Tag Archives: Vancouver Island

01.04.15
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Pagliacci’s: The Best Lasagna in Town

PagsPagliacci’s
1011 Broad Street
Victoria, BC
(250) 386-1662

J: New Year’s day offers very few places for people to dine. Many of the city’s restaurants, cafés and bistros are closed up tight because there is probably very little money to be made in the tourist off-season. And they are probably correct, at least where downtown Victoria is concerned. After Christmas and Boxing Day, who really has money to dine? And what about those New Year’s hangovers?

But neither that or empty wallets appeared to deter people from going to Pagliacci’s. They are a local landmark on the restaurant scene for the last 34 years. Artists like Jim Byrnes (Highlander the Series, Beast Wars) have eaten here and even the great Etta James performed at Pag’s for their tenth anniversary. Even the owner, Howie Siegel is still a local celebrity. Originally, he was a Jewish kid from the Big Apple. Here at Pag’s, Howie brought a little of what makes New York City desirable into a little corner of the Inner Harbour.

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12.17.14
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Fishhook Swept Me Off My Feet, A Review

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805 Fort Street
Victoria, BC
Phone:(250) 477-0470

I’m definitely hooked on a feeling that I’m really high in believing that there’s a lot of great fish to taste at an eatery aptly named Fishhook. They have been in operation since August, but I haven’t had the opportunity to visit until now — when I firmly decided I needed more fish in my diet.

Mind you, with such a delectable range of proteins to be found here (from black cod to salmon) I figured I might as well start from the top of the menu and work my way down. What I enjoyed with The Tuna Melt ($7 for 1 or $12 for 2) was first and foremost the wonderfully toasted bread.

This diner gets their supply from Irene’s Bakery and their commitment to high quality ingredients is to be commended. Even the fish are harvested with love. They are brought in from sustainable sources and are Oceanwise. The lusciousness of the raw albacore tuna was more than simply divine; the soft and light buttery texture melted in my mouth. It was served at the right temperature to make this meal very enjoyable!

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12.11.14
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There’s no Need to Run to Cafe Mexico

CAFE-MEXICO-2013-12-111425 Store St.
Market Square
Victoria, BC
(250) 386-1425

Cafe Mexico has been in operation for as long as I can remember. I think it’s been in operation since the early 90’s. These days, I rarely wander into Market Square as often because there is no comic book store (Island Fantasy) and candy store (Fat Phege’s) to entice me towards the water. Well, there’s Oh Sugar across the street.

When I do shop here, I visit Avalon, a new age metaphysical/book store and Camera Traders often. I met up with a buddy, Brendan Gibson, and we agreed to check out Cafe Mexico, since we both felt hungry.

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11.25.14
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The Vancouver Island Holiday Events Guide

Christmas Hammy 4Christmas is coming,
the Blokes are getting fat
please do put some money
in the food bank’s hat
if you haven’t got some money,
a food donation will do
if you haven’t got a food donation
than God bless you!

It’s not the exact lyrics to “Christmas Is Coming,” an American Christmas carol, but I thought I would give it a West Coast Canadian twist instead. The holidays are fast approaching (although some may dread it), but do keep in mind that the holidays shouldn’t be about commercialism. What truly matters is to spend this time of year with your family, your friends, and to have enough food on the table to share it with them.

If you believe in exchanging gifts, I would say keeping it simple is the best way to go about it. Avoid maxing out your credit card, pay cash for simple gifts. And if you can’t afford something, then price isn’t the be all and end all, it is the thought that counts. When buying a gift, I try to make my purchases at locally owned shops. This means buying from an independent store and not from a corporate owned or franchise. Doing so ensures your money stays on the West Coast rather than being sent to a company in a Eastern capital city or the United States.

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11.14.14
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Shopping and Dining over at Mattick’s Farm

 

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Adrienne’s Restaurant and Tea Garden
5325 Cordova Bay Road
Saanich, BC
(250) 658-1535

A visit to the area known as Mattick’s Farm can only mean one of four things — you’re there to golf at the nearby Cordova Bay Golf Course, eat at Adrienne’s Restaurant and Tea Garden, shop in one of the many boutiques in the strip mall or buy food at Red Barn Market. I was there for half of a briskly cold day to warm the cockles of my stomach. I’ve heard Red Barn has some of the best and thickest sliced bacon on the island (from Metchosin Farm in what I found) and that I must test and have a snack at the diner. It’s small cozy atmosphere was just right on a busy day. The smell of Christmas was in the air at the nearby shops and although it’s not a place I’d get sundries from, I’m sure what’s offered is as great as stocking stuffers and tokens to visitors who are not from Victoria.

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11.01.14
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The Addams Family is Morbidly Candid Fun! A Review

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Fri October 31st – 8:00pm
Sat November 1st – 8:00pm
Sun November 2nd – 2:00pm

Tickets Available through
The McPherson Box Office
625 Fisgard Street
Victoria, BC

No matter what the generation, the Addams Family has entertained many a reader or viewers in the form of its original one panel comic illustrations, television show, cartoon and movies. It’s latest incarnation includes a musical which toured before Victoria, BC’s Kaleidoscope Theatre decided to put on their own version for the 2014 Halloween season. This company teaches youths how to overcome some of life’s challenges — one of which includes finding each individual’s spark of life — and become stronger for it; as a result, The Addams Family Musical is a spectacular choice because its plot reveals how to deal with barriers, no matter where it comes from.

It’s morbidly candid humour was at the crux of what made this series popular and it outdoes The Munsters on a certain level where one product provided a bit of social commentary whereas the other was flat-out sitcom.

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