Photo Visit – Pidgin – June 2013

350 Carrall Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 2J3

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.