Blue Fox Breakfast

Breakfast is the most remarkably versatile meal of the day. Sweet and savory flavors mix together and create tantalizing dishes that make the stomach rumble. Despite my rather strong dislike of mornings, I truly enjoy a good breakfast restaurant. While in Victoria with my sister recently I was lucky enough to discover the Blue Fox Café. We arrived as they opened and were surprised to see the small crowd waiting outside. Somehow I believed that 8 am on a Sunday would be quiet, but the café was filled with good cheer and alluring smells.  

We were seated right away and offered organic coffee or a variety of teas. In retrospect I wish I had sampled the red chili mocha, but my earl grey tea was still delicious. The menu is filled with mouthwatering choices such as the Moroccan Chicken Benny (Moroccan spiced chicken breast, mushrooms, onions, sweet apple chutney, and hollandaise) and the Oranges del Sol French toast (cinnamon scented toast, vanilla velvet sour cream sauce, triple sec syrup, and fresh orange segments). When it came time to make a decision, my sister Tamra and I both went for the Huevos Rancheros. It can be somewhat risky ordering Mexican food in the Pacific Northwest, but the Blue Fox Café definitely impressed me.

Two fresh over easy eggs with beautiful dark orange yolks covered in spicy refritos, melted cheddar and jack cheese, avocado, and salsa; served with pan-fried potatoes and the option of chicken breast or pulled pork. I chose the pulled pork and was impressed by the large amount of food brought to us. The flavors were perfect, albeit less spicy than I would prefer. The pulled pork was rich in flavor although next time I may try the chicken, or just stick with the huevos on their own. The meal was filling and I was very sad to leave some of the delicious potatoes on my plate. Luckily the café serves breakfast all day so I can return without time constraints. For any breakfast lover, this is one restaurant not to miss.
   

Summer Salsas

With my home state currently in flames and my adopted province being drizzled in rain, I haven’t had many opportunities for summer enjoyment this week. Luckily, I am always just one grocery trip away from New Mexican summer fun in the kitchen.  My food addictions are vast and delicious, but there is nothing better than a fresh batch of guacamole and pico de gallo. Since moving to Vancouver most of my salsas have been fairly mild, but Urban Fare finally came through with some amazingly spicy jalapenos! I learned this pico de gallo recipe from the wonderful Chef Michelle at Santa Fe Community College. It is an adaptable ratio that can be used for large groups as well as small gatherings.

Pico de Gallo

2 tomatoes

1 jalapeno

¼ bunch cilantro

¼ onion

1 lime (juiced)

salt

pepper

• Mince jalapenos and chop tomatoes, cilantro, and onion to desired size. 
• Add the lime juice, salt and pepper.

Guacamole

3 avocados

3 large spoonfuls of pico de gallo (above)

½ tsp cumin

salt

pepper

• Mash the avocados using a fork. 
• Combine with pico de gallo and cumin. Check seasoning and add salt and pepper as desired.

Lolita's

One of the biggest problems with my move to Vancouver has been the lack of high quality Mexican food. There are plenty of Mexican fusion places and a few chain burrito shops, but traditional Mexican food is difficult to find. When I first moved here I was told that Lolita’s has the best Mexican food in the city. For months I postponed visiting, primarily because of the high cost, but finally I caved in to the allure of margaritas and good food. 

First I should say that Lolita’s is not really a traditional Mexican restaurant. Although they have several traditional dishes, most menu items involve Pacific Northwest ingredients such as albacore tuna, B.C. salmon, and ling cod. Since I was on a mission to find true Mexican food, I stuck with traditional items such as carne asada and achiote chicken tacos, guacamole, and chips. The food was excellent and the portions were large. The chips were made fresh and I could not stop eating them. The guacamole had good flavor and was clearly made fresh, and the bean dip was a pleasant surprise. Both of the tacos had excellent flavor, but were unfortunately drowning in red cabbage coleslaw, which was delicious on its own, but did not belong on tacos.

In the end I can say that Lolita’s deserves a positive review, but has some key kinks to work out. Mexican food is meant to be an inexpensive treat, but at Lolita’s the prices are higher than I would like to pay. My search is for traditional Mexican food with flair and a reasonable price tag. At Lolita’s the food is delicious, but I strongly believe that there is better Mexican food to be found in Vancouver at a much lower price.