Author Archives: Ed Sum

10.14.20
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Almost Home on the Range with Prairie Inn Neighbourhood Pub

Prairie Inn Neighbourhood Pub
7806 East Saanich Rd
Victoria, BC

Hours: 11am to 11pm, Sun to Sat
Phone: (250) 652-1575

The Prairie Inn is one of those cozy out of the way places for good bites to fill you up! I’ve been here a few times with pals who live in this Brentwood Bay area. They heartily recommend it, but with my critical tastes, it’s hard to say what’s worth ordering every time.

Plus, when this operation is older than me and has their faithful clientele, it’s tough to beat that reputation. I see that they keep up with the traditions of themed nights for every day eats. Although, with the season, the ambience is says it all more than the bites. I’m fairly sure the building is also haunted, and I’d love to return on a paranormal expedition!

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10.07.20
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Bubble Tea, Dat Tea or Ding Tea? The Troubling Decisions

Ding Tea
Unit #108, 3749 Shelbourne St.
Victoria, BC

Hours:
Sun to Sat 12pm to 11pm
Phone:
(778) 265-8622

Bubble teas aren’t the healthiest of drinks, and it really depends on the quality of the ingredients used. Ding Tea is a franchise operation which takes the latter seriously, and they’ve been around for four years.

When I’m seeing more competing specialty shops open in this city–the latest is Black Ball Taiwanese Dessert Café on Yates–I feel its time to start rating all the operations.

The main office claims this chain has fresh libations, and when I always see a line-up of customers at the Shelbourne Mall operation every time I’m here here to catch pocket monsters in Pokemon GO, I knew it’s time to try them out! The area is a frequent hotspot for good finds and this franchise should seriously consider sponsoring stops when considering there’s diners in every country! Like the AR game, the faithful carry more than one sweet pet in hand. I’m not sure if this loyal fan base is new or old. Border restrictions to prevent COVID-19 have lightened, but they are technically still in place.

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09.24.20
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Rose Tints My World at the Vicious Poodle

The Vicious Poodle
726 Johnson St,
Victoria, BC

Hours:
Weekdays Noon to 10pm
Weekends: 11:00am to 10pm

On a quiet day, nobody would immediately know the Vicious Poodle pub is one of the new centres where LGBTQ can find terrific eats and enjoy an evening burlesque or drag show. One look at the menu, the focus is obvious. Also, the decor tells all. After my visit to nerd row, I was hungry and didn’t want to hit any of my regular food spots.

Any dining operation can struggle to stay afloat during a pandemic. Not every patron is willing to “come out” to support their favourite diner, especially with all the stay safe for your health restrictions in place. When owner/operator Socrates Diamant worked on converting the Sockeye Sushi Japanese diner (it had a lot of box seating) space and made it open spaced and inviting, my heterosexuality was not challenged. Instead, I saw my quest for perfect French fries ongoing. After the first bite, I was ready to sing ou la la and do the can-can.

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09.09.20
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Pocky or Pepero? The Tough Decisions

Candy coated breadsticks are a staple of the Asian snack industry and the Pocky brand is the most well known. From green tea chocolate flavour to almond coated, the only limit is in which tastes are exported out of country for consumers to taste. Not every flavour has been made available, and what I found in Japan ages ago took a year or two before I can find it in North America.

When Fairway Market started carrying Pepero (by Lotte), I felt torn. There were flavours I wanted to try from this South Korean brand but I was loyal to Pocky. The choice simply boils down to just that and eventually I’d had to try. As for which tastes better, the difference is hardly noticeable. It’s more of a consumer choice.

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08.26.20
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[Victoria, BC] Theatre SKAM’s Backliners Livestreaming for Free!

Directed by Mikaela Haeusser
Written by Ellery Lamm
Performed by the SKAM Young Company

Showtimes:
Thursday August 27 – 7pm
Friday August 28 – 7pm

Livestreamed on Youtube at 
https://www.facebook.com/events/662270541043334/

Cost: FREE!
Duration: Under 75 minutes

Backliners opens on livestream for two nights only this week! Join the SKAM Young Company as they navigate the world of social anxiety from the backline.

THE PLAY
A group of teens are forced by their parents to take a weeklong improv class with the hopes of combating social anxiety. As they arrive closer to their final public performance, alliances and rivalries are formed, and tensions run high. Backliners is a comedy about vulnerability and the anxiety of feeling out of control. 

Please Note:
For ages 13+. There is a reference to suicide.

07.22.20
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A Fudd on The Hunt for a Food Truck

Image may contain: outdoorHours & Location: Varies
For the latest updates, please visit their website.

Be very, very quiet… I’m hunting risotto, Indecent Risotto. This operation is mostly found out in Westshore, but when they hit a farmer’s market or event in the City of Victoria proper, I’m there! Andrew Paumier and Shannon Moriarty are the fine folks in the truck, cooking up one of my favourite Italian fast foods. They source their ingredients locally and I suspect they also have a garden to harvest from for making their salads.

I’m glad this operation is mobile, otherwise just getting out to the boonies is not in the cards. They are frequently spotted in the Municipality of Sooke and out by Esquimalt Lagoon. Neither are easy to reach when I’m a Saanich boy at heart.

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