Chowder Chowdown in the Acura RDX

Acura RDX 2020

I recently spent a week test driving the Acura RDX 2020 car around the city while I was trying tasty chowders as an Ambassador for the Oceanwise Chowder Chowdown Festival. As an Ambassador I was to visit the participating restaurants and try their chef’s special chowder that’s using all sustainable seafood and ingredients as part of the Oceanwise program. Each of the restaurants donated partial proceeds during the month of February to the Oceanwise Seafood program.

Acura’s 3.5-liter V-6 at 272 horsepower offers more to the new direct-injection, i-VTEC®, all-aluminum, turbocharged engine than its awe-inspiring 272 horsepower*. There’s also the fact it’s been tuned for greater power and acceleration with a peak torque at only 1600 rpm* and is perfectly mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission for seamless gear shifts.

1931 Gallery Bistro

For my first chowder adventure I visited 1931 Gallery Bistro at the Vancouver Art Gallery downtown Vancouver to try their Bistro Chowder. Created by Chef Gleb Podshibyakin was a beautiful, delicious and sustainable seafood chowder recipe that utilizes only Ocean Wise certified seafood ingredients, such as steelhead salmon and black ling cod. It is a cream based chowder with white wine, lemon juice, thyme, garlic, vegetable mirepoix and tender Kennebec potatoes.

Little Mexico Cantina

My second chowder adventure was out to Steveston to Little Mexico Cantina to try their Sopa De Donadores which was created by Chef Chris Andraza. It’s a tasty and spicy Mexican themed chowder with green tomatillo, fish stock, a wedge of smoked salmon, sour cream, serrano pepper, jalapeno and tortilla chips.

Showcase Restaurant

My next chowder adventure was to Showcase Restaurant in Coal Harbour to try their Yellow Curry Prawn Chowder with crispy shallots, lime cream, chili oil, coconut, lemongrass, and house made grilled sourdough; a delicious and beautiful chowder recipe created by Chef Jesse Hochhausen.

There are some great features that I loved in this car, from the heated steering wheel and heated seats which had 3 settings for each of the front seats. Inside the car they offer a very cool touch display offering easy movement between features such as the audio selections of am, pm and Sirius xm radio, Apple car play, map navigation and so much more.

A few of other great features are the available colour Head-Up Display (HUD) which projects helpful navigation information, speed and traffic signs, quick access to audio and phone as well as safety warning alerts onto your windshield into your line of sight. The other is a very cool safety feature, the available Surround View Camera System* that is engineered to give you a 360-degree view of the space around the RDX. Six unique camera views, parking sensor information and dynamic guidelines that show your expected path connect you with your surroundings. And with a rear camera washer, you’ll be able to see more, more often.

Hart House Restaurant

My fourth chowder adventure was to Burnaby to Hart House Restaurant for there Smoked Tomato Chowder with mussels and clams, fennel and crispy pork belly and house made focaccia a tasty chowder created by Chef Mike Genest.

Vancouver Fish Co.

My last chowder adventure was to Granville Island to Vancouver Fish Company for there Taste of Anacortes Chowder with Savary & Manila clams, Salt Spring Island mussels, clam nectar, Dungeness crab stock, smoked bacon lardon, brioche croutons, Dungeness crab salad; created by chef @markus_rule and I love his theme. Chef Markus grew up in the Anacortes region and with the abundance of fresh seafood in the area; this is his chowder to give us all a taste of life in the region, and it’s brilliant.

Ocean Wise Seafood is a not-for-profit program consisting of scientists and account managers across Canada who analyse the most current data on thousands of seafood options and work with restaurants, seafood suppliers and grocery stores to communicate recommendations and monthly updates on the changing science.

I really enjoyed the ride in the Acura RDX it was a great car to drive in and around Vancouver in the to try some delicious chowders in the festival which is on until the end of February.

By: Richard Wolak

Disclosure: Honda Canada provided me with the 2020 Acura RDX for a week to test drive, and photograph.

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