The idea of “Canadian” food is not iconic in the way that people think of Italian cuisine, or Mexican. But Edible Canada on Granville Island is out to change that.
By focusing on the best produce, seafood, wine, and beer that our country has to share—and stepping outside the stereotypical realm of maple syrup—Edible Canada’s Retail Store and adjoining Bistro present a version of Canada that is wholly our own, wholly true, and wholly fantastic. It’s putting our best foot forward.
“Edible Canada has the lofty goals of attempting to both represent Canadian cuisine and foster a conversation on the definition of Canadian cuisine,” says beverage director Harriet Vianello. “By featuring local suppliers like 33 Acres in both our Bistro and Retail Stores, we like to showcase the best of what Canadian farmers, brewers, winemakers, and artisan gourmet food producers have to offer.” The outcome is something exploratory and deeply tied to its time and place, allowing the high-quality bounty of our country to speak for itself. That means the freshest oysters, the finest halibut, the ripest tomatoes—not to mention a 100-per-cent Canadian wine list—and craft spirits and beer, of course.
The 150-seat room and open kitchen give the casual fine dining space plenty of room to breathe, although any sunny day is best spent on the patio, cold beer in hand. Vianello, who describes Edible Canada as having “local, fresh, seasonal cuisine which is both unpretentious and inherently Canadian,” suggests pairing the Bistro’s Thai Style Chicken Wings with 33 Acres of Sunshine. She first connected with us in our tasting room, when a friend invited her for an afternoon catch-up. “The afternoon quickly became an evening with other friends stopping by as we tasted our way through the 33 Acres collection,” she recalls. We had been fans of the Bistro for a long time, both for its products and its philosophy, and knew we wanted a community partner on Granville Island. The collaboration fit like a glove.
We suggest stopping in for an unforgettable brunch, and then checking out the Retail Store to pick up some goodies—everything from sauce to chocolate—to take home. Any experience at Edible Canada provides a unique look at our country’s culinary climate, and will surely leave the entire table wanting more. Indeed, it is now possible and plausible to say, “Tonight, I’m craving Canadian.”
Neighbourhood: Granville Island
Around since: 2008
Known for: Patio
Stockist since: 2014
On tap: 33 Acres of Sunshine