About Samantha Wong

Samantha Wong - Hello! I’m thrilled to be a part of FoodTrotter! Discussions about food and travel are not a rarity for me, and it was during one of those not-so-uncommon food and travel conversations with Jing that we decided to collaborate on this website. Doesn’t everybody love having tips for where to travel and where to eat?
Archive by Author
Vancouver

Mini Guide to Vancouver

by Samantha Wong on 2011/02/23 in Featured Article, Food and Travel, Foodie Guide, North America

It’s been approximately one year since the Olympics, and it has to be asked: is Vancouver a city worth visiting? The answer? a resounding YES!!! It’s so easy to disregard one’s hometown (and let’s be honest… there are plenty of hometowns out there that have very little interest) but lucky for Myself (and you), I’m making a miniature Vancouver “Must Do” list of places to see, dine at, and visit! In no particular order (other than how they’re popping up in my mind)

Whistler Panoramic

Whistler
For a skiier/ snowboarder, it’s imperative to visit Whistler-Blackcomb. As a general rule, snowboarders prefer Blackcomb’s wide powdery runs (my favourite runs? cloud 9, ridge runner, and ross’s gold) whereas skiiers rule the roost at Whistler. There are many ways to reach Whistler (renting a car, greyhound.ca) and different options for booking a place to stay (whistlerblackcomb.com, alluradirect.com, vrbo.com). As for restaurants to visit? I’ll delve a bit further into this next week!

Steveston
“It’s so far away!” is a lament commonly uttered by Vancouverites regarding Steveston, Richmond. Really, depending on where you’re located, it can be a mere half an hour away. This place is adorable with an old-town historical feel, independent shops selling unique tchotchkes, and of course: great food! Visit Pajos (Pajos – Famous for Fish and Chips) or Dave’s Fish and Chip

Granville Island

Vancouver’s Granville Island is akin to NY’s Chelsea Market or Seattle’s Fish Market. It’s a great place to get fresh fresh food and drinks, see some of the local artisan crafts, and chill out for a lazy morning. I like Cat’s Social House, Granville Island Brewing Co., and Sandbar.

Sushi

An in depth review’s pending, but visitors should definitely take advantage of the fresh fish available in the pacific northwest! A few personal favourites: toshi (where locals will wait for an hour or more), and miku.

Dim Sum

For a guide to Vancouver’s delicious dim sum, check out my Dim Sum post here

[Pictures courtesy of Flickr: .mused, DrewFromSydney]

Comments { 0 }
valentine's-day-food

Sexy Romantic Foods for Valentine’s Day

by Samantha Wong on 2011/02/08 in Featured Article, World Recipes and Ingredients

valentine's-day-food-2

Valentines day is fast approaching — and while I have a bit of a prejudice against commercialized holidays — I am fully for the spirit of this day: celebrating one’s belovedest. If you haven’t already schemed how to surprise your honey, you’re in luck! Food Trotter has a few suggestions of the sexiest and most romantic foods for you and yours!

Foods
Oysters — There’s something incredibly sensual about raw food and eating with your hands. Plus, these won’t make you feel sluggish or weighed down… a key to feeling sexy. If you like oysters, all the better… if not, maybe you should wait until after you become a staunch oyster lover

Figs — naturally sweet, figs are best eaten fresh, dried, or as a jam. Figs are classically linked to sexuality and romance: Cleopatra’s favourite fruit was figs and Greeks considered figs a sacred fruit associated with love. If my man took the time to stuff a dried fig with brie and wrap it in prosciutto…. wow. Another way of getting in one’s share of figs in with minimal effort is to pair some fois gras or brie with fig jam.

Avocado — once deemed a “sexy” food for it’s luscious shape, Avocados are now quantified as an aphrodisiacal food for their wealth of health benefits (beta carotene, magnesium, potassium, Vitamin E, etc.) Add to that their smooth rich texture and flavour, and you’ve got one sure fire ingredient in sexiness and romance. Avocados are best used as a garnish in salads, soups, and grilled meats, or as the base for a dip (Guacamole anyone?) or spread. For some avocado recipe suggestions, visit www.avocadorecipes.net …. there are even ideas for how to use avocados as a dessert!

Mint — Mint tea, a popular digestif, helps signal the end to a sumptious meal by giving your palate a sharp change from previously consumed savories and sweets. While there’s dissent whether or not Mint is beneficial to sexual appetite (Hippocrates believed mint diluted sperm, hindered erection, and tired one’s body; Aristotle supposedly warned Alexander the Great to disallow his soldiers to drink mint tea because it would excite their senses and distract them from battle), I personally find a hint of mint very sexy. Nothing like fresh breath to entice your honey’s kisses!

Caviar — Caviar’s high pricepoint signals opulence and luxury, and what better way to show affection to your love than with a really expensive food? Mild sarcasm aside, Cavier is chock full of vitamins and minerals, and low in calories (only 74 calories per ounce!) Caviar, due to it’s rich texture, pairs well with champagne (light fresh Blanc de Blancs are preferable to full bodied champagnes) or vodka (the dry, minimal taste means you can fully appreciate the flavour of the Caviar). Might I also mention how wonderful an aphrodisiac Alcohol is? Lowered inhibitions, hello!

Truffles — Truffles are right up there with Caviar in terms of rarity and price. They have a sensual musky scent, and are incredibly versitile, being used in anything from pastas, sauces, even popcorn! Don’t be shy and sample this if you see it on the menu!

Asparagus — famed for colouring and scenting one’s urine, Asparagus is also a sexy food. It increases circulation in the genito-urinary system, boosts vitality, and is incredibly healthy (Vitamin K, Vitamin E, Folate….) Asparagus can be prepared a variety of ways: as a soup, side, or as part of the main…. get some ideas from www.asparagusrecipes.net

Bananas — their phallic shape isn’t the only thing to spark the rumours of sexuality… they’re full of potassium, Vitamin B, and other nutrients key to staying in peak health. This fruit can be dressed up for the Valentines holiday with chocolate, whipped cream, cooked in a crepe… the possibilities are endless.

Strawberries — low-mess and succulent, nothing says sexy or romantic like a playful food you can bite, suck, and tease and tempt with. Bananas and Strawberries are both fantastic when dipped in or drizzled with….

Chocolate — let’s not forget chocolate, the most stereotypically romantic sexy food. I recommend not gifting it in a box (guys, a little help: gorging oneself on deliciousness and subsequent guilt and regret does nothing to help one feel sexy), and instead using it in a dessert of sorts. Points to the thoughtful lothario (or lady) who whips up his (or her) own creation!

Have a Sexy and Romantic Valentine’s day Food Trotters! I know I will….!

Comments { 3 }
hiroshi-honolulu-hawaii-food

Foods of Hawaii: Maui and Oahu

by Samantha Wong on 2011/01/25 in Featured Article, Food and Travel, Foodie Guide, North America

Hawaii (like so many other places in America) is so highly mythologized, it’s hard to know what’s what! First, there are 7 islands, then those are further broken down into cities and districts… I just want to know: where I can surf, where I can swim with dolphins, where I can hike the dormant volcano, and most importantly, where I can delight in some of that authentic, delicious Hawaiian food?!

I was fortunate enough to explore firsthand a bit of Maui and Oahu. Giving a brief introduction of the Islands: Maui is commonly thought of as “the best” island in Hawaii, because of it’s breathtaking beauty. It really is postcard perfect, with vast stretches of sandy beach, gorgeous sunsets, and everything seems to cater to romance and couples. I would definitely visit Maui with my significant other to marvel at nature and just enjoy the company of my beloved. Honolulu is the largest city in the Hawaiian islands and the capital of Hawaii. It is situated on Oahu and has popular tourist attractions such as Pearl Harbour, the Dole plantation, and Turtle Bay (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, hello!). Waikiki is a beach/ neighbourhood of Honolulu. I preferred Honolulu as there are more things to do there: shopping (hello, 5% tax!), touring, and of course, eating!

I was only in Maui for two brief days. One day was spent snorkelling in the Molokini crater (overrated, especially when compared to my snorkelling experience in Boracay – I think I definitely would have had a better experience scuba diving as there was so much more going on down below – put that on the list: learn to scuba), and the other was spent wandering the gorgeous hotel grounds. Only one dining experience stood out: Star Noodle. Located in Lahaina (the largest town in Maui), Star Noodle is an Asian fusion restaurant that can stand next to the likes of Ippudo in NY!! The menu was created by chef Sheldon Simeon, and as I was dining with 3 other foodies, we decided to go nuts in regards to ordering!! Star Kim Chee, $3 USD, was lightly spicy and crisp. The Star Ramen, $9, was of course ordered. How can we not, it shares the name with the restaurant (and is hence the signature dish)! However, that, and the Udon, $7, while the noodle chewiness were good, were both average-nothing-to-write-home-about noodle dishes. The Garlic Noodles, $6 small/ $10 large, were fantastic however: the noodles were chewy and flavourful, and not a scrap was left. The Singapore noodles, $12, which were likewise wonderful. For the sake of brevity, the Miso Salmon, $9, (tender!) Seafood Dynamite, $18, (creamy and mayonnaise-y and like nothing I’ve had before) Pork Buns, $9, (So yummy) Brussels Sprouts, $9, (are you sure it’s not bacon masquerading as a vegetable?) were all dishes I would recommend highly. The desserts were a no brainer for us: four people, four desserts. Malasadas, $5, while presentation perfect, were heavier and more solid than expected. Mango Pudding, $5, was light and fresh with that nice distinct mango flavour. Annin Tofu, $5, was my favourite dessert of the night, as it tasted of Hawaii; I’ll leave you to imagine the light tropical taste. Star Screams, $7, came in Yuzu Raspberry, Gen Mai Tea, and Sangria. Their sorbets were awesome, almost as if I was enjoying the exact food in sorbet form; they also added more kick to the Malasadas. We opted not to visit Mama’s Fish House due to poor weather, but apparently it is a “must visit” restaurant in Maui. I hear the food, while not particularly standout, is accompanied by the most beautiful view.

star-noodle-hawaii-maui

star-noodle-maui-hawaii-food

Star Noodle:
(808) 667-5400
286 Kupuohi St
Lahaina, HI 96761

Mama’s Fish House:
799 Poho Place
Paia, HI 96779, United States
(808) 579-8488

__________________________________________________________________

Moving on to Honolulu. I highly recommend Hiroshi if you’re looking for some yakiniku. They have US and Australian Wagyu (helloooo $120 australian rib eye steak – yeah right) and other more suitably priced dishes such as beef tongue, $15, US Kobe Kalbi, $23, Yukejang soup, $9.50, Roasted Garlic, $6… and let’s not forget their ice cream cream puffs which you can melt a bit on the grill, $4, or the Bubbies Ice Cream Cake, $5.50. This restaurant is hip and has a bit of the Oh-Taisho/ Guu drinking atmosphere, but the food is so delicious it’s redeemed in the eyes of my parents. Further, this place is also kid friendly! Think one year old baby friendly. Definitely a place for everyone to visit! Ramen places run rampant in Hawaii thanks to Hawaii’s large Japanese population. I’m definitely a fan of Ramen Nakamura (go here vs. Ezogiku) as their noodles are perfectly textured, the broth is flavourful, and the prices are right! We ordered Ox Tail Shio, Miso, and Shoyu (between $8.70-12.90), and you also have the option of getting the combo meal with gyoza. Tip: get the gyoza… I am not a gyoza fan but their gyoza is incredible.

hiroshi-honolulu-hawaii-food

hiroshi-honolulu-hawaii-food

Hiroshi:
339 Royal Hawaiian Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96805
(808) 923-0060

Ramen Nakamura:
2141 Kalakaua Avenue # 1, Honolulu, HI 96815, United States
+1 808-922-7960 ‎

__________________________________________________________________

sasabune-hawaii-sushi-nazi-trust

Without a doubt Sasabune is the dining experience that stands out in my mind. It’s fine dining for Japanese food, and the chef is a well known “Sushi Nazi”, who has been known to kick people out of his restaurant for eating his creations wrong! Sasabune’s slogan is “trust me”; instead of ordering, you have a set meal plan where when you are nearing satiety, you tell your waiter to stop. If you make it past the 13 dishes, you can request new dishes or favourite courses to be repeated. The sashimi, nestled on a perfectly proportioned bed of rice, is already lightly seasoned with soya sauce, and your waiters will give you directions how best to appreciate your course. I don’t want to reveal your entire course meal here, but expect dishes such as melt-in-your-mouth Canadian Albacore Tuna with Ponzu, California Baby Calamari stuffed with Blue Crab, Kampachi from Japan with shiso (a mint leaf) in the middle, South African Rock Lobster tail… truly, a must visit restaurant.

sasabune-hawaii-sushi-nazi-trust

Sasabune:
1417 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814, United States
(808) 947-3800

Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin specializes up delicious tonkatsu, but make sure to NOT allow any other customers cut you in the line; despite a reservation, we had to wait as another party rudely stole our table! The thick cut pork loin katsu, $23, is fantastic and their Original Bairin Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, $10, was worth the bother of checking through security to enjoy on the plane ride home. Puka Dog, surprisingly, is not created by a Hawaiian, but rather, a Swedish enterpreneur! This hot dog joint has a three step process: Hot dog (Polish or Veggie), Garlic Lime “Secret Sauce” (Mild to Hot-Hot), and Tropical topping (Mango, Pineapple… perhaps Starfruit?) The bun is not your average fold-open bun, but rather a sweet, chewy bread (think chinese bun bread) with one opening where you slide in the hot dog. Puka dog was on our list, thanks to Anthony Bourdain, but we should have held out for Hank’s Haute Dogs. We stumbled upon this gem as we were walking back from Pukadog… alas, if only there was more time! A place I will make a point of visiting next time, Hank’s has been featured on Diner’s, Drive-in’s, and Dives. We visited the satellite stand (as opposed to the store) and had the Chicago, $4.95, and the Hawaiian dog, $4.25. Had we visited the main store (early in the day and a certain day — different days feature different daily specials) we could have sampled choice offerings such as an Alligator dog (!!!), Lobster Dog, Duck and Fois Gras Dog, or Kobe dog!!!! AGHHHH!!! Visit… and tell me how epic your hot dog was.

Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin:
Outrigger Regency Beachwalk
255 Beach Walk
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 926-8082

Puka Dog:
2301 Kuhio Avenue # 2
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: 808 924-7887

Hank’s Haute Dogs:
324 Coral Street, Honolulu, HI – (808) 532-4265
2330 Kalakaua Ave # 100, Honolulu, HI – (808) 924-9933

Up in the North Shore (surfers galore), are shrimp trucks. We only visited one, Giovanni’s Original White Shrimp and while I can’t say the drive up was worth it, if you’re up there, I’d definitely stop in to sample some of their Lemon Butter Shrimp, Shrimp Scampi, and Hot and Spicy shrimp. How hot is their Hot and Spicy? Let’s put it this way… the guy taking our order laughed and just smiled at me when I asked “how hot”. It’s REAL hot. At $13 a plate, you might be better off playing it safe with the Lemon Butter.

Giovanni’s Original White Shrimp Truck:
56-505 Kamehameha Highway
Kahuku, HI 96731

(PS: Don’t you love how there’s an address for a shrimp truck? This place has set up business!!)

The Luau at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, held every Monday night, is reckoned as one of Honolulu’s best (by fellow food trotters… as this was my first time, I have no frame of reference). From a luau n00b’s point of view, despite the lack of roast pig, the food was fabulous, the service was friendly and efficient, and the show was greatly entertaining: precision-perfect military skits, beautiful hawaiian girls shaking what their mama’s gave them in their grass skirts, fire dancing, and a rock and roll performance by a ukelele virtuoso. Oh yes, did I mention open bar?

Royal Hawaiian
2259 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815, United States
(808) 923-7311

House Without A Key in the Halekulani Hotel was by far, the most lacklustre meal… not to mention one of the most expensive! The sunset is gorgeous and we took around 183626 photos but after the Luau of the previous night and the expectations (oh, expectations… it’s not good to have you!) HWAK is somewhere I’d recommend you to skip. If you’re looking for a stand out hotel meal, visit Surf Lanai, again at the Royal Hawaiian. The Wagyu Burger, $20, Island Poke Trio, $18, and Big Island Surf Salad, $35, were all fantastically delicious, well portioned, and reasonably priced.

House Without A Key
2199 Kalia Road
Honolulu, HI 96815-1936, United States
(808) 923-2311

Surf Lanai:
2259 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815, United States
(808) 923-7311

One last recommendation! Right before our flight, we (my foodie friend and I) hurried to Matsugen. If you like soba, or even if you don’t: visit this place. Their noodles, prices, atmosphere, everything….. is a huge LIKE. Tip: do not rush this meal, as the servers (while friendly and lovely) are older and really do not know what “rush order” means. Besides which, this meal doesn’t deserve to be wolfed down.

Matsugen
255 Beachwalk
Honolulu, HI 96815, United States
(808) 926-0255

Food Trotters: Have you visited any of these places? What do you think of my recommendations, and what recommendations do you have for me, the next time I visit Hawaii?

Comments { 3 }
dim-sum

Vancouver Dim Sum

by Samantha Wong on 2010/12/21 in Featured Article, Foodie Guide, North America

dim-sum

Dim sum. Dim sum. Dim sum. Oh dim sum…. how do I express my ardent love for you? I crave you once a week and force friends, family, and even strangers (hellooo awkward first date) to enjoy you with me. I snob people out if they don’t share my exacting standards for you, and regardless of how broke I may be, I never sacrifice quality for price when it comes to you. So, dear food trotters, you might have a shadow of an idea of how much I love dim sum, and be wondering: Where does this weirdo get her fix? Easy. I have three restaurants I am 100% down for, and a few others I deign to dine at. (What a snob, I know).

I love Kirin (I’m partial to the Richmond, Vancouver West, and New Westminster locations), Western Lake (4989 Victoria Drive, Vancouver, 604-321-6862), and Sun Sui Wah (both locations are great). Kirin and Sun Sui Wah are big fish in the Vancouver dim sum pond, and the two have multiple locations. The restaurants are “huge” (both restaurants are popular venues for Chinese weddings, baby banquets, and other important occasions), and the service is prompt, friendly(ish), and professional. You won’t see carts being pushed around here, and the wait staff (depending on when and how often you go) are friendly and attentive. As a disclaimer, I feel like I’m constantly critiquing Chinese restaurants service, but honestly, the waiters always seem more brusque than in western restaurants… or perhaps that’s just my shoddy Chinese that disallows that connection. Both restaurants are on the higher end of the dim sum price range (I can easily spend $20-$30/ person here), but given the high quality of food and mid-to-upscale atmosphere, it’s completely worth it to me. For my “local haunt” when I don’t feel like adventuring too far away from home, I visit Western Lake. My grandma is a “celebrity” here. Actually, Victoria street has a large elderly Chinese population and as my Chinese counterparts will agree, there’s nothing the older generation loves to do so much as wake up early, sit around, and chat with their friends and family. Western Lake is a great place for that generation to go to because they open early (9AM dimsum!), have hugemongous portions (their siu mais have to be on steroids, they’re double the size of normal siu mai’s), and are well priced ($10-$20/ person). Their downside? They are a small location, and when you mix in the older crowd that loves to sit around and ba wai (take up space!) you’re guaranteed a long wait time. But you made a reservation? So? You still have to wait, like all the rest of us chumps. I recommend visiting this place on a weekday or right as they open.

For the dim sum n00b I recommend ordering a few different things to figure out what one likes, but if you jump to my articles of a couple dim sum places in the Bay area , you can get an in-depth list of what I like to order as a per usual thing:

Taipan, Palo Alto
Koi Palace, San Francisco

dim-sum-2

Extra notes: while yumming-cha at Western Lake, you MUST order the XO radish cake (cubes of radish cake pan fried with XO sauce… soooo good — as a note within a note, their secret-not-listed-on-the-menu XO sauce can be ordered as a little side dish if you enjoy XO, but bewarned, you may have an additional charge of $2) and if you like eggplant, I would recommend getting the shrimp-paste eggplant dish (eggplant slices with shrimp paste smothered inside). I would avoid their boon tong gow (dumpling soup) as it’s little more than wontons in broth (ick)… stick to the other two restaurants for the delicious boon tong gow. Also, I am totally “RUINING!” the taste of the true dim sum delicacies, but I like to order a small dish of Worcester sauce to flavour my dim sum. This sauce is my panacea for terrible dim sum, and a touch heightens delicious dim sum for me. Think of it as ketchup for the asian lunch. Mmm…

Also, as a complete dim sum snob, I have to favour Vancouver dim sum’s to all other cities I’ve tried. Toronto? Been there, done that. There are a few that are decent. San Francisco? You can read my reviews. Beijing? Sorry mainland, you don’t quite mimic Hong Kong dim sum as well as one might think… and Hong Kong? As the originator, you’re “undisputedly” “the best”. This means you come with a price premium too though. Disagree? Agree? Leave me suggestions for where to visit, wherever you might be based!

[Photos courtesy of mischiru, 1. turnip cakes, 2. Dim Sum 004, 3. dim sum city, 4. dim sum from happy harbor restaurant, 5. Dim Sum 005, 6. Dim Sum Dreams, 7. Dim Sum Dessert, 8. Dim Sum Paradise in Paris, 9. Dim Sum at Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant]

Comments { 3 }

New York Eats

by Samantha Wong on 2010/11/25 in Featured Article, Food and Travel, North America

I recently went to New York (I am a lucky lucky girl) and completely fell in love with the city! Well, that’s a bit of a stretch, but I’ve definitely started a love affair. I didn’t do too many touristy things this time around, opting rather, to catch up with friends (love that btw, having transplant friends to help me experience the city as an ‘insider’/ ‘local’) and food trot my way through NY’s downtown. Anyhow, here is a (completely NON-exhaustive, you know, with NY being a food mecca and all…) list of places I went to.. and a few that are on my future list of “must eats”

Mad For Chicken or Bon Chon in K-town for korean fried chicken are highly recommended for the fried chicken aficionado. I went to Boka in Saint Marks (which serves Bon Chon chicken) and was super happy with the crisp (it’s double fried), flavourful (thoroughly coated in sauce) chicken. My friend and I ordered the medium combo (6 wings, 3 drumsticks) for $12.95 USD and decided to half-and-half the flavours: soy garlic and spicy. Reservations are highly recommended. Boka also fills up very quickly.

Oh-Taisho also in the St. Mark’s Area (NYU miniature Korea/ Japan town) serves delicious skewers and has a very fun atmosphere. Think Guu or Zakkushi in Vancouver. It serves up a variety of skewers from chicken gizzard ($1.50) to bacon wrapped asparagus ($2.75), and the drinks are cheap! $15-85 for a bottle of Sake? Yes please! For $6.50, it’s worth ordering their “fresh grapefruit” cocktail; you squeeze a fresh grapefruit into your cup of alcohol. Reservations are not taken, but I found the wait time fine. If it’s a weekend, be prepared to go early or wait forever.

I haven’t checked this one out, but Kenka is also highly recommended. It is similar to Oh-Taisho and has the added kitsch of a complimentary bag of sugar to craft your own cotton candy… fun!

If you’re ready to venture to Brooklyn, Grimaldi’s serves authentic coal-brick oven pizza. For the non-directionally-challenged, you can supposedly cross the bridge and reach your destination by following the signs to “Dumbo” in 30 minutes. I meandered and used 3 hours, but the goal was still reached! Their pizzas are hugemongous, and come with a wonderfully thin chewy and crispy crust. Larges are $14 (8 slices), Smalls are $12 (6 slices), and additional toppings are $2-$4 regardless if you only fill half a pizza with chosen topping. They do not take reservations, so be prepared to line up if you visit during peak hours.

For the traveller who refuses to leave Manhattan, Lombardi’s in Little Italy serves pizzas akin to Grimaldi’s: authentic coal-oven NY pizza.

Friend of a Farmer near Union Square thrilled me with their cosy atmosphere, fantastic french press coffee, and fresh and delicious portobello sun-dried tomato panini $11.50. I dined for under $20 and seriously considered visiting this place again during my 5 day stay. Reservations not needed but taken.

Crif Dogs Despite being barred admittance from their ‘secret bar’ (a telephone booth is a front for their ‘hidden’ bar, how cool is that?!) I would return to this late night hot dog restaurant for their hot dogs (and also to get into their bar… I want to see it, damn it!) Favourites include the Chihuahua (a bacon wrapped dog with avocado and sour cream) $4.50, the Spicy Redneck (a house dog, bacon wrapped with chili, coleslaw, and jalapeño) $4.75, and the Waffle Fries.

Maialino Danny Meyer’s newest restaurant has an gorgeous open concept. The service is impeccable and I also had my only celebrity sighting (Tyra Banks!) here. The bread, apparently from Grandaisy Bakery was ineffably delicious. We were ordering our third basket, well into our dessert. My main, fettuccine alla carbonara, $16, I was less than impressed with, but my friend raved about her main: porchetta al uovo panini, $14. In her words: “think thick slices of porchetta with melt in your mouth pieces of fat (but not too much) under the skin that’s a wee bit charred with rosemary and some other herbs.” Dessert-wise, if you order the gelati and sorbetti, the caramelized pear and tiramisu are unnervingly close to the real thing (as if they blended the food into gelato form). Stay away from concord grape though (it leaves a gross aftertaste.) Early reservations are recommended, but don’t hesitate to try your luck; I called three days in advance and managed to secure a table for 8 on Saturday at 12PM.

Taim prounounced “tah-eem” (don’t be a simpleton like me and say “tame”!) The chef and owner has previously worked and thrown down with Bobby Flay. This place has the best falafels: prepared fresh daily and everything on the menu is strictly vegetarian. There are three falafel flavours Green (parsley, cilantro, mint — traditional), Harissa (tunisian spices — mild spicy), and Red (roasted red peppers — not spicy). I ordered the Red falafel sandwich $5.25 and taim french fries (with saffron aioli) $4. The food is incredibly tasty, generously portioned, and even the staunchest meat-eater will be satisfied with taim’s falafels. My sole warning? Be prepared to wait a good while to order, and better yet, to make it into this closet-sized restaurant to order!! Also, avoid the indian chai $2.25… complete rip off.

Ippudo this ramen place is definitely a contender against Momofuku and even though I can’t compare the two, a few of my foodie friends favour Ippudo. The Hirata Buns (2 pieces, steamed buns filled with your choice of pork or chicken, served with Ippudo original spicy buns sauce), $8, were so good that we ordered two servings (we weren’t hungry BTW). I don’t like tofu but was favourably impressed with Bakuretsu Tofu (spicy tofu casserole with minced pork and crunchy noodles served in a hot stone pot), $9, and my ramen, Akamaru Modern (‘the original tonkotsu’ soup noodle with Ippudo’s special sauce, pork belly chashu, cabbage, kikurage, scallions, miso paste & fragrant garlic oil), $13, was delicious and satisfying. The noodles, unexpectedly thin, (to be honest, I’m not well versed in my ramen noodles at all! >_<) were a fantastic al-dente chewiness and the broth was really flavourful. Reservations are a first-come-first-serve basis, so better to come earlier than later as this place fills up quickly. Friends have been known to wait for an hour plus here!

a few future “must-try” places on my list!

Peter Luger’s, brooklyn — authentic, #1 steakhouse in NY
Shake Shack, flatiron — roadside-style burger and milkshake joint, also danny meyer’s
Chickalicious, st. marks — hand made desserts made fresh daily. 3 dishes for around $12
Babbo, greenwich village — Mario Batali… I need to fine dine next time!
Katz’s Deli, lower east side — HUGE sandwiches. apparently $15 per, but very worth it.

Comments { 6 }

Poutine Around the World

by Samantha Wong on 2010/11/18 in Featured Article, Food and Travel, Foodie Guide, North America

Something about November always leads me to poutine. I think it’s the forgiving layers of clothing I don, because the deliciousness I manage to resist during the summer months, I begin to crave come cold weather! But WHAT is poutine you ask? Honestly, I feel a bit like a “fake” here since Poutine is a Quebecois Canadian dish (and I hail from Vancouver! — At least I have experience with East Coast poutines!). Poutine means Mess in French, because that’s what it is: a mess of Fries, Cheese Curds, and Gravy. It sounds simple but with Zero Exceptions, ALL travellers to Canada must sample this quintessentially Canadian dish.

All suggestions are listed in order of personal preference

VANCOUVER
Fritz
Great for late night (after a night out, this stuff is my panacea of choice against hangovers), Fritz is located on 718 Davie Street. It’s right near Granville Street (the Vancouver night life street) and well worth the five minute trek (in heels). This place closes at ungodly hours (230AM on weeknights and 4AM on weekends) yet manages to constantly have a lineup. The service is sub par (actually, the man manning the till is quite friendly but the people serving the poutine are harassed and liable to be less than amused with inebriated shenanigans), and the poutine is really pricey (on the website they lie.. their poutine prices are more like $10 for a bucket and go down in $1.50 increments for increasingly smaller sizes) but DAMN. It’s worth it. Their prime location, well timed hours, and generosity with gravy and curds (nothing worse than disappointing fry to gravy and curd ratio) make me a repeat customer. This is not necessary at all and doesn’t add to my poutine experience, but if you want a dip to sample, I recommend Parmesan Peppercorn, Jalapeno Mustard, and Sundried Tomato Pesto. Their dips are definitely more creamy, with mayonnaise as the base.

http://www.fritzeuropeanfryhouse.com

New York Fries
How lame, recommending a chain store as a top poutine favourite! However, they’re everywhere (from Canada to Hong Kong to United Arab Emirates) for a reason. They are conveniently located in malls throughout the Greater Vancouver Area (as well as most everywhere in Canada) and if you are a student, you can use your handy SPC (Student Price Card) to get a deal on french fry deliciousness! If you buy any size and style of fries and drink, you receive a second same style size and style of fries, free! Can’t beat that. I take full advantage of their (free!) condiment stand, and pour a mini-cup full of California seasoning and Cajun seasoning, which I later dredge my fries through.

Belgium Fries
Located on “the drive” (1803 Commercial Drive to be exact), a trendster up-and-coming area of Vancouver, Belgium Fries is decently good but a bit disappointing. They are touted as Vancouver’s #1 fries, and I was ready to splurge after doing the Grouse Grind. (Hikers, Vancouver welcomes you). The fry portion is awesome (I ordered the Large and for about $10, you get double the portion Fritz gives you… I actually took mine home and made it into two meals) but the gravy and curds ratio is disappointing and somehow don’t melt together in that perfect gooey way. Their servings are a bit like a cupcake really, where the top part is fantastic but the bottom is just… the rest of the dish. They offer toppings of sausage, meat, red peppers… whatever your heart desires pretty much, but don’t have inflated expectations as their sausage used is a thin, sad looking little wiener, and the beef sort of detracts from the poutine. I guess I just have to keep going to find out my favourite combos!

KINGSTON
Pita Grill
My BFF favoured Bubbas, but I was ALL about P-Grill. Yes, it’s disgusting, and yes, it’s a far walk (-40, 7 minutes in heels, inebriation… no thanks!) but common! I was in University! And let’s be truthful, poutine isn’t really something you need to have an awesome palate for to distinguish between the salts and sauces… it’s pure Canadian comfort food. I would get this during the day too though (sober) and that probably is what added to my hips and thighs during university… ohhh no…..!!!! Also, this sounds disgusting, but I was a fan of the ranch sauce and Hot sauce… you have to request the poutine half full, then ranch and hot sauce, more fries, then more ranch and hot sauce on the top. Mmmmmm.

Smokey’s — Alright, I graduated before sampling this place, but DANG. This makes me want to visit Kingston again, now.

MONTREAL
I love poutine but I have a bit of prejudice against the French (Sorry, okay, I know, you don’t like me either) and never became fully acquainted with Poutine in it’s hometown. Here’s a list of the best I found: http://www.montrealpoutine.com/reviews.html

Closing Notes: even though Poutine is a comfort food, it is also a dish you can fancy up. A bit of duck confit, pulled pork, or smoked meat is a welcome addition to your homemade poutine. Poutine is not a hard recipe to follow through with, as long as you have your fresh cheese curds (can be bought at Whole Foods), light gravy (If you can’t find poutine gravy, think chicken rather than beef) and thick cut fries. Also, if reading about poutine makes you feel fat (writing about it certainly does) it’s best to remember that cheese is dairy and dairy is good for you, and the thick cut fries are healthier than thin cut fries because they absorb less oil (and are hence “fluffy” in the middle), so really, all the gravy is negated by the thick cut fries. Cheers to you and your healthy meal of poutine!!!

Food Trotters, do you have any suggestions for poutine places to check out, whether in Canada or abroad? EH?

[Pictures courtesy of Globe and Mail, Carrie@My Several Worlds, open rice, Ulrike Rodrigues,and sashamd]

Comments { 5 }

Mexico’s Day of the Dead – Dia de Los Muertos, ¿Que es eso?

by Samantha Wong on 2010/10/21 in Featured Article, Global Food Events, North America

My favourite holiday is, hands down, Halloween. It’s the one holiday that revolves around partying, dressing up in something OTHER than your typical “nice” clothes, and eating candy! From young to old, everyone can enjoy the spooky celebrations. If you’re like me, you’ll do your best to prolong the holiday, from having themed costume parties weeks in advance to adopting other cultures analogous halloweens. Myself, I like to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, a two day Mexican holiday akin to Halloween. (Aside, I actually like to celebrate all Mexican holidays but that’s another story).

I was initially thrown by this holiday: “What is this holiday where they celebrate death? Why do they eat candied skulls and make “Bread of the Dead” pan de muerto? And what’s up with the decorative skulls everywhere?” However, IMHO, the holiday isn’t that odd when you consider that the whole thing is a celebration of departed loved ones. They once loved to eat and drink, now that they have gone onto another stage of their life, life after death, it stands that they would like to occasionally return and celebrate the earthly joys they once enjoyed. I know that no matter how much I food trot, I like to return to my hometown and just relax for a few days; likewise, I can imagine food trotting to earth posthumously! It’s really just a bigger journey, right? The candied skulls and Bread of the Dead are foods for the dead as well as the living to savour! Pan de Muerto is a traditional Mexican sweet dessert bread served in the time leading up to and during Dia de los Muertos. It is typically decorated with bones (to bring good luck, so run Mexican beliefs). And what of the “creepy” skulls? In Aztec culture, skulls were viewed as a symbol of death and rebirth, a way to honour the dearly departed. Truly, the Day of the Dead, is not a horrible macabre holiday, but a celebration of life! After all, what would life be without death? The holiday falls right after halloween, on All Souls and All Saints Day: Nov 1st and 2nd. It lasts two days because the first day is for remembering loved children while the second day is dedicated to honouring departed adults. It is also socially acceptable to remember people that are not personal acquaintences, such as those killed in disasters or catastrophes during the year.

It is one of my travel goals to visit Mexico during Dias de los Muertos. If you can’t book that plane ticket either, I highly recommend celebrating this holiday with a few decorative skulls, perhaps a bread of the dead, or maybe even partaking in your city’s adapted Day of the Dead!

In San Francisco, you can join the Mission St. Procession or listen to the Dia de los Muertos symphony.

In Vancouver, you can attend the Parade of Lost Souls: Secret Souls Walk or taste test Zocolo which is offering a Dia de los Muertos special menu: $25 for 3 courses from Nov 1st until Nov 15th.

If you are travelling to Los Angeles or Texas around halloween-time, these cities have vast Mexican populations. I can only imagine how incredible it would be to be a part of the Dia de los Muertos festivities!

Comments { 1 }

Beijing Quick Notes Pt 2!!! Food Trotting in Twenty-four Hours

by Samantha Wong on 2010/09/21 in Asia, Food and Travel

In the first installment of Beijing Quick Notes, I touched on transportation and key sights to see. This time, I’m going to explain about the “Beijing Experience”! So what exactly is a “Beijing Experience”? Basically, it’s my guide to “must do’s if you only have twenty-four hours” in a city. I’m sure you’d include at least one of the popular tour attractions listed in Quick notes part 1, so let me break down real quick your imaginary (but very possible) travel itinerary!

00:00 – Arrive Beijing
01:30 – Airport to hotel/ wherever you’re staying
05:00 – Partying. Vics or Mix (keep the night clubs classic…. there is lots of fantastic night life in the city but Vics and Mix at GongTi Bei Lu 工体北路 are huge impressive clubs… no line up, ever; private room or at least table and a bottle of goose between ten people is $15CND-$20 each. or $50 for three people. It’s a cheap night with plenty of dance music… in Vics there are two main rooms where you can groove to hop-hop or techno; Mix has three rooms to choose from. I’ve actually gotten lost in Mix: “I’m by the stage! no no, the OTHER stage. the stage in the downstairs room, what?!” but I enjoyed wandering around the impressive rooms and people (read: creature) watching
7:30 – Travel time to….
09:00 – Great Wall. There are many different parts to visit, with the best scenery, least travel time, and smallest crowd ratio going to MuTianYu 慕田峪. The walk isn’t very strenuous, this is the part of the wall Clinton visited (you know it’s good when China shows off that section a US president!), and it takes around 2-3 hours to reach. You however, are on a time crunch, so you’ll probably visit BaDaLing 八达岭, which is just over an hour- 1.5 hours to visit. This part of the wall makes for good photos (MuTianYu is better) and since you’re somewhat relatively early, you shouldn’t have to deal with the hoards of crowds.
13:00 – arrive back Beijing. After a quick lunch of noodles at almost any local chinese restaurant (3-8RMB, aka $0.50-$1 is standard pricing) you’re off to your massage! There are endless parlours in Beijing from the upscale to the blind (if they can’t see they feel your knots and can massage them out more effectively, or so it is advertised), but living like a local, I really REALLY loved a place in WuDaoKou 五道口 at the HuaQingJiaYuan 华清嘉园 housing complex called YiRunTang 颐润堂. I am probably (definitely) biased however, as I had the best masseuse in the world… #29. He’s since been headhunted to southern China to work as a personal masseuse for a company CEO (how do I know all this? Of course, I email with my friend my masseuse, hahaha!) but there is still #26….. another amazing masseuse. Actually, he gives a better massage, but #29 is friendly and chatty as well, with zero creep factor. You can get 1.5 hours of massage for 58 RMB ($10!) I recommend splitting that time if you want to do other things (like maybe get a drink at a cafe and explore the wudaokou area a bit); one hour on foot massage, and half and hour for your back… but personally, I would forgo wandering around for a 3 hour massage…. awesome.
18:00 – freshen up and travel time
19:00 – Time to get your Peking duck on. What’s a trip to Beijing without Peking duck?! It’s like travelling to Italy sans pizza. Mexico sans tacos. France without crepes… it’s just wrong. I personally favour QuanJuDe (literally translated: the whole duck).
22:00 – Back to the airport… you have to include travel time and waiting at the gate you know..!

In Beijing Quick Notes Pt 3: Restaurants for the Food Trotter with time to spare

[Photos courtesy of harryalverson]

Comments { 0 }

Beijing Quick Notes Pt 1!!! What to See and How to get There

by Samantha Wong on 2010/08/19 in Asia, International

Living in Beijing for a year definitely gave me some insight into the city. It is definitely my favourite city in the PRC (Shanghainese ppl tend to be more sneaky, rude, and condescending — they’re very business driven and they’re often more international, read: unfriendly; and the other cities, while they each possess their own strengths, aren’t truly A CITY like Beijing is) and offers the perfect blend of old and new: Forbidden City (Gugong), the Great Wall (Changcheng), Sanlitun, and the Opposite House. My friends and acquaintances always ask for my “insider tips” and here I am, sharing some of my thoughts with you, dear food trotter!

Continue Reading →

Comments { 1 }

Oyster Love

by Samantha Wong on 2010/08/12 in Food and Travel, North America


Oysters are one of those foods people either love or hate. Clearly, as the title of my post is oyster LOVE, I am on the love side. But no worries… if you haven’t yet been converted, let me share my top five reasons to love oysters!

1) What other foods yield precious accessories? A chicken burger? pfft.
2) Oysters are incredibly healthy: they are low in fat, cholesterol and calories (a dozen oysters are around 75 cals!) and high in essential minerals. Further, oysters are a great source of vitamins… A, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), C (ascorbic acid), and D (calciferol) to name a few!
3) Oysters are an aphrodisiac! Actually, there is little evidence of oysters imparting sexual powers, but IMHO sexual prowess is in the mind. Eating a few oysters with someone you are trying to flirt with will certainly allow you (or him… or her!) to nudge the conversation in that direction…
4) They can be enjoyed in a panoply of ways: do you like them best roasted, rockafeller style, in soups, motoyaki style, or raw?
5) They just taste so darn good! You know how when you were eleven and had your first sip of wine, how disgusting it was? I hope that you appreciate wine now, so you can get my parallel example here (and so you can enjoy life a little bit more), but yes… back to my example: If you weren’t an immediate oyster lover, after a bit of perseverance, I have no doubt you will become an oyster lover!

If I’ve managed to pique your interest, jump for some oyster types to try out and location recommendations (Vancouver and San Fran) to taste test them!

Continue Reading →

Comments { 7 }