Category Archives: News

What is happening in your area.

10.10.10
by

Afterthoughts on the Ribfest

The skies over the Victoria Airport was high with a lot of friendly, competitive, fun at the Peninsula Ribfest. The third annual event came and went, and just like any other party, it was not without its hitches. I saw some of them when I went there, and had a few things to say.

But after having had a chance to talk to Rick Peters, one of the event organizers and owner of RC Grillhouse and Lounge, I learned that a lot of those hiccups aren’t really their fault.

“The same thing happened last year,” explains Rick. “We originally had 35 teams in, but lost a lot of them because unbeknownst to us, there was a chef’s conference up island this year. We lost a lot of the major hotels. They dropped out 3-4 days prior.”

Continue reading →

09.14.10
by

Chef Dave Higgins and his New Venture

 

Chef Dave Higgins passed along word of his plans to open a deli in September in the Happy Valley Market. He wants to offer a take-out option for families seven nights a week, and his plan is to use fresh local ingredients. The menu for the takeaway will alternate daily with meat pies, lasagna, pizza and shepherds pie. He’s estimating the price for a meal for four might be $19.95.

Higgins recently exhibited his talent at the Goldstream Station Market’s zucchini show-off. And he’ll be cooking for the 4th Annual Harvest Supper at Colwood’s Church of the Advent (September 26, 2010). Tickets are $15 for adults and they can be purchased at the Goldstream Station Market. It’s a good opportunity to taste some of Chef Higgins’ work. But hurry, the supper sells-out every year.

Update (July 8, 2011):
Chef Dave Higins is currently employed at the Basilico Ristorante & Lounge at 832 Goldstream Avenue in Langford.

05.11.10
by

All I can say is I’m game!

You tell me James. I’ve been reviewing diners and restaurants for my college paper, Nexus, for the past year and I look forward to branching out and covering more than just the beaten path. I know my focus is for the starving student who wants someplace close by to quickly head to, but there’s more than just Victoria, BC to review — there’s the world!

Well, for now, I want to cover the entire southern Vancouver Island region because there are some great places that not everyone will know about. They deserve mention even if they’ve been covered to death in other magazines and review sites.

I want to brave the Colwood Crawl to try places out where you live, James, and also head up to Sidney, BC to get a Taste of Tokyo. I’ve been there, loved what I ate, but can chefs bring it home to here in this quaint town we live in known as Victoria? Sidney is just a short bus ride away, so I have to head there … if not to buy books, then definitely to dine there.

While we all know Victoria is a tourist haven, let’s see if we can find complete meals for less than $20. Sometimes it can be done and sometimes it can’t. That’s going to be our mission.

Can we do it? By hook or by crook, we’re going to try.

Avast ye mates, we’re off to sail the seven seas! Now where’s that eyepatch?

Nevermind, I have my fedora.