Edible Canada at the Market on Granville Island is a full service 150-seat bistro, focusing on new Canadian cuisine. Unpretentious, welcoming and accessible, Edible Canada features menu items sourced from across Canada. I have recently heard a lot of buzz about the local and sustainable menu at the Edible Canada Bistro and decided to check it out for brunch.

Menus are ever-changing following the seasons and what Edible Canada chefs find in the Granville Island Public Market on a day-to-day basis.  When I went last weekend, I had the Yarrow Meadows Duck Confit Hash ($15).  The shredded duck was mixed into small, diced hashbrowns, which is unusual from the big chunks of potatoes I’m used to.  Because of the small cubes of potatoes, I found that they were extremely flavourful as the sauce marinated the hashbrowns. I may have tasted a bit of sweetness in there, so there was a playful salty and sweet contrast on the pallet.  If you’re going to order this dish, make sure you LOVE mushrooms because there sure were a lot of different varieties in hash.

My friend had the Wild Mushroom Benny ($11) which he thought was a well-balanced meal – creamy hollandaise on bright white poached eggs.

I initially thought the portions were a bit small, but we were both quite satisfied after our meals.  If you’re on a budget, there are definitely breakfast and brunch menu items in the $10 range – such as the brioche Grilled Cheese with brie, cheddar, olive jam and okangan apple ($10) and the Edible Canada Breakfast with free range eggs, pork & apple sausage and crispy duck fat fried hashbrowns ($12). It’s only if you get into the seafood items for brunch where it gets slightly more pricy – for example the East Coast Lobster Mac & Cheese ($19)

For those of you looking for an additional kick to your morning meal, try the  Maple Caesar, a truly Canadian experience – the maple leaf prevails on the Canadian flag, while the Caesar drink recipe originated from Calgary.

For those of you in a rush there is a  take out window for tasty bites and Salt Spring Coffee to go.  In addition to weekend brunch, Edible Canada is open daily for lunch and dinner.

By Joanna Lee, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

Cafeteria (2702 Main Street x East 11th Ave.) is a cozy, neighbourhood restaurant from industry duo Andrey Durbach and Chris Stewart (think La Buca and Pied-a-Terre), offering comfort food in a nostalgic setting.  Located in the hipster community of Main Street, Cafeteria is a 30-seater restaurant which settled into the former space of Ping’s Cafe in June 2010.  The room is fairly narrow and basic - exposed brick and vaulted ceilings with a wine rack-topped bar and glassy zinc table tops –  yet the it is lively and stylish at the same time.  The restaurant has already worked up a good reputation, as evident by the frequent line-ups and waits.

Cafeteria’s menu is not cuisine-specific but is super casual, changing on a daily basis, and includes inventive offerings of beer, wine and cocktails displayed on old fashioned cafeteria-style letter boards. One can view the previous day’s menu on their Facebook page to get a sense of Cafeteria’s menu for the current day.

There is usually some kind of salad and soup on the menu and dishes are generally less than $25.  Some of the featured main courses in the past include Veal Cordon Bleu ($18.50), Bangers & Mash ($17), Duck Breast & Ginger Rice ($19.00), Chicken Schnitzel ($17.50) and Lamb Tagine ($23.50).One can order a la carte or there is also the option of 3 courses for $36.  With delicious food, good value and pleasant service,Cafeteria is an amazing little find that is worth multiple visits.

Cafeteria is open seven days a week from 5:00pm until late and takes reservations with seats reserved for walk-in diners.

Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill in Yaletown is one of Vancouver’s most critcally-acclaimed restaurants and widely recognized as one of the city’s best Mediterranean restaurants. Since its opening in 1999, Cioppino’s and sister restaurant next door, Enoteca, is a favourite of oenophiles, foodies and celebrities including Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, Al Pacino, and Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo.

Known for its award-winning wine list and creative take on traditional Mediterranean dishes, Chef/Owner Giuseppe “Pino” Posteraro’s upscale restaurant offers deceptively simple pastas, pan-seared fish and hearty grilled meats. Chef Pino emphasizes cucina naturale, or natural cooking, which showcases the organic and natural flavour of ingredients by using simple preparations and light sauces. His cooking is influenced by his world travels and extensive culinary experience in Europe, Asia and North America. Food is prepared precisely and to perfection and service is equally impressive, with highly attentive and professional staff.

Pino’s pasta dishes are well known for their “lightness” as the pasta itself is made in-house from traditional recipes. Both lunch and dinner menus feature a wide variety of large and small meat and seafood dishes which focus on the seasonal availability of fish, game, fruits and vegetables. Cioppino’s wine cellar is one of the largest in the city, which would also explain its appeal to celebrities. It was most recently recognized with the highest award, winning Platinum at the 2012 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. Zagat also rated its food 28 points for World’s Top Restaurants for 2012, calling it “extraordinary to perfection.”

Cioppino’s cherry wood and terracotta interior creates a cozy and intimate setting for diners and its private rooms are perfect for special occasions and large parties while Enoteca provides a more casual dining experience with a pale wood interior. Wine rooms of varying sizes such as the Dom Perignon OEnotheque and the Champagne Library are available for private events and functions. Both restaurants feature open kitchens, full-service dining rooms, and large patios are also available.

By Joanna Lee, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

Caché Bistro & Lounge is a French-Asian fusion restaurant and true to its French name, is hidden in a corner of Yaletown at Drake and Hamilton.  Only four months since its inception, Cache has already received praise from the local dining industry and has even won OpenTable’s 2012 Diner’s Choice Award.

Caché is helmed by brothers Jason and Alex Mok, who previously worked with the former chef to the King of Belgium.  Alex and his wife, Zoe, hosted “underground supper clubs,” cooking and serving friends and locals at their Vancouver apartment.  Custom menus were designed by Alex and the two hosted intimate dinner parties before bringing their passion for food into the restaurant industry.

The menu is French and Asian inspired and primarily “nibblies” and tapas style.  Fairly priced for their size, dishes include the signature spinach and cream cheese stuffed portobello cap ($13), veal tenderloin tataki ($14) and the foie gras creme brulee with flying fish caviar ($10).  Sides include yam fries ($5) with a special house made ketchup (sans preservatives we were told) and lotus chips with chipotle mayo.  Instead of the conventional bread served as an appetizer, Cache serves deep fried pickles coated in cornmeal and crispy chickpeas with a lemon vinaigrette before you even order.  Drinks include hand-crafted cocktails such as a blueberry mojito and the Pineapple Express and one will also find German and Belgian beers on the menu.  Cache serves brunch seven days a week as well as a seasonal 3-course $35 set menu, with a variety to choose from and changing every two weeks.

Cache is a hidden gem with upbeat french music and great ambience conducive for lounging.  The food is affordable, fresh, and focuses on seasonal ingredients.  Cache is a great addition to Yaletown and absolutely worth trying.

Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar is a seafood-centric, fine dining restaurant known as one of Vancouver’s best restaurants. Located within a heritage warehouse, Blue Water Cafe is situated in the heart of Yaletown, one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. The restaurant has received many accolades and awards, and has been profiled numerously in Vancouver Magazine, Food & Wine Magazine, and the Lonely Planet Travel Guide. It has been voted by the Concierge and Clefs d’Or as the best restaurant overall for cuisine, service and ambiance. Blue Water Cafe won this year’s Straight’s Golden Plates for Best (imported) Wine List and tied first for Best West Coast Cuisine.

Executive Chef Frank Pabst, one of Canada’s most accomplished chefs, is highly regarded for his creativity and leadership in the kitchen and his technique is disciplined and diverse. Having learned his trade in some of Europe’s finest kitchens, Pabst insists on using seafood from wild and sustainable harvest. Notable dishes include the West Coast Sablefish ($36.50) with miso-roasted eggplant, baby bok choy, and quinoa, Pacific Ling Cod ($28.50) with porcini-wrapped prosciutto, and White Sturgeon ($34.50) with chioggia beets and cauliflower puree.

The raw bar is equally impressive, offering some of the finest and freshest sushi, sashimi and nigiri in the city, prepared in front of diners by skilled sushi chefs such as Yoshiya Maruyama, who is meticulous in preparation and presentation. The restaurant also houses a wine cellar containing two private rooms that can easily accommodate up to 80 people, ideal for wedding parties and banquets. The long bar is perfect for a quick bite (oysters), signature and aged cocktails that have been cask-aged, and has an extensive collection of over a hundred malt whiskeys. Blue Water Cafe also has one of the most extensive wine and sake lists in the city with Wine Director and Restaurant Manager, Andrea Vescovi at the helm. He has been recognized as Sommelier of the Year by the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival and one of Western Living’s Top 40 Foodies under 40.

Blue Water Cafe is a Yaletown flagship known for its great design, consistent food and quality service. It remains one of the city’s most sought after reservations and is ideal for people-watching and celebrity-spotting. Blue Water is open daily from 5:00pm.

Part of the Thai House Restaurant Group, Pink Elephant Thai, the baby of the family, will be celebrating its first anniversary this month.  Did you know, that over the course of one year, the busy restaurant used 8,352,000 ml of coconut milk, 20,000 kg of rice, 800 pounds of basil leaves, and 9,880,000 grams of curry paste?!

I went last week for dinner and noticed that they were playing the Canucks game on multiple screens.  I can see why Pink Elephant Thai is a great alternative hotspot to catch the game on the big screen, while enjoying authentic Thai food, cocktails or Singha beer (a popular beer in Thailand).  To cheer on the Canucks, Pink Elephant Thai is offering $5 appetizers and $3 local beers on all Canucks game nights. For those who want to escape the hockey game but still enjoy some Thai favorites, Pink Elephant’s upstairs dining room is tucked away from the sports action.

In the main portion of the restaurant, Pink Elephant Thai features a popular communal table running the length of the restaurant, as well as oversized booths, and a chef’s table to catch all the kitchen action. Overall, the look is ultra sleek with gleaming white, cool grey, polished black, and lots of the restaurant’s bright, signature pink.

Pink Elephant Thai’s menu offers both New World and Traditional set dinner menus for parties of two to six, as well options for shared appetizer platters. In my party of two, we ordered a la carte and shared Thai Spring Rolls ($9) and the Yum Woon San ($10) salad, which is a traditional Thai salad with minced pork and tiger prawns mixed with vermicelli noodles, and flavoured with various Thai spices.  Because the springrolls are deep-fried, crispy and oily, I requested a side of fresh lettuce, which I wrapped my spring rolls in.  I loved the combination of cool, crisp lettuce, contrasting against the hot crunch of the spring rolls – try it out, it’s a totally different spring roll experience.  As for the salad, I was pleasantly surprised that the glass noodle salad was served warm.  For the main course, we shared a Green Curry Chicken ($12) with a side of jasmine rice ($3).

The next time I visit Pink Elephant Thai, I would like to try the Pad Thai (a classic Thai noodle dish), which is on special for $9 on every Monday night.

Pink Elephant Thai is located at 1152 Alberni Street and open seven days a week, from 11:30am through 10:30pm. It’s open late for special parties and on weekends, always serving lunch, dinner, cocktails, plus everything in between.

By Joanna Lee, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

Bao Bei, meaning “precious,” is a modern Chinese brasserie in Chinatown, that has received much praise since its opening in February 2010. EnRoute Magazine and Where Magazine touted it as one of Canada’s Best New Restaurants in 2010, as did Vancouver Magazine in 2011. Owned and operated by Tannis Ling, a former bartender at Chambar, Bao Bei is not only modern but also pays homage to Ling’s parents, reminiscent in the many dishes on the menu and black-and-white photos adorning the restaurant. Bao Bei is a step away from most Chinese restaurants, where large family-style plates are the norm. Instead, ordering more of its small plates is encouraged.

The kitchen is helmed by Joel Watanabe (Bin 942 and Araxi), who dishes out plates such as egg noodles both flat and square, shao bing and crispy pork belly, which is aged for three days before serving. There’s also traditional dishes including “flied lice”, steamed man tou with pork belly, and the youtiao (chinese donut). Bao Bei’s “petit plats chinois” are fun, interesting, and inventive.

Though one may find the restaurant easy to miss, watch for Bao Bei’s colourful neon signage outside. Bao Bei is incredibly busy with seating times ranging anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. Tip: go early, put your name down on the waiting list, and grab a drink or two at the Keefer Bar several doors down.

We started off with the King Crab Temura Roll ($15) which is pretty much the king of the sushi menu, as the most expensive roll on the menu.  The tempura crab pieces were layered on the outside of the roll, and the fish roe topping were a bright, vibrant green, which topped off the dish with a unusual but vibrant look.  A delicious starter, and the spicy aioli gave it a subtle fusion kick.

The menu offered options of ordering seafood or steak items pretty much a la cart, but we found that the most diverse menu option, and value for the assortment of food items you get, were the Coast signature dinner platters.  You could choose the ”Chilled” platter ($33) with atlantic lobster, a jumbo prawn cocktail, alaskan snow crab legs, dungeness crab, honey mussels, salmon sashimi, spicy tuna sushi roll and shucked oysters. We opted for two orders (which is the minimum order) of the “Hot” platter ($34) instead which came with sockeye salmon, ling cod, wide sea tiger prawns, qualicum scallops, seasonal vegetables and potato gnocchi.

The presentation was mouthwatering, with a healthy, vibrant range of colours.  But the food items were a bit plain and seemed to lack creativity – it was simply high-quality seafood, cooked well, but nothing out of the ordinary.  The seasonal vegetables were asparagus, brussel sprouts and cherry tomatoes.

For dessert we had caramelized banana and coconut cake, which was served in a single portion cast iron pan.  Absolutely delicious, the cake was soft, moist and spongy, and the caramelized banana was very sweet.  This is a great choice for those with a sweet tooth, but as an alternative to chocolate desserts.

Overall, Coast is the one  Glowbal Group restaurant which specializes in a nice West Coast seafood meal.  Their menu is very extensive; you could return many times and order a different combination of dish and sides each visit.  For those of your who are hoping to continue your night after Coast, head to O Lounge for drinks next door.

We started off with the Cornmeal Crusted Scallops.  I enjoyed the contrast between textures – the soft, moist scallops paired with a subtle, grainy, breaded crunch of cornmeal.  The small cauliflower accents were neutrally flavoured so it didn’t take away from the seasoning of the scallops.  The 16-Month Aged Prosciutto Salad was very spring-like and refreshing, with crisp ingredients like strawberries and cucumber. The neutral taste of bocconcini is a good choice of cheese to pair with the salty prosciutto.

The Herb Risotto with Prawn was soupier than I expected it to be and not overly seasoned – a nice interlude between some of our more flavourful dishes.  The $6 “add prawn” meant you got three small prawns, each the size of your thumb, on top of your risotto.  The Potato Gnocchi was my favourite dish of the night.  The texture was light and fluffy (as good gnocchi should be), with the perfect amount of chewiness.  The rocket veggies (arugula?) were cooked in a way that reminded me of spinach.  An overall, well-balanced dish that was likely carefully crafted with care and attention.

For dessert, we had an Eggnog Sundae and some sort of Orange Yogurt dessert.  (Exact names aren’t listed on the website, so I forget what they are called).  The Orange Yogurt was yummy in its separate components (candied citrus peel, gelato, some sort of marshmallow-y log, etc.) but combined together, the flavours didn’t seem to come together.  I liked the flakes of gingerbread in the Eggnog Sundae, it was a creamy dessert served parfait style – reminded me of cookies and cream.

The Donnelly Group’s collection of bars and clubs in Vancouver carves a large spot in the Vancouver nightlife scene. The Bimini Public House in the heart of Kitsilano was the first venue that Jeff Donnelly bought in 1999. Bimini’s first opened in 1974 with BC’s first neighbourhood pub license.  In October 2007, the day before the bar was set to reopen after a $250,000 renovation, Bimini’s was decimated by fire, leaving virtually nothing to salvage. Despite four years or countless hurdles and delays, they never gave up on the project and reconstruction is finally complete!

Modern Mix Vancouver was invited to The Bimini to celebrate the grand re-opening of this Donnelly Group Public House.  It had a very familiar “Donnelly Group” vibe to it, even though I hadn’t previously been to the “old” Bimini.  It could have been a Smiley’s or Library Square!  Typical of several of the Donnelly Group bars/clubs, there were barstool and booth seating among wooden finishings throughout the bar.  Other cool game-type fixtures in The Bimini includes a jukebox machine, vintage pinball machine and fooseball table.

The Bimini is open daily – Monday to Thursday 11:30am to 1am, Friday 11:30am to 2am, Saturday 10am to 2am and Sunday 10am to 1am.