Powell River, located 170 kilometers from Vancouver, is the central city of the Upper Sunshine Coast, surrounded by green mountains and the blue sea. As the saying goes: "Rely on the mountains to eat from the mountains, rely on the sea to eat from the sea." Therefore, for food lovers, this place is a paradise of delicacies!
Another appealing aspect of Powell River is its history. The Old Town Site, located on the northern waterfront of the town, is the only place in Western Canada designated as a national historic site, home to what was once the largest paper mill in the world and Canada’s oldest Patricia Theatre.
Attracted by Powell's food and history, I set off from Richmond, Vancouver last Christmas holiday, braving a snowstorm, driving for nearly 4 hours and covering almost two hundred kilometers, then transferring twice on ferries. After a challenging journey, I finally arrived in Powell City at midnight on December 22, staying at the historic Rodmay Hotel built in 1911, which I had booked in the summer.
Undeterred by the heavy snow, I arrived in Powell, and heaven rewarded me with unexpected surprises! The next day, after the snow, the sky cleared, and the high-latitude sun rose almost from the south, its dazzling rays shining on the fresh snow, like a bride's wedding dress, crystal clear and bright. Surrounded by my joyful imagination, I went with the flow, driving across the endless snowy plains, unfolding all my romantic imaginings of this city.
Rationality can make me realize that I am part of the world, which can develop into a part of my spirit, but it will never grant me the gift of wild imagination. So, that morning, from the moment I opened my eyes, I did not stop letting my spirit soar. Eight thousand miles of clouds and moon, now looking back, my stay in Powell City is most memorable for my romantic feelings and the love for food that perfectly aligns with my imagination.
When traveling, eating, drinking, and having fun, the word "eat" comes first. I remember that breakfast was at a café called Edie Rae's Cafe, adorned with photos of the female owner, where I had an English breakfast.
That morning, there were only three tables occupied in the café, and each guest was seriously reading the text on the back of the menu. I used Google Translate to understand the text, which turned out to be the love story of the female owner, Edie.
The beautiful owner, Edie, suffers from cancer, yet remains optimistic in her work and life after having one lung and one kidney removed. Because of love, Edie and her handsome French husband still warmly support each other, continuing to write their culinary story that has lasted over 60 years. It is said that guests who have seen their story, if moved to tears, have truly loved someone in their lifetime.
Lunch was at an Indian restaurant, where the rich aroma of curry accompanied by sacred sounds made the meal a visual art experience, with the colorful decor of the restaurant perfect for photos. The staple food for Indians is usually a combination of flatbreads and rice, with the order being: eat the bread first, then the rice. Indian rice is made from BASMATI rice, which is long and fragrant. It is said that its aroma is determined by the Indian climate, or perhaps it belongs to the same variety as the world-famous Thai jasmine rice. The baked flatbread was also fragrant, soft yet chewy, and finally, the owner served me a cup of spiced Indian tea, MASALA, which was rich, sweet, and smooth, full of the flavor of Bollywood love stories.
Dinner was reserved at a private Greek-style restaurant named Granada. The decor of this restaurant is filled with the owners' nostalgia for their Greek homeland. The main wall of the restaurant features a mural of the blue sea and white houses of the Mediterranean. The lamb rice and Greek salad at Granada are uniquely flavorful. When I settled the bill, it was nearly 10 PM, and I realized that the cashier was the owner and his wife, who repeatedly said to me: "Thank you, welcome for coming!"
Seeing this elderly couple still working so late filled me with respect. Perhaps it is their hard work and warmth that have allowed their restaurant to thrive in Powell River for nearly 50 years.
The flavors of the Powell Christmas holiday are filled with love.
Edie Rae's Cafe and Granada restaurant are both family-run establishments that have persisted for decades because of love. Edie and her French husband have created a restaurant with both English and French characteristics. Despite Edie's struggles with illness, the love story of this devoted couple, who remain inseparable, is reflected in every menu. Under the midnight starry sky, the owners of Granada restaurant have walked through fifty years together, cooking through the years and tending to the fire of love, which also moves me.
I recorded videos of these two restaurants, with the soundtrack being the love song "Fifty Years Later" by online singer Hai Lai A Mu:
The best luck in this life is meeting you
Just when you love me too
I love you as well
I hope that fifty years later
You will still be by my side
By then, we will have all turned gray
But I still want to hear you call me "girl"
Gently holding your hand
Quietly leaning on your chest
Isn't this scene called everlasting companionship?
One day, I don't know which Christmas it will be when these two couples are no longer in this world, but I believe that these two restaurants will still open their warm arms on Christmas, continuing to welcome both strangers and familiar faces. Christmas is a Christian holiday, and the Apocalyptic Christian faith is a religion based on love; the more one loves, the more one exists; the more one exists, the more one loves. Here, love and time exist as long as each other, and love and food are equally unforgettable...