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For pure convenience, we often refer back to the hotel restaurant when it comes to dining with the entire family. Hey, why not? Generally, they are pretty comfortable and predictable complete with a kid's menu. Despite major improvements within the hotel restaurant genre in the past few years, we finally decided to put an end to being bound to these establishments. For my mom's birthday, we were to dine at Cinara and the kids would have to eat whatever was on the menu. With Lucais Syme (La Quercia and La Pentola) and his wife, Gillian Book in charge, we would at the very least have a high probability of a good meal.
Normally, restaurant bread is as exciting as a Superstore lineup, but I ended up taking a picture of it because it was a menu item. Yes, it has become increasingly common for restaurants to charge for Bread & Butter, but I don't really mind it. Sometimes, bread goes to waste especially if it is complimentary. For those who actually want it, they can order it. This one was crusty on the outside while soft inside. Loved the salted whipped butter on the side. Our favourite appie of the bunch was the Chicken Liver Parfait with pickled veggies and crostinis. The smooth and rich parfait was texturally on point (or should I say on fleek?) spreading firmly onto each crostini. Once past the crunch, the parfait melted in my mouth with a balanced sweetness thanks to the sprinkle of salt. It finished off with the essence of brandy.
Next, the White Anchovy with butter, pickles and herbs was a close second to the chicken liver parfait. The ample amount of anchovy was nicely counteracted by the highly acidic pickled radish and cucumber. The flavours were completely alive and bright which impacted our tastebuds with every bite. I could've eaten 10 of these if I didn't order other dishes. Dressed with mint, parsley, dill and candied pumpkin seeds, the Beets sat atop thick Greek yogurt. Thick-cut, still firm while tender throughout, the beets were lightly sweet and Earthy. The herbs were not intrusive while the crunchy and sweet pumpkin seeds added a wonderful contrast. Thick and creamy, the yogurt underneath added a slight tartness and creaminess to the dish.
Onto some more starters, we shared the Mixed Salumi Plate consisting of prosciutto, fennel sausage and spicy salami. I enjoyed the selection as it was freshly sliced and naturally went well with the bread and butter. The prosciutto was buttery and salty, which I paired with the pickled veggies from the other plates. Our last item of the seemingly endless starters was the Vitello Tonnato (thin slices of veal with tuna mayo). Tender, moist and sliced with the just right amount of thickness, the veal was the beneficiary from a smooth and appealingly fishy mayonnaise. The sprinkle of capers added the necessary saltiness to liven up the mild flavours
Moving onto the bigger plates, my daughter was completely horrified that we ordered the Orecchetti with rabbit ragu and Parmesan. She flatly refused to even give the dish a try due to her love of bunnies. I think I almost made her cry when I shoved a bunch in her face. I'm such a bad father... Anyways, the rest of us enjoyed the toothsome pasta and of course the moist rabbit. Flavours were mildly sweet with only the slight saltiness from the Parm standing out. So the kids bypassed the orecchetti and happily ate the Paccheri with tomato and prosciutto soffritto ragu instead. These large pasta tubes were nicely al dente and sauced with an impactful ragu which had a rich meat essence. There was purposeful saltiness as well as a smooth acidity.
Onto some meat items, we tried the Roast Lamb Leg with polenta, cipollini onions, balsamic and arugula pesto. Although the lamb was far from being tough, it wasn't particularly tender either. Some of the sinewy parts were not that pleasant. With that being said, the pesto added some brightness to the dish while the polenta was creamy and well-seasoned. Sporting a beautiful sear, the Branzino was flaky and moist. It was accompanied by marinated asparagus, black pearl barley and red wine sauce. Although red wine is not normally a great pair with fish, it worked here as the acidity and depth were balanced. Although the fish itself was mildly seasoned, the combination of sauce and marinated asparagus made up for it.
For myself, I wanted to try the Squash Risotto with saffron and Parmesan (and not because I wanted a vegetarian dish either). Rather, risotto is often a good measure since it is tricky to execute. It was more or less done right here with chewy arborio rice within a cheesy and creamy sauce (except it may have been just a touch too wet). For dessert, we shared two items including the Chocolate Hazelnut Tart with chocolate ice cream. As rich as the tart appeared, it was actually surprisingly fluffy. Yes, that is probably the wrong description as the filling was semi-sweet and smooth (rather than fluffy, but it was not heavy either). The crunchy hazelnuts on top added a nice aroma and textural contrast.
Our final item was the Apple Strudel with Chantilly cream. With a light, yet flaky and crisp exterior, the strudel was also easy on the sugar. Inside, there were plump pieces of apple that could've been a touch more tart. Nestled within, the sweet raisins added a nice burst of flavour in almost every bite. All-in-all, we enjoyed a good meal complete with great service in a relaxed environment.
The Good:
- Solid eats
- Understated elegance
- Great service
The Bad:
- Smallish portions
- A little tight for big groups
Out of nowhere, a new Taiwanese restaurant named Strike opened up nearly 2 years ago in Kitsilano. Interesting location, but really, not much competition. Back then, I sampled their wares via a ChineseBites tasting. Then shortly afterwards, another location replaced the defunct Chiffon restaurant. I was out-of-town when there was a tasting at this location, but I vowed to visit it one day. Over a year later, I still hadn't been to the place. Well, with an invite for a tasting, I finally got to see if it measured up to the original restaurant.
We began our meal with the ever-popular Deep Fried Chicken Nuggets with fried basil and dusted with 5-spice. These were fairly large which helped keep the meat moist and juicy. With a firm crunch, the coating was well-seasoned and properly drained (as it wasn't greasy). Loved the ample fried basil as well. Onto something green, we had the Shredded Beef with Water Spinach in Taiwanese satay sauce. Usually, with this type of vegetable, if there is not enough wok heat, the dish tends to get very watery. As clearly shown in the picture, this was not the case here as there was only a minimal amount of moisture on the plate. The ong choy itself featured crunchy hollow stalks which were amply seasoned with a background spice. Hidden within, the slices of beef were properly tenderized.
Next up was the Spicy Pork Intestine Hot Pot with pickled mustard greens & pork blood. Although the portion size looked puny at first, the metal bowl was deceptively deep. Hence, there was quite a lot of fatty intestine to go along with the crunch of the mustard greens. The dish was sweet with a background spice. It was a tad greasy though. Of course we couldn't get out of there without sampling the Chicken with 3-Spice Sauce served sizzling in a cast iron pan. Loaded with ginger and a minimal amount of sauce, the dish was flavourful with Strike's twist of a touch of spiciness. As much as this dish was tasty, the chicken itself was a little dry from the deep-fry and could've benefited from more sauce.
Onto more veggies, we were served the Sautéed Taiwanese A Choy. Similar to Romaine lettuce, yet with firmer leaves, the a choy was barely cooked. It retained a sweet crunch that was amply accented by a plethora of garlic. This dish was definitely the beneficiary of good wok heat as there was very little moisture left on the plate. Moving on, we next had the Sweet & Sour Fish Fillets with green and red peppers, onion and pineapple. This was a well-executed dish with moist and flaky fillets that were battered just enough. Moreover, there was just enough sauce to coat each piece without drowning the dish. As for the flavour, the sauce had a noticeable acidity to go with the ample sweetness.
So far, we had veggies and meat, but no carbs. But that all changed with the Braised Pork Rice with marinated egg, pickled mustard greens, pork fluff and cilantro. The bowl featured chewy (and not too wet) rice topped with tender braised pork belly. Thick, sweet and displaying layers of flavour (including the veritable 5-spice), the pork belly melted-in-my-mouth and easily flavoured the white rice. Similar to the chicken nuggets, the Deep Fried Squid Tentacles featured a firm crispy batter hit with the usual 5-spice. Also not very greasy, the firm crunch revealed tentacles that exhibited a snap-type rebound and appealing chewiness.
Our last dish was directly a result of my oohing and aahing for the intestine hot pot. Yes, the Deep Fried Pork Intestines showed up and really, I had to eat it all because no one else wanted to. Not sure why because they were appealing in colour and texture. They were pretty plump with a soft, fatty interior. A touch chewy and gamy, this is what pork intestines are all about. Much like my first visit to Strike in Vancouver, the meal here at Strike Richmond was solid. Dishes were mostly on point and the recipient of good wok heat and/or properly heated oil for deep frying.
*All food and beverages including gratuities were comped*
The Good:
- Well executed proteins
- Not lacking seasoning
The Bad:
- A little slow on the beverages, but then again, we had 16 orders
As much as most of us know the difference between good and bad when it comes to products, services and food, there is something we all know as "the threshold". Yes, there is a point where crappy becomes acceptable due to price and overall value. I'm still not convinced at those dollar store batteries and light bulbs tough... I think one would get more out of hand cranked flashlight. So despite the questionable sushi found at Samurai, the portion sizes still bring the people in as evidenced by the usual lineup out the door. As much as we would like to criticize the food quality, it does hit that threshold much like Anton's and Stepho's.
With that in mind, I was not that picky about my eats as I was driving back from Richmond after an intense hockey game. Hence, I stopped by Samurai for some takeout. Trying to cut back the amount of rice that was inevitably going to grace the meal, I decided on an order of the Deluxe Assorted Sashimi. When I opened up the box, the slices of fish weren't as big as I expected. This was actually a great development in my opinion because bigger and thicker slices do not necessarily translate to good eating (think texture). You wouldn't want a thick piece of carpaccio right? So nothing was amiss and in fact, the Hamachi was quite good being buttery and fresh-tasting (as flash frozen can get).
Now onto the rolls (which Samurai is more known for). I got both the BC Roll and Alaska Roll. Unlike previous visits, I was pleasantly surprised that the layer of sushi rice wasn't overbearing. With that being said, the rice was not very good being soft and gummy with little flavour. Sure, these rolls were large, but eating them was not very practical as they fell apart easily. The next set of rolls (SSSR & Golden Roll) featured smoked salmon on top (my daughter loves smoked salmon). Honestly, these had to of been some of the most poorly constructed rolls I've ever had. With an overabundance of rice and practically falling apart before I even touched them, these barely fit the criteria of value. Sure, both rolls combined for less than $9.00, but if I didn't enjoy eating them, would it still be considered a good value? After this re-visit, I'm not really sure anymore.
The Good:
- Cheap
- Large portions
- Fast service
The Bad:
- Not particularly well-made rolls
- Rice sucks
The hidden gem. You know, that restaurant no one seems to know about? Much akin to a finding that sub-$1,000,000 house in Vancouver, these secret places are often hard to find and/or are located in less-than-desirable areas. Well, let me tell you about a diner that is not only hidden, the outside doesn't do the inside justice. Welcome to Blast N2 The Past 50's Diner on 95A Ave in North Delta, where you only wouldn't know it's there, you might not even want to go inside. But rest assured, you will not only be treated to retro decor and great people, you will find surprisingly good food too.
That's what Hot Mama and I found out when we hit up the place for lunch. As you can clearly see, my Harley Burger with fresh-cut fries looked legit with 2 hand-made patties with cheese, fried egg, sauteed mushrooms, lettuce, tomato and red onion. Bursting with natural juices, the burger patties were well-seasoned and meaty. The lightly toasted bun was crispy and airy where it held as much of the fillings in as possible. Not greasy while delicately crisp, the fresh-cut fries were on point. This was a good plate of food for $10.99. Hot Mama ended up with the Turkey Clubhouse on whole wheat. As simple as a clubhouse can be, this one was constructed nicely with plenty of real turkey, crisp lean bacon and fresh produce.
On another visit with Devo, there was nothing on the menu that could convince him to eat anything but the Bacon Poutine. You see, he can probably subsist on that alone if it were up to him. This was a really well-executed poutine with the same great fries that were fried a touch longer so they could stand up to the gravy (which was not overly salty). There was loads of legit cheese curds as well as meaty bacon. For myself, I had the Horn Dog (insert joke here) consisting of a foot long wiener wrapped in bacon with cheddar, mustard and relish. Unfortunately, the fatty piece of bacon was not rendered enough. Personally, I would've either preferred crispy bacon bits or deep fry the sucker instead. This came with the same awesome side of fries. As you can clearly see, the food here is not complex. But at the same time, it is generally well-made and surprisingly good.
The Good:
- House-made burger and fries made an impression
- Inexpensive
- Large portions
The Bad:
- Location is somewhat awkward and hidden
As much as there are quite a few food tours and/or tasting tours available in Vancouver, there are next to none for the 'burbs. Yup, there is as much love for the 'burbs (when it comes to food tours) as there is love for bike lanes in Downtown (unless you ride a bike that is). So when Vanfoodster decided to partner up with Tourism New West and offer a Tasting Plates out in the Royal City, I wasn't going to pass it up. For the first time, Roxy (a fine NW resident) joined me on this food adventure.
Our first stop happened to be the registration point at the Anvil Centre. Truffles Fine Foods, which specializes in catered events, set up a station offering at trio of items including Grilled Crostini with celeriac slaw, proscuitto and parsley salad; Watermelon, Beet, Feta and Basil Skewer; and White Chocolate with raspberry and Oreo crumble. The star of this plate was the dessert as the white chocolate was thick and creamy while not overbearingly sweet. The raspberry added a nice fruity tanginess. From here, we traveled to the far reaches of Columbia Street to Fratelli Bakery. We were presented with a generous box of goodies including Pistachio Macaron, Lemon Whipped Cream Puff, Cannolis and Espresso Almond Biscotti. We ended up taking this home and eating it later. Although a bit rough-looking, the macaron was nicely crisp with a soft chewy interior. The cannolis were lightly crunchy with mildly sweet fillings. I particularly liked the cream puff as it was airy with an impactful lemon cream.
Then we headed back down towards Downtown New West over to Heritage Grill. We were served a plate consisting of Bruschetta Bites, Marinated Chicken Quesadilla, Mushroom Neptune, Mini Crab Tostadas and Steak Bites. Although small in size, the steak bites were actually moist and easy to chew. They were also well-seasoned with a touch of pepperiness and just enough salt. As much as I was skeptical of the crab tostada (because it looked pretty plain), I enjoyed it for the crunch of the tortilla and ample amount of crab salad and ripe avocado. After this, we quickly made our way to Steel & Oak Brewing Co. where we were presented with a flight that included Royal City Ale, Red Pilsner, Dry Hopped ESB and Smoked Hefeweizen. Naturally, the 2 middle beers exhibited noticeable hoppiness while my personal favourite was the smoked hefeweizen as it had a refreshing bite that gave way to a subtle smokiness.
After the flight, we traveled to Queensborough where we visited Frankie G's. Honestly, if I didn't attend this event, I would've never known that this place existed. Here, we were served a plate consisting of a Chorizo Slider with green apple slaw and chipotle lime aioli on brioche. Served on the side was Crispy Bocconcini atop pesto and marinara. We enjoyed the slider as the chorizo patty was moist and effectively spicy while the slaw brought it down a notch. Despite being crispy and nicely melted, the crispy bocconcini was not aided by flavourful sauces. Our last stop was at Old Crow Coffee Co. Roxy had the Macchiato while I had the Affogato. With melting ice cream topped with hot espresso, this was dessert and coffee in the same cup. There was a nice rich espresso hit to go with the sweet and creamy ice cream. Once again, Tasting Plates has introduced me to several places I have wanted to try and to one I've never even heard of.
Better late to the party than never right? That's what happened when we finally made it out to the popular Shishinori out on Cambie in the Home Depot complex. Yes, the place has been blogged-to-death as everyone has clamoured to try their "healthier" and light Japanese meals. Wait, healthy and light... For Milhouse, JuJu and I, those words are as foreign to us as a great experience dealing with ICBC. However, on a warm Sunday afternoon, Shishinori was looking like a pretty good choice.
JuJu kicked things off by digging into the Chilled Tofu with bonito and nori. This was a fairly straightforward dish with slices of smooth (yet firm) tofu that was laced with a mildly sweet and only marginally salty dressing. For his main, he went for the Hawaii Ahi Poke Bowl with shoyu dressing. It was served atop brown rice and served with a side salad. The poke itself was quite pleasant, if not conservatively seasoned. It did taste natural where the tuna wasn't overwhelmed. As much as we aren't fans of soggy rice, the brown rice was on the firmer side with hard pieces of crust strewn throughout.
For myself, I had the Spicy Teriyaki Beef Sub as a starter. In actuality, Milhouse and I got our orders mixed up as I ended up eating his sub. It wasn't particularly spicy, but I did get the teriyaki hit. The beef was sufficiently tender while the bun could've been more light. I ended up with the Real Crabmeat California Bowl as my entree and made it a meal with a Lychee Tea and bowl of Enoki Miso Soup. This was essentially a deconstructed California roll with the addition of apple in the mix. The light fluffy crab was good on its own, but the entire thing could've used something to brighten up the flavours (such as some acidity). Again, the hard brown rice was not that appealing.
Milhouse had what I had ordered in the Wasabi Mayo Beef & Avocado Sub. Similar to what I had except without the teriyaki, this was also quite mild-tasting except for the creaminess of the mayo. It wasn't particularly spicy though. Although his Wild Salmon Carpaccio Bowl was the prettiest plate, it was also the least amount of food. Hey, the salmon was buttery and naturally sweet, yet again, it seemed to be missing something. Also, if he had not ordered the sub, that was not enough to fill his tummy. This in itself is a problem for slightly bigger appetites as most items were not that substantial. However, I guess that would be the point of it all - being a lighter meal. In that sense, the food was not heavy and generally pleasant.
The Good:
- Relatively healthier
- Carefully prepared eats
- Fresh ingredients
The Bad:
- Flavours are light
- Portions are also quite light
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