Category Archives: Reviews

Read along as we seek out the best of what the British Columbia coast (and beyond) has to offer.

02.14.13
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Dishing out Food Justice, Mexi-Style!

1580 Cook St
Victoria, B.C.
(836) 737-2623
Fall/Winter hours:
Tues to Sat 11:30am to 4pm

¡Ay, caramba! Fusion cuisine is nearly all the rage these days, and at Taco Justice League (TJL), they’re reinventing the tortilla in a food truck. This place serves soft tacos with a variety of fillings. From deep-fried tempura avocados to brined pulled pork, each food offering sounds delicious.

This operation is a block away from ‘The Pandora Strip.’ It’s located right between Wellburns Market and the art gallery. I’d make the trek to the fringes of town just for another burrito, or maybe a taco, especially when the Fringe Festival kicks up.

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02.12.13
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Visiting Ming’s for Chinese New Year

01-logo
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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02.09.13
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Lunch Time Shorts at the Victoria Film Festival ’13

The Victoria Film Festival (VFF) started their week of movies with a series of food-related shorts that I couldn’t resist going to see. I could have paid to participate in the Feast and Film program, where movie-goers are treated to a meal at Spinnakers (that I’ve reviewed a few years ago) and a movie, Azul Intangible, a film about oceanic life in the northwestern part of Mexico. Fortunately, I had the willpower because I do need to start saving my money.

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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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