Posts Tagged ‘Live Music’

Eating & Drinking at the Vancouver Folk Music Fest

July 12th, 2011 admin

The 34th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival gets underway this weekend July 15-17, starting off on Friday evening with musicians performing from all over the world thru Sunday night. This is one of my favourite music festivals, I have attended 29 festivals over the years! Each year, as much as I look forward to the music I also look forward to the food. Here is a run down of what to eat at the fest this weekend:

El Nuevo Amancer

What’s to Eat and Drink?

 

BIG ROCK BEER GARDEN

Quench your thirst with satisfying BIG ROCK ales and lagers, and sip award winning TINHORN CREEK WINES.

B & B CREPES

Take your taste buds on a journey to France with these sweet and savoury delights.

CORN ROASTER

The simple pleasure of fresh roasted corn, melted butter and flavoured salts.

DIM SUM EXPRESS & BUBBLE TEA

Experience the spices of China with dumplings, chow mein and bubble tea.

ELF NOMAD CAFE

Tasty natural cooking and hot chai served by elves.

EL NUEVO AMANCER

Delicacies from El Salvador with a side dish of Latin flair.

FROZEN FANTASIES

Cool off with smoothies, lemonade and chocolate dipped fruit.

FANTASTIC HOT DOGS

A summer tradition, with all the fixins.

G’s DONAIRS

Sizzling skewers loaded with a variety of chicken, veggies or beef.

GUAYAKI YERBA MATE

Known as ‘the drink of the gods’ this South American drink is a healthy way to revitalize your energy.

YO QUIERO TACOS TACOS TACOS

Tacos so delicious you will want more, more, more.

INSOMNIAC’S COFFEE

Who needs sleep when you can drink great coffee?

JAMAICA MI JUICY

Your mouth will be dancing! Jamaican patties, jerk chicken and smoothies.

JUICE CABOOSE

Fresh, organic and local smoothies and juice… Vancouver style.

LEFT COAST NATURALS

Yummy natural treats which are actually good for you.

MAD JACK’S CHUNKY FRIES

Giant size potato and yam fries – yummy.

MARIO’S GELATI

Ice cream and gelato treats for every palate.

MEDITERRANEAN BBQ

European style grilled chicken. delicious Merguez sausage and more.

MR. FRESH

Healthy food and smoothies are a match made in festival heaven.

THE NUTMAN

A festival favourite! Nuts, candy and chocolates.

NOAH’S FISH TACOS

Delectable tacos loaded with halibut!

PRESERVED SEED CAFE

Famous soups, stews, wraps and baked goods served with heart.

REAL TREATS

Kettle corn popped the old fashioned way.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FLATBREAD

Thin crust pizza so good it makes mama jealous!

SALT SPRING COFFEE

Fair trade coffee lovingly roasted in beautiful BC.

TASTE OF THAILAND

Explore the exotic and delectable cuisine of ancient Siam.

TNT WRAPS

Burgers wrapped up nice and tasty. Nachos too! Perfectly located near the beer garden.

WHALES TAILS

Scrumptious, fried festival favourites for the kid in everyone.

VARINICEY PAKORAS

Indian vegetarian snacks and cuisine for the discerning palate.

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Food & Wine Events, Latest Tags: , , , No Comments »

THE HERITAGE GRILL

October 22nd, 2010 admin

447 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC

Tel: 604-759-0819

Web: www.theheritagegrill.com

Advice: live music nightly with all sorts of music from jazz to chamber to world.

This vibrant restaurant was a delight on a recent visit in for a late dinner with a friend, while eating we were treated to some great jazz music by a local group. The menu is quite varied with quite a selection of appetizers, entrees, pastas and salads, we decided that sharing would be best so that we could taste more dishes.

Apple Cilantro Crab Cakes

Portobello Goat Cheese Stuffed Ravioli

5 Spiced Cured Rib Eye Bites

We shared the dishes and started off with some appetizers, the Apple Cilantro Crab Cakes ($10.99) with avocado salsa; Portobello Goat Cheese Stuffed Ravioli ($10.99) tomato and cream sauce and truffle oil; 5 Spiced Cured Rib Eye Bites ($10.99) with crispy onion and herb salad and hoisin sauce.

Moules Frites

Slow Braised Lamb Shank

Steak and Prawns

For our mains we shared the delicious and large Moules Frites (18.99) mussels and clams steamed in an orange and chorizo lobster broth, poached tiger prawns and topped with hand cut herbed fries and tomato aioli; Slow Braised Lamb Shank ($18.99) laid in a bed of julienne zucchini, mushrooms, pearl onions and roasted garlic mashed potatoes, sided with garlic confit honey spread and the Steak and Prawns ($18.99) triple A, hand cut rib eye grilled to your perfection, topped with garlic, white wine prawns and served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes.

Although I wanted to have some dessert we were both too full do so. You will find a good wine and beer list to go with your dinner! This restaurant is very much into community and their back room hosts many different community events from the Philosopher Café, to Gay nights and Drag Shows, to Comedy nights as well as showing Documentary Films.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in New Westminster Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

DONA CATA

July 16th, 2010 admin

5076 Victoria Drive, Vancouver

Tel: 604-436-2232


Advice: great selection of salsas at the salsa bar.

Mole Chicken

Vegetarian Burrito

I was in for dinner recently with friend Ariane as we were craving some good Mexican food. I love this authentic east side spot with their colourful interior, the night we were there they had a duo in musical performance. I have often done take-out, this time stayed to enjoy the music and the atmosphere. I had the Mole Chicken ($10.50) with pulled chicken, mexican rice, house stewed beans and 3 corn tortillas. Their mole boasts over 25 ingredients and 5 chiles to create a flavourful sauce. Ariane had the Vegetarian Burrito ($7) beans and cheese wrapped around a flour tortilla with a side of pico de gallo. The menu features a large selection of tacos, and taco variations along with breakfast specialties and Enchiladas too.

Review by: Richard Wolak
Photo credit: Ariane Colenbrander
Posted in Eastside, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

What’s to Eat? Vancouver Folk Music Fest

July 14th, 2010 admin

The 33rd Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival gets underway this weekend, starting off on Friday evening with musicians performing from all over the world thru Sunday night. This is one of my favourite music festivals, I have attended 28 festivals over the years! Each year, as much as I look forward to the music I also look forward to the food. Here is a run down of what to eat at the fest this weekend:  

What’s to Eat?

Food and Beverages

Big Rock Beer Garden

Refreshing Big Rock ales and lagers and award-winning Tinhorn Creek wines.

Cheyenne Coffee

Boost your energy and taste buds with a cup of Joe.

Corn Roaster

Fresh roasted corn, melted butter and flavoured salts.

Crepes On The Go

Paris at the festival! Savoury and sweet crepes.

Dim Sum Express

A tantalizing taste of China includes dumplings, chow mein and bubble tea.

Fantastic Hot Dogs

Need we say more? Delicious – with all the fixings!

Frozen Fantasies

Smoothies, lemonade and fruit dipped in chocolate. Yummy!

Happy Planet Juices

The healthy juices that make you smile.

Insomniac’s Coffee

A delicious way to perk up your day. Coffee and more.

Jamaica Mi Juicy

Sun-drenched flavours!  Jamaican patties, jerk chicken and smoothies.

Left Coast Naturals

Healthy natural treats that taste good and are good for you!

Mad Jack’s

Thick cut potato fries and yam fries. Addictive!

Mario’s Gelati

Frozen gelato and ice cream treats. A festival favorite!

Mediterranean BBQ

Grilled European-style chicken & merguez sausage.

Noah’s Soups & Chili

Tasty comfort food in a bowl.

Mr. Fresh

Healthy food and smoothies to make your taste buds sing.

El Nuevo Amancer

Delicacies from El Salvador infused with Latin flair.

The Nutman

The sweet delights of candy, chocolates and nuts.

Rocky Mountain Flatbread

Thin crust pizza even better than mama’s!

Salt Spring Coffee

Fair trade coffee lovingly roasted in beautiful BC.

Skewers

Hamburgers and chicken served in a delicious and different way.

Taste of Thailand

The unique and flavour-filled cuisine of Thailand.

Whales Tails

A scrumptious, sweet, fried, festival tradition.

Yo Quiero Tacos Tacos Tacos

Mouth-watering tacos with that south-of-the-border zing.

By: Richard Wolak

Photo by Alyssa Burtt

Posted in Festivals, Latest Tags: , , , No Comments »

EAST IS EAST

April 4th, 2010 admin

4413 Main St, Vancouver

Tel: 604-879-2020

Web: http://www.eastiseast.ca/

Advice: No reservations, sit anywhere you wish and have a taste of their chai.

Wild Salmon Rice Bowl

Nutty Gypsy

I’ve been coming here ever since they opened this eastside location where I love the ambience and the food. The dining room if you could call it that isn’t anything like you have seen around the city, I can’t really call it cozy but it is very unique. The wooden seats are covered with afghan rugs and the tables are made of wooden logs and the incense burns from afar. Most nights there is live music with musicians on the sitar and other eastern instruments which adds to the pleasure of dining here. I have had most of the Eastern Roti Rolls on the menu, on my most recent visit I had the delicious Wild Salmon Rice Bowl ($8.50) baked miso salmon in coconut milk, lime leaves and red/green thai curry. Also for my beverage I had one of their amazing milkshakes, the Nutty Gypsy ($4.50) made with soy milk and frozen yogurt, mixed nuts, cardamom, cinnamon, and chocolate. I am also a fan of their Turkish Chill and Himalyan High milkshakes.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Main Street, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

CAFÉ BARCELONA

January 24th, 2010 admin

1049 Granville Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-909-2223

Web: http://www.cafebarcelona.ca/

Advice: Bring a long a friend or two to share the tapas. Call ahead for reservations and to find out which nights they have live music.

Pan con Tomate

I have been to Barcelona a few times and love the food and culture, I had hoped that the food at Café Barcelona would have equaled the flavours of the tapas I had longingly missed from the visits to Barcelona. The dishes that my friend Sophia and I had here wasn’t the same, the food selections were ok but not spectacular.

Escalivada con Quesco de cabra

Patatas Bravas

Gambas Ajillo

Tarta de Santiago

We started off our tapas sharing with the Pan con Tomate (catalan style) ($3.50) and Manchego cheese; Escalivada con Quesco de cabra ($7.50) red and green bell peppers, eggplant and tomato are grilled, then sliced and topped with a garlic dressing and goat cheese. The other two tapas dishes we had were the Patatas Bravas ($2.75) fried potato dices served with spicy tomato sauce and aioli; and the Gambas Ajillo ($6.50) prawns sauteed with garlic and parsley. For dessert we had the Tarta de Santiago ($4.50) almond pie filling principally consists of ground almond, eggs and sugar. The top of the pie was decorated with powdered sugar, masked by an imprint of the Saint James cross. They have a good selection of Spanish wines that go well with the tapas. The Escalivada con Quesco de cabra was the most unique dish we had, and we both loved it. If you are looking for a place to go after the symphony or the theatre then this would be an ideal place for tapas and drinks.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Granville, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , 1 Comment »

DULCINEA SPANISH CAFÉ

August 18th, 2009 admin
inside looking outside

inside looking outside

1118 Denman Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-689-2699
Web http://www.dulcineachocolatecafe.com

Advice: Try their chocolate taster, great free wifi.

Caffe Bamba

Caffe Bamba

Chocolate, passionate and all is wonderful. I fell in love with this place on my first visit and since have been many more times, little by little I tasted new and different chocolate creations. This is a Spanish café that is inspiring not only for the palate but for everything that it does, the café is comfortable and it has a true ambience. I have a few favourites, try the “Barcelona” made with espresso, chocolate, milk and orange served hot or try the “Chocolate Chai” for another sensational beverage. Try the Caffe Bamba ($4.25) ice cream smothered with their chocolate 1528 and topped with whipped cream (optional), You may aspire something simple and pure, order a shot of their liquid drinking chocolate 1528 ($2) and also a double espresso shot and sip and savour them both. The staff are friendly and ready to help you choose from the wide variety of hot and cold beverages. Tell them it is your first visit and they will give you a taste of their drinking chocolate. There are other chocolate snacks and treats including cookies and cakes to accompany your beverage.

Review by: Richard Wolak

POST UPDATED — Restaurant Closed in November 2010

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Westend Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments »

THE MAIN

August 16th, 2009 admin

TheMain

4210 Main Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-709-8555

Web: http://www.themainonmain.com

Twitter: @TheMainonMain

Advice: Call ahead to place your take out order.

Hawaii Five-O Pizza

Hawaii Five-O Pizza

I have been a regular here at this Greek restaurant for many years, it is a family favorite as we know that they make delicious food. My favourites here are the Chicken Souvlaki ($16.50) skewered and grilled chicken served on a bed of rice, roasted potatoes, greek salad and satsiki; Hawaii Five-O Pizza ($16.50) with mushrooms, pineapple (and I get it without the ham); Spanakopita ($6) spinach, leeks, feta, fresh mint and fresh dill, wrapped in filo pastry; Briam ($12.50) zucchini, eggplant, red and green peppers, potatoes, tomato, garlic, and onions baked in olive oil and tomato sauce, topped with feta.

There is lots of seating inside as well as a patio the runs around front to the side of the building, the bar is well stocked and there is live music many nights of the week. The Main on Main is located in a good neighborhood and is fortunate to have established customers who come for their flavorful Greek and southern Mediteranean cuisine.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Main Street, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , No Comments »
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