#cactus club

What I Ate in Vancouver - Round 2

When I went to Vancouver all the way back in February, the food (and seeing my bestie, Ali) was honestly the highlight of my trip. Whenever I travel, I love trying new food and Vancouver definitely has one of the best restaurant scenes in Canada. So, when my boyfriend and I decided to take a lil’ weekend trip to Vancouver last month, I immediately set off in planning when and where exactly we were going to eat. Now, because I had tried so many delicious foods last time I was there, I wanted to try them all a second time and also force my boyfriend to experience them as well. So hence, we ended up going to a lot of the same restaurants in my first What I Ate in Vancouver post. But I ain’t mad about that. Because they were all absolutely delicious.

Purebread | 159 W Hastings St

After being blown away by the huge assortment of pastries the first time I went here in Vancouver, I knew I had to venture there again. I went for the sweet pastries instead of the savoury ones this time and it was the best decision I ever made. I was apparently in an apple kind of mood because I got both the Roasted Apple Brown Sugar Pecan Cream Puff Tart ($4.75) and the Drunken Apple Blondie ($4.25). I honestly couldn’t pick a favorite between the two because they were both so good. The apple flavour was so sweet and cinnamon-y in both and the blondie was so moist while the puff tart was so flaky and light. I was in heaven.

Rodney’s Oyster House | 1228 Hamilton Street

Rodney’s Oyster House is my boyfriend’s favorite restaurant in Vancouver so all credit of this delicious meal goes to him. We got the Manhattan Clam Chowder ($9.50) (not pictured) to start which is always a big hit. I love any kind of chowder and this one made with clams and tomatoes was so yummy and warmed my tum. We also shared a bowl of mussels ($18.95) which I don’t believe I’ve ever tried before! I loved the saltiness of them and they’re fun to eat! And because we were on vacation and healthy food doesn’t deserve a place on vacation, we got the Lobster Poutine ($18.95). It was so rich and cheesy with huge chunks of lobster. It’s any seafood lover’s dream! And to finish off, we had the Banana Creme Brûlée ($9.00) (not pictured) for dessert. There is always a special place in my heart for creme brûlée, especially if it involves bananas. 

Tap & Barrel | 76 - 1055 Canada Place

I didn’t take any pictures at this restaurant because I totally forgot after a long day of travelling and I regret that because it was absolutely delicious. We were’t sure where to eat that night so we just googled restaurants close to our hotel and this one popped up. It reminded us of a cute gastropub like MKT or State and Main here in Edmonton so we figured it would be a safe choice to try. My boyfriend got the Santa Fe Chicken Tacos ($15.75) (notpictured), which he said were some of the best tacos he’s ever tried. I got the Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque ($16.50) (notpictured) and my oh my, this was just the thing I needed after being outside all day in the cold, humid Vancouver weather. The bread was coated in a handmade almond pesto with white cheddar and gruyère cheeses, topped with sundried tomatoes. It was by-far the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had. And dipping it in the tomato bisque soup just made it that much better. And to compliment our meal, we shared the BC Beer Flight ($12) (not pictured) because when a restaurant is called Tap & Barrel, you can’t just try one beer. 

Miku | #70 - 200 Granville Street

When I first decided to take a trip back to Vancouver, I knew Miku was at the top of my list for where I wanted to eat. When I was in Van last time, I ate at it’s sister (and slightly cheaper) restaurant, Minami. It was the best sushi I had ever tried (no exaggeration) so I needed to try Miku. We went there for lunch and got a gorgeous table overlooking the water. I got the Aburi Chirashi Tart ($24) which is layers of sushi rice, spicy tuna, avocado, sockeye salmon and Miku sauce that is flame seared and then topped with prawns, scallops and tobiko. It is absolutely exceptional. Every bite is better than the last. My boyfriend got the Pressed Salmon Oshi Sushi ($18) that is flamed seared with pressed salmon and Miku sauce as well as the Miku Roll ($20) (notpictured) with salmon, crab, cucumber and Miku sauce. That Miku sauce is something special, y’all. And you best believe I was stealing a lot of food off his plate. He also tried some of the sashimi and got Albacore ($4), Sockeye Salmon ($4) and Red Tuna ($4.50) (I think). And, knowing me, of course we couldn’t leave without dessert. The dessert was unlike anything I’ve ever tried before. It was called the Green Tea Opera cake ($14.50) and has green tea génoise (a type of sponge cake), matcha butter cream, dark chocolate ganache, azuki bean cream, hazelnut wafer and matcha ice cream. It was so decadent and beautiful and I licked that plate clean. 

Cactus Club | 1085 Canada Place

Now, I know what y’all are thinking. Why are earth would you go to Cactus Club in Vancouver when you have them in Edmonton? Well, first of all, Cactus Club is both one of my favorite restaurants and one of my boyfriend’s favorite restaurants. Secondly, the Coal Harbour location in Vancouver is aboslutely gorgeous with the best views of the harbour. It’s all about the location (and the food). We had the Chimichurri Guacamole ($13.50) (notpictured) with feta cheese, cherry tomatoes and pumpkin seeds mixed in to start with and then my boyfriend got his favorite Blackened Creole Chicken ($25.75) (notpictured) and I got the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Prawns ($27.50). This ravioli is my all-time favorite meal. Nothing beats it. It’s a delicious butternut squash and mascarpone ravioli with truffle butter, sautéed jumbo prawns and topped with pine nuts and crispy sage. It’s unreal. 

Chambar | 568 Beatty Street

Yes, yes I also went to Chambar the first time I was in Vancouver. But how could I not go back?! The waffles were to-die for and the specialty sauces put them over the edge. I got two waffles ($3.50 each), but stole a third from my boyfriend and got three sauces ($1 each) to dip them in. I decided not to change it up at all from my first visit so I got the same Milk Chocolate Lavender, Raspberry Caramel and White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater. I still can’t pick a favorite between them. And a special shoutout to my waitress. I requested a hot chocolate but instead of being made with normal milk chocolate, I asked if it would be possible to get a White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater hot chocolate. The waitress seemed uncertain and confused and I couldn’t tell if they would be able to execute it properly but when I took my first sip, it was everything I had imagined it to be. It was the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had in my life. And I’ve had a lot of hot chocolate so that’s really saying something.

Do we even need to state the obvious after reading about all the food I consumed in Vancouver? Yes, you guessed it. I am now doubled in weight. But it was worth it. I just need to move to Vancouver so I can enjoy all this food on a daily basis. Either that or Edmonton needs to start opening up more restaurants. 

Vancouver (round 1): http://when-im-older.com/post/172104339882

New York: http://when-im-older.com/post/123377506920