SUIKA, JAPANESE IZAKAYA RESTAURANT

Deluxe Suika Box:  Suika’s Appetizer sampler box.

Yes, it was very good…and appetizing!  I had  to order the sampler because I love variety!  The portion sizes were not too bad...served in little sake cups in a lacquer box. It was a gorgeous presentation.

Negitoro sashimi appetizer.  Lots of fresh tuna in a delicious sauce; topped with scallions. 

Chicken karaage.  Crispy nicely fried moist boneless chicken. 

Corn Kakiage:  like a corn tempura.  My favourite dish of the night! Fresh niblets lightly battered and nicely seasoned...they were so addictive!

Beef Filet fried rice with garlic.  Crispy fried garlic slices and tenderloin beef chunks! yum!

Oxtail ramen:  my girl loves ramen.  The broth is super rich.  Definitely nice beefy flavour with chunks of meat throughout.

Matcha Creme Brulee.  This is not like a real creme brulee in that it is frozen.  It’s like matcha ice cream in texture but cut into it with a spoon...and it's hard because it's frozen!   It tastes like matcha creme brulee.  Neat! The crunchy brulee is caramelized sugar and there’s a dusting of matcha on the plate.

Pumpkin creme brulee…a seasonal dessert in a tiny single-serving size.

Creamy, pumpkin-y, yummy!

We each had a complimentary frozen grape at the end.  The girls scarfed their two grapes down before I could get a shot of all the grapes.  Something so simple can be so refreshing!

The bottle chandelier.  Cool!

Service was attentive and the atmosphere really neat.  The colours were dark and decor was modern and funky.  I loved the attention to presentation of the food. I also enjoyed trying all the different menu items and look forward to coming back to try other dishes...like the Chinese poutine.  I wasn't in the mood for fusion tonight; maybe next time!
 

Suika is located on W. Broadway.  There is plenty of metered parking out front. 

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FAUBOURG PARIS, KERRISDALE, FOR PINK HIGH TEA

The Pink High Tea:  Service for Two.


Faubourg’s window display from the outside.




The reservations for High Tea are seated at the back of the bakery.  The front is the cafe area.


Look up.  Isn’t the chandelier pretty?

The reservations area is located next to the kitchen.  You can take a peek at what’s going on through the window and sometimes when the door swings open.

French  Breakfast Blend.

Mini Lemon Tart.  Crusted with large sugar crystals.

Yogurt Parfait.  A bit tart with fresh berries and a granola crumble

Berry Souffe.  You’re ordered to eat this one first as it will fall.

Chocolate Mousse.  Creamy, lovely, dark.

I forgot what this was.  I think it was a mini gingerbread muffin or a spice muffin. It wasn’t so tender.  I didn’t like it.

Chicken salad sandwich.

Smoked salmon pinwheel.

Poppyseed crusted sandwiches filled with roast meat.

Poppyseed lemon scones served with clotted cream and a little jar of preserves.  Delicious, tender and the sugar crust was crunchy-sweet.

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FLO TEA ROOM, MARPOLE

Short Ribs and Prawns.  Served with a Mushroom Sauce on the side.

The veggies were an extra add-on.  The prawns were grilled just perfectly in the shells.  The short ribs were good and seasoned perfectly.  Good portions.   Good value. Rating:  5/6


The AAA Prime Rib was Medium Rare, as requested.



Prime Rib special $12.95 comes with an onion sauce.  Good deal.  Nice chunk of meat.  Tasty.  This comes with soup of the day.  Rating:  5/6


Soup of the day:  pork bone broth with green daikon and almonds.  Comes with the prime rib special.  Rating:  6/6 (flavourful, but didn’t go that well with the prime rib)

Fire on Ice Slush.  Lychee on the bottom, and some fruity orangey red stuff on top...Mango and Peach maybe? Grenadine?  I think.  The kiddies fought over who could drink it.  Then when I told them they had to share, it was all about who sipped more during their turn.  To resolve the issue, I said that I’d drink it all so they couldn’t fight over it anymore.


Ham and Egg Sandwich.  We asked for cheese to be added.  It was a good idea.  The fries were crispy.  Rating:  5/6 (would be a 6/6 if they grilled it instead of toasted it)

We've visited both Flo's and think the Vancouver one is better.  We like the setting...it's more fresh.  The food is slightly better and the plating is nicer.  The one in Richmond was okay but didn't particularly impress in any area.  The first few times we visited the Vancouver location, the service was pretty bad but the food was quite good.  Stomach is all about a deal and thought the value was there. So we came back a few more times just to make sure the kitchen was consistent.  They are.   The portions are bigger than Cafe Gloucester and Copa Cafe.  The menu selection is different and they do serve neat drinks.  They have specialty slushies and bubble teas too.

This last time we went, we had perfect service and a perfectly yummy meal.  The value was good and we were very happy.  I think they hire a lot of students.  So it's hit and miss with whether you get good service or not.  Some have no idea that they need to take empty plates/dishes away and top up tea etc. They avoid eye contact and wander around seemingly focused on one task, not realizing that they can do things more quickly if they multi-task.  However, this one waiter we have...he had spiky dyed-brown hair...I like him.  He didn't screw up our orders (unlike the previous wait-staff) and he was friendly, smart and efficient.   I'll be seeking him out next time.

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BBQ DUCK 24/7! No. 9 Restaurant, Richmond

This big ol’ bowl of BBQ Duck on Rice is the only reason I go to No. 9 Restaurant, located in Lansdowne Mall, Richmond.



The restaurant in open 24 hours, every day of the week.  I know that if I ever have a craving for BBQ Duck, that I could fill up here!

The BBQ Duck is served with plum sauce and a small bowl (not a little soy sauce bowl) full of the duck gravy.  It’s like the soy-based duck juices all combined and you pour it all over your rice.  OMG.  No. 9 is the only restaurant I know that gives you a whole bowl full to go with your order of rice.   

This is the only BBQ Duck on Rice that I crave for.  The duck isn’t all bones and skin.  You get actual chunks of meat.  The skin isn’t riddled with feathers as someone took the care to prepare it properly.  It’s crispy on the outside and tender, succulent inside.                        Rating:  6/6


Pork Balls in Noodle Soup.  Rating:  4/6

We rarely ever order any dish here (other than the BBQ Duck) that overwhelmingly impresses us.  The food is filling and the portions are pretty big. However, you also pay a higher price for the bigger portions.
The best deal is still the BBQ Duck on Rice. 


Choy Sum.  Oyster sauce is served on the side.  Rating:  4/6


Congee with fish slices.  Rating:  4/6

If you're going to come here, order the BBQ Duck on rice.  If you like Chinese soups, order the soup of the day.  They give you a heaping big pile of stuff that they fish out of the soup and serve alongside the soup along with a soy dip for all the soup bones.  It's a meal in itself.  Their food is consistently average.  Nothing fancy, but satisfactory.

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HOSHI SUSHI, KITSILANO

Spicy Tuna Sashimi            Rating:  5/6




California Roll, Negitoro Roll, Crab Cake nigiri                        Rating: 5/6


Gyoza.  Not so tasty.  Pasty filling.            3/6 


Golden Dragon Roll.  California Roll topped with Tempura Yam.  Yum  6/6


Here’s the pic showing the whole order of the Specialty Dragon Roll.


Chicken Karaage.  Wings (there were two more pieces but I couldn’t snap the pic in time).  5/6


Beef Udon.     Good tender pieces of meat.  5/6


Oyster Motoyaki.  Creamy with sliced mushrooms.  Rating:  5/6

Hoshi Sushi is a little restaurant with very narrow booths.  Despite being squished, I quite enjoyed my meal.  There seemed to be a  lot of takeout orders lined up and the kitchen was hopping busy.  The one waitress was running around tending to the phone, the restaurant customers' orders and the takeouts.  She was fast and did her best.  I have no complaints.   I think I heard some Cantonese in the kitchen? perhaps the cook back there?  I don't know about the sushi chef.  Anyway, the food was good.  The sushi was tasty and I was pleasantly surprised.   We will be back another time when we're in the neighbourhood.

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