Met my old friend Phil for lunch recently. At his suggestion we tried SUSHI WARA in Qualicum Beach. It’s on Memorial where Bistro 694 used to be.
The transformation from Bistro to Japanese has been nicely done. Very Japanese feel to the decor. There is a patio which might be enjoyable in a warm summer evening. Service was prompt and very polite. We surveyed the extensive menu that included Sushi, Salads, Noodles, Terriyaki, Tempura, and Donburi. (Rice Bowls) Something for everyone here.
For some reason we both decided on noodles. Seafood Ramen for Phil, Chicken Yakisoba for me.
Both dishes arrived quickly and both were substantial. Quite good too. The Yakisoba was served in a hot cast iron dish. The Ramen in an enormous bowl.
Sushi Wara has 2 other locations. Nanaimo and Courtenay.
Here is the website. They have plenty of photos of the various dishes.
They are at 694 Memorial in Qualicum Beach. Open every day but Tuesday.
And, of course, they do take out too.
It’s very good. But I have to admit I’m a devoted customer of Sam’s Sushi in FRENCH CREEK and with at least 200 visits there in 15 years it’s hard to move.
Since visiting Shorewolf Farm Bakery last week, it seemed like a good idea to check out the place where Shorewolf gets its flour: True Grain Bakery in Cowichan Bay. At only a 90-minute drive from home, it made for the perfect little road trip—and as you may know, I do enjoy a good road trip.
True Grain Bakery is located on the main street of the charming village of Cowichan Bay. Since 2004, the folks at True Grain have been milling their own flour, including Red Fife, rye, spelt, and several other heritage grains. Everything is stone-ground in small batches, using organic grains sourced locally whenever possible.
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Their flours are available for purchase in small, medium, and large bags, and they also offer online ordering with shipping across Canada.
Now, let’s get to the baked goods!
Croissants, scones, apple strudels, buns, baguettes, bagels, and several varieties of sourdough bread fill the shelves. The bakery looks and smells absolutely wonderful. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions about their products. There’s also a small patio outside where you can enjoy a coffee and a pastry. We did exactly that, sampling a delicious pain au chocolat and an apple strudel. Both were excellent.
In addition to their baked goods and flour, True Grain produces its own dried pasta, pancake mix, and rolled oats.
True Grain is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and also operates a second location in Summerland, B.C.
If you’re heading to or from Victoria, make a point of stopping by. It’s well worth the visit. Cowichan Bay itself is a delightful village with unique shops, restaurants, and an excellent maritime museum. Unfortunately, the Rock Cod Café, long known for its outstanding fish and chips, closed a couple of years ago. A Chinese restaurant now occupies the space.
For more information on True Grain, visit their website:
I continue to be amazed by the food scene and agricultural richness of Vancouver Island. From artisan bakeries and local farms to talented chefs and food producers, it’s truly something special.
This week I read an article in the latest edition of Edible Vancouver Island, an excellent foodie publication that can be found in restaurants, specialty food stores, and other culinary destinations around the Island. The article featured a young entrepreneur, Jill Lamberts, who operates the remarkable SHOREWOLF Farm Bakery in Black Creek, nestled between Courtenay and Campbell River.
Our interest was immediately piqued because Jill specializes in sourdough bread, and we had recently been enjoying some wonderful sourdough baked by Sheila’s granddaughter during a visit last weekend.
Curiosity got the better of us, so we pointed the Acura toward Black Creek, about an hour from home. Besides, a drive along Highway 19A is always a pleasure. We were not disappointed. SHOREWOLF Farm Bakery is a real gem.
The bakery is housed in a beautiful new building with plenty of parking. We were quite stunned when we walked through the door. Fabulous sourdough loaves were displayed throughout the shop, along with a showcase overflowing with delicious temptations—tarts, meringues, cookies, quiche, and much more.
We enjoyed a lovely visit with Jill, the owner and baker, as well as her mother-in-law, who was serving as enthusiastic salesperson and cashier. Jill originally hails from the Guelph area of Ontario and eventually made her way here via Seattle. She and her husband have an interesting story of their own.
The bakery’s breads are made using a 110-year-old sourdough starter named “Wilma.” The variety of offerings was impressive: traditional sourdough, seedy sourdough, fig, fennel and walnut sourdough, as well as garlic olive rosemary, hazelnut raisin, and chili cheese varieties. They also produce distinctive hot dog and hamburger buns. The products have become so popular that SHOREWOLF now supplies resorts and fishing lodges throughout the region. After one visit, that came as no surprise.
All of the flour is sourced from True Grain Bakery in Cowichan Bay, a company known for milling its own organic grains.
Our visit resulted in the purchase of several items, including sourdough bread, lemon tarts, soup, and chicken pot pies. Clearly, they do much more than bake exceptional bread.
We had a grand time at SHOREWOLF Farm Bakery and highly recommend a visit if you find yourself anywhere nearby.
For those interested, here is the article that inspired our trip:
MURPH..Just Saying. 