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"Have you heard of the Travelzoo coupon for Kobe Izakaya?", queried Whipping Girl one day. I actually had, but was a bit confused because I thought Kobe was purely a teppanyaki joint. Apparently, they started serving a modest Izakaya menu down in the lounge section of the restaurant. At first, I was hesitant to buy the coupon because the last time I was here, there was a "miscalculated" tip fiasco where someone had paid for the bill but accidentally left only an 8% tip. We ultimately returned rectifying it, yet it was highly embarrassing nonetheless. Apprehensively, I bought the coupon and ended up forgetting about it until it was about to expire. Naturally, I rushed to use it and of course bring Whipping Girl with me.
Not really knowing what we were getting into, I had tempered expectations. We started with the Tuna Avocado Salsa consisting of ahi tuna, tomato, avocado and onion in a sweet soya sauce with wonton crisps. This was a fairly substantial portion with fresh and vibrant ingredients. The flavours were balanced except I would've liked to see more acidity. The wonton chips were light but held up to the ingredients. Next up was the Ebi Mayo in a sweet and spicy Japanese mayo sauce. The prawns were lightly crisp and exhibited a meaty snap. Creamy, spicy and sweet, there was just enough sauce clinging to each piece.
Continuing on with the deep-fried goodness, we had the Chili Garlic Calamari with a citrus, chili and garlic sauce. With a mix of crispy and slightly soggy pieces, the squid was very tender (possibly too soft except for the tentacles). I did like the noticeable citrus zing, yet didn't notice much of the chili though. We really liked the Chicken Karaage as each nugget was crunchy on the outside and bursting with juice on the inside. This was a well executed dish where the batter was nicely seasoned. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the sweet chili sauce as it really didn't fit the dish.
Lastly, we tried the slow-cooked Short Ribs that were seared and marinated with a sweet glaze. The outer "bark" of the rib was flavourful and caramelized while the meat itself was somewhat stringy. Yet it was sufficiently moist and rich. By this point, we were pretty full since each dish was well-portioned. In general, the food was more than acceptable for the price. Oh, and I made sure the right tip was left this time.
The Good:
- Decent portions
- Decent eats
- Attentive service
The Bad:
- Limited menu
- As much as Izakaya is about having some drinks in a lounge, some people might not like the seating arrangements
In a time when restaurants are trying to separate themselves from each other, we are beginning to see a shift to alternative forms of dining. For instance, we saw the rise of secret supper clubs such as Swallow Tail and the explosion of food carts. Of course food tours have become popular as well as cook-your-own-food classes. Now we have another form in and interactive cooking class offered by WCompany. I was invited, along with other media, to check out their Oktoberfest session.
Located in a nondescript building near Clark and Hastings, WCompany looks impressive on the inside. I was welcomed by a well-stocked kitchen and a "classy" dining space. After a brief introduction by Chef Waldemar Bilski, he of 15 years of transatlantic experience, we were treated to house-brewed German Hefeweizen with Sausage Bites & Pretzel. I found the pretzel to be firm and chewy with a slightly crunchy outer shell. With a healthy dose of butter, it added nuttiness and moisture. The sausage had a good snap while being moist and soft with only a touch of meat texture. I could clearly see and taste the herbs.
Next, the chef did a Spatzle making demonstration which I was involuntarily offered up to participate. Making the spatzle by hand was an interesting exercise and sadly I butchered the sauteeing aspect of the dish. I can do it with my own fry pan (it's the truth!). Luckily, the chef made some perfectly shaped spatzle for the main dish consisting of Sauerbraten, roasted potatoes, red cabbage and sauerkraut. As expected, the whole dish exhibited a sour and tart theme including the sauerbraten which was tender but still retaining a meaty resistance. I particularly liked the fluffy potatoes that had been crisped up with lots of butter.
As a bonus, we were served a large piece of Potato Noodle which was dense but not dry. The exterior benefited from the ample use of butter which gave a nutty flavour. I thought there was a little too much salt though. For dessert, we were served a Black Forest Cake in a jar. I liked how this was a lighter version which was airy and mildly sweet. The cherries at the botttom added a nice zip to the dessert. From my experience at WCompany, it is clear that the main draw is the sum of all parts as it offers entertainment, a social venue and interactiveness. The food was fine, but partly due to the menu did not showcase Chef Waldemar's international experience. However, I still had a good time and that is the whole point.
*Note - Meal and drinks were comped*
The Good:
- Interactive
- Something different
- Nice venue inside
The Bad:
- It won't come cheap ($80.00), but then again, you get the whole place
Now in its 3rd year of existence, there is no shortage of food carts in Vancouver. We are seeing more and more choices congregating in common locations (which offers up lots of choice for hungry people). But for me, I have been aching to try Pig on the Street. C'mon, they had me at "bacon". Apparently, I wasn't the only one with bacon urges as the place was pretty darn busy. No wonder they are predicting a bacon shortage in the future!
While in line, I noticed some bacon Twisty Bread and I proceeded to add it to my order. Flaky, light, peppery, cheesy and of course with bacon, it was a piece of Heaven posing as a bread stick. With every sinful crispy bite, there were many flavours (peppery, cheesy and bacony) and textures at play. I also gave their Blueberry Lemonade a try and it was very impactful with a noticeable tartness. There didn't seem to be an overload of sugar while the blueberries served as a mild addition. And while I was waiting for my wraps, I decided to eat dessert first (which is not really a strange phenomenon, especially during Dim Sum). Their Bourbon Bacon Brownie was a flavour explosion in my mouth. The immediate hit of bourbon and sweetness from the sauce was tempered by the bacon. Yet overall, the rich brownie combined with the caramel yielded an overly sweet dessert.
Onto the wraps, I had the Pig LT consisting of double-smoked bacon, tomato, avocado, farmhouse cheddar, bacon & maple mayo and greens. This enormous concoction was well-made as my first bite afforded a big smoky crunch from the ample amount of thick bacon. The sharp cheddar was a nice accent to the smooth avocado while the maple mayo added just the right amount of sweetness. At first, I was a bit annoyed with all the arugula, but it did serve a purpose as it helped lighten the otherwise heavy wrap. Oh and the grilled flatbread was soft while maintaining its integrity to the last bite. I also got Viv the Southern Piggy made with double-smoked bacon, bourbon BBQ sauce, grilled peppers, corn, cheddar, chipotle and greens. Getting past the same crunchy bacon, the star of the wrap was the chipotle as it as spicy and super impactful. The pop of the sweet corn combined with the sweetness of the peppers helped temper the flavours a bit. All I can say about the food I tried is why did it take me so long?
The Good:
- If you love bacon...
- Well-prepared eats
The Bad:
- Food takes awhile when there is a lineup (but worth it IMO)
Mosaic at the Hyatt? What, do you live there or something? Sure seems like it eh? Well, when I like something, I really have no apprehension blogging about it. Another good example is EBO where they consistently put out good food. As for the Hyatt, it wasn't always like that. But with Chef Thomas Heinrich at the helm, "typical hotel food" is no longer used as an adjective when talking about the Hyatt Regency. My wish is for more people to try the food at Mosaic and see for themselves.
From the positive experience I had at the Spot Prawn Tasting Menu (and at a reasonable $55.00 and $75.00 with wine pairings), Viv and I decided to take up the offer to try their 5-course French Tasting Menu (running from Sept 20th - Oct 18th). We started with the Rougie Quebec Foie Gras Parfait accented with calvados, pearls of apple and a marcona almond butter. This was a healthy portion and due to its richness (with the almond adding even more), the parfait was quite filling. It was smooth, sweet and silky, yet suffered from too much salt in our opinion. Although there was little pearls of apple and a fluid gel of calvados, there wasn't enough counterbalance for the rich salty parfait. Next up was the Escargot consisting of burgundy snails in the shell dressed with shallots, roasted garlic and parsley. In a whimsical presentation, the shells were in a garden of sorts with pumpernickel "dirt" on the side topped by garlic chips. We thought the flavour profile of the dish was spot on with a good balance of garlic, butter and acidity.
Onto our favourite dish, their interpretation of Lobster Thermidor really worked. Buttery soft yet meaty, the slices of lobster tail sat atop a creamy and cheesy sauce. Sure, it wasn't a classic preparation, but it was tasty nonetheless. Again, the salt content was a bit too high when the lobster was eaten with the sauce. The star of the dish was actually the lobster roe pomme puree. It was smooth, buttery and bursting with lobster essence. Combined with the lobster oil on the plate, the taste lingered in our mouths. I wasn't a huge fan of the kale "nori" as it was too firm and did not add anything to the plate. Our last savoury course was the Duck a la Orange made with Thiessen Farms duck breast with celery root puree and tarragon (which wasn't really apparent). We found the duck to be prepared beautifully where it was moist and soft with a flavourful meatiness. The celery root puree had a nice consistency and was seasoned enough. The rich, full-of-depth sauce was accented by an orange fluid gel. One thing that should've been left off the plate was the rind leather as it was very tough to chew and stuck hard to our teeth.
We finished off the meal with a Mille-Feuille consisting of layers of flaky puff pastry with lemon cream and vanilla salted chocolate accompanied by a poached pear. Although not mind-blowing, this was a solid dessert with nice textures and mild sweetness. We particularly liked the salted chocolate as it elevated the flavours without adding more sugar. The simple poached pear was soft enough without losing its texture. This was a nice light way to end a relatively good tasting menu. Sure, there was the salt issue and some other things here and there. However, for the overall quality and execution, you can't go wrong for the price.
*Note - Meal and wine were comped, but gratuities were not*
The Good:
- For the price, the value is there
- Comfortable surroundings
- Not typical hotel food
The Bad:
- Use of salt was a bit excessive
- Some creative garnishes were not that edible
For a relatively ol' skool strip mall, Parkcrest Plaza in Burnaby boasts an inordinate amount of easting establishments. Going from West to East, there is Kam Mun Bakery, Bentei Sushi, Garlic & Chili, Red 6 and Parkcrest Diner. None of which inspires any culinary excitement. In fact, the reverse is probably more realistic. But then again, their main function is to serve the locals, where there is not a whole lot of choice nearby. If one was to look at them as one, they all have something in common. They are small and family-run with minimal decor and trend-negating rustic-type eats.
We started with the Shredded Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce. The chicken itself was fantastic as it was moist, gelatinous and flavourful on its own. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of the chicken skin, but it had such a nice gelatin texture, I just at the whole thing. It was presented on a bed of julienned scallions, but some cucumber would've been nice. The weakest link was the peanut sauce as it was gritty since they didn't incorporate the granulated sugar properly. Hence, it was overly sweet and lacked any real heat.
Next up was the Beef with Spicy Hot Bean Sauce which was very flavourful, possibly too flavourful. It seemed a bit heavy with everything including sugar, salt and MSG. Yet, it naturally went really well with rice (as it was intended to be). The beef was tenderized so it was easy to chewy yet not lacking in texture either. There was only a modest heat level though. The accompanying veggies were crispy and vibrant, but chopped into pieces which were too small (especially the celery).
Lastly, we had the Four Seasons Beans which looked rather pale and lifeless. Fortunately, it ate better than it looked. The beans were a little overdone, but not mushy and there was a good amount of flavour from the ginger. We would've liked to see more spice though. Overall, from the dishes we sampled, the food at Garlic & Chili was decent. Nothing amazing, but for a small little joint in the middle of a residential area, it serves the locals with honest food.
The Good:
- Friendly neighbourhood restaurant
- Acceptable eats
The Bad:
- Really small
- It's okay, but other places better
Honestly, what's with the Froyo fad anyways? Admittedly, I'm not a huge dessert guy, so sweets are not a priority. However, I don't mind the occasional frozen yogurt, especially with all the self-serve options these days. Locally, Qoola has opened several locations and I find them to be pretty good. However, more recently, Menchies, being the bigger player, has come to town boosting some pretty famous customers. Hey if a celeb likes it, it has to be good right? As good as Oprah's love of Ezell's Fried Chicken? Let's hope not at least...
So after our meal at Sushi Oyama, Gordo, Milhouse, Apu and I made our way out to Highgate for some froyo action. The girls decided to ditch us and head out for some more substantial desserts. Huh??? Anyways, the place was pretty busy with people scurrying around adding various toppings to their 1 of 14 froyo options including low fat. In terms of toppings, Menchies has the market cornered in this town as Pinkberry and Qoola don't come close. However, many people don't remember that the price is based on weight, so if you're not careful, you'll be enjoying a $10.00+ froyo.
For myself, I went for the low fat Blueberry Cheesecake which was pretty smooth and tasty despite the supposed healthiness of it all. I added my favourite toppings which included mochi and those juicy pearls with a bit of blueberry to complete the theme. I was able to keep it around $5.00 which kept me satisfied in terms of eating. In terms of comparing it with Qoola and Pinkberry, there is not a significant different in my opinion. However, Menchies has the most choice, which may influence the final decision.
The Good:
- Lots of flavours
- Lots of toppings
- Relatively large store
The Bad:
- If you don't watch it, you'll be paying double digits
There we were, faced with a difficult decision. One that was super important and would decide the fate of... where we were going to eat after hockey. Hey, it's important relatively speaking... What we had was a larger than usual group and the stipulation was it had to be in Burnaby and preferably Japanese. Okay, that pretty much eliminated the best choices as they were too small or closed for the night. Hence, we headed to an ol' standby being Sushi Oyama. Sure, it's far from being the best sushi out there, but there is no denying it's a good value.
With that in mind, we went in with reasonable expectations and it appeared that everyone else was there for inexpensive eats as the place was packed. I hadn't been back since they first opened. We started with some Chicken Karaage. The wings were crispy with nicely rendered skin while the meat was somewhat juicy. They were seasoned where we could taste more than chicken meat. Next up were a couple orders of Gyoza. Nicely fried up and not overcooked, the skin was crisp on the bottom while chewy everywhere else. The filling was a bit vegetable-heavy, but was moist and not chewy.
Dressed more than Lady Gaga could ever imagine, the Spinach Gomae was surprisingly much less sweet than it appeared. There was definitely a nice sesame hit, however, there was indeed too much dressing as it was swimming in it. Onto a specialty roll, we had the Black Dragon consisting of imitation crab, avocado and cucumber inside with eel, masago, bonito, mayo and unagi sauce on top. I thought the rice was a touch gummy but decent nonetheless with a mild sweetness. The roll itself was a bit messy but it did taste good though with just enough sauce in my opinion.
Looking over the menu, it seemed like the best deal was to order Party Tray D to share. It included an order of Deluxe Assorted Sashimi consisting of Tako, Hamachi, Tai, Tuna, Salmon, Amaebi and Hokkigai. Thankfully, these were not sliced incredibly thick because I find that it changes the texture. Hence, the sashimi was pretty decent considering the price. Also in the tray was a Deluxe Assorted Nigiri made up of Salmon, Tuna, Ebi, Ika, Hamachi, Hokkigai, Tako, Amaebi, Unagi, Scallop and Masago (with 3 pcs each of salmon and tuna sushi). The ratio between rice and sashimi was good which meant each piece was balanced. Lastly, the tray included on each of California Roll, Dynamite Roll, Alaska Roll and Chopped Scallop. I found the rolls to be a bit rice heavy which made them a bit dense, but otherwise, they were alright.
For some odd reason, the 2 orders of Tempura took a really long time to arrive. But in the end, they were hot and crispy with a light batter. Similar to my last visit, Sushi Oyama provides good value much like Sushi Town and Sushi Garden. Hence, expectations should be tempered to coincide with the price points. No, you will not find authentic carefully prepared sushi here (well, not the Japanese kind at least), but you will find more-than-acceptable eats for a low price.
The Good:
- Well-priced
- Decent portions, but not humungous (which is a good thing)
- Interesting building
The Bad:
- Will offend sushi snobs
- Interesting building means strange seating arrangements
Posts
"Have you heard of the Travelzoo coupon for Kobe Izakaya?", queried Whipping Girl one day. I actually had, but was a bit confused because I thought Kobe was purely a teppanyaki joint. Apparently, they started serving a modest Izakaya menu down in the lounge section of the restaurant. At first, I was hesitant to buy the coupon because the last time I was here, there was a "miscalculated" tip fiasco where someone had paid for the bill but accidentally left only an 8% tip. We ultimately returned rectifying it, yet it was highly embarrassing nonetheless. Apprehensively, I bought the coupon and ended up forgetting about it until it was about to expire. Naturally, I rushed to use it and of course bring Whipping Girl with me.
Not really knowing what we were getting into, I had tempered expectations. We started with the Tuna Avocado Salsa consisting of ahi tuna, tomato, avocado and onion in a sweet soya sauce with wonton crisps. This was a fairly substantial portion with fresh and vibrant ingredients. The flavours were balanced except I would've liked to see more acidity. The wonton chips were light but held up to the ingredients. Next up was the Ebi Mayo in a sweet and spicy Japanese mayo sauce. The prawns were lightly crisp and exhibited a meaty snap. Creamy, spicy and sweet, there was just enough sauce clinging to each piece.
Continuing on with the deep-fried goodness, we had the Chili Garlic Calamari with a citrus, chili and garlic sauce. With a mix of crispy and slightly soggy pieces, the squid was very tender (possibly too soft except for the tentacles). I did like the noticeable citrus zing, yet didn't notice much of the chili though. We really liked the Chicken Karaage as each nugget was crunchy on the outside and bursting with juice on the inside. This was a well executed dish where the batter was nicely seasoned. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the sweet chili sauce as it really didn't fit the dish.
Lastly, we tried the slow-cooked Short Ribs that were seared and marinated with a sweet glaze. The outer "bark" of the rib was flavourful and caramelized while the meat itself was somewhat stringy. Yet it was sufficiently moist and rich. By this point, we were pretty full since each dish was well-portioned. In general, the food was more than acceptable for the price. Oh, and I made sure the right tip was left this time.
