Aftertastes

Retirement

2011-07-20T08:29:00.003-07:00

So, after over 100 posts on food, I am retiring from this blog. Hubbs and I go out to eat fairly often and it has become a nearly-impossible task to keep these places straight in our minds, much less remember sufficient detail in order to blog about them. And pictures - well, mostly we're too hungry to take 'em and by the time we remember, the food is decimated.

Here's a summarized list of a few of our "regular" favourites (some of which have already appeared on this blog) if you so wish to venture out and give them a try:

DIM SUM: Golden Ocean in Kerrisdale
FORMAL DIM SUM: Sea Harbour in Richmond, Sun Sui Wah in Richmond
CHINESE NOODLES: Legendary Noodle on Denman, Shanghai Chinese Bistro downtown
CHINESE DELIVERY: Szechuan Chongqing on Robson
INFORMAL CHINESE: No. 9 in Richmond
CHINESE BAKERY: New Town Bakery in Richmond or Chinatown

FRENCH: Le Crocodile in downtown Van, Fraiche in North Van

SUSHI ROLLS: Dream Sushi on Main, Shuraku downtown
SUSHI: Toshi on Main, Ajisai in Kerrisdale
OMAKASE: Octopus Garden in Kits, Sushi Kimura in Van
RAMEN: Benkei Ramen (various locations)
IZAKAYA: Guu** (but this may change since we've yet to try Hapa and a few others)
AYCE JAPANESE: Tomokazu on Broadway, Ninkazu in Richmond

ITALIAN: Quattro on Fourth in Vancouver
PIZZA: Firewood Cafe, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co., and Bibo on 4th
PIZZA/CAFE: Sciue downtown! Best pizza actually.
GELATO: Hubbs likes Bella Gelato downtown, and I like Casa Gelato on Venables St.

KOREAN: Jang Mo Jib (various locations), and Hanwoori in Burnaby

FOOD CART/STAND: Roaming Dragon (downtown)

MEXICAN: Don Guacamole's downtown

SEAFOOD: Blue Water Cafe, then Joe Forte's (both downtown, in that order)

STEAKHOUSE/SEAFOOD: Boathouse (various locations)

BAKERY: Richlea in Delta, La Baguette on Granville Island

BURGER: Romer's Burger Bar on 4th, Deluxe Moderne Burger on Broadway, and Vera's Burger Shack (various locations) in that order

DESSERT: True Confections on Broadway, Sweet Obsession on Trafalgar, Beard Papa's

BREAKFAST: Paul's Place Omelettry on Granville

VIET FUSION: Chau on Robson

INDIAN: Vij's, Vij's Rangoli in Van

Happy eating, everyone!

Le Crocodile

2010-08-03T19:53:00.014-07:00

Food: * * * * * / 5

Service: * * * * / 5

Best meal in recent memory! This place is pricey but worth it - both quality and quantity are high, and the menu was diverse and full of fabulous French flair. Pictures = 1000 words so here they are:

Our amuse bouche: a delicious, creamy, flaky tart.

Next, Hubbs had the foie gras and scallop. It was ample, to say the least.

I had the bone marrow, since *nobody* serves it so I figured it was once-in-a-lifetime. I should've shared it with Hubbs since it was huge and very very rich, and there was no way I could finish it and still eat my entree.

Then came le Crocodile's signature fries (pommes frites). They were super skinny and short, like Hickory Sticks chips but even skinnier, and super crunchy. Delicious.

Hubbs had a large lobster as his entree. He finished it but I think he was stuffed by the time he was done. He tells me it was really really good.

I, of course, had the duck breast with foie gras. It was perfectly done and tender, and the foie gras was sizeable (though not as huge as Hubbs' appie piece), but the bone marrow had filled me up so much that I had to give half my meal away to Hubbs (which is why he was so stuffed)!.

Then we both got a lovely sorbet (pear with poire liqueur) to cleanse our palettes.

Next came dessert! Hubbs had a tiramisu in a chocolate cup. I don't think it was the best he's had but it was still really good (enough for him to eat all of it up in spite of his fullness).

I tried their dessert tart, which came with a lovely sentiment on the plate :) It was very tasty but I still prefer the apple pie at Joey's by a slight margin.

And, along with the bill, came two little house-made chocolate crocodiles. They were really good too but I was too full to eat even one, and so my dear Hubbs once again had to hoover down my portion. What a sweetie!

Basically, go to le Crocodile to celebrate major events. It will set you back a few hundred (especially with wine) but it's an experience that everyone must have at least a few times in one's lifetime. I was thoroughly impressed and we will definitely be back.

Duffin's Donuts

2010-07-09T15:11:00.003-07:00

Food: * * * * 1/2

Service: N/A

Okay, technically I didn't eat here so I can't really comment about the food. We just bought a couple of donuts to go, and the one that sticks in my memory is their delicious glazed donut. It brings me back to the days of my youth, when "Baker Bob" at the local Co-op bakery would whip up the most fluffy and crispy glazed donuts known to man. Duffin's donut comes dangerously close to Baker Bob's, so on that donut alone I think it's a great place to go. That said, don't ask me about tortas or the Chinese food that they also serve; I think it's very very strange that a place can serve food from so many different cultures in one spot. I'll be back..but just for donuts.

Trattoria

2010-07-09T14:55:00.003-07:00

Food: * * * 1/2

Service: * * *

This place is busy busy, so service can be inattentive and/or slow as a result. Totally hit-and-miss. The food was pretty tasty but not as good as my favourite, Q4. We shared both the appie and pasta platters, which I thought weren't nearly as filling as they looked to be. Prices were standard for mid-range Italian dining, and the whole restaurant had a total cocktail-lounge-party feel about it that was a bit off-putting for me (though maybe if I was a scantily clad, stiletto-wearing bar star, I might think it was the best place ever). It's probably a good place to go with friends but not so much for a romantic dinner with your Hubbs; the demographic they cater to probably skews younger and trendier.

Moderne Burger

2010-07-09T14:44:00.004-07:00

Food: * * * * 1/2

Service: * * * *

It's a burger joint with a '50's diner feel, so good service here is totally different than good service at a 5-star restaurant. However, for what it is the service was great, and our orders came quickly. The burgers were *huge* as were the fries on the side, so we ended up sharing my side rather than ordering fries for both Hubbs & I. Apparently the fries are cut and fried as you order them, so they are fresh. They also don't taste like greasy fries; they sort of taste like potato chips. I'm thinking maybe it's because they are preservative free, like the burgers are. I will be back whenever I next have a mondo burger craving. Prices are reasonable ($10.95 for burger + fries), and one day when my heart is feeling particularly healthy, I might even try one of their thick milkshakes. It's a fun lunch or a cheap dinner date place. Oh - and bring cash. That's what they take.

The Boathouse

2010-07-09T14:22:00.002-07:00

Food: * * * *
Service: * * * *

We were here months ago during their Lobster Fest, so details are a bit vague in my mind now. Food was solid and service was attentive and non-intrusive. Prices were not super expensive but still skewed higher due to the seafood/steak specialization. I had the prime rib. It was tasty and not over done. Hubbs had the lobster and he enjoyed it a lot; he thought the portion was very generous. In my mind, it's the place to go if you don't want to spend lots and lots of money (like at le crocodile or C or Blue Water Cafe) but you also want something that's a step up from Joey's. It seemed like it could even be kid-friendly (to a point), and the place was large enough to accommodate families.

Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant

2010-05-24T19:15:00.005-07:00

Food: * * * * 1/2

Service: * * *

Best dim sum (upscale) that we've had in the greater Van area, and the place takes reservations too! Fresh har gow with a nice thin skin, great twists on normal dishes (e.g. pork floss on the crispy donut wrapped in a rice roll), and tasty sticky rice pockets. Ask for the English menu though; the default is all-Chinese. Parking is free, though beware the idiots who park in spaces that aren't actually spots, blocking your exit from the parking lot! Decor is much more classy than other dim sum places (dark wood and ivory, with red accents). Service is reasonable though not expedient, so be prepared to wait. Even people with reservations have to wait, so don't go when you're starving. Otherwise, excellent dim sum. We'll definitely be back!

Gramercy Grill - DOV 2010

2010-05-15T08:53:00.012-07:00

Food: * * * *

Service: * * * *

What a lovely neighbourhood grill! For $28 we couldn't go wrong here; portions were fair (not huge, and the dessert could've been bigger for Hubbs' chocolate thing), food was very tasty (Hubbs *loved* his scallop appie), and on a drizzly rainy Van day, it was a nice place to enjoy a meal. Ambiance is definitely more casual and even arguably kid-friendly, so upscale this is not (even though the dark wood furniture suggests an attempt at business-casual). However, it's definitely several steps up from most family-friendly restaurants, and the food is way better than any chain restaurant willing to entertain people dragging in their little tykes. Good place to hit up if you want a quality meal but don't feel like dressing up fancy and putting on pretenses.

Le Gavroche - DOV 2010

2010-05-15T08:37:00.011-07:00

Food: * * * *

Service: * * * *

Inside a quaint little house is a romantic little French restaurant. Food was solid and portions were generous and tasty. My only complaint would be that the potatoes on my entree were a bit cold :S Otherwise, service was attentive and food was hearty in a home-cooked kind of way; do not expect to compare these dishes against the more upscale French dining in the city, which offer greater subtlety and refinement. This is like the B&B of French cuisine in the area, not the 5-star luxury resort hotel of French food. Ambiance was quiet and intimate, though there *was* a raucous table that annoyed me greatly when we were there. Priced at $38 for the DOV menu, I'd say it was worth it. Delicious and I would definitely come back again (but maybe not in a group - it's a good place to go for just the two of ya).

hidden - DOV 2010

2010-05-15T08:18:00.009-07:00

Food: * * * * 1/2

Service: * * * *

The former Aria at the Westin Grand got a facelift and is now called hidden lounge. It's small and cozy, the booths and chairs are comfy, and the look is supposed to be somewhat chic for the Sex-and-the-City-loving, cosmo-sipping crowd. DOV dishes were tasty and unique (I think the chef had fun designing the menu) but portions were small on their $18 menu. Guess I shouldn't have expected a full meal deal for that price, but because we got the full meal elsewhere for the same price, I was hoping for more than appie-sized entrees. It is a great place to go for exotic beers; their menu for this is ridiculous and Hubbs had a chocolate beer! Anyway, Hubbs loved it, but I thought it was good but over-priced. Go for a drink and to gossip, but maybe not if you're really hungry.

PS - We had to pay more for the bread, but it was delicious.

Mr. Pickwick's Fish and Chips

2010-04-17T12:01:00.003-07:00

Food: * * * *

Service: * * * 1/2

The Denman location was busy busy busy on a Friday night. The servers worked hard there, but there was definitely a wait for the piping hot, freshly battered and fried fish. Fish selection was great, and that batter is probably the best fish and chips batter I've had. Hubbs liked dousing his chips in vinegar (yuck, really?). I thought entrees were quite sizeable for the cost. Not sure it would've passed a Ramsay examination but I could ignore the tacky decor and what I saw in the "open kitchen" since the food was satisfactory. It's a casual dine-in sort of place, and one where you might have to wait, but if you're craving fish and chips (or bangers or mushy peas), this is apparently the place for them!

Firewood Cafe

2010-04-10T08:03:00.002-07:00

Food: * * * * 1/2

Service: * * * 1/2 (Take-out)

Last minute decision to have pizza for dinner, and we hit up this tiny little place on 14th and Cambie. Impressive giant forno oven in their open kitchen - this was definitely a pizza place. They mostly do delivery/take-out and in-house dining space is very very limited. Pizza was thin-crust, well loaded with toppings, and deliciously flavourful. Our new Van favourite, and as good (if not better) than Ragazzi / Pizza Boys in E-town. Pizzas here aren't cheap, but worth the $ IMHO. Call ahead for take-out. A much better alternative to the boring pizza chains out there. :)

Caramba! - Whistler

2010-04-08T18:45:00.003-07:00

Food: * * * * 1/2

Service: * * * * 1/2

While in Whistler we stopped in for lunch. Place was quiet (off-peak lunch hour) and food was solid. Grilled calamari was the best; garlicky and aromatic and came with the most amazing rich dip. Hubbs & I both raved about it. My lamb wrap was good but heavy; roti instead of a tortilla was used as a wrap. Hubbs enjoyed his thin-crust whole-wheat pizza but I thought that was the weakest part of the meal. Overall a great lunch (or dinner) place; we'll be back to check out their dinner menu. Prices aren't cheap; go for something special but not for casual quick dining.

Vij's

2010-03-24T14:50:00.002-07:00

Food: * * * * *

Service: * * * *

Busy trendy Indian eatery. No reso's; be prepared to wait for upwards of 2 hours depending on your arrival time and day. Small bar at the back of the restaurant is basically a waiting room for hungry patrons, and servers kindly make the rounds with amusees bouches as a foreshadow of the entrees to come. Seating is crowded since the space isn't big. Vij is often there greeting and mingling with waiting diners, which adds a nice welcome touch. Food is unique, though distinctively Indian in flavour; local ingredients blended with jazzed up versions of traditional curries and spices make the dining experience memorable and distinct. Leave your notions of "Indian food" behind and open yourself up to a taste adventure. :)

Rangoli by Vij's

2010-03-24T14:43:00.003-07:00

Food: * * * * 1/2

Service: * * * *

A more affordable, casual alternative to the sister restaurant. This one doesn't require as long a time from arrival to seating, but expect to wait a few minutes if you head over during peak hours. Seating is limited. Tasty menu, mid-range pricing for quality, and they have lassis (yogurt drinks)! Food is flavourful and offers a modern twist on what you'd traditionally consider to be Indian cuisine. Service is relatively prompt and polite. A great place to go for quality Indian at reasonable costs.

Monk McQueen's

2010-03-23T20:51:00.002-07:00

Food: * * * * 1/2

Service: * * * *

Don't be misled by the tourist mags touting this place a little too eagerly; this really is a good restaurant for seafood. Parking was non-existent (wear shoes you can walk a few blocks in) save for paid lots a few blocks out of the cul-de-sac. Prices were standard for west-coast contemporary fare, and food was delicious, especially the deep-fried oysters served in mini tortilla shells. The view was breath-taking, so ask for a window seat if possible; we didn't do the patio but it would be uber-romantic to do so if weather permitted. Busy place on weekends and probably some evenings during the week, too; make reso's and be prepared to wait a little for your food. Good for romantic dates and small groups doing a dinner party out.

Shiang Garden

2010-03-23T20:42:00.003-07:00

Food: * * * 1/2

Service: * 1/2

Update: Pretty tasty dim sum, especially the har gow and siu mai. Some of the traditional dishes take on a new twist, like the sticky rice that isn't wrapped in lotus leaves but some sort of edible crepe instead. Dim sum menu is a bit limited in variety, but good quality for what you get. Ambiance is strangely pseudo-Victorian, complete with high ceilings, gilded fixtures, and paintings that look like they should have hung on Queen Victoria's walls. Service is horrifying; we did not get our food for over 30 minutes, despite the fact that the place was half-empty. When the dishes finally came, one server tried to take our food away to give to another waiting table. Mid-range affordability; not the priciest but not discount pricing either. Don't go here unless you've got some masochist blood running through your veins; the food is good but it's not worth the misery of the service.

Shanghai Chinese Bistro

2010-03-23T20:36:00.002-07:00

Food: * * * * 1/2

Service: * * * * 1/2

Surprisingly awesome service at a Chinese restaurant; attentive and polite. Try their Peking duck; the servers will attempt to wrap them for you (nice, but not necessary, really). All the dishes here were tasty, and of course the handmade noodles are a must. Portions are not huge and prices are heftier than normal for the size you get. However, if you're about quality and not quantity this is a good place to get some tasty Chinese.

Ho Yuen Kee

2010-03-23T20:21:00.003-07:00

Food: * * * 1/2

Service: * * *

As with most Chinese eateries, don't even think about receiving great service. Line-ups were insanely long so expect to wait if you go at night. Food was good but not stellar; someone forgot to add salt to our fish maw soup, and all the other dishes tasted okay but were forgettable. Prices were affordable (explains the line-up) and setting was casual. Not sure what the hype was about; maybe I'm too spoiled by my dad's expertise in Cantonese wok-cooking.

Golden Ocean

2010-03-23T10:28:00.004-07:00

Food: * * * *

Service: * * *

Going off-peak hours (20% off) on a Saturday, we found the dim sum to be very tasty. Not a huge variety but all of the basics were covered. Definitely as good as the more expensive alternatives. Push-carts and circulating trays were a good reminder of the old fashioned dim sum we know and love. Ignore the holes in the tablecloths and worn out upholstery on the chairs; it's about the food and it's solid. Might get noisy and crowded during peak hours though, so go early!

Samba Brazilian Steakhouse Churrascaria

2010-03-23T10:20:00.003-07:00

Food: * * 1/2

Service: * * *

Though initially impressed with the sangria (it is very good) and AYCE meat, quality control has really taken a nose-dive here and I was actually *embarrassed* to have brought my family to such a cheap-feeling place. Oversalted meats, a lack of Rodizio variety when dining on weekdays, and a generally campy feel to the whole dining experience. The buffet lacks originality and is all about fillers. Go if you want a lot of red meat, and if you want tasty drinks (love their drink menu). Otherwise, skip it in favour of something worthy of your tastebuds.

Las Margaritas

2010-03-23T10:05:00.005-07:00

Food: * * *

Service: * * * *

Standard Mexican fare that's popular with the masses (think fajitas and burritos and heaping plates of nachos). Big line-ups on weekends. Crowded and noisy, but good for a group out for a drink and some casual grub. Not my favourite, but Hubbs enjoys the occasional visit.

Don Guacamole's

2010-03-22T22:15:00.006-07:00

Food: * * * *

Service: * * * * *

Tasty authentic food, not the standard faux-Mexican fare. Prices are affordable and dishes are abundant in size. Crowded, casual restaurant - expect line-ups and no reso's. Loved their unique beverages and the abundance of meat in the items we ordered. Come in a group, expect to share, and bring cash.

New Format, No Time

2010-03-22T22:02:00.003-07:00

It has come to my attention that I haven't updated this blog in more than half a year. That suggests to me that I no longer have the time to do big essay-style write-ups on every culinary adventure that I take (and I do venture out every week, at minimum). I have had to choose between completely obliterating this blog (which I am loathe to do) or altering its format into something that is a bit easier to manage. As you may have guessed, I'm opting for the latter, at least for now. If you don't hear from me again for another 8 months, then perhaps it will be time to bid adios to Aftertastes. Until then, enjoy the new and abridged format!

Fraiche Restaurant - West Vancouver

2009-07-12T23:42:00.005-07:00

Sorry, no pics - Hubbs felt it might ruin the romantic mood of our 4th anniversary dinner ;) We made an impromptu last minute decision to go out for dinner to celebrate 4 glorious years of marital bliss, and I picked Fraiche because it has been on my brain ever since I discovered it a few weeks before V-day. I had tried making reso's then, but they were of course completely booked. Next year I'm booking in October ;)

This time we made early reso's and it was on a week night, so they had room and even a table with a view. The restaurant is located in one of the highest points in West Van and thus overlooks the cityscape of Van (particularly near the Stanley Park seawall area). An incredibly romantic place, and quite upscale; the dress code is business casual (at minimum) and the fellow sitting near us who wore a t-shirt probably felt pretty sheepish about his clothing choice ;) I wore a cocktail dress, and most ladies there did the same, so that should give you an idea what to expect ;)

Anyway, Hubbs and I both got starters, he the crab cake and I the foie gras. I think he enjoyed his crab cake (it was pretty yummy from the sampler I got). The foie gras I had was the best foie gras I have ever had, even better than the "Meat and Potato" appie at Hardware Grill in Edmonton. The foie gras was perfectly (and lightly) seared, and so delicate and flavourful and deliciously fatty and smooth that it made my heart flutter. The other part of the foie gras, the "pate" version, was also rich and smooth and paired beautifully with the crispy flatbreads that accompanied it. The clincher though was the candied pineapple that came with the foie gras. The slightly acidic juices were the perfect compliment to the creamy texture of the foie gras.

I could have eaten a pound of foie gros, I'm sure. However, I held back and waited patiently for the main entree. Hubbs had a pasta that came with lobster and sablefish, and I had their rack of lamb. Again, judging from Hubbs finishing all of his meal, I think he liked what he had. My lamb was very tender and roasted such that it was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I've not always loved lamb but this particular preparation was very very good.

For dessert (we made room), I had the creme brulee and Hubbs had the sticky toffee pudding. My creme brulee was good but not particularly stand-out (save for the wonderful "Happy Anniversary" message written in chocolate on my plate), whereas Hubbs' dessert was incredible. Next time I will probably order the toffee pudding instead; it was aromatic and just a decadent and rich dessert to finish off the evening.

Service was great; our server was very helpful and friendly and professional without being snooty. Given the eliteness of the restaurant, his attitude was refreshingly normal and approachable. I very much enjoyed the view and the absolutely wonderful fare. We've already decided we need to save up and come back every season just because we liked it so much!

Fraiche is a great place to celebrate anniversaries and other major occasions, though the place isn't very affordable so it's one of those "save up to go" sort of restaurants. The view is breath-taking, probably moreso at night, so I'd advise going for a late dinner rather than an early one like we did. Do take pictures because it is truly a spectacular view of Vancouver from their dining room; I will next time. :)

Service: 4.5 out of 5

Food: 4.5 out of 5

Sequoia Grill - The Teahouse

2009-07-12T23:26:00.005-07:00

Hubbs and I have been eating out a lot. We did the seawall walk a few weeks ago and stopped by the Teahouse for lunch. We had a hard time finding the Teahouse since its real name is Sequoia Grill and happens to be located in a teahouse, which is where the nickname comes from.

Anyway, we got to sit on the deck outside in the sunshine. After having walked to Stanley from our Coal Harbour home, and from the one end of the seawall all the way to Third Beach, we were pretty hungry. We decided to share an appy and order sandwiches.

The ahi tuna was seared perfectly and done really well. Hubbs loved it, and I enjoyed it too (but likely not as much as he did).

Next, the sandwiches. Hubbs had a shrimp clubhouse sandwich while I had the chicken breast BLTC burger. Hubbs liked his sandwich but found it a little lacking in flavour; he does a spicy shrimp salad for his own sandwiches and personally, I think this has spoiled him for all other shrimp salad sandwiches to come.

My BLTC was yummy. A bit drippy/messy but I devoured it all; the bacon was a nice thick kind and very smoky and flavourful, and the chicken breast was moist and filling. I even liked my wedge fries, although they gave me so many that it was an impossibility to try to finish them all off. I think I picked out all the crispy ones ;)

Service was friendly, the standard for most upper-scale restaurants. Some of the other patrons on the patio were obviously among the wealthy "elite," the sort of folks that I find a bit too snooty to want to interact with. Such is to be expected, though; this isn't a cheap burger joint, and it is reflected in both the clientele and the prices. However, the dining experience is very pleasant and proper, making the lunch enjoyable overall.

The Teahouse would be a great date place, and very romantic at sunset I imagine. Be prepared to spend money if you go, however; it's not the sort of location you want to roll into every week wearing your holey jeans and sweat shirt.

Service: 4 out of 5

Food: 3.5 out of 5

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company

2009-07-12T23:15:00.006-07:00

Maybe we're just suckers for thin-crust pizza, or maybe we were weakened by our famished state, but Hubbs & I really enjoyed Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. Sans reso, we popped in for some flatbread pizza one warm evening. The prices were affordable, the atmosphere relaxed and friendly (and family-friendly, too), and the aroma of authentic fire-roasted thin-crust pizzas made the wait nearly unbearable.

Hubbs had the seafood pizza with wild boar bacon and Quallicum scallops, while I had one with prosciutto, fresh basil and mango; it may have been their special because it's not on the online menu.

It's a pretty chill place, and one we plan to return to. Go for a quick bite of yummy and unique pizzas. It isn't the cheapest pie in the city but the price is justified by its wholesome and fresh ingredients.

Service: 4 out of 5

Food: 4 out of 5

Bon's Off Broadway

2009-06-23T13:00:00.002-07:00

Sometimes it's foolishness to try something new. Sometimes it's just smarter to stick with what you know. Such was the case with breakfast one morning. We should have gone to our weekly favourite, Paul's Omelettry, but since it wasn't Sunday yet, Hubbs thought perhaps we should try something different.

Using Urbanspoon on his iPhone, we located Bon's, which seemed to have a number of good reviews. There was also a line up that went out the door. Both, we felt, were positive first signs. How wrong we turned out to be!

We waited a long time for a table, then to get our order taken, then to get food. The whole ordeal lasted well over an hour from line-up to departure. Not only that, but the line-up wasn't exactly a nice collection of elderly folks. There were some pretty rough lookin' individuals there waiting to get in on the $2.95 breakfast, and these are the type of people who've seen a lot of life on the other side of the tracks, if you get my drift.

Bon's was also pretty dirty and run down, and had the looks of a place that doesn't care much about upkeep. My coffee cup saucer had a big chip on it. The whole feel was...dingy. The food wasn't much better. Hubbs' pancakes were huge but I far prefer IHOP's. His bacon tasted like some cheap no-name bacon, rather than something organic or locally-produced or Maple Leaf, even. My perogy breakfast was icky too. They pan grilled the dumplings and stuck them on top of a mound of half-grilled onions. The sour cream was stiff like cream cheese. My Ukrainian sausage slices (they were round and flat) tasted stale and slightly freezer-burnt.

The service was slow, but only because the poor girl serving was one of only two servers covering the entire place. Now this restaurant is probably nearly twice the size of Paul's, and Paul's usually has 3-4 servers working the floor; that gives you an idea as to how understaffed they were at Bon's.

The price was right, of course...cheap cheap cheap. No wonder there were so many rave reviews; I should really keep in mind that for a lot of people, quantity, when inversely correlated with price, is directly correlated with favourability. That is, if you get lots and lots of food for the dollar, you'll give a rave review even if the food is crap.

We originally thought the place would be funky, sort of like Sophie's or Joe's Grill, but whereas those other places had some alternative-culture funk to them, this place just seemed grimey and cheap. Maybe in its heyday Bon's was a hip place to go, but times, they are a-changin'. So maybe I'm missing it, but I don't see the appeal.

Conclusion: don't go. Stick with what you know. If you do go, be warned; it's not for the clean or the sheltered.

Service: 2.5 out of 5

Food: 2 out of 5

Quattro on Fourth

2009-06-09T09:12:00.003-07:00

I'm getting lazy. Nowadays, I find myself more inclined to blog only if the food somewhere is horrendously bad or amazingly good. Consider this the latter. Upon our return from E-town, Hubbs took me to dinner at Quattro on Fourth. I'm not sure where he heard about the place from (I think it was Vancouver magazine) but he really wanted good Italian, so we made a reso and off we went.

Secluded behind shrubbery, the corner location of Quattro on 4th makes it very cozy and intimate. We were one of only 5-6 tables there (late Sun. night) and so the service was attentive, though I found the dishes did take a bit of waiting.

Hubbs & I both did appies and pasta; he had the crab & sablefish cakes to start, followed by the famous Spaghetti Quattro. I had the grilled radicchio bocconcini followed by their house-made gnocchi with bbq duck confit. Both of our appies were delicious, though I think I liked mine a bit more than Hubbs' given that I found his cakes a bit salty for my tastes; my radicchio was well-grilled and the cheese inside was just a bit gooey, making it a great texture contrast to the slightly crisped lettuce.

I also loved my gnocchi (a seasonal dish); it was tender, and a perfect flavouring complement to the duck and the bacon and the peas. It also wasn't too heavy, but was seasoned and spiced in such a way that upon reheating leftovers, I had my colleagues drooling ;) Hubbs can't stop thinking about his spaghetti, which is made with minced chicken breast, black beans, and a garlicky tomato coating. I hesitate to say sauce because it wasn't saucy so much as it was a flavoured olive oil, though it did have chunks of tomato in it. Hubbs loved it. I believe it's the best spaghetti he has ever had (that's what he says, anyway).

So far, this has been our favourite Van Italian eatery. It was romantic, upscale (but not ridiculous - think about $20 for pasta entrees), and the food was tasty. Service was professional and friendly without the server pretending to be our friend (I hate when they do that). Quattro on 4th is a great "special occasion" or romantic date restaurant, and we'll definitely be back soon. :)

Service: 4.5 out of 5

Food: 4.5 out of 5

B.C. Sushi

2009-05-26T19:30:00.003-07:00

On Sunday, Hubbs & I needed to find a quick and relatively healthy restaurant to eat lunch at, before our afternoon meeting/class. Neither of us was particularly hungry, but we were both well aware that if we waited until after our commitment to eat, we'd be ravenous and it wouldn't be pretty.

We picked B.C. Sushi because it was the first sushi restaurant we came across that was near the church, and also because it had AYCE for $11/person. Usually, when we have maki rolls, we spend around $35-40, so we figured this was a good deal and would afford us some variety in our roll and sushi choices.

We were served piping hot green tea upon arrival. We ordered right away, too, and sampled the B.C. roll, the dynamite roll, the chopped scallop roll, and one other roll whose name escapes me (but I know it had avocado, salmon, and tuna in it). We also each had a piece of salmon and tuna nigiri, and a mini order of gyoza. When the rolls arrived, we were surprised by a few things:

-the size of each roll piece was quite large, like how most "specialty rolls" are

-the server gave us a double portion of BC roll, so we got 6 instead of 3 pieces of it

-the salmon and the tuna sushi were both rather flavourless, all things considered

Generally, Hubbs & I aren't super picky sushi eaters, though we know what we like. I mean, we even enjoy Richmond Sushi and Tomokazu, so we're familiar with AYCE's fish quality being less stellar than places like Ajisai, and we're okay with it. However, even with its cheaper prices, B.C. Sushi doesn't make the cut. The rolls weren't all that flavourful and they all tasted similar. The fish wasn't all that fresh, and the gyoza were greasy and the skin wasn't pan-fried to a crisp. We thought the whole lunch experience was...MEH.

Would we go back? Likely not. There were several tables there when we were there, so I assume there are some who like the place. We're just not among those; our tastes aren't so indiscriminate that we could consider B.C. Sushi a good, or even a decent, place for Japanese food.

But hey, it was quick, and it was cheap. For many, those are the only two standards that matter, and I suppose if you decide to eat there, you'll find such a population of diners eating to their heart's content.

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Food: 2.5 out of 5

Season in the Park

2009-05-26T19:04:00.005-07:00

On the day of the parking-lot stabbing at the restaurant (but several hours prior to it), Hubbs & I, and our friends N & J, went to Seasons in the Park for dinner. Our friends are planning to have their wedding reception here, I think, so we were there to scope out the joint.

It's a gorgeous restaurant with awesome views of the city from its raised elevation; we sat by the window so we saw some great city skylines as the sun set. The restaurant is also quite unique in that it's circular in shape, with a circular platform in the middle of the restaurant. In the very middle of the place there is a gorgeous large chandelier that dangles into the oddly-shaped tree that is growing up from the center of the circle.

We had a super friendly server who came by promptly to take drink orders. Hubbs & I shared the cornmeal-crusted Fanny Bay oysters, while N & J had the carrot & ginger soup and caesar salad, respectively. The oysters were delicious and just lightly fried; I could have used a crispier crust, but that's just because I like things fried to a crisp. The oysters were delicious and fresh and were accompanied by a pea shoot & fennel salad that we didn't finish.

For the main event, Hubbs had a colossal prawn duo and I had the duck two ways. Hubbs' prawns really were large; they looked bigger than some lobster tails I've had. Though not as sweet as the BC spotted prawns, his two prawns were still quite crispy in texture and had a mildly sweet aftertaste. My duck leg confit was a little fatty (yum!) and its skin was very crispy, though perhaps the leg lacked a bit of its own flavouring. It ended up absorbing the hoisin and 5-spice flavours of the sauce. The duck breast was tender and had just the perfect amount of skin on it to be rich, but not overly artery-clogging. I really enjoyed my dish, and it was exactly what I needed to curb my duck craving. I also really liked the shittake mushroom rosti that accompanied my entree. Overall, I really can't complain since the entree was a reasonable $28 and it was very very good.

Though I was pretty full by the end of my meal, I opted for a dessert anyway, and ordered their daily cheesecake (almond). It was a generously-sized round piece of cake, and I appreciated that the texture of the cheese was smooth and not too sweet. The almond flavour was also prominently featured, which I liked. Hubbs' creme brulee was good and also very largely portioned, but like a trooper he ate it all ;)

Our server was really friendly and helpful, and quite prompt with her service. No complaints in that department.

Overall, I'd say that Seasons in the Park is one of those nicer, dress-up restaurants that you really should check out on a sunny evening. It's a fantastic date-night sort of place, and romantic during the sunset hour. Prices are not super steep, though not inexpensive either; it's definitely a save-up-to-go sort of place where you really don't want to cheap out when you're actually there. Given its location in the heart of Queen Elizabeth Park, it's also a good place to go for a lovely stroll either pre-or post-dinner. We'll definitely be back, and not just for N & J's wedding ;)

Service: 4.5 out of 5

Food: 4.5 out of 5

The Crime Lab

2009-05-19T18:15:00.003-07:00

Hubbs & I are big big C.S.I. fans, so a restaurant called the Crime Lab obviously caught our attention. N & A generously took us out for dinner a few nights ago so that our curiosity about the place could be satisfied.

We arrived sans reso, and it looked like they were quite busy. We did manage to get seated anyway, at a booth/table that was close to the patio. We really should've sat on the patio, though, since it was heated and the patio chairs had blankets on them for patrons to use. Anyway, we ordered our drinks and meals and then the wait began. At one point my server returned to tell me that they had run out of pork loin chops, so I had to rechoose my entree. I wasn't thrilled with having to go with Plan B.

Maybe it was because it was a Sunday night, but the restaurant was incredibly busy. We had to wait quite a while for our food, and then our order got messed up so that A & I got our meals about 10 min. before Hubbs & N got theirs. The staff there obviously felt bad about the mess-up, though, because they generously offered the table a complimentary round of drinks *and* an appy of yam fries! I love when serve staff are thoughtful that way.

When our meals arrived we dove in. My free range chicken breast was alright; the drumstick that they left on was my favourite part and the skin was broiled to a wonderful crisp, but the white meat tended towards being a bit dry. My risotto was awesome though, and sufficiently cheesy to be tasty without being super heavy. Hubbs loved his seafood linguine with dill cream sauce, daring even to compare it with his mother's linguine with clam sauce. I think that both N and A also enjoyed their meals, although they were both feeling fatigued and N was under the weather so maybe this affected their dining experience. The free round of drinks were great though :)

Overall, the service was good (esp. since they gave us freebies) and friendly and appropriately apologetic, and the food was good. Prices were also reasonable, and servings were adequately sized.

I would probably head back to the Crime Lab again, though perhaps not for a while, since I think there are probably many other restaurants in Van of comparable food quality and pricing. The next time I do go, however, I'll probably aim to sit on the patio; it looks over Coal Harbour so the views are pretty rad. :)

Service: 4 out of 5

Food: 3.5 out of 5 (Hubbs gives it a 4/5)

Maria's Taverna

2009-05-19T17:51:00.003-07:00

This past weekend, my friends A & N were in town and we decided to hit up a Greek restaurant. Hubbs & I hadn't been to even one Greek eatery yet, so we were up for some yummy mediterranean grub. We were originally going to go elsewhere, but were too hungry to walk that far and ended up at Maria's on Denman.

Since we were starving, we ordered as soon as the server came. Unfortunately, it took him a while to come, since the restaurant was swamped with people and appeared to be working with a skeleton crew. Decor was typically Greek, BTW - lots of white and blue and not very stylish, but an intimate setting nonetheless. We nursed our drinks and enjoyed the delicious warm pita (it was more like a bread since it was fluffy but boy was it good) dipped into our hummous and tzatziki. Hubbs thought the hummous was the best he's ever had; it was good but I wouldn't go that far!

Then the server came out with one dish, which he promptly took back when he realized he had given A someone else's dish! Good thing she hadn't taken a bite yet. When our order finally came out, we were astounded by the enormity of the portions. N had the calamari dinner and A chose the Kleftiko meal. Hubbs & I shared the Greek platter for two, which was probably big enough for 4 (we barely touched our potatoes and rice). Our dolmathes were pretty good, but I found the chicken souvlaki a bit dry. Hubbs loved the keftedes and we were both drooling over the tenderness and moist perfection that was the kleftiko. Two *huge* lamb shoulders that were so delicious and delicate that the meat fell off the bone...yum! We were stuffed by the time we left!

The price was right too; only $49 (pre-tax and tip) for the platter. Had we been less hungry, we totally would have had leftovers!

The service was friendly but slow given the number of patrons there that night. It was a Saturday so I guess I can understand, although I thought that they could have comped us with something for the wait and the meal mix-up.

Highly recommended for the giant portions and the great lamb shoulder. Probably best to go on a week night, though.

Service: 3 out of 5

Food: 4.5 out of 5

PS - sorry, no pics...we inhaled our food so there just wasn't time to take pictures of it.

Shady Island Seafood Bar & Grill - Steveston

2009-05-14T11:48:00.004-07:00

Hubbs & I have been bad. We've been eating out ... a lot. One of the places we tried recently is a cute little restaurant on the "wharf" in Steveston, called Shady Island. We decided to give this place a try after gawking at the menu, which featured a steamed seafood platter for two. Guess what we had? ;)

Of course, we weren't smart enough to check the reviews on the place before getting seated, so when we did finally read up, we were a bit worried. Food, it seems, is mediocre, and service is apparently appalling. We braced ourselves for the worst. However, our server came promptly, and took our orders (drinks & food) at once. We waited a bit for our grub to arrive, but it wasn't a super long wait. When it came out, our food was an impressive display stacked on a two-tiered rack.

Thankfully, we were hungry. Famished, in fact. Hubbs immediately got down to business with the lobster (an entire one) and the crab (an entire one). Meanwhile, I aimed my appetite at the delicious mussels, scallops, clams, shrimp, and oysters on the bottom tier. I could honestly have eaten the entire bottom plate, but held back and saved some for Hubbs. I even helped him with cracking through all those claws; I'm quite adept at it now. :)

It was unfortunate that I couldn't try the two items on the top, but I had to make sure my stomach didn't go into convulsions afterwards and abstinence is the best policy when it comes to me and crab and lobster. Hubbs tells me they were good. The oysters were killer awesome - fresh and flavourful - and I really loved the clams as well. The garlic toast that came with the meal was not quite crispy enough, but since I was sopping up garlic butter anyway, I didn't mind so much.

The meal set us back a pretty penny, but definitely was more affordable than Blue Water and good value considering how much we were getting. Service wasn't nearly as horrible as others have said, but I have a feeling that the place is probably hit-and-miss most of the time, and we just happened to catch them on a hit day.

Don't come here dressed in your Sunday best; seafood can be a messy affair. Also, don't come for super fancy dining; with a name like Shady Island, it's not something you should expect. Do come for a nice view from the patio, and for some yummy seafood prepared the most basic way possible (which is great for a food purist like me).

Will we be back? Likely, though we'll probably give ourselves more time next time, in case we do get poor service.

Food: 4 out of 5

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Irashai Grill

2009-05-14T11:14:00.006-07:00

Even though we love Shuraku, Hubbs & I felt that we should try the Japanese sushi place right behind our place. We had walked by Irashai Grill hundreds of times but we hadn't actually dined there yet was our rationale. So, sans reso on a Canucks game night, we went for dinner.

When we arrived, we noted a few things: 1) funky decor, 2) empty restaurant, and 3) booths! We were seated at a booth right in front of the flat screen, which was great for watching the game and seeing the bar in action, but sucky since there wasn't a lot of action from either ;)

We ordered several delicious rolls, including one that was their biggest roll on the menu (Monster Roll?). The other two, the Fresh Fish Roll and the Summer Roll, were fantastic. The Monster Roll, however, wasn't as yummy; there was a weird spice in the rolls that we really didn't care for. We also ordered the Aigamo, which is a tataki duck breast. THAT was beyond awesome (crispy seared skin, just the right amount of fat between skin and lean meat, and very flavourful and tender), though also very pricey ($16?) for just one breast.

Service was attentive, but perhaps to the point of uncomfortable. There were several servers on the floor that night, and we were one of two booths (a third came in a little later and another couple was seated at the bar). I guess the servers were bored, because our tea was filled very regularly, and our plates were cleared the moment we finished a roll. It was almost too much, you know?

Prices were steeper than Mandala Iki but comparable to Kamei Royale, so expect to pay between $8-15 per specialty roll. However, the atmosphere was quiet and lovely and the seats were way comfy!

We'll probably be back, though perhaps not as often as we go to the cheaper alternatives for sushi rolls. Irashai Grill is definitely a step above "normal" sushi joints, and a finer dining experience that, contrary to the reviews of some others, is definitely value for the dollar (even though you'll be spending more dollars to be sure). Portions are not generous but also not shrimpy; they are moderate and if you choose wisely you can be full without spending $80.

Highly recommended for romantic dates, watching the game (season's over but you know what I mean), and some innovative sushi rolls.

Food: 4.5 out of 5

Service: 4.5 out of 5

Sweet Obsession

2009-05-14T10:50:00.002-07:00

One night, I decided we needed to go for a drive post-dinner. Hubbs and I explored the west end of Van and at one point, we passed a place called Trafalgar's, which advertised that they served dessert from Sweet Obsession. Never one to pass on dessert, we decided to stop in and pick something up to go.

Hubbs ordered an apple tart and a mountain of creampuffs, which they called the St. Honore. I had an apple strudel-like dessert. All were amazing, especially my very flaky and buttery strudel dessert. These were so good, in fact, that we came back the very next night to get desserts to go. This second night, we had the tiramisu cake, which was light enough to be delicious, and decadent enough to be satisfying.

Neither visit had us sitting in the cafe, which seems to offer a few tables (most of which were occupied both times that we were there). I think perhaps in the future we will give it a go dining in; the atmosphere was relaxed and casual and comfortable and cheery.

Prices are reasonable, maybe a bit higher than at some other dessert places, but certainly not more than having dessert at Blue Water Cafe ;) Given the yumminess of the sweets, however, we will be back to try more of their goodies.

Highly recommended for: late-night sweets, romantic cheap dates, and take-out.

Service: Hard to say since we didn't dine in...

Food: 4.5 out of 5

Capones Restaurant & Live Jazz Club

2009-04-25T22:08:00.004-07:00

Man, I swear my reviews are getting shorter. Anyway, Hubbs & I decided at virtually the last minute to go to Capones for dinner; we figured that we'd like it since we like jazz and we like food.

When we arrived for our reso, we were seated front and center at a little round table smack in front of the live jazz band. The amp was jacked to the max and we were right near the speakers so of course we couldn't hear each other, and we weren't fond of our location. It then took the server 10 minutes to come and take our drink order. Strike 1. When I saw that a booth table had freed up, I requested to be moved. Server guy left to go ask if the table was available, and then he ignored us for another 5 minutes. Strike 2. We finally had to flag him down to check if we could move, and gave him our drink orders. He said yes, and after we moved to the new booth table, our drinks never arrived. Strike 3.

Thankfully, another server came by and took our drink order again. She was way more efficient and came with our ice teas shortly afterwards; turns out the first server figured it wasn't his table anymore so he didn't bother to pass along our drink orders to our new server. Thanks.

We ordered the Capones lasagna and the Godfather pizza. I was worried we'd be hungry but Hubbs figured this was enough food. He was right. The lasagna came out in a small plate and I thought, uh oh, this won't be enough, but it was hearty and filling. The pizza, about 10" in size, was also loaded with meat and quite filling. In the end, I could only finish half of it, and Hubbs had all of his lasagna (save for a few bites that I stole) and 2 pieces of my pizza. We still have 2 slices left over.

The music that was blaring was still super loud from the booth/table (since it was right at the front near the stage) but at least Hubbs & I were able to sit beside each other in the booth and hear one another talk. Then the band went on a break for 30 min., giving us time to rest our poor eardrums. When they returned to the stage, their next set was a bit more mellow to start out with, allowing us to readjust our ears to the loud loud music. I must be getting old, since I don't recall loud music ever bothering me before.

Overall, the food was pretty tasty (there was foie gras in the lasagna and duck on my pizza!) and the music was good (albeit loud). Service was hit and miss depending on who served us, and prices weren't cheap (~$20+/entree, $14/app), but it was an experience that ended better than it started. Our server also told us that they've come under new management and now the menu changes every so often, and they're trying to improve to their former glory.

Looks like they have their work cut out for them. First step: fire that first server. He's bringing them down.

Service: 3 out of 5 (4/5 for the second server, and 2/5 for the first)

Food: 4 out of 5

Shuraku

2009-04-19T15:40:00.004-07:00

Hubbs & I are on a quest to find our favourite sushi joint in Van. We may have inadvertently discovered it on a recent visit to Shuraku.

We made a reso online a few days ahead of time, and showed up to a lovely hostess/server who knew my name as soon as I mentioned my reso. The menu was extensive in terms of their sake collection, but because Hubbs & I are both on meds for our coughs, we had to stick with their tea options (there were 3). We stuck with the genmai green tea, the standard, and it was one of the least watered-down genmai that we've had in a while.

Because we weren't 100%, we opted to eat light. This meant we only ordered 3 rolls (the Roulette, the Rainbow, and the Red Torch), 2 Monkfish Liver nigiri, and an order of gomae because I wanted some "greens" in my diet. The gomae proved to be the most flavourful gomae ever; just thinking about it makes me want more! Their servings for some of this stuff are izakaya sized, so the gomae wasn't huge (though you know they probably had to go through a lot of raw spinach just to make one little bowl of cooked spinach). Hubbs ended up having half of my gomae because it was just that tasty!

Our nigiri came next. I liked the monkfish liver though of course it was cooked so it had a pate-like consistency to it, which was an interesting combination to pair with rice. I might want to try it as an appie next time, just to see what it's like on its own.

Our rolls came out altogether. The favourite for us was the Roulette Roll; the negitoro's green onion flavours came out very well although the chopped scallop was far more subdued in flavour. I liked the crispy lotus root chip on the top, too. We really loved the taste of this roll, given our partiality to negitoro.

The rainbow roll was (according to Hubbs) the best rainbow roll he has ever had. It was also fresh and tasty. The red torch roll was unique and had a bit of kick from the kimchee on top. It wasn't overly spicy though, and the texture of the BBQ salmon skin offered an interesting contrast to the soft rice, the crunchy cucumber, and the fatty roe.

Generally, the rolls were not particularly wide in girth, but because of that we could really taste the filling of each roll and weren't overwhelmed by rice (which many places tend to do with their specialty rolls). I liked their sizing although I know some might balk at the rolls being diminuitive relative to other places. The pricing was also moderate; I wouldn't say it was cheap since the rolls averaged about $12 each, but our total bill (given we didn't have sake and we didn't try the dessert) was only $50, tax-in.

I totally will be coming back. The server was super sweet and very efficient, and Hubbs and I both enjoyed the rolls. The decor is very clean and a bit more upscale than the traditional-looking sushi houses in the city, and I appreciated the more contemporary feel of the place. It wasn't overwhelmingly noisy and Shuraku had a warm and lively vibe to it. It's a great date night sort of place.

Service: 4.5 out of 5

Food: 5 out of 5

Blue Water Cafe

2009-04-19T15:11:00.004-07:00

So I can't believe I never posted a review of the Blue Water Cafe (before today, that is). It is a personal favourite of Hubbs and I and we've been here half a dozen times since his birthday 2 years ago.

Anyway, our most recent visit happened while my Superstar Jo sister and SpaceMax bro-in-law were in town. We made our reservations early and they had a booth lined up for us upon arrival. Our server was awesome, timely, and friendly. When my sis & I wanted fruity non-boozy drinks, she had the bartender specially-design a citrus drink for Superstar Jo and the "Berrylicious" bevvie for me.

The three of them ordered our usual favourite, the "Seafood Tower" while I opted for the beef tenderloin (due to shellfish sensitivities). We also went with some starters: hot & sour lobster soup for Hubbs and duck confit salad for the rest of us. Hubbs loved his soup and I quite enjoyed my appie, although I would have preferred a crispier skin on the duck.

Next up were our mains. This is a small pic of the seafood tower; I took this pic on our first visit to Blue Water but you get the idea.

There was actually a *process* to putting down the eating tools for this thing. It's quite an exhibit, really, and fun to watch and experience. During our most recent visit, the Dungeness crab on the top tier was replaced with a 1-pound lobster. There was also a jellyfish salad on the bottom tier that was once a little plate of escargot (in shell). Aside from a few minor changes like that, the tower was essentially the same as ever, and (according to my fellow diners) as fresh and decadent as ever.

My tenderloin was perfectly seared and very tasty. I particularly like macaroni-and-blue-cheese accompaniment that comes with the tenderloin. It is rich and creamy, flavourful and indulgent.

After our mains, we decided to stay for dessert; in the past, we've sometimes opted to go elsewhere just to experience a different, more casual setting, but on this night we chose to stay. Hubbs had the profiteroles, which he proclaimed to be one of his new most favourite desserts. I had the warm Cuban chocolate cake, which was rich and tasty but perhaps not quite warm enough. Superstar Jo had the fruit brulee which I found to be a bit tart but I think she liked, while Space Max had the Mont Blanc, which I assume he also very much enjoyed since he announced he wasn't going to share with us (jokingly, of course).

All in all it was another wonderful visit to Blue Water for us. The price tag isn't cheap and the place is business-casual at the minimum, but you get what you pay for, and the dining experience is exquisite and a good way to impress a date or entertain business associates or celebrate special occasions. We'll be back again, and likely soon. We want every member of our immediate families to have a chance to experience the awesomeness that is the Blue Water Cafe; that's just how we roll.

Service: 5 out of 5

Food: 5 out of 5

2009-03-25T11:53:00.004-07:00

We finally caved and went to White Spot. There's one near our place en route to the gym, and we pass by it nearly every day, but we have never set foot inside that restaurant. Instead, we ended up at the North Van White Spot after a trip to Wal-mart (did you know there's one at Capilano Mall)? We decided to give it a try because someone told us that the White Spots are better in BC than they are in AB. Both Hubbs & I did not enjoy our visit to White Spot Edmonton many years ago, so we were a bit wary of dining at a WS in Van, even if it was for lunch (less commitment and cost than dinner).

Anyway, it was a late Sunday lunch, and Hubbs was feeling pretty tired, so we weren't in a particularly foodie mood. Hubbs selected their seafood risotto and I ordered the turkey club on whole wheat, with sweet potato fries. The server was competent and quick, and the restaurant was super quiet so late in the afternoon, so we got our food quickly. Hubbs' risotto was cheesy and hearty and pretty loaded down with seafood, which justified its higher price ($18?). My club sandwich was *huge* and I couldn't actually fit my large mouth around it, so I had to eat it in layers and leave half my bread at the end of the meal. The bacon was meh, but the turkey was uber-tasty and moist. The sweet potato fries were awesome, though, made moreso by the chipotle dip that accompanied it. That was my meal highlight.

For a cheap dinner (or a pricier lunch), White Spot as a place is pretty good. It is certainly better than the White Spot in E-town, and I was actually a little surprised at how pleasant my dining experience was. I thought it was going to be more like a Smitty's, but I'm glad it was a half-step up from that.

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Food: 3.5 out of 5

Lombardo's Pizza

2009-03-25T11:34:00.004-07:00

We were initially going to go for Thai food. Then it was changed to French (my idea), then Hubbs thought better and declared it an Italian night. I grudgingly agreed, the grudging made moreso when Hubbs took me on a "scenic route" down Burrard St. before bringing me to Lombardo's. I didn't quite appreciate the two scraggly folks yelling, "F*** off!" and "F*** you!" to each other at the bus stop on Burrard. It was sketchy and scary to me (Hubbs says I've become spoiled).

Anyway, the place was crowded when we arrived, and we snagged their last table. We totally would've made a reso if they would have accepted one, but thankfully our timing was fortuitous since they don't. We were led up to a tiny 2-top on the 3rd floor (well, 2nd floor but they also have tables on the landing half-way up the stairs). Shortly after being seated, as in 30 seconds, we were asked for a drink order. I had ice tea.

Then, down to the ordering. Of course I was going to have pizza, though Hubbs was torn between pizza and pasta. He eventually caved in to my insistence that previous reviewers liked the pizza more, and ordered himself a Salmone pizza. I had the Al Due Formaggi. We also shared calamari to start.

Given how full the place was, we were pleasantly surprised to see that our appies came quickly. The dip with the calamari was super yummy, though I wasn't fond of the tubular nature of their squid. I liked the tentacles the best. :) The wait for the pizza was a little longer, but still within the realm of reasonable. Hubbs loved his pizza, while I liked mine. Maybe it was the tomatoes, but my pizza was soggy in the middle, to the point of forming a wet puddle in the middle of my plate. I ended up having to sop up some of the liquid with my napkin (gross!), and even then I found my pie lacking in crust crispiness.

After our meal was done, we shared a tiramisu. That was my favourite part of the night; the creamy whipped goodness in this dessert was enough to make me melt. Better yet, the tiramisu wasn't overloaded with ladyfingers, which I like but not in excess. I say, bring on the sugary marscapone cream! Hubbs had insisted that I actually eat half of the dessert (which I don't always do), and this time I gladly complied.

The bill at the end of the night was respectable, though I was a bit chuffed that when I asked our server to break my $20 for me, she ended up bringing back two $10's and claming that she couldn't get anyone to break it down any further. Say what?! What sort of restaurant doesn't have a float? What sort of restaurant can't give me a $5 and some change?!? WTF. I wasn't too pleased with her for that.

All in all, in the end I had a decently good meal, so I didn't give Hubbs the gears too much about choosing Italian over French (I wanted to head to Les Faux Bourgeois). I get to pick our next major dine-out though, so I'm going to make sure it's a place that can make change and doesn't sog-out on the pizza.

Service: 3 out of 5

Food: 3.5 out of 5 (4 out of 5 on the tiramisu)

Kamei Royale

2009-03-18T09:58:00.005-07:00

It's been a sushi sort of week for Hubbs & I. On the weekend we headed back to Kamei Royale for dinner. We had been here several times before, but I guess I never thought to review it until today.

Anyway, the place is boothy, and there are several tatami rooms. The restaurant is quite large, so I've never seen it packed, though some nights it has appeared to be quite busy. The restaurant is more fancy, given its off-Robson location; it is the sort of place that someone might take their date. It's also very Japanese, right down to their servers. The menu is extensive, and yet every time Hubbs & I have ever come, we've had the rolls (depsite being huge fans of sushi). This visit was no exception. We ordered their Cherry Blossom, Delicious, Samurai, and Lobster rolls, and two pieces of nigiri toro.

The rolls came out in due time, and were generally quite tasty. I really liked the Cherry Blossom roll because it wasn't obscured by sauce and was loaded with raw fish, and the seaweed salad in the middle was flavourful and yummy. The Delicious roll had mango in it, but I couldn't taste any of the mango at all, which was a bit disappointing. Hubbs loved the lobster roll, and I found it good but heavier due to the deep-fried tempura batter around the lobster. The Samurai was tasty but the sauce that was drizzled on it had a bit of a kick to it, so my mouth would light on fire temporarily after each bite. The toro nigiri was super good, and I probably would have been happy to eat that all night.

Overall, Kamei Royale serves some very tasty food. We've been there before, and we'll be there again. Kamei Royale isn't inexpensive, however; it will set you back quite a bit more money than some other Japanese places ($13/roll). You pay for the atmosphere as much as you do for the quality of the food, so be warned in advance. I do think Kamei Royale is a great choice for sushi novices, though, since their large menu offers both cooked and raw items and can accommodate both adventurous eaters and the faint of heart.

Service: 4 out of 5

Food: 4 out of 5

Mandala Iki Asian Bistro

2009-03-18T09:35:00.006-07:00

Hubbs and I stopped in for a quick bite at Mandala Iki over the weekend, attracted by the "Brown Rice Sushi" sign hanging outside the shop. We've not seen any other restaurant that offers this, so we were pretty psyched at the prospect of having healthy sushi (and not having to forego the rice).

When we arrived, I was struck by the bareness of the place. A sushi station at the back of the restaurant, with a kitchen tucked away behind said station. A flat screen TV on the wall, playing TSN. Booths lining both sides of the wall, and tables set up in a linear pattern in the middle of the room. A loaded bar (and till) at the front of the boxy restaurant, on one side. Everything was sort of simply laid out, and completely unpretentious. It felt efficient (must be Chinese owned, I reason).

Anyway, when we got our menus, I was struck again - this time by the affordable prices. I could hardly believe my eyes: rolls for only $7 - 9?!? I'm used to the outrageous Kamei Royale roll prices...you know, $14/roll. This was a pleasant surprise, but of course my skepticism kicked in and I wondered how good the food would be. The fact that the restaurant serves very traditional Chinese fare (congee, fried rice noodles) along with sushi was enough to make me a bit wary.

Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. We ordered 4 rolls (Crispy Lobster, Crispy Mango, Negitoro, Kits Rolls) and 2 pieces of toro nigiri, all with brown rice. When the rolls came out, I almost died of delight. They were sizeable pieces, fresh, tasty, and not greasy. When I read "crispy" I was expecting a bit of tempura overload, but they totally redefined crispy for me. I think they used sesame seeds or something, because all of the rolls (including the ones with a tempura shrimp inside) were not the least bit greasy. I particularly loved the Mango roll (a specialty) because the juicy sweet mango flavour was very prominently featured. The rolls each had its own distinct flavour, and the brown rice was sufficiently moist as to not seem like I was eating brown rice. The toro nigiri was fresh too, and a good sized piece of toro was offered; the fish wasn't as melt-in-your-mouth as some other specialty sushi restaurants, but for $1.75/piece I was willing to "settle" for this delicious giant hunk of tuna belly.

The best part (aside from the speed of service, due to a lack of patrons at 4:00 in the mid-afternoon) was the bill...a whopping $32! That was it!! Hubbs and I even had tea ($0.75/cup, not the best deal ever) and we rolled outta there with full bellies and not-so-empty wallets.

Will we be back? Hell yes! Probably on a semi-weekly basis, too. Next time I might also want to check out their "Chinois" food, since I have a serious hankerin' for some sweet & sour pork (also on their menu). Hubbs already has his eye on some of the other rolls, and of course he loves that Lobster Roll so he'll be back for it, probably even this week! ;)

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Food: 4.5 out of 5

Update

Hubbs & I came back here a few days ago, and I tried their ginger beef. It was, no word of a lie, the best ginger beef I've ever had. They used slices of tender beef instead of sticks of dry over-fried beef, and instead of deep-frying with a ton of batter, they used a light batter (I'm guessing made with cornstarch) and so the beef was crispy yet still soft enough to chew. The sauce had a good gingery kick to it, leaving my mouth on fire for a bit afterwards. Hubbs loved it too, and we ended up devouring the entire dish before our rolls even arrived. Next time I might try their sweet & sour pork. Even thinking about their food now is making me drool...yum.

Slickety Jim's Chat & Chew

2009-03-12T18:18:00.004-07:00

Hubbs & I came here last weekend for some breakfast. We didn't want to look loserish and hit up Paul's Omelletry two days in a row, so we opted to try this place for one of the mornings, having seen a review for it in the dining guide.

Slickety Jim's Chat & Chew is one of those hipster breakfast places that aims for a retro-funky feel. It reminded me a lot of Sophie's Cosmic Cafe, complete with old toys (think disembodied doll heads on mantle pieces) and weird photographs covering the walls. The cafe is also quite small, with line-ups that run out the door 10-people deep.

We waited about 15 minutes before we got seated, and lucky for us, we got a booth! The party of 2 ahead of us ended up at a table that was situated literally 3 inches away from the table beside them. In our booth, we had some privacy to converse.

Hubbs ordered eggs benedict with prosciutto and gorgonzola and I had french toast and hash with a side of bacon. We also ordered coffees that tasted not nearly as good as the stuff at Paul's.

When our food came out (it took a while because of the busy-ness of the place and the lack of servers - there were only 2 working), I was ravenous. Unfortunately, my french toast was only mediocre and the maple syrup they poured over it had run all over my potatoes, which were also only mediocre. Hubbs loved his eggs benedict, and even at the mention of it now he begins to salivate. I guess the lesson learned is to order the benny and not the french toast.

In the end the breakfast cost was comparable to Paul's, the service was friendly but slow, and the food was okay. If you're into eggs benedict and you have free time to spare in the morning, come here. If not, you may wish to try a less popular breakfast joint.

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Food: 3.5 out of 5

Yoshi

2009-03-12T17:32:00.012-07:00

As an early birthday celebration, Hubbs decided to take me out for dinner during the middle of the week. I love when he gets all spontaneous, so of course I was willing! :) He had his heart set on trying out Yoshi on Denman, since it isn't too far from where we live and we're both big fans of Japanese food. In flying by the seat of our pants, we didn't even make a reservation, and just sort of dropped in.

The restaurant, more sizeable than I had imagined, was nearly empty when we arrived. Their special "party room" was booked for the night, but I have no idea how large that party was. The room was sectioned off from the rest of the restaurant and I couldn't get a visual. Just as we got to the restaurant, I noticed that it had started snowing outside. Snow at the end of February in VANCOUVER?!? It wasn't the best way to start off the night.

As we browsed through the menu, Hubbs suggested that we try omakase. Of course, they didn't have omakase at Yoshi's; they only had Kaiseki. Hubbs then suggested that we go for the full K, but I suggested that we stick with the mini-K, knowing that we'd get a bit too full if we went for the full meal deal.

We didn't know quite what to expect from the kaiseki menu, despite the descriptions of each course. It didn't matter too much, of course: we were ready for a culinary adventure. :)

As part of our appies, we were first served two items to kick off the meal: a cold mushroom salad and several types of "fish cakes" (fish pate). I enjoyed some of the pate but found the pieces a bit dense and filling for my tastes. I wanted to ease into the meal, and the mushroom salad accomplished this nicely. The fish cakes, however, were a bit much.

I was pretty excited to see the soup that our server brought to us next. Given the wintry conditions developing outside, I was starting to get a hankerin' for something warm and brothy. This clam soup was delightful and delicate, and the clams were fresh and tasty. They gave the soup a more full-bodied flavour and offered up some good texture to boot. This was a dish I quite enjoyed.

The dish we looked forward to most was served next: the sashimi. We both enjoyed some excellent cuts of fish that melted in our mouths and were generously sized. I liked the tuna the best, and I think Hubbs liked it all equally.

The grilled item came next. We ended up with a lovely cut of grilled salmon, though I found it overcooked (I like mine a little bit on the raw side). This was probably a leaner type of salmon, unlike the white spring salmon I'm so accustomed to. As a result, it was flaky and I only found it meh on the yum scale.

Our next course ended up being a deep fried item; I actually forgot that we had this item to go before our last savoury dish! Imagine my surprise (and slight fear) when the server brought out this deep fried yam or pumpkin or some other orange starchy veg, plus a deep fried shittake mushroom. I really enjoyed the mushroom but I found the other veg a bit heavy for the end of the meal so I didn't finish it. My tummy was getting full.

And still, the food kept on coming....our last "dish" dish and we were starting to feel pretty full. Luckily, we ordered the sushi, and there's no policy on not finishing the rice. We had pretty standard types of sushi so there's not much to write home about aside from saying that it was fresh and tasty, and the fish was a bit cold for my preference.

The finale: dessert. Hubbs isn't having ice cream for a year, so he ended up ordering fruit. I, however, stuck with the original dessert, which turned out to be a yummy vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel, a red bean dessert, and strawberries. The red bean was a bit on the sweet side, but the ice cream finished my meal perfectly :)

Overall, I quite enjoyed our mini-kaiseki meal at Yoshi on Denman. Given their lack of patrons that night, I feel as though we really got top-notch service and good quality food for the dollar. The meal items were certainly not conventional, and the adventure was a lot of fun, even though we didn't love everything we were served. Yoshi may be an even better place to go for regular sushi items, though we can only surmise this based on the few types of sushi we tried that night. We'll likely be back to sample their maki and other types of sashimi in the future, since this omakaze-esque experience was relatively positive in our books.

Service: 4.5 out of 5

Food: 3.5 out of 5

Legendary Noodle @ Denman

2009-02-09T13:11:00.004-08:00

Once again, pictureless post (you can Google images if you really want them)...this was an impromptu dinner date with friends, and we were running late so of course the camera was not a priority. We got to Legendary Noodle first, and punctually, and were seated at an old-style Chinese booth (meaning hard solid wood benches with little silk cushions - cute).

When our friends arrived, we ordered the house tea on their recommendation. It's a hot tea with dried fruits (including the gojiberry) and chrysanthemum. While the rest of the table enjoyed their tea, I found it meh. It was only partly sweetened, but I found the chrysanthemum taste and the weird herbal flavourings of the tea to be kind of icky.

We ordered green onion pancakes, the garlic-fried pea shoots, and steamed pork and chive dumplings as appies. Of course, our appies and mains came out at the same time so really there ws no differentiation of the courses. The pea shoots were fresh and tasty, and I thought the dumplings were okay; they had a bit of soup inside (sort of like xiao long bao but in dumpling form rather than round). The green onion cakes were pretty good, and they weren't greasy nor too oniony.

Our shared noodle courses included the following: a beef broth thick noodle soup with beef, a pan-fried flat noodle with beef brisket, and a saucy peanut-sauce broad noodle with prawns. I liked all of the noodles, but since this was my first handmade noodle experience in Van, I can't really compare its noodles with that of other handmade noodle shops. The noodles were crispy and not too doughy, but the noodle soup noodles were so long and of course uncut that it made sharing a bit of a challenge. I found the beef broth delicate and salted properly, though I wasn't a big fan of the cilantro flavours. The peanut sauce was yummy and the bits of peanut gave the dish some good texture. I also enjoyed the stir-friend dish, and their beef brisket was not too fatty (though I had hoped to see more meat than we actually got).

Prices were unbeatably good though; in all, tax-in, our total was around $56 (not including gratuity). For four people, you can't beat that. We were all satisfied and there was even a bit of noodle left over.

The service was quick and efficient, and not rude (as some reviewers had observed). We enjoyed the place and will probably be back. If you decide to go, do try to go at an "off" hour since their seating is limited. If you can, also try to get a view of the noodle man making the noodles. It's fun to watch!

Service: 3 out of 5

Food: 4 out of 5

True Confections

2009-02-07T23:12:00.003-08:00

Being part-pig, we couldn't end our night with just fish. We needed dessert. This is why Hubbs and I headed out to True Confections on West Broadway for some later-evening treats. We liked the look and vibe of this place from the moment we arrived. The ribbons and paper hearts adoring the windows and the funky circle-patterned wallpaper were some of the interesting touches that gave the place its own unique feel.

We were initially overwhelmed by their vast collection of sweet treats. Should we have cake or pie? Cheesecake or a special dessert? Tea or coffee? It was a stressful decision. In the end I chose a slice of classic chocolate cake while Hubbs had the hazelnut chocolate cake. He also ordered a shaken berry ice tea while I had an herbal fruity tea. Our drinks arrived first; my tea was a Mighty Leaf tea and it was very delicate and fruity. Hubbs fell in love with his ice tea and started planning his next trip to True Confections for the sole purpose of having more berry ice tea ;)

When our cake slices came, at first I wasn't sure if I should be scared or amazed. The slice wasn't too thick but holy cow, was it ever tall! Four layers of cake topped with 4 layers of icing; it seemed like a daunting task to try to eat it all. My cake was moist and sweet and yummy, but I found my icing a bit too heavy and sweet. Hubbs' icing was a little lighter for some reason, so it was preferable to mine (plus the hazelnut flavour wasn't as commanding as I thought it would be). The desserts were pretty impressive, though, and by the time we had had our fill, we had sworn that we will be done with cake for a good long while.

Service was prompt and polite, and the prices weren't too horrible. Expect to pay about $10/slice of cake, and a few bucks for drinks. True Confections is a good place to hang out (some were even playing board games there) and its late operational hours make it a convenient place to get a sugar fix after a long night of drinking or to get caught up on gossip with some close friends. The desserts are sizeable though, so either don't eat too much beforehand, or else be expected to share with others to prevent waste! :)

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Food: 4 out 5

Ajisai Sushi

2009-02-07T22:49:00.003-08:00

Another pictureless post; I should really remember to bring my camera! Hubbs and I tried Ajisai Sushi in Kerrisdale tonight, after reading a lot of favourable reviews for the place. I'd read that they don't do a lot of cooked goods but their sushi is fresh, and some of their more special cuts of fish are flown in from the motherland. That got me curious.

We arrived at about 6:55 on a Saturday evening and the place was packed. We were put on a waiting list for the next available seat, and were told we'd be waiting for more than 30 minutes. Luckily, a lot of their patrons on the waiting list were picky about sitting at a real table (versus on stools at a side table or at the sushi bar), so we were seated in about 15 minutes at the side table.

Keep in mind that Ajisai is tiny, and at best can seat about 30 people. Given there were 10 ahead of us in line, the wait wasn't bad and as beggars we weren't going to be choosers table wise. When we got to our seats we immediately ordered some green tea and began making a list of all of the things we wanted (we were starved). We ended up ordering the Special Unagi Roll, 2 pieces each of their special nigiri sushi, some gunyan sushi, a plate of toro sashimi, a crispy hot tuna roll, a pressed anago roll, and a negitoro roll. We weren't thrilled with the pressed roll (too much rice, and not enough fish) but the rest of the food was remarkably fresh and very enjoyable. In fact, it was good enough to tie with our favourite all-time sushi restaurant, Wasabi Sushi in E-town. We especially liked their specialty fish (young yellowtail, Japanese mackerel, Spanish mackerel) and their special unagi roll (which contained asparagus, avocado, scallop and unagi). Hubbs really enjoyed the negitoro, but he's biased towards it anyway. The toro sashimi was tender and nearly melted in our mouths; I think that was my favourite of the night.

The service was also quite quick (though not super-friendly) considering how busy the place was. We inhaled our food and from arrival to departure, our eating adventure only took about an hour. Impressive, or perhaps just incredibly gluttonous - I'm not sure which one just yet. Anyway, our bill was steeper than I had expected (each piece of nigiri cost about $3.00 and we blew $12 on that pressed fish thing) but the quality of the food nearly justified the higher-than-normal costs.

Will we be back? Yes, but probably for the sushi and not for that pressed stuff. We're always on the hunt for the freshest and tastiest raw fish in the city, so if you think there's a better alternative than Ajisai, speak up! Otherwise, this is our new favourite non-izakaya, non-AYCE sushi joint in Van.

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Food: 5 out of 5

El Taco

2009-02-05T21:32:00.002-08:00

Excusing the cheesy name, El Taco is probably our second favourite burrito place (after Mucho Burrito in E-town). Hubbs and I stopped in to grab burritos to go today, after we had gone on a long walk (my DPA-daily physical activity) ;)

Hubbs ordered a seafood burrito while I had the beef one. The lady behind the counter was very friendly, and informed us that we'd be waiting 5-10 minutes for our food to be made. Next thing I know, I see said lady having a very animated discussion with the cook lady in the kitchen. My concern was that our food would take forever. It didn't but it did definitely take the full 10 minutes.

We enjoyed our giant, one-pound-plus burritos when we got home. Mine was leaking a bit (owing to a poor wrap job and the fact that this thing was monstrous in size), but it was sure tasty! I didn't finish my entire burrito, but I did try to eat most of the filling and leave the white flour tortilla. Hubbs really liked his burrito, which held together far better than mine did.

At the end of our meal, we came to the conclusion that we liked El Taco much more than most of the other taco places we've tried, but not quite as much as we like Mucho Burrito. El Taco did beat out Taco del Mar and that U.S. chain, Chipotle, though! And the cost wasn't bad - we paid about $8 per burrito.

Service: 4 / 5

Food: 4 / 5

Hon's Wun-Tun House

2009-02-05T20:42:00.003-08:00

Sorry, no pictures from our meal. Hubbs and I live close to a Hon's location, and decided one night a few months ago that we needed (well, *I* needed) to have some Chinese food. We figured that even without a reservation, an informal quick-eats sort of place like Hon's would have room for us. I was right.

We were seated almost immediately, at a table that was uncomfortably close to another group of diners. The good part about this was that I was able to check out their food as it was being served. Maybe my tastes are too picky from my many favourable dining experiences in authentic Chinese hole-in-the-walls in Hong Kong, or maybe I'm just spoiled because my dad is a Chinese chef with mad culinary skillz, but I wasn't impressed with what we got.

Hubbs and I ordered some potstickers, a "medley of seafood" in a potato bird's nest, and curried beef brisket with rice. The curried beef brisket was okay but I didn't think the meat was tender enough, and I would've tried it without the curry had Hubbs been agreeable to that. The seafood "medley" was generic and not very seafood-laden, but the folks there gave us an abundance of broccoli lining the bottom of the nest. There was no way that the two of us could have consumed that much broccoli even if we were starving! Honestly, it was a total waste of veggies. The potstickers were okay, but a bit flat in shape; I was expecting nice thick 3-D pan-fried dumplings but these were sort of flat and not super meaty. Overall, the presentation of the food sucked.

The food came out ridiculously fast though, owing to the fact that the restaurant has several food stations set up, and each station has their designated cooking tasks (eg. the potsticker station, the veggie station, etc.). The food was also very very affordable. The servers were efficient, bordering on rude, but not intentionally. They were just your typical abrupt Chinese servers who didn't feel the need to assauge their patrons.

My conclusion: go to Hon's if you want semi-real (meaning non-Westernized) Chinese for cheaper prices and quick service. I'll probably give them one more chance just because I have yet to taste their congee (rice soup), homemade noodles, and sweet & sour pork (my litmus of a truly "good" Chinese place). If you want tasty authentic Chinese food with any semblence of presentation, you will need to look elsewhere.

Service: 3 / 5

Food: 2.5 / 5

Bee Kim Heng

2009-02-03T12:28:00.005-08:00

(Image borrowed from mydinnertable.typepad.com - thank you!)

Thanks to my sister Vanilla Con (or Congee, as I fondly call her), we discovered the awesomeness that is Singapore pork and beef jerky. The best in the city is found at Bee Kim Heng, a dirty, sketchy, cash-only place located in an equally sketchy neighbourhood on Fraser St.

The store is nothing to write home about, unless you write home about scary dirty things. However, once you get over the setting and place your order (sold in half or full pound portions in either beef or pork, sweet or spicy), the nice lady behind the busted counter disappears into the back room (which I will never want to know about, since it might ruin my otherwise-healthy appetite for this jerky), and comes back with these vacuum-sealed, labelled packages of decadent smoked meat.

This is my addiction - jerky. I swear, it's the greasiest stuff, even though the meat is dry. For some reason, the moment I touch even the smallest piece of jerky, my hand will reek of grease for the next hour (even with lots of scrubbing with scented antibacterial soap). Looking past the smelly greasy hands however, I find myself endlessly devouring this chewy, flavourful meat. It's not like western jerky, which is stringy and dry. This stuff comes in sheets, and it is quite moist despite being jerkified. I can't figure it out.

It's good though. I can eat about a pound of the sweet pork jerky in 2 days. My jaw will ache afterwards for another day, and my gums will hurt from wherever bits of jerky have embedded themselves into my oral flesh. Even so, I cannot stop eating this stuff. It's delightful and delicious and worth the $19/lb.

Go, but don't blame me if you get addicted.

Service: 3 / 5

Food: 5 / 5

Hell's Kitchen - Dine Out Vancouver

2009-02-01T20:11:00.009-08:00

Our final stop during 2009 DOV was tonight's visit to Hell's Kitchen (not the Ramsay-associated one, but a pizza joint on West 4th). We were fairly excited to try the place out, and the visit

proved pretty good overall.

The atmosphere of Hell's Kitchen was far better than Granville Room's. The music was more relaxing and not blaring, so we could still carry a conversation without yelling. The Superbowl game played in the background, keeping patrons entertained. We ordered drinks right away, and I quite loved their mango mojito (enough to order a second one later on). The attentive, friendly server also took our orders promptly.

Our first courses were of course appies: Hell's poutine and Hell's chowder. The photos (taken with my phone) don't really do justice to the delicious chowder. It looks way greasy in the pic but actually it was slightly sweet and very tasty. The poutine fries were crispy and the gravy was yummy, but I would have wanted to see more cheese and taste more of their crispy capers. The cheese was all located in one area on the top of the bowl but the fries at the bottom got no lovin'. :(

Next came our pizzas: the Aphrodite and the Soprano. Hubbs really liked the Soprano because it wsa meaty and had a spicy sauce on it. I preferred the Aphrodite; the pesto sauce did not overwhelm, the crust was thin and crispy, and adding slivered almonds to the pizza proved to give a different texture to it.

Of course we didn't finish the pizzas, and moved on to dessert with leftovers to go. Hubbs had the tiramisu and I had the creme brulee. Hubbs' tiramisu was fluffy and light, and a bit more solid than I am used to for tiramisus. I liked the more solid consistency and Hubbs ate the entire thing so I think he liked it too ;) My creme brulee was tasty (sort of like soft serve vanilla ice cream in terms of flavour) but it didn't have enough time to set, because it was runny like a thick soup. I still ate the whole thing but was disappointed that they didn't chill it more before serving.

In all, the ambience of the place made the dinner a far more enjoyable experience than it would have been had the place been noisier. The server was friendly and the service, prompt; we were in and out in an hour. The food was pretty good but not stellar or exceptional. The DOV meals were cheap though: $18/person so I guess we really couldn't expect TOO much.

I'd recommend Hell's Kitchen if you're into drinks and lounging. It would even be a good place to grab a pizza to share, but as far as fine gourmet food is concerned, you might want to go elsewhere.

Service: 4.5 / 5

Food: 3.5 / 5

Gyoza King

2009-01-31T23:56:00.006-08:00

No pictures - sorry. We came here after attending the Christmas lights event at Stanley Park one evening several weeks ago (pre-Christmas). We were a bit hungry but not quite starving, and we wanted something yummy but not too expensive. I remembered Gyoza King from our Dining Out Guide 2009 magazine; they said that this place was where many of the city's chefs went to eat after work. It's apparently an inside secret that this place offers quality goods at affordable prices.

So, without a reservation, we sauntered in one evening. We were seated right away, but the tables were super close to each other and it was raining outside so we were soaking wet, as were our umbrellas. We made a total mess of the floor near our seats and probably unintentionally sprayed the couple beside us with our drippy umbrellas.

We ordered a few dishes; we didn't recognize many of the names but I know we had the chicken karaage, which we were introduced to by our bro-in-law Bengee the previous week. Of course we also had some gyoza, a bowl of udon (don't recall which one), and a deconstructed negitoro. All of the food was fresh and delicious. Nothing sat too heavily nor did any of the items stand out in a bad way to us; we thorougly enjoyed the food as well as the relatively efficient service. The price was right too; I believe our total was around $35? It was affordable and the Japanese tapas had hit the spot perfectly.

Best of all, I'm pretty sure that one of the bloggers who I read regularly, Lainey (from e-Talk), was the girl sitting beside Hubbs at the table next to ours. I kept looking at her trying to figure out if she was who I thought she was, but I wussed out and didn't actually ask for confirmation. Still, it made me a little giddy to think that I ate at the same place that she eats at :)

Anyway, we love Gyoza King and will definitely be back. Affordable quality food, in a casual atmosphere accepting of all patrons (including the drowned-rat varieties) - what more could you ask for?

Service: 4 out of 5

Food: 4. 5 out of 5

UPDATE: Of course we couldn't stay away, so we were back for more kaarage, ramen, gyoza, and negitoro. Once again, the place did not disappoint. We thoroughly enjoyed the food, and the cozy atmosphere, and the affordable prices. Even though we had to wait to get a seat, it was worth the extra 10 minutes to get that delicious grub. We'll be back again soon, I'm sure of it. Hubbs is in love with their negitoro. :)

Fuel Restaurant

2009-01-31T20:35:00.009-08:00

Rarely do we get the opportunity to dine out super fancy, but last night was a special night with friends. Hubbs, Froggers, the Igloo Coder, and I checked out Fuel Restaurant for the first time. The night was all the more special because it marked the first time that the Igloo Coder dined at his cousin's restaurant. We were hoping to catch more than a glimpse of the owner/executive chef but he apparently had a charity dinner to attend to.

Anyway, the restaurant was lively and filled to capacity when we arrived. Intimate soft lighting and a very sleek, modern look characterized the interior of the place. We had many many libations ranging from the very tart to the very sweet, and slowly got around to ordering our grub: the 5-course chef's menu.

Before our dishes even came out, servers brought us an amusee bouche, compliments of the kitchen. It was a bit of some sort of shredded vegetable with roasted sunflower seeds mixed in. It's not on their menu and I don't remember the name of it but it was incredibly delicious and an excellent way to kick off the night!

The first courses served were 4 different appies for the 4 of us, which up to this point I'd never seen before in a set menu. Generally when they require everyone at the table to order the same host menu, they do up the same dishes for the entire table. This was an unexpected delight, made more so by the Igloo Coder's insistence to our server to surprise us with the dishes. In the end we were able to enjoy things that we probably wouldn't

have otherwise ordered. The four appies served were the Cauliflower Soup with cured salmon (Hubb's), the Ultra Rare Albacore Tuna (Frogger's), the Traditional Brodo (Igloo Coder's), and my Heirloom Beetroot Salad with a lemon-citrus creme fraiche. Igloo Coder nearly had an attack over the deliciousness of his broth, Froggers couldn't stop smiling about her tuna, and Hubbs thought that his soup was an excellent balance of flavours between the cream and the salmon. I enjoyed my salad, but truth be told I think the other three appies were better.

Course two consisted of two different dishes: the Duck Confit and Foie Gras Mousse Terrine for the ladies and the Carnaroli Risotto for the guys. I tasted Hubbs' risotto and it was perfectly done; not too heavy but still hearty, and smooth textures that blended well with the more-chewy crab. I loved my terrine too (I did share half of it with Hubbs) though I think Froggers found it a bit heavy and salty. I love just about all things foie gras, so this was no exception. The terrine was pate-esque with a slightly more rich flavour, and it paired well with the toasted bread and the sliced apples.

Next up were the mains, which we each had two of (in reduced portions). First we had the Roasted Wild BC Salmon, which was done well - cooked thoroughly but still moist, and yet with the crispiness of the skin intact. I particularly loved the two little perogies that came with the dish, as did Hubbs. The watercress cream was a hit and miss with our table; some of us found it a little bland for our liking while others of us appreciated the blandness relative to the chantrelle mushroom-watercress saute.

Our second entree was the Fraser Valley Free Run Lamb, seared rare and served with a glazed lamb shoulder (Igloo Coder was in heaven over this part of the meal). I thought the lamb was tasty and not gamey, and the shoulder was really moist and smooth-textured (like the fatty dark meat from a turkey). Yumm-o!

Finally, our desserts were served. I had been looking forward to this all night long. The guys received portions of their Gravenstein Apple Cake, and Hubbs thought his cake was really soft and pretty good. I ate his ice cream (ceylon cinnamon) and thought it was sweet and creamy, but really subtle flavour-wise. I think I would've loved to have a more strongly-flavoured gelato. We were served their Carnaroli Rice Pudding; the rice pudding itself had a slight almond taste to it, which I really enjoyed. The pistachio sorbet and chocolate crumble were good pairings for it. I wasn't as keen on the preserved apricots, though; I found them tart and would rather not have had the sourness of the preserves taint my otherwise sweet warm dessert.

Overall the dinner was lovely and the company even better. The drinks were also very tasty and in the end, we felt that we had experienced a fine dining sort of meal befitting the formal attire we sported for the evening. The bill was a little on the steep side though, due mostly to the sheer number of cocktails added to the bill over the course of the 3 hours. The blow was softened by the sweet morsels of delight that they served to us along with the bill, though. In retrospect, I think that if we had been completely sober water-sippers, the meal would have been very appropriately priced considering the quality of the food. It's the booze that cost us dearly!

In the end, we'll come here again. We thought this was a first-class establishment and the food was fresh and delicious.

Service: 4 / 5

Food: 4.5 / 5

**PS Food images belong to Urban Mixer on flickr. They're not mine. :)

Lift Bar & Grill - New Year's Eve

2009-01-29T16:05:00.013-08:00

I should qualify this review by saying that it was NYE and so the menu was set for us in advance. We had wanted to try Lift Bar & Grill out since we started doing walks in the Coal Harbour area, but were never afforded an opportunity until this particular evening.

We showed up on time and were seated beside the window. Right away our drink orders were taken (we had martinis) and then we got down to business: ordering. :) The amusee bouche brought to us was so yummy: it was a quail egg on serrano ham with a green sauce (I think pea shoot).

Next we were served appies: Hubbs and I both had the wild game consomme with ravioli. It was the most delicate broth, and yet flavourful and satisfying. It surprised me that I could feel so strongly about a soup!

Next came our second round of appies. Hubbs ordered the Scallop St. Jacques, which he enjoyed (though he didn't elaborate on it much) and I had the quail and winter truffle terrine. I'm not sure what the contents of the shooter glass were, but at the bottom of the glass there were two grapes, and the liquid in which they soaked was tasty and sweet and chilled. I'm almost certain it was boozy too!

Of course we also asked for bread, which I had been consuming throughout this meal, between dishes. Bad mistake. I was also onto my second martini before my entree was served. Second bad mistake. In the end, I was too boozed up and too full to enjoy all of my organic bison dish. The meat was flavourful and moist (an accomplishment considering that bison is oft more dry and easily overdone), though I found the sauce a bit salty. Hubbs had Lobster Thermidore, and since he's a huge shellfish fan, he really couldn't go wrong with a full tail. He cleaned his plate so I assume his meal was to his liking ;)

Finally dessert came round. By now the booze effects had begun to fade and I was gaining my second wind for dessert. Good thing, since their pot de creme trio was absolutely decadent. I liked the slight tartness and light moussy texture of their raspberry creme as well as the rich full-bodied flavour of the coffee creme. Hubbs' favourite was the pumpkin creme, the creamiest and sweetest of the three.

By the time the champagne came round I was full again, and reluctant to resubmit my body to the ravages of alcohol. Hubbs was left drinking the majority of both flutes, but I think he didn't mind too much. The lovely folks at Lift even brought us noisemakers and hats for the countdown, which I thought was a nice touch.

Overall, I think we rang in the New Year well. The food was very tasty and generously portioned (well, individual dishes were appropriately portioned but when you add in the bread and the sheer number of courses, that's where the abundance comes in), and servers were present but unobtrusive. The restaurant was quite lively while we were there, but perhaps it was not at capacity, since the noise levels remained moderate throughout the evening. Sure, the restaurant set us back a few $$$ but hey, it was NYE and you can't complain if you leave with your belly full and a smile on your face!

Service: 4 / 5

Food: 4.5 / 5

New Look for the New Year

2009-01-29T11:51:00.000-08:00

I've neglected this blog in recent months, and so I found it fitting that with this resurrection of Aftertastes, the Vancouver edition, I would give it a much needed face-lift, the result of which is before your very eyes.

Happy eating adventures, and I'll be back with some posts in the near future!

Accents Restaurant

2009-01-27T14:16:00.002-08:00

Okay, so we tried this place back in early December on the recommendation of my uncle. My sis, my bro-in-law, Hubbs and I had heard good things about the place based on previous dining experiences of my uncle and aunt. Well, I can definitely say that Accents is the worst restaurant we've tried in Van so far, and I'm pretty sure it will remain so for a long long time.

Here is Hubbs' review of the place (with some edits from me):

*****

Sincerely, the second worst restaurant I have ever been to
I went to Accents last Saturday and sincerely, this place was terrible enough to warrant my posting about it to warn others, especially given some of the other "positive" reviews out there (which we suspect to be written by restaurant staff and people with deadened taste buds).

First of all, we arrived and were initially seated at a table with ripped, dingy chair covers. Sincerely, two of them were stained all over the back of the chair or the seat while all 6 had rips and tears in the chair cover fabric. Now, this is a little iffy but I'm willing to forgive it if the food and service are good. However, both were absolutely *terrible*.

Someone in a review had mentioned the "diverse menu selection". Another person noticed that the lights flicker on and off every so often, like they are microwaving food. Allow me to tie this all together here because our party of 6 noticed the brownouts, and then we noticed that:

* all of our food was scorchingly hot in temperature, and it felt like these dishes had been recently microwaved
* all of our desserts had freezer burn on them and tasted rancid

For those who were saying, "I don't know what you were expecting, but you got a great meal", no, I actually didn't. And I didn't get any value for it either. Here are some highlights of the experience aside from what I have listed:

* horrifically long wait times - we waited 20 minutes just to get a drink order, an *hour* to get appetizers (and let's be real here, for the quality of food I received it shouldn't take an hour), and another hour to get our main course! It took us over 3.5 hours to receive our 3-course meals and the bill.

* terrible service - not only were the servers poorly dressed in ratty, untucked polo shirts sporting large spills and stains, but several of their staff were also very rude and unaccommodating. When asked if we could be relocated from our ratty table near the door to one in the dining area, we were informed that they were too busy to bother clearing up the emptied tables in order to get us moved.
* dry meat (think jerky), bland flavouring, soggy entrees
* freezer-burned desserts
* a dirty, dingy environment
* mistakes made on orders; we were expecting cheese gnocchi with our duck orders and instead got potatoes. Wouldn't be so bad except when we asked our waitress about the cheese gnocchi, she insisted the cut potato pieces *were* gnocchi, *then* said that there never was gnocchi on that dish and ran off to get a menu to prove it. When she then discovered her mistake she walked off! Some other guy server ended up having to come to our table to apologize! I don't care how much "value" I am getting at a restaurant, it doesn't excuse rude or abrasive behavior.

I'm sorry, but there are *hundreds* of wonderful restauarants of varying prices in Vancouver - it's a wonderful city for that. I never thought I would have the second worst dining experience of my life here. I sincerely post this so that you don't make the same tragic mistake we did when we thought this place would be decent.

*****

It's Hubbs' 2nd worst of all time. It's probably my second worst as well, and definitely the worst in Vancouver. Don't listen to the reviews that say that this place is any good, and do not be misled by their website; the place was probably good 6 years ago, but the downhill decline has been steep. Avoid Accents and find a real European restaurant. The price may be cheaper here, but you'll get what you pay for, and even less! You've been warned.

Service: 1/5 (except the busboy - he gets 3/5 for working hard all night long)

Food: 0/5

Ouisi Bistro - Dine Out Vancouver

2009-01-27T13:52:00.001-08:00

Hubbs and I are total lovers of cajun/creole food. We even loved the stuff at Louisiana Purchase in Edmonton and at the New Orleans restaurants at Disneyland, so our tastes aren't very refined in this food category.

Ouisi Bistro was selected based on their type of food alone. We were excited to eat there, and we were not disappointed.

When we showed up for our reservation, the place was loud and packed. The red

-hued walls were covered in paintings of jazz artists of yesteryear, and the atmosphere was bustling and full of life. We loved it. We got seated and promptly ordered a drink. Our server misheard me and brought me a glass of wine when I wanted a fruity cocktail, but because it was so busy I actually didn't send it back. Hubbs had a spicy Caesar, which I'm convinced is the best Caesar he has ever had; it's certainly the best I've tasted, and I hate clamato juice.

We ordered our food quickly (having studied the DOV menu online in advance), and also ordered an additional serving of corn bread. The appies were brought out quickly. Hubbs' crab cakes were flavourful and gently fried, falling apart when you poked it too much. I loved my chorizo-crusted oyster. It was perfectly fried and sufficiently rich, but not overly oyster-y or breaded.

Our server came by shortly after this to ask if we were ready for dessert, which annoyed me slightly given that this was her second mistake of the night. After informing her that we still needed our entrees and our cornbread, the bread was brought out to us. I was expecting a warm, moist loaf, but our slices were cold and a bit on the dry side. It was still hearty and filling, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with the bread.

After a bit of a wait (during which time the restaurant began to quiet down and clear out a

bit), our entrees were served. My pork chop was delicious, as was the sweet potato-bacon-pecan hash. My chop had a nice little bit of fat on the edge (which I love) and wasn't overdone. The hash was interesting texture-wise, and rich with flavour, but I found it very filling so I didn't finish it. Hubbs' jambalaya wasn't what I was expecting, but he thoroughly enjoyed his dish and ate every last bit of it off his plate.

We had to wait a bit for our dessert, but we enjoyed the jazz music playing in the backround and didn't feel too badly about the delay. My pecan pie was yummy, but non-descript, while Hubbs found his bread pudding to be quite delectable.

Not bad for $28/person, and in the end our server who had messed up 3 times (she forgot to add one of our DOV meals to the bill) by the end of the night, waived the cost of our cornbread. Not a huge consolation, but given that we loved the atomsphere of Ouisi and thought the food was really good as well, we didn't push it.

We'll definitely be back and we'll be bringing friends. There are lots of other things on their menu we have yet to try, and we're pretty psyched about giving those dishes a go. :)

Service: 3/5

Food: 4.5/5

Zen Japanese Restaurant - Dine Out Vancouver

2009-01-27T13:28:00.001-08:00

Dine Out Vancouver happens Jan. 14-Feb. 1st. I believe it has become an annual event, sponsored by Tourism Vancouver. Not wanting to miss out on a good deal, Hubbs & I chose a few places to try based on the attractiveness of their online menus and some of the reviews we've read about them.

Our first selected restaurant, Zen Japanese Restaurant, appealed to us because of its comely pictures on the website and also the DOV menu we saw online. This restaurant is quite highly regarded in the sushi world, and is known to be quite innovative with their menu.

We went on a Saturday night and arrived right on time. We were seated immediately. Unfortunately, our table happened to be situated right beside a large 10-top table, and the big boisterous lady seated next to Hubbs (separated be a mere foot of space between their table and ours) happened to bellow and laugh very very loudly. We quickly asked to be moved, and were reseated at a table at the opposite end of the restaurant from the loud diner. The restaurant was only about 40% full when we were there, so we probably had the pick of the tables had we insisted.

We ordered quickly and our meals came relatively quickly, though our appies did not arrive simultaneously. Thankfully, since Hubbs & I were sharing, it wasn't so bad; if I would have had to watch him eat while my tummy grumbled, he would have had a miserable dining experience ;) Hubbs' Prawn 3 Ways was very yummy, with my favourite being the lightly breaded and fried Popcorn Shrimp Roll. I liked my Crunchy Duo but to be honest, I found some of the sauces too strong, and they overpowered the flavours of my rolls.

Hubbs' Chef Selection Sashimi and my Signature Sushi were both okay, but nothing extraordinary. They were fresh, the cuts were reasonably-sized, but as entrees we found the dishes a little less spectacular than they could have been. After a while, everything seemed to taste similar, and that's not the impression any good Japanese restaurant wants to leave. DOV is an opportunity to showcase your best, and we both kind of felt let down that Zen didn't seem to do that with their entrees. The portions were also a bit wee for our appetites.

For dessert we both enjoyed the chocolate brownie. It was warm with a crispy top, and the gooieness of the cake melted in our mouths. I'd say that the brownie was my favourite part of the meal, although my piece of brownie was again far too small for my liking.

The DOV menu was priced at $38/person, and after we tacked on green tea and a drink apiece, the total was a bit steep, particularly since we weren't even full. The restaurant, by appearance, didn't look terribly elegant or upscale, so it wasn't like we were paying for the ambiance. Overall, we found Zen Japanese Restaurant to be poor value for the dollar, and not nearly as innovative and spectacular as some reviews have hyped them up to be.

Service: 3.5/5

Food: 3/5

Aftertastes - Vancouver Edition

2009-01-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

Now that I'm a Vancouverite, it hardly makes sense for me to review Edmonton restaurants anymore. So, I'm switching over. I'm beginning anew, with a focus on Vancouver's best (and worst).

I can't promise pictures, but I'll try to keep the word count low whilst doing the summary of our dining adventures. I am also going to change up the rating system a little bit, and give two ratings (both out of 5) in the categories of "Food" and "Service." You should be able to glean value for dollar based on the write-ups, but if you don't, then feel free to drop me a comment and I'll give it to you straight ;)

Welcome back to the new Aftertastes - Vancouver Edition. May your tummy be full and your company be fantastic!

Urban Baker

2008-08-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

Rarely do I blog about a non-local eatery, unless it is so delicious and blog-worthy that to not do so would be a travesty.

Allow me to introduce you to Urban Baker.

Truthfully, until today we always thought the place was called "the place beside Diner Deluxe" since that's where it is located, and we had never bothered to learn its name even though we've been there several times, always to get the same delicious item: chocolate cranberry sourdough bread.

Today Hubbs & I stopped in on our way out of Calgary. We not only picked up a loaf of bread (it is already half-consumed now that we're mid-way through the day), but we also tried their wood-fire-grilled sandwiches. At $9 a sandwich, we were expecting a lot. We weren't disappointed, either. My spinach and chicken sandwich was crispy and cheesy and delicious, and Hubbs was so eager to eat his tasty tomato and cappicola ham sandwich (while driving) that he almost missed a green light. ;)

The place is small, it's not meant to be dined-in at, but it is one of my favourite bread places ever. In fact, I know of no other that sells this amazing chocolate cranberry sourdough bread. We stop in every time we're in Calgary, and for good reason. I highly recommend that if you're needing some sweet chocolaty goodness or just a good sandwich or light pizza fix, that you pay the Urban Baker a visit. :)

Rating: 10 / 10

Flavours Modern Bistro

2008-05-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

So Hubbs and I haven't been terribly adventurous in our dining lately, the result of both laziness and a general unwillingness to venture into the unknown.

However, on Friday night we decided to go out on a date, and do the "Whyte Ave." walk. I was starving, as was he, so we thought we would find a quiet, tasty place to enjoy a quick meal. When our walk took us past Flavours Modern Bistro, I decided to stop and gawk at the menu. The restaurant seemed quiet (particularly in comparison to Julio's Barrio, or Yianni's), and I figured a bistro would serve healthier fare.

After a quick perusal of the menu, our decision was made. We were hungry, the place looked nice, and we thought we could afford a bit of "adventure" on this date. We were seated immediately upon arrival, in a quiet two-person table near the bar. The seats were made of a velour-style fuzzy material, and had a deep seat and high back that seemed to wrap itself around your body. Me likey right away. :) There was a mural of old Whyte Ave. painted along the top of the bar, as well as dark wood furnishings and tea lights on each table. The general ambiance was cozy, modern, and very intimate. The only decor choice I did not agree with were the two green ceiling fans that hung above their high ceiling; those things were hideous and the green did not coordinate with the remainder of the furnishings.

The server came by in an appropriate amount of time to get our drink order, but it took him a bit to return with our actual drink (I was the only one who had a drink). It seemed the man was pulling double duty as bartender *and* server, and there appeared to be only 2 servers on the floor (though there were only about 5 tables of people, so the load for these servers was hardly unbearable). There was also a fellow who presumably worked there; he was lurking around the bar area and chatting with the servers but he neither served nor mixed drinks, and I never saw him run any food. I didn't appreciate his presence; it seemed he was distracting my server, and that (in part, anyway) led to the very slow service that followed.

The menu was small, and made our decision-making process efficient - a few choice starters, and about 10 entrees to choose from. Hubbs and I decided to share the gnocchi with roasted tomato pesto as our starter; it is normally an entree but we convinced our server that we could share that instead of each having an app. We also ordered a lamb shank entree (for Hubbs) and a Hungarian goulash with potato pancakes for me. This was when the wait began. We strained our necks every time the servers came out with food, hoping it was ours. I am convinced there must have only been one or two people in the kitchen, preparing each dish individually. It must have taken nearly 20 minutes for our "appetizer" to arrive! We gobbled that thing up quickly; it was delicious and the pine nuts sprinkled on top of the gnocchi gave the dish a fantastic texture.

Fast forward another 15-20 minutes before our entrees were served. By now I was salivating like Pavlov's dog, so hungry I could run into the kitchen and make myself a sandwich! The gnocchi, which we had devoured nearly half an hour prior, was not so filling when shared as to truly satiate our hunger. Our dishes came out together, and Hubbs thoroughly enjoyed his lamb shanks. My choice had been a riskier one, and I wasn't entirely sure what Hungarian goulash was going to look or taste like. Thankfully, as described, it was a tomatoey beef stew served on top of a folded, crisp potato pancake. The crispy edges of the pancake were delicious, and the stew, hearty. I could not finish the entire dish.

After we had inhaled our entrees, we were stuffed. My hunger dissipated, and my sanity returned. The jazzy music in the background, the hug-me chairs, and the relative quiet of the place (compared with the rest of Whyte Ave.) was a welcome retreat for us, and we were very glad to have dined at Flavours, in spite of the slow service. The delicious food and the look-and-feel of the place were reminiscent of some of our better dining experiences in Vancouver, and so we appreciated having a bit of a "Van experience" in E-town. If you're looking for a romantic, but casual dinner date location, and you are in no hurry, do try to give Flavours Modern Bistro a try!

Rating: 8 / 10

Wildflower Grill

2008-03-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Easter and my awesome mother-in-law's birthday, we headed to the newly-opened Wildflower Grill, located at the former Inn on 7th, now renovated and renamed the Matrix Hotel for brunch. I really had to use the bathroom when I got there, so I quickly chatted with the host, found out where our party would be seated (did I mention we were the first to arrive?!? It's an Easter miracle.), and dashed to use the bathroom.

I was impressed; you learn a lot about a place based on its bathroom. Dark stained woods, 2 stalls, a touchless tap and paper towel dispenser (too bad the dispenser wasn't working properly), and a funky trough-style sink gave me the impression that this place cared about impressions.

I wasn't wrong. Our host, a Tim Gunn-lookalike fellow with a very friendly and professional table-side manner, cracked a few tasteful jokes with our party as people trickled in. Our server was diligent and prompt, and neither intrusive nor invisible.

The decor of the restaurant was upscale understated chic; lots of dark stained wood, whites and neutrals accented by bright splashy paintings of wildflowers. Our tables were set with mesh-link mats (that weren't obviously mesh, but a far softer material) and a hand-blown, fiery-coloured bowl containing an orchid bloom. When I ordered a coffee to start, I was served a French-press urn - my personal pot of java! Our meal began with freshly-baked cornmeal gouda muffins and whipped butter - a tasty, moist opener to our meal.

Hubbs had the seafood frittata, which came with a bowl of fresh fruit and homemade yogurt. Every part of his meal was served on a smaller square plate placed within the larger plate; the presentation was fabulous. The taste, so Hubbs tells me, was also fantastic; he had no complaints whatsoever with his meal. Other members of our party had eggs benedict, steak and eggs, or fresh fruit crepes, all of which (so I hear) were phenomenally tasty. My meal of Alberta "prime" roast beef (served in a Yorkshire pudding bowl) was accompanied by some "dirty fries" served with a delicious aioli dip; the fries were delicious (but as a low-carbbing fiend I couldn't really indulge myself much), and the roast beef was tender and tasty. I'm not a Yorkshire pudding girl but I thought the presentation (again, on separate little square plates fitted onto a larger square plate) looked great.

At the end of the meal, we were so impressed with both the food and the service that we asked to look at the dinner menu - not to eat again but to plan our return to the restaurant sometime in the near future.

It is rare to find a nice, upscale, quiet restaurant that offers brunch entrees costing less than $20/plate. It is even more rare to find one that isn't snooty, and knows what it means to offer first-class service. The Wildflower Grill is all of these things, and made such a positive and lasting impression on our entire table that we are determined to return again very very soon.

Rating: 10 / 10

Boualong Laos & Thai Cuisine

2008-01-19T14:02:00.000-08:00

Having had the privilege of living in Hong Kong, I have been able to travel to parts of southeast Asia that I would have never otherwise considered going. One such place is Thailand. While I was spending the Christmas break on the beaches of Koh Samui and the shopping districts of Bangkok, I was able to sample some seriously kick-butt authentic Thai fare. This has ruined me for most Thai places in the capital city. That is, until now. :)

I introduce you to Boualong Laos & Thai Cuisine, a true hole-in-the-wall, Mom-and-Pop run restaurant that serves the best Thai food in the city. Its appearance offers little insight into the delicious, affordable cuisine offered behind its doors. Don't be thrown off by the raggedy looking white building with the peeling paint, or the dimly-lit, narrow hallway in which you will find yourself (and several others) standing for up to 45 minutes in wait for one of their 6 tables. Once you finally get seated, you will be in for a treat.

Hubbs and I checked out this gem of a place one Friday evening. Having been warned that the little eatery keeps erratic hours and often boasts a line-up of folks waiting for a table, we arrived early in the evening and braced ourselves to stand in line. Good thing we were in our comfy shoes; we waited a good 30 minutes before we got a table. The three other couples ahead of us in line had obviously waited for a while, and the 4 other parties waiting behind us bore testimony to the unsung popularity of this restaurant.

While we were waiting for our table, I peeked from the hall into the room-sized restaurant. There were indeed 6 simple tables, each set for 4 people. The tables had three different types of hot sauce on them (which brought the ranking of the place up several notches in Hubbs' mind), and little more. The walls were decorated with a few framed photographs, but were minimal in their accessories. The entrance leading to the kitchen was divided from the restaurant portion of the place by a dense beaded curtain. The floors looked worn, the furniture looked older, and the general feel of the place was cozy and humble and a little bit run-down.

When we finally got a table (the one nearest the kitchen entrance on the right hand side), the lone server at the restaurant promptly dropped off some water for us, and took our drink orders (green tea). Considering that he was the only fellow working the floor, his speed of service was definitely acceptable. He returned to take our food order: a plate of yum-dip salad rolls (which I thought were a Vietnamese specialty but is apparently one of the most popular dishes at Boualong), the panang curry, the green curry, and two orders of coconut rice.

Our salad rolls came out quickly, and were generous in size and delicious in flavour. Packed with shrimp and some sort of mysterious meat, these rolls were nearly twice the size of ones that we are accustomed to getting at most restaurants. Even with its notable size, we gobbled up the rolls greedily. We then had to wait a bit to receive our curries, which came out piping hot and served in funky leaf-shaped dishes. The panang curry was bursting with flavour, just the right amount of sweetness, and enough spicy kick to give the dish some attitude. The green curry was mild, sweet, delicate, and aromatic. The coconut rice was steamed to sticky perfection, and was prepared in such a way that Hubbs remarked on its fluffy texture and distinctiveness from other coconut rice that we've tried. This, he declared, was his favourite, and the best he has had.

We took our time enjoying the meal, which was so ample in portion that even after gorging ourselves, we had 3/4 of a bowl of rice and a lot of curry left over. The grand total of our appetizer, tea, and curries? A very affordable $33.00. The cash-only policy initially had us worried, but given the affordability of our meal we definitely had more than enough to cover and to tip our server generously.

I told some of my friends about this place, including a certain colleague of mine whose hubby lived in Thailand for nearly 2 years. The two of them then proceeded to check the place out, and he apparently also gave Boualong the seal of approval for authenticity and delicious cuisine. Their party of 3, incidentally, only paid $44 for a hearty meal for all of them.

The long wait aside, I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who is craving real Thai food. You may be a little creeped out by the location of the place, or the worn-out look of the facility, but you will definitely not be disappointed by the food.

Rating: 10 / 10

Hubbs' Rating: 10 / 10

Bacon!

2007-11-07T06:19:00.000-08:00

To celebrate a belated birthday for Mrs. Vinny, we checked out this cute hole-in-the-wall called Bacon. We had heard good things from Mrs. Vinny, and we figured that with a name like Bacon, you really couldn't go wrong. ;)

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this Ukrainian-fusion fare eatery is actually a relatively healthy place to dine. Their ingredients are almost all organic, the breads are whole-grained, and the vibe of the place definitely caters to the eccentric, all-fresh tastes of a particular subset of diners. The decor was funky in a thrift-shop sort of way; you get the feeling that they want to create the homey, retro feel of Baba and Gido's dining room.

We started the brunch meal off with some juice, both carbonated and non. Mrs. Vinny & I had the non-carbonated pear juice, and it was a brilliantly subtle, fresh-tasting, mild juice to start off my meal. Hubbs had a fizzy pineapple juice, which he also enjoyed. The boys also had ginger beer, and apparently the kind offered at Bacon is the best kind of fizzy ginger beer, according to Vinny. :)

Hubbs and I enjoyed the appetizer of perogies with bacon gremolata, while the Vinnys savoured their appetizer. I would say Hubbs and my favourite dish there was the perogies; I would go back just to eat those. They were the right texture (soft, but not mushy) and the gremolata totally made the dish lick-worthy. :)

Our meals were tasty, but not terribly memorable. Hubbs had a sandwich, I had a salad with nuts in it, and though both were tasty enough, we can no longer remember what was actually in our respective meals. Both couples also shared some desserts (ours was a spiced cake with ice cream), but again, the dishes were pretty standard, so there isn't much to say about that. However, we're both still raving about the perogies :)

The price was mid-range, and definitely affordable. Service was prompt and professional, though not superbly personal. Overall, I would go back for the perogies and the juice, and would recommend Bacon to those who wish to have a relatively healthy, light lunch or dinner.

For a place called Bacon, however, don't expect a ton of bacon-ridden dishes; they're not really about the bacon as the main ingredient, but more as an accompaniment. Fry up your own pack of Schnieders if you really want bacon, because the fare at Bacon will leave you wanting for more of the fatty greasy crunchy delights we often think of when we think Bacon!

Rating: 7 / 10

New York Bagel Cafe

2007-09-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

Hubbs and I were lamenting the lack of fantastic breakfast places in the city; sure, there was the always-crowded Barb & Ernie's, and there was the university-scened High Level Diner, but where could we go to get a great choose-your-own-filling omelet and properly made hash browns?

Thanks to Lex Culinaria, I decided to check out the New York Bagel Cafe, located at Gateway and 83rd. It really was a hole-in-the-wall in terms of its location and size, but it was a pretty hopping place on Saturday morning when Hubbs and I arrived. We were lined up for about 25 minutes before we were seated at one of their few tables; I think they had something like a dozen tables? Not many, at any rate, and less than the requisite number needed to accommodate the ever-growing line-up at their door. I hadn't lined up like that for breakfast since my wait for a table at Paul's Omelettry in Vancouver a few months ago, and even that line-up wasn't so lengthy in terms of wait time.

The cafe decor was quite earthy, with lots of orange and brown and rustic gold and copper accents. It was cozy, and quaint, and definitely had that "hang out and have some coffee and get caught up" sort of feeling.

Hubbs ordered a cappuccino and I a hot chocolate when our very busy server came around to our table. She definitely tried her best to be prompt, but it appeared she was only one of two servers in the place, and she was the barista for her tables as well. This made her infinitely more busy than most servers, so we extended an extra measure of patience when we had to wait for our bill, our food, our coffee.

Hubbs ordered his specialty omelet filled with bacon, smoked salmon, and camembert, while I had the "boring" brekkie of bacon, eggs, bagel, and hash browns. When our meals came, I was pleasantly surprised to see a side of fresh assorted fruits on my plate: small wedge each of dragonfruit, honeydew, watermelon, pineapple, orange, and a cluster of grapes and half a strawberry, Definitely the healthiest and prettiest "garnish" I had seen on my breakfast plate in a LONG time.

The eggs were enormous, and as a result Hubbs' omelet was gigantic. I was filled to the brim on my meal and had to give away some of my bacon and fruit to Hubbs. I refused to part with my hash browns, however, for they were perfectly crispy, lightly salted, and seasoned very very well. I ate every last piece.

Our final bill total was a bit pricier than some other breakfast places, but even so, we felt the experience to be totally worth it. With the light drizzle of rain outside and the bustling Strathcona market nearby, we felt as though we were no longer in our cold desolate city but rather, in a more Vancouver-esque sort of place. It was a beautiful breakfast and an even more beautiful escape. :)

Rating: 9.5 / 10

Hardware Grill

2007-09-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posting as of late. I won't post unless I've been somewhere new or interesting, and in the last two months I've been a creature of habit and returning to the same haunts for dining each time.

That is, until now.

On Friday night, sans reservation, Hubbs and I decided to go out for a celebratory dinner (he kicked arse at a project at his job, which earned him much accolade and support from his peers). We tried our usual favourites but they were full, so we decided to kick things up a notch and go classy, Hardware Grill style.

We didn't actually expect to get a table; it was 7:30 p.m. and a Friday night. However, we were pleasantly surprised that the restaurant had a spot for us immediately. Our next question: could we dine there even though we were wearing jeans (and a nice top)? Yes, absolutely was the response.

We were led to a very cozy half-moon-shaped booth, and the host pulled out the table so that Hubbs and I could sit down. Then he moved our table back into position so that we could eat properly. I had a chance to sit and appreciate the ambience: classy, but not pretentious, upscale, but not awkwardly so. The music was jazzy (always a plus!), and conversations could take place in whispers and everyone would still be able to hear each other, for the noise level here was not raucous at all, but rather politely quiet and comfortable on the ears.

Service from our maitre'd came quickly, and Hubbs ordered himself a Caesar, which turned out to be perfectly seasoned (rivaling the one at LUX that he loves so much). I ordered a glass of gewurztraminer (I don't even remember where it was from, but it was the only G on the menu that was sold by the glass) and it was truly the best wine I've ever had, hands down - smooth, sweet, mild, fruity, and completely light.

We both had fantastic appetizers to start, with Hubbs getting the lobster risotto which was creamy and flavourful, and I ordering the pan-seared foie gras, which was absolutely decadent, perfectly prepared (crispy on the outside, melts in your mouth on the inside), and satisfied my foie gras craving.

Our apps came in a timely fashion, as did our entrees: lamb rib eye wrapped with ground beef short-rib and foie gras, and a crusted halibut with potato crepes for Hubbs. I loved the lamb ravioli that accompanied my dish, and the lamb rib eye was terrifically tender and spectacular. I didn't as much enjoy the short-rib/foie gras combination, but that was only because I am a purist when it comes to foie gras. Hubbs ate everything on his plate, and so it seems he too, thought his meal to be absolutely incredible.

By the time we had polished off our apps and entrees, we were stuffed to the point of not even being able to admire their dessert menu. Oh, how we would have loved to try their version of creme brulee, or sink our teeth into the sweet gooey goodness of a molten chocolate cake! Alas, we were too full to even think of it.

I was so impressed with the service, the food, and the atmosphere of the Hardware Grill that I daresay it has earned its way into top spot as my favourite western-dining restaurant. If you love to have great wine, fantastic conversations, and delectable food in a classy, but comfortable, environment, this is totally the place to go. I'll be back for sure, maybe for my engagement anniversary! ;)

Rating: 10 / 10

Hubbs' Rating: 10 / 10

Foodie Finds - Cereal Edition

2007-07-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

I wish I had more opportunity to cook, but since Hubbs and I are both on a "clean eating" pattern for a while, it seems that cooking (with all its oils and sauces and sometimes-rich ingredients) is not the best way to go. Instead, we've been making great use of our Hamilton Beach grill and pre-marinated chicken breasts and salmon fillets from Costco.

However, in the time that we have been eating at home, we have been upping our cereal intake and discovering new goodies that are higher in fibre and protein, and lower in sugar and fat. Here are some of the winners (and some that taste awesome but maybe aren't so healthy):

Kellogg's Two Scoops Crunch: Cranberry Cereal, which is only available in Canada right now, is a delicious spin on the ol' Raisin Bran that we're told is good for us. This new cran version is delicious, it doesn't get very soggy in the milk, and it packs 5g of fibre per serving. Description: "Sweet, crunchy flakes with two scoops of cranberries and oat & honey granola clusters." I just ate my first bowl (bought this box yesterday) and am already tempted to eat a second. Try it!

Tony's Turboz Cereal, which contains a mighty 7.1g of protein in each serving, is also only available in Canada right now (to my knowledge). I always describe the cereal as a healthy, smaller version of Honeycomb, although Hubbs disagrees. We both agree, however, that the sweet, crunchy cereal is very satisfying and addictive. Tony's Turboz is currently being marketed as a kid's meal-replacement cereal, but the truth is that adults are just as guilty of not consuming enough protein as part of their first meal of the day. Tony's Turboz is an excellent way to get in some protein, especially if you don't quite feel like steak and eggs first thing in the morning ;)

Honey Bunches of Oats - Strawberry is my naughty cereal delight. I can't extol the virtues of its nutritional value, since it contains little fibre and 8 grams of sugar per serving (although the calories on this cereal are lower than on the other two). However, I've always been a fan of Frosted Flakes, and this cereal reminds me of that one, except with a bit of strawberry tartness to balance out the sugary sweetness. It tends to get soggy quickly, but since I eat my cereal at break-neck speed, this is usually of no concern to me.

And those, my friends, are my foodie finds in the cereal department. Try them out, and enjoy! :)

Simply Sublime Guacamole

2007-05-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

As you know, I'm not much of a cook. In fact, as much as possible I avoid cooking, not because I hate it (I actually really enjoy it) but because I refuse to waste perfectly good ingredients that, when I'm done with them, turn into something only half-edible; I'm practical that way ;)

That said, I have found the best, simple guacamole recipe EVER. I wish I could take credit for it, but the truth is that it comes from this foodie, and true to form, it is a fantastic recipe. I've tweaked it some for my tastes, and here is my modified version:

3 avocadoes, ripe
3/4 lemon
2-6 cloves of garlic (I usually use 4 good-sized ones)
1/3 large white onion, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
Tabasco sauce
salt

1. De-pit and mash up ripe avocados.
2. Crush garlic cloves into the avocado mush.
3. Squeeze the juice of 3/4 a lemon into the avocado/garlic mush. Mix well until the mush is smooth.
4. Add chopped onion and tomato to the mix and blend it together.
5. Add a couple of drops of Tabasco sauce. Add salt to taste; some of the salt gets absorbed by the avocado and onion and tomato so if you oversalt it a little you're still OK.
6. Mix into the guacamole.
7. Cover and chill it for 2+ hours, so that the garlic flavour absorbs into the mix.
8. Enjoy! This recipe yields about 2 cups of guacamole.

My Hubbs loves this recipe and he usually finishes the whole bowl in a day (and then reeks of garlic for about 24 hours following his guacamole feast). It's easy enough for me to even prepare, and it tastes fantastic!

Hope you enjoy it as much as Hubbs does ;)

Pizza Boys - Ragazzi Bistro Italiano

2007-05-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

I'm glad I didn't know about this place sooner, or I might have been 300 lbs by now. Pizza Boys Ragazzi Bistro Italiano is the best-kept secret in town, until now that is. After Hubbs read about their infamous pizza on his bud's site, we made a little detour to try it out for ourselves. We ended up visiting there twice in 3 days. What does that tell you? ;)

From the outside, I have to be frank: Pizza Boys looks divey. It is located on the corner of a strip mall-esque building with a motley group of stores. You've probably driven by a thousand times and not stopped because of the exterior, or its location just a block from Bonnie Doon Mall. We were skeptical until we walked in. Then we were immediately converted. The aromatic scents of baking pizza and pasta in the air wafted up our nostrils and triggered immediate salivation. The decor, though not upscale or fancy, was homey, comfortable, and welcoming. We were seated right away when we visited on Wednesday, but for Friday's dinner we were smart enough to make reservations because the place ended up being packed!

The service was very personable and down to earth; you won't find any fake-friendly servers here! They were prompt with the drink orders (Hubbs had this soda called a Chinotto that tastes good going down but leaves a funky bitter aftertaste while I had the bottomless pop), and upfront with the fact that dinner orders take a while because everything is made fresh on order! I liked the sounds of that, and appreciated the honesty.

The food at Ragazzi is second to none. The pizza (we've tried both the Davide's Inferno and the Raging Bull) is fall-off-the-chair delicious, and their crust is this unique fluffy thin crust whose texture can only be attributed to the fact that the dough had been hand-tossed immediately prior to baking. We also had their Bocconcini Coperti (baked bocconcini wrapped in prosciutto) during visit #1 and their Soprano Bread during visit #2. The Coperti was a cheesy, delicious mess and we enjoyed that it was a light beginning to our meal. The Soprano bread, however, was not light. This is by far my favourite thing at Ragazzi, and it's not a teensy little appetizer that is meant for one. No, the Soprano bread is this bulls-eye shaped, 10" round loaf of garlicky, olive oil drizzled, anchovy-topped homestyle bread that you pull apart in rings and dip into an oil and vinegar mix. It has a dense texture, a crispy top and bottom, and the best mix of spices I've had in a non-sweet bread in forever. It is addictive, but it fills you up quick so it honestly is meant to be shared by 4 people.

For dessert, they have a limited menu of items, but since tiramisu was one of those choices, we sampled that on visit #1. It was phenomenal, and served in a tall sundae glass with a mountain of whipped cream. I know there are other places in town that claim they have the "best tiramisu in the city," but I think the one at Ragazzi rivals any of theirs. Light, fluffy, satisfying are words that come to mind to describe our divine dessert experience.

We'll definitely be back to try their pastas, but if you're looking for the best Neopolitan pizza in the city, or the most addictive bread in town, go to Pizza Boys' Ragazzi Bistro Italiano. Don't go for the atmosphere, the great service, or the affordable prices...go for the incredible food. I promise you won't be sorry.

Rating: 10 / 10

**Sorry there are no pictures to accompany this post. We sent sans camera, and the honest truth is that there are no pictures online that can capture the awesomeness that is this place.

Diner Deluxe - Calgary

2007-04-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

During my misadventures in Cowtown, my dear friend MicheLin took me and JHo to a great little breakfast place and bakery called Diner Deluxe.

The place was packed, we had to line up, and while we were waiting my attention was directed to a giant urn of coffee and some mugs (vintage style, none of them matched) that were made available to all patrons awaiting a seat. Very nice touch, indeed.

The place itself was very retro, and I think their tables and chairs (all of which were unique and different) are actually vintage furniture from decades past. The place was abuzz with chit chat, and the menu that we got right after we were seated was jam-packed full of breakfast items, some of which were available until 3:00 pm. I selected coffee as my bevvie of choice and their Canadian bacon eggs benedict, served with potato wedges (which you could substitute for yam wedges for a small additional price).

In spite of the crowded place, our meal came in good time and I melted when I took my first bite of the eggs benedict. Their homemade hollandaise sauce was absolutely incredible, and in spite of my loathing for yolks I gobbled up the whole thing (2 eggs = 2 eggs benedicts). I didn't even have room to polish off my potato wedges, which were of the pan-fried variety (and therefore not crispy enough for my deep-fried standards). The coffee was also perfect (smooth, not too strong, not too weak, and flavourful) and I must have had 3 mugs in one sitting.

The highlight of my visit came after paying for my meal (cost = $16, incl. tax and tip) and making a stop at the bakery next door, which is affiliated with and connected to the diner. On Fridays and Saturdays only (so I am told), the place sells this delectable chocolate-cranberry-sourdough bread, which is probably the best sweet bread I've ever tried. The bread itself is moist and soft, and not too heavy with flavour; however, embedded throughout this loaf are large chunks of smooth milk chocolate and juicy dried cranberries, which make every bite a rush-inducing experience in bread consumption. Needless to say, I bought a loaf and decimated nearly 1/4 of it myself during the course of the day :)

All in all, Diner Deluxe is a great place to visit for breakfast and baked treats on a lazy weekend morning. I highly recommend it for its funky atmosphere, affordable prices, addictive coffee, and chocolate cranberry sourdough bread. Trust me - one bite and you won't be able to stop yourself.

Rating: 9 / 10

Tzin Wine & Tapas Bar

2007-03-24T23:04:00.000-07:00

So last night, Hubbs, the Igloo Coder (aka Geek Tukka), and I met up at this new little place called the Tzin Wine & Tapas Bar to have drinks and good conversation and great food. Tzin is pronounced "sin," BTW.

Well, it was *packed* when we got there at 5:30, and no, they do not take reservations. We probably should've gone at 2:00 pm to snag a table, but since we were there at 5:30, the only spot available to us was at the bar, on tall stools facing their extensive wine collection.

Anyway, the decor in Tzin is very modern and chic, although with their kitchen right at the front of the house (facing the window), the rest of the place is remarkably dim and devoid of natural light (which is not a plus in my books). The 20-or-so people that can manage to cram themselves in there to visit with friends will find that, in such a limited space, even whispered conversations would echo and build into a thunderous roar. How much more so, then, when the music is blasting and people have to shout in order to be heard by their friends! The noise was a little unbearable for my tastes, and frustrated me somewhat that I couldn't always hear what my companions were saying.

The menu was a fair size and consisted mostly of tapas, although I noticed that at lunch time they do offer sandwiches as well. The wine list was huge and a little intimidating to the non-vino ignoramus that I am, but luckily Igloo C knew exactly what to order, and it was a perfect choice (fruity, refreshing, not too dry Pinot Bianco). Not knowing the size of my tapas (I saw big plates and small ones come out, so I couldn't be sure how large my order would be), I ordered some pan-seared scallops served with fried kale, raisins, and roasted pine nuts.

As it turned out, my order was a decent size, but only came with 2 scallops. It was delicious, though, and I was admittedly a little glad that both Hubbs and Igloo C turned down my offer to share with them ;) Hubbs had a trio of meats wrapped in some sort of pastry and served with an abundance of arugula marinated in a light vinagrette. He appeared to really enjoy his dish, although I could tell it was not nearly large enough to satisfy his appetite. You can read about Igloo's thoughts on his choice here.

I couldn't help but notice that, as we were eating and trying to maintain a conversation amidst the noise, that a line-up was building at the entranceway. New patrons who wished to stay and eat, but were waiting for tables, found themselves standing outside the bathroom doors with wine glasses in their hands, patiently hoping for a set of diners to leave. I found this to be a little awkward for the new patrons who were waiting as well as for the rest of us who were trying to eat (but who were being stared at every few minutes by someone coveting our seats).

In the end, I was relieved to discover that both Hubbs and Igloo C were willing to switch venues so that we could actually sit down somewhere, face each other when we spoke, and not have to yell above a stereo in order to be heard.

Overall, then, as a non-wine-person I thought that Tzin was good, but not amazing. The wine collection and the colour-coded menu were nice touches, but the space limitations and noise levels were not terribly impressive to me. I would only advise visiting Tzin if you are an avid wine aficionado or you love being in cramped areas with a bunch of other loud strangers. Otherwise, skip the Tzin and head directly to Ric's Grill, an always-tasty and generally quiet establishment.

Rating: 7 / 10

Mangiamo's Trattoria

2007-03-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, for my belated b-day celebration, the Vinnys, Hubbs & I ventured out of our comfort zone to try out Mangiamo's Trattoria, pronounced as mon-JYA-mo's tra-tor-EE-ah. According to my fabulous Italian mentor teacher, the name of the place basically means "Let's Eat Casual Diner." It sounds a bazillion times better in Italian, non?

Anyway, the place is very upscale yuppy chic on the inside; neutral walls and dark wood furnishings and generally very classy. Nothing like what we would have expected for a place that touts itself as serving "Italian comfort food." It's also not a terribly large restaurant, so we were a little intimidated to see a table for 15 set up in the middle of the place. It worried us that perhaps our service would be a little on the slow side. Our fears were, unfortunately, founded.

That aside, the place was fantastic. The server was very friendly, personable, and helpful. The menu was small (3 appetizers, 3 salads, 5 entrees and 8 pastas) but the offered dishes were tantalising. I opted for a lemon herb salmon served with baby crab cream linguine, while Vinny had the striploin and Mrs. Vinny had the pork tenderloin. Hubbs went for the Italian sausage buccatini (spelling?), and the guys also shared the antipasti appetizer. All of their entrees came with your choice of side salad or soup, so I chose their house salad (mixed greens with candied walnuts and dried cranberries, and tossed with a honey vinagrette).

The app came quickly, as did the bread and our drinks. I didn't try the apps but am told that it was delicious, and came with a variety of 4 cheeses and 2 different types of salami-esque meat, along with some pickled asparagus. The bread (buns) were cold, which we were a tad disappointed by; warm buns make the butter melt much better, in my opinion, and I don't think it is too much to ask from any restaurant to make sure their buns or bread are warm. But that's just me.

Our soup and salad took a bit longer to arrive, but thankfully we had much to chat about so the time flew by. If you're super hungry, however, I can imagine that the wait would be torturous. My salad was the perfect size and also very tasty; I thought the walnuts were a bit too sweet and overwhelming for the rest of the salad, but generally speaking I enjoyed my greens. Mrs. Vinny, the lone soup drinker at the table, tells me that her wild mushroom soup was fantastic - not too creamy and not too thin, with a nice balanced mushroom flavour.

When our salad and soup plates were cleared, our entrees followed immediately, which I appreciated. I didn't sample others' dishes due to my cold, but my salmon was perfectly poached (still moist in the middle!) and had a nice lemony-herb taste to it. My creamy linguine was, much to my relief, not too creamy, although it was a tad heavy. Hubbs thought his sausage buccatini dish was scrumptious, and his serving was so large that he could only finish about half of it! Mrs. Vinny also really liked her pork tenderloin, and said that it had a nice (albeit slightly sweet) sauce that gave flavour to her meat; unfortunately, it probably overwhelmed her pasta because she couldn't taste the blue cheese that was supposed to be in her side dish. Vinny enjoyed his steak and said it was good, although he looked for a salt shaker (there was none) at the table and commented that the steak was a little undersalted.

Overall, though, it was a lovely restaurant and a very pleasant experience, and generally speaking the food was worth its price (main entrees ranging from $17-$26). Three out of the four of us had doggy bags to take home, and we left the place happy, well-fed, and well-watered.

If you're looking for a more upscale Italian dining experience, I would recommend Mangiamo's, but don't expect to find the typical lasagna and penne that you would get at a more chain-style restaurant. They have great food here, but it's not the type of Italian I would have guessed it to be. That said, the place has a great, relaxing feel to it and the food is really good, for the most part. Go with a date, and go on a weeknight!

Rating: 8.5 / 10

Hubbs' Rating: 8.5 / 10

Da-de-o

2006-12-22T14:48:00.000-08:00

I went to Dadeo with my sisters a few weeks ago, for lunch. The place is located in the grunge-chic Whyte Ave. of the city, and in an unassuming building with just a simple purple-coloured neon sign to announce its presence.

Inside, think 1950's diner-style decor. Booths, vinyl-covered chairs, and funky juke-box music, with an adult-only sort of atmosphere.

Service was efficient and quick. Place was packed full for their lunch special of various types of po'boy sandwiches. I had the cajun blackened catfish po'boy with a side of glorious sweet potato fries, which came with some creamy, sinfully-delicious dipping sauce. The po'boy was very large and I actually ended up eating only half of the bread and all of the fish from the sandwich. I had most of my fries, though, because they were spicy and crispy and had this great coating on them which gave them the cajun flavours. One sis had the fried oyster po'boy, and the other tried the calamari one. From what I can tell, they enjoyed their sandwiches and fries as well.

I was stuffed by the end of lunch, and my meal only cost me $8.95 (plus tax and tip). Not bad considering how much I felt like I had eaten. I didn't bother ordering a drink because I needed the cleansing power of the water to help degreasify my meal and also dilute the spiciness of the food.

Overall, fantastic experience, and I'm totally coming here again with Hubbs next time. Dadeo's - if you want funky cajun diner-style grub in an adult-only restaurant.

Rating: 9. 5 / 10

Ric's Grill Downtown

2006-12-05T18:30:00.000-08:00

For a very belated Christmas present, Hubbs and I took his Granny and Grampa to Ric's Grill Downtown the other night.

The restaurant is located on the corner of a chic part of downtown, in a historic brick building with lots of character. The inside of the place is appropriately romantically-lit (read: dimmed lighting, soft music), and decorated with a nice upscale modern yuppie look.

We were seated right away, in our choice of table or booth. Granny chose table, and we ended up at a lovely table near the window (although we couldn't see out the window while seated due to the higher ledge).

Ice water was brought out to us quite promptly, although our drink orders took a few minutes. The drinks were yummy though (mine was a chi-chi, Hubb's was some banana liqueur drink, and Granny had a blush wine), and perfect choices for everyone. Our server was appropriately friendly but not overly-so, and he gave excellent advice to help guide our orders. Hubbs and I ordered a starter of crab cakes, but our guests didn't want to share these with us. The crab cakes were not greasy and very tasty, although a tad rich for my tastes (the centers having some sort of creamy texture to them). Our bread was amazing, however; the crust was crispy, the center of the bread was warm and soft, and it was a great way to start off the meal.

For main entrees, Grampa had the teriyaki chicken, Granny and I the prime rib, and Hubbs the black and blue tuna. All of these entrees came with a choice of side as well as a starter soup or salad, which I appreciated as it made me feel better about the cost of each entree (ranging from $29 - $44).

There was another delay before our meals were served, but the wait was worth it. Judging from Grampa having finished off his entire meal (leaving nary a morsel on his plate), he liked his chicken and stuffed potato. Granny also liked her prime rib, although this was her first time having it medium (as opposed to well done), so we were worried she would find it too raw. She said it was tender and tasty, much to our relief. I thought the prime rib was delicious, although it wasn't the best I had ever tasted. I also adored the mashed potatoes, which I believe to have been peppered and cheesed. Hubbs ate his whole dinner and said it was fantastic.

After dinner, the four of us shared an order of Ric's apple pie, which I knew from previous experience to be a delicious slice of heaven. True to form, it was so good that Granny and Gramps, who both claimed they would only take a bite of the pie, ended up eating half the slice.

We were satisfied with the food and service from beginning to end, and more importantly, we were delighted that our grandparents were able to venture out of their dining comfort zones and enjoy this delicious meal with us. The company was impeccable, and the food was good, and the ambience was quiet and intimate, which was what we had wanted.

So, overall, I give Ric's Grill a very positive rating, and recommend the place to anyone wishing to have a quiet, delicious, slightly-fancier dinner in a more upscale steakhouse.

Rating: 9.5 / 10

Zen Shabu-Shabu Sushi & Grill Restaurant

2006-11-06T18:40:00.000-08:00

On Friday Hubbs and I met up with StevieC for Japanese food at one of the most obscure, underrated surprise Japanese restaurants in the city, Zen Sushi & Grill (formerly known as Shabu-Shabu, and Sakura).

It was our first time there, and admittedly we were a little worried at first. The location: sketchy downtown, on the edge of Chinatown and near dark alleys. However, we were delighted upon entering, to see a very clean, very spacious, very Japanese-y restaurant with tables, booths, and those Tatami semi-private rooms. LOTS of Tatami rooms, in fact. The restaurant was well-lit and comfortable, and remarkably quiet for a Friday night.

We sat down to wait for StevieC, and were immediately greeted by our server, who brought us our drinks right away (a very small pot of green tea). If I have one complaint with Zen, it is that their teapots are far too small to accomodate my thirst. The servers here, like at Doan's, seemed to "share" our table and thus we were served by whichever server happened to be free, rather than one designated person.

Anyway, our choices were to order a la carte from the menu, or go with their all-you-can-eat special (which I think they do nightly). Of course, at $24/person, we opted for AYCE. The list they brought us allowed for unlimited portions (and a fair variety) of sushi, cones, maki, hot food (gyoza, tempura, edamame, baked oysters, green onion cakes, miso soup, teriyaki beef and chicken, etc.), and a limited amount of sashimi as well. Although each portion was not huge, it wasn't miniscule either, so we were happy with what we got for our money.

The food didn't take too long to come out, and in total I think we ordered three separate rounds of grub. The servers were patient with us while we were waiting for StevieC, and they were also very good about bringing us plate after plate of food. They were polite and we were impressed with the service.

At the end of our feasting/gorging, we sat around chatting for quite a lengthy period of time, and it seemed not to bother the staff for us to loiter for so long following our meal. We eventually paid and left, and luckily, our car was still there! ;)

Before Zen, I had no idea that our humble town even had AYCE sushi, but now that I know about this gem of a restaurant, you can bet that I'll be back! Hubbs is already craving sushi again, so it likely won't be long before we head there once more. If you're looking for relatively affordable, decently fresh AYCE Japanese food, for sure give Zen a visit. You will probably end up rolling out of there, satisfied.

Rating: 9.5 / 10

Huong Que Pho Restaurant

2006-11-01T19:17:00.000-08:00

On the insistence of Mrs. Vinny and Vanilla Con, Hubbs and I went to Huong Que Pho Restaurant to see if their pho lived up to the hype. Keeping in mind that we only had the beef rice noodle soup a few days ago, we figured that only the reputedly "best pho in the city" would make us want it again so soon.

The place is located in Chinatown, which means that prices are often more than reasonable, but the location usually sucks. True to form, the "shops" near the restaurant were all run-down and vacant, and the neighborhood of the place was sketchy at best. When we walked in, there was nobody at the till and we had to wait for a bit before the server lady came out to give us menus and a place to sit.

The pastel green walls and salmon pink tabletops were an interesting combination to be sure; as a whole the place was clean (for an Asian Chinatown eatery) and relatively quiet and pleasant, although tacky in terms of the furnishings. A TV and DVD player set on a platform in one corner of the room loudly played a Cantonese serial with Vietnamese dubbing while we sat waiting for our food.

We ordered their house special pho, and the server lady brought out tea for us automatically. We were a little hesitant about the teacups, though; they were of the Chinese variety but all the design had faded off the sides and they looked a little dirty (though I think they were clean and just speckled). Then the server lady brought out some sprouts and mint leaves for us (and yes, Mrs. Vinny, these tasted like mint leaves), but we didn't actually have any.

When the pho arrived, the first thing that I noticed was the scarcity of meat in my bowl. I had one beef ball, a couple of slices of raw beef (it looked like about 4 thin ones), and about 3 thin slices of beef brisket. There was also some shredded tripe in between the layers of meat, but that I assumed to be no more than about 2 tablespoons' worth. This was noticeably less meat than what I had in my pho at Doan's (2 beef balls, too many slices of beef brisket to count, and equally many slices of raw beef), and since I was particularly hungry during this meal, it was a tad disappointing. The broth, as promised, was delicious and tasted homemade, but generally speaking I found their pho to be less filling and less satisfying than the pho I had earlier in the week.

The bill was an affordable $14.45 for two orders, but once again, I believe that this was quite comparable to the prices charged at Doan's for the same thing.

Overall, if you are downtown in Chinatown and have a craving for pho, Huong Que is a decent place to go for some homemade goodness. However, if you're closer to the southside or have a few extra minutes to spare, I would advise driving down to Doan's for their pho instead. For nearly the same price, you get a lot more meat and certainly a safer environment (Doan's is located beside a police station), and it's quieter there, too - that is, unless you *want* to watch that Canto-dubbed-Vietnamese serial.

Rating: 7 / 10

Doan's Vietnamese - South Side

2006-10-31T08:03:00.000-08:00

Yes, I realize I have been a blogging delinquent here. Truth is, we have been eating out (or ordering in), but mostly we have been unadventurous and have stuck with our favourite places.

However, I did manage to go to Doan's Vietnamese Restaurant twice in the past few weeks. Why twice? It was that good, and I had me a hankerin' for pho (beef rice noodle soup).

So about Doan's - they are a pretty casual eatery, clean and spacious and comfortable. The decor is a nice mix of booths and tables, and they even have the 8-person cubbie-style booths for larger groups.

Service, as we experienced, has been efficient, prompt, and curious. Rather than your typical server-per-table style, they serve tables on an as-needed basis; the servers don't ignore you if you are not their table, but instead they help whichever table happens to need to place an order or get the bill or get more ice water (which is automatically brought out to you upon arrival).

Both times that we visited Doan's together, Hubbs and I ordered the half-order of salad rolls, and the second time Hubbs also got some steamed scallops to start. The salad rolls were decent, although smaller than at other Vietnamese places in town, and also conspicuously lacking in lemongrass within the roll. I assume that this is to cater to the less-Asian population that frequents Doan's, but was nonetheless a little annoyed at having to peel my own lemongrass leaves (from the plate of bean sprouts, lemongrass, and sauces that was brought out when we arrived) to add to my rolls. The scallops were light and not terribly tasty, but acceptable.

I then ordered my pho, but not just any pho; I ordered the house special, which came with many slices of raw beef, beef brisket, and beef balls in a broth of onions and spices. The rice noodles were perfectly al dente, and the raw beef was appropriately raw. The beef brisket, though marbled with bits of fat, tasted absolutely amazing and I was truly stuffed before I could even finish half of my noodles (although I wanted to eat on, because it tasted so darn good!).

The best part was that our meal was enjoyed in a quiet atmosphere, for although Doan's is a rather large place, it has not been packed at the times when we've gone, and somehow the sound has been muted (either by quiet patrons or by really good sound-absorbing walls and booths). Regardless, we enjoyed our meal in peace and were pleasantly surprised by the affordability of our delicious, filling fare. The total of our two half-order appetizers and our two pho came to a mere $30!

Some argue that Doan's is the best Vietnamese food in town, but I cannot yet vouch for that given that my exposure to Vietnamese restaurants has been limited, and I'm told there is an even better pho place downtown (in the heart of Chinatown, across from Lucky 97). However, I highly recommend Doan's to anyone who wants an affordable, quiet, tasty meal on a cold wintery day; it's come-as-you-are, and you definitely won't regret your visit!

Rating: 8.5 / 10

Montana's

2006-10-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

For Ridley's b-day, Hubbs, Ridley, Big Brown Guy, and I went to Montana's for dinner.

BBG made the reservations, and we showed up fashionably late (only 10 minutes). Anyway, apparently by the time we had arrived the server had already messed up Ridley's drink order. We ordered water with wedges of lemon, and were promptly informed that they were out of lemons. We ended up with limes.

So began the rest of a disastrous meal. Don't get me wrong - the company was fantastic, but the food and the service was hit-and-miss (and mostly miss). The restaurant itself was pretty Western-themed, with a log-house sort of feel to it. The tables were lined with butcher paper, and atop the tables were crayons and a mug tree (with apparently zero functionality, as far as I could tell).

Hubbs ordered the rustic citrus-grilled salmon salad, and I had the steak sandwich with a side of house greens. Ridley had their pot roast and BBG had the meatloaf. With the exception of Hubbs, I think we all ended up being disappointed with our meals. Ridley's meal, which was supposed to come with yorkshire pudding, didn't - and the server failed to inform him in advance that they were out of that, as well. BBG's meatloaf was too sweet, and my medium-rare steak was actually overly-well done, to the point of dry and yucky.

The only highlight of the evening was the server's enthusiasm that it was Ridley's birthday; she and her fellow servers came by with a large "water buffalo-esque" hat that they forced Ridley to wear, and then they sang a birthday song that uses the melody from the Flinstones theme song. They had the whole restaurant clap for our birthday boy, which was nice. Then they gave him his free dessert, which was uber-cheap: vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup.

When we paid our bill using two separate credit cards, our server messed up on the totals, charging one card for the full amount and the other for the additional amount. She didn't even bother to correct it, but tried instead to tell us that since it was a pre-auth, we could write down any amount we wished that was less than the full amount, and that would be the value that would be put through. I'll have to double-check our account once the payment goes through, since her incompetence throughout the night suggested that she probably cannot be trusted.

Anyway, I am glad we had such great company and fantastic conversation, because overall, Montana's food sucked and the service was poor and the atmosphere wasn't exactly classy. I would not recommend anyone going there, period. There are way too many good places to eat, including Smokey Joe's if you want BBQed meat (cheap, greasy spoon with killer huge portions and yummy fattening grub).

Rating: 5 / 10

Ichiban

2006-09-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

I'm in school, damnit. So I will keep this short and sweet.

Hubbs & I went to Ichiban, a Japanese restaurant that the Wackies highly recommend as their favourite. We went with a last-minute reservation that we didn't need, because the place wasn't full. Located in a strip mall on the west end of town, the restaurant was small and humble and clean and comfortable. Very typical of many of the Japanese restaurants in town, actually.

Anyway, our drink orders (green tea) were taken right away. We got down to business and studied their menu, which was less extensive than Mikado's but still a decent size. We decided to order the sashimi boat because you could get 43 pieces for $30.95 (a great deal in our books!). We also got an order of rainbow maki (touted to be their signature dish) and some edamame.

Food came in good time, but I wasn't super-thrilled with its quality. The edamame was overcooked, so some of the beans were uber-soggy. Also, I didn't see that lovely layer of salt that usually covers my edamame. The rainbow roll was fantastic, although very heavy (filled with crunchy tempura bits and covered in avocado) and something that ought to be shared (which we did). The boat was impressive in size but not in quality nor variety. We had a lot of tuna and salmon, as well as some scallop, red snapper, octopus, and yellow tail. No shrimp at all. No roe. No eel. No fancy fish to name. And our octopus tasted like it was still thawing out (wet all along the bottom). It was relatively fresh, and a good deal, but we were sad not to get more variety in our 43 pieces (12 of which were salmon), and even sadder that our octopus was so un-tasty.

The bill came in good stead, and the server was super helpful and nice. If only the food was of better quality, this place would have been perfect! As it is, I recommend you go if you want some inexpensive, decent sashimi in a quiet place with good service. I would not recommend you go if you want the best cuts of raw fish in town. Overall, we'd definitely give Ichiban another chance, but our favourite remains Wasabi.

Rating: 7.5 / 10

Golden Rice Bowl

2006-09-04T19:14:00.000-07:00

Some members of my fam & I headed to Golden Rice Bowl for dim sum yesterday. We didn't get there until 1:00 p.m., so we were seated fairly shortly after arrival.

Though the place was large and relatively spacious, the restaurant was almost full and also loud, really loud, and we found it difficult to hear each other over the noise of other patrons dining at their respective round tables. The decor was sparse and simple, with pastel green walls and a generally green coloring to the whole restaurant.

The food was quite delicious, although we made careful effort not to order too many items (particularly deep fried dishes), so we didn't taste the entire spectrum of what was available. Their selection, however, was quite extensive, and definitely better than Cha for Tea's. Of note were their stewed chicken's feet, which was very tender and very "meaty," and their Chinese mustard greens, or yau choi, which was very fresh and not greasy in the least. It was perfectly cooked and I couldn't stop eating it.

Our tea server/bill collector person was quite hard to track down, which frustrated us a little and caused my mom to have to get up out of her chair and hunt them down in order to settle our bill. My mom paid, so I can't tell you if the prices were fantastic or not.

However, as an overall experience we thought Golden Rice Bowl was a lot better than we had expected, and their variety of dim sum dishes definitely impressed us. If Dynasty Restaurant is ever full and driving to Century Palace would take you too long, I would recommend Golden Rice Bowl as the third option for your weekend dim sum dining.

Rating: 8 / 10

Corn-Whipped

2006-09-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

I am in love ... with Krispy King Taber Corn. This is the sweetest, most large-kerneled yellow corn I have ever sunk my big rabbit teeth into, and every bite is assuredly heavenly. It's a seasonal indulgence, since the Taber corn people only come out in the summer to offer their wares, and I'm pretty sure they're just about ready to pack up their side-of-the-road vendor stands and drive home pretty soon.

Until then, though, I am going to try to eat an ear a day, because this stuff is amazing and I cannot resist its sweet, crispy, juicy taste. Yum!

Oh - and if you're interested in eating Taber corn with mounds of butter, here are some recipes for various types of butters that you can make. I'm a purist, so the only thing I add is some Becel Light Margarine (if that).

And if you enjoy Peaches and Cream corn, apparently there is a bicolour Taber corn out there for you too! I have yet to try the P&C variety, but I definitely will in the next few days.

Rating: 10 / 10

DeLux Burger Bar

2006-08-22T17:49:00.000-07:00

My in-laws, Hubbs & I had a chance to dine at Delux Burger Bar on the weekend. We had heard great things about the place (reviews in the paper and by Wacky), plus we knew that this eatery was owned by the same people who run LUX. Needless to say, our expectations were pretty high.

And Delux did not disappoint. Though we didn't have a reservation, we managed to get seated in a booth upon arrival. The server came by right away to get drink orders, and their drink menu was pretty large. I opted for the virgin strawberry smoothie, which turned out to be quite thick and also very tasty (although perhaps a tad heavy for a burger meal). Though their actual dining menu was small, limited to burgers and salads and apps (plus a children's menu), we found exactly what we wanted. Our table shared an order of lobster nachos, and then Hubbs & Dad E. ordered ahi-tuna burgers while Mom E. & I shared an urban burger(a regular cheeseburger) and their deluxe signature salad.

Looking around, I noted that the decor was very much in a funky diner style, with lots of teal blue and dark browns. The patio looked very inviting, though we stayed inside where the place was adorned with both booths and tables. The bathrooms at Delux were admittedly a bit strange - they were single-toilet washrooms that shared an area for washing your hands; that is, the men's room and ladies' room faced each other, and in between were two sinks. It was a tad inconvenient when I *really* needed to use the washroom and it was occupied, but I was appeased when I saw the nice TV built into the wall inside the bathroom. Impressive, non?

We didn't even notice the time fly by and our app was alread served. Though the size of the nacho platter wasn't huge, it was a sufficient portion for 4 (although better shared by 2). As requested, Mom E.'s and my food was divided into two portions and plated separately for service, which prevented us from having to do the messy deed of cutting up the burger and divvying up the salad. Dad E. & Hubbs both very much enjoyed their large burgers, as evidenced by the fact that they ate all of it. My burger tasted pretty standard, although I must confess that in my bid to reduce carbs, I pretty much ate just the middle and left the bun. The salad was *amazing,* however, and I ate every last morsel of it. As described by the menu, it consisted of, "fresh lobster, mandarin and apple segments, candied pecans, grapes, and butterleaf lettuce with a tangy orange dressing." The dressing wasn't too heavy or too tangy, and perfectly complemented the fruit.

We didn't get a chance to try their sweet potato fries (or their regular fries) since we were so full, but you'd better believe I will be ordering that the next time I'm there =D As we observed, these fries are usually served in shopping carts. Another cool touch!

Instead, we asked for the bill, which came alongside a small tower of cotton candy. It was the perfect end to a fun and enjoyable meal, and a total throwback to my younger years.

Overall, the service was good, the price was decent ($12-15 for the burger, $3-6 for the fries), and the food was fabulous. I loved the funkiness of the ambience at Delux, and recommend this burger joint to anyone who prefers upscale burger dining.

Rating: 10 / 10

The Creperie

2006-08-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, Ah-Lei-See, Norrie, Hubbs & I went to The Creperie for dinner. We made a last-minute reservation at 6:00 p.m. for 6:45 that night, and got a table with no problem whatsoever.

It was Ah-Lei-See & Norrie's first time there, so I was glad to be able to observe the restaurant again through newbie eyes. They both loved the quiet, cozy ambience of the restaurant, as well as the way that tables were separated into little "rooms." We were in the "kitchen" room, judging by the pots and pans hanging from the ceiling. In previous visits I've sat in the "library" as well as in the more restaurantish booth areas.

Anyway, we brought coupons with us to the restaurant in a bid to get my money's worth from my Student Union Ticket Pak. Our server was a lovely dude who very patiently explained the coupons as well as the menu to us. He also brought us warm, crispy, soft-in-the-middle buns for us to enjoy while we made our final decisions. In the end, I decided to go for the three-course meal, with a spinach salad to start, a sesame-ginger beef crepe entree, and then the combo dessert crepe (crepe framboise cardinal and crepe glace au chocolat). Hubbs opted for lamb shanks provencale prepared with red wine and herbs, while the other girls both had crepes pacific (salmon, shrimp, and asparagus in a creamy dill sauce).

Our salads came very quickly, although our entrees took a little more time. In the interim, I had a virgin chi-chi to sip, while Ah-Lei-See had white wine. Our server came by many many times to refill our ice water, and we very much appreciated his prompt service.

When our meals came, we were pretty hungry, but not enough to finish these very hearty portions. Our crepes came with veggies and orzo pasta on the side, neither of which I was able to finish eating; in fact, none of the girls finished their entire meals. Hubbs' lamb shanks were gigantic, and even he (carnivore that he is) wasn't able to complete both shanks and had to doggie-bag the leftovers. My ginger beef crepe wasn't as tasty as the other crepes I've tried, mostly because I think the whole east-meets-Euro thing just didn't work. On its own, however, the ginger beef tasted pretty good (impressive for a French establishment!).

Our desserts came in pre-frozen portions, with vanilla ice cream centers surrounded by crepe and then drizzled with raspberry puree and chocolate sauce. It was delicious and satisfying portion that definitely marked the end of a great (and filling) meal.

When the bill came, it wasn't completely outrageous, either. I think each person's share ended up being around $27 (excluding gratuity), and we almost had to roll out the door since we were so full.

I definitely recommend that everyone try The Creperie at least once or twice. The menu is quite extensive and has other entrees besides crepes for patrons to enjoy, the service is impeccable, and the price is right.

Rating: 9.5 / 10

My Yummiest Pasta Yet

2006-08-08T16:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this isn't a review, but a shameless self-promotion of my tastiest pasta yet, as well as reminder to myself on how to replicate it.

Today, after preparing the pasta (flax-seed rotini), I returned it to the pot and added my newly-cooked, self-seasoned ground bison & bison juice, over very low heat. After I mixed the two together, I slowly added the Healthy Choice Garlic & Herbs Pasta Sauce and combined it with the ingredients in the pot. Then, I let the whole thing simmer over low heat for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

The pasta tastes way more well-blended than my previous pastas, which always tasted like pasta + sauce. I think that adding the meat & meat juice separately to the pasta before adding the tomato sauce, made the difference.

Anyway, I rate my own pasta a 9.5 / 10 for deliciousness, the - 0.5 being that I slightly overcooked the pasta beyond the point of al dente.

Bison - the best red meat to cook with and the healthiest member of the cow family to eat! =D

Heritage Fest

2006-08-06T18:57:00.000-07:00

Call me Debbie Downer, but I had a miserable time at Heritage Days this year, save for being with my Hubbs, the only true highlight of my 4.5 hour experience.

The brief run-down: the LRT was crowded, our Park-n-Ride bus was crowded, and the whole entire freakin' park was crowded at 3:45 in the afternoon. Line-ups were really long and confusing to locate, and several venues (Mexico and Jamaica, to name a few) ran out of several of their entrees by mid-afternoon. The Chinese food was mostly inauthentic (save for the ones I had mentioned in a previous post) and there was no place to eat, unless I wanted to sit on the grass in the sun near the garbage cans (all of which were overflowing with waste).

There was only one real highlight to the festival, which you can read about here.

The foods we tried and liked: Jamaica's beef patty, Scandinavia's almond danish, China's & Hong Kong's green onion cakes (the former was grilled, the latter was deep-fried), and France's crepes.

Overall, though, we either went at the wrong time of day, the wrong day, or in the wrong city. Heritage Days was not at all a fun and educational experience for us, since we spent the majority of our 4.5 hours in line-ups for food. We may not return next year, and channel our Taste of E-town and Heritage food voucher money towards a better cause, like going out for dinner.

Rating: 5 / 10

Bison Burgers & Chicken Bacon

2006-08-03T20:14:00.000-07:00

Recently, I rediscovered a favourite of Hubbs & mine - bison burgers. They're not inexpensive ($10.99/6 frozen patties @ Save-On-Foods) but they are an excellent source of protein and a great lean alternative to beef burgers.

We usually grill ours on the George Foreman for about 3-4 minutes (post-defrosting) to ensure that it is properly cooked but not overcooked and dry. They taste almost exactly like beef, but without the disgusting aftertaste of fat on your tongue afterwards. The only drawback is that they are very easy to overcook, so you have to be incredibly careful.

Anyway, this comes highly recommended by me, because I am always looking for good protein-rich foods that don't make me sick or require many hours of my time to prepare. Bison burgers - quick, easy, tasty, and healthy.

Rating: 9 / 10

Another great discovery we've had recently in the protein department has been chicken bacon. It is the lean alternative to bacon, and is essentially a strip of chicken and bacon meat combined, and made into the shape of bacon strips. We have been buying the Maple Leaf Breakfast Grill brand (sorry, couldn't find a picture), but I think these are available in several other brands as well. The Maple Leaf version costs about $3.99 on sale at Save-On.

We usually prepare them in the microwave, sandwiched between two layers of Bounty paper towel, and they usually come out quite crispy (especially the "end" pieces near the edge of the plate) and very non-greasy. They don't taste entirely like bacon, but they do taste very good and they are quite low-calorie (50 calories for 2 strips!), so you don't feel so bad about having 4 strips.

We have also tried the turkey bacon, which I also enjoy, but Hubbs is particular to the chicken bacon, which he claims is the better-tasting of the two.

If you're looking for more protein at breakfast and you're sick of eggs, I definitely recommend that you try chicken bacon. Once you've had it, you may never want to give it up (I have it almost every morning now).

Rating: 9.5 / 10

New Asian Village

2006-07-31T21:07:00.000-07:00

I would like to preface this post by saying that I do not think my experience with New Asian Village tonight is indicative of their normal food and service quality. Tonight was a freakishly bad aberration from the norm.

We ordered via Dial-and-Dine, and though our order was promised to arrive within 80 minutes of our call, it actually took nearly 2 hours for it to be delivered. The reasons? A) The normal regular chef at the restaurant wasn't working, and the substitute chef was having some issues filling both the restaurant and the take-out orders, and B) supposedly there was a back-up in traffic on the bridge. To compensate for the huge delay, $10 was knocked off our bill, which we were satisfied with.

Our food had arrived to a very hungry me. Usually, when one is half-starved, the flavour of their food is enhanced proportionately to their level of starvation. This was not the case tonight. Our Tandoori Grill platter was missing the fish (which is promised along with the lamb and chicken and shrimp on the menu), and lacked zing. Our Kadai curry with lamb also tasted sort of bland. I also found the accompanying rice to lack flavour, which I found immensely disappointing. I did enjoy trying the meetha paratha (a sweet bread layered with honey), which was a bit chewy in texture but a nice sweet compliment to the spicy meat, and the garlic naan was good, too. However, as a whole, my very huge hunger was not well satiated by the meal we had ordered.

So, based on tonight's experience, I would NOT advise that anyone try ordering New Asian Village's fare via Dial-and-Dine, who informed us (during one of our follow-up phone calls to locate our order) that the restaurant has been known to put phone orders as their lowest priority for filling, especially on busy nights. Maybe if we ever decide to head to the restaurant again to try their fare, I will provide a more glowing recommendation. However, for now, I am not too eager to eat at this Indian restaurant again any time soon.

Rating: 6 / 10
Hubb's Rating: 10 / 10
(Obviously my hubby's tastes aren't as discriminating as mine! He rarely gives a bad review.)

Crave - Calgary

2006-07-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

I initially told the girls from my Cow-town Road Trip that I wouldn't be posting about the city's eateries since they're out-of-town, but I couldn't resist posting about Crave. Crave is a bakery shop located in the Kensington area, known for their deliciously-topped cupcakes and other baked goodies. We stopped in there after church yesterday after we realized that if we waited until later in the afternoon, all the cupcakes would have already been sold.

This teeny tiny bakery shop offered the most moist and delicious cupcakes, avaiable in large or mini sizes and in either vanilla or chocolate, and topped with a variety of differently-flavoured buttercream icings. I bought a dozen minis in several different flavours, and also one full-sized signature Crave-o-licious cupcake, which I promptly gobbled up in my post-church, pre-lunch hunger. As it turns out, this flavour proved itself to be my favourite - it was a chocolate cake covered with a blue vanilla butter cream icing and chocolate shavings. It was heavenly.

Miche-Lin's favourite was the Peppy Pattie (light peppermint butter cream icing and peppermint candy shavings over chocolate cake) while her hubby K's was the Lovely Bunch of Coconuts (vanilla butter cream icing and coconut topped over chocolate cake). The other gals in the group were, like me, newbies to Crave, so hadn't declared their favourites yet.

When I got home from Cow-town, Hubbs tried out the cupcakes. As I had predicted, his favourite was the Nutty Over Chocolate, which was also a chocolate cake topped with a peanut butter cream icing.

The cupcakes at Crave are crazy expensive (cost = $19.15 for a dozen minis & one full-size cupcake) but totally worth it for a sweet, every-so-often sort of treat. I was very impressed by the moistness of their cake, the complementary flavouring of uber-sweet icing and lightly-sweetened cake, and the softness of the cakes. When in Calgary, go to Crave! It should definitely become an indulgent tradition akin to going to Pete's Drive-In!

Rating: 10 / 10

Taste of the City (You Know Which One)

2006-07-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hubbs & I headed out to the Taste of the City to check out this year's restaurant representatives. We were bitterly disappointed to see that most of the vendors were the same as last year's, except that the Ghengis Grill (who used to do the green onion cakes) was replaced by Hong Kong Bakery doing the green onion cakes. There might have been one or two new stalls, but we didn't notice.

Although it was sprinkling rain and overcast and muggy outside, it was super crowded at the food fair. We thought that it was stupid that the city didn't bother to space out the stalls a little more, especially the more popular stalls that gathered a huge line-up of people. With the food stands set up literally side-by-side along *one* street in opposite directions, people didn't know quite where to stand to line up for their grub, and passersby were easily mistaken for people standing in line, and vice-versa.

As well, I think the "prices" went up this year, as many of the dishes cost 5 tickets despite not really offering anything substantial enough to warrant a $3.75 charge. Hubbs & I sampled only a few items, as we cheaped out and purchased a mere 30 tix. We had the seafood paella from Nisku Inn, which was quite a generous portion of rice that came pretty loaded with meat and seafood. There were also two mussels given on our plate, which Hubbs thoroughly enjoyed. This dish was worth its 5 tix.

Next, we shared the green onion cake (4 tix), which was a tad on the greasy side but crunchy and delicious all the same. Of course, I prefer the puffy kind of green onion cake to this pancaked version, but this was still pretty good and hot off the grill.

Then Hubbs tried the lamb chop from the Outback Steakhouse. Though we were never impressed by this restaurant when we've dined there, the 5-ticket lambchop that he was served was actually pretty good, according to him. It had a fair bit of meat on it (for a lamp chop) and looked perfectly grilled and juicy. It was also served with a cabernet sauce, which apparently added to the meat's flavours.

Next, we ventured around the block of stalls again, and this time I stopped to get the bbq beef ribs from the Baccarrat Casino. For sure we had never eaten at the casino before, but the size of the ribs had my curiosity piqued and so I had to get one. 5 tix later, I was getting down and dirty with my very generously-sized ribs (they gave me two shorter ones as opposed to one longer one). The meat was tender, although the bbq sauce had a bit of that baked beans taste to it and wasn't my favourite. Still, it was meat and it was pretty good and I was hungry. However, I was definitely sick of the ribs before I had finished both of them, but since Hubbs refused to get dirty and eat the second rib, I was stuck gobbling it down too.

Hubbs then redeemed 5 more tix for a buffalo kabob from Normand's. It was a lone kabob, far too small to be worthy of $3.75 (in my humble opinion). However, Hubbs felt that sinced buffalo meat is a more rare meat than beef, this was a small price to pay for a semi-delicacy. It did look pretty well grilled, and again Hubbs described it as "good" and tasty.

Finally, with a mere 6 tix to go, we tried to figure out what to order. Hubbs had been eyeing the creole jambalaya from Four Rooms, so (foolishly) we lined up and ordered it without first glancing at other people's dishes of it. This was by far the biggest mistake of our night, because we watched in horror as a scoop of white rice was plopped into the styrofoam bowl, and then a ladle full of soupy red liquid was glopped on top. Nowhere did we see any big shrimp. Hubbs fished out about 4 pieces of tiny shrimp that was buried in the "sauce." Two very small, very sad pieces of what I can only guess to have been sausage were also hidden among the many grains of rice. Oh, and I think I saw a miniscule piece of ham as well. Hubbs described the taste as horrible and soupy, and regretted ordering it the moment he took his first bite. In fact, he claims he would have preferred to eat feces over this stuff (a hyperbolic exaggeration indicating his level of immense dissatisfaction). Anyway, after he fished out those poor little shrimp pieces, he tossed the rest of the bowl into the nearest garbage can, swearing never to eat at Four Rooms ever again.

Overall, we were not entirely impressed with the Taste of the City this year. The food was at best okay / mediocre, but certainly nothing gourmet or spectacularly impressive. Expect that if you go, you're consuming food prepared in a portable restaurant and done en masse, neither condition amenable to gourmet cooking to begin with. Add to that the pressure to turn out a product quickly, and we're talking average (or above-average) food at best. It's also an expensive venture to eat there, because drinks cost you several dollars and the portions you get for your tickets aren't often that large, unless you only eat beef ribs. Finally, the crowds can be unbearable, so try to go at off-hours if you still want to go. And always look before you line up; let someone else be the guinea pig first. And avoid the creole jambalaya.

Overall rating: 6 / 10
Hubb's Jambalaya Rating: -1000 / 10

Vi's for Pies

2006-07-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

My friend Lynn & I met up at Vi's for Pies to catch up yesterday evening. Having been to the little bistro-bakery with Mrs. Vinny on several previous occasions, I knew this would be a great evening.

The very clean, very eye-appealing atmosphere was simple and comfortable and well-lit with natural light. WIndows surrounded the entire restaurant. Although there were only a few tables in the small eatery, I saw several patrons come in and take-out their famous desserts without staying for dinner anyway. There was also a small patio that we did not check out, but that I eyed another set of diners sitting out on.

The menu was written on portable blackboards that were then set beside tables that had not yet ordered. Although the selection was limited, the fare of homestyle meals appealed to me. They had several types of "buns" (sandwiches), two soups, two salads, two appetizers, three feature entrees, and about six dinner entrees to choose from. While Lynn had the spanikopita, I chose the chicken cheddar salsa.

Service was relatively prompt; wait times for drinks and the bill were a tad longer than I would have expected, but given that this was likely a coffee-and-gossip sort of joint, I figured that they were used to giving their guests some extra talk time between everything. Our dinner came out quickly, though. My chicken cheddar salsa was, to my surprise, wrapped in phyllo pastry (like a spanikopita) and served with a green salad and full-fat Italian dressing. It tasted delicious and fresh, but since it was a pretty simple dish, it didn't have a lot of flair. I had initially contemplated ordering the shepherd's pie dinner, but when I considered that I wanted dessert, I was glad to have chosen a slightly lighter meal.

For dessert, both Lynn & I ordered the peanut butter mousse pie and coffee. The mousse pie was decadent, rich, delicious, and perfectly prepared, not to mention gigantic in size. In the end, I could only finish about half of it and had to pack the rest to take home. I was glad for the free coffee refills, because each delicious creamy bite needed to be chased down by a good sip of java to clear my palate in preparation for the next sensational bite.

Okay, so I am completely biased. I have always loved Vi's for Pies and their triple-layered uber-moist chocolate cake has been a favourite of mine for the past several years. This is definitely the bistro to go to when you need to grab dessert with a friend. The pies here are second-to-none, and the portions are impressive as well. The meals are well-prepared and reasonably-priced, but don't come to Vi's for Pies for the meals - skip them entirely and go straight to dessert; otherwise, you may not have room to finish your pie!

Rating: 10 / 10

LUX Steakhouse

2006-07-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

As a belated Christmas gift, Hubbs & I took my parents out to LUX for dinner on Tuesday evening. Those of you who know us know that we've been raving about this place since we "discovered" it last September, after it had taken over for Chance restaurant (which we had never dined at).

As always, we had made a reservation, and when we arrived promptly at 6:30, we were seated immediately at a lovely table in the corner. I say lovely because it was a bit removed from the hustle-bustle of the rest of the restaurant, which I appreciated very much.

The ambience of the place was chic, stylish, classy, and done in all red, brown, and dark mahogany colours. The lighting gradually dimmed as the evening wore on, and the music on this non-Thursday was gloriously soft and unraucous, although to our dismay LUX was playing Top 40/hip-hop songs instead of their usual jazz. Hubbs & I get a very Vancouver-esque feel from dining here, which tells you a little about why we love the place.

The server came by and took our drink orders quickly; Mom & I opted for water while the boys had caesars of varying spiciness levels. LUX has the most diverse caesar drink menu I have seen, and this impressed Hubbs to no end when we first came here. His favourite? The Insanity Caesar. My dad very much enjoyed his Fireworks Caesar.

The menu, which offers only a handful of entrees aside from the steaks, also lists a modest variety of appetizers, sides, and salads. The menu is known to change every few months, and has shifted quite a bit since our first visit last year. My Dad and I both ordered New York steaks, Mom had the pan-seared halibut, and Hubbs had his ahi tuna. As well, Hubbs & I got the truffled lobster mac-n-cheese to share, and my folks got the horseradish & peppercorn mashed potatoes.

One drawback to the restaurant is that they do not immediately assume that you want bread; you have to ask for it, which we did. When it was served, I found the slices of baguette to be quite dry, although it didn't appear to have been toasted. The garlic herb butter that it was served with was yummy though.

Our meals arrived in good time, and I dug into my steak right away. As per all restaurants, it was a little more medium rare than the rare that I had ordered. However, it was aged well and tasted great. I would have preferred a little more grizzle on it, but that's just the unhealthy part of me talking ;) Hubbs' ahi tuna was excellent according to him (he didn't share), and so was the smoked gouda polenta that it came with; the polenta was bold and flavourful because of its cheese content, and was also very rich and filling to eat. Our truffled lobster mac-n-cheese was far more mild, but also tasty and delicious and creamy. My Dad enjoyed his steak immensely, and gobbled all 8 oz. of it up in record time. He also commented that the mashed potatoes were very good, which is a high compliment given that my dad is stingy on compliments when it comes to food that he didn't prepare; however, the potatoes were definitely lacking in horseradish and peppercorn taste. The three peppercorn demi that Dad got for his meal was also very flavourful and appealing (I know this because he poured a lot of it over his potatoes), although both he and Hubbs felt that it didn't taste peppercorny at all. Mom quietly enjoyed her halibut, which she later commented was really good; I didn't taste her fish but I did notice that it was a rather small portion (likewise with Hubbs' ahi).

A few more caesars and a couple of conversation topics later, we got the bill. It was a whopper to be sure, but given the overall satisfaction that my folks had with the food, I felt the price was worth it. My parents were very much impressed by the setting of the restaurant, although a little shocked at the steep prices that they charged. My Mom especially was chagrined to note that sides didn't automatically come with the steak entrees, and had to be purchased separately.

All in all, a good Christmas gift and a nice treat for my parents, who almost never dine anywhere fancier than Tony Roma's (their regular joint for celebrating birthdays). I highly recommend LUX to those of you wanting to dine at a fancy place and have some delicious fare (although, don't go on Retro Thursdays or else you'll find the restaurant to be deafeningly loud due to music from the lounge). I would suggest, however, that you save up your pennies and only come here for special occasions, as its entrees (averaging $30 each) are not for the stingy of wallet!

Rating: 9 / 10
Hubb's Rating: 9 / 10
(He said, "Knock off a point or two for them playing rap music instead of the acid jazz/jazz combo")

Billingsgate Fish Co. (Lighthouse Cafe)

2006-07-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

My in-laws were sweet enough to take my parents (and us) out for dinner at Billingsgate Fish Co. (the Lighthouse Cafe) last night. I had no idea what to expect from the place, except that Mom E. had assured me their steak was really good.

The entry of this establishment led to the fish market first. It was a surprisingly small store, although they did seem to sell a lot of different types of seafood. Most were prepackaged and already frozen, except for a lobster tank here and a crab tank there. I think I've seen more live seafood at T & T (or in most Chinese supermarkets), but the selection at Billingsgate was certainly respectable.

The restaurant was set up very much in the fisherman-lighthouse theme. It was almost borderline tacky, with fake fish and other nautical symbols and pictures displayed prominently on its walls and from its ceilings. However, there was definitely something kind of quaint about this eatery as well; its small tables and simple chairs worked well with the rest of the decor and gave us a very comfortable, casual feeling.

The menu listed a pretty fair selection of entrees and appetizers, although the dessert variety looked a tad sparse and salads were definitely missing from the menu (except for ceasar salads). The prices were also reasonable, with most entrees ranging from $18-30. I opted for the striploin steak, having been shellfish-spooked from my rather nasty seafood-induced experience recently. Hubbs got the steak and seafood combination.

After we ordered, the bread was brought out. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't the standard crusty bun fare; this bread was sundried tomato foccacia, and although it wasn't served with oil and vinegar (just butter), it was still very tasty and a treat to have. When the meals came after a bit of a wait, my striploin was a little overdone (I asked for rare and got medium rare), but was still very good and tender. The steak had been topped with a variety of grilled mushrooms and some grilled garlic, and these made it far better tasting than what it would have been on its own, or with a ton of HP sauce, or gravy. On the side came steamed veggies (which I didn't eat), and roasted blue and white potatoes. The potatoes were also prepared well, and had a nice crispy edge to them that made them delicious. Hubbs said that his lobster (that came with a dipping butter) was excellent, and that his steak also tasted great. My parents also remarked that their orders (wild sockeye salmon topped with lobster meat, served in a cream sauce) were done really well and tasted good. I didn't ask my in-laws about their meals, but presume that they too found their entrees pleasing to the palate.

The service was also efficient and unobtrusive. Mom E. must have known the server lady, because they struck up quite the conversation. The rest of our servers were pretty quiet and not too keen on interrupting our conversations to refill our water, etc., which was nice.

In summary, we really enjoyed our time at Billingsgate. Sure, they aren't your five-star fancy classy restaurant by any stretch of the imagination, but the food was affordable and tasted good, and sometimes a casual ambience all that a gal wants.

Rating: 9 / 10

Cha for Tea Palace

2006-07-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

In a bid to be more diverse in our Chinese dining adventures, Hubbs & I decided to take our family out to Cha for Tea Palace for dim sum. Due to weird church schedules, Hubbs & I arrived there first, and had to wait for over an hour before the rest of the family came. That was fine, since the restaurant had informed us previously that we needed to be there by 12:00 (which we were) if we wanted a table, as they did not take reservations and by 12:30 their restaurant would be full and we would need to wait. We figured we were table-saving, so we waited, smug in the knowledge that our prompt arrival secured us a sweet table near the window.

However, at 1:10 pm when Vanilla Con and my folks finally arrived, there were nearly a dozen large round tables still empty in the restaurant. Our wait was needlessly long, thanks to the misinformation I had been fed over the phone.

During our lengthy wait, I had lots of time to admire the East-meets-West decor of this restaurant. The bathrooms were immaculate and smelled of lavender air freshener, the seafood tanks were stylishly built into the stone-textured display wall, and the dark wood bar was funky enough to rival the bar at Joey's Grill in South Common. The decor of the rest of the restaurant was simple and somewhat "elegant," although perhaps a tad overdone in the case of the ornate glass chandeliers hanging from the middle of the ceiling. The chairs were upholstered in a soft yellow brocade-esque fabric, and were very comfortable to sit on. Although our table settings were definitely Chinese (chopsticks, bowl, plate, and tea cup, plus a Lazy Susan in the middle of the table), perched on the Lazy Susan was an all-English placard advertising the special alcoholic cocktails served at Cha for Tea. Hubbs remarked to me that this reminded him slightly of our Lingnan experience. *shudder*

As usual, we ordered our standard har gow, siu mai, chickens' feet, and pan-fried pork dumplings (waw teep). We also tried out their house specialty, the pineapple-BBQ pork-bun (baw law bow). I must say that in spite of the impressive setting (it was impressive as far as Chinese dim sum places go), the food was not all that memorable. It tasted good and fresh, but none of the dishes we sampled were particularly great. As well, their selection was not nearly as extensive as I would have liked to see. For a restaurant that boasts 24-hour dim sum, one would think that they would have made an attempt to at least match rival restaurants' menus as far as selection is concerned. Apparently, this was not a concern for them. Instead, Cha for Tea stuck with the standard dim sum items and added just a handful of their own specialties. We found this a little disappointing.

The service was excellent, however. The cart-pushing ladies were friendly and accommodating, and the other "runners" were also pretty prompt and on the ball. In fact, I think this was the best dim sum service I've had in the last 3 years.

The host and hostesses were another story. These young people (who looked no older than 20) were dressed in the least professional attire I have ever seen at a Chinese restaurant in North America (and I've seen quite a few). One girl wore a super-short skirt that literally offered only an inch and a half of coverage below her butt cheeks. Another girl wore a shirt that bared one of her shoulders, plus skin-tight jeans and black boots. The boy-host sported a t-shirt with a pattern that looked like blood stains on the right side of his back and the left side of his front torso. I'm not sure what sort of image Cha for Tea was going for with their hosts, but it certainly left an unpleasant taste in my mouth.

The cost of the menu items at Cha for Tea was a tad high for our preferences as well, considering the quality of their food. However, it wasn't unreasonably high, and of course we all know that brocade-covered chairs don't pay for themselves!

All in all, Cha for Tea is a good dim sum restaurant for the first-time Chinese brunch diner, or for non-Chinese people who would rather pay a few extra bucks for a newer, more stylish atmosphere than for great dim sum. It's not a bad restaurant to go to, especially if you only like the most standard dim sum fare; however, if you want an extensive selection of unique and funky brunch dishes to choose from, you may want to go elsewhere.

Rating: 7.5 / 10

Dynasty

2006-07-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

As always, Dynasty has proven itself to be one of my favourite dim sum restaurants. Sure, it was loud and packed with people when we arrived, but isn't that the measure of any great Chinese eatery? My parents showed up early to hold a table for the rest of us, so when Hubbs & I arrived we got seated immediately.

The selection was diverse as always, and amongst other dishes, we ordered some of our favourites: stewed chickens' feet, shrimp dumplings (har gow), pork dumplings (siu mai), pan-fried Chinese turnip cake (law bahk goh), Chinese donuts wrapped in rice rolls (tzah leung), and steamed BBQ pork buns. Of note was the chickens' feet, which were perfectly meaty and tender and flavourful.

The only drawback to Dynasty: the old yucky bathroom. Its floor perpetually looks dirty, like some little old Chinese lady had missed and peed on it. There were no paper towels or even an automatic hand dryer, and the pull-down-fabric-towel contraption was broken. Eeew a thousand times over.

For an extensive selection of good authentic Chinese dim sum, go to Dynasty. It tastes great, it's affordable, and thousands of Chinese people from the south side of the city can't possibly be wrong! ;)

Rating: 9 / 10