2026: A New Food Year

It’s early in the New Year of 2026 and as I look in the review mirror at 2025, I took a peek  at my post called On the First Month of New Years my True Love Gave to Me (which you can find at  https://wcfoodie.com/on-the-first-month-of-new-years-my-true-love-gave-to-me/).   This was the post where I wanted to try a new restaurant every month for the year.  Well, looking back at this list, it doesn’t look like I did very well.  It appears like I scored a 5 out of 12.  I am no math magician but I am pretty sure Sheldon would call that a failure.     

The 2025 challenge in review:  

Go Fish:  This was for fish and chips and well, we didn’t make it.    

Caffe La Tana:  This was my Lady & The Tramp analogy given my love for Italian cuisine.  Didn’t make it here either but will keep it on the list for potential attempts this year.    

Continental Seafood:  We actually were out on an adventure on the weekend and checked out this place: we enjoyed a mix of Dim Sum and the regular menu. Despite being a bit pricey, definitely worth it. The shrimp spring rolls and shrimp dumplings were exceptional, as was the sautéed beef with gai lan and the BBQ pork. 

Nightingale:  Another missed 2025 opportunity.  Maybe in 2026?  

Italian Kitchen:  Another disappointing fail for someone who says she should have married into the mob for her love of the Italian cuisine.    

H2 Kitchen and Bar:  This one is on me.  I want so desperately to take my son-in-law here and watch him get the meat sweats LOL.  He has a healthy appetite, and I know he loves BBQ.  So, if we don’t make it here with him before hubby is posted back, this may have to be a gift card for the kids next time they are over to the mainland for a concert or outing.    

Sempreo Uno:   SUCSESS!  We went to this place for our anniversary back in May.  While it was good, it left me wanting for something.  It was not the Il Terrazzo of Vancouver as I had imagined.  And yes, it had, and I did the duck off the menu.    

Il Terrazzo:   If you think for one minute I wasn’t going to get to Il Terrazzo last year, then you don’t know me at all.  We enjoyed this venue after Christmas, and it wasn’t disappointing.  In fact, I now have a new gift card for this place (thx Susan) and there will of course be a repeat visit in my future!  

Water St Cafe:   This was not a priority as I had already been but still warrants a visit if we can.    

Jam Cafe:  Honestly, brunch out is not something we do out together often, so I am not surprised that we didn’t make it here.  In saying that, it is a new year, so fingers crossed on this one.   

Pho Zen Vietnamese Cuisine Restaurant:  We tried a few different places for Pho and this was not one of them.  We usually end up at V-Nam Vietnamese Cuisine around the corner. Simple, unpretentious and walking distance from the place in Van.  I therefore deem this a pass because we found a place where we truly enjoyed Pho and that became the go to when we were starting to feel under the weather or craving something warm and hearty by way of soup.    

Appolonia Greek Restaurant:  This place was a substitute for my search for the Hallifax inspired Donair/Gyro!  And let’s just face it; I don’t believe there is anything that comes close to the Halifax inspired goodie.  While there is probably some dissention between me and Will, I go with Big Bite Donair in Lynn Valley.  I too am considering this one a success even though Appolonia was not visited.  It will stay on the list for protentional “Greek”  

Any way you look at, this was a dismal 41.66% score on my 12-month dining experience.  But in truth, I think it is because when we found some other gems, mostly local to North Van, we just kept going back.   #Jägerhof Restaurant, #Burnaby Palace Restaurant, #Farine a Legna #Chicken Box, #C-Lovers Fish & Chips. 

2026 is a new food year.  Who knows what will happen!