skip to main |
skip to sidebar
My first ever experience with Jamjar was with their original location on Commercial Drive during a Brunch Crawl event. I vaguely remember that we had hummus and some other small things. Suffice to say, this did not fully represent what Jamjar has to offer. I never made it back despite my curiosity since Lebanese/Middle Eastern fare isn't exactly in abundance in Vancouver. Well, it wasn't until Nora suggested we all meet up for dinner one night at their new shop located at the old Rangoli spot.
We ended up sharing a few things to start including the Hummus Trio consisting of original, lemon and red pepper. I thought all of them were pretty good except the original could've used more acidity. It was a bit strange as the other 2 had much more tang and hence had more pop. We also could've used more pita bread since the amount of hummus was generous. Naturally, we also had to get some of their fabulous Falafels and they did not disappoint. We got 4 large perfectly fried balls that were firmly crunchy on the outside. Inside, they were not fluffy per se, but neither were they dense. They were nicely spiced where they ate well even without the yogurt dip.
Of course we also had to get the Makali (aka deep fried cauliflower) tossed in pomegranate molasses dressing. This was a rather large serving that featured a mixture of large and small florets of smoky cauliflower. I enjoyed the firm, yet cooked through texture, but it could've been more crispy on the edges. I loved the sweet and tanginess of dressing. Next, we tried the Riyah (lamb popsicles rubbed with cinnamon, turmeric and Greek yogurt) which was a little pricey at $17.00. It was good though featuring a smoky and crispy char. The meat was cooked a bit more than I would've liked, so it wasn't as succulent as it could've been.
To get a good sense of the menu, we decided to order "A Taste of Lebanon" shared meal. It started with Olives, Makdous, Feta, Hummus, Muttabel, Mohamara, Spinach Dip, Mujadra, Eggplant Stew, Cauliflower, Falafel and Batata Harra. Now if this looks strangely like the dishes we'd already ordered, you are partly right. We kinda goofed here, but the server didn't really tip us off either. No matter, one of my favourites was the muttabel (roasted eggplant dip with tahini, lemon and garlic) as it was smooth, tart and aromatic. I also liked the creamy sesame spinach dip since it had some texture even though it was pretty creamy. The second plate was more of the same, so not much to comment on that.
The main event (in my opinion) of A Taste of Lebanon was the plate consisting of Shish Tawouk, Makanik, Beef Kibbeh and Prawns. I thought the beef kibbeh was the best of the bunch sporting a smoky sear and being well-seasoned with sweetness from the onions. The shish tawouk (chicken) was also seared nicely, but dry and lacking impact. It could've used more lemon juice. I didn't enjoy the prawns as they were rubbery and overdone. Lean and meaty, the makanik (sausages) were nicely spiced with layers of flavour. For dessert, we got the Chocolate Rice Pudding featuring coconut milk and aborio rice. This vegan, gluten-free dessert was actually pretty good where it was creamy while thick and rich. It wasn't overly sweet (even with the rose water) which was fine in my opinion. Overall, our visit to the new location of Jamjar was decent and reasonably-priced (except for the lamb). With that being said, some more refinement is still needed, especially with their proteins.
The Good:
- Something different, especially for the neighbourhood
- Generally okay pricing considering the area, but some are strangely overpriced
The Bad:
- Some proteins were overdone
I've said it before and I'll keep saying it: Burnaby North and the Brentwood area is sorely lacking good choices for Chinese food. It is amazing we don't have some form of HK-Style cafe around. Well, things are slowly changing and we now find the first hand-pulled noodle/made-to-order xiao long bao restaurant in the area. Replacing the lackluster Miki Japanese, we now find Grand Chinese Restaurant that attempts to bring authentic Northern Chinese food to Brentwood. Therefore, we took the whole family plus grandparents for a taste.
We ended up getting the obligatory Beef Pancake Roll that happened to be the deep-fried version. Normally, I'm not overly enthused with this type since it can be rather greasy and more-often-than-not, be chewy rather than crispy. This one was actually not bad with a crunchy shell giving way to a soft chewier centre. Inside, the sliced beef shank was a little tough, but still okay. There was a good amount of green onion and hoisin as well. Also on the table was the Spicy Wontons. They were mildly spicy yet one-note in flavour. I would've liked to see more than just chili oil in the mix. There was something else at the bottom of the bowl, but there was so little of it, there was no impact. As for the wontons themselves, they were tender with a bouncy pork filling.
To get a sense of their hand-pulled (and cut) noodles, we got 3 different types starting with the Minced Beef Sauce Noodles. I have to say this had to be one of the largest servings of this dish ever. The large bowl was filled nearly to the top with noodles and sauce. We didn't end up finishing it. Although the hand-pulled noodles were good, they totally overcooked it where they were too soft. It was really too bad since the ample amount of sauce was good being rich and meaty without sorely relying on sodium. For the kiddies, we got them the Beef Noodle Soup which also featured overdone noodles. The sliced shank was the same as the beef roll being on the chewier side. As for the soup, it was mild and not overly salty.
We also got the Stir-Fried Hand Cut Noodles with Seafood. Yet another enormous portion, the noodles were also sadly overdone. They didn't have the classic chewiness we expected from hand-cut thick noodles. Despite this, the dish did taste good with plenty of seasoning from the wok-fry. There was a decent amount of well-prepared seafood as well. Saving the best for last, we had the made-to-order Xiao Long Bao. These were packed with sweet soup. It could've had a touch more xiaoshing wine, but whatever the case, the soup was still good. We found the meat a touch gritty while the dumpling skin was elastic and fairly thin.
On another visit for dinner, we ordered the Szechuan Beef Noodle. We asked for it to be less spicy so the kiddies could eat it. This time around, the hand-pulled noodles were on point being slippery and chewy with a slight rebound. I found the soup to be very mild, yet that is what we requested. The large chunks of beef were meaty and fairly tender. I thought the Mouth-Watering Chicken to be fairly disappointing as it wasn't very flavourful. I could detect some spice (despite the visuals) and vinegariness, but everything seemed muted. More spice, salt and even sugar was needed in this case. The chicken itself was neither dry nor succulent.
One of the better items was the Twice-Cooked Pork Belly with Garlic Stems. Interestingly, there was more of everything else then garlic stems. The pieces I could pick out were appealingly bright and crunchy. As for the pork, it was sliced thin and the beneficiary of a great wok fry. I wouldn't say the pork was tender, yet it was appealingly meaty with just the right amount fat. Unlike the previous dish, there was plenty of seasoning that was a good combination of spice and savouriness. The Spicy Fish was impressive in size, especially for only $16.95. Loaded with tender basa filets, they were blessed with plenty of spice and seasoning. It wasn't burning hot, but it definitely had a kick. Overall, the food at Grand Chinese Restaurant is fine for the area due to lack of choice. Portions are large and prices are reasonable. However, moving forward, they need to further refine their dishes for the long term.
The Good:
- Large portions
- Decent XLBs
- Freshly made dumplings and noodles
The Bad:
- A touch inconsistent as the noodles were too soft the first time
- Food is decent for the area, but compared to others in the GVRD, it needs refinement
As mentioned in many of my recent Coquitlam posts, I've remarked that the food scene has really taken off, much like the many developments in and around Coquitlam Centre. For a place that once sported mainly chain restaurants, we now see a wide range of eats including many new Korean restaurants. In fact, we could've had more if Henderson Centre was not an empty mall. So it was by no surprise that we finally got a Tasting Plates event taking place in the heart of Coquitlam. I was invited to attend the event mostly because I live nearby, but personally it was interesting as I spent 8 years of my life living in Coquitlam!
We started off things at the registration point which happened to be the new location of Papparoti on Pinetree and Glen. I've been to the Vancouver spot a few times and this was very familiar to me. We were treated to a sampling of one half each of a Signature Original Bun coated with coffee caramel and a Coconut Rollie filled with fresh young coconut. As expected, the bun was light an airy while being flavoured by the mildly sweet topping. On the other hand, the rollie was much sweeter due to the coconut filling. Outside, the croissant pastry was crispy and shattered upon my first bite. I ended up selecting the Signature Karak Tea to go with my treats and it was lightly sweet. Viv went for the Ice Blended Signature Chocolate which was significantly sweeter.
From my previous visit to Kulinarya, I knew that we had to high-tail it there second. You see, their dining room is really small and even smaller if there is a reservation for the long table. This was the case and we were able to snag a table for 2 as we were there early. We were served a selection of items including Lumping Shanghai, BBQ Pork Skewer and Pancit Bihon. Hot and crunchy, the lumpia was filled with a well-spiced ground pork filling. The bbq pork was nicely charred and sweet, but unfortunately, it was rather cold. The best thing on the plate was the pancit which was neatly packaged in a mini-takeout container. Chewy and well-seasoned, the noodles were moist enough, but not greasy. There was a decent amount of meat and cabbage to balance out the dish.
Onto our 3rd stop, that happened to be the 2nd stop for most people, was the Seoul Food Truck stall in the Henderson Mall food court. This was a bottleneck since they prepare all of the food to order. It ended up taking quite awhile for our food, but it was well-worth it. We were treated to a generous serving of a K-Town Sandwich filled with Korean fried chicken nuggets. Viv opted for the red pepper sauce while I had garlic. Crispy and succulent, the chicken was beautifully cooked. Flavour-wise, I thought the garlic was super impactful with a sharp and sweet garlic hit. The red pepper was sweet and moderately spicy. We both also had a side of Rice Cakes which were in red pepper and cheese. These were some of the best rice cakes I've had in awhile. Texturally, they were crispy on the outside while being soft and chewy on the inside. There was an appealing sweet crunch as well.
After being stuck at behind a train crossing for 15 minutes, we finally made it out to Politos Latin Cafe. We were presented with 3 items including the mini-Pupusas made with a corn tortilla. I've had this before and this was the right thickness in my opinion. Unlike the ones I've had at other spots, this was not oil-soaked. Underneath, there was a cabbage slaw and a savory tomato sauce. Wrapped in a banana leaf, we had the Vigorón consisting of a cabbage salad made with curtido, yuca, and chicharrones. Love the combination of textures. Lastly, the Patacones “Tostones” were made with deep Fried plantain topped with assorted vegetables and seasoned meat. Nicely crunchy, this was also not greasy while sporting a meaty savouriness.
We left the bevvies to the end with our visit at Mariner Brewing. I didn't even know this place existed! This cozy spot on Barnet Hwy (even though the actual address is Lansdowne Drive) offers up a selection of bites to go with their beers on tap. My flight consisted of North East IPA (hoppy with a crisp bite), Main Sail Pale Ale (rich and nutty), Berry Cider (lightly sweet) and Night Sky (thick and sweet with hints of chocolate and coffee). Loved them all, especially the dark night sky due to the noted flavours. More complex than it appeared. This was a relaxing finish to a nice overview of unique eats out in Coquitlam. Personally, I enjoyed all of the stops (2 of which I've been to) and it is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg of the diverse dining in Coquitlam.
*All food and beverages were complimentary*
The Good:
- Variety of restaurants
- Sufficient amount of food (esp from the Seoul Truck)
- Distance between stops was reasonable
The Bad:
- Wait at Seoul Truck was excessive
- Limited tables at Kulinarya
Once again, there is another restaurant that people question me: "you haven't been there yet???"... Yes, I haven't been to Bánh Mì Très Bon and really, it was on a long list of places that I should try. But as I've said over and over again, there is only that much time and so many places to eat at! Actually I almost kinda forgot about the place. However, when Nora suggested we meet up there with Lesley and Joyce, I figured it was as good as any other time to make it out to Richmond... in rush hour... Sigh...
Since we had to order food at the counter, we didn't get our dishes organized properly. Hence, we ended up double-ordering the Tapioca Dumpings filled with pork and shrimp. It wasn't a bad thing though as they were on point. The delicate yet chewy exterior of the dumpling was just the right thickness. Inside, the filling was a nice balance between tender ground pork and whole shrimp that still exhibited a snap. We also got an order of their Garlic Chicken Wings that were beautifully fried. They were lightly crisp on the outside with rendered skin while the meat was succulent and juicy. There was enough seasoning for impact including a balanced garlickiness.
Onto their Pho Tai Bo Vien, the broth was clean and flavourful. I actually found the broth rather interesting because it wasn't rich per se, but it was aromatic with a deep sweetness accented by the background licorice-flavour of the star anise. There was also a certain meatiness that was fairly evident. If there was ever an example of proper texture, the rice noodles here were perfect. They were chewy but not hard and not clumpy at all. In addition to the meatballs, the sliced beef was light and tender. We also had the Pho Ga which was surprisingly impactful. There was this natural chicken flavour that was sweet with only a modest amount of salt. Once again, the noodles were perfectly al dente. In addition to tender slices of chicken, the chicken meatballs were fluffy and really tasty.
Of course we had to order the Banh Mi Trio consisting of meatball, cold cut and chicken. I found their bread to be a bit different than many of the other ones in the GVRD. Rather than being crusty with bits shattering all-over-the-place, the bread was firmer and slightly chewier. However, it worked since it wasn't too dense. I found the pate to be generously applied, but it was a touch bland. The meats were on point, especially the meatball since it was moist and nicely spiced. Our last savoury dish was the Vietnamese Beef Stew served with a baguette. This was chock full of tender carrots and even more tender beef. The stewing liquid had a reduced viscosity which meant it wasn't watery. Flavours were full-bodied with the star anise coming through. There was also a nice spice level.
For dessert, we were presented with some complimentary Macarons consisting of raspberry, blueberry, mango and earl grey. These were no charge since they had lost our original order which meant our food too a bit longer to arrive. Nice touch on their part to make it up to us! The macarons were quite good with a crispy exterior giving way to a tender chew. They were just sweet enough and really did taste like their descriptions. Overall, I thought the food at Bánh Mì Très Bon was solid and reasonably-priced given the care put into the food. Nice people too.
The Good:
- Carefully prepared food
- In general, the food tasted great
- Nice people
The Bad:
- When it is busy, tables are hard to come by
- Since it is counter service, this further compounds the problem when it is busy
When Myst first opened, I had missed the ChineseBites tasting event due to a hockey tournament (yes some things take precedence over eating!). Turns out it was a blessing in disguise as they had a few kinks to iron out. I ended up visiting the place on my own several times with varying degrees of satisfaction. In all, I've been to the place over a dozen times mostly due to the fact it is open late, which is great for us after hockey. I can confidently say that the food has been consistent in the past half year and even my past disappointments with the drinks have subsided. So I had no hesitation to attend the latest ChineseBites tasting that combined some new menu items with some classics as well.
Things arrived fast and furious staring with their House Special Stir-Fried Sliced Noodle with Beef. This is similar to the one made with flat rice noodle, except they used the same noodles found in TBN (Taiwanese Beef Noodle). I've had this a few times in the past and this was nicely caramelized with good wok heat like before. It was full-flavoured and sported chewy noodles with lots of tender sliced beef. Onto the Dan Dan Noodles, I've also had this before and it was spicier than it appeared. This version was more peanutty and slightly sweeter. Loved the pickled mustard greens as it added a tangy pop. I would've preferred thinner noodles, but ultimately, these were chewy and stood up to the thick sauce.
We ended up ordering the usual Myst Assorted Fried Basket (Option B) with chicken nuggets, squid tentacles, black rice cake, green string beans and shrimp chips underneath. Again, I've also had this in the past and this was solid as expected. The well-seasoned salty peppery chicken was crispy while juicy inside. Crunchy with a touch of five spice, the tentacles were appealingly chewy. Not sure about the black rice cakes though as they were rather dense and chewy. In with the new, we tried the Myst Deluxe Feast Platter sporting tiger prawns, pineapple and mini bacon-wrapped sausage, deep fried prawns and yam fries atop shrimp chips. I really enjoyed the yam fries as they were crunchy. The shrimp skewers with king mushroom were solid, but I found the fried prawns a bit doughy.
One of more popular dishes that I've never tried before was the Golden Sands Prawns with Salted Egg Yolk. The prawns were cooked just right where the meat retained a snap. Outside, the salted egg yolk coating was aromatic, nutty and only mildly salty. As much as the prawns were fried so that the shell was edible, it could've been a bit more so as some parts were hard to chew. Other than that, I can see why people love this dish. One of my favourite items of the meal was the Myst Deluxe Egg Fried Rice. This featured chewy and nutty rice that was subjected to enough wok heat. It was well-seasoned without being salty. The cured sausage added a certain depth and meatiness. Adding to the flavours and textures was the runny egg yolk and pork fluff on top.
Onto something rather impactful was the Assorted Seafood Spicy Hot Pot that was overflowing (literally as it spilled onto the table) with broth, fish, squid, imitation crab, fish tofu and napa cabbage. The seafood remain relatively on point texturally despite the constant boil from the hot pot. However, the most obvious feature of this dish was the spice level. They did not whimp out with the chili peppers and Szechuan peppercorns. There was a lingering heat even after the last bite. Compare to this, the Steamed Sliced Fish with Diced Red Peppers was relatively mild. With that being said, it wasn't as if the dish was bland. It was far from it where there was a tasty level of heat accented by a touch of sweetness and tang. The sliced fish (basa) was cooked just enough where it was still soft and flaky.
Another classic item was the Three Spice Chicken with Basil. This quintessential dish is something that a Taiwanese restaurant must nail. I felt that this was a solid version that sported medium-sized pieces of bone-in chicken. With rendered skin, the meat was tender and generally succulent. Unlike many versions, this was surprisingly not overly greasy. I found there was a nice balance between sweet and savoury while the aromatics from the sesame oil and basil were in the background. I would've liked to see a bit more tang though. One of my favourite things to order here is the Marinated Combo with beef tripe, pork intestine and beef tendon. Chewy, while still tender, the beef tripe was also not too gamy and flavourful from the braising liquid. The tendon was gelatinous and tender, yet not too soft. This time around, the intestine was more gamy, but that is partly the appeal.
Another new offering was the Preserved Cabbage, Bamboo Shoots and Edamame with Sliced Fish. If this dish looks simple and mild-tasting, then you are right. I found that there was only the slightest tang from the preserved cabbage to go with a bit of saltiness. Otherwise, the edamame (as expected) didn't add much other than texture. The bamboo shoots were rinsed so well, there was no funkiness at all. Underneath, the sliced fish was tender and buttery. Living up to its namesake, the Chinese-Style Heavy Smoking Duck was really, really smoky. So much so, I can see how some might be overwhelmed. Personally, I like smoky food, so it didn't bother me much. I found the dark meat more tender than the breast meat. The skin was mostly rendered being a little bit dry.
Ending off on a dramatic note, we had the Mango Shaved Ice complete with flavoured ice and mango ice cream. To create the theatrics, there was activated dry ice underneath. Now it looked cool, but was it any good? In fact yes, it was fairly smooth and not overly sweet. Plenty of mango (even though not in season) and a big scoop of creamy mango ice cream on top. Once again, the meal was pretty solid considering the amount of dishes ordered. From my past experiences, food is generally good with only a few hiccups along the way. I liked how their drinks are more consistent now as they were not before. Personally, I just like that they are open until 2:00am as I am always in need of late night eats.
*All food and beverages were complimentary*
The Good:
- Diverse menu
- Open late
- Majority of the items are solid
The Bad:
- As with any large menu, some items will be better than others
- Avoid peak times as the wait can be long
Sometimes it is easy to lampoon the lack of good eats in the 'burbs. After all, many chain restaurants set up shop in the boonies in hopes of targeting a specific audience and/or for market research. I'm pretty well-versed in suburban dining as I lived out in the Tri-Cities area for nearly 7 years. However, as mentioned in my post on Oz Korean Cuisine, the restaurant scene has really improved in the past 10 years. One of the newer spots to set up shop is The Big Flat Pancake in the old Wilbur & Sebastian's location. As much as there have been more choice out in the Tri-Cities area, the breakfast scene has been rather lacking except for the aforementioned chain restaurants. We headed out there to check it out.
We ended up sharing 4 dishes amongst us including the 3 Cheese Omelet with multigrain toast, fresh fruit and house fire-roasted salsa. This was a modest-sized omelet that was neatly folded and filled with just enough melted gouda, cheddar and jack cheeses. I thought the egg was still fluffy and not overdone. It was really thin, which made it rather light to eat. The fire-roasted salsa was bright with only the slightest amount of spice to go with the tang. We also decided on the Farmhouse Waffle topped with thick-cut country ham and 2 sunny-side eggs. Frankly, there wasn't anything special about the waffle, but it was still good. I found it a touch dense while not crispy enough on the outside. We asked for sunny-side eggs and they were perfectly prepared with cooked-through whites while retaining a completely runny yolk. On the side, the side of tatar tots were on point being extra crispy. It came with a side of pesto that tasted eerily like the one found at Costco.
Onto their signature items, we had the Hipster Hash Pancake featuring a thin-Pannekoek like crepe pancake topped with a dish of hash. It consisted of hashbrowns, country ham, back bacon, turkey bacon, peppers, onions, corn and tomato topped with a sunny-side egg (extra +$1.50) Hollandaise and avocado. For a hash, it lacked carmelization and searing. Therefore, the flavours were not developed and visually, it looked more like it was tossed together. Once again, the egg was perfect while the Hollandaise was creamy and well-balanced. As for the pancake, it was similar to de Dutch but a touch thicker and spongier. We ended things off with the Four Berry Cheesecake Pancake with cream cheese whip, graham crumble and a compote of blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries. This was my favourite as the flavour was exactly as described. Overall, I felt that the BFPC has loads of potential, especially for its location. Prices are fair when compared to de Dutch and ingredients were fresh. Just a bit more consistency would put it over the top.
The Good:
- Something interesting for breaky in the Tri-Cities area
- Nice people
- Things were fresh
The Bad:
- Execution could've been more consistent
Posts
My first ever experience with Jamjar was with their original location on Commercial Drive during a Brunch Crawl event. I vaguely remember that we had hummus and some other small things. Suffice to say, this did not fully represent what Jamjar has to offer. I never made it back despite my curiosity since Lebanese/Middle Eastern fare isn't exactly in abundance in Vancouver. Well, it wasn't until Nora suggested we all meet up for dinner one night at their new shop located at the old Rangoli spot. 
We ended up sharing a few things to start including the Hummus Trio consisting of original, lemon and red pepper. I thought all of them were pretty good except the original could've used more acidity. It was a bit strange as the other 2 had much more tang and hence had more pop. We also could've used more pita bread since the amount of hummus was generous. Naturally, we also had to get some of their fabulous Falafels and they did not disappoint. We got 4 large perfectly fried balls that were firmly crunchy on the outside. Inside, they were not fluffy per se, but neither were they dense. They were nicely spiced where they ate well even without the yogurt dip.
Of course we also had to get the Makali (aka deep fried cauliflower) tossed in pomegranate molasses dressing. This was a rather large serving that featured a mixture of large and small florets of smoky cauliflower. I enjoyed the firm, yet cooked through texture, but it could've been more crispy on the edges. I loved the sweet and tanginess of dressing. Next, we tried the Riyah (lamb popsicles rubbed with cinnamon, turmeric and Greek yogurt) which was a little pricey at $17.00. It was good though featuring a smoky and crispy char. The meat was cooked a bit more than I would've liked, so it wasn't as succulent as it could've been.
To get a good sense of the menu, we decided to order "A Taste of Lebanon" shared meal. It started with Olives, Makdous, Feta, Hummus, Muttabel, Mohamara, Spinach Dip, Mujadra, Eggplant Stew, Cauliflower, Falafel and Batata Harra. Now if this looks strangely like the dishes we'd already ordered, you are partly right. We kinda goofed here, but the server didn't really tip us off either. No matter, one of my favourites was the muttabel (roasted eggplant dip with tahini, lemon and garlic) as it was smooth, tart and aromatic. I also liked the creamy sesame spinach dip since it had some texture even though it was pretty creamy. The second plate was more of the same, so not much to comment on that.
The main event (in my opinion) of A Taste of Lebanon was the plate consisting of Shish Tawouk, Makanik, Beef Kibbeh and Prawns. I thought the beef kibbeh was the best of the bunch sporting a smoky sear and being well-seasoned with sweetness from the onions. The shish tawouk (chicken) was also seared nicely, but dry and lacking impact. It could've used more lemon juice. I didn't enjoy the prawns as they were rubbery and overdone. Lean and meaty, the makanik (sausages) were nicely spiced with layers of flavour. For dessert, we got the Chocolate Rice Pudding featuring coconut milk and aborio rice. This vegan, gluten-free dessert was actually pretty good where it was creamy while thick and rich. It wasn't overly sweet (even with the rose water) which was fine in my opinion. Overall, our visit to the new location of Jamjar was decent and reasonably-priced (except for the lamb). With that being said, some more refinement is still needed, especially with their proteins.
