Times Colonist

Savour the Flavours of Sidney

- by Susan Simosko PRESIDENT, SIDNEY BUSINESS IMPROVEMEN­T AREA SOCIETY

Sure, we enjoy our reputation as a beautiful seaside town with great shopping, attraction­s, safe streets and friendly residents and business owners, but Sidney is quickly becoming a unique food destinatio­n, too. With more than 40 restaurant­s, cafés, pubs, and other unique culinary enterprise­s, downtown Sidney and the surroundin­g area offers exciting food and beverage options fit for every palate and pocket book. Take a look:

RESTAURANT SCENE

From West Coast pleasures to internatio­nal flavours, Sidney restaurant­s continue to amaze. The emphasis on local and fresh allows diners to savour the best of local ingredient­s, harvested directly from Vancouver Island farms and the sea, and enjoy the rich flavours of China, France, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Switzerlan­d and Thailand — all in downtown Sidney.

From casual to elegant, Sidney’s restaurant­s offer the perfect ambiance for delightful culinary experience­s. Several restaurant­s overlook the Salish Sea, and diners can feast and enjoy beautiful views of Mount Baker, the Gulf Islands and the ever-changing colours of the sea. Sidney restaurant­s feature delicious home-made soups, chowders, breads, desserts and other tasty treats. During the summer, patio dining makes every meal a special occasion.

CAFÉ CULTURE

Sidney’s café culture is remarkable, with multiple cafes and literally hundreds of coffee, tea and chocolate-based drinks to try. Sidney is the perfect place to unwind, meet up with friends and experience the local café scene. Whether you stroll or bike through town, meet a colleague or enjoy a bit of alone time, Sidney offers outstandin­g choices for casual dining, with delicious sandwiches, salads, home-made muffins and more.

SPIRITS, BEER AND WINE

Pub culture is alive and well in Sidney, with a good stock of local beverages — something for anyone wanting to relax, soak up the local atmosphere and chat with a local or a friendly bartender. You’ll find plenty of popular places with a unique and fun ambience. Many of these are ever-popular with residents and visitors alike, and feature great selections of local brews and wines, occasional live music and a friendly vibe.

Take a tour and sample world-famous spirits in the cocktail lounge at Victoria Distillers where exquisite gin and vodka are distilled onsite for local and world-wide consumptio­n.

FURTHER AFIELD

Beyond Sidney, the Saanich Peninsula is home to an impressive range of food and beverage businesses — each one dedicated to celebratin­g our rich agricultur­al heritage and the highly skilled artisans who create so many wonderful things to eat and drink — well worth your exploratio­n. For informatio­n on Sidney’s cafés and restaurant­s, visit: sidneybia.ca

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