ssssss5

Archive for the ‘Bar & Cafe Reviews’ Category

CHEZ CHRISTOPHE

April 11th, 2013 admin

4712 Hastings Street, Burnaby

Tel: 604-428-4200

Web: www.christophe-chocolat.com

Twitter: @Chez_Christophe

Advice: Closed Sunday and Monday

Having had a sweet tooth since childhood, I have always searched out the patisseries and pastry chefs who run them as I’ve travelled around the globe. Months ago I had the opportunity to meet Chef Christopher Bonzon and his wife Jessica Bonzon at an event that I had attended and indulged in his fine crafted treats. I could not resist a trip to their new shop in Burnaby Heights this past weekend.

Double Baked Croissant with pecan maple syrup

Chocolate Éclair

I tried his unbelievably delicious Double Baked Croissant with pecan maple syrup as well as the divine Chocolate Éclair along with some of his hand crafted chocolates, loved the caramel filled chocolate.

His pastry cases are filled with fine crafted French pastries from single tarts and pastries to large cakes and tarts for your special occasion. Another case was filled with chocolates of which many were filled with local fruits and nuts. The Viennesse case on top of the case featured their Croissant and other specialty croissants filled with chocolate, pecan maple syrup and hazelnut. The shop also features an espresso beverage selection as well as minimal seating.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Burnaby Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

MYGOODNESS! GLUTEN FREE

March 30th, 2013 admin

235 East Broadway, Vancouver

Tel: 604-876-8878

Web: http://www.mygoodnessglutenfree.com/

Twitter: @mygoodnessgf

Advice: No seats, call for days open.

For many who either have wheat allergies or are seeking gluten-free baked goods had been hard to find until recently. My Goodness! Is a gluten and wheat free kitchen specializing in breads and crackers, biscotti, cookies, granola, and other baked goods.

Carrot Cake

Almond Biscotti

My favourite here is the Carrot Cake ($6.25 small) with cream cheese icing you won’t even know that it is gluten-free, it is moist and delicious. I have also tried the Almond Biscotti as well as some of the other baked goods. They also carry a variety of gluten- and wheat-free flour mixes for your own cooking and baking.

Owner, Arlene is not only wonderful to chat with, she is a valuable resource for all things gluten-free.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Mount Pleasant Tags: , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

THE MIGHTY OAK

February 26th, 2013 admin

198 West 18th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-558-0722

Web: www.TheMightyOak.ca

Twitter: n/a

Advice: Closed Monday.

Off the beaten track, hidden away in the heart of a neighborhood is this small café on the corner. Inside you will find an espresso bar along with a selection of baked goods, for now they only bake their own scones, they also carry a selection of pies from Vancouver Pie Hole. You will also find a selection of food products on the grocery side which features many local producers including Earnest Ice Cream and others.

Espresso Macchiato and Cheese Onion Scone

I enjoyed my Cheese and Onion Scone along with an Espresso Macchiato, I had wanted a slice of pie which was my main reason for visiting however they were sold out. The room is small and cozy, so feel free to stand by the espresso bar and sip away while you indulge in one of their savoury or sweet treats!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Cambie Street, Main Street Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments »

SATORI FACTORY

February 14th, 2013 admin

5054 Victoria Drive, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 569-0420

Web: http://www.satorifactory.ca

Twitter: @mysatorifactory

Advice:  Closed Mondays

Rose Latte

Espresso Macchiatto

Situated next door to their popular Chau Veggie restaurant is a wonderful café with a large communal table that fills the centre of the room. I have visited on a couple of occasions each time visiting after eating noodles next door, I have had the Rose Latte ($4) as well as my usual espresso beverage Espresso Macchiatto ($2.75) the coffee is all from local Republica Coffee Roasters. You will also find Chef Maria’s popular Vegi Pate along with Macarons and other tasty treats.

This is a good spot to spend an afternoon, especially before or after a meal at Chau next door.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Kensington-Cedar Cottage Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments »

Discovering O5 Tea

January 24th, 2013 admin

Pedro Villalon

Sitting down with Pedro Villalon has a very different meaning, Pedro is known as the Tea Hunter, he is a passionate individual who spends time in small farms around Asia, creating relationships with tea farmers and bringing their product back here for us to experience. As a result, these teas are rare and supplied only in small batches.

I visited Pedro a couple of weeks ago, he has been a friend of mine ever he since arrived to Vancouver from his home country of Mexico, via Asia where he learned the craft of fine tea. I sat at the stunning wooden bar at O5 tea bar which is nestled in the heart of Kitsilano. Pedro ground up some fresh Matcha leaves and made me a delicious Matcha tea to sip while we talked about the rare teas that were hand-picked by Pedro and the tea farmers in small farms in China, Taiwan, Korea, the Himalayas and elsewhere.

We talked about the tea experience and O5 Tea which welcomes people to visit their tea bar and sip the best tea on the planet. O stands from their obsession with Origin. They travel the world learning about the soil on which our tea grows and the people who care for it. Because healthier, better earth yields the teas that they want to share.

Pedro made me some more tea, and told me how 5 represents nature’s elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Void. In harmony, these elements express the best qualities hat each terroir gives to tea.

You can visit O5 Tea at 2208 West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano.

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Great Ideas, Latest, Tastings Tags: , , , , No Comments »

CHOCOLATE ARTS CAFÉ

September 4th, 2012 admin

1620 West 3rd Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-739-0475

Web: www.chocolatearts.com

Twitter: @ChocArts

Advice: Located just East of Burrard, close to Granville Island. Call them to enquire about their chocolate making classes.

One of life’s simple pleasures is chocolate and I always love to taste chocolate whether it is a new chocolate bar or liquid chocolate. I had been a fan of Greg Hook’s Chocolate Arts store ever since they had been located on 4th Avenue, their Pumpkin Truffle was a favourite every October. They recently relocated to a larger space a few blocks away and expanded, now you can have even more tasty fun visiting Chocolate Arts.

The spacious room is filled with white tables and red chairs to enjoy hot or cold liquid chocolate from the coffee bar, fine chocolate desserts or their house-made ice cream. In addition you will find a showcase counter filled with there speciality chocolates available to eat in or take home. They craft chocolates daily in small batches using the finest ingredients and their creations begin with the very best raw chocolate from producers in Belgium & France, many of which are single origin chocolates.

Liquid Chocolate (front) & Espresso (back)

Parmesan Crisp Chocolate

I had an Espresso along with a cold shot of their 70% Chocolate, I also had one of their Parmesan Crisps a mini chocolate bar with crispy parmesan made with fresh Les Amis Du Fromage Parmigiano Reggiano-Scelto & 61% dark chocolate.

This is a must visit spot for all chocolate lovers!

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Kitsilano Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

SALON TEA

August 21st, 2012 admin

3010 Granville Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-569-1198

Web: http://salontea.com

Twitter: @salonteacanada

Advice: Choose your persona or which persona you would like to be for the day in your choice of tea.

The Artist

The colours of the tea café are vibrant and inviting, not your traditional tea boutique, a unique tea experience is offered where you can connect, think, write and celebrate.  In addition to more than a dozen tempting, estate blended teas, you can partake in the daily tea service while perusing a selection of baked offerings, sweets and other tea-worthy treats.

The Artist (iced white tea)

Mango Chicken Wrap

Macarons on outside and Society hostess vanilla sugar cookie with Reese’s peanut butter cookie on inside

On my recent visit I had an iced version of The Artist a white tea flavoured with ginger, previously I had a hot version of The Writer and Indian spiced chai. Choosing the tea whether hot or iced is as fun here as is indulging in the wraps, sandwiches and sweets. I also had their Mango Chicken Wrap as well as a selection of sweets that included a Natural beauty Macaron with cinnamon notes and a Society hostess vanilla sugar cookie with Reese’s peanut butter cookie both were delicious.

Take a friend or a book and enjoy your afternoon at Salon Tea.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, South Granville Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

PRADO CAFÉ

July 12th, 2012 admin

1938 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Tel: 604-255-5537

Web: http://www.pradocafe.com/

Twitter: @PradoCafe1938

Advice: Featuring 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters, Open daily, free wifi.

Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich

Iced Coffee

I have always loved the simple white walled room that isn’t adorned with pictures and nicknaks that clutter walls. Over the years since I have been frequenting this café things have only improved, you will now find a very cool wooden communal table to add to the seating mix. This café has always been a great spot for me to write whether on a laptop or a notebook sipping on an espresso macchiato. Yesterday I had the Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich ($3.90) – a home-made gluten-free flourless peanut butter cookie that is filled with local Birchwood Dairy vanilla ice cream which was delicious. I decided to switch up my usual espresso beverage for something cold and refreshing and went with an Iced Coffee ($1.80) which is now served in a very cool mason jar.

On the food side of things you are going to find eats that are a bit out of the ordinary of what every other café seems to be featuring, here there are home-made Calzones, and Ice Cream Sandwiches; along with Coffee Floats and Root Beer Floats enhancing the beverage side of the menu offerings. You will also find passionate and friendly baristas lead by Sammy Picollo who is not only the owner but an international award-winning barista who is continuously recognized as one of the top baristas in the world. This is a must visit spot on the drive for all coffee lovers!

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Commercial Drive Tags: , , , , , , , , , No Comments »
« Older Entries

  • Our Events

    eventbrite 1

    Purchase tickets here!

  • Sponsors

  • General Info

echo get_option('motion_footer') . "\n";