Méli-Mélo - May 2023
CHANCHO GOES EAST
Yaletown’s loss is Commerical Drive’s gain. Chancho Tortilleria has closed its shop on Davie St. and is now open at 2096 Commerical Drive — the former home of the storied Café Deux Soleils. It’s not the first time Chancho has taken over a Vancouver institution. They first opened their doors on Seymour Street when the Elbow Room — a spot famous for its sass as much as its brunch — closed and they took over the space. For more than two years, and throughout the pandemic, Chancho has become well-known for its authentic Michoacán-style carnitas and fresh tor- tillas. The building on Davie is slated for demolition, which prompted co-owner Ernesto Gomez to find a new home for the restaurant. At the same time, Jeff Maisonet, owner of Café Deux Soleils, was looking to retire, freeing up a much larger space for Chancho to call home.
“While Chancho could never aspire to replace the storied cafe, it shares the same values towards the community, and we are honoured to take over the space,” Gomez says in an open letter.
At Chancho, the tortillas are made in-house using fair trade and non-GMO corn sourced from more than 30 communities in Oaxaca, Mexico. The corn is brought to Canada as kernels, then put through a process called nixtamalization, in which the corn is treated with lime then cooked and dried before being ground into flour. It is then pressed into tortillas and baked.
Other offerings include vegetarian tacos, chilaquiles, birria tacos, fresh margaritas and more.
“We’re thrilled to call Commercial Drive Chancho’s new home for decades ahead,” Gomez says. “We can’t wait to welcome the community into our new space.”
Chancho Tortilleria
chancho.ca | @chanchotortilleria
FESTIVAL SEASON BEGINS
Food festivals are making a comeback in a big way this spring and summer, so mark your calendars with these events.
Starting on June 3, BC Cider Fest will return after a three-year hiatus. Held at the Pipe Shop on the North Shore, cider fans can try their favourite local ciders under one roof. Follow @bcciderfest for tickets and updates.
The Spring Okanagan Wine Festival runs June 2 to 11 at participating win- eries throughout the Okanagan. Head to thewinefestivals.com for the full roster and to purchase tickets.
On Saturday, June 24, more than 40 breweries and cideries will take over Loggers Sports Grounds in Squamish for the 7th Annual Squamish Beer Festival. Come for the beer, and stay for the food trucks, games, axe throwing and more.
Find tickets at squamishbeerfestival.com.
FOODSTOCK: LOCAL BANK., LOCAL BEER. LOCAL FOOD.
Break out your festival fits because Foodstock is return- ing this summer. On June 18, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank will take over Swangard Stadium to raise money for the food bank. Grab a drink from local breweries and wineries such as Dageraad, Luppolo and Lake Breeze winery while taking in the sounds of Said the Whale, the festival’s musical headliners. With the rising cost of food, more and more people are relying on the food bank, and this event is a fun way to support their important work. Tickets are $30, and 50 per cent of all drink proceeds and 10 per cent of all food sales will be donated to the GVFB.
Greater Vancouver Food Bank | foodbank.bc.ca
SPOT ON SPOT PRAWN
We can’t celebrate all things spring without mentioning our favourite crustacean: the B.C. spot prawn. Sweet, clean and delicate tasting, B.C. spot prawns are coveted worldwide. While most of the harvest travels to places such as Japan, local chefs and foodies line up to get their hands on a pound or 10. If you’re looking for straight-off-the-boat freshness, head to the Fisherman’s Wharf in False Creek or Steveston’s Fisherman’s Wharf in Richmond. If you can’t make it to the docks, stopping by your local fishmonger is a good bet. If preparing prawns is not your thing, leave it to the professionals. Chefs around the city prepare special menus that feature the spot prawn while in season.
THE LAVENDER LIFE
You know that lavender season is upon us when every social media influencer and their mom post whimsical photos of themselves frolicking in a lavender field. You can practically smell the floral aroma through your phone. If you also want to frolic in the lavender, head to Lavenderland in Richmond.
Lavenderland opens to the public in June with tickets available for purchase on their website. However, if you want a more off-the-beaten-path experience, head out to the valley dotted with lavender farms from Langley to Harrison. Check out Full Bloom Lavender Farm in Langley, Tuscan Farm Gardens in Abbotsford, and Harrison Lavender in, you guessed it, Harrison. All farms are open to the public, but some require that you purchase a ticket in advance, so plan ahead.
fullbloomlavender.com | harrisonlavender.com | lavenderland.ca | tuscanfarmgardens.com
