Ho Tong Restaurant
3388 Douglas Street
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 475-1398
An impromptu clan gathering had most of my family visiting Ho Tong instead of Jade Fountain Restaurant. Both were within a block of each other and I had to chuckle, wondering how competitive the two diners are. Also, depending on the inflection of how the “o” is pronounced, I thought, “Doesn’t that mean, ‘it really hurts?'”
Shiki Sushi
1113 Blanshard Street
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 381-8622
If people think a restaurant can survive on all you can eat service everyday, Shiki Sushi has a secret. Diners have only two hours to order what they like, and the time it takes to bring out what people ordered will vary on the complexity of the meal.
Yates Street Taphouse
759 Yates Street.
Victoria, BC
(250) 590-5253
J: There are times when the Two Hungry Blokes deserve some R&R, to take some time off for a job well done and to relax with friends and colleagues in front of a potentially good burger.
It was Que Banh’s social at the Yates Street Taphouse. She’s a professional photographer who hosts these events every season. For once, both Ed’s and my schedule merged and we got together to schmooze with a different crowd.
Mexican House of Spice
2022 Douglas Street
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 388-6602
Open 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday.
I may have found where most of the Mexican, South American and Caribbean restaurants in town gets their spices. Upon entering the Mexican House of Spice, I was treated to a delight of scents, an array of packaged spices, a towering amount of canned goods and plenty of sodas to make my eyes go wide. I was very impressed with the fact that no shelf looked half bare or empty. Had there been a deli, I’d be salivating.
Anyone looking to stock up or experiment with the flavours from Mexico, Latin America, Africa and Jamaica may already know about this store. But in an area of town that I rarely tread, to enter this store made me wonder what it’d be like walking through a street market in Mexico. What I experienced here was a teaser, and I’m providing as many high quality pictures in this entry so readers can see what I saw. Their flyer states that they carry a variety of tortillas but the list does not end there. There is no way I can mention them all, but here’s a sampling: queso fresco, dry chillies, Ibarra and abuelita (chocolate), mazapan, plantain flour, cock soup mix and even banana leaves. I think the stores in Chinatown should be jealous.
Oh Sugar
561 Johnson Street
Victoria, B.C.
778-440-9192
To answer the question of what the difference is between the new Stay Puft marshmallow box and the old one, that’s in two key ingredients: the amount of caffeine and salt used. The cheaper product is being sold to build interest for the third movie. And for the die-hard, the pricier variant is what “real” Ghostbusters may require while searching for spirits during a long night. Or just maybe, like in the second movie, might build up in interest for a holiday celebration.
Shizen Sushi
8-1706 Government St.
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 381-8228
J: Twice now I’ve been foiled from any attempt to grab some dinner at Ebizo Sushi. It’s either we were early or we arrived on a day they were closed.
Dejected, I was still determined to get my hands on some decent Japanese cuisine. The light bulb above Ed’s head was switched on. Ed’s idea was to eat at a Japanese restaurant in Victoria’s Chinatown. I thought “why not”, if someone of Chinese descent can own an Italian pizzeria, than why not a place that produces Japanese food.
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