Archive for the ‘Richmond’ Category

THE APRON

January 19th, 2011 admin

3099 Corvette Way, Richmond

Tel: 604-303-6565

Web: http://www.westinvancouverairport.com/dining

Twitter: n/a

Advice: Complimentary valet parking available, offers a 5, 7, and 9 tasting menu. Located inside The Westin Wall Centre Vancouver Airport Hotel.

Amuse Niche Garden

The room was modern and colourful which was a node to the journey of culinary delights we were about to enjoy. Executive Chef Hamid Salimian is a master of creation, I am sure he once was a painter as all of his dishes are representative of beautiful works of art on a plate. My friend Denis and I were enchanted when each of the twelve dishes arrived to our table, it was a wonderful dining and tasting experience. We started off with the Amuse Niche Garden where the presentation alone was stunning.

North Arm Farm Sunchoke Soup

Side Stripe Prawn

Locally grown pickled winter vegetables

Puffed Quebec fois GRAS

Brioche for the Puffed Quebec fois GRAS

Pan Roasted Scallops

Atlantic Lobster Globe

Next was the North Arm Farm Sunchoke Soup ($9) followed by the Side Stripe Prawn ($16) dungeness crab croquettes, next was the Locally grown pickled winter vegetables ($16) pickled winter vegetables beets, black pudding, pine mushroom veal marrow, almond vinaigrette. As the evening progressed I felt as if we were in the National Art Gallery roving the various rooms, the next dish was the Puffed Quebec fois GRAS ($16) house preserved cherries, candied walnut, beets sherry gastrique followed by the delicious Pan Roasted Scallops $16 spiced basmati rice, shaved pineapple, cilantro coconut curry froth and then the Atlantic Lobster Globe ($17) truffle scented potato gnocchi, king oyster mushroom shellfish emulsion.

Pacific Provider Salmon

Duck Confit in a Pomegranite Walnut Sauce

Lamb Duo

At this point our palates were dancing, the next dish was the first of the entrees, the Pacific Provider Salmon ($25) provencal tart, sun choke, basil, braised fennel split coriander vinaigrette. Followed by my favourite dish of the night the Duck Confit in a Pomegranite Walnut Sauce ($17) outstanding spiced duck confit pomegranate, walnut, orange, kale along with the Lamb Duo ($17) braised lamb israel couscous, red bean puree, grilled scallions dry lime parsley foam. We both knew that dessert would be nothing less than extrodinary as it would be the final act in what had been an amazing picturesque meal.

Shattered Baklava with pistachio ice cream

The Apron Chocolate Bar

For dessert we had the Shattered Baklava with pistachio ice cream ($10) broken down baklava saffron pistachio ice cream, cardamom dates, rosewater honey and The Apron Chocolate Bar ($10)  salted caramel ice cream, almond crumble, coco crisp.

The chefs use as much regional and local ingredients as they can source as they strive to create each of their dishes! If you want to experience innovative, creative local cuisine a visit to The Apron is a must and I for one am looking forward to return visit to continuing this culinary journey.

Review By: Richard Wolak

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G-MEN RAMEN NOODLE HOUSE

January 16th, 2011 admin

3778 Sexmith Road, Richmond

Tel: 778-296-3779

Web: http://www.gmenramen.com/

Advice: Don’t go with a large group, best to dine solo or with one other to ensure you get seated in a reasonable amount of time. Closed Wednesdays.

Tonkatsu Shio Ramen

Tonkotsu Ae Soba

One of the more popular ramen restaurants in this area, if you know of Gyoza King on Robson, then you will be happy to discover G-Men their sister restaurant which specializes in ramen noodle soups. The restaurant is fairly small, the tables are too close together and its very busy, that doesn’t stop people from coming, in fact it encourages them. Out of the several different ramen soups that arrived to my table, these were the only two that I liked, the Special Tonkatsu Shio Ramen ($8.00) and the Tonkotsu Ae Soba ($8.50) (soupless) and I enjoyed the noodles far more than the soups. They also have a good selection of Donburi and snacks.

Review by: Richard Wolak

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SPICY STAGE CAFE

January 16th, 2011 admin

150-4731 Garden City Road, Richmond

Tel: 604-270-8873

Web: n/a

Advice: Try one of the noodle combo sets or take a long some friends so you can share and taste the dishes. Cash only.

Milk Peanut Butter Toast

Deep Fried Chicken Wings

Chili Spice Chicken

Tom Young Soup Noodle

Vegi Spring Rolls

Beef Pot

Fried Radish Cake

Garlic Tofu

This is a Hong Kong Style Cafe that I would have never discovered on my own and I thank Tourism Richmond for pointing me in the right direction. The signage is somewhat confusing, though once inside you will find modern décor and comfortable dining. If you aren’t familiar with the menu offerings I advise you to ask.

I tasted my way through many dishes on this tasting dinner and some of the dishes I liked more than others. Since many of the dishes were on the tasting menu, I didn’t get the prices for them, the pricing is very reasonable for each of the dishes. I started off with the condensed Milk Peanut Butter Toast ($2) which I thought was unique and I wanted to try it.

One of the main features here is the soups and noodles, you can choose from nine different soup bases, seven different types of noodles and then add two other ingredients from the list of 27 ingredients for only $7.25 which is a pretty good deal. One of the soups that I liked was the Tom Yum Soup Noodle. The other dishes that I liked included the garlic topped Deep Fried Chicken Wings, I am not usually a fan of wings but these were very tasty. The Chili Spice Chicken was a bit too spicy for me personally, the Vegi Spring Rolls were your basic spring rolls. I didn’t care to much for the Beef Rice Pot as the beef was too tough for my liking. I loved the Fried Radish Cake as well as the Garlic Tofu and both of these were my standouts from this dining experience.

Review by: Richard Wolak

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TAPENADE BISTRO

August 20th, 2010 admin

3711 Bayview Street, Richmond

Tel: 604-275-5188


Twitter: @tapenadebistro

Advice: The patio is the place to dine on cool or warm sunny day.
I love visiting Steveston, walking around the quaint shops, enjoying the breeze off the water, people walking about. Last weekend I finally had a chance to visit Tapenade, a bistro that I have been wanting to visit for quite sometime. The outside patio is large and seats just about as many as the inside dining room where I chose to have my lunch. Chef Alex Tung has created a varied menu which has an emphasis in French tradition with Westcoast flair.

Fish & Chips

Watermelon Salad

Both brunch and lunch favourites were featured, I started with the tasty crispy Fish & Chips ($11) crispy halibut cheeks, chickpea fries, fennel carrot slaw, house-made tarter sauce and then moved on to sharing the tasty, refreshing Watermelon Salad ($10) gin infused watermelon, radishes, corn and feta.

Marsaeille Sandwich

Pink Shrimp and Spinach Crepe

For our main entrees, we shared the tasty,  Marsaeille Sandwich ($12) shrimp, fennel, radish sprouts, filone baguette, organic field greens; as well as the Pink Shrimp and Spinach Crepe ($13) pink shrimp, spinach, bechamel, artisan baby lettuces, light tomato cream.

Bread Pudding

Callebaut Chocolate Pudding

We had to save some room for dessert which we did of course, both of these desserts were quite different,  Bread Pudding ($7.50) peanut butter, banana, chocolate bread pudding, frozen peanut butter chantilly, salty caramel sauce; we also shared the delicious Callebaut Chocolate Pudding ($7.50) chocolate brownie, creme chantilly, vanilla creme anglais. They have a good wine list with a focus on BC, California and France wines as well.

Review by: Richard Wolak
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TRAMONTO

June 14th, 2010 admin

8811 River Road, Richmond

Tel: 604.247.8573

Web: http://www.riverrock.com/dining/tramonto/

Twitter: @Riverrock

Advice: Private dining room that comfortably seats 16 guests. Park for free in the casino parkade.  Located upstairs inside the RiverRock Hotel & Casino.

Tomato Amuse Buche

I dined here recently with a friend with a table by the window that had a wonderful view of Sea island and the planes landing at the Vancouver International Airport. This elegant room offers extraordinary gourmet dining and is a great escape when heading to a show at the RiverRock or before or after a visit to then casino. We shared a bottle of Mission Hill Family Reserve Chardonnay ($40) along with a very tasty Amuse Buche grilled Tomato dish courtesy of the chef.

Crab & Scallop Appetizer

Fois Grais

Caprese Goat Cheese Salad

Pan Seared Halibut

Wagyu Steak

To begin the meal, I enjoyed the Crab & Scallop Appetizer ($17) and my friend had the Fois Grais ($21). I followed my appetizer with the light Caprese Goat Cheese Salad ($13), for my entrée I had the Pan Seared Halibut ($35) with clams and Tomato Rissotto, while my friend had the Australian Wagyu Steak ($59) in a delicious Barolo reduction served with Truffle spaghetti, morel mushrooms and asparagus which she graciously shared with me it was outstanding.

Dessert sampler: Chocolate Bar, Strawberry Shortcake & Pannacotta

For dessert, we had a sampler of their spectacular Chocolate Bar, the Strawberry Shortcake and some Pannacotta (desserts on their own are $11).

The menu features the freshest local ingredients and authentic Italian delicacies. The wine list is extensive with selections from BC, Italy and around the world by the glass, half or full size bottles.

Review by: Richard Wolak

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GLOBE@YVR

January 12th, 2010 admin

Inside the Fairmont Hotel at Vancouver International Airport

3111 Grant McConachie Way

Richmond, BC

Tel:  604-248-3281

Web: http://www.fairmont.com/vancouverairport

Twitter: @fairmont_at_yvr

Advice: Make a reservation or try your luck without one and try to snag one of the window tables.

Mushroom Veloute Soup

Squash and Brie Ravioli

Seared Quebec Foie Gras

Overlooking the airport gates and runway, my friend and I dined in this beautifully appointed, sound proofed restaurant which offered a great view of airplanes coming and going. The menu was impressive and was created with many tempting dishes, Executive Chef Kamal Silva and his team are locally inspired, they recently started their own vegetable garden nearby in Terra Nova where they grow many of the herbs and vegetables for the restaurant. To begin our meal Sous Chef Marcus Routbard served us a sampler of their Mushroom Veloute Soup with artichoke and truffle foam ($12 for the regular sized portion). For our starters, I had the delicious Squash and Brie Ravioli ($22 for regular portion, I had an appetizer portion) with cinnamon pumpkin puree, parmesan seed crisp, with winter friscee and lemon buer blanc. My friend had the Seared Quebec Foie Gras ($19) with truffled shallot confit, mini brioche and crabapple anise. Sabrina our very informative server, suggested wines to pair with our meal and we went with her suggestions, to go with these starters we had a glass of the Black Hills Alibi (BC).

Fruits De Mer Grilles

Wild Pacific Salmon

We then moved on to our main entrees, I was eagerly awaiting to taste the Fruits De Mer Grilles ($36) grilled crisp skin wild pacific salmon, scallops and prawns, pomme alliumettes, asparagus and lemon buerre blanc which looked so impressive. My friend had the Wild Pacific Salmon ($32) with asparagus risotto, asiago tomato, flat leaf parsley and caper relish.  Although we intended to have a second white wine to go with the mains, again we took our servers advice and enjoyed a glass of the Joie Rosé (BC) which complemented our fish entrees so well. Half way thru our meals we also enjoyed the light Tantalus Reisling (BC) which was paired well with these selections.

Dessert Flight

To end our meal I had the Kea Lani Orange Pineapple Caffeine-free Tea and since I couldn’t decide on what to have for dessert I ended up going with the Dessert Flight ($18) that included samples of their Creamy key lime custard, Mini-organic chocolate molten grand marnier cake, Salt sprint island chevre & pumpkin swirl cheesecake and Cranberry white chocolate mousse. My friend knew exactly what he wanted and he enjoyed a cappuccino along with a bowl of Chocolate Gelato.

The restaurant has an impressive wine list of local BC wines as well as other regions to pair with their wonderful food. The cocktail list boasts a lineup of inventive cocktails too. Whether you are staying the night or looking for that night out on the town, leave your car at home and take skytrain out to this wonderful escape.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Restaurant Reviews, Richmond Tags: , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

NORTHERN DELICACY RESTAURANT

January 9th, 2010 admin

Unit 2788, 4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond

Tel: 604-233-7050

Web: www.northern-delicacy.com

Advice: Bring friends and order a variety of dishes to share. Ask your server for assistance to describe the dishes listed.

Chicken with glass noodles with peanut sauce

Marinated Dried Tofu

Mushroom wrapped bean curd

Located upstairs in the Abertdeen Centre mall, if it wasn’t for friends that I was dining with I wouldn’t have found or visited this popular restaurant. We dined in a private room, banquet style in the round with a spin top table to move around our various dishes. Our server poured a Sumac Ridge Brut and Chinese tea all around for those that wanted bubbly or tea. We began with 3 cold tasty dishes that included my favourite Chicken with glass noodles with peanut sauce ($5.95); Marinated Dried Tofu with 5 spices ($5.95); and a Mushroom wrapped bean curd ($5.95) which was Smoked tofu filled with mushrooms. We then moved on had a selection of dishes, the Vegetarian Tofu Dumplings ($5.95) ; the Crab and Tofu ($10.95); and the Tea Smoked Duck ($14.95) which was so flavourful.

Vegetarian Tofu Dumplings

Crab and Tofu

Tea Smoked Duck

The room is spacious with many large tables to dine with friends along with a private banquet style room that can be reserved ahead.

Review by: Richard Wolak

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GUDRUN

December 23rd, 2009 admin

150 – 3500 Moncton Street, Richmond

Tel: 604-272-1991

Web: http://www.gudrun.ca

Twitter: @iheartgudrun

Advice: Best to share the different platters and items with a friend or two. Use a google map or gps to find them.

Spinach Salad

Global Cheese Platter

From the moment I entered I was breathless, the room was inviting and the place which is hidden away off the beaten path works so well. The server was ever so charming and engaging, explaining the menu in detail and the various dishes on the menu as well as the specials on the large chalk board. The menu is fairly simple though there were many choices for the cheese and meat platters. Started off with the Salad ($8) spinach, pomegranate and sopressta which was not only refreshing but delicious, then shared the Global Cheese platter ($21) with 3 cheeses accompanied with apple slices, grapes, nuts, quince paste and jelly along with bread slices and crisps.

Orange Tart

For dessert shared the Orange Tart ($6) just like a lemon tart, it is an orange tart, very unique and light. With a glass of the Domaine Jean Bousquet Malbec ’07 ($8) this all paired well. Impressive wine list that includes a great selection of whites, reds and rose along with a nice beer list, goes along well with the delightful food offerings. This gem is worth discovering and I look forward to returning to try their fondue and weekend brunch.

Review by: Richard Wolak

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