Blue Fox Breakfast

Breakfast is the most remarkably versatile meal of the day. Sweet and savory flavors mix together and create tantalizing dishes that make the stomach rumble. Despite my rather strong dislike of mornings, I truly enjoy a good breakfast restaurant. While in Victoria with my sister recently I was lucky enough to discover the Blue Fox Café. We arrived as they opened and were surprised to see the small crowd waiting outside. Somehow I believed that 8 am on a Sunday would be quiet, but the café was filled with good cheer and alluring smells.  

We were seated right away and offered organic coffee or a variety of teas. In retrospect I wish I had sampled the red chili mocha, but my earl grey tea was still delicious. The menu is filled with mouthwatering choices such as the Moroccan Chicken Benny (Moroccan spiced chicken breast, mushrooms, onions, sweet apple chutney, and hollandaise) and the Oranges del Sol French toast (cinnamon scented toast, vanilla velvet sour cream sauce, triple sec syrup, and fresh orange segments). When it came time to make a decision, my sister Tamra and I both went for the Huevos Rancheros. It can be somewhat risky ordering Mexican food in the Pacific Northwest, but the Blue Fox Café definitely impressed me.

Two fresh over easy eggs with beautiful dark orange yolks covered in spicy refritos, melted cheddar and jack cheese, avocado, and salsa; served with pan-fried potatoes and the option of chicken breast or pulled pork. I chose the pulled pork and was impressed by the large amount of food brought to us. The flavors were perfect, albeit less spicy than I would prefer. The pulled pork was rich in flavor although next time I may try the chicken, or just stick with the huevos on their own. The meal was filling and I was very sad to leave some of the delicious potatoes on my plate. Luckily the café serves breakfast all day so I can return without time constraints. For any breakfast lover, this is one restaurant not to miss.
   

Pacifico Pizza

I am afraid that I have fallen slightly behind on blogging thanks to a new job, but hopefully I will get in the swing of things and continue with regular posts.

Recently my mom came to Vancouver to visit the Farmers Market and spend the night with me. When it came time for dinner we had several problems in deciding where to go. Our first choice was closed for a private event, our second choice had a thirty-minute wait, and our third and fourth choices had both closed down recently. Luckily we smelled a delicious aroma wafting from Pacifico Pizzeria Ristorante on Smithe St. and followed our noses to a fantastic meal. The service at Pacifico was fantastic. When we told our waitress that we would like to split an appetizer, entrée, and pizza, she arranged it into a three-course meal experience.

We started out with mussels in a garlicky tomato sauce served with delicious focaccia. It is rare to find mussels in a red sauce instead of a classic herbs and white wine sauce, but this was perfection. The mussels were tender and the sauce was perfect for dipping. While I loved the flavor of the focaccia, I wish there had been more available to sop up the delicious broth.

Our second course was gnocchi tartufo, which I have to say, is the best gnocchi dish I have ever had. Usually I prefer to make gnocchi at home since it is so simple, but the Pacifico has complete mastery over this particular dish. Walnuts, mushrooms, and truffle oil come together to make a mouthwatering flavor! Our third and final course was the prosciutto and arugula pizza. First of all, this pizza had the best thin-crust that I have enjoyed in Vancouver. The toppings were fresh and the arugula was put on after baking to keep it crisp. There was plenty of pizza for leftovers the next day.

In the end my experience was excellent thanks to both the quality of the food and service. The prices were reasonable and after our three-course meal and three cocktails, the bill came up to around $70. In fact I enjoyed it all so much that I returned with a friend for a celebratory dinner just one week later. On my second trip I sampled the smoked salmon tagliatelle, which was delectable, but not on par with the gnocchi. I recommend Pacifico Pizzeria Ristorante to anyone who wants to enjoy quality Italian food and pizza at a decent price.

Sandbar Views

On Granville Island, most restaurants are 75% view and 25% decent food. It can be difficult to find a place to eat that is both delicious and beautiful. Luckily there is the Sandbar to provide both excellent food and atmosphere. Recently a friend and I had a lovely simple meal at the Sandbar that ended with fireworks over English Bay. I was in the mood for a simple meal and settled on the fresh mussels in a coconut curry sauce. Now any true mussel lover knows that the sauce is the best part, and luckily the Sandbar provides plenty of bread for dipping. The food itself was perfection. The mussels were juicy, the sauce was delicious, and at the end of the meal I felt like I had received my money’s worth.

My only complaint about the whole night would be the service. It is rare for me to feel wholly uncomfortable in a server’s presence, but the young man who waited our table would simply not stop staring. Apparently I reminded him of his cousin and he called me by her name for the rest of the night. In addition to calling me his cousin, he was difficult to find, frustrating to communicate with, and very slow to respond to simple requests such as water with no ice, and a bowl for mussel shells.

Despite the poor service, both the food and the view at the Sandbar make me certain that I will return.

Please forgive the poor quality photos. The lighting was not great and this was before I received my fantastic birthday camera!

Salt Spring Island and Auntie Pesto's

I have come to the conclusion that the best blog writing atmosphere involves sunshine, a glass of rose wine, and an ocean view. What paradise is this? Salt Spring Island. I am lucky to have my parents living on Salt Spring Island because it means I am just one ferry ride away from a vacation. There is a thriving community here year-round, but during the tourist season, it is like a different world. The restaurants have flair, the farmer’s market is bustling, and everyone has a smile. Since my parents moved here last May, I have sampled several of the local restaurants and one of my favorites is Auntie Pesto’s. Auntie Pesto’s is a vibrant harbor-side restaurant with Italian dishes and local flavor. Having been there multiple times I can say assertively that for lunch, this is a truly amazing restaurant. Recently while visiting my Dad, we went to dinner at Auntie Pesto’s and it had a completely different dynamic. At night the restaurant is less energetic and the main visitors (during the week) are locals. Additionally lunch is superior because of the option to order half-size pasta dishes. Given the huge portion sizes, this is a definite plus.

While at the restaurant, my Dad and I enjoyed the Salt Spring Mussels appetizer which was delicious, albeit a little salty. It is always a joy to order local and seasonal items while at a restaurant and the mussels were no exception. My only real suggestion for this plate is the need for more bread. Any true mussel lover knows that the broth is the best part of the dish and that large amounts of bread are necessary to enjoy it.

For my main course, I ordered the pasta carbonara, which has never failed me at Auntie Pesto’s. It is well seasoned and delicious. The portions were huge and I only managed to eat half of my plate and save the rest for later. My Dad ordered the beef stroganoff that was sadly less than spectacular. The beef was tender and the egg noodles were wide, but the dish seemed to be missing several crucial ingredients. One of which was salt. Again the portion was huge and there were plenty leftovers.

In the end Auntie Pesto’s is an excellent restaurant for both tourists and locals, but should be visited at lunch on a sunny day for the best experience. While my most recent experience was less than amazing, I have faith that my next lunch there will more than make up for it.

Brunch at Ensemble Tap

I have never been much of a breakfast person. Despite my love of most breakfast food, not to mention my addiction to bacon, it just didn’t seem worth it to wake up early and eat. Which is why brunch is one of the best creations ever. Recently I received a coupon for a free mimosa with brunch at Ensemble Tap on Smithe. I visited the original Ensemble last year and was excited to try the new restaurant (and get my free mimosa). 

First of all, the mimosa was amazing! They come in guava flavor as well as orange and were delicious and perfect for brunch. I ordered the pulled pork with barbeque beans and was amazed by the depth of flavor in the bowl. The only problem was that the beans and pork were so well flavored that I couldn’t taste the poached eggs.  Despite this, the dish was excellent. I was lucky enough to have my mom as my brunch buddy and she ordered the three farm eggs with bacon. Despite the comparative simplicity of her meal, the eggs were amazing and had vibrant yellow yolks. Her plate also came with the best sourdough toast I have tasted at a restaurant. 

Overall the meal was excellent. There were some small imperfections, but I strongly believe that Ensemble Tap will become a popular new brunch place. And since I left with a new mimosa coupon, I definitely intend to visit again.

Lolita's

One of the biggest problems with my move to Vancouver has been the lack of high quality Mexican food. There are plenty of Mexican fusion places and a few chain burrito shops, but traditional Mexican food is difficult to find. When I first moved here I was told that Lolita’s has the best Mexican food in the city. For months I postponed visiting, primarily because of the high cost, but finally I caved in to the allure of margaritas and good food. 

First I should say that Lolita’s is not really a traditional Mexican restaurant. Although they have several traditional dishes, most menu items involve Pacific Northwest ingredients such as albacore tuna, B.C. salmon, and ling cod. Since I was on a mission to find true Mexican food, I stuck with traditional items such as carne asada and achiote chicken tacos, guacamole, and chips. The food was excellent and the portions were large. The chips were made fresh and I could not stop eating them. The guacamole had good flavor and was clearly made fresh, and the bean dip was a pleasant surprise. Both of the tacos had excellent flavor, but were unfortunately drowning in red cabbage coleslaw, which was delicious on its own, but did not belong on tacos.

In the end I can say that Lolita’s deserves a positive review, but has some key kinks to work out. Mexican food is meant to be an inexpensive treat, but at Lolita’s the prices are higher than I would like to pay. My search is for traditional Mexican food with flair and a reasonable price tag. At Lolita’s the food is delicious, but I strongly believe that there is better Mexican food to be found in Vancouver at a much lower price.

 

Guu is Guu'd

 

Rarely is a meal so spectacular that you are still in awe of it a week later. Luckily there are still some amazing meals where every aspect is perfect. Excellent service, tasty drinks, sublime food, and an exciting ambiance can come together to make an unforgettable meal. This was my experience at Guu. Behind the extremely bland exterior of an awning on a rather unremarkable street lies one of the best restaurants in Vancouver.

Because celebrating my Mom’s birthday motivated my visit to Guu, we started out the evening with some nice cocktails. I definitely recommend the sake mojitos and since all cocktails are under $9, I will be enjoying more in the future. Most of Guu’s menu items are authentic Japanese tapas. And I know that Japanese tapas sound like a bit of a contradiction, but trust me that they are delicious! The atmosphere is almost controlled chaos with an open kitchen, bar, and limited space. Despite this, the high energy only made our meal better.

Between my Mom and I, we had six dishes including dessert. We started with the Aigamo Salad, which was a roasted duck salad with a wasabi dressing. Truly one of the best salad dressings I have ever tried, but this was my least favorite of the dishes. Up next was the Ebi Mayo, which was a deep-fried prawn with chili mayo. I cannot think of tasting a better prawn dish in my life. Sadly my photos of the prawns don’t really reflect how delicious they were!

Next was a daily special of mussels in a garlic butter sake broth. The mussels were tender and the broth was light and refreshing. Fourth came Hotate Butter, a delectable garlicky scallop dish served on some of the best bread I have ever tasted! Our last savory dish was Tuna Tataki in a ponzu sauce. I am a self-confessed tuna addict and Guu did not fail me here! The meal was completed with green tea ice cream that left me wanting more. 

In the end I have to say that I wish I could visit Guu every day. Or work there, learn their secrets, and gorge on tuna tataki and prawns for the rest of my life. Mmmm. 

 

Whole Foods Grocery Store Review

Years ago when I was first starting ballet lessons my long-suffering mother was stuck driving me over an hour to ballet class, feeding me, and driving another hour home at least three times per week. In these dark days of parental self-sacrifice, there was a single glowing beacon: Whole Foods. The Santa Fe Whole Foods was paradise in the form of a grocery store and I ate many delicious meals from their deli, not to mention the amazing ciabatta bread loaves! Needless to say, Whole Foods already had a dear place in my heart that was not disappointed by my recent visit to a Vancouver Whole Foods.

When I first moved here, I was overjoyed that there was a Whole Foods a mere seven blocks from my new home. Sadly I didn’t realize that five of those blocks were an uphill battle while walking home and laziness and convenience won out. Now this Whole Foods is much smaller than what I am used to, but still manages to have an excellent produce section. I hadn’t planned on buying many vegetables, but was too tempted by the reasonably priced artichokes and delicious looking golden beets. I should also mention that Whole Foods is one of the few places you can find crucial popcorn ingredients such as nutritional yeast and paper bags. In fact the only disappointment about this Whole Foods was the butcher’s counter. Not only did they have limited meat options, but also the staff had no real knowledge of the products. Despite this, I was very impressed with the organization, selection, and price of the Robson St. Whole Foods. It may not be as good as Santa Fe, but it is still an excellent choice.

Leg of Lamb Sold Out
Panko $3.99/227 g
Star Anise $5.99/20 g
Artichokes 2/$3 (current special sale, regularly $2.49/each)

SuperValu Review
MarketPlace IGA Review

Urban Fare Review

Whole Foods Robson St.

SuperValu Grocery Store Review

  

Sometimes the simplest grocery store can surprise you. SuperValu is the Canadian equivalent of a Kroger store in the US. It is a great one stop shopping location for anything from a mop to frozen scallops.  Aisles are clearly laid out and it is rare that you need help finding things, which is lucky since the store is minimally staffed. SuperValu has a large number of surprising products. In the summer they sell local fruit and vegetables in a special produce section. They also have a good selection of frozen products including delicious seafood, a large ice cream section, and frozen fruit. 

Overall I definitely recommend visiting the SuperValu for any general grocery shopping. The one surprising disappointment was a lack of artichokes, but upon inquiring, I was told that they had artichokes just last week, but have stopped ordering them because it is the end of the season. Despite the lack of a large organic presence and the low staff numbers, it is easy to find almost anything here. I was most impressed with the large spice collection that had not only one brand of star anise, but also a second that was amazingly inexpensive.

Leg of Lamb Not sold
Panko $3.29/227 g
Star Anise $2.99/12 g
Artichokes Unavailable

MarketPlace IGA Review

Urban Fare Review

SuperValu Davie St.

MarketPlace IGA Grocery Store Review

It can be rather shaming to objectively review a place that you go to regularly and realize that it is not as great as you might think. Unfortunately, this is what happened to me when I went to review the MarketPlace IGA. I do most of my grocery shopping at this store simply because it is 1.5 blocks from my apartment (as the jaywalker runs) and has some organic produce available. I will admit that the first few times I went shopping there, it was extremely difficult to find what I needed. So difficult, in fact, that it took me over fifteen minutes to find the frozen food on my first trip. Somehow I put this behind me and continued to shop there.

Fast-forward eight months and I still go to this same grocery store on a weekly basis. Any time that I need to find a new ingredient results in frustration. This store truly has potential to be great. They have high quality produce, a good frozen section (once you find it), and the cashiers are some of the friendliest people in Vancouver. It is also conveniently located next to the movie theater, near my apartment, and on my way home from ballet class. However, MarketPlace needs to hire someone to do a full reorganization of every product they sell before I resume my regular shopping there. Until then, I will be taking my business to Urban Fare where the prices might be higher, but at least I can always find what I want. Hopefully someday when laziness wins and I go to the MarketPlace IGA, the system will have been fixed and I won’t be forced to wander through chaotic aisles in search of anything from panko to honey.

Leg of Lamb Not sold (can be special ordered-price unavailable)
Panko $2.19/150 g
Star Anise Not Sold.
Artichokes $2.99/ea.

Urban Fare Review

MarketPlace IGA Burrard

Urban Fare Grocery Store Review

Within eight blocks of my apartment there are over eight grocery stores. Some are small family-run shops that are wonderful in the summer and display their products on the sidewalk. Others are lower quality chains that have endless sales and promotions. And of course there are the “boutique” stores such as Whole Foods (Capers) and Urban Fare. It is extremely easy to just fall into a rut with one store and never actually see if it is the best option. I chose to visit four popular grocery stores near my home and compare prices and availability of four semi-gourmet items. First on the list is Urban Fare.

My first impression of Urban Fare upon moving to Vancouver was that it is the Whole Foods of Canada. The vegetable and fruit selection is very impressive as is the large cheese section and butcher’s counter. That said, they have a lot of work to do on bulk items and dried goods. I cannot complain too much about the small bulk selection though, because it is truly refreshing to find bulk items at all. Perhaps this area will become stronger in the future. Overall the store is well-laid out and I did not need any help to find the items on my list. The prices are more expensive than other stores in the area, but there is a lot to be said for one-stop shopping. Being the bread addict that I am, my favorite part of Urban Fare is the bakery. The pastries look amazing and the fresh baguettes are inexpensive and delicious. My favorite purchases here: fresh baguette and St. Andre triple-cream cheese!

Leg of Lamb $12.99/lb
Panko $3.59/227 g
Star Anise $11.49/17 g
Artichokes $3.59/ea.

Urban Fare-Alberni St.

MarketPlace IGA  Review

Sala Thai Bliss

Photo taken in Bangkok 2009

When I moved to Vancouver, I went on a search for the best Thai food. I have had a special attachment to Thailand since I was a child. It was always the magical place where dragons were real and giant golden Buddha guarded me at night. Luckily, I discovered that my favorite Vancouver Thai restaurant was a mere two blocks from my apartment. Sala Thai not only has excellent Thai standards such as Pad Thai, Emerald Curry, and Thai Iced Tea, but also has some more difficult to find menu items such as Mee Krob and Drunken Noodles. The Tom Kha Gai soup is perfect as comfort food takeout on a rainy winter night. Dishes are served family style and the prices are very reasonable with entrees ranging from $11-$18. On my most recent visit to Sala Thai I shared a relaxing meal of Drunken Noodles and Red Curry with a good friend.  As always the service was friendly, the food was delicious, and for one excellent meal, I was able to remember exactly why I love Thailand.

A Love Letter to Cho Pain

One of my favorite places in Vancouver is the Boulangerie Cho Pain. It is a small bakery on Davie St. where the service is friendly, the coffee is delicious, and the pastries are fresh. I first visited Cho Pain the week I moved to Vancouver. Visiting this bakery was the first time I felt at home in this new city. Feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the choices, I simply bought a loaf of sourdough to take home. One loaf of bread and I was hooked. 

I have to admit that I do not really like coffee, but the lattes at Cho Pain are the perfect mix of foam and milk and the espresso is strong without tasting bitter or burnt. The croissants are tender and flaky and my personal favorites have warm chocolate running through the middle. They have lemon tarts, sachertorte, muffins, and more. Today there were over forty different kinds of freshly baked bread on display with everything from baguettes to sunflower seed loaves. If you are having a savory lunch craving, they also serve sandwiches and quiche.

Lately I have had a difficult time relaxing. I always feel like there is something else I need to do, somewhere else I need to be. Even watching a movie while I fold my laundry has felt like a guilty indulgence. This morning I bought my latte and chocolate croissant and was able to sit for over an hour reading a book without anyone bothering me or demanding my time. It was almost as therapeutic as a massage. Eventually I gave up my table and bought a loaf of sourdough to take the relaxation back home with me.

The Vancouver Sushi Dilemma

One of the strange dilemmas in Vancouver is sushi.  There are over 400 places to get sushi in this city and they range from $6.95 for a 24-piece combo to $35 per roll. Some have amazing prices, but not the highest quality. Others have great sushi at reasonable prices, but terrible service. Are you willing to sacrifice price, service, or quality? I have yet to find “bad” sushi here. I hope to review a higher-ranking sushi restaurant in a few months, but in the meantime, here is a review of the average Vancouver sushi joint.

Yuko Maki is located on Davie St. next to KFC near the 25-cent peep shows. The sushi is served fresh, albeit slowly and there is unlimited hot tea. My friend L and I ordered four specialty rolls and a seaweed salad. The seaweed salad came out quickly, but then there was at least a ten-minute gap between each of the rolls arriving. Furthermore, L and I were not sharing our sushi, which made it difficult when they first brought my two rolls and then hers. By the time she was eating, I was almost finished.

Despite the mediocre service, the sushi is always delicious. I ordered the golden roll (yam tempura) and the bagel roll. The yam tempura was crispy and warm as always with delicious mayo and cream cheese.  The bagel roll had good quality smoked salmon and was well balanced. It was not the best bagel/Philadelphia roll that I have had, but it still tasted great. Both rolls held together well and the rice was perfect. Overall the food at Yuko Maki is on the higher end of the average Vancouver sushi eatery.

In the end you have to decide if the poor service is worth it at Yuko Maki, given that there are hundreds more sushi places to try. Personally, I will be out trying new places and hoping that good service and good sushi can come together at a reasonable price.