Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

Category Archives: Eating Out


by Leave a comment

Eating Out in RC: Ananda Bhavan Dosa Villa

Ananda Bhavan
Dosa Villa
2269 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC V5N 2Z9
604-336-5666
anandabhavanbc.com

BY PAUL REIDdosa

I am pleased to announce another fine edition to our community’s already diverse line-up of stellar culinary establishments. Just west of Nanaimo Street, on the north side of Kingsway, complete with parking both in front and underground, you will find Ananda Bhavan Dosa Villa. Just recently acquired by chef “Vicky” (you can call him Venkatesan Kaliyamoo), Ananda Bhavan now specializes in dosas – that amazing treat from India’s southern region.

Vicky has the restaurant nicely decorated: comfortable, simple, clean. Vicky suggested the Chicken 65 ($7.50) as my appetizer and the Southern Spicy Ravala Masala Dosa ($10.25) also caught my eye. Vicky took some time to make sure he understood just how spicy I could handle. Though I do love it spicy, I know from experience that Indian cuisine does need some respect in this department. You probably don’t want to say “as spicy as you can.”

Chicken 65We settled on medium spicy and that turned out to be perfect for me. The Chicken 65 was amazing. Bite-sized pieces of the most delectable chicken with two delicious accompanying sauces: one more spicy, and one to cool it down. I believe I detected some coconut in there.

My Spicy Ravala Masala Dosa was also excellent and came with more of those sauces that Vicky prepares fresh each morning; also, a nice lentil soup. I was in spicy heaven. Thank goodness for the cool mango milkshakes ($3.95) to help wash it all down. Can you say – “I’ll be back?”

Vicky is from Tamil Nadu. This is the region at the very southern tip of India. Inspired by the cooking of his parents, Vicky attended culinary school in India and has been a chef now for over 16 years. Dosa Villa is his first restaurant as owner.

“I come in a few hours before we open each day and create everything fresh,” he says. “Fresh ingredients and everything prepared each morning.” Having just put in a new stove and grill to cook the giant dosas, Vicky is ready to cook his way into our hearts.

Also on the menu you will find, in addition to Chicken 65, a nice assortment of appetizers: vadai, pakoda, spicy chicken wings, samosas. There is a long list of the house specialty, dosas, that I cannot wait to be back to try. Perhaps the Prawn Masala Dosa or Lamb Vindaloo Dosa.

Idli, another southern India specialty, is a savoury cake made from rice and black lentils that is apparently easy to digest and good for the stomach. There is a long list of vegetarian dishes, as well as tandoori, chicken, seafood and biryani dishes.

In addition to this wide selection of appetizers and entrees, you will find hot teas and coffees; cold beverages such as a kulfi float, lassis, milkshakes and soft drinks; and for dessert, sweets such as gulab jamun and kesari.

Open from 11 am to 11 pm on Mondays to Thursdays, and from 11 am to 3 am (that’s late!) on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, you can have an excellent lunch or dinner at Dosa Villa any day of the week. Bon appetit!

Copyright (c) 2016 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


by Leave a comment

November 2016 issue of RCC News is here

RCC News November 2016

This issue of the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News is full of the many wonderful people, events and programs happening in our neighbourhood!

Get your latest issue of the RCC News at your local coffee shop, grocery store, library and community centre.

Or click on the cover image to view the new issue.

In this issue:

  • Remembering (with) Collingwood Legion Branch #48
  • Toast to Mike McLenaghen
  • What students say about local homelessness
  • Reflections on salmon returning to Still Creek
  • Eating Out in RC: Ananda Bhavan Dosa Villa
  • Windermere organic gardeners grow fruit, veggies and community

Do you have a local story to tell or an event to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca.

The deadline for the December 2016 issue is November 10. We welcome story submissions from 300 to 400 words long. Accompanying photos must be high resolution in a jpg file at least 1 MB large and include a photo caption and the name of the photographer.


by 1 Comment

Eating Out in RC: Off the Grid Waffles

Strawberry Chocolate Waffle

Tis the season for fresh strawberry and chocolate waffles. Photos by Paul Reid

2665 Kingsway, Vancouver
778-996-1812
Monday-Friday 2-11 pm | Saturday 11 am-12 am | Sunday 11 am-11 pm

BY PAUL REID

Dear reader. Greetings and welcome to yet another fine instance of Eating Out in RC. This time, we journey across the street from Norquay Park on Kingsway to a place next door to where our beloved Wally’s once existed. Can you picture it? Now, see yourself entering into the door of a new establishment called Off the Grid Waffles.

That’s what my accomplice and I did for the first time this July. I am so happy to say that Off the Grid Waffles is a big, big hit! Not only was it packed on the two occasions that I was there, but that seems to be the word out on the net.

So what’s all the fuss about? Take a look at these waffles. And they are as delectable as they are beautiful. The pizza waffles are perhaps not so dazzling, but they are delicious.

Pizza waffle

Try the savoury pizza waffles such as the Smoked Salmon or Montreal Smoked Meat.

“This is just a place for snacks,” my wife said. After she couldn’t finish her Smoked Salmon waffle, let alone the strawberry-chocolate waffle for dessert, I think she stood corrected. Yes, you can make a full meal out of waffles. My Montreal Smoked Meat Pizza waffle was pretty damn good as well.

So yes, start with a savoury waffle: Grilled Chicken Breast; Montreal Smoked Meat; Spicy Chicken with Bacon; Pulled Pork; Cheeseburger or Smoked Salmon. And then, finish it off with a heavenly dessert waffle: Cheesecake; S’Mores; Tiramisu; Banana Nutella, Matcha Cheesecake, or as we had, the seasonal Strawberry Chocolate.

For drinks, you might want to try one of Off the Grid’s specialty shakes: Matcha, Cappuccino, Maple Bacon, Oreo, Chocolate Banana and Strawberry. There are also specialty drinks, teas, cappuccinos, lattes and free water.

The owners of the shop are Raymond Fong and Hurley Wu. “This is our first restaurant. We grew up in this neighbourhood, which is why we chose to open here.” The official opening was in January 2016.

Yes, the prices are decent (nothing over $9 dollars), the service is good (considering how much work goes into each creation) and did I mention Jenga – yes – each table comes with this fun skill testing game to keep us happy while our  delicious waffles are being prepared. Bon appetit.

Copyright (c) 2016 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News