The Protester’s Guide to Good Eats
Posted by Johnathon Vaughn on Monday, July 15th, 2013Tags for this Article: DTES, Gastown, protestors, restaurants, vancouver
I would like to personally thank the protestors of Gastown and Downtown East Side restaurants. If it were not for the haute couture balaclava clad fashions and poetic typographic masterpieces on placards, it may be difficult for visitors and residents alike to spot new eats in our neighbourhood. In the hustle and bustle of downtown life, you just might miss new openings and exciting contributions to our dining options. You know, quality fare, friendly service, and honest business people turning their dreams into realities.
Unfortunately reality bites for most Vancouver small business owners in the highly competitive market of the food and beverage industry. Getting the word out on the street about any new cafe, restaurant, or bar venture can be difficult. Especially so when you are opening in areas that are still suffering stretch marks and growing pains like the Downtown East Side (DTES). Not too long ago, a restaurant was DOA if it was EOA (East of Abbot). We saw the memorable Fat Dragon sacrifice itself as a pioneer of heading EOA and bringing attention to the wonderful history and architecture of the communities of Railtown, Japantown, and Strathcona. Fat Dragon has opened and closed but has blazed a trail for young entrepreneurs on tight budgets to compete today.
I love Gastown and the DTES. Immensely. I love seeing so much character, diversity, charm, struggle, and success play out in its daily drama. Sunrise over the DTES is striking, trust me. And I love the young, fresh talent bringing so many good eats and treats to the neighbourhood!
I took a tour of the neighbourhood I call home and enjoyed the lovely summer outfits of the protesters as they used their pickets and bandanas to shield themselves from the beautiful day and beaming smiles of local business owners. The morning began with breakfast at Save On Meats on Hastings Street where classic diner fare is served by warm, welcoming staff. My first meal here was over 35 years ago and it is a delight to see it continue buzzing with life and community outreach. For a morning coffee break, few places can provide as sweet a sugary pick me up than Cartem’s Donuterie, SW corner of Carrall and Hastings. Fantastic snacks by fantastic people. An espresso from East Van Roasters sealed the donut deal. Back to work for a bit before a lunch consisting of white wine and Okanagan peach sangria, pulled turkey sandwich, and kale salad in the new outdoor seating at Rainier Provisions, corner of Cordova and Carrall. Go and enjoy this wonderful new patio built by architect Michael Green. An afternoon of work, a hot shave at Dominion Barbers on Abbott, then off to Pidgin for a delicious, and perfectly executed, early evening cocktail created by the always smiling barman, Robyn Gray. But for dinner, I wanted something latin and feisty, so I followed the protestors changing of the guard from Pidgin to Cuchillo on Powell Street and was treated to a vibrant crowd of fellow fans relishing in food and folly. A sensuous honey and whiskey cocktail by Vancouver magazine’s Bartender of the Year, the man called ‘H’, was followed by a jicama salad and duck tacos. Perfect. Heading down Powell towards Gastown, I popped into the newly opened Bambudda, where I was greeted with open arms and friendly faces. The refreshing ‘Fitzgerald’ cocktail at the Bambudda bar that doubles as an inside patio was a delight. Finally, a nightcap at the excellent bar of L’Abattoir featuring the stunning cocktails of Shaun Layton, which always impress the tongue and tickle the liver. A lovely location to finish an evening of open conversation with other local residents.
So remember… Protesters are awesome! You can now use them as a culinary guide to the city and explore the incredible gems that hard working restaurateurs are creating just for you.
All images in this post © Johnathon Vaughn Strebly 2013
Posted on July 15th, 2013
Mark Busse says:
Nice one Johnathon! Totally with you on this.
Posted on July 15th, 2013
Kaishin Chu says:
Great post!
Posted on July 16th, 2013
Page Turner says:
I recently attended a birthday breakfast at save on and it was pretty terrible, cold and greasy. The waitress ignored our plates with napkins deposited in the middle of them for about 20 minutes. No offers of coffee refills. When she finally did pick up our plates she dropped mine on me dumping cutlery and grease on my shirt. No apology not a word. The dropped plate stayed on the floor, at my feet till we left. Not exactly a “fine diner” experience.
Posted on July 16th, 2013
tomservua says:
It’s too bad that Page Turner provides no names, no witnesses, no receipts, no photographs — no evidence of any kind to support her tall tale.
Given her views about Mark Brand, expressed so often elsewhere, it’s totally unlikely she would ever go to Save-On Meats in the first place.
She makes regular appearances at the Pidgin and Cuchillo pickets, and admits to hating all “gentrifying” restaurants. She would never, ever patronize them.
Her story is nonsense.
Posted on July 16th, 2013
tomservua says:
Anyone who still takes Page Turner seriously, and believes her whopper, need only check out what she posts online. She attacks “gentrifying” diners all the time. She is a chronic marcher on the Pidgin picket.
Here’s what she wrote on May 7 at 6:10am: “There is not ZERO support for the pickets. I’m there I see and talk to those who want to know what we are on about SOME actually join us when we tell them! Our numbers are growing and being heard.” SOURCE: http://scoutmagazine.ca/2013/01/04/diner-two-industry-veterans-set-to-open-cuchillo-eatery-on-the-dtes-this-spring/
This is someone who ate at Save-On Meats?
Page Turner doesn’t have an ounce of objectivity, nor an iota of credibility. Her claim is absurd and false. Just read what she writes elsewhere.
Or say hi to her as she marches on the picket line opposing Mark Brand.
Posted on July 17th, 2013
tomservua says:
It’s been twelve hours since Page Turner was caught.
She is a chronic Pidgin picketer who attacks all “gentrifying” restaurants. She is highly visible in that flock. She’s out there, and online, all the time.
She wanted us to believe that she had gone to Save-On Meats for a meal, and wanted us to believe that (objectively speaking), it was “terrible, cold and greasy”. She tried to tell us that the waitress “dumped cutlery and grease on my shirt”.
12 hours ago Page Turner was challenged to provide evidence for her ridiculous story. 12 hours later, we’re still waiting.
Her story was bogus, ideological BS, cold and greasy, from the beginning.
Next time, the chronic complainer Page Turner will have to post her “reviews” under another name… this time, she got caught.
Posted on July 17th, 2013
tomservua says:
It’s been 22 hours since fraudster Page Turner was caught.
She is a chronic Pidgin picketer who attacks all “gentrifying” restaurants. She flies in that flock. She’s out there, and online, all the time.
She wanted us to believe that she had gone to Save-On Meats for a meal, and wanted us to believe that it was “terrible, cold and greasy”. She tried to tell us that the waitress “dumped cutlery and grease on my shirt”.
22 hours ago Page Turner was challenged to provide evidence for her ridiculous story. 22 hours later, we’re still waiting. And waiting.
Her story was ideological BS, cold and greasy, from the beginning. A fanatic like her would never go to the restaurants she “hates”.
Next time, the chronic complainer Page Turner will have to post her “reviews” under another name. This time, she got caught — and she’s had 22 hours to substantiate her phoney claims.
She has not. She cannot. She will not. 22 hours, and counting…
Posted on July 19th, 2013
sylvia_maxwell says:
Excellent post and list. Couldn’t agree with you more.
Posted on July 26th, 2013
Brett Macfarlane says:
I loved this. It honestly would be helpful if one of the protesters complimented this article with their favourite places to eat. I presume they do eat, somewhere, if not these independently owned small businesses employing locals then where…