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British ColumbiaMY B.C. HIDEAWAY

Sara of Tegan and Sara's go to spot when she's in Vancouver

British Columbia may be known for its vast wilderness, but the best spot in the province for Sara Quin of the pop duo Tegan and Sara isn't found on your average tourist map.

Save on Meats: 'I like the vibe, I like the food ... I like what they do with ... outreach'

As part of cbc.ca/bc's series on favourite B.C. places Sara of the pop duo Tegan and Sara says Save on Meats is her favourite place to spend time when she's back in Vancouver. (Courtesty of Live Nation)

British Columbia may beknown for its vast wilderness, but the best spot in the province for Sara Quinn of the pop duo Tegan and Saraisn't found on your average tourist map.

"I sort of have a nostalgia about the years when I actually wasn't really even living [in Vancouver] full-time," Sara said from L.A.

"I would come back and the first thing I would always do is go to the restaurant Save-on-Meats."

The award-winning musician now splits hertime between Vancouver and L.A., but shelived in Montreal for about 13 years.

During that time her mother and twin sister Teganlived in Vancouver, so during visits sheoften found herself sidling up to the counter at the iconic diner, local paper in hand.

"I like the vibe, I like the food, I like that it's inexpensive, I like what they do with the community outreach there," she said.

The new Save-On-Meats opened at 43 West Hastings after the butcher shop closed in March of 2009. (Manusha Janakiram)

Save on Meatsfirst opened its doors in 1957 principally as a butcher shop with a small burger and sandwich counter in the back.

The business changed owners in 2009, whenitwas turned into a diner run as asocial enterprise that supports residents of the Downtown Eastside.

"I love Gastown, I think it's sort of a complex place historically and socially. It certainly is a fast gentrifying, changing neighbourhood. But Ithink institutions like Save on Meats, you know, they sort of help keep it anchored in its backstory."

As for what Sara likes to eat when she's there, it's the same order every time: eggs over medium and potatoes, sometimes with a side of sausage.

"The neighbourhood is getting fancier and there's definitelyyour great places with expensive beautiful coffee machines and organic avocado toast," she said.

"But I'm sort of one of those people who just needs some eggs and some potatoes and a pot of coffee that's been brewing for a couple of hours. Like, that's my speed."

This story is part of the new series My B.C. Hideaway. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks to hear from other local personalities about their favourite places in the province.