Good morning foodies!

This weekend is a great time to start crossing off items on that foodie bucket list. Try a new cocktail, enjoy guilt-free fish and chips, or grab a charcuterie spread and head to the beach. The world is your oyster. And hey, you could even grab a few fresh oysters while you’re at it.

Whatever it is you do this weekend, I hope you’re fully present in that moment and enjoying yourself.

Cheers,

5 spots to try right now

Benjamin’s Café: Filipino-style brunch, lunch, and dinner at 614 Grenville Ave. in Esquimalt.

Pagliacci’s: One of the go-to Italian restaurants in the city, with an atmosphere like no other at 1011 Broad St.

Ile Sauvage Brewing: It’s summer, so you must be craving an expertly crafted sour beer from Ile Sauvage at 2960 Bridge St.

Eva Schnitzelhaus: German schnitzel in the heart of Chinatown with great gluten-free options, and 99 red balloons!

The Crazy Cookie House: Take a day trip to Metchosin’s Witty Lagoon on the weekend, and you’ll probably see the crazy cookie house next door at 4105 Metchosin Rd.

Know a great place we should add here? Reply back and let us know!

FEATURED

Colwood beach party is stacked with fantastic food and music

Food and music go together like John and Paul, or Mick and Keith. While yes, separately they’re still amazing—together they’re even better.

Luckily, Colwood is cooking up exactly what you need this summer: a festival of food and music featuring some of the best food trucks in the city and some super talented BC bands, too.

The Eats & Beats Beach Party will take place on Saturday, July 29, at Royal Beach in Colwood from 1 to 8pm. Entry is free.

SPONSORED BY BRILLIANT

Learn AI like it’s 2023

AI won’t take your job. Someone using AI will. Best time to level up? Yesterday. Second best? Right now.

Luckily, there’s Brilliant — the interactive app that makes it easy to master concepts in math, data, and computer science in just minutes a day.

Here’s how:

• They have thousands of lessons on tons of topics — from AI and neural networks to data science.

• They break down complex concepts into digestible building blocks that stick.

• Their interactive style keeps you engaged, so it’s easy to build a daily habit.

Join over 10 million people around the world and start building skills in minutes a day. You can try everything Brilliant has to offer for free for a full 30 days. Plus, right now you can get an exclusive 20% off an annual premium membership.

FEATURED

Head to these 7 Vancouver Island wineries this summer

Whether it is a moment of celebration, narrated by the popping of a cork—or a hearty meal with friends that requires the sharing of a full-bodied malbec—wine is often a social thing.

In this spirit, let us introduce you to some of our favourite Island wineries and their finest bottles of vino.

SPONSORED BY REFIRE KITCHEN

Heading to the cottage or camping?

Make meal time stress-free and delicious! Refire Kitchen makes your summer get-a-way meals so easy and amazing! Why stress on all the prep work and pots and pans when it can all be done for you? Refire’s “Take n’ Bake” entreés are ready for your BBQ and they’ve got you covered for sides, salads and even desserts!

Spend more time relaxing and less time stressing on your vacay with Refire Kitchen.

🗞️ News

• Collective Wine Bar announces closure after half a decade in Cook Street Village. The popular restaurant announced its closure via Instagram last week, but promised its commitment to hospitality.

• Sherwood at 710 Pandora Ave. will transition out of dinner service beginning this Friday. In an Instagram post, the owner cited a difficult few years for the local business brought on by the pandemic. Sherwood will remain open for brunch and lunch.

• Victorians have a love affair with one of the world’s most popular drinks: tea. This is where to find luxurious, historic teas and cakes in the Garden City.

• Sooke Harbour House announces new team members and kitchen staff. The popular hotel, which has had a dramatic decade, is moving on from its past and embracing an optimistic future.

🗓️ Events

• Foodie Fridays at Bastion Square Market from 11am to 5pm. Head to Bastion Square every Friday afternoon for a selection of local food trucks, vendors, and artisans with live music from noon to 1pm.

• Market Squarefest this Saturday from 11am to 5pm. Along with food, check out this little festival at Market Square with magicians, arts and crafts stations, and artisans.

• Ginuary Gin Festival at St. Ann’s Academy on Saturday, July 29. Check out this four hour tasting event featuring gin-featured food and drinks. Learn about the spirit’s history and future, and chat with distillers.

• Absinthe, Bourbon, Vodka, and Sake: This drama with a twist, directed by Zelda Dean, will be on stage until Aug. 6 at Black Box Theatre at the Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue.
  

 💸 Deals

• Check out downtown Victoria’s Cenote tonight from 5 to 7pm for $7 gin and tonics.

• Wino Wednesdays at Cook Street Village’s The Beagle Pub: $7.50 per glass.

• From 2 to 4pm on weekdays, the Snug Pub in Oak Bay has got you covered: $6 Hoyne, Phillips, and Steamworks.

• What's more Irish than $7 pints of Guinness daily from 3 to 5pm at Irish Times Pub on Government Street.

• This Sunday, have a chuckle and 7lbs of wings for $7 at Heckler's Bar & Grill on Gorge Road.

🧑‍💻 Jobs

• Food Security Intern at Fernwood NRG

• Cooks, Payroll Clerk and Lighting and Scenic Technician at The Butchart Gardens

• Server at Rivera Assisted Living

That’s it!

If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, consider forwarding it to your friends; if not, let us know down below.