Yellow Curry at Viphalay

I was happy to learn that the 95 Street location of Viphalay is open for lunch from Tuesday to Friday. Better still, there is a special lunch menu with a variety of affordable options ($15 range). I had one of the curry combos. The yellow curry was just spicy enough, with a familiar, rich texture and flavour. It was full of potatoes and carrots, as well as tofu (my choice of protein). The abundant liquid went well with the side of coconut rice (jasmine was the other option).

The Pho Files: Vietnamese Beef Stew at Pho Rice Pot

Although I have been to Pho Rice Pot numerous times, I have never had one of my favourite Vietnamese dishes: the brisket stew with carrots and rice noodles. The portion was huge, as is typical for Pho Rice Pot, and the amount of reasonably lean cubes of brisket was quite ample. The broth was flavourful but not too spicy. Perfect comfort food for a cooler day.

The Pho Files: Veggie Pho at Pho Delight

A weekend lunch at the Pho Delight side of the duel Friends and Neighbours (10838 82 Avenue) allowed me to indulge my curiosity about the place's vegetarian pho. This is not to be confused with the Buddha Pho, which is the same thing except spicy. This was definitely one of the heartiest vegetarian versions of pho I have ever had. It included lots of tofu for protein, as well as almost a garden's worth of carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms (just a few), kale (the first time I have ever seen it in pho), and brussels spouts. I was a bit leery when I noticed the latter, as I absolutely hate brussels sprouts. However, I bravely put one in my mouth and was surprised by a rich, almost roasted flavour with very little bitterness. That says something to me, that when I can enjoy an ingredient I normally hate then a dish is indeed very well done. There was also quite a bit of celery, which was superfluous as most of it sank to the bottom. The broth was also vegetarian yet rich and flavourful. The noodles were a bit difficult to retrieve at first because of all of the vegetables weighing them down, so as a result many of them broke before reaching my mouth. This is just a minor criticism. Vegan and vegetarian lovers of pho need to try this.

The Pho Files: Vietnamese Brisket Stew at Pho Binh

Vietnamese Beef Stew, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I ordered the Vietnamese Beef Stew at Pho Binh (15055 Stony Plain Road) while taking a co-worker to lunch last week. I really enjoy this dish as an alternative to basic pho, as the broth is much more aromatic (without being spicy). There was a lot of meat which wasn't too fatty as brisket can sometimes be, and the carrots were cooked to perfection. Flavour and comfort in a bowl.

Vegan Goodness: Veggie Combo at Abyssinia

Veggie Combo, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I was at Abyssinia Restaurant this past week for a work-related meeting and had the Veggie Combo. Opting for rice instead of the traditional Ethiopian injera bread, I actually thought the rice worked very well with the dish, which included collard greens, two kinds of lentils, a salad, and a potato and carrot mix. It wasn't too spicy and was actually quite refreshing. And at only $13, it is also quite affordable.

The Pho Files: Vietnamese Beef Stew at Thanh Thanh

Vietnamese beef stew at Thanh Thanh #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I had supper with a colleague at Thanh Thanh the other evening and decided to try their take on Vietnamese beef stew. Although the bowl does no look big, it was packed with noodles, chunks of beef, carrots, and a delicious broth that tasted heavily from star anise. The carrots were cooked to perfection and I think there must have been a quarter of a cow in that bowl - I never ran out of meat! The noodles had a pleasant flavour all their own, not just absorbed from the broth. I was really, really stuffed after barely finishing my bowl, something I rarely say after having pho.

The Pho Files: Beef Stew at Pho Delight

Beef Stew at Pho Delight #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Beef stew done Vietnamese style is one of my favourite colder weather comfort foods. After a couple of hours outside while I was covering two protests, I took a walk over to Pho Delight where I indulged in a bowl. Plentiful beef and carrots abounded (usually I find the carrot portion skimpy), and the carrots were cooked until they were soft. Some of the fat could have been trimmed off the beef - it was the chewy variety - but otherwise this was an excellent bowl of comfort food.