Miku

Polka King's birthday was coming up and I asked him where he wanted to go. He's not a picky guy, so he usually doesn't have an opinion one way or another. However, ever since his first visit to Miku, he has been raving about it. For him to rave about anything is something special. Other than his beloved music equipment (for his polka'ing), it would be hard to get anything out of him. Thus, he was pretty much in agreement that we meet up at Miku for his birthday. Hey, that worked for me. A visit to Miku has been a long time coming. Situated where the Spotted Prawn used to reside, the dining space is modern, trendy and comfortable. Joining us tonight were Emilicious, Lionel Hutz and Milhouse. When Milhouse and I arrived, we were given the opportunity to sit out on the patio since it was a fairly nice day. Probably the best day so far in our Spring/Summer.

Initially, I was pushing for the Omakase; yet it probably wasn't a good choice because a few of us were planning on more eats and drinks afterwards at Terracotta. Yes, 2nd dinner much like Merry and Pippen. That is quite a feat since I already had High Tea earlier in the day. Thus, we settled on ordering 2 dishes each and share. What makes Miku unique is the Aburi (torched) Sushi. The premise is to top maki and oshi sushi with sauce and caramelize it via torching. The question: is it a gimmick or does it really enhance flavour and texture? I guess we'll have to see...

We started out with the a Abu Tuna which was comprised of a sliced seared pieces of tuna rolled with red onion and peppers topped with masatake sauce. I'm not a huge fan of raw onions, so it was not really my cup of tea. Actually, I found that the copious amount of onion detracted from the tuna and it seemed to get lost flavour-wise. Yet, it did succeed from a textural standpoint since the crunchy onions were a nice contrast to the soft tuna. Usually, when we order a Sashimi Salad, it can be somewhat of an underwhelming experience because you really don't get much in the way of seafood in relation to the lettuce. However, the version at Miku was quite substantial. Consisting of 2 separate sections with one topped with a generous amount of sashimi and the second topped with 2 ebi and 2 hotate, it was no whimpy salad. It would've been perfect if they hadn't drenched the whole thing with dressing.

By virtue of already dining at Miku twice, we got Polka King to suggest a few dishes. One of which was the Chicken Nanban. When I read the description on the menu, I thought it was a misprint. House-made tartar sauce on fried chicken? Then I thought about it, I personally like tartar sauce on anything, especially fries. And you know what? This wasn't bad. The lightly battered (and I mean barely there batter) chicken was tender and lightly seasoned. I found it pleasant to eat, if not slightly bland. From fried to raw again, we had the Gyu Carpaccio with 2 different dressings. The first was a black sesame and the second appeared to ginger? I wasn't paying attention. The beef was really tender and sliced perfectly thin. I particularly liked the black sesame dressing, it had a understated nuttiness to it.

For me, I ordered the highly unsharable Sablefish Saikyoyaki. Well, it is sharable, it just becomes a bloody mess once divided. As Victoria and I discussed a while back, it's pretty hard to mess up sablefish (aka Black Cod). It does happen; but rarely. So I was expecting this dish to be good and it was. Simply marinated in miso and baked, the fish was buttery soft and had the right amount of seasoning. Arriving on a big platter, we got Miku's specialties last. Polka King really likes the Aburi Salmon Oshi, so we got 2 orders. It's pressed salmon sushi dressed with Miku sauce and jalapeno then torched. The premise behind this is to combine flamed French sauces with sushi to create flavours that are both unique and tantalizing. I liked how the jalapeno was there to provide a contrast to the fatty sauce while not intruding. As with most pressed sushi, the rice is denser. I decided to order the Miku Roll which consists of salmon, snow crab and cucumber rolled with tobiko and topped with Miku sauce. This was my favourite since the entire roll was fluffy (unlike the stiffer pressed sushi) highlighted by a natural sweetness which was accented by the Miku sauce and pop from the tobiko. I thought the sushi rice was prepared properly with a nice "bite' and a sweetness of its own.

With the same masatake sauce as the first roll, the Red Wave consisted of snow crab and avocado with maguro on the outside. The roll was good with the same fluffiness of the Miku Roll while exhibiting a slight crunch from the sauce. Yet, this was ultimately a so-so roll compared to the first 2 offerings. Finally, the Seabreeze was probably our least favourite. Probably because it was not visually appealing, it was both small and lacking in colour. Consisting of maguro, avocado with nori sauce and grated shiso leaf on the outside, I found it bland. I know the point of this roll is to be subtle, but it was just not my favourite.

Albeit on the expensive side, I found that most of the food at Miku to be crafted with care. The flavours are well-thought out and are clean. However, if someone was merely looking for "regular" sushi, this may not be the place. That is not their specialty. With the different sauces used in their sushi, the texture and tastes are definitely different. I personally like the concept while I can see how some would not. Thus, I tend to look at a place like this from a different point of view (ie. not looking at it as purely a Japanese restaurant). Ultimately, as with anything trendy and unique, we end up paying for it.

The Good:
- Something a bit different
- Comfortable and trendy dining space
- Attentive, yet not intrusive service

The Bad:
- Dinner is pricey
- Order their specialties, you can get regular sushi somewhere else for cheaper

Sun King Dim Sum

For a heavily Asian-influenced city, it's surprising to see that Dim Sum in Vancouver is only served for brunch/lunch. Sure, there have been some places that have attempted Dim Sum all the time; but it just hasn't seem to work (although Kam Wai serves it until 6:00pm). I know some people will point out that we have Shanghainese Dim Sum available for lunch and dinner. However, what I am focusing on is Cantonese Dim Sum. Therefore, there are only two options if you want Dim Sum anytime. You either make your own (or someone makes it for you) or buy frozen. Now that I've used the "f" word, it may bring up thoughts of the stuff you would find at T&T. Although some of the products are decent, most of the Dim Sum is mediocre at best.

Of course there are a few independent purveyors of frozen Dim Sum and honestly, I haven't found one that will ever rival a good restaurant (nor should it). Kam Wai Dim Sum (which now has a full-service restaurant on Pender) in Chinatown is alright if you're in the area; but usually I'm not. There was Top Quality on Hastings at Willingdon (that has since shut down) that I used to frequent. However, on my way home one day on Parker Street, I noticed that the corner market at Gilmore had become Sun King Dim Sum. Interesting. Honestly, this is a very odd location for a frozen Dim Sum store. It's in the middle of a residential area with no other businesses around it. I kept passing this place until one day I noticed it had opened for business. Naturally, I stopped and went in to check it out.

Something was familiar with this place... From the display down to the packaging, it looked a lot like the now defunct Top Quality. Much like Top Quality, Sun King is definitely a family-run operation. How do I know? Unless we are regressing and adopting labour laws from China and India, the front counter staff were a bit young. Anyways, in separate meals, we were able to sample some of items we had purchased. There are no specific instructions as to how long and in what manner someone is supposed to cook each product. That's an epic fail in my books since not everyone would necessary know. For the Sui Mai and Haw Gow, it is probably best to steam them for no more than 10 minutes. To prevent the dumplings from sticking, it's best to use a bamboo steamer. However, if you do use a plate, make sure you either grease it or use something like lettuce, Napa cabbage or carrot slices as bases for the dumplings.

Alright, enough of the cooking lesson. As for the Sui Mai, I would say it is pretty good. The pork is tender while still exhibiting a nice chewiness. I felt that there was a right amount of seasoning with a good balance of salty and sweet. The Haw Gow didn't fare as well. It's pretty much expected from frozen Dim Sum. The dumpling skin was far too thick and gummy. Although the filling was decent with fully deveined shrimp and bamboo shoots, there wasn't enough to counteract the thick skin. I thought that the BBQ Pork Bun was not bad. It could've been a bit fluffier; but the filling was quite plentiful and tasty (a bit on the sweet side). The same couldn't be said about the Chicken & Shrimp Bun. In theory, the filling sounded quite good; however, the shrimp is quite dry. Combine that with a dry bun, the whole thing kinda got stuck in my mouth while I was attempting to chew.

Another item we tried was the Loh Mei Gai (sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves). The rice itself was moist with plenty of ground pork filling. Not heavily seasoned, this was a winner. The last item were the Pork Wontons. I'm not a big fan of pork-only wontons. For me personally, I love the all-shrimp versions. However, I really didn't mind these ones. The pork was juicy and well-seasoned. The meat was not gritty and had a good "bounce" to it. There are many more different varieties of Dim Sum available that we have yet to try. For the items we did sample, they were pretty decent. Of course we can never expect restaurant quality Dim Sum from frozen products (assuming the restaurant we are referring to is good). However, Sun King fills the void when we want Dim Sum at home any time of the day.

The Good:
- Reasonable pricing
- Wide range of products
- Some decent items

The Bad:
- Will never be confused with good Dim Sum
- Strange location (works for some people)
- No instructions on the package
- Cash only

Kennedy's Sports Pub

Originally, Toolman and I were going for some dosas for lunch today. We headed over to the Dosa Grill and... it's closed! WTH? This is like the 3rd time for me with this place. The operating hours clearly state it should be open. This is one of the most annoying attributes a restaurant can have. I have very little patience for a place that decides on their operating hours on a whim. Usually, I just give up on those places no matter how good the food is. Poco Ocean in Coquitlam is a prime example. Although the food is good, you have to roll the dice when it comes to being open. So without a place to go, we settled on Kennedy Sports Pub. Yah, I know, a pub is not necessarily a foodie haven. But, we were short on time and there are pubs that can produce some pretty good eats to go with the booze.

As with many establishments of this genre, the food can be pretty standard. After all, much of it is supplied by Sysco. Of course raw materials and execution are 2 mutually exclusive things. I did the pub food thing and went for a Canuck Burger that was topped off by mushrooms, bacon and cheddar. You know what? It was a typical pub burger. Although, there were lotsa fresh veggies and the patty was cooked just right, not being too dry. I added yam fries and those too were quite decent. Toolman was even more adventurous and ordered Chicken Strips. Yah, I know I'm being sarcastic here. Well, once again, the strips were fried nicely while the meat still being tender. Yup, pretty generic food; but it was prepared right. Not expensive either. It won't set the gastronomical world on fire; yet it did the job. Not too sure about the pub itself, it's looking a little tired. Probably time for a makeover.

The Good:
- Like most pubs, it's cheap
- Food was edible
- Service was good

The Bad:
- It's generic pub food
- The deep fryer must get a good workout

dot. desserts

*Restaurant is closed*

If you didn't already know, I'm not much of a dessert person. While I do eat dessert, I'm rarely actively seeking it. Now, on the other hand, Bear is all about the desserts. In fact, he'd probably give Mijune a run for her money. While bears generally like honey, it is only fitting that he enjoys his sweets. So, as we were finishing up our meal at Shanghai Village, the topic of desserts came up. I wasn't really paying attention; but like a Corolla to an accident, Bear spoke up. Without giving much thought, he suggested we try dot. desserts. Alright, I remember this place... The last time I was at Posh, our server mentioned that her friends had opened up dot. desserts. Now, don't ask me how we got on that topic. I think she was flirting with Rich Guy or something. Wait, scratch that, Rich Gal could be reading this! Anyways, Bear mentioned the place is quite small and we could easily miss it. He wasn't kidding. We had parked nearly right in front and I still didn't see it. In fact, the "bubble tea" written on the front was more noticeable than the dot. desserts name.

Checking out the place revealed only a few seats. We got the last one which was a bar-type table with bar stools. I wasn't a big fan of this setup despite looking quite cool. For some reason, my seat kept wanting to go all the way down to the lowest setting... So other than their bubble teas, the main items are their parfaits and crepes. Judes opted for the Mango Parfait while Bear went for the Strawberry Mandarin Orange. I got to try both and I though they were pretty decent. Nothing Earth-shattering since it is pretty much a constructed dessert rather than a cooked dessert. Thus, it's all up to the ingredients (which were good), although I find the pricing to be on the higher side.

Milhouse had the Caramel Apple Parfait and it was pretty standard with cooked apples, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream and almond slivers. The apples were slightly bland. They could've used more sweetness and tartness. For myself, I went for something different in the Caramel Apple Crepe. This was pretty average in my opinion. The crepe was a little on the doughy side, although I did like the subtle flavours (wasn't too sweet). Although I wasn't necessarily overly impressed with anything; nothing was terrible. The prices are on the higher side; yet I can understand this given the high rent location. It's a decent place pretty much.

The Good:
- Friendly staff
- They got parfaits if you like 'em
- Good location in terms of parking and safety

The Bad:
- Slightly pricey
- Really small place, tight seating

Shanghai Village

*Restaurant is closed*

For much of the day, it was sunny and warm. I thought to myself that it would be the perfect evening for softball. Of course I shouldn't have been so optimistic since we do live in Vancouver. As Milhouse and I were heading West towards Montgomery Park, it was becoming quite apparent that the weather was taking a very nasty turn of the worse. We were hoping that the weather would hold up for our game; but all we could see were dark clouds and rain in the distance. While we were in the 1st inning, we noticed some clouds swirling in the distance that looked ominously like the beginnings of a tornado. Lucky for us, we were neither in a trailer park or Arkansas. Off in the distance there were lightning strikes and thunder. Then all of a sudden, rain and hail came down hard. We all scattered and naturally the game was called. Funny how Miss Y was late again and arrived just as we were scattering. I wonder if she was trying to bid on a dress on eBay again? Yes, her excuses are getting more bizarre every time. Next time, I'm bracing for the "I was busy playing Farmville" excuse.

So whenever we get together, whether we get to play the actual game itself or not, we still go for eats. Hey, why am I on this softball team in the first place??? So the first course of action was to decide on a place. Bear jumped into the back of my car and we held an impromptu meeting. Yes, we take eating very seriously! After a brief discussion, we decided on Shanghai Village. Joining me tonight were Bear, Milhouse, Judes and Hot Chocolate. Apparently the rain made some people go home rather than eat! Wimps!

We started with the Nanjing Marinated Duck. Sometimes when we order duck at Chinese restaurants, they end up to be more bone than meat. Not in this case. There was plenty of tender, well-seasoned meat kept moist by the fatty skin. I particularly liked that the natural duck flavour was able to stand up to the salt. Up next were the complimentary Xiao Long Bao. That's correct, you read right, they are free if you spend over $30.00 (I think...). Usually the only thing you get for free at Chinese restaurants is attitude. I must admit that these XLBs were pretty good. The dumpling skin is one of the thinnest I've seen and there was juice abound. The only thing I would wish for is that the pork to be a little less gritty. Oh, and our award for "epic fail in picking up a XLB" tonight goes to Milhouse. He got more on the table and steamer than his bowl. Another staple of Shanghainese Dim Sum are the Green Onion Pancakes. The exterior was crispy; however, I personally found the inside a tad doughy. With that being said, they were still quite good, exhibiting a nice aroma.

We are suckers for interactive food, so we got the Stir-Fried Pork with flour crepes. There was plenty of juicy, tender pork for the 8 accompanying crepes. I liked both the colour and taste of the pork. There was a rich stir-fried flavour that was sweet and only a tad salty. Something that we would've never ordered if our server didn't recommend it was the Stuffed Eggplant. Arriving on a metal plate atop hot rocks, the dish retained heat until we finished it. This was a favourite of our table. The pieces of eggplant were oil-blanched perfectly so that they were completely tender without becoming a mushy mess. Almost randomly, some pieces had ground pork stuffed into them and it was like finding a little treasure. There was no absence of seasoning in this dish either. It would've probably been better if we had rice or a steamed roll. Something that we usually order at a Shanghainese restaurant is the Stir-Fried Rice Cake. Unlike the other versions we had of this dish, the one here is stir-fried with cucumbers, peppers, beef and pine nuts. This was another winner. The rice cake was the perfect texture of being chewy; yet soft at the same time. We really liked the tender beef and slightly smoky flavour of the sauce.

The last dish was the Fried Bun with sweetened condensed milk. This one was fried up nicely with a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior. A very simple item really; but dipped into condensed milk, it's a treat. Too bad we didn't have any stir-fried pork left, I would usually stuff the ends of the fried bun (sans inside) with the pork (a Chinese taco?). Anyways, the food here at Shanghai Village is generally good across the board (at least with the items we had). Their XLB can definitely compete with the best in town. If I can draw a comparison in terms of decor, pricing and quality of food, Shanghai River comes to mind. However, I found the service better here and I didn't have to drive to Richmond...

The Good:
- Consistent food
- Very good Xiao Long Bao
- Decent service

The Bad:
- Some might find the prices a tad high (for me, it was worth it)
- Nothing outstanding; but consistent across the board

Acme Cafe

"Uh, you wanna go where for lunch???" That's what I got from JuJu and RBC while we were suiting up for Sunday morning hockey. My suggestion of the Acme Cafe was both confounding and interesting all at the same time. When I gave the exact location, some nervous banter ensued. I assured them that it is a new restaurant and the area is evolving. Being the next block over from the new Woodward's development, it is obvious that there is indeed change happening in the neighbourhood. I remember a time when Hastings was the hub of activity. Not only was Woodward's still around, there was Golden Crown across the street. Back then, that was some of the best Dim Sum around out of Chinatown. That is now long gone, replaced by decrepit buildings and the occasional pub. Located near the old location of Save-on-Meats, Acme Cafe dares to go where some won't. It attempts to bring the diner concept right into the heart of the Downtown Eastside.

Once we got out of the Britannia ice rink, everyone decided to hop in my car. Oh okay, sacrifice the safety of my car eh? I guess it is a small price to pay since I did have 2 skeptical eating companions. The skepticism didn't stop there. We ended up parking near Tinseltown so that my car wouldn't be right in the middle of Hastings. Turns out that it would've been a better idea since it would've been directly across the street in plain view from Acme. You might be wondering why we were so cautious... Well, I did have all of my goalie gear in the car including 2 expensive sticks. Although, I'm not sure what anyone would want to do with my stinky gear. It's a built-in security device in itself!

So when we finally entered Acme, JuJu and RBC were pleasantly surprised. Complete with booth seating and a large counter, it certainly had elements of a diner with a modern touch. To their dismay, I insisted on sitting at the 3 window stools, although there were some prime seats at the counter. I had to explain that natural light would render better pictures. They didn't seem all that impressed. It also didn't help that the window seats were pretty darn hot. I'm truly blessed with patient and understanding friends! Without further ado, we ordered some drinks. RBC had the Chocolate Milkshake while I went for Vanilla. A tad on the watery side and not too sweet, we didn't mind the shakes. If you were looking for thick, sweet shakes, this may not be for you. A surprising blast from the past, JuJu ordered the Pop Shoppe Root Beer. I haven't seen one of these for a long time.

For my main, I went for the Crock Pot Supper Feature, which happened to be the Sheppard's Pie. When it arrived, it didn't look like much; but one spoonful revealed flavourful, tender beef with smooth whipped potatoes and a rich gravy. This was a very satisfying sheppard's pie, if not a tad on the salty side. JuJu ended up with the Meat Loaf Sandwich. Wedged in between a whole wheat hoagie were 2 slices of soft mealoaf with caramelized onions, arugula, swiss cheese, grain dijon mayo and BBQ sauce. I gotta say that this sandwich is money (sorry for the Guy Fieri quote). The flavour really worked with a bit of smokiness from the BBQ sauce, tartness from the mayo, a splash of bitter from the arugula and sweetness from the onions. The only thing I'd change would be the bun. It reminds me of the old Tim Horton's bun which is a bit dense. When you try to chew through, everything shifts or falls out.

JuJu and I couldn't resist and got a side of Mac 'n Cheese as well. We both agreed that it was pretty darn good. It was extremely smooth and cheesy without being salty. Moreover, the macaroni didn't degrade, maintaining its shape and texture. I didn't finish mine and packed it up. My son ended up eating it; therefore, it must've been good (he hates everything). RBC opted for the Chicken Club and as you can see, there are some quality ingredients at work. Real sliced turkey, cheddar cheese, bacon and fresh tomatoes made for a solid sandwich. We were quite impressed with their take on diner food. I found the prices to be fair, if not a tad on the higher side. It is evident there is a level of care and effort put into everything they serve. Of course it ain't mind-blowing food and it really isn't meant to be either. However, it is very solid eats presented in a retro environment. Coupled with personable service, it certainly was a pleasant surprise in a unusual location.

The Good:
- Solid eats made with care
- Personable service
- Embraces the diner concept

The Bad:
- Although improving, the location is sketchy
- Not exactly expensive; yet not exactly cheap either

Elizabeth's Chalet

I'm not sure what I was thinking when I suggested to Dee & Ann of Me Plus Food that we meet up at Elizabeth's Chalet for dinner. You see, we had been planning to find some interesting eats for a while now. A few places came to mind and finally we settled on Elizabeth's Chalet. Now, to be honest, I knew nothing of the place other than the fact that it seemed to have some good reviews. Of course, being out in Cloverdale made it an adventure in itself. Last time, I had a pretty decent experience at the Vault nearby. Now where the Vault is both eclectic and trendy, Elizabeth's Chalet is not. I arrived a little early and as I walked in, I was stunned for a few seconds. No, it wasn't a blast from an Imperial Storm Trooper; rather I suddenly felt a whole lot younger. When Dee and Ann arrived, the hostess immediately pointed them in my direction by default. Why? Let's just say I stood out like a dandelion on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach.

Looking very much like it has been stuck in a time warp since 1980, Elizabeth's Chalet has a homey feel to it. From the pink tablecloths down to the Victorian floral print on the chairs, the place is classy in its own special way. I found that the service was quite good. In fact, the assistant waiter knew the proper etiquette, which is a whole lot better than some other places I've been to in Downtown. While Ann and Dee chose to go for the Early Bird, I went for a la carte. Reason? For variety of course! I started with the Warm Duck Salad. The salad was quite decent. The pan fried duck pieces were generally good with a definite soy taste. Some bits were a tad chewy probably because the duck fat had been fried until it was crispy/chewy. I found that the dressing (or the duck fat from the pan frying) made the salad a tad greasy.

Dee and Ann decided to go for the Early Bird for $22.00. Dee started with the Carrot Ginger Soup. He thought it was not nearly as good as what he had at the Cannery. It was decent though with a smooth texture while the flavors weren't too strong. Yet, he couldn't really tell it was carrot besides the color. Ann went for the other appetizer option - Caesar Salad. Yah, nothing much to get excited about really. It was your typical standard Caesar Salad. Pretty solid nonetheless.

For my main, I went for the Prime Rib special @ $13.95. A perfectly medium-rare prime rib resided on a plate complete with mashed potatoes, broccoli, carrots and Yorkshire pudding.
Most parts of the prime rib were tender with the rare portion being a tad chewy (which is pretty standard). The mash potatoes were very fluffy and buttery. I liked it. The veggies were still a bit firm which was nice. The au jus was understated with some meat flavour, it didn't overpower the natural flavour of the prime rib.

Continuing on the meat theme, Dee had the 6 oz Sirloin. Definitely a bit tougher cut of meat compared to the prime rib. It was cooked medium rare, but was tougher to chew. It was topped with a ton of good mushrooms. He liked the home fried potatoes were good, half-crispy house potatoes. The broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots still had a crunch to it. Dee suspected they were steamed. The cauliflower had a bit of sauce on it, but he couldn't taste it. It was kind of bland.

Ann ended up with the other choice for the early bird being the Red Snapper Four Seasons with mashed potatoes and fresh veggies. The premise of the sauce are the veggies representing the four seasons, consisting of tomatoes, olives, celery and onions. I got to sample the fish and I thought it was cooked quite nicely. The fish was still moist and flaky while cooked all-the-way through. I wasn't so sure about the sauce. I found that the fish got lost in the tartness. Rather than letting the fish shine (although snapper is mild-tasting), all I could taste was sauce. Mind you, that might've been the intention. As mentioned before, the veggies and mash potatoes were good.

For dessert, Ann had the Lemon Cake. I found the cake to be quite sweet with not much lemon flavour. It was actually quite dense despite its light appearance. Dee had a slice of the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. We both thought that the filling was quite good balancing sweetness with tartness. However, the crust was not flaky at all. It was dense and chewy. Overall, the food at Elizabeth's Chalet can be summed up as traditional. The place is the antithesis of modern and trend-setting. It is a place that represents yesteryear and doesn't apologize for it. We were not their target clientele; yet the food was decent. For the prices they charge, especially for the specials, it is a bargain. Portions were good, service was friendly and stares from the older patrons were priceless.

The Good:
- Honest-to-goodness service
- Solid traditional food
- Decent value

The Bad:
- Nothing modern here, if so, go down a few blocks to the Vault
- Food is solid, if not unspectacular