Suburbia’s a mine of hidden gems

When it comes to lifestyle, Vancouver gets all the glory for cool shops and great eats. But we thought it’d be fun to scour the ‘burbs for some hidden gems. Here’s our roundup of great places to eat, shop, stroll and wander that may have flown under your radar.

LITTLE WHITE HOUSE, FORT LANGLEY

A perfect slice of French heaven. Wander through this airy house filled with beautiful objects with a touch of je ne sais quois.

The boudoir is filled with flirty dresses and blouses while the living room is arranged with French country tables and vintage treasures (all for sale, of course). Then head upstairs to the chambre for bed linens and lingerie artfully arranged on the bed. The bathroom, with its beautiful light and claw foot tub, is the place to rummage for French milled soap and other toiletries.

Everything in this “home” has been lovingly curated by Cheryl Krecsy and her daughter Natasha, who share a love of France (not to mention an apartment in Montmartre). Each year, they bring back from their travels to Europe and the U.S. French or French-inspired products.

“I created Little White House for women,” says Cheryl Krecsy. “[It's] a place for women to go and tune out of all the stresses they have.”

The house was originally owned by Dr. Benjamin Marr, Langley’s first resident doctor. Krecsy purchased it six years ago and transformed the house into a boutique and tea room, while largely keeping the original layout intact.

The Salon Café, which is housed in the original coach house, is a rustic and elegant setting to take in afternoon tea, with a weathered wooden pitched ceiling, sparkling chandeliers and round white tables.

Plus everything on the menu is made in house, including macarons de Paris that required nine months of trial and error to perfect, says Krecsy.

The Little White House is located in the village of Fort Langley, which isn’t just for school kids on field trips. It feels like a quaint American Main Street with heritage storefronts turned into modern cafés and shops, including the popular Wendel’s Bookstore and Café.

9090 Glover Rd., Fort Langley; littlewhitehouseco.com

RIVER MARKET, NEW WESTMINSTER

The Royal City appears to be on the cusp of resurgence with major condo developments underway, bringing in a younger, more urban crowd to the city.

With massive renovations complete at River Market (formerly the oft-deserted New Westminster Quay), it’s now hoping to capitalize on the momentum, styling itself as a place for foodies to gather.

Eateries that have set up shop here include Vancouver’s Wild Rice and Re-Up BBQ, plus fish ‘n’ chips shop Fathom Seafood, the Great Wall Tea Company, Crepe des Amis and a Spanish/Mexican bakery called Paloma. “It’s full of independent business owners who are trying really hard to put out really good products.

“There’s excellent gelato, excellent bread, we’re trying to do great barbecue next door, we’re doing fish ‘n’ chips here. It’s a hub of really good stuff, it just kind of needs to be discovered,” says Jose Rosales, co-owner of Re-Up BBQ and Fathom Seafood.

Share and Enjoy