The Lolly Gobble Sweet Shop (A Pictorial Tour)

Lolly Gobble Sweet Shop
A – 9774 Third St.
Sidney, BC
778-426-2541

Sometimes, looking is better than reading. In this case, the eye candy to behold and experience is to find that one-of-a-kind treat in a candy store. In this case, it was me finding authentic astronaut food, dehydrated ice-cream, up in Sidney’s Lolly Gobble Sweet Shop. Now some may wonder if it tastes like the real thing. I can say for certain that the tastes are vividly recreated, but the texture is not. But I thought it was cool to find this product nonetheless, and I came home feeling stellar.

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Side Dish: Eastern Food without the Exotic


Side Dish Restaurant
1008 Langley St.
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 477-9995

E: Strange. In a region that was once known as Persia, I would expect the food to include the exotic. I’m fascinated with the ancient culture because of the sun god Mithras. His secretive religion is as mysterious as the restaurant that does not bear his name.

At Side Dish, I love the baklava desserts offered and that’s what I should have picked up instead of one of their traditional dishes. I have to agree with what another fellow blogger, Your Restaurant Sucks, wrote about the quality of service and the food. As colourful and simple as my dish was, I wondered where did the flavour go? Was the pomegranate fruit forgotten or the sumac spice not applied?

There’s nothing wrong with the freshness or simplicity of the meal. I also think seasonal visits to this place is required to find the best in what the harvest can offer. I think it’d be neat if this place also offered the very delicious Sangak bread.

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The Banker Defaults on Fish

Bard & Banker Pub
1022 Government St.
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 953-9993

J: When I step through the doors of the Bard & Banker, it’s hard not to feel like it’s Christmas.

Could it be the daily specials (drink must be bought to qualify)? No. Is it the grandiose look of the Bard that makes me appreciate this self-proclaimed “Scottish” pub? No, it’s not that either. I know, it must be that the Bard used to be the former location of the Spirit of Christmas.
With its lights, ornaments and decorated trees, Spirit of Christmas was one of the happiest places on Earth, next to Disneyland that is.

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Get on Board with the Cherry Bomber!

The Pig BBQ Joint
1325 Blanshard St.
Victoria, BC
(250) 590-5193

Cherry Bomb Toys
1410 Broad St.
Victoria, BC
(250) 385-8697

Every Kaiju fan knows that the monster always returns … always. In this case, it’s a behemoth pork burger that I tackled some months back. The latest creation from Cherry Bomb Toys and Pig BBQ Joint is aptly named the Cherry Bomber, and have I succeeded in taming the savage beast? I had to partner King Ghidorah and Godzilla to see if they were up for the challenge. Since they were toys and couldn’t talk back (and couldn’t eat thankfully), I was on my own to meet this limited run burger head on.

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Where’s the Sunday Breakfest in Vancouver?


Joyeaux Cafe & Restaurant
551 Howe St.
Vancouver, BC
(604) 681-9168
(604) 341-8882

I’m surprised that not many trendy diners in Vancouver are open Sunday for the early riser. I rarely find the restaurants that are joined at the hip with a hotel the perfect place to eat. But when I needed a quick meal before checking out, I was hoping that the Sciué Italian Bakery Caffé would be open. When I looked at their menu online, I was drooling. When I saw their hours of operation, I was sad.

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Kamei … or Royale?

Kamei Royale
#211-1030 W. Georgia St.
Vancouver, BC
(604) 687-8588

The Kamei Royale is a restaurant that certainly lives up to its namesake, but is it authentic? When there are three locations, I get the sense the upper management wants to franchise out. But in a city as large as Vancouver, to spread the sushi love does need to be done. And this establishment has the decor of upscale dining.

The fashion sense of the architecture is more modernistic than traditional, and the average working man would have to give up two paychecks to dine here for a week. The food is tasty, and just looking at the menu was enough to make me drool buckets. The selection of food is vast and I doubt I could eat the entire maki selection in one go.

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