a Wannabe Foodie

The Marc Restarant

2012-03-24T22:34:00.004-06:00

Finally, after a year long mini hiatus, I decided to post again. Hope you enjoy it. Many things has happened over the past year, new relationships, new outlook, new persepective comes along with a new food post. This visit was to the Marc Restaurant with Marc. This was back in the month of febuary of our 2nd month along with Valentine's Day kind of fancy Dinner. We made reservations at 5:30pm where we were able to beat the rush.

Appie: Mussels (Special of the night)

Steak Frites - Grilled Sirloin steak with foie gras butter($22.0)

Marc's entree, the steak was quite juicy and it was huge slice of the foie gras butter. The fries were served with the truffle ailoi, however the fries were a bit salty. However, it was still the most popular dish of the night considering of all the tables I saw that ordered the steak.

Arctic Char with polenta, and kale ($22.0)

I enjoyed my entree also, the fish was clean, crispy and very light to eat.

French Beignets ($6.0)

Mini Donuts made to order with caramel and vanilla sauces. HMMMMM

The Marc
9940 106th Street
(780) 429-2828

Dining Week Success

2011-03-18T00:12:00.006-06:00

Last week was Edmonton's Downtown Dining Week, finally a valid reason for me to hit some restaurants and try their menus. I only went to two restaurants: Niche and Tzin, because I was thinking on behalf of my wallet and not my tummy. But both were successes and with great food, and conversation what more can a girl ask for?

Wednesday night, me and Erika headed to Niche. I went for the 5 course for $50 and hers was the 3 course for $25.

Yellow Lentil and Braised Pork Soup

We both ordered the soup, it was a very generous portion of a big bowl of soup. The texture of the lentils along with its color reminded of this Chinese dessert pudding I ate while growing up. However it was very savory and hearty and a great way to start the meal.

Spring Creek Beef Carpaccio in a Dijon Sauce finished with fresh Parmesan

Antipasto Plate: Prepared Meats and Cheese served with complimenting condiments and preserves

Erika's main: Confit of Brome Lake Duck with Golden Mashed Potatoes and Lemon Thyme Gravy

Her duck was so tender and falling off the bone, I'm pretty sure she enjoyed the dish very much.

My main: Maple Sage Brown Buttered Salmons with Golden Mash Potatoes

Usually I don't like my meat with a sweet sauce. But after I was done with this dish, I used my knife to wipe the brown buttered sauce off my plate until there was no more. Maybe it was the brown butter sugar that enticed me but it really worked all together and gave a different and tasty element to a simple dish.

Erika's dessert: Salted Caramel Brownie with Honey Lemon Cream

Though good, it was rich and heavy after the meal we just had. The salt was also very noticeable and made a sharp contrast of flavor when usually there should just be a hint of salt.

My dessert: Chai Masala Spiced Bundt Cake

This dessert surprised me, the chai worked great in this cake and it just me wanting to finish every last bite.

Niche
11011 Jasper Ave
Edmonton, AB

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It's been too long since I visited Tzin and I missed the warmth of the restaurant and the delicious food the place offers. And when I found out they had a dining week menu, I knew it was one of the places I had to make time and money for. It was a great deal too: 3 tapas for $50. We had 4 people and ordered 9 tapas to share. Not only was there great, attentive service from the staff and owner, the view of the working kitchen and its aroma just added to the evening.

All in all, in was a great night. There was good conversation, laughs and entertainment from the owner himself. Thank goodness I made reservations early, the owner had to turn so many people away throughout the night. They never rushed us to finish eating, I think we spent a good solid 3 hours in there. In fact they provided us with more and attentive service which proves they focus more on quality of serive for their customer than the numbers they bring in. I glad to state it will not be my last time at Tzin.

Wild Boar Pate: served with Grilled Flatbread & Cranberry Chutney

Lobster Crostinis: Lobster with Spanish Onion, Gruyere Cheese and Sauce American

Antipasto Plate: featuring Cheese & Cured Meats

Chicken & Sausage Strudel: In a lightly Smoked Tomato Sauce, Served with Lemon and Chive Aioli

Hands down this was the winning dish of the night! Everyone raved about it and wanted more. Not only is it the perfect finger food to share and fight over but it was packed with taste and texture. The pastry was so flaky and crunchy and with the hit of flavor that came from the chicken and sausage. It was a lot coming from a triangle strudel.

New Zealand Lamb: Grilled & Served with Raspberry Vinaigrette

Little rack of lamb, doesn't it look so cute? It also tasted very good too. Usually I tend to avoid lamb because of its strong smell and distinctive taste, but this NZ lamb was way milder and was very tolerable and tasty.

Creamy Chili Prawns: Pan Seared, Finished with Cream & Warm Chilies

I just love this dish. Perfect prawns and awesome sauce. I would just love a bowl of the sauce and some bread.

Scallops with Chorizo

Hmmm, scallops. The scallops with the tasty chorizo together gave great flavor and texture.

Filet of Beef: Served with Potatoes & Lobster Cream

They were very good potatoes, and the filet of beef was also very tender and smoky in flavor.

Chocolate Cake

Lemon Tart from next door Queen of Tarts

Tzin Wine and Tapas
10115 104 Street Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5J 0Z9

Red Ox Inn

2011-01-19T23:37:00.006-07:00

In light of Fork Fest Raeanna and I wanted to take advantage of this awesome dinning opportunity and try some new places. I really like what the Red Ox Inn had to offer for their menu so we headed there. It was a three-course meal at $45.00 from their current menu! (BTW our server told us that their website was hacked into so their menu may be different in person than on the website. Why a restaurant website? No idea)

I love how small and quaint the restaurant is, very dim restaurant lighting which is so bad for my pictures but perfect for a dinner date.

My Appetizer: Creamy butternut squash with creme fraiche and duck confit.

This soup although a bit sweet than I would like was great. Great color, texture and just added warmth to me. The braised duck was the texture and taste of Peking Duck was added a bit of salt to the sweet soup. All in all it was a great pretty bowl of soup.

Raeanna's Appetizer: Golden Beet Salad with Arugula with candied walnuts and pear vinaigrette.

This salad looked so light and fresh, the pear vinaigrette added great tartness to the salad according to Raeanna. I love the little bits of candied walnuts, a added bonus to taste and texture.

My Main: Duck: Grilled breast, butternut squash caponata, crisp risotto cake, red wine reduction

This was a very hearty main. The duck had the perfect crispy skin and fat with a medium rare inside. The Risotto cake just reminded me of the grilled cheese Raeanna had in Prague. But it was ok, since I am not the greatest fan of risotto to begin with.

Raeanna's Main: Char: Pancetta wrapped roast garlic stuffed Arctic Char, chorizo potatoes, and sherry vinaigrette

She enjoyed her dish very much. However the bite I had, I wished there was more pancetta flavor.

Raeanna's Dessert: Individually baked warm chocolate cake served with vanilla bean ice cream

My Dessert: Blueberry and white chocolate bread pudding served warm with creme anglaise

My oh my how looks can be deceiving. This simple cut of their bread pudding was deadly. Warm, gooey and full of blueberry and chocolate flavor it was going to make me over stuffed for the evening.

Red Ox Inn
9420 91 Street Northwest
Edmonton, AB T6C 1Z5
(780)465-5727

Gathering at Allegro

2011-01-19T23:07:00.003-07:00

A couple weeks back, I went to Erika's Bday Dinner at Allegro. However, I was terribly sick and could not truly taste what I was eating. Sad I know, the only thing I was able to do was comment on texture. So the following are just some pretty pictures to savor at.

Baby squid lightly floured served with spicy marinara sauce ($14.95)

Chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, olive oil, white wine and feta cheese ($18.95)

Homemade pasta stuffed with milk fed veal and cheese with mushroom cream and marinara sauce ($17.95)

Breast of Chicken sauteed with mushrooms in a sherry cream sauce with pasta ($24.95)

Combination of shrimp, calamaretti, clams, mussels and scallops, served in white wine sauce, garlic and olive oil ($20.95)

Allegro Italian Kitchen
10011-109 Street
Edmonton, AB
(780)424-6644

Melting Pot on a snowy, winter night

2010-12-17T00:10:00.002-07:00

Last night, me and Raeanna finally made the point to head to the Melting Pot and nothing was going to stop us.

Fondue a la France
Baby Brie, Fontina, Gruyere and Raclette cheese accented with Nueske's bacon, onions, white truffle cream and fresh chives.

Sides: Granny apples: which was the best combination ever. It balanced the cheese so well without the dry taste of the white wine.
Assortment of breads and veggies: Also quite good, however the bread just magnify the dry taste of the white wine.

Salade Nicoise (or their version of it)
Containes haricots verts, tomatoes, hard-boiled egg, and nicoise olives topped with a tangy shallot vinaigrette. I like the freshness of the salad and the olives, and the shavings of beet. However branding it as a Nicoise Salad is sad, there was no tuna, and there was just a lot of extra ingredients.

Fondue Fusion: Cold Water Lobster Tail, Filet Mignon, Peppercorn-Crusted NY Strip, Chicken Provencal, Roasted Garlic Shrimp, Wentzel Farms Duck a l'orange, Ratatouille & Goat Chesse Ravioli and Fresh Vegetables

The Last 4 bites.... some down points: the duck a l'orange, the chicken provencal, and the coq au vin cooking style. The duck with the orange citrus taste was just a bad combination, the orange taste was too overpowering, the chicken had too much pepper and the because of all the red wine in the coq au vin, all the meat came out the same color and flavor wise was just one note. Raeanna clearly did not like the third course, because essentially it was just hot pot, white style.

Yin and Yang Chocolate Dessert Fondue

Plate of marshmallows, pound cake, brownie, cheesecake, strawberries, pineapples, bananas.
The highlight of the night. HMMMMMM

Famoso Saturdays

2010-12-16T23:43:00.003-07:00

Last Saturday, I went out to lunch with Raeanna before heading to work. We met up at Famoso downtown location. It was a surprise when I entered, I had no idea it was so causal and so small. It was like a upscale, very upgraded version of a fast food restaurant with service.

My Nutella Mocha ($4)
Really rich and just full of yummy Nutella flavor, but be warned: this is a dessert treat itself!

Sandwich and Soup Combo: Small Prosciutto Arugula and Fire-Roasted Tomato Bisque Soup ($10)

Pizzetta and Caprese Salad ($13.75)
Raeanna got the Quattro Formaggi pizzetta which surprisely, was able to finish her soup, salad and small pizza for our lunch date. I could barely finish my sandwich.

Hardware Grill/Pre-Birthday Dinner

2010-12-07T22:14:00.007-07:00

So this evening, I met up with two friends and we had a nice dinner at Hardware Grill. The atmosphere was comfortable and warm. We were probably the youngest party in the restaurant this evening, and I was probably the youngest person! We ordered a bottle of Riesling from Germany, and all of us agreed it held out quite well all night. But I was probably buzz halfway through the appetizer. I was happy when we could still order from the Early Grazing Menu even though it was one minute passed 6:30pm, and even happier when all three of us all ordered something different which means more pictures to be taken!!

My appetizer: Pepper Crusted Rare Ahi Tuna with Warm Provençale Tomato Tart, Wood Smoked Tomato Vinaigrette and Aged Balsamic.

I really like the ahi tuna, there were some non-crushed peppers on top which added a neat change of texture and a very strong pepper profile. The tuna was yummy and it was a good portion size and fun to share.

Ben's appetizer: Blue Crab Cakes with Chipotle-Lime Aioli & Corn Relish.

When Ben saw they had crab cakes, his appetizer was decided. I usually avoid crab cakes because of a bad experience before, but the ones Ben had ordered was a pleasant surprise. It was warm and smooth and creamy. HMM

Erika's appetizer: Feta-Terranean: Roasted Peppers & Portobello Mushroom with Chèvre Feta, Tomatoes, Rocket Pesto, Balsamic Syrup & Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

I loved how the colors came out on Erika's dish, even though how the dish was plated suggest something else... Anyways, she too enjoyed her dish, roasted vegetables with warm cheese inside.

My main: Truffled Mac ‘n Cheese with Baby Lobster & Shiitakes mushrooms.

I was surprised how big my bowl was, I was afraid I couldn't finish it either. It was very good but also very rich too, mainly because of the strong truffle flavor and the cheese. It was fun finding the baby lobster bites and the shiitake mushrooms which cuts the richness a little bit.

Ben's main: Hand Rolled Butternut Squash-Mascarpone Tortelloni with Truffle Butter Cream Sauce & Fresh Chanterelles.

Ben really like this dish, I would too from the bite I took. The squash was sweet and smooth and works well with the rich sauce.

Erika's main: Bison Carpaccio Chèvre Noir, Truffled-Potato Salad & Cold Pressed Organic Hemp Oil.

From the bite I took from Erika's plate, I must have tried hemp oil before because, I swear I tasted in some asian dish before. The carpaccio was quite thin and along with the crispy fries or chips it added the right amount of salt and texture.

My Dessert: Salted Caramel Crème Brûlée with Cinnamon Doughnuts.

This was some good crème brûlée, the custard was warm, creamy, and rich in caramel flavor and it was under a hard but "crackable" crunchy sugar barrier. I would lick the bowl clean if I didn't have company. hehe. The cinnamon doughnut was also quite good, warm and fresh, it was a "runaway" doughnut.

Ben's Desset: Chocolate-Hazelnut Truffle Cake with Raspberry Gelato and Pistachio Daquoise.

Another of Ben's favorite, chocolate. Though the cake had a very tough, unbreakable coating, the cake was very rich and soft. I guess that's why Ben had to ask for coffee to accompany his rich cake.

Erika's Dessert: Warm Prairie Gingerbread Cake with Rhubarb-Saskatoon Compote, Mango Ice Cream and Warm Caramel Sauce.

When her dessert came out, we both knew there was no way she will be able to finish her plate. Her cake was really, really warm and was perfect with the warm caramel sauce. But I think her most favorite part and the only reason she got the dessert in the first place was the mango ice cream and it did not disappoint her.

I was really glad and happy to share a meal with friends, it nice to not work, enjoy good food and wine and have some laughs inside a cozy and nice restaurant on a freezing cold Edmonton evening.

Hardware Grill
9698 Jasper Avenue Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5H 3V5
(780) 423-0969

RMTWFF

2010-11-10T17:10:00.005-07:00

Last Saturday evening, it was the last public day for the Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival. Since I didn't want to work the same event 3rd night in a row, I attended the large event this year. Me and Raeanna met up at Shaw, around 4:30-5pm, and we went in early before the crowds hit.

On The Rocks : Steak Bites-tender bites of AAA Alberta Beef, pan seared and served with dipping sauce

We started with these little steak bites, and they were quite juicy, tender all in one bite size. It was just too sad I only had 5 bites.

Moriarty's Bistro | Wine Bar: Hazelnut crusted Mahi Mahi with Chai cream sauce and lobster truffle risotto

I had the Mahi Mahi with risotto. The portion size was just right, and the fish encrusted with hazelnut was cooked just right and had good texture. Though I'm not the greatest fan of any kind of risotto, it was quite infused with the truffle aroma and cream sauce but I couldn't notice much lobster taste. Raeanna was able to spot the Chai taste fairly quickly also but I wasn't, haha.

Moriarty's Bistro | Wine Bar: Herb crusted flank steak with duck and black trumpet mushroom perogy and an Earl grey and black trumpet “Stroganoff” sauce

Raeanna had the perogy and flank steak from Moriarty's, but I don't think she was too thrilled when her flank steak just tasted like pepper more than anything. The dish filled her up but not too sure of her reaction to the dish.

Milestones Grill and Bar: Butterscotch Pot de Crème served with dark chocolate toffee crunch, flavoured with premium scotch and topped with dark chocolate cream

Thursday night when I tried this: I love it. It was rich, smooth and had great crunchy texture but I was sad I only had a very little cup of it. However, Raeanna didn't agree totally with me on Saturday night, it was just all right with her.

Koutouki: Sizzing Ouzo Prawns

First I must admit I was shocked and happily surprised at the sheer size of these prawns, but again sadden I only had 2! It was cooked to shrimp perfection, just right and not overcooked at all. It was pan seared in olive oil and with some lemon, and a hint of something sweet which I could not figure out whatsoever!

Shaw Conference Centre Collage : 3 different types of truffles (Top: Milk Chocolate Salty Caramel Truffle, Passion Fruit Coconut Truffle, and Dark Chocolate Espresso Truffle), and Smoked Salmon with Salmon Mousse and Fresh Cucumbers in a plastic verrine.

The day before I attended the festival , I was working as hostess at the Shaw Booth, and I've pigged out my fair share on Shaw samples. The Smoked Salmon and mousse was quite tasty. The lemon in the mousse along with the fresh cucumbers were able to cut through the richness of the mousse and made for great texture. And the truffles, oh, how decadent they were! The winner was the Milk Chocolate Salty Caramel Truffle, and from all the reactions of countess women I saw, it was mind-blowing. Everyone had a reaction to the gooey chocolate and the crunchy outside coating.

Billingsgate Lighthouse Café: Lobster Bisque prepared the traditional French style with cognac, cream and a rich lobster broth AND Jamaican Prawns with a spicy jerk sauce & tropical fruit salsa

The Lobster Bisque was just amazing. It was rich, creamy, and frothy. There were little lobster bits just waiting to be found too. I lost count how many I had over the past 3 days, it was just that good, and the number two on top just added points in my books. The Prawns were quite de-lish also, though not as large as the ones from Koutouki, it had more kick in terms of flavor and heat. The spicy jerk sauce was indeed spicy as I kept popping the prawns in my mouth, I guess, that the fruit salsa is supposed to help cool the heat with a rush of sweetness.

Fiesta Olives: Festive Mix, and Purple Olives

Hmmmmm, Olives, how I grow to love thee. All of them were quite good, there were some green and purple ones with a celery inside, which just added to the texture and crunch to the olive.

The Copper Pot: Braised Bison Short Ribs-slowly braised in a red wine demi glace with its natural jus with Duck Sausage- Brome Lake duck, sundried tomato and garlic sausage

Round 1: I found this by asking someone else where they got there's. And why not, it's like a huge piece of meat! and it looks mighty tasty too. I must admit, it did not disappoint at all, well, except the duck sausage. I could have went without the sausage and still be a happy gal, it was just kinda bland and lacking of any duck flavor whatsoever. However, the real winner here was the bison short ribs. Braised so tenderly in its fat and juices, it was full of flavor and not dry at all. (And also while I was eating away, someone else asked where I got this plate from!)

Round 2: It was sooo good, I had to get another one!!! and guess what? While I was eating my 2nd sample, someone asked me where I got this too!! =D

Sugarbowl Sweetness

2010-10-15T23:10:00.004-06:00

Last weekend, the same day after going to PURE, and before going to POSTSECRET, Raeanna and I head to SugarBowl for some food and to play more catchup. I must admit, we were very adventurous with our dinner choices because we obviously ordered more than any of us can handle, alone and together.

Olives! ($3.0)
Combination of many types of olives.

Raeanna's Potato Sauerkraut Soup ($5.0)

Mussels cooked in Hoegaarden Beer and Bacon served with corn bread ($12.0)

The mussels was a flop. Some were okay, some were overcooked, and more than half didn't open! It was a generous serving, but just wasn't worth in the end because I ended up wasting more than half wasn't able to go in my belly to enjoy. The upside: Different variation by cooking such a beer with mussels, Good bacon and Corn Bread.

Raeanna's Caesar Salad ($10.0)

Their Special: Thanksgiving Poutine ($13.0)

I became afraid just at the sheer size of the plate when this arrived at our table. I was about 60% full and the plate of Poutine just seemed endless. The fries were fresh, crisp and excellent with their gravy. There was a lot of turkey, but not enough dark meat, as always. Needless to say, I had to pack the leftovers in a box.

SugarBowl
10922 - 88 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T6G 0Z1
(780) 433-8369

Credo Coffee + Suede Lounge

2010-09-06T22:57:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday night, I went out with Raeanna to catch up and off course to eat at a new place! hehe. But first we had coffee at Credo Coffee because I wanted to get a Matcha Latte! hehe with green tea art.

Afterwards, we walked more than a couple blocks to Suede Lounge for dinner.

Soho Martini

Clams, Fried Calamari, Sweet Potato Fries and Crusted Scallops.

The scallops were cooked just right. Soft and not overdone. There was some nice color but I do wished that it could be more of a crunch to it. However I don't know if scallops can do that.

A pound of clams in tomato sauce. Need I say more? HMMM.

Suede Lounge
11806 Jasper Avenue Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5K 0N7
(780) 482-0707

Tzin Wine and Tapas (Edmonton)

2010-08-18T21:32:00.000-06:00

Sorry for such a late food post update!! This summer has been crazy, and it's so weird because my summers are mostly just chill (or just picture an image of being sloth-ness) kind of days. But nope, I been finishing up my program and starting practicum at the moment and worry yet excited to find a job and my weekends were and still are filled with memories of new and even closer friends!!

I was so glad I had the chance to catch up with Vanessa, working nurse in Winnipeg! It's been a year since I last seen her and we had so much to catch up on!

So funny story: As I went out to catch the bus, as I got on, it started to pour! Hard! and I was wearing a skirt!! Good thing by the time I got downtown, it started to lighten up a bit. And I saw this restaurant open as I past so I right then decided on Tzin Wine and Tapas because it was open when I wanted it to!! Finally!!!

It was so cool they had an open kitchen, I was getting more and more hungry as the aromatic flavors filled the small but intimate place.

I got glass of the Late Harvest Muscat from Australia, our waitress recommended it because I wanted a sweet white wine. Man! It was so sweet that it tasted just like juice, and Vanessa really liked her red wine too! But beware, one glass got me buzzed real good, lol, maybe because I can't hold my alcohol these days!

Creamy Chili Prawns ($17)
Pan Seared, Finished with Cream & Warm Chilies

I wanted to try this dish since the start of summer, and finally I did. And it sure did blow me away. It wasn't too spicy but could be, but it was just magic as I tasted it. LOL, I never use big or bold words to describe a dish but this deserves them all. It was so flavorful, so creamy and the shrimp was cooked to perfection! haha. I want a bowl just to myself!

Bourbon Ribs

The ribs were also really good too, but against the chili prawns, it was no match! A good portion to share and perfect to eat with hands!

There was this sweet couple from Toronto sitting next to us and when they saw me whip out my camera to take pictures of my food, they asked if I wanted to take a picture of theirs...LOL, and I did! Their food looked and smelled amazing too, they had the Baked Four Cheese Pasta Shells with Spinach, Ricotta & Blend of Italian Cheeses, New Zealand Lamb, and Scallops with Chorizo. They too felt the food tasted amazing and I think they too were a bit buzzed since they were sharing a whole bottle between themselves...CRAZY!!

The most random, and bizarre part of our night: outside the window, we saw a real "saboring" of a champagne bottle outside in the alley. I went outside to take some shots and it was cool, I didn't realize that the bottle was sliced!

After dinner, me and Vanessa were a tipsy and giggly and walk around. We wanted to go to this coffee shop but it closed at 9PM, and it was 10 mins to 9. This guy invited us in, but he was just a customer and I think he wanted to talk to Vanessa. Anyways they were having these really cool Green Tea Latte with Green Latte Art and I was blown away! and I took some shots...hehe! In the end, since that coffee shop was closing we just headed to Second Cup for some coffee and spent some more time to chat and settle down. Wonderful and fun filled night with a great friend, great food and great conversation!
Love Growing Up!!

Tzin Wine and Tapas
10115 104 Street Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5J 0Z9
(780) 428-8946

Calgary and Banff

2010-07-21T22:14:00.000-06:00

Below are collages of the food adventures taken in Calgary Milestones, 02 Korean Restaurant, and Banff Tony Roma's respectively

Stampede Burger, Prime Rib, Seafood Fetticune, Basil Pesto Chicken Fetticune, and Seafood Salad

Family style Korean meal: includes bean rice, ginseng and chicken soup, tofu and kimchi soup, spicy korean bacon, kalbi ribs and pork ribs. OH! and off course SOJU!!

Needless to say: SOOO good!! but I felt so BAD for our korean server. We had some many requests and questions for him...hehe

Filet Medallions and Ribs Combo, more ribs and Salad

Snack at Jugo Juice

2010-07-21T21:50:00.000-06:00

Friday afternoon before heading out to Banff, I loitered around EC and saw the newly opened Jugo Juice by Second Cup. It was super busy and well worth it, I might add.

Small Sippin' Strawberries and Turkey wrap

Tukey Wrap was refreshing, simple and sooo good. Crunchy wrap thanks to the hot press and sauce for the wrap was a suprising taste. The mango was not very strong and didn't have that particulary mango flavor but still very good on its own. I just wish the spinach was not press with the wrap, it was kinda warm and not as refreshing as it could be.

Basil Leaf Kitchen (Edmonton)

2010-07-14T23:15:00.000-06:00

Last Friday afternoon, I went to Basil Leaf Kitchen & Sports Lounge because Tzin was closed =( So noodles was on my mind.

Viet Coffee to wake up!

Thai Soup
Very good, and spicy. Shrimp was very good and cooked just right.

Seafood noodle
More shrimp and squid, so good! But I was getting so full, because of the endless amount of noodles.

Basil Leaf Kitchen & Sports Lounge
10023 107 Ave
Edmonton, AB T5H 4L4
(780) 756-8880

Packrat Louie

2010-07-11T17:01:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday night, I met up with John to catch up, talk and of course eat! We went to Packrat Louie off Whyte for an early dinner.

So cool! This was how they showed the dessert menu. Since the table was covered in paper, they stamp this huge box onto the table..so cool!

Pan Seared Calamari ($14)

Sauteed with Curried shrimp butter and baby spinach, finished with coconut lime creme fraiche and mango chutney.

Both me and John really like this dish, there was a lot of Asian flavors even in the way the calamari was cooked, and I like that. I couldn't really taste the coconut lime creme fraiche and the mango chutney had it's own dimension. The mango wasn't the sweet sweet mango but rather a different type, I remember the taste but just couldn't pinpoint where I knew it came from. I really like the curry sauce and everything just blended so well together and just made me wanted more. =9

John's Dish: Crusted Halibut ($32)
Corn Flake Crusted Halibut topped with dill aioli, sauteed vegetables, and basil-pesto angel hair pasta

John loved this dish, he said it was like an upgraded Micky D's Fillet-o-Fish. The fish itself had a crunchy crust while it's flesh was flaky and just perfect in the mouth. He also was loving the bail-pesto angel hair pasta, he kept asking what made the pasta green since he forgot what the menu said, and I knew it was pesto..hehe. Again the pasta was really good too, and I think he wanted a larger serving of the pasta by itself.

Carmen Creek Bison Duo ($32)
Certified organic Alberta Bison Stirploin and Short Rib with Sauteed Vegetables and Truffled Pommes Puree

Now that I read the menu again, I did not know that there was even any actual Truffled Pommes Puree, instead they tasted and looked like mashed potatoes to me..huh. The Short Rib of the Bison was just a small portion but it just reminded me of the meat texture that is put into soups or stews. I don't like the string like texture of the meat as part if a entree. The Striploin was really good, cooked to a perfect medium rare, it didn't give such a strong meat flavor as beef does but just mildly.

Creme Brulee ($8)

Today's flavors: I forgot the whole name but our server said it tasted almond-like.
And they delivered on that. First bite was kinda weird for me, it was not sweet like previous creme brulee's I have tried but since it was almond flavor there was this tone down bitter taste to it. But this creme brulee grew on me as I kept tasting it and John also really liked this dessert too, which was good because he finished most of it!

A great 2 hour dinner spent with good company and good food. Catching up with good friends, conversation just flows and continues on which is such a nice change. I felt really bad that John offered to pay for the meal because he did so before, but once I get a job and some money, I'll return the flavor! HEHE

Packrat Louie
10335 83 Avenue Northwest
Edmonton, AB T6E 5C3, Canada
(780) 433-0123

Sugar Bowl

2010-07-09T15:29:00.000-06:00

Wednesday afternoon, I was just loitering around at my friend; Donna's flat. We went to buy hair styling supplies, I watch her try to clean and pack. She showed her self narrated basement room in Calgary to me, we waited for her landlord to install a working mircowave and biked in the rain and sun to Futureshop and back to fix her computer. After an eventful afternoon we waited for Doris's friend, Audrey to come so we all could go eat!

I wanted a drink so bad because of a bad, bad midterm in computer class, so I suggested Sugar Bowl..hehe, miss that place! The place was packed full of customers!

Our Drinks: My Mojito, and Donna's Long Island Iced Tea (~$7.0)
Donna's (I thought) was kinda gross but she thought it was ok. My mojito was ok as I keep sipping but not as great as the ones from Las Vegas. Sigh*

Our Dishes!! Looks so tasty...can't wait to dig in! =)

Donna's Steak and Frites
She wasn't as pleased or happy as she could be with her plate, her steak was a tad bit over cooked and that cause the steak to be to chewy for her liking. However, glad to say she did finish her plate like the good girl she is..hehe

Doris's Bison Chili and Corn Bread
From past experience I knew the corn bread was to die for, and her comments of the chili was that it was also great. Great combo.

Chicken and Waffles
Audrey and I both were intrigued by the name of this dish: Chicken and Waffles. But I sad to heard that the chicken was not fried, I never got the chance to try that dish in New York, so I wanted to try this version. The chicken instead was pan-fried and it came with this heavenly and surely terribly bad for the heart Maple Butter. It was sinfully good. Our waiters told us that the Maple Butter is made with just maple syrup and butter, and Doris scrapped the dip plate empty because it was just that addicting. Sad to report that the chicken, for me, failed in execution. First I only had three measly pieces and it was a bit dry as it went into the mouth. But a total A+ just for the Maple Butter!

Bread Pudding
We shared dessert: Bread Pudding, but in hindsight should have shared one between the four of us. We could barely finish! The dessert was a combination of banana bread with raisins, it was quite good but too much for dessert. It was quite a large portion.

Sugar Bowl
10922 88 Avenue Northwest
Edmonton, AB T6G 0Z1, Canada
(780) 433-8369

The Free Press Bistro (Edmonton)

2010-06-28T00:19:00.000-06:00

Last Friday, I called Raeanna up after my classes were done and ask her to meet up with me for lunch and just to chill. Because we met at 2, we couldn't eat at my first choice because their lunch hours are 11 - 2 so we walked around the area and spotted The Free Press Bistro so we decided to try the place out.

Caprese Panini : With Tomato, Brocconcini and Basil Pesto ($12.95)
and with substitute of their soup: Creamy tomato puree with roasted vegetables ($1.5)

I loved this panini. It was pressed to crispy and cheesy perfection. The cheese was just right and a long time was spent pulling the cheese apart. The tomatoes were also a nice balance to this panini but I wish there was a more bold basil taste present in the hot panini. But overall a A+ for the great bread and taste.

I wished I tasted the soup first before Raeanna, because her first comment was its sour. That just clouded my own judgement on the soup and I just ended up tasting for the sourness on my first sip. Next time, no! I will try the dish first. But I didn't mind the soup too much, it was not the BEST tomato soup I had yet.

Raeanna's Linguini Carbonara: Bacon, Egg, and Parmesan ($14.95)

Me and Raeanna both agree the the Linguini was lacking some serious cream sauce. The linguini was bland and tasted more like egg or maybe that's the point of the chef. What won the dish must have been the generous amounts of bacon, like full-size not little bacon bits.

Raspberry Crème Brûlée ($7)

As I order and taste a variety of Crème brûlée from all over Edmonton and in other places, I finding my palette for this custard is getting picker and judgmental. With this raspberry Crème Brûlée it was just too sour for my tasting. The syrup, burnt sugar and the custard itself was all sour and I didn't like that. The custard also was set way too much and that is not the way I like my Crème Brûlée. I only had a bite while Raeanna finished the rest.

It was a very surprising and great lunch at TFPB and I will make note to try the place out again for their awesome and tasty paninis!

The Free Press Bistro
10014 104 Street Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5J 0X2, Canada
(780) 497-7784

Violino and others (Edmonton)

2010-06-20T00:28:00.000-06:00

So I'm trying this new layout just to shake things up! hehe...hope its easy on the eyes.

Yesterday (Friday) me and Raeanna went to Violino, a place I found via Only Here for the Food post found here. This Italian restaurant seem fancy and prices reasonable so I headed there. After making Raeanna wait an hour there in the restaurant I finally made it in one piece at the restaurant.

We ordered a shared appetizer, soup, and an entree. Needless to say we were 3/4 full when our entree came out...portions were generous and tasty. Here is some proof: (BTW sorry for the poor quality of these pics, its really doesn't give the food I ate any justice and its because I have to rely on my phone camera for the pics!)

Our Sangria ($7.95)
Should have ordered the Mojito instead of the Sangria..why am I always swayyed when sangria comes into the picture! Anyway I didn't enjoyed this drink as much as Raeanna because I wished it had more citrus fruits in it and it was as sweet for ME as it could be, though Raeanna said it was a bit watered down but she still liked it.

Zuppa Campagnola ($8.0)
Butternut squash soup finished with maple crème friache

OMG! It was so cool they drew a violin with the crème friache like what you would do with a latte...so cool! I forgot what they words were Raeanna describe the soup but she loved it, rich, tasty, and just the way she likes it. I thought perhaps it was a bit sweet for my taste but it was more a of a "full" soup and I like that. But from what Raeanna says she has a better palette than I do, SO what do I KNOW about food?~~ ha.

Zuppa di Cozze zafferano e Prosecco ($12.0)
Steamed east coast mussels in a saffron seafood fume

I knew I would this soup when I read the words "mussels" haha. IT was very cool, good mussels and A LOT too. I was pleasantly suprised. One little thing was the soup was getting a bit salty as I keep drinking it and even though I can handle my salt I do have a limit when it comes to soup, too much can just ruin the whole thing. But it was all good and I was happy!

Classico Caprese ($11)
Marinated bocconcini cheese, vine ripened tomatoes, pickled red onions, virgin olive oil, Balsamic
Glaze

When this came out, I thought they had our order wrong again because it was not the Caprese I imagine. But yes this was our order! It looked more like a dessert than an appetizer and that was soo cool! It was very pretty and those flower petals are edible although there is not much taste just what a flower petal would taste like..leafy? Anyways, it was good and layered cheese (and soft very good mozzerella/bocconcini cheese texture) tomato, basil leaf, and again. I could have use some more salt to bring out the taste in the light tomatoes but love this dish! I would so get it again to get some better shots to give it the props it deserves.

Ravioli alla Siciliana ($17)
Pear and pecorino cheese stuffed ravioli, in a curried white wine cream reduction, with a port drizzle

Our server recommended this dish to Raeanna, but in the end, she didn't love love it because it was a bit sweet however I didn't mind it too much. It was mostly the curried white wine cream with a flavor of pear that was the sweet part. The ravioli itselt was normal though I didn't like the cheese texture inside; too mushy and airy? to me. But Raeanna said that's normal or what it supposed to be like.

Ziti Al Forno ($16)
Chicken, sun-dried tomato cream sauce, and mushrooms,
Baked with parmesan and bocconcini cheese

I could barely dig into this dish because I was getting so full from our previous dishes. The portion was huge and I could just have a few bites. It was ok, just normal for me, nothing too great. Now, that sounds bad, it was good but again a little bit salty and average sauce but good chicken! LOL.

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At home, Mommy made dai ruo mein because I told her to try Noodle Maker and she did and ate their version and said she could do that herself at home and so she did!

Egg (that I sliced in half =) for appeal), pork slices, green onions, sea cucumber, mushrooms and lots of chinese herbs..=)
It was very tasty and I could eat all the meat I want! Till mommy took the meat plate away =( haha. YAY! another dish for dinner now~!

Violino
10133 125 Street Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5N 1S7
(780) 757-8701

Waffles and Sandwiches

2010-06-15T16:02:00.000-06:00

So I found out via twiter that Edmonton actually had a moblie truck seeling waffles!!! So I had to get on that bandwagon ASAP!
So last thursday, found out they sold waffles at the Alberta Ave Farmer's Markets Thursday 2 pm - 7 pm, and I can bike fast there and just grab one to go!

Found it...I actually smelled the fresh waffles blocks way....it was very enticing.

I got their Vanilla Waffle with whipped cream and strawberry and blueberry sauce to drizzle at $4.00.

I couldn't wait to dig in!!! It was so warm the cream started to melt, the waffle itself was fluffy and still have a bit of a crunchy top..just perfect! I will return no doubt to try their other options.

Sandwich and soup at Canada's Place

The soup was pasta and cheese, not that great or that warm either.

The sandwich was awesome, I am really lovin' beansprouts or peashoots with sandwiches now, makes it look more healthier and adds a bit of a crunch. BTW I got egg salad.

New York and More

2010-06-15T15:26:00.000-06:00

So my recent trip to the Big Apple was a success. I ate, shop, saw, and was creeped out but I crave more. I want to go back to try out the other places on my list to eat and visit the other kinds of neighbourhoods. I hope to do that soon too!

Meanwhile I did go to Yakitori Taisho which was a must on my list to go and I was not dissappointed.

Moro Q: Cumcumber with miso paste.
Very resfreshing and they pitted the seeds which was unexpected!

Takoyaki (Octupus balls) So cute looking and tasted so yummy! I like the dried fish on top too!

My Takana Tonkotsu Ramen with pickeled takana, tonkotsu slices, pink ginger, green onions and sesame seeds.
I really love this bowl of ramen! It was a shame I was getting full and couldn't finish the bowl! I know, it was a shock to me too! The broth was sooo good, a bit salty but I can handle that, but I wish there was more pork slices in there =) and maybe even half boiled egg. hehe

My skewers: From the left chicken liver, squid legs, gizzards and chicken skin. It was all good but I just wish the chicken skin was more skin that skin + fat...some crunchy skin would be heaven!

Another place that I can check off my list and make sure to pay a visit again is a dessert bar called Kyotofu.

Emily's Signature sweet tofu, she prefer the chinese kind better and didn't knew we had sweet tofu or something, but still it's all good.

I got the Chef's Selection of 3 items: It came out to be matcha green tea creme brulee (which I was hoping they gave me that!), a Vegan Valrhona Chocolate Cake with peanut brittle, coconut sorbet, soymilk caramel, and a mini signature sweet tofu.

I loved the green tea creme brulee, it gave a nice crack, and it was all green inside! hehe...there was a green matcha flavor and just a nice and not too sweet dessert. The vegan chocolate cake was a chocolate lover's dream. Very rich and creamy that little cake was just right for me, I don't think I would have been able to handle the full size!

our bill in a box and some more sweet treats.

Back from Costa Rica: PURA VIDA

2010-05-26T21:37:00.000-06:00

I had a great, adventurous, eye-opening, wild, profound time in Costa Rica! I tried 2 new things: Zip-lining and Surfing, and I'm it will not be the last time. =P

Meanwhile, I was sure to try the local dishes of Costa Rica and stuff my face crazy during breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets! Here is a collection/collage of 4 meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and off course Dessert!

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

DINNER

DESSERT

Lee's House and Cupcakes!

2010-05-06T22:15:00.000-06:00

May 1st, before heading to Wonderland, me and Kiko went to Lee House for some long awaiting Korean Food! We were in the mood for some free kimchi!

Our order: some spicy seafood soup with noodles with some banchan sides

Mmmm....some spicy goodness! <3

Our half order of Korean style sweet and sour fried chicken.....it was good =9

It was soo much we struggle to finish the last pieces!

Pic of the mini - cupcakes we bought at Fuzz Cupcakes to cheer up a friend!

These pics were taken at some candy shop on whyte while waiting for the bus to come.

L2 Grill

2010-04-26T23:27:00.000-06:00

So tonight me and Raeanna headed to L2 Grill by Fantasyland Hotel before watching "Oceans"

The interior and also exterior reminded me a lot of the Las Vegas theme restaurants: modern, hip, and off to the side. It was not super packed but there was a few patrons.

Our Amuse Bouche in a spoon. What I can remember mostly sausage like meat.

Our Bread came fresh and warm...not like Shaw bread =(

Red pepper spread, Tzatziki spread, and rolls of butter!

Lobster Bisque ($10)
White Chocolate, Brandy, Cream

We both started with a lobster bisque that came in this neat bowl presentation and with a little side salad. The bisque was rich with lobster flavor and very creamy. Sadly, I was not able to detect the white chocolate taste but the side salad was very light, and there was some lobster on the bottom waiting to be discovered. =)

Raeanna's Appetizer : Lamb Carpaccio ($10)

From Raeanna words, she was not pleased with her appetizer. First, the lamb was cut rather thick, and not only did it lack flavor for the whole dish the potatoes was too much and actually overpowering the carpaccio itself. =(

My Appetizer : Spicy Salmon Ceviche ($10)

This plate was a big letdown of the meal. First it was not at all spicy. Second the dish desperately needed some acid, I know there was some lime and lemon wedges there but it was bland, bland, bland. The salmon itself was lacking flavor so it was just very fishy. =(

Mascarpone Strawberry Bombe ($10)

This was very good, good thing we shared dessert because there was no way to finish the whole dessert alone! It was rich with mascarpone along with some almond flavor with coconut shavings on top. It was in the middle where one can find the strawberry bombe!

Finally, we were served with some chocolates! I tried the triangle one with the nut on top with was very good. Sadley, I lost the white one so I didn't have a chance to try it =(

Moriarty's (Edmonton)

2010-04-19T19:17:00.000-06:00

So during work on Sunday, me and Raeanna had a hour break to spare and we didn't want to eat the same shaw food again, so we headed to Moriarty's Bistro and Bar to grab a little snack before rushing back to work.

As you can can see, it was not at all busy, which was kinda sad but really nice we had the place to yourselves! I really like their modern and clean layout.

Spanish Flat Bread ($17)
Chorizo, Goat Cheese, Caramelized Onions, unknown dressing

Raeanna loved the flakiness of the pastry, to me it reminds me of the same thing from a Chinese bakery with the meat filling in the middle, which is good. Everything worked great, through there was a sharp tang, that made the dish off due to the unknown dressing. But all in all, a good little snack to share but would be way better with a different sauce!

Root Beer Creme Brulee ($11)

Man, the top layer of this brulee was thick! Which made a perfect "crack" sound. Very good brulee, although I don't think the root beer was in the custard itself but on the top layer where they torch the layer, too bad, I wanted more root beer flavor.

Moriarty's Bistro & Wine Bar
10162 100A Street
(780) 757 -2005

I Love Sushi / Ric's Grill

2010-04-08T22:12:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday headed to I Love Sushi to get a snack. It was in the afternoon and I was the only one in there..I know kinda sad..haha

Chirashi (~$11.5)

I order Chirashi and some miso soup. The Chirashi is also arranged so nicely. The tuna, I wished could be more fresh, it just taste like mush and not a great taste either. The others were all quite tasty =9 Nothing too much to put down about!

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The next following Friday, after watching a sad remake of "Clash of the Titans" me and Raeann headed downtown and to Ric's Grill. Because it was Good Friday there was not much of crowd in the restaurant. We went to our dim light booth and order soup, main, and dessert:

Grilled Fresh Wild Salmon Filet, Rose Dill Sauce, Fresh Fruit Salsa with Baked Potato ($28)

I got the Grilled Wild Salmon with veggies, and baked potato. The filet had a great color but I wish they was a bit more seasoning, I thought maybe the filet could be even a bit less cooked.

Raeanna's: Prawn & Scallop Linguini ($12)

I Love Sushi
10106 105 Street Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5J 1C9
(780) 428-0606

Ric's Grill
10190 104 Street Northwest
Edmonton, AB
780) 429-4333