FOOD

BEST OF VANCOUVER Three new brunch spots with international culinary twists W ith brunch being a perfect t for the West Coast approach, here are three or our favourite brunch spots in Downby Craig Takeuchi town Vancouver that opened up over the past year. (Check options for takeout or delivery.)

PALATE KITCHEN 848 West Hastings Street is class act opened in the Financial District on February 8, courtesy of Pallet Co ee Roasters. e high-ceilinged, split-level space o ers distancing room while staying social. Brunch staples get Euro touches: Palate Breakfast pleases with two eggs, bacon, sausage on toast, baked beans, and more while the brisk Fjord marries Nordic-style cured salmon with whipped cream cheese and avocado on sourdough. Cinnamon French toast with mascarpone praline, berries, and meringue? Yes, please. Beyond brunch, chef Khalid Kahya casts a Moroccan sway over lunch, with ke a tagine (two poached eggs atop meatballs in tomato sauce) and the 24-Hour Lamb sandwich (ultratender lamb with fried egg and greens on sourdough). Save room for the meal-cleansing Palate Tiramisu.

BRUNCH 1147 Granville Street Our list—nay, our lives—would be incomplete without this one, launched in May, where West Coast faves cozy up with Mexican recipes. Traditionalists can opt for pancakes, French toast, and crêpes, or the Breakfast Sandwich with scrambled egg, bacon, and cheddar on a croissant or ciabatta. Hungry for sun-splashed vacations? Try the huevos rancheros (refried beans and sunnyside egg on a tortilla), molletes (grilled cheese and refried beans on ciabatta), or the popular enchiladas suizas (corn tortillas lled with cheese or chicken in green salsa). Order your ca eine x and 10 percent of sales go to a nonpro t helping Mexican kids with cancer.

The simply named Brunch offers traditional breakfast staples alongside Mexican dishes. NOAH’S CAFÉ 572 Davie Street At this pop-up that grew permanent roots, the yoshoku (Japanese takes on western food) menu includes sandos (sandwiches) with egg katsu, deep-fried ebi (shrimp), or chicken karaage deconstructed hamburger steak and onsen egg on bread, snf Japanese breakfast—grilled mackerel with rice, miso, salad, and pickles. Hawaii appears in loco moco: a sunny-side-up egg on either hamburger steak or sous-vide pork-loin cutlet over rice. Check out the Napolitan spaghetti with smoked ham in a spicy tomato dashi sauce, or uni (sea urchin) cream pasta with shrimp, baby scallops, and uni sashimi. For the full-meal deal, board Noah’s Ark, a weekly special platter of tongue-tickling delights. Who says you can’t have it all? Answer: your stomach. Ah, but that’s what repeat visits are for, right? See you next Sunday. g

Shop Fresh All Winter

Weekly markets at Riley Park & Hastings Park Season starts October 31! More info at eatlocal.org

BEST f FOOD & DRINK

GROCERY STORE

1. Whole Foods Market 2. Safeway 3. Save-On-Foods

SPECIALTY GROCERY STORE

1. Meinhardt Fine Foods 2. Urban Fare 3. Bosa Foods

PRODUCE STORE

1. Kin’s Farm Market 2. IGA 3. SPUD

SPECIALTY CHEESE STORE

1. Les Amis du Fromage 2. Blue Heron Cheese Shop 3. Benton Brothers Fine Cheese

FRESH SEAFOOD STORE

1. Fanny Bay Oyster Bar and

Shellfish Market 2. 7 Seas Fish Co. 3. The Lobster Man

BUTCHER

1. Windsor Quality Meats 2. Hotro 3. Columbus Meat Market

PLACE TO PICK UP PREMADE DINNER

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