Erin and Rebecca, the Zena’s, have daughters who are school friends. When the girls were entering Kindergarten, each were deciding what they were going to do career-wise moving forward. Rebecca’s family is gluten free and Erin loves to create healthful baked goods. Rebecca asked Erin to join forces with her and the business was up and running in less than a year! They opened their doors on October 15, 2011!

Zena’s Gluten Free Bakery is truly gluten free. No oats, barley, rye or wheat are used here. They are also a nut and sesame seed free bakery. As well, Erin and Rebecca are always looking for the healthiest way to create their treats, using natural sweeteners and colouring agents. Blueberries and other natural sources are used to create food colouring for specialty cake frostings.

If you’ve tried some of the more popular gluten free baked good brands, you will recall the common rice flour taste that overpowers the cookies, muffins or breads. Rice flour is a great alternative for those who can’t tolerate gluten, though it doesn’t always offer a smooth consistency to allow for nicely-textured baked goods. It put us off of trying gluten free products for years! Rice flour isn’t used at Zena’s. Instead, they use a delicious quinoa and sorghum mix that is smooth and delicious. You can purchase their specialty quinoa mix at the bakery, too, to use in your own baking.

Zena’s gluten free sandwich bread will impress, too. Available in regular sandwich bread, super psyllium bread or multigrain seeded bread, each homemade loaf is packed with healthy psyllium.

We indulged in some quinoa cranberry and quinoa chocolate chip cookies at Zena’s and they were absolutely yummy! Guaranteed you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between Zena’s cookies and a ‘regular’ cookie made with wheat flour. They are the perfect combination of crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside – moist, rich, flavourful, delicious. Some of their other specialties include double chocolate blondes, blueberry white chocolate scones and pumpkin chai muffins.

On Wednesdays, Zena’s Gluten Free bakery offers a great selection of vegan delights. Muffins, cookies, cupcakes, scones – all wheat, dairy, honey and egg free!

It seems gluten allergies and intolerances are on the rise and it’s nice to know of this local specialty bakery. No more frozen rice bread for gluten free folks! How lovely to be able to visit a bakery where fresh loaves of homemade bread await you. Check out the pretty features board to see what’s on the baking rack each day.

You will also find Zena’s breads being used for gluten free sandwiches at Big Feast Bistro.

Zena’s Gluten Free Bakery
www.zenasglutenfree.com
22346 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge
Ring: 604.477.0774 

That means all the wines are made from Fraser Valley fruit, and they’re not just talking about grapes. Devil’s Spit, a red wine, is made from blackberries. But of course they have wines made from grapes, too. One of their best sellers is the Girlsrmeaner, a white wine in both dry and off dry, and the Ortega, with fresh citrus aromas. Or, if you feel like a red, they have a selection that includes Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Enigma.

But at Lotusland, it’s not just about the wines; it’s about caring for the environment. None of the fruit is exposed to chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Liz and David say that was important to them because they knew their children would be working with the grapes, and they didn’t want their children exposed to harmful chemicals. The priority, Liz says, is being good stewards of the land.

“The people of the Haida Gwaii have a saying that we borrow this earth from our grandchildren,” David says. “That’s a philosophy that goes in every bottle we produce.”

Because the wines are so delicious, you might assume Liz and David have an extensive history involving wines, but they don’t. Before starting Lotusland in 1997 (the retail store opened in 2002), Liz was a stay-at-home mom who did contract house cleaning once her children were in school. David was involved in regional sales for an office products company. They were amateur wine makers, who decided they wanted to spend their days in the outdoors. So they bought the property in Abbotsford where Lotusland now sits.

The acreage Lotusland is on is actually a reclaimed gravel quarry, so one of the first priorities was spending long hours in the yard, picking up all rocks larger than three inches—by hand. “There is not one square foot of this land that we haven’t altered,” Liz says.

Liz says the move to planting seeds was actually a progression. The land was seeded with hay, but Liz didn’t feel what they were doing was farming. So, David suggested growing grapes. They obtained cuttings from the Okanagan, cut them into the appropriate sizes and then, after a few years and a lot of hard work—during which David was still involved in his sales job—Lotusland wines were available for sale.

“We wanted a coastal flavour for our wines,” David says. “We’d like the Lotusland N.V. [pronounced like envy] to become the wine that coastal B.C. is known for, similar to what the Sauvignon Blanc is to New Zealand. We want to find something unique to this region, so people come for that wine.”

In addition to the Lotusland retail store, which offers wine tastings, Lotusland wines can be found in a variety of restaurants and retail outlets. A bottle of Lotusland wine makes a fantastic gift because it is local and organic, and so many people enjoy it. Lotusland organic wines range in price from $16 to $35. But even though the wines might just make a perfect gift, you can always pick up a bottle to enjoy yourself. Because the perfect bottle of wine, paired with a delicious meal, is a little taste of paradise. We especially love the Girlsrmeaner in off dry.

Would you like to visit this Fraser Valley winery? We are excited to send one lucky reader for a tour, for up to 12 people, of the winery, including a tasting from the tank and barrel and samples in their tasting room.

Please leave a note below to be entered to win. Winner will be chosen at random and announced on November 2, 2011. You must be 19 years of age or older to participate in this contest. 

Update: Congratulations to our winner, Doug. This contest is now closed.

Lotusland Vineyards
www.lotuslandvineyards.com
28450 King Road, Abbotsford

This quaint little store offers all types of cranberry products from cranberry sauces to cranberry vinegars, cranberry candy, cranberry BBQ sauce and lots more. Imagine an entire store filled with cranberry goodness – that’s what you will find in Fort Langley.

Owner Jasmine Marjanovic didn’t know just what she was getting herself into when she attended the Fort Langley Cranberry Festival about 16 years ago. After attending the festival she was so excited to have discovered all the great things you could do with cranberries and how healthy they were for you! Jasmine jumped into the world of cranberries and researched as much as she could about the health benefits of these power packed ruby berries and became determined to share this information with her community.

After 4 years of planning, designing and renovating, Jasmine opened the doors to Cranberries…Naturally in 1999. Originally an old garage, the building that Cranberries…Naturally calls home required a bit of TLC before the store could open. Wanting to capture a bit of the history that her store shares with the building and community, Jasmine aimed to create a space that reflected the spirit and essence of Fort Langley. We believe she succeeded! Using a mixture of vintage armoires, eclectic artwork, wicker baskets and whimsical touches, Jasmine has created an inviting environment that makes you feel all warm and cozy as soon as you step inside.

Even those who aren’t familiar with cranberries will love this shop. Jasmine and her staff are happy to educate those customers who traditionally limit their cranberry intake to turkey dinners! They love sharing best uses of all the yummy cranberry products on their shelves as well as their multiple health benefits. We learned all kinds of great tips on our recent visit: not only are these little berries high in vitamin C, they are also natural whiteners and act as a natural antiseptic. They are also, when eaten frozen, great for soothing aching gums after a trip to the dentist.

Originally a supplier of cranberry products from all over Canada, Cranberries…Naturally now develops and distributes their own unique products. As Jasmine’s own creations started replacing the products she used to bring in, she discovered how much she loved creating and selling natural products. Cranberries…Naturally prides themselves on the preservative free and sulphate free processes used to create their products. Using ingredients such vinegar as a natural preservative or honey as a natural sweetener, Jasmine and her team are able to label their jars with ingredients that we can all read and pronounce.

We highly suggest a visit to this store if you love cranberries or if you’re looking to try a new, unique Fraser Valley product. You will find jams, jellies, sauces, vinegars, candies and all kinds of cranberry products that we bet you’ve never seen before. If you get a little overwhelmed, try out their Cranberry Zinger Salad Dressing – it’s Jasmine’s favorite so you can be sure it won’t disappoint!

Cranberries…Naturally products can also be found at select Capers and Whole Foods stores, as well as select markets and boutiques throughout the Fraser Valley, including Inspired Arts and Gifts.

We have a couple of yummy cranberry products to share with one of our fabulous readers. Please leave a note below to be entered to win! Winner will be chosen at random on October 24, 2011. 

Congratulations to our winner, Lana. This contest is now closed.

Cranberries…Naturally!
www.cranberriesnaturally.com
9203 Glover Road, Fort Langley
Ring: 604.888.1989 

Close enough for a Sunday drive, but quiet and relaxing enough to make it feel like a mini escape, Vedder Mountain Grille is one of those fabulously relaxing places we speak of! They are cooking up homemade comfort food and it’s just like driving over for a visit at Grandma’s house.

Hard to miss with its bright blue exterior, this sweet Chilliwack restaurant stands out along the main strip in Yarrow.

When Franklin & Laurie Dahl decided to take over the vacant building in 2009, they already had dreams of what they wanted it to become. Born with a love for cooking and an entrepreneurial spirit, Laurie jumped at the challenge of putting together not only the menu, but the restaurant renovations too (and boy did it need it!).

With a vision in mind, Laurie scoured the valley for perfect furniture and décor pieces. She found some fantastic pieces including artfully mismatched table sets, beautiful pieces from Funky Junk Interiors, eclectic antiques and other work by talented locals. Determined to interject a little of his personality in the diner as well, Franklin managed to add his dirt-biking medal to the wall displays as well. As the biker on the exterior sign suggests, Vedder Mountain Grille fully supports the local dirt-biking community and even offers 10% for dirt-bikers stopping in for a bite.

After almost two years of offering up homestyle meals, it’s obvious that Laurie and Franklin have found the secret to their success. Although she wouldn’t offer up the delicious secret house salad recipe, Laurie did say it’s their love of fresh food, laid back atmosphere and fun loving attitudes that keep people coming back again and again.

From the moment you walk in the door, you know you are in for a relaxing and delicious treat. You feel like a “regular”, even if you aren’t. In fact, the first time we visited, we were greeted with such enthusiasm, we felt as if we were visiting an old friend.

Whether you are visiting for breakfast, lunch or dinner, you certainly won’t be disappointed. Using fresh and local ingredients whenever possible, including local duck, potatoes, eggs and breads, Vedder Mountain Grille has a tasty menu: fresh blueberry pancakes, creamy carrot and fennel root soup, homemade lasagna and lots of other homemade delights. Handcrafted jams are served with breakfast (flavours rotate depending on what is in season); fresh aioli is served with homemade pita chips at dinner. All desserts are made fresh in-house, with their pies consistently becoming favourites of many locals.

Another thing both locals and visitors can appreciate are the great specials that can be found here on a daily basis. Follow Vedder Mountain Grille on Facebook to find out which specials are coming up.

Hours: Monday – Wednesday 8:00am – 3:00pm, Thursday – Sunday 8:00am – 8:00pm.

Hours are seasonal and are subject to change. We recommend you check their website for updated hours as the Winter season gets closer.

We would love for you to visit Vedder Mountain Grille! Please leave a note below to be entered to win a $50 gift certificate. Winner will be chosen at random on October 17, 2011.

Congratulations to our winner, Ken. This contest is now closed.

For an extra chance to win, please post the following on Twitter: “I entered to win a $50 GC to @VedderGrille via @FVPulse! http://ow.ly/6Li8k”

Vedder Mountain Grille
www.veddermountaingrille.com
42239 Yarrow Central Road, Chilliwack
Ring: 604.823.6563

If cupcake toppers, vibrant coloured sugars and gum paste flowers make you weak in the knees, you will want to pay a visit to Scoop-N-Save in Langley! It is the cake decorators utopia, a hobby baker’s delight. It’s colourful, fun and proof that listening to your mother’s advice is usually a wise idea.

29 years ago, Janice DeRuiter opened Scoop-N-Save in Surrey. The concept was bulk food sales, much the same as you will now find at some popular retail giants. It was unique to Scoop-N-Save for a time, but as others started to offer this service, Scoop-N-Save headed in a new direction.

During the year when times were a changin’, Janice and her mother were in the shop one day when a salesman visited. He was selling cake pans in all shapes and sizes. They were incredibly expensive, thought Janice, who didn’t think she would buy any for fear of how much she would have to charge her customers. Her mother encouraged her to purchase them and rent them out. This brilliant idea quickly shaped what Scoop-N-Save is today – a cake decorating extravaganza. From pans, tips, toppers, fondant, sprinkles, candies, chocolate moulds, sugar flowers, cutters, intricate silicone moulds – everything you could think of to decorate a cake, cookie or cupcake is in stock at this Langley cake decorating store.

Scoop-N-Save boasts a selection of approximately 150 cake pan shapes (no adult themed ones), as well as your regular square and round pans. Their cookie cutter variety is mind boggling – from apples to bunnies, chilli peppers to musical notes and seasonal shapes for Halloween, Christmas and the such. They don’t make cakes by order, but they will help you put together everything you need to wow your someone special with your very own fabulous cake, cookie or cupcake creation. A variety of classes are offered throughout the year. Click here to view the current schedule. From Buttercream For Dummies to Gum Paste Cattleya Orchids, there is a class for all levels of hobby cake making.

Scoop-N-Save moved to its current location in Langley five years ago after twenty four years in Surrey. Janice recalled how different licensed products have come and gone in the past three decades. She doesn’t ever get rid of certain pans and decor, because inevitably they come back in style. In this past year she has pulled out two favourites from the 80′s: Star Wars and Smurfs. These have both become very popular again. We also learned that Elmo and Hello Kitty are among the most popular at present.

The staff at Scoop-N-Save love cake, cookie and cupcake decorating just as much as their excited (albeit sometimes overwhelmed) customers do. They were all busy helping customers put together the perfect combination and we heard tips galore being shared amongst the staff and customers. One tip we learned and loved was to use Tim Horton’s Timbits as cake pops! Simply purchase the plain Timbits and decorate with whatever fondant, sprinkles and candies to match your theme, mood or taste. A brilliant way to save time! As well, you know those fun chocolate moulds that you can make flowers, shells, hundreds of different designs in? Janice suggested softening butter and placing it into the moulds. Put it in the refrigerator to harden et voila – fancy butters for a dinner party!

There is a sizeable toy table to keep kids busy while Mum shops for tips and toppers. Be sure to say hello to their pet fish Baxter, too. He might be the luckiest fish alive – every season his house gets a makeover to reflect the season and showcase new products!

Scoop-N-Save
www.scoop-n-save.com
103-20258 Fraser Highway, Langley
Ring: 604.533.0035 

Roasted Grape is owned by Karie and Matt Karpes. Karie has a background in the hospitality industry and Matt formerly worked in the printing industry. Karie says that life experiences—including a period living on Vancouver Island working at a resort—inspired her to open Roasted Grape. One day, while driving past the old Bank of Montreal building in downtown Abbotsford, Karie noticed it was available and after some checking around, learned the building owner wanted a café to occupy the space. After three months of renovations—most of the work was done by Matt and Karie—Roasted Grape opened.

Roasted Grape is designed to be a casual place, where people can find affordable wines. Karies says it’s not meant to be a special occasion destination, rather a place anyone can come to at any time. And even though they put a lot of thought into the wines, that doesn’t mean the food takes a back seat.

Chef Sarah Kruk makes everything from scratch and the focus is on local foods. This includes meats provided by Gelderman Farms and duck raised in the Fraser Valley. Some cheeses are imported, but much of the food preparation—including the pear poaching—is done in-house. And the menu sounds delicious. From all day breakfast, which includes Ham N’ Egg Panini and Roasted Grape Parfait, to salad platters, to sandwiches such as the Thai Wrapsody, there’s plenty to choose from. Or, if you’re so inclined you can test their prosciutto flatbread, smoky chipotle hummus or Okanagan baked Brie.

You can also build your own tasting platter, using food combinations listed on their wall, including a variety of meats, cheeses and condiments.

And don’t worry if wine isn’t your cup of tea. They also have coffee roasted by Caffe Umbria and a tea bar, allowing them to serve tea and tea-infused cocktails. Even their iced tea is brewed in-house. Of course, they have plenty of wine, too. Karie says they focus on good-value wines and change their list every few weeks.

For women looking for a bit of sanity, Roasted Grape offers W.I.N.O.S. (Women In Need Of Sanity) Wednesdays, where glasses of wine are four dollars.

“The thing about wine is, the fancy talk doesn’t really matter,” Karie says. “If you like something, you like it. If you don’t, you don’t. When you come here, we ask what you like to drink at home and find you something similar. It’s a casual, come-as-you-are, part-café, part-bistro. We’re for the everyday hockey mom.”

We are excited to send one of our lucky readers to Roasted Grape to test it out! Please leave a note below to be entered to win a $40 gift certificate. A winner will be chosen at random on October 3, 2011.

For an extra chance to win, please post the following on Twitter: “I entered to win a $40 GC to @RoastedGrape via @FVPulse. You should enter, too! http://ow.ly/6ykS9“

Update: Congratulations to our winner, John. Enjoy! This contest is now closed.

Roasted Grape Café & Tasting Bar 
www.roastedgrapecafe.com 
33757 South Fraser Way (Former Bank of Montreal building)
Ring: 604-746-1555

Located on a busy street in Maple Ridge, Big Feast Bistro was opened in the spring of 2010 by Owners and husband/wife team Mike and Stacy Mulcahy.  Mike is the Chef and menu creator extraordinaire, while Stacy runs much of the business and promotional operations.  Mike, a former musician, always loved to cook, but also spent a number of years in the corporate world.  In his 26 years of experience as a Chef, Mike has channeled his interest in the kitchen into a number of enviable jobs that allowed him the opportunity to travel.

Mike and Stacy, both raised in BC, spent a number of years in Ontario before returning to Maple Ridge, fully aware that the shift in consumer’s focus to eating seasonal and local foods fit extremely well with their own desire to share and promote a lifestyle that they themselves had already been living.  With their close proximity to farms in the area and quality food sourced in their own “backyard”, the full service breakfast and lunch restaurant that uses local, organic and artisan products was born.

Not only is Mike mixing up new and exciting things in the kitchen, like their customer described “weird” soups, Bolivian Honeymoon muffins (made with quinoa), and tofu scramble, he is also creating refreshing twists on delicious classics like the Grown-up Grilled Cheese and Asian Slaw with Sesame Lime Vinaigrette.  Deliciousness to write home about?  Most definitely.  Their menus change to reflect seasonal flavors, their specialty coffees are made fresh using Salt Spring Coffee products, and their baked goods are made in-house each morning.

In addition to their catering services and restaurant, you can “take away” your favorites too.  From soups to trail mix and granola to coffee or beef ragout, there are countless ways to enjoy Big Feast.  For people on the go, skip the drive-through, pre-order your meal and meet them on the curb to pay and pick it up as you drive by. Genius!

This isn’t just a restaurant or catering service, however; Big Feast Bistro and its employees have a strong involvement in the community and support a variety of charities, from the Food Bank to The Caring Place and the Pay it Forward Fund at RCH.  They also recycle as much as is possible and have two garbage cans outside their restaurant with organic waste that people can pick up and use for fertilizer in their own yards and gardens.  They teach a cooking program for grade 1-3 students at local schools, and include social responsibility and local sourcing in their lessons.

If you haven’t been to Big Feast yet, you need to put this restaurant on your “must visit” list.  You can also check their website or social media sites for more information on their live music series, happening later this year.

Mike is offering lunch for two as a prize to one of our lucky readers (and their very lucky companion!). Please leave a note below to be entered to win. A winner will be chosen at random on September 23, 2011.

For an extra entry, please post the following on Twitter: “I entered to win lunch for 2 @BigFeast via @FVPulse http://twe.ly/kCqb“.

Update: Congratulations to our winner, Cheryl T! This contest is now closed.

Big Feast
www.bigfeast.ca
11920 227th Street, Maple Ridge
Ring: 604.477.4334 

Little Beetle Bistro may be easy to miss because of the location. It is tucked away near the corner of Unsworth & South Sumas, though you certainly can’t miss it if you are already in the neighborhood. Why? We’ll give you a hint… it’s colourful!

Owners Justin and Jienny Do had been considering opening a family business for a few years before they finally agreed on what exactly it should be. Deciding to bring together Justin’s love for brewing great coffee and Jienny’s passion for home accessories and decorating, the idea of Little Beetle Bistro was born.

When the couple purchased the building in 2010, they didn’t waste any time making it their own. First up? A complete interior renovation and a fresh coat of bright blue paint! Justin and Jienny knew they would need something to make their new bistro stand out from the other farmhouses in the area – and it does!

Since the building was more than 100 years old, a lot of remodeling and refinishing was needed to make their design a reality. Almost everything you will see inside the building has been redone – out with the old walls and floorboards and in with a beautiful light and airy design!

Larger sized tables make the Little Beetle a great meeting place for business meetings or larger gatherings (in fact, the red hat ladies were lunching while we were there!). Visiting by yourself?  Little Beetle Bistro is a great place to grab a solo cuppa! Check out the magazine rack in the center of the bistro for recent papers, magazines and a selection of books to peruse during your visit.

From their chalkboard menu featuring a wide array of panini’s, soups, pastries and fruit plates, to their modern décor, Little Beetle Bistro is a great place to stop any time of day. All of their sandwiches are made fresh for you and they even have panini’s suitable for all times of the day (including breakfast!).

Just looking to grab a quick beverage? Specialty drinks are, well, their specialty! Having spent much of his past working with coffee and coffee beans, Justin truly enjoys making great coffee for Little Beetle visitors. Tea drinkers will also appreciate the great selection of Tazo and Two Leaves & A Bud tea.

In an effort to celebrate the history of the building, the Do family decided to designate a whole wall area to historical memorabilia. Although it is only home to two black and white pictures at the moment, they’re hoping to continue adding to the collection as they learn more about the history and the story behind their charming bistro!

The next time you are in the Chilliwack area, try taking the back way back to the highway and stop into Little Beetle for a leisurely lunch. If it’s a sunny day, take your goodies outside on their oversized patio. With plenty of covered, uncovered and unique seating areas, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a fresh sandwich. Maybe you’ll catch a tan, too!

Little Beetle Bistro
44489 South Sumas Rd, Chilliwack
Ring: 604.846.5528

The talent behind this certified organic blueberry farm in South Surrey is magazine Story Producer/Stylist Heather Cameron (below, with daughter Lily). Known for her gorgeous stylings, as seen in Style at Home, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens and many other publications, it’s no surprise that everything about Missing Goat is appealing to the senses.

Photo credit: Janis Nicolay Photography

Photo credit: Janis Nicolay Photography

Missing Goat produces organic blueberries, garlic and other fruits used for their fabulous products. If you’ve never enjoyed a plump organic blueberry, you are in for quite a treat. Visitors to this sweet farm will visit The Shabby Shack store to find picked blueberries and garlic, slow-cooked Missing Goat jams and homemade blueberry pies. The charming garden shed-esque farm shop has Heather’s talents written all over it. It is simply adorable!

Photo credit: Janis Nicolay Photography

Doesn’t this pie look delicious? Missing Goat organic blueberry pies are freshly baked and available on Saturdays only. Please pre-order your pies by Thursday evening.

Photo credit: Janis Nicolay Photography

You may have already discovered Missing Goat jams at Roadhouse Bake Shoppe, Whole Foods, Urban Fare, Gourmet Warehouse and other retailers in the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver. These old-fashioned jams are to-die-for delicious. We have enjoyed the Organic Very Very Raspberry jam with high tea at Little White House in Fort Langley. A perfectly sweet and tart spread for scones and toast.

Our newest delight is the Organic Strawberry with Black Pepper. Heather suggested we try it with sharp cheddar cheese. We did so and, well, you just have to try it. Has anyone tried the Organic Blueberry Lavender or the Organic Rhubarb Rosemary jam? We bet they are delicious. It never surprises us how much better a product tastes when it is hand picked, hand stirred, hand packaged and infused with the love of a local producer.

Heather shares that farming was not an occupation she thought she would ever take up. But with a renewed focus on the farm that came with her family’s dream home, she is enjoying every moment and word of Missing Goat is spreading. We think Missing Goat seems to be a perfect combination of Heather’s talents!

Photo credit: Janis Nicolay Photography

Missing Goat Blueberry Farm is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10AM – 4PM. They open mid-late July until the end of August/early September. Please visit their website each season for exact dates. The farm is now open for the 2011 season and is looking forward to ripe blueberries within the next week or so.

Heather is gifting one of our lucky readers with a 5 lb. box of fresh blueberries and a jar of Missing Goat jam (your choice). Please leave a note below to be entered to win. A winner will be chosen at random on August 3, 2011.

For an additional entry, please post the following on Twitter “I entered to win blueberries & jam from Missing Goat on @FVPulse http://ow.ly/5KBqu.“

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER, ANGY. THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. 

Update: We have learned that due to this summer’s crazy weather, the farm will be closed to the public this year after August 12, 2011. They have far too many orders to fill from the summer when the berries simply weren’t ready yet. Please put them on your list to visit next summer!

Missing Goat Blueberry Farm
www.missinggoat.com
17318 32nd Avenue, Surrey
Ring: 604.538.1443 

We are always on the lookout for great little restaurant hideaways tucked amongst the madness of busy city streets.  We look for a place that offers a menu that is delicious, decor that is unique and inviting, and service that is personal and friendly.  While Mission doesn’t really have that much madness on its streets, we did discover a new favorite place to frequent that has all the above criteria met.  It’s called The Sweet Spot Cafe.

Originally a barber shop in 1926, the Cafe has been renovated entirely, but the original flooring and stained glass windows were kept to give it a vintage feel. With bright yellow walls, striking black accents and wispy sheers on the windows, it’s old meets new in a most modern way.

The Cafe was opened in March 2011 by Deborah Bleasdale, a vibrant woman whose experience in the kitchen spans her former days as a cooking teacher for over 20 years, as well as catering for all types of events and 7 years working at the Heritage Park cafe.  Not only does she have culinary training, she has a major passion for serving you quality, locally sourced food that tastes delicious.

As the oldest of 6 with a Mom that worked full-time, Debra spent a lot of time preparing meals and has always loved food and cooking.  She especially enjoys baking, which is evident by the assortment of homemade goodies prepared fresh by Debra herself on a daily basis.  Not only does she bake on site, she makes everything from scratch!  No muffin mixes or shortcuts on food quality here.

Although most of the bread used in the Cafe is supplied by Cobb’s, Debra makes her own focaccia bread, as well as the soups, chutneys, jams and salad dressings in house.  For all those caffeine addicts out there, you will be pleased to know that local Vancouver roaster, Cuppajoe Coffee, supplies the fresh coffee and teas served here as well.

With an adorable outdoor patio area that seats 12 and indoor seating for approximately 16 people, the Cafe is small, but in its short time being open, has already developed a following.  Many regulars come in to get their panini, chili, potato salad, or carrot cake fix.   Whether you are looking for a place to go for your morning coffee or need lunch in a hurry and want to order ahead, the small team of staff want to make your dining experience a great one.

We are so excited for you to try The Sweet Spot Cafe for yourself. Please leave a comment below to be entered to win a $25 gift card. A winner will be chosen at random on August 1, 2011.

For an extra entry, please post the following on Twitter “I want to win a gift card to The Sweet Spot Cafe in #Mission from @FVPulse http://ow.ly/5FW22“.

The Sweet Spot Cafe
www.thesweetspotcafe.ca – coming soon
33057 1st Ave, Mission BC
Ring: 604.287.2800