Mount Pleasant/Main Street Archives

In Delivery

The Peri Peri Shack: Portuguese Flame Grilled Chicken in Vancouver

March 25, 2021

The Peri Peri Shack recently opened up in 2020 on Kingsway and Fraser in Vancouver. They have been very popular since opening mostly for takeout and delivery. A lot of people will compare them to Nando’s or Barcelos.

We were invited to check out The Peri Peri Shack for their signature menu items and see how they compare to their competition.

They also offer catering options and they are planning to open more locations in Vancouver.

Interior

Most people do takeout and delivery, but if you want to dine in, you can. There are a few tables inside, but with Covid restrictions, it is 5 customers at a time. Do note, that this number will fluctuate as go through the pandemic. best to check with them to stay up to date on what they allow.

Safety Measures

They are committed to keeping staff and customers safe during this time. They are operating at reduced capacity to ensure physical distancing, sanitization, and regular cleaning.

More on their Covid Safety Measures here: https://theperiperishack.com/covid-19/

Chicken & Rice

This is their most popular dish! The chicken is marinated in their signature marinade for 24 hours & flamed grilled to perfection. It is served on a bed of Basmati spiced rice and topped with the sauce of your choice. We got the citrus and herb sauce with this bowl

The chicken delicious and their sauce just compliments so nicely. It’s a great takeout item as it stays nice and hot. We really enjoyed it.

Flame Grilled Chicken Sandwich

The sandwich has flamed grilled boneless chicken breast topped with peri peri mayo, red onions, crisp shredded lettuce & slice of tomato on a brioche bun. It’s a solid sandwich, but nothing outstanding.

Peri Peri Chicken (Quarter Leg and Thigh)

This is marinated in their secret blend of spices and flamed grilled in your choice of spice level. You can choose from Original, Mild, Citrus & Herb, Mango, Hot, and Very Hot. We tried all their sauces and they are good, but very hot is indeed very hot. Our favourite sauce to pair with flame grilled is the hot.

Peri Peri Wings

We got the wings with their hot sauce and wow, so darn good. Highly recommend it if you love wings.

Mac & Cheese

The mac and cheese is made of a blend of cheeses topped with breadcrumbs. It was a bit bland and needed some more spice. Maybe ask for a side of hot sauce.

Fries (Original)

Of the two fries, I like the original one better as it pairs better with food.

Fries Peri Peri Seasoning

The original fries seasoned with the peri peri seasoning. I did find it to be a bit salty.

Onion Rings

The onion rings were surprisingly addicting. I didn’t expect it to be, but it was crunchy and had a good breading to onion ratio.

Peri Corn Ribs

These are a recent addition to the menu and it is brushed with butter and their signature Peri seasoning and then flame-grilled. It’s really delicious and I highly recommend it.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I did enjoy the food and I’ll be back for the flame grilled chicken and their chicken rice bowls. A solid item for lunch or dinner as it’ll get you full.

Address:
724 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://theperiperishack.com

In Meal Kits

Rocky Mountain Flatbread: Frying Pan Pizza Kits and the Cosmonaut Cocktail Kit

November 29, 2020

With this crazy pandemic, Rocky Mountain Flatbread has pivoted their business during this time to offer their new frying pan pizza kits to keep your family safe this Fall. You can have a taste of fresh Rocky Mountain Flatbread straight from your home.

They created these kits for families, foodies and businesses who are looking for fun and fabulous ways to connect over the holidays. With more people cooking at home during the pandemic and looking for fun ways to celebrate virtually over the holidays, the Rocky Mountain Flatbread team has designed a pizza kit that replicates a forno-fired pizza for home kitchens in minutes.

Each Frying Pan Pizza Kit contains two 10″ pizzas and includes fresh local ingredients from their restaurant kitchens. The step by step cooking instructions demonstrate the frying pan pizza method which cooks the base of the pizza on the stove top and finishes it off under the broiler for that forno-fired pizza taste that is so loved at Rocky Mountain Flatbread restaurants.

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank will receive a $1 donation for each pizza kit ordered for take out at Rocky’s two Vancouver restaurants, Main Street and Kitsilano.

Kids Frying Pan Pizza Kit, for Little Chefs

The Kids Frying Pan Pizza Kit guides little chefs to create two 8″ mozza pizzas at home. The kit contains Rocky’s favourite ingredients – organic flour and pizza dough, house made organic tomato sauce, and all Canadian shredded mozzarella along with easy to follow instructions. It also comes with double chocolate brownies for dessert.

My little on is almost 2, but we had fun in the kitchen stretching out the dough, putting on sauce, and throwing the cheese on top. Then, I took care of the cooking portion as she watched.

Dessert was all eaten by mommy, but I won’t tell her what she missed out on. hahaha.

Margherita Frying Pan Pizza Kit

The Rocky Mountain Flatbread team has assembled a Frying Pan Pizza Kit to create two delicious 10″ margherita pizzas using a frying pan in your home kitchen. Rocky’s double fermented organic dough, house made tomato sauce, Canadian cheeses and fresh basil are included along with easy to follow step by step instructions.

I made my kid assemble this also. She was there anyways and she was already having so much fun.

Cooking on the stove top was very easy and simple, but make sure to test your broiler ahead of time. I didn’t realize my broiler turns off when the door is left open as a safety precaution. Luckily, we were able to find another oven to use.

Cosmonaut Cocktail Kits

The Cosmonaut is a cross between a Moscow Mule and Cosmopolitan. Grab a few ice cubes from the freezer before rolling up your sleeves for some cocktail shaking fun. The kit comes with 2 servings.

Ordering

Frying Pan Pizza Kits and Cosmonaut Cocktail Kits will be available via D oordash, and for takeout and online ordering from Rocky’s website at www.rockymountainflatbread.ca

Final Thoughts

If you’re a fan of Rocky Mountain Flatbread and want a fun family activity to keep the kids busy, check out their Frying Pan Pizza Kit. For the parents that need a little something extra just for themselves, grab the Cosmonaut Cocktail Kits to pair.

It was the first time my kid made pizza and she enjoyed it a lot more seeing the effort that went into it.

The kits are great as it has everything you need. Just make sure you have a large pan and a oven.

Website:
https://www.rockymountainflatbread.ca/frying-pan-pizza-kits/

In Cafe

Remi Patisserie: Storefront Now Open in Vancouver

October 23, 2020

Remi Patisserie has their official storefront open in Vancouver after doing a series of pop-ups all over the Lower Mainland. Even in the middle of a pandemic, we can’t resist a sweet taste of Remi’s delectable treats. Remi was the head Barista and Pastry Chef at Origo Club in Richmond and after doing pop-ups, he gained quite a fan-base for his Asian-inspired baked goods.

You can find Remi Patisserie nestled on W 7th Ave near Cambie Street. It’s a few minutes walk from Olympic Village Skytrain or Broadway City Hall Skytrain.

Pre-Orders

I was passing by the area and decided to line up to get a few of their treats. I didn’t pre-order ahead of time, so I had to try my luck. Good thing I got a few of the last items before it was all gone. I kid you not, if I waited 15 more minutes, there would be nothing left in the display cases.

If you’ve had Remi’s baked goods before, you know that pre-orders are a must. To pre-order, you just message them on Instagram. If you don’t have Instagram, you will have to order at the shop. Not the most inclusive option, but that’s what they have at the moment.

Line ups

There are 2 line ups at the shop. One of the left for pre-orders and on the right are the walk-ins. If it’s your first time here, it is a bit confusing.

Small Stuff

A majority of the items left in their store was the small stuff. That’s what they call their bite sized pastries.

We managed to pick up:

Cloud Cake
Mango Mochi 2.0
Hojicha Mochi
Almond Plum Flan
Crispy Choco Hazel Financier
Matcha Mochi Eclair
Tonka Pecan Eclair

All the flavours were very nice, but the ones that really stood out to me were the matcha mochi eclair, crispy choco hazel financier, and the almond plum flan. Don’t get me wrong, the other items are really great too, but these ones are more unique to Remi Patisserie.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Remi.patisserie (@remi.patisserie) on Dec 14, 2019 at 10:38am PST

Large Cakes

They have large cakes if you are celebrating something special. This does include their roll cakes as well. The items rotate seasonally, so make sure to check their Instagram to see what is available.

Final Thoughts

All of his creations sell out in a few hours, so you will want to put in a pre-order to ensure you get all the delicious treats you want.

Overall, everything we tried was solid. Sometimes it’s fun to buy a bunch of items and not know what it is. We were very impressed and we will be back for more. Next time, I’ll preorder.

Address:
511 W 7th Ave #109, Vancouver, BC

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/remi.patisserie/

In Bakery

Whisk Premium Matcha x Level V Bakery: Now Open in Vancouver

June 19, 2020

Whisk Premium Matcha and Level V Bakery have finally opened their doors in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. They are located right at the library on Kingsway. This plant-based matcha tea, cafe, and bakery has no dairy and eggs. Great for those who are lactose intolerant, vegan or vegetarian.

Both of these companies have been around for a while and they have finally made their dreams a reality by having a storefront. It’s definitely a challenging time with the pandemic, but they made it happen.

Keeping You Safe

There are a few things they are doing at the cafe and bakery to keep everyone safe.

One way: Enter from the entrance on Kingsway. The door on E 8th is Exit Only to maintain ONE WAY flow through the space.
Hand Sanitizers: They have hand sanitizers available by the cashier’s table, as well as the exit.
Facemasks: They can also provide you a face mask upon request.
Sneezeguards: They have this covering the entire counter.
Limited capacity: They are only allowing 5 customers in at a time to respect social distancing.
Card payments: No cash is accepted.

Soft Opening Menu

Regular Menu

Interior

The space is very narrow, so there aren’t tables available for more than 2 people. It’s a good spot for just 2 people to be chatting.

I did see this larger table, but not sure if it will be available when dine-in is available.

Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte

This has a base of organic housemade strawberry puree, organic coconut milk, and their matcha. I also decided to add pearls to it because it was an add-on. Why not? It’s a pretty trendy drink and I honestly got it for the looks. I was also very curious how it tastes.

You have to mix this drink well. You get the freshness of the strawberries, then the strong matcha taste afterwards. It was actually a pretty good drink.

Mochi Muffins

When I was here, they had matcha and chocolate flavours of their mochi muffins avalable. It was pretty good! One of the better ones I’ve had so far.

Final Thoughts

It’s good to have another matcha cafe and bakery open up in the area to give people more options in the Mount Pleasant area. They offer some pretty unique items on the menu that I haven’t see elsewhere, so I’m excited to visit again when they have their grand opening.

Address:
39 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5T 3H7

Website:
https://whiskmatcha.ca/
https://levelvbakery.com/

In Cafe

Billy Button Dessert Bar: All about the Aesthetic Looking Dessert in Vancouver

March 9, 2020

Billy Button is a Dessert Bar in Vancouver and they serve up the most aesthetic looking desserts in town. Each piece is a work of art. I came with my foodie friend right before the last call at the end of the night.

They still had many items left on the menu, so we ordered one of each item.

Interior

The space is small but very sleep looking. There aren’t many tables inside, so it’ll be hard to fit a large group unless you go at off hours.

Kids

They have high chairs if you toddler needs one.

Orange

Is this a real orange? Nope. This has orange marmalade and white chocolate whipped ganache. It really is stunning. You take your spoon and smash it open. In terms of taste, it was alright.

Strawberry

Strawberry or Tomato? I think it looks more like a tomato, but it’s a strawberry. It is made with house made sorbet jam blend with fresh strawberry and then coated with white chocolate ganache. The taste was also ok.

Blueberry Tart

This blueberry tart has blueberry jam, pasty cream, and an almond sponge cake. Pretty good item and the blueberry are so pretty.

The Garden

The dessert is stunning and I love the name. It has cucumber, yogurt mousse, yuzu cremeux, raspberry powder, and house made crostini. Very innovative, but the cucumber doesn’t work in this dish.

Osmanthus Udon

This is another creative dish. The ‘noodles’ are made of osmanthus panna cotta, then paired with berry sauce and crumble. Stunning but I wasn’t a fan of this.

Matcha Green Tea Tart

The Matcha Green Tea Tart has matcha soufflé, matcha sponge cake, and matcha ice cream. I enjoyed this Matcha Green Tea Tart.

The Autumn

This fun dessert has a red wine poached pear, chocolate cake, and red wine sauce. This dessert was ok as well.

Salted Caramel Brioche

The salted caramel brioche is paired with a salted caramel sauce, brown sugar crumble, vanilla Chantilly cream, and dark chocolate. I really enjoyed this one. It’s not as innovative like the other dishes, but it’s solid.

Final Thoughts

Billy Button Dessert Bar is very creative and innovative when it comes to stunning desserts. I love the look, but the taste feels a bit disconnected. The desserts I liked the most were the ones that look very boring- the salted caramel brioche and matcha green tea tart.

Address:
144 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.billybuttondessertbar.com/

In Bakery

Smith’s Bagelry: Turkish-Canadian bakery on West Broadway

October 10, 2019

Smith’s Bagelry opened a few months ago and is getting rave reviews from locals who visited this Turkish-Canadian bakery. Look for the bagel cart along West Broadway to find this hidden gem!

About the name: there is no Mr. or Mrs. Smith

“Simit” is a Turkish bagel. In the Ottoman Empire during the 1400s, the empire started making these bagels for the public on special days. Overtime, it became the standard Turkish street food and breakfast item sold from carts.

Smith’s Bagelry knew that they’re the only one of it’s kind in western Canada and to make it easier for customers to pronounce simit, they chose “Smith”. Now you know why it’s called Smith’s Bagelry!

Interior

The interior is well lit, has modern lines and displays historical photos of simit vendors.

Simit (Turkish bagels)

Compared to bagels we’re used to, these Turkish bagels are lighter, less doughy, has a hint of sweetness and still has a crispy exterior.

Smith’s Bagelry makes all their bagels from scratch and shapes them all by hand. (And because I always ask this…) The secret ingredient that makes their bagels extra special is grape molasses that they import directly from Turkey.

Bagel sandwiches

Lunch is their busiest period. The bagels are perfect for sandwiches. My favourite were Aspendos (smoked salmon) and Cappadocia (Montreal smoked meat).

Sweets: Éclair and San Sebastian cheesecake

The éclair have the perfect cream to bread ratio and the crushed pistachio was a good addition. I could probably eat a dozen of these.

Their San Sebastian cheesecake is a must-try! It’s light, fluffy and goes perfect with strong coffee.

Final Thoughts

Smith’s Bagelry has been open for less than six months and deserve the good reviews they’ve received. The Turkish bagels are perfect alone, but work just as well on sandwiches. They have so many sweet and savoury choices, so there’s something for everyone.

I am a big fan of their business name being a clever way to appeal and educate customers about simit (but only if you think about it). They plan on continuing to expand and refine their menu, including adding more brunch items.

Address:
191 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.smithsbagelry.com/

In Brunch

Burdock & Co: Award Winning Brunch in Vancouver

September 30, 2019

Burdock & Co. is a great place to have brunch on the weekend with friends. They are a farm to table restaurant using organic BC ingredients. Andrea Carlson puts a lot of love into the dishes she creates. Meats are raised ethically, and they use locally produced ingredients. You’ll notice their dishes are more vegetable forward. If you have dietary instructions, there are vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian options.

Since opening its doors, Burdock & Co has collected a number of impressive awards and recognition. Most recently, they have been recognized in 2018 Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants, among the top 22 restaurants in British Columbia. They also won the Gold award for “Best Brunch” and “Best West Coast” at the 2018 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards.

We were invited for a preview of their signature brunch items.

Brioche special with Peach

This is their grilled Brioche bread served with fresh peaches, yogurt, walnuts, mint and topped with honey. It was a very unique combination, yet all the flavours went very well together. This was a great sharing plate and was offered as a weekend special.

Vegan Avocado Smash

The avocado smash is served with a mix of roasted mushrooms, chili fried broccoli, smashed avocados, cashew curd (a purée of cashews), and you have an option of adding a poached egg.

I loved the addition of the mushrooms and you can really taste the quality and difference in the flavour of the eggs served here.

French Pancake

This was delicious and a great shareable treat for the table. I loved the flavour of this dish. They use seasonal fruit so the fruit used in this dish change from time to time depending on what’s available. This one was made with Corination grapes and topped with cream. It’s not your ordinary pancake. It has a light and moist texture with a maple flavour. Highly recommend.

Gluten Free Scone with Butter and Preserves

The gluten free scones with butter and preserves are a great add on to any dish. The scones are fresh and baked perfectly.

Gluten-Free Eggs Benny

The eggs benny is served with two eggs and topped with a lemon hollandaise. The eggs are on a gluten free scone with roasted potatoes and you can choose either smashed avocado or bacon. The scone was flavourful and baked very freshly. Very enjoyable dish and everything was just so darn fresh.

Rice Congee

This is my kind of comfort food. It is an elevated version of Chinese congee and they have put their own twist to this classic item. They have mushroom XO, salted almond, smoked shoyu, and yuzu kombu.

Crispy Fried Chicken

The fried chicken is served with potato pickle mayo, dill powder, and a poached egg.

Fettucini with Pork and Fennel Ragout

The Fettucini with Pork and Fennel Ragout has shaved anise, and fennel pollen. Ingredients that you wouldn’t normally see in a pasta dish but it works.

Final Thoughts

Overall, you can taste the quality of the ingredients within each of the dishes. We love how they use each of the ingredients to create such amazing, fresh, flavourful dishes. I would highly recommend Burdock and Co I can’t wait to go back, nor can we wait till their cookbook to be released.

If you’re looking for a brunch place to check out in Vancouver, head to Burdock and Co.

Address:
2702 Main St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.burdockandco.com/

In Bubble Tea

Catoro Cafe: Cat Cafe in Vancouver

September 24, 2019

Catoro Cafe is the newest cat cafe to open up in Vancouver. They have partnered up with Cat Therapy & Rescue Society, a no-kill policy organization that takes in stray cats and readies them for adoption to find them a forever home.

I have had 2 adopted cats for the last 6 years and they are just the most precious creatures. Mew and Gandalf named after Pokemon and Lord of the Rings characters are the most sweetest cats ever and we only met them for about 10 minutes before adopting them. Back then, there were no cat cafes where you can take your time to play and understand their personality for hours before you choose to adopt. It’s a big commitment and you want to make sure their personality matches you and your household.

This is why I am a big fan of cat cafes because you can take your time knowing the cats, it’s all vetted so the cats are in good condition and its a suitable match.

Of course there is no obligation to adopt at all. If you’re not in the neighbourhood for a cat and just want some cat time without the commitment, thats what cat cafes are for. Some people may not be able to keep cats because they’re renting or just don’t have the time to take care of them. You can hang out with them at Catoro Cafe from 15 minutes to 2 hours if you wish.

Catoro Cafe is one half cafe and one half cat forest. We were invited to check out the space. I was excited to check it out as I’ve been to Cat Cafes around the world.

Cafe

You will walk into the cafe first to check in for the cat forest, order your snacks and beverages, or just observe the cat forest from afar. Good for those who are allergic or scared of cats.

They have a wide range of drinks which is surprising because I wouldn’t have imagined a cat cafe to have some decent drinks. They aren’t a bubble tea shop, but I like the wide variety. There is brown sugar milk teas, fruity drinks and even Vietnamese iced coffee.

Catoro Milk Tea

This is essentially milk tea and I always get this when I go to any new cafe to see if they can make a decent milk tea. They definitely did deliver as it has a nice black tea aroma and it’s not too sweet. The pearls had a good texture too.

Sparkling Lychee Rose with Crystal Jelly

This isn’t as effervescent as I imagined, but you will get a strong lychee taste and then the rose follows. The bottom on the drink has the crystal jelly. Make sure to mix the drink up so any syrup that sinks to the bottom of the cup can be combined together.

Really Strong Vietnamese Coffee with Condensed Milk

I love their collaboration with local company – Ca Phe. They are known for the Vietnamese inspired beverages and treats. The Vietnamese coffee is strong, but so damn good if you’re a coffee lover. I like to get it with condensed milk to smooth out the taste and give it a kick of sweetness. This is served hot, but I would have liked a cold version.

Reuse

What is very important to the owners to ensure there is as little waste as possible, which I admire a lot. They use compostable straws and cups. Diverting as much waste as possible helps our community. They also sell bamboo straws too that can be reused.

Cat Forest

Before entering the cat forest, you have to pause to take off your shoes, put on slippers, sanitize hands, and put away large bags before proceeding. They want to keep the place as safe and clean for humans and cats as possible.

The staff are really nice to interact as they are really knowledgeable about the cats and their personalities. That’s 40 cats that they need to know.

There are lots of tables inside to sit down, but a lot of people just wanted to hang out with the cats, so there was minimal drinking and chatting among guests as the star of the show are those cute cats.

You’re only allowed to bring in drinks from the cafe because they can ensure none of the ingredients in them will harm the cats just in case they get their paws on them. Sometimes cats are sneaky and will knock stuff off the tables.

On the table are diagrams of all the cats available for adoption as well as their names. They have quite a lot of options. Some are in the cat forest and some others are hiding in the back if they need a break from all the human interaction.

For the ones that want to play, there are lots of toys to interact with the cats. From feathers, to bells, to balls and even the popular cat laser, they will go nuts if they’re in the mood.

My friend doesn’t have any pets and was blown away by all the kitty love at Catoro Cafe. Such sweethearts especially Amber.

Some of the cats have absolutely amazing stories. Princeton was born without eyelids. When he was 6 months old, they did surgery on him to move some of this skin on this cheeks to create ‘eyebrows’. His is a very beautiful and adorable cat and I can’t stop thinking about the eyebrows. I hope he finds his forever home soon.

This cat doesn’t know whats about to happen hahaha. Always best to approach the cats slowly so they don’t freak out.

The staff don’t allow you to pick up the cats, but they can plop them in your arms. This is because they know which cats will tolerate being held. It’s quite nice since my cats at home will never be held or caressed because they just hate it.

Once your time is over, you can change out of the slippers and grab your things. They also have a lot of lint rollers too just in case a few cat hairs get on your pants. I actually found very very little cat hair on my pants, so the cats are well groomed and I’m impressed.

As a cat owner, my short haired cats shed on me like crazy. I probably need to groom them more often.

Final Thoughts

It’s definitely really busy at Catoro Cafe on the weekends, so make sure you make online reservations ahead of time. Weekdays are easier for walk ins if you want to spontaneously go hang out with some cats. They also have a bunch of different deals, so check out the website and social media to find out what they are.

Catoro Cafe is a great addition to Vancouver and super fun for kids and adults. I’m sure the cats have fun too. Of all the cat cafes I’ve been to in my travels, this is definitely very whimsical with the Totoro theme. Of course they can’t copy everything exactly because of copyright issues, but they do a good job.

Address:
666 East Broadway St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://catorocafe.com

In Fusion

Torafuku: 4th Anniversary Omakase Menu

September 14, 2019

Torafuku celebrates their 4th year anniversary with a special omakase set. Omakase is a Japanese term that means “I’ll leave it up to you”, where the meal consists of dishes selected by the chef. I absolutely love these dining experiences as you get a taste of what the restaurant offers.

Their options are 7 course omakase for $45 per person or 10 courses for $55 per person, with amuse bouche and bonbons added on top. It is an awesome deal and only available during dinner until September 22, 2019.

Ever since they started Le Tigre food truck back in 2012, I was a huge fan because of their Kick Ass Rice Bowl. The sauces and flavours were just so good and addictive. As Torafuku opened up in 2015, it was exciting since I work just a few blocks away. There are usually great deals to be had here whether it be their lunch menu, Dine Out Vancouver, or their omakase.

We covered their regular $45 omakase a few months ago when I dined with my family. It was a great menu, so when they launched their 4th year anniversary omakase, I was excited to return. The 10 courses for $55 per is a steal and you will be bursting from the seams.

Here is a quick look at the dishes.

Amuse Bouche

The amuse bouche arrive to give us a taster before the menu starts.

Marinated Tomatoes with Shiso Leaf
Cheese Terrine with Hibiscus Jelle
Forged Mushroom Tart with Yuzu

A nice touch and I absolutely loved the mushroom tart. I am a huge huge fan of mushrooms.

Rabbit Food

This has a base of kale salad with gem tomatoes, lemon juice, grated parmesan, quinoa crunch, anchovy buttermilk dressing.

I absolutely love this dish and yes, I can make friends with salad. Props to you if you understood that reference. The salad is well balanced and love the quinoa brunch.

Chef’s Daily Sushi Rolls

Kick Ass Rice 3.0 roll has torched pork belly, furikake, cucumber, avocado, shiso, miso mayo, and fuku hot sauce.

Dy-No-Mite roll has prawn tempura, avocado, cucumber, steelhead salmon, mango and 7 spice aioli.

Both rolls were delicious and very flavourful. They really know how to balance the flavours and textures.

Fuku Style Kushiyaki – Cherry Tomato, Mochi and Corn

The mochi was so good. It is a house handmade sticky rice cake on stick, prepared daily with furikake and miso mayo. The corn was addictive and we couldn’t stop eating it. Corn is in season, so it was so good a naturally sweet.

Catch of the Day

This is their daily fresh fish ceviche. It was really good and fresh!

Higher Steak

This delectable dish has Wagyu beef tataki, cabbage slaw, crispy garlic, scallions, and citrus ponzu. This was a great dish as well. The tender and fatty beef goes so well with the ponzu.

Everyday I’m Brusselin’

This has Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, black bean balsamic vinaigrette, crispy chick peas, fried quinoa, and toasted almonds.

I love the abundance of vegetables in this omakase and the textures and flavours were so on point.

G-Tao’s Chix Wings

This has fried chix wings tossed in General Tao’s secret sauce and has broccoli on the side. I found it was overly sauced and sweet for my personal liking.

The Steak Out

This is made with a beautiful AAA rib eye 12oz., charcoal grilled, tamari butter, chimichurri, and seasonal veggies. So good! Who knew tamari butter would be so addictive with rib eye. Cooked perfectly too.

Gone Fishin’

This has a crispy whole market fish, toasted shrimp, crispy shallots, soy bean crumble, tamarind sweet and sour sauce. The fish that was available when were were there was sea bream, which has a nice meaty texture.

They debone it table side and its always a fun sight.

Mango Madness

This is served in a jar with Coconut Panna Cotta, mango sago and passion-fruit puree. The subtle coconut flavour in the panna cotta go really well with the mango.

Magic Stick

Chocolate Ganache, hazelnut feuilletine, raspberry coulis, and vanilla orange. It was rich and chocolaty which I enjoyed. The salt on top enhances the flavour too and gives it a salt and sweet combination.

Featured Anniversary Cocktails

In addition to the menu, they have a few featured cocktails to celebrate their anniversary and they are $16 each.

All 3 drinks are outstanding! They have an amazing cocktail program and the drinks are top notch.

Tom Yum Caesar

Suntory Roku Gin, fresh gem tomatoes, Thai spices and herbs, lime, fish sauce and cilantro.

Passion Libre

Los siete misterios doba-yej Mezcal, fernet branca, egg white, passionfruit, iron goddess tea syrup, and red Thai chilis.

XOXO

Calvados Brandy, Grand Marnier, lemon, pandan syrup, and Bitter Sling crabapple bitters.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully you’re able to make it for their 4th Anniversary Omakase as it’s quite a steal for either the 7 course or 10 course option. Only available until September 22nd 2019, but a lot of the dishes are on their regular menu.

Alternatively, you can order off the regular menu or call them to reserve omakase for your group. They are really easy to work with if there are dietary restrictions. I’ve always had a good time here when I dine with friends and family.

Address:
958 Main St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://torafuku.ca/

In Fusion

Torafuku: $45 Omakase Dinner

June 16, 2019

Torafuku serves up Asian fusion cuisine and they are located right outside Chinatown in Vancouver. They have won award after award for their exceptional innovative dishes.

Torafuku does a variety of Omakase Dinner menus for large groups. Since it was my mom’s birthday, we decided to come here for a group of 7. My sister emailed Torafuku and organized the menu, we made some minor tweeks to the $45 menu and it also does not include drinks or desserts.

Interior

There is a long communal table and booth seating, so it is good for small to large groups. You can book your table ahead of time so you’re guaranteed a seat for your party.

Yuzu Lemon Soda

This is made of yuzu lemon juice, simple syrup and soda. It was really good! It surprised us and my husband got 2 of them.

Sushi Set

This come with 4 kinda of Torafuku style sushi rolls, which individually is on their regular dinner menu.

Kick Ass Rice 3.0 roll has torched pork belly, furikake, cucumber, avocado, shiso, miso mayo, and fuku hot sauce.

Dy-No-Mite roll has prawn tempura, avocado, cucumber, steelhead salmon, mango and 7 spice aioli.

Get in my Belly roll has spicy tuna belly, cucumber, avocado, and fuku hot sauce.

Eat Yo Veggies roll has enoki mushrooms, arugula, cucumber, avocado, toasted quinoa, and chimi.

All 4 rolls were pretty good and not your traditional sushi rolls. We did enjoy the variety that came.

Rabbit Food

This was the salad that came with the meal, it is a kale salad with gem tomatoes, lemon essence, grated Parmesan, quinoa crunch, Chinese prosciutto, and an anchovy buttermilk dressing.

This was a hit and we really liked the saltiness of the anchovy dressing, the texture of the quinoa crunch, and each ingredient brought the whole salad together.

Grilled Skewer Set

There were 4 types of skewers that arrived throughout the meal.

Asparagus topped with gremolata and salt. This was the seasonal vegetable.

Cherry tomato with basil and plum powder.

Beef Meatball with nori and 7 spiced mayo. This was my husbands favourite of the night as it was juicy and full of flavour.

Pork jowl with oroshi, ponzu and green onion. This was my favourite of the 4 skewers.

The skewers were decent, but Zakkushi is still better for all things skewers. It was just missing the deep charcoal flavour.

General Tao’s Chicken Wings

These wings are deep-fried to perfections, slathered with their secret sauce and served with broccoli on the side. The exterior is crisp with the sweet sauce coating it. Then the inside was very moist and juicy. Pretty good.

Everyday I’m Brusselin’

This dish has brussels, cauliflower, broccoli, black bean balsamic vinaigrette, crisp chick peas, fried quinoa, and toasted almonds. The star of the show seemed to be the cauliflower instead of the broccoli as there was more of it.

Magic Mushrooms

This has foraged mushrooms, yuzu tamari, brown butter, rice cake and ricotta cheese. This dish was ok, but the mushrooms that were in season weren’t as good this time around. If you come at peak mushroom season in spring.

The Market Fish

The fish is deep-fried and prepared tableside. They come and debone it at the table, which is nice and stay hot and fresh. It was flavourful and moist.

It is topped with toasted shrimp, crispy shallots, soy bean crumble, and a tamarind sweet and sour sauce.

The Steak Out

This has slices of Grilled Ribeye with tamari butter, chimichurri, and seasonal vegetables. The ribeye has a nice charcoal flavour and was tender.

Magic Stick

Mango Madness

This is served in a jar with Coconut Panna Cotta, mango sago and mojito dust. The subtle coconut flavour in the panna cotta go really well with the mango.

Final Thoughts

The Omakase for $45 was a good deal and they give you the ability to tweak the menu for dietary restrictions or preferences as it is planned ahead of time. They were really easy to communicate through email and was a great experience. We all left full and got a good taste of the menu with this $45 omakase set.

Address:
958 Main St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://torafuku.ca/

In Dineout

[Sneak Peek] Dine Out Vancouver 2019 at Rocky Mountain Flatbread

January 25, 2019

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. has 2 locations in the Lower Mainland; one on Main Street and another in Kitsilano. The other 2 locations are in Banff and Canmore. They serve up handcrafted organic flatbreads and bakes them in their wood fired oven. They also have organic pasta dishes, salads, soups and decadent desserts. They are also know to have a very family friendly atmosphere with a play area too.

They are one of the participating restaurants on the Dine Out Vancouver 2019 list. We got a special sneak peek to see what they are offering customers. You will be treated to their $25 menu lunch or dinner menu.

Interior

There are lots of tables for small to large groups. Best to make reservations just in case it gets busy during peak hours.

Dine Out Menu

What is great about this menu is that there are so many options to craft your meal and you’re not limited to just whats on the Dine Out Menu.

Paloma Mocktail

The meal starts with their house craft mocktail. When we were here, it was the Paloma mocktail with pink grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed lime, simple syrup and soda. You can spice this up with tequila or vodka for $5 extra.

Appetizers

For appetizers, you have 3 choices of a salad, Mushroom Caps or house made soup.

For the salad option you have a few to choose from so you’re not limited to just one kind. Your choices are Fresh Herb Salad (Vegan), Basil & Blackberry Salad, or Fig & Goat Cheese Salad. They have pretty good salads but my favourite is the fig & goat cheese salad.

The BC Mushroom Caps have 4 different flavours to choose from:

Bacon, Leek & Cheddar
Spinach & Goat Cheese
Roasted Veggies
Sundried Tomato Hummus

Of the ones we tried, the bacon, leek and cheddar was my favourite as the saltiness from the bacon married well with the mushroom.

As for soups, there are 2 to choose from – Seasonal Soup or their Spicy Organic Tomato Soup, which is vegan. The seasonal soup was potato and leek but it can change depending on when you go. Very comforting and not salty at all.

Entrees

For the main dishes, you can choose from pizza or pastas on their menu.

There are 12 different pizzas to choose from on the menu and you can customize for gluten-free pizza crust or artisan pizza for an extra charge.

Some of my favourites are the Fig & Brie Artisan Pizza, Farmers Market, and Pesto Chicken.

Pasta is the other entree option and you have 4 types to choose from:

Chef’s Pasta Feature
Roasted Vegetable Rotini
Bacon and Three Cheese Penne
Penne Bolognese

The pastas are created with organic pasta and local seasonal veggies. I really enjoyed the bacon and three cheese penne. Delicious!

Dessert

The best part of the meal is when it comes to dessert. You can choose from:

Warm Double Chocolate Brownies Served With Vanilla Ice Cream
Baked Cheesecake With A Toasted Coconut Base (Gluten Free)
Seasonal Sorbet (Gluten Free & Vegan)
Apple Cinnamon Crumble Served With Coconut Vanilla Ice Cream (Gluten Free + Vegan)

A good selection but the warm double chocolate brownie is by for the most popular. I tried the apple cinnamon crumble and it was also very very good.

Final Thoughts

For $25 3-course menu and a mocktail, it’s a good price. There is a lot of flexibility to the menu for lunch and dinner to cater to varying dietary needs and it’s very family-friendly. Kids can choose items from the regular menu or even do the kids 3-course menu for $13.50. Highly recommended for parents that want a night out and may have to bring kids along.

Address:
4186 Main St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.rockymountainflatbread.ca/

In Brunch

Sweetery Café + Dessert: Brunch on the Weekends

October 14, 2018

The Sweetery Café + Dessert is located in Vancouver near the Cambie and Olympic Village area on W 2nd Avenue. They have been around serving up delicious breakfasts and lunches in the neighbourhood for some time now. A favourite local spot for brunch and to indulge in egg bennies and chicken and waffles. They are now open on the weekends for brunch.

Interior

There is a lot of seating inside and you can put in your order up at the counter and pay. Then you can find a seat in the seating area.

Belgium Waffles

They make fresh Belgium Waffles to order and you can choose them with different toppings like bacon, sausage, or fresh fruit and whipped cream.

Depending on if you like savoury or sweet, you have the choice to decide what suits your taste buds.

Chicken and Waffles

The classic chicken and waffles on their menu has their Belgium waffles, Sweetery-style fried chicken, chilli maple butter, bacon, hash, and maple syrup.

This is one of their most popular items on the menu.

Crab Cake Benny

The Crab Cake Benny has poached eggs, chili cream cheese, hollandaise, mixed greens, and hash.

The egg was beautifully poached and oozed as it was cut.

Smoked Turkey Benny

They have specials on their menu and while we were here, it was near Thanksgiving, so they created the Smoked Turkey Benny with poached eggs, turkey, peppercorn gravy, cranberry, and chutney. It is served with smash potatoes and fresh fruit on the side.

Jersey City Burger

They have partnered up with Relish Gourmet Burgers to add some of their burger items to the menu. The Jersey City burger has fried field mushrooms, pickled peppers, pancetta bacon, and provolone cheese. We had the side of sweet potato fries, which are $4.25 extra.

The burger was ok, but it could have a bit more charbroiled taste to it.

Honey Dijon Beef Baguette

There are sandwiches on the menu too if you aren’t too into brunch items. This item is panini grilled, so you get a hot toasty sandwich with a crisp exterior.

Homemade Baked Goods

There are a lot of home made baked goods, so if you want a sweet snack with a drink, they have that too.

Berry Chia Pudding

Got some dietary restrictions? They have gluten-free and vegan options on the menu and one of them is their chia seed puddings.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As it is October, it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and you can purchase a pink ribbon with a $2 donations. Also, every pink item sold, they will be donating $1.

Final Thoughts

They have an extensive list of menu items, which everything is made in-house. From pastries to burgers, the taste of the items we tried were decent. Nothing really stood out, but there are a lot of items to choose from.

Address:
340 W 2nd Ave, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.sweeterycafe.com/

In Chinese

Hon’s Wonton House: Olympic Village new menu

October 4, 2018

We’ve already visited and reviewed Hon’s new Olympic Village location. We went back when they invited us to the media event and introduced their updated menu. We also learned that a new location will soon open near the Commercial and Broadway area.

The new menu

Hon’s Wonton is adding a few more items to their menu. New ingredients include bbq pork, curry sauce, and “vegetable bites” (seitan). The update includes:

BBQ Pork on Rice

The meat is tasty and had good caramelization, but the sauce is very salty. I would try to ask for the sauce on the side so you can control the amount.

Curry Beef Brisket On Rice

This dish is simple and tastes exactly what you would make at home. It’s a good option if you’re way too tired after work to make a hearty meal.

Sweet & Sour Veggie Bites on Rice

The sweet and sour sauce is good, but I expected the seitan to be crispy since it’s deep-fried before covered in sauce. Fun fact: Hon’s is the largest supplier of seitan in North America.

Same taste, new approach

We learned at the media event that the menu was created with the belief that restaurants must adapt and change to remain relevant. To cater to modern patrons, Hon’s seafood ingredients are Oceanwise and their beef is Canadian AAA. Additionally, they have a vegan option featuring seitan as the protein.

Final thoughts

Hon’s differentiates itself from the typical Chinese restaurant by offering a streamlined menu. I was very pleased to learn that they are using sustainable seafood and quality Canadian beef. It was also a nice surprise that they offer a vegan option.

We have to mention that the taste and quality in the food offered during the media event differs from our experience when we visit Hon’s on a normal day. The pork potstickers we tasted at the event was crispy, whereas our previous experience was not. Operational consistency is a challenge for many restaurants and I hope that Hon’s can regularly make their signature items the same, for each and every visit.

Address:
25 E 2nd Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.honswontonhouse.com/

In Chinese

Hon’s Wonton House: Same Old Taste, Brand New Decor

July 14, 2018

Hon’s Wonton House is the rebirth of the Hon’s empire with their newest location on 2nd near Olympic Village. Hon’s has been around since 1972 and was a popular Chinese wonton house in the Lower Mainland. As our palates have evolved and the rise of other noodle shops has since given them stiff competition, they have seen better days.

With this new location, their look has been revamped to fit the neighbourhood. I was really curious how the food would compare this time.

Interior

All the seating are in tables of 4s and reminded us of seating in street markets back in Asia. You will see wooden panelling, black furniture, stone bricks and off white paint.

Their kitchen is in full view so you can see how they make your meal. No secrets and it’s all exposed, which is nice to see all the staff hard at work.

Pork Potstickers

For $5, you get 6 pieces of their classic pork potstickers paired with ginger and the potsticker vinegar. All the dumplings seemed like they were boiled or steamed. It would have been nice to have a pan fried version of theses to have more texture.

Wonton Noodle Soup

I got the wonton noodle soup with thin noodles and prawn wonton. There was a lot of noodles in each bowl, so you’ll definitely fill up on that. There were 6 pieces of wontons in this dish and tasted ok. They kept the standard the same and consistent for all these years and I saw that they were using their prepackaged Hon’s wontons, which isn’t surprising.

One thing I didn’t like was the slightly sweet broth for the dish.

Beef Brisket Wonton Noodle Soup

The most expensive item on the menu is this beef brisket wonton noodle soup. It has the same broth as the wonton noodle soup, so it does have a sweet after taste. You get 3 shrimp wontons, lots of noodles, garlic chips, a scoop of the beef brisket, and veggies.

It looks great but the taste was lacklustre. The beef brisket was tough and chewy.

Final Thoughts

The new space is nice, but the food has definitely been stuck in the olden days. The broth was the most problematic for me as I personally prefer it to be saltier than sweeter.

The price range is great for the area and they are able to pump out bowls of food quite quickly, so they have a good rhythm going if they get busy. I really wanted to like the food, but it didn’t hit the mark. Felt like corners were cut so they can’t really create a good bowl of wonton noodle soup. There’s definitely better options around town, but if you like the nostalgia of Hon’s, you can give it a try.

Address:
25 E 2nd Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.honswontonhouse.com/

In Italian

AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza Joint: Pizza Pies and Sicilian Squares in Vancouver

July 2, 2018

AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza Joint recently opened up in Vancouver on Broadway. Having Brooklyn-style pizza in Vancouver will remind you of the times in New York searching for the best slice. They specialize in traditional NYC pizza that is served throughout for the five boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island, and Manhattan.

We came for their grand opening and dined with other wonderful foodies in town. The atmosphere of this Pizza Joint is very casual and great for pizza lovers.

Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie board of assorted meats and cheese is a good way to start the meal to have something to pick at before the rest of the dishes arrive. Delicious and a great sharing item for the table.

Classic Caesar Salad

This has romaine lettuce and croutons, served with Caesar dressing, Pparmesan cheese, and seasonings. A good classic salad that you can’t go wrong.

Sicilian Square Pizzas

These were cut up into square unlike triangular pizza slices. Grab your spatula and pick them up. It’s fun to see all the cheese being stretched. We had the New York and Brooklyn choices.

The New York Sicilian has mozzarella cheese, Sicilian tomato sauce, and fresh basil. This is 16″ and there were 20 slices to it. The Brooklyn has pepperoni, spicy Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese, Sicilian tomato sauce, olive oil and basil. You’ll notice the crust is about 1″ thick with a crunchy bottom and airy interior.

John’s Pepperoni Pie

They created this pizza because of John’s on Bleaker Street in New York City. We’ve been there and you can’t go wrong with a classic pepperoni pizza. This version has mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Grimaldi’s Classic Margherita Pizza

If you’re heard of Grimaldi’s, they are one of the popular pizza restaurants in Brooklyn and there are long lines because tourists like me need a taste of the best. You will find AJ’s version of their Margherita Pizza with mozzarella cheese, cured tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and basil.

The Spicy Vesuvio Pizza

This has mozzarella cheese, spicy Italian sausage, mushrooms, chili flakes, and Parmesan cheese.

Suzanne’s Red Pepper Pesto Pizza

This has artichoke, pesto, shredded mozza, and roasted red pepper.

Final Thoughts

The slices are huge and the prices are very reasonable. If you’re getting a whole pizza, you’ll want to come here with a few friends. Don’t forget to fold the pizza over just like a Brooklyn slice since it’s so wide. The pizza pie’s were our favourite as it was a bit thinner. All the pizza’s were tasty and not greasy at all compared to other places.

Address:
325 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Website:
ajsbrooklynpizzajoint.com

In Afternoon Tea

La Petite Cuillere: Brunch and High Tea in Mount Pleasant

June 18, 2018

La Petite Cuillere in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood has undergone a little transformation after the change of ownership. Owner Cathy Lai and Chef Frankie partnered back in November 2017 to focus on quality ingredients, cooking from scratch, rotating menu and better tea and food pairings. They recently launched a new menu with brunch being served daily from 10am – 2:30pm.

Interior

Since the ownership changeover, there have been some changes to the interior. The seating is more extravagant and fancy. If you have a particular seat in mind, it’s best to reserve and ask for that spot. They can accommodate parties up to 23 people and private events of up to 45 people.

These two east are extra fancy and so boujee.

I like how they kept the tea cups as a focus at the back of the cafe. I’m even impressed that it’s colour coordinated too.

Afternoon Tea

We started with the afternoon tea, which is always a stunner. You get all the sweets and savouries, plus a pot of tea. Our beautiful tower came with:

Cupcake
Tea Cake
Macaron
Scone with preserves and Devonshire cream
Crème Brule
Soup of the day
Darjeeling Roasted Chicken Tartlet with Cranberry Chutney
Lapsang Tea Egg Salad Croissant
Mushroom & Caramelized Onion Quiche
Spring Salad with Green Tea Goddess Dressing

The flavours change daily, so you never know what flavours of items it will be. Always best to call ahead and let them know of any dietary restrictions. They can also make a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free versions too.

Of the set we had, I felt that the savoury items were stronger than the sweet ones, but that is also my personal preference too. The quiche and croissant were my favourite.

For my pot of team, I went with Earl Grey. It’s classic for any afternoon tea and goes well by itself or with milk and sugar.

Chai Tea French Toast

The Chai Tea French Toast is topped with candied hazelnuts, blueberry compote, and chamomile mascarpone cream. A twist on a classic with 4 layers of french toast. The Chai isn’t too strong and pairs nicely with the blueberry compote.

Vegan Buckwheat Waffles

The waffles is topped with dark chocolate salted caramel, earl grey butter, and raspberry compote. It’s good to have vegan options for brunch but felt this was a bit lacking compared to the other dishes on the menu.

Croque Madame

This has darjeeling béchamel, leek jam, swiss cheese, ham, and egg. It was interesting to see how they incorporated tea into the béchamel. Can’t go wrong with a sandwich covered in cheese and sauce.

Smoked Salmon Hash

It has crispy potatoes, lentils, dill, soft boiled tea egg, and a Ceylon lemon aioli. This was a fun dish and I liked the smoked salmon and the egg.

Breakfast Quiche

Despite its look, I enjoyed it. It has creamed oolong spinach, mushroom, squash, caramelized onion, and mozzarella.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the brunch and afternoon tea items were ok. None of the dishes stood out too much, but its still a fun place to hang out with friends and enjoy some tea and treats while catch up on life.

Address:
55 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.lapetitecuillere.ca/

In Cafe

Yandoux Patisserie: Desserts in Olympic Village

April 13, 2018

Yandoux Patisserie is a new dessert shop and serves tea sets as well. I’ve passed by several times since I work in the area and was always curious. A lot of people stop by to pick up a few treats for home, but if you have time, they have their tea set for $48 per person. All their other individual cakes are around $6 per piece.

Interior

The space isn’t too large but has a clean minimalist look. A good space to hang out with a bunch of friends.

Matcha Opera Cake

This has layers of matcha sponge cake, chocolate, marshmallows and topped with a strawberry. It has a strong matcha flavour and the chocolate compliments it nicely.

Orange Blossom

There is a layer of pistachio sponge, almond sponge cake, pistachio ganache, and vanilla cremeux and orange cream. I enjoyed this.

Rouge

This tasty cake has mascarpone, cheesecake, raspberry and a lychee coulis. Highly recommended too. A few bites and you’ll devour it all.

Egg

This cute little egg is made of greek yogurt for the egg white, mixed fruit curd for the yolk and a base of almond sponge with whipped ganache for the nest.

We had to cut inside to see if the centre looks just like an egg and sure enough it was perfect. It was delicious and I like the tang from the greek yogurt with the fruit curd.

Le Petit Prince

Le Petit Prince is based off the classic book. I happen to be a huge fan, so I was mesmerized by the dessert made of Tahiti vanilla mousse, rum, and a passion fruit curd. The exterior has a vibrant blue colour and sprinkles of edible stars.

I’ve noticed a bit of inconsistency for this batch of Le Petit Prince. Some pictures I’ve seen online has more of a dark blue with white speckles that make it more of a galaxy. This one was more blue/purple. Other than the look of it, it still tasted good.

Final Thoughts

It’s good to have a cute dessert shop in the Olympic Village area as there aren’t many options in the neighbourhood unless you travel deeper into Downtown Vancouver. The taste of the dessert were good and their cakes change up so you won’t really know exactly what they have until you arrive.

Address:
1731 Manitoba St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.yandoux.com/

In Four Beakers

Restaurant Yugo: French and Japanese Fusion on Main Street

April 11, 2018

Restaurant Yugo just opened up on Main Street serving up a fusion of Japanese and French cuisine. If you’re a fan of their sister restaurant – Kitchen by Yugo on Denman Street, you’ll enjoy this too. I came after work with a few friends for dinner to chat over food and drinks.

Interior

The space is beautiful and seats small to large groups. They have a portion of the restaurant for reservations and some saved for walk-ins. We loved the atmosphere and the service from their staff.

Drinks

We had to start off the weekend with some drinks, so I got an Asahi Super Dry beer. I enjoy refreshing beer to go with this type of cuisine. My friends went with their Osamanthus cocktail which has tangerine peel infused gin, honey, osmanthus and lemon juice. They loved this cocktail and would highly recommend it.

Spicy Fish Tartar

This appetizer has crispy cheese sushi rice cake on the bottom, topped with avocado, spicy fish tartar, tobiko and green onions. On the plate is also quail egg and unagi sauce. You take the quail egg and drape the egg yolk all over the tartar. A fun appetizer to share and start off this dinner.

Gindara

This dish has a beautifully grilled black cod marinated in maple syrup and soy sauce. It is then served with fried soba noodles, kale and yuzu foam. The black cod has delicate and well balanced with the salty soy sauce and sweet maple.

Scallops Risotto

This dish has Hokkaido scallops, black truffle, mushrooms, ikura honey ricotta, bonito flakes and fried leeks. This is one of the most popular dishes to get here and it lives up to that reputation. So good and so comforting.

Sakura Cheese Cake

This 4 layer cake is perfect for the spring as the cherry blossoms are blooming around town. There is cherry blossom jam and green tea cookie crumbs. It is sweet and subtle sakura flavour.

Matcha Mille Crepes

Layers of paper-thin matcha crepes with red beans in the middle. It is then topped with more matcha powder on top. I really liked this dessert as crepes are awesome and when you turn that into a cake with whipped cream, its a good thing.

Homemade Ice Cream

Two scoops of ice cream all dressed up. If you’re looking for something simple, this is an option.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we were all pleasantly surprised with the combination of Japanese and French flavours. It’s a great addition to the area where there isn’t this style of food. Dinner is slightly more expensive, but they are also open for lunch too with cheaper options.

We Rate Restaurant Yugo:

Address:
4265 Main St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://restaurantyugo.com/