Tag Archives: Downtown Victoria

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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06.09.11
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Putting a Heart on Fire

The Spice Jammer
852 Fort Street
Victoria, BC
(250) 480-1055

Today’s installment comes from our guest writer, Michael Allen, the webmaster of 28 Days Later Analysis, an informative website dedicated to news and reviews in the independent horror entertainment scene.

Spice Jammer is one of the true dining delights offered by this small West Coast town. They have East African cuisine and are highly regarded for its flavourful curries and marsalas. The food, combined with the service and atmosphere, create an exceptional casual dining experience.

Is the Spice Jammer the best Indian restaurant in Victoria? This exotic food lover would give an emphatic yes. If you’re lucky enough to enjoy a night here, then your first memories will likely be about the fine service. Immediately upon entering Spice Jammer, I was greeted by a host wearing a dark red kurta. I was quickly seated in a lushly coloured sitting area and my order for appetizer samosas and naan bread was promptly taken. The only imperfection in service was the slower time in preparing the meals; with over 15 occupied tables, the reason for the delay was understood.

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05.20.11
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Shaking it up Shiki Style

Shiki Sushi
1113 Blanshard St.,
Victoria, BC
(250) 381-8622

Shiki Sushi has plenty of flavourful options to shake up the establishment. I appreciated the fact that they moved to bigger digs over a year ago, and recently, I managed to see how big they’ve grown. Their new décor reflects a post-modern Japan, and the spaciousness helps add to the ambience for the new look they’re going for. If I were to decide on a jaunt to swing on by to, this place would be it.

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05.01.11
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Yokohama Blues

Yokohama Japanese Restaurant
980 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC
(250) 384-5433

2016 Update: This operation has since closed and become Xiang Rui Chinese Restaurant.

The Yokohama Japanese Restaurant has been around since ‘79, but that doesn’t mean anything in terms of quality. Especially in regards to the quintessential ingredient that’s used in Asian cuisine—rice.

At dinnertime, their “Regular Sushi” was priced at $13.95, $2 more than what’s listed on their lunch menu. Let’s hope that wasn’t a misprint. Both came with a bowl of shabu soup. The soup arrived quickly, and I gulped the flavourful broth down in nearly no time. When I was examining the ingredients in this soup, I wondered about the other flavours. The carrot slivers tasted like they came from the outer skin than the core, and the mushrooms were nothing special. Normally, I’d expect to have shitake than white, so I was left with mixed feelings when the bowl sat empty.

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03.09.11
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A Little Bit of Willie

Willie’s Bakery
537 Johnson Street
Victoria, BC
(250) 381-8414

A while ago, I went to Willie’s Bakery & Cafe with my pals, Don (of the Victoria Burger Blog) and Alex. I showed up early to grab a table before the lunch-time rush and somehow in that hustle and bustle, my order was mixed up.

I ordered the Eggs Benedict and asked for a salad instead of potatoes. When the dish arrived, I got the latter and I had to scratch my head. When considering how busy this place became, I didn’t want to waste any more time to point out the mistake to my server.

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02.13.11
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Victoria Tea Festival Impressions


At the 5th Annual Victoria Tea Festival, one can sample nearly everything that comes from the coveted tea leaf. Whether it’s rooibos, green, black, or yerba maté, there’s certainly something to be found, even for a berry enthusiast like myself.

There’s a lot to partake at this show and I enjoyed the various scents coming from the sample cups of tea. The show can be experienced within a few hours for those who are simply shopping. But if anyone plans on skipping the presentations, they’re just going to miss out on one of tea culture’s many secrets. On Sunday, Jasmine Wong, a naturopathic doctor is giving a presentation on medicine and tea. She’ll be talking about the health benefits and risks associated with drinking certain types of tea.

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