Downtown & West End - Vancouver - page 110

WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM
You'd be forgiven for feeling skeptical about just how good North American gelato
can be. After all, this isn't Italy. But that's before you've found the time to step in-
to downtown's little Bella Gelateria OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP ( www.bellagelateria.com ;
1001 W Cordova St; 10am-10pm Mon-Thu, to 11pm Fri, 11am-11pm Sat, to 10pm Sun; Water-
front) and met James Coleridge. He learned his skills at a gelato university in Italy
(yes, they doexist) and, in 2012, he won a gold medal at the Florence Gelato
Festival, the world's biggest such event. He was the first non-Italian to win.
But since the proof of the pudding is in the eating, you need to judge for your-
self. Dive into the dozens of ever-changing gelato and sorbettoflavors. On our last
visit he was experimenting with beer varieties, and you'll likely find eye-rollingly
amazing treats such as Amerana cherry, Thai coconut and salted caramel. And if
you get Coleridge talking, you'll be swept up in his enthusiasm for discovering
new and classic concoctions. If you're lucky, the frankly astonishing Persian-
rosewater-infused faloudahsorbettowill be available: it's like no other dessert
you've ever tried.
West End
If you can walk along the West End's restaurant-packed streets without stopping to eat,
you either have a newly installed stomach staple or the willpower of a particularly vir-
tuous saint. But it's not just the sheer number of restaurants sardined along Robson,
Denman and Davie Sts that is impressive; the vast variety and value of the eateries
make this Vancouver's best midrange dining 'hood. If you're a fan of Japanese and
Korean food, you'll find plenty of authentic options radiating from the Georgia and
Denman Sts intersection.
SUSHI MART JAPANESE $
OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP
( www.sushimart.com ; 1686 Robson St; sushi combos $7-18; 11:30am-3pm & 5-9pm Mon-Sat;
5) You'll be rubbing shoulders with chatty young Asians at the large communal din-
ing table here, one of the best spots in town for a superfresh sushi feast in a casual set-
ting. Check the ever-changing blackboard showing what's available and then tuck into
expertly prepared and well-priced shareable platters of all your fave nigiri , maki and
sashimi treats. Udon dishes are also available.