle in, order a cool drink and figure out what to order. Where to go? Here’s a list of some of the city’s best patios for dining and relaxing outdoors: Browns Socialhouse Town Centre Nestled behind Coquitlam Centre, this Brown’s restaurant sits along Glen Drive and presents a perfect opportunity to people watch while enjoying the bustling ambiance and friendly service. #120 – 2950 Glen Drive 604.474.3255 Cactus Club Coquitlam Featuring a generous patio, Cactus Club Coquitlam makes it easy to enjoy the outdoors while still being close to the city’s entertainment district (the Hard Rock Casino and SilverCity Coquitlam are just a few minutes away). #110 – 101…

Cocktails, Wines & Spirits August 4, 2016

Elegant and Intoxicating: An Ode to Classic Cocktails in Vancouver

By Sonu Purhar Fancy infusions, liquid nitrogen and inventive ice… these days, it’s par for the course to find your coupe filled with a (damn delicious) work of art – but let’s not forget from whence they came. Yes, I’m talking about The Classic Cocktail. As with any historical certainty, no one is certain when and where the cocktail originated. What we can agree on is that these stimulating brews traditionally consisted of spirits, sugar and bitters. By the mid-1800s, liqueur had joined as the fourth horseman. And shortly thereafter, the first genuine “cocktails” were born, including our friends the Sazerac, Old Fashioned and Manhattan. If it weren’t for these forerunners, you’d be sipping on bitter bathtub gin. But even now, centuries later, it’s surprisingly difficult to find a really good classic cocktail. Contrary to popular belief, they aren’t easy to make. And that’s reason #562 Vancouver is the best…

Shops & Markets August 4, 2016

White Rock Farmers Market: A Hub for Lower Mainland Growers and Vendors

By Nikki Hillman According to the BC Farmers Market Association, White Rock Farmers Market is the “best large market in B.C.” and once you visit, it’s pretty clear the title is well deserved. While there are the regular items on display such as fresh fruit and vegetables from local farms, artisanal treats, and jewelry, this farmers market offers something a little different. We parked the car on a quiet side street, just a block down from Johnston Ave, and wandered up to the market. As we walked we were serenaded by live music broadcast from an area we couldn’t see and yet it was like the sirens of the ocean calling us. I decided to check out the “T” part of the layout of the market and in the process, my husband went off on his own. At first, it was overwhelming to step into the hub bub, but as…

Festivals & Events August 3, 2016

Giant Food Truck Fest: Columbia StrEAT 2016 in New Westminster

By Kristi Alexandra Quickly reclaiming its reputation as an epicurean locale, New Westminster is set to host North America’s largest food truck fest. Hosting 90 food trucks, 24 shaded patios and six beer gardens, the Columbia StrEAT Food Truck Fest promises to dish out a full-day of chow, drinks and entertainment in the heart of New Westminster’s downtown area. Playing on its tongue-twister of a title and the nature of the foodie affair, the Columbia StrEAT Food Truck Fest is operating under the tagline, “it’s a mouthful,” which will also serve as the event’s social media hashtag #itsamouthful. Now in its fourth iteration, this year’s event cordons off Columbia Street on Saturday, Aug. 20 from 4 to 10 p.m. — and it’s as big as it can possibly get. “This year we’re at 90 [trucks], and it’s basically only because that’s as big as the street is. There wasn’t anywhere…