Archives for category: Food

Late last summer, the Victoria Public Market at the Hudson opened in Victoria, BC Canada. Now, most of the spaces are filled and it is alive with restaurants, farmers, fish and meat vendors, bakeries, and more.

On a grey day, or any day, the Victoria Public Market is an inviting place (especially if you are hungry!).

On a grey day, or any day, the Victoria Public Market is an inviting place (especially if you are hungry!).

Douglas Street between Fisgard and Herald streets.

Douglas Street between Fisgard and Herald streets.

Yesterday was a very exciting day as chef Vikram Vij, from our favourite Vancouver restaurant Vij’s, gave a cooking demonstration in the market’s community kitchen. About 80 people enjoyed his animated talk and sampled the delicious Vij Family’s Chicken Curry which was lovingly prepared over the hour-long presentation. One of the first restaurants to open at the Market was Sutra, locally owned, but a thread in the culinary tapestry of Vij’s. As well as amazing lunches, Sutra carries Vij’s frozen prepared meals, spices and Vij’s and Vij’s at Home cookbooks. Here are photos of Sutra, Mr Vij and some of the other wonderful offerings at the Public Market at the Hudson:

Best chai in Victoria, in my humble opinion...

Best chai in Victoria, in my humble opinion…

Elegant decor and attention to detail add to the delicious food at Sutra.

Elegant decor and attention to detail add to the delicious food at Sutra.

Vikram Vij from Vij's in Vancouver cooks Vij Family's Chicken Curry in the community kitchen at the Victoria Public Market.

Vikram Vij from Vij’s in Vancouver cooks Vij Family’s Chicken Curry in the community kitchen at the Victoria Public Market. The aroma was intoxicating.

Sutra's owner and chef dish up the curry while Mr Vij answers questions.

Sutra’s owner and chef dish up the curry while Mr Vij answers questions.

Silk Road Tea's satellite shop is located at the Public Market.

Silk Road Tea‘s satellite shop is located at the Public Market.

Salt Spring Island Cheese is the first shop as you enter the Market from Douglas Street. Tempting samples of their delicious cheeses are on offer daily.

Salt Spring Island Cheese is the first shop as you enter the Market from Douglas Street. Tempting samples of their delicious cheeses are on offer daily.

Sugarboy Bakery is a regular fixture on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Yesterday we tried the Bourbon Pecan Tarts, which were heavenly.

Sugarboy Bakery is a regular fixture on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Yesterday we tried the Bourbon Pecan Tarts, which were heavenly.

Cottlestone Apiary was at the Market yesterday with honey and beeswax candles.

Cottlestone Apiary was at the Market yesterday with honey and beeswax candles.

Damn Fine Cake Company, a very pretty space.

Damn Fine Cake Company, a very pretty space. We look forward to siting down for a treat and beverage soon.

Newly opened, yummy Mexican food!

Newly opened, yummy Mexican food at La Cocina de mama Oli.

A very nice kitchen shop has just opened. Colourful and abundant Fiestaware is  a prominent offering.

A very nice kitchen shop has just opened. Colourful and abundant Fiestaware is a prominent offering.

We haven't tried pie from Victoria Pie C. yet, but it sure looks great!

We haven’t tried pie from Victoria Pie Co. yet, but it sure looks great!

Salt Spring Sprouts & Mushrooms had some delectable sprouts and Shiitake mushrooms yesterday.

Salt Spring Sprouts & Mushrooms had some delectable sprouts and Shiitake mushrooms yesterday.

Long shot of the Market.

Long shot of the Market.

If you are in Nelson, here is a list of restaurants to try. I have tried some of these and they are all my sister’s favourites. These are by no means all the restaurants in Nelson, there are many more to try!

Bibo, locally sourced and changing menu

Rel•ish, a chef’s passion

The Preserved Seed, simple and delicious

All Seasons Cafe, the best from every season’s bounty

Full Circle Cafe, breakfast all day as well as lunch

Bennys at Full Circle Cafe.  A half order of Eggs Florentine and and full of Nanny's Benny. Those caramelized onions were outrageously delicious!

Bennys at Full Circle Cafe. A half order of Eggs Florentine and and full of Nanny’s Benny. Those caramelized onions were outrageously delicious!

The Bent Fork, all-day breakfast, lunch and brunch; and pie!

Oso Negro Coffee, locally roasted

Mana’eesh, Middle Eastern flavours for lunch or dinner

Baba’s Indian Cuisine, excellent Indian food, but no website to share

Once we had looped back to our starting point we were all very hungry, so off to the lodge we went. The Whitewater Ski Resort offers a pub, cafe, and coffee bar. We found a perfect table in the pub and watched the skiers and snowboarders swooshing down the runs. Lines of little ones just learning and others of all ages and abilities were enjoying the glorious day. The original chef at Whitewater has written three cookbooks which I use regularly. Our burgers were all exceptional and the fellas enjoyed local Nelson Brewing Company beers. The food from the Resort is so popular, they now have a food truck, The Fresh Tracks Cafe Express, which is parked at the base of one of the runs in the winter and in downtown Nelson in the summer months.

Our burgers were all super fresh and tasty. My sis and I both had the veggie burger with sides of delicious mushroom miso gravy. The fellas each had a different beef burger. See the menu here.

Our burgers were all super fresh and tasty. My sis and I both had the veggie burger with sides of delicious mushroom miso gravy. The fellas each had a different beef burger. See the menu here.

Beer, hot chocolate, twinkling lights, mountain views and lots of happy, happy people!

Beer, hot chocolate, twinkling lights, mountain views and lots of happy, happy people!

The view from our table in the pub.

The view from our table in the pub.

Santa brought me something extra specially chocolatey in my stocking this year: Hot Chocolate Spoons from the Mountain Nugget Chocolate Company in Rossland BC. Boxing Day seemed the perfect time to try them out:

Just one of the outrageously good offerings from Mountain Nugget. The burnt toffee bar is another favourite.

Just one of the outrageously good offerings from Mountain Nugget. The burnt toffee bar is another favourite.

We decided to melt the chocolate in the milk on the stovetop as I wasn't convinced it would melt by just stirring them into a cup of hot milk. They did melt pretty quickly though. We combined one milk and one dark which was delicious.

We decided to melt the chocolate in the milk on the stovetop as I wasn’t convinced it would melt by just stirring them into a cup of hot milk. They did melt pretty quickly though. We combined one milk and one dark which was delicious.

Extraordinarily delicious. Our cups probably held 8-9oucnes of milk, which seemed perfect. A little less milk and it would have been very rich indeed.

Extraordinarily delicious. Our cups probably held 8-9oucnes of milk, which seemed perfect. A little less milk and it would have been very rich indeed.

Weary, but in no way hungry yet, we set out preparing the feast. GJ was in charge of the turkey and my sis and I powered through the multiple other dishes. My sis’s fella R was in charge of dispensing seasonal beverages. We had such a wonderful afternoon and evening, and so enjoyed the amazing meal we created together! Check out these links which gave us inspiration: Amazing roast turkey, yummy roasted vegetables with different flavourings, and delicious vegetarian nut loaf. Oh, and I think the bread stuffing was the best I’ve ever made! The credit belongs to all the bread: most of the home-made loaf our friends in Salmo sent us home with, most of a Mishe Royale from the Nelson bakery called Au Soleil Levant, and the secret stuffing weapon, three croissants!

My sister and I chopping, measuring, and chopping some more.

My sister and I chopping, measuring, and chopping some more.

Chopped potatoes, garlic cloves and sliced shallot s were roasted first, then mashed with butter and cream.

Chopped potatoes, garlic cloves and sliced shallot s were roasted first, then mashed with butter and cream.

One of my favourite parts of the meal, cranberry sauce. This year I combined two packages of organic cranberries, one fresh bartlett pear, finely chopped, and brown sugar.

One of my favourite parts of the meal, cranberry sauce. This year I combined about 400 grams of organic cranberries, one fresh bartlett pear, finely chopped, and brown sugar.

Delicious nut loaf comes out of the oven to make room for the roasting vegetables.

Delicious nut loaf comes out of the oven to make room for the roasted vegetables.

The final moments of preparation.

The final moments of preparation.

The tree is let and the table set. A warm and cozy setting for our feast.

The tree is lit and the table set. A warm and cozy setting for our feast.

The plates piles high!

The plates piled high!

A large section of our extra luggage was filled with two large pannetone from Fol Epi bakery in Victoria. On Christmas morning, we made French toast with four thick slices of it. I made a simple mixture of eggs, light cream, vanilla and the juice of half a mandarine orange. So delicious and rich, one slice was more than enough!

Best French toast ever!

Best French toast ever!

Yum!

Yum!

What a beautiful week it’s been in Nelson BC; and a wonderful Christmas too! Thinking back upon the days leading up and all the wonderful food we’ve eaten. More to come on that!

When the food was all still ingredients…

When the food was all still ingredients…

After we crossed the border on our way back to Nelson from Spokane, we stopped in to our friends who live in Salmo. They treated us to a lovely afternoon and evening of amazing food, fun with children and pets, and a great visit with dear friends.

A big charming cat enjoying the Holidays!

A big charming cat enjoying the Holidays!

Homemade bread, just out of the oven!

Homemade bread, just out of the oven!

Porcini mushroom gnocchi, divine!

Porcini mushroom gnocchi, divine!

Stuffed mushrooms were amazing!

Stuffed mushrooms were amazing!

An idilic little farm, perfectly suited to children, horses and ducks!

An idilic little farm, perfectly suited to children, horses and ducks!

It took a couple extra days to get here, but we are enjoying a snowy and lovely Christmastime with family in Nelson BC. When we couldn’t fly as planned to Castlegar on Friday, we chose a different route to Spokane Washington via Seattle for Saturday. As we arrived quite late, my sister (who, with her partner, had driven down to meet us at the airport) booked us into the Hotel Lusso which is right across the street from the historic Davenport Hotel and is one of its family of properties. After we checked in, we popped across the street to view the magnificence of The Davenport, all extra beautiful for the Season. Lusso is also delightful. Our room was clean, bright and spacious. On Sunday morning we had an amazing breakfast at Italia Tratorria, then hit the road for the three hour drive back to Nelson. We look forward to spending more time in Spokane on another trip.

Little birds greeted me just outside the hotel.

Little birds greeted me just outside the hotel.

Hotel Lusso in Spokane Washington.

Hotel Lusso in Spokane Washington.

Holiday cheer and colour in the lobby at Hotel Lusso.

Holiday cheer and colour in the lobby at Hotel Lusso.

More cheery decorations at Lusso.

More cheery decorations at Lusso.

The Davenport Hotel.

The Davenport Hotel.

Davenport Hotel, architectural detail.

Davenport Hotel, architectural detail.

Davenport Hotel, architectural detail.

Davenport Hotel, architectural detail.

I knowI say this often, but one of the best bennies I've ever had. The Farmer's Breakfast was also amazing!

I knowI say this often, but one of the best bennies I’ve ever had. The Farmer’s Breakfast was also amazing!

There is a little delightful tea bar called JagaSilk which is tucked away at Nootka Court in downtown Victoria. It is run by the sweetest people who are very passionate about tea, especially maccha. We’re blessed in Victoria to have many passionate people providing an abundance of venues in which to enjoy the highest quality teas and freshly roasted coffees. JagaSilk is so cozy and comfortable, and our teas and snacks were delicious. This will be a regular haunt for us. They also have an excellent on-line store. Here are some pics of our adventure:

The entrance to JagaSilk, warm and inviting.

The entrance to JagaSilk, warm and inviting.

Enter from Courtney  Street and it's just past the bug zoo.

Enter from Courtney Street and it’s just past the bug zoo.

Our order being prepared. We must go again soon and try the chocolate cake!

Our order being filled. We must go again soon and try the chocolate cake!

My black tea being prepared at our table.

My black tea being prepared at our table.

Our final snack, two maccha lattes, one black tea, some little chocolate snowball cookies and a crème caramel.

Our final snack, two maccha lattes, one black tea, some little chocolate snowball cookies and a crème caramel.

Delicious!

Delicious!