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While we were on our way to hit up Venice Garden after late night hockey, I noticed that there was a new Vietnamese joint on the corner of 2nd and Renfrew. It suddenly donned on me that I should give Steve (from the Chili Cookoff) a call to try the place out. Just like the time at Mr. Red, he is always game for new eats and in particular, the ethnic variety. Well, it was apparently meant to be as I received an email the day after suggesting that we meetup at Pho Ngon (which was the same place I had in mind!).
Onto the food, as much as I make a big deal about the spring roll wrappers, I have begun to accept the use of wheat wrappers. Why? Well, they are much easier to deal with as they don't dry out like the rice wrappers. So with that in mind, the Spring Rolls here were decent with a crispy exterior that was easy on the grease and a filling that was filled with moist pork that was adequately seasoned. We also didn't mind the Banh Mi Dac Biet where the baguette was crusty and only a touch dense. There was enough meat to make an impact while the amount of pate could've been increased. Also, an extra splash of fish sauce or Maggi would've brought the flavours alive.
As for our mains, we tried the Pho Ga first. The broth was clean and light with only a minor saltiness. I didn't get a whole lot of chicken flavour but it wasn't bland either where there was a noticeable sweetness. The noodles were a touch soft, but not overly so. The modest amount of chicken meat was sufficiently moist with gelatin-like skin attached. We also had the Pho Tai Nam Bo Vien where the broth was a bit murky and did not have the cleanest of flavours. However, there was indeed flavour in the form of a light meatiness accented by sweetness. There was something missing as the broth didn't have a whole lot of impact. The noodles were slippery and a bit past al dente while the meats were sliced thin and tender.
Lastly, we had the Banh Bao Dac Biet filled with wood ear mushrooms, vermicelli and egg. We found the bun itself to be a touch dense and not as fluffy as we would've liked. It was still okay though. The filling was quite nice and mildly seasoned. Overall, we found the food a bit lacking at Pho Ngon. Definitely serviceable, but considering the vast amount of other Vietnamese restaurants, it doesn't do enough to stand out.
The Good:
- Reasonably-priced
- Friendly people
The Bad:
- Mediocre food
- Smallish portions
As if dining on buttery Hollandaise, a croissant and plenty of brie wasn't enough to send our fat intake of the day shooting Northwards of 100%, our plan for lunch wasn't going to help the cause. After picking up Whipping Girl's TV, we headed over to Bayou on Bay for some good ol' Southern cooking. With Viv out-of-the-picture for this trip to Bellingham, I could satisfy my craving for country fried steak with creamy gravy. This way, she wouldn't suffer the aftermath... Whipping Girl would! Hey, I was helping her pick up a TV! She'd have to accept the collateral damage.
After perusing the menu, it was quite obvious that our caloric intake for the day would be blown (if it hadn't already happened at breaky). We started with the Fried Okra which were prepared in manageable bite size pieces. They were crispy while not crunchy with a "thick-enough" breading. These were golden brown and not greasy at all. The okra itself was soft with a slight bite while exhibiting a slight sliminess (but that's normal). The plate of Yam Fries were really good because not only were they crispy on the outside, they were soft and moist on the inside. A light toss in pepper and salt added a simple, yet effective impact.
For our mains, we began with the Shrimp & Grits featuring a really rich, creamy sauce spiked with bacon. There was probably a tad too much sauce as the dish felt really heavy. Furthermore the grits themselves were a bit dense and clumpy. As for the shrimp, they were nicely prepared having a wonderful sweet snap. The aforementioned Country Fried Steak was crunchy with a nicely peppery coating. The meat was pretty dry, but flavorful. The sausage gravy was thick and full of meat. It was really rich while not being particularly flavourful except for the taste of fat. Yup, after we were done, we felt heavier than a tour bus full of football players. There might possibly have been a pit stop afterwards...
The Good:
- Inexpensive
- They do not shy away from making the food as rich as possible
The Bad:
- Yes, we realize the food is supposed to be heavy, but it was actually too heavy
- Okay, but not great
Oh lookie here, Whipping Girl has all grown up... She has her own place and everything now. Now comes the hard part - furnishing the darn place. Since housing prices in the GVRD are as reasonable as the cost of street food in Downtown, she has been fretting over buying a TV. To help her out, I have been monitoring the TV deals around the internet. Finally, I found one for a reasonable price and ordered it for pick up... in Bellingham. So off we went on a long weekend right into a 2-hour lineup at the border. Thank goodness for Nexus. Before we did anything, we stopped by Mount Bakery Cafe for some breaky.
We started with the Raspberry Cream Cheese Croissant which was aesthetically-pleasing with its tightly wound layers. One bite and the crispiness of the pastry left little flakes of joy on the table. Inside, it was a bit denser than we would've liked, but that could've partly been attributed to the filling. It wasn't overly sweet and only served to add enough impact. Next we tried the Dungeness Crab Benny served over fresh waffles with a side of potatoes. Oh man, the Hollandaise was extremely buttery where it was rich and silky. We would've liked to see a bit more lemon to cut through the heaviness. As for the crab, it was fluffy, yet was partially lost in all the sauce. The eggs were beautifully runny while the waffles softened from all the moisture. The side of potatoes were wonderfully textured (being soft while maintaining a bite) and were a touch salty with a nice acidity.
Lastly, we tried the Brie, Apple and Pear Crepe served with the same potatoes. Texturally, the thin crepe was on point being light, chewy and fluffy all at the same time. With a good amount of melted creamy brie and fresh apples, the filling was mild and only semi-sweet. We would've liked to see some salty counterbalance such as prosciutto. Despite our minor criticisms, we were pleased with our visit to Mount Bakery. The breaky was a bit different and we certainly weren't longing for more food (good portions). The only problem is that we had to get through the day without the rich Hollandaise causing us to make some unscheduled pitstops...
The Good:
- Large portions
- Friendly people
- Not your typical breakfast
The Bad:
- Food is quite heavy
- Tight seating
So practice does make perfect... Well, in my case, practice made for a better golf score at Mylora. Yes, the place is a glorified pitch & putt, but trust me, after an 85 a few weeks ago, I left with my tail between my legs (this was before the snow!). However after 3 rounds of golf at some challenging courses up at Whistler, I returned to play Mylora again with Gordo, JuJu and Lionel Hutz. This time around, I scored a 70 (which is still 13 over) that was a 15 shot improvement. Viv, are you reading this? I just have to play more golf! Maybe I can improve even more! Anyways, after the round, we decided to hit up Ikkyu Ramen Ten out on Victoria Drive.
Gordo and I started with the Assorted Sashimi which was a fairly large portion for $12.95. Although some of the pieces were cut a bit strangely (in particular, the salmon), there was nothing really amiss. Interestingly, they used Atlantic surf clam which were different in colour and somewhat in texture (more soft) than the usual Arctic surf clam. Lionel Hutz went for a Sushi Bento Box consisting of nigiri, House Roll and green salad. I was able to sample the sushi rice and it was not really cold and overly soft. Furthermore, there was barely any detectable flavours. And as you can see in the picture, there was too much of it in the roll.
For myself, I tried the Ikkyu Black Sesame Ramen with salmon, BBQ pork, egg, crab stick, corn, green onions and cabbage. If you are wondering why the broth strangely resembles any other broth, you are right. The black sesame was in the ramen itself. Unfortunately, I didn't get much aromatics from it while the noodles were nicely chewy though. The broth was mild and sweet with not a whole lot of depth. And yes, the BBQ pork was actually Chinese-style BBQ pork. Gordo went meatless and had the Kimchi Miso Ramen. It was slightly spicy from the kichi, but then again, it wasn't exactly full of impactful flavours. Yup, there wasn't a whole lot to rave about the place as the food was just not that great. I guess the prices were reasonable and the food was edible, but nothing we were yearning to have again.
The Good:
- Inexpensive
- Decent portions
The Bad:
- "meh" food
Often, when we think of posh and trendy, Indian food would not necessarily be the first thing that comes to mind. That would usually be reserved for the Global Group with its form over function. Now what if we combined great food AND some slick digs? Tasty Indian Bistro dared to do such a thing when they moved from their humble home on 80th at Scott Road. With some impressive decor and style backed up by "tasty" food, I had a good experience the last time I paid them a visit. Therefore, it didn't take much convincing to accept an invite where I enlisted the help of Miss Y.
With a DJ and an intended party atmosphere, we were treated to several appies including Chilli Mushroom, Chicken Samosa and Fish Pakora. Despite the name, the chilli mushroom was not really all that spicy. There was a kick though and it went well with the crispy battered mushrooms. The samosas were not bad with a crispy exterior that was wasn't too thick. Inside, the chicken was moist with a bit of spice. I liked the fish pakora the most as it was lightly battered and crisp. Inside, the fish was flaky and moist while the dusting of cumin added some spice and Earthiness.
Onto the mains, I took a sample of the Butter Chicken first. This version was on the creamier side with only minor hits of tartness from the tomato. I found it quite sweet with a noticeable spice level. The big chunks of chicken were sufficiently moist and tender to the chew. With ginger and onion notes, the Halibut Curry was full of flavour that included a definite spice that was balanced off by the mild fish and peppers. By nature, halibut can be rather dry if overcooked, yet in this case, it was okay (although I wouldn't call it flaky).
My favourite was the Kadahi Lamb partly because I'm biased when it comes to the meat. Yet also, this was pretty tasty, paying homage to the restaurant's name. There was also a good spice level which was accented by ginger and a rich sweetness. The lamb itself exhibited what makes it so good (a gelatinous tenderness). Bathed in a creamy sauce, the Portabello Mushroom Curry was a pleasant vegetarian offering. The slices of tender mushrooms provided some "meatiness" to this meatless dish. With ginger and vinegary notes, the curry continued the theme of a noticeable heat level.
Onto another vegetarian dish, I sampled the Aloo Gobi. This was a nice departure from all the rich curries and really, I didn't mind a non-meat dessert at this stage of the meal. I found the cauliflower to be toothsome while completely cooked all-the-way-through. The potatoes were intact while fluffy inside. With noticeable garlic and ginger notes, there was also the hit of spice as well. We were served rice and Naan (Garlic Naan too) on the side. With the benefit of a tandoor, these were done right with a slightly charred exterior which was a touch crispy and chewy on the inside. I would've liked to see even more blistering though.
For dessert, we were served Gulab Jamun served in kheer. Naturally, it was pretty sweet, but the creamy kheer lessened the sting of the rosewater soaked ball. Overall, I thought the food was pretty much the same as the first time I had visited this location. That is a good thing as it was indeed "tasty". However, with that being said, the food is quite rich and on the saltier/sweeter side.
*All food and drinks were complimentary*
The Good:
- Place has got style
- Food is indeed flavourful (or "tasty")
The Bad:
- Food is on the saltier/sweeter side
- Although not expensive, it ain't cheap
If we had a time machine (wouldn't that be awesome!) and set it to go back 20+ years, we would be amazed at how far we've come. We would no longer have boy bands... wait... scratch that. Okay, the Canucks have finally won the Stanley Cup... yikes... Scratch that too. Fine, traffic in Richmond has vastly improved... Okay, I give up... But one thing is for sure - hotel restaurants are no longer a place that solely exists to serve up prepackaged frozen fare for the weary traveler. With an invite to CAVU at the Airport Hilton, Miss Y and I were about to find out if it fit the current criteria for hotel restaurants or were we going for a magical blast from the past.
To start things off, we had the Grilled Flatbread accompanied by Marinated Mushrooms, Carrot Hummus and Salmon Rillette. The plump mushrooms exhibited a slight tartness which was offset by sweet and salty elements including the crunch of the onions. With a sweet smokiness accented by spice, the smooth carrot hummus was the star of the plate by far. It went well with the salty flat bread. I wasn't a huge fan of the salmon rillette as it was rather creamy with little salmon texture. The flavours were salty from the capers and a burst of sweetness from the onions. Both Miss Y and I agreed that the bread would've benefited from less salt as it took away from the condiments (that had enough impact by itself).
Presented with an array of colours, the Cappellini Caprese consisted of Okanagan goat cheese, charred broccolini, heirloom baby tomatoes, baby greens and roasted peppers tossed in a sherry vinaigrette atop an arugula almond pesto. There was a lot going on with this salad in terms of textures and flavours. There seemed to be a little of everything from the sweet peppers, salty cheese, tartness from the balsamic and slight pepperiness from the pesto. With yet another salad, we tried the Quinoa, Pear & Beet Salad with red quinoa, golden beets, beet puree, heirloom tomatoes, Parmesan foam, Parmesan chips dressed in beet oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. For us, this was like a "dessert salad" as there was sweetness from the candied walnuts along with the beets and pears (we got a bit of cinnamon from it). Furthermore, there was a bevy of textures that kept each bite interesting.
Moving onto the entrees, we had the Portuguese Fisherman's Stew with Atlantic lobster, jumbo prawns and red peppers in a spiced tomato coconut broth. Jasmine rice and cassava chips were served on the side. Seemingly "bisque-like", the broth was spicy, aromatic and slightly creamy. The saffron really come though in taste and smell. There was a significant amount of lobster (albeit mostly claw meat) and huge prawns that had a cold-water snap. As for the slice of lime, it wasn't merely a garnish, it went a long way in brightening up the flavours. Next up, we dug into the Charred Skin Wild Salmon with rice cakes, peas, radish, bak choy, shiitake and prawn chips in a soy mirin broth. Although the salmon was nicely prepared with a smoky and crispy skin, we thought some form of cod fish would've worked better with the Asian flavours. With that being said, the veggies were crisp while the broth was a bit on the salty side.
For dessert, we were presented with a plate that included an Apple Crumble and Pumpkin Brulee with house-made truffles. We found the crumble tart while not overly sweet. The soft topping was more chewy than crunchy. As for the brulee, the custard was smooth where it exhibited some spice. It wasn't too sweet nor was it too pumpkiny. The truffles were pretty good without a huge reliance on sugar. I would've liked to see a touch more dark chocolate bitterness though. After we were done, it donned on me that I actually enjoyed the salads more than the mains. Yah, I repeat, I preferred the salads more than the meat... With that being said, the food was still solid where it didn't scream out hotel food. Honestly, if they can make salads interesting and delicious, there must be some skill involved.
*All food and drinks were complimentary excluding gratuities*
The Good:
- Calm, low-key and pleasant dining space
- Not boring hotel food
- How about that... Salads that are interesting
The Bad:
- Salads were great, but may have been over-dressed a tad
I remember a time when a trip to Bellingham meant a visit to Royal Fork, K-Mart and the newly opened Bellis Fair. Ah yes, that was indeed a long time ago. So there it was, my entire childhood memory of Bellingham would be one place to eat and a few places to shop. Fast forward to the present and yes, there is much more to the place other than Target, Walmart, Old Country Buffet and Trader Joe's. Taking a page out of the Lion King, "you must look beyond what you can see". I wish Viv would take that advice and look beyond Ross... What a complete gong show there... Since we were renewing our Nexus cards in Blaine, we headed over to Tom Glenn Common on the Bellingham's waterfront for some conveyor-belt sushi.
No, that doesn't exactly roll-off-the-tongue when one thinks of Bellingham, but then again, remember to look beyond what you can see... Yes, you there, drop the 2-buck Chuck! So we ended up sitting right at the bar to the kiddies delight as they were mesmerized by the assortment of plates going by (different colors = different prices). We started off simple with a Wakame Salad on top of shredded daikon. Nothing amiss with this large portion for $2.00. Textures were crunchy while the familiar taste of sesame oil, sugar and rice wine vinegar hit our palates. Onto some sushi, we tried the Cherry Blossom consisting of salmon and avocado topped with red tuna. I found the rice a bit underdone, but reasonably chewy. It was rather bland though with not much in the way of sugar or rice wine vinegar. As evidenced in the picture, the ingredients were decent texturally and appealing visually.
Next up, we had the typical Dragon Roll made of imitation crab, ebi tempura and cucumber topped with unagi and sauce. I liked how there was a thin layer of sushi rice which meant there was much more in the way of ingredients (and topping) than filler. Nothing particularly interesting about the roll other than it was decent with no issues. With a big ball of baked imitation crab, the Baked Scallop Roll was more probably mis-named. Yes, there was a few baby scallops to be found somewhere in the large sweet mayonnaise and imitation crab concoction, but this was hardly a scallop dish. Despite that, it was hearty and pleasant enough with 3 Cali-rolls underneath. I did find it a bit too sweet though. If you haven't already noticed, the specialty rolls were mostly on black-rimmed plates priced at $3.50. Not particularly unreasonable, but worth mentioning as these were the best items to choose from.
Continuing on, we had a more modest maki roll being the Spicy Tuna on a blue plate ($2.50). As simple as this was, it was not bad. There was a bit more sushi rice with this roll, but that was okay since the tuna was indeed spicy. Texturally, it wasn't mushy, rather, there was a meatiness to it with the crunch of cucumber. With interesting items waning, we went with one order each of the Salmon and Red Tuna Nigiri. The fish-to-rice ratio was a little off where there was more fish than rice. I'm sure not many people would complain about that, but for me, I personally like my nigiri to be balanced. With that being said, there was nothing much more to dislike about the nigiri other than the mild-tasting rice (that was a touch underdone).
For the kiddies, we got a couple orders of the Ebi Tempura as well as an Udon in soup (also with a side of one ebi tempura). The large ebi were coated with probably a bit too much tempura batter as it was thick and super crunchy. Inside, the ebi was meaty with a light snap. I guess it wasn't aesthetically-pleasing to look at, but it ate okay nonetheless. As for the udon, there was much more dashi than actual noodles. However, for $3.95, we weren't expecting much. Somehow, they added the togarashi red pepper flakes into the soup in the cooking process. Usually, this is served on the side. Hence, the broth started out sweet with an Earthy flavour while finishing off spicy. I didn't mind it, but my son, not-so-much.
With the power of suggestion, as in the constant rotation of food in front of us, I got the Seared Salmon Roll. This was another example of a California roll topped with something else. That something else was a thin layer of salmon that was seared (as the name suggested). Naturally, this ate like a California roll with some salmon and sauce drizzled on top. Not bad, but hardly interesting. We also got an order of the
Smoked Calamari Salad which was surprisingly good as the smoke really came through while the squid itself was tender with a bite. The addition of pickles and wood ear mushrooms provided a nice crunch and acidity.
Lastly, we got an order of the Popcorn Shrimp for the kiddies and it was pretty standard stuff. With small shrimp coated with a crunchy breading, it was a good alternative to the tempura. After it was all said and done, the bill was fairly reasonable for the amount of food we had eaten. It wasn't great, but it was actually better than we envisioned it to be - definitely serviceable. Also, the service was pretty good as well.
The Good:
- Okay pricing
- Decent service
- Better then we expected
The Bad:
- Too many rolls looking like altered California rolls
- Better than we expected, but we didn't confuse it with great Japanese food
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