We’ll be damned if a more cozy and satisfying dish exists this time of year than a big bowl of congee! Clearly, we’re not the only one in Vancouver who feels that way, since sustainable seafood pros Fresh Ideas Start Here (FISH) are bringing back their ‘The Chefs & the Fishmonger‘ congee pop-up for a second run, on January 27th. Mark your calendars!

This time around, FISH Executive Chef Welbert Choi – along with special guest chef Bo Li (The Fish Man) as well as last year’s congee pop-up collaborator, Dez Lo (Top Chef Canada) – will be posting up inside The Pleasant (2434 Main Street) to serve up steaming bowls of seafood laden rice porridge from 11am to 7pm on Monday, January 27th only. Have a peek at the menu:

THE CHEFS & THE FISHMONGER CONGEE POP-UP MENU
*All congees come with sweet soy glaze & chopped scallions

Old-Gee 年年有餘
The OG fish congee
wild BC halibut, lingcod, salmon, octopus
jumbo prawns
crispy shallots

Clam-Gee大吉大利
wild BC geoduck, swimming scallops, manila clams
ginger, garlic & scallions
typhoon sheltered seasoned crunch

Fun-Gee 英俊潇洒 (vegetarian; can be made vegan without egg)
XO mushroom sauce
(made with Holy Duck’s Zero Duck vegan chili oil)
pickled hon shimeji mushrooms
63-degree egg
furikake

Congees are priced at $22 and up, with add-on options like wild BC ikura (salmon roe) and uni (sea urchin), Chinese donuts (a must for mopping up every morsel!), and 63-degree eggs available. Remember, this is a one-day-only opportunity, so load it up! Also: congee translates to ‘jook’ in Cantonese, and symbolizes abundance – making it an especially ominous dish leading up to the Lunar New Year on January 29th! Need we say more? To ensure your spot at the pop-up, head over here to select your preferred time slot. (The small price of $8.88 + booking will be credited to your future congee pop-up bill; and tickets also include snacks like Taiwanese-style pickled cabbages, sweet soy marinated with akame, and chili lime pickled cucumbers.) And then ready your stomach for some serious congee comfort!

The Pleasant

Neighbourhood: Main Street

2434 Main St.

WEBSITE