Dining Out

California rolls easy to find in the grocery store, but are some brands better than others?

September 29, 2023, 6:03am Clark County Life

Sushi stands have become as ubiquitous as fried chicken and pizza at grocery stores throughout the country. Americans purchased 43.7 million servings of sushi at grocery stores over the past… Read story

Ukrainian eatery in Vancouver Mall food court offers taste of home

September 22, 2023, 6:04am Clark County Life

Nataliya Nahurska and her family had plans for many years to start a food business. The Russian invasion of Ukraine last year compelled her to share her culture. “After what… Read story

The outdoor patio at Willamette Valley Vineyards Tasting Room & Restaurant overlooks the Columbia River.

Vancouver waterfront wine tasting room and restaurant offers welcoming vibe

September 8, 2023, 6:01am Clark County Life

Willamette Valley Vineyards founder Jim Bernau began making pinot noir in the Willamette Valley in 1983, a year before the federal government established Oregon’s first viticultural area in the Willamette Valley. The vineyards’ tasting room and restaurant opened at The Waterfront Vancouver in August 2022. Based on my recent visit,… Read story

Doomsday's Pink Shandy Dropper brings citrus flavors to the forefront.

These Clark County brews are a good bet to beat the heat

August 25, 2023, 6:03am Clark County Life

Summer 2023 started mild with temperatures ranging in the 70s and 80s. But last week’s scorching sun led me to seek out a good beer for sipping on the back porch — a lighter brew that lingers in the 4 percent to 6 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) range. This… Read story

The owner of Vancouver's Niche Wine Bar, Leah Jackson, recently visited Japan to tour sake breweries.

Niche Wine Bar in downtown Vancouver adds taste of Japan

August 18, 2023, 6:04am Clark County Life

Leah Jackson has helped customers find a wine that suits them from the curated collection at Niche Wine Bar in downtown Vancouver for the past 13 years. After a recent trip to Japan, she added a short list of sake to the menu, as well as sake tastings the last… Read story

Janie Wood, left, and Karen Lyles, both of Ridgefield, take a break for good food and conversation at Carts by the Park on Wednesday afternoon. The city council held a work session Thursday to consider development regulations specific to food cart pods.

Ridgefield: ‘We really don’t have standards for permanent food cart pods’ — but that could change

August 14, 2023, 6:05am Business Subscriber Exclusive

Ridgefield’s popular food cart pod will likely have to meet new development regulations by early next year. The city council held a work session on the proposed regulations Thursday. Read story

Vancouver restaurateur Genaro Zurita Amaro has full plate with Amaro’s Table, Cecilia, Gustav’s

Restaurateur Genaro Zurita Amaro helps prepare for the lunch rush in the kitchen at Gustav's in east Vancouver. Zurita Amaro got his start at a German restaurant in Portland.

August 11, 2023, 6:04am Business Subscriber Exclusive

Genaro Zurita Amaro loved visiting his grandparents’ ranch outside of his hometown Cuernavaca, Mexico. He was fascinated by the scents wafting from his grandma Cecilia’s kitchen, but that wasn’t a place for boys. He finally found his way to a professional kitchen as a young man in Portland. Three decades… Read story

Gustav’s new owners strive to ‘make things better’ at east Vancouver restaurant

Gustav's new menu includes dishes pictured here like a New York strip steak, clockwise from left, stuffed cabbage rolls, garlic cheese bread, chicken schnitzel, German meatballs in a caper sauce with spaetzle and potato pancakes.

August 1, 2023, 6:04am Business Subscriber Exclusive

Longtime German favorite Gustav’s is under new ownership. And the owners are familiar faces to those in Vancouver’s foodie community: Genaro Zurita Amaro and Jesus Amaro, owners of Amaro’s Table and Cecilia. Read story

Get a taste for Felida at four neighborhood restaurants

July 21, 2023, 6:05am Clark County Life Subscriber Exclusive

I’ve been exploring interesting clusters of restaurants that have popped up around Clark County. I recently wrote about dining options in Battle Ground and Ridgefield, but realized I had yet to focus on Felida. Here are four spots for food and drink that I recommend trying in this lush neighborhood… Read story