A diner for all time... · Saturday November 26, 2005 by colin newell
For all the praise heaped upon superlative gourmet coffee and, begging your pardon if I offend, slow-food in the 21 century, there are too few words spoken singing the praises of the grease n’ grill.
A significant portion of my best years (today and in the past) have been spent in diners like John’s Place on Pandora Avenue in Victoria, B.C. Canada.
I recall crossing their syrupy-sweet threshold way back in 1985 for the first time; Pancakes, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs and black coffee. Oddly, 20 years later and (damn, I confess) 100 visits under my belt, I have the blood pressure of a 19 year old girl.
20 years ago I was a bright eyed, pre-internet, kind of guy frightened of the future. Ah, the uncertainty of being in your mid-twenties and wondering what the future would bring. Nothing takes your mind off of your worries faster than a fluffy waffle with cream cheese and maple syrup.
So, here we are in 2005. Two decades ago I sat in John’s Place with a table full of young friends, some of whom I still call friends today. Looking around, today, I see other young people (and older people) enjoying the solidarity of good food and friendship.
I really believe places like this keep us young, at least at heart. So the next time you are sitting down to your yoghurt, organic berries and 12-grain dry toast, fight back, say no… and find your diner.
Tofino - Pasticceria Conradi · Friday October 14, 2005 by colin newell
New food spot in Tofino – Pasticceria Conradi :
Heading into downtown Tofino? Turn left at the 4-way (there is only one, maybe two 4-way stops).
You see The Common Loaf bakery on the left? Yes? Well keep going there little sister, because on the other side of the side street is a new Bakery-Trattoria-Pizzaria called Pasticceria Conradi. Let me tell you, this is just what the doctor ordered.
Maybe, just maybe it will be a wake-up call for those people that run the Loaf that serve that dodgy brown stuff they call coffee. This new place gleams.
They have an Astra espresso machine.
They serve Serious-Coffee brewed right. The espresso is real and served with a smile. The food is to die for.
Just in for coffee? Get an Americano and a glazed or powdered Bombolino (Italian doughnut) – a fist-sized wonder of pastry-flour, oil and sugar, filled oh-so-gently with custard and deep-fried. Yum-yum, have another. My wife and I visited 2 days in row. Coming to Tofino? Make sure you stop here.
