Désolé, le contenu de cette page est uniquement disponible en anglais.
Alison Cairns has been working in writing and publishing for over a decade. A devoted Vancouverite, she loves exploring the hidden gems and new happenings — both cultural and culinary — in the city. She is also a lover of coffee, wine, craft beer and pretty much all food except sea urchin. She staves off the results of these loves by running the seawall, cycling the city and hiking the mountains.
Mon X
The Spanish tradition of hopping from bar to bar drinking small glasses of beer or rioja and sampling local delicacies in the form of bite-sized snacks has taken North America by storm. While we have yet to implement the bar-hopping element, restaurants are happy to offer share plates you’ll want to settle into.
As we become more conscious of where our food comes from, the impacts of industrial food production and the nutrients we require for healthy living, finding a grocery store we can trust is paramount. These stores all carry a variety of organic and natural foods, making your weekly shop one less thing to worry about.
As any health-conscious Vancouverite who eats out regularly can tell you, we’re fairly spoiled when it comes to fresh, local, organic offerings in restaurants around town. But a few places are dedicated to providing us with healthful meals that don’t skimp on flavour. Here are a few.
Just like produce markets, fish counters, cheese shops and bakeries, butcher shops are back in full force as Vancouverites swap their massive weekly shop for more frequent outings for fresh, quality foods at specialty stores. These high-quality purveyors sell an array of meats free of antibiotics and hormones. Most are free-range, many organic.
It seems as if, all of a sudden, Vancouver can’t get enough of Mexican food. Maybe, when the rain is pouring down and darkness blankets the city for days on end, it evokes fantasies of warm beaches, cool drinks and spicy snacks. Get your tropical fix at any of these outstanding Mexican restaurants.
Made from mashed cooked chickpeas and a mix of spices, deep-fried and stuffed in a pita with a variety of fixings, this typical Middle Eastern vegetarian street food is protein-rich and great for eating on the go. Grab your next one-handed meal at any of these places.
Whether you choose to start or end your meal with a selection of cheeses, condiments, fresh bread and wine (or port), the cheese plate definitely deserves a place at your dinner table. These restaurants are offering up their creamy, salty, unctuous platters, ensuring your daily calcium dose is covered.
There’s nothing quite so nostalgic as pouring a thick shake from a stainless steel cup into a tall glass and sucking up that perfect mixture of ice cream and milk through a straw. Amp it up with classic or non-traditional flavours and maybe a shot of something alcoholic? Bliss.
There’s something about stumbling across a small business in the middle of a residential neighbourhood that makes you feel both grateful (“I was just craving a coffee!”) and in the know (“Who else comes to this hidden gem?”). These markets, cafés and restaurants all evoke those feelings, tucked away in their secret corners.
Even in upscale restaurants, there’s no other way to tackle this classic, all-American meal than with your hands. Grab some napkins, order a side of fries and dig into some of the best hamburgers in the city, from your local bar to your more high-end affair. [Photo courtesy of The Oakwood Canadian Bistro]
Sliced sandwich bread is fine in a pinch, but there’s nothing like buying a fresh loaf from your local bakery (maybe sneaking a few nibbles on the way home) and then slathering a piece with butter for delicious simplicity. Make one of these your newest stop on your grocery run. [Image credit: iStock.com/kapulya]
While raw oysters aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, once you’ve tasted them, there’s no denying their bracing, briny flavour. They’re also a good sustainable choice when it comes to shellfish. Delectable, decadent and downright delicious, leave the shucking to the pros and hit up these bars, stat.