Grab your forks and dig in. The good eats just keep on coming to the coast.
JAMJAR CANTEEN
JAMJAR OWNER FADI EID MOVED TO HALFMOON BAY IN 2020 AND BROUGHT THE TASTE OF THE MIDDLE EAST TO SECHELT
Who doesn’t love falafels? Crispy on the outside, smooth on the inside, brought together with savoury spices and formed into perfect balls. Now imagine them nestled along with hummus, Muttabel (a creamy, garlic roasted eggplant dip), and cabbage salad, then topped with tahini based Tarator dressing. And it’s both vegan and gluten-free. Jamjar’s menu is a delectable mix of Lebanese staples that is sure to keep you coming back for more. Also on the menu are favourites such as Baked Chicken Shawarma, marinated in a tangy lemon, garlic, and yogurt marinade. And Mujadra, a lentil and black bean stew with Fadi’s unique blend of spices makes for a comforting and satisfying meal.
Traditionally, Lebanese food is plant heavy, so it’s easy to offer people choices to meet their personal eating preferences, whether vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free. The meat options are all hormone-free and halal. Lebanese food consists of fresh, simple ingredients that rely heavily on spices, but without the heat. All options come as a wrap or bowl. Fadi believes in using only the freshest local ingredients and cooking with love. His restaurant in Sechelt makes 80% of the food for all his restaurants, both on and off Coast.
Have you ever wanted to cook Middle Eastern cuisine at home? Sign up for Fadi’s cooking demos, where you will learn how to make three Middle Eastern dishes to spice up your home cooking repertoire. All demos have a sit-down dinner at the end, so you can connect with others and enjoy. Jamjar also carries Lebanese grocery items, so it’s easy to find ingredients to make your dishes at home.
Each weekend Jamjar offers a dinner series serving up to six for a family style Lebanese meal to share. This is a great way spend time with family and friends while Fadi serves up his traditional Lebanese cuisine. Jamjar is located at 5530 Wharf Ave in Sechelt. Find out more about the cooking lessons and dinner series at jamjarcanteen.ca.
THE MAD HEN
RISE AND SHINE! GIBSONS NOW HAS A BREAKFAST-DEVOTED RESTAURANT
Ray Roach and Jennifer Baek used to own the very successful Cimona Cafe in Steveston. Then five years ago, they came to the Sunshine Coast to visit friends. They knew that weekend they would one day make Gibsons their home. With almost two years of weekend renovations, The Mad Hen was hatched.
This old-fashioned, ma and pa’s, 50s style diner serves up all your favourite breakfast foods: bennies, omelettes, egg sandwiches, breakfast wraps, pancakes, and French toast. There is also The Caveman Breakfast and a Sunshine Coast Hash loaded with homemade hash browns, two poached eggs, chorizo, Montreal smoked meat, onions, bell pepper, and hollandaise. Second breakfast please!
They also offer a delicious assortment of burgers, all house-made and grilled on an open flame: the Harbour Fish Burger, Mushroom Head Burger, and “Not An Island” Burger are all on the menu, along with tempting salads and sandwiches. Of course, there are other familiar items that you would expect from a diner: ice cream floats, milkshakes, and who says you can’t have a banana split for breakfast?
Jennifer and Ray source as many products from local businesses as possible. Their salad greens come from area farms. Beer and ciders are from around town, and tea is from the prized Davis Bay Teas.Once the weather cooperates, they will have a large deck out front to accommodate the slew of people clamoring for a great breakfast place to call their own.
What are you waiting for? “Get Crack’n” and head down to The Mad Hen, 316 Gower Point Road in Gibsons, for your next best breakfast.
