Home for the Holidays
a holiday special series

Lunch at El Pollo Rico
Thursday December 20th, 2007

By Jason Chin
Eat Vancouver writer

As per tradition, I’ve headed home for holidays. Home for me is Washington DC metropolitan area, specifically Northern Virginia. Unlike past years, I thought it might be interesting to document some of the dining I do here because although it might not be highly accessible to Vancouverites, it’s an interesting point of comparison and relevant to anyone who might be traveling to this area.

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Taco con Chile
(778) 371-3508
Address: 1308 Burrard St (map)
Menu

Hannah Montana
a Quick Bite

By Jason Chin
Eat Vancouver writer

Have you ever had the feeling that things are just a little bit off? Nothing that was overtly wrong, just an alteration in some key details that made things just a tad disconcerting? Kind of like finding out your mom listens to hip hop music, or seeing a 40-year old guy eating alone at Chuck-E-Cheese. That feeling pretty much sums up my experience at Taco con Chile the other week.

I was taking the bus home when I spied a large Mexican flag in a storefront that certainly wasn’t there a few days ago. Intrigued, I jumped out of the bus at the next stop to scout out this new territory. And a strange new land it was. Housed in a small little space on Burrard is a homage to all things Mexican: the aforementioned flag, stacks and stacks of imported Mexican products, and Mexican music blaring from a boom box. Like the guy carrying around mistletoe at your office Christmas party, it was trying too hard. I proceeded to the counter to check out the menu, which is filled with all of the usual suspects: tacos ($1.75 each), burritos ($7), enchiladas (oddly described as 2 tacos for $8) and tortas ($5). I decided to go for the $6 dinner special including two tacos, rice and beans. After a bit of thought I opted for one pork taco and one al pastor, a notion that was quickly rebuffed by the cook who told me they are actually the same thing. Never mind that they are listed separately on the menu, this was my second major warning sign.

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Saturday, December 15th, 2007

by Jason Chin
Eat Vancouver writer

The word from Sue Alexander of Alexander Ink is that after 14 years of service, Jamie Maw has stepped down from his position of editor at Vancouver Magazine. I deem this a loss (until we find out what he’s up to in April) because Maw clearly knew his food and was a very capable writer. Back when he still wrote reviews, his where of the few in Vancouver that were actually worth reading, both for entertainment and information value.

Continue reading for the press release.

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Looking for a place to dine out this Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve? The following press release from Raincity Grill might help:

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Sunday, December 9th, 2007

The New Dona Cata is coming
a broken news story

by Jason Chin
Eat Vancouver writer

Following up on a recent story, I have some more details about the new Dona Cata. Unfortunately (for non-East Vancouverites) the new restaurant will be just two blocks from the original at 5076 Victoria Drive. But it will feature an expanded menu (sweet!) that includes many of the old favorites. Sounds like a winner to me, especially with the sometimes sizable wait for a table at the original.

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Industry Lounge Eatery
Address: 1809 West 1st Ave (map)
604 732-5119
The fires of Industry are burning.
a News item

By Jason Chin
Eat Vancouver writer

Industry Lounge Eatery, the new drinking/dining spot in the old Vintropolis spot, has been open for a few weeks now. I stopped by a few days ago to snap some photos and peek through the windows. It appears the design hasn’t changed much from the old Vintropolis, with the much of the same banquettes and tables in the same locations. There are more TVs now, which happened to be playing the latest hockey game. That’s usually enough to keep me away, but I hear there are some people to whom that appeals. I also got some photos of the menu (pages 1, 2, 3, & 4).

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From the Eat Vancouver rumor mill comes this juicy tidbit:

Perceptive reader Lucy tells us that Dona Cata Mexican Foods, the place in Vancouver for authentic Mexican cuisine, is expanding. A new, bigger Dona Cata is on the way, and yes it will have a liquor license.

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