Truong Thanh

As much as there are plenty of late night Vietnamese joints in town, there are only a handful that are open 24 hours.  Of course, the first place that comes to mind is Pho Hoa and also Pho Extreme. Pho 24 Express does the same thing on Kingsway near Metrotown as well. However, there is one more that is somewhat unknown as it is rather low-key looking from the outside.  I first spotted the "Open 24 hours" when I was on the prowl for restaurants with Miss Y, but decided to leave it for times when we had a late hockey game.  Well, this time would be it as Milhouse and Lionel Hutz joined me for eats.

Milhouse had the Pho and it was more or less pretty standard.  I found the broth to be on the sweeter side and a little heavy on the MSG.  At the very least it wasn't bland, I could pick out a few flavours such as anise and charred onion.  The noodles were still toothsome while the meats were sliced thin and tender.  For myself, I tried the Bun Bo Hue which sported a nice oil slick on the top.  It was for a reason though as there was a decent level of spice as well as shrimp paste.  I didn't get much in the way of lemongrass though as the soup was just salty.  Furthermore, there was no pork blood nor knuckle present.  With that being said, the other meats were fine and the rice noodles were chewy in texture.

Naturally, a bowl of noodles wouldn't be enough so I got a plate of Lemongrass Chicken, Fried Eggs and Rice as well. The 2 fried eggs still sported runny yolks which, of course, was really good with the properly steamed rice.  I found the chicken to relatively juicy with a slight char.  Once again, I didn't get a big hit of lemongrass, although the chicken was well-seasoned.  Lionel Hutz went for a Banh Mi Dac Biet (without any greens) because he doesn't like Pho (and his girlfriend is Vietnamese!).  He thought the bread was light and nicely toasted while the ingredients were fine.  There was a noticeable amount of pate which added a nice flavour.

Interestingly, the last item to hit our table was the appie being the Roll Combo consisting of one each of a spring roll, pork salad roll and shrimp salad roll.  Made with a wheat wrapper, the spring roll hot and crunchy.  The filling was moist and flavourful.  Both salad rolls were pretty standard except the rice wrapper was a touch dry.  For a 24-hour joint, Troung Thanh more than fits the bill.  Food wasn't outstanding, yet at the very least, the food is far superior than Pho Hoa up the street.

The Good:
- Open 24 hours
- Decent eats
- Relatively okay service

The Bad:
- Place is not particularly big, can be full at times
- A little heavy with the MSG

Moulin Rouge

Like the TV cartoon, Tom & Jerry's (the restaurant) can be sometimes be the butt end of many jokes. Hey, don't knock it though as it has been around as long as I can remember.  In the same class as Denny's and Knight & Day, it serves to offer up eats when other establishments have long closed for the night.  Sadly (maybe?), T&J's has bit the dust and in its place is Moulin Rouge.  Looking very much the same with a menu all under $10.00, I'm not sure if anything has changed.

Since they are once again open 24 hours, it was convenient for us after late night Friday hockey. I started with the Deluxe Burger consisting of a 6 oz patty, cheese, bacon and mushrooms.  I found the patty very dry and overcooked, yet the plethora of toppings including the fresh tomatoes and lettuce somewhat helped alleviate the problem.  The kaiser bun was plenty toasted which helped keep everything together.  The fries were pretty generic and only slightly crisp.  For my second dish, I had the Lamb Shank which had a shade of pale that would make Taylor Swift look tanned.  It ate pretty much how it looked being one dimensional in flavour (salt) and a touch chewy in parts.  The rice was good though being soft with a bite.

Emilicious had the Chicken Schnitzel with mushroom sauce (even though she asked for Madagascar Sauce).  It was pretty decent with a large chicken cutlet which was fried up very crispy while still somewhat moist inside.  The sauce was rich and creamy with plenty of mushrooms.  It was surprisingly good.  Milhouse had the Meatloaf and it appeared they used the same sauce.  It was okay being sufficiently moist with only the slightest hint of seasoning.  Lionel Hutz originally ordered the Chicken Nachos, but theuy forgot the chicken.  Oh yeah, they forgot his milkshake too. This was only the tip of the iceberg concerning the overall service we received. It was friendly enough, but our server was very forgetful and completely lost for the duration of our meal. Food in general was pretty average at best. Whatever the case, Moulin Rouge offers up an option for 24 hour eats.

The Good:
- Everything under $10.00
- Edible
- Open 24 hours

The Bad:
- Average food at best
- Service we got was confused and forgetful

Bee Kim Heng

As I was turning onto 16th from Fraser, I noticed that the new location of Bee Kim Heng was open for business.  That made me a happy camper (wait, I don't camp...  okay, how about a happy hoteller?) as I was a distressed to see the old location boarded up awhile back.  Seeing how my son has a general dislike of anything interesting, on a whim, I decided to pay the place a visit.  Hey, he might like it - Singaporean style jerky that is grilled and cured with lots of tasty seasoning (in particular sugar and no preservatives).  I decided to go for 1/2 pound of beef and 1/2 pound of pork.  The nice people there even gave us some samples.

I passed it to my son and surprise!  He liked it! He was especially impressed with the Pork Jerky as it as was mostly moist with some chewier portions.  It was charred which gave out a smoky flavour that accented by the sweet marinade.  My preference was for Spicy Beef Jerky which as the name implies was spicy.  In fact, it wasn't wimpy spicy either as there was a real kick. Being beef, the texture was much drier and chewier, but still not particularly difficult to eat (unless you put too much in your mouth).

Lastly, I picked up a few bags of their End Pieces which are generally chewier and sometimes a bit burnt.  Consider it the "burnt ends" beef jerky equivalent of the wonderful BBQ brisket variety.  It's cheaper and a great snack to munch on in front of the TV.  Now if you've never tried this type of jerky before, you are missing out.  Definitely a treat and probably the best Singaporean-style jerky in town (not that there are many other places).

The Good:
- Freshly made with no preservatives
- Just the right amount of char and smokiness
- Nice people

The Bad:
- You'll be paying for it
- Won't keep long

Dine Out Vancouver 2014 Media Preview

Say what you want about Dine Out Vancouver (including my own thoughts), but it remains a popular event which allows diners to experience an array of restaurants on a budget.  For 2014, the lineup has grown to a record setting 263 restaurants in the Greater Vancouver Area.  From January 17th to February 2nd, there will be prix fixe menus of $18.00, $28.00 and $38.00 offered from some of the hottest spots in town.  I was invited to experience the media preview where we got to choose a themed group of 3 restaurants.  I went for "posh nosh" which included Pidgin, Oru and West.

Our first stop was Pidgin, which ironically was on my "to eat" list for some time.  We were served all the dishes (to share) that are featured on their dine out menu.  Starting with the Bitter Green Salad with citrus, raisins and capers; we knew there would be some interesting flavours to follow.  As advertised, there were the bitter elements in the frisee and capers (salty too), as well as the grapefruit (which added a tempered sweetness).  The well-placed raisins were plump with a contrasting sweetness.  Next, we had the Shishito Peppers with Parmesan and pine nuts.  This simple dish featured slightly sweet roasted peppers dressed with the aforementioned ingredients.  I would've preferred a touch more saltiness, but a nice snack nonetheless.

Moving along, we were served the Parisienne Gnocchi with radishes, radish green pistou and buttermilk ricotta.  Although the gnocchi were pillowy soft and light, they managed to retain their integrity.    The pistou ate like a pesto (of course without the pine nuts), where it was more in the background.  The ricotta was not merely a bystander as it added creaminess.  My favourite dish of the bunch was the Mushrooms with snap peas, runny yolk egg and soy yuzu brown butter.  The buttery mushrooms in texture and flavour caressed itself all the way down to my stomach.  They were expertly prepared while dressed in a rich balanced sauce.

Continuing with the gluttony, we had the "Dan Dan" Rutabaga Noodle Salad with tofu and almonds.  At first, I was skeptical of this dish, but it was not bad.  The crunchy rutabaga was dressed in just enough sauce for impact.  There was definitely savoury and elements, yet lacking in spice. By virtue of being a vegetarian offering, the "meatiness" was provided by the tofu.  Another tasty dish was the Albacore Tuna Poke with fried taro, wakame and toasted nori squid ink. I liked the soft, yet not mushy texture of the tuna where it was seasoned with a nice combination of sesame oil, soy and the slightest of spice.

Then we were served the (boasted as best in town - tongue and cheek that is) Fried Chicken Wings with a Korean Gochujang sauce. I thought the wings themselves were prepared nicely being really juicy with a super light crispy batter.  They were decently seasoned on their own, but with the addition of the red pepper sauce, there was a sweet spiciness.  Can't comment on being best-in-town because the wings are very different than Phnom Penh.  The Sake Steamed Clams (with XO sauce, kale and fregola) was another solid offering.  The clams were buttery featuring a depth of flavour which was neither too salty, sweet nor spicy.  The firm fregola and crunchy kale added body to the dish.

Saving the meat for last, we had the Beef Striploin with black beans and black garlic jus.  The well-seasoned striploin was a beautiful medium-rare featuring an appealing sear on the outside.  It was sufficiently tender with a meaty texture.  I liked how the black beans retained a bite while the jus added a certain sweetness accented by vinegary finish.  Surprisingly, the dessert was really good and a refreshing finish to the meal.  The Black Sesame Meringues were lightly crisp on the outside and soft & chewy on the inside.  However, the combination of kalamansi curd and coconut and lime white chocolate created a flavour explosion of sweet and tart hits.  Really good.

Next stop, we headed over the Fairmont Pacific for a visit to Oru.  With their DOV menu, there are 3 choices for each course.  We sampled everything starting with the 3 appetizers including the Roasted Sunchoke Mocha consisting of a sunchoke veloute, truffled milk foam and morel cocoa powder.  The smooth veloute was definitely Earthy with a certain sweetness and depth.  I liked how they were conservative with the salt which afforded a more natural flavour.  Next, I sampled the Oru Winter Salad consisting of kale, frisee, roasted squash, lime, pumpkin seeds with a chipotle Caesar dressing.  There was no absence of crunch to go with the smoothness of the squash.  What set this salad apart was the spicy dressing as it livened up the flavours.  Lastly and my favourite was the Pork Belly dressed in a pineapple-maple and mustard glaze with lotus poi, baby bak choy and crispy sage.  This pork belly was melt-in-my-mouth worthy where the glaze had an immediate impact with a noticeable caramelized sweetness.  I particularly liked the light chicharrons on top.

Moving onto the mains, I sampled the Angus Reserve Short Rib first.  It was served with guajillo spiced mashed potato, black bean, corn and zucchini succotash and a mole sauce.  Although the mole was not as complex as I would've liked, it really didn't matter as the short rib itself moist and fatty without any stringiness. The mash exhibited a smoky flavour while the succotash featured soft, yet still vibrant veggies.  Being Asian, I was drawn to the Cape Breton Lobster like a moth to a flame.  As pictured, it was a whole broiled lobster with paprika lime butter and a warm brussel sprout and chorizo salad. I found the lobster to be a touch more done than I would've liked it, but it was still good nonetheless with a natural sweetness enhance by the cooking method.  The paprika lime butter was not a bystander in this case as it was very apparent.  The accompanying brussel sprouts were delicious where they exhibited spicy creaminess accented by the salt of the chorizo.  The Vegan Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie rounded out the middle course selections.  I didn't mind it as it was bursting with flavour from the mushrooms and pearl onions, but I wasn't a huge fan of the potato (lacking dairy, the best they could do though).

For dessert, I tried the Malted Peanut Butter and Beer Nut Bar first.  It consisted of chocolate ganache, peanut butter mousse, salted caramel nuts and malted ice cream.  This was not a subtle dessert by any means as the salty and sweet peanut butter hit me in the face with one bite.  It was soft and creamy where the nuts added a nice crunch.  The lightest option of the bunch was the Strawberry Shortcake Mille Feuille with strawberry compote, sweet puff pastry, diplomat cream and lemon curd.  With pillowy soft meeting a light crispiness, there were nice textures at work.  Light and creamy with only a touch of sweetness contrasted by tartness, this was my favourite dessert.  Lastly, there was an option of Local Cheese consisting of Natural Pastures aged farmhouse cheddar, black pepper ver de lait and Golden Ears Cheeseworks brie with quince mostarda and crisps.

Although stuffed to the max, we made our way to West for our last tasting of the night.  We kept remarking to each other that these were #firstworldproblems - too full from good food...  Anyways, we got to sample their 3 appetizer options for their dine out menu including the Golden Beet and Orange Soup with bacon panko and tarragon creme fraiche.  Despite the thickness of the soup, it was fairly light and refreshing with the appetizing zip of citrus.  There was a certain Earthiness there as well as the saltiness from the bacon.  I found the Baby Carrot and Watercress Salad (with Agassiz hazelnuts and preserved stone fruit vinaigrette) to be equally refreshing.  With a nice level of acidity and the crunch from the carrots, there was both texture and flavour.  Next, I tried the Leek Ash Crusted Albacore Tuna with shaved fennel and radish dressed with a sake miso emulsion.  This was a rather subtle dish as the delicate tuna was not overwhelmed by any of the other ingredients including the smoky leek ash.  I would've liked to seem more of the emulsion for some saltiness though.

The choice of mains included a wonderful Slow Cooked Veal Breast (with roasted cauliflower, pearl couscous and thyme jus).  Despite looking like a dense chunk of meat, the veal was fork tender and did not require much effort to chew.  It had a rich natural meat flavour accented by the mild jus.  The Pacific Provider Wild Pink Salmon was decent albeit slightly dry from the pan sear.  I guess it is a catch-22 with pink salmon as it can dry out easily while the crispy sear on the outside was essential.  It was accompanied by a Yukon gold potato blini, sunchoke puree, black truffle and parsley marmalade.  Combined with all these ingredients there was a mix of Earthiness and sweet hits.  The vegetarian option was the Handmade Caramelized Parsnip Agnolotti with braised kale and brown butter apple vinaigrette. I found the pasta to be very al dente (which I personally prefer).  Due to the mildness of the ingredients, it wasn't exactly exploding with flavour.  However, the brown butter vinaigrette added a nice background richness while the apple sticks on top added some crunch.

The best item we had all night was the Roasted Pineapple on coconut wafers with cream cheese mousse accompanied by a tropical fruit salad.  Despite my indifference with desserts, I really liked this one as it was light, creamy, crunchy and naturally sweet from the caramelized pineapples.  Moreover, the Citrus Tart was equally refreshing with a spiced whole wheat crust and vanilla raspberry swirl ice cream.  I found the texture of the tart to be a cross between a pannacotta and a mouse.  It had some zip and mild sweetness.  Lastly, the Malted Chocolate Cake benefited from crispy layers which added a nice crunch to the soft semi-sweet cake.  It was accented by caramelized banana and sesame snaps. Impressive...  That is the one word that could accurately describe the items we tried on this DOV preview.  As much as I am not a fan of DOV personally, I can say this much - for the restaurants I tried, they really have seemed to up the ante for DOV 2014.  You really can't lose with these $38.00 menus.

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

Leisure Tea & Coffee

Ever since Mijune has become famous, it has been increasingly difficult to track her down.  Either she is super busy or she just wants to ignore me - I really hope it's the former.  Well, to my relief (at least I hope so!), she is indeed swamped with her travels and responsibilities.  After another late night hockey game at Richmond Ice, I was able to meet up with her for some late night drinks and a bit of food as well at Leisure Tea & Coffee (with an emphasis on "a bit of food" as the menu is quite limited).

I requested that my Mango Slush be minimally sweet and they came through with just the right amount of sugar.  The slush itself was super smooth and almost creamy.  Whether or not the mango was fresh or not, it really didn't matter as the slush emanated a real ripe mango taste.  I particularly liked the aromatic finish.  Mijune had the Black Sesame Slush and it was aromatic in its own right.  They managed to get the right amount of sweetness here as well.  As much as it was good, we would've liked to see more sesame hit. As for more sweets, we had the Caramel Shaved Ice featuring a creme caramel on top.  It was actually not bad with a rice silkiness (and no bubbles, an indication it was cooked properly).  More eggy than creamy, it was mildly sweet with a slight caramel finish.  The condensed milk and caramel sauce mixture was super sweet, hence, we had to ask for more shaved ice.

As for the limited amount of food on the menu, I decided to try the Club Sandwich consisting of fried egg, ham, cucumber, tomato and mayo.  This was so-so as the bread was not as soft as I would've liked.  Furthermore, the crust wasn't consistently removed on the outside.  The ingredients were fine though, especially the egg, where it wasn't overdone.  I also got the Combo Platter consisting of fried crispy spicy chicken, fried tofu and fried fish cake.  This arrived glistening with oil.  Not sure if the temperature was not hot enough, but each item was greasy and soaked.  Hence, the chicken wasn't all that crispy.  It was moist and juicy though with a moderate amount of spice.  On the other hand, the tofu was plenty crunchy.  As for the fish cake, it was fine except afflicted with oil.

Lastly, we shared the Taiwanese Sausage (yes, insert joke here) and it was sweet and had a nice chewy texture.  The exterior was fried up nicely where it had a snap.  Okay, as you can clearly see, food is not the emphasis here.  Hence, the name - Leisure Tea & Coffee.  However, nothing was offensive and service was good.  Therefore, it offers up an option for late night drinks with a side of whatever to munch on.

The Good:
- Friendly servers (at least that is what we got)
- Drinks are blended well
- Calm, comfortable environment

The Bad:
- Food is not the focus here
- Things came out a bit slow