'Charmed' by Thai Tea Ice Cream

Wow, just look at this beauty. Our ingenious (and piggy) idea of combining two desserts created this breathless moment.

My lovely pregnant sister LC and I met up at Charm Modern Thai in Yaletown for a quick lunch and wanted something sweet to finish up our meal. We decided to have their deep fried banana dipped in vanilla sauce with a side of their homemade Thai tea ice cream. LC is usually quite a 'phan' of Thai iced teas so this intrigued her. Unlike the common heavily battered deep fried whole bananas from other Thai restaurants, Charm's lighter version is a mixture of tiny pieces of half mashed bananas, wrapped in a thin skin and dipped in a creamy vanilla sauce. GREAT IDEA! And their Thai tea ice cream was so refreshing and delicious that we asked if they sold them by the pints but the server advised us that it was a homemade secret recipe by their in-house chef. Sweet and savory at its best people. This Phan fave is another must-try!

Fluffy the Donut - By Lee's

If I could talk to this donut, I would say: 'Hi Fluffy. You are the fluffiest donut in the whole entire world. Perfection is you. Dipped in honey and flaked with sugar, you and my mouth are partners in crime. I could have half a dozen of you. And I'd kiss you before every bite. Thank you for being in my life." Love, your biggest Phan, Phancouver.

My dear friend SS and co., surprised me on a work weekend with Lee's donuts. They arrived nice and toasty, traveling just a few minutes from Granville Island, across the water on the ferry. As soon as I saw the nice grease marks on the brown bag, I started salivating. Haha. Lee's Donuts top Krispy Kremes any day. Give them a whirl people, you are missing out!

Part 2 of Carribean 'Tings' at The Reef

Continuing on from my last post in June 2010 on The Reef, here's an update on two more of their delectable 'tings'. Their Moca Burger as you see above is a great option for a non-meat burger (and my healthy food loving friend KL decided to give it a whirl). Take it from me, someone who definitely enjoys a juicy chicken or beef burger over the veggie patties. This jerk-seasoned hefty slice of tofu is topped off with grilled pineapple, provolone, salsa and greens and let me tell ya, that cheese really brings out the flavor of the tofu. Served with succulent yam fries and a spicy mayo, this meal is complete. Can't wait to get my hands on that burger again.

I on the other hand, ordered their Ackee and Saltfish since I was craving it from my few bites of this dish when my friend DC had it a while back. It wasn't AS good as I remembered but it still made a good impact on my impression of Carribean food. Known as one of Jamaica's national dishes, this meal is made with ackee fruit, salt cod, onion, tomato and peppers. Tasting similar to a mushy egg omelet with the listed ingredients, it paired well with the rice and coleslaw. And of course, plopped smack in the middle of the dish was a Phan Fave - Johnnycake. :)

Party-in-Your-Mouth European Delights

Take it from me. These are one of the best dessert snacks you will EVER indulge in. A crispy wafer on the outside as you chomp down and then BAM! Surprise! There's a sweet soft sugary syrup in the middle that takes your breath away. This is what a foodie experience is all about. Excitement to your taste buds. Guaranteed goodness. The best kind is straight from Holland but there are many replica brands in your local grocery store I'm sure. This is a Phan fave, my friend.

Mama's Authentic 'Bun Bao'

It's been a while since I let you into my mama's kitchen so here is another authentic Vietnamese specialty of hers: Bun Bao. Or as my parents like to call it 'Vietnamese salad'. You take a handful of vermicelli, chopped lettuce, cooked pork, ground up peanuts and bean sprouts and toss them in a bowl. Finish it off with some fried onions and dipping fish sauce and voila, you've got yourself a refreshing summer 'salad'. The marinade and sauce for the pork is to die for but I guess for now, the secret is safe with her! :)

I Love You, Beef & Blue Cheese Dollar Pizza

My absolute fave dollar pizza place was Pizza Garden on Commercial Drive until they recently closed down. They had the best beef and blue cheese pizza and even had free extra blue cheese sauce on the side so you could blue cheese any flavor pizza you wanted. Don't be fooled because this blue cheese sauce is not as pungent as the actual blue cheese. It must've been mixed with some cream or mayo to equate the goodness that poured from its spout. Drizzled atop tiny crispy balls of ground beef on a sesame crusted triangular slice and sometimes graced by the presence of tomatoes, this pizza will go down in history. Give it a whirl peeps (at other pizza joints) as it's a Phan Fave!

PS - Remember the good ol' days when dollar pizza was actually a dollar? Now it's at least $1.50!!! It's a cruel, cruel world y'all.

Laughing Cow Cheese Brightens My Day!

MmmmMMMmm, Laughing Cow Cheese. This post really needs no further words except I have to try the flavored ones. I eat one with crackers every day as a snack at work and say 'MmmmMmm' with every bite. Right, MC? PS - I just realized that crazy cow is donning the cheese as earrings, WEIRD. Oh well, it's a Phan Fave and I'm still going to eat it.

My 100th Post Belongs to My Mama's Vietnamese Spring Rolls

It is only fitting that I celebrate my 100th post by revealing my most favorite food in the entire world. The ultimate Phan Fave. My mama's Vietnamese spring rolls. Yes, I would choose this meal if I was ever sentenced to the electrical chair.

While I'll never be able to share the entire recipe with you, I will reveal the goods. Partly because this is a family secret recipe but mostly because I don't even know the English names of some of the ingredients! And because a true chef does not use measurements and has the special gift of just adding to taste. I will however share that the filling is made with an amalgamation of ground pork, minced shrimp and crab meat, Chinese mushrooms, bean sprouts, vermicelli, minced shallots, eggs, pepper, garlic powder, fish sauce and soy sauce.

If you try to duplicate this recipe, it just won't happen. Especially because it's dipped in my dad's special vinegar sauce. Honestly, it's the best damn spring roll out there and you should feel privileged if you're one of the lucky few who have tried it!

A Dessert to Die For - Earl's Chocolate Sticky Toffee Pudding

One of my favorite desserts to devour from a restaurant (and believe me, I don't have very many) is the Earl's Chocolate Sticky Toffee Pudding. Essentially, this bad boy is assembled with a warm, rich chocolate cake drizzled in chocolate and toffee sauces, and paired with vanilla bean ice cream nestled in an edible caramel crunchy nest. It tastes very similar to a lava cake with ice cream but with added goodness. It's the perfect comfort dessert to end a well deserved relaxing night out.

I'm a 'Meat 'n' Potatoes' Kinda Gal

You know how people categorize some men as a 'meat 'n' potatoes' kinda guy? Well I'm a 'meat 'n' potatoes' kinda gal. Further to my earlier post on My Greek raving about their lamb and tarama, I also have a deep, deep love for their kalamari and beef/chicken souvlaki dinners. Again, their portions are just no match for any competing Greek restaurant and their meat offers a tenderness like no other. I'm telling you, it's a Phan Fave and well worth the drive y'all! AND, it's even better when you doggy bag the leftovers and have it the next day. Mmmmm, leftovers.

The King of All (Persian) Kabobs

It feels like I went on a wild goose chase to find the best Persian kabobs out there (minus the home made kind from my girl MA). After trying three different restaurants (there can't be TOO many more in the city), my vote goes for Cazba in Lonsdale, North Vancouver. The price was unbeatable, portions were ginormous and the tenderness and flavor of the meats was undeniably the best. For those of you who haven't tried these kabobs, I really encourage you to go out and get some. Kabobs have a way with me. For some strange reason, I can eat them all day, any day, and the problem is, I can't stop eating even when I'm full. I hate to admit it, but it's my crack. A definite PHAN FAVE!

The above two photos are from Cazba. I can't say I've tried too many items on these Persian menus but I don't think you can ever go wrong with my two choices of the Kabob Koobideh (two skewers of ground beef) or the Jujeh Kabob (one skewer of boneless chicken breast). Each are marinated to the tee with their herbs and spices and then bbq-ed to perfection on the grill and de-skewered on your plate. Always accompanied by a grilled tomato and a heaping amount of rice, this meal will have you wanting more. Something in the rice really gets me going as well, maybe it's the oil or butter that's soaked into each grain, I don't know, but it's scrumptious!!! Plus Cazba was the cheapest of the three ranging from $6.95-10.95 per dish! BEAT THAT!

And of course, you must order one or both of the yogurts to enjoy at first as an appetizer but then paired with your meats and rice with every spoonful. Above you will find the Mast-o Moosir (yogurt with shallots) and the Mas-o Khair (yogurt with cucumber). Both are divine and an absolute must when dining Persian. Now we've moved on to restaurant #2, Darcin. They used to be on Davie but I've recently heard that they've re-located to Pacific. I have yet to track this place down and give it a second whirl.

The one other dish I had a bite of was their heavily spiced and slow cooked lamb chops. I've looked for an alike dish like this at Daria and Cazba, no luck so I'll need to visit this place soon.

And again, the chicken and beef kabob skewers. Yummmmmm! Out of the 3 places I tried, Darcin was the most expensive ranging from about $11-$14 a dish. One thing to add, don't expect amazing service at these places, you go there strictly for the authentic food and for sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the posh Persian crowd!

And finally, I've learned to combine my cravings of both kabobs and order the combination of both! This time, I dined with LC at Daria on Denman. It was a take out food atmosphere and I expcted the food to come quick and come cheap but it was the opposite of that. So my fellow food lovers out there, take a lesson from my book and choose Cazba!

Next Best Thing to Vietnamese Spring Rolls? Vietnamese Salad Rolls!!!

Feast your eyes on one of food's tastiest creations - my mom's Vietnamese salad rolls. Go on, get jealous because if I were you, without my mom's authentic home cooking, I would be sad too.

Being the good little helper I am, I helped to roll these together for our lunch meal. The process is quite tricky because that thin rice paper you see that holds it all together needs to be dipped into hot water, quickly snatched up with your bare fingers and then placed on that neat pink round tool that prevents it from sticking onto any surface. My fingers go through some burning torture but it's all worth it in the end. I'm just a wuss, really.

What you see here are the golden ingredients. Some rice vermicelli, lettuce mixed with fresh basil and parsley, and a meat mixture of shrimp, Vietnamese ham, shredded pork and thin slices of pig skin (I'm pretty sure that's what it is). YUM! Dipped in my dad's famous 'vinegar fish sauce', this makes for a nice, light and satisfying lunch.

An Estea Classic - Deep Fried Chicken on Rice with an Assorted Bean Slush

I have been a coming to Estea for their food and bubble tea ever since I was in high school. That must mean something. Although they have altered their staff, decor and dishes many times over and over again, I will still drive the distance for great bubble tea, chewy pearls and consistently good food. Years ago, their deep fried pork chop on rice with an amazing 'duck sauce' over rice paired with marinated egg and tofu was my favorite. Now the sides have changed and portions have become a wee bit smaller but it still remains a Phan fave. However, in the picture above, you will see my latest favorite, deep fried chicken on rice. I love how BBT places always have interesting sides to pair with their meals - it's a surprise every time. Delicious and reasonably priced at around $7-8.

This is also hands down, my all-time-favorite bubble tea flavor in the world! Assorted bean slush, hold on the pearls because you will be dang full after you've sipped the last bean. To non-Asians, it may sound weird to have beans in your cold, icey dessert drink but trust me on this one!!! Green, red, kidney, all types of beans blended with condensed milk = one satisfying Phan fave drink!

Chicken 65 at House of Dosas. A Hidden Gem, Indeed.

Damn. This is one freaking good chicken dish. Chicken 65 from House of Dosas. Legend tells it that this tender meat is marinated for 65 days, in a combination of irresistible sweet, salty and spicy herbs. Then served with a tangy ketchup-like sauce, this tiny ball of goodness is sure to set your mouth on a fiery path to pure food heaven satisfaction. I strongly urge you to give this dish a whirl as it's a Phan fave! AND, to top it off, RW introduced this to me who, if you remember, also termed my food blog, Phancouver.

Another Phan fave of mine is their Mango Lassi. I've had it at a few other places but this one trumps them all. Mango perfection blended with yogurt and other secretive spices to create a mouthful of soothing smoothie to calm my palate during a spicy Indian meal. Those who know me, know that I can't take spice but I will suffer the pain to endure the wonderful taste of the Chicken 65.

So my friends and I gathered at House of Dosas on a Monday evening, forgetting that on Mondays, their dosas are 5 dollars and the wait is super long! Plus, there is a DJ spinning some Jamaican-Indian infused songs so it's a pretty bumpin' place to be. I hope the picture does the dosa justice as they are long and intimidating. But don't be afraid. These Indian crepes are quite airy and filled with a curry to your liking as you can see below with my table eye's view.

It's too bad that I really don't remember the names of anything we ordered but I know that they were all delicious! I think I had tastes of similar dishes to eggplant curry, paneer, chicken and beef madras galore. Portions are generous and flavor is a plenty. Side dishes include rice, naan, pampa dam and tiny bowls of yogurt, coconut and other interesting accompaniments. Plus if you really enjoy cricket, that's all they play on their TVs!

Oh and I almost forgot to mention, I also saw a mouse here. :( Although that did freak a few of my friends out, that won't deter me from coming back!