From the monthly archives:

March 2011

I have mentioned it previously and will say it again: I hate the word “foodie” with a passion. Until now, the only instances I sort of don’t care much is when some local food bloggers use it (Mijune of Follow Me Foodie or Joyce of VanFoodies). Why I hate it? Please, don’t let me go there… In fact, aside from the cases already mentioned, the only instance where I would agree to use the word “foodie” is to construct the word foochebag. Feel free to guess where it comes.

However, when this last Wednesday, I will actually let is slip completely. Why the sudden change of heart? Because of an event called Vancouver’s Foodie Feast, organized by James of Bella Gelateria along with fellow bloggers Sherman (of Sherman’s Food Adventures) and Mijune. Wait, am I not the person who hate participating events and bash those bloggers who are in for the $$$ (aka, PR and blaggers)? Yup, that is still true; however, in this case, this event was for a good cause. In addition to getting us together, it was also a fund raiser for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society (something that I have previously blogged). With such reason, why should I NOT participate?

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Le Do Vietnamese Restaurant
2292 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
Le Do Vietnamese on Urbanspoon

Ah… East Hastings… An area I use to frequent but, ever since I quit Magic, I haven’t dropped by at all. It is not that there is something wrong. There are some good grocery shopping places, like Freybee’s outlet store (at Hastings and Victoria) if you are looking for cold cuts or sausages, Donald’s Market is a good option (Hastings and Nanaimo). And then there are “unique” eating places like Bao Chau and Seri Malaysia. Could it be traffic in the area? I don’t know. However, by pure sheer of events, PO and I ended up in that area and I “suggested” we give Le Do a try.

Le Do, Vietnamese, Restaurant, Hastings, Nanaimo, pho, bun bo hue, soup, noodle, drink, salted, lemon, drink, beef, slice, goin, cuon, salad, roll, spring, pork, shrimp, beef, brisket, meat, ball, tripe, tendon, spicy, cabbage, shank

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Peckinpah

by KimHo on March 23, 2011 · 6 comments under: British Columbia,Food,Restaurant

Peckinpah
2 Water Street
Vancouver, BC
Peckinpah on Urbanspoon

It is sort of known that I don’t necessarily like fancy restaurants. That does not mean I won’t go to them, just that a lot of times, those restaurants carry heavier price tags and a lot of that price tag is not translated necessarily into what ends up on the plate. Instead, it goes to things “around” it – like ambiance. However, at times, that’s what can draw people together for a meal. I mean, a dive is not necessarily conduciveto get people together and spend 2+ hours just to catch up.

So, how does that relate to Peckinpah, a somewhat recently restaurant opened in Gastown? Well, for one, it is the area, as Gaston is one of the places I call “usual suspects”, i.e., areas of town where people go for ambiance (the others people Downtown, Yaletown and Kitsilano). The second part is that out of all possible cuisines, this is BBQ, one that has humble origins… So, how do these do combine together?

peckinpah, BBQ, gastown, downtown, meat, smoked, beef, pork, brisket, rib, ribs, short, pulled, corn, dog, mustard, beer, ale, salad, green, southern, collard, corn, bread, baked, beans, sauce, vinegar, catsup, tomato, ketchup

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Lully’s Sandwich Mobile Cart
650 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC
Lully's Sandwich Cart on Urbanspoon

Back when the original set of food carts came out, the one that we had to admit was a bit “different” from the rest was PanDa Fresh Bakery. While some of them would be as expected in other cultures (skewers from Chinese Skewer King and Satay King), others went for fusion (Cartel Taco, et al) and some went for old school type (pizza from Ragazzi, pulled pork sandwich from Re-Up and crepes from “>Kimono Koi Crepes), the folks from PanDa made a twist by offering stuffed croissants. Alas, it seems things went sort of sideways and they have come back in the form of Lully’s Sandwich.

Lully's, Sandwich, Montreal, Smoked, Meat, Granville, Food, Cart, pickle, rye, bread, mustard, yellow, prepared, dijon, corned, beef, pastrami, Victoria, Panda

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A Slice of Pie…

by KimHo on March 20, 2011 · 0 comments under: Comments,Random

I have mentioned previously that I am not a big of desserts: If I am by myself, chances are I will skip it. However, when I am with others and they want it, I might as well tag along. Out of all forms of sweet treats, pies falls in sort of an in-between. Of course, I like the savoury applications: pot pies, pocket pies (empanadas, et al) and so on. Sweet versions? Well, I have made blueberry pie myself, so I would certainly eat it. But, a recent experience gave me the most bitter sweet one of all: a slice of humble pie.

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Red Persimmon Taiwanese Cuisine
2133-4500 Kingsway
Crystal Mall
Burnaby, BC
Red Persimmon Taiwanese Cuisine (Crystal Mall) on Urbanspoon

Ah… Crystal Mall… The parking hell hole of Burnaby… Whether by design or due to how it is used, I don’t care. Whenever I need to go there, I just take Skytrain or just park at Metrotown. However, that brings the other question: why to go there to begin with? Yup, their well known food court. While not as modern as, say, Aberdeen Centre, one thing and lacking some options as in Yaohan Centre, one thing it can’t be taken away: it has good eats of it’s own. So, I was there one of these days looking something for dinner but was a bit too tired to think. In other words, hoping to go there and decide based on what was available or fancied. On that night? Red Persimmon.

Red Persimmon, Burnaby, Vancouver, Crystal, Mall, Metrotown, parking, lot, Taiwanese, food court, court, food, burger, rou jia mo, rice, pork, sauce, juice, tea, pork slab

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Kimura (Revisit)

by KimHo on March 16, 2011 · 3 comments under: British Columbia,Food,Restaurant

Kimura
3883 Rupert Street
Vancouver, BC
Kimura on Urbanspoon

If I were to visit a restaurant, how often should I do a re-post? Once, twice, thrice? More often than not, unless there is something catastrophic or the experience between the first visit and the second visit is extremely different, I don’t believe there is such need, specially if the time gap between these are extremely short. After all, your experience have documented and capture that essence, is there really a need to do so? After visiting Kimura with Sherman in summer 2010 (wow, we did tackle a lot of these hidden places early!), I was hoping to return for their omakase – or leave it to the chef, which can be considered a tasting menu of sorts. So, in what seemed to have a been a lot of coincidences, when Chris (Eating is the Hard Part) was arranging with me restaurants to consider for his visit, gastronomydomine of the Foodosophy team wrote a post about omakase at Kimura. Result? A flurry of text messages started between Chris and myself. Omakase at Kimura it was…

Kimura, Vancouver, Japanese, Sushi, Restaurant, Renfrew, omakase, tasting menu, appetizer, jelly, pig, ear, sardine, shiso, grilled, kabocha, pumpkin, sesame, oyster, roe, caviar, salmon, maguro, salmon, carpaccio, sashimi, sesame, soy, oil, dressing, ankimo, monkfish, liver, tempura, okra, mushroom, shiitake, shrimp, risotto, onigiri, squid, ink, chawanmushi, egg, custard, chicken, sushi, battera, o-toro, red, unagi, surf, clam, ice cream, green, tea

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