OK, I think this place has had enough PR. I had to wait 15 minutes to get a table!
This flight was not really enjoyable. Elysium Maelstrom Bitter Orange, Elysian Torrent Pale Beet Bock, Commons Flemish Kiss sour and Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
http://www.where.ca/british-columbia/vancouver/best-beer-bars-vancouver/
The list is pretty good. A few missing places. But I don’t agree with the order. The Alibi and St Augustines should be the top two.
Vancouver is finally waking up to craft beer. A few more microbreweries opening soon plus this great news… 140 taps!:
That’s what the sign at 3755 Main Street says. I didn’t meet Bob to verify the claim but I did get to sample three dishes, the spring rolls and the Thai iced tea.
I think Bob would enjoy this place. The interior decorating is spartan at best but I don’t frequent restaurants based on the atmosphere.
I started with their spring rolls, two crispy rolls with sweet thai chili sauce for dipping. The flavors were very nice though the rolls were a tad over-cooked.
Crisp spinach Swimming Rama was next. Crisp spinach just barely wilted by the hot peanut sauce was accompanied by crispy cubes of tofu.
Next, Pad Pik King with chicken with green beans and red curry sauce. It needed more spice heat but the flavours were perfect. That wasn’t the case with the green curry, a fantastic fragrant blend of my favourite Thai flavours: lemon grass and coconut and bamboo shoots and lots of fire.
It is always great to find a new Thai place, even in Vancouver where there are so many. But my favourite remains Go Thai in New Westminster.
Bob Likes Thai Food is at 3755 Main Street in Vancouver
Between Fred Eaglesmith shows in Seattle and Bellingham I had lots of time to kill. So I left the I-5 behind and headed towards the coast as soon as I was north of Everett.
The country around here is not what you would expect. Lots of flat arable land planted with corn and, near La Conner, tulips. Of course, it was too late for tulips. But the timing was perfect for a Canadian out of the country for Thanksgiving.
Relatives live on Orcas Island and they said I just had to stop for lunch at the Rexville Grocery. I admit a grocery store didn’t sound like the ideal lunch spot. But not knowing anywhere else to stop, I set the GPS and headed north.
On approach the sign says it all. And the “Microbrews on tap” bit was all I needed to know: I was coming up on a good place.
Inside I found a Thanksgiving-appropriate cornucopia of fine food stuffs. Walls lined with relishes, hot sauces, oils and vinegars, wines, beers and fine cheeses.
But would we be able to mark our Canadian holiday with the requisite turkey meal? Well, turned out the Rexville deli menu had lots of choices featuring turkey. In fact, the Rex Special was the perfect thanksgiving repast. While it was made with deli turkey, not fresh raost, it also included local cranberry preserves along with mayo, lettuce and tomato.
Also on the menu were a turkey sandwich with brie and this one, with a tasty pesto
The sandwiches were washed down with a very good black IPA. All the microbrews on tap were only $4 a pint.
Getting There
If you are heading south down the I5, take exit 230 onto highway 20 toward Burlington/Anacortes and then turn left (south) on Best Road. From Seattle, you can bushwack north of Everett like I did, or take exit 221 for WA-534 E toward Lake McMurray, also known as Pioneer Way. Take the 1st right onto Browns Slough Road/Fir Island Road and then left on Best Road.
By the way, the place is for sale. You can get 2.57 acres, two buildings, a large pavilion all for the same price you’d pay for tear-down on Vancouver’s east side. Let me know if you buy it. I’ll come back for more
I’m down in Washington State following one of my more serious obsessions, Fred Eaglesmith.
The first of two shows took place at The Tractor in Ballard. The area is full old turn of the century buildings, one of which houses The Matador Restaurant and Tequila Bar.
The place is pretty classy. The wait staff are all young and attractive. So I went in figuring it would be a little pricey. But lucky for us, it was happy hour!
The Matador has along list of five dollar happy hour food specials. Most are Mexican style dishes, but there was calamari as well.
This healthy plate of nachos with lots of fixings was just five greenbacks
I had the blackened fish tacos which had a great spicy salsa roja on them
The wife, undeterred by the XL Meats madness had some reportedly tasty steak tacos.
The others had taquitos and wings, each just five greenbacks.
The one note of displeasure came from the one person who didn’t order a happy hour special. She thought the enchiladas with salsa verde were too spicy. I was happy to help finish her plate.
Ballard Avenue is lined with interesting looking ale houses and eateries that I’ll get to trying next time, but The Matador is a great place to start your Ballard culinary adventure.
If you love beer and you’re anywhere near Vancouver, British Columbia then you should know St Augustines on Commercial Drive.
Craft beer is now hip in Vancouver and St Augustines is one reason why. They’ve brought together a great atmosphere and some of the finest brews on the west coast. The result is a beer-lover’s hideout.
Tonight they tapped a fine keg of Driftwood Satori IPA. Beer lovers know there is nothing finer than keg-conditioned suds. This keg was extra special. A full mouth of malty goodness with a unique hopiness.
Of course, it was an IPA so lots of alcohol was present and your correspondent was correspondingly inebriated at the evening’s conclusion.
I highly recommend both Driftwood and St. Augustines. One for their finely brewed ales and the other for their hospitality.
A scrumptious pint of Satori fresh from a recently tapped keg
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