Did you know that Commercial Drive is hosting a comedy show this Saturday? With two time slots, the earlier 7pm showing is already sold out, and there are still a few remaining for the 9:30-11pm one.
This is Comedy on the Drive, featuring a lineup of established Vancouver comedians at the historic York Theatre. This includes Yumi Nagashima with her dry, clever, and sometimes dark humour. Damonde Tschritter who focuses on observational comedy and storytelling. Johnny Perrotta who regales the crowd with his personal stories and lively, character-driven humour. Chris Griffin known for his outrageous real-life stories and punchlines. Gio Rizz, who gets a rise from his edgy jokes about marriage, family and relationships. And Reza Peyk who brings high energy comedy about culture, immigration and relationships.
The show as a whole is set up like a traditional stand-up comedy night with several performers, one after another. The later the show often means the more the humour includes adult language, mature themes, and unfiltered material. So in short, a good time.
On top of the show itself, Commerical Drive and event showrunners are hosting a “Laugh & Dine” promotion. If you show your comedy ticket at participating businesses, on the day of the comedy show, you can take advantage of their special in restaurant or bar offer that includes food and drink before and/or after the show. Such promotions gives ticket holders a very good reason to make a night of things.
One of these participating restaurants is JamJar, which we were at today. They are offering 15% off dine in orders on Saturday, October 24, for the Comedy on the Drive. Here, alcohol is not included, but all their Lebanese food, including hummus, mezze, shawarma, and falafel are.
We were visiting a few days earlier to remind ourselves of the deliciousness that this canteen offers. We came for lunch, but were thankfully able to order from off of the dinner menu, which I am more familiar with and has my favourite items on.
I know and love them for their hummus, all made in house. And every season they do two specialty flavours, one savoury and one sweet. This month it was a cilantro and a mango. Admittedly I could have used more of the promised flavours. As is it wasn’t much unlike the regular humus, topped with crispy chickpeas for easy identification. In the past I remembered them being more punchier. Nonetheless I still enjoyed each, without being able to tell them apart by taste, with their warm pita for dipping with.
Another one of my favourites and a must is their Makali, which is deep fried cauliflower coated in a pomegranate molasses. A few other places offer it, but none as good as how they do it here. The florets remain crispy and the sauce isn’t too sweet as to overwhelm. It has a hit of sweetness that plays off well with the tart pomegranate seeds. This never disappoints.
For those new to the cuisine, the Tabblieh (The Board) is a great share style appetizer to order, aa it offers a little of everything. Seasoned olives, pickled baby eggplants, feta, original hummus, beet dip, mohamarra, and muttabel. This is a combination of all their appetizers, but in smaller portions.
More of the Original Hummus, not that I was complaining, I love this creamy chickpea dip. The Beet Dip was the one that was neon fuchsia, dyed from the beets and mixed with tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. A little on the sweet side, comparatively. The Mohammara is a roasted red pepper and walnut dip with pomegranate molasses. It had a more punchy roasted quality to it. And the Muttabel is a more mild roasted eggplant dip with tahini, lemon, and garlic.
I liked the pita dressed in sauces and topped with onion, it reminded me of a pizza in look and went well as is, or as another base for all our collection of dips.
Another way to get a little bit of everything, but as two courses with entree is the Lebanese Feast for $89 for two people. It starts off similar to the board with more of their house made pita, hummus, spicy red pepper and walnut dip, smoked eggplant dip; and the same Makdous, pickled eggplants that we had above. You also get an order of their Fattoush Salad. This is a refreshing mix of cucumber, radish, romaine, tomato, green pepper, pita crisps, and pomegranate dressing. The chips were my favourite part. A lovely crunch to contrast the crisp greens and juicy vegetable for a refreshing side. This would be the appetizer and you got to choose five more smaller plates from a list of ten, to customize your feast. All of which were available as full servings from the hot mezze menu, but this way you get to try it all, to know what you like and need to get next time.
The Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder was our number one pick. Pulled lamb shoulder roasted in pomegranate and spices until falling off the bone. The smaller version too included the sides of tahini, tangy cilantro sauce, pita, tomatoes, and pickles. On the heavier side, the pickles and raw vegetable helped to add some freshnessx and the sauce some acid to cut into the richness of spices and oils.
Here the Grilled Chicken was one whole chicken leg instead of two on the regular menu. It is basted in their shawarma marinade and served with seven spice veggies, hummus, and whipped garlic sauce. The meat was so tender that it literally fell off the bone. Together with its sides this ate like a whole meal. Roasted sweet peppers and more of the hummus that goes with everything.
The Makanik felt like breakfast. Seared seven spice lamb sausages in a cast iron skillet, topped with homemade pickles, tomatoes, and pomegranate molasses. Tasty, but it felt like it was incomplete as is, but nothing a healthy smear in hummus can’t fix.
We wanted the Beef Kibbeh, which are traditional Lebanese meatballs, but they were out. So instead we got our beef grounded and sprinkled over a dip of pinenuts, walnuts, and mint yogurt sauce. Served with three large crispy pita chips for dipping into. I could have used more because without them eating this was like a beef and garlic parfait.
We unexpectedly really liked the Cheese Rolls. They were rolled and folded like spring rolls, already sitting in a bed of pressed yoghurt, beside fresh tomatoes. Each of the two rolls were stuffed with feta, akawi, and halloumi cheese. Best eaten warm, the cheese wasn’t stringy, but the shell was crispy. This would make for a great passed canapé. Tasty even when slightly cooled.
And since we were going for the full experience we tried a couple of their advertised traditional shots under the title Beirit Beverages. The Doudou – ‘doo-doo’ is a shot for a celebratory evening. This was a mix of chilled vodka, lemon, hot sauce, and olive that helped to wake us up.
Ordering an Arak – ‘ar-ack’ promised to have us drinking like a local. It is a strong anise flavoured spirit that you mix alongside ice and water. Do so had it changing colour from clear to a milky white. The flavour reminded me of liquorice, which is not my preference. It made for a better digestive than something to accompany the meal.
But the most unexpected cocktail was the Coconut Washed Whiskey Sour with clarified whiskey, lemon, orange bitters, and a sangria float. I was expecting a clear cocktail, but what came to the table was a milky number in look and mouth feel. Creamy, foamy, and citrusy. This was easy drinking and nothing that a know a whiskey sour to be.
In short, I am never disappointed by a meal at JamJar and, can totally recommend them for your next visit to Commercial Drive. Especially during the comedy show this Saturday, October 24th with 15% off all food.
JamJar Canteen
2290 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC V5N 4B5
604-252-3957
jamjarcanteen.ca
