Category Archives: Food

Your guide to some of the best and inviting food establishments.

05.01.24
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Meditating on What Makes Pho Wisdom Better Than the Strip of Pho Eateries A Block Away

20240430_180235102-915 Fort St
Victoria, BC

Open:
Tues to Fri 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and 5–8 p.m.
Sat and Sun 12–8:30 p.m.

Menu: phowisdom.com
Phone: (250) 384-2971

Every time I take a stroll along Fort and count the number of Pho operations that exist along this street, I have to ask the big question: which one tastes the best and who in the right mind wants to challenge neighbouring competitors? Although I can’t answer the former query just yet, I’d say Pho Wisdom is the smartest of the bunch to not be so close. Plus, in addition to nearly everything that’s traditional in a Vietnamese menu, they got Thai too! 

In the next two weeks, they’ll be offering five different curries for the lunch and dinner crowd! I’ll certainly have to find time to return, as they’re claiming to be as genuine as this dish can be. 

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02.07.24
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Wanting Enercheez? Here’s Where To Find Them in 2024.

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Enercheez is a delicious snacking product that’s sold in select markets for a little more than seven years now, and they are finally hitting grocery stores! I discovered them over the weekend while at Thrifty’s Foods. And after doing some online fact checking, it seems they are more popular as a dried food product to take along for those camping expeditions. I assume that’s how they were sold when it came to market in 2017.

This cheese snack is made by Mountain Munchies, a family-owned company based out of Nelson, British Columbia. According to CEO Bruce Burgener, who said to Expert Navigator, “With the U.S. so close, it always seemed like the best market to access, however with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) there are other options and other countries excited to bring in Canadian products.” 

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01.17.24
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Not Quite Ole at 3 Gringos Mexican

20240106_115258735 Goldstream Ave
Langford, BC

Hours: Daily from 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Phone: (250) 391-4047

Out in the strip known as Langford’s “Downtown” core, the Three Gringos Mexican Cafe has always caught my attention. I’m not in this area often, but when I do, I like to make the most of my commute here to check out something new. With the 95 bus servicing the area every half an hour or so, I think I can visit a bit more, mostly because there’s a few holes in the wall gems that a former contributor expounded upon. While I don’t need to visit those particular places since they’re old, there’s been a few new places that has my notice. And when I’m in the area to play Dungeons and Dragons with a group who’ve made this community their homestead, I don’t mind the expedition!

While I don’t know who decided to open up this operation, John Landis’ movie The Three Amigos came to mind and I thought I’d find some kind of vibe to remind me of this place upon entering. The fiesta colours are welcoming, and I had to glance at the chalkboard to see what’s unique. Aside from licking my lips at the thought of churros to go with my lunch, I opted for the chip version to take to my gaming session. It’s a treat that’s best eaten fresh off the fryer than cold. The sweet taste is familiar, and the crisp is just right, but without the warmth, there’s just something missing.

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01.03.24
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When All I Crave is a BobaDog There’s Not Much to Bark About

20231210_1211251108 Blanshard St.
Victoria, BC

Hours: Daily from noon to 6:30 p.m.
With extended hours weekends
Phone: (778) 432-2622
Website: https://bobadogrestaurant.com/

ES: Every once in a while, all I want is a dog. It just has to be big and warm. As much as I would love to have a pet around the house to play with, I’m referring to the hot dog. When The Hot Dog Guys at Tillicum didn’t live up to all my expectations for themed dawgs, thankfully Bobadog Bubble Tea & Hot Dogs did not disappoint! I even had a Godzilla sized appetite….

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DK: While Ed was hoping Bobadog would erase bad memories of lesser dogs, I wasn’t looking for much. I pass by Bobadog multiple times a week, and would have been fine never going in. But when a friend is on a hot dog mission, by God, you stand beside him.

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12.06.23
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Confused? Well Don’t Be as The Wandering Mollusk is also Shuck Taylor’s (Diner) in #yyj

20231118_1427101324 Blanshard St.
Victoria, BC

Hours: Wed-Sat 11:30
Website: https://wanderingmollusk.com
Shuck Taylor’s (@shucktaylors) — Instagram

The Wandering Mollusk catering (food truck style operation) has a base of operations, and Shuck Taylor’s is the place to get as many oysters as you can eat, if not more! Thankfully there are various ways to enjoy these molluscs, and whether that’s raw or cooked, this place has it all! That also includes plans on how to expand. The last time I was in, I asked if sea urchin was possible. They are considering it, but there are a lot of things to consider, namely in how to keep them fresh!

I can’t wait for that to happen, since it’s rare to serve them fresh from the shell. They have a limited shelf life once removed from the sea and kept in its natural state. But if opened and put into a deep freeze, that’s a whole different ball game. I had the opportunity a long time ago to see how that’s done (article can be read here) and that experience will never be forgotten.

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11.08.23
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The Lebanese Burger Mafia, A Movie Review

The Lebanese Burger Mafia PosterTheatrical Release Date:
November 10, 2023

Who doesn’t love a good burger? When there are tons of franchise chains operating out of North America, much less the world, there are tons to choose from. As for locally owned and operated, there’s only a handful. Some made the transition to being a recognised brand worldwide and others forgotten. For one filmmaker who says he’s the heir to the Burger Baron franchise, the big question is will he have full rights to this name? And that’s led Omar Mouallem to explore this operation’s history in his excellent documentary, The Lebanese Burger Mafia.

Here, he not only looks at the chain’s early days from being a one off fast food operation that has grown beyond its britches. It was born under the entrepreneurship of Jack McDonnell coming to Canada in the hopes of building a new enterprise to rival that of McDonald’s. To expand the operation, he hired relatives to run the many diners across the country, but when he didn’t have any more to depend on, it became a franchise. But pretty soon, that operation collapsed under the weight of growing too fast, and some years later, Rudy Kemaldean “saved it.”

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