Hi Chowhounders,

I'm visiting Sydney w fam from various places and it's come to light that my mama has never had a banh mi! I've been living on these in Van since early discovery so wondering if anyone can recommend somewhere great locally that'll stand up to Vancouver's best and give her a taste of what she's missing.
We're staying in the burbs but will be downtown in Rozelle and Balmain this week with perhaps a stint over on Oxford Street or Newtown - so suggestions around these parts would be great.
Thanks,

Hi Chowhounders,

I've crossed yet another pond and until I get a little more familiar with my new hood, tubes and distances, will absolutely be relying on y'all for dining suggestions.

I'm meeting an old friend for brunch on Sunday, we're meeting @ Covent Garden tube so ideally would want to be nearby (although I will stray a bit for good food over settling for mediocre in the hood). There needs to be good veggie options and booze.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

~ Kath

If you find somewhere for fried chicken I would so absolutely be down!!!

i'm attending a Haitian potluck party tomorrow and in planning volunteered to make a salad/vegetable dish. But help! What was I thinking? I have never been to Haiti and I have absolutely no idea what I should make. I should note that there's going to be plenty of plantains on the grill so those are covered. Suggestions? Thanks.

This is one of my all time fav recipes!
~ k

WEST AFRICAN PEANUT SOUP

2 cups chopped onions 

1 Tblsp oil
1/2 tsp Aleppo Pepper flakes

grated peeled fresh ginger root   - i add a good sized knob of ginger

1 cup chopped carrots 
crushed garlic

2 cups chopped sweet potatoes

4 cups vegetable or chicken stock

2 cups tomato juice 

1 cup crunchy peanut butter 
1 cup chopped scallions
Saute the onions in the oil until just translucent. Stir in the aleppo pepper and fresh ginger. Add the carrots and saute a couple more minutes. Mix in the potatoes and stock or water, bring the soup to a boil, and then simmer for about 15 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. In a blender, puree the vegetables with the cooking liquid and the tomato juice. Return the puree to a soup pot. Stir in the peanut butter until smooth. Taste the soup. Its sweetness will depend on the sweetness of the carrots and sweet potatoes. If it’s not there naturally, add just a little sugar to enhance the other flavors. Reheat the soup gently, using a heat diffuser if needed to prevent scorching. Add more water, stock or tomato juice for a thinner soup. Serve topped with plenty of chopped scallions or chives - Important.

I add shredded chicken to the bowl and pour this over top.

Edible Canada (formerly Edible British Columbia) is an entirely separate business from Edible Vancouver. Whilst both support, promote and educate the public about the locavore movement and culinary artisans and their products, they are independent owned and not related in any way. Edible Vancouver is a member of the Edible Communities Inc, an international publications group, where Edible Canada is a privately held business.

Hi Chowhounders!
I've scored a last minute trip to Seattle and I'm leaving in the am. I've got 24hours in town (w access to a vehicle, although driving ONLY if it REALLY warrants it) and am doing research on new places & dining & imbibing trends.
So, give me your best tips on what's hot & an absolutely can not miss!

I'm looking for different/unusual/local/regional/tasty the very best of the best. Cool ideas, menus, decor, fab drinks etc...

Hidden gems are welcome.
Thanks

Are you still looking? And when do you need the venue for?

Does anyone know (rough estimate), the number of:
Sushi restaurants in Vancouver?
Izakayas?
Coffee Shops?
Hot Dog vendors?

I know there are 17 (some days less than) street food carts/trucks but that's the only number i can find.
Thanks!

Roaming Dragon - spotted last week on Georgia between Burrard and Thurlow (I think. Hard to remember but def on the north side of the street there).

One of my sales reps was telling me about this place the other day. I vaguely recall passing it, is it on Hastings? How's the roti? Been having a craving.

Thanks everyone! I have been tossing blueberries into salads, onto cottage cheese, and into my mouth. I am going to try some of these ideas - first up is cornbread! Yum! I*HEART* cornbread and never would've thought to try blueberries in there. Followed closely by...?? Any other ideas...keep 'em coming!

Went blueberry picking for the first time and got a tad excited! So now I have a tonne of blueberries and need SAVOURY ideas to use them. Suggestions?

Thanks

I've had the opportunity to go several times since they first opened. *Disclaimer* I'm in the industry so I'm often a guest, my frequency shouldn't be equated with this being a fave place to eat sushi.

As other posters have mentioned, Aburi is a technique involving 'torching' the sushi. I'm a bit of a sushi purist so whilst I appreciate the different style, it's not my go to when I crave sushi. Having said that, it's a gorgeous space; very open and quite architecturally impressive, it's filled with natural light and they've a fantastic patio.

I'd def say it's worth checking out!

Circa Lounge on Granville is well set up for a group of that size and objective and is more within your price range.
The Refinnery has a long table and offers a more wallet and eco friendly tapas option that Sanafir (I'm not a fan of Sanafir, not sure why. Every time I go I'm always very disappointed).

-----
Sanafir
1026 Granville St., Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L5, CA

Hi all,
Looking for recommendations for family friendly restaurants in Vancouver beyond the usual chains.
Personally, I don't have kids and my dining companions are always of legal age, so this is a completely new area for me.
To give you an idea of what I've got so far, and perhaps to help steer you to what I'm looking for my list so far has: Go Fish, Munch (NVan), Sun Sui Wah, and The Little Nest on it.

I'd appreciate a line about what makes the establishment family friendly to help me with my selection, and any tips and advice are welcome.

Thx

Without a doubt Motomachi Shokudo on Denman is my all time favourite Ramen joint. I've dragged my sick, sorry and hungover self through sleet and rain and cold there for their delicious spicy organic chicken ramen. Their charcoal ramen is also great.
I was there yesterday afternoon for a big bowl of spiciness and found out that they've extended their Olympic hours and during the month of February WILL BE OPEN WEDNESDAYS.

Still, cash or debit only. NO CREDIT CARDS (bowls are $8.95 - $9.95) each.
Enjoy.

I can vouch for the muffalata sandwich @ Cardero Bottego, as well as their Reuben. Awesome! Def my go-to lunch spot for both the Reuben is reminiscent of the Reuben's I used to get in Baltimore.

I was given some frozen cold smoked rock fish fillets and i'm wondering if anyone had suggestions on how to use them for an entree?I know I can use them in omlettes or on bagels w/ cream cheese but I was hoping for something a little more substantial (meal wise). Would fish cakes work? Can i bake them in the oven in sauce, or would this ruin the flavour? Tips appreciated.

I'm not much on sweets, so the apple butter and the apple desserts would be out.
@ Cherylptw I was thinking of nesting pork chops in the puree and baking it, anyone have suggestions on recipes?
Alternatively, some kind of soup????

Just seen the Ozoni soup recipe on CH and haven't heard of it before but would love to try it (and yes, too darn lazy to make it).
So, wondering if anyone has suggestions on places to check out in Vancouver that serve a good or better yet, brilliant Ozoni Soup?

Thanks,

Sure do! EdibleBC on Granville Island stocks it; and I know this bc I work there and we just finished inventory for the year so there are DEF bottles on the shelf.
Open 7 days a week 9am-7pm EXCEPT NY's Eve (closing @ 4pm) and Closed NYs Day.

Whenever I go on a road trip I always make/bring the following (or combination of) for the first leg of the journey: hard boiled eggs, cold roasted chicken, bacon and egg pie (similar to a quiche but has no milk, just eggs), couscous or rice salad. I've found that all of these travel well, can be eaten with a minimum of fuss, provide a nice rounded meal and can sit for a decent amount of time without refrigeration. Yes yes, I am sure most of you wouldn't go with chicken, but what can i say: I *heart* cold roast chicken and realistically, it'll probably be eaten within the first 5hours of your trip.

I've come into a litre's worth of green apple puree and I'm wondering what I could use it for? I am on a bit of a budget and ideally, would like to use it to make something that where the leftovers can be frozen for later consumption.

Suggestions? Recipes? Thanks.

@ sasha1 - can you please post or direct me to your cranberry sauce w/ star anise recipe? sounds interesting and i'm always on the look out for a new cranberry recipe.

I'll never forget seeing this on a roadside sandwich board in Baltimore when I first moved there:
Why not give your Mother Crabs this Mother's Day??

'howders, I'm looking for recipe suggestions for smoked salmon (the kind you buy in the foil pouches @ the airport or tourist outlets) and plain maple syrup. As the salmon is already cooked and flaked, the obvious: maple glazed won't work.

I've got one suggestion: mixing the maple syrup thru cream cheese and serving on crackers topped w/ the salmon
- but wondering if Chowhounders had anything more tantalizing and adventurous.

Thanks!

Thanks to CO and CorneyGirl I'm going to try both the low oven method - we don't have a toaster oven; counter space is @ a minimum! - and the non-stick pan with lid. I was looking to invest in a meal steamer too as that would be good for Char Sui buns etc...the pasta idea is brilliant as I save the sauce and pasta separately (i hate to mix them) but never thought to put the pasta into the sauce after the sauce has come to near temp to reheat together. Brilliant!

I'm 32 and realizing that for the first time since being able to read the recipes, I'm without a microwave and have no idea how to heat my leftovers without one! I have put some stuff in the oven but don't know if that's the best method and the only method?
I just ruined a pot trying to reheat risotto!

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I can't believe how much I relied on the microwave in the past!

Thanks for these great suggestions, I'm def going to try the coconut milk/curry paste and black beans suggestion, i've got so much of it left in the freezer, so these are wonderful. thanks.