With a storied career that stems all the way back to a 1995 performance at the Railway Club in Vancouver, the musical journey of American-born, Canadian-raised singer Suzie Ungerleider is truly a Canadian music industry success story.
After racking up countless acclaim from critics and fans alike with 9 studio albums, a seriously strong selection of hit singles, and a multitude of memorable live performances, Ungerleider recently shed her former stage name of Oh Susanna and is now set to debut a new album this summer titled My Name Is Suzie Ungerleider.
The story behind the name transition is a powerful and earnest tale, summed up beautifully by the talented songwriter on the landing page of her website. Now performing under her own name, Ungerleider has fully embraced her musical identity and this week, she released the first single of her upcoming LP, “Baby Blues”.
We recently had a chance to catch up with Ungerleider, who filled us in on all of her favourite places to eat and drink in her home base of Vancouver.
Breakfast
When I was a kid, every Sunday we would jump in our blue VW bug and drive to Chinatown and go to Ming’s for dim sum. Picture a huge dining room with red velvet and golden dragons and a stage for events at night. Dozens of carts scuttling around large round tables pushed by ladies yelling out what they were peddling. It was like home to me.
Alas Chinatown is a little more derelict now, Ming’s is no longer there and the pandemic has put a dent in eating in big dining halls, but luckily we’ve discovered this little gem on Pender street.
Family run since 1990 Kam Wai Dim Sum offers frozen or fresh dim sum for take-out. The food is delicious and the staff are super friendly. So do yourself a favour, buy a big bamboo double decker steamer, buy $25 worth of bao, dumplings, sticky rice and bean curd rolls from Kam Wai and stuff yourself silly.
Lunch
We live very close to this little gem in Burnaby Heights neighbourhood. Green & Oak Malaysian Restaurant is cozy and warm inside, perfect for a chilly, rainy west-coast day and of course you can order take-out/delivery as well.
The food is super fresh and delicious. I love the chicken curry which is made with coconut, lemongrass and shallots and has tons of sauce. The mee goreng noodles are the perfect comfort food. The green beans with brown shrimp sauce and ground pork are spicy goodness.
Dinner
Well technically this place is in Port Moody, but you can take a 30-minute Skytrain trip there or a 20-minute drive from East Vancouver. Original’s Restaurante Mexicanos is in an old converted house and it has a wonderful garden complete with twinkly lights, green grass, trees and flowers for dining al fresco.
The food is very authentic with excellent tacos–and we are taco snobs at our house! Inside, Original’s has beautiful Mexican artwork on the walls, lovely lighting and décor. Simple, casual and beautiful. The staff here are so warm and welcoming too. We love this place.
Drinks
Truthfully, the best place for cocktails is at our house because my husband is an amazing mixologist. So when we can gather again, come on over!
But in the meantime, visit the patio at Dachi in the Hastings Sunrise neighbourhood for their wonderful drinks. Many unique layered flavours in their cocktails. Again, these guys are very friendly and into serving local ingredients to the community.
