Tag Archives: Oak Bay

12.13.12
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A Tale of Two Candy Stores

The Sweetest Things
4649 West Saanich Road
Saanich, B.C. 
(250) 590-6619

Store Hours:
Mon – Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sun: 10am – 4pm

Sweet Delights
#113 – 2187 Oak Bay Avenue 
Oak Bay, B.C. 
(778) 430-4906 

Store hours:
Mon – Sat: 10am – 5:30pm
Sun 11am – 4pm

To be fair, The Sweetest Things and Sweet Delights are two other candy shops in Victoria, and they are distinguishable. The former is located in the district of Saanich and the latter Oak Bay. Although Delights have been around longer and Things are somewhat new, the areas they are located in are not really convenient for me to reach by car. Busing into either store is far easier than finding parking—especially when I consider a good part of residential Oak Bay to be riddled with maze-like streets.

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03.12.12
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I’ve Bin Back 4 More…

Bin 4 Burger Lounge
#180-911 Yates St.
Harris Green Village
Victoria, BC
(250) 590 – 4154

… and I must say what I ate of the non-bovine persuasion was delicious. I’ve moved away from the beef here and eyed the chicken burger. When I noticed a double dose of bacon, featured as a slice of Fraser Valley ham and also infused in its aioli, I was sold.

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05.03.11
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Oak Bay’s Blethering Tea House’s New Face

Now known as Oak Bay Bistro, this new dining establishment has a new look and is open to the public. I came across this news when I picked up the May 2011 issue of Snap! Victoria, a photo newspaper spotlighting local culture.

Local designer J.C. Scott reworked the interior decor and according to this article, new booths were added, a new bar was built, and fancy lighting fixtures were created. A month was spent renovating this place. The new owners Bart Reed, partner in Moka House, Beagle Pub and Island Meat & Seafood in Cook Street Village, and Petr Prusa, the owner of Floyd’s Diner, couldn’t be any happier. The snapshots taken during their opening celebration showed some grandeouse smiles.

When our schedule permits, the Two Hungry Blokes crew will have to visit to see how well their meals fare. We can only hope this new establishment will continue some Blethering Place traditions. It’d make Robbie Burns proud.

01.27.11
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Three Girls for Two Blokes

Osaka Sushi
1951 Oak Bay Ave.
Oak Bay, BC
(250) 590-6650

E: Oak Bay has a little secret, there’s a great place to hit for sashimi and it’s known as Osaka Sushi. While the graphic designer in me cringed at the familiarity of a papyrus-like font in their signage, I’m glad I didn’t let it deter me from walking in to try their food.

After heading to The Blethering Place for haggis earlier that night, I was still hungry. Instead, what caught my eye were the pretty waitresses …

J: On my previous trips to Oak Bay, I always passed by this cosy looking restaurant. But to actually sit down in a private booth and relax to smooth jazz while the world marches on outside, is bliss. Our servers were fast, polite and yes, attractive. I wanted for nothing while in their care.

Green tea was served while I spun my head at their extensive menu. It came in two parts and I warn you, it’s not for a potential indecisive like myself. If you can get over that hurdle, the prices are very reasonable.

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01.25.11
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Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race!

The Blethering Place
2250 Oak Bay Ave.
Oak Bay, BC

Update: (02/01/11) – The Blethering Place is no longer at the 2250 Oak Bay Ave. location.

J: What started out as a celebration for a pre-Robbie Burns day turned into a wake for the Blethering Place. The little old tea room, woven into the fabric of Oak Bay’s society, is closing. Yes, that’s right. According to staff members, the owner, Ken Agate, sold the establishment to Floyd’s Diner, who allegedly plans to convert it into a bistro.

Closure is expected to take place at the end of January. With what little time there is left, I would suggest a visit (or revisit) to this grand old lady before she’s defrocked.

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11.03.10
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A Penny for Your Thoughts?

Penny Farthing
Old English Pub
2228 Oak Bay Ave.
Oak Bay, BC
(250) 370-9008

J: Penny Farthing is one those great British style pubs that seems to be the local social for all that is middle class. Nestled deep in the heart of the Oak Bay shopping district, which is in itself a slice of England, Oak Bay could be described as a place where old stiff upper lip society meets the new and trendy.With the Edwardian styled shop of the The Blethering Place co-existing near the more nouveau Bon Sushi, Oak Bay’s my slice of heaven.We were joined in company by people locally and from the far away land of Alberta. From Alberta were Bill Bracher, owner of Bullseye Bill’s Trading Post, Naomi DeBruyn, proprietor of Callaway Cafe and Robin Poirier, tech wizard of ReStart Computer among many other good friends.

Luckily for Ed and myself, appetizers were half price that night, which suits my Scottish purse just fine. The Crab and Lobster Dip was the first to land at our table.

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