09.06.23
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Los Panas Kitchen, the Perfect Place Venezuela Comfort Food in Victoria, BC

las pana kitchen ownerMarket Square
560 Johnson St
Victoria, BC

Hours: 11:00 am to 5:00pm, Thurs to Sunday
Website: https://www.instagram.com/lospanaskitchen/
Phone: (647) 861-9446

Los Panas Kitchen can sometimes be hard to find as they’re a food truck style operation, and they only operate when the weather cooperates. During the summer, they’ve been very busy, attending local fairs and setting up camp elsewhere than their traditional location. That makes life tough for me when the desire to want their food products hits, and I find they’re not at their usual Market Square location.

That’s because what they serve are delicious Venezuelan arepas and patacones! The fried plantains are the bomb, and I doubt I can even replicate how they prepare it at home. There’s a soft crisp to them which is perfect when other proteins like pork are piled on top. As for whether they serve enough in each individual order, I could probably debate that, as I got a ton of meat but not enough of this fruit. Continue reading →

08.24.23
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Top Picks from the 2023 Victoria Fringe to Check Out!

Victoria Fringe Festival 2023 PosterThe annual Victoria Fringe Festival is here, and what I offer is my nerd’s guide on what to see. As the show has officially started today, not everything will be offered from the get go. The fun really begins Friday, and as it stretches from one weekend to another, there’s plenty to see and do. And without further adieu, these are my top picks in no particular order. The links go to show dates and how to purchase tickets.

Dave and Jon’s Mixtape

Dave and Jon's MixtapeAug 24 05:00 pm Aug 25 08:15 pm Aug 26 02:15 pm Aug 27 03:45 pm Sep 02 04:30 pm Dave and Jon are talented Improv artists, and by combining that with music, this show will no doubt be interesting to see. Just what kind of curves can be thrown at them depends on whether they can combine Ozzy with Pee Wee Herman, and anything else audiences can throw at them.

https://www.djmixtape.ca/

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08.16.23
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Oh My MAiiZ Nixtamal Tortillería and the Taste of the Exotic!

MAIIZ TORTILLIASMAiiZ Nixtamal Tortillería
540 Fisgard St
Victoria, BC

Hours: Daily 11 AM to 6 PM
Website: https://maiiz.ca
Phone: (778) 433-1544

MaiiZ is the home to more than just tortillas. Here, they serve all the basics of Mexican food–tamales, tacos and quesadillas. I visited one week for their mushroom tacos, another for their huitlacoches (corn smut) and finally grasshoppers! Regarding the former, these shrooms were slow cooked and basted in a special recipe to bring out the extra flavour. And anyone willing to accept that eating bugs isn’t gross, these insectas aren’t just randomly plucked from anywhere!

One layer of the flatbread isn’t enough to hold some of these tacos. Depending on the ingredient, two gets used to keep everything from sagging. When I first visited, I was curious about the fungi, and the woodsy scents and flavours that made my mouth salivate are perfect. In the middle are a wonderful mix of fresh cilantro, cabbage and pickled red onion. I prefer mild salsa so that my mouth isn’t burning afterwards, but maybe next time I’ll go all the way.

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08.02.23
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Not Necessarily Coocoo for Coco Grill at Victoria, BC’s Inner Harbour

Don at Coco Ftont1 Dallas Rd
Victoria, BC

Hours: Daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(varies on weekends)
Website: http://cocogrillvictoria.com
Phone: (250) 589-0729

DK: I’ve never seen a group of kitchen staff having more fun than the ladies at Coco. Multiple times during our visit, they were doubled-over in laughter. You’ve gotta be doing something right if your staff is having a riot while smack-dab in the middle of a high-volume tourist trap. But is eating their food as enjoyable as making it seem to be?

ES: That depends on whether everything on the menu is considered authentic to Polynesia. To be specific, I’ve always wanted to try Hawaiian food. It’s not always about eating spam. One look at what Cocos menu offers got half my taste buds salivating. Although ceviche is considered Peruvian, can that region be considered close enough? What say you, Don?

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07.05.23
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How to Turn a Corn Dog to a Chung Chun Rice Dog is Easy. You just….

20230423_145323502 S King St
Seattle, WA

Hours: Daily from 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Menu: chungchunricehotdog.menu11.com
Phone: (206) 682-1300

ES: I must admit that in Seattle’s International District, there’s always a delightful scent that fills the air. No, I’m not talking about the smell of weed, but rather of all the bakeries that are around. From one place that we hit up for a quick baked snack that Don recommended to just walking around the block, I’m glad I wondered about all the people walking around with a corn dog in their hand. Although it didn’t take my nose to track it down, just walking by Chung Chun Rice Dog made me realise we gotta eat here!

DK: I’m a sucker for a slightly grubby looking place with a long line, and that’s how Chung Chun presented itself to us. By the time we ordered, there were approximately 20 people packed into a space designed for about half that, with another 20 or so waiting outside. We later learned part of the reason for the clown car conglomeration was likely the restaurant’s devotion to proper deep-frying. Our dogs were shockingly un-greasy, suggesting high-heat frying and an aversion to placing too many dogs in one fryer at the same time.

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06.21.23
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Kattia’s Kitchen is Certainly A Hit in this Top Three List of Favourite Hispanic Operations in #YYJ!

Kattia's Kitchen at Spot Prawn Fest4636 Elk Lake Dr
Victoria, BC

Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00pm daily
Website: https://www.kattiaskitchen.net/
Phone: (250) 812-2565

Kattia’s Kitchen may well rank as my second most favourite authentic Mexican experience when that craving hits. What this food truck offers is ice cream burritos, and if that’s not enough to whet one’s appetite for the summer, then I don’t know what will. The restaurant is located by Saanich Commonwealth Place, which is at the outskirts of Victoria proper, and I just may have to visit there more often!

That’s because I want to sample more of Kattia’s wares. At the diner are a lot more than the usual street food offerings–tacos, burritos and quesadillas–since they post on social media what their specials are, and in a proper kitchen, what’s offered allows them to advertise Tortas Ahogadas and offer more sweet, colourful treats! My mouth is already salivating.

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