I can count the number of times I've eaten at a Taco Bell/Times/Del Mar/Hell on 1 hand. 2 fingers actually. Once was to figure out what the heck "mexi-fries" were (tater tots? really?). The second, I was with a large group of people and it would've been gauche to cross the street to the Jack In The Box by myself. The commercials have never interested me, and quite honestly - downright horrified me. It just didn't look like food, and the very concept of combining violently-neon "cheese" to lettuce has always been wrong to me. Actually, it's just the "cheese" really. And don't get me started on refried beans *shudder* (not a bean fan in general, but I have had great refried beans at a REAL restaurant).
What does springtime mean to you? Rain? A burst of sunshine through the heavy clouds? Fresh sprouts coming through the ground? To me, my friends, and thousands of Chinese food enthusiasts - it means Alaskan king crab season!
The season lasts a few weeks (and sometimes not even if you've ever watched Deadliest Catch) - and during those brief weeks, prices plummet from a peak of $30 per pound, down to an average of $10 per pound! These are market prices of course, each restaurant will top it up a few points. It's not unheard of for people to go for a king crab meal 2~3 times a week! It's mostly the older generation - who don't really care about cholesterol build-up at this point in their lives - and more power to them for it!
Is there any other word in the culinary dictionary so closely attached to Las Vegas than "buffet"? To some, a visit to Vegas wouldn't be complete without strapping on a feedbag, waiting in a cattle line, then gorging the hours away in a hall of never-ending food product. Fiery discussions are held on who has the best buffet, who has the largest lobsters, who has the most varied cuisines and so on.
It's odd to say this, but I've had a love-hate relationship with In-N-Out Burger. The first time I had one was at the Bairstow Outlets in California, and I remember it being a d*mn tasty burger worthy of its hype. Was it the greatest burger ever? No. Was it one of the best fast food burgers I've had? Certainly in the running.
That was all the way back in 2000.
I'm always on the search for remarkable dining off the Las Vegas Strip. It's not that there aren't good eats on the Strip - far from it, but the expectations versus the costs of the experience I've thus far found to be lacking. I've definitely learned "have car, will travel" is a solid motto to go by, and it's pretty ridiculously cheap to rent a car in Vegas. My spacious V6 Toyota Camry was only $15 a day - how can you go wrong with that? It cost more to rent the GPS! Parking is never an issue with every hotel offering valet service, and tipping $3 is about right (more if staying at that hotel).
Outside of Vegas-proper, the suburbs of Henderson and Summerlin hold a treasure trove of good eats waiting to be discovered. You've already read my escapades in Chinatown (Raku, füküburger...), and Lotus of Siam - there are definitely more coming (Rosemary's, M Resort...)
Forget the concept that NYC is the city that never sleeps. That title goes to Las Vegas. Walking the Strip in the wee hours gives you an unusual perspective on this alternate-dimension's inner-workings. When else would you see gondoliers at The Venetian rehearsing their multi-tasking skills? Watching neophyte trainees awkwardly attempt to row the gondola while singing Mendelssohn's Opus 30 to an appreciative crowd of fellow gondoliers, their drill sergeant and a few random lonely Asian(s) is one of the best free shows around! It's also the time of day when the army of Mexicans handing out... let's say playing cards... on the sidewalk are replaced by an army of semi-coherent lushes amusingly stumbling towards what they hope are their hotels.
Outside of that - there's still the food. Sure the big 5-star establishments are shut down, but this is primetime for one of the greatest food segments known to mankind: stoner food. More importantly: AFFORDABLE stoner food.
Las Vegas has long been a bastion of culinary excellence - some of the world's greatest chefs hold court over rooms throughout the Strip (Boulud, Robuchon, Batali, Keller...). So it's a surprise that even with its proximity to the capital of wacky street food (Southern California), Vegas' street food scene is very much in its infancy. Fortunately the fine folks of the Slidin' Thru truck are trying to change that one massive festival at a time!
There might be no other restaurant in Las Vegas as universally loved as Lotus of Siam. Odd that in a city synonymous with high-end dining, a small unassuming Thai restaurant, located in an off-Strip and decidedly seedy stripmall would be a destination for food mavens all over. I heard of them years ago from rave reviews on eGullet.org, an internet forum dedicated to food and frequented by industry folk, insiders and serious foodies. Since my initial visit, it has become a guaranteed stop on every Vegas trip - a feat indeed since I prefer to check out new places everytime.
We visited the Vegas StrEATS Festival at the El Cortez Hotel on Fremont Street - every food truck in Vegas was present and there was no lacking in food choices. We'll talk about the festival in another post - for now - THE FOOD.
It's 330AM, you just waddled out of a spectacular Japanese izakaya meal -- what do you do next? If you're like me - you immediately drive a minute down the street and hit up a food truck for a burger! I'd heard of Füküburger only weeks before this Vegas trip - and I couldn't even recall the how or the where, only that I wanted to go to there. They specialize in Asian-themed burgers, mixing Japanese, Chinese and Korean ideas where they may be appropriate - and on occasion, not so much - leading to some wildly entertaining ideas.
I'd been dying to try Raku, a Japanese izakaya, for a few years now, but could never convince my travelmates to go. This time - there would be no such issue. After a stop for provisions at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, we hit up Raku minutes before last call for the highlight meal of the trip.
I love Las Vegas. It's a city flush with insanity and paradox. You have a desert, then smack in the middle is this freakin' oasis with some of the largest density water-usage IN THE WORLD. I love how the city changes completely depending on the hour of day - the Strip's charms are certainly different at 3 AM from 6 AM and so on. In an 18-month period around 2008, I visited Vegas on 3 separate occasions! I forbade myself from going for 12 months. I lasted 11 months.
Please pray for the citizens of Japan, especially those affected by the devastating tsunami waves in the north, as well as other Pacific countries affected. Most of my friends in Japan are located in Tokyo which thankfully escaped mass destruction. I'll be thinking of my home country of the Philippines.
Do what you can by giving blood, and donating to the International Red Cross.
On a more immediate note, always make sure you have an emergency kit and supplies in your home at all times.
Vancouver is turning 125 this year so we're a fairly young city still. With that, we don't have as many "institutions" as say, a New York or Boston would. Wally's Burgers on Kingsway was as close to a landmark of Vancouver's past as we had - a drive-in that refused to change even as its surroundings did.
from VancouverIsAwesome.com
Unfortunately as peoples' tastes changed, Wally's went from the local hangout to, that dinghy little white shack beside the Fountain Tire that you passed by on your way to downtown. In 2008, it closed its doors, much to the chagrin of many locals. I admit that I never visited Wally's even though I lived 5 minutes away and I would... pass it everytime on my way downtown...
I heard of a new Filipino restaurant in Richmond from Vancouver Foodster so needless to say, this required investigating. Cliff and I went in hungry, and waddled out practically catatonic. Full review to come soon, but for now, drool away.
java rice
sisig
One of the most-anticipated rooms in town, Nicli Antica Pizzera opened up in Gastown just 3 days ago. I don't usually check out places in their first month, but the promise of authentic Neopolitan-style pizza, and desperately needing to get out of the house after 10 straight days of being sick fueled me.
Here's a preview, with a full review coming later on.
Second-borne in a restaurant empire that includes Cobre and Peckinpah's, Deacon's Corner celebrates the old-style white wall hungry-man's diner that used to proliferate through North America. The food is handled with a deft hand, service is at a good clip, and a never ending jug of coffee is never far away. Located on Main and Alexander, it's in arguably the poorest neighbourhood in Canada, the Downtown Eastside (DTES, for short), stumbling distance from one of the scarier gentleman's clubs in Vancouver.
Scary? Not really. The area is well-lit, and the restaurant closes before dark. Also there's plenty of foot-traffic due to its proximity to the dockyards and the parks. Plenty of transit in the area, and it's a leisurely 15 minute walk from Skytrain. Assuredly you don't want to jump right into the car after eating - which leads to the best thing about the location: cheap rent = big portions.
How's everyone's Dine-Out Vancouver experience going? Any stand-outs? Any fizzles? Any straight-out regrets? Post a comment and let everyone know!
So it's been a week of DoV Alternates and I thought I'd recap them all here in case you missed some:
Tuesday: La Buca (4025 MacDonald Street in the West Side)
Sincerely one of my favourite rooms in town. It's become my birthday dinner tradition 5 years in a row now and going strong! They serve some spectacular Italian cuisine, ranging from rustic to refined - and the servers know their stuff!
Wednesday: Don Guacamole's (1333 Robson in Downtown Vancouver)
Arguably offering the best Mexican eats in town. I've taken a few ex-pats there and they've been quite satisfied. The menu is quite varied and doesn't just have your typical tacos and burritos - definitely a place worth exploring.
Thursday: Hi Genki (6680 Southoaks Crescent in East Burnaby)
An unusual room to say the least, it's actually located in the lobby of the National Nikkei Heritage Centre in Burnaby, just off Kingsway. The Japanese food ranges from warming donburis to grilled yaki platters, with the occasional sushi special. It's owned by the Fujiya group so they get the freshest ingredients, and the very demanding clientele requires them to be on their game. It's always packed and they close by 8PM so come early, no reservations taken! Oh yes, save room for the tempura ice cream. It's to die for!
Friday: Tapenade Bistro (3711 Bayview Street in Steveston)
The hands-down best western-style restaurant in Richmond. Chef Alex Tung knows what he's doing with creative and definitely local specialties crafted with a master's hand. If he's got a fish special, order it. Why? It's about as fresh as it gets - you can probably see the boat it came from just out the window.
Saturday: Adesso Bistro (1906 Haro Street in the West End)
Coming back to downtown, Adesso has taken residence in a room that's seen some great cuisine pass through its doors. Enjoy dishes from the Ligurian region of Italy in one of the coziest and classiest rooms in town. They also offer valet parking, a much appreciated perk in that part of town.
Sunday Brunch: 2 Chefs & A Table (305 Alexander Street in "Railtown")
No it's not quite the happiest neighbourhood in the world, but that's no excuse for avoiding this beautiful and charming room that's known for the amazing brunch. For about $10 a dish, you get a big plate of perfectly executed brunch traditions with a twist. Apple pancakes? Wild salmon hash? Excellent! Get there early and bring a fistful of quarters for the meter.
Sunday Dinner: Burgoo Bistro (3 locations)
Nothing more perfect during winter than a warm bowl of soup or stew. Burgoo specializes in warming your soul with their log cabin motif (complete with fireplace in some locations and blankets on request!) - and they also offer the BEST grilled cheese sandwich EVER. Seriously. Ever. I reviewed them awhile back, give it a read if you haven't already!
Another week of Dine-Out and I'll be right there with another week of DoV Alternates so stay tuned! With Chinese New Year on Wednesday/Thursday, you can imagine there will be a theme coming ;-)
Happy Eating and Gung Hei Fat Choi!
Years before the Olympics were even bid on, the small stretch of Beatty between GM Place (now-Rogers Arena) was just another gateway to the destitute Downtown Eastside. Finding inspiration, a wily chef-trepreneur named Nico Schuerman snatched up the spot beside the Skytrain entrance and opened up Chambar, now one of the most celebrated rooms in Vancouver. A few years later, they expanded next door and opened up Medina Cafe, arguably home to the most desired brunch appointment in town. So after opening 2 hit restaurants, and single-handedly rejuvenating a neighbourhood - what do you do next? If you're Nico, you open a cooking school. Where? About 20 feet away from the Medina of course!
Vancouver's premiere culinary event is here once again - Dine-Out Vancouver is taking the city by storm, for better or for worse! I've never actually participated in DoV before - I heard far too much horror stories of shrunken portions, rushed services and crowded rooms to know that it's not for me.
I usually take the opportunity to visit rooms that AREN'T doing Dine-Out since they'll be less crowded (in theory) and I get to help out restaurants that need some love and attention. So this year I've decided to share some of my picks with everyone - just follow @DailySlif on Twitter and you'll get my picks everyday!
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As always, happy eating!
Mom & pop shoppes. Small shoppes in your neighbourhood run by... well... your neighbours, selling food that wouldn't look out of place on their own dining tables. The true heart and soul of cooking around the world may be found here.
One such shoppe is Bo Laksa King at the up-and-coming Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood in East Vancouver. The owner, Bo Han, has a heart-wrenching story of his escape from Myanmar as a young man that's been told by many. I recommend you give the article a read. (Courtesy of The Friday Lunch) He started out by sub-leasing a counter at a local convenience store, conveniently within 3 blocks of my home. That original shoppe specialized in lunch-fare such as wraps, satay skewers and his trademark laksa. He has since shuttered it and opened up a true dine-in restaurant.
I need to preface all this by saying that I have no experience at all with Burmese cuisine. I have had quite a bit of exposure to Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian, so that's where my reference points are coming from. I don't mean to offend anyone if my experience and opinions are wildly off due to my lack of knowledge in this area. Feel free to leave a comment to enlighten me if I'm off about something.
Living in a resource-rich land like British Columbia, it's quite easy to be blinded by the plenty. We have rainforests teeming with mushrooms and wild game; seas and rivers teeming with a world's envy of seafood; and tracts of farmland offering produce and crops that bless us with a level of self-sufficiency. Unfortunately we must always keep our minds to the past, our feet in the present, and our actions to the future. History demands we respect our natural gifts by protecting them so we can enjoy their fruits for generations to come.
The Chef's Table Society is an organization of like-minded professionals from BC's food industry which exists specifically to educate restauranteurs and the public alike on sustainable food selection. They hold events throughout the year which highlight our natural bounty, which oft times, get sent overseas for others to enjoy as they're not as accepted locally (eg. spot prawns/amaebi, geoduck...). They also recently hosted the 2nd Canadian Chefs' Congress conference in September. To throw these events, they do some unique fundraising throughout the year.
It's always sad when a new friend leaves us. After a bumpy opening earlier this year, The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe was beginning to gain some traction and traffic. It all came to a quiet end when they went on vacation on New Year's Day, and never came back.
I'm glad I got to experience their dinner service on Christmas Day. Props to them for even opening on December 25, and they were rightfully packed (I tipped 30% that night). It will also be known as the meal where I had my first cocktail. I asked the bartender for a bourbon drink and he gave me this tasty creation called an "Old Fashioned."
No review today - just a pictorial of my meal on that blissful winter eve.
