Ah, Vancouver: Cosmopolitan, refined, diverse, and sometimes referred to as “Hollywood North.” This was my first trip into the city proper and it did not disappoint. So many food options, such a range of flavors and cuisines, and such wonderful people! Canadians, as you know, take politeness to a new level and this was even true in this city of 2.5 million. So, let’s dig in to the food, ‘cuz Clean Eating in Vancouver was amazing!
Clean Eating in Vancouver Day 1 – Evening arrival
Dinner
I was staying at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia for my conference, right in the heart of downtown. If you don’t know it, it’s a pretty swanky hotel with lots of history (built in 1927, which is older than pretty much everything in California outside of the Gold Rush zone). Much to my surprise, it also had a variety of eating establishments in the hotel – all with a selection of gluten- and dairy-free offerings. So, to be easy on ourselves, we opted for dinner at Reflections Garden Terrace restaurant this first night, with beautiful evening views of the surrounding buildings.
There were a number of options that fit my needs but I opted for the Summer Green Salad with fresh salmon added to it. The salad, mind you, had a cashew spread – as if this were a totally normal thing on a “regular people” menu – and it tasted fantastic. Can you see this picture?? It was almost too pretty to eat. But, do not worry, I ate it ALL.
For dessert, I opted for some chamomile tea, which came in a lovely teapot. So very civilized we are up in the Province.
Clean Eating in Vancouver Day 2
Breakfast
This was the first day of the conference and, as I didn’t want to be late, I ate breakfast in my room. Because I am cautious by nature (and have had some bad experiences in this arena), I always pack something I can eat for breakfast. It’s then a pleasant surprise if I can find something delicious that I can enjoy but best to be prepared in case that does not happen. So, for this first breakfast in Vancouver, I made myself a protein shake (which I bring pre-portioned in snack-sized baggies along with my shaker cup), some espresso from the in-room coffee maker, and had the Morning Muffins and cherries I brought with me. That was plenty to get me until snack-time (energy balls and fruit from home), so off I went.
Lunch
I did not know it at the time, but the restaurant we chose for lunch is apparently one of THEE best in Vancouver. It was definitely a stellar meal, so I believe it! From the moment we walked in to the wood-paneled dining room of the Hawksworth, lightened by the huge picture window looking out onto the sidewalk café portion, we felt indulged. The service was formal but not stuffy – fancy Canadians are still really nice. The menu is Contemporary Canadian – which is to say that it’s tasty, healthy AND filling. Granted, I am not one for a light meal (especially lunch!) so I opted for a starter of the Sunchoke and Romaine Lettuce Salad with a huckleberry and caper dressing, followed by the Power Bowl, filled with quinoa, cabbage, squash, hummus, carrot, an entire half of an avocado, and various seeds. You may be thinking: bo-ring! But I am here to tell you: this was the BEST damn power bowl I have eaten IN MY LIFE! And I am no power-bowl novice, people!! The salad was also delish but, you know, lettuce.
Anyway, I decided to cap lunch off with an almond-milk cappuccino, as you do, and discovered that one of my lunch companions has the after-meal-chocolate-habit that I do! We shared (so cute) 😊. I took a picture of hers because it was amazing and I wanted to remember it.
Dinner
After that exquisite lunch, you might be thinking I’d go for a light dinner. Well, you would be SOOO wrong! “When in Vancouver, eat as much as humanly possible” is my motto. Well, you don’t even really need the Vancouver bit. Where was I? Oh, right, dinner! As luck would have it, there was yet another FANTASTIC restaurant just across the street from our hotel in the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver (which you must pronounce with a snooty accent, just for fun 😊 ). The restaurant was YEW Seafood + Bar and I cannot understand how it is even legal to have so much good food in such a small area! As I found in all of the restaurants we visited here, there was an ample selection on their dedicated Gluten-Free menu from which I could choose. Did I feel like a Dungeness crab salad with fennel, kale, crispy potato and citrus dressing or would I be skipping right to the Sablefish with the Maple Gochujang glaze, kale and sautéed cabbage, with marinated eggplant? It was a hard choice between the Seared Ling Cod with crab, fried cauliflower, snap peas, capers and roasted shallot vinaigrette and the Sablefish, I’m telling you, but the server said the Sablefish was the definite winner, so that’s where I went. She was SOOO right! (And, in case you’re wondering, I skipped the appetizer ‘cuz there was dessert to be had and even my stomach capacity is finite). The Sablefish was melt-in-your mouth flavor-tastic. How DID they do it??!!
I took some pics of other people’s plates, too, ‘cuz they let me. Also amazing, I am told.
For dessert, there was a Vegan Cheesecake with Raspberry “Meringue” and GF Graham Crumbs. I can die and go to heaven, now, for I have seen everything: Vegan AND Gluten-Free amazingness to be had all OVER this town! WHY do I not live here?!! Well, there was that overly-inquisitive customs officer who was pretty insistent about my return flight…but I digress. Dinner was so unbelievable, I’m salivating even now, just writing about it. Please take me back!
Clean Eating in Vancouver Day 3
Breakfast
For breakfast, I ate the remaining items in my cache but headed downstairs to check out the offerings in the Bel Café Patisserie near the lobby. Although there were plenty of things I definitely could NOT eat (see first pic, below), there was also a selection of fresh juices and a GF/DF yogurt granola parfait (second pic). Not bad for a little pop-in hotel lobby quick breakfast joint.
Lunch
Yet another wonderful surprise met me for lunch this third day, recommended by one of the other conference attendees. She led a small group of us a couple of blocks up and a block or two down Vancouver’s very walkable (and remarkably clean!) streets until we arrived at the Cactus Club Café. This trendy spot for the professional set had yet another impressive selection of yumminess I could enjoy (why am I even surprised, at this point?) as well as a beautiful, sunny view of the tree-filled sidewalk terrace. I mean, is this place for REAL?? Yes, it was real. I’ve just been in the land of strip-malls and chain restaurants for too long.
But back to the food: we shared a gigantic bowl of Chimichurri Guacamole. Yes, guacamole has reached Canada, y’all, but it’s gotten an upgrade. This one had baby gem tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, the aforementioned chimichurri, micro cilantro, and GF corn tortilla chips. Not too shabby for being 1,200 miles from the Mexican border!
After all those chips, I wasn’t quite as peckish but once I tasted the first bit of my Crispy Tofu Bowl, there was no going back. The flavors! The textures! The pure fresh deliciousness of it all! This guy had soy chili tofu, jasmine rice, mango, cucumber, avocado (you can never have enough, okay? don’t judge), edamame and radish over some sort of lettuce or cabbage (Napa cabbage, if I had to guess). I mean, this was more of a mixing bowl size than a typical luncheon bowl. But, hey, who’s complaining? Not this gal. Nope, no way. It was TOO good! That bowl didn’t know what hit it but it sure was empty once lunchtime was over.
After all those chips, I wasn’t quite as peckish but once I tasted the first bit of my Crispy Tofu Bowl, there was no going back. The flavors! The textures! The pure fresh deliciousness of it all! This guy had soy chili tofu, jasmine rice, mango, cucumber, avocado (you can never have enough, okay? don’t judge), edamame and radish over some sort of lettuce or cabbage (Napa cabbage, if I had to guess). I mean, this was more of a mixing bowl size than a typical luncheon bowl. But, hey, who’s complaining? Not this gal. Nope, no way. It was TOO good! That bowl didn’t know what hit it but it sure was empty once lunchtime was over.
For good measure, I also took a picture of my friend’s Raincoast Greens bowl with avocado, tomatoes, feta, cucumber, egg, grilled salmon, and a lemon-thyme vinaigrette. She assured me it was completely edible. In fact, her plate was pretty much empty at the end, too. *soulmates*
Dinner
For dinner, we were meant to have appetizers at the party for conference attendees but a few of us ducked out so we could chat and enjoy our few precious hours left with our earbuds intact. Of course, we were hungry (I mean, I’d barely eaten all day!) so we popped over to the 1927 Lobby Lounge at the Rosewood Georgia hotel for a light meal. I don’t know what has gotten into these Vancouverites but they are on a serious health trip. I mean, it’s like they were begging me to come up from California and notice how incredibly well-prepared and allergen-friendly all of their cuisine is! We were in a hotel lobby, for heaven’s sake, and they had Gluten-Free avocado toast on the menu. Are you reading this?? I have to drive three hours in any given direction from the place I currently live to find that on ANY menu and it’s just in a hotel bar in Vancouver! Did I mention that I think I need to move here (assuming they’d let me in)?! Okay, okay, back to the food: avocado toast. Gluten-free avocado toast…but not just some green goop smeared on some bread – check out that picture! There’s STUFF on that avocado – shaved vegetables galore! AND it came with a beautiful side salad. AND there may have been some hummus and crudités involved…I LOVE YOU, VANCOUVER!!
Clean Eating in Vancouver Recap
So, what have we learned? We have learned that people in Canada are really nice (but only if you’re visiting – don’t try to overstay your visa!). We learned that there is a vegan, gluten-free option for every man, woman, and child in the lower-48 every 5 feet in Vancouver. AND we learned that avocados can travel a really long way! Truthfully, I saw only the smallest sliver of this town but it makes me really want to go back for a proper trip with the family. As far as cities go, it’s clean, it’s welcoming, it’s safe and I’m pretty sure even my granola-eating, Colorado-born, Rocky-Mountain-loving hubby would like it! There’s a little something for everyone, including plenty to eat! Hope you enjoyed this (brief) culinary tour of Vancouver!
In Good Clean Taste,
Claudine
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