Jenn Temple – The Cannibal Cafe
This 2014 Dine Out Vancouver brings showcases 263 participating restaurants and it is the largest in its history, and within that number, 40 are new restaurants participating this year, there is a challenge to find the best and most creative menu, unique flavours, value and most of all experience. I have spent many hours over the past couple of days reading through all the menus at each of the participating restaurants. To me Dine Out Vancouver is an experience, it gives the public, you and me a chance to try some new restaurants, it gives us a reason to go outside of our comfort zone and neighborhood to explore, savour and enjoy!
My picks this year are again based on the kind of experience you should have during this Dine Out Vancouver festival of eating. I have provided you with restaurants and their price fixe in each of the categories along with their most creative and unique dishes on each of their dine out menus. You can view each of the restaurants menus here.
Best of BC Plate – Salt Tasting Room (Kitsilano)
Flavours & Unique
American Grille $28
Unique dishes: Coconut curry bisque, prawn ravioli, kaffir lime oil; Pacific Ling Cod Smoked red pepper risotto, market vegetables; Peach Mousse Crepe Cannelloni minted fresh berries, lemon sorbet, lemon daquiou
Atithi $18
Unique dishes: Jackfruit biriyani kathi roll, New-Zealand lamb bengali curry with green papaya, Date palm jaggery rice pudding with almonds.
Bambudda $28
Unique dishes: Carrots roasted and pickled carrots, soy panna cotta, shiso, spices, mandarin; Persimmon Pudding Oolong anglaise, cake croutons, persimmon puree
Cafe Pacifica $28
Unique dishes: Parsnip & Pistachio Velouté, B.C. Forest Mushroom & Roast Garlic Ravioli, Calamansi Tart
Catch 122 $28
Unique dishes: Smoked beef brisket, mustard pearl, gaufrette potato, Paris mash; ‘Cassoulet’ – crispy skin pork belly, duck breast sausage, navy beans, confit tomato; Chewy caramel, hazelnut whiskey ice cream, chocolate brownie; Carrot Cake’ – carrot puree, brown sugar cake, cream cheese mousse.
Chicha Restaurant $28
Unique dishes: Palitas de Yuca, Yarrow Meadows Duck Spring Rolls; Spiced Aji Chili Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding with Peruvian dulce de leche, and pisco raspberry sauce; Lucuma, white chocolate, and lime frozen torte with passion fruit and raspberry sauce
Dockside $28
Unique dishes: Butternut Squash Filled Lemon Pasta Corn and Crab Bisque; Pork Belly “Poutine” chili pressed pork belly and plum braisage with duck fried fingerling potato charred cipollini and grape tomato with Ontario five year cheddar; praline iced Cream and Triple Chocolate Cookie Sandwich Caramel Banana
Ebo Restaurant $28
Unique dishes: e.b.o. wild mushroom soup, Brioche croutons, truffle oil; Baked Sablefish, Black Pepper Glaze, XO fried Rice, Longanisa Sausage, Roast Vegetables; Granny Smith compote
Federico’s Supper Club $38
Unique dishes: Risotto di Mare, Tonno in Crosta di Pistacchio e Caponatina Siciliana; Timballo Di Spigola Al Forno in Salsa Mediterranea; Cannolo Siciliano; Budino al Caramello; Salame al Cioccolato
Fishworks $28
Unique dishes: “Mac ‘n’ Cheese ”, butter-poached Dungeness crab, orzo pasta, mascarpone; Apple tart ice cream; Chocolate pate, pear jelly, peanut butter whip cream
Frankie’s Italian Kitchen $28
Unique dishes: Lobster & Corn Tortellini; Quince & Chestnut Crostata
Graze Restaurant $28
Unique dishes: Salad of persimmon, pistachio and pomegranate; Fig & cashew pate; Organic yam & red pepper chowder, Yam and parsnip ‘noodles’, Toasted almond and herb ‘Mignon’; Hazelnut macaroons with cardamom pear sorbet and vanilla creme
Le Parisien $28
Unique dishes: Crispy Calamari, Duck Confit, Braised Duck leg, Pommes Puree, Brussels Sprout Leaves, Orange Jus; Dark Chocolate Mousse, Caramelized Almonds
Oakwood Kits $28
Unique dishes: Smoked seafood chowder, Pork belly spaghetti, aglio olio, spinach, forest mushrooms; chocolate mousse, coffee crunch
The Parker $28
Unique dishes: Chaat – Gluten Free & Vegan; Cauliflower; Panisse, Almond Panna Cotta
Pidgin $38
Unique dishes: 6 course menu (all dishes sound amazing)
Salmon ‘n Bannock $28
Unique dishes: Stewed Bison Tart, Elk Winter pie, Bannock Crusted Smoked Sockeye, Chef Shawna’s Jiits Saskatoon berry cake
Siena Restaurant $28
Unique dishes: Smoked Salmon & Smoked Trout Rillettes, Pan-roasted Steelhead, Mushroom Truffle Cavatelli; Warm Spiced Fig Cake frangellico toffee sauce
Sol Sun Belt Cookery $28
Unique dishes: Harrira Soup, Vegan Antipasto, Duck Leg Confit, Kale & Chickpea Tagine, Oven roasted apple & dark chocolate, cinnamon sorbet; Rosemary Creme brulee
Twisted Fork Bistro $28
Unique dishes: Gruyere and caramelized onion tart with a hint of nutmeg; Pan seared Sablefish on herb couscous, cauliflower coulis; Vegan Lasagna; Frozen chocolate terrine, Caramel mousse
Braised Duck leg – Le Parisien (West End)
Fun & Unique
Bella Gelateria $18
Unique dishes: Great flavours include Semifreddo – Salted Caramel with a Lemon Sorbetto and a Soirette Macaron; Chocoholic – layering 3 different chocolate gelato from milk to Dark And Dangerous. chocolate sauce included. Deal is for 2 people to share.
Broken Rice Vietnamese $28
Unique dishes: Pomelo Chicken Salad, The Squid Ate The Spring Roll, Custard Apple Sorbet
Meinhardt Fine Foods $18 (meal can be prepared for take out)
Unique dishes: Curry Sweet Potato Soup, Steelhead Trout, Raspberry Panna Cotta
Raw Canvas $38
Unique: Dine out Vancouver canvas. Dine out and take home your own art piece. You get an appetizer, dessert and, the canvas and they provide all the paint supplies such as brushes and KROMA acrylic paint. You just bring yourself and your creativity.
Ice Cream Donut – The Cannibal Cafe (Commercial Drive)
Value
The Cannibal Cafe $18
Unique dishes: Guinness Poutine, Ice Cream Donut
Gramercy Grill $16 (Vegetarian lunch menu)
Unique dishes: Vegetarian Potato Hash, Ratatouille Omelette
Las Margaritas $18
Unique dishes: Poblano Pepper and Corn Soup, Chile Colorado, Chile en Nogada, Pastel de Tres Leches, Churros con Chocolate
Max’s Restaurant $18
Unique dishes: Veggie Lumpia Bites, Lemon Garlic Pork Ribs; Mini Buko Pandan with Macapuno Ice Cream
Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts $18
Unique dishes: White Onion Velouté, Dungeness Crab Salad, Lamb Navarin, Pear, and Chocolate Pave
Rocky Mountain Flatbread $18
Unique dishes: Fig & Goat Cheese Salad, Personalised Flatbread Pizzas
Salt Tasting Room (Kitsilano) $28
Unique dishes: Kale caesar, Best of BC Plate Chef’s choice 3 locally produced items + 3 locally produced condiments; Velvety Chocolate Mousse served with crushed hazelnuts
Trattoria Italian kitchen $18
Unique dishes: Zuppa di Zucca, Pollo Marsala, Braised Lamb Cheek Pappardelle
Dark Chocolate Mousse – Le Parisien (West End)
Higher End
Bistro Sakana $38
Unique dishes: Wild Sockeye Salmon Miso Chowder; Oka San’s Rich Chocolate Brownies
C Restaurant $38
Unique dishes: Roasted Sunchoke Veloute, Roasted AAA Striploin
L’Abbotoir $38
Unique dishes: Homemade duck pate, Veal picatta, Coffee and Chocolate Float Chocolate ice cream, coffee soda, whipped milk
Mosaic Bar & Grill $38
Unique dishes: Winter Squash Bisque, Grilled curried Cauliflower Steak, Pumpkin and Nutmeg Creme Brulee
Raincity Grill $38
Unique dishes: Roasted Wild Mushroom Soup, Cherry Lane Organics Beetroot Carpaccio, Roasted Root Tart Tatan, Rutabaga Ravioli, Chocolate Pot de Creme streusel
West $38
Unique dishes: Golden beet and orange soup, braised veal breast, Caramelized parsnip agnolotti, Malted chocolate cake
For a full list of restaurants and menus, look HERE. Take a look at my EVENT picks for this 2014 festival HERE
By: Richard Wolak