Funny, Sam!

I use yelp the most. I do find that people complain over small slights too often and the ratings are not usually based on the food itself. Also too many overhyped hipster restaurants are rated highly which in fact are mediocre (ie Nuba).

I find tripadvisor to be quite good when I visit other cities (but you have to watch out for tourist traps)

I like Urbanspoon the least out of the three as it recommends mostly cheaper restaurants - but it does have some good recommendations that the other two sites miss sometimes.

I agree on Espana. Wasn't expecting to like it but I really did.

My wife loved that uni shooter (she had two of them the night we went)

The homemade ricotta at Blue Hill was amazing (my favourite meal in NY)! I make fresh ricotta now at home and it is really easy. 4L milk + 1L cream + salt + bring to boil + add 2-3 tbsp vinegar and let it sit. then pour through cheesecloth to separate the curds from the whey. I usually have it while it is still warm on bread with good extra virgin olive oil and crystal salt.

Sorry. Book Bindery is in Seattle. One of our favourite meals of the year actually and very beautiful restaurant too. The chef worked at Per Se before opening the restaurant.

http://www.bookbinderyrestaurant.com/

I listed Thai iced tea because we tried it for the first time this past year and fell in love with it. Our first taste was at Bob Likes Thai and we have found that they have consistently good tasting Thai Iced Tea (I get it every time I go).

I think that most restaurants use a Thai iced tea mix (Bob's does) and the addition of both condensed and evaporated milk.

Yes!!

I saw your postings on the SF board actually! I've been quietly browsing the board there for the past few days.

Nice List! I haven't had anything on there except possibly the Kouign Amann at Little T (We usually stop by there for a few desserts and breads to bring back with us to Vancouver).

Fmed and Jzone recommend Maple Hill Farms

Cucinelle also mentions a farm near #6 rd and West Minster Highway.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/855458

I am just wondering which brand/type of eggs everyone likes.

I really liked the Canadian Harvest eggs from Golden Valley before. The yolks have a much stronger taste for savoury preparations.

Any recommendations for farm fresh eggs?

I personally like Golden Swan. The owners changed last year and the quality has gone up since.

I have been to Western Lake once recently. I don't remember the experience - not too memorable.

We go around to different Dim Sum restaurants but typically end up at Fisherman's Terrace and Sea Harbour more often than not. The waits are longer than other places but it is worth the wait.

I was really addicted to those green ume for a while. I haven't seen them anywhere in Vancouver but will keep my eyes open.

I would try China World while you are in Richmond.

Yaohan has an Osaka in there which is almost the exact same thing as T&T. They are both owned by Loblaws - I shop at both and have not noticed any difference.

You are correct. Their main business is actually baking sangak and selling it to local stores.

Caspian opened recently on 18th and Lonsdale. Their specials are amazing. I think it is $5 for koobideh and $6 for barg and jujeh. I had some last night and it wasn't the best but amazing for the price. No complaints here.

Local:
1. Special Banh Mi - Au Petite Cafe
2. Chickpea Curry with Grilled Eggplant - Rangoli
3. Black Sesame Tuna Steak - Tokyo Thyme
4. Yeast Doughnut and Earl Grey Doughnut - Cartems Donuterie
5. Pinenut and Praline Croissant - Beaucoup Bakery
6. Endive Salad - Che Baba
7. Thai Iced Tea - Bob Likes Thai Food
8. Pressed Yellowfin Sushi - Ajisai
9. Poached Egg with Summer truffles and Asparagus - L'Abattoir
10. Toroniku (Pork Cheek) - Santouka Ramen

Travelling:
1. Beet and Meyer Lemon Ricotta Salad - Cascina Spinasse (Seattle)
2. Lentil with Rose, Lime and Harissa - Sitka and Spruce (Seattle)
3. "Flavour Curve" Steak - Bookbindery (Portland)
4. Nova Salmon and Caviar Cream Cheese Bagel - Russ and Daughters (Manhattan)
5. Sea Medley - Le Bernardin (Manhattan)
6. This Morning's Farm Egg - Blue Hill (Manhattan)
7. Cuban Sandwich - Paseo (Seattle)
8. Tacos - Tacos el Gordo (Las Vegas)
9. Fried Green Tomato BLT - Tasty and Sons (Portland)
10. Smoked Swordfish Belly - Atera (Manhattan)

I have noticed that other areas have an annual best bites thread and I thought we should have one too.

"What fantastic items did you first try in 2012? Is there anything you forgot to post about or want to share again? Here's your chance to share those memorable experiences with the community.

List up to ten (to you) local tastes which amazed you over the past year. Drinks allowed. To help us all plan our next excursion, feel free to list separately at most ten destination worthy dishes you ate while travelling."

Is there an ACTUAL branch of this chain in the Los Angeles area?
These were the best tacos I have ever had (I had them while in Las Vegas)

I looked up on Yelp and there seem to be a few but I have been reading
around and have read that they may not be real.

Any other recommendations are welcome.

The yamaimo with uni is an obsession of my wifes. That may be one of the reasons we frequent Ajisai so often.

I have only been to the Main Street location of Ba Le as I go to Tung Hing if I am on Kingsway. I will try it out next time.

Thanks for the tip!

The Canadian government is the pawn of large corporations. It is the weakest thing to have ever existed.

perfect explanation of Miku.

Also good.

I agree.

I've never been to the original. I wouldn't recommend this one based on my experience.

The chefs seemed experienced but the front of staff were quite lost.

Is Uncle Ming's actually good? We've joked about eating there (but clearly just a joke since we haven't)

Amazing! I never would have guessed that.

Anything @ Hawkers Delight
Anything @ Prata Man (Richmond)
Special Sub Bahn Mi @ Au Petite Cafe
#4 Pollo Sub @ Duffins Donuts
Bahn Mi @ Tung Hing
Anything @ Ebi Ten
Chicken Tikka @ Kabab Hut
Beef Brisket Curry @ Mui Garden
Baked Porkchop Rice @ Cattle Cafe
Chicken Donair @ Canteen Mitra

Ba Le is definitely inferior to Tung Hing (We did a taste test where we went to both and got special subs and tried them at the exact same time)

1) Less stuff inside the Ba Le sub
2) prepacked + cold at Ba Le vs Fresh made at Tung Hing
3) Tung Hing was larger
4) Yum

I was going to say yuck but the pizza slice I had at Costco a few days back was magical. Mind you it was ultra greasy and I was away in Asia for a month+. But still amazing.

Ikea - yuck. The last hotdog I had there tasted like cardboard (maybe that's what they do with the boxes from furniture?)

There is only one place where I have experienced Japan quality nigiri in the Vancouver area and that is Sushi Hachi. If you go make sure you get counter seating. I have had two or three meals here which were magical. One was quite bad because the rice was undercooked.

Tojo - I had nigiri here and it was cut the way sushi is cut at AYCE joints (actually tasted about the same too). I really would never recommend this place.

Ajisai is typically quite good but I was disappointed by the toro this past time I went. The Madai we had was simply wonderful - everything else was good but not amazing.

Shiro - I remember the fish being really good here. I was actually quite amazed by the quality. I haven't been back in a long time so it is hard to remember if it was really that good.

If you really want good nigiri though - go to Tokyo. We had three sushi meals there (all high end) and all heads (and tails) above what you would get here.

The praline and pine nut croissant was amazing - though incredibly decadent.

I would change one or both of your dimsum to either Sea Harbour or Fisherman's Terrace. Those have always been the best two for me for dimsum. Kirin is good but it is more of a good standby than something amazing.

I love Kalvin's and will probably have dinner there tonight. I don't know if it's something that would impress me as an out of towner but it is very, very good Chinese for an every day dinner.

Tojo is a horrible tourist trap. Do NOT go there. I have dined their twice regretfully for me and my wallet. NYC definitely has better high end sushi. The choices are much wider and much better. I really am disappointed by sushi here lately. (also get the deep fried uni at Soto)

I think the chicken wings at Phnom Penh are basically the star of Vancouver. I always get the Beef Luc Lac, the butter beef, the chicken wings and the cambodian stew. All pretty amazing and the entire meal will cost less than what it costs for one person at Tojo's (actually less than half of what it costs one person based on my experiences)

Hawksworth was quite disappointing when we went.

I like L'abattoir but not sure if they do lunches.

Miku is quite good for their aburi sushi but not sure about lunches there also.

I think both are on opentable.