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

Plus, the perfect matcha lattes, Victoria named third best food destination, and Easter events

Sarah Madsen·Mar 28, 2024·8 min read
Tasting Victoria
Newsletter №040

Good morning foodies!

This week we are bringing you a story on Victoria being named the third best food destination in Canada as well as a round up of some of the best matcha lattes being made across the city.

Here at Tasting Victoria we are a fan of all things matcha and it has us wondering if you are too?

Have you tried matcha before?

  • Yes! I love it and drink it all the time
  • Yes, I like it and drink it occasionally
  • No, but I would like to try it
  • Yes, I have tried it but didn't like it
  • No, I have not tried and don't want to
  • Other (tell us in the comments!)

😍 5 spots to try right now

🥐 Fol Epi: Organic pastries and bread in Vic West at 398 Harbour.

🥘 Caribbean Village Cafe: Delicious authentic Caribbean dishes at 2646 Quadra. 

🐟 Finest at Sea: Pick up fresh seafood at this market in James Bay at 27 Erie.  

🍣 Ebizo Japanese Restaurant: Tasty sushi and teriyaki at 604 Broughton.  

☕ Picnic Too: Coffee shop that serves breakfast and lunch at 1019 Fort. 

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

FEATURED

Victoria cafes serving the perfect matcha latte

Moka House / Facebook

Bright green with an earthy flavour, for those new to matcha the drink can appear slightly daunting. First appearing in China during the Tang dynasty, the finely ground tea made its way to Japan during the 12th century, where it was popularized and became a fixture of Japanese tea ceremonies. 

Full-bodied in flavour, matcha is a hearty and delicious tea whose popularity worldwide has been steadily increasing. Matcha lattes are an accessible introduction to the tea, and Victoria is home to several cafes that have been perfecting the drink.  

Here are some of our favourite matcha lattes that are being made across the city. 

TASTING VICTORIA AWARDS

Vote for Victoria’s best!

Voting is open for the Tasting Victoria Awards. Have you checked out the list of finalists for each category? Did your favourites make it to the voting round? Check out the list here and cast your votes! 

FEATURED

Victoria named the third best food destination in Canada

As we showcase all of the incredible restaurants that Victoria has to offer each week, we’re celebrating a major win for the city as one of Canada’s highest ranking food destinations.

According to a recent study by Chef's Plate, Victoria was ranked third in the country’s hottest food spots just after Vancouver and Toronto with an overall score of 86.9/100.

Four categories were used by the popular home meal kit company to make the decision: the number of restaurants per capita, the percentage of restaurants with a minimum rating of four out of five stars, the average cost of a meal for two people, and the average monthly Google searches for “food in [city/town]”.

Read more about Victoria's third place ranking here. 

🗞️ News

Bubby Rose’s in Quadra Village closes: The owners behind Vancouver’s Dock Lunch will take over the location at 2571 Quadra.

Jacks on the Water will open in Sidney on March 29. The new restaurant will occupy 9881 Seaport, replacing The Rumrunner Pub following the owner’s retirement.

Bacon Beer and Bourbon Festival tickets on sale now: The foodie festival returns to Starlight Stadium for its second year of craft beer, cocktails, and delicious pork on July 22. 

Great Canadian Beer Festival date announced: The craft beer festival will return to Royal Athletic Park from September 6-7. Tickets on sale in June.

Have a restaurant, business, or event to promote?

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

🗓️ Events

Children's Easter Bunny Hunt: Kids 17 and under can search for 10 bunnies hidden throughout The Butchart Gardens from tomorrow until Monday.

Lion's Easter Eggstravaganza: Esquimalt Lions Club will host family-friendly activities including an egg hunt, egg and spoon races, and colouring at Gorge Park. This Saturday, 11am-2:30pm.

Easter Fiesta: Celebrate Easter with live music from Orquesta Obatala and DJ Moses “El Pachanguero” at Sticky Wicket this Sunday, 9pm-2am.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Sing-along to the classic rock opera film at The Vic Theatre this Sunday, 7:30pm.

Earth Day Scavenger Hunt: Participate in this animal-themed scavenger hunt at Victoria Butterfly Gardens from Monday until April 30. Included with admission.

Babel at Clive’s Classic Lounge: Choyce Kotori from the Montreal cocktail bar will prepare a special cocktail menu with local ingredients featuring Sheringham Distillery paired alongside a four-course dinner. Wednesday, 6pm.

 💸 Deals

  • $18 tacos and $11 margaritas at The Local on Thursdays. 

  • $11 chicken karaage and $11 miso salad at Ghost Ramen during late night happy hour from 9pm to close. 

  • $7 draught beer and $15 brisket flatbread at The Monkey Tree Pub during daily happy hour, 3-6pm. 

  • $4 sushi tacos and $10 nitro espresso martinis at Earls during daily happy hour from 2-5pm and during late night happy hour, 9pm to close on Sun-Thu and 10pm to close on Fri-Sat.

🧑‍💻 Jobs

  • Horse-Drawn Carriage Driver at Tally-Ho Carriage Tours. 

  • Certified Dental Assistant at Peninsula Dental

  • Program Coordinator at Scale Collaborative

  • IT Systems Specialist at The Butchart Gardens

  • Executive Director at Capital Bike

📸 Post of the week

workingculturebread on Instagram
@workingculturebread
View on Instagram →

Working Culture Bread may just be serving up the best sandwich ever. This reuben is packed with smoked beef, pickles, provolone, and sauerkraut. Find it at 2506 Douglas. 

That’s it!

If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, consider forwarding your friend; if not, let us know down below.

What did you think of today's newsletter?

  • 😋😋😋 Tasty and delicious
  • 😕 So so, needs some spice
  • 👎 Send it back
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tasting victoria
Est. 2019Vancouver Island
Don't waste a meal.

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