Little Bird Bistro

The leaves have turned golden brown and fallen off the trees, the wind blowing, and rainy days. Fall is definitely here. So what do Michael and I do? Run away to Portland again. Visiting the Oregon city has become something Michael and I really enjoy, a yearly routine for us. One of the biggest reasons is the great dining in Portland.

When we were looking for somewhere to eat dinner, everything we came across sounded so wonderful but unfortunately we arrived in to Portland late, and we could only dine out for only one of the nights we were there.

Because of our minor delay we got up bright and early to make up for the lost time in Portland. I did my usual stops in downtown, and of course Michael sat in his boyfriend chairs and waited for me. While he sat there patiently he did some research on where we could dine at. Michael has always had a fascination with birds since he was a child and when we came across Little Bird Bistro he got pretty excited. Since the bird bistro served French cuisine, he thought this place had something to offer for the both of us.

Luckily, we got a table after a short wait

When the evening approached us we were starting to get second thoughts of the place. What if there's a lot of people? Was it too late to make a reservation? Michael went back to the drawing board but we still went back to the bird. We made our way down to the restaurant on that cold night, it was a long walk from our hotel but we finally made it to the restaurant. Good thing there wasn't much of a wait.

Little Bird Bistro is a two story restaurant. I felt that it looked really cozy and the restaurant reminded me of cafes in southern France. There were blackboards up above in the wall that showed the specials and a big window where diners could watch the city goers walk by.

Gnocchi

 
Michael and I were seated on the main floor and our tables were pretty tucked in there side by side with other diners. I got hungry during my shopping day so I got tempted by a pretzel from the mall, but Michael suggested that we would get an appetizer to share. Michael knew that I love gnocchis  and decided to order the goat cheese gnocchi with ox tail, served with caramelized orange jus and peppers ($14). Yummy!

Biting into the gnocchi was like chewing in to lumps of clouds. There were such strong aromatic flavours from the ox tail with a lighter balance from the jus. I didn't try any of the ox tail myself but eating just the gnocchi's were just amazing. I loved that there was sprinkles of goat cheese to the dish, which added a nuttiness to the light flavours. Michael said that the ox tail was like melt in your mouth good. There such natural flavours in the ox tail with a touch of light seasoning.

Chicken fried trout

Michael was feeling a little ill that day and wanted to eat something light and easy on his stomach. He wanted to get the chicken fried trout with herbs, pickled vegetables, gribiche, and radishes ($22), but I thought that sounded pretty delicious and I wanted to eat that. Michael was nice enough to let me order it and he would order something else. Unfortunately, the chicken fried trout was completely different from what I thought it would be. I thought the dish was really heavy because the trout was fried, and now come to think of it the title makes sense now. There was a creaminess present from the gribiche that tamed a little bit of the friedness. I really liked that there was sprigs of dill and different herbs on the plate. Not only did it make the dish have an additional flavour but it also added interesting presentation. It was a bonus that beneath the batter the fish was very soft, smooth and silky. I decided it was a bad idea to have the mall pretzel in the end, I regretfully didn't finish the fish.

Pork pot au feu

Michael, meanwhile, got the light dish he was looking for. He ordered the pork pot au feu, which a stew with bone marrow and potatoes on a broth ($28). Michael just gobbled that sucker up because it was soupy, non greasy and not fried. Exactly the kind of fancy for-sick-people dinner he was looking for. He has never had bone marrow before so it was definitely an adventure for him. He was the pork itself was very soft another melt and he loved dipping the morsels in the broth and marrow. 

Even though I was really full from my fried trout I kept stealing Michael's potatoes. They were so tasty. I love that the seasoning on the potatoes wasn't overpowering and it was just prepared very simply. Michael's broth added the perfect amount of flavour. So very tasty.

Macaroons

Even though I didn't get the dish that I had anticipated on, I would be more that happy to return to the bird bistro to try other dishes off their menu. The kitchen definitely knows how to cook and I am super eager to return to try their other dishes. The server also gave us small macaroons with the bill, which was a nice touch.

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Bastille Cafe & Bar

The last time I had visited Seattle with mama bear, I came across a magazine in our hotel room that introduced Seattle. There was a list of restaurants in the magazine that tourists could try. I skimmed the page stumbled upon the word "French." I thought to myself this is somewhere I had to visit, not just with anyone but with my bestie.

I travel frequently down the border with my mom as a short mother-daughter get away every month. My mom usually has a system she likes to do when she's down there, so as much as having Seattle to be one of my favourite cities in the world,  I don't often to get to explore as much as I'd like to in Seattle.  It's nice to visit other places in Seattle that is out of the ordinary for me when I am with Michael and friends. Michael was ever so kind to drive myself and the bestie down to Seattle. We spent much of our day gallivanting around the adorable state of Washington.

Bastille

This "French" place that I read about was called Bastille Cafe and Bar located at 5307 Ballard Ave NW.
 Judging from the older looking buildings, Michael thinks Ballard Ave is located in the older, lower Seattle. The street is made out to be their version of Vancouver's Gastown. The brick buildings, cobble stone streets, all made it looked like there was a lot of hip and fun restaurants and bars around the area too. 

A great cafe and bar!

Bastille says they have "damn good French food," and the bestie and I would agree. They were even comparable to we have shared in France. For starters they have the Dijon mustard sitting next to the salt and pepper. They serve water in a glass bottle. These little minor details are pretty authentic touches. We have never come across a French restaurant in North America that has paid such detailed attention. Michael said that he can tell the restaurant has gone well under the knife to update the restaurant in a rather older building.

We all thought the restaurant got rather dark during dinner time. As a matter a fact, a little too dark that we joked we needed a flashlight. Michael asked us if dining in the dark was part of French culture. Bestie and I agree that the restaurant is made out to be a very home and cozy ambiance which is in a lot French cafe and restaurants in France. But dining in the dark, we think not so much. Perhaps the darkness is just to push a more romantic vibe. Well a little menage et trois can't hurt anyone.

Lamb Merguez

It's fair to say that we had a little difficult time deciding on what to eat. For myself I thought as much as everything sounds delicious, I didn't want to get anything heavy that I could fall in to a deep food coma on our way home. Michael settled for the Lamb Merguez ($18) from their specials menu which was a juicy lamb sausage served with broccoli. Michael said that it was a good portion and had a good consistent portion of vegetables that went along with the sausage. The sausage had a lot of natural flavours and the veggies add a pleasant crunch in there. He really liked how the sausage kept all of the natural lamb taste without overpowering seasoning. Perfect.

Croque Monsieur

For myself I got the Croque Monsieur ($11) which is essentially a French grilled cheese sandwich. It is served with Duroc ham and aged comte and mornay sauce. I also got frites served with aoili on the side for dipping to share with the BFF. Croque Monsier is such a french classic, my last meal in France with my BFF was a croque monsier, we  got to enjoy this sandwich a cafe right next to the Eiffel tower. How cheesy.

The sandwich was a delight to chow down, but I felt that there was something in there that was missing, I can't quite put it there but it didn't feel very croque-y. I felt the ham tasted like Montreal smoked meat and I would assume they were prepared the same way. The cheese was smothered everywhere and surprisingly I didn't feel so full that I had fallen in to a food coma after my meal. It turned out to be a pretty light sandwich! I was just bothered by tough corners of the sandwich was a little tough to chew.

Frites

As for the frites ($6) we liked how simple it was made to be, it was very lightly seasoned with salt. The bestie and I just muched away and dipped them in a combination of Dijon and the aoili.

Fusilli

Last but not least, my BFF ordered the Fusilli ($16). It was pasta with a nice simple vegetarian sauce. It was really tasty and filled with flavours. Her favourite was having the pistachios in the dish which added a unique element to the dish.  It was served at a good portion, too!

Other than our perfect meal, it was a pity we didn't get a glass a wine to wash down the dinner since we didn't get to spend the night in Seattle. We all really enjoyed our time at Bastille Cafe, the ambiance is fantastic, the food is delicious, and our waiter was amazing. Parfait!


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Faubourg

Bonjour mes amies! It was such a stressful week and I thought I well deserved a macaron. I have to admit macarons have been an overrated and overstated dessert for awhile but its been awhile since I've had one. Also I usually think eating delicate little pastries and dessert treats isn't Michael's style but it was such a stressful week that I didn't care what he thought I just wanted my macaron. 

Welcome to Faubourg!

There were a few places I contemplated but we were near the Kerrisdale area and decided to hit up Faubourg.  Faobourg is located in the chic strip of Kerrisdale at 2156 West 41st. I have been here once with a Frenchie bff of mine. We loved that the majority of the staff at this artisan delight cafe spoke French. Although my bff and myself thought it was awesome, I don't think Michael really cares what the staff speaks, he's a guy's guy and just wants his food.

I love how this cafe is laid out there are the macarons, pastries, desserts, sandwiches, and baguettes. There are big windows that street goers can see their decadent treats, just the way I remember it in Paris. It really does give me a quick escape to France until I open the door and I  see a TransLink bus go by. Up on the walls they were playing a black and white film that reminded me of  an adorable French film I watched not too long ago.  On the tables where we ate on there is a map laid out like the Arrondissement, and there's also a separated area behind the hussle and bussle of the cafe you can enjoy a quiet high tea. 
 

Pain au chocolat

For desserts I would say Faubourg is on the pricey side. But first there is no price on being or eating chic. Second how could Michael ever say no to me. I got the pain au chocolate for about $4. It was amazing compared to the one I had at Thierry in downtown Vancouver, I just gobbled that sucker up. The exterior is flaky and crunchy as it should be, there was the perfect amount of chocolate in the middle that didn't take over the butter taste. A little on the oily side compared to the ones I've had in Europe but hey who am I to complain, finding a good croissant is like finding gold in Vancouver. 

Ham and cheese sandwich

I feel that since Faubourg serves,for the most part, petite site sized desserts, there weren't many options for Michael. He got a regular old ham and cheese sandwich. He thought it was a pretty big serving compared to everything else and he enjoyed that they bake their own bread for the sandwiches.

Assorted macarons

Of course I came for the macarons and oh I got them alright. We got nine for $16, a bit on the pricey side. My favourite was the lavender Earl Gray and the Tahitian vanilla bean.  The Earl Gray was like drinking the tea but in a solid form and it wasn't too sweet at all. Vanilla does seem like a really boring and generic flavor, but something in there gave it a little pizazz. It tasted light and creamy something perfect for a spring afternoon. Or perhaps I have a thing for Paul Gauguin and Faubourg decided to add the word Tahitian in there.  It was Michael's first macaron and I told him to take only half a bite and just feel what he is taste from the delightful little thing. We also gave one to Michael's manly friend and he just popped the whole thing in his mouth. They both feel there is nothing special and doesn't understand what all the fuss is about. Men, what do they know. 

Of course to wash all this we needed out black coffees. Nothing says a good dessert without a good cup of black coffee. 

A bien tot! 

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Burgoo Bistro

For the longest time Michael and I thought Burgoo was a hipster burger joint, but we were really wrong. I really considered going to Burgoo after an art buddy of mine had recommended the place to me since she told me she works there. Why not.

We began at the Burgoo on the Main Street location, but it was such a long wait and I was super duper hungry. So Michael decided to search for their other location at 4434 W. 10th in Vancouver. It was smaller and quieter inside, but the ambiance was so cozy with their fireplace and wooden walls. It was like going to grandmas house for dinner, and a hip grandma at that too. The pleasant smell of food when we walked inside was enough to make us hungry, very inviting and not overwhelming at all.

The restaurant has a small bar section too

I discovered that Burgoo was voted "the best place to hang out on a rainy day" by the Georgia Straight, and I agree since Burgoo is known for the bowls of soup, all you want to do is snuggle up to  nice hot soup on a rainy cold Vancouver day. Michael also thought their menu was interesting, it notes exactly which country every dish originates from.

Crab croquette

For starters, Michael and I shared the crab croquette ($8), originating from France. It's similar to a crab cake - a clump of fried goodness, filled with crab, cheese, potato bits and served with a tomato jam. Michael thought the croquette was the best part of the meal. Not only was it a good price for what was served to us, there was a generous amount of moist crab and he really liked the dipping sauce. I have to agree with him, it was very juicy and flavourful, especially with the cheese inside. I thought the dipping sauce was mediocre though. It was a nice sauce but it was just a little too sweet that it over powered the nice flavours the crab and cheese had to offer together. Why hide their natural flavours?

Dos Diablos

For entrees, I really had a hard time deciding what I wanted: sandwiches, soups, salads? Decisions, decisions, decisions! I went with the soup and sandwich ($15) and contemplated between the vegetarian - a sandwich with hummus, bell peppers, cucumbers, feta, artichoke and a vinaigrette dressing - or my other choice, the Dos Diablos, two slices of bread with melted spicy cheddar, chorizo sausage, and roasted bell peppers. Since Michael and I are going away together soon for somewhere with a decent beach, I have been really watching with what I eat. But faced with my weakness and kryptonite, ooey gooey cheese, I decided to go with the Dos Diablos. I loved that ooey gooey goodness and the crunchiness from the grilled sandwich was a nice bonus. I guess my diet will start tomorrow.

Tomato soup

I paired my sandwich with the tomato soup, my favourite. Tomatoes, garlic and a drizzle of olive oil, it was so rich in flavour and I could clearly taste the tanginess from the tomato. It wasn't too sour either, spot on.

Beef bouguignon

Michael got the classic French dish, the beef bourguignon ($18), when Michael told me he was going to order that,  for some reason I thought of Julia Child. Michael thought there was lots of meat on his plate and the beef was easy to chew. The sauce was nice and wasn't overwhelming. But I thought the mashed potatoes was a little underdone.

Strawberry lemonade

To wash everything down Michael had the Burgoo Brew ($5) and I had the strawberry lemonade ($3).

Yet another clever way to present the bill :)

The portions at Burgoo was so big that we weren't able to finish. Michael and I can't wait to come back to Burgoo and try the other selections on the menu. Everything sounds so good, we just want a taste of everything. Another thing I like about Burgoo is that after chatting with our waitress, I learned that Burgoo offers to a wide range of eaters, they offer gluten free, vegan, and vegetarians. How thoughtful.


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Les Faux Bourgeois

We finally made it to the French restaurant! Michael and I have been looking to try this place out for a few weeks now, but every time reservations were fully booked. I'll admit, I wasn't sure until I tried the food whether Les Faux Bourgeois was overrated. It wasn't.

Decor is nice, with a relaxing, dim atmosphere

FauxBo is on 663 E.15th avenue in Vancouver, right across the street from where Michael works. I felt so-so about coming to this restaurant, but I knew Michael was really excited about it since somebody had given a raving review of it at work. My mind was changed the moment I walked inside. There was a whiff of Paris scent, tough to explain, but it felt like I was going back to France. A quick look around show a small, but trendy restaurant, with a bar and rows of dining tables dimly lit by candles and soft tungsten ceiling lights. The decor featured black chalkboards scattered about, describing the specials of the day. Very cute.

The French onion soup

It reminded me of when I went to Paris for the first time, I was young and didn't appreciate the European culture like I do now. It was then that I had my first authentic French onion soup at a cafe near the Palais Royale. Tonight, we decided the Soupe à L'oignon Gratinée ($8) would be the perfect dish to start off. It arrived covered with cheese, the gruyère and mozzarella was just spot on. Pure ooey gooey goodness. But I'm sad to report the broth was just a little bland tasting. It was perfect otherwise.

Classic steak and fries

I had originally planned on ordering the Moules Marinière, mussles in white wine and frittes. The the La fausse niçoise, their take of the classic Niçoise salad, looked delightful. The Le Steak Frites ($19), a classic steak and fries, was what I finally settled on. Though I rarely eat beef, steak et frites is one of my favourite French dishes. The beef at Les Faux Bourgeois melted in my mouth, being so juicy and tender with the scallions and red wine sauce, which was beautifully paired with the steak. The fries were well seasoned and crisped to perfection, and arrived with aoli for dipping. How French!

Trout

Michael had the Truite meunière ($18), a Ruby trout with green beans, fingerling potatoes and lemon parsley sauce. Michael said the fish was very flavourful, especially complimenting the sauce, which tasted like a melange of ingredients. It was fresh and tasted refreshing too, improving the overall taste of the dish by vast measures. The dish also came with two fillets of trout, more than he had expected. Not to mention, the potatos and beans that came on the side played an integral part. Michael could tell that a lot of effort and thought was put in to making the veggies, despite it being just the side dish. Magnificent.

Overall, we really enjoyed coming here, I hope we'll be back. The price wasn't bad for the quality of food we got today, we could really tell the chefs are passionate for what they do and put in a lot of effort in to their work. Aside from the food, I was really curious to see if any of the staff members were French, but ended up being too scared to say anything. Maybe next time?

With appetizers, mains, and a beer and cocktail, the bill came $82 including tip. Bon Appétite.

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