Meandering around Vancouver neighbourhoods is my favourite way to spend an afternoon. All of the neighbourhoods are distinct with their own personality, community, vibe, aesthetic and food. Love Your City is a new initiative launched in collaboration with 16 Business Improvement Associations.
I absolutely adore French cafés for their laid back atmosphere, delicious pastries and cute aesthetics. South Granville's newest addition is no exception. Marché Mon Pitou will give you major "Emily In Paris" the surprise Netflix hit show.
The cafe shines bright like a rich green emerald set in yellow gold, a bold colour scheme. My favourite design element is the use of Pitou, the owner's adorable English bulldog as the cafés official mascot. Marché Mon Pitou is more than just a café, it is a triple threat as a grocer and bistro too. The space inside is small boasting a massive central table that was overflowing with baskets of fresh produce leaving three tiny tables for indoor seating.
Nothing says "I Love You" like pizza and beer! With just a few days to go until Valentine's day, Pizzeria Farina is stretching dough into the shape of a heart to share with your sweetheart and to complete your romantic night, every order comes with Italian Peroni Beer.
The team behind Pizzeria Farina are juggernauts in Vancouver's Italian food scene. Sister restaurants include Ask for Luigi and Caffé Di Beppe, both of which I have dined at multiple times, so I can attest to their deliciousness! The original Pizzeria Farina is on the cusp of Chinatown and will be celebrating their 9th birthday on August 18th! The team at Farina take pride in their Italian pies and swear the secret to a stellar pizza is striking the delicate balance between the dough, sauce and toppings because if there are too many toppings, the flavour of the dough gets lost. Now of course, the foundation to all good food is high quality ingredients. Their Northern Italian-inspired pizzas start with a base of local Anita's organic flour which is mixed with rye and red fyfe. After a 24-hour fermentation period, the dough has deepened in flavour and is ready for toppings. Farina's tomato sauce is made with Italian San Marzano tomatoes and flavoured with salt, pepper, garlic and chilli flakes.
