The Flying Pig (Vancouver, Canada)

The Flying Pig has got to be the best new restaurant in Vancouver. The name of the restaurants connotes a menu filled with pork items but nothing could be further from the truth. Not being a big fan of pork I had been avoiding this restaurant. But so many people had so many great things to say about it that I finally had to try…even if it meant eating pork.

The Flying Pig is as the owners like to refer to themselves a ‘Nouveau Canadian Restaurant’ and nothing confirms this identity more than their Quebec Maple Sugar Pie (do not miss it)!

We went on a Saturday night arriving to a long line up of eager hungry customers. Miraculously after 15 minutes we were seated at the bar. I really liked the décor and ambiance of loud and happy diners. Our meal started off with a serving of fresh out of the oven warm bread served with a side of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.

Shortly after our entrées arrived: Red wine braised beef short rib and their special for the evening a large dish filled with mussels and clams served with their crispy yet chewy string fries. My photos really do not do justice to the presentation and wonderful flavours presented in these two dishes. The beef short rib was great although too large for us to finish but great if you are hungry and willing. The mussels and clams were served in a wonderful tasty broth mixed with corn. The string fries were dipped in the broth resulting in a wonderful explosion of flavours in my mouth.

So full but as always not being able to say no to dessert we ordered not one but two: The Chocolate Hazelnut Cake and the Quebec Maple Sugar Pie. Those of you who have been to Quebec know about the range of delicious maple treats, maple sugar pie being one of my favourites. As this is the first time I have seen it being offered in Vancouver I could not say no. However, be advised that it is VERY sweet and VERY delicious… I can hardly imagine it being calorie friendly but that is the least of my worries when I’m inhaling my dessert. The guilt usually kicks in 30 minutes after and I have to write a blog post to remind myself that it was well worth it.