One of Victoria's best places for dinner...

is now open for lunch on Friday and Saturdays from 11:30-2pm. Go check out their locally inspired menu and experience their great service and delicious food.

Dragon Divas Calendar Signing

We are so excited about this. On Saturday, October 17th, the fabulous women of the Cowichan Valley Dragon Divas dragon boat racing team will be at Charelli's signing their new calendar.  To elaborate on why this is so exciting, some of you may remember the 2003 film Calendar Girls...   the Dragon Divas are the Island's own phenomenally spirited women fighting for an extremely important cause. Each Diva is currently living with, or has lived through, breast cancer, and they have fully committed themselves to promoting breast cancer awareness.  Their calendar is an absolute blast and not to be missed. Please have a look through their site, and if you can make it on Saturday the Dragon Divas and the Cheese Chicks would love to see you. As an added bonus, we'll be barbecuing tasty European hot dogs - proceeds go to this amazing cause.

The Details Are:
Saturday, October 17th at our place. (The cheese shop.)
10.00am - 2.00pm
Cost per calendar: $20

Christmas Spirit Rocks

Most of us haven't started the Christmas count down quite yet, but in order to ensure everyone has a happy holiday the oganisers of Victoria's annual Christmas Spirit Community Dinner need to think ahead. They're hosting a dance and silent auction at Element night club, the proceeds of which will be used to create a beautiful community dinner for anyone who happens to find themselves without resources and/or family close by this year.  Come out, shake a tail-feather and bid on a Charelli's cheese plate!

The Details Are:
Thursday October 16th, 7pm.
Tickets: $25 at the Strathcona Hotel
Note: The Silent Auction receives cash or cheque only.

You can participate in a few ways:
donate or bid on a silent auction item.
: send in or bring a donation for the Dinner.
: bring your friends, colleagues to a night full of fun.

Uncork Your Palate!

We've got some great events coming up. Uncork Your Palate is an annual fundraiser for the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Generously hosted at Ambrosia Event Center, this event pairs 70 wines with appetisers from several of Victoria's hottest food spots (including us!) Your ears will be as spoiled as your tastebuds - conservatory musicians provide the perfect audio-backdrop to your gastronomic meanderings.

The Details Are:
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $75
Ticket outlets: Munro’s Books, Ivy’s Book Store, and generous participating restaurants (again, including us!)
(Outlets accept cash or cheques only)

FOO: Asian Street Food in Victoria

A few days ago we blogged about Susan' Feniger's street-food-themed restaurant in LA. Since LA is inconvenient for most of us, you'll be pleased to know Victoria now has its own tribute to street food, in FOO. With a beautifully contemporary interior, FOO is great place to stop for a quick bite of Paneer Cheese Dumplings, or Vietnamese Ginger Caramel Chicken, or Laksa with Local Fish... there's a solid selection of delicious choices all at very reasonable prices. Located at 769 Yates St. (250.383.3111)

Lucy's in the Square. With Diamonds.

Ok, not with diamonds - but definitely with sparkling words of praise. One of the nicest things about working in a food shop is talking to our customers about food - what, how, when, where... While slicing some nice, thick pieces of bacon (hello, bacon), the conversation, funnily enough, turned to brunch and we were tipped off to Lucy's in the Square, the newest restaurant in Fernwood. We're always looking for good brunch spots and this one received a glowing, word-of-mouth review, so we can't wait to check it out. The Times Colonist and Monday Magazine have both covered Lucy's already. (We can't know everything first ALL the time.) Their own site is in progress.

Cucumbers!

So... what to do with your Sun Wing cucumbers?

First off, sandwiches.
A really easy and delicious way to go about it: equal parts butter and cream cheese, and some finely chopped fresh mint, all blended together and spread on paper-thin, crusts-cut-off white bread. The cucumber slices should also be practically-transparent thin, and lightly salted.

Next, and perfect for this glorious, glorious sunny weather: add them to Pimm's.

We really like Pimm's with just San Pellegrino Limonata and a few slices of cucumber, but if you have the time/inclination, this 'Wimbledon Pitcher' recipe is also very nice. (From concierge.com, carbonated lemonade substituted for sprite. It's better that way.)

Wimbledon Pitcher (serves 4)

5 mint leaves
4 cucumber slices
2 strawberries, chopped (rough chop)
3 lemon wedges
3 orange wedges
8 oz. Pimm's No. 1 Cup
Fizzy Lemonade
2 oz. Hendrick's Gin

Our Sun Wing produce arrives every Tuesday - heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers.