Mandarin Buffet & Grill

I get asked often as to why I visit buffets so often when I'm in the States.  The answer is pretty simple really - it serves to fill up our tummies and there is always something for the kids to eat.  Believe me, I realize the compromises that need to be made since finding outstanding food at a buffet is as likely as Miley Cyrus being classy.  So to emphasize the convenience of it all, we headed back to Mandarin Buffet for a revisit since we were staying nearby.

One thing I particularly like about buffets in the States is that many charge per year for children.  Hence, the costs don't go out-of-control like in Vancouver where you'd pay full-price for some older kids. Mandarin Buffet is comparable to some of the other ones in the area including Haiku, Blue Fin and Mizuki.  In other words, it means the selection encompasses everything from sushi to pizza.  On the topic of sushi, I found the varieties to be decent, yet the overall quality to be mediocre.  Compared to Mizuki, the rolls didn't look as appealing nor was there any sashimi to be found.  Naturally, the sushi rice was texturally off being dry and flavourless.

To be fair, it was all edible and acceptable for a buffet of this type.  I did enjoy the hotate (scallop) served on the half-shell though as it was buttery and surprisingly fresh-tasting.  Moving onto some cooked items, the first station featured items such as crab, fried frog legs, honey shrimp, chicken wings, fried shrimp, teriyaki chicken, fried banana, French fries, baked baby scallops and pizza.  As expected, the crab was not that fresh while the shrimp were frozen.  The honey shrimp was pretty decent being crispy and laced with a sweet mayo sauce.  Incredibly large, the fried frog legs were somewhat moist.  The chicken wings, on the other hand, were dry albeit crunchy.  I didn't bother to try the pizza.

Next section consisted of Chinese food in one from or another.  Representing the "Dim Sum" was sweet sticky rice (which we hated), sui mai, tripe and chicken feet.  Pretty subpar including the dry sui mai and soggy tripe.  However, the chicken feet were really good being plump and gelatinous.  In addition, there was Shanghai bak choy, broccoli beef, sesame chicken, squid, crayfish, clams, fried rice, fried noodles and salmon.  The veggies were all okay if not a bit greasy.  I found the sesame chicken to be dry and chewy.  The clams were pretty plump though where I had a few helpings.  Not sure why the salmon was in this section though.  No matter, it was dry and pale.

Last hot section consisted of soups, breaded shrimp, Chinese-style ribs, fried fish, fried wontons, creamed spinach, green beans, button mushrooms, spring rolls and fried sesame glutinous balls.  Nothing to see here except for the crispy beans.  Lastly, we shared a dish from the Mongolian grill section.  Pretty typical stuff with noodles, veggies and meats.  Of note, as a public service announcement, stay away from the steak unless you consider the bottom of your shoe to be tender.  I didn't bother much with the desserts or salads, but the kids did enjoy the chocolate fountain.  Yah, yah...  I can feel the buffet haters rolling their eyes at this moment.  Hey, I don't disagree with you, but in the end, the kids were happy and it didn't cost us an arm and a leg (and there were some edible items).

The Good:
- Decent selection
- Okay service considering it is a buffet
- Edible

The Bad:
- Pretty average stuff, as expected
- Very busy, some items were empty for awhile, especially the sushi

Dim Sum @ Kirin (City Square)

For me, one of the most inconsistent restaurant chains out there is the Kirin group of restaurants.  The variation between each location can be as wide as a bike lane in Downtown.  Thus, by visiting one, there is no way someone can make a blanket assessment of the food.  In fact, that would be with any group of restaurants including some of the more popular chain restaurants in town.  Furthermore, considering Kirin has Dim Sum service, that is a totally different animal since it usually involves a separate chef.  And off we went to Kirin at City Square for the aforementioned Dim Sum.

Shockingly, not only did we get our reservation on time, we scored a nice table near the window.  Brownie points for them!  We started with the must-order Haw Gow (Shrimp Dumplings).  These were rather small with a mix of shrimp and mousse.  Mostly sweet with a hint of white pepper, the filling was a touch soft with a slight snap.  We found the dumpling skin to be floury with little elasticity.  Continuing on with shrimp, we had the Shrimp Rice Noodle Roll.  Interestingly mixed with fluffy eggs, the large whole shrimp had a buttery snap.  They were well-seasoned standing on their own even without the addition of sweet soy.

Next, we had the Steamed Spareribs which were pretty good.  Although a bit heavy with the cartilage pieces, there was very little fat. The meatier pieces had a chew with some bounce and were well-seasoned and garlicky.  This dish was ultimately very flavourful which led us to believe there was a good amount of MSG as well.  We found the Lo Mei Gai (Sticky Rice) to be firm while moist enough exhibiting that classic glutinous texture.  There was a good amount of fatty pork mixed with dried scallop which ensured an aromatic flavour.  Hence, there was a natural savoury and sweetness to the dish.

Whenever the Shrimp Spring Rolls arrive, it's like Christmas morning to the kids.  Maybe I should put some of them in their stockings?  Boy would that be interesting.  Anyways, my son's enthusiasm turned to dismay as noticed the pea shoots mixed in.  They were crunchy and hot with a loose shrimp filling.  The shrimp had a decent snap while being garlicky and properly seasoned.  Onto another fried item, we had the Deep-Fried Taro Dumpling.  Although these were fried up crispy with minimal grease, the taro itself was bland while the ground pork filling was far too fatty.  Not a relatively bad dish, it just wasn't great.

Onto the Sui Mai (Pork & Shrimp Dumpling), they were both good and bad at the same time.  As for the good, the dumpling had a nice bounce texture with a balance of flavours.  However, there was far too many chunks of fat that were unappetizing.  Furthermore, the dumplings were loose, which meant they fell apart after one bite.  We really liked the moist bounce-texture of the Beef Meatballs though.  There was a good mix of greens and dried orange peel to provide variation in flavours as well as colour.  The addition of water chestnuts afforded a light crunch which was a good textural contrast to the meat.

Of course we couldn't do without the obligatory offal dish right?  So we had the Crystal Noodles with Beef Tendon.  Despite the visuals from the picture, the dish was far smaller than it appears.  For us, this was pretty much a fail because the noodles were too soft while the tendon lacked any texture at all.  Furthermore, there was too much sauce that really didn't impart any flavour either.  Then we had the Phoenix Talons (Chicken Feet) which was an inconsistent offering.  You see, my claw was scrawny and over-fried while some of the others were plump and just right. I loved the ample amount of garlic they used as it was really flavourful.

Fluffy and light, the BBQ Pork Buns were good.  The pork itself was lean with very few fatty pieces while the sauce was sweet and rich.  We felt this was one of the better dishes of the meal.  Finally, we got the Green Tea Pudding, which took forever to arrive.  Aren't these usually ready to go from the fridge?  Anyways, it was anti-climatic as they were bland and essentially the same as coconut pudding in texture. Overall, the Dim Sum was decent and surprisingly well-priced considering the class of restaurant.  The validated parking for the time we spent there was a plus as well.  However, the service was a bit slow and some dishes could've been better.  At the very least, the Dim Sum service at this location is a whole lot better than their dinner.

The Good:
- Okay pricing considering everything
- Despite being cramped, the dining space is nice
- Validated parking

The Bad:
- Service could be a bit better for this class of restaurant
- Food could be more consistent across the board

Tasting Plates Burnaby Heights

I swear Vanfoodster made a deal with either someone up there or down there regarding the weather for his Tasting Plates events.  For the 3rd straight time, awful weather during the week gave way to clear skies when it mattered.  Either he is a great negotiator or has a stash of rabbit feet somewhere.  Whatever the case, I was invited to the Burnaby Heights edition along with Sean, Alvin, Diana, Amy and Jeremy.  I brought Whipping Girl partly because Chez Christophe was on the menu (something about her whining about wanting to revisit the place).

We started at Cafe Divano, where we were given an option to choose 3 treats from their display.  Alvin, being the VIP, got all of them, so the picture represents all of the available choices.  From left to right, there was a Savoury Brioche, Biscotti, Macarons, Macaroon, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Mint Chocolate Cookie and Mini-Croissant.  Not pictured was a cute Gingerbread Man.  Our choice of beverage included Spanish Latte, Cappuccino (pictured) and Christmas in New York.  Loved the soft brioche, but the macarons were terrible being hard and gummy.  Drinks were okay, if not a tad weak.  Next up was a car ride down to Yo Sushi and their tasting plate which included Red Dragon Roll, Tuna Tataki Salad and Kamikaze Roll.  Much like my original visit, the rolls were fine, if not oversauced.

Taking the stroll (no, we left the car alone) over to Cioffi's Deli, we were presented with and Antipasti Plate consisting of Crostini with Goat Cheese and Quice Jam, Prosciutto & Bocconcini Skewer and Mixed Olives.  Loved the prosciutto as it was meaty and nicely salty.  And since I love olives, there was no question I ate them all.  Going practically next door, we visited Cioffi's Meat Market and Gourmet Kitchen for a plate of food which included Penne with Turkey Bolognese, House Made Meatball Slider and Tuscan Chicken Sausage.  I particularly liked the sausage as it was meaty with minimal fat and veggies here and there.  The meatball was quite tasty too being well-seasoned and nicely textured.

Off to some sweets, we headed over to Glenburn Soda Fountain and Confectionery.  We were treated to Chocolate Covered Candy Cane or Eggnog Ice Cream Cones.  I liked the candy cane more as it was a good mix of mint and sweetness.  Then we tried their Butterscotch Sundae featuring Birchwood Dairy ice cream.  Smooth, dense and rich, the ice cream was accented by their house-made butterscotch which was deeply sweet with a slight salt finish.  Lastly, we had the Frostbites Cranberry Spice Soda.  This was refreshing, tart and slightly sweet.  A nice way to finish off after 2 decadent cold treats.

Getting back into my car, we headed up to Stan's Pizza Joint to no avail.  They were super busy.  So we went across the street to Posh Pantry where we had the Wild Mushroom Short Rib Ragout and House-Made Chips (in the microwave no less!).  The ragout was rich and meaty while not being overly reliant on salt.  The fantastic chips (more like crisps) were remarkable coming from a microwave.  Finally, we headed to the highlight of the event being Chez Christophe.  We were presented with a plate made up of a Mini-Douceur Canadienne, Olive Oil and Balsamic Macaron and Cannelle Noisette Truffle.  Loved everything on the plate.  Compared to Cafe Divano, this was a real macaron with subtle flavours and a delicate exterior giving way to a slightly chewy inside.

We tried once more to visit Stan's Pizza Joint, but after 15 minutes of standing in the doorway without being acknowledged, we left.  I've had the pizza a few times before and it is pretty standard stuff which does the job.  It's too bad we couldn't get to try it this time around.  Normally, there is not much fanfare surrounding the eats around the Burnaby Heights, but it was nice to see an event here.  Maybe we can coax Richard into doing a Surrey Tasting Plates?

 *Note - this was an invited dinner where all food was comped

Pho Hoa (Burnaby)

*Restaurant is now closed*

Pho Hoa?  Really?  Isn't that the McD's of Pho?  Yes, we really had no choice as we missed the last call of the restaurant next door (Bistro 508).  Slightly defeated and uninspired, I relegated myself in eating average Vietnamese food.  But wait.  I hadn't tried the Bun Bo Hue here before.  Hence, it was a good opportunity to see how it fared against other versions in the city (I needed to pysch myself up...).

The one size for the Bun Bo Hue was rather small with very little noodles and meat.  As expected, there was no pork blood nor knuckle.  However, that is usually not a deal-breaker if the broth is good.  In this case, the broth wasn't exactly bland, but it wasn't aromatic (lack of shrimpiness) nor spicy either.  Definitely a run-of-the-mill version which does the job for late-night when there are no other choices.  As for the Pho, I give it to them that they are consistent.  It was middle-of-the-road where it lacked a real meatiness, yet it was decently flavourful with a certain sweetness and of course MSG.  The modest amount of meat was tender enough while the noodles were cooked right.

The Lemongrass Pork Chop Rice was again passable albeit with the thinnest pork chops I've seen.  Hence, they were pretty much completely dry.  They weren't lacking in flavour though as I did pick out lemongrass and a lot of salt. Lionel Hutz ended up with the Beef Stew with Vermicelli Noodles. He remarked that it was not as flavourful as the colour would suggest.  It was slightly aromatic while each piece of chicken was okay.  Yah, this was a pretty unexciting post to write, considering that Pho Hoa can be had almost anywhere (with variations of course).  However, one cannot deny that it is generally pretty predictable.  I guess it makes up for the mediocrity.

The Good:
- Predictable
- Open late
- Food comes out lightning fast

The Bad:
- Smallish portions
- Not the worst, but not great either
- This location needs some cleaning

Milestones (Coquitlam)

As a byproduct of attending the Tasting Menu event at Milestones awhile a back, we received $50.00 in gift cards. Hence, we figured it would be a good idea to pay a revisit to sample their new menu items as well as some classics. If there was ever a good example as to why chain restaurants do well in the GVRD, look no further than the Coquitlam location of Milestones.  The place was already packed at 5:30pm and we had to wait for almost 45 minutes for a table.

We started with the Phyllo Shrimp, much to the delight of my son.  By employing the crumbled phyllo as a batter, there was this "panko-like" effect going on.  Hence, the exterior was really crunchy, yet light at the same time.  They could've done a better job draining the oil as the bottom was quite greasy.  Inside, the shrimp was cooked just right exhibiting a buttery snap.  At first, I was concerned with the side of sweet chili sauce as it brought up memories of the bottled stuff, but it was actually good with a nice balance of sweet, tart and spicy.  As much as the Spinach & Artichoke Dip has been on the Milestones menu for 20+ years, it holds a special place in our hearts.  And really, it is not all about nostalgia either as it still stacks up to the best of them.  Creamy, cheesy and full of spinach with some artichoke, the dip was exactly how we remembered.  We like how it is not too dependent on mayo or the dreaded cream cheese.  The house-fried tortilla chips weren't bad either.

Viv decided to order one of their new menu items being the Chili-Crusted Tilapia.  I was a bit nervous since tilapia can be mushy and unappealing if prepared incorrectly.  And it can still be awful even if prepared correctly... Surprisingly, they could not have done a better job as it was moist, flaky and relatively firm.  The exterior rub was spicy and flavourful.  We liked how it was a relatively large portion as well.  For myself, I decided on the Lamb Shank and it was mostly fatty, tender and gelatinous.  Some parts were more firm, yet it wasn't hard to eat.  I found the braising liquid to be on the saltier side and with the addition of the creamy (and aggressively seasoned) gnocchi, there was too much salt.  I found the gnocchi a bit too starchy and soft when it was squashed by the lamb shank.  Otherwise, it was an acceptable dish.  

My daughter had the kids' Grilled Salmon and it was grilled beautifully with an attractive cris cross char.  The meat was moist and just cooked.  It was a decent portion for the price ($8.95 including choice of beverage and dessert).  As much as my daughter enjoyed the plain jasmine rice, it seemed to be begging for some sort of sauce.  But then again, what do I know?  I guess kids like plain rice.  My son decided on the Mini-Burgers with curly fries.  Nothing particularly interesting nor wrong with this dish.  He ate them with little fanfare.  Probably just the luck of the draw, he got more little pieces of fries rather than actually curly ones.  For dessert, they were served a scoop of vanilla Gelato and Chocolate Cookie.  Again, nothing out of the ordinary, it did the job.

Seeing how we only sampled a small selection of dishes, we returned a few weeks later with my parents to round out this post.  We started with the artichoke dip again and in addition, tried a new appie being the Chorizo Mozzarella Fritters.  These crunchy panko-coated balls of joy were filled with stringy mozzarella, chorizo, garlic and parsley.  I found them to be pleasing, yet heavy as an appie.  Despite not reading the actual description of the dish, it was pretty apparent that the aioli was smoky paprika as the flavour was strong and unmistakable.  My daughter had the same kids' meal while my son chose the Chicken Fingers and Fries this time around.  These were very crunchy with a thick breading which helped keep the juices inside.  Unlike last time, there were actually curly fries on the plate.  I thought they could've been crispier.

For myself, I had the American Burger with aged cheddar and double-smoked crispy bacon.  Unlike the many times in the past, the burger patty was dry and dense.  It was meaty tasting though while being well-seasoned.  Adding to the dense patty was the relatively heavy bun.  I did like the side of Yam Frites though as they were really crispy and surprisingly airy.  They stayed crispy to the very end which was impressive as most yam fries start to soften as time passes.  The accompanying chipotle aioli was slightly spicy with a nice zip.  Viv actually ordered the 3-course meal from the seasonal menu for $40.00 (which included the fritters) and chose the Halibut with Smoked Tomato Sugo as her main. Although the substantial piece of halibut was fresh, it was slightly overcooked.  But that was nowhere near the doneness of the quinoa underneath.  It was totally destroyed being a complete mush and underseasoned.   The smoky tomato sauce was a tad too spicy where it overwhelmed the fish.  On the other hand, when combined with the rest of the ingredients, it was less so.

My parents went for the classics with the Portobello Mushroom Chicken and Slow-Roasted AAA Prime Rib (Small Cut).  As much as the mushroom chicken has been on the menu forever, it was still exactly how we remembered it.  With a rich, creamy and garlicky sauce, it was a nice compliment to the relatively al dente capellini.  The chicken breasts were a touch overdone, but still not incredibly dry either.  The prime rib was a proper medium rare and tender as per usual.  It came with all the fixins including mashed potatoes (potatoey with chunks) topped with crispy onions and vibrant veggies. No one saved room for dessert except for Viv and the kids.  

The kids had their gelato again while Viv had her 3rd course being the Carrot Cake featuring 3-layers doused with cream cheese icing and a side of citrus slaw.  Personally, I found it moist with a nice hit of nutmeg.  However, the whole thing was far too sweet for my tastes.  So after the 2 visits and a wide selection of new dishes and old classics, it appears Milestone's is still using a relatively tried and true formula with a few new bolder dishes.  Hence, the old stuff is quite predictable while the new dishes can be a little hit and miss.  Portions are still good, but the prices tread dangerously into fine dining territory.

The Good:
- With the classics, it's predictable
- Large portions
- Decent service

The Bad:
- Expensive (yet consistent with other chain restaurants in this class)
- Mostly aggressive seasoning