With the recent news that some new food carts will soon be unleashed outside of the downtown core, it comes as no surprise that a lone ranger has popped up on Commercial Drive. The area’s dearth of food carts combined with Vancouver’s appetite for sustainable seafood makes The Daily Catch Food Truck a welcome sight.
So what can you expect to find at this fish-mobile? How about some fish ‘n chips? Available in the standard one or two piece varieties, you can chose from delicious deep-fried cod, salmon or halibut (I went with the halibut). The fries were great, nice and crispy, and I especially enjoyed the incredibly creamy (and dilly) tartar sauce. It’s probably worth mentioning that I usually avoid tartar like the plague. Throw in some ‘slaw and a pickle and you’ve got yourself arguably the best fish ‘n chips on The Drive.
Fish ‘n chips are really great and I’m glad The Daily Catch boys have given The Drive a place to indulge the scurviest of meals. However, what I’d really like to praise (and probably the #1 reason to check out this food cart) is their Manhattan-style chowder. I know everyone is always like “Boston has the best chowdah” but that just isn’t true – and The Daily Catch can prove it. With a lighter tomato base than the creamy Boston variety, and loaded with vegetables and succulent clams, this hearty soup is perfect on a typical Vancouver day. It’s worth going just for the chowder.
This Vancouver food cart also serves beer-battered fish tacos, featuring a gigantic piece of fish, some salsa, a little more of that coleslaw and a spicy sauce. Then comes the revolving specials, which were cute little bacon oyster sliders when I was there (I don’t know why I didn’t try them). They also do a calamari po’boy sandwich that looks especially delicious, served in a fresh Portuguese bun with shredded lettuce, sliced cucumber, yogurt dill dressing and a drizzle of hot sauce. You can wash it all down with a beverage from the Pop Shoppe.
The Daily Catch boys also serve your meal in a compostable container, emphasising their commitment to a sustainable world. The Ocean Wise designation allows you to sleep well knowing the fish you ate were some of the most sustainable to be found in Vancouver.
The Daily Catch Food Truck also operates as a mobile showcase for the sustainable seafood that they sell from their shop on 1418 Commercial Drive. While initially camped outside the store, their food cart can now be found at Grandview Park, Tuesday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Like what you eat at the cart? Walk a few blocks down the street and you can take home some fresh fish in all its raw glory.
Follow The Daily Catch boys on Facebook and Twitter and never miss another bacon oyster slider special again!
Written by Corbet Rutzer, a Food Columnist at Vancity Buzz. Connect with Corbet on Twitter at @crutzer.