Delta – Hitting the Sauce

Narc and his wife, Enforcer, took us to their favourite local Indian restaurant, Clay Oven. Chew Steel and I were especially looking forward to this meal because B.C. is home to some of the best Indian food. Let’s listen to “Gallan Goodiyaan” for this post.

The restaurant is small, with only a few tables inside and a patio providing additional seating. Hanging Edison bulbs brighten the room, while faux greenery gives the dining space a clean feel.

Enforcer, who visits regularly, told me the restaurant has been in the family for years. The parents originally ran the business, but the next generation has since taken over, modernizing the restaurant while the parents continue to cook in the kitchen.

For appetizers, Narc picked two orders of the Fish Pakora ($16.95) and two orders of Dahi Puri ($9.95). The kids and Narc ordered mild Butter Chicken ($21.95), Enforcer picked Shrimp Curry ($21.95), and Chew Steel and I selected the Mixed Grill ($26.95). We also added an extra order of fresh Naan ($2.95).

Oh hot diggety damn, is the food ever good! The fish pakoras arrived steaming hot and meaty. Inside, the fish was flaky, while the thin, seasoned batter was crisp and almost melted on my tongue. They were so good I could have eaten the entire plate for dinner. I’d order them again without hesitation.

Roblox was a fan of the dahi puri: delicate, crisp shells filled with cool yogurt, soft potato, pomegranate, mint and spices. Each one delivered a big mouthful of tangy, sweet and salty flavours. Pro tip: eat them quickly before the shells turn soggy.

I wouldn’t normally order such a large dish, but I wanted to try as much as possible, and the owner recommended the Mixed Grill as the best introduction to Clay Oven’s grilled specialties. It arrived on a sizzling platter loaded with jumbo shrimp, seekh kebab, and chicken tikka.

Chew Steel’s favourite was the chicken tikka. The bone-in pieces were juicy and tender, with a lightly charred exterior and a vibrant red coating that gave way to tender white meat inside. The accompanying bowl of butter sauce was sweet and tomatoey, while the bed of onions and charred pepper sizzled from the hot platter.

The jumbo shrimp were plump with a satisfying snap, while the seekh kebab had a well-seasoned, sausage-like texture with a pleasantly salty finish. The homemade naan was remarkably thin and light, with a delicate crispness that reminded me of a cracker, yet it stayed soft and pliable. The portion was generous enough that I took half of it home for lunch the next day.

Clay Oven served some of the best Indian food I’ve had in a long time. The fish pakoras alone are worth returning for, and next time I’m in Delta, I’ll happily work my way further through the menu. Hitting the Sauce gives Clay Oven two phat thumbs up.

Chew Steel and I returned to B.C. to visit my family and stayed with my brother, Narc. Shortly after arriving, we took my nephew and niece, Roblox and Jellybean, to Four Winds Brewing Co. Taproom for tacos. Let’s listen to “Raining Tacos” for this post, a song Roblox likely knows all too well.

The taproom sits in a strip mall in an industrial area in Ladner. There isn’t much to look at outside, but inside, the room was busy with locals and people stopping in during their work breaks.

Chew Steel and I left the kids at the table while we went inside to order. Before leaving, I reminded them not to talk to strangers, then noticed the two men sitting at the next table. I hoped they didn’t take it personally. I just wanted to return both children safely to my brother.

We ordered at the counter, where the friendly staff told us they would bring everything to our table. We ordered lemonade ($3.95), an Original Saison ($7.50), salsa and chips ($10), five pork carnitas ($5.75), two Baja fish ($6.50) and four Bang Bang shrimp ($6.50) tacos.

The kids’ lemonade arrived in a modest pour, and both agreed it tasted a little like Gatorade. My saison was bubbly and fruity, with a crisp finish and enough depth to keep it interesting.

The salsa and chips were addictive. The thick-cut chips arrived warm and tasted homemade, while the salsa roja was thin and almost broth-like, with a gentle kick. Jellybean is sensitive to spice, so her tingling tongue confirmed that there was at least some heat.

The pork carnitas featured crispy roasted pork, charred pineapple salsa, radish, cilantro and cheese. The meat was juicy, with crisp, charred edges and a pleasantly salty flavour. A spoonful of leftover salsa brought everything together. Roblox enjoyed this taco, although he thought the kitchen could have been more generous with the pork.

The Baja taco came with a large piece of line-caught ling cod, coleslaw, chipotle aioli, green cabbage, pico de gallo and cilantro. The fish was crunchy, although the thick batter was a little oily. The house-made tortilla was soft and tasted fresh. This was the heartiest of the three tacos and the one I would order again.

The Bang Bang shrimp was topped with spicy sauce, guacamole, shaved red onion and pico de gallo. The shrimp was large and its batter crisp, while the toppings added freshness to each bite. I particularly liked the chunks of avocado and the sauces. Despite its name, I didn’t find it especially spicy. Jellybean disagreed, but she enjoyed her tacos.

Three tacos were enough to fill me up, but heartier eaters may want to order more. Roblox had eaten a late breakfast and still wasn’t full after three pork carnitas. With an early dinner ahead of us, he decided not to order another.

Four Winds may not offer much of a view, but the tacos were very good, my saison hit the spot, and the staff were hospitable. Come to this location for the food, not the scenery. If you want both, Four Winds also has a beach house location in Tsawwassen.

Category: Delta

Clay Oven Review: Excellent Indian Food in Delta, B.C.

Four Winds Brewing Co. Taproom Review: Tacos in Delta, B.C.