Shizen Ya. Organic brown rice. Sustainable fish. And they told me to avoid the pickled ginger. All that to make my meal as eco-friendly (and gluten-free—the ginger) as possible. And it was tasty. The brown rice didn't taste too whole-grain-y. The spinach gomae was n a thick … [Read more...] about Sustainable Sushi in Vancouver
Restaurant Reviews
Hunting for Shaved Ice in Richmond, BC: Night Markets and Strip Malls
I'm a little obsessed with shaved ice. No, not snow cones in paper cups with mysterious blue syrups. I'm talking heaps of ice topped with freshly cut papaya, mango, custard apples, dragonfruit, mushmelon, a little fruit syrup and a little sweetened plain yogurt. That's the … [Read more...] about Hunting for Shaved Ice in Richmond, BC: Night Markets and Strip Malls
Beer and Cherries at Chambar Restaurant in Vancouver
Travelling to a new city full of bright and shiny restaurants is like sticking a five-year-old in the middle of a candy shop and saying, "Choose." I like to find a mix of affordable places, foods I can't find in Montreal, and at least one of what residents and critics agree … [Read more...] about Beer and Cherries at Chambar Restaurant in Vancouver
Toque! Take Two
The big news from earlier this year at Toque! is that the chef de cuisine, Charles-Antoine Crete, left to open his own place. Since then, I've been wondering what's happening in the Toque! kitchen, and how the food coming out of its hallowed walls compares to what came … [Read more...] about Toque! Take Two
Sarah B: An Absinthe Bar in Old Montreal
The Intercontinental Hotel in Montreal is a little intimidating. It connects directly into Square Victoria, bastion of downtown finance, so I never know where one ends and the other begins. And there are multiple levels in the hotel, with bars and restaurants divided amongst them … [Read more...] about Sarah B: An Absinthe Bar in Old Montreal
Pastaga: Little Italy’s Restaurant Renaissance
It's a long bus ride up St-Laurent to Pastaga Restaurant in Little Italy on a Monday night. The neighbourhood's southern tip has none of its weekend charm—no Italian shouted from doorways, no shoppers buying canned tomatoes and imported olives at Milano's, no Fifa World Cup fans … [Read more...] about Pastaga: Little Italy’s Restaurant Renaissance
Laloux: My New Favourite Montreal Bistro
In a city that does bistro well, Laloux is a whole lot more than duck confit. Bistro: well-priced, quickly-plated French food in a small neighbourhood establishment. Things are usually slow-cooked or quick seared: tender lamb shank, duck confit, steak-frites, probably some kind … [Read more...] about Laloux: My New Favourite Montreal Bistro
Le Mal Nécessaire: Tiki cocktails are a necessary evil in Montreal’s Chinatown
There are no Hawaiian leis at Montreal's newest and only tiki bar. But there is a whole lot of rum served in coconuts and pineapples. To get to Le Mal Nécessaire, enter Chinatown from the north, down St-Laurent from René-Levesque and turn right after the tea shop at 1106B. If … [Read more...] about Le Mal Nécessaire: Tiki cocktails are a necessary evil in Montreal’s Chinatown
Montreal’s Best Terrasses 2014!
Walls of vines, fountains, fish ponds and wonderfully oppressive sunshine combined with blissful shade—Montreal is terrasse paradise. And since it seems that Montreal finally decided to warm up enough to not need a toque, all Montrealers want to do is spend brunches, long … [Read more...] about Montreal’s Best Terrasses 2014!
Stewed Alpaca and Peruvian Fine Dining at Mochica Restaurant in Montreal
It's actually a homestyle Peruvian dish, believe it or not. The alpaca adobo stew above, I mean. Go into the mountains of Northern Peru and you won't find any platings of the dish with edible flowers, balsamic gels and foie gras foams. The people of Piura would give you blank … [Read more...] about Stewed Alpaca and Peruvian Fine Dining at Mochica Restaurant in Montreal