Blokes Break for the Border

soft tacos porto.jpg

Puerto Vallarta Amigos

500 Yates Street.

Dock C-12
Fisherman’s Wharf,
1 Dallas Rd.


Uptown Center,
3400 Saanich Road.
Victoria
, BC

(250) 514-5362

Hernande’z
735 Yates Street
Victoria, BC
(250) 884-5313

2015 Update: Puerto Amigos has since expanded operations to include one operating at Fisherman’s Wharf and Uptown Center.

E: No, James didn’t have sex change operation, but I like to introduce you to guest-writer, Janine Crockett. She’s a fellow classmate at Camosun and is a vegetarian. It’ll make for an interesting dynamic for the times when can get a different point of view when she’s able to join the team for our foodie outings. When there are times that James can’t make it out, I hope Janine can too.

After all the sushi I had in the past few weeks, a yen for soft tacos started to emerge and we went to Puerto Vallarta Amigos, a vending truck operation that’s said to make some delicious meals on the go.

J: Thanks, Ed. I’m glad you cleared up my introduction. I wouldn’t want to confuse any of James loved ones or my own for that matter.

As Ed said I’m a vegetarian, I find Mexican food is generally a good go to for me if I’m looking for a fast meal around town. I never heard of Puerto Vallarta but I was excited to give them a go. I was surprised at their vegetarian selection of tacos. They had three equally different choices and with six coming in an order, I chose to go with two of each.

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Gateway to Ireland

Dubh Linn Gate Pub
4320 Sundial Crescent
Whistler, BC
(604) 905-4047

On my last day at Whistler, I made my way over to Dubh Linn Gate, an old Irish pub. As I looked around, I saw plenty of character in its decor and to my right was a good view of the main stage—this was where the performers would play during the 2011 Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival.

I was there before the dinnertime rush, and I found the half order of a Steak and Guinness Pie was more than enough to tide me over even after I made it back to the island–six hours later. I wondered what a full order ($17) would’ve been like.

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Sushi on the Go in Whistler

Fuji Market
204-4000 Whistler Way
Whistler, BC
(604) 962-6251

Sushi Village
4272 Mountain Square

Whistler, B.C.

(604) 932-3330

I do take out sushi all the time at Fujiya’s at Shelbourne on those days where I’m in a rush. With a video editing project to finish for next day, I wondered where I could find that kind of equivalent here in Whistler, BC.

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This Fish Ain’t no Whistlin’ Dixie

Nagomi Sushi
4557 Blackcomb Way
Whistler, BC
(604) 962-0404

Nagomi Sushi is a restaurant that opened in 2008 in Whistler, BC. After sampling their mackerel in their Saba-Bo Sushi platter ($14.50), this place had me whistling Dixie and then some. I haven’t had that level of fresh fish for a long time. When I bit into it, I knew I was biting into something that was fished out of the sea that day. I was more pleased to see some tender skin was left for me to nibble into.

And with a full fillet to fill me for the night, I had to wonder if I had room for the other two dishes I ordered. This one roll is enough to serve three, let alone the two gullets I was trying to make up for. But with a night of video editing before me, I needed all the brain juice that I could muster.

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Pizza Pirate’s Parley in Whistler

Misty Mountain Pizza
#203 – 4293 Mountain Square,
(604) 932-2825

Fat Tony’s Pizza
#6 – 4340 Sundial Place,
(604) 962-7744

Avalanche Pizza
#109 – 4295 Blackcomb Way,
(604) 932-3131

Eventually I knew I’d be eating on the cheap. When looking for a quick bite in Whistler, a pizza by the slice averages $3.50. For lunch, I did a walkabout, looking for as many pizza outlets that I could find. There are plenty of places listed in their dining guide, but to reach them all would take a few hours.

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The Village within a Village, Nihon-Style

Sushi Village
4272 Mountain Square
Whistler, BC
(604) 932-3330

When I entered Sushi Village, I was half expecting to be whisked away to feudal Japan. In Whistler, anything can happen, including sudden turns of the weather—but in this case, it’s a touch of the old world with the new, and a noisy neighboring table of Chinese tourists. A customer was complaining about the service and not getting what he ordered.

It had me wondering what I got myself into. The waitress’ unease disappeared when she approached me, and I could sense that she had a long day. The complementary green tea was served without any delay and it wasn’t hard for me to choose what I wanted—the SASSs roll ($14.95), a spicy tuna roll ($5.25), and a spicy scallop roll ($8.25) as my first round.

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