Warm weather makes for a solid reason to get out of the building, especially considering the bearability of BC's humidity levels in comparison to Toronto's scorching temperatures.
After my mistake from the previous day, I took to downloading all the relevant Translink schedules and thoroughly learning the routes. Wasting time is unacceptable in my books, so it seemed only right to ensure that the situation would never re-surface.
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With the commute to Granville Island being too lengthy for someone who was already on the verge of starvation (no car access means no grocery shopping), I opted for the next closest waterfront view: Steveston.
Tourists flooded the area - which was no surprise really - either carrying weighty DSLRs around their neck or a partially melted ice cream in their hand.
Tourists flooded the area - which was no surprise really - either carrying weighty DSLRs around their neck or a partially melted ice cream in their hand.
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I took to exploring the general vicinity of the area before settling down for food. Despite having visited numerous times in the past, I realized that I had never ventured past certain limits of the retail-abundant region due to the fact that I was always occupied with (those dreadful) family dinners.
Souvenir shops, vintage clothing stores, eclectic home decor stops, and more lined each and every corner; large coffee chains weren't far behind either - Blenz, Waves, and Starbucks were also present.
View the full album HERE !
View the full album HERE !
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As opposed to leaning towards the side of greater familiarity, I opted to head in the direction of unexplored territory. In this case, it was a spacious, modern cafe by the name of Rocanini Coffee Roasters.
The interior was unlike anything else in the neighbourhood, exuding a hip downtown vibe in place of the cheesy (but lovable) touristy aura. The dining area was mostly white, with splashes of earthy tones from the addition of lacquered furniture and a wall composed of wooden planks. Several potted plants were spotted along the outward-facing bar area as well as on the largest group table.
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Newspapers and an open Wi-Fi network - which oddly didn't function on my smartphone - provided sources of entertainment for groups of all ages, while a "Take A Book, Leave A Book" initiative catered towards those looking for a serene read by the Fraser River.
It was, by far, the most authentic cafe I've ever set my eyes on Richmond. "Authentic" - as in proper brewing equipment was utilized to prepare the caffeinated beverages; it wasn't just a hot water dispenser, coffee grinder, and assortment of flavoured syrups.
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Cold brew, pourovers, lattes, and cortados were only a few among the numerous choices in their menu spread. Interestingly enough though, Matcha Lattes, London Fogs, nor Chai Lattes were spotted anywhere on this board. But it were these exclusions actually provoked a greater sense of respect, as it was an indication that they were devoting their efforts entirely to perfecting the coffee-based varieties.
My lunch selections were the Guatemala Antigua La Felicidad pourover and Lumberjack wrap. The medium blend pourover was very fragrant, and admittedly not too bitter to handle black. I tend to find my stomach to be on the weak side though, and often find myself commonly succumbing to insomnia when my caffeine intake is suddenly increased. Far from a coffe purist, I deliberately added liquid sugar and whole milk to my order. This yields a rather sour-tasting cup and unfortunately nixes the sweet aroma in the process. Either way, I enjoyed it far more than the typical Americano and would love to return for their lattes or mochas (aka my go-to pick-me-up). Lovely rosetta latte art is, of course, an added bonus.
The now-heated Lumberjack wrap is brought to the edge of the bar about three minutes after my pourover. Enveloped within a chewy, red tortilla is a plentiful amount of scrambled eggs, ham, and oozing cheddar - it's essentially the definition of a Canadian breakfast, but adopting the form of a pressed wrap! The red onions, maple mayo, and bell peppers from the item description are barely discernible, though they would have likely played a minor role in the overall flavour profile of the dish anyway.
View the full album HERE !
Along with a tranquil dining and working environment lined with local landscape artwork, Rocanini also features a water station, which was something I appreciated immensely since I despise purchasing individual bottles of water.
I proceeded to stroll around the remaining shops in the area before hopping back on the 410. The day had gradually began to heat up, so my next order of business was to find refuge in the form of A/C and/or shaved ice before embarking on errand-running.
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With a grave hankering for bingsoo, I exited the SkyTrain at Lansdowne and begun my twenty-minute walk to Snowy Village, only to discover that the dessert parlour wouldn't be in operation for another forty minutes. I had only myself to blame for this error, and retraced my steps back to Icy Bar instead.
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The vivid green walls and uber-simple decor are reminiscent of a casual Vietnamese eatery. The space is slightly dilapidated: the washroom is hidden behind a stained off-white curtain, the tables are chipped from years of wear, and the menu is a stick, laminated binder with dark fabric binding. Even air conditioning had been replaced with a standalone Honeywell fan.
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Heed my words: don't let the environment fool you. While the dining area is far from Oru-standards, Icy Bar's shaved ice items are worth the trip. (A stable password-secured Wi-Fi network was also great!)
I order the Mango Ice Cream Mochi Icy, which seems to be the most popular choice among Instagrammers alike. At twelve dollars before tax, it's undoubtedly pricey at first glance. However, it tells another story as it materializes from the kitchen.
I order the Mango Ice Cream Mochi Icy, which seems to be the most popular choice among Instagrammers alike. At twelve dollars before tax, it's undoubtedly pricey at first glance. However, it tells another story as it materializes from the kitchen.
The bowl was about 1.5 times as wide as my hand, and probably the height of a standard soda bottle. An outstanding mountain of flaky ice, mango syrup, and chunks of sweet, ripe mango fill the chipped ceramic container; infinite spoonfuls of chewy mochi bits and a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream top off the layers beautifully. A tube of sweetened condensed milk had also been provided to adjust the sweetness level to one's own preferences.
Our party of three slowly begin to dig into the dessert, only to find the portion even greater than expected. Some fifty bites of mango goodness later, we were refreshed, energized, and thoroughly satisfied. I found particular enjoyment in the tiny pieces of shaved ice, while another member was especially fond of the (naturally) sugary pieces of mango. We all agreed that service was prompt and friendly, and that the reserved parking spots were much needed during the late-night takeout rush
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Icy Bar also offers up a variety of other Taiwanese snacks, such as flavoured toast and smaller cups of ice-and-jelly desserts, making it a great spot to catch up with friends or simply a place to stop by and escape the heat.
The Mango Ice Cream Mochi Icy proved to be sufficiently filling, all to the point where I remained full even after errand-running. I settled for a Spinach, Feta, and Pesto Scone from Cobs Bread for supper, watching the glorious colours of the sunset along the Fraser River.
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