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Archive for the ‘Strathcona’ Category

THE PARKER

November 21st, 2012 admin

237 Union Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-779-3804

Web: http://theparkervancouver.com

Twitter: @ParkerVancouver

Advice: Advance reservations suggested. Add the flashlight app to your iphone, it will come in handy when reading the menu.

Kasu, Yuzo, Apple Cocktail

As one who can appreciate passion and effort that goes into a project, along comes a restaurant which operates in a small space of a mere 20 seats. This dimly-lit room is filled with an abundant of goodness that comes from the efforts of 3 very dedicated restaurateurs Chef Jason Leizert, Steve Da Cruz and Martin Warren. Located on a block that already has a group of wonderful eateries, this restaurant is focussed on serving the very best Vegetarian fare with a menu that is built upon what is fresh and local today is what we are going to serve tonight, the menu changes daily and you are in for a real treat.  At the bar, cocktail master Steve Da Cruz is back doing what he does best, creating beautiful cocktails with the finest ingredients and flare. You will find a wine list that is focused on sustainable producers from the Columbia Watershed Basin. I had one of his creations,  a delicious non-alcoholic Kasu, Yuzo, Apple Cocktail to start my solo dining experience.

Hazelnut Dukka

Crispy Polenta Fries

Gluten-free Spaetzle

Mini Corn Tacos

Carrot Cake

The menu highlights local vegetables crafted into delicate dishes with many an ingredient grown and cultivated in the restaurant’s own community garden. I had the flavourful Hazelnut Dukka ($4) with taro crisps which was followed by the delish Crispy Polenta Fries ($5) with home-made ketchup. The next dish was a Gluten-free Spaetzle ($4) with lemon and thyme, very different dish, flavourful and light; followed by the Mini Corn Tacos ($7) with white bean, radish and some heat, my favourite dish of the night. For dessert, I had the outstanding Carrot Cake ($8) with salty butterscotch and candied baby carrots beauty on the plate!

The seasonally inspired menu is driven by playfulness and a Chef who cares about what he puts on the plate. I am looking forward to discovering more wonderful meals as the season changes!

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Chinatown, Strathcona Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

HARVEST COMMUNITY FOODS

April 16th, 2012 admin

243 Union Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-682-8851

Web: http://www.harvestunion.ca

Twitter: @harvestunion

Advice: 11am-8pm Tue-Fri, 10am-6pm Weekends.

It’s a market and eatery that aspires to serving the community with all that is local on the edge of Chinatown and Strathcona. Beginning as ‘this space’ which has evolved through feedback from the local community resulting in the establishment of this grocery/eatery. On the market side they sell dairy and packaged goods such as Beta 5 chocolates, Golden Ears Cheesecrafters cheese, and other gourmand items. On the eatery side they have an ever changing line-up of sandwiches along with chicken steam buns, in the evening they offer a daily ‘braise’.

Chicken & Avocado Sandwich

I had the Chicken & Avocado Sandwich ($8) filled with hot chicken breast and avocado. You will also find a daily soup, and salad offering along with cookies, chocolates and more! They also offer a brunch menu on weekends, you’ll see much more as this space constantly evolves.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Chinatown, Strathcona Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

THE UNION BAR

April 8th, 2012 admin

219 Union Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-568-3230

Web:  http://theunionbar.ca/

Twitter: @TheUnionBar

Advice: No reservations.

In this stylish room, this is a South East Asian eatery with a very hip look and feel. Located at the entrance of Chinatown, you will find communal tables and a bar that is filled with tropical ingredients to shake and stir those refreshing cocktails that go so well with some spicy eats.

Peanut Noodles

Bubur Cha Cha

I have always been a fan of peanut sauce or peanut anything for that matter, I had the outstanding and flavourful Peanut Noodles ($13) spinach, shiitakes, charred eggplant, sambal ginger peanut sauce followed by a very different type of dessert which is common in Asia and less common here, the Bubur Cha Cha ($7) caramelized sweet potatoes, yams and tapioca in coconut milk.

The menu is filled with an array of snacks and bowls, covering all of the regions in South East Asia, from Malaysia to Indonesia to Thailand as well as Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches; along with salads, greens and desserts. The bar menu is filled with all sorts of unique cocktails along with beer and wine.

I can’t wait to return to try the Cha Ca Fish as well as their Green Papaya Salad.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Strathcona Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

PHNOM PENH

August 21st, 2011 admin

244 E Georgia Street, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 682-5777

Web: n/a

Twitter: n/a

Advice: The line-up is worth the long wait, take along a book to read while you wait.

I am probably the last person in the city to dine at this long standing eatery in Chinatown, at least I can say that I have had the pleasure to eat their popular and delicious Garlic Fried Squid on a few occasions at catered events. Last Sunday while walking around Gastown and Chinatown I happened upon the restaurant and with a minimal wait was seated at the sharing table. I knew what I should order based on what almost every chef in town had told me, so I decided not to order those two dishes which were the Garlic Fried Squid and their Chicken Wings. The restaurant was packed even at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon, after looking at the menu in detail which was almost fully segregated into Cambodian Favourites and Vietnamese Favourites, I decided to choose one selection from each.

Spicy Garlic Prawns

Trieu Chau Special Vegetable Bun

I had a half order of the outstanding Spicy Garlic Prawns ($8.50) and the Trieu Chau Special Vegetable Buns  ($7.95) along with a complementary glass of hot tea. There is a reason as to why this restaurant has been serving customers for so many years and to where there is a constant line-up. Looking forward to my next visit to try more dishes.

Review By: Richard Wolak

 

Posted in Chinatown, Strathcona Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

CAFE BRIXTON

August 21st, 2011 admin

212 East Georgia Street, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 568-8200

Web: n/a

Twitter: n/a

Advice: Sit at the communal table or at the window.

Slightly secluded as it is off the beaten track of bustling Main Street in Chinatown/Strathcona, the café is well worth your discovery. First of all it is spacious and has that sort of NY feeling to it with its exposed brick walls, open 15 ft beam ceiling, distressed looking wooden tables and chairs. Secondly, there is a large communal table for sharing  while studying or working.

Carrot Cake

Espresso

I had the moist and tasty Carrot Cake ($2.95) with vanilla bean cream cheese icing and an Espresso ($2.75) made with 49th parallel coffee. The menu also includes baguette sandwiches, baked goods and beverages. They also offer an extensive brunch menu which I will get to trying one day soon.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Chinatown, Strathcona Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

PIZZERIA FARINA

August 18th, 2011 admin

915 Main Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-681-9334

Web: www.pizzeriafarina.com

Twitter: @pizzeriafarina

Advice: Don’t share, you may be tempted to share a pizza with friends but my advice is that it is a perfect size for you. Do share the space at the communal table. Take-out available. Water –tap on the right is still, tap on the left is sparkling. Open Wednesday – Sunday.

It is rare that I visit a new restaurant within two days of opening, I made an exception to the rule tonight cause I love pizza and I am pizza obsessed. The room is small, simple and has all the right elements to become a neighbourhood hot spot for pizza to eat-in at the long communal sharing table or to take-out. One wall is filled with bottles of their Rosemary infused Olive-Oil and their Chili infused Olive-Oil which is for sale along with the jars of sauce that you will find on the opposite wall. The menu is simple they have pizza, specializing in Northern Italian style, with a crust that is light and crispy.

Funghi Pizza

I had the Funghi Pizza ($13) topped with big cloves of garlic, arugula, mozzarella and mushrooms along with a glass of water, simple and ever so good. Some would say it is all in the dough, and I am going to have to agree, their dough takes 3 days to make, obviously there is a secret to this dough to making the perfect pizza, go, visit and you be the judge!

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Main Street, Strathcona Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments »

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