Tag: travel

Day 1 in DC: Greenery and Georgetown

Day 1 in DC began with an early wakeup call– 5am to be exact. Early flights are my nemesis, but I suppose red eye flights (of which I have never had the pleasure of experiencing), would be worse.

Much needed wake-up coffee (speaking of which, I didn’t know there is now a Starbucks just a stone’s throw after security)

With no direct flights to Washington, we had a brief layover in Toronto, then were on our way to DC. The terminus at Washington Dulles Airport was a bit strange, as the boarding gates were not located in the same facility as the luggage belts and connection to ground transportation. We had to take a shuttle vehicle that carried us between buildings – it seemed like a terribly inefficient system, and though a metro line is in the works, it made us wonder why the terminal was designed that way to begin with.

We eventually made out way to the taxi stand, and driving into the city, what shocked us most was how green it was. Lining the beltways were trees in full bloom, while wildflowers and long grasses were monopolizing roadside spaces. I suppose it shouldn’t have been a surprise, but as it was snowing back in Edmonton that day, the full force of spring was difficult to imagine until we were able to immerse ourselves in it.

Our taxi ride into Foggy Bottom cost us a pretty penny ($60!), but had the benefit of a convenient and stress-free commute to our hotel. We had chosen the George Washington University Inn partly on price, and though it wasn’t the most economical accommodation we found, its proximity to a Metro stop was too attractive to overlook.

George Washington University Inn

We found it to be situated on a quaint street, just a few minutes away from the infamous Watergate complex (which, in addition to being a tourist attraction, also housed a Safeway), as well as the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts. The colourful walkups that lined the street helped establish a feeling of home in the area.

Our neighbours for the week

Upon checking in, we found that we had been upgraded to a suite. This entitled us to a room with more space than we knew how to deal with – a large sitting room with a television and desk, kitchenette with stovetop, sink and fridge, and a separate bedroom and bathroom. Our only complaints about the room was the poorly designed bathroom that was significantly lacking in counter space, and hard-lined internet.

Bedroom

After a quick nap, we took advantage of our still-nimble feet (this would change in a hurry) and walked to adjacent Georgetown for dinner. Not connected by Metro, there was shuttle bus service available from two different stops, but at about 15 minutes away, we couldn’t justify waiting for a bus.

Georgetown was a happening place, even on a Monday evening – likely a mix of tourists, locals, and college students gearing up for graduation that week. We didn’t do much deliberate shopping, as we were fairly hungry at this point, but I did take note of shops such as Paper Source that I wanted to return to on a different evening.

Mack in Georgetown

Over the course of our wanderings, we stopped at IceBerry. I had read on a Chowhound thread that the frozen yogurt craze that hit LA and New York a few years back had finally reached DC. I couldn’t resist a cool treat that would hopefully tide us to something more substantial, as I wasn’t sure exactly how far our dining destination was located. Open until 11pm, it seemed to be a nice alternative to a coffee shop or an ice cream parlour, and based on the number of people inside, many agreed.

We ordered just one treat to share – a small strawberry (plain and chocolate were the other options) topped with blackberries. It totalled over $4, and at 95 cents a topping, each blackberry cost us over 20 cents.

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt from IceBerry

Though it was good to try, I have to say I prefer the pureed “real” fruit yogurt offered by Yogen Fruz– nothing ever replaces the textured crunch from strawberry seeds. That said, I wouldn’t mind such a yogurt parlour trend picking up in Edmonton – more late night options are a good thing.

Just as it was getting dark, we reached our desired location – Five Guys.

You can read Mack’s recap of day 1 here.

The “Diner Sprint”: Dairy Lane Cafe

As I continue to bemoan the lack of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives-worthy diners in Edmonton, I do my best to try and strike another diner off my list every time I am in Calgary.

Of all places, I discovered Dairy Lane Cafe within the pages of Where Calgary.  After checking out the website, I convinced Mack that it should take the coveted “Sunday morning brunch” slot of our weekend eating adventure.

Dairy Lane exterior

Though we intended on getting to Dairy Lane earlier, by the time we checked out from the hotel and arrived in the West Hillhurst community, it was already 11am. It wasn’t looking good, as there were already a number of people hovered around the door outside. To make the wait more bearable, however, Dairy Lane (like Diner Deluxe) offers hot coffee to patient patrons.

A sign told us to head on in to report the size of our party, and when we did, we were greeted by a friendly server who gently broke it to us that the wait was around forty-five minutes. Having been used to such demand, we had our information taken, including our phone number. He promised to call when a table was ready (long distance, mind you!) and said that we would have five minutes to claim it. We assured him that we wouldn’t wander far.

Hillhurst is a neighbourhood adjacent to Kensington, so we figured a leisurely stroll to work up our appetite was in order. We planned a twenty-minute walk each way, and after peering in the windows of Janice Beaton Fine Cheese (it wouldn’t open until noon that day, unfortunately), we turned around to head back.

At 11:30, we were still a number of blocks from our destination when Mack’s cell phone rang – our table was ready! In what will now be called the “diner sprint”, we ran just about the rest of the distance back to ensure our table wouldn’t be lost. Thankfully, we made it, so our unexpected exercise wasn’t in vain.

The interior of the cafe was tiny – only 22 seats, but so charming. Cheerful yellow walls reflected the optimistic spring conditions outside, and black and white prints reminded patrons of the diner’s 1950s roots. Dairy Lane is proudly powered by 100% carbon-free energy, and 5% of their sales are donated to the Highbanks Society, an organization committed to assisting young single parent families. Talk about a diner with a conscience.

Interior

I couldn’t resist the Swiss and Bacon Stuffed French Toast ($10.95), while Mack chose the All-In Three Egg Omelette ($12.95), with veggies, bacon, ham, Spolumbo’s sausage and cheese. Of course, we topped our order off with coffee, which was consistently being refilled to a standard that Mack approved of.

Though we imagined the kitchen to be fairly small (sized-appropriate to the dining room), we didn’t have to wait long for our plates. A supersized container of maple syrup was provided to me, which Mack was more excited about than I was. The swiss had been sprinkled with a heavy hand, and combined with the slightly salty back bacon, the light and eggy French toast, and a touch of syrupy-sweetness, I was in brunch heaven. If I don’t make it back to Calgary some time soon, I may have to learn to duplicate their recipe at home.

Savoury Stuffed French Toast with home-cut hashbrowns

Mack liked his omelette just fine, though he said it wasn’t the best he’d ever had (Galaxie Diner still tops his list). He did say that it was thicker than he expected, and the kitchen definitely didn’t scrimp on the ingredients.

All-In Omelette with home-cut hashbrowns and toast

Dairy Lane is a great diner with great intentions. I’ll be back.

Dairy Lane Cafe
319 19 Street NW
(403) 283-2497
Monday-Friday 7am-3pm, Weekends and Holidays 8am-3pm

Dissonant Service: Rush

I didn’t know much about Rush when I chose it to be our Dine-out Calgary dinner choice, except that it was fairly upscale, as someone on Chowhound commented that they were surprised that the restaurant was in the $35 and not $85 tasting bracket. We also found out, after we made our reservation that Rush offers complimentary valet parking after 6pm. As we had chosen a centrally-located hotel, we wouldn’t be utilizing the service, but I’m sure it would help tempt many a diner especially on cold winter nights.

We walked over to Rush, and were right on time for our 7pm reservation. We were immediately greeted by a friendly hostess and a coat check attendant, were seamlessly freed from our jackets and led to a table in the dining room. The hostess asked if I would like to hang my purse, and when I said yes, pulled out a gold-plated purse hook and hung it off a side of the table – a non-essential, but thoughtful touch by the restaurant.

It looked exactly as it did in the photos I had seen on the restaurant’s website, but on closer inspection, was a little less stunning. The visually interesting floor-to-ceiling dividers were a unique addition, but spray-painted gold, seemed tacky. The pastel green chairs (instead of a more monochromatic shade of white or black) also cheapened the décor somewhat. The large wine room, however, chic with clear glass and alluring lighting, was the interior’s bright spot. We also decided that the music that was initially played belonged not in a restaurant of this calibre, but in a department store. Thankfully, towards the end of our meal, the tunes shifted more to the smooth jazz variety (Dave Brubek’s “Take 5” for one).

We were soon greeted by one of our two servers for the evening. He brought the wine and cocktail lists, and asked us if we would like sparkling or still water. In the past in such restaurants, I have found that “still water” translates into “bottled water”, so I responded that we would like tap water. Upon hearing my answer, he launched into a retort that was neither helpful or entirely clear, and mentioned briefly that the water was a “good deal” because it was tap water run through a special process. He was condescending (something that would continue throughout our meal), and missed an opportunity to educate us about how Rush goes above and beyond other establishments. I learned later from the website that the restaurant is the first in Canada to use the Nordaq FRESH water system: “FRESH is ultra pure water where tastes such as soil, clay, chalk and chlorine have been removed using a patented system. According to leading chefs and sommeliers, FRESH enhances the experience of food and wine. As FRESH is bottled on location and is not transported it is also a more environmentally responsible choice.” Needless to say, our lovely introduction to the restaurant was marred by his unexpected rudeness.

The server came back with a clear wine bottle filled with water, and just when I was about to question the fact that we still hadn’t been given food menus, a busperson appeared before us with a tiny plate containing three amuse bouches. The first was beef tataki with garlic puree, the second a beet puree, and the third a savoury shortbread. Of the three, we liked the crispy, warm and cheesy shortbread – what can I say? We’re easy to please.

 

Amuse Bouches

As soon as we’d finished our plates, they were whisked away and food menus were presented to us. It occurred to me then that the restaurant wanted us to be able to fully focus on the amuse bouche and the tone of the meal before being introduced to text distractions. The $35, three-course Dine-Out menu was contained within, and once we realized that entrees ranged from $35 and up, we knew we were getting a really good deal.

We put in our orders with a female server, who assisted us for most of the night. Unlike her counterpart, She was friendly, gracious and demonstrated a sense of humor. When she incorrectly positioned Mack’s entrée, she joked, “Please don’t tell the Chef, or I’ll be beaten again.” I had to wonder why there was such a dissonance between servers.

We both ordered the roast garlic soup (with ham hock and parsley coulis) to start, but deviated our choices for the rest of the meal. I decided on the sous vide filet of Chinook salmon and chocolate tasting for dessert, while Mack opted for the loin of Broek Farms’ Berkshire pork and ice cream trio.

Bread service included three options, only one of which I can remember (multigrain). Our female server did a really good job in painstakingly introducing each dish to us (and all their garnishes), but a detriment to my food blogging tendency is to never write anything down during the meal. I prefer to focus on the experience in the moment, but I know my memory isn’t what it should be, so I apologize for the lost details. The bread was all right, though Mack would have preferred to have eaten the slices warm.

 

Bread service

The garlic soup was good – flavourful, but not too overpowering. The foam layer on top also lightened what could have been a heavy cream concoction.

 

Roast Garlic Soup

The star of the meal was undoubtedly our entrees. I was excited to try the sous vide salmon, and it was exactly what I expected – the fish had adopted a melt-in-your-mouth texture that I doubt could have been achieved any other way. Underneath sat flecks of double-smoked bacon – heaven in every crisp, they almost overshadowed the salmon. My only nitpick about the dish were some of the slightly undercooked potatoes.

 

Filet of Chinook Salmon

Mack really liked his pork, which had also been prepared sous vide. The thick slice of meat (nearly double the size of my salmon) retained its moisture, and contained a healthy amount of what Mack dubbed fat to be “slurped up”. He enjoyed the lentil pairing as well.

 

Berkshire Pork Loin

Dessert included smoked chocolate mousse and chicory and milk chocolate ice cream for me, neither of which were exceptional. Mack’s trio of ice cream yielded one absolute winner though – the raspberry sorbet.

 

Chocolate Tasting

 

Ice Cream Trio

The male server returned to present us with a tiny plate of complimentary sweets to end our meal. Unlike his counterpart, however, he did not stop to describe any of them, and turned to leave as soon as the plate hit the table. Out of the three, the macaron was my favourite.

 

Meal-ending treats

He returned to deliver the bill, and a bag of ribbon-wrapped granola, “for the morning”. It was a considerate gesture, particularly for a party that ordered from the cheaper menu.

 

Granola “for the morning”

All told, Rush provided us with a mostly positive experience – it is evident that the owners and the chef have designed the restaurant with the patron in mind, and have incorporated thoughtful touches and details that elevate Rush above other fine dining establishments. At the same time, had we seen more of the unfortunate server, I may not have been left with the same impression – I hope something is done to correct the inconsistencies in patron relations.

Rush
100, 207 9 Avenue SW
(403) 271-7874
Monday-Friday 11:30am for lunch and 5pm for dinner, Saturday 5pm, closed Sundays

To Be a Kid Again: Calgary Zoo

I don’t know why I became fixated on visiting the Calgary Zoo, but it ended up being one of my top non-restaurant priorities for our weekend trip. The fact that I had a 50% off admission coupon probably helped matters too, and reduced the $16 gate price to $8 a person (meaning, of course, that we could spend more on food with a little less guilt).

Calgary Zoo

The last time I was at the Zoo was on a high school biology trip, but I don’t remember many details from it, besides taking umpteen photos on the bridge leading to Prehistoric Park. I was looking forward to the touristy aspect of visiting the Zoo, and to see if animals could hold my attention in the same way as when I was younger.

Turned out, not quite, but it was still a nice way to spend three hours. We did a ton of walking (particularly in the Canadian Wilds area), and visiting the Zoo in the winter time meant that crowds were definitely lighter. Of course, some of the exhibits (notably, the lions) were closed for the season, but I was fine with the tradeoff of a less busy beaten path.

Mountain Goat

Mack loved taking pictures of the carnage remaining in some of the cages, while I focused on the happier animals. My favourites were the giraffes, elephants, baby gorilla and cotton-top tamarins. The koalas, the Zoo’s current feature exhibit, was a bit of a disappointment, though we did learn some interesting facts about the marsupials (their pouches are actually upside-down, and babies eat their mother’s poop, called “pap”).

Giraffes

Hungry elephant

Baby gorilla

Cotton-top Tamarin

Not a baby kangaroo, but a kid

As a child, I loved Prehistoric Park. Having been to Drumheller and the Royal Tyrell Museum numerous times in the past, I’m not sure why brightly-colored fake dinosaurs amongst “hoodoos” would have appealed to me at all, but the outdoor aspect is hard to beat.

On the rickety bridge

Mack, of course, had to take a photo with the Edmontonsaurus

We were pretty tired by the time we had made the rounds, and were glad that we would be heading to the hotel next to rest up before our scheduled dinner at Rush. All in all, it was a good afternoon – I’d recommend a stop if you’re looking to revisit your childhood fascination with the animal kingdom.

Mack’s photo set is here.

Pancake Diner: Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus

Our first stop on Saturday afternoon upon arriving in Calgary was the Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus. I can’t remember when I first heard of the Haus, but I know it has been on my to-try list for a while now. I love the idea of what is essentially a Dutch “pancake diner” – with over 80 savoury and sweet options on the menu, the Haus cloaks their all-day breakfast menu under the guise of a culinary tradition.

 In a strip mall (I had to wonder if the Haus affected the name of a nearby Remax outlet which was called “Real Estate House”)

We nearly missed the turn into the strip mall housing the pancake institution, but thankfully, I spied the sign before it was too late. We joined a nearly packed house for lunch, though from the looks of it many patrons were there for their first meal of the day. There were quite a number of families with small children in the restaurant as well, and given that the food was relatively safe, I could imagine children would enjoy a visit to the Haus.

The last flap on the menu distinguished the Haus’s pancakes with those typically encountered in Canadian restaurants, and the owner trained with an authentic pannenkoek restaurant in the Netherlands in order to learn the special technique used. The Haus claims to be the onlly establishment of its kind in Canada.

The décor probably hasn’t changed much since the restaurant opened, but despite being dated, the interior felt cozy and comfortable. The bar/cash area also featured a raised shelf displaying various Dutch food items and souvenirs that could be purchased – I was tempted by the syrup-filled waffles, but figured there would be enough calories consumed that weekend to avoid non-essential confections.

Shelf of tempting goods

We perused the menu, and although there were a few non-pancake entrees listed, we knew we had to try the namesake items. Mack immediately went for the bacon, mushroom and cheese version ($10.95), while I decided on the shredded potato, onion and cheese option ($9.95).

We were floored by the plates that arrived. 12 inches of what looked to be a thin, cheese-topped pancake were placed in front of each of us. Cutting into it, we discovered that the bottom of the pancake remained soft and fluffy, while the top was crispy – it provided a nice contrast in texture. The fact that I had crunchy bits of shredded potato and crunchy onions only helped matters. Mack enjoyed his bacon, mushroom and cheese version, though it was a bit on the salty side.

Shredded Potato, Onion and Cheese Pannenkoek

Bacon, Mushroom and Cheese Pannenkoek

My only complaint through our meal was that our water glasses weren’t refilled until prompted, even though we saw the coffee thermos sail by our table on more than one occasion.

Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus was a nice way to start our weekend of eats – a casual, economically-priced restaurant serving up comfort food.

Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus
2439 – 54 Avenue SW
(403) 243-7757
Wednesday – Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 8am-8pm, Sunday 8am-3pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Weekend at Goose Lake

Mack had been talking about bringing me to “the lake” all summer, and over the September long weekend, we finally made it to Goose Lake.

Goose Lake

We drove out on Saturday afternoon, arriving a little while before supper was to start, and had some time to laze around the fire with an alcoholic beverage in hand.

Our home for the weekend – Haights’ Haven (not quite the log cabin or insect sanctuary I had pictured)

Kim the Firemaster

Mack’s grandparents and Tom around the fire

After a dinner of Shirley’s chili and the massive sourdough sandwiches Mack and I had made the night before, we hung around the lake. Our canoe trip was cut short due to water seepage into the boat, but we did make it back on shore in time to see Tom catch a good-sized jackfish.

Tom with fish

We ended the night with some more time around the fire (with marshmallows!) and two card drinking games in Nightmare Nook – Sociables was particularly fun!

Mack playing Sociables

We woke up to the sound of people and pots on Sunday morning. That was one of the nicest things about staying at the lake – we were well taken care of, as both breakfast and dinner were prepared for us by Mack’s relatives, and we barely had to lift a finger all weekend.

The afternoon gave way to recreational pursuits including a leisurely bike ride through the neighbouring campsite, clowning around at a playground, and a lengthy canoe ride (in a fiberglass boat this time) across the lake. Though we weren’t able to get all the way to the weir due to a run-in with silt and weeds, we did see two blue herons.

Biking

Swinging

Tom looking like he’s having the time of his life

Canoeing

Mack, Tom, Mike and Stacey also started a fierce (and mouthy) battle of horseshoes, and we spent more time around the campfire to feed our hunger for flame-kissed hotdogs.

Mike and Mack playing horseshoes

Sitting around the fire

Quite possibly the best picture from the weekend

 

Roasting hot dogs

Peanut

Skippy (the two most adorable dogs I’ve seen in a long time)

Dinner was again a family affair. Stacey helped everyone barbecue the meat of choice they had brought along, and Shirley prepared a number of side dishes for everyone to share. Dessert on this night was a fabulous lemon meringue pie.

My steak and potatoes

Lemon meringue pie

Tom and Mike do “the pose”

We were a little less industrious this evening, and simply relaxed by the fire, entertained by a stream of politically incorrect jokes and pyro tendencies. The stars shone with force that night, and had it been a little warmer, I would have liked to lay down to fully appreciate their majesty.

Monday morning consisted of breakfast, group photos, clean-up, and of course, a rematch for the horseshoe gang. Kim also introduced me to “the book” – a loose-leaf record signed by all who have stayed at the lake.

The “kids”

Thanks again to Fred, Shirley, Stacey and Karen for all of your hospitality – I had a great time! It was nice to get away from the city for a while, be “off the grid” as Mack calls it, and to kick back and relax in the outdoors. Mack’s complete set of photos is here.

Kitsch Worth Exploring: Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe

Brunch is my favourite type of meal, and though the food served during this time can, in most instances, be duplicated fairly easily at home, there’s something about waking up on a weekend morning to have breakfast in a brightly lit, bustling, comfortable diner. I’ve sought out most of the restaurants that fit this bill in Edmonton, and have slowly started to branch out to Calgary, but all travel situations provide me with an additional opportunity to sample diners frequented by the locals.

I turned to the Georgia Straight Golden Plates awards to point me in the right direction, and found Sophie’s Cosmic Café. The website didn’t provide menu details, but the kitschy décor cinched it for us.

Located in the pedestrian and window-shopping-friendly Kitsilano neighbourhood, it was packed with just a few tables to spare at 11am. We were seated within minutes, giving us a brief moment to take in the incredible square footage of collected “junk” displayed on walls and every nook and cranny available – I was certain I could’ve spent hours up close with the garage sale all call.

Interior

Mack poses appropriately with a Mr. T jewelry collection

The menu options posed a challenge to us, with many tempting dishes. In the end, I opted for the thick-cut French toast to be served with sausages ($9.95), while Mack heeded my suggestion and ordered the scrambled eggs and pastrami, served with hashbrowns and toast ($10.95).

Mack used the word “efficient” to describe our experience at Sophie’s, and I can’t disagree with him. Our food arrived after no more than ten minutes after the waitress took our order, and unlike Nellie’s, our waitress continuously topped up our mugs with coffee without being asked. Moreover, a request for water was filled immediately. The food was great as well – the sausages, crackling and crispy on the outside, but juicy and soft on the inside – were the best I’ve had at a diner in recent memory. The French toast was indeed thick-cut, so much so that the very centre of the bread hadn’t had enough time to soak in the egg mixture before being thrown onto the pan, but that was a minor complaint. Mack thoroughly enjoyed his breakfast as well, with the scramble relieving his craving for eggs.

Thick-cut French Toast and Sausages

Pastrami and Eggs

Sophie’s Cosmic Café is a fun, friendly and fast diner that’s worth the visit, and even better, is situated in a neighbourhood worth sticking around for later.

Sophie’s Cosmic Café
2095 4th Avenue West
(604) 732-6810

An Exquisitely Choreographed Dance: Vij’s

Vij’s has a reputation that precedes itself. Between its consistent top-five Canadian ranking, celebrity sightings, and tales of its mythically long wait times, perhaps owner Vikram Vij was blessed with foresight in choosing the large tusked animal as its symbol – there is no doubt that great expectations are the elephant in the room.

Exterior lineup (you know you’re in Vancouver when you see at least two other people pull out their wireless devices to check for internet)

Even though we had eaten a full meal not three hours prior, we joined the line about 20 deep outside Vij’s at around 5:15. When their doors opened fifteen minutes later, some of the line stragglers behind us failed to be seated, and faced with a wait time of at least an hour and a half, chose to head elsewhere. Others however, through the course of our meal, either chose to lounge in the bar at the rear of the restaurant, or, when that was full, took their drinks out onto the outdoor patios to wait it out. We were glad not to be amongst that crowd.

My only minor complaint about the restaurant was their lack of more than one bathroom – for the number of people frequenting the restaurant, I would think regulations would stipulate at least two stalls per gender.

Interior

After the waitresses swept through the room, efficiently doling out menus, glasses and tin carafes of water to each table, we were also given a free cup of warm chai, and throughout the moments of menu perusal, three hot samples to try from a basket offered by a gregarious server (a pakora, a fry, and a spiced chip of some sort). It was the beginning of the Vij’s welcome: hospitable efforts that made us feel like guests instead of diners.

Chai (the cups were too cute)

I already knew I wanted to try the spicy paranta ($11.50) made with ground crickets that I had read about in the Globe a few months back, and I remembered the praise always heaped upon the wine-marinated lamb popsicles ($26.50). For our second entree, I thought a vegetable-based dish would round out our meal nicely, so opted for the cabbage, potato and bell pepper in coconut, blueberry and cilantro masala with homemade crispy noodles ($24).

Our wait was pleasant, and though I was disappointed that we didn’t see any celebrities (Shermie had waited alongside Eric McCormack on her last visit), our door-side table did provide many opportunities to gawk at the patrons that did pass through (a Buddhist monk and two Southern beauty queens walk into Vij’s…). The paranta arrived, complemented by a turnip salad. Had the menu not mentioned crickets, I would have assumed, from both the taste and the texture, that the thin bread was made from whole wheat flour. The turnip was nicely prepared as well, albeit too spicy for my palate.

Paranta made with roasted, ground cricket and chapati flour

Our entrees, served with a bowl of rice and a basket of naan bread, were the stars of the show. The lamb popsicles were our favourite, perfectly grilled and immersed in a creamy fenugreek curry sauce. I’ve been scarred in past experience with lamb, but if it were always cooked to such tender conditions, I’d opt for lamb over pork anytime. The masala received a more mixed review, as I found the potatoes a tad undercooked, but the unusual addition of blueberries were a nice sweet treat.

Naan bread

Lamb popsicles

Masala

The entire evening was a satisfying blur of attentive waitresses, a thorough attention to detail, and a surreal feeling that accompanied my first dining experience that felt wholly like an exquisitely choreographed dance. Unlike our meal at The Blue Pear, where being tended to by several people resulted in a scattered and haphazard impression of the service, the fact that multiple waitresses had a hand in our evening made us feel more at home and taken care of. Perhaps that had to do with the little things – immediately bringing us a cooling bowl of raita when I mentioned offhand that one of the dishes was a bit spicy; a mere forty-five seconds between an empty basket of naan being replaced by a fresh basket; and most impressive of all, the use of a plate warmer to ensure that the food to be consumed didn’t lose their heat upon transfer to an individual’s plate.

Suffice to say, our experience at Vij’s survived the hype. Bravo to the staff, and keep up the great work.

Vij’s
1480 11th Avenue West
(604) 736-6664

Rob’s Renaissance: Cactus Club Bentall 5

I will admit I had a good chuckle when I initially read about Rob Feenie’s appointment as a “Food Concept Architect” for the Cactus Club chain. His punt from grace seemed complete – the tale of his dispute with the co-investor in his highly-praised Feenie’s and Lumiere restaurants provided much fodder for gourmand gossip, and after being forced out, his acceptance of a job that at the time seemed beneath him was surprising if not downright sad. I had visited Feenie’s for brunch last year, and though I wasn’t too impressed, probably couldn’t judge him too harshly without feasting on his supposed masterpieces being served next door at his signature Lumiere eatery. Last month, a review in the Globe & Mail started to pique my interest in his Cactus Club creations, in what the writer deemed to be Feenie’s renaissance, Lumiere-lite, if you will, in having to work with a finicky clientele interested in trendy food for a reasonable price, it seemed he was hitting it out of the park.

Though I was certain they didn’t take reservations, I called to make sure, and indeed, the new Cactus Club Bentall 5 (the only location thus far that serves Feenie’s signature dishes) seated only on a first come, first served basis. I asked what time I would have to be present to beat the rush on a Friday evening, and she advised me to show up at 4:30pm.

Exterior

While Mack and I weren’t sure we could make such an early dinner time, we ended up there just before 5 after visiting the Vancouver Aquarium and Stanley Park. There was a wait for patio seating, but as we weren’t picky, we were led almost immediately to a cozy booth in an area situated between the kitchen and the bar, right in the thick of things.

Interior

The restaurant was grand, but not off-putting. Two levels of seating were graced with natural light that flowed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, accenting the sparkly newness of it all – the dark, leather-bound seats, a beautiful high-standing glass wine case, and a wide, spacious bar frequented by the label-adorned business class. The room was bustling, busy in a way that made diners feel self-congratulatory in their restaurant pick, and even more so when stumbling into the bathroom, which featured not only automatic taps and flush toilets, but a plastic-wrapped toilet seat that instantly revolved with “fresh” material at the touch of a button.

The menu, as expected, featured a mix of salads, burgers, and larger entrees very similar to what might be expected at Earls. Rob Feenie’s touches were not clearly marked, so we checked with the waitress, who pointed to the panko-breaded chicken breast salad and butternut squash ravioli ($16), as two examples. I couldn’t resist the ravioli, salivating at the mere idea of truffle oil, while Mack decided on a seafood pasta dish, the prawn and scallop spaghettini ($19). Having been on a slider kick the last few months, we also ordered the mini burgers ($11) to start.

Mack checking for wifi…and success!

While we waited for our first course, I sipped on a “better than sex” (their description, not mine) bellini, and Mack enjoyed a beer. When our burgers arrived, they looked so delectable that we were sad they didn’t serve them in fours. We quite liked them, though to be honest they were nothing special – simply scaled-down versions of a bar staple.

Mini Burgers

Our entrees, on the other hand, made the meal. The ravioli was exquisite (and Giada-esque) – aromatically infused with truffle oil, dotted with crumbled amaretti cookies and pine nuts, and filled with sweet pureed squash – it was like having a dessert course for dinner. Mack similarly liked his spaghettini, attractively presented with the noodles twirled and topped with a scallop and shrimp, he was pleased to find two more of each buried underneath. The food was also deceivingly filling, but not to the point where we were uncomfortably full.

Butternut Squash Ravioli

Prawn and Scallop Spaghettini

I can say without hesitation that our experience at Cactus Club Bentall 5 was a great one. And to Rob Feenie – I owe you an apology: if you ever decide to make a lateral move to Earls, I may be made a believer yet.

Cactus Club Bentall 5
588 Burrard Street
(604) 682-0933

Vancouver 2008 Wrap-up

Though I don’t feel we did enough over our four days in Vancouver to make the trip wholly worthwhile, at least the reason for our trip – to watch Michelle and Steven get married – was a fun day out. As well, Mack and I now know the areas that we would like to explore in further detail in the future – Gastown and Kitsilano to name a few. Below, a day-to-day recap of our trip, minus the restaurants that I will cover in greater detail.

Friday

After finally getting something to eat at a not-worth-mentioning salad bar, Mack and I walked to Stanley Park to visit the Vancouver Aquarium. It’s been years since I was there last, so many, in fact, that my memory failed to recall how absolutely tiny the attraction is. We were done touring the underwater galleries in no time (granted, we didn’t have the little-kid awe or curiosity we used to have), but I was most looking forward to the open air displays. My little otter friend Milo “Jack” was there, and though we stayed to listen to the brief beluga presentation (while actually spying on the Stockwell Day-lookalike), watch the otter feeding, and attempted to get a glimpse of the dolphin show, I was overall disappointed with how small the aquarium was. It was definitely not worth the $24.95 admission we paid at the door.

Stanley Park

Trees

Mack with flowers

Swimming to the light!

Crocodile

Jellyfish

In a bubble

Milo the sea otter!

There he goes!

The beluga is wearing a sweater (and yes, we were too cheap to buy anything)

After dinner at the newest Cactus Club, we headed to the Chinatown Night Market, a daily summer event likely held to try to bring traffic in to a neighbourhood otherwise abandoned in the evening. Given that we passed through an area featuring interesting buildings (the $10 a night hostel with chicken wire on the windows was notable for the wrong reasons), I wasn’t surprised at the mostly deserted streets en route to Chinatown. At any rate, we were greeted by a modest collection of booths selling everything from cheap trinkets and toys to home décor items and undergarments (at the unbeatable price of 10 for $10!). Of course, we zoomed in on the food, despite having just eaten a satisfyingly filling dinner. The dumplings were too irresistible (and cheap) to resist, being pan-fried right before our eyes, and a serving of vegetarian noodles seemed the perfect to top off our post-meal snack. The noodles were unfortunately lukewarm, but the dumplings tasted as good as they looked.

Night Market

Trolling for trinkets

Pork and chive dumplings

 

Vegetarian noodles

On our way back to Triumf House, we stopped in Yoko Yaya (88 West Pender Street), a store very similar to Daiso in Aberdeen Centre – a mecca of $1-3 treasures (a word Mack would undoubtedly dispute to be used in this context). I was only able to wander the store for 20 minutes, as Mack’s threshold of pain was waning.

Saturday

Though we took a few wrong turns, we made it to the church on time. The ceremony was brief but nice, and we stayed a short while for group pictures. Because we had quite a lengthy period of time to kill before the reception, the lot of us Edmonton folk headed out early to the Metropolis at Metrotown, also home of the Fortune House Seafood Restaurant where we were due at 6pm (I am thankful to the organizers of the wedding who had the foresight to book a restaurant in a mall, providing an easy way to pass the time for out-of-town guests).

We decided to skip the mall offerings and walked to the nearby IHOP (5137 Kingsway). Mack is forever waxing poetic about the addictive nature of their eggs, but after my experience, I’m hard pressed to distinguish IHOP from my local Denny’s. While I was intrigued that my ham and three-cheese omelette contained a splash of their “famous” pancake batter, I couldn’t distinguish what flavour, if any, was added because of that. The pancakes themselves, not gussied up with anything except butter, were also pretty ordinary.

Mack taking a hit of syrup

Dickson with his…salad

Mack’s Ham & Egg Melt

My Supreme Ham & Cheese Omelette

Pancakes

The sad-looking waffle (“It’s not IHOW.”)

We had enough time to take in a screening of Tropic Thunder (I loved Robert Downey Jr. with his over-the-top method acting satire) before heading to the restaurant.

The dinner was comprised of the traditional 10 courses of mainly seafood dishes. Thankfully for me, there were enough vegetables mixed in so I didn’t go hungry.

Party favours

Mack & I

Jane & Yi-Li

Dickson and Violet demonstrate the perfect pout

Megan and Mack eat “air” (or so they thought of the deep-fried chips)

The crispy-fried pork dish was my favourite…talk about a diet-busting entrée

Stan & Felix demonstrate their “gangster” pose

The wedding party’s table toast

Group shot – congrats Michelle & Steven!

We then headed outside for a few more pictures…just like old times.

The girls

The guys

Everyone being random

Jump!

Sunday

Our only day of drizzly, grey, typical Vancouver weather was spent mostly eating and lazing around. We headed to Granville Island, the place where I spent my only free day in Vancouver over a year ago. Though Mack tried to dissuade me from doing so, I was keen to retry the Fresh Tomato and Cheese pizza from Bridges (1696 Duranleau Street), a dish I had confidently labelled in 2007 as the “best pizza I ever had”. The pizza was actually quite different than the one I remember – dusted with cornmeal, and (as it was summer) featuring a lot more tomatoes than the winter version, this pizza was less cheesy and chewier than the other. Mack’s halibut fish and chips were great – enrobed in a light and crisp batter, they made for a nice lunch.

Tomato and Cheese Pizza

Fish and Chips

We walked around the Granville Public Market, oohing and ahhing (at least, I was) at all of the wonderful produce available. The only downside of visiting such markets is having to restrain myself from buying everything, knowing that we wouldn’t be able to carry or eat our purchases before they would spoil.

Market

Champagne grapes

I heart hydrangeas

We also wandered into the Net Loft and Kids Market, two buildings that I hadn’t been to before. The loft specifically was great, with a kitchen wares store, a cookbook shop, stationary store, and even a hat boutique that was so packed it was difficult to move between the shelves.

Mack by the harbour

After dinner at Vij’s (which absolutely deserves its own post), we chilled out at Blenz with tea and wifi for Mack and a paper for me.

Always on his iPod

Us

Monday

Following a great breakfast at Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe, we headed to Gastown for a walking tour. Having been on walking tours in several cities now, I can say I quite enjoy them. I never remember the small details or facts, but I find it’s a great way to be introduced to a part of town by a local.

Gassy Jack statue

Hotel Europe (looks like the Gibson Block in Edmonton)

The famous steam-powered clock

As always, it was nice to get away, but the trip was too short. You can read Mack’s summary post here, and see all of the photos from our trip here.