The Reef- Caribbean T’ings with flair

28 06 2010

The Reef
533 Yates St.
250-388-5375

I haven’t been to The Reef in a while, so I was due for a visit. The aroma that comes with opening the door to the Reef brings back positive memories of rum, curry and jerked foodstuffs. It seems as though The Reef had a make-over since my last meal there. The menus have been updated in a cool faux bamboo/rattan casing, and they got rid of the blue-lit aquariums which previously adorned the booth seating. I was craving a glass of wine( am I becoming a wino?), so I ordered a glass of Gabbiano Pinot Gris ($6.00) in which our server endearingly pronounced ” Gab-eeno”, precious. She promptly dropped off the beloved Johnny-cakes which have consequently become an institution themselves. Fried bread with mango butter, sign me up anytime please. She asked if we wanted two more, and in our gluttonous pride we could not resist. Our mains came immediately after it seemed, and both of us ordered the same dish. She said it was ‘out of the this world’, I held her to it, and she delivered, Bravo! The menu describes it as follows: ‘ Dominica Beef- Cumin and garlic marinated tenderloin tips with salsa verde, mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables’($15.00).

 

Food: The Johnny-cakes were delectable as always. The beef dish was done justice. The tenderloin was that, tender. The cumin and garlic marinade really packed a lot of punch delivering pleasure to the palate.  The broccoli was cooked just the way I like it ( the tips soft but not mushy, and the stalks with a bit of crunch), and it was seasoned well. The sweet corn was tasty, but not the easiest preparation for ease of eatability. Leaving the corn on the cob makes you get in there and engage with your food a bit though. The salsa verde had sweet heat, I couldn’t distinguish whether they used some tomatillos or some kind of stewed peppers to make it. Yummy.

Service: The server was attractive, friendly, nonchalant and enthusiastic. The ambiance within The Reef is homey, comfortable, and it the art is bright as is the music.

Criticisms: The only things I could criticize( foreshadowing a compliment sandwich…) are a few details with the food. The flavour of the mashed potatoes was delicious, but since there was such a substantial portion of them on the plate the lumpiness of the ‘mash’ kind of got to me. The mash had a few lumps with an almost watery consistency, and flooded the plate as the base for the other components. But I can overlook that because the taste was there, it was seasoned well. Small details right? Lastly, the beef was dangerously moist and tender, but the tenderloin tips varied in size, thus cooked in varying degrees of doneness. Nonetheless these small critiques did not affect the overall experience of the meal, as it was seasoned to perfection and satisfied my tastebuds.

Food: 4.25/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5

Happy Eating!

The Reef on Urbanspoon


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Categories : Caribbean, Reviews

5th Street- Good portions, warm atmosphere, cool patio

23 06 2010

5th Street Bar and Grill
1028 Hillside Ave.
250-380-4600

People talk about this place a lot, whether it’s about their cheap eats or cool digs, 5th street is an establishment to be reckoned with indeed. My friend that I serve with suggested we try 5th street last night as it is close to her place. She knows the menu thoroughly, and always speaks highly of it. I went by this restaurant on the #4 bus, back when I lived near Bay St., almost every day on my way to UVIC.

First impressions: It’s HUGE. This place is massive, nice warm colours and decorative touches. The general feeling was that of happiness, pints clinking and grinning over mouthfuls of pub grub. We settled down at the outside patio, underneath a heater, not too far from the fireplace. The bricks reminded me of Il Terazzo’s patio, and Savoury Coast Mediterranean Cucina(in Vancouver). A little breeze wafted in over-top the brick-laden walls. It had almost an alleyway nook kind of feeling.

Our primary purpose of our rendezvous was to share some wine and catch up on the goings-on of our lives. The wine list is small, and a little over-priced if you ask me. The wines weren’t adventurous( some Jackson Triggs, Red Rooster, Blasted Church, Mission Hill to name a few), but we chose to start with a 1/2 litre of white. The menu at 5th Street is interesting, offering selections at different price points( $5, $10, $15, $20). I already ate something for dinner, but alas, I mustered an appetite out of thin air. We ordered some warm pita with hummus($5), and some portobello risotto cheese balls($5). We nibbled on these whilst sipping our wine, and the pizza arrived in good time for the next round. It had some peculiar toppings which intrigued me to experiment, and they actually worked. I’ve seen fruit on pizzas more often than I’d like, but this time I’m happy they were. We ordered the ‘Cinco formmaggio’,  with poached pears slices and smoked grapes, walnuts and a garlic cream sauce. The toppings were sparse, and the pizza crust was thin and spongy, but it tasted good.  We had baby champagne( more for novelty reasons than anything else) with some cheesecake of the day( Marble Chocolate Swirl).

Food analysis:

Mushroom risotto croquettes: Good flavour, the aged balsamic on the plate was delicious, the tomatoes could have used a bit of dressing. They were crispy panko-crumbed, gooey cheesiness in the middle, I didn’t get the portobello flavour as it was a bit muddled. But overall a deal for 5 bucks, very satisfying.

Pita with hummous: nice lemony hummus, coarsely whizzed in a processor so it maintained a nice texture

Pizza: great hits of flavour, pear was nice touch, I would have liked to taste/see each of the five cheeses rather than a blend of them all.

Dessert: Good home-style baked cheesecake, rich and velvety texture, but my Gran makes a better one haha…

The server was cute, a little forgetful but she had a lot on the go. Overall it was a good experience for my first time at 5th street.

Food: 3.75/5
Service: 3.75/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5

5th Street Bar & Grill on Urbanspoon


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Categories : Pub food, Reviews

Top Restaurants in the World

21 06 2010

I could go through these websites for days… speechless..

#1   http://www.noma.dk/main.php?lang=en

#2   http://www.elbulli.com/

#3   www.fatduck.co.uk

#15 www.le-bernardin.com

http://www.lecirque.com/dr-dinner.php


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Categories : Notes

Masterchef Australia goes to Jolly Londontown

21 06 2010

I just finished watching the Monday episode( gotta love Australia being a day ahead of us) of Masterchef Australia. The ingredients for the mystery box challenge are usually under the cloches on Monday’s, but to their surprise( and mine), they placed iconic British monuments, black cabs and the like underneath.  The top 8 chefs were going to London for the week of their lifetime! I’ve been to London a few times myself, not for long, but long enough to leave a pleasurable impression.  Their challenge was to make a pastry/dessert fit for royalty, inspired by the crown jewels. They had three hours to prepare this dessert in the 5-star Langham hotel, under the supervision of the Langham’s lead pastry chef. Everyone loves a good tea, and these contestants had to prepare 9 identical portions of their desserts to accompany tea.

I’m quickly becoming sweet on Matt Preston(centre of photo), a man of Yeti-like proportions, but dangerously witty and surprises me every episode with something from left field. These judges tasted all eight desserts, oo-ing and ah-ing whilst licking their lips. I was impressed with a few of the contestants, particularly Callum, who has been known to be a bit of an emotional loose cannon in the kitchen. He made violet macaroons( who knows, they might be good?) with fresh berries and buttercream. The judges showered him with affectionate words, and he narrowly beat out Jonathan( who tempered chocolate into casings, filled them with a rich mousse topped with a red currant). In the end Callum got to choose one of his colleagues to join him on the massive reward, and he chose Jonathan eventually. The prize was a ripper(you know this phrase if you watch the show), meeting Jamie Oliver for a private Master Class, and later on, attending the top 50 restaurants in the World gala, where Jonathan was pining anxiously to meet his idol, Heston Blumenthal, owner of ‘The Fat Duck’, and author of many cookbooks which flirt with design perfection. This episode was gripping to watch, and I’ve really been enjoying the series. It’s great to see shows that nourish creative beings and encourage rapid growth in something they all love to do, which is to create and share their food with others.The show promises great things for the week in Europe, so stay tuned on http://realitytvfan.org/

Happy viewing and Happy Father’s Day( if you’re reading this Dad)


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Categories : Notes

Lady Marmalade- Hippie Haven with solid food

16 06 2010

Lady Marmalade
608 Johnson St.
250-381-2872
www.ladymarmalade.ca

It was a beautiful afternoon( Tuesday) spent with  J, our stomachs rumbling, and Lady Marmalade beckoning. I’ve frequented the Marm for many a brunch, but it was nice to have lunch here for a change. The first impression of this place is quirky, and abnormally warm. It’s quite humid, maybe considering how small the space is, and the proximity to the kitchen. The art on the walls is bright, funky, and affordable.

I went for a savoury waffle($11.50), with aged white cheddar and spinach folded into the batter, topped with smoky tomato cream sauce, scallions, bacon, and roasted tomatoes. The side salad had a nice ginger-sesame vinaigrette, very refreshing. J ordered the ‘ The Real Club’,  loaded up on Wildfire Bakery bread, bacon , avocado, tomato, red onions, and chipotle mayonnaise, with a bowl of the daily soup for only $11.95. The soup du jour was curried sweet potato. Our server was awkward with some piercings, but it suits this place. The food came at a respectable time, but we  weren’t asked if we wanted refills on our waters.

Details: The waffle packed a lot of flavours, my only criticism was that it was bordering on salt-lick salty. The cheese may have overpowered the batter, and then it was topped with bacon which probably only added to the sodium level. Nonetheless I polished the whole dish off, it had some complex and satisfying flavours. The salad was crisp, and the dressing was superb. J really enjoyed his sandwich, and the soup had really great depth. I was expecting to see sweet potatoes floating around in the soup, but I have the feeling they roasted the sweet potatoes, pureed them, and strained the fibrous bits from the broth. It was all broth, with chunks of celery in it, but you still got the curry and sweetness from the potatoes.
Pardon the pictures, they were taken on my Jurassic phone, before cell phones had decent cameras built-in.

This is a good place if you want to chill and have fresh spins on some classics.

Food: 4/5
Service: 3.75/5
Ambiance: 4.25/5

Lady Marmalade on Urbanspoon


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Categories : Breakfast/Diner, Reviews

Hernande’z- Huaraches in Heaven

15 06 2010

Hernande’z Cocina
735 View St.
250-884-5313
www.hernandezcocina.com

Update(Nov 2010)

Allo! Just wanted to update this review for Hernande’z. I was surprised to see in my recent visit, that Hernande’z has expanded across the way, and has split up their order/service side from their food preparation side. With this comes more seating and more staff. They still have the cards which identify which order is yours, it’s a fun touch. I went with a group of three other people, and the food arrived within 5-10 minutes. I had the huarache with puerco this time, with hot sauce. It wasn’t very hot(spice-wise), but it was fresh, and I polished off the whole thing.

Hernande’z is a great spot for lunch or dinner, with menu items ranging from a couple of dollars up to around 10. It’s simple, fresh, and most importantly, delicious. Congratulations on the expansion.

Cheers

E.V.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

June 2010

I’ve expressed my confusion in previous posts about how Victorian’s are rating restaurants on Urbanspoon, and to test this once again, I went to the #1 restaurant in Victoria, Hernande’z Cocina, in the little mall between View and Yates. I’ve been here a few times before, and it continues to grow each time I visit. I don’t recall having two menus the first time I went, so the express menu and slow-food menu must be a new option. I wasn’t in a hurry, so I chose from the slow-food menu.  Hernande’z is a self-professed replica of a Central-American kitchen(cocina) fashioned after their great-grandmothers market stall in Cojutepeque, El Salvador, which is an endearing and personal touch to the experience. I liked the sounds of the huarache de pollo( $7.95). I was handed this laminated card, ‘El Diablito’, which was called when my order was up. This is very much a cafe set-up, colourful plastic table clothes, and reggaeton blaring in the background.

When the huarache arrived, I traded the staff member for my diablito(devil) card, and delved straight into the heavenly huarache. Huarache is derived from the shape of the actual corn tortilla/ masa base, which resembles a sandal or oblong shape. Huaraches are actually a type of popularized sandal. The masa dough itself was chewy but didn’t put up much of a fight, it still had a soft and rich quality to it. It didn’t have the unctuousness(oily,slippery) that comes to mind with a lot of poorly executed Mexican food. The basmati rice was perfectly cooked, the chicken was perfectly moist and shredded, and the black beans were silky and full of flavour. The salsa on top was more for a punch of acidity, not for heat. The sour cream seemed thinned out, perhaps with some lime juice, but it was nice to have it evenly distributed, not in big globs. The organic greens were a nice bitter and fresh finish to this (filling) lunch. I can see why this restaurant has a faithful lunch queue. Victoria, I am slowly coming to understand what you are looking for in a restaurant. Hernande’z may be humble in appearance, but they truly care about the food. The rating is justified in their stubborn refusal to not serve anything but fresh and properly prepared food. I like when a restaurant takes charge and accountability like that, it makes the diner feel looked after. It’s good value, and packed with subtle fresh ingredients, this joint is definitely on the right track.

Food rating: 4.5/5
Service rating: 4/5
Ambiance rating:4/5

Hernande'z (Yates St) on Urbanspoon


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Categories : Mexican, Reviews

Red Fish, Blue Fish granted my wish

12 06 2010

Red Fish, Blue Fish
1006 Wharf St.
250-298-6877

Be careful what you wish for, because odds are that you’ll get it at Red Fish, Blue Fish. This little trailer is on a wharf, down from Wharf St. The trailer itself is easy to miss, but the line-up is a reliable landmark in finding this place, follow that line! As a RFBF virgin, I was anxious about what I was about to sink my teeth into. I’ve heard from many sources, mostly sustainable-fish-crazed bio students from UVIC, that RFBF is one of a kind. The line up is ridonkulous, but this wait delivers. I’m giddy just typing this review because I’m still riding the high from lunch. I rarely get this excited about food, especially about seafood, but RFBF may have just converted me into loving seafood done right. It was a beautiful day to wait in line, sunny and had the Snowbirds flying overhead practicing for the big show tomorrow. Everyone in line seemed in good spirits, a few people exiting after 10 minutes of waiting(got places to go, this probably isn’t a good place for you to grab a quick lunch then). I waited about 40 minutes in line, which I was fine with on my day off, but the long waits might actually be pinching out the lunch-time govvie crowd.

As I approached the till, I laid it out for the lady. I asked her a simple question, salmon or scallop. Before I could finish, she said scallop. I honestly eat shellfish maybe once or twice a year, and never buy it in market. I can actually recall the last two times I had shellfish and crustaceans (I had prawns in Costa Rica last month, and I had cockles, razor clams and scallops in Haida Gwaii over a year ago.) But, with her guidance, I chose the BBQ Qualicum Bay Scallop Burger($12). Initially I was curious if it would be ground scallop meat which would be formed into a burger, but I was pleasantly surprised to see them left whole.

This masterpiece of a burger/sandwich is served on a fresh Irene’s Bakery Portuguese bun with mixed organic greens, golden shallot aioli, tartar sauce, a tempura fried dill pickle, and lemon pickled onions, and a side of their coleslaw. The scallops were grilled on the BBQ, leaving a beautiful crust on them and velvety juicy centres. I couldn’t put this burger down, there was no fishy taste to these scallops, only the briny freshness of the sea. I’m impressed that all RFBF’s offerings are Oceanwise(sustainable seafood certified), making this experience good for my belly and my conscience. Sure the line for this place doesn’t move fast, but RFBF is pumping out AAA quality seafood, prepared to perfection. So shut up and wait. You won’t forget a meal here, I’m already planning my next visit.

Food: 5/5( the coleslaw had good flavours, but I’ve had better, but who cares when the Scallop burger rocked my world)
Service: 4/5( there isn’t much to serve, just pay and wait more, and they yell your name when it’s up. The condiment station is handy)
Ambiance: 4/5( lots of small chairs, and a few bar-stools to the side, I love that everything is outside though, great spot on the water)

Red Fish, Blue Fish on Urbanspoon


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Categories : Deli/Lunch on the Go/Street Food, Reviews

Ayo eat: Ah-yes please

12 06 2010

Ayo Eat Indonesian Food
140 Market Square
250-590-4231

I like eating Indonesian food when I visit Vancouver, but I was pleased to discover that Victoria has a Indonesian newcomer situated in Market Square( entrances on Wharf, Johnson, or Pandora). This little opium-den-of-a-space is on the top corner of the square next to the fudge shop. The chef is flying solo, with an endearing smile and apron. The menu is compact, but that makes indecisive people like myself at ease. I shared a green curry with chicken with my friend that was visiting from up island. The chef told us it would be about 7 minutes, so we walked around the square, basking in all the sunny glory. He poked his head out to let us know it was ready. He gave us some chopsticks and a few glasses of water (very thoughtful of him).

The curry was more broth-like than I was expecting. It still had coconut milk, but it wasn’t thickened like some thai curries I’ve had. The fish sauce used was potent but sweet in flavour, and I enjoyed the textures throughout. The rice was sprinkled with crispy shallots, and tucked behind was a dollop of great chili paste, really unique bite to it, but not too hot. The curry had succulent bites of chicken(good quality meat),  long beans, bamboo shoots, red capsicum’s, and toothsome basil leaves. My favourite accent of the presentation was the banana leaf underneathe all this goodness. For only $7.99, I foreshadow this little operation becoming something like many other businesses with humble beginnings. If you put out honest and thoughtful food, word will travel, and soon you will upgrade the space. I really enjoyed this meal.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Ambiance: ( only one table, but it was still pleasant, and the chef’s interactions added to it) 5/5

Ayo Eat on Urbanspoon


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Categories : Asian, Reviews

Moxie’s- Great location and beautiful space, cheap wine and eye candy

12 06 2010

Moxie’s Classic Grill
1010 Yates St.
250-360-1660

Drinking wine is always a great way to start a night out, and after I made dinner for a friend we thought it would be a good idea to continue drinking more wine. She was craving some dessert, and as I live close to Moxies, it seemed a logical choice. We lucked out in that it was cheap wine night(7 dollars off bottles), so we ordered a bottle of red with our cute waitress’ suggestion. Baffled at our appetites( I made a massive dinner, see below the post of pork peaches and squash), we both ordered a tasting trio of desserts.  The white brownie was forgettable, but the espresso mousse was tasty and the toffee cake was delectably moist. The strawberries were a nice touch, and the almonds were a nice crunch. I’ve been to Moxie’s on Yates more times than I can count(solely because of the proximity to my apartment), and overall it has been positive. The food is good for chain food, but it has nice seasonal offerings. They have a lot of the same stuff you would find in most restaurants( Alfredo pasta, pizza, burgers, sandwiches), but I’ll give them credit for having a few creative dishes too. At the end of the day I come here for group get-togethers, a bite to eat before going out, or just to enjoy drinks in the beautiful space.

Food: 3.75/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 5/5

Moxie's Classic Grill on Urbanspoon


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Categories : Canadian/American chain, Reviews

Bustling Beer Crowd- The Beagle Pub

12 06 2010

The Beagle Pub
301 Cook St.
250-382-3301

Smack dab in the middle of Cook St. Village, The Beagle offers a fun pub atmosphere with good food. A friend and I stopped into the Beagle for a bit after a nice walk down by Dallas. They have a lot of local brews on tap, so we started with some of those. Our server informed us that the menu had some new items. It’s your standard pub fare, in the $10-15 range for burgers and sandwiches. I got a chipotle burrito which came with a hefty salad packed with peashoots, beets, and veg. My friend had a burger which he thoroughly enjoyed. I apologize for the picture quality in advance, but the light inside was challenging to get a good shot with.

The ambiance is warm in colours and loud in volume. This is a hotspot for people in the area, to watch the game or grab a bite with some buds. The service was good, and quick.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5

The Beagle Pub on Urbanspoon


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Categories : Pub food, Reviews

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