09.01.11
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How to do the Victoria Fringe Festival: Going Japanese?

The Victoria Fringe Festival has grown and so has my waistline. With this event celebrating its 25th year, I knew this was one party I couldn’t miss. When this event has regular venues that remain consistent every year, one thing I will often do his hit familiar dining spots to satisfy my appetite. Fast food does not always mean hitting burger joint. Maki Rolls are considered fast food in Japan, and while there’s no option for Takoyaki here in Victoria, there are a few establishments to get a quick bite in before a show. When the Metro Studio, St. Andrews (Downtown Victoria) and Langham Court Theatre (Oak Bay) are very close by, there’s a few places nearby to get a snack in.

In Gordon Head, where St. Michael’s Richmond Campus lay, there’s even Fujiya’s Grocery. This place is well-known for churning out meals by the truck-load. They close at 7pm.  Herein contains my picks for folks looking for a bit of Nippon for their Fringe show for this year and beyond, as these operations show no sign of closing.

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08.29.11
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Going Green for Ice Cream

Call me spoiled, or call me Asian, but I certainly love my green tea. Depending on the plant used, the flavour can be exotically smooth or gently earthy. To infuse it as a flavour to go along with ice cream is tricky, and I can’t always visit a restaurant to sate my craving. Some establishments manufactures them in house but others will just buy a stock brand and dole them out for customers to enjoy.

In the few specialty ice-cream establishments I went to in town, the Marble Slab Creamery scores on the very good scale in making a smooth, buttery, green tea combination that I’d consider great, but also very sweet.

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08.27.11
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On the Hunt for Pearls of Passion

Oh Saturday, my warm Saturday, how must I love thee? It’s August, and there was no friggin way I was going to spend the day indoors. I had a sudden yen for oysters and while I could’ve gone to The Oyster Bar, it wasn’t happy hour yet. I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone by checking out two direct competitors on Fisherman’s Wharf by the Inner Harbour.

But first, I had to hit the Beacon Drive-In just to see how this place fares with its meals.

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08.22.11
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Soup’s Ahoy in Esquimalt

Corner Cafe & Deli
734 Aldebury Street

Esquimalt, BC
(250) 590-7997

Patisserie Daniel
1729 Cook Street
Victoria, BC
(250) 361-3234

Nestled in the industrial side of town, near the Canadian Forces Base, is the Corner Cafe & Deli that looks to be very popular amongst the locals. To one side are huge swaths of residential area, and the other, several warehouses nestled together. There is one “wholesale” place that’s Victoria’s Secret; smaller mom and pop grocery stores can buy their candies or salty snacks in bulk here for cheap and sell them with a huge markup for some instant profit. For large families, hitting this place is easier than going all the way into the Western Communities for Costco.

Don of the Victoria Burger Blog, our pal Jimmy and I checked out the Corner Cafe. I’m really tempted to say Cornerstone, but that’s out in Fernwood. This deli does have the vibe of being a “Cornerstone” since they’re located in a great spot that caters to the many operations that are in the heart of Esquimalt.

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08.11.11
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Another Taste of India, Tandoor Style

Sizzling Tandoor Restaurant
637 Johnson St
Victoria, BC
(250) 388-5450

Temptation could not stop me today when I passed by the Sizzling Tandoor. The scents coming from this establishment have often been very enticing, but when the billboard advertising their butter chicken poutine ($6) hasn’t changed for weeks, today was the day I’d go in to try this tantalizing meal.

I wasn’t disappointed. The fries were satisfyingly good but not super exceptional. If I were able to say supersize me, I would’ve had a meal. The serving was appetizer sized, just enough for lunch, and the amount of chicken piled on top was light. It balanced out the other flavours, like the lightly spiced curry-like gravy. But a poutine isn’t a poutine without a heapful of curds.

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08.04.11
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Losing their Chinese Marbles

Marble Arch Fish & Chips
3468 Tllicum Rd.
Saanich, BC
(250) 386-7141

E: When considering the price of popcorn and pop at the movie theatre these days, trying to stave off a case of the munchies while watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two was difficult. James had an idea to check out a chinese diner… or is that a seafood place? I’m not sure what that restaurant was, but it was like I walked into magical mystery store.

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