Posts Tagged ‘Tea’

URBAN TEA MERCHANT

December 8th, 2011 admin

1070 West Georgia, Vancouver

Tel: 604-692-0071

Web: http://www.urbantea.com/

Twitter: @urban_tea

Advice: You can choose from one of their pre-set menus, or have an Afternoon Tea Service and add a lunch entrée.

I have had a few delightful Afternoon Tea experiences here in the past, a lunch menu was added recently. I sat in their elegant Tea Salon to indulge in a tea infused lunch. Each of the dishes are either infused with one of their teas or has something to do with enhancing your tea experience.

I enjoyed a couple of teas from their vast selection of over 250 teas during my holiday lunch, began the meal with the Singapore Breakfast Tea.

Lamb Press

Orange Scone

I had the Lamb Press ($16) braised lamb with Moroccan Mint Coulis and steamed baby beets for my entrée, followed by one of their delicious Orange Scones ($4) with devon crème and strawberry jam.

Red Christmas Creme Brulee

For my dessert tea I had the Holiday Spirits, which was followed by dessert, I had the outstanding Red Christmas Creme Brulee ($8) that was tea infused with their Red Christmas Tea.

There are many choices of entrees along with a good selection of Signature Tea Sandwiches to accompany one of their TWG Teas. Looking forward to my return visit and to experience another unique tea.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Downtown Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

CAFE BRIXTON

August 21st, 2011 admin

212 East Georgia Street, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 568-8200

Web: n/a

Twitter: n/a

Advice: Sit at the communal table or at the window.

Slightly secluded as it is off the beaten track of bustling Main Street in Chinatown/Strathcona, the café is well worth your discovery. First of all it is spacious and has that sort of NY feeling to it with its exposed brick walls, open 15 ft beam ceiling, distressed looking wooden tables and chairs. Secondly, there is a large communal table for sharing  while studying or working.

Carrot Cake

Espresso

I had the moist and tasty Carrot Cake ($2.95) with vanilla bean cream cheese icing and an Espresso ($2.75) made with 49th parallel coffee. The menu also includes baguette sandwiches, baked goods and beverages. They also offer an extensive brunch menu which I will get to trying one day soon.

Review By: Richard Wolak

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

Indian Summer Festival July 7-17

June 1st, 2011 admin

In celebration of Vancouver’s 125th anniversary and the official ‘Year of India in Canada,’ the high-profile festival of arts and ideas, running July 7-17, 2011 in downtown Vancouver, will feature top contemporary and classical Indian talent in music, dance, literature, film, yoga and cuisine – pairing some of India’s most renowned performers and thinkers with local Vancouver counterparts.

There are a few food related events and these include:

Vikram Vij

The Art of Indian Cuisine

Wednesday July 13

$100

Vikram Vij (no stranger to Vancouver gourmets) is widely recognized as one of the world’s top Indian cuisine chefs, masterfully fusing tradition with contemporary twists. Vikram will present a cooking performance, accompanied by live music, taking guests on a culinary journey. The performance will be followed by a three-course meal, paired with fine beverages and live music. Limited to 50 seats!

Buy Tickets

http://tickets.vancouverplayhouse.com/sfu/calendar/view.aspx?id=2748

 

Literary Tea Service

with Shrabani Basu and tea service by The Urban Tea Merchant

Sunday July 17 at 3:30pm

$35

 

Join Shrabani Basu and other writers for high tea following Shrabani Basu’s reading. Spend an hour in conversation with fellow bibliophiles while enjoying an immaculate Indian-themed afternoon tea service by The Urban Tea Merchant

The tea menu includes four fine Indian teas: Tiger Hill (Nilgiris), Royal Darjeeling (First Flush Darjeeling), Maharajah Darjeeling (Blend of First & Second Flush Darjeeling with sweet spices) and Indian Night (black tea with piquant spices). Accompanied by finger sandwiches, petits fours and macarons.

Buy Tickets

http://www.indiansummerfestival.ca/events.php?cat=3

For the complete schedule of events and to buy tickets,  Indian Summer festival’s box office is now open at www.IndianSummerFestival.ca

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

CAFÉ FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ART

May 23rd, 2011 admin

140 East Esplanade Avenue, North Vancouver

Tel: (778) 340-3379

Web: http://www.cafeforcontemporaryart.com/

Twitter: @cafca140

Advice: Check out their website for their events calendar.

Anytime I am on the North Shore I stop in for a visit to this wonderful café that has an art gallery inside the café. The idea for the art gallery is to showcase local artisans and to provide customers with an escape of sorts, to walk through the exhibits while sipping espressos and other café beverages. The café is beautiful, spacious and well-layed out and has baristas who are passionate about making great coffee.

Espresso

My beverage of choice here is an Espresso ($3) that is always served with a bite size cookie. You will find a complete beverage menu of coffees, tea, and juice along with sandwiches, scones, cookies, muffins and more.

Review By: Richard Wolak

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

Taste: Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine July 21-24

May 12th, 2011 admin

Local culinary aficionado Kathy McAree is cooking up a whole lot of good things these days as she prepares to launch the third-annual Taste: Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine, a gastronomical event set to take place July 21 – 24, 2011 in Victoria, BC.

Focusing on Vancouver Island cuisine and British Columbia wines, the festival is supported by a number of local winemakers, chefs, artisan producers, farmers and  fishers – all key players in helping to make Vancouver Island a vibrant culinary destination.

“When choosing partners for Taste, I look at a number of factors to ensure they’re really walking the talk, so to speak,” said McAree, founder of Taste and Vancouver Island’s premier culinary tourism operator. “I look at how local and seasonal ingredients are showcased in their products, their contribution to our community which contributes to our local economy. Taste is also unique in that, rather than just being one day, it offers four great days of serious food and wine indulgence!”

The Taste weekend kicks off on Thursday, July 21 at Victoria’s Crystal Garden with The Main Event: an evening brimming with more than 100 BC wines and great Vancouver Island eats. Guests will be joined by local chefs, wine producers and the live music of Greenlaw, a local band with a unique blend of dub, soul, jazz, drum and bass-infused rhythms.

Other special events taking place July 22 to 24 include the wine and seafood extravaganza Sips and Seafood hosted by the Inn at Laurel Point and chef Takashi Ito, a Silk Road tea tasting with Tea Master Daniela Cubelic, a Swine and The Vine pig roast on the Hotel Grand Pacific patio, a three-course brunch at Vista 18 and a unique wine seminar of Vancouver Island vs. the World.

And new to this year’s multi-day line-up is Land and Sea Harvest on the Family Farm: a dining adventure to take place in the middle of the field at the Vantreight Family Farm, overlooking the Saanich Peninsula and ocean. Join Ryan Vantreight and chef Matt Rissling from The Marina Restaurant for a “zero mile diet” dinner, paired with wines from BC’s Mission Hill Family Estate Winery.

Tickets to Taste are set to go on sale May 13, 2011. For more information on the events and purchase information, visit www.victoriataste.com.

Posted in Food & Wine Events, Latest Tags: , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

W.E. COFFEE

April 10th, 2011 admin

1696 Robson Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604.566.6888

Web: http://www.wecoffee.ca

Twitter: @WECoffeeInc

Advice: If you want a waffle sandwich as opposed to a regular sandwich on offer, just ask to see if they can make it with their waffles.

 

Smoked Salmon Waffle Sandwich

Espresso Macchiato

 

This stylish café is decked out in all black and white, with seating throughout this neighbourhood café. My friend Avelino and I visited for lunch to indulge in their waffles, specifically for their savoury waffles. I had them custom create a Smoked Salmon Waffle Sandwich ($8) with the (waffle substituting the croissant) served with a side green salad and Avelino had the same. We both had an Espresso Macchiato ($3) and were so very tempted to finish of the meal with one of their sweet waffles topped with ice cream, though we held back on this visit.

Known for their signature waffles, you will find a good selection of savoury as well as sweet waffles. Here they custom roast their coffee beans in the café for their coffees, world renown Mariage Frères teas are featured and you will also find a fine selection of delectable cakes, and other delicious desserts to savour. Looking forward to my return visit to indulge in their Ice Cream Parfait Waffle that looks divine.

Review By: Richard Wolak

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

COMMUNE CAFE

August 14th, 2010 admin

1002 Seymour Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-681-2551


Twitter: @communecafe

Advice: Sit at the Communal Table or on the outside patio.

Loved the communal table in the center of the cafe with the bright red chairs as well as the cork light fixtures that hang above the table. Here you can dine solo or with friends, read a book, sip a glass of wine.

I sat at one of the tables on the side with my friend Pedro, we both admired the sense of design and sustainability with the high ceilings and wood paneling throughout. The magnet menu board (offers ease in menu changes) as well as the outside patio were both well designed.

Sangkak Iranian Flatbread

The food is local, sustainable, organic and free-range and is either made in house or by local producers. Pedro and I shared the tasty Sangkak Iranian Flatbread ($9) topped with garlic roasted portabello mushrooms and goats cheese.

Iced Espresso

Blackout Raspberry Cupcake

Food for the Gods

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble

Each of us had an Iced Espresso ($2.45) and then we shared a few desserts including the Filipino inspired Food for the Gods ($1.75) square; the Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble ($3.25) tart and the Blackout Raspberry Cupcake ($2.75). The inventive menu was created by talented Chef Tina Fineza who put together a well thought out menu starting off with breakfast treats such as organic Yogurt and panini to Nutella on Brioche Toast to scrambled eggs. For lunch there is an assortment of panini, cold and hot sandwiches, salads such as the Commune Harvest Salad along with some share plates such as the Commune Hummous. After 5pm, for dinner you will find the Iranian Flatbread as well as a Lemon Roasted Rossdown Chicken that I am going to have on my next visit. The beverage lineup is equally impressive Annette Rawlinson put together a wonderful menu of wines and beer from this area and there are also many different hot and cold espresso beverages and tea. This is a place you are going to want to be morning, noon and night!

Review By: Richard Wolak
Posted in Downtown, Latest, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

KAFKA’S COFFEE & TEA

August 4th, 2010 admin

2525 Main Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-569-2967


Twitter: @kafkascoffeetea

Advice: Free wifi (ask for the code)

This is my new go to cafe, serving great coffee from Herkimer, tea from Barnes & Watson, in an awesome space that is decorated by unique art adorning the walls. You could say that I am in love with this cafe, I do love the communal table in the center of the cafe as well as the black couches near the front and the cool truck lighting hanging near the sliding windows.

Espresso Macchiato

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing Sandwich

I have had a few of the items here including a perfectly prepared Espresso Macchiato ($3), a Sumatra Pour Over Coffee ($2.25), a Brownie ($2.25) and the outstandingly delicious and addicting Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing Sandwich ($3). The menu is pretty simple, espresso beverages, pour over coffee, tea, and baked goods which includes brownies, scones and muffins. I am hooked on the moist, gooey, chocolatey brownies and you will be too!

Review By: Richard Wolak

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