foodolog, Author at Foodology

In Chinatown

Juke: Fried Chicken and Ribs in Chinatown

October 14, 2016

Juke recently opened in Chinatown serving fried chicken and ribs. The fried chicken batter is gluten-free so all those who are gluten-intolerant won’t have to worry anymore.

I came here with a few friends to celebrate the end of a long week. What better way to do that than consume meat and beer? We came around dinner time and it was packed. So, we waited about 15 minutes for a table for 6. They told a lot of people to go to get drinks at nearby lounges so they wouldn’t be waiting around the restaurant.

Interior

The interior is dark and cozy. Not too many seats if you are planning to eat in. There is a take out area if you don’t wait to dine inside.

There’s a neon light of a lady near the back of the dining area.

You can even see cartoon drawings of ladies on the paper that comes with the chicken and ribs.

Draft Beer

Postmark Brewing Blonde Ale is what I got to go with our feast of meat. It has a nice light and crisp taste to it.

Spirits & Suds

Mezcal and Postmark Brewing Blonde Ale was what my friends ordered on the menu. You take the shot and then chase it with the small cup of beer. I’ve never seen this option at a restaurant before.

Snacks and Sides

Charred Corn is covered in delicious sauce and comes with 3 pieces. Good flavours, but it was a bit saucy for me so it kinda masked the sweetness of the corn.

Mac and Cheese is another item we ordered on the side and it was pretty good. Cheesy just the way I like it.

Dirty Fries wasn’t dirty enough for me. I wanted more sauce and toppings.

Mains

Full Rack of Spicy Pork Ribs comes with a slaw. Good amount of meat for each piece. We shared this with our table of 6.

Fried Chicken is gluten-free and also comes with slaw on the side.The chicken is nice and juicy with the batter having a nice crunch.

Take Out

As it is pretty busy during dinner time, there is a take out section if you want to grab and go. The menu is a bit different than the dining in menu.

Final Thoughts

It was fun coming with a group of 6, but there aren’t a lot of tables for large groups. Best to come early to snag a table. We enjoyed our night of drinks, fried chicken and ribs. As for the food, it was good but Church’s Chicken is still very dear to my heart…plus its hard to beat the price.

We Rate Juke:

Address:
182 Keefer Street, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.jukefriedchicken.com/

In Japanese

Yayoi: Japanese Teishoku Restaurant in Palo Alto

October 13, 2016

Yayoi opened their first US location in Palo Alto on University Avenue serving up teishoku-style Japanese restaurant, which are set meals which typically includes smaller side dishes like rice, miso soup, side dish and pickled vegetables with the main course.

My friend took us here when we were visiting for a few days. I was pretty excited since I always love trying new food.

Interior

The interior is nice and large, so there are a good amount of seats. We found that a lot of young families were dining here around dinner time.

Ordering

We browsed through the menu and then we started playing around with the iPad, where you input your order. You do everything on here and it ensures your order is correct and maximizes efficiency.

We even ordered our glasses or water on it too. No need to wait for someone till fill up our glasses.

Dinner Sets

Katsu Toji Teishoku has pork cutlet simmered in sauce and egg. It comes with ice, soup and side dishes.

I ordered the Omaze Don with salmon sashimi, okra, tororo, natto, tomago, seaweed and ontama. You mix it all together in the bowl and enjoy.

It comes with rice, miso soup, and side dishes. It was a very delicious and clean meal. The natto isn’t for everyone as it is fermented beans, people seem to have a love/hate relationship with them.

Nasu Miso Teishoku has eggplant, pork belly, and veggies in a miso sauce. It is served with rice, miso soup, and 2 side dishes.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the portion were good and we were pretty stuffed. The meals were well balanced and I enjoy set meals and you get a little taste of everything. The service was pretty good and they don’t require tipping. I ended up tipping anyways since it was a good meal.

We rate Yayoi:

Address:
403 University Ave, Palo Alto

Website:
http://www.yayoi-us.com/

In Dessert

MagiCream: Nitrogren Ice Cream in Kerrisdale

October 12, 2016

MagicCream is the latest addition to the Kerrisdale neighbourhood featuring liquid-nitrogen ice cream with over 40 different flavours.

We were invited to try their ice cream and to see how they differ from the other nitrogen ice cream shops in town.

Process

They use liquid nitrogen instead of dry ice in their ice cream and it is completely safe.

Choose your base
Choose your flavour
Choose toppings
Let the magic begin

Once you choose what you want, its really fun to see them put together your ice cream.

All that smoke goes pouring out when the nitrogen and creates a cloudy magical scene.

Nitrogen Ice Cream

We got to try a variety of flavours and combinations in family size.

Chocolate ice-cream with brownie bites and chocolate sauce
Caramel popcorn
Rootbeer with gummy bears
Strawberry with Cheesecake bites
Black sesame with coconut and Reese’s cups
Coffee with Cookie Dough and Mochi
Ovaltine with walnuts
Milk tea with pearls and mango jelly
Mango sorbet with mango & lychee jelly

All the flavours were well made, smooth with no icy chunks inside. The ice cream didn’t melt too quickly compared to some other places in town. Prices are decent too.

For my personal taste preferences, I didn’t like the very sweet ones with sweet toppings. I can see those would be very fun for kids to eat, but I found that as I got older, I like my snacks less sweet. The downside of getting older.

A few others found root beer to be a pretty unique flavour.

I really liked the Milk Tea Ice Cream with pearls and mango jelly.

Another favourite was the Ovaltine classic with walnuts. They also have a Chinese version of Ovaltine that tastes slightly different, but I went with the classic. I chose the walnuts for texture.

Final Thoughts

Overall, there are a lot of flavours at MagiCream, which is great for groups who have diverse tastes. You can also customize it is any way that you want. They also sell them in 3 different sizes.

I’ll definitely be back for the milk tea and Ovaltine flavours.

We Rate MagiCream:

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Magicream/302810806753718?fref=ts

Address:
2009 W 41st Ave, Vancouver, BC

In Fusion

Sushirrito: Sushi Burrito in Palo Alto

October 11, 2016

Sushirrito is the original sushi burrito concept before it went big around the world. When I was in San Francisco and Palo Alto, I knew I had to check this place out.

Sushirrito is made-to-order with a mix of Asian and Latin flavours. It’s the perfect alternative to fast food.

In Palo Alto, the Sushirrito is located on University Ave close to Stanford.

When we came here for lunch, it was packed. Its also located beside Blue Bottle Cafe. There are limited seats inside.

Lava Nachos

Lava Nachos are in limited quantities each day. It has brown rice chips topped with tuna picante, melted Pepper Jack cheese, ginger guac, green onions, nori strips, and Sriracha aioli. A very flavourful dish and great for a few people to share.

Geisha’s Kiss has Yellowfin Tuna (Hand-Line Caught), tamago, piquillo peppers, lotus chips, namasu cucumber, green leaf lettuce, ginger guac, yuzu tobiko with a sesame white soya sauce.

I liked the clean fresh taste of the tuna with the crunchy texture of the lotus chips.

Sumo Crunch has shrimp tempura, surimi crab, shaved cabbage, cucumber, ginger guac, and Sriracha Aioli. It is then covered in red tempura flakes. This version was pretty good as well.

Genmai Horchata is one of the drinks they have. It is their blend of green tea and horchata.

Overall, it was a good quick lunch for us and with the 3 items ordered for 2 people, it was plenty of food. The sushirrito reminded me of a large uncut sushi roll with different types of filling and sauce.

We rate Sushirrito:

Address:
448 University Avenue, Palo Alto

Website:
http://www.sushirrito.com/

In Dessert

Hugo’s Churros at McArthur Glen Designer Outlet

October 10, 2016

Hugo’s Tacos & Churros is a popular place at McArthur Glen Designer Outlet. When they had their pop-up a year ago, they were met with great success and people would make the trip out to Richmond just for a taste of their churros.

Now, they have their dedicated space servings up burritos, tacos and their addictive churros.

Interior

The interior is filled with handmade picnic benches great for fitting large groups here.

Ice Cream Churro Sandwich

They have their ice cream sandwiches filled with either:

Pistachio Gelato
Vanilla Gelato
Strawberry Gelato

This can be pretty messy to eat, so make sure you have some napkins and eat quickly.

Gelato Churro Bowls

Gelato Churro bowls are a bit easier to to eat as it will all drip into the cup. 4 pieces and a big scoop of gelato.

Hot Chocolate with Churros

This is a new item for the Fall/Winter. There are 2 long pieces of churro which you can dunk into the hot chocolate.

Overall, if you want to get your fill of churros, come visit Hugo’s Churros. The churros are warm and made right for each order.

We Rate Hugos Churros:

Address:
1000-7899 Templeton Station Road,
Richmond

Website:
http://hugoschurros.com/

In Brunch

Craft Beer Market: Weekend Brunch

February 16, 2016

Craft Beer Market is open for brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10am till 2pm. It’s a huge space inside and can easily fit a few hundred people. Great for large groups.

They have at least 140 taps available, which makes their craft beer selection massive. Plus the have a long list of wine, cocktails, and spirits. Brunch and booze? Great combination.

Their tap system is pretty complicated but it’s very fascinating to look at.

Four Winds Saison was what I chose to go with brunch. It has notes of flower and spice, fermented hot for a fruity ester profile. It is slightly hoppy.

Caesars in the morning, goes well with brunch. Perhaps a mimosa would do well too.

Hawaiian Ahi Poke is made of Ocean Wise sashimi-grade tuna, cucumber, fresh ginger, garlic and sesame soya vinaigrette served with crispy wontons on the side. We also added avocado too. It’s definitely different that the traditional poke.

Craft Madame has sliced tomatoes with two types of bacon sandwiched between fresh sourdough, baked until crispy and topped with two fried eggs and beer mustard sauce. It comes with potatoes on the side.

Classic Farm House Bennies has two farm fresh eggs poached with ham and served on a house made buttermilk biscuit with hollandaise and crispy hash browns.

The egg was poached to a perfect softness. When we poked into it, it oozed and oozed. I felt the buttermilk biscuit was very thick and dry compared to the rest of the dish. The grapes that came with it seemed unwashed, and the potatoes were ok.

Overall, great beer selection but the brunch is pretty average.

We Rate Craft Beer Market:

Address:
Olympic Village, 85 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver

Website:
http://vancouver.craftbeermarket.ca/

In Cafe

The Capilano Teahouse: Tea and Coffee in Gastown

February 15, 2016

The Capilano Teahouse finally has a permanent location after having their pop-up shop at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Richmond. Their new location is on Abbott St right in Gastown.

They serve Indigenous teas and botanical tea sodas, foraged right here in B.C. Operated by a mother-daughter duo from the Squamish Nation. You won’t be disappointed when you taste the delicious sodas made with love, featuring the following flavours – Lavender Ginger, Rose Lemonade, Dandelion Burdock and Hibiscus.

It was a rainy day, so my coworkers and I decided to stop by for some tea and coffee before going back to work.

The shop has a long communal table and some more seats near the front.

I love the iconic Gastown brick walls. I can imagine a lot of selfies being taken in this shop.

They have a variety of their own blends of teas available for purchase as loose leaf or as a tea.

They also sell some pretty cute air plants and cactuses.

Their menu is mostly all drinks except for a few dishes.

Elderberry Green Tea has Organic Mao Jian Green Tea with Elder Berries. If you are into teas that aren’t too flowery or smell sweet, this is a good option.

Goliath Coffee is made with an Espro Press and it does take a little bit of time to get ready.

Goliath Coffee – Cameroon Boyo is a lighter roast. It came piping hot, so I had to wait a little while before drinking it.

They have a little station to add any sugar or milk to it.

If you want to try something a little bit different, give The Capilano Teahouse a try. It’s a great space to hang out with friends and catch up too.

We Rate The Capilano Teahouse:

Address: 221 Abbott Street, Vancouver

Website: http://www.thecapilano.com/

In Gastown

Salt Tasting Room: Italian Gas Station Experiment

February 14, 2016

Salt Tasting Room introduced the Italian Gas Station Experiment, in partnership with Port Moody-based Urbani Foods. Those who order wine, by the glass, flight or bottle, will get complimentary Italian tapas for the month of February. The experiment is offered Mondays through Sundays from 4pm – 6pm.

If you order a glass of beer/wine, you get 1 complementary item off the list. If you get a flight, its 2 items and if its a bottle of wine, you can choose 4 items.

The tapas include items such as Venetian Tea sandwiches (Tramessini) with cheese, salami and olive tapenade or fresh sausages sous vide, and Urbani’s famous Arancini Risottoballs (Polpette di Riso) which are the most popular street food in Italy.

I came here after work with a friend to enjoy a flight of wine and some of those tapas after work.

I got a flight of white wine and since I’m so indecisive, I told them my taste preference and then made the decisions for me. They ended up choosing:

My favourite was the Synchromesh Riesling.

My friend got the red wine flight and they chose these:

With the Italian Gas Station experiment, we got to choose 2 tapas each with the purchase of the wine flights. With 9 tapas to choose from, it was a tough choice.

Sous Vide Fresh Sausage with croutes, olives and peppers. Was our favourite of the night. Large chunks of sausage with delicious flavours. I could definitely used more of this. Yum.

Tramezzio of Fig and Toscano Salami with Quebec Brie, green apple, olive oil and smoked sea salt. Nice 2 bite sandwiches and the olives that came with it were pretty good.

Mozzarella-filled with tomato sauce Polpette de Piso came with 2 balls. I thought it was ok, I left like it could have been more creamy and cheese inside.

Tomato Ragu risotto, with pesto mayo Polpette de Piso was similar to the other one. Just ok and needed more creaminess inside.

If you liked their food, you can take home your favourite food items from Urbani Foods for up to 50% off the retail price. Salt Tasting Room will have the various flavours of Arancini Risottoballs, Kale & Quinoa bites, and a selection of salami available for purchase on site during the month of February.

Overall, we thought it was a great offer to have a few treats with wine after work.

We Rate Salt Tasting Room:

Address:
45 Blood Alley, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.salttastingroom.com/

In British Columbia

Vancouver Magazine’s 10th Annual Big Night: Recap

February 13, 2016

Vancouver Magazine’s 10th Annual Big Night is Vancouver’s most exciting and exclusive culinary event. Every year, Vancouver Magazine unleashes a team of food and wine judges on the city’s culinary scene in order to determine the best bites and bottles consumers can enjoy. In their journey, 6,500 wines were poured and over 2,000 dishes consumed.

YP Dine was the presenting sponsor of the Vancouver Magazine’s Big Night. The app gives you suggestions on where to eat, with handpicked lists by local food experts. YP Dine has full restaurant details with photos, and the ability to reserve a table right in the app. The service is available in Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver.

Over 500 food and wine enthusiasts gathered to enjoy award-winning chefs from the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards serving dishes specially created to match top wines from their 2016 International Wine Competition. This year it was held at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel. For $99 per ticket, it was not bad at all. You get to sample 10 of the best restaurants in town along with wine pairing. And you can go back for seconds…thirds or fourths if you want.

The event was well organized and the line ups were not too long.

Cactus Club | Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve

Cactus Club Cafe was rated Best Casual Chain in Downtown. The restaurant originated on the West Coast of BC and has expanded across the country. With Canada’s first Iron Chef America Champion – Chef Rob Feenie spearheading the culinary team, they have a comforting menu that will appeals to a large audience.

They prepared a Branzino Crudo with Domenia Fiore Novello, shaved Himalayan pink salt, and fresh lemon.

It paired with the Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve. A nice sparkling wine to kick off the evening.

Blue Water Cafe | SakeOne G Joy Genshu Junmai Jingo

Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar won in the Best Seafood Category. Executive Chef Frank Pabst puts together a delectable menu with amazing pieces of carefully selected fish. Along side the cooked foods are their raw seafood with clean and pure flavours as well as detailed preparation led by Raw Bar Chef Masaaki Kudo. All their seafood is sustainable with the Ocean Wise stamp of approval to ensure it is sourced ethically without compromising their natural habitat.

During the event, the prepared salmon caviar with seaweed tempura and devilled organic egg. I liked this bite-sized treat with the crunchy texture of the tempura and the saltiness of the caviar.

The SakeOne G Joy Genshu Junmai Ginjo was paired with it. A pretty good sake.

Au Comptoir | The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2013

Au Comptoir won Silver in Best French Casual. They are a classic Parisian cafe in Kitsilano. Once walk inside, you will will notice the décor giving it that Parisian vibe. Very enjoyable and you will notice the difference in their food compared to come other French restaurants in town.

They sampled Albacore tuna confit with espelette pepper aioli, bacon and fennel gremolata and on a spiced cracker. It was paired with The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2013. The tuna and the spiced crackers textures complimented each other.

Campagnolo Roma | Garry Oaks Estate Pinot Noir + Zweigelt 2013

Campagnolo Roma won Silver for Best Italian Casual. Their restaurant features the specialties of Rome, Campagnolo Roma serves up classic antipasto, pastas, and pizzas in a casual atmosphere for their guests. Out of all the restaurants on this list, it is definitely more relaxed and casual.

They server their Coppa di Testa with smoked lingua, winter herbs and mostarda on pane bianco. They paired it with Garry Oaks Estate Pinot Noir + Zweigelt 2013.

Vij’s | Chateau de Nages ButiNages Rose 2014

Vij’s won Best Indian and Chef of the Year. The restaurant has been around since 1994 spicing up the Vancouver culinary scene with their outstanding dishes like their wine marinated lamb popsicles. By blending their Indian spices and cooking techniques with fresh local produce, they give customers a unique experience making them coming back for more. Every night, you will see long line ups out the door with waits of up to an hour long.

At the event, he served up Vegetarian Koftas with fenugreek curry. It was paired with the Chateau de Nages ButiNages Rose 2014.

Miku | 50th Parallel Estate Riesling

Miku won Bronze for Best Japanese Upscale. You can’t get anymore West Coast fresh than at Miku. From their patio, you overlook the beautiful North Shore Mountains and the Vancouver waterfront. If there was ever a place to really #treatyoself, it would be Miku. It’s one of my favourite places to take people visiting Vancouver.

They served up their Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi which has pressed BC wild salmon, jalapeno, and Miku sauce, then it’s torched. There was also an albacore tuna and kaiso seaweed tartare with a spicy sesame ponzu vinaigrette, wasabi creme fraiche, and micro greens on top of a sesame wonton.

They paired it with 50th Parallel Estate Riesling 2014. It was my favourite wine of the evening.

It was a no brainer that this was my favourite item of the night. Multiple people kept coming back for more.

CinCin | Fontodi Chianti Classico 2011

CinCin won Bronze for Best Italian Upscale Restaurant. CinCin has been around for over 25 years, reaching a quarter of a century milestone. Opened in 1990, their contemporary Italian menu and wine pairings have captivated locals as well as celebrities visiting Vancouver.

They had a veal and pork polpette, tomato, parsley and olive oil. They paired it with a medium red wine – Fontodi Chianti Classico 2011.

Hawksworth | Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Hawksworth won for best upscale restaurant. Chef David Hawksworth and his team receive an array of awards year after year by serving up contemporary cuisine that pleases the palates of their diners. Walking into the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, the restaurant located right on the ground level entices diners with their beautiful dining room bursting with style and sophistication.

They presented a beautiful dish with Confit lamb presse, charred eggplant, puffed black olive, mushroom soil and mint. It was the most beautiful dish of the evening and that lamb was very tender.

It is served with a rich red wine – Wynn Black Label Cabernet Sauvingnon 2012, which wont Best of Show.

Tableau | Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnary 2014

Tableau on best casual french restaurant. They are located close to Coal Harbour under the Loden Hotel and is known for their traditional French bistro fare. Their interior combines old world classic bistro elements with modern touches and a French-inspired menu that blends classic culinary flavours of Paris with the use of fresh west coast ingredients.

They served up slow cooked lamb neck, beetroot and citrus ravioli with a celeriac puree. It was paired with Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnay 2014.

Preston’s | Cockburn Special Reserve

Located in Coal Harbour is Prestons Restaurant + Lounge serving up dishes with local and seasonal produce to keep the menu refreshing and innovative. As it is close to the financial district of Downtown, they have express lunch specials that will fit right into your lunch break.

Prestons was the finishing dish of the night presenting their Stilton cheesecake with walnut crumble, grape and port compote.

It was paired with Cockburn’s special reserve.

Sommelier of the Year | Bryant Mao’s Wine Pick
Emiliana Coyam

Bryant Mao is the Sommelier of the Year and his pick was a rich red wine – Emiliana Coyam.

The Emiliana Coyam displays intense dark violet-red color with aromas of ripe red and black fruits integrated with notes of spice, earth and a hint of vanilla. Beautifully balanced and full on the palate. Good structure with soft, round tannins. Elegant expressions of fruit delicately interwoven with oak, mineral, and toffee.

It was a good wine, but I’m more of a while wine drinker.