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Mooshmouse

eGullet Society staff emeritus
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  1. The Philippines has Jolibee, a veritable fast-food empire. As you can see from their product list, they offer more than just burgers: there's fried chicken, Filipino-style spaghetti, a traditional noodle dish called pancit palabok, beef or tuna meat pies, burger steak (essentially the equivalent of a salisbury steak served with mushroom gravy and rice), and lumpia shanghai (deep-fried spring rolls).

    Another popular subsidiary of Jolibee Foods is Chowking. With takeout and delivery options available to its customers, Chowking serves a variety of both Chinese and Filipino dishes.

    Note that both Jolibee and Chowking have branched out internationally including stores in California. Jolibee's website indicates that their Las Vegas location is slated to open some time this month.

  2. Rona, here are a couple of photos from Afternoon Tea at a couple of different spots here in Vancouver. Hope these are of help!

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    The Secret Garden Tea Company

    Bottom tier (savouries): Mini croissants with black forest ham, tarragon chicken salad on cheese scones, egg-salad pinwheels.

    Centre tier (semi-sweets): petite scones with berry jam and Devonshire cream, lemon pound cake.

    Top tier (desserts): lemon tarts, blueberry tarts, triple-layer chocolate fudge cake.

    gallery_18820_923_82749.jpg

    Bacchus at The Wedgewood

    Bottom tier (savouries): egg salad and cucumber on white, shrimp salad on wheat, a smoked-salmon round, chicken salad on a multigrain roll.

    Centre tier: Bakewell and fresh fruit tarts, lemon white-chocolate layer cake.

    Top tier: warm sweet fruit scones with Devonshire cream and jam, fruitcake, chocolate éclairs.

    gallery_18820_923_36008.jpg

    The Fish House in Stanley Park

    Bottom tier: lemon tarts, mixed-berry-and-chocolate-cookie mousse, apple strudel, chai-spiced butter balls.

    Centre tier: egg-salad pinwheels, cucumber and goat's cheese finger sandwiches, house-cured salmon on pretzel bread, ham on an asiago biscuit.

    Top tier: organic currant scones served with Devon cream and either raspberry or blueberry jam.

  3. We go every year and have several favorites.  We are leaving in mid feb so can't tell of any new gems at this moment.

    All of these are in town--either downtown or Zona Romantico

    El Arrayan--Mexican specialties from the charming owner's grandmother, lovely setting...

    Maria Candelaria--small family run place featured on Rick Bayless show--great tamales

    Last November, we took an eight-day trip to Puerto Vallarta with a group of friends. We ate most meals at our villa, courtesy of two staff cooks, interspersed with a few trips to a local panaderia for breakfast fare and a couple of mid-afternoon tacqueria crawls. Though I missed the sojourn to Maria Candelaria, my travelling companions gave it positive reviews.

    Our one dinner off-property was at El Arrayán. As you can see from the website photo, it's a charming setting with an open-roofed courtyard. It started to rain on the night we were there, and it was rather quaint eating dinner while rain was falling just a few feet away. On the whole, the food was all right... photogenic enough but nothing stellar tastewise. I've certainly had better meals in Puerto Vallarta and would likely try another restaurant on my next visit rather than return to El Arrayán. Here are a few shots from our dinner.

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    Marinated Goat Cheese served with a Mexican herb salad

    One of the night's best dishes. Three kinds of smoked peppers gave it a nice kick.

    gallery_18820_1524_28083.jpg

    Tostaditas with Escabeche Duck

    Perfect example of an appetizer that photographed better than it tasted.

    gallery_18820_1524_15333.jpg

    Ceviche Colima with baby scallops and avocado

    gallery_18820_1524_39020.jpg

    Grilled Fish with Axiote sauce

    Nothing to write home about. Despite the sauce, the fish itself was dry and overcooked.

    gallery_18820_1524_50289.jpg

    Conchinita Pibil

    The bite that I sampled from a friend's plate was rather tasty.

    gallery_18820_1524_64459.jpg

    Beef Tenderloin with Mole Especial

    Disappointing. Beef was stringy and tough.

    Surprisingly enough, one of my favourite dishes was a Fear Factor inspired appetizer: cricket tacos.

    gallery_18820_1524_54043.jpg

    gallery_18820_1524_27238.jpg

    They were astonishingly tasty, toasted until crispy and then tossed with chiles and salt. From what I understand, they're usually a bar snack eated with mescal or cerveza. Not everyone at our table would try them, but one of my dining companions and I found ourselves popping the remaining crickets on the plate like beer nuts. Go figure!

  4. Love that store. Lena & Claudio are the owners. Grandma, that's what my son calls her, is a fixture there. And yes you are right, you might see both sons helping there on weekends (Stefano & don't know the name of the other). Super friendly people, with outstanding QPR for their meats. Love their sausages. Just wished that they could make the store bigger and stock more items.  :smile:

    Another regular, I see. Nonna is always super nice to my kids as well. I haven't been in a few months, so I hope they haven't been affected by the new Bosa location.

    Moccia, right? With the black awning?

  5. One Portuguese place that Mr. Maw has recommended is on Commercial ST. (not Dr.!), the name escapes me now.  Hopefully someone can post the name here. I'm sure they can do grilled sardinhas just as well as the Algaviros...

    That'd be Casa Verde, a casual family-run restaurant located at 3532 Commercial Street (604-876-7647). Note that it's cash only. Among their notable dishes are lulas grelhadas (squid pan fried in olive oil, garlic and lemon juice), frango no churrasco (barbecued piri-piri chicken, available on weekends only) and batatas a rodelas ("dollar-cut" chips, some of the best damn fries in Vancouver).

  6. Spinach dip served in a bread bowl

    When did spinach, Lipton's onion mix and sour cream take off?  Late 70's or was that more in the 80's?

    I'd say the eighties.

    What else?

    Microwave popcorn

    New Coke :blink: and Coke Classic (thank God)

    Mud pie and turtle pie

    Daiquiris

    Jelly Bellys

    Chicken "fingers"

  7. Like every good Filipino, I've got a weakness for all things baked... particularly bread. So, for merienda the other day, I packed away more than a few pieces of Jonah Ensaymada. It's a slightly sweet, brioche-like bread topped with butter, sugar and cheddar-cheese shavings.

    gallery_18820_1156_23235.jpg

    Jonah Ensaymada

  8. Goma tsukune, or so it's called at one of my favourite local yakitori/robata restaurants: ground chicken moulded around a skewer and topped with black sesame seeds. Also sliced asparagus wrapped with thinly sliced pork. Same pork wrapped around garlic chives. Heaven.

  9. ....Yes, those crunchy corn snack are like corn nuts but with an EXTREME fried garlic taste. My favorite!

    I'm drooling!

    Boy Bawang... are those essentially chichacorn? What a horrendously addictive snack. I swear that people can smell me from 10 feet away every time I tuck into a bag of them. The fish crackers are another favourite of mine as are cheese-flavoured Clover chips. Can't forget the garlic peanuts. Be still, my snacking heart!

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