January 2022 - West Coast Food

Where to Eat January 31, 2022

Where to Eat for Lunar New Year in Metro Vancouver

By Avneet Takhar They say all good things come at once, and we couldn’t agree more. In celebration of Lunar New Year there are a slew of Chinese-owned and operated places to eat, with specials on. And if you’re opting to stay at home, then HBO’s timely new series: Take Out with Lisa Ling is the ultimate experience to pair your chopsticks with! So, here are our suggestions of where to eat: Chinatown BBQ Not only is Chinatown BBQ putting on take-home feasts to ring in the Year of the Tiger, but they have also teamed up with Beaucoup Bakery for a competition to win some yummy peking duck croissants, see here. Going back to the topic of feasts, you bet I tried one and almost broke out in meat sweats-no JK, but I savoured every juicy bite! I went for the “Good Luck Feast” for 2, a selection…

Where to Eat January 27, 2022

Après Ski, Snowboard or Snowshoe on Vancouver’s North Shore

By Brittany Tiplady Mount Seymour Scratch Kitchen Did you transit to Seymour Mountain, taking the shuttle from Parkgate Community Centre in North Vancouver? Scratch Kitchen is accessible from Parkgate Community Centre, with a trip on the 211 Seymour bus. Fancy a post-mountain date night? Scratch Kitchen is your place. Quaint, cozy, and just a short 20 minute drive from Seymour Mountain, Scratch Kitchen is the loveliest candle lit après spot, ready to serve you artisan pizzas, craft beer, local wines (and so much more!). All of the share plates on Scratch Kitchen’s menu sound delicious (we were torn between the Cauliflower Wings and the Chill Beets), but the Chill Beets hit the spot – fresh, vibrant, and punctuated by the perfect amount of crunch, courtesy of the candied walnuts. The pizza menu is also a doozy, but if you’re a pineapple-on-pizza-person I cannot recommend The Perfect Storm enough. Red sauce,…

Chef Stories January 26, 2022

Chinatown’s Fiorino: Diary of an Opening, Chapter 3, The Menu

By Wade Kinley One can’t cover the opening of a restaurant without discussing the food that is imagined, tried, tested, tweaked and finally served with ever-loving care. Fiorino started as a dream to bring authentic Italian sandwiches to Vancouver but has since blossomed into a pretty happening spot for dinner as well. We spoke with Chef Mario Ruiz about some of the inspiration and endeavour that has gone into some of his favourite menu items. Coccoli and Prosciutto “You’ll find this particular dish on the menu at every trattoria or osteria in Florence. So it was a no-brainer when we were putting together a menu for Fiorino. In fact, it was probably the first thing to go on it. But, it wasn’t actually there for the first few weeks we were open because we import the stracchino cheese direct from Italy and it proved to be more difficult than…

Where to Eat January 24, 2022

5 Delicious Greek Spots in Metro Vancouver

Science has shown that the surest way to brighten one’s outlook is through the palate. This is why we like to have a few go-to options in our back pocket, seeing as Metro Vancouver is full of them. For particularly dreary days, taking a culinary journey to Greece never fails. So have a scroll down, and let’s take a tour through our favourite local spots that have us salivating for souvlaki and pita. Burnaby Sfinaki Greek Taverna Often voted as one of Burnaby’s best places for Greek, Sfinaki has been delighting Metro Vancouver diners for over 25 years with their homestyle recipes. A family business, each member of the flock helps out whether in the kitchen or front of the house, and that sense of tradition and ownership shows. With a menu that could be described as street food meets comfort food, this is a delicious gem to try. 4061 Hastings St,…

Vegetarian & Vegan January 19, 2022

Hearty Vegetarian Comfort Foods

By Avneet Takhar Vegetarians rejoice, we’ve got some hearty dishes for you to try during these chilly months! Stock your stomachs with homestyle foods that are warm and satisfying; there are plenty to choose from. Zarak by Afghan Kitchen Recently opened restaurant with “mum’s recipes” on the menu, Zarak takes Afghan cuisine to an elevated level in intimate surroundings with servers clad in charming traditional waistcoats. There are many veggie plates to try, but I’ll let you in on the ones I tasted and still savour as I write! Having never been to an Afghan restaurant before, this place is making me want to discover more of the food. I went for the leek, scallion and spinach dumplings, topped with chive sprigs and a tomato bean sauce, a great starter to get going. Then for the main: bandejan (Farsi for eggplant), Qabuli palow (rice) and grilled bread. A myriad of…

Where to Eat January 17, 2022

Cafés to Get Work Done on Vancouver’s North Shore

By Avneet Takhar While WFH (working from home) is still the norm in 2022, having a break from working remotely in the makeshift office in your apartment is a great way to get both a change of scenery and some good eats if you pick a local cafe with wifi. These 4 fit the bill: Wild Trails Coffee Mother-daughter-owned, Wild Trails is a 100% plant-based cafe that Hungarian native Katalin Zambo opened with the mission to encourage healthy living through wholesome nutrition. Serving up delectable hot drinks such as hazelnut and cinnamon lattes, with the option of coconut whipped cream and yummy bites like banana walnut muffins and vegan “ham”, “turkey” garlic and pesto, you’ll feel awake and ready for the day of work ahead! 134 14th St E, North Vancouver Transit: 230 or 229 bus, get off at Lonsdale Ave @ E 13th St Shipyard’s Coffee Located in the…

Where to Eat January 10, 2022

6 Date Night Spots For Dine Out Vancouver Festival 2022

By Mark Shelling The new year has arrived, and while it’s sad to look into the rearview mirror, say goodbye to the year that was and reminisce about all the fantastic food we had, it’s important to face forward… towards NEW food. Thankfully we have DineOut Vancouver on the horizon this month to help maintain a high standard of foodie memories. Now in its 20th year, DineOut has been present through more food trends than you can shake a cakepop at. From gourmet sliders, to acai bowls, and who could forget those hors d’oeuvres with the little plastic squeeze bottle thing, where you have to fire a garnish into your mouth… Actually, that’s one memory we’re glad we’ve moved on from. Throughout all these stepping stones though, one thing has remained constant across 20 years: DineOut is the pinnacle opportunity for date nights. Why? Because for two solid weeks a…

Where to Eat January 5, 2022

It’s Soup Season in Metro Vancouver

By Avneet Takhar As the snowy weather continues and temperatures drop; winter’s in full flow and it’s time to revel in “hygge”. The Nordic term for coziness and contentment, whereby hot cups of soup are a must! Here are our top 5 snug spots to cop a cup: Boiling Point 4148 Main St, Vancouver Transit: 3 bus, get off at E 26th Ave on Main With locations in Canada, USA and Japan, Boiling Point is a Tawainese-inspired concept known as the original #wokinabox, and goes against the grain in providing an atypical mix of ingredients in their hot soups. Having personally taste-tested the “House Special”, at a medium spice level containing tofu, pork blood, pork intestine, mushrooms and a sophisticated quail egg my tastebuds were overwhelmed- in the best possible way! The best thing is, it also comes as a trio with a green/black tea and either vermicelli or rice…