2013-01-18 Dinner @ Hee Rae Dung Korean Chinese Restaurant 喜來燈

435 North Road, Coquitlam, BC

604-939-0649

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We somehow ended up in Coquitlam again.  Since we enjoyed our first visit, plus we were in the area, Buddha Girl suggested to pay another visit to Hee Rae Dung Korean Chinese Restaurant 喜來燈.

This time, we went with a family set - Combo B.  Similar to our previous visit, soon after we ordered, we were served a plate of pickled daikon, black bean paste and raw onions.

The Jjam Bong (spicy seafood with noodle soup) was the first to arrive.  The broth itself had a nice kick, but was not as spicy as our previous visit.  Noodles were firm and chewy.  Variations of seafood were ideal.  Good price for the bowl.

We had the Ja Jang Myun (vegetable, pork and black bean sauce on noodles) on our previous visit and I didn't quite enjoy it.  This time, the sauce had stronger flavors and the noodles weren't soggy.  This bowl much more enjoyable.

The Koon Man Du (deep fried dumplings) was a must.  The dough wasn't thick and each plump dumpling was packed with pork and veggies.  These were delicious...mind you, I'm biased, I simply love any food deep fried.

Of course, another must for me was the Kan Poong Ki.  This was simply deep fried chicken tossed with a mild sweet and sour sauce.  The chicken was moist and the coating was crispy.  Yes, deep fried food again...need I say more?  Should I even bother write anything else? 

We were glad we came back for another visit.  The food was as enjoyable as our previous visit.  It's quite unfortunate that they don't take reservation.  If you do plan to go, be prepared to wait.

2013-01-17 Lunch @ Black + Blue

1032 Alberni Street, Vancouver, BC

604-637-0777

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Another lunch out with colleagues.  Honestly, I really didn't care where we go, but less than 50% on Urbanspoon?  C'mon...there's gotta be better places...

Back when I first visited Black + Blue (see post 2012-01-25 Dinner @ Black + Blue), I loved the Crispy Calamari.  This time, the breading wasn't as crisp and retained a bit too much oil.

I was really disappointed with my Blue Ribbon Meat Loaf.  First off, the portion was small, too small.  Next, not only it looked like a hamburger patty, it also tasted like a hamburger patty.  I think I'd be better off ordering a burger.  Do not waste your money on this.

MetroBoy was disappointed with his Beef Wellington.  Yup, another small dish.  Serving rare would have been fine, but MetroBoy had to send the tenderloin back for some more heat as it arrived blue.  The sauce was salty.  Again, not recommended.

2013-01-16 Lunch @ Joey Bentall One

507 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC

604-915-5639

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The work crew took MetroMan for a farewell lunch Joey Bentall One.  After less than a year, he was leaving us for greener pastures.

Both MetroMan and I ordered the full rack of ribs.  The ribs were dry, oversauced and salty.  To make matters worse, there weren't much meat on both orders.  You'd think that since we ordered ribs, they would provide wetnaps or finger bowls?  Nope, don't expect that here.  One visit was enough for me.  Not recommended.

2013-01-14 Lunch @ Tokyo Joe Ramen Okawari

8100 Ackroyd Road, Richmond, BC

604-233-1315

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After my appointment in Richmond, I began searching for food.  Mix & match soup noodles?  Nah.  Food court?  Not really.  Chinese BBQ?  A bit tired of it.  Ramen?  Now that's an idea.  I recall reading upon this ramen joint on Ackroyd Road.  I was stupid.  I circled around and around the area only to find Tokyo Joe's Sushi Factory.  Just when I was about to give up, I spotted Tokyo Joe Ramen Okawari, located next to PriceSmart Foods (formerly Save On Foods).

The restaurant was not big but it was clean, bright and spacious.  Staff were all speaking Japanese, which was intriguing considering Richmond is predominately run by the Chinese.

Hmmm...there's a "ramen manual" that teaches "How to eat Ramen, the delicious way"...yup, just in case anyone needs it.

I started with the Uni Siso Tempura (Deep Fried Sea Urchin).  The roe was bitter and had a foul smell.  Not recommended.

Next was the Okawari Origin Raman, with added cha shu.  The noodles were al-dente.  The herbal chicken broth was flavorful yet light with hints of ginseng.  The egg was cooked well but it's super salty.  The BBQ pork was a bit bland and dry.

What bothered me was the awkward-shaped noodle spoon.  Not exactly sure if it's a common style in Japan, but it was not very convenient to use.  Nonetheless, it was still better than using a serving-spoon as a personal-spoon at Ramen Jinya.

2013-01-13 Afternoon Tea @ Globe@YVR

3111 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond, BC

604-248-3281

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I love flash-sale sites (i.e. Groupon, SocialShopper, LivingSocial).  Sometimes the deals can be quite tricky and sneaky, while others are truly good and worthy.

A couple of months ago, I picked up a few deal vouchers for the afternoon tea service at the Globe@YVR (The Fairmont Vancouver Airport).  Buddha Boy and I arrived at 14:30 and were seated at a table for two by the window.

While Buddha Boy thought his tea choice of Japan Sencha Fukujyu (left) was too light for him, I thought the tea was refreshing and earthy.  The Fairmont Vancouver Airport "Jetsetter" (right) was my choice of tea but it was too bold and strong for me.  We ended up trading the pots.

Cream and sugar were already set on the table prior to our scheduled arrival.  The three-tier finger snacks came to the table after our teas were served.

Desserts came on the top tier.  The Chocolate & Hazelnut Tart was too rich.  The FVA Cheesecake was soft and smooth, but didn't have much cheese flavor.  The Lemon Tart was refreshing, but overly sweet.  The Pistachio Shortbread lacked hints of "pistachio".

The middle tier had Cranberry & Lemon Scones.  The scones were gently dusted with icing sugar and were served with Devonshire cream and strawberry jam.  The scones were warm and fluffy with crisp surfaces.

Finally, the bottom tier of sandwiches consisted of: Smoked Salmon on Rye with Cucumber & Fresh Horseradish, Curried Chicken & Mango on Baguette, Egg Salad Croissant, Aged Cheddar & Apple with Fresh Basil.  Good finger sandwiches, but no wow factors.

Due to previous service concerns, the restaurant manager, Mike, attentively tended our table.  Upon leaving, we were given complimentary biscotti and a canister of "Jetsetter" loose tea leaves.  Thank you Mike for the gesture.

Because we were tended differently, we really couldn't comment on the service.  In terms of pricing, if it wasn't for the deal, we most likely wouldn't be here for its tea service.  Actually, knowing us, we probably wouldn't hit anywhere for low tea or high tea...(1) we're not fans of  sweets, (2) Chinese tea is in our blood and we're picky with our selections, and (3) finger food simply cannot satisfy our big tummies.  That being said, I do have one more voucher to redeem...

2013-01-10 Dinner @ Globe@YVR

3111 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond, BC

604-248-3281

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To make the long story short, we had a service issue with the Globe@YVR at The Fairmont Vancouver Airport.  After Buddha Girl voiced the concerns with the hotel, plus numerous tweets, the incident was brought to the attention of hotel's Operations Director, Kevin, who reached out and apologized.  While it's really not Kevin's fault, as an Operations Director, the hotel, and its offerings, are under his supervision.  As a recovery gesture, we were invited for a complimentary afternoon tea or a complimentary dinner at the Globe@YVR.  With multiple prepaid afternoon tea vouchers from LivingSocial, Buddha Girl accepted the dinner offer.

Parking is free when dining at the restaurant.  We were told to park on Level 2 or Level 3, then bring the parking ticket to the restaurant for validation.  Upon arrival, we were greeted by Denis, the restaurant Host, who was apologetic for the service issue.  We were seated at a table by the window, next to the lounge.

First up was the typical bread basket.  The bread came out nice and warm.  The butter, while not quite room temperature, spread nicely. 

I've noticed that a lot more restaurants are serving something Dungeness.  Hey, why not?  It's local.  The BC Dungeness Crab Salad was something I'd order again.  The crab meat was lightly tossed with mayo, but what gave it dimensions were the sauces.  My favorite was the sweet and creamy roasted corn puree.  The avocado sauce was earthy and smooth.  The blood orange coulis, while refreshing, was my least favorite.  In my opinion, creme fraiche was not needed.  The corn tuile (thin cracker atop of crab salad) added a nice contrasting crunch.

Buddha Girl's not a fan of mussels, so I was quite surprised when she ordered the Salt Spring Island Mussels.  Thankfully, my wife enjoyed it.  And I must add, these mussels were one of the better ones I've had.  These were fresh, plump and very meaty.  The white wine sauce was rich in flavor but smoothly light and not overpowering.  Buddha Girl used up all the bread (from bread basket) to dip the soupy sauce.

The only failure of the night was the Truffled French Fries.  The fries were similar to the ones found at White Spot, some were crispy while some weren't, very inconsistent.  The extremely runny mayo lacked truffle in every which way, very disappointing.

Next was Buddha Girl's Plateau de Fruits de Mer, pretty much a seafood plate with risotto.  The lightly roasted mussels and clams were plump and meaty.  The sable fish and scallops were done perfectly tender.  The prawn was overcooked.  While the bacon added life, both Buddha Girl and I thought the lemon risotto was a bit boring and had me thinking that it was a thick congee.

Well, it wasn't hard for me to decide what I was going to have when I saw FVA Honey Glazed "Fried Chicken" on the menu.  The chicken was perfectly moist and tender.  The breading was not light, but it was not thick either.  The potato puree was deliciously smooth.  The thyme jus and honey glaze distinguishably highlighted its flavors.  This dish was simple and good.

A cornbread muffin accompanied the fried chicken dish.  This was perhaps the best cornbread muffin that Buddha Girl and I ever had.  The light and fluffy muffin had a subtle sweetness and a nice crisp from the cornmeal.  Yup, my wife devoured this pretty quickly.

There was a small hiccup.  We waited for approximately half an hour in between our appetizers and entrees.  One female staff brought us each an amuse to keep us occupied.  Yup, it was the same dish as my appetizer.  Nonetheless, this was much appreciated as we were still hungry.

We were packed.  Just when we were about to call it the night, we were presented with a dessert trio, the Chocolate Trio (pot au creme and olive caramel, Nutella gelato, milk chocolate mousse, peanut butter rice crispy candy bar).  Other than the hazelnut ice cream, we didn't quite enjoy the plate.  The sweets were too rich for us.

We enjoyed our experience.  We thought the food quality was admirable.  Hopefully the quality stands for all other diners as this was a complimentary meal and was initiated by the hotel and the restaurant.  The service, however, was a bit of a struggle.  Our server appeared stretched at times, but she was extremely pleasant and served us as best she could.

2013-01-10 Lunch @ Le Tigre Cuisine Mobile Food Truck

Alberni Street & Thurlow Street, Vancouver, BC

778-990-2853

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Street food and a deal voucher, pretty much the best combination for someone like me.  For $10, Buddha Girl picked up a $20-voucher at Le Tigre Cuisine Mobile Food Truck.  Sounds quite a bit, doesn't it?  Well, considering that I ended up with $25-worth of food...yes, it was a lot, even for a big boy like me.

With five rotating locations, the truck was only nearby on Thursdays.  As soon as I got my food, I hightailed it back to the warmth of my office.  I was not too pleased that the operator didn't have any bags for larger orders.  Half way back to the office, I accidentally dropped the box of chicken.  Considering that I ordered four items, I was lucky that I only lost the mayo.

The Finger Licken Popcorn Chicken was actually quite good.  The chicken was well marinated and tender.  The nuggets were nicely crisp, as good as what I can get at Tapioca Express 品客多時尚餐飲 (when they use fresh oil).  Not exactly sure if the mayo was needed, but I'm sure it would add another notch in taste.  The presence of basil acted only as a garnish, I would've preferred if it was fried with the chicken to extract its fragrance.  This was a dish that I'd order again. 

Since I already ordered the popcorn chicken, I had pork belly for the Kick Ass Rice.  The egg was sous-vide poached and it's used more as a sauce.  Once I broke the yolk and mix it with rice, the bowl became a rich mix of rice, yolk, mayo and pork fat.  Although the pork wasn't melt-in-your-mouth tender, it was good enough to enjoy.  Nice to see that they weren't shy with the meat here.

Next, the Angry Tiger Balls.  These fried balls were a mix of rice, bacon, kimchi and garlic, then topped with mayo and nori.  The balls were crispy and the spicy mayo gave it a nice kick.  Unfortunately, these were a bit too heavy for me.  After two balls, I started pawning off the rest to colleagues.

My least favorite was the Homemade Dan Dan Pork Wontons.  The wontons, on its own, were meaty and decent in flavor.  However, the flavors of garlic, ginger, chili and sesame were all lost in that heavy peanut butter sauce.  The sauce was so thick to the point that it felt gross.

Yup, I had enough food for two people.  And yes, I admit, I ordered too much.  I enjoyed everything, with the exception of wontons.  I think Buddha Girl would enjoy the food here, well, except the wontons.  With the help from Buddha Girl, I'm planning to try all the other items on their menu, even the healthier items.