Pho Phu Thinh

Highly anticipated, the opening of the first few Target stores in the Lower Mainland have garnered much attention and curiosity.  Now we all know that Target in the States is known for good prices along with a pleasant shopping experience.  With that in mind, Viv and I decided to check out the Coquitlam Mall location for ourselves.  Talk about failure to launch.  Yes, we liked the store itself as it resembled any other Target we've been to.  Also, it was a bit trippy as we felt we were transported to the States all of a sudden.  But the prices were no different than what we'd find at the local Walmart (maybe even a bit more).  We didn't stay long, instead heading over to Pho Phu Thinh across the parking lot for some grub.

As per usual, we started with a bowl of Pho Dac Biet which was pretty decent. The soup was sweet with savoury elements.  There was some meatiness and of course MSG.  The noodles were not overcooked while the meats were mostly tender except the brisket which was a touch dry.  Next, we shared the Lemongrass Chicken and Fried Vietnamese Ham on Rice. We liked the chicken as it was charred nicely which gave a sweet caramelized flavour.  It was also juicy and tender.  As for the ham, it was fried a bit too much where it became rubbery and hard. 

Lastly (partly because they forgot), we had the Banh Mi Dac Biet.  We thought the bread was on the denser side, but still had a good crunch.  There was a bit too much pickled carrot for our liking and not enough meat.  Furthermore, the lack of pate greatly reduced the layers of flavour. Much like many of the other Vietnamese joints in town, Pho Phu Thinh did the job with little fanfare.  Despite the absent-mindedness of the service, it was very friendly and welcoming.

The Good:
- Warm and friendly service
- Place is pretty clean
- Decent eats

The Bad:
- Parking lot can get busy at times
- Food expedition was a bit slow and one item was missed

Ten Ten Tapas

In a marathon week of eating, Viv reluctantly joined me for an invited tasting at Ten Ten Tapas.  This was the 6th tasting in 7 days.  Okay, that is not a typical week for me, but Viv had to say uncle after just 2 events earlier in the week.  Well, this was not going to get any better as we were treated to practically the whole menu, albeit some dishes in smaller portions.  I definitely think we have #firstworldproblems when we are complaining about too much food.

Even before we got to the food, it was quite obvious that the location of the restaurant on Beach Ave is its best asset.  I suppose it could be a blessing and a curse at the same time due to not being visible from street level, yet at the same time, having a wonderful water view.  We ended up getting a pitcher of Sangria to start which was a refreshing and light.  The first item to arrive was the Duo of Hummus and Guacamole with pita bread.  We thought the hummus was fantastic with a smooth texture (with just a few bits of texture) and a considerable garlic hit.  Hence, there was a sharpness with the finish.  The generous drizzle of EVOO didn't hurt either.  As for the guacamole, it was fresh and smooth, but the flavours were a bit flat.  More lime and possibly a bit more onion would've livened it up.

Interestingly plated as 2 separate piles on the plate was the Roasted Beet and Orange Salad.  The beets were a little inconsistent texturally as some were just right (firm yet chewable) while a few were quite crunchy.  In addition to a roasted essence, there was a considerable "sweet beet" taste.  The splash of balsamic was the necessary acidic component.  The accompanying orange salad was pretty typical with a sweet slant.  Next up was the Quinoa Salad with sweet peppers, onions, jalapeno, cilantro and sweet corn.  We found the quinoa to have the right firm texture, yet the flavours were not really apparent.  A bit more acidity in the form of lemon would've really brought it to life.  However, the pop from the sweet corn was welcomed as well as the texture.

Presented on a long plate, we sampled the Crostini Platter consisting 2 each of the Bruschetta, Avocado & Blue Cheese and Smoked Salmon & Gruyere.  This was an enjoyable offering with crisp crostinis and a herbal hit from a smear of pesto.  My favourite was the avocado & blue cheese as the sharpness helped bring flavour to an otherwise mild-tasting ripe avocado.  The salmon & gruyere benefited from the natural flavours of both ingredients which was smoky and cheesy.  The bruschetta was really bright and fresh but could've really used some acidity.  *Please note that the following dishes were only sample sizes only* Now to some intentionally smaller dishes (so we could sample more) beginning with the Pipita Shrimp & Scallops.  These were pan-seared with crushed pumpkin seeds and dressed with citrus vinaigrette & balsamic reduction accompanied by strawberry chutney.  As for the seafood, they were properly prepared where the shrimp had a firm snap while the scallops were buttery soft.  However, the pumpkin seeds could not provide the crispy texture we were looking for.  Despite being dark and intimidating, the balsamic reduction did not overwhelm while the citrus vinaigrette was very light.

Then something scary arrived being the Wasabi Shumai.  Being Chinese, it is very hard to eat anything Dim Sum without being critical.  Okay, the positives first - when they said wasabi, they weren't kidding.  One bite and whoomp there it was, a big hit of eye-watering wasabi.  That I liked.  The texture... not so much.  I found it too soft and even with the crunchy water chestnuts, it needed more meatiness.  Continuing on with the international theme of the meal, we were served the Moroccan Roasted Chicken which was a slow roasted free range breast in a Moroccan Romesco sauce.  At this point, I was wondering why every dish had a splash of balsamic reduction.  Hey, I love the reduction, but every plate?  I digress.  As for the chicken, it was sufficiently moist for free-range.  Flavour-wise, it was interesting with a tumeric and coriander hit.  Not very Romesco-ish, but not bad nonetheless.

Up next was the Stuffed Organic Beef Meatballs with Emmental cheese accompanied by a fennel cinnamon onion chutney and red pepper coulis.  I found the meatballs to be on the softer side with only the slightest meat texture.  Despite the colour, the red pepper coulis was very mild with only the slightest spice.  I could've sworn that there was a touch of srirracha in there, but Viv didn't think so.  As for the chutney, it was good except there was too much cinnamon.  And there was that balsamic reduction again!  Well, the side of Herb & Balsamic Button Mushrooms had it too, but only in the cooking process.   I liked this dish as there was no absence of flavour in terms of sweet balsamic and the presence of thyme and oregano.  Viv thought they should've been left whole though.  The side of Garlic Herb Mash Potatoes was pretty typical being buttery with some bits.  It was mild though and could've benefited from some more garlic. Our last side was the Broccolini Almondine and it was pretty good.  I found the broccolini retained a crunch while cooked all-the-way-through.  The roasted almonds were aromatic and there was just enough seasoning.

If you thought this was the end, well no it wasn't.  We were presented next with the Pan-Seared Crab Cakes served with Harissa mayo and pineapple tomato salsa. The crab cakes were lightly crisp on the outside with a nice hit of lemon.  However, the crab itself wasn't exactly fluffy.  Not sure if it was either overcooked or that they didn't use fresh crab.  This was somewhat alleviated by the slightly spicy harissa mayo.  One dish we could've done without was the Stuffed Portabellini Mushrooms.  These were stuffed with spinach, jalapenos, red onion and blue cheese finished by a basil vinaigrette.  We felt the wonderful mushrooms were completely overwhelmed and overshadowed by the sharp blue cheese and spicy jalapenos.  More mild ingredients were needed in this case.

Finally arriving at dessert, we had a duo of Lychee Sorbet and Tiramisu Gelato.  Since this was sourced from Mario's, it was pretty predictable.  We did like the lychee sorbet though.  They did make their Raspberry Cheesecake in-house though and it was not bad (currently not made in-house).  I did get a few small bits of cream cheese, but that didn't make or break the dish.  It was creamy with a texture in-between NY-style and mousse.  There was a good amount of raspberry flavour without too much sugar added. As for the crust, it was firm and not fatty.  For the massive amount of food we were served, most were not bad with some that needed more thought. I give the chef credit for experimenting with different flavour combinations.

*Note: This was an invited dinner where all food was comped*

The Good:
- Excellent location, especially when the sun is shining
- Nice dining space
- Chef isn't afraid of playing with flavours

The Bad:
- When playing with flavour combinations, unintended results happen
- As with any tapas joint, final bill could get up there 

Chez Christophe

As much as North Burnaby is a great place to live, it isn't blessed with many great culinary experiences.  Sure, we have the Pear Tree, Chez Meme and possibly Horizons, but everything else is a mishmash of various neighbourhood restaurants.  If we look at bakeries, it gets even more dicey with only the Valley Bakery standing out.  However, we just might have something to talk about after all...  With the opening of Chez Christophe, it would appear we have our first legit Patisserie in the area.  Originally, I had visited the place earlier and had not scheduled this post.  In the meantime, I got an invite for a tasting.  Therefore, this post is a combination of both visits.

Let's start with my original visit first... For those unfamiliar, Christophe used to be the pastry chef at Cin Cin. Hence, it was no surprise to find the Duo in the display case.  Remarkably similar to the Duomo at Cin Cin, this little dome of chocolate consisted of chocolate mousse and orange cream within velvety chocolate.  As expected, this was as good as the first time I had it.  Beautifully crafted and not overbearing in any aspect.  As with most patisserie visits, I got a Lemon Tart.  I liked the size as it wasn't too big nor small while the crust was firm and buttery.  The lemon curd had a smooth consistency which was not runny.  There was a substantial lemon hit that was tempered by just enough sugar.  I liked this tart very much.

Of course I also got some Butter Croissants and I thought they were really good.  My son devoured his quickly and gave the thumbs up.  There were buttery on the inside and crispy on the outside.  Nothing more to say than these were well-made.  Now onto the tasting we were presented with their Double-Baked Croissants.  These were rich and sweet while being buttery throughout.  Since it was the end of the day, they were not as firm as I would've liked as they had softened up in texture. On the topic of soft, I found the inside of their Macarons to be a bit too mushy for my liking.  However, it was a bit different than my first experience as it was chewier with a crisp shell.  I did like the delicate flavours though as they were not too sweet nor artificial-tasting.

Onto some more desserts, I tried the Fraise Pistache consisting of pistachio cream, strawberry cremeux with a heart of strawberry and Limoncello confit on a pistachio dacquoise. I found the pistachios on the outside provided a nice aroma as well as texture.  As for the layers, they were light and not particularly sweet.  It was not as heavy as it appeared.  I found the layer of cake a bit dense though.  Next was the Mille-Feuille made with caramelised puff pastry, tonka cream and coffee ganache.  I really liked this one as the pastry was flaky and crisp.  The cream was flavourful while still light.  The ganache was smooth and impacful without being overwhelming.

Continuing on and thinking I needed an insulin shot, we had the gluten-free Noix de Coco et Citron Vert consisting of lime and coconut mousse with raspberry confit on a coconut dacquoise.  Surprisingly to me, this was probably one of my favourites since it was so refreshing.  It was not heavy at all exhibiting a sweet coconut essence while being airy.  Then we had 2 desserts with similar appearances, but with very different tastes.  First, the Myrtille Vanille was constructed with vanilla mousse and a heart of blueberry with sponge soaked in blueberry.  This was fairly light and only semi-sweet.  I had no problem eating it as it was fruity and smooth. The Gianduja Cerise made with hazelnut chocolate mousse with a heart of cherry on a hazelnut crunch was equally good being only slightly more heavy due to the chocolate and hazelnut crunch.  Again, there a conservative amount of sugar used.

Another super creamy dessert which was not-heavy-at-all was the Tiramisu Verrine made with vanilla bean Mascarpone mousse and marinated blueberries in orange juice and Grand Marnier. I was actually wanting to finish my desserts because they were so easy to eat.  I really liked the blueberry as it was fruity and natural tasting.  Lastly, I tried a selection of their Chocolates (and without getting too detailed) which I found to be pretty good.  They were silky with a nice sheen and just sweet enough.  The flavours were as advertised and impactful.  I particularly enjoyed the Kalamasi (purple-coloured).  If I had to take my 2 visits into consideration, it is a safe bet to give Christophe credit for bringing finely-crafted sweets to North Burnaby.

*This post is a combination of my own paid visit and a subsequent comped one*

The Good:
- Carefully made items
- Doesn't overload on the sugar
- Most items are not heavy at all

The Bad:
- Costs more than the other bakeries around, but it is like comparing macarons to macaroons

Tatsu Japanese Bistro

Due to late night hockey, we're generally in search for late night eats.  The usual spots are always there such as pubs, wonton noodle joints and pho.  However, it is a real challenge to find Japanese food readily available after 10:00pm.  Sure, we see some Izakaya joints around, but any not regular Japanese restaurants (well, except for SD Sushi Gallery).  However, on our way to Tangent Cafe a few weeks ago, we noticed Tatsu Japanese Bistro was open late as well. With another later game, it was the perfect destination for some "somewhat" healthier eats.

Arriving first, the Tuna Tataki Roll consisted of tuna and avocado with tuna tataki on top dressed with green onion and sesame seeds.  Considering all the soft ingredients, the roll took on those textures.  The tuna itself was soft, but not mushy and had a fresh taste.  The sushi rice was minimal as well as maintaining a nice chewy texture and mild flavour.  Majestically plated, the Salmon Sashimi was impressive.  It had a nice fresh sheen while the natural sweetness of the fish really came through.  The texture exhibited a slight resistance as well.  Some of the best salmon sashimi we've had in a while.

Up next we 2 more specialty rolls being the Rainbow Roll in the foreground and the Spicy Dragon Roll  in the background.  The Rainbow was essentially a California roll with salmon, tuna, ebi, avocado and unagi alternating on top.  This was well-constructed and in turn was quite enjoyable to eat.   The Spicy Dragon Roll was a dynamite roll on the inside with spicy tuna and tobiko on the outside. What was consistent with all the rolls was the balance of ingredients and the right amount of sauce. Onto some cooked items, we had a couple orders of Pork Gyoza.  As much as the exterior was really crispy and not greasy, it was a bit dry and possibly over-fried.  Inside, the meat mixture was quite soft except for the crunch from the cabbage.  I would've liked to see actual meat textures rather than being overprocessed.  

The Tempura Platter was neatly constructed and prepared.  Each item was cooked nicely, including the delicate eggplant.  The tempura batter was extremely thin and light, yet still crispy at the same time. Beautifully arranged, the ingredients in the Nabeyaki Udon dwarfed the noodles in terms of portion size.  Moreover, each item was prepared properly where the shrimp had a snap while the veggies were still vibrant.  I liked the soup base as it had a good balance of flavours while exhibiting some depth.  We were not that impressed with the Chicken Karaage as it was dry and lacking moisture.  There was not enough batter on the outside to lock in the juices while at the same time ensuring the exterior would be crispy, not chewy.  In terms of flavour, the meat was moderately seasoned.

Lastly, we had both the Spicy Sushi Pizza and mild Sushi Pizza (not pictured).  As much as the raw ingredients were very good, the fried rice crust was a bit too dense and hard. Too bad really as the fish was aesthetically-pleasing and fresh (as much as frozen fish could be).  The spicy sauce had a kick, but was not overly strong.  Despite some issues, we felt the food in general was pretty good.  They prepared each dish with care and put some effort into the presentation and neatness.  A decent option for late night eats on The Drive.

The Good:
- Carefully prepared eats
- The raw items we had were good
- Attentive service

The Bad:
- Small place
- Not exactly expensive, but not cheap either

Sheila's Deli & Catering

If you've noticed, I try my best to make it out to the far-reaches of the GVRD in search of good food.  However, I'm sure it is not lost upon you that the GVRD is a pretty big area to cover.  One particular area that I have not done a whole lot of is White Rock/South Surrey.  But with an impending lunch scheduled with Pops (a fine resident of White Rock), Mrs. Spray Bottle and I decided to head out in his direction.  Now it would be really easy to head down either to Marine Drive or Johnston Road for eats, but we paid Sheila's Deli & Catering instead.

Only open for lunch, the menu is mainly comprised of sandwiches and soups.  Now, don't let the simplicity fool you, I find it a lot harder to make something interesting that is normally quite basic. Every sandwich comes with a soup and I decided to try the Boston Clam Chowder.  It was thick and rich without being creamy.  I liked the brothy quality as it was not heavy and flavourful with a plethora of herbs, bacon and clam essence.  In terms of ingredients, there was a bounty of tender chunky potatoes and tender clam meat.  As for my sandwich, I went for the BBQ Beef Brisket on a wonderfully soft ciabatta bun.  There was a good deal of tender meaty brisket (which was not fatty) bathed in a sweet and thick BBQ sauce.  This was truly messy, yet delicious at the same time.

Pops and Mrs. Spray Bottle ended up ordering the same item since it came highly recommended.  First, they had the Carrot and Ginger Lentil Soup. This was really flavourful with a considerable ginger hit as well as the sweetness of carrots.  I wouldn't say it was balanced, but we love ginger and it worked for us.  Now for the recommended sandwich - the Westcoast Club House.  A club house?  Hey, remember when I said that the simplest things are the hardest to make interesting?  Well, this one was indeed good.  From the fresh bread to the house-roasted turkey, fresh tomato and avocado to the crispy bacon, this was a well-constructed sandwich.  The icing on the cake was the slightly spicy paprika aioli.

For dessert, we all had the mound otherwise known as the Chocolate Chip Cookie.  This substantial offering was chock full of chips while the exterior was crispy while the inside was soft. Now for some people, the food we had just doesn't look anything beyond a soup and sandwich joint.  But consider this, Sheila's is a good soup and sandwich joint with reasonable prices complete with wonderful people.  I'd go back.

The Good:
- Wonderful people
- Quality ingredients, quality food

The Bad:
- Really not enough parking
- They might consider putting their other products on the lunch menu (if that is possible)