Variety is the spice of life. If only your wife could understand this. Help her understand this important lesson by starting here, at Vancouver’s finest tapas joints.
Bao Bei
You’ll find “petit plats chinoise” as this hip new addition to Chinatown. Pair the Pemberton Beef Tartar, which comes with quail egg and lotus root chips, with the Shao Bing: sesame flatbread with braised pork butt. 163 Keefer St., 604-688-0876.
Stella’s Tap and Tapas Bar
Linger at this lively Belgian lodge, as there’s plenty to keep you satiated. Start with the Belgian poutine with Blanche de Chambly, and finish with the Normand mussels with apple, bacon and brandy. 1191 Commercial Dr., 604-254-2437.
Bin 941 and Bin 942
This pair of funky Vancouver parlours exclusively serves “tapetisers” and Spanish pintxos. The menus differ slightly, but popular mainstays include the crab cakes and the duck or lamb confit. 941 Davie St., 604-683-1246; 1521 West Broadway St., 604-734-9421.
Cobre
Artful “nuevo latino” plates decorate this sophisticated Gastown haunt. Start with the ceviche before deciding between the bison rib eye with mole and the maple chipotle wild boar belly. Or just have both. 52 Powell St., 604-669-2396.
Hapa Izakaya
Upgrade from sushi joints to izakayas – Japanese pubs. Hapa’s trio of bustling eateries offers exotic choices like gindara saikyo yaki (sablefish in sake and miso) and ika (grilled sake-soy squid.) 1479 Robson St., 604-689-4272; 1516 Yew St., 604-738-4272; 1193 Hamilton St., 604-681-4272.
Image courtesy of www.jeremylim.ca on flickr
