Well, the Olympics came and went and life as we know it here on the West Coast of Canada seems to have gone on as usual. My personal experience of the Games seemed to consist of a lot of going out and "looking for the Olympics." I could see the flame even if it was behind an ugly chain-link fence; after each hockey win for Canada, I could certainly hear the crowds. The lines in front of the Russia House, the House of Saxony, the BC Pavilion, the Mint and even for the non-Olympian Leonardo at the Art Gallery, confirmed that something was going on but, as is so often the case in life, I had a sneaky feeling that the real deal was going on somewhere without me. In the meantime, most of the really good things in Vancouver remain and are accessible and reliably delightful as ever. These are in no particular order. There are some new ones too. I'll start with, and say a little more about, the latest additions:
1. Xoxolat at 2391 Burrard. (www.xoxolat.com) I know they've been there for a while but I've just discovered them and what a discovery! I wandered in on a rainy April afternoon and talked to "Chief Chocolate Officer" Hodie Rondeau about chocolate. Sometimes, you just feel like talking about chocolate and on those days, Hodie is your woman. Unlike that other great temple of chocolate around the corner, the iconic Chocolate Arts which specializes in making its own, (see below) Hodie's Xoxolat also imports some of the finest makes of chocolate from chocolatiers around the world. Try the French Pralus brand's chocolate covered cocoa beans or select one of the wildly eccentric bars from Austrian Herr Zotter's range -avocado and mandarin yogurt?
2. Baguette & Co at 3273 West Broadway is a real French bakery. You've seen hundreds just like it all over Paris. The 'boulanger' Adrien Fabre is from Montpelier, the Patissier, Thibault Champel, is from the Ardeche. So, finally, it's possible to buy a croissant in this town that is not the size and consistency of a bath sponge. Phew!
3. Coast restaurant at its new location on Alberni St. The ever-dynamic Glowbal group recently shifted Coast from Yaletown to this downtown location. They still serve some of the best seafood in town and they add nice touches like telling you who caught what and where. (Jay Gold on the "Miss Venus" caught my sablefish). The "fish and chips hand roll" on the sushi menu is not to be missed - like Willy Wonka's magical candies, it delivers all the tastes and textures of fish and chips in an elegant little sushi cone. If you can, sit in the upstairs gallery. It's like being an audience member in a front-row seat at the big, exuberant show that is Coast. www.coastrestaurant.ca
4. Chocolate/raspberry tart at Caper's - Caper's has one of the best pastry cooks in town - add to that seriously dark chocolate and a not too sweet raspberry coulis and you have a tart worthy of Paris (said the bishop to the actress). And I know it's Whole Foods now but not here.
5. 'Fresh is Best' salsa, guacamole, chips etc on 2900 block Broadway in Kitsilano - their tortilla chips are so fresh and crispy- best I've tasted, their guacamole with a hint of cilantro, and salsa are 'squisiti' as the Italians say.
6.Baked chicken samosa at Choices. Beware, the kids in the deli are ALWAYS mixing up the chicken and veg. But since the veg is a lot of spicy potatoes and a few peas etc, the ground chicken is a much better bet and baked so not too greasy.
7.Chocolate Arts - chocolatier 2037 W 4th - elegant, original and utterly delicious. Nut-types rave about the "splinter" roast nuts in chocolate. I love the lemon-basil truffle. Best chocolate in town.
8. Cornbread at Terra Breads on 4th or Granville. I once had some French friends who arrived in town, sniffed, as the French are wont to do and headed out in search of 'real bread'. They came back with baguettes from Terra but the cornbread is fabulous - with onions and cheddar cheese or is it Asiago? Oh damn - will have to go buy some and see.
9.View from The Galley cafe at Jericho Yacht Club. Just a caf with self-service good, basic food and the most jaw-droppingly beautiful view in Vancouver.
10.Caffe Artigiano - opposite the Vancouver Art Gallery on Hornby or on Broadway - best coffee in town. Get your lumpy bums out of Starbucks this instant!
11.The restaurant at Vancouver Art Gallery - most elegant and reasonably priced lunch place in the city. Lunch on the terrace surrounded by flowers and ornamental trees with a background of classical music is a spring and summer treat.
12.Kits' Pool. Summer is approaching and I had to list something other than food. Blimey this thing is big! I felt like I'd swum in from London first time I completed a length but what a setting - it looks out on snow-capped mountains, Stanley Park and, the Pacific Ocean.
13. Various Chinese produce stores on Broadway between MacDonald and Alma. I favour Golden Valley, sometimes Tim's. Young's has the biggest following but the noisy music, surly staff and long lines don't make it worth the few cents I might save. New Apple Farm always seems to be a bit more expensive.
14. Sambal green beans at Banana Leaf - you can feel virtuous by getting your veggies and still eat one of the tastiest dishes on this very popular and good menu.
15. Hollywood Cinema on W. Broadway in Kitsilano - $5 for a Monday night double bill in this family-run Art Deco treasure. The Last Picture show lives on here in Kits.
16. The pizza at the Olympia Greek restaurant on Denman - delicious crust, generous helpings.
17. Still on pizza - Rocky Mountain Pizza Co - out of Canmore, Alberta and frozen in stores here or at their restaurant
at 1st and Cypress.
18.Gruyere and Mushroom tart at Coco & Olive on Broadway at the far end near Collingwood. Another truly French establishment. He is pricey and servings seem to be getting smaller but this tart puts your average bland quiche to shame.
19. Go Fish - fish and chip shack at Fisherman's Wharf near Granville Island - the days are getting warmer and a basket of fish and chips by the water here is a Vancouver summer treat. Bald eagles sometimes hover enviously in the skies above.
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