06.28.11
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Boylan’s Natural Root Beer

Available at Aubergine Specialty Foods and the Market on Millstream.

If I have to describe Boylan’s product in one word it would be “delicious.” But I don’t have to and if I did, it’d make for a very short article and this company deserves better. I discovered their brand of old-fashioned soda on a trip to one of the well-known local eateries, the Little Piggy.

Jersey’s Boylan Bottling Company is located in the area of the Hackensack River Watershed (a funny Jersey name) in the small town of Moonachie (which even sounds funnier). Their product was registered a year before Coca-Cola (1891.) And there are other good things that’ve come from New Jersey, such as the Four Seasons, Kevin Smith and Abbott & Costello. And if you believe the Moonachie locals, the Berry Creek Restaurant.

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06.26.11
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Fernwood Bites 2011, this coming Sunday.

Well, not quite, but yes, James and I will kick-start the summer (at least) by attending Fernwood Bites 2011. This local event returns for its second year, and we’re already donning our bibs in preparation. I don’t know if I can convince James to sport a bonnet to celebrate his Scottish heritage, but we’ll see since this year’s event promises to have more wine tasting.

But for me, I’m looking forward to sampling what Kulu Restaurant, The Parsonage Cafe, Stage Wine Bar, and The Superior will offer. They’re just a few names out of the many that will be present.

And upon entry, I’ll most likely make a beeline to the Sea Cider Farm’s table. I bought a jar of hickory smoked sunflower seeds from them last year at the Organic Islands Festival and Sustainability Expo, and that barely survived a week. Although I don’t expect to see them selling a complete line of their other products, anything can happen. I’m already curious to see if I can find the elusive huckleberry when that Expo returns in 2012.

06.25.11
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There’s Always Room for Bacon


Two Hungry Blokes will be getting our fill of Freybe’s back bacon courtesy of Thrifty Foods’ 8th Annual Back Bacon Breakfast. Bunwiches with back bacon, lettuce and tomato will be served to support the Queen Alexandra’s Jeneece Place and the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The event will take place on Thursday, June 30th from 6am – 10am at all Thrifty Foods’ stores.

06.21.11
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Wannawafel To My Heart


Wannawafel
Market Square
102-560 Johnson St.
Victoria, BC
(250) 590-5300

J: Wannawafel as a business is a complete no-brainer. Victoria has always been accepting of a good waffle recipe but it took a local Belgian family with their own recipes to turn something good into what might become a multi-million dollar franchise.

The family has gained previous success on an episode of CBC’s Dragon’s Den, a show where millionaires sit and listen to business ideas and product pitches only to get richer in the process. It’s not my cup of tea but something must be right if the Dragons see the potential.

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06.19.11
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Golden Boy Blues

Golden City Restaurant
721 Fisgard Street
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 386-8404

Going out for dim sum with my relatives have often made for a traditional Sunday brunch. That’s when it’s most popular. But to sate a sudden craving, it can be found served on other days of the week and sometimes not even brought out in a cart. That’ll depend on the restaurant.

When going out with friends, it was a plan concocted the night before. My friend, Qué Banh, had a craving and checked to see who was interested in an impromptu gathering. Also there was her father, Chan Hai, and her friend, Triana Avis.

When we arrived at Golden City, Qué was disappointed that the carts weren’t being wheeled around. She said it took away from the entire dim sum experience.

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06.13.11
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The Cook St Time Warp

Rosie’s Diner
253 Cook St.
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 384-6090

I must’ve walked through a time warp when I entered what felt like a 50’s era diner in the middle of Cook Street Village. Upon entry, I was greeted with many images of Betty Boop. Complete with some pre-requisite furnishings and many more artwork of this vintage icon, my pal Shane Priestly and I sat down and reminisced.

As odd as it sounds, a year after our graduation from the Applied Communication Program at Camosun, I had to ask the question of where are they now. True to the nature of any scholastic life, most of us went off to go spread our wings and fly away, trying to make a name for ourselves. Whoever we really wanted to stay in touch with afterwards is best left for sociologists to explain.

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