August 2017 - West Coast Food
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August 2017

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Sweets

Must-Visit Richmond Bakeries

By VisitRichmondBC.com Who doesn’t want to consume their weight in baked goods? This list of delicious, must-visit bakeries will make you want to throw out your diet, even if just for one day. Go ahead and indulge – try out these six bakeries – three Asian bakeries and three European/North American ones, all located in sunny Richmond, BC. Chinese Bakeries Lido Restaurant 4231 Hazelbridge Way Apparently, pineapple buns are a really big deal around here. Ask just about anyone who has lived in Richmond for any substantial period of time and, assuming that this person is reasonably up to snuff on Hong Kong style bakeries, they’ll tell you that Lido is king of the pineapple bun. Trays of these buns are brought out every 15 minutes, all day long. Bite into a deliciously fresh, hot bun with a slab of butter in the middle and you’ll see what we’re talking…

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Recipes

Recipe: Gluten-Free Matcha Coconut Squares

By Sophia and Andy Chen, Soffee Café DRY INGREDIENTS Gluten-free flour (1 1/4 cup or 160g) Xanthan gum, if already not present in gluten free flour​ (1 tsp) ​Almond flour (3/4 cup or 95g) Organic coconut shred (3/4 cup or 95g) ​Baking powder (1 tsp) Salt (1/8 tsp) Organic coconut sugar, or alternative preference (1 cup or 130g) Cooking grade Matcha powder (3 tbsp) White chocolate chips (1/2 cup or 65g) WET INGREDIENTS Large eggs (2) Butter, melted (1/2 cup or 110g) Vanilla extract (1 tsp) OPTIONAL TOPPINGS Coconut shreds (3/4 cup or 95g) Chopped walnuts (1/2 cup or 65g) DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350° 2. In a large bowl sift to combine dry ingredients 3. In a small bowl combine wet ingredients 4. Add wet to dry ingredients 5. Add coconut shreds, white chocolate chips and walnuts 6. Pour batter into a 7X7 baking dish (greased or line…

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Cafés

Vancouver’s Soffee Café Serves Up Afternoon Tea with a Difference

By Kathy Mak After a spot of shopping in the vibrant South Granville strip of Vancouver, step around the corner to find Soffee Café, a dining haven nestled away on a quiet side street. Behold one of the city’s more laid-back, cozy afternoon tea experiences.  You’ll feel right at home in this quaint parlour-style café serving a tempting selection of handcrafted sweet and savoury fare, along with Afternoon Tea services done differently. What makes Soffee Café memorable is its relaxed charm and enticing array of in-house made food.  Step inside and you’ll discover comfy interiors adorned with antiques aplenty and an eclectic mix of flowery china.  You’ll quickly settle into this inviting space that feels more like an intimate living room than a café. The vintage ambiance sets the scene for an elegant, but unpretentious, afternoon tea experience that forgoes etiquette for a fresh twist on a posh tradition.  There…

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Adult Beverages

Double Gold Medal Winner: Surrey BC’s Central City Queensborough Gin

By Catherine Dunwoody This year, Central City Brewers + Distillers was the only Canadian brand to take home a double gold medal at the recent 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, beating the likes of Bombay Sapphire Gin, Tanqueray and other worldwide heavy hitters in the gin category. Which spirit took it home? Central City’s very own Queensborough Gin that’s what, and we couldn’t be more proud of them as a Surrey, BC company. “We are very proud of this award as we’ve been working diligently on our gin since we launched our distillery in 2013. The high alpine juniper and the expertise of our distiller, Stuart McKinnon, made all the difference,” says Darryll Frost, president and founder at Central City Brewers + Distillers. Queensborough Gin is a premium, handcrafted small batch dry gin, rooted in a 17th century traditional London Dry recipe with a modern day Canadian twist. Notes…

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Surrey

Scenic Cloverdale Hotspots in Surrey, BC

By Brittany Tiplady Best known for the annual Cloverdale Rodeo, Cloverdale is a sub-division of Surrey that’s charming beauty has made it the setting for several fictional TV towns and movie sets. But inside the doors of this quaint setting of potted plants and upkept brick facades is bright modern cuisine and craft beer. What’s special about Cloverdale is its small-town charm within a rather large city. Dining options are a no brainer: for dinner with your family, celebrating a new job, or maybe just a weekend date night, The Vault is the place to go. If you’re looking for a casual meal and a healthy selection of craft beer, it’s gotta be Hawthorne Beer Market. Both of these popular joints are owned by Aaron Hotell, a local restauranteur who has found the secret recipe to owning and operating lucrative, busy, and quality restaurants in a tight-knit community. The downtown…

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Where to Eat

Where to Get Vegan and Gluten-Free Ice Cream Treats in and Around Vancouver

By Catherine Dunwoody Ice Cream has blown up on Canada’s West Coast and charming new shops and parlours are popping up all over. But what about the folks who have allergies, sensitivities or make choices not to eat gluten or dairy? And who doesn’t like a cooling, sweet, creamy treat? Fret not folks, I did the research for you! Here’s my list of the best, where to go for it, and what to taste.  La Glace Try: Most ice creams here are gluten-free so, if you are as well, skip the cone and get a cup. Top your treat with a marshmallow or meringue (also gluten-free). Vegans and the lactose-intolerant will love the Chocohuete, which is made with peanut butter and dark chocolate. It’s dairy-free and made with their own made-in-house cashew milk base. Vancouver Kokomo Try: This is the only place in Canada that serves Cocowhip, a vegan and…

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Farms

Late Season U-Pick Berries Near Vancouver, Canada

By Kristi Alexandra Is there anything sweeter than the fruits of your own labour? U-pick berry farms in the Lower Mainland would attest there isn’t. While abundant rain at the end of a long winter had many farms opening their picking seasons a little late this year, the results are still oh-so-sweet. With a shortened growing season, farmers are seeing strawberries and blueberries as a bounty of fresh-picked treats. We visited a few farms to find out where you can gather a basket of your own before the season’s over. Please note that availability of berries is subject to weather and crops may end early, or be extended. It’s best to contact the individual farms to determine availability of your favourite berries. Krause Berry Farms 6179-248th Street, Langley U-pick, a winery, fresh-made waffles, and a kids’ farm – is there anything this farm doesn’t have? Set on 200 acres of…

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Shops & Markets

North Vancouver’s Nourish Market Offers a Local Connection to Food

By Kristi Alexandra There’s a homey vibe when you step into Nourish Market on Vancouver’s North Shore. With crates of fresh produce greeting you at the door, a quiet dining enclave in the corner, and a few rows of neatly arranged grains and bottles, the small mom-and-pop grocery shop is no big box store. Tucked into the pristine Lynn Valley Village, it’s not even the wholesome facade of high-end, organic grocers. Unpretentious, healthful, and local, a trip to Nourish Market evokes friendly feelings of visiting a neighbour to break bread. “A lot of folks, like us, are tired of the impersonal big box and chain stores. They are looking for a deeper connection to their food and their community. We offer a curated collection of the best of what local producers and artisans have to offer,” says founder Jeff Proseilo. Proseilo and his family opened up shop in 2011, and…

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Canadian/American

Vancouver’s Tuc Craft Kitchen Summer Menu is All About Local

One of Vancouver’s favourite Gastown restaurant & bars brings in local food producers from areas all over Canada’s West Coast as key ingredients in their menus. Tuc Craft Kitchen’s summer menu is food that needs to be shared. Chef Roy Flemming has brought his A-game to the table, with dishes like these: Pork Curado Curado is a Latin term for “cured”, and this pork from Gelderman Farms in Abbotsford are raised ethically, and then Chef brines, braises, and roasts the meat including the skin to get it extra crispy. The result is a tender/crispy dish where a little goes a long way. Seafood Tamarind Bisque This bisque is based on a Thai soup recipe with loads of tamarind, sour orange, dried shrimp paste, and curry. “This summer we’re serving ours with local catch (depending on what’s freshest – could be rockfish, ling cod, steelhead, or halibut)” says Chef Flemming. Throw in…

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Sweets

Burnaby’s “Bubble Tea Way”

By Brittany Tiplady It goes without saying that Burnaby is the epi-center for Bubble Tea lovers. With bubble tea restaurants and cafes a plenty, the local options are endless, and can be somewhat overwhelming. Here are some choice stops on Burnaby’s “Bubble Tea Way,” a summation of local hot spots serving the popular beverage.  Bubble World-Burnaby 4300 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 1Z5 11 am-2 am  This sought after location, often appeals to late-night crowd, serving both sweet and savory dishes and beverages. Pearl Castle Café 4429 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 2A1 11 am-12 am  Tucked away in Old Orchard Shopping Centre, Pearl Castle is an unassuming and quaint spot, specializing in Taiwanese tea and offering over 100 flavours of specialty beverages. Crystal Mall 4500 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC 9 am-9 pm Crystal Mall is a wealth of great bubble tea spots. We suggest TMix (unit 1696), Tea Plus (unit 21220, Café…

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