Top Patios in Vancouver Series: Dubh Linn Gate / June 1, 2016 by Jenn Chan

You've driven past it. We have all driven past it whether we know it or not! Dubh Linn Gate, the revered Whistler institution in the heart of the village at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, has spread to the coast. On Main Street between Terminal and First it sees tens of thousands of cars pass it every day. When you're heading out of town simply turn your head slightly right after the Science World McDonald's; there it us. A bastion of Irish pub tipples and English comfort food.

The Steak & Guiness Pie is AAA Alberta beef simmered in Guinness gravy with carrots and potatoes. The pastry top is a fresh, flaky, light creation and the perfect compliment. It is the best shepherd pie I have ever eaten. Worth a visit on its own.

The Bangers and Mash consists of a near footlong, Guinness-infused pork sausage with mashed potatoes and pale ale onion gravy. The sausage was a peppery, rich delicacy and paired perfectly with the creamy mashed potatoes. Both dishes were accompanied by some delicious Caesars. Not exactly what you think of when you think English pub, but well proportioned and delicious!

There was a lively highland band playing when we arrived and several different games playing on the Dublin's myriad of TVs. A great place to watch a game, play a game (there was a slew of board games available for patrons to borrow), listen to daily live bands, grab some food or just kick back for a pint!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Top Patios in Vancouver Series & Spot Prawn Menu: The Vancouver Fish Company / May 25, 2016 by Jenn Chan

I had never been to the Vancouver Fish Company (VFC). If I'm honest I'm not sure that I've ever really noticed VFC. Right as you come into Granville Island the road starts to usher you to the right and becomes a one way. Right as this happens, if you're able to split your focus, you'll see the VFC. The first establishment in the first building on the left.

What a delightful surprise the restaurant and their patio is! You might think, given my description of their location, that they aren't on the water, but you would be wrong! Overlooking a lovely marina, with its centrepiece, a pirate ship moored directly in front, their huge patio gets 6-7 hours of direct sun per day!

Another advantage of their ideal location is the fish merchant docked a stone's throw away. Organic Ocean boasts some of Vancouver's, nay the world's, freshest and best seafood. Our appetizer was our fifth meal which included the glorious Spot Prawn and the season was only a week old. The Maple Walnut Spot Prawns were my favourite iteration to date! Deep fried in a very light batter with genuine Maple Syrup, toasted sesame seeds and fresh walnuts. In practice I avoid the head of the magnificent crustacean. When they're only lightly poached there's goo in there. It's runny and it looks funny, but when you deep fry them and toss them in the succulent ingredients I will eat the head, brains, legs, shells, anything! A complete 10/10! Why are you still reading this? Go! Go!

My partner doubled up on the Spot Prawns and chose the Curried Spot Prawn Bisque. She cooed and giggled and eat that plate at a speed that bordered on unladylike, but a genuine compliment to the kitchen! She was quick to state it was her favourite Spot Prawn dish of the season thus far and will still brings it up from time to time. Not being a curry fan I didn't partake, but we will take her word for it? Or should we all try it ourselves? I'll leave that up to you.

One of the best perks of being a lifestyle blogger is the personal treatment from our culinary heroes. Chef John McManus, formerly the Sous Chef of Stanley Park's uber famous Fish House, was gracious enough to give us some of his time, have a lovely little chat and recommend to me my entrée: the Trio of Fish. Decadent filets of Ahi Tuna, Smoked Sablefish and a lovely Sockeye Salmon resting on a bed of perfectly cooked potatoes. My favourite was the tuna, a close second the sablefish and the salmon, while transcendent, sadly had to take up third place! An absolutely fantastic meal!

For dessert we ordered the Banoffee Pie, a lovely mixture of fresh bananas, cream and toffee from boiled condensed milk. Simple delicious and worth the trip on its own. Trust me with the ambience, incredible food and reasonable prices you will love the Vancouver Fish Company!

Word: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Top Patios in Vancouver Series: Brunch @ Kingston Taphouse & Grill / May 24, 2016 by Jenn Chan

In late 2012 the world, maybe it was mostly me, was transfixed by the viral pictures of the Chinese Highway House (LINK http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2236746/Road-built-building-couple-refuse-China.html)

Luo Baogen and his wife, unhappy with the compensation offered by the Chinese government, decided they would stay in their home while a massive highway was built all around them. It's safe to say a trip to the store entailed looking both ways, doing so again and bravely dodging high speed vehicles!

The Kingston Taphouse & Grille is a survivor in a similar, albeit less contentious, fashion. Telus Garden, a grotesquely gigantic, 1,000,000 square foot, commercial and residential development boasts "the entire block" between Robson and Georgia Street and Richards and Seymour Streets. That would be true were it not for the Chinese Highway Hou... I mean the Kingston! One can only imagine the back and forth between Westbank Corp, an omnipresent and powerful real estate developer, and the fine folks at the Kingston. Ahhhh to be a fly on that wall... In the end an accord was not reached and the Kingston gallantly occupies its turf surrounded on 3 sides by Telus Garden with its tall towers towering, for lack of a better term, over them. It truly is a charming space with lovely staff!

We sat in a large, comfortable booth at the Kingston and ordered from their famous brunch menu. I ordered the Basic Breakfast: 3 eggs, hash browns and toast with a side of bacon and their house made sausages. The best, hands down, hash browns I have had! Thinly sliced, crisp and with a unique flavour. Generally I push the carbs to the side to be consumed when and if space allows, but these were eaten first and were the main event! The bacon was lovely, fresh and smoky and the sausages had a fiery, peppery flavour to them which made them delicious.

My counterpart had the Corned Beef Hash. Their house cured beef, are we seeing a theme here, went well with their house made Hollandaise sauce. I glanced up, for what seemed like only a minute, at Game 7 of the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat and when I looked back it was gone! I didn't even get to try it, but suffice it to say it was well received.

Corned Beef Hash with House-made Bangers

The bar area is the kind of place where you can go by yourself, as several patrons had during our visit, and strike up a conversation over beer and sports. The dining area was large and comfortable and overlooks the kitchen where the skilled staff's create their wares and the patio is quaint with its palm trees and tranquil fountain. Construction is underway on a second, rooftop patio with a roof and heating for year round enjoyment. I bet you $1,000,000 if you pop by on a sunny Saturday afternoon you have a good chance of seeing me; I will be back!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Top Patios in Vancouver Series: Bridges / May 21, 2016 by Jenn Chan

Bridges is that big, yellow building you see down below as you cross the Granville Street Bridge. "That look neat", you say to yourself, "I should definitely go there sometime!" Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, yet every time you cross that bridge the giant, yellow restaurant beckons like a seductive siren on the high seas. "Granville Island is so touristy, too many people", you tell yourself when the guilt of not following through creeps in, "maybe when summer's over and things quiet down."

Did you know that, in the area in and around David Lam Park, you can park your car for free, forever? A quick $3 trip across False Creek on the water taxi, a pleasure in itself, and you're in the hustle and bustle, you're part of the scene, you see why people travel the globe to visit our great city! Do yourself a favour and visit the Island tomorrow! Did you know people in Sweden dream of one day doing so? That Russians, in a far-off, smoke-filled bar, are discussing all the art studios and farm to table restaurants?

The first thing you notice about Bridges when you walk through its grand entryway are the smiling faces. The hostesses are happy, the waitresses are happy and the people behind the small ice cream counter, the Sugar Bay, serving Bridges house made gelato, are happy. And you'll be happy too, trust me :)

We took our seats on the patio, overlooking posh marinas and the iconic Burrard and Granville Bridges, and ordered a couple of cocktails: a Strawberry Crush and an Italian Spritz. The former consisting of Vodka, Peach Schnapps, muddled cucumber and strawberry and the latter Aperol, Prosecco and soda; refreshing and delicious!

Much to our delight the Spot Prawn season had started that very day! The fishing vessels dock 100 metres from where we sat in the warm, afternoon sun and, we were proudly informed, the Spot Prawns in the appetizer we were about to enjoy were pulled from the water 3 hours earlier. Set mouths to drool! Lightly poached and served with a few minimalistic lemons and nothing else. Nothing else was needed! If you haven't had Spot Prawns sprint to Bridges first thing tomorrow and give them a Google right now!

Our entrées consisted of Smoked Salmon Pizza with Onions and Capers (hold the onions) and the Baked Lobster with fresh green beans and house made Focaccia. The pizza was incredible, the crust light, crisp and fresh and the salmon delicious! The lobster, all 1 1/4 LBs of it, was delicious! Fresh, plump and perfectly baked. The craftsmen at Bridges even took the time to pre-crack the delicious crustacean so as to make my complete, inelegant inhalation of them much easier! A perfect 10/10!

For dessert we indulged in the decadent, house made Pavlova and their famous Turtle Pie. Pavlova is a culinary delight! A house made meringue with a scoop of similarly Bridges made vanilla ice cream, covered in fudge and surrounded by fresh strawberries. It is an 13/10, worth a 2 hour drive, no, a 10 hour drive, in a blizzard, under gunfire. The Turtle Pie, woefully neglected until the Pavlova was completely gone, is a delightful caramel, chocolate and pecan pie. Itself a lovely dessert and well worth an order!

In all because of the surroundings, the top notch service, the incredible food and the masterfully concocted drinks Bridges is a must go!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Top Patios in Vancouver Series: Edible Canada / May 18, 2016 by Jenn Chan

Nestled beside the enormous Granville Island Market building Edible Canada at Market's patio benefits greatly from the low rise environment of the island. They enjoy sun for most of the day on their spacious patio that enjoys views of a public space where jugglers, magicians and performance artists of every ilk come to wow crowds. To say it's an ideal place to people watch is like saying outdoors is the ideal place to grow corn; it's a no brainer!

We started with a lovely Oceanwise Seafood Salad; a beautiful mixture of smoked sturgeon & salmon, soft boiled egg, citrus, mint, sprouted pulses, grilled greens and spiced seeds in a white miso vinaigrette. The smoked sturgeon was likely the best piece of sturgeon I had ever had! A deliciously smoky flavour which complimented the vinaigrette perfectly. The smoked salmon, which we are spoiled with on the Pacific, was as marvellous as expected and the dish quickly disappeared.

Our second appetizer was an adventure. While I am not a hunter members of my extended family are so game, venison, elk, moose and the like, is not a new experience to me. What is new, however, is elk served tartare with Amola truffle salt aioli, Biota mustard served with grilled bread. Yes, raw elk. As in a wild animal, shot in the forest, served in an upscale bistro, without being cooked. Now were I to simply say "it was good and you need to try it", it would be an injustice not only to Edible Canada, but also to the elk! A culinary masterpiece, nothing short of that! Go now!

Still panting heavily from our Elk-induced foodgasm our entrees arrived to the table just before our knees gave out and we slumped to the patio floor. The plating was very attractive, which is probably tough to do with fish and chips, and the aroma was overwhelmingly inviting. The West Coast Fish and Chips was, predictable, Oceanwise. A lovely cod with a house made Biota mustard & citrus tartar sauce, a side salad and duck fat frites. Think French fries deep fried in duck fat... Yes, they were incredible and, yes, if you like fries you will love them and if you like duck you will feel similarly, but if you like duck AND fries you are in for a treat! Without hesitation I would rate these fish and chips in my top 5 and I know something about fish and chips. To thrill my late paternal grandmother, in her 90's at that time and feeling nostalgic for the "old country", I would drive her an hour each way to get fish and chips which she would eat heartily, a rarity at her age and in her condition, and she would call them a very "friendly food". I concur to this day :)

While I was very satisfied with my dish my partner was in the throes of ecstasy, for the second time in one meal, with her West Coast Seafood Pan. Mussels, clams, smoked sturgeon, potatoes, spicy chorizo in a chimichurri aioli. When I see the beautiful, cultured, 110 pound, Jenn Chan, practically lick the dish when she is done a meal I know she enjoyed it. Man, did she enjoy it! The elk tartare and seafood pan were probably her favourite appy / entree of 2016. Simply exquisite!

At our charming waitress Devon's gentle urging we begrudgingly indulged in a dessert. At her recommendation we chose the seasonal crème brûlée and it was divine. It being early May what's in season you ask? The answer we got and one, admittedly, we weren't enthused to hear was 'rhubarb'. Rhubarb, when done right and not just plucked early from the side of my childhood home, is fantastic! We were full, I mean we would have had to unbuckle our pants were we not in sensible yoga pants and stretchy board shorts, but the crème brûlée was gone before we knew it. Sweet with a subtle hint of sour from the rhubarb and made fresh to order, cannot be beat!

If you've never been to Granville Island I would recommend you go tomorrow or tonight if you're feeling impulsive. Once there if you're swamped with hip eateries and aren't sure what to do, do yourself a favour and go to Edible Canada. It is a must eat!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Top Patios in Vancouver Series: Rooftop Patio @ The Keg Yaletown / May 15, 2016 by Jenn Chan

The Keg in Yaletown is a Vancouver hot spot frequented by Canucks players, celebrities, socialites, construction workers and everything in between. High class fare, world class surroundings and an exceptional selection of drinks; all in a laid back environment.

The Keg patio is a bright, airy space and the sun was shining making the surroundings sparkle and the wide smiles at tables as we passed were hard to miss! We started out with a few Keg signature cocktails: the Keg Caesar and a delightful mango mojito. The Caesar had the perfect amount of spice, a rarity, and the mojito was a refreshing blend of muddled mint and crisp mango flavours.

Our first course was escargot with stuffed mushroom caps and the special of the day, a tangy, flavourful lobster bisque. Both dishes arrived promptly with a genuine smile from our congenial waiter and did not disappoint! The snails were fresh and the herbs and garlic were well proportioned blending together seamlessly, neither overpowering the other. The bisque was served at the perfect temperature and had a smooth, not overly lumpy, consistency and rich flavour. Both dishes disappeared quickly!

The main event was a medium rare prime rib with a lobster tail and a blue rare filet mignon with king crab legs. My first impression of each cut was excellent, on par with steakhouses that charge exponentially more; well trimmed, thick and hearty! Unable to resist, and forgoing the usual varied order necessary for lifestyle bloggers to make a full and fair assessment, we both ordered the legendary Keg twice baked potato. If you are allowed one potato before you die make it the Keg twice baked potato, it's that good!

The prime rib was cooked to perfection, the perfect medium rare, and could have been cut with a spoon. The lobster tail was clearly fresh, skillfully cracked and presented for ease of inhalation. From time to time you get a bad piece of lobster, no really, a bit chewy, gamey to the nostril and salty, but this was a healthy specimen. I soft texture and very sharp, elegant lobster flavour, a must try!

The filet was grilled to a perfect blue rare. That is the first check mark on a long list of boxes this dish ticked. Thick, but not too thick, and wrapped in a deliciously smoky applewood bacon. Accompanied by crisp, fresh green beans and, not to be overshadowed by vegetables, the king crab legs. Again, thoughtfully cracked for convenience, who wants to work that hard for their food anyway? A wise man once said "what we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly" and though these crab legs were easy to de-shell (obtained cheaply) I esteemed them highly! A perfect flavour and straight from the ocean-type fresh!

For dessert a Billy Miner pie, Mocha ice cream on chocolate crust with hot fudge, caramel and almonds, seemed in order though we were bursting at the seams. A legendary Canadian treat and one that never misses. It was delicious!

The Keg has been around since 1971, a lifetime in a country only 149 years old itself. 86 Keg restaurants sprawl across this great land and each runs to the standards originally set by founder and restaurant legend George Tidball. Head to their website, find the one nearest you and go!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan