HOLIDAYS IN VANCOUVER

WHEN I MOVED AWAY FROM VANCOUVER, I HAD NO IDEA I WOULD MISS IT SO MUCH, PLUS...MY COUSIN/SISTER I NEVER HAD (SHE HAS A GREAT BLOG BTW) LIVES THERE AND IT WAS SO GREAT TO BE BACK!

SO I AM PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE BACK FOR A WHILE TO REPLENISH MY PHOTO REPERTOIRE, I'LL JUST PUT UP SPORADIC POSTS ON STUFF I DID DURING MY TRIP THERE! ...SOUND GOOD? :)

GRANVILLE ST., VANCOUVER -- DECEMBER 2009

...OF COURSE, UNLESS YOU LIVE UNDER A ROCK, VANCOUVER IS HOSTING THE WINTER OLYMPICS THIS FEBRUARY AND THERE WAS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR THIS YEAR!

GASTOWN

I LOVE GASTOWN. IT IS VANCOUVER'S SOHO...EVERYONE VISITING MUST, MUST, MUST TAKE A STROLL DOWN ITS COBBLESTONE STREETS...

HAVING BEEN THE LOCATION OF "INDUSTRIAL VANCOUVER," GASTOWN'S OLD FACTORIES HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO TRENDY STORES AND AMAZING LOFTS...IT IS THE HOME OF VANCOUVER'S MOST INTERESTING CROWDS--TO SAY THE LEAST!!

IF YOU GO TO GASTOWN WHEN THE SUN COMES DOWN (THAT RHYMES)...DON'T BE TAKEN ABACK BY FOLKS ASKING FOR MONEY OR DRAGS OF YOUR CIGARETTE...JUST...SAY..NO...

THINGS TO DO:

STEAM CLOCK --

It's a Steam clock that chimes every four minutes or so...kind of cool

SALT TASTING ROOM --

My favourite restaurant in the whole wide world...I already wrote about it..check it out

LAMPLIGHTER --

Love this bar...catch a Canucks hockey game here..turns into a nightclub on weekends..get there early

THE BLACK FROG --

Awesome bar...those who are late for Lamplighter go here!

STEAM CLOCK ON WATER ST.

OUR GREAT DINNER AT SALT...THOSE GLASSES WERE ALL OURS

UP THE STREET -- "ALIFE IS BEAU TIFUL"

UNTIL NEXT TIME! HAVE TO PACK FOR MY WEEKEND IN BARCELONA! STAY TUNED...

SALT TASTING ROOM--VANCOUVER

LET'S FACE IT, VANCOUVER HAS YET TO BE COMMENDED FOR ITS FOOD TRIP POTENTIAL

CALLING FOODIES AROUND THE WORLD. DISCOVER VANCOUVER. IT'S NEXT TO SEATTLE.

saltTASTINGroom

45 BLOOD ALLEY, GASTOWN

VANCOUVER BC, CANADA

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN ALL OF VANCOUVER. THE FIRST PLACE I TAKE FRIENDS WHO VISIT.

THE LOCATION IS NOT WHAT US VANCOUVERITES CALL WELCOMING. LOCATED IN BLOOD ALLEY, A TINY, OFF BEAT STREET IN GASTOWN (Vancouver's Soho). THE SALT TASTING ROOM IS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE ALL TOGETHER.

THE MENU IS SIMPLE.

GUESTS ASSEMBLE A TASTING PLATE FROM THE CHALKBOARD'S SELECTION OF

10 CHEESES

10 MEATS

10 CONDIMENTS

THE SELECTIONS CHANGE CONSTANTLY, MAKING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE THE SAME SALT EXPERIENCE TWICE.

WHAT I DO, HOWEVER, SINCE I KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT PAIRING WINE, CHEESE, AND MEAT AS I DO ABOUT ASTROPHYSICS...I SUBMIT MYSELF TO THE OH SO TALENTED WAITSTAFF.

AND BOY DO THEY KNOW THEIR STUFF.

MENU GOOD FOR TWO

THAT THEY CHOOSE FOR YOU

BUTCHER PLATE ($15)

(3 meats + 3 condiments)

+

CHEESE MONGER PLATE ($15)

( 3 cheeses + 3 condiments)

+

WINE FLIGHT ($15)

(three 2 oz. tasters)

...or if you are visiting British Columbia for the first time...

BEST OF BC PLATE ($15)

(mix of 3 locally produced items = 3 condiments)

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE MENU

MY FAVOURITE PAIRINGS:

Ash Camembert w/ Quince (aka. Membrillo)

OR

Blue Cheese w/ Honey Comb

RESERVATIONS

IMAGES TAKEN FROM www.salttastingroom.com

GOODNIGHTFRIENDS!