This week Vancouver Foodster’s latest Tasting Plates event took foodies and friends to the Kensington – Cedar Cottage neighbourhood. Centered around Fraser Street in East Vancouver, the seven participating restaurants varied widely; vegetarian, ice cream, Filipino baked goods, pizza, African sweets and soup, tacos and coffee were all on the menu.
A steady stream of patrons lined up at Vegetarian to check-in and collect their Tasting Plates cards. The restaurant was bustling as the guests were seated to savour Graze’s trio of vegetarian gluten-free tastes:
– Yam & Eggplant Perogy with coconut cheddar sauce, shallot confit, oyster mushroom and shredded pickled beets
– roasted veggie strata with cashew cream and tomato sauce
– Chocolate torte with raspberry rose cream
All three items looked and tasted great, a nice way to start off Tasting Plates evening.
The next location was right next door. Earnest Ice Cream, the little modern take on an old fashioned ice-cream parlour served up a Tahitian Vanilla ice cream with a house-made ginger snap. Both were a bright and fresh tastes for traditional flavours.
Two blocks up the street another pair of Tasting Plate stops stood side by side.
The smell of fresh baked goods permeated through Merienda Bakeshop as they served up a spread of 5 items from their selection of Filipino breads and pastries; Hopia Mongo, Ube Load, Spanish Bread, Buko Pie and Pan de Sal were all vegetarian friendly too.
Next door the newly opened Pizza Carano was working busily to serve their full house of patrons. Nicely herbed focaccia bread with olive oil kept palates whetted before they were served up a rich and creamy cauliflower soup shot with two slices of fresh baked thin crust slices of Fughi and Smoked Sopressata Pizza along side a Kale Caesar Salad.
Near the junction of Kingsway and Fraser waited the last cluster of venues.
Kilimanjaro Snack House and Catering had another spread of flavourful goodies for the Tasting Platers. First greeted with a cup of nicely spiced Chai to drink along with the full plate including Barazi and Mandazi – East African curry with coconut milk, cardamom doughnuts, fried Beef kebabs, Samosas and fried Mogo
Down the street Sal Y Limon, served up curbside tacos – vegetarian, pulled pork or shredded chicken. Fresh and hot, with just the right amount of spice in the salsa offset by a squeeze of lemon.
The night wrapped up with a couple more sweet bites at Tigers Drink House, the house speciality Carrot Walnut Cinnamon Load and Cream Cheese Chocolate Brownie were served with a Elysian Columbian or Rawandan coffee.
Watch for the next Vancouver Foodster event, Culinary Scavenger Hunt, on Sunday April 6th.