fmed

You may have just changed my mind.

Thanks!

>> It was very Asian in that way - not fusiony, if you know what I mean. That's exactly what I'm looking for. (I'm probably going to pass on Susur, for example.). It sounds like Lai Wah Heen will be on the list. >> here isn't really other regional Chinese in Toronto. I'm surprised by this. I'm assuming this is true for the entire GTA? It's been a number of years since I have visited TO. I would have thought the Regional Chinese boom that hit Vancouver/Rmd and LA/SGV would have affected TO's Chinese scene.

Hi All, I'm visiting TO (and surroundings) in a May-ish/June-ish. I would like current recommendations on: Cantonese/HK/Dim Sum, and Regional Chinese (esp Northern/Shanghai/Sichuan/Taiwan) - both Hole in the Wall and High-end recs are most welcome. Thanks in advance. edit: Here is what I have gathered from scrolling back on this thread to Dec 2006 Dumpling House on Spadina Goldstone Lai Wah Heen Lai Toh Heen (which I've been to) Kim Bakery Lee Garden (Are these all Canto/HK? Dumpling House looks Northern.)

Endy, I'm thinking of visiting TO soon. Do you have recommendations for dim sum, Cantonese-HK and regional Chinese in TO and 'burbs?

I think that this is one of deceptively simple dishes that takes a number of tries to get right. You'll also read in the thread that duck fat or lard is often used to enhance the flakiness. The bitterness you experienced is probably from burnt scallions. Try a lower temperature. It's also important that the scallions are completely encased in th thin dough and not exposed to the hot oil directly. That is mamster's recipe in the Seattle Times link above. Maybe he'll weigh in. (I wonder if we could convince Cooks Illustrated/America's Test Kitchen to do a piece on it. It's that kind of a dish ) PS...Szechuan Chongqing, the restaurant mentioned in the article, is still in business. It used to be my 'go to' restaurant because of proximity (I live within a few minutes of there). It's still a good place...but I don't go there much now. It still has excellent scallion pancakes, but the overall quality of the restaurant has declined somewhat since it's heydays in the late 80's. It's still better than most Sichuan restaurants anywhere else in NA, but the standard bar is so much higher now.

It takes a lot of experience and skill to create a flaky scallion pancake like you can get at a restaurant. (I've tried...and haven't yet come close.) It's similar to attempting a perfect pizza crust or pie crust....practice, practice.

Rona, You should check the freezer section of your pan-Asian grocery store (if you have one close by.) . You can buy frozen green onion pancakes....they are not as thin, flaky and tender, but they do the trick. Five spice beef is very easy to make....in a pinch Char Sui (BBQ Pork) makes a delicious alternative. I edited the posts above the remove the stray (and incorrect) Chinese names left over from a cut-and-paste.

Chinese name: English name: Shanghai Dumpling Noodle Soup (Hand-stretched Noodles) Category: Shanghai style snack/entre Description: Hand-stretched Wheat noodles and Pork/Chive Dumplings in a Chicken broth, topped with Spinach/Gailan leaves and scallions Legendary Noodles, Main St, Vancouver BC, Canada

Chinese name: English name: Shanghai Chicken Noodles (Hand-stretched Noodles) Category: Shanghai style snack/entre Description: Hand-stretched Wheat noodles Dressed with Chicken and Vegetables in a sweet Shanghai soy dressing Peaceful Noodles, Vancouver, BC, Canada

(I thought, I'd revive this great thread by posting a couple of images) Chinese name: English name: Shanghai Beef Roll Category: Shanghai style snack/entre Description: Five Spice Beef, sliced thinly dressed with hoisin and wrapped in a Scallion Pancake. (From Peaceful Restaurant, Vancouver BC, Canada)

OK...it's been years so I don't even know this is information is still relevant: A few years ago, I had a most memorable night of oysters at Misaki - the sushi place at the Pan Pacific. I've been meaning to do it again...it just hadn't happened.

Whew! I'm glad someone said it. (Again, no disrespect).

I wholeheartedly agree. Aberdeen's an award-winning mall, architecturally, but the parking lot is a dog's breakfast. Plus it always seems to be under construction. What's up with that?! But my wife loves Daiso and the dessert tofu in the food court, and I like to yoyo next to the water fountain. ← Richmond is a driving and parking nightmare...I'm sure you have all experienced the "satellites" - the spouse jumps out of the car to get takeout at Yaohan (or someplace) while hubby drives around endlessly until she comes back out with the goods. A good strategy might be to rent bikes - park away from the craziness (perhaps at Lansdowne Mall) and bike to all the places. I love to go to Daiso to stock up on Japanese candy and kitchen gadgets. I give my kids ten bucks each and they buy all sorts of crazy stuff. Fun!

>> How do the Chinese restaurants in Richmond "work"? Dim Sum places will also have a regular menu. Some places have carts and some do not - you order from a dim sum menu. Carts are fun and some dishes can handle being pushed around for a while and cooked on the built-in stoves. However, some can't handle it so well - the steamed dumplings, etc. for example. Carts are also often indicative of Cantonese/HK Dim Sum. Chen's Shanghai Kitchen is an example of a place that sells (Shanghai) Dim Sim - they make it fresh at the back. The place is too small to have carts. Resident Dim Sum expert canucklehead will hopefully provide some more insight soon. >>How much crab is a good amount to order? I always get confused when ordering seafood by the pound. I can eat a lot of crab given the opportunity. We usually save it for special occassions so we order an entire crab. Ask your server how much you should order - they will size you up. >>What's the difference between Canto and Shanghai cuisines? That is a large topic. I'll just point you to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_cuisine >> I've also heard that Aberdeen Center is an interesting cultural experience. It, like, an Asian mall, right? Worth stopping by? I like visiting with my kids. Don't make a trip to Richmond just to go to Aberdeen, though. There is a major Asian Food zone - actually two zones - one around Lansdowne Mall and northwards towards Aberdeen (there is a street there called Alexandra Rd that is nicknamed "Eat Street" by some locals because of all the restaurants around there). Another Food zone is east of Richmond Center around Park and No 3 Rd. Richmond is worth a major meal (maybe lunch/dim sum at Sea Harbour). Then perhaps Aberdeen for snacks and Daiso. Then drive around the two zones for a bit af shopping, pork, etc. >> What's this Loft I'm reading about? It's a collection of art shops. Barbara-Jo's Books to Cooks is there....excellent bookstore. They offer cooking classes at their other location.

If skiing is a "must" then you pretty much have to stay 2 days at Whistler....especially with the sketchy traffic on the Sea to Sky Highway. I don't go to Whistler much (...I'm not much of a snowcat) - I don't have any food recs.

Then you'll find the same sort of deal at Robson and Denman - a few standouts, however: Kingyo, Hapa, Gyoza King, Shiru-Bay (in Yaletown) The Guu's are fun, but the food isn't stellar and the sake list is short. The scene is about the overall gestalt. If you take the quality of the food in isolation, then the whole izakaya scene would be lacking --- even in Japan, IMO. Still - it is a whole lot of fun.

Some quick recs from me: Yes it is worth the trip to Richmond for Sea Harbour, Chen's and Shanghai Wind. Even some HITW's like Prata-Man. Be forewarned - the traffic is crazy and confusing due to the Skytrain construction (even for me who grew up there and still visit regularly). Tojo's is a bit of a tourist destination. Octopus's Garden over Tojo's for me. Granville Island is worth the visit. Aurora, Bin 941 (it gets a loud, though). Izakaya. An NYC resident will be familiar with the scene in East Village/St Marks). Our version of that is Robson and Denman. Some maps of my own for your perusal: Food Tourist Map Izakaya Crawl Noodles and Dim Sum edited: spelling etc.

Nice! I'm glad you tried the main reason I like to eat at Peaceful: their Beef Roll. I find their noodles and soup much better than Sha Lin who have gone downhill in quality as of late. For Dim Sum - I'd like to hear your impression of Golden Phoenix on Nanaimo at Broadway. Their dimsum is good (but a bit inconsistent). The har gao is the size of a child's fist. They have some interesting non-standard fare (like deep fried shrimp spring rolls with wasabi). And the prices are good.

God I hope this isn't true.

The Reef is opening a location at the old Frenchies on Commercial Drive.

...or pizza crusts

A fresh bowl of steaming rice, awaiting a partner.

How about O-Thai, Rangoli or the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts?

Great map!