New York Bagel Cafe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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