As much as I love this city, I think this city can be more vibrant.  I don’t mean the city needs more casinos for people to gamble their monies away.  But how many people know that there is the Edgewater Casino on the False Creek North?  And it’s across from the BC Place – which is getting one heck of an ugly make-over but that’s a story for some other time.  I have a few friends who were born and raised in Vancouver.  They don’t even know that there is a casino next to the BC place. 

I am not advocating for a casino.  I think Vancouver could definitely benefit from spicing up.  The plan that was floating around for the longest time was that the Edgewater casino will move away from its current waterfront location next to the BC place.  This plan also included two hotels – one four star and the other three star hotels accompanied by nice shops and restaurants.  I know that some people might think there are already too many expensive restaurants.  I am not agreeing with that.  But if this plan was nicely executed, I think it would have given a nice uplift in the neighbourhood. 

I must say, I am quite disappointed with the city counsel’s decision.  I know it was going to be about a $500M capital project but I think it would have created more jobs and more revenue for the city.  And add more vibrancy to the downtown area.  There are lots of people who find the city lovely and livable and all but there are equally many people who find this city BORING! 

In addition, currently I feel there is void – not much is going on between the casino parking lot to the Science world.  This is a prime real estate for the city.  Why not develop it and make it much more attractive so that the city can collect more tax to make up for their loss from the Olympic Village?

Does it not make sense?  It does to me. 

LCG

And being on a tight budget and living a very mundane life doesn’t really allow me with many opportunities to blog about my dining out experience.

Anyhow, I came across this list… the city’s best… apparently… so I will keep it here for my future reference.  Altough since they are “readers’ choice” so… I won’t provide that much credibility on authenticity and quality of food etc.  (For example, Darchin for Persian food… ummm… no…)

Note: I crossed out the places I have been…

The Well

Somehow, the Well is one of those spots that I end up more often (my other posting on the Well can be found here).  Probably because it has been approved by my picky partner, Dam.  He likes the food, he feels comfortable, he wants to keep going back.

This time, I had the halibut burger on their main menu ($12.95) and Dam had lamb (I think).  The halibut burger was very good.  Fish was cooked just right.  And the side salad was very tasty. 

The Well - Halibut Burger

The Well - Lamb

Dam seemed to enjoy the lam but I took his word for it (I quit lamb about 3 years ago.  Nah, there was no significant event that triggered this decision.  One day, it just didn’t taste right).

Anyways, all in all it was a great late lunch.  Yes food here is lovely.  That’s the reason why I keep going back.

REVIEW:

• Taste: 4/5
• Value:3.5/5
• Convenience: 4/5 (If you don’t mind walking for a couple block or so, it’s relatively easy to find street parking)
• Atmosphere: 3/5 (Not much atmosphere for the price of the food)
• Staff: Friendly enough
• Overall: I would recommend it for good food

Other blog postings on the Well can be found at:

• MePlusFood
• eating the goodness of life
• Noshwell
• KWEEPOLAND
• Hummingbird604.com

Well it’s not EXACTly like this but the Hurricane Grill Marinaside is the pub that me and Dam go to get a pint of beer.  Our previous place was a block away and now it’s like three blocks away since the move but still a walk along the seawall is nice.

I am not much of a drinker (which comes as a surprise to many people that I had met in the past because I am Korean AND an engineer).  I have a very low alcohol tolerance especially with beer and red wine.  Anyways, Dam wanted to have a couple of pints so we walked to the Hurricane Grill.

 So it’s not quite like the Cheers but we walk in and they know which table we want to be sitting.  Sometimes the table (it’s actually a bar table in the lounge area) is occupied then the hostess asks us which table we would rather sit. 

Anyhow, we got a booth in the dining area and I had a veggie burger and Dam just had pints of 1516.

Hurricane Grill - 1516

The veggie burger that I had was ok – quite basic but the french fries were nice.  For $10.99 these days, you don’t get much for these types of restaurants.

If you go to the Hurricane Grill for food, I suggest the following items:

• Steak salad (The Grill Salad)
• Halibut soft tacos
• Mussels
• Nachos

Hurricane Grill - Veggie Burger

REVIEW:

• Taste: 3/5 (The burger was average but their steak salad and some other dishes are quite good )
• Value: 3.5/5 (But you are paying for the location.   )
• Convenience: 4/5 (close to a sky train station but parking is difficult – although there are meters…)
• Atmosphere: 4/5 (inside is ok but it’s got nice view of the marina and their patio in the summer is really good)
• Staff: Friendly and adequate
• Overall: 4/5 (for me but for others probably 3/5) – it’s an average pub but because it’s in my neighbourhood, I would continue to go there.

Other blog postings on the Hurricane Grill at Marinaside can be found at:

• MePlusFood – the Steak Salad is reviewed here.

I am someone who is definitely a pack rat.  Well I am not THIS bad, but I have come close especially when I was living at Totem Park during my university years (that was such a long time ago, haha).  I am not sure if this is due to laziness OR I just get way too sentimental about my belongings.  Probably both. 

However, one of my new year’s resolutions (yes I am a kind of person who set these up twice every year: once on New Year’s Day and the other on Chinese New Year – Korean’s follow the same Lunar month calendar for our New Year) is “learn to throw out.”

Yup, I need to learn to throw out.  Well not necessarily in a garbage bin but I want to learn to:

1. Identify items that I seldom use
2. Determine if it is an item that might be a use to someone else
3. Find someone whom I know, might want to adopt the item,
4. Or find a donation box or place where the item is accepted…

During this move (packing AND unpacking), I identified 47 pairs of shoes that Dam and I don’t wear much at all.  And at the pay parking lot between Seymour and Richards (and Smithe and Nelson?  Not sure), I found a clothing donation bin for BC Children’s hospital and put all the shoes in there – I hope they count shoes as clothing…. Now I am worried.

I still have loads to go through.  So much clothes that I don’t wear – some because I never really like them in the first place (if something is on a big sale, I HAVE to buy it.  This is an illness I know…) or some because I kind of grew out of the style.

So I will see when I can get around to getting rid of clothing. 

LCG

Also updated “About LCG“…. Hmm I am still getting used to this blog…

The Edge Cafe - Salmon Lox on Bagel

Today I finally got to try one of the places from my wishlist.  The Edge Cafe in Mount Pleasant area (near between Cambie / Main and north of Broadway)…

I am not super familiar with this area so when we got to the area, I wasn’t quite sure where to park.  So we ended up parking in front of the cafe… at a metre… I don’t like paying for parking but I wasn’t quite sure if I could find free street parking around.  Also, the weather was quite crappy so I thought, ok I will pay $2 thinking “it’d better be worth it…”

And guess what?  It was.  It was totally worth it.  It was a cute cafe and it was packed so we were asked if we wanted to wait for a table to free up or if it would be ok to sit at a bar table (? is that what they are called?  looking out the window?).  Anyways, we got coffee and this lady who served us was very nice and friendly and asked us if we had been there before.  She told us a bit about the cafe and the coffees they serve.

We got one medium roast and one dark roast.  Both were really good but I preferred the dark roast.

The Edge Cafe - Tex-Mex Scramble

Then we ordered brunch items.  I didn’t want something big so I got the salmon lux on a bagel.  Dam got Tex-Mex Scaramble.  Neither of them was too much food.  I think it was just right.  And both tasted really nice.

Dam also enjoyed this place and he expressed that he would like to come to this place again.  This was a big compliment coming from Dam because he is the kind of person who likes to stick to the restaurants that he had approved already.

REVIEW:

• Taste: 4/5 (It was good. )
• Value:3.5/5
• Convenience: 4/5 (close to a sky train station but parking was not too good if you are looking for free spots but then there are no more free spots in the city any more…)
• Atmosphere: 4/5
• Staff: Very friendly and knowledgeable
• Overall: 4/5 Definitely will come back for more pleasant brunch experiences

Other blog postings on the Edge Cafe can be found at:

• There is always room
• Hummingbird604

Anyhow, I like stove-top cooking but I am not much of a baker.  Maybe because I feel much of baked goods are evil (I know they don’t have to be but if I am using the oven, I’d much rather be baking something buttery and sweet).

But now, I have a new Miele convection gas oven in my new kitchen.  How exciting is that!!!!

My new Miele oven kinda looks like this!!!

So maybe I will start looking for more baking recipes.  Stay tuned!

LCG

Chosun BBQ Menu

There are enough Korean restaurant in Vancouver.  Although the ratio of Japanese restaurant to Korean restaurant is surprisingly high (it’s like 5:1).  (Don’t we have tones of Korean people in Vancouver?)

Anyhow, stil I don’t think there are that many good Korean restaurants.  They are all ok I guess as far as food goes.  As far as service goes, many of them can definitely improve. Yeah you feel my lack of enthusiasm towards Korean restaurants in Vancouver.

Still there is one place that is very consistent in taste AND service, ChoSun BBQ.

I first encountered this restaurant in my search of the best cold noodles (in soup (물냉면) not mixed with hot sauce (비빔냉면)) in Vancouver.  This is one of my favourite dishes, if not the one.

I remember the day… I went in and ordered the cold noodles in soup (Mool Naeng Myun – 물냉면).  When the stainless steel bowl arrived on my table, I grabbed with my two hands and had a sip of the soup (beef broth) and said, “yup, I found my favourite cold noodle place in Vancouver.”  It only took like 5 years and 10+ restaurants.

Anyways, I digress (again).

Chosun BBQ Tea (보리차)

I guess others agree with my taste buds: this place seems to be pretty busy during normal peak hours.  Since I hate waiting, I usually go at odd hours but sometimes, it doesn’t work out.

Last visit (maybe two weeks ago) was kind like that.  We went in and there were about 3-4 parties waiting in front of us.  Not bad.. because once we sat down (after 15-20 min) the front area was flooded with people.

Chosun BBQ Inside

We ordered a cold noodle in soup, fried dumplings and chicken bbq.  Of course the last two items were for Dam, my partner (fried dumplings and chicken bbq are not really Korean dishes in my opinion).

One of the reasons I like Chosun BBQ is even they are super busy, their service is not too bad.  For some reason, it is hard to find good services in Korean restaurant in Vancouver but Chosun BBQ does ok.

Chosun BBQ side dishes (반찬)

When you order BBQ dish, you get more side dishes: this day, we had six side dishes.

(from top left – clockwise) Kimchi, sauteed potatoes, pickled radish, potatoes in sweet sauce, broccoli with hot sauce and salad.

Their side dishes are not too bad but I had better kimchis elsewhere for sure (I like JangMoJib kimchi).

I don’t know what it is but I just LOVE cold noodles.  And somehow, not all restaurants can do this dish very well.  It seems so simple yet hard to master?  I guess it’s just one of those dishes.  I also find this dish is hard one for me to convince my non-Korean friends to try.  I have never been too successful getting any of them agree how wonderful this dish is but then convincing them to try it has been difficult enough.

Well I guess chewy noodles in cold beef broth does not really appeal to people.  I am ok with that.  More cold noodles for me.

But if you are not Korean but ever get brave enough to try this, I urge you to add some vinegar and Korean spicy mustard.  Addition of these items will enhance the flavour of the noodles.

Chosun BBQ Cold Noodles (물냉면)

Chosun BBQ Cold Noodles (물냉면)

Chosun BBQ Fried Dumplings (군만두)

Ok enough about the noodles.

Other items that we got were pretty good as well.

The fried dumplings are ok: actually they got better than previous times. But still there are many other places where you can get better Korean style dumplings (like Myung Dong Khal Kook Soo and Jang Mo Jib… etc).

Chosun BBQ Chicken BBQ

Chicken bbq was ok as well.  Dam seems to enjoy it.  But I have certain reservation about Korean style chicken bbq.  We just don’t do much of grilling chicken.  I don’t know why but we just don’t.  I think most Korean restaurants in town serve chicken bbqs because chicken is a popular meat.

Once I finished my noodles, I was one happy customer.

The total bill was around $35.  It’s ok I guess.

Notably, they have great lunch combos.  I think the value of them is pretty good for $10.  You can get noodles or hotpot dishes with a bit of bbq (although not the bbq meat you can get) for $10.  Not bad.

One thing that I wish the management would improve is how cold it gets in there.  I know it’s winter and all but common, I can’t be eating my cold noodles if it is that cold inside the restaurant.  And that many people waiting in the small front area means many people are opening the doors.

I guess my humble suggestion would be either install a double door, or improve heating system?

Anyways… still this is one of my favourite places to eat in Vancouver.  But I still ponder, why there is NO Korean restaurant that serve really good food and have exceptional services in Vancouver.  If anyone can nominate one, please let me know.

REVIEW:

• Taste: 4/5 (for the cold noodles 4.5/5)
• Value:3/5 (could be cheaper I guess though aligned with other Korean restaurants)
• Convenience: 4/5
• Atmosphere: 3.5/5
• Staff: Could be more attentive but still much better than other Korean restaurants
• Overall: 4/5 if you are Korean and haven’t had a good 물냉면 definitely go.  Otherwise, still go because they have good bbq and better services.

There are many many Indian restaurants in town.  Saffron is one of the ones that we keep going back.  I am not sure if it is because we love their food (although I do feel Saffron is one of better Indian restaurants in Burnaby) or we just keep going back there habitually.

Saffron - Papadum with mint chutney

Maybe it is because we always get a few of specific dishes: chicken pakora, mixed grill, and palak chicken (chicken saag, or spinach chicken) and they do a decent job of them.  After visiting and getting delivery from Saffron many times, I can safely say they do these dishes pretty decently (but not great – I prefer chicken saag from Kismat Indian Cuisine in Langley).  One nice thing about them is that they give papadum with mint chutney as service but then this is so minor and a few other places do as well.  I know it’s not much but it still nice touch.  Papadum is papadum, they used to be more thin ones but when we went last time we got more fluffed up (air puffed? ) ones (kind of like texture of shrimp crackers).  Mint chutney is very nice and refreshing although I find it quite salty.

Saffron - Chicken Pakora

I also like Saffron’s lightly battered and seasoned chicken pakora, which goes well with mint chutney.

Their mixed grill is quite pricy but you get some rice and a salad (very basic) with… what else, their mint chutney.  If I didn’t like the mint chutney, I wouldn’t come here.

Chicken saag has always been my favorite.  I always get this at different Indian restaurants.  Saffron’s chicken saag is quite nice and goes well with their saffron rice and/or naan bread.

I have also had lamb/chicken vindaloos - which is alright but prefer saag so I don’t get them any more.  I like their samosas as well but then it’s just too much food.

Saffron - Mixed Grill, Rice, Chicken Saag

I know Saffron’s been Burnaby’s favorite Indian restaurants for sometime but frankly, I think the food is just ok.  I mean good enough that I would recommend it if someone is looking for an Indian restaurant in South Burnaby but I won’t rave about it.

For Indian food, I prefer to go Tandoori King on Fraser, Salam Bombay on Burrard, Maurya on Broadway or Kismat in Langley as mentioned previously (just for chicken saag).

But then… I am not an Indian food connoisseur but just an Asian girl who likes food.    I am sure there are tones of other good places.

(Btw, if anyone knows a place with a fantastic chicken saag and mixed grill kind of dish, please let me know)

REVIEW:

• Taste: 3.5/5
• Value:3.5/5
• Convenience: 4/5
• Atmosphere: 3/5 (Not much atmosphere for the price of the food)
• Staff: Could be more attentive
• Overall: 3/5 Go if you want Indian food around metrotown if not, there are lots of other places.