Aka Tom Bo (Lonsdale, North Vancouver, BC)

We were running some errands in on the North Shore recently, and got the grumblies. Since M used to live along the Lonsdale corridor, we searched around looking for some familiar eats. Since it was a Sunday, a few of our "usual" joints were closed (ahem, Hachi Hana. And we're still sad that Okra has closed up. Does anyone know where Joe has gone?).

We drove around for a while before succumbing to hunger-rage (the point where we *almost* don't give what we eat, so long as we get to eat!) and deciding on Aka Tom-Bo on Lonsdale at 8th Street. The place used to be a "pizza and sushi" restaurant prior to the current management taking over, and to be honest, we've rarely had a dine-in meal at Aka Tom-Bo. There used to be a ridiculously inexpensive party platter, which if we picked up and paid in cash, would cost us a little over $18, and would feed both of us for a solid two meals, plus a light lunch for myself.

The good times have passed, however, and although the current management offered the same "grandfathered" deal to us for a while, we felt kind of bad and stopped ordering our special deal. It was time to try the dine-in experience!


A lot has changed from when we used to frequent Tom Bo. For one, pizza is no longer served! Another is that there are a seemingly endless selection of specialty rolls, many of which contain cream cheese. As we're not fans of cream cheese in sushi (kind of defeats the our purpose of eating sushi - we choose this fare when we feel like something "light"), we opted for an assorted sashimi and a lunch special which included a miso soup.

The miso soup was nothing special; although some people would say "WTF with the spoon in the miso soup!". :p Us, we just removed the soupspoon from the bowl and sipped from the bowl.


The assorted sashimi included 12 mouthwatering pieces, 2 each of salmon, tuna, saba, tako, tai and toro with a garnish of tobiko. All the fish were fresh and flavourful For $13.99, the assorted sashimi could be a little expensive to some, but the quality is what you are paying for here. And there is no "cheapie filler" of hokkigai here - just tako and yummy fresh fish. We would order this again.



The lunch special we ordered included three pieces of the ocean garden roll, and a whole dynamite roll and unagi-avocado roll. This plate, along with the miso soup came to $7.99. The ocean garden roll is essentially a California roll and salmon held within a thin sheath of carefully trimmed cucumber. It is delicious and refreshing.

The tempura prawn in the dynamite roll could have been a little hotter, but flavour-wise, satisfied our deep-fried food craving. The bbq eel and avocado roll was garnished with toasted sesame seeds. The roll didn't require a dunk in wasabi soy sauce; it was flavourful enough on its own.

Overall, we enjoyed dining in at Aka Tom-Bo. Since the chances of us getting take-out from there is close to nil as we live across the water, that's a good thing! A plus is that Aka Tom-Bo is open on Sundays whereas other places (like the beloved Hachi Hana) is closed. Ahhh, the North Shore (the city where merchants make too much money and close on Sundays), you gotta love it.

Aka Tom-Bo also offers rolls that are prepared with soy paper instead of nori, and a variety of combos and bento boxes. On weekdays, the restaurant is packed with business people and health care workers from the nearby offices and Lions Gate Hospital. With a deal or two and a large menu, Aka Tom Bo is sure to satisfy any appetite.

Aka Tom-Bo
751 Lonsdale Avenue
North Vancouver BC
P: 604-929-9999

Fu Lin Hot Pot Restaurant (Coquitlam, BC)

This is another post that has been on the backburner for a while. In fact, this is from Chinese New Year - I remember going with Fmace and Fizzo. Why did it stick out in my mind? It fell on Valentines Day, the opening day of the Olympics, as well as Chinese New Year. Being that those three events coincided, all of us had all "reserved" the night for family dinner. Unfortunately, the Chinese New Year dinner didn't happen as the elders didn't want to brave the crowds and head out during the Olympics (later in the week, they rescinded this - you don't want to miss that post). As this visit was completed before I got my new camera, I apologize for the sub-par photos!


Ordering at Fu Lin is easy - it is all you can eat and you pick your menu (regular or deluxe, both under $20). We opted for the deluxe, as there was more variety, as well as a free dipping sauce for each of us.

We wound up ordering 2 satay sauces, 3 garlic soy sauces, and 2 sesame sauces - different sauces for different foods. That being said, I wished we had ordered another sesame sauce instead of the garlic soy.



There was a good selection of fresh meats, vegetables, seafoods and meat alternatives (bean products). The service was prompt and friendly, and I was surprised at the number of waitresses there were that night (four, for a small Chinese restaurant!). The only complaint (if any) would be that there seemed to be a small problem in the kitchen. As a result, we had to wait a little longer than expected for our food to arrive. I remember sitting there staring at Fmace and saying, "what gives, it's not like they have to cook it or anything!"

Overall, I would return to Fu Lin Hot Pot if I were in the area. The meat and seafood are fresh, and the variety trumps other hot pot restaurants. For under $20 you can enjoy yourself with some good times with friends and family.

Thank you to Fmace for organizing the last minute dinner and also being there on time (even when we weren't!).

Fu Lin Hot Pot Restaurant
#780 - 3025 Lougheed Highway
Coquitlam BC
P: 604-552-5851

Burgoo (Lonsdale, North Vancouver, BC)

I've had this post on the back burner for the longest time. So long, in fact, that the restaurant has changed its seasonal menu (we went in the earlier part of this year).

We were on the North Shore running some errands - I believe we were picking up Ms car, as he does not drive if he's been drinking. And if he's been watching the hockey game at a friends house or pub/bar, he's been drinking. Drink responsibly, people! However, there have been times (once, maybe twice!) that we've enjoyed visiting with Ms family so much, or that we've enjoyed the afternoon / day so much that we've been on the Highway 1 off ramp heading for home when we collectively scream, "D'oh! We forgot [Ms] car!" Yes kids, perhaps the Yum-O-Rama team is getting a little forgetful in our old age... :p

Burgoo is at the foot of Lonsdale, within walking distance from the Lonsdale Quay, and also has three other locations in Vancouver: one in Kitsilano, and one on Main. To see my friend HK / HHs post on Burgoo on Main, please click here. It was only that I read her post that I remembered that I had to blog about my experience at Burgoo!

It was one of those weeks after the Olympics where it started to get gradually colder and cloudier. We just wanted something warm and to relax a bit! The mead was on special that night - a warmed sweet red wine. We ordered one of each while we looked through the menu; one was a sweeter version with apple notes, and the other was a spicier (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice) version that went well with our appetizer - the Fonduemental.


I've written before about how M created a monster when he introduced me to cheese. In fact, I've wanted to visit Burgoo for a long time just because they have fondue.  The Fondumental is a cheese fondue created with gruyere and emmenthal cheeses. It was served with chunks of red apple (gala I believe?), red grapes, grape tomatoes, and crusty bread. Since the bread was neutral and the fruits were sweet, I was really missing something salty to dip in the fondue. Some gherkin pickles or briny olives would have been really nice. Even if I had to pay a couple bucks to add those on, it would have been perfect. That being said, $13 for a shared appetizer, we felt, was moderate value.

This next dish is no longer on their menu. The Goulash was part of the winter menu and is a stew consisting of beef, onions, carrots, celery and tomato served over gnocchi. It really hit the spot. It was warming and comforting. We were glad that we saved some crusty bread from the fondue as the several pieces of gnocchi were far and few between (there were about 8 knobs of potato dumpling in the entire dish, which was sad, as they were really good!). The portion, aside from the limited number of gnocchi was perfect. We shared everything that night (as we usually do) but I could definitely picture myself finishing this up and not being overly full, nor still peckish after the meal.

I also had my eye on the Beef Bourguignon - yes I know, a fondue and two stews does not exactly make for exciting photos but it was comforting to the heart and tummy! The beef bourguignon was accompanied by mashed potatoes. I found the stew to be hearty yet not too rich. Chunks of beef, button mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes and red wine made up the stew. We finished every morsel of our dinner that night, and returned home with contented bellies.

We even remembered to pick up Ms car!

Dinner came to $65 with tax and tip and we'd return again for a meal again.

Burgoo (Lonsdale)
3 Lonsdale Avenue
North Vancouver BC
P: 604-904-0933

Food Bloggers Dinner: El Inka Deli (BGH, Burnaby, BC)

A couple weeks ago, Kim organized a small food blogger get together for Latin food at El Inka Deli, a small restaurant located in my parents neighbourhood. There were some familiar faces: Mijune and Anita, as well as bloggers that I met for the first time, Elaine of Parker Pages and Degan of Ethnic Eats. It was a nice small group and El Inka was an equally homey meeting place.

I'd noticed El Inka Deli before, but had never the inclination to try them. They serve mainly Peruvian food, as well as some burritos and tacos. Anyways, they've been in the neighbourhood for a couple years now, so a visit was due.


We ordered a variety of plates to share, and were offered a complimentary salsa. It went well with everything we ordered. To start, we had some yuquitas (cassava "fries"). The cassava was starchy, homey, and HOT (temperature-wise). It was a preview of what would come with nearly every dish afterwards...

The tamale, is traditionally made with masa (acidified, pounded corn meal). We were told by Kim (our resident latin food expert, due to his roots in Panama...) that the masa / available corn flour here in Canada is significantly different from what is available in Latin America. I've yet to meet a tamale that really lives up to my perceived hype (I've read about them so so SO many times over the years that I'm sure I have an unbelievable expectation of them) - but a family friends' mother makes fantastic El Savadorian food. Her version, along with Chef Whittakers' upscale version at Odouls during the Playhouse Wine Festival last year  were quite good (very different, but good). My portion of the El Inka tamale didn't have a whole lot of filling, so I couldn't tell what it was. Perhaps a re-taste is in order?


Next up was the Anticuchos / grilled beef heart, served with corn and potatoes. This was my first time eating beef heart. It was juicier than I expected, and El Inka had seasoned it well. There was no perceived gamey-ness, nor was the meat grainy. Something I can cross of my "list of things to eat", although I don't forsee myself developing cravings for it either. The dish above on the right is the Ceviche Mixto / mixed ceviche. Portions of scallop, shrimp, calamari, and other seafood combined with a light vinaigrette right before serving. Garnished with the "house" red onion pickle. Again, as with the tamale, I would like a larger portion to really taste what the dish is all about.


The next dish was the winner of the night. Jalea Mixta, a mixture of lightly breaded and fried calamari, fish, and other seafood topped with the house / red onion pickle and tomatoes, served with lime wedges and deep fried cassava. From what I had, it was enough for me to plan to come back. The fish and seafood was done *just right*. and the pickle added a nice tang and moisture to the dish.


The dish above, Picada Criolla, consisted of a pork chop, ribs, cassava, sausage, fried plantain, arepa and potato. Again, I'd like to order this again. The two sausages (different kinds) were interesting. One had almost a rice-like filling, while the other was akin to a loose / Mexican Chorizo-like sausage. I didn't get to try the ribs, but this dish would surely satiate a meat lovers appetite.


I'm always curious as to how fish is prepared around the world. Mojarra, whole tilapia was prepared by a light dusting of seasoned flour, and was served with an avocado and tomato salad, as well as a shredded deep fried vegetable (cassava? plantain?) cake. Mijune picked up earthy / spoilage notes on one side of the fish. Although we (M and I) had first eaten the exposed / top part of the fish first, we had detected the typical earthy tilapia flavours already (not indicative of spoilage). However, it was definite that the bottom side of the fish was starting to spoil / possess quality defects. This could be due to old / dead fish, or improperly cleaned fish. Improperly cleaned or improperly gutted fish allows the stomach and organ acids of the fish to come in contact with the flesh, and thus eats away at the meat and causes it to spoil faster. Another cause of the spoilage flavours would be the temperature abuse - not on El Inkas' part, but perhaps on the supplier / processers side. New tilapia suppliers needed!

The service was very hospitable, due to the fact that the owner recognized Kim on his repeat visits. While we were dining, the owner stopped by to joke around, tell us the origins of a dish, or to answer any questions we had. One of the drinks he / Kim decided to order was the "purple drink" / Chicha Morada. It was a rich berry-coloured drink that Degan, Mijune and I decided tasted like a combination of Ikeas' apple cider mix and Ribena (black currant concentrated). Not bad, but not what you'd expect from the appearance. The owner listed the ingredients - corn (?), peach, apricots, cherries, clove, cinnamon, and a variety of other fruit. It was unlike anything else I've had in my life. :)


A little later, he presented us with the "concentrate" for the drink. As expected, from the cooking of the various fruit together, a lot of the natural pectins had "gelled" the concentrate. We were told that it could be eaten as is, or sprinkled with ground cinnamon and enjoyed. Personally, I'd like the concentrate on some grilled or roasted pork, with turkey, or as a spread on my morning toast.

Click through to see what fellow foodies had to say:
Kim & revisited
Mijune
Degan
Elaine

El Inka Deli
3826 Sunset Street
Burnaby BC
P: 604-434-4545

Chez Meme Baguette Bistro (The Heights, Burnaby, BC)

I am a huge fan of The Heights neighbourhood in Burnaby. I love the small businesses, I love the community, I love the murals, and I love the history behind the Heights. Their annual Hats Off Day (taking place this year on June 5) highlights this sense of community while celebrating the history. It was the Hats Off Day of last year that I wrote about Heavenly Bites, an Indian restaurant that served tiffin boxes / set meal that came to under $10.

Unfortunately, due to a medical situation, Heavenly Bites closed up suddenly. Almost as suddenly, a couple months ago, Chez Meme Baguette Bistro opened up in its place. M spoke about it a couple times, as he passed it on his commute.

He mentioned it enough that the name and location stuck. However, when we tried to visit them, they were always closed. Reason? Their limited hours - as the restaurant is run by a couple with younger children, Chez Meme is only open during 8am-3pm, Monday through Friday. As of writing, they have plans to open one Saturday a month, but will have to work out the scheduling and babysitting. :)

So how did I manage to visit Chez Meme Baguette Bistro? Well, the bossman gave me a whole day off this year for my birthday. ...And, well I literally had a doctors appointment that ran into lunch!

The first time I visited Chez Meme was with FMace, cousin Nate, and Chez Henri. "Chez Henri", you say? Well its suitable that I introduce Chez Henri in this particular post. He lived in France for a period of time before he came to Canada. One of the first times he went into MacDonalds in Canada (for breakfast, no less) he was under the impression that everyone spoke French. So Chez Henri (who didn't speak an ounce of English at this point) walks up to the counter at MacDonalds and orders a "Jus D'orange". The stunned girl (I think this was in interior BC or something) hesitated, then continued with the order.

Chez Meme concept is simple - French bistro food in the form of omelettes, baguette sandwiches, and other offerings like a duck confit and brioche french toast. A fresh batch of soup / potager is prepared regularly, and it shows!

The first time, I ordered a Bourguignon baguette. All the sandwiches come with your choice of salad, soup, or fries. The soup of the day was the spinach, fennel and apple. While the portions may look small, I was pretty stuffed. Upon viewing the photos at home later that day, M got some "lunch envy". He was a little upset that I'd gone there without him! For good reason though - the baguette was crisp with a slightly chewy interior, and the pulled beef short rib was complemented well by sharp horseradish and slightly sweet carmelized onions. The soup was a light accompaniment to the meal. I was surprised that the soup was so fresh. It was pureed, but the quality showed through.


Fmace had the Sarladaise - an omelette with duck confit, potatoes and onions.This is a French omelette: moist, tender, and no colour on the omelette. The filling was rich - shredded duck meat and onions. The bite that I sampled did not have potato... As the restaurant name implies, the omelette was served not only with potatoes, but with crusty baguette as well. The baguette was fresh and crisp, but the potatoes could have been crispier and seasoned better.

Cousin Nate settled on the Brioche French Toast, banana and maple syrup option. Honestly, if Nate wasn't there that day, I would have ordered the French Toast. The slices of brioche were light and fluffy. When I asked Nate whether he liked his (Chez Meme) french toast or his moms' French toast better, he thoughtfully sighed out a long, "moms...." with a long sideways look at his mom.

Chez Henri ordered a Jambon-Brie baguette, also followed by their daily soup. Although you cannot see it in the photo, the baguette was full of oozing, melty cheese.

Chez Meme Baguette Bistro is a fairly small operation with about twenty seats. It was packed at lunch hour, for good reason. There was even a couple people  waiting for seats when we left!

On a subsequent visit, M and I had a chance to savour more of Chez Memes' baguettes. M ordered a Cordon Bleu sandwich, while I (on my meat ban) ordered a From'ton.


The Cordon Bleu was a ham, chicken, and emmenthal sandwich with dijon mustard on the side. M thoroughly enjoyed this, and would order it again. My From'ton was a sandwich of brie, pear, and walnuts. When it came, I was excited that they didn't go cheap with the cheese; however, upon finishing my meal I was ready to take a nap. :p While I enjoyed the combination of melted, creamy brie, sweet pear, and crunchy walnuts, I would have liked to have more pear (it was canned, I believe), and for the walnuts to be roasted / toasted. It said toasted on the menu, but the walnuts looked like they were out of the bag when I got my sandwich. Even so, I got a euphoric foodie high when I had the odd bite that included brie, walnut, pear and baguette!

We both went with the soup of the day, a fresh tomato, fennel, and Italian parsley soup. Once again, it was a nice medley of flavours. I think Chez Meme has convinced both of us to start using more fennel in our cooking.

Overall, we liked Chez Meme. It is unassuming, delicious and food is prepared fresh. I only wished their children would grow up faster so that they'd be open on weekends. ;p Chez Meme Baguette Bistro is a nice addition to The Heights community.

Chez Meme Baguette Bistro
4016 Hastings Street
Burnaby BC
P: 604-299-1141

Isaac & Agatha (Bridgeport, Richmond, BC)

Isaac & Agatha recently reopened on Bridgeport under new management / partnership (if I remember correctly, it was Isaac & someone else prior). The eateries in this area cater to the "grab and go" crowd in this industrial area of Richmond, and Isaac & Agatha are no exception. They have a spacious seating area and are only open for breakfast and lunch.

That being said, they only offer a limited selection of breakfasts. Their lunch options are more varied, from pastas, sandwiches, Filipino fare, to souvlaki, burgers and grilled items. On this occasion, I stopped in for a quick breakfast as it was my "day off from the gym".

As I have been trying to avoid meat in a (desparate?) bid to eat healthier, I have been looking for veggie / lighter options in my eatings. Alas, aside from their lunch menu, there are no vegetarian-friendly substitutes in their breakfast, and every breakfast option includes meat and eggs. I settled on the bacon mushroom omelette. It was prepared fresh and delivered to my table with a free, fresh coffee (not sure if the owner / attendant thought I was a food blogger - she hadn't seen my camera yet, or that she just thought I needed one. :p).

I did have to run back up to the counter to grab some utensils, condiments, and napkins, but I'm sure seasoned patrons to the establishment are aware of this. Another note was that the creamers brought to the table with my meal were ice cold - something my "inner health inspector" appreciated. (Personally, the small amount of creamer within each tiny package, along with the method of packaging - pasteurized aseptic leaves little health safety concern, but on a "potential hazard" level, many health officials *love* to scold restaurant operators on keeping the creamers on ice or at refrigerator temperatures. Don't get me started.)

My bacon mushroom omelette came with two slices of brown toast and fresh fruit. Again, I appreciated the fresh fruit (many other "truck stop" joints around this area do not include this), and also the unbuttered toast. This made for a slightly healthier meal - quite often I leave toast on my plate as the cook has put too much butter on it; the way Isaac & Agatha presented it allows the customer to regulate the amount of butter. While I enjoyed my meal the loneliness of Isaac & Agatha resonated with me. The place was deserted for the entire duration of my stay - perhaps people only show for lunch?




The reason could be that Isaac & Agatha lack an identity. A glance at the rest of their menu is greatly varied. There are sandwiches and burgers, but also pastas, chicken, calamari, souvlaki, and seafood. In addition to this, there is a small separate menu advertising Filipino lunch at the counter. Is this an instance of "Jack of All Trades" gone wrong? Time will tell.

Service was prompt and indifferent, but little really appeals to me about Isaac and Agatha to make a return visit, unless I was in the area and looking for a quick bite that *wasn't* fast food.


Isaac & Agatha#101 - 11911 Bridgeport Road
Richmond BC
P: 604-276-0201