Gastown Brunch Crawl (Presented by Vanfoodster & Dine Out Vancouver)

Despite the fact we weren't planning on participating in Dine Out Vancouver, we were (or specifically myself) slated to attend all 6 of the Brunch Crawls as part of the DOV festival.  Of course it didn't hurt that I was invited to all of them by Richard, but I find some of them (depends on the restaurant lineup and locations) a good reason to socialize and to satisfy my food ADD.  The Gastown Brunch Crawl led off the lineup this year with a rather rainy morning and wait at the registration point of Prado Cafe.

Walking into the warm confines of Prado Cafe, we were offered a choice of beverage.  I went for the prettiest one in a paper cup being the Holiday Spice Latte.  This was definitely Fall/Winter tasting with a muted sweetness to compliment the smooth and milky coffee.  From there, we sauntered next door to Zero Zero Pizzeria where we were presented with a choice of 2 pizzas.  We got one of each, with the one with hot dogs, bacon, olives, artichokes and rosemary potato being the Zero Zero. This was on a thicker crust being crispy on the bottom while chewy and soft throughout.  The thinner mini-pizza (with potato, bacon, spinach and red pepper scrambled eggs) was too crunchy and hard for my liking (and was probably the victim of the reheat in the oven).

When we moved down the block over to The Capilano, we almost missed the small little shop.  Well, it was rather obscure since its official grand opening is slated for February 1st.  We were given a selection of teas and my choice was the Seankw Village (False Creek) comprised of hibiscus, rosehips, black currant, cranberry, blueberry, elderberry, lemongrass and rooibos.  As expected, the tea was full-flavoured with plenty of berries and a noted tartness and aroma from the lemongrass.  We snacked on Baked Bannock with butter and jam as well as Ancient Phyllo stuffed with bison, sweet potato and herbs.  I personally have a bias towards fried bannock so I found this one a bit dense and dry.  However, the phyllo was on point with a flaky exterior giving way to a tasty filling that was meaty and hearty.

Heading East, we sampled a selection from Grain, hosted at the Bird's & The Beets, that consisted of Sprouted Curry French and Green Lentils, Kale, farro and toasted bread salad, Spicy Lentil Spread on seeded bread and a Wholegrain Stoneground Chocolate Chip Cookie.  Of all the items, my favourite was the kale salad as the ranch dressing was creamy and accented nicely by the savoury and crunchy toasted bread.  The cookie was also a highlight as it was crisp and chewy at the same time while mildly sweet.

A quick jay walk across the street, we lined up briefly at Rodney's Oyster House where we had one each of the Smoked Salmon Croque Madam and the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict.  Hands down, we all preferred the crab cakes over the croque.  In actuality, the only thing that prevented the croque from being spot on was the choice of bread (baguette).  It was thick and too chewy.  Otherwise, the egg was perfectly runny and complimented nicely by the buttery smoked salmon.  We enjoyed the crab cake as it was full of crab that wasn't exactly fluffy, but the exterior crust was appealingly crispy.  The egg was runny while the Hollandaise was super-buttery with a slight hint of lemon.

For some strange reason, Bao Down was not ready to go until 11:30am, which meant a lineup and a bottleneck for the crawl.  We were presented with 2 options and of course we went for one of each including the Morning Glory Bao with sausage, bacon, chive omelette, cheese, banana ketchup, mayo, hashbrowns and scallions.  Frankly, this was "meh" as the individual ingredients were cold and lifeless as well as the lukewarm bao.  I really didn't like the fried bao posing as "Beignets" as they were too hard, oil-soaked and too sweet.  They were more like overly sweet biscotti.

Our last stop was at the Smallflower Cafe & Bakeshop occupying the former Burgundy Restaurant space. As much as I loathed to sample gluten-free and vegan food, it turned out to be surprisingly good.  I loved the Tomato Basil Soup as it was bright, tart, sweet and natural-tasting.  Loved the consistency too.  Despite not looking so appetizing, the BBQ Tofu Slider featured a tasty biscuit that was crispy and sweet on the outside and fairly soft on the inside.  The tofu was tender but not too soft while the BBQ sauce was sweet and savoury.  Our last treat was the Mini-Waffle Cone with vegan ice cream, chocolate sauce and caramel.  Made with coconut milk, the ice cream was a touch icy, but still creamy enough while moderately sweet.  However, the chocolate and caramel raised the sugariness a few notches. In the end, this was a fairly decent kick-off to the 6 brunch crawls with enough variety and amount of food.

*All food and beverages excluding gratuities were complimentary*

The Good:
- Enough food in terms of variety and portion
- Walkable distances between establishments

The Bad:
- There was a bottleneck at Bao Down since they weren't ready until 11:30am

Greek Village

*Restaurant is permanently closed*

Sometimes we ignore things that are closest to us and/or easy to access.  Or in my case, I choose to ignore my Mother-in-Law on purpose.  However, it wasn't consciously that I haven't been back to Greek Village in quite some time.  It was never my favourite Greek restaurant, but it did what it did decently and at a reasonable price.  So when Zamboni Guy, Hot Mama and Jill wanted to grab some lunch, we went there rather than doing the "I give up, let's go to a chain restaurant" thing.

Starting things off, we had the Calamari which looked paler than a Vancouverite during December.  Despite its appearance, the batter was lightly crispy and very easy on the grease (while adequately seasoned).  Although the squid wasn't exactly super chewy, it wasn't tender either.  We prefer calamari that retains a bite, but this could've been tenderized a bit more.  I thought the side of tzatziki was nicely thick, yet it could've used more acidity.  For my main, I went for the Mousaka sporting a thick layer of bechamel on top.  I liked how it wasn't too stiff nor runny.  It was appealingly creamy and mildly seasoned. The ground beef underneath was soft and moist, albeit rather greasy.  Below that, the eggplant and potato were tender while not being mushy.  In terms of taste, I liked how there wasn't too much salt.

To my utter horror, everyone else has the Chicken Souvlaki (what? no variety?).  On the plus side, it was nicely prepared with moist chicken that was attractively charred.  It was mildly seasoned with the natural sweetness of the chicken coming though.  The side of rice was firm and also lightly salted.  We found the roast potato appealing in texture with a nice hit of lemon.  On another visit, everyone had the souvlaki again!  For myself, I had the Kleftiko (Lamb) with the usual sides.  Although the portion size was fairly large with chunks of lamb bathed in a tart and sweet tomato sauce, I was indifferent about the dish.  I found the lamb a bit stringy and dry despite the evidence of fat.

For some odd reason, Jill had the Fried Zucchini served with tzatziki.  Well, they were actually decent with a crunchy batter that was a touch greasy.  Inside, the zucchini wasn't mushy while the batter didn't slide off.  On that note, I much prefer breading over batter.  Overall, both visits to Greek Village yielded good service with serviceable food.  I liked my mousaka, but wasn't overly impressed with the lamb.  So depending on what you order, the experience could be very different.

The Good:
- Friendly service
- Serviceable food
- Okay pricing 

The Bad:
- Food can be a bit hit and miss

Bodega on Main

A long time ago in...  Vancouver (not a galaxy if that is what you were thinking), we would hit up La Bodega on Howe every now and then for some Spanish tapas.  A staple in Downtown Vancouver since 1971, the doors closed for the last time in July 2014.  Well, there went a dependable spot for us to sip on sangria.  But wait, Paul Rivas, son of original partner Francisco Rivas revived the concept with Bodega on Main located right next door to Campagnolo. Since Emily, Jesse and I have been dining on endless Chinese food for the CRA, we felt it was time to eat something very non-Asian at Bodega.

We started things off with the Albondigas (meatballs, tomato sauce and Manchego).  Although we enjoyed the zesty sauce that had a nice balance of tang, sweetness and saltiness, the meatballs themselves were a bit crumbly and loose.  It lacked a certain meaty texture.  The melted Manchego on top provided a nice pungency.  Up next, we tried the Pollo Frito (fried free-range chicken drummettes with garlic and sherry).  These were lightly crispy on the outside while decently juicy inside due to the brine.  Flavourwise, they were mildly seasoned and only marginally aromatic.

Large in portion size, the Costillas de Res or braised beef short ribs were meaty and fairly tender.  Of the 2 ribs, one was less fatty, hence being a touch stringy.  The other was significantly more moist where it melted-in-my-mouth.  There wasn't a punch of flavour, rather the meat was natural-tasting with only a mild amount of seasoning involved.  As simple as it may sound, one of my favourite dishes back at La Bodega was the Patatas Bravas or twice-fried potatoes smothered in a zesty dressing.  This was just like I remembered with crispy chunks of potato (even with the moisture) sauced with a creaminess spiked with a touch of tang and spice.

The most impactful dish in terms of flavour was definitely the Chorizo a la Pirrilla.  The sausage was sliced and then aggressively grilled.  Hence, there was a noted smokiness and slightly crunchy exterior (where it was charred).  This helped heighten the already potent saltiness and spice of the sausage.  I found the smear of mustard necessary to cut through the salt and fattiness of the meat.  The flavour train continued with the Gambas al Ajillo (sauteed prawns in garlic, butter, chili and sherry).  These were done nicely with a nice snap and completely seasoned by the butter.  There was enough salt, spiciness and garlic to go around (including the side of bread we added for dipping).

We also used the bread with the Mejillones a la Marinara (mussels) as the sauce was creamy, briny and slightly spicy.  As much as it wasn't a super impactful broth, there was something appealing about the taste (which I kept going back to eat as a soup).  As for the mussels themselves, they were fairly plump and large while being buttery and sweet.  It was awesome that everyone said yes to the Lengua Estofada (beef tongue) since I love offal!  It was braised in a tomato sauce spiked with onions and capers.  Hence, there was a natural sweetness accented by the salt of the capers and slight acidity from the tomatoes.  The tongue itself was a touch too soft where it was falling apart.  However, it was super tender and almost buttery.

The last item to arrive was the Paella Mixta as it required a minimum of 30 minutes to prepare.  It was a fairly large portion for $26.00.  As much as the rice was firm and still appealingly chewy, there was a bit too much moisture and grease which made the entire paella soupy in parts.  There wasn't any rice crust, which hindered the aromatics (the missing chorizo didn't help matters either).  With that being said, the saffron really came through as well as the chicken fat and slight brininess of the seafood.  As illustrated by the paella, the meal was not without faults, but in the end, it was okay and brought back memories of La Bodega.

The Good:
- Generally impactful flavours
- Service was on point
- Lively atmosphere and nostalgic decor

The Bad:
- As with any tapas joint, it can add up quickly
- Paella was a disappointment

New Year's Day Brunch @ EBO Restaurant

*Restaurant is closed*

Change.  That is something that is constant in the restaurant world.  From the menu to the decor and more importantly the chef and staff, a restaurant goes through many phases in its lifetime.  Generally, I welcome change and try to revisit restaurants due to it.  However, for some strange reason, I've been avoiding revisiting EBO restaurant ever since Executive Chef Dan Craig (no, not James Bond or Stormtrooper) left for Toronto.  Finally, we decided to check out their New Year's Day brunch which probably doesn't represent their actual cuisine very much, but at least it's a start.

Another reason we picked EBO was the fact the brunch was only $50.00 as opposed to many of the Downtown hotels charging anywhere from $75.00 - $100.00.  Also the free parking and spacious dining room didn't hurt either.  Of course, we couldn't forget about Chef John Chang's famous freshly-made Malay Roti either.  I have to say his roti has to be some of the best, if not the best, in the GVRD. Nicely browned and slightly crispy on the outside while chewy, flaky and soft on the inside, the whole package was on point.  The accompanying thick coconut curry on the side only served to enhance the final product.  We were also served something special in the Paper-Thin Roti filled with curry beef.  Somewhat like a Dosa but without the lentil flour (wheat flour in this case), the roll was crispy and airy while filled with a meaty and coconutty beef curry.

Onto the actual brunch buffet, I hit the cold seafood first that featured Snow Crab, Mussels, Prawns, Shrimp Ceviche and Smoked Salmon.  Nothing particularly amiss here with proper textures.  We liked the shrimp ceviche as it was appealingly acidic.  Although cold snow crab can often be spongy and salty, this one was actually okay.  Onto the hot food, there was a selection that included Chicken & Waffles, Tilapia, Beef Stew, Polenta and Veggies.  There was no real standout here, but most items were well-made and withstood sitting in a chaffing tray except for the beef stew as the meat was rather dry and lifeless.  I did enjoy the fried chicken though as it was juicy, well-seasoned and crunchy on the outside.

The Carving Station was impressively stocked with Roast Leg of Lamb, Roast Prime Rib of Beef, Glazed Ham and Bone Marrow.  I also added a Chicken Satay Skewer and Smoked Salmon Eggs Benny to round out my 3rd plate of food.  I didn't try the ham, but the both the lamb and beef were prepared medium to medium-rare being tender and moist.  Again, for something that sat in a chaffing tray, the eggs benny was nicely runny while the Hollandaise was buttery.  Much like the roti, the chicken satay was pretty legit with a nice char that helped caramelize the peanutty curry marinade.  The meat itself was tender and not dried out.

Located across from the restaurant entrance, there was a Dessert spread that included liquid nitrogen Ice Cream, Chocolate Fountain, assorted Pastries and a Cookie decoration station for the kiddies.  We liked how there were different options and definitely engaging for the kids.  However, EBO has always been a kid-friendly restaurant despite being higher-end and located next to a casino.  That is partially one of the reasons we chose EBO for our New Year's brunch since it was both comfortable for the family and served up more-than-acceptable eats at a relatively reasonable price.

The Good:
- Spacious dining space
- Above-average eats
- Relatively well-priced

The Bad:
- Possibly a little lacking in the seafood department

Miki Japanese Bistro

*Restaurant is closed*

If you remember back to my revisit to Sushi Garden with Wolvie and Italian Stallion, I stated that good value eats can be part of a balanced diet.  Yes, I say this partly in jest, but really, we can't go eat at Miku everyday (although I would like to).  This time around, we skipped Sushi Garden and their crazy lineup and equally crappy parking situation on Lougheed.  Rather, we revisited the nearby Miki Japanese Bistro.  If my memory serves me right, the food was cheap albeit not particularly great.

Whatever the case, I always have an open mind about things because nothing can be perfect and besides, expectations must be tempered by cost.  Normally, there is not much to say about Wakame Salad since it is pretty standard stuff.  However, the one here was overdressed and fairly acidic.  On the other hand, it was a pretty large portion compared to other Japanese restaurants.  For our one specialty maki sushi, we went for the Miki House Roll filled with salmon tempura, cucumber and lettuce topped with sockeye salmon, avocado, bonito, tobiko, tempura bits and unagi sauce.  This was not very aesthetically-pleasing to look at and a chore to eat due to the overuse of rice.  About that rice, it was a bit too dry and bland for our liking.  At the very least, the whole thing was not grossly over-sauced.

Onto 2 items from the Robata menu, I was surprised to find out on our final bill that each one cost $4.95 when it clearly stated $3.95 on the menu.  Whatever the case, the portion size was rather good for the price.  Now portion size is one thing, but execution is more important.  In that regard, the Beef Short Ribs were pretty average at best.  They were not very meaty and when there was meat, it was pretty chewy.  I did enjoy the ample charring, yet they put far too much sauce on top which made it too salty and sweet.  As for the Salmon Belly, it was fatty and cooked just right where the skin was crispy while the meat was moist.  For some inexplicable reason, they drizzled the same sauce on top when the already seasoned belly tasted good on its own.

For my son, we got him the Bento Box B with Teriyaki Chicken, Tempura and California Roll. The teriyaki glaze atop the chicken was an unattractive pale brown, yet it wasn't overly sweet which made it bearable.  The rice was nicely chewy where it was accompanied by sauteed cabbage and sprouts.  As for the chicken, the skin wasn't rendered, but the meat was pretty tender and moist.  Sporting a pretty dark batter, the tempura was decent being crispy and relatively light. Of note, the California Roll was spiked with wasabi, which was a surprise and definitely not welcomed. Viv and I ended up splitting the Grilled Black Cod with rice and salad.  Again, they drizzled the overly powerful sauce on top which killed the buttery and well-charred black cod.  What's with the sauce anyways?  It was so salty and sweet, I couldn't even taste anything else.

Lastly, we had the Deluxe Assorted Sashimi consisting of salmon, tuna, ebi, hokkigai, hotate, tako, hamachi and mackerel.   This was also pretty average and in some sense, sub-par.  All 3 slices of salmon contained bones while the tuna was chewy and sinewy (an indication of an inferior cut).  At first, I wasn't sure the one piece of hamachi was indeed hamachi because it was so pale.  In the end, it was rather rough in texture and not very vibrant. Suffice to say, nothing much has change since my last visit to Miki.  The food is below average and not very "Japanese".  But its one saving grace is the value factor and relatively decent service.

The Good:
- Cheap
- Large portions
- Okay service

The Bad:
- Below average eats
- Not carefully prepared
- Parking lot is a joke for all the business in the plaza

Scorpio's M Dessert

You'd think after a full round of desserts at Bubble Fruity, we'd be happy and go home for the night.  Oh, no that would be playing it safe.  Not with the likes of Emily and Cathy around.  They could've continued with another round of Szechuan food (despite having 3 dinners already that night...). So we did the next best thing and made the short jaunt over to the newly relocated Scorpio M Dessert over on Alexandra Road.  Hey, with 3 dinners, we had to go for 2 desserts right?  Take that Mijune!

Walking into the place, it had a high-end, high-tea air to the place.  Service was okay, but hardly friendly.  Maybe we weren't high-end enough?  Of course we had to get the Mango Sago (Mango Sago Cream on this particular menu).  Well, this version was not good in our opinion.  Rather than a "soup", it resembled a mango slush that was rather icy.  It didn't taste naturally sweet nor mango-like.  It didn't get any better with the Mango Pancake as the mango was overripe.  The overly soft texture and flavour wasn't that appealing.  On the other hand, the crepe was tender and thin while the whip cream was lightly sweet and fresh.

Heading in a different direction, but still with mango, we tried the Mango & Grass Jelly Shaved Ice.  For me, I found the ice to be more gritty than fluffy.  Naturally, the use of the same overripe mangos meant that the pungency was overwhelming.  I did enjoy the grass jelly though.  Lastly, we had the Black Sticky Rice and Durian on Shaved Ice.  Again, I wasn't a huge fan of the gritty melting ice, but the sticky rice was okay with an appealing chewiness.  The durian was pretty pungent too, but that was to be expected.  As you can probably tell, we were a bit indifferent with the stuff at Scorpio.  I guess it went well with the indifferent service...

The Good:
- Nice digs
- Comfy to chill for a good period of time

The Bad:
- Average desserts
- Indifferent service