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To some, it seems out-of-the-ordinary for me to dine at a chain restaurant. In fact, it is downright shocking for others as I've stated that there are many great independent restaurants for the same price (or even less). Alas, that is only an assumption due to my desire to try original and unique food. I actually do not mind heading to these spots every now and then because I know what I'm going to get (and if I don't, they will generally make it right). Furthermore, it takes the guessing out of the equation and really, it satisfies almost everyone (except for food snobs of course).
So this post is an amalgamation of several visits to the Lougheed Cactus Club (since their menu is rather large and diverse). So in no particular order, I'll talk about the Dry Ribs first. Yah, this appie is as exciting as a Jim Benning news conference, but I happen to like gnawing on bones (is that why Viv calls me a dog?). These were indeed very dry and crispy. I would've liked to see a touch more seasoning though as it was kinda bland. Okay, before you laugh at me and while my parents disown me, I actually enjoyed the Wor Wonton Soup. I've ordered it on several occasions and it is what it is. The one thing I didn't like is the saltiness of the Peking duck broth, they need to dial it down a notch. Plump, tender and nicely seasoned, the wontons were good for what they were. But no, I will say this will never challenge a real wonton soup.
Although not known for their steaks, I found the Mushroom Sirloin to be pretty enjoyable. Furthermore, it was a substantial amount of food and I really shouldn't have attempted to finish it at 1:00am in the morning. Well-charred while evenly medium-rare, the meat was juicy and super tender. There was a considerable amount of red wine mushroom sauce which was rather salty (yet with lots of mushroom and red wine flavour). The mash was creamy and smooth and the asparagus was not overcooked. I'm not sure that my Hunter Chicken was necessarily a "lighter" choice than the steak as it was a large portion as well. The large butterflied breast was moist and tender while bathed in a salty mushroom sauce. They do like their salt here...
One of the more inexpensive (relatively) signature items on the Cactus Club menu is The Feenie Burger consisting of smashed certified angus beef, sautéed mushrooms, aged cheddar, smoked bacon, red relish, mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard. Sounds pretty basic right? Indeed it is, but executed well. Sure, it isn't my favourite burger in town (the Pourhouse is IMO), but it does what it's supposed to do with moist beef and the right condiments on a soft bun. I think the relish brings the whole thing together with a sweet and tangy brightness. Another solid item we had was the Grilled Tuna Club with tarragon tartar, bacon, cilantro and pickled ginger. Tuna was perfectly rare while the bite of the ginger kept each bite lively.
Continuing on with even more visits, we ended up getting the Kobe Meatballs to start. These massive meatballs were surprisingly un-meaty (is that a word?). They were so overprocessed, it was bordering on mushy. On the positive side, the tangy and flavourful tomato sauce was a nice compliment. For my main, I went for the Soy-Dijon Salmon. It was flaky and moist despite being cooked all-the-way-through. It was mildly seasoned with a slight char. I found the soy-dijon to be overly salty with plenty of tang. Underneath, the crunchy snap peas was both a textural delight and a shot of sweetness.
Milhouse had the Bengal Chicken Curry which was super mild. With that being said, it wasn't lacking spices as we could definitely taste the cumin and coriander. The bits of chicken were comprised of tender dark meat. Interestingly, the flatbread was more like a crunchy cracker than bread-like. And if it had to be noted, this was not remotely close to an actual Bengali curry. For dessert, Sweet Tooth had the Peanut Butter Crunch Bar. It was creamy and smooth with the essence of peanut while being easy on the sugar. The best part was the crispy crust which was a nice textural contrast.
Lionel Hutz had the White Chocolate Cheesecake which was light and almost fluffy while maintaining a certain density. It was sweet, but not overly sweet. Again, not the most incredible dessert we've ever had, but solid with few complaints. Realistically, that is what Cactus Club is all about. Generally predictable and good food with consistent service all in a lively dining space. Just remember to bring lots of money and to avoid the Asian-inspired dishes.
The Good:
- Decent and sometimes good food
- Consistently attentive service
- Lively atmosphere
The Bad:
- Not cheap
- Heavy on the salt
- Stay away from the Asian-inspired dishes
For all the gourmet burger joints we have in the GVRD, one that gets lost in the shuffle is Vera's Burger Shack. Purchased and operated by former BC Lion Noah Cantor, the place expanded fast with locations popping up all over the Lower Mainland. While some closed over time and many have remarked how it isn't as good as it used to be, I still believe they make a solid burger. With that in mind and a few Groupons to burn, Zamboni Guy and I visited the Newton location to find out if Vera's can still ride with the big boys.
Zamboni Guy, being the ever patriot, went for the Canuck loaded with a 6 oz. fresh patty, bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomato on a sesame bun. Well-charred and fairly moist, the patty was big enough to ensure meat in every bite. As evidenced, there was enough crispy bacon and melted cheese for health purposes. For myself, I had the BBQ Burger with a 6 oz. patty, smoked white cheddar, bacon, fried onions & BBQ sauce. Due to the addition of fried onions, the burger was larger-looking and ate differently too. There was an aromatic crunch to go with the background smokiness of the cheddar. Interestingly, I didn't really noticed the BBQ sauce.
On another visit, Argumentative Girl decided on the 4 Cheese consisting of a 6 oz. patty graced with feta, cheddar, smoked white cheddar & cheese curds. As much as there was plenty of cheese, the burger didn't eat heavy, yet it was plenty Earthy and salty. This time, I wanted to go big and opted for the G-Money with 2 x 6 oz. patties, cheddar & fried mushrooms. Yah, this was monstrous and very messy with juicy meat sandwiched in between melted cheese and mushrooms. The bun surprisingly held up to the mess while not being too firm. As for the fries, they were the crispy fresh-cut variety. Honestly, as much as people have remarked that Vera's is not as good as before, I still think they are still good and stands up well to the other gourmet burger spots.
The Good:
- Fresh meat
- Good fries
The Bad:
- Not cheap
- It's not fast food, so you'll have to wait
As much as I love the competitive prices at The Real Canadian Superstore (and some of their PC products), shopping there during peak times can be pretty busy. Yes, they have opened up all of their cash registers on the weekends, which has alleviated the lineups to a degree. But I find myself taking at least 45 minutes to over an hour to find parking, shop and checkout. This is further exacerbated when the kids tag along... The endless whining makes the shopping experience feel even longer than it really should be.
Recently, I was asked to try their new Click & Collect program, which was designed to alleviate many of the aforementioned issues. What if I told you that you could drive up to the best parking spots, dial a phone number and have your groceries brought to your car? For me that sounded better than a tasty four-course meal (almost better...). Here is how it works:
1. Visit https://shop.superstore.ca
2. Pick items as if you were shopping in store
3. Pay for your order online (or at the store)
4. Drive to the Superstore you have chosen
5. Park in one of the designated spots
6. Call the number on the signage
7. Someone with wheel out a cart with our groceries
For me (not including my picture-taking and fact-gathering in store), it took roughly 8 minutes from parking to pulling out of the lot. 8 minutes! Of course the time will vary, but that is a whole lot better than an hour! Now I did have some concerns, namely about someone else picking my produce. However, the staff member made sure she was picking the best looking bananas (see picture). Also, you can add personalized instructions when you are putting in your order. Another concern was regarding perishables. Not to worry as they store them in big fridges until you pick-up.
Right now, since the service is new, I received one free shopping bag as a new customer and a $5.00 off coupon (which is equivalent to the service fee they charge during peak hours and $3.00 for all other times). I was so happy with Click & Collect, I am happy to offer a contest for a $100.00 gift card to try the service out. All you have to do is leave a comment with your first name and last initial. I will draw a winner next Friday, January 15th.
*My groceries were complimentary as part of this blog post*
Sometimes, all we need is a quick and relatively inexpensive meal that doesn't involve the golden arches. Often intentionally overlooked is the Crystal Mall food court due to a variety of reasons including the infamous round parking lot, lack of utensils and if you buy from multiple vendors, you may not be able to sit down and enjoy your meal. Despite these challenges, I do occasionally visit the place since the food can override the challenges. On 2 separate visits, I tried a variety of items, unfortunately each time, some were sold out.
However, looking rather legit, I did get to try the Singapore Laksa which featured the usual sliced fish cake, tofu puff, shrimp and boiled egg. With a healthy portion of both rice vermicelli and oil noodles, the laksa was filling. Although a bit thin, the broth was on point with a noted coconut milkiness supplemented by a background shrimpiness and obvious spiciness. Still, we would've liked to see more pronounced flavours. We weren't as impressed with the Hainanese Chicken Rice where the deboned chicken leg was a touch dry. The skin was nicely gelatinized though while we were supplied with the usual condiments. Nutty and chewy, the chicken rice was decent yet could've used a bit more punch.
On our second visit yielded 2 orders of the Roti Canai. Although rather flat and dense-looking, it was actually decent. The exterior was decently browned and crispy while the inside was soft albeit with compressed layers. It was seasoned enough to stand on its own, but the side of curry dip helped. I would've liked to see it more impactful though. That would be the same for the Curry Brisket with rice. It was fine with balanced flavours including a background sweetness. For me, it was too mild though. The chunks of brisket were a bit small which meant they weren't as moist as it could've been. Although it was generally hit and miss with Ipoh Bean Sprout Chicken, I'm still open to trying more items the next time I'm at Crystal Mall.
The Good:
- Some decent items
- Inexpensive for what you get
The Bad:
- Hit and miss
- Lacking in overall flavour
Posts
To some, it seems out-of-the-ordinary for me to dine at a chain restaurant. In fact, it is downright shocking for others as I've stated that there are many great independent restaurants for the same price (or even less). Alas, that is only an assumption due to my desire to try original and unique food. I actually do not mind heading to these spots every now and then because I know what I'm going to get (and if I don't, they will generally make it right). Furthermore, it takes the guessing out of the equation and really, it satisfies almost everyone (except for food snobs of course).
So this post is an amalgamation of several visits to the Lougheed Cactus Club (since their menu is rather large and diverse). So in no particular order, I'll talk about the Dry Ribs first. Yah, this appie is as exciting as a Jim Benning news conference, but I happen to like gnawing on bones (is that why Viv calls me a dog?). These were indeed very dry and crispy. I would've liked to see a touch more seasoning though as it was kinda bland. Okay, before you laugh at me and while my parents disown me, I actually enjoyed the Wor Wonton Soup. I've ordered it on several occasions and it is what it is. The one thing I didn't like is the saltiness of the Peking duck broth, they need to dial it down a notch. Plump, tender and nicely seasoned, the wontons were good for what they were. But no, I will say this will never challenge a real wonton soup.
Although not known for their steaks, I found the Mushroom Sirloin to be pretty enjoyable. Furthermore, it was a substantial amount of food and I really shouldn't have attempted to finish it at 1:00am in the morning. Well-charred while evenly medium-rare, the meat was juicy and super tender. There was a considerable amount of red wine mushroom sauce which was rather salty (yet with lots of mushroom and red wine flavour). The mash was creamy and smooth and the asparagus was not overcooked. I'm not sure that my Hunter Chicken was necessarily a "lighter" choice than the steak as it was a large portion as well. The large butterflied breast was moist and tender while bathed in a salty mushroom sauce. They do like their salt here...
One of the more inexpensive (relatively) signature items on the Cactus Club menu is The Feenie Burger consisting of smashed certified angus beef, sautéed mushrooms, aged cheddar, smoked bacon, red relish, mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard. Sounds pretty basic right? Indeed it is, but executed well. Sure, it isn't my favourite burger in town (the Pourhouse is IMO), but it does what it's supposed to do with moist beef and the right condiments on a soft bun. I think the relish brings the whole thing together with a sweet and tangy brightness. Another solid item we had was the Grilled Tuna Club with tarragon tartar, bacon, cilantro and pickled ginger. Tuna was perfectly rare while the bite of the ginger kept each bite lively. 
Continuing on with even more visits, we ended up getting the Kobe Meatballs to start. These massive meatballs were surprisingly un-meaty (is that a word?). They were so overprocessed, it was bordering on mushy. On the positive side, the tangy and flavourful tomato sauce was a nice compliment. For my main, I went for the Soy-Dijon Salmon. It was flaky and moist despite being cooked all-the-way-through. It was mildly seasoned with a slight char. I found the soy-dijon to be overly salty with plenty of tang. Underneath, the crunchy snap peas was both a textural delight and a shot of sweetness.
Milhouse had the Bengal Chicken Curry which was super mild. With that being said, it wasn't lacking spices as we could definitely taste the cumin and coriander. The bits of chicken were comprised of tender dark meat. Interestingly, the flatbread was more like a crunchy cracker than bread-like. And if it had to be noted, this was not remotely close to an actual Bengali curry. For dessert, Sweet Tooth had the Peanut Butter Crunch Bar. It was creamy and smooth with the essence of peanut while being easy on the sugar. The best part was the crispy crust which was a nice textural contrast.
Lionel Hutz had the White Chocolate Cheesecake which was light and almost fluffy while maintaining a certain density. It was sweet, but not overly sweet. Again, not the most incredible dessert we've ever had, but solid with few complaints. Realistically, that is what Cactus Club is all about. Generally predictable and good food with consistent service all in a lively dining space. Just remember to bring lots of money and to avoid the Asian-inspired dishes.
