Happy Hour: Shebeen

I guess it’s about time I introduce you to one of my favorite watering holes in all of Vancouver. I’m still a liquid mistress, after all (to borrow a line from one of my favorite flickr photorgaphers, [au ro]) and whisky is my friend and if you feel the same way then I welcome you friend, to the Shebeen Whisk(e)y House. Tucked in behind the Irish Heather in a heritage coach house building, the Shebeen is like the secret clubhouse you always wished you had. That is if you always wished to have a clubhouse that was filled with whisky. Just pass through the Heather, across the courtyard and through the red door.

Inside you’ll find the largest selection of whisky in the province. Often I stick with Jameson’s and beer or Oban for a treat, but on a couple of recent visits I’ve sampled the Yamakazi Single Malt from Japan, the Glenfarclas 17 year old Scotch, Penderyn Welsh whisky, and reminded myself of the taste of Canada’s only single malt, Glen Breton Rare. I also smelled the corks of a couple of bottles I can’t afford. See the complete list here.

The only problem with the Shebeen is that its days are numbered. It, along with the Irish Heather and the Salty Tongue Deli, will be moving across the street to 212 Carrall Street so the old location can be earthquake-proofed. While the plans for the new edition look promising, I still have a soft spot for the current one so I’ll be cramming in as much barstool-time as possible in the next month.

Photos courtesy of the Shebeen Whisk(e)y House

___________________________________________

Shebeen Whisk(e)y House

Behind the Irish Heather

217 Carrall Street, Vancouver

Casual Elegance at Jules

Last week my sister and I had a lovely lunch at Jules in Gastown. Here is a photograph of their gorgeous chandelier because my camera was behaving more badly than normal and my photos of the food were too blurry to be useful. Perhaps there is something useful in posting a photo of the decor, however. Our lunch - I had the Duck Confit with Puy Lentil Salad ($19) accompanied by an impeccably made kir and Ally had the Nicoise salad ($10) - was delectable and perfectly pleasing, but there was equal satisfaction to be had in ducking into an exquisite French room in the middle of the day.

The people at Jules describe it as “a casual French bistro” and that’s a good way of describing the simple brick walls and tile floors. There’s no pretension here, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not also dripping with elegance. There are the chandeliers, for instance, and the wait staff who greet you in French.

I was here quite a while ago for dessert and cheese and port and it was such an exquisite-yet-simple treat that I’ve been meaning to return ever since, and I am still not able to leave off my intentions to return because there are many more things on the menu I want to try. The cassoulet, for instance, which is not available at lunch.

Here’s a shot of my lovely dining companion, Allyson, and a bit of her Nicoise salad.

_________________________________________________

Jules

216 Abbott Street, Vancouver

Tues to Sat 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM

New Domain - ethniceats.ca

After much deliberation on what I should call this blog, I finally settled on ethniceats.ca and we’re all set up and organized!

What does that mean for you? Not a lot, since it redirects back here anyways, but if you are feeling inclined to tell other people about it, it’s now a lot shorter and manageable, so yay.

ethniceats.ca

Rinconcito Salvadoreno

There are times when I just can’t deal with a red wine reduction or an entree with more than 10 ingredients. In fact, one of my happiest meals was at a roadside shack in Belize, eating rice and beans and strips of fried bread drizzled in hot sauce. This is the simple food, oftentimes comfort food, that simply feels good to eat. On the drive, comfort food is made daily after 4 PM at Rinconcito Salvadoreno. It comes in the form of pupusas, an El Salvadoran dish consisting of a corn tortilla stuffed with a variety of different ingredients.  There’s a choice of bean, and cheese  cheese, chicharrón (pork), or revuelta (mixed) and they arrive accompanied by a delicious vinegary coleslaw and hot sauce.

My favorite by far is the bean and cheese, but I usually get at least one pork pupusa as well, just to mix things up a bit. At $2.75 per pupusa,  you can afford to experiment a bit and still be full and flush at the end of dinner.

If you feel for something a bit fancier, there is a wide range of Mexican style dishes, such as fish tacos and the Rinconcito Special also merits a try. A thin-sliced, carne asada steak with peppers and onions comes with rice & beans on the side for $10.

This place is always hopping on the weekend, and sometimes the service can be a bit slow, but last night I literally snuck in and ate while my laundry was in the machine next door and regardless, you will always be served with a shy smile…almost always by the same guy.

________________________________________

Rinconcito Salvadoreno

2062 Commercial Drive, Vancouver