Author Archives: James Robert Shaw

11.22.11
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"I’ll Have a Pound of Ground Beef and a Dance Number Please"



One might think that being in a big city you’d expect a group of Occupy Vancouver members to dash into a corporate owned store and loot manufactured goods in the name of the people. Since that’s what a limited number of people thought the recent riots were for, not many are clever enough to repeat such a failure.

But in North Vancouver, an entirely different flash mob made it’s presence known. One can’t help but watch the Middle Eastern styled show unfold.

Russell Peters stars in Breakaway, a hockey comedy with an Indian flair. But maybe he’ll lend his star power to a Thrifty Foods produced Bollywood musical about a male grocery clerk who falls in love with a female customer above his station. Perhaps they’ll call it “Clean Up In Aisle Five.”

I’d pay admission price to see it.

10.30.11
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Sidney Walks, Shops Talk

If there’s one thing one learns of Sidney’s shopping district is that it works. It’s a self sustaining quaint little community that if ever a Walmart was dropped into the middle of it, Sidney would forever lose its slice of life image.

Independent shops, restaurants and food markets are the life blood of any community, and I marvel at the diversity when I shop in Sidney’s version of a High Street (Beacon Street). Places like the multi-faced Lunn’s would consider itself lucky to last 5 years in an area of empty shops and few jobs. They’ve been satisfying the appetites of the local community for 35 years.

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07.16.11
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My Samosa

Goldstream Flea Market
Every Sunday, 9am – 3pm
679 Goldstream Ave.
Goldstream Masonic Lodge
Langford, B.C.

Ooh my little pretty one, pretty one. When am I going to have some time, samosa?

If you hurry on down to the Goldstream Flea Market, you’ll meet a very unusual vendor. She’s not unusual for her taste in clothes or for her hair but she is unique for the food she serves. She deals in Samosas. These little curried pastry puffs were the creation of her husband.

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06.28.11
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Boylan’s Natural Root Beer

Available at Aubergine Specialty Foods and the Market on Millstream.

If I have to describe Boylan’s product in one word it would be “delicious.” But I don’t have to and if I did, it’d make for a very short article and this company deserves better. I discovered their brand of old-fashioned soda on a trip to one of the well-known local eateries, the Little Piggy.

Jersey’s Boylan Bottling Company is located in the area of the Hackensack River Watershed (a funny Jersey name) in the small town of Moonachie (which even sounds funnier). Their product was registered a year before Coca-Cola (1891.) And there are other good things that’ve come from New Jersey, such as the Four Seasons, Kevin Smith and Abbott & Costello. And if you believe the Moonachie locals, the Berry Creek Restaurant.

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05.31.11
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Goldstream Station Market 2011

Saturdays
10 am – 2 pm
May 28 – October 22, 2011
Bryn Maur Rd.
Langford, BC

I welcomed the return of the Goldstream Station Market and not even the rain could dampen my spirits. Many familiar faces from the local farming community, as well as talented crafters, were on hand to hail the start of another great market year.

The Shriners’ Clown Unit were out in full force sans makeup for the sake of collecting for charities. And with their old train on site (actually it’s just a vehicle with a steam engine facade), one couldn’t help but marvel at this Victoria Day parade veteran. With a pitched tent out the back of the caboose, the Shriners were ready to deliver some barbecued goodies. Continue reading →

04.07.11
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Trip the Fountain Fantastic

Fountain Diner
#102-2800 Bryn Maur Road
Langford, BC
(250) 590-6130

I said I was going to return to Fountain Diner for their lunch and boy was I surprised…at the line-up.

But once more, my parents were in tow as willing test subjects. Breakfast before was a disaster but what about lunch? I had seen Fountain’s previous advertisement for line cooks and I hoped it was of some good. I wasn’t willing to look my dad in the face for a second time just to see his disappointment.

I ordered their ‘Bad Ass Burger’ with fries that came to a slightly higher price of $12.49. It came with the usual trimmings of tomato, lettuce, mushrooms and cheese under a whole wheat bun top. An addition was red onion rings and bacon. Perhaps ‘Bad Breath Burger’ would be a more suitable name.

It’s not hard to make a burger but for some it’s harder to make a decent one.

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