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Tonight we ate the last of a bunch of garlic scapes that Pamela bought last Sunday at our local Farmer's Market. We steamed them for just a couple of minutes—they are garli-cky, but not overpoweringly so, crunchy, curly, fun, very fresh and extremely tasty. Next time I will snap some pictures, but in the meantime here's a picture from someone else.

While we were driving past Ladysmith on our way to Victoria last weekend Pamela spotted a new little restaurant, right on the main highway, next to Ladysmith City Hall.   Yesterday we thought we'd try it out, and we were blown away. 

We were walking through the rubble that is Cambie and Broadway a few days ago and discovered the Peaceful Restaurant. In the location formerly occupied by the Jade Garden, on a block fairly littered with restaurants, this little gem doesn't really stand out until you get inside and order.

I just got back from lunch at Le Marrakech in Gastown, which just opened this week. I went in to enquire about vegetarian options, but discovered that I didn't have cash and they didn't have their credit/debit card setup installed yet. I was strolling out the door, promising to come back the next week, but the owner, Abdel, refused to let me leave - he insisted on having me try their couscous, beans in tomato sauce, and red pepper salad, along with a pot of strong, sweet fresh mint tea, on the house.

Looks like the final touches are still being put in place (e.g., debit card reader, website!) but the food, service, ambiance and location are the tops.

I went last week with a couple of Pamela's Friends for Dinner and a Play - the United Player's production of The Ladies of the Camelias at the Jericho Arts Centre theatre - we got there at 6:00 for dinner (Grilled Salmon, mushrooms in a cream and white wine sauce, rice and glazed carrots) and a glass of wine at the Jericho hostel, after which we wandered next door to the theatre for a very enjoyable performance.

Tonight I decided to go out for dinner, and since I was in the neighbourhood, I stopped in at The Naam. The Naam seems to be somewhat famous for the "your order will get here when it gets here" attitude of its staff, which I've grown to accept, for the sake of 24 hour mostly decent and not too-expensive vegetarian fare. Tonight, after being ignored for 5 minutes at the door and then being told that the wait would be "from 3 to 15 minutes" I decided I'd venture elsewhere.

I spent a few days in Victoria this week. I love the energy of the place - its confusion of cultures, old and new.

I spend a fair amount of time at Serious Coffee - they have a great location (Yates & Broad downtown), great coffee, friendly staff, and free WiFi, and they're open till 10pm, not bad for a town that seems to close relatively early.