Gourmand - The Hungry Nomad

L’Abattoir (Vancouver, Canada)

May 22, 2011 No Comments

Friday night some friends, the Count and I headed to l’Abattoir. I had read some mixed reviews about the place but figured I’d have to check it out for myself. Located on Carrall street in the heart of Gastown, l’Abattoir is just another new ‘hip’ restaurant to pop up in the area.

I’ll start with the good and make my way to the bad: the decoration and ambiance were great. The restaurant is set in a refurbished brick and beam building and combines classic french tiles with industrial fixtures, natural woods, and glass and steel finishes. It was definitely very aesthetically pleasing with detail in everything. The service was great. Our server was very professional and explained a lot of the dishes and drinks to us in impressive detail.

Claiming to have a mixture of west coast and french food… the entire experience was less than satisfying. The selection was very limited and hugely overpriced for the amount and quality of the food they served(See menu). I had read somewhere that they had amazing cocktails and so I tried two of their more popular ones and didn’t find it any more special than cocktails served in other trendy restaurants around town. But then again I am not a mixologist so what do I know about the intricacies of mixing alcohol with non-alcoholic flavors.

The food was not bad however for the quantity, quality and price it could have been a lot better. We paid $200 for the four of us which would not have been so bad had we had many drinks or any appetizers but for three entrees and one smaller dish it was too expensive. And it would have been justifiable had it been an amazing culinary experience but it wasn’t. The best thing about the food was the bread basket served in the beginning. It was clearly homemade and fresh and truly delicious but when we asked for more bread little did we know they would charge us an extra $2 for it.

I opted for the ‘handmade gnocchi and lobster’. I have to say in my opinion there was nothing handmade about the gnocchi. I had just had amazing handmade gnocchi the week before at Mangia E Bevi Restorante in West vancouver and this dish failed in comparison. The Count had the lamb loin and sausage… and as the Count put it was ‘just okay’. And definitely not worth the price.

If you are looking for a night out for an amazing culinary experience I would not recommend l’Abattoir as your destination. However, if you are looking to hang out in a trendy , hipster-type crowd and have some overpriced cocktails then definitely check it out.

Gourmand, Vancouver

The Twisted Fork (Vancouver, Canada)

May 7, 2011 1 Comment

Rumors have it that this is the best place in town for brunch. As a self-proclaimed food/travel blogger I decided I had to check it out for myself. And I can confidently say that this has quickly become my favorite place for brunch in the downtown Vancouver area.

The Twisted Fork is located on Granville street between Davie st. and Helmcken st.

Everything on the menu looked delicious but our group opted for the Eggs Benedict and amazing Banana Stuffed French Toast.

(See Menu)

Eggs Benedict with avocado

Eggs Benedict with Prosciutto

Banana stuffed brioche french toast

Eggs Benedict with Chorizo

The eggs were perfectly poached and runny, resting on top of some brioche and generously doused in Hollandaise sauce. The chorizo was only cut in half rather than sliced in small pieces so it was actually quite juicy and added a hint of spiciness to the rich eggs and sauce. I didn’t love the brioche and would have preferred it was served on a traditional English muffin. Accompanying the eggs was some sauteed spinach, potato patties, and baked beans. The spinach and beans were actually quite heavy so I only ended up picking at them because I was pretty full from my eggs benny and the pieces of French toast that I stole from my friends plate…. the French Toast was amazing and very creative. I have never had stuffed french toast before and this was very tasty. It was only slightly which was great since it was served with a side of syrup and you could adjust the sweetness according to taste.

French Press Coffee

They seem to have a dinner menu as well. So I will have to go back to test their menu and report back to my faithful readers.

Gourmand, New Orleans

Lilette (New Orleans, USA)

May 7, 2011 No Comments

Lilette, located Uptown on Magazine street is one of our top ten places to dine in New Orleans. The restaurant serves authentic French cuisine and carries an extensive list of wine from all regions of France. Be prepared to wait while before you are seated. We went there last weekend with the start of the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Perhaps this is why it was busier than usual but having made reservations in advance we expected to be seated in a timely manner… 2 hours past our reservation time we were seated. In fact by the time we sat down most tables were finishing up their dinner. I’m wondering why they take reservations when they can’t keep them. Not to mention our party included a very pregnant friend who had to stand on her feet for two hours. Complaints aside: once we were seated and the food and wine arrived everything was great.

First on the list was the potato gnocchi with sage brown butter and parmigiano cream. It was PERFECT. The count and I absolutely love gnocchi and seem to order it whenever its offered on the menu. This one was delicious with a perfect creamy sauce.

Our table also ordered a cheese plate which included several different types of specialty cheese including blue and goat cheese. The bread was served right out of the oven…and perfectly warm.

Cheese plate

The escargot served with mushrooms and Calvados cream. If you like snails then you can’t go wrong with an order of the escargot.

The Escargot in creamy butter

Fried Kurobuta Pork Belly with a salad of melon, pea shoots and cucumber

Steak Frites with bordelaise sauce

Roasted Poulet Breast

And after all that I absolutely had to order dessert…which was beautifully presented and amazing. All in all the meal was fantastic. The ambiance is also very inviting. The restaurant is almost always busy so it makes for a great night out. There is also the newer addition to the Lilette family called the Bouligny Tavern located right next door. They have a wonderful cocktail menu. So if you ever have to wait for a table make your way over to the Bouligny for a drink.

Gourmand, New Orleans

Rue de la Course (New Orleans, USA)

May 3, 2011 No Comments

Great coffee and an interesting eclectic mix of people. It mostly attracts the laptop crowds due to its unpretentious environment. There are two locations: one on Magazine street and the other on South Carrollton.

Gourmand, New Orleans, Sandwich Shop

Stein’s Market and Deli (New Orleans, USA)

May 2, 2011 1 Comment

If you are looking for delicious New York style sandwiches then Stein Deli is the place for you. A very unassuming Jewish and Italian shop offering cold-cuts, specialty cheeses, meats and other goodies (from around the world). It does tend to be a bit on the pricier side but if its quality that you are after then you won’t mind. My favorites are the Robert and the Jeff Berger served with a side of Kosher pickles. Who would have thought that prosciutto with honey would taste so delicious?

The Robert (Prosciutto, mozzarella with balsamic vinegar)

Gourmand, Vancouver

Guu Garden is Guuuuuuud (Vancouver, Canada)

April 15, 2011 No Comments

My faith and love for Guu was reinstated through my last visit to Guu Garden. Guu Garden is the newest addition to the Guu family and is nestled away on Hornby street. It is actually quiet hard to find if you are not familiar with this area but as a general reference its on the second floor of Nelson Square (cross street Hornby). They have a wonderful little Japanese Garden and pretty much the same feel and decor as the other Guus when you walk in except it is bigger (probably the same size as the Gastown Guu. It also has a large patio which I imagine will be packed come summer.

We went for lunch so they only had lunch specials. However, their menu is completely different but just as delicious. We had the Chicken Karage and Agadeshi Mozzarella for appetizers. The Agedashi Mozzarella was a cheesy version of a tofu classic. Not nearly as crispy on the outside with your regular agedashi tofu, but a lovely chewy mozzarella with broth and slivers of seaweed is equally satisfying, if not more. And the Kobe burger bento box was absolutely amazing. What a great idea!!! To nestle a nice and juicy Kobe burger in between two crispy rice patties rather than buns. Pure Genius.

Gourmand, Vancouver

Rodney’s Oyster House (Vancouver, Canada)

April 12, 2011 1 Comment

I was invited out for dinner to Rodney’s Oyster House. I was actually pretty pumped to go since I have heard nothing but great things about this restaurant in Yaletown. It’s been there for quite some time now but somehow I have never made it there.

And as their name reveals they serve a whole lot of oysters…raw oysters, fried oysters and baked oysters (see menu) But apparently they serve something besides oysters…. cute male waiters? As soon as I walked in I could not help but notice that most of the tables were occupied by girls (besides the bar) and that all the servers were male. Was this a coincident? I would soon find out that Rodney’s is voted to have the best male looking servers in Vancouver. Sort of the ‘hooters’ for men if I may make an analogy. But ladies before you all start planning your next trip to Rodney’s let me tell you whoever voted Rodney’s number one for their servers was probably a bit biased. Some of the servers had serious attitude problems and I guess they really took that vote to heart (sorry!). I will say though that the ambiance was excellent and the night was very fun. The decor of the restaurant is great and it was jam packed the entire night.

Ok. So I lied…there were a few men sprinkled around downstairs.

We may have been the last ones to leave…. clearly having too much fun to notice the restaurant had closed for the night.

You might be wondering about the food too? Ah yes the food.

If any of you have followed my blog entries you know by now that I have lived and eaten my way through New Orleans which is known for its delicious oysters. In fact many of the dishes at Rodney’s seem to be inspired by southern food. So clearly I was not overly impressed. However, I am not an expert on oysters… I have just happened to have some amazing oysters in New Orleans (chargrilled oysters and raw) and nothing can compare. However, we are in Vancouver and I have no basis for comparison as I have not really sought out the Oyster market in Vancouver. The Rockefella oysters were bland…. I had to dump a lot of salt and sauces to make it edible and the fried oysters were good but again nothing to die for. However, any restaurant that has a wine list including my favourite Sancerre makes me happy and I am glad to go there if not for the oysters then just for the wine.

Overall the meal was average (overpriced but you can’t expect much else dining in Yaletown). However, the ambiance was fantastic and very fun. And I do recommend a trip here if you are looking to have a nice night out dining and wining.

Rodney’s Oyster House
1228 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC V6B6Our Hours:

Mondays to Saturdays – 11:30am ti1pm
Sundays – 4:30pm til 10pm

Gourmand, Vancouver

Brunch at Cafe Medina (Vancouver, Canada)

March 29, 2011 2 Comments

Medina is a new hot spot in town (I don’t know just how new but I know it wasn’t there last time I was in town). And so as a self proclaimed food blogger, I planned a brunch there with a good friend. We drove by and saw a large crowd of people standing outside. It was quite the scene. So we too joined the crowd and waited for what seemed like an hour (it was actually 45 minutes) for a table for two. The inside of the restaurant is really tastefully done with its brick walls, wooden floors, exposed light bulb fixtures and simplistic furniture. It looks a lot like Chambar with its small and cozy tables all lined up very closely. There is a wonderful display of freshly made waffles and waffle maker in the window which is torture for those waiting on the outside. The waffles are the talk of town but unfortunately I did not have room for waffles and was in the mood for a savory rather than a sweet dish.

So we finally got a seat and treated ourselves to a well-deserved Ceasar. Another 45 minutes went by before we got our meals. At this point, I was already slightly tipsy from the pre-breakfast Ceasar…but I was not to blame since the service was verrrrrrrrrry slow. I understand they had a brunch/lunch time rush but seeing that most of their business is through their breakfast and lunch you would think that they would be a bit more efficient. Anyway-I am not one to complain but I will say this I was not overly impressed. In my view there are better places to spend your money and time for brunch. I get the concept or at least I think I get it…the cross between east and west, offering Belgian waffles along with Moroccan infused dishes. I ordered (the paella) was just a whole lot of orzo and probably two very almost invisible pieces of chorizo. Now I have had some good paella in my days and this was nothing like a paella even when you consider the whole infusion concept. (see Menu)

However, since this is one of the most popular restaurants around town these days perhaps other dishes are better… and I may be just wrong (but when it comes to food I’m pretty much always right). If you do want the ambiance then I would recommend a trip to Medina. But do expect long line ups and even a longer wait for service.

Gourmand, Vancouver

The Dirty Apron Cooking School and Delicatessen

March 28, 2011 1 Comment

It’s like I died and went to heaven. Well not quiet heaven but it definitely seemed like it. What could be better than a place which combines shopping, eating, and cooking? Clearly nothing!

The Dirty Apron is located just down from Medina (according to the website it is a joint venture between Karri and Nico Shuermans and former Chambar Sous-Chef David Robertson). They have daily cooking classes which you can register for online. They are a bit on the $$$ side however, you do get to enjoy your meal with your class in a beautifully laid out dining room afterwards. Who knows~many friendships are made over food and you and your fellow foodie comrades can form drink and mingle over a delicious self-created meal…Ah yes they also have singles cooking classes (that should be interesting). Instruction focuses on popular regional cuisines as well as basic skill sets for ingredient-focused cooking. Besides the cooking class they have a delicatessen to the right which offers delicious sandwiches, croissants, saucissons, and other treats. I am looking into taking one of the cooking classes shortly so will write again upon gathering more information.

For now I highly recommend a visit to the Dirty Apron if not for a cooking class than to visually stimulate your eyes.

Gourmand, Iranian, Vancouver

Darchin Persian Restaurant (Vancouver, Canada)

March 22, 2011 1 Comment

With the large Persian community in Vancouver, you would think there would be more Iranian restaurants around town. However, over the years, many have opened up and closed down shortly after. It seems people are not as open to trying Iranian food as they are japanese food or greek (which by the way is very similar in flavor and dishes to Iranian food) and the local iranian community not as supportive of each other’s businesses then one would hope. I really hope that this one lasts.

Darchin is a relatively new Iranian restaurant located in downtown Vancouver. The restaurant is new, clean and very spacious. The server we had was very attentive and nice. The food was mouth watering and was served in a beautiful matter. For example, the basmati rice served in a pyramid with the top covered in saffron. The kabobs were good quality meat (except for the chenjeh which I was not too fond of).

Must tries are the kashkeh badenjaan, mirza ghasemi and the shirazi salad. The kabobs were all delicious but my favourite was the joojeh (chicken) kabob.(see menu)