Stages - small plates big taste in Fernwood, Victoria · Monday August 13, 2007 by colin newell
If you are a foodie in Victoria, B.C. Canada it will come as no surprise to you that this city has something for everyone.
Thai, Italian, Indian, Japanese, Western, Chinese, Fusion.
You name it, it’s here.
Stages small plates wine bar has given us something entirely new – good food in small quantities and a healthy selection of regional wines.
Imagine being able to pick from some of the areas best fresh food, all locally sourced ingredients, an international selection of fine cheeses and wines from places like the golden mile of Osoyoos in the Okanagan.
My wife and I visited Stages for the first time this evening – shortly after opening time… so we were the first to be seated. Stages on Gladstone in historic Fernwood, Victoria has a very hip and open feeling. High ceilings and an airy and informal setting that takes advantage of the classic brick work, Stages earns top marks in letting the consumer relax and get down to the business of eating some interesting bites.
We picked a couple of glasses of red wine from the golden mile region in Osoyoos, B.C.
Food selection included chilpotle-lime mussels and a lango bread with goat cheese, tomato and artichoke hearts. A basket of artisan bread helped us take advantage of the wonderful broth that enveloped perfectly prepared mussels.
Stages in Fernwood has an eclectic menu that encourages repeat visits – better yet, a group of 4 to 6 people. That way, you can order more and share.
We will be returning soon! With friends…
Stage is at 1307 Gladstone Avenue, Victoria.
Open seven days a week from 5 p.m. until midnight, and at 4:30 during Belfry matinees.
The restaurant can be reached at 250-388-4222.
Comment [2]
Aeroplan to screw customers · Thursday July 26, 2007 by colin newell
Read it for yourself…
My wife and I have enough Aeroplan units to fly to the moon – and Aeroplan will take it all away because we might not use the points this year.
This is like the criminals that offer gift certificates that slowly expire. This practice (Chapters Books does it I believe) has been banned in Ontario.
It is bullshit and should be banned in Canada.
Aeroplan: You suck.
Comment [3]
Illegal search and seizure · Thursday July 19, 2007 by colin newell
Let me just start with…
I would rather a guilty drug dealer go free than have 10 innocent civilians hassled by Canadian Customs officers.
I mean, who hasn’t heard the tale of families crossing back into Canada from the U.S.A. and have the zealots in the blue uniforms tear their car apart on a whim only to have the bewildered family members left to put the car back together?
It’s nazism. It’s fascism. It’s a violation of our charter rights and it needs to stop.
Yea. I used to be intimidated by border guards – but not anymore. To be fair, most of them are decent people on the front line of defense of our nations security and integrity. But there needs to be a line drawn somewhere.
And in a recent case, a B.C. Provincial court judge has thrown out a case of a drug dealer who was detained while trying to import 50 kilos of cocaine into Canada.
Yes – he is a drug dealer and obviously guilty as can be.
The law states that you can not just detain someone on the grounds that something fishy might be going on.
And yea, drilling holes in a free citizens car and tearing it apart it pretty uncool too.
And before you call me a bleeding heart liberal (citing as many of my neo-con friends do: “If ya got nothing to hide you shouldn’t mind a little gloved hand up your wazoo!” nonsense…) – Searching someone without a warrant and detaining them without legal representation is illegal in this country.
And to the additional naysayers I offer: It takes minutes to obtain a warrant in most cases. A phone call.
As Canadians we have the responsibility to be on guard against those who would quickly strip away our rights in the name of whatever cause they are hugging.
Be aware. Be diligent. Know your rights.
Island's Best series - The Crow and Gate · Monday July 2, 2007 by colin newell
In 1972
something truly magical happened. No, it was not the year I was born. If only.The Government of British Columbia introduced changes to the beverage industry to allow neighborhood pubs in the Province.
Click the image at right for an enlarged view
Like the specialty coffee revolution (currently well underway in Canada) the arrival of the Pub on the Canadian dining scene would forever change the fabric of the eating out experience.
So let’s celebrate shall we? Please raise a glass to one of Canada’s finest pubs (and I have visited a few); The Crow and Gate Pub in Cedar, British Columbia – a few KM south of Nanaimo.
The C&G is somewhat unique in that it is located kind of in the middle of no where. Well, countryside is not exactly in the middle of no where. Close perhaps. It is a bit of a drive for the average Island resident. From Victoria, it is about one and 1/2 hours at the posted speed limit – just under 100 km. Do yourself a favor. Take the Island Highway straight up along the East Coast of the Island, past Duncan, Chemainus and Ladysmith and turn off at the Cedar road exit. Do not panic – it is probably about 12 km down a series of country roads and there are signs everywhere. The Crow & Gate pub is at 2313 Yellow Point Rd., Cedar, B.C.
The Crow & Gate is a very solid copy of an English pub. It is not a Pub Style restaurant by any stretch. It is a Pub. Keep this in mind if you are a family with children. You must be 19 years of age or older if you wish to partake of the food and drink here.
The Food – Everything is made fresh at the Crow & Gate. Nothing comes out of a can. Typical English favorites include Steak & Mushroom, Steak & Kidney Pie, Ploughman’s Lunch, Fried Oysters, Scotch Egg, Melton Mowbray and the like. If you do not like English food at its very best, you are not going to like this stuff. I do and the quality is superlative.
The Drink – The Crow & Gate does not serve watered down American Beer. This is the real deal folks; Kilkenny, Smithwicks, Guinness and a wide selection of local and regional artisan beers are on tap. The beer and the food are the perfect compliment to each other.
My meal – In the photo above, I ordered the Steak and Mushroom Pie. It is, as always, the best I have ever tasted. Perfect pastry surround a wonderful beef stew filling with just the right amount of beef gravy. Each meal comes with a serving of side green salad and potato salad. Pate is an option if you are eating with someone who has ordered a Ploughmans. The Pate here is incredible.
Summary – If you like food and drink (and who doesn’t?) and are visiting Vancouver Island, the Crow & Gate Pub is a must do while you are here. No exception.
In a continuing series on Island food and drink, Colin Newell critiques the best of the best among Island establishments.
