05.18.10
by

Fujiya’s Take-Out Sushi Hits

Fujiya
3624 Shelbourne St.
Saanich, BC
(250) 598-3711

Depending on the time of day that one visits Fujiya, the quality of the raw fish always varies. If you show up early enough, like ’round 11am, the fish is great, if not spectacular. As the day progresses, the quality might drop. But timing is everything here, including finding a few hidden specials, like uni in the refrigerator section.

I’ve been a regular there ever since they started selling sushi, and sadly, I miss seeing octopus, surf clam and scallop as part of their regular take-out menu offerings. You have to ask or order those particular platters in advance.

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05.14.10
by

Chinese cuisine, Redneck Style

By James Robert Shaw

Fu Wah Express Cafe
746 Goldstream Ave.
Langford Centre
Langford, BC
(250) 474-7693

Fu Wah Express Cafe is a mom and pop Asian cuisine establishment located in the heart of Langford. For the past 10 years with at least three ownerships that I’ve known, I remained a regular patron. The current owners are very nice and hospitable. The food served under their proprietorship is, in my humble opinion, the best of my patronage.

The menu is extensive and the food can be made fresh. You can either dine in or do take-out. In addition, a small buffet is topped-up through business hours. I ordered a four item buffet for $6.50. I took my usual seat in front of the window where the old Asia Express sign still remains. My meal of fried rice, chicken chow mein, sweet & sour pork and cooked vegetables with beef (you can also have vegetables without beef) were heaped in good portions on my plate. I must admit, sometimes I can not finish my meal. But this time I tempted fate by ordering 2 tempura-style prawns.

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05.11.10
by

All I can say is I’m game!

You tell me James. I’ve been reviewing diners and restaurants for my college paper, Nexus, for the past year and I look forward to branching out and covering more than just the beaten path. I know my focus is for the starving student who wants someplace close by to quickly head to, but there’s more than just Victoria, BC to review — there’s the world!

Well, for now, I want to cover the entire southern Vancouver Island region because there are some great places that not everyone will know about. They deserve mention even if they’ve been covered to death in other magazines and review sites.

I want to brave the Colwood Crawl to try places out where you live, James, and also head up to Sidney, BC to get a Taste of Tokyo. I’ve been there, loved what I ate, but can chefs bring it home to here in this quaint town we live in known as Victoria? Sidney is just a short bus ride away, so I have to head there … if not to buy books, then definitely to dine there.

While we all know Victoria is a tourist haven, let’s see if we can find complete meals for less than $20. Sometimes it can be done and sometimes it can’t. That’s going to be our mission.

Can we do it? By hook or by crook, we’re going to try.

Avast ye mates, we’re off to sail the seven seas! Now where’s that eyepatch?

Nevermind, I have my fedora.