Alleluia

There once was a time where I played hockey every Saturday night at Richmond Ice.  The group was a good bunch of guys (and sometimes gals) who would eat out afterwards.  There was one problem though...  They loved to eat at only one place - Alleluia.  Hey, I personally didn't mind it because the food was decent, well-priced and the staff were friendly.  But for blogging purposes, it was not the best arrangement.  Due to my busy schedule, I drifted away from this group and lost my full-time spot.  Fast forward to the present and I am once again playing at Richmond Ice every Saturday with a different group, ironically at the rink beside the former group.  Hence, nearly 4 years later, I joined them for late night eats at...  you guessed it, Alleluia.  I dragged Gordo with me since he has been my de facto eating companion on Saturday nights (or should it be Sunday mornings...).

As with my previous visits to Alleluia, I went for the 3 Item Meal which started with a choice of soup.  I had the Cream of Ham & Corn which was a typical HK-style cafe starch-thickened concoction.  It was a bit lukewarm, mild in flavour and a reasonable thickness.  As for my 3 items, I had the Chicken Steak, Ox Tongue and Rib-Eye Steak. It came with mixed veggies and spaghetti (or rice), with a choice of sauce, which was black pepper in this case.  I found the chicken steak to be pan-fried nicely where the dark meat was moist and juicy while the exterior was crispy.  The ox tongue was soft while maintaining a bite. As for the rib-eye, it was pale, chewy and not very good.  The black pepper sauce was good though, having a good consistency and a nice peppery hit.  Gordo had the Rice Noodles with Brisket and as the visuals would suggest, there was a lot of meat (which was decently tender.  The soup wasn't anything to write home about while the noodles were not mushy.

On a subsequent visit with Gordo and Emilicious, I decided to try the Spaghetti Bolognese. For those who are not familiar with HK-style food, this is their rendition of the dish.  Yes, it contains meat and diced carrots, onions and tomatoes, but that is where the similarities with the Italian dish end.  This one was passable with slightly soggy noodles and a sauce that was more tomatoey with hits of star anise. I found it a bit too meaty and saucy which essentially drowned the pasta.  Seeing how I was famished (and when am I not), I added a Ham and Egg Sandwich as well.  I found the bread not as soft as I would've liked and the skimpy amount of filling didn't help things.  Since the sandwich and spaghetti were essentially the same price, I found the ham & egg to be not worth the money.

Emilicious decided on a dish which I am not a fan of being the Bitter Melon and Beef on Rice.  She thought it was decent with a good amount of ingredients on top of the rice.  The beef was mostly tender with some chewy parts while the bitter melon was still a bit crunchy.  The flavours, other than the melon itself, were mild.  Gordo spotted the Pan-Fried Udon with Soy as we walked in which made him want to order it.  He was happy with the decision as the noodles were still chewy while there was enough seasoning.  It was a tad greasy though.  Overall, Alleluia did the job (both times) with predictability and at a low price.  Sure, there are better HK-style cafes out there, but Alleluia surely satisfies the value criteria, especially for late night eats.


The Good:
- Inexpensive
- Decent food
- Decent service

The Bad:
- There is better, but will probably cost you more
- For those who have never been, it is hidden from the street

Crave

I'm not sure why Costanza and I go to the Vancouver International Car Show every year.  It's not like we were in the market for a car.  We had both just recently bought new cars.  Is it that we were wanting to look a the new Smart Car?  No, that wouldn't fit our lifestyles...  I'm not sure if I could fit my goalie bag in there anyways. And besides, I couldn't put big rims on it either.  Really, it is probably we had nothing better to do.  In fact, my only reason for going was that we'd be eating afterwards!  Funny how I didn't really have anywhere in mind though.  I left it up to him and he suggested Crave.  Hey why not, I haven't been back there for quite some time...

We started with their popular Short Rib Poutine with a side of truffle mayo.  This was a fairly large portion with plenty of short rib on top.  The fries were crispy, even though they were drenched in a good amount of moisture - perfect for dipping into the flavourful mayo.  That was in addition to the already truffle-infused fries with a balanced amount of Parmesan.  What really stood out was the moist, tender shreds of short rib.  They were meaty and full of natural flavour rather than being overseasoned.  When we ordered the Popcorn Shrimp, we weren't expecting much, but to our surprise, it was a huge portion of buttery cold water shrimp encased in a paper thin crispy coating.  It was slightly greasy, but good nonetheless.  The accompanying sweet chili mayo was quite mild and very creamy.  It could've stood to be a bit more impactful.

For our mains, I went with my standby being the Slow Braised Lamb Shank served with whipped potatoes, roasted root vegetables and fresh veggies.  I found the large lamb shank to be prepared beautifully with a nice roasted exterior giving way to super moist and tender meat.  It exhibited a gelatinous richness that we associate with well-prepared lamb shank.  Although the braising liquid was not devoid of flavour, I would've preferred a bit more body.  Costanza ended up with more shortrib in the Shorty Rigatoni.  Viv and I had this the last time we were here and it was just as good as I remembered it.  With al dente pasta and a plethora of the same meaty shredded short rib, this was a hearty offering.  Lots of natural meat flavour as well as a balanced tomato ragout.  Once again, Crave didn't disappoint.  For the prices they charge and the food quality, I really wish people would skip the chain restaurants.

The Good:
- Okay pricing
- Good portions
- Good food

The Bad:
- Super small with tight seating (although there is a patio when the weather is nice)

Dinesty on Robson

Could this be a new fad or trend?  Legit Xiao Long Bao in Downtown Vancouver???  If we even just look back a year ago, there was no such thing.  A decent XLB in Downtown Vancouver was as rare as a sunny day in December.  But that all changed with the opening of Shanghai Xiao Long Bao on Richards Street.  Now, the restaurant that boasts one of the best in town has opened up shop on lower Robson.  Ironically, Dinesty is not really a true Shanghainese joint.  Rather, it is a Taiwanese restaurant with Shanghainese and Szechuan dishes.  Yes, that cuisine-confusion could spell trouble, but they seem to pull it off.  Well, that is true for the Richmond location.  Therefore, Whipping Girl, Rich Guy and I set out to see if the Robson location stacks up.

Immediately, Rich Guy was scouring the menu for Garlic Pork.  We did find their version being the Streaky Pork with Garlic Sauce.  No, there was no pig nudity, rather, I think they were referring to the use of pork belly.  Unfortunately, we found the slices to be too thick which negated the usual pork belly texture.  However, the sauce was fantastic being really garlicky, vinegary and sweet.  Next up was the Marinated Beef with Soy Sauce Wrapped in Pancake.  These were not bad with a somewhat flaky pancake (it was a bit gummy.  The sliced beef shank was easy to chew while there was a complimentary amount of cucumber and green onion.

And then it arrived - the one defining item - Xiao Long Bao.  These were respectable as the dumpling skin was thin and exhibited an appealing soft elasticity.  The meat was sufficiently moist with a touch of grittiness.  There was ample soup which was sweet, yet a little weak with the ginger.  For some reason or another, I prefer the ones from the Richmond location more.  Paying homage to this "Din Tai Fung"-type of experience, we had the Shrimp Sui Mai (very similar to the one at DTF).  However, unlike DTF, these had no soup whatsoever - only ground pork and green onion.  We liked the mild sweet flavour with the brightness of the greens, but the lack of moisture made it a touch dry to eat.

Moving along, we had the Noodle Soup with Beef and Tendon. The soup base was light and only mildly flavourful.  The noodles were nicely prepared retaining some chew.  As for the meat, it was gelatinous and tender.  Saving the best for last, we had the Tea-Smoked Duck served with steamed buns.  This dish was friggin' fantastic.  The duck was moist and smoky while the skin was crispy and nicely rendered.  One of the better versions I've had as of late.  Although not the perfect meal (and what is?), we were satisfied with our visit to Dinesty on Robson.  It is nice to see legitimate Chinese eats in the Downtown core.

The Good:
- Generally well-made food
- Decent service
- Surprisingly spacious dining space (wouldn't have guessed from the outside)

The Bad:
- Pretty busy, the servers are nice, but hard to get a hold of
- As with most restaurants, you need to pick the right dishes

Pho Japolo (North Vancouver)

Sometimes, it can be quite the chore to find kid's activities that we haven't done over and over again.  Therefore, we try to hit spots we haven't been before (with the kids).  For whatever reason, we decided to visit the Capilano River Hatchery in March.  Yes, that was really not the best time to visit the place as there are no salmon spawning and frankly, it was a bit nippy outside too.  As you can imagine, the visit was short and lacking in entertainment value.  I think the rainbow from the mist from the raging river was the highlight of the visit.  So underwhelmed and a bit frozen from our outdoor adventure, we decided to hit up Pho Japolo at the foot of Capilano Road and Marine Drive.

Ah yes, this place has gone through several restaurants and not once has the decor remarkably changed.  Oh well, we were here for the food only right?  Interestingly, the Lemongrass Chicken on Rice arrived first with a bounty of meat atop some rice.  As you can see in the picture, there was more chicken than rice. However, the chicken was dry and hard.  At the very least, it was flavourful in a sweet kind of way and charred nicely.  Trying to change it up a bit, I decided to try the Cambodian Dry Noodles. For a non-Phnom Penh Version, this was pretty good.  The noodles were still chewy and doused with just the right amount of sauce (which was a good balance of salty and sweet).  The ample amount of ingredients were well-prepared as well.

Onto something they would like to call a Banh Mi.  I say this because this was the worst version I've had in quite some time.  Yes, I realize they are not a Banh Mi joint, but still, they are a Vietnamese restaurant.  The bread was super dense and rock hard while the meats were sliced too thick being difficult to chew.  Furthermore, there was too much butter-mayo and not enough pate or fish sauce (or Maggi).  Lastly and strangely, the Pho Dac Biet showed up at the very end of the meal.  It was okay with tender meats and a sweet broth that was a bit heavy with the MSG.  After it was all said and done, it wasn't like we were displeased with our meal, but we were certainly not that satisfied.  Consider this an average experience at best.

The Good:
- Fairly decent portions
- Some good dishes

The Bad:
- Some bad dishes
- Decor could use an update

Mosaic

Normally, you'd find me bringing out the whole family when dining at a hotel restaurant.  Think of it - safe food in a generally kid-friendly environment (assuming it's not a boutique hotel or something).  However, this time around, it was going to be the boys meeting up for lunch at Mosaic in the Hyatt Regency. Snake thought it would be a good idea to meet up for the first time since Vegas just to hang out. Good thing too, it would probably be less expensive...  Actually, I've been to Mosaic before, prior to blogging, and it was a pretty typical hotel restaurant experience - no surprises.  Since then, they have reno'd and the dining space has a nice modern feel to it and lots of natural light from the big windows.

We started off with some biscuits and they certainly looked better than they ate.  They were far too dense for our liking.  But whatever, that was the complimentary bread, not really a big deal.  As usual, I couldn't resist ordering only one thing, so I started with the Seafood Chowder. I found it thick, yet floury thick rather than creamy.  It was mild with only a hint of the sea.  The fish was flaky and moist while the veggies were not mushy despite being diced into little bits.  For my main, I went for the Seared Haida Gwaii Albacore Tuna Sandwich. As evidenced in the picture, the tuna barely kissed the grill.  That was perfect in my opinion as the natural texture and taste of the fish was not compromised.  Combined with the crunch from the arugula, lemon aioli and the soft ciabatta, this was well executed.

Costanza actually shared half of his Club House for the other half of my sandwich.  Not a bad trade (even though mine cost more!) since it was a well-made sandwich.  The toast was done right, bacon was crispy and the turkey was real meat while the rest of the ingredients were fresh.  The accompanying fries were decent being crispy and lacking that generic feel to them.  Chill had the Thai Fry consisting of long beans, peanuts, garlic, chilis and ground pork atop coconut basmati rice.  This was actually not bad for a non-Asian restaurant.  The beans were still crisp and the meat was moist while there was noticeable heat to the dish.

Continuing on with the Asian theme, Snake had the Curry Bowl with chicken. He found the chicken to a bit dry while the flavours were mild and the sauce thin.  Despite this, it wasn't as if the dish wasn't decent.  Pretty typical curry from a non-Indian joint.  And naturally, the naan wasn't really traditional naan (but we weren't expecting it to be).  Lastly, Vandelay tried the Fish & Chips featuring ling cod in a Granville Island pale ale batter served with spicy remoulade. He found the batter to be thick while the fish was slightly dry.  He thought a traditional tartar sauce would've been better than the remoulade.  Well, there you have it, a meal with some typical lunch items mixed in with some surprises.  Not bad, and in the end, Mosaic offered up a decent alternative to the chain restaurants nearby.

The Good:
- Classy and comfortable dining space
- Attentive service
- Okay pricing considering location and class of restaurant

The Bad:
- As with any meal, pick the right dish and it'll be good, pick the wrong one and it is not as good

Burnaby Empty Bowls Fundraiser 2013

Recently, I was invited to attend the Burnaby Empty Bowls Fundraiser at the Metrotown Hilton. It is an biennial gala which helps raise funds support local programs for children, youth, and families in Burnaby that provides nutritious food and helps build skills that encourage healthy lifestyles.
The Empty Bowls Project was originally launched in 1999 by Burnaby’s Food First Committee, a coalition of social service agencies and volunteers, to raise awareness of the existence of hunger and poverty in Burnaby. Participating vendors included The Pear Tree, EBO, The Hart House, Metrotown Hilton, Valley Bakery, Chez Christophe and the Burnaby School District's Ace-It Culinary Program.

After we picked up our unique hand-made ceramic bowls, Viv and I headed off to the Pear Tree first where Chef Scott Jaeger and Stephanie Jaeger were plating the Ham Hock Terraine with pickled vegetables and mustard aioli.  In typical Scott Jaeger fashion, the dish was intricately plated and pretty to look at.  The narrow slice of terraine was topped with mushrooms and pickles resting on a an impactful mustard aioli.  The saltiness of the hock was balanced by the sweetness of the aioli and the other components.  The accompanying Spring Pea Soup was surprisingly light and refreshing.  Naturally sweet, it went down easy.

Next up was the Slow Cooked Lamb Chop with black truffle, mint and Dijon from EBO at the Delta Burnaby Hotel.  This was our favourite offering of the event.  Apparently we weren't alone with this sentiment as they had the longest lineup throughout the night.  The lamb was super tender and practically fell of the bone.  It was cooked medium-rare and had just enough natural flavour. The sauce was understated yet flavourful while the Dijon added a mild acidity. We also got a sample of their famous Roti Canai with red curry and it was freshly made being crispy on the outside while light and slightly chewy on the inside.

The students of the Burnaby School District's ACE-It Culinary Program offered up 2 dishes.  The Duck Confit Ragout in choux pastry was fairly moist but the flavour profile was a bit too tart.  We did like the big chunks of plump mushrooms though.  The side of blueberries was a good accompaniment, but they were far too cold.  As for the Macadamia Encrusted Cod Filet and Seared Scallop on a bed of orzo risotto, each item was slightly overdone while the orzo was too watery. The scallop was a bit rubbery as well.  But props to them for a well-made dish considering the other heavyweights in the room.

 Over at The Hart House table, Chef Alana Peckham offered up Nori-Wrapped Albacore Tuna with cucumber, daikon, sweet shoyu aioli and bonito flakes. We liked the individual components as they were fresh and crisp.  But together, the tuna got lost.  Admittedly, this was probably the lightest dish at the event, so it was a nice break from the rich offerings.  In terms of the Chilled Melon Gazpacho with honey dew, cucumber, jalepeni, cilantro and lime, it was interesting, but not our favourite.

At the Metrotown Hilton table, the Harissa Rubbed Beef Tenderloin with red quinoa fathoush salad was prepared beautifully with a spicy bark on the outside while being medium-rare on the inside.  It was soft and so easy to eat.  We loved the crunchy quinoa salad underneath as it provided texture and brightness.  The accompanying Low Fat Avocado and Blueberry Laban was smooth and delicious. For dessert, the Valley Bakery offered up a delightful Pavlova.  The meringue was airy and light.  As a dessert, it was not overly sweet.

Lastly, we go to sample treats from Chez Christophe. The Mini-Macarons were really nicely executed with a light exterior shell giving way to a soft chewiness.  Flavours were apparent while not tasting artificial.  The Chocolates were quite good too with a dark bitterness while melting into silkiness in our mouths.  This little sample made me want to visit his store ASAP (which I did).  This was a fine finish to a great event that supports worthy causes.

Pho Chung Nam

Whenever we return from any trip out of Vancouver, big or small, we crave Chinese food.  Fresh off a particularly uninspiring Dim Sum experience at Noble Court in Bellevue, we were in need of some food therapy.  Of course venturing into Richmond was on the table because it would be on our way home, but in the end, we decided to avoid the traffic and head into New West instead.  New West???  For Chinese food?  Are you mad?  Well yes and apparently our destination, Pho Chung Nam, decided to take Chinese food off the menu completely.  Apparently, that didn't only catch us off guard, all the other patrons seemed confused as well.  I think they better change their signage ASAP.

Fine, I guess we were eating Vietnamese food, even though we had it recently.  We really didn't want to go somewhere else.  So we started with the Spring Rolls, even though we really didn't order it. Apparently there are 2 items on the menu with the same number.  Whatever, more food to eat right?  Well, these were the wheat wrapper variety, which were crispy and served hot.  There was a noticeable sweet onion hit, but there was a too high of a veggie-to-meat ratio.  Next up was the Banh Mi Dac Biet.  The bread was crunchy but rather dense.  There was pate, but it was barely distinguishable.  Furthermore, there was an absence of a salty kick from fish sauce and/or Maggi.

Onto something that we were bound to order - the Pho Dac Biet.  The broth was clean but with an overly sweet slant.  Despite the obvious overuse of MSG, it exhibited very little depth.  The meats were okay, but the portion was rather small.  For the kiddies, we got them a Pho Ga and man was it full of MSG.  The broth was super flavourful which could only mean one thing...  Being the free-range variety, the chicken was very chewy, hence the kids avoided it.  The meatballs were good though.  In the end, this was not a good version of Pho Ga.  Lastly, we tried the Lemongrass Chicken, Grilled Vietnamese Ham and Fried Egg on Rice.  The rice itself was a bit too dry while the nicely fried egg did help somewhat.  We liked the chicken though as it was flavourful and charred nicely, as with the pork.  This was a decent end to a so-so meal.  Nothing particularly bad, but nothing really that stood out either.  Consider it an average Vietnamese restaurant.

The Good:
- Staff are pretty friendly
- Prices are okay

The Bad:
- Food is so-so
- Too much MSG