Hand-pulled, fried noodles with beef for lunch. Chewy goodness with cucumber on top (not too sure what was up with that, but it worked).
Friday, November 9, 2018
Fried Noodles with Beef at Fuqing Lanzhou Noodles (10824 97 Street)
Brunch at BRU (11965 Jasper Ave.)
Brunching at BRU with a build my own plate of medium poached eggs, smoked salmon, and beef sausage. That was one of the best beef sausages I have ever had - well done and perfectly seasoned without being greasy. The eggs were done perfectly. With fruit and toast rounding out the plate, I didn’t miss potatoes at all. To drink is the “Little Buddy” with a macchiato, extra shot of espresso on the side, and water. Great way to start my Saturday.
Soup and More at Noodleholic (9658 107A Ave.)
Noodleholic is located at 9658 107A Avenue. You can build your own soup by picking a broth, type of noodle, and two toppings (or more for an extra cost). My first bowl (top) was a Little Sheep vegetarian soup base (named after the company that makes it), with marinated chicken, beef brisket, and thick rice noodles. The brisket was extremely aromatic and the chicken was chewy, but flavourful. The noodles were like spaghetti, while the broth was rather bland. My next visit had me try a chicken broth (tasted rich like chicken pho), flat rice noodles (like ribbons of noodle goodness), shiitake mushrooms (big and bold), and again the beef brisket. You can also get a side like a green onion cake for a reasonable price, and beverages are an extra dollar if you buy soup. This is my new haunt in Chinatown.
Fried Chicken Burger - Brick and Whiskey
This fried chicken burger from Brick and Whiskey was total comfort food. The fried chicken was a pounded down thigh, with a crispy coating, coleslaw, and honey hot sauce (which I had to the side - it was total sweet and heat). The brioche bun was toasted and fluffy, while the fries were great.
Mezze Platter at Craft (10013 101A Avenue)
Mezze Platter at Craft. Three shareable, Mediterranean-inspired appetizers. The fresh veggies with red pepper dip were excellent. Avocado toast - yes, please, although I was hoping the toast would be crunchier. The felafel tasted more like veggie fritters than fried chickpea paste, but the tzatziki was refreshing and lightened it up a bit.
Breakfast for Lunch: Smoked Salmon Scramble at Cacao 70 (10430 82 Ave.)
Cacao 70 Eatery on Whyte Avenue - I came here for brunch. I had a mocha, which tasted like a melted chocolate bar without any hint of coffee. It read to me more like a rich hot chocolate. My smoked salmon scramble was meh - maybe 5 pieces of smoked salmon with a salad, a portion of scrambled eggs (the best part of the meal), toasted panini, and potato wedges that were limp and had an off taste to them. Also, I noticed that the the woman who was making the hot drinks kept coughing and coughing, and although she was covering it with her sleeve, it made me uncomfortable. Service was adequate, and prices are rather high. I wish the food matched the decor.
Just Desserts: Pumpkin Pie Torte at Block 1912 (10361 82 Ave.)
Pumpkin pie torte - a buttery crust topped with pumpkin goodness.
Roast Beef at Kafana (10803 95 Street)
Roast beef dinner at Kafana a while back. It was an occasional special. If you’re there when it’s on, get one! A mountain of lean, tender roast beef smothered in gravy, with roasted potatoes, grilled veggies, and bread.
Tapas at Holy Roller (8222 Gateway Blvd.)
Dinner for two at The Holy Roller. Interesting concept of international street food. From "The Asias" we tried the Bulgogi Lettuce Wraps. The grilled short ribs were delicious, but my dining partner was nonplussed by the idea of putting the wraps together himself. My Miami Fish Sandwich (from "The Americas") featured a large piece of fried cod, in a white bun with loads of mango ketchup and diced white onions - different toppings than I am used to on fish, but it worked. The bun though was heavily buttered and I found the flavour distracting. From "The Mediterranean" we shared Patatas Bravas, which was described as crispy potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and mayo. We were faced with a plate of whole, roasted small potatoes that were slightly undercooked. The sauce and mayo saved the dish. I was expecting a take on fries. From the same part of the menu was the Ensalada Espanola with lettuce, green olives, roasted red peppers, almonds, and smoked paprika vinaigrette. This was the star of the meal. The flavour was multilayered with the bitterness of the greens, the punch of the olives, the crunch of the almonds, and the unique dressing. I also enjoyed my mocktail, a take on a mint julep.
Vegan Iced Coffee at Padmanadi (10740 101 Street)
Happiness is a vegan iced coffee. This is like poetry in a picture of a beverage.
Seafood Delight at Padmanadi (10740 101 Street)
Seafood delight and noodle - love that the noodles were tossed with a hint of sauce.
"Not Pot Pie" at The Moth (9449 Jasper Ave.)
"Not pot pie" filled with vegetables in a crunch whole wheat crust. Deceptively filling. I am glad I ordered the half avocado to lighten it a bit. The iced cashew chai is my new favourite drink.
Fried Cauliflower at Rebel (9112 142 Street)
Fried cauliflower - small pieces with big flavour. The sea salt mostly fell to the bottom, but the garlic aioli dip was perfect.
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