Pasta Timo

If you know me, I really love hidden gems.  You know, the restaurants that are tucked away somewhere, offering good food at reasonable prices.  Pasta Timo located in Fraser heights in a small strip mall would be considered such a place with affordable pasta dishes as well as a new brunch menu.  The place seemed really familiar even though I'd never even heard of it before.  Jackie and I were invited to stop by and try the place out, where it suddenly hit me...  The place was giving me Jimico vibes!  However, at the same time, it is very different as well when look at location, availability of parking and less of a focus on Korean fusion.

Before I talk about the pastas, I'll get to the brunch items first.  I wasn't expecting much from the brunch menu, but all things changed when the Dutch Baby arrived at our table.  This was quite good where the pancake was crispy and nutty with a fairly fluffy interior.  On top, we found sunny side eggs, fresh avocado and crispy lean bacon.  Naturally, the runny egg yolks were perfect for dipping the pieces of pancake we ripped off with our hands!

If their "Eggs in Purgatory" looks remarkably similar to a Shakshouka, you would be mostly right.  The spicy tomato sauce was missing a few components and spices to make it a true Shakshouka, but it ate much the same.  The poached eggs were perfectly runny, so it was great for dipping the buttery garlic bread.  The sauce was indeed spicy and plenty tangy.  It was appetizing and really gave the dish some brightness.

The one breakfast item that integrated pasta was the Spaghetti Omelette.  This was pretty straightforward with an aggressively seared omelette with al dente spaghetti inside.  We also found bacon, mushroom and garlic within the mix that added salty earthiness.  There was also a considerable amount of parmesan on top that added even more saltiness along with nuttiness.  This came with a pumpkin soup and it was fantastic.  It was velvety, sweet and a bit earthy.

The most interesting brunch item was the Italian Breakfast Bread Bowl.  Yep, this was a toasted bread bowl stuffed with Italian sausage, peppers, mushrooms, garlic and onions while topped with a thick layer of melted mozzarella.  This was one hearty dish where each quarter was pretty filling.  It had a bit of pizza vibes except with a much thicker crust.  I'm not sure if someone could finish this by themselves.

Moving onto the regular menu, we decided to go for some greens in the Cobb Salad.  Yah, this was more of a meal than an actual salad with loads of chicken, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, dried cherries and an egg in a creamy gorgonzola dressing.  Really enjoyed this as every bite had something interesting.  Although not typical, the dried cherries really made the salad.  Nice bursts of sweet tang to break up some of the heaviness.

We continued with some appies including the Meatballs consisting of both beef and pork.  I found these meatballs to be on the firmer and denser side.  However, they were not hard per se.  I sensed that there wasn't a whole lot of filler, which meant the texture was plenty meaty.  Flavours were nice and the tomato sauce was appealingly tangy.  The dusting of parm on top added some other complimentary flavours.

The Calamari Fritti was another appie we tried and I thought it was pretty textbook.  The squid was tender, but still had a pleasant chew.  The light dusting of flour was crispy and properly seasoned.  Dish was also none-too-greasy.  On the side, there was a small amount of salad, which made things healthier?  Anyways, the tzatziki was quite good being medium-thick while having some brightness from the lemon.

We started with their most popular pasta being the Linguine ai Frutti di Mare Piccante.  This was a generous portion of pasta with also plenty of seafood (clams, mussels, shrimp and bay scallops).  Yes, the sauce was indeed spicy with equal parts of tanginess and sweetness.  Really balanced and appetizing.  The seafood flavour was able to be in the background with some brininess.  Pasta was al dente where the sauce clung on beautifully.

Somewhat on the same track, we had the Risotto ai Frutti di Mare.  Sure, the combination of clams, mussels, shrimp and bay scallops was the same, but since this was a risotto, things did taste differently (also not spicy either).  The tanginess was much more mild and the brininess and sweetness of the seafood stood up more so.  I found the rice to be a bit past al dente though (I did take a scoop right after I took this picture).

We also had the Baked Penne al Forno with salsiccia, bacon, mushrooms and chili peppers in tomato sauce.  Like the breakfast bread bowl, this was also topped with a thick layer of melted mozzarella cheese.  Once again, this was super hearty and really good for what it was.  The penne was still al dente while the sauce was zesty and a touch spicy.  Lots of great flavours from the bacon and salsicciaa.

Lastly, we tried their Chicken Parmesan with a side of spaghetti.  This was a pretty straight-forward preparation of the dish.  The chicken was tender and moist while coated in a medium-thick breading while coated with tangy tomato sauce and lots of melted cheese.  It was accompanied by some spaghetti with the same tomato sauce as well as a small side salad of mesclun greens and peppers.  Overall, we found the food at Pasta Timo to be good with some Jimoco Pasta vibes.  That is a compliment though as the portions are good and the food is solid.  I actually thought the brunch was even better and definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*

The Good:

- Good for what it is

- Large portions

- Reasonable pricing

The Bad:

- Not really a bad, but the food is more American Italian

Combine Cafe & Bar

For those who are not in the know, Surrey Central has become (or already is) a bustling and modern community that is on an upward trajectory.  Sure, there are still remnants of the old Whalley that has yet to be redeveloped, but the place is attracting people and businesses alike.  So it wasn't surprising to see a beautiful restaurant in Combine Cafe & Bar open up shop along King George Hwy near Fraser Hwy.  It is actually right across from the King George Skytrain station and dishes up food that is both sustainable and locally-sourced.

Jackie and I were invited to try the place out and we were impressed with what they have done with the space as it is inviting with lots of natural light.  We started with the some drinks including the Wine Flight and also a mocktail in the Cosmo.  The appetizer menu is fairly simple and at first, we were not interested in ordering the Baked Focaccia.  Well, thank goodness they recommended it because the bread was super fluffy and soft with a slightly crispy exterior.  The addition of tomatoes and peppers on the top afforded some moisture and pops of sweet tanginess.  They finished it off with some herbed butter and that just helped amp up the aromatics and butteriness.

Next, we had the Oysters Rockefeller that were a bit different than the traditional version.  It still had a creamy butter sauce, but had far more melted cheese on it.  In a sense, that helped lock in the moisture of the oyster and they turned out to be juicy and soft.  Lots of natural brininess from the fresh oysters.  There could've been a bit more sauce, but otherwise, this was a serviceable version.

We ended up building-our-own Charcuterie Board with cured salmon, smoked duck, gouda, chili jam, toasted almonds and pickled vegetables.  They did a fine job in arranging the items on the board where it looked appetizing.  I particularly enjoyed the cured salmon as they were in large slices and the texture was buttery.  Nice sweetness accented by just a bit of saltiness.  The smoked duck was good too being tender with a quick sear from the torch.  Not a fan of the pickled vegetables as I would've preferred distinguishable pieces rather than a blitz through the food processor.  Almonds were fantastic with a sweet crunch.

Onto the mains, we had the Chilean Chicken with chorizo, white wine cream sauce, mashed potatoes and roasted root vegetables.  I thought it was artfully plated with well-prepared components.  The root veggies were cooked through, yet still had a firmness to them.  They were intensely sweet from the caramelization.  The swaft of mashed potatoes was smooth and creamy.  Wished there was more of it though!  Chorizo was seared, hence it amplified the salty spice.  There was some smokiness too.  The chicken itself was a bit hit and miss.  The interior of the chicken leg was tender and moist, but the outer parts were a bit dry.

For the Oyster Cream Pasta, we added Teriyaki Salmon so that it would have some more protein.  We found the spaghetti to be perfectly al dente and bathed in a minimal amount of cream sauce.  I thought that was okay, but the promise of oyster sweet and brininess wasn't really there.  I mean, the pasta was solid and it did have enough seasoning, just needed more oysters or oyster liquour.   I would be fine paying more money for more oysters in the dish.  As for the salmon we added, it was not dry, but not moist either, somewhere in between.  The sauce was tasty though and the amount of it helped keep the salmon from being dry.

For dessert, we had the Ooops! Ice Cream which was more playful than anything else.  Consisting of vanilla bean ice cream with a waffle cone inverted on top, the dish also had berry compote, poached pear and cookie crumbs.  So was this something I would normally order?  Well no, but I enjoyed it all the same.  The ice cream was rich and creamy while the cone was crispy and aromatic.  The compote and pear added some bright fruitiness and the crumbs provided more texture.  In general, Combine Cafe & Bar is a stylish place where you can enjoy drinks with friends.  The food is quite serviceable but some further refinement is needed for them to be competitive with similar restaurants.

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*

The Good:

- Wonderful space

- Serviceable eats

- On the right track

The Bad:

- Food needs further refinement

Meltwich Food Co.

So it goes without saying that the veritable sandwich doesn't get the accolades it truly deserves.  Often dismissed as a quick lunch option generally in kid's lunchboxes, it is associated with fast food spots such as Subway.  However, if you go gourmet, you will likely find really great Italian sandwiches at some delis and even full-service restaurants.  Okay, how about something in the middle?  A bit more exciting and refined than a basic sandwich, but not something that is as expensive as a proper sit-down meal.  Well, we have Meltwich, where it is counter-service restaurant that is a step above your typical fast food joint.  As the name suggests, they specialize in grilled sandwiches with plenty of cheese.  We made our way out to the South Surrey location to sample some this 100% Canadian-Owned chain (this matters right now!).

We wanted to go basic first and went for their Classic Melt, which for all intents and purposes, is a grilled cheese sandwich.  Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the sandwich because it was prepared expertly.   I thought the bread choice was excellent as it grilled up beautifully to be crunchy with a buttery nuttiness.  However, it was not heavy as it ate with a robust texture but was not dense.  Best of all, it was packed with cheddar cheese that was completely melted and stringy.

Of course we had to get some fancier sammies and that we did with the Southern Fried Chicken Melt.  At first, we were concerned at how flat this looked as compared to the picture on the menu board.  However, it wasn't important how it appeared to us rather, the eating experience was king.  Beyond the crunchy buttery grilled slices of bread, there was a wealth of crispy fried chicken.  Although it wasn't juicy, the chicken remained moist and was well-seasoned.  Meshed with the American and cheddar cheeses, we had plenty of ooey gooey goodness and saltiness.  Add on the chipotle, buttermilk dill sauce, tomato corn salsa, pickles and shredded lettuce, there was no shortage of creaminess, added moisture, spice and tanginess.  Getting something that was from their value menu for under $10.00, we tried the Pesto Chicken Melt.  This really did have a great pesto hit and the chicken was moist.  Again, it was encased with the same excellent grilled buttery bread.

One of the most surprising items we had was the Philly Cheesesteak.  By looks alone, this didn't appear to be anything special.  However, beyond the soft brioche bun, we found beautifully seared thin slices of beef that were tender and well-seasoned.  I loved the texture as well since the meat had some crispy bits and some drier portions.  This created a textural contrast as well as offering up nuttiness.  The bun itself brought everything together with a soft hug.

 

In addition to their sandwiches, the menu features a variety of poutines.  We had 2 versions including the Classic (not pictured) and the Chicken Bacon Ranch.  These featured medium cut russet fries that were fairly crispy where there was no gravy.    There was a generous amount of legit cheese curds that had a nice squeak to them.  I found the gravy to have a good viscosity and not overly salty.  The buttermilk dill drizzle on top added plenty of creaminess and brightness.

 

They also have a variety of sides too and we ended up with 2 of them including the Mac & Cheese Wedges.  These were pretty typical with Kraft-esque mac & cheese coated with a crispy batter.  They were a bit dry on their own, but the side of dill dip, it was good.  We also had some Mac & Cheese and it was rather saucy.  The flavour was quite muted, but after adding a splash of their delicious gravy, it added the slight saltiness that this needed.

 

Lastly, we had some of their milkshakes to go with our meal.  We had both the Oreo and Mango Milkshakes.  Surprisingly, the mango was much sweeter than the Oreo.  I was expecting the opposite.  They were fairly smooth while not being particularly heavy.  There was some iciness with the Oreo.  I did like the flavour of the Oreo as it captured the essence of the cookie without being crazy sweet.  Overall, the sandwiches at Meltwich were really good!  Bread was grilled up beautifully with a nutty butteriness.  They were generous with the cheese, which made things ooey gooey.  Poutines were on point too with delicious gravy and legit cheese curds.  For those who want to support Canadian, Meltwich is totally a Canadian-based chain.  Check out their daily specials, the Philly Cheesesteak can be had with fries and drink for only $13.00.  

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*

The Good:

- Delicious well-prepared melts

- Legit Poutine

- Specials make things affordable and also their under $10.00 menu

The Bad:

- I thought the mango shake was a bit too sweet

Salsa & Guacamole

Ah yes, hidden restaurants or sometimes referred to as hidden gems, those are places that aren't inherently obvious but are great places to dine at.  Generally, these spots are not actually hidden (mind you, some are like in an alley), but they are actually in a weird location and/or far away.  Well, Salsa & Guacamole can be considered a bit hidden, as it is underneath Old Surrey on 72nd Ave, yet it is also a gem because the food is great and the ambiance is surprisingly nice.  Jackie and I came here for a visit recently.

To start things off, we had some beverages including the Blue Caribbean and Pina Colada.   Both were tropical tasting and refreshing.  Those were great, but the real highlight was the Tequila Flight.  This featured 1800 Tequila Reposado, 1800 Tequila Anejo and 1800 Tequila Cristalino.  With my recent experience at the Tequila Festival, there were distinct differences between Tequilas.  I found the Reposado to have more bite with oakiness and slight spice.  As for the Anjeo, it was much smoother with spice and sweetness.  Lastly, the Cristalino is a charcoal-washed Tequila that was smooth with some spiciness and less oakiness.

Of course we needed some eats to balance off the booze right?  Well, it started off on a really good note with El Trio featuring 3 dips.  Chips were crispy and fresh, but the real stars of the show were the dips.  Starting with the Salsa, it was rich with a kick and balancing tanginess.  Guacamole was whipped, so it was super light and airy.  Also really fresh.  Best dip of all was the Queso Fundido with chorizo.  Cheesy and meaty!

Next up was the Fish Tacos with battered cod, cabbage, pickled red onion, cilantro and topped with house-made crema verde.  These were on point with soft flour tortillas and a crunchy piece of cod that was flaky and moist inside.  The rest of the components added crunch, freshness, acidity, brightness and creaminess.  Add in the side of salsa and a squeeze of the lime wedge and this was delicious.

On the topic of bright and fresh, the Ceviche was also appetizing.  It consisted of white fish, lime juice and red onion.  Naturally, there was a tanginess to the ceviche and the fish was cooked in the acid.  Texturally, it was buttery with a slight chew.  The onions added both crunch and sharpness to the dish.  We found 3 tostaditas to use for eating vessels and pico de gallo to provide further freshness and a touch of spice.

It seems like Birria Tacos are everywhere, yet for good reason - they are tasty!  The ones here were no exception as they were stuffed with tender shredded beef, cheese, onion and cilantro.  Loved that the tortillas were dipped in fat, but weren't overly greasy.  Aromatics were definitely there and the beef was meaty.  Lots of melted cheese added body and onions provided so bite.  Although not looking like it, the birria broth on the side was super flavourful with sweetness, umaminess and meatiness. 

We moved onto a large dish next with the Las Divorciadas featuring 2 green sauce and 2 red sauce enchiladas stuffed with chicken with rice, refried bean and sour cream on the side.  These were quite good with the red sauce covered with plenty of melted cheese.  I found the chicken to be tender while the red sauce had a muted tang.  Green was tangier and brighter.  Without the cheese, it allowed the chicken and tortilla to stand out more.

Ending off our meal, we had the 7 inch long Churros served with a side of ice cream.  We had one each stuffed with Nutella and Dulce de Leche.  I much preferred the latter as it was rich with sweet caramel.  The churro itself was crispy while still having some lightness inside.   Overall, the meal we had at Salsa and Guacamole was delicious, all served in a classy space.   Food was high quality and prepared with care.  Definitely a more refined Mexican dining experience.

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*

The Good:

- Well-prepared eats

- Refined experience

- Nice dining space

The Bad:

- Parking is somewhat limited

Gupshup Social Lounge

For all of the Indian restaurants I've tried recently (and there have been many), they have been pretty good, if not a bit repetitive.  Not that I'm complaining because it is really #firstworldproblems that we get to eat delicious food!  However, there was some light at the end of the proverbial tunnel as Jackie and I headed out to Gupshup Social Lounge in Surrey.  Upon entering the place, we knew we weren't in Kansas anymore.  The place was swanky, but not in a high-end way.  Rather, it was modern, hip and definitely appealing for both the younger crowd and families.

Looking over the menu, it was clear that they are trying to be accessible to all with only 2 items over $20.00.  Also, there are plenty of creative dishes that I've never seen anywhere else before.  That was exemplified by the first item we had in the Doritos Bag.  Yes, this was nacho cheese Doritos served in its own bag with melted cheese sauce, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and onions.  Something so simple, yet utterly delicious.  It was like having something like a Frito Pie but more like the a better version of nachos you get at BC Place.  They said this is popular with the kids, but I think it would go well with a beer or cocktail.

To illustrate their attempts at keeping up with the times, the Fiery Cheese Pulls were exactly what Gen Z wants in their IG reel.  Take something as simple as fried cheese, but make it a bigger and coat it with Nashville hot sauce.  Yep, these were IG-worthy with a cheese pull that would make the next table look over.  Coated with a crunchy breading, the mozzarella was ooey gooey delicious.  Add in the spice from the sauce and it was tasty in addition to the obvious viral-nature of the dish.

Something that seemed like an obvious fusion crossover dish was the Butter Chicken Mac & Cheese.  I honestly think you can put butter chicken on anything and it will taste better.  I wonder when they will have butter chicken gelato?  Just a thought...  Anyways, this was as good as expected with a cheesy base mac & cheese.  I thought the noodles were nicely al dente despite all the sauce.  About that sauce, the butter chicken was fantastic.  It had a good balance of tangy and creamy (or should I say buttery) to go with the cheese.  Sure, this was heavy, yet nicely spiced.  Best to share this!

Absolutely huge, the Kurkure Sliders featured 2 mini burgers with a choice of aloo tikki or paneer.  We went for the paneer for this one.  As if sliders aren't already quite filling, they deep fried the buns in a crispy breading first.  Hence, this was one crunchy slider where the bun was still soft inside.  It wasn't as greasy as it appeared, but make no mistake, it ate quite rich and heavy.  I personally would order something else from the large menu that was lighter.

Another heavy dish, we had the Baked Veggie Momos topped with cheese and tandoori sauce.  These fried momos were crispy with a veggie filling that was still vibrant having a crunch.  By themselves, the momos were good and could've been simply served with a tamarind and/or mint chutney.  But at Gupshup, they like to take it further so they baked them with a wealth of cheese.  Again, this became a pretty heavy dish.  I would've like to see just the momos, but I get they are trying to be different and more progressive.

Moving onto somthing that was more typical was Cockney Singh's Fish and Chips.  I absolutely love the play on words here because it is a nod to "Cockney Kings".  Well, I am happy to report that Cockney Singh's version was straight up on point.  The breaded basa was really good.  Normally, I'm not a fan of fish & chips made with basa, but the fish was so moist and flaky without the usual over-soft texture.  Breading was crunchy and stayed as such throughout.  Even the fries were good being crispy with a touch of potatoness left.

From the tandoor, we selected the Lamb Chops.  This was plated a bit haphazardly, but hey, it didn't really matter as Gupshup isn't about being high-end.  It fit completely with their laid-back casual atmosphere.   Besides, these lamb chops were excellent!  Evenly charred, there was smokiness and a certain intensity to the spices.  Lots of earthiness and muted heat to go with the natural lamb flavour.  Texturally, the lamb was tender and meaty.

So we went for something more traditional in the Gupshup Chicken Biryani.  This was fairly typical with big pieces of bone-in tandoori chicken leg hidden within the basmati rice.  I found the rice a little on the dry side, but I much prefer that over something wet or too saucy.  Flavours were a bit muted and could've been more spiced or spicy, but all-in-all, it was a serviceable biryani.  The best part was the chicken though as it was flavourful and tender.

From here, we continued with the usual and the aforementioned delicious Butter Chicken.  I have to say it was pretty darn good with a good amount of tomato tanginess balanced off by enough creamy butteriness.  The spices in the butter chicken did come through after the initial tang with earthiness and spice.  With the chicken itself, the medium-sized cubes were tender and not dry at all despite being breast meat.

To get some veggies (in spirit) into our diet, we also had the Palak Paneer.  This was pretty creamy with the spinach being cooked down well.  Definitely got the earthiness of the spices as well as the ginger.  This was fairly bright and not heavy.  As you can clearly see, there was a plethora of paneer that was squishy (in a good way) and soft.

Of course we had some Garlic Naan too as well as some drinks.  The naan was pretty good with a crispy charred bottom and the rest was fluffy with elasticity.  Would've liked to see more garlic though.  As for the drinks, we had the Mango Lassi, Parrots Paradise and Tiramisu Shake.  As you can see, they really try to be modern and fun with their drinks.  That is really the point of Gupshup as they are truly catering to the young and young-at-heart.  Food may not be as refined, but they aren't trying to be.  Prices are very reasonable and definitely a place where you can hang out with friends and family.  More fun times ahead because they have pizza coming soon too!

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*

The Good:
- Modern and trendy
- Reasonable-pricing
- Fun dishes and drinks

The Bad:
- Maybe lacking in refinement but they aren't trying to be
- Some dishes can be quite heavy