Monday, December 3, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
You had me at...Alaskan King Crab!
It came. I saw. We conquered.
Oh, spring. While images of butterflies a fluttering, chicks a chirping and bunnies a hopping are usually envisioned upon hearing about the arrival of this much beloved season, there's one very prominent thing that comes to my mind: Alaskan King Crab! Yes, I'm talking about the king of all crabs -that tasty, succulent crustacean that's highly sought after by diners and restaurant patrons alike during this time of the year.
On this night, the family was herded and called upon to congregate at Rose Garden Seafood Restaurant for the annual king crab feast. I, along with my brothers, sisters, nephews and parents in tow, was ready to gorge the living legs out of those sea monsters! ...(And gorged, we did!)
First up were the steamed crab legs topped with raw minced garlic and green onion. The meat was incredibly soft, tender and juicy. And although I wished that the garlic had been more browned (and perhaps even fried), I still very much enjoyed picking the flesh out of these babies!
Next to arrive were the joints which were deep fried and doused in aged soy sauce, minced garlic, and onions. I thoroughly enjoyed the hefty and meaty knuckles. They were very flavorful and although, we hadn't ordered any white rice to go with it, it would've complemented and balanced the flavours perfectly.
Finally, the last king crab preparation was the incredible visually-pleasing (and equally as indulgent) Baked Alaskan King Crab Fried Rice. Baked in the crab's shell (known as a carapace) and topped to its capacity, the fried rice was prepared in a Portugese style cream sauce. The red bits you see scattered throughout is the carapace meat - which itself was a bit tasteless - but definitely served as a nice touch to the last Alaskan crab course!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
All Hail the Caesar!
Gonna drink my Caesar all day
Clang, clang, rattle-bing-bang
"Gonna drink my Caesar all day
[my adaptation of Mortimer's bedtime song
from a Robert Munsch classic]
It is here, where I would like to dedicate my absolute affinity for this wondrous cocktail. Visualize as I take you on a whirlwind tour on my magic carpet of Caesar adventures throughout Vancouver. I've had my fair share of Caesars in and around town, but these are more of the 'memorable' ones. For me, a great Caesar has the right proportion of Clamato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, and tabasco sauce. It must also have an adequate amount of garnish (extra is always better) and just the right amount of ice.
The Caesars below are based on a 5-star rating system (*****):
Biercraft suspected secret amazing ingredient: pickle juice! Rating: **** |
Suika "Neo Caesar" with kimchi! Rating: *** |
The Mill Marine Bistro quail eggs and bacon, anyone? Rating: ***½ |
♪ ...these boots are made for sippin'... ♫ Local Public Eatery Rating: *** |
The Sin Bin 'Make Your Own Caesar' (as you can see, I went all out ;)) Rating: ***½ |
Cactus Club what an aesthetically savoury line-up of garnish! Rating: **** |
Rodney's Oyster House hellooo, horseradish! Rating: ***½ |
Prestons 'Rustic Caesars' with basil Rating: **** |
The Keg (with request of extra beans :)) Rating: *** |
Monday, February 27, 2012
Dine Out Vancouver 2012
When Dine Out Vancouver (DoV) was first launched about a decade ago, I was thrilled. Three-course dinners at a number of notable restaurants with $15, $25, and $35 prices? Sign me up!
DoV stop #2: Oakwood Canadian Bistro
Our DoV experience was Oakwood was alright. Portions were good and I enjoyed the appetizer and dessert. The stew was overly salty though. We had also ordered mussels and the burger off their regular menu. I really enjoyed my super moist and juicy burger but the mussels were a little underwhelming with the broth being once again, overly salty. I've also had brunch here and really liked it. Overall, Oakwood is a great culinary establishment that's committed to serve fresh homemade food made from locally sourced ingredients. I will return!
Unfortunately, in the recent years, DoV has been mostly a disappointment. I guess with greater hype come greater expectations...and greater chances of a letdown. First of all, prices have gone up. Secondly, albeit the number of participating restaurants has surged in the past few years, I find that the overall, the course selection for DoV isn't all that impressive. Thirdly, there's always the doubt of whether the quality of the food served during DOV is reflective of the quality you would receive had you dined at the same establishment on a 'regular' day. I guess it's up to each individual to be the judge of that, but for me personally, the DoV fan in me has increasingly waned over time.
One place that is almost always consistently satisfying is none other than the beloved steakhouse, the Keg. It is also almost the only place that I recommend for DoV. The DoV value is awesome. Plus, you get free bread and comfortable seats - definitely a win-win situation in my books!
DoV stop #1: The Keg, Burnaby
my go-to drink...with extra beans to boot :D |
Baked Garlic Shrimp |
10 oz. Prime Rib with Keg Fries |
Billy Miner Pie |
DoV stop #2: Oakwood Canadian Bistro
Radiccio salad with goat cheese, candied pecans, bacon lardons |
Braised Lamb Stew |
Nanaimo Bar Brulee |
Monday, January 9, 2012
Holiday Gluttony
This holiday, I sure jingled my appetite bells and had myself a very merry pig-fest for it was the most wonderful time of the year! I mean, "everybody knows a turkey (and some mistletoeeee) helps to make a season bright." But what I really wanted, most of all, was to roast some of my own chestnuts on an open fire (although I eventually had to settle for someone else roasting them for me, instead). Do you hear what I hear?
:: dinner at Les Faux Bourgeouis Bistro ::
:: brunch at Hawksworth ::
:: lunch at Au Petit Chauvignol ::
:: lunch at Meat & Bread ::
:: snackin' on euro treats at the Christmas Market ::
:: dinner at my most beloved Chambar ::
:: dinner at Pivo Public House ::
:: NYE dinner at Tableau ::
(last meal of the year, hence the splurge ;) )
:: dinner at Les Faux Bourgeouis Bistro ::
lamb tenderloin brochette with goat cheese salad |
beef tenderloin in a peppercorn cream sauce |
my candy cane cocktails ;) |
brioche french toast with caramelized banana, lavender honey, cream |
halibut cake benny |
cup of tomato soup |
reuben sandwich served with pomme frites |
what do you get when the chicken meets the duck meets the turkey? |
my blurry bratwurst |
waffles on a stick |
Qualicum bay scallops, smoked kurobata pork cheek, pickled green beans |
Smoked foie gras terrine with truffled brioche french toast...amaaaazing |
moules frites congolaise...absolute necessity |
poutine a la belge...avec le fromage bleu. Formidable! |
Cajun Chicken Cobb Salad |
(last meal of the year, hence the splurge ;) )
6 oz. beef tenderloin topped with foie gras & black truffles |
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