Tasting Plates: Main Street edition brought out Vancouver’s food fans and friends out on a beautiful, warm spring night to taste their way around the East Side neighbourhood, from Broadway to King Edward.
Check in started the evening at Tapas 23, the popular spot was already busy, so upon recommendation of Catherine at the desk, Billy and I ventured on to the next stops first.
Shaktea was our first stop. The tea lounge, now under new ownership, was filled of the aromas of teas brewed for the event: French Ear Grey (served hot), Ginger Lemon Herbal Tea and African Dream Rooibos (both served cold). Both cold teas were perfectly refreshing for a warm evening and the French Earl Grey was unique enough that I bought a tin to take home. Shaktea also offered Tasters a couple of tea infused bites Chocolate chilli, Earl Grey infused fudge brownies (a sweet and spicy snack) and Matcha date balls (gluten free and full flavoured).
Shaktea, 3702 Main Street,
Web: www.shaktea.ca Twitter: @ShakteaVan
Near the corner of Broadway and Main, Rosemary Rock Salt is a Montreal style bagelry. The handmade bagels are fresh out of the brick oven at the back of the room, topped with an array of accompaniments; cream cheese, lox, Montreal smoked meat and more. For something sweet, their rugolach pastries are a great snack on its own or a nice ending to your meal.
Rosemary Rock Salt 2515 Main Street
Web: www.rosemaryrocksalt.com Twitter: @RoseRocksalt
Miura Waffle Milk Bar is an Asian style waffle sandwich bar it a unique blend of sweet and savoury, often in the same bite. Light waffle “Sandos” (from Sandowicchi, Japanese for sandwich) filled with Karaage, Bulgogi, Hoisin sit alongside Nori natchos with sweet fruit toppings or fresh salsa.
Miura Waffle Milk Bar 2521 Main Street
Web: www.miurawafflemilkbar.ca Twitter: @MiuraWaffle
Al fresco pizza was the order at Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. Crispy crusted Farmers Market Pizza was topped with balsamic marinated rhubard and chard, pesto and goat cheese. The Naturally Meaty flatbread offered up spicy beef, Italian sausage, veggies and asiago cheese.
Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co 4186 Main Street
Web: www.rockymountainflatbread.ca Twitter: @FlatbreadCo
One of the great features of Tasting Plates is finding unique dining options and food shops in the neighbourhoods visited. Main Street Honey Shoppe is not somewhere I’d imagine finding tasty bites, but in addition to a wide variety of bottles honey, honey food products and beauty aids there was fresh honeycomb served on cheese, honey almond cake, cheese brownie with honey served from the honey bakery cafe.
Main Street Honey Shoppe 4125 Main Street
Web: www.mainstreethoney.com Twitter: @HoneybeeCentre
Back to the beginning, we returned to Tapas 23 to close off the evening. Seated in a beautifully, landscaped, patio in the back of the restaurant, serenaded by live guitar music and served great tapas it was an amazing oasis on busy Main Street. The Tasting Plate included; Braised Pork ‘Bombas’, Potato crusted chicken wings, Bruselas (crispy, cooked brussell sprouts) and Albondigas (meat ball with roasted red pepper and sundried tomato).
Tapas 23, 3941 Main Street
Web: www.tapas23.com Twitter:@Tapas23YVR
Watch for the next Vancouver Foodster event, coming soon:
Tasting Plates Latin American Flavours – June 25, 2014