THE GOODS FROM CACAO
Vancouver, BC | Here comes the sun! Kitsilano’s Cacao is primed for warmer weather with an open patio and rejuvenated lunch menu. This highly regarded hot spot is popular for chefs Marcela Ramirez and Jefferson Alvarez’s progressive Latin-American fare. While dinner pushes gastronomic boundaries with expert precision, lunch offers a soulful afternoon retreat with the Latin American street food of Ramirez’s Mexican and Alvarez’s Venezuelan cultures. Guests can linger on the patio over pupusas and pisco sours or stop in for a quick on-the-go arepa and a disarmingly good kombucha.
“We’ve strived to create a dinner menu that educates the palate with authentic Latin American dishes,” says Alvarez. “Lunch is no different—we’ve just simplified things a bit on the plate while honouring each ingredient and maintaining the integrity of each flavour.”
Midday offerings canvas meat, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free preferences and include arepas filled with a choice of burrata, chicken and avocado, shredded beef, or chorizo-style mushrooms. While yucca fries with an addictive tomatillo-and-avocado sauce and pupusas packed with pork chicharrón are both perfect for snacking, belly-filling sandwiches include pork shoulder Cubanos and pepito steak on impeccably baked bread from The Birds and the Beets. Late risers rejoice as daily brunch-style offerings include waffles made with Nextjen Gluten Free flour, wild mushroom risotto, bison short ribs and fried eggs, and poached eggs on focaccia.
Impressive dedication to detail is present in every cocktail created by bar manager Sergio Gandolfo — whether spirits-focused or zero-proof, each thoughtful concoction is packed with flavour and purpose complementing the kitchen’s food philosophy. His lunch break–friendly beverages include a healthy effervescent kombucha, refreshing rice and pinole horchata, and deliciously tart hibiscus agua fresca. If leisurely day-drinking is the temptation, Gandolfo’s Guarapita made with aromatic wine, rosemary-infused gin, and finished with guanábana molecular foam is reason enough.
DETAILS
1898 W 1st Ave | Kistilano | Vancouver, BC | V6J 1G5
Tel: (604) 731-5370 | Email: [email protected]
Web: www.cacaovancouver.com | Instagram | Twitter
Hours: Tue-Sun 9am-4pm | Wed to Sat 6pm-11pm | Latin street food during brunch hours (9am to 4pm)
GALLERY
THE PEOPLE
Chef Jefferson Alvarez | chef, co-owner
Marcela Ramírez and Andrea Ramírez | co-owners
Sergio Grandolfo | mixologist, bar manager
Zain Jaya | floor manager
ABOUT CACAO
Its kitchen represents a progressive and fresh Latin American menu, created with a sinuous, steady hand and a focus on high quality, regional ingredients. Located within the charming and friendly neighbourhood of Kitsilano, Cacao is the very kind of neighbourhood corner post that becomes a favourite refuge after a long day, a place to gather and celebrate old friendships, new beginnings. A place to discover, or re-discover Latin American cuisine at its finest. Unpretentious. Surprising. Delightful. Lingering.