Tasting Journey #42 - Seasons In The Park

Seasons In The Park
Queen Elizabeth Park
604.874.8008
http://www.vancouverdine.com/seasons-park

Located in the Queen Elizabeth Park, this restaurant offered a true tasting journey for both the eyes and the mouth.  Unlike many of the touristy places where they charge you an arm for just the scenery with crappy food, Seasons In The Park actually offered some decent, edible food.

Growing up near this neighbourhood, I cannot remember the countless number of times we had visited the park.  Beautiful hills and flower beds covered this park.  Wedding photos are taken in the gardens.  Surprisingly, the park is not packed.  This visit made me realize that I really like this park. Mostly for the following reason:
- It's got captivating views of the northsore and also downtown Vancouver
- It's got beautiful gardens full of colours
- It's spacious unlike most touristy areas
 This place is perfect for a stroll on a sunny day.  It's got some tourists, but only tourists who are brought here by their local companions. 

Despite so many visits in the past, this is my first time visiting this restaurant.  We did not try their brunch menu this time.  We ended up ordering one appetizer, one from the tasting menu, one pizza, and one of their special entree.  I do have to say that the I was most disappointed with their entree. At $30, I did not taste any uniqueness of the dish. Yes, the coho salmon was very nicely grilled, but it is not worth $30. Beef carpaccio was excellent;  Pizza was unique with chili mascarpone, capers and shrimp; The tasting menu offered a few seasfood at it raw flavour.

beef carpaccio

tasting room: seafood

 

pizza w chili mascarpone

grilled coho salmon w Quinoa

For dessert, we ordered a cheesecake and a lemon pie to share.  Cheesecake was made using goat cheese. I think it is too strong for me, but maybe goat cheese lovers will really enjoy this.  The lemon tart was really good. Strong and sour. I really enjoyed it. Of course, to top it off, we also ordered coffee to compliment the rich flavours of the dessert.

Lemon Pie

Goat Cheese Cake

Quality: Quite good
Price: Reasonable for the scenery + food

This is the perfect place for bringing important visitors, or to enjoy an afternoon tea. 

Tasting Journey #41 - Zakkushi

Zakkushi
823 Denman Street,
Vancouver, B.C. V6G2L7
604.685.1136
http://www.zakkushi.com/


Japanese izakaya that specializes in charcoal grilled skewers (yakitori). The ambiance is similar to Guu.
The restaurant is tiny, and always packed.  Lots of people go there to drink beer and eat skewers on the side.
My favourite yakitori item is their P-Toro.  The pork is soooo juicy, and the sprinkle of salt completely brings out the sweetness of the juice.
My favourite non-yakitori is their Mentaiko Kimchi Udon.

Super juicy P-Toro

Mentaiko Kimchi udon

Of course, yaki-mochi (sticky rice) is also a must try. It is soo crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. 

Grilled Okra topped with bonito flakes is also quite good and unique too.

We ordered a lot of different yakitori's to try out. The plum-flavoured ones are also quite interesting. Brings a freshness that well compliments the grease of the meat.  The only thing that I didn't find extraordinary was the tsukune - a minced chicken wrapped around the skewer.  Maybe it's my own preference, but I think a full piece of chicken much better seals the juice within.

 

We ended up spending around $40 total for the two of us. This is quite an average price for an izakaya place in Vancouver. 

Quality: Excellent
Price: Good
Yes, I would go back again!

Tasting Journey #40 - Stone Grill

Stone Grill
1661 Granville St.
Vancouver, BC
604.637.0388
http://www.stonegrillvancouver.ca/index.php?pg=home

Nice view, quality food.
Portion is small, and the price is high.

Perfect for a date night, maybe awkward for family dine out.
Minimal traffic in the restaurant (probably due to its price range).

Some people may question why pay so much for cooking your own food.
I say it's the experience that makes it interesting. 

Food is prepared on a hot sizzling stone with herbs, and as it cooks, the aroma of the herb well marinates the steak/fish. Salt sprinkles as flavouring is all that is needed to compliment the quality ingredient.

Stone Grill is located right by the waters overlooking Granville Island.  Beautiful view, but don't forget that once the sun goes down, water becomes pitch dark, and you see nothing. Dawn is probably the perfect time to go.

Price: $$$
Quality: $$
Would I go again: Not really

Tasting Journey #39 - Nanchuu (南廚)

Nanchuu (南廚)
1160-8391 Alexandra Road
Richmond, BC
604.276.8391
http://www.gyokingroup.com/gyozaking/group.html


I think I've been here before, a few years back.  Interior remains unchanged with wooden stalls and tables.
The menu selection however, seemed to be different. I remembered the menu selection used to be more tapas focus, like Guu, but now, their selections included ramen, and salads.  I guess this type of menu widens their guest-base, as it can now be catered towards people who works in the neighbourhood; popping in for a quick and filling lunch at a reasonable price.

We ordered quite a few dishes. As usual, our eyes had bigger bigger appetite than our stomachs can allow.   I must say that all the dishes were fairly tasty. Price is actually quite decent when compared to other tapas.  Maybe because we had a filler - ramen, so we were extremely stuffed after our meal.  We ended up paying $50 (after tax, excluding tips) for 5 dishes.

trio appetizer

salmon carpaccio

chili shrimp

shio ramen

beef yukke

Price: $$
Ambiance: Great
Quality: Great
Would I visit again: Yes!

Tasting Journey #38 - Avenue Grill

Avenue Grill
2114 West 41st St.
Vancouver, BC
604.266.8183
http://dinehere.ca/vancouver/avenue-grill-the

Mediterranean Calamari

This place has been around for over 20 years since when I was back in elementary school. It is a family diner located in Kerrisdale.  I've walked/drived by it a countless number of times, always noticing the neon signs, but never ever thought of stopping by.  Browsing on Groupon's daily deal, I noticed that there was deal at Avenue Grill where it is $30 for $15. So I bought it.  My thought is that if it can exist for 20 years, it can't be bad right? I had mentioned this deal to my colleague who also lives in that neighbourhood.  She said she would sometimes go there for brunch.  The deal I bought was for dinner. 

I've always thought that this is a burger joint, but now glancing at the options on the menu, it is possibly Italian or Mexican - Pasta, Calamari, Risotto, Jambalaya, Veal...

French Onion Soup with bread & cheese

 
We ordered two appetizers, and one entree to share. Total cost - $38
     Appetizer: French Onion Soup ($10), Mediterranean style Calamari ($11)
     Entree: Jambalaya with Fettuccine ($17)

Jambalaya

I can't say that the food is to my liking because I find it all very salty. However, having tried multiple french onion soups when I was Paris, I am inclined to think that it is quite authentic (though I don't think it's a French restaurant) because the onion soups I had in Paris were just as salty. 
Calamari was salty & spicy. Jambalaya was salty as well.

The portions are quite fair for its price.  The two of us couldn't even finish the Jambalaya.

Based on this visit, I have to say that this restaurant would go into the "been there, done that" bucket.  It's been in operation long enough for me to have to try it, but not to my preference where I will want to go back.

Maybe brunch is better.

Tasting Journey #37 - East Fusion Food

East Fusion Food
1021-88 West Pender St
Vancouver, BC
604.568.6988
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/1432706/restaurant/Gastown/East-Fusion-Food-Vancouver 

Located near Chinatown/gastown, at the corner of the International Village Center,  this restaurant was recommended by a waitress from Congee Noodle House.

salt & pepper shrimp

Congee Noodle House is one of my favourite Chinese dining, for its cheap & good quality food.  I had gone to Congee Noodle House to get my routine fix of congee when they told me that the restaurant is closed due to some gas leakage in the neighbourhood, and the area had shut down the gas pipe. The waitress was friendly enough to recommend us to East Fusion, saying that the place also serves decent, good quality food.  I had to give this waitress some credibility given that she's been a long-time server here.  So off we go, to try out this new restaurant recommended by one of my favourite restaurant. 

Singaporean-style vermicelli noodle

East Fusion isn't busy, just like how International Village isn't either.  I never quite understand why this mall never made it to popularity.  It's located in a great location, with a cineplex movie theatre. I guess just don't have a reason sometimes.  

The price you pay for the quality you receive is awesome here. You would not be disappointed.  Free parking is also another great plus for eating here.  Would I go back? Undoubtedly, a yes!!
 
Price: $
Quality: $$

 

Tasting Journey #36 - Stages Bistro

Stages Bistro
711 W. Broadway St.
Vancouver, BC
877-660-8550

A restaurant located in the Holiday Inn on Broadway.
I came across this place because of the 2012 Vancouver Dine Out. They were serving the $18 menu that included an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert selection.

The food was great, service was friendly, but the ambiance is like what you would expect from a "Holiday Inn" hotel.  The interior decor couldn't hide its aging furniture - family-diner style with polka dot carpet.

Here are pictures of what we had that night:

appetizer

entree

dessert

Would I go back for another Dine Out event? Yes.