Bistro Taiyo

Honestly, my visit to Nanaimo had more to do with visiting friends than anything else.  Hence, my hopes for good eats in Nanaimo were as low as sugar-free cola.  However, after a search of the best places to eat, there were actually a few interesting choices.  Just my luck, we were here on a Monday and the majority of them were closed for dinner.  So with limited options, we picked one of the top-rated spots in Astera's Greek Taverna.  Again, just my luck, they were completely booked!  So we took a stroll up the block and stumbled upon Bistro Yaiyo.  No, Japanese was not the first thing we thought of, but we were hangry!

Viv wanted the Takoyaki and hoped the kiddies would try them.  Well, they did, but I guess it wasn't their thing.  Not sure why since I thought they were prepared properly.  They were served on a plate that held them perfectly in place.  Soft and fluffy, these had a nice mouth-feel and featured a piece of chewy, yet tender octopus in the middle.  There was just enough sauce and bonito flakes on top.  One dish we could've done without was the Ebi Mayo as the batter was too thick and gummy.  Hence, it wasn't crispy enough and once we got to the last piece, it was texturally off-putting.  In terms of the spicy mayo, it was a tad too spicy where it was too dominant.

My daughter wanted to try the Salmon Belly for some reason.  This was the first time she ever suggested that we order it, but it wasn't out-of-the-ordinary since she does love salmon.  Well, this certainly passed the litmus test with her since it was crispy on the outside and buttery soft on the inside.  It was fresh-tasting and only lightly salted.  It was cooked just enough were it was still fatty and tender.  Instead of the usual rice dishes for the kiddies, we wanted them to try something new in the Katsu Curry.  This was a large portion of rice, sauce and a pork cutlet.  The pork was rather lean which meant it wasn't exactly juicy.  Yet at the same time, it wasn't chewy.  We thought the panko coating was appealingly crispy.  As for the curry, it was rich and lightly sweet while packing noticeable heat.

For our sushi roll, we got the Taiyo House Roll which was rather large.  It featured a tonne of tobiko on top while the rice was nicely chewy.  We thought the roll was pretty good with plenty of ingredients.  As usual, my son wanted his fill of Nigiri including tamago, unagi and smoked salmon.  This featured the same chewy mildly-seasoned rice, but we thought that the topping was rather meager for the amount of rice.  Lastly, we had the Chirashi Don which was topped with fairly thin slices of fish.  Most were quite good except the albacore tuna was a bit too soft.  We loved the inclusion of red tuna and were shocked that our son ate 3 pieces!!!  Woohoo!  Overall, the food at Bistro Taiyo was decent and ultimately did the job, especially in Nanaimo.

The Good:
- Respectable Japanese, especially in a place not known for it
- Friendly service

The Bad:
- Prices can get up there
- Small place, can get pretty cramped

Falconetti's

Wow, it's been awhile since I've visited Falconetti's.  I think the last time was 4 years ago for the Parallel 49 Cask Dinner.  That was with Miss Y and ironically, it was once again with her that we visited the place for my last stop for the Burger Challenge.  Generally, Falconetti's is famous for their house-made sausages paired with their beers on tap, but they threw their hat into the ring for the burger challenge.  However, we weren't there to eat one burger and call it a meal either.  Yes, we ordered a few more dishes to supplement the required dish.

We started with the Smokin' Wings with honey garlic sauce (served on the side as requested).  With the sauce not directly on the wings, we were able to see that the exterior was fried beautifully with fully rendered skin.  It was crispy while the meat was still juicy.  The wings didn't have a lot of inherent seasoning which was no problem since they were house-smoked.  We could really taste the depth-of-flavour.  Next up, we had the Maui Zaui consisting of short ribs marinated in spices and then grilled.  On the surface, they looked like grilled Korean short ribs, but they weren't.  Rather, they were much meatier (as in less tenderizers used) and the flavours were not as sweet.  They were on the chewier side, but for me at least, I didn't mind the natural texture.

Their entry into the Burger Challenge was the Smokehouse Steakburger sporting house sirloin beef with smoky gouda cheese, house cherry-wood smoked bacon, sweet pickled red onion and chopped romaine slathered with Tennessee whiskey tomato jam and grainy mustard on a Cabernet bun.  As simple as this burger seemed, it was really good.  The thick meat patty was moist and juicy while the ingredients created a smoky, sweet and tangy combination of flavours.  Of course we couldn't have a meal at Falconetti's without one of their house-made sausages in the Honey Bratwurst.  It was a sweet concoction as the name suggested with honey mustard and caramelized onions.  The brat itself had a nice exterior snap while bursting with juiciness.  Compared to my previous 2 visits here (spaced apart by years), this one was the strongest.  Food was on point and prices didn't hurt the wallet either.

*Burger and some items were complimentary*

The Good:
- Well-prepared eats, especially for a pub restaurant
- Reasonably-priced
- Music on the weekends

The Bad:
- Fairly small space and get packed easily on the weekends

The Ellis

Not since the days of chomping down on cheap wings at The King's Head and Malones have I really ventured out into Kits for eats.  Yes, those days have long passed and neither can I tackle 4 dozen wings at one sitting.  However, the recent Burger Challenge brought me back and to a gastropub no less in The Ellis.  Located on York, The Ellis is not far from the cluster of restaurants along Yew.  Spacious, but still pub-like, the interior was not too dark and there was a combination of a long table and smaller ones.

We came here for the burger, but we also ordered a bunch of other things including a pub favourite in the Togarashi Wings.  Just by the name itself, one would realize that they put an Asian spin on them.  I thought they did a really good job with the deep fry as the wings were crispy with rendered skin.  Underneath, the meat was moist and tender while a bit lacking in flavour.  However, the ample togarashi helped alleviate that with a spiciness.  Next up, we tried the Grilled Octopus with crispy potatoes, chorizo buttermilk sauce, confit onions and Swiss chard.  Beautifully plated, the veggies were nicely charred and tasty.  As for the octopus, it was tender, but too tender where it was lacking any resistance or chew.  It did taste good with enough seasoning as well as a background tanginess and spice from the sauce.

Surprisingly, one of the best small dishes was the Vegetables! which consisted of Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli and mushrooms with roasted garlic, chili and lemon.  These were on point with a vibrant crunch while still cooked all-the-way-through.  Masterful job on the Brussels sprouts as they can be tricky.  The saute was definitely subjected to enough heat as there was very little moisture at the bottom while the flavours were intense.  After this we moved onto the Pound O' Mussels in a broth sporting double smoked bacon, Talisman ale, butter & winter herbs.  I thought the mussels were fairly well-prepared being buttery and soft.  As much as I enjoyed the ample bacon and strong ale flavour, the broth could've been cooked down just a tad more.

Of course we eventually had the Burger Challenge entry in the Mediterranean Burger consisting of one pork and one beef patty, roasted peppers and onions, ricotta and provolone cheeses, pickled chillies and dried tomatoes.  This was a nice-looking creation which had great mouth-feel mostly due to the soft poppy seed bun.  It was still able to hold everything in without disintegrating.  The peppers and pickled chilies along with the dried tomatoes added an appealing tang and spice.  We actually preferred the beef patty alone without the pork patty as it was a bit dry.  However, the combination of ingredients provided enough moisture to help alleviate that.

Our last item, the Hickory Smoked Side Ribs, was our absolute favourite.  We didn't expect such a great dish from a gastropub.  The long whole side rib (not cut in half) was house-smoked, grilled and finished off with a spicy BBQ sauce.  The smokiness was strong, yet not overpowering while the rib was meaty and tender.  I loved the slight chewiness of the meat where it wasn't too soft.  What brought the whole thing together was the awesome BBQ sauce as it had depth and was notably spicy while not overly sweet.  The side of fries were money too being house-cut, crispy and potatoey.  For dessert, we had 4 Mini-Beignets atop lemon curd, chocolate, raspberry and peanut butter.  These were more like soft and light egg puffs (similar to the Chinese ones) rather than the chewy and denser New Orleans-style.  We liked these more since they were so airy and lightly crispy.  The sauces were quite good too.  Overall, the Ellis offered up some pretty good eats and really lived up to the gastropub moniker.

*Burger and dessert were complimentary*

The Good:
- Generally solid food
- Relaxed open space

The Bad:
- Some minor execution issues
- Parking in the area is a challenge 

H2 Rotisserie & Bar

From what I can remember about the Westin Bayshore when I was really young, it was one of the nicer hotels in town that sported one of the hottest restaurants in town.  Yes, for those who are old enough to know, Trader Vics was one of the places to be and be seen.  I was too young to ever experience a meal there though.  Fast forward to the present and the place is completely new and Trader Vics is nothing but a memory (I'm sure my parents have a picture of it somewhere...).  For the Burger Challenge, it brought me to the Westin where I got to experience their hot new restaurant - H2 Rotisserie & Bar.

Upon entering, we were welcomed to a modern and inviting space that was lively and hip (impressive for a Tuesday night).  We started things off with the Shout a Little Chowda Seafood Chowder.  This was creamy, but not in a heavy way while loaded with local west coast clams and mussels, prawns, salmon and baby scallop.  It was definitely hearty and quite filling.  Exhibiting only a minor hint of brininess, there was no denying the seafood flavour.  I liked how they added whole pieces of shellfish on top for both aesthetics and eating enjoyment.  Next up, the Beef Carpaccio consisted of hand sliced paper thin certified Angus Beef tenderloin, Barnston Island micro arugula, truffle oil, maldon salt and parmesan.  First off, the meat quality was top-notch being buttery melt-in-my-mouth tender.  I loved how the truffle oil was kept to a minimum where it added a complimentary earthiness without being overwhelming.  However, there really needed to be an aioli of some sort to add more moisture to the dish.

Onto the mains, we went straight for their signature Quarter Rotisserie Chicken with herb-roasted fingerling potatoes and grilled asparagus.  Sporting beautifully rendered skin, the chicken ate moist and was aromatic from the herbs and roasting.  Some of the exterior parts were a touch dry but it didn't take away from the overall tenderness of the meat.  The accompanying gravy was nicely seasoned and added that extra moisture and flavour.  Onto their burger challenge creation, we had the Hot Jill Meats Huckleberry B.C. Bison Burger.  It consisted of a 6 oz. grass fed pasture raised BC bison, huckleberry relish, Little Qualicum hot jill monterey cheddar, crisp barnston island red frill lettuce and garlic aioli served on an artisan challah bun.  This was prepared a beautiful medium-rare where it was juicy and tender.  There was a nice outside char and the gaminess of the meat was not overwhelming.  Lightly sweet, the huckleberry relish was the perfect compliment to the game while the cheese brought everything together.  This was my favourite entry into the burger challenge.

Our last item was the 9 oz Angus Beef Striploin with mashed potatoes and veggies.  From the first bite, we knew the beef was top quality.  It was prepared somewhere in between rare and medium-rare which meant it was still juicy.  However, the outside could've been charred more aggressively for aesthetics and flavour.  The steak was intentionally underseasoned so we could customize the seasoning with the accompanying chimichurri, merlot reduction, smoked sea salt, sea salt, mustard, balsamic mustard and honey mustard.  I found the smoked salt the perfect compliment as it intensified the meat flavour while adding a robust taste. 

For dessert, we went for 2 including the No One Does it Better Layered Carrot Cake and the Drop it Like it's Popped, Salted Caramel Popcorn Cheesecake.  At first glance, the ginger carrot cake (with the orange cream cheese icing) looked to be sweet, but alas it was balanced with plenty of spice.  I enjoyed the layers of flavour.  The cheesecake was surprisingly light for a baked version where it was smooth and creamy.  It was purposefully sweet and cheesy while accented by a caramel sauce and a salted caramel popcorn ball.   These were a nice end to a relatively good meal.  H2 is a great addition to the Westin in terms of style where it has become a trendy place to hang out.

*All food excluding gratuities was complimentary*

The Good:
- Beautiful space
- Whimsical menu
- Nice plating

The Bad:
- Minor tweaks for some dishes

Bistro @ Hopcott Meats

My second stop on the Burger Challenge took me to Hopcott Premium Meats.  It was a bit further out than the rest of the competition in Pitt Meadows.  If you know me, going out to Pitt Meadows is not considered "far".  In fact, it is a personal goal of mine to find tasty eats in the burbs and beyond.   Now the Bistro at Hopcott Premium Meats isn't your typical restaurant since it is an extension of the market where it really is farm to table cooking.  I brought the family out to try the burger as well as some of their other offerings.

Getting right to it, we had Farmer Bob's Burger made with a Hopcott prime rib patty, panko crusted jalapeno peppers, lettuce, tomato, cheddar & Monterey Jack cheeses, honey chipotle sauce and pickle on a pretzel bun.  From the first bite, the tang and spice from the crispy jalapenos announced themselves as well as the impactful cheeses.  The bun was firm enough to hold everything in without being dense.  I thought the well-charred patty was meaty, flavourful and lean.  Hence, it wasn't juicy per se, but hardly dry either.  Featuring the same pretzel bun, the Pulled Beef Sandwich was pretty solid as well.  The beef itself was more like in chunks rather than being pulled, which was actually a good thing.  The meaty pieces were tender and well-seasoned while not over-sauced.  Combined with the crunchy coleslaw, this was a hearty sandwich.  On the side, the Poutine featured double-cooked fresh cut fries that were bathed in a silky gravy accompanied by legit cheese curds.

I'm pretty sure the au jus for the Beef Dip was either a variation of that gravy or the same as it tasted pretty similar (again, it was a good thing that it was).  It was silky, meaty and not overly salty.  Loved how it clung onto the toasted and crispy ciabatta bread rather than merely soaking in.  Inside, the rotisserie beef (that was cooking right in front of our eyes) was tender, meaty and well-seasoned.  On the side, I upgraded to Chili Fries topped with cheddar, green onion and sour cream (served on the side).  Again, the fries were fresh cut and fairly crispy.  I found the chili to be meaty and mild.  With another great transition, my daughter had the soup and sammie combo with a bowl of the same Chili.  It was chock full of tender ground beef with only a smattering of beans and veggies.  It was nicely mild which suited her fine.  On the side, she had a half Turkey Cranberry Panini.  She enjoyed the bread as well as the tender turkey, but there could've more more turkey.  But really, that is nitpicking because the rest of the eats were quite good and of course, freshly made.  Can't get any better than that.

*All food was complimentary*

The Good:
- Farm-to-table fresh
- Solid eats
- Love the setting

The Bad:
- Not really a bad, but is far for people who are not in the Tri-Cities area.  I decided to shop there, so I guess that could be a good reason to go.

The Fresh Window @ Drew's Catering & Events

Here we are with another challenge from Vanfoodster.  This time around, it is the Burger Challenge and I did a fist pump when I found out that I was selected as a judge.  Yes, I love burgers and this was going to be fun unlike say... a salad challenge (ew...).   For my first stop, I decided to hit up The Fresh Window @ Drew's Catering & Events (picture from their Facebook site) down at the foot of Granville Street in Vancouver.  Located almost underneath the Arthur Laing Bridge, Drew's Catering offers up a take-out window in addition to their usual catering services.  This is purely a take out operation, but for the purposes of this challenge, we got to sit down and eat.

Miss Y joined me this time around and we got right down to it with their entry into the challenge being the Burger Noir all neatly contained in a custom box.  It featured a striking black brioche bun with 24-hour braised beef short rib, savoy cabbage coleslaw, horseradish aioli and shoestring potato.  Having the benefit of a solid piece of beef, the burger ate more meaty (as in chewier in a good way).  The short rib was super tender though, but not mushy.  It exhibited depth-of-flavour while the crunchy coleslaw added texture and creaminess.  The same could be said about the crispy shoestring potato as the crunch was of a different type, but very welcomed.  All of this was well-contained by the soft bun that barely held everything in.

We also tried the Smoked Brisket Rueben featuring Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, smoked Russian dressing and grilled kale on rye.  This wasn't much to look at, but ate very well.  The rye was robust, yet not dense and lightly crunchy.  Inside, the smoked brisket was flavourful and super succulent.  The sauerkraut provided enough tang and crunchiness where I thought the kale was pickled.  The nicely melted Swiss cheese helped bind everything together while there was just enough dressing that things stayed moist but not mushy.

Our last item was the DC Poke Salad sporting blackened Albacore tuna, organic greens, avocado, tomato, marinated artichokes, roasted corn, pea shoots, edamame, boiled egg and sesame miso dressing.  So by virtue of being a salad, this ate very light and was refreshing.  The dressing was nicely tangy and bright while the ingredients were fresh and on point.  For instance, the boiled egg was perfect, being fully cooked through without any off-putting dark rings.  We wished the tuna served rare though.  Overall, we thought the food was pretty solid and definitely freshly made, just like their name implies.

*All food was complimentary*

The Good:
- Solid eats
- Decently-priced
- Fresh

The Bad:
- Purely takeout, so not really any seating

Draw Winner!

Just a quick note that Julia L has been randomly chosen as the winner of the 9th Anniversary Draw!  Julia, please email me directly at admin@shermansfoodadventures and congrats!