Now that autumn has arrived, you’re likely settling back into your normal day-to-day post-summer routine. Your tan has faded a bit, and you’re looking back on your vacation time with fond memories… So what better moment to head out on an impromptu fall staycation! Make the most of the new season by seeing how beautiful Metro Vancouver is when the leaves begin to change. To make the most of it, we’re giving away a two-night experience in New Westminster that is sure to keep your healthy holiday glow through the fall. We’ve put together a package of cuisine and culture that you can redeem whenever you’re in need of a quick getaway! You could win this New West staycation package: 2 Night Stay at the Inn at the Quay Gorgeous views of the river and mountains await as you and a guest play tourist for a couple of days. $50…
Family owned and operated Bow & Stern is a Fraser Valley based seafood restaurant brand, with locations in Abbotsford and Chilliwack. Now, they’re about to open in Metro Vancouver for the first time in Burnaby’s food focused The Amazing Brentwood, aiming for early August. The new 5,000 square foot restaurant will feature all the delicious ocean-inspired dishes they’re known and loved for, including fresh oysters at a centrepiece oyster bar, impressive seafood platters and towers, and of course their classic fish n’ chips. With 160 seats indoors and 60 seats on the patio, expect both happy hour and dinner, plus weekend brunches being hinted at. North Vancouver-based Humphries Construction Group has designed the gorgeous space with kelp-green velvet seating, plenty of lush plant life, and cheeky octopus wallpaper. The L-shaped bar is where you’ll want to hang, lingering over a bowl of mussels and a glass of wine. Or a New York Sour…
When it comes to dining out, modern sensibilities dictate that grabbing great content is almost as important as grabbing a bite! From bartop swings to immersive nautical-themed private rooms and breathtaking 360-degree city views, we’ve found spots that deserve more than just 15 minutes of fame—they deserve a permanent spot on the feed. That’s right—these are some of the most Instagrammable restaurants you’ll find from Vancouver to the Valley. By Kristi Alexandra Haven Kitchen + Bar in Langley Funky, deep colors and playful bohemian elements make Haven Kitchen + Bar in Langley—well—a haven for influencers. Kitschy Tiki cups and décor are the perfect props for your shot at the oversized bar, which boasts a neon sign urging you to “Choose Your Own Adventure.” Velvet and rattan accents add cozy textures to the eclectic, saturated palette—making virtually every corner of the restaurant a spot for selfies. We say that’s worth a…
Kitsilano’s Tayybeh offers a unique culinary experience with authentic Syrian fare prepared by a team of all-women newcomer cooks. Tayybeh means good, positive, and delicious in Arabic. True to its name, this restaurant in the heart of old Kits feels welcoming and fun, featuring pops of bright white and fuchsia, brimming with natural light and redolent of spiced dishes and rich coffee. “We initially thought of opening as a café,” says Nihal Elwan, Tayybeh’s founder, “but soon our guests made it clear that they are expecting a full-service dining experience.” Tayybeh is a social enterprise that creates stable employment to empower refugee and newcomer women from Syria and other parts of the Middle East. Though Tayybeh is just in its sophomore year as a brick-and-mortar location, Elwan and her team have been serving Vancouverites a taste of Syria “just the way they cook at home” for years. Since 2015, the…
Located in the heart of Fort Langley, the newly opened Omni Kitchen + Bar is fast becoming a go-to for lunch and dinner for locals, not to mention a destination restaurant for folks from all over the lower mainland. If you’ve ever had to plan a group outing, then you know how challenging it can be to accommodate everyone’s tastes, especially when you throw different dietary preferences into the mix. Now imagine a menu where every item can be made traditionally, plant-based, or gluten-free. Omni Kitchen + Bar does just that. Celiac people can dive into crunchy, rice-battered chicken cooked in its own dedicated fryer, so there’s no risk of cross-contamination. Vegans can enjoy a plant-based burger that is genuinely satisfying and ‘meaty.’ Pizzas with all kinds of fresh toppings will please everyone, all easily modified to suit individual preferences. All are accompanied by an excellent list of local wines,…
As the culinary scene continues to evolve, food enthusiasts are always on the lookout for the next delicious discovery. New Westminster has become a hub for gastronomic delights, and the annual Dine Out Vancouver Festival, running from Jan. 17 to Feb. 4, 2024, is the perfect opportunity to explore its vibrant food culture. In 2024, five exciting eateries have joined Dine Out, offering a diverse range of flavors that promise to tantalize your taste buds. Let’s take a closer look at these culinary gems that are sure to make your dining experience unforgettable! Photo credit: Howe Sound Taphouse & Kitchen Howe Sound Taphouse & Kitchen Howe Sound Taphouse & Kitchen in New Westminster marks the expansion of an iconic brewery with deep roots dating back over two decades in Squamish, BC. Renowned for its craft beer, Howe Sound Brewing has earned multiple awards, including the prestigious Brewery of the Year award…
Now that the hectic holiday season is over, it’s the perfect time to decompress with a few days of rest, relaxation and letting others do all the cooking and cleaning for you. With that in mind, we invite you to enter to win the Dine and Unwind in Burnaby contest where you’ll spend a weekend in one of Metro Vancouver’s most charming cities, eating your way through some of the best eateries in the Lower Mainland! A Weekend in Burnaby Day 1 First off, check in to the elegant Delta Hotel Burnaby for a romantic two night stay with your sweetheart, or a relaxed weekend getaway with your bestie. Address: 4331 Dominion Street This weekend is all about taking it easy, and that’s the name of the game at the Art of Sauna and Spa. Featuring 8 different traditions of relaxation spanning cultures from the North and South of Europe…
Holiday season is just around the corner, and your calendar is probably already filling up with get-togethers with friends, holiday activities for the family, holiday parties, and wrapping up work for the year, not to mention hitting shops in the busiest season to find gifts for all the special people in your life. It’s a hectic season, so don’t forget to schedule in some time to slow down and relax between all the festive fun. Unwind for the weekend and treat yourself to a restful staycation in beautiful Coquitlam this holiday season, one of the best kept secrets of the Lower Mainland! The cooler weather provides the perfect opportunity to slip on your coat and scarf to explore the city, do a little bit of holiday gift shopping, and cozy up indoors enjoying the best of Coquitlam’s culinary scene at local restaurants and cafes. Coquitlam for a Weekend Day 1…
The end of summer is in sight, but there’s still time to fit in an extra staycation (or two!) before it’s officially fall. The great thing about a staycation? You don’t need to worry about planning a road trip or finding a flight deal. Instead, kick back and make the most of the last days of summer by exploring the tourist highlights and exciting dining options in your own backyard in Richmond—one of the Lower Mainland’s most exciting and diverse culinary neighbourhoods. Staycation sounds good right? This month you have the chance to win a Foodie Staycation in Richmond from West Coast Food, including an overnight stay at River Rock Casino Resort, $100 gift card to Bruno restaurant, and a Richmond Night Market zoom pass (includes 5 entries and fast lane entrance.) River Rock Casino Resort Situated alongside the scenic Fraser River and conveniently next to the Bridgeport Canada Line Skytrain station…
If you have not checked out German/Bavarian restaurant Tannenbaum in New Westminster since it opened in spring of 2023, it’s time. The busy, bustling vibe and full tables are every indication that this new hotspot is a breath of fresh air, and very welcome in the Greater Vancouver area. An unexpected plus? Vegetarian and gluten-free options are on the menu. I sat down with owner Mira Mendes to chat about schnitzel, German beer, and her favourite dessert. By Catherine Dunwoody Hi Mira, thanks for chatting with us. Your food is delicious, your room is cozy, and we would love to know more about your background. What can you tell us? I was trained in the service and hospitality industry in Germany. I went to Hospitality School and lived there for 13 years where I learned all my recipes and cooking skills. Moving to Canada, my first job was at the Alpen Haus…
A Brand New California-inspired Restaurant in Burnaby Grab your shades, and kick back with a cocktail and some beachy bites at Birdies Eats & Drinks, a new California-inspired restaurant in Burnaby with a sunny attitude and a laid back atmosphere. Hello Birdies Birdies is a brand new concept restaurant collaboration from the Earls Restaurant Group, Taking over the former Earls Bridge Park location at 3850 Lougheed, the space features a casual, trendy dining room, lounge, 20-seat terrazzo countertop bar and a 75 seat sun-filled patio (just in time for summer!) They’re set to start serving up lunch, dinner, drinks and weekend brunch starting July 7th, 2023. The Eats & Drinks Developed by Chef David Wong, the Birdies menu promises lots of shareable bites and healthy conscious options (without skimping on flavour.) The Oh So Sticky Korean Ribs, Thai Noodle Salad and Rigatoni Arrabiata are a few of their tastiest looking featured menu…
Wine bars in Metro Vancouver are rapidly expanding their wine lists to include natural wines, due to popular demand. You may be wondering: what classifies a wine as ‘natural’? A number of factors are included in the definition, such as wines made with organically or biodynamically grown grapes, low intervention processes, and having little or no preservatives added. By Catherine Dunwoody Here are some hot spots to hit—and what to sip: VV Tapas Lounge VV Tapas Lounge offers flights of all their natural wines that are sold by the glass, plus happy hour deals at 50% off where the guest receives the wine ‘blind’ (no peeking at the label) and is asked to try to guess the grape or region for a VV gift certificate. Be sure to try BC natural wines like the Free Form Riesling from Summerland, and Artakama’s Syrah, from Oliver. 957 E Hastings Street Vancouver Pacific…
Passover starts this week (April 5-13, 2023), so we’re sharing a few of our favourite Jewish delis, and kosher-friendly kitchens in Metro Vancouver to get your celebrations started. Fire up Shiva Baby (a dramedy about a young Jewish woman attending a family’s funeral service-which aptly features a buffet of kosher comfort food) on Netflix and chill, enjoying great food with fam and friends! By Avneet Takhar Garden City Bakery This kosher-certified bakery has been around for 20 years! And its popularity continues, with rave reviews claiming it’s got “the best challah in town.” It’s a great spot to pick up both the savoury and sweet stuff – like the challah or chocolate and cinnamon raisin babkas. 9100 Blundell Rd #360, Richmond. Get off at Richmond-Brighouse and either walk 30 minutes or hop on the 408 bus. Boemma Euro Foods & Deli This Euro deli is great find for buying Prednisone for stocking…
Black History Month isn’t the only time to support Black businesses, but we’re spotlighting a bunch so you can keep going back again, and again for some real soul food! Oh, and if you also want to shake down to dancehall beats after some bites, check out AfroQueer’s rave on February 17! By Avneet Takhar Without further ado, here are some places we recommend. Arike Restaurant ‘Nigeria Meets the Pacific Northwest’ is their tagline and it’s certainly fitting! Arike has a tasting menu until Feb 5 that you can enjoy consisting of pineapple jerk, boar with plantains and a chili chocolate sponge. Sounds divine to us. Reserve your spot via Tock. 1725 Davie St, Vancouver Ember Indian Kitchen An African Indian Fusion restaurant located on waterfront in Steveston, offers many flavours here at Ember. This chic space has a bit of everything! From Zanzibar style lentil fritters, to Congolese salad…
By Brittany Tiplady Entering Fort Langley is like stepping into a page of Canadian history. The idyllic village caters to history buffs, trail walkers, and coffee shop dwellers alike. As for food and drink, the options for casual fares are plentiful. The classic Fort Langley dining staples still stand strong: Wendel’s, Beatniks, and the Fort Pub and Grill to name a few, serving regulars and tourists with a hint of small town charm. Today, as Vancouver millennials slowly migrate from city life to suburban haven, the energy in Fort Langley has shifted into a more youthful local community, while still managing to keep the beloved, historic charm, intact. City-inspired hot spots like Trading Post Brewing and Little Donkey have moved into the village with much acclaim, but the new kid on the block, Fortitude Restaurant, is creating quite a buzz within the community and abroad. Fortitude brings a fresh, fine-dining…
By Brittany Tiplady Best known for the annual Cloverdale Rodeo, Cloverdale is a sub-division of Surrey that’s charming beauty has made it the setting for several fictional TV towns and movie sets. But inside the doors of this quaint setting of potted plants and upkept brick facades is bright modern cuisine and craft beer. What’s special about Cloverdale is its small-town charm within a rather large city. Dining options are a no brainer: for dinner with your family, celebrating a new job, or maybe just a weekend date night, The Vault is the place to go. If you’re looking for a casual meal and a healthy selection of craft beer, it’s gotta be Hawthorne Beer Market. Both of these popular joints are owned by Aaron Hotell, a local restauranteur who has found the secret recipe to owning and operating lucrative, busy, and quality restaurants in a tight-knit community. The downtown…
One of Vancouver’s favourite Gastown restaurant & bars brings in local food producers from areas all over Canada’s West Coast as key ingredients in their menus. Tuc Craft Kitchen’s summer menu is food that needs to be shared. Chef Roy Flemming has brought his A-game to the table, with dishes like these: Pork Curado Curado is a Latin term for “cured”, and this pork from Gelderman Farms in Abbotsford are raised ethically, and then Chef brines, braises, and roasts the meat including the skin to get it extra crispy. The result is a tender/crispy dish where a little goes a long way. Seafood Tamarind Bisque This bisque is based on a Thai soup recipe with loads of tamarind, sour orange, dried shrimp paste, and curry. “This summer we’re serving ours with local catch (depending on what’s freshest – could be rockfish, ling cod, steelhead, or halibut)” says Chef Flemming. Throw in…
by Catherine Dunwoody Here’s some insider’s intel you’ll want to get in on. One of Vancouver’s most sought after catering companies has opened a restaurant in Richmond. Yep, located just on the other side of Knight Street near IKEA, in the business area, Boy With A Knife Catering is serving up lunch – and locals couldn’t be happier. The 55-person full service restaurant has a licensed patio and a grab ‘n go deli serving soups and grilled sandwiches, espresso and pastries. If you’ve ever attended a wedding, corporate event, or party catered by these ‘boys’ – you know how skilled owners Chef Brandon Dac and Sean Fay are. I chatted with Sean recently about their new venture. CD: Tell me about your background, for starters. SF: The business came about pretty organically. Brandon was working for a catering company in the city and I was working a corporate job in…