What鈥檚 better than Sunday brunch?
Sunday brunch served Hawaiian style.
In homage to the Bayshore鈥檚 original Polynesian restaurant, Trader Vic鈥檚, the Westin Bayshore 麻豆传媒映画has introduced the Sunday Luau Brunch.
Tropical drinks are also featured, including the Punch Drunk cocktail. Photo: @h2restaurant
On a sunny, August afternoon a musician strummed and plucked away on a ukulele under the shade of a tree on the back lawn of the Bayshore while brunch lovers dined al fresco on the patio of H2 Rotisserie & Bar.
Meanwhile, the tiki-inspired d茅cor and food offerings inside transported us back to the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort, a property we fell in love with during a recent visit to the Hawaiian Island of Kauai.
The Bayshore was once home to the Polenysian-style tiki bar and restaurant Trader Vic鈥檚, which opened in 1961 and was famous for the fact guests could arrive by boat, as well as by land. The restaurant quickly gained popularity for its Polynesian d茅cor, complete with tiki statues, and for its rum-heavy, tropical drinks, including mai tais considered exotic for the time and place.
A post card from Trader Vic鈥檚 at the Bayshore circa 1960s.
Sadly, while curiosity about tiki culture thrived during the 1960s, it waned in the 1990s and Trader Vic鈥檚 closed in 1996. But for some that vintage tiki spirit never died and in recent years there has been a resurgence of Polynesian-style lounges in Vancouver.
On the day we visited, the Sunday Luau Brunch buffet included pineapple barbecue ribs, huli huli chicken, garlic shrimp, vegan-friendly Beyond Meat 鈥榃aikiki鈥� meatballs with soy-ginger glaze, prawn ceviche, a selection of creative salads, a build-your-own a莽ai bowl bar and some of the best slow roasted 鈥減ig鈥� we鈥檝e had 鈥� and we鈥檝e been to a lot of luaus.
Garlic shrimp at the Sunday Luau Brunch at the Bayshore. Photo Sandra Thomas
For dessert, I tried the tropical-shaped sugar cookies and banana spring rolls and immediately felt the spirit of Aloha.
The buffet offerings rotate weekly and for those not as excited about Hawaiian food as I am, H2 Rotisserie & Bar has kept items from its classic brunch menu, including eggs benedict. Guest can also order from an ala carte brunch menu.
Of course, tropical drinks are also featured, including the Punch Drunk cocktail, featuring three types of rum, peach schnapps, pomegranate syrup and pineapple and orange juices.
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Our seats overlooked the pool at the Bayshore and, for a brief moment, we were transported back to Kauai -- without the pricy airfare.
@sthomas10
