It’s bad enough Chicago doesn’t have a yearround market, at least like they do in Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Toronto. But when I saw the bustling Public Market on Granville Island, in an old fishing supply warehouse in the heart of Vancouver, I realized – yet again – that Chicago is light years away from … Continued
Even though I’ve been talking a lot about the food up here this week, it’s the wines that really grabbed my attention after a week of dining. At nearly every restaurant or upscale bar we walked into, a list bulging with BC pride – most of it from the Okanagan Valley – dominated the varietals we saw … Continued
I’ve fished in lakes throughout Minnesota – even went up to Lake-of-the-Woods once on the Canadian border – in search of walleye pike and Northerns. But fishing off the coast of Vancouver, it’s all about the sockeye salmon. Fortunately for me, the local fishery is in the midst of a four-year cycle, and last … Continued
There are some North American cities where a visit to Chinatown is a must: San Francisco, New York (actually prefer Flushing to Manhattan’s) and of course, Chicago. But when in Vancouver, a visit to Chinatown is a must. The Chinese population in the city is about 600,000 (125,000 of which are Canadian born). One … Continued
Chicago restaurateurs have been trying – in vain – to jump-start the izakaya trend here, but it hasn’t worked, at least not yet. These Japanese pubs are more lively than the typical sushi joint, with boisterous crowds, excellent sake and beer lists, and food options that go far beyond spicy tuna rolls. Masu Izakaya … Continued
I had heard of these little carts in Vancouver, on busy street corners, selling all manner of hot dogs topped with Japanese mayo, chili sauce and fine shards of nori (seaweed). ‚ When I approached the cart in the late afternoon, a steady line, eight or nine-deep hadn’t budged. ‚ They were here for the famously delicious … Continued
I’m not what you’d call an adventure-seeker. I haven’t sky-dived, and I don’t plan on doing a bungee jump anytime soon, but I would jump at the chance to get on zipline again, after my experience with Adrena Line Ziplines near the town of Sooke, about 45 min. from Victoria. You’re outfitted with a helmet … Continued
I’m not sure what I was more excited about, the fact that I could have pristine oysters from a number of British Columbia bays everyday of my vacation, or the fact that my nine-year-old son was now also a rabid fan of slurping the mollusks right alongside me. We saw Fanny Bay, Gorge Inlet … Continued
Like Hot Doug’s in Chicago and SriPraPhai in Queens, loyalists always drag out-of-towners to these meccas for a taste of foodie religion. They wait in long lines, perusing the menu, making difficult decisions from a list of enticing options. The same is true at Red Fish Blue Fish, a miniscule restaurant on a dock in Victoria, BC, housed in … Continued
If Wheaties is the “breakfast of champions,” then I’m Bruce Jenner. Marketing propaganda aside, I’ve never found the same satisfaction in a bowl of cereal as I have from a thick wedge of Sandra Holl’s fruity, caramel-laced bread pudding for breakfast. Holl has always sold her bread pudding at the Green City Market on Wednesdays and … Continued
Columbus Day is celebrated next Monday, and in addition to a big parade down the eponymous Avenue near Grant Park, Italians will be celebrating with lots of traditional food. You don’t have to look far to score a dollhouse-sized piece of lasagna or eggplant parm, but you would have to look a little harder … Continued