2013-04-15 King Crab 皇帝蟹 @ Top Gun J&C Restaurant 尖東新派食館

#2020 - 8766 McKim Way, Richmond, BC (Excel Centre)

604-231-8006

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Usually, during the king crab season, we would hit the nearest Asian fish monger and steam the beast at home.  With Buddha Girl and I having to juggle new work responsibilities, we've been extremely lazy of late...especially with our blog.  Interestingly, and oddly enough, Seto-san had a craving for this seasonal delicacy.  With Seto-san living the bachelor lifestyle, we were the perfect companions for such feast (simply because we're big eaters).  We recruited MomJ and Octopus to join us for dinner and made Seto-san treat the meal...sounds fair, doesn't it?  Of course not.

We went to our former canteen, Top Gun J&C Restaurant 尖東新派食館 in Richmond.  "Former" because we've noticed the inadequate quality (and, in some cases, quantity) over the past two years.  While it's no longer our regular canteen, we're pretty certain that they wouldn't rip us off too badly with the weight and quantity.

For a table of five, we had a crab that weighed approximately fifteen pounds.  The crab was done in two ways: (1) steamed with garlic and (2) Bei-Fong-Tong style.  The juices from steaming plates were used later with noodles, onions and ginger.

Honestly, we were pleased with how well the crab was cooked.  The crab was fresh (well, it better be) with succulent meat.  However, the quality of garlic was undoubtedly poor.  While MomJ and Buddha Girl thought the garlic might have just been old or soaked too long in water (since Chinese restaurants do chop and soak a large load in water), I suspected that they used jarred garlic (commonly found in Costco).  Either way, for a delicate dish that one would pay top dollars for, using crappy garlic was, and is, simply pathetic.  Think of it this way, (for example) it's like going to Italian Kitchen and ordering spaghetti with Kobe meatballs only to find that the chef uses ketchup in the sauce.  Unforgivable.

Seto-san, MomJ, Octopus, Buddha Girl and I all enjoyed the noodles.  Of course, no crappy garlic here.

On top of the crab-fest and complimentary appetizers from Kenji-san (Japanese chef at the restaurant), we also ordered five other dishes and two desserts.  My spoiled wife would only eat the uni sashimi from here...and yes, no crappy garlic used.

For a limited time, there was a 40%-off special menu.  Knowing us, we took advantage of the discount.  Well, with discounted price, you get discounted size.

Top Gun J&C Restaurant 尖東新派食館 has lost our "canteen" status.  The portions have gotten smaller while the prices haven't.  Quality has dropped significantly over the past two years, for dim sum and for dinner.  Ruining fresh seafood with crappy garlic is just inexcusable.  Unless our attendance is required, we have better choices.  It's time for a new canteen... 

2013-04-01 AYCE @ The Humble Hawker

#180 - 4611 No.6 Road, Richmond, BC

604-232-0900

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I know...I know...we've been neglecting our blog.  I recently started a new job and learning new environment requires brain power (not that I have much)...hahaha!  Buddha Boy has been quite swamped with deadlines at work.  Plus he has to deal with his "live-in-his-own-world" boss...let's just say that his boss is not the smartest cookie and how he got the position is still a mystery to all.

Since we're so behind in posts, we've decided to start with the most recent and work our way backwards.  Please don't forget to drop by and LIKE our Facebook page.  We do not blog about everything we eat, but we do try to take photos and post them on Facebook.

 Being the lucky ones with a day off on Easter Monday, Buddha Boy and I took the advantage and visited this little hole-in-the-wall cheap Thai buffet in Richmond.  The restaurant is run by the same family who operated No.6 Road Cafe 新寶華6路快餐店, its predecessor.  Years ago, the same family also ran a BBQ stall in Crystal Mall food court.  To add more to the profile, the family also runs one of the largest food stalls every year at the night market.

In terms of authenticity, we could not comment.  In terms of quality, it's enjoyable.  In terms of value, it's pretty good bang for the buck.  From green curry to lemongrass pork, from tom yum soup to pad Thai, the selections were pretty good for $9.99 (tax and tips not included).

While Buddha Boy's favorite was the Pad Thai (and I really enjoyed it too), my favorite was one of their two dim sum selections, the Pan-Fried Pork Bun 生煎包.  The dough was light and Q.  The meat was, while a bit fatty, delicate and juicy.  Yup, the Chinese inside of me fell in love with this homemade meat bun. 

With the night markets opening soon, the restaurant, for now, is only open for lunch buffet on Mondays to Fridays from 11am to 3pm.  The hours may change after September, but nothing was confirmed.

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.