EAT Magazine Sept_Oct 2015_Victoria_48_Layout 1 8/28/15 10:38 AM Page 22
Heron Rock Bistro 9AM-10PM Monday to Friday 8:30AM-10PM Saturday & Sunday
Happy Hour 7 Nights 8pm to Close 250-383-1545 CORNER OF CROFT & SIMCOE IN JAMES BAY WWW.HERONROCKBISTRO.CA Elizabeth Nyland
HAPPY HOUR 7 Days 2:3--5:30pm
Open 7 Days 11am -11pm 10pm on Sunday to Wednesday Weekend 9am for Brunch
Lunch, Dinner, Local Beer & Wine 250-590-4556 4136 WILKINSON RD WWW.CROOKEDGOOSEBISTRO.CA
left: Zereshk Polo - Chicken leg and thigh served with barberry and saffron topped rice right: The inside of the grocery
Anar Food and Grocery 3949 Quadra at Reynolds | 250-590-6020 At this Persian mom ’n’ pop shop, you can buy Middle Eastern groceries and also enjoy the lunch of the day. You have one option per day, but my three visits on different, carefully orchestrated days of the week indicate that you will get something tasty no matter the day. Tuesday is Zereshk Polo day (polo means pilaf). At only $7.99, it is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the mouth. Chicken is seasoned with paprika, turmeric and saffron and slow-cooked in its own juices—no water—which intensifies the flavour. It is served atop a bed of mixed white rice and sunny yellow saffron rice and is sprinkled with red barberries. This exotic ingredient is from a bush native to the Middle East. The chefs and owners Nooshin and Nasser dust these sour berries with sugar, creating a pleasing sweet and sour accent, as if a dried cranberry
were dipped in lemon. The dried berries can be bought at the shop by enterprising home cooks. On Thursdays, Loubia Polo can be had for $6.99. This green bean and ground beef rice pilaf has the feel and comfort of a classic 1970s Canadian casserole. The ingredients are mixed in a sauce of tomato and turmeric, which coats each grain of rice nicely. Friday is the day to splash out with Baghali Polo, dill-flecked rice and fava beans served with either chicken ($7.99) or lamb shank ($10.99). The lamb is so tender that, with the touch of a fork, the meat falls off the bone. The thinly sliced fava beans impart a nutty taste and texture, making this a mild but interesting dish. Most business is take-out, but there are four seats at a bar and some tables outdoors in good weather. E
Local Beverage Producers & Restaurants at the Midlife Crisis Show Saturday Oct 3, noon – 5 pm The Midlife Crisis show takes Oct 2 & 3 in Victoria at theVictoria Conference Centre. As part of the event a Tasting Room will be set up where attendees can sample food and drink pairings from area food and beverage businesses. Here’s what’s on. • Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse is paired with Chateau Victoria’s Vista 18 Restaurant, Executive Chef Garrett Schack • Moon Under Water Brewery & Pub is paired with Kitchens of Distinction Culinary Arts, Chef Shirley Lang • Unsworth Vineyard & Restaurant is paired with The 6 Mile Pub, Chef Jeff Kelland Victoria Spirits is paired with Charelli’s Cheese Shop, Delicatessen & Catering • 2% Jazz Coffee is paired with Olive The Senses Anteeo Tea Company is paired with Crumsby’s Cupcake Café • Jusu Bar is not paired because cold pressed juice is ideally consumed by itself • Fairway Market International Food Fair is all it needs to be by itself. Tickets can be purchased at midlifecrisisshow.com/tickets
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EAT MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2015