A Perfect Food-Filled Weekend in Vancouver

We are ALWAYS thrilled to visit Vancouver - not only do we get to see our friends and enjoy the ocean/mountains/fresh air but also because there is SOOOOO much good food! We have loved eating around Toronto, but the seafood and sushi on the coast just can't be beat. I also think Vancouver has the best foodie value, we were always surprised how inexpensive our meals were. So here was our eating extravaganza!!

Thursday:
We had a simple sushi lunch at Tokyo John on Cambie with our friends and their new baby. I had never been there before but it was delicious. Highlight: brown rice sushi! The sashimi lunch was not quite enough for Tony, so we made our way to Richmond for some afternoon munchies. First, Excellent Tofu, run by an adorable Chinese couple who make all the tofu FRESH - if you haven't been you must! There is always a steady stream of people in this little hole in the wall, young and old, a testament to the delicious food. Not bad for a restaurant that primarily just serves tofu! Next, Aberdeen Mall for mango shaved ice and "egg balls" (gai dan jai). Shaved ice is an amazing dessert, literally made by finely shaving a block of flavoured ice - it is light, fluffy, and refreshing. The food court at Aberdeen has plenty of good food to be found if you ever need to pit stop for a quick meal.


We took our friend and gracious host, Cassandra, to Market by Jean-Georges at the new Shangri-la for dinner. The restaurant has an "old school" crowd and feel, fitting of the Shangri-la. It was hopping on a Thursday night; however, I found it a bit noisy for chatting over dinner - I had trouble listening to Cass sitting right next to me. To start, we had seared scallops, bacon wrapped shrimp, and foie gras brulee. Sable fish in sweet & sour broth, lobster & potato gnocchi, and halibut in almond broth were our mains. We enjoyed our meals, but overall, it was only satisfactory. The food is VERY reasonably price, and delicious, but not spectacular or exceptionally unique. It is my humble opinion that there is better food to be had in Vancouver, a disappointment for Jean-Georges.

Friday:
We met our friends for a ramen lunch at Motomachi Shokudo on Denman (owned by Kintaro). This place was UNBELIEVEABLE. We had abandoned Kintaro as a regular Vancouver foodie stop because we always felt like our heart stopped after inhaling the delicious ramen (don't get me wrong, it is still really really tasty), but our friends introduced us to this amazing place just a couple doors down. It is a healthy alternative to Kintaro's pork based broth, made instead with organic chicken, and features unique ramen like bamboo-charcoal, said to be healthy for the digestive system, and spicy miso ramen. And all ramen is not the same, different "thickness" is served with each variety of soup. We also had delicious gyozas here - some of the best I have had. Authentic, healthy, inexpensive and delicious! We couldn't resist going back for a 2nd meal before we flew back to Toronto.

Most of my friends already know Hapa Izakaya is one of my favourite spots in Vancouver, and we were thrilled to meet our friends Sam and Surina there for a night of good food and drinks. Highlights (and favourites): pork belly, ebi mayo, and spicy cod roe udon. I could eat that udon everyday! Did I mention Hapa also has the most amazing saketinis? While these tapa restaurants now flood Vancouver, they cannot be found anywhere else. What a great night this was, topped off with casual drinks at Lobby at Shangri-la, a quieter alternative to Market.

Saturday:
Although most of our day was filled with wedding festivities, we managed to squeak in brunch with Lorena at Crepe Bretagne. We stuffed ourselves with savoury crepes: I had breakfast eggs, cheese and sausage; Lorena had ratatouille; Tony had mushrooms, asparagus, and chicken au gratin. This is a more authentic and cozier experience than the popular Cafe Crepe. An honourable mention for food was the delicious lasanga we had at the wedding reception, at Famee Furlane. The lasanga, the 2nd course, was surely handmade by the little Italian ladies we saw in the kitchen, because it was amazing! There were many many layers and it was incredibly light.

Sunday:
By now, I was sure I had already gained 5 pds! But that didn't stop us from having lunch with our friends at Guu with Garlic. Tony and I were thrilled to see Loco Moco on the menu - something we discovered in Hawaii (rice topped with a burger patti, egg, mushroom and gravy!). We had two pizzas (the spicy cod roe version was better than the spicy prawn), and 2 loco moco's (minced pork was better than garlic steak).

And perhaps the highlight of the weekend, we found ourselves at The Cannery on Sunday night. I was sad to learn that it is their last year of business in the current location, on the East Side on Port land. Ever since 9/11, security has been exceptionally tight at the Port and it has been difficult to access the restaurant (you have to clear security first!). They are finally kicking them out - how will Cannery ever find another location with such charm? The view is irreplaceable, set uniquely against the rail yard and really...in the middle of nowhere. Where-ever they may move, it will not be the same. The Cannery's lobster oil is to die for - we devoured the bread instantly, in a race to dip/absorb the most lobster oil - you can taste the lobster! We also started with lobster bisque, which I believe is the best in the world, and a unique oyster motoyaki flavoured with mild wasabi. Tony and I had the seafood platter as mains - why not take advantage of being on the coast, right? It included a lobster, crab, mussels, shrimp, wild salmon and smoked black cod. Needless to say, we were fully satisfied and stuffed by the time we left. The food was fresh and tasty - the crab and lobster fell out of its shells, and the fish was flavourful and filling. Not only do I love the food and the view, but also the exceptional service. We never filled our own wine glasses (I don't even know when we finished!) and our waiter was both personal and professional. For anyone who lives in Vancouver, or will be in Vancouver this year, you MUST make your way to experience the Cannery before they are gone! It truly is an institution and it will be a sad day when the doors close.

We left Vancouver full and happy - I miss the little tapa places, the fresh seafood and sushi, and the great friends we have. Thanks to everyone who made time for us and joining us on our eating adventure!

Eating at the AGO: FRANK

FRANK opened at the renovated Art Gallery of Ontario (a Frank Gehry building!) many months ago, but despite being only a couple blocks away, we have not made our way there - largely because of mixed reviews and my bias against restaurants in hotels/museums/towers etc...I figure the novelty is always inversely related to the quality of the food since it is not their primary raison d'etre. We decided to give it a try anyways and had brunch there last week with our friend and realtor, Holly.

Our food:
- we started by munching on some fries and mushroom perogies. Although the fries were not spectacular, I did like the apple mayo it was served with!
- trout potato hash with poached egg: this was voted the winner all around - the dish was a delicious mix of smoked trout, potato, hollandaise and an expertly poached egg.
- truffled eggs: this was my original item of choice, but it turned out to be fairly disappointing despite my love of ANYTHING with truffle oil. It wasn't quite enough, and there was nothing but egg and a bit of mushrooms.
- seafood pot pie: I enjoyed this comfort dish and it was a nice change from "chicken."

Overall, I thought the brunch was good, there are a couple items I'd like to go back and try. It's a chic place to hang out on a late Sunday afternoon with friends to catch up; but, it was relatively pricey for a casual brunch. The restaurant also did not demonstrate any unique aspects relating it to the AGO or Frank Gehry other than simply being in the same building and sporting his name - it could have been a restaurant anywhere, which was a pity and waste of the space. And randomly, I loved the tea pot and cup I was served with - too bad they didn't sell it in the museum shop, I definitely would have taken it home!

A Quaint Indian Experience at Matagali

We live in the core of downtown Toronto, in an area considered old Chinatown - this can be told from the relic Chinese restaurants in the area. When we first moved to the area, we were keen to find some gems in the neighbourhood - if they have survived years of competition, there must be good food to be found! We were disheartened early when we tried a small Chinese restaurant that appeared popular and was recommended by a friend, which turned out to be unauthentic and probably the worst meal we've had in Toronto. Since our painstaking experience, we have been hesitant to try new "hole-the-walls" that populate the area, whatever the cuisine.

Last night, we were on our way out for a casual dinner, our usual Friday night routine, when I suddenly thought of Matagali on Elm Street - a restaurant our friend Stella had recently tried and recommended. It is a quaint little restaurant in a run down row of brick buildings - next to a sketchy looking salon and what appears to be a frat house. We head down the stairs to the restaurant and discovered its rustic charm - it is small and cozy, with no more than 10 tables and dimly lit. The 2 member staff was friendly, although service is not speedy as they scurried away into the kitchen, not to be seen for more than 10min at a time. That can only be expected of a small restaurant, and who's in a rush on Friday night anyways? The menu appeared to feature both Indian and Thai cuisine, but I stuck to the Indian items, and can barely recall what Thai food was on the menu.

We started with seafood tikka, which included prawns, fish, and a slightly spicy mango chutney. The butter chicken was rich and very satisfying! I was ready to polish off the whole dish, along with the saffron rice and garlic naan. We also had lamb marsala - the meat was good, but I was distracted by the delicious butter chicken. In the end, I shared very little of "my dish" and Tony polished off the lamb. Overall, our food was comforting and delicious - exactly what I was craving! I can't wait to satisfy my butter chicken craving at Matagali again.

A Fun Food Experience at Madeline's

Our friend Stephen is visiting for the weekend, and we wanted to take him for a good Toronto foodie experience. While Lee has always been a favourite of our's (delicious food, great value), we decided to try Madeline's, where Susur used to be located, and also features tapa style dining. We were pleasantly surprised that Susur was visiting and brought a sample of his Shang tasting menu to Toronto....bonus! Service was great - our waiter recommended a lovely bottle of sauvignon blanc and managed the order of our dishes for the optimal dining experience.

Madeline's menu: This was the highlight of our night. After a light start with the Asian and seafood dishes, we finished our meal with the true features - the meat: duck breast, pork belly, and steak skirt...leaving everyone happy, full, and satisfied!
- carpacio of bison served with garlic chips
- scallop provencal with chorizo
- roasted duck breast with honey chili honey glaze - the sauce was unique and delicious!
- pork belly with currant jam - the pork belly strips were tender and the flavours uniquely complimented by the slightly tarte current jam. hmm!
- steak skirt with peppercorn sauce - we miss our Alberta beef and this reminded us how great beef can be....very tender and of course the sauce makes all the difference!

Shang tasting menu: While we were happy to taste some of Susur's NYC menu (and even happier he was in town cooking!), this was not exceptionally unique or memorable compared with the flavour of the other items we had.
- tuna sashimi served on an oriental spoon
- prawns with ratatouille
- tofu with mushrooms

Dessert: Susur's dessert is among my favourite! I couldn't pass up the molten chocolate cake (to die for!) and the black rice puding and custard. We also tried the expresso chocolate cake - I didn't think it could compare to the molten cake, but it was surprisingly moist and also delicious. NEVER pass up dessert at a Susur restaurant!

We would definitely go again - the menu is diverse, delicious (as expected), service exceptional, and the prices fairly reasonable for the dining experience. A great place for a small party or just a fun night out with good food! http://www.susur.com/madelines/index.html

A Weekend in Miami for March Madness!

We flew to Miami for March Madness this past weekend. My first time in Miami, first time at a NCAA game....and a very welcome break from Winter! Loved the fans, the trash talking, and the jams. I'd go again in a heartbeat! The highlight: Cleveland's hick band, inadequate cheerleaders and unknown team upsetting Wake Forest. The crowd started with laughs and jeers, but quickly started rooting for the underdog. Too bad Cinderella went home in the 2nd round, losing to Arizona. And can't beat our row 9 seats....right under the basket! If you were watching the Miami games in HD, you probably saw us!

No trip is ever complete without some good food and drinks, so here are some of the highs and lows of places we tried.

Talula: Highly recommended on Chowhound and other forums, we made this our first foodie stop in Miami. Was a bit surprised to show up at 9pm and the place was dead....isn't Miami supposed to be a late night place? We had risotto with lamb, ceviche, seared diver scallops, cork braised octopus, and snapper. Was tasty, but for being the "best of Miami," we were disappointed.

Lario's (SOBE Bongos): We got our Saturday start with lunch at one of the many restaurants lined on Ocean Drive, determined to do some people watching and eat Cuban food. I was sold by the "best mohitos on south beach" sign, and they delivered! Tony had the "winning" dish of Cuban pot roast. I also loved the sweet plantains that came with our meals. Delicious!

Joe's Stone Crab deserves all the hype and more! After skirting the rain by stopping in stores along Collins, we made our way to Joe's for an early dinner hoping to avoid the crowd and a 2-3 hr standard wait. but lucky us, we walked right into the dining room! Stone Crabs claws are $$, but everything else on the menu was unbelievably affordable (1/2 chicken for 5.95!). The succulent and sweet stone crab claws come cracked, you just pop off the shells and eat it like a lollipop! We also had perfectly chilled Florida lobster stuffed with crabmeat salad, seafood bisque and clam chowder, lobster mac & cheese (as good as it sounds!), homestyle hashed brown (crispy outside, mashed in the middle), delicious east coast oysters, and keylime pie for dessert. Yes, our calorie count shot through the roof, but it was worth every bit. We were wholly satisfied with this foodie experience, and surprised that it cost little more than our average Ocean Drive Cuban lunch. We loved it so much, we made our way back to the take-out side for a last meal before departing - more stone crab and bisque, and a grouper sandwich and crab cake to go. No Quizno's on the plane for me!

Wish: Never will I take a restaurant reco from Trip Advisor again! The food wasn't...terrible...but expensive and unspectacular. The waiter talked up the poached seafood appetizer - it was little more than boiled calamari and shrimp in a glass jar. yawn. My branzino (white fish) was also decent, but nothing I was licking my lips about...especially after waiting an hour to eat. Overrated and not worth the $$.

The Epic, a Kimpton hotel, is SPECTACULAR. I have never had such amazing service - including a welcome bottle of champagne (maybe for my birthday?), a computer in the room for easy travel research, and free wine reception daily from 5pm to 7pm. We had a windy experience, but the ocean side heated pools were luxurious with towel and sunscreen service. This new hotel is wonderful, although a little far from the action being in downtown Miami (but convenient for the games). To stay in the same type of hotel on the SOBE side would have cost us more than twice as much. We decided to try room service from Area 31 on Monday for lunch. Although the in-room dining options seemed unexciting, the restaurant offered up a slew of other seafood for lunch NOT on the in-room dining menu. We had a satisfying meal - mahi mahi, snapper, and fresh squeezed orange juice. We were excited by our good find on our last day, restoring our faith in food reviews online. If i were a regular business traveler to Miami (i wish!), I would make Epic my hotel of choice.