Dine & Dash: Lou’s Grill
This particular restaurant has a way of breaking expectations. From the outside, with its gravel parking lot and simple neon sign, Lou’s seems to be more of a down home grill, but stepping through the door I found quite the opposite. Less of a grill and more of a lounge, Lou’s offers hushed lighting, louder music and cozy seating for more intimate conversations.
Confessions of a barista
I revel in the workings of the nit-picky food and drink market. I secretly love when customers come in with an excitingly-complex new variation, and over these last few months I have grown to appreciate the deep, caramelly notes that are telling of a really good shot of espresso. I enjoy the outlet for creativity that comes with the construction of a personalized drink, as well as the sounds sights, and scents that come with any coffee shop.
Dine & Dash: The Baron Bar and Grill
The Baron Bar and Grill, which overlooks the Abbotsford International Airport runway, serves appies, steak, chicken, fish, rice bowls and, of course, burgers.
Dine & Dash: From breakfast to dinner in Victoria, BC
In a city like Victoria, with restaurants around every corner and on every block, it can be hard to know where to go. Amy’s pick of restaurants and café are here to make it easier to see what’s worth checking out.
The Cascade’s Restaurants of the Year (2011)
The Cascade’s picks for the best places to eat in the Fraser Valley in 2011
Dine & Dash: Iron Chef (Sushi Ichi) Japanese Restaurant
Iron Chef offers patrons quality sushi at incredibly affordable prices. They are also one of those sushi places that offers non-sushi options for those who get pulled along to the restaurant but aren’t brave enough to dive into seaweed and salmon skin.
Outside the (take-out) box: Mr. India Meats & Restaurant
The butter chicken was the crème de la crème in this little section of strip mall by Value Village and, as with most great dishes
Outside the (take-out) box: Bagel Classic Café
The atmosphere in this café is cute, but about as much of a mixed bag as their menu.
Outside the (take-out) box: Formaggio Fine Foods
North of the martial arts centre and around the corner from Captain Jack’s, Formaggio Fine Foods offers passers-by something savoury, something sweet and something simple.
Outside the (take-out) box: Finnegan’s Pub and Grill
Finnegan’s is located just behind the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre and has an air of distinction – and thus the presumed necessity of deep pockets. What I discovered on the other side of the one set of doors that lead to Finnegan’s was some surprisingly good food at surprisingly affordable prices.
Outside the (take-out) box: The Roasted Grape
The Roasted Grape, one of Abbotsford’s newest culinary set-ups, takes the idea of the unexpected and makes it rewarding. Located on the corner of Montrose Ave and South Fraser Way (within spitting distance of O’Neill’s), The Roasted Grape takes up the old residence of a retired Bank of Montreal building
Outside the (take-out) box: Maria’s Gelato
Gelato is something that can be savoured any time of the year
Outside the (take-out) box: Seh-Mi Japanese Restaurant
Seh-Mi sushi is tucked away by PriceMart foods and the only drive-thru Starbucks south of 72 Ave in Langley. At first, the menu seemed to show average pricing from appetizers to special rolls, but it wasn’t until the food was delivered to the table that I realized just how much of a deal everything really was.
Tea Time at Baker House helps with homesickness
Students with a taste for cookies, hot drinks and good conversation have a new destination every Friday on campus: Baker house, where a tea time is now being hosted every week from 2:30-4:30 p.m. The gathering is very informal, and provides a relaxed setting for UFV students to attain a greater sense of community.
Free flapjacks at U-House
Every Thursday morning from 8 until 10 a.m., University Christian Ministries (UCM) hosts a free pancake breakfast at UHouse. This event is the longest-running club event in the history of UFV. Derrick Uittenbosch, president of UCM, said that the club runs the event to serve the campus
Trendy with a capital tea
With a new batch of tea vendors selling taste experiences in a 50g canister, tea can now have as much bite, flavour and personality as even the most well-personalized double espresso. The verdict is in. Tea is officially trendy, and it is exploding.
Outside the (take-out) box: The Water Shed Arts Café
Despite the rather clichéd feeling of a coffee shop that serves sandwiches, sells local art and has local events – it’s becoming rare to find a spot that does this authentically. It seems to be a shtick for businesses to play this up – especially for chains to play this up – so in this The Water Shed does offer something unique.
Outside the (take out) box: My Thai
Situated in a building between Everything But The Groom and the empty shell of a now moved-on credit union on the one-way in downtown Langley, My Thai has become famous as one of these private little haunts.
Outside the (take-out) box: AfterMath
All in all, the atmosphere was pleasant with an enjoyable music selection and the staff was attentive, yet not overly-so. The food, though, could be better.
Outside the (take-out) box: Vi-La Palace
Upon opening the menu, I found there to be a wide selection of appetizers, pho dishes (both chicken and beef noodle soups), wonton soups, seafood noodles, rice dishes, vermicelli bowls, specialties, as well as a selection of Vi-La combinations, and vegetarian dishes.
EAT! Fraser Valley
EAT! Fraser Valley was held at the Tradex Exhibition Center last weekend, and Amy Van Veen and Sasha Moedt of The Cascade were there to cover it, from cheese seminars to local organic food options.
Outside the (take-out) box: Little Farm House in the City
In the heart of Abbotsford’s old downtown, a little surprise of a restaurant has made its home. The aptly named Little Farm House in the City offers patrons fresh food at decent prices within a homey, country atmosphere.
Outside the (take-out) box: O’Neill’s Home Cooking
Open since August 2010, Vern O’Neill’s Home Cooking has been catering to a wide variety of Fraser Valleyans. From junior high to high school, college students to employees of other eateries in town, Vern attracts people from all over with his reputation for good food, good prices and that delicious sweet potato bun.
EAT! Fraser Valley: get your teeth into it
If you want to get your teeth into a bit of Abbotsford this September, look for the upcoming food and cooking festival EAT! Fraser Valley, a medley of food and beverage tasting, menu-surfing, and education. It takes place at the Tradex Exhibition Centre September 16 to 18.
