Cascade Room

I haven't been back to The Cascade Room in quite some time.  So long in fact, that they have taken their fantastic polenta fries off the menu!  Yes, I was very sad, but change is good sometimes and we did try to focus on the items that would make it to their new menu (which is due to be out real soon).  But the place is also known for their bevvies too and we weren't going to not sample some of those too!  Yah, it was a little early to drink, but it is late night somewhere in the world right???

So we got a few drinks to sample including the Gimme That Sweet, Sweet Heat, Smoke & Lace and That's Amaro!  These couldn't have been anymore different, but great for us since there was clear delineation between them.  The GTSSH was sweet and fruity with some bite while the S&L was rich, dark and smoky.  The featured cocktail, That's Amaro!, was actually light and somewhat fruity despite bitterness from the amaro.  Nicely balanced drink.

Onto the eats, we started with the Seared Scallops and Prawns with Italian couscous, sauce vierge and chive beurre blanc.  This was a nice way to begin the meal as the scallops were buttery and a bit rare in the middle.  Perfectly prepared and naturally sweet.  The prawns were also cooked properly exhibiting a meaty snap while being super sweet and mildly seasoned.  Couscous had a nice texture while the crunch of the veggies provided nice contrast.  It could've used a bit more salt though.

We also got the 1/2 Pound Mussels in a cherry wheat beer broth sporting cherry chorizo.  Absolutely loved this combo as the fruitiness of the cherry helped temper the spice from the chorizo as well as somehow accentuating the meatiness.  The broth was light, aromatic and somewhat spicy.  The mussels were all open and featured a buttery texture.  Naturally, there was the usual brininess that was welcomed.

I'm so glad we ordered the Free-Range Chicken Wings because they were not only fantastic, they were some of the largest wings I've ever seen.   Not only were they large, the preparation was on point.  Each piece was crunchy on the outside while the meat was juicy (with literal juices running down my fingers).  We chose spiced soy glaze and it was tasty with equal parts of sweetness and saltiness.  Excellent wings, would eat again gladly!

Continuing on with the small plates, we had the Grilled Steak Skewers as well.  These were glazed with Guinness and drizzled with chimichurri aioli.  Nice intermittent charring on the beef which gave it some smokiness.  I could really taste the Guinness as well as the other seasoning in the brine while the aioli provided creaminess and a bit of brightness.  The beef itself was tender while still having a natural meaty texture.

Onto some bigger dishes, we had the Grilled Yellowfin Tuna Steak atop crispy potato & zucchini rosti and watercress arugula sauce with grilled asparagus and frisee salad.  As you can clearly see, the tuna only lightly kissed the grill and remained rare.  This was perfect as the fish was tender and moist while having grill marks on the outside.  The sauce was bright with some bitterness while the asparagus was barely cooked through.

Seeing there was a Fried Spicy Chicken Sandwich on the menu, I just had to get it.  Turned out to be a good choice as the fried chicken thigh was juicy and tender.  The batter was fairly light, but still crunchy.  I thought the spice was somewhere between mild and medium.  This would appeal to a wide range of tastes.  The whole thing was completed with butter lettuce, pickle and jalapeno ranch.  Bun was not too heavy, but could've been toasted just a touch more.

This came with a side of Poutine (upgraded from regular fries).  Portion size was pretty good for a side and it consisted of house-cut fries which were perfect for use in a poutine.  Crispy but plenty of potato texture ready for the gravy.  About that gravy, it was plenty flavourful bordering on salty, but not salty since it helped flavour the fries and legit cheese curds.  A pretty solid version of poutine with quality ingredients. 

Lastly, we had the Cascade Grass-Fed Beef Burger with all of the add-ons including sauteed mushrooms, bacon and smoked cheddar.  Yes, it also had butter lettuce, tomato and red onion as well as roasted red pepper and mustard relish.  Hence, it was pretty substantial and ate really well.  The patty was lean and sported a crispy exterior, but was still ultimately moist inside.  Overall, this visit to the Cascade Room was solid like it has always been.  Drinks are the draw here, but the accompanying food is equally solid and reasonably-priced.

*This post features complimentary food and drinks

The Good:

- Cocktail program is solid

- Equally solid eats

- Reasonably-priced

The Bad:

- Oh no!  No more polenta fries!

- Would maybe go with a toasted brioche bun isntead?

Kang's Kitchen

Awhile back, I had visited Nadri tucked away in a deserted food court beside Hannam Market on the Burnaby side of North Road.  I was completely shocked at the excellent homemade comfort food they served.  Now they have expanded by opening up Kang's Kitchen on the Coquitlam side of North Road right beside H-Mart.  There is a theme here...  Anyways, we were invited to try the place out on a busy Sunday.

So the first dish to arrive was their Clam Kalguksoo.  This arrived steaming hot (as pictured) with a bevy of hand-pulled noodles.  These noodles were al dente with good elasticity.  The broth was mild, yet still flavourful with a hint of brininess from the clams.  I could've used more clam flavour, but then they would've needed to add more of clams and it would no longer be $13.99!  About those clams, they were buttery and cooked perfectly.

For good measure, we also got the Beef Rib Kalguksoo that curiously came with only one rib despite the picture showing two.  Maybe an error?  Whatever the case, it was just as good as the clam version with the same chewy hand-pulled noodles.  The broth was quite similar to the previous dish but maybe, just maybe a bit more meatiness.  The beef rib was delicious though being tender and fatty.

Next, we had 2 hotplates including the Spicy Squid & Pork Belly.  This was a pretty large portion with lots of ingredients.  The sliced pork belly was fried up so that it was firm, but still tender.  I particularly liked the squid, especially the tentacles.  They had an appealing chewiness that gave way to an ultimately tender texture.  Lots of flavour here, but only a bit of spice.  Balanced sweetness too.

The next skillet was the Cheese Bul-Dak featuring onions, chicken and cheese.  This was plenty hearty and zesty.  The ample amount of chicken was succulent while the spice and sweetness of the sauce helped provide impact.  Let's not forget the rice cakes nestled within.  They were soft with a nice chew.  They also soaked up some of the flavours of the sauce.  Finally, we couldn't forget about the stringy cheese on top.

We decided to go classic with the next dish in the Seafood Pancake.  This is quite the staple in many Korean restaurants, but the difference here was both the execution and amount of seafood.  As you can see, the pancake was the beneficiary of a hard sear hence being crunchy and nutty on the outside.  Inside, it was fluffy and loaded with seafood and only a balanced amount of green onion.

Continuing on with defaultish dishes, we had the Dolset Bibimbap.  As you can see, they did not skimp on the ingredients that included carrot, shiitake, sprouts, spinach, daikon, beef, egg yolk and nori.  When mixed together, I swear there was more ingredients than rice.  The rice itself was just wet enough so it could crisp up on the sides of the hot stone bowl (remember to smush it against the sides!).

Lastly and possibly my favourite dish of the meal, we had the Chicken Tangsooyuk.  These massive pieces of deep-fried chicken thighs were super juicy.  Moreover, the starch coating on the outside was super crispy and light.  Unlike some other versions, it wasn't overly greasy.  The side of sweet & sour was the right viscosity (to coat each piece) and balanced.  In the end, we all agreed that the food at Kang's was top-notch served in large portions at reasonable prices.  We especially enjoyed the hand-pulled noodles.

*This post features complimentary dishes

The Good:

- Excellent hand-pulled noodles

- Large portions

- Delicious

The Bad:

- That parking lot...

- Table legs are very close to the seats

Yam It

It has been awhile since I've been out to Langley, especially the area along Fraser Hwy that sports a plethora of shopping and restaurants.  Interestingly, I'm back out there to visit a place I've been to before, but has since changed concepts.  Gone is Mr. Chicken and their excellent KFC, replaced by a Korean snack shop called Yam It.  If you are wondering why the strange name, they serve some pretty tasty fried yams.

So this wouldn't be a Korean snack shop without rice cakes right?  So we had the Sokkochi featuring European cocktail wiener and freshly-made rice cake skewer.  This was prepared properly where the rice cakes had a chewy texture, yet gave way to softer insides.  Totally loved the European cocktail wiener as it had a firm snap casing on the outside.  Once past that, the unmistakable taste of European wiener was welcomed.  The spicy and sweet glaze on the outside added the necessary and usual flavours.

Another delicious snack was the Curry Buns stuffed with beef, glass noodles,  and pepper while topped with curry and green onions.  These were fluffy and airy while coated with a crispy panko.  Although deep-fried, these were not greasy and the bun itself did not soak up much grease.  I found the beef filling to be well-portioned and moist.  The curry sauce on the outside was balanced with sweetness and a touch of spice.

Next, we had the Yam Set featuring Yam It (fried sweet potatoes, honey, vanilla ice cream, walnuts and almonds), Gamjaya (Korean-style potatoes), Sokkochi and Korean Trio Corn Dog.  Oh there was a lot going on here, but the fried yams really stood out.  They were crispy and sweet.  Very addictive.  Their version of Korean-potatoes were deep-fried and appealingly crispy.  Featuring the same European cocktail wiener, the corn dogs were flavourful with a fluffy interior and crunchy exterior.

Next, we had some compact versions of Bibimbap including a vegetarian version with kimchi.  As you can see from our spoonfuls, there was no shortage of ingredients.  This made for a hearty bowl, despite being small.  The rice was appealingly chewy and not too wet, which meant it didn't get soggy with all the ingredients.  My only wish here was that the fried egg was cooked a bit less, so I would have some runny yolk.

Lastly, we had the fantastic Cornscream.  Yes, this concoction combined ice cream with corn and citron jam atop a large fried pastry.  OMG, this was awesome!  The pops of sweetness from the corn complimented the neutral-tasting ice cream.  Add in the jam and there was plenty of sweetness to go around.  Very addictive.  In general, the snacks at Yam It were tasty and reasonably-priced.  Especially enjoyed their signature Yam it and Cornscream.

*This post features complimentary items

The Good:

- Interesting eats

- Reasonably-priced

- That Yam It and Cornscream!

The Bad:

- Would like to see more items added to the menu in the future

- Egg in bibimbap could've been runnier

Paratha 2 Pasta

With a name like Paratha 2 Pasta, you'd expect there to be noodles right?  Maybe Indian-style perhaps?  Well I've heard from friends that they do indeed have pasta and it was pretty good.  I checked the online Doordash menu and yes it is there order.  However, Jacqueline and I didn't have any pasta.  Rather we went straight into the Indian dishes and didn't look back.  Loved the cute robots delivering our food.  Such a gimmick, but hey, we don't mind it!

Before we got to the food, we had a variety of drinks including the Punjab Da Famous Mango Shake, Strawberry Daiquiri, Mojito and Candylicious.  Really enjoyed the mango shake as it was thick, but drinkable.  Lots of flavour and the added fruit was oddly appealing with texture.  The daiquiri was a bit icy, but tasted good and not too boozy.  Mojito was also tasty and refreshing.  Finally, the Candylicious came with a bubble on top and was a nice novelty.

Onto the eats, we tried both the Noodle Burger and the Spicy Chicken Burger.  Both came with starch-covered fries.  I found them to be quite good with the carb-on-carb noodle burger surprisingly tasty.  The al dente noodles were nicely seasoned and came with a potato patty, onion, tomato and spiced mayo.  I found the chicken burger to be rather spicy and impactful.  The chicken itself was tender and juicy.  Loved the combination of tangy and heat.

Arriving on a sizzling cast iron plate, we had the Tandoori Chicken consisting of 3 drumsticks and 3 thighs.  This was probably one of the juiciest versions of this dish I've ever had.  Even though the chicken was charred on the outside, the meat on was super tender and moist.  Moreover, the yogurt marinade penetrated the meat and it was nicely spiced.  Really enjoyed the mayo dip that came with the dish.

I've had Indian-style nachos at other places along Scott Road, but the Butter Chicken Nachos here was possibly one of the best versions.  Loaded with melted cheese, each chip was totally covered. Hence, there was no shortage of textures and flavours.  That included the creamy butter chicken sauce that had good spice and tang.  The big chunks of chicken breast were still moist and tender.

Continuing with the appies, we had the Chicken Deep Fried Momos. Firmly crunchy on the outside, the filling of the momo was tender.  There was a good amount of chicken and veggies inside that were moist and juicy.  There was enough seasoning that the filling had a good balance of sweet and savoury.  I particularly enjoyed that the dumplings were not greasy despite being deep fried.  The chili sauce on the side added the necessary spice.

Another fantastic deep-fried dish was the Kurkure Chicken Roll.  This looked heavy at first, but ultimately the fried roll was actually rather light.  The crispy exterior was thin and easily eated while the rest of the layers were soft and fluffy.  Inside, the chicken was tender and completely coated in melted cheese and peppers.  So messy, crunchy and tasty.  This roll was one of my favourite items for the meal.

Looking like a pizza pocket or an Italian Trapizzino, the Szechuan Chicken Pocket Kulcha featured a good amount of tangy, sweet and spicy sauce.  Hidden within, there was tender pieces of chicken much like the chicken roll.  Those bread pockets were super soft and light.  Biting into them, it was almost as if there was nothing there.  That made the pockets much lighter than they appeared.

Of course we couldn't dine at Paratha 2 Pasta without actually ordering some praratha right?  So we got the Chicken Curry that came with 2 Plain Paratha.  This looked rather unassuming, but I assure you, it was plenty delicious.  The chicken curry was rich and fatty (in a good way) with noted spice and plenty of spices.  The chicken had been cooked down enough that it soaked up all the flavours as well as being fork tender.  The paratha was chewy, yet not overly heavy especially for an unleavened bread.

We didn't stop there as we also got the Paneer Paratha stuffed with cheese and spices.  This ate very differently than the plain version.  It was much more robust in texture.  It was also fluffier inside beyond the firm exterior.  On that inside, the cheese and spices added considerable body and impact.  There was definitely a cheesiness accented by the spices.  Loved dipping it into the yogurt on the side, but the butter was also great.

Lastly, we had the Chole Halwa Puri Plate featuring deep fried wheat bread accompanied by chickpea curry.  This fry bread was crispy while fluffy in the middle.  Being fry bread, it was on the greasier side though.  The chickpea curry was flavourful and sweet from the onions while earthy from the spices.  Overall, we were rather impressed with the food from P2P.  Portions were large and prices were reasonable.  Didn't get to try the pasta or some of their other curries.  Would come back to have them next time!

*This post featured complimentary food and beverages

The Good:

- Delicious eats

- Large portions

- Cute robot servers

The Bad:

- Menu is probably a bit too large, totally missed the pasta while scrolling through it!

H&P Noodle House

It was a sad day when Thai's Saigon Bistro shuttered their doors due to the owner's retirement.  That place had some pretty solid eats and yes, the people there were nice too.  However, much like many other spots that have shut down, something rises up in its place.  This would be H&P Noodle House (not to be confused with HP sauce) and they not only dish up Vietnamese cuisine, they also have an equal amount of Thai food too.  So after hockey one day, Milhouse and Juju joined me on this food adventure.

For some reason or another, they wanted Thai food.  So we did 3 dishes including the Pad Thai with prawns.  This was a decent version with chewy noodles that weren't clumpy.  We found that the flavours were a bit muted though as the tanginess wasn't very strong and neither was the spice (we asked for medium).  It was mostly sweet.  The proteins were kissed with enough wok heat for caramelization and a bit of sear.  However, the noodles were a bit wet and could've been less saucy.

Another classic item was the Beef Red Curry that was served with rice.  This was rather thin in viscosity and it lacked impact.  We definitely got the essence of the coconut milk, but in terms of spice and spices, we thought it was far too mild.  Again, it was on the sweeter side due to the palm sugar.  However, the ingredients were well-prepared with tender eggplant (that was not mushy) and slices of beef that were not chewy.

Last Thai dish was the Seafood Fried Rice which was quite good.  It had sufficient wok heat to keep the rice nutty and chewy while the amount of legit seafood in this was substantial.  We found large prawns, Kiwi mussels and squid nestled in the well-seasoned rice.  In their menu, you can chose your protein for the fried rice and the seafood would be the one to get.  Also loved the addition of cashews on top. 

I also added a Pho Dac Biet for good measure and again it was serviceable.  I found the broth to be clean, yet a bit light in flavour (bordering on bland).  At the very least, it wasn't salty.  Noodles were plentiful and al dente.  Meats were good too being tender and well-portioned.  I decided to get a large and they put it in one of those soup bowls you would find in a Chinese restaurant.  Except this soup bowl would be enough for 8 people.  Yes, this was a large bowl of noodles.

On another visit, I ordered the Fried Tofu topped with furikake and served with a hoisin-type sauce on the side.  We found this dish to be fantastic with crispy tofu squares revealing a soft and delicate interior.  I found the texture to be on point and very appealing.  Even though it was topped with furikake, the tofu wasn't actually that flavourful.  However, the hoisin sauce on the side was strangely complimentary.

For my son, he his usual with a twist.  Rather than just one meat, he got the Lemongrass Chicken and Pork Chop with Fried Egg on Rice.  Once again, the dish was fine.  Nothing amazing, but did the job.  It featured nutty and chewy rice topped with a perfectly fried egg.  The chicken was tender with mild flavours.  It was slightly charred.  The pork chop was more charred and had a nice smokiness.  Could've used a bit more seasoning though.

For myself, I went for the Bún Riêu (Tomato Crab Noodles).  In a vacuum, this version was alright with lots of slippery noodles and a good amount of ingredients including pork loaf, shrimp and crab paste egg.  However, I found the flavours to be very mild and light.  The brininess usually associated with this soup was not at the forefront while the tomato tang was also mild.  Despite not really comparing well to the one found at Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen, this was still a pleasant bowl of noodles.

Viv decided on the Chicken & Shrimp Green Curry.  Much like the red curry, this was thin and much too mild.  We couldn't really pick out the green curry paste nor any type of shrimp brininess.  It tasted and looked like plain coconut milk.  Definitely water-down and it only got worse with white rice.  On the positive side, the ingredients were properly prepared.  The chicken was tender and the shrimp was not over done.  Veggies were still vibrant. 

We also ordered the Shanghai Fried Noodles and surprisingly, this was a good dish.  The noodles were chewy and nicely wok-fried while not being too greasy.  There was enough dark soy for colour and sufficient seasoning.  The chicken and shrimp were cooked right, just like in the previous dish.  They didn't skimp with the ingredients as well.  Overall, the food at H&P is serviceable and well-portioned.  However, the Thai food is not authentic and lacking in flavour and texture.  Vietnamese dishes are okay, but there is better in the neighbourhood.

The Good:
- Nice people
- Large portions
- Well-priced

The Bad:
- Thai food is not authentic and bland

Chupito

While going over the Vancouver Michelin Guide, I noticed there were a few restaurants that I have not visited yet.  One of which was Chupito, which admittedly, I had no idea existed and really where to find it.  It is actually located behind La Taqueria on Hastings in Downtown.  When I behind, I mean like outside facing the lane.  Yep, it is the strange location, interesting restaurant phenomenon again.  However, with all of the great reviews, I was going in with high expectations.

By looking at the picture of the outside, you realize that the whole thing is outside, so there is a Spanish/European vibe to it.  We were started off with complimentary Margarita Shots which were fruity and whet our appetites.  We got a few cocktails including the Coyoacan and Zipolite.  I particularly enjoyed the zipolite due to the fruitiness from the pineapple, lime and ginger.  There was a balanced amount of aged rum just to give it a something something.  With cynar, amaontillado, peach, palo santo and topo cinco, the coyoacan was strong enough without going overboard. Light peach notes kept it balanced.

Onto to the food, we started off strong with the Tostada de Atun with ahi tuna, ginger mayo, cucumber, green onion, soy sauce and fried katsoubuchi on a fried corn tostada.  Wow, this was so appealing on many different fronts.  First of all, the tostada remained crunchy despite all of the wet ingredients.  Secondly, it had a beautiful nutty corn flavour.  Furthermore, the tuna on top was supremely fresh and buttery.  Oh the flavours, they were so complimentary with the ginger coming through as well as the brightness of the green onion and the brininess of the katsoubuchi.

We had the Ceviche de Coco next featuring halibut, mango, cucumber, serrano, red onion, cherry tomato, basil oil and coconut with a side of tostadas.  I loved this dish as it was tropical and aromatic.  The creaminess of the coconut paired well with the tender halibut and also helped soothe the heat from the serranos and the acidity.  The drop of basil oil provided a layer of herbaceousness.  Of course the crunchy tostadas were a nice vessel for the ceviche.

Personally, I love corn on the cob.  I am especially enamored with Elote Asado aka Mexican Street Corn.  The well-charred corn was completely coated with sweet mayo, chili & lime and queso fresco.  Oh this was such a sinful indulgence but it was all worth it.  Each niblet burst with sweetness and was immediately flavoured with the butteriness of the mayo as well as the chili lime.  The plethora of cheese added even more creaminess.

Majestically-plated, the Torre de Mariscos sported layers of Hokkaido scallops, Blue Pacific shrimp, ahi tuna, cucumber, red onion and avocado topped with green onion, cilantro and fried katsuobushi.  For this version it sat in aguachile verde.  The freshness of the ingredients were the stars of the show here.  Scallops were sweet and buttery while the shrimp were properly prepared and had a snap.  Loved the aguachile verde as it was bright and didn't stand in way of the other ingredients.

Onto some bigger items, we had the Grilled Tomahawk Pork Chop with rosemary and yam.  We also had some warm tortillas served on the side (with diced onion and pickled cabbage).  The pork chop was beautifully seared on the outside with a flavourful crust.  The meat itself was moist and tender with the brine penetrating into the middle.  Sweet and charred, the yam was tender and delicious.

The pork chop was good, but the Pollo Asado was even better in my opinion.  The sous-vide half chicken was also grilled up nicely where the skin was charred and rendered.  Beneath that, the meat was super juicy and buttery tender.   That went for both the dark meat and the white meat.  Again, the brine penetrated the meat and there was no absence of flavour.  The accompanying broccolini was vibrant and crunchy.

For dessert, we had the Flan with caramel, crema de mango and basil.  We ended just as strong as the meal began.  Creamy with a slightly firmer viscosity, the flan was rich and only purposefully sweet.  It was aromatic and smoky from the caramel while the crema on top added some lightness.  The basil was somewhat of a welcomed surprise.  In general, the entire meal was a surprise.  Not that I wasn't expecting it to be good though.  I just didn't think it would blow me away.  It certainly did and I do believe this should deserve a Michelin-Star, not just Bib Gourmand status.

*This meal was complimentary for this post

The Good:

- Fresh ingredients

- Well thought-out and prepared

- Reasonably-priced

The Bad:

- Outdoor restaurant, so everything depends on the weather