Take me to the Streets

Various Food Trucks/Cart
Street Food
All over Downtown Vancouver

Coming back to Vancouver from a 5-month travelling spree, I was surprised to see a ton of food carts that seemed to have quickly appeared on the streets of downtown Vancouver. It was a refreshing change to the city's food scene as street food has always been my favourite chow to try. I believe that if you really wanna get to know a place, its streets will reveal to you what it's all about. The people, the buildings, the food... take a stroll wherever you're at and take a look around and it will definitely tell you a story.

Vancouver in the recent past was pretty lame with its street food scene. There was nothing else other than hotdogs, well, there were hotdogs and Japadog, a Japanese inspired hotdog stand selling kurobuta sausages topped with Japanese food bits and condiments such as nori, wasabi mayo and bonito flakes. It was very unique and delicious but after awhile you will be looking for fresh flavours and new taste. Thankfully, soon after the Japadog craze died down, various food carts offering comfort food and fusion cuisine were mushrooming in every corner of the city's downtown core.

I was very excited to embark in a food cart adventure and started a mission to try out all of the Vancouver food cart's fare and this is what I got so far:

MOM'S GRILLED CHEESE TRUCK (as pictured above)
Serves: Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Location: Corner of Howe Street and West Georgia, Downtown Vancouver
Ordered: A sourdough cheddar sandwich with a scoop of chilli and a shot of the roasted tomato soup
Verdict: If this food doesn't comfort you, you're in definite trouble. Dangerously gooey and delectable. The butter may have clogged my arteries but was worth the treat. Extra chips were an added bonus and the roasted tomato soup was warming and tasty. Can't eat it everyday though because of it's richness but will surely come back for my cheese fix.

LA BRASSIERE STREET
Serves: Brass Chicken Sandwich—Beer brined rotisserie chicken in gravy, on a buttermilk bun, topped with crispy onions
Location: Corner of West Georgia and Granville Street, Downtown, Vancouver
Ordered: Chicken Sandwich, of course!
Verdict: Huge sandwich of warm gravy, crunchy onions and slices (they surely didn't scrimp on the meat) of that flavourful roasted chicken, what more can you ask for. A definite winner!

OSA TAKO HERO
Serves: Takoyaki - yummy Japanese balls made with pancake-like, savoury batter and filled with bits of octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion
Location: Howe and W. Pender, Downtown Vancouver
Ordered: Para Para Sakana - Takoyaki topped with bonito flakes, Japanese mayo and sweet takoyaki sauce
Verdict: Warm, gooey-on-the-inside Takoyaki always makes me smile. Authentic and delicious and although this won't fill you up for lunch, it's always good for a nice, tasty snack.

COMA FOOD
Serves: Mexican, Korean and American Fusion
Location: Various places in Downtown Vancouver, found them on Burrard and Pender
Ordered: Korean style BBQ Burrito
Verdict: Filling and oozing with appetizing Korean flavours. Will have to come back and try the Homemade Kimchi Quesadilla and maybe the rest of their menu. Everything looks good! And an added bonus, small bowls of Miso soup spiced with Korean seasoning is handed out to customers while waiting for their orders.

THE KABOOM BOX
Serves: Local/Canadian Cuisine (e.g. sandwiches made with salmon or venison, poutine)
Location: Robson and Granville, Downtown Vancouver
Ordered: Fried Oyster Po'Boy Sandwich
Verdict: Good but too mayo-ey for my taste and it's coming from a person who dunks her french fries in mayo! Wishing to have gotten the Hot Smoked Salmon Sandwich instead... well, next time!

MANGAL KISS
Serves: Mid Eastern shish kabob served in Iranian flatbread called taftoon with salatim (vegetables in English) and traditional sauces
Location: West Georgia and Hornby, Downtown Vancouver
Ordered: Beef Shish Kabob
Verdict: Unique flavours and interesting taste although a few more pieces of meat could have made it better but the since the vegetables are seasoned and tasty, all is forgiven. Will come back and try the chicken kabob, soup and limonata.

RE-UP BBQ
Serves: Pulled Pork and Beef Brisket Sandwiches
Location: Hornby and Georgia, Downtown Vancouver
Ordered: Pulled Pork Sandwich
Verdict: Good value for your money since the meat was falling off the bun although I personally think that the pork needed a little bit more bbq sauce.

FRESH, LOCAL, WILD
Serves: Local, Sustainable Food - mainly Fish and Chips and Sandwiches
Location: Hastings and Burrard
Ordered: Seared Tuna Albacore Sandwich with Jalapeño Havarti Cheese
Verdict: Fresh indeed! Delicious, just a little bit pricey but was still filling. Love the patio and FYI, their food truck is green as well! The used oil for frying fuels its generator -- how cool is that?

TACOFINO
Serves: Canadian Mexican Fusion
Location: Various Downtown Location (they have two trucks), found them on Burrard and Dunsmuir
Ordered: Fish Burrito filled with tempura battered ling cod, chipotle mayo, cabbage, salsa, refried beans and rice
Verdict: Huge serving and fresh flavours although it could use a few more cod pieces.

BADA BING
Serves: Steak sandwiches and Fries
Location: Burrard and West Georgia, Downtown Vancouver
Ordered: Animal Fries - Fries topped with Bada Bing's special sauce, sautéed onions and cheese
Verdict: Processed cheese and too-rich, mayo-ey sauce, not a big fan but will give them a chance and try their sandwich.

ROAMING RED DRAGON
Serves: Pan-Asian Cuisine
Location: Robson and Burard, Downtown Vancouver
Ordered: Chinese Fried Rice Balls, Korean Shortrib taco, Pork Belly Sliders and the Pear and Mint Iced Tea
Verdict: Kinda expensive for the serving size and was not anything spectacular. Especially like the Chinese Fried Rice Balls and the Iced Tea, will come back for that, not for lunch though but for a snack, it is after all snack size.

SLINGERS
Serves: Italian Sandwiches (Parmigaina Sandwiches are the house -- err, truck's special)
Location: West Pender and Burrard, Downtown Vancouver
Ordered: Eggplant Parmigiana Sandwich
Verdict: Eggplant was lightly fried and tasty and the combination of the sautéed onions and mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce was good but not stand-out. Sandwich was filling as well.

FEASTRO
Serves: Seafood (e.g. Seafood pot pie, prawn and prosciutto taco )
Location: Thurlow and West Cordova, Downtown Vancouver
Ordered: Halibut taco - Crispy chickpea battered fresh halibut, tomato/anise chutney, shaved green cabbage, tikka masala yoghurt
Verdict: Size perfect for my tummy, might be too small for bigger eaters but flavours are fresh and delicous. You can tell that they didn't use plain flour because the halibut was quite tasty. Definitely gourmet on wheels.

And what does the street food scene say about Vancouver? It's a culturally diverse city that's health conscious and constantly reinventing itself.

Knuckle me more

Oktoberfest
German Delicacies
Theresienwiese, Munich
Bavaria, Germany

Oktoberfest is a place to get one-litre mugs of beer or popularly known as steins for the purpose of getting drunk the German way. It is a festive fair built with rides, games, entertainment and massive beer halls for everyone's enjoyment. You can even find Oktoberfest attendees in cutsie costumes as they take part in the merry drunken making. It is definitely something everyone should experience and shouldn't be missed when in Germany.

Oktoberfest is also a good place to sample the well-known German delicacies such as the pork knuckles, pretzels, wieners, gingerbread hearts and spiced or candied nuts. The food is Germany's version of the pub grub and since the Germans pride themselves of their local brews, Oktoberfest's chow is the perfect beer match. Roasted pork knuckle is the most popular in this 16-day festival. Seasoned, fall-of-the bone meat topped with the crunchy pork crackling, it's hard to say no to this artery-clogging treat, unless of course you swore off meat. Spiced or candied nuts are a fast, easy snack and with all the variety of flavours, it will take you awhile to pick one. Humongous pretzels are also served everywhere and is good for a night of heavy drinking to soak up the alcohol. Although the pretzels are not really the most tasty treat you can get from the fair but they're still good. If you haven't had enough to eat, taking a whiff of the yummy, sizzling sausage aroma will surely make you head to the nearest bratwurst vendor and they are good as they smell. Also, you can have those colourful gingerbread hearts or Lebkuchenherzen to cure sweet cravings although they look too cute to eat and personally, I think that their sole purpose is for decoration and to give away for souvenirs, eating these pretty cookies is just secondary.

The are so many other food to try at the Oktoberfest, after all, what's drinking without some grub? The Germans definitely created this event not just to enjoy their favourite beverage but to indulge in their culture and great food as well.

Turkish Delight

Ozler Restaurant
Turkish Cuisine
Ebusuud Cad.
Istanbul, Turkey

Donair or shawarma is one of the most popular Turkish chow and can be found in every nook and cranny of Istanbul. Although this is also popular around the globe and has been frequently revised to suit a country's palate, Turkey offers one of the best, thanks to their kebap. The kebab or kebap in Turkish is the filling of this delicious sandwich-like meal which is basically the meat of your choice, spiced and grilled to perfection. Lamb is the original meat and one of the most popular but the kebap also has chicken, beef and pork variations. Having the kebap in Turkey is like seeing the Eiffel tower in France, you just have to do it and it won't be a hard task, all you have to do is to pick a place.

Ozler Restaurant was an easy pick to have kebap. Situated in the bustling, touristy area in Istanbul and neighbours to many hotels, bars and restaurants, their very friendly host will definitely try to lure you in and tempt you with pictures of their scrumptious menu. Ozler was right across our hotel in Istanbul and we have seen happy diners leaving after a meal so we decided to try it out for a fellow Contiki traveller's birthday dinner.

The restaurant fixed us a long table on the street (their "patio") to accommodate us and gave us a pretty good deal for our meal and as soon as we sat down, flat, toasted Turkish bread were being served to be munched on. I ordered a plate of beef kebap and waited for my dish as we enjoyed people watching and conversing with each other. I made sure not to stuff myself with the yummy bread so there will be enough room for more but when it arrived, I knew that there will be no way that I can polish my plate.

My kebap plate was piled with fries, salad, rice, pita and a huge skewer of grilled beef and it was deliciously filling. The meat was tender and every bit flavourful. They definitely didn't scrimp and gave us a meal fit for two. Thankfully, there were stray cats meowing under our table so I didn't have to waste the appetizing food and shared it with the hungry felines and just like me, our four-legged friends left Ozler Restaurant satisfied and happy.

Mexican Market Eating

San Juan De Dios Market
Mexican Cuisine
Juarez 1, San Juan de Dios
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Ph: 01 33 3614 2042

Before coming to Guadalajara, Mexico to visit my friends, I received a lot of tips on where to go and what to do and where to eat. One of those tips were to check out the biggest indoor market in Guadalajara and one of the largest in Mexico called the Mercado de San Juan de Dios. This market sells anything and everything. Fresh produce, shoes, crafts, Mexican dishes, clothing, DVDs, imported goods and knock-offs, electronics, jewelry, candy... name it, they have it. Surely, I made sure to visit this famous market and came armed with a friend who's a local and my unused and unpracticed haggling skills.

The Mercado de San Juan de Dios greeted us with numerous stalls of local fruits and many shoppers hopping from one stall to another having a taste of the vendor's fresh picks of the day. I couldn't resist taking a slice from a vendor selling juicy ripe papayas sprinkled with lime juice and chilli powder. The fruit was indeed fresh and delicious but if you add the tart taste of the lime juice and the kick of the chilli powder, the papaya will tease your tongue with the added extra flavours. There was such a variety of local Mexican delicacies that will definitely spark your interest for a taste but heading to the market's second floor will even make your tummies grumble.

The second floor of Mercado San Juan de Dios was studded with small restaurants and food stalls serving tacos, tortas, quesadillas... I would think they pretty much served all the Mexican dishes known to man. One of the friends that I visited mentioned for me to try the pozole soup made with pork and white corn. I was cruising the second floor and reading the menus of the small restaurants as the servers tried to lure me in, I noticed the pozole soup being served almost everywhere. My friend who accompanied me to the market wasn't exactly excited that I was planning to try the pozole since we all heard horror stories of tourists having to sit on the porcelain throne more often than they wanted after eating in Mexico. Hoping that my Filipino (but actually now Canadian) stomach of steel won't let me down, I sat down at one of the restaurants and ordered the pozole.

The pozole was served in humble dinnerware with tostadas, lime and chillies. I love condiments so I took joy in squeezing the lime wedge and crushing some chillies into my soup and once this was done, I took a spoonful for a taste and it was delicious. The pork meat was tender and tasty, the white corn kernels had a harder texture and had a distinct taste that was different from your regular yellow corn and the soup was flavourful thanks to all the Mexican spices that was tossed into the broth. The tostada was well-suited with the pozole and even gave this dish a nice crunch. I have to say eating the pozole at the San Juan de Dios Market was a nice experience and fortunately, my stomach was able to handle it because there were definitely no regrets there only fond memories of the bustling market and satisfying pozole taste.

Beauty and the Cheese

Chalet de Gruyeres
Fondue and Swiss Cuisine
Rue de Bourg
CH-1663 Gruyères, Switzerland
Ph: +41 (0)26 921 21 54

A visit to Switzerland is never complete without trying some authentic Swiss cheese fondue and if you want to go for a complete treat, head out to the little town of Gruyeres. Gruyeres is known to be the birth place of obviously, the gruyere cheese (you can't get anymore authentic than that!) and I can assure you that the cheese will not be the only thing that will make you set foot in this charming little town because as soon as you enter its grounds, you will feel like you walked in the set of Walt Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Fountains with flower petals, quaint buildings and a castle make Gruyeres a sight to see but ogling at the scenery and soaking in its charm will surely make any tourist hungry so head to Chalet de Gruyeres for a cheese fondue to complete the experience.

You will definitely not miss Chalet de Gruyeres, it is that pretty Swiss chalet that will greet you on the way up to the castle. Looking through the windows, the restaurant is as cozy and aesthetically appealing on the inside as it is on the outside. Adorned with cowbells and almost everything you can find on a Swiss farm, the restaurant's space makes for a great dining experience but considering the warm, sunny, Swiss weather we opted to sit under an apple tree and have the gruyere fondue at Chalet de Gruyeres outdoor seating.

Upon entering, we were immediately greeted and ushered to a table. We ordered a fondue with dried meat and a bottle of rose wine. We enjoyed savouring the sights and watching the bustle of the town as we sat and waited for our food. When it arrived, the cheese was warm and bubbling, it was served with pearl onions, cornichons, potatoes, sourdough bread, butter and dried meat. One by one we poked the dippers in the gooey cheese and the taste was deliciously dangerous. I especially loved the combination of the salty cornichons and the buttery, sharp taste of the cheese. We actually thought that we would have to order another dish but good thing we waited and let the food settle down because we were very satisfied. Although they should have added more meat to the fondue feast since there's just an overabundance of bread and potatoes. Overall, Chalet de Gruyeres is a great way to top your Swiss experience.

Cava Cava!

La Champagneria (Can Paixano)
Cava Bar and Bocadillos
Reina Cristina 7, Barcelona, Spain
ph: 93 310 08 39

One of the best dining experiences I've had abroad was standing in a packed bar like sardines with a dozen or so cured pig legs or jamon dangling above our heads and sparkling wine or cava spilling on us as the bartenders hand out the customers' bubbly drink. La Champagneria or in Catalan, Can Paixano will not offer you a nice place to sit or give you personalized service but it surely is a great place for good food, fun ambiance and inexpensive drinks. Located in the streets of Barceloneta, Barcelona, Spain, La Champagneria looks like a hidden gem as it is the only bustling place on the a pretty quiet street.

My sister who's been living in Barcelona for a few months, was raving about this local hot spot and so I was excited to have a sip of the One-Euro cava and taste the sandwiches or bocadillos that populate every food stalls of Spain. Upon entering, the friendly crowd almost pouring out of the bar and happily munching on their bocadillo made room for us as we found a spot for two by the bar. We ordered two cavas and opted for a plate of chorizo and manchego cheese. We steered away from carbs since we left my sister's apartment with almost full tummies but their bocadillo menu will definitely tempt you (we came back almost immediately after my first visit to try their foie gras and pork lomo bocadillo). Jamon serrano, Spanish cheeses, pork lomo, pimientos and other local specialities make up the filling of their bacadillos and all for under four Euros, it is clearly a good deal.

Cavas were pouring very quickly and being passed on to eager drinkers and as we enjoyed the small nibbles of their delicious, authentic chorizo and cheese.The sparkling wine is also getting to our heads as we soaked in the warm ambiance. We were already mingling with the elderly men standing beside us by the bar offering us more food and teaching us Catalan. La Champagneria just has this lingering great vibes with good conversations in the air and the aroma of Spanish delicacies. A place worth visiting when you have the opportunity to come to Barcelona and a good pit stop before heading to the beach. La Champagneria is an experience on its own, good Spanish hospitality plus yummy grub that won't put a dent on your wallet.

Old Mother Hubbard, Went to Ireland

Mother Hubbard's
Brunch
Market Street
Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland
ph: (021) 4772440

One thing that the Irish loves is their good ol' traditional breakfast. Made not just to fill you up but to cure bad hangovers as well and since hangover food cures mostly consists of grease and carbs, the Irish brekkie is not shy of grease but don't let that turn you off because it is every bit delicious.

Coming to Ireland, I made sure to enjoy the authentic Irish pubs and although I couldn't keep up the Irish on the drinking part, I downed a few Guiness pints myself (incredible with a dash of black currant syrup), so I woke up with a hangover and craving heavy, greasy food the next day. I was staying with my awesome Irish friend and tour guide in a town of Kinsale in County Cork, she then took me to the very popular Mother Hubbard's where the locals flock for a meal of toasts, eggs and yummy pork products.

Open until 3pm to accomodate late risers and party goers, Mother Hubbard's serves home cooked breakfast that will fill you up for the day. As we walked in the door, I immediately felt as if I was transported to the world of nursery rhyme. Daintily decorated with shabby chic cupboards, pretty teapots and china and blue and white gingham tablecloths, this cozy restaurant will quickly make you feel at home.

We ordered at the counter and picked a table. We had to twiddle our thumbs for a bit for our breakfast to arrive but when it did, a feast of toasts, sausages, black and white pudding, eggs, bacon, ham and a cup of black tea were soon being consumed by me and I have to say, it surely hit the spot. The black and white pudding were very flavourful and the sausages were sizzling and deliciously spiced. I was definitely full and satisfied and although it didn't cure my headache, I still left with a smile on a my face.

Muito Bom

Porcao
Churrascaria Rodizio
Av. Infante Dom Henrique s/n | Aterro do Flamengo,
Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ph: (21) 3461 9020

Coming to Rio de Janeiro, I have made it a point to try the ever famous Brazilian barbecue served at the local churrascaria rodizio. For those who are not familiar with this kind of Brazilian restaurant, this is where you will find a few meat cutters or passadores making their rounds carrying different kinds of barbecued meats to serve you until you break into meat sweats, seriously. Yes, this is not the restaurant for the hard core Peta activists, this is where a huge variety of meats and in large quantities may be consumed. Vegetarians may frown upon the idea of an all-you-can-eat meat restaurant but meat lovers will surely jump for joy.

Stumbling into Porcao, one of Brazil's more popular churrascaria chain was actually an accident. My then-boyfriend-now husband and I were taking a stroll on Botafogo's sea wall while admiring the gorgeous Pao de Acucar when our tummies started grumbling. Seeing the huge restaurant from a far already sparked my curiosity. The husband told me that it's Porcao and it's a bit pricey,"Is it good?" I asked and when he answered "Of course" I was immediately sold.

Tour buses parking outside the restaurant and seeing fellow eager, hungry "gringas" like me racing to the door is definitely a good sign. Upon entering, we were greeted and quickly led to a table and once we were settled, we wasted no time and headed to the salad bar and quite a feast to the eyes it was. Salads were definitely not limited to vegetables and dressing but was an array of mouthwatering appetizers calling you out to try them. Seafood dishes, cheeses, Italian antipasto and local delicacies such as heart of palm dishes were all yours for the taking. We didn't hold back as we stacked our plates and headed back to our table and we noticed plates of rice, fried bananas, cassava flour called farofa, french fries, onion rings and their locally brewed beer called chopp were already waiting for us. We started to consume our delicious food when the passadores started to make their rounds to our table. The first meat to grace our plates was the top sirloin cap or simply called picanha. I took a break from the feast of salads and seafood and tried it... as I took one bite and tasted a morsel of the picanha, I thought I had died and gone to meat heaven. I swear to god, this was the best tasting meat I have ever put in my mouth.

The picanha was delicately seasoned and melts-in-your-mouth succulent. Sea salt, charcoal and the cow's fat made it the most sought after meat at the churrascaria. One after another, I had tried all the other barbecued meats including lamb, sausages, steaks, ribs and chicken heart but nothing beats the deliciousness of the picanha. Quitting meat will definitely not happen if I move to Brazil and if you want to know what I mean, pay a visit to Brazil's best churrascaria rodizio when you get the opportunity, taste their picanha and thank me later.

Judas Goat: A Friend to My Tongue, A Traitor to My Belly

Judas Goat Taberna
Tapas Bar
27 Blood Alley
Vancouver, BC V6B
ph: (604) 681-5090

There's a little alleyway in Gastown called Blood Alley, if the name does not scare you maybe the community of crackheads shooting up or dealing drugs will make you run away to where it's bright and safe. It's history is not exactly the best either, earning its name from its slaughterhouse past, Blood Alley it's known for the blood that used to trickle down its cobblestone floor. Scary it may be, many people still venture out to Blood Alley for something almost as addictive as crack -- FOOD.

Hip, new restaurants are calling Blood Alley as their new home. The newest addition, Judas Goat Taberna, a 28-seat tapas bar inspired by French, Italian and mostly Spanish cuisine. Hearing about this place, I thought this would be a great restaurant to take my new roommate, a pastry chef and a Vancouver newbie and introduce her to Vancouver's wonderful gastronomic world.

Reservations with Judas Goat is almost a must considering its 28-seat capacity. Coming in the restaurant,I was a bit put down with the one-way mirror facade that looked almost like a dental office from the outside but when I opened the door, the semi-industrial look with its yellow metal chairs, a metal bar table and a tiny kitchen actually worked well together. There was also a decorative board filled with random, funky scribbles and a drawing of Judas Goat's head which gave the room more character. If you take one of the seats at the metal bar table, you will be entertained watching a bunch of crazies being crazy while enjoying the amazing food.

The menu for Judas Goat changes every so often and it consists of delicious small plates of food that will surely please the gourmet palate. It was hard to choose from the menu but after a lot of discussions, we opted for the Brisket Meatballs with Spiced Tomato Sauce, Braised Pork Belly on Onion Puree with Pine Nut/Orange Gremolata, Warm Lamb Cheek with Savoy Cabbage & White Truffle Oil, Foie Gras with Rhubarb Foam, Serrano Ham with Spanish Olive Oil, a small plate of olives, Chorizo, Caramelized Onion & Dark Chocolate Bruschetta and also the Piquillo Peppers with Serrano Chilli & Goats Cheese Bruschetta. We also ordered a glass of their refereshing sangria which had a good amount of floating watermelon chunks.

One by one, our orders were starting to arrive. The bruschettas were the first ones to grace our table and tasting Judas Goat's take to the Italian appetizer was phenomenal. The Pepper and Goat Cheese Bruschetta was just a step behind the Chorizo Bruschetta which was made tasty and delicious with a little bit of sweetness from the caramelized onions and chocolate. The Jamon Serrano came shortly which was good quality ham and very flavourful and the Foie Gras was rich and made even more delectable with the sweet/tart rhubarb foam. The pork belly and lamb dishes as well as the small olive plate which gave a good variety to our feast followed suit. The pork was tender and the onion puree gave a good flavour that was distinct but not overpowering. The lamb was also tender but far better than the pork that it even gave me shivers as soon as I put it in my mouth, it was that good. The white truffle oil was just perfect and gave this dish a heavenly taste. Our tiny table was filled with all these dishes that our server had to stop giving us our orders. When our plates were slowly becoming clean and were being taken away, our server finally gave us our last dish, the infamous brisket meatballs. The soft meat was well-flavoured and scrumptious especially with the tangy tomato sauce, definitely my second favourite dish of the night. My first is no doubt the lamb dish which makes my mouth water every time I think of it.

We were hoping to have a taste of their dessert but those tapas went straight to our tummies and we had to decline. It was an amazing meal although picking up the bill didn't make it that amazing anymore considering how broke I was. The meal was a bit pricey but it didn't matter cos it was worth it. I always make it a point to treat myself once in awhile anyway even if seeing my visa bill gives me a headache and Judas Goat is definitely a place for a gastronomic treat even if you scare yourself silly venturing out to one of the favourite hang-outs of Vancouver's crackhead population.

Famous for a Reason

The Famous Warehouse
Pub Grub
989 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada
ph: 604-677-8080

Who would not come in a restaurant when you see a sign that says "$4.95 Menu, Everyday" and the $4.95 worth entree is not just a plate of bite-size food but a good, filling, meal. The owners of the Famous Warehouse did an overhaul on the former El Furniture Warehouse and revamped the dingy Mexican bar theme. Out were the barrels of peanuts and clothesline where women's underwear were proudly displayed, dingy indeed. Famous Warehouse cleaned up but it didn't shy away from its "warehouse" name. Skateboard decks and other "cool" decors, even a sign that says "Free Air Guitar" on the way to the bathroom gave this pub a hip, young feel but the best change was their $4.95 menu.

Yes, everything on the Famous Warehouse menu is $4.95. Pastas, Bugers, Quesadillas -- almost all pub grub known to man with a bonus of brunch is on their menu. It's good, not-that-healthy eating but great if you're on a budget. Pub fare is not really that healthy anyway and you'd always want something greasy to soak up the alcohol when you are downing pints of beer. Be careful though, alcohol and even pop ($2.95 for coke?? Ouch!) is a but pricey at this pub but their marketing strategy is focused on the cost of food, they gotta earn their money somewhere, right?

Located on Granville St., Vancouver's Entertainment District, Famous Warehouse gets easily packed with mostly young people having a few rounds of beer and relishing their inexpensive menu. Game night is even better because the pub gets twice as busy -- if that's the ambiance that you're after. If not, Famous Warehouse plays good music to be entertained with although sometimes way too loud to enjoy a good conversation with your buddies.

The quality of service unfortunately depends on how busy the pub is. If it's packed, good luck chasing after your server and sometimes, seeing them work overtime just to do their job and serve everyone makes you feel so guilty that you find yourself heading to the bar for your next pint of beer. More manpower please!

The works burger, a huge serving of burger, bacon, cheese, and veggies -- basically everything on it is a good deal and it comes with a huge bowl of fries or salad, definitely a better option than McDonald's. 15 cent wing night is also popular at Famous Warehouse, $1.50 for 10 wings gets this pub packed on Wednesdays. I have yet to try the rest of the menu but I just find myself sitting at the Famous Warehouse on wing night happily nibbling on a drumette, afterall, *chicken wings are the beer's bestfriend*.

Secret Garden: Should not be a Secret

Secret Garden Tea Co. Inc.
Tea House
5559 West Boulevard,
Vancouver, BC
Canada
ph:(604) 261-3070

Convincing a friend to go for high tea for her birthday was easy. All it took was a few tea room suggestions et viola! We found ourselves sitting at Secret Garden on one sunny afternoon; sipping our tea and enjoying our nibbles from our three-tiered tray.

It was easy to suggest Secret Garden. I have seen this "blooming" tea room from one of my visits to my sister's house. Located at one of the busiest streets on Kerrisdale, Secret Garden will surely make you peep through their windows and once you've had a preview of their cozy, exquisite space, you'll wish that you were in there enjoying an afternoon tea. Most ladies have the same thought as well since getting a table at this dainty tea room is a not an easy feat. Serving breakfast, lunch and high tea, Secret Garden is always busy and it is for a good reason.

Every table at Secret Garden was set with beautiful China ready to be filled with steaming, comforting tea and were also occupied by happy, chatty ladies. It's hard not to feel all giddy when you are soaking in the atmosphere of a well put-together room which reminds you of flowers and country cottages. Our very helpful server gave us her nods when we picked Secret Garden's bestseller teas, my own pick was Secret Garden's Secret which was a sweet medley of vanilla and fruit-flavoured black tea. When our three-tiered tray of goodies arrived, our server gave us a brief but detailed description on what we are about to feast on.

Our first tier was arranged with savoury sandwiches both vegetarian (the birthday girl is a non-meat eater) and meat-filled. Tiny croissants with prosciutto, cheese and veggies, egg sandwich pinwheels, crackers topped with cheese, sundried tomatoes and caramelized onions and vegetarian wraps filled with grilled veggies made our first tier unforgettable. My favourite was a toss up between the delectable croissant sandwich and the very flavourful cracker hor d'oeuvre.

Our second tier was made up of scones served with devon cream and raspberry jam and chocolate chip banana bread. High tea is never complete without serving scones and this delicately sweet baked goodie is made decadent with the rich cream and sugary jam and it is the best way to enjoy it. Secret Garden's scone will surely get the Queen's approval and so does their banana bread which was perfect with the tea.

Our third tier was carrying the indulgent desserts made up of Secret Garden's famous lemon tart, a fancy dark chocolate mousse and an interesting mix of pistachio cream and strawberry dessert. The lemon tart's sweet pastry and the tart lemon cream was a perfect combination and having a taste of it made me understand why this dessert is famous. It took me awhile to take the chocolate mouse apart. It just looked too pretty to be eaten right away but when I savoured the not-so-sweet-but-very-chocolatey mousse, I was glad that to have done so. The pistachio cream and strawberry dessert was also up there with the tart and the mousse. The blend of the pistachio and strawberry flavour was too appealing not be liked. The last tier was a good ending to our high tea.

Coming in to Secret Garden at 2pm, I was glad that I skipped my usual lunch-at-noon schedule. I was very full and even had boxes filled with un-eaten food to take home. The $25 price for Secret Garden's high tea was well worth it. You'll be filled with satisfying goodies, warming tea and a great ambiance that will make you dream of fairytales. Secret Garden is definitely a place that should not be kept a secret.

Tapas, Pintxos y Gaudi

Cafe Barcelona
Spanish Tapas and Pintxos
1049 Granville,
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L4
Canada
ph: 604-909-2223

Years ago, a former co-worker of mine once shared pictures of her work-related trip to Barcelona, Spain when an alien-looking mass of a church called La Sagrada Familia caught my attention. This was the beginning of my Gaudi obsession. Spain was never really on top of my places-to-go in Europe even with my Spanish background. I guess it just seemed a bit overrated for me especially growing up in the Philippines, Gaudi though changed me overnight. Barcelona immediately became one of my top destinations in the world.

In Vancouver, when I found out that there was a newly-opened, boutique style club on Vancouver's entertainment district called Barcelona, my love for Gaudi will no doubt make me enter those doors. Having heard this, I always keep my eyes peeled while walking on Granville St., looking out for Barcelona Nightclub and that's how I found Cafe Barcelona.

I mistook Cafe Barcelona to be the trendy, much-talked-about Barcelona (who would even open up two businesses on the same street, with the same name and at the same time?? Confused much!) but seeing the menu of this small, sleek cafe, I didn't even care anymore to check out at an over-priced nightclub and decided to just head down to Cafe Barcelona for some delicious Spanish tapas and for a little bit of the Barcelona experience.

Cafe Barcelona was a dark, sleek room with wooden tables and black leather upholstered chairs. In contrast to the dimness of their space, bright paintings of Barcelona shows that this cafe is indeed promoting Gaudi's home and even had little reference books on the table with the menu. Our friendly server came, offered us water and gave us the rundown of what this little cafe is all about.

Their menu consists of small plates called Tapas and Pintxos (pronounced peenchos), both having cold and hot selections. There are really not much of a difference between the two, both are small quantities of food and which are mostly eaten while consuming alcoholic beverages. Pintxos though is originated in Basque which literally means "pinches" -- pinches of food. The pintxos are smaller than the tapas but both are equally very satisfying in taste.

Cafe Barcelona's tapas and pintxos are priced economically with their most expensive tapa, the Basque sausage called Txistorra at $11.00 and is even served in pintxos size at $3.00. You can also get a croqueta for $1.75, which is a popular tapa of fried starch with a creamy bechamel and ham centre. All in all, their menu is perfect when you want to drink and indulge in good tasting food that is glutton guilt free considering the quantity, unless of course you over-order.

Since we are a table of 7, we ordered some smaller plates in 3, just to make sure that we all get a taste of the dish. Our picks included Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and allioli), Calamares (deep fried, Spanish style squid served with a lemon wedge), Gambas Ajillo (prawns sauteed in garlic and parsley), Champinon (sauteed mushroom with caramelized onions and ham), Mousse Queso Azul (blue cheese cream over minced walnuts), Olives Arbequires (Arbequina Olives), Manchego con Membrillo (Manchego cheese with quince paste), Jamon Serrano (dry-cured Spanish ham) and Croquetas which had tuna and bechamel sauce instead of ham and of course a pitcher of Sangria which is reasonably priced at $18 and a couple of pitchers of beer.

Everything that was put on our table was delicious. It is a bit hard to pick a favourite. I loved the Gambas Ajillo dish which was tasty in every succulent prawn bite but if you're not a garlic fan, stay away. The mushrooms were made delectable with the caramelized onions and a bit of ham flavour and the croqueta was equally delicious with its rich tuna centre. The calamares was good but if they bend the Spanish style a bit and serve it with the allioli (Spanish style garlic mayo), it would be better. The patatas bravas was filling and with its spicy tomato sauce and allioli, both sauces made this dish 3 levels higher than your regular french fries. The Olives Arbequires is a good deal costing only $2 for a small plate and is a great addition to a scrumptious Spanish feast. I thought the blue cheese mousse was very interesting, of course this should be eaten with bread (or 'pan' in Español) which you will be given lots of together with your orders. Since I recently developed a love for blue cheese, I enjoyed the mousse maybe this will be a bit rich especially for the non-blue cheese lovers but it's still worth a taste. I'm also a fan of the sharp Manchego cheese and the flavourful, distinct taste of Jamon Serrano so there was no surprise there when I had them at Cafe Barcelona, both tasty as itself but better together.

Sipping my sangria and having bites from the spread of Spanish tapas on our table really made my night, most especially when the bill came, very reasonable indeed. I can totally get used to eating Spanish style, hopefully the next time I do, I'm within 2 mile-radius from my beloved La Sagrada Familia but if this does not happen anytime soon, Cafe Barcelona will always be there to serve me some authentically delicious Spanish tapas and pintxos and will make me feel close to the most amazing art nouveau architect the world has ever seen.

** picture stolen from: http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4173916480_922861d7b7.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ethniceats.ca/category/spanish/&usg=__Ibvs4yCK4FK8aBjGZHnlN5VV2OM=&h=375&w=500&sz=148&hl=en&start=12&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=gJn7pZnJ2XM6hM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcafe%2Bbarcelona%2Bvancouver%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4RNWN_enCA316CA316%26tbs%3Disch:1

We All Scream for... FROZEN YOGURT!!

Qoola
Frozen Yogurt and More
1116 Denman Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 2M8
Canada
ph: (604) 801-6338

Ice cream has always been my all-time favourite dessert. It is also my quick cure for bad days, heart aches and such which makes it one of the best treats ever and I'm sure many people feel the same way. You crave it and you may curse it for your expanding waistline but I don't think anyone will ever quit eating this creamy indulgence. Thankfully, many companies revolutionized the ice cream world and came up with a healthier option called THE FROZEN YOGURT.

The frozen yogurt made ice cream eating better. It's a bit tart and lighter compared to your regular favourite but it's definitely NOT a lousy alternative. In Vancouver, the market for frozen yogurt is rapidly growing and one of the newcomers, Qoola had definitely made an impression.

Not even a year old when Qoola opened its first branch in the West End, specifically on Denman St., it's a perfect location since it's steps away from English Bay so this little yogurt place is packed in the summer. Now, branches in Metrotown and Richmond are opening and many people are enjoying this fresh take to frozen yogurt.

I was first introduced to Qoola during one of my many walks to English Bay. It was the beginning of the summer when I saw the spick and span, bright green store that lured me right in. Offering fresh, NOT frozen fruits, waffles and crepes, slushes and smoothies and environmental friendly cups and spoons to top all that, Qoola is a step above the existing frozen yogurt chain. It just has so many more to offer, more fresh toppings and more variety even for their yogurt flavours. The environmental part of this chain store also added more appeal to the market considering how everyone is getting on the go-green bandwagon which is very good actually.

With a wide range of selection, it is hard to take a pick an order but the friendly Qoola staff will surely help. For my first cup of Qoola frozen yogurt, I had the Apple Caramel which is Qoola's very own creation with the regular frozen yogurt, crisp green apple slices, cinnamon flakes and of course caramel sauce. My first spoonful spelled danger for me. I knew from then on that I was hooked and indeed I was. For the summer, I needed to have my Qoola fix at least once a week or thrice a week max, trying out different variations and trying out different flavours. From my own creation, I loved the green tea yogurt, the triple chocolate shavings and chocolate sauce, simple but good. You can never really go wrong with matcha and chocolate together. Coming up with your very own concoction is a chance to be creative as you can, sometimes it can be trial and error but if it's a success, you landed a gold mine.

Next time you feel the need for ice cream, choose wise and have a cup of frozen yogurt instead and if you go to Qoola, give yourself a pat on the back cos not only that you're being good to your body but you're being good to the environment as well.

** picture stolen from: http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://604foodtography.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/qoola-6237.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.604foodtography.com/2009/04/qoola-yogurtfruit/&usg=__rG4zdJbnoq_9R6_yGpkkWlWkyAk=&h=800&w=533&sz=81&hl=en&start=11&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=BL-muWcy6jcuAM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=95&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dqoola%2Bfrozen%2Byogurt%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4RNWN_enCA316CA316%26tbs%3Disch:1

Thai Love

Thai Basil
Thai Cuisine
1215 Thurlow Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1X4
Ph: (604) 685-6754

It's part of my job to organize staff lunches at work and ever since I started this task, I have steered away from ordering boring sandwich lunches and made it a point to get my coworkers excited with whatever menu I can find. Having a budget gave me some constraint but if you look hard, you can find restaurants which serves economic meals which leave a lasting impression, inexpensive yet deliciously sastifying.

Variety is also something which I highly recognize and we've taken a trip around the world with the kinds of food that we've had but I realized that Thai was still an unexplored cuisine at our office staff lunch. Considering this, I remembered a small, hole-in-a-wall Thai restaurant called Thai Basil only a few blocks from where I live and a few more blocks from where I work.

I did my on-line research and gave them a call. Budget and delivery used to be the two important things when choosing a restaurant or catering service but since some helpful coworkers were willing to pick up the grub, we started to have more choices. Ordering from Thai Basil was not an easy task since all their dishes sounded delectable so I opted for the more popular dishes. Pad thai, massaman curry with chicken (mild curry with tomatoes, cashew nuts, onion and potatoes), swimming rama with tofu (steamed broccoli topped with Thai peanut sauce) and eggplant and basil with beef (Japanese eggplant wok fried with peppers, onions in fresh garlic-chili sauce topped with basil) and rice were my picks and the very helpful server took her time to assist me and make sure that we will not just feed 30 plus people but also satisfy them.

On the day of the meeting we headed out to this tiny, hole-in-a-wall like restaurant and picked up our feast. Numerous tupperwares of steaming food were packed in 5 plastic bags and we laid them out on the table for to be consumed. As soon as my co-workers had a taste of what I have ordered, compliments on how good the food is were flying across the room. It was a success. Thai Basil definitely delivered the authentic, scrumptious Thai flavours on to our plates. That day, it made 30 plus people gastronomically happy.

Crabbing at the Richmond Public Market

Richmond Public Market
Asian Cuisine
1880-8260 Westminster Highway,
Richmond, BC
Canada
ph:(604) 821-1889

Thanks to our bubble tea craving after a very fulfilling dimsum brunch in Richmond, I stumbled upon a heaven of Asian culinary delights known as the Richmond Public Market. Located a few blocks from the Richmond-Brighouse Station, the very accessible Public Market is home to a variety of vendors serving shockingly cheap, authentic Asian cuisine which makes over-$10-a-meal Chinese restaurants look bad, very bad.

With many food choices even desserts to boot, Richmond Public Market is the best place to go when you want to have your Asian food fix especially if you're on a tight budget. Heaps of Chinese food favourites such as beef and brocolli, sweet and sour pork, the Chinese version of the calamari and in my opinion, the Market's selling point -- the $7 crabs are being sold all over the place. MSG aside, you can definitely get your money's worth, especially with the crab dish which is usually sold for about $20 or even more in restaurants (and all you really get are a few measly pieces of crab claws). Served crunchy and with your choice of salt and pepper, black bean, ginger and green onion, curry or cream sauce, the Richmond Public Market crabs are highly addictive as long as you are the type of person who doesn't mind getting and down and dirty, working (in this case cracking) for their food.

For less than 5 dollars, you can get a mountainful of 3 entrees and a choice of chowmein or rice which you can take home for instant lunch the next day. Most customers go to the market for take out but personally, the place itself is clean enough, spacious and it even has a patio where you can savour the Richmond air on nice-weather days -- not bad, so dining in is actually an option.

Their Chinese food stalls seem to be the most popular but trying out the other Public Market fares will definitely make for good gastronomic experience. Don't skip on dessert, the cream-filled tiny waffles at the bubble tea place is a good way to take out the Asian food after taste or just go for the bubble tea which is always deliciously refreshing but filling.

I guess my only complaint at Market is the 20 cents they always charge you for anything extra -- take out styros, plates, cups -- 20 cents, 20 cents, 20 cents but I shouldn't be complaining anyway since the food is good and incredibly cheap. Well, maybe I should say that after the MSG induced dizzy spells have gone away. That will still be forgiven though, the Public Market crabs will always be their saving grace, it's that worth it that I will actually let them get away with smelly bathrooms and rude service although I never really had a problem with both.

Pinche Good Taco

La Taqueria
Mexican Food
322 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1K6
Canada
ph: (604) 568-4406

My Mexican ex-boyfriend and Mexican friends always rave about how absolutely delish "real" Mexican food is, particularly their taco. They said that the North American versions don't even come close to the taste and the flavours of the true Mexican taco. Breaking it down, the true taco is 1.) never served in a hard shell but served in soft tortillas 2.) does not require any sprinkle of that gooey cheese goodness unless of course you ordered a quesadilla 3.) does not come in mega jumbo sizes (that is why obesity is not a problem in Mexico) but instead comes in small, 3-bite sizes so you can try all the other taco flavours 4.) has a good variety of flavours, fish, chicken and pork included (but not all together of course) 5.) condiments such as guacamole and hot sauce and pickled vegetables of some sort are usually eaten with it and 6.) always served with a wedge of lime. Yes, the true Mexican taco seems indeed to be far from the taco we have grown to know and unless you've actually stepped on Mexican soil, you will be deprieved of the authentic taco flavour which is available on every street corner of Mexico and that is why La Taqueria was born.

Situated in a semi-shady area of downtown Vancouver, La Taqueria will surely catch your attention with it's bright-coloured Lady of Guadalupe painting on its facade. It's welcoming inside and out adorned with pretty Mexican art on its interior walls which also gives it a very authentic feel. Details such as bottlecaps nailed on the side of the bar, colourful plastic plates and cups, menu posted on a blackboard and a picture of a Mexican churro street vendor near the til also gives this little taqueria a Mexican street vibe which is what this place is all about -- Mexican street tacos. It's space maybe small but it's not cramped with the space-server bar tables and stools although I can imagine this place to get very crowded during the peak dining hours. It is a self-service taqueria where you place an order and a kitchen staff will deliver your picks of the day. Fast and fresh, just the way a taco should be.

Coming into La Taqueria, I was armed with my Mexican friend so that she can give me tips on what to order. The menu is pretty much just tacos and quesadilla but the variety of taco ranges from the special of the day, carne asada (grilled beef with cucumber), pollo con mole (chicken with mole sauce), pescado (fish with pico de gallo), carnitas (pork confit), de lengua (braised beef tongue) and even vegetarian options such as tinga de hongos (mushrooms in chipotle sauce) and so many more to choose from. The quesadilla could also be added with any choice of topping for an extra dollar fifty. Mexican drinks and candies are also available to be tried and consumed and if you're having problems with your taco choices, the server will gladly help you decide.

For my first La Taqueria experience, I ordered the special of the day, pollo con mole and quesadillas. The special of the day was cochinita, it was a tasty slow-roasted pork dish which was made even better with a squeeze of lime juice and some of the guacamole, chipotle sauce and pickled onions and jalapenos which are all available for consumption and are found across the counter. The chicken was also very good as well as the quesadilla which was served with sour cream although tasting the very flavourful toppings, I wished that I have ordered them with any of the available topping choices so I went back the next week and I did as what I promised myself to and ordered the quesadilla with the chicken and I also had the taco pescado and the asada. The fish stood out for me, very fresh flavours and the quesadilla was made 10 times better with the chicken, the asada was also very good... it is very hard to pick a favourite when every variety offers something quite different and so I am more than sure that I will be coming back again to La Taqueria to try all the other flavours cos the tacos are not just good, they are pinche (fucking) good.

* picture stolen from: http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3577/3928280106_9670b7ce03.jpg&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/kwu/3928280106/&usg=__C6dsoQvHHRea7B4rXS3n4WlgTyo=&h=375&w=500&sz=126&hl=en&start=34&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=iAQ44ICizZz8yM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dla%2Btaqueria%2Bvancouver%26start%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4RNWN_enCA316CA316%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1

Nuba is Good, ah!

Nuba Restaurant
Lebanese Cuisine
207 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver, BC
Canada
ph:(604) 688-1655

There is a prime spot on West Hastings which always attract my attention. It's a few steps below street level and at the very corner of a heritage building, called the Dominion. Even on drunken nights leaving The Cambie, I never failed to look at this spot, it just has something that lures you in, maybe it's the building itself which just spells c-h-a-r-a-c-t-e-r all over it. The old tenant was an interesting Mexican restaurant called The Old Mouse and Bean. I made a mental note to pay them a visit but unfortunately, it closed down before I could sample a taste of their wares. Thankfully, a Lebanese restaurant called Nuba stepped in.

Nuba from the outside looked exotic, cozy and mostly inviting and as curiosity took over me, I googled the restaurant and reviews and found out that their dish called Najib's Special made it on the list of Vancouver magazine's "Things to Taste Before You Die". Finding out about this, I quickly sold this restaurant to my friends and scheduled a Nuba date. Making reservations has become a good habit of mine even dining on a week night. Learning from experience, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Inside, the restaurant was even better with its modern-exotic ambiance which ironically gives it a hint of retro feel with its wooden tables and olive green upholstery. The space is big and on a Monday night, it was packed, thank god for reservations. The hostess was friendly as I was led to our table and was immediately given glasses of cucumber water. Being the first one to arrive from our party of four, I had the opportunity to go over the menu and noticed the two-course vegetarian platter for two called La Feast. This seems to be a good Nuba starter dish so you can have a try of what the restaurant has to offer which included the Najib's Special which is all I cared about really. As long as I get a bite of that crispy cauliflower seasoned with lemon and sea salt, I'll be happy.

When my friends finally arrived, the server gave us the rundown of the specials and most of us made a quick order of the drink special which was a concoction of cucumber, mint and Pimms liquor -- whatever that was and my other friend ordered the organic sangria. The drink special was interesting, it's not something I would re-order but I'll always try anything new and unusual as long as it doesn't involve eating cute, furry creatures (rabbits included). The organic sangria actually suites my palate more but both drinks were refreshing nonetheless. With our hunger pangs making its presence, we ended our order discussion and decided to go for the La Feast, chicken tawook which is a dish of marinated grilled chicken breast and the fire-grilled halloumi cheese with sweet vinaigrette.

After some chit chats, the first part of the La Feast arrived which was a huge platter of hummus (chickpea, lemon, garlic and tahini dip), baba ghanooj (roasted eggplant puree), taboulleh (parsley and burghul salad), some pickled vegetables which I thought were beets but I could be very wrong and of course a bowl of pita bread. Just basing from the first bite of my hummus and pita, I knew it was going to be a good meal. Everything on the plate was delectable and we were still wiping it clean with our pita when round number two arrived. It was a heaping platter of green and brown dishes which could fill up three hungry people especially since we already had a good fill from the first course. Falafel, mjadra (green lentils with crispy onions and jalapeño), roasted potatoes, fattoush salad (greens, tomatoes, cucumber, green onions and roasted pita chips) some black olives and Macedonian feta cheese and of course the Najib's Special make up the second course and these are served with side dips of creamy jalapeño, tahini and tzatziki.

Naturally, the Najib's Special was the first thing I put in my mouth. Drizzled with a bit of tahini for that first perfect bite, this dish was tangy, tasty and every bit memorable and it did deserve to be well-renowned, definitely to die for. The falafel topped with the jalapeño dip for that extra zing will make your taste buds sing. It maybe the best falafel I had, not dry and very flavourful and fresh. The mjadra was delicious as well with the crunchy onions for the added flavour. The salad was also refreshing with a nice crunch from the roasted pita chips, the potatoes very well-seasoned and the olive and feta cheese added a good variety to this must-try dish. Our chicken tawook came as well as the halloumi cheese. The chicken was tender and tasty but was over-powered by the vegetarian dishes. The halloumi cheese was also good but if you just had a dish like the Najib's Special, everything else will be second rate, the cauliflower was hands-down the highlight of our Nuba night.

Feeling very full and satisfied except for my sweet tooth that was annoyingly nagging me, I was forced to call our server for the dessert menu. I opted for the mamoul which was a Lebanese style shortbread cookie with walnut and rosewater filling. My friends ordered the Turkish coffee which looked like a very potent, good-luck-with-sleeping-tonight pot of java which they seemed to enjoy. As for my cookie, it was the perfect ending to my Nuba experience. It was just the right kill-the-craving size and was delicately sweet.

Nuba definitely made Lebanese dining exquisite. Even if this restaurant is not located at my favourite spot, it will still be worth a thousand visits. You can even put it in the worst area of Vancouver where you curse the commute everytime, just as long as the cauliflower is on the menu I would definitely go.

* photo stolen from: www.chowtimes.com

Holy Smoked Meat

Schwartz's
Deli/Sandwiches
3895 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Montréal, Québec H2W 1X9 Canada
ph: (514) 842-4813

When I mentioned that I will be going to Montreal for a vacation, people would tell me excitedly: "Must go to Schwartz's and have their smoked meat, it's the best ever!" naturally, that was the first place that I wanted to attack when we landed in Montreal. Staying at a hostel near St. Laurent, we ventured out in search of this ever-famous Delicatessen.

After a few "Do you know where Schwartz's is?" and being told that we have a few more blocks to go was making us impatient and surely enough, when we got there, there was a nice little queue already formed outside the door. Thankfully, the nice sunny weather made the hour long queu more like a chance to soak in all that Montreal sun. I had no complaints getting a good dose of Vitamin D except that my tummy was already making those "feed me" noises which I never failed to satisfy.

Before impatience and hunger won the best of us, we were finally unshered in. The restaurant was fully packed, right from the bar to every seat in the big white room and to take out area which were also filled with people waiting to order. The restaurant is a simple Delicatessen where cafeteria-like tables and chairs occupy the space and the menu is written on a piece of paper, it is simple but it works. You don't really expect a Delicatessen to have fancy adornments since they were serving smoked meat and fries not foie gras and caviar.

We were led to a table big enough for a party of 6. My friend and I were then asked to share our table with 4 people who seemed to be out-of-towners and Schwart's first-timers like us. Ordering was easy for me since I wanted to get some food in my body so I immediately picked the smoked meat sandwich and a side of fries. The service was fast and efficient considering it's very busy state but after all that waiting, my friend didn't order anything since she didn't want to eat any beef, well, bad choice of restaurant for her, as for me, I couldn't wait for the much-talked about smoked meat.

When my sandwich arrived, it was so loaded that chunks of meat would fall off when I picked it up. I took one big bite and made my taste buds take over... it was good but way too hyped up for me. I'm not a smoked meat expert so I can't really tell if that was indeed the best of the best but it was good. I'm also a condiment fanatic and I thought that it needed a bit more mustard. The fries were typical fried potatoes and I thought maybe my meal would have been better if I ordered the more interesting sides such as coleslaw, olives, sour pickles and even peppers but I was already getting full with what I had.

Our "table mates" seemed to have over-ordered and were drowning in smoked meat. I didn't hear any Oh-my-god-this-is-so-good! statements so I guess the hype also killed it for them. All I can say is that if I lined up for an hour, I expect to swoon in deliciousness, unfortunately that didn't happen but I'm still happy that we did head down to Schwart's otherwise our Montreal gastronomic trip would never be complete.

Bon Essen

La Brasserie
French-German Cuisine
1091 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1M5
Canada
ph:(604) 568-6399

Located in the heart of Davie Village stands a sleek cozy little restaurant called La Brassiere. Having to pass by this quaint French/German bistro and seeing the diners sip their tall pints of beer while happily enjoying their meal, I was drawn. I read the menu posted outside and made a mental check list: good menu – check (the suckling pig, onion tart and the pork schnitzel caught my attention), reasonable price – check, good beer/wine selection – check and of course the ambiance – check.

I’m not surprised seeing the long queue outside the restaurant, there’s just something so charming about this little bistro that seems to lure you in. Of course, in a few weeks time, I found myself joining the – thank God - a very short line-up for La Brassiere.

We got there just in the nick of time before more people started arriving. The host was very accommodating and told us that there was a 30 minute waiting time so we said we were gonna come back. Unfortunately, if you wanna dine, you have to stay by the bar but luckily enough, the bar table was free for a party of three and looking at the roomy space, we didn’t mind taking the spot.

Inside, the restaurant was just as cozy as it looked from the outside. The walls were adorned with mirrors making it look more spacious and the small space was very well designed that it didn’t feel cramped or cluttered. Modern, sleek tables contrasted the homey vibe and gave an overall pleasant appeal.

Our server immediately gave us the menus and my friend and I ordered two pints of the German beer while making our culinary choice. We decided to share three entrees, an appetizer and maybe some desserts but making our choices seem to be a bit difficult because being seated right in front of the hard working chefs and watching the dishes leave the kitchen was just making us salivate. Everything they were serving looked so appetizing and seemed to be cooked to perfection. Some dishes we have to play a guessing game what they were since there are some dishes that seem to be unknown to us – the culinary amateurs. Dishes such as the Coq au Vin and the Saurbratten with the kase spatzle were a little bit new to us and of course our taste buds.

With a little help from her server, we opted for the Alsatian Onion Tart to start, the Suckling Pig, Mussels and Frites and the “Fresh Catch of the Day” which made my friend's salivatory glands work overtime when she saw the dish being served. As we ordered, our tall pints of German beer arrived as well as some bread with butter and chicken spread, which was very delicious. While we were munching, sipping, chatting and of course, waiting for our food, we actually got entertained watching the chefs create the dishes. We even got more excited when the savory aromas touched our noses. We just knew that it will be good.

Our tart arrived and it was a good size mainly because it was cheesily rich. There was a sweetness in the crust that made onion and the cheese blend so well together. I would definitely order it again. Slowly, our dishes were starting to arrive. The “Fresh Catch of the Day” dish came first. It was scallops and fresh fish strips on a bed of what seemed to be yogurt, cucumber and tomato salad. We evenly divided it into three and tasted our first entrée. It was yum-my. The salad gave a nice tang to the seafood which made the taste stand out. While were finishing up, the Suckling pig came and the meat was still steaming. Once again we all got our share of the tender pork meat with the light the crispy skin. The saurkraut, and the schupfnudel condiments complimented this dish very well and made us very happy.

Finally, our last dish arrived, the mussels and frites with a side of home made mayonnaise. My other friend ordered more bread to dip in the mussel broth while I focused on dipping my frites in the mayo and broth. The mussels were very well flavoured and very fresh. Once again, it was delicious. Everything was delicious and we tried to polish our plates as much as we could but eventhough our bellies thoroughly expanded, we cannot pass on dessert.

That glutton part of us always wins us over but we can not possibly say no to their creme brulee since all the dishes were beyond delectable and we got to watch one of the chefs torching this creamy delight. All the other sweets sounded good as well and tempting especially the rich chocolate desserts but our server recommended the lemon tart so we opted for that and of course the crème brulee.

The crème brulee was a great end to an amazing meal, light and surely hit the spot. We don’t know if we were way too full to enjoy the lemon tart but we wished to have gone for the more chocolatey dessert but overall, we had a great time. Although we obviously over-ate and were way to full that we made promises to ourselves to go on starvation mode the next day, we exited La Brassiere with a very satisfied smile on our faces.

* picture stolen from www.labrasserievancouver.com

Romance with Seafood

The Cannery Seafood Restaurant
Seafood Restaurant
2205 Commissioner Street
Vancouver, BC
V5L 1A4 Canada
ph: (604) 254-9606

Having the Entertainment Book is the best thing ever especially if you love to dine out. I have gotten mine last year from a draw at our company's Christmas party and ever since then I have been hopping from one restaurant after another. When I found out that The Cannery is on the book, I was ecstatic. Not only I have heard amazing things about this place but having a coupon means great food for less moolah and having known for a "date" restaurant, The Cannery is a bit heavy on the wallet.

My good friend and I were planning our "lesbo" date to The Cannery months back but we always set it aside and when I realized that I only have less than a month left to make use of the great Entertainment Book discounts, we decided to finally head out to this infamous restaurant. Making a reservation is always a good habit but we were a bit disappointed that we were only given the 5:15 time slot. Located in the Vancouver port, the very friendly host gave us a quick run-through of the directions and I thought that it would be a piece of cake to find it so I didn't bother to take down notes. Actually going there is a bit tricky and we had to make a few detours to go to the right direction but the worst thing was we were stuck waiting for the freaking long-ass train to cross. It was annoyingly moving so slow, taking its sweetest time and as if it knows that were running behind schedule, it would back-up and move forward again, back-up and move forward again. Afraid to lose our table, we called the restaurant and told them about our train dilemma. The host was very nice about the situation and reassured us that we will still have a table when we get there. With our stomachs growling and our patience thinning, the train was finally able to go across and we were able to pass and continue on to The Cannery.

When we got there we were a bit surprised to see the parking lot full of cars. I guess there is a reason behind our 5:15 table slot, it seemed like a busy night at the restaurant. The host greeted us with a big smile and when she found out about that we were the ones having problems with the train, she sympathized and asked our server to lead us to our table. The restaurant was so cozy and beautiful. The fireplace right smack in the middle gave warmth to the whole place and the huge windows showcasing the amazing view seals the deal for this restaurant to be one of the most romantic in Vancouver. I was kind enough to my friend to give her the seat facing the huge window and just enjoyed the view on my side of the table. Our server gave us our menu and we were thinking of ordering a starter dish with our mains when we decided against it since we'll be given bread with lobster oil and we were not planning on skipping dessert. I was torn between the Salmon Wellington which was a dish of salmon, shrimp and mushrooms in a puff pastry and the Scallops and Prawns. I asked the server for his suggestion and he told me that the Wellington was the specialty of the house and of course I would choose that. My friend decided on the Crispy Rainbow Trout which was my third option.

We were munching on the yummy lobster oil and balsamic vinegar dipped bread when we noticed the very well-dressed couple beside us. My friend and I continued on with our conversations as we waited for our food. For some weird reason the lady seated beside us seemed to be eavesdropping and whispering to her boyfriend, poking fun or saying whatever, we tried not to mind her especially when our food came. The Wellington was a huge portion with a good serving of veggies, coming from a dimsum brunch, I already know that I was gonna take half of it home. The puff pastry gave it a little bit of baked sweetness although the salmon was a tad dry but forgivable because the pinot noir sauce made it moist and was just perfect for the dish. I don't know what's in a pinot noir sauce besides the obvious red wine but it tasted like mushroom sauce to me, whatever was in there, it made the dish more delish. My friend gave me a little bit of her trout and scalloped potatoes which was very good as well. The potatoes complimented the trout very much but I liked my Wellington more. As we were eating and conversing, we kept on getting a bad vibe from the lady seated beside us, still eavesdropping and whispering to her boyfriend and it was starting to piss us off so my friend and I spoke in our native Tagalog, it sure beats to have a second language!

I asked my server to wrap the rest of my dish and asked for the dessert menu. Three things that stood out: 1.) Jacques Favourite, a combination of chocolate desserts with mousse and ice cream 2.) Pavlova cake, this light airy cake topped with fruits is a bit hard to find so we got excited seeing it on the menu 3.) Apple Cheesecake, two words: CARAMEL SAUCE. It was so hard to make a decision so I once again asked our server and told us that the cheesecake will surely leave us satisfied and fulfilled so we went for it. When we were picking our dessert, the lady once again was bothering us, looking and eavesdropping so my friend and I decided to go all out and talked about her in her face in our language and laughed a lot, then the dessert came and one bite of the apple cheesecake dipped in caramel sauce totally made us forget about that eavesdropping annoying lady or her suit-wearing boyfriend, even the view outside the window, the server was so right, we were both satisfied and fulfilled.

We got our bill, it was actually not bad but we still had our coupon so it was even better. We made sure to give a good tip to our very accommodating server. Overall, it was very good. It wasn't just the food but the place itself, the restaurant being hidden in the Vancouver port, the very friendly staff, everything made it good and even without the Entertainment Book coupon, I would still go to this restaurant, hopefully next time there will be no overly-dressed eavesdroppers so we would be left alone with the good food and the great view.

* picture stolen from flickr.com/photos/60168506@N00/257798218