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ippudo sydney - central park | food review

What I Ate in Vancouver - Round 2

When I went to Vancouver all the way back in February, the food (and seeing my bestie, Ali) was honestly the highlight of my trip. Whenever I travel, I love trying new food and Vancouver definitely has one of the best restaurant scenes in Canada. So, when my boyfriend and I decided to take a lil’ weekend trip to Vancouver last month, I immediately set off in planning when and where exactly we were going to eat. Now, because I had tried so many delicious foods last time I was there, I wanted to try them all a second time and also force my boyfriend to experience them as well. So hence, we ended up going to a lot of the same restaurants in my first What I Ate in Vancouver post. But I ain’t mad about that. Because they were all absolutely delicious.

Purebread | 159 W Hastings St

After being blown away by the huge assortment of pastries the first time I went here in Vancouver, I knew I had to venture there again. I went for the sweet pastries instead of the savoury ones this time and it was the best decision I ever made. I was apparently in an apple kind of mood because I got both the Roasted Apple Brown Sugar Pecan Cream Puff Tart ($4.75) and the Drunken Apple Blondie ($4.25). I honestly couldn’t pick a favorite between the two because they were both so good. The apple flavour was so sweet and cinnamon-y in both and the blondie was so moist while the puff tart was so flaky and light. I was in heaven.

Rodney’s Oyster House | 1228 Hamilton Street

Rodney’s Oyster House is my boyfriend’s favorite restaurant in Vancouver so all credit of this delicious meal goes to him. We got the Manhattan Clam Chowder ($9.50) (not pictured) to start which is always a big hit. I love any kind of chowder and this one made with clams and tomatoes was so yummy and warmed my tum. We also shared a bowl of mussels ($18.95) which I don’t believe I’ve ever tried before! I loved the saltiness of them and they’re fun to eat! And because we were on vacation and healthy food doesn’t deserve a place on vacation, we got the Lobster Poutine ($18.95). It was so rich and cheesy with huge chunks of lobster. It’s any seafood lover’s dream! And to finish off, we had the Banana Creme Brûlée ($9.00) (not pictured) for dessert. There is always a special place in my heart for creme brûlée, especially if it involves bananas. 

Tap & Barrel | 76 - 1055 Canada Place

I didn’t take any pictures at this restaurant because I totally forgot after a long day of travelling and I regret that because it was absolutely delicious. We were’t sure where to eat that night so we just googled restaurants close to our hotel and this one popped up. It reminded us of a cute gastropub like MKT or State and Main here in Edmonton so we figured it would be a safe choice to try. My boyfriend got the Santa Fe Chicken Tacos ($15.75) (notpictured), which he said were some of the best tacos he’s ever tried. I got the Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque ($16.50) (notpictured) and my oh my, this was just the thing I needed after being outside all day in the cold, humid Vancouver weather. The bread was coated in a handmade almond pesto with white cheddar and gruyère cheeses, topped with sundried tomatoes. It was by-far the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had. And dipping it in the tomato bisque soup just made it that much better. And to compliment our meal, we shared the BC Beer Flight ($12) (not pictured) because when a restaurant is called Tap & Barrel, you can’t just try one beer. 

Miku | #70 - 200 Granville Street

When I first decided to take a trip back to Vancouver, I knew Miku was at the top of my list for where I wanted to eat. When I was in Van last time, I ate at it’s sister (and slightly cheaper) restaurant, Minami. It was the best sushi I had ever tried (no exaggeration) so I needed to try Miku. We went there for lunch and got a gorgeous table overlooking the water. I got the Aburi Chirashi Tart ($24) which is layers of sushi rice, spicy tuna, avocado, sockeye salmon and Miku sauce that is flame seared and then topped with prawns, scallops and tobiko. It is absolutely exceptional. Every bite is better than the last. My boyfriend got the Pressed Salmon Oshi Sushi ($18) that is flamed seared with pressed salmon and Miku sauce as well as the Miku Roll ($20) (notpictured) with salmon, crab, cucumber and Miku sauce. That Miku sauce is something special, y’all. And you best believe I was stealing a lot of food off his plate. He also tried some of the sashimi and got Albacore ($4), Sockeye Salmon ($4) and Red Tuna ($4.50) (I think). And, knowing me, of course we couldn’t leave without dessert. The dessert was unlike anything I’ve ever tried before. It was called the Green Tea Opera cake ($14.50) and has green tea génoise (a type of sponge cake), matcha butter cream, dark chocolate ganache, azuki bean cream, hazelnut wafer and matcha ice cream. It was so decadent and beautiful and I licked that plate clean. 

Cactus Club | 1085 Canada Place

Now, I know what y’all are thinking. Why are earth would you go to Cactus Club in Vancouver when you have them in Edmonton? Well, first of all, Cactus Club is both one of my favorite restaurants and one of my boyfriend’s favorite restaurants. Secondly, the Coal Harbour location in Vancouver is aboslutely gorgeous with the best views of the harbour. It’s all about the location (and the food). We had the Chimichurri Guacamole ($13.50) (notpictured) with feta cheese, cherry tomatoes and pumpkin seeds mixed in to start with and then my boyfriend got his favorite Blackened Creole Chicken ($25.75) (notpictured) and I got the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Prawns ($27.50). This ravioli is my all-time favorite meal. Nothing beats it. It’s a delicious butternut squash and mascarpone ravioli with truffle butter, sautéed jumbo prawns and topped with pine nuts and crispy sage. It’s unreal. 

Chambar | 568 Beatty Street

Yes, yes I also went to Chambar the first time I was in Vancouver. But how could I not go back?! The waffles were to-die for and the specialty sauces put them over the edge. I got two waffles ($3.50 each), but stole a third from my boyfriend and got three sauces ($1 each) to dip them in. I decided not to change it up at all from my first visit so I got the same Milk Chocolate Lavender, Raspberry Caramel and White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater. I still can’t pick a favorite between them. And a special shoutout to my waitress. I requested a hot chocolate but instead of being made with normal milk chocolate, I asked if it would be possible to get a White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater hot chocolate. The waitress seemed uncertain and confused and I couldn’t tell if they would be able to execute it properly but when I took my first sip, it was everything I had imagined it to be. It was the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had in my life. And I’ve had a lot of hot chocolate so that’s really saying something.

Do we even need to state the obvious after reading about all the food I consumed in Vancouver? Yes, you guessed it. I am now doubled in weight. But it was worth it. I just need to move to Vancouver so I can enjoy all this food on a daily basis. Either that or Edmonton needs to start opening up more restaurants. 

Vancouver (round 1): http://when-im-older.com/post/172104339882

New York: http://when-im-older.com/post/123377506920

Commander’s Palace in New Orleans
http://www.commanderspalace.com

ORIGINAL PICTURES

REVIEW
(NOTE): some of these dishes will not have the same names as appeared on the menu at the time, and most will not be on the menu if you look it up present day, because they switch out dishes all the time. I believe the three which remain almost always on the menu are the filet mignon, the pecan pie and the creole bread pudding soufflé.

“Ambience”: We think it is really important to highlight how amazing the atmosphere and service are in this restaurant. The waiters are all clean cut, formally dressed, efficient and friendly as well as polite, unlike the cold, detached manner which some waiters at high-end restaurants often end up with. The outside is unassuming, while the dining room is a fairy-lit wonderland. It has a classic, old-fashioned, elegant design and furnishings, while still maintaining a chic, relatable vibe. Our waiter in particular was very charismatic and carried out his job excellently. Unquestionably outstanding service.

Appetizers
Lobster Bisque:
The broth was made from lobster stock (the shells), but didn’t contain any actual lobster meat. It was also not as creamy as we would have expected or liked. The flavor was tasty, but not exactly as expected, since you would want a bisque to be thick and creamy, but this was more of a broth.

Salad:
It was a very tasty, balanced, well dressed salad. But I wouldn’t exactly say it was the best thing I’ve ever tasted, because at the end of the day, it is just a salad. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a refreshing, bright start to the meal.

Entrées
Scallops with Polenta (written by my friend):
Hands down, the best scallops I’ve ever had. Perfectly seared, tender, nestled on a bed of creamy, cheesy polenta that I could take a bath in. The acidity of the pickled vegetables on top made for a perfect bite. Honestly, it was soft, and crispy, and juicy, and creamy all in your mouth having a party. It was delicious.

Filet Mignon of Black Angus Beef:
This was absolutely one of the best steaks I’ve ever had, perhaps rivaled only by the dishes produced in the finer restaurants in Paris. It was cooked perfectly, seasoned delightfully (yes, delightfully), and ridiculously juicy. You might think that there isn’t much you can do to elevate a simple piece of meat, but this steak was obviously treated with a lot of care and love, which is a trademark of creole cooking. This perfect cut of beef was resting on buttery, fluffy, hot mashed potatoes to embody the best pairing of steak and potatoes I’ve ever tasted. The wine which was used to cook the onions and mushrooms on top of the steak permeated it, and the juices from the meat and veggies dripped down into the mash, giving it added depth of flavor and tying the whole dish together. An absolutely wonderful plate of food; would recommend 100% to any steak lover, or basically any non-vegetarian out there (and even if you are a vegetarian, this is the steak to cheat with).

Desserts
Southern Style Pecan Pie:
Crust was overcooked. The filling was ok, but the crust was definitely overdone. Was unimpressive.

Commander’s Bread Pudding Soufflé:
This was not our cup of tea. It was too sweet, we didn’t like the whiskey cream sauce (it was too boozy), the soufflé dome was rather bland, and the bread pudding itself was heavy and syrupy. But again, we’re biased because we don’t like bread pudding in general (not a single one in NOLA). This was just not our taste, but Commander’s Palace is famous for it, and lots of people flock back to the restaurant just for this dessert.

The reason why this is the best overall restaurant in our opinion is because nothing was poorly executed with the exception of the pie crust, and it lived up to its marvelous reputation. Great service, lovely ambience, some examples of truly stellar food, and overall a wonderful experience. A grade-A example of an upper class New Orleans restaurant.

*****/***** five out of five stars

——————————————————————-
This is the end of the New Orleans reviews.
SAN FRANCISCO to come!

Bread Pudding Soufflé from Commander’s Palace in New Orleans
http://www.commanderspalace.com

ORIGINAL PICTURES

La Petite Grocery in New Orleans
http://www.lapetitegrocery.com

ORIGINAL PICTURES

GENERAL REVIEW: This was an excellent restaurant and eating experience. The chef here, Justin Devillier, definitely knows what he is doing. We had actually previously seen him as a contestant on Top Chef, but didn’t realize he was the owner and executive chef until months after out visit. Even though in the first picture the restaurant looks as empty as Emeril’s (review posted further down), the quality of food and service was monumentally better (and it’s worth noting that we went in early January which is low season). It was a quietly elegant atmosphere and décor, which was not at all pretentious, but absolutely has the right to be. It is done is traditional New Orleans style. Fabulous place, and one of our favorite dining experiences of the trip.

Clam Gratin REVIEW:
This dish is not on the menu because it was a daily special, but it sounded good, and specials are a good way to tell whether the restaurant is still on its toes and not neglecting the quality of the food it sends out of the kitchen (*cough* *cough* EMERIL’s). This was, like everything else we had, very tasty. It was, however, our least favorite dish, but even so, it was still better than the best dish we had at Emeril’s (we hold a pretty iron clad grudge, can you tell?). I have to be completely honest, although still delicious, this was our least favorite dish, and we can’t remember the subtleties of the flavors as well as the other dishes. It was tasty (we would have remembered if it wasn’t) and quite heavy since it was baked in cream and cheese.

Blue Crab Beignets REVIEW:
Creamy, crispy, yummy. We were intrigued by the idea of a savory beignet, and this appetizer was a great way to sample some. My only negative comment would be that there could have been more crab and less cream within these fried morsels, as crab is a very delicate protein and can be easily overwhelmed by heavier items such as cream. Despite this, there was plenty of crab meat to be found, and the flavors of the malt vinegar aioli provided a needed contrast to the richness of the filling itself. These beignets were hot, crunchy and delicious balls of yumminess (for fans of Schweddy), and we would order them again.

LPG Cheeseburger REVIEW:

Best. Burger. Ever.

Not exaggerating. Not one bit.

Where do I even start. Let’s start from the inside out. The grind, seasoning, and temperature of the beef were all spot on. It just seemed to melt in your mouth. It was so hot and juicy I have to have a white girl moment and say “I can’t even”. The thick slice of Gruyere on top melted into the beef beautifully. The house made pickles were sour and tangy, but not overwhelmingly so (which can sometimes happen when one puts pickles on a burger). The aioli was also fabulous, adding a creaminess and flavor which bound the other flavors together perfectly. The arugula was also a welcome addition, even though both myself and my friend usually don’t care for it. FYI my friend ended glomming half of this burger (even though it was supposed to be my personal entrée, and I’d agreed to hand over no more than a bite when I ordered it). The bun was also freshly baked, being buttery, warm, soft and all around totally scrummy. We have never tasted a better rendition of the traditional burger, and we will be coming back to La Petite Grocery for it without a single doubt.

Thumbs up Justin, it was a win. PS Emeril, suck it, suck it, suck it.

Bittersweet Chocolate Marquise REVIEW:
This was a very satisfying finale to our meal here, despite its minuscule size. It’s about as big as a silver dollar in diameter, so make sure you don’t decide to share it like we did if you like heartier portions of sweets. It is also important to note that it is in fact very rich and delicious, so ordering one for yourself will be just enough (despite its size). The marquise itself was not too sweet since it was bittersweet and not milk chocolate which was used to make it. The mascarpone cream on top provided a welcome relief to the richness of the chocolate, and created a very decadent and elegant dessert. It was also plated very beautifully, which we also love to see despite flavor being the most important factor in any dish (in our opinion). It had the texture of a very dense mouse (like a moist truffle), which added to the heaviness. We assume this is why it is so small, as any larger for one person would become overwhelming. This dessert was very good, and undoubtedly the best dessert we had in New Orleans.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Yum. Definitely worth it and solidly in our top three favorite restaurants in NOLA. Stay tuned for the grande finale.

***** five stars

Cochon Butcher in New Orleans
http://www.cochonbutcher.com/new-orleans

Muffuletta Sandwich REVIEW:
This was the best sandwich (non-burger) we had in New Orleans. I still have the video of my friend taking her first bite, and the look of sheer joy and pleasure which crossed her face. Nothing can be wrong in the world when you’re eating this sandwich. Let me break it down. Cochon scratch makes all of it’s cold cuts and sausages in house, makes its own olive salad, and bakes its own bread fresh every day. It really comes down to not only the symphony of the flavors that should work together simply because of the ingredients complementing each other, but the quality of the ingredients themselves. The bread was crispy and moist, with the flavor of the sesame seeds adding nicely to the flavor profile of the sandwich. The mortadella, salami, ham and cheese added varying shades of saltiness and soft textural differences. The olive salad was also fresh and delicious, with just the right amount of marinade and seasoning. You guys, this sandwich is, as Guy Fieri would say, ‘the bomb dot com’. It is so good that we tried this before going on a food tour later that day, because on the food tour we tried some shitty hipster version of a muffuletta with focaccia instead of traditional muffuletta bread (created exclusively for this sandwich!), with ridiculously stingy amounts of filling and with a sad SAD excuse for an olive salad. I made a point of telling everyone on the tour not to let that be their first impression of the sandwich, and to go to Cochon to get a taste of the real deal. It is a perfect bite of warm, melty cold cut sandwich. The heat from the griddle elevated the cold cuts and melted the cheese which added a very pleasant creaminess to the sandwich. It was lovely and juicy, as can be appreciated in the second picture. I could go on forever, but the only way to truly appreciate this masterpiece in its full glory is to head down to Cochon in New Orleans and try it for yourself. Fair warning, it is a pretty generous portion, so go hungry, and you will leave not only with a full stomach, but with a happy heart and a smile on your face.

Epilogue
Quote from my friend: “That fucking shit rocks”.
Staff were friendly and order came in a timely manner straight to the table after ordering at the deli counter.

*****/***** five stars out of five

ORIGINAL PICTURES

Mother’s Restaurant in New Orleans
http://www.mothersrestaurant.net

GENERAL REVIEW
- Ralph Sandwich (Famous Original Ferdi with Swiss Cheese)

This was a very good sandwich. When the sandwich first came out, to tell you the truth we were worried about cramming that first bite into our mouths, but as you can see from the progression of the pictures, once the gravy from the debris (like vinegar-y pulled beef) soaked into the bread, it shrank down right to size. This was a great example of a simple concept with relatively simple ingredients being elevated to another level. Mother’s makes their own debris and cures their own ham, so having both of these meats layered with roast beef and Swiss made for a tasty little sandwich. Not the best sandwich we had in Nawlins (review to come!), but it was very tasty, and we would definitely recommend it. Mind you, even the standard sandwich portion is pretty overwhelming for one person, so maybe consider ordering one sandwich between two (which is what we did) if you’re saving up stomach space for beignets. But in all seriousness, the combination between the vinegar of the debris, mustard, beefiness of the roast beef, and saltiness of the ham worked beautifully together, and was accentuated by the creaminess of the Swiss (the true original doesn’t come with cheese, so make sure you get the Ralph). Make sure you put some of their spicy smokey house dressing on too for an extra kick! A great find for us, though it wouldn’t be the absolute end of the world if we missed it next time we went. Not a complete must on the Nawlins bucket list, but highly recommended if you’re in need of a home-style, rough and tumble joint with friendly, lovingly brusque service!

**** four out of five stars

ORIGINAL PICTURES

Muffuletta from the Central Grocery in New Orleans
http://www.centralgrocerynola.com

This was a really good sandwich. It was not the best muffuletta we had, (that review will come later!), but the olive salad by itself was. It had lots of flavor, and there were actual chunks of olive and other ingredients which gave it a more robust texture, and highlighted each ingredient more, since it was less of a homogenous spread. Central Grocery makes it’s own cold cuts, and these were thick and flavorful (but again, this was not the best! Stay tuned!). The store itself is definitely worth visiting since they have lots of interesting food, such as a wide variety of beans, grains and pasta. They claim that they created the original muffuletta, and it is definitely a good representation of the sandwich. Really enjoyable and would definitely recommend.

‘Red Gravy Cafe’ in New Orleans (recently voted best brunch spot in Nola by Open Table!)
http://redgravycafe.com/#menu

ORIGINAL PICTURES

GENERAL REVIEW: Food here was pretty good. It was nothing like some of the other places we went to like La Petite Grocery, Commander’s Palace, and Cochon Butcher’s (reviews to come). But stacking it up against normal places elsewhere in the world it comes up really good. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, with a strong red, cushy theme. (Seriously, red walls, and red cushy furniture).

PROSCUITTO DI PARMA AND FRUIT PLATE REVIEW: It’s difficult to make a really good cold cut and fruit plate, since it is literally just that, cold cuts and fruit. The strawberries themselves could have been more flavorful (and I realize that sounds retarded since it’s just a berry on a board, but maybe a quality control issue?). The prosciutto was really good though, pretty good quality. The sweet and salty flavors really complemented each other, and really served as a good app.

IVAN FRENCH BREAD SANDWICH REVIEW: The sausage was good, hot and mildly spicy, but the bread and the rest of the sandwich were rather bland. The potato chips tasted homemade!

CANNOLI PANCAKES REVIEW: Really good for those who like sweet things for breakfast. The sweetness was a bit overwhelming, and it was a bit stingy on the filling (really needed some more ricotta and chocolate chips), but the flavors were there. This is their signature dish, and it’s pretty easy to see why, since it had good flavors and textures, just, again, needed some balance to all that sweetness and a bit more generous on the filling.

Kind of a hipster locale, but cool to eat there. It’s like being inside a fortune teller’s padded room.

*** three stars out of five