Tag Archives: Vancouver Island

02.23.16
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Fol Epi and the Yates Street Eater’s Bonanza!

fol epi IMG_4093Fol Epi
732 Yates St,
Victoria, BC
(778) 265-6311

Yates street is truly becoming a diner’s paradise. On one side of the street is Foo Asian Street Food, Hernande’z and Yates Street Taphouse. And on the other side is Cenote, Efes, Brickyard Pizza and Fol Epi, the latter being the latest occupant to a very busy street in what I consider to be the true downtown core of Victoria, BC. James will hate me, but Sushi Plus doesn’t count. They offer cheap Japanese treats, but my experiences here is less than stellar when nearly most of their offerings just does not have the flavour intensity I enjoy.

During the Victoria Film Festival, I found myself coming to Fol for more than just one quick bite. They have sandwiches I can buy on the go, macaroons to sneak into the theatre and a brunch that I should return to sampling. I’m more intrigued with their evening dining, but I have yet to look at their menu. I’m told everything is sourced locally, and that’s enough to get me curious. Next time I’m here, I’ll have to pick up some of their home-made sausages and pepperonis to make sandwiches at home.

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02.21.16
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Who are Ya Gonna Call When Hanks Untraditional BBQ Cooks Up a Storm & A Few Years Later Mysteriously Closes?

hanks-untarditional-bbqHank’s Untraditional BBQ
1001 Douglas St
Victoria, BC
(778) 433-4770

March 9, 2016 Update:
Hanks is back in business at this location! The mystery closure was apparently because they were renovating. 

There are times where I wonder if Unit G2A in the square by the bus stop on Douglas Street is cursed. At least three different eateries existed at this spot in the past eight years, and neither of them lasted long. I recall it as a pizza joint once, a cheese sandwich shop the next and was a BBQ style joint where the fixin’s get tasty. They offer wings, meat on biscuits, BBQ and smoked mains.

I wanted to return to sample more of the latter half of this list but by the time I get a craving to visit, they’re closed! I didn’t find any signs indicating what’s going on but I was concerned. Not many places offer game meat for their dishes and when I am hankering for some, I see the signs say the operation has closed and to keep an eye out on their website for updates. The day after, even that sign is missing! Now all I have to go by is my memory of the Duck Egg Bolognese Pasta.

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02.03.16
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Buffing Up at Szechuan City Restaurant

IMG_20150530_200442390Szechuan City Buffet
110 Burnside Road East
Saanich, BC
(250) 386-2288

J: I’m always raving about May Gold Village at every opportunity, their food ranks from average to above average and the service is great. But when it comes to my own personal experiences with buffets, there are others more experienced than I. Hope Key is another one I like for their friendly atmosphere (and their loft I can escape to when I want some privacy) but neither of them can compare to Szechuan City on a Saturday night.

Ed and I hit this place at night one hour before their closing all because of a co-worker’s obsession with chicken balls. This man I am sure is on a never-ending quest for buffets with decent helpings of the chicken kind. He’s snubbed May Gold for lacking what other buffets provide but he loves Szechuan City because they serve really good chicken balls. I swear my co-worker’s knowledge on the subject must rival Forest Gump‘s Bubba Blue’s knowledge of shrimp.

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01.30.16
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Local Tsukino-Con Reveals Kensho Ono as Japanese Voice Guest

Originally published by Otaku no Culture.

KenshoOnoVictoria’s local anime and cosplay convention has managed to obtain a Japanese idol for their guest list. Last night Tsukino-Con announced on their official Facebook page that voice actor-singer Kensho Ono will be attending their event.

Ono has already racked up an impressive number of credits to his resume. Muggles will know Ono as the Japanese voice over for the lead character of the Harry Potter films but anime fans will know Ono as Tetsuya Kuroko from the series Kuroko no Basket. In the more recent animated series Ono has voiced Souji Okita on Bakumatsu Rock (where he also sang the series opener), Slaine Troyard of Aldnoah.Zero, and Mikaela Hyakuya in Owari no Seraph.

Ono has also appeared in a number of Japanese films and television programs including Hôtai Club (2007), Dive!! (2008), Kujira no Ita Natsu (2014), and Fuji TV’s Senjou no Yuubinhaitatsu (2006).

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01.27.16
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Meat and Bread’s Simplicity Spreads!

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Meat and Bread
721 Yates St.
Victoria, BC

This small franchise operation has one great thing going for it. They source their ingredients locally. Whether the operation is running in Seattle, Vancouver or Victoria, just who they look to begins with finding that right bread to put their roasted meats into. The Victoria-based operation gets theirs from Crust Bakery on Fort which is a few blocks away. I should’ve checked what kind of bread that was because I’m craving more of this to toast up at home!

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01.21.16
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Tsukino-Con Announces Voice Actress Sarah Anne Williams!

Sarah_WilliamsWith all that has happened in 2015 it is good to see fandom on Vancouver Island can still rely on Victoria’s annual anime convention Tsukino-Con. And when it comes to experiencing a weekend escape I believe Tsukio-Con knows all too well what kind of distractions their con goers want. That could be why they have announced the addition of special guest, voice artist Sarah Anne Williams.

Williams has worked as a voice artist for English dubs of Japanese animation and video games since as early as 2009. Williams’ first title was as Ayumi Tokita from Shinryaku! Ika Musume. Her other anime credits include Sayaka Miki in Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Kozuki ‘Niko’ Yuniko in Accel World, Lisbeth in Sword Art Online, Nonon Jakuzure of Kill La Kill, and Sayu Hisanuma in Nagi no Asukara. Williams’ video game works include Jinx in the League of Legends, Angel Death in Wasteland 2, and she’ll be voicing Aaa in the upcoming Freedom Planet 2.

Tsukino-Con will be held on the grounds of the University of Victoria from February 12 – 14, 2016. To purchase tickets, please visit Tsukino-Con’s official website here.

Originally published on Otakunoculture.com