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Some of Martin and Nancy's favorite eateries in the Pacific Northwest, plus
one vineyard and one health bar
- 13 Coins - Two locations in Seattle
Dean Ornish wouldn't like it, nor would anyone who wanted you to lose weight. The portions are huge, so it's a good idea to split them. The 13 Coins is a Seattle institution open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is essentially the ultimate lunch counter or diner. Food preparation goes on in front of you and is spectacular. The best seats in the house are the wrap-around leather chairs facing the grill. I like the fact that the chefs and waiters seem to be totally professional and proud of their skills. This is not a tourist restaurant and uses very little signage or advertising, but word gets around. I was eating with someone last week whose friend is flying on Jet Blue from New York to Seattle for the sole purpose of eating at 13 Coins.
- Cafe Brio - Victoria
Greg and his wife, Silvia, are master restaurateurs who work hard, create a great atmosphere, have a good wine list and, of course, a terrific chef, Jeff Keenliside. They use regional products (cusina domestica) and their web site details their Vancouver Island suppliers. The Vancouver Sun newspaper named Café Brio Best Restaurant in Victoria while Vancouver magazine placed it 2nd behind Sooke Harbour House (which is very high end and quite a long drive). I was delighted to see one of my favorite local eateries featured by Air Canada on a flight earlier this year in a 6-minute feature on Café Brio.
- Zambri's - Victoria
Don't let the unpretentious storefront setting in a downtown shopping mall deter you. Zambris is a place for superb Italian food served by a delightful and knowledgeable staff. On Saturday's they do a set dinner menu, which is becoming a local legend. But if you want the Saturday set dinner, book well in advance, and I'm talking weeks rather than days. Let Frances, the sommelier, guide you to some fine wine pairings. Personal favorites include the light, sparkling Prosecco (Mionetto, Veneto), the fragrant Millefiori 2001 (Venturi-Schulze, Vancouver Island) and the complex, smooth, red Aglianico '98 (Di Majo Norante, Molise).
- The McMenamins Kennedy School - Portland Oregon
I could write pages about the two McMenamin brothers. Their mission in life is to save and revitalize beautiful old buildings and turn them into community centers where people can eat, drink superb McMenamin's beer, play music, dance, hold meetings and often stay overnight. (Not forgetting their vineyards and wine).
Nancy and I lunched at Kennedy School, which was not fine dining, just excellent pub food. The renovation of this old 1911 school is magnificent. The McMenamins have honoured legendary teachers and staff from the school. The old gymnasium is now a movie theatre full of sofas and stuffed chairs. The art is original (the McMenamins employ 3 full-time artists).
There is a Romanesque pool and a fascinating labyrinth of meeting rooms, bars, hotel accommodation and even a brewery. The McMenamins' properties are everything that the fast food franchises are not. They're unique, fun, use local products and honor the history of the building and the area.
- Vij's - Vancouver
Vikram Vij fuses elements from different regions of India to come up with unforgettable South Asian cuisine. Last year, I felt that my 'meal of the year' was at Vij's. Patricia Wells raved about Vij's when she stopped to eat there on a recent North American book tour. Vij now carries the hard to find Venturi-Schulze wines and my current favorite Pinot Gris (Pfaffenheim). Vij's can be found near the gallery row of South Granville, just across the Burrard Street Bridge.
- Zev's Restaurant - Vancouver
This is the nicest dining space in Vancouver. The décor and lighting are exquisite (designed by Alda Pereira who was on Oprah recently). In the summer months there's also patio dining. The food and the experience are part Parisian, part New York and a big part, Zev Beck, the chef. If you look up 'fusion' in the dictionary you might see a picture of Zev. He's worked in hotels from Hawaii to Israel and incorporates elements of Asian, Jewish, Thai, Indian and even Mexican influences into his kitchen. The prices are very reasonable and the blend of elegance and informality makes this a great place for a casual meal or a formal celebration. This is my 'local' in Vancouver and it's a little West End treasure.
- Rebar Modern Food Restaurant - Victoria
Dean Ornish would love Rebar and so do I. It serves some of the finest vegetarian food on the West Coast. It's funky, tattoos are not uncommon among the wait people and it has a fantastic selection of juices and some good wines. The Rebar signature dish is the Almond Burger, which is to live for. (No reservations at Rebar).
- Rebar Produce Bars
Another Rebar, but not associated with the Victoria restaurant. Healthco (which is situated in Kelowna, BC) just happens to make the best health bars I've tasted. My favorite is the Rebar containing 2 cups of fruit and 2 cups of vegetables in each bar. It's all organic, pesticide free and adds tremendous nutrient value to any lunch box, or is a great, guilt-free snack. They've recently added a Grains and Greens Rebar to 'reinforce your life'. I keep one or two Rebars in my car, and also find them good for flying, when instead of eating one of Air Canada's rather dubious cold snacks, I can get my full day's supply of fruits and vegetables in one Rebar. Those are the sorts of products that should be available in school vending machines.
- Venturi-Schulze Vineyards - Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island
Venturi-Schulze is a Vancouver Island boutique winery where wines are so good that virtually their entire production goes to a handful of select restaurants. (There's considerable prestige associated for a restaurant to be able to carry their wines.) They are so protective of their wine that they use bottle caps rather than corks, to avoid the 5% of 'corked' or spoiled wine associated with corks. It was fascinating to see the sommelier at Sooke Harbor House whipping out a bottle opener for our premier bottle of wine. (It's rumored that Marilyn Venturi has been known to sleep in her vineyard to protect her precious grapes). The vineyard does sell privately on a limited basis. It would be inappropriate not to mention the balsamic vinegar for which Venturi-Schulze is even more well known than their wine.
- Olive Olio's Pasta and Espresso Bar
Situated in Cadboro Bay village in Victoria, this is the ultimate coffee bar (although their teas are impeccable). They make flawless lattes and cappucinos, produce remarkable Tuscan foods from their little kitchen and feature a line of desserts, coffee cake and latte buns which are worth the 5000+ steps you might have to take to burn them off. Many a Speakwell staff meeting is held in the friendly confines of "the Olive".
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