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I'm sure you're familiar with the phrase, "Friends with Benefits". If not, go watch the movie by the same name staring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. Wait, on second thought, just Google it... Well, interestingly, there is a new poutine joint in town name Frites - Fries with Benefits. Um... Does that mean we can snack on these suckers and have no remorse of guilt? Wham, bam, thank you yam? No, they don't use yams, but that was the only thing that rhymed... Anyways, I rounded up the kids (they love poutine) and headed down to Frites in the former location of Dougie Dog.
A word of warning for those wanting to dine-in, with only 4 bar seats, it was just enough for us (barely). We started off with the basic being the large Authentic Belgian Frites with 2 dips (roast garlic and lemon dill). These fairly large fries were potatoey and only lightly crisp. They weren't greasy while being adequately salted. The roast garlic dip was sufficiently flavourful, yet could've been even more garlicky. On the other hand, the lemon dill was full of impact especially from the dill. We also got one Frites Dog with Korean hot pepper sauce. This combination of hot sauce and mayo was moderately spicy and plenty creamy. The beef hot dog was large and meaty where the casing exhibited an appealing snap. The bun was a bit cold and plain, maybe some toasting or steaming would've helped.
As a baseline, we had the Traditional Poutine which featured a dual layer of gravy and cheese curds. Since the frites were the thicker variety, the poutine was starchy and heavy. Combined with the good amount of gravy (most of it was in the middle and bottom), all of the frites became even heavier. With the cheese curds being nestled in the hot fries and gravy, they were melted and I could not see if they had any squeak or not. Furthermore, the gravy was on the saltier side albeit of a silky rich consistency. Now as for the Bacon Mushroom Poutine, it was more interesting as they piled on the toppings. There was almost as much mushroom, bacon, cheese and gravy as the frites. As such, there was plenty of various flavours such as salty, woodsy, smoky and cheesy. My daughter couldn't stop eating it. Overall, we thought that Frites was okay, but not nearly as good as La Belle Patate and The Spud Shack.
The Good:
- Not shy with the ingredients
- The frites themselves are decent (if you like them starchier)
- Friendly enough service
The Bad:
- With all that gravy and stuff, the thicker fries get really heavy
- Purely takeout, only 4 seats, but that is the same as some other joints
Here we are again, another year of the PNE! Although wandering throughout the Showmart tempted in purchasing a broom or some mixer is something that I look forward to every summer, it is really all about the food. In years past, the selection of food was pretty much predictable and unchanging. However, in more recent times, there seems to be newer and bolder options that range from tasty-to-just-plain-weird. Well, without further ado, here are some of the new things we got to try as part of our media tour.
Our first stop was at Unroutine Poutine where we were treated to a Parisian Poutine with braised beef, Kennebec fries, cheese curds, red wine gravy, sauteed mushrooms and crispy onions. This ate as good as it looked with crispy and starchy fries which were bathed in a silky gravy that was more akin to a demi. There was a real hit of wine flavour albeit a touch salty. The buttery mushrooms were nestled within big chunks of moist beef. Off to our next destination, we went with something sweet with the Cannoli King. As the name suggests, we were presented with sample sizes (half-portion) of a hand-rolled Cannoli filled with sweetened ricotta cheese, almonds and chocolate chips. OMG, this was freakin' fantastic as the thin crisp shell gave way to a super creamy and light ricotta filling. It was purposefully sweet with an almond finish.
With cannoli still on my mind, we sauntered over to Pennsylvania Dutch for yet another one of their wacky fried creations. In the past, I've tried their fried Jelly Bellys and Oreos with varying degrees of satisfaction (loved the Oreos, the Jelly Bellys not-so-much). This year, they've decided to fry cubes of Cookie Dough in batter. Although these were crispy outside and not particularly greasy, the partially melted cookie dough was a bit too sweet for my taste. Across the way, we headed over to Revolution Corn where we sampled their 3 options including Canadian Corn with butter, maple syrup and bacon, Classic Roasted Corn with butter and salt and Cuban Corn with spices, mayo, cheese and lime. For me, I like things simple and enjoyed the sweet crunchy pop of the classic. However, the Cuban was the most interesting with a fragrant cheesiness accented by the acidity of lime.
Moving along, we visited one of the icons of the PNE, who has been around for 47 years - none other than Hunky Bill's. You might think the stuff here is so well-known, there wouldn't be any surprises, but they've come up with Gluten-Free Perogies. I was apprehensive at first because my experience with many gluten-free products have been on par with eating stale bread. However, these fried dumplings weren't bad with a crispy exterior and not overly hard dough. The cheesy filling was impactful and just right in consistency. But...they should've drained the grease as there was enough oil to moisturize one's face. Next door, we visited Gourmet Burgers as we did last year. Among the burgers I sampled were the duck and kangaroo. Due to the lean meat, these were predictably dry. They did have distinctive flavours though. Eventually, I just had to try the Kitchen Sink with top sirloin beef patty, fried egg, ham, bacon, onions, mushrooms, lettuce, mayo, sharp cheddar, BBQ sauce and Provolone cheese. Although the patty was not exactly juicy, due to the wealth of ingredients, the burger was not devoid of moisture and ate messy.
Our last 2 stops were of the sweet variety beginning with Cin City Donuts in the Showmart. Hey, there's that broom I wanted! Anyways, we were served samples of their 5 different Mini-Donuts including strawberries & whipped cream, Canadian maple syrup & bacon, s'mores, chocolate sauce & powdered sugar and classic cinnamon sugar. I found the donuts to be more cakey than the other kind found at the fair. The outside had an appealing light crispiness. Finally, we ended up at The Roaming Dragon to try their unique Cotton Candy in mango and lychee flavours. Being made of sugar, these were naturally sweet, but the flavours of the fruit did come through, especially with the lychee. So there you have it for 2014 food at the PNE. Glad to see that it isn't only about foot longs and soft serve anymore (although I still love those too!).
*All food was complimentary as part of the media tour*
Long ago, other than EBO, there was only one other choice for food at the Grand Villa Casinos - La Scala Lounge Buffet. Well, I guess the ones in charge realized this too and decided to redo that area and create 2 separate restaurants including The Buffet and Personas Tapas Restaurant + Lounge. I've already sampled The Buffet and unless you only like King crab legs, it was not really all that memorable. However, with the trendy-looking Personas next door, there seemed to be the potential for a true dining experience. With a recent invite, Viv and I got to check the place out.
We sampled some appies first including their version of Ebi Mayo Prawns. Considering the place is not a Japanese restaurant, these were pretty good. Each prawn was battered lightly and fried just enough so that there was a meaty snap. The sprinkle of bonito flakes added a touch of salt while the mayo was sweet. Next up, we had the Sushi Tacos consisting of sushi rice, imitation crab, avocado, togarashi mayo and nori with wasabi, pickled ginger and soy. So essentially, this was a California roll in a crispy "gyoza" shell. This was only "okay" for us as the sushi rice was mushy and lacking flavour. However, the shell was crispy and the rest of the ingredients were fine. One more minor detail - the squeeze tube wasabi should be replaced.
With their take of Devils on Horseback, the Bacon-Wrapped Dates were predictably sweet. Attempting to balance off the sweetness was double-cream French brie and nicely prepared lean bacon (firm and slightly crunchy). Despite these 2 ingredients, the dish was definitely on the sugary side where the balsamic actually added even more sweetness with only a touch of tang. Whenever I see chicken and waffles on a menu, I get skeptical. Most versions turn out to be mediocre and uninteresting. However, the Chicken and Waffle Sandwich was on point with buttermilk & hot sauce marinated lightly breaded chicken breast, Belgian waffles, lettuce, tomato, bacon and maple bourbon aioli. The waffle itself was soft, yet firm enough to withstand the ingredients. We found the bacon to be pleasingly crispy while the chicken to be moist and lightly crispy (with a touch of spice). With a noticeable bourbon hit, the aioli added classic maple flavours. Oh, and the fresh chips were no slouch either being firmly crunchy and warm.
Onto something healthier, we tried the South Beach Salad consisting of mixed greens, grilled chicken, corn, black beans, dates, red onion, red pepper, avocado, feta and fresh cilantro lime dressing. This was a hearty salad with a lot going on in terms of texture and taste. Ultimately, there were a few issues though. First, the corn didn't exhibit a sweet pop which would've brought the salad alive. Second, the brined pre-cooked chicken breast was moist, but the quick sear on the grill didn't yield any additional flavour. Beautifully plated, the MacDaddy Sliders had a strange resemblance to something we all know... Consisting of 3 Double patty sliders layered with “special sauce”, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions on mini sesame seed buns, it did do its best imitation. The meat was moist (albeit a bit salty) while the buns were soft.
For dessert, we tried the Flaming Creme Brulee which was huge - best to share this one. The nicely caramelized sugar crust was smoky and sweet. Underneath, the heavily-vanilla flavoured custard was a bit firm, but not overly sweet which allowed the sugar topping to do its job. Overall, we thought most of the food was pleasant with some highlights. Considering the fact that The Buffet next door is more expensive and serves up inferior eats, Personas is an option for those who want to share some bites even late into the night.
*All food and beverages excluding gratuities were comped*
The Good:
- Nice digs
- Large portions
- Okay pricing with all things considered
The Bad:
- A few tweaks with some of the dishes are needed
Sometimes, it seems like the 'burbs get no love when it comes to food. It appears that there is this invisible wall that prevents Vancouverites from venturing out of their comfort zone. North Vancouver is no exception, even though it is only a Seabus ride over to the North Shore. Case in point, it is like pulling teeth with Gadget Girl trying to convince her to eat around Lower Lonsdale, even though we play hockey at North Shore Ice Sports! So when I got an invite from The District Group to do a mini-food tour of their 3 restaurants, I was more than willing to travel across the Ironworker's Memorial Bridge (well, not during rush hour at least...).
Our first stop was at The Little District, which is a smaller edition of The District, that serves up fun contemporary American eats (to go with a beverage or two). We did end up with 2 cool beverages in the Mojito and Modern Mule. On a warm day, the Mojito was refreshing and light where the classic flavours of rum, lime and mint came through. However, Viv remarked that it was not very strong, which suited her fine anyways. I had the Modern Mule consisting of Absolut, elderflower and ginger beer. Suffice to say, this had a considerable bite from the ginger. For our eats, we had the Fish Tacos with battered cod, apple slaw and Spanish paprika mayo. The super-thin batter was lightly crisp and seasoned while the fish was flaky and moist. We found the slaw to be crunchy with a bitter finish from the radicchio (needed a bit more acidity). As for the tortilla shell, I would've liked to see it grilled because it was a bit lifeless.
Onto our next item, we tried the Crab & Shrimp Cake made with blue crab and shrimp finished with a candied lemon mayo. We liked the crispy and browned exterior that gave way to a soft interior. There was a balanced mix of fluffy crab, meaty shrimp, onions, minced green pepper and chunks of garlic. On its own, the cake wasn't particularly flavourful as it was conservatively seasoned, but when combined with the sweet and zippy mayo, it came alive. Now, I may sound a bit off-my-rocker to say this - the Deep Fried Pickles were #($&#( fantastic. Yah, what's so special about fried pickles? Well, these ones featured a crunchy batter that clung on tight each house-made pickle. Sure, they were tart and salty, however, that's what beverages are for! The spicy mayo had a nice bite that helped bring down the saltiness a bit.
Moving down Lonsdale to El Matador, we sampled 2 dishes including the Grilled Goats Cheese with salsa fresca and Cheese & Chorizo Puffs made with tapioca flour. Unlike plain ol' goats cheese, the one they used here was potent and peppery. Hence, each bite was not longing for flavour. It was very gamy and melted in our mouths like brie. The salsa fresca was vibrant, yet ultimately mild which in turn let the goats cheese take the spotlight. Next, the puffs were indeed something we've never had before, especially with the use of gluten-friendly tapioca flour. Externally, it was baked golden brown being crunchy and cheesy. Inside, it was as expected with tapioca flour being a touch gummy and almost pudding-like (while still buttery). The chorizo was moist and had only a modest salt and spice level. The garlic and apple mayo provided a sweet and aromatic hit to the puffs.
At this point, we were already stuffed and could not do the main dishes as expected at The District. Hence, we decided to share the classic French Mussels with patat friet and grilled bread. I've had mussels at The District before (which are good), but this time, these were on steroids. The plump and huge honey mussels were buttery and sweet. Consisting of white onion, white wine, garlic, leeks and fresh thyme, the broth was creamy and impactful without being salty. It had a natural sweetness to it with a mild, properly-cooked down wine essence. As like before, the fries were crispy while maintaining their potato texture inside. Seeing how I've been to The District a few times already and sampled El Matador on a separate food tour, the only spot that was new to me was The Little District (which will be on my list to visit again). All 3 spots represent something different and a nice break from all the sushi restaurants along Lonsdale. Worth a look see if you just break down that invisible wall.
*All food and beverages were comped excluding gratuities*
With only 3 of us heading for eats after the hockey game, we figured that a non-sharing meal was in order (can't really order enough food when we only had 3 people, unless Mijune was around). We ended up at the newish location of Boiling Point on Kingsway in Burnaby. With a location in Richmond as well, this US chain brings us individual Asian hot pots for our dining pleasure. However, after looking at the prices, there is a fairly high cost for having your own bubbling hot pot at your table (with a side of rice).
Bear went for the basic being the Beef Hot Pot. For $11.99, it sure didn't look like a lot of food. In fact, when we consider that most of the ingredients were fillers, there wasn't much value to the meal. Underneath the few pieces of meat and various other ingredients, there was a plethora of Napa cabbage and noodles. The broth itself was very flavourful and depending what spoonful, it tasted much like satay. For Milhouse, he had the Korean Kimchi Hot Pot, also for $11.99. His spicy kimchi broth lived up to its namesake and in fact, caused him to have a few coughing fits. Once again, beyond to top layer, underneath was all filler.
For myself, I had the Japanese Miso which cost a whopping $15.99. It was a larger portion and there was some premium ingredients on top, but again, I didn't feel it was particularly a good value. The "crab" was pretty small and there was not really much useable meat. Other than some pork, fish ball and one, count'em one clam, it was again mostly filler. The soup was salty, but in a good way. Lastly, I got a side order of the Fermented Tofu for $3.95. It was pretty standard with a firm, yet moist enough texture. It was pretty mild in flavour where I would've liked more savouriness. Alright, I guess it is not lost up on you that I wasn't really a big fan of the place. As much as it looks like a lot of food for an individual hot pot, the value isn't there in my opinion. The one positive is that the flavours are pretty decent.
The Good:
- Flavourful broths
- For those who like their own hot pot
The Bad:
- It looks like a lot, but it is mostly filler
- Expensive for what you get
Sometimes, there are certain meals that make an impression. One of them happened at L'autre Buca, where the food was solid and the prices were reasonable. However, we never got to do a return visit as it closed down shortly afterwards and was replaced by Adesso Bistro (which is also pretty good). But the original La Buca still stands on MacDonald Street, nestled in a predominantly residential area. Viv and I finally decided it was time we visited the place (after many near-attempts).
As much as we were game to try the Chef's Tasting, we decided to do a la carte instead. We started with the Fried Zucchini Flowers filled with ricotta. These were lightly crispy with a well-seasoned filling that was a bit salty. However, the tangy tomato fonduta (which was more like a stripped-down Puttanesca) helped balance it off. As much as I enjoyed this dish, I would've liked to see less batter. Next, we had the appetizer size of the Lobster, Scallop & Wild Shrimp Risotto with fresh corn and fava beans. Oh man, this was money. The arborio rice was fully cooked, yet firm while caressed by a creamy, saffron-infused concoction. Furthermore, the essence of the seafood amped the flavours up another level. And about that seafood, it was plentiful and on point. The corn added a nice sweetness and the fava beans provided an extra contrast.
For our mains, I went for the Grilled Rack of Lamb with pesto crushed fingerlings, fried olives, spicy herb and garlic vinaigrette. The plump portions of lamb were prepared a nice medium-rare being moist, tender and juicy. There was a caramelized char on the outside which helped heightened the flavours. I could really get the plethora of rosemary, mint and black pepper as well as the red wine from the vinaigrette. The pesto, in particular the basil, really came through in the potatoes. For Viv, she had the Veal Shortribs with lobster & spring onion mashed potato, spinach and heirloom carrots. Due to the lean nature of the veal, the meat was a bit stringy, yet still not chewy. The red wine really came through as well as the natural meat flavour. The mash underneath was buttery and smooth, but lack much lobster impact.
Moving onto dessert, I opted for the Deconstructed Cheesecake. With graham cracker dust atop berry gelatin amid clumps of tart cheesecake, this was not bad. As much as the thick portions of cheesecake were a bit sour, it was easily balanced off by the sweet jelly and strawberries. Viv decided on the Blueberry Pannacotta which was creamy and not too firm. It was purposefully sweet with a nice vanilla hit. The blueberries on top added some fruity sweetness, but I thought some lemon would've brightened things up (like a lemon-blueberry pannacotta). Even though the prices are on the higher side at La Buca, the value is there when you consider the portion size and food quality. We enjoyed our meal and didn't mind the pricing at all.
The Good:
- Large portions
- Solid eats
- Attentive service
The Bad:
- Tasty, but more rustic than refined
- Tight seating
The Westernmost-end of Yaletown is often a forgotten little piece of quiet paradise. Removed from the hustle and bustle, this part still sports the same architectural facades and awnings. And yes, the same parking arrangement as well. For me, I much prefer this since I can merely find an open parking spot within steps of my intended destination. I guess most other people are lured to the crowds and people-watching near the core. That would probably explain yet another new restaurant at the former location of Caché, now being Prohibition Tasting Room. I recently got an invite to try the place out, so Viv and I made our way down.
Being a craft brewery, I had to start with the Flight of 4 beers consisting of Smuggler Scotch Ale, Bootlegger Amber Ale, Lawless IPA and Hideout Honey Lager (left-to-right). Naturally, the lager was the most crisp and refreshing while the IPA exhibited very strong hops which was a bit too much for my tastes. I enjoyed the amber ale as it was smooth with a light citrus finish. The scotch ale had depth and went down easy. To go with the drinks, we had the Pretzel Knots with ale cheese, Dijon and pickles. These were warm, chewy and soft. The ample poppy and sesame seeds on top formed an appealing crust which was lightly brushed with butter. With a purposeful saltiness, the ale cheese dip exhibited a mild sharpness that went well with the pretzel.
Onto another appie, we tried the Duck Wings in hot and lemon pepper. Since duck drumettes are not particularly soft and juicy to begin with, they decided to fry them up crispy. Good move as the skin was completely rendered and crunchy (but not hard). The meat underneath was predictably dry, yet that didn't bother us. We liked the lemon pepper seasoning more as it was salty and tart with just a touch of spice. We thought the hot sauce was too weak to make an impact. Onto the mains, the Blind Pig Burger hit the table first. It consisted of 50/50 pork and beef with a side of coleslaw. With a moist chewiness, the burger patty was natural-tasting and nicely charred. The addition of banana peppers afforded a tart spicy finish while the ample arugula provided another layer of pepperiness. We loved the bun because it was soft and airy, yet stood up to the ingredients. Unfortunately, the coleslaw was not good. Although it was crunchy and fresh, it was bland and it tasted like they used malt vinegar which left a strange aftertaste.
The best item we had came at the very end being the Steak Frites featuring a 6 oz tenderloin. Okay, I'm going out on a limb here to say that this was better executed than many French restaurants in town. The uniformly-shaped tenderloin was prepared a prefect medium-rare while sporting a beautiful char on the outside (which resulted in a smoky finish). The melted butter on top made the flavours more rich as it was also well-salted. The accompanying frites were excellent being a firm crispy on the outside and still retaining a soft potato inside. These were well-salted, but we didn't mind as that went well with the beer. And really, the food did achieve its purpose - pair with the beverages. We were pleasantly surprised at that and went away wanting to do a return visit.
*All food and beverages excluding tip were comped*
The Good:
- Solid food to go with the brews
- Not overly expensive
The Bad:
- Not sure if it is necessarily something they can control, but there are too many flies
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