tofino

Acme Bar and Grill is a decent option - wide ranging menu - decent drinks - always busy! Have had decent meals at Longwood Brewing Pub (for a brewpub that is), otherwise mostly fast food, chain restaurants and average pub fare - sorry!

As my esteemed colleague from the Aerie mentions, out here in Tofino we have 2 generators to provide basic lights for the guests, and candles galore. When we hosted the gala dinner for the North American Relais & Chateaux Congress in April of this year at the Wick, our power went out for about 2-3 hours during the dinner. It was hilarious to watch as the power went out between the 2-3 courses (7 course meal that night for 75 people), and all the Wick managers calmly got up from their tables to grab the necessary candles/lanterns etc to place in the appropriate spots then sat back down again to enjoy the rest of the dinner. When you live out here, you learn to welcome the storm and adjust to it - because there is nothing you or I can do to hasten its departure - and let the guests know this is the way of life here - embrace the craziness, and rather than having to listen to all the extra artificial noises and fancy lighting of most restaurants - enjoy the environment for what it is - we love power outages (ok that may be a stretch - haha - but that is what alot of our winter guests come here for). Just came back from St. Lucia (new home for us in February) and also had a power outage during one of the big dinner evenings - funny to watch people react who are not used to it!!

Well, If I had the money I would definitely do this dinner. People think nothing of spending $1,000 -1500 per person to run to Mexico to stay at an all inclusive resort with a bunch of other Canadians eating average food from a buffet for a week. To have the chance to experience an evening like this is agreeably pricey, but wow, how many chances are there to dine in an event like this with two guys of that kind of reputation. I like the lottery idea, get 40 people to buy tickets for $50 a piece and the one winner gets both seats - woo-ha - that would be a great prize with better odds than my proline ticket - haha! as a side - did anyone in Vancouver get to see a Mr. Fabien Bertrand's book called Livre D'Ors Gastronomique. This gentleman from Tahiti has travelled around the world for the past 20 years eating at the finest restaurants, and has had all the chefs of these properties sign the book with the menu inside etc. It is a who's who of cooking - especially the French entries - wow - if you have the chance to see it, have fun!! He stayed with us the past 3 days and had a chance to go through it yesterday morning - very impressive!

It is probably the restaurant in Anse Chastenet on the outskirts of Soufriere!

Local updates: Pointe restaurant - still much the same, new items introduced weekly - couple of big wine dinners coming up this fall, including a sake dinner in the new year. Raincoast cafe - still consistently getting nods for some of the best food in the area - day in and day out! Schooner - new outside deck great for lunch -still busy Shelter - menu is getting smaller, wine list seems to be disappearing - although fall purchases from the wineries may help, but lately seems to be out of a good number of wines. Sobo in the Gardens - still great food in fun kickback atmosphere - really really good margaritas! Surfside Pizza - gone to winter hours open Wednesday - Sunday only Patisserie Conradi - ex-Pointe pastry chef opens own place in town - days only - great thin crust pizzas with gourmet toppings - excellent pastries!

New Orleans! As Innkeepers we were moving jobs from Vermont to New Mexico and taking 10 days to get there - slow meandering trip no plans, other than to visit a friend in New Orleans we had met a couple of years earlier at an Innkeeping convention (yes they do have these). I remember the night before in Gulf Shores, Alabama staying at another non descript hotel on the strip when we heard there was a songwriters festival taking place and while the 'main' event was at a local hall we stumbled into a local bar and found an amazing group of songwriters playing and singing beautiful music while we enjoyed $3 pitchers of Bud Light and pails of peel and eat shrimp at $5. We were quickly settling into the southern feel. The next day we approached New Orleans from the east, excited about 3 days in a city we had long dreamed about but never experienced. We headed straight to our friends B&B The McKendrick-Breaux House in the Lower Garden District which was absolutely beautiful. That evening we heard that Ellis Marsalis was celebrating his 63rd birthday at the Snug Cove (?) and had an amazing dinner followed by a who's who of the local music scene. Next day through the French Quarter, St Charles streetcar to the Zoo, amazing muffleta at the Napolean House (one of the few to serve it warmed) with an ice cold beer. For 3 days we fell in love with a city that oozed charm - and now looking at the pictures, hearing the voices and stories we can only feel the pain, not experience it. We don't know what has happened to our friend, their beautiful B&B and many people who touched our hearts and souls. It doesn't matter how they fix it up, unless the people are there, there is no New Orleans - for it is not its beauty that keeps people coming back to visit - it is the people, and their 'joie de vive' that are why we all are so saddened by this terrible event.

Best options: Schooner - nice atmosphere, good mix of foods for all Tough City Sushi - dinner only, no reservations, fun spot - child friendly SOBO - as mentioned before great tastes in a nice location Loft - nothing fancy - good basic food Raincoast Cafe - dinner only - Pacific Northwest with an asian twist - very tasty Coffee Shops galore!!! Common Loaf Bakery, Cafe Vincente, Patisserie Conradi, Breakers, Jupiters - all great, lots of sandwiches, salads and tastes. have a great time!!!!

Had the pleasure of a late evening in there myself. With a large group (around 10) we were escorted into a side room, which looked like a boardroom and instantly 4 servers walked in to pour wine for all of us. After what seemed like a very short time, a huge platter of uncut strawberries appeared with a large bowl of fresh whipped cream for us to dip into - decadence!!! Only time there, very different inside, lots of private rooms, but for those who are 'allowed' in, you are well looked after!!

Tie in your trip in the Abbottsford area to include a lunch or dinner at Restaurant 62, located in a non-descript medical plaza on the left side as you head in the center of town from the highway. Great food, wines and service!!

Always willing to help at the Concierge Desk of the Wick - ask for Chris - happy to help with whatever I can.

BOB, see you on the 29th!!! chris do you need anything arranged prior to arrival?? If so contact me at the Inn.

Just back from a 4 day jaunt to the north part of the island which doesn't get seen very often - haha. First night in Campbell River at Painters Lodge - nice rooms, unfortunately ate in the pub which brought a whole new meaning to pub food - 'chefs signature dish' of chicken pot pie was a glutinous mess of yech, combined with the fried oysters (which I typically adore), which reeked of nastiness. Anyhow I digress - next two nights up north of Port Mcneill, but stopped for lunch at the Cable House Cafe entering Sayward and had a great lunch - probably fueled by the 8km hike up Ripple Rocks Trial just north of Campbell River. Stayed at the Cluxewe Resort north of Port Mcneill - nothing fancy - just a big RV area in a beautiful setting with 7 cabins on the water, which we took #2 at $125 a night high season and had a great time. Hiked up in Cape Scott Provincial park (1 hour plus ride in on logging roads) and did the San Josef Trail which I highly recommend and dined in Port Mcneill that night at Gus' Pub - hard to believe but 100% better than the food we had at Painters Lodge. On the return stayed at the Kingfisher Lodge in Courtenay and had a great time - nice rooms, with outstanding cuisine for dinner that evening in their restaurant. A nice area to visit with food choices needing to be selected carefully!!

Nothing but great reviews of the service with Craig Air so far - a great addition to the area. See you in June!!

Just back from a management retreat in Sooke (we did most of our own cooking having our chef with us), but snuck in to Victoria for a great dinner at J&J Noodle House on Fort about a block past Cafe Brio if heading from downtown. Don't go expecting anything more than a basic restaurant with really good food. Service was crazy quick, food tasted amazing (beef hot pot was the favorite). Very upset we didn't get a chance to try the Tuna Shack in East Sooke as we were only 2 miles away - ughhhhh. Bob, when are you back in town???

Hey Oyster Guy, not slagging Ontario (I lived there from 65-96), just stating the obvious. As to the small micro's being bought up by Sleemans, I was not aware that either Phillips Brewing, Spinnakers, Canoe or Merridale Cider were bought up by them - at least last time I checked. All great Vancouver Island producers that make a great product. In Vermont there are at least a dozen microbreweries in a state that only has the population of an area less than Hamilton, ON. Its not all being bought up by big companies, just the ones that put money before anything else. Its too bad, here on Vancouver Island we are very passionate about trying to keep our restaurants, wineries and breweries as much home grown as possible. I have two good friends in the brewing industry in Ontario and sadly they feel just like me as to what is happening in the brewing industry in their province - not slagging just stating the facts as they know them.

With respect to this happening elsewhere besides Ontario, no doubt, but with the major headquarters of the big breweries being in the Ontario area, they tend to screw it up first. BC although having a much smaller population than Ontario, has scads more quality micro-breweries than Ontario has. I find this similar to the States, where smaller states such as Vermont and Oregon have some of the best micros are brewed in the States. Not knocking Ontario, just stating the facts that things happen there for business purposes more often, then for quality purposes.

Honestly, after watching the show, I would be hard pressed NOT to want to try this style of cuisine. If we really consider ourselves to be 'foodies', for me it doesn't mean eating within a certain comfort level, or certain "style" of cooking. It is about tasting anything and everything regardless of preparation styles or standards. Heaven forbid that we all eventually end up only having food served or prepared in 'comfortable' styles that we are familiar with. It may not be a style of food I could eat daily, but man, just one evening to enjoy this kind of experience would be ideal - just as I could not eat other styles or preparations of foods every night either. This man is doing things that while seemingly foreign to our comfort zones, has taken the culinary experience to a different level - bravo to him and sign me up for opening night when it comes to Vancouver.

Completely agree, when I used to live in Ontario this was my favorite beer by far - what has happened to our small microbreweries that they feel forced to sell out to the big breweries. Is it that the money being offered is too good, or is it a just a sign of the times, that in todays love ins with 'walmart' and such that any hope of the small operators surviving anywhere is doomed. Truly a shame - another black mark on Ontario as it proceeds to allow big business to take over anything that moves.

TRUE!

Sorry gang, been deathly sick last couple of days, then in Vancouver for a couple for meetings of Les Clefs D'Ors. I have emailed editor personally, and as for spots between Nanaimo and Tofino, a few good options in Port Alberni at the Clam Bucket (or is it the Clam Shack - too similar for my liking - haha), and for a classic simple burger and fries do the P&L just off the main strip - it is an old drive-in style where the staff come out to your car to deliver the order. If you venture right into town centre (up the hill), there are a couple of small spots down in the redone harbourfront serving decent food. As for us, we are actually closed for the 3rd-5th of April to host the North American Relais & Chateaux Congress - super cool, high profile - some of the finest hoteliers and restauranteurs in North America all assembling in Tofino for 3 days. Most of them are starting at Lumiere on the 2nd for a private dinner hosted by Rob - this is a very prestigious event for for British Columbia - great exposure to some well travelled experts.

I would like to spend a day with Vikram Vij, back and front of house as only he can do - I have always considered him one of the most complete restauranteurs I have had the privilege to meet. Otherwise, I would like Jamie Maw's job - truly a very noble profession as a culinary and viticultural swami - haha! By the way if the 'editor' ever wants that job at the Wick, let me know!!!!

Just as a heads up a great website for the Vancouver Island Wineries is at www.islandwineries.ca - great printable map of the area with details about each winery! Chris

Very true, just another day in paradise! I hear the new digs upstairs at the Schooner should be opening around the same time - looking forward to see what they will be doing with that space. Paul, are you guys going ahead with the much rumoured in town location as well??

I am sure that Artie and Lisa will figure out a way to have Gords Tofino Chocolates accessible at the Gardens. It will be most enjoyable for me personally, to be able to have some tasty affordable food, with a cold beer or a nice glass of wine in a truly beautiful setting. Ahhhh, making summer plans already - haha!

New update on some big happenings in Tofino! SOBO has just announced that they will no longer be located in the Beaches parking lot. They have taken over the old location of Cafe Pamplona in the Tofino Botanical Gardens and will be serving lunch from the truck outside of the restaurant but with the ability to have their customers dine in the Gardens, or head inside and have a beer/wine in their licenced dining room. Rick Moore the previous owner/chef of Cafe Pamplona will be staying with the operation in an as yet not confirmed role (I think I know what is going on, but prefer to err on the side of caution until I can confirm the details). To say this is exciting would be an understatement - Cafe Pamplona has always been my favorite spot in Tofino, and though I am sad to see it 'officially' change hands - the partnership of Lisa and Artie Ahier with Rick Moore and all of their amazing staff can only be the start of a fabulous ride. See you soon!!!