Soccer night in Vancouver

May 19, 2015 / Greg / Leave a comment

I was thrilled when the MLS schedule was released to see there was a Whitecaps FC match in Vancouver while I was visiting. After a long string of trips where I just missed out on soccer matches, this made it three in a row of visiting soccer cities and getting to see a match (Prague for a Sparta match and Rome for a Lazio match). On a picture perfect Vancouver evening, I made my way to BC Place. People were out early for the game and enjoying the sun just outside the stadium The only letdown was a malfunction in the retractable roof that kept the evening’s game from being played under a clear sky.

I was there for the doors opening so I could wander around the stadium and grab supper while watching warmups. BC Place is a beautiful place to watch a match:

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Best eats of 2013

January 2, 2014December 29, 2014 / Greg / Leave a comment

My travels in 2013 gave me some very memorable eating memories. Here are a few of the many great things I ate while away this year.

San Juan: Mofongo

Having now tried the national dish of Puerto Rico, I wonder where mofongo has been up to this point in my life. This is a dish made with fried green plantains that are mashed with olive oil, garlic, some fried pig bits and then filled with meat. While in San Juan I tried two versions. The one on the left from Cafe Manolin, a 50’s style diner, was filling and delicious as I waited out a torrential downpour. The one on the right from Restaurante Airenumo was a more upscale version and the best meal of the five days in Puerto Rico.

Mofongo

Vancouver: Vij’s

Vij’s was a bucket list restaurant for me. For years and years, I’ve known I would eat here once I got to Vancouver. This meal was perhaps the best overall meal from the year of travel. Exceptional service and feeling like you were dining in someone’s home only made it that much better. The food was sublime: flavourful, perfectly spiced, interesting and inventive. Making this the perfect evening was getting a chance to say hi to Vikram Vij himself.

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Bucket list meal at Vij’s

June 20, 2013May 3, 2015 / Greg / 2 Comments

When the opportunity to visit Vancouver turned into an upcoming reality with the purchase of plane tickets, the first thought that crossed my mind: I have to have a meal at Vij’s. My love and I have a passion for seeking out and finding great food on our travels, and we knew Vancouver was going to be an exceptional food city. But a stop at Vij’s was tops for us. The “best of lists” for Vancouver and our love of Indian cuisine was only partially behind it. The main reason was the restauranteur himself, Vikram Vij. His inventiveness, commitment to local ingredients and to preparation techniques honed over time, and his personal dedication to this restaurant (he greets guests personally!) meant that we knew we would be in for a special evening.

The experience begins in line waiting for the doors to open at 5:30. There are no reservations, all guests are equal, much like you were visiting him at his home. Drinks and snacks are offered while you wait for the restaurant to open. Can you tell we’re a little excited?