Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/109278
hmond Ric The Street Wok Steady ALEXANDRA ROAD, RICHMOND Incorporated seven years before Vancouver, in 1879, and reputedly named after an Australian ranch, Richmond was founded on fishing and agriculture. As resource economies have waned, though, the community has reinvented itself via a latter-day wave of Asian immigration. And today, North America���s top cranberry-producing region is also home to the Lower Mainland���s contemporary Chinatown ��� teeming with neon-fronted businesses and clamorous malls serving many of the province���s newest residents. But it���s Richmond���s lip-smacking dining scene, its 375-restaurant Golden Village area, that lures both overseas gourmands and New York food critics. Radiating from Alexandra Road (aka ���Food Street���), it is arguably the world���s best Asian dining destination outside Asia. ��� ���John Lee [ The Go Spots SHOPS Kam Do Bakery���s glass cabinets frame top-selling winter-melon wife cakes (1120-8391 Alexandra), while nearby Big Crazy Discount Variety Stores proffers canned congee, salted jellyfish and a block-long noodle aisle ��� laksa varieties recommended (4955 No. 3 Road). Across the street, labyrinthine Parker Place���s mini-boutiques peddle bling-tastic trinkets alongside an authentic hawker food court; check the glittering Buddhist shrine just outside (parkerplace. com). Alternatively, discover Aberdeen Centre���s dancing fountains plus the origami kits and Meltykiss choccies at Japanese bargain store Daiso (aberdeencentre.com). START HERE Richmond foodie tours with Mijune Pak: 778-998-1666; followmefoodie.com Jeff Topham p18-27_The List.indd 27 ] April��� Whale-watching season begins May��� Doors Open Richmond Festival May Richmond Night & Summer Night Markets start EATS Delectable dim sum sates Jade Seafood���s chatty regulars (jade restaurant.ca), while bargain broths and barbecued eel sandwiches fuel lunchers at funky Cattle Caf�� (cattlecafe.ca). Dinner-wise, Michigan Noodle rolls out steaming, good-value wonton soups (8580 Alexandra), while gable-roofed Jang Mo Jib (translation: ���mother-in-law���s house���) serves up a warm Korean welcome alongside its carnivorous pork-blood sausage specialty (jangmojib.com). For decadent feasting, crack into king crab at local favourite Sun Sui Wah (sunsuiwah.com). DRINKS Dive into a mango bubble-milk tea ��� with finger-licking gyoza side dish ��� at contemporary-cool Well Tea (welltea.ca). Or, slide into the chalet-style interior of Leisure Tea & Coffee for a fruit-packed peach warmer (8391 Alexandra). For something stronger, Nan Chuu���s authentic izakaya ambiance comes from a wood-beamed interior and selection of exotic Japanese craft beers (8391 Alexandra); end with a round of shochu rice liquor, and you���ll be ready for a heartfelt karaoke warble at down-the-street Party World KTV (8711 Alexandra). WILD CARD Richmond���s Oval ��� star of the city���s gold-medal-winning appearance at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games ��� is a slick, multi-million-dollar riverfront venue bigger than anything Vancouver built for the event. It���s the perfect place to work off your Food Street belly. Jog over from Alexandra to hit the fitness centre, then plan your round-two return to the Golden Village for dinner ���J.L. (richmondoval.ca). W estw o r ld >> S p r i n g 2 0 1 3 27 13-01-28 10:30 AM