Old Bavaria Haus

Got a call from Wolvie today and boy did she have a story to tell. Apparently, her relatively new cabinets came crashing down last night. Suffice to say, it was a shock and the kitchen is a complete mess. It appears that whoever installed the cabinets only mounted them to one stud. It's amazing they stayed up for as long as they did. Luckily no one was in the kitchen at the time, otherwise, someone would have been seriously hurt. Well, her misfortune became my treasure since there was no way she and her hubby could eat at home. I suggested that we could all go out for dinner! In fact, go out for something a bit different. How about for some Schnitzel?

Schnitzel? Where can one find really good Schnitzel in the GVRD. After all, it ain't the hotbed of Austrian cuisine. Yes, believe it or not, Schnitzel is really an Austrian dish, even though it's often only associated with Germany. Mind you, it's eaten in Germany as well, which leads us to the Old Bavaria Haus in New West. Directly across from La Rustica and La Spaghetteria, the Old Bavaria Haus has resided in a century old home for as long as I can remember. When we walked through the entrance of the restaurant, we were greeted by a warm and a bit musty smelling dining room. It certainly has got character. We were seated right next to a couple who were snapping photos at a furious rate. I'm not sure if it was a fellow blogger or was it just a couple who liked to take photos. For once, I felt like everybody was looking at someone else rather than me.

Our server was very friendly and explained the special which was a Schnitzel with Asparagus and Bearnaise Sauce. Viv and Wolvie both went for the special which included a salad to start as well. Italian Stallion has the Zigeuner Schnitzel topped off with peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes and cheese. I opted for my favourite, Schnitzel Champignon which was topped with sauteed mushrooms and Bearnaise sauce.

I know it's hard to get excited about a piece of fried meat; but honestly, the pan fried pork (info thanks to Jenny) was fabulous. So utterly crispy and buttery topped with even more fatty goodness. What's not to like? Well, there was one thing we didn't like - the salt. Although the pan-fried potatoes were good, boy did they overdo it on the salt. Thank goodness I got a mug of Warsteiner to wash it all down. The Schnitzel itself was topped by a generous amount of mushrooms and just the right amount of sauce. It is way too common to find places who put so much sauce, that you cannot even see the food underneath it. There was more than enough food on the plate to satisfy my appetite and we found the prices to be very reasonable. Adding to the value were the Entertainment coupons we applied to the final bill.

The Good:
- Generous portions
- Unique dining experience
- Friendly service

The Bad:
- Food was a bit salty
- With the nature of the food, it can be a bit heavy

Claypot Restaurant

Stormy skies and cold weather threatened our softball game tonight. However, without a call from Boss Woman regarding the cancellation of the game, I knew we were going to play rain or shine. Best of all, we would ultimately head for some grub after the game. Instantly, the wheels began turning in my head: what would be a good thing to eat tonight? Well, since it wasn't exactly warm, the idea of hot pot immediately came to mind. Yes, I've been known to have hot pot in the heat of summer; but this time, it would be more appropriate since it was cold. I bounced the idea off Milhouse and he seemed to be all for it. We headed off to the game and I began devising a plan in my head to convince my teammates into boiling their own food after the game.

Now about that game... It really wasn't all that memorable since we played very poorly and lost decisively. However, the game will probably be remembered for one incident. There were 2 guys kicking a soccer ball right behind our team "dugout". During the game, one of the kicks landed the ball right into our team bench. Okay, alright, he apologized, no harm, no foul. Not much longer, he does it again! It almost hit Milhouse this time and he threw the ball back in disgust. Then, with our whole team at the bench, the ball comes roaring in for 3rd time barely missing a few heads. That was it! The guy was apologetic again; but honestly, 3 times??? We all sort of lost it and even the more patient people on our team freaked out. The 2 guys weren't even going to move after the 3rd incident! We had to make them stop! Where do these people come from? In fact, I was one of the people who totally lost it and then subsequently went to bat and hit a home run. At my next time up at the plate, my team tried to get me mad again; but it really didn't work, I hit a pop fly...

After the game, I was successful in convincing the whole team to do all-you-can-eat hot pot at Claypot Restaurant (aka Sa Bo) in Richmond. I promised that I would not force anyone to eat any offal, even though that is the best part of hot pot! This place used to be called Sun Tung Kee; but now the English name is more of a literal translation of the Chinese name. We used to go here quite a lot during our University days and boy did we eat! This is the first time back in awhile and honestly, they need to do some renovations. Everything is looking a bit tired and old. We arrived a little after 9:00pm and were pleasantly surprised to see a late-night AYCE for $13.95 (flavoured soup extra charge). The whole reason why we were late going to dinner was a result of Miss Y being late to the game; thus pushing the start time of the game to 7:00pm. She cheerfully took the credit for us making the late-night AYCE. So now we are praising her for being late??? Sheesh!

The main difference between the late night and regular AYCE is the absence of seafood. We were quite hungry and didn't mind that at all (regular AYCE is $18.95). However, if you want anything other than clear broth, it'll cost you $7.00. Yet, $7.00 spread over 8 people was insignificant. Pop was very cheap at 2 for $1. Mind you, I'm sure they would love you to drink as much pop as possible to bloat your stomach. We ordered a whole bunch of items on the checklist and they placed all the dishes behind us on metal carts. Some of the more notable items were the Sliced AAA Beef, Lamb, Fish Balls, Squid Balls, Beef Meatballs, Fried Taro Slices and Fish Tofu. All of the aforementioned items were fresh and pleasant to eat. We did order udon, but we never got a chance to eat it on our end because Miss Y hogged all of it. Furthermore, she was doing epic fail upon epic fail in terms of dropping food all over the place. We can't take her anywhere (well, except for La Charcuterie).

Let's be honest, hot pot is not rocket science. The most important things to consider are: freshness, variety, cleanliness, service and value. Claypot nails most of the aforementioned criteria. If I were to nit-pick, the service could be a bit less indifferent. It was generally quite acceptable; but most of the staff seemed quite expressionless. Moreover, some of the tables are showing quite a bit of wear, it's time to resurface them. If these things bother you, then for a little bit more, you could go to Top Gun Hot Pot. Other than that, Claypot is a pretty good value.

The Good:
- Items are fresh
- Good selection for AYCE
- Reasonably priced

The Bad:
- Place is a bit worn out
- Service is indifferent
- Parking lot is insufficient at peak times

Lee's Donuts

While we were enjoying some soup from the Stock Market, my son really didn't want anything to do with it. However, the mere mention of a chocolate donut from Lee's reinvigorated his appetite. For those who are not familiar with Lee's Donuts, it's been a staple at Granville Island for as long as I can remember. They still make donuts the traditional way, where they have substance to them (unlike Krispy Kreme). The only other donut that I personally think resembles Lee's are Top Pot out of Seattle. It's another one of those things I had as a kid and now my own kids are enjoying it as well. I really wonder if they will ever enjoy Beef Tongue like I do? Maybe if I hide it in a jelly donut?

I only decided to get a half-dozen since Lee's donuts are quite filling compared to those of Krispy Kreme. I ended up getting one of each: Chocolate, Double Chocolate, Dutch Chocolate, Mango-filled, Jelly-filled and Sprinkles. The chocolate cake donuts are actually not that dense. The slightly crisp exterior encapsulates the soft cake interior. The yeast jelly-filled donuts have just the right amount of chewiness combined with the sweet filling. However, I find that the donuts are not extremely sweet such as the ones from Krispy Kreme. However, I like Krispy Kreme donuts in their own right. They are much lighter and I could probably eat 3 just like that. In fact, Miss Y once ate 4 Krispy Kremes in one sitting; to my utter disgust and shock. It's a bit difficult to eat 4 Lee's donuts in one sitting (unless you're Miss Y); but it's a real treat to have one nonetheless.


The Good:
- Freshly made
- Textures in both cake and yeast donuts are perfect
- Good flavour without being too sweet

The Bad:
- If you swear by Krispy Kreme donuts, these might be too dense for you

The Stock Market

Why on earth do I choose to have hot soup on a warm summer day? It reminds of the time I had Yogen Fruz while lining up with Costanza on Boxing Day. Better yet, we once had hot pot at Costanza's house in August. It really shows what lengths we go through to enjoy our favourite foods! Much like last time at the Soup Meister, I did it again today at the Stock Market on Granville Island. When we used to live in downtown, we'd visit Granville Island more often. Now that we are in the burbs and especially with kids, it's quite the effort to make it down there. Of course visiting Granville Island on a weekend in the summer is like crossing the Port Mann during rush hour. I made it to the parking lot near Bridges and someone was just leaving, I assumed that the space was mine; but some dude gets out of a car (that had just parked in an illegal spot) and essentially acted like a human shield while that car backed into the spot. WTH? I wasn't even in Richmond! Anyways, Karma was the great equalizer since another spot opened up and I got it (which was wider and had a longer time limit).

We were able to snag a table in the eating area outside of the market; however it was out in the open without cover. The significance of that? Well, let's just say that most of Granville Island also acts as a bird's washroom. You never know when you'll get a nasty surprise on your food and/or your clothing. I ended up getting a large Smoked Salmon Chowder and a small Chicken Noodle Soup. We didn't want to go overboard with the soup because our plan was to hit Lee's Donuts afterwards. The chowder was actually quite filling. The broth was overwhelmed with ingredients; it could give Chunky Soup a run for it's money. The same could be said about the chicken noodle, it was a mini-meal. Despite this, we much prefer the chicken noodle at the Soup Meister. The one here was a bit bland and had a strange aftertaste. Despite that, we've had the soup at the Stock Market many times and it's good eating. Not sure if it's such a good idea on a warm and sunny day; but we neither broke a sweat or got dive bombed...

The Good:
- Lotsa ingredients in the soup
- It's fresh
- Soups are consistently good

The Bad:
- Some people might balk at paying almost $7.00 for a bowl of soup

Green Basil

Viv and I were heading to Stupidstore at Metrotown and needed a place to eat. We figured that Sushi Garden would be convenient since it is only across the street. However, as we got there, the usual lineup was out the door. I've been there before and really wonder to myself, is it really that good to lineup for? Well, I guess that question will be revisited another day. Not having a backup plan, I was just about to drive further down Kingsway when Viv suggest we try Green Basil which was a couple of doors down. Perpetuating the Asian stereotype, I jammed on the brakes and zipped into the first available parking spot (safely of course). We just had some really good Thai food at Lhy Thai a few days ago, so we were ready to do a comparison. Heading into the restaurant, we were greeted with a clean and pleasing decor. The server was all ready to take us into an inside table; but I asked if we could sit at probably the worst table near the entrance because I needed light for my pictures. Sometimes, I wonder what restaurant staff are thinking when I take a crappy table. I did that at Lhy Thai too; rather than take a spacious table, I took a small table closer to the window.

Conveniently, I had the Entertainment coupon for Green Basil with me, so I proceeded to order more than we could eat. I seem to always fall into that trap since psychologically I feel that there is a deal to be had, I might as well get more food. The first dish to arrive was the Pad Thai and honestly, it looked scary. There was no colour whatsoever, except for the chili flakes and green onion. I've never seen such pale looking Pad Thai in my life. Fortunately it tasted better than it looked; however, the flavours were weak exhibiting very little tamarind and fish sauce. Despite this, there was a decent amount of spiciness and plenty of shrimp in the dish. Luckily for us (and for this post) the rest of the 3 dishes were much better. The Chicken Green Curry was both plentiful and spicy. The coconut milk tempered the heat a bit; but the curry was far from mild. The same could be said about the Eggplant with Beef. There was not shortage of spice and flavour. The Duck Red Curry was beautifully presented in a half pineapple. The curry was also spicy; but the ample amount of pineapple and coconut milk brought sweetness to the dish.

Although the meal at Green Basil was not the best Thai food I've ever had, it was acceptable, Pad Thai withstanding. Portions were larger than most other Thai restaurants and prices were very reasonable. We personally really enjoyed the pronounced spice in the curries and the stir fry; yet I can see that this may not be for everyone. Furthermore, the restaurant was clean and the service was very attentive.

The Good:
- Portions are larger than other Thai restaurants
- Prices are reasonable
- Friendly service

The Bad:
- Flavours were a bit off (ie. Pad Thai was bland, curries could be too spicy for some)

Au Petite Cafe

For only the second time this year, I was able to make it out for golf. Snake reserved a tee time at Langara. Vandelay and Costanza rounded out our foursome. To classify this round of golf as interesting would be a an understatement. On the 11th hole, I ended up breaking my 9-iron on a tree limb with my follow-through. Then, on the 16th, I managed to hit a post that was no wider than 6 inches resulting in the ball ricocheting backwards for negative yardage. I really need to go out and play more, my game is in disarray. Regardless of that, I had plenty of fun, especially with some good company. Naturally, after a round of golf, we were in need of nourishment. After a brief discussion, we all decided on Au Petit Cafe on Main street. Mind you, I not sure why we chose hot Pho on an extremely warm day.

We arrived at Au Petit at around 2:20pm and it was packed. Snake was flabbergasted as to why it would be full in the middle of the afternoon. Luckily for us, a table for 4 was just opening up for us. Upon taking our seats, Snake was inundated with spitting. He glanced over at Vandelay and Costanza ready to retaliate with a horking motion when I stopped him. I pointed up at the leaky air conditioner, averting a full scale war - I felt very much like a Canadian at that point. Vandelay was the only one who had been to Au Petit before and highly recommended the Iced Coffee. I wasn't originally planning to order one; but everyone else got one and I felt left out. Yes, I seemed to succumb to peer pressure quite a bit... Vandelay also suggested we try the Banh Mi. Interestingly, we all ordered one except for Vandelay. I have to say it was darn good Banh Mi. The bread was crunchy and there was ample filling. I had the Banh Mi Dac Biet which, in addition to the usual ingredients, was filled with crushed meatballs.

Costanza was conflicted, he wanted to have the beef stew; but it came with more Banh Mi (minus the filling). He didn't want to have 2 loaves of bread. Ultimately he settled for the Hu Tieu Bo Kho (Beef Stew and Rice Noodle Soup). I tried some and it was fabulous. The broth was rich and a bit sweet without being oily or salty. The beef was oh-so-tender. Snake and I both went for the Pho Tai Nam Bo Vien, which consisted of raw beef, beef meatballs and cooked beef. The broth itself was quite light in flavour and colour; yet it still emanated a strong aroma (a good thing). The portion size wasn't exactly big; but it was enough, especially since we had Banh Mi's already.

I'm not really a coffee drinker; but let's just say if all coffee tasted like the one at Au Petit Cafe, I'll become one. The Cafe Sua Da or Dark French Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk was absolutely to die for. I got some feedback from Costanza since he is a coffee connoisseur and he loved it. The rich coffee taste tempered by the sweet milk was decadent. I could've used another 5 of these; yet I would probably be awake for the next week as a result. If I sound pretty excited over a small Vietnamese restaurant, you would be correct in your assumption. What can I say, the food was good, service was friendly, price was right, coffee was outstanding and Snake got all wet. Perfect meal.

The Good:
- Excellent iced coffee
- Really good Banh Mi
- Delicately prepared and great tasting food
- Friendly service

The Bad:
- It's petit alright, very tight seating
- Not only does the A/C spit, it's not very effective

Prata Man

If you can believe it, the first time I ever visited Prata Man was in 1995. Yes, that was 14 years ago. It was recommended to me by a coworker at the time; yet I was hesitant. Drive all the way to Richmond??? Yes, I was paranoid about Richmond back then too. What I found at Prata Man was some of the best Hainanese chicken in town. Yes, I do realize there are plenty of other places with really good Hainanese chicken; but for the price, it's a pretty good value at Prata Man. Let's get this out of the way as well - Prata Man is a dive. You won't find fancy lights, expensive tile, artwork or trendy banquettes adorning a wall. What you will find is a modest restaurant with mismatched wobbly wooden chairs, an industrial looking floor and plain walls decorated with their "specials". Most people really don't even eat-in; rather, they get takeout.

The story behind Prata Man, as I've been told, was that the recipes and techniques behind their Hainanese chicken were left behind by the original owner. However, as for their other dishes, I'm not so sure. I sincerely hope that the roti prata recipe was not a legitimate one, because the ones at Prata Man are just plain horrible. Rather than being flaky and a bit airy, the ones at Prata Man are like a solid disc of dough. You can probably kill someone with it by throwing it a la James Bond (Goldfinger - the hat). Fortunately, the Satay Skewers are pretty good. They come in either chicken, pork or beef. Stay with the chicken and pork; the beef requires you to gnaw at it like an animal. In addition to being incredibly inexpensive for such meaty skewers (less than $1.00 each), they are nicely grilled and full of flavour. One problem is that the flavour is predominantly sweet. Add the sweet peanut sauce to it, and the flavour composition becomes very one-dimensional.

But seriously, the main draw here is the Hainanese chicken. Many people get it for takeout since there are 2 specific meal deals. You can get a whole chicken with 5 bowls of rice, soup and condiments for $19.00 (eat-in $20.25). For half a chicken, 3 bowls of rice, soup and condiments, it only costs $13.25 (eat-in $14.25). At these prices, you do get a good amount of food. Moreover, the chickens they use are quite large. You'll find that the skin on the chicken is not as gelatinous as other versions; however, the texture of the chicken itself is quite tender. Most of the meat is de-boned except for the back sections and parts of the thigh. The chicken is then bathed in a light soy-based sauce that shows hints of fish sauce. The clear consume soup that accompanies the chicken is dominated by the taste of ginger. I personally like it; yet it could be a bit strong for some people. The requisite chicken rice is pretty good; but I would have preferred more chicken fat mixed in (I can't believe I said that).

Yes, it's a hole-in-the wall. Yes, it's not aesthetically pleasing. Yes, the staff read newspapers and magazines when they are not needed. Yes, some of the other dishes are not very good. But, the Hainanese Chicken is solid and inexpensive. After 15 years, I still make the trek to Richmond for it.

The Good:
- Solid Hainanese Chicken
- Really inexpensive (take out specials are incredibly affordable)
- Friendly staff, when not busy reading the newspaper

The Bad:
- The worst roti prata I've ever had
- Some of the other dishes are not that appealing
- Face it, it's a dive