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Normally, I try my very best to stay away from Dine Out. No, it is not because the food isn't any good. Yes, that was true 5 years ago, when all I found was mediocre dishes made from substandard ingredients. Fast forward to the present and the options are more substantial while the food quality has improved. I just find it too busy to fairly judge a restaurant during this time. But I have to make an exception this time around because I was pleasantly surprised at a random dinner at a nearby place - the Burnaby Mountain Clubhouse. It was so unexpected, I only brought along my backup camera (no not from the car), hence, the strangely lit photos.
As part of their $18.00 Dine Out menu, there were 3 choices each of appetizer, entree and dessert. Viv decided on the Onsen Egg Carbonara (Guinness cheddar, bacon, edamame and linguine) featuring a slow-cooked egg (in its shell) that resembled the texture of soft custard. When mixed with the barely toothsome (on the softer side of al dente) noodles, it caressed each strand with a silky touch. Although there was plenty of rendered bacon in the dish, a touch more salt would've heightened the flavours. For myself, I had the Louisiana Fried Chicken and a freshly made waffle, tomato & jalapeno chutney and sour cream. The large chicken breast was moist while the breading was golden and crunchy. I thought it was seasoned enough to stand on its own. As for the waffle, it was a bit more dense than I would've liked. The chutney was a bit strange being really sweet, yet looking like a salsa.
Onto the mains, I decided on the vegetarian dish, not... Actually, I had the 8 oz. Certified Angus New York Steak with Yukon gold roasted garlic mash, market vegetables and green peppercorn sauce. It was prepared medium-rare as I requested. I liked how it was rested properly and the noticeable char on the outside. Hence, each piece of steak was succulent, smoky and tender. On the thicker side, the peppercorn sauce was flavourful without being salty. It added an almost sweet peppery finish to each bite. The garlic mash was buttery and smooth with the veggies on top being crunchy and vibrant. One thing I didn't like was the toss of dry Italian herb mix as it was a bit bitter. For Viv, she tried the Char Broiled Mahi Mahi with Southern rice pilaf, market vegetables and fresh pineapple salsa. The fish was definitely the beneficiary of a good broil, however, it was a touch dry in spots. It wasn't particularly seasoned much, but the salsa did add the necessary sweetness and acidity. We found the rice a touch wet while being quite firm in texture at the same time. It wasn't particularly Southern tasting though as we expected more spice.
For dessert, I chose the Strawberry Sundae consisting of vanilla ice-cream, strawberry coulis and chocolate & coconut brownie. This was a simple dessert done right. The ice cream was thick and creamy while the coulis wasn't overly sweet. As much as the brownie was gooey and chocolaty, I personally don't like coconut in it (interrupts the gooey texture). Viv went for the Dark Chocolate Mousse with Oreo cookie bits and shaved chocolate. We thought the mousse was on the heavier side, but still smooth and rich. It wasn't too sweet while exhibiting a slight bitterness. With a pleasing crunch, the Oreo bits were a welcomed surprise. In fact, the whole meat was pleasant surprise, especially at the $18.00 price point. Sure, the menu didn't really make much sense (as most of the appetizers could've been main dishes) while the refinement was debatable. BUT, considering what used to be available before the relaunch, this is a major improvement. If you aren't overly picky and just want a decent meal out in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere, go check out the $18.00 dine out menu.
The Good:
- Decent eats considering the price and what there was before the renos
- Excellent "casual" service
- Relaxed atmosphere
The Bad:
- Needs further refinement
- Regular menu is not exactly cheap
*Restaurant is now closed*
There I was on Broadway, on my way to meet some friends for dinner when I walked past a new spot called "Sliders". I stopped right there in my tracks and was conflicted... Should I go in and try a few things as an appetizer before dinner or should I just continue on to my destination? The dilemma! But, but I was going to be late and possibly too full to eat my actual dinner. I gathered up all of my willpower and passed on by. But the thought of something new kept bugging me, so when I got the chance, I gathered up Viv and my daughter for a random food adventure. With over 16 different sliders at $4.00 each to choose from, we took our time ordering.
To start things off, we tried the Pulled Duck made from roasted 5-spice duck leg, pickled green onion and hoisin creme fraiche on soft brioche. I found the duck to be well-seasoned while being a bit stringy and dry. I did like the crunchy skin portions though. I didn't notice the green onion too much, but the creme fraiche did exhibit the sweetness of hoisin. Off to the sea, we had the Oyster Po' Boy next consisting of a fried cornmeal crusted BC oyster, pickled red onion, leaf lettuce and horseradish aioli. The lightly crisp oyster was buttery and properly cooked. We got the creaminess of the aioli with only the slightest hint of spicy sharpness from the horseradish. The pickled red onion was a nice acidic addition.
I was able to wrestle the Beef Dip (slow roasted prime rib, gouda, roasted garlic aioli and jus) from my daughter to give it a try. After a bite, I could see why she didn't want to share as the meat was really moist and required very little effort to chew. The gouda was nicely melted and creamy while the aioli added a nice garlic hit. A bit sweet, the jus wasn't even necessary as the slider ate well on its own. One of the more flavourful sliders was the Korean BBQ with marinated beef, red onion, spicy cabbage and garlic aioli. There was this sweet, spicy and sharp taste to the concoction. We didn't think the raw onion was necessary though as the cabbage provided the necessary crunch and tang already.
Next up, I bit into the Pork Belly consisting of beer & brown sugar glaze, leaf lettuce, tomato and cider sauce. Meaty and only a bit fatty, the pork belly was more firm than melt-in-my-mouth soft. I thought the sweetness of the glaze went well with the pork and the slight acidity from the cider was welcomed. We decided to combo it up by adding $2.00 for a drink and a side. The first side was House Cut Kennebec Fries which were not as crispy as we would've liked. It appeared that they were clumped together, hence, certain sides of the fries were not fried at all. We liked the Tater Tots though as they were lightly crisp.
Since we were not exactly full from the small sliders, I added 2 more with the Original Beef (short-rib-chuck-brisket blend, aged cheddar, pickles, hickory sticks and slider sauce) and the Cod Nugget (crispy cod, tatar sauce and coleslaw). With a nice crunch and saltiness from the hickory sticks, the beef slider was possibly too salty with the addition of the pickles. The thin burger patty wasn't exactly dry, but not particularly juicy either. It did taste meaty though. We really liked the cod as it was really crunchy while moist inside. The tartar sauce had a nice acidity which was further amped by the crunchy coleslaw. For what it's worth, the food at Sliders was generally good and definitely more interesting than a regular burger joint. The small size allows for mixing & matching to get a variety of tastes with premium ingredients. Yet at the same time, it doesn't really offer up a stomach-filling experience.
The Good:
- Interesting and generally well-prepared eats
- Lots of choice
- Combo for $2.00 more is a good value
The Bad:
- Small sliders are not very filling, hence you may need 3 of them (3 x $4.00), but keep in mind that some of the ingredients aren't exactly cheap
- They might need a numbering system as it wasn't an issue with us, but when it gets busy, keeping track of the orders might be tough
In reference to my media preview of the 2015 Dine Out Festival, I mentioned that the event has adapted to changing trends since its inception in 2002. Back then, diners were relegated to menus that were almost afterthoughts. Now, we are not only treated to better options and more restaurants, there are several associated events that have offered up even more choice than before. From food tours to Mijune's 6-Course Discourse, there is a little of something for everyone. On that note, I was invited to try one of these in the form of the Kitsilano Brunch Crawl presented by Vanfoodster and Tourism Vancouver.
Whipping Girl ended up joining me on this food adventure because brunch is her middle name (Whipping Brunch Girl? Sounds alright...). So, we started at Novo Pizzeria with the Novo Breakfast Pizza with fontina, fior di latte, Aleppo pepper, red onions, smoked pancetta, sous vide quail egg, Iberian salumi and chives. Let me keep this short - the pizza was really good. With a thin crispy crust (all the way through) and just enough toppings for impact (including the not-too-big yolk), this had a mildly spicy savoury thing going on. The side salad of arugula, blood orange, frisee, oil-cured olives, candied almonds, parmigiano reggiano and grapefruit vinaigrette was refreshing, sweet and purposefully acidic. I found the Sicilian Canoli remarkably better than the last time I had it since the riccotta filling was significantly smoother.
Onto our next stop, we headed over to Linh Cafe where we were presented with a large plate consisting of 2 Spring Rolls (with shrimp, pork, wood-ear mushrooms and glass noodles) and Spicy Baguette Sticks (with liver pate, fried shallots and house made-sriracha). As with my last visit to Linh, the baguette sticks were money. Hidden within the petite crusty and slightly chewy baguettes was a nice combination of smooth pate combined with the aromatics of the shallots and the swift kick of the sriracha. The well-fried spring rolls, although greasy, were crispy and somewhat dark golden brown. Inside, the ample pork filling was juicy and moist with a considerable amount of green onion. As if this wasn't enough, we were treated to Peanut Macarons at the end. Unfortunately, these were a complete fail as these had the texture akin to a fudge brownie. Good if it was a brownie, but not for a macaron. It did taste good though with a lightly sweet aromatic flavour.
Taking a stroll a few steps away, we visited Darby's Public House for a plate that included Eggs Benny with Dijon IPA ham, poached egg and house-make Hollandaise, Hangover Hash with breakfast sausage, bacon, mushroom, potato and onion, and Mini Huevos Rancheros with 2 corn tortillas, cheddar, edam, beans, corn, tomato, house-made jalapeno ginger sauce and poached egg. Both eggs were expertly soft-poached with runny yolks. The Hollandaise was rather light with enough acidity. We found the hash to be pretty typical while the mini Huevos Rancheros suffered from really hard tortillas which made it difficult to eat. After this, we conveniently crossed the street over to Momento Coffee for a hot beverage and some treats. The Panama La Esmeralda Geisha itself was smooth, a touch fruity with a light finish of tartness. Supplied by La Baguette, the Croissant and Pain au Chocolate were buttery with a light crispy exterior. The Yogurt concoction consisting of oatmeal, chia seeds, cocoa powder and chocolate chips was surprisingly creamy and thick. It wasn't particularly sweet where it took on the flavours of the tangy yogurt.
Already stuffed and having packed the spring rolls to go, we couldn't pass up a visit to Rain or Shine Ice Cream. We had one each of the London Fog and Blueberry Balsamic, both with waffle pieces underneath. The first thing that hit us was literally the flavours as they danced on our palates with full force (but not in a overwhelming way). Purposeful and almost aromatic the Earl Grey was apparent in the London Fog, while the vanilla wasn't relegated to the background. I particularly liked the blueberry as it was only sweet enough with appealing hits of balsamic which only helped bring out the blueberry flavours. This was in addition to the firm creaminess of the ice cream itself. I would say this is better than Earnest. Lastly, we ended things at Krokodile Pear where we sampled 2 items including the English Bay (orange, cucumber, grapefruit, lemon & mint) and The Rockies (almond, Brazil nuts, raw vanilla, maple syrup, Himalayan rock salt and chia gel. Refreshing, lightly sweet with a bright cucumber essence, the English Bay had impact without being too bold. A touch gritty, the Rockies was very mild with a raw nutty flavour. This was a light end to our brunch crawl which consisted of more than enough food and a decent variety.
Arriving at our last spot to visit for the Curry Challenge, we were a bit nervous. According to many of the online reviews of the place, it all pointed to a mediocre experience. But then again, it is always better to judge for ourselves rather than letting others do it for us. So Whipping Girl and I went in with an open mind and apparently pretty empty stomachs because we went a bit overboard with the menu. Maybe we could give Mijune a run for her money... Nah, no one can out eat here...
Things started off quite nicely with the Cauliflower Poppers served with garlic aioli and red pepper hummus. In manageable-sized nuggets, the poppers were lightly crispy on the outside while tender and not too soft on the inside. These were dusted with some spice to finish. We found the garlic aioli a near-perfect match as it added aromatics and saltiness to the mildly-spiced cauliflower. As for the hummus, it was too flat-tasting and thick for the poppers. Next up, we had the sweet and spicy Ngong Wings with tangy lemon poppy dip and fresh cilantro garnish. These were fried first and then finished off on the grill. Hence, they were both crispy and exhibited a smoky char. They were on the drier side, but for this application, it enabled the wings to have a more concentrated flavour. We found them more sweet than spicy though. Despite not sounding like a match, the dip went well with the wings providing a cooling effect.
With another round of appies, we tried 2 of the hand-rolled Serious Meatballs made with veal and beef meatballs accompanied by fresh tomato sauce, sauteed spinach and Parmesan. Texturally, we found the meatballs to be meaty, dense and slightly chewy. Although we prefer less-processed meat, this could've used a touch more. As for the sauce, it was tart, bright and acidic with noticeable chunks of garlic. Whenever we have Whipping Girl, we also have to order her favourite - Mussels. These were 1 lb of steamed Chilean Blue mussels in classic French white wine and garlic butter. We found the white wine to be present while completely cooked down. A bit salty, the broth did feature a good amount of garlic and onion. Sadly, the mussels themselves were overcooked being dry and chewy.
Off to the Curry Challenge dish, we sampled the being the Moroccan Braised Lamb Shank in a light tomato-based sauce consisting of a house made blend of ginger, garlic, cumin, jalapenos, cinnamon, a mix of smoked paprikas and spices. This was served atop pomegranate dirty rice. The flavour profile was quite mild, yet when I took a big scoop of the veggies along with a piece of lamb, there was a good amount of tartness with a background spice. The lamb itself was moist throughout, including the exterior. For our other entree, we decided on the Flank & Frites comprised of house marinated (24 hour) 8 oz flank steak, arugula salad and house cut Kennebec fries. From the very first bite, it was clear that the marinade had penetrated completely. Hence, the steak was very flavourful bordering on salty. In fact, it had a beef jerky kind of taste to it. Prepared medium-rare, it was sufficiently tender for a flank steak. As for the frites, they were not bad but could've been even more crispy.
For dessert, we shared the Chocolate Mousse served in a jar. We thought the mousse was not aggressively sweet, which was to our liking. Also, it was plenty chocolatey and creamy. The one problem was its viscosity - it could've passed for an ice cream. Other than that, it was fine. And that pretty much summed up the dishes we had at Abode, they were fine. Sure, there were some execution issues, but definitely not worthy of a 54% rating.
*2 main dishes were comped*
The Good:
- Portion sizes are decent
- Fair pricing for dinner in Downtown
The Bad:
- Some execution issues
There once was a small Vietnamese restaurant named Thuan An tucked inside a small little red building. After my initial visit, I wanted to go back since the food was both tasty and inexpensive. Hey, the owner was one cool dude too (yes, by being a cool dude, you got bonus points). But to my utter shock and disappointment, it closed not too long afterwards only to be replaced by Kilimanjaro Snack House. For the next year, I was intrigued at the thought of dining on East African cuisine (as it is not usually found in Vancouver). It didn't happen until they decided to participate in the Curry Challenge. I met up with Whipping Girl to not only try their entry, but to sample some of their other treats as well.
But first things first, for the Curry Challenge we tried their Kuku Paka consisting of coconut cream curry with East African spices, succulent pieces of chicken, hard boiled eggs and potatoes. This was a very mild and creamy concoction that was more about subtleties rather than bold flavours. The chicken came as advertised being tender and somewhat juicy (it helped being dark meat). I enjoyed the texture of the potatoes as they were intact while still being fork tender. Even the egg was properly prepared where it wasn't severely overcooked. Next up, we sampled the Chicken Samosas that were bursting with ground chicken. With a thin exterior shell, there was a firmer crunchiness which revealed chicken that was bordering between moist and dry. With a touch of spice and notable hits of cumin and coriander, there was enough inherent flavour. However, with the accompanying raita, it helped cool things down.
Next up was a couple of fried starchy items beginning with the Nylon Bhajia which were thinly sliced potatoes, lightly battered in chickpea flour with spices. These were crunchy on the outside while soft and slightly greasy on the inside. Truly a great snack that would go well with a cold one. The Mogo or cassava fries were dense as expected, yet fried crispy on the outside. To finished them off, they were dusted with a bit of spice. Lastly, we tried Beef Kebabs consisting of extra lean ground beef mixed with herbs & spices. Exactly as described, these were crispy on the outside. Inside, they were as moist as extra lean beef could get. With a bevy of spices including cumin, cilantro and red pepper flakes, these were pretty tasty. Despite the limited menu at Kilamanjaro (it is a snack house though), we found enough interesting eats to sample. Worth a try if you're in the area.
*All food was complimentary excluding gratuities*
The Good:
- Interesting and unique eats
- Again, they knew we were there for a tasting, but all of the staff were genuinely friendly
The Bad:
- Limited selection
- Due to the nature of the food, it can be somewhat greasy
How much curry can one eat? Well, that was going to be put to the test as I embarked on my 3rd meal in as many nights. This time it was with Miss Y at the Copper Chimney in the Hotel Le Soleil. Yah, the place doesn't scream out Indian food from the outside nor the interior decor, but there are indeed Indian chefs in the kitchen. Since they knew we were there to try their entry into the Curry Challenge, it was no surprise the service was top-notch. However, even with that in mind, it was really friendly and attentive.
The first dish to arrive was the Tiger Prawn Tandoori with sambal, garlic, lemon juice, cilantro and sea salt. These exhibited a meaty snap with plenty of natural prawn essence. Purposefully spicy and sweet with a charred smokiness, these were not longing for any more impact. However, the sambal added another layer with tartness. The only thing we would've liked to see was less salt. Next up was their interpretation of a Canadian classic being the Butter Chicken Poutine with real cheese curds. Thick and lightly spicy, the sauce was more sweet and tart than creamy. We found the skinny fries a poor fit for the dish though as they became soggy quickly. The cheese curds were squeaky though.
Onto the featured item, we dug into the Goa Spicy Pork Vindaloo served with basmati rice and garlic naan. Even with the use of the famed ghost pepper, the restrained spice level let us enjoy the dish as a whole. Don't get me wrong, it was spicy though with gradual heat with a slight tang. As for the pork, it had a nice rebound texture. we found the naan crispy on its surface while alternating between chewy and fluffy on the inside. Moving along, we had the Lamb Lollipops with fenugreek yogurt marinade, naan bread, kachumber slaw. Yes, these were their version of Vij's signature dish. Were they as good? Well, let's just say it was different. It was more tomatoey than creamy while the spice level was mild. The lamb itself was tender while not being overly soft.
As a side, we ordered the Caramelized Cumin Brussel Sprouts which resembled the Glowbal Group's version but with an Indian twist (being the cumin). These were fried up until crispy while retaining a slight chew. A wealth of flavours emanated from the cheese, capers, lemon and spice. There was also a residual smokiness at the tail end. For dessert, we got the Trio of Handmade Macarons (from Soirette). Although not made in-house, they went out and acquired the best-in-town (IMO). So why re-invent the wheel right? From left-to-right, we had the lavender, matcha and raspberry accompanied by a hazelnut stick and berry compote. A lightly crisp outer shell gave way to a soft and marginally chewy interior. The flavours were on point while being only purposefully sweet. This was a nice way to end a relatively decent meal. Naturally, the Indian food we sampled was exposed to some creative interpretation (as in not traditional Indian fare) where it was successful to varying degrees.
*2 main dishes were comped*
The Good:
- Some interesting dishes
- Yes, they knew we were there for the Curry Challenge, but the service was good
The Bad:
- Decent, but not remarkable
- There are creative interpretations, so don't expect ultra-traditional
After my visit to BLTF for the Curry Challenge, Hai Phong was up next with the fam. We ended up at their new location near Stadium Station right across from T&T Supermarket. Since the location is significantly smaller than their original Kingsway store, the menu is also somewhat downsized, yet, all the basics are there. Once again, I decided to do a full post on the place despite having visited their other restaurant. Again, not all are created equal even if they are the same name...
We began our meal with the Beef Salad comprised of shredded cabbage mixed with house dressing topped with crispy fried shallots, Vietnamese coriander and roasted peanuts served with ginger fish sauce. Predictably, there was a crunchy, fresh texture from the cabbage, carrots, daikon and fried shallots. The salad was fragrant while hit with the sweet and saltiness from the fish sauce. We liked the ample beef, but it was a bit chewy. Next up was the Garlic Butter Chicken Wings tossed with some hot chili peppers. These were spiked with enough flavour to tickle all of our tastebuds. They were aromatic, spicy and of course, garlicky. Dipped into the lemon-pepper sauce, it added the necessary acidity. The wings themselves weren't exactly juicy, but weren't dry either.
Next we moved onto a bowl of Pho with all the meats (there are no actual set Pho selections, you merely customize it). We found the broth to be clean, light and sweet with a meaty finish. All the meats were okay except for the brisket as it was rather chewy. Noodles were both plentiful and toothsome. We then got to try their entry into the Curry Challenge being the Chicken Curry Noodle Soup. This consisted of boneless chicken and taro simmered in a light curry broth infused with lemongrass and coconut milk. Rather than the regular Pho accompaniments, it was served with vermicelli, bean sprouts, chives, Vietnamese coriander, white and green onions and finely sliced chilli peppers. The result was a sweet and fragrant broth that was mildly spiced (until we added the hot chili peppers). The abundance of moist chicken added body to the dish.
For the kiddies, we got them a plate of Grilled Lemongrass Chicken & Fried Egg with Rice. In a large mound underneath the ingredients, the rice was fluffy, yet chewy. We found the chicken well-charred with good amount of lemongrass. It was moist while not exactly juicy. The kids seemed to like it and that was most important. Overall, we quite liked the meal as well. It wasn't utterly amazing, but it was solid as expected. We didn't see any deviation from their original location so consistency is not an issue.
*Only the Chicken Curry Noodle Soup was comped*
The Good:
- Carefully prepared eats
- Okay pricing for quality/quantity
The Bad:
- Not the most spacious of dining spaces
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