Summer all food, fun and drink marathon - Vote for your favorite cafe · Wednesday July 2, 2008 by colin newell
When you are sitting in one of Victoria B.C.‘s many fine cafes, you cannot help but notice the very hipness of the scene here. We are, arguably, in the middle of a rennaisance in cafe culture and Victoria is a leader in style and overall quality – comparable to Seattle, Vancouver and Portland, Oregon – 3 important intellectual leaders in the coffeehouse happening.
So, there is lots to pick from in this city.
But if you are a fan of the coffee scene in Victoria, which one really appeals to you above all others?
Another good question is: Are your coffee needs being served here? Although we have all kinds of java joints, seemingly something for everyone – it is entirely possible that something is missing. If so, let us know.
In the meantime, pop over here and take our feature poll.
Conversely, you can blip us in the comment fields below.
Thanks!
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Summer all food, fun and drink marathon begins · Friday June 27, 2008 by colin newell
Beginning, well, now we will start the all summer, all food, coffee and fun marathon of blog posts.
I am so done with Olympic rants. I am so done with gas price rants. I am so done with political stuff.
Folks. I just don’t care anymore. I just want to have fun and enjoy life.
For at least 2 months.
So buckle up.
Let’s begin our 60 days of reckless and irresponsible abandon with this little tid-bit: The self-stirring mug. What could be more hedonistic than a mug that stirs itself. Yes, friend – it is true.
There was a time that coffee brewers seemed radical. Now we have devices for stirring. Soon, very soon, we will have surrogates that drink the coffee for us, waving their arms and smoking cigarettes as they become increasingly agitated.
Not for me though. I would rather do my own arm waving.
Welcome to the Summer of 2008.
Victoria B.C. Canada - Saturday around town · Saturday June 21, 2008 by colin newell
A Saturday walk downtown. If it is a 2.5 km walk from our perch in Rockland (a chi-chi neighborhood up the hill from downtown Victoria…) I would be surprised. But since it is largely downhill, it is a breeze.
This stroll takes us down Fort Street right down Antique Row past bustling cafes, lunch spots into the heart of the city.
Today we walked directly to Paradiso de Stelle… paradise of stars… a neat Italian gelato-cafe that features a wonderful selection of panini, illy coffee, liquor and Café Correcto… oh yea and lots of fresh Gelato produced on site. Paradiso de Stelle is below Bastion Square in Victoria and it wins points on the quality of its food and drink, the professionalism and beauty of its staff (yea, I get warnings from my editor about using words like beauty) and the great people watching.
From there it is off to Habit Coffee and Culture on Pandora Avenue – the 600 block just below Government Street (Photo above). Habit Coffee and Culture is ground zero for the 3rd wave coffee scene makers in Victoria. Their espresso based beverages are always spot on – and the vibe is not unlike many of Portland and Seattle’s grooviest coffee joints like Stumptown.
If you live in Victoria B.C. Canada and think you know great coffee – unless you have been to Discovery, Cafe Fantastico and Habit… all in the same day… oh yea, and Buon Amici’s over on Tyee road on the West side… you have not experienced what truly great coffee is.
So put down that Folgers, get on your bike or put your runners on – and get going!
Quattro Stagione Cafe 7060 West Saanich Rd review · Sunday June 15, 2008 by colin newell
Quattro Stagione – I have no idea what it means.
Quattro Stagione is a restaurant on West Saanich road on the Saanich peninsula.
From the outside it appears to be a bit of a dive or visually unstructured. I mean, there is nothing to indicate here that there is anything outstanding or unusual on the menu. Patience yields a surprise however.
World famous coffee-tamper artisan (and vegetarian) Reg Barber swears by the joint. His shop is in Brentwood (no, the Keating industrial park actually…) and he lunches here.
So while picking up some stuff from Reg Barber, my wife and I popped in for a late lunch (3 hours before having a fabulous dinner at the Heron Rock Bistro – my next review)
Ok. The food here is really good. It is of a middle-eastern bent; falafel, pita’s, wraps, intriguing sandwiches and very original and healthful salads.
Which were very tastefully and artistically served.
The only minor downside at this late hour in the afternoon, 1/2 hour before closing:
Was the owners kids – a 7 year old boy and 11 year old girl kept buzzing in and out of the cafe… endlessly.
We were sitting out at a sidewalk table and the 7 year old boy spent 3 or 4 minutes running around us, hiding behind me giggling and mugging… at some point asking me if I wanted to hear a song with rude lyrics…
I think my bored and slightly irritated expression drove him away… or his boredom took over.
The 11 year old daughter roller-bladed non-stop… into the cafe, out of the cafe, into the cafe, out of the cafe… I am not sure… food safe violation ? No? Yes?
Overall verdict: Really great creative food. But come mid-day before schools out!
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