It was a busy Saturday and there were lines out the door. Granted, it was a small restaurant but the wait time is typically long. I had put my name down for a table for one and shortly after, a server seated me, though, making a great effort to point out I was alone as he declared, “YOU’RE BY YOURSELF!”. Yes, Yes, I was…no matter though, sometimes I enjoy a meal by myself as a break from the noise of everything else.

I was seated near the bar and noticed another single dining patron next to me just finishing. Having trouble deciding what to get, she encouraged me to try the breakfast tagine. Above, 2 poached eggs, spicy stew, red pepper, merguez sausage, moroccan olives, cilantro. Quite yum. Only complaint is the eggs were so watery, one spike and just…yellow water. No lovely running yoke.

Served with a grilled foccacia and hummus. A lovely, lovely lunch by myself, with me, still somehow, talking to a random stranger about their day and of course, their food. Note to self, must get waffles next time.  I guess there is a drawback to dining alone, no sharing and by sharing, I mean eating someone else’s food.

Cafe Medina – 556 Beatty St, Vancouver, BC

After a evening of work, my colleague was kind enough to drive us to our respective areas — home, points of transit, etc. While we were making this journey, we all unanimously decide to stop at Falafel King for some shawarma platter goodness.

I tried writing this blog last night while eating this shawarma but basically crashed partly due to exhaustion from the week and mostly due to the self induced food coma.

Have a good weekend everyone! If you need me, I’ll be at work. Sigh.

Falafel King – 1110 Denman St

Red Wagon is not necessarily a hole-in-the-wall (to my standards); it’s more of a casual, no frills, neighborhood diner, serving delectable dishes on old-school chinese restaurant dishware.

I’ll give Red Wagon credit for one thing — it’s got brunch nailed down by being inventive, unique and creative. The menu boasts a small offering of house specialties that have people talking and raving. Above, pulled porked eggs bennie. Tender pulled pork on a soft, easy-to-cut english muffin topped with a perfectly poached egg.

And of course, a visit to Red Wagon would be wasted if I didn’t try the crispy pork belly. Above – Crisp Pork Belly Confit, 2 Eggs, Homefries, Griddled Tomatoes, Salsa Verde, with Hollandaise. Ah, pork belly, how you tempt me. This one was crazy, and by that I mean it was both crispy and melt-in-your mouth delicious. Be warned, it’s quite fatty.

Red Wagon’s a perfect combination of delicious, could-be-gourmet without the pretentious attitude; the prices are easy on the wallet too, which is always good in my books.

Red Wagon – 2296 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC

You know instant gratification? I buy into that. It doesn’t help that I have a lot of enablers in my life. When I’m stressed, I shop. When I’m angry, I shop. When I am happy or feel like I’ve achieved something, even if it’s the smallest thing, I shop. Some of my favorite local vendors are selling their stuff all year round, online, at markets, or out of their own studios. I am a sucker for a good market, and when I’m working from home, I often procrastinate and drop a few $$ with online shopping. In fact, it’s a new wave of shopping when malls don’t really do it for me anymore!  Here’s my version of #follow friday…um, I guess it’s more like #Shopping Saturday? yea, I’ll just go with that…

Designs by Val – I first met Val when we attended the same church. A few years later, we were colleagues! Her greeting cards are sweet, modern and full of charm. Val’s my go-to when I need a thank-you or wedding card. Her designs are available online, but also at a variety of stores all around Vancouver.

Andrea Armstrong – I first met Andrea and her sister Joey at my sister’s church and then later on when my sister invited a few people to watch her band play. Andrea’s illustrations are humorous, cheeky and playful. I especially like the titles of her pieces, which are very inventive. Getting a custom commissioned piece is on my to-do list!

Filou Designs – I actually don’t know Fiona Louie, the owner and designer of Filou, a beautiful jewelry line but I am a fan of her work! I started buying some of her jewelry when I first discovered it at Portobello West. Her whimsical and nature inspired pieces have remained the same for the last few years, until I went to One of a Kind where I picked up a few creative pieces included a button pendant and a charm the shape of a fortune cookie. I tend to take random items or vintage finds, put them on a chain and stick them around my neck — a button and a fortune cookie…What’s not to love?

Pure Bread – I need to throw in a food item somewhere… a regular at the Vancouver Farmer’s market, Pure Bread has delicious and beautiful looking baked goods.

Board of Trade Co. – Not really a vendor at markets, but I thought I’d stick it in… my dear friend Eunice and her business partner David opened a clothing boutique in 2011. Adding to the ever growing Strathcona business area, their clothes are unique, beautiful and creative, featuring up and coming designers from all over the world. Great stuff, just bought the most amazing scarf from there today…

Back in December, most of my Christmas gifts were from holiday markets or of my own creation. One afternoon, after a day of holiday market shopping, mainly for myself (sigh), I went to check out Habit Lounge with a few friends…

Breakfast Perogies!

Prawn, avocado, scallion and hot pepper scramble.

Habit has a really cozy interior, long tables — perfect for eating and socializing. Shopping AND brunch? My idea of the best lazy weekend. I miss the holidays.

Habit Lounge – 2610 Main St, Vancouver, BC

Unlike its name suggests, Flying Pig does not really serve a lot of pork items, but rather it aims to bring the “impossible” to their patrons as a “nouveau Canadian bistro”. Vague statement.

Nevertheless, it’s a restaurant committed to keeping the classics and to avoid food trends – interesting for a Yaletown restaurant. Truth be told, it’s the type of restaurant that could fit anywhere – Mount Pleasant, Gastown, Kits, etc. It’s just a cute restaurant, well suited for small, intimate parties….well on the way to becoming a favorite restaurant for many.

And what’s dinner with a good friend if we’re not sharing everything?

Lobster and Prawn Risotto with Thyme and Mascarpone. Large portion, a bit bland but plenty of seafood.

If there is anything Jenn and I share, it’s a love for mac and cheese. Though I was tempted to order short rib as a main, we couldn’t get the short rib macaroni out of our minds. Though it’s not a mac and cheese, it’s served with a cabernet cream sauce.

I like a restaurant that serves sides in addition to accompaniments on a main dish instead of making you pay for accompaniments by calling them side dishes.

And main course….

Wild King Salmon Served with Gnocchi, glazed Carrots, Sweet Potatoes and Yams. Sweet flavors and the soft, pillowy gnocchi was as much as star as the tender and flaky salmon itself.

Before we arrived at Flying Pig it was pouring rain and we had spent a short time perusing clothing stores I couldn’t afford, but when we walked out of the restaurant, our bellies were full, warm and satisfied.

The Flying Pig – 1168 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC

Braised escarole with apples and bacon. A late dinner after a long work day that will only get longer and longer as the next two months pass. A little zinfandel and some bacon makes up for it somewhat. Oh goodness, it’s only Tuesday.

Because of work and my travels, I didn’t get a chance to go until months later.

Caramelized onion puff pastry tart, lardons, crème fraîche and ricotta – oh man, this was amazing! I was sad when I ate my last bite.

And for a bit of adventure, I convinced my mom to try something new with me….

Seared sweetbreads with celeriac remoulade and watercress – we were at a French restaurant, I thought it was appropriate to try a very French dish.  I just didn’t tell her they were chicken gizzards till afterward. Not like it mattered, my mom has eaten way more creative things than me.

I didn’t want to use my gift certificate on an item I could typically order at any restaurant. At the time, I was going through a pork phase so I decided to try the bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with carrot purée, kale, mushrooms and juniper jus. The plate just looked so pretty with all the warm colors. The mixing of the sauces and the puree was a bit of a bother, but that’s just cause I’m weird.

Though tempted to order the duck confit, my mom decided to break tradition and try the Fruits de Mer al la Provençal, which included a selection of scallops, prawns, clams and mussels in a Provençale sauce with a saffron fondant potato. She normally orders either a duck or a bouillabaisse, so I’m not sure how much of break she actually had; but nevertheless, it was a really hearty warm dish given the cold blistery day we had.

Already stuffed, and full of rose wine, pork and seafood, I halfheartedly brought up the topic of dessert. Now, my mom taught me that we all have secret pockets in our tummies for dessert, so really there wasn’t much arm twisting.  The choice now was which dessert to choose from.

Not wanting to sound like a snob, I asked our very French server if the desserts were made in-house.  Assured that there were, I thought a lemon cream tart would be the lightest way to end a meal. My goodness, this tart was amazing – smooth, creamy and just the balance of sweet and tart, I was completely hooked. Despite being so full, I wanted to eat five more. My coworker will testify, I kept talking about this tart for at least a week and craved it everyday. So much so, that I went to Whole Foods, Urban Fare and Blenz coffee to get lemon tart every day for a week. Madness, I know.

Thanks to my dear sister and brother for providing me opportunities to gallivant…I do love to and it’s always with the best company!

Les Faux Bourgeoise - 663 E 15th Ave, Vancouver

Chocolate Succe from Theirry – two layers of hazelnut meringue, dark chocolate mousse covered in a dark chocolate ganache and garnished with a dusting of gold leaves. Soon after I posted this on my facebook, I got several messages from my friends warning me not to get too full before dinner! A social networking group we are….Unfortunately, my little side trip and subsequent poor sense of direction made me late for dinner.

Theirry Patisserie - 1059 Alberni Street, Vancouver

When I arrived, my companions were waiting for me at the tiny section of the restaurant known as the bar. After two full days of six hour meetings, I was ready to wine. On a side, note, I love the decor of Bao Bei. It’s a mixture of different patterns and soft colors.  Feels like I’m stepping into someone’s studio, or the home of a person who just likes to collect things.

Before ordering, I was looking at the menu with intrigue.  Fusion dining isn’t really something I go for, especially if Chinese food is part of that equation.  And like an epiphany, my friend noticed that most food in Vancouver is some sort of variation of fusion since nothing compares to the authentic thing – example, sushi. Interesting.

Beef Tartare - Pemberton beef tenderloin, preserved mustard root, crispy shallot, gingerroot, quail egg, watercress, burnt scallion oil and taro chips

Mantou - Steamed buns with pork belly, bean sprouts, preserved turnip and sugared peanuts

Truffled Pork Dumplings – when the server placed it on the table and noticed I was poised to take a picture, he warned me that I was about to be wowed.  What a weird thing to say, setting my expectations high!  The smell of the truffle was certainly nice.

Crispy Pork Belly - Sautee of sunchoke, Asian cucumber, chili and garlic, pickled red onion, star anise tomato sauce.  I think I have a love affair with pork belly, which I’m sure will catch up to me one day soon in the most unhealthiest way.  Bao Bei braises and cures their pork belly for 24 hours before serving.

Octopus Salad – Braised and wok charred with sliced radish, watercress, confit garlic, Thai basil pickled cucumber and drizzle of chili oil.

Steamed Steelhead Trout - ginger, scallions, Shaoxing and shitake mushroom

Bao Bei is a lovely restaurant and I think I was really happy to visit as a relief to a somewhat stressful week.  And though I hate to bring up the word ‘fusion’. it can’t be denied that this is the type of food one would find at Bao Bei.  Granted, they don’t necessarily claim to be serving authentic Chinese food, I don’t think I could ever eat at a fusion restaurant objectively. In fact, it has made me remember that with all things, particularly food, we approach it with some biases.  Being Chinese myself, the whole time I was eating, I was thinking – wow, I’m paying a lot for something I could get better, and bigger somewhere else…especially in Chinatown.  Not to say Bao Bei doesn’t have good food, of course it does, but my experiences and the way I grew up challenges the point of fusion food and it’s also fair enough to say that I’m just not the target market for such restaurants. That being said, I would say Bao Bei is definitely a great place to dine, but don’t let your expectations and biases determine your experience.  Food, at the heart of it, is social.. and  at the time of my visit to Bao Bei, I would say this goal was successfully accomplished.

Bao Bei -163 Keefer St, Vancouver

When I ordered the seafood bouillabaisse, I was surprised that some of my companions wasn’t sure what this dish was….it’s a traditional French, (Provençal) seafood stew.  Goldfish’s version of bouillabaisse consists of lobster, prawns, scallops, mussels, clams, halibut, cod, tomato pernod broth, and….wait are those noodles in my bouillabaise?  No wonder everyone thought the “sauce was too watery” and assumed it was a pasta dish.

And obviously, a bunch of ladies together naturally means dessert.

Stereotypes aside, this dessert was unexpectedly delicious choice.  Above, cheesecake with a pavlova crust accompanied by a sour cherry compote.  My stance on cheesecake remains the same – if it’s got gelatin, it ain’t cheesecake.  Thick, sweet and creamy are words I used to describe real cheesecake.

Girl’s Night Out; not my favorite line but regardless of gender, I’m always ready to catch up with friends over great food, great drink and even greater conversation.

Goldfish Seafood and Chops – 1118 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC

Update Jan 31st 2012: Goldfish is closing its doors! It’s official, Minami is taking over the space with a targeted summer opening. Exciting.