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UPDATE: This is proving to be more problematic than I first thought... Joseph at Future Point has been working hard to help me try and fix it. I just got back to Boston; hopefully I'll be able to fix everything this week as I settle down again. Sorry folks.
Read MoreGusto di Quattro
Inspired by a few other blogs out there, I've started taking pictures of signs/logos of places that I go to. I guess it helps with the memory process. So on to my next Vancouver spot: Gusto di Quattro, an Italian restaurant in North Vancouver. It's just across the street from a new apartment development that my Aunt and Uncle are working on. Thanks to my Aunt Grace and Uncle Stephen for taking me out.
radicchio bocconcini - grilled fresh marinated mozzarella wrapped with prosciutto & radicchio leaves, served in a cherry vinaigrette - C$7.95
fettucine affumicate - fettucine with cream, tomato, smoked salmon & green peas - C$11.95
Very solid meal. The Western food in Vancouver has vastly improved over the years in my opinion, and the Italian places have gotten notably better. The mozzarella was very rich and tasty, although slightly overdressed. The pasta was excellent. Firm, textured fettucine with a tasty pink sauce and nice chunks of salmon. The place is part of a family of restaurants, with another location in Vancouver and another in Whistler. It wasn't quite as good as Cioppino's Enoteca, but it was significantly less expensive and a better value.Mondo Gelato
Gelato is another craze that has seemed to hit Vancouver in recent years. The result is that Vancouver is now full of many great gelato places, which make gelato freshly every day. The best place that I've tried is Mondo Gelato. They have a few locations around Vancouver, one in Beijing and one in Rome. Naia in Berkeley (which I visited recently and will post about soon) used to be a part of the Mondo franchise. Mondo has a ton of flavors - everything from chocolate and vanilla to green tea, Indian mango, Ferrero Rocher, Bacio, pistachio, and almost anything you can think of.
ferrero rocher (left), green tea & cranberry muesli (right) - C$3 each
A "single" is actually misleading, as the $3 cup allows you to choose 2 different flavors. As you get bigger sizes, they let you up the number of different flavors you want. You can't really see the cranberry because it's buried under the green tea, but it's there. I opted for the Ferrero Rocher (you know, those ball-shaped chocolate hazelnut things with a golden wrapper), which I believe is the pinnacle of all ice cream flavors. I believe this enough to get 2 scoops of it and not bother with the 2 flavor option. It's chocolatey, nutty, and.. chocolatey. I mean what more could you ask for in ice cream? This stuff is really delicious, and you must try it. Sometimes they don't have Ferrero Rocher, in which case Bacio is a pretty good substitute (but I'd get a scoop of something else too). The green tea has a deep, rich tea flavor, and green tea ice cream lovers will enjoy it immensely. The cranberry muesli has a yogurty flavor with chunks of cranberries in there. I'm not a big fan of the yogurty taste, but Geoff and Tiff both love it. Their Indian mango, which I've tried in the past, is excellent.
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ferrero rocher (left), green tea & cranberry muesli (right) - C$3 each
A "single" is actually misleading, as the $3 cup allows you to choose 2 different flavors. As you get bigger sizes, they let you up the number of different flavors you want. You can't really see the cranberry because it's buried under the green tea, but it's there. I opted for the Ferrero Rocher (you know, those ball-shaped chocolate hazelnut things with a golden wrapper), which I believe is the pinnacle of all ice cream flavors. I believe this enough to get 2 scoops of it and not bother with the 2 flavor option. It's chocolatey, nutty, and.. chocolatey. I mean what more could you ask for in ice cream? This stuff is really delicious, and you must try it. Sometimes they don't have Ferrero Rocher, in which case Bacio is a pretty good substitute (but I'd get a scoop of something else too). The green tea has a deep, rich tea flavor, and green tea ice cream lovers will enjoy it immensely. The cranberry muesli has a yogurty flavor with chunks of cranberries in there. I'm not a big fan of the yogurty taste, but Geoff and Tiff both love it. Their Indian mango, which I've tried in the past, is excellent.Guu
I've mentioned a few times of the trend in Vancouver of small plate Japanese restaurants (also called izakaya). Guu (the linked article also talks about Hapa Izakaya, and Kintaro which I'll be posting about soon) is another such spot. Guu has a few different locations throughout Vancouver. I checked out the one on Thurlow with Geoff and Tiff.
chopped fresh tuna sashimi with green onion - C$4.80
fresh salmon sashimi - C$4.80
baked oyster in spicy cod roe mayo sauce topped with cheese - C$3.80
First I should mention that we went pretty late, and sadly many of the dishes we wanted to try were sold out. Most of their "signature" dishes were gone, including a pumpkin croquette, a baked cod, a potato croquette, a yakisoba, and some of the daily specials. About 5 things we tried got shot down if I recall correctly, and according to Geoff and Tiff, those are the really good dishes. But we dealt with it and got some good stuff anyway. The tuna was the notable exception. There's not much more to say other than that it was straight up bad. The fish was way too cold - you could tell it was recently in the freezer. It wasn't frozen, but it was close. This dish really answers the question of why it's supposed to be "negitoro" and not "negimaguro" - it only works with toro... The salmon, which was a daily special described simply as "fresh salmon sashimi," was vastly superior. It actually came out very very slightly seared on the outside, with some kind of ponzu sauce and chopped nuts on it. This dish was really excellent, and we were banging our heads for getting the tuna instead of 2 salmons. The oyster was also very good, more for the sauce that it came in - cheesy, gooey, and delicious.
kimchi fried rice - C$7.20
grilled beef steak skewers with grated radish & ponzu sauce -C$4
skewered pork cheeks & green onion - C$4
The kimchi fried rice was really, really good. Fried rice is one of those simple to make, difficult to master things and they do it here really well. The rice has a great texture and flavor. The grilled beef was good - perhaps very slightly overcooked (medium rather than medium rare), but still tasty. The pork cheeks were on the specials menu, and we ordered it based on the experience of beef and fish cheeks being notably tender "cuts," so to speak. The pork was very fat, juicy and tender - almost like eating a meatier cut of bacon. Very good. Hopefully I can go back to Guu and try some of the signature dishes that were gone.
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chopped fresh tuna sashimi with green onion - C$4.80
fresh salmon sashimi - C$4.80
baked oyster in spicy cod roe mayo sauce topped with cheese - C$3.80
First I should mention that we went pretty late, and sadly many of the dishes we wanted to try were sold out. Most of their "signature" dishes were gone, including a pumpkin croquette, a baked cod, a potato croquette, a yakisoba, and some of the daily specials. About 5 things we tried got shot down if I recall correctly, and according to Geoff and Tiff, those are the really good dishes. But we dealt with it and got some good stuff anyway. The tuna was the notable exception. There's not much more to say other than that it was straight up bad. The fish was way too cold - you could tell it was recently in the freezer. It wasn't frozen, but it was close. This dish really answers the question of why it's supposed to be "negitoro" and not "negimaguro" - it only works with toro... The salmon, which was a daily special described simply as "fresh salmon sashimi," was vastly superior. It actually came out very very slightly seared on the outside, with some kind of ponzu sauce and chopped nuts on it. This dish was really excellent, and we were banging our heads for getting the tuna instead of 2 salmons. The oyster was also very good, more for the sauce that it came in - cheesy, gooey, and delicious.
kimchi fried rice - C$7.20
grilled beef steak skewers with grated radish & ponzu sauce -C$4
skewered pork cheeks & green onion - C$4
The kimchi fried rice was really, really good. Fried rice is one of those simple to make, difficult to master things and they do it here really well. The rice has a great texture and flavor. The grilled beef was good - perhaps very slightly overcooked (medium rather than medium rare), but still tasty. The pork cheeks were on the specials menu, and we ordered it based on the experience of beef and fish cheeks being notably tender "cuts," so to speak. The pork was very fat, juicy and tender - almost like eating a meatier cut of bacon. Very good. Hopefully I can go back to Guu and try some of the signature dishes that were gone.Ningtu Restaurant
In the search for a decent Shanghai-style breakfast place, my family in Vancouver appears to have settled on Ningtu Restaurant. Though it's not as amazing as Toh Yuen of the past, it's still pretty good.
chinese donut
hot sweet soy milk
stir-fried rice cake with pork and veggies
sticky rice stuffed with chinese donut, shredded pork, and salty vegetables
pan fried pork buns
The Chinese donut was fresh, hot, and crisp, but a little on the big side; they were tough to handle. The rice cakes were very good - chewy without getting too stuck together. The sticky rice was pretty good but nothing too special. The pan-fried buns were very nice - extremely hot inside, and nicely browned on the bottom. Ningtu isn't quite Toh Yuen but it's still a very acceptable option.
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chinese donut
hot sweet soy milk
stir-fried rice cake with pork and veggies
sticky rice stuffed with chinese donut, shredded pork, and salty vegetables
pan fried pork buns
The Chinese donut was fresh, hot, and crisp, but a little on the big side; they were tough to handle. The rice cakes were very good - chewy without getting too stuck together. The sticky rice was pretty good but nothing too special. The pan-fried buns were very nice - extremely hot inside, and nicely browned on the bottom. Ningtu isn't quite Toh Yuen but it's still a very acceptable option.2004 Food Blog Awards... and the Bloggies
Alas, I did not win the 2004 Food Blog Photography Award, but congratulations to Heidi of 101 Cookbooks, a far more worthy photographer than myself!
Update: So the even bigger awards have begun nominations. Check out the 2005 Bloggies, the Oscars of weblogs. This year they have a Food category for the first time.
Read MoreMing Yuen
Every Sunday in Vancouver my family does a Sunday dinner at Ming Yuen, a Chinese place on Cambie. The place is actually quite good, but I think for some people it gets repetitive. I usually go at least once every time I'm in town.
peking duck
lobster with garlic sauce in clay pot
fried tofu with peapod stems
duck and taro with cream sauce in clay pot
Pretty standard Vancouver Chinese food. The peking duck was pretty good - it was the meaty variety - but can't compare to Fortune Garden's, especially in the pancake department. The lobster was good, although it did require a lot of work sifting through shell. The tofu was great; crispy on the outside and smooth on the inside. The duck/taro wasn't quite hot enough, and didn't have enough sauce. Usually the taro is more tender than it was here. Still, Ming Yuen is generally better than most of the Chinese places we have around here, and it's just down the block from my cousin's house.
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peking duck
lobster with garlic sauce in clay pot
fried tofu with peapod stems
duck and taro with cream sauce in clay pot
Pretty standard Vancouver Chinese food. The peking duck was pretty good - it was the meaty variety - but can't compare to Fortune Garden's, especially in the pancake department. The lobster was good, although it did require a lot of work sifting through shell. The tofu was great; crispy on the outside and smooth on the inside. The duck/taro wasn't quite hot enough, and didn't have enough sauce. Usually the taro is more tender than it was here. Still, Ming Yuen is generally better than most of the Chinese places we have around here, and it's just down the block from my cousin's house.Milestone's
I had lunch with my mom, Aunt Grace, Uncle Stephen and Karen at Milestone's on Robson St. It's a chain grill type of restaurant.
hot spinach-artichoke dip, fresh cut salsa, sour cream, tortilla chips - C$9.29
prime rib beef dip, blue cheese butter, onion strings, curly fries, asian slaw - C$11.99
Pretty solid CPK-type stuff. The spinach dip was good but I'm not sure if it's as good as CPK's. Still, I think this combo is pretty foolproof. The beef dip was nice. The beef was tender and flavorful, and the onion strings were a nice touch. The bread was average. The curly fries were really good. Overall, the place is pretty much what you'd expect - a solid spot for burgers/sandwiches/etc., and a good place to bring the family.
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hot spinach-artichoke dip, fresh cut salsa, sour cream, tortilla chips - C$9.29
prime rib beef dip, blue cheese butter, onion strings, curly fries, asian slaw - C$11.99
Pretty solid CPK-type stuff. The spinach dip was good but I'm not sure if it's as good as CPK's. Still, I think this combo is pretty foolproof. The beef dip was nice. The beef was tender and flavorful, and the onion strings were a nice touch. The bread was average. The curly fries were really good. Overall, the place is pretty much what you'd expect - a solid spot for burgers/sandwiches/etc., and a good place to bring the family.Christmas Day
So for Christmas Day (I guess night) dinner, my aunt Amelia cooked. No Chinese this time...
spinach soup
spaghetti with shrimp, eggplant, and tomato
asparagus with mustard vinaigrette and "SECRET SPICES"
I think this is the first time I've had a full-on Western meal by my aunt Amelia. The spinach soup was very good; flavorful and spinachy. The spaghetti was also good. The shrimp were tasty and plentiful. The asparagus was great - I guess the so-called "SECRET SPICES" worked.
I just got back to SF. Still have many posts from Vancouver. My cousin Geoff is coming to visit on Wednesday for a few days, so there should be plenty of eating during that time.
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spinach soup
spaghetti with shrimp, eggplant, and tomato
asparagus with mustard vinaigrette and "SECRET SPICES"
I think this is the first time I've had a full-on Western meal by my aunt Amelia. The spinach soup was very good; flavorful and spinachy. The spaghetti was also good. The shrimp were tasty and plentiful. The asparagus was great - I guess the so-called "SECRET SPICES" worked.
I just got back to SF. Still have many posts from Vancouver. My cousin Geoff is coming to visit on Wednesday for a few days, so there should be plenty of eating during that time.Christmas Eve Dinner
Happy 2005 everyone! I'll be heading back to San Francisco tomorrow, but I've got about a week's worth of Vancouver posts. Here is what I had for Christmas Eve at the Kwok house, which is where we always have our family Christmas dinner party.
christmas dinner - roast beef, turkey, ham, ribs, sticky rice, various veggies, noodles
As is now customary we have a sort of east meets west buffet type of thing, mixing stuff like roast beef and turkey with chow mein and chinese vegetables. I thought everything actually tasted better this year - the roast beef, turkey and gravy were particularly tasty. And who doesn't love cranberry sauce?
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christmas dinner - roast beef, turkey, ham, ribs, sticky rice, various veggies, noodles
As is now customary we have a sort of east meets west buffet type of thing, mixing stuff like roast beef and turkey with chow mein and chinese vegetables. I thought everything actually tasted better this year - the roast beef, turkey and gravy were particularly tasty. And who doesn't love cranberry sauce?Gyoza King
First meal in Vancouver was a late night trip to Gyoza King with Geoff and Tiff. They serve a variety of different gyoza as well as a bunch of small plate dishes, from noodles to sashimi to anything.
negitoro - chopped tuna with green onion, quail egg & seaweed - C$4.95
bonito sashimi - C$7.95
hotate kinoko - stir fried fresh scallops with assorted mushrooms in garlic butter - C$6.25
Very good. The negitoro is tasty, but when it comes down to it I'd still rather have it in a cone with rice (rather than just wrapped with seaweed). The bonito (aka katsuo) is not listed on the menu but it's a frequent special, and worth getting. The ponzu sauce and onions are delicious together with the fish. The hotate is wonderful, thanks to the liberal use of garlic butter. The scallops were tender and the mushrooms absorb that garlic butter like nothing else.
ganso (pork & vegetable) gyoza - C$5.95 (10 pieces)
mentaiko yakiudon - pan fried udon with spicy cod roe & butter - C$8.50
The gyoza are fresh and homemade. The wrapping has a firm, chewy texture, and the filling is searing hot. They're nicely-fried and crisp on the bottom. The udon was the highlight of the meal, and for me pretty unexpected. It was extremely rich and buttery and simply delicious. To draw a far-fetched comparison, it was almost like a Japanese version of a good, buttery, fettucine alfredo. It was the first time I've tried udon like this, though Tiff tells me a lot of places are do something similar. I want to try the clam/garlic yakiudon on the menu, but if I go again i doubt I'll be able to resist ordering the same thing...
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negitoro - chopped tuna with green onion, quail egg & seaweed - C$4.95
bonito sashimi - C$7.95
hotate kinoko - stir fried fresh scallops with assorted mushrooms in garlic butter - C$6.25
Very good. The negitoro is tasty, but when it comes down to it I'd still rather have it in a cone with rice (rather than just wrapped with seaweed). The bonito (aka katsuo) is not listed on the menu but it's a frequent special, and worth getting. The ponzu sauce and onions are delicious together with the fish. The hotate is wonderful, thanks to the liberal use of garlic butter. The scallops were tender and the mushrooms absorb that garlic butter like nothing else.
ganso (pork & vegetable) gyoza - C$5.95 (10 pieces)
mentaiko yakiudon - pan fried udon with spicy cod roe & butter - C$8.50
The gyoza are fresh and homemade. The wrapping has a firm, chewy texture, and the filling is searing hot. They're nicely-fried and crisp on the bottom. The udon was the highlight of the meal, and for me pretty unexpected. It was extremely rich and buttery and simply delicious. To draw a far-fetched comparison, it was almost like a Japanese version of a good, buttery, fettucine alfredo. It was the first time I've tried udon like this, though Tiff tells me a lot of places are do something similar. I want to try the clam/garlic yakiudon on the menu, but if I go again i doubt I'll be able to resist ordering the same thing...La Suite
Only had one real dinner in SF before I went to Vancouver, and it was at a new place called La Suite. It took over the old Slanted Door location (the middle one along Embarcadero, not the Mission one), and serves brasserie-style French Provencal cuisine. The space is very large, with a dark wood interior.
kobe beef tartare with mustard, piment d'espelette, and croutons - $12
wood-grilled niman ranch entrecote au herbes de provence, with bearnaise sauce and pomme frites - $28
The beef tartare was great. They bring the various ingredients (beef, egg, mustard, capers, onions, etc.) and mix it tableside. The croutons (not pictured) were garlicky and crisp. Kobe beef works well with tartare, as you might expect. The marbled fattiness adds a wonderful soft texture to the dish. I ate a lot of beef at this meal. The entrecote (bearnaise sauce not pictured) was also very well done. I consider the steak frites a barometer for any bistro or brasserie and La Suite executes it well. The beef was very tender and flavorful, and nice and fatty like it should be. It was grilled just enough to give it a hint of that hot charred taste, but still very medium rare. The fries were well-seasoned and crispy.
La Suite has a huge and interesting menu. There were probably over 10 dishes in the appetizer list that I'd like to try. Certainly not the cheapest place for bistro-type fare, but I think I'll probably go back in the future. Let me also note that the service was very friendly. I went with Keith and my dad - Keith had a flight to catch, and we were late because of traffic, leaving us very little time to eat (less than an hour). The service was very quick and accommodating, and we got out of there quick.
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kobe beef tartare with mustard, piment d'espelette, and croutons - $12
wood-grilled niman ranch entrecote au herbes de provence, with bearnaise sauce and pomme frites - $28
The beef tartare was great. They bring the various ingredients (beef, egg, mustard, capers, onions, etc.) and mix it tableside. The croutons (not pictured) were garlicky and crisp. Kobe beef works well with tartare, as you might expect. The marbled fattiness adds a wonderful soft texture to the dish. I ate a lot of beef at this meal. The entrecote (bearnaise sauce not pictured) was also very well done. I consider the steak frites a barometer for any bistro or brasserie and La Suite executes it well. The beef was very tender and flavorful, and nice and fatty like it should be. It was grilled just enough to give it a hint of that hot charred taste, but still very medium rare. The fries were well-seasoned and crispy.
La Suite has a huge and interesting menu. There were probably over 10 dishes in the appetizer list that I'd like to try. Certainly not the cheapest place for bistro-type fare, but I think I'll probably go back in the future. Let me also note that the service was very friendly. I went with Keith and my dad - Keith had a flight to catch, and we were late because of traffic, leaving us very little time to eat (less than an hour). The service was very quick and accommodating, and we got out of there quick.Reef Cafe
Here's the first of likely many entries about Reef Cafe. This is a Lebanese place is a few blocks away from my apartment, and this past semester I've been going there a lot (and that's quite the understatement). Usually I stop by for lunch to grab a sandwich (which means a pita roll up) of some kind, and I think I eat there probably at least two or three times a week. At least. And I haven't gotten sick of it yet...
spinach pie - $1.50
baked lamb with rice - $7.99
lamb with okra - $7.99
Everything at Reef Cafe is homemade. The place is essentially run by a family - there's literally a Lebanese mother in the back cooking everything up. The two brothers work the register and stuff, and once in a while the dad is around. The spinach pies are cheap and delicious, with plenty of steaming hot and tasty spinach goodness inside. Every day, they have a "daily specials" board, which is a rotation of different stuff. The descriptions are simple, but they're damn good. The baked lamb with rice was great - fork tender lamb with extremely fragrant rice. The rice plates are all served with their wonderful pink turnip pickles and a tangy tomato/cucumber salad. The lamb with okra was also great. I'm usually not a big fan of okra but this stew-like mixture was delicious, warming (it was around 0 degrees outside), and perfect with a plate of rice. Pretty much all of the specials are great, especially the "spinach" - a lamb/spinach stew with lots of lemon and nuts. I have no idea what's in this stuff, but whatever it is I love it...
Often I order the much less photogenic sandwiches. The menu offers all kinds of different stuff. I've tried and loved the chicken shawarma, chicken livers, roasted chicken with potato, lamb shawarma, lamb kebab, soujouk, baked kibby... the list goes on. Each one is unique and delicious. Everything is rolled up in some pita-like bread along with some veggies (tomatoes, onions, sometimes pickles, depending on what you get) and some sauce (somtimes tahini, or a lemon-garlic sauce, depending on what you get) and thrown on a little toaster/grill thing that crisps the outside. Each sandwich is $4.75. This is the best food I've found for a college budget in the area. Also be sure to try the baklava and the coffee. I've heard they have a great soup too, but haven't tried it because there's always something else I'm craving.
Anyway, this is the last Boston post until I get back there after the new year. I'm doing the holiday thing with the family in Vancouver now. I've got one meal to post from my night in SF, then it's on to Vancouver stuff, which of course never fails to satisfy.
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spinach pie - $1.50
baked lamb with rice - $7.99
lamb with okra - $7.99
Everything at Reef Cafe is homemade. The place is essentially run by a family - there's literally a Lebanese mother in the back cooking everything up. The two brothers work the register and stuff, and once in a while the dad is around. The spinach pies are cheap and delicious, with plenty of steaming hot and tasty spinach goodness inside. Every day, they have a "daily specials" board, which is a rotation of different stuff. The descriptions are simple, but they're damn good. The baked lamb with rice was great - fork tender lamb with extremely fragrant rice. The rice plates are all served with their wonderful pink turnip pickles and a tangy tomato/cucumber salad. The lamb with okra was also great. I'm usually not a big fan of okra but this stew-like mixture was delicious, warming (it was around 0 degrees outside), and perfect with a plate of rice. Pretty much all of the specials are great, especially the "spinach" - a lamb/spinach stew with lots of lemon and nuts. I have no idea what's in this stuff, but whatever it is I love it...
Often I order the much less photogenic sandwiches. The menu offers all kinds of different stuff. I've tried and loved the chicken shawarma, chicken livers, roasted chicken with potato, lamb shawarma, lamb kebab, soujouk, baked kibby... the list goes on. Each one is unique and delicious. Everything is rolled up in some pita-like bread along with some veggies (tomatoes, onions, sometimes pickles, depending on what you get) and some sauce (somtimes tahini, or a lemon-garlic sauce, depending on what you get) and thrown on a little toaster/grill thing that crisps the outside. Each sandwich is $4.75. This is the best food I've found for a college budget in the area. Also be sure to try the baklava and the coffee. I've heard they have a great soup too, but haven't tried it because there's always something else I'm craving.
Anyway, this is the last Boston post until I get back there after the new year. I'm doing the holiday thing with the family in Vancouver now. I've got one meal to post from my night in SF, then it's on to Vancouver stuff, which of course never fails to satisfy.Aneka Rasa
Merry Chrismas everyone! I just got to Vancouver and I'll be here until Jan. 2nd. Hopefully I'll have some good stuff to post. Here is a meal from Boston at Aneka Rasa.
house chicken wings with sweet chili sauce - $5.25
pineapple fried rice - $8.95
I eat here fairly regularly. It's good food for a good price. The chicken wings were plump, hot, crispy, and tender... but there was too much sauce, which was too sweet and and not spicy enough. They have another version with just the wings I think - I'll probably try them next time. The pineapple fried rice was great - very flavorful with ots of shrimp and squid in it. Anyway, I got another post or two from Boston, one from SF, then I'll start putting up stuff from Vancouver.
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house chicken wings with sweet chili sauce - $5.25
pineapple fried rice - $8.95
I eat here fairly regularly. It's good food for a good price. The chicken wings were plump, hot, crispy, and tender... but there was too much sauce, which was too sweet and and not spicy enough. They have another version with just the wings I think - I'll probably try them next time. The pineapple fried rice was great - very flavorful with ots of shrimp and squid in it. Anyway, I got another post or two from Boston, one from SF, then I'll start putting up stuff from Vancouver.2004 Food Blog Awards Ballots
Woke up this morning and saw that Kate has put up the ballots for the Food Blog Awards. I've been nominated for Photography - thanks to you all out there! Go here and vote for me! :)
Read MoreSuishaya
Here is a meal I had at Suishaya in Chinatown, one of those Japanese/Korean places that seem so common in Boston.
mandu - pan-fried beef and vegetable dumplings - $5.95
nigiri (per two): hamachi ($4.25), toro ($7?), unagi ($4.25); rolls: bbq yellowtail maki ($4.95), alligator maki ($11.95)
The place has a whole lot of hot Korean dishes on the menu in addition to the usual Japanese. The mandu (aka a Korean potsticker) were actually quite good - clearly homemade, with a juicy stuffing. The sushi was alright. Probably a cut above Kayuga/Tokyo City, but not a ton better. The hamachi was pretty blah but acceptable. Toro wasn't very good. Can't remember how much it was... probably something like $6 or $7 for two pieces. The eel was also alright but not spectacular. I like trying these weird new rolls sometimes, especially if I'm not sitting at a true sushi counter. They tend to be safer bets. The "bbq yellowtail maki" had avocado, scallions, and grilled yellowtail inside. Pretty interesting having cooked fish inside. Probably wouldn't order it again but it was not bad. The "alligator maki" was shrimp tempura with spicy mayo wrapped with eel. This was good, but just another variation of the typical tempura/eel roll. It was pretty big too. Overall, a pretty solid Japanese option if you've got the craving in Chinatown. Suishaya won't blow you away, but it won't make you sick either. A lot of people around us were ordering the hot Korean dishes, so those may be worth a try.
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mandu - pan-fried beef and vegetable dumplings - $5.95
nigiri (per two): hamachi ($4.25), toro ($7?), unagi ($4.25); rolls: bbq yellowtail maki ($4.95), alligator maki ($11.95)
The place has a whole lot of hot Korean dishes on the menu in addition to the usual Japanese. The mandu (aka a Korean potsticker) were actually quite good - clearly homemade, with a juicy stuffing. The sushi was alright. Probably a cut above Kayuga/Tokyo City, but not a ton better. The hamachi was pretty blah but acceptable. Toro wasn't very good. Can't remember how much it was... probably something like $6 or $7 for two pieces. The eel was also alright but not spectacular. I like trying these weird new rolls sometimes, especially if I'm not sitting at a true sushi counter. They tend to be safer bets. The "bbq yellowtail maki" had avocado, scallions, and grilled yellowtail inside. Pretty interesting having cooked fish inside. Probably wouldn't order it again but it was not bad. The "alligator maki" was shrimp tempura with spicy mayo wrapped with eel. This was good, but just another variation of the typical tempura/eel roll. It was pretty big too. Overall, a pretty solid Japanese option if you've got the craving in Chinatown. Suishaya won't blow you away, but it won't make you sick either. A lot of people around us were ordering the hot Korean dishes, so those may be worth a try.Brown Sugar Cafe
Odd - I swear I've posted about Brown Sugar Cafe before but apparently I never have. Brown Sugar is about a block from the Den's Cafe (which, sadly, has closed and become a Jasmine Sola outlet store). Brown Sugar has historically gotten a lot more praise from pretty much everyone, though I always thought Den's was just as good. Anyway, Brown Sugar always has a ton of crowds while Den's stayed empty. Brown Sugar has a few locations. The one on BU campus had a fire last year, and opened again sometime this summer or this semester.
kow soi gai - flat egg noodles with chicken in light curry sauce - $6.95
country-style pad thai - $6.50
The kow soi gai is off a new "Thai-style" menu that I don't think they had before the fire. This is a good dish. Very flavorful, though not spicy at all. It's almost like a curry soup noodle - the sauce is addictive paired with the noodles. Definitely worth a try. The country-style pad thai is basically a spicy version of the pad thai. I don't normally order pad thai, but this dish was in the Globe's 54 Divine Dishes article from a while back so I thought I'd give it a shot. It was pretty good. Not very dry which is usually the problem with pad thai, and a slight hint of spice. I think Den's Cafe's version was better though. There are a few other dishes that look pretty interesting on that Thai menu, so I'll probably go back again to try more.
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kow soi gai - flat egg noodles with chicken in light curry sauce - $6.95
country-style pad thai - $6.50
The kow soi gai is off a new "Thai-style" menu that I don't think they had before the fire. This is a good dish. Very flavorful, though not spicy at all. It's almost like a curry soup noodle - the sauce is addictive paired with the noodles. Definitely worth a try. The country-style pad thai is basically a spicy version of the pad thai. I don't normally order pad thai, but this dish was in the Globe's 54 Divine Dishes article from a while back so I thought I'd give it a shot. It was pretty good. Not very dry which is usually the problem with pad thai, and a slight hint of spice. I think Den's Cafe's version was better though. There are a few other dishes that look pretty interesting on that Thai menu, so I'll probably go back again to try more.Hot Pot
Mike is really into hot pot. I'm not the biggest fan, but Mike was craving it. There's some hot pot place in Beijing that he loves and misses. So he decided to buy a hot pot online and do it at home.
spicy hot pot
We got a lot of good ingredients over at Super 88: sliced beef, lamb, beef balls, fish balls, noodles, mushrooms, veggies. Everything's been thrown in there. We had a little more trouble finding a good soup base to use. We wanted something spicy. The stuff we found was okay, but not exactly what we were looking for. We also had some trouble finding the right dipping sauce. With normal hot pot you can just go with the egg/soy sauce/chili combo, but for spicy hot pot Mike insists on this sesame-type dipping sauce. We'll keep looking though. Still, it turned out pretty good, and it was a great value for money.
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spicy hot pot
We got a lot of good ingredients over at Super 88: sliced beef, lamb, beef balls, fish balls, noodles, mushrooms, veggies. Everything's been thrown in there. We had a little more trouble finding a good soup base to use. We wanted something spicy. The stuff we found was okay, but not exactly what we were looking for. We also had some trouble finding the right dipping sauce. With normal hot pot you can just go with the egg/soy sauce/chili combo, but for spicy hot pot Mike insists on this sesame-type dipping sauce. We'll keep looking though. Still, it turned out pretty good, and it was a great value for money.Fusion
Don't worry guys, I'm just fine. I had 2 research papers due yesterday so I was kinda out of commission. Anyway, earlier in the semester Dave brought me to Fusion (his parents' restaurant) again. They were having a wine pairing event (I didn't drink any of the wine) and we got to tag along. I was impressed on my last visit to Fusion. Nice place, especially considering it's middle-of-nowhereness in East Longmeadow.
petite risotto croquette, asiago-roasted pepper salsa, toasted pignoli
tuna wontons, tossed with chinese mustard sauce & chili oil
plantain crusted scallops on potato gaufrettes with a mango-guava champagne butter
Everything was coming out as a set menu for everyone there. Since we were with the owners, we could get unlimited seconds of anything, which was a... bonus. The risotto croquette for example wasn't that big of a serving for everyone else. We kinda just got a plate of them and shared it. Pretty good - texture was a bit on the cakey side. Maybe the risotto was undercooked slightly. The tuna wontons were great, and addictive. Rare tuna on the inside, with a slightly tangy sauce. We got a few extra plates of this stuff. The scallops were pretty good, but I found the sauce a bit too sweet. I like their regular menu scallops better.
roasted duck breast and syrah poached pear, cherry brioche french toast, sangria glaze
goat cheese crusted lamb lolli-pops, nicoise olive tapenade, chartreuse demi glace
chocolate bread pudding martini, vanilla stoli and godiva white chocolate drizzle
The duck was the worst dish of the lot... dry and overcooked. The brioche was also dry and a little tasteless. The lamb was MUCH better. Very juicy, and the goat cheese was not overwhelming. It blended well with the gamey flavor. The bread pudding was delicious. I literally ate that thing in like a minute. Hot, doughy, and simple... no extraneous ingredients - just chocolate and vanilla. Mmmm I want more. I think the food along with a wine pairing for each course was $60 or $70, but I'm not sure. Definitely a good deal for everything you get. A couple of the items I'd surely go back for - the wontons and the bread pudding. Of course, it's even better for free... Thanks Dave's parents. :)
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petite risotto croquette, asiago-roasted pepper salsa, toasted pignoli
tuna wontons, tossed with chinese mustard sauce & chili oil
plantain crusted scallops on potato gaufrettes with a mango-guava champagne butter
Everything was coming out as a set menu for everyone there. Since we were with the owners, we could get unlimited seconds of anything, which was a... bonus. The risotto croquette for example wasn't that big of a serving for everyone else. We kinda just got a plate of them and shared it. Pretty good - texture was a bit on the cakey side. Maybe the risotto was undercooked slightly. The tuna wontons were great, and addictive. Rare tuna on the inside, with a slightly tangy sauce. We got a few extra plates of this stuff. The scallops were pretty good, but I found the sauce a bit too sweet. I like their regular menu scallops better.
roasted duck breast and syrah poached pear, cherry brioche french toast, sangria glaze
goat cheese crusted lamb lolli-pops, nicoise olive tapenade, chartreuse demi glace
chocolate bread pudding martini, vanilla stoli and godiva white chocolate drizzle
The duck was the worst dish of the lot... dry and overcooked. The brioche was also dry and a little tasteless. The lamb was MUCH better. Very juicy, and the goat cheese was not overwhelming. It blended well with the gamey flavor. The bread pudding was delicious. I literally ate that thing in like a minute. Hot, doughy, and simple... no extraneous ingredients - just chocolate and vanilla. Mmmm I want more. I think the food along with a wine pairing for each course was $60 or $70, but I'm not sure. Definitely a good deal for everything you get. A couple of the items I'd surely go back for - the wontons and the bread pudding. Of course, it's even better for free... Thanks Dave's parents. :)The Capital Grille
Keith's mom was in town for a couple of days earlier in the semester, and she was kind enough to take us all out to The Capital Grille. I've long wanted to try this place - it's one of the more recognized and famous steakhouses in Boston. I'd walked past it many times (it's got a pretty nice location near the Prudential Center). Of course for us college kids, steakhouses are generally something left for when parents are around...
baked prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes and parmesan toast
14 oz. dry aged steak au poivre with a courvoisier cream sauce - $32.95
cr�me brul�e with raspberries
Didn't get a good look at the prices as Keith's mom was treating us, but I did jot down the steak. From the outside, I always thought the place looked a little intimidating - looked like one of those old-school stuffy restaurants. Definitely not the case! The inside is very open, with a bit more casual of an atmosphere than I expected (although, I wouldn't recommend walking in in shorts and sandals). The service was very friendly and not snobby at all. The food was good. My appetizer was a special that night - usually I order caesar salad, but the description of this was too good to resist. The cheese was just slightly melted and mixed perfectly with the saltiness of the prosciutto. The tomatoes added a refreshing balance - sadly, it was the last time i had heirloom tomatoes this year.
The steak was cooked well - perfectly medium rare. And boy was it peppery! I don't normally order steak au poivre - but any steak au povire fans out there, I urge you to try this. Very intense peppery flavor. The sides, not pictured, were average (we had the usual - creamed spinach, onion rings, etc... they weren't special enough for anyone to clean them off after being filled by their steaks). When dessert time came around, the waiter made the lofty claim that they serve the best cr�me brul�e he's ever had. How could I not order it after that? It turned out quite good; creamy and not too heavy. The raspberries were delicious. I highly doubt it's the best I've had though (although I can't think of a specific place I've had it better, I'm sure I have). Dave's cheesecake, on the other hand (sorry again, not pictured), was fantastic. Get that instead of the cr�me brul�e. Thanks again Keith's mom!
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baked prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes and parmesan toast
14 oz. dry aged steak au poivre with a courvoisier cream sauce - $32.95
cr�me brul�e with raspberries
Didn't get a good look at the prices as Keith's mom was treating us, but I did jot down the steak. From the outside, I always thought the place looked a little intimidating - looked like one of those old-school stuffy restaurants. Definitely not the case! The inside is very open, with a bit more casual of an atmosphere than I expected (although, I wouldn't recommend walking in in shorts and sandals). The service was very friendly and not snobby at all. The food was good. My appetizer was a special that night - usually I order caesar salad, but the description of this was too good to resist. The cheese was just slightly melted and mixed perfectly with the saltiness of the prosciutto. The tomatoes added a refreshing balance - sadly, it was the last time i had heirloom tomatoes this year.
The steak was cooked well - perfectly medium rare. And boy was it peppery! I don't normally order steak au poivre - but any steak au povire fans out there, I urge you to try this. Very intense peppery flavor. The sides, not pictured, were average (we had the usual - creamed spinach, onion rings, etc... they weren't special enough for anyone to clean them off after being filled by their steaks). When dessert time came around, the waiter made the lofty claim that they serve the best cr�me brul�e he's ever had. How could I not order it after that? It turned out quite good; creamy and not too heavy. The raspberries were delicious. I highly doubt it's the best I've had though (although I can't think of a specific place I've had it better, I'm sure I have). Dave's cheesecake, on the other hand (sorry again, not pictured), was fantastic. Get that instead of the cr�me brul�e. Thanks again Keith's mom!