Megan Halkett, Author at West Coast Food - Page 14 of 28
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Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver

9 Places to Dine in Blooming Nature this Spring around Vancouver

By Jenni Sheppard Springtime is a magical season in Metro Vancouver, as gorgeous clouds of pink and white blossoms burst forth from cherry trees across the region. Metro Vancouver’s streets are lined with more than 43,000 glorious plum and cherry trees, many of which were gifts from Japan after WWII. Nowadays, these extraordinary trees and their joyous petals are springtime symbols of romance, renewal, inspiration, and change. And where better than in a natural setting to spend a long lunch or a dinner date? Here’s our guide to 9 perfect spots to dine surrounded by blushing blooms and emerald canopy. Minami Flowering wisteria grows over the Yaletown patio at Minami in Vancouver, while diners enjoy an upmarket combination of Japanese and West Coast cuisine, including sushi, sashimi, and nigiri. During cherry blossom season, you’ll also be able to try a special menu of culinary creations named after sakura, the Japanese…

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Ancora Vancouver Cerviche
Metro Vancouver Chef Stories

Two Chefs, Two Locations: Ancora Chefs Share Their Passion for Food in Vancouver

By Catherine Dunwoody Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio in False Creek Vancouver wowed the city with it’s Peruvian-Japanese influenced seafood and now The North Shore’s Ambleside is home to the new, second location. We chatted with both chefs to get the goods on their own stories. Ricardo Valverde is the executive chef at Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio, Ambleside, Vancouver’s North Shore. Raimund Hauser is the chef de cuisin at Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio in False Creek, Vancouver. Where were you born? Ricardo: Lima, Peru Raimund: On the Rhine River in a little town named Neuwied in Germany. When I was 10 years old, I moved to the medieval village of Bad Waldsee. What was food like in your growing up household? Ricardo: I can honestly say we had a very balanced diet growing up in Peru. Fresh vegetables were always from the farmer’s market and we ate lots…

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More to Do

Vancouver Attractions Pass

VancouverAttractions.com offers a choice of 21 diverse activities including galleries, museums, sightseeing and outdoor adventures.  Featuring Vancouver’s top attractions, including Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain, as well as the world renown Museum of Anthropology and 5 top notch gardens.  Book in advance, on line, and  you can save as much as 35%. www.vancouverattractions.com Downtown Vancouver Got just one day in Vancouver?  You can easily explore these three experiences and capture the essence of our city and culture.  This suggested itinerary of attractions includes a Harbour Tour with Harbour Cruises, a visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery and a romantic evening visit to the Vancouver Lookout.  Two adult guests will save 25% or $36 on this package when they book on line. Gardens of Vancouver Known for our abundance of green space, these four city gardens not only capitalize on Vancouver’s temperate rainforest climate to thrive but celebrate our diverse culture and…

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Bees Knees Microgreens White Rock
Craft Food Products in Metro Vancouver

Get Fresh with Bees Knees Microgreens in Surrey and White Rock

By Kristi Alexandra Fine diners, ethical eaters, and locavores alike can find common ground in Bees Knees Microgreens. While many revere the farm-to-table culinary trend, South Surrey-based entrepreneur and grower Samantha Stewart does one better by providing local chefs with fresh microgreens grown in their own backyard. Literally. “My house in White Rock has a small greenhouse,” Stewart tells WestCoastFood. “It’s an old glass greenhouse from the sixties, so, for [my] first season, I was able to grow out of that greenhouse for the market.” Talk about homegrown. Bees Knees Microgreens sprouted at the White Rock Farmer’s Market just a couple years ago where Stewart retailed microgreen varieties and mixes. Now, the small business supplies select local eateries with microgreens, along with catering and events. Sunflower and pea shoots, along with arugula, radish, and broccoli microgreens were among Bees Knees’ regular offerings at the market. “From there, I made some…

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Le Marché St. George, Vancouver, Canada
Cafés in Metro Vancouver

Home and Away at Vancouver’s Hidden Gem: Le Marché St. George

By Wade Kinley On a late weekend visit to Le Marché St. George, we shared the long table with two women who gazed about the cozy interior as they cupped their lattes in both hands. “Imagine if you lived in this neighbourhood,” one of the women said. “And this was your spot.” Indeed, it is the way this café-cum-general store makes you feel. Like that bistro you stumbled into on your first morning in Paris, or that bodega on your last night in New York. Like you are out in the world and at home all at once. Tucked into the bottom of a two-story mismatched-shingled building at 4393 St. George St, the café has captured the hearts of its Kensington neighbourhood, in part by fostering a feeling it’s been here as long as its hundred-year-old building, not just a near decade. Dark green paint that’s chipping on corners and weathered…

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Dining in Metro Vancouver

Pair Your Ski or Snowshoe Day with Alpine View Dining at Grouse Mountain

By Matt Law It’s no secret that great food is made even better by a great experience. Taste, like scent or sound, is tied to memory. At Grouse Mountain great food and great experience come hand-in-hand, and although it’s warming up in the city, up on the mountain it’s still snowy white. Whether you’re seeking a mountain-top outdoor adventure, a fun-filled day with the family, or a romantic dinner in a five-star restaurant with one hell of a view, Grouse Mountain provides. After taking the Skyride to the Peak of Vancouver it’s a choose-your-own-adventure wonderland. You can begin with some of the mountain’s activities like snowshoeing, outdoor ice skating, or take a snowcat-powered sleigh ride. If you came for the food and only the food head straight for Altitudes Bistro or The Observatory restaurant. Altitudes Bistro offers traditional pub fare like chicken wings, a BC organic beef burger, or their…

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Japanese

Dine and Drink in Vibrant Colour at Sushi King George in Surrey

By Kristi Alexandra Just a stone’s throw away from Surrey Central Station is one of the most inventive sushi joints you’ll find south of the Fraser. With presentation that pops and fish so fresh you’d think it had been caught today, Sushi King George certainly lives up to its royal allusion. The food’s not the only thing that’ll keep crowds coming back, though. We tried on the eatery’s inventive cocktail menu along with a few dishes. Here’s what we ate. Get started with a house-made sake cocktail. Pictured are the Pina Colada and the Blue Hawaiian made with sake in place of rum. The Samurai is made with 2oz of sake, soda and grenadine syrup. The starter platter has edamame, takoyaki, korroke, and gyoza. ($10.50) The Spicy Heaven Roll above is spicy tuna on top of California Roll with spicy and unagi sauce ($10.95). The Hawaiian Roll above is cream…

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Barrique Restaurant White Rock Vancouver
Metro Vancouver Chef Stories

No Need for a Menu When You Trust the Chef at Barrique Kitchen in White Rock

By Brittany Tiplady Barrique Kitchen and Wine Bar is only one year old, and yet, it’s impression on Metro Vancouver is already long-lasting. Owner, operator, and chef, Josiah Tam, has created a generous, warm, and delicious environment at Barrique that lends to an unforgettable meal and a truly memorable experience. Tam, (previously the sous chef at UBC’s the Nest), trained Le Cordon Bleu and tucked nearly a decade of industry experience under his belt before taking the plunge and opening Barrique last winter. After dining out frequently in Vancouver while living in the suburbs, Tam realized it was time to open something more his style right at home in White Rock. Thus began the journey of Barrique, an upscale casual modern French bistro and Tam’s first foray as a chef/owner. The food menu pays homage to Tam’s training in classic French cuisine with a contemporary flare. The wine menu is…

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Chocolate, Sweets, and Baking around Metro Vancouver

Sweet Beginnings at Cakes ‘n Sweets

By Sonu Purhar Cakes n’ Sweets is packed. Situated at Creekside Village, two blocks west of Coquitlam Centre Mall, the cozy café is rife with the intoxicating scent of vanilla, cinnamon and sugar. Each customer is seated in front of a mouthwatering dessert: strawberry and lemon macarons, salted caramel cupcakes, mango mousse… and cake. Oh, the cakes! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cakes n Sweets (@cakesnsweets_) on Oct 31, 2017 at 8:30am PDT Owner Shiela De Villa works the counter, chatting easily with customers ordering custom cakes–-her specialty. Weddings, birthday parties, retirement celebrations, every occasion under the sun deserves a showstopping dessert, and Shiela is determined to send each client away with the cake of their dreams. Cakes ‘n Sweets is a popular place, but it wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for Shiela’s kids. You see, she spent nearly two decades…

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South Castle Korean in Vancouver, Canada
Korean

Soup’s On at this Korean Hidden Gem: South Castle on Vancouver’s North Shore

By Wade Kinley If we weren’t looking for it, we might not have found it. Even then, we almost didn’t. In a little retail complex that blends into the space between the rest of the progress on 2nd Street in North Vancouver, tucked away under signs for other businesses, sits South Castle Korean. A tiny sign in otherwise black tinted window, the only suggestion of the bustle happening inside. When we showed up on a sunny Sunday afternoon, an easy walk from the Lonsdale Quay where the Seabus brings you from downtown Vancouver, the business next door had been closed and emptied, so that we thought for a minute that we had left it too late – had they gone out of business? Quite the opposite. Inside the little room of no more than 30 seats, every one of them was full of happy lunchers slurping soup and digging into…

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Cafés in Metro Vancouver

An Expert Guide to Choosing Your Perfect Coffee Roast

By Jenni Sheppard Whether you yearn for a single strong cup of coffee to start your day or you’re a caffeine addict who loves touring espresso cafes, we have one question for you–which coffee roast do you prefer? The answer might not be as simple as you think. Around Metro Vancouver, it’s fair to say we’re spoiled for choice with so many specialist coffee shops and roasters around town. One of these is Spent Grounds Coffee Roasters, a coffee bean roastery and tasting bar in Surrey, BC. Spent Grounds focuses solely on hand-crafted, hand-poured coffee that is freshly roasted weekly at their facility. To learn more about how to choose the perfect coffee roast, we spoke to Spent Grounds owner, Karen Lopez. What kind of coffee roasts do you produce? “We have light, medium and dark roasts available by the cup or by the bag. The Ethiopian is roasted light…

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Craft Food Products in Metro Vancouver

Baker Jenna Perreault Makes Gluten-Free Taste Truly Delish in Port Coquitlam

By Catherine Dunwoody Jenna Perreault has a secret weapon. There’s a reason why her aptly named Delish Gluten Free Bakery in Port Coquitlam has folks from all over flocking to it. The top-secret weapon? Perreault’s grandmother’s gluten-free flour blend that took her 20 years to perfect. See what having celiac disease, and being a lover of baked goods will inspire a person to do? Jenna’s taken that flour blend and uses it to create everything from fluffy focaccia, to dense chewy fudge brownies, to pies with buttery crusts that would fool any discerning palette to believe these pastries surely must contain gluten. As a food writer, and being diagnosed with celiac disease just two years ago, I have tried every gluten-free bakery I can, usually with disappointing results. Textures like sandpaper, or Styrofoam is my motto generally – until I discovered Delish. I chatted with chef/owner, and new mom, Jenna…

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Black Pepper Jam by Trevor Bird - image by Kristi Alexandra
Craft Food Products in Metro Vancouver

Top Chef Trevor Bird Puts his Passion in Preserves

By Kristi Alexandra Chef Trevor Bird is an exceptionally hard man to track down, but you can blame his busy schedule on his ambition. The restaurateur has many titles: owner of Fable Kitchen, which founded Fable Diner; co-founder of MeatMe, a high-quality meat delivery service; caterer; husband; father; and most recently, preserve maker. Bird earned his chops in several kitchens, but his name may be best recognized in family living rooms from his time on Top Chef Canada season two, and then again on Top Chef Canada: All Stars. From there, Vancouverites with farm-to-table tastes (Bird’s modus operandi) may have been following along with Fable Kitchen, the Kitsilano restaurant that opened in 2012. When WestCoastFood finally reached Bird, he was quick to explain that he’s going to replace busy-ness with passion for the rest of the year. “In 2019, I’m really trying to dial everything back and concentrate on certain…

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Temper Chocolate Vancouver Canada
Metro Vancouver Chef Stories

Chef Steven Hodge Talks Chocolate and Baking

By Catherine Dunwoody West Vancouver’s best-kept secret is the bright, airy Temper Café, specializing in European pastries, cakes, and chocolates. Every bite at the café is freshly made in-house by pastry chef / owner Steven Hodge. We got the goods on Temper and  interviewed Hodge himself. Where were you born? Steven Hodge: London, Ontario What was food like in your growing up household? Steven: We are Croatian so mom would always make traditional Croatian food for the family. Did you cook at home during your childhood? Steven: Yes, all the time! Every night I cooked with my mom, and we would bake pies and desserts all the time.  We never went out for dinner. Where did you study culinary and when? Steven: California School of Culinary Arts, when I was 21 years old. Most rewarding experience in your earlier days? Any mentors? Steven: Working with Pastry Chef Regis Negrier in…

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Cheap Eats around Metro Vancouver

The Happiest Hours in Richmond

By Wade Kinley Stretching out along the picturesque Fraser River, it’s not hard to cozy up to good drink next to a stunning waterfront view in Richmond. These four happy hours make it even easier to while away the afternoon, plotting an escape on one of the jets overhead as they come and go from nearby Vancouver Airport, YVR. Cavu A short hop from the airport recently ranked “best airport in North America” by SkyTrax, it’s no wonder that Cavu takes their name from old pilot jargon. “Cavu” is a term used to express the perfect conditions for flying, but it could just as well describe an ideal place to unwind after work. Happy hour here runs 3 to 6 PM, Monday to Friday, and boasts an impressive selection from Chef Alex Hancock’s signature menu. Expect your favourites–with a twist. There’s BBQ wings, sweetened with a cilantro honey, or a…

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Sweets

A Cup For Every Palate at the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival

By Kristi Alexandra From sweet to savoury, and spirited to sinless, there’s a cocoa-inspired cup for every desire during the 9th annual Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival. Running January 19 all the way up until February 14, the Hot Chocolate Festival celebrates a near-decade of turning cold, grey west coast winters into a scrumptious scavenger hunt. We might even venture to agree with the festival’s motto: “Hot chocolate makes you happy!” Blame it on the dopamine. Whether you’re in the pursuit of happiness, or the hopeless romantic in you is searching for the ultimate Valentine’s Day lead up, there are 74 different hot chocolate flavours to keep your tastebuds satisfied over the next month. We’ve put together a list of cocoas on the top of our list across Vancouver, North Van and Burnaby that are sure to please every palate. Vegan Friendly Cruelty-free cocoa lovers rejoice. You’ll find a sinless sip…

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Cheap Eats around Metro Vancouver

The Happiest Hours in Coquitlam

By Wade Kinley Strolls along the Fraser River, a burgeoning arts and culture scene and new craft breweries popping up all the time, there’s plenty of reasons to hop the SkyTrain on the Evergreen Line and head out to Coquitlam. You can also add a great selection of happy hours to that list; here we present four of the happiest hours in Coquitlam. John B Neighbourhood Pub You can get an early start at the John B, a popular Coquitlam watering hole since 1978. Happy hour here starts at 2 pm and runs until 6 every day (not only that, you can enjoy similar deals on their Night Owl Menu that starts at 10 pm, Sunday to Wednesday). Premium highballs are only $3.50 while a “true sleeve” of draft beer is $4. House wine is $5.50, or get yourself a signature JB Root Beer for $4.75. You’ll need a thirst…

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Paul Grunberg of Salvio Volpe in Vancouver, Canada
Metro Vancouver Chef Stories

Paul Grunberg’s Italian Restaurants offer Immersive Atmosphere and Culinary Tradition in Vancouver

By Brittany Tiplady When I call Paul Grunberg for our interview it’s obvious that he’s in the throws of a lunch rush. “I’m so sorry, can I call you back in 45 minutes? 30 minutes?” he asks, raising his voice amongst the fray of voices, and dishes clanging. Less than half an hour later, we resume. I’ve been doing this job for a while, and I’ve gotten used to the usual shtick when interviewing a very busy person; it can be frustrating at worst, and tricky at best to capture the attention of your subject when their entrepreneur brain is focused elsewhere. I expected to have to fight for Grunberg’s attention over the phone, but to my surprise he was warm and pleasant and delightfully attentive. Much like his restaurants. If you’ve ever been to one of Grunberg’s establishments, you’ll agree that it’s fair to say the man is kind…

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Hot Pot in Vancouver
Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver

5 Hot Spots for Hot Pots in Metro Vancouver

By Kristi Alexandra Spicy, creamy, fishy, meaty. Throw in cabbage, leafy greens, eggs, wontons, mushrooms, ginger, thin-sliced meats and whatever else your heart (and tastebuds) may desire. There’s no shortage of customizations when it comes to hot pot, the meal you go out for and yet cook yourself. Made through a Chinese cooking method of preparing your food at the dining table, hot pot is an interactive meal made for group dinners on cool days. While a simmering soup base (spicy, creamy or vegetable, depending on the restaurant) is kept boiling, ingredients are thrown into a pot and cooked at the table. We found Metro Vancouver’s top 5 Hot Pot spots so you can cook and chow down at the same time. Pearl Hot Pot – Burnaby 7154 Sperling Ave, Burnaby 15 minute in walk from Edmonds SkyTrain Station Step right up and sit down for a group session at…

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Recipes

Recipe: Kipferl Cookies

By Thomas Haas Chocolates & Patisserie Kipferl cookies originated in Austria and are traditional in Germany, Czech, Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary. Makes approx. 2 dozen cookies. INGREDIENTS Cookies Soft unsalted butter (2/3 cup) Icing sugar, sifted (1/3 cup) Ground almonds (1/2 cup) Bread flour (1 cup) Vanilla bean (1) Salt (a pinch) Vanilla sugar Vanilla Sugar Granulated sugar (4 cups) Used vanilla pod from the cookie dough DIRECTIONS Cookies 1. In a mixer fitted with a paddle, mix the butter, icing sugar, and salt till smooth at medium speed.  Scrape the sides of the bowl frequently to prevent lumps. 2. Split the vanilla bean in half and scrape to remove the seeds.  Reserve the pod for later use.  Add the seeds to the butter mixture and mix till thoroughly combined. 3. Whisk together the bread flour and ground almonds.  Add all the dry ingredients into the butter-mixture and mix on…

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Festivals & Events

Re-Charge your Holiday Delight with Snacks at Glow in Langley

By Natalie Marcotte Whether you’re a fan of winter weather matters not at Glow, an immersive festive display of over 500,000 lights under the protective cover of a massive greenhouse in Langley. Work up an appetite exploring the light gardens and traversing the musical light tunnel, and then have your pick of food from the Christmas market, food trucks, and of course, a bar for the adults. A must-try for the kids is a festive lightbulb drink will re-charge the kids between a gift scavenger hunt and snowing bubbles, and allow you to explore the marketplace of boutique wears, decorations and locally made goods. Grab your flashing cranberry drink from Donners’ Bar in a re-usable lightbulb for $8. The outside food truck courtyard features wood-fired pizza, Greek food, tornado potatoes, kettle corn, mac n’ cheese and baked potatoes including a holiday dinner complete with turkey, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce.…

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Metro Vancouver Chef Stories

Chef Dan Leung and Wanda Lai: Behind the Global Fusion Cuisine at Vancouver’s The Rise Eatery

By Kathy Mak For chef Dan Leung, the unexpected road to a successful catering and restaurant business started as a teenager. Leung’s first restaurant industry job was in the kitchen of Vancouver’s legendary Elbow Room Café.  The job, he says, sparked his interest in food and cooking. After a sharp career detour to the field of electronics, Leung circled back to follow his true calling as a professional chef.  He graduated from Dubrulle Culinary Institute (now The Art Institute of Vancouver) and gathered experience at various restaurants and caterers before starting his own catering company, Danz Gourmet, with wife Wanda Lai in 2003. Fittingly, Leung’s desire to expand his culinary ingenuity led the husband-and-wife duo to open their restaurant–The Rise Eatery – in 2017. Located in the well-appointed neighbourhood of South Granville, their unique cuisine champions unconventional, global-fusion which Leung describes as the art of blending and balancing flavours/ingredients despite…

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