Nha Toi Boutique Café & Truedan Bubble Tea Surrey

As much as South Surrey and White Rock sound far for most people, it really isn't as far as it seems.  First of all, if we were living in Los Angeles or the Bay Area, the commute to White Rock would be typical.  We are really spoiled here when things are so close in proximity.  So that is what we had in mind when we made our way out to Nha Toi Boutique Café & Truedan Bubble Tea.  Okay, if that sounded weird to you, it is because Truedan Bubble Tea is located inside Nha Toi Vietnamese.  So you can have the best of both worlds!

So what is different about Nha Toi?  In a sea of Vietnamese restaurants, Nha Toi seeks to bring the very best as some of their ingredients are brought in specifically from Vietnam.  This was true for the Fresh Papaya Salad featuring a large prawn cracker made specifically for Nha Toi and imported from Vietnam.   This cracker was so flavourful with natural prawn that I've never had before.  Really good.  As for the salad, it was definitely fresh and crunchy while the dressing was bright and full of umaminess from the fish sauce.  This was further amplified by the roasted shallots, Thai basil, chili and peanuts.

With a bit of everything, the Street Food Platter included crispy spring rolls, fresh salad rolls, taro chips, fried fish cakes, grilled lemongrass prawn mousse skewers and chicken nuggets.  Things were pretty much what was expected with spring rolls that were crispy.  Filling was moist and flavourful.  Salad rolls were fresh with crunchy lettuce and well-prepared shrimp.  The best part was the dip on the side as it had a notable spice at the tail end.  Not your typical hoisin peanut sauce mix.  This had way more depth-of-flavour and wasn't overly sweet.  Chicken nuggets were a touch dry, but the batter was crispy and light.

The most impactful dish was the Red Rice Noodle Bowl featuring an addictive crab sauce that was both sweet and briny.  However, it was the big piece of house-made crab cake that put this dish over-the-top.  It was fluffy, briny and naturally sweet.  That needed to be eaten with the noodles for full effect.  As much as I enjoyed the wide rice noodles, I would've liked thinner noodles (even though it wasn't supposed to be).

Just for default reasons, we had to get a bowl of Pho.  That we did with the Beef Noodle Soup featuring sliced brisket, beef meatballs and thinly-sliced AAA striploin.  With lots of beef, this bowl of Pho ate robust but was not heavy due to the clean broth.  It was meaty with some sweetness and the classic star anise hit.  Noodles were plentiful and al dente.  Sure, this was on the higher-end of the Pho pricing spectrum, but it was also filling with plenty of meat.

Okay, you might be looking at this Lemongrass Chicken on Rice and wondering why the meat was not charred.  Well, I was thinking the same thing and asked.  Turns out the local clientele prefer it less charred.  Well, as I've always said, you must cater to your customers.  If you want it charred, just ask.  Despite it being white meat, it was not dry and in fact, was juicy and well-brined.  Ate much better than it appeared.

Trying to hit all the favourites, we also had the Pork Patty Banh Mi.  This was a fully-loaded sub where eat bite guaranteed a mouthful of sweet and juicy pork patty.  To compliment, there was also pickled daikon & carrots, cilantro, cucumber, green peppers and signature house-made sauce.  This was not lacking flavour nor texture.  Even the baguette was crusty on the outside and airy on the inside.

We also wanted to try the Fish Sauce-Glazed Wings and of course we got those too.  This featured fairly large mid-wings that were deep-fried just right.  The skin was crispy and well-rendered.  Inside, the meat was juicy and tender.  Naturally, the best thing about these was the glaze as it was sweet and caramelized with a salty brininess.  I would've loved even more of it on the side to dip the meat into.

Of course we can't forget about the bevvies from Truedan.  The main draw for these drinks is their freshness featuring real ingredients.  Loved the refreshing sweetness of the Mango & Strawberry Yogurt Slush, but the best one was the Brown Sugar Milk with Fresh Taro.  The smooth texture of the aromatic taro was so freakin' awesome.  Do get this if you are there!  Overall, I was impressed with the food here.  They put in the effort to make it right and put in some unique touches.  Having excellent Truedan drinks on site doesn't hurt things either.

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

The Good:

- They put in the effort, even with the smaller details (like sauces and the prawn cracker)

- Things don't seem commercialized, a bit like home-cooking

- Excellent Truedan drinks

The Bad:

- Street food platter had some times that were a bit dry

Bánh Mì Très Bon White Rock (Mother's Day Brunch)

We all know Mother's Day is special and restaurants take notice by offering brunch, buffet brunch and other options.  Some of us might take mom out to Dim Sum, sushi, pasta, Indian or high-tea.  So many choices, you can't go wrong.  Well, there is something a bit different where Bánh Mì Très Bon in White Rock is offering a Mother's Day brunch that is what can be referred to as Vietnamese High Tea.  Yep, at a very reasonable price of $65.00pp, one can dine on a nice selection of savoury and sweet treats.

The first item was the savoury with a 2-tiered tower with a selection of Banh Mi on top and a combination of mini Salad Rolls and Spring Rolls on the bottom.  I particularly enjoyed the meatball banh mi since it was stuffed full of tender spiced-pork.  Combined that with the crunchy baguette, it was a nice textural contrast.  The mini salad rolls were great with the peanut-hoisin sauce.  I wished that the mini spring rolls were just a bit larger as they were super crunchy with not enough filling.  Yep, as the picture suggests, there was also a mini-bowl of Pho included per person.  Choices include beef, chicken or vegetarian.  The second tower was more traditional sporting a collection of pastries and sweets including Lemon Tart, Chocolate Mousse, Creme Brulee, Key Lime Cream, Macarons, Peach Danish, Blueberry Danish and mini-Croissants.  This was a solid spread of little desserts where the lemon tart was my favourite.  It was tangy with a firm shell.  The key lime cream was also tangy and refreshing.  Macarons were on point with a crispy shell giving way to a soft and slightly chewy interior.  They were on the sweeter side. The last tower was a bevy of Fresh Fruit that consisted of honeydew, pineapple, strawberries, green grapes and Mandarin oranges.  Sure, this was just fruit, but all of it was fresh and ripe.  In particular, the honeydew was so sweet and soft.  Pineapple was also sweet with its classic acidity.  Strawberries were flavourful and all very fresh.  Grapes were firm and juicy.

They also have a Mother's Day Dinner Platter for $89.00.  It serves 4 people and consists of cubes of rib-eye steak, rice & watercress salad (not pictured), grilled pork & beef skewers, mini savoury crepes & woven vermicelli noodles.  We tried the main platter and the meats were well-charred and nicely marinated.  Great for wrapping in the delicate vermicelli noodle sheets with the herbs and fish sauce.

Also available are the Xoi Chien or sticky rice cakes topped with a tangy sweet & sour sauce of $16.00.  Absolutely loved these as the sticky rice was both firm, but also soft and chewy inside.  There was a meat filling and also meat in the sauce.  This made it hearty and robust. The sauce was full of impact where the sweet and sour was balanced.  But really, it was all about the textures in this dish.

Lastly, there are Mimosas available to compliment either the Vietnamese high tea or the dinner platter.  Options included orange, pomegranate or passionfruit for $15.00.  So there are the Mother's Day options at Bánh Mì Très Bon.  I feel that the high tea is a fabulous deal, not only because you get so much food for the money, but is also delicious.  Definitely something a bit different than the usual brunch or dim sum choices we have in town.

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

The Good:
- Something a bit different for Mother's Day
- Good value
- Tastes good

The Bad:
- Not so sure of those mini spring rolls

Showshaa - The Modern Taproom

Wow, the third South Surrey post in a row!  This must be some sort of record...  Well, it wasn't smooth sailing this time around as not only we hit rush hour traffic, there was an overturned car on Hwy 99.  Yah, that took us a long time to get there.  Also, I accidentally deleted the picture of the restaurant, so the one here is from Foodology (who is nice enough to let me use it!).  As you can see, the restaurant is Showshaa and they are yet another bougie Indian restaurant that offers up modern dishes within a classy dining space.

Since we were here during Happy Hour, we sampled a few items from that menu including the Sesame Paneer Fingers with a sweet and spicy chili sauce.  Nice presentation being served in its own shot glasses and dip.  It was practical too since we could double-dip to our hearts content.  I found the dip necessary too as the sticks themselves were all about texture and needed something something.  About that texture, the outside was crunchy while the inside was the usual soft squishiness of paneer.

Next up, we had the Mumbai Spiced Prawns served with a creamy dip.  Honestly, I didn't even use the dip as the prawns themselves were a flavour bomb.  The red chili powder not only gave the prawns an appealing colour, there was some earthy spice to them.  I did use the lemon wedge to bring some brightness to the dish though.  Prawn texture was on point too with a meaty snap and a slight exterior crunch.

Staying with small fried bites, we got the Fish Pakora served with tartar sauce and creamy mint chutney.  The large chunks of Pacific cod were moist and flaky while the batter was crispy and light.  Nice earthiness from the marinade and the spices in the batter.  I did dip these in the chutney and it was creamy with definite herb notes while being bright as well.

Yes, here is another fried item in the Chicken Lollipops but believe me, they fry things beautifully at Showshaa!  These "Frenched" chicken drumettes had all of the meat bunched up at the end and that created a pocket of juiciness while the outside was supremely crunchy.  These were good on their own, but dunking them into the hot garlic sauce on the side meant there was some real flavour going on.

One of the more interesting dishes was the Showshaa Signature Sizzler with chicken tikka, cheesy Szechuan sauce, rice, fries and vegetables.  This was a mess of food figuratively and literally.  Such zestiness with sweet, tang and spice combined with tender pieces of chicken.  Not only was the rice a nice way to enjoy the sauce, the fries were equally enjoyable in a poutine-like manner.

One of their best Happy Hour deals is the Butter Chicken Combo complete with naan and rice for only $16.99!  How many places can you get a complete meal for that price these days?  Well, price is one thing, but how about execution?  As you can see, the naan was nicely blistered with a crispy bottom while the rest of it was soft with an appealing chew.  The butter chicken featured tender chunks of thigh meat while the sauce was creamy and rich.  It had mild tomato notes, smokiness and a medium spice level.

Attractively-plated, the Mixed Grill Board featured Soya Chaap, Chicken Tikka, Tandoori Fish, and Malai Chicken Tikka.  We found naan sticks in the middle as well as a host of sauces.  I found most of the meats to be nicely charred and marinated while tender.  However, the fish was a bit over done.  Loved the naan sticks as they were crispy with some pleasant elasticity.  This was a very good sharing platter that had curb appeal.

We finished strong with a host of curries including Lamb Rogen Josh, Chicken Korma, Coconut Fish Curry,  Mata Malai Methi and   Amritsari Cholay.  These were on point and delicious.  I particularly loved the fish curry as it was aromatic and sweet.  The lamb was tender with plenty of the usual fall-flavour spices.  Chicken korma was nutty and sweet while the chickpea curry was sweet with some spice.  Finally, the mata malai methi was full of sweet peas in a creamy mild curry.  Overall, the food at Showshaa is good and well-portioned.  Love the dining space and they really like to put on a show with their drinks and plating of the food.  Good option out in South Surrey for Northern Indian cuisine.

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

The Good:

- Solid eats

- Well-portioned

- A little bit of glitz

The Bad:

- Many dishes are not authentic and won't please the authenticity police, but I find the fusion to be quite good

Chakura Tea Cafe

Now after a filling and delicious brunch at The Wooden Spoon, Jackie and I made our way down the street to a cute lil' Japanese spot going by the name of Chakura Tea Cafe.  In addition to hot and cold beverages, they feature some cakes and treats as well as a selection of hot items.  For all of the Japanese restaurants we have in the GVRD, we don't have many that serve the things that Chakura offer, let alone one in South Surrey/White Rock.

Getting right to it, we were first served the Pork Katsu Bowl.  This was a healthy portion of perfectly cooked rice that was chewy but not dry topped with a salad and a thick pork cutlet.  It was coated with panko and fried just enough that it was crunchy on the outside while still moist and juicy on the inside.  Don't be alarmed with the modest drizzle of tonkatsu sauce on the top because there was a side of it to make it more saucy to your heart's content!

Next, we had the Spicy Chicken Karaage Bowl with the same chewy short grain rice.  Yep, we had the same fresh salad with greens, tomatoes and edamame.  The dressing was typical Japanese being sweet, tangy and slightly salty.  Onto the chicken, they were in large chunks of dark meat with a crispy coating.  Like the pork katsu, the chicken was juicy and dressed with a sweet and tangy sauce that did have a noticeable kick.

Staying with the same protein, we had the Curry Chicken Karaage.  Unlike the other 2 items, this was served on a plate (so that the curry didn't drench everything).  Of course the chicken karaage was the same as the previous dish, but with the curry, this ate very differently.  The curry softened up the outside of the chicken more so and provided an aromatic and subtle flavour.  In typical Japanese fashion, the curry was not spicy and trended towards the sweeter side.  However, I found this one to be not as sweet.  Nice viscosity where it sauced the rice without making it soggy.

For those who aren't into the fried meats, the next bowl might be your fancy.  We had the Shrimp & Avocado Poké Bowl that was significantly lighter than the previous dishes.  In addition to the same rice and salad, we found fresh avocado, wakame salad and of course sautéed shrimp.  They were cooked just right where they had a buttery snap.  The seasoning was sufficient to seasoned the shrimp but more sauce was need for the rice.

Another use of the pork katsu was for the Pork Katsu Sando that featured a substantial amount of cabbage.  I do believe that there was a bit too much of it and it obscured the pork.  I would've also liked the bread to be toasted a bit less as it become a bit hard.  However, the pork was just as good as the first bowl we had where it was juicy with a crunchy exterior.  I believe with a few tweaks, this sando would be really good.

Same could be said about the Egg Salad Croissant.  It was quite good and would've been perfect except for one detail.  They used processed cheese in it that made the entire thing salty.  However, I did mention that to them and I believe that will be changed.  As for the croissant, it was crispy and buttery.  The egg salad was creamy with enough seasoning.  Fresh greens completed this sandwich.

Of course we had to also try all of their Roll Cakes including the blueberry, chocolate, mango and strawberry.  These were super light and airy where eating one wouldn't be very hard to do.  However, I thought they were a little on the dry side, but the fresh cream did help alleviate that problem.  I found the sweetness to be on point where it was just right.

Lastly, we also tried some of their drinks including the Hojicha Pearl Milk Tea.  This was good with balanced sweetness while being a bit smoky and aromatic.  Nice creaminess too while the pearls were perfectly textured being chewy, yet soft.  Overall, the food at Chakura was pretty solid and in significant portions.  I think the roll cakes could use a bit of work, otherwise, definitely a great place to grab some lunch and a drink.

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

The Good:

- Unique for the area

- Good portions

- Well-prepared hot food

The Bad:

- Roll cakes could be more moist

The Wooden Spoon

Wow, we are on a roll with restaurants I have not revisited in a long time.  This is especially true with spots in South Surrey/White Rock (there will be some more upcoming ones from this area!).  I originally dined at the Wooden Spoon over 10 years ago and then a few more times since then.  I always thought their brunch was very good and could challenge for the best in the GVRD.  We were invited back to try some classics as well as many new favourites. No, they didn't have to ask twice!

Going in order from the menu, we went for a Benny in the Bay Benny with crispy Cajun prawns, tomato jam, guacamole and smoked paprika.  This was very delicious where 

the Champagne 

Hollandaise was velvety and surprisingly bright-tasting.  Mind you, with the spiced prawns, these were the main flavouring agent in this dish.  Loved the chive cheddar biscuit as the base since it was buttery and soft with a crispy shell.  Egg was soft-poached and added moisture to soften the crispy parts.  Side of herb & garlic baby potatoes were soft and creamy on the inside with an aromatic taste.

Next up was the Pulled Pork Hash with house-made BBQ sauce, roasted bell peppers & onion, pulled pork, crisp baby potatoes, crispy shallots, chive gremolata and sunny side eggs.  This was a fulfilling and almost zesty-tasting concoction.  I say almost because it really wasn't spicy per se, but it was flavourful in an intensely sweet and tangy way.  The perfectly sunny side eggs added the silkiness of the yolks while the gremolata provided an herbed brightness.

Possibly their most classic brunch offering is the Sweet & Salty featuring French loaf, aged cheddar, double-smoked bacon, poached

eggs, Champagne Hollandaise, Maple syrup and chive gremolata.  As its name suggests, the whole premise behind this dish is that it meshes savoury with sweet.  It was completely achieved with the syrup mixing with the smoky saltiness of the bacon.  Moreover, the Hollandaise made the entire dish creamy, yet not heavy.  Nice textures were at play too with the crispiness of the bacon, crunch from the crust and also the stringiness of the cheese.

Onto the breakie sammie section of the menu, we decided to try the Sausage & Biscuit sporting pork sausage patty, scrambled egg, aged cheddar, garlic mayo and cheddar chive biscuit.  Looking at the picture, this had Pine State written all over it, except I liked the biscuit at Wooden Spoon more.  This was crispy on the outside, while full-flavoured and soft on the inside.  Add in the meaty home-style pork sausage with the melted cheese and creamy eggs, there was no shortage of classic breakfast flavours and textures.  You would be full on this sammie.

Looking quite inconspicuous, the Steak & Egg brioche bun hid shaved ribeye, house-made BBQ sauce, sunny egg, aged cheddar and horseradish mayo.  Unlike most breakfast sandwiches on brioche, this one had more richness due to the fatty ribeye.  The popped egg yolk provided the necessary moisture to soften the thinly sliced meat.  Horseradish mayo did its job providing a tangy creamy heat.  Side of fresh-cut fries were good too being crispy.

Off to something sweet, we tried Nana's House French Toast with banana mascarpone, caramel, whipped cream, chocolate chips and sliced banana.  We made it a Dad's Plate and added 2 slices of double-smoked bacon and a chicken apple sausage.  Yah, this was pretty awesome as the bread was properly soaked where it was custardy in the middle while the outside was aromatic and slightly crispy.  The banana aroma permeated through the entire dish while the sweetness was just right.

Going in a completely different direction in relation to the other dishes we had, the Smoothie Bowl brought back memories of Carioca Bowls in Portland.  It was a combination of fresh berries, coconut milk, almonds, pumpkin seeds and granola with a side of vegan banana bread.  It was almost like a palate cleanser with a cold and refreshing fruitiness.  Nice texture from the nuts, seeds and granola.  Oh and that banana bread... So freakin' awesome!  Super moist with a balance sweetness and a smoky caramelized bark.

From there, we ordered off the lunch menu with the BBQ Smoked Meat Poutine firmly in our sights.  This was made up of BBQ Montreal smoked meat ends, cheese curds, homestyle gravy, fries, crispy shallots and chive gremolata.  Oh yes, this was even better than it sounded!  With a base of the same crispy fries, it was a nice canvas for the rich (not salty) gravy and melted cheese curds.  Naturally, the tender smoked meat was the star.

Of course we were going to ordered the OG Spoon Burger as well!  This thing was pretty large with 2 smashed beef patties, aged cheddar, Co Sauce, double smoked bacon, crispy onion ring, pickle and arugula on brioche.  Yah, this was no sissy burger because they loaded up with the thick bacon and there was no shortage of moist beef.  The soft brioche formed to hug all the ingredients so we had a little of everything in each bite.

Completing our selections from the lunch section, we had the Mac & Cheese topped with breadcrumbs and parmesan.  We added bacon for good measure.  This featured al dente noodles that held onto the cheese sauce quite well.  There was enough of it to keep things saucy and cheesy.  I would've liked a bit more sharpness, but it was still well-seasoned and the bacon didn't hurt either.

So we ended things on a sweet note with the Cinnamon Bun and also the Sticky Toffee Pudding.  With a cream cheese frosting, the cinnamon bun was full of sweetness and of course, cinnamon.  It was soft and best shared (which we did) after such a filling brunch.  As for the sticky toffee pudding, it was moist and full of rich smoky sweetness.  It wasn't crazy sweet though compared to other versions I've had.

Our final item was something we were looking forward to since walking in the door.  They had 2 featured Malasadas that were as good as the ones I've had at Leonard's in Oahu.  They were light but still had an appealing chewiness.  They have rotating flavours, so be sure to call ahead to check.  Oh and don't go too late in the day as they sell out fast!  Gotta say this visit to the Wooden Spoon exceeded my expectations.  As mentioned, I've been here several times in the past and this time was even better.  Worth the drive out to White Rock!

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this post*

The Good:

- Delicious food across the board

- Good portion sizes

- Those malasadas!

The Bad:

- Well, far for most people, but worth it!

- It gets rather busy, but yah, it is good duh...

Wing’n it Express

As long as I can remember, I love munching on chicken wings.  Whether it be on game nights at a pub or just a late night gathering during my University days, wings were a go to option.  Fond memories of cheap wings at the King's Head or John B, and even AYCE wings at Malone's!  Since then, we have found restaurants specifically offering up wings as their main menu item in a dizzying array of flavours.  One of the newest is Wing'n It with 30 locations across Canada.  We recently visited Wing'n It Express out in White Rock along 152nd to try out their wares.

We ended up trying out several flavours of their wings including the Roger Victor Whiskey.  At first, I was a bit concerned with the amount of sauce on each wing, but my worries were for naught as the flavour was on point.  Lots of sweet BBQ tang and some taco seasoning while having a mild spicy finish.  The wings were large and meaty with moist meat inside.  Being fairly rendered, the skin was not flabby.   From that we moved onto the Kamikazee which were touted as the hottest flavour they offered.  I guess this depends on your tolerance for spice.  I thought they had a kick, but were hardly 5-alam.  However, for Roanna and Eileen, they went straight for the water.  For me, I enjoyed that they were not scorching hot because I like to taste my food and not have my tongue burnt off.

Next set of wings featured the International and the Double Ugly.  For the former, we found that the Mach 1 base seasoning was mild (as it should be) and slightly sweet.  The addition of parmesan provided both saltiness and nuttiness while the Italian seasoning definitely gave it some aromatics.  As for the latter, it was aggressively sauced with ranch, dill and honey garlic.  As expected, this ate rather sweet but also had nice dill flavour.

The last set included Angels and Jet Stream.  Beyond the spicy kamikazee, I liked the Angles the best with its combination of ranch dressing and a coating of mango chipotle.  It was creamy that helped bring down the slight sweet heat of the dry mix.  As for the Jet Stream, it was a combo of BBQ and ranch.  So essentially, you didn't need to dip these wings as they were already dressed.

For those who don't want to only dine on wings, they also have a selection of handhelds including the 3 Sisters Burger.  This had the potential of being a great burger - soft bun, lots of meat and cheese.  However, the patties were of the cutlet variety, hence there was a lack of meat texture.  On the other hand, the Original Philly Cheesesteak was fantastic as it has the beautiful beef texture that was tender and well-seasoned.  This was actually very good.

We also went with some sides such as the Dusted Fries with garlic parmesan (14 flavours to choose from!) and the Onion Rings (these can be dusted too if you want).  Fries were pretty good being crispy and plenty potatoey.  Loved the dusting as I didn't need to dip them into anything!  The thick battered onion rings were crunchy and featured plenty of tender onion.

Probably the most surprising item of the meal was the Funnel Fries with ice cream chocolate drizzle.  So rather than a messy and greasy funnel cake, we had crispy funnel fries that were sweet and delicious.  They were seriously addictive with a soft, almost eggy interior to compliment the crunchy exterior.  Dipping them into the ice cream gave it some Wendy's Frosty and Fries vibes and that is a good thing.

They also have a selection of Milkshakes and we got the strawberry.  It was creamy and just thick enough, so that we could drink it through a straw easily.  We did find it sweet, but it wasn't crazy sweet, so that was good.  Our last item was the Ice Cream Sandwich that partial proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  It was pretty solid with 2 chewy and soft chocolate chip cookies with hard ice cream in the middle.  As the restaurant name suggests, the real draw here is the wings.  I thought the flavours we tried were impactful while the wings were large and juicy.  Sides were pretty good too.

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this post*

The Good:
- Meaty and moist wings
- Lots of impactful flavours
- Funnel fries!

The Bad:
- Maybe a bit too much sauce for some people
- Burger cutlet patty should be swapped out for a meatier version