Medina Cafe

556 Beatty Street
Vancouver, Canada

On a misty Vancouver morning, my partner and I decide there's no point in rushing around to enjoy the city's outdoor activities today...this morning is about food. When going to a new city, one is obligated to do some form of cuisine research on their own, so after Medina Cafe popped up a few times in reviews and travel blogs, I decided this was a must try.

Now readers, as you're aware I've tried many a brunch in Toronto...but let me tell you this: Medina Cafe has taken brunch to an entirely new level, with an off-the-wall menu full of innovation. I've never had a love this before...

Don't be expecting the regular bacon n' eggs, so if you want some greasy spoon you'll have to go elsewhere. You can, however, enjoy the omlette of the day...and because I like my eggs in the morning, that's what I decide to go for. Oh, but this isn't just any omlette, friends. Baked with roasted potatoes, Canadian white cheddar and pattypan (or a fancy word for baby zucchini) in a beautiful single-sized cast iron pan, the usual fried and flipped omlette can't hold a candle to this. Topped with a small garnish of green beans and tomato and served with fresh foccacia, this was truly the most flavoursome breakfast dish I've ever had.

If you're feeling a little more adventures you could go for the Libanais breakfast: fried eggs over perfectly braised short ribs, roasted potatoes and a garnish of greens, taking your tiresome eggs/meat/and potatoes way off the map.

Finally, for a small sweet treat afterwards, I have to try their Belgian waffles. All I have to say about that was: it felt like I was back in Brussels. Soft, moist and perfectly sweetened, it was an excellent finish to a flawless brunch experience. Medina Cafe is an absolute must if you're in Vancouver.

Go Fish

Granville Island
Vancouver, Canada

When travelling, there's nothing better than having an acquaintance in a city as it's easy to be mislead. So, when in Vancouver I ask my old travelling compadre: what's something classic, something I absolutely must eat while in Vancouver? And her abrupt reply is "Go Fish".

Thus, on a typically partly sunny/partly cloudy afternoon of hiking, we make our way over to Granville Island to try the infamous Go Fish. When seeing that this place is quite literally a shack, I immediately think: this can only be good. The line-up on a Saturday is about 30 minutes long, plus add another 30 minutes until your food is ready. But once again, this can only be good.

A fairly simple menu consisting of fish n' chips let's you choose what type of fish you'd like: Pacific halibut, cod, salmon and so on...

You'll also be able to find specials of the day, like a Qualicum Bay scallop sandwich or white fish tacos.

In order to be fair, I simply must order a couple of items, so I go for the classic cod fish n' chips and the fish taco's as well. I don't know if it was the waiting in line, the sunny day by the ocean or the fact that this place was just damn good, but this was the best piece of fried goodness I ever put in my mouth.

The cod was melt-in your mouth fresh, and not overly battered or overly greasy. The fish taco's were creative and just as fresh, with a nice kick to them. Truly just plain fun to eat. And yes, I did eat it all.

Go Fish is a must try if you're in Vancouver - the shack is quaint, the food is just plain good and if you get a nice seat on a bench looking over the ocean, you're all set.