Hot Oven Pizza

This is another one of those places which I've driven past countless times and never tried. Today was my chance. We had some people coming over and we had to get some eats. Costanza helped pick up the Memphis Platter from Memphis Blues BBQ; but we needed something that was a bit more kid-friendly. For obvious reasons, pizza was decided as the second take out item. Rather than going to the standard places such as Panago or Domino's, I decided that we should try Hot Oven Pizza on East Hastings in North Burnaby.

As I was finishing my order on the phone, I learned that if you order 2 pizzas of the same size, the second one is 25% off. Well, that was a welcome surprise because the pizzas aren't exactly cheap here. But you'll find out why later... When we went to pick up the pizzas, the first thing that I noticed upon entering the store was the considerable amount of mozzarella cheese blocks on the kitchen counter. Well, it's nice to see that the cheese they use here is freshly grated. There is only one table in the place; but really, it's not a dine-in sorta restaurant anyways. After a brief wait, we were presented with 2 really heavy pizzas. To my utter shock, the 2 boxes were quite substantial. I could feel the weight of the pizzas! Constanza and I took a peek at the pizzas and figured out why - there is a lot of cheese and toppings on the thing!

When we finally got down to eating them, the pizza really impressed Constanza. The crust was soft and more like bread and on top was a really thick layer of mozzarella. Nestled within the cheese was no shortage of quality ingredients. We surmised that the mozzarella was skim milk because the pizza was not oily at all despite the quantity of cheese. The addition of dried Italian herbs on top of the pizza and the crust helped give more aroma and flavour to the pizza as well. What do you know? Random pizza place turns out to be good. Nice.

The Good:
- Holy mozzarella cheese Batman!
- They don't skimp on the toppings
- Easy to eat crust

The Bad:
- Being so full of everything, it is quite filling (can be a good thing too)
- If you want crispy thin crust, this is not it

New Maple

*12/25/09* Restaurant closed due to building fire.

I have been craving a bowl of good wonton noodles for quite some time. It was especially acute after not eating anything Asian while I was in Portland. Thus, we made the trek into Vancouver for some wonton noodles. Why did I travel so far when there are plenty of other wonton noodle places out in Burnaby? Well, just because there are wonton noodle joints around doesn't mean they are any good. It is not more evident than out in North Delta where we have only one "wonton house" that actually serves good wontons (Yummy Wonton House). Really, what makes a good wonton? Well, first it should be bigger than a marble. Second, it should have *some* shrimp in it, if not all shrimp. Third, the shrimp needs to be crunchy, not mushy. Lastly, the soup base should be a combination of shrimp shells, chicken, pork bones and spices; NOT merely clear saltwater. Places such as Congee Noodle King and Congee Noodle House fit the aforementioned criteria and I normally would visit one or the other. However, I really wanted to visit an ol' favourite of mine: New Maple Restaurant or before their name change, Ho Tak Kee (still the Chinese name of the restaurant).

Clearly, New Maple is a Chinese greasy spoon and/or fast food joint. Decor is minimalistic, service is basic and the washrooms are plain gross. But they do make a good bowl of wonton noodles among other things. One good thing about New Maple is that they have free parking at the adjacent parking lot on Main and Broadway. Just remember to sign your car's license plate at the front or you'll be paying a visit to Unitow. Ever since there was a change in ownership about 5 years ago, the new boss lady has not impressed me. Either she thinks customer service is a dirty word or she is just plain grouchy. Cranky boss lady aside, I came for the food. We ordered several of our favourites such as Wonton Noodles, Mixed Meat Congee, Joong (sticky rice in bamboo leaves), Gai Lan with Oyster Sauce and Soy Chicken/Sui Gow Lai Fun (thick vermicelli noodles) for the kiddies. Now when the food arrived, we got one dish that we absolutely did not order - Yow Ja Gwei or Chinese Salty Donut. The server insisted that we ordered it despite the fact Viv and I were arguing that we did not. The server argued that you don't order congee without the donut. Well, we did order congee without it! This went on for around a minute and finally, we just decided to take it because we got tired arguing. WTF? I was forced to eat something I did not order??? It's like going to McD's and getting fries because you were expected to!

Despite this bizarre event, we relegated ourselves to enjoying the food. The wontons were as good as we had remembered - full of crunchy shrimp. The noodles were chewy and the soup was what wonton soup should look and taste like. However, the bowl seemed quite a bit smaller than before. My "Mixed Meat" Congee was really liver, stomach, kidney, meatballs and pork. Mmm... Offal! Congee was thick and well-seasoned. Not as good as Congee Noodle House; yet still very respectable. Actually, the unwanted donut was pretty good being crispy. The Joong was quite large and packed full of sticky rice, dried green peas, salty egg yolk and roasted pork. The Gai Lan was fresh and cooked perfectly. There is also a set menu at New Maple and the dishes are actually quite respectable, if not generic. Again, price wise, it's a good value eating here. However, just don't expect great service or a washroom you can actually use without losing your appetite.

The Good:
- Shrimp wontons are very good
- Food is inexpensive
- Pretty decent BBQ items

The Bad:
- Some of the worst washrooms ever
- Service? What service?

Top Pot

If snacking on Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland wasn't enough, Viv and I stopped by Top Pot Doughnuts in downtown Seattle for good measure. Hey, if it's good enough for Rachel Ray... Yum-O! Okay, if I haven't already lost you there, please keep reading. If you are wondering what exactly is Top Pot and what sets it apart from any other doughnut shop, it's all in the name. Yup, as the story goes, the founders of Top Pot had originally purchased a decrepit neon sign from an old Chinese restaurant named Top Spot. However, as it lay rusting in their backyard, the sign began to deteriorate. While it was being transported for restoration, the "S" fell off; thus leaving behind "Top Pot". The result was a doughnut shop that made their delicious doughnuts by hand, not by machine such as Krispy Kreme.

My first taste of Top Pot was courtesy of Vandelay. I really like how big they are. Eating a whole Top Pot doughnut is no easy feat, especially the Cinnamon Roll. Furthermore, the doughnuts are not heavy, despite their size. One thing I do not like about Krispy Kremes is that they are incredibly sweet. Well, Top Pots are not exactly bland; but they are not overly sugary. As we were in a rush to hit the Seattle Premium Outlets before heading home, we quickly got a dozen doughnuts to go.

We made it across the border pretty quick due to the Nexus pass; however, we waited quite long at the Massey Tunnel. For the life of me, why would they have a carpool lane for 3 people change into a 2 person carpool lane after Highway 17 is beyond me. If I had known, I would've taken the carpool lane! Anyways, we stopped by Vandelay's house along the way and returned the favour of some yummy Top Pots.

The Good:
- Doughnuts are large
- Texture is soft, even the next day!
- Not crazy sweet

The Bad:
- As with any good doughnut, they are not cheap

Salumi

The reason why we left Portland so early was we needed to arrive in Seattle by 10:45am. Why the precise time? Well, the place we were visiting consistently has lineups around the block unless you are one of the first few to arrive. The place is Salumi which happens to be Mario Batali's father's deli. I often wonder if we blindly flock to these places because they are famous for being well, famous. Salumi has been featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and the Food Network. Are the sandwiches there really that good or is it merely hype? Well, Viv and I put that theory to the test as we successfully arrived at Salumi by 10:45am. It was so plain on the outside, we actually drove right by it the first time. Again, we were lucky to get a parking space right across the street and took our time strolling across the street into the 2 person lineup. Yes, we were 3rd in line, not bad considering that I hate lineups.

With exceedingly high expectations, we entered the deli with money in one hand and not really all that much appetite since we only finished breakfast less than 3 hours ago. My sandwich of choice was the Prosciutto, Figs and Goat Cheese on Ciabatta. Viv decided on the Muffo. To our dismay, the sandwiches were premade (albeit probably not too long ago). The server merely walked into the cooler and fetched them for us. For a $9.50 sandwich, I'd expect freshly made. The result? Chewy bread and cold ingredients. And as for those ingredients, if you look at the pictures, there wasn't much of it either. I do understand that a few slices of prosciutto go a long way since it is quite salty. However, if you are only going to stuff my sandwich with a few slices, please do not charge me almost $10.00. Don't get me wrong, Viv and I truly enjoyed our sandwiches. The combination of flavours were well-balanced and unique. I thought the saltiness of the prosciutto was perfectly offset by the sweet figs and smooth goat cheese.

The bottom line is that I liked our sandwiches from Salumi despite the price and that they were not freshly made right in front of me. However, in my opinion, Salumi is over-hyped. For nearly $10.00, I did not feel that we got good value. And this is taking into account the quality of the ingredients and the well-designed flavour combinations. But if you want, Salumi is still one of those places you have to visit at least once to see for yourselves.

*Note* - follow up visit can be found here.

The Good:
- Well-balanced and tasty sandwiches
- It's one of those "have to experience" places
- Quality ingredients

The Bad:
- Expensive for what you get
- Pre-made sandwiches for $10?
- You need to lineup

Tin Shed Garden Cafe

Well, our little visit to Portland is coming to an end. Today we are heading back home to Vancouver, BC. We woke up extra early so we could squeeze one last meal before we left. We made it out to the Tin Shed Garden Cafe out on Alberta Ave right when it opened at 7:00am. I'm really liking the vibe out here on Alberta Ave, there are some cool places to eat here. If you want something a bit different, this is the street to check out. In fact, our first meal in Portland during this trip was at the Grilled Cheese Grill which is only a stone's throw away from the Tin Shed.

Normally, I wouldn't imagine waking up so early for no good reason. But you know how dedicated I am to my craft! Since it was a rainy morning, we didn't get a chance to sit out on the patio. Looks like we had escaped the rain in Vancouver and now we were just about to escape the rain in Portland. The Tin Shed prides itself on using as much organic and sustainable ingredients if possible. Furthermore, their belief is to be human first, business second. I definitely agree with this statement because Viv and I felt right at home here. Our server was friendly in a casual-as-a-matter-of-fact manner. I particularly liked how everyone can just help themselves to a cup of coffee or tea with a cool looking mug.

For eats, I had the "You Gotta Have It" breakfast. It's essentially 2-eggs with a buttermilk biscuit, Shed potato cakes or cheese grits. For $2.75 more, I added a chicken-apple sausage. Simple, but satisfying, the breakfast was a little different than your regular bacon and eggs. I particularly liked the grits, partly because I don't get to eat grits a whole lot and it was fluffy as well. Atop the perfectly scrambled eggs was a light tasting and a bit sweet chicken sausage.

Surprisingly, Viv ordered a pretty heavy meal - The Good Dog which consisted of potato cakes topped with sausage, jalapeno, bell pepper & onion scramble, smothered with cheddar cheese, salsa fresca, sour cream & green onion. Look at the picture, that is one large plate of food! Believe it or not, Viv finished it. I sampled some of it and it was a good mix of salty, spicy and a bit sweet. This is essentially a hash on steroids. A good value at $8.00.

Our early breakfast at the Tin Shed was a great last meal as we left for Seattle shortly after. The food was solid and the prices were reasonable. The service was sincere and friendly. In fact, our server gave Viv an extra tea bag and paper cup for the road. Add to the fact that the restaurant itself oozes character, you have a winning combination at the Tin Shed.

The Good:
- Honest service
- Good portions
- Reasonable prices

The Bad:
- Limited seating inside when the weather is bad

Kenny & Zuke's

While in Portland, it would not be complete without a visit to Powell Books. A bookstore? Yes, but this is no ordinary bookstore. Think of something that is bigger than some main libraries. Powell Books occupies 4 separate buildings that take up a whole city block. From the outside, you'd never know it. Honestly, it looks quite modest with it's dated exterior and signage. It's a whole new world once inside. We were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the place. If you were looking for a book, you'll probably find it here. I wasn't really intending to buy anything; but I walked out of there with a discounted "No Reservations by Anthony Bourdain". It was half-priced! Anyways, we planned to eat at Kenny & Zukes which was conveniently nearby. I've been here before for breakfast with Costanza and Snake; yet I never did get to try their sandwiches.

Viv and I actually made it for their Happy Hour menu, which has a few items discounted by $3 - $4. We weren't really all that hungry since we had just finished some Jamba Juice and lunch at Adina was only 4 hours ago. But I didn't travel all the way to Portland and not eat! I was going to eat until I couldn't eat no more! That probably explains my choice of the Meshugaletta. The mush-a-what? It's actually their largest sandwich consisting of pastrami, salami, roast beef, turkey and Swiss tucked in 3 slices of bread. Oh yes, there was no doubt in my mind I was going to eat that sandwich! Alright, I didn't actually end up finishing it. I struggled to down half of it. It reminded us of the Woody Allen from Carnegie Deli in NYC; however, the Woody Allen was even bigger with no bread in the middle. I really liked the combination of meats (like who wouldn't? oh wait, a vegetarian!). Combined with the tangy relish, this sandwich delivered. Add to the fact I got a pint of beer for $2.50, I was a happy man.

Viv was a little less ambitious and ordered the Pastrami Sandwich and a plate of Fries from the Happy Hour menu. A fantastic value at $7.25 and $2.75 respectively. Despite the price, there was no shortage of thick slices of tender pastrami shoehorned between 2 slices of rye. The slices were so thick, Viv had a tough time eating the sandwich. No matter, at the very least, you know they were not stingy with the meat. The pickle on the side was not very good, it was salty and limp (insert joke here). Served with a ridiculously large bowl of ranch dip, the fries were very crispy, if not a bit over salted. We had to shake off all the kosher salt, it was stinging our tongues.

We walked away from Kenny & Zukes quite full and with half of my sandwich unfinished. Knowing how we were going to eat again tomorrow morning, I struggled to finish the meats in our hotel room. Sure it was $14.75; but honestly, that was a lot of food. Kenny & Zukes satisfied my deli cravings and more so.

The Good:
- Good meats and lots of it
- Reasonable prices
- Great Happy Hour menu

The Bad:
- Just could be me, but the pickles were not very good

Jamba Juice

My first taste of Jamba Juice was back in 2003. I was in San Francisco visiting my cousins and they were raving about a fruit smoothie. Hey, I'm a carnivore, no fruity drinks for me! Well, I had to eat those words because one sip of the silky blended sweet and a bit tart concoction, I was hooked. How could something so simple be so good? After all, it is just a mix of fruit, yogurt, sorbet, juice and a "boost". I can make this at home! Well, I have tried making it at home, it's just not the same. Usually something so good is terrible for your health. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that each cup of Jamba Juice contains 2 - 4 servings of fruit! Wow, something that I loved to drink and satisfied part of my daily fruit intake. However, tempering this enthusiasm, the amount of sugar in a Jamba Juice is not exactly good either.

Alas, there is no Jamba Juice in Canada. Nada. We have Jugo Juice and Booster Juice. Admittedly, I am warming up to these copy-cats; but I still love the original. This is probably the "I like the place that made it first" affliction. No matter what the reason, I love Jamba Juice and I couldn't go to Portland without having one. Of course there are closer locations to me than Portland; but I was at Lloyd Center already and it was right in front of me when I walked in. They have overhauled their menu and there are many new items available. However, their "classics" are still available. My favourite is the Lime Sublime. I like my drinks tart. Today, we had the Pomegranate Paradise which consisted of pomegranate juice, strawberries, mangoes, peaches and ice. It was pretty good, but I still like my Lime Sublime. I only wish I could get it in Vancouver!

The Good:
- Drinks are blended well and are packed with fruit
- It is a healthy alternative to a Slurpee (but much more expensive)
- The premise of satisfying your fruit intake and a healthy "boost" sounds good

The Bad:
- It is expensive, but you pay for what you get (fruit and fruit juice)
- With the regular drinks, there is a no shortage of sugar