Tag Archives: British Columbia

07.19.11
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Bistro at the Center of the Universe

Barb’s Bakery & Bistro
1-121 McPhillips Ave.
Ganges
Salt Spring Island, BC
(250) 537-4491

E: At the start of a new day, the only thing I could think of was enjoying some morning Salt Spring air and my next meal. I considered Salt Spring Coffee along with some bacon & eggs. After some quick inquiries, we walked down to Barb’s Buns, and oh how sweet and firm they were.

J: A local who worked over at Mouat’s Home Hardware told us Barb’s has the best coffee on the island. It was then Ed and I wished Yvonne was with us. She has a better appreciation for good coffee.

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07.19.11
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Swinging on By to the Tree House

Tree House Cafe
106 Purvis Lane
Ganges
Salt Spring Island, BC
(250) 537-5379

J: People may have thought Ed and I were enjoying a holiday on Salt Spring but nothing could be further from the truth. We were there to sample the finest of what Ganges had to offer and in the spirit of things, test our gastronomical boundaries.

It was hard work lifting those strawberry cremes from Embe Bakery or digging for delicious noodles at the Salt Spring Noodle Bar & Curry House. After a hearty day and with sweat on our brow, it made sense to sample some drinks at the Tree House Cafe.

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07.19.11
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Rice-A-Roni Never Tasted Like This …

cfcfe-riceballsHoly Moly, Roly Poly serves up some very mean rice balls. This fast food staple from Japan gets the Salt Spring Island treatment, and what stands out is the beautiful balance between the rice and the ingredients used. I’ve had fat rice balls before, which bury the shrimp (my favourite), and the thin ones, were … well thin.

When I bought them at the Tuesday Food Market, they carried flavours which I never saw back home in Victoria, have noticed in my short time in Japan, and have often desired. They even have rice balls named after local areas, likes Ganges and Salty Salt. True to form, the salt is used to preserve the rice so they can be saved for nibbling on days later.

Being Asian, I thrive on rice. Even though there have been times when I needed a sabbatical from tradition, Roly Poly makes me want to return to it … and become a lone, wandering, samurai.

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07.19.11
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Thank You very much Mr. Sushi Roboto

salt spring rollArigato Sushi & Teriyaki
102-149 Fulford Ganges Rd.
Gasoline Alley
Ganges
Salt Spring Island, BC
(250) 538-1881

E: Even on an island as small as Salt Spring, I wouldn’t consider the visit complete without the prerequisite visit to a diner offering sushi. There were two choices that I could visibly see from the main drag: a questionable shack called Express Sushi 2 Go or Arigato Sushi & Teriyaki. I’m sure both are family owned, but it was the Salt Spring Roll which enticed me into braving the briny seas.

J: The family looked friendly enough but I think the jig was up for Ed and myself.

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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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05.10.11
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Gateway to Ireland

Dubh Linn Gate Pub
4320 Sundial Crescent
Whistler, BC
(604) 905-4047

On my last day at Whistler, I made my way over to Dubh Linn Gate, an old Irish pub. As I looked around, I saw plenty of character in its decor and to my right was a good view of the main stage—this was where the performers would play during the 2011 Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival.

I was there before the dinnertime rush, and I found the half order of a Steak and Guinness Pie was more than enough to tide me over even after I made it back to the island–six hours later. I wondered what a full order ($17) would’ve been like.

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