Globe @ YVR

I was definitely skeptical on trying out Fairmont’s afternoon tea at the airport due to the unimpressive reviews, but nonetheless, I decided to give it a shot and treat my mom there. The view itself isn’t breathtaking so the restaurant doesn’t really call for a visit unless you are a tourist. Yet, I wanted the experience of dining there simply because it’s the only Fairmont I haven’t dined at in Vancouver. You can visibly tell that their use of cutlery and tea press isn’t fine china, but a more modernistic approach. We noticed the floors were pretty dirty and unkept, definitely not a great sight for diners. The overall shot of their afternoon tea set for two people. Like Butter Baked Goods, they use three tiers to present the food.I have yet to find a savoury item that I fall madly in love with because the sandwiches are always predictable and standard, never delivering more in terms of flavour. Still, I did appreciate that all the items were fresh – no stale bread – considering that they operate afternoon tea 7 days a week. Many say that the scones offered at the Fairmont hotels are some of the best, but truth be told, I thought they were just alright. Yes, the cranberry and lemon scones were crummy, baked fresh, and served warm, all great factors indeed, but I truly love a scone with an egg-wash coating. I guess it’s a preference thing. The devonshire cream here wasn’t very thick, possessing the consistency between a mousse and room-temperature butter. My favourite out of all the desserts was the chocolate-crusted waffle cone filled with pistachio cream. I thought it was the most impressive in terms of flavour and presentation, reminding me of an upscale drumstick. I enjoyed the other desserts, but I definitely see room for tweaking as I felt like there should be more of a balance in terms of the desserts offered. Generally, our time here was agreeable, but I don’t think we would return. The humble portions are simply inadequate for the price when there are locations that deliver exceptional quality and service. Fortunately for us, we didn’t experience the rude service many dealt with from reviews, but we also didn’t get accommodating either (except for the hostess, Rosa). It’s evident that the waiters and waitresses don’t seem to be enjoying their working environment…

 

 

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co.

Specializing in artisan flatbread pizza, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. has two locations in mainland Vancouver – Main street and Kitsilano. My friends and I didn’t plan on visiting here originally, but the space looked inviting and seemed like a great choice to grab something filling, so we settled here. I have to say the restaurant has a wonderful patio for people-watching, especially when the weather warms up.

This is the BC Flatbread Special, part of the pizza challenge held by Richard from @Vanfoodster. According to their description, it is their “house made organic flatbread topped with B.C. Hothouse Red bell pepper base; sage, thyme & garlic marinated Oyster mushrooms; sautéed leek & double smoked maple bacon; oven cured grape tomatoes; roasted apples; Natural Pasture buffalo mozzarella & topped with fresh chives.” I loved the incorporation of local, seasonal vegetables and the portion size, ample for an individual. Unfortunately, the flavours fell short and the pizza just seemed under seasoned, especially the flatbread. I enjoyed the first slice, probably because I was famished, but as I moved on to the next slice, the pizza was just too bland for my palate. The above is the Naturally Meaty flatbread pizza and I definitely preferred this over my order. The flavours were certainlu much more dynamic with the sausage and cheese. This was the Fettucine Special offered that day. According to my friend, he said that it was good, but not comparable to Anton’s Pasta Bar.

 

Butter Baked Goods

To me, afternoon tea is the western equivalent to dim sum; both involve little portions and a great setting for socializing. This modest bakery was originally Butter’s prime baking centre, but having recently expanded to include a second location, they have transformed their Dunbar shop into a quaint tea room. It’s a charming, yet ambrosial space with a great ambiance to it.The smell of baked goods from their kitchen welcomes you the minute you step foot through the door. Lovely set up for diners – great attention to detail. I was blown away from the selection that was provided for afternoon tea simply because often you are given very small portions in comparison to the steep price. Everything is made on site and their open kitchen allows you to see the process that goes into creating each tier. Though I loved the portions that were provided, there was nothing considerably memorable about any of them except for the tuna sandwich. It consisted of tuna mixed with mayonnaise, a chip, and a brioche bun that had an interesting texture to the bite from the crunch. The pairing of the ingredients was innovative and definitely the most unique out of the bunch. The sandwiches nevertheless were very standard with the traditional cucumber, curry chicken, and egg salad. Also placed on the tier was a petite quiche and ham and cheese croissant. My only complain was that I found the white bread to be stale. I don’t recall what the flavours the scones were, but they sure know how to make a mean scone. The sugar coating and egg wash provided a firm crust, while the inside was still moist and crumbly, allowing the devonshire cream and house-made raspberry jam to spread beautifully on top. I prefer these ones over the petite scones offered at Secret Garden Tea Company simply because they lack that crunch that I find essential in a scone. By the time we made our way to the top tier, we honestly had such a hard time moving. All the women that were around us ended up taking most of it home, so we decided that we should as well because there was no way we could stomach everything. Most of the desserts are very sweet, except for the raspberry short-bread cup. My favourites in particular were the butter tart and the shortbread bar. The others were great fillers, but definitely not astounding in terms of flavour.

This is the place to splurge if you are looking for an unpretentious afternoon with great company, finger food, and attentive service. Their tea service is probably the most reasonable in pricing for the amount of food offered in Vancouver, though besides the scones, there isn’t anything extraordinary to the palate. Yet, the atmosphere and decoration are truly lovely, that it should be impossible not to have a wonderful and relaxing time.

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

One of the many ramen joints located on the West End, Hokkaido is known for serving up authentic-style ramen with a pork jowl broth. This spot is very popular not only to locals, but with tourists. If you aren’t the patient type, coming right when they open (11am) or before typical dinner services (5:30pm) is your best bet. The portions to me seem unjustified compare to the price, but knowing that their broth is steeped for two days makes it understandable that they strive to deliver quality to their consumers. It’s nestled beside WE. Coffee and just a few stores before Guu Garlic. Though the Kara Miso Ramen isn’t as spicy as it looks, it’s sodium packed. All the bases are flavourful and velvety, but definitely leave you thirsty for water afterwards. My favourite part though is not the broth, but the noodles. By appearance, they seem rather soft and lacking of the “springiness” texture, but they are cooked at the perfect time so that the chewiness is retained in each bite. I do wish that the noodles were made in house. The fixings on top are what you get typically at our places – kelp, pickled bamboo shoots, etc. I definitely recommend ordering one of their marinated eggs if it is your first time or you just happen to love the taste of them! The char siu I had on this visit was very fatty, but it was so creamy that it literally melted in my mouth. Miso Ramen.

Le Marché St. George

A relaxing afternoon requires a visit to my favourite neighbourhood cafe.Caramelized Onions and Olive FlatbreadSmoked Salmon and Dill Quiche

Vivacity Restaurant

I’m going to make this review fairly short as my experience here was underwhelming. The ambiance is truly lacking, as there is no animated vibe that you typically find yourself surrounded with. Though I believe they have recently renovated, I felt like it could be further refurnished, with more illuminating chandeliers because the dimness of the setting made it sort of a depressing location to dine at. The raving dish, their Baked BBQ pork bun fell short for me as I didn’t find it particularly spectacular, the contrast of sweet and salty being too overwhelming. It was good, but it certainly wouldn’t make me come back here. I definitely recommend dwelling somewhere else though, as Richmond offers countless prominent options. 

 

Beaucoup Bakery

Saying I have an addiction to this cafe may be an understatement, as I’m head over heels with everything offered here. Sometimes, I catch myself having daydreams of their pastry selection as there are still so many I haven’t tried… I’m salivating even talking about it. The lovely owner, Jackie Ellis never fails to impress me with her seasonal creations that are not only aesthically-appealing, but deliver in the taste component as well. Her strive to source local and if not, the best quality (like Vahlrona chocolate) ingredients make her one of my top sweet treat destinations to visit.

Situated on a quiet area on Fir street, the small cafe has many patrons coming and going, usually taking their items to-go as the compact space and tight seating make it difficult to settle in. The Pine Nut Praliné Double Baked Croissant is one of my favourites at their location. To me, this pastry is very reminiscent of a double-baked almond croissant (which they also serve), just without the toppings. It’s a decadent treat that will certainly leave flakes all over you. The nuttiness from the pine nuts is subtle, and the numerable layers and chewiness from the sugary-spread in the middle makes it a heavenly explosion in the mouth. I would recommend to ask them to heat it up for you just because I find that it tastes best when it’s slightly warmer than room temperature. The Tropical Scone enjoyed by my friend – a nice, crumbly mess. I love having a London Fog on a Sunday afternoon…

Empire Seafood Restaurant

As you probably know, some of the most acclaimed Chinese restaurants in Vancouver are Kirin, Sea Harbour, and Dynasty Seafood Restaurant. Empire however, a little less well-known, is located across from Kirin Richmond, another esteemed restaurant that serves up quality dishes similar to their counterparts. It’s stationed beside a London Drugs and isn’t too far of a trek from the Richmond-Brighouse Canada Line. The atmosphere is lively and the furnishing has very similar characteristics compared to the dining room at Hotel Georgia. The well-lit and elegant space creates the perfect canvas for an enjoyable meal. 

Baked BBQ Pork Buns – Decent, though not anything special.Sweet Sticky Rice Wrap w/ Red Bean Paste – Not as sweet as it appears, but I’m not a big fan of sticky rice. Deep Fried Eggplant w/ Prawn Paste – Standard dim sum dish, though it was too oily. Taro Root & Duck Pastry – Taro to Duck filling is a ratio of 3:1. I prefer Dynasty’s because I don’t particularly like the taste of taro. Steamed Mushroom Dumplings – This is definitely a must-order, as it is probably the best vegetarian dumpling I’ve had. The filling has a slight truffle oil fragrant, which really enhances the flavour. Unlike Jade’s version, it does not possess that potent earthy smell that can be quite overwhelming. Glutinous Rice Balls with Egg Yolk – Definitely an interesting concept, but the standard, hollow ones are much better. 

Product Review: RisottoBalls

A while ago, I contacted Jordan (owner of Moccia & Urbani) via Twitter to see if I could sample their product, RisottoBalls, as they were looking for food bloggers to test them out. I’ve passed by these sleek black boxes numerous times at grocery stores like Choices and Whole Foods and have always been curious to see what they’re like because if you’ve ever seen Laura in the Kitchen on youtube, she makes these little bite-sized morsels look jaw-droppingly delectable. Needless to say, my first experience was not a disappointment!

I decided to unfold the boxes so that all the information is visible in one photo. Each box contains 9 frozen pieces. Thus, all you really have to do is bake them in the oven until it’s warm and crispy (the instructions are on the box). What I love about these are that they are a great convenience item that can be brought to pot-latches, parties or even be served as a canapé at your home. For me, with the year-end celebrations coming way, it’s been hard finding the time to prepare something from scratch and so instead, I’ve taken these with me and they have been a hit with the crowd as they honestly disappear within minutes.

The product reminds me of a tater-tot, mostly because of the outer layer. Because they are previously fried, my house smelled like I had some deep-fryer action going on when I baked these. I definitely preferred some flavours over the others as with the mushroom option, I found it to be slightly dry on the inside while the mozzarella flavour had a gooey, rich string of cheese each bite. It is quite a heavy item on the palate as you can easily get full just from having a few, but they are definitely enjoyable snacks especially when you are in a time crunch. Also, a thing to note about these products are that they are MSG and trans fat-free, deeming them as a much better option then must conventional frozen meals out on the market. Plus, with the local movement being quite huge in our community, this is a great way to support our local businesses who truly value quality for consumers.

For a simple meal idea, you could throw some tossed bitter greens and top it with a few risotto balls and that could be a satisfying and effortless meal. If not, an alternative option would be to serve it as a hors-d’ouevre or canapé, garnishing it with a tangy sauce and some fresh herbs. I think presenting them in a long white tray is great for house parties because they really do look elegant and are a crowd-pleaser.

I also would just like to thank Jordan for being incredibly understanding and kind, and for sharing his creations with me. I wasn’t obligated to write a review, but I truly think these are some great artisan products that many people will find themselves enjoying. They’re a great way to try an italian classic as they are rather hard to find. Yet, if you do see it on a menu, they are definitely some pricey little appetizers. I’ve linked their website below for those who are curious to see if there is a close-by location to your home, but I really am extremely thankful for being able to have this wonderful opportunity to sample their products and share them with others.

http://www.risottoball.com/where-to-buy/

Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

Supposedly one of the higher-end Chinese restaurants in Vancouver, Dynasty Seafood Restaurant has been awarded multiple awards for their dishes because of their contemporary approaches to staple items. It’s not as spacious as most places, so I can see it getting clamourous during peak hours. The service unfortunately was disorganized and rather satisfactory to say the least, as there was always a need to flag down items and wait. Nonetheless, my friends and I were quite satisfied with our dim sum adventure here as we discovered some stand-outs plates that can’t be recreated elsewhere. I appreciate that the chef is innovative and chooses to redesign the menu ever so often because it demonstrates his striving passion for creativity and learning, not just sticking to his realm of security which eventually bores consumers.

Steamed Crab and Minced Pork Dumpling ($4.98)Steamed BBQ Pork Bun ($4.68)Steamed Shrimp Dumpling ($4.88)Steamed Pork Dumpling ($4.88)Baked Lemon BBQ Pork Pie ($4.68)Deep Fried Taro w/ BBQ Duck Meat ($4.68)Steamed Sponge Cake ($4.48)Steamed Sesame Buns ($4.68)