Random Musings and Nicknacks

Funny that the first big article I find in the New York Times, happens to be about the one thing that we *know* will catch people by surprise

If Meals Won Medals

By SAM SIFTON
Published: February 2, 2010
VANCOUVER, British Columbia

AS breakfasts go, it’s not much to look at, just a small plastic container of maple-glazed smoked salmon bits. There is a sourdough roll to go with it, and a cup of hot coffee with cream.

Eating them together here on a dock in False Creek, though, with low clouds scudding over a hedge of green-glass buildings across the water, past Stanley Park in the distance, is to experience something of the solemn, awestruck joy that the philosopher Edmund Burke called the sublime. Above the skyline, to the north and west, mountains rise into a darkening sky as bathtub ferryboats chug past beneath them on still saltwater the color of slate. Gulls come close, beg for scraps. They won’t get any.

Vancouver is a terrific place to eat. It is diverse and exciting in its culinary offerings. But a simple breakfast taken on the pier outside the Granville Island Public Market is an important stop for any wayfaring food pilgrim. The fish — ruddy and cold-smoked, a taste of British Columbia for centuries, best purchased at Longliner Seafoods in the main shed — is a sweet-sour-salty baseline from which we can measure the region’s best meals.

I was on the dock in late January, an advance man for the more than two million people organizers say will descend on Vancouver and its environs for the 2010 Winter Games, which run from Feb. 12 to 28. While in the city and its suburbs, I fed as if in danger of imminent execution. And I was able to confirm earlier reconnaissance: Vancouver is among the best eating towns in the history of the Winter Games.

I can’t copy more due to copyright laws, but would like to save the list of restaurants for future exploration, and I guess we really do have to get to Vij’s one of these days!

The Restaurants

CHEN’S SHANGHAI RESTAURANT 8095 Park Road (No. 3 Road), Richmond; (604) 304-8288.

GUU WITH GARLIC 1698 Robson Street (Bidwell Street), Vancouver; (604) 685-8678.

MAENAM 1938 West Fourth Avenue (Cypress Street), Vancouver; (604) 730-5579.

MARKET BY JEAN-GEORGES at the Shangri-La Hotel, 1128 West Georgia Street (Thurlow Street), Vancouver; (604) 689 1120.

THE POURHOUSE 162 Water Street (Cambie Street), Vancouver; (604) 568-7022.

REFUEL NEIGHBOURHOOD RESTAURANT & BAR 1944 West Fourth Avenue (Cypress Street), Vancouver; (604) 288-7905.

SHANGHAI RIVER 110-7831 Westminster Highway (No. 3 Road), Richmond; (604) 233-8885.

SUN SUI WAH SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 3888 Main Street (23rd Avenue), Vancouver; (604) 872-8822.

TOJO’S 1133 West Broadway (Willow Street), Vancouver; (604) 872-8050.

VIJ’S 1480 West 11th Avenue (Granville Street), Vancouver; (604) 736-6664.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 7:35 pm and is filed under Food and Restaurant. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.