Last night hungry diners gathered at Pallet Coffee to begin their evening of exploring the flavours of Vancouver Foodster‘s Tasting Plates: East Village edition. The neighbourhood around Hastings and Nanaimo Streets is filled with tastes that awaited the Tasting Platers.
Picking up our Tasting Plate cards at Pallet Coffee Roasters guests were welcomed with a multi-course tasting plate including a savoury sandwich of Beef Brisket topped with remoulade, caramelized onions and gruyere served alongside a Spinach & Wild Mushroom Salad with goat cheese, pecans and egg. A second plate included the Tasting Cup of either Americano or Cortado with a double baked Almond Croissant and a Rosemary Parmesan Scone.
Next we headed up to Renfrew Cafe, a quiet little family place serving up Okanagan Beef and local Kimchi Pie along with a classic Apple Pie. The warm pastry pockets contrast by the chilled Taiwanese Tea.
Back on Hastings, the newly opened Di Olivia Tasting Bar was overwhelming with choice. With over 50 extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars to sample and savour it was hard to pick a favourite. Owner Lisa Funaro had also created a number of flavour combinations and dips using the Olive Oils to show the versatility of the oils.
Next up was Platform 7, where the funky rail-themed cafe served a choice of Espresso, Americano or Cortado and a selection of neighbourhood made cookies from Gluten-Free Epicurean, Black Rock Bakehouse and East Village Bakehouse.
Up the block Windsor Meats tempted Tasters with a rich bowl filled with a House-Made Biryani Meatball (chicken, pork, basmati, spices, vegetables) heaped with Butter Chicken Sauce and an edible Nasturtium.
Across the street, the funky and bustling Jackalope Neighbourhood Dive serviced up the kind of comfort food you’d expect your ‘local’ to serve; Smoked Ham on Buttermilk Chive Whipped Potatoes & Roasted Asparagus served with a Cornbread and Pimento Cheese.
Finally our nightcap came from a quartet of shots from the bottles at Odd Society Spirits; East Van Vodka, Wallflower Gin, Bittersweet Vermouth and Crème de Cassis. Sipped in progression the four made a progression from potent punch to sweet syrup.
As with all Vancouver Foodster’s Tasting Plates editions there was newly discovered location and flavours from familiar favourites.
Visit vancouverfoodster.com for to watch for the next Tasting Plates and check out the current Vancouver Foodster Pizza Challenge on now (which I’m privileged to be judging so watch my instagram for tasty pics)