Coombs, BC, is famous for the Country Store with the Norwegian Style Grass Roof complete with grazing goats, but it’s really not where one would expect a 400 seat Italian Trattoria & Pizzaria.  Nevertheless, just such a place can be found there.

It would be easy, if visiting Coombs for the first time, to miss the restaurant since it is located up the driveway past the Store, the Ice Cream Parlour and the Fruit & Vegetable stand.  But there it is.  Most first timers are amazed with what they see. CUCKOO’S is in a very Italian looking two story building that was built about 6 years ago. It is quite a find, especially during the summer when the very large and very delightful patio is open. One can easily feel like one is sipping wine in Tuscany.

CUCKOOS’S has three indoor dining areas, all Classic Italian with white walls, wood floors,  white tablecloths, and big windows.  The kitchen is semi open so you can see your pizza being created.

We have enjoyed our visits to Cuckoos many many times because the food is good and the atmosphere is terrific. Some food highlights include excellent salads. Their Caesar Salad is always good as is the Caprese Salad. Small and large options.  The small is big enough to be shared by seniors like us. A wide range of pasta dishes are offered including Canneloni, very tasty Spaghetti Carbonara, and the most popular,  Linguini Pescatora. The portions are very generous so sharing a pasta dish is a serious option.

A variety of appetizers to share are featured including my favourite girl’s all time favourite, Crab Cakes.  An assortment of Appetizers with a bottle of Pinot Grigio would make a nice summer lunch on the patio.

We love the thin crust brick oven pizza.  They are, in our opinion the best in this part of the world.  The Capricciosa  with prosciutto, artichokes, olives, mushrooms & Mozzarella cheese  and is our favourite.  Perfect to share unless you have a huge appetite.

Every table receives a complimentary bread basket accompanied by a zesty salsa.  The breads are wonderful, all supplied by the bakery in the Country Store.

If you are there with a gang you might consider the Paesano Deal, a big spread to share served on big platters.

For dessert, you cannot go wrong with a Terimisu, ever.  Or your choice might be the Chocolate Peanut Butter Stack or maybe just a Cheescake.  All good!

The staff are great here too.  Of course when you frequent a place often you do get to know the servers and bussers  pretty well.

CUCKOO’S is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week except in January and February when the entire complex is closed. If you have not been, you really must!  It’s in Coombs on Highway 4A.  Close to Parksville and Qualicum Beach.   Continue reading →

Back in the 1950’s and early 1960’s there was a wonderful joint in Victoria called the JOLLY FRIAR.  Located on Cormorant Street at the Corner of Blanchard it shared a narrow building with a service station. It was small, maybe a dozen stools at the counter along with two tables on the left ( according to brother D’Arcy, although I do nor recall).  A single flat top cooked everything except the Chilli.  A staff of two of three.  That’s it! But the Burgers!  Oh my.  They were perfect.

My first choice was the double Cheeseburger.  All included onions grilled right in front of you on the flattop.  All were served with Shoestring Potatoes on the side. You know the thin little things our of a package.  Delicious!

Sometimes the BERMUDA BUN was the ticket. Toasted bun with ham, cheese & a slice of sweet onion.  The contrast between the warm bun and the cold ingredients was awesome.  I still make them at home to this day!

The Chilli  was also excellent. So a burger with a side of chilli was almost orgazmical!

Check out the menu…

I am not sure when the Jolly Friar closed but it will always be a wonderful memory for me.  I wish it was still there.

It was as institution at the time.  I have no idea who owned it owned it or who managed it.  I just know it was fabulous. Unique and memorable.  As Archie Bunker would say “THOSE WERE THE DAYS”.

Just saying…

 

 

 

Why would one think of a Prime Rib dinner at a pub?  Well, normally I wouldn’t but on my way home from Nanaimo this evening I thought I’d drop ino one of our favourite joints, The Lantzville Pub, for Fish & Chips. Did not happen.

Yes, I did drop in but my server immediately suggested the dinner special, Prime Rib. Saturday night, forget the Fish. I’ll try the Prime Rib.  She said it is excellent.

The Prime Rib arrived and surely lived up to the advance billing. 8 ounces of medium rare beef sliced not too thick or thin, but just right. Joining the beef were creamy mashed potatoes, a large, delicious Yorkshire Pudding and a medley of really tasty roasted vegetables including carrots, zucchini and parsnip. A generous very good dark brown gravy and a small dish of Horseradish finished the plate off.

There are two options, 8 ounce or 12 ounce. $20 or $23.

It’s  not Hy’s or even the Keg, but it was delicious, well presented and darned good value.  Served every Saturday night.

Want to go out, spur of the moment, and feel like beef, try the Lantzville Pub.

I think the Rocking Horse Pub also do roast beef on Saturdays but I’ve not tried it. I can recommend the Prime Rib at the CROW & GATE PUB also but it’s a long drive home in the dark.

Just saying…

 

 

Yesterday, March 10, was the 10th Anniversary of the opening of Sam’s Sushi in FRENCH CREEK.  So, of course I had to attend considering in the five and a half years we have lived in FRENCH CREEK we have been to Sam’s at least 200 times. Since I was alone I planned to sit at the 4 seat Sushi Bar but two couples, also regulars, very graciously invited me to join their table.

Sam’s really is a great little find and is only 9/10 of a kilometre from home.  9 tables, 4 sushi  bar seats is all there is and on most Fridays you do need a reservation.  It is usually full.  The servers are friendly efficient and quite delightful. Chigusa & Chrissy have been there as long as we have been going while Emma is more recent. Sam is always at his post behind the sushi bar turning out top rated sushi.  And Sam always greets  you with a wonderful smile.

For Sushi lovers, the Tuna & Salmon Sashimi is delicious. You can order the standard, California Roll, Dynamite Roll (prawn), or the simple Maki, but if you want to kick it up a notch, try the Red Eye Roll. Tempura prawn inside with tuna and a tangy sauce on top!  The Spicy Tuna roll is worthy of a trial too. Friends of ours love the raw Scallop sashimi. Check the blackboard above the sushi bar for specials.

For those that are not raw fish fans, the Mixed Tempura should top your list. Deep fried Prawns and vegetables.  It is my favourite  girl’s regular order and the tempura is always perfect.  The coconut prawns are scrumptious too.

Dont like seafood at all?  Go to Sam’s anyway and order Chicken Kara Age, deep fried chicken simply as good as it gets. Perhaps try  Gyoza, a tasty pork dumpling. A good bet are the Spring Rolls accompanied by a tangy Thai style dipping sauce. A Japanese style salad might work for you too.  Don’t overlook the Udon Noodle dishes either.  Tempura Udon includes a delicious bowl of noodles in a tasty broth and a half order of Mixed  Tempura. Great for lunch! For dessert, you must try the Tempura Banana with ice cream.  It’s sort of Japanese ‘Bananas Foster’ without the rum.

Sam’s serves House wine and Japanese Beer, too. By the way, Sam does a significant Take Out business too.

Our Nephew’s wife, Emi, who hails from Yokohama,  has approved Sam’s as the best Japanese in Oceanside. If you haven’t tried Sam’s Sushi, make a reservation on a Friday night and we will probably see you there. Highway 19A and Wembley Road in FRENCH CREEK.

Oh, and the two couples who invited me to share their table?  They treated me to dinner!  How nice.  Many thanks to them.

Check out the menu here.  http://samsushi.letseat.at

Open Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner.  Closed on Weekends and holidays.

250-954-2373

Just saying…

 

 

 

 

 

 

121 days after sailing out of France, Sebastien Destremau is about 500 miles from the finish line in the epic Vendée Globe single handed around the world sailing race.  The winning boat crossed the line in 74 days, 3 hours. Armed LeCleac’h has been home in France enjoying French wine, foie gras, cassoulet, and Strawberry tarts for almost two months. Second placed skipper Alex Thomson did it in 74days 19 hours and, had he not broken a spoiler early in the race, probably would have been the winner. He sailed back to England after the race and has, no doubt, been noshing on Bangers and Mash, mushy peas, fish & chips, washed down with multiple pints of Guiness for nearly two months.

Meanwhile, Destremau is still sailing along west of Spain. He should finish soon, perhaps on day 123.  To be fair, he was delayed for repairs along the way which was a considerable setback for him. Nevertheless, he persevered and will finish the race. That alone is a huge accomplishment. Not only has he sailed around the world in sole command of a 60 foot boat, but he has put up with his own company and his own cooking for 4 months. That is a true accomplishment.

Sebatien Destremau on deck.

29 sailboats began the race, only 18 will finish. Why would these sailors want to do this?  Because they can, of course.

I have enjoyed following the adventure. The internet coverage has been exceptionally good.  Modern technology took care of that.  The next race is in 2020  I’m looking forward to following it too!

Just saying…

 

After a hiatus of at least 8 years I paid a visit to a BOSTON PIZZA restaurant with my media mogul son from Toronto who was visiting this weekend. We hit the Parksville store on Saturday night along with just about everyone else in town. It was busy. Fortunately the Hostess was efficient and found a table for us quite promptly.

We had been talking BOSTON BRUTE before we arrived so we both ordered one and a small wings appetizer to share.  The Honey Garlic wings were excellent!  The Brutes were epic!

The Boston Brute is a meat sandwich in a hoagie bun and features Salami, Pepperoni, Smoked Ham, Mozzarella, Pizza Sauce and Onion. If you are going all in, you should also order the Bolognese meat sauce to dip it in.  It really is a good sandwich but it does tip the scale at 800 calories, not including the sauce.  However, the sodium content is truly off the chart.  3060 mg of sodium. Thats about a two day supply. Not really good for one’s blood pressure. But I guess once a decade the heart can handle it.

Boston Pizza is not a restaurant I’d visit again any time soon, but if you feel like a meal out and a chance to watch some sports too, you might head to BP.  They have acres of big screen TV’s in the Bar and the Dining room.

Just saying…

Possibly the best restaurant north of Victoria, Bistro 694 in Qualicum Beach

continues to live up to its reputation.  The small, intimate Bistro is just excellent and certainly worth trying if you have not done so.

i visited on the weekend with my Okanagan Brother and Wife.  On their last visit to OCEANSIDE we could not get a reservation so this time I secured a table well in advance. They were really impressed. They both ordered the small house salad which looked beautiful and apparantly  tasted wonderful. I chose the pita and Humus which is always good. She chose the Seafood Crepe and he the 5 ounce Filet. I chose my usual Butter Chicken. All three dishes were delicious to say the least. My Brother said it was the finest restaurant meal he’s had in years.

The ambiance, the service and the food is simply perfect at Bistro 684. I asked our Hostess/server if her husband has help in the kitchen. No, she replied, but I help him with the prep work in the afternoon. They do have a dishwasher. That’s it. The Chef, his wife the Hostess, and one waiter, a charming Scot from Edinburgh. What’s he doing in Qualicum Beach?  Met a Canadian girl, of course.

If you are looking for a romantic dinner with your partner, or a special event with friends, think Bistro 694.

Phone at least a week in advance for a reservation.  They are busy.

check out the menu at http://www.bistro694.com

 

just saying…

Anyone who knows me knows that we are enthusiastic fans of Quality Foods, especially the store in Qualicum Beach.  We like the layout, the staff, and the STEP ABOVE, the coffee bar and kitchen/giftware department.

Well, Quality Foods have definitely ‘kicked it up a notch’ at their newest store across the street from Victoria General Hospital.  Wow! The store is huge and really well designed.  It is the Qualicum Beach store on steroids.  I had lunch in that Step Above yesterday.  The space is huge, twice as big as Qualicum Beach and much less cramped.

The food is similar but they feature two different Thai Chicken Soups.  I enjoyed a cup of the regular while my friend and future in law, Carol,  ordered the Green Thai Soup which she pronounced as delicious. I also tried a perfect grilled cheese.  They also serve Chili, Reuben’s and several other sandwiches.

Best of all, unlike The hospitals of Island Health, the WiFi signal is strong and free.

On your next trip to Victoria, check out the new Quality Foods.  Just take the View Royal exit and follow the hospital signs.

Just saying…

 

 

 

Today I was doing a little research for our friend Mary, whose father, served as a skipper of a Royal Canadian Navy Corvette during World War II.  Canada had more than 125 of these ships most of which were built in Canadian Shipyards. Yarrows in Victoria, Burrard Shipyards in North Vancouver, as well as yards in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes.

These ships were designed for convoy duty in the North Atlantic chaperoning merchant ships from Halifax to the U K. They were not large, 205 feet with two guns and 40 depth charges. They were steam powered so they had stokers who shovelled coal to keep them moving. With a 16 knot top speed they were slow but had a range of 3500 nautical miles. They were known for being very rolly  in rough seas which caused a lot of seasickness.  But they were remarkably seaworthy. Typically the wartime crew consisted of 5 Officers and 61 men. Many of the crews included young men from the prairies. One business friend of mine was from Saskatoon and he fulfilled his wartime service shovelling coal on a Corvette.

These little ships made countless return trips across the North  Atlantic. Most of them survived,  a few were torpedoed by German U boats but the majority lasted until the end of the war. When they were decommissioned most  were scrapped, but a few were few sold to other countries and a few sold and turned into freighters and whaling boats.

One of the most famous Corvettes  in our waters was the HMCS SUDBURY,  which after decommissioning, was converted to a salvage tug owned by Victoria based Island Tug and Barge. SUDBURY  made one epic tow saving the Greek freighter Macedonia  by towing the disabled vessel for 40 days in the North Pacific through some of the roughest weather imaginable before arriving safely into Vancouver to a hero’s welcome. The incident made headlines around the world.

The SUDBURY AS A TUG

HMCS  Agassiz, built at Burrard Drydock in North Vancouver in 1940. Photo below

The Corvettes were immortalized in a 1953 film, THE CRUEL SEA, starring Jack Hawkins.

Sturdy ships, gallant crews!  No Safe zones for those brave young men.

Just saying…

 

 

As you may have noticed, your writer likes Fish & Chips. Lantzville Pub, Shady Rest, Rocking Horse Pub, Black Goose, and Black Fin Pubs all have pretty good Fish & Chips.

But, yesterday I joined a former colleague for lunch in Nanaimo at the venerable WHITE SPOT.  Right now they are featuring a special WINTER MENU.  $12 for any entree on the sheet.  Meatballs & Spaghetti, Chicken  Pot Pie and FISH & CHIPS  as well as several other items are all available for $12 each. A good deal.

We both opted for the FISH & CHIPS. The best I’ve had in some time. Two generous pieces of cod in a light but very crispy tempura type batter were cooked to perfection. The fries were, of course, standard White Spot fries which have always had their own uniqueness.  Regular White Spot Cole Slaw, but a generous portion. A wedge of lemon was the finish.  Simply stated, these were really, really good Fish & Chips  for $12.  Unbeatable value, in my mind.

Thinking Fish & Chips?  Head to the White Spot while the winter menu is still in effect!

Just saying…