tasting victoriaEst. 2019Vancouver Island
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What's happening in Victoria's food scene this week?

A new gyro spot, a Halloween market and a bounty of tasty food news

Eva Rasciauskas·Oct 12, 2023·8 min read
Tasting Victoria
Newsletter №016

Good morning foodies!

Victoria is such a quaint, cozy community, isn’t it? Sitting on the craggy Southern end of Vancouver Island, it’s long been known for its beautiful wilderness, rugged beaches and historic buildings sitting on full display in its downtown core.

It’s also recently been named one of the best cities in the world to visit for its incredible food and nightlife scene, offering locals and tourists an abundance of options for, well, everything—juicy gyros? Check. Neapolitan pizza? Check. The best shellfish? Check, check, check!

This week, we’re continuing to celebrate Victoria’s prominent mark within the food world with its recent win in Condé Nast’s Readers’ Choice Awards, and as always, some exciting new additions to its ever thriving restaurant scene.

What's your favourite thing about Victoria?

  • The food, duh!
  • The beaches
  • The community
  • Victoria? Who is she?

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😍 5 spots to try right now

Red Kettle Restaurant: A quaint, family-run lunch restaurant whipping up burgers, soups, sandwiches and other wholesome fare.

Glo Restaurant & Lounge: Upscale dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows offering an intimate yet relaxed dinner experience.

Phillips Brewing & Malting Beer Shop: Whether you’re looking to grab a six pack to take home or a full beer tasting experience, Phillips does both.

Moka House Coffee: Doubling as a coffee shop and vibrant community gathering space, they make excellent espressos.

Baan Thai Wok & Bar: Noodles, curries and wok specialties, complete with a bounty of vegan and vegetarian options.

Know a great place we should add here? Reply back and let us know!

FEATURED

Victoria is now home to a brand new gyro spot

Photo: Gyrosa / Instagram

Victoria continues to grow its vibrant food community with the opening of another new restaurant this week: Gyrosa.

Offering traditional Greek street food with a modern twist, the restaurant serves delicious (and healthy!) meals such as gyros, salads, and grilled seafood skewers. It’s said to be the next go-to stop for fresh Greek food in the city.

With years of experience under their belt, the staff at Gyrosa are determined to blow guests away with new flavour combinations and, most importantly, passion in their craft that’s represented in every meal.

Read more about what to expect here.

SPONSORED BY NOURISH KITCHEN
NOURISH KITCHEN

Nourish Dinner is in full swing

Nourish has relaunched their dinner menu in May, and vegetable forward cuisine has never tasted so great.

They are open from Wednesday-Sunday night and are taking reservations!

Click here to book your table today!

🤔 What would you like to read about more here in our weekly newsletter?

  • Chef profiles
  • Unique food stories
  • Seasonal listicles

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FEATURED

A professional cooking program, fees waived aside

Photo: Camosun College

In response to a massive shortage of professional cooks across Victoria (and indeed, across the country), Camosun College is offering free tuition for those seeking a career in hospitality.

Qualifying students receive a full knife set, uniform, lunch card and bus pass, among other support tools—up to 18 spaces are available for those facing pandemic-related career changes, new Canadians and anyone that is underemployed.

The eight month course is funded by the Chef’s Table Society of BC, a province-wide organization that promotes the exchange of culinary information and education.

You can read more about the culinary program here. 

🗞️ News

Victoria has recently been named one of the best cities in the world, according to the Condé Nast’s Readers’ Choice Awards. The food and nightlife scene is unique and well worth celebrating.

A brand new burger joint is coming to town. Expect beachy, boardwalk vibes, juicy patties, big milkshakes and a buy-one-get-one burger deal on opening weekend.

BC food banks are seeing a sharp increase in demand. Staff at The Soup Kitchen in Victoria have served more families this Thanksgiving weekend than ever before.

Greater Victoria farms are ready for pumpkin season. With Halloween only a few weeks away, activities like corn mazes, pumpkin picking and pumpkin carving (don’t forget to roast those seeds!) make for great spooky season activities.

Have a restaurant, business, or event to promote?

Get in touch with our team for small business-friendly advertising plans.

🗓️ Events

The Fragrant Mushroom: This free, live cooking class puts funghi front and centre of the dinner menu, teaching you to make a decadent wild mushroom risotto you can enjoy right after.

The Ways We Eat: An immersive, thought-provoking community celebration centred around IBPOC peoples’ experiences in food and land connections.

Art of the Cocktail: Bust out your finest evening outfit and taste some of the best liquors the Island has to offer at the Victoria Film Festival’s largest annual cocktail party.

Halloween Market: Spooky season is well on its way, and there’s no better way to prepare than visiting the second annual Halloween market in Victoria. Expect over 40 different food trucks, artisan vendors and a sip-and-shop hosted by Howl Brewing.

 💸 Deals

40% off all wine bottles each Wednesday at the Med Grill—how does “wine Wednesday” sound for a weekly ritual?

2 for 1 fish and chips at the Irish Times every Monday, all day. Enjoy it with a side of beer and live music for best results.

$5 mimosas and caesars every Sunday at Moxie’s Restaurant & Bar, for a satisfying hair-of-the-dog cocktail after a long Saturday night.

$9.50 pulled pork with slaw and fries at Felicitas, accompanied by $5 drafts and $4.25 highballs every Friday.

 

🧑‍💻 Jobs

  • Baker at Cobs Bread

  • Assistant Food and Beverage Manager at Olympic View Golf Club

  • Cook at Ithaka Greek Restaurant

  • Food Service Supervisor at Aryira Foods

  • Line Cook at Romeo’s Restaurant & Lounge

That’s it!

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What did you think of today's newsletter?

  • 😋😋😋 Tasty and delicious
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tasting victoria
Est. 2019Vancouver Island
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