Murchie’s Tea & Coffee
1110 Government Street
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 383-3112
E: On our stroll down Government Street on a chilly December, two words jumped at me—Ginger and Chocolate—and James and I soon found ourselves inside Murchie’s. I thought the candy goodness could be found at the deli side of the operation, hopefully available for sampling. Sadly, they were not at the time.
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.
Note: This business is no longer at this location.
Chef’s Quest Cafe
760a Yates Street
Millie’s Lane
Victoria, B.C.
Sadly, the Jackalope has gone the way of the dodo. Both are extinct and they remain products of myth. In the alley near the Odeon Theatre that is seeing massive renovation, I have to assume that any business surviving there must be struggling through tough times, much like the stores of Daigon Alley when Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters were roaming free. Well, this analogy must ring true to some degree. To one side of Odeon Alley (or Millie’s Lane as it should be known) is a fenced off pit of despair, and the other: a few remaining businesses stay in operation.
The Sweetest Things
4649 West Saanich Road
Saanich, B.C.
(250) 590-6619
Store Hours:
Mon – Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sun: 10am – 4pm
Sweet Delights
#113 – 2187 Oak Bay Avenue
Oak Bay, B.C.
(778) 430-4906
Store hours:
Mon – Sat: 10am – 5:30pm
Sun 11am – 4pm
To be fair, The Sweetest Things and Sweet Delights are two other candy shops in Victoria, and they are distinguishable. The former is located in the district of Saanich and the latter Oak Bay. Although Delights have been around longer and Things are somewhat new, the areas they are located in are not really convenient for me to reach by car. Busing into either store is far easier than finding parking—especially when I consider a good part of residential Oak Bay to be riddled with maze-like streets.
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