Nestled beside the enormous Granville Island Market building Edible Canada at Market's patio benefits greatly from the low rise environment of the island. They enjoy sun for most of the day on their spacious patio that enjoys views of a public space where jugglers, magicians and performance artists of every ilk come to wow crowds. To say it's an ideal place to people watch is like saying outdoors is the ideal place to grow corn; it's a no brainer!
We started with a lovely Oceanwise Seafood Salad; a beautiful mixture of smoked sturgeon & salmon, soft boiled egg, citrus, mint, sprouted pulses, grilled greens and spiced seeds in a white miso vinaigrette. The smoked sturgeon was likely the best piece of sturgeon I had ever had! A deliciously smoky flavour which complimented the vinaigrette perfectly. The smoked salmon, which we are spoiled with on the Pacific, was as marvellous as expected and the dish quickly disappeared.
Our second appetizer was an adventure. While I am not a hunter members of my extended family are so game, venison, elk, moose and the like, is not a new experience to me. What is new, however, is elk served tartare with Amola truffle salt aioli, Biota mustard served with grilled bread. Yes, raw elk. As in a wild animal, shot in the forest, served in an upscale bistro, without being cooked. Now were I to simply say "it was good and you need to try it", it would be an injustice not only to Edible Canada, but also to the elk! A culinary masterpiece, nothing short of that! Go now!
Still panting heavily from our Elk-induced foodgasm our entrees arrived to the table just before our knees gave out and we slumped to the patio floor. The plating was very attractive, which is probably tough to do with fish and chips, and the aroma was overwhelmingly inviting. The West Coast Fish and Chips was, predictable, Oceanwise. A lovely cod with a house made Biota mustard & citrus tartar sauce, a side salad and duck fat frites. Think French fries deep fried in duck fat... Yes, they were incredible and, yes, if you like fries you will love them and if you like duck you will feel similarly, but if you like duck AND fries you are in for a treat! Without hesitation I would rate these fish and chips in my top 5 and I know something about fish and chips. To thrill my late paternal grandmother, in her 90's at that time and feeling nostalgic for the "old country", I would drive her an hour each way to get fish and chips which she would eat heartily, a rarity at her age and in her condition, and she would call them a very "friendly food". I concur to this day :)
While I was very satisfied with my dish my partner was in the throes of ecstasy, for the second time in one meal, with her West Coast Seafood Pan. Mussels, clams, smoked sturgeon, potatoes, spicy chorizo in a chimichurri aioli. When I see the beautiful, cultured, 110 pound, Jenn Chan, practically lick the dish when she is done a meal I know she enjoyed it. Man, did she enjoy it! The elk tartare and seafood pan were probably her favourite appy / entree of 2016. Simply exquisite!
At our charming waitress Devon's gentle urging we begrudgingly indulged in a dessert. At her recommendation we chose the seasonal crème brûlée and it was divine. It being early May what's in season you ask? The answer we got and one, admittedly, we weren't enthused to hear was 'rhubarb'. Rhubarb, when done right and not just plucked early from the side of my childhood home, is fantastic! We were full, I mean we would have had to unbuckle our pants were we not in sensible yoga pants and stretchy board shorts, but the crème brûlée was gone before we knew it. Sweet with a subtle hint of sour from the rhubarb and made fresh to order, cannot be beat!
If you've never been to Granville Island I would recommend you go tomorrow or tonight if you're feeling impulsive. Once there if you're swamped with hip eateries and aren't sure what to do, do yourself a favour and go to Edible Canada. It is a must eat!
Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan