I’m tempted to grinch out and hoard as many bottles of Strange Fellows Brewing‘s Krampus Abbey Dubbel beer as I can for this holiday season. That’s because this drink was a limited run drink once upon a time, but due to demand, it’s back! Be it Halloween or Christmas, these are the seasons to warm yourself with a good drink. Although the Sasquatch in another brand is no longer as prominent, I recall a time those commercials graced the television. These days, I think the white haired mascot has gone into a hiding.
I’m generally not a fan of chocolate in beer. This flavour tends to creep into seasonal drinks often and I’ve learned to avoid them. The caramel notes in this nosh does a better job to keep me thinking of sugar plum fairies. Yes, when I was at Hillside Liquor a few days ago, I saw a drink using those fruits too and I may try one closer to the 25th.
Tag Archives: Beer
A Return to Miku and Extravagance
Miku Restaurant
200 Granville St #70
Vancouver, BC
Hours: 11am to 10pm
Menu: https://mikurestaurant.com/
Phone: (604) 568-3900
During the pandemic, Miku Restaurant really scaled back. They limited the amount of items available to order, and depending on what the latest regulations entail, this can mean them becoming a mostly take-out operation or closing their doors. The plan is to offer a wider variety of choices as patrons become comfortable dining out again. The present menu is scant; not even three dishes out of the twelve or so item list is enough to fill me up.
I finally ventured off the rock because it was needed. When A Filthy Lot, a film studio, invited me over to see what they’re all about, I was excited. They’re an online streaming content creation entertainment company with an immense love for Dungeons and Dragons and pop culture. They have three different channels to distinguish their material. The main one focuses on nerd culture, second on gaming and third on comedy. Some talents are from Victoria too!
How to Bust a Funk for Halloween with Helheim Beer
House of Funk
350 Esplanade E
350 Esplanade E
North Vancouver, BC
Hours: 1-9 p.m.
Phone: (604) 770-3646
Phone: (604) 770-3646
The House of Funk Brewing Co. is more than just another microbrewery based out of North Vancouver. They offer pretzels, schnitzels, beer mustards, sauerkraut, pickled beets, yams bratwurst and other tasty treats in their dining section of the brewhouse. It’s an operation I’d love to visit because they may well be the next best thing to Skål Beer Hall in Seattle as far as sticking to a Scandanavian theme goes. Borders are slowly reopening, but to have something a lot more local makes sense!
This relatively new operation started business in 2019. Anyone who’s missed out in collecting and tasting their past brews are simply out of luck.
Taking on the Bao in Victoria, BC’s Chinatown
Bao
626 Fisgard St
Victoria, BC
Hours: Mon to Sat 12–8:30pm
Phone: (250) 590-8688
ES: Ni Bao should be the name instead of Bao for this Chinese/Korean/Japanese fusion restaurant, but how many would get the joke? Unlike a traditional ramen restaurant where they shout, Irasshaimase to every customer, here in Chinatown, not even a traditional Ni Hao (as it should be said) is heard. I can forgive this operation since they offer various kinds of mixed cuisine. I had to finally see what the fuss is about with Bao. I always see them advertising in festival guides and suggested to Don we have to finally check this place out.
DK: “Don’t Cha wish your girlfriend was hot like meee,” yahh, that’s the song in my head. Not sure why. Not really relevant at all to this review. I haven’t even heard the song in like seven years. But you know, sometimes you just have to go where life takes.
Almost Home on the Range with Prairie Inn Neighbourhood Pub
Prairie Inn Neighbourhood Pub
7806 East Saanich Rd
Victoria, BC
Hours: 11am to 11pm, Sun to Sat
Phone: (250) 652-1575
The Prairie Inn is one of those cozy out of the way places for good bites to fill you up! I’ve been here a few times with pals who live in this Brentwood Bay area. They heartily recommend it, but with my critical tastes, it’s hard to say what’s worth ordering every time.
Plus, when this operation is older than me and has their faithful clientele, it’s tough to beat that reputation. I see that they keep up with the traditions of themed nights for every day eats. Although, with the season, the ambience is says it all more than the bites. I’m fairly sure the building is also haunted, and I’d love to return on a paranormal expedition!
[Seattle, WA] Kedai Makan is Stealing my Heart
Kedai Makan
1802 Bellevue Ave
Seattle, WA
Phone: N/A
Hours: Weds-Sun 5pm to 11pm
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Where’s a place in Seattle to dine?
The answer: Capital Hill at Kedai Makan. On an evening exploration of all points east of the Washington State Convention Center, the search for something new to try was worth it! Between all the conventions I come to this city for and my carnivorous desires for this particular food scene, there’s no denying it’s easy to find something new each trip.
This operation have spicy frog legs and catfish! Though considered a mostly Southern American dish, I was torn in what to order. The Malay style roasted peanuts was practically a meal in itself and had enough heat to get my feet smoking. It’s mixed with anchovy oil, lime and roasted chili. It was a snack to share, than anything else, and I saved it for my cooler noodle dish. It needed to be hotter than hell. It looked so good, and by the time I left the building, I was feeling very well done.
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