Today we were enjoying brunch at one of the most picturesque patios in North Vancouver. For the next two Sundays (July 20th and 27th) Pier 7 is featuring a specialty cocktail menu centred around coffee flavoured rum, Cloud House. This easy going spirit is made in Columbia with Columbian coffee beans.
The aforementioned drink menu features four espresso cocktails and the option to enjoy the already tasty Cloud House as is, on the rocks, or mixed with tonic. The latter is like a spiked Americano.
A few of the cocktails had the option to be smoked in a box for an added depth to your flavour. Smelling before tasting, it was certainly worth the show.
Cloud House on the Rocks is Cloud House on ice with a Purdy’s chocolate coin on the side.
The classic espresso martini is made Cloud House style with this Cloudy Martini with Cloud House, rum, and espresso.
I really enjoyed the richness Cloud House gave the familiar Negroni. Cloud House, gin, sweet vermouth, and Select Aperitivo smoked.
For something sweeter the Jungle Bird was a good choice. Cloud House, pineapple juice,
Select Aperitivo, and lime.
I liked the ability to enjoy a limited edition, one day a week only cocktail menu, but also wish there were dishes that paired with the above, to have the experience be all the more richer. Dishes edited to compliment the aroma of Cloud House, or made with the spirit in a sauce or dip.
Instead, we ordered from Pier 7’s regular brunch menu, picking out what we wanted to eat.
We started with their Prawn Cocktail, six giant citrus poached tiger prawn, served with lemon and a cocktail sauce for dipping. A light and refreshingly satisfying start. It just seemed right to have seafood against this ocean view.
My guest and I each ordered one of their Egg Benedicts with four different options to choose from and a handful of add-ons possible to make it your own.
The Smoked Salmon Benny was two poached eggs, garlic & butter toasted english muffins, smoked salmon, whipped lemon dill mascarpone, marinated tomato, and a chive hollandaise. This was amazing, from the flavour of the fresh fish and complimentary bold dill to the buttery chewy base, to the perfectly poached eggs. When I crave a delicious Benny this would be the one I repeat.
Typically the bennies come with crispy brunch potatoes, but we opted in for the add-on substitution of Truffle Hashbrowns instead. Crispy brunch potatoes but to it add parmesan, truffle, and a side of confit garlic aioli for dipping. These smashed potatoes were best with a dunk in both the aioli and ketchup. Each nugget potato was perfectly soft at the centre with a crispy shell, I cleaned my plate of these.
The Crab cake was more subtle by comparison. Two poached eggs, garlic & butter toasted english muffins, crispy lemon & herb crabcakes, avocado mousse, and citrus dressed arugula chive hollandaise. You got freshness from the avocado and peppered greens, and the gooey yolk offered richness that paralleled the cream sauce. The flavour of the crab mix was but a whisper, as a result.
For those unfamiliar, this was a lovely way to discover Cloud House. For me this was a nice way to start the day. I always associate mimosas and caesars with brunch time drinking and honestly don’t look to the espresso martinis enough. Mostly during happy hour as a mid day pick me up. That was until today, after all coffee and mornings just make sense.
Once again, you have two more Sundays to check out this brunch series. Make your reservations now for July 20th and/orb27th, 2025. Worth coming down for the views, live music and drinks alone.
PIER 7 Restaurant + Bar
25 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver, BC V7L OB9
(604) 929-7437
pierseven.ca
