Category Archives: Food

02.12.13
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Visiting Ming’s for Chinese New Year

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Ming’s Restaurant
1321 Quadra Street
Victoria, BC
(250) 385-4405

E: Either I’m far too critical about my culture’s approach to cooking a decent meal or I do not find Chinese food all that tasty anymore. Has my palate been spoiled? Or when it comes to dining out during the start of Chinese New Year, are the cooks at Ming’s feeling just too unsympathetic to wanting to create a tasty meal? What James and I ate here was a mixed bag of digestion problems.

Hours later, after the meal, I have to wonder if the MSG in my tummy is turning sour.

J: I think it’s possible Ed’s stomach was revolting on him. It may be the cultural background. My grandmother, a Newfoundlander, can’t look at seafood now without feeling ill or having bad memories resurface. Back in Port Rexton/Trinity Bay they used to use squid when growing the potatos> Back then it was used to fertilize the soil and now it is something I consider eating. Sorry granny but I love seafood.

I’m not sure if it’s a Scottish hand-me-down or having Newfoundlander in my blood but either way you and grandad are partly to blame. Perhaps in future I need to steer Ed clear of a Chinese restaurant or else I’ll be steering him to the closest open window. But in this small city of Victoria, the Two Hungry Blokes, like General George Armstrong Custer, are surrounded by them. Ed may commit Seppuku. I’m sorry Ed but I’m eating my way out of this one. Tell my future wife (or the closest facsmilie thereof) and my illegitimate children that I would have loved them…maybe.

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02.11.13
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The Beacon & Eggs Super-sized Challenge

Note: This restaurant is no longer at this location

Beacon and Eggs
Suite 3-2305 Beacon Avenue 
Sidney, B.C.

E: Only James could get lost in the small downtown of Sidney, B.C. We were off to Beacon and Eggs since the Breakfest Club needed to be challenged, y’know?

I mean, this man can eat his weight in gold! He lives in the 80’s and still loves the Japanese anime from that era. Just look at him, and he’ll tell you his many fond memories of growing up at places he’s not seen for close to two decades.

J: It’s all true and do I regret any of it? Hardly. I am who I am and I’m a man who can put away 6 eggs benedict and still retain my hunger (I’ve never attempted 7 because I don’t wish to appear as the little piggy).

I got lost in Sidney because I confused Pier One Restaurant with Beacon and Eggs. It’s a simple mistake. Ed didn’t think so but I managed to drown out his voice and enjoy one of the little communities I so love.

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02.05.13
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Ebizo’s Worth the Wait

Ebizo Sushi
604 Broughton St.
Victoria, BC
250-383-3234

J: Nothing says hungry like a magazine launch party at Belmiro’s Restaurant & Lounge when Ed and I show up too early. To be honest, I ate very little in expectation of us consuming mass quantities of hors d’oeuvres and fine wines at the Niche Magazine Red Carpet Gala.

My back up plan was to wander the streets of downtown Victoria using our eyes and noses to locate good eats.

E: And that usually means trouble for two hungry walruses like us. We were not quite the blokes tonight. I pointed out the nearest place was a Japanese restaurant that we often pass by, but always arrive at the worst possible timing.

We finally arrived at Ebizo, Victoria’s quaintest place to have a bite of Japanese cuisine!

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02.04.13
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Movie & Food News & Reviews: Godzilla’s Alive! And Uchida Keeps the Tradition

Uchida Eatery/Shokudo
A22-633 Courtney St.
Nootka Court
Victoria, BC
250-388-7383

In a mad rush to a Springboard Lecture to launch 2013’s Victoria Film Festival, a quick bite was needed. Inside Nootka Court, I lucked out at seeing that Uchida was still open. I remember this place used to be Daidoco, but this operation closed before James and I could return to weigh in at more of the tastes this Japanese diner offered.

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01.17.13
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This Clay Pigeon Can Fly

The Clay Pigeon
1002 Blanshard Street
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 590-6657

J: They say two birds in the hand are worth three in the bush. But it only took one bird, the Clay Pigeon, to be worth 3 food lovers. Ed and myself were accompanied by none other than Donald Kennedy of the Victoria Burger Blog and were more than glad to have his insight. Ed and I were finally able to relax in the atmosphere that is the Clay.

Our server for the night, Darion, was smart and had wonderful taste. Her knowledge of the menu and the ingredients involved in our meals astounded me. I should’ve tipped her more because her services in my opinion are worth double.

Perhaps I shall return with a “tip part 2” in a marked envelope. I knew this place was class as we were served glasses of water with small wedges of lemon bobbing about.

E: Her friendliness was what made the Clay Pigeon experience worthwhile. James and I heard of the food quality, but to finally be there with friends is what made this particular visit even better. And I finally got to try the crispy fried pig’s ear.

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01.12.13
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A Hitchhiker’s Guide to La Fiesta, Episode Three .. or is that Four?

La Fiesta Cafe
G-12 1001 Douglas St.
Sussex Building
Victoria, BC
(250) 383-6622

E: I sounded off before on how I like La Fiesta on the corner of Douglas and Broughton, but very rarely can I convince James to hit a favourite place of mine. Not only that, they are open super late at night to make seeking out a quick bite possible.

J: Yes, they are now open Fridays and Saturdays until 3am for the bar crowd and late night/early morning walkers like myself. Yes, it is just after the holidays but downtown Victoria still closes early even on Saturday nights. It might be one of the reasons Victoria businesses suffer financially. Why go into town for a movie at the The Vic Theatre when you know almost everything will be closed after the film credits roll. Unless you want to drink ’til intoxication, there is little to do.

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