Usually the Long Table events take place in the Whistler area but this year we Vancouverites will not have to travel far in order to enjoy some of Araxi restaurant’s delicious seasonal food and BC wine pairings. On Saturday, July 27, Araxi will be bringing their annual Long Table Dinner to Prospect Point in Stanley Park.

2011′s Long Table Dinner at North Arm Farm – nothing short of spectacular!

Having already attended two of these events (one at North Arm Farm and the other at Rainbow Park) and knowing how fun they can be, I am excited to enjoy this experience closer to home. Tickets are $175 each and, yes, that may seem high but keep in mind that includes a cocktail reception, a four course meal, and wine pairings. Plus, how often do you get to have an alfresco dinner with 300 people?

If you do find yourself in the Whistler area this summer, I highly recommend partaking in one of the Long Table Dinners whilst you are there. The North Arm Farm site is breathtaking and you can participate in a tour of the farm whilst you are there.

Food from last year’s event

Dessert is always well-executed

The dates for this year are:

Saturday, July 27th – Prospect Point in Stanley Park, Vancouver

Saturday, August 3rd – Lost Lake, Whistler

Saturday, August 17th – North Arm Farm, Pemberton

Neil Henderson, Restaurant Director, 604 932 4540 or longtable@araxi.com
$175.00 per person, per event
(includes reception, wine, four-course menu, tax and gratuity

Hope to see you there!

Last year’s Long Table at Rainbow Park, Whistler

T: 604 687 6880
www.wildebeest.ca

Brief Description: It should be quite obvious from the name of the restaurant as to what Wildebeest specializes in but in case you need more clarity, think meat, bones, and tongues. It is certainly not a place for the squeamish, or vegetarian.

Wildebeest has been one of my go-to places for brunch since they opened but I obviously hadn’t been back in a while as the last time I was there (a few weeks ago now) they had some new additions to their brunch menu. It was a smart decision to add some new items as it keeps things fresh and interesting for those that frequent the restaurant often.

Daily special: Housemade pork patty with egg and asparagus and salsa verde

Sous vide egg on a biscuit, with ham

Both of these dishes were very tasty, and the sous vide egg dish was particularly delicious. I’m unsure if these new dishes are a permanent fixture on their brunch menu as they don’t appear to be on the website menu. However, there are other new items, such as “The Dutch Baby”, cow’s milk ricotta, poached rhubarb, rhubarb jam orange marmalade syrup and the nettle cassoulet, sunchoke granola, confit shallot, poached egg and comte.

T: 604 568 4554
www.nookrestaurant.ca

Brief Description: Nook fills the West End void of affordable and unpretentious Italian food. Think generous portions of scrumptious pizza and pasta for under $15.

I think I’ve made it pretty clear on this blog just how much I enjoy visiting Nook. I dare say that it is my favourite restaurant in the city. Not because of any one thing but it is the combination of the friendly service, well-executed food, the unpretentious and intimate space, and the value for money, that make it a favourite. B and I love visiting Nook whenever we want to go out for a romantic, yet affordable, evening. This meal, plus 2 glasses of wine and a beer, came to just under $100.

Burrata and Proscuitto - $18

Daily Pasta Special: Pork Ragu - $19
Italian Sausage Pizza – $15

Rumour has it that Nook will be opening their Kitsilano location in July. I, for one, cannot wait and I have my fingers crossed that they are able to keep the same standard that they consistently deliver at the West End location.

I’m not trying to discriminate when selecting these dishes but I did notice that almost all of them are from outside of Vancouver. Perhaps it is a coincidence, or perhaps it is because when travelling you eat out more often and your senses are heightened. Regardless of the answer, the following dishes are my response to the question “What would your last meal be?” Well, this is it for me. Add a bottle of bubbles to this and I would die happy. Oh, so happy!

Moulard Duck Foie Gras En Terrine – The French Laundry, Napa Valley

Arguably the whole evening that we spent at The French Laundry was full of memorable dishes but the one dish that I still daydream about and would travel back to Napa for is the Foie Gras Terrine. I can still remember the glossiness of the terrine as I layered it onto the warm brioche and sprinkled it with salt. I have a difficult time trying to find the words to describe how delectable it was but my taste buds remember.

House Curry with Fresh Prawns – L. Maladee, Ko Lanta, Thailand

Easily the best meal that I ate whilst in Thailand. We returned to this casual, little restaurant many times whilst on the island of Ko Lanta and every meal was delicious, but this curry was the one I remember most vividly. Before we ordered, the server presented the HUGE freshly caught prawns to us and recommended that they be served as the House Curry. I was hesitant because I was already completely in love with their Panang Curry but trust I did, and wow. The curry was creamy, perfectly spicy, and full of fat, juicy prawns.

Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi – Minami, Vancouver

The Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi, which is pressed local BC salmon, jalapeño, and miku sauce, is the signature dish at Yaletown’s Minami. With slices of delicate salmon, a slightly smoky flavor, and a hint of spice from the jalapeño, it is heavenly. This dish has changed sushi (for the better) for me.

Sticky Toffee Pudding – Rim Rock Café, Whistler

Prior to my first visit to Rim Rock, I was told that I couldn’t leave without ordering the Sticky Toffee Pudding. I did what I was told. Now, whenever I return to Whistler, I try to eat at Rim Rock and will usually – only once have I not – finish my meal with a serving of this deliciousness. I find it rare to find a dish that manages to live up to its much-hyped reputation but the Sticky Toffee Pudding did. B & I even served this dish at our wedding. Who can pass up a warm tower of date pudding, swimming in gooey, sweet toffee? Not me!

Erik Kayser Baguette and Butter – Paris, France

I would never have believed that I would add a baguette and butter to my “most memorable dishes” list but here it is. When I was in Paris last November, I joined the long snaking queue at Erik Kayser (a well-known artisan bakery) and chose a warm, crispy baguette and bought a slab of salty French butter to accompany it. My brain and taste buds were tingling as I ate it and, whilst drunk on (carb and fat induced) endorphins, I couldn’t help but marvel at its simplicity. It was truly memorable.

Lobster Brioche Sandwich – Burger & Lobster, London

Again words will fail me but let me attempt to explain how good this dish was. Think of warm, buttery brioche that has been toasted until golden and then filled with plump pieces of sweet lobster, creamy Japanese mayo, and chives. It is rich and decadent and the buttery brioche leaves a glistening butter trail around your mouth as you bite into it…I think you get the picture.

Sturgeon Sabayon - Eleven Madison Park, New York

This dish was memorable for two reasons; 1/ The presentation was unexpected, yet interesting and 2/ I would never expect sturgeon (even the name is ugly) to be this tasty. The sabayon was creamy, foamy, dense, all at once. The size of the dish was also perfect – I was left wanting more.

Unknown Pizza Bar, Florence, Italy

As a child, I wasn’t exposed to authentic Italian food. To put it in context, before I travelled to Italy at the age of 19, the only pizza I had eaten was chain-restaurant pizza (Pizza Hut, for example). Imagine my innocent and naive taste bud’s surprise when they tasted a thick, foccacia-like pizza base, covered in slightly cooked fresh summer vegetables and herbs. The taste was memorable. I can vividly remember tasting every herb, every zucchini, every pepper. I had never tasted pizza that had actual individual flavours like that before. Knowing that food could be that different from what I was used to, pushed me to continue to seek out new tastes and foods.

Beef Masaman Curry – Hanuman Restaurant, Darwin, Australia

This will always be the Masaman curry that I measure all other Masaman’s against. The beef falls apart at touch, the sauce is thick and creamy and full of spices. And it reminds me of home.

What are the most memorable dishes that you’ve ever eaten? Do you find food more memorable when you sample it in a different country?

T: 604 620 9400
www.pidginvancouver.com

Come on, you’ve heard about Pidgin. With all of the protests and media attention it is hard to have escaped not hearing something about this new Gastown/DTES restaurant. Perhaps you’ve even googled the restaurant to see what all the fuss is about. I have – of course I have! I love food and enjoy finding out about new openings in the city. But after reading the menu, which is arguably one of the most innovative menus in Vancouver right now, I just wasn’t that excited. I couldn’t find anything on the menu that I was desperate to try but I went anyway to celebrate B’s birthday last week. And honestly? I’m still underwhelmed by it (although this was only my first visit so this is not my final decision). Anyway, I’ll let the pictures do the talking…

Interior of Pidgin

Daily Pickles - $5 Daily Special of Sashimi Spot Prawns on Prawn Broth Glass Noodles Daily Special: Duck Confit Rillette with Endive SaladPork Belly Rice Bowl – $12

Elk Ssam - $26 Peanut Butter Parfait with Salted Caramel & Banana Puree – $8

The interior of the restaurant was modern, with a clean white-look and exposed pipes on the roof. The kitchen was open-concept, although situated mostly away from the dining room so it wasn’t intrusive. The service was helpful and courteous. As for the food, some of the dishes fell short and those were the daily special of sashimi style spot prawns, served on prawn broth infused glass noodles, and the elk ssam was also quite uneventful flavour-wise (ssam is basically a lettuce wrap). At $26 for the elk, I was expecting much more.

The highlights of the night were the duck confit rillette, which was delightful, and the superstar of the evening was actually dessert! The peanut butter parfait with salted caramel was memorable and worth a visit for that alone.

I will return to Pidgin to try it again – even if it is just for some small plates and that heavenly dessert.

T: 604 730 1678
www.suika-snackbar.com

Brief Description: Suika is a stylish, modern izakaya with a fun atmosphere. Prices are reasonable with most dishes under $10, except for a few meat or sushi dishes.

A visit to Suika was well overdue and so I popped in for dinner last night with B and my sister. What I like about Suika is that it is cheap, cheerful (no, seriously, the staff are cheerful), and fast. What I, personally, don’t like about it is that I find that most of the food is very strong in flavour. Like smack-you-in-the-mouth-full-of-flavour. That’s great if you prefer intense tastes (B does, for example) but if you are into more subtle flavours (like I am) it can be a little much. For example, the hellz chicken (which does tell you upfront that it is hot) was very vinegary and spicy – that’s fine I expected that. But the oxtail ramen is very salty, the pork belly bibimbap had a strong shrimp flavour, and the beef filet fried rice was packed with garlic. I’m not telling you that these things are bad – you may very well like strong flavours – I’m simply pointing out that this might not be for everyone.

They do have a fairly recent addition of a patio, which captures the sun very well, but the location on busy West Broadway may make it a bit difficult for chatting. I still find Suika a fun spot with some interesting dishes and recommend it as a fun weekend spot, when the restaurant is even more lively than usual.

I love the Corn Kakiage - $4.80

Hellz Chicken 

Beef Filet Fried Rice - $11

Pork Belly Bibimbap – $8.80

When I moved to Canada six years ago, I honestly didn’t know much about Vancouver but I came equipped with a Lonely Planet and a Time Out guide and got to learning more. I studied the dining out section of the Time Out guide and endeavoured to visit the restaurants and cafés that I was reading about (I would even check them off in the book after each visit). One of the places that I read about that stood out in my mind was Kintaro Ramen. Having not eaten ramen before arriving in Vancouver, I knew that this would be one of the first places that I would visit (and it was). When I lived in the West End, I would frequent Kintaro Ramen with my sister because the tasty bowls of broth and noodles were warming on cold Vancouver nights, and they were cheap.

Years later, I have now eaten ramen all across the city and Kintaro Ramen’s light doesn’t burn as bright for me as it did all those years ago. Yes, you can still get a delicious bowl of salty ramen but is it still the best in the city? I will leave that argument for the ramen-aficionados of the city. Regardless of its ranking, I returned a few nights ago to the busy, cramped ramen joint on Denman and it would seem as though nothing has changed. There is a still a queue. The service is still spotty and hurried. The prices are still cheap.

Pan Fried Gyoza

Miso ramen

Shio Ramen

T: 604 696 1115
www.shangri-la.com

Brief Description: The first Canadian restaurant for well-known chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Located in the Shangri-La MARKET by Jean-Georges offers mid to high-end dining amongst beautiful surroundings.

It was with fond memories of their black truffle pizza and chocolate pudding, that B and I found ourselves at a reliable old haunt, MARKET at the Shangri-La, for lunch today. Considering our late start, it didn’t feel too extravagant to order the three-course $29 prix fixe menu. With a large range of options in both the appetizer and main course, I believe that the prix fixe will cater to almost everyone.

Some of the mains were more brunch-focused, such as the French toast and crispy bacon, yet there were plenty of options for those looking for lunch choices, such as the pasta course (below) or the hanger steak sandwich. I’d recommend weekend brunch here for a special occasion, such as Mother’s Day or a birthday, or simply for a splurge. The service was prompt and friendly and the food was well-executed.

Spring Pea Soup with Parmesan Foam

Frisee and crispy lardon salad

Tagliatelle with asparagus and shiitake

Chocolate pudding with crystallized violets

Selection of sorbets and ice creams

Halloumi originated in Cyprus and is traditionally made with sheep and goat’s milk (yet it isn’t as tangy as goat’s cheese). It is salty with a texture similar to mozzarella, that is, until it is fried. Once fried, it becomes a crispy, golden slab of “squeaky” cheese. The world is a better place because of halloumi.

Halloumi is great for BBQ’s because it retains its firmness, even once grilled. I classify halloumi as a vegetarian steak because it is savoury, grill-friendly, and tasty. But vegetarians aren’t the only ones who should enjoy halloumi. Halloumi can be eaten on its own or you could add it to salads to beef them up a bit. Personally, I am quite happy eating stacks of golden, warm halloumi on their own.

In Vancouver it can be difficult to find halloumi but I have found it for sale at Whole Foods, les amis du FROMAGE, and Benton Brothers. Over the next few weeks, I will endeavour to find some recipes that use halloumi so that I can show you how versatile this delightful cheese can be.

As with most of the recipes that I enjoy cooking, this one takes hardly any time to make and is not overly complicated. The only advice I need to give on this one is to make sure that you use the tastiest, juiciest sausages that you can get your mitts on (Vancouverites, think Oyama Sausage). Also, for a bit of extra crunch you could substitute panko crumbs for the breadcrumbs.

Inside-Out Scotch Eggs – Serves 4

500 grams thick pork and herb sausages (the best you can afford)
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs, or panko
1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 teaspoons chopped thyme leaves
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon white vinegar
4 eggs
Rocket (arugula) leaves, to serve

Method:
Squeeze sausage meat from the casings, then roll into 4 portions and flatten into patties. Coat patties in half the crumbs, then chill for 10 minutes to firm up.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a fry pan over medium heat. Fry patties, turning, for 8 to 10 minutes until golden, crisp and cooked through. Transfer to a plate to keep warm.

Return the pan to the heat and add remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Fry remaining 1/2 cup crumbs for 3 to 4 minutes until golden, then toss with herbs and lemon zest. Set aside.

Fill a wide shallow saucepan with water, add vinegar and bring to a gentle simmer. One by one, crack the eggs into a teacup. Swirl the water using a spoon to create a whirlpool, then carefully slide the eggs into the water. Cook for 3 minutes or until poached but yolks are still soft. Remove eggs with a slotted spoon and drain on a tea towel.

To serve, divide patties and eggs among 4 plates, top with crumbs, rocket and a drizzle of oil, then season well.

Recipe from April 2013 delicious magazine.