Posts Tagged ‘Pizza’

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FLATBREAD

August 1st, 2011 admin

4186 Main Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-566-9779

Web:  www.rockymountainflatbread.ca

Twitter: @flatbreadco

Advice: Snag a spot on the patio on a sunny day, don’t be afraid to bring the kids as the environmentally kids friendly area will be popular.

I have been a fan of Rocky Mtn ever since they opened in Kits, often lunching during the week or taking out pizza after work. So happy I was to see them open on the Eastside a tad closer to home. The room is beautiful, built using reclaimed wood, has the pizza oven up front and an open kitchen, as well as their famous children’s corner to keep the young ones entertained.

Organic Flatbread with dip

Westcoast Smoked Salmon Pizza

Ravioli

I had dinner last week with friends, this time around I had some dishes that I hadn’t eaten in the past. To begin the Organic Flatbread with dip ($6.25)  Three Herb Pesto, Garlic as well as the Sundried Tomato Pesto all baked with asiago cheese. Then I had the thin crust Westcoast Smoked Salmon Pizza ($15.95) brushed with roasted garlic spread, sprinkled with Quebec mozzarella, shaved onions & capers. It is then baked in their artisan oven & topped  with wild smoked salmon, lemon horseradish drizzle & fresh chives. Next was the Ravioli, fillings change often, the special of the night was the delicious in-house made Ravioli with lots of vegetables and other good stuff!

Dessert Platter

For dessert we shared a platter with their three house favourites, though my favourite of the night was the Orange Kahlua Creme Brulee which was divine! They have wonderful breakfast pizzas along with their famous traditional pizzas at lunch and dinner, a variety of pastas, salads and more.

Review by: Richard Wolak

 

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TRILUSSA

July 20th, 2011 admin

4363 Main Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-338-6914

Web: www.trilussa.ca

Twitter: n/a

Advice: If you want to get a mix of two pizzas, I suggest you order a Large and ask them if they can give you half and half. Closed Mondays.

I stumbled upon this Italian eatery the other day to my joyous discovery of seeing Chef Alessandro Fonseca behind the counter making his delicious Roman style pizzas. I know Alessandro from another eatery where he had developed this Roman style of pizza and pasta, he now opened his own place. Here the pizzas are available in regular and large servings as well as by the ½ or full size and there are always many different pizzas ready to eat-in or take-out. The Pizzas and the Pane Romano (Italian bread with toppings which is very similar to pizza) served on their wooden slab serving board (clever, asides from a great presentation it is also an easy way of serving).

Abruzzo

I was in for lunch and had the Abruzzo ($5.50 Regular) pizza topped with Soppressata Salami and Mozzarella along with a soda. You will also find sandwiches on rustic Italian bread, (several selections to choose) along with some soups. There is also an espresso bar to have a coffee to begin or end your meal. Already looking forward to my next visit for a slice of the Roman Flat Bread topped with Nutella!

Review by: Richard Wolak

 

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

FIREWOOD OVEN PIZZA

July 18th, 2011 admin

3004 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-873-0001

Web: http://thefirewoodcafe.ca

Twitter: @thefirewoodcafe

Advice:  For delivery they will deliver your order in our HOTBAG, delivery is free within a 4km radius. Great monthly specials.

#7 California Pizza

#21 Tuscany Pizza

I had fond memories from ordering pizza to go years ago from Firewood, recently I yearned for some pizza delivered to me so that I could eat at home for a change. I ordered the #7 California Pizza (Medium $16) BBQ chicken, red onions, cilantro & smoked gouda which was as good as I remembered it to be. Tonight was another perfect night to dine in at home, this time I ordered the #21 Tuscany Pizza (Small $11.60) Fresh basil, fresh garlic, red peppers & sun-dried tomatoes. I loved both of the pizzas and both were quite different too.

There are all sorts of toppings to choose from on the pizzas if you wish to customize your own pizza, though the best way would be to order one of their pizza creations off the menu by number. You will also find a good selection of pasta dishes, salads and garlic bread.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Cambie Street Tags: , , , , , No Comments »

THE BIBO

April 17th, 2011 admin

1835 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-568-6177

Web: http://thebibo.com/

Twitter: @Thebibo

Advice: You can get half the pizza with one variety and another with a different variety, just ask your server. Slicing the pizza is not recommended, best to use your hands and tear the pizza as this is Napoletana style.

An authentic pizzeria offering up the best ingredients imported from Italy, a casual restaurant where you will find a screen in the back often playing old Italian movies that is also projected on the tv above the bar.

Pasta sampler of Gnocchi, Mateo & Rigatoni

Bibo Tagliolini

My friend Carlos joined me for dinner, it was my second visit and I was excited to indulge in some of their pasta and pizza selections; to begin we had a sampler of a few of their pasta creations, each of us had our favourites though both of us were agreeable that the Gnocchi was the favourite of all. The Pasta sampler of Gnocchi, Mateo & Rigatoni Norma ($16) fresh homemade Gnocchi pasta served with pesto sauce; Bibo Mateo a wide pasta paired with Italian Porcini mushroom sauce; Rigatoni ala Norma an ancient Sicilian recipe, tomato, basil and maccheroni pasta served with grilled eggplant and seasoned salt ricotta cheese. We also shared a smaller portion of the Bibo Tagliolini ($15 reg size) crafted with San Marzano DOP tomatoes, produced in the “Campania” region of Italy.

Funghi Porcini & Boscaiola - Pizza

Diavola & Prosciutto - Pizza

Next up we each had our own pizza, there pizzas are masterpieces of art, each is hand crafted, crispy and bubbly on the outside and tender on the inside. We requested to have ours halved with different varieties, I had the Pizza ($18) half Funghi Porcini – Tomato, mozzarella, porcini mushrooms and Boscaiola Tomato, mozzarella, sausage, mushrooms and Carlos had Pizza ($16) half Diavola – Tomato, mozzarella, spicy salami and half Prosciutto – Tomato, mozzarella, cooked ham. One thing to note is that they use two different types of cheese on their pizzas which reflect in the prices, for the higher priced pizzas they use the DOP Burrata cheese which is the finest type of Burrata cheese from Italy making for an unbelievable tasting pizza.

You’ll find a good selection of Italian wines as well as other beverages. This Italian dining experience wouldn’t have been complete if we didn’t indulge in one of there heavenly desserts, since we couldn’t decide on just one we shared three of them, each delicious and very different.

Bounet

Tiramisu

Chocolate Pizza

The first was the exquisite Bounet ($8) a traditional Piemontese pudding made with amaretti and cocoa. Then the creamy Tiramisu ($8) which was the most heavenly Italian dessert, made of Italian savoiardi biscuits dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks, italian mascarpone and flavored with liquor and cocoa and the final dessert we shared was the outstanding Chocolate Pizza ($14) a pizza dough baked and smothered with a rich melted chocolate cream.

Looking forward to my next visit for the Margherita Formula One pizza a taste sensation unlike any other pizza you have had around the city!

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Kitsilano Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

NICLI ANTICA PIZZERIA

February 28th, 2011 admin

62 East Cordova, Vancouver

Tel: 604-669-6985

Web: http://nicli-antica-pizzeria.ca

Twitter: @NicliPizzeria

Advice: Go with a friend or two and share some of the pizzas. Skip the knife and fork, if you ordered a pizza and just use your hands to tear the pizza into pieces.

I love a good pizza and am very particular about my pizza from the crust to the toppings! I recently dined at Nicli to specifically have one of their Neapolitan pizzas. The room was beautiful with its exposed brick and white walls, and the bar was stunning. The kitchen located towards the rear of the restaurant showcases their pizza oven as well as their pizza making chefs.

Funghi Pizza

I glanced at all of their Pizzas and the different offerings and then decided on the pizza that I was going to eat, I had the Funghi Pizza ($14) pomodoro, parmigiano, fior di latte, funghi, basil, then came the taste test, I loved the tomato sauce, but not the crust, the taste of the crust only improved when I drizzled some of their house made Rosemary Olive Oil over the pizza.

The menu is made up of Antipasti, some salads and pizzas along with a good wine list on offer. They offer two housemade oils, the Chili oil as well as the Rosemary oil which I had preferred over the other.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Gastown Tags: , , , No Comments »

Q4 AL CENTRO

January 24th, 2011 admin

780 Richards Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604.687.4444

Web: http://q4restaurant.com/

Twitter: @q4restaurant

Advice: The Focaccia is not on the menu, you must order it as it is the best in the city. Complimentary valet parking at both lunch and dinner.

It’s no secret that I love Italian cuisine, it’s been my favourite for years, this is the latest gem from Patrick Corsi, his family has been cooking Italian cuisine in and around the city for many years. My friend Ian joined me for dinner in this hideaway in the centre of the city, located in the L’Hermitage Hotel this is no hotel restaurant, the room is beautiful with wood paneling throughout, high ceilings, an open kitchen, with a stylish forno oven.

They have an extensive wine list, I had a glass of the Antinori – Pinot Grigio 2007 ($10) Tuscany, Italy and Ian had a glass of the Jean Bousquet – “Organic” Malbec 2007 ($8) Mendoza, Argentina.

Focaccia Fatta in Casa

"Rucola" Arugula Balsamica

Polpette al Centro

We started off with the outsanding Focaccia Fatta in Casa ($6), I could have eaten the focaccia alone all night, we then shared the “Rucola” Arugula Balsamica ($12) Wild arugula, honey glazed walnuts, goat cheese, port soaked cranberries, aged balsamic vinaigrette. I then had an order of the delicious Polpette al Centro ($12) House made meatballs, smoked caciocavallo, marsala basil pomodoro ragout, tuscan crostini.

Pastore

Branzino alla Crosta

We then shared a pizza, the crust is crispy and delicious, I had this one before and had it again, Pastore ($15) Smoked caciocavallo, grilled lamb sausage, marinated portabello, we were both sharing most of the dishes as it gave us an opportunity to taste more, next was the outstanding Branzino alla Crosta ($34) Pistachio crusted BC sablefish, roasted red pepper succotash.

Chocolate Tart

Berry Pavlova

Dessert was a must and I had the delicious, Chocolate Tart ($8) filled with oozing caramel and my friend had the Berry Pavlova ($8). The service was wonderful too, looking forward to my return visit and for some more of that delicious Focaccia!

Review by: Richard Wolak

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

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FLATBREAD CO

September 1st, 2010 admin

1876 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-730-0321

Web: http://www.rockymountainflatbread.ca

Twitter: @flatbreadco

Advice: Sundays & Mondays go with your kids.

Selection of beer

This has been a favourite of mine for organic pizza in the city since they opened. A couple weeks ago my friend Jason joined me for dinner to try some of their new dishes, we both enjoyed some of the beers to accompany our dinner, of course our favourite beers were different and I’m sure your favourites would differ as well.

Fig & Goatscheese Salad

Fresh basil & blackberry Salad

Starting off our meal we shared the refreshing Fig & Goatscheese Salad ($9.25 regular) and the tasty Fresh basil & blackberry Salad ($8.25 regular).

Next up were the pizzas and we shared several, the pizzas here are handcrafted flatbread made in an Artisan Oven with lots of local and organic ingredients. The crust is thin and crisp, the toppings have so much flavour and you taste those vegetables.

Mexicali Pizza

Farmers Market Pizza

Ocean Wise Pizza

Flank Steak pizza

To start, was the tasty Farmers Market Pizza ($15.95) topped with three seasonal vegetables, three herb nut free pesto & caprigny goat’s cheese; then the Mexicali Pizza ($16.75) topped with Chocolate tomato chilli sauce, red onions, roasted peppers, marinated cherry tomatoes, jicama, corn, free range organic chicken, caprigny goat’s cheese, herbs and creme fraiche. Then the delicious Ocean Wise Pizza ($15.95) topped with in-house orange maple cured wild salmon, fresh shrimp, artichokes, red onion, nut free three herb pesto and asiago cheese; and finally the Flank Steak Pizza ($15.45) topped with organic tomato sauce, sprinkled with premium mozzarella.

Dessert Platter

We were both quite full, that didn’t stop us from trying some dessert so we shared their dessert platter which was made of up Chocolate Brownies, cheesecake and biscotti.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Kitsilano, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments »

Pizza Adventure and the Toppings

August 18th, 2010 admin

I happened upon putting together an article about pizza after I  was invited by one restaurant to sample some of their new pizzas, which then followed by another inviting me in to try some of their pizzas which are now on the menu, which then lead another restaurant to inviting me in along with a few my friends for a night of pizza tasting and more.

There are hundreds if not more restaurants that specialize in Pizza around the Vancouver region and one would be eating pizza nightly for years in order to attempt to taste them all, so my article is not about the best pizza in the city, it is about the different types of crust and toppings these 3 restaurants in the 3 different areas of the city make. Here is a compendium if you will of 3 restaurants that I visited within a week in West Vancouver, Vancouver and Burnaby.

Beachside Forno

They served 8 different pizzas during the dinner and I had 2 or more pieces of each, my favourites are noted below the photos. The pizzas here are made in a Forno Oven and usually baked around 550 F degrees. Executive Chef/Partner Dino Renaerts told me that he experimented with all types of dough when creating his perfect crust and what makes this crust delicious is potatoes, yes he uses Russet Potatoes in the dough for the savourie pizzas. Not to worry you won’t find potatoes in his dessert pizzas, as that dough is sweet. I thought the crust was delicious with the toppings these pizzas were even more tasty.

This pizza tasting lineup went like this,

#1 Breakfast Pizza ($14) topped with cheddar cheese, herb scrambled eggs and salsa fresca.
#2 Pizza ($16) was topped with Roasted tomato, garlic, chilies, fresh bocconcini, drizzled balsamic reduction and arugula.
#3 Pizza ($16), was topped withProsiutto, pecorino, pesto, drizzled balsamic reduction, fresh arugula.
#4 Pizza ($16) was topped with Smoked salmon, crisp capers, arugula, mascarpone and dill sour cream.
#5 Pizza ($16) was topped with Portobello mushrooms, arugula and truffled ricotta.
#6 Pizza ($18) topped with Forno roasted chicken, chorizo, caramelized onions, provolone cheese and chipotle bbq sauce.
#7 Dessert Pizza ($8) was topped with Fresh Okanagan peaches, blackberries, orange ricotta spread, and orange reduction.
#8 Dessert Pizza ($8) was topped with Organic banana, Melissa’s house-made marshmallows, dark chocolate, and graham cracker crust crumble.

#1 Breakfast Pizzas topped with cheddar cheese, herb scrambled eggs and salsa fresca,

#2 Pizza topped with Roasted tomato, garlic, chilies, fresh bocconcini, drizzled balsamic reduction and arugula.

#3 pizza topped with Prosciutto, pecorino, pesto, drizzled balsamic reduction, fresh arugula

#4 pizza topped with Smoked salmon, crisp capers, arugula, mascarpone and dill sour cream

#5 pizza topped with Portobello mushrooms, arugula and truffled ricotta.

#6 pizza topped with Forno roasted chicken, chorizo, caramelized onions, provolone cheese and chipotle bbq sauce.

#7 Dessert Pizza topped with Fresh Okanagan peaches, blackberries, orange ricotta spread, and orange reduction

#8 Dessert Pizza topped with Organic banana, Melissa's house-made marshmallows, dark chocolate, and graham cracker crust crumble.

My favourites were the #2 Roasted tomato, garlic, chilies, fresh bocconcini, drizzled balsamic reduction and arugula; the #6 Forno roasted chicken, chorizo, caramelized onions, provolone cheese and chipotle bbq sauce and the #8 Organic banana, Melissa’s house-made marshmallows, dark chocolate, and graham cracker crust crumble.

Beachside Forno is located at 1362 Marine Drive in West Vancouver and they are open for lunch and dinner daily as well as Saturday and Sunday Brunch. The menu is online at www.beachsideforno.com

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co

They served 4 different pizzas during the dinner and I had a few slices of each, my favourites are noted below the photos. The pizzas here are handcrafted flatbread made in an Artisan Oven with lots of local and organic ingredients. The crust is thin and crisp, the toppings have so much flavour and you taste those vegetables.

This pizza tasting lineup went like this, to start,

#1 ($15.95) was the Farmers Market Pizza (all vegetarian) $15.95 topped with three seasonal vegetables, three herb nut free pesto & caprigny goat’s cheese.
#2 ($16.75) was the Mexicali Pizza topped with Chocolate tomato chili sauce, red onions, roasted peppers, marinated cherry tomatoes, jicama, corn, free range organic chicken, caprigny goat’s cheese, herbs and creme fraiche.

#3 ($15.95) was the Ocean Wise Pizza topped with in-house orange maple cured wild salmon, fresh shrimp, artichokes, red onion, nut free three herb pesto and asiago cheese.
#4 ($15.45) was the Flank Steak Pizza topped with organic tomato sauce, sprinkled with premium mozeralla

Mexicali Pizza

Farmers Market Pizza

Ocean Wise Pizza

Flank Steak pizza

My favourites were the #1 Farmers Market Pizza topped with three seasonal vegetables, three herb nut free pesto & caprigny goat’s cheese; and the #3 Ocean Wise Pizza topped with in-house orange maple cured wild salmon, fresh shrimp, artichokes, red onion, nut free three herb pesto and asiago cheese.

Rocky Mountain Flatbread is located at 1876 West 1st Avenue in Vancouver and they are open for lunch and dinner daily. The menu is online at http://www.rockymountainflatbread.ca

Romana Pizza

They served 8 different pizzas (all Medium size) during the dinner and I had 1 slice of each of 6 pizzas (2 of the pizzas had ham which I don’t eat) , my favourites are noted below the photos. The pizzas here are made in a traditional Oven and done in the same way since opening in 1973. Jenny Siormanolakis told me that her parents had and still makes the pizzas in the very same way since opening.
This pizza tasting lineup went like this,

#1 ($20.50) Rustica topped with Melizano, olive, sun dried tomato, artichoke heart and feta.
#2 ($17.50) 46 Sixty was topped with Chicken, mushroom, feta and extra sauce.
#3 ($19.50) Gourmet was topped with Chicken, spinach, garlic, olive and sun dried tomato.
#4 ($19.00) Supreme was topped with Beef, capicoli, spinach, onion and feta.
#5 ($18.00) Cooks was topped with Beef, feta, onion and tomato.
#6 ($21.00) Veggi was topped with Mushroom, tomato, onion, olive, pineapple and green pepper.


All Meat (l) & Burnaby Heights (r)

Veggie (l) and Rustica (r)

Cooks (l) & 46 Sixty (r)

Gourmet (l) & Supreme (r)

My favourites were the #3 Gourmet was topped with Chicken, spinach, garlic, olive and sun dried tomato; and the #1 Rustica topped with Melizano, olive, sun dried tomato, artichoke heart and feta.

Romana Pizza is located at 4660 Hastings Street in Burnaby and they are open for lunch and dinner daily. The menu is online at http://www.romanarestaurant.com

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Culinary Adventures Tags: , , , , 2 Comments »
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