tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7386090807902411802024-03-13T14:45:25.104-06:00Krispy BitesStephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.comBlogger549125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-60421321552253519252019-08-22T19:40:00.001-06:002019-08-22T20:06:25.445-06:00Chef Tony - Dim Sum in EdmontonChef Tony from Vancouver has finally arrived in Edmonton, at the old Tropika location on the west side. The dim sum menu is available all day! Some of the items are blocked out because they are currently not available. These are the signature items and in order to ensure consistency, they will be made in Vancouver and shipped over.<br />
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Prices range from $5.88 to $8.98, and I averaged around $7 per dish based on what I ordered. Tea is $2/person which is somewhat pricy compared to other dim sum restaurants, but you could order a different tea from other people at your table or choose to opt out and just have hot water instead. Also it's a nice touch that the teapot is heated over a tealight to keep it warm.<br />
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This bowl of stewed duck congee ($8.98) was the most expensive item I ordered. It had quite a few chunks of tender savoury duck meat inside, and also came with some clear noodle bits. The congee was well seasoned and tasty, but it wasn't quite hot enough.<br />
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One of the more popular items here is the sweet salty egg yolk lava bun ($6.98). I enjoyed the soft fluffy bun texture and the salted egg yolk filling was rich and tasty.<br />
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Only complaint is that the filling was too runny and not quite lava-like. I would've preferred a slightly thicker consistency. But I saw someone else's picture of the same bun a day after my visit, and the filling was much thicker, so I think I might have just gotten a runnier batch.<br />
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A lot of people are interested in this variation of har gow (shrimp dumplings) ($8.98) made with cuttlefish ink in the skin. Apart from the unique colour and gold flakes, there was nothing special about this dish and I would not recommend it. Portions were tiny, literally bite-sized, and the skin was slightly mushy and doughy which is not what shrimp dumpling skin should be like at all.<br />
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Another dim sum staple, siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings) ($6.68) got a new twist with black truffle added on top. Again these were bite-sized and possibly the smallest siu mai I have ever seen. They used a good quality lean pork, but traditionally siu mai has always been made with fatty pork for the juiciness and flavour. As a result, these dumplings were quite dry and flavourless apart from the musty taste of the truffle that just didn't go with them.<br />
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Just for reference, below is the same dish from the Vancouver location 3 years ago. I would say the siu mai have shrunk a bit!<br />
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One of my favourites at dim sum is the chicken feet ($5.88) and this did not disappoint. The marinade was done well and the flavour of the sauce was all absorbed into the chicken feet.<br />
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Now for the dim sum that really stood out to me, the pan-fried taro cake ($6.68) was my absolute favourite of this meal. Unlike other taro cakes that are mostly made with a rice flour batter, this was made with real taro shreds. They also added a thin layer of crispy dried noodlefish on top that provided a nice crunch and burst of salty flavour. They're kind of like anchovies though, so not everyone would enjoy this.<br />
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Another item I liked was the spring roll ($6.68). This wasn't too greasy, and the pineapple added a nice refreshing element. I couldn't really taste the seaweed though. But once again I have to mention the tiny portions, since there were only 2 pieces of spring roll compared to at least 3 or 4 at other restaurants.<br />
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Overall some dishes were good, and some were not that great. Service was very chaotic, probably since they just opened. Most of the servers were quite inexperienced and inattentive. It took a long time to wave someone down to put in the order, and even longer to get spoons for our congee (since they forgot to give us spoons as part of our place setting). We had wrong dishes delivered to our table at least 5 times... But I assume these issues will be worked out with time.<br />
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I'll also post a few pics of the dim sum I had at the Vancouver location 3 years ago. All of these are still available on the current Edmonton menu. The first three items below (BBQ pork buns, egg white tarts, mushroom tarts) are the signature items that will be shipped in from Vancouver, so they should be available shortly!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baked BBQ Pork Buns - signature item that is arguably the best dish at Chef Tony!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baked BBQ Pork Bun - soft fluffy bun that deflates when you bite into it</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House Special Egg White Custard Tarts</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baked Assorted Mushrooms Pastries</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flaky Almond Meat Loaf Sticks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steamed Sweet Sponge Soft Cake</td></tr>
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<br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-6795553111918020862019-07-15T15:27:00.001-06:002019-07-15T15:27:17.314-06:00Liuyishou Hotpot EdmontonUnlike many other hot pot restaurants that offer all-you-can-eat, Liuyishou has only an a la carte menu that is available for both lunch and dinner. This means it can get quite expensive, but I'm here to tell you about a very reasonably priced lunch combo for only $15.95!<br />
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The lunch special mini hotpot combo comes with your choice of soup base, 3 meats, 3 veggies and 1 noodle. I found the portion size to be more than sufficient as I could barely finish my plate, even with help!<br />
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The handy chart below shows how long each item should be cooked.<br />
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Diners can choose between one large shared pot or individual pots so everyone could have their own preferred broth. I think the lunch combo always comes with individual pots. Liuyishou is best known for their spicy soup base, but even the mild packs quite a punch. If you're not in the mood for spicy, the tomato is also a great choice. It is the richest and most intensely flavoured tomato soup base I've ever had for hot pot. The best part is that they top up the pot with more soup base instead of just hot water, so you don't lose flavour as you go.<br />
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For my lunch combo, I picked lamb, marinated beef, pork kidney, sliced lotus root, sweet corn, frozen tofu and hot pot noodles. It was a lot of food and I'm glad that veggies included more than just green leafy veggies as I usually don't go for that when having hot pot. Also really happy with the quality of the meats and other ingredients in general.<br />
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A look at some other meat and veggie combinations below.<br />
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The sauce bar was well maintained and seemed a lot cleaner than other hot pot places I've been to. There was also a sign showing how to make different sauces. I've been told that there's no XO sauce or peanut sauce, so take that into account if you're planning to go. Personally this doesn't bother me as I usually just mix up a bunch of random things I like.<br />
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My sauce creation: garlic, sesame seeds, green onion, sugar, seafood sauce, satay sauce, pickled radish, sesame oil and chili peppers all mixed together!<br />
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This is currently my favourite hot pot lunch combo in the city because of the rich soup base, quality ingredients and large portions.Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-74686978119107277642019-05-16T20:35:00.000-06:002019-05-20T23:35:16.444-06:00Papa John's Pizza - American Pizza TakeoutDisclosure: This is a sponsored post by Papa John's Pizza, but the opinions below are my own.<br />
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I've passed by Papa John's many times before, but this is the first time I've given it a try. There are 14 locations in Edmonton, so it's easy finding the <a href="https://www.papajohns.com/order/stores-near-me" target="_blank">nearest pizza delivery</a> on their mobile app or website.<br />
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I did my research and found the highest rated location according to Google reviews, and it happened to be the one at 14030A 23 Ave (and Rabbit Hill Rd). Since I had never been to a Papa John's before, I was surprised to find that it was takeout and delivery only with no seating. But there were a few chairs for people to wait for their orders. It wasn't a very long wait, and you could definitely call in ahead or order on the app or website. They also have a rewards program so you could get points for every order and redeem for free pizza!<br />
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There are lots of ongoing deals and the handout below only lists a few of them. Check out their website for other deals, and they occasionally offer promo codes on social media as well. I opted for the family classic deal of two medium 12" specialty pizzas for $29.99 (not listed below).<br />
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My first choice was Hawaiian BBQ Chicken since I'm definitely team pineapple when it comes to pizza. This did not disappoint! A solid American style pizza with a satisfyingly chewy but not overly tough crust. Also the BBQ sauce was tangy and much better than regular red sauce in my opinion. However, I did not enjoy the complimentary pepperoncino served on the side. It was very sour, salty, and spicy all at once and I just found it too overwhelming. I was never a fan of pickles though, so I'm sure many pickle lovers would enjoy this.<br />
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If you love beef and cheese, you're in luck since the <a href="https://www.papajohns.com/order/menu/pizza/philly-cheesesteak" target="_blank">Philly Cheesesteak pizza is back</a> on the menu. One thing I like about Papa John's pizzas is that they are not greasy at all, even if they're loaded with cheese and meats. Personally I found the Philly Cheesesteak to be a bit less flavourful than the Hawaiian, but this is where the amazing garlic sauce comes in.<br />
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Now let's talk about that glorious garlic sauce provided with each pizza. It has the consistency of mayo but tastes just like pure butter with garlic flavour! It went so well with the Philly Cheesesteak, and the only reason I didn't lick up every last bit of sauce was because I was convinced it was butter and was worried about the fat content.<br />
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Recommended:<br />
- Hawaiian (only if you are team pineapple as well)<br />
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<a href="https://www.zomato.com/edmonton/papa-johns-pizza-5-edmonton" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Papa John's Pizza, Riverbend & Terwillegar and other Restaurants in Edmonton"><img alt="Papa John's Pizza Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/16651106/biglink" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-101757516605519672018-10-17T19:28:00.000-06:002018-10-17T19:28:13.214-06:00The People's Perogy - Homestyle EatsThe People's Perogy invited me to try out their food yesterday, and I must say I was very excited because it has long been on my list of places to try. The only thing stopping me was its location on the Northside (149 St and 137 Ave) which is far from my usual areas of activity. It also doesn't help that they are currently only open from 11 am - 3 pm on weekdays due to construction, but hopefully that will change soon. If you really want to try their perogies but can't get to their store, you'll be glad to know that they are selling bags of frozen perogies at select Safeway and Sobeys locations, as well as the Italian Centre Shop and Italian Bakery's Mercato. You can find all retail locations on their website: <a href="http://thepeoplesperogy.com/retail-locations/">http://thepeoplesperogy.com/retail-locations/</a><br />
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Also head to my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/krispybites/" target="_blank">Instagram page</a> before Oct 21 to enter a giveaway for free frozen perogies!<br />
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I kind of expected this to be a hole-in-the-wall kind of place, but surprisingly the store is very spacious, modern, and clean. Lots of seating available for people who'd like to dine in.<br />
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This is a fast casual restaurant, so ordering is done at the counter and I've taken pictures of the menu for your convenience. Pricing is very reasonable and you could get a full meal with drink for under $15. At first I thought that 6 pieces of perogies would not be enough for one person, but honestly I could barely finish 6 along with the other sides.<br />
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There are 4 perogy flavours available and I was able to try all of them. My favourite was the jalapeno cheddar because the diced jalapeno added just the right amount of kick and flavour to the potato and cheese filling. The nice part (for those with a low heat tolerance) is that the jalapeno was barely spicy, so you get the jalapeno taste without the burn. However, one issue I did have was that there was no way to tell the different flavours apart solely from appearance! All of the flavours were tasty though.<br />
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If you're looking for a little meat, they sell locally made all-natural ham garlic sausages as a side. These were really juicy with good flavour.<br />
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One of my personal favourites is the cabbage roll. And these ones are stuffed to the max with rice and pork. The filling is a bit bland, so you need to eat it with one of the sauces they offer — tomato or creamy dill. It's really nice that the sauce is served warm, so you really feel like it's the perfect comfort food. I personally found the warm tomato sauce to be super satisfying.<br />
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This is the entire spread from yesterday. I had about 6 perogies, half a cabbage roll and half a sausage and I was comfortably full. I really wanted to try the soup (borscht or daily feature) as well, but there was no way I could finish it. Perhaps next time! The tomato and creamy dill sauces in the picture below were for the cabbage rolls. They also provide sour cream, ketchup and mustard for the other dishes.<br />
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Recommended:<br />
- jalapeno cheddar perogies<br />
- sausage combo<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-64948394952807673622018-07-15T21:50:00.000-06:002018-09-23T04:57:35.279-06:00The Keg - Lobster Summer 2018I was very lucky to have been invited to attend a media tasting for The Keg's Lobster Summer menu! Lobster Summer has been an annual tradition at The Keg for the last 35 years, featuring fresh Atlantic lobster from the East Coast. Live lobsters are cooked to order, so you can be sure that they are super fresh! This year, the menu is quite limited with only one starter and three mains. Check out The Keg Windermere's Lobster Summer menu here: <a href="https://www.kegsteakhouse.com/assets/Uploads/Lobster-Summer-Menu-CANP1-MAY2018.pdf">https://www.kegsteakhouse.com/assets/Uploads/Lobster-Summer-Menu-CANP1-MAY2018.pdf</a> (Please note that prices may differ depending on location.)<br />
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Below is the one and only lobster starter this year, and also a guest favourite — lobster gratinée served with bread. Meaty chunks of lobster are baked in an escargot dish with garlic, herbs, and gooey melted cheeses.<br />
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I was also able to try a couple other popular starters from the regular menu. The tuna tartare is one of my favourites. Tuna and avocado go so well together, and the crispy chips provide a nice crunch to complement them. Sometimes I find the chips a bit oily, but this time they were done pretty well.<br />
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The baked brie was good as well, and I especially enjoyed the red pepper jelly served on the side. However, I found this dish quite heavy and probably wouldn't order it unless there were at least 4 people sharing. After all, it came with 10 pieces of crostini!<br />
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For drinks, I tried the Easy Rider which is basically a blueberry flavoured gin and tonic. Very pretty and easy to drink.<br />
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Every meal at The Keg comes with complimentary bread, and this is something I always enjoy. But this time I found out a little secret... You can ask for three cheese butter with your bread! It's a lot tastier than the regular whipped butter. They don't usually provide it with the bread, but just ask for this off-menu spread.<br />
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I had the steak and half lobster for my main. Please note that this is different from the "steak and lobster" on the regular menu. That one comes with just the lobster tail, but this one comes with the entire half lobster including the claw and body. I replaced the usual sirloin with a 7 oz filet mignon wrapped in bacon. The steak was cooked perfectly to my desired doneness (rare) and the lobster was extremely fresh! The Keg usually cooks everything perfectly, but on the few rare occasions that they've fallen short, I've never had an issue with getting my food replaced. I've always been happy with the service here.<br />
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The picture below basically covers all of the desserts available at The Keg with the exception of ice cream. I would recommend the Billy miner pie and the crème brûlée. Even if you're really full, you can consider getting a mini brownie or crème brûlée for only $3.<br />
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The Billy miner pie was a crowd favourite. Can't really go wrong with mocha ice cream on a chocolate sponge bottom, topped with sliced almonds, hot fudge and caramel sauce. I actually managed to finish mine despite being quite full. It wasn't very filling because the texture of the ice cream was super light and fluffy as if it were whipped.<br />
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The crème brûlée had a nice crispy caramelized crust, while the custard itself was velvety smooth and creamy with a rich aromatic taste of eggs. This was my personal favourite.<br />
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The brownie sundae pictured below is the full size, but as mentioned above, it's also available in a mini size. I didn't taste this, so I can't comment on the flavour.<br />
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I also did not taste the cheesecake, but was told by someone who did that it was just a regular slice of cheesecake.<br />
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Overall this meal was very enjoyable, as were all of my prior dining experiences with The Keg. I will definitely be back again for the Lobster Summer menu before it ends on September 2!Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-33797130156258102952018-06-05T18:16:00.000-06:002018-09-23T04:59:32.183-06:00Double Dutch - Northside Cheap EatsI love it when I discover cheap eats in the city that are also delicious. I stumbled upon an Instagram post on Double Dutch and decided to give it a try after doing some research and seeing it has a 4.6 star rating on Google reviews! I've actually passed by a few times and never thought to go in due to the unassuming storefront.<br />
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The interior is surprisingly spacious. The store is called Double Dutch Treats & Meats and it's a mini supermarket and deli that sells a lot of imported goods.<br />
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There is a seating area near the entrance with three small tables for dining in. The menu is on a blackboard above the counter, but most of the item names are in Dutch, so it's a good thing there are also pictures.<br />
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Most of the items are shown in the pictures below. The menu is very limited, but sufficient for a quick and cheap dining experience.<br />
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Before dining, of course I had to pick up a pack of the famous Dutch cookies known as stroopwafel or stroopies. A stroopwafel is a waffle cookie sandwich with a caramel syrup filling. This particular brand ($6.50) was recommended to me by one of the staff. Apparently it's one of the best brands in the Netherlands with a recipe dating back to 1864.<br />
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The friendly staff member even taught me the authentic way to eat it — let it sit on a hot cup of coffee for a few minutes to soften the caramel filling before enjoying with the drink. I put this to test at Tim Hortons later that night and can confirm that this makes the filling delightfully gooey!<br />
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The patat oorlog ($5), or "war fries" in Dutch, is what will keep me coming back again and again. This is basically a Dutch poutine, and a common Indonesian-inspired street food in the Netherlands. (Did you know that Indonesia was once a Dutch colony? Neither did I, but I got a quick history lesson from Mr. friendly staff member.) So anyway this poutine is what poutine dreams are made of! I thought the taste would be off with no gravy, but honestly and surprisingly I did not miss the gravy at all. The creamy mayo and satay peanut sauce more than made up for the lack of gravy, and the chopped onions worked well with the flavours. The fries were also fried very nicely with a crispy skin.<br />
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The nasi goreng ($7) is another Indonesian dish and the name literally means "fried rice". I added a fried egg on top and loved the crispy edges and runny yolk. The portion didn't look like a lot, but it was quite filling due to the oil used to fry the rice and egg. The flavour was good and I liked how it was not overly salty.<br />
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The kroket ($2.50 each) was recommended to me as one of the most popular menu items here. It's a fried breaded roll with a crispy shell and a beef ragout filling. It can also be ordered in a bun like a hot dog. This is actually my least favourite item. It didn't taste bad by any means, but I just wasn't used to the texture of the smooth meat paste inside that was similar to mashed potatoes. Flavourwise, the rolls reminded me of taro dumplings at dim sum restaurants. The only difference is that the taro dumpling shells are more fluffy and the kroket shells are harder and more crispy. The kroket were also served with a side of horseradish which I'm not crazy about, but those who like horseradish would really enjoy this sauce.<br />
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Overall I was super impressed with the value and quality of the food. Everything in the picture below (excluding the bag of stroopies) was only $18-19 including tax! The staff were also really nice and brought out some hot sauce to go with the food. Will definitely be back again, and seriously you need to try that poutine!<br />
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<br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-84201159740459500392018-05-24T21:29:00.000-06:002018-09-23T05:00:56.151-06:00Vintage Fork - Afternoon TeaI was very disappointed when the <a href="http://www.krispybites.com/2013/06/rutherford-house-afternoon-tea.html" target="_blank">Arbour Room at Rutherford House</a> closed down 5 years ago due to financial difficulties and the chef's unexpected resignation. It was one of the only venues for afternoon tea in Edmonton and the scones were a unique recipe that was among the best I've tasted. So imagine my excitement when I found out that the restaurant had reopened late last year with a new name — Vintage Fork. It's definitely a fitting name for this hundred-year-old historic house that was the home of Alberta's first premier, Alexander Cameron Rutherford. The house is also a mini museum with a gift shop in the basement.<br />
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Afternoon tea is available every Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm for $35/person. Reservations are required. I personally think it's a very reasonable price compared to other afternoon tea venues, especially considering the special setting inside a historic house and the quality of the food.<br />
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The place was just as I remembered it with a cozy and intimate ambiance and a lot of rustic charm. Seating was a bit cramped but not a major issue.<br />
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We were each given a tea menu, but there was a discrepancy as the menu on the right below contains two extra options: Vintage Fork Herbal Blend and Rutherford House Blend. One of us ordered the Rutherford House Blend, so I believe the menu on the right is accurate. I ordered the Vintage Fork Blend thinking it would be a house blended black tea, but what I received tasted only of chamomile and nothing else. I'm not sure if they gave me the Vintage Fork Herbal blend by mistake or if it actually tasted like that, but it was definitely not what I was expecting. I asked the server about it and he immediately offered to replace my tea. I ended up getting earl grey and thoroughly enjoyed it. Super happy with the service!<br />
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We all had teacups with different patterns. Our server told us that most of the china they use is antique, so some cups may have tea stains despite being clean. Part of the charm of this quaint little restaurant if you ask me.<br />
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Below are a couple shots of the tower of treats. There will be slight variations every week as the chef rotates between the items in his repertoire.<br />
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</b> <b>Top Tier: plain scones, chocolate almond coconut scones</b><br />
The scones were not the same as the ones from 5 years ago, but they were equally good. Light and buttery with a moist, tender crumb, they went really well with the whipped raspberry butter made using the original Rutherford family's recipe! I don't usually eat butter with my scones, but I finished my entire serving this time.<br />
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<b>Middle Tier: chicken pot pie, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, amaretto chicken</b><br />
Don't have much to say about the prosciutto wrapped asparagus because it's hard to go wrong with prosciutto, especially when combined with sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese.<br />
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The amaretto chicken was basically a boneless piece of chicken with sliced almonds. I was surprised at how tender the meat was, and the delicate flavour of the sauce was just perfect.<br />
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The chicken pot pie was served piping hot and we had to wait a while before we could dig in. The puff pastry on top was soft with flaky layers, and the filling was a delicious and comforting stew of chicken and veggies.<br />
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<b>Bottom Tier: chocolate mousse cake, butter tart, choux with hazelnut cream, lemon meringue tart</b><br />
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I absolutely loved all of the desserts. My mom does not have a sweet tooth at all and she usually doesn't eat her share of desserts at afternoon tea, but she did this time. I think part of the reason we enjoyed the desserts so much was that none of them were overly sweet. The chocolate mousse cake looked like it might be very dense and sweet like a brownie, but it was actually a very soft and airy cake with a rich dark chocolate flavour, topped with a whipped mousse that was light like meringue with just a hint of sweetness. Butter tarts are also known for being sweet, but these ones were almost savoury with a taste that reminded me of butterscotch or salted caramel. Wish I could buy the butter tarts to take home as they were my favourite!<br />
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I thought the choux was quite good, despite my disinterest in creampuffs. The filling was creamy with just a bit of grain, and the hazelnut flavour was not overly strong. In fact, I thought it was more like a taro cream when I first tasted it, until the hazelnut hit me halfway through.<br />
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The lemon meringue tart was also perfectly executed with a crisp butter crust, a well-balanced lemon curd, and a dollop of lightly toasted meringue. A simple dessert done well.<br />
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Vintage Fork is also open for lunch from Tuesday to Sunday, featuring a multi-course set menu. Prices are as follows:<br />
<b>Tuesday - $19.99</b><br />
<b>Wednesday - $24.99</b><br />
<b>Thursday - $24.99</b><br />
<b>Friday - $29.99</b><br />
<b>Saturday/Sunday Brunch - $29.99</b><br />
If you are not interested in a full lunch, you can also drop by anytime during open hours for coffee and baked goods.<br />
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I cannot say enough good things about Vintage Fork. It's rare when all of the food is at least a solid 8/10, and with excellent service and such a lovely quaint tearoom setting, this place is definitely my current favourite afternoon tea venue in Edmonton. I've been asked how it compares to <a href="http://www.krispybites.com/2013/03/fairmont-hotel-macdonald-afternoon-tea.html" target="_blank">afternoon tea at the Fairmont</a>, but I don't think it's a fair comparison. If you're looking for fancy ingredients like lobster and caviar and a luxurious hotel setting, then Fairmont would be your choice. But with a $20 price difference (Fairmont's current price is $55 for weekend tea) and taking into account that Fairmont uses teabags and is not that strong in the dessert department, I know that Vintage Fork will be my go-to for most occasions.Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-4314921358141846422018-05-15T21:39:00.003-06:002018-05-16T16:23:03.077-06:00Tsujiri - Matcha CafeFor those of you who have been waiting patiently, Tsujiri is finally opening on 109 St just a block north of Jasper (a few stores up from Coco Tea). This is a Japanese cafe centred around matcha! The Tsujiri brand originated in Japan and has been around for 155 years with a focus on matcha and matcha products. Almost all the food and drinks here consist of matcha in some way, and those that don't are based on other Japanese food trends like yuzu, black sesame, houjicha and other Japanese teas. The decor of the cafe is minimalistic and has that zen vibe that's pretty typical of an Asian teahouse. There's even a private room tucked away at the back of the store for larger groups.<br />
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See below for the full menu! There are also some desserts/pastries in the glass display case (shown above) that are not listed.<br />
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At the media event I attended yesterday, we were given a demo of how matcha is prepared. Tsujiri uses only top quality matcha sourced from Uji, Japan.<br />
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After measuring out the matcha powder, the demonstrator added hot water and whisked it up with a chasen (the bamboo whisk) until the tea began to foam. Then the foam had to be smoothed out to create small even bubbles. The whole whisking process took more than one minute! The end result is the traditional o-matcha drink which is simply matcha powder and hot water.<br />
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For matcha beginners, it would be best to go with a matcha latte as the milk cuts out most of the bitterness from the matcha powder. I tried both the hot and iced version of a matcha latte that is exclusive to Tsujiri Canada: the o-matcha maple syrup and salt latte! I really enjoyed the sweet and savoury combination of the maple syrup drizzle and salt which added a nice depth to the flavour. Also pictured below is the signature matcha soft serve!<br />
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There are 2 soft serve flavours available: matcha and vanilla mix (half matcha and half vanilla). Matcha beginners should go for the vanilla mix as the pure matcha might be too intense in flavour. The soft serve (or soft cream as they call it) is available in a waffle cone or as a parfait. I went for the shiratama parfait with vanilla mix. There were surprisingly a lot of sweet red beans and shiratama (mochi) inside of the parfait. I personally enjoyed this because I love red bean and a higher toppings to ice cream ratio, but others didn't share my opinion and thought there was a bit too much red bean. Everyone loved the shiratama though! The soft serve itself was perfect and I think the matcha vanilla blend worked out well, but next time I'll probably go for the pure matcha because I'm a matcha fan!<br />
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There are 3 parfaits available, all pictured below (from left to right):<br />
<b>Sakura Parfait - roasted brown rice on the bottom, sweet red beans, shiratama, chestnut, sakura cookie</b><br />
<b>Shiratama Parfait - sweet red beans, shiratama (about 6 of them!)</b><br />
<b>Chiffon Cake Parfait - matcha chiffon cake, sweet red beans, cornflakes</b><br />
I tried a bit of the chiffon cake and thought it tasted more like a citrus sponge cake with almost no hint of matcha. But there was so much matcha flavour in the soft serve itself and the drink I was having that I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to detect a more subtle matcha flavour in the cake. It was a very good cake though with excellent texture, and I almost regretted not getting that instead of my shiratama parfait. But if you love those chewy little mochi, I would definitely recommend the shiratama as mine came with 6 pieces of them!<br />
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Now for the desserts and pastries not listed on the menu! The yuzu tart was a favourite among the attendees of the event. This is basically the Japanese version of a lemon tart with a more delicate flavour that's not as sharp as lemon.<br />
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Then there's the matcha creampuff with matcha cream filling. I found the cream to be very light, almost like whipped cream, and I could even taste a hint of sweetness. The matcha flavour was still quite pronounced, but I didn't find it too overwhelming.<br />
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There were 2 types of daifuku mochi: matcha and kinako. I had high hopes for this as I really love mochi, but unfortunately they were a bit of a letdown. The skin was extremely soft and thin to the point that it was impossible to pick up without it falling apart. It also lacked the chewy mochi texture, so I felt like I was just eating cream filling in a soft wrapper. We shared this feedback with Tsujiri, and we were told that this is a new item and they are still working on perfecting the recipe, so I definitely plan on coming back to try the improved version! I also found the matcha cream filling in the daifuku to be more intense than the one in the creampuff, but that might be because the choux pastry was able to balance out the flavour better.<br />
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The kinako daifuku was probably the least popular dessert at the event last night. Apart from the issue with the mochi skin, the filling was a strange combination of whipped cream and kinako paste. The two were not combined but rather in separate layers. Also kinako is definitely an acquired taste, and most of us found the flavour a bit foreign. I can handle it as a garnish (ie. kinako powder on my drink or ice cream), but I didn't enjoy the intense flavour of kinako paste.<br />
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Overall I really enjoyed this cafe, but I'm totally biased because I love matcha. All of the food and drinks I tried were excellent with the exception of the daifuku mochi, and as mentioned above they are working on improving that. So definitely give this place a try!<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-88222760574693546562018-05-09T21:43:00.000-06:002018-05-28T00:48:39.835-06:00Captain's Boil - Cajun Seafood BoilCaptain's Boil, a Cajun seafood chain with approximately 30 locations across the country, has just opened in South Edmonton Common last week. Their concept is to take fresh seafood, boil it, and serve it with delicious Asian/cajun spices. The place was relatively quiet considering it was their soft opening week, and it was only about 50% full during my visit.<br />
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Our waitress was very friendly and tried her best to explain the menu to us and told us about using the bibs and gloves on our table for indulging in the seafood. But I felt she was quite inexperienced as she did not offer any recommendations, did not mention the minimum order required for each seafood, and failed to notice that we were missing a set of bib and gloves. She also seemed clueless when I asked about certain menu items and had to go back to the kitchen to ask someone else. And she was unable to give me a guideline as to how much seafood I should order to feed our table. So for those of you planning to visit, here is a simple guide:<br />
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<b>Step 1: Choose your Catch</b> (minimum order is 1 lb, exceptions apply: lobster is 1.5 lbs)<br />
If you are ordering something that is mostly shell with very little flesh, you need 1-2 lbs per person depending on your appetite. For items with more flesh like shrimp or mussels, 1 lb would be sufficient. If you are ordering lots of sides, you can adjust accordingly.<br />
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<b>Step 2: Choose your Flavour</b><br />
There are 4 flavours: cajun, garlic sauce, lemon pepper, and captain's boil (a combination of all 3 of the other sauces). I've only tried cajun and captain's boil. While I liked both, I actually preferred cajun because it already had a very complex flavour profile. The captain's boil just felt like too much going on at once, and it tasted very similar to the cajun except it had a much more pronounced garlic flavour.<br />
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<b>Step 3: Choose your Heat</b><br />
If you cannot take heat very well, choose non-spicy. Be warned, because their mild is probably considered a medium at any other restaurant.<br />
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Now for the sides, DO NOT order veggies because they are extremely overpriced and will not fill you up. More on that later. If you want to leave the restaurant not feeling hungry, order lots of carbs for your sides. I heard the cajun fries is good.<br />
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I was still missing a bib and gloves when the food arrived, so I asked our waitress to bring a set over. She came back with a bib and one glove. I checked to see everyone else had two gloves, so I asked her again and she apologized immediately and said she thought she gave me two. So like I mentioned earlier, she was very friendly with a great attitude, but just a bit inexperienced.<br />
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My order of crawfish and broccoli arrived in a plastic bag with lots of sauce on the bottom.<br />
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This is 1 lb of crawfish ($26) with a side of broccoli. Can you believe that I paid $8 for these 6 pieces of unseasoned broccoli that were simply cooked in water and thrown into the bag? Also the crawfish were not that big and there was barely anything to eat... However, I have to say that the sauce was piquant, intense and downright addictive.<br />
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The other seafood I ordered was 1 lb of snow crab legs ($28) with a side of corn. I was not aware that a side of corn meant 1/3 of a corn which I paid $2 for. See what I mean about the veggies being overpriced? Again I think I ordered the wrong seafood, because there was very little flesh inside of the shell. I could've eaten 3 lbs of this myself...<br />
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The cajun seafood fried rice ($14) saved me from starving and was actually very good value for the price. The fried rice was well-seasoned with cajun spices and there were lots of shrimp mixed inside. Definitely something I would order again.<br />
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In conclusion, the meal below cost around $100 and was not filling by any means. I would still recommend this place and would probably go again just because the sauce was so tasty and addictive. But next time I'll be smarter and order shrimp and mussels instead, and lots of carbs for sides. Oh and another tip to stretch your dollar: pack the leftover sauce and crawfish claws home. Some claws and shells are too small to break open, but you can bring them home with the sauce to make a nice broth!<br />
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<br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-86328641332307617112018-04-23T21:25:00.002-06:002018-04-23T21:25:38.861-06:00Baekjeong Korean BBQBaekjeong is the newest Korean BBQ restaurant in town, located on Calgary trail where Kobe used to be. They've completely renovated the place, giving it a much more rustic and homey feel.<br />
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I've noticed that pretty much every table ordered one of the combos because they're very good value. Each combo comes with a selection of 3-5 meats, a soup, and steamed egg. An individual meat entree for grilling costs close to $30 and does not come with any extras, so it's a good idea to get at least one combo and order additional items for sharing.<br />
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After placing our order of C1 ($85 beef combo for 2-3 people), we were quickly served a complimentary salad and banchan (side dishes) while we waited for our meat. We were also given a variety of sauces and lettuce for wrapping the meat with. The good news is that all of these items are refillable! Yes unlimited salad, side dishes, and lettuce! Also just a note that their kimchi is quite spicy, possibly the spiciest one I've tasted.<br />
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When the meat finally arrived, my first thought was that it didn't look like a lot. Two people could easily finish this! But it turned out it was just the right amount, and it could even feed three people if you throw in a couple bowls of rice. Because there was also the soup, the steamed egg, and unlimited salad and side dishes.<br />
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The server told us to put the onion and king oyster mushroom in the middle of the grill, and the meat on the side as shown below. After the meat is cooked to your liking, put it on top of the veggies to prevent overcooking. This worked well for us, but since we left the veggies on the grill the whole time, the underside was burnt and we didn't get to eat the tasty caramelized onion. The meat was all very good quality and my favourite cut was the <b>thick sliced prime rib eye steak</b>, followed by the <b>sliced boneless beef short rib</b>. The <b>sliced beef rib finger</b> was difficult to cook evenly due to its irregular shape, and I found the <b>thin sliced beef lower brisket</b> a bit too fat and greasy.<br />
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Now onto the soup and steamed egg that came with the combo! You can choose between Korean bean curd soup and kimchi soup. I went with the latter because of several positive reviews, and it did not disappoint. Although the portion was not very big, the hot and spicy soup definitely hit the spot. The steamed egg was also very good despite its appearance. It was much puffier when it first arrived, but quickly deflated like a souffle. And although it was not burnt, it had a delightfully charred taste to it.<br />
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The bill arrived with a complimentary yogurt drink! A very thoughtful treat to help with digestion after all that meat.<br />
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This is definitely a place I'd come back to, especially with a bigger group to try some of the individual entrees or other non-BBQ dishes on the menu. It would be the perfect venue for a casual group gathering or special occasion.Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-14918039136377624362018-03-24T18:24:00.000-06:002018-03-24T18:24:54.759-06:00Tiffin Fresh Kitchen - Casual Indian EatsTiffin Fresh Kitchen, an Indian fast casual restaurant, just opened a few months ago on Ellerslie and 50th St, and another location will be coming later this year on Jasper and 104th St. Unlike its sister restaurant <a href="http://www.krispybites.com/2013/05/zaika-indian-bistro-bar.html" target="_blank">Zaika Indian Bistro Bar</a>, Tiffin does not offer table service or an all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead it promises to deliver "REAL, AMAZING, INDIAN FOOD. Served in a unique way!" And it does just that.<br />
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When I visited Zaika, I was impressed with how clean and modern the place was. Well Tiffin is no different, and in my opinion, the decor here is even nicer and much more Instagrammable! One of the walls shows five giant tiffins, which are actually Indian style tiered lunchboxes.<br />
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On another wall is a beautiful mural done by a local artist.<br />
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And look at this little accent piece!<br />
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Ordering is done at the counter, and the menu is more extensive than I expected for a fast casual restaurant. A solo diner or a small group will most likely go with the basic tiffin:<br />
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<ul>
<li>1 rice/noodle + 1 item = $11</li>
<li>1 rice/noodle + 2 items = $13</li>
<li>1 rice/noodle + 3 items = $15</li>
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There are also 16 oz and 32 oz family packs that are slightly better value if you are sharing with a larger group. Naans, samosas, and other sides are available as well, but honestly I could barely finish my 2 item tiffin, so I'm glad I didn't order any. And I didn't even get into the drink menu yet! There is a selection of chai in various flavours (hot or iced), but I prefer a cool mango lassi to go with the spiced food.</div>
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The staff are super friendly and although the menu says 1 rice/noodle per tiffin, they actually allow you to get a mix! For my tiffin, I chose half regular basmati rice and half saffron rice. One thing I've noticed is that the amount of rice you get depends on the person doling it out. The difference can be significant, and I think this is something they need to look into for staff training. On my second visit with my friends, one of us got only half the amount of rice as the other two. But we talked to them and this was quickly remedied.<br />
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People always say you eat with your eyes first, and this is so true when the colours are so beautiful and vibrant that you can't help but salivate before you even start eating...<br />
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I got the traditional butter chicken and aloo gobi (spiced cauliflower and potatoes) and really enjoyed both items.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butter Chicken + Aloo Gobi</td></tr>
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I also tried the eggplant masala, the chef's feature vegetarian of the day. I assume that means it's not always available, but definitely give it a try if you see it! The basa coconut and tamarind curry was also quite nice as the sauce was very creamy and flavourful.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basa Coconut and Tamarind Curry + Eggplant Masala</td></tr>
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I had a bite of their cauliflower latke ($2/piece), but didn't take a picture. It was served with a sweet and sour sauce that I would describe as a lightly spiced jam. I've also tried the fenugreek chicken, goat curry, kashmiri lamb in chili sauce, and coconut vegetables. Honestly everything was delicious; below are just my personal favourites.<br />
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Recommended:<br />
- butter chicken<br />
- eggplant masala (if available)<br />
- kashmiri lamb in chili sauce (but quite spicy!)<br />
- mango lassi<br />
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<a href="https://www.zomato.com/edmonton/tiffin-india-039-s-fresh-kitchen-millwoods" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Tiffin India's Fresh Kitchen, Millwoods and other Restaurants in Edmonton"><img alt="Tiffin India's Fresh Kitchen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/18588692/biglink" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-68193481757251516332018-02-20T22:14:00.001-07:002018-09-23T05:02:12.954-06:00Let Eat Snow - Korean Dessert Cafe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let Eat Snow is a Korean dessert cafe on 34 Ave and 93 St specializing in bing — shaved ice made with 100% milk. This is what sets it apart from the competition, and you can definitely taste the difference in the texture of the ice which really feels more like soft and fluffy snow. The best part is that the texture remains the same even as you get to the bottom of the bowl. Somehow the snow doesn't meld together into a big clump but remains as fine flakes throughout. The picture below shows the snow bing ($11.50) which is regular flavoured snow with sweet strawberries. The strawberry chunks are imported because that is the only way to guarantee sweetness year-round.<br />
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I've also tried the green tea bing ($10.70) and the pink bing ($11.50 - only available during Valentine's week). What I love most about the bing here is that the flavours are not just dependent on the toppings, but often infused into the shaved milk! For example, the pink bing is shaved milk infused with a delicious raspberry puree imported from France. In both of the bing below, there were also layers of chocolate cookie crumbs inside and cocoa puffs hidden on the bottom!<br />
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Another item that I almost always order is the cinnamon croissant ($3.80 each or $7 for 2) with red bean filling. Boston cream or blueberry cheesecake fillings are also available. The pastry is very much like a croissant with its tender flaky layers, and I love that it's made fresh and served piping hot with cinnamon sugar.<br />
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Another choice of dessert is the Belgian waffle. It's sweet, dense and chewy the way it should be and you can choose to have it by itself, with berries and cream, or with banana and chocolate as shown below. I enjoyed mine with a cup of chocolate latte (just hot chocolate, no coffee in here despite the slightly misleading name), which brings me into the range of hot and cold drinks they serve here.<br />
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I think I enjoy the drinks more often than the bing, especially on cold winter days. The green tea latte below is a light and comforting choice if you want a break from espresso drinks. However, please note that this is not a matcha latte; it doesn't have that strong distinct matcha flavour. Instead it's a milder and slightly sweet green tea with milk.<br />
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A good option for kids is the pink white chocolate on the right below. It tastes like strawberry milk and is just a bit too sweet for me. I personally really love the bubble bing on the left below. A cold drink with bing (shaved milk) topping, so you can enjoy two desserts in one! My fave is the earl grey milk tea bubble bing with tapioca jelly.<br />
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What I love most about Let Eat Snow is that they are always coming up with new menu items, such as the purple dream latte below. Not sure if this is still available, but it's just steamed milk with cooked red beans and almond flakes. Now what would go well with a nice warm drink? Cake of course! Let Eat Snow does not make their cakes in house, but the owner said she sampled over 30 cakes in several bakeries around town to select the best ones to feature. The matcha blackberry cheesecake below is one of the most popular cakes here and it is creamy and delicious!<br />
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There are also seasonal cake offerings such as red velvet cake during Christmas time. The drink below is one of my favourites — the pong pong crush. It's a barley shake topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Super creamy and not too sweet!<br />
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The only savoury food item currently available is the mochi pizza with gorgonzola cheese and almond flakes. It is also one of my favourite food items here. The pizza dough is actually made with Korean rice cake which gives it a soft and chewy texture. But be sure to eat it quick because the mochi loses its elasticity when it's cold and the crust becomes tough. If you don't like savoury, then there's also a honey dip on the side, but I prefer without. The drink below is the green grape-ade made with freshly squeezed juice. Not my cup of "ade" since I think the pong pong crush and earl grey milk tea bubble bing are both much tastier, but this is definitely more refreshing and less filling.<br />
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The kaya toast can qualify as a half-savoury snack. It's a simple toast sandwich with butter and kaya jam inside, served with a side of runny poached egg for dipping.<br />
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If you're with a group of friends, consider getting the honey toast to share. I made the mistake of ordering this along with other food and drinks for myself and two other friends (3 people total) and we were not able to finish this... It was basically half a loaf of bread! Topped with whipped cream too!<br />
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I think I come to Let Eat Snow way too often and I've pretty much tried everything on the menu. But I keep coming back for a few of my faves as well as new menu items!<br />
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Recommended Items:<br />
- any bing (my fave is the pink bing but it's not available year-round)<br />
- cinnamon croissant (red bean filling)<br />
- mochi pizza<br />
- earl grey milk tea bubble bing<br />
- pong pong crush (if you like barley)<br />
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I feel like I recommended most of the menu, but you pretty much can't go wrong with anything here.<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-35772346321027289472018-01-26T01:17:00.000-07:002018-03-10T22:10:35.021-07:00Edo Japan - Fresh Take ConceptEdo Japan is launching a new concept called "Fresh Take" in a few select locations and it will hopefully be rolled out to other locations in the future. This Saturday (Jan 27, 2018), there will be a grand opening event with <b>50% off all teriyaki meals all day</b>! You can visit one of the three locations below to take advantage of this offer:<br />
- North Town Centre (9322 137 Ave NW)<br />
- Shops of Granville (3004 Granville Dr NW)<br />
- Heritage Valley (2720 James Mowatt Trail SW)<br />
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I attended a media event yesterday at the North Town Centre location and got a sneak peek of the new offerings. The event was very well organized with great hospitality from the franchise owners and the PR team, as well as all of the staff that prepared and served the food and drinks. I think this is an indication of the service one can expect to receive here in the future. Check out the beautiful ramen cake and logo cookies prepared for the event below!<br />
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One of the "Fresh Take" additions is a wall of imported Asian snacks ranging from sweet to savoury. My favourite has got to be the matcha Kit Kat.<br />
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Edo is also selling a branded insulated bottle. I got one in my swag bag and honestly I didn't think much of it at first. But I tested its insulating capabilities last night and let me tell you, this is one amazing bottle. I poured boiling water inside and it was still hot after 18 hours! Not lukewarm, but actually hot! Like barely drinkable hot! It's comparable to the Zojirushi thermos I have at home. I'm shocked and impressed.<br />
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Another great addition is the new range of iced infusions drinks. From left to right below:<br />
1) blood orange honey - My fave. Beautiful blood orange flavour and not too sweet.<br />
2) iced coconut coffee - Tastes like Baileys minus the alcohol! Also available with regular milk.<br />
3) yuzu citrus mint - The mint is pretty prominent and I think I could taste ginger.<br />
4) cucumber basil - Basically just soda water infused with cucumber and basil.<br />
The drinks are lined up in my order of preference with my fave being the blood orange on the left. The two drinks on the right are a bit too herbal for my tastes.<br />
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One of the main elements of "Fresh Take" is the new grab-and-go section featuring sushi burritos, salads, and poke bowls. Everything is made fresh at the start of the day, so you don't have to worry about getting day-old food. This is definitely a great addition for those who are on the go. However, if you have a few minutes to spare, I would highly recommend ordering at the counter.<br />
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My go-to dish for Edo will always be the teriyaki rice. I used to get this at the food court all the time, and I guess it has become a childhood memory now. You know what they say: classics are the best! And don't forget that you can get any teriyaki meal (rice or yakisoba noodles) for 50% off this Saturday!<br />
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Samples of edamame and gyoza were also offered at the event. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the gyoza was. The wrapper was light and thin with a slightly crispy bottom, and the savoury-tart sauce was very appetizing. An excellent choice for a side.<br />
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Recommended Dishes:<br />
- teriyaki rice<br />
- gyoza<br />
- blood orange honey drinkStephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-34086411370374206802017-08-23T00:41:00.000-06:002017-08-23T00:41:48.261-06:00LOFT Thai Eatery - Fusion Thai CuisineLOFT Thai Eatery has recently opened on the southside (75 St and Roper Rd). I was a bit surprised when I arrived for dinner on Saturday because the storefront was much smaller than I had anticipated. It almost looked like a takeout joint, but there were five tables inside the small space — all reserved. Luckily I made a reservation or else I would've been out of luck.<br />
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I browsed through the menu and a good half of it was fusion dishes including an entire section called "Loft Signature Entrees" which are made exclusively by the executive chef. I was intrigued by these signature entrees, but due to the elevated prices ($21-$25) and my craving for more traditional Thai dishes, I decided not to order any of them this time. Out of everything I tried on this visit, I was most impressed with the tom yum goong ($8). The flavour of the soup was so perfectly balanced with just the right amount of sourness, spiciness, and aroma of all the spices. Highly recommended with the prawns!<br />
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I still haven't found a good Thai iced tea in Edmonton yet. This one was not too bad, but it didn't have a strong enough tea flavour. It was quite weak, but tried to make up for it in sweetness.<br />
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I was craving a good pad thai ($16) and this certainly hit the spot. It was milder in flavour than most other pad thai I've had, but I liked that it was not too salty or greasy. Another well-balanced dish with a good blend of sweetness and savouriness, followed by a slightly sour aftertaste.<br />
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The Thai green curry ($15), unfortunately, was a bit of a let down. First of all the curry was extremely watery like a broth consistency. It was quite spicy but not as flavourful as I would've liked. Also I expected the taste and flavour of the curry to be infused in the meat and vegetables, but this was not the case. The beef (which was not very tender by the way) and veggies tasted like they had been cooked separately and then thrown into the curry sauce just prior to serving. Also the portion of the rice was really small, but I guess I shouldn't expect too much for $15.<br />
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The dessert of mango and sticky rice ($8) was a satisfying way to end the meal. The mango was nice and ripe, and I loved how the sticky rice was served piping hot.<br />
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Overall I had a decent experience here and will probably come back to try the signature entrees. If I think of this place as a typical Thai restaurant, then I would be disappointed in the portion size and authenticity. But this is really more of a Western style dining experience. I think the flavours of traditional Thai cuisine have been adjusted for the Western palate, and as mentioned earlier, at least half of the menu consists of fusion dishes. Another thing I've noticed is that the portions are not meant for sharing; each person needs to order his/her own entree and then get appetizers and desserts to share. <br />
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Recommended Dishes:<br />
- tom yum goong<br />
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<a href="https://www.zomato.com/edmonton/loft-thai-eatery-argyll-industrial" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Loft Thai Eatery, Argyll & Industrial and other Restaurants in Edmonton"><img alt="Loft Thai Eatery Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/18549925/biglink" style="border: medium none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-78671578280913280832017-08-12T02:20:00.001-06:002018-03-10T22:12:31.957-07:00Saigon Taste - Tasty Pho BrothSaigon Taste, a Vietnamese restaurant located just across from Oliver Square, contacted me last week to try them out as they have recently changed management. My meal was complimentary, but I aim to remain objective in my review. If you would like to give Saigon Taste a try yourself, you can receive a <b>10% discount until the end of November</b> if you show them you <a href="https://www.instagram.com/krispybites/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>!<br />
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The place was clean and well maintained, and the menu was one of the nicest I've seen at a Vietnamese restaurant, complete with colourful pictures and interesting blurbs.<br />
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I ordered the house special beef noodle soup ($11.95) which came with a variety of toppings including medium rare beef, beef brisket, and beef balls. The broth, simmered for over 8 hours, was one of the best I've tasted — clear and light with a fragrant savouriness that made it rich in flavour and satisfying. There was a page in the menu that advised customers on how to add basil in the broth to maximize the aroma. One tip was to add the basil in small pieces instead of putting the whole leaf in. This actually made a difference and enhanced the flavour of the broth even more. I'm one of those people who don't drink the soup when I eat pho, but I definitely made an exception this time.<br />
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I was also pleasantly surprised by the intense flavour of the Vietnamese coffee ($2.95 during lunch). Strong coffee and condensed milk over ice made for a refreshing summer drink. It actually tasted like a Werther's coffee candy in creamy liquid form. So delicious!<br />
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I wanted to try the honey garlic wings, but they were sold out, so I opted for barbeque wings ($8.95) instead. The chicken was tender, but I found the sauce a bit too salty and overpowering. Basically these were no different than barbeque wings at any other establishment. In fact, I think this is on par with homemade wings with a bottle of barbeque sauce from the supermarket. I wouldn't order this again, but I have a feeling the honey garlic might be better.<br />
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Recommended Dishes:<br />
- any beef noodle soup (that pho broth!)<br />
- Vietnamese coffee <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.zomato.com/edmonton/saigon-taste-edmonton" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Saigon Taste, Oliver and other Restaurants in Edmonton"><img alt="Saigon Taste Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/16651864/biglink" style="border: medium none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-42641033899717963432017-08-02T22:45:00.000-06:002017-08-02T22:45:51.532-06:00Zinc - Tuesday TapasThe Art Gallery of Alberta currently offers free admission on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the attached Zinc Restaurant offers a Tuesday Tapas menu, so everything worked out perfectly last night with an art tour followed by dinner at Zinc. I did a quick one-hour walkthrough of the gallery, but I would recommend a bit more time if you wanted to check out every exhibit in detail.<br />
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Dinner at Zinc also did not disappoint. A must try is the $4 pulled pork burger that the restaurant is taking a loss on to attract customers. It is a full size burger with generous amounts of meat and creamy coleslaw inside. The pulled pork was tender, but I didn't find it very flavourful. However, I have no complaints since it was a steal for only $4.<br />
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My favourite dish was the DLT ($12) - tea cured duck breast served with heirloom tomatoes, microgreens, grapefruit and mandarin orange slices, and tarragon aioli. The duck breast was cooked perfectly, and I could taste the distinct flavour of tea leaves in the meat.<br />
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I did not expect the sausage ($9) to be a hot dog. But it was a fancy hot dog with a grilled juicy chorizo sausage inside a crusty baguette. The chorizo was quite spicy and went well with the sour sauerkraut and piquant Dijon mustard. This would make a pretty filling entree for one person.<br />
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The sweet spicy prawns ($12.50) were interestingly neither sweet nor spicy. Instead I found them well-seasoned with salt and pepper. I'm sure "sweet spicy" actually refers to the ginger tomato chutney served with the prawns. While this dish was not bad, it was not what I had expected.<br />
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The full Tuesday Tapas menu is shown below:<br />
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Recommended Dishes:<br />
- pulled pork<br />
- DLT<br />
- sausage (only if you like spicy hot dogs)<br />
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<a href="https://www.zomato.com/edmonton/zinc-edmonton" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Zinc, Downtown and other Restaurants in Edmonton"><img alt="Zinc Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/16650494/biglink" style="border: medium none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-91568170050857857612017-07-26T09:00:00.000-06:002017-07-26T09:00:55.700-06:00More Fun Gourmet Sweets - YEG CupcakesAshley from More Fun Gourmet Sweets is an aspiring baker in the Edmonton area, and I was very lucky to have met her in person to try some of her delicious creations. Currently her focus is on custom cupcakes, and she is constantly coming up with new flavours and designs. She uses organic sprouted spelt flour and unbleached flour, as well as organic eggs, butter, and produce. The quality of her ingredients is evident in the taste and presentation of these beautiful cupcakes. What strikes me most is the amount of detail in each of her cupcakes. Every cupcake is a complex combination of flavours, and some even include exotic ingredients like lemongrass or lingonberry. And somehow Ashley is able to take all of these flavours and blend them together perfectly. It really is an art to create something that tastes as beautiful as it looks.<br />
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Before I go into the details of each flavour, I'd like to comment on the topping Ashley uses for all of her cupcakes. Instead of traditional American buttercream composed of mainly butter and sugar, she uses a much lighter Swiss buttercream which is mostly made up of egg white. Swiss buttercream is basically an airy meringue with just enough butter added to make it creamy. I usually scrape off half the icing from cupcakes because I find it too heavy and sweet, but I ate all of the toppings on these ones. In fact, what I like most about Ashley's cupcakes is that they are not overly sweet and I can focus on the delicate flavours of the ingredients and how they come together.<br />
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Let's have a look at some of her innovative flavours below:<br />
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<u>Very Blueberry</u> <br />
Base: blueberry vanilla cake<br />
Filling: blueberry hibiscus<br />
Topping: blueberry Swiss buttercream and maple syrup<br />
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I'm going to start with one of my favourites. The presentation alone is enough to draw anyone's attention with its beautiful purple topping dotted with luscious drops of maple syrup. The cake base is a bit more moist than the plain vanilla cake because of the addition of blueberries in the cake batter, which perfectly complements the sweet blueberry hibiscus jam filling.<br />
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<u>Very Strawberry</u><br />
Base: strawberry vanilla cake<br />
Filling: strawberry lingonberry<br />
Topping: strawberry Swiss buttercream and maple syrup<br />
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Another one of my favourites. This is very similar to Very Blueberry as the cake base is also more moist due to the addition of strawberries, and the strawberry infused topping is also beautifully decorated with drops of maple syrup. The lingonberry in the filling adds a tart profile which I find very refreshing with the sweetness of the strawberry.<br />
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<u>Lemon Lemongrass</u><br />
Base: vanilla cake<br />
Filling: lemon and lemongrass curd<br />
Topping: white chocolate Limoncello Swiss buttercream<br />
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The plain vanilla cake base was slightly firmer, and I could just detect a hint of the spelt flour used. I couldn't taste the lemongrass in the filling; I just thought it was a very light and smooth lemon curd.<br />
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<u>Lime and Coconut</u><br />
Base: vanilla cake<br />
Filling: lime and lime leaf curd<br />
Topping: white chocolate coconut Swiss buttercream and shredded coconut<br />
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I'm not a fan of coconut, so this cupcake didn't particularly appeal to me. Luckily the coconut flavour was not overwhelming as it was only in the topping. I did find the lime and lime leaf curd filling very exotic and unique. It was also very tart, and the sweet white chocolate buttercream balanced it out well. <br />
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<u>Quad Cocoa</u><br />
Base: chocolate cake<br />
Filling: chocolate fudge<br />
Topping: milk chocolate Swiss buttercream and cocoa nibs <br />
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Out of the five cupcakes, this one was the sweetest with a runny chocolate fudge filling that was almost like a caramel. The cake base was a very light and fluffy chocolate cake that was a lot softer than the vanilla cake. I would've preferred a slightly firmer and denser texture, but appreciated the fact that the cake was not too sweet as the topping and filling were both quite sweet.<br />
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<u>Overall Thoughts</u><br />
I would say these cupcakes are made for foodies who appreciate the quality of ingredients and have a taste for complex flavour profiles. If you are the kind of person who just wants something sweet and well-portioned for the price, then this is probably not for you. <br />
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So where can you find More Fun Gourmet Sweets? Right now Ashley is mainly taking custom orders, but she is also trying to take part in farmer's markets around town. Keep an eye out on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/morefunsweets/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/morefungourmetsweets/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> to see what she's up to!<br />
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Disclaimer: Ashley has kindly provided these cupcakes for sampling free of charge. However, I aim to be as objective as possible in my review and my opinion is 100% honest. I would highly recommend these cupcakes. In fact, I plan on visiting Ashley tonight at the Beaumont Farmer's Market to purchase more of her tasty treats!Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-62505827117924866822017-07-12T11:14:00.000-06:002017-07-13T11:33:43.158-06:00Snowy Dessert - Korean Shaved Ice BingsuSnowy Dessert is located on Whyte Ave just beside Dorinku, and they just had their soft opening on July 10. For the first 2 weeks, you can get a 10% discount if you follow them on Instagram or Facebook.<br />
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In addition to bingsu (Korean shaved ice), they also serve taiyaki and drinks.<br />
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Currently only red bean and chocolate taiyaki flavours are available.<br />
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I ordered the large injeolmi bingsu ($12). The shaved ice was made with milk instead of water which made a real difference to the taste. It was a lot creamier and enjoyable even when it started melting. The injeolmi (Korean rice cake) was soft and chewy, but hardened when left in the ice for too long. The red bean topping was very sweet. I guess bingsu is supposed to be shaved ice with toppings, but I think it would've been better to have layers inside the ice so that people wouldn't run out of toppings when they eat from the top down. Another small complaint I have is that the spoons were sticky and gave me the feeling they were not cleaned or handled properly. Hopefully this will not be an ongoing issue.<br />
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On a second visit, I tried the small green tea bingsu ($9). I've noticed that there's basically no difference in amount of toppings between the large and small size, so the small size is better value unless you really like the shaved milk ice. This time there were actually almond flakes and matcha powder layered in the ice. Not sure if that was intentional or not, but I thought it was a nice touch.<br />
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I had a red bean taiyaki ($3.50 each or $10/3) and it was a pretty decent size. It was unlike other taiyaki I've had in the past that was more spongy and cake-like. This one was very crispy and flaky. Its buttery layers reminded me of a croissant or danish. At first I thought there was barely any filling, but actually all of the red bean was concentrated near the tail area. This was a good pastry, but I prefer the cake-like taiyaki more.<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-49059122673523777192017-07-06T15:44:00.003-06:002017-07-06T15:44:57.975-06:00Pampa Brazilian SteakhouseI went to Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse with my family for Father's Day brunch this year. I'm not sure if it was any different from their regular Sunday brunch buffet which they have every week for $29.99/person.<br />
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The buffet consisted of a bunch of cold items including salads, fruits, and cold cuts. Nothing spectacular, but there was a good selection and there were also a few hot items. The warm French toast was quite tasty.<br />
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The servers brought the various cuts of meat available that day to the table. I don't remember all the cuts we had that day, but there were some beef cuts, pork belly, sausage, and chicken drumstick. All of the meats were supposed to be medium-rare, but I found most of them a bit overcooked and quite tough.<br />
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Each person gets a double-sided cardboard coaster thing that's green on one side and red on the other. Green side up means "I want more meat!" and the servers will come by to serve the meat. However, I've noticed that the servers don't actually care whether your card is on green or red. They come by anyway if they see you looking, so my plate was piled up with meat within a few minutes.<br />
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There was a 1.5 hour time limit, and our server came by several times when time was almost up to politely ask if we needed anything else. We were waiting for them to refill the fruit in the buffet, but it took a really long time. Our server was great though, and made sure to let us know the minute it was refilled.<br />
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I think the price is a bit steep for the quality of food, so I wouldn't recommend this place unless you have never had a rodizio experience or you can eat a lot of meat and get your money's worth.<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-26663210926233489552017-07-02T10:30:00.000-06:002017-07-02T10:30:15.017-06:00Max's Restaurant - Filipino CuisineThe other day I saw a picture of a vibrant purple ube (purple yam) ice cream cone on my Instagram, and I decided that I had to try it. A quick google search showed that ube ice cream is usually part of a Filipino dessert called Halo Halo, and I could find it at an authentic Filipino chain restaurant called Max's Restaurant in the west end. Then I realized that I had never been to a Filipino restaurant in all my years of dining out, so I was intrigued by the idea.<br />
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I visited on a Friday night with no reservation, which was a bad idea since I was told the wait would be half an hour. After I was seated, it was another 15 minute wait just to get the order placed. And then it took more than 45 minutes for the food to arrive! I was starving by the time I finally got to eat. The soup that came with one of the meals basically tasted like canned chicken soup, only worse because it was super starchy.<br />
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I ordered Max's platter which consisted of a Max's chicken leg, pancit bihon (rice noodles), garlic rice, and a caramel bar. The fried chicken is Max's signature dish and it's what made the chain famous to begin with. Maybe that's why I found it so underwhelming. The skin was crispy, but the whole thing was so overcooked that it was tough and chewy. The garlic rice was good, and the pancit bihon was decent, but it was no different from any stir-fried noodle dish you could get at Good Buddy or any other mediocre Chinese restaurant. The caramel bar was not even removed from its plastic packaging to be served, so that basically told me it was something they took out of a box and threw on the plate. It was a soggy thing with a texture somewhere between cake and fudge.<br />
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After the disappointing and very greasy meal, I finally got to try what I came for — the halo halo dessert with ube ice cream. I suppose they were trying to jazz up the presentation with the paper umbrella, but that hardly helped since the other toppings looked so carelessly thrown together. Tastewise, everything tasted like it came directly out of a can. In fact, I could probably recreate this at home after doing some shopping at T&T. The flan was hard and chunky, and I found out that I didn't like the flavour of ube ice cream.<br />
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After this meal, my dining partner and I both had stomach pain and indigestion issues. This could be due to the extremely long waiting time followed by such a greasy meal. In any case, I would not recommend this restaurant.<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-80989500224987804252017-06-26T23:32:00.002-06:002017-06-26T23:32:30.599-06:00Chocorrant Patisserie and CafeChocorrant is a French bakery cafe located on 124 St just down the road from <a href="http://www.krispybites.com/2013/02/duchess-bake-shop.html" target="_blank">Duchess Bake Shop</a>. There isn't a lot of variety here as they currently only offer 4 cakes: (left to right) the most popular lemon cheesecake, chocolate crunch, caramel apple, and espresso. They recently discontinued the passion fruit almond tart, but they are working on something new to replace it.<br />
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I think what sets Chocorrant apart from other French bakeries is their innovative croissant flavours including chocolate, strawberry milk, and matcha. They also have a savoury mushroom danish which I have yet to try.<br />
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I tried both the strawberry milk and matcha croissants, along with a London fog and a regular latte. I've also tried the matcha latte on another visit. The drinks were average and not comparable to most coffee shops, but it was nice to have something hot to go with the cakes and pastries.<br />
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I had imagined fluffy and flaky croissants filled with strawberry jam and matcha cream, but they were not like that at all. They were crispy on the outside, perhaps even a bit crunchy as they were quite browned. They did not have a very fluffy interior texture and were in fact more on the doughy side. There was not much of a filling, but just a thin layer of flavouring that was rolled in with the dough. Having said all that and despite being different from my expectations, the croissants were actually not bad and I quite enjoyed the matcha flavour.<br />
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Chocorrant used to offer a dessert sampler that includes all 5 cakes, but this is not available until they come up with a new creation to replace the almond tart. However, on my visit, they were nice enough to give me a sampler with an extra cake of my choice instead of the almond tart. So I got to try all of their current selection. My favourite was definitely the most popular lemon cheesecake. It was light and refreshing with a good balance of sweetness and tartness. I didn't find the other cakes too special; the chocolate crunch was just a regular moist chocolate cake and the espresso tasted just like a regular tiramisu cake. <br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-84036747785582681182017-06-21T00:11:00.000-06:002017-06-21T00:11:03.355-06:00Miga Korean CuisineMiga is a relatively new Korean restaurant on the southside (34 Ave and 93 St) right next to <a href="http://www.krispybites.com/2014/08/ginseng-restaurant.html" target="_blank">Ginseng Korean BBQ</a>. The place has a more modern and refined ambiance compared to other Korean restaurants like <a href="http://www.krispybites.com/2012/12/b-bim-baab.html" target="_blank">B-Bim-Baab</a>, but it's also much smaller with limited seating.<br />
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The meal starts with complimentary banchan, Korean side dishes to be enjoyed with rice and the main meal. But I found myself picking away at them while waiting for the entrees to arrive.<br />
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The topokki with cheese in hot plate ($32) seems to be the most popular dish here. It comes with two bowls of rice, so it's enough to feed two people or to share with a larger party. The fried wontons with minced meat filling and fried vegetable fritters made great appetizers. The topokki (rice cake) was cooked with fish cake, cabbage, and glass noodles in Korean spicy sauce in the traditional method. But in a modern twist, the rice cake could be eaten with egg and melted cheese served on the side of the hot plate. Just make sure you let the egg cook first!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that gooey, stringy cheese!</td></tr>
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So I forgot to take a picture of the bi-bim-bap before I mixed it up with hot sauce. Can you blame me? I was too busy stuffing my face with the topokki cheese dish. Anyway this is the mountain vegetables with beef, egg and rice bi-bim-bap ($14). It's also available in a hot stone bowl for an extra $2. After the topokki dish, this tasted pretty mild and didn't have much flavour. I probably wouldn't order this again.<br />
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Recommended Dishes:<br />
- topokki with cheese in hot plate<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-36261446470830245042017-06-14T16:49:00.002-06:002017-06-14T16:49:41.029-06:00Co Do Hue - Best Spicy WingsCo Do Hue is a Vietnamese restaurant with 3 locations in Edmonton. I dined at the West End location and realized it was a self-service establishment. Customers need to order at the counter and get their own water, cutlery, and sauces. <br />
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The best dish here, in my opinion, is the spicy crispy chicken wings ($10.95). If you can only order one item, get this one! The seasoning is what makes these wings so addictive. It's served with sauteed onions, peppers and spices, and the level of spiciness is just right — enough to give a good kick but not so much that it kills your taste buds. <br />
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The shrimp salad rolls ($8.75) were huge but mostly stuffed with vermicelli and lettuce, so it was quite bland since the shrimp to other fillings ratio was way off. The shrimp also did not have any flavour. I value quality over quantity, so I'd take the <a href="http://www.krispybites.com/2017/06/grain-of-rice-modern-asian-cuisine.html" target="_blank">salad rolls at Grain of Rice</a> over these anytime.<br />
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The special beef noodle soup / pho ($11.95) was pretty standard, and I liked how the beef was served pink. The broth was also quite savoury and comforting.<br />
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Hue's spicy noodle soup / bun bo hue ($11.95) was served with a generous amount of shredded cabbage on top which I found a bit strange, but good for my daily vegetable intake. There was also a lot of beef brisket, pork sausage and meatballs to go with it. Compared to other bun bo hue, this broth was a bit weaker and didn't have the intense piquant flavour I was expecting.<br />
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Recommended Dishes:<br />
- spicy crispy chicken wings<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-82712735426944145142017-06-11T12:52:00.001-06:002017-06-11T12:52:17.181-06:00Grain of Rice - Modern Asian CuisineGrain of Rice is an Asian restaurant, but differs from other Asian restaurants in that it is a no tipping establishment (just like <a href="http://www.krispybites.com/2017/03/cafe-linnea-high-tea.html" target="_blank">Cafe Linnea</a>), and it has a very limited menu of less than 10 items in order to ensure quality.<br />
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Instead of getting the full order of YinYang rolls which includes both deep fried spring rolls and salad rolls, I wanted only the salad rolls ($7) stuffed with sweet and juicy prawn. These were seriously the best prawn salad rolls I've ever tasted. I could tell they were made fresh to order, and everything from the translucent wrapper to the crisp lettuce and soft vermicelli was just perfect. The best part was that there was no skimping! Each roll was fully stuffed with two big and meaty prawns — the freshest I've ever seen in any salad roll.<br />
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Beef and rice noodles ($15) is a very common Cantonese dish, so I was curious to see how this unconventional Asian restaurant would execute it. Surprisingly, it was prepared in a very traditional method. The noodles were cooked well, and the dish had a lot of "wok hei". "Wok hei" is a term in Cantonese literally translated as "breath of the wok". By stir-frying over high heat and stirring constantly, the wok imparts a unique flavour to the dish by lightly charring the ingredients. Unfortunately the thinly sliced beef was not tender, but this may be due to the cut of beef, as flank steak is usually rather tough.<br />
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The vermicelli bowl ($15) is the most popular item here. I'm not too crazy about Vietnamese style vermicelli, so I rarely order it. I got it this time since the menu was so limited, and I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed it. The vermicelli was served slightly warm with fresh lettuce and cucumber, and extremely fragrant lemongrass chicken. For those of you who are health conscious, you'll be happy to know that this is free range chicken breast meat.<br />
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Grain of Rice is open for both lunch and dinner, but please be aware that dinner prices are slightly higher. They do post promotions on Instagram, so keep an eye out for that <a href="http://instagram.com/grainofriceyeg" target="_blank">@grainofriceyeg</a>.<br />
Current specials are:<br />
Tuesday night - $10 beef and rice noodles (with drink purchase)<br />
Wednesday night - $10 pho (with drink purchase)<br />
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Recommended Dishes:<br />
- vermicelli bowl<br />
- salad rolls<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738609080790241180.post-82416608697176243372017-06-07T15:27:00.001-06:002017-06-07T15:27:29.487-06:00 Bündok - Seasonal Small PlatesBündok is a restaurant specializing in local cuisine with a focus on seasonal small plates. It's a great place to enjoy a few drinks and share a variety of dishes with your dining partners. I only had hot water on my visit, which was refilled promptly throughout the meal. Service was excellent and I was offered lemon with my water. Unfortunately the lemon wedge was dry and not fresh at all.<br />
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We started with pommes dauphine ($8) — gooey gruyere balls with a crispy shell. Surprisingly they were not too greasy with an almost liquid cheese filling.<br />
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The beef tartare ($14) was lightly seasoned and didn't have too strong of a flavour, but the meat was very fresh and tender. I found the side of toasted bread a bit too dry and crusty. It kind of poked my gums when I was trying to bite into it. Personally would have preferred slightly softer bread, but I suppose the crunchy bread was supposed to complement the texture of the beef.<br />
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The roasted cauliflower ($9) was my favourite dish. It was topped with crispy bread crumbs and creamy creme fraiche. This dish was pretty heavy with quite a bit of oil, but there was a refreshing lemon flavour to balance it out.<br />
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The fried chicken skins ($8) was another heavy dish. I could feel the oil bursting out as I bit into the crispy batter and the layers of skin and fat inside. While the taste of fat was satisfyingly delicious, this is definitely not for the faint of heart.<br />
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I would highly recommend the citrus posset ($9) to finish off the meal. This is such a great choice to refresh your palate after all those heavy dishes. It is a silky smooth cream pudding with a refreshing citrus flavour, topped with apple cubes and earl grey syrup.<br />
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I actually stayed at the restaurant for almost 3 hours. I didn't have a lot of food, but I found the environment very relaxing and comfortable for chatting and eating slowly, and service was great throughout. I would definitely come back again to try out other dishes. <br />
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Recommended Dishes:<br />
- roasted cauliflower<br />
- citrus posset<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03247888249215415971noreply@blogger.com0