blue water cafe + raw bar, Vancouver

After being away from Vancouver for a year, there's one thing I miss most, apart from friends of course, and that is, the wild salmon. There's nothing like it. And while Australia has it's fair share of delicious fish, nothing quite compares to the rich, delicate flesh of wild Sockeye.

Having only a week to spend in Vancouver, I was on a mission to fulfill my fish fix. Each night and day was taken up with visits to favourite food haunts: Kirin Restaurant (three times) for world class dim sum; Legendary Noodle for cheap & cheerful hand-pulled noodles; Granville Island Public Market for, well, everything, Kintaro for amazing shio ramen and Medina for Moroccan breakfasts and Belgian waffles.

The last stop was planned for Yuji's -- offering Vancouver's best Japanese tapas, aka izakaya, and melt-in-your-mouth wild salmon sashimi. As luck would have it, Yuji's was closed for the long weekend! Alas no salmon.

I didn't give up that easily and remembered hearing about blue water cafe + raw bar in Yaletown. The highly acclaimed restaurant is famed for its west coast plates and seafood. I snuck in and asked to see the menu. There it was -- Beni sake Sockeye salmon sashimi. Three plates please. Oh and some oysters too.

Set in a converted heritage warehouse, blue water cafe + raw bar is big. The decor is eclectic, warm and inviting.  On one side of the room, the fast and furious open kitchen is exciting to behold. On the other, the dazzling raw bar is home to sashimi master Yoshi Tabo.

I can see why Tabo has has a legion of followers. The salmon was exquisite. I realize I have the salmon to thank for it's perfection but the preparation and presentation of the delicate fish is of utmost importance. The same goes for oysters. Too many times their sea kissed liquor is thrown out. A terrible waste when the liquor holds so much flavour.

In my quest for sockeye sashimi I neglected to try anything else on blue water's menu. For next time.

 

blue water cafe + raw bar
1095 Hamilton St.
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6B 5T4
@ Helmcken in Yaletown Voice: 604 688 8078
Fax: 604 688 8978
Email: [email protected]

Comments

[Rosa]

A nice place! Those sashimi look lovely!

Cheers,

Rosa

[Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella]

I've heard so much about Canadian salmon, I hope that one day I'll get to try it fresh! :D Beautiful photos!

[PinkBrain]

A-MA-ZING!

[Koek!]

My god! Look at the colour of that salmon!
Robynx

[Sophie]

Recently, I have exchanged foodie products with my friend, Koko from Kokos Kitchen. She lives nearby Vancouver & I tasted the chocolate, the maple syrup and other things & also smoked Canadian wild salmon. It was the best!

Thanks for the info!

[Andrea]

Hi Syrie,

I'm happy to hear you had a belly-satisfying visit in Vancouver. I think I saw you at Medina, on Victoria Day. I heard the waiter call "Syrie?" and then I heard you excitedly exclaim, "yay!" =)

Anyhow, I just wanted to let you know I enjoy your blog immensely, and yours was the first food blog I had ever read.

I look forward to many more posts from you, and I hope you're doing well in Australia!

Take Care,
Andrea

[Myfrenchkitchen]

Beautiful images...everything looks so fresh and clean and appetizing! That salmon is absolutely spectacular..
Ronelle

[Veggie Belly]

Vancouver is such a great city with amazing restaurants, I always enjoy the food there :)

[Food Blurb]

I love our Aussie salmon, but I have to agree - there is nothing like salmon in Vancouver. I also think Van has some of the very best sushi and sashimi in the world. Great images too - the colour of the salmon is just amazing.

[Jen]

Looks like a wonderful place to eat at! The vibrancy of the sashimi looks amazing!

[Tanya]

That is my soft spot! A chocoholic's fudge. Sustainably harvested wild Pacific salmon. Better than any fish. Silky, luxurious. Best raw. And positively gorgeous flesh unlike any other. Ohhhhh...