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Creative horizons

Review Snippet

Overall: Great View! Pretty decent food!

Food: Pacific Northwest

Price: $15-$30

Ambience: Charming

Horizons Restaurant

100 Centennial Way

Burnaby, BC

V5A 2X9

Telephone: 604-299-1155

Seafood Chowder

This was some good chowder! Packed with tons of seafood, the tomato-ishness of it was not too overpowering and it had a slightly thicker consistency than I'd expected.

Wild BC Salmon

I loved the spread of salad on the side, very crunchy, coupled with the softer potatoes! The salmon was a bit tough, but nevertheless still was a huge, filling portion.

Chicken Caesar Salad

The chicken was done really well, it wasn't too tough nor too soft, plus there was quite a portion of it in the salad. The salad was great, loved the cheese!

Seafood Crepe

What a heavy brunch this is. I thought this was excellent, I loved the gooey-ness inside coupled with the surrounding creamy gravy(heaven)! Plus they gave a side of potatoes and fruits, who could ask for more..

New York Steak

The side of scrambled eggs was the best! It was really light, fluffy and well not too salty. Personally, I felt that the steak was a little tough, but then again we ordered it to be med-well, so I guess med-rare would have hit the spot.

Cappucino

Dad said it was good, so no questions asked.

Don't Keep Mum About Grand Dynasty's Dim Sum

Review Snippet

Overall: Pretty good Dim Sum in the Burnaby area; comparable to Kirin

Food: Dim Sum/ Chinese

Price: ~$20 per person

Ambiance: Typical Chinese restaurant atmosphere- noisy and busy (but it wouldn't be a Chinese restaurant otherwise)

Grand Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

4331 Dominion St.

Burnaby, BC V5G 1C7

Last Saturday, my family and I went to a Chinese New Year lunch and had the chance to try out a new Chinese restaurant in Burnaby. And I was so excited because I absolutely love Dim Sum! Its almost a passion, I swear. I don't even know why I love it so much but its probably the wide variety and the fact that each dish is a "little commitment". 

Grand Dynasty is within the vicinity of the Grand Villa Casino and definitely provides a good meal option, to splurge one's money (after hopefully walking out with deeper pockets). 

As usual, we over ordered, more so with the extensive menu...

Pan fried radish cake with XO sauce. So good! Perfectly crispy and not too oily, I especially loved the little friend XO bits. I certainly had to restrian myself from taking too many pieces!

Next was the pan fried halibut dish, with soya sauce. Tasty but nothing to rave about.

Steamed wild mushroom dumpling. I like this dish quite a bit, mostly because I like dumplings and mushrooms in general. Interesting presentation with the pea pod on top. The dumpling skin was nice and chewy- not too thick and starchy.

I don't remember what this dumpling was called and neither did we try it. Looks decent enough.

Steamed Chicken Bun. This was tasty, but the Char Siew version has always been my favourite.

My mum's favourite dish- Deep fried beancurd skin with mushrooms. This was quite good as well but I prefer the version at our other dim sum haunt, Sze Chuan Chong Qing Seafood Restaurant, near UBC.

Another family favorite- Siew Mai. These dumplings were juicy and well stuffed. Thumbs up!

One of the most memorable dishes- steamed sticky rice in lotus leaf. I have always liked this dish but my dad always says goes " no no, too much carbo" (lol my family is so scared of rice and carbs in general, its kind of funny). I'm glad we ordered it this time as this dish was so tasty! The rice was soft and fragrant, the filling was generous with lots of ingredients!

Other memorable items (which we failed to take pictures of):

BBQ pork bun- This was more of the bo luo bao, or pineapple bun, version and therefore sweeter, much to my great delight

Steamed spare ribs in black bean sauce- the meat was tender and sauce was perfectly salty

We also ordered two bowls of porridge- century egg & pork shreds and fish filet egg white- both were nothing to rave about but the portions were gigantic!

Needless to say, we were too full for dessert so I missed out on my favourite egg tarts (they even had a green tea version!) and mango pudding. Another reason to return.

All in all, a good dim sum place, with creative dishes. Grand Dynasty is worth a visit if you're ever in Burnaby, or need some reprieve from gambling! -Sara

Pho 99

Review Snippet

Overall: Standard pho; The branch at Pinetree Village is better

Food: Vietnamese

Price: Reasonable, $8-$10 per pax

Ambience: The wallpaper looked garrish

Pho 99 Vietnamese Noodle House

2991 Lougheed Highway, #62

604-472-1299

Chicken Wings and Espresso(Background)

We just can't go without ordering chicken wings! Well, this was quite a disappointment because the servings were really small, and it wasn't as crispy as it could've been! The coffee was excellent, I managed to stay up most of the night, in an attempt to study for my finals! It has served me well.

Vermicelli Bowl with Chicken and Spring Rolls

It was my first time ordering this, and I was really satisfied with it because it was really filling. The portion is solid enough for two people to share. There's an adequate share of chicken and spring rolls; this is an excellent well-rounded dish with your daily servings of protein, carbs and veggies!

Noodle Soup with Beef Flank

Having the traditional Vietnamese soup base, it was a little bit too salty for me. My preference is still the noodles with the beef stew, but this is a good substitute if people don't want something too potent.

Pork and Ham Submarine

It's like an ordinary sandwhich, but wrapped in a baguette. It's a decent alternative if you're tired of eating noodles or if you don't particularly want a rich dish.

-Isabel

The Flying Pig Took Me to Heaven and Back

Review Snippet

Overall: The service was far from spectacular but the food makes it a "will return" spot

Food: So good! West Coast cuisine

Price: A little on the pricey side; $30 per person incl. tax and tip

Ambiance: Romantic but a little noisy because of the small seating area

1168 Hamilton St.

604 568 1344

The Flying Pig immediately went up on my "To Eat List" posted back in December after Sohee and I failed to get in due to the hour long line up.

Finally, after some of my major final exams were done, we made a bee-line to The Flying Pig again. And this time, it was meant to be as we got there even later than before but only had to wait for 5 minutes! Lovely.

Located in the Yaletown-home-of- the-yuppies area, I never really found a reason to venture out there due to my shallow pockets (I was always more of a Gastown kinda gal anyway). But there is now a reason to return.

The top 2 dishes of my choice were the BBQ Wild King Salmon and the Veal Piccata. I liked that the salmon came with gnocchi and a pumpkin cream glaze, but was skeptical about the salmon itself as many places tend to overcook it. So I questioned our waiter quite a bit about the 2 dishes and probably pissed him off after choosing  the Salmon after his recommendation of the Veal. But whatever lol.

 And I definitely made the right choice. The salmon was perfectly cooked- soft and moist. And the sides of potato gnocchi with a creamy pumpkin glaze over top, so goood! Although this was a filling dish, I polished off almost all of it. 

Unlike me, Sohee was decisive. She went with the Wild Seafood Pappardelle with a spicy rose sauce. This also tasted as yummy as it looks, and there was a generous dose of seafood.


We ended off the night with the signature T.F.P Drumstick, which tasted like an ordinary ice-cream cone. I wished we got the maple sugar pie instead, but this gives me extra reason to return! They also serve brunch and I think I definitely want to make a trip back for a sampling of their daytime menu.


All in all, TFP is one of my top places in Yaletown to dine at. However, be prepared for the wait as they do not take reservations. -Sara

Kurumba

Part of what makes me proud of being Singaporean is the food. Unable to have authentic (and cheap) Singaporean fare in hawker centres like back home, I'm always on a look out for good little eateries that serve decent and reasonably priced Singaporean/Malaysian cuisine. The typical ones are Banana Leaf and Tropika, with Tropika on Cambie &14th Ave being my favourite. I need to do a review there.

Close to where I live is an independent eatery that my family likes to frequent. It is located in Port Moody, and is run by a Sri Lankan Chef who moved to Canada years ago. His restuarant was recently featured in the Vancouver Sun.

Review Snippet

Overall: Memorable and authentic food, good service

Price: Reasonable, $10-$15 per person

Food: Singaporean/ Malaysian/ South-east Asian (SEA)

Ambiance: Spacious, quaint with SEA-inspired furniture and decorations

3033 St. Johns Street.

Port Moody, BC

604-461-2245

A must-order for my family whenever we are there is the Seafood Hor Fun. Remember to ask for "Singaporean Style" as this version is not on the menu. For as long as I can remember, we always order this version such that I don't even know how the "regular" one tastes like. My dad, a hor fun expert always raves about how fresh their horfun (the rice noodles) is and wonders where they get it from. Plenty of tasty gravy and seafood. I love the soft and tender fish slices!

Beef rendang- a staple malay/ peranakan (term for the chinese-malay mixed race in Singapore) dish. Rich, thick curry and tender pieces of beef, this dish was pretty good. 

Spicy, garlic chicken wings. This was really tasty and we enjoyed it thoroughly, especially the garlic and onion bits/chips over top.

My order- sambal fish and egg plant. This was part of their lunch special and for $8, is such a deal! I had this once before and it has stuck with me ever since. The fish is nice and crispy and I love the sambal chilli paste served with it. They definitely could have been more generous with the eggplant though.

Overall, Kurumba Restaurant is highly recommended if you ever make a trip out to the tri-cities or live around the area!- Sara

Jimoco Cafe

Review Snippet 

Overall: Good value for hearty, tasty Italian fare

Food: Tasty, comfort food; Italian/ Korean fusion; Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Price: Very reasonable, especially their 2-for 1 pastas; $10/person (incl. tip and tax)

Ambience: Cosy and clean interior

Jimoco Cafe

1046 Austin Ave

Coquitlam, BC V3K 3P3

778-355-6729

Finally, another place to cross off my list! I went to Jimoco Cafe for lunch, after recommendation from a family friend.

Jimoco serves Italian dishes, with a korean twist. My friend and I got there at 12:30pm for lunch and there was a line up. I guess we should have known better given its popularity in the area and small interior. There were a large number of Korean customers, and I had one lady strike up a conversation with me in Korean, only to be disappointed with my "Sorry, I'm not Korean" reply. Lol.

As the line grew, so did my tummy with great anticipation. I was excited to try the fusion pasta, I had heard so much about!

To satiate my growing appetite, complimentary garlic bread was served. Free bread- always a nice touch.

My dish: Linguine Soul. This is linguine, served with a spicy tomato base in a hot pot and a generous serving of seafood- mussels, clams, scallops and prawns. On a cold rainy day, I definitely welcomed this piping and spicy hot dish. 

Linguine Vongole. This was linguine served with a white wine sauce and a generous portion of clams. This garlic, buttery white wine sauce was quite tasty and I would get this next time.


Overall, I will be back to Jimoco Cafe, as their pastas are very reasonable and pretty tasty. The portions are also pretty generous. With their 2 for 1 pasta deals, the total bill incl tax and tip only came up to $10 per person. Definitely good value for the portion and quality.-Sara

Time for Thaiiii

Review Snippet

Overall: Will be an option if we are in the vicinity

Food: Thai/ South-east Asian

Price: Reasonable; $10-$15 per person

Ambience: Thai decor; ample seating

115-4600 Kingsway, Burnaby

Station Square Mall

604-438-2288

Craving some reprieve from the hustle and bustle of boxing day shopping, and to satisfy our rumbling appetites, we settled on some Thai food within the vicinity of Metrotown at Thai House Royale. Knowing it was a chain restaurant, our expectations were not high, but settled on it given our less attractive alternatives of food court fare.

We were seated quite fast despite coming in at lunch hour so this was definitely a plus!

First up, calamari with Thai-infused spices and a sweet yet spicy dip on the side. The calamari was pretty tasty- crispy but not too oily. I enjoyed the unusual dip as well.

Another favourite of our family's when eating at SEA restaurants are the chicken satays. The skewers looked more like chicken kebabs to me, and I was slightly skeptical. However, the meat chunks were tender, even if they were not authentic. The same can be said of the peanut sauce- not super authentic but it was tasty. I felt it was a bit too "lemak"( too much coconut milk). 

Another favourite Thai dish of ours is the Pad Thai. This was probably the least authentic dish as the base oozed with a tomato-y taste. There was however, a generous portion of shrimp.

Lastly, we had the chicken green curry. This was pretty good and surprisingly spicy- the sort of spice that creeps up on you. I enjoyed this quite a bit.

All in all, this is a decent Thai restaurant to check out if you are shopping in Metrotown as it definitely beats the food court fare in the malls (including crystal mall). -Sara

Phnom nom nom nom Penh

Review Snippet

Overall: Thumbs up; will definitely be back
Food: Vietnamese; Chinese; Asian
Price: Reasonable; $10-$15 per pax
Ambience: Dingy, could use a new coat of paint

Phnom Penh Restaurant
244 East Georgia St.
Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z7
604 682 5777

Chicken Wings

Reminiscent of the chicken wings from Singapore, it was crispy on the outside, succulent on the inside. The chicken wings dusted with salt, sugar and pepper and yet turned out to be a pretty good combination. Almost every single table in the restaurant ordered a plate of this and some even ordered two large plates. 

Mee pok

This was a spicy one. Unlike the ketchup/tomato base one back home, this was an equally satisfying experience, albeit the strange shreds of liver. The portion was quite large for a single serving. And i loved the fact that they had the variety of meats and seafood!

Beef Noodle

Tender beef, oh how tender it was, being the highlight of the dish! The beef balls tasted rather ordinary, like the pre-packed ones and was also tough to chew on. It was served with plain, flat white noodles but with a tasty vietnamese broth.


Enough said, we will absolutely return to a restaurant which serves oyster omelette. O oyster omelette that has such oysters in it. Let's start eating you at once( slathered with chili sauce)! The egg/flour part of it was delightfully crispy, crunchy and oily, but definitely worth your calories.


Phonm Penh is redeemed with its appetising food (:
-Isabel

To Eat List

A recent eat at Suika

School has kept this foodie, blog and restaurant-hopping deprived. Sorry for the lack of updates! I have many food pictures stowed away in my camera...


To eat list (in case I forget):
1. Jimoco Cafe & Pasta
2. Tamarind Hill
3. Le Bretagne Creperie (again)
4. The Flying Pig
5. Marulilu Cafe
6. Thomas Haas (double baked almond croissants <3)
7. Meat and Bread
8. True Confections (I want the Devil's Food cake)


Maybe you can try these places before I do and let me know how they are. Otherwise, check back in a few weeks!


Love,
Sara

To Eat List

A recent eat at Suika

School has kept this foodie, blog and restaurant-hopping deprived. Sorry for the lack of updates! I have many food pictures stowed away in my camera...


To eat list (in case I forget):
1. Jimoco Cafe & Pasta
2. Tamarind Hill
3. Le Bretagne Creperie (again)
4. The Flying Pig
5. Marulilu Cafe
6. Thomas Haas (double baked almond croissants <3)
7. Meat and Bread
8. True Confections (I want the Devil's Food cake)


Maybe you can try these places before I do and let me know how they are. Otherwise, check back in a few weeks!


Love,
Sara

To Eat List

A recent eat at Suika

School has kept this foodie, blog and restaurant-hopping deprived. Sorry for the lack of updates! I have many food pictures stowed away in my camera...

To eat list (in case I forget):
1. Jimoco Cafe & Pasta
2. Tamarind Hill
3. Le Bretagne Creperie (again)
4. The Flying Pig
5. Marulilu Cafe
6. Thomas Haas (double baked almond croissants <3)
7. Meat and Bread
8. True Confections (I want the Devil's Food cake)

Maybe you can try these places before I do and let me know how they are. Otherwise, check back in a few weeks!

Love,
Sara

The last bit of summer

Review Snippet
Overall: Worth visiting
Food: Sandwiches; Pies
Price: $6-$10 per pax
Ambiance: Warm; Cozy; Laidback


Aunty May's Deep Dish Cafe


3111 Davison Road
Vernon, BC V1H 1A2
(250) 549-3266

On our summer trip to Okanagan, Kelowna, we made our last and final stop at Vernon, BC. Upon hearing through word of mouth that this was a really nice place, we decided to venture a bit out of comfort zone and see what the fuss was all about. The drive from Okanagan to Vernon was really pretty and we were amazed that lake osooyoos was blue-green in colour, literally picture perfect. Arriving at Davison Orchards and Farm, gave a family-friendly vibe, albeit being a bit commercial, but nevertheless still quite charming. Finally, hunger got the best of us and we got down to chomping after having shopped at their market, ranging from fruits to vegetables to dips, and to quaint household paraphernalia.

The full farmer( Grandpa's favourite)

Screaming fresh, the sandwich was so refreshing and tasted so clean and healthy, one of the best sandwiches ever. Hands down. It made me remorseful for eating all things oily and...deep fried. The turkey breast was tender and tasted great with the cranberry spread coupled with their special Walla Walla dressing. 

John Deere Grill

Crunchy on the outside, yet warm, but not too soft on the inside. This was really good, very tasty, with cheese all melted together. Simply in comparison to Grandpa's Favourite, it just felt a little more adulterated because they used ham. But nevertheless, one of the better sandwiches i've eaten. 

View from the cafe

 -Isabel

In Love With Miku

Review Snippet

Overall: My favourite Japanese restaurant now <3
Food: Top notch Japanese fusion; one of the few (if not only) Aburi sushi places around
Price: ~$25 per person (incl. tax & tip)
Ambience: Trendy night out


Miku Restaurant
1055 West Hastings St
Vancouver BC V6E 2E9
604-568-3900


Miku is undoubtedly my favourite Japanese restaurant at the moment. I've been dying to go back ever since my boss took me there over the summer. This prime opportunity presented itself last Friday when I met Sohee for dinner for some girl talk. However, it was more her telling and me listening because I practically have no life now between six classes, recruitment and NIBC. But that's alright :)


Aburi sushi is quite distinct in that its lightly seared, infused with savoury sauces and artfully presented. At least, Aburi done the Miku way. I fell in love at first bite. That night we shared 2 sushi dishes and a vegetable tempura.

This is no ordinary vegetable tempura. Not only was the batter light and the end product super crispy and tasty, the fundamental vegetables chosen were so unique! Asparagus, lotus root, some kind of bean, mushrooms and yam or sweet potato. My favourite part was that aside from being served with the usual tempura sauce, it came with green tea and garlic salt for dipping.

We also shared their special roll for the night. It was a spicy tuna roll and wasn't that spectacular. I'm not sure why I ordered it but it must have been the waitress claiming that it was "very popular". Herd mentality overcame me. Despite it being rather ordinary, the fish was very fresh and the roll packed quite a punch with the spciy sauce AND a slice of jalapeno pepper on the top. 

Always the best for last- the Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi. Between layers of pressed salmon and tasty Japanese rice, smothered with their home-made Miku soy-sauce, I was in gastronomic heaven! A must-try if you are at Miku. 


I would recommend Miku for any meal, any time of the day. But if you are are on a budget, much like starved students such as myself (although I never starve, because I love food too much), Miku's lunch menu gives you more bang for your buck. Definitely try the Aburi Select which is a sampling of their aburi, roll and oshi sushi. Also, the ebi fritter is worth mentioning. I will definitely be back and hopefully I will have room for their tempting desserts! -Sara

Boneta Loves You

Review Snippet

Overall: Like!

Food: Quality over quantity. Those who eat with their eyes won't be pleased.

Price: >$30 per person

Service/Ambiance: Attentive and trendy

Boneta

Courtyard of 12 Water St., Gastown

604-684-1844

Sohee recently held her birthday dinner at Boneta, a trendy restaurant located in the heart of Gastown. Packed away in a corner, we had to walk through a darkened alley way to reach this private enclave...only making the virgin visit that more exciting! 

Filled with trendy restaurants, avant garde cafes and boutiques, Gastown is just wonderful now. It definitely attracts its fair share of the hipster and yuppi crowd. 

My lovely friends.

First up on the menu: Angus Beef Short Ribs, Cauliflower Puree, Chantrelles, Amaranth & Walnuts. This was Sophie's and Gigi's dish. I managed to sneak a taste of it and was pretty pleased. This says a lot given that I'm not really a fan of beef in general. Gigi and Sophie were speculating what the crispy layer over the dish was. Conclusion: Fried fat, which Gigi absolutely loved! Definitely not for the weight-conscious.

Next was my dish, which Sohee also ordered: Ling Cod, Baby Leeks, Potato Ravioli, Lobster Mushrooms & Roasted chicken Jus. This was absolutely amazing. The fish was soft and tender, the potato ravioli was well-stuffed, lobster mushrooms were interesting and the sauce was creamy and tasty. I only wished they had more   ravioli with this dish. Two was definitely not enough to satiate my (always) ravishing appetite. Definitely cleaned out this dish. Lol.

Kevin's dish: Rockfish "Bouillabaisse" Mussels, Clams, Fennel, Saffron & Seafood Broth. I didn't get a chance to sample this dish but reading from Kevin's expression, he was not impressed. 

Popular at Boneta is also their poutine. I really wanted to order it but I was not satisfied with just having fries for dinner.Luckily, another of Sohee's friends ordered it and I managed to have a taste. The poutine lived up to its expectations. If you're the sort of person who loves big portions, eats with your eyes, likes value for money (you get my drift...) Boneta is not for you. This restaurant is all about the ambiance, quality and presentation of its dishes. -Sara