Memphis Blues

Howdy blues brothers and sisters, it's been awhile since Michael and I have gone out to dine because we feel that our restaurant ideas are becoming  real stale lately. We past by Memphis Blues on the busy streets of Granville and Broadway. I have heard of this place once from a gal pal of mine, they claim they have gotten a lot of recognition for their meaty goodness.

Memphis Blues is located at 1465 West Broadway in Vancouver. When we walked in there was a strong smell of barbecue sauce, I think that would be a good thing since Im sure down south people really love their barbecue ribs. There was a lot of blues music type of theme happening in the restaurant, a lot of Southern pride thats for sure. Michael and I was really confused when we were ready to order, it turns out that we had to walk up to the counter to order and pay and someone will bring our food to the table afterwards.
 

BBQ Pit Wings

I wasn't sure I think maybe because everything was just smoked or barbecued. I think Michael was a little torn with choices as well. He started off with the BBQ Pit wings ($8.50) , which I also munched from of course. We both agree that the chicken wings were fried too long, leaving little amounts of juice in the chicken, but the the bright side was that the seasoning for the wings were pretty nice.  It had a herby, salty, and sugary sweetness which I thought it was unique taste to fried wings.

Oyster Po'Boy with fries

 I have been craving for an oyster burger so I decided to get the oyster po'boy ($9.95), it was suppose to be served with beans and coleslaw, but I'm not a beans kind of gal, so I substituted for fries instead. My thoughts on the po'boy is pretty mixed. I think the cook didn't go far enough with pimping out the sandwich with a lot of rowdy ingredients in there because the main focus is the oyster. So it was just tomatoes and lettuce and I believe some sort of ranch dressing sauce. My first few bites in to the oyster I thought, hey this sandwich isn't all that bad, the oyster was lightly battered and fried and the bun was soft. But when I got to the core of the oyster,  it was too much oyster flavour  for me to handle, lets just say I can still taste the sea. It was a little too much. My fries, on the other hand, was probably the best highlight of my dish. It was seasoned nicely exactly how the fried chicken were but towards the I think the seasoning got to heavy with heat that my lips were going to burn off. But other than that very strong flavours!

Rib Ends Sandwich with salad

Michael on the hand got the rib ends sandwich with greens ($9.95). He substituted his side for a salad which I also got to taste, it was accompanied with a vinaigrette, I for one love my vinegar, for those who don't me I LOVE vinegar, but this vinaigrette was too strong for me. I just cringed when I tried and I got that unappealing scratchy feeling on my teeth. Yikes! Michael thought his sandwich was a little too dry as well. He thought the BBQ flavour was overpowering and he finished his coke and another glass of water before he was halfway done his sandwich.

On an unrelated note, Michael and I think Memphis Blues need a better ventilation system in the restaurant. It got so smokey in there I felt like I couldn't breath. We left the restaurant with that unappealing smokey after smell of the restaurant on our clothes. Both Michael and I are pretty sure we won't be returning to Memphis Blues anytime soon, there is nothing too special to their menu and we're not sure where all its recognition comes from. 


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Pepitas

Feliz cumpleaños amiga! It was my best gal pal's birthday recently and she wanted to go for Mexican food. I have to admit, I have never had a 'to die for' Mexican meal until I travelled to Mexico with Michael this summer, so I didn't keep my hopes too high.

Inside Pepitas

We started out on a food hunt on West 4th and had to try several restaurants before we got a table. We finally stumbled across Pepitas at 2015 Burrard St in Vancouver. I don't know about Michael, but my BFF and I were a little hesitant about the place at first. We quickly found out that everyone working at the restaurant spoke Spanish and it was a lot of fun hearing the staff talk to each other. The decor was also very Mexican-esque and was rather cute.

Chicken taco salad

Michael wanted to share something together as an appetizer and we ended up choosing the taco salad ($10.95). There was a choice between chicken, beef or refried beans. We picked chicken. The salad arrived in a crispy taco bowl, with lettuce tomatoes, olives and sour cream. I thought it tasted very fresh and surprisingly not heavy at all. The chicken was soft, moist and the tomatoes gave the salad a citrus taste. Olives sprinkled around added a further distinctive taste to, and of course sour cream topped the salad. Perfecto.

Chicken quesadillas

For our entrees, I thought the enchiladas sounded delightful but I knew the serving was going to pretty big and I wasn't insanely hungry, especially after that awesome ensalada. So I chose to go with the chicken and peppers quesadilla ($9.95). It came served with cheese which was heavenly, everything tastes better with it. I couldn't taste much of the chicken though, because there actually might've been a bit too much cheese, but the peppers added a nice crunch to the quesadilla. On the side, my quesadilla was served with guacamole and it was actually really good. The guacamole had nice overall consistency and the avocado tasted fresh and creamy. The chopped tomatoes added a bit of freshness to everything.

Beef fajitas

Michael had the Beef Fajitas ($16.75), it was a DIY Mexican project for Michael, it came in a sizzling pan and warm flour tortilla, salsa, guacamole and sour cream on the side. I snuck a little on to my plate. How can I resist sour cream when I see it? Michael thought it was nice the beef didn't come ground up. They served nice chunks of meat and Michael just piled everything up and started digging in. He said it tasted pretty good.

I really like Pepitas. I would love to go back with Michael for a second time, with just each other rather than a whole crowd. The menu and staff seem fun and most importantly, their food tastes authentic. It makes feel like I really am in Mexico all over again with Michael.

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Seasons in the Park

We're a little late for our Thanksgiving post, but we hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday and plenty of time to spend with friends and family. Michael and I decided to spend a quiet and simple night together, without the hassle of cooking, and Seasons had a set menu for this thankful holiday at just $32 per person!

The entrance is a little hidden behind trees, but well-lit at night

Seasons in the Park - literally smack centre in Vancouver's large Queen Elizabeth park - is one of my favourite places to dine. Especially during the night when there is a spectacular view of the city, and the lights are especially bright in contrast to the barely lit park all around us. I love driving there, it feels like I'm driving through a forest, a bit of a Twilight feeling, no?

A memorable view from the inside

Seasons is one of several restaurants in the Sequoia Company. We've been to just about all of them and both agree Seasons is our favourite for its price, location and quality of food. It's such a cozy environment to be in, the interior is very West Coast, with a dome shaped restaurant with wooden paneling. During the cold winter days, you can still enjoy the patio with heated lamps and chow down while enjoying the incredible city view.

Harvest salad

Our meal started off with a Harvest Salad, roasted beets with bits of crumbled goat cheese and dried cranberries mixed in with the greens, dressed with a honey mustard vinaigrette. I was hesitant about the salad because there were dried cranberries and I'm not the biggest fan when it comes to beets. But the salad turned out to be a delightful appetizer. The goat cheese added a creamy element to the salad which went well with the sour vinaigrette, and the cranberries balanced everything out with their crunch.  I absolutely loved the dressing.

Turkey entree

Thanksgiving turkey was the star of dinner, the classic bird with all the fixings. Slices of turkey, served with mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, steamed vegetables and stuffing. I felt that the turkey was pretty good with the gravy drizzled on top. But later on my gravy supply fell short, and my turkey ended up tasting very dry. There is never ever enough gravy in my books. Michael agrees.

The mashed potatoes were very creamy. I would describe it as a delight so delicious that even when  my jeans were about to burst, I forced myself to finish it because it was that good. Unfortunately I was so full that I wouldn't dare try more than a few bites of the stuffing, but it was just staring back at me whispering my name. Tons of flavour from the few bites I had, very well seasoned and I loved the strong aroma of fresh herbs.

Pumpkin brulee

Moving on to dessert, we were served with pumpkin brulee accompanied with little biscottis. Brulee is one of my favourite desserts to finish off a fabulous dinner. It was, however, my first time trying the pumpkin version. I thought it tasted different, not good but not bad. I liked there was a lot of spice taste from the cinnamon and pumpkin, perfect for the taste of fall. As for the biscotti, it had a very nutty taste with cranberries mixed in, almost like a fancy granola bar.

Although I felt this Thanksgiving menu that Seasons had to offer wasn't too creative, it doesn't change the love I have for the place. I believe Seasons have a lot more to offer on their regular menu.

P.S. - Another reason to love Seasons even more is they make a killer arctic char, it'll melt in your mouth and is delicious.

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Kaboom Box

Here is another segment of our Eat St experience. We all know that food carts are on the rise in Vancouver recently and are becoming really popular, I think it's because the menus are creative, their truck designs are witty and it makes us coming back for more.

Usually open for lunch to 3 p.m. daily

Michael and I have  walked by Kaboom Box at Granville and Robson many times. This little red wagon serves classic west coast cuisine such as fish and chips and salmon burgers. Their menu isn't very big but it offers a good choice and variety.

Gulf Island Fried Oyster Po Boy

Michael instantly knew what he wanted to get the Gulf Island Fried Oyster Po Boy ($8.04). Michael's lunch comes with three fried oysters, coated with a thick crust and paired with tartar sauce for dipping. Of course Michael saved the best for last, the good boyfriend he was, he let me try some of his fries, we both agree that the fries were cut and fried to perfection. They are served skinny cut fries and tasted very light, crispy outside and fluffy inside. We could eat a whole plate of these fries and wouldn't feel sick afterwards. Marvellous.

House Salad

As for myself, I really didn't know what to get for my lunch, I didn't have much of an appetite but I knew I should eat something anyway. I ordered the House Salad ($8). Almonds, smoked salmon and cranberries. All of this yummy goodness was rested on top of mixed greens and served with a dressing that I can't quite put my finger on but seems like a creamy type of vinaigrette with a hint of garlic. Quite the tasty thing.

I felt rushed because I was the only one standing at the cart, and I felt an awkward tension between me and the cashier.  When my salad was served, I saw cranberries, and for those who don't know me I despise fruits, but surprisingly the cranberries didn't taste all that bad. Since they were dried, there wasn't a strong berry aroma, and the cranberries really balanced out the tangy sour taste to the dressing. The almonds added a hint of saltiness and crunchiness to everything and was really nice. The salmon, oh my it was good. Light, smoked to perfection, very moist  and delicious with the greens.

Although my salad was amazing, I have to say that the portion served could've been bigger. For $8 I expected a bigger portion to the salad, even if it everything was just greens. Street carts, you better up your portions or lower your price. But other than that, keep on roaming the Vancouver's streets.


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Freshii

Feeling healthy? Have no fear, Freshii's here.

Michael got a gift card from his work and decided to give the 870 W Cordova Street cafe a try. We've never heard of this place and was wondering what this cafe had to offer when I found out it served food that was healthy and organic. I was hesitant to go with Michael because I know that he doesn't always make the healthiest decisions when it comes to his meal, but I can't put all the blame on him, I am not always the healthiest person as well. So I was also afraid I wouldn't be able to find anything I like to eat there.

The place is located in the busy part of Vancouver waterfront and it seems to be pretty hidden, so you'll have to keep an eye out for it.

Freshii is all about the healthy

 
The atmosphere seems reminded me of  one of those healthy organic cafes that you would find in Los Angeles where you take a shot of  wheatgrass after your meal. Yum? Freshii really encourages  healthy living with their biodegradable cutlery and utensils and of course healthy eating with lots of choices of veggies, fruits, and various proteins.

You grab a menu and a pencil then make your selection

When we walked in we didn't know what to expect, you could even say we walked in like headless chickens, not knowing where to go. A worker of the cafe greeted us and explained their ordering system. We were to grab a piece of paper and check the items that we wanted to get. Salad ($6.99), bowls ($6.49),wraps ($5.99), and soups ($6.29). For toppings we get to choose the type of cheese, protein, nuts, and fruits, with an extra charge of course. As for the unlimited topping, it is just the normal veggies, such as broccoli, carrots, spinach, etc, for for no extra charge.  We also get to choose to the type of  dressing and how much of that dressing you want on your dish.

Salad with albacore tuna and lots of toppings

I honestly didn't know what to get, my paper ended up being so messy with scribbles because I was so indecisive and couldn't make up my mind. Sadly, the verdict was a plain old salad with albacore tuna (extra $1.75) and unlimited amounts of corn, cucumbers, diced tomatoes, crispy wonton and edamame. For my salad dressing I chose aged balsamic vinegar lightly drizzled on the salad. My salad tasted just like any other salad, but after seeing a lot of the people ordering the rice noodles, it made me jealous because it looked really delicious and it looked much better then my boring old salad.  Although I think the crispy wonton they give you was a nice substitution to croutons. I got complimentary pita bread to go along with my salad, too.

Buffalo chicken wrap

As for Michael he got the Buffalo Chicken wrap ($10) which wasn't part of their DYI menu, it has romaine lettuce, buffalo chicken, tomatoes, celery , carrots, cheddar and a blue cheese  dressing. Michael thought the wrap was a little dry and made him extremely thirsty, but other then that problem it was a stand up wrap.

DIY soup

He also ordered from the DYI menu, soup with rice noodles and vegetable stock, with carrots, broccoli, celery, chick peas and mushrooms. Michael likes the concept of building his own soup with the ingredients that are being put in, but said the broth could have had some more salt.  Overall he doesn't think it was anything specular or special, but that it's pretty good for something he built on his own.

Moving on to desserts friends, I love frozen yogurt, and it's something I love eating with my best friend. Hand hug sista. At Freshii they offer frozen yogurt, and unlike the usual places you pick your own toppings, at Freshii we can only choose two and for extras theres a $0.50 charge.

Cinnamon and granola frozen yogurt

That's okay, I can live with two toppings. I love cinnamon and granola together, so just the thought of it in delicious frozen yogurt sounds like heaven to me. The vanilla frozen yogurt tasted really good, it was light and creamy. The cinnamon was divine, and granola added a nice crunchy mixture to everything, like chocolate chip cookie and milk. Surprisingly, it all tasted a lot better then I thought it would be and actually better than some of my favourite places.

I really hope I get to return to Freshii one day, I am dying to taste that rice noodle and of course that wonderful  frozen yogurt. Michael said that he would consider it but he wouldn't go out of his way.

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