Victoria Archives - Foodology

In Uncategorized

Dine Around & Stay in Town 2024: A Culinary Journey and Family Getaway to Victoria, BC

December 19, 2023

Destination Greater Victoria and the Victoria Branch of the BC Restaurant & Foodservices Association (BCRFA) are collaborating again to present the highly anticipated event – Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria for it’s 20th year. This beloved food festival showcases 40+ of Victoria’s finest restaurants, each offering enticing set three-course menus at affordable prices.

Embraced by both locals and visitors, the festival provides a diverse array of culinary delights and access to top-notch accommodations throughout the Greater Victoria area, creating a memorable experience for all.

From waterfront dining to cozy accommodations, here’s our guide to experiencing the best of family-friendly dining and staying in Victoria during Dine Around & Stay in Town on January 26 – February 11, 2024.

We got a sneak peek of Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria and were hosted with our family to enjoy the family friendly city, accommodations, and restaurants.

Dining Delights

Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub

Spinnakers, a gastro brewpub in Victoria brings together local cuisine with artisanal beer. Holding the distinction of being Canada’s oldest licensed brewpub, Spinnakers stands as a trailblazer in the North American micro-brewing space embraced by both locals and beer enthusiasts from afar.

Their commitment to supporting Vancouver Island’s farmers shines through in Spinnakers’ menu, which proudly features locally sourced ingredients. When we were dining here, we were very impressed be their honey mussels sourced right from the island.

They are offering a $35 breakfast menu, $35 lunch menu, and $55 dinner menu.

The Courtney Room

Located in the Magnolia Hotel, The Courtney Room combines old-world charm with a modern twist. This elegant restaurant offers a diverse menu with a focus on classic dishes prepared with a contemporary flair. The ambiance is perfect for a romantic dinner or a celebratory meal.

When we were dining here for dinner, the portions were great and left us feeling full. The desserts were exceptional and we had to eat every single bite.

They are offering a $35 brunch menu, $35 lunch menu, and $65 dinner menu.

Vis-à-Vis

Nestled in one of Victoria’s most historic and renowned neighborhoods, Vis à Vis Wine & Charcuterie Bar embraces a philosophy of face-to-face connection. Settle into the best spot at the bar to experience a customized and captivating experience by their engaging staff while indulging in a glass of wine, locally crafted beer, or a signature cocktail.

We came here to preview their $55 dinner menu and we really enjoyed the Ling Cod as well as the Bison Shoulder. The bison was so tender and worth the $10 supplement cost.

They are offering a $55 dinner menu.

Vista 18

Located on the 18th floor of the Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites is Victoria’s only rooftop restaurant and bar. Vista 18 opens at 5pm and offer a menu that features local and seasonal ingredients, which shine on the plate. As you dine with the scenic view of the city blow, enjoy the Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria menu with their fantastic wine pairings. If you’re lucky enough, you may even catch a sunrise or sunset at Vista 18.

We previewed their $55 dinner menu and thought the menu was well balanced. The smoked turkey black bean soup had a depth of flavour and a kick of heat to it like a Mexican tortilla soup. The sous vide pork loin was a huge portion and the seasonal vegetables were great. Ending off with the pumpkin spice chocolate cheesecake was perfect.

They are offering a $55 dinner menu.

Staying in Style at the Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites

Nestled in the heart of downtown Victoria, the Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites is locally owned and operated. The hotel is designed with the comfort and enjoyment of families in mind, making it a perfect destination for those seeking a memorable and stress-free getaway.

Spacious Accommodations for Every Family Size

Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites understands that families come in all shapes and sizes. With a variety of room options like spacious suites, ensuring everyone has their own comfortable space to relax after a day of exploration.

When we were staying here with our infant, it was great to have access to a baby crib as well as a kitchenette to prepare formula for the kiddo.

Convenient Family-Focused Dining

The hotel’s dining option – Vista 18 is convenient for families who want to dine-in or take out. We enjoyed the express breakfast option from our room where we preorder before midnight and shows up in the morning at your selected time slot. The breakfast options were nice and we enjoyed the Vista Breakfast along with a smoothie and coffee.

If you choose to dine-in, Vista 18 welcomes children, providing high chairs to make dining a breeze for families with young ones.

Central Location for Family Explorations

Situated in the heart of downtown Victoria, Chateau Victoria serves as a convenient starting point for family adventures. Within walking distance, families can explore attractions like the Royal BC Museum, Beacon Hill Park, and the bustling Inner Harbour. The hotel’s central location means that whether you’re embarking on a sightseeing tour or a leisurely stroll, everything you need is easily accessible.

You can also utilize their shuttle bus that will take you 5km from the hotel.

Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria Gala: January 25

If you don’t have a lot of time and want to try over 40 of the restaurants part of Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria, grab tickets to their Gala to kick off the 20th anniversary.

Hosted inside the Carson Hall at the Victoria Conference Centre, the Gala will feature mouthwatering bites and sips from 50+ local restaurants and beverage purveyors with live entertainment. The vendors at the gala aim to impress and delight attendees, while building excitement for the unique dining experiences that await during the 17-day Dine Around program.

Buy tickets: http://show.ps/l/93eb14d3/

In British Columbia

Family Road Trip to Victoria, BC with the 2024 BMW X5

August 23, 2023

When it comes to finding the perfect family car, safety, comfort, and practicality are of utmost importance for us. Combining the elegance and luxury of a premium SUV with family-friendly features, the BMW X5 stands out as a versatile and reliable choice for families of all sizes.

We worked with BMW Canada to craft a beautiful getaway through Victoria, BC and enjoy family-time together while having a smooth ride. We spent a few days testing why the BMW X5 is great for families and how it delivers an unmatched driving experience that caters to both parents and children alike.

We started off our journey leaving Vancouver, BC and heading off to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to make our way to Victoria. We got on the ferry and it was a smooth ride.

Spacious and Versatile Interior

With 3 adults and a toddler in the car, we felt like there was plenty of space for our luggage as well as personal bags to keep beside us. As we are only about 5’7, there was plenty of leg and head room.

Driving long distances, it was great to have the driver seat with power adjustable lumbar support as the lower back can get tired.

Ease of Parking and Getting into Tight Spaces

The front and rear parking sensors as well as the rear view camera are essential features for our family especially getting into tight spots like the ferry or narrower parking stalls. We were always able to make sure we had enough space to get in and out of the car. Especially with my round pregnant belly. I needed some extra space to get in and out of the car.

Right off the ferry, we headed to The Butchart Gardens as that’s were I really wanted to see as I haven’t been back since I was a kid. It’s an exquisite garden, which you can spend hours adoring through all the different seasons. It has over 100 years of history and it’s a must for locals and tourists.

We spent a good amount of time at The Butchart Gardens, so it was time to head to Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke, BC. Traffic on the highway was pretty bad during rush hour, so Google Maps too us on some smaller side roads and we loved how the BMW X5 handled on high turns through the forest. It was very smooth and even our toddler fell asleep.

We picked Prestige Oceanfront Resort because it was very affordable and was away from the city, so we could relax and enjoy the views of the water. Our toddler loved seeing the seals basking in the sun on the rocks without a care in the world.

We had dinner close by at Stoked Pizzeria and wow, their pizza was so crispy and flavourful. The place was bumping in the evening. For breakfast, we checked out the new cafe inside Prestige Oceanfront Resort called Island Tarts Cafe & Catering, which is a local small business selling the most amazing coffee and treats.

As we checked out, we packed up our bags and put everything in the trunk. We loved the 2 piece tailgate was great to quickly grab items from the trunk, but if there was something that started rolling around in the back, nothing would fall out.

The rear window sunshades were fantastic for the kiddo in the backseat as it would be very sunny and having it up would help her relax and take longer naps on this road trip.

For the second day of our trip, we focused more of kid friendly activities since the kiddo wanted to get out of the car to see some animals. First stop was Beacon Hill Children’s Farm. It’s by donation and there’s even lots of goats to pet and brush. We stayed about 30 minutes and then headed off to brunch at Eva for some German cuisine.

We needed to get a bit closer to the Ferry, so we stopped at Sydney, BC which was a few minutes away from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. We all made sure we did something a little different so we can enjoy the sights and sounds of Sydney. My husband went to visit Victoria Distillers for a gin tasting and they are best known for their Empress Gin. The kiddo spent some time at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Seas to learn more about the local animals in the area. The rest of the time, we spent wandering the pier before it was time to head to the ferry.

Getting to all these locations was easy because of the Apple CarPlay feature. We just connect our iPhones and we have our music and maps all ready with a touch of a button.

Final Thoughts

A family road trip with the 2024 BMW X5 is an exciting and comfortable adventure to help us get to our different destinations with ease. It’s known for it’s performance, spacious interior, and advanced features. Our family had a great little getaway and felt very safe. Definitely check out the vehicle if you and your family go on local getaways throughout the year.

This blog post was sponsored by BMW Canada but the opinions are all my own.

In Bakery

2% Jazz Coffee: Coffee Roaster in Victoria

December 23, 2014

2jazz-cup

2% Jazz Coffee has been serving coffee in Victoria since 1996. They offer a unique coffee experience with an open space concept where coffee roaster and cafe culture collide. The Roastery and Cafe is outside the historic Hudson building. Right by the Victoria Public Market and block away from Chinatown. I got a bit lost finding the place, but as long as you walk around the outside of The Hudson, you will find it.

Some of their coffee cups even have cool stamps on it. I want to say this one is of Star Wars.

2jazz-cookies

They even have some yummy baked goods.

2jazz-cappuccino

Dry Cappuccino (16oz) is one of my favourite drinks. I always find a regular cappuccino and latte very similar depending on how the barista makes it. So, I always ask for it as a dry cappuccino to add more frothy foam so I can taste more of the espresso.

2jazz-coffee

Black Coffee (16oz) was what my coworker ordered. She liked it.

2jazz-beans

I also bought a few gifts for friends while I was here. Their Bourbon Sumatra Beans are heavenly! Perfect for those who like bourbon and coffee. 1lb is $24 and 1/5 lb is $12.

Overall, great coffee. If you are near the Victoria Farmers Market in the Hudson, definitely check them out for coffee.

We Rate 2% Jazz Coffee:

Address:
1701 Douglas Street
Victoria BC

Website:
http://2percentjazz.com/

In Brunch

John’s Place: Breakfast Place in Victoria

December 22, 2014

John’s Place has been serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for the past 30 years in Victoria, BC. They make all their dishes from scratch. They were also featured on Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here.

They are best known for the fair prices and huge portions. I was here for a work trip with a few coworkers and someone suggested we should have breakfast here. It’s located right in the heart of downtown Victoria.

They have tons of pictures covering all their walls, so you will have tons to look at. There are posters, pictures and celebrity messages on the walls.

There’s a good amount of seats for small group and larger groups.

Caffe Mocha ($4.25) comes in a big mug and there is a lot of foam.

Hot Jasmine Tea ($1.95) came in a teapot and the servers do come by and refill the pot with hot water with no additional charge.

The Blackstone Benny (1/2 order – $9.95) is topped with grilled tomatoes, bacon, soft poached egg and hollandaise sauce. I had it served with a side of fruit. The regular ordered seemed pretty big for breakfast.

The butter hollandaise is quite rich and you can really taste the butter.

The 222 Headache ($10.95) with a belgian waffle, scrambled eggs, 2 chorizo patties. We also ordered a side of their cream cheese sauce, which is amazing on everything.

Overall, it’s a cool place to go to if love breakfast. We came here around 8:30am on a Saturday, so we didn’t run into any lineups.

We Rate John’s Place:

Address:
723 Pandora Ave
Victoria, BC

Website:
http://johnsplace.ca/

In Bakery

Patisserie Daniel: Bakery in Victoria

December 21, 2014

Patisserie Daniel is a little shop in Victoria that makes a crazy amount of baked goods, plus they are best known for their wedding cakes. In 2014, they were named as having Canada’s Prettiest Wedding Cakes by Wedding Bells.

The store has a lot of baked goods especially during the holidays. Floor to ceiling basically. The store is small, so there is no seating inside. Most people buy the baked goods and then take it home.

Chocolate candy cane bark

Candy Cane Biscotti was cute and goes great with coffee.

More Candy Cane Biscotti

A lot of great items for gifts if you are going over to a friends for the holiday.

They do have their other savoury treats

More sweet treats that aren’t holiday related. They have really yummy treats that keep patrons coming back.

Chocolate Tart was delicious. It has a bit of raspberry on the bottom with a bit of cake, them topped with chocolate mousse and strands of white chocolate. M and I gobbled these up.

You will want to come here early when they open when they have their full stock, within a few hours, most of the stock is all gone.

We Rate Patisserie Daniel:

Address:
1729 Cook Street,
Victoria, BC V8T 1C8

Website:
http://www.patisseriedaniel.com/

In Brunch

Jam Cafe: Long Lines for Brunch in Victoria

December 20, 2014

Jam Cafe is one of Victoria’s busiest brunch spots. Long lines can be seen at 9am, but the trick is to come when the turnover begins. Usually that is about 8:45am. You will be most successful if you come in pairs as those seats open up more quickly. We had a group of 4, so that was more tricky to seat us.

They don’t take reservations and its on a first come, first serve basis. They serve all day breakfast and lunch.

I usually don’t like lines, but I really wanted to see why Jam Cafe is so unique and attracts people from all parts. They have been features on You Gotta Eat Here, so maybe that adds to the hype too.

They are only open 8am until 3pm.

Once you are finally inside, they have some pretty cool vintage items on their walls. Lots to look at.

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice ($3.50) is very fresh and has a little bit of pulp. We also ordered their apple juice and it was pretty good too! Can’t beat the taste of real juice rather than the simulated stuff.

On the table, you will find hot sauce, ketchup on the table to add a little extra kick to your food.

Blueberry Triple Stack Pancakes ($13.95) were massive!! The three layers of extra thick pancakes is way too much for one person. You definitely will want some help devouring this. It is also served plain with maple butter.

You can also choose from different sauces like banana walnut, spiced double chocolate or cinnamon cream cheese swirl instead of the blueberries.

The size was so astounding that people sitting at nearby tables wanted to take a picture of it.

Old Town Breakfast ($11.95) has two eggs any style with hash browns and toast with your choice of sugar-cured bacon, sausage, ham steak or avocado. For your toast, you get a choice of sourdough, multigrain, rye or cranberry flax. This is a good choice for simple breakfast, plus those hashbrowns are crispy and oh so delicious.

The one above is with bacon and an over easy egg.

This is also the Old Town Breakfast with the scrambled eggs, bacon and an extra side of sausage.

The Little Charlie ($11.95) is their version of a hash with crumbled biscuit, hash browns, diced ham, green onions, cheddar and sausage gravy topped with two sunny side eggs. This is the half order and it is still quite massive. I can’t imagine how the regular Carlie Bowl would look like.

I found that there was definitely a lot of carbs from the crumbled biscuit and hash browns. They just soaked up all the gravy and didn’t leave enough sauce around.

Sugar Cured Bacon ($4) was thick and a tad sweet. It’s a nice change to the salty bacon.

At the end of the meal, you get Dum Dums. A fun treat for little kids….or big kids. It was a fun time at Jam Cafe, the food is good but their massive portions will be leaving you full for the day, plus you will have leftovers for later.

We Rate Jam Cafe:

Address:
542 Herald Street,
Victoria, BC V8W 1S5

Website:
http://www.jamcafevictoria.com/

In Farm to Table

Ulla: Top Restaurant in Victoria

December 19, 2014

ulla-sign

After a long day at work, the coworkers and I wanted to go out and celebrate Js Birthday at Ulla in Victoria. Whenever I come to Victoria, all the popular restaurants don’t take reservations, so you have to wait in line.

I’m glad Ulla takes reservations and if you’re not in town, they take email reservations so yo don’t have to waste long distance minutes.

ulla-lamp

Their interior is beautiful from their tables all the way to their light fixtures.

ulla-map

What I find so amazing about Victoria and their restaurant is how there is an increasing trend towards sourcing food that is hyper-local. They even show you on a map, where exactly on the island they source their food from.

ulla-bread

Complimentary bread arrives at the table with a dish of olive oil. It’s soft and fluffy on the inside with a hard crust on the outside.

ulla-pilsner

Hoyner Pilsner comes in a big bottle. It’s a nice light and crisp beer.

ulla-drink

They also make some good cocktails.

ulla-whippedtuna

Whipped Albacore Tuna Belly ($6) with sriracha and squid ink crisps. It only comes with 3 pieces on the plate but the different texture really worked well. The crispiness of the squid ink crisps and the soft and fluffy albacore tuna belly. It’s one of my favourite items.

ulla-canolli

Chicken and Morel Mushroom Cannelloni ($14) with bacon, parmesan crumb with veloute sauce. It comes with 3 pieces.

ulla-oup

Broccoli soup ($12) with cauliflower, carrot and ‘cheddar’ egg with a brioche crouton. The egg isn’t an egg, it looks like an egg with the cauliflower on the outside and the carrot on the inside making it look like an egg.

ulla-salad

Autumn Vegetable Salad ($12) has sunflower seed and yogurt ‘cheese’, kasha crisps and cider dressing.

ulla-scallop

Scallop boudin blanc ($15) with winter squash, pine mushroom, potato purée and pumpkin seeds. The scallops were pureed and made into a new shape. It had a neat texture and tasted really great.

ulla-steak

Bavette, heritage angus beef ($27) is served with potto roesti and puree, mushrooms, onions, creamed greens and a pepper sauce. The beef was cooked to medium and it was very tender.

ulla-loin

Still Meadows Farm Pork ($27), cheddar perogies, cabbage, celery root, apple cider jus The pork loin definitely had a lot of fat on of the ends, but it was still very delicious.

ulla-pear

Poached Pear ($9) with calvados sabayon, autumn spices, buttermilk sorbet, and almond streusel. A nice light dessert to end the meal.

Overall, it was another fantastic dinner at Ulla. Although it can be a bit pricey for the portions, it’s not an everyday restaurant. It’s great for special occasions.

We Rate Ulla Restaurant:

Address:
509 Fisgard St
Victoria BC

Website:
http://ulla.ca/

In Four Beakers

Roast: Meat and Sandwich Shop

December 17, 2014

Roast Meat and Sandwich Shop at the Victoria Public Market at The Hudson serves up delicious sandwiches that rivals Meat and Bread. They are commitment to providing delicious, natural, and humane meat you can feel good about buying and eating.

While I was in Victoria for a work trip, I had to stop here to get a porchetta sandwich.

There’s something about watching a man carve meat that compels you to stop what you’re doing and consume immediately. This is quite true and so many people at the market just stopped, smelled the meat, and then lined up to get a piece of it.

It smells really good with the aroma of roasted chicken, beef and pork in the air.

They sell a variety of sandwiches and even whole roasts.

Oh man, look at their carving station with long strips of chicharron.

You can’t deny how amazing that prime rib looks.

All that porchetta staring at you. Delicious crust of crackling.

Porchetta Sandwich ($9.50) has naturally raised pork, provolone, broccolini, and salsa verde in the Portuguese Bun.

I love the broccolini and the slab of salsa verde, it helps cut the grease from the pork and balance out the flavours.

Beef and Pork Sausage Rolls sell out fast! We came here on a Saturday at 2pm and all of them were sold out, so we kindly asked them to save us a few for Sunday to pick up before our ferry ride back to Vancouver. I was super excited to devour these.

The sausage roll had lots of filling! It was packed full of meat and the crust was crispy. It’s really good and perfect for kids to eat.

They also sell chicharron by the weight so I got a piece to go for a late night snack in the hotel. Mmmm Mmmmm. You probably want to drink this with beer or some soda since it has a very smokey flavour.

Overall, Roast is very good and offers a variety of sandwiches, roasts, and salads. I would definitely come back again for my next trip to Victoria. The prices are a tad high, but you won’t walk away disappointed.

We rate Roast Meat and Sandwich Shop:

Address:
1701 Douglas Street
Victoria, BC

Website:
http://roastsandwichshop.com/

In Kid Friendly

Inn at Laurel Point: Canada’s National Gingerbread Showcase

December 15, 2014

The Inn at Laurel Point is hosting Canada’s National Gingerbread Showcase from November 22nd till January 4th. It is open daily from 9am till 9pm. A lot of local companies and residents of Victoria participated in this challenge to create beautiful sculptures.

I spent a weekend in Victoria with my coworkers and since we were staying at the Inn at Laurel Point, we decided to check out all the Gingerbread sculptures. It wasn’t all just houses.

You can vote for your favourite gingerbread creation and make a donation to Habitat for Humanity Victoria.

The theme for 2014 focused on ‘Where Things Live’. Imagination ran wild, inviting bakers to dream up visions of building what a snowman’s home would look like, the inside of an elf’s den, or even the pasture for Santa’s reindeer.

If you are in the Victoria area, definitely check it out.

Of course there were cats, lots of cats!!

Website: http://www.laurelpoint.com/christmas-2014/gingerbread.htm

In Farm to Table

10 Acres Bistro, Bar & Farm: Dining in Victoria

December 14, 2014

10 Acres Bistro, Bar and Farm is located in Victoria, BC and they offers a unique West Coast experience showcasing the freshest foods from the island including meat, cheese, seafood and the finest seasonal produce direct from their farm.

I came here with work colleagues for dinner after coming off the ferry. They suggested 10 Acres would be a great place to go to.

The restaurant is quite large! THey have an inside area, a bar area, and then the outside patio. We were seated in the patio and even thought it was the winter, they have lots of heated lamps to keep this space warm.

They even had a cool heated fire in the centre. It was really hot but I loved it.

Stanley Park Pilsner – Turning Point Brewery (Sleeve – $5) is a beautiful light beer thats won various awards. I really liked it because it was light and fruity.

Sooke Trout ($19) comes from the 10 acres farm. It is served with organic vegetables and herb oil.

Salt Spring Island Mussels ($16) comes with your choices of garlic + white wine, green curry or tomato chorizo sauces. I went with the tomato chorizo because I wanted some meat. It is also served with grilled bread.

The mussels tasted fresh and were flavourful and plump. A good reflection of the West Coast.

Tagliatelle with Rotisserie Chicken ($14 + $3) has wild mushrooms, vegetables, asiago, and a citrus brown butter cream sauce. The chicken was very flavourful.

Overall, it was a decent place to dine for dinner. It is really great to know all the ingredients are from their local farm.

We Rate 10 Acres:

Website:
http://www.10acres.ca/

Address:
611 Courtney St Victoria, BC

In Gluten Free Options

Fernwood Inn: Dinner in Victoria

October 10, 2014

Fernwood Inn is committed to providing locally sourced organic products, wild seafood, and Victoria’s best micro brews. They have a large dining room and an outdoor patio. They also have a private Art Room that can be reserved for groups of over 60 people.

You can’t miss this building as it is large and yellow. I came by after work with my coworkers and we had a quick dinner before heading back to Vancouver.

Saltspring Island Mussels ($13) is steamed with oven roasted tomatoes, crispy pancetta, and a garlic butter white wine sauce. It is served with garlic toast. There was lots of mussels in this dish and it was enough for 4 people.

Those mussels were really plump and delicious. It was really good! The broth was perfect for dipping bread into. Mmm Mmm Mmm I love garlic and of course mussels.

Fernwood Burger ($13 + $1.50) has a sirloin beef patty, lettuce, tomato, onion and smoked paprika aioli on a ciabatta bun. We added sauteed mushrooms on top.

Thai Curry Prawns ($9.50) has black Tiger pawns sauteed in a coconut curry with sweet mango chutney, cilantro, lime and bean sprouts. Served with garlic toast.

Look at that prawn hiding inside.

Wild Rice Jambalaya ($17) has organic brown and wild rice sautéed with creole vegetables, slow simmered with prawns, clams, ham and chorizo sausage in a spicy tomato broth. There is garlic toast on the side.

The “Inn” Salad ($12) has triple cream brie, wild blueberries, butter roasted macadamia nuts, tart apple vinaigrette and greens. It was a decent salad. The ingredients were fresh, but I didn’t feel like all these ingredients really blended together. The macadamia nuts were really delicious.

Overall, it was a nice casual place to dine and their patio is much more relaxing than their dining area. If it’s a nice sunny day, definitely go sit at the patio.

We Rate Fernwood Inn:

Address:
1302 Gladstone Ave
Victoria BC

Website:
http://www.fernwoodinn.com/

In Bakery

2% Jazz Coffee: Coffee in Victoria, BC

October 9, 2014

2% Jazz Coffee has been serving coffee in Victoria since 1996. They offer a unique coffee experience with an open space concept where coffee roaster and cafe culture collide.

The Roastery and Cafe is outside the historic Hudson building. Right by the Victoria Public Market and block away from Chinatown. I got a bit lost finding the place, but as long as you walk around the outside of The Hudson, you will find it.

The baked goods looked amazing. Prices are pretty good too.

I wish I had the stomach for some treats, but all I needed was coffee. Next time, I’ll have to make sure I grab a treat.

Latte was made beautifully with some latte art on the top. The espresso in it was nice and strong and the milk was smooth.

Overall, the atmosphere in the cafe was great, plus the staff is nice and friendly. I can image lots of people here just doing some work or chilling with friends. If you are ever in Victoria, definitely check out 2% Jazz Coffee. They have 2 locations in Victoria.

We Rate 2% Jazz Coffee:

Address:
1701 Douglas Street
Victoria BC

Website:
http://2percentjazz.com/

In Three Beakers

Red Fish, Blue Fish: Awesome Tacones

April 3, 2012

Hello Internet! Roman J here with another review! I went to Victoria with Will, Maku, and Ralph. Any trip to Victoria isn’t complete without seafood. We tried the popular Fish and Chips joint called Red Fish, Blue Fish located in the harbor of Victoria.

When we arrived at Red Fish, Blue Fish the line was ridiculously long. My friends and I waited 45 minutes just to order, then we waited another 10 minute for our order to come out.

There is seating along the pier. People sit on top of upside-down plant pots. Further along the pier, there are stools to sit on and enjoy your meal.

BBQ wild Salmon Ravines Tacones ($5) has sweet smoked chili adobo, pea shoots, and lemon pickled onion. The tacones are delicious. The wild salmon is perfectly seasoned and the flavor just pours out of the fish. Also, the cabbage mixed with lemon-pickled onion adds a refreshing taste.

Chipotle Shrimp Ravines ($5) has million island dressing, pea shoots and lemon-pickled onions. The tacones are packed with shrimp and blends well with the cabbage. Due to the sauce there is a slight of kick of spice.

One Piece Salmon ($10). Maku had the salmon he described it to be juicy. The batter on the salmon is really thin and crispy.

Fish Poutine Add On ($2.50) This is worth it’s value, the fish poutine is huge and comes fully loaded with fries and a chowder chipotle sauce with a mayo base. The sauce has bits and pieces of fish. This sauce is really rich and makes this poutine very filling. I would recommend getting this dish, if you like mayo.

Overall, Red Fish, Blue Fish has a lot to offer in terms of Tacones. They have a large number of Seafood Tacones to choose from. The tacones I had here are probably the best I’ve ever had. I would recommend this place if you have the time to wait and stand in line, if not try another restaurant around the harbor.

Words of Wisdom

Long lines
Daily specials
Good portions sizes

We Rate Red Fish, Blue Fish:

Website:
http://www.redfish-bluefish.com/

View Larger Map

In Seafood

The Oyster at Pescatores Seafood

September 8, 2010

No trip to Victoria is ever complete without having some seafood! On our way back to Vancouver, InsecureGirl, FragileBoy and I really wanted some oysters and The Oyster was really calling out to us! Even the “Buck-a-Shuck” sign in the front tempted us to have oysters for $1 a piece.

We took so long contemplating the decision that the “buck-a-shuck” deal ended at 5:30pm. But nonetheless we went anyways because we are whores for oysters.

We walked in and the place seemed very lively with a majority of the seats full and the vibrant red walls screaming excitement. Soon enough, we found out this place was not so exciting after all.

We looked at the menu and it seemed really limited so we stuck to the steamed mussels and clams in garlic butter, as well as 3 types of oysters. It took the waitress awhile to get our order…even though she was a few steps away from us at the bar. All the food came fairly slowly and made us super hungry. ( you can click on the photos to see larger versions).

First up was the bread. Like all restaurants they bring bread. Nothing super special but free bread is always nice…since asians love free stuff!

Next the pound of steamed mussels and clams arrive in its delicious garlic butter. It was very good and even M said so himself….and he doesn’t really like seafood. I thought the garlic butter was just fantastic…I even dipped the bread into the sauce.

The 3 types of oysters that we chose were – kusshi, satori, and Fanny Bay. All oysters were served with 4 sauces: classic mignonette, cucumber mignonette, hot pepper sauce, house cocktail sauce and freshly grated horseradish.

My favorite was the Kusshi oyster. It has a very buttery texture, rich and salty with a sweet mildly fruity finish to it. Even The Oyster’s website said it is one of the oysters that beginners should eat. It’s small and not too intimidating for people starting out to eat raw oysters.

Satori was a bit salty but no distinguishing taste that I could get out of it.

Fanny Bay was very salty and sweet with a cucumber or melon finish.

One thing we didn’t like about the oysters is how there were still bits of shell near the meat of the oyster, so when you ate it, you would need to spit out pieces of the shell.

Also at the end, the service was still pretty bad….

If you are looking for a wide selection of oysters and other types of seafood, check out The Oyster! Just watch out for the service cause it’s bad!
We rate The Oyster:
Visit them at their website: http://theoysterbar.ca/

In Japanese

JagaSilk

September 6, 2010

When going to the Bug Zoo in Victoria, InsecureGirl suggested we go to JagaSilk for some amazing authentic green tea!

We were still uber full from The Empress Afternoon Tea, but InsecureGirl and I dragged the boys to go in. Good thing we did because it turned out to be a memorable experience! First of all I love green tea, I must have a cup everyday…it’s probably just the asian side of me.

JagaSilk is located in Nootka Court and owned by a lovely couple. The little shop looked very unique when we walked in, the store was filled with Japanese pottery – Chawan and had a nice bar to sit down.

Since I’m not an expert in green tea, I did not know what to get on the menu since there were so many options and different grades of green tea you could use in your tea. We asked the owner what he would suggest and we chose the Organic Green Tea Frappe and lemon matcha ice tea.

The matcha ice tea was made first where Jared – the owner shows us how he prepares the matcha for the drink. He carefully measures the amount of matcha and then adds in hot water and purified water then mixes with a chasen (matcha whisks). Then he goes to the back to mix the matcha mix with sugar water, lemon and ice. Thus the lemon match ice tea was made. It was really refreshing and the color of the matcha really resonated through this whole drink. It was very nice!

The Organic Green Tea Frappe was made next with the same mixing process and was blended with a blender. They take their drinks very seriously; they even went to the trouble of making the drink again because it was not perfect! After it was all made, I took a sip out of it and WOW such amazing green tea flavour in the drink. It was probably better than Starbucks and 100% more healthy!

FragileBoy decided to try out the Orange Duck Organic LondonFog Ice Cream. The Orange Duck is the brand of the ice cream; no ducks were hurt in the making of the ice cream. The ice cream was served in a nice cup and plate. It was served with frozen blueberries. The first bite of ice cream was unbelievable! It had so much flavour that it tasted like a real London fog. The blueberry was a nice addition since it is kinda like a pallet cleanser when you had too much of the same taste. If you go here you must eat this!!! There is nothing else like it!

They even have a green tea version too to go! This will soon be out in stores soon!

While we were drinking the drinks, we chatted with him for a bit asking about the business and green tea products. It turns out there’s different grades of green tea and how there is a myth were if the green tea comes from Japan, it’s automatically labeled organic. In reality, this is obviously not true. So, JagaSilk works directly with a Green tea farmer in Japan to ensure the products they are using are organic and live up to the grade that is specified. They even go far as using all purified water for their ice cubes.

They even sell their green tea and pottery in the store and online!

If you are looking for authentic green tea drinks go to JagaSilk. You will not be disappointed. They also support organic products, vegetarianism, and sustainable business practices! So, you know they are really dedicated to their work.

We rate Jagasilk:

Check out their website: http://www.jagasilk.com

In Four Beakers

The Empress Afternoon Tea

September 6, 2010

The Empress in Victoria has the most elegant afternoon tea! During the long weekend, InsecureGirl, FragileBoy, M and I decided to go to Victoria and explore the sights and sounds of Victoria! Even with the 1 hour of sleep we got earlier during the night, this did not bother our trip…not even the 5% amount of oil left in my car ( it eventually started flashing -61…but at least the car didn’t break down).

We drove around finding parking for the day and found the cheapest option EVER. Take this as a very good tip if you ever want to drive to Victoria!!! Park at the Valet at The Empress and say you are going to Afternoon Tea, they will not charge you since the Valet is for the people staying overnight. We just tipped them after leaving the car there for the whole day! If you are just walking around downtown and doing a day trip here, this saves you a lot of money!

We went in our “business smart” dress code as instructed on the website, but we soon found out we were dressed up a bit too much since there are a lot of tourists going for Afternoon tea in their t-shirts and shorts.

The décor of the room was very elegant and you could kinda feel a chill as you drank your tea because all the furniture and décor was so dated. Even walking past the elevators felt a bit eerie because they were so old. Apparently, there’s a rumor where the hotel is haunted (GASP!).

As we sat down and was greeted by our lovely waitress, she explained how the afternoon tea works and what we should be expecting. We choose a type of tea – the Empress Blend, which is made especially for the Empress. Which I find very hyped up because it just tastes like red tea.

Before the tiers of food came, they gave us seasonal fruit with whipped cream on top. It was a very nice beginning to the meal. The seasonal fruit was strawberries!

Next came the tiers of food, even though it didn’t look like a lot of food, if you ate slowly you will surely be filled. We started at the bottom with the sandwiches.

There was a curry sandwich, carrot sandwich, egg salad croissant, salmon pinwheel sandwich and mushroom crostini. I think my favorites were the curry sandwich and the mushroom crostini. M went nuts over the egg salad croissant. Apparently its very hard to make such a miniature croissant and have all the ingredients work really well together.

The second tier were scones with shipped butter and jars of jam. Embedded in the scones were raisins and had a very nice rich taste to it. It was well made but you can tell there was a lot of fat to this scone. It was quite filling and probably was the item that stuffed us the most. The scone was not particularly overly enjoyable or too exciting.

The last tier and probably the tier that is most interesting to devour! It came with a strawberry meringue tart, sugar cookies, tulip chocolate Ganache with candied blue berries, checkered cake covered in fondant, and greentea cheesecake.

When we finished and asked for the bill, the waitress gave us a gift of complementary Empress Blend Tea which was a very nice touch and made the afternoon a bit more special! I guess that had to do that because the bill came to a shocking $200+ for 4 people. That probably came out to be $65 per person after tax and tips. (OUCH!)

The experience of going to a super nice afternoon tea location was very nice, but probably overpriced. After this experience, I would not go again because I don’t think it was worth the amount of money we paid. Don’t get me wrong, the food was good, it was a bit expensive for my taste. Next time perhaps I will go to the Secret Garden or The Market for some High Tea for a cheaper price.

We rate The Empress Afternoon Tea: