Top Patios in Vancouver Series & Spot Prawn Menu: The Vancouver Fish Company

I had never been to the Vancouver Fish Company (VFC). If I'm honest I'm not sure that I've ever really noticed VFC. Right as you come into Granville Island the road starts to usher you to the right and becomes a one way. Right as this happens, if you're able to split your focus, you'll see the VFC. The first establishment in the first building on the left.

What a delightful surprise the restaurant and their patio is! You might think, given my description of their location, that they aren't on the water, but you would be wrong! Overlooking a lovely marina, with its centrepiece, a pirate ship moored directly in front, their huge patio gets 6-7 hours of direct sun per day! 

Another advantage of their ideal location is the fish merchant docked a stone's throw away. Organic Ocean boasts some of Vancouver's, nay the world's, freshest and best seafood. Our appetizer was our fifth meal which included the glorious Spot Prawn and the season was only a week old. The Maple Walnut Spot Prawns were my favourite iteration to date! Deep fried in a very light batter with genuine Maple Syrup, toasted sesame seeds and fresh walnuts. In practice I avoid the head of the magnificent crustacean. When they're only lightly poached there's goo in there. It's runny and it looks funny, but when you deep fry them and toss them in the succulent ingredients I will eat the head, brains, legs, shells, anything! A complete 10/10! Why are you still reading this? Go! Go!

Maple Walnut Spot Prawns

My partner doubled up on the Spot Prawns and chose the Curried Spot Prawn Bisque. She cooed and giggled and eat that plate at a speed that bordered on unladylike, but a genuine compliment to the kitchen! She was quick to state it was her favourite Spot Prawn dish of the season thus far and will still brings it up from time to time. Not being a curry fan I didn't partake, but we will take her word for it? Or should we all try it ourselves? I'll leave that up to you.

Curried Spot Prawn Bisque

One of the best perks of being a lifestyle blogger is the personal treatment from our culinary heroes. Chef John McManus, formerly the Sous Chef of Stanley Park's uber famous Fish House, was gracious enough to give us some of his time, have a lovely little chat and recommend to me my entrée: the Trio of Fish. Decadent filets of Ahi Tuna, Smoked Sablefish and a lovely Sockeye Salmon resting on a bed of perfectly cooked potatoes. My favourite was the tuna, a close second the sablefish and the salmon, while transcendent, sadly had to take up third place! An absolutely fantastic meal!

For dessert we ordered the Banoffee Pie, a lovely mixture of fresh bananas, cream and toffee from boiled condensed milk. Simple delicious and worth the trip on its own. Trust me with the ambience, incredible food and reasonable prices you will love the Vancouver Fish Company!

Banofee Pie

Word: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Top Patios in Vancouver Series: Edible Canada

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