Time Out Market Media Preview Event
This last week Vancouver’s new luxury mall Oakridge Park officially opened. Part of the long awaited launch is Vancouver’s new Time Out Market. This is a food market set up like a food court. The concept is already popular in a handful of countries, including the first in Lisbon.
The idea is to bring together the best of Vancouver chefs and restaurants under one roof, sharing a single common space. This is to have it all accessible for a one of a kind mix and match dining experience. The convenience of a food court, but with the quality of cuisine befitting of the luxury brand boutiques surrounding it. Considering those shopping Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, and Rolex and what they would want to eat in between bouts of spending.
Therefore, keeping this in mind the variety and pricing matches that of the area. Nachos for $16, Quesadillas for $18, burgers for $40, Charcuterie boards for $80, etc. There were raw oysters, lobster noodles, and foie gras burgers. No two vendor stalls alike, 20 culinary concepts from both award-winning and rising chefs. Worth mentioning is that there are also bars serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktail. Here, it would have been nice to see them reach out to local brewers and distillers and get them into the space as well. To truly have this be the best of Vancouver from glass to plate.
01. ESPANA – SPANISH TAPAS & PAELLA
02. SANTO TACO – TAQUERIA
03. DOWNLOW – CHICKEN
04. BARNACLE – SEAFOOD BY BRAVO
05. VIA TEVERE – PIZZA & PANINO
06. FEENIE’S – GOURMET BURGERS
07. MAKAAM – MODERN ARTISAN THAI
08. LUNCH LADY – VIETNAMESE
09. MELLO – ARTISAN DONUTS
10. BOBA RUN – BOBA. TEA. MATCHA.
11. MEE BAR – CAMBODIAN BY CHANTHY YEN
12. BEAUCOUP BAKERY – CAFÉ
BEAUCOUP CREAMERY – DESSERT BAR
PIDGIN – MODERN ASIAN
15. BLND TGER – DUMPLING BAR
16. HERITAGE – CHINESE BBQ
17. PEACOCK -INDIAN BY VIKRAM VIJ
KISHIMOTO – JAPANESE
PASTA E BASTA – BY ASK FOR LUIGI
TIME OUT EXPRESS – GRAB & GO / GUEST SERVICES
We were invited to experience Vancouver’s first Time Out a day early and before it officially opened to the public, and saw massive crowds wanting a first look too. The following is what we had as a group of five, sharing our dishes so that we could try as much a possible from as many vendors as possible.
Mee Bar by Chanthy Yen is a Cambodian noodle bar. Here we had the Mee Kola, a stir-fried rice noodle bowl with your choice of grilled pork chop or shrimp, served with a deep fried taro roll, house-made pickles, sweet chilli sauce, and side of bone broth. I found the noodles flavourful as is with an even topping to noodle ratio, to keep each bite interesting. This was my favourite dish of the night and one that I would come back and order again.
Gastown’s Pidgin brought their modern Asian fusion to Oakridge tonight with two different dishes. The feature was their Foie Gras Rice Bowl with two large and creamy chunks of foie topping rice alongside daikon, chestnut, and an glaze. This was a hearty bowl best to be shared, where the rice was necessary to cut into the richer elements. It would have been nice to include a pickle or something bright and tangy on the side to offer breaks in between sumptuous bites. I did otherwise enjoy the dish and the rarity to see something so extravagant in such a setting.
For those who didn’t like goose liver, their alternative was a Lobster Dan Dan Noodle with Sichuan spices and sesame. The lobster was just the claw meat that crowned the bowl. I could have used more of it in the sauce and its meat shredded and intermingled in with the thick strands of noodles. The flavour doesn’t remind me of Dan Dan, but more sweet and spicy with a dull heat and mala flavours. Tasty with fun to twirl and slurp noodles.
Commercial Drives popular Lunch Lady now has its second location at Time Out. Tonight they were specializing on rice bowls, so we tried the non-vegetarian option of Iberico Pork on Rice. 6oz grilled coppa steak, pork crackling, green chilli sauce, steamed jasmine rice, scallion oil, fried free range egg, and a side of fish sauce. This was fresh and fragrant and to my tastes. There wasn’t anything that I didn’t like, the serving was classically done and offered plenty of texture variety, and complimentary flavours with the tangy and citrusy fish sauce bringing it all together. The pork was plentiful and the portion substantial. I liked the added layer of flavour and crunch the crackling gave the bites, this was rounded out with the side of shredded greens and pickled vegetable. And the rice and a fried egg made it feel like a fulsome meal.
Everyone’s favourite spot for fried chicken and sandos on The Drive is expanding their territory with this latest venture. The owner Doug was especially excited to be part of Time Out and his enthusiasm was contagious.
As an introduction to their food they had to serve their OG Sando, this is their classic Chicken Sando served with their DL Sauce, slaw, pickles, and pickled red onions; all on a potato bun. This was as delicious and just like how I remembered it, the last time I had it. I appreciate that it is always consistent. Thoroughly seasoned and spiced juicy chicken breast, crispy slaw for crunch, with the chewy bun to hold it all together.
To give this a more memorable mention for the day, they made this burger a combo with a side of baked dark meat chicken leg and Micro Ramen Chasu. The latter most was also chicken centric with chicken broth and chicken chashu, fresh ramen noodles, black garlic Nashville oil, scallions, pickled ginger, and mushrooms. This wasn’t like traditional ramen, but a rendition that only Downlow Chicken could pull together, making it distinctively them.
There was quite the stir surrounding Makaam by Steveston’s award winning modern Thai restaurant. To have their fine dining plates at a more relaxed and accessible counter. However I still found the food on the pricy side for a single serving and what is normally considered causal dining.
Tonight they presented their Fresh Noodle Pad Thai Wrapped in Omelette. This was a whimsical presentation of tamarind pad thai, wrapped like an open gift box with a rabbit river farm omelette. Prepared with aged tamarind water buffalo milk gouda, peanuts, bean sprouts, herbs, and chilli powder. Simple, clean, and as expected, but a tad on the salty side for my tastes.
One of the most historic names in the Vancouver’s culinary landscape Rob Feenie is bringing back his burgers with Feenie’s by Rob Feenie. Now the question is where does he have the time being semi-retire yet juggling between his time here and Le Crocodile?
Tonight he brought out the big guns with his Le Croc Burger, paying homage to everything above. This was a house ground 6oz wagyu patty, maple cured bacon, gruyere cheese, port wine braised mushrooms, and RF signature sauce, all on toasted brioche bun. As tasty and decadent as this sounded, but then kicked it up a notch with the add on of foie gras. The result was a towering burger in a robust jus. Saucy and messy in all the right ways, fun with hands in, but it is probably advised to go about it with knife and fork instead.
One of the city’s most beloved spots for pasta, Ask for Luigi makes an appearance as Pasta E Basta. Tonight their stall was helmed by consulting Executive Chef Alejandro whipping up the classic Cacio E Pepe, with their signature with Spaghettini, Pecorino, and Pepper. Best eaten warm when the cream is slick over each strand of pasta and the texture is perfectly tender.
No food court I have ever set foot in has oysters, so Barnacle by Bar Bravo with their raw bar over ice is an immediate stand out. We tried a couple in shell, dressed in mango habanero, pomegranate mignonette, and citrus.
Accompanying it was a couple of their Lobby Dogs. Like a corn dog with battered Atlantic lobster on a skewer, drizzled over with their “World Famous Remoulade”. The latter is exclusive and only available at Time Out Market Vancouver. We were all excited to try this reading its description, however didn’t get to it soon enough, so the dough was soggy and the sauces melted in. If I didn’t know it going in for a bite, I wouldn’t be able to tell there was any lobster at the centre of these small tubes.
The marketplace’s Mexican option is Santo Taco and we got a good look at what they are about with a set of their Brasa Birria Quesadillas. Each was a handmade flour tortilla pressed with a cheese crust and filled with cheese, braised beef, and house salsa. Served with a bowl of their beef consume as dip. Delicious and exactly as I wanted and had hoped for from this.
Another Vancouver celebrity chef, Vikram Vij also has his mark on Time Out with Peacock by Vikram Vij. He wasn’t present tonight, but his enthusiastic team was with Vikram’s Favourite Snack. This was a fusion take on butter chicken made with chicken schnitzel prepared in chilli oil, and then poured over with a tasty butter chicken sauce. I liked the modern take and enjoyed it as a quick and easy snack.
For sushi there is Kishimoto and tonight we got to try their Oshi Tasting Plate. A collection of Salmon Oshi, Unagi Oshi and Spicy Tuna Oshi with two pieces each. Soft and a little mashed, heavy with all the sauces and cream. It ate like a rice bowl in a rectangular format.
We ended it there, too full for any dessert or drinks, knowing we would have to come back for part two and try all of that.
Overall, I like the concept and think that it does serve the new mall, as well as being a good pull to the area, much like how most food courts are in any mall. However, for the price asked, which tend to be no different than what is listed on their restaurant’s menu, I would prefer visiting the restaurant. To have that more intimate setting as a diner. To be able to enjoy the full dine out experience from seated service and hospitality, to the unique setting and decor, and on to the camaraderie of dining with others who have the same taste and appreciation for that establishment as you do.
I did appreciate how large the general seating area was. With vaulted ceiling and sky light making the room feel even more expansive, plus the well spaced apart tables.
I am curious to see how this endures the test of time. Will any repairs be done in a timely manner and if the room will feel as glossy and as glamours as it did today, a year later (having never experienced any other Time Out concept).
Time Out Market Vancouver
Oakridge Park
650 W 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Vancouver, BC V5Z 2M9, Canada
