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Vancouver Bakery Popup: Remi Patisserie

June 19, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

I enjoyed Chef Remi Ho’s pastries when he was Pastry Chef at Origo Club in Richmond so it’s exciting to see that he’s doing his own thing now with his pop up, Remi Patisserie.

Remi announces the current menu as well as the hours and location of his popup on his Instagram (@remi.patisserie). Lately, his popup runs Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 pm – 6 pm at Paragon Tea Room/Porto Coffee ( 2207 Cambie St) and certain Sundays at Sweet Barrel Coffee (2729 Arbutus Street). His current line up includes roll cakes, tart flans, eclairs, tarts, mochis and so forth.

I would characterize his pastries as having French and Asian influences and that combination is definitely right up my alley. Last week, I visited his popup for the first time at Paragon Tea Room/Porto Coffee.

What I Tried

I picked up a few of his treats last week which included:

Kaya Roll Cake with mango and coconut whipped ganache ($6.50)
Matcha Raspberry Roll Cake ($6.50)
Banana Kinako (roasted soy bean powder topping)
Vanille Strawberry Flan ($3.50)
Hojicha Flan ($3.50)
Cloud Cake

The selection I tried were delicious, light, moist, not too sweet, flaky and buttery.

I would say Remi is best known for his roll cakes featuring Asian flavours. Both the Kaya Coconut Mango and Matcha with Raspberry were lovely and I’m definitely going to want to try his other flavours (like Local Strawberry and Thai Tea).

The Banana Kinako was a banana bread featuring a crumbly, roasted soy bean powder topping. I enjoyed the strong banana flavour of the cake and the nutty flavours of the topping.

The tart flans (Vanille Strawberry and Hojicha) had buttery, flaky pastry crusts and dense, creamy custard fillings.

The Cloud Cake was a Japanese cheesecake had a light, creamy flavor and a nice moist, cotton-soft texture.

Overall Impression of Remi Patisserie

I continue to be a fan of Chef Remi’s pastries and will be returning to visit his popup in the near future. He’s always coming up with new flavours and new pastries so I’m excited to see what he comes up with next. Perhaps in the near future he will be opening a bricks and mortar location for his patisserie.

Remi Patisserie
www.instagram.com/remi.patisserie/

Tips on How to Transition to a Plant-Based Diet

June 14, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Plant-based diets are gaining popularity as people begin to understand more of the benefits. Reasons for adopting a plant-based diet range from personal health, environmental as well as ethical.

A survey, based on responses from 1,049 Canadians, conducted for Dalhousie University professor Sylvain Charlebois found more and more young people are adopting a plant-based diet. The results showed that British Columbia leads the country when it comes to plant-based eating as nearly 40% of British Columbians 35 and under say they follow a vegan or vegetarian diet.

The new Canadian food guide also reflects the benefits of a plant-based diet, urging Canadians to choose plant-based protein over animal-based protein.

I recently spoke with Hanna Rakowska, a nutritionist at Choices Markets and she offered some tips on how to transition to a plant-based diet:

1. Start with Breakfast

Breakfast is the easiest way to start transitioning to a plant-based meal. Chances are you are already eating a lot of plant-based options for breakfast like avocado toast, cereal, oatmeal, almond milk and so forth. If you enjoy scrambled eggs for breakfast, consider doing a tofu scramble.

2. Remember It is Not an Overnight Change

Review what foods you are already eating that are plant-based and try cycling them through the week. Get used to this new schedule before incorporating them into new dishes.

3. Gradually change how your plate looks

In a meat and cheese-centric society, it is hard to take certain tasty foods away. Look at how you can add in more plant-based food into your diet and changing the proportions. Make a gradual change of reducing animal-based foods and adding in more plant-based ones.

4. Connect with Like-Minded Individuals

Get inspired and excited with eating more plant-based by connecting with a like-minded community. Research new recipes, learn about restaurants that cater to plant-based diets, and get tips on meal planning. Get together a group of friends and have a plant-based potluck to get new ideas.

5. Be mindful of your protein intake

When we think of protein, we usually think of animal-based protein like chicken and beef. Most people tend to eat too much protein because the recommended intake is just 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. An average sedentary man and woman needs 56 and 46 grams of protein, respectively.

In terms of eating protein, we need to consider quality and quantity and it is possible to enough protein from a plant-based diet. Animal sources of protein contain complete proteins whereas plants have incomplete proteins. By eating grains – like rice or bread – and plant-based protein sources – like peanuts, peanut butter or beans – together, you can create a complete protein.

Choices Market Nutrition Tours

If you want to learn more about choosing foods for your needs or are looking for recipes and cooking tips, Choices Markets offers FREE one-on-one, 60 minute or 90 minute tours that cater to your interests and concerns. Check out here for more information.

Liuyishou Hot Pot 刘一手火锅 Richmond Dining Experience

June 8, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Liuyishou Hot Pot Richmond has reopened after undergoing a three-month renovation and a brand refresh. Originating from Chongqing, China, Liuyishou specializes in Chongqing style (spicy) hot pot and has over 1,200 locations worldwide.

Liuyishou Hot pot 刘一手火锅 Richmond Dining Experience Liuyishou Hot pot Richmond

I was recently invited to a media event at Liuyishou Hot Pot Richmond. Here’s a look at what you can expect.

Modern and Inviting Interior

The renovated interior of Liuyishou Hot Pot Richmond is modern, clean and inviting. The space features booths, small and large dining tables, and private VIP areas. The booths are separated by movable dividers to accommodate various group sizes.

Liuyishou Hot Pot Richmond 刘一手火锅 Dinner Experience

Start with a Sauce Base

The experience starts with choosing a soup base. Liuyishou’s traditional Chongqing style soup base is prepared with special butter, red hot chili, Sichuan peppercorn, and other exotic herbs and spices.

Liuyishou also has offers non-spicy soup base options like Wild Mixed Mushroom, Special Pork Bone, Tomato Soup Base and so forth.

The soup bases range between $7 – $16 and you can have 1, 2 or 3 soup bases in your hot pot. If you order 2 soup bases, the price would be that of the more expensive option. If you order a trio of soup bases (excluding seasonal options), it is priced slightly cheaper at $22.

MAKE YOURSELF A PERFECT SAUCE

Mix your favourite sauces from the Liuyishou’s sauce bar featuring 20+ sauces, fresh herbs and spices. Cooked food can be eaten with your own sauce mixture.

The restaurant also posts recommendations on how to create different styles of sauces. For example, a traditional Chongqing style sauce has a garlic oil base, mashed garlic, sesame oil, green onion, coriander, chopped peanuts, oyster sauce, vinegar, capsicum frutescens (a type of chili pepper) and spicy sauce.

Freshly Slice Meat

At Liuyishou Hot Pot Richmond, the meat is freshly sliced in a preparation area where customers can observe. I was quite impressed with the process and the ability for diners to watch how the meat platters are made.

What We Tried

At our media event, we went with Liu’s House Special Soup Base (spicy) and the Tomato Soup Base (non-spicy).

We enjoyed the sliced beef and lamb platter presented in a ring that goes around the hot pot. I thought it was a fun and space-saving way of presenting the meat slices.

You can see how the ring is dropped over the hot pot in my Instagram video:

View this post on Instagram

That amazing moment when a ring of sliced beef and lamb is dropped around your boiling, spicy 🌶 hot pot… – 📍Liuyishou Hot Pot Richmond @liuyishouhotpot 🌎 Richmond, BC – #hotpot #dinner #igvideo #instagram #foodvideo #foodporn #richmondbc #richmond #cooking #getinmybelly #meatlover #foodstagram #videos #foodstagram #vancouver #culinary #vancouverfood #vancityhype #foodbeast #mustbevancouver #spicy #extra #vancouverisawesome #vancouverfoodie #yvreats #thehappynow #forkyeah #eatingfortheinsta #eatfamous #eeeeeats

A post shared by Areta | Food & Travel Blogger (@foodgressing) on Jun 8, 2019 at 5:16pm PDT

Other meat options we had were additional beef slices and wagyu beef.

The meatball platter featured handmade fish, lamb, pork and beef balls.

Because we love our beef, we ordered a plate of beef meatballs on its own.

One exotic seafood option we had was the Argentine red shrimp, which are $2.95 per piece.

The Pacific White Shrimp were nicely arranged in an upright position in a shell-like dish.

For a soybean dish, we had tofu bean curd. Because of their delicate nature, I enjoyed the fact that they were placed in a basket that we could immerse directly into the hot pot.

A house specialty dish was the duck blood cake, which had a firm, gelatinous texture.

Some assorted snacks we ordered included the glutinous black rice cakes with house special brown sugar dipping sauce and deep fried buns with condensed milk.

For dessert, we were presented with cups of yogurt which are perfect for cooling off the palate after a spicy meal.

Overall Impression

Liuyishou continues to be one of my favourite hot pot chains based on the quality of the food and selections available. The improved presentation of the dishes elevated the hot pot experience. The renovated space at Liuyishou Richmond makes it a comfortable and inviting environment to enjoy a hot pot feast. My favourite items were the sliced beef and lamb platter, fried Chinese donut with shrimp paste, assorted meatballs platter, wagyu beef, and glutinous black rice cakes.

Liuyishou Hotpot Richmond
731 Garden City Rd #150, Richmond, BC
Instagram: @LiuyishouHotpot

Hydra Estiatorio Mediterranean & Bar EXchange Hotel Vancouver

June 6, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Vancouver’s newest dining destination is sending guests on a Mediterranean culinary journey. At the recently opened EXchange Hotel in Downtown Vancouver’s Financial District, you’ll find Hydra Cafe + Bar – a Mediterranean cuisine concept in an elegant and impressive setting.

Hydra Estiatorio Mediterranean & Bar EXchange Hotel Vancouver Hydra Vancouver

Hydra Menu

Named after the culinary Greek island in the Aegean Sea, Hydra Estiatorio (pronounced ‘hee-dra’) presents a menu of refined Greek cuisine that draws up upon classic ingredients and traditional cooking styles. Many dishes are family-style with exciting tableside food preparations.

You’ll find fish and seafood options, including whole grilled fish, ceviche, grilled octopus and chilled seafood platters. Other Mediterranean favorites include Forno-roasted leg of lamb, linguini in lobster sauce, grilled vegetables and more.

The menu was created under Executive Hotels Culinary Director, Chef Mark Greenfield’s direction (Formally of Fairmont Pacific Rim, Italian Kitchen and Coast Restaurant) and is implemented by Executive Chef Ioannis Gerolymatos, himself a born-and-raised native of Greece whose culinary journey has taken him around the world to pursue his passions.

Hydra Cafe

Hydra’s second concept is a café located on the ground level that offers all day dining in an elegant space; guests can enjoy morning coffee and pastries, along with sandwiches and salads in the afternoon. At night, the cafe transforms into a Mezze bar offering small plates, wines and cocktails.

Hydra Interior

The warm, rustic bi-level space seats 180 guests and features large floor-to-ceiling windows, aged hardwood flooring, sand-colored Venetian-plastered walls and a sun-bleached millwork ceiling.

The main dining room features cascading sheers, rich leather banquettes, ancient olive oil casks, and a central marble bar boasting a unique “fish scale” tile motif. Decorating one long Venetian plastered wall is a large-scale “wave painting” by the famed Greek artist Antoni Titakis. His life’s work has been spent exploring the textures, colors and movement found in the ocean.

Two elevated VIP dining booths are illuminated by spectacular custom made Scabetti chandeliers of swirling schools of fish, made of fine bone china.

A beautiful white spiral staircase connects the ground and upper floors between the cafe and the main dining room. The cafe interior is accented by 14-foot Pantheon-inspired columns, locally crafted wooden bookshelves and a linear fireplace which pay homage to the old philosopher libraries of ancient Greece.

There is also an exclusive private dining cabana that is designed with terrazzo stone floors, comfortable lounge-style furniture and hand-blown glass lanterns. The space can be reserved for the evening, offering views of the 60-foot hotel atrium and Pender Street.

What We Tried

At a recent media dinner, we tried an variety of their offerings including:

Spreads (Melitzana, Tarama, Fava, Xtipiti, Tzatziki, Menta) with made-to-order pita bread
Hydra Special (paper thin zucchini)
Grilled Octopus
Kefalograviera (fried cheese saganaki)
Salads: Tomato, Green, Organic Heirloom Beets
Whole fish (sea bream) in sea salt
Grilled fish (perch) with olive oil and lemon sauce
Whole Forno Roasted Chicken
Forno Roasted Whole Leg of Lamb
Lobster Pasta
Desserts (Halva, Cream of the Crop, Greek Yogurt)

To start, we enjoyed warm made-to-order pita breads with a variety of fresh, house prepared spreads including melitzana, tarama, fava, xtipiti, tzatziki, and menta.

The Hydra Special featured paper thin zucchini and egg plant tzatziki. These deep-fried delights were incredibly delicious and addictive. I could eat the whole stack myself.

The Kefalograviera was a traditional Greek cheese dish with a salty and a spicy taste and creamy in texture.

Next up were a trio of refreshing salads: Organic Heirloom Beets (heirloom leafy beets, red-wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil), Green Salad (romaine, scallions, dill hydra vinaigrette), and Tomato Salad (vine-ripened tomatoes and feta). I enjoyed the presentation of the salads and the freshness of the ingredients.

Hydra specializes in family-style platters and these were the highlights of the evenings. The Whole Forno Roasted Chicken was marinated with herbs and lemon.

Guests can also choose from the day’s fresh selection of seafood at the Raw Bar. Hydra offers whole fish in sea salt or grilled whole fish with tableside preparations.

The Linguini in Lobster Sauce was also a show stopper with the al dente pasta and tender lobster meat.

To finish off a fantastic meal, Pastry Chef Dimitrios Patsis prepared a variety of desserts for us to try. There was the Bougatsa, a Greek pastry filled with semolina custard, dusted with cinnamon-icing sugar, and finished with a caramel-chocolate ganache drizzle.

The platter featured Halva (yogurt mousse, cinnamon syrup, mastixa meringue), Cream of the Crop (lemon custard stuffed meringue, praline sponge, mandarin & blood orange caramel) and Greek Yogurt (imported directly from Greece).

Hydra sets itself apart as a unique dining destination in Vancouver with its multi-concept offerings, Mediterranean menu and tableside preparations. I enjoyed the dinner overall; my favourites were the pita bread with spreads, Hydra Special, Organic Heirloom Beets Salad, Whole Fish dishes and Bougatsa.

Hydra Estiatorio is open seven days a week, 7 AM until late. For more information, visit hydravancouver.com.

Hydra Estiatorio Mediterranean
825 W Pender St, Vancouver, BC
hydravancouver.com

Spring Menu 2019 at CinCin Ristorante

June 4, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Cincin Ristorante on Robson Street to try out a few of their spring features. Leading the kitchen is Chef de Cuisine Andrea Alridge as Executive Chef Andrew Richardson splits his duties between Cincin and and Elisa.

Spring/Summer Dinner Menu 2019 at CinCin Ristorante

To start, we enjoyed a pair of sweet and succulent spot prawns.

The first course was burrata from Puglia with grilled red fife bread topped with crushed garbanzo beans and lemon, mint and arugula.

We also enjoyed a very bright and refreshing organics green salad with raw shaved vegetables, edible blossoms and elderflower dressing.

Next was the pasta course: stinging nettle and ricotta tortellini topped with marcona almonds, grana padano, summer truffle and dressed in a smoked citrus vinaigrette.

The seafood main was Pacific halibut with pea tip brodo English peas and Hannah Brooke farms asparagus.

Cincin is known for their wood-fired cooking and the fourth course featured a wood grilled tenderloin of beef accompanied by potatoes, prosciutto, parmesan collard greens in a tangy, buttery salmoriglio sauce.

To finish off the amazing meal was the Black Forest – a beet chocolate sponge cake with cherry and amadei chocolate cremeux, tonka bean chantilly, and griotte cherries.

The evening featured delightful wine pairings by Wine Directors Shane Taylor and Michael Littleford.

Thank you to the Chef Alridge, Restaurant Director Richard Luxton, Restaurant Manager Elle Boutilier, Wine Director Shane Taylor, Assistant Wine Director Michael Littleford and Bar Manager Shion Fujita for a wonderful evening of food, wine and company.

For more information, visit cincin.net

Gastown Weekend Brunch with Live Music: Pourhouse

June 3, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Back at Pourhouse in Gastown is weekend brunch service from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm with live music 12 – 2 pm. The Pourhouse brunch menu was designed by Executive Chef Alessandro Vianello, who recently joined the Kitchen Table Restaurant group that owns and operates Pourhouse.

Gastown Weekend Brunch with Live Music: Pourhouse

Pourhouse Brunch Menu

The brunch menu features sweet and savoury small plates such as cured duck (compressed melon, arugula, fresh basil), tuna conserva (olive oil, capers, dried tomatoes, sourdough) and carrot cake bomboloni (carrot and date filling, cream cheese icing).

Some of the larger dishes include mushroom frittata (eggplant caponata, Parmesan, arugula salad), 6 oz flat iron or 16 oz bison ribeye steak & eggs (potatoes, two eggs, chimichurri, sourdough) and more.

Guests can enjoy boozy brunch libations like the PH Bloody Mary (sangrita, choice of Beefeater gin, Altos tequila, Buffalo Trace bourbon or Wheatley vodka, chili salt, pickled bean, Breakfast Negroni (Campari, Rosso vermouth, Torrontés and so forth. Non-alcoholic options are available like the Arnold Palmers (iced tea, lemonade) and Almond Bucks (almond, lime, ginger beer).

What I Tried

On a recent media brunch, I tried a variety of dishes: Scotch Egg, Carrot Cake Bomboloni, Peameal Bacon Sandwich, French Toast and PH Mimosa.

The Scotch Eggs ($11) came highly recommended and did not disappoint! There’s nothing like an egg wrapped in meat, lightly breaded, deep-fried and accompanied by spicy mayo. The Scotch Eggs are also available on their dinner menu. They were so good that I suggested that they make this an entree as I could easily eat four of them in one sitting!

Brunch or dessert item? Either way, the Carrot Cake Bomboloni ($6) is a treat to be had at any time of the day. It was a light and fluffy doughnut with carrot and date filling and cream cheese icing.

The last time I had a peameal sandwich was from Carousel Bakery in Toronto a few years back so it was excited to enjoy this right in Vancouver. The Peameal Bacon Sandwich ($17) had bacon that was nicely juicy and tender with a nicely crispy cornmeal edge.

For those who enjoy French Toast ($16) for brunch, Pourhouse has a unique take on it with a rum and pineapple upside down cake topped with Chantilly cream. It was a rich, melt-in-your-mouth type of entree where I enjoyed every bite.

And to wash it all down, the Pourhouse Mimosa ($10) (sparkling wine, Aperol, cantaloupe, lime).

Did you know? Pourhouse is celebrating their tenth anniversary this fall and continues to be one of the city’s hotspots for cocktails and comfort food in a warm and convivial atmosphere.

Limited reservations for Pourhouse’s weekend brunch services are available with a valid credit card by calling the restaurant at 604-568-7022. In the event of no-shows or cancellations/modifications with less than 24 hours notice, the credit card will be charged $25 per person, with $5 donated to Pourhouse’s monthly charity of choice.

For more information, visit pourhousevancouver.com, /pourhousevancouver on Facebook and follow @pourhouse_van on Twitter and @pourhouse on Instagram.

Pourhouse
162 Water St, Vancouver, BC
www.pourhousevancouver.com

Where to Enjoy Doughnuts in Metro Vancouver

June 2, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

From classic to innovative, here are a few places in Metro Vancouver where you can enjoy these delicious deep-fried treats. The first Friday of June is celebrated as National Doughnut Day and this year it is happening June 7, 2019.

National Doughnut Day 2019 | Vancouver Donuts | Vancouver Doughnuts

Lee’s Donuts: Mom amd pop doughnut shop inside Granville Island Public Market serving classic doughnuts since 1979.

Pourhouse: Carrot Cake Bombolini ($6) with carrot and date filling, cream cheese icing. Available at weekend brunch.

Cartem’s Donuts: Yeast, Cake, Vegan and Gluten-Friendly options. Downtown, Mount Peasant, Kitsilano locations.

Wildebeest: Strathcona “Wakey Wakey” Doughnuts ($5) made with coffee stout, whiskey caramel. Available at weekend brunch.

TMix Bubble Tea: Mochi doughnuts ($2.80 each or 6 for $14). These doughnuts, which are a hybrid of Western doughnuts and Japanese mochi, are handmade by the owner every day and are available while supplies last. One batch is available around noon and the other in the early evening around 5 pm. The mochi doughnuts are coated in different flavour icing like Rose Tea, White Chocolate Lavender, Chocolate, and Matcha. Read more here.

Lucky’s Doughnuts: Various flavours with gluten-free and vegan options. Available at 49th Parallel Cafes (Main Street, Kits, Downtown).

Breka Bakery: From classic cinnamon sugar ($1.25) to filled versions like raspberry ($1.72) and more. 3 locations in Downtown Vancouver, 1 on Fraser, and 1 in Kitsilano.

Dipped Doughnut Co.: 100% Vegan doughnuts handcrafted in Vancouver. Order online or find them at different cafes/eateries in Metro Vancouver. I enjoyed them at Dalina.

The Study Public House at SFU Burnaby: Sack-O-Doughnuts ($6). Cinnamon and sugar and served with house made strawberry compote and chocolate sauce for dipping.

Gluten-Free Epicurean: Gluten Free doughnuts (vegan and dairy free options) ($3.95).

Honey’s Doughnuts: Offering freshly made classic doughnuts in the Deep Dove neighbourhood since 1986.

Juke Fried Chicken: Mini Carnival Doughnuts ($7). Available at weekend brunch.

Tacofino: Banana Churros ($7). Available at all locations excluding Tacofino Oasis.

New Vancouver Vegetarian Restaurant: Do Chay Saigon Vegetarian

June 1, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

With the trend towards eating more plant-based comes a new vegetarian restaurant onto Vancouver’s dining scene. Do Chay Saigon Vegetarian opened their doors just a few weeks ago at 1392 Kingsway and is owned and operated by the Do family who also run House Special in Yaletown and Green Lemongrass (one on Kingsway, another in Richmond).

New Vancouver Vegetarian Vegan Restaurant: Do Chay Saigon Vegetarian

I was recently invited to a media tasting at Do Chay. Here’s a look at what you can expect.

Do Chay Menu

“Do Chay” is a Vietnamese colloquial phrase which roughly translates to “vegetarian stuff.” The menu at Do Chay is vegetarian and almost entirely vegan and features a contemporary take on Vietnamese street food ($5 – $14), rice bowls ($13 – $15) and noodle bowls ($13) with exquisite presentation.

Warm and Inviting Interior

The warm and inviting interior features wood tones, pendant lighting and an exposed brick wall. There is a mix of dining tables and seating at the bar.

What We Tried

We started with the Monsoon Rolls which were delicate rice paper salad rolls with tofu, jicama, and fresh herbs. These were served with a chili pineapple sauce which offered a sweet and spicy kick to the nutty flavours of the salad roll.

Not on the menu yet are the Sticky Rice Squash Blossoms but hopefully, they make it a permanent item because they were amazing! Sticky rice with mushroom and carrots were served inside a squash blossom and lightly deep-fried. Accompanied by house (sweet) soya sauce, these deep-fried delights were a winner in my books.

We also had the Banana Leaf-Wrapped Glass Dumplings which were steamed, rice flour dumplings stuffed with mushrooms. Moist, lightly chewy and nutty in taste.

The Coconut Rice Cakes were too beautiful to eat! These mini coconut milk rice cakes were cast iron seared and topped with cabbage, green onions, carrots and house vegan nuoc cham (fish sauce) drizzle.

I recommend eating the rice cakes in one bite because they have a creamy, coconut milk filling which bursts in your mouth! The sour, sweet, salty, savory and spicy nuoc cham drizzle contrasted the lightly sweet coconut milk rice cakes. I also enjoyed the smooth and silky texture of the rice cakes.

I love eggplant dishes so the Black Garlic Eggplant Rice Bowl was right up my alley. This claypot rice dish was rich in flavour and had braised eggplant, tofu, black garlic and greens.

The Vegan Pho was not your typical pho offering and had broccoli tempura, avocado, yuba, yo choy, daikon, lotus root, and rice noodles in a vegan pho broth. It was a comforting dish that felt light and healthy.

The Pan-Fried Daikon Cakes were a tasty street food item on the menu. These were made with rice flour, daikon, egg, salted radish, green onion, papaya slaw and accompanied by soya sauce.

The Do Chay Dumplings were also tasty house-made bites with snow pea and jicama fillings and placed on a bed of coconut milk with nuoc cham drizzle. The filling was nutty and crunch which contrasted to the smooth and sweet coconut milk.

And to wash it all down, we enjoyed an iced Vietnamese coffee.

Here are some behind the scene photos of Chef Yen Do (Head Chef and matriarch of the Do Family) making the wrappers for the Do Chay Dumplings.

Overall Impression

Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan or meat-lover, I think you’ll enjoy the Vietnamese fare at Do Chay with their light, bright and fresh flavours. My favourites were the Sticky Rice Squash Blossoms, Coconut Rice Cakes, Do Chay Dumplings, Vegan Pho and Black Garlic Eggplant.

I was amazed by the attention to detail showcased in the intricate presentation of some of their dishes. I would definitely recommend others to check them out for a unique, modern take on Vietnamese cuisine.

Do Chay Saigon Vegetarian
1392 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC
www.instagram.com/eatdochay/

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019

May 30, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

The Richmond Night Market is now on until October 14 and the International Food Fair is always one of the highlights of the market. This year, there are 120 vendors serving over 600 food items showcasing cuisines from all around the world.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019

I was invited to a media tour organized by Chinesebites.com and Tourism Richmond this past weekend where I was able to try a select number of vendors (25 to be exact) at Richmond Night Market 2019. Here’s a look at what you can expect and my recommendations can be found at the end.

Richmond Night Market 2019 Food

Say Cheese Toast (F04)

One much talked about new vendor this year is Say Cheeeese Toast who is offering the chance to taste the rainbow with their Rainbow Cheese Toast. Priced at $6.50, the Rainbow Cheese Toast has an inside made with mozzarella, ricotta and condensed milk. We watched with bated breath as the insta-worthy and colorful cheesepull emerged. This vendor also offers classic and nutella versions.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Rainbow Cheese Toast Say Cheeese Toast

The cheese toast was on the sweeter side due to the condensed milk. It’s the type of food that is to be enjoyed for its novelty.

Afghan Yum (F06)

Afghan Yum serves Afghan street food including mantu, bolani potato and chicken bolani. We tried their Original Afghan Sauce Mantu which were stuffed meat dumplings topped with lentils and sauce. The Aghan Mantu come in a set of 5 for $8.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Afghan Yum

La Meza Grill (F11)

La Meza Grill is a Filipino Fusion food vendor at Richmond Night Market 2019 but they also have a restaurant in North Delta. They serve tacos in a few varieties: lechon (roast pig), pork sisig, tofu sisig. They are $8 for 6 pieces in 1 flavour or $15 for 3 flavours (12 pieces).

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 La Meza Grill

We had their Lechon Tacos served in wonton taco shells with fresh mango salsa and smoked chipotle mayo all made in-house from scratch.The wonton wrappers were perfectly crispy while the filling was flavourful. These were very good and I would love to have them again.

MacSnacc (F15)

MacSnacc serves gourmet macaroni and cheese in varieties like Classic Four Cheese, Kimchi, Taco and BBQ Pulled Pork. We had their Classic Four Cheese which nicely presented and delightfully cheesy. They are priced at $8 or 2 for $15. If you love mac and cheese, this does not disappoint.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 MacSnacc

Rotato (F21-22)

Rotatos (deep fried potato slices skewered on a stick) are one of the staple Richmond Night Market offerings. Enjoy them with a selection of seasonings like sour cream and onion, cheddar cheese, sea salt & pepper and more. We went with the two most popular seasonings: sour cream and roasted garlic pepper.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Rotato

Okonomi Bites (F33)

Okonomi Bites specializes in Japanese Style Poutine ($10) in varieties like Agedashi Tofu, Okonomi, Tonkatsu and Cheese Tonkatsu. We tried their Tonkatsu Poutine which was a tasty mix of East meets West fusion flavours with crispy, deep-fried pork cutlets.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Okonomi Bites

Taco Tigre (F39)

Taco Tigre serves Vietnamese inspired street tacos in three varieties: chicken banh mi, 5 spice pork belly and beef pho. These are priced at $3.75 for 1, $7 for 2, $10 for 3 and $15 for 5.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Taco Tigre

Zzim Drumsticks (F42)

Zzim Drumsticks is where you will find Korean-style braised, juicy drumsticks in either sweet soy garlic or hot spicy pepper.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Zzim Drumsticks

Salty’s Lobster Shack (F68)

At Salty’s Lobster Shack, you’ll find lobster rolls ($19), lobster bisque ($8), 1/2 lobster roll ($10), and lobster bites (1 for $3, 2 for $5 or 3 for $7).

I thought that the items we tried from Salty’s Lobster Shack had a good amount of lobster incorporated for the price. The lobster roll was my favourite but the lobster bisque was also very flavourful.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Salty's Lobster Shack

Fusion Wrap (F71)

Fusion Wrap is where you will find Asian-style wraps in different flavours like Kimchi Beef, Spicy Shredded Chicken, Egg & Dried Pork, Ham & Cheese with Egg, and Tuna Salad. We had their most popular wrap, the Kimchi Beef.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Fusion Wrap

Fluffy Pancakes (F10)

Fluffy Souffle Pancakes are all the madness now here in Vancouver and Fluffy Souffle is an immensely popular stand at the Richmond Night Market. Priced at $14, Fluffy Souffle offers a few different options including Chocolate, Strawberry, Grapefruit, Cheese Milk Foam and Matcha.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Fluffy Pancakes Fluffy Souffle Pancakes

Mr. Crabzy (F107)

Mr. Crabzy sells stuffed crab claws (3 for $18) in different flavours (original, New Orleans, and garlic). We had ours in a New Orleans style.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Mr Crabzy

Chef James (F110 – F111)

The enticing barbecue smell coming from Chef Jame’s stand can make your mouth water instantly. Marinated in a special mixture of spices, the skewers are an absolute must-try. Juicy, tender and flavourful, you won’t be disappointed.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Chef James

Also available at Chef James is juicy, roasted corn which I recommend.

Richmond Night Market 2019 Drinks

Milk Cha (F09)

For a sense of nostalgia or novelty, Milk Cha serves up milk tea in a baby bottle or split cup.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Milk Cha

Sugarcane Juice (F24)

Fresh sugar cane juice made from 100% real juice comes in small ($7.50) or large ($8.50). The same stand also offers fresh coconut milk.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Sugarcane Juice

iTofu (F50)

iTofu is an award-winning dessert shop in Richmond with a stand as well at the Richmond Night Market. They offer tofu puddings, drinks and parfaits with your choice of toppings like fresh taro, red bean pearls, black sugar and so forth. We tried their very refreshing itofu parfait with coconut jelly, red bean and pearls.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 itofu

Icy Bar (F67)

Icy Bar has multiple locations in Vancouver and Richmond and they are known for their refreshing Taiwanese-style drinks and desserts. We tried their Summer Special Icy featuring fresh strawberries and mango, basil seeds (chia seeds), strawberry puree, coconut milk, shaved ice, and tapioca sago.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Icy Bar

Rainbulb (F70)

If you’re looking for a flashy drink to enjoy while strolling through the Richmond Night Market, check out Rainbulb (presented by Passion 8). This stall specializes in colourful, light bulb sodas (1 for $8 or 2 for $15) in flavours like grapefruit (pink), orange and mango (orange) and so forth. We got the strawberry and raspberry soda.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Rainbulb

Richmond Night Market 2019 Desserts

Asomi Mochi (F17)

Making a return to Richmond Night Market 2019 is Asomi Mochi, a very popular stand which specializes in authentic Japanese homemade mochi. The mochis come in different flavours including purple yam, chocolate, regular, cheesecake, matcha or double strawberry. The filling is either red bean or cheesecake (the new option) along with a whole strawberry. Red bean mochis are 1 for $5 or 2 for $9. The cheesecake mochis are 1 for $6 or 2 for $10. These delightful treats are one of my favourites to try.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Asomi Mochi

TukTuk YVR (F25)

New this year at the market is TukTukYVR serving Thai panna cotta topped with flower cookies known as dokjok ($8). The panna cotta comes in coconut, Thai green tea or Thai milk tea flavours. The Thai flower cookies are available in regular, squid ink or mixed. The cookies are available on their own at $3 without the panna cotta.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Tuktukyvr

The beautiful cookies are fun to eat and are lightly sweet and wonderfully crispy from being deep-fried.

2 Sweet Guys (F32)

At 2 Sweet Guys, you’ll find some indulgent deep-fried treats such as Deep-Fried Watermelon and Deep-Fried Cookie Dough. They also offer Cinnamon Apple Fries, Dutch Mini Pancakes, and Thai Fried Bananas.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 2 Sweet guys

Mango Yummy (F73)

Vancouverites certainly love their mango desserts. For some refreshing eats, enjoy a bowl of shaved ice topped with vanilla ice cream, fresh cut mango and mochi from Mango Yummy.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Mango Yummy

Bella Gelateria (F75-76)

Local award winning gelato purveyor, Bella Gelateria, has a stand this year at the Richmond Night Market. We enjoyed a unique combination of Yuzu and Akbar Mashti. We weren’t familiar with Akbar Mashti but it is a popular Middle Eastern flavour made from saffron, rosewater and roasted pistachio.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Bella Gelateria

Teapressu (M2)

Local bubble tea food truck, Teapressu, makes an appearance at the market this year with a few dessert offerings. We tried the parfait with soft serve and fresh fruit ($6). The soft serves are matcha, vanilla or twist.

What to Eat at Richmond Night Market 2019 Richmond Night Market Food 2019 Teapressu

Foodgressing Top Recommendations for Richmond Night Market 2019

Savoury Food: La Meza Grill (F11), Okonomi Bites (F33), Zzim Drumsticks (F42), Salty’s Lobster Shack (F68), Chef James (F110 – 111)

Dessert: Asomi Mochi (F17), TukTukYVR (F25), Mango Yummy (F75-76)

Drinks: iTofu (F50), Icy Bar (F67)

Novelty trys: Say Cheese Toast (F04), Fluffy Pancakes (F106)

Vancouver Date Night Restaurant: Robba Da Matti

May 24, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

There’s nothing more romantic than Italian food and Robba Da Matti in Yaletown is a great place to enjoy just that over a great glass of wine. The cozy Italian trattoria exudes a warm vibe which sets the mood for a perfect date night.

Vancouver Date Night Restaurant Robba Da Matti Yaletown

Fortunately, Robba da matti has a 3-course Date Night Special priced at $122 for 2 people. This includes choice of 2 antipasti or Yaletown Antipasto or prosciutto & burrata to share; 2 any pasta mains; 2 desserts; and 1 bottle of wine (Nespolino Sangiovese/Merlot or Tolloy Pino Grigio). The great thing is that you are choosing items which are on the regular menu.

I was invited to a media tasting of Robba Da Matti’s Date Night menu. Here’s a look at my experience.

To start, we enjoyed the Prosciutto & Burrata featuring prosciutto di parma (aged 22 months) paired with mozzarella flown in from the Southern region of Puglia.

The thin, marbled slices of prosciutto were buttery and flavourful; it went well with soft and creamy burrata.

One of the mains we had was the Spaghetti Allo Scoglio, a Venetian-inspired dish. It came with cherry tomatoes and assorted seafood (mussels, clams, tiger prawns, and calamari). It was a delicious, seafood pasta with al dente noodles in a flavourful red sauce.

The Osso Bucco & Risotto Alla Milanese was a hearty, comforting dish with melt-in-your-mouth braised veal with saffron risotto. The risotto, perfectly prepared, was creamy but each grain of rice still retained a bit of firmness.

To finish off a fantastic meal, we enjoyed the Panna Cotta and Tiramisu. The panna cotta was presented in a cup and had a delicious cream topped with a sweet and tangy berry sauce.

The tiramisu by Robba Da Matti was also an excellent after-dinner indulgence with rich, dark flavours. The delicate flavours of mascarpone and Italian custard contrasted wonderfully with the bitter and sharpness of espresso and cocoa.

Robba Da Matti’s Date Night menu presents a great value for couples to enjoy well-craft Italian dishes in a charming and inviting setting. For more information, visit www.robbadamatti.com

Robba Da Matti
1127 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC
www.robbadamatti.com

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Overall Impression of Remi Patisserie

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MAKE YOURSELF A PERFECT SAUCE

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Richmond Night Market 2019 Food

Say Cheese Toast (F04)

Afghan Yum (F06)

La Meza Grill (F11)

MacSnacc (F15)

Rotato (F21-22)

Okonomi Bites (F33)

Taco Tigre (F39)

Zzim Drumsticks (F42)

Salty’s Lobster Shack (F68)

Fusion Wrap (F71)

Fluffy Pancakes (F10)

Mr. Crabzy (F107)

Chef James (F110 – F111)

Richmond Night Market 2019 Drinks

Milk Cha (F09)

Sugarcane Juice (F24)

iTofu (F50)

Icy Bar (F67)

Rainbulb (F70)

Richmond Night Market 2019 Desserts

Asomi Mochi (F17)

TukTuk YVR (F25)

2 Sweet Guys (F32)

Mango Yummy (F73)

Bella Gelateria (F75-76)

Teapressu (M2)

Foodgressing Top Recommendations for Richmond Night Market 2019

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