Sushiholic

Ming has told me good things about this restaurant but I've never tried. I love sushi. Good sushi. Mmm... we were craving it so I had a feeling it was going to be sushi for dinner tonight. Today marked the last day of my brutal schedule. I had only two days off in the past 17 days. With some alternating closing/opening shifts. And a 10-hour shift with no break. It was brutal to me. But anyway, today was the last. So, exhausted as I was... I was pretty happy and skippy all day. Sushi just tops it all off.

We got it as take out. We had... agadeshi tofu, yam tempuras, an "Awesome" roll, and a "Sushiholic" roll. It was my fault... didn't do it justice 'cause I took my time after work, so by the time we ate, some of the crunchy stuff was already soggy. But, the food was good. I don't know if it was me... or if Ming tampered with the sauces... but the agadeshi tofu's sauce seemed sweeter, the tempura dip had a tangy lemon flavour, and the Sushiholic had a bit of spicy sauce to it too. They were all really good. The "Awesome" roll was indeed pretty awesome. Again, I had to imagine what it would have been if it was fresh... but they had a very finely shredded deep fried yam ... I don't want to call it strings, more like thread... topping. Yum! I'd definitely try this place again.

If you want regular sushi or some special rolls for a decent price, I'd recommend that you try out Sushiholic.

(For a blogger, you'd think I'd always have my camera! Next time.)

We watched Salt. Angelina Jolie. There were angles where I did find her quite pretty. And other angles, quite scary. Action packed. You'd love it if you're in for just action. But the rest... just okay.

Singapore Chicken Curry

G-Men Ramen

Ming took me to a ramen joint in Richmond tonight. I already liked it when we drove up to it because ... there's so many parking spots! Free is good too. (The only ramen places I know are in downtown where parking spots are limited). G-Men is its name. And it's located in the Continental Plaza. (Yes, you can run next door for some Pearl Castle bubbletea afterwards).

I loved the decor. Because there simply wasn't much. Much like any other ramen joints, there was a curtain at the door and special items posted on the wall. We sat on tall stools ( I guess for Ming, not-so-tall stools) at the bar table. (There isn't a bar but that's the best I could describe it). It brought me back to the ramen place I visited in Tokyo. It was just like that. We sat at a long bench. All the chopsticks and spoons were in a bucket on the table and we poured our own water.

strange decorations.

I ordered the Tonkatsu Miso Ramen. I added one of their options of butter and corn. Because well, I love corn. It didn't take too long before our food arrived.  It had a lot of toppings - the bbq pork, green onions, wood ear mushrooms, and seaweed. Oh, and the butter and corn. I had to fish out the block of butter. Shum would probably scream if she read this as she loves to order double butter.

Ming's Tonkatsu Shoyu Ramen. Didn't take a picture of mine but it looks the same.

I loved the soup. Y'see, I don't know if I'd go back to Kintaro a second time even though my friends continue to rave about its flavour and authenticity because I find Kintaro's soup too oily. I could also see the pieces of fat from the meat floating in it. I instantly lost my appetite a little. So, no matter how I noticed that the Japanese people hung out there at Kintaro and I could see the authenticity with the big pots of broth stewing (as well as smelling it in my clothes afterwards), I couldn't see the appeal that everyone else saw. Needless to say, I haven't been back a second time.

But, at G-Men, the soup was just perfect. This also comes with a comparison with Menya. I preferred Menya over Kintaro simply because the soup was not as fatty. However, I could also see why people have said that Menya's soup doesn't quite measure up. The flavours aren't quite there. Well, G-Men has it all. No floating fat in my soup and it was perfectly rich and creamy.

I also really enjoyed the pork. And that actually says a lot. I'm not a big fan of pork. Good pork to me is hard to come by. I'm quite picky even with Chinese bbq pork. I almost never order pork chops (except for the chinese style baked ones) because they're generally too dry. And like Kintaro, there was a lot of fat hanging off of their pieces of pork. Or, sometimes I find pork to be under or over seasoned. Anyway, I'm not picky in that I'd complain about pork to death... I simply just rarely eat it. But, surprisingly the pork was really good at G-Men.

It looked so good (and I was hungry after work) ... I could wait to dig in when the steaming bowl of goodness was set infront of me. I was so into eating it, I barely took any photos. In fact, I forgot totally until Ming reminded me while I already had chopsticks and spoon in hand, "Don't you want to take a picture?". Oh. Right.

And even at that... I don't have good ones. I wanted to eat!

Another thing... I didn't understand it at first, but I was given a porous spoon. I was thinking, what am I suppose to do with this ... I plan on enjoying the soup. But later, I realized it was to help fish out my corn and other goodness without taking in only spoonfuls of soup. Clever!

It was mmm mmm good. I was stuffed. Ming wanted bbt but of course we couldn't go next door to Pearl Castle. He was craving Dragonballz. I'm not sure I know anyone else would who drive across town just to get their bbt when it could have been so readily accessible. But I guess, hey, when you gotta satisfy a craving, you gotta satisfy a craving. (Okay, I only wrote that last bit 'cause I know he reads this. Ha ha. )

Dine Out Vancouver

Dine Out Vancouver is a city event that happens every winter with 3-course menus that range from $18, $28, or $38 depending on the participating restaurants. I haven't done this for a few years now but decided to use it as an excuse to hang out with my friends. We chose to try out Le Bistro De Paris on Denman St. It's been around for a while. I remember hearing about it years ago. So... why not.

The moment I stepped in, I was taken back to the time I was in Paris. To be honest, the ambiance was refreshing even though it is very much decked out in old European posters and art with signs of Parisian streets names hung all over the walls. I don't know about you, but for me, some of the new restaurants get "old" sometimes. The modern decor that are predictably in colours of dark brown, black or white with some sort of "accent" colour... with the same dark lighting and the repetitive beats playing in the background. (I mean, if you were to walk into Joey's, Brown's, Romer's, Society, Cactus Club, and even the Keg... don't you get the same vibe? I do.)  So yes, I very much enjoyed the change of scenery at Le Bistro De Paris.

All three of us picked the same items from the menu.

Escargot with puff pastry. There was a lot of garlic... just how I like it. I almost wanted to take a piece of bread to clean out the garlic left. Almost. The puff pastry was definitely not without guilt.

Halibut with roasted pear and a lemon coulis. The portion was huge. Three big pieces of halibut. The sauce was creamy yet lemon tangy. The roasted pear added a bit of sweetness. It had a good portion of mixed veggies. However, the halibut was a bit disappointing with it being overcooked and tough.

Chocolate Mousse. I wanted the creme brulee but they ran out. The waiter said it would be on the house the next time we come back. True or not, it was a nice gesture. But, I must say that the chocolate mousse was probably the best part of the meal. It was so light and fluffy that I bet my cousin would describe it as "like eating clouds".

I think the overall experience was excellent. Mostly because of the people. The company of my friends. And the service of the restaurant. The girls and I had some good girl talk... picking all the good parts of life to discuss to death. I can't help but laugh just thinking back to our conversations.  And with the service... the people at the restaurant were friendly and the service was prompt. We had a good chat with our waiter.

We went back to Wendy's place to finish up our gab session. We were all home a little past midnight. That's really all you need to make a good Friday night.

Karen and Wendy

Chinese New Year - Year of the Rabbit

Happy Chinese New Year!

All of us are working today with my dad (the cook of the family) working night shift, so we had our big family dinner and celebrations last Sunday.  I don't remember the last time my dad was so excited about cooking a big family feast. This year, he wrote out a menu.

Every dish has some sort of meaning to it. Even the number of dishes is supposedly lucky. There was only five of us at dinner and there were eight dishes. It was too much food and definitely not necessary, but who cares. It's New Years. 

Every year, my mom wishes the same thing for me. Health and to find a decent guy. "Don't be so picky!", she says. Alright mom.

Anyway, Happy New Year!

Winter Farmers Market

There are several Farmers Markets that take place at several different locations throughout the city.  Most of them run during the warmer months from May to October. However, there is one winter farmers market at the Nat Bailey Stadium that is on from November to April, every Saturdays from 10am-2pm. This Saturday, I decided to check it out.

Farmers Markets are all about supporting our local BC farmers and helping sustaining our land and community. You'll find a variety of fresh and healthy foods. Organics. Gluten-free. All terms you'll find on their signs and at their stands. Apples dull in appearance (without the waxy coating) but bright in colours and plump in size. There were also some growingly popular street vendor trucks parked on the side.


Pizza made right in the oven behind him.





Scooping out that aromatic chili from the tank. Perfect for a cold winter day.

I want one of those cutters. They work great!

I brought my parents and we had a lot of fun going from stand to stand seeing what was available and watching other people buy and consume their goodies. We also picked up a couple bags of organic apples and carrots to bring home.



organic carrots so chubby and cute





crisp, juicy and delicious apples (mutsu, granny smith, and galas)



(Click on photos for larger images.)

Salmon with Sundried Tomatoes

Everyone enjoyed it when I brought it over for a dinner party one summer. Salmon makes a great entree for the summer. Especially with a delicious and light topping. Of course, I can enjoy it just as much in the winter so I was craving it the other day. I haven't made it since that summer party but the ingredients are so simple and easy, I have no problems remembering it and duplicating it once more. This was given to me by my lovely coworker, Deanna. (Actually, she's probably one of my biggest source to developing my repetoire).

Mind you, I was never a big fan of sundried tomatoes. I'd eat it but I never loved it. I think with most tomato-based things, it has to be on the sweeter rather than sour side for me. (That's why I don't understand American ketchup!). And to me, not all sundried tomatoes I've tasted taste the same. But, Deanna gave me the great tip to using only the California Sun-Dry brand of sundried tomatoes. They're soaked with the right amount of herbs and has the perfect sweet and tanginess. You can get them in a big jar from Costco and it keeps for a while. Love!

Salmon with Sundried Tomatoes

chopped Califronia Sun-Dry sundried tomatoes
diced onions
chopped Parsley

Equal parts of each. Lay like a crust on top of salmon filet that is seasoned with salt and pepper. Wrap in foil and bake for 15-20 minutes.

Need a better knife for finer chopping.



Lunch and snack.



Add some veggies. Yam and potatoes.

Afternoon Delight

I wanted to check out one of the newest addition to the Kerrisdale area. A coffee shop called Faubourg. It is modern and chic and inviting. I loved the decor. It's nice and bright with the white marble walls. All the baguettes, croissants, and desserts were neatly on display. The place was bustling with people of all ages. They even had a quiet back room with a more elegant atmosphere.

The lady who served me at the counter had a french accent. The lady she repeated my order to also had a french accent. All of a sudden, I was brought back to my days spent in Paris. I had the greatest urge to go for the chocolate croissant for old times sake. But I had a feeling no matter how close it may be, it just wouldn't be the same as the freshly baked chocolate croissants we had for breakfast every morning in Paris. So, I went for something different.

I read their beverage menu up and down. The one thing that I had no clue about was their Marco Polo Latte. I asked the lady at the counter what it is. A black tea with a hint of mint, she says. There was small sample of the tea leaves right at the counter for you to smell. Although I have been avoiding caffeine, I had to try it. And since I knew that I was going to come out here by myself (and have no one to share a dessert with me since everyone is at work on a Monday)... hmm... no, I didn't opt out on the dessert/pastry. Instead, I ate very very little lunch. I wasn't going to try this place out without the full drink+pastry package!

I chose their lemon tart. All their napoleons looked tempting but I fear they were too messy to eat. I'm so glad I went with the choices I did. They were absolutely divine. I rarely use such a pretentious word as "divine" to describe food. But it really was just that! The lemon custard was perfectly tart. Not too sour, but sour enough that it gives a punch. The texture was velvety smooth and creamy. The underneath meringe layer was not sweetened at all. It was a light layer of beatened egg white that completed the matchup with the flavourful custard. Then, there was the tart's crust. You could see the black specks from the vanilla bean. It was also not too sweet, which really balanced the whole dessert and made the custard stand out on its own and be the star.

The Marco Polo Latte was exactly what I love. It had a good hint of everything but not too harsh. The black tea was strong enough to leave a good hazel brown colour in the milk, but not so strong that it would leave a bitter tea taste in my mouth. And the mint was ever so slight. Mmm... it was definitely soothing. I would totally go back just to have those two items again.

What a lovely new place. Definitely going on my must-return list.

A Good Day

 This is one of my favorite places. Can you guess where it is? Where half the people there are holding cameras and photographing every food and fruit stand while the other half of the people are running after children or walking dogs. I'm of course of the former. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. People were asking me all day yesterday, "It's going to rain. What are you doing tomorrow?". I'm not so sure, I told everyone. But the moment I saw the sun peek out, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. It gets pretty busy when the weather is nice. Luckily, it was a relatively quiet day today. I seem to rarely get to spend time alone, which I actually consider a good thing. I love company. But on these rare occasions when it's just my camera and I, I enjoy them just the same.

It's funny that there are so many photos of birds. I hate birds. I really hate birds. Even when I was scrolling through these photos I took today, I couldn't help but cringe when I'm on a bird photo. It's really as strange as it sounds. I really can't explain it. I've never been attacked by a bird. Something about them that makes me think they're creepy. Regardless though, in the above photos, the little black bird with the orange trimmings is gorgeous. I also love the very last photo of the seagull in flight... its wings appear almost translucent with the sunset light.

The third last photo is one of my favorite of the day. Only because the moment was perfect. The sun was setting. The air was crisp. This family must have just finished their grocery shopping at the market. They were enjoying their stroll outside just as much as I was. The little boy was dancing and playing amongst the flock of birds on the ground. And even once they've flown away, there was still a happy skip in his steps.

I indulge a little on my days off. I treated myself to a pumpkin seed and fruit granola bar from La Baguette et L'Echolate. It was packed with pumpkin seeds, apricots, cranberries, oats, and honey. Don't let it fool you to think it's super healthy, because with one bite, you'll know that it's truly decadent. But oh, was it good... As I looked up from taking that photo, I noticed a man watching me... and walked away laughing. I suppose it may have looked funny watching someone take a bite out of their food and take a picture of it. At least... I hope that was the reason he was laughing at me.