October 2022 - West Coast Food

Chef Stories October 27, 2022

Sustainable Cuisine With Two Of Vancouver’s Top Chefs

Sustainable Cuisine with Burdock & Co’s Andrea Carlson and Ono Vancouver’s TJ Conwi By Avneet Takhar We were lucky enough to sit down with two of Vancouver’s heavy hitters and well-known chefs! Andrea Carlon of Burdock & Co – named Vancouver Magazine’s Chef of the Year (2020) and whose vegetable-focused, creative cuisine has earned her recognition as a food artisan. And TJ Conwi, Founder of community-driven collective, Ono Vancouver who supports non-profits for meal programs and provides private dining experiences. They gave their insider advice from vast experience and growth, on how to maintain a sustainable structure in the food industry. For both customers and suppliers, they gave their expertise- an eye-opener to shutting down food myths and identifying opportunities where a few small changes can go a long way. Burdock & Co’s menu seems to focus on plant-based options. What led you to this decision? Andrea Carlson: We try…

Craft Beer October 24, 2022

Vancouver’s North Shore Craft Beer Week is Back

Attention craft beer lovers, head over to Vancouver’s North Shore in November! Vancouver’s North Shore Craft Beer Week is back November 4 to 14 with exciting events at a different brewery, every night. Here’s a roundup of four fun ways to explore one of BC’s most eclectic craft beer scenes and celebrate a little while you’re at it. Launch Party, November 4 Kick the week off right at the Pipe Shop in The Shipyards District, at the gala event of the festival. In one amazing evening by the water, you can get a taste of the North Shore’s finest craft breweries, all the while revelling in live music from local artists Jimi and the Antonio Larosa Trio, plus games and prizes galore. Be sure to pre-purchase your tickets for exclusive early entry and first access to tokens and vendors! What we’re ordering: A very special 2022 Collaboration Brew unveiled that…

Sweets October 20, 2022

Up Your Candy Game Ahead of Halloween

You’re an adult now, and while you may not still be trick or treating (hopefully), it’s time to have a serious talk about candy. If you’re one to commit to cheat days, then it’s worth doing it right. If you’re going to cheat, then cheat well. With Halloween looming, it’s a fitting time to up our candy game, instead of waiting until Nov 1, to pillage the dollar stores for discounted leftovers. If nothing else, these options will introduce you to a whole new world of snacking that is worth circling a few more days on your calendar. *Cover image care of Karameller Candy Shop Steveston Sweet Shoppe What better way to cap a zenned-out stroll by the water than with a mouth full of Pop Rocks? Come crashing back down to Earth and speed towards its sugary core with all manner of extreme sweets on offer. Crack…

Craft Beer October 17, 2022

Tap Into Your Brewing Skills At The BC Beer Conference

Crack a bottle and tap the keg, the BC Beer Conference is about to start pouring! On Nov 8+9, you can join over 220 BC craft breweries in celebrating all the delicious brews of the Lower Mainland. If you’re interested in brewing beer, or are a part of a brewery already, this is a fantastic event to network, learn about new techniques and sample the wares of fellow brewmasters. If you’re more of a beer enthusiast, it’s a great way to discover new breweries, sample seasonal offerings and meet the people behind your favourite taps. Held at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, both days will feature keynote speakers from the industry, educational seminars, and a trade show floor with over 50 vendors. For beer enthusiasts like us, this is a great way to follow your curiosity about something you love. Whether you’re there to meet people, learn about the…

Adult Beverages October 14, 2022

Braggot Brewery & The Oldest Alcoholic Beverage in the World

It’s not quite mead; it’s not quite beer. By Avneet Takhar Located on the North Shore and having opened recently in May 2022, Braggot Brewery holds an impressive title as “the oldest alcoholic beverage in the world”! Creating a unique blend that’s not quite mead, but not quite beer it’s not like anything you’ve ever tasted before. This primeval liquid refreshment dates back to the 12th century and used to be enjoyed by the Vikings and Celtics! The word “Braggot” is where the Norse (Viking language) verb “Brugga” comes from. Brugga means “to brew”, indicating that even for them it was the original brewed beverage. It’s a staple drink for a Sunday meal with the Welsh even to this day and is deemed a snug-like drink for cold nights. As fall is upon us, that couldn’t be more welcoming! At the brewery, they make up the braggot with fermented organic…

Farms October 13, 2022

Pumpkin Patches in Metro Vancouver

For kids, maintaining composure in the lead-up to Halloween can be just as unbearable as trying not to eat the whole advent calendar on December first. I say “for kids” mainly as a misdirect to hide the fact that, as I’m a grown man, with no kids, I’m finding it hard to maintain my composure in the lead-up to Halloween. Thankfully these spooky, fresh-air activities are like a ghostly balm on my impatience as I wait for the calendar to run down. Hazelmere Pumpkin Patch A mainstay of the best autumn events in Surrey, the Hazelmere patch returns with a you-pick pumpkin area, a mini corn maze, a playground area and a wagon ride. Oh, and not to be outdone, there’s plenty of opportunity to interact with the friendly locals of the farm (goats, pigs, peacocks). Food trucks will be on the scene, so stay for lunch and make a…

Chef Stories October 11, 2022

Steveston’s Baan Lao’s Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng

Thai fine dining near the waterfront in Steveston Village By Catherine Dunwoody Recently awarded number 14 in the Best New Restaurants division on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list; Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng is delighted that her fine dining Thai restaurant is being recognized nationally. Chef Nutcha’s multi-course set menus are exceptional, with earthy, highest quality Thai flavours doing a delicate dance around locally sourced produce and proteins. I sat down with Chef Nutcha to chat about the restaurant she opened just a couple of years ago, which has everyone intrigued and has changed the way most of us see Thai cuisine. Chef, how would you describe your health and wellness vision, in general? And how would you say that applies to your cooking at Baan Lao? Growing up in rural Thailand with no electricity, no running water and no refrigeration taught me a lot about the power of fresh, organic food…

Where to Eat October 4, 2022

Dine Out for your Thanksgiving Feast

With Thanksgiving around the corner (October 10 to be exact!), the fall season calls for all the comfort food with trimmings to enjoy with the family! Here are our picks of where to make a reservation and show up! Not a moment in the kitchen is required. By Avneet Takhar The Lobby Restaurant + Lounge Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier, Vancouver’s North Shore A bang-up three-course meal awaits with Okanagan wine pairings (fancy, huh!) at The Lobby, and it’s a rich menu that doesn’t hold back in the least. From lobster bisque to Fraser Valley turkey and slow-roasted prime rib, it’s certainly a feast. And topped off with a pumpkin pie is the cherry on top! P2B Bistro & Bar Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, Vancouver A traditional turkey dinner or sandwich, take your pick at P2B Bistro! For vegetarians, there’s roasted mushroom ravioli and a deep dish apple pie to…