Edible News + Notes: January 12, 2020
Destination: Vancouver Island
We already know that Vancouver Island is basically a paradise. We get to call it “home” and explore its vast beauty, befriend its locals and support our farmers and restaurants. So it really isn’t surprising that the rest of the world would want to come visit, proven by CNN Travel’s recent article “20 best places to visit in 2020” listing Vancouver as a must-see destination.
Between that and the royal visit from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Victoria over the holidays, Vancouver Island is becoming a hot topic. With Markle on her way back to Victoria already, we can’t say we blame her; it’s a beautiful harbour city with much to see and many places to dine on fresh, local fare.
And, as it turns out, there are some numbers to back up the claim of Vancouver Island as an edible destination. Nine restaurants on the Island climbed into Yelp’s top 100 places to eat in Canada:
Il Terrazzo Ristorante
Blue Fox Café
Jam Cafe
Shanzee’s Biscuit Cafe
Little Yunnan Restaurant
John’s Place
OLO Restaurant
Finn’s Seafood, Chops & Cocktails
Shelter Restaurant
Keep this list in your back pocket for next time you want to check out a new place to eat or revisit one of them if it’s been awhile.
New Year, New Changes
Victoria said goodbye to cozy café and restaurant Sunday’s Child in December, but said hello to their location’s replacement: a new Ruth & Dean opened at the beginning of the year, and their delicious food and beautiful cakes are being happily made and consumed in their new home.
And we’ll keep you posted on this one, but a “new beer in old town” is coming this year. Herald Street Brewery promises to open sometime this year in Victoria. The Drake Eatery and Steel and Oak Brewing Company are collaborating to open this small-batch brewery, and we can’t wait to have a drink there when they do open their doors.
Saltspring Kitchen Co. decided it was time for some fresh changes this winter, and renamed and repackaged their original hot sauce, which is now called Habanero + Curry + Orange. They also introduced two new sauces to their line: Pineapple + Turmeric + Achiote and Morita + Espresso + Chipotle. Sounds delicious!
Change is also in the air for Hot Chocolates in Courtenay. The business has decided to continue as a Columbian chocolate shop and cease their production of Belgian chocolate treats. As they begin producing their new chocolate, pop in for a sample and pick up some Belgian chocolate at discount prices.
