New Nosh: Bel Café

The Hawksworth dining empire has expanded with its fourth entity: a second, light-flooded location of casual-chic Bel Café in breezy Kitsilano.

The bright space, open till 5 p.m. daily, boasts a menu of innovative and gourmet breakfast, lunch and snack items that both celebrate seasonal and local ingredients and showcase Kits-specific goods (Nectar Juicery juice, Blume latte mixes and 49th Parallel coffee). Our brekkie included dishes unique to this location: a house-cured salmon bagel with labneh and pickled red onion, plus healthy kale and egg toast made with spicy braised kale. The lunch crowd, which flocks from 4th Avenue and the adjacent industrial businesses, is sure to love the salmon sushi salad with brown rice and roasted tomato soup (both old faves at Bel’s downtown café). And, for those with a sweet tooth (read: us), pastry chef Wayne Kozinko serves up flaky fresh-baked croissants, sweet lemon tarts and fruit danishes (we took a pistachio and orange kouign-amann to go).

So, yes, the Hawksworth culinary affair continues. —Lise Boullard

Bel Café, 1780 W. 3rd Ave., Vancouver, 604-736-5812, belcafe.com