A Special Dinner at Ginseng Seafood Noodle House

In high school my friends and I used to drive into town from Langley and sit for hours in Wazubees. Except we called it Cafe Cafe Cafe because that’s all they had on their sign and we never thought to ask past that. There are so many establishments in this city that fall into the category of decent, possibly unmemorable food that are described as “that pho shop up on Hastings” or “the dim sum with the blue awning”. They don’t need to have a sign or even a name (although I guess they must need to have one somewhere to register as a business) because there will always be people around in the community who need to eat. This post is a tribute to all of those places.

Last week I ate at the Ginseng Seafood Noodle House. I only know the name because I made a point of taking a photo of the sign:

We went because it was late and we wanted something cheap and not too unhealthy. We were greeted warmly and after not too much deliberation, decided to order the Special Dinner for Two. Soup of the Day, a thin vegetable soup that was nourishing but otherwise uninteresting; Deep Fried Quail, a succulent, tender little bird that also came with the head; Prawns and Scallops with Gai lan, delicious, fresh steamed Chinese broccoli topped with seafood ;Bean Curd & White Nut with Vegetables, an interesting but tasty concoction involving something called White Nut (actually yellow and I’m pretty sure from the bean family) and tofu skin in soup; accompanied with Steamed White Rice and followed by fortune cookies.

I’m not sure that “special” is the right word for it, but the variety of flavours and colours complimented nicely and for $32 we ate very well.

I even ate a bit of the quail head, dipped in fortified salt. Little strange, but it was actually pretty good.

So while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the Ginseng Seafood Noodle House, I’m sure I’ll be back, and I’ll enjoy it.

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Ginseng Seafood Noodle House

Cambie Street, Vancouver

Finally Getting Vancouver’s Best Tacos: Doña Cata

People have been telling me to go have tacos at Doña Cata for well, much longer than I care to admit, considering that I just went there for the first time last weekend. But even though I’m devastated to lose out on a year’s worth of tacos, it was worth the wait. They are exquisite.

I ordered one each of the the Al Pastor, Longaniza and Barbacoa de borrego tacos which are marinated pork meat with pineapple, cured pork sausage with chili and lamb respectively. They come in a no-frills basket with chopped onion and cilantro and you can mosey up to the salsa bar to choose your topping from 10 different homemade sauces.

They were so tasty! A little messy, to be sure, but all the best foods are. Tender, spiced meat balanced beautifully in flavour and temperature with the cold cilantro and onion and a little squirt of lime made it just exactly right. Try some roasted chilies on the side for extra smoky flavour.

Doña Cata is often voted Vancouver’s best Mexican, best tacos, etc, and Vancouver Magazine recently rated it best in the Americas. I’m astounded that such a small shop way up Victoria has managed to command this kind of attention, but I don’t disagree. The steady stream of happy customers more than the wall of accolades is proof enough that they’re doing everything right.

I know that Doña Cata’s has moved to a larger establishment recently and while I had not seen the old taquería , this one managed to be both homey and festive and…fun! The pink and turquoise walls, Mexican kitsch and friendly, happy staff felt like we were just on the verge of a party or some kind of fabulous family gathering. I love food and am often beside myself when getting to try out a new place, but there were a few times during lunch that I actually caught myself grinning. Of course, that could also have been the margarita…

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Dona Cata Mexican Foods

5076 Victoria Drive, Vancouver

Yummy Yuum Yai Thai

I love it when you stumble upon a place with no expectations and they are fulfilled wildly for you. That happened to me recently with Yuum Yai Thai, a little Commercial Drive storefront that upon first glance could swing in either direction, to dingy and depressing or excellent and secret. With a colourful awning outside and a small, basic room spruced up with Thai accents, it is welcoming enough and comfortable. Also clean.

The menu has all of the dishes you would expect to see in a Thai restaurant; green, red, yellow and Panang curries, pad Thai, etc. but also a lot of non-standard specialties. I waffled a bit before choosing the Choo Chee with king prawns (you can also get it with a fish fillet) for $15.95. It’s a kind of curry (not overly spicy) made with kafir lime leaves and sweet basil and served over white rice it’s a little piece of heaven. The lack of heat really makes the spice mixture shine and there is a generous helping of prawns, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. Delicious.

A foodie friend who’s been to Thailand told me later that this is one of the most authentic Thai places in town, and I can definitely see that. Go check it out if you’e in the neighourhood.

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Yuum Yai Thai

1859 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

A Tale of 2 Jerks

A good friend recently came back from a vacation to Jamaica and in fit of jealousy this week, I took myself to Jamaican Pizza Jerk on Commercial Drive. I’ve also been to Riddim & Spice, another Jamaican place on the Drive, recently and not blogged about it, so here goes the showdown.

It’s actually not much of a showdown, more like a blowout for Jamaican Pizza Jerk. When I walked in at lunchtime, there was only one other table occupied, but warm smiles greeted me all around the vibe was happy and mellow. I’m sure that the Bob Marley concert playing on the television did much to add to the ambiance, as did the colourful Caribbean decor. My entrance to Riddim & Spice a week earlier was not really noted and while I floundered around the sparse room deciding on where to sit, I actually considered leaving. It lacks warmth and, at least while I was there felt empty and apathetic.

Even though Jerk Chicken must surely be the national dish, I was after the curry goat. They did have it at Riddim & Spice but the tiny Asian waitress seemed to think I should have the jerk chicken, so I did. It was pretty good. The meat was tender and fell off the bone, but I didn’t find the meat as flavourful or spicy as I was expecting. It was, however, a lot more food than I was expecting and I was stuffed by the time I left to collect my laundry from across the street.

Curry Goat is only available on Tuesdays and Fridays at Jamaican Pizza Jerk, so I ordered the chicken again and eventhough I am not actually a chicken conoisseur, I was quite enthralled with this dish here. The dark meat of the chicken was very tender being so close to the bone and cooked to perfection. The brown sauce was much thinner than at Riddim & Spice (where it seemed like more of a glaze), but tastier. Both came with rice cooked in coconut milk and spices and a salad; at Jamaican Pizza Jerk it was a tangy homemade coleslaw and at Riddim & Spice it was a green salad with a thick yellow dressing. In this respect, both opponents faired equally. I found the coleslaw somewhat more interesting, but in both instances they were delicious. Serving sizes at Jamaican Pizza Jerk are noticeably smaller, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re starving.

So, the verdict? I am planning on going back to Jamaican Pizza Jerk as early as next week to try the curried goat, oxtail and ackee and saltfish dishes, while I’m pretty sure I won’t revisit RIddim & Spice. Sad, because Riddim & Spice clearly has the more prominent storefront and I’m sure many diners stop in one time only thinking they’ll get an authentic Jamaican experience. Incidentally, I actually have no idea which place is more authentic. I’m waiting on my friend to check them out and let me know, but in the meantime I’ll be at Jamaican Pizza Jerk.

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Jamaican Pizza Jerk

2707 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Riddim & Spice

1945 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

VinoCamp 2008 Coming Up in August!

If you like your wine without the snobbery and stuffiness and with interesting people, great food and gorgeous surroundings, then you will be pleased to know that VinoCampVancouver 2008 is coming up in August. VinoCamp is meant to be a 1 day unconference in the style of Barcamp and DemoCamp with a focus on wine and will be happening at the UBC Botanical Gardens August 16th from 10 AM - 4 PM.

Here’s some more about it:

This is definitely not the wine festival. In a more unstructured form than a standard conference, VinoCampVancouver brings wine, people and technology together in one place, making wine accessible, educational and fun. As a different type of conference, VinoCamp is designed for those interested in technology and wine, and people are expected to take photos of what’s happening, and to blog or tweet or message about their experiences.

Join us! Whether you’re speaker, sponsor, or a wine-drinker, our aim is to make this day memorable, fun, and interesting. You will learn more about wine and viticulture, meet interesting people, and enjoy yourself in one of Vancouver’s loveliest gardens.

I’m pleased to be helping out with organizing VinoCamp, so lemme know if you have any ideas for speakers and sponsors and I will see you there! It’s going to be a fantastic event.

Register soon to avoid disappointment. You can do that here. VinoCamp costs $50 which includes lunch and wine

German Old Bavaria Haus is All About Schnitzel

OK, I am really behind here. When was I at The Old Bavaria Haus Restaurant in New West? A while ago now, but I keep dreaming of the rich meaty schnitzel goodness, so I’m going to post about it anyways. Schnitzel is apparently not the national dish of Germany (that honor falls to either Sauerbraten or Sauerkraut, depending on sources), but you wouldn’t know that from surveying the room at the Old Bavaria Haus.

There are other things on the menu (Filet Mignon, bratwurst, Chicken Cordon Bleu for a few examples), but the thin slice of veal or pork coated in breadcrumbs and fried seems to be what comes to mind when we think of German cuisine and so that’s what we (I’m speaking for the majority of the restaurant here) had. I had the Schnitzel Champignon ($16.95) and it was delicious. Aromatic and hearty - especially with mushrooms sauteed in butter and coated in a creamy sauce - the schnitzel also managed to not be greasy, which is a huge plus in my books.

We also had the Baked Camembert appetizer ($8.95), which we could have probably done without. It was good, as only cheese can be (sorry vegans, but it’s true), but not extraordinary and somehow seemed not particularly German. One of the spatzle dishes would have probably been a better choice. Spatzle is a type of homemade German egg noodle and at the Old Bavaria Haus, it comes in 2 varieties; the Spatzle “Jaegar Art” ($6.95) which comes with wild mushroom sauce or the Spatzle Nordsee ($7.95), which is shrimp, scallops, crabmeat in a Riesling sauce.

One of the most charming aspects of this place is that it is actually an old home, converted into a restaurant, so you can feel a bit like you’re dining at your granny’s house, with the lace curtains and German knick-knacks.  Well, if your Granny is German and makes excellent schnitzel that is.

Photos courtesy of Travis. Thank you.

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The Old Bavaria Haus Restaurant

233 6th Street, New Westminster

Happy Hour: Las Margaritas

Now that patio season is upon us, there is just no excuse for drinking indoors and one of my favorite West Side patios is at Las Margaritas.

Dappled sunlight comes in through the copious greenery on the patio and splashes against the faux adobe walls and does a passable impression of a Mexican cantina…at least after you’ve had a few margaritas.

The drinks, however, are all American. There is a choice of 4 different sizes - regular $6.26, large $9.75, monster $13.45 and pitcher $27.95 - to ensure that you get the exact amount of liquid libation you’re looking for, as well as 9 different flavours: Lime, Strawberry, Peach, Banana, Apricot, Coconut, Pineapple, and Raspberry. Thankfully complimentary chips and salsa are dropped off soon after you arrive, in an attempt to soak up the alcohol. The food here is also quite good if you’re hungry. Inauthentic, mind you, but tasty.

According to their website, the fruit margaritas are all made with natural fruit juices and nectars, but after trying the Peach, Apricot and Strawberry, I found them to be exceedingly sweet and syrupy. There was no denying the flavour of the drink, but the thick mixtures were so perfumed and specific that they almost seemed bottled. A lime marg would have possibly been more up my alley with Triple sec, lime and lemon juice and house made sweet and sour mix. I will give that one next time, or else sample from the top shelf margarita list, where the choices seem clearer (less thick) and more cocktail-style.

At any rate, there is enough variation on the margarita page alone to keep a dedicated researcher like myself busy for several hot afternoons this summer, even considering that I will have to rotate heavily with the hand-muddled selections at the Tequila Kitchen. I shouldn’t even have brought the TK margaritas in here, because there is no way their complex, refreshing flavours can compare with the sweetness of Las Margaritas’ margs, but tequila is a friend that takes many forms and sometimes you want to hang out with your sophisticated friends while other times you just want to party. And if you’re the kind of person that likes serious friends, true tequila aficionados can take the Tequila Final Exam. Let me know if you can get it to work.

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Las Margaritas

1999 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Dai Tung Dim Sum

This month’s EAT Magazine is out now, with a short piece I did called Five Great Restaurants We’d Never Heard Of on five of my favorite local (ethnic) haunts. Dai Tung Chinese Restaurant for dim sum is one of them and because I was just there again this past Monday, I thought I would post some photos. You can read the article online (the entire magazine is now online, which is fabulous), or pick up a copy around town.

Specialty of the House: Braised Eggplant with Shrimp Paste

No dim sum is complete without Har Gow.

Or Siu Mai.

Delectable Fried Tofu with Prawns in Black Bean Sauce.

Fried Spicy Squid. Kind of like yam fries, but squidier.

Yes, that is a foot. It came off a chicken.

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Dai Tung Chinese Restaurant

108-1050 Kingsway, Vancouver

Fine, Fresh Tastes at the Tequila Kitchen

I’ve been meaning to post about the Tequila Kitchen for a couple of weeks now, and in the meantime, instead of posting, I keep going back and eating there again. So I’ve had a few things from the menu…especially from the fantastic margarita list. Allow me to elaborate.

My first visit was at lunch, so I hadn’t anticipated dipping into the tequila and instead ordered the Special Lunch Platter (pictured) which is an utter feast. Guacamole and Salsa arrive with some chips for dipping and a small green salad with tangy citrus dressing. That spread of zing and spice gets your palate warmed up and thinking of Mexico and primed for the second course; a crispy chicken tostada, two pulled pork tacos in a spicy sauce, 2 poblano chili tacos topped with corn and onions and a nod to traditional Mexican rice and beans.

We were stuffed and happily sated but my crush on this place fully blossomed when our waiter, hearing my chagrin at our tequila-less meal, brought over a hand-muddled cucumber and serrano margarita on the house. Even given the rule that free drinks are automatically tastier than any other ones, this was still the best margarita I’ve had in a long time. Possibly the best one ever outside of Latin America. I don’t have much of a taste for sweet, syrupy cocktails, so the freshness of the ingredients, the mild taste of the cucumber punched up with the spice of the peppers and the quality of the tequila all make this a winner.

The only liquor served at the Tequila Kitchen is tequila, so you can be sure it’s done right. And after the cucumber serrano margarita, I knew I needed to go back and sample the other flavours. Hibiscus Rose (handmade hibiscus syrup and rose water) was the choice on a subsequent visit, followed by several Watermelon margaritas on another summer evening. Both were delicious, and while clearly sweeter than the cucumber, not even close to cloying. 

Most of the responses I’ve heard about the Tequila Kitchen is that it’s not as authentic as Salsa & Agave around the block, but so what? It’s a fun and sophisticated place in the midst of Yaletown’s frippery, the service is impeccable and I for one will certainly be back. Often.

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Tequila Kitchen

1043 Mainland Street, Vancouver