In Colorado

Pho 95: Vietnamese Food in Denver

January 7, 2018

Pho 95 is a popular Vietnamese restaurant for locals in Denver Colorado to get their piping hot bowl of comforting pho. They currently have 2 locations – one in Littleton and Denver. When we were visiting Denver, we were all craving pho, so we went on Yelp and found this gem.

Pho consists of beef broth, thin slices of beef and rice noodles. Their pho soup comes in several variations; some contain soft tendon, flank, steak and brisket. People commonly like to add a hearty helping of fresh basil, beansprouts, jalapenos, lime juice, and sauces like Siracha or Hoisin sauce to their broth.

Interior

The space is pretty large and they were able to seat our large family right at the lunch time rush.

Tea

Dac Biet (Tai chim nam gau gan sach)

This has the rice noodle soup with a combination of a variety of meat – rare steak, brisket, flank, tendon and tripe. The broth was very delicious and had a depth of flavour to it. I got the small size, which is a good size for a regular person. A large is pretty large for my standards.

Don’t forget to add any of the extra herbs, limes, bean sprouts, jalapeno, or sauces to your pho.

Pho Bo Vien

This is their meatball pho, but we added in rare beef into it as well since they didn’t have that combination on the menu. The meatballs were nice and large.

Bun Ga Nuong

This bowl of vermicelli rice noodles is topped with marinated grilled chicken and served with cucumber, lettuce, beansprouts and chili lime sauce.

Bun Heo Nuong

Similar to the bowl above, it has grilled pork instead.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the pho here is good and the portions sizes were great too. Everything was flavourful to the right amount.

We Rate Pho 95:

Address:
1401 S Federal Blvd, Denver

Website:
http://www.pho95noodlehouse.com/

In Four Beakers

Russ & Daughters: Best Lox Bagel in New York

December 31, 2017

I have an addiction of smoked salmon and when my friend told me about Russ & Daughters in New York, we had to go. You can go to their shop, cafe or the Jewish Museum to get a taste of their awesome food, but we opted to go to the original shop on East Houston Street.

They are purveyors of the highest quality smoked fish, caviar, baked goods, and specialty foods in New York City. Since 1914, this landmark New York City institution has been owned and operated by four generations of the Russ family. Russ & Daughters has continued to provide the tastes and traditions of a true New York experience from the same spot on East Houston Street for more than a century. With the constant line of locals and tourists, that isn’t wrong at all.

Interior

We came early in the morning on the weekend and we were just glad there wasn’t a line out the door as it’s pretty chilly in the winter. When we got inside, we grabbed a number and waited out turn.

They have a lot of things to buy in their display case as well as around the shop. Since we were visiting, we were eyeing the different types of smoked salmon for our bagels.

A lot of people recommend the Gaspe Nova as it is mild and the pure, fresh North Atlantic taste and satiny texture will be savoured by any palate.

It took a little bit to get past the line and order. The staff take their time and don’t rush past each person to get through the queue.

My Creation

I made mine with:

Everything Bagel toasted
Gaspe Nova Salmon
Cream cheese with scallion
Onions
Capers

It was one of the most expensive lox bagels I’ve ever had at $13, but it was the best lox bagel I’ve had in my life. The quality of the ingredients really shine through. So damn good.

We Rate Russ & Daughters:

Address:
179 E Houston St, New York

Website: http://shop.russanddaughters.com/

In Cafe

Spade Vancouver: Italian Supper in Vancouver

December 27, 2017

Spade, a beautifully designed cafe-bistro bringing an eclectic blend of authentic Italian flavour to Vancouver’s vibrant Commercial Drive neighbourhood. Owned by Sammy Piccolo (Award-winning Barista, Prado Café owner), Spade features freshly baked in-house Italian pastries, classic egg sandwiches as well as plenty of authentic Italian tapas and family-style dishes to transition you from day to night.

Interior

Since we were invited, they had us at the long table that can accommodate a lot of guests.

Pickled Vegetables

The house-made pickled vegetables was a nibble before the meal started.

Insalata di Halloumi

This has berries, pesto, walnuts, and halloumi a top a piece of endive. The natural crunch of the endive and the halloumi cheese paired well together.

Nachos Italiano

A twist to this classic has eggplant conserva, roasted red pepper, pickled red onion, and served with a side of salsa verde.

Gnocchi

This was one of my favourite dishes. There is squid ink, black garlic, cream, and lemon. I would highly recommend this dish.

Cauliflower

This dish has roasted cauliflower, ricotta, salsa verde, and seeds. A nice healthy accompaniment to go with some of the other dishes.

Octopus Conserva

This dish has artichoke soubise, potato, dill, and pickled vegetables. The octopus was very tender and enjoyable, but it would have been better if it was warm.

Papardelle with Lamb Shoulder Ragu

This dish was another favourite. Simple but with so much flavour and great texture. I would order this again.

Burrata

The burrata is paired with fennel, citrus, serrano jamon, basil and breadcrumbs. Burrata is awesome and you can’t go wrong with it.

Meatballs

The meatballs are served with a rosemary garlic cream sauce, mushrooms, braised endive, gorgonzola and walnuts.

Chocolate Cake

To end the night, we tried the chocolate cake, which reminded me of black forest cake. It was ok.

Cafe Latte Panna Cotta

The Cafe Latte Panna Cotta was delicious! A small sweet taste to the end of the meal.

Latte

Ending the night off with a decaf latte is great. The warm milk is so comforting. Highly recommend decaf if you’re sensitive to caffeine int he evening.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed dinner here and I’ll definitely be back. The concept of an Italian Coffee bar really shows and I loved all their pasta dishes. Even if you’re not a coffee drinker, you’ll want to come here for their homey pasta.

We Rate Spade:

Address:
1858 Commercial Dr, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.spadecoffee.ca/

In Four Beakers

Atlas Steak and Fish: Burnaby

December 25, 2017

Atlas Steak + Fish is the new restaurant inside the Grand Villa Casino and Hotel in Burnaby. It has taken the old location of EBO and is a modern twist on the iconic North American steakhouse.

They selecting fine ingredients, explore global flavours, showcase unique cooking techniques, and engage through table-side service. These are all elements that speak to their commitment in crafting a truly distinctive dining experience in Burnaby.

Interior

The dining space is very nice and great for any occasion. They even have a private room with lots of seats if you want something more cozy and intimate for your group.

El Diablo

Start the night off with an electrifying cocktail. It has Sauza Silver Tequila, Crème de Cassis, fresh lime juice, and Ginger Ale presented with sparks of fire using cinnamon. From the name of the cocktail, you would think it would be spicy, but this was such a refreshing cocktail. We really enjoyed it.

Agua de Valencia

This yummy drink has dry English gin, fine orange liqueur and orange.

Lobster Bisque

At the centre of the bisque is a seared scallop and roe. The broth had a lot of depth and essence of the lobster. It may not look that great, but it was delicious.

Steak Tartar

This has hand minced tenderloin, miso mustard, pickled daikon quail’s egg, and gnocco fritto. Mix the ingredients together and then eat.

Steaks and Mains

Only the top percentage of Alberta Angus Reserve Beef and U.S.D.A Prime make the ATLAS cut and are selected for dishes. Sourcing from North America’s top producers, they seek out the ultimate commitment to quality and stewardship to ensure the best in marbling, tenderness, and flavour. The steaks are hand-butchered from the top breeds, hand-selected, and aged before being prepared in our mesquite-fired Josper oven.

Chili Ribbed Cowboy Rib Steak

With got the steak done medium rare without the chili rub. The steak was very tender and it was 16oz, so it wasn’t small at all.

There were some leftovers, but we were happy to have it for another meal.

Tomahawk Pork Chop

This has snake river farms kurobuta pork chop, smoked pork belly and apple relish with warm potato salad. It was suggested that we order this as medium. This was recommended by the staff and it was also tender and delicious. We enjoyed the pairing of the apple relish on top.

Whipped Brie Mashed Potato

We got this on the side to share and it was so smooth and fluffy. Who knew brie and mashed potatoes would be so good together. Highly recommended.

Roasted Wild Mushrooms

Ultimate savoury side dish to share for the table. I enjoyed the variety of mushrooms in this. Another winner.

Salted Caramel Creme Brulee

It comes in a mason jar with the torched sugar on top. It is served with chocolate dipped biscotti. A good comforting classic dessert.

Baked Alaska

If you’re looking for something unique, try the baked Alaska that is flambed tableside. How cool is that? It’s a dinner and a little show.

The layers are made of raspberry coconut ice cream, lemon sorbet, orange vanilla cake, and italian meringue.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we enjoyed the experience and it’s something that Burnaby is lacking. They bring some exciting dishes that aren’t easy to find in the area. I would recommend Atlas for intimate dinners for special occasions.

We Rate Atlas Steakhouse and Fish:

Address:
4331 Dominion St, Burnaby

Website:
http://atlassteakandfish.com/

In Cocktails

Botanist Restaurant: Chef’s ‘We’ll Take It From Here’ Menu

December 18, 2017

We wanted to indulge on a culinary night out at Botanist with a few of my foodie friends – Foodgressing and Picky Diner. We decided to do the Chef’s ‘We’ll Take It From Here’ Menu for the whole table for $108 per person. A bit indulgent, but since I just came back from New York, this price was really great in comparison. We went on a Friday night around 6pm and did require reservations as it’s a pretty busy time of year.

Interior

The interior is very beautiful and the perfect setting for any occasion. They even have liven music which is a nice touch. Good for small to large groups.

Drinks and Cocktails

Drinks aren’t included with the set menu, but we got a few different beverages to go with the meal. I went with beer as usual. They do have mocktails too if you don’t drink alcohol. Just ask the staff as they have a pretty extensive drink menu.

Wine Pairings

You can also add wine pairings with each dish in the set menu. Worth it if you’re a wine lover.

Bread

As you wait for the dishes to arrive, they give you some beautiful housemade bread and some butter.

Amuse Bouche

The meal started with a Sturgeon Chicharron, fermented veggies, and dried sturgeon. It was essentially deep-fried fish skin and it was very delicious. The crunchy texture paired well with the fermented veggies. A good start to the meal. This was paired with Zanata Brut.

Course 1: Beet Salad

The next item has textured beets, pecans, orange, and Ashley Goat’s cheese. I simply adore beets, so I loved all the different variety and techniques they used on this dish. Paired with Lucien Crochet Sancerre.

Course 2: Lobster and Sunchoke

This has Sunchoke Velouté, lobster, and chive chantilly. They come to the table and pour the broth into the bowl. A fun way to see the dish come together. The lobster was cooked perfectly. Paired with Roux Père et Fils Chardonnay.

Course 3: Scallop

This has Diver scallop, brussel sprouts, guanciale celeriac foam. A beautiful sear on each side of the scallop on top of the shredded bed of brussel sprouts. The acidity of the sauce worked in the dish to go well with the foam and scallop. Paired with Domaine de la Mora.

Course 4: Bison

This meaty dish has Bison, Saskatoon berry, mushrooms, caulifower. The mushrooms were absolutely amazing to go with the bison. A fun dish to showcase ingredients from Canada. Paired with Perraton Père et Fils

Course 5: Dessert

This dessert is made with Itakuji chocolate pate, passion fruit pulp, and licorice ice cream. At first I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about the dessert after hearing it has licorice. After digging into it, I really enjoyed the passion fruit a lot. The licorice was subtle and not overpowering at all. Paired with Foneseca Port.

Sweet Treat

At the end of the meal, they give everyone a little gift to take home – Chef’s Shortbread using his grandmother’s recipe. A nice thoughtful gift to continue the experience at home.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think it was worth what you get in the Chef’s tasting. We were all full afterwards and each dish was unique and not on the regular menu. Service was great and the staff were all super friendly. I’ll be back for any special occasion.

We Rate Botanist Restaurant:

Address:
1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.botanistrestaurant.com/

In Brunch

The Ellis: Brunch in Kitsilano

December 10, 2017

The Ellis opened this Summer in Kitsilano serving up delicious Pacific North West Comfort Food. They are named after Ellis Island, as it was the pivotal point of entry for over 12 million immigrants. It’s a symbol of freedom and discovery.

My hubby is a huge brunch fan, so we decided to check out their brunch offerings.

Interior

There is a large bar, table top eating, and more tables on the side. It wasn’t too busy on a weekend morning, but they did roll out their brunch recently.

Coffee

Coffee is a must for us when having brunch. They also have a good mimosa and caesars, but we just weren’t feeling it when we visited but it’s definitely what we will order next time.

Fried Chicken French Toast

This is definitely a unique item. It has Frosted Flakes French Toast topped with powdered sugar. Then whole wheat breaded chicken and chicken gravy. M added Thick-cut bacon as a side. He absolutely loved this dish. A bit sweet, a bit savoury, with yummy textures.

Biscuits and Gravy

You get toasted buttermilk biscuit with 2 large sausage patties, 2 eggs, grilled onions and chicken gravy. The portion of this dish was good.

The eggs were soft poached and done perfectly. It oozed out with such grace.

Beans on Toast

The thick cut sourdough bread is topped with bacon & molasses baked beans, 2 eggs and fresh tomatoes. I saw this on the menu and had to try it as it’s not something I would order but it was recommended by the staff.

These eggs are also perfectly poached and the flavours melded very well.

Final Thoughts

We really enjoyed the food and will definitely be back with more friends. Frosted Flakes French Toast is a must!

We rate The Ellis:

Address:
2204 York Ave, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.theellis.ca/

In Four Beakers

Sushi Bar Maumi: Reservation Only Omakase

November 2, 2017

Sushi Bar Maumi is located on Davie Street in Vancouver and specializes in nigiri sushi for his omakase menu. Reservations are required, so they will not take walk-ins. Omakase is $75 per person and if you want to order more, you can do so after the 10 pieces.

They try to give customers an authentic and memorable sushi bar experience. Since there are only 2 seatings per evening with 10 seats each. There are a few rules you need to follow in order to have a good time with other guests. Make sure you read their website in it’s entirety.

It’s definitely not cheap, but it’s an experience watching Chef Maumi Ozaki create each piece of nigiri and eating such delicious simple flavours. Just make sure you follow his rules.

Green Tea

As we sat down for our 6pm seating, we were given a pot of green tea to sip on through out our meal. Since I am a tea guzzler, they did refill everyone’s pots during the evening.

Suzuki – Japanese Sea Bass

The first piece was suzuki nigiri, which is a Japanese Sea Bass. It has a good mouthfeel and chef puts a brush of sauce on top for added flavour.

Surume Ika – Japanese Flying Squid

Ika is usually tough, but the chef cuts it slightly with a criss-cross to break apart the connective tissue. The sauce that is brushed on top collects in these slots and holds a good amount of flavour.

Aji – Japanese Horse Mackerel

The flesh is more pinkish compared to the others. It is topped with ginger and scallions. It has a delicate and sweet flavour.

Kuruma Ebi – Japanese Tiger Prawn

One of the more expensive nigiri at Maumi, if you want more, it will cost you $18 per piece. The head is removed to be used in the miso soup later in the evening. It is sweet and full of umami taste.

Shima Aji – Stripped Jack

The flesh is more white and milder in flavour. Still a good piece of nigiri.

Hokkaido Bafun Uni – Sea Urchin

The uni is harvested at peak season and it topped with a small bit of ginger. The uni is sweet, briny, and creamy.

Miso Soup

Up next was miso soup made with the prawn heads. It came pipping hot, but very delicious soup which was so warming.

Nama Hotate – Fresh Scallop

The scallop was sliced thinly and draped on top of the sushi rice. Fresh, subtly sweet and has a soft texture.

Medium Fatty Bluefin Tuna marinated in special soy sauce

This was a joy to eat. So damn good!

Saba – Mackerel

One of my favourites as it has firm flesh and its rich and fatty with yummy flavours.

Anago – BBQ Sea Eel

This was the last item of our omakase was the anago. It was nice an hot covered in this delicious sauce.

Hon Maguro O-Toro – Fatty Bluefin Tuna

Almost everyone ordered this at the end. It will cost you $12 per piece but you have to try it once. It’s really good and it melts in your mouth.

Sanma – Pike Mackerel

We ordered this because everyone else did as well. They seem to know what they were ordering, so we followed along. It was fatty and rich similar to saba. This is served with ginger and scallions on top.

Ikura – Salmon Roe

This is like little dragon balls. The roe are salty and it’s fun to pop them in your mouth.

Tamago

This is handmade egg omelette with fish, prawns, mountain potato and dashi. It had a sweet finish to the taste and served cold.

Final Thoughts

This was a fun experience to eat at a sushi bar served by Chef Maumi Ozaki. The food is great, but we did have to order a few more pieces after the omakase to get full. You have to be a fan of nigiri to fully enjoy the experience. One person dining just ate the fish on top and left all their rice. Our bill between us was over $200, so you need to be here for a special occasion.

We Rate Sushi Bar Maumi:

Address:
1226 Bute St, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.sushibarmaumi.ca/

In Bubble Tea

Rad Tea Room: Bubble Tea inside Granville Skytrain in Vancouver

October 3, 2017

Rad Tea Room is in the Granville Skytrain serving up premium bubble tea and drinks made of loose leaf teas. I’ve been keeping an eye out when this would open since it’s always nice to have another option in the area. My friend told me that they opened and we decided to check it out. Imagine it as a hidden gem as it’s hiding in the skytrain station and they actually have some pretty good bubble tea.

Interior

The interior is clean, nice and quiet too. On their menu, they have bubble teas, smoothies, milk tea caps, matcha lattes, tea mocktails and cold brewed teas.

They have a large table in the front if you want to have a big group of friends. Alternatively, there are some seats for smaller groups in the back.

Milk Tea with Pearls

There’s so many versions of milk tea you can create and customize. I personally love the roasted oolong milk tea with pearls. Since the normal sugar levels are lower than most places, I keep it regular sugar and less ice.

Another feature of Rad Tea is that you can ask for almond or soy milk. Great for those who are lactose or vegan to be able to enjoy bubble tea like everyone else.

Cold Brew Pu’er Tea

They don’t serve coffee, but they do have cold brew teas. Today, they had the Pu’er Tea, which is a strong black tea. I love my black teas and this was good to have a good dose of caffeine.

Winter Melon Tea Cap

Another drink I also really enjoyed was the Winter Melon Tea Cap. It has a good balance of flavour and sweetness compared to other places. If you are a fan of Winter Melon, I would highly recommend their version at Rad Tea.

Strawberry Tea Mocktail

If you are looking for something a bit different, they have strawberry inflused tea mocktails with pearls if you want.

Matcha Tea Cap

They use ceremonial grade matcha, so it is deeper in colour and has a stronger matcha taste. I use it at home for drinks too and it’s definitely not for everyone.

Waffles

If you feel like you want something to nibble on, they have waffles served with different sauces for an additional charge. There is Salted Caramel, Lavender Chocolate, Matcha Cream or Dark Chocolate. Our group was torn between the lavender chocolate or the matcha cream. I personally prefer the matcha cream as it isn’t too sweet. The waffle itself was meh since the sauces stood out a bite more.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for an independently owned bubble tea shop outside of all the Taiwanese chains, use loose leaf tea, and has milk alternatives like soy and almond milk, Rad Tea Room is definitely a place you should check out. The location is a bit hidden in Granville Skytrain, but enter through the Dunsmuir Street entrance and you’ll find it at the bottom of the stirs on the right. I’m a tea lover, so what really attracted me in the first place was their good taste in teas and how they balance the sweetness of the bubble tea.

We Rate Rad Tea Room:

Address:
80-678 Dunsmuir Street, (The Granville Station – Dunsmuir Exit)

Website: https://www.radtearoom.com

In Brunch

The Gray Olive Cafeteria: Best Brunch in Burnaby

September 30, 2017

The Gray Olive Cafeteria in Burnaby Heights is a hotspot for brunch on the weekends. I’ve come here quite a bit for brunch and every time, it’s consistent and very delicious. Plus, it’s just minutes away from place.

Interior

The space isn’t large as it’s pretty narrow. It’s pretty hard to fit large groups in here unless you go really early or wait for a while. I usually like to come here around 10am since after than. lines start to form. If you are a group of 2, waits are never that long.

If there is a wait, put your name and number on the list and take a stroll in the neighbourhood. They will call you when your table is ready.

Latte and Iced Coffee

Coffee is best to have in the morning if you love to be caffeinated. If you like it hot or iced, you can’t go wrong pairing it with brunch items.

Thai Iced Tea

They also have 2 versions of Thai Iced Tea, one with half & half and then another with coconut cream. Both of them are super damn good and I’ve had it several times.

Chicken & Waffles

A little bit pricey, but you have 2 fried boneless thighs, waffle, spicy Korean ketchup, maple syrup, and whipped brown butter. The waffles are well made, crisp on the outside a fluffy inside. The thighs we juicy and so delicious.

The Kitchen Sink

This has 2 eggs, sauteed veg, green onions, sausage, bacon, cheese, the g.o. potatoes. A little bit of everything in this bowl and it’s filling.

Pork Belly Breaky Sandwich

This sandwich has a thick cut of pork belly, egg, arugula, chives, chili marinated tomatoes, toasted sesame mayo, and a burger bun. The egg is supposed to be marbled egg, but my friend got it cooked through.

G.O. Potatoes

The side of G.O. Potatoes with the smoked shallot aioli is a must. Those potatoes are crispy and addictive.

Avocado Toast

The avocado toast has mashed avocado on sourdough and topped with oven roasted tomatoes, and balsamic reduction.

Final Thought

Overall, ever since my first bite, I’ve been hooked and have taken so many of my other friends here. A great weekend spot for brunch and I’ll be back.

We Rate The Gray Olive:

Address:
4190 Hastings Street, Burnaby

Website:
http://www.thegrayolive.com/

In Burnaby Central

Jinya Ramen Bar: Open at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby

September 11, 2017

Jinya Ramen Bar has finally opened in Burnaby outside Metropolis at Metrotown. It’s been under construction for a while, but we are so happy they have opened their doors for a soft opening. Finally, I don’t have to always travel Downtown to get a taste of Jinya. They are a popular Ramen chain restaurant and they have 3 locations in Vancouver so far.

Interior

The space is gorgeous and is similar to the look of the Downtown location in Vancouver. It’s sleek, modern, and hip. They were extremely busy despite the empty seats. Our group of 5 waited 1.5 hours to get seated. Luckily, they have an electronic system through Yelp where it tells you how many tables are in front of you. We ended up going shopping to kill the time.

Chef’s Special: Karaage Chicken Ramen

This has a chicken broth topped with crispy chicken dressed in chili sauce, green onion, bamboo shoots, seasoned egg, nori dried seaweed. It is served with thin noodles but you can always ask for thicker noodles.

Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen

This vegetable broth is amazing, I personally think it’s one of the best. It also has tofu, onion, green onion, spinach, crispy onion, garlic chips, garlic oil, chili oil, and sesame seeds. It is served with thick noodles instead of the thinner ones.

Pork Chashu

To go with the vegan ramen, I added a side of pork chashu. I put it into the bottom of the bowl and let the broth heat it up and man, was it melt in your mouth delicious!

Jinya Tonkotsu Black

This is one of the most popular flavours. It has a pork broth base with pork chashu, kikurage, green onion, nori dried seaweed, seasoned egg, garlic chips, garlic oil, fried onion, and a spicy sauce. It is served with thin noodles.

Premium Tonkotsu White

This has a mix of pork and chicken broth and served with pork chashu, kikurage, green onion, half seasoned egg, fried onion, and spicy sauce. This is served with thin noodles. My friend got this without the spicy sauce since she doesn’t like anything too spicy.

Sauces

At the table, there are a few sauces that you can add to your meal – seasoning suace, gyoza sauce and hot sauce.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I enjoyed the ramen here. The waits can be long, but you can always go shopping at the mall until you table is ready. The space is really nice and you’ll love the ramen. My personal top favourite ramen flavours are – Tonkotsu Black and Spicy Creamy Vegan ramen.

We Rate Jinya Ramen Bar:

Address:
4575 Central Blvd, Burnaby

Website:
https://jinya-ramenbar.com/

In Four Beakers

Rajio Japanese Public House: Osaka-Style Japanese Izakaya in Vancouver

September 10, 2017

It’s been 3 years since my last visit to Rajio Japanese Public House and I remember a lot of great nights here but I’m glad I’ve come back for more of their Osaka-style dishes.

Interior

The interior is fun and gives you a mix of traditional and modern feels. The space isn’t very large, but there are a decent number of tables.

Rajio’s Famous Fruit Punch

Their cute punch is served in a fresh watermelon or pineapple. Great for the Summer or what you need a smile on your face.

You cab have it with alcohol or without to customize your experience.

Beer

My favourite beverage to pair with Japanese food is beer as it helps cut the grease off some fried items. Plus, I love how light and refreshing it is.

Craft Ginger Ale

They have their original ginger ale recipe with freshly grated ginger, lime, lemon, and sweet brown sugar. It’s definitely different than the ginger ale at the stores since it has an extra kick of ginger balanced by the brown sugar.

Super Rib Steak

This $38 hug 2lb beef rib steak comes with sharp wasabi and a garlic soy sauce. I’ve always ordered their huge steaks before and they are a joy to eat. It is best to be shared among the table. Super tender and medium rare.

Modern Yaki

This is a featured dish, so it’s not on their permanent menu. It is a combination of Osaka Okonomiyaki and Yakisoba. I liked the concept, but the execution wasn’t ideal. As the dish cooled off, the okonomiyaki portion of it peeled off from the yakisoba hiding underneath. It was also quite rich and heavy compared to some other items that we had.

“Uni Bonara” Sea Urchin Carbonara

This was delicious item with the creamy udon paired with the fresh uni and the ikura. I enjoyed it and it was a good twist on an udon dish.

Y Mommy’s Assorted Oden

I love oden as it’s a warm bowl of comfort. There were so many items in this bowl with a bit of karashi, which is a spicy mustard. Put a little bit in as it really transforms the broth. Add more if you love the stingy wasabi-like feeling.

Chef’s Choice Sashimi

You can choose between 7 or 9 different types of sashimi chosen by the chef. It changes seasonally, but you can always ask ahead what you’ll get.

Hot Stone Crab Bibimbap

In the hot stone bibimbap bowl, there is snowcrab, crab miso, ikura, julienned omelet, shiso and scallions with a drizzle of their original sauce and a bit of ginger.

Kushikatsu

These skewers are Rajio’s signature skewers from Osaka. We got an assorted set with a mix of veggies and meat. One of my favourites are the shiitake mushroom, lotus root and eggplant.

Aburi Shime-Saba Sushi

There is delicious cured mackerel with Hokkaido kelp and vinegar is lightly seared and drizzled with a sesame mustard soy. Delicious and I love the taste of mackerel.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the atmosphere at Rajio is lively and fun. The food at Rajio is solid except for a few small misses in certain dishes.

We Rate Rajio:

Address:
3763 W. 10th Ave.
Vancouver, BC

Facebook:
http://www.rajiopublichouse.com/

In Brunch

Hilltop Cafe Diner: Breakfast in Langley

September 5, 2017

Hilltop Diner has been around for the past 68 years in Langley. Family-owned and has been serving diner classics to all their customers. Sherman has told me several times to go here and finally, after all those year, I finally went with a few friends. They have have been feature on You Gotta Eat here and also, a few celebrities have made visits here too.

Interior

I love the 1940’s diner look of this place. There are only a handful of places that have kept this unique charm. We waited a little bit and get seated. If you’re in a rush, you won’t want to come here as it’s not quick service diner food.

Coffee

Coffee is a must if you are a coffee drinker. You’ll make waiting a little while for your food, so you’ll want this to sip on it.

Bacon Benny

My friend got the bacon benny and loved their crisp thick cut bacon, hollandaise sauce and the pan fried potatoes.

Hilltop Breakfast

You get 3 eggs, any style, farmer sausage, baked beans, you choice of toast and a huge serving of hash browns. If you are hungry, you’ll want Hilltop’s biggest breakfast.

Silver Dollar Griddle Pancakes

If you want some mini pancakes, they have them too. Serves with butter and syrup.

Tex Mex Omelette

This big omelette is filled with sauteed peppers, homemade sausage, seasoning and a manly handful of Tex Mex cheese, all held together with three farm fresh eggs. It is served with toast and pan fried potatoes. It was really good and hit the spot.

Hot Sauce

We asked them for some hot sauce and they came out with 3 different kinds for us to try. It’s a local hot sauce from the Okanagan and it’s pretty delicious. We really liked their ‘darn hot’ sauce.

Overall, we really liked this place. The big downside is that the wait for food is long, but the quality of food is great and satisfying. Everyone is very nice and we felt right at home.

We Rate Hilltop Diner:

Address:
23904 Fraser Hwy, Langley

Website:
http://www.hilltopdiner.ca/

In Downtown

Yui Japanese Bistro: Chefs Reg and Ping introduces new menu

August 1, 2017

Yui Japanese Bistro is launching new items on their menu this month and we were invited to give these items a try. I love dining here as its like a secret hidden gem in Downtown. They hide inside a business building on West Georgia Street and Bute Street. Chefs Reg and Ping are the faces behind these awesome creations and they put their own creative twist to each dish.

Yui Tart

The Yui Tart is made with layers of tuna with garlic dill sauce, salmon flakes, chef special sauce, tempura bites, imitation crab meat, cucumber, flying fish roe, and of course it’s torched on top. The dill stands out in this dish but it matches well with the salmon and tuna. Plus, anything with the torched sauce it magical.

Tai Oshi

This has tai, sesame leaf, crispy shiitake, red pepper thread, and the Chef special spicy sauce. I really enjoyed it as it has just enough to slightly tingle the tongue, not that spicy at all. The ingredients meld amazingly.

Smoke salmon delight

This roll has tuna, chopped jalapeño, avocado, smoke salmon, wasabi mayo, mango salsa, and alfalfa sprout. The jalapeño and the mango salsa counteract and essentially cancel each other out. It was a decent roll, but I felt like it was a bit basic compared to the flavour profile of the other dishes here.

Aburi tuna nigiri

They start off by searing the tuna on a super hot grill. Then they slice it up super thin, then top it off with wasabi and pickle sweet onion on top. A good combination of the ingredients, simple but really helps the tuna shine.

Aburi tai

This nigiri has tai and then topped with a strawberry salsa on top. I thought it was ok as I didn’t like the sweetness from the strawberry. I don’t really like savoury food with any sweetness.

Salmon Oshi

This is a staple item on the menu and it’s a must order item. Highly recommended as the salmon, special sauce, pepper and jalapeño melt in your mouth. Best thing ever.

Final Thoughts

Their menu is expanding and it’s great to see that. The food is great and I love the cozy atmosphere. It reminds me of dining in Japan as they have great hidden restaurants in random parts of the city.

We Rate Yui Japanese Bistro:

Address:
1185 W Georgia St, Unit 102, Vancouver

Website:
http://eatatyui.com/

In Brewery

Backcountry Brewing in Squamish

June 1, 2017

Backcountry Brewing in Squamish is another craft brewery that just opened up in April of 2017. They join the great craft brewery scene in Squamish as the 3rd craft brewery here.

Tasting Room

The tasting room has a very good size and very homey inside. It was pretty busy here on the weekend around 3pm. All the tables and the bar seats were occupied.

The beer was flowing and lots of pizza was being consumed here.

Flights

I got a flight and I had the Squamish Lagger, Ridgerunner Pilsner, and the Trailbreaker Pale ale. I got them to choose the lighter less hoppy beers. All 3 were delicious.

Oyama Sausage

The juicy Oyama Sausage is wrapped in pizza dough and there are some pickles on the side. The pizza dough was deliciously crisp and the sausage inside was super delicious.

Soppresetta Pizza

The pizza has soppressetta salami, kalamata olives, confit garlic, onion, chili, and cream sauce.

I love the thin crust and it’s so crunchy. A good amount of toppings and I love the subtle spicy kick from the salami.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we really loved our experience here. The beer is great and also the food is really spot on. I’ll definitely be back.

We Rate Backcountry Brewing:

Address:
405-1201 Commercial Way, Squamish, BC

Website: https://www.backcountrybrewing.com/

In Brunch

Fergie’s Cafe: Eggs Benny and Caesars in Squamish

May 29, 2017

Fergie’s Cafe in Squamish is a popular destination for brunch on the weekend. It was bumping on the long weekend and we were in for a little bit of a wait. The kitchen was backed up by 40 minutes, but that didn’t stop us or anyone else from continuing to wait.

Order

We lined up to order first before getting a seat.

Seating

There is indoor and outdoor seating, but it was a very nice and hot day outside, everyone opted for and patio seat. As we waiting, we relax on their sun-drenched deck and enjoyed the fabulous views as our food was being prepared.

All the food is fresh, locally-sourced and lovingly prepared.

They gave us a spoon with a number, so when our orders are ready, they’ll bring it over.

Drinks

Coffee is a must to go with brunch. Always helps me keep awake. We also got a cinnamon bun to share too. Delicious.

Matcha latte is on the menu too.

One of the best drinks is the Caesar, you can get it as a single or a double. It’s made fresh and you can tell they don’t skip any corners with this caesar.

Eggs Benny

Dubliner Benny has a homemade butter biscuit, sauteed onions, apple, bacon, poached eggs, hollandaise, Dubliner cheddar and a side of hash.

Smoked Salmon Benny has a homemade buttermilk biscuit, smoked salmon lox, poached eggs, avocado, capers, hollandaise, and a side of hash.

I loved it! So good and simple but full of taste. I would highly recommend this.

Ratatouille benny sits on a bed of hash, steamed kale, eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, and poached free-range eggs with hollandaise. Dee really enjoyed this benny.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we loved the brunch here! Such a nice hidden gem in Squamish. We will definitely be back for more bennies and caesars in the future. If you’re passing by Squamish, definitely add this to your list of places to visit.

We Rate Fergie’s Cafe:

Address:
70002 Squamish Valley Rd, Squamish, BC

Website:
http://www.sunwolf.net/fergies/

In Brewery

Powell Street Craft Brewery in East Vancouver

May 18, 2017

Powell Street Craft Brewery is small independent microbrewery in East Vancouver close to a bunch of other breweries too. The brewery opened December 2012, but moved into their current tasting room in 2014. We came here to visit their tasting room and grab some beers.

Tasting Room

The tasting room is cozy and there are only a few tables here. There is a small look into the brewery from the tasting room. All those large containers making our favourite beers.

Flight

I always love getting flights so I can try a bit of everything. I asked them to choose 4 beers that weren’t as hoppy. They chose Dive Bomb, Test Batch, Old Jalopy and the Ode to Citra. All 4 were really good and I would order them again.

Snacks

They have some snack here to go with the beer. I got the honey garlic sausages and it had a good flavour. A bit floppy in texture compared to some other sausages out there.

Overall, I really enjoyed the chill atmosphere and great beer.

We Rate Powell Street Craft Brewery:

Address:
1357 Powell St, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.powellbeer.com/

In Downtown

Yui Japanese Bistro: Affordable Aburi in Vancouver

May 2, 2017

Yui Japanese Bistro recently opened in Downtown Vancouver and is a hidden gem tucked away in a business building. They pride themselves of making aburi sushi at affordable prices. Yui is located on the first floor. The restaurant is pretty small, so go for dinner earlier in the evening. They are open daily from 11am – 8pm except Sunday. I came with Dee for a visit at 7pm and there was a wait of about 20 minutes.

Tea

Before the meal begins, they bring over cups of tea. You can also ask for a small pot of tea.

Aburi Oshi

My favourite spot is at the bar, so you can see all the action of them putting each dish together.

They have 3 kinds on their menu – ebi, saba and salmon. Each sushi is torched with charcoal.

Salmon Aburi Oshi

They use sockeye salmon on top of the sushi and one embedded inside the rice. They apply the house-made sauce and then torched for added flavour. It is then topped with pepper and a jalapeno. So delicious and made to perfection. Also it’s only $10.25, which is very affordable.

Ebi Aburi Oshi

A block of rice topped with Shrimp, ume sauce and lime zest. The lime was a very interesting addition to the pressed rolls to bring more freshness and liven the flavour. The flame really transforms that ume sauce to add some smokiness.

Saba Aburi Oshi

It is topped with mackerel, shiso, and a miso sauce. The charcoal flame also lightly kisses the mackerel and miso sauce. Delicious as well.

Karai Rice Bowl

Bincho toro, okra, spicy kimchi cabbage, amakuchi soy, and some greens sits on top of white rice. You mix it all together with the soy and it makes a great dish for lunch. Very healthy too.

Salmon Carpaccio

The salmon carpaccio is beautifully cut and they use sockeye salmon.

Each order has 5 pieces and then its torched with some charcoal. They then top it off with some decadent garnish and sauce.

It was all really good and we just wanted more. hahaha. There are some black dried olives on top that balanced nicely.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I loved my experience at Yui Japanese Bistro. This small restaurant is bursting with flavour and it’s very affordable compared to some other places out there in Vancouver. I’ll be back!

We Rate Yui Japanese Bistro:

Address:
1185 W Georgia St, Unit 102, Vancouver

Website:
http://eatatyui.com/

In Cafe

Yama Cafe: Japanese Cafe in Vancouver

April 30, 2017

Yama Cafe has taken over Basho Cafe a few months ago. Everyone was so sad that Basho closed their doors, but Yama has kept the essence of Basho and put his spin on the menu. I came here with a few foodie friends to check out the space and have a treat. They serve up drinks, rice bowls, salad bowls, bread, and soup.

Interior

The interior is still the same with their wooden rustic look and bunting spread across the room. There were lots of people inside here, but if you come at off-times, there are tables.

Treats

They have a selection of treats like brownies, moffins (made with mochi), and other treats. You can’t go wrong with any of them as they are very well made. They are delicious and it’s just the right amount of sweetness to go with their drinks.

Matcha Latte

Their matcha lattes can be sweet or unsweetened, I went with the unsweetened kind as I don’t like to much sugar in my drinks. It was delicious and they did a very pretty latte art on top.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I love this space. It’s so cozy and great for hanging out with friends. Their drinks and baked goods are delicious too. I’ll definitely be back.

We Rate Yama Cafe:

Address:
2007 E Hastings Street, Vancouver

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Yama-Cafe-699753386865794/