Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House

Vancouver is known for its fresh seafood. I guess it's not surprising considering it's surrounded by water. Our original plan was to buy fresh seafood and cook at home, but we chose a lazy option - going out.

I turned to my guide book again (Frommer's Vancouver & Victoria 2009) and Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House was highly recommended.

It looked like an old steak house, but they weren't playing around with seafood.

Joe's Seafood Tower Three Tier - This is tier #1

Tier #2

Tier #3

Someone had to order steak...

Joe Fortes was everyone's favorite.
Then some of us were off to Vancouver Aquarium the next day.


Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
777 Thurlow Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3V5, Canada
http://www.joefortes.ca/

Cupcakes

We found this place by accident. Robson Street in Vancouver is a shopping area. While we were shopping, we ran into Cupcakes with a long line, so we had to check it out.

There are a few cupcake shops in New York and I tried that famous one (don't even remember the name, just because I am not a big cupcake fan) and wasn't that impressed.

But this shop, Cupcakes, was good. They also have mini cupcakes, which was everyone's favorite.



Cupcakes by Heather & Lori
797 Thurlow Street at Robson

It has 4 other locations in BC area

http://www.cupcakesonline.com/

Kingyo - How Izakaya Should Be

When I was doing my restaurant research on Vancouver, Chris got his recommendation from his local friend about Kingyo, Izakaya.

Izakaya is a type of Japanese restaurant that serves alcohol with food. I have been to some low budget Izakayas in Tokyo, San Francisco, and New York, but Kingyo was different. I realized that Kingyo takes their food seriously.

Kingyo has to be my favorite spot in Vancouver.
Every dish we ordered was incredible. This has to be my first restaurant experience where every dish was amazing!!!

Kingyo means in Japanese goldfish

grilled pork cheek - melts in your mouth...

negitori sushi - tuna & green onion

grilled black cod

tokyo sukiyaki

sizzling kinoko tofu (we had to order 2nd one)

frozen grape - who knew!!!

Kingyo
871 Denman Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 2L9, Canada
(604) 608-1677
http://www.kingyo-izakaya.com/

NU - Vancouver

When we were planning a family reunion, Vancouver got the most votes. So my family from Korea, Singapore, and San Francisco and we (from NY) all ended up in Vancouver in April.

We had our first brunch together at NU.
We originally went there for lunch, but due to Easter weekend, we were served brunch, which was fine by us.

scone with hot coco

ceaser salad

Vancouver is known for its fresh seafood, so we had to order some oysters

flat iron steak and eggs

dungeness crab benedict

NU
1661 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1N3, Canada
(604) 646-4668

http://www.whatisnu.com/

Jacques Brasserie

Our favorite local French brunch spot. Last few times we went, it was very crowded. Your best bets are steak, escargot, and mussels with fries. I ordered croquet madame (shown above), but wasn't that good.


Jacques Brasserie
204 E. 85th Street (at 2nd Avenue)
New York, NY 10028
(212) 327-2272

http://www.jacquesnyc.com/

Steak!!!

I don't know what Chris's trick is, but he makes the best steak. He uses broiler 2-3 minutes on each side. I try the same way, but it never comes out the same way.

Rice on the side is Japanese vegetable rice. We call it mushroom rice in our household. Maybe someone can let me know the proper name. You can get it from any Japanese market. The one that I normally go to is:

Sunrise Mart
29 3rd Avenue (between 10th St & 2nd Ave)
212 598 3040

Tokubei 86

Agedashi Tofu

Fried Pork

Fluke Sashimi

Yose Nabe

We have been living the same neighborhood for over 6 years and never walked into Tokubei 86 until today. The interior & outside of the restaurant never looked welcoming, but we decided to try after reading a local Japanese magazine called Chopsticks.

We were pleasantly surprised with fresh sashimi - first sign of quality of Japanese restaurant. Other things that we ordered were really good as well.
We are definitely coming back.

I just read that Tokubei 86 makes their own curry. I will try that next time!!!


Tokubei 86
314 E. 86th Street
New York, NY 10028
212 629 5334

New Directors/New Films 2009

There is a film festival going on called "New Directors/New Films 2009"

Started on 3/25/09 and will continue until 4/5/09.


http://www.filmlinc.com/ndnf/program.html

Singapore Day 2009

If you happen to be in London in April, check out Singapore Day 2009 on April 25.
You need to register, but I am sure you can find some good food.

Unfortunately I missed it when this we held in New York.

https://app.singaporeday.gov.sg/

iTunes U

As soon as I started school, I have given up on my true love - reading.
I still try to read, but I don't read as much. Plus it's hard carrying text books and my hardcover books.

Therefore, I discovered a lazy way to learn: iTunes U
This has changed my life. You can find lectures or panel discussion. And most importantly, it's FREE!!!

You can search by subject or by institutions.
So far my favorite institutions are:

LSE
CSIS
Stanford

Try it! You will love it!

Go to your iTunes then click on iTunes Store.
Click on iTunes U

My Breakfast

Ever since I couldn't fit into clothes that my sister bought for me, I had to think of different way of enjoying food. I am the last person to be on a diet, so I decided to try portion control. However, I needed to stop eating one thing - bagel for breakfast.

Instead, I started eating yogurt for breakfast. Yogurt in a small container is convenient, but I thought I might as well try a really healthy way.

So every morning, I pack yogurt and fresh fruit in a container. Chris gets the same thing, but he also has granola in his mix.

I normally put different kinds of berries, just because they are easy to pack in the morning, but banana and apple work well with yogurt as well.

Yogurt above is plain yogurt with honey. It has a great texture with little sweetness to it.
If you prefer plain yogurt, you can always add your own honey.
You can find this brand at Whole Foods.

Congee Village

If you end up in Chinatown, East Village, or Alphabet City and have no where to go??? And it's midnight???

Congee Village is there for you.

If you have 10 people or more? Don't worry, they have big tables.


Congee Village
100 Allen Street at Delancy
212-941-1818

http://www.congeevillagerestaurants.com/index.php

Banh Mi all the way!!!

One good thing the French brought to Vietnam - baguette...


I was introduced to Banh Mi by Christoff back in San Francisco. But it took me a long time to like it. I wasn't used to the idea of pickled carrot and cilantro in my sandwich.
Now??? I love it. That's why we were so happy to find Paris Bakery Sandwich Cafe one day.
They serve Vietnamese sandwiches as well as desserts and rice dishes.



Paris Sandwich Bakery Cafe
113 Mott Street
at Canal
212-226-7221


My friend also took me to another Banh Mi shop last week.
Don't be fooled by the jewelry store in front.
Banh Mi was good....

Saigon Bakery
138 Mott at Grand
212-941-1541

Gajyumaru

Miyuki let us know that Gajyumaru serves ramen on weekends.
We finally went and tried it today.

Soup was exceptional and pickles were a nice touch.

We weren't so happy with noodle itself, though.

Gajyumaru
1659 1st Avenue at 86th Street
212-860-8857

Sichuan Hotpot

OK, after we were kicked out last time, we had to go and try to see if it was really any good.
It was packed but we managed to get a table.

Spicy side was way too spicy, but the other side was good.

Personally, I like Taiwanese version better - with Taiwanese hotpot, you can flavor your own soup. We haven't found a Taiwanese version here in New York yet, but there were plenty in San Francisco...

At least we tried it!
And service wasn't that bad this time :)

Grand Sichuan
125 Canal Street
121-625-9212

Ramen in Upper East Side

I remember complaining about a lack of ramen shop when we moved to New York 6 years ago. But now it seems like ramen shops are opening up everywhere. It was shocking to find a ramen shop in our neighborhood, so we had to go check it out.

Ramen was OK. It wasn't even close our favorite ramen shop - Rai Rai Ken in East Village, but for a fact that we can just walk home after eating ramen... I have to give them extra points.
Delivery option - extra points!!!

Naruto Ramen
1596 3rd Ave at 89th Street
212-289-7803


Rai Rai Ken (our favorite Ramen shop in the city)
214 E. 10th Street at 2nd Ave
212-477-7030
CASH ONLY

Escargots at home

For those who love escargots, but don't want to go to restaurants all the time, here is your answer. You can buy them at a store. They are already stuffed with herb butter. You just have to put them in you oven at 350 for 10 minutes.

Christoff bought them from:

Agata & Valentina
1504 First Avenue @ 79th Street

Chinese New Year Celebration

A few of us got together for Chinese New Year Celebration. We originally wanted to go to Grand Sichuan; however, they refused to sit 7 of us and wasn't even nice about it.

After that we decided to go for some Malaysian food. We had a great time with awesome food. Plus the waitress there recommended her secret Karaoke spot. We ended up going there and had a blast.

Grand Sichuan
212 625 9212
125 Canal Street
Do not go here!!!!

Skyway
Malaysian Restaurant
11 Allen Street
212-625-1163

Uniquely Singapore Again - this time... Christoff was alone...

This time, Christoff was in Singapore by himself. He was surrounded by family, old and new friends, and good food - older Singapore post

This was at a Malaysian / Indonesian dessert shop

Fabulous dinner prepared by Christoff, Michelle, and Mary

I am getting hungry just looking at pictures...

Pepper crab

Christoff didn't bring home any... so sad...

Happy Holidays Everyone!