Christie’s Carriage House Pub (1739 Fort Street, Victoria, BC, Canada, phone 250-598-5333) is a popular pub in the Victoria area which is located in an authentic heritage house. Christie’s web site describes:

Christie’s Carriage House Pub recreates turn-of-the-century Victoria with flair, charm and comfort. The proprietor welcomes you to meet and share a pint in a comfortable atmosphere with fireplaces in cozy rooms, antique lighting and decor of the Queen Anne period.) At night the Pub is alive with more than the sound of music as friends gather to share the events of the day, team players slip off for a pint, or neighbours gather for a night cap waited on by the friendliest staff in town.

I was in the mood for something lighter so I ordered the Yellowfin Tuna Salad which was a large yellowfin tuna steak grilled medium rare, served with fresh greens, tropical salsa and avocado (pictured below, $12). I also tried the spicy beef lettuce wrap which was also yummy ($3, appetizer special). Click here for more info on Christie’s Carriage House including their menu.

Taking the ferries over to Victoria is a popular day-trip for visitors to the Vancouver area. The ferry terminal at Tsawassen (on the Vancouver side) has a marketplace with a variety of vendors serving delicious food, such as Taste of BC (web site) which serves fresh and smoked BC salmon. I ordered the Smoked Salmon bagel (pictured below, $6.95) which was served with fresh smoked BC Salmon, onions, capers, and cream cheese. This was a special treat while waiting in line for the ferry.

Smoked salmon bagel with cream cheese, capers, and onions ($6.95)

The Penny Farthing Pub (web site, 2228 Oak Bay Ave, Victoria BC, phone 250-370-9008) is an olde-English style pub located in the Oak Bay area of Victoria. The word from my compatriots is that the beer and wine and other drinks at this pub are mighty fine. However I felt like indulging in some culinary fare, and went for a dish of their steamed mussels (pictured below, $12.00). They have mussels with a Strongbow cider sauce, or some with a mango curry sauce. I tried the curry ones, and boy were they delicious. I asked my fine server what locale the mussels hail’d from, and she replied that they are fresh from Quadra Island. Now that is why they are so good! They were big, juicy, and really just melted in my mouth. And that curry sauce was so tasty that I just slurped some of it up after all the mussels had gone. If you’re in Victoria be sure to stop by this venerable watering hole!