Edible News + Notes: June 15, 2020
Time to Dine In
It is a welcome change to our newsfeed from just a couple months ago: instead of posts declaring closing doors, restaurants are now posting their reopening information.
Crown Isle in Courtenay has reopened the Timber Room Bar and Grill—but not only have they re-opened, they have also renovated. The space has a fresh new look that you’ll enjoy relaxing in while you look out over the beautiful golf course.
Vista 18 Restaurant and Lounge in Victoria is very excited about their renovations, which they closed on January 2nd for. Unfortunately, the renovations concluded just a few days before the entire restaurant industry was shut down. So now that they’re open, they’re eager for you to finally see all the work they put in to updating their space!
The Fickle Fig in North Saanich is open again for dine-in service for breakfast and lunch, as well as dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And they are also now licensed, so you can enjoy a cold beer on their sunshine-lit patio with your lunch. 
And this sounds like a fabulous collaboration: Averill Creek Vineyard in Duncan has teamed up with Ciccio’s Cucina for the summer, so you can enjoy a bottle of wine or tasting flight alongside fresh bruschetta, pasta, or salad from the catering van, all while soaking in the beautiful view from their terrace that overlooks the Cowichan Valley.
Thinking Outside the Box
Tofino has approved plans to help support their local restaurant industry by transforming an RV parking lot by the municipal hall into a dining park. While restaurants are allowed to offer dine-in seating, social distancing measures limit the number of guests permitted on-site at a time, so the city hopes initiatives like this will help encourage locals and tourists to support the restaurants by giving them more places to enjoy their take-out meals.
And a Saanich restaurant has also gotten creative with their dine-in seating options. The Lakes Grillhouse ‘n Bar in Victoria (located inside the Howard Johnson by Wyndham), has converted the hotel pool deck into an additional outdoor patio. They’re awaiting final approval and permits but expect the new expansion to be a popular choice.
Shopping
The pandemic solidified the convenience of online shopping, and site BCLocalRoot.ca aims to help you keep that convenience while also supporting our own economy. The site is an online grocery platform that only carries B.C.-made products—including those from our island, like Tree Island Gourmet Yogurt and Level Ground Coffee.
The Very Good Butchers in Victoria have expanded their shopping options as well, as you can now find their plant-based meat alternatives at select Whole Foods in Vancouver and Victoria.
Closed
We are sad to say goodbye to a downtown Courtenay business: the owners of The Hub Café have decided it is time for them to close their doors and move on. We will miss this cozy community hub, but we wish them well in their future endeavors!
