Megan Halkett, Author at West Coast Food

Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver May 8, 2018

Add Live Music to your Dinner with These Lively Spots in White Rock

By Brittany Tiplady Hello, spring, goodbye winter hibernation! If you’re planning your next night out with a date, a loved one, or a group of friends, consider heading to a local haunt that offers live music in-house. There’s something exciting about a meal or drinks paired with the live performance of a band; it feels somewhat nostalgic, interactive, and like a true night out on the town. Stay over in relaxed, beach-side White Rock for a late night out and then a rejuvenating morning stroll by the water. Here are some of our suggestions in White Rock: West Beach Bar & Grill 1101 Elm St. White Rock Known as White Rock’s number one live music venue, West Beach is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Live music is scheduled five night per week, including jams on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. With everything from pub food to share to…

Middle Eastern May 3, 2018

Head to Burnaby for a Little Lebanon at Lougheed

By Sheliza Mitha If you believe that it takes a passport and a trip to the other side of the world to get yourself an authentic chicken shawarma or any handful of Lebanese mezze (starters), you’d be happily wrong. A little bit of Lebanon can be easily found at the Golden Pita, a quick SkyTrain ride away from Vancouver in the Lougheed Mall neighbourhood. With a menu that overflows with authentic Lebanese fare, you won’t know where to start or where to stop. In full disclosure, I am what you would call kind of a regular here. And I’m not exaggerating when I say that I think about my next Golden Pita meal almost as soon as I’ve finished my last bite. Then I diligently pour over my calendar, questioning when I can get my next fix. An addiction? Kind of. Originally opened in 1996, this 22-seat eatery celebrates 22…

Recipes May 1, 2018

Recipe: Ahi Tuna Poke on Shrimp Cracker & Kaiware Sprouts

By Chef Daryle Nagata, Blue Canoe Waterfront Restaurant Richmond’s own Chopped Canada champion, Chef Daryle Nagata is of Japanese and Scottish heritage, and developed his skills in some of the finest hotels in the world. He is a strong proponent of fresh and local and was a grass roots trailblazer in sourcing his ingredients from local farmers, markets, foragers and fishermen. Makes 8 portions. INGREDIENTS Diced Ahi Tuna (16 oz) Sake (3 oz) Light miso paste (2 oz) Sesame oil (1 oz) Rice wine vinegar (1 oz) Ponzu soya sauce – Japanese (1 oz) Water (1 oz) Chopped pickled ginger (1 oz) Togarashi spice (1 tsp) Chopped chives (1 tbsp) Chopped kaiware (daikon radish sprouts) (20 pcs) Bonito flakes (1 oz) Flying fish roe (tobiko) (1 oz) Shrimp crackers (8 pcs) DIRECTIONS Dice Salmon in ½ inch cubes. Toss diced salmon in 3 oz of sake. Reserve covered & refrigerated…

Craft Beer in Metro Vancouver April 27, 2018

Fort Langley Beer & Food Festival Embraces Local in a Big Way

By Catherine Dunwoody If you have ever spent time in BC’s charming Fort Langley then you know that hosting an annual food and beer festival just seems like a natural fit. Be sure and mark your calendars for for May 19th, 2018! Fort Langley’s old-timey streets are a mix of pleasant restaurants, quaint shops and there is a cozy neighbourhood feel that’s hard to capture unless it just comes about organically. The Fort Langley Beer & Food Festival returns for it’s second year for a celebration of craft beer, local food and old-fashioned fun. The festival is the dreamchild of Fort Langley’s own Trading Post Brewing Company and local is the name of the game. So local in fact, that of the 24 breweries participating, the farthest is Mission’s Mission Springs Brewery at 34 km (21 m) and the food is grown and produced in the Fraser Valley. Proceeds will, once again,…

Sweets April 24, 2018

Three Ways Vancouver Restaurants are using Local Honey

By Joyce Chua, Vancouver Foodie Tours Sticky, sweet, and delicious, British Columbia’s honey is an indulgence for food lovers. Each of the over 300 varieties of honey in North America can be a chef’s best weapon, a barista’s secret touch, and home cook’s finest ingredient. Here are three delicious ways you can try local honey in Vancouver: 1. Rain or Shine Ice Cream 1926 W 4th Ave, Vancouver BC The organic floral alfalfa honey from Aldergrove Farm, about 60km east of Vancouver, sweetens the honey lavender ice cream at Rain or Shine Ice Cream. Every scoop also features lavender is sourced from Tuscan Farms in Maple Ridge, BC. Refined and refreshing, the locally grown flavours work perfectly in tandem. 2. Tuc Craft Kitchen 60 W Cordova St, Vancouver BC At Tuc Craft Kitchen in Gastown, their supply of local honey is specially reserved for the cocktail bar. James, an owner…

Metro Vancouver Chef Stories April 19, 2018

Chef Alistair Veen Uses French Inspiration for Laid Back Home Grown Tastes in Surrey, BC

By Catherine Dunwoody Locally born and raised, Chef Alistair Veen worked his way up from dishwasher to Red Seal chef. To get to where he is now at Tap Restaurant in Surrey, BC, his message is simple and humble: It’s about hard work. Where were you born? Alistair Veen: I was born in Langley, BC, many, many moons ago. The rest of my family still lives there. What was food like in your growing up household? Veen: Both my parents worked, so dinner was a lot more function than form. They shared cooking responsibilities, which was pretty unique among my friends. My dad was a make-up-your-own-pasta kind of chef where my mum was more of a cookbook test kitchen. She had recipe cards that were tried tested and true, and she never deviated from them. Once she found a recipe she liked, she stuck with it, and there’s something to…

Recipes April 17, 2018

Recipe: Asparagus and Herb Chèvre Risotto

By Angie Quaale, owner of Well Seasoned “Chèvre and asparagus really should get married! They’re the perfect couple. This recipe tastes like spring to me. The rich earthiness of the asparagus pairs so well with the slightly acidic tang of the fresh chèvre. This is delicious served on its own as a main course or with a green salad. As a side dish, it can really class up a simple oven-roasted chicken. It’s a recipe I’ve been serving variations of for years. Once you have the technique for a great risotto you can really customize the flavors to highlight seasonal ingredients like these or local mushrooms in the fall. Don’t be afraid to experiment with this dish!” INGREDIENTS Asparagus, ends trimmed (1⁄2 lb) Chicken or vegetable stock (3 cups) Unsalted butter (4 Tbsp) Vegetable oil (1 Tbsp) Yellow onion, finely chopped (1⁄2 cup) Arborio rice (1-1⁄2 cups) Milner Valley herb…

Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver April 12, 2018

Where to Get Gravy-Drenched Vegetarian Poutine Around Vancouver

By Kristi Alexandra Newly yoked vegetarians may have a hard time breaking their ties with Canada’s favourite comfort food, but good gravy – going meat-free is no reason to quit poutine altogether! We did the legwork to find the best vegetarian poutines beyond Vancouver so you can split a meal with your meat-eating friends, guilt-free! Bon Appetit, as the French Canadians say. Spud Shack – New Westminster 352-800 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster Breeze into this New Westminster’s poutinerie by way of the Skytrain for a healthy handful of meat-free options. The Spud Shack creates all ten of their poutine dishes with meat-free gravy, including “The Original.” If you’re looking for a few more twists on this classic Eastern Canadian dish, try out The Big V–loaded with vegetarian chili, sour cream, cheese, and green onions. The buffalo chicken poutine also comes with a vegetarian option, complete with Frank’s Hot Sauce,…

Recipes April 10, 2018

Recipe: Chilled Spring Pea Chowder

By Dan Olson, Chef/Owner, Railtown Café and Catering A light spring dish layered with sweet pea puree, shellfish gelée, chowder garnish and potato cream, topped with caviar and a crisp rye crouton. Made with Littleneck clams, Dungeness crab, Side Stripe shrimp, Salt Spring Island mussels, and Northern Divine caviar. Serves 8 appetizer portions INGREDIENTS Spring Pea Purée Freshly-shucked English peas (2 cups) 1 spring onion (white only), julienned 1 clove garlic 1 sprig tarragon heavy cream (1/2 cup) butter (1 tsp) salt and pepper 1 lemon Shellfish Gelée 1 fresh Dungeness crab Live littleneck clams (3oz) Live mussels (3oz) Side striped shrimp, peeled and cleaned (3oz) 1 shallot Chopped garlic (2 cloves) Parsley chiffonade Chive tips White wine (1/4 cup) Butter (1 tsp) Salt Cracked black pepper Carrot (1/2) 1 celery stalk Double-shucked peas (2 tbsp) 1/4 fennel and fennel frond 2 sheets gelatin (bloomed in ice water) Potato Vichyssoise …

Street Food April 5, 2018

Warm Your Belly with These 5 Food Truck Comfort Foods in Vancouver

By Joyce Chua, Vancouver Foodie Tours Spring is a beautiful time to be in British Columbia. While the flowers start to bud, there’s nothing like getting outside in the crisp air, finding one of Vancouver’s tantalizing food trucks and warming up with a piping hot meal. For Vancouver’s crisp spring days, these five food truck comfort foods will warm your soul: 1. Spicy Chicken Sandwich at The Frying Pan This Spicy chicken sandwich is notorious with locals who work in downtown Vancouver. If you love spice, this hefty deep-fried chicken sandwich will bring a pink flush to your cheeks. On those cool spring days, look for cherry blossoms and spicy chicken sandwiches around Burrard SkyTrain station. 2. Roasted Tomato Soup at Mom’s Grilled Cheese Truck It’s always the ideal time of year for a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich from Mom’s Grilled Cheese Truck. If you’re visiting in winter or spring,…

Metro Vancouver Chef Stories April 3, 2018

Chef Andrea Carlson of Burdock & Co in Vancouver Shares Her Story

By Catherine Dunwoody Anyone familiar with Vancouver’s Main Street eatery Burdock & Co knows Chef Andrea Carlson has a vision. And one that you can taste in every delicious bite. She sat down to share her story. What was food like in your growing up household? Andrea Carlson: Low key – we ate out a lot and I fended for myself often with frozen dinners. Did you cook at home during your childhood? Carlson: When I was 13, I picked up a copy of Craig Clairbourne’s New York Times Cookbook at the book store on a whim and started cooking Julia Child’s chocolate mousse recipe and others when we would have company over. Where did you study culinary and when? Carlson: I studied in Vancouver way back in the day at The Dubrulle Culinary School. It was the place to go for a less trade school approach. Was Sooke Harbour…

Chinese March 29, 2018

Richmond Dominates Diners’ Choice in the 2018 Chinese Restaurant Awards

By VisitRichmondBC.com It’s time to get out your chopsticks with the recent announcement of the Diners’ Choice Awards for the 2018 Chinese Restaurant Awards. And, once again, Richmond has come out on top, with twelve of the twenty-one winners forming part of the city’s vibrant dining landscape. Now in its tenth year, the successful Chinese Restaurant Awards aims to recognize excellence in both Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine in Metro Vancouver. The Diners’ Choice Awards were tallied from 35,219 on-line and WeChat votes from the public over the course of four weeks. The results showcase what the Lower Mainland has to offer in terms of exemplary Chinese and Taiwanese dining. Here are the twelve Richmond restaurants that the discerning voting-public thinks you need to try: Best Shanghainese Stir Fry Egg White Suhang Restaurant (100-8291 Ackroyd Road, Richmond) This popular Richmond establishment has won one of the four new dish categories.…

Sweets March 28, 2018

Egg-cellent Easter Treats on the West Coast

by Catherine Dunwoody No excuses – our West Coast palette is refined, so waxy chocolate bunnies, rock-hard jellybeans and Peeps (what are those even made of anyway?) are just plain unacceptable. We can do better. And we do! Here, three of BC’s best chocolate makers show us what’s new for Easter 2018. Wild Sweets By Dominique and Cindy Duby’s Spring limited edition chocolate art collection screams “spring!” with the use of fruits, origin cocoa bean-to-bar chocolate and a palette of spring-like pastel colours. Sophisticated flavours include cassis caramels, pistachio praline and cherry caramel ganache, and a liquid strawberry caramel with dulce de leche. Almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Shop at their online boutique or at Wild Sweets’ own retail store The Atelier Chocolate Lab Gallery in Richmond. Shop at their online boutique or at Wild Sweets’ own retail store The Atelier Chocolate Lab Gallery in Richmond, BC. Purdys Chocolatier is about as old-school…

Recipes March 27, 2018

Recipe: Scalloped Potatoes with Gruyère Cheese

By Dan Olson, Chef/Owner, Railtown Catering This creamy, cheesy side dish is the perfect accompaniment to your Easter or Harvest Festival dinner. Make it yourself, or let the team at Railtown Catering make dinner for you! Place your Easter to-go order by 3pm on Wednesday, March 28 and choose from an entrée choice of honey-glazed bone-in ham or lemon-and-rosemary-crusted leg of lamb and a wide array of homespun seasonal side dishes, salads, rolls and dessert. INGREDIENTS Heavy Cream (1 cup) Milk (1 cup) Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper Russet potatoes (4 lbs) Butter, softened (1 tbsp) Fresh thyme, chopped (2 sprigs) Garlic, minced (2 cloves) Gruyère cheese, grated (1 cup) DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush a baking pan or casserole dish with the softened butter. Sprinkle with minced garlic, chopped fresh thyme, salt and pepper. Peel potatoes, and slice width wise into 1/4” disks. Shingle layer into baking pan or casserole…

Shops & Markets March 23, 2018

Grab a Bite of Ethically and Sustainably Raised Meat at Two Rivers in North Vancouver

By Catherine Dunwoody The award-winning supplier of ethical and sustainable meats sold at some of BC’s best restaurants has opened up shop. It’s a traditional working butchery, complete with a glass-walled dry-age room; a European-style deli and take-away counter; plus a 32-seat, eat-in restaurant. There’s a stylish terrazzo-floor, 2,500 square-foot industrial space and come sunny weather, an additional 16-seat patio where you can get a hearty lunch or share a charcuterie board. Two Rivers Meats selects, prepares and sells only ethically and sustainably raised products from like-minded farms, including Cache Creek Natural Beef, Peace Country lamb, Cheam View Pork, Farm Crest Chickens, Canadian Rangeland bison, Yarrow Meadows Farm duck, and others. Chef Tony Starratt’s kitchen and family-style eatery serves what the Two Rivers brand does so well. Bonus? Guests can dine in and then take home recipe ideas. Try the 60-day dry-aged burger or the rotisserie chicken with hand-cut fried…

Recipes March 15, 2018

Recipe: Chicken Liver Pate

By Chef Dhruv Jhanjee, Tour De Feast INGREDIENTS Chicken livers (1lb) Duck livers (1lb) Heavy cream (1/2 cup) Milk (to soak) Butter, unsalted (250gms) Brandy (1 1/2 cups) Nutmeg (1oz) Shallots, diced (1/2 cup) Rosemary, fresh (1 stem) Thyme, fresh (4 stems) Bay leaf (1) Orange (1, for the peel) DIRECTIONS Soak livers in milk overnight Dry both livers thoroughly with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper. In a large pan, brown the livers on one side in half of the butter. Flip the livers and add shallots, rosemary & thyme sprigs, along with bay leaf. Deglaze with brandy off heat. Return to heat and cook the liquid out until almost dry. Remove thyme, rosemary and bay leaf. Puree the livers, in a blender, with remaining melted butter and heavy cream. Use a sieve to strain the liquid. Adjust the seasoning with nutmeg, salt and pepper and grate fresh orange zest.…

Cocktails, Wines & Spirits around Metro Vancouver March 15, 2018

Handcrafting Spirits from the Ground-Up at Langley’s Roots and Wings Distillery

By Kathy Mak [COVID-19 update: Please note that this article was originally published during non-pandemic times. The distillery is currently closed to the public, but you can order online for pick-up and delivery.] With the surge of new craft distilleries in BC, it’s not unusual to find an expanding collection of local spirits on the shelves of liquor stores and cocktail bars; but finding craft spirits made by a female distiller and with potatoes and corn grown on a distillery’s own farmland is unusual! Enter Roots and Wings Distillery, opened in early 2017 as the first craft distillery in Langley, BC. Situated on a 30-acre farm in the idyllic countryside near the village of Fort Langley, Roots and Wings Distillery embraces a true field-to-bottle approach when producing artisan spirits. Back in 2015, the co-founders/owners – Rob Rindt and Rebekah Crowley – were inspired to handcraft their own distilled spirits when…

Recipes March 15, 2018

Recipe: Cardamom Rebel Sour

By Rebekah Crowley, still master at Roots and Wings Distillery INGREDIENTS Rebel by Roots and Wings Distillery (2oz) Porter’s Tonic Syrup – Cardamom Orange (1 oz) Lillet (1 oz) Lemon Juice (1 oz) Dash of Scrappy’s Bitters – Cardamom INSTRUCTIONS In Shaker, combine ingredients with ice. Shake until cold. Pour into coupe glass and enjoy. Garnish with lemon zest and mint. Read more about Roots and Wings Distillery here.

Sweets March 14, 2018

Sweet and Savoury at Vancouver Pie Hole

by Catherine Dunwoody Some say pie is making a comeback, but in my book it never left. Sisters Jenell and Carla Parsons teamed up to open The Pie Hole a few years ago, and in 2017 they opened their first retail location in Vancouver, followed by a second location in Burnaby in January 2018. The bakeries sell whole pies, individual pies and mini pies as well as take & bake options, plus coffee and ice cream. But let’s get back to the pies; the pies you can get right now, whether you dine in, order and pick up or buy in numerous retail food shops throughout Metro Vancouver. When I asked Jenell where she sourced her ingredients, her answer, “I just drive out to get stuff as needed and when in season – Richmond for all my blueberries, Krause Berry Farms for strawberries, raspberries and blackberries,” sounds like something your…

Seafood in Metro Vancouver March 5, 2018

The Captain’s Boil Celebrates Family-Friendly Cajun-Inspired Seafood in Metro Vancouver

By Catherine Dunwoody If being elbow-deep in the freshest, tastiest seafood around is your kind of feast, then The Captain’s Boil is your new go-to eatery. And with so many options of flavor, spice, and sides, it’s a crowd-pleaser for everyone in the family. With numerous west coast locations, including Richmond, Coquitlam, Vancouver’s North Shore (coming soon), and Vancouver, this Canadian chain restaurant offers a classic Cajun-inspired seafood boil that you customize to suit your tastes perfectly. Start with choosing from a variety of freshly caught fish and shellfish, then add sides and sauces from a lengthy menu of options. You’ll be given a plastic bib and gloves to protect your clothes and hands from the delicious mess, and you wont find cutlery on the table either. Shellfish crackers are provided and the fun begins. Try the Cajun crawfish with a side of okra, or the king crab legs with…

Metro Vancouver Chef Stories March 1, 2018

For the Love of Food: Burnaby Mountain & Riverway’s Executive Chef Jason Mok

By Sheliza Mitha When asked what inspires Executive Chef Jason Mok upon creating his seasonal dinner menus for the Burnaby Mountain and Riverway restaurants, his answer is nothing short of precise: “I love feeding people and seeing a happy, bustling restaurant.” Indeed, on this cold February evening at the spectacular Riverway Restaurant, the place is hopping. I’ve been told the restaurant is booked solid – a testament to the popularity of his evolving and seasonal menus, both here and at the cozy Burnaby Mountain Restaurant in North Burnaby. While the dinner menu reflects Chef Mok’s creative flair, it’s his unique three-course menu that often steals the spotlight for his guests. It’s easy to see why with its generous selection of appetizers and entrees (yes, count ’em… five!): New York steak, seafood linguine (with prawns, mussels, lobster and salmon), the vegetarian butternut squash ravioli, a twist on the regular with the…

Adult Beverages in Metro Vancouver February 28, 2018

Sip into Seasonal Spring Beer and Wine in Langley

By Kristi Alexandra With sprawling greenery, idyllic farmland, and wild brambles flourishing in the sub-rural town of Langley, it’s no wonder it’s is home to so many winery vineyards — and a couple breweries, too. Spring is in the air to thaw the frost of winter, and with that comes new berries, new grapes, and new spirits. Enter a new season of sipping. From mead to wine to beer, here’s where you can find fresh new bottles to imbibe in Langley. Festina Lente Estate Winery 21113 16th Avenue From King Arthur’s court to Game of Thrones, the ancient art of mead has always been a tasty one. Festina Lente Estate Winery brings traditional honey wine to the present day with their “modern, sophisticated twist.” This year, they’re introducing two new wines whose names harken back (perhaps) to when mead was a dinnertime staple. Venus Melomel is aptly named after the…

Sweets February 22, 2018

Celebrate National Cupcake Day in Metro Vancouver

By Mary Ann Bell Cupcakes are little hand-held delights of the baking world. They’re just enough to feel like you’re enjoying a decadent treat, but not so much that you feel like you’ve eaten the entire cake. With as many variations as you can dream up, they come in simple as well as unique flavours, and are topped with everything from frosting and sprinkles to bacon and pickles. Every February, animal rescue organizations including the BCSPCA are holding their annual National Cupcake Day* to raise money for animals, and what better way to get into the spirit than with a cupcake party? Bake your own or visit one of these Metro Vancouver bakeshops: Pink Ribbon Bakery 103-306 6th Street, New Westminster This funky little shop is New West’s go-to spot for cakes and cupcakes. With their newly introduced “flavour of the week” cupcakes like Mountain Dew x Doritos, Nanaimo Bar…

Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver February 21, 2018

5 Comfort Food Stews in Metro Vancouver to Warm You Through the Rest of Winter

By Brittany Tiplady Perhaps the groundhogs were mistaken this year. As temperatures are proving winter is here to stay for now, hunkering down with a bowl of comfort food is essential. If you’re looking for some warmth, check out this list of five restaurants in Metro Vancouver that serve up delightful, warm, and nourishing stews, curries, and chilies to hit the spot. Forkhill House 1616 Alberni St, Vancouver Forkhill House has a bevy of options for traditional Irish cuisine, but in the spirit of all things warm and comforting check out the Irish stew: braised lamb, russet and sweet potatoes, carrot, parsnip, with a red wine demi ($26). Calabash Bistro 428 Carrall St, Vancouver Pop into this eclectic Gastown haunt for Caribbean food, rum drinks and late-night music. Try the jerk beef stew: slow cooked with butternut squash in Calabash jerk sauce, served with rice and peas, seasonal veg and…

Recipes February 14, 2018

Recipe: The Final Rose Cocktail

By Josh Pape, co-owner, Wildebeest In honour of Valentine’s Day, Wildebeest co-owner and bar manager Josh Pape has created a signature cocktail for all the lovers out there. A bubbly bevvy with a red hue perfect for the occasion, The Final Rose offers a sweet-and-citrusy mix of sparkling wine, raspberry, aperol, rose water and lemon. INGREDIENTS: Sparkling Wine (90 mL) 6 Raspberries (muddled) Aperol (15 mL) Rose Water (2 Drops) Lemon Juice (15 mL) INSTRUCTIONS: Add all ingredients except sparkling wine to a cocktail shaker and shake for 7-10 seconds. Fine strain into a chilled flute glass. Top with sparkling wine.

Sweets February 13, 2018

Where to Learn About Chocolate in and Around Vancouver

By Brittany Tiplady Ah, February, the month of all things sweet. Sure, the weather may still be chilly but you can’t deny that love is in the air and the temptation for sweets is stronger than ever. If you’re an inquisitive chocolate lover you’ve come to the right place! Consider learning more about your favourite decadent treat at one of these workshops: Wild Sweets by Dominic and Cindy Duby – Richmond Richmond (12191 Hammersmith Way #2145) Wild Sweets offers weekly sessions, every Saturday, for attendees 10 years and older. Sessions include an extensive and educational chocolate tasting, appreciation and pairing, (including wine, beer, and spirits) priced at $45. Coconama – North Vancouver Vancouver’s North Shore (264 East 1st Street) In only two hours the chocolate experts at Coconama will teach you how to make chocolate from scratch by hand, and of course, you get to take your treats home with…

Sweets February 9, 2018

Valentines Treats for Your Sweet (or Yourself) in Vancouver and Beyond

By Catherine Dunwoody Spoil your sweetheart and yourself with one of these sumptuous treats just in time for Cupid’s big day. Remember nothing says “I Love You” more than chocolate. Or cake. Or pastries. You get the idea. Every Community in Metro Vancouver is whipping up something special this year; have a look at our picks from each: Fieldstone Bakery Surrey Their Heart Shaped Cake for 2, ($16) is a chocolate cake filled with hazelnut mousseline and topped with a chocolate mirror glaze. Available from February 9th –18th at the store, but pre-orders are always recommended. Chez Christophe Burnaby A new Velour dessert has red velvet sponge, lemon yogurt mousse, pistachio ganache, pistachio beet chocolate crunch, and raspberry jam. Available February 9th – 14th. Cakes N Sweets Coquitlam Valentines High Tea features buttermilk scones with Devonshire cream and jam, cucumber and lemon aioli finger sandwiches, red pepper and cream cheese croissant, three cheese quiche, chocolate…

Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver February 6, 2018

Romantic Hot Spots in Metro Vancouver for a Valentine’s Date Night

By Catherine Dunwoody It’s February – have you made your Valentine’s Day reservations yet? Celebrate your most beloved loved one with a special evening for two at one of these restaurants across Metro Vancouver. Champagne optional (but not really – bubbly is pretty much essential). My Shanti Surrey Considered to be one of the best restaurants for Indian cuisine in the lower mainland, this Vij’s owned eatery has an exotic, dreamy vibe that is sure to set hearts aflame. Plus, spicy food helps. Wild Rice New Westminster, in River Market Order the share table for two, $60, with $5 from every meal donated to Ocean Wise. Nibble on sautéed prawns, organic Angus beef carpaccio, seared sablefish and more. A sexy sharesie meal indeed. Horizons Burnaby The view is absolutely spectacular in the gardens of Burnaby Mountain Park. Book soon to reserve a table early in the evening before sunset. Globe@YVR…

Craft Beer in Metro Vancouver February 2, 2018

Burnaby and East Van have Beer to Spice Up Winter Months

By Brittany Tiplady Spring, so close yet so far. We recommend hibernating for the remaining winter months with a cold beer and a whole lot of Netflix. Or, hang out in one of the tap rooms listed below and take advantage of the rich, wintery beers they have to offer. Dageraad Brewing 3191 Thunderbird Crescent #114, Burnaby Londen, 7.0% Dageraad is the purveyor of classy and full-bodied craft beer. Recently released on January 19th, is Dageraad’s latest winter sipper called Londen; an English porter that is brewed with Belgian and Canadian influence and the “fruity, spicy mystery of a Belgian fermentation.” Try this on tap or in bottles at the Dageraad tasting room. 10°, 10.5% Hold onto your hats, this one is not for the faint of heart (or the lightweight)! The new Dageraad 10°, a 2016 bronze medalist at the 2016 BC Beer Awards, is an exotic winter brew…

Recipes February 1, 2018

Recipe: Chanel Cocktail

By Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar INGREDIENTS Gin (1 oz) Cynar (0.5 oz) Ginger liqueur (0.5 oz) Rose water (0.5 oz) Cranberry juice (1.5 oz) Orange blossom water (1 dash) Cranberry juice (1 dash) Peychaud bitters (1 dash) INSTRUCTIONS Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a dehydrated citrus wheel.