A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

Italian Market Cafe “Gigi Blin” A Charmer In The Heart Of Marpole

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Never Heard Of It is a series of stories exploring Vancouver’s many informal hole-in-the-wall eateries.

by Marshall To | If you were ever looking for a reason to pull over on West 70th Avenue, Gigi Blin is definitely it. The charming Italian market cafe’s frontage – with its picture windows and striking logo in bold, sans-serif typeface – stands out on the busy route like a well-dressed thumb. Inside, a beautiful long table takes centre stage under high ceilings and shelves loaded with olive oils, salts, pastas, sauces, and more. Owners Marc and Ivanka named it after Marc’s grandfather, who hailed from the Veneto region of Italy. Aim for the ample panini sandwiches, hearty soups, and proper cortado coffees pulled from a Lady Victoria Arduino machine.

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Gigi Blin | 1400 West 70th Avenue | Mon-Fri 7-5 , Sat & Sun 9-3 | www.gigiblin.com

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  1. I’m glad you’re branching out of Mount Pleasant/Strathcona finally. This place is great!

Gujarati Jalso: The Burnaby Restaurant Giving Gujarati Food Top Billing

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Tracing Xi’an Cuisine from Traveler’s Nourishment to Refined Restaurant Fare

These are stories about more than food. Each entry looks at how history, migration, and shifting neighbourhoods show up on the plate, offering a glimpse into the everyday culture that builds a city from the ground up.

Show Up Early for Proper Filipino Breakfast at Pampanga’s Cuisine

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JiangNan Wok Skips the Familiar to Serve Deeper Cuts of Jiangsu Cuisine

These are stories about more than food. Never Heard of It is a series about the places that shape how this city eats — corner spots, bakeries, strip mall dining rooms, and family-run kitchens that rarely make the glossy lists but have always mattered.