Fly Away Cafe - Where travel is a way of life

Vancouver’s Yaletown

by Mary Jo Manzanares on June 24th, 2006

As much as I love travel, there’s one thing that can top it.  And that’s traveling with friends. 

Every experience is different when shared through the eyes of another person.

That was my experience last week in Vancouver, British Columbia.  I was flying with my dear friend, Anita, and her family joined us there to celebrate her father’s birthday. 

Let me explain, first of all, that Big Al is a second father to me, having lost my own father over 18 years ago.  I have come to love him, and his wife Sharimae, as if they were actually family by birth, not just by choice.  Al is Italian through and through, and when people ask where to get the best Italian food in Seattle, I never know how to respond.  Because the very best Italian food around is at their home.

Last week, the birthday boy, 75 years young, his wife, and another family friend drove to Vancouver to spend an afternoon with us.

First stop was the Italian section of Vancouver, where we stocked up on delicacies, including olives, crackers, olive oil, canned goods, and other items found only in specialty markets.   After a delightful time shopping, our group stopped for an afternoon cappuccino the next-door café (in photo above).

Now revived, we headed into Yaletown, on the eastern edge of the downtown area.  I had not visited the Yaletown area for quite sometime, and was surprised to see that this once warehouse area of the city has undergone a dramatic change.  Those warehouses have been turned into galleries, shops, restaurants and bars, salons, studios, and, of course, condos to support this hip, urban, lifestyle.

We stayed in Yaletown for dinner, and had reservations at Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill (1133 Hamilton Street).  It turns out that owner/executive chef Pino Posteraro is a friend of Al’s, and his special attention helped to make the celebratory evening even more special.

The restaurant has received a number of awards from recognized experts in the food and wine industry.  Still, it is not a pretentious atmosphere, but rather one of good friends enjoying a meal.  Which was an accurate description of our party.  (By the way, their Caesar salad was one of the best I’ve ever had.)

It was a great day, good food, good wine, good friends, and good times.  It just doesn’t get much better than that.

Photo credit:  Anita

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