Chocolate Stop: Nanaimo Trail
Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Chocolate loving visitors to Vancouver Island, BC, can hit the Nanaimo Bar Trail, a self-guided adventure full of sweet streets and tasty turns.

Nanaimo, located near the southern end of Vancouver Island, is known for snorkeling with seals and a floating pub. But it is best known as the place where the Nanaimo Bar originated in the early 1950s. The layered, no-bake bar and its many variations is famous all over North America now.

The trail begins at the Nanaimo Museum where visitors can see the Nanaimo bar original recipe.

Then they should continue the trail by trying the classic version of the bar. Almost every cafe and coffee shop in Nanaimo makes their own variations. For a bar made close to the original recipe two popular choices are Serious Coffee, adjacent to the museum, and the nearby is Perkins Coffee Co, known for its large portions.

For bars little less sweet and healthier, French cafe Mon Petit Choux offers an organic version with all natural ingredients.

This next stop is one-of-a-kind and requires you to plan a visit to one of Nanaimo’s Farmers’ Markets. Pastry Chef Sarah Wallbank operates a portable bakery called Parfait Gourmet Desserts. From her mobile operation, she offers an Elite Bar made with real butter and organic, fair trade chocolate from Madagascar.

Another must-see in Nanaimo is Pirate Chips, where a life-size pirate statue greets customers.
Pirate Chips specializes in all things deep fried, including the beloved Nanaimo bar. The sweetness is toned down with the batter crust and it’s served warm with an ooey gooey centre.

Minnoz Restaurant & Lounge in the The Coast Bastion Inn has a Nanaimo Bar Cheesecake. It is presented like a cheesecake but layered like the bar.

At the Wee Cupcakery the chef has created a Nanaimo Bar Cupcake with a coconut base, like the bar but with a chocolate cake centre topped with a creamy, custard icing and piece of chocolate.

The next two options are best tried during the summer. The Tea on the Quay offers a Nanaimo Bar ice cream and sells hundreds of scoops every day. Jakeob’s Ice Cream has the legendary Nanaimo Bar Sundae. The ice cream shop is in the back of New York Style Pizza.

Visitors should wait until the end of the trail for the Nanaimo Bar martini at the Modern Cafe. This cocktail is a mixture of crème de cacao, vanilla vodka, chocolate sauce, hit of espresso and topped with a coffee bean.

Finally, for the trip home, visitors can stop at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and pick up a piece of Nanaimo Bar fudge.

Visit www.nanaimo.ca.

Edited by Patricia D. Sherman

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