Local Eats - Johns Place

Johns Place is an amazing greasy eats breakfast joint located on Pandora and Douglas. They have an amazing variety of foods. They get their produce from Islands West Produce, which you can read more about on their website here is this fruit local though? Hmmm. I found it problematic that most restaurants stated that they had local fruits and vegetables, because they were provided by islands west. Are the fruits and vegetables they are providing truly local? Or is the distributor local? Problematic.

Johns place makes in house sausages, and that meat comes from B&C Meats which is a company located in Saanich. However, just because it is located in Saanich does not make the meat local. Further investigation is required. So, all in all a place like John's Place who suggests they have local foods, because they get their meat and veggies from these supplier may very well not be.

I ate the Huevos Rancheros, with the homemade Chorizo sausage, and it was melt in your mouth, I'm going to eat all of this even if it makes me sick good.

Mmmmm, but is it LOCAL?!

Local Eats - RootCellar Grocer

Hit this Table at the Rootcellar to Eat Local for CHEAP!

The RootCellar is a produce store that serves local, organic, and fresh foods at a great cost. It is a great spot for students to be able to eat healthy. However one needs to shop smart at the RootCellar because it isn't all local, and all organic.

They have Chiquita Bananas, alongside the Fair trade bananas. They aren't marked clearly, but the Fair trade bananas can be identified by the white sticker. It is important to promote Social Justice work by purchasing fair trade, and local product.

They do have a section of the grocery store that is devoted to local product, and it has an abundance of product. They carry Local Turkey Sausages, Local Eggs, and even Local Gelato, amongst the produce that is also locally grown.

Local Eats - Ferris

Old School Feelin'

Ferris Oyster Bar and Grill. Serves only fresh B.C. grown oysters, and local Shellfish. This cute little quaint restaurant is set up in a date atmosphere, it is a little pricier than my other suggestions, but that is because we are discussing oysters here. For half a dozen oysters it cost 16$ not too too bad, and they are local B.C. grown. I had them served with Pasta, and I'm not a huge fan of oysters, but needed to eat what they had to offer that was local.

This is somewhat of a problem, because while some restaurants offer local eats, they are not all completely local. So if one were to go to a restaurant they may find it difficult to find it all local and organic. Also, some local joints don't survive. I tried to find a restaurant that I went to in first year of University. It was an all local pizza place, and it closed down. Granted it was over priced, but it was all local. It seems that in order for restaurants to survive, and maintain low prices they have to have a variety of local, and non-local products just to stay a float. Which is sad. Our capitalist economy doesn't allow for people to eat within their own city limits. This is largely problematic. We as a community need to band together and try and eat locally, and garden, and farm, and help out our local growers even if it may cost us a bit more.

delicious. local. 'Nuff said.

To learn more about Ferris, and their pricing, and menu options check out the following link here. It's a great place to go eat and drink with friends, and a great place for a first date. Remember though, be careful what you eat here, make sure you grab the local bites.

Local Eats - Pink Bicycle

It may be small, but it is mighty delicious.

The Pink Bicycle is a local gourmet burger joint that has the best burger in Victoria. They use Vancouver Island naturally raised Hereford beef from Springford Farm for their beef burger, which is the one I ordered. Although, all the burgers that come out of the kitchen look fabulous, I figured as a new comer I should stick with the regular pink bicycle burger. It even had pink sauce! It was sincerely scrumptious. The patty tasted so fresh, and was so juicy and moist. When the burger comes to you, you stare at it bewildered thinking "how am I going to fit this into my mouth?!", but that bun is so delicious and when you sink your teeth into it, you realize what a good decision you've made ordering a regular beef burger.

Look at the Size! So Big, So Good, So Delicious, Great Price, Great Taste, LOCAL MEAT, and BUNS!

For more information on the Pink Bicycle check out their website at the following link here!. I think personally I'll try the halibut burger next. Yes, you will most definitely return to this place. It is absolutely delicious.

I truly appreciate that they advertise on their actual menu where the meat as come from. It's a good trait, and more restuarants should follow suite.

Go eat a burger, indulge. I've heard the vegetarian option is also fabulous!

Local Eats - West Coast Waffles

Now, who doesn't love Waffles? I mean yes, of course there is the rare person who is more of a savory than a sweet, which is fine. However, waffles always hit the mark! West Coast Waffles serves local fruit on their waffles, and it comes from the Rootcellar Grocer, who promotes local by choosing what they sell. Including, fair trade bananas.

This place is open until 2am. So when your heading home after the bar, instead of opting for a slice of Second slice pizza why not grab a Giant waffle for $8 dollars, and load it with some local fruit and berries?

Mmmmmmm... So Fatty, but Soo Good.

 So, this is essentially four waffles in one, and is located downtown by Lucky Bar which is extremely convenient. So, for those of you who don't have a sweet tooth they also have a savory menu! Check it out at the following link here!

It is important to support local grocers such as the Rootcellar, and west coast waffles is a proud supporter. It is well priced, and absolutely delicious. I recommend you stumble out of Lucky Bar and try one of these!

Local Eats - Red Fish, Blue Fish

Simply Amazing. Greasy, Delicious Goodness. Go Treat yourself. This meal cost $8.50

While eating out in Victoria's downtown there are many amazing places to get amazing food for a good price. However the question is, can a student eat out at a local restaurant and maintain their budget. While, yes it is understood that eating local grown vegetables, and supporting local farmers is a crucial aspect of social justice in that it prevents neo-liberal capitalism from prevailing; to a certain extent. The problem, or I should say concern is that it is at times expensive to eat locally, and organically.

I went on a hunt to see how many restaurants serve actual local food. When setting out on my hunt I found that most servers were not informed as to whether the products they were serving were local, and some in fact claimed that they served local food when in fact they didn't. I found this to be a tad problematic, because claiming to be local is going to attract people to the product when it isn't local.