1535 W 6th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 620-2070

Web: www.farmersapprentice.ca

Twitter: @gunawan_dave

Advice: Advance reservations are a must.

Finding the spot that is somewhat hidden, overflowing with passion isn’t always so easy to find even in a city such as ours which has one of the most vibrant culinary scenes in North America. The Farmer’s Apprentice is that very special spot which I discovered recently, its hidden off of busy Granville street in a space that’s never fared well, it has a chefs team that is guided by Chef/Owner David Gunawan who knows his ingredients, he puts the love into his food and its presentation. One thing that I loved about my dining experience was that each dish was delivered to the table by the chefs themselves, not the servers, each chef explained the dish as it was served, such a wonderful touch that made the experience special.

My friend Marck joined me to share some plates and we ordered a selection of dishes of the menu which by the way changes daily. We had the Beyond Bread Sourdough ($4) with a delicious house made onion butter & olive oil which was simple & wow! The outstanding Cylindtical Beets ($10) was made with an aerated Yogurt, radishes and a frozen horseradish that added a touch of heat and was so subtle; the Hay Roasted Carrots ($8), with whey caramel & buckwheat was delicious and my favourite dish of the night. The Smoked Spring Salmon ($14), with a hint of jalapeño & beets was another outstanding plate. The Dungeness Crab ($13) with zucchini emulsion, turnips and radishes was the only dish that didn’t provide me with the wow factor, lastly the Grilled Octopus ($11), with riaja potatoes and parsley was hearty and delicious.

The menu which changes daily highlights local vegetables, is seasonally oriented and will leave you with dishes full of flavour, and I expect you will be happy having enjoyed your dining experience. You will find a small wine, beer and cocktail list to accompany your experience.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Vancouver, BC V6H 3G1, Canada