Living Up to the Hype and Expense: Per Se Restaurant in New York

Chef's Tasting Menu (personalized and taken home)

There is just too much to say about my meal at Per Se in New York City, that I'm just going to go ahead and post just the photos without a lot of commentary.  Everything was exceptionally delicious and beautiful, and the experience that the staff present was really lovely.  It lived up to all expectations.  New York is an exciting place to visit and my friends and I were able to dine at the restaurants ranked #6 (Per Se) and #10 (Eleven Madison Park) in the world by The World's 50 Best Restaurants while we were there.  I've dined at the restaurant currently ranked at #2 (El Cellar de Can Roca, Girona Spain) and I've got to say that Per Se does hold its own in comparison.  These are grand experiences where every detail is carefully thought out and executed.  I would say that Per Se excelled in making us comfortable and accomodated us in every way (even though we were hyper, touristy, fangirls taking countless photos of everything).  In this way, I found them to be better hosts than our experience at EMP, which did feel ever so slightly snooty to me, and more restrictive.   I would absolutely love to dine at the French Laundrey in California, and I would dine at Per Se all over again too.  

 The Vegetable Option (none of us chose this one unfortunately)

I think this is the Crown Jewel (Oxley English Dry Gin, Hibiscus Syrup & Basil).  It was tasty.

 Perfect Gougères

The Famous Cornets - Salmon Tartare with Sweet Red Onion Crème Fraîche

Oysters and Pearls 

I think my favourite was the Thomas Keller signature dish, Oysters and Pearls, which I've heard about for years as it's served at The French Laundrey.  Thomas Keller has said that he's never actually eaten this dish.  A shame, as it's the kind of dish you consider licking the plate after, and I was trying to savour every last molecule.  A great beginning, along with the goucheres and the cornets.

 Two Wonderful Butters From Different Regions

 Salts That Came With My Friends' Foie Gras

Delicious Buttery Roll 

 The View At Our Table (just at the edge of Central Park)

 Hearts of Palm Salad

Foie Gras (Not mine)

 The Bread

It's all in the details.  My favourite was the composite bread shown in the lower right.  It had an unlevened hat on top of a leavened head underneath.  

Atlantic Striped Bass

 

Lobster

Quail

 A Peek Inside the Quail

 Lamb

 Cheddar

 Sake-Soda, Green Tea Ice Cream 

I think this is the best palate cleanser I've ever had.  Fizzy and refreshing!

 Cake with Great Textures and Chocolate and Hazelnut

I wish I could get this cake all the time. 

Strawberry Tea

 Gift for the Birthday Occasion

 Pretty Cup and Saucer for Cappucino

 Amazing Chocolate Selection

At this point, we were all painfully aware that we couldn't fit more food in, and then they come at us with the chocolates and other mignardises and tempt us by describing all the flavours.  Every single one was a different flavour and they were all intriguing.  They were good enough to wrap up some of our mignardises for us to take home when we asked.  And they send us off with a folder of our menus, a booklet about their food sources an amazing little cotton pouch of various candies!  

Mignardises Included Truffles, Macarons, and Caramels 

Presented in a beautiful silver three tier tin that folds out.

  

Baby Mangos! Awwwww!

I just bought some of these super adorable baby mangos from a produce store in Kitsilano. I tried eating one with the skin, and it was delicious. I loved the chewy texture of the skin, which really added to the mango experience. I usually don't eat the skin of the big mangos. And as a bonus, when you're eating a tiny mango, skin and all, it is extremely tidy, making them a great addition to a lunch bag. I find that if I am eating a regular-sized, juicy mango, I want to do it in the privacy of my own home, close to a sink and a towel. I hope these stick around. I didn't see the whole kiwi berry thing take off here. If you see them, buy them up!

In Memory of My Foodie Cat

[Please note that the following is a departure from my regular food ramblings to express some thoughts about my recently deceased cat, whom I was attached to like he was my own child. He is survived by long time companion, Mango. I adopted both of them on Dec 25, 2010.]

Dear Cole,

Thank you for the fourteen and a half months that we had together. It really seemed like we've known each other for so much longer. I loved you and cared for you with everything I had and I genuinely felt that you appreciated it - I often sensed that I gave you and Mango a much better home than you came from. You gave me so much love, so freely. Your generous, proud and affectionate spirit charmed everyone who met you. Your openness and forthrightness and trusting nature was unusual and beautiful. That openness extended to your desire to try new foods, and we had that in common. From spicy dishes to that good baguette from a French bakery, you always wanted to try everything I was eating, or at least the quality stuff. Never saw you going after the regular supermarket bread. I love that you and Mango have such different personalities and preferences. With you, it was food, and with Mango, I have a love of music and a critical ear in common, for example. She and I will comfort each other while we miss you and grieve for you.

I will miss your classic flop and roll maneuver to elicit a belly rub (a remarkably open gesture that characterized how you lived in general). I will miss watching you walk into every room with your tail held high. I will miss the tender way you look up into my eyes when you are feeling particularly content in a cuddle, and want to connect. You never held a grudge, and you looked to me with trust right to the last moment when you lay your head down gently in the emergency clinic. Know that I truly believe it to be the right time to let you go for your sake, and that it would have only been selfish of me to try to extend your suffering.

Life seems so fragile right now. I spent a week dreading your loss last year when I was waiting for the results from the tumour removal. This time, there was no time to contemplate the possibility. There's just time now to mourn. Endless time, really. It's hard to describe how attached I was to you. You were up with me every morning when I was getting ready for work, and you met me at the door whenever I came home. Sometimes I would catch you staring at me so intently. You were so adorable when you burrowed in to the comforter and just barely poked your head out. Or when you and Mango were cuddled up and grooming each other. You looked out for me, and always came over when I called.

I'm reminded that any of us could die at any time, in any number of ways. It seems so unfair that such a good and kind being as you should have your life cut short but horrible hateful beings live out their lives to the very end. A friend has told me to think about the things that I brought to your life in this time of grief. I think having you in my home was a very good thing for both of us. Death, well, this is part of adopting cats. You take on the likelihood of dealing with the death of the cat in the future automatically upon adoption. Even more likely when you decide to adopt older cats. It is worth it. I wouldn't give up knowing you, Cole, for anything. I hope you understood my gratitude every day, as I expressed it in taking care of you. In turn, you took care of me.

So this letter is a final thank you from my heart.

Yours,
Nancy

Ohhhh, That's The Big Deal...Macarons by Kitchening With Carla

Just a quick note about one product. I honestly didn't really get what the big deal was about macarons. I had some nice ones, but didn't think it was my thing.

At a party, someone introduced me to a macaron from Kitchening With Carly. You can order them online and see who carries them at her website: http://kitcheningwithcarly.com/.

I get it now. This little meringue-y treat was really delicious. I love the texture of the crispness of the outside and the soft inside, and combination of flavours with the jam in the middle. It made me reconsider macarons as not just something for fashionistas with disturbingly high sweetness tolerances. It's something for me too.

My New "Secret" Spot - Adesso Bistro

I realize I've been a bit out of touch - just a natural combination of dieting, slipping deeper into aging homebody mode, and being occupied by other things, but this restaurant is good enough that I would have expected someone to have clued me in, even if they had to knock on my door and drag me over there. And yes, this restaurant is so good, it warrants resurrecting a sleepy blog just to fuss over it too.

Adesso Bistro is in the cosy west-of-Denman hideaway that used to house Parkside and later, L'Altro Buca, at 1906 Haro St. at Gilford St. (604.568.9975). It certainly has already captured the attention of several restaurant reviewers, but this little gem somehow managed to slip past the radar of myself and perhaps many other folk; it was pretty quiet the night that I went, and a small poll at a party didn't get any signs of recognition). Though as I write, there is an active Groupon that will no doubt draw the ravaging bargain-hunting hoards to descend upon it (no disrespect intended, as I am speaking as one of you).

One night this week, I was just driving around looking for free parking, intending to grab a quick bite to eat on Denman. The spot I found was right across from Adesso, and decided to check it out since I was in the mood for pasta anyway. I wound up having the best meal I can remember in the last few years. Every detail seemed absolutely perfect. I imagine that this is what it's like to be a piano teacher for beginners in a small town and getting used to listening to pieces mangled day in and day out, and then every year or two making it in to the city to hear a masterpiece by a visiting maestro tackling a difficult piece with seemingly effortless grace. There were no trade-offs in this meal - quite rare in my recent dining. Mind you, this sort of dining isn't cheap, but honestly I found the regular pricing very fair, and they even had a lovely three course prix fixe for $32, and I've seen not only the Groupon offer, but also a website discount, so there's not even a complaint there.

So I'll list the notes that they hit so well.

Location - it feels so tucked away and off the beaten path, but it is right downtown, so it should be easy to get there. It's in my neighbourhood, which I love. I managed to even find free street parking across from the restaurant for those of you who live farther away and like that.

Greeting - friendly and welcoming, and he gave me a choice of spots available. This is significant, as I came in alone, female, Asian, and without a reservation and although you might imagine that most of these things should not result in a less than welcoming reception at restaurants, it far too often does in this town.

Decor - as I mentioned, I've been a fan of this cosy location in the past, and whatever they've changed or not changed in the decor makes for a beautiful, relaxing room in classic style with paintings referencing Italy and a patio to look forward to when the weather warms. It's nicely lit so that it's worthy of any special occasion or full-on romancing dinner while not being too dark to see what you're eating. The tables are spaced apart enough for those intimate dinners too. You would feel at home dressing up here, but it doesn't have an overly formal feel, and the "bistro" name feels appropriate. I was completely comfortable.

Menu - there were many enticing things on the menus to choose from. There were plenty of wines by the glass to choose from. Prosecco cocktails and other cocktails were all there too. There was also a great prix fixe $32 that night that featured salmon or veal for the main course which seemed like a great deal, and I was just in the mood to try other things. I wound up choosing a pizza with roasted mushrooms, truffle fonduta, and fontina cheese to start. Braised duck and gnocchi dish with mushrooms, tomato and parsley for a main. And a steamed lemon cake with yoghurt sorbe. Shouldn't all the food sound like it will be delicious when you're reading the menu? That's what I liked about their menus.

Olives - I was given a little dish of tiny olives right away that were remarkably delicious.

Bread - there seems to be a bit of a trend for places that are expensive enough to have a bread basket to skip the complimentary bread offering. Here, you get a wonderful warm focaccia with that yummy crunch of salt on top, served with very tasty olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Service - this is a big one. The service was flawless throughout. And charming. And helpful. My server even suggested that I might take home some of the pizza when I ordered, foreseeing that there would be too much food for me, and that it would be a shame to be too full for the duck and gnocchi dish. He was always available, checked on me often, but not in any sort of overbearing way, and generally anticipated every possible need. Dishes were whisked away at exactly the moment I would want them to be. It's the type of place where they offer to arrange a cab for you afterwards too.

My savoury food - the restaurant focuses on the Ligurian region of Italy, home of pesto and full of seafood. I started with the mushroom pizza ($13) that was so fragrant and delicious. The edges were very crispy, the crust was very thin, and yet it was hugely satisfying. I could only eat half. Then I had the beautiful stewed duck, tomato, mushrooms with gnocchi ($20). Gnocchi were soft and lovely and mixed in with the luxurious, rich "pulled duck" braise. Mmm, mmm, MMM, pulled duck and potato dumplings (I'm so excited, a bit of my hillbilly is showing through).

(edited to add: My wine - I chose a glass of Santa Christina Chianti, $10, which was delicious alone and went very well with my duck and gnocchi dish, but not as well with the mushroom pizza, I thought. I am sure that I would have had extremely skilled pairing suggestions from my server had I asked. There were also pairings laid out right on the prix fixe menu, and I think the menu with the pairings was only about $45).

My Dessert - now I don't know what's actually happening in the back and who's doing what, but because restaurants often have separate chefs and pastry chefs, sometimes one outshines the other. In this case, I can't even decide whether the savoury or sweet shows more talent, because the dessert was just as delicious as the rest of my meal. I was surprised by how good it was. The steamed lemon cake ($8) was beautifully delicate, warm, and tasty. The frozen yoghurt and berry sauce complimented it very well. I might have been anticipating a clumsier cake, because I was so delighted by the unexpected airiness that is uncommon with a cake that is served warm. Great texture. I could have that dessert over and over again (yah yah, I mean on different days, of course).

Branding/Concept/Restaurant Name - Adesso means "now" in Italian, and knowing that, the name of the restaurant feel perfect too. As their website says, "now", as in today...modern...fresh. With fresh, organic, and local ingredients.

Okay, now to qualify some of this gushing. I want to make it clear that I have only visited the restaurant once. I have no idea if I just happened to luck out and get a fleeting perfect storm of events (maybe I got the very best server who doesn't work other days, maybe I chose the absolute best on the menu, maybe the unexpectedness of the meal heightened the effect of everything, etc.) to produce this wonderful meal. Having read some of the reviews after my meal, I suspect not, and am hopeful that they are consistently great. I am visiting again soon (having gushed to other people and demanding to drag them there myself just before the Groupon magically appeared hours later). I wasn't able to take any decent photos as the camera that I usually have on me (you know, the one I'm always lugging around just in case I run into circumstances like this) was not on me that night. I'll update with my second impressions, and hopefully photos. Buon appetito!

Continuation of the Bamboo Shoot Saga...

Dan Dan Ramen at Sanpachi (Broadway location)

I just wanted to post that I discovered that I have not given up on all bamboo shoot in ramen noodle shops. I've been to Sanpachi Ramen a couple of times (3132 W. Broadway at Balaclava St., 604-738-3132) and their bamboo shoot has considerably less rotting whale flesh flavour than the Benkei Ramen. I still don't think I would consider it a food that I would choose to eat, but it's getting better.

Another note about Sanpachi is that they have a great deal on for happy hour. I'm not sure if this happens at the Robson location. I managed to catch happy hour twice at the Broadway location so far. Between 5 pm - 7 pm, they have 40% off all ramen and izakaya items. This means all the food, but not the drinks. Nice little ramen stop, with a new chef and menu. I've had their Dan Dan ramen (like the Chinese noodle dish with minced pork and peanut-y sesame sauce) which is pictured above and I think I had their shio ramen. I really like the taste and texture of their noodles. The broth on the Dan Dan was too rich for me to finish. I will probably order one of the other ramen dishes next time. I also had some gyoza which were fine. I had some tuna nigiri, which tasted fine but fell apart on me when lifting it up. I had a hankering for dessert and had their sesame ice cream which was okay, but too icy and not smooth and creamy enough for me to recommend. Service is very good. They also have plenty of cocktails and other alcoholic drinks. Sanpachi is part of a chain of restaurants in Japan. The 40% off deal brings this comfortable sit down restaurant with good quality, very filling comfort food to the price point of fast food. I'll be back.

Unfortunate Random Taste Associations and Good Ramen

Have you ever had the smell or taste of one item completely ruin the smell or taste of another item for you? Perhaps some wonderful artisan cheese would have been a beautiful experience for you had it not been for the smell of your brother's feet after a football game indelibly imprinted on your brain as a toddler? I myself hadn't really experienced this before until recently. And mine is a doozy.

I am a big fan of the new Biodiversity Museum in Vancouver (those who know me in real life would not be surprised). To help tell the story of the blue whale skeleton impressively hanging in the atrium, the education staff and volunteers at the museum create a multi-sensory experience with various specimens. One of these is a tiny jar of rotting whale flesh and dirt which has a smell that naturally repulses most people and helps visitors to appreciate the ordeal of unearthing the buried whale carcass and getting the skeleton cleaned. Well thanks to that tiny little jar (and repeated exposures), I can't eat the bamboo shoot included in big bowls of ramen at Benkei Ramen. Now, I can't be sure that I wouldn't have disliked them anyway without the rotting whale flesh smell jar, but I have eaten plenty of Chinese bamboo shoots. Anyhow, I just made another attempt yesterday to eat the bamboo shoots after having made that taste connection during the previous ramen meal. I now know to say "hold the bamboo shoot" when ordering ramen. I have never been one to ask to hold anything that came with a meal I wanted anywhere, so this is disappointing. And think about it, bamboo shoot isn't even a sea organism, so why do they smell/taste the same? And I usually make it a rule to give things the ole' three tries before rejecting anything since so many things are acquired tastes, but I'm at the point where I'm just too repulsed by the association. Maybe I'll give it a try in the future when I'm not exposed to rotting whale flesh so often.

Oh, and by the way, Benkei Ramen is great. I've now tried both the Robson location on Thurlowe St., just off Robson, and the 3217 W. Broadway location. Nice noodle texture, and a hot, hearty meal under $10, which will be especially satisfying once the rain comes back. And should you be curious about my particular association, I've got a great rainy day plan for you - spend a morning at the Biodiversity museum, and then have a nice bowl of ramen in Kits right after.

Looking for Sophistication and Refinement?

Perhaps you have had too many sloppy burgers lately, or you've been going to restaurants with toddlers flinging crayons and wait staff singing manic birthday songs. Are you craving a very civilized dining experience? I had afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge at the Shangri-La Hotel (1128 West Georgia, at Thurlowe) recently. Service was perfect. The food was tasty (though perhaps not as remarkable as the pastries and sandwiches at The Secret Garden Tea Company in Kerrisdale, which remains my favourite high tea spot). And the room and china was beautiful. It is about $36/person, and reservations are required. The high tea is offered between 1-5 pm.

I have also had lunch upstairs at Market by Jean-Georges as well. Their sable fish with a miso based glaze is so wonderfully tasty.

They have a selection of $35 prix fixe lunches with two dishes and a dessert. I had the below a while ago, but I do remember it being very tasty. There is beef rendang in the picture below. There are lots of Asian influences, and it all works fairly well. And you're going to get the amazing service you expect with a fine hotel. Treat yourself (and your dining companions) to some serenity.

The School "Cafeteria" Has Good Food?!?

It does if you are an international ESL student and your school cafeteria/restaurant/bar is Eh! Restaurant, on the second floor, on Alberni St. just off of Thurlowe St. It's staffed by the international students, and the food is fantastic and great value. I've eaten there several times, and love their deals too. Steak Fridays give you steak and prawns for $10.50. There's Tuesday movie and dinner for $14.95, where you can have a very nice mixed grill with grilled lamb chop, beef tenderloin and garlic prawns, complete with veggies and potato, plus a movie certificate good for a year! I've had their onion rings, and they were fantastic.

The drinks are great value too. There are cheap and delicious drinks like a freshly muddled mojito for $4.25 or daily drink specials (under $5!) like Caipirinha - even better when mine was mixed up strong and authentic by a Brazilian. The taste is on par or better than any restaurant in town, and imagining the trendy socialites buying their drinks at 2 -4 times the price next door at Coast restaurant makes me giddy.

The room is comfortable, casual, and even has free wifi (when I was there last).

The down side? As of writing this post, they are only open until 7 pm Monday to Friday, and closed on weekends and civic holidays. However, they are open early, so if you are looking for some bacon and eggs in that area, or a great huevos rancheros platter, you're in luck.

It's No Secret

Had a delicious afternoon tea at the Secret Garden Tea Company (Kerrisdale, Blvd, off of 41st Ave). Every tiny bite, from the little roasted vegetable sandwiches on wee little perfect cheese scones to the lemon tart, was delicious. And of course the tea itself was grand. I had their vanilla almond black tea. Service was perfect and atmosphere very relaxing. It's a place I recommend often, but don't make a point to go myself often enough.

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Wimaan Thai Restaurant

So much flavour packed into the red curry with pork that I ordered! It was so good. I also had a really good padd thai. I was going to stop there, but I was tempted by the server telling me that the fried banana was really good. It was fantastic. Nice and crispy, served with vanilla ice cream. The place was very relaxing, but I'm not sure why they weren't busy when their food is so good. I'm definitely going back to Wimaan. It's on Broadway, just west of Oak St.

Olympia

With a late night at work, I was so hungry, I thought I was going to finish my entire roast lamb platter at Olympia on Denman. I almost did, but still had a little left to take home. It was a very satisfying comfort food meal.

Best Thing I've Eaten in Weeks - Irashai's sushi

I had this delicious sushi roll at Irashai Grill on Pender St., just off of Broughton St. (1368 West Pender, 604-688-8697) in the Coal Harbour area. It was called the Black Eel Roll ($11.95), and had mango, avocado and cucumber in the middle, with a magical tempura eel (unagi) on top. The tempura was perfectly crispy, with a super thin batter, still hot, with all the other ingredients complimenting rather than confusing matters.

Irashai is laid back, stylish, and has killer cocktails, along with their amazing sushi and hot dishes. The simple things are done very well too, like the perfect texture of their noodles in the beef yaki udon ($7.25) that I had. Their vinagrettes tend to be a bit on the subtle side for me and are more French-inspired, than Japanese (I like a bit more acid), but still tasty - served on the side for their sashimi salad (about $12).

It's tucked away in Coal Harbour, and does feel a bit like a neighbourhood locals hangout, which in this neighbourhood means it's not cheap and everything feels very "VIP" as they say on their website, but I think the prices are fair and worth it based on the food quality alone. It's easy for me to get carried away, but they have some really nice set dinners for about $17 too.

But it's comfy too. There are swanky red suede-like upholstered semi-circle booths, but several flatscreens around the room too, so it manages to look expensive without being formal. It looks like a good date restaurant if you're looking for something classy that will impress your date yet still has interesting food. They've managed to combine that lux North American casual fine dining comfort (big cushy chairs, big everything) with good quality Japanese cuisine.

Chau

Just a short note to say that I approve of Chau Kitchen and Bar (604-682-8020, 1500 Robson St. at Nicola St.), a Vietnamese Restaurant on Robson that's gotten some good press. Fitting for its location, it's a little pricier than what I'm used to for a typical pho spot, and the decor is a lot prettier. They are going for a modern take on the Vietnmese Restaurant, and now you can have your pho in trendy surroundings with ambient electronica in the background, a cute flower on your table, and friendly service. On a quiet late afternoon for lunch, I had my choice of the "brick side or the pink side." I ate a decent rice noodle bowl with lemon grass chicken, and a nice deep fried taro roll (with the crisp texture of those roll dips that I like so much). I also had a salad roll with prawns, and they put a little crunch in the middle and have a subtler sour sauce, rather than a sweet gooey peanut sauce to dip it in. I appreciated the difference, but I have to admit that I like those thick gooey peanut sauces. I ended up with a Vietnamese coffee. I would definitely go back. All the veggies were fresh and crunchy, and everything was beautiful, and if you get a window seat or a spot on the patio, it's great for people watching. A part of me wishes I could have one those dirt cheap places nearby too as an option in the West End, but if dirt cheap means that the place feels a bit dirty, then Chau is a welcome and refreshing move away from that.

Spot Prawn Tip

So fresh, live spot prawns have popped up on everyone's menu, which is great. My suggestion would be to get to a Mui Garden before the season is over, and order yourself (at least) a couple of pounds. There are four locations, and the ones fried and then tossed in soy sauce were so good last year at the Burnaby location on North Road that it was my Dad's Father's Day choice this year. I'm looking forward to it, and will verify after Sunday night whether they are still as good as we remember. Oh, and feel relatively good about eating them too - local, lived a wild life (except for the brief period they are kept alive in the tanks at the Chinese restaurants before cooking), and are sustainably caught.

Cinnamon Buns

I love a good cinnamon bun. It's one of my favourite baked goods. I think I've liked them since I was a kid, but really got addicted to them while I was a student at UBC. Sadly, as far as I can tell, the food services there these days doesn't have the same amazing, warm, pillowy, mass of sticky bread-y goodness that I remember from my student days. Or perhaps they are just more difficult to find now. I can go two ways with the buns. I like them as puffy and light as possible (like the old UBC recipe, or I like pastry dough versions that are nice and flaky and light. That leaves out the more common denser version. The photo above is from a nice weekday morning at Uprising Breads (1697 Venables just west of Commercial St., 604-254-5635. I love cinnamon buns both with and without icing. This nice fluffy one had lots of icing and raisins, and was huge. I had a great cup of coffee there, sitting at one of the tables, watching a steady stream of cheery people stopping in for their morning coffee to go and baked goods. The place had a great energy, and lots of goodies to choose from.

I've also had a decent cinnamon bun from Mom 'N Pop's Bake Shoppe in Kerrisdale (2068 W. 41st Avenue at East Boulevard, 604-261-2338).

So, I'm always in search of a good cinnamon bun. Let me know if you've found a source.

Red-legged Millipede Cake

When I see a chocolate bundt cake with dark chocolate glaze, I see a red-legged millipede waiting to be released.

It's A Small World: Flavour-Seeking Culture Sponges Descend Upon Vancouver's Ethnic Restaurants

Mutton Rolls at JR's Taste of Ceylon

Can you differentiate the subtleties of Sri Lankan food from other South Indian cuisines? Or perhaps you simply want to meet other people who care about such things? A new dinner club on Meetup.com, the popular social networking website, provides an opportunity for local food lovers to gather together and learn about cuisines of the world. Meetup.com was founded in 2001 and now boasts over 5.7 million members world-wide, and over sixty-six thousand groups meeting in person in their local communities to explore common interests. The Flavour-Seeking Culture Sponges is one of the many groups dedicated to food topics, and takes full advantage of the cultural diversity in Vancouver Restaurants.

Exploring the fantastic array of ethnic restaurants in Vancouver is like eating your way around the world, but without the jet lag and the neck pillow. In a city where many diners already like to think of themselves as culturally saavy and knowledgeable about ethnic food, this dinner club seems to be discovering new foods and tasting its way around the city without any danger of running out of adventures. They are finding small, authentic, and off-the beaten path establishments. Shame on you if you live in this mecca of international flavours and find yourself going to the same casual fine dining chain over and over.

Marty, the cordial host and founder of this group, has a wealth of knowledge to share, and points to his belly for proof, saying "No, I'm not pregnant. I just know about food." He is the self-appointed tour guide on this trip, and he started this group on January 29th, 2010. The beauty of the internet as a networking tool is how quickly it works. Although it's been less than two months, there have been seven events so far, and to date, 152 members have joined. The group is made up of people of various age groups and backgrounds, and yet their common enthusiasm for food spills out in typical dinner conversation topics such as cross-border cheese shopping. They have gastronomically explored Vietnam, Bosnia, and Ethiopia. They have also surveyed a variety of Indian cuisines, noting the variations between Pakistani, Punjabi, Tamil (South Indian) and Sri Lankan food.

For a recent meetup, thirty-four people came out to fill up the small family-run restaurant J.R.'s Taste of Ceylon (3929 Knight St. just off Kingsway, relocated from their previous Fraser St. restaurant, 604-708-3008). The Sponges feasted on a specially-prepared meal that introduced the group to Sri Lankan cuisine with milder spicing and plenty of friendly explanation to ensure the meal was approachable for newbies. The group was told that the food of Sri Lanka is normally extremely spicy, more so than other Indian regions, and many seem to be thankful for the restaurant's mercy. Although the restaurant has South Indian, Malaysian and Singaporean dishes on its menu as well, distinctive Sri Lankan dishes were the focus of the evening. Hot, crunchy finger foods called "short eats" started the meal as the forty participants of this event trickled in and introduced themselves to one another. These snacks included mutton rolls, tasty little deep-fried packages filled with spiced mutton and potato. For main dishes, several Sri Lankan style curries were served, including those made of beets, chickpeas and coconut milk, eggplant, and cabbage along with the chicken dish. Brown and white Sri Lankan rices and a labour-intensive multi-step ground rice dish accompanied the curries. The staff presented with pride their Sri Lankan specialties such as the delicate bowl-shaped "hoppers" made from a fermented batter of rice flour, coconut milk and palm wine. Dessert included a steamed pudding made with the sap of the Kitul palm tree. The owner described it as Sri Lanka's version of maple syrup.

In a world where technology and urbanization threaten to further isolate us from our neighbours, this group is a delightful example of the internet contributing to a sense of local community and being used to actually bring people together, in real life. The Flavour-Seeking Culture Sponges seem to have some momentum going, and you might spot them breaking bread together in your favourite ethnic restaurant soon.

Yummy-a-Day: Pourhouse Cocktail

Ginger Beer Man and I popped into Pourhouse in Gastown for drinks at the bar last night. A truly delightful barkeep took care of us, and he was clearly passionate about the craft. He made a delicious "white" cocktail ($12) for me from their simplified Olympics menu, which honours the Canadian flag colours. It had gin, Lillet Blanc, white chocolate, and lemon. I love the twenties style and vibe there. They also had the intriguing Fentimen's Ginger Beer, an old-fashioned botanical brew that uses juniper and yarrow extracts.

Oops, Pho Pas!*

Okay, I feel a bit duped. I should have known better. I could tell something was up. I saw some subtle signs that made my foodie senses tingle. Of course, I didn't pay enough attention to them. Little details about the appearance seemed a bit out of place. The sign out front was gone. The prices had gone up. Some of the tackiest neon decorations were missing and I think the tables changed their cloths like they were trying to impress a different person. I was suspicious and confronted the server about it - I came right out and asked if there was someone else...new owners maybe, or new manager... but he didn't understand my question, and so I didn't really get an answer. Miscommunication. Maybe we can still make this work, I thought to myself. Maybe I'm being paranoid. I should give this a chance. I went ahead and sat down in the completely empty Vinada Vietnamese Restaurant (1260 Robson St, between Bute and Jervis) and hoped for the best. I've spent many a happy quick meal here before...maybe their management is different, but it still might be good, I thought. But things have changed. This is not my "beautiful" pho shop. Okay, the shop was never that beautiful, I have to admit, but the food was. Unfortunately, it's the food that has really changed, and the shop looks more or less the same.

Though, once you've sat down, there's really no turning back, is there? I had an uneasy feeling about it, but I kept talking each of the red flags down to size. None of the old servers were anything to pine over (it always seemed to be someone's kid who didn't really know how to interact with people), so maybe they just changed staff, I thought optimistically. That's not a bad thing. And the guy that was there there actually seemed like a slight improvement. I saw that they are still using the same extensive menu (same choices, same photos), just with the prices bumped up. After all, it IS Robson Street, tourist central right in the middle of the Olympic hooplah, so paying a bit more than your typical pho shop isn't really that surprising. It's still going to be cheaper than the average meal in the area. I'll pay ten bucks for my vermicelli combo with those fluffy-crisp roll dips that I get the urge for once in a while.

Hell, if I've dragged my friend, Chicken Curry Man all over Burnaby on a desperate 3 am quest for one, an extra buck is not really that much trouble. I'm sure you can picture it: we're driving out to the 'burbs to satisfy a very specific craving, and found ourselves on a wacky adventure, facing all manner of obstacles (well, except for running into Neil Patrick Harris...that would have been cool) and those other spring rolls would just not do. I need the thick ones with the bubbly crispy wrapper and stuffed with vermicelli. Yes, it could have been a fantastically fresh road trip movie with the rare Chinese and Southeast Asian representation: "Dumpling Girl and Chicken Curry Man Go To Pho House"...nahhh, a movie like that would never work, eh?

Anyhow, back on track. Normally, I try to focus on reviews of restaurants that I have enjoyed and generally recommend. I’m not really sadistic, and I know that the Vancouver restaurant business is tough enough without every yahoo online nitpicking every minor detail of every restaurant experience. But today, I feel like I actually need to warn people about this place...think of it as a friendly neighbourhood public service announcement from me to you. I don't want anyone else who might have gone to the previous place to feel cheated or misled. I've been there many a time in the past, but not for quite a few months, and went in expecting a nice, solid Vietnamese vermicelli combo. I mean, it's not rocket science, is it? Even all the mall food court Vietnamese stands make something I like to eat, though not quite as large, fresh, and tasty as a bowl made to order at this place before the change.

I still got free tea. But the bowl came out with the greasiest spring rolls that I have ever had in a restaurant, even though they are still using the old menu that pictures the roll dip. No fresh crunch bean sprouts were there. The lettuce and veggies were okay, but it seemed like it the cucumber was pickled instead of crisp and fresh. The worst part was the grilled pork. It had the look and dried out consistency of something that had been left out from the night before and re-microwaved, rather than the succulent treat that freshly grilled pork should be. The rice noodles were fine, and maybe it was me, but they felt a bit old too. They did include two large prawns with the meal which were okay. And there was plenty of everything. And, yes, I ate it. But it is NOT in the same league as the place before, and I would rather have food from a food court. I actually felt badly for being visible in the window as various tourists passed by the place contemplating it for dinner. I wanted to have a sign to wave around saying, "No! I am not recommending this place, I was duped! This is not representative of the quality of ethnic cuisine in town."

Anyhow, I can't see it lasting the way it is now. I imagine they'll still get lots of walk-by traffic from unsuspecting tourists (which I think is sad, because you can hardly walk a block downtown without bumping into something worthwhile to eat). The least I can do is warn my dear Nancylanders, and hope the restaurant people either figure things out (like how to get the oil in their deep fryer to the right temperature so that the spring rolls don't come out greasy), or that someone else takes a shot at that location.

In contrast, change of management does not have to be a bad thing. On a happier note, I have just come out of La Crepe Bretagne just a couple of blocks away on Jervis St., off Robson (another old favourite that I haven’t been to in a while), and while there’s new management there, you can still get the same yummy crepes that were there before.

*Just a note to say that the correct pronunciation of pho (with a short “uh” sound) wrecks the intended French pun (there are plenty of French influences in Vietnamese food because of the country's French colonial history), unlike the much better and just as appropriate “What the Pho?” but I didn’t want to steal the line from the Seattle establishment that Bleuet told me about. Bottom line, Vinada is all pho’d up now.