VanFoodies.com

Hello 2023!! 2022 is a wrap and there’s so much to be grateful for and to celebrate. With things returning to a new normal, I had the pleasure of discovering a lot of new places last year. Many are worthy a repeat visit and of them all, here are my 10 favourite bites/sips. Now keep in mind this list is about the specific item listed, because one can’t possibly like everything at every single place. These dishes just really stood out for me. Interestingly, only a couple of these places were hosted tastings. The rest were paid out of our own pockets. Also remember, restaurants rotate their menu on a regular basis so what I had listed here may not be available anymore (and I will try my best to specify below), but I’m sure you would find something you like if you decide to visit these restaurants sometime soon.

And without further ado, in no particular order, here are the 10 items:

Duck Liver Parfait, Bar Susu (Vancouver)

When did I have it? December 2022
Why did I like it? It’s a good combination of sweet and savoury because you have super creamy duck liver parfait sitting on top of a sweet honey crueller donut. It was so good that Mr. and I ordered a second round as dessert instead of actually getting dessert.
Is it still available? Sadly, no. Last I checked it’s only available on the Late Night menu now.

Rice Rolls, Hei Hei Rice Roll (Vancouver)

When did I have it? September 2022 (I’ve actually gone twice in one month)
Why did I like it? OK, I’ve tried 4 combinations of toppings and I’ve liked them all. My favourite was Beef, Pork & Shrimp Rice Roll. It had the perfect slurp-friendly silky texture, and there were plenty of toppings. Each portion was a perfect one-person serving.
Is it still available? Yes, but try to avoid lunch hours because it’s quite busy and could be an over 30-minute wait. Also, cash or WeChat Pay onlly.

Eatery Burger, Extreme Eatery (Parksville)

When did I have it? October 2022
Why did I like it? It was a big burger! It’s juicy and flavourful. I also really liked their fries; super crispy on the outside and soft inside. I ordered some gravy with them and I almost ate all the fries (which is very rare for me).
Is it still available? Yes, and honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of their burgers.

Fried Frog Legs, Linh Cafe (Vancouver)

When did I have it? March 2022
Why did I like it? It had lots of garlic and herbs, like a fancier, tastier version of chicken wings. Each frog leg was nicely fried on the outside and the meat was still juicy inside. We went for Papa Lam’s birthday, and Papa Lam decided to order a second serving of Frog Legs instead of picking something new. That’s a big compliment!
Is it still available? At this moment, yes! We went back in December 2022 and it’s off the menu, so its availability changes all the time. Make sure to check its website for the latest update.

Dessert Flight, Cascade Brewing (Portland)

When did I have it? December 2022
Why did I like it? What’s not to like?! It’s a flight of four delicious imperial stouts/porter and the flight got better and better as we moved from one to another down the paddle. Starting with Diesel 2022 (Nitro) then Watermill, Makin’ Money Moves, and lastly, Where There’s a Willett. It’s paired with a scoop of Where There’s a Willet Ice Cream, and oh boy, this whole thing was the perfect dessert at a brewery. We took home a few bottles of Where There’s a Willett and each bottle was numbered out of 99, so it’s definitely a small batch production.
Is it still available? Unfortunately, no. The dessert flight was created for the launch of Diesel 2022 and I think some of the other beers in this flight are also sold out by now.

Nagasaki Bluefin Tasting, Sushi Hil (Vancouver)

When did I have it? September 2022
Why did I like it? We were there for Mama Lam’s birthday and we enjoyed almost everything we had that evening. It was a $500 dinner for the four of us! The Bluefin Tasting was especially memorable for us, and surprisingly it’s only $48 for 4 preparations of bluefin tuna for 2 people. And in true VanFoodies style, we also ordered a second helping of this. Full disclosure, the second order wasn’t as good as the first order.
Is it still available? Yes, and seems to be the same price still.

Fish Gelatin and Chicken Golden Soup, Yushang Hotpot (Vancouver)

When did I have it? August 2022
Why did I like it? It’s so flavourful, and the essence of chicken really came through. It also had pieces of fish maw and you know they’re great for your skin! You can’t miss the collagen that’s dissolved into the soup! I tried a similar soup at another hotpot place in Richmond and it just wasn’t as good as the one here.
Is it still available? Yes, and it’s only $12.95 for this soup base.

New Delhi Butter Chicken, Clove – The Art of Dining (Surrey)

When did I have it? November 2022
Why did I like it? Butter chicken is like a staple item at every conventional Indian restaurant, but what stood out for me here was that the chicken was tandoori chicken and they used chicken thighs. The chicken was juicier and more flavourful, and the char from the tandoori added an extra layer of flavour to the dish.
Is it still available? Yes!

Spinach Tortelli with Lemon Butter, Oca Pastificio (Vancouver)

When did I have it? September 2022
Why did I like it? We tried 3 pasta dishes that day and I enjoyed all of them. Honestly, it’s the lemon butter in this dish that won me over. It was a great combination of acidity and richness, and it paired well with the tortelli.
Is it still available? Not sure, because they change the menu daily depending on seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. You don’t know what’s on the menu until you arrive at the restaurant and look at their blackboard. Also, no reservations, so you have to line up early if you want the first seating. We started lining up at 4:15pm for its 5pm opening back in September, and that was before they made it on Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list. We were the second last table in the first seating even then!

Durian Glutinous Rice Balls, New Mandarin Seafood Restaurant (Vancouver)

When did I have it? July and then December 2022
Why did I like it? I don’t like durian THAT much, but I would absolutely eat this again and again. It’s the perfect mochi on the outside that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else. It had a soft chewy texture that didn’t stick to your gum, while the durian and cream filling had the right amount of pungent taste and sweetness. I’d say it’s the best dessert on their dim sum menu.
Is it still available? Yes, we went back in December and it’s still on the menu.