Kentan

Kentan, galangal is related to ginger, but with a distinctly different flavour. ←

Sale on Zotter chocolate bars at Monde Chocolat!!!! It's a season-end sale - six bars for $20 or $4 each. Normally they're about $7 so it's a great deal. Yesterday I picked up: - Cranberry-Thyme - Cream Nougat with Pistachios - Beetroot with Galingale (No I don't know what Galingale is...but it tastes good) - Cinnamon Apple and Honey - "For Good ones" - Milk chocolate with chocolate cream - "First Aid" - Dark chocolate with white nougat and nuts Chocolate....heaven....

Looks like another Japanese noodle house will be joining Kintaro and Motomachi Shokudo on and around Denman Street. Benkei Noodle shop is opening in mid-January at 1743 Robson Street between Bidwell and Denman.

The new IGA store at Robson & Richards has just opened. The store at W. Broadway & Vine opened at the beginning of November with a London Drugs next door. Apparently the W. Broadway & Maple store will eventually close, to be replaced possibly by a Home Depot.

What a coincidence - I was just along W Broadway and saw what looks like a new place called "Kanata Chowder House". It's on the south side of the street between Willow and Laurel, a couple of doors down from Banana Leaf. Not sure if it's open yet...

Just saw the #98 B-Line bus all covered in Beard Papa advertisements. I'm sure they bought the ads before the store opened - they certainly don't need any more publicity!

In the last little while I've been frequenting Trees Organic Coffee and keep coming away impressed. Although it's in a bit of a funny location at the moment, along the Granville St construction zone between W Pender and W Hastings, it definitely seems to have become a gathering spot for people in the area. ESL students also seem to make up a large contingent - either it's for the cheesecake or the owners have managed to get the shop into a lot of guidebooks. And it's open every day until pretty late. The coffee is roasted on site, the muffins and cheesecake are awesome, and they have live music on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. Website The only downside for me is the decor - I tend to bump my head on the "branches" of the "trees" inside.

Beard Papa's appears in the Vancouver Sun: Record-breaking start for cream puff vendor "...even though the company's head executives in Japan originally thought the Vancouver market was too small to support a store, Richmond has broken all its North American records for first-month sales, including those for New York and Los Angeles." "Sometimes they put out a sign that says, 'From this point, the wait is two hours.'" Man, are we cream puff obsessed here in Vancouver or what! You can see a video of the lineups if you go to the Vancouver Sun site: Vancouver Sun

After spending last week in Montreal, all I can say is WOW. I'd prepared a list of casual places to dine at while I was in your fair city, but the longer I stayed the longer my list grew due to numerous other recommendations from people. I'm sure everyone knows the places I'm listing, but thought you might be interested in an outsider's opinion. Except for one Thai place, I didn't go out for any Asian food because Vancouver excels in that category. Breakfast One thing that hit me was how well Montreal does breakfast. Maybe it's the climate that creates the desire for heartier fare in the morning? Or the mix of North American pancake culture with the French crepe tradition? I don't know the answer, but most places in Vancouver don't yet 'get' how to do breakfast. - Restaurant L'Avenue (Mont-Royal E) - Breakfast heaven. This could be the best place I've ever been for breakfast. I went twice and could easily have gone for breakfast every day of my stay. One time it was the huevos rancheros with an amazing smoothie and the other was a calorie-laden feast of beans, sausages, bacon, eggs, pancake, roast potatoes, fruit, and cretons. Yeah, the waiters have a bit of an attitude, but they could greet me with a hail of insults and laugh at my fashion sense, and I'd still keep coming back for food like this. Even saw Roch Voisine while I was there. - Chez Jose (Duluth E) - Tiny place with a lovely breakfast. Had the tasty Spanish omelette on the waitress' recommendation. Staff were very friendly and didn't rush us even though the place was packed. - Bagel Etc (St Laurent) - It's been around forever but it still does breakfast right. The Pain D'ore was just right with not too much egg. Waitresses were very attentive and engaging. Coffee cup was never less than 3/4 full. I was there at 10 on a Sunday but it really started filling up at 11. Montreal time is a bit different than Vancouver time! Pastry So much to eat, so little time. My favourite was Kouign Aman, the Breton bakery on Mont-Royal E. Their croissants aux amandes were insane. For pasteis de nata it was a toss-up between Notre Dame on Rachel E and the place on St Laurent near Vieille Europa. Picked up some very good paczki from Wawel Polish bakery (is ponki the brand name or the name in French?) Coffee Caffe Artjava (Universite @ Kennedy) kicked everyone's ass in this category. Maybe I was unlucky, but I didn't find much really great coffee in town. Cafe Lattes are popular, but americanos don't exist for some reason. Allongés were a good substitute. Any recommendations would be welcome. Lunch/Dinner La Chilenita (Marie-Anne O) - One word: empanadas. Visited twice, the second time to pick up some for the flight home. Staff were hilarious and the sheer variety of empanadas was mind-boggling. La Croissanterie Figaro (Hutchison near Laurier O) - Very good bistro food, but I wasn't concentrating on it too much because the atmosphere was so cool. It felt very much like a Parisian bistro, without the smoke and the high prices. Los Planes (Belanger E) - Their pupusas were sublime. Stuffed myself for $7. You know the place is good when the only language you hear being spoken is Spanish. Chao Phraya (Laurier O) - Bustling place with an elegant look but reasonable prices. I'd rate the food as solid, but not amazing. Where would be better in Montreal? Jardin du Cari (St-Viateur O) - Like going over to your Guyanese friend's place for dinner. Zero pretension, casual in the extreme, very friendly and great, simple food. The rotis were to die for. Afrodiziac (Jean-Talon O) - I hadn't tried Ghanian food before so I wanted to experience it while I was in town. What an experience! It was just the owner/cook working that night, as her daughter was studying for exams, and the place had the look of a dance hall with a big tv in the corner. A large group had arrived before we did, so food came out very slowly. But it was all really good. Brochettes of beef and mushrooms, turkey curry, strawberry salad, a big plate of three different kinds of rice, and fried plantains. With drinks it came to $20 apiece and we took enough home for lunch the next day. I'd preorder next time to save the wait. Pushap La Faim Du Monde (St Denis) - A friend wanted to try this vegetarian place next to Chu Chai. The miso onion soup was tangy, huge and pretty close to perfect. Samosas were great. The veg burger I had was good, but could have used a bit more spice or sauce or something. It tasted a bit too "healthy" somehow, whereas the ones at Sejuiced on W 4th in Vancouver could almost make you give up beef burgers entirely. Avesta (Ste-Catherine O) - Tasty Turkish place with freshly made lavash bread. Dips were fantastic, only the dolmas were a letdown. They tasted like they'd been sitting around for a few days. Schwartz's (St Laurent) - Beyond obvious, but still the best of the bunch for smoked meat. Waiters were a lot of fun too. Is is true that the place across the street serves meat from Schwartz's? Fameux Charcuterie Restaurant (St Denis @ Mont-Royal E) - Poutine, baby, poutine. Yes, there are fancier places, but I think this is the place for the no nonsense version. Arteries...clogging.... All in all, the food was authentic and cheap, the service was friendly, and the variety was outstanding. Hope to be back soon!

I had some amazing Chilean empanadas last week at La Chilenita in Montreal and now I have a craving for more. Anybody know where I can get some good savoury empanadas in town? Here's the place if you happen to be in MTL soon: La Chilenita review

Another article, a bit more detailed, in the Globe & Mail: Iron Chef quits Lumière

Specialty cookware store Williams-Sonoma opening December 1st on South Granville. Looks like there's a job fair on Thursday afternoon at the Roundhouse if anyone's interested: craigslist ad

So it's exactly the same name as Caffe Barney on Granville? It's not even "Caffe Barney on Main" or something like that?

If I remember correctly, in Japan they would be filling the shells with the choux pastry as people ordered. That would certainly lengthen the time that they stay crispy after purchase...not that I ever had any just sitting around. But is that the way it's done here? ← I just found the other part of the answer here: Article on BP cream puffs "The shell itself is of a high order. It has two tiers: the outer tier is made of pie crust for crunch, while the inner is a pate á choux pastry that puts a chewy hold around the custard." It sounds like a painstaking process! "...making the cream puffs involves 10 steps, beginning with beating egg yolks with sugar to an ideal texture, then hand-scraping expensive Madagascar vanilla bean from stubborn pod to luscious pulp (it takes about 30 beans for one cream puff), and ending when a secret blend of ingredients." Cream puff....craving....beginning...

If I remember correctly, in Japan they would be filling the shells with the choux pastry as people ordered. That would certainly lengthen the time that they stay crispy after purchase...not that I ever had any just sitting around. But is that the way it's done here?

Beard Papa cream puffs are seriously addictive. There was a small shop right next to the Shibuya train station in Tokyo that I used to frequent, probably waaay too much. They always had a lineup no matter what time of year. Sanrensho, I guess that pastry cream is basically whipped cream + custard? The website says the filling is whipped cream and custard, but the ingredients look the same as pastry cream - see #1 and #2 under "About our sweets": Beard Papa website Whatever the ingredients, they're awesome.

Hot off the press: Urban Fare in Coal Harbour opening September 26th

I was on Alberni St. tonight and happened upon the grand opening of Italian Kitchen, the latest venture from the Glowbal Restaurant Group. I couldn't even see the interior due to the throngs of people. Was anyone there? Were they actually able to serve food?

Crystal Mall Food Court in Bby I think the place is called Huaxi. It's the homemade noodle place near the escalators. I had the #9 beef noodle dish along with some har gao. The couple who run it are very sweet and the food is amazing for a food court. Crystal has to be one of the best and cheapest food courts in the Lower Mainland, along with the Richmond Public Market food court and the one at Yaohan Centre. The contrast between Crystal and the bland chain store offerings at Metrotown's food court is rather striking. Kura on Kingsway Probably the best Japanese food in the Metrotown area. Had one of the set lunches, which is a good deal for $8: Udon noodles, sushi and sashimi, 4 or 5 tempura, and a small salad. I'm not crazy about the interior (feels a bit cold and dark with low lighting) and the wait staff always seem harried, but the fish is fresh and the service is friendly. H Mart Food Court on Robson @ Seymour There's a good little Japanese-run sushi place tucked away at the far end of the H Mart food court. I had the BC Combo, which is a BC Roll and a California roll. Very fresh fish, properly seasoned rice (always the mark of good sushi), and good-sized portions for the price. The Korean place next to it is also good for a quick meal.

Oooh...I just went by this place last week. It looked good, but I had no idea it was the Crystal Hunan folks. Thanks for the tip canucklehead! I'm going to try to hit it this week. ← Finally got a chance to drop in at The Xiang this week at 4850 Imperial @ Nelson in Bby. I had the Mala Niurou Mian (Spicy Beef Noodles) and came away very impressed. The room is nothing special, as I would have expected for its location. The server I had was friendly and attentive, which was a happy surprise. I initially asked for medium-spicy, but was advised that I should try mild, since medium was a real Hunan medium. Oh yeah, the mild was spicy enough for me. Hooo~! But it's a good spicy. You know those meals where the spice lingers in your mouth and you have to eat rice to try to cool your mouth down? Hunan spices aren't that way at all. It's a quick spice hit which doesn't sit and burn your tongue. Price was $6 for a big bowl with lots of meat. It took about 15 minutes to arrive, and the waiter actually apologized for the wait, saying that as the noodles were made to order it took a bit longer. No worries! I'll go for fresh over speed every time. He said that if you're in a hurry, the dishes with rice are the best bet. Hours are 11-3 and 5-9 seven days a week. Well worth visiting if you're in the hood.

Oooh...I just went by this place last week. It looked good, but I had no idea it was the Crystal Hunan folks. Thanks for the tip canucklehead! I'm going to try to hit it this week.

Any shawarma lovers out there? For anyone who doesn’t know, a shawarma is meat cooked on a rotisserie for a few hours, sliced off and wrapped in a pita with vegetables and a sauce like garlic mayo, tahini, hummus, or the owner’s own creation. It’s very popular in the Middle East and is similar to a doner kebab. One of the few bright spots when I lived in Ottawa was trying out the large number of Lebanese shawarma places around town. While not as plentiful as sushi in Vancouver, it’s definitely the best ethnic cuisine in the city. If you happen to go, I recommend either the Shawarma Palace on Rideau St or Shawarma King on Bank St. Vancouver still has some catching up to do on the shawarma front. But there have been some good places opening up in the last few years. I think the best shawarma downtown is Babylon Café, which has 2 locations on Robson St between Granville and Howe. Runner up goes to any of the Falafel Houses or Falafel Kings, as they are owned by the same family. But the best shawarma I’ve found so far is in Burnaby. Abdul’s BBQ is in the Crystal Mall complex at the corner of Kingsway and Willingdon. It faces the street and it’s always packed. Why is it so good? - Great quality meat (beef, chicken, or lamb) - Falafel is made fresh while you wait (takes 12 minutes) - Large servings - Homemade garlic and hot sauces - The owner, Abdul, obviously puts a lot of care into the food he serves. He's very friendly and is happy to answer any questions about halal meat or what goes into making a shawarma. So does anyone know of any other recommendable shawarma places in town? There seem to be quite a few along Commercial but I haven’t been to any of them.

Hamaei consistently has the best reputation in the Japanese community. It is quite cozy, but every staff member there is Japanese. ← I've heard good things about Sen Sushi (Lonsdale Ave @ 19th St W) but I've never been there myself. Sushi and sashimi only, I think. Dragon rolls, Spider rolls, Alaska rolls. Nothing hot except miso shiru.

I had some friends in from Tokyo so I took them to some of the casual eateries in my hood: Cactus Club: Seems to take some knocks because of their preference for looks over talent when choosing servers. Ours would definitely have failed Andrew Morrison's First Commandment: 10 Commandments Having said that, both Tokyoites were impressed with the food - one had the Grilled Salmon and the other had the Kula Greens (greens with cajun chicken, peppers, feta, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries). I had the Bandara, which is a salad with yummies like cajun chicken, dates, and crispy noodles. But how did edamame become some kind of luxury item in Vancouver? $6.75 for soybeans??? Noodle Box: Again, both were very impressed with the vibe of the place and the food itself. Great big portions for the price. My favourite is still the Cambodian Jungle Curry, but the Singapore Cashew curry also rocks. Ouisi Bistro: I confess that I'd never been in here before. Cool place with a friendly vibe. The night we were there I think it was just the waitress/bartender and the cook. We shared a Vert et Bleu (vinaigrette tossed spinach with pumpkin seeds), the Cajun Style Crab Cakes, and the Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Everything was awesome, but the Jerk Chicken was on another level. Tangy and sublime. The other nice thing about the place is the great beer list: 1) They don't have any of that awful Canadian or American megabrand 'beer' (Canadian, Labatt's, Coors, etc). In fact, the waitress said that the owner made a point of NOT carrying them. 2) The Canadian brands they do carry are the good ones (Whistler Pale Ale, Unibroue La Maudite) 3) They have one of the best import beer selections I've seen in town, especially for a pretty small place: Bellevue Kriek, Czechvar, Kingfisher, McKewan's, Pilsner Urquel, Speckled Hen, Tuborg, Warsteiner) So overall my friends were impressed with the quality of food here in Vancouver, especially for such a 'small' city.

It looks like IGA will be opening up a new store at the corner of Robson & Richards. I checked out their website and they have TWO other stores coming soon - 4th & Collingwood and Broadway & Vine. Quite a few new grocery stores opening in the next little while: Whole Foods - Cambie & W Broadway Save-on Foods - Cambie & W 8th Urban Fare - Bute & W Hastings That's 6! Any I've forgotten? Now if only Trader Joe's would get its act in gear and open a store here!