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There are some things that go together, such as rain and Vancouver, bad driving and Richmond or $2 million dollars for a run-down shack in Pt. Grey. Well, those things might make one question why they live here, but they indeed related to one another. When it comes to cultured activities (if you want to call it that), the combination of a art, food and wine is seemingly a natural match. With that in mind, Viv and I checked out Art, Eat and Sip on Granville Island during the DOV festival.
Our registration point and first stop was at the Granville Island Hotel or more specifically, Dockside Restaurant. We were treated to something a bit different with made-to-order Chili Squid. There was a dedicated chef preparing the squid in small batches that ensured optimum freshness and food integrity. Hence, the little bits of crunchy batter stayed crunchy while the peppers, garlic and seasoning were aromatic being hot from the pan. The squid itself was tender, yet still retaining an appealing chewiness. This was probably the best bite of the night.
After the squid, we ended up at Granville Island Brewing for 2 beer pairings. The first consisted of their signature IPA paired with Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel from ChocolaTas. This worked in our opinion as the creamy and sweet chocolate balanced out the hoppiness of the crisp IPA. Next, we had a Taco topped with cremini mushroom, flank steak, cilantro slaw and tomato jalapeno salsa. It was paired with the Hey Day Hefeweizen. As much as the hef was light and tasty with clove notes, it was completely overshadowed by the spiciness of the taco. We weren't really sure what they were intending, but my guess is the hef was supposed to cool the spiciness? Anyways, the taco was pretty good being spicy as mentioned as well as sporting tender slices of beef and a good amount of acidity.
Finally fulfilling the "art" portion of the event, we made the short walk to the Barbara Arnold Artist Studio featuring a selection of her work. There was an interesting array of textured art that displayed a 3D-effect. This was an interesting way to distract us from food and drink. However, it wasn't long before we turned our focus back to eating as The Lemon Square had set up shop right in the studio. If you haven't had this little sweet morsel before, be prepared for an impactful zing from the lemon balanced out by the buttery crust underneath. If you eat more than one, it does get a bit sweet, but still good in my opinion.
The drinking continued at Liberty Wine Merchants where we were able to sample 2 wines accompanied by little bites from Terra Breads. I sampled the Picpoul de Pinet which was somewhat fruity and floral with some zing to it. Apparently it is one of their best sellers and is reasonably-priced. As for the red, it was the Monterail Costières De Nîmes. This was pretty smooth with only some bite at the end. From Liberty Wine, we headed over to Liberty Distillery for some more booze in the form of a cocktail called the Basford (Endeavour Gin, rosemary-grapefruit cordial and fresh lemon juice). Although this was fruity and bright, the gin was pretty potent. My little taste of their Truth Vodka yielded even more strong results. They are not playing around here with their spirits...
Back to the food, we turned the corner and paid Off the Tracks Espresso Bar & Bistro. There, we were served their locally roasted Espresso paired with Carrot Cake. But before I dug into it, we had the Slow-Cooked Chorizo & Yam Tacos. As evidenced in the picture, the taco was generously filled with soft and slightly spicy chorizo and sweet yams. Sweet and moist, the carrot cake went well with the strong espresso that had a vinegary finish. The boozing continued at our next stop - Artisan Sake Maker. They paired the Junmai Nama with 2 little bites including Paillot de Chevre and SakeKasu Bon Bon. As much as Sake can be pretty strong, this one was fairly light and fruity. The goat's cheese and cocoa dusted truffle didn't hurt things either.
One last art stop was at Studio 13 Fine Art featuring the works of Alice Rich. As clearly illustrated in the picture, her abstract works are colourful and striking. We were able to peruse the gallery while sipping on a choice of red or white wine with cheese, grapes and other little snacks. We ended the night at New Leaf Creative Solutions where Bon Macaron set up shop. By the end of the night, they were running low in variety, but we were still able to sample a few Macarons. I've tried their Goat Cheese & Fig in the past and decided to stick to the familiar. Sweet and not overly gamy, the macaron featured a lightly crisp shell yielding a soft interior. So this was the end of a 3-hour walking tour of the lesser-known spots on Granville Island. As much as there wasn't a whole lot of food, there was an equal amount of alcohol. So one's enjoyment will depend on expectations.
The Good:
- Highlights spots I would've never known about
- Good for socializing
The Bad:
- For those who don't drink, probably not the event for you
Fresh off the Gastown Brunch Crawl, Viv and I were looking forward to our first stop on the Olympic Village Brunch Crawl. You see, the day before, it was pouring rain (liquid sunshine for those in Vancouver) and lining up for registration was as fun as rush hour on #3 Road. This time around, we got to wait in the warm and comfy confines of Whole Foods on 8th Ave and Cambie.
After a short wait, we were presented with our first few bites of the brunch crawl with Hoisin Shortrib on a bellini and Salmon Bacon and Mousse on a potato tuile. Unfortunately, the shortrib was stone cold (and not like Steve Austin), hence it probably didn't eat like it was intended as the bellini was also compromised being soggy. It did taste good with a balanced sweetness (as hoisin can be rather overwhelming). I did enjoy the salmon bacon as it was crispy and caramelized while the tuile was equally crunchy.
We then made the short stroll over to Solly's Bagelry where we endured a short wait. However, the wait was worth it since they wanted to present their items in the best way possible - freshly made (unlike Whole Foods). We were treated to 3 items including a Potato Knish, Potato Latka and Cottage Cheese Muffin with strawberry jam. Everything was warm and yummy. The knish featured a lightly crispy exterior giving way to a soft pillowy potato goodness. Crunchy and slightly oniony, the latka was topped with sour cream. We found the muffin to be densely soft with the sweetness of jam.
Taking a break from food, we went for some bevvies at Milano Coffee Roasters. We were started off with a Single Shot Macchiato. This was pretty rich and full of body as it was made with their cognac espresso. We snacked on some Granola with almond milk from Granola Girl as well. From there, we sampled some Juices from Nectar and then finished off with a Stove Top (Americano with liquid gold and cream). From the selection available, I was most surprised by the Hazelnut Almond Milk as it could've fooled me for a lightly sweetened chocolate milk. It wasn't as creamy, but the flavours were good while the sugar content was minimal.
Still trying to forget the disappointment from Bao Down (Gastown) the day before, we were a bit apprehensive about visiting Bao Down on West 4th. Well, everything was at least 100% better with a more refined version of their Morning Glory Bao and Beignet. From the eggs to the hashbrown, the textures were on point while the banana ketchup brought everything together with a smooth sweetness. As for the beignet, it was crunchy (not hard like the day before) with a soft interior, but they put far too much sugar on it. Just a like dusting would've been sufficient.
Our last stop was Glory Juice Company where we sampled 3 juices which were all flavour explosions. Without adding any water, the flavours were super concentrated and impactful while being healthy. This was in contrast to the ones we sampled at Nectar. However, this would be highly subjective as to what type of juice you are looking for. Last but not least, the Seed Bar we were given to try was pretty good with a butterness from the coconut oil and nice crunch from the ingredients. It reminded me of Chinese coconut candy. At the end, we thought this crawl was seemed a bit less fulfilling than the one in Gastown. However, if you like juices, this would've worked for you.
*All food and drinks were complimentary*
The Good:
- Not particularly heavy food
- Walkable
The Bad:
- Heavy on the beverages
- Juices were only samplers without full servings
Named one of Canada's best new restaurants by EnRoute Magazine over 2 years ago, Farmer's Apprentice has been on my bucket list since. However, each time we planned to go, it was during their annual vacation. This time around, we persevered and booked a time right after they got back. However, their once simple farm-to-table menu became even simpler with a set $55.00 dinner consisting of 7 tasting courses. With fairly high expectations, we all decided on the Omnivore menu.
Being a bit anti-climatic, our favourite dish of the meal was the first being the Fermented Tomato Dashi. As simple as it appeared, the flavours practically exploded with hits of aromatic tartness from last year's heirloom tomatoes. Also, the use of kombu added an umaminess that was further heightened by the oregano oil. Either I was super hungry or I was off my game since I decided to start eating my Warm Kale Salad before I took a photo of it. We had to reconstruct one (messily I might add) for that purpose. The slightly wilted kale was complimented by pickled coronation grapes, toasted buckwheat and cashew cream. This was pretty tasty as the vinaigrette was impactfully acidic and slightly sweet. I thought the ingredients were well-thought out and harmonized with each other including the smooth and aromatic cashew cream.
We then moved onto the first of two proteins with the Albacore Tuna with cabbage and carrot jus. High quality and buttery soft, the tuna was naturally sweet and emanated a taste of the sea. There was a very mild sweetness from the jus which let the tuna shine, but could've used a bit more punch. After this dish, the wait for the Mangalitsa Pork with poached pear was nearly 40 minutes long. Not sure what the problem was, but that is not good pacing in our opinion. Even though the pork was on point in its preparation being tender with a touch of pink, the dish as a whole was underwhelming. We found that the mustard and pork jus was far too low-key (albeit pleasantly sweet). The pork itself didn't have enough inherent flavour to stand on its own.
Next, we were served a visually stunning and whimsical dish sporting a slice of Celery Root topped with prosciutto and egg yolk. Served on the side were Red Fife Parker Rolls accompanied by onion butter. Unlike the rest of the table (their reception was lukewarm), I liked individual components of the dish. The egg yolk was perfectly runny where I soaked it up with the warm rolls that benefited from the sweet and aromatic whipped onion butter. Although the prosciutto added the necessary saltiness, I was indifferent with the starchy root. For dessert, we were served grated Frozen Gala Apples with elderflower sherbert and meringue. We were universally unimpressed with this as there were whole clumps of frozen and bland apples. As much as the tart sherbert saved the dish from being flavourless, it wasn't enough to change our minds.
Arriving with the final bill, we were treated to little bites consisting of Corn Bread with whey cream. These little bites were almost crunchy and a pleasant end to a decent, yet not particularly memorable tasting meal. Over the next week I thought about it the meal some more to see if our expectations were too high. However, despite the reasonable-pricing ($55.00) for the tasting menu, there wasn't enough there to make us return. Strangely, Viv and I much preferred our visit to their sister restaurant (Grapes & Soda). To be fair, the meal was still good execution-wise while the service was solid.
The Good:
- Meal as a whole was executed properly
- Attentive service
- Ingredients were fresh and good quality
The Bad:
- Flavours were not impactful (as if something was missing)
- With only 2 menus available per month, there are limited options
Sometimes, I wonder if McD's can actually qualify as cheap eats any longer (especially when there are no coupons involved). I've spent nearly $30.00 to feed myself, Viv and the kids at McD's on many occasions. However, it donned on me that I can spend roughly the same amount at a real restaurant such as The Warehouse in Downtown Vancouver. So when I was in the neighbourhood of the Hastings Warehouse, we stopped by for some cheap eats (with realistic expectations).
Having already visited the original location as well the one in Whistler Village, I was well aware of what to expect. For me, I like to compare The Warehouse to Allegiant Air since there is an advertised low price, but all the extras will quickly add up. To begin, Smiles went for 2 dishes (and that's what usually happens when things are only $4.95) including the Bacon Poutine and Chicken Caesar Wrap. Featuring crunchy fries topped with cheese curds, salty gravy and a decent amount of bacon, this was a serviceable version of poutine. I would've liked to see more cheese, but I guess we couldn't expect much for the price. Her wrap was pretty standard stuff, yet did contain a good amount of not overly dry breast meat. It wasn't overdressed, so it ate cleanly.
I got 2 orders of Chicken Wings for the table including the honey garlic and salt and pepper. These were actually pretty good where the meat was not dried out, even with the crispy exterior. I enjoyed the simple salt and pepper wings more as the honey garlic was more sweet than garlicky. For my main, I went for the Braised Beef Spaghetti that arrived as a modest portion (again, for the price...). Not gourmet by any stretch of the imagination, it was decent nonetheless. The pasta was decently al dente while there was enough meat for every bite. I wouldn't say the meat was dry, but it wasn't overly moist either. I found that the minimal amount of "sauce" enabled the pasta to stay chewy. In terms of taste, there was a noticeable tartness to go with a background meatiness.
Swim also had beef in the Braised Beef Quesadilla served with guacamole and salsa. Although not impressive to look at, the dish ate well with lots of beef in a slightly crispy shell. Not aggressively seasoned, the decently tender meat was natural-tasting. Again, the portion size reflected the menu pricing. Loud Mouth decided on the Nachos as his lunch (not sure why...) and although it looked alright, there wasn't really much food on the plate. Considering that a burger could be had for the same price, this was too small even for the low cost. There was not much to about it as they were nacho chips with the usual stuff on top.
Of course the best values, IMO, at the Warehouse are their burgers. Vape had the BBQ Burger featuring the usual produce with cheese and bbq sauce on a brioche bun. Although the meat was far from moist, the rest of the burger was fine, especially the soft bun. The side of peppered fries were like the ones in the poutine being crispy and light. Worth $4.95 in our opinion. However, not everything is worth even that low price (specifically the nachos). Yes, the place is reasonable, but the food is generally reflective of that and as mentioned, the cost can quickly climb when adding extras, beverages and refills.
The Good:
- Menu price is cheap
- Serviceable eats
The Bad:
- Food generally reflects the price
- Price can rise quickly if you don't watch it
Posts
Our registration point and first stop was at the Granville Island Hotel or more specifically, Dockside Restaurant. We were treated to something a bit different with made-to-order Chili Squid. There was a dedicated chef preparing the squid in small batches that ensured optimum freshness and food integrity. Hence, the little bits of crunchy batter stayed crunchy while the peppers, garlic and seasoning were aromatic being hot from the pan. The squid itself was tender, yet still retaining an appealing chewiness. This was probably the best bite of the night.
After the squid, we ended up at Granville Island Brewing for 2 beer pairings. The first consisted of their signature IPA paired with Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel from ChocolaTas. This worked in our opinion as the creamy and sweet chocolate balanced out the hoppiness of the crisp IPA. Next, we had a Taco topped with cremini mushroom, flank steak, cilantro slaw and tomato jalapeno salsa. It was paired with the Hey Day Hefeweizen. As much as the hef was light and tasty with clove notes, it was completely overshadowed by the spiciness of the taco. We weren't really sure what they were intending, but my guess is the hef was supposed to cool the spiciness? Anyways, the taco was pretty good being spicy as mentioned as well as sporting tender slices of beef and a good amount of acidity.
Finally fulfilling the "art" portion of the event, we made the short walk to the Barbara Arnold Artist Studio featuring a selection of her work. There was an interesting array of textured art that displayed a 3D-effect. This was an interesting way to distract us from food and drink. However, it wasn't long before we turned our focus back to eating as The Lemon Square had set up shop right in the studio. If you haven't had this little sweet morsel before, be prepared for an impactful zing from the lemon balanced out by the buttery crust underneath. If you eat more than one, it does get a bit sweet, but still good in my opinion.
The drinking continued at Liberty Wine Merchants where we were able to sample 2 wines accompanied by little bites from Terra Breads. I sampled the Picpoul de Pinet which was somewhat fruity and floral with some zing to it. Apparently it is one of their best sellers and is reasonably-priced. As for the red, it was the Monterail Costières De Nîmes. This was pretty smooth with only some bite at the end. From Liberty Wine, we headed over to Liberty Distillery for some more booze in the form of a cocktail called the Basford (Endeavour Gin, rosemary-grapefruit cordial and fresh lemon juice). Although this was fruity and bright, the gin was pretty potent. My little taste of their Truth Vodka yielded even more strong results. They are not playing around here with their spirits...
Back to the food, we turned the corner and paid Off the Tracks Espresso Bar & Bistro. There, we were served their locally roasted Espresso paired with Carrot Cake. But before I dug into it, we had the Slow-Cooked Chorizo & Yam Tacos. As evidenced in the picture, the taco was generously filled with soft and slightly spicy chorizo and sweet yams. Sweet and moist, the carrot cake went well with the strong espresso that had a vinegary finish. The boozing continued at our next stop - Artisan Sake Maker. They paired the Junmai Nama with 2 little bites including Paillot de Chevre and SakeKasu Bon Bon. As much as Sake can be pretty strong, this one was fairly light and fruity. The goat's cheese and cocoa dusted truffle didn't hurt things either. 
One last art stop was at Studio 13 Fine Art featuring the works of Alice Rich. As clearly illustrated in the picture, her abstract works are colourful and striking. We were able to peruse the gallery while sipping on a choice of red or white wine with cheese, grapes and other little snacks. We ended the night at New Leaf Creative Solutions where Bon Macaron set up shop. By the end of the night, they were running low in variety, but we were still able to sample a few Macarons. I've tried their Goat Cheese & Fig in the past and decided to stick to the familiar. Sweet and not overly gamy, the macaron featured a lightly crisp shell yielding a soft interior. So this was the end of a 3-hour walking tour of the lesser-known spots on Granville Island. As much as there wasn't a whole lot of food, there was an equal amount of alcohol. So one's enjoyment will depend on expectations.
