pizza Archives - West Coast Food

Family Friendly January 16, 2018

Board Games are On the Menu at Pizzeria Ludica in Vancouver and New Westminster

By Kristi Alexandra Imagine taking your two favourite pastimes and making them into a business. That’s what Pizzeria Ludica owner Daryl Boone decided to do. He and his wife opened up their first restaurant on Vancouver’s Keefer Street four years ago, combining the two things they loved to do together most: share a meal and play board games. “The idea is that people can come and order food, and after they’ve eaten they can stay up to two hours to play board games,” Boone tells WestCoastFood. “I’ve been in the board game hobby for 10-plus years with my wife, and we’ve been looking for a small business to do together for a long time,” he says, “we thought we’d really like it if there were more restaurants out there that had more board games.” So they decided to do it themselves, adding some of their own personal collection to the…

Chef Stories June 14, 2017

Chef Will Lucas’ Classic Italian Pizza has Community Appeal at Cotto Enoteca in Burnaby

By Brittany Tiplady The age-old motto “first we eat, then we do everything else,” rings true at North Burnaby’s modern Italian nook, Cotto Enoteca Pizzeria. Serving up generous portions of modernized Italian cuisine, Neapolitan VPN certified pizza, and wine on tap, Cotto Enoteca is the perfect spot to indulge in a bevy of carb-loaded menu options made with sustainability in mind. In true west coast fashion, this pizzeria engages in some unique, eco-friendly initiatives including QWater (filtered water, eliminating bottles), Ocean Wise seafood, and choosing to source their ingredients, specifically produce, locally. Found on the corner of Hastings and Fell, this Italian joint aims to “[Showcase] the best of BC and Italy, [marrying] the traditional techniques of Italy with the best of local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients.” Still wondering what Neapolitan VPN certified pizza means? This authentic seal of approval is awarded to restaurants by the Naples-based Associazione Verace Pizza…

Coquitlam February 9, 2016

The Heights of Culinary Adventure

By Sheliza Mitha Across a few short, bustling and walkable blocks of Coquitlam is where you’ll find Austin Heights – an unassuming culinary gem that’s home to some of the most delicious and densely concentrated restaurants anywhere in the Lower Mainland. Overflowing with restaurants representing nearly every corner of the globe, the area is relatively small in size (making it easy to explore by foot) but big on taste serving up the height(s) of culinary adventure with almost every step. Here, you’ll find a veritable foodie destination that requires some serious and dedicated exploration – which is just what I set out to do one bright, sunshine-filled day. The goal was to spend a good part of my day in a self-guided food tour of the area. This meant nearly five-hours of restaurant hopping to experience just a few of the area’s tastiest and most unique experiences – only because…

European January 7, 2016

Taking Pizza to New Heights

By Sheliza Mitha It is precisely because Coquitlam’s Austin Heights neighbourhood is abundant with deliciously satisfying pizza joints – from locally-owned places to well-known chains – that makes it difficult to choose where to get your next slice. At one end of Austin Street sits Me-N-Ed’s, a true Coquitlam institution. Over the past four decades, Me-N-Ed’s has garnered its fair share of fans, including home-grown celebrities such as Michael J. Fox. In fact, the five Me-N-Ed’s locations throughout the Lower Mainland regularly host charity golf tournaments to raise funds for both the Parkinson’s Society of BC and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s. During a recent visit to Coquitlam, I stopped by Me-N-Ed’s to sample some of their best-known specialty pizzas: Greek (vegetarian), Smoked Salmon & Roasted Garlic and Thai Chicken. What Me-N-Ed’s might be best known for, however, is their uniquely thin, crunchy, wafer-like crust. Topped with an…