dish of the day

in honor of new years’ resolutions and trying to lose all that holiday weight… gomae: a traditional japanese appetizer - spinach in peanut sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds (from ji sushi, 457 w broadway). my go-to after an intense bikram yoga class, which is conveniently located right down the street. refreshing, healthy, and delicious.

so apart from the generic “eating healthily” and “exercising more” resolutions, some of the ones on my list include:

* to stop making the same mistakes in life and start making new ones - i want to fill up 2012 with as many “firsts” as possible.

* learn a new language (portuguese and french are on the top of my list).

* visit at least two places in the world that i’ve never been before (i want to see the world, but it’s hard to do with limited vacation time).

* actively recognize every opportunity that comes my way and take it… take every single one. take more risks, take more chances, and just do it if it feels right.

* to be even more open-minded, not rule anything out, and give everything a chance…

alright, i could go on, but this list all somehow relates back to the first “resolution” i made in regards to “firsts”, so i’ll just stop here. i want to keep staying true to myself, love all the people that matter to me with everything i have, and accept myself for exactly who i am (flaws and all) but to never stop on trying to get better by those daily self-improvements that happen in my life a step at a time.

“stay away from what might have been and look at what will be” ready for 2012!! happy new yearssss x

a lobster lunch (i’ve forgotten the actual name of the dish, but the alliteration of “lobster lunch” is nice) from bellagio wine and tapas bar (1055 canada place, vancouver, bc). lobster tails, asparagus, and pasta. pair this dish (or the seafood linguine) with a sunny patio (one of the best in vancouver in my opinion), a mountain/water/city view, and good company… pretty much the perfect lunch-break. 

a cuban-style paella from havana (1212 commercial drive, vancouver, bc). mussels, prawns, chorizo, and veggies served on cuban rice. traditionally spanish, but still full of flavour; different, and still delicious when cuban.

baked potato soup (with bacon, cheese, and leeks) from the bistro (in the courtyard hotel by the marriott, 4243 genesee street, buffalo, ny). the perfect dish for when you’re sick and stuck in buffalo, new york… the upside is that i am now officially a permanent resident of canada. notice how i captured the group of hot marines (they were checking in and i was checking them out) and also the awesome booths with a personal tv to accompany your meal. not pictured above: the massive turkey sandwich that came as part of my meal later, and the group of hot business men to my left… two aspects of the united states that define my view of it perfectly.

“in swahili, harambe means ‘working together in unity’ or ‘let’s pull together’. the harambe concept is used throughout africa to initiate projects that require people to work together and pool their resources. in true african style, harambe is also one big party, uniting the community while working together toward the chosen cause.” (http://www.haramberestaurant.com/)

i’ve never had ethiopian food before, so i can’t comment on how authentic it was, but i can say it was pretty tasty. my friend charlie and i, ordered the big combo plate (from harambe on 2149 commercial drive, vancouver, bc), which allowed us to try a bit of everything - the meats (beef, chicken, and lamb), veggies, lentils, etc. it was served with a side of these crepe-like pieces, which you tore off and wrapped around the different meats and veggies. 

paired with ethiopian wine (which was served in a beaker-like glass and was kind of strange-tasting at first, but got better with every sip you took), it was a great meal overall.

whether it was authentic or not, it sure felt like a complete cultural experience. the decor and how the restaurant was set up was really cute, and they even had an “authentic ethiopian seating area”. it was great to try something new and so different to anything i have ever tried before.

paella from cafe medina - egg, avocado, chorizo, orzo, etc. served in a hot skillet. by some random stroke of luck, there was no line-up to get in this morning (usually there’s a herd crowded outside, all on a waiting list). different to your typical omelette and benny breakfast, but absolutely delicious.

fuckyeahcondiments:

Peanut butter hummus

Don’t be afraid. The combination may sound odd, but I promise with one swipe of a pita chip, you will be addicted too.

how could peanut-butter anything ever go wrong? i honestly can’t think of a single thing that i don’t like with peanut-butter… even raw carrots dipped in peanut-butter are amazing.

so kelly, mesh, and i decided to go somewhere other than the sunshine diner for brunch this weekend… and i wish i could say it was because we were being adventurous, but really, it was laziness that directed us towards cafe regalade (2836 west 4th avenue, vancouver bc). it’s location was only a block away from our current location, versus sunshine diner’s fifteen minute walk. it’s a cute place that’s easy to over-look, but perfect for brunch.

pictured above: the lyon breakfast - poached eggs on this spinach bed with mushrooms, bacon, and pearl onions with a red-wine sauce; potatoes sautéed in garlic and olive oil; french bread and a green salad.

not pictured above: a mimosa that complimented this meal perfectly.

fuckyeahcondiments:

Broccoli with Cheetos. Yes, Cheetos are a condiment now. You can’t argue with a chef, so shut up.

Chef Craig Koketsu of New York City’s Park Avenue Winter, who is a big fan of Cheetos, uses the crunchy snack food as a garnish for broccoli served on a sauce made with Gouda and Parmesan cheeses.

i bet this originated from a poor college-student’s dorm… ten points for trying to be healthy with the broccoli.

perfect for the weekends (whether you’re having breakfast, lunch, or dinner… or combining all three, making it “brunner”) - an everything bagel from costco (toasted obviously), with maple canadian bacon (also from costco), lettuce, and eggs… watch out tim hortons.