in Wine & Food

Judas Goat Taberna Vancouver

Tapas is the new izakaya. A few years back when the izakaya storm took Vancouver it was all the rage. Hapa Izakaya and Guu both thrived, and continue to do so, but there’s a new kid on the block — Judas Goat Taberna.

Judas Goat is the second culinary lovechild of Sean Heather and Scott Hawthorn. Sean Heather, whom I’ve never met, also has The Irish Heather, Salty Tongue, and the Shebeen Whisky House, presumably from previous relationships.

Located in the ever awesome Blood Alley, where it’s reported that there were public hangings and the making of my first student film, the taberna is a 28 seat tapas bar/lounge similar to Salt, but with the Spanish tapas flair.

My friend Alex from Leeds leads the charge and makes the jump from Salt Tasting Room. The difference between Judas and Salt is mostly in the menu and style. Salt continues on the high end wine and sherry train, while Judas Goat makes for more of a grazing meal with a good variety of small bites like the braised pork belly and the rabbit rillette were nice, but the show stealer for me was the chorizo, caramelized onion, and dark chocolate bruschetta. All of this with a simple, but reasonably priced and well selected beer, sherry, and wine list, makes for a great night in Blood Alley.

And after stuffing yourself to the brim ala España you feel like another glass of wine, Salt is about 100 feet away.

Judas Goat Taberna. Go there and check it out.

Side note: A while back in San Sebastian I had a foodie epiphany while eating the local tapas called pintxos (Peen•chos). I was so happy that I thought I might enjoy eating pintxos more than I enjoyed sex. I was literally that happy to be eating there. While researching the Judas Goat I came across this Scout Magazine article about Sean Heather’s trip to Spain and the inspiration for the Judas Goat Taberna. It’s a great read if you’re into food and that sort of thing.

(click to enlarge)