Random thoughts of restaurants and food in Vancouver, BC!
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B’s Diner
10015 82 Ave
Edmonton, AB
“You have to go to B’s Diner!”
Those were the words from Elaine and Chris of Parker Pages when I asked for restaurants suggestions in Edmonton. Of course, she knowing I have no issues going to dives, B’s Diner seemed to be “suitable” for me. But, I also found about something else about it…
Friday Night Supper
Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral
154 East 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
A lot of times we go to restaurants but, at times, you want something “different” yet keeping the same concept (i.e. food served to you). With that into consideration, for today’s post is a bit of a deviation of “normal” restaurant dining fare. Instead, it is about an event that usually takes place on the first Friday of every month: The Friday Night Supper at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. Why I chose to drop there? Well, as the name suggests, there is food and it seems it is seldom blogged. So, why not! 
The Swiss
1904 Jefferson Ave
Tacoma, WA
Unlike a lot of you, I seldom travel for pleasure. It is not that I don’t like it; rather, I need that extra push to do so. In fact, I recently went to one thanks for that “small” push… More details when the post goes up! 
But, back to the topic of travelling: More often than not, when I travel, I do so for business purposes and, given most of my clients are in the US, that means having to deal with border crossing and US Customs. I am sure all of you have had your share of experience. I am just going to summarize mine to almost six hours from Vancouver to Tacoma (border crossing included) on a trip that normally shouldn’t have taken more than 4 (even doable in 3. Just in case, Tacoma is ~30 minutes further south from Seattle in I-5). In my case, because it took me so long, by the time I arrived at the hotel it was already past 9:30 p.m. and, in my hurry just to get to Tacoma, I didn’t make any stop to eat something. Given my share of crappy experiences, by now, I should have learned by now that I should fill up my tank rather than rely on what I can find at the hotel… Anyway, “damage” by done and by ~10:00 p.m., I was looking for something to eat. Guess what? Nothing open nearby. Should I be surprised? “Fortunately”, still at a short walking distance from the hotel, I noticed The Swiss, a nearby pub was still open. Hungry? Tired? Hey, that works for me! (After all, that’s literally how I ended up going to Hooters!).
Mistral French Bistro
2585 W Broadway
Vancouver, BC
Dine Out Vancouver (DOV)… That one event once a year where people either love it or hate it. Most people in general like it because, by having a prix fixe menu, it gives them a chance to try restaurants that, under normal conditions, they won’t usually go. However, as fellow blogger Jonathan points out, it is not necessarily the best deal. As for myself, I just try to avoid these restaurants mainly because I do not want to “fight” for reservations and, at times, I am not sure if the food serve is representative of a regular dinner, what I consider is one of the most important criteria when I blog about a restaurant. However, when my friend PR asked if I wanted to go with her, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Of the options she suggested, Cobre and L’Altro Buca, I wasn’t interested in Cobre for DOV – I wanted to go for a regular dinner instead to try different Latin dishes. As for L’Altro Buca, it would end up in an odd situation: last time I was in L’Altro Buca, back then was Parkside… For DOV and with PR! So, rather than going back in full circle, I gave her another option: Mistral French Bistro, a place where, based on a regular menu, Sherman highly suggested.
So, let me rephrase it again: Dine Out Vancouver (DOV) usually does NOT reflect regular dinners but, at least, provide a glimpse of what it can offer.
European Deli
1220 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC
In general, I try to be as responsible as possible when it comes to timing. Now, that does not mean I will be perfect; there will be times I will slip. When it comes to work, despite I have flex time, I am usually there past my usual required work hours (though, that might actually “mean” flex time, as in anytime before 9:00 a.m., and anytime after 5:00 p.m….). As for appointments, something similar: if I have an appointment at 11:00 a.m., I try to be there by 10:55 a.m. This is quite unlike some culture I am aware of where, if you say 11:00 a.m., people believe you actually mean 11:30 a.m….
On one day, I had a doctor appointment for 11:00 a.m. I usually avoid these hours because, well, it means I have to take an early break. However, to make up for that time, I started really early that day. Fortunately, that doctor’s appointment was relatively fast and, rather than go back to work directly, I decided to have an early lunch. Looking for places in Davie Street, I saw the usual suspects and after walking some streets, I was almost resigned to places I have been several times in the past. However, that’s when I noticed European Deli and its note of selling deli sandwiches…
Vancouver Alpen Club Deutsches Haus
4875 Victoria Drive
Vancouver, BC
Once again, it was time for a food bloggers gathering! It seems with each new one, we have more and more joining us. I do apologize for readers for finding over a dozen (!) or so posts from different bloggers on the same day about the same restaurant, please, let us once in a while (as in every other month!) be selfish and have one where we all sit together in the same table and break bread together.
This is the exterior picture last time I was here.
This time, it was Deutsches Haus in the Vancouver Alpen Club, located in Victoria Drive and 33rd. I have been once (previous post, here – warning, poor pictures!) in the past but Karl suggested we should go there as a group in the Maple Grill dinner. Hey, do we really need an excuse to get together and eat? So, with that in mind, I set up an invitation to fellow bloggers with the opportunity to invite others whom I excluded from the list. And, indeed, additional guests were invited! So, here are the bloggers in attendance:
Unfortunately, Mijune and Elaine had to cancel a last moment. I will have to say some of them were eager to meet you two…
Kolachy Co
888 Beatty Street
Vancouver, BC
One of the areas of town I tried to avoid during the Olympic Games was Yaletown. Part of the reason was the amount of people in the area, specially due to LiveCity Yaletown where nightly concerts took place. Now, I did pass by one night but I was on the back area of LiveCity. Probably that explains why pedestrian traffic was minimal… On one of my walks near different exhibits/pavilions without trying to go to Yaletown, I noticed a small shop near Alberta House called Kolachy Co. Kolachy (also spelled kolace, kolach, or kolacky)?! What #@$%@#$ is that?! After checking different sources, it seemed it was one of those cases were the exact item might have evolved so what you actually get is not necessarily what you would expect. Anyway…
