Big Day Downtown – Try Something New

“Try Something New.” That was the vague challenge of this year’s Big Day Downtown, a marketing strategy by the Downtown Halifax Business Commission that sees bloggers and media types wandering the downtown core with a $100 credit card, checking out businesses that interest them and then—clearly—writing about it.

Last year there was no theme. Kristina and I just wandered from coffee shop to market to brewery to restaurant, exploring food and drink found on the peninsula. This year, there’s this pesky twist. “Try something new” is a simple conceit, but I didn’t want to try some random, new restaurant or store just for the sake of fulfilling a brief. I wanted to really embrace the theme. I wanted to have a bit of an adventure.

So I decided to email someone new. I fired off a missive to Chef Craig Flinn, the chef/owner of Chives, one of the best restaurants not only in downtown Halifax, but in Halifax, period. There! New thing: done. Mission accomplished! Checklist completed! Blog. Save. Post. Exit. Thanks for the money, Downtown Business Commission. See you next year!

But wait! Craig emailed me back! So I guess there’s more to this whole thing.

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TIBS Family Dinners

Last night I attended the March edition of TIBS Family Dinners at Two if By Sea Café, which I mentioned elsewhere in this month’s Atlantic Canada Roundup blog on the enRoute website. The Family Dinner happens once a month, with Chef Renée Lavalée planning and executing the delicious menu. What makes these dinners special is the fact that they truly do embrace the idea of a family dinner—two long tables are set-up in the small café where diners join together to pass around platters filled to the brim with delicious food, lovingly made using local ingredients. It really emphasizes the sense of community you can find in food, from the farm to the kitchen to the table. You talk to strangers, laugh with friends and become a little family, even if it is only for a few hours.

The Wandering Deli

There’s a new delivery service in Halifax, bringing delicious, affordable vegan sandwiches to downtown Halifax on weekdays. If you’re looking for a cheap, easy lunch, check out what they’re delivering on Facebook.

Today one of the sandwiches they are offering is "The Deluxe": homemade tofurkey, coconut bacon, tomato, avocado, lettuce, fried onions, veg mayo, and dijon (this delicious photo is from their Facebook page)

Right now they are doing deliveries Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the downtown area. You can also call 266-1130 for bike delivery on Thursday nights.

Genius!