A day for a foodie must start early so that you can get as many meals and snacks in as possible. Start your day off right in Vancouver and take a trip to Medina Cafe to indulge in a lavender latte and Belgium waffle with white chocolate pistachio rosewater. If you're looking for something more substantial, the tagine is bursting with a rich tomato stew base, Merguez sausage, preserved lemon, and two perfectly poached eggs. Getting there right when they open also has some perks and you may be able to avoid waiting in line.
Medina's Fricassé — Photo courtesy of Medina Cafe (Facebook)
Next up, you're going to head over to Chinatown, which is just a short walk away and meet your tour guide from Edible Canada. The Chinatown Tour with Dim Sum starts at 10:30am and lasts for about three hours, giving you enough time to wander through the streets of Chinatown taking in all the sights, smells and sounds with an experienced guide. You may choose to do a tour without dim sum, but who are we kidding? Pan-Asian cuisine has had a huge influence on our culinary scene and this tour takes you to the epicenter of where it all began. Though the main focus is on food, your guide will also point out key attractions and buildings that are great for photos, too. On this tour you will venture into herbal stores (no, not that kind of herb), butchers, bakeries and other specialty shops where you will sample snacks, teas, exotic fruits, BBQ meats, to name a few. You will walk around for about two hours and then the final hour will be spent enjoying dim sum.
By the time you're finished your tour with Edible Canada, it will be around 1:30pm and if you walk towards Canada Place from Chinatown, it should take you about 15-20 minutes. However, it's encouraged that you take your time moseying through Gastown looking at the shops and sites. Bella Gelateria is right around the corner from Canada Place and it may be some of the best gelato you may ever taste. Everything is made in house with unique flavors and of the highest quality. There are a number of benches to sit on just outside the shop, but you could also take it down to Canada Place to watch the cruise ships come in and out.
Gelato being made at Bella Gelateria — Photo courtesy of Bella Gelateria (Facebook)
Are you getting full yet? When it comes time to have dinner, you can go one of many ways. For something uber casual, head to Granville Island and order the fish and chips from Go Fish! It's fresh, simple and eating it along the Seawall may be exactly what you want to end your day in Vancouver. The views are quite spectacular. If you haven't been to Italy before, but have a hankering to get a taste of what you might dine on there, head to Nicli Antica Pizzeria in Gastown. Their oven is made from the stone of Mt. Vesuvius and it's VPN certified. They don't take a reservation, but another equally delicious option is Verace Pizzeria and they do take reservations.
Pizzas going into the wood burning oven — Photo courtesy of Verace Pizzeria & Enoteca (Facebook)
Should you be in the mood to treat yourself to a fabulous meal, you can't go wrong with dinner at Hawksworth in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Bishop's in Kitsilano is another fabulous option if you're looking for finer dining. It's been around in Vancouver for ages and continues to be a staple in the Vancouver dining scene.
You can't go to bed without quenching your thirst with a night cap from one of Vancouver's top bars, where cocktails are mixed with creativity, passion and well thought out recipes. The Keefer Bar, The Pourhouse, and MARKET are a few solid options if you're into craft cocktails. Beer drinkers will rejoice when they step inside the Alibi Room and it's impossible to try all of their beers in one night, so they do offer flights of beers so you can try a handful.
This day for foodies in Vancouver is just the tip of the iceberg and you will no doubt be hungry for another visit to Vancouver.
