Kentan's Profile
Cartems Donuterie - Anyone tried yet?
grayelf - I was there at about 1pm. I think they weren't expecting such a rush in their first week. The had coverage in the G&M on yesterday too:
http://bit.ly/w9yNNB
An undersung doughnut shop in the Lower Mainland is Harmony Donut Shop in North Van on Lonsdale just north of Hwy 1. Reminds me very much of the doughnuts my mom used to make in her deep fryer at home - nothing fancy but very tasty.
A food blogger reviews it here:
http://wonderfuleats.blogspot.com/2011/04/harmony-donut-shop-finally.html
Cartems Donuterie - Anyone tried yet?
Went there on Friday to get some doughnut deliciousness but they were sold out! A very popular place - their pop-up shop is at 408 Carrall.
http://cartems.com/
Good news for West Enders who love French food
Bistro Pastis owner John Blakely takes over Bistro de Paris; will become Le Parisien:
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2012/02/03/bistro-pastis-owner-takes-over-cafe-de-paris/
Saboten Tonkatsu @ Aberdeen Centre now open
A little more intel on Saboten:
- This is their first North American shop, but they have locations in Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong
- Using Canadian pork, rice from California, but other ingredients will be from Japan
- Green House Foods of Japan, which owns the chain, partnered with the Fairchild Group to bring it here
- They're looking to open up to 10 locations in Metro Vancouver
Saboten Tonkatsu @ Aberdeen Centre now open
More tonkatsu awesomeness has arrived from straight from Japan! The first Canadian branch of Saboten, the Japanese tonkatsu chain, has opened in the Aberdeen food court.
Anyone tried it yet? I hope the quality here will measure up to the standards in Japan.
Canadian site here:
http://www.saboten.ca/
For comparison - menu items available in Japan (with calorie count!) here:
http://www.ghf.co.jp/saboten_rest/menu.html
40 dishes every Vancouverite must try
The Washington Post just put out their list of "40 dishes every Washingtonian must try" and it made me...hungry.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/40-dishes-every-washingtonian-must-try/2011/12/23/gIQA9KRbOP_gallery.html?tid=ts_carousel
It'd be great to have a list like this for Vancouver. Any nominees?
I'd suggest:
Toroniku ramen at Ramen Santouka (just had it today - amazing)
Another Vancouver institution gone - Bert's Restaurant closing Saturday
"The space will go through extensive renovations..."
Sad:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/sadly-after-63-years-berts-is-toast/article2289442/
Other breakfast joints like Jethro's or Deacon's Corner?
Great suggestions grayelf! LanaLou's, Libby's, Dona Cata, and Roundel are on the breakfast list.
I haven't been to Cafe Regalade on W 4th yet either so thanks GoaGirl - sounds intriguing.
Save On next week for the first time.
LotusRapper - thanks now you've got me craving hashbrowns at 5pm! ;-)
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Save On
2838 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5K, CA
Other breakfast joints like Jethro's or Deacon's Corner?
Our two "go-to" places of late for breakfast have been Jethro's and Deacon's but are there some others out there that serve not-too-greasy breakfasts, have some dishes you don't see everywhere, and are reliable?
We also like 2 Chefs + a Table, Cafe Medina and Bandidas Taqueria.
Red Wagon was hit and miss and I've had both good and average experiences at Slickety Jim's.
Anyone like Seb's? Wallflower? Others we've missed?
Ramen in North Burnaby! Yeah!
Did a quick search and found an employee want ad for this ramen shop.
Good news! The owner is Japanese so hopefully that means that the ramen will be authentic and tasty. The ad went up August 8th so I'd estimate an early September opening.
The name means "eight cranes".
Matoi Sushi in Coquitlam...Is it the Same as the one that was DT?
Yup that's the one. And the owner promised me he'd be finding a location in Vancouver. Sigh. Coquitlam is lucky.
http://dinehere.ca/coquitlam/matoi-sushi-sunwood-square
Pâtisserie lovers rejoice! Thierry to open in mid-July
...as written on the note on the door at 1059 Alberni St. Hopefully that means an opening next weekend??
I can't wait for a taste of those macarons....
ISO downtown Vancouver bakery/cake shop
It depends what you consider downtown but the following bakeries on the downtown peninsula I'd put in the "great" category:
Boulangerie Cho Pain - 1165 Davie St
Tartine Bread & Pies - 770 Beach Ave
Nelson the Seagull - 315 Carrall St (NEW - I haven't tried yet but have heard very good things about their tarts)
Anywhere that sells decent butter for a decent price?
Sadly the Vancouver location of Avalon - the last working dairy in the city - is up for sale:
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Vancouver+historic+Avalon+Dairy+property+sale/4702879/story.html
Looking for good corned beef hash (diner ?)
I've had the CBH at Deacon's Corner and it's great. Not sure about its authenticity but it tastes awesome so that's what counts in my books.
Wasn't impressed with Red Wagon the time we were there - decent food if you're in the area but not worth a trip.
Ogenki Ramen to open on Main St in mid-March
Not much intel on this - it's supposed to open at 4346 Main St @ E 28th where Ogenki Sushi was. The fact that the name is the same makes me think the ownership isn't changing.
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Ogenki Sushi
4342 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V3P9, CA
Ramen Sanpachi now open - 1st Canadian shop of Hokkaido chain
Looks like the ramen wars are heating up!
Ramen Sanpachi has taken over the location formerly occupied by Royal Thai - 770 Bute next to Steamrollers. According to the press, this is their first North American location with the next shop opening in Edmonton in January.
The article said that Sanpanchi chose Vancouver due to the success of Santouka in the Vancouver market and our familiarity with ramen. They're planning on rolling out 20 shops on the continent over the next 5 years.They have 69 shops in Japan and already have a few set up in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea. It sounds like the Japanese economy is still in the doldrums, so we may see more ramen chains heading into foreign markets like Canada to grow their business.
Sanpachi website and menu here:
http://www.sanpachi.co.jp/menu.html
They're in their soft opening phase so not all the menu items are available yet. I'm going to try it this weekend - not crowded yet but that won't last long once word gets out to the ramen aficionados around town.
Looking for traditional thai in Vancouver (closer to downtown the better)
Has anyone tried the newish Bob Likes Thai Food on Main @ 22nd? Owner is from Thailand and the recipes are his mom's. Good reviews so far:
http://www.yelp.ca/biz/bob-likes-thai-food-vancouver
Accessible Vancouver Restaurants?
Mrsphud - if you go out on your own, ALL public transit in the city is wheelchair accessible. That's all buses, SkyTrain, and SeaBus (the first accessible vehicle in the fleet back in 1977).
Back to your question - most of the places within a few blocks of the convention centre have been built since the 1970s and as such will be accessible. Vancouver downtown has curb cuts for most sidewalks as well so it's easy to get around. Scooters are a common sight in the city.
Metro Vancouver's first cosplay cafe
These restaurants where the waitresses dress up in costumes have been around for decades in Japan and now seem to have become popular in other parts of Asia. I wonder successful they'll be in Vancouver.
Magnetic Cafe in Richmond:
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Cute+cosplay+cafes+expand+from+Asia+into+Metro+Vancouver/3294144/story.html
http://www.magneticcafe.com/en/
Street Food in Vancouver
A good post in Scout echoing the idea that a lottery is probably not the best way to choose the vendors. But some hope that there will be some tasty food - the BBQ place could be one of them:
http://scoutmagazine.ca/2010/07/09/the-street-food-vendor-lottery-winners-why-we-should-worry/
Street Food in Vancouver
The 17 street food vendors have been chosen!!
Just looking at the list, only the bakery and stone ground pizza sound a bit different from the average snack joint. Perhaps instead of a lottery they should have had a cooking contest. Still, it'll be fun to start sampling - starting July 31.
•Chinese dim sum
East Side of 200 Howe Street, 100 metres north of W Cordova Street
•Korean food with meat and vegetarian options
South side of 400 W Georgia Street, 12 metres east of Richards Street
•Burritos
North side of 700 W Cordova Street, 14 metres east of Howe Street
•Chicken salad and fruit cups
East side of 700 Homer Street, 20 metres south of W Georgia Street
•Southern barbecue, rice, veggies
East side of 700 Hornby Street, 22 metres south of W Georgia Street
•Traditional Chinese and Japanese cuisine
South side of 700 W Georgia Street, 20 metres west of Granville Street
•Beef and pork skewers
South side of 900 W Hastings Street, 24 metres east of Burrard Street
•Greek donair
West side of 1100 Burrard Street, 28 metres south of Helmcken Street
•Modern satay barbecue
West side of 1100 Burrard Street, 25 metres north of Davie Street
•Fresh-squeezed lemonade
South side of 2000 Beach Avenue, 30 metres west of Chilco Street
•Fresh bakery
East side of 600 Granville Street, 50 metres north of W Georgia Street
•Healthy meals and snacks, roll ups, and sandwiches
West side of 600 Granville Street, 95 metres north of W Georgia Street
•Specialty noodles
East side of 6400 Cambie Street, 20 metres north of W 49th Avenue
•Falafel
East side of 1300 Main Street, 12 metres north of Terminal Avenue
•Authentic Italian stone ground pizza
West side of 1100 Station Street, or west side of 400 Burrard Street
•Fresh and frozen fruit, chocolate-dipped fruits
West side of 1200-1300 Arbutus Street, or north side of 100 W Georgia Street
•Central European foods from Poland and Russia using local organic products
West side of 1400 NW Marine Drive, or East side of 800 Hornby Street
http://www.straight.com/article-333199/vancouver/street-food-vendors-selected-new-locations-vancouver
Pastry chef coming to Vancouver
Has anyone tried the ice cream from the retail store at Avalon Dairy? I keep meaning to but I'm never down that way.
New ramen place coming on West Broadway
I think the feeling is more like 急GO, with kyuu meaning fast. Get a quick meal and be on your way.
Hmm...maybe it'll be a stand-up ramen joint. That would be a first for Vancouver! Somehow I don't see it happening outside of downtown though.
Architectural pastry: kurtos kulacs at Transylanian Traditions, Vancouver
I've been addicted to Transylvanian's kurtos kalacs for the last couple of years. I've heard that we're the only place in Western Canada that has a bakery that makes them - we're so fortunate!
They truly are the perfect snack. Not too sweet, but with a touch of tanginess. They don't taste heavy like croissants or many other kinds of pastries. And they're fun to eat! You slowly peel them off the top like a ribbon all the way to the bottom.
The cozonac (same dough as KK I think) they make around Christmas is a real treat.
Spaetzle in Vancouver
A little off topic, but I had the käse spätzle at La Brasserie last week and it was a-ma-zing. Very flavourful and addictive. I wish I'd asked them what kind of cheese they use - my guess would be gorgonzola. Highly recommended.
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La Brasserie
1091 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6E1M5, CA
New downtown bakery - Creme de la crumb on Granville
A great little bakery called Creme de la Crumb has just opened up at 466 Granville right next door to Trees Organic Coffee. Everything baked in house. Tried their lemon poppyseed loaf and it was excellent. Looking forward to tasting their cinnamon buns...
http://www.cremedelacrumb.com/
Stinky tofu (chòudòufǔ - 臭豆腐) - Legal in Canada?
Thanks for all the info - I was thinking of the uncooked version rather than the cooked version of choudoufu. But I'll definitely give the cooked version a try at the Richmond Public Market.
Anyone have any restaurants in Metro Van they'd recommend for choudoufu?
Stinky tofu (chòudòufǔ - 臭豆腐) - Legal in Canada?
Has anyone seen choudoufu in Vancouver? I heard a rumour that there was a tofu maker on No. 6 Rd in Richmond that used to make it but it has since closed down. And then someone else told me that it's not even legal to sell it in Canada because the fermentation process isn't 'safe'.
Can it be bought here?
New JJ Bean coming to Alberni St
Yup I've confirmed it - the new JJ Bean will be at the SE corner of Bute and Alberni. Get coffee and alcohol in the same building - all addictions served in one place. Like it~
