During a tough week, a long night, an early morning, or a gray day, the beauty of being a shameless foodie is that you always have a simple remedy to brighten your spirits: food! Think about it: after a tiring day of sightseeing or before a particularly hectic day at work, it’s the bite-sized things that add a dose of happiness to your day and a put spring in your step. There are little tastes that inevitably make you smile, and that moment can be a big deal. I’ve discovered many “bites of sunshine” that see me through rainy day after rainy day in Vancouver. This is a list of my favourites!
With so many of our Vancouver Foodie Tour guests staying in the downtown core, I’ve taken special note to mention finds only in the heart of the city or within a 10-minute radius:
IN THE MORNING
Handmade, all-butter scones at Crème de la Crumb. If sweet and savoury means anything to you, this Cheddar and Apple Scone is the perfect partner to your morning coffee* and will give you a good supply of energy for the day!
*Avoid devastation. Try to arrive before noon. The scones are made fresh every morning and often sell out!
IN THE AFTERNOON
The Thomas Haas chocolate counter at Urban Fare. One bite of high-end chocolate can make a whole afternoon better.
I’ve already dedicated a whole blog post to them, but it would be hypocritical for me to leave the French macarons at Café Thierry out of this post, as they are the #1 bite-sized treat that I crave. Individually priced, visually indulgent, and surprisingly flavourful, they are the classic definition of the “little things” that we love. For the full story, you can read more here:
Cookies at Acme Café. Tastes to remember from your Gastown wanderings. On sunny & sleepy afternoons, the double-espresso shot milkshakes will boost your spirits.
IN THE EVENING
The Rosemary Popcorn at Market by Jean-Georges. Yes for the little things done right!
IN THE NIGHT
A paddle-spooned scoop of gelato from Bella Gelateria. Whoever said money couldn’t buy happiness clearly never purchased the World’s Best Gelato.
Churros with chocolate sauce at The Local. This isn’t a downtown location, but Local does have one of the most popular patios in the city so I thought you might end up here anyway. Across the street from Kits Beach, it’s a coveted place to kick back and enjoy some casual west-coast grub with a cold beer. But when the sun begins to sink behind the mountains, there’s one last sweet moment to be shared. The churros are somewhat of an unexpected menu item, but that just adds to their appeal, doesn’t it? Everyone’s smiling when they’re with friends and dipping sugary churros in chocolate sauce…it’s nearly impossible to picture it any other way!
Whether you work through this list or whether these treats slide into your day, I trust that these “little things” will always find you in the perfect moment. You’ll know the one; just take a bite!
