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Freebird Chicken Shack Re-Opens in New Westminster’s River Market

By Catherine Dunwoody Chef Angus An’s restaurants go well beyond his flagship eatery, Maenam in Vancouver, and we’re doing a happy (chicken?) dance that his Freebird Chicken Shack in New West has reopened, this time in the River Market. Yep, after a short move from the previous location, some renos and a revamp of the menu, the new space is now open on the market’s lower level. The 800-square-foot counter-service eatery seats 24, including 4 bar stools. Eat-in or take-out, new deliciousness added to their already famous Asian-style rotisserie birds, includes an 8-piece bucket of fried chicken ($25), and a grilled chicken vermicelli bowl with fermented pork, fresh herbs, and nuoc cham (small for $11 or large for $15). Turmeric fried chicken with curry and roti ($11/$15) sounds amazing, and vegetables? How does fried brussel sprouts or fried cauliflower for $6 sound? Bonus? All chicken dishes are gluten- and dairy-free…

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Beer glasses
Craft Beer in Metro Vancouver

Community Spirit on Show at Vancouver Craft Beer Week 2017

By Kristi Alexandra With indie breweries becoming almost as ubiquitous as Starbucks’ in Vancouver, you’d have to be wearing blinders to miss a brewpub or tasting room on any given block between Boundary Road and Kits Beach. But Vancouver’s not the only city under the influence, as the craft brewing boom has reached through Burnaby to the Valley, taking root in the communities in between. This year, brews from outlying towns are making a splash at the eighth annual Vancouver Craft Beer Week, running from May 26 to June 4. “We keep growing and changing every year because we want to create this beer experience that all of us want to experience ourselves,” says co-founder and events director Leah Heneghan. This year, it seems communities outside the big city are unofficially on show. The week-long fete’s feature collaboration beer is a shared effort between the four breweries that dot Port…

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Vietnamese Food

Banh Mi Bar: Your Must-Try Vietnamese Sandwich Stop in New Westminster

By Anna Black Tucked just a few blocks from the New Westminster Skytrain station, you’ll find a cozy little Vietnamese eatery on Carnarvon Street called Banh Mi Bar. Now in its second year of operation, the restaurant has become a popular choice with locals because of their affordably priced and freshly made traditional Vietnamese baguette subs and friendly customer service.  Owners Lily and Tung have been described on Yelp Canada as an “absolutely lovely pair of people” that are “nice and friendly” and always “deliver with a smile”. The restaurant has received numerous five star reviews and as a result was recently named one of the site’s Top 100 Restaurants for 2017. The menu, although simple, offers a delicious choice for every sub lover complete with delicately flavored grilled meats, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and just a splash of sriracha, all served on crisp freshly toasted baguette. One of Banh Mi Bar’s…

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New Westminster

Search for the Best Sandwiches in New Westminster

By Kristi Alexandra Global grub can be found all over the Lower Mainland, but where do you go to find a bite of comfort food? A map of some of the best places to find a great sandwich (besides the corporate franchises) in the Royal City of historic New Westminster will put your mother’s brown bags to shame. 1. Big Star Sandwich Co. The most obvious haunt to hit when craving a huge hunk of sandwich is downtown New Westminster’s Big Star Sandwich Co. Offering up 27 different sandwiches — like the beef dip with demi-glace gravy or the turkey and stuffing — on a fresh baked filone, this Columbia Street spot pairs subs with vintage sodas that Pop Tate would be proud to serve. 2. Columbia Street Sandwich Co. Tucked into a narrow shop front along Columbia Street, you’d be forgiven for missing this gem if not for its…

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Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver

Video: Canada’s West Coast Destination for Foodies

With a backyard of clean rivers and lakes, the Pacific Ocean, and rich fertile land, the farmers, chefs, brewers, distillers, fishers, and producers are able to bring their diverse traditions, cultures, and creativity to the plates, cups, and glasses of Canada’s west coast. The taste is hyper local, from Vancouver to the Fraser Valley. Featured in this video: The Vancouver Aquarium, The Liberty Distillery, Fraser Valley Cider Company, Cherry Lane Farms, Burnaby Village Museum, Bella Gelateria, Crazy Cows, Steveston Seafood House, Campbells Gold, Central City Brewers and Distillers, Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks, Trading Post Brewing, Steel & Oak Brewing, Vij’s

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Festivals & Events

A Historic Paddleboat Dinner Tour on the Fraser River

By Kristi Alexandra It’s one of New Westminster’s most iconic landmarks — the catch is it isn’t always on land. Returning gourmands will be all aboard the Paddlewheeler, the 100-passenger, authentic replica of a sternwheeler that would have worked the mighty Fraser in British Columbia in the mid-19th century and beyond. Part-epicurean and part-history, the dinner cruise, held October 1st, 2016, is a highlight for the second-annual Feast on the Fraser event put on by Tourism New Westminster. Kicking off on Sept. 23, the 10-day Feast on the Fraser festival features locally-inspired menus from participating Royal City restaurants — not the least of which includes the back-by-popular-demand dinner cruise. “While New Westminster is already well known as a food destination in the Lower Mainland, this is a great way to showcase the city’s diverse restaurants – and flavours of the Fraser Valley – in a tasty and creative way,” says…

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Festivals & Events

Feast on the Fraser River in New Westminster

by Catherine Dunwoody New Westminster’s culinary scene is getting more impressive by the day, and the Feast on the Fraser 10-day festival showcases the bounty of great food grown and produced along the mighty Fraser River. With a different signature event each day, and The Fraser Valley a proud sponsor, Feast on the Fraser ensures that New Westminster local businesses have sourced at least one ingredient from Langley, Abbotsford, or Chilliwack farmers and providers. Kicking off on September 23rd in the River Market, $45 will give you a sampling of tastes for the next 9 days with eateries like Wild Rice Bistro, El Santo, Longtail Kitchen, MATCH Eatery, Tre Galli involved, and your choice of beer or wine from Steel & Oak or Pacific Breeze Winery. Noshing, sipping and live entertainment – think of it as a mini Feast on the Fraser under one roof. If you have time to…

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Shops & Markets

Gorge Your Global Palate at New Westminster’s River Market

By Kristi Alexandra The River Market is thriving with multicultural cuisines, and really is a bon marché of sorts. From Hainanese poultry to European sweet treats, the River Market is a hot bed of gastronomic discovery, so you can live the life of a travelling gourmand without the pricey plane ticket. Bon appetite… or should we say bon voyage? Italian Aa a country built on its reputation for personal pleasure, it’s no secret Italians pride themselves on their indulgences. Those “indulgences” include fine cheeses, cured meats and, of course, gelato. Grab a made-to-order Italian sandwich at the La Grotta Del Formaggio’s deli counter inside Donald’s Market, along with some plum olives, and enjoy it as a picnic at the adjacent Pier Park. A scoop of Tre Galli Gelato’s homemade lemon gelato in a waffle cone will transport your tastebuds to Florence. Thai Fitting that traditional Thai coastal cuisine should be…

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Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver

Eat Well on the Cheap: Five Combos under $15 in New Westminster

By Kristi Alexandra Often hailed by locals as the future “little Brooklyn” to Vancouver’s NYC, Downtown New Westminster has undergone significant revitalization in the past few years. Along with it came a new shopping centre, Shops at New West, located right inside the New Westminster Sky Train Station. The transit hub — populated by shops, restaurants and even a movie theatre — has become its own culinary destination, with a plethora of regional cuisines to choose from. We took a trip to the Shops at New West to bring you five food pairings on offer for under $15. Four Tacos & Café Mexicano at Originals Restaurante Mexicano (Pictured above.) For $11.50, Original’s Restaurante Mexicano offers up four traditional-style tacos. You can mix and match your flavours from nine options, including pastor (pineapple marinated pork), Baja Fish (chipotle-crusted tilapia with cilantro and avocado), barbacoa (lamb) and lengua (beef tongue). We washed…

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Festivals & Events

Giant Food Truck Fest: Columbia StrEAT 2016 in New Westminster

By Kristi Alexandra Quickly reclaiming its reputation as an epicurean locale, New Westminster is set to host North America’s largest food truck fest. Hosting 90 food trucks, 24 shaded patios and six beer gardens, the Columbia StrEAT Food Truck Fest promises to dish out a full-day of chow, drinks and entertainment in the heart of New Westminster’s downtown area. Playing on its tongue-twister of a title and the nature of the foodie affair, the Columbia StrEAT Food Truck Fest is operating under the tagline, “it’s a mouthful,” which will also serve as the event’s social media hashtag #itsamouthful. Now in its fourth iteration, this year’s event cordons off Columbia Street on Saturday, Aug. 20 from 4 to 10 p.m. — and it’s as big as it can possibly get. “This year we’re at 90 [trucks], and it’s basically only because that’s as big as the street is. There wasn’t anywhere…

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Wineries

New Westminster’s Pacific Breeze Winery’s Artisanal Approach to Wine

By Kristi Alexandra When wine connoisseurs in BC want a sip of the perfect cabernet sauvignon or a pinch of pinot, they usually look no further than the Okanagan Valley, Canada’s proclaimed wine country. With rolling country hills and miles and miles of ripening vineyards, anywhere from Kelowna to the Naramata Bench to Osoyoos is the prime destination for a carafe of the best wine on offer to British Columbians — or so we thought. Enter Pacific Breeze, Canada’s first garagiste winery located in the most unlikely of settings. Owned by Maurice Hamilton and Frank Gregus, Pacific Breeze sits in an industrial sliver of New Westminster located behind the waterfront quay and a busy set of train tracks, with no vineyard to speak of. “The garagiste concept is very much the idea of being a small, independent operator who doesn’t necessarily own this giant vineyard, but is buying a small…

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Shops & Markets

A Tea Tutorial from New Westminster’s River Market

By Catherine Dunwoody Photos by Nicol Spinola Photography With over 150 types of tea sold, New Westminster’s Great Wall Tea Company, located in the River Market since 2010, has one of the most impressive selections in the lower mainland. With that much choice however, teatime could make your head spin a little. We asked co-owner of the shop, Lauren Bowler, for some tips on what tea can offer, so we can choose what suits us best. Catherine Dunwoody: First off, how did you get into the tea business? Lauren Bowler: I work primarily as an actor, but I was very intrigued by the idea of operating a small business. My business partner, Sean Smith, was also very interested in small start-ups and we knew we wanted to operate in a public market environment. I’ve had a passion for tea since high school, so when we brainstormed businesses we thought would both…

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Craft Beer in Metro Vancouver

Steel & Oak Beer Pairings with Local New Westminster Food

By Alexis Baran Meandering up and down the hilly riverside streets of New Westminster is a great way to work up an appetite and a thirst. If you are down to hunt for the perfect local food to pair with locally brewed beer, the walk from restaurants to the neighbourhood brewery with your take-out feast in-hand is a great way to explore the streets on a nice day. Here are pairing suggestions from the crew at Steel & Oak Brewing: Restauraunt: Rivers Reach Food: New West Deli Pizza Beer: Smoked Hefeweizen Daniel Johnston, front of house manager, recommends that the “rich, meaty and savoury pizza is balanced perfectly by our smoky and subtle Hefeweizen. Great pizza and great beer, how could you go wrong?” With all of the meat piled on this pizza – salami, pepperoni, ham, ground beef, and Italian sausage, a smoked Hef is both complementary and refreshing.…

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Canadian/American food in Metro Vancouver

There’s No Gambling with the Grub at Starlight Casino

By Tim Pawsey Only a few minutes from Richmond, YVR or downtown New Westminster, smart and sparkling Starlight Casino blends a range of dining options with everything from Blackjack to Roulette. If you’re having a tough time leaving your favourite slot spot or roulette table, barely a few paces away, the Buffet at Starlight offers a set price brunch, lunch or dinner, with themed buffets that vary by the day, from Italian to Mediterranean and Mexican. Feeling a need to celebrate those winnings? Cozy in to a booth at the red velvet festooned Redbar Lounge, where you can also cut loose on the dance floor with live entertainment. Adjoining the main casino, expansive Match Eatery & Public House offers a friendly welcome, along with an army of taps, featuring a full spectrum of local and imported brews, as well as good pub fare. Pasta, fish ‘n chips, gruyere stuffed meatballs,…

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Craft Beer in Metro Vancouver

Follow the Tracks to New Westminster’s Steel & Oak Brewing

By Tim Pawsey The craft beer revolution has made itself at home along the Fraser River, down from the hills in New Westminster. Steel and Oak Brewing Co. is a delightful discovery, tucked away in a still fairly industrial part of town, cheek by jowl beside automotive repair shops and train tracks – yet a short walk away from the bustling River Market and the rest of Downtown New West. Steel & Oak arrived with a bit of a bang upon their arrival into the scene in the summer of 2014 by quickly scooping first place in the 2015 BC Beer Awards Amber / Dark Ale category with its gently bitter and quite floral Flagship Royal City Ale. Step inside and chances are you won’t be alone, as the word is out on S&O, which has already built a strong following. Open for just over a year, this compact, wood-trimmed…

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Shops & Markets

In Praise of Winter Markets and Comforting Community Flavours

by Kathy Mak Winter may seem an unlikely time to visit an outdoor farmers market in Canada, but the milder climate in the Lower Mainland allows the markets and abundance of seasonal products to thrive. Deserving of more recognition, a winter market’s appeal lies not only in the quality and range of offerings, but also in knowing that it’s served by a passionate community of both food artisans/farmers and shopping foodies, all prepared to brave the elements in support of fresh local products. The charm of a winter market is in the smaller and manageable crowds. With shorter line ups, there’s time to sample and chit-chat with merchants. Live entertainment, food trucks and heating stations are also on hand to add some extra warmth. To visit a winter market is to crave comfy and warming flavours. It’s easy to take inspiration for cozy dishes from the bounty of seasonal products…

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Sweets

A Sweet Outing by Public Transit

By Kathy Mak There’s no denying it, eating counts as sightseeing, and when you have a sweet tooth, bakeries, pastry shops and other sweet stops are the attractions! You don’t have to go far in Vancouver to find every possible sugary delight, from award-winning ice cream, to-die-for pastries, and gourmet macarons to handcrafted chocolates. But, finding some of the unsung sweet treats further afield can be the real taste-adventure. Take this sweet-packed outing to discover a selection of local, laid-back gems in Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond and Vancouver, all easily linked by convenient public transit and short walks. Your self-guided, sweet tasting spree begins in downtown Vancouver with an early morning stop at Cartems Donuterie (534 West Pender). It’s hard enough to resist regular donuts, but resistance is futile when it comes to Cartems’ donuts as they are dreamy! (And, literally, Cartems was born out of a dream by the…

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Canadian/American food in Metro Vancouver

Best in the (New) West Burgers

New Westminster is packed with classic dimly-lit brick pubs, bright patios and friendly diners; all perfect places to chow down on a good ol’ burger and fries. Here are some of New West’s best-known burgers: The Manwich Match Eatery & Public House A 7oz flat-iron steak on a garlic French loaf topped with crispy onion strings, roasted grape tomatoes and garlic aioli – served medium rare or to taste. Cajun Chicken Sandwich The Terminal Pub A Cajun-spiced grilled chicken breast topped with aged cheddar, bacon, crispy onion strings, lettuce, tomato and a chipotle aioli. It is served on a kaiser buns that is freshly baked and delivered to by their neighbour, Pamola Bakery, at the River Market in New Westminster. Breakfast Burger (with an elk patty) Burger Heaven Mozzerella, a fried egg (like the Aussies do it) and bacon – try it with an elk patty for an…

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