Dine Out Vancouver - April 26 to May 6, 2010

The city's annual foodie fandango, Dine Out Vancouver, is on now! This is your chance to sample a selection of the city's top restaurants without fear of being unable to make rent. There are 208 restaurants participating, and set menus are available at the $18, $28 and $38 price points. These prices are based on average entree prices at each particular restaurant.
 

The cool thing about this promotional event is that patrons are able to make reservations, which guarantees you both seats and amazing meals in some of Vancouver's most popular, expensive eateries. This is a great excuse to eat out and splurge at a restaurant you might not normally dine at.

Refuel Needs to Reconnoiter

I still regret that I did not dine at the original, unadulterated Fuel. The prices set by the cocky yet capable Alberta-bred ownership were too steep for Fourth Avenue, and definitely too steep for Fourth Avenue during a recession, so the restaurant was revamped in December, 2009. With a shift towards comfort food and charcuterie, Refuel has a diverse and undeniably original menu, but every dish that was ordered at our table was a bit "off".

First, the Aged Beef Burger was raw and cold in the middle, despite a request for a "medium" yet "cooked-through" patty. This was brought to our server's attention and she assured us that there were no health risks based on the way that the beef is ground and prepared in-house, but cold ground beef is never pleasant in texture or consistency. Second, the ingredients in the Seared Albacore Salad (which I ordered) were original and complementary, but my fish-to-greens ratio was off by a few degrees. The chefs were generous with the tuna, which I definitely cannot complain about, but I did not have enough blood orange and crushed picholines to tame these ginormous slices of fresh fish. I actually left some of the tuna (gasp!) because I sensed a seafood overdose coming on and really felt that I needed more greens to resolve this "f-issue". Third, the Hangar Steak Salad was elegantly presented (deep reds of rare beef juxtaposed against lush arugula like rugosas in an Italian garden) but contained an overpowering amount of blue cheese. A sprinkle would have tied the room together, but this downpour of Devon Blue left the room flooded and inhospitable. Lastly - and this only counts as a quasi-criticism - the Buttermilk Polderside Fried Chicken basically consisted of an entire chicken, with a teeny dish of slaw and a tiny jalapeno biscuit. Again, appropriate ratios would have been appreciated, by our palates and arteries.

Yikes. I hope I haven't been too mean to Refuel. Robert Belcham and company definitely have crazy skills, and the service was attentive, and the food was well prepared, but - like the mismatched and random decor - things didn't quite click. I don't think I will go out of my way to dine here again, but if I do end up at Refuel again I will focus on the playful and rare starters, such as the Roasted Bone Marrow and Foie Gras Croquettes (which I ordered as my appetizer and was highly amused by).  

  
* Keywords: Refuel Restaurant Vancouver, Alex Dawkins

MacFalafel - Those Greasy Balls

I hope nobody out there reads ALL of my reviews because I must sound like a broken record sometimes, repeating my mantra and proselytizing: "order and select food with a contextual perspective".

In fact, this does not just apply to food...it applies to all services. Whenever you enter a commercial transaction, know what you want to get out of it as a consumer.

A quick once-over of MacFalafel should reveal that it is a poor place to order falafel. One look at those sad, rancid little croquettes should communicate the fact that some little garbanzos have definitely been mistreated. MacFalafel does offer some fresh and pleasing items, you just have to scope things out first. Their *chicken* donair, spinach pies and chicken buns are cheap and fresh. Their beef donair, cheese pies and falafel are pretty terrible, I admit. If you are disappointed in something here, let them know! This is a local, family-run hole-in-the-wall that needs your support and will appreciate your feedback. Really.

Try MacFalafel, just avoid putting those neglected greasy balls in your mouth. This is just good advice, in general. They are located at 10th and Alma, conveniently positioned across from the 99 bus stop heading up to UBC.

Local Natives - (P)review

Of course, you have heard of the saying "What goes around, comes around" but have you heard of the phrase "Harmonies heal the lacerations of vulgarities past"? I didn't think so, because I just made it up whilst thinking about this crazy trend in music over the past year-and-a-half involving groups of soft-spoken, super-talented musicians reviving the harmony-fuelled folk-rock of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Wow, I used a lot of hyphens in that last sentence.

Grizzly Bear, The Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses and Beach House have all tapped into the vocal-heavy, melodic, catchy compositions that hearken back to the musical formulas popularized by Buffalo Springfield, The Band, and Love. There are a few traits that differentiate this new wave of indie-folk from the original folk-rock tsunami - such as longer tracks, slick production, and lyrical sophistication - but this genre is always pleasant and accessible. 

I hadn't jumped onto the inclusive Neo-Folk bandwagon up until hearing the Local Natives' Gorilla Manor (the name of the house in which the band resides). I like Grizzly Bear & Co but each of these bands lack something. For example, Grizzly Bear can meander, and the Fleet Foxes are a bit contrived in their appearance and personae. A glance at the Local Natives may trip the *hipster* switch in your head, but a thorough listen to their album and a superficial investigation into band member biographies will reveal a group that places music before ego, and  a band that is so diverse in their talent that it makes you hopeful for the future of original rock music. I mean, you just end up looking "hip" if you are from a well-to-do family, are left-wing, are in a successful Neo-Folk band, are young, are from the West Coast and are intelligent...right?

There have been some significant smaller shows in Vancouver over the past year: We Were Promised Jetpacks, Phoenix, Beach House...these are bands that WILL be big and WILL move on to larger venues the next time around. Local Natives will be playing at the Venue on May 28th. Even if you don't love their music, go for an educational cultural outing. It's cheap. It's good. It's Neo-Folk.

Glen Scotia 17 -Year: One of Three

When I was living in Scotland, I naively assumed that I could purchase the majority of my favourite single malts in Canada. If these whiskies were not stocked, I could always order them through the BCLCB, right? Wrong. British Columbia is so conservative and stingy when it comes to liquor that they just do not allow the importing of specific spirits. 

Case study: I visited the smallest single malt distillery in Scotland when I was over there, Edradour, and fell in love with both the distillery and the spirit that they produce. Once I was back in Vancouver, I asked about this whisky at one of the "signature" government liquor stores and the Special Orders Representative explained that they can order items from the UK, but only if the liquor is on the BCLCB list of registered spirits. Sure, there are hundreds of single malts on this list, but guess which brand was absent?

I recently discovered that Glen Scotia 17-Year is available in BC. This surprised me because a) Campbeltown Scotches are rare and b) the Glen Scotia 12-Year and 14-Year are way more common. There are five primary whisky regions in Scotland: Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Islay, and Campbeltown. Campbeltown burgh is in southwest Scotland, on the Kintyre peninsula, and it used to be a peaty-scotch-producing powerhouse. A downturn in population and economy during the early 1900s resulted in the closure of dozens of distilleries, and now only three remain. Along with Springbank and Glengyle, Glen Scotia is (in very VERY general terms) a cross betwixt the briny, smoky Islay malts and the grassy, dry Lowland malts. This results in an incredibly distinctive and drinkable Scotch which always finishes strong and full.

Glen Scotia, established in 1832, almost went under as well. They were producing on and off throughout the 1980s and 1990s as ownership changed hands a few times, and they actually closed altogether in 1984 for a stint. Since 1999, however, Glen Scotia has been producing consistently under the ownership of Loch Lomand Distillery (known for blended Scotches...hmmmm). The Glen Scotia 17-Year is initially dry on the tongue, but it quickly converts to a typical Campbeltown with its oily, piney characteristics. This is not an easy dram, but it's rewarding and makes for a great aperitif.

I highly recommend this whisky, if you can find it. The folks at Rare Drams will know where to find it, if you cannot find it at one of the disappointing BCLCB branches.

Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun Show

Vancouver’s Contemporary Art Gallery is presenting a unique show based on the drawings and sketches of Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun from the past thirty years. Titled Neo-Native Drawings and Other Works, this exhibition includes a variety of studies and preliminary drawings. This show runs from March 19 to May 16, 2010.

 

Yuxweluptun, a Salish/Okanagan artist, graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design in 1983. He has since achieved international acclaim with his surreal and abstract interpretations of Northwest Coast aesthetic systems. Exhibitions of his work have been held in Taiwan, Paris, Zurich, Portland, and throughout Canada. For anyone that is at all familiar with Yuxweluptun's work, this show provides the opportunity to see a different side of the artist. Similar to the drawings of Da Vinci (which are at the Vancouver Art Gallery right now), or any established artist for that matter, sketches and studies explicitly reveal raw talent and intimate details. In many ways, they are more educational and entertaining than the finished product!

Breakfast in Vancouver

Why don't Vancouver restaurateurs know how to run successful breakfast spots? I visit Bellingham and Portland regularly, and both of these cities have more great places for breakfast than you can shake a waffle at. In fact, breakfast is one of the best things about the States. I would (will?) actually move to the US because of the plethora of greasy spoons, cafes, cha chaan teng, pancake houses and diners...and the superb Arts institutions. Vancouver restaurants believe that breakfast must be on equal standing with the other meals of the day in terms of quality, complexity and price. Due to this pretentious and unworldly practice, it is incredibly difficult to score a decent breakfast for under $8.00. What ever happened to the $2.99 bacon n' eggs? Where did the classic 2-2-2 for $6.00 go? Even a visit to America's corporate, not-so-greasy spoon, Denny's, will set you back $10.00 per person. I'll tell you where you can slam your over-priced 'Sizzlin' Skillets' grandly.

Like an addict, I go out for breakfast often in Vancouver. I just can't resist the temptation of having someone bring me endless coffee, cholesterol-imbued protein, and buttered toast on those uneventful, groggy mornings. Here are my "favourite" places, in no particular order: 

Sevasty's Coffee Bar and Grill (Net Loft, Granville Island)

The Net Loft is an odd little structure located just before Granville Island's Public Market. Amongst the shops selling cards, crafts and Canadiana in the Net Loft is a tiny coffeeshop that is operated by a mother-and-son duo. I do not frequent this cafe because it is outstanding, but it is one of the few places that serves breakfast items on the island, and their breakfast bagel matches up perfectly with a piping (travel) mug of joe.     

Paul's Omlettery (6th Avenue and Granville)

Paul's is my current favourite, as their menu is diverse and the service is great. The owner,  Dino, is often there pouring (the great) coffee and is always attentive. When it comes to breakfast, the details always make or break a place for me, as I have "particular" tastes. For example, I hate running out of jam for my toast, but Paul's serves their jam in little cups and you can ask for as many as you desire. The wait staff are always sure to ask if you would like their homemade hot sauce too, which I appreciate. Paul's is on the borderline of being pricey, but it is reasonable at this blog in time. 

Joe's Grill (4th Avenue and Arbutus)

Joe's just raised their prices a few months ago, but previous to this they were purveyors of the best breakfast deal in Vancouver: The Waffles Combo. Consisting of two waffles, two eggs, two bacon, two sausages and fruitcup - for $7.95 - the Combo had you covered on all angles. This dish is now $8.95, but Joe's offers other greasy spoon specialities at a reasonable price. I also recommend their corned beef hash and breakfast burrito. Pass on the omelettes. FYI: there is a Joe's Grill on Denman Street too, and both serve breakfast all day long! Speaking of all day breakfast...

9th Avenue Grill (Broadway and Burrard)
All. Day. Breakfast. So much more meaningful to me than those other three significant words. I love you, All Day Breakfast. I wish I could marry you. This way, I wouldn't have to make you eggs in the morning, and I could indulge myself by having brinner most every night. 9th Ave Grill is a fairly standard faux-diner, but they do have a well-constructed Greek omelette and an affordable 2-2-2 deal. Coffee is not great, but it will always be in your cup because the service is quick and consistent. 

Zen Cafe (1st Avenue and Yew)

The best thing about Zen is that they allow you to split your bennie orders. In fact, they encourage you to order two different types of eggs benedict. I have never found Zen especially comfortable, and I believe this might be a negative subconscious reaction to the abnormally low ceiling and cramped seating arrangement. The food, however, has always been good. Again, I wish it were a few dollars cheaper per dish, but I suppose I should stop complaining about value whilst dining in Kits. Pass on the pancakes...bennies and french toast is where it's at, yo.


Reno's Restaurant (Broadway and Main)
You will likely be accosted by a rubby or become depressed by the drab interiors whilst eating at Reno's, but at least you will be happy that you found an all day breakfast special in shi-shi Vancouver for under $4.00. You stick it to those yuppies, Reno. Stick it with your truly greasy spoon.

Keywords: "Alex Dawkins Vancouver", "Vancouver Breakfast"