662818 Tue Oct 27 16:46:36 -0700 2009 31 57 Western Canada 0 5135790 I need your expertise chowhounds! I need Vancouver suggestions...and lots of them! I will be in your neck of the woods for 2 and a half months and need as many culinary suggestions as you can fork out. Lunch - walking distance from the convention center. Takeout or delivery only, sadly. Dinner - anywhere accessible by public transport. Any price. Can be a dive or expensive. Any type of cuisine. As long as the food is awesome. Will be in big groups at times, or solo at times. I like to eat at a different place every day if possible, so need tons of suggestions. Also, I welcome any Vancouver food blogs that you enjoy reading. Thanks!!!! Tue Oct 27 16:46:36 -0700 2009 82542 chowsue 1 5135905 For dinner: I would recommend either being more specific, or just doing some searching on the boards as everything you're looking for has been covered. Tue Oct 27 17:43:26 -0700 2009 5135790 127190 Cancuk 2 5145563 ok, well specifically, I am looking for what I should not leave town without trying. How about: list your top (at least) 50 favorite food places. I know I could do that for you EASILY in NY, so locals should be able to do that easily for Vancouver. I am not looking for anything specific....just the best food your city has to offer. I have a lot of meals to explore and can't wait to try everything!!!! Sat Oct 31 14:31:56 -0700 2009 5135905 82542 chowsue 1 5136018 For ethnic eats : try Degan Beley's blog http://ethniceats.ca/ and her Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&source=embed&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110891852527091689707.00046701cf12789eebab7 Here are a few other food blogs of note: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/629110 Also - scrolling back through this forum by a couple of months will generate pretty long list of restaurants (and other food-related places) for you to try. Tue Oct 27 18:18:32 -0700 2009 5135790 145820 fmed 2 5145862 this blog will keep me happily reading for a long time. Thanks for passing it along. Sat Oct 31 17:39:52 -0700 2009 5136018 82542 chowsue 1 5136078 I'd say take a look at local food critic Andrew Morrison's list of 50 things to eat and drink in Vancouver: http://www.westender.com/articles/entry/one-critic-one-stomach-no-limits/food-and-drink/ Also, take a look at Vancouver Magazine's equivalent list for this year: http://www.vanmag.com/Shopping/Food_and_Wine/Best_Things_to_Eat_and_Drink_in_Vancouver_2009 These lists will kind of give you a feel for Vancouver's culinary scene. Otherwise, any of the lengthier Vancouver threads will likely give you inspiration for your 2.5 months! If you post some specific favorite cuisines and such, I'm sure a few of us would pitch in some specific restaurant recommendations. Vancouver is a city of over 2 million after all (and a lot of restaurants!). Tue Oct 27 18:43:19 -0700 2009 5135790 87054 peter.v 2 5145557 I love all cuisines. I especially like ethnic foods. I would like to try everything. I especially am interested in knowing what I can't leave town without trying. Seriously, I love all cuisines. I am looking for good food, and the cuisine does not matter. Thanks!!!!!! Sat Oct 31 14:27:58 -0700 2009 5136078 82542 chowsue 2 5145576 Love the list of top 50 things to eat and drink! Thanks! Sat Oct 31 14:39:02 -0700 2009 5136078 82542 chowsue 1 5139383 We were in Van last weekend and lucked upon a restaurant called Crave, on Main. Tiny, maybe 35 seats, and neither formal or expensive. We were impressed by every dish we had: crab cakes, halibut and fries, pulled pork sandwich, pasta with a braised short rib sauce. The chef has worked around the world, and I would say the kitchen really knows what they are doing. Had lunch at a funky little outdoor spot near Granville Market called "Go Fish". Definitely casual, and not for a rainy day, but really good salmon tacarones (sp?). The fish and chips looked great too. If you go into the the Granville market (or their location on West 4th) have anything from Terra Breads. Their focaccias are great for a snack, and their breads are great if you have a way to enjoy them, ie cheese and a bottle of wine in your room. I especially love both the green and black olive loaves. I bought one of their cranberry crostatas, ate it and bought more on the spot to share later, they were sooo good! Not too sweet, with a butter pastry that I wish I had the recipe for! Wed Oct 28 22:24:56 -0700 2009 5135790 100599 Albertagirl 2 5145580 great! Will try. Sat Oct 31 14:40:10 -0700 2009 5139383 82542 chowsue 3 5145637 chowsue....note that the "Place" links in Albertagirl's post were auto-generated by the Chowhound system and has nothing at all to do with her actual recommendations. Sat Oct 31 15:14:21 -0700 2009 5145580 145820 fmed 1 5145565 Thanks for the great suggestions and the great food blog listings. Very very helpful. Keep em coming please! Thanks everyone!!! Sat Oct 31 14:35:18 -0700 2009 5135790 82542 chowsue 2 5145691 Maenam is pretty new and getting rave reviews (used to be Gastropod). The word is that they're doing for Thai food what Vij's has done for Indian. Which brings up Vij's just off South Granville which you simply cannot miss. Get there early though, like 4 or 5 for dinner, they don't take reservations and are regularly lined up well out the door and down the block. For lunch you could walk to Market in the Shangri La Hotel. It's a branch off the Jean-George Vongerichton tree and they were doing a not bad $29 three course lunch, I hope they still are. Sat Oct 31 15:49:48 -0700 2009 5145565 271412 coliwoggle 1 5145569 oh, and remember, a specific request is: lunch within walking distance from the Convention center (takeaway or delivery available). That is pretty specific request, and has not been covered anywhere on this board, at aleas that I can find by searching...... Thanks!! Sat Oct 31 14:37:25 -0700 2009 5135790 82542 chowsue 2 5145771 There are lots of small restuarants that do lunch business there. Here is a short list: (this one is not on the Chowhound database yet...) La Tacqueria -New place, getting a lot of raves . I haven't been, but a few forum members give it a thumbs up. http://maps.google.ca/maps/place?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=aBO&resnum=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=La+taqueria+vancouver&fb=1&gl=ca&hq=La+taqueria&hnear=vancouver&cid=12528329251389835765 Artigiano - good espresso, decent sandwiches La Casita - a decent sit-down Mexican. (Vancouver isn't known for good Mexican) Scuie - great place for Roman pizza, sandwiches, pasta, etc Steamworks - a brew pub, beer, fries, poutine, that sort of thing. Tacos Mexico Rico - run by a Mexican family - the tacos are authentic, quality is just fine. Sat Oct 31 16:49:53 -0700 2009 5145569 145820 fmed 3 5145811 OK...Chowhound's new system obliterated my list...I'll post it again but without commentary: Sat Oct 31 17:08:43 -0700 2009 5145771 145820 fmed 4 5145812 OK....I can't seem to add Links....I'll try again tomorrow....hth...trick or treating about to start. edit...they are showing up now. Sat Oct 31 17:09:41 -0700 2009 5145811 145820 fmed 3 5145854 wow...all these places will deliver to the convention center? Sat Oct 31 17:36:44 -0700 2009 5145771 82542 chowsue 4 5145858 Most of these places will do takeout - I don't know about delivery. Sat Oct 31 17:38:41 -0700 2009 5145854 145820 fmed 5 5145869 Try this place for delivery: http://www.yummyweb.com/ Sat Oct 31 17:44:01 -0700 2009 5145858 145820 fmed 6 5145877 great! This is like seamlessweb.com that we use in NY! Thanks! Sat Oct 31 17:47:20 -0700 2009 5145869 82542 chowsue 4 5146946 I just noticed that Sciue is listed incorrectly in the Chowhound database - it is at 800 WEST Pender not 800 East Pender. Sun Nov 01 10:31:13 -0800 2009 5145854 145820 fmed 3 5145873 From looking on the map, these all seem within walking distance from the convention center. But sometimes maps are hard to read...am I reading that right? WOW! Great. I also found Japdog is close, no? Sat Oct 31 17:45:31 -0700 2009 5145771 82542 chowsue 4 5145882 Yes - the Coal Harbour location of Japadog is close. These places are all pretty close the convention center. The downtown peninsula is pretty small. If you need to expand a bit - the Skytrain will take you to more places nearby. Sat Oct 31 17:51:58 -0700 2009 5145873 145820 fmed 1 5145883 oh! Also.....How's the street meat scene in Vancouver? Trucks and carts are quite the trend in NYC for lunch. Sat Oct 31 17:52:07 -0700 2009 5135790 82542 chowsue 2 5145888 It is pretty pathetic compared to NYC. We have some pretty draconian street food laws here...Hot Dogs, Chestnuts, are the only real choices. I hope they follow the lead of places like NYC, Portland, etc....even Toronto has loosened up these laws. There are a number of hole-in-the-wall shawarma, sushi, etc. joints that may fill the bill. If you are from NYC...please avoid the pizza here at all costs. Sat Oct 31 17:58:05 -0700 2009 5145883 145820 fmed 1 5145897 Looking at your suggestions and reading the lists and blogs and menus, I am starting to get realllllll excited guys! I haven't been to Vancouver in years, and I was only there a few days. I remember there being great food there and everyone says the restaurants are just awesome. I can't wait now! WOW!!! Sat Oct 31 18:02:49 -0700 2009 5135790 82542 chowsue 2 5146344 Since you said 2.5 months, and used the convention center as a reference, I'm thinking you are covering/working at the 2010 Winter Games? If so, might be worth factoring increased traffic, reservation hassles, etc into your planning. Not a dis on the games but we are all expecting the place to be pretty gridlocked, especially downtown. Sun Nov 01 04:32:34 -0800 2009 5145897 21990 J and V 3 5148408 Prompted by the upcoming Winter Games, the WASHINGTON POST ran an article about visiting Vancouver. Since the focus was mainly on what the article called "aboriginal tourism" -- powwows, wilderness treks, and a First Nation winery visit -- the timing of these trips was more about a warm weather visit than a visit linked to the Winter Games. My husband and I plan on visiting Vancouver this summer so I've begun to investigate. Considering I've always thought of Vancouver as a great eating town, I was surprised to note only one restaurant recommendation: Blue Water Cafe. Does this restaurant have a First Nation connection? If not, what about it would make the POST single it out as their lone recommenation? I'll say that the dish mentioned in the article (Arctic char with maitaki mushrooms and mountain caviar) sounded appealing. What other restaurants in Vancouver should my husband and I try that offer regional cuisine? Mon Nov 02 04:47:32 -0800 2009 5146344 61567 Indy 67 4 5149045 I'm not surprised that it got a mention - Blue Water (and its sister restaurants in the Top Table group) has a formidable marketing team, but for the most part - it can "walk the talk". If you are interested in locally sourced seafood then this is one of the best places to get it. For regional food (ie "Localvore-ish PNW Cuisine/ Pacific Rim Cuisine/BC Cuisine", etc) the restaurants that will represent well are Fuel, Boneta, Cru, Diva, Yew...there are others but this should give you a starting point. For aboriginal food - the Vancouver Community College's Aboriginal Culinary Arts Program runs Wild Salmon seasonally (spring/summer) - it may be open when you visit. Here is a first-hand thread on Wild Salmon from a couple of months back http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/647117 You can experience other aboriginal offerings (eg Indian Candy, etc.) and aboriginal experiences (Salmon BBQ's), here and there as well. Start a new thread and we'll help you out. Mon Nov 02 09:13:01 -0800 2009 5148408 145820 fmed 5 5151235 And don't forget Bishop's, the eminence grise of localish dining. Mon Nov 02 23:51:46 -0800 2009 5149045 169233 grayelf 1 5157257 Here are a few good places to eat for dinner or late night chow: 1. Jang Mo Jib (Korean)- Robson (Best go with a large crowd, and maybe someone who is Korean, because these are authentic dishes, and some of them may not sound appetizing at first glance. 2. Tropika-Robson 3. Banana Leaf- Broadway/ Denman 4. Trattoria- W. 4th Ave 5. The Red Door- Granville (The Shaking Beef and the Pineapple Fried Rice are amazing) 6. The Eatery- W. Broadway 7. Sophie's Cosmic Cafe-W 4th (Breakfast/Brunch) 8. Cafe Zen- Breakfast (The most choices of Eggs Benedict I have ever seen on a menu) 9. Noodle Box- W. 4th Ave 10. Ebisu - Downtown 11. Some Kinda Pasta- W. 10th 12. Memphis Blues BBQ (Go with 2 or 3 ppl and get the Memphis Feast.) 13. Any of the Glowbal Group Restaurants 14. Gyoza King -Robson (Ebi Mayo and Gyu Yukke are a must) 15. Vera's Burger - (daily specials during the week) 16. Belgium Fries - Commercial Drive 17. Don Guacomole - Robson St. 18. Samurai Sushi- Oak St. (Tiny joint near Oakridge Centre. Tiny joint serving cheap, HUGE portions) Wed Nov 04 22:49:11 -0800 2009 5135790 1121882 LeviT