Méli-Méli July 2024
Petals and Percolation
Move over roses and chocolate, there is a new dynamic duo in town: flowers and coffee.
Located in the historic Abbotsford Rail District, Foxglove Floral Cafe blends the tranquility of a florist and deliciousness of a coffee shop.
“Our mission is to be a vibrant and inclusive space for community to flourish,” say owners and certified florists Lauren Quezada and Andrea McAllister. “We wanted a space full of colour and vibrance, where people can feel inspired.”
The enthusiastic duo connected through their mutual love for coffee and flowers and launched Foxglove Floral Cafe in March 2024. You can pair an artfully designed bouquet with an iced honey lavender latte or other seasonal additions such as the iced strawberry matcha drink, at this new Abby hot spot.
The café regularly hosts floral workshops where you can live out your Pinterest dreams and learn how to create your very own flower crown and other floral arrangements in-house or through private workshops destined to be the hit of your next party.
Foxglove Floral Cafe
102-2724 Montrose Ave., Abbotsford
foxglovefloralcafe.com | @foxglovefloralcafe
Sip, Sip, Explore
Beyond Bubbles Tours has reopened and it is ready to take you on an epic bubbly journey through the Fraser Valley.
Based in Mission, Beyond Bubbles Tours co-ordinates full-day excursions to some of the best wineries and breweries — from Chilliwack to Langley. It takes care of planning the itinerary and transportation, all while collaborating with local businesses.
“The Fraser Valley offers us so much, from wine and beer, but also cool eateries, parks and hikes,” notes owner Craig Martens, explaining that itineraries can include more than just wineries and breweries. Additional activities, such as visiting a local lunch spot, checking out flower festivals, playing a midday pickleball match, can be added to these customizable tours.
beyondbubbles.ca | @beyondbubblestours
The Ice Cream Bucket (or Cone List)
Our region has a wealth of ice cream shops to quell the summer heat. Whether you’re looking for ube soft serve, a cup of birthday cake, an eight-scoop to-go box or a double cone with toasted coconut, sticky toffee pudding and lemon shortbread, here is a sampling of places to try. And if you don’t do dairy, most shops offer sorbet, vegan options and other desserts.
Mr. Gold Gelato (Maple Ridge and Richmond)
Soft Peaks Ice Cream (Vancouver)
Dolce Amore – The Gelato Mafia (Vancouver)
Banter Ice Cream (Abbotsford)
Matteo’s Gelato (Port Coquitlam)
Parlour Ice Cream (Kelowna)
Vashti Rose Ice Cream (Port Moody)
Craft Brews Unleashed
Introducing: CowDog Brew Company, a Vancouver-based brewery serving up some of the best craft beers from the heart of the city. CowDog, named after the beloved rescue cattle dog of owner and head brewer Michael Hodgson, has blossomed from a veteran’s passion project to a thriving company built on community, perseverance and, most important, damn good beer.
In March 2024, the company opened its doors to a tasting room where locals and out-of-towners can relax, socialize and enjoy these unique brews on-site. Quench your thirst with the recently introduced double decoction Märzen — a bright burst of summer that is best enjoyed on the 20-seat patio. Prefer to take it inside? CowDog’s 50-person indoor seating is the ideal spot to enjoy classic brews such as Head Tilt, a crisp pale ale, or fresh seasonal features.
Hodgson explains he will be elevating its offerings in the peak of the summer heat: introducing special “tea-infused casks” to craft CowDog's Two Loaves wheat beer. These include the “Axolotl,” featuring watermelon oolong tea, “Lemon Shark,” a zesty lemon meringue herbal blend and a delicious mango tango brew.
CowDog products can be found at retailers across the Lower Mainland, from Chilliwack to Vancouver.
CowDog Brewing Co.
1338 Franklin St, Vancouver
cowdogbrewcompany.ca | @cowdogbrewcompany
Toloache Mexican Kitchen opened its doors in the summer of 2023, and since then, customers have been flocking to get a taste of the mouth-watering Mexican dishes.
In April 2024, Toloache's owner, Rodrigo Vela, introduced lunch buffets that combine popular menu favourites with special featured items. Currently a weekend experience, the buffet offers more than a dozen options to pile on your plate.
“I want customers to experience a little piece of Mexico here… I want to make it a Mexican destination for locals and for people [from] out of town,” Vela says.
“This menu is special,” he continues, explaining that the buffet menu rotates weekly to ensure customers get to experience new flavours every weekend, from traditional enchiladas and chilaquiles, to ribs and moles.
Toloache Mexican Kitchen
586 Hornby St., Vancouver | 604.565.0511
toloache.ca | @toloachemk
