Author: Hitting the Sauce

Cheap Eats · Tokyo

Harajuku Gyoza Lou

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There was a famous gyoza joint I was planning to take Chew Steel to, but when I looked the location up, it wasn’t convenient enough to fit into our schedule. Instead, we went to Harajuku Gyoza Lou, a restaurant his student recommended to his other student, who then took me years ago. Let’s listen to “Like a Surgeon” for this post.

Harajuku Gyoza Lou is very popular with tourists, most likely due to its location and ease of ordering from their picture friendly menus. The prices are dirt cheap, too.

When we waited in line, a gaggle of female tourists came skipping over. They were my age but wearing pigtails and eye-catching dresses. One of the women came over asked the guy ahead of me if this was the waiting line for gyoza. He nodded. Her friends lined while she sat on the stairs outside the restaurant, opened her colouring book and began drawing. Her friend came over and snapped pictures while she looked up, her forty-year-old plus face smiling coyly to the camera. I noticed all her friends wielded selfie sticks.

Once I got a seat and took a long gulp of my drink, my mood improved. My bubbly lemon sour was refreshing and potent; and it was only 530 ¥. Chew Steel’s draft beer was 580 ¥. How could you not be happy under these conditions?

You can order the dumplings fried or steamed. We tried all three dumplings: chives and garlic, plain, and shiso. An order comes with six dumplings (¥ 390), and when all the damage was done, Chew Steel and I averaged about a dozen each. We watched as the gyoza master lined up trays of dumplings and monitored the massive sizzling cooking process.

We ordered our dumplings fried. To me, that’s the only way to go. The crispness of the wrapper was part of the appeal, when your teeth broke into the thin skin. Chew Steel made me a dipping sauce, combining the chili oil, vinegar and soy sauce on the counter. The shiso in the gyoza dumpling was fragrant and sweet, reminding me a little of fresh basil.

My favourite version was the garlic and chive, while Chew Steel preferred the simplicity of the regular filling. Chew Steel recommended popping the entire dumpling in your mouth, so the juices would remain in your mouth and not the plate.

I loved the cucumber with miso sauce (￥290) so much that I ordered a second helping to go with my last order of dumplings. The chilled cucumbers were ultra-crunchy and intensely melon-like. With the tangy, nutty and buttery miso, I thought the cucumber could spar with the gyoza for the best snack of the trip. We liked the food so much that we returned on the last day of our trip.

Hitting the Sauce gives Harajuku Gyoza Lou two phat thumbs up and her startling rage at Instagrammers who should know better two phat thumbs down. “Yoisho! Yoisho! Yoisho!”

Tokyo

Iroriya Higashiginzaten

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I spent months looking for new places to eat in Tokyo, but my prerequisite was no lineups, eliminating many good restaurants. While waiting for great food can be worth it, I wanted to avoid all the super-hyped spots that TikTok made inaccessible. Tokyo is so busy and crowded that the last thing I wanted to do was stand outside a restaurant for hours. Let’s listen to “Who Hoo” for this post.

I picked Iroriya Higashiginzaten because I could make an online reservation. What appealed to me were the reviews about their famous ikura bowl. If you order it, the staff comes out with taiko drums and chant as they heap scoop after scoop of shiny roe until it overflows into your bowl. I also liked that the restaurant was located in central Tokyo. Many of the restaurants I wanted to try were out of the way, which meant Chew Steel would have to navigate through a couple of stations to get us there.

Iroriya is located in the basement, off the side streets of Ginza. I read that seafood is caught in the morning and brought in daily, and the vegetables are from a local farm. Their specialty dish, funajo meshi (salmon roe), comes from Hokkaido.

Iroriya charges a seating fee, which comes with the most delicious bowl of beef stew. The clear broth tasted like gravy, and the homey blend of tender beef and onions was so good that I wanted to order another bowl.

We ordered grilled shiitake mushrooms (280 ¥), salmon roe don (37000 ¥), chicken karrage (900 ¥) and seafood salad (900 ¥).

The shiitake was grilled and served with a soy sauce broth. Our server warned us not to eat the stem. Meaty and soft, the mushroom could have been cooked longer, as it wasn’t piping hot. After our server took away our dish and commented on the leftover broth, I realized we should drink the sauce.

The chicken karrage was super crunchy and juicy. The meat had some pull as I bit into the hot morsel. Chew Steel loved the karrage, and while I liked the crunchiness, I preferred Sukiyaki House’s more seasoned meat. However, I would order the chicken again. It was delicious, just less refined than Sukiyaki House’s version.

When our salmon roe came out of the kitchen, the staff turned up the music and dimmed the lights. Two staff came out, one pounding on his drum and the other shouting, “Yoisho! Yoisho! Yoisho!” The female tourist beside me said she wanted to order the salmon roe as well, but it would be too much to eat.

She’s right; the salmon, though so fresh and glistening like orange jewels, was rich and salty. Despite trying it in various ways, on its own, with broth, or mixed with rice, seaweed, wasabi and a dash of soy, we couldn’t finish our bowl. I’m glad we tried it, but if we come again, I will skip it unless I share it with a group.

The seafood salad was my favourite dish of the night. The dressing was tangy and peppery. There was a ton of assorted seafood, like salmon, tuna, and ebi, all tossed with buttery avocado pieces. The tomatoes, onions and lettuce were spanking fresh. I would order the salad again. Next time Chew Steel and I are in Tokyo, I’d return and try some of the fresh seafood.

My neighbour asked the head guy in the kitchen if he spoke English. I wasn’t paying attention to their banter until he bought out a round of beers. She had bought everyone working in the kitchen a drink and shouted that they were awesome. One thing I admire about Americans is they know how to party. Yoisho! Yoisho! Yoisho!

Tokyo

Yakitori Sanki – Bib Gourmand

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One of my best-ever dining experiences was at Yakitori Sanka in Tokyo. I found this tiny spot when looking through the Michelin guide. The owner uses specialty local chickens and dusts each piece with sun-dried salt from the eastern Kochi Prefecture over Tosa binchotan charcoal. Not only was this the best yakitori and sake I consumed, but the service from the entire staff was bar none. For this post, let’s listen to “That Certain Female”.

I booked online via Table Check as soon as reservations opened, a month before our visit. I pre-ordered the eight-course yakitori course (6270 ¥), which included four appetizers and several chicken and vegetable skewers. The cost of the food and wine was more than reasonable for the quality and deliciousness we experienced.

The restaurant is hidden upstairs on the second floor. The room is clean and modern, showcasing a large charcoal grill that smoked and flared throughout the night. All the seats surround the open kitchen so that everyone can view the action.

I started with a sparkling wine. I read the owner is a sommelier. We noticed the chef would try all the wines before they were served to guests to test their quality. The wine itself was nice and mellow, with fruit-forward notes. I knew right away I had to try some of the other wines and sake because I felt I would appreciate the line-up.

Our set of appetizers included the most delicious warm custard. The nugget of braised beef and tomatoes exploded with rich flavour on our tongue. Chew Steel noted the salt texture in our green salad and commented that everything was perfectly seasoned.

The first skewer was the chicken shoulder, speckled with wasabi. The meat was soft and plump, with a clean flavour. L and I tried a fruity sake, which smelled like melons and was so smooth that I couldn’t even taste the alcohol. What I loved about this sake was that it was easy to drink and went well with the food.

The next chicken skewer was magnificent. The skin was thick and crunchy, and the meat was salty and juicy. I chewed as slowly as possible to enjoy the flavour. I noticed the chef intently dusting each skewer with salt and watching the smoke from the charcoal. Once every while, he would poke or add more charcoal to the grill.

One of my favourite pieces was the chicken gizzard. I loved the crunch, as the interesting texture reminded me of a cross between celery and cabbage. Each bite filled your mouth with the most delicious charcoal fragrance.

One of Chew Steel’s favourite bites were the chicken and green onion and grilled cabbage, which we could watch cooking for a lengthy time on the grill, more than twice that of the chicken. The cabbage was crunchy, with an explosion of refreshing, onion-like bite.

We then supped on super hot fried tofu. The room holds about 14 seats, and by 7:00 p.m., each spot was filled. Though Yakitori Sanka is tourist-friendly, it was frequented by native-speaking Japanese customers on Saturday.

The mushroom was so delicious it tasted like beef but ever so tender. I could feel my eyes rolling into the back of my head as I sucked the juices from the morsel. Chew Steel said this place would ruin us because other yakitori places couldn’t compare with it. He’s correct.

For our second sake, I wanted to try the drier one. I appreciated how the staff communicated all the details of the food and sake, using adjectives to describe each item. They were attentive all evening and it was clear that wanted us to have a positive experience and not miss any particular detail.

The meatball was unique—clear white juices from chicken. There was something very Canadian about the simplicity of flavour. The chicken was fluffy and clean.

We were given a soul-satisfying chicken broth at the end of our courses. The soup was nourishing and comforted my stomach, a nice touch to end the night. After we finished our soup, we were handed a cup of tea to sip on.

Yakitori Sanki is a special spot we plan to revisit in Tokyo. You can tell by watching the owner cook and the professionalism of the staff that they exemplify excellence in both craft and service. This restaurant ranks as one of the best that I’ve ever experienced. Hitting the Sauce gives Yakitori Sanki two phat thumbs up!

French · Restaurants · Special Occasion

Chic Soirée – Francine’s

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Kournikova, Lululemon, 47, and I met at Francine’s for a long-overdue dinner. Francine’s is a French pop-up bar housed in Meat & Bread. I’ve meant to check out this bar for ages, but circumstances prevented me until our girls’ night. Let’s listen to “Cherry Pie” by Sade for this post.

The bartender makes a mean cocktail! These weren’t the watered-down concoctions from a dive bar. I ordered a Francine’s 75 ($16), Lululemon picked the Bois Sacre Margarita ($17), and I forgot what Kournikova and 47 selected. Our drinks were excellent. The flavour in each drink was smooth and fruity, and it tasted like it was from fresh ingredients rather than concentrated juice. For example, I could taste the passionfruit in the margarita and the basil in my cocktail. The cocktails at Francine’s are on par with Klein/Harris and Paper Lantern. 

Forty-seven wanted to try the cheese puffs ($4 each). The little puffs were so delicate that the warm, soft innards melted in my mouth. The butter, with the addition of honey, was surprisingly light and sweet. 

The Smoked Sturgeon ($19) was a nice bite, a rich, mousse-like dip that was invigorating to the tongue. A fresh cucumber topping tied well with the sturgeon’s smokiness and the Ritz crackers’ sweetness. 

Kournikova suggested we get a salad, and we landed on the Baby Romaine ($16) because the other option had bacon, which Lululemon doesn’t eat. I was shocked at how much I loved this dish. This isn’t your chain restaurant Caesar salad, but an impressive array of flavours. I enjoyed the ripeness of the olive and the addition of fennel, juicy orange slices and garlic crumbles. The layers of crunchy lettuce were cold and crunchy, gloriously refreshing. I would get the salad again. 

The girls ordered a glass of prosecco, but I asked our server for a recommendation for a wine that would pair well with the steak. She suggested the Altugnanc Pinot Noir ($18) to complement the beef and gnocchi. Generally, I’m not too fond of pinot noir, but this wine was delicious. It was very grapey.

I didn’t want to eat the Parisienne Gnocchi ($32) because I wanted to leave it for the vegetarian and 47. However, both were light eaters and insisted I try some. The texture of the little nuggets was pillowy despite the seared edges. I liked the addition of slivered pea pods, as it brought out the buttery, herby sauce. 

The Steak Au Poivre ($46) was so good that I wanted to bring my brother here to try it. Each piece of beef was tender and succulent. The meat was soft, and the flavour was intense, like rich caramelized fat. The pepper in it was phenomenal. In my minimal steak-eating experience, Francine makes the best steak in the city, beating Caesar’s Steakhouse and Hy’s and nudging past Cassis by millimetres. 

Lululemon ordered French Toast ($17) and insisted everyone try a bite. She pressured Kournikova to try some, but Kournikova was firm. Both are persistent individuals, and Lululemon was motivated to share the deliciousness. However, I know Kournikova’s resolve is as firm as her posture, and I advised Lululemon that her attempts were fruitless. 

Lululemon ate the first bite and sighed how the toast went well with the aged cream cheese and honey ice cream. I tried her dessert because my resolve dissolved when I heard Lululemon’s exclamations of delight. Yes, it is worth it, even if you are lactose intolerant.

We split the bill, and only after did I realize Lululemon overpaid, as she didn’t eat any of the steak and put the dessert on her tab. I’ll have to get her an extra delicious treat from my upcoming trip to compensate for the discrepancy. Hitting the Sauce gives Francine’s two phat thumbs up. 

Bars/Lounges · Vietnamese

Paper Lantern – Twice Lit

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Friday was my last day at my job, leaving me an entire weekend of unemployment before I started my new position. Chew Steel wanted to mark the occasion by going out for dinner. I picked Paper Lantern as I wanted to relive my experience with Danni and the Olympian two days earlier. Let’s listen to “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys for this post.

Chew Steel asked our server for a recommendation and mentioned he enjoys rum. She suggested the Zombie Milk Punch ($18), which consists of three rums, lime, falernum cinnamon, grapefruit, grenadine, absinthe, bitters and clarified milk. I enjoyed my Mai Tai ($12), but his cocktail was even better. He remarked that he’d never had a drink that he enjoyed this much. I could taste cinnamon and lime. Chew Steel said it was smooth with the right balance of sweet, tart, and booze. I made a mental note to bring my friends Kournikova and Lululemon to Paper Lantern for cocktails. 

The Mango Salad ($14) didn’t disappoint. I was worried it wouldn’t be as good as Wednesday. The dressing isn’t too sweet and has a warm, lingering heat. I love the zing of the mint and the toothsome texture of the mango and papaya. The only other salad that compares to Paper Lantern’s is Lulu Bar’s Sichuan noodle salad. 

Chew Steel enjoyed the Beef Stew ($14). The beef and carrots were so soft that chewing wasn’t necessary. The rich gravy complemented the crusty baguette. The beef stew is the dish if you are craving a “meat and potatoes” type of meal. 

I wanted to order the “What’s the Kitchen Having ($14),” a rotating dish the kitchen makes for dinner. The salad greens were so fresh. The noodles were light and springy. Eating the greens with the noodles and meat reminded me of a Vietnamese bun with a different Asian twist, as the noodles were thicker, and the sweet char sui reminded me of Chinese food.

The soup tasted like it took a long time to prepare, as it had that wholesome flavour to it. Chew Steel thought there might have been shrimp in the base.

My favourite dish was the Crispy Crepes ($14). I tried a version of this dish at Cuty in Dalhousie, and I wasn’t a fan. However, Paper Lantern’s version has converted me. Our order came with two golden brown turmeric crepes. As I bit into it, the crepe gave way to a steamy pile of pork, shrimp, bean sprouts and mung beans. The roasted sprouts, fragrant from the wok, added a smoky note that elevated every bite. Wrapped in lettuce and dunked in fish sauce, these crepes have texture, freshness, and umami. I would order them again.

Chew Steel and I found a new hangout. He was impressed with the cocktails and food. This is my third visit, and knowing who runs the kitchen, I know we can expect the same consistency in the future. As we left, I glanced through the kitchen window to catch an admiring glimpse of the female chef responsible for our delicious meal. Hitting the Sauce gives Danni’s parents two phat thumbs up. 

Banh Mi · Chinatown · Vietnamese

Banh Mi Date #15: Paper Lantern

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For the past year, I’ve corresponded with Danni on Instagram. We share similar tastes in food, and we’ve even been to the same restaurants at the same time, though we weren’t aware then. We decided to meet up officially. I invited my friend, the Olympian. Divine Offering isn’t accessible on Wednesdays so that she couldn’t make it. Lovegastrogirl was in Tokyo; otherwise, she would have also come along. Let’s listen to “New Attitude” by Patti LaBelle for this post. 

We hemmed and hawed about where to go, and finally, I suggested Paper Lantern. It is a small world; as it turns out, Danni is the proud sister of the owner of Paper Lantern and Prosperity Bar. Her parents previously owned Orchid Room in Bankers Hall. I’ve never eaten there, but I heard the food was elevated Vietnamese cuisine and popular with the downtown crew. The Olympian and I asked her where she eats Vietnamese food, as we were curious where she would eat if it weren’t her family’s restaurant. She recommended Rau Bistro, Noodle World (#52 rice platter or coconut beef pho), Pho Uncle Ten, and Basil Ultimate. 

I ordered the PL Daiquiri ($12), Danni ordered a Mai Tai, and Olympian picked a non-alcoholic pina colada. My cocktail was light and breezy, with a tart tropical zing from the pineapple. For food, Danni picked some appetizers for us to share. I appreciated the water pitcher on the table, as I was parched that night. 

First up was the Sweet Nuoc Mam Chicken Wings ($12). Damn, the wings were saucy and crispy, the sauce was sticky and sweet. I was happy to see the wings and drums were five times the size of any pub wings. I want to try the shrimp salt and pepper version when I return. 

There was a lot of beef in the carpaccio ($12). I liked how the peanuts and onions gave some textural contrast to the soft, raw meat. The beef itself had a nice flavour. I didn’t realize there was cilantro in this dish. Had I known, I would have omitted the herb, as I’m one of the unlucky ones with the soap gene.  

The pork belly banh mi ($10) was a winner! The special sauce and house mayonnaise were savoury and rich. The braised pork belly was so soft and warm that it melted right into the light, crusty bread. The pickled vegetables added a lovely crunch to each bite. Danni recommended trying the chicken roti banh mi next time. Her eyes lit up as she described how the chicken was caramelized. 

The Pineapple Stir fry ($12) was as good as I remembered it from my last visit. The rice bowl contained ample sweet pork belly, shrimp, and pineapple. If you are hungry, I recommend ordering a rice bowl, as it is filling.

My favourite dish was the Mango Salad ($14). It takes a lot for me to like a salad over wings, so the chef back there is performing a miracle. The mango and papaya strands were chilled, crunchy from the peanuts and herby from the fresh mint leaves. I liked scooping up the refreshing salad on top of the shrimp cracker. 

When the bill came, I was surprised to see how affordable it was. My bill, including one cocktail, was only thirty dollars. In today’s economy, that’s incredible. I informed Danni I was bringing Chew Steel to Paper Lantern for our next date night. She suggested I try the Beef Stew ($14) and Crispy Crepes ($15). I already know what I want—a repeat of the mango salad, banh mi, and the shrimp salt wings.

We plan to do another girls’ outing, this time at Prosperity Bar, to try the Big Mac egg rolls, Philly Cheese Banh Mi, and some dumplings. Next time, we’ll be sure to include Lovegastrogirl and Divine Offering. Perhaps I’ll have to start my supper club again, No Man’s Dinner, with the president, Loaf2go. 

Restaurants · Vietnamese

Pure Street Food

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On Saturday, I met up with my colleagues. I hosted a little gathering at my house, and then we met for brunch the following morning. For this post, let’s listen to: “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers. 

I suggested First Street Market because we wouldn’t have to wait in line, and there are traditional breakfast items and things I like to eat, like pho, dosas, and tacos. Freedom went to Friends with Benedicts, Nightengale bought a sandwich from Alforno, and Hammer bought a rice bowl from K-Town Fried Chicken. Despite the long lineup at Friends with Benedicts, Freedom picked up his food rather quickly. Hammer enjoyed her crispy soy garlic tofu bowl and recommended that next time, I try the new Korean stall. Nightengale carefully ate her messy sandwich, which dripped with white globs of fior di latte. I’ve been craving pho for months, so I went to Pure Street Food when I saw the owner, Lam Pham, was at the helm of his restaurant. 

When I sat down, I took a moment to inhale the sweet, comforting fragrance of Pure’s hu tieu bo sate ($19). Oh, it’s been too long since I last ate here. The steam from the pho floated up; and the scent clung to my hair for hours afterward.

Unlike other Vietnamese restaurants, there was more meat than noodles. I especially enjoyed the tender slices of beef shank and brisket. I could taste the quality of each piece of beef. My favourite part of the meal was gnawing rather indelicately eating around the beef rib to suck out all the gelatinous goodness. I noticed the bean sprouts were spanking fresh and ultra crunchy. Even the basil tasted extra vibrant. The noodles were noticeably silky and slippery, and I saw that the longer I took to eat them, the more the heaviness of the broth was absorbed into them. The broth is rich and heavily infused with spicy sate oil. 

Near the end of our meal, Lam came over to our table and dropped me off a treat—his special sesame donut with pork belly and pork crackling ($8). I was already so full of my pho, but the fei poi in me couldn’t resist such a gift. Each donut half was stacked high with soft layers of pork belly, pickled carrots, cucumber and sriracha aioli. At the back of each donut was a light, crunchy crackle from the pork. Each bite was decadent, heavy from the sauces, and sweet from the thin sesame shell, like a savoury dessert. 

There was so much in the bowl that I couldn’t finish all the noodles, and I barely drank the broth. Such a waste, as a beef broth like this, is an elixir of life. Next time I come, I’ll get my meal in a takeout bowl, eat all the noodles, and then take home the broth and meat. My new place of employment is two blocks from Pure Street, so I’ll be sure to return soon for my pho fix.

Vietnamese

An An Kitchen & Bar

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On Friday, Chew Steel and I decided to go out for an early dinner. He suggested we try a new restaurant he thought I would like, An An Kitchen & Bar. We parked at his sister and brother-in-law’s business, conveniently located right across from the restaurant. For this post, let’s listen to “Dilemma” by Green Day.

We sat in the enclosed patio, which I thought initially would be too chilly. However, there was a stove at the door that kicked off some heat. I decided on two of the most popular dishes: An An Bun Cha Ha Noi ($19.50, +$1 gluten-free spring rolls) and the Pan-Seared Scallops ($16). For drinks, we ordered Asahi ($8), which came in a can. The beer was ice-cold, but I wished it came in the correct size glass. As I sipped, I wondered if my glass of beer was half full or half empty.

The seared scallops arrived in a set of five. I enjoyed the crunch of the tempura seaweed, the toasted peanuts, and the brightness of the lemon and fish sauce. Dipping the scallops into the fish sauce was tricky, as the toppings would fall off. The second time I dunked into the sauce, I lost my grip on the scallop, and it took a nosedive into its pungent bath. Despite my chopstick technique failings, I recommend this appetizer for its texture and flavour combination.

The vermicelli platter was a platter of eye-rolling deliciousness. The pork meatball was so tasty, with a soft and juicy texture. Chew Steel raved about the pork belly, which surprised me as he doesn’t like fatty meats. The pork was charred and crispy, with the smell and taste of the grill.

I loved the spring rolls served piping hot, crusted with a light batter, and melted in your mouth. The fish sauce was notably sweet and tart. I used all the lettuce, carrots, basil, cilantro, and carrots to make wraps. I heaped the springy noodles on top of the lettuce, layered it with pickled vegetables and herbs, added the spring roll or pork belly, and then dunked it into the warm dipping sauce. Chew Steel preferred to eat his food like a regular vermicelli bowl. He noted all the ingredients blended well together.

The portion was so large, we were full for hours after our dinner. We plan to return, and often, for the vermicelli platter. Hitting the Sauce gives An An two phat thumbs up.

Bars/Lounges · Wine tasting

Avitus Wine Bar – Date Night

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Last Monday, we wanted to get out and try somewhere new. I suggested Avitus, a tiny wine bar in Marda Loop. Chew Steel was game, so off we went. For this post, let’s listen to “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado.

Before we walked in, I warned Chew Steel that Avitus was a chick magnet. Usually, the men who show up look like they are on a hot date and aiming to impress. The bar is always full of women whooping it up—the ratio for every fearless man to woman is one to seven.

We sat at the only high table and started with a glass of wine. I tried the
Gun Metal Riesling ($16), a dry, minerally fruit-forward white wine. Chew Steel wanted a full-bodied wine and ordered a Pavillon De Trianon ($15). When I sipped his wine, I instantly got buyer’s remorse. Smooth and flavoured with infatuation, this is a bottle I would happily crush all night long.

For nibbles, we tried two cheeses, Delice de Bourgogne ($12), Comte ($12), Berkshire pork salami ($18), honey truffle ($4), carrots ($3), and a pickle ($3). The Delice De Bourgogne was Chew Steel’s favourite cheese; it was creamy and soft, oozing all over the bread. I liked the Comte because I’ve been more into nutty, hard cheeses lately. The truffle in the honey was dominant. The taste of truffle hit you first and then dissipated into the sweetness of the honey. I could taste a little smoke in the honey.

Chew Steel raved about the richness and chew of the salami. I thought the salami looked fattier than it tasted. The carrots were sweet, crunchy, and homemade. I enjoyed the juicy slices of the pickle, which helped cut into the salami’s fat.

We wanted another Pavillon De Trianon for our last glass of the night. However, fate is a cruel lover, and our server, who I suspect may be the owner, said there was no more. He suggested another wine that was similar but a little more refined, Chateau Beaumont ($17). While this wine was very good, I preferred our first red wine. The second wine tasted lighter and more delicate, but I like my wine with more of a punch.

I mentioned to Chew Steel that I would like to know what the owners of Cassis Bistro think of the wines and cheeses at Avitus Bar. It would be like Mozart and Beethoven meeting and reviewing each other’s work.

We had a great time trying new wines and cheeses. When we left, the bar was full of boisterous ladies jonesing for a good time. They know a good thing when they taste it. Hitting the Sauce gives Avitus two phat thumbs up.

Beer · Vietnamese

Tail Gunner and Rau Bistro

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Chew Steel and I stopped by Tail Gunner Brewery for a beer. Acme Pizza has officially moved into the brewery, and we saw several customers coming in to pick up a pie. Our server informed us if we wanted pizza, we could order from her, which is a different system than when Acme was at Two House Brewery. Let’s listen to “Angel” from Pink Pantheress for this post.

I went with my usual, the Linton Stephenson Czech Pilsner ($6.00, 330 ml). Chew Steel took a sip and noted it was crisp, dry and very “traditional.” I enjoyed the fresh foam and the light flavour. With beer this good, I don’t miss wine. 

I sipped Chew Steel’s Ross Dixon West Coast Pilsner pick ($6.00, 330 ml), and wow, this is a goodie. The initially tasted a little sweetness, followed by a tiny bit of bitterness. I thought the pilsner was floral, while Chew Steel smelled cedar and thought it was almost tropical. 

I was tempted to order a pizza, but I was craving Vietnamese food. I picked Rau Bistro, an old favourite of mine, located on Centre Street.

We shared the Banana Blossom Salad ($15) with Crispy Chicken Leg. The chicken itself was tasty, the skin a crackling, blistered brown. However, the salad mainly consisted of bamboo shoots with only a light sprinkle of carrots and herbs. The consistency of the salad was wet, soft and rubbery, with no distinct sweet or sour notes. The portion was large, but we only ate some of it. I read reviews of customers raving about this traditional dish, so maybe I wasn’t used to muted flavours. I would have preferred less bamboo shoots and more herbs, sprouts and banana blossoms.

I ordered a Mega Vermicelli Bowl ($18), and Chew Steel ordered a smaller version, the Grilled Meats Vermicelli Bowl ($16). The noodles in our bowl were plentiful but overcooked. However, the generous variety of crunchy vegetables made up for the noodles. He enjoyed the beef, which was sweet and smoky from what tasted like a charcoal grill. I loved the pork patty, which was juicy and just delicious. The shrimp was my second favourite protein, crunchy with a pleasant chomping quality. The chicken and spring rolls were a tad overcooked and chewy. The fish sauce tasted diluted and less potent than previous visits.

There was so much food in our bowls that we didn’t finish it. The portions are generous; you won’t walk away hungry after ordering a meal. We were content with the vermicelli bowls, but I wondered if we ordered the wrong dishes. When I looked around, everyone was enjoying hot steaming bowls of pho.

This particular visit is likely isolated, as it didn’t reach the high-level enjoyment I’ve experienced on prior occasions. I’m sure the wrap and roll combos and 7-course set meals are still on point. In any case, Rau Bistro is still a good option for Vietnamese food.