gracecheung604 | write on time: October 2020

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

TGIF at Miku

On a sunny day in October, we decided to head downtown for lunch at Miku. It's been a while since I've been there and was definitely overdue for another visit. We had originally requested a table outside but the weather had taken a turn for the worse and they accommodated us with a table inside. 
drinks
Nothing starts a lunch better than a few cocktails. I'm a huge fan of old-fashioneds or negronis, so this Golden Hour Manhattan ($21) made with 
saffron infused toki Japanese whisky, bénédictine, odd society bittersweet vermouth and grapefruit bitters was a perfect option. 
The boy opted for the Cucumber Gimlet ($17) made with beefeater gin, fresh cucumber juice and lime. It was a nice elevation to the usual Gin & Soda and something I can try to make at home. Both drinks were strong and packed a punch. 

We decided to share the Lunch Shokai ($41) which starts off with their miso soup. The miso broth is topped with a touch of enoki mushrooms and wakame. Warm start to lunch!

appetizer
The lunch special also comes with two starters. One was the beef shank and the other option was a fish fritter. Since we were avoiding beef, they graciously offered to swap that out with their sablefish appetizer instead. 
appetizer1
This Fish Fritter with their homemade tartar sauce reminded both of us of a Filet'o'Fish. This is not a complaint, as we are both fans of the McD's favourite. The fish was tender and juicy with an airy batter. The sauce was creamy and tart and actually made a great dressing for the greens. 
appetizer2
This Sablefish was amazing. Just a hint of crunch on the skin and super buttery texture. It was mildly flavoured with a touch of smokiness. 

Now onto the star of the show...their assorted traditional and Aburi oshi, rolls, and nigiri, 10 pieces in all. Salmon, ebi, tuna, toro and more. Everything was good and we actually managed to share most of the nigiri. My chopstick cutting skills are pretty impressive. Every bite was tasty and I didn't even miss the wasabi.

dessert
Now I'm not usually a dessert person but you can add this petit Green Tea Opera (+$7) bite to complete your lunch set. Although I was going to pass on this, when I saw plate after plate of this arrive]ing at nearby tables, I knew we had to get it. As per their website, this is is green tea génoise, matcha butter cream, dark chocolate ganache, azuki bean cream, hazelnut wafer and matcha ice cream. As the description would indicate...this was creamy. It was a great way to end a wonderful lunch.
On a side note, our waitress was amazing...she had lots of stories about the A-listers that swing through Miku on the regular.  

Monday, October 19, 2020

Happy Hour at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar

Oh how I long for patio weather...back in August, when we were gently lifting the quarantine, we ventured out to Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar. Grateful for the good weather, we managed to easily socially distance on the patio. 
I've always been a fan of Spicy Margaritas ($8) (first discovered at Tacofino) but they didn't have this on the menu. Fortunately, the bartender improvised with fresno chilies since they didn't have jalepeno peppers. This was good and makes me want to make my own chili-infused tequila. Doesn't seem hard, right? We can totally do this!
Well, it IS an oyster bar...so we must have Oysters ($2/ea). These were creamy and sweet. I do like my oysters on the small side, one-bite wonders. How do you eat your oysters? I drain any residual juice from the shell, then give it a squirt of lemon juice and just a bit of the mignonette and a touch of horseradish. I used to add Tobasco sauce all the time but lately, I find that it overwhelms the delicate flavours of the oyster so have been leaving it out. 
These Chicken Wings ($12) were one of the first things I've ever had here and I just had to get them again. The umami comes from the nuoc cham or fish sauce caramel. And no, it's not fishy. It's nice and crunchy with some heat coming from a bit of sambal chili paste.  The sweetness of the coating is mitigated by the pickled veg. Get two orders because it's hard to split three wings amongst two people...
Although not always on the menu, this Lobster Mac and Cheese is worth trying if available as a daily special. I love the gratin topping, it gives the dish a nice crunchy texture which contrasts the creaminess of the mac and cheese. 
There's plenty of lobster here and it's a dish best shared because it can get a bit heavy if you try to eat the whole thing yourself. The flavours were a bit mild and the dish could have probably used a touch more cheese. Nonetheless, it's a good appetizer and a bit more satisfying than just oysters and wings. 

They have $2 oysters during happy hour and 20% off bottles of wine as well. 

Friday, October 16, 2020

Homemade Aglio e Olio with Prawns

Once in while, you might see some recipes here when I actually cook at home. I don't create recipes, I simply adapt ones that I find on other blogs, websites and from my cookbook collection.  

Aglio e Olio with Prawns - By The Canadian Living Test Kitchen  

Serves: 2  
Ingredients 
2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil  
3 cloves garlic, minced  
1/2 teaspoon salt  
1 teaspoon hot pepper flakes  
1 pound large prawns (16-20 ct/lb), peeled and deveined  
6-8 ounces pasta  
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley  
2 tablespoon shredded parmesan

Directions 
  1. Make pasta, drain and reserved a cup of pasta water. (I'm going to assume you know how to do this, don't prove me wrong.) 
  2. In a large skillet, heat oil over low heat; cook garlic, salt and hot pepper flakes, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes or until garlic is light golden but do not let it get brown. 
  3. Increase heat to medium-high. Add prawns to skillet; stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly pink and opaque. Sprinkle in parsley and toss.
  4. Add drained pasta to skillet, along with a cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss until water is almost absorbed and dish onto bowls.
  5. Sprinkle with parmesan shreds and serve. 
The very top photo is my second attempt. This one here is my first attempt and the prawns didn't get as good a colour as I wanted but the taste was there. Since I made a small portion to test, I made another batch a few days later for the top photo. The second time, I let the prawns fry a bit longer before I added the pasta the second time. And I didn't have parsley either time so just subbed with green onions for colour and freshness. 

What I like about this dish is that you can use any pasta you want, long or short. The sauce is light, not creamy or tomato-y with just a touch of heat. And of course, if you want to substitute the prawns with another protein (chicken would be great) or remove it altogether, you can do that too!

Let me know if you give it a try and your thoughts! 

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Anchovies and so much more at Autostrada

When COVID-19 restrictions started lifting in late August, Autostrada was one of the first places I ventured out to try. They have two locations; Main and West Pender, both are taking reservations to observe social distancing guidelines. It was my first time at the Main St. location and I wanted to try everything!
Anchovy Toast
We started off with a few antipasti. The first one to arrive was the Anchovy on Focaccia ($12) with a few slices of pickled veg and a scattering of fresh herbs. I have always felt that anchovies are underrated as a food, but they really elevated this dish here. Meaty, salty and plentiful, the anchovies sit atop a bed of warm and crunchy focaccia, making for very satisfying starter.
Burrata_Prosiutto
If prosciutto is on the menu, chances are I will order it and this time was no different. This appetizer arrived with Cuor di Burrata ($32). Super creamy and buttery in texture, the cheese is served with just a sprinkle of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. There are some fresh herbs and nuts (I think they were hazelnuts?) but burrata stole the show.
Be sure to get some extra Focaccia ($7) to truly enjoy this. 
Trust me, you'll need this for the next dish!
Polpette
Our final appetizer was the Polpette al Sugo ($15) made from a blend of ground beef and pork with a pomodoro sauce and some pecorino shavings. The meatballs are juicy and savory, with a nice tanginess from the sauce and a hint of saltiness from the cheese. That focaccia comes in handy here too!  
Tagliatelle
Now, I can't go to an Italian restaurant without sampling some of their pastas and they have quite a large variety here. I went for the Tagliatelle Bolognese ($23), for some traditional comfort food. The sauce tasted like it was cooked for days and had a creaminess I don't usually find in bolognese sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly and had a nice al dente texture. The parm shavings completed the dish. Sometimes, I ask for a bit of chili flakes but I didn't see the need for it here.  
Cappelletti
The second pasta we shared was their Ripiena ($24) which was their daily stuffed pasta. I'm not usually a fan of stuffed pastas (like ravioli or tortellini) but when the server described it, we couldn't resist it. The special was cappelletti stuffed with halibut in a spot prawn broth. It was fresh, light, seasonal and fantastic. I find that in most restaurants, if the chef makes an effort to create daily specials, it's usually worth a try. 
PizzelleLimone
And yes, we actually got dessert too! As with prosciutto, if there is a lemon/lime dessert on the menu, we're getting it. This Pizzelle Limone ($7) is so pretty and delicious that it needs three photos to do it justice. The snowflake pattern is so pretty and the dusting of icing sugar made it look heavenly. Psst, I found some of these cookies at London Drugs or you can buy a pizzelle maker at Bed, Bath and Beyond for ~$60. 
PizzelleLimone
Sandwiched between the three cookies are swirls of lemon crema. Light and flavourful, this was a good way to end this meal. But wait, there's more! 


Hidden in the middle was a generous serving of blueberry filling. This was a nice surprise! All in all, I'd say this was a great meal and I'll definitely be back to try our more pastas. 
They have a risotto with braised short rib that I need to try and also the garganelli with lamb ragu. Oh, and they have tiramisu too! And if you are dining alone, be sure to grab a seat at their cozy bar. 

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Pizza and Gelato at Gusto

Earlier this month, I met a friend in Olympic Village for a quick snack in the afternoon. I haven't explored much of the area in recent months, but am forcing myself to head down there more frequently. When my friend suggested Gusto - A Taste of Italy when I said that I was craving gelato, I was eager to give this a try.

I hadn't eaten lunch yet so decided to try out one of their pizzas, before moving on to dessert. They pride themselves on serving up Authentic Italian Scrocchiarella. It's almost the opposite of a thin crust artisanal-type pizza. The crispy Roman-style pizza has a great crust with a decent amount of chew. Scrocchiarella is as specific type of flour and crust is reminiscent of focaccia. 

I wanted something light, so opted for the Prosciutto e Rucola ($10.99). They serve it warmed up and the rectangular-shaped is one classic trait of Roman-style pizza. It was really good, the crust was doughy and chewy, perfect for me as I love pizza crust. I will eat yours if you let me! And the toppings (prosciutto, arugula, signature sauce and parmigiana) were plentiful and very fresh. I thought it was good value for the price. I only ate half and took the rest to-go. I had to save room for the real reason I was there, gelato!

Now, time for some Gelato Artigianale! Their chefs are from Italy and the machines are flown in from Italy as well. I chose to enjoy mine in a cone. There are so many flavours to choose from and you're allowed to try three before making your choice. The Pistachio one was highly recommended, but I am not really a fan of the nut. There was also a Caramelized Fig one with figs flown in from Sicily. 

Finally, I decided on the Cioccolato Fondente ($5.95), described as Dark and Dangerous on the website. It's a blend of black cocoa, 85% chocolate and 72% chocolate. I was in heaven and did not want the treat to end.

There are quite a few things I'll probably come back and try. They have a wide variety of Antipasti, such as Bruschetta, Salads as well as a Cheese Board. In addition to gelato, they also have other treats for your sweet tooth, such as biscotti, cannoli, flakey croissants (plain or filled with butter cream or Nutella). There are tarts, mousse cakes and so much more. They have a selection of both cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. 

Oh, and they have Happy Hour 3-6pm Monday - Friday.

Brunch at Jam Cafe

Partially due to time constraints, this blog was essentially abandoned in 2015. Now with COVID-19, I find myself occasionally eating out with lots of time to write again. 
Welcome back! Finally, I have the time to write and you have the time to read. 
The (re)new(ed) blog will not be just all restaurant reviews, though there will be some. I have been cooking at home during this crazy time and a recipe or two might come through as well.  So grab a coffee or drink (coffee, beer or cocktail) and have a read. 

I've been to Jam Cafe on Beatty a few times but never gave their Kits location a try. Last week, taking advantage of the nice weather, we decided to have a late lunch there and then take a walk along Kits beach. Bonus: all day parking on Kits beach is only $7.10 during October 1 - March 31. (City of Vancouver Link
My friend had The Old Town Breakfast ($15) with your basic two eggs your way, choice of sourdough or multigrain toast, choice of bacon, sausage, ham or avocado (if you must). But seriously, it's all about the hash browns here. Medium poached eggs with some chives, bacon and multigrain toast was the selection of the day. Oh, and of course, strawberry jam, you're at Jam Cafe afterall...
I decided to go with the Blackstone Benny ($17 for mine, $14 for a half-size), with the sugar cured bacon. I found the bacon to be very tasty and it was quite plentiful as well. I usually get the hollandaise on the side, but forgot to mention it this time. The addition of the roasted tomatoes added an unexpected juiciness to the English muffin. The eggs had a bit of parmesan shavings as well as the hollandaise. And of course, the delicious hash browns. 
This was way too much food for me and I asked for the take out box as soon as the plate arrived. Pro tip: the box is a bit shallow so make sure you move the egg off the English muffin so it won't get squished. 

I've heard that there are long waits on the weekend and I don't think the food is worth the wait. However, we went at 2:15pm (they close at 3pm) and were seated quickly, even with the social distancing guidelines.


Jam Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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