Shang Noodle House

Well, other than the casino patrons, there is not really a whole lot of walk-ins to Shang Noodle House. Located within the same complex as the Starlight Casino, it is definitely a place people drive to visit. The only reason the whole family decided to make the trek over here for noodles was that we needed to visit Walmart. Yes, we're a whole lot closer to the Lougheed Walmart; but honestly, that location is a zoo (not to mention no parking). It's probably the only big box store that can make Stupidstore look better. In general, I'm a bit skeptical about restaurants that don't seem to have a defined identity in terms of ethnicity (North American food withstanding). So is this a Japanese ramen place? Chinese noodles? Something else??? Usually, it results in food being lost in translation or typically, it just ain't authentic. Well, I don't really care about authentic, as long as it tastes good...

As mentioned by Jenny and Wendy there are a number of set meals which include noodles, appy and a drink for $9.50. Viv decided on Special B which included the Spicy Beef Ramen with a side of pan-fried Radish Cake and Passion Fruit juice. All I can say is that the ramen was "interesting". Not like any ramen you'd find at Kintaro or Benkei, it was more like Chinese noodles in a spicy broth. There was plenty of beef and overall, it wasn't horrible. I'm sure they are using the Japanese word "ramen" in place of "lai mein". It's been argued that the origins of ramen come for the Chinese lai mein. The radish cake was alright. It really needed a bit more frying. For the kiddies, I got them a Japanese BBQ Pork Udon in a miso broth. I already knew about the onion rings from Jenny's post, so I wasn't exactly shocked when the bowl of udon arrived. However, who puts a crunchy onion ring in soup? Soggy, disgusting and inedible, the onion ring should be served on the side or not in it at all. Furthermore, the boiled egg was so overcooked, it exhibited more dark rings than a dirty toilet. But I did like the pork, it was tender and had good flavour. The miso broth was decent as well. With a few tweaks, this bowl of udon would've been alright.

For myself, I went for something that wasn't soup based - the Stir-Fried Shanghainese "Ramen" with pork and mushrooms. Rather than using the traditional thick Shanghainese noodles, they used the thin variety and that suited me fine. When I make this dish at home, I much prefer the thin noodles, it's easier to eat. I am happy to report that this dish was a winner. It had good colour, "wok hay" and flavour. The noodles were soft while still being chewy and the veggies were crisp.
We also had an order of Spring Rolls and they were awful. One bite and there was oil dripping everywhere. These were fried at the wrong temperature because they were completely oil-logged. Frankly, it was really gross. You know what, I'm not exactly sure what I can say about this place. It was alright with some decent points combined with some pretty low points. Value-wise, it was not bad considering the decor, cleanliness and quantity of food. However, it's not someplace I'm aching to make a return visit.

The Good:
- Decent value
- It's very clean and modern
- Friendly service

The Bad:
- Description on menu may not translate well compare to the actual dish
- Although the service was friendly, it was a bit sparse

Bishop's

You know those White Spot commercials? C'mon, the ones with some well-known local chefs such as Rob Feenie, Umberto Menghi, Melissa Craig and John Bishop. Yup, they're corny. But it does certainly get our attention. For those who are unfamiliar with John Bishop, he's been around for quite awhile. In fact, he once worked for Umberto before opening his own restaurant in 1985. Located in Kitsilano, Bishop's has been one of the top restaurants in Vancouver ever since. Uniquely Westcoast with influences from around the world, Bishop's is fine dining without the pretension. The last time we visited Bishop's, we were impressed with his sincerity and warm hospitality. Naturally, as much as it is wonderful and all, it does come at a price. $100.00 per person is what you would be looking at for a complete meal. The menu is simple; yet focused. The result? More attention is paid to the limited amount of dishes available. Furthermore, this usually lends itself to fresher ingredients.

Tonight, Costanza and Elaine were treating since we paid for our last meal together at Cioppino's. Once we were seated, John Bishop greeted us as he usually does with his guests. This may seem like a small gesture; but it is nice when you see the proprietor care about his business and patrons. We started off with an amuse bouche in the form of Gougeres filled with Gruyere and Sunchoke Puree. Served warm, these little morsels were bit earthy and completely delicious. For my appy, I went for the Pici Pasta with prosciutto Bianco, anchovy & radicchio, Meyer lemon and garlic. The pasta was al dente and held up well to the rest of the ingredients. There was a nice balance of flavours at work here including the bitterness of the radicchio, the understated saltiness of the prosciutto and anchovy. The lemon provided an ever-so-subtle tang to even out the flavours. I thought the sauce was luxurious and earthy. The crisp broccoli provided a nice textural contrast.

Predictably, Viv had the Albacore Tuna Carpaccio. I think she likes raw fish... Anyways, it was beautifully presented with thin slices topped cured wild plum gelee, pickled shiitake and preserved burdock root. The combination of ingredients provided a subtle flavour which did not overwhelm the delicate tuna. The burdock root did provide some interesting texture to an otherwise "soft" dish. Elaine picked the dish I was originally intending on ordering (Dungeness Crab Fritters); but due to variety for blogging purposes, I went for the Pici Pasta. When it originally arrived, it came all by it's lonesome without the other 3 appies. We were a bit confused since that is not the normal service protocol. Just as I snapped a photo of it, the same server who placed it on the table, took it back in a haste without warning and explanation. We figured that he brought it to the wrong table. Interesting service technique. It didn't really bother us per se, we did have a good chuckle; but for patrons expecting flawless service, this would be a no-no. When Elaine got her actual order of fritters, they sure looked appetizing. Resting on a bed of kimchi and a splash of miso reduction of the plate, these fried morsels were fluffy, naturally sweet and full of crab flavour. We're not sure if this was the intention; but the house-made kimchi was a bit bland. If it were just kimchi, it would be a fail; yet if it was prepared to not upstage the delicate crab, then it was a success.

Costanza had dessert (or breakfast) for his appy in the form of the Brioche French Toast. It was a bit amusing that we all predicted he'd order this. You see, he likes to be a bit daring and different. This was the most unique appetizer on the menu and low and behold, he selected it. If you look at the picture, the plate has a lot going on. Resting on hazelnut paste and caramelized fig compote, the soft French toast was topped with forest mushrooms and Montana cheese. The toast itself was quite "eggy" and soft. Any crispiness would've been canceled out by the various sauces on the plate. Despite the sweet properties of this dish, it was able to be a bit savoury and earthy due to the mushrooms and cheese, giving it a certain umami-ness.


Just like at the Raincity Grill, I had lamb again. This time, in the form of Seared Lamb Loin and Braised Shoulder resting on a black elderberry jus. Parsnip potato cake with Swiss chard and cauliflower and blue cheese gratin completed the rest of the dish. The lion was quite tender and flavourful (Viv calls it gamy...); however, I personally would've liked it to be a bit more rare. The braised shoulder meat underneath was super soft with good hits of onion. Viv thought this was even more gamy. Pffft... Lamb is great, she doesn't know what she's missing! I really enjoyed the cauliflower, it was cooked while still being crunchy. There was no shortage of flavour from the blue cheese (which I also love, Viv thinks it's smelly...). The elderberry jus was fantastic. Rich; yet light with subtle tartness at the same time (don't ask me how).

Viv and Costanza both had the Thiessan Farms Squab to my dismay. No, I don't hate squab. It's the fact that I had less to blog about! Yes, I should let it go. I'm glad they put up with me in general! Rounding out the dish was a chanterelle mushroom puree, rosemary roasted baby beets, leeks and pomme anna. The beautifully (just barely) cooked squab was serenaded by a delicious coronation grape jus. The slightly sweet sauce was a great compliment to the robust squab. This was probably the best dish of the meal. That is a great segue to the consensus most disappointing dish of the night. Elaine opted for the Grilled Sloping Hill Pork Chop with apricot jus. This was accompanied by a dried apricot and almond tart, turnips and baby kale. The flavour profile of this dish was predominantly and predictably sweet. Yet, that wasn't really necessary a bad thing since sweet goes well with pork. The problem was that the pork chop itself was quite bland and a tad tough. We realize that pork should be cooked through for safety reasons; but it was a bit too cooked. Not a terrible dish; yet it didn't hold up to the others.

For dessert, Costanza went for the most "intriguing" selection in the form of Pumpkin Bread Pudding with ginger maple ice cream and caramel sauce. The crispy exterior gave way to a soft, fluffy interior. The bread pudding wasn't sweet itself, but the ice cream and caramel more than made up for it. The pumpkin and light ginger notes were not apparent at first; but were evident at the end. My choice was the Brown Butter Almond Cake with candied pear, rosemary caramel and marscapone. The cake was pleasant; but nothing really special. I did like the candied pear with the caramel sauce. It provided all the flavour needed for the dessert. Wasn't sure of the marscapone, it didn't add anything, I would've preferred some ice cream. Viv and Elaine both had the Espresso Panna Cotta with chocolate sorbet and chocolate sables. Not exactly visually appealing (some red in the form of strawberries or raspberries would've helped), it did tast good. There was a predominant dark chocolate flavour while the espresso took a back seat. The panna cotta itself was a perfect consistency.

Prior to our desserts arriving, our server presented me with a pear personally carved by John Bishop himself. Not sure why I deserved that, maybe the DSLR? Whatever the case, John Bishop is a sincere and gracious host. The food is solid and the service (other than that one incident) is excellent. Combine that with a cozy room that doesn't exude pretentiousness, you have one of Vancouver's best restaurants.

The Good:
- As a patron, you feel welcome and comfortable
- Generally, the food is prepared with precision and attention to detail
- Focused menu

The Bad:
- Well, the dining experience comes at a price (may not be worth it for some)
- The ambiance was a bit noisy
- Service is excellent, but that one incident was very strange

Nor Boo Korean

In our never ending quest to try out all the late night eats in the GVRD, Lionel Hutz proposed we head out to Nor Boo on Robson tonight. Once again, our hockey game started at the early time of 10:15pm. It seems that "prime time" ice is getting later and later. When I used to organize late night pickup hockey, 10:15pm was considered "cheap ice". I guess even ice time has suffered from inflation. Anyways, Milhouse, Boss Woman, Lionel and myself made our way to downtown for some late night Korean. Kim (I'm Only Here for the Food!) had blogged about Nor Boo before and I had my reservations about the place. But, I went in with an open mind to see for myself. Luck would have it, the place was dark. Much like all the other late night places, I resort to using my flash. One of these days, someone is gonna say something to me about that, I'm sure of it.

First off, trying to flag down a server is harder than finding a parking spot at Yoahan Centre. Is it just me or there is never good service to be found at Korean restaurants? Is it a cultural thing or something? Is it some kind of alternate reality where unfriendly service is better? It sure seems like it to me. Once we got our order in, we waited. Not too long later, everything came, well, almost. I'll get back to that later... So for me, it was a frustrating exercise in trying to get a picture of everything while dishes were arriving on our way-too-small table. Thank goodness that Lionel has given up fighting me and now is a nice little assistant when it comes to my pictures. We started with the Banchan which included bean sprouts, kimchi, potatoes and pasta salad. Pasta salad??? Looking like it was purchased at the Safeway down the block, I personally didn't like it. For me at least, I've never had that. And even if it was supposed to be part of the complimentary Banchan, it was flavourless and mushy.

The first dish to arrive was the Bibimbab. You'll notice that we didn't get the Dolset Bibimbab and we'd learn to regret it. Why? Well, for one, it was kinda cold and two, it was soggy. The hot stone bowl would've help alleviate both problems. At the very least, Boss Woman didn't hijack the egg this time. I gave her the evil eye when it arrived. While the Bibimbab was a bit of a disappointment, the Seafood Pancake was a complete flop. It was sorely lacking in seafood and was stiffer than Ron Jeremy. Sorry for the analogy, first thing that came to mind (ewww... that shouldn't be the first thing that comes to mind!). Anyways, it was just plain terrible.

When the Seafood Japchae initially arrived, I was quite impressed with the bounty of seafood. If you look at the picture, you'll see mussels, scallops, whole shrimp and squid. It's really too bad that the noodles were quite wet and a bit soft. It did taste pretty good though, no fishy taste from any of the ingredients. We thought the BBQ Short Ribs were a fantastic value. For a fraction of the price that Jang Mo Jib charges, we got a large plate of these babies. They were flavourful, meaty and oily (they're always oily). We particularly liked the addition of onions and mushrooms, it definitely added a different flavour dimension to the standard sweet soy we're normally familiar with. Continuing on with "popular items you'd order at a Korean restaurant" was the Spicy Pork Bone Soup. For me, it had just enough spice and the fall-off-the-bone meat was buttery soft and delicious. Boss Woman remarked that the soup had a sour aftertaste and there seemed to be one. However, the sourness was probably due to the chili peppers.

Now, remember when I mentioned that most of our dishes arrived? Well, one didn't make it. It was the Steamed Shrimp Dumplings. Apparently it was left off the bill and to her credit, the server did apologize. They were quite disappointing though, the dumpling skin was tough and the filling flavourless. When we attempted to get more napkins and tea, it was like trying to flag down a cab in NYC (they just whiz by you). And when I attempted to get the bill, one server just stared at me like I was a lunatic and she just walked away without saying a word to me. Would it of hurt her to nod her head or something? To me at least, I thought the food was sub par at Norboo. However, I did find the prices and portions to be quite good. But I can't get over how bad the service can be at Korean restaurants. It's an exercise in frustration where it tests your patience and resolve.

The Good:
- Reasonable prices
- Lots of choice
- Open late

The Bad:
- Food execution is lacking
- Service is lacking
- English is lacking

Fuji Sushi

* New location in PoMo"

"Authentic Japanese food". This almost seems like an oxymoron in the GVRD. Everyone, from Vietnamese to Chinese people operate "Japanese" restaurants. What's next? A Latin Japanese joint? There are a few known authentic Japanese restaurants such as Shiro, Ajisai, Toshi, Tokachi and Takarabune. However, not many people know about Fuji Sushi (unless you live in Burquitlam). Located in a large; yet rundown-looking plaza on Clarke Road, Fuji Sushi is so authentic that the daily specials are written only in Japanese. We had to do some shopping at Lougheed Mall, so we decided to give it try tonight.

The place really looks unassuming from the outside. In fact, it doesn't look like much at all. I got Viv to go in to get a table while I dealt with the kiddies. While attempting to cross the parking lot to the restaurant, some SUV pulls in from Clarke Road and guns it. Hello? WTH? Geez, I'd rather be in Richmond then, at the very least, they're driving way too slow to hurt anyone. When I got in, Viv said she hadn't got the attention of anyone as of yet. While we stood there, it probably took a good 5 minutes to be acknowledged. After that, it took awhile to figure out if they were actually going to give us a table or not. Viv finally asked how long it was going to be and to their credit, the lady gave us a table that she was about to put a "reserved" sign on.

The seating arrangements here are pretty tight, so you'll really get to know the people beside you, which we did. I think the couple beside us were amused at our juggling act of eating, me taking pictures and attending to the kids. I sometimes wonder why I don't go nuts. As for the food, we started with the Spinach Gomae which was excellent. For those used to the "dressing- drenched" version, this one might not be familiar. Only lightly dressed and topped with toasted sesame seeds, you can actually make out it is spinach. Next up were the Potato Croquettes. Served hot and really crunchy on the inside while still soft on the inside, these were a textural delight.

As if there was going to be any doubt, the Salmon Sashimi was both fresh and cut nicely. Fresh, sweet and exhibiting that "bounce" when chewed, it was good. As per usual, we got the Tempura Udon for the kiddies. Although the tempura itself wasn't bad, we thought they were a bit heavy on the batter. No matter, my son loves the batter (and only the batter), and he ate up the excess. As for the udon, it was good with al dente noodles and a flavourful, yet light broth. I didn't include the picture since it's not much to look at really. We ended up getting a Chopped Scallop Roll and a Unagi Roll. Both were pretty good with a good amount of filling and nicely prepared sushi rice. Again, not much too look at in the picture; but they were better than they appeared. I couldn't resist and ended up getting a Nigiri Combo (I seem to always order it). It included one piece
ika, salmon, ebi, tuna, tomago, tobiko and a tuna roll. Nicely presented and fresh, the were enjoyable to eat. Again, the sushi rice was the right consistency (soft, while a tad chewy) and neatly prepared.

Our meal was supposed to end there; but we noticed the table next to us had ordered the Spider Roll and it look darn good. Of course by the power of suggestion, we had to get it as well! We're such pushovers... So we got one and it was delicious. The roll was tight enough, so it didn't fall apart when eaten and the soft shell crab was crispy and meaty. In a twist of fate, the table next to us saw what we were eating and got a Tempura Udon as well. Luckily we were both winding down; otherwise I'm sure we'd keep ordering each others' dishes! And with that, I was full; but there was so much more to try. Next time I need to get them to decipher the daily specials for me. It's nice that an good authentic Japanese restaurant is close by. It definitely helps remind me of what real Japanese food is supposed to look and taste like.

The Good:
- Authentic
- It's prepared carefully, correctly and tastes right

The Bad:
- It's small, gets busy; you need to wait
- Costs a bit more than impostors; but worth it

Paradise Vegetarian Noodle

Vegetarian food. Not something that I necessarily crave. In fact, I usually do my best to avoid it. However, a little noodle shop in a shopping plaza straddling the Burnaby/New West border has always intrigued me. Rather, it is always in my line of sight when I head to work. Of course, it was calling out, "try me, try me". Oh alright, fine. I'm going to try this Vietnamese Vegetarian Pho place. Yup, you heard me right. A dish that is based on the antithesis of vegetarianism itself is the centerpiece of this restaurant. How the heck do you make pho without beef??? It's something I was going to find out...

From the outside, the place looks like a dive. However, on the inside, it is tastefully decorated and modern. I wasn't expecting that... The nice ladies that run the place are constantly working like bees churning out food and serving it. I'm not sure how they handle it when the place gets full. Anyways, I came to try the pho and I ordered a large bowl. I added a Stir-Fried Spicy Chicken for good measure. When the bowl of pho arrived, it certainly looked different from what you'd expect. The broth was extremely light in colour and instead of beef, there was imitation meat. I quickly tried the broth and it was sweet and fragrant (from the lemongrass). It surely lacked the depth of a traditional beef broth. However, it wasn't bad. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the "meat" was something you'd see at Bo Kong. Wasn't anything mind-shattering or life-altering; yet it was an enjoyable bowl of vegetarian noodles. Naturally, I like the real thing better; yet, I didn't dislike this one either.

While the pho was light in flavour, the Spicy Chicken was a kick in the pants. As you can see for yourself, it was stir-fried with peppers and chili flakes. Savory, sweet and spicy, this dish would be classified as "make you forget about meat". With the "chicken" being made with gluten, it was chewy and provided a nice texture. This would've went well with rice. So, during my meal here, I disclosed why I was taking pictures (they asked me why). Seeing this, the nice lady insisted on giving me 50% off. I pleaded for her not to do that to no avail. So just FYI that I paid only half.

The Good:
- Really nice staff
- Give them kudos for attempting vegetarian pho
- Clean, modern and comfy dining space

The Bad:
- As expected, the pho lacked depth (but good in its own way)
- Food takes a little while to arrive

Lolita's

Ah yes... Loud dance music, people dancing on the bar, lack of lighting and noisy chatter. Everything you'd find in a club or bar right? How about a restaurant? Much like Abigail's, Lolita's is a party disguising itself as a restaurant. Well, at least in the late weekend hours that is. In search of the elusive late night eats in the GVRD, Lionel Hutz, Milhouse and I ended up at this place because it is open 'til 2:00am. Funny thing too, while I was driving across the Lions Gate Bridge, I was listening to "Right Here (Human Nature Mix)" by SWV and reminiscing about my mid-20's. Oh how much I'd love to be transported back, even if it were only for a day! I guess my wish was partially granted as loud 80's music belted from the sound system as I walked in. It's like Back to the Future, I wanted to go back, but not that far back! Although everyone seemed to be partying like it was 1999 and didn't stop 'til they got enough.

Originally, Lionel Hutz was sitting against the wall on a banquette; however, he graciously switched seats with me explaining that I probably needed more room. As I found out, the darn heater was below me and it was quite hot. Furthermore, it appeared that it shielded me away partly from the rest of the people so that they would not notice I was taking pictures. Lionel Hutz gets a bit annoyed and embarrassed at my exploits. We hurried up and ordered since the waitress yelled out loudly, "last call, mother f**ckers!!!". That is a creative and interesting way to get people to order... Lionel decided on the Beef Taquitos which were filled with tender beef brisket. Pico de gallo was served on the side. He seemed to like them, they were crunchy and quite meaty.

I went for 2 items with the first being the Sopa de Tortilla. It consisted of roasted tomatoes, chicken, pascilla cheese and avocado with grilled cornbread on the side. I thought the soup was pretty good with plenty of tomato flavour and a bit of spice. I also had the Turkey Tostada. It sure looked impressive, stacked high with black beans on the bottom and turkey bathed in an apricot & pinenut mole on top. Pico de gallo and pickled cabbage completed the dish. It was quite enjoyable to eat; however, I couldn't help thinking that it was a one note tostada. What I mean is that it was a bit too sweet and not enough spice. Don't get me wrong, I liked it; but I just wish
there were more flavours at play.

Milhouse went for Lolita's Tacos - Pulled Anchiote Chicken with salsa verde & crema and Ground Beef & Chorizo with pomegranate demi-glace. Again, they looked quite majestic piled high with toppings and meat. That made it quite hard to eat as well. He made it clear that the chicken was much better than the beef (which was flavourless in his opinion). We all thought this was expensive for $16.75. In fact, the prices seem rather high for this type of food, despite being quite decent. I was impressed by their interpretation of Mexican food; however, it might offend the "authentic" police. It's alright for late night eats; but I'm not sure if I'd choose it as my dinner destination.

The Good:
- It's open late
- Energetic vibe
- Unique interpretation of Mexican food

The Bad:
- Extremely cramped seating arrangements
- Pricey

Golden Pizza & Sandwich

With a name like that, you'd expect to find someone tossing dough around and the smell of pepperoni in the air. Imagine the shock on someone's face when they come in expecting a large Hawaiian and ended up with a large Pho instead? Somehow pepperoni cannot be substituted for rare beef and fatty brisket. The old store apparently was a pizza shop. However, the new owners turned it into Vietnamese restaurant and did not change the name. What a hoot! Well, at the very least, I knew what I was getting into when I visited it today. In fact, all of the clientele knew exactly what they were doing there since they were all Vietnamese. That's a good sign. I really enjoy restaurants like that since it's an indication of authenticity. The server seemed almost taken aback when I walked in. I don't look anything close to being Vietnamese. She asked if it was my first time visiting the place. Most of the patrons seemed like regulars. She was very nice and even handed me a copy of the Province. I really didn't need it since it interferes with my eating and photo-taking.

I ended up getting the Special Pho. Curiously, there is no choice in bowl size. For good measure, I decided to try their Meatball Banh Mi. I just love how food comes out lightning fast at Vietnamese restaurants. Especially in this case since Whalley isn't exactly that close to my work. This way, it leaves more time for me to eat without trying to scoff down a whole meal in order to make it back to work in time. To me, the pho looked almost like home cooking. What I mean by that is the meat appeared to be hand cut and not very uniform in size. I enjoyed the soup, it was flavourful, not too salty and just a small amount of fat. The noodles were cooked all the way through without being soft.

The Meatball Banh Mi was also pretty good. The bread was light and crunchy. The meatball filling was tasty with bits of onion and everything seemed fresh. I only wished that the julienned daikon and carrot had a bit more flavour. Otherwise, pretty good banh mi out here in Surrey. I guess at least this fulfilled the "sandwiches" portion of the restaurant name. I only hope on one calls this place and tries to place an order for a large meat pizza. They will be in for a very big surprise.

The Good:
- It's inexpensive
- Food is pretty solid
- Staff is nice

The Bad:
- They gotta change the name of the place
- It would be nice to have different sizes of Pho