As a child with overactive taste buds, the thought of dining out invoked more dread than excitement. There was only one thing to anticipate with confidence: dessert.

“Elizabeth, we’re going to …”

“Is that the place with the… coconut drops? Green tea ice cream? Chocolate Bavarian Cake? Warm egg tarts? Gulab jaman? Churros? Crème brûlée?”

Mum, Dad, one of my besties, the out of town visitors who triggered the restaurant visit – we’d pile into the Corolla and drive away from the quiet green of our Vancouver neighbourhood. I’d know we were getting closer to soft drinks and fancy sweets when the rainbow neon signs and two-toned awnings started flashing their promises.

From window to window, a jumble of cultures and colours would beckon us in to learn and to eat.

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In driving around the city to sample new cuisines, we were following in the path of Vancouverites well before our time…

To Chinatown

100 Block East Pender Street. Vancouver Planning Department

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200 block East Pender Street, looking west. 1979. Paul Yee

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East Pender Street. 1980. Vancouver Engineering Services

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Downtown

Granville Street. Theatre Row. 1965

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800 Block Granville Street. 1967. Vancouver Planning Department

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900 Block Granville Street. 1967. Vancouver Planning Department

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Thurlow + Robson. 1969. Vancouver Planning Department

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Main Street

Main Street. Roger Cameron Greig. 1961

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www.creatorsvancouver.com

Header: Gastown. Kosuke Noma