BC Spot Prawn Season

It’s like Christmas time for foodies right now.  Once a year and only for 8 weeks BC Spot Prawns are in season.  Many of Vancouver’s restaurants are using these gems in dishes and even dedicating whole menus to the succulent West Coast crustacean.  I was invited to check out the 1st catch of the season come into dock and go right into C’s kitchen to be cooked up for us and diners doing the Spot Prawn tasting menu.  We all eagerly awaited the boats arrival with the prawns on-board.

What makes BC Spot Prawns so special is the face the season only runs for 8 weeks (May-June) and the fishery for them is completely sustainable so the fish stocks aren’t being affected at all.  They are also ethically raised and sourced.  Until 2005 most of the Spot Prawns were exported to Japan and we used to miss out since the fishery has been set up we now get our fair share of these beauty’s.

Here they come!

You can view the video of the harvest (The guy in the picture shot if for the Vancouver Sun) by clicking here.

We all were served some tasty bites while we waited for the prawns to be cooked up and brought out.

The first set of bites we were served were BC poached Spot Prawns with a yuzu jelly, Quail’s Egg topped with truffle aioli and crispy bacon and watermelon with a crispy basil garnish.  All of these were really good.  The eggs were perfectly cooked and of course the bacon was a perfect complement to the egg.  BC Spot Prawns and yuzu jelly were a natural pairing of sweet seafood and the citrus from the yuzu.

Lastly the watermelon and crispy basil was a nice clean, refreshing bite.  There was also smoked salmon bites with goats cheese that I had when I came here for Dine Out 2012.

Golden, pink and red beets topped with creme frache and thyme were also passed around the deck.  Beets are one of my favorite items and I really liked these.  I tend to like the red beets more because they are sweeter than the golden beets I find.

Seared tuna bites with a ponzu were cooked perfectly.  The inside was beautifully rare and just seared on the outside enough to add some firm texture, the sauce was a nice touch and added a bright salty hit to the bite.

These were the star of the event.

The whole BC Spot Prawns served whole in a pool of garlic butter.  Saying these are hands on are an understatement.  You get in there with your hands and twist the head off and strip the tail of shell and such.  The heads could be sucked like a crawfish head if you like to get the pure essence of the Spot Prawn-it’s not my thing but i made sure my head didn’t go to waste.  The meat is sweet and tender and reminded me of a little lobster tail!

The event was alot of fun and I enjoyed the delicious treats and drinks.  Get out there and enjoy some of there completely unique to BC treats before there all gone.

C Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Fresh,Local,Wild

With Spring here that means a lot of the food carts and trucks we love come out of Winter hibernation and this year has the benefit of a bunch of new carts hitting the streets.  I visited the Triple D famous Fresh, Local, Wild on there opening day of the season.  They have the items on the menu that were featured on Triple D as well as fresh new creations that Josh Wolfe is dreaming up.

The first item I had was the The Halibut Shawarma.  Made with Ocean Wise halibut and all the traditional flavors you would expect to find in a great shawarma made this a winning dish.  The shawarma was a great filling meal that didn’t leave me like I had a lead weight in my stomach after.

The next item on the menu for me was the Kebab Burger with 1/2 fries and 1/2 salad.

My fries were nice and crisp on the outside and the skin on the potatoes added that homemade flavor.  The salad was dressed with a nice tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

My kebab burger was made from juicy heritage beef and mixed with herbs and spices.  The toppings on this bad boy were the typical shawarma toppings-humus, lettuce and tabouleh.  The humus was something that I have never had on a burger and was totally delicious.  That’s not ketchup on my burger by the way-it’s Sriracha chili sauce, it added a nice zip to the flavorful toppings and kebab meat.

Fresh, Local, Wild is a solid lunch option that will satisfy your street food hunger.  There open Monday-Friday till 3pm and they take cash and debit cards.

Fresh Local Wild (Food Cart) on Urbanspoon

Bistro 101 on Granville Island

This week I found myself having to head to Granville Island to get some ingredients for a recipe in a cookbook I’m in the process of testing and in need of lunch and not wanting to deal with the crowded market scene I stopped into Bistro 101 at the Pacific Culinary Institute.

For lunch they offer a 3 course menu for $18 and it’s different everyday.  What I love about this place is that your served by the students but not only are they learning the art of service but they are also involved in the kitchen!, I did a course when I was a teenager at VCC and worked for a summer in JJ’s Dining Room and it was an awesome experience for myself so I can relate to the awkwardness that happened with service but the one thing I will say is everyone was really attentive and professional.

After I checked out the menu and made my selections one of the pastry students came by my table and brought out some fresh bread and butter and also took my dessert order~turns out she’s the one who made my choice~a deconstructed s’more that I saw as I was being seated.

Another student came by my table with a chilled amuse-bouche of a Puttanesca Prawn, it was an interesting bite but the prawn for me was over powered by the puttanesca sauce.

For my appy I had 3 choices~a mushroom egg drop soup,Oceanwise baby shrimp and avocado spring mix greens in a rice paper roll or a honey and five-spice quail~all decent choices on there own~I went with the Oceanwise choice.  The rice paper roll was served with a miso tahini sauce, the baby shrimp were cooked perfectly and there were a ton of them in there and the avocado spring mix filled out the roll perfectly, the avocado added a beautiful creaminess with the sauce underneath.  this is something that I would totally make at home on my own~avocado is going in all my rolls from now on!

Entrée wise there was a Grilled Beef Striploin with a devil sauce, Pan Fried Mahi Mahi that was a Oceanwise choice and was on the tropical side~served with a berry salsa and ginger coconut pilaf and to round out the choices the poultry option was a Smoked Turkey & Emmenthal Stuffed Chicken Breast with a basil tomato veloute and herb polenta~my choice!  The chicken was cooked thoroughly yet was moist and flavorful, the skin on top was nice and crisp, the smoked turkey added flavor and the cheese rounded everything out.  The sauce on the bottom was rich but not overly thick which was nice and the tomato side added a great acidic note to this rich dish, the herb polenta was flavored with thyme and was on the solid side~it was a disk under the tomato so it was perfect on get all that yummy sauce off the plate.

Dessert wise the choices were a Sour Cherry Vanilla Cake with a pistachio fig ice cream and hazelnut tuile, an Apple Crumble with vanilla ice cream and my choice~a Neoclassical S’more with a chocolate sorbet and homemade marshmallow on top.

The s’more part was a cake bottom, the creamy milk chocolate mousse middle wasn’t to sweet and the homemade marshmallow capped off a great dessert.

The chocolate sorbet was like nothing I’ve had before, it was totally smooth and intensely flavored with dark chocolate, paired with the milk chocolate mousse it made for one rich chocolate lovers dessert.  Graham cracker crumble rounded out the plate.

After taxes my bill came in at under $21 and they don’t take tips, they also offer a dinner service for $24 and buffet on Fridays, I’d advise making reservations for larger groups~they are a member of the Opentable reservation program if you’re a member or you can do so right on their webpage by clicking here.  The dining room is also fully licensed and has a deal on Wednesdays where all bottles of wine are half price (Promotion is not applicable on theme dinners, special events or bookings made through the Corporate, Catering & Event Department unless otherwise stated).  I had a great lunch here and I can’t wait to come back for many more great lunches and dinners!  I’d recommend it to anybody heading down to Granville Island looking for a great lunch or dinner at an amazing price.

Bistro 101 (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts) on Urbanspoon

Memphis Blues Locavores To Headline Culinary Showcase at Edible Canada

Park and George revel in the beauty of BC food and wine and the unique food and wine event.

While it’s true that the ongoing mission of Memphis Blues Barbeque House is to educate Canadians on the succulent beauty of Authentic Southern BBQ, the Vancouver-based owners are always pleased for the opportunity to celebrate that which is unique to British Columbia! Thus, Park Heffelfinger and George Siu have confirmed hosting an upcoming Market Dinner at Vancouver’s Edible Canada (1551 Johnston Street in Granville Island) on March 23rd from 7-10pm.

We’ve both been living in Vancouver for years, have both raised our families here – so we’re excited to offer a special menu that celebrates great barbeque while utilizing locally-sourced ingredients,” enthuses George.

Absolutely,” continues Park, “we’re using fresh vegetables, locally-sourced meats, and even a delicious vodka that was produced in Pemberton. We’re making a killer dessert with a rye caramel sauce, with fruits that we’ll pick up fresh from Granville Island the same day! It’s going to be a fantastic night.”

Can’t wait to find out what they’ll be serving? Here’s a sneak peek at the one-time-only menu the two have come up with for this special night:

AMUSE BOUCHE & COCKTAIL

Fresh Beach Oyster Dipped in Memphis Rub Butter then Char-grilled, plus a Memphis Caesar Chaser w/ Pemberton Potato Vodka and a Dry Rub Rim

1st COURSE

Mussels in Wine and Smoky Chicken Broth w/ Triple-smoked Sausage, Memphis Dry Rub, Shallots and Garlic with Pemberton Frites fried in Duck Fat

2nd COURSE

Seared Flank Steak w/ Memphis Beef & Brisket Rub on a Fresh Arugula Salad

w/ Carolina Mustard Vinaigrette

3rd COURSE

Signature Memphis Blues Smoked Whole Hog seasoned with Memphis All-Purpose Rub w/ Memphis Slaw and Freshly-baked Cornbread

DESSERT COURSE

Seasonal Fruit Crumble w/ Rye Caramel Sauce

Of course, Park and Edible Canada’s Director of Liquid Assets, Treve Ring, have also curated a complimentary wine, beer, and cider pairing menu that also showcases the craftwork of Canada’s finest wineries, brewers, and distillers.

Tickets for this inimitable event are ON SALE NOW and can be purchased by calling 604.558.0040 or via email at events@ediblecanada.com.

FIRST imPRESTONS aka Pork,Bacon,Bacon

Kev and Bill have teamed up with the Coal Harbor eatery Prestons in the Coast Hotel and are bringing you a 3 course meal with choice 1 of 2 entrees, it’s all great eats in the end and if you’re a bacon or pork eater this baby is for you.

@MaryInVancity was selected by VANEATS.ca to preview and review this package and this time I tagged along as a unofficial reviewer and plain old hungry eater!

I’ve been to Prestons before and the place doesn’t disappoint, the room is split up into 3 spaces~a long table and booth seating area in the front of house along with the bar area and the other half of the room is more of a private and intimate space with high-backed booths and some tables so larger groups can be accommodated.  We made our visit in the afternoon for photographic purposes so in the evening it’s a lot darker and also this is a dinnertime package so please take that into account when dining.

The first course is a trio of appys~Dungeness Crab Cake, Prestons Pulled Pork Poutine and Chicken Karaage.

First up is the Dungeness Crab Cake, it’s a panko breaded dungeness crab cake with a tomato dressing topped with micro herb salad and fried caper accents.  This bad little boy was all crab~definitely not one of those filler and crab cakes.  The crab is sweet and the tomato dressing is nice and tart with lemon and lime~a nice take instead of traditional cocktail sauce and the greens on top added nice color and texture to the dish.  Myself and Mary both really enjoyed this dish.

The Chicken Karaage at Prestons is a garlic sake marinated chicken that is flash fried and served with spicy sambal lime aioli on a nest of miso cabbage slaw~what can’t you love about this??, the chicken is tender and juicy from the marinade and the sauce adds some nice zip so it’s nice the slaw is there to chill your palette out.

Lastly we have the Prestons Pulled Pork Poutine, melt in your mouth pulled pork, classic crispy french fries with Quebec cheese curds smothered in Rickards Red gravy~again another solid dish that would keep me coming back for more, the Rickards comes through nicely and I think I’m going to have to insist on pulled pork on all my poutine from now on!  I missed this dish at the media event I attended back in October along with the crab cake so I was really happy that VANEATS.ca included them in this dining package.

Next is where you have to make you choice~red pill or blue pill!~or if your like me~bring a friend with a dining pass and get one of each entrée and share if that’s your thing!

BC Halibut Wrapped in Double Smoked Bacon

1/2 Rack of Baby Back Ribs

The halibut is served with creamed leeks on a bed of quinoa and the plate is sauced with a killer honey shallot j’us.  I’ve never had halibut with bacon before so this was a new taste for me, it reminded me of smoked fish, the sauce was a great touch to break up the smoke taste and the creamed leeks and quinoa were a nice addition to the plate, also fresh sautéed asparagus and broccolini were served as the veg on the plate.  Mary liked this more than myself~especially the j’us!

The ribs braised for 4 hours and are sauced with a sweet hoisin & ginger glaze, roasted fingerling potatoes with a side of crunchy coleslaw round out the plate.  This was my favorite entrée hands down, the ribs literally melt in your mouth and come cleanly off the bone.  They have a sweet Asian flavor from the hoisin and reminded me of the ribs my mom would make when I was a kid but only super tender.  For the dining package it’s a 1/2 rack but on the menu the regular size is a full rack that I’m definitely coming back for.  The butter based roasted fingerling potatoes were a great starch and the slaw rounded out the plate nicely.

Now to guild the lily Prestons has created a Maple and Double Smoked Bacon Creme Brulee, with a rich dessert and it’s served with julienne slices of pickled granny smith apple that is much needed for a dessert like this, the head chef Alessandro Vianello personally came out with this treat for us, he recommended taking a taste of the creme brulee by itself to get a full taste but to eat the rest of the dessert with the apple to help cut the richness of the brulee and he was totally right, alone the brulee could have passed for a last savory course on a menu if it wasn’t for the apple pickle.

We came in on a Sunday and I’d suggest doing the same if you’re looking to have some drinks with your meal~on Sunday they have all here weekly drink specials available including all there Granville Island bottles and select wines for $5/glass and bottle, also it pays to follow them on Twitter~show your server that you follow Prestons and get a free appetizer~it’s as simple as that so if your interested please click here for there Twitter page.

This package runs $21 and like all the other VANEATS.ca packages provides a great sample of the menu, fills your belly and definitely doesn’t break the bank.  There are 200 First imPrestons packages that will be available, they go on sale starting at 7AM on February 29,2012 and will be available till April 29,2012 unless they sell out first.

**Disclosure~Mary, as a selected reviewer for the package was given a package to check out, my package was comped by the hotel and Prestons at their choice and I was not expected to write a review so these are totally my unsolicited opinions.**

Prestons on Urbanspoon

To Die For Bacon Banana Bread

The lovely lady who brought us To Die For Banana Bread~Erin Ireland has come up with a new addition to the banana bread line up and it’s available exclusively at the Save On Meats Butcher Shop and as a dessert item at the Save On Meats Diner next door.  You can pick up whole loaves at the butcher shop, there priced as follows-$10 for a medium and $15 for a large (the one I purchased was a medium size) and the desert size~2 slices for $5 in the diner

It’s that perfect mix of sweet and salty that is addictive as all heck and is a definite must try. It’s got candied double smoked Save On Meats bacon added to the wonderful banana bread recipe that Erin Ireland’s become so famous for, the Callebaut Chocolate runs through out this beast and adds a great color and flavor to the loaf, Erin also uses organic bananas in her recipe. You can pick up whole loaves at the Save On Meats Butcher shop, there priced as follows-$10 for a medium and $15 for a large (the one I purchased was a medium size).

The bread sells out quick in the butcher shop, it’s restocked daily but I’d advise getting there early if you would like to purchase some and you could also try giving them a call to see what quantity’s are like.

Save on Meats on Urbanspoon

 

Rogue Kitchen and Wet Bar

One restaurant that has really embraced all forms of Social Media and there customers as well is Rogue Kitchen and Wet Bar at Waterfront Station. They offer daily specials if you follow them on Twitter, contests via Facebook and free gift certificates for drinks and menu items if you “check in” on your visit on Foursquare and that’s just what they have in the works right now, @MaryInVancity introduced me to this place and informed me of the deals they offer via social media, it’s definitely on her usual dining and drinking spots and her post in it can be found here.

The space is great and with the high ceilings it’s afforded them the opportunity to really split the space up and make intimate dining areas that are great for any sized group.

pardon the green spots on the picture

They really create a nice atmosphere at night with the candlelight and over sized Jetson like chandeliers.

These are the drinks we scored for following them on Twitter, the specials change daily and today it was any drink off the menu, I went with the Central City Raspberry Wheat Ale~Infused with raspberries from the Fraser Valley, this wheat ale is crisp and clean with a subtle fruitiness. The toasted crystal malt from England balances the natural acidity of the raspberries producing a beer that is refreshing and a delightful taste experience, Mary went with a glass of Gewürztraminer, at $11 for the wine and $6 for my beer it’s a no brainer to follow them on Twitter.  They have a HUGE beer list and some killer cocktails and shots so if you’re looking to hit a bar and watch the game Rogue is the place for you.

Asian Potstickers were up next for us, recommended by our server they were a hit, they were nicely fried and filled with seasoned pork and served with a sesame soy and sriracha dipping sauce for $8.99.

The Sushi Bombs 2.0 are a new thing to me but one of the things the Rogue is known for, they are sushi rice rolled in a ball and topped with albacore tuna, tobiko, wasabi flying fish roe, sriracha & sesame seeds and chased with wasabi soy shots~you put the whole thing in you mouth and squeeze the soy wasabi shot in your mouth as you pull it out.  They were OK~I thought the wasabi roe along with the sriracha on top along with the soy mix was a bit hot for me, the tuna was really understated compared to the other ingredients in this dish.  For $9.99 it was a neat thing to try but I wouldn’t order it again.

Mary went with the Coconut Poached Chicken Salad, it had snap peas, red & yellow peppers, mango, mixed greens, cashews, thin Asian noodles and sesame soy dressing, for $14.99 it was a filling meal and a pretty big salad, the coconut poached chicken really added a nice Thai touch to the meal.  Mary said she enjoyed it and from what I tasted I would order it sometime.

With my never ending burger hunt I just had to try the 9.2oz Rogue Burger, it was totally ultra juicy, a two napkin-er, made from house ground sirloin burger cooked to 160 F, placed on a sesame brioche bun and topped with bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickle, sweet relish & mayo, served with your choice of fries~they have 4 or 5 different varieties or a salad for $12.99 it’s a solid choice, I went with their regular fries on this visit

they use Kennebec Potatoes for all their fry variety’s and were munched on by the both of us.

With the great service we got, the diverse food choice along with all the specials~both via Social Media and regular daily in house specials Rogue Wet bar is going on my go to list for drinks and good eats and would suggest it to anyone~especially if you’re visiting our fine city in the Gastown area.

Rogue Kitchen and Wet Bar on Urbanspoon

House Guest

House Guest is the latest new restaurant in Gastown, after opening its doors in October the buzz about House Guest has been growing so when @MaryInVancity asked where would be good to go for a friend’s birthday dinner the other night I suggested we check out House Guest.

We got there around 7:20 and were asked by the hostess if we had reservations-we didn’t, after a few minutes we were informed that we could have a table till 8:30 when a large party was coming in, we figured that it would be enough time to have dinner so we went in.

The room has been completely transformed from the previous places that have been here, now the design and decor reminded me of a American Route 66 road house meets a space in Soho New York-it totally works and totally sets the mood.

The food is very American Regional and head chef Kayla Dhailwall is putting her unique spin on these classics, by that I mean the dishes are classics in different parts of the United States~a couple of the dishes I had on this visit are big in the Southern US and the head chef Kayla Dhailwall is putting her unique spin on these classics.

We all started with a few drinks, beer in my case for $7 each, Mary went with a cocktail called the Femme Fatale for $10~it had sweet vermouth, rye whiskey, absinthe, orange bitters, demerara, lemon and angostura bitters~it was boozy and she didn’t like the licorice flavor of the absinthe, I love my beer and czechvar lager is a solid choice if you want something light.

For appetizers I ordered the PMC with Red Eye Ketchup for $9, these are something I have never seen before but the main ingredient is one of those things huge on the States~Pimento Cheese~it’s a homemade cheese spread that contains the pimentos used in green olives, cheddar cheese as well as a creamy cheese such as cream cheese as well as seasonings~it tastes like really good nacho cheese, these were kicked up because they were macaroni and cheese and the red eye ketchup was killer as well as unique~red eye gravy is another big southern thing~it is a pan gravy made after frying a ham steak and contains black coffee and was big with cowboys and campfire cooking, it had a sweet taste to it but the coffee adds that depth similar to chicory.

Also I got an order of their homemade Crab Tater Tots with Tarragon Remoulade for $7, these were awesome and totally unique!, they were light and this was achieved by adding the crab, the remoulade was tart with lemon as well, one thing to watch out for is that it’s not a thick sauce so it might drip on you.

We were given a complementary order of the Short Rib Poutine, it was a different take on “poutine”, they use waffle cut potatoes so they were crisp like potato chips, the red eye ketchup was the “gravy” and haloumi cheese was used as well, the thing that we all really enjoyed about this was the braised melt in your mouth tender short ribs, the cheese was quite salty and because of the type of cheese it is it doesn’t melt. The consensus at the table was that this dish would have been better is traditional fries were used. You also have the option of adding pulled duck with an anchovy truffle mustard if the short rib isn’t your thing.

Mary had the Shepard’s Pie for $18, it had braised lamb shoulder, minted mirepoix, wild mushrooms, truffle whipped potatoes and natural jus. I sampled some of this and it was delicious!, the lamb was super tender and the potatoes were light and well seasoned. I’d totally order this on another visit.

Next up was the Sea Platter for $30, it consisted of skewed tempura halibut & hickory sticks, prawn cocktail, seared tuna, Candied salmon, seared scallops, crab tater tots, tarragon remoulade, anchovy & truffle mustard. It was a decent size for 1 person but would make a good appy if shared by 2 people. I didn’t try anything but the guest who ate it said they selections were good and the fish was nice and fresh.

I ordered this as well as another dinner at our table, it’s their version of a veggie burger called the “Cheese” Burger on the menu for $16, it consisted of a root vegetable & pinenut kofta , grilled haloumi , onion pakora , chutney ,baba ganoush and a Kachumber salad with rosewater tamarind dressing. Both of us missed where it said on the menu that it was veggie burger and were both surprised when we got our mains, it has definite Indian flavors and the patty kind of broke apart while eating this so it was kind of a let down, the salad was really good and had long threads of cucumber in it. Kachumber salad is a traditional Indian salad made with cucumbers and tomatoes and is a bit sweet.

For dessert we went with an order of the homemade Churos with Caramelized Spiced Sugar and Dolce De Leche and a ed Velvet Sauce. This was on the house but we all agreed that there was too much sugar on the outside, the sauces were interesting and a novel concept but were a bit thin on the consistency side, I don’t think I’d get these again.

You have the option of having a dessert trio here, your choice of 3 for $12, we went with the deconstructed cheesecake flavored with kaffir lime and a coconut crumb crust, the smore’s were next up~homemade vanilla bean marshmallow, basil ganache, banana and graham cracker crumbs~the basil threw is flavor wise with these and while I didn’t mind it the other people at out table didn’t dig these. Lastly we had the frost “hot” chocolate~chocolate ice parfait, vanilla bean marshmallow and ginger crystals, it also had a warm chocolate sauce poured over it but by the time got to it was frozen!, it was an OK dessert but the star of the plate was the cheese cake.

The menu it self looks pretty good and I’d definitely make another visit to try some of the other items plus the ambiance at House Guest is worth a few drinks alone!

House Guest on Urbanspoon

Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House

Joe Fortes has been a Vancouver institution for all of my life.  They have a stellar reputation for seafood and amazing service all packed into a beautiful dining space with one of Vancouver best summer rooftop outdoor oasis patio’s.

A bit about Joe Fortes Restarant from their website:

OUR HISTORY
One of Joe Fortes’ many unique qualities is the immediate sense of character and personality that guests recognize the moment they step inside. The large, bright room feels instantly powerful yet inviting, and it’s no coincidence that these qualities were also embodied by the legendary figure that we take our name from – Seraphim “Joe” Fortes.

In 1885, this burly seaman landed upon Vancouver’s shores and settled into a cabin in English Bay. There, Joe quickly became one of Vancouver’s most popular citizens, serving Vancouverites in a variety of ways – first as a bartender and later as Vancouver’s first official lifeguard. Today, he is remembered by a monument near the site of his home, and his popularity lives on inside the welcoming walls of Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House.

OUR PHILOSOPHY
With our name inspired by a local legend famous for his warm, welcoming nature, we naturally believe that hospitality is a key ingredient in creating a memorable dining experience for our guests. We also firmly believe in engaging in fresh thinking throughout the restaurant, and nowhere more so than on our menus. Such is our commitment to freshness that our kitchen receives daily local deliveries, ensuring that you’re guaranteed to find the freshest ingredients on your plate every day.
THE RESTAURANT
Visit Joe Fortes Vancouver seafood restaurant and you are welcomed into an environment whose vibrant sights and sounds are as enticing as the menu is.

The main dining room is anchored by a soaring horseshoe oyster bar. This Grand Room boasts large, cozy booths, perfect for hosting high-powered lunch or dinner meetings, as well as intimate dinner dates.

From the mezzanine, diners enjoy a bird’s eye view of the action and live musical entertainment below.

The mahogany-walled wine room offers guests a unique and discreet setting in which to enjoy an intimate lunch, or a private corporate celebration.

The more casual side of Joe’s is experienced in the bistro and bar where locals and out-of-towners alike mingle, soak up the live music and keep their eyes open for visiting celebrities.

For a breath of fresh air, guests can step up to Vancouver’s most desirable roof garden and into an urban oasis featuring a living green wall, cozy outdoor fireplace and bustling horseshoe bar. No wonder Joe Fortes is the best seafood restaurant in Vancouver”

@MaryInVanCity and I made a visit in the midst of the Christmas season and it couldn’t have been a better time to have out very first visit for the both of us.

The room was beautifully decorated for the holidays and Christmas carols played throughout, both of us were really blown away with the beauty of the room, seated in the bar area we treated to a great view of the space.

Seating is plentiful here, tables and banquets make up the bar area, up some step lay some more tables and high back booths line the walls.

The service we received was super friendly and attentive from the moment we walked through the door.  After we were presented with our menus we were served with complementary bread with balsamic and house made lobster oil, I thought it was good but it didn’t agree with Mary’s palette.

For appetizers we chose the New England Clam Chowder, this was actually part of my Blue Plate Special as an add on so I had some but Mary happy enjoyed the rest seeing clams aren’t my favorite.  From my taste it was good, the bacon was a nice flavor and not too strong, the chowder was creamy and the potato added some nice thickness to the chowder, usually if one of my friends gets clam chowder I love to snack on these is possible:

the traditional New England Oyster Crackers, not a lot of places have these traditional ones so it was a nice treat for myself and Mary.

For another appetizer I went with the Dungeness Crab Cake with basil lemon aioli for $16.95, this was a killer crab cake, it was loaded with Dungeness crab meat and hardly any filler if any.

I really enjoyed the sauce as well, the lemon didn’t really come through but the basil did, it complimented the crab cake beautifully.  This crab cake was also made with Oceanwise Dungeness crab.

Mary went with some fresh oysters on the half shell, I can’t remember what kind they were but shoe enjoyed them with the house made mignonette but they were also served with classic cocktail sauce and fresh horseradish

She also got one of these oyster treats

A Vodka Oyster Shooter for $8, it had Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco and as she put it~ a nice “meaty” oyster, the vodka came through right away but the flavor of the oyster complimented by the W sauce and Tabasco soon enveloped her mouth~she said that this was very enjoyable.

I was the only one having a main course~Mary had a killer lunch at the new Ensemble Tap before we met up so I was the one doing most of the eating here.  The Blue Plate Special is what I chose and today it was Bourbon BBQ Chicken served with asparagus and white rice for $9.99, the special is served till 4PM and is changed daily, the menus is visible online.

The chicken was boneless thighs and the sauce was really flavorful, the meat was super tender and I just had to use my fork to cut it, the plate had 3 nice big pieces of BBQ chicken, the asparagus was ok and the rice was flavorful for white rice.  It was a great plate for food and for $9.99 it can’t be beat.

I went with a Vanilla Creme Brulee~my Blue plate Special had a $9.99 add on for the soup and a dessert.  The top was nicely caramelized and formed a nice layer on top of the brulee, the custard inside was nice and thick and super rich, the vanilla flavor was subtle and not overpowering.

Mary went with the Berry Pavlova that was filled with banana custard, beautiful berry’s and sweet meringue encased all these delish treats and for $8.50 it was decently priced.

We had a great meal here and would tell anybody who hasn’t been before to make a visit to Joe Fortes for some classic food and impeccable service.

Just a quick note~they DON’T accept Debit cards so you’ll be forced to use a 3rd party cash machine~something that surprised us but all major credit cards are accepted and they are closed over the Christmas holidays.

The Zagat review page for Joe Fortes can be view by clicking this link here and the Joe Fortes website can be viewed here with the option to make reservations online.  Feel free to also check them out on Twitter @JoeFortesVan and their Facebook page .

Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House on Urbanspoon

Hurricane Fiesta from VANEATS.ca

The guy’s weren’t kidding when they said it was going to be one Delish December and it’s going to be one to remember that’s for sure!

The newest dining pass offered from VANEATS.ca is at the Hurricane Grill and it’s called the Hurricane Fiesta, this time around you have 2 locations to choose from-Yaletown or North Vancouver, with packages specific to each location.

Photo Credit To Mary Sheridan

You get the option of choosing 2 of 4 delicious huge salads from the menu and an order of bruschetta all for $25, it’s designed for 2 people and you are sure to leave with full belly’s and smiles on your face.

Here is a full description of the menu for you:

Bruschetta – classic made with tomatoes, Parmesan, extra virgin olive oil, basil, balsamic reduction, mozzarella and goat cheese

The Grill Salad –Six oz N.Y. steak on grilled vegetables, spring mix and tossed together with a balsamic reduction

Warm Seafood Spinach – Scallops, prawns, baby shrimp, baby spinach, mandarin oranges and mushrooms, layered with goat cheese and roasted almonds

Ako Salad – Grilled chicken breast, English cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, feta cheese and rice along with a balsamic vinaigrette

Fiesta Salad – Romaine lettuce, corn, black beans, avocado, blackened chicken, salsa, nacho cheese, sour cream and a cilantro mint dressing

Myself and @MaryInVancity were invited to give the VANEATS.ca Hurricane Fiesta dining pass a try and here is a breakdown of our chow down.

The brushetta was HUGE!, you get 3 pieces and each is piled high with tomatoes, goat cheese and the balsamic drizzle was a great addition to cut the richness of the goat cheese.  It was a great start to our meal and I’d definitely order this again.  Regularly this item is $10.99 on the menu.

Salad wise we chose The Grill with the steak done medium rare.  This was a perfect salad and actually remind me of a grilled meal with the peppers and asparagus, instead of lettuce they use spinach here and it’s a great choice I think and the dressing rounded everything out nicely.  This was enjoyed by both of us and would satisfy any meat and potatoes eater.  Normally this is $16.99 on the menu so it’s a great choice for the dining pass.

lastly we went with the warm seafood spinach salad.  This one put huge smiles on our faces, as you can see its piled mile high with baby shrimp, tail on prawns and nice big scallops, the plate is rounded out with mushrooms, mandarin oranges and roasted almond slices with a mango dressing.  Mary loved this and I quite liked it, it’s one of the most generous salads toppings wise I have ever had the pleasure of laying my hungry eyes on.  Menu wise this bad boy runs $15.99 and will fill you up without weighing you down that’s for sure.

We both really enjoyed this dining pass and the guy’s at VANEATS.ca have been really on the money with offering up creative dining experiences and some of Vancouver’s great restaurants, again the guy’s at VANEATS.ca are giving away 4 Hurricane Fiesta Dining Passes and the details on how to enter are below:

How to Enter
Entering the contest is easy. Complete one of the following two options and you’re entered to win 1 of 4 HURRICANE FIESTA dining passes, two at the Yaletown location and two at the North Vancouver location. Complete both options and you’re entered in the draw twice!

Option 1

1) “Like” them on Facebook – (facebook.com/VANEATS)
2) Visit the HURRICANE FIESTA Facebook Album.
3) Tag yourself in the photo with the dish (or dishes) that appealed to you the most and comment to tell them why.

Option 2

1)Follow them on Twitter (twitter.com/VANEATSca)
2)Retweet the following: Win 1 of 4 dining passes for #HURRICANEFIESTA! http://ow.ly/7Jp1Z from @HurricaneGrill and @VANEATSca #DELISHDECEMBER

That’s it! Come back every Monday and Friday to the VANEATS.ca blog between December 2 and December 12 to find out if you’re a winner!

Contest draw dates: December 2, December 5, December 9, and December 12, 2011.

HURRICANE FIESTA dining passes are not transferable between the two locations and are redeemable only between December 15, 2011 – January 15, 2012.

A note of disclosure, our dining pass was courtesy of the guy’s at VANEATS.ca and our drinks were covered by the Hurricane Grill, the options our are own and based on the food and service we received.

Hurricane Grill on Urbanspoon