Love At First Bite: Cafe Medina

Go ahead Vancouverites, tell me to hang my head in shame. What could be so bad for me to condone myself to public shaming you say? It could be the fact that I'm often times too lazy to blog. Or it could be the fact that I only very recently discovered Cafe Medina, despite living here for...oh just most of my life. To top it all off, I actually only discovered this place because a certain visitor of Vancouver had eaten here in the past and wanted to go again. And I call myself a food blogger...

Lavender Latte (8oz) $3.85

To me, brunch and breakfast are synonymous with one another, and coffee is a must for any meal before noon. I'm a big fan of flavoured coffee, despite what true coffee lovers would say. That said, it was only natural for me to go for their Lavender Latte. Unfortunately, this latte was not at all what I expected. The coffee itself was chocolatey, but quite acidic. There is a faint floral aroma following the aftertaste, but it's not exactly what I would call lavender. Something tells me that this cup could have been an off one, as it was served to me lukewarm.

Les Boulettes $15

Les Boulettes contains spicy moroccan lamb meatballs that are wonderfully dense and smokey. The tomato sauce is very tangy and goes very well with the poached eggs. This dish is served with a side of focaccia and hummus. It is a little bit heavy for brunch but still delicious nonetheless. I can't help thinking if it was served with rice or some other staple it'd be perfect for lunch!

Paella $13

My favourite dish is the Paella, which always makes for a very satisfying meal whether its for breakfast or lunch. In place of rice, Medina uses orzo, a type of pasta in the shape of a grain. Served is a fluffy, curry-infused goodness, topped with fresh watercress, avocado and a spicy salsa. The orzo by itself is nice at best. Pair it together with the avocado and a dab of salsa...what you get is an amazing medley of flavours, one layer after another. I never thought food items could compliment each other so nicely until this!

Waffle $3.15/each
White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater $1
Fig Orange Marmelade $1

Even though I'm usually pretty stuffed after my Paella, I always manage to shift up some space for their  Belgian waffles. These waffles are so delightfully buttery that it's difficult to stop at just one. Plus their white chocolate pistachio rosewater topping is just as hard to resist. I wish I could take this home, it could very well replace Nutella! The fig orange marmelade was quite interesting, as there were lots of fig chunks interspersed throughout.

At Cafe Medina, don't be expecting your usual eggs & ham...they really do put a spin on brunch items. Although wait times can be notoriously long, rest assured you will not be disappointed! I no longer crave the other brunch spots, from now on it's Cafe Medina all the way!

Taste: ★★★★★

Environment: ★★★★★

Service: ★★★☆☆

Price: $$

Cafe Medina
556 Beatty St.
Vancouver, BC