The Plaza Restaurant (Walt Disney World)

Initially, when we had planned our trip to Walt Disney World, I vowed to not eat at any of their restaurants.  The thought of slapping down ridiculous amounts of money on mediocre food violated my food blogging morals.  However, we chose to remain in the Magical Kingdom for the entire day (which meant 15 hours), so we really had no choice but to experience some of Uncle Walt's food.  A quick google search (thanks for the free wifi  Uncle Walt!) revealed that the best sit down deal was at The Plaza Restaurant, hence, it was where we headed for some A/C relief.

Viv had the Cheesesteak Sandwich and it looked alright with the usual ingredients of thinly-sliced beef, peppers, onions and cheese.  And in reality, it was fine, especially considering it was only $11.99 (remember, this was in WDW).  However, if we needed to nitpick, it was far too salty and really, that is all she could taste.  The same could be said about my Meatloaf Meal with red skin garlic mash potatoes, corn and gravy.  The overarching seasoning was just plain salt.  As much as the meatloaf itself was a healthy portion (ironic I know) of 2 large pieces, it was not that memorable of a dish.  To be fair, the meat was pretty moist with a few meaty parts and a bit of barley mixed in.  The mash was decent, but the salty gravy did it in.

For the kiddies, they had the kid's meals which included a drink, entree and dessert.  My daughter ended up with the Turkey Sandwich and well, it was a turkey sandwich, but shaped like Mickey.  At least they put quite a bit of meat in it and the side of grapes was more than generous.  My son had the Cheeseburger and again, it was a cheeseburger.  The bun was soft though and the meat was not too chewy.  The fries were pretty good though being super crunchy and thick. A choice of beverage and dssert was included with each of their meals as well.  My daughter had the Sliced Strawberries while my son had the Cookies and Milk. In the end, the food was pretty regular stuff, but the prices were reasonable, especially since it was in the Magical Kingdom.

The Good:
- Relatively inexpensive for Disney
- You can sit, relax and enjoy the A/C

The Bad:
- Pretty run-of-the-mill food
- Limited menu

House of Blues

Due to the amount of time needed to travel to Orlando, eating at a restaurant was out-of-the-question.  Furthermore, connecting flights meant we were left with few choices for quick eats at the airport.  And we didn't even consider ordering anything on the plane.  The choices were as good as a high school cafeteria.  So after doing one of the theme parks at Disneyworld, I was eager to sit down for a real meal.  Not being too creative, we headed to the House of Blues in Downtown Disney,.

I was pretty hungry, so I did the usual "order-2-dishes-for-myself-protocol" starting with the Shrimp & Grits. As suspected, it was not a very large portion (as the server confirmed).  Hence, that would only serve as my appetizer.  Consisting of fried puck of grits and several shrimp in a chipotle garlic cream sauce, it was not exactly what I expected.  I was not a huge fan of the puck as it was dry and stiff.  I would've much preferred to see a more traditional serving of grits.  On the positive side, the shrimp were done right having a nice sweet snap.  As for the sauce, it was really rich being spicy and garlicky.  For my second dish, I had the Pulled Pork Sandwich which was actually pretty good.  There was ample tender pork nestled within a soft and moist brioche bun.  The accompanying BBQ sauce was sweet and vinegary while the side of coleslaw was very good.  I liked how it was julienned thin with a tart dressing.  I substituted sweet potato fries and they were alright.  They could've been more crispy.


Viv had the Jambalaya which was a lot spicier than we had anticipated.  That was a good thing though as too many places advertise spicy and then be the opposite.  There was no absence of chicken and andoiulle sausage mixed in with firm rice.  Each bite got spicier and spicier with cayenne and tabasco.  My son opted for the Mac n' Cheese which was a fairly large portion of big noodles and a creamy sauce.  I would say it was much creamier than cheesy as it was quite mild.  My daughter had the Chicken Strips and Fries which was not as good as it looked.  The chicken was dry and dense, yet the breading was quite good.  It was crisp and flavourful in a KFC kind-of-way.  We liked the crunchy fries. Overall, the meal filled our bellies, but was nothing particularly special (especially with a menu created by Aaron Sanchez).  I guess this is to be expected from this type of restaurant in a touristy area.

The Good:
- No absence of flavour
- If you like Blues...

The Bad:
- Food is a bit rich
- Pricey

The Union Bar

Quick.  What is the first food item you would think of when heading to a bar?  Wings?  Hamburgers?  Nachos?  How about a Banh Mi or a Vermicelli Bowl perhaps?  In Vietnam maybe?  Nope.  Located on the outskirts of Chinatown, that is exactly what The Union serves up with their beverages.  We made our way to this peculiar establishment after our Friday night league game.  With communal seating and 90's music blaring in the background, we immediately liked the vibe of the place.

Milhouse and I decided to share the Lemongrass Banh Mi to start and despite the $8.00 price tag, we liked it.  Sure, it passed the psychological threshold of $5.00, but hey, it ain't a Vietnamese Pho joint.  The baguette was light and crispy while the chicken was charred nicely.  It wasn't exactly juicy, yet it stayed away from being dry.  It was flavourful in a smoky way with only a touch of lemongrass.  The rest of the ingredients were spot on including the pickled veggies.  For myself, I had the Pork Belly Vermicelli Bowl which was modest in size but packed a wallop in flavour when I added the side of Nuoc Cham.  Sure, it was sweetened fish sauce, but the addition of Thai chilis made it lethal.  I liked it though because it was not a wimpy attempt at flavour.  The fried pork belly was fatty and tender with a light crunch.  Milhouse opted for the Sweet & Sour Fish version and despite the name, it was good.  The fish was still flaky and moist while sporting a very thin batter.  The sauce was kept to a minimum and was as advertised.

Sweet Tooth and Emilicious ended up sharing the Crispy Fried Tofu with spinach and shiitake saute in a Thai red curry.  The first order was a bit too salty and they sent it back.  It was happily replaced very quickly to our pleasure.  Seemingly like a tomato paste dominant version of butter chicken, the curry was mild but not lacking in flavour.  They actually got a side of naan to soak it up.  The tofu was on the firmer side and fried nicely.  They also had the Nam Prik Pla which arrived as mounds of chilled spicy fish, noodle crisps and cucumber pickle on lettuce.  It was a bit clumsy to eat due to the amount of filling, but it was okay with a nice crunch from the cucumber.  The fish was a bit dry, but didn't kill the dish. "Not bad" was the consensus from the group even though the prices were higher than one would expect for this type of food.  I guess you need to be in the right frame of mind.

The Good:
- Eats are surprisingly decent
- Nice vibe and music

The Bad:
- Hard to shake the comparisons with an actual Vietnamese joint, but c'mon it's not

Thien Trang

It seems like every meal with my in-laws involves Dim Sum (and especially at Tung Sing Chin...  which I'm not a huge fan of).  Imagine that, eating with my Mother-in-Law and suffering through mediocre Chinese food...  Can someone get me a copy of that Miley Cyrus performance?  Uh, better not...  So this time around, I suggested we do Vietnamese and headed over to Thien Trang (which used to be the old location of Mui Ngo Gai).

To begin, we had both the Spring and Salad Rolls.  With a crisp exterior and filled with ground pork, onions, carrots and wood ear mushrooms, the spring rolls were pretty good.  I liked how the filling was not too loose nor too dense.  It had a nice sweet onion and fish sauce flavour.  They could've done a better job draining the oil as the plate was quite greasy.  As for the salad roll, it was attractively constructed with meaty shrimp and a nicely textured rice paper wrap.  The crunch from the lettuce was good while the vermicelli still retained a bite.  We would've liked some basil though.  Moreover, the dip was a bit too peanutty and could've used more hoisin.

Viv had the Pho Dac Biet and it was a pretty decent portion full of al dente noodles and tender meats.  I particularly liked the brisket as it was slightly fatty and really soft.  Light in colour and flavour, the soup was more sweet than savoury.  I could pick out some of the aromatics but in the end, it was a fairly mild broth.  Since we had 3 bowls of pho at the table already, I decided to go for the Bun Bo Hue.  Right when it hit the table, I was happy to see the inclusion of pork blood and feet.  That, at the very least, made it look legit.  I found the soup to be mildly spicy with a hint of aromatics.  The lai fun was slippery and chewy while the meats were good.

I also got a Grilled Pork Banh Mi and it was decent.  The fatty pork had a deep caramelized colour and flavour which was sweet and a bit smoky.  Combined with the crunchy veggies and a fairly crusty baguette, it was not bad for a non-banh mi joint.  The kids ended up sharing a Combo C which included Lemongrass Chicken, Vietnamese Ham and Egg with Rice.  Sharing the same dark hue as the grilled pork, the chicken was a bit firm along the edges.  It was flavourful though with caramelized sweetness. All-in-all, the dishes we had at Thien Trang were solid.  Furthermore, we found the service to be honest and attentive.

The Good:
- Solid eats across the board
- Nice people

The Bad:
- Flavours were mostly mild

Happy Valley

Restaurants changing ownership is nothing new.  It happens all the time and sometimes quite often at certain locations.  However, when it comes to Asian restaurants, it gets slightly complicated.  Sometimes, the establishment gets a Chinese name change while the English name remains the same.  This way, it is cost-efficient way to changeover without needing to register a brand new name.  Happy Valley out on Broadway in Vancouver changed over a couple of years ago and it was about time we checked out their Dim Sum service.

Big D was a little late in arriving, so Betaboy and I took charge of doing the ordering (good thing too, since Big D usually orders far too much).  We started with the Sui Mai which were very large and looked appealing with a dollop of tobiko on top.  However, the chunks of pork were chewy with lots of gristle.  On the other hand, the shrimp had a nice snap.  Flavourwise, the dumpling was peppery and sweet with a good amount of porkiness.  The large Haw Gow were surprisingly bland.  I guess they didn't season the cold-water shrimp much.  By virtue of being rinsed properly, the shrimp had a buttery snap while the dumpling skin was a touch thick.

Next up, we had a couple of rice noodle rolls starting with the Salty Donut Rice Noodle Roll.  The donut itself was crispy even with all the moisture from the rice noodle and sweet soy sauce, yet it was dense in the middle.  Soft with still a bit of elasticity, the rice noodle was thin and well-made.  As much as there should be some green onion and dried shrimp mixed in with the noodle, we found there was too much of it.  We also had the BBQ Pork Rice Noodle Roll that shared the same good characteristics of the other roll.  Interestingly, along with the fairly lean BBQ pork, there was a good amount of pea leaves.  I personally didn't mind it, but it was not really a combination that made sense.

Onto the next dish, we had the XO Fried Daikon Cake.  The cubes of daikon pudding were fried up golden brown and lightly crispy.  As much as they whole dish was fried then wok-tossed (in more oil), it wasn't incredibly greasy.  In terms of flavour, it was aromatic and only slightly spicy.  Speaking of spicy, the Curry Cuttlefish had a mild kick while exhibiting plenty of sweetness from the seasonings and the plethora of slivered onions. Overall, there was good flavour including a significant curry hit.  The cuttlefish itself was chewy with a buttery snap.

We shared some balls next, namely the Beef Meatballs.  Although there was some bounce to the processed meat, the general texture was a bit on the softer side.  Furthermore, there was a general lack of seasoning as the meat was quite bland.  We needed a good amount of Worcestershire to help the cause.  On the other hand, the Bean Curd Skin Rolls were pretty good.  The bean curd skin exhibited a good fried chewy texture while still being moist.  The ground pork mixture benefited from the ample amount of crunchy wood ear mushrooms, yet the meat itself could've had more texture.

With only 3 people, I was not sure why we ordered the Sparerib Rice Hot Pot (oh wait, Big D was there...  forgot).  As shown in the picture, it was hard to see the rice since there was a good portion of bouncy spareribs, phoenix talon and gai lan.  The rice itself was a bit wet though.  Since one chicken foot is hard to share, we ordered the Phoenix Talons as well.  These were pretty good as the skin was fried nicely while the cartilage underneath was soft. Flavours were balanced with a bit of garlic.  Overall, we thought the Dim Sum was pretty decent.  Service was prompt as well.

The Good:
- Prompt service
- Decent eats

The Bad:
- Parking lot is a bit of a disaster
- Shape of restaurant doesn't lend itself to spaciousness

Grain Tasting Bar

Not too long ago, where Grain Tasting Bar currently stands, there was an old dark bar.  I remember going there once.  It was an old dark bar.  Thankfully, somebody figured out that it wasn't exactly a hot place to hang out.  Now with a renovated space that is both modern and open, it benefits from the large windows that affords the place with plenty of natural light. To compliment the existing tapas menu they now offer brunch, specifically Benedicts.

I was invited to go try their specialty Benedicts and I brought along the family since I could not possibly eat 5 of them myself (unlike Alvin).  However, by virtue of being a bar, we could not actually eat there and ended up heading upstairs instead.  We started with the Dungeness Crab with tomato, lemon and fresh herbs.  I found the eggs to be poached properly being runny.  The crab was fluffy and light but I wasn't sure if the tomato was necessary (it was pretty though).  The Hollandaise was creamy and flavourful, yet could've used a touch more lemon.  Next up was the Oyama featuring Pamplona chorizo, red wine prosciutto and arugula.  As expected, this was on the saltier side due to the cured meats with a nice hit of spice from the chorizo.  It is worth noting that one egg was not runny in this dish.

Next up was the Smoked Tomato Bruschetta made with G.B.E Farms tomatoes and aged balsamic vinegar.  Naturally, this was the one token vegetarian offering on the Benedict menu.  Hence, I was only mildly interested because I love meat.  Viv, being the devil's advocate thought it was a lighter choice where the fresh tomatoes brightened up the dish.  I didn't get much smokiness even though the tomatoes were smoked.  For the kids, they shared the Grilled Chicken consisting of Barnston Island Spinach, avocado and diced tomato.  There was an abundance of ripe avocado and wilted spinach to compliment the grilled chicken.  However, the chicken was a bit dry and lacking in seasoning.

Lastly, we were presented with the Prime Rib topped with blue cheese, pickled onions, horseradish and fried onions.  This was the most substantial version with a thick slice of super moist prime rib.  The 2 applications of onion added crunch and zip to the dish.  We wished there was more blue cheese though.  Overall, we thought the Benedicts were good with something for everyone.  The one-price-for-all was a bit confusing though as the crab and prime rib were clearly worth the $15.00, but not the bruschetta.

*All food and beverages were comped, but not gratuities*

The Good:
- Substantial amount of food
- Reasonable pricing considering the venue and location
- Comfortable digs

The Bad:
- Not sure if one price-for-all is a good idea

Earnest Ice Cream

Awhile back, I had the good fortune of sampling Earnest Ice Cream at the Swallow Tail's Pop Up Soda Shoppe.  The brainchild of Ben Ernst and Erica Bernardi, they sought to make quality ice cream from whole food ingredients.  Now, with their store opening up on Fraser near King Edward, their wares are accessible more than ever.  By sheer luck, I noticed a Facebook post indicating that they were opening up shop.  Hence, I hightailed it down there on the same day dragging along Costanza and Elaine.

With a lineup out the door and over half-an-hour long, I guess we weren't the only ones tipped off by their grand opening. Patiently waiting for our turn, we had plenty of time to decide on what flavours to try.  Heck, with only 8 to choose from, it wasn't hard (the less the better as each batch would be more fresh).  For myself, I gave the Whiskey Hazelnut a go (bottom left).  It was quite sweet and I could definitely taste the whiskey.  I liked the crunch of the hazelnuts in each bite.  Viv had the Strawberry Basil (bottom right) and it was rich, creamy and had the natural taste of strawberries with a touch of fresh basil.  My daughter opted for the Blueberry which appeared to have lemon added to it since it had a more lively flavour than just blueberries.

Elaine went for the always popular Salted Caramel and it didn't disappoint as it was creamy, sweet and with the right amount of salt, elevating the flavours.  The crispy waffle cone didn't hurt either.  Lastly, Costanza's kid had the Tahitian Vanilla which no one got to sample as he practically inhaled it.  I guess it was good?  Looks like I'll be back for more (and different flavours too).

The Good:
- Great people
- It's hard ice cream and creamy
- Real ingredients

The Bad:
- Of course not cheap, but reasonable considering
- Limited flavours, but good for freshness