A Warm Welcome at Lonsdale Quay Offered by Celtic Merchants
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER - On a recent visit to North Vancouver, Colleen and I made a visit to Lonsdale Quay where we met up with Helen Ritchie, the owner of Celtic Creations. We also spoke to Doug Crewe, owner of Coquitlam's Austin Gourmet, who has recently acquired Sharkys Chop House and Sausage Emporium in the food court area at the Quay. Finally, we took a break and enjoyed lunch at the picturesque Cheshire Cheese restaurant at the Quay.
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HELEN RITCHIE of Celtic Creations.
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Celtic Creations
The Celtic Creations store is located on the second level at Lonsdale Quay. It's hard to miss the distinctive green exterior with Celtic design outside the shop. As you enter the premises there is a unique Celtic design inlaid tile on the floor.
The store is bright and colourful and well merchandised and, of course, there is a warm Irish welcome from Cork-born owner, Helen Ritchie.
Throughout the year the store specializes in Celtic wedding bands, but demand for these unique pieces usually hits a peak during the summer wedding months. There is also always an excellent selection of quality Celtic jewellery at Celtic Creations.
Some other lovely Celtic gift ideas for weddings, anniversaries, and other special occasions are the timeless and beautiful Waterford Crystal and Belleek Parian China items.
Helen told us that she will soon be adding novelty utility kilts, tartan kilts, sporrans and sgian dubh to her merchandise line. Along with lovely and unique Celtic t-shirts and hats, Celtic Creations also offer a selection of Celtic books and CDs.
And, for those Celts making final resting place arrangements for the burial of their loved one's ashes, there are beautiful Celtic design funeral urns in stock.
Celtic Creations is located at Lonsdale Quay Market, second level, North Vancouver. For more information, call (604) 903-8704 or visit: www.celticcreations.net.
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LUISA GASPAR serving a West Coast salad to guests on the patio at the Cheshire Cheese in North Vancouver.
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Cheshire Cheese
It was one of those inspiring sunny west coast summer days when Colleen and I stopped in at the popular Cheshire Cheese restaurant for lunch.
We were welcomed by general manager Luisa Gaspar who has been at Cheshire Cheese since opening day - 23 years ago.
Extensive renovations have taken place at the restaurant since my last visit. Gaspar told us that additional renovations are still in the planning stages.
Situated on the second level of the Quay, the patio at the Cheshire Cheese offers a breathtaking view of Burrard Inlet. On the day of our visit it was warm and beckoning to sit outside and many people had opted to sit and enjoy the sunshine.
We enjoyed watching the sights and sounds as tugboats busily arrived to dock at the wharf, while others headed out onto the water. Luisa told us that on summer evenings there is a nice cool breeze off the water and patrons enjoy dining on the patio. The lights shimmering on the water also set a very romantic scene for couples.
As the name would indicate, the Cheshire Cheese offers traditional British food and beverage, but they also cater to many other tastes. Along with fish and chips, steak and kidney pie, welsh rarebit and toad-in-the-hole, there is also an emphasis on fresh seafood, salads and pastas. There is also a daily lunch special.
Colleen selected a bowl of clam chowder which she highly recommended. I chose the crab and shrimp quiche with a fresh side salad. The quiche was excellent. Normally, I can never finish a side salad, but this salad certainly lived-up to its reputation with all fresh ingredients. Everything is prepared "in house."
Luisa Gaspar is not only meticulous in the cleanliness of the restaurant but also in clean restrooms. I'm always impressed when these details are attended to, it says a lot about the overall quality of the management.
The Cheshire Cheese Restaurant and Bar is located on the second floor of Lonsdale Quay Market in North Vancouver. For more information, call (604) 987-3322 or visit: www.diningoutguide.com.
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DOUG AND JANN Crewe, owners of Austin Gourmet in Coquitlam, have recently opened Sharky's Chop House and Sausage Emporium at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.
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Sharkys Chop House
and Sausage Emporium
Doug and Jann Crewe of Austin Gourmet in Coquitlam have recently opened a second shop in North Vancouver in the Lonsdale Quay. The new shop is called Sharkys Chop House and Sausage Emporium, which is a really great name.
I spoke to Doug on our recent visit over to Londsdale Quay about his new business and he said, "we opened on May 10. It's a lovely location here in the Quay and we purchased an absolutely beautiful store.
"I'm really excited about the area. The mall has a great energy and the merchants here are absolutely wonderful and so helpful. There are three million people a year through these doors, so it's a nice audience to work with.
"We will be carrying a full line of naturally-fed beef from Hopcott farms and in my opinion it's about the nicest natural beef available. We will also be carrying fresh Fraser Valley lamb, veal, pork and organic free-range poultry."
Sharkys Chop House and Sausage Emporium will also carry a full-line of gourmet marinades along with British bacon and groceries. They will also offer 36 varieties of their famous John Bull meat pies. Customers will also be able to pick up the pies at North Shore Meats at 14th and Lonsdale.
Austin Gourmet in Coquitlam has a full catering division that literally goes anywhere and Sharkys will also take bookings for catering. Their catering business is fully-booked for the summer with weddings, boat cruises, social events and barbeques.
For many years now, Austin Gourmet has had a food tent at the B.C. Highland Games and this year is no exception. This year they have added something new....visitors will be able to purchase British groceries and John Bull meat pies to take home. The B.C. Highland Games will be held on June 28 at the Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam.
Sharkys Chop House and Sausage Emporium is located on the main level in Lonsdale Quay in the food court area. For more information, call (604) 980-9870.
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