The Pho Files: Chicken Pho from Pho Delight

Chicken pho #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Sep 22, 2015 at 2:00pm PDT

An oncoming cold made me crave pho, and since Pho Delight, the soup side of Friends and Neighbours (10838 82 Avenue) was near a meeting, that is where I went and had chicken pho. Admittedly, my sense of taste was diminished as my head congestion grew, but the broth was soothing, the slices of chicken breast were ample enough, and the noodles were comforting. I could have done with a few more herbs in the broth but it got the job done.

Duck Tots from Attila the HUNgry

#ducktots #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Sep 19, 2015 at 1:41pm PDT

There are a few food trucks that I have been really wanting to try, and Attila the HUNgry is one of them. I finally tried their famous duck tots during the Chinese Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival last weekend. This was possibly the biggest serving of tater tots I have ever experienced. This was definitely the only serving of tater tots I have ever had that were topped with braised duck breast, lime Sriracha sauce, Hoisin aioli, and a mountain of peanuts. Filling, flavourful, and memorable. Next time I am going to have to bring a small shovel and someone with whom to share.

Vegging Out: Vegan Chicken Chana Wrap at Remedy

Tonight my father was introduced to the casual hipster vibe that is the 124th Street location of Remedy. I tried the vegan chicken chana wrap. Shredded veggie chicken was mixed with chana masala inside of the crispy, pressed pita shell. I am not sure if the batch I had was just slightly overcooked, but a number of the chickpeas were very dried out. Still, this is a great choice for vegans as it is both substantial and flavourful.

Prime Rib at Tony Roma's

I have had a gift card for Tony Roma's for some time now, and decided to use it over the weekend. After the initial sticker shock of the dinner menu wore off, I opted for the $25 prime rib sinner. My thick slab of meat was cooked to perfection and served with two sides (I opted for mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables) which were also excellent. The prime rib in particular was soft and succulent, with the perfect combination of seasonings.

Just Desserts: Tiramisu at Block 1912

When I am on Whyte Avenue and want coffee and a dessert, Block 1912 is usually the first place I head. I tried the tiramisu and found the flavours of mascarpone cream and cake soaked in coffee liquor to be rich and moist. This was a less traditional take on the dessert, as the only Ladyfinger to be found was a garnish on top. That aside, I loved how moist the dessert was, if not just a tad too sweet, and could barely finish.

Vegging Out: Padmanadi Seafood Delight

When I go to Padmanadi I tend to order the tries-and-true, at least as far as I am concerned. When I went there this past week I decided to try something different: the Padmanadi Seafood Delight. And what a delight it was. I don't know how they do it, but the "seafood" had the right look and texture (as far as I could tell as a non-seafood eater). The fried potato bird's nest was filled with "shrimp," "fish balls," and "scallops," as well as a healthy portion of veggie ham, as well as a variety of vegetables in a smoky mushroom sauce. The bird's nest gave a sort of "fish and chips" feel to the dish. It took me a few moments to get over the weirdness of it, but then I really enjoyed myself. I am adding this to my list of things to order again.

To start the meal I shared a vegetable combo soup with the others at my table. True to its name, it was full of veggies, as well as tofu and veggie chicken. A great way to start the meal.

Braised Beef Stew at Vi's for Pies

I haven't been to Via for Pies (13408 Stony Plain Road) in ages, so jumped at the opportunity to go there with my family this week. I had one of the daily specials, which was braised beef stew on egg noodles. The stew had a sweet taste in a rich, tomato sauce, with many chunks of beef, all of which were braised to fork-tenderness. The few chunks of cooked carrots reminded me that I was eating stew and not an overly thick meat pasta sauce. The egg noodles were perfectly al dente and overall I found this to be wonderful comfort food.

Breakfast for Lunch: Smoked Salmon and Eggs

I really enjoy the Pacific Omelette at Friends and Neighbours (10834 82 Avenue), but decided to try the smoked salmon and eggs when I went there for lunch earlier in the week. It has the same components as the Pacific Omelette, but arranged differently: scrambled eggs, cold smoked salmon, and a spinach salad with craisins. The toast and roasted potatoes come to the side just like with the omelette. It was a huge portion and everything tasted delicious, but I prefer the integration of the salmon, spinach, and eggs better in the omelette. Live and learn.

Beef Vernicelli at Co Do Hue

I returned to Co Do Hue (9524 163 Street) over the weekend for supper, and ordered the beef vermicelli. The size of the bowl was mighty, with two large skewers of grilled beef that was intensely tender and flavourful. I prefer for the meat to be taken off the stick first in the kitchen, but I managed. Loads of noodles and salad rounded out the bowl, which I did not finish. Yes, I did not finish. Delicious and HUGE. Total win if you like vermicelli bowls.

Pub Grub at Hilltop Pub

I went to the Hilltop Pub (8220 106 Avenue) for the first time this week for supper, and got started with fried pickles - also a first for me. The batter was crunchy and not greasy, and complimented the slightly sour pickles inside. I always thought a hot pickle would be gross, but it really worked, especially with the ranch dipping sauce.

I was told the steak sandwich at Hilltop is excellent, and the well-done steak I had proved this to be true. It was large, juicy, tender, and flavourful. Really good value as well. I just wish the fries were better - they were very plain and home-cut ones would have just elevated the dish even further.