Vancouver Good

Located on W. 10th enroute to UBC, between Tolmie and Discovery, West Point Grey Village is so far west, it usually falls off my radar!

My friend suggested we brunch and walk the village last weekend, and we had a great time. West Point Grey Village features a mix of excellent stores, restaurants, and great food shops. Here are some highlights from our  afternoon:

Brunch was at Provence Mediterranean Grill (4473 W. 10th Ave), a nice spot for a quiet weekend brunch. We dug into lamb panini, French inspired vegetarian eggs benedict, and a fluffy omelettes. The egg dishes come with the awesome breakfast potatoes, which are deliciously bad for you…fried until crisp and then sauteed in butter.

After brunch, we headed across the street to Mix the Bakery (4430 W. 10th Ave.) and picked up a couple loaves of their famous Super Grain bread. The bakery sells out of certain breads fast, so call ahead and reserve a loaf if you can’t get there in the morning.

With the Super Grain bread safely tucked away, we leisurely walked the ‘hood. Some of our favourite places:

The Natural Gardener (4376 W. 10th Ave.) – I’ve taken a few gardening courses here and always like browsing the plants and gardening supplies here. For a complete novice like me, this store is very helpful.

Tenth & Proper (4483 W. 10th Ave) – a store filled with beautiful, feminine clothing and dresses.

T-Room (4445 W. 10th Ave). – part tea and baked goods cafe, part  kitchenware store, there’s something for any foodie here.

Urban Yarns (4421 W. 10th Ave) – I’m no knitter, but I’ve met an inordinate amount of friends at this store – all of them looking for good yarn. The store also teaches knitting classes.

Moricotta (4429 W. 10th Ave) – Expensive but beautiful Italian and European housewares.

Sasamat Seafood and Sushi Market (4515 W. 10th ave) – A small seafood shop that also makes sushi trays to order with fresh fish brought in daily from Japan.

The Butcher on 10th (4529 W. 10th) – Great butcher shop with good quality meats and good selections of sausages and pates.

Pane e Formaggio (4532 W. 10th) – This shop is near the end of the strip, across from Safeway, but don’t miss it. It’s an Italian artisan bakery, cafe, and grocer. Browse the shop and have some fresh gelato while picking up a selection of cheese, meats, and fresh bread. I also picked up a light and crunchy pine nut cookie for the walk back to the car.

My friend and I will return to West Point Grey Village again. It was a great spot to spend some calm time together while brunching, shopping, and walking.