Tag Archives: Vancouver Island

06.02.15
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[Comox Valley, BC] Fresh Fest is First to Delight Seafood Lovers!

940Marina Park
Between Wilcox St. & Port Augusta St.

$25 online • $35 at the gate
Children 8 & under FREE

The Comox Valley is going to offer more than just a li’ bit country fun as BC’s Shellfish & Seafood Festival enters its 9th year. Fresh Fest is going to kick off this 10 day event with its own special night that will take place at the Comox Marina Park on Friday, June 12th, from 4-9pm, and all proceeds are going to be donated to the North Island College Culinary Program.

This special dinner will be cooked by chefs Andrew Stigant (Russell Food Equipment) and Hamid Salimian (Captain of Culinary Team Canada for the World Culinary Olympics). They will be assisted by talents from Local Restaurants, Custom Gourmet, Eatmore Sprouts, Prontissima Pasta, Captain and the Chef Marine Services, As you Like it Products and Catering, and West Coast Mobile Kitchen.

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05.25.15
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Feast Your Eyes on “The Dream,” A Culinary Movie Review

af-el-somni-poster-cat1Plays Sunday, May 31
Oak Bay Beach Hotel
Victoria, BC

Brunch: 11 AM
Film: 12:15 PM

El Somni (The Dream) is one of those films that is more of a visual exposition than a by-the-book style documentary about brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca. After taking home the first place award in the 50 Best Restaurants in the World ceremony of 2013, just what can they do next is explored in this film. These siblings desire to create a new artistic culinary movement to engage the five senses — if not six to create a spiritual awakening — of a dinner can make or break their established careers. They’re reknowned chefs from El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain.

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05.24.15
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Where Have All the Prawn Fun Gone?

Untitled

I miss the Island Chefs’ collaborative’s version of the Spot Prawn Festival. That was truly an event to remember, and as far as I know, there was only one. The Victoria Public Market has since taken over with their own mini-festival. While not as large or elaborate, and really lacking fanfare, at least for those Victorians unable to leave the confines of this city to Cowichan Bay proper for all their independent shows (at brew pubs to eateries), what’s offered is good.

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05.23.15
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Saanich with a Side of Baconalooza

VIP

Baconalooza’s inaugural event at Velox Rugby field in Gordon Head will certainly get lovers of swine food arriving in troves. The lunch-time crowd was light, but when the event started at 1pm than noon, perhaps one opportunity was missed in hopes that the dinner time crowd will be busier. This later time is probably when the bacon eating contest will take place, but for one hungry bloke (who skipped breakfast for this show), namely me, I wish I had room to partake in more.

Poor James. He phoned me early in the day to say he’s been struck down with a cold, and I just had enough room to eat for the both of us, but I was taken down by one overloaded bacon cheese burger by the Esquimalt Lions Club (I asked them to keep on piling the bacon on top). However, I did have room for dessert. I could make quibbles in where the beef is sourced and cooked, but hey, I got more than my money’s worth in bacon. I shouldn’t complain.

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05.23.15
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Following the Smoke Signals to a New Show in Town

TravelingSmokeThe Traveling Smoke Show
950 Yates St.
Victoria, BC
(250)710-6010

The Traveling Smoke Show is looking to settle down. Before they operated out of Sooke for a few years, but now they’re in the heart of downtown Victoria and that’s where they want to stay. They’re located across the street from Harris Green Village (replacing Landmark Auto Sales) to ply their own take in designer sandwiches and brand of tastes. One look at their menu, and I was hooked at the thought of what does oyster mayo taste like? When it’s all blended up, the succulent taste is something that I can lap up as easily as the ocean waves washing in. It tastes great by itself and I can sea other uses for it, like in a cucumber only sandwich.

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05.06.15
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A Tale of Mee Wah’s Service Woes

Mee Wah
1950A Oak Bay Ave.
Oak Bay, BC
(250) 595-3021

E: Honestly, I have to wonder about the attitudes that go on in a Chinese restaurant. In a proper establishment, customers are kept happy and the employees will go out-of-their-way to make sure the customer is well served. But when the level in service drops, I get visions of Mel’s Diner from the 70’s TV show, Alice. It makes me wonder why Mee Wah is generally well liked within certain food circles.

J: Is it the food? Perhaps but I know it’s not the service, the service (or lack there of) is poor. The place wasn’t packed but it was still busy. And during the time we were there I felt as though we were wasting the server’s time. I had to wonder what was bothering her.

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