Urban Vancouver

Guu Gastown Otokomae (meaning handsome man both physically and all things that make a true man)

This is one of my favorite spots in Vancouver. When friends come to Vancouver, I usually make sure we have a dinner at Guu Gastown or Guu with Garlic.

Guu Gastown has comfortable seating, a great list of drinks (aloe vera juice, moonlight vodka and a dollop of honey is my favorite) and serves great food that has always left me walking out with a smile on my face.

Here is a list of what we usually order when we sit down in Guu Gastown. There are a lot more really good items to choose from, but this is a pretty standard for me in a big group.

Edamame - a great starter
Ebi Mayo - there is a new shrimp dish on the menu but this one is better.
Yaki udon - a perfect filler
Tuna Tataki
Mexican Harumaki - I loved this item but it is now taken off the menu. Boo-urns.
Croquette - potato ball
Chicken kara age - labelled as chicken nuggets by some white people from Ottawa that I took for dinner once.
Grilled beef short rib - new item, I liked it but didn't love it.

There is a new menu at Guu Gastown and we tried some new items like the crab and shrimp dumpling and the ebi tartar. Some of them were ok, but next time I will order what I listed above. Ebi Mayo > Ebi tartar.

We had a large group this time, and some how the billed got screwed up and I ended up paying a ton of money for the bill. Whoever, did the math let somebody get away with a good deal cause I had to pull out my Christmas money to pay my share.

Expect good food, a nice atmosphere and the waiter to yell your order across the room. One of the great things about Guu, is that it is very consistent. Always dam good.

Guu Otokamae Gastown
375 Water Street #105, Vancouver
Tel: 604 685-8682
http://www.guu-izakaya.com/



Matt

Here are the things that I ate in December.

I wanted to have this out for the first week of December but I have been way too busy with my day job, Christmas commitments and my side company Finale Design. I finally dedicated a few hours on the weekend to get this done and here it is. Click on the image to see the roll up.

In my opinion the first place winner was leagues above all others and I recommend visiting this place if you are looking for a good steak frites. The restaurant had it all, great service, excellent atmosphere, and fantastic food.

Not sure what my next challenge is but I might have to change the format because this one was a little difficult to do properly.


Steaks Is High Challenge
Matt

Jules Casual French Bistro
To continue with my steak frites review, I went to Jules to try their steak frites set menu. I visited Jules a few years back and the meal I has was very memorable. Great atmosphere, great service, great food at a good value. This trip was not the same.

I ordered the set menu which consisted of a mixed green salad, steak frites, and a chocolate cake for 26 dollars. My fried ordered the french onion soup (8 dollars) and a plate of mussels with fries (14 dollars). The soup and salad were both good. Nothing stellar but decent. The steak frites was cooked to perfection, however overall the cut was not very flavourful and the sauce/gravy made it taste kinda cheap. The fries were crispy, hot and tasty. However, the bowl of mussels was the worst part of the night. They had a super, strong fishy taste and we couldn't eat half the bowl. Usually, when there is that much of your main course sitting around I would expect the server to ask if there was a problem. Otherwise, the service was very good.

I know there have been a few changes since I first went to Jules. I was told they have switched their butchers and one of the partners Stephan Gagnon sold his shares in the restaurant and started Les Faux Bourgeois. In any case, this visit was enough for me not to come back.

Jules Casual French Bistro
216 Abbott Street
Vancouver



Matt

Our second Guest Blogger post! This time by Cr-Asian, former Vancouver native who has made a move down south to sunny California. She's back up in the hood visiting family & friend for the Holidays, so we linked up to reach one of Vancouver Slop's favorite spots, Ajisai for some sushi.

Ajisai

O-toro told me that Ajisai was the only place he eats sushi. And he mentioned how they have fish flown in fresh from Japan and that the octopus is good here. I'm not a fan of octopus because the last time I ate it I chewed for about 10 minutes and then spat it out because it was horrible. I am not one to shun any food. I am good about trying everything once and if it doesn't work for me, I never eat it again. The only things I am afraid to eat are organs and maybe things seen on "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmerman".

I met O-Toro closer to closing the other night and there was no wait and the restaurant was really mellow. We sat at the bar and I told him that he should just order and I will eat anything he puts in front of me. I wanted to try fish that I am unable to get at home in California. He ordered up some cucumber appetizer dish to start. It was served with barley miso and flavoured mayonnaise dipping sauce and it was pretty tasty. I don't eat much mayo these days but I make exceptions when I am in Canada as it seems everyone eats more mayonnaise up here. We ordered a BC roll (grilled salmon skin roll to those not located in BC) and a Torotaku Roll (toro & pickled radish). For nigiri sushi, some fresh octopus, sardines, tsubasu (baby hamachi), kanpachi (amber jack), and shima-aji (skip jack). All were delicious. The thing that blew my thick wooly socks off was how fresh everything was. The octopus wasn't chewy at all. The rice was done right. Everything was impeccable. I only have a few days in Vancouver for my Christmas vacation but I am definitely going back again.

I wasn't able to pick up the bill because O-Toro is too much of a generous friend. But I did glance at the menu and I thought the prices were affordable. But you have to remember I am now a California native and I think $10 is an average price for a crappy roll of sushi. Everyone in Vancouver should be grateful for the food they have available to them, especially when it comes to Asian food. Yes, I have an abundance of fish tacos and carne asada burritos at my disposal but I would give them up any day along with my pinky finger up to be able to eat sushi this great on a regular basis.

Ajisai
2081 W 42nd Ave.
604-266-1428




Guest Blogger: Cr-Asian

Some Kinda Pasta
I have always had a hard time finding good pasta for under 15 bucks but this place has solved that.

My eating buddy Kent (you have seen his grill many times on this blog) wanted to show me this pasta spot. Some Kinda Pasta is located in the Point Gray / UBC Area, this is a part of town that I rarely ever reach out to. The atmosphere was nice and cozy. A large chalkboard displays the daily specials which were only 12 dollars, this is where my dish was listed.

I ordered the tortellini (looks like a UFC fighter's ear) with an Italian salad for 12 dollars, and my friends ordered the chicken Alfredo spaghetti special ($12) and the spaghetti and meatballs ($15.95). The warm bread served during our meal was memorable, we killed the first basket and got a second with our meal. My Italian salad that came with my special was fantastic. It was very simple with few croutons but the lettuce was crisp and fresh and served with the right amount of dressing and cheese. One of the best salads that I have ever had but I don't eat that many salads. My cheese spinach tortellini was also delicious. The portion was large, and judging by the taste, it was made fresh that day.

My friends stated their meals were great. The spaghetti with meatballs received accolades from my friend Kent, however based on my two samples I found it had too much garlic. The chicken alfredo in that size of an order packs as many calories of at least two Big Macs. I was happy to just have a few tasty bites because a full serving of that would mean I could never wear my skinny jeans again. It looks funny enough when I put my camera in the pocket of my skinny jeans, never mind when my tummy sticks out.

This is going to be my new favorite place for a relatively inexpensive pasta. Good call Kent.
Some Kinda Pasta was some kinda wonderful.

Some Kinda Pasta
4409 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 222-0220
http://www.somekindapasta.com/




Matt

I am sitting in Calgary at my sister's place watching the year in review in sports. I love watching clips of Roger Clemens "misremembering" and Sean Avery being a jerk (btw I think he is great for the NHL). I figured since I won't be reviewing my moms cooking tomorrow I might as well write a filler post, so here are my Top Five Meals recorded on Vancouverslop.com

5. Guu Gastown - The first blog entry.
4. Pied A terre - Birthday Meal
3. Ajisai - Review 1 Review 2
2. Korean Restaurant in New Jersey - Fresh Fish
1. Cioppino's - Always tell them at the end of the meal that you are paying.

Happy Holidays

PinPin
Right after I watched Manny punch the crap out of De La Hoya, I had the urge to go eat Filipino food. My favorite Filipino restaurant in Vancouver is Pin Pin on Fraser Street.

For our celebration dinner we ordered lumpia (mini spring rolls - 5 bucks), lechon (fatty pork - 10 bucks), adobo (chicken- 10 bucks) and pancit (noodle dish - 9 bucks). which was more than enough food for two people. The lumpia was good, but this time it seemed like it spent a little too long in the deep fryer. The other dishes were solid and acted as a good remix from their Chinese neighbours. I am pretty sure I also saw Balut (fertilized chicken egg) on the menu which is a delicacy to the Filipinos but a challenge item on Fear Factor.

The service at Pin Pins was OK but fairly inattentive. They set us up with a pitcher of water so most of our needs were taken care of once the food arrived. Walking in we got the strange look that had the feeling of who are these non Filipinos in a Filipino restaurant.

Bottom line, Pin Pins offers solid food for a reasonable price. It is a great alternative when you are feeling like eating Asian food but you are tired of going to your regular Chinese spot.

Lumpia rules!!!!

PinPin
6113 Fraser St
Vancouver, BC

Seb's Market Cafe
I am still searching for my ideal breakfast spot.

This is my second time going to Seb's and the only reason why I am going back is because I have heard so many recommendations about this place.

The first time I went to Seb's, I ordered an eggs benedict and they forgot to put the vegetables in the benny and instead just said the chef forgot to put your ingredients in the benny and then gave the veggies to me on a side plate. My immediate thought was "please bring this back to your kitchen and then bring it back when the order is right, and please don't spit in it" but I kept my mouth shut to avoid a scene and embarrassment to all at the table.

This time, things went smoothly and the service was decent. I ordered the eggs benny with roasted peppers, onions and basil (10 dollars) and my friend ordered a shitake mushroom omelet (10 dollars) with and side of turkey sausage (3 dollars).

The benny was different to most, but not in a way that I liked. My benny was served with havarti sauce instead of a hollandaise sauce and it was served on a country biscuit instead of an English muffin. I was not a fan of these changes. It was served with a small portion of fruit and potatoes which were nothing worth writing about.

The mushroom omelet was bland and I would rate only as satisfactory. The egg mix could have used some spices to make the omelet more flavourfull. The turkey sausage however was great, cooked to a crispy perfection.

The other great thing about Sebs is the atmosphere. Everything feels some homely. The coffee and soups seemed like they were served hot. I would like to chill there if the food was better.

Help me out and let me know your favorite weekend breakfast spot.

Seb's Market Cafe
592 E Broadway, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 298-4403


Matt

Ok, this was my second time going to Spices on Cambie st. with the intent to try out their Vietnamese Sandwiches. And it was my second time failing to make it there in time before the sandwiches selling out. YES! 2nd time, denied! Sold Out!

So, i took a longer look at the menu again to figure out what would be a good substitute. Since it was a dreary wet winter day, I went with the Vegetarian Curry w/ rice. Lots of tofu, peppers, potatoes, ginger.....in a tasty yellow curry. Tasted so good, i forgot that i went to try their sandwiches. Well, i'll be going back to try and catch one of their subs another day.

We at Vancouver Slop are fans of Spices and apparently so are Vij and his wife (of Vij's - one our city's best indian restaurants), who were sitting across from us to enjoy some lunch as well. That's always a good sign!

Spices
3346 Cambie St
604-876-6618


O-toro

A friend who I have not seen in 20 years saw me on Global TV and then found me on Facebook. I then made plans to have dinner with her and her vegetarian sister. I suggested Bo Kong because it was close and I wanted to try those mushrooms that were in Vancouver Magazines 101 Local Things To Eat.

We got there and the only seat available was the worst seat in the house, the one right by the kitchen. The waiter asked if we were OK with that spot or if we would like to wait for another table. I said yes, I rather take the bad seat than wait 20 minutes but I thought it was nice that the waiter offered. The menu at Bo Kong is massive, tons of vegetarian things to pick from, almost too much. We ordered a chow mein, mushrooms with gai lan, the deep fried tofu and a plate of spring rolls. I don't remembered the exact prices but everything was about 8 - 11 dollars in price.

The mushrooms and gai lan were good but by no means any better than any other Chinese restaurant. My feelings were the same for the chow mein, it was good but did not blow me away at any point. The deep fried tofu was a little overcooked and dry.

The service was polite and friendly, and I would say pretty dam good for a Chinese restaurant. Something weird happened at the end of the night, the restaurant got cold, and when I mean cold I mean really cold. Cold like the ice planet Hoth or cold as the pole in the winter. I could feel my hair standing on ends and my nipples standing two Smarties high.

I would call the meal pretty average. I did have a good time catching up with some friends that I have not seen for a long time.

Bo Kong Vegetarian Restaurant
3068 Main Street, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 876-3088

I first visited Phnom Phenh about five years ago after reading a review from some fashion magazine editor in NY. I was confused on how she knew about this spot,and I didn't and I had no idea that Georgia Street continued in Chinatown.

This weekend I was hosting some friends from Toronto and they really wanted to have the chicken wings and squid at Phnom Phenh. We ordered like gluttons. The six of us collectively ordered five large plates of the deep fried chicken wings ($11.50 each large order), one plate of the squid in the same batter ($13.50), an order of dow me yu (Chinese green vegetable), and shrimp fried rice. The batter of the two deep fried items are incredible. The two dishes come topped with fried garlic pieces and scallions and served with a lemon,and pepper dipping sauce. You do get a lot of wing tips in the chicken plate, but I don't mind eating those joints as well. I am a bigger fan of the squid but everyone else liked the chicken better. The shrimp fried rice tasted great and is an ideal and flavourful complement to the deep fried dishes. Ordering some vegetables would not hurt as well (gai lan, tong choi or dow me yu) . ).

Phnom Phenh sits on Vancouver Slops favorite list and the lists of famous cooking personalities Julia Child and Anthony Bourdain. If you haven't gone here, you must put this place on your to-do list.

Phnom Phenh
244 Georgia Street (just east of Main Street)
East Vancouver (604) 734-8898


Make sure you do your research on what to order to maximize your experience as there are some items on the menu that I am not a fan of. Generally, the negative reviews of this place are from the people who order the wrong things aka the people who don't read this blog.
Matt

After a long debate with myself and friends, I am putting the Global piece up. I am not of fan of watching and hearing myself so I will be posting frequently after this in an attempt to bury this post.

The first few seconds you can see my eyes going crazy, like those googly eyes that you used in Elementary School. I was looking at the TV monitor and adjusting my head to see if it was too low or too high, or which way I should be facing (dam you camera two, you were so deceiving). I kept looking at the monitor and thought of Alec Baldwin on 30 Rock and I wanted to hold two mugs (if you don't know the reference watch some 30 Rock, it is great).

I really needed a hair cut.

Also, I recently got a little more web publicity off the website Hypebeast, this time I just got a haircut.

You can check me out here.

Hypebeast Essentials

Matt

Went back to Shiro and this time it let me down. The salmon sashimi was great and consistent with the taste and texture of my previous visit but the rolls we ordered were sub par. The issue was the sushi chef made a bad batch of sushi rice. You can see the gelatinous shine to the rice in the picture, I think maybe too much water or vinegar was added.

We ordered a futomaki roll later, and the rice was better. It helped make up for the meal but couldn't save it.

It just goes to show you how important consistency is and how on any day you could get a real good meal or a real bad meal at one of your favorite spots.

Previous review here.

Shiro
3096 Cambie St
Vancouver, BC



Matt

After the bar there are very few options for good food near the downtown core, Fritz, 2 dollar slice, hole in the wall, Pho on Broadway, Naam, Dogfather, the Korean joint on Robson and some other spots.
This time it was really late and Fritz was already closed. Half asleep in the back of the car I recommended that we just go home and I can BBQ some burgers at my place but instead my friend took us to Dennys. Since it was none of our birthdays, I strongly voiced my opinion that we should not go in.
For 10 dollars I got the Heartland scramble that tasted like crap. It was one of those dishes that tasted so bad that you would force your friends to try it so they could understand your pain. The problem was almost everyone felt that way. It was clearly a waste of my 10 dollars. I think a rather have ate the ten dollar bill.
My friends mini burgers were dam dry.
Denny's Restaurant
888 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC

Matt (hung over).
Having No food would have been better.

This is my first time having Persian food and in BC I guess there is no better place to have it other than North Vancouver. Yaas Bazaar is a popular spot for Persians and is an experience on its own. Walking into the store/food bazaar, you see a baked sweets section on the left, then aisles of canned or boxed Persian food products and to the right there is the hot food section.

Our Persian friend took care of the ordering and the three of us shared two plates of rice with kebabs. I think each plate was about 10 dollars and they both came with a pop. Overall, the meal was enjoyable. The rice was tasty and had some crispiness to it, which was a nice change to my regular Asian rice staple. The beef kebab was really good and the chicken was a little dry but we were eating near closing time so I would assume that was the reason.

The experience was non intimidating and enjoyable. The owner/staff was kind enough to turn the lights out while we were perusing the aisles to tell us that they were closing. I understand that people want to go home and I did not want my Persian friend to be embarrassed so I quickly scurried out but I really wanted to buy some sweets.

Yaas Bazaar
1860 Lonsdale Ave
North Vancouver