Kyoto Sushi

While rummaging through the mess otherwise known as my desk, I found my current Entertainment book.  Heck, I think I've only used 3 coupons so far!  With precious months already gone, I decided it was time to use those pesky "not really interesting" deals.  So it was as good as any time to do a revisit to Kyoto Sushi, which was at one time was known as the "best sushi restaurant" in Surrey according to the Now.  Um...  and why was Tokachi left out of this discussion?  Depends on the voters right?

Another reason I decided on Japanese was that Bunny insisted on it.  Do bunnies eat raw fish???  Apparently this one did because we did order some.  But to start, there was the usual Miso Soup and Sunomono Salad (as part of the bento).  Nothing much to say about the miso other than it wasn't overly salty.  As for the sunomono, it was too sweet and the noodles were gummy and lacking texture.  The small ebi had a nice meaty texture though.  We ended up with the Volcano Roll consisting of ebi tempura, cucumber and avocado with spicy tuna, spicy mayo, unagi sauce and fried yam straws on the outside.  The roll itself was okay, but there was a tad too much rice and the sauces were a bit much.  Hence, the saltiness hid the other flavours.

Arriving as an impressively large portion, the Ika Karaage look more like Indian Pakora.  With a mix of fully battered pieces and some that lost most of its coating, the squid was somewhat chewy.  With that being said, it wasn't tough though.  There was enough seasoning where we didn't really need to use the side of mayo.  To get a variety of items, we got the aforementioned Bento E consisting of Chicken Teriyaki, Tuna and Sockeye Sashimi, Gyoza and California Roll. We found the chicken to be too thin and dry, yet not over-sauced. While the tuna was decent, the salmon sashimi was terrible.  It was rubbery and dried out on the outside, indicating it had been sitting around for awhile.  Although fried up nicely, the gyoza was too dense inside and out.  Completely butchered, the California Roll was ugly and the rice was dry and flavourless.

If that wasn't enough food, we had the sizzling hot Chicken Yakisoba.  Now this was a decent dish.  The noodles to veggie ratio was just right while there wasn't an excess amount of moisture.  Hence, the noodles were chewy and the veggies were crunchy.  The caramelization from the hot iron plate ensured depth of flavour.  Unlike the teriyaki chicken, the chicken atop the noodles was moist.  Lastly, we had the Prawn and Veggie Tempura.  The batter was crunchy and not overly greasy.  With a buttery snap, the prawns were good while the veggies were just cooked.  Overall, this was a hit and miss meal.  When there was a hit, it was pretty good, but when there was a miss, it wasn't even close.  Hence, it is essentially a crap shoot as to what your experience will be like.

The Good:
- Friendly people
- Okay pricing
- Large portions

The Bad:
- Epitome of hit and miss food
- For a Japanese restaurant, no excuse for crappy sashimi or poorly constructed rolls

Pepperoni Cafe

Alright, I'm not afraid to admit it.  In the early days of this blog, on some occasions, I did not sample enough items at certain restaurants that would give a true sense of the food.  I learned very quickly that not only was that unfair, it was really not that useful of a post.  Case in point, I visited Pepperoni Cafe and only tried their sandwiches but not their signature item - the pizza. So consider this righting a wrong as I ordered 2 pizzas (one specialty and one build-your-own) and the aforementioned sandwich.

Seeing how the place is named Pepperoni Cafe, I had to get their Super Pepperoni with a layer of pepperoni, layer of mozzarella, another layer of pepperoni and Parmesan.  As you can imagine, with all that pepperoni, the pizza was both greasy and salty (but that was to be expected and we didn't mind). The crust was right in the middle of being thick and thin.  It was soft with a light crunch on the outside.  I also got a Ham & Pineapple which sported a good amount of ham and cheese.  Due to the absence of grease (as compared to the previous pizza), the crust was slightly drier, yet still chewy and soft on the inside.  Decent pizzas which are definitely different than the many cheaper ones found along Scott Road.

I did end up getting a sandwich, but I'm going to refer back to a recent visit where I had the Pizza Sub.  The whole wheat bun was nicely toasted being warm and soft with a crunch.  The plethora of meat with only a modest amount of veggies ensured that the sammie would be savoury and flavourful - a good alternative to Subway and/or Quiznos.  So there you have it, a representative post on Pepperoni Cafe.  Sure, it is more expensive than nearly all of the other pizza joints along Scott Road, but at the very least, it appears the ingredients are a notch above.

The Good:
- More quality ingredients that the competition along Scott Road
- Enough meat and cheese

The Bad:
- More pricey than the rest

Mayuri

Nikita wanted to meet up for eats.  She wanted to go for Indian, specifically a dosa.  A what?  If you've never had one, I don't blame you because there are not a whole lot of places to get one in the GVRD.  Most people associate Butter Chicken, Naan and Tandoori Chicken as representative of the entire Indian cuisine.  However, that is specific to the Punjab region in Northern India.  The dosa, which is a fermented lentil flour crepe, is mainly found in the South.  These light and crispy crepes are often stuffed with a variety of fillings.

Ironically, we met up at Mayuri almost exactly 5 years since the last time we went.  For kicks, we sat at a different table...  Rebels that we are... So it was no surprise that Nikita ordered a Potato Curry Dosa served sambar along with coconut and zinger chutneys. Unlike our last visit (it was thick and chewy), the dosa was thin, light and crispy. It was very sparsely filled with a mild potato curry (need much more of it). We realize that there shouldn't be a tonne of filling, but this was almost non-existent.  At least it wasn't very expensive. On the side, there sambar (lentil stew/soup) and the aforementioned chutneys. 

For myself, I started with an order of Paneer Pakora.  These cheese patties were coated with a fairly thick chickpea flour which was crunchy and not heavy.  It was a nice textural contrast to the soft paneer.  The accompanying tamarind chutney was tart and only semi-sweet with a hint of fennel.  I was only going to eat 2, but ended up eating 4. Probably not a good idea because they were pretty soaked with oil. Second, I had the Palak Paneer which arrived a vibrant green.  Hence, it was more spinach than creamy.  We didn't mind it, but it was very light and watery (and bland too).  The result was not the typical richness that we were used to.  As you can see, our revisit was okay, but hardly memorable.  When at Mayuri, stick with the dosas, but order 2 because you might need it to be full.

The Good:
- Light and crispy dosas
- Okay pricing

The Bad:
- Not enough filling
- Stick with the dosas

D Roti Shak

If one wanted to get a roti in Vancouver, it is not a stretch to say that it wouldn't be a very difficult task.  After all, there are so many types where it transcends many different Asian cuisines.  However, when we are more specific and are in search of a Trinidadian-style Roti, it gets much more difficult.  The first place that comes to mind is Rehanah's in Port Moody.  I remember there used to be a place on 4th Ave, but that is long gone.  Interestingly, you can it also at D Roti Shak in New West.  Big D, Slick and Foodie Girl joined me to check it out.

We decided to share a few appies including the Phulourie (split pea flour fritters) with a side of homemade tamarind sauce.  These were only every-so-lightly crisp while being quite dense and chewy.  They were topped with a impactful tamarind sauce that was equal parts tangy and sweet.  Next, I attempted to cut an order of Doubles with very little success. The filling of chickpeas had a noticeable, but balanced spice level which was sandwiched in between 2 fried fluffy bara. I liked the purposeful amount of tamarind which added a nice tang and sweetness.

Big D decided on the Chicken Curry atop beans & rice.  The large chunks of chicken were a bit firm, but not stringy.  It was bathed in a moderately spicy curry that displayed its composition proudly.  We could easily see the chili pepper, garlic and onions which equated to plenty of flavour.  However, it was a bit on the saltier side (which was okay since there was so much rice).  Slick had the Goat Curry and I thought it was the better of the two.  First of all, the goat itself was nicely tender and rich.  Second, the curry had more depth (due to the meat) with noted classic curry hits in particular coriander.

Of course we couldn't get out of there without trying the Shrimp Roti (because it is in their name...).  As for the roti itself, it was thin, slightly chewy and soft.  The contents were very mild with only minor curry hints.  I found the shrimp a bit salty and on the meatier side.  There was only a modest amount mixed with potato and chickpea.  It would've been even better if there was more spice.  "Pretty good" was our sentiment after it was all said and done.  Definitely an option for something different if one was in the area.

The Good:
- Something different
- Really friendly owner
- Decent eats

The Bad:
- A one-man show, so be prepared to wait
- Roti could use more filling (protein that is)

Old Buddies Seafood Restaurant

Richmond, oh Richmond...  I tried to avoid you like a salad bar, but you reel me back with your alluring eats.  I know the risks, the stress and frustration, but I simply cannot resist.  There we were, heading across the Oak Street Bridge when I was just about to take the Garden City exit and we were greeted with a Japanese sport-compact cutting me off with fervor.  Was this a sign of things to come (actually, I got cut off leaving Richmond as well...)?  Well, we were there to try out Old Buddies on the recommendation of Mijune.  Apparently, this is from the folks of Ho Yuen Kee complete with the lure of enormous wontons.

Pebbles was especially excited because she just could not believe the description I gave her about those aforementioned Wontons. When the double-order hit the table, she was in full foodgasm by just looking at them. That foodgasm was taken to the next level as each bite revealed a sweet crunch from the massive shrimp.  Although there was some pork filler, it was minimal and didn't detract from the wonton.  We decided to get another one of their specialties being the Peking Duck.  With an attractive hue, the crispy duck skin was only a touch fatty with a decent amount of meat attached.  We found the crepes to be a touch dry though.

The second course was the Duck Lettuce Wrap which arrived in a generous portion.  There was large chunks of moist duck nestled among crunchy veggies.  The wok heat could've been a bit more intense, but the flavours were still good without being salty.  We liked how the lettuce was cut into manageable-sized cups without being hacked to death.  Next, we had to get their other specialty - Lobster with Sticky Rice.  The lobster itself was fried up expertly where the meat still was moist and bouncy.  It was naturally sweet where the sauce added just enough saltiness.  I would've liked to see more sauce as the rice underneath was a little bland, yet was texturally on point.

For our token veggie dish, we got the Stir-Fried Pea Shoots with Garlic.  This was the beneficiary of good wok heat where the shoots were fully cooked while still maintaining a vibrant crunch.  There was a bevy of garlic whereas the grease was minimal.  I liked how it didn't rely on salt for flavour impact (the garlic did the job).  Lastly, we had the Peking Pork Chops which were also good.  Each piece still had some crispiness on the exterior while being tenderized properly (slight bounce and tender).  The sauce clung to each piece adding hits of sweet, salty and tartness (from the black vinegar).  Overall, we were pretty pleased with the entire meal, especially the wontons.  Taking everything into consideration (price, service, food quality and portion size), Old Buddies might be put on regular rotation for eats in Richmond.

The Good:
- Probably some of the best wontons in town
- Surprisingly good service
- Overall good food

The Bad:
- A touch pricey (but the wontons were a steal)
- Parking issues (common to all restaurants along Alexandra)

Fisherman's Terrace

Normally, our softball year-ender occurs within the same calendar year as our last game of the season.  Due to my busy schedule, I kept putting it off until recently.  Well, with the new season only a month away, it suddenly became a year-opener (at Fisherman's Terrace) instead.  Whatever really, because it serves as an excuse to go out and eat!  I was able to round up some of the crew including Boss Woman, Bear, Hot Chocolate, Judes, Gadget Girl and Mr. Blueberry. Surprisingly, Milhouse couldn't make it (isn't he in 50% of my food adventures???).  Oh and the picture of the front is old, disregard the 2 large shark fin!

So with a fairly large group including a bunch of kiddies, we went ahead and ordered 33 dishes (some doubles) to the surprise of our server.  He questioned us about the amount of food, but we assured him that we were trained-eating machines...  We began with the hot and crunchy Shrimp Spring Rolls.  These were packed solid with big pieces of shrimp which exhibited a snap with plenty of seasoning.  Onto another fried item, we had the Fried Taro Dumplings.  They were a bit small in size, hence they were really crunchy.  Moreover, the modest amount of filling contributed to this as well.  In my opinion, this was out-of-balance in terms of the filling-to-taro ratio.

Next, we had the Steamed Pork Spareribs which were cut up into relatively small pieces.  Despite consisting mostly of meaty rib pieces, the meat was over-tenderized where it lacked any real texture.  On the positive, there was plenty of garlic and seasoning.  Being equally garlicky, the Phoenix Talons (Chicken Feet) were far too soft.  That also included the cartilage and tendon underneath as they were almost all melted away.  The inclusion of fried gluten underneath was a treat as it had soaked up all of the sauce.

With the same snappy shrimp filling with the addition of vibrant greens, the Fried Bean Curd Skin Rolls were really good.  Like the spring rolls, they were jam-packed with filling all encased within a crunchy package.  Normally, this rolls can be pretty greasy, but not in this case.  Onto the steamed version, we had the Bean Curd Skin Rolls.  The filling here consisted of ground pork and flowering chives.  It was moist and super tender without being mushy while the bean curd skin was buttery soft with a slight bite.  There wasn't an excessive amount of sauce where it was mild-tasting and not goopy.

The most important dishes of any Dim Sum service are the Haw Gow (Shrimp Dumplings) and Sui Mai (Pork and Shrimp Dumplings). Although the dumpling skin on the haw gow was a bit doughy, it was not overly thick nor dense.  I liked the shrimp filling as there was a definitive snap while the essence of sesame oil announced itself.  As for the sui mai, the meat was chewy in a good way.  The ample shiitake mushroom and crunchy shrimp added both texture and a variety of flavours.  Beyond that, there dumpling was well-seasoned and balanced.

Thank goodness Boss Woman loves offal because that meant we could get the Tendon & Tripe.  This larger-portioned dish was welcomed at our table because there was enough for everyone (which was only Boss Woman and I, but she took most of it!).  It was good with soft tendon and tripe.  I liked how the tendon maintained its integrity where it wasn't melted.  Furthermore, there was no gaminess, rather it was well-seasoned. Despite being speckled with lots of green onion, the Beef Meatballs were balanced with a meaty flavour.  The texture was bang on with a nice bounce where the meat was not overprocessed.

Heading into the homestretch, we had the Pan-fried Daikon Cake.  These were rather dense with a fairly good sear on the outside. Hence, there was a slight crispiness that somewhat alleviated the heaviness.  In terms of taste, these were good with lots of Chinese sausage and dried shrimp.  If that wasn't enough carbs at the end of the meal, we also got the Pan-Fried Pork Buns.  The bun-to-meat ratio was not very good as there was whole lot more dough than meat.  They were soft though, so it wasn't exactly dense.  Despite being tender and appealingly gingery, the meat filling was too greasy. 

Of course we couldn't do without the Lo Mei Gai (Sticky Rice) because of the kiddies.  Well, the adults don't mind it either...  As evidenced in the picture, there was almost as much filling as there was glutinous rice.  Hence, it wasn't longing for moisture or flavour as the meat was savoury and sweet.  Also for the kiddies (and yes, the adults too), we got the BBQ Pork Buns as well.  Similarly with the previous dish, there was a 50-50 split of filling and bun.  Hence, it was plenty saucy and meaty.  The bun was fluffy while the filling was a touch fatty.  In an lighter shade of red (less food colouring), the sauce was a good balance of salty and sweet.

Our last 2 savoury dishes consisted of the Stuffed Eggplant with shrimp mousse and the Sticky Rice Dumplings.  Consistent with the aforementioned dishes, the eggplant was bursting at the seams with bouncy shrimp mousse.  The eggplant itself was fried so it was lightly crisp and soft inside (without being mushy).  Acting only for colour purposes, the black bean sauce wasn't very flavourful.  We actually made a mistake by ordering the sticky rice dumplings and as such, weren't overly enthused with them.  Yet in reality, they were bland and a bit too dry.

Onto dessert, we ended up with a selection including the veritable Egg Tarts.  Golden brown and flaky, the tart shell was also very buttery (or lard...).  Within, the egg custard was soft and not overly sweet.  The Fried Sesame Glutinous Balls (with black sesame filling) were served hot and crunchy.  Affectionately known as "golf balls" by the kiddies, they seemed to enjoy them as well. For the diverse amount of items we ordered, the food was above-average.  Sure, Fisherman's Terrace will never be mistakened for the best dim sum in the GVRD, but it certainly does the job for a reasonable price.

The Good:
- Service is decent
- On the whole, food is above-average
- Okay pricing for the quality

The Bad:
- Seating kind of squished
- It's in Aberdeen, you have to put up with that parking lot