Edible News + Notes: November 15, 2023

New Places and Spaces

A recently opened Hawaiian burger spot has taken over the former Very Good Butchers location in downtown Victoria: Kahuna Burger, which also has a branch in Duncan, offers tasty Hawaiian-inspired burgers, poké bowls, and desserts.

Exciting news for pizza enthusiasts! Serena's Pizzeria & Hoagies, a new pizza spot that also offers mouthwatering Philly-style hoagies, has recently opened at the former location of La Taqueria on Fort Street in Victoria.

Cowichan Valley welcomes a fresh addition to its culinary scene—The Taco Hole is now open inside the Cowichan Community Centre in Duncan. They offer a fusion of Mexican and Canadian cuisine. 

Cobble Hill welcomes a new craft distillery: Holocene Distilling Project has introduced its inaugural handcrafted spirit, Flivver, with a commitment to achieving full carbon neutrality by 2030.

Burger on Point, the freshest food truck in Sooke, serves up irresistible burgers and even features expertly deep-fried pickles. Find them stationed in the parking lot of Sooke Brewing.

Celebrations

Congratulations to Zambri's who recently celebrated their 24th anniversary.

The Artful Pie Project has been honored with a silver medal at the Taste Canada Awards. Congratulations to Denise Marchessault and Deb Garlick. (PS: We had the honour of printing one of their delicious recipes in a recent issue—check out their recipe for Classic Tarte Tatin.)

Marilena Cafe and Raw Bar has been recognized as the No.3 Best New Restaurant in Canada and awarded Restaurant Design of the Year by EnRoute.

BC Beer Awards

Congratulations to the following Island brewers:

Best in Show: Hoyne Brewing - Dark Matter
Brewery of the Year: Twin City Brewing
Innovator of the Year: Small Gods Brewing
Rookie of the Year: Swift Brewing 

Closures

Island Eko Pantry, known for its gluten-free, vegan, and all-natural Asian fermented products and frequently featured at farmers markets will be closing. Despite the closure, they will continue to offer their well-received workshops.

The beloved Buzz Coffee House in Nanaimo is set to close its doors, with November 19th marking their final day of operation.