Local Expert
W. Ruth Kozak
Ruth is a historical fiction writer and travel journalist who has lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the West Coast of Canada most of her life. She has traveled to many places…
Ruth is a historical fiction writer and travel journalist who has lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the West Coast of Canada most of her life. She has traveled to many places including Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, Morocco and Malaysia and made her home in Greece for several years. Where ever she has been, she still considers her home, Vancouver B.C., one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Ruth teaches writing classes including novel and travel writing for the Vancouver School Board; she also instructs Memoir classes and is the editor/publisher of a travel website Travel Thru History
www.travelthruhistory.com
where she mentors new travel writers and receives contributions from all over the world. She is a member of the B.C. Association of Travel Writers and the Federation of B.C. Writers. Besides publications in many newspapers and on-line 'zines, Ruth wrote the "Trips & Tours" for the 1993 edition of the APA Insight Guide: Vancouver and Surroundings. She looks forward to sharing the beautiful sights and exciting events of her city with Planet Eye readers.
Born with a gypsy soul, Ruth is happiest when on the road going somewhere. "The great affair is to move."
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Review Articles
ABERDEEN CENTRE
4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond B.C.
Have you always wanted to go to Hong Kong but can’t afford the trip? Do you like shopping in an exotic atmosphere? Pay a visit to the Aberdeen Centre in Richmond B.C. Built in the early 1990’s as an alternative to Chinatown, the Aberdeen Centre was a totally new concept in shopping for Canada. The Asian themed mall was designed for one-stop shopping, catering to the rapidly growing Asian communities of the Lower Mainland. The mall was named after Hong Kong’s harbour -- Aberdeen, and at the time was the largest retail centre in North America.
The Centre is an architectural masterpiece, built on three curved tiers around a gracefully curved central galleria and an amphitheatre-style Court where special events are held every weekend. The musical fountain in the centre court is the only one of its kind in North America. It plays music every hour. Various translucent and opaque tinted panes of glass create a stunning display of lighting and colourful reflections creating a peaceful ambience that makes the mall a pleasant shopping experience.
I’d heard about Aberdeen Centre, but like so many of my fellow Vancouverites, I’d never visited until recently. I was amazed at not only the upscale design and the relaxed atmosphere, but the many different shops and retail outlets, all Asian owned, that occupy the Centre.
The mall offers numerous selections including chic fashion wear for women, men and children; a beauty court; art and home decor; bakery and speciality foods; toys, jewellery and accessories and electronics. You can even purchase a car there at the Ferrari Masearati show room. Free wireless internet connections are available the the musical fountain and food court.
My favorite store is Daiso the best dollar store ever! Pick up gifts and housewares here, all top quality. And everything in the store is only $2.00! Daiso is popular in Japan and ranks second to Tokyo Disneyland.
Aberdeen Centre welcomes visitors to Vancouver. Before shopping, pick up your passport to the Centre which will allow you loads of discounts and special offers. If you spend $100 or more you’ll receive a complimentary gift. (Visitors must reside outside the Greater Vancouver Regional District and show valid travel documents/driver’s license)
When you’ve finished shopping, stop at the Food Court, or dine at the Fisherman’s Terrace Seafood Restaurant upstairs in the mall, while enjoying a panoramic view of the distant North Shore Mountains.
TO GET THERE:
B.C. Transit buses run from downtown Vancouver including the 98-B-line express bus. New expansion for the Mall by 2010 will include a link to the Skytrain.
OPENING HOURS
Monday - Wednesday 11 a.m - 7 p.m.
Thursday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday and holidays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
ABERDEEN CENTRE
4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond B.C.
Have you always wanted to go to Hong Kong but can’t afford the trip? Do you like shopping in an exotic atmosphere? Pay a visit to the Aberdeen Centre in Richmond B.C. Built in the early 1990’s as an alternative to Chinatown, the Aberdeen Centre was a totally new concept in shopping for Canada. The Asian themed mall was designed for one-stop shopping, catering to the rapidly growing Asian communities of the Lower Mainland. The mall was named after Hong Kong’s harbour -- Aberdeen, and at the time was the largest retail centre in North America.
The Centre is an architectural masterpiece, built on three curved tiers around a gracefully curved central galleria and an amphitheatre-style Court where special events are held every weekend. The musical fountain in the centre court is the only one of its kind in North America. It plays music every hour. Various translucent and opaque tinted panes of glass create a stunning display of lighting and colourful reflections creating a peaceful ambience that makes the mall a pleasant shopping experience.
I’d heard about Aberdeen Centre, but like so many of my fellow Vancouverites, I’d never visited until recently. I was amazed at not only the upscale design and the relaxed atmosphere, but the many different shops and retail outlets, all Asian owned, that occupy the Centre.
The mall offers numerous selections including chic fashion wear for women, men and children; a beauty court; art and home decor; bakery and speciality foods; toys, jewellery and accessories and electronics. You can even purchase a car there at the Ferrari Masearati show room. Free wireless internet connections are available the the musical fountain and food court.
My favorite store is Daiso the best dollar store ever! Pick up gifts and housewares here, all top quality. And everything in the store is only $2.00! Daiso is popular in Japan and ranks second to Tokyo Disneyland.
Aberdeen Centre welcomes visitors to Vancouver. Before shopping, pick up your passport to the Centre which will allow you loads of discounts and special offers. If you spend $100 or more you’ll receive a complimentary gift. (Visitors must reside outside the Greater Vancouver Regional District and show valid travel documents/driver’s license)
When you’ve finished shopping, stop at the Food Court, or dine at the Fisherman’s Terrace Seafood Restaurant upstairs in the mall, while enjoying a panoramic view of the distant North Shore Mountains.
TO GET THERE:
B.C. Transit buses run from downtown Vancouver including the 98-B-line express bus. New expansion for the Mall by 2010 will include a link to the Skytrain.
OPENING HOURS
Monday - Wednesday 11 a.m - 7 p.m.
Thursday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday and holidays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
HON’S WUN-TUN HOUSE LTD.
108- 268 Keefer St.
Tel: 604-688-0871 ext. 234
info@hons.ca
On a wet Vancouver day what could be more appealing to warm you up than a steaming bowl of Chinese soup? Hon’s Wun-Tun House has been one of my favourite eateries in Chinatown for a number of years so on this rainy day I headed there for lunch. Normally Hon’s is packed with diners but it was well past noon time with no more than twenty customers in the large, cafeteria-style dining room.
I waited unusually long to be served the tall glass of hot tea offered all customers. Then I ordered a bowl of wor wun-tun with BBQ pork and veggies and waited...and waited...and waited even longer. Eventually I flagged down my server and inquired where my soup was. Apparently she hadn’t even ordered it, and when she finally brought me the soup it was just a plain bowl of wonton, not the special I had ordered off the menu. I asked for a plate of pot-stickers as a side dish and waited for that too but aside from the long wait and wrong order I felt fully satisfied with my meal.
You can’t beat the food at Hon’s. Their specials menu includes generous servings of deep fried chicken with black pepper sauce and various types of wonton soups with pork or chicken all for $8.95. Or off the main menu choose a BBQ duck plate for $6.95, sautéed prawns in BBQ and pepper sauce ($11.95), Szechuan style seafood with bean vermicelli casserole ($12.95) Pot stickers (my favourite) are pan fried or steamed with pork, chicken, beef or vegetarian, ( twelve for $6.00 or six for $3.25.) And a hearty bowl of wonton soup will cost you only $4.50 for a large casserole or $2.50 for a single bowl.
For the budget traveller you can eat fairly cheaply here and I’ve never been disappointed with the food even if the service today was inadequate. Hon’s is an award winning Chinese restaurant, serving the city since 1972. It’s steeped in Chinese traditions and culture so it’s popular with the local Chinese residents as well as visitors to Chinatown.
SOME OTHER PLACES TO DINE IN CHINATOWN
The Boss Bakery & Restaurant 532-534 Main St.
The inviting aroma of fresh baked pastries and cakes will greet you at this popular Hong Kong style cafe. After dining be sure and treat yourself to a piece of traditional red bean cake or kiwi cheese torte.
Floata Seafood Restaurant 400- 180 Keefer St.
If you're looking for a restauarnt that provides an elegant dining experience try the Floata Seafood Restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. It's the biggest Chinese restaurant in Canada seriving specialities such as Peking Duck, Lobster& Crab in ginger & garlic sauce.
New Town Bakery & Restaurant 158 E. Pender St.
Owner-Chef David Ng specializes in dim sum and traditional steamed buns. Besides the traditional Chinese cuisine, the restaurant menu includes Filipino snacks as well as Western items.
In the last few years, Steveston has become a thriving community of boutiques, fine restaurants, condo developments. The fishers still arrive at the dock each morning with their catches providing the local restaurants with fresh fish. Nowadays the restaurants, shops and cultural/historical and recreational tourism seem to be the main attraction here.
If an exclusive dining experience is what you want, I’d highly recommend Papi's Ristorante Italiano. Executive Chef/owner Ken Iaci prepared a delicious array of savory sea food delicacies and offered a taste of the imported Italian wines.
One of the Steveston’s newest restaurants is the Blue Canoe located right by the river on Bayview St. It has the ambience of a lakeside summer cottage. An exquisite lunch was prepared by executive chef Vincente Mabanta, truly a memorable way to enjoy lunch on the patio with a view of the fisher boats on the river.
End your day of touring at the Tapenade Mediterranean Bistro for a full-course meal of their fresh Mediterranean cuisine including appetizers of chicken liver parfait, Tapeande and crostinis followed by mushroom soup made with truffle croutons and enoki mushrooms and a finally choice of braised beef short ribs or Queen Charlotte Halibut as an entree.
Papi's Ristorante Italiano
12251 No 1 Road
604-277-7444
Blue Canoe Restaurant
#140- 3866 Bayview St.
604-275-7811 or 604-271-5404
Tapenade Mediterranean Bistro
3711 Bayview St.
info@tapenade.ca
604-275-5188
Located at the corner of 48th Ave and Main street in Little India, this four-star restaurant is one of the most popular Indian restaurants in Vancouver, They serve a popular all-you-can eat vegetarian buffet for only $9.95 which includes salad, curries, rice, naan bread, dessert and chai. If you prefer meat dishes, order from the menu. My favourite is the tantalizingly delicious butter chicken for $16.95. And don’t forget to order from their dessert menu. This restaurant specializes in hundreds of Indian sweets. Try the rose-flavored Gulab Jamin dessert or spongy, syrup coated Rasgulla. Don’t go home without selecting a box of the colorful sweets displayed in front.
All Indian Sweets
6507, Main Street
Vancouver, BC
Phone: 604-327-0891
This off-beat little burger haven on a block of Granville St. that is populated with cinemas, sex shops and XXX video stores is sure to invoke the spirit of the ‘50’s in you. I felt like a teenager again as I sat at the bar, music blaring from a vintage juke box (there’s one at every booth.) The chromed bar stools and cozy booths definitely make this place a trip down memory lane for us older customers. Most of the young retro kids in there weren’t even a glint in their parents’ eyes back when their folks were frequenting burger joints just like this one. The Templeton began operating in 1934 and after reopening in 1996, won an award for outstanding achievement from the heritage society of B.C. The clientele range from business people to street people. The atmosphere is cheerful and the service prompt and friendly.
The burgers are substantial with that juicy home-made touch like Mom used to make, the kind that you’d imagine Wimpy would “gladly pay you tomorrow for ...” They are priced from $10 and include a choice of fries, salad greens with a delicious raspberry vinaigrette and toasted almonds dressing, soup or garlic mashed potatoes all in generous helpings.
There’s other satisfying dishes on the menu too, including vegetarian chile ($7) or a bowl of soup ($6.) New York steak ( $16 ) and fish and chips from $10. They also serve up breakfasts of “Mangled Eggs” for $8 and Huevos Rancheros at $9.
Tempting desserts such as pies, and milkshakes that are big enough to share, are also offered, as well as wine, beer and cocktails.
And when you pay the bill you get a bonus two sticks of double bubble gum just to remind you that you’re still a kid, like back in the good old days.
Location:
1087 Granville St. at Helmcken
604-685-4612