Category Archives: Reviews

06.15.16
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[Vancouver, BC] Tasting the Old World of Japan at The Sandbar

Sandbar Img_1229 The Sandbar
#102 – 1535 Johnston St.
Granville Island
Vancouver, BC
(604) 669-9030

J: Ed’s a picky person when it comes to sushi and there aren’t many places I can lead him to when it involves food that he is so well versed in. But for The Sandbar, all I needed to mention was that the sushi chef was properly trained and from Japan. After that it didn’t matter that Omni channel did a documentary that involved The Sandbar and our sushi chef in question, Ed was already sold on the word “Japan.”

All I knew is that this was as close as I’ve ever had to sample the sushi one might find in Jiro Dreams of Sushi.

E: And with irony, that’s the only sushi chef James will ever know of. I had to wonder how he’d fare if we didn’t go to the Victoria Foodie Festival’s premiere show some years back. They’re now known as Feast, Food & Film, and I wonder if more Japanese chefs will be spotlighted?

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06.09.16
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[Victoria, BC] 4th Annual Kaleidoscope Family Theatre To Paint Centennial Square with Fun June 11-12th

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$12.00 Adults
$10.00 Children, Students & Seniors

Victoria’s Centennial Square will soon be transformed into more than just a Kaleidoscope of fun, thrills and joy! Not only is this seminal theatre production company hosting this theatre festival in the heart of downtown, but also Puente Theatre, Outpost 31 and The Purple Pirate will participate. Together, they will be offering productions which includes The Little Prince, Gruff (based on the Norwegian fairy tale “Three Billy Goats Gruff”), Winnie the Pooh and Magic & Mayhem being displayed by these respective performance groups. There is more than one show, so families can check their whimsy in nearly any time of the day from 11am to 5pm.

Music by Ride the Cyclone creator Brooke Maxwell will be part of the show.

The 4th Annual Kaleidoscope Family Theatre Festival takes place June 11-12 and it will be inviting audiences to free their imagination and celebrate the best in what the performing arts can offer for young people.

“The stories being told at the 2016 Festival encourage families to experience the magic of live theatre,” said Roderick Glanville, Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope. “From a rocking musical for two goats and a troll, to the exploration of the unknown, these plays will inspire audiences of all ages and invite them on a journey to a new way of imagining, thinking, and being.”

For two full days, audiences will enjoy unique theatrical experiences alongside free performances from beloved Victoria entertainers Cam and Daisy. The Festival’s Activity Village makes it easy for the whole family to be creatively adventurous together with such activities as mask making, face painting, dress up booth, and more.

The festival marks the first official use of Kaleidoscope’s Igloo theatres. The largest of the two igloos measures 15.2 metres wide and 7.3 metres high will feature three productions seating 150 audience members, with the smallest of the igloos housing Kaleidoscope’s The Little Prince in an intimate 50 seats performance. The igloo’s are inflated through continued forced air and will create a whimsical theatre environment in Centennial Square.

Tickets can be purchased online at rmts.bc.ca, by phone at 250-386-6121, in advance through the McPherson Playhouse Box Office or during the Festival at the on-site box office. The schedule of performances is as follows (please click to enlarge):

 

FTF-Schedule

06.08.16
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This Old Fork lies in Duncan, BC

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The Old Fork
140 Trans-Canada Hwy
Duncan, BC
(250) 597-3027

The Old Fork can easily be missed when driving through Duncan, BC to further points beyond. This diner is tucked inside the Travelodge and although established in 2013, the feel of this place is rustic. Photos of Duncan from its historic days decorate the entryway and inside, I thought I’d find a ghost or two to tell some tales. I had to wonder what stood here before this motel. Perhaps the land has history but not necessarily the building.

The waitress was welcoming and on a quiet day, I could sit anywhere and enjoy the old world ambience. Looking at the photos reminded me of the fact that there is more to this town. Wayfarers should be reminded there more to this township than just a highway. The Whippletree Junction may well be a more colourful and desirable place to visit in the tourist sense but sometimes the best secrets lay on the beaten track. You just have to stop, listen and look.

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06.04.16
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Head over to Cook Street Village to Experience “The Next” in Modern Japanese Cuisine

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The Next
#104-240 Cook St
Victoria, BC
(778) 433-4490

I often wonder if Japanese food can be elevated to new heights. Fusion-style sushi rolls are the nouveau thing where ingredients typical from another region (or for particular tastes) are blended. I just can not get used to cream cheese in rolls because I’ve found chefs use too much, and maybe one day I’ll find the person who knows how to use it sparingly to bring out the taste of the other ingredients.

But just how far can innovation go? What about other common street food? One of the staples of this ethnic nation is about how much folks love their ramen. There’s a quintessence needed to make the noodle special. Without the proper delicate balance between the four basic ingredients used, the noodle can fall apart. There won’t be a firmness that’s savoured and unless it is done right, I can’t quite be willing to return to an operation in the quest for eating more.

Sure, James swears by one operation, Kuma. I give him props for sticking to what he likes but I’ll keep teasing him because he’s faithful to this operation as much as how he’s dedicated to Sushi Plus. He lives in a small world. I’m always broadening my world in my search to find that one special place that recreates what I adored from decades ago. A Japanese operation used to occupy Yates where they made the most colourfully presented ramen that I enjoyed. The Next comes close. Their portion sliced BBQ pork in the dish I had was huge. Missing was the wakame, but in what’s used in their place, some pickled radish, crispy kale and thinly sliced carrot made up for what I call ramen with a West Coast twist. The soy broth was delicate and I did not want to come up for air because I really enjoyed the mix of textures offered. I can easily start to love this western style twist to a traditional staple.

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06.01.16
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There’s a La Tana between Fan Tan Alley and Market Square

la tana IMG_20151017_133023409La Tana Italian Bakery
101-3 Fan-Tan Alley
Chinatown
Victoria, BC
(250) 920-6213

La Tana is a bakery located a few doors away from Fan Tan Alley‘s south side entrance and when I was crossing the street from Market Square to head to Triple Spiral, I was detoured away by the luxurious smells that emerged out of here. The lunch time crowd was fairly sizable, and when the sandwiches are made out of fresh ciabatta bread, I can understand why this place is popular.

Not only is the owner raised on traditional values when he was growing up in Italy but also he gave up a more brilliant career (he was to be a computer programmer) to focus on his love for bread. I can see why with the scents that drew me in like a mouse to cheese, and with plenty of baked snacks lining the displays, I was tempted to get more than just a sandwich on this visit. Each day presents a different variety of baked sweets and I thought about grabbing some Lingues and Pizza Blancas.

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06.01.16
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2016 Feast: Food & Film Begins June 17, 2016!

June 17 & 18, and June 24 & 25.

Feast-2016-Facebook_PULPFICTION_event2-03.jpgLocations:
Vic Theatre
808 Douglas St
Victoria, BC

Victoria Distillers
9891 Seaport Pl
Sidney, BC

Phillips Backyard
2010 Government St
Victoria, BC

The Victoria Film Festival’s Foodie Food Festival is now known as FEAST: Food & Film and it’s back for a fourth year, offering a new course in its evolution. Much like a restaurant and dining experience, you can’t have the same meals over and over again. The visit has to be different over time. Once held at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, the venue will also change too. This event will be running for over two weekends in June, beginning mid-month. I’m unsure of which films I want to truly hit (my budget is being saved for an upcoming Summer convention and unfortunately I have to be scaling back), but it’s a safe bet Pulp Fiction will be first and foremost!

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