With Dine Out Vancouver Festival in full-swing and its line up of many menus and events taking place until February 4th, we spent a Sunday morning on the East Van Brunch Crawl, curated by Vancouver Foodster.
The East Van Brunch Crawl was a great way to discover and sample a selection of East Vancouver establishments, which took us to:
Jamjar Canteen: 2290 Commercial Drive.
The lovely Lebanese location’s inviting space got our morning off to a great start with a Lebanese Benny -homemade saj bread (unleavened flatbread), fried haloumi cheese, hummus, roasted tomato, soft poached egg, topped with sumac hollandaise sauce – which I paired with a rich, and creamy Lebanese hot Chocolate. Look forward to trying more from their
Vivace on the Drive: 1728 Commercial Drive.
An update on the former Supper Club that occupied this location, Vivace’s stylish room, with the stage front and centre, enticing us to come back on an evening with live entertainment. Normally only open for evening dinner-service, Brunch Crawl offers a chance for the team to try new things with a pair of Eggs Benedict served two-ways – poached eggs with smoked salmon or spinach, house ricotta, cherry tomato confit and hollandaise.
Yuan Coffee: 550 Clark Drive
Tucked into the blocks of studios and automotive shops on this busy section of Clark Drive, the recently opened Yuan Coffee is an aesthetic cafe offering a simple menu of just coffee. For the East Van Brunch Crawl it made for a nice midway break to enjoy a brewed coffee flight highlighting espresso three-ways; a shot of espresso (straight and strong), an americano (with hot water), and a cortado (with steamed milk).
Pizzone Pizza: 848 Powell Street
Also opening within the last few months, Pizzone Pizza, wedged in between Subway and Starbucks. The narrow pizza shop has a surprisingly deep menu, offering a vast selection of whole pies or by-the-slice pizza. At the time of our visit, there was a choice of; Classic Pepperoni, Vegetarian, Pulled Pork, Potato & Mushroom on white sauce, Hawaiian, Meatlovers, and Peri Peri Chicken. Trying the later three flavours, they all hit the spot, and I’m sure this would be a welcome for the daytime workers in the area and residents moving into the changing neighbourhood.
di Olvia Tasting Bar: 2632 East Hastings Street
We never leave empty handed from this East Village specialist in all things Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar. With everything on tap to taste, and direct from supplier deliveries every 6 months the Ultra Premium Certified Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegars are offered unadulterated or fused/infused with an array of flavours, from Chili Pepper, Mushroom and Herb, Chocolate, and Lychee to Lemon. The later of which was used in the tasty Lemon Honey Olive Oil Muffins specially offered for the Brunch Crawl to highlight the many uses of the products.
If you missed out on this Dine Out Vancouver Festival event, there’s many more to take part in over the next two weeks including two more curated by Vancouver Foodster: Asian Dumplings and Noodle Fest on Wednesday, January 24th and Art, Eat and Sip Mount Pleasant on Thursday, January 25th.