Remember the Cheese

On Thursday I wanted to go out for dinner. We hadn't been out for a while and it was the night before payday and I had been craving sushi all day. I made the suggestion to Jp, and he immediately said "Subway". Right then and there the interest in sushi was gone (it's okay - we can't usually get out of a sushi restaurant for under $50 anyway). Then he mentioned Five Guys so I agreed. I knew that since he was driving we'd probably end there anyway. The nearest Five Guys is about a 40 minute drive but hey, we were out of the house and having a conversation and there wasn't any traffic.

We ordered our hot dogs with grilled mushrooms and onions and shelled our peanuts waiting in anticipation for our yummy hot dogs and fries-that-taste-so-good-but-aren't-good-for-you when the manager came over and asked how we're doing. Uh-oh, something was up.

Apparently our dogs jumped off the spatula and they had to make some more, he apologized and gave us some fries to keep us happy. No big deal, he handled it perfectly.

Everything was too delicious, except after we finished eating our hotdogs Jp remembered that we also usually ordered cheese on our hotdogs to make them even better. Dang! We only get to go to Five Guys about twice a year. Next time we'll remember the cheese.

The Spud Shack

Well based on a great review by food writer Sherman Chan on his blog, Sherman's Food Adventures, Jp took us to the Spud Shack in New Westminster yesterday. It was a surprise to the kid and I and as Jp drove we kept trying to figure out where we were going. Just when I thought I knew, he's pass the exit or turn off. And then when he parked at the River Market at the New Westminster Quay, I thought I knew and then when we started walking up the hill, I thought it was the Old Spaghetti Factory and then when he neared the skytrain station I thought we were going to board it and go for a ride. All guesses were wrong, and they couldn't be right since we went to a place I'd never heard of. And boy was it worth it, the batter on the fish was crispy - I can't remember the last time I've had crispy batter on fish (maybe never?) and yummy belgian french fries and delicious fresh made tartar sauce. It was all very good.

On our way out we ran into the owner/chef and had the opportunity to let him know how far we came for his food and how much we liked it. He seemed pleased to hear the good reviews and knowing that his efforts of hand cut fries and fresh daily tartar are appreciated - no restaurant supply house fries or sauces here!

And to top it off, we are having the most wonderful Spring weather. I can't remember a spring that was so fabulous with warmth and sunshine - it's weather like this that people fall in love with the Vancouver area, and then like a gambler who once made it big, they wait year after year for that once fabulous weather to return. This year it did not disappoint!

Today I will be cooking our Easter Turkey along with some nugget potatoes and brussels sprouts. The loaf of no-knead rustic sourdough will be in the oven in a couple of hours and the green jello with pineapple, cottage cheese and whipped cream was made last night so I can unmould it at the dinner table to reveal a surprise shape on the top of it. Happy Eating for us, and Happy Easter to you.

Fortunate or Unfortunate? or both?

At the end of our meal in a  Chinese Restaurant our fortunes were placed on a little tray with the bill - but strangely, one package had no fortune - only a puffy air filled bag. Laughingly we  showed our server who grabbed a bag from the bowl to replace it, and then we got two-in-one!

As William Shatner would say "Weird or What?" 

Oh and what did the fortunes say? 

One said: Now is a good time to try something new

and the other: If you go fishing, your catch will be plentiful

Mini Vacation 2012

I'm back from a mini-vacation - 3 days in downtown Vancouver - it's been a while since we've had the time to leisurely stroll through the various areas so we started on West 4th and Broadway and over then next two days walked  Robson Street, Pacific Centre, Harbour Centre, Sinclair Centre, Gastown, Davie Street. It was interesting to see how much has changed over the years and semi-shocking to see so many vacant retail units there were, especially in the malls.

Harbour Centre from our balcony

Looking down from our balcony

We also took the SeaBus to North Vancouver and toured around the Lonsdale Quay where we  found some yummy places for dinner. We actually had other plans for dinner but it looked and smelled so good we couldn't resist! We started with a very fresh prawn cocktail at Screaming Mimi's and then had some brisket with mashed potatoes and gravy at Sharky's Chop House. Mmm MMmmm. I finished with a bubble tea and bought some fresh chocolate chip cookies for a late night hotel snack.

Fresh Fish and Seafood at the Quay

At breakfast there was some yummy dark coloured cheese in my omelet, intrigued we asked the server about it and she sent the chef over with a sample - it was Guinness Cheddar and boy was it delicious, especially melted in an omelet! Have you had it?

Then later while sitting in the Mexician restaurant, La Casita in Gastown, I accidentally made eye contact with a woman walking by - well she started yelling about "why couldn't you just leave it alone? You know his face was burnt! Why couldn't you leave it alone?" and on and on. She yelled at me through the window of the restaurant and then went around to the front and opened the door and yelled at me some more, then spied a bottle of hot sauce on a nearby table and squirted it in my direction. As soon as I realized my mistake of being caught looking at her, I didn't look at her or in her direction again.  It's one of those things that you can't undo once it's been started. I had my back to the door when she came in the restaurant but I just sat there and did not turn around as I didn't want to agitate her any more. I just kept an eye on the restaurant staff to see if I needed to duck or anything. Since no one else did anything about it(I guess they managed not to make eye contact), she soon moved on as quickly as she came - like a big ol' hot sauce spraying gust of wind!

We lucked out by having sun for the first two days, but then we were hit with snow/rain which made for a very chilly walk back to our hotel. It's a good thing we had a late checkout  - I had time to take a warm bath and change into dry/warm clothes before heading home.

The gas fireplace is the main heat source in our house so we turned it off while we were away, but because of this and because we don't have a furnace our house was down to 13 degrees C when we came home. Brr. That takes a while to heat back up again. Thank goodness for our  mattress heater.

Eco had a great time at the neighbours and now we're back to life as it always is - doing laundry and cooking and cleaning and working.... (sigh) it's good to be home.

Things That Don't Go Together

Last night we went out for dinner at one of our favourite restaurants - a vietnamese place that always has good food. The owner has beent trying out new things to bring people into this locations, and one of the things was a special for game night. Now admittedly Jp and I are not sports fans, and I know many people who are opposed to TVs in restaurants but last night I found out that I really didn't like watching a UFC fight during my meal. Come on people, men bloodying each other up just doesn't seem so appetizing. It almost felt like I was watching a dog fight, as these two guys were all swollen and bloody and at times they seemed to be moving so slow and powerlessly as if it was instinct to keep punching the other guy. It reminded me of those nature programs where they show two insects involved in a 'to the death' type of combat, one might already be dead, or one might be missing his head or some other important part, but the body's reflexes cause it to keep going anyway.

Next time I open the door to a restaurant and see a UFC fight on the TV, I know that I will turn right around and go someplace else. How about  you? What do you think of TVs in restaurants, or UFC matches during dinner?

The Bearfoot Bistro

I forgot to tell you about this when I was in Whistler last month but the next time you are there, be sure to stop in to the Bearfoot Bistro for the most delish meal you'll have in a while!

There was a birthday at our table and this beautiful plate was delivered for the birthday person: 

Also, when you do go there, be sure to get the ice cream - which turns from cream to ice cream right at the table with the help of Liquid Nitrogen. 

It ties with my brother's homemade ice cream  - delicious, smooth and creamy. 

Behind the girl making ice cream was the vodka tasting room where bottles are kept in an ice wall, and you have to put on a parka to go inside for your tastes. 

If it wasn't a 2.5 hour drive, I'd already have gone back, but if you're up there - go, your mouth will thank you. 

In search of the South Beach Breeze

It was my birthday last month and I had a craving for a South Beach Breeze which is a watermelon drink I had tasted previously at Earl's. I'm not really a big fan of the place as it's usually excessively loud and the food is hit-and-miss but I had been thinking for the drink for about a week.

We sat down and asked for the drink and the waitress assured us I could have one, but then returned about 5 minutes later to tell me I couldn't get one. I tried some drinks from their new menu but I felt like Goldilocks, the Passion Blast Caiprinha  was too sour and the  Hawaiian Headlock was too sweet. I gave up on the alcohol drinks and tried a coffee which was completely disgusting and we sent that back. (Really I'm not a picky eater).

The next day Jp set out trying to track down the recipe and the ingredients, returning with some Melon Liqueur, Lemon Vodka, watermelon and Club Soda. We made it at home and it was yummy.

Melon Boy to the rescue! 

Buh-bye Earl's. I won't be visiting you anytime soon.