Tag Archives: Tapas

03.04.26
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An Arcana Food & Spirits Update: Where The Ghosts May Lay, Over Time Not Everything Stays

Ed at Arcana (and Skull)

Arcana Food & Spirits
238 Abbott St
Vancouver, BC

During the Fan Expo Vancouver weekend, I returned to Arcana Food and Spirits in Gastown, and they certainly did not disappoint! On the eve before Valentine’s Day, the calm before the storm was certainly there! From the neon glow of a pet parlour in disguise outside to the noir-styled interior, the visit had the Twilight Zone intro play in the back of my mind. 

I was amused that I sat at the same spot as last year, when I first visited. But this time, I had my friend along; Susan and I have gone on paranormal investigations together, and she really wanted to check this place out after I gushed about it last year. And we had a fantastic time admiring the occult decor in closer detail and interacting with Zotar. Although I did not see anyone getting a fortune, I was mildly tempted, but didn’t want to test my fate.

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07.03.25
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[Vancouver, BC] Arcana Food and Spirits, More Than Meets The Eye

Arcana Food & Spirits Bar238 Abbott St,
Vancouver, BC

Phone: (604) 336-4006
Hours: Tues to Sun 5 p.m.–1 a.m.
Menu: arcanabar.com

To get a seat at Arcana Food and Spirits, it’s best to make a reservation. This guarantees you a seat because this operation has the feel of a vintage speakeasy. Whether you’re here for a quick drink or a bite, that depends on when you visit. On a busy Friday night, I knew it’s going to be busy, and I have to wonder how many peeps Fan Expo Vancouver squeezed in back when they booked the space to get people excited about the convention? I suspect not many, as it may hold 70 folks at most (there are two levels), and to look around requires navigating the corridor.

Ever since it opened in December 2023, it’s been doing well. I’m 100% in love with this theme bar. While the food is a step above the typical bar food, albeit with some nicely named treats to satisfy my interest in the occult, I’d come back just to try a few more dishes. I dressed for the occasion! Not only that, but I was wearing my Viking Cthulhu themed bomber jacket, and Anubis tee, so I was really loving the dark atmosphere where it felt like I was here to witness a ritual summoning!

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09.18.19
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[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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06.26.19
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Not Quite Kissing the Fish With Ki Sushi in New West

Ki Sushi Restaurant
45 8th Street
New Westminster, BC

Phone: (604) 521-1833
Hours: 11a.m.–9:30p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 11a.m.–10p.m.

Even when I’m in a different part of the Lower Mainland, I gravitate to my dietary staple, fish. If only I was in Japan, I’d find most of it bought from tsukiji market, or caught right from the river and cut up for consumption. If only that was the case out in New Westminster, since it’s by the Fraser River.

Ki Sushi is voted as the best sushi restaurant 14 years in a row by some reader’s choice awards. Of course, that means by mostly locals. After travelling far and wide, just where they rank in the bigger leaderboard is not all that high. Their tuna is mid to lower grade in taste; I could tell by the colour. My recall of what I tasted at Sushi Kashiba (Seattle’s very best) and Fūdo’s when compared to this place told me there’s a huge difference and you get what you pay for, especially when concerning tuna. The BC salmon was far better.

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05.29.19
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Come Aboard for Feast! Food+Film June 13-15, 2019

FEAST-Logo-design-website-4-02Feast Food+Film is the Victoria Film Festival‘s love letter to all things culinary and it will be spotlighting the best treats that the Capital Region can offer. This event runs June 13-15, 2019 and the movies featured has Ed endorsing the search for Shangri-La with Himalayan Gold Rush. There’s a reason: variations of this fungus is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Does it work? Ed says some of it does, if you can stomach the taste. A lot of manufactured medications work the same way as those harvested in the wilds. The only difference is in purity and concentration, and the belief that it does the body good than the gross out factor of, say, consuming bugs.

The film line-up features five documentaries and one feature film that explores the flavours, stories, and people behind a particular cuisine. The line-up and menus include:

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02.06.19
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All Chorizo or Churro All The Time?

Chorizo & Co.

807 Fort St
Victoria, BC
Hours: Tues – Sat 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Phone: (250) 384-6066

The buzz around town about the “closure” of Chorizo & Co. last year (in May) was that they were not likely to continue. When I have churro cravings and the Gordon Head diner has not been in operation for more than a year now, just where can I go? There’s La Taquisa and Chorizo in the crazy downtown core. The former makes them nice and hot (but lacks variation) for a nice price of $5, and the latter–when I learned they are back open (since mid-October 2018)–I knew its time. All it takes is the craving for a particular dish to have me walking through this revamped operation.

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