Beep Beep and I just finished a macaron class at Ollia Macaron. I suggested we get some lunch at Munch, a sandwich shop my friend Lululemon has been raving about. Lululemon recommended the vegetarian sandwiches, saying they were so good they even outshone Scoozfava just a block away. For this post, let’s listen to ‘Macho Man’ by the Village People.
When we arrived, I saw the male owner making all the sandwiches and then bringing them out to each customer. There was only one other employee, who would take the orders and tidy up.
I ordered the Hot Chick Sandwich ($14), Brooklyn Chopped Cheese ($17) and the Potato Clouds ($8.50). Beep Beep slipped in her credit card before I could, and paid.
As we sat, salivating from the smells wafting from the kitchen, she observed it was neat to see the chef cook up each sandwich fresh for each person. I noticed the chef would drop off the food to each customer, despite being the only person cooking. When our sandwiches were ready, the other employee called out to us to come and get our food from the counter.
Of the two sandwiches, Beep Beep crowned the hot chicken as the clear winner. The chicken leaned more sweet than spicy, packing plenty of sauce. The soft bun acted like a sponge, soaking up all the flavours and slaw. I even had to dart back to the counter for an extra napkin. Each sandwich came piled high with a generous handful of crispy Ripple chips on the side.
I loved the Brooklyn Sandwich, which, when hot, tasted like a Big Mac, but better because of the crusty bun. The warm mozzarella cheese pull was delightful. I would get this again.
Another standout was the Potato Clouds. Get this! Each one was like a fluffy potato pancake, tasting somewhere between a corn dog, a doughnut, and a latke. Dipped into the tangy sour cream and smoky chili oil, these were a winner. Unique and freaking delicious. That chili oil is so good, I wondered if it was homemade. It’s even better than my version.
Lululemon, you never steer me wrong. In my next visit, I plan to try some of the vegetarian sandwiches. Hitting the Sauce gives the one-person show chef two phat thumbs up.
Five Stars is back! Chew Steel and I picked him up at the airport. We stopped by to show filial piety to our parents and then Ubered out to try the burgers at Bastion Burgers. Let’s listen to “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat for this post.
Bastion is located in PinBar, a bar that reminded me a little of the now-defunct Cambie Hostel in Vancouver, from the pleasantly drawn graffiti in the washroom stalls to the moody shadows in the room.
We sat ourselves, and shortly after, our server stopped by. Five Stars ordered a regular iced tea ($6), and I ordered a hard iced tea ($15). Curious, he sipped my cocktail and winced, squealing it tasted like rubbing alcohol. I shared the O.G. Smashy ($13) and the American Cheese ($14) with Five Stars.
The O.G. was smaller than the American Cheese, as it wasn’t stacked because it didn’t come with lettuce and tomato. The caramelized onions made it taste more savoury and sweet. Five Stars noted that the skirt was perfect on the patty, teetering on burnt and ultra-thin.
The American Cheese was the star of the two. Five Stars fawned over the crisp, lacy layers of the smashed patties. The layers of beef made the burgers unique. But what won me over was the full-on beef flavour and the hot melted orange cheese that stuck to my teeth, balanced against the perfect proportion of chilled tomato, lettuce, and onion. Each bite was decadent yet refreshing. Five Stars exclaimed he could taste each distinct layer of meat, sauce, vegetable, and the bun.
I asked Five Stars if the American cheeseburger beat Class Clown’s. He said he’d need a side-by-side taste test as it had been a while since his last visit. Still, he admitted Bastion was easily on par. Class Clown has the edge with its killer wine list, but the absurd waitlist is brutal.
The side of the tater tots was ultra crunchy and hot from the fryer. Five Stars liked garlic aioli and dipping the crisp edges of the beef into it. I would get the tots and the American Cheese again. Five Stars was already planning his next visit before we’d even finished.
The next day, I took Five Stars to Holy Grill. I’ve had my eye on this Calgary classic for years. My brother-in-law Dave swears by the burgers, and I’ve eaten their food when I worked at Bow Valley Square. The building would throw parties for all the employees; their caterer was Holy Grill. The food is straight-up legit. I remember one spread with pizza, burgers, skewers, calamari, mussels, and other delights. Everything tasted homemade. I parked myself by the table and ate like Honey Boo Boo before a pageant.
I like the simplicity of the setup at Holy Grill on 10 Ave SW. You go up to the kitchen to order and pay. Five Stars wanted to try the eggs benedict ($18.99) with smash browns, while I picked the beef dip panini ($19.89). I requested soft eggs, which arrived with warm orange yolks that were runny when poked. He was especially thrilled by the little jar of extra hollandaise. He’s always griping that most places skimp on it, so he thought it was a thoughtful move by Holy Grill to throw in a bonus pour.
The panini was stacked with thin slices of roast beef and melted mozzarella. The shell was crunchy, while the beef dip added a soft, wet kiss of beefy broth. Five Stars praised the juicy beef slices and said he’d return for the same dishes. I preferred Five Stars smash browns over the fries I got with my panino. The potatoes were crunchy on the outside while the inside was hot and meltingly soft. We’ll be back, but I’m adding a burger to the lineup next time.
For dinner, Chew Steel and I took Five Stars to Pure Saigonese. But first, we stopped at Side Hustle for a drink. It’s my favourite lounge in the city. Maybe it’s the welcoming all-female crew, the laid-back crowd, or the safe vibe from the combination of all the above.
After, we moseyed over to Pure Saigonese and finally met the famous Matt. If you look at Google’s reviews, you will see that more than half of the customers are gushing about his service. I’ll admit, I thought his friends were behind those rave reviews, especially since, on previous visits, the service of the non-Matts didn’t quite match the high standard of the food. But Matt is the real deal. He is professional, helpful, and busy hustling to manage the entire restaurant.
Since we ordered drinks, wings were half off ($8), so we took advantage and ordered house salted chili and chili lime nuac. The chili lime guac cham batter was buttery and sweet, with the tiniest tingle of heat. The house-seasoned chili chicken wings were good as well, though tamer. The batter reminds me of Church’s chicken. Size-wise, the wings are bigger than pub wings but not as fat as Lonely Mouth.
I always order the shrimp mango papaya salad ($12) and the shrimp tempura ($15). Our plate contained four mega-charred prawns. I love the contrast between the wildly crunchy vegetables, peanuts, and sweet-tart dressing.
Everyone’s favourite was the seafood rice ($20). What hooked me was the unbeatable trio of real Dungeness crab, shrimp, and tobiko. The generous chunks of flaky white crab meat tasted sweet and delicate, and combined with those chewy grains of rice and those briny bursts of tobiko, I couldn’t stop shovelling the rice into my mouth.
Five Stars is on a rigorous diet, borderline unhealthy, but even he couldn’t resist. He complained that the food was so good he couldn’t stop eating like a pig. Lam should patent the seafood fried rice. I usually don’t order fried rice, as I make a good one at home. However, nothing beats Lam’s top-notch ingredients. This one’s a game-changer.
Lam Pham came out to say hi and dropped off a treat for us – the roasted duck crostini ($12). The crostini was lightly toasted and airy, while the pate was creamy and not overpowering. Five Stars thought it tasted like a duck Yorkshire pudding, like a Sunday roast, but not as heavy. Chew Steel raved about this bite, even though he’s not usually a pate guy. He just returned from Vietnam and said the food at Pure Saigonese is as good or even better than what he had in Vietnam.
My older brother Narc is coming to pay homage to my parents in July. I’m not 100% sure where I’ll take him yet, but it feels like a case worth investigating. Somewhere where the flavour is worth interrogating, and the BBQ meat doesn’t crack under pressure. To be continued.
On Saturday, we experienced the worst breakfast and the best dinner on the trip. We also learned if you could get brunch reservations at the last minute, it’s probably not worth going. For this post, let’s listen to “Terrible Lie” by Nine Inch Nails.
Emerald wanted to go somewhere with a rooftop patio. I found two possible places through OpenTable. When I confirmed which of the two restaurants we should visit, there was a misunderstanding, and ultimately, we ended up at the wrong restaurant. Based on the reviews, I knew beforehand the food at Les Enfant Terrible was aptly named, but as Emerald wanted a rooftop and Envy didn’t want to wait for a table, our options were limited.
When asked for her recommendations, our server carefully responded, “Customers have said good things about the crab cake benedicts and croque-madame.” I immediately knew that she didn’t eat the food herself.
I ordered the Crab Cake Benedict ($25), Emerald picked the Croque-Madame ($22), and Envy opted for the M’et Mmetoutle Monde ($14, plus $4 avocado). I noticed our drinks sat the counter for ten minutes. I did enjoy my mimosa ($10), which tasted like freshly squeezed orange juice. Envy didn’t care for her Espresso Martini ($15).
Envy said her sausages and eggs tasted like it was from a free hotel buffet breakfast, the ones that keep their food in a warmer. We both liked the side of avocado. Envy observed that we never received the fruit cups included in our entrees.
Emerald noticed one of my eggs already popped. I could taste the crab, shrimp and smoked salmon and enjoyed the caviar hollandaise sauce. I thought this dish tasted like the airplane food when my sister booked me a first-class ticket to visit her. Tasty, but not fresh.
Poor Emerald got the worst of the entrees. I took a bite of her sandwich and gagged. The bread was untoasted and soggy, cold from the bland jelly-like cream sauce. She only ate the thin slice of meat and egg and wouldn’t touch the bread. I suggested she return the dish and grab a pastry on our way home. She declined. With one taste, I could sense Les Enfant Terrible had a toxic work environment. You could taste the sadness in the food. The absolute disregard for making a dish edible reek of someone unhappy, hungover, and needing a hug. I don’t blame the cook. The fault lies with the establishment. Down with management!
An accidental compliment salvaged the afternoon. When we returned to our place, Envy wanted to go for a hike, and Emerald wished to rest. So I popped out and visited the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
When I went to pay for my ticket, the employee asked me if I was thirty or younger. Taken aback but still shameless, I uttered an unconvincing and slow “Yesss” and accepted the discounted rate. Elated, I continued on my journey. One of my favourite pieces of art were the Inuit sculptures and Aboriginal masks. I returned to our apartment younger and ready to experience one of the best restaurants I’ve tried in … perhaps ever. To be continued.
I snagged tickets to Juice Import’s second-ever Pinot Fest ($50). Bricks Wine Co. sent an email recommending guests to eat beforehand due to the anticipated massive selection of wines. I invited Sunflower as my guest, as she is my number-one wine buddy. She, in turn, insisted on treating me to brunch a Deane House. Let’s listen to “Take Me To Church” by Hazier for this post.
We sat in the peaceful nook by the windows. The natural light filtering through the windows illuminated the white framed walls in the historic building. We both ordered the specialty mimosas ($13), I tried the house-made apple, and Sunflower chose the cherry flavour.
I was craving seafood, so I ordered the Salt Spring Island Mussels ($24) while Sunflower ordered eggs benny with potato rösti and house preserves ($18).
The mussels were of varying sizes – some were supersized and plump, and others more petite. The thick garam masala sauce made reddish-brown splotches on my white linen napkin. The shoestring fries were tasty and crisp, similar to Mcdonald’s but superior in caramelized potatoey flavour. Delicious, and a different take on the usual moules frites.
The service at Deane House is top-notch, from the welcoming committee at the front of the house to every employee we encountered. It’s a darling spot, and I enjoyed the experience.
When we finished our food, we walked over to Bricks Wine Co. Our group was divided into two sections: bubbles and the red wine section. Like everyone in our group, I wanted to start in the champagne area. I pulled Sunflower to the front of the group because I predicted Juice Import co-owners Erik and Mark would remove the extra guests from the back. As usual, I was correct, and Sunflower and I scored the first part of the tasting in the bubbles section.
The crowd was different from the usual Sunday gang. I recognized only one Juice Import groupie, Coke. I spotted a woman who resembled the profile picture of a Calgary Herald food writer. I also recognized a bearded guy who was dining at the Deane House the same time as Sunflower and me.
In total, we sampled 22 wines. There was so much to try, so out of the necessity of not turning this post into a novel, I’m only going to highlight my favourite bottles. For fizz, we tried three bottles: Adn De Meunier Mignon Champagne ($76.95), Vigne D’Or Tarlant Champagne ($104.95) and Vigne D’Or Tarlant Champagne ($201.95).
Erik described Adn De Meunier Mignon as “tight, fresh and minerally.” I enjoyed the gentle carbonation and thought it was a tad tart. The more I drank, the more I liked this one.
Sunflower and I loved the Migne D’Or Tarlant. She commented on the creamy mouthfeel, and I enjoyed the prominent carbonation. Coke announced if there was ever a time to eat potato chips now, it would now. I walked over to the bowl and scooped some potato chips for Sunflower and me to munch on.
At two hundred buckaroos, I was most curious about the Vigne D’Or Tarlant. Erik informed us the region was the coldest area in the Champagne area. Aged since 2006, we were surprised by the smoky flavour. Erik commented this champagne was “grippingly acidic.”
We moved on to white wines: Franz Weninger Feherburgundi ($29.71), Maloof Thistle Pinot Gris ($42.95), and Field Blend A Sunday in August ($45.96). I liked the Feherburgundi so much that I bought a bottle. The colour was cloudy and it smelled a little of the forest. Erik described this wine as minty, waxy, tart and lemony. Erik suggested pairing this wine with white asparagus or pork sausage.
At this point, I started to feel woozy. I followed the lead of the lady standing beside me. She sipped, smacked her lips, and spat into the wine spit bucket. She made a neat pinging sound, while my first few attempts sounded more like a cough and sputter.
We tried three orange wines: Maloof Rouge De Cris ($44.50), Craven Pinot Gris ($35.96), and Else Pinot Gris ($46.95). The Craven wine was a stunner. The colour shone like a Christmas red stained glass window. Erik described this wine as approachable, meaning the flavours would be familiar to a North American audience. I tasted a hint of smoke. I snagged a bottle for an upcoming dinner party.
Our final tasting with Erik was Peter Wetzer Rose ($35). Almost all the 120 bottles that Juice Import received were sold to Bridgette Bar. He only had two bottles left to sell to us. I took a sip and was so impressed by the smooth, sweet flavour that I snuck away from the group and bought a bottle. Coke saw me and grabbed the remaining bottle.
Everyone was loud and merry when we switched to Mark’s section of red wines. I overheard my new friend Kat ask another woman if she was Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, the Calgary Herald food restaurant and CBC radio columnist. She confirmed she was, and Kat squealed in delight. Kat declared she was a fan girl of Chorney-Booth. Others chimed in with questions about restaurants, John Gilchrist and her writing style.
The first three pinots that we tried were the Claire Naudin La Plante ($40.95), Lighting Rock Elysia Pinot Noir ($54.95), and Lighting Rock Canyon View Pinot Noir ($54.95). Sunflower and I enjoyed La Plante. I managed to score one of the last two bottles.
Our table was boisterous, and everyone made side conversations throughout the tasting. I felt bad for Mark, who was valiantly trying to quiet us down and proceed with our wine tasting. I’ve been to more than six Juice Import Sunday tastings, but this was the first time the tasters spoke more than the presenters. We talked so much that a Bricks employee, who was pouring our wine, joked about hurrying up and chugging our fifty-dollar wines because we were running out of time and the next group was coming in.
Mark described how at one winery, he helped harvest the grapes. Sunflower asked about the hygienic practice of crushing grapes. Someone asked, did one have to shave their legs or clip their nails before commencing grape crushing? Mark tried to bring our rowdy laughter down and described the physical work that went into grape-crushing. Sunflower exclaimed that it sounded like a great workout. Coke heckled Sunflower and called her Miss Lululemon. You know, he’s on to something. She’s so fit, it’s intimidating. Hereon, I will refer to my friend as Lululemon.
Franz Weninger Pinot Noir ($38.95), Marnes Blanches Pinot Noir ($54.95) and Hermit Ram Zealand Pinot Noir ($41.95) was the last trio of wines. Lululemon and I enjoyed the Franz Weninger Pinot Noir. I also bought one of the only two bottles of Marnes Blanches Pinot Noir. I thought this French beauty had a beautiful scent. Mark described the wine as aromatic, with black tea notes. He recommended pairing this wine with goat cheese and strawberries. Coke suggested a strawberry shortcake.
Elizabeth said she found the Hermit Ram wine spicy. Everyone at the table nodded in unison. Mark described the scent as tomato leaves. Lululemon and I sniffed and agreed it smelled like fresh garden tomatoes.
Many of the wines we tried are exclusive to the Bricks Store, and all the wines we tried were biodynamic and natural. I’m glad I got the opportunity to attend a power tasting as the Pinot-Fest was a rare wine rager. Thanks Mark, Eric and Erin for hosting the twice sold out event.
Before our wine-tasting event at Bricks Wine Co, Sunflower generously treated me to brunch. She initially suggested Deane House, but I remembered Lina’s Italian Market opened a new location in Inglewood, which I wanted to check out. For this post, let’s listen to “We Can’t Stop” by Miley Cyrus.
We wandered over to the kitchen side of the store and learned there is a cafeteria-like area where you can pick what you want to eat and a cafe section. Sunflower commented on the pretty green wallpaper and the cozy and quaint-looking booths. I’d typically order a coffee at an Italian cafe, but I was jonesing to celebrate and opted for a glass of white wine ($13) instead. Sunflower ordered a Bellini ($15). We shared the Deluxe Mushroom Calzone ($16) and the Potato Apple Smoked Caciocavallo Frico ($18).
Our server picked a lovely white wine for me – it wasn’t the rough table wine that some markets serve. I would order the wine again, however, it was Sunflower’s bellini that kicked some serious ass. The flavour was so freaking delicious, floral and refreshing. This drink was so superb; it made Milestone / Cactus Club bellini taste like a 7/11 slushy.
Evenly browned throughout and freshly baked, the calzone’s crust was light and thin. The filling consisted of bocconcini and what looked like Beech mushrooms. The ragu was bold and intensely tomatoey, with a hint of rosemary.
Sunflower’s dish was so good! The potato pancake was lacey and delicate, with a toasty crunch. Sunflower thought the smoked cheese tasted similar to bacon. I loved the onions’ deep flavour and the creaminess of the orange-yellow yolk.
Lina’s has warm vibes. The staff are friendly and happy to chat about their products. Someone stopped by our table to offer us a sample of Italian beer you can only buy at Lina’s. Our server showed us the white peach puree they use and sell in the store.
After we ate, Sunflower and I marvelled at the imported goods and selection of cheeses. She bought some dried mushrooms, and I picked up some bread, fresh basil, dill and mint leaves. We also bought four bottles of the white peach puree to make bellinis at home. Lina’s is a welcome addition to Inglewood and will be a frequent stop for me.
My friend Bex.oxo told me about a new French cafe in Marda Loop, Le Comptoir, by François. Her roommate Valentina recently arrived from Ukraine and started working there, so we decided to visit on a sunny afternoon. Let’s listen to “Le Gorille” by George Brassens for this post.
This quaint cafe only fits a couple of people inside, but the patio is outfitted with a fireplace and a heater, complete with piles of folded blankets and stacks of wood. We chose to sit on the couch in front of the fire. Between the crackling flames, the French music filtrating the air, and the general adorableness of the outdoor / indoor room, we were transported to somewhere else. I felt like I was in a scene in one of my favourite books.
I ordered the Mushroom Quiche ($12) and a glass of red wine ($13). Bex.oxo picked the Pistachio Crumble ($8.75), and she bought me the Almond Croissant ($4.85) and Mediterranean Cake ($11) to eat the next day.
Bex.oxo cut her cake in half to share with me. I refused to eat her treat, but I did take a bite for the blog. She appreciated the thin crust, as it’s more delicate than the pies she bakes. For the record, my friend bakes the best pumpkin pie, all from scratch. I thought the nuggets of berries added a nice tartness to counter the sweetness of the pistachio cream.
The quiche is not the soggy, eggy mess I make at home. Instead, the pastry was thin and crispy. The custard was silky, hot and cheesy, studded with savoury, crunchy mushroom slices. Bex.oxo mentioned the owner comes in every morning to bake everything fresh.
Valentine told us the staff from the shop next door, Gardenia Flowers, bought cake to cheer themselves up. Three of the employees are from Iran, so they too, were dealing with shock and sadness from the crisis occurring in their homeland. I stopped by Gardenia to handpick a bouquet to brighten my living room.
Valentine also told us about a two-table “secret” speakeasy inside a beauty salon at the back of the building. We visited at 5:00 pm, but it wasn’t open yet. So instead, we decided to walk home and try visiting again in the future.
I shared the Mediterranean cake with L. Holy cannoli! The sweetness of the almond icing paired beautifully with the citrus in the orange cake. The cake was bright, citrusy and fragrant. I would order this again.
The next day I reheated the almond croissant in my air fryer. I was impressed with the soft, buttery layers of pastry. What I loved was the exterior of the croissant was flaky and not the dry, crackly type that leads to a thousand uneaten crumbs.
Bex.oxo wished more places like this existed in Calgary. I don’t generally hang out in Marda Loop, but Le Comptoir, by François, will be a regular spot for us. This cafe is worth a stop if you have half an hour to an hour to spare. I recommend stopping by for leisurely breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack. Hitting the Sauce gives Le Comptoir two fat thumbs up.
Beep Beep wanted to have a drink at Bar 54. She mentioned the bar was overpriced and touristy, but she wanted to see the rooftop view of Chrysler Building and of lower Manhattan. We toasted to her birthday with an Aperol Spritzer ($26) and a Rosolio Spritz ($26). The spritzer tasted gross and reminded me of cough medicine. Pro-tip – stick to wine. We much preferred our glass of Rodney Strong Knights Valley ($19) over the cocktails. After midnight, we decided to call it a night.
We were about to enter the subway when a dirty looking man peeped through the gate and started babbling in a high-pitched baby voice: “Nooo? Yesss! Nooo? Yesss!” Before I could stop myself, I responded “Noooo.” Subway Guy looked excited and repeated “Yesss?” I sternly shook my head and said firmly “No!” Since we hadn’t entered through the gate, he assumed we were looking for another train. He said if we went up the stairs and to the left, the other train would be there. I didn’t like his eagerness and the fact he wanted to continue our ‘conversation’ so we pretended to exit. When I heard him take off, we returned to wait for our train. There was another guy there who there who half-heartedly muttered, “Noooo? Yesss!” We ignored him. For this post, let’s listen to Trouble by Pink.
A minute before our train arrived, Subway Guy came back and told his friend he couldn’t find us. I pulled my large black hood over my head. Beep Beep whispered, “Your disguise sucks. You are not fooling anyone.” She was right because Subway Guy spotted me and said something that is so obscene, I will not repeat it. I’ve already said too much. My father reads my blog. Knowing Ludwig, he will tell on me to my mother. I know I’m going to get a flurry of emails from Boss Lady telling me to quit creating drama and getting into trouble. Sorry ma, old habits die hard.
On the way home, Beep Beep really had to pee. She ran ahead and then would stop, crouch down with her knees pressed together and bellow “Nooo?” Then she turned around to face me and coo, “Yesss!” I doubled over with laughter and couldn’t breathe or walk until she stopped mimicking the Subway Guy. Omigod, we are so immature.
The next morning, Beep Beep woke me up at 6:30 a.m. so we would to make it to Ellen’s Stardust Diner by 7:00 a.m. Ellen’s is known for its singing wait staff. Beep Beep ordered the Smoked Salmon Plate ($20). The cook forgot to put the cream cheese on the bagel. Our server was absent so she ate her bagel without any cream cheese.
I wasn’t feeling well, so I ordered a ginger ale and a Fresh Fruit Cup ($9). I found the assortment of cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes and pineapple incredibly fresh and sweet. Beep Beep took a bite and said it was normal fruit, I was just hung over. I ordered a latte ($6.50) that tasted like it come out of a vending machine from the 90s. Beep Beep said I should have just drank her latte, because she didn’t like it either.
I enjoyed the confetti that fluttered down from the ceiling. Some of the wait staff differed in charisma, but I enjoyed listening to them sing. A staffer came come out and gave a long story about how hard the staff worked to both sing and bring your food, so donations for their singing classes would be appreciated. The suggested additional tip was $20 bucks.
Before we left for the airport, we stopped by Union Square Farmer’s Market, Little Italy and Chinatown. Beep Beep wanted us to try the Cheong Fun Cart. After using Google maps, I found it. Beep Beep asked a waiting customer if this was the famous Cheong Fun Cart. I knew the lady Beep Beep asked had no clue. I looked up the cart on Yelp to confirm the pictures of the cart and location. The lady said no, we needed to go to a cart that was ten minutes away. I told Beep Beep this was the right cart and showed her the matching pictures I found.
Beep Beep freaked out because there was only a small slit through the metal cart where the vendor’s face would pop out to ask you what you wanted. The elderly woman working there was tiny, and it looked like there was enough room for her and her husband. I requested two small cheong funs ($1.50), one with pork and the other with chicken and an egg (50 cents). I added green onions and requested no cilantro.
Oh my goodness. If you are into the texture and subtle flavours of Chinese dim sum, you’ll love these silky pools of noodles. The noodles are made fresh for you, and it was everything I was craving. Steaming hot, soft with little specks of meat and sauce to give it the right amount of savoury, salty flavour. Next time I’d omit the egg as I found texture of the yolk too dry. I would also add hot sauce. Since Beep Beep and I were sharing, I didn’t add any.
Cheong Fun Cart was one of our favourite eats in New York. When Beep Beep complained again about the work conditions, I informed her that the woman working in the cart was the owner, so it was her decision. If she wanted to unionize, she could. Besides, after only three days in the Big Apple, I too would want to be enclosed in a metal container to protect me from being spat on, hustled or spoken to in an indecent manner.
Beep Beep wanted to check outBuvettebecause it was a Michelin recommended restaurant. We stopped by for a glass of wine and found the bistro so charming, we went again the following morning for her birthday breakfast. We arrived when the restaurant opened at 7:00 a.m. so we could make it in time for the Wendy Williams show. For this post, let’s listen to the show’s theme song.
Everything inside the bistro was adorable. I like the Parisian décor and the tiny seats and chairs. The narrow wooden stairs and brick walls added to the room’s vintage vibe.
Beep Beep ordered a latte ($6.5) and I requested an Americano ($4). I don’t normally like lattes but Beep Beep’s beverage was excellent. The foam was thick and creamy. The coffee was strong with just the right amount of milk to take the bitterness out of it.
We ordered Saumon Fume ($16) and the daily Omelette ($16). The steamed eggs in the salmon dish was smooth and custard-like. The salmon wasn’t like the frozen stuff I’m used to eating in Canada. The fish was thicker, fresher and tasted more sashimi-like. I loved the addition of the crème fraiche and the sourness of the pickled caper berries. I’d order this again.
The omelette was fluffy and moist. Simplicity at its best – I didn’t know eggs could taste this good. The generous layer of chevre was light and melted in my mouth.
Beep Beep and I got out of Buvette and in line for Wendy’s show by 7:55 a.m. As it was her actual birthday, Beep Beep was given a tiara to wear on the show. However, since she had already brought a tiara and it was far nicer, she gave it away. Beep Beep also brought a pink feather and rhinestone crown for me to wear.
I’ve never even seen an episode of Wendy so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Instead of doing her usual Q&A routine, Wendy announced that she was living in a sober house. I was shocked – as was the crew when they stopped filming. Beep Beep spoke to Wendy after the show and gave her words of support. Wendy nodded and asked if it was also my birthday, since I was wearing a tiara. Nope, I’m just a victim of Beep Beep’s love for you.
I told Beep Beep afterwards that I was surprised she didn’t try to shake Wendy’s hand or give her a hug. She told me that she knows better – Wendy is known for slapping fans away when they try to hug her or touch her microphone. Watch the video below for illustration.
Congratulations Beep Beep, that’s one off your bucket list. Next – to Café China – a one star Michelin restaurant. Whoot whoot!
Hitting the Sauce 