If you fancy yourself a Canadian country music fan, chances are you've heard the Top 10 single “Whiskey in Colorado” more than a few times this year. With millions of streams in addition to a ton of radio rotation, singer Tony Stevens is swiftly becoming a recognizable name in the country's music scene.
Blending elements of rock, country an R&B to create an inviting sound for listeners from his 2023 debut single "Tomorrow Today" to his latest "Days Like This", we're looking forward to hearing what else the talented singer-songwriter will be releasing in the coming months.
Coming hot off of his first CCMA Award nomination for Songwriters of the Year along side co-writers David Borys, Wes Mack and Dan Swinimer, Tony Stevens took some time to chat with us about his favourite places for eats and drinks in the Metro Vancouver area.
Breakfast
Langley's Delphi Cafe is a little spot not too far from where I live. It has a really good portion-to-cost ratio which is key ‘cause I seem to have a never ending appetite, and I've also never had a bad cup of coffee there.
All the bennys are great and the french toast is basically an entire loaf of bread. Ok, it's just two slices, but they're huge! To top it off, the fruit on the side is always fresh like it was just picked from the garden.
Lunch
The Crab Shop in North Vancouver is one place that I'd drive across Canada for their crab sandwich if I had too. It's also a fishmonger and, living on the west coast, I'm spoiled with the freshest and best seafood. This spot is also nostalgic for me as it takes me back to my days as a deckhand working on a gillnetter on the Fraser River.
Their Crab Meat Sandwich is just that…crab meat on a bun with some lettuce and mayo. It's so simple, and I think that's what makes it so good. I always get a side of fries, but don't be sleepin’ on the house hot sauce because it's dang good!
Dinner
JOEY Restaurant on Lougheed highway and North Road in Coquitlam is more than the food I eat there. Long before it turned into the chain that it is today, it was formally Joey Tomatoes and, originally, a Mother Tucker's.
When I was a kid, my family would go there on special occasions after church. In my teens, my Dad and I would go there at least once a week when he was in town from work. The peel-and-eat shrimp were a guaranteed order for us. Eventually, it was the place I took my girlfriend (now my wife) on many dates and I still frequent it at least a few times a year.
The food is always great and the atmosphere is relaxing.
Drinks
There are a lot of breweries around town like Camp Beer, Trading Post and Five Roads to name a few, but I would say Farm Country Brewing Co. in Langley is a special spot for me to have a beer. It's where I played a ton of gigs starting out, and I have also been fortunate enough to even brew a beer with them (Deckhand Hazy Pale Ale).
Plenty of beers have been had there, to say the least, and their German Pilsner is one of my favourites!
