Noshwellmenu

Yolk’s food cart brings less than typical breakfast to the streets of Vancouver. On most days, you can find them parked right outside Stadium Skytrain station at Dunsmuir and Beatty. On other days you can find them roving around various Food Cart Festivals, or — during our encounter — at the Trout Lake Farmer’s market.

Our first taste of Pok Pok Som — flavoured drinking vinegar — was from (the now closed) Ping in Portland.

It is the brain child of Pok Pok’s Andy Ricker, who took an age old practice long rumoured for its health benefits, and bottled it with an array of refreshing Southeast Asian flavours: concentrated fruit and vegetables, honey, pomegrate, apple, raspberry, tamarind and pineapple.

For a refreshing drink, we like to dilute ours with club soda and throw in some ice cubes —- perfect for a scorching hot day. Or mix some in a cocktail and come up with your own creation.

Pok Pok Som is available online and locally at Harvest

Kelowna’s Tree Brewing unleashes a Raspberry Porter: dark with deep crimson hues when the beer hits the light, and surprisingly smooth — finishing with subtle hints of the berry itself. Available at local independents.

Tacofino Commissary puts down roots on the streets of East Hasting just across the street from the Donald’s Market by way of Vancouver Island — delivering a small menu of Mexican-influenced small plate dishes in a rustic, communal space dining room.

Parallel 49, East Vancouver’s upstart brewery, probably just wants you to shut up and drink beer when they brewed the limited release Vow of Silence. The Belgian-style, strong ale will kick you in the mouth with its dark, creamy pour. Limited availability at select  BC Liquor Stores.