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Posts Tagged ‘Vegan’

THE GENERAL PUBLIC

April 7th, 2013 admin

3289 Main Street, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 558-4676

Web: coming

Twitter: @GPSushi

Advice: Reservations suggested. Bring a friend to share some sushi rolls.

There are sushi joints and then there are sushi joints, while the city is filled with sushi eateries on almost every block, there are few that standout in décor, vibe and food. This eatery is related to the Eatery located in Kitsilano and this one is quite different when it comes to the décor and the type of people who is patronizing them, here it is hipster and family central. Funky decor with a wilderness lodge theme adding to the bizarre decorated room, loved the 74 white masks that adorn the room. With a vast selection of items, the star attraction here are the named sushi rolls and other Japanese favourites which are ideal for sharing. My friend Jonathan Yee joined me to do just that, share a variety of items so that I could try as much as possible.

Tuna Tempura

Tuna Sushi Bites

Salmon Tartare

Tunacado

Tempura Prawns

To start the meal we enjoy enjoyed a sampler of their house specialty Tuna Tempura which we both thought had good flavour and crunch. We then shared the yummy Tuna Sushi Bites that were topped on a rice cake followed by the Salmon Tartare served with large won ton type crisps for dipping. I loved the Tunacado so fresh and filled with avocado which also came with won ton type crisps. We also shared Tempura Prawns with tangy sweet sauce, battered for a good crunch .

Viva Las Vegas

San Francisco Roll

Dragon Roll

The Cucu’s Nest Cucumber Wrap

Next up we savoured some of their popular Sushi Rolls, starting off with Viva Las Vegas with cream cheese, followed by the San Francisco Roll topped with a bland salmon which was my least favourite of all & the outstanding Dragon Roll filled with crab and avocado as well as The Cucu’s Nest Cucumber Wrap filled with crab wrapped in a cucumber shell with mango.

It’s a good thing they don’t specialize in dessert, since their dessert offerings were minimal and since we were both utterly full, we ended our meal on a high note.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Main Street Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

MAGDA’S RESTAURANT

April 7th, 2013 admin

6345 Fraser Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-322-1001

Web: www.magdasrestaurant.ca

Twitter: n/a

Advice: No reservations.

Some of my friends and I often get together on Sunday mornings for breakfast at various eateries around the city, each of us takes turns on suggesting restaurants in our respective neighborhoods or places that we had been to previously. My friend Alejandro suggested Magda’s for a recent breakfast gathering as he had enjoyed a dinner their previously, Jason and I joined to try some of the authentic Venezualan specialties.

Arepas

Carnegie Mechada vegetarian

Pupusas

Dulce de Lechoza

I had the Arepas ($7.95) with chicken & cheese, a delicious Venezuelan specialty 100% corn flour bun that is grilled and baked and is gluten-free as well; Alejandro had the Carnegie Mechada vegetarian ($7.95) Vegan Shredded Beef and Jason had the Pupusas($7.95) which is a Salvadoran specialty not listed on the menu, you have to ask and they will make it for you. We then shared the Dulce de Lechoza ($3.95) a caramelized papaya dessert.

Dining here was quite a wonderful experience, we discovered that all the tables were numbered which is great if you ever forget where you are seated, we met people sitting at the tables around us who talked up their dishes which tempted us to try more on a future visit. The menu is filled with Latin American specialties which is the star of this restaurant, I would suggest you over-look the Westernized dishes such as the hamburgers, sandwiches and omelets and try the traditional specialties that makes this restaurant a hidden gem that is worth your discovery

Review by: Richard Wolak

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

CAFÉ D’AFRIQUE

March 30th, 2013 admin

363 East Broadway, Vancouver

Tel: 604-876-9919

Web: http://www.cafedafrique.com/

Twitter: n/a

Advice: Reservations suggested. Go with at least another friend to share the platters.

I often go walking to explore neighborhoods in Vancouver, on a recent visit through Mount Pleasant I stumbled upon this Authentic African restaurant serving homemade dishes, along with very friendly service. They offer a diverse variety of foods from many parts of Africa including Ethiopia, Morocco and South Africa, many of the dishes you aren’t going to be familiar with which makes this one of the reasons to go and visit sooner rather than later.

Hummus

I had the Hummus($4.75) a garlic and chickpea dip served with pita for our appetizer which I shared with my friend Desmond.

Ethiopian Bread

Chicken Stirfry (middle of platter) and Veggie Platter Combo

We then ordered the Chicken stir fry – mild ($12.95) cooked with fresh garlic, green peppers, ginger and touch of butter along with the Veggie Platter ($14.95) combo for 1, a combination of Four kinds of vegetarian dishes: Lentil, split peas, spinach, cabbage and carrot stew. This turned out to be quite the feast for the two of us to share. With the platter we received a large serving of their special Injera Ethiopian Bread which is brown and comes to the table in rolled pieces for dipping.

You will find quite the array of specialty dishes including African Beer to round out your experience. I am looking forward to a return visit to indulge in one of their Tagines.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Mount Pleasant Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

EAST IS EAST CHAI GALLERY

March 8th, 2013 admin

4433 Main Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-879-2020

Web: http://www.eastiseast.ca/

Twitter: hopefully one day.

Advice: Reservations suggested. Request to be seated at one of the tables with benches rather than the tree stump chairs.

As a fan of their former location a few doors down the street, I had always enjoyed their nutty shakes, wraps and such. Recently they expanded into a much larger space on the same block, with an expanded menu a larger stage to showcase the nightly entertainment. From the moment you walk through the doors it is as if you walked right into the Middle East, landing in Morocco. My friend Kenneth Cho joined me for dinner a few weeks ago and we both decided the Silk Route Feast ($25 per person) is what we were going to indulge in for our meal as that had the best value where we could try a multitude of dishes. It is almost like an all you can eat buffet, without the buffet, it is a smarter way to go, the kitchen cooks the food to order for customers to enjoy.

Squash Soup and Green Salad

Mystic Soup

Beet Salad

With the feast you can choose a soup and salad from a few different choices on the menu, I had the Squash Soup which I loved and the Green Salad and Kenneth had the Mystic Soup with the Beet Salad.

Afghan Eggplant, Butternut Squash, Wild Salmon & Beef Kabob

We then each ordered two of the dishes off the extensive selection in the feast, we both decided to share them all so that we could taste many of the dishes on offer. In the first round, we had the Afghan Eggplant, Mango Butternut Squash, Wild Salmon and the Minced Beef Kabob. My favourites from this selection was the delicious Afghan Eggplant and Mango Butternut Squash which was heavenly.

Sea Bass Fish Curry, Okra, Spinach Paneer, and the Peas and Cauliflower

For the second round of dishes we had the Sea Bass Fish Curry, Okra, Spinach Paneer, and the Peas and Cauliflower, I loved all of these dishes, the flavours and aromas of each of these were divine.

Boulani and Roti

With the feast they also serve an assortment of Boulani and Roti along with Afghan and Basmati Rice throughout the meal, I loved the Boulani as well as the Afghan rice.

Eastern Ecstasy

Vegan Chocolate Pudding

Desserts are not included with the feast, we ordered two of them to share, my favourite of the two was the Eastern Ecstasy, a delish concoction of rice pudding, ice cream, a warm galub jamun sprinkled with rosewater, pistachios and cardamom over the Vegan Chocolate Pudding which was dense in texture topped with too many sweetened cherries.

In addition to the feast option, they also serve a variety of a la carte dishes, wraps, soups and more. Each evening they feature entertainment that ranges from Flamenco which we enjoyed the night of our visit to Sitar and other instruments and dancers.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Main Street Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Comments Off

HEIRLOOM RESTAURANT

December 5th, 2012 admin

1509 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-733-2231

Web: http://heirloomrestaurant.ca/

Twitter: @HeirloomVeg

Advice: This is a restaurant to dine with a friend or more friends, not ideal for eating solo unless you are seated at the bar. Sharing is key here.

Dips

One can always tell when a kitchen has passionate chefs by the care and imagination they have put into creating a menu full of goodness and flavours. Imagination is not only key, being creative with the ingredients, flavours and such makes the dish and is part of the over-all experience. This hit home with me and my friend Peter who visited for dinner recently, the room has a great vibe, it’s bright, has unique art adorning the walls and is well layed out from the large bar to the communal table in the dining room. The menu is filled with vegan and vegetarian options which is indicated in the description of each dish this is quite helpful if you lean towards a particular way of eating. We started with the delish Dips ($14) – beetroot, sunflower seed tapenade, lentil pecan homous, vegetables with sangak chips with sheeps feta cheese.

Swiss Chard Salad

Kale Salad

Blackbean Molasses and Coco Chili

We then shared the outstanding Swiss Chard Salad ($10) swiss chard, lime satay vinaigrette, hemp heart tahini, pickled peanuts along with the delicious Kale Salad ($10) full of delicious flavours and the smoked salt added good flavour. The next dish was one of their daily specials and it was so good, the Blackbean Molasses and Coco Chili ($17) with brown basmati rice, cashew cilantro cream fresh lime and tortillas.

Chocolate Vegan Cake

To finish of the meal we opted for a taster of their Chocolate Vegan Cake ($12 for regular sized portion) which was the perfect finish to a fab meal. I am looking forward to trying out brunch next time around with a group of my friends.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in South Granville Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

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 »

THE ACORN RESTAURANT

August 10th, 2012 admin

3995 Main Street

Tel: 604-566-9001

Web: http://www.theacornrestaurant.ca/

Twitter: @AcornVancouver

Advice: No reservations. Expect to wait in line for a little while or a longer while depending on the size of your party and the time of day.

In many restaurants around the city the vegetables have been hiding or forgotten. As the old saying goes, you must never forget to eat your vegetables. Well it’s not only about eating your vegetables, these days it is also about eating healthy and most of all eating delicious food. The other night my friend Alejandro (who is vegetarian) and I had dinner at Acorn, we sat at the bar while waiting for a table and ended up ordering and eating our meal long before a table was available. We munched our way through the Kafir Cashews, complimentary bar snacks while perusing the menu.

Halloumi

Kale Salad

I had the delicious Halloumi ($19) Beer Battered Halloumi, Zucchini Pancakes, Smashed Peas, Yogurt, Lemon Balm and my friend had the Kale Salad ($9 – appetizer size) SOLEfood Farms Kale, Tempeh, Smoked Paprika Croutons, Crispy Capers, Olives Caesar Dressing, Asiago Cheese.

The menu offers Vegan, Raw, Gluten Free options with creative dishes that exude all around goodness, wonderful flavours and presentation. From glancing at the cocktails on the bar, creativity is in order here from the front of house to the kitchen and this is evident with the line-ups since opening. Looking forward to my next visit to indulge in the Zucchini!

Review By: Richard Wolak

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

W2 MEDIA CAFÉ

July 4th, 2012 admin

111 West Hastings, Vancouver

Tel: 604-689-9896

Web: http://www.creativetechnology.org/

Twitter: @W2MediaCafe

Advice: the café is located on the main level off of the Hastings Street entrance to the right.

Royal Chicken Wrap with coconut vegi korma

This is where creativity begins, the café is a hideaway worth your discovery, here you will find a creative team of chefs lead by Chef Karen McAthy who create delicious healthy food. I have eaten here on several occasions as well as have held a couple of my events here this past year including Tasting Plates and Food Talks Vol. 1. On this visit I was in for lunch and had the special of the day, Royal Chicken Wrap with coconut vegi korma which was delicious and healthy too. On a previous visits I had their Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie, and other baked goods.

W2 Media Cafe is an artist-run, globally networked media arts lab, Incubator, community meeting space and social enterprise cafe serving artists and residents of the Downtown Eastside and Vancouver. Serving healthy, high quality food and drink and employing DTES residents, you will find a full espresso bar featuring Salt Spring Coffee, home-made baked goods, sandwiches, wraps and soups along with other daily creations.

Review By: Richard Wolak

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