Gourmand - The Hungry Nomad

Our first Lolo in St. Martin (Grand Case, St. Martin)

June 13, 2012 No Comments

Due to the craziness leading up to our wedding, I really didn’t have the chance to research our honeymoon destination: St. Martin. Little did I know that it not only has some of the nicest beaches I’ve been to but that it is also a culinary heaven. Fact: It has been named the culinary capital of the West Indies due to the large variety of fancy French restaurants and European influences. Where are these restaurants mainly located? In Grand Case.

Beach in St. Marteen

And as is the case in almost all our trips we started the trip driving all across the island in zigzags and several times in circles (of course no trip is complete with the Count getting us lost). After driving around for an hour, we were hungry- really hungry! With no food in sight we kept driving. Miraculously we ended up in Grand Case, which was closer to our hotel than we expected. Grand Case was not what I had expected when I looked on the map- I read that very morning on the plane that it was a small fisherman town with a nice beach and many fancy french restaurants. In my mind (having never been to the Caribbean before) I expected a beach side resort with fancy restaurants and shops sort of similar to the Cote d’Azur. So when we arrived on the main strip of Grand Case we had no idea where we were and that this was where we would spend most of our nights for the next 7 days.

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Buying fresh produce for the kitchen

We smelled barbecued chicken and ribs and delicious Cajun spices. Mouths watering we immediately parked and said to each other that this shabby local out door diner would do. We parked ourselves at one of the many lolo’s packed in this tiny area: The Talk of the Town.

A lolo is what localers call an open air food stand which you may find alongside the roadside or beach all over the island and I imagine all over the Caribbean. Some are nicer than others but in general most that we visited had picnic style tables, smoke rising from the BBQ pits with the delicious smell of meats and seafood being grilled and a variety of stews and dishes lined up in large metal tins.

There is usually a variety of dishes that changes daily which you can order alongside your grilled meat. I wanted to try it all but contained myself to the red beans and Cajun spiced rice, friend plantains and barbecued chicken washing it down with a bottle of Ting.

The best park of this experience: it was cheap yet the freshest and best meal we had while in St. Martin.

Bubble Tea, Gourmand, Ice Cream, New Orleans

Bubble Tea at Honeydeux (New Orleans, USA)

May 7, 2012 No Comments

Ever since I moved down to New Orleans I kept questioning why there were no bubble tea places around. After all, it is a frozen drink and seemed like it would be a great hit down here. Well, I am happy to say that finally one has opened on Magazine street. Honeydeux serves bubble tea in a range of real fruit flavors along with an assortment of asian shaved ice and wraps.

What to look for in a good bubble tea? Do they use real fruits? If so you know its good. This place even uses real taro roots (the purple drink on the bottom) which is ever so delicious. Most places use taro powder rather than the real thing. Next, you should look for a perfect proportion of tapioca balls which are average in size and not overly hard or soft but chewy. My personal favorites are the taro, coconut and honeydeux. I’ll have to go back and try their asian shaved ice which is served with fruits and a scoop of ice-cream on top finished off with condensed milk. Anything with condensed milk makes me happy (in fact I may or may not eat spoonfuls at times for dessert…mmmm condensed milk). Ok. Back to my review…. as you can tell by the pink lipstick below I tried the taro and loved it.

The prices are a bit on the steeper end but I’m thinking its the new trend down here. More competition would bring down prices; unfortunately for us, there aren’t that many bubble tea places around and so you have to pay the higher price. In return however you do get real fruits as opposed to powder.

Breakfast, Brunch, Gourmand, Miami

Front Porch Cafe (Miami, USA)

May 3, 2012 No Comments

Front Porch Cafe is a popular breakfast/brunch joint in South Beach. I didn’t know about it until my last trip when I was walking by to grab some Starbucks across the street and noticed the long line up. Any long line up is always a good sign to be since most restaurants on Ocean Drive have to pretty much beg and seduce you into their restaurants so when there is one that has a line up around the corner it can only mean one thing: good food.

I forgot about my coffee and got in line. The line up was long but not outrageously long. Soon we were seated and forgot we waited at all.

The reviews all raved about the bloody mary so naturally it was the first item I ordered. It was very strong and I only had a few sips. But for those who like their morning cocktails on the stronger side than you won’t complain. It turned out that the drink was more expensive than our meal (oh South Beach!!!)

We ordered the granola pancakes and the Miga’s. The granola pancakes and the green eggs seem to be favorites on the menu. I however am a big fan of migas (became addicted in Mexico) and ordered it as soon as I spotted it on the menu.

The Migas consisted of 3 eggs scrambled with their homemade salsa, topped with pepper jack cheese and whole wheat corn chips drizzled with their homemade salsa and served with a side of hash browns or fresh fruits. The granola pancakes consisted of a blend of granola and whole wheat served with a side of syrup and a choice of hash browns or fresh fruits.

The granola pancakes were light and healthy. I found the Migas was bland and lacked in flavor. Overall, the food was a bit over hyped. There are many lovely little spots in South Beach to eat. However, if you want a ‘trendy’ scene for brunch on the weekend then you will enjoy this place. If you’ve been clubbing all night and want to continue the party then this is the place for you. The food and service were good but not anything to write home about.

Cuban, Gourmand, Miami

Puerto Sagua (Miami, USA)

May 2, 2012 No Comments

The first thing I do on every trip to South Beach is make my way over to my favorite Cuban diner/restaurant located on Collins Avenue: the famous Puerto Sagua.

Peurto Sagua is nestled amongst all the glitz and glamour of South Beach. However, it is a very unassuming local restaurant with no fancy gimmicks. You will find people from all walks of life: the Cuban handyman popping over on his quick lunch break, old-world Cubans, politicos, club-goers, other locals and tourists who are fortunate enough to have discovered it in time.

If you go during lunch/dinner rush, the place is packed and there is usually a small line up. On our last trip we went pretty early in the evening and were pleased to find the place half full (for once).

First on the list is always an order of the avocado salad (if in season), the tomato/lettuce salad and fried totones (plantains) served with a side dip.

For my main dish, I always go with the Ropa Veija. Ropa Veija which is Spanish for ‘old clothes’ is a dish most popular in the Canary islands and the Caribbean. It is a shredded flank, brisket or skirt steak slow cooked in a tomato sauce base served with a side of rice, black beans and fried delicious plantains.

Ropa Veija

The Count ordered the flank steak served with grilled onions, rice and fries. The portions are very generous and filling. The Count had limited comments about the steak- only stating that it was not the best he’s ever had. For the price and portions however, we were both happy. My dish as always was delicioso.

Once done with our meals, we always make our way over to the coffee bar on the left side of the restaurant to have our think Cuban coffee with a one of the Cuban sweets seen below.

Hungry Nomad’s Suggestions:

1- Fried Plantains
2- Avocado Salad
3- Ropa Veija

Gourmand, New Orleans, Vietnamese

Magasin Vietnamese Cafe (New Orleans, USA)

April 16, 2012 No Comments

Yes. Finally a Vietnamese restaurant on Magazine street! This one being modern, sleek, trendy yet cheap and friendly. Magasin Vietnamese Cafe has quickly become a popular spot on Magazine street so you may find yourself waiting in a line up during rush hours. The staff seemed overwhelmed the night we went and I can’t say that the service was amazing because it was far from it but given that they are a new restaurant I won’t be quick to judge. Hopefully, once everything falls into place they will get the hang of things and provide better and more prompt service. On the night we went, we had to wait 15-20 minutes before anyone came to our table. The food came out in a timely fashion but there was not enough spoons and when we asked it took another 15 minutes (the waiter forgot) and we had to go inside to grab spoons ourselves. There was no alcohol (assuming they do not have an alcohol license) so we went across the street to buy some wine which was fine. We went on a Friday night and were surprised to learn that the restaurant closes at 9 pm until we looked around and saw that the place was empty except for us.

Despite the lack of proper service the food was great (see menu). It was everything you could ask for on a Vietnamese menu: pho, spring rolls, subs and rice noodles. The best part was the vegetarian and vegan options which I found to be extremely refreshing since its a rarity down south. Our vegetarian friends were very happy with the options and ordered several of the veggie dishes off the menu. I am a big pho fan and opted for the chicken pho which was just perfect. The spring rolls (both friend pork and shrimp) were good as well. Perfect proportion of meat and rice noodles served with peanut sauce. The crab rangoon for appetizer was really delicious. I had never had it before and found it to be a perfect dish- creamy cheese and crab wrapped and fried in a crispy dough. The best part had to be the prices. Everything was reasonably priced: dinner for our table of 5 came to just over $60 dollars.

This place is great if you don’t feel like making the trek to the West Bank for your Vietnamese food fix. I for one will definitely be back for more. I just hope their service improves in time.

Gourmand, New Orleans

Herbsaint Bar and Restaurant (New Orleans, USA)

April 14, 2012 1 Comment

Another great restaurant discovery in New Orleans. This one is located in the Central Business District and caters to the more professional crowd (at least for lunch). After having lunch at Herbsaint Bar and Restaurant yesterday I watched an episode of Anthony Bourdain in New Orleans post-Katrina and learned that the passionate co-owner and chef, Donald Link, came right back to New Orleans within weeks to re-open his restaurant, followed by opening the ever-so-famous Cochon (another favorite of mine). That is dedication!

The restaurant serves a mix of French and Italian flavors with a southern twist. We wanted something light for lunch so opted for the tuna sandwich and goat salad. At first I thought the goat salad was goat cheese but the server informed us that the goat salad was actually crispy goat meat served over a mix of greens. I’m a fan of goat meat ever since I’ve learned that it is much healthier than other forms of meat and the taste is delicious (have you ever tried a goat roti?).

Our food arrived and was both perfect. The grilled tuna sandwich was served with a side of salad and crispy chips and was ever so tasty. Actual fresh tuna pieces mixed with a melange of flavors and avocado- delicious! The goat salad was also great although I didn’t like the crispy texture of the goat meat but the salad was delicious and fresh- the mint flavor overtaking all others. It was perfect for a perfectly sunny hot day.

Herbsaint Bar & Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Gourmand, New Orleans, Tapas, USA

Salú (New Orleans, USA)

April 12, 2012 No Comments

Salu is located on Magazine street and offers hot and cold Spanish and Mediterranean tapas (although they also had some Indian dishes). It is a pretty large restaurant offering both indoor and outdoor seating. The interior dining area is decorated with eclectic art pieces and a hand-painted circular skylight designed by local artist E. Lee Jahncke. There is also a large colorful bar offering a wide range of wines.

This place has been around for over a year now; however, I’ve always passed it by without considering it. What a mistake! Everything from the decor, ambiance, service and food was great. The food….

…ahhh the food was delicious. Although I wouldn’t exactly describe all the dishes as tapas since some came in large portions. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala, Patatas Bravas, Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Empanadas and Grilled Lamb Lollipops.

As soon as we finished ordering we were served with warm white bread and a plate of olive oil and herbs. Each plate came out as prepared. We went on a Thursday which also happened to be Paella night. The Grilled lamp lollipops was served on top of roasted red pepper fava bean hummus and crumbled goat cheese with two pieces of flat bread.

The wild mushroom and goat cheese empanadas was amazing. I could go back just for those. It was served in a delicious sauce with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

The patatas bravas (roasted potatoes served in tomato sauce) was perfect. Usually the skin is not crispy however this one was crispy yet absorbed in delicious sauce. And on to my favorite dish of the night, the Chicken tikka masala. The masala was a perfect blend of spices and flavors, served over top saffron rice and flat bread. It was delicious and the portion was huge considering it was meant to be a tapas…but I’m not one to complain about larger portions.

Cajun, Canada, Gourmand, Oysters, Seafood, Vancouver

Chewie’s Steam and Oyster Bar(Vancouver, Canada)

April 11, 2012 No Comments

A New Orleans inspired restaurant in the heart of Vancouver? This I had to try. It had been a while since my last trip down to NOLA. Craving some fried chicken and Cajun inspired dishes I headed to Chewie’s Oyster Bar in Kitsilano. The place is inspired by Rodney’s Oyster House in Yaletown but with a Southern twist. Mr. Chewie himself and the staff are all ex-Rodneys staff, who spent some time in New Orleans learning from the best and bringing their favorite recipes home to Vancouver for all of us to try.

The atmosphere was lively yet laid back. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable about each dish. The menu offered fresh oysters in addition to their Cajun dishes. We tried the fried chicken and Jambalaya. Not being a fan of oysters limited our choices to the main menu.

The Jambalaya was the typical Jambalaya dish I’ve had in New Orleans- although in all honesty I haven’t had that much Jambalaya, usually choosing to go with the Gumbo instead. My dish- the Southern Fried Chicken was served with a honey drizzle, mash potatoes and green beans. The chicken was marinated in buttermilk for two days and tasted tender and juicy. However, I felt that it lacked in flavor. I had to add a lot of salt to make it flavorful. If you like your food less salty then you will enjoy this dish. For dessert, we just had to try the beignet inspired by Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. It was served with a side of creamy vanilla sauce and was delicious and probably not so light on the calories.

All in all, this was a great place to spend the evening: great ambiance, an all male serving staff, great food and great service.

Chewie’s Steam & Oyster Bar on Urbanspoon

Canada, Gourmand, Japanese, Vancouver

Gyoza King (Vancouver, Canada)

March 28, 2012 No Comments

Its hard to have one favorite Japanese spot in Vancouver since there are so many to choose from, especially in the lower Robson/Denman area. But Gyoza King has stood the test of time as being my ultimate favorite downtown Japanese tapas joint.

I’ve been going here regularly since ’03 (whenever I’m in town that is) and was happy to see that nothing has changed on my most recent trip: same great service, great food and menu. If you go on the weekends be prepared for a long line up. This isnt the place to be if you have a large party as the restaurant itself is pretty small and filled up with a lot of regulars. For the Gyoza lovers out there, this place has amazing gyozas. My personal favorite is the ebi-nira (prawn, pork and chives), not to say that the others aren’t great since they are all pretty amazing. The Gyozas are hand made to perfection and everything else is en par.

Always on my list of orders are the beef sashimi, tuna tataki, agadeshi tofu, kimchi udon, ebi mayo, cheese croquettes, chicken karage and takoyaki. Did I just list everything off the menu? Its probably because everything here is so delicious.

The beef sashimi was slightly seared on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside. Drizzled with ponzu sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds served with chives and other goodies.

The tuna tataki- another personal favorite is also slightly seared served in a small bowl drizzled with sauce and served with chives and turnip.

BBQ Tongue

Being with a group of adventurist foodies we decided to try the tongue. It was very chewy and nothing extraordinary. I probably won’t order it again given that there are so many other delicious options on the menu.

The best part of the meal is always the handmade gyozas. You can order them steamed or deep fried with a variety of different fillings, including a vegetarian option. I always get the ten piece and can honestly probably have 20 myself..they are THAT good.

Agadeshi tofu is a staple Izakaya dish. I love the combination of the crispy outside and soft inside of the tofu mixed with the delicious sauce which I end up drinking like soup. And I absolutely love the one served at Gyoza King.

Takoyaki

Takoyaki, otherwise known as octopus balls, otherwise known as deep fried octopus batter served with mayo and a variety of delicious spices and flavors is also a personal favorite. You can never go wrong with this one. Just be careful as they are very hot. I usually poke them to let out some of the steam…having burnt my tongue one too many times.

All in all, if you are looking for a solid Japanese Izakaya restaurant in the downtown core, serving good food at relatively cheap prices in a great atmosphere then you must try Gyoza King. Or if you just want to try some of the best Gyozas in Vancouver then you should also make your way over to Gyoza King and enjoy.

Canada, Gourmand, Sandwich Shop, Vancouver

Finchs Tea & Coffee House (Vancouver, Canada)

March 26, 2012 1 Comment

There are sandwiches…and then there are Sandwiches. Some do a great job in filling you up others are a work of art.

Finch’s Tea & Coffee House serves delicious, mouth watering art on a platter. The sandwiches are all prepared with care and detail mixing flavours and ingredients which you wouldn’t normally imagine together but are happy they have, once you try. I’m ashamed to admit that I work a block away and have walked by many times yet I only got around to trying it this week. And oh my- when I discover little treasures like this its always bitter/sweet: sweet because I’ve discovered it and bitter because I waited so long to try.

Finch’s has been around forever and I’ve heard nothing but great things about it from each and every person that has had the chance to try it out. The must haves are the proscuitto, pear, baked blue brie, walnut sandwich which apparently is to die for. Others that we tried which were amazing were the proscuitto, blue brie and lettuce.

To finish off we had the house made cookies made from free range organic eggs. Their coffees and teas are all fair trade and organic. All in all- this place is amazing for sandwiches and its a definite must!

Finch's Tea & Coffee House on Urbanspoon