Happy Hour at Fanny Bay

We went to Fanny Bay a few weeks ago for their Happy Hour. When I went to check out their website for this post, I was delighted to learn that for December 1- 31, they will have Happy Hour from Noon to 6pm daily! 

We started off with their signature Fanny Bay Shooter ($7), featuring whisky and caesar mix topped with a fresh oyster. This was a delicious and the jury is still out on whether you slurp the oyster first or drink the shot first and have the oyster as a chaser. Which way would you go? 

Of course we had to get their Happy Hour Oysters ($1.50/ea). Served with a classic mignonette and plenty of horseradish and lemon wedges. Fresh and cleanly shucked, this was well executed. And yes, someone ate one before the pic was taken...they didn't short change us. 😉

Our next bite was their Seafood Tacos ($12/trio). I can't remember what type of fish we had that day, I think it was snapper? The corn salsa, pickled onions and chipotle aioli complemented the lightly battered fish nicely. 

Next up? The Sablefish Collars ($14 at Happy Hour, $17 regular). There are a few dots of wasabi mayo as well as some cilantro and chili sauce too. It's hard to see but there is also a drizzle of soy reduction. This was surprisingly good, lightly coated and deep fried to a golden crispiness! If you haven't tried this dish (also available in some Japanese restaurants), you should! 

So we were pretty full by now, but we were really craving a few more oysters. We decided to finish off our happy hour wine with six Kusshis, our favourite.

With an extended Happy Hour, this month is a perfect time to visit!

Happy Hour at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar

Oh how I long for patio weather...back in August, when we were gently lifting the quarantine, we ventured out to Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar. Grateful for the good weather, we managed to easily socially distance on the patio. 

I've always been a fan of Spicy Margaritas ($8) (first discovered at Tacofino) but they didn't have this on the menu. Fortunately, the bartender improvised with fresno chilies since they didn't have jalepeno peppers. This was good and makes me want to make my own chili-infused tequila. Doesn't seem hard, right? We can totally do this!

Well, it IS an oyster bar...so we must have Oysters ($2/ea). These were creamy and sweet. I do like my oysters on the small side, one-bite wonders. How do you eat your oysters? I drain any residual juice from the shell, then give it a squirt of lemon juice and just a bit of the mignonette and a touch of horseradish. I used to add Tobasco sauce all the time but lately, I find that it overwhelms the delicate flavours of the oyster so have been leaving it out. 

These Chicken Wings ($12) were one of the first things I've ever had here and I just had to get them again. The umami comes from the nuoc cham or fish sauce caramel. And no, it's not fishy. It's nice and crunchy with some heat coming from a bit of sambal chili paste.  The sweetness of the coating is mitigated by the pickled veg. Get two orders because it's hard to split three wings amongst two people...

Although not always on the menu, this Lobster Mac and Cheese is worth trying if available as a daily special. I love the gratin topping, it gives the dish a nice crunchy texture which contrasts the creaminess of the mac and cheese. 

There's plenty of lobster here and it's a dish best shared because it can get a bit heavy if you try to eat the whole thing yourself. The flavours were a bit mild and the dish could have probably used a touch more cheese. Nonetheless, it's a good appetizer and a bit more satisfying than just oysters and wings. 

They have $2 oysters during happy hour and 20% off bottles of wine as well. 

Mahony & Sons - Stamps Landing

Last month, I was lucky enough to be invited to a media preview for the newest location of Mahony & Sons. Their first location was at UBC and the second location was at Coal Harbour with a great view. It's popular with those working in the heart of downtown. Now, they have opened a new location by Granville Island, taking over the old Monk McQueens location at Stamps Landing.
This is the only Mahony location that offers an Oyster Bar. The new waterfront location was probably the inspiration for this. Although most people think a crisp white wine with some oysters, the brothers say that a pint of Guinness is a good accompaniment too! 
Order up a platter and treat yourself after a long day at the office! 
The Downstairs Bar is welcoming and features lots of whiskey choices and lots of beer on tap as well. This is the largest of the three Mahony & Sons, at about 10,000 square feet! 
This is a shot of the Upstairs Bar, again with a large variety of beers and spirits. Both floors seat 150 inside and another 300 on the patio. 
Ah, yes, the Patio. The views are nothing short of stunning. There are semi-private patios, a double-sided fireplace, banquettes and hightops, pretty much everything you need to enjoy a fantastic sunset. 

 

Throughout the restaurant, there are hints of the ancestry of the Mahony family. For example, this is a homage to the brother's great, great, great grandfather Barney, who bought and operated The Good Woman Pub in Australia in the 1870s. 
Also upstairs is a Semi-Private Patio. The 12-seater table would be great for small birthday parties, intimate family dinners and so much more.

 

Executive Chef Paul Ngyuen presented us with four amazing courses, each showcasing the wide variety of flavours on the menu. In addition to traditional Irish fare, you can also find items that truly reflect the cultural diversity of Vancouver.

 

Up first was the Scallop and Beet Salad. It's very lightly dressed, which I loved, and tossed with some Arugula and Goat Cheese. The key to the success of this dish is the Scallop...and it was perfectly seared. The beats were sweet and there were lots of them. Goat cheese is a classic pairing and this dish was a success overall. 
The highlight of the night for me was their Pacific Coast Chowder. The chowder was pleasantly light with hints of lemon, with lots of seafood. The garlic buttered crouton was perfect for dipping. What really made the dish for me was the fresh seafood, which included Salt Spring Island mussels, chunks of salmon and cod, as well as some prawns, very West Coast!
For a heartier entree, we tried out the Lamb Dip. The sandwich was loaded with shaved lamb, and the fennel jam was very noticeable. The dip is natural au jus with hints of lemon. The pretzel bun is a nice touch too, giving the sandwich a pleasant twist.
And for something completely unexpected item, we were served a Thai Penang Curry. The chicken was moist and tender, and the curry flavours were mild and complemented the jasmine rice perfectly. I'm not an avid curry fan, but the presence of lemongrass, lime and chilies made this a winner for me. 

Take Note:

• The patio(s) are breathtaking.
• Valet is only $7.
• The Mahony Platter is great if you're with a group.

Spring Tasting Menu at The Blackbird

Last week, I was invited to taste the new Spring menu at The Blackbird, created by Chef Alvin Pillay, Research & Development of the Donnelly Group as well as new cocktails made by Trevor Kallies, the group's Bar & Beverage Director. The Blackbird is an interesting space, with barber shop, scotch tasting bar, pub and an oyster bar. Located on two floors in the Financial District, it's open daily at 11am, perfect for people to grab a quick lunch. Above is the hustle and bustle at the lower level restaurant. We started off with a cocktail called the Vitner's Brunch. The wine is a Charles & Charles Cabernet Sauvignon, and into the mix are Victoria Oaken gin, Luxardo Cherry Morlaco Sangue, Scrappy's Cardamom bitters and a touch of lemon zest. It's a rather light cocktail, perfect for a starter beverage. Following a few sips, we were treated to an Oyster Tasting Trio. They are (from left to right), a Reed Island Oyster with bacon and sherry vinegar mignonette, a Royal Miyagi Oyster with wasabi horseradish cocktail sauce, and a Sawmill Bay Oyster with cucumber and kombu. I loved the bacon mignonette, it gave the oyster a rich and meaty texture. The cucumber & kombu topping was also well-paired with the Sawmill Bay. Next followed two salads, the first of which was the Tempura Albacore Tuna salad. The tuna is first wrapped in nor before being battered and fried. The inside was still a nice rare with a slightly crispy exterior. There wasn't a lot of greens but the cucumber and cilantro was very flavourful. I'm not a huge fan of avocado, but if you are, you're in luck, there was plenty of it here amongst the greens! Our second salad was my favourite (except for the dessert, I'll get to that later), a Duck Confit salad. I love the crispy skin of duck confit and this did not disappoint! And the portion was great for a salad. Rounding out the plate were lots of Fraser Valley beets and arugula, and lightly flavoured by an aged balsamic dressing.

 

The dessert was a knockout. I love lemon so I was ecstatic that they went with a tart offering instead of chocolate. It's a Frozen Lemon Bar (with a layer of curd and mousse!). A nice crumble surrounded this, and it was topped with just a few dollops of Italian meringue. Surrounding the star were some rhubarb chunks as well as a bright green pistachio smear. All the flavours blended well and perfectly complemented a nice light lunch. 

Our final taste of the afternoon was another cocktail, called One to Grow On. As explained by Trevor, it's a throwback to the PSAs which aired during Saturday morning cartoons that he grew up on. This cocktail is served with an old-time striped paper straw and is made with a Golden Grahams infused Absolut Elyx vodka, a nod to the cereals kids usually eat while watching morning cartoons. The cocktail also contains egg white and egg yolk. There is also a bit of Pale Ale and Averna Amaro, which has a rich caramel taste. All served in a mini milk bottle, to complete the imagery of a time in history. 

The food was delicious, the servings portions are perfect for lunch and the price points are definitely comparable with the other restaurants in the area. If you are looking for a casual lunch in a fun atmosphere, be sure to give The Blackbird a try. And if you're just looking to get your drink on after work, be sure to check out the scotch tasting bar upstairs!

They are hosting a Spot Prawn Boil on May 18th, give them a call for all the details!

  **disclaimer - my lunch was complimentary but my opinions are my own. 

Take Note:

• The Duck Confit Salad is amazing!
• Skip the wine and give their cocktails a try.
• $1.50 Oysters 4-6pm daily! 

Buck a Shuck at Oysters (Pescatores)

There are lots of Buck a Shuck options in Vancouver and I was delighted to see  that the same was available in Victoria. We hit up Oysters at Pescatores while we were in town and they have theirs daily 5-6pm. They make a strong statement for fish, oysters and clams...I'd never heard that about clams...have you?  It's not really a habit of mine to take pictures of the interior of a restaurant (but I will try to do more of this in the future) but I was struck by the floating porcelain mermaid above the bar. I really liked the sleekness of this sculpture.

 

On the fresh sheet today, four different oysters. What is the one for Buck a Shuck? Can you guess?  All their oysters come with four types of sauces, there is a Soy Ginger Sauce, a Spicy Hot Pepper Sauce, their House Cocktail Sauce and a Cucumber Mignonette. We liked the soy ginger best but each of the condiments are good in their own right, try the soy with some hot pepper sauce for a unique blend. For buck a shuck selection, we got the Glacier Bay, just a dozen with a bit of horseradish and lemon. I ate one and found it strangely lukewarm. When the waitress asked me how everything was, I told her it seemed warm and asked how they stored their oysters. She responded that they are kept on ice. What she said next surprised me..."Is there anything I an do to fix that?" I was impressed by this and said I'd try another one first. The next one I tried was fine and actually quite sweet and fresh.
A great way to start our evening, but we were on our way to Ulla next! 

Take Note:

• Wednesdays are buck a shuck all night from 5pm 
• Tequila & Taco Tuesdays - $2 Tacos after 4 pm and $6 Premium Tequila shots 
• $10 Sunday Eggs Benny $6 and Mimosa $4

Looking for more Victoria ideas? Here you go!

Ferris' Oyster Bar and Grill - Pulled Pork Poutine

While in Victoria last week, I was tasked to find some lunch ideas within the downtown area. The place I chose on this particular night was Ferris' Oyster Bar. I was hoping that it would be better than my choice from yesterday, Pig BBQ Joint.  We were there for two things, the Oyster Po'Boy was one of them. We opted for the Caesar Salad instead of r fries, you'll find out why later. Three deep fried oysters sitting on top of a grill bun, topped with some mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion and a pickle, served open face. This was more filling that you would expect. The oysters were super juicy still, something about battering something and deep frying it, it just serves to keep the interior delicately cooked. I liked that they grilled the bun, otherwise, this could have been a soggy mess.   We substituted the fries for the Caesar salad because we had our eyes on a bigger prize, the Pulled Pork Poutine. After the failure to order this at Pig yesterday, we were determined not to make the same mistake  twice! Therefore, we ordered this and was amazed. It was as pig as the po'boy! Lots of fries, although a little soggy from the gravy, but loaded with chunks of pulled pork and squeaky cheese curds, this turned me from a poutine non-believer to a poutine-lover. The curds melted under the heat of the gravy and blended into the pulled pork, creating a ooey gooey meaty cheesy bite. I will have have to start a search in Vancouver for more of this poutine goodness!

Take Note:

• Upstairs is only open in the afternoon
• Their soup of the day (vegetarian friendly) is bottomless, so is their pop
• Eight different types of baked oysters - try them all for $25

Looking for more Victoria ideas? Here you go!

Light Dinner at Coast

One night, in search of a light dinner, I went to Coast for some oysters and sushi. Their oysters are always great here, with a good selection and very cleanly shucked. I have been many times before, and this is definitely the lightest dinner I've had here.
Here we have a Dozen Oysters, made up of some Gigamotos, Kushis and one other variety that escapes me. The fresh horseradish is quite mild, so if you like yours spicier, you'll likely need more than this. Their seafood sauce benefits from a few hints from the Tabasco bottle, but their mignonette is perfect as is. 

This was the Sushi Tile of the evening and is meant for two people. You have an assortment of sashimi, nigiri and some rolls as well. For the nigiri, we had Flounder, salmon and ahi tuna. This was the first time I had flounder as sushi, I think. I was a little thrown off by the presence of the skin, but it was actually quite mild. 
On the sashimi side, we had snapper and yellow tail and ahi tuna, fresh and very sweet. Both the rolls had a bit of spiciness to it, one being the tuna and the other being salmon. I found the taste and textures to be identical except for the fish and would have preferred a contrasting roll instead of two of the same.

Take note:

• Solid oysters, great deal at Happy Hour
• Sushi tile features fresh fish of the day but can be pricey
• Save room for the sides, either the lobster poutine or the prawn mac and cheese

Tableau Oyster Shucking Contest & Casse-croûte

What is Casse-croûte? It's traditionally used to refer to a snack, something eaten in between meals. Take a peek below for an example. 

This above Casse-croûte menu is offered by Tabeau Bar Bistro at the Loden Hotel Monday-Friday, 2:30-5:30. It's perfect for a mid-afternoon snack during an out of office meeting or for a pre-dinner/pre-theatre snack. Just think how pleasant afternoon roundtables would be if everyone had a glass of Moët & some Oysters?!

As part of the launch the new Casse-croûte menu at Tableau at the Loden Hotel, they threw an Oyster Shucking Contest featuring some local media celebrities. There are four competitors in total, namely Victoria Chemko (Victoria's Food Secrets), Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush), Fred Lee (Fred About Town), and Bro Jake (Classic Rock 101).

Did you take a close look at the chalkboard above, did you see word "bacon"? Yes, they are serving Bacon Caesars. So here we have the caesar...complete with a slice of bacon. These drinks were all made to order, and was rather mild. I could have had a bit more spice in mine, but I was clearly distracted by the bacon.
And here is the battleground. That is the biggest hourglass I have ever seen, and I was also relieved to see gloves for each of the contestants. Lots of oysters, ice and other garnishes were also at the ready.

Here is Bro Jake having a drink to calm his nerves, oh wait, is that glass on the table his as well? And oh, is Fiona getting some last minute tips from the Chef? 

And...action! Now we see all four contestants spring into action. Each picking, shucking and placing their oysters onto a bed of ice. First one to do six oysters gets to take home the trophy.
And here is the plate by second place winner, Bro Jake. See the shucker as part of the presentation? Inspired!
And here we have the winner, Fiona Forbes with the fastest shucking time and the best presentation.

Take Note:

• Casse-Croute menu only available Monday - Fridays.
• Good cheese and charcuterire plate
• Great French Onion Soup