Turning 30 was never a big deal until I was about to turn 30.
Cliché, much?
But, really, I’ve never stressed about age until now. And it’s not stress in the form of hunting down wrinkle creams and creating a bucket list; it’s the quarter/middle/late-life crisis kind. The kind that makes me want to drop everything and travel the world, purge my possessions, and rack up my credit card on airfare and walking shoes. When you’re in such a thrisis, you see age as coming with responsibilities and expectations. I’m wanting none of that right now!
My age has also revealed too much comfort.
So, a baby step was to shake up my birthday routine. Instead of either hosting the party at home or going out to eat, I asked Sugar if she would be up for a weekend in Vancouver; for a quick change of scenery and the opportunity to eat too much. With my partner-in-crime confirmed, airfare bought, and accommodations arranged, all I had left to do was count my blessings as a few other friends agreed to join—I am a lucky girl.
Relying on some word of mouth and Vancouver magazine, I charted out a foodie journey that allowed for flexibility and whim. Our two dinners were reserved and everything else was up for grabs.
I cannot say anything bad about what we ate. Nothing was disappointing, nothing was just sustenance. It was all delicious indulgence. Here is my synopsis of our culinary itinerary.
We sat in this Yaletown art studio-cum-café-cum-wine bar for a short post-flight rest before getting dolled up for dinner. Wine in tea cups, Oyama meats, buttery Nicoise olives, and painting in the background. A destination? Likely not, but a definite gem if you’re in the area.
1046 Hamilton St
Pre-dinner cocktails with sides of candied thyme and blue cheese. There is nothing like a good cocktail and we found that you couldn’t go wrong with any of the ones listed on the menu.
562 Beatty St
Birthday dinner at one of the top-rated Vancouver restaurants. The kind of place you go to once just to go, but likely will one day want to go back to because the aroma and texture of perfectly cooked pork belly, duck confit, and fresh fish will call to you. The service was impeccable.
1944 West 4th Ave
The sister café to Chambar, Medina has the best Belgian waffles I’ve ever tasted. You almost cannot call them waffles because they are so superior to the breakfast diner standard. Sweet, buttery, and chewy, the only way I could describe them was to say they were croissant-like. With a waffle each to start, we also had egg-based mains that kept us full until almost dinner. The lavender Americano and white chocolate, pistachio, and rosewater mocha also kept us revved throughout the day.
556 Beatty St
I had read that Van mag’s Bartender of the Year was opening up his own spot in Gastown. Lucky for us, it opened mere days before our arrival. It’s a nice second-floor space with big windows, old school cocktails with modern flourishes, and the best pot stickers I’ve ever had. If I get to go back, I’m ordering what looked like a duck banh mi.
6 Powell Street
My favourite meal of the trip. As there were six of us, we were required to order family style, which they politely told me when I made the reservation. We were all expecting a typical Italian flow of antipasti, pasta, mains, and dessert. We did not get what we expected. What we got for $40 per person was nine amazing courses. Antipasti of prosciutto and melon, tuna and barley salad, paper thin veal, parmesan soufflé, and a simple green salad. We got three large plates of rotini amatriciana, orecchiete with fresh favas, tomatoes, and ricotta, and a porcini mushroom risotto. This was followed by seared salmon and the most tender roast chicken. They rounded us off with a dessert offering of lemon crema, strawberry semifreddo, almond torte, and chocolate cake.
I was very impressed to see that the table next to us received a completely different meal despite also being a table of six. They took our suggestions, likes, dislikes, and allergies into account and presented us with a personalized and memorable experience.
You must go.
3689 West 4th Ave
Some friends had told me that there were decent bagels to be found in Vancouver at either Siegel’s or Solly’s. Solly’s won out because I had also heard that their cinnamon buns were legendary. While the latke we tasted wasn’t noteworthy, we were happy with the bagels. The dense, chewy carb I wanted was definitely trying to shine through. Thankfully, I would not describe a Solly’s bagel as a bun with a hole—the product too-easily found in Edmonton.
And I would agree that the cinnamon buns are something special. Because they are rolled tighter than the average large bun you find, the cinnamon punch is greater. We got some to go and savoured them later at home while watching a missed episode of True Blood. Slightly heated, with or without cream cheese icing, they are what carbohydrate dreams are made of.
368 West 7th Ave
While Caffé Artigiano is often recommended, we were given a tip that 49th Parallel is actually a much better spot for coffee and the like. With a nicely designed café in Kitsilano, 49th Parallel offered us an excellent Americano and fresh-brewed herbal iced tea. The cappuccino foam art that brought a lot of attention to Artigiano was also available here.
2152 West 4th Ave
The lines to get into Vij’s are as well-known as the food I think. Because of our flight, there was no time for a final meal at the famous Indian restaurant, so we did the next best thing: a late lunch at Vikram Vij’s café, Rangoli, which is right next to Vij’s. It is also a place where you can buy the full range of Vikram’s frozen meals and spices.
I’ve never eaten at Vij’s, but based on what I ate at Rangoli, I could not go back to Vancouver without waiting in the famous line. Our late lunch was delicious, delicious, delicious. By this point in our trip, eating too much was not possible, so we ordered everything we wanted to try. Veg pakoras with mango-mint chutney and daal; lamb, beef, and lentil kebabs with date-tamarind chutney; pulled pork with chapatti; pepper and portobello mushroom curry with naan and beet salad. Each dish had distinct and bright flavours, was well portioned, and proved why Mr. Vij is so popular. Some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had.
I was obsessed with that chutney.
1488 West 11th Ave
The first of many more Cream & Sugar foodie trips to come I’m sure!
July 19, 2009
i’m so glad that my dinner is on it’s way….. you just made me SO hungry!!!