Halibut House
3500 Quadra St
Victoria, BC
(250) 385-4944
E: After managing to kill an hour in two malls, Uptown and a quaint strip mall off of Quadra and Cloverdale, James and I found a taste of what I fondly remember from Cantonese style cooking cuisine. I heard good things about Halibut House from both cultures; the fish n’ chips are said to be killer, and a buddy who’s a chef says not many places can prepare tripe right.
Qoola Frozen Yogurt Bar
Uptown Centre
101-3531 Uptown Blvd.
Saanich, BC
(250) 590-6816
J: Ed managed to achieve one of the improbabilities in his life. Did he solve the riddle of life, the universe and everything? No. Did he manage to get himself a girlfriend? No. Did he manage to find me a girlfriend. Hey, I said improbable, not impossible.
Ed managed to coax me to Uptown Centre. And anyone who knows me knows I dislike Uptown. It’s massively big and it confuses me. I feel more at home in Mayfair Mall or Hillside Centre. Even when I’m walking in the area of Uptown, I’d rather go around the behemoth then use it as a shortcut.
But Ed said the one thing I and I am sure no true Scotsman can resist, he offered to buy. This is one of the reasons he is my best friend. He knows me as much as I know myself.
Voodoo Coffee and Taboo Gourmet Cheesecake
400-2950 Douglas Street
Victoria, BC
250-590-1017
When a name like Voodoo Coffee and Taboo Gourmet Cheesecake hits me with a ‘must try’ spell, I was in there and enjoying some beautifully smooth chocolate cheesecake pie. I was more than captivated. This place does very well to replace the once popular Cheesecake Café that graced this city of Victoria more than ten years ago.
Oh Sugar
561 Johnson Street
Victoria, BC
778-440-9192
2016 Update: This operation is now under new ownership.
I could very well sing the praises of the traditional folk song “Oh Susanna” in place of Oh Sugar than The Archie’s “Sugar Sugar” once this candy store really takes off. This company’s logo certainly has me praising something.
According to Rick Goodman, who runs the shop with his wife Justyna, the more exotic and stranger the candy is, the more likely this operation will carry it. I had to ask Rick about Stay Puft Marshmallows and if he could special order it for crazy clients like me. Fans of Ghostbusters know what the fuss is all about; yes, these puffy delights are caffeinated!
Skinnytato Polish Restaurant
615 Johnson Street
Victoria, BC
(250) 590-6550
J: A lesson to be learned by one hungry bloke is that a barely populated establishment does not a poor restaurant make. Or at least not below average in any sense of the word. It was a shoot-out between Skinnytato and Lotus Pond.
Ed had reinforced my doubts about the fact that we had recently done the Asian food scene to death. It was time to call for a change.
True Confections
3701 W. Broadway
Vancouver, BC
(604) 222-8489
No one can resist cake, not even me. Well, in the case of how to end my day trip in Vancouver, I chose pie over cake. Is that bad?
True Confections is a restaurant that only serves desserts. My buddy Carson and his pals took me to this shop to help round out my trip. Upon arrival, I was very impressed with the cleanliness of the place before being enamored by all the cake offerings on display.
But this place does more than just cake. There’s cheesecake, tarts and ice cream too! Well, it seems they do not serve ice cream alone, but if they did—and started making sodas and shakes too—I think it’s time to move to Vancouver!
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