The Sunday Best

Tokyo Help

 For a couple of weeks in June and July I'll be travelling for the first time to Japan. Part of the trip will be in Tokyo and part of it will be in a village to attend a friend's wedding. I've been dreaming about Tokyo for years and have my own list, aided by blogs and magazines, of things I must absolutely see (including stopping into every Uniqlo possible), but thought I'd ask readers for their suggestions.

If you've been to Tokyo what are must sees? Details are very welcome, the more the better. Links are also very good.

As an added incentive for suggestions, everyone who makes one will be added to a little draw for ONE VERY COOL THING from my trip. I have no idea what it is, but I guarantee it will be VERY COOL. Super cool even. If you don't feel like leaving a comment you can always send a suggestion via email, which will also net you an entry.

 Like this, only smaller.

Thanks in advance.

Vancouver Guide | Eat! Shop! Win!

The 2010 Winter Olympics begin in Vancouver on February 12. Chances are if you're coming you've already scoured online resources, flipped through a Fodor's or two, and mapped out a rough eating/shopping guide for all that downtime between biathlon and curling.  

But those guides, for all their good intentions, are probably steering you clear from any place where you might have a little fun. Your most memorable meals didn't occur in some Zagat-rated pod, and that jacket you've worn for ten years wasn't purchased at The Bay. It would be a shame to visit Vancouver and only go where the Olympic organizers want you to (i.e. West of Cambie).

Note: all of these choices and more are included in a Google map. Scroll to the bottom.

BEST PLACE IN VANCOUVER TO HAVE A DRINK

Six Acres - 203 Carrall Street

(image copyright Six Acres)

Great location, good grub, excellent selection of beer. Pretty much the perfect place to drink.

SHOP

A recent Macleans article articulated what many of us have been mumbling about for some time - Canada, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, is a bit of a retail ghost town. Like George Clooney's character in O Brother Where Art Thou who only wants Dapper Dan pomade, we're two weeks from everywhere. That said, Vancouver is still home to its fair share of fine retail establishments, gentleman's clothing-wise.

(Normally Jonathan + Oliva would be on this list, but unfortunately they closed their doors on January 30. My one and only article by Engineered Garments is from there. The Toronto store is still open, and they'll be opening an online shop soon.)

Mr. Lee's General Store and Haberdashery -109 East Broadway

Written about recently on this here blog. Such a nice little store.

Welcome Home, Eugene Choo - 3683 Main Street

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In the heart of the Main Street shopping district. A.P.C., Steven Alan, Rogues Gallery, Pendleton.

Gravity Pope - 2203/2205 West 4th Avenue

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The best shoe selection in Vancouver. Expensive but beautiful clothing next door.

The Block - 350 West Cordova (Gastown)

Fred Perry, Dunderdon, Filippa K, Filson. 

Pulpfiction Books - 2422 Main Street

Like the record store in High Fidelity, only with books.

Caffe Artigiano - 763 Hornby Street (multiple locations around Vancouver)

Most reliable place to get great coffee. A barista from this chain has won the Canadian National Barista Championship since the competition's inception.

EAT

Michelin stars, celebrity chefs, macrobiotic organic...whatever. All you need to know is this - Vancouver has amazing food. AMAZING food. What's more, you'd have to put serious effort into spending more than $40 a person, although there are excellent places that will gladly take it.

Breakfast

Cafe Medina - 556 Beatty Street

(Image copyright Cafe Medina)

Opened by the good people of Chambar next door. Serves perfect Belgian waffles (and various breakfast skillets and fry-ups) which are a sublime way to start the day...or afternoon.

Little Nest - 1716 Charles Street

Excellent for breakfast or lunch, and of particular interest for parents with small children. Genuinely kid friendly - has play area, toys, colouring items. That aside, the food is spectacular. Arrive early - fills up quickly and kitchen closes at 3.

New Mitzie's - 176 E. Pender Street

Sometimes you want your omelette to just be eggs and cheese, your hashbrowns shredded greasy potato, your coffee black water. This is the place. Service borders on the familial - just a nice place.

Lunch

There are, easily, 100 quality locations for lunch in Vancouver. It would be tempting to simply give up and head for the nearest McDonalds (certainly the IOC want you to do this. Ka-Ching!) Do not do so under any circumstances. Eating at a McDonalds in Vancouver is like staying in the Park Hyatt Tokyo and sleeping in the furnace room.

You want...Japanese noodles:

Motomachi Shokudo - 740 Denman Street

Menya Noodle - 401 West Broadway

The only slight against either restaurant is they aren't open at 2AM, the prime ramen eating hour. But either restaurant will satisfy even ardent ramen fans.

You want...Vietnamese sandwiches:

Truong Giang - 392 East Hastings Street

(banh mi - image copyright)

Chances are people are telling you not to go anywhere near East Hastings, and sure, it is the poorest neighbourhood in Canada. But if you like banh mi, the unparalleled Vietnamese sandwiches prepared on French baguettes, you have to go to Truong Giang. Brilliant. It helps that its run by the nicest people on earth. 

You want...sandwiches (other):

Finch's Tea and Coffee House - 353 West Pender Street

Crowded, busy, excellent. Perfect chocolate chip cookies. And the sandwiches - brie, walnuts, and grapes. Sounds insane. Tastes like eating a lesser god. If the lesser god was delicious.

You want...Chinese:

There are so many Chinese restaurants in Vancouver and I always laugh when I see Best Of lists. How can you possibly begin to rank them? You could go to any of them and have a very good meal for less than seems possible, but if you only go to one...

Hon's Wun-Tun House - 1339 Robson Street

 

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Hon's is neither my favourite Chinese restaurant, nor would I call it the best*, but it is definitely Vancouver's most iconic. It is an institution - I once met a couple from San Francisco who had gone to Hon's on their first date and came back once a year. It's the kind of place you can take 20 people at ten o'clock at night and they won't even flinch. Good, fast food with plenty of room.

(*Right now my nod would go to Prince on Grandview Highway)

Also recommended:

Legendary Noodle - 1074 Denman Street

Dinner

Guu

Guu with Garlic

Kitanoya Guu with Otoko Mae

838 Thurlow, 1698 Robson, 105-375 Water 

 

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Izakaya is quickly becoming Vancouver's regional cuisine, despite the fact it originated in Japan. A constant influx of tourists and language students has brought this Japanese bar food to Canada, and we are all the better for it. While you're likely to have a memorable meal in any izakaya restaurant I retain a soft spot for Guu et al., the first and arguably still the best example.

Good second option: Gyoza King - 1508 Robson Street

Nuba - 207b West Hastings Street

 

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If you like Lebanese food, it's probably enough information for you that Nuba serves it. If you've never had it, Nuba is the place to go. Wonderful atmospheric location below street level. I recommend le grand feast, an ambitious plate for two (probably better for three people with one more dish). Also - Turkish coffee.

Moderne Burger - 2507 West Broadway

Burgers done right, cooked to perfection. Real fries piled big as your head.

Congee Noodle House - 141 East Broadway

To do this restaurant justice you should really be drunk or hung over. Not that you need inebriation to make the food palatable, but the experience isn't complete unless you're either buzzed or regretting it. Nothing on this menu comes out looking pretty. All of it is good.

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