2015 ~ Eating With Kirby

Mosaic Bar and Grille- Italian Chef Tasting Menu

The barely cooked runny yolk is meant to be popped and enjoyed along with the risotto...and enjoy I did. The golden lava coated every kernel of rice with its warm embrace and made the risotto that much more comforting.

Adorabelle Tea Room- Catching Up With the Girls

This is an Onion, Chive, and Bacon Savoury Cupcake. Even the icing was savoury! It was super delicious and was really innovative. Overall, the ambiance was great (loved the fake sky ceiling!), food was well thought out and executed, and the service was attentive.

Forage- Pretty Decent Food.

All six of us ordered their Award Winning Seafood Chowder with soft poached quail egg and crispy pork rind. While the soup was smokey, full of flavour, it was too thick and tasted a bit more like sauce than soup. The quail egg added a certain richness to the soup too which was nice.

Jethro's Fine Grub- That's Some Tasty Grub.

Overall, Jethro’s is an awesome breakfast and lunch diner serving up good eats with a twist. I most definitely will return for some alligator nuggets or pancakes!

Teppan Kitchen and Mambo Cafe (Aberdeen Food Court)- Crazy Sauce.

They serve this to you with a little sleeve around the plate to catch any splattering oil that radiates from the oven hot iron plate. If you are noob (hehe) at this Teppan Rice business, you can read the "How To Cook" instructions on the sleeve.

Basho Cafe - Quaint, Cozy, Delicious

You get the real deal here when it comes to their Matcha Latte. Served in a traditional Japanese bowl the way its suppose to be (not cup), its not only fragrant but it has incredibly depth. Be forewarn, this latte isn't sweet. There is no additional pre-sweetened sugary stuff here.

30 December 2015

Frites (Granville) - Poutine All Day Every Day

Frites, not to be mistaken with Fritz (both french fry restaurants), is located in the downtown core a couple of blocks away from Pacific Centre. They boast authentic Belgian fries double layered poutine.

The owner that served me was super friendly and passionate about his product. It's great to support entrepreneurs like him because you know they put their heart and soul into their business.

They serve authentic Belgian fries on its own with a huge variety of gourmet sauces. From Gochujang (Korean hot sauce) to Jamaican Jerk, this place seems to have it all.

Everything on the menu looked so delicious it took me forever to choose! In the end I felt like I didn't choose the best kind of poutine so I might have to come back and try their other varieties. Marinated Smoked Meat poutine...Kimchi Frites...Pad Thai Fries.... HOMG I'm drooling just thinking about it.

I ended up choosing the Regular Traditional Poutine ($6.99) with one gourmet sauce (Rosemary Garlic Mayo).

I thought the gourmet sauce would be served on the side but it was actually all on top of the poutine. Because the fries were already drowning in gravy and cheese curds, the rosemary mayo was overkill and made it wayyyyyy too heavy. On the other hand, the fresh rosemary really shined through and you can tell they only use the best ingredients.

I wouldn't get the same thing again but I definitely won't write this place off until I've tried it once or twice more. The positive and friendly environment was infectious and I can't help but want to support this business, regardless of whether the poutine is the best in Vancouver! >.<

Service Rating: 4.5/5
Food Rating: 2.5/5
Price: $

Overall Rating: 3/5

Happy Eating!

RealityTVGIFs mean girls diet regina george cheese fries
                                        #datYOLOlife

Frites Granville Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

29 December 2015

Glowbal by Glowbal Group (Telus Garden) - Flagship Restaurant Just Ok

Glowbal recently relocated their Yaletown location to the Telus Garden on West Georgia and it is apparently their big, bold, new flagship restaurant. From the outside, the restaurant looks impressive. From big human sized bird cage booths to large steaks drying behind a glass wall, you'll feel like a baller just dining there.

Meta Knight and I came during their Happy Hour (50% off - 2:30pm-5:30pm everyday) and ordered their Truffle and Rosemary Fries ($7). It satisfied our truffle craving but were definitely not the best truffle fries we've had.

Kusshi Oysters ($3.70/ea) are our favourite so we got four of them to share. Although they're small, Kusshi oysters deliver a sharp bold taste that is hard to beat.

This sounded good on the menu but unfortunately was the worst dish of the meal. This Whole Roasted Acorn Squash ($10) had maple brown butter, kale, and hazelnuts. Sounds like a winning combination right?? The 'maple butter' tasted like pure maple syrup and the entire dish was drowned in it. It was so sweet we could barely eat 1/4 of it.

Even though we normally go with the truffle spaghetti and meatballs, we decided to be adventurous and get the Short Rib Pappardelle ($24). It was a good choice, and we both really liked the thick flat pasta. It soaked up the sauce real good so we would definitely get it again.

Overall, Glowbal didn't impress us with the food so I would only recommend going there for their Happy Hour.

Service Rating: 3.5/5
Food Rating: 3/5
Price; $$-$$$

Overall Rating: 3/5

Happy Eating!

sweet donut nun sister act bite the donut
                Sweet like that acorn squash dish >.<

Glowbal Grill Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

28 December 2015

The Belgard Kitchen - Grilled Cheese and Tomato Fondue is Da Bomb!

This little hidden gem called The Belgard Kitchen is located in the DTES area inside the Settlement Building. My friends Queen B and Hipster heard this place serves up wine flights so they really wanted to give it a try. I just tagged along for the ride. :P 

It's unassuming on the outside so I would definitely recommend using Google Maps to guide you here.

Once you step inside, the environment transports you to a different world. Full of rustic wooden and metal steel decor, it's half brewery and half pub/restaurant. When I say half brewery, I literally mean they brew the beer next to where you eat and you can see the 'factory'. Super cool.  

 They had a pretty good selection of beer for the Beer Flights ($8.00). I honestly don't remember the exact names, but all of them were premium craft beer.

I went with the White and Pink Wine Flight ($12) and I absolutely loved it. I am in no way a wine connoisseur so it was really interesting to taste all the different flavours and tones of the white and pink wines. All were delicious and if it weren't a little pricey, I would've gotten another one. :P

They don't give you that much wine in each flight so I would recommend trying the flight, finding the one you love, and getting a glass of that.

 The Shrimp Spaghetti Nero ($16) while super delicious and was everything I love about squid ink pasta, the portion was a bit small and lacked depth of flavour. For 16 dollars I feel like the portion could definitely have been doubled but that's just my gluttony talking. :P

Now this ladies and gentlemen, should be the reason you visit The Belgard Kitchen. They elevated the comforting homey grilled cheese and tomato soup to a dish called Tomato Soup Fondue with Grilled Cheese Toasties ($13). The cheese could not be gooeier and more delicious when paired with the concentrated tomato fondue. So good....just...so good.

The Red Wine Flight ($12). I didn't try this so I can't speak to how the red wine was. 

Flank Steak with Chimichurri ($15). Very delicious but similar to the other dishes, I wish there was more of it.

Even though the Belgard Kitchen offers a lot of unique offerings I have yet to find in other Vancouver restaurants like wine flights and tomato soup fondue, I found the price/portion ratio to be a bit off for me. We all spent around 45 dollars and when I got home I was already hungry again!

Service Rating: 3/5
Food Rating: 3/5
Price: $$$$-$$$$$$

Overall Rating: 3/5

Happy Eating!

food christmas kim kardashian eating keeping up with the kardashians
                      I'm always hungry >.<

The Belgard Kitchen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

23 December 2015

Sushi by Yuji - Will Definitely Come Back Again

I recently visited Sushi By Yuji after seeing some ridiculously yummy pictures on Instagram. I rarely eat nigiri's and often stick to rolls at Japanese restaurants. But I realize now that nigiri is so much better! Especially when paired with fresh ingredients.

This is a very tight and small family own business. The restaurant itself can't probably hold more than 14 people so I'd definitely recommend calling in advance to make a reservation.

Ordering nigiris can get expensive if you choose everything you want and not look at the price tag. Meta Knight and I are on a budget so we chose wisely and ended up spending less than 16 bucks per person.

As you can see, the scallops they use are huge! I just wish there was a little more filling near the end to even it out.

The gomae (spinach in sesame dressing) lightened up our carb heavy meal and it was pretty light.

Now for the main star! We got two pieces of the Uni (sea urchin), Ikura (fish roe), and Negitoro with Quail Egg (Mixed chopped tuna with green onion). Every mouthful was so great and it just reflects positively on Vancouver's abundance of fresh seafood. Every time I eat great seafood here I always feel grateful to be living in Vancity.

My only comment would be that the uni was a little fishy. Not the best uni I've had but definitely not the worst.

We followed up with two more pieces of Ika/Shiso (squid/herb leaf) and Ika/Mentaiko (squid/fish roe).

All in all, Sushi by Yuji is one of the most no-thrills, homey, down-to-earth Japanese restaurant I've been to. The vibe reminds me greatly of Sushi Hachi in Richmond. If you're into real authentic Japanese nigiris then definitely check this place out!

Service Rating: 3/5
Food Rating: 4/5
Price: $$-$$$

Overall Rating: 4/5

Happy Eating!

game of thrones thumbs up
            Two thumbs up!

Sushi by Yuji Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

11 December 2015

Hawksworth - Fancy Schmancy Brunch

If you are a regular follower of my blog, you know I'm pretty frugal when it comes to food. Quick, comfy, affordable restaurants are my go to's and expensive posh restos are usually reserved for my friend or family's birthdays. Nevertheless, I always dream of going to these restaurants and pretend I'm baller enough to make it rain. :P

On my birthday, my coworkers surprised me with a huge gift card for Hawksworth located inside the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. My team truly knows the key to my heart <3.

Meta Knight was the lucky chosen one to accompany me to this exciting award winning restaurant (2012 and 2013 Restaurant of the Year from Vancouver Magazine). Hawksworth emphasizes on contemporary Canadian cuisine with a focus on using local quality ingredients. With every bite of this Spaghetti De Nero ($26), I could taste the freshness of the sea, earthiness of the microgreens, and rawness of the house-made squid ink spaghetti.

Meta Knight opted for the Steak and Eggs ($27) which was accompanied by half an avocado, perfectly crispy rosti, beautiful mini salad, and jalapeno salsa verde.

Everything was on point and it was one of those meals where no one has to say a word but you both know you're experiencing something special. If I had to choose again I would get his steak and eggs over my spaghetti just because there was more variety on the plate and the portion was more substantial. Our lunch came up to $70 (cray!) for the both of us and luckily I still have quite a bit of money left over in the gift card to enjoy a nice dinner.

Hawksworth definitely lives up to it's name, location, and awards. Meta Knight and I were even smiling from ear to ear coming out of the restaurant, both lingering at the thoughts of our delicious food, while already planning our next trip back for dinner service!

Service Rating: 5/5
Food Rating: 5/5
Price: $$$$$+

Overall Rating: 5/5

Happy Eating!

law and order svu olivia benson law and order special victims unit so good mine other
                  the meal was... so good..

Hawksworth Restaurant - Rosewood Hotel Georgia Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

5 December 2015

Eggs 'n Things - Loco Moco and the Healthy Acai Bowl

As an avid egg lover, Meta Knight and I both knew we had to try the local Eggs 'n Things at least once while in Waikiki. This little local brunch spot is never seen without line ups which made us excited for what could be inside.

I did a little research prior to going and found out their specialties were in waffles, pancakes, and egg dishes (obvs). Their pancakes are elaborately decorated with a mountain of whipped cream, which looks really impressive, but will probably give you diabetes if you eat the whole thing.

Their menu is EXTENSIVE. Everything is in tourist pricing so while I wouldn't call it a 'tourist TRAP', expect to drop $10-15 USD per person.

At Eggs 'n Things you actually pay and order first before you sit down. Its different but I guess they have it this way to prevent dining and dashing?

Meta Knight and I shared the Hawaiian Loco Moco ($12.25) and Hawaiian Acai Bowl ($7.45).

The Acai Bowl was smaller than I thought but was quite packed with fresh pineapples, strawberries, blueberries, and bananas. With Hawaii being so hot (it was nearly 30 degrees when we were there), the bowl was really refreshing!

Hawaii is known for their 'loco moco' so we just had to try it when we saw it on the menu! The Hawaiian Loco Moco consisted of white rice, mushrooms, bacon, onions, gravy, and two sunny side up eggs. While we both thought it was only okay, this is like the best hangover food because it's got grease, eggs, and gravy. The rice soaked up the salty gravy real good and the egg yolk porn also rounded the dish out.

Service Rating: 3/5
Food Rating: 3/5
Price: $$

Overall Rating: 3/5

Happy Eating!

shakira hips belly dance shakira dancing
                                      Loco Moco!!

Eggs 'n Things Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

23 November 2015

Marukame Udon (Hawaii) - So Cheap! So Yum! So Good!

When my friends heard I was going to Oahu for the first time, they all recommended the same place. A Japanese udon bar located on one of two largest streets in downtown Waikiki, known as Marukame Udon. 

If you plan to come here, I would advise coming during non-peak hours like 7-9am, or 2-4pm or else you're likely to wait in line for 20-30 minutes. Granted, the line moves quite quickly because the turnover is extremely fast. This ain't no place for chit chat. This is a cafeteria-like environment where you eat and leave.

They have seven options to choose from and they range from $3.75 - $6.75 USD. It's a wicked deal and I would suggest trying out as many variations of these dishes as you can while you're in Honolulu. 

In orderly fashion, people line up, grab a 'cafeteria' tray and plate and select the udon they want. Then the udon maker will prepare the dish in (literally) a few seconds and hand it to you.

All of the udon is made fresh in front of your eyes so you'll never get bored waiting in line. It's like a free show. For foodies :P Every employee at Marukame has one specific job to do and they do it well. They have one guy that works almost every day and his job is just to boil the udon. That is probably the most difficult position in the restaurant so while it looks redundant and easy, I actually really admire his expertise.

After you get handed your udon, you will shimmy along the line and reach the tempura bar. Various battered goodies are up for grabs and they will add about $1.50 each to your overall bill depending on how much you load up here.

They have everything from fried chicken, tempura mushrooms, asparagus, pumpkin, hard boiled egg, to spam musubis and onigris.

 In total, Meta Knight and I ate here three times in seven days. I know.. this place was THAT good. On my first visit I got the Regular Cold Ontama Udon ($4.25) with Spam Musubi and Croquette. In total, my meal cost me about seven bucks. The onsen egg was friggin delicious and I couldn't get over the perfect al dente texture of the fresh udon. Bouncy with a bit of chew.

 Meta Knight could not resist the Marukame favourite, Niku Udon ($5.75) with Vegetable and Shrimp Tempura. Though the vegetable tempura looked huge, it was mostly onion so we avoided getting this on our future visits. It was also heavily battered so it didn't help us feel any healthier eating it.

 His broth was super flavourful and did not disappoint!

 The famous Hawaiian musubi. All it is, is a slice of spam on top of a white rice ball, wrapped in seaweed. To be honest the one here was definitely not that great. Passable, but definitely not better than the ones from Musubi Cafe Iyasume (I will have a future post on it).

 Second visit: Regular Kamaage Udon ($3.75) with Fried Chicken and Bean Curd Musubi. Kamaage udon is served hot in a wooden basket and is served with a hot Bukkake dipping sauce. The sauce is flavoured with green onion, tempura bits, grated ginger, and ground sesame.

 On the second visit, I chose the Kake Udon ($3.75) with onsen egg, tempura fish stick, and vegetable tempura (I forgot how displeased I was with the first one and got it again >.<). Made with just bonito flakes and seaweed, the Kake broth was clean and refreshing.

 On the third visit, Meta Knight loved the Kamaage Udon so much he got it again. This was his ultimate favourite by far because of the flavourful Bukkake dipping sauce.

I also followed his lead and tried the Kamaage Udon for the first time. I added an onsen egg to it as well and they put it in my dipping sauce. The dipping sauce was complex and the only way I can describe the flavour is just to say, umami... It had ultimate umami flavour.

And there you have it. Our three visits to Marukame Udon. I don't think I have to recommend it because action speaks louder than words. Three visits in a week? Yeah, it's pretty damn good.

Service Rating: 4/5
Food Rating: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Overall Rating: Hell Yeah 5/5!!

Happy Eating!

happy dance tv 90s dancing friends
   so happy we found this place

Marukame Udon Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato