Smile Diner

It is what it is. A simple, greasy spoon diner. :)

424 West Pender Street
Breakfast hours:
www.smilediner.com
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Chewies Steam and Oyster Bar

I’ve been excited to go to Chewies since it opened over a month ago, mostly for its New Orleans-style food concept. One of my fondest childhood food memories is eating at the Blue Bayou located within one of my all-time favourite rides – Pirates of the Caribbean. I understand it is ridiculous to associate today’s experience with Disneyland, I am just saying it conjured up good feelings before I even arrived.

Obviously, Chewies is much more sophisticated, yet they still deliver on the good vibes. The staff here are outstanding – they accepted our annoying indecision and accommodated our slightly higher than average demands without even batting an eyelash. On top of that, they were jovial and friendly. I don’t usually dedicate so much time to talking about service, however the staff here deserve the recognition.

And let’s not forget the food. I love their menu, they are clear about who they are and the menu stays true to their idea. Our table enjoyed the Crab Cakes Benedict with Cajun Hollandaise, Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles, and Andouille Hash. While there we also perused the dinner menu, and I cannot wait to go back and try the seafood pan roast, fried okra, and beignets.

Chewies is a happy place.

2201 West 1st Avenue
Brunch hours: Saturday/Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
www.chewies.ca
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The Whip Restaurant Gallery

Because I was breakfasting today with my sister-in-law, who is an ah-ma-zing artist, I wanted to investigate The Whip and it’s “gallery” status. Not only is it a rotating showcase for local artists, it is a restaurant, a café, and a bar. If I wanted to give them one label only, though, it would be “hangout”. With it’s casual wooden-table-and-chair decor, it feels like the perfect spot to gather with friends and chitchat.

To match, the food is informal, yet still tasty. My Roasted Tomato and Avocado Benny had a nice hollandaise, her Shrimp, Pesto, and Feta Omelette was savoury (is there a better adjective for “salty” when it’s a positive attribute?), and both were served with paprika-spiced roasted yams and potatoes and fruit salad.

209 East 6th Avenue
Brunch hours: Saturday/Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
www.thewhiprestaurant.com
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The Oakwood

I am reminded of the benefits of having an open mind. Upon entering The Oakwood, I was honestly surprised by what I saw – a packed house, a space filled with warmth, and pleasingly contemporary design. There have been many restaurants come and go in this location over the years and I believe this owner may have finally found the magic formula to transform the mojo.

We sat at the bar, which allowed for a clear view into the kitchen. I knew the food was going to be great by seeing the way the chefs approached their cooking. You can just tell when someone is serious about food. These guys are. Their concept is Canadian Bistro with a focus on locally-sourced and made-from-scratch. They nailed my criteria for food success – obvious passion, clear concept, delicious flavour, exacting execution, and playful presentation. The Blueberry-Mascarpone Filled French Toast was cooked to buttery, crispy perfection. And the Braised Short Rib with Potato Pancake and Marinated Tomato was succulent and boldly flavoured.

I believe if this owner embraces what he is already doing so well – hiring great staff, offering a welcoming environment, and serving great food – he’s here to stay.

2741 West 4th Avenue
Brunch hours: Saturday/Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
www.theoakwood.ca
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Soul (Honolulu, HI)

I recently realized that there is only one thing that will move me to do the things I am terrified of doing – love. My best friend currently lives in Hawaii and she is the reason I will get on a plane and endure what amounts to 6 hours of emotional agony. There is another love, however, not quite as powerful, but still enticing – great food!

At Soul they specialize in soul food, obviously. The chef here exudes soul, a genuine warm smile, and an obvious love for his business and his food. When I travel, I love being able to enjoy cuisines that I cannot find in Vancouver. I also love it when a chef will take a classic item and give it a twist using local ingredients, such as the Crab Cake Benedict with Mango Hollandaise. Our other choices included Smoked Sausage and Sweet Potato Hash, Fried Chicken with Biscuits and Sausage Gravy, and my favourite, Fried Chicken with Southern Spiced Sweet Potato Pancakes and Local Banana.

A whole lotta love.

3040 Waialae Ave, Honolulu, HI
Breakfast hours: 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday only
www.pacificsoulhawaii.com
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Brunch Mexicana at The Waldorf Hotel

UPDATE (01/06/12): According to their website, brunch is temporarily on hold.
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There’s something exciting about sharing unique places with others who are new to Vancouver. It’s like getting to see something so familiar through new eyes again. My brother has been living here just less than a year, and when I invited him out for breakfast today, I wanted to see him, of course, as well as perhaps share an area of Vancouver he had yet to experience. Though I had never been to The Waldorf before, either.

The Waldorf Hotel has modernized itself recently into an internationally-inspired art, music, and food destination. And on the weekends they serve Desayuno! Brunch Mexicana. I have no standards to be able to attest to the authenticity of the food, as I realize there are some purists out there. However, for me, my metric for international cuisine is “does it taste yummy?” Brunch Mexicana: yes, it does!

All three dishes impressed: Huevos Rancheros, Chilaquiles with Eggs, and the Mexican Hotcakes with dulce de leche sauce. Frequently I am asked the question, “where are the best pancakes?”, and I usually have a difficult time in answering as I tend to crave savoury dishes more for breakfast. Today I couldn’t keep myself from going back again and again to the hotcakes. Unfortunately for my partner, it was his breakfast, not mine. Grin.

1489 East Hastings Street
Brunch hours: Saturday/Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
www.waldorfhotel.com
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Edible Canada at the Market

Ingredients matter. Edible Canada at the Market, the newest addition to the Granville Island restaurant scene, is a modern casual bistro focusing on BC and Canadian-sourced products. Even more than locality, I believe what makes food special is the love that goes into its creation. My breakfast tasted as though those who created it actually love food.

My Spiced Ricotta Belgian Waffles were divine. Scented with cinnamon and nutmeg and topped with a warm apple compote, it was the perfect Fall dish. My guy had the Island Breakfast including scrambled eggs, duck fat fried hash browns, and Sloping Hills pork sausage and pork belly – the pork was outstanding. Also amazing was his side of toast and jam, an elevated version with artisan bread and locally-produced jam.

If you love food, try it out, just be mindful of what time you arrive, as there are two distinct menus and brunch is served only after 11:00 a.m.

1596 Johnston Street (at Granville Island)
Breakfast hours:
Breakfast menu: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday/Sunday
Brunch menu: 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday/Sunday
www.ediblecanada.com
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