20Feb, 2011 - Big Lou's Butcher shop

Yea!  Finally a post on Vancouver food :)

Big Lou's has been on the top of my "to-go" list ever since it appeared on urbanspoon with a high rating (and maintained it ever since)

So this time when I went back to Vancouver, I thought I had to catch any opportunity to try their subs :)

....

and- it came on a nice sunny afternoon when Jordan and I decided to go to Chinatown to grab some groceries....

 

...When I "accidentally" found Big Lou's ;)

When I made the suggestion, it seems that Jordan has already tried their subs and even bought meats from them! So naturally, I had to try it :)  How can I miss Vancouver's awesome culinary experiences during my short stay here?

 

It came in a little cute paper wrap, with a string.  The way they wrap your cut of steak in a butcher shop :)

Jordan went for his favorite: Roast beef

I originally wanted the Porchetta but was told that they ran out... so instead I ordered a "shooter" which is consisted of seared steak, mushroom, shallots, pickles and hot mustard.

Jordan's Roast beef and my Shooter :) - it turned out that mine was a cold sub :( disappointing!!!

When I opened the wrap, there was loads of seared steak found in between a multigrain country bread.

The hot mustard worked really, really well with the steak.

It was almost like the horse radish sauce you use for prime rib.  

It was refreshing and provided a very nice kick to the otherwise oily and bland meat.  (to be honest, the meat portion was just alright... I have definitely had better steaks at ((even)) moxies - but hey!! it's not all about the steaks!!! ((i think?)) )

I guess I was just a bit disappointed by the fact that it was cold... the bread was hard to chew... :(

but I definitely enjoyed my sub because it was one of the better subs I've had!!

 

Jordan's Roast beef.  

One bite off this, I didn't want to go back to mine.

The Roast beef was tender and juicy (not dry like most of the sub places serve)

and full of, FULL of flavour!!!

It was a bit of heaven with the warm bread and melting cheese and pickles....

oh gawd.

I remember telling him right there and then that I regret not ordering a roast beef!!

But he was generous enough to spare me with few more bites.  :D

Next time when I visit, I will definitely have to try their Porchetta!! 

hopefully they don't run out... I don't visit Vancouver THAT often :S *fingers crossed*

08Feb, 2011 - Winterlicious Corner house

Woot.

Yes.  I am determined to post up all the winterlicious I have had, today, 2 (almost 3) months later!!

Corner house!

Please excuse the quality of my picture.. it was dark and I only had my phone :S

It was indeed a little house located in the residential area - and it was found on the corner of a street! \

how charming :)

 Some bread and hummus again.  Not impressed with either this time.

 

House cured Graved lax - it was very standard Graved lax.  Reminded me of the ones I often get at Ikea.  :S

I wish the mustard was a bit more sour - as graved lax can get oily.  Lemon zest would have helped too.  I didn't enjoy this dish very much. 

 

Tina's Grilled tiger shrimps.  She enjoyed it very much!  Maybe I was just bad at picking appies :(  Everyone around me seemed to have ordered grilled shrimp. Arg.

They were ginormous!!! 

 

We both ended up ordering the same entree - Cornish hen with roasted root vegetables.

This, was executed perfectly!

The skin was indeed crackling, while the meat remained really juicy.  I've never had any poultry dish that's marinated so well while still maintaining its texture.  Usually the protein begins to change after some hours of marinade due to the salt but this, was really good!

 

A close-up.  Hehe. 

Tina and I both enjoyed it very much :)

 

Again, we went for the same dessert :P I know, I know.  We just want what we want!!

Buttermilk panna cotta with berry compote

standard panna cotta.  I love everything milky-puddingy :)

"Flower"-less? 

Cute.  lol

oh, one thing to note tho.  We had a rude server.  I guess the night was busy and they had a huge line-up at the front, but I suppose we should still have our right to enjoy our dinner regardless.  I guess some of the comments he made was supposed to be "funny" but when 2 out of 3 people do not find it funny, I guess he is going a little over-board.  

Over all, the dinner was alright.  I had higher expectations due to the raging reviews but the only thing that wow-ed me was the entree.

Food: 3/5 stars

Service: 2.5/5 stars

Ambiance: 2.5/5 stars - too squishy - it was literally a house!!!

Feb 05, 2011 - Winterlicious at Quince

Gosh.  It took me a while to write about this one.

or, to write another blog in general. :) I should do this more often... note to self.

A little night out with my cousin.  She's the closest one to me in this city.

It was snowing that day, but we arrived a bit early.  I think we got there a little before 5.

The place was empty (well, mostly because they open at 5 for dinner, anyway) so we were lucky to get a window seat :)

That little dish of hummus was heavenly!! probably the best hummus I've ever had.  

It was nutty, garlicky, and surprisingly not sour!  I don't know about you but I don't like hummus being too sour... authenticity aside, I'd prefer this one over other ones anytime.

 

House cured veal carpaccio with shaved parmesan, capers, fried rosemary, lemon zest, truffle oil

This was very flavorful too.  The curing process really brought out the umami of the veal; shaved parmesan added a bit more depth to the meat when eaten together.  I didn't taste any truffle oil tho... But that's okay.  Truffle oil would have ruined the dish anyway, since it will be too overpowering.

 

 Beef poutine!  need I say more?  

However it was a bit lukewarm when we received it.  Flavour wise, it is almost like a beef-stew but in a much sweeter gravy.  I liked it tho :) I like everything a bit sweet!

 

Braised lamb shoulder - The lamb was tender, fall of the bone tender, while still being juicy.

My cousin is very picky with lamb - but she was able to finish this one :)

I'd say it was a good dish.

 

House made gnocchi with wine braised beef brisket - this one was a fail.

Ever since my great gnocchi experience as Trapezzi on Danforth, I have been on a little gnocchi obsession at restaurants.  But this one didn't even come close.  The gnocchi was powdery and had almost no texture.  The wine braised beef sauce was fine tho, but the flavourig was just standard.  I guess the gnocchi is really the key to make or break the dish.

The desserts :)  yea, we did take our time for our dinner!  It's already dark outside.

The rice pudding was fairly standard.  The quince jam was a little lacking in the scent of quince and the cinnamon really just over powered everything so the delicate quince jam didn't do much anyway.

But the chocolate bread pudding was delicious!

It was almost like a chocolate torte but less dense and has the bread pudding consistency (I am not sure if that makes sense?) - it has sufficient bitterness from cocoa and that is nicely balanced by the creme anglaise.

Over all, the dinner was worth the value ($25!!) and we had a great time together :)