I Here on Vancouver Island there are many, many, golf courses. Most of them have restaurants and most of them we have never tried. We tried Arrowsmith Golf Course for lunch a few years ago and the Fish & Chip night at Eaglecrest. A gang of us tried the Morningstar Friday Fish & Chip night 2 or 3 years ago. All of these were pretty good. But it’s been awhile. 

So today, thanks to the organizational skill of my friend Paul, the guys lunched at Morningstar. For a time this place was closed as the course was in financial trouble. It’s currently being run by the receiver but they reopened Grill on the Green, the restaurant,  earlier this year. It’s a nice spot with a great view on a clear day. We met Chef Mel, who came by the table to tell us about the specials. We all chose Fish & Chips. Some had Halibut but I chose the Rockfish. Two pieces perfectly cooked with a light crispy batter. It was very tasty as were the fries. $16.  Not a bad price. 

Grill on The Green has special nights. Half price Wings on Wednesday, Ribs on Thursday, Fish & Chips on Friday and Chef Mel’s favourite Italian dishes on Saturday night. My friend Paul reports that he can recommend the wings and ribs. The menu has the usual Golf Course fare.  Burgers, BLT, salads etc. Check it out here:

Click to access Spring%20Menu%202019.pdf

Grill in the Green is quite a nice room and on a warmer day we would have opted for the deck.

If you are looking for something local and good,  Morningstar’s restaurant is definitely worth your consideration. Morningstar is located at 525 Lowry’s Road, Parksville. There is lots of free parking  

http://www.morningstargolf.com  250-248-2244. 

There are several other Golf Course Restaurants in the area including Fairwinds & Pheasant Glen. The latter has a good looking menu and they also have a nice deck.  I don’t Golf, but that doesn’t mean I can’t nosh at a good course.

Just saying…

Since everyone keeps asking what is the French Creek Bistro like? Have you tried it?  Well, this morning I tried it. 

I dropped in to try the breakfast this morning. I was greeted by a charming young lady, Claudia, who is the owner’s daughter and who just moved here from Vernon to help her folks open the place. Her father is the baker and is the same gentleman who owned the restaurant /bakery before he sold it and it burned down. The reason they took so long to open is that after construction the RDN made them replace all the just finished drywall and the outside siding. 

I ordered a Back Bacon and Egg Sandwich and a coffee. Both were good and served quickly.  Claudia then advised  that the Cinnamon buns are amazing. The other in-house baked goods include sausage rolls,  apple strudel, etc., all baked fresh daily and ready for take-out. 

French Creek Bistro is open Monday to Saturday from 8-3. Breakfast is served from 8-11and the Breakfast menu is pretty regular although if you are really hungry you could tuck into Steak & Eggs for $15. For lunch they have soups, sandwiches and salads as expected and everyday they post a specials board. Claudia told me that lunch time has been really busy. 

 But soon, they will also be open for dinner serving up Schnitzel, Fish & Chips, and other dinner fare. And they are getting a liquor licence so will have beer on tap and a selection of wines. 

The Bistro seats 26 at tables and 10 at the counter. Need to keep up on the news or catch the game? There are 3 large flat screens just for you.  Personally, I think it’s the French Creek Diner with home cooked, no nonsense,  good Diner food. With amazing Cinnamon Buns! 

Give it a try. French Creek Bistro is next to Sam’s Sushi at the corner of Wembley and 19A in French Creek. 

Just saying…

Foodies are always looking for something or someplace new. The other day we stopped at the Fish Store in Buckley Bay by the Denman Island Ferry terminal and discovered a charming little food store call Weinberg’s Good Food. Today I learned from our niece Nancy that Weinberg’s opened a store in Qualicum Beach last week. 

Being somewhat curious, we jumped in the car today and went for a snoop. Weinberg’s is located on 2nd in the quaint Chilham Village complex across the street from the TD Bank. The store carries specialty food items,  some deli stuff and serves coffee, espresso, cappuccino and a few snacks. Lots of mustards, hot sauce, preserves, aioli etc. I picked up a Stonewall Kitchen Lemon Herb Aioli which will be delicious drizzled over freshly cooked asparagus .

I chatted with the owner, Leah, who informed me that the Buckley Bay Store has been in business for 8 years. Now they have expanded to Qualicum Beach. Good for them. It is a very nice addition to the food scene. We wish them every success. 

They are on Facebook and have a web page ; http://www.weinbergsfood.com

Next time you are cruising through Qualicum, drop in for a visit. You will enjoy this place. 

Just saying…

Today is a potpourri of things Nautical. 

I have been following the cruise ships to Alaska on the MARINE TRAFFIC APP.  So far this season more than 30 Cruise Ships are running out of Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco. Holland America Lines have 8 ships in service and Princess Cruises have six. Assuming the ships are full or nearly full about 60,000 people,  or more, are cruising to Alaska weekly. What a business. 

For the first time since 2013 a large Cruise Ship visited Port Alberni last week. Holland America’s MV. MAASDAM dropped her anchor in the harbour and reportedly 80 % of the passengers went ashore. Many were bussed to Cathedral Grove. The Maasdam had been in Alaska, returned to Victoria, then Alberni, and Astoria, Oregon on the way to San Francisco. Port Alberni is expecting several more cruise ship visits this summer. Great boost to the local economy. 

If you have ever thought about, or dreamt about cruising to Alaska in a pleasure boat or yacht then you might enjoy this website. www.slowboat.com. A guy from Seattle, Sam Landsman, leads a small flotilla of pleasure boats to Alaska every year. His website covers the journey starting on Stuart Island in the San Juan’s and ending in Alaska. He reports on each leg of the trip and includes some wonderful photos, some taken from his drone. If you open the website you can click on each leg to see the full text and photos. It is very well done. 

Finally, if you fancy sailboat racing, the Vancouver Isle 360 race started today in Nanaimo. 37 boats started and they will circumnavigate Vancouver Island. The first stop is Comox  where they will overnight. It is 14-day journey sailing in the waters off Vancouver Island, on a route that will take them to Comox, Campbell River, Hardwicke Island, Telegraph Cove, Port Hardy, Winter Harbour, Ucluelet, Victoria and back to Nanaimo. It’s 580 nautical miles. 

If you are interested in following the race, here is the tracking website. 

http://tracker.vanisle360.com

If you click on each boats it gives the name, speed etc. 

Enjoy summer boating without leaving your iPad.

Just saying…