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Sometimes, people get confused whether Dim Sum is breakfast, lunch or ultimately brunch. For me, it is essentially a Chinese-style tapas that can really be eaten anytime of the day. They do that in Asia, but some reason or another, it has never caught on in Vancouver (despite the large appetite from Dim Sum). Before it closed, HKYK used to do late night Dim Sum. But now what? Well, one can do an early morning Dim Sum before 2:00am at Pelican (and get a head start on Dim Sum before everyone else). We decided to try this out after our Friday night hockey game.
Joining me for this unusual meal was Milhouse, Lionel Hutz, Sweet Tooth, Polka King (shockingly) and My Cousin Vinny (yah, 2 yuths...). Interestingly, we were seated at the same table the last time I was here... with my psychotic MIL. Anyways, we started with the Spicy Green Beans and they were oil-blanched enough so they were tender while still maintaining a crunch. There was no absence of flavour and spice, but it was on the saltier side. Next, the Shrimp Spring Rolls were fried crispy with a mix of mousse and whole pieces of shrimp. There was only a light snap to go along with the mild flavours with a hint of wasabi.
I wasn't a huge fan of the Haw Gow (Shrimp Dumplings) as the skin was doughy and thick. But worst of all was the overly mushy filling which featured a predominantly mousse texture with bits of soft shrimp. It was also far too mild-tasting as well with very little distinguishable flavours. The enormous Sui Mai (Pork & Shrimp Dumplings) were afflicted with large chunks of pure pork fat. I didn't find this appetizing at all as they were chewy. If they had chopped it into smaller pieces, it would've been fine. As for the pork, it was meaty and only slightly bouncy. I also felt there was not enough shrimp and shiitake mushroom to offer varying flavours.
Onto the Xiao Long Bao, we understood that the chances of them being good were as good as Charlie Sheen being monogamous. Since Pelican is not a Shanghainese restaurant, we expected that the dumplings would have a thick doughy skin and no soup whatsoever. In that sense, they were okay as a plain ol' dumpling because the filling was moist and meaty. The Steamed Spareribs were okay tasting with plenty of seasoning and garlic. However, the meat was on the chewier side. There was very little in the way of cartilage which meant it was mostly the meatier parts.
With the Steamed Bean Curd Skin Rolls, we thought it was well-executed. Within the moist, yet chewy exterior, the pork filling was tender and meaty. Flavours were mild so that we could taste the ingredients without being overloaded with salt. Furthermore, there was just enough sauce which was not that impactful. The Beef Meatballs were on the softer side with only the slightest of bounce. With that being said, they were okay with a higher ratio of greens to meat which meant we could really taste them. Since they were probably steamed from a frozen state, there was too much moisture that made them slightly mushy.
Our last savoury dish was the Lo Mei Gai (Sticky Rice). It was rather wet, hence, the rice was more mushy than sticky. The moisture seemed to be from the plethora of ground pork (mixed with starch-thickened sauce). As a result, it did taste good though with lots of meatiness. Lastly, for Sweet Tooth's sake, we got a double-order of the Mango Pudding prepared in Hello Kitty molds. There were quite firm and not very sweet. As expected, it wasn't full of mango flavour either. I guess it is pretty clear that the food was pretty average at best (not unlike my recent visit). But since there are not a whole lot of places that do late night Dim Sum, Pelican works in that respect.
The Good:
- Open late
- Dim Sum until 2:00am
- Decent albeit forgetful service
The Bad:
- Mediocre food
- Forgetful service
Ming Dynasty, I hardly got to know you. No I'm not talking about the actual dynasty that ruled China from 1368–1644. Hey, I'm not that old! Rather, it was the short-lived restaurant near the corner of Nanaimo and Broadway. Heck, this location has experienced quite a few changeovers and now the latest flavour is Shining Garden. Despite not looking like one, it is actually a quasi-Hong Kong-style cafe that also serves up full dinner service. We decided to try it out one night with the whole family.
We started with a the complimentary Daily Soup which was a concoction of dried bak choy, carrot and pork bones. The soup itself was not bad since they were easy on the salt. Hence, we could taste the meat and veggies. However, the darn thing wasn't even lukewarm which greatly decreased our eating enjoyment. That theme continued with the 4 Seasons Green Beans as they were not very hot (temperature-wise) for something that exhibited good wok heat. With just a touch too long in the oil-blanch, the beans were lacking some snap. Yet, with the aforementioned wok heat, the flavours were caramelized and slightly spicy. I thought the ground pork was nicely cooked as it was almost fluffy.
Next up, we had the Lobster with Sticky Rice which was also... you guessed it, not very hot. For something that is supposed to be steamed with the lobster on top, it was only mildly warm. That would indicate it wasn't actually steamed. Despite this, it was pretty good though (while lacking true lobster flavour in the rice). The rice itself had an appealing chewy texture with shrimp and baby scallops. Fried just right, the lobster itself had a buttery texture. We decided to try one of their signature items being the Soy Free-Range Chicken. Although this was cold as well, we didn't mind as the chicken was decently moist and tender for free-range chicken. Underneath the skin was a nice layer of gelatin which was just as flavourful as the accompanying sauce (it was a good balance between salty and sweet).
For the kiddies, we got the Scrambled Eggs with Prawns. This was done very well with fluffy, barely-cooked eggs which hid large butterflied prawns. They had a wonderful snap and were just cooked. The dish was a touch salty though. As evidenced in the picture, the portion size was very good and unlike the previous dishes, it was not cold. Lastly, we tried the Curry Beef with coconut milk. They did a poor job in reheating the brisket in the curry as the whole thing was not even lukewarm. Moreover, the brisket liquid diluted the curry and made it watery. Too bad really as the brisket itself was really moist and the curry was flavourful with only a mild hint of spice. As you can probably guess, the food needs to be hotter here. Lukewarm is just not acceptable nor Food Safe. Too bad really because the eats were relatively decent.
The Good:
- Decent eats
- Nicely renovated
- Large portions
The Bad:
- Barely lukewarm food
- Not very attentive service
Awhile back, there was this pretty good Persian restaurant on North Road, right beside Pho Japolo. Big D, Slick and I enjoyed a filling meal on the cheap and vowed to return. Well, it closed before we could do that. Maybe Persian food doesn't work along North Road? Seems like all the Korean restaurants do quite well... Now in its place, there is Thai Chef Casual Thai Cuisine. Maybe Asian food might do better? We were about to find out...
Starting off the meal (lunch special), we were all presented with a Spring Roll with a side salad. The spring roll was served piping hot and crunchy. Inside, it was stuffed with vermicelli and cabbage. The textures were on point while the flavours were peppery and spiked with fish sauce. Judging from the aroma and visuals, we were pretty sure there was no ketchup used in the Pad Thai. However, the overuse of palm sugar emulated a "ketchup-type" feel as the rice noodles were very saucy and syrupy sweet. Hence, it totally overwhelmed the flavours of the other ingredients (pressed tofu, pickled turnip, peanuts and sprouts).
We also went for a couple of curries including the Chicken Green Curry. This was a creamy and very mild concoction which was also the afflicted with too much palm sugar. Hence, the curry was quite sweet which overshadowed any spice or the pungency of shrimp paste. I did get the basil and a considerable amount of bamboo shoot essence though. Continuing on the same theme, the Beef Red Curry was sweet as well. Hence, it was not really all that spicy, yet the bamboo shoot really came through. The ingredients had vibrancy and texture while the beef was mostly tender. Judging by the dishes we had, the food at Thai Chef was decent, yet we would've preferred that they were more conservative with the palm sugar.
The Good:
- Reasonably-priced
- Nice people
- Seems authentic
The Bad:
- Too much palm sugar
3 years ago almost to the day, Darina, Whipping Girl and myself had a great meal at La Regalade. The large country-style offerings were both filling and delicious. We vowed to eat there again soon. Well, Darina and Whipping Girl each went back while I didn't actually return due to a variety of reasons (including the price!). Well, with a Travelzoo voucher, it was finally the time. Ironically, Whipping Girl and Darina joined me again for this food adventure. Choobee was added to the mix despite her dislike of driving anywhere beyond a 10-block radius of her house.
Not surprisingly, our usual favourites were still on the menu, however, the appies were a bit different. Whipping Girl pushed for the Salade Regalade with prawns, calamari and bacon. Well, it was essentially a warm salad with a savoury mix of bacon and seafood atop romaine lettuce. I though the flavours were almost zesty, yet in need of more acidity. The seafood was on point with the calamari being tender while the shrimp exhibited a meaty snap. Another Whipping Girl request was the Steamed Mussels in a white wine, onion and light cream broth. Personally, I thought there was far too much onion where it was the dominant flavour. On the other hand, it provided a wealth of natural sweetness. The mussels themselves were buttery and plump.
Onto the next set of appies, we had the Foie Gras Terrine served with crostini and fig compote. The slice of terrine was buttery and smooth in a non-livery fashion. It was well seasoned where the fig compote provided the necessary sweet contrast. We could've used more bread though. Next, we tried the classic Escargots en Crouton. The plethora of butter, garlic and herbs ensured the crunchy crouton would be soaked in greasy goodness and flavour. Definitely a sinfully tasty treat which was enjoyed by all. The snails underneath were soft while maintaining a chew where the buttery goodness was nicely accented by sweet tomatoes.
Onto the mains, we had some eerily similar dishes as last time. Beginning with the Roasted Duck with Sauteed Fruit, it looked appreciably smaller. Despite that, it was still not a "small" dish by any stretch of our imagination. The duck itself was the beneficiary of a well charred and rendered skin which was smoky and crisp. However, the duck meat was on the drier side. It did have a natural duck gaminess which was accented nicely by the sweet fruit. Yet another repeat dish, we had the Beef Short Rib in Peppercorn Sauce. We thought the sauce was money being sinfully creamy and peppery. We actually put the sauce on other proteins in our meal. As for the short rib, it was rich and super moist. The fattiness of the meat combined with the sauce resulted in a heavy combination.
Another familiar item was the Prime Rib with shallots, garlic confit and wedge potatoes. This was expertly prepared as it was a beautiful medium-rare (closer to rare, which is how we like it) with a nice exterior crust. As a result, the meat was super tender, flavourful and texturally contrasting. The accompanying "demi-glace" (it was too oily to be a demi-glace) was rustic and full of red wine flavour. The acidity really complimented the fatty meat. We tried something new this time in the Beouf Bourguignon. The large chunky pieces of meat were somewhat dry and fatty. There was a richness and depth to the dish which was comforting and filling. I would've liked the red wine to be more pronounced though. All the dishes came with a side of Gratin Dauphinois (like scalloped potatoes) which was super creamy and rich.
We were pretty full at this point and had to pack quite a few leftovers. However, our coupons included dessert for each of us. Hence, we had no choice but to get them (I'm sure this was not a problem for Whipping Girl as she was salivating). We started with the Lemon Tart. With a very light custard (rather than curd), it was creamy and smooth. I found it tart and pretty sweet. It wasn't heavy at all except for the firm tart shell (which we liked). On the other hand, we universally didn't like the Sea Salt Creme Caramel. It was far too sweet due to the overuse of salted caramel. It completely overwhelmed the egg custard and the whole thing just became a chore to eat. We didn't touch it after the first few spoonfuls.
We also had the Apple Tart Tatin that featured large slices of tender apples (which were not mushy nor that sweet). I found the tart crust to be on the softer side, mainly because of the ample amount of apple. Furthermore, the apples themselves were not very caramelized. This was decent, yet unremarkable. Saving the best for last, the Monaco Tart was definitely memorable. The combination of almonds, marscapone, chocolate and caramel was harmonious and purposeful. It was not as sweet as the ingredients suggested and the textures were complimentary. We all agreed that the meal was pretty good in general (with a few exceptions). But the prices are quite high and are comparable to Downtown establishments. Yes, rent in West Van is not cheap and neither are the ingredients. Depending on what you order, it could very well be worth the price though.
The Good:
- Generally good country-style French food with exceptions
- Decent portions
- Above-average service
The Bad:
- Expensive
- Some dishes are definitely better than others
- Tight seating
Viv and I are bad parents. No, we're not letting the kids drive nor have we offered them anything illegal. Rather, we have failed to teach them any Cantonese despite the fact we are fluent. Hence, we have resorted to sending them to Chinese school. Paying someone else solves everything! Er... So, with over 2 hours of nothing to do as our kids learn how to order Dim Sum in Chinese (yay!), we decided to get something to eat at Bel Cafe in the Hotel Georgia.
As we weren't overly hungry, we decided to share some items including the Roasted Tomato Soup. With an immediate and purposeful blast of acidity, the soup was appetizing, delicately thick and not devoid of impact. Every spoonful yielded hints of basil and the natural sweetness of the roasted tomato. Cute little cheddar gougères accompanied the soup on the side. Completing the soup & sandwich, we had the House Smoked Turkey with brussel sprout remoulade, cranberry and gruyere. We liked how the bread was super crunchy and light. Good thing too as the remoulade was extremely wet and dripped profusely with every bite. Despite this, the brussel sprouts provided a wonderful crunch to the sandwich while offering up the necessary acidity. Naturally, the cranberries added sweetness while the gruyere exhibited a creamy nuttiness. Of note, even with all the ingredients, we could really taste the smoked turkey.
As for some pastries, we started with the Vanilla and Winter Berry Brioche. This was a little dry, but not incredibly. I found the fruit to be quite sparse, hence it was really just vanilla-flavoured brioche. This was a pleasant, if not unremarkable, accompaniment for my green tea. Next, we ended up sharing the Raspberry Pear Tart since the people beside us ordered the last lemon tart. I think it worked out quite well because we could hear them complaining it was too sour. As for our pear tart, we thought it was quite good. The hard tart shell with chocolate and raspberry encased a slightly dry and semi-sweet frangipane filling. It was topped with nicely textured slices of pear (not too soft) with a light gelatine glaze. The flavours were subtle and worked well with each other
Upon leaving, I grabbed some Macarons including dark chocolate, key lime pie, carrot cake, passion fruit and strawberry & lemon. These passed the test as my daughter loved them (she knows her macarons!). The exterior were lightly crisp while the inside was soft, possibly needing a bit more chewiness. I liked how the flavours were unmistakable and purposeful. What I didn't like was the imperfections in half of the macarons. 2 of which had significant dents which were prior to baking. Since these were for ourselves, it wasn't a huge deal. However, if this was a gift for someone else, the imperfections would be unacceptable.
The Good:
- Carefully prepared eats
- Decent macarons
The Bad:
- Expensive
- Not the most comfortable seating
For some reason or another, Big D and I have not gone on any North Road Korean food adventures of late. It seemed like we have eaten at nearly all of the available restaurants, however, there are some left. Well, in actuality, most of the ones we have not visited are rated somewhat low on Urbanspoon. Yet, like anything, we really need to see for ourselves. Well, Big D had already been to Wang Ga Ma and it was not rated that low, so we decided to go there for some eats.
We were started off with a large plate of Kimchi which was a bit strange tasting. It wasn't bad per se, yet it was on the sweeter side with lots of white onion. There was a nice texture and colour though while the turnip was especially crunchy. According to Big D, this was a departure from the usual. Inconsistency perhaps? We ended up with a small portion of the Stewed Pork Belly accompanied by blanched Napa cabbage and more kimchi turnip. As with Korean BBQ, the trick is the take some cabbage, pork and kimchi, then add the bean paste, pepper and fermented shrimp. This was good as the pork was moist and tender where the fat was gelatinous.
As mentioned, one of the condiments was Fermented Shrimp. This was a nice seafoody and salty flavouring for the pork belly. Lastly, we had the Beef Rib Soup which was well-seasoned and full of short rib and noodles. I liked how it was full of meaty taste without the need to add salt. The big pieces of meat were soft and didn't require much effort to eat. For the price, I felt that there was good value. We didn't have a shortage of food and we only had 2 dishes! Sure, the service was a bit spotty, but I'd consider coming back.
The Good:
- Not expensive
- Good portions
- Decent eats
The Bad:
- Spotty service
- Could be tidier
- That H-Mart parking lot
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