Good morning foodies!

Every week I sit down to write this little intro to the newsletter, and more or less it’s to say: Victoria’s food scene is awesome! Which is true. But not only is our food scene awesome, the people are awesome too. Tasting Victoria tells you about all the awesome patios, great food trucks, and cool cocktails, but there’s a whole swath of people who make this city a great place for us to eat. Not only that, there’s another group of volunteers who help get great food to people in need.

This week’s feature story is about those people.

-Ryan, Tasting Victoria editor

P.S. We’re trying a new look today. Like it? Hate it? Let us know in the poll at the bottom.

5 spots to try right now

Tofino Brewing Company: Take a tasty vacation to Tofino and head to this amazing brewery this summer.

Marilena Café and Raw Bar: Check out the newest Aquilini-owned restaurant at 1525 Douglas St.

Parachute Ice Cream: Check out the amazing ice cream flavours in the heart of Rock Bay at 105 Bridge St.

House of Boateng: Asian-Carribean-French fusion in Langford at 2854 Peatt Dr.

John’s Place: All-day breakfast at an old school diner at 723 Pandora Ave.

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

FEATURED

How is Victoria tackling food insecurity?

An ice cold drink after a hard day’s work, fresh vegetables from the local farmers market, a comfortable place to sit down and eat dinner—some people take these pleasures for granted, considering them basic needs.

But for the unhoused and the food insecure, access to any of those things is limited; and the number of people who fall into those categories is growing.

It’s a tough situation, and the future may look bleak; but there are options for those in Victoria dealing with food insecurity.

SPONSORED BY LURE

Patios, bevvies, and you….Oh my!

Face it, one of the greatest things about summer is sipping on your favourite drink on a patio!

In one word, LURE Restaurant & Bar’s waterfront patio is spectacular! With sweeping views of Victoria’s Inner Harbour, it isn’t named “Victoria’s Hottest Patio” for nothing.

Reserve a table now!

FEATURED

7 of our favourite dishes this summer so far

Summer is officially here, and we at Tasting Vic felt it would be appropriate to look back on the great meals we’ve had so far. Map out your meals with our help.

From donuts and beer to tater tots and caviar, check out 7 of our favourite dishes this summer so far.

🗞️ News

• Victoria is full of inventive craft ice cream makers, so check out six places to grab ice cream this summer; plus, here are a few of the downtown spots where you can get cheap eats.

• The Courtney Room wins prestigious wine awards. The restaurant was one of nine in the province to win gold at the 2023 Wine Program Excellence Awards, announced at the Vancouver International Wine Festival.

• Greater Victoria breweries bring home more Canadian Brewing Awards. It's business as usual for these award-winning breweries.

• Saanich firefighters make a special visit at child’s lemonade stand. A fire truck and a small crew made their way to Riley Furgason’s lemonade stand, to his surprise and amusement.

• Life is stressful, dinner shouldn’t be. BBQ season has arrived and many of Refire's delicious entrées can be heated perfectly on your BBQ and accompanied by a selection of sides, salads, and even desserts! Check out the Summer Menu!*

*Sponsored Listing

Have a restaurant, business, or event to promote?

Get in touch with our team for small business-friendly advertising plans.

🗓️ Events

• Check out the Big Gay Dog Walk at Clover Point today from 4:30-8pm. Bring your fluffy friends to this community celebration and participate in trick and costume competitions.

• Here are some food-related Pride events in Victoria this week. The Vicious Poodle, Friends of Dorothy, and Moon Under Water Distillery will showcase the city’s best drag for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

• Reggae Dance Food Drive at Victoria Event Centre this Saturday. Make a $10 cash or non-perishable donation to Food Banks BC and listen to a night of ska, dancehall, and reggae.

• Victoria Pride Parade is this Sunday, July 9. There’s no better way to end Pride week in Victoria than checking out the parade, which rolls through the downtown core starting at 11am; after that, check out Pride Festival in the Park.

• Langford Beer Festival brings forth a line-up of close to 80 craft beers to Starlight Stadium next Saturday, July 15, from 3 to 8pm.

 💸 Deals

• $6 Tuesdays at CRAFT Beer Market. Grab a $6 burger and select drinks, with extra toppings for $3, every Tuesday.

• Part and Parcel has great deals from Tuesday to Sunday between 3 and 5pm: $9 oyster wings, $3 tuna melt, and $7 fried chicken sliders.

• Head to Café Mexico from Monday to Sunday, between 3 and 6pm, grab $4 chips and salsa, and $4.50 single tacos.

• Late Night phad Thai at Baan Thai. Everyday after 9pm, you can grab $9 phad Thai at Baan Thai's locations in downtown Victoria, Oak Bay, or Langford.

🧑‍💻 Jobs

• Director of Food and Beverage at Holiday Inn

• Shift Manager at Earl’s Kitchen + Bar

• Server at Revera Living

• Cooks at Butchart Gardens

• Digital Marketing Specialist at Bear Mountain Resort

That’s it!

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