Au Petit Chavignol

Cheese Lovers' Paradise.

Food - 4 stars

Ambiance - 4 stars

Décor - 4 stars

Service - 3 1/2 stars

Value - 3 1/2 stars

Au Petit Chavignol is located in the the Strathcona district on the corner of Hastings and Hawks street. This is a great little wine & cheese bar that is perfect for a get-together with a small group of friends for brunch, lunch, dinner or simply a glass of wine. The décor is minimalistic with a classic overtone accented with an extraordinary pink chandelier featured wall at the back of the restaurant. The ambiance is intimate and sophisticated.

In addition to offering a variety of cheese and charcuterie plates on their menu, they also feature delicious fondue and raclette, croque monsieur & madame sandwiches and last but not least, Vancouver's best "mac and cheese". Just to let you in on a little secret, the "Red Truck & Mac N Cheese" deal is available every Sunday through Thursday. You can order a glass of Red Truck Pale Lager and their famous four cheese Mac n Cheese for only $12 - it's a steal!

I visited Au Petit Chavignol for Sunday Brunch and ordered:

• Classic Four Cheese Mac N Cheese $ 9 - featuring Gruyere, white cheddar, orange cheddar and stilton - it is rich and creamy with a crunchy top broiled to perfection. This is a Must-Try.
• Poutine $10 - featuring hand cut fries with peppercorn gravy and cheese curds. I was a little disappointed with the poutine. The fries and gravy weren't hot enough to melt the cheese curds so the poutine was cold and soggy.

After your meal, step by next door at Les Amis du Fromage where you can purchase some cheese to bring home. This is Vancouver's premier cheese shop offering hundreds of cheeses including local, French, English, Italian, Spanish, Swiss and other specialities from around the world.

Nook Pizza

A Cozy Little Italian Bistro.

Food - 4 stars

Ambiance - 3 1/2 stars

Décor - 3 1/2 stars

Service - 3 stars

Value - 4 stars

Nook is located on the corner of Robson and Denman st in Vancouver - It's a cozy little neighbour pizzeria that serves the BEST Prosciutto pizza in town. The Décor is inspired by the modern classic Euro diner - a 12 -seated bar lined with chrome barstools with red upholstery and cream- tiled walls and floors. Surrounded by low lit lighting and Reggae/rock music, the atmosphere is very intimate and relaxing.

Their menu is simple offering salads, crostini, antipastos and 6 types of pastas and pizzas. Nook offers great value with nothing over $17 on their dinner menu. The star of the show here is certainly their Pizzas.

For Dinner - We had

• Spaghetti Bolognese $15 - Pasta noodle was not made in house. Sauce was not full bodied nor flavourful.
• Prosciutto Pizza $17 - Loaded with tons of roasted garlic and arugula - Simply to die for - Crust was done perfectly - thin and crispy.

Recipe: Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

Very Yummy and So Easy to Make.

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 to 7 ounces very good semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut with a 3 by 1-inch finger-shaped cutter. Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature.

When the cookies are cool, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put 3 ounces of the chocolate in a glass bowl and microwave on high power for 30 seconds. (Don't trust your microwave timer; time it with your watch.) Stir with a wooden spoon. Continue to heat and stir in 30-second increments until the chocolate is just melted. Add the remaining chocolate and allow it to sit at room temperature, stirring often, until it's completely smooth. Stir vigorously until the chocolate is smooth and slightly cooled; stirring makes it glossier.

Drizzle 1/2 of each cookie with just enough chocolate to coat it.

Courtesy of Barefoot Contessa

Bob Likes Thai Food.

Authentic Home Styled Thai Cooking.

Food - 4 stars

Ambiance - 3 stars

Décor - 3 stars

Service - 3 stars

Value - 4 stars

Bob Likes Thai Food is located on the corner of Main and 22nd Street across from Front & Company - serves authentic Thai cooking outside of Thailand. The restaurant is unpretentious and offers exceptional value. The décor is simple but clean.

Their lunch menu is simple but offers all the Thai classic at a very reasonable price - featuring Pad Thai, Panang Beef Curry, Green Curry Chicken, Pad Pik King Chicken and Eggplant Pad Ka Pow.

For Lunch - I had their Pad Thai — ONLY $7.50 for a very sizeable portion.

• Thai classic of fried rice noodles, with prawns, tofu, peanuts, egg, bean sprouts and side green salad - Done exceptionally- noodle is dry not greasy and there is NO ketchup in this pad thai - sauce is made with authentic Thai spices, fish sauce and vinegar.

Great place for causal dinner or take out. Note that they only accept Cash.

West Restaurant

Contemporary Westcoast - Modern Interpretations of Regional Classics.

Food - 4 stars

Ambiance - 4 stars

Décor - 4 stars

Service - 4 stars

Value - 4 stars

West located on the corner of Granville and 13th street on the South Granville shopping corridor serves outstanding contemporary regional cuisine with a modern twist featuring pristine local ingredients and ocean wise friendly seafood. The elegant dining room has an incredible high ceiling highlighted by a magnificent temperature controlled wall of wine collection. Furnished with deep cherrywood fixtures and a cocktail bar, the decor and atmosphere offers a modern yet classic elegance.

I ordered the 2011 Dine Out Menu ( $38 three-course meal)

• Appetizer: Squid Tempura Quinoa, Herloom Radishes Salsa Verde - The tempura batter was done poorly and soggy.
• Main: Lois Lake Steelhead Trout with Braeburn apple and bulgur salad, arugula, horseradish sabayon - The steelhead was nicely done - moist and tender accompanied by the horseradish sabayon was to die for.
• Dessert: Coconut Tart featuring grapefruit curd, coconut, white chocolate ice cream and caramel - The medley of the coconut tart, grapefruit curd and ice cream was harmonious and mouthwatering.

The Urban Tea Merchant

A Urban Tea Party.

Food - 4 stars

Ambiance - 3 1/2 stars

Décor - 3 1/2 stars

Service - 3 1/2 stars

Value - 3 1/2 stars

My girls and I enjoyed a great afternoon at the The Urban Tea Merchant afternoon tea service. Located conveniently between Georgia and Alberni street in downtown Vancouver, the location features a Tea Bar for To-Go service, a Tea Shop with custom designed loose leaves canister library style walls and last but not least, a Tea Salon for afternoon French tea service - perfect for some R&R time with your girls.

As we sat down, we were greeted by the friendly service of our waitress and a tea connoisseur. We were overwhelmed and happy to see their extensive list of over 200 types of Theodor Paris tea featuring Black, Green, Oolong, Roobios and Herbal. THEODOR Paris is one of the most recent Houses in the French market, recognized as one of the most prestigious, acknowledged throughout the world as an ambassador of taste and excellence.

For our Tea Service, I ordered

• The Westcoast Tea Service - $29/ per person ( minimum 2 people) - featuring a sensory experience of assorted tea sandwiches, array of fresh fruits, edible flowers, macarons, chocolate dipped strawberries and petits four.
• For my Tea, I chose the " Celebration" - a creamy black tea rich in vanilla and roasted hazelnuts.

Recipe: Moroccan Wheat Berry Salad

Wheat berries are whole grains; they are a great source of B Vitamins.

Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 cup wheatberries
1 apple peeled, cored and chopped finely
1 red bell pepper diced

2 celery Sticks diced
1 roasted garlic sliced in cloves
1/3 cup of slivered almonds
1/3 cup of raisins
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 Lemon ( Juice from lemon)

2 Tablespoons of Guava Juice
3 Tablespoons of honey

1/2 tablespoon of cumin

1 Tablespoon of Indian madras curry

Directions:

- Soak wheatberries overnight in water
- Bring to a boil and boil vigorously for 2 minutes, then let simmer gently for 30 minutes
- In a large bowl, mix together oil, lemon juice, guava juice, honey, cumin and curry powder
- Add cooled wheatberries to bowl
- Add in roasted garlic, apple, celery, pepper, almonds and raisins
- Combine and serve

Le Crocodile

What a disappointment!

Complementary Onion Tart Appetizier

Tomato & Gin Soup

Wild Mushroom Soup with Truffle Oil

Seared Scallops with Black Linguini

6 oz Grilled Sirloin

Food - 3 stars

Ambiance - 3 1/2 stars

Décor - 3 stars

Service - 4 stars

Value - 3 stars

I have been looking forward to dining at Le Crocodile but was truly disappointed with their underwhelming blend of traditional French cooking and west coast flared food. The restaurant was quite empty during the lunch service but nevertheless, the service was great. The traditional décor, dark mahogany furnishing and tables draped with crisp white linens brings a nice classic touch.

The lunch menu is quite extensive and we are greeted with the pleasant surprise of their Menu Express featuring Wild Mushroom Soup with Truffle Oil or Butter Lettuce Salad with a Daily Main Course for only $20. The daily main course for that day was a 6 oz Grilled Sirloin with red wine reduction sauce. All meals comes with a complementary appetizer sized onion tart and shoestring fries to accompany your main course.

For Lunch, we had

• Menu Express Lunch $20 - Featuring Wild Mushroom Soup with Truffle Oil and 6 oz Grilled Sirloin with red wine reduction sauce - The soup was bland and unappetizing. The quality of the sirloin meat is poor and the texture is tough and chewy even when it is medium rare.
• Tomato & Gin Soup - This is the best part of my lunch. The soup is creamy and flavourful - topping with crème fraiche and chives.
• Seared Scallops with Black Linguini - I was applaud when this dish was served - the scallops were cold, the linguini was way overcooked and certainly not Al-Dente; however, the Lemon Sage Beurre Blanc sauce was decent.

The Meat & Bread Victory

Sandwich Done Right!

Food - 4 stars

Ambiance - 3 1/2 stars

Décor - 4 stars

Service - 3 stars

Value - 3 1/2 stars

Meat & Bread - located on the corner of Hastings and Cambie Street across from Victory Square is surely a Victory in its own. The décor is done impeccably - Rustic yet Urban - a marriage of style and heritage all in one. Furnished with a colossal wooden communal table, rustic mirrors, vintage punching bag and an accent white brick wall at the back. As you walk inside, you are immediately greeted by the beautiful aroma of the roasted porchetta and a bustling counter with a constant line up.

With a limited but Done-Right menu - featuring only 4 sandwiches, 2 daily soups and their famous Bacon Maple Ice Cream sandwich - Meat & Bread keeps it real and simple. After your meal, you can also bring home with you their famous salt grub, sambal sauce and Dijon mustard.

For Lunch - I had their Daily Special Lamb Shoulder with Fennel and Tomato Chutney —$8

All Sandwiches are made to order. The bread is served on a soft ciabatta, crust toasted to perfection. The braised lamb shoulder is flavourful and the julienne fennel adds a nice crunch to the sandwich. The Tomato Chutney is rich with chucks of Roma Tomatoes which greatly enhances the lamb shoulder.

Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cupcake with Peanut Butter Frosting

One of My Favourites. The secret ingredient to a Super Moist Cupcake is SOUR CREAM!

Ingredients

• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk, shaken, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons brewed coffee
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup good cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing, recipe follows
• Chopped salted peanuts, to decorate, optional

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and 2 sugars on high speed until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes. Lower the speed to medium, add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, and coffee. In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. On low speed, add the buttermilk mixture and the flour mixture alternately in thirds to the mixer bowl, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Mix only until blended. Fold the batter with a rubber spatula to be sure it's completely blended.

Divide the batter among the cupcake pans (1 rounded standard ice cream scoop per cup is the right amount). Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from the pans, and allow to cool completely before frosting.

Frost each cupcake with Peanut Butter Icing and sprinkle with chopped peanuts, if desired.

Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing:

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/3 cup heavy cream

Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

Recipe Courtesy of Barefoot Contessa

Aphrodite's

Local Freshness and Organic Goodness.

Food = 4 stars

Ambiance = 3 1/2 stars

Décor = 3 stars

Service = 3 1/2 stars

Value = 4 Stars

Ideal place for Sunday brunch. Made with fresh local ingredients supplied by nearby organic farms - Diary products from Avalon, Eggs and Chicken from Maple Hill Farm, Seafood and Fish from Ocean Wise certified Deluxe Seafood Vancouver and Organic fair trade coffee from Saltspring Coffee.

Make sure to leave room for desserts - over 14 famous organic pies and cakes to choose from: Apples, Blueberry, Strawberry rhubarb, cherry, chocolate pecan, chocolate banana cream and also wheat and gluten-free alternatives.

For my brunch - I had the Divine Salt Spring Frittata featuring three egg omelet spinach, caramelized red onion, sheep feta cheese. Served with organic greens and house multi grain bread - $13.

Cafe Nuba

Delightful Hummus at the Retro Chic Waldorf

Food - 3 1/2 stars

Ambiance - 3 stars

Décor - 3 1/2 stars

Service - 3 1/2 stars

Value - 3 1/2 stars

The Waldorf is a creative hub in the heart of East Vancouver where contemporary art, music, food and culture convene under one roof. Marrying Nuba as their Lobby Cafe is a match made in Heaven.

Café Nuba, now with 4 locations in the lower mainland, is serving fresh and wholesome Lebanese Food while making people happy, respecting the environment and supporting the community

I had the Chicken Tawook for lunch —$12
Grilled mount lehman chicken breast marinated in paprika, thyme, lemon and garlic confit. Served with taboulleh, hummus, salad, hot sauce, pita & choice of organic brown rice or roasted potatoes. all served with tahini.