After a Sunday with rain and drizzle that already started in Vancouver – witch I welcomed with open arms. It was just what my body and soul needed if 14 days of constant sunshine – we are back on the sunshine path today again. Unbelievable. It’s like the sun is glued on to me. Talked to one of my best friends over in Sweden today … over Skype and its have more or less rained since I left.
So this morning my friends drove me into the center of Victoria … and the its famous harbor area – tourists everywhere. Not much has changed downtown – there is a new mall and one of my favorite restaurants has been turned into an office – gambling authorities have taken over the hall mall. When I living here, gambling wasn‘t allowed. So things have changed.
Where we had our head office and one of our terminals has now the “Clipper Vacations” - has taken over and our office building wasn’t there anymore – now car lanes for the Clipper and green grass.
My friends had talked to me about this eating experience in the harbor – red fish blue fish – serving fish and seafood out of a container – and so soon I saw the queue I knew I had come to the right spot. They hadn’t even open up and people where queuing and I join the queue – and it was worth the 45 min before I had my food. It wasn’t the fastest service, but I think that was more down to us customers than the staff. Because it was mostly paid by credit card and people where splitting on to different cards.
Ordered a “Cod Dog” – tempura cod with dill-Dijon, lemon-tartar and dill pickles in a freshly baked toasted sub and a mineral water and it came to CA$11.80/US$11.60/€9.45/£7.40 – it was outstanding and worth the 35 min of sweating queuing in the strong sun. Next time I’m downtown I will queen again.
After that gourmet experience and in a massive need of a restroom (the bladder problems) I found a café – “Mirage Coffee” - on 733 Yates Street – a local coffee and café concept … and it was without the doubt the best coffee I had so far. It was excellent, was like velvet. Had a cappuccino and an apple bran muffin and the damage came to CA$7.50/US$7.40/€6.00/£4.70 – got my cappuccino in a big crockery cup and muffin was so moist. The coffee was made real care and tenderness – not a minute job like at Starbuck’s.
Together with my “Cod Dog” down on the dock – it made one of the best lunches I had for a very long time. And it all came to CA$ 22.00/US$21.70/€16.75/£13.85 with tip. Well done Victoria. It’s great to be back.
Yesterday evening we all went to “Cactus Club Cafe“” on Douglas Street and I had a “Grilled Tuna Club Sandwich” together with a glass of white crispy British Columbia Sauvignon Blanc – excellent. This photo are from their website. “Cactus Club Cafe” is a Canadian chain that have very good reviews and I had a snack at their English Bay location in Vancouver and their fish tacos were very good.
“Ask not what you can do for your country,
ask what’s for lunch.”
Orson Welles
Photo provided by and thanks to; cactusclubcafe.com
You are such a good ‘fooder’!!
Thank you so much …. not everything has to be fine dinning.
An actual Harbour dining experience like this is hard to find my friend – it looks scrumptious
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
It was really good and I’m going to qeue up for an other one before I go return home. *smile
Glad lunch in Victoria lived up to your expectations. We are all sweltering in most of North America. Wishing so hard for rain. All the grass is yellow and dead looking.
Yes, it seems to be hot weather at most places just now – it was so nice walking in the rain on Sunday. They are saying that it will be unstable for the weekend. Bring it on. We have another sunny day today.
I am so hungry right now and I just had breakfast.
Yes, it was a great sandwich and I will … make sure I will get another one before I leave next Wednesday. Just had breakfast too – lunch with some old girlfriends today. Can’t wait to see them.
Continue to Enjoy!!
Thank you so much.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying your stay in our beautiful Victoria! You’ve given me a new coffee shop to find if I head out there this fall!! xx
Yes, you have to try this place out – they have on 3 different locations in town and it was the best cappuccino I had for a very long time .. that’s including Sweden and we have great coffee.
Such a cool town…hope you are enjoying the trip…
Doing my best – today lunch with some of my old girlfriends that I haven’t seen for 23 years.
hi there my friend! glad you are still having a ball! i have never heard of cod dogs, but love a good corn dog……….sounds yummy though!!!!!
Hi there, it was a great sub with a crisp fried cod fillet – they do “Red Dogs” too – same sandwiches but with Salmon. Need to get another one before I leave for Sweden. *smile
now the salmon would be my favorite!!!! enjoy my friend
Terry, I will try the salmon dog .. next time – the red dog. Been out on lunch too – going to gain some weight here.
it’s alright, u will lose it once u get home!!! just have fun my friend…………
I’m totally jealous. Yum, and salmon as well. What can I say?
*smile … it was yummy!!! maybe I should try the red dog next time.
It must be fun to be back with friends in a place you knew so well. Hope you enjoy enjoy your special time with your friends in a beautiful city.
Thanks a million, Karen …. yes, they are such wonderful people and I have followed their two daughters since they were newborn.
Victoria is such a fun little town. You have to remind me what you said about it-
brides and widows or something? Just remember it was funny.
For newly wed and nearly dead … *
smile … the locals still have that saying
Looks like you are really having a nice time there, Wivi 😊
Beautiful post, Viveka! Curious about the Cod Dog. I’m such a seafood person so I’m sure that this will be an instant hit with me.
It was just a toasted soft roll (very tasty), deep fried cod fillet and their special condiments. Very easy to do ..
Those special condiments are the most difficult to try doing by yourself. I have that with salad too where I enjoy eating them because of the special dressings.
I’m sure you will be able to create Dill-Dijon & Lemon-tartar – went back and had a seared tuna sandwich .. excellent – will do a post about that too. Have so much to catch up .. plus all the restaurants.