If you can combine a great hike amid beautiful scenery with fresh ingrediants prepared perfectly so as not to detract from the main – well maybe you have found the Smoking Tuna Cafe.
Start with a 20 minute trek down to Pike Point entrance to the Coast Trail near Sooke. Take a slight scramble up a goat path for a quick panoramic view, before you head back to the main route leading down to the water. Here the Coast Trail takes you above hidden coves, bays and cliffs overlooking the waves as they arrive from Hawaii, Australia and beyond…
The hike and the exilurating views should get your appetite worked up to the where a small spot of lunch would be perfect to refuel the engines before heading back home.
So take the time to discover The Smoking Tuna Cafe. Open for three years, it is located near the Aylard Farm entrance at the opposite end to the Coast Trail. Located on the marina, near a community of semi-permanent and permanent cottages, trailers. The views are not as spectacular as the trail, but the food more than makes up for the lack of outstanding surroundings.
Chefs focus on local ingredients with a nod to fish of course. We had discovered this gem just after it opened with friends we had accompained to the island to check out the scene. Perhaps part of the reason we came to stay…
Grilled Vegetable and Feta Focacia
Our two selections included a DEEP FRIED BREADED TUNA that was cooked perfecto. Seasoned just right and served with a slightly spicy aioli. The GRILLED VEGETABLE and FETA toasted focacia had just enough smoky taste to bring out the natural flavours of the vegetables. The feta cheese added a creamy texture to offset the crunch of the bread.
Open for lunch and dinner, we would pick this as a must taste to any trip to the Sooke.
Victoria Food Journey 