Blowfish Sushi

"I want Japanese food", was the demand made by my son.  Heck, where have I heard this before?  But what he really meant was - he wanted ebi tempura and some udon.  Yes, not exactly a true representation of the cuisine, however, I'll take it.  His eating diversity rivals that of a yak except he hates everything green.  Then that would make him a very hungry yak as they only eat greens!  Anyways, we stopped by Blowfish Sushi to satisfy his royal highness...

Crispy, light and lacking in grease, the Ebi Tempura, to the delight of my son, was on point.  It retained a crunch even after dipping into the overly sweet mirin and soy concoction. We had to fight him for the last 2 pieces. As evidenced in the picture, we felt that they sliced the fish too thin for the Chirashi Don. Hence, it may have looked like a lot of sashimi, but it really wasn't. Despite that, the selection, including salmon, tuna, hamachi, tako and saba, was fresh and texturally sound.  I thought the rice was a bit dry and a bit too mild in flavour. 

As a result, that also meant the House Roll suffered the same fate as the rice fell off in parts.  However, that could've been partly due to the thin layer as well.  We liked that because there was more filling that rice.  The ingredients were fine consisting of ripe avocado, crisp cucumber and fresh-tasting salmon and tuna. Our second roll, the Salmon River, was quite good. Constructed of cooked salmon and avocado with smoked salmon on the outside, it was the dressing that made the dish.  It was a balanced vinaigrette that featured enough acidity to bring the flavours alive.

Emulating an order of yam tempura but not, the Yam Fries were really good.  The thin, crunch layer of batter served to provide an wonderful textural contrast to the soft, sweet yam.  One of the better versions I've had, but the side of Thousand Islands-like dressing sucked.  Lastly, the Yaki Udon exhibited a decent stirfry where there was just enough sauce for moisture and flavour. On the other hand, the chicken was overcooked being a bit chewy and dry.  Despite some flaws, we still enjoyed our meal at Blowfish.  It is a quaint place with decent eats complete with friendly service.

The Good:
- Careful preparation of eats
- Friendly service

The Bad:
- A little skimpy with the thin slices of sashimi
- Parking lot is narrow and sometimes full

Sushi &

"Vietnamese or Japanese?", I queried the kids as we pulled out of our driveway.  After a brief moment, the kids unanimously decided Japanese food.  Geez, when I was younger, it was eat whatever was given to you.  Now we have my daughter demanding Macarons from Soirette and creme puffs from Beta5...  Great, go into debt to fund my daughter's luxury food items.  At least my son loves Kraft Dinner, we can save money there.  Ultimately, we ended up at a new place called Sushi & (or is it Sushi Ampersand???).

We started with the Appetizer Sashimi presented on a really large plate.  The somewhat large slices of fish were pretty good.  I found the salmon to have a nice rebound as well as tasting fresh (as fresh as flash frozen can get).  As for the tuna, it was soft while still firm enough to not be mushy.  It is worth noting that they were generous with both the ginger and wasabi.  Plated attractively and with a bonus wakame salad in the middle, the Midnight Sun Roll was decent.  Consisting of crab meat, avocado, cucumber and unagi in the middle with sockeye salmon and tobiko on the outside, there were many textures and flavours at play.  I found the rice a tad firm with only the mildest of flavour.  Morever, the whole thing wasn't overdressed with sauce.

Also on an oversized plate, the Tonkatsu was served with rice and salad (as well as a miso soup).  Theis was an impressive portion size of 2 pork cutlets which made this a decent value at $8.95.  Although the pork cutlets were fried crispy, the meat itself was a little on the dry side.  Furthermore, we found that there was a lack of tonkatsu sauce (but we could've just asked for more).  To our kids' delight, the Prawn Tempura was large enough to justify its big serving plate.  Although super crispy and light on the outside, the batter in between the exterior and prawn was a touch floury.  The ebi itself was indeed large and had a nice meaty texture.

The kids shared a Chicken Udon and it was a pretty typical non-Japanese version consisting of a tonne of veggies.  The use of green and red peppers was peculiar because it tainted the light flavour of the dashi broth.  Rather than being just a light sweetness, it had a green pepper aftertaste.  Also, the chicken was super dry and chewy.  Despite the large portion size, this was not a good dish. Sushi &, Sushi Ampersand, Sushi And or whatever the place is called, it was decent enough at a reasonable price -  warrants another visit.

The Good:
- Decent portions
- Decent service
- Open dining space

The Bad:
- Lacking authenticity (if you wanted pure Japanese food)
- Yes, I say it a lot, but the parking lot is insufficient during peak times

Parkcrest Diner

It was a cold and stormy day in Vancouver...  Yes, not really a stretch in October, but there I was, all alone with food on my mind.  I drove around aimlessly looking for the next food adventure.  There were ideas floating around, yet I did not have the effort level to follow through. Essentially, I pulled a David Booth, lots of dash with no finish.   Finally, I ended up nearby at a place I've driven by countless times.  Parkcrest Diner, this would be the day I visit you.

I do believe this would be the first time I describe a Clam Chowder as "crunchy".  Sadly, the veggies, in particular the onions and celery, were not cooked enough (or not at all).  Hence, the soup did not have any depth either.  It was like drinking a watered-down Mott's with uncooked veggies and some clams here and there.  Thankfully, the Pork Cutlets were quite good.  Although they were thin, the meat was not dry and exhibited a tender chewiness.  It was lightly dusted with flour and fried up crisp.  The gravy was pretty typical, but it did the job providing moisture to the potatoey mash.  The frozen veggie mix was a bit pale, yet was not overly mushy.

On another visit, I had the House Burger consisting of a thin beef patty, lettuce, tomato, processed cheese and fried egg on a sesame bun.  This was not rocket science by any stretch because one could easily make this at home.  However, for $5.95 including a side of crispy fries, I wasn't complaining.  In the end, it was a decent homestyle burger although the meat was a bit dry due to its thinness.  I decided to get Combo B (Chicken Fried Rice and Sweet & Sour Pork) to go and it included a Chicken Noodle Soup. It was quite light while packed with celery, carrots, onions and noodles.  Nothing amiss here, but it could've used more seasoning.

As for the combo, it was pretty typical of a Chinese-run diner.  The rice was dry and chewy with lots of chicken.  It had a decent amount of wok heat (including some burnt parts) which meant the flavours were caramelized.  The fact that the sweet & sour pork was not radioactive in colour was refreshing to see.  It was decent, yet not incredibly flavourful either. The best way to describe Parkcrest Diner would be value eats.  Nothing more than expected and nothing less, all for a low price. 

The Good:
- Cheap
- Where everybody knows your name (well, if you are a regular that is...)
- Acceptable eats for the price

The Bad:
- Won't be mistakened for great food

Dim Sum @ Top Gun Hot Pot

Normally, one would not visit a hot pot joint for Dim Sum.  It's like going to a Japanese restaurant expecting Korean and Chinese food...  Wait...  Bad example, especially in Vancouver.  Furthermore, one would not visit Crystal Mall in hopes of Dim Sum at a hot pot restaurant, not because it sounds strange, rather it is just the mere thought of parking at Crystal Mall that sends people running.  Ironically, this foreshadowed Betaboy's experience after our meal...

Anyways, there is actually Dim Sum to be found at Top Gun Hot Pot, despite its namesake.  I've tried it before a long time ago, but never blogged about it.  With Big D in my car, he convinced me to park across the street (which would prove fruitful...). To start off, we had the Shrimp Spring Rolls.  These were well done with a crunchy, minimally greasy exterior packed with well-seasoned shrimp exhibiting a cold-water snap.  Next, the Stuffed Eggplant and Tofu were also quite good.  Although the shrimp mousse was a bit chewy, it was well-seasoned.  Both the tofu and eggplant were fried just enough for texture without drying out.  The black bean sauce was pretty good being flavourful for once (unlike other places).

My argument for only having 2 kids rests partially on things made for 4 people like hockey game packages, booth seating, passenger cars and of course 4 Haw Gow (Shrimp Dumplings) in a steamer.  Well, they had 5 here...  Better not take Viv to this restaurant...  Anyways, these were not bad with a slightly chewy dumpling skin featuring large pieces of crunchy shrimp.  It could've stood for more seasoning though.  The same could be said about the Sui Mai (Pork & Shrimp Dumpling), which thankfully numbered only 4...  A touch on the bland side, the sui mai benefited from the ample amount of shiitake and shrimp.  The meat had a nice bounce texture while being easy on the fat, yet the whole thing was somewhat loose.

On the menu, we were trying to figure out why the Lo Mei Gai (Sticky Rice) was advertised at "60's style".  When it hit the table, it made sense as it was a big ass lo mei gai (just like ol' times).  Suffice to say, if you look at the picture, there was a bevy of moist ground pork, shiitake, salted egg yolk and tender pieces of chicken.  The rice was moist while maintaining some chewiness.  This was very well-executed.  Next up was the Steamed Black Bean Spareribs which were accented by some vibrant scallions.  It didn't add much other than colour, but it looked pretty.  The ribs themselves were chewy, yet easy enough to eat.  I found the whole dish too wet and greasy though.  Moreover, it was lacking in seasoning.

Onto the weird part of Dim Sum, for some people that is...  We had the Steamed Honeycomb Tripe, which was also garnished with scallions.  I found the texture to be just right with a good balance between chewy and tender.  There was minimal gaminess which gave way to plenty of garlic and a touch of heat.  And then we had the Phoenix Talons (Chicken Feet) with...  scallions.  Okay, it looks nice with the vibrant green colour, but really, on every dish?  Sadly, these chicken feet were undercooked (as in not fried and steamed enough).  Hence, the darn things were chewy with crunchy cartilage underneath.  Much like the tripe, these were well-seasoned being garlicky and spicy.

Lastly, we got a bunch of rice noodle rolls since Big D cannot do without them.  His favourite is the Salty Donut Rice Noodle Roll and yes, we got a couple of them.  The donut itself was airy, light and crispy while the rice noodle was a touch too soft.  Furthermore, it could've benefited from some dried shrimp as the whole thing was missing savouriness despite the soy sauce.  We also got one each of the Beef Rice Noodle Roll and Shrimp Rice Noodle Roll.  Although it was stuffed with lots of hand-chopped beef, the plethora of greens made the roll "interesting".  We weren't sure what to make of it.  As for the shrimp, they were large and had a nice snap.  They were seasoned nicely while the flowering chives added some variation in texture.  After the meal, we all agreed that it was above average with some really good dishes.  However, the prices were almost shocking as they rival some of the most expensive in town.  Oh, and Betaboy took all of 30 minutes to exit the Crystal Mall parking lot.  Good call Big D...

The Good:
- Carefully prepared food
- Above average
- Okay service

The Bad:
- Overpriced in our opinion
- Seating is strange due to the hot pot setup
- That parking lot...

Warrior Grill

*Restaurant is closed*

Sometimes, it really makes me wonder why some places can get away with charging a king's ransom for what is essentially a pauper's lunch.  Case-in-point - U-Grill.  This food court staple allows people to choose their own ingredients to be prepared on a flat top.  These ingredients are weighed and more often than not, your quick food court meal quickly becomes North of $15.00.  Therefore, they must be making a killing because there are many more similar joints that charge for the bowl (as much as you can stuff in it) for roughly $10.00.

Well, there's a new place in the Strawberry Hill shopping complex that boasts an all-u-can-stuff small bowl for $6.99 (includes steamed rice too).  Modeled after Mongolie-type grill restaurants, Warrior Grill offers up choices of meat (beef, pork, chicken & imitation crab), veggies and a myriad of sauces.  There is one major difference and it is with the grill itself.  It is a flat top, not a round Mongolie Grill.  For my first visit, I went for the large bowl ($9.99) and even with it conservatively stuffed, it was more than enough food where I found myself struggling to finish.  There is also a "warrior size" for $12.99 which is only meant for football linebackers.

The next time, I picked up a small bowl for Mrs. Spray Bottle and compared to my large bowl, it was still a decent amount of food which would satisfy most people (last picture, small on the left and large on the right).  Considering the grill they use, the food turns out pretty good with decent caramelization.  Moreover, they don't overcook the food either.  With so many sauces available, it is possible to have a different tasting stir fry with each visit.  Whatever the case, Warrior Grill is a hit in my books with fresh food and fresh cooking at reasonable prices.

The Good:
- Well-priced for the amount of food
- Made-to-order food is a plus
- Super friendly owners

The Bad:
- Could use a few more items such as different noodles and varied veggies

Quesada

It's nice to see that other people suffer the same affliction as I do.  No, I'm not talking about eating too much nor am I talking about incessantly taking pictures of my noodles either.  I am referring to the mindless purchase of Groupon-like deals.  At the time, they seem irresistible, hence the "how can I possibly lose?" mentality.  Well, Ginseng bought a few of them and had been bugging me to help her use them to no avail.  Finally, I relented and we headed up to SFU to try out Quesada.

Unlike my recent visit to Cinco de Mayo, Quesada is closer to Tex-Mex than authentic Mexican.  No matter since each of them have their own merits. Ginseng went for their Hard Tacos with chicken and steak complete with all the fixins'.  Everything was fresh, but the proteins were quite dry and relatively cold.  I went for the Soft Tacos and it was pretty much the same issue.  I went for one each of the fish (rubbery and cold) and steak (chewy and cold).  The one saving grace was their sauces which were indeed spicy as advertised.  The really nice owner passed on a super hot sauce (seen on the side) which was potent.

I also tried out their small Burrito with a whole wheat shell.  This was not bad as the ingredients were vibrant and crisp.  A dash of the hot sauce and the whole thing came alive.  And sounding like a broken record, the pork filling was not exactly warm.  Yet in the end, the place does the job, especially for hungry SFU students who want to fill up for a reasonable price.

The Good:
- Okay pricing
- Super friendly owner
- Hot sauce is hot

The Bad:
- Meats were cold

Knight & Day

This was my opportunity.  The chance to suggest a revisit to a restaurant that nobody wanted part of.  With only Lionel Hutz and Milhouse available for late night eats, I uttered the offensive words, "how about Knight & Day?".  Pure silence.  The utter shock and stunned expressions illustrated the prevailing sentiment.  Hey, I really wanted to eat it again just for kicks and to  get my fill of mystery meat covered by a brown sauce.

But before that desire for universal gravy over meat, I tried their Manhattan Clam Chowder first.  In a large overflowing bowl, I was treated to a heavily flour-thickened broth of watered-down tomato soup with ingredients here and there.  It was passable as a cafeteria-style soup with little-to-no clam taste.  I fulfilled my goal of gravy and meat with the Veal Cutlets with mash potatoes, veggies and garlic bread.  The relatively thick cutlets were meaty and surprisingly moist.  It was chewy in spots while the exterior was lightly crisp.  The gravy tasted exactly like it appeared being salty, thick and not very meaty.  The mash was lukewarm and actually had a potatoey texture.  Completing the dish was overcooked frozen veggies and a decently crispy garlic bread.

Lionel Hutz, to my surprise, went for the Hulk Burger.  He wanted to relive his youth, but I cautioned that he was not all that young anymore, despite his crotch rocket and Nissan Skyline.  But he went ahead anyways with the monstrosity consisting of a beef patty, fried egg, bacon, cheese and a really large sausage (was he making a statement?).  He remarked it was actually okay with a not-too-dry patty and well-made ingredients.  He went for the onion rings but was given fries at first.  I swiped one and it was very starchy and only lightly crispy.  As for the Onion Rings, they were hot and crunchy in a flour-battered kind-of-way.  The chipotle dip was actually quite good with some spice.

Milhouse decided on the safest dish being the Trucker's Breakfast.  You can't screw up breakfast right?  Well... The large pancakes were dense and doughy.  The rest was pretty typical though.  He couldn't finish it and our server insisted he take the pancakes home to his chagrin.  I think he fed it to the local raccoon.  Anyways, with my twisted fantasy come true, we were treated to exactly what we expected - mediocre food served in the very same decor from 20+ years ago.

The Good:
- Large portions
- Open 24 hours
- Our server was nice

The Bad:
- Food only an inebriated person at 2:00am would enjoy
- Decor needs a reset (much like the Canucks?)
- Not as cheap as you would think