Tofino - Chesterman's Beach

Chesterman's beach is always a treat to walk on in the morning, afternoon, and night. So much to see and feel while on its wild shore. This is particularly true when it is storm season and this time it was a little more so. Here are some of the pictures taken during this trip so take a walk with us through my pictures.

The view and feeling it evokes always have me coming back. Each step can bring a different view and the multitude of the steps can bring to your heart a journey.

Tofino - Food

 Here are some pictures of the food enjoyed during our stay in Tofino, over Remembrance day weekend. First, Roar at the local Hotel Zed which is a newer place that has become a must attend for a meal or two. The appetizer was the seafood antipasto board which had excellent smoked salmon, marinated octopus, pickled scallops, and flavoured tuna with chips, hot sauce, capers, and pickled cauliflower.

Duck confit radiatori pasta (pulled duck confit, green olive, oyster mushroom + tomato ragout, preserved lemon, shaved parmesan). A wonderful and fun dish with complementary flavours.

One night we had food that everyone had brought to the townhouse we rented. I made pasta earlier in the week as well as a simple ragout sauce.

Shed has an excellent tuna poke bowl that is a favorite for a lunch with lots of nice textures and flavours.

Lastly Wolf in the Fog, which is always a treat to eat here. Started with potato string wrapped local oysters lightly deep fried. We pretty much always order this as the taste of everything combined is a delight on the tongue.

My wife and I shared a seafood salad, another must have when we eat here. Local mushrooms and seaweed, puffed rice, daikon, sesame mayo, miso chili oil. You feel so good when eating it.

Smoked steelhead trout with buttermilk mashed potatoes, beets, chard, salal berry, and juniper. I love trout for the fatty oils inside when it is cooked just right. Combined with the other items it blends wonderfully.

For dessert, apple terrine with crème fraîche, oat crumble, bee pollen tuile, caramelized honey.

Tofino always has great talent making great food. Its always tempting to stay longer to sample more. Not pictured was the chocolate box my wife and I each bought from Chocolate Tofino, another must see and buy things from.

House of Boateng

The House of Boateng is a is a newish restaurant that my I, my wife, and a friend tried not long ago. Chef Castro and his wife Charlotte are the owners and they have an excellent approach to food, as presented in this special meal inspired by places around Vancouver Island. 

The meal was accompanied by music by the Aerie Trio and composed by group member Diane Berry. Different to other meals where there was a musical accompaniment, it occurred in between the finishing and starting of a course serving. It allowed us to enjoy the music that the upcoming course was to represent and give a chance for the kitchen to freshly prepare the course.

To start we had a variety of breads and butters.

Served with the musical piece for the beaches of Fanny Bay, Denman Island, and Hornby, was island fresh Fanny Bay oysters, Rockefeller Denman Island oysters, and Hornby Island herring. 

Served with the musical piece for the Tidepools, was Port Renfrew crab salad, BC Prawns, mussels, Oxeye daisy leaves, preserved lemon, and green oil.

Served with the musical piece for the rainforest, was East Sooke Park Sooke trout, BC mushrooms, fiddlehead, sea asparagus, Kemp miso orange dressing, sesame seeds, and bonito. 

Here is the staff hard at work between courses.

Served with the musical piece for creeks and streams, was Goldstream Park citrus confit salmon, dill pickled cucumber, salmon roe, and parsnip soup.  

Served with the musical piece for Garry Oak meadow, was Garry Oak Meadows venison striploin, porcini mushrooms, herb gnocchi, and wild blackberry jus.

Served with the musical piece for the Rose Garden, was Government House rose gardens rose water curd, raspberries, strawberry crumble, meringue, and edible petals.

Every dish was a sparkle to the senses. My entire tongue was treated to textures and flavours that I enjoyed. This was a meal to savor and enjoy slowly. I would eat one of their special meals again and again.

For those who wish to hire and/or see the Aerie Trio, or the performers in their larger company,   Augmented Trio, go to their link.

A Man on the Moon

I read a wonderful book this year on the history of the Apollo program, written by Andrew Chaiken, called A Man on the Moon. This book also helped in the making of the wonderful TV series, From the Earth to the Moon.

Its sections are divided up by pre-Apollo, each of the Apollo missions, and a post Apollo one. In it Andrew Chaiken has interviewed all of the Apollo astronauts, but one, and the multitude who worked on the program. It shows the drive, smarts, and humanity it took to carry out a monumental mission to not just get to the moon and back but also to carry out scientific exploration and research to determine the history of the moon itself. Even though I have learned details of this program over the years this book brings the people who made it happen into center seat with stories I had not heard before. I am richer for reading about the experience.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in space, history, and the upcoming Artemis missions that will take humanity back to this Earth's moon.

AYO Eat

Awesome tasting and inexpensive food can be found at AYO Eat, in Market Square.  

I had the satay ayam (chicken satay) and Anjali's spring rolls. It is a one person operation so it took a little longer than expected but was worth the wait.

E&N Bike Trail Art

There is a stretch of the E&N bike trail, between Lampson and Hutchinson but much closer to Lampson, features a local artist's work. It has been growing over the last few years and some art gets switched out. A lovely way to break up a bike commute and enjoy a created work. Here is a sample of what can be seen here. 

It just shows that when you pay attention to your surroundings you can find marvelous things.

Zambri’s New Years; a late post

I forgot to post this wonderful meal the last day of 2022, at Zambri's. It is a place we like to go for the wonderful food and experience of enjoying it with friends. This supper did not dissapoint.

Mixed seafood salad with octopus, prawns, scallops, semidried tomatoes and saffron mayo. A wonderful blend of tastes from the sea.

House made pappardelle with wild boar ragu. The pasta was delicious as always and the boar was flavourful.

Berry cheesecake with a white chocolate sauce. A great way to end the evening with an espresso, as there were boardgames to play for bringing in the New Year.

Zambri's meals, in particular for New Years, are always a fantastic experience.