Panz Veggies - Vegan Chinese

Before anyone says anything, I want to let everyone know, I will try just about anything once when it comes to culinary adventures. So yes, I did voluntarily go for Vegan chinese food with my wife, and my friend Sarajane (author of the blog Vegan Chicks Rock). Living and working in Yaletown, one of my big pet peeves is that it is very difficult to find an affordable lunch. You are lucky to get out of most restaurants cheaper than $15 Dollars. I have a solution that is both affordable, delicious and a massive amount of food. Panz Veggies on Hornby St. offers up all vegan fair for $8 plus tax.

 At Lunch at Panz Veggies, the $8 lunch special is the only way to go. You get soup to start, a spring roll, your choice of steamed rice/fried rice/chow mein, your main dish, and dessert. For my liking, the chow mein has been better than either rice. You generally have a choice of about 8 main dishes which usually include a sweet and sour dish, a couple stirfrys, a lemony sauce thing, and a couple other choices. I especially love the fact that they have soya products that mimic meat. Don't ask me how, or what is in them, but they have soya sausage, soya short ribs and of course the usual tofu options. Everything I have tried at Panz has been great so far in 3 trips, and in my opinion, could be the best bang for the buck within a 10 minute walk from Yaletown. Be prepared, you get a ton of food, so don't be surprised to be in a little bit of a food coma when you get back to your desk. The biggest perk of this vegan chinese food is that you don't feel gross after gorging yourself. Don't get me wrong, I do miss some msg from time to time, but this is a great healthy alternative that will satisfy you enough to get you through the rest of your day. Please leave your comments, and happy eating.

Dona Cata - Authentic Mexican

Alright, first and foremost, I would like to thank the 3 people who follow this blog for not unfriending this blog. Over the past 2 months, I have successfully moved out of my apartment, moved back in with my parents, and ready myself for a year long adventure in London. Over the Christmas break, I am going to do my best, and leave you guys with some of my favourite places in my hometown.

Dona Cata. Victoria Drive and 34th Ave in East Vancouver. Currently, this is in the top 5 of my favourite restaurants in Vancouver. It feels like it is run by the only Mexican family in Vancouver. Every time I go here for food, I am never disappointed. I was first introduced by my friend Daniel, who being from LA is very picky with his tacos. On his recommendation, I took my wife there for lunch, then dinner, then lunch, then lunch, then dinner, all within about 2 months.

My wife, friend Daniel, and 3 mexicans (Manny, Pepe, and Liz) enjoying the aftermath.

Growing Up, I always thought that a taco was a hard shell/flour tortilla with ground beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese, olives and sour cream. Apparently, my mom wasn't an authentic Mexican like 3 of the 5 of friends of mine in the above picture. Something awesome about having Mexican friends (besides free oil changes on my El Camino) is showing me what authentic Mexican food really is. And in that regard, Dona Cata seems to hits on all levels.

Nopales and Longaniza Tacos

A traditional taco is your choice of filling with raw onions, cilantro in a corn tortilla. I have tried most of the fillings at Dona Cata but the hits are definitely the BARBACOA DE BORREGO which is slow braised lamb in secret spices, and the LONGANIZA which is cured pork sausage. Always remember as well,  you can never squeeze enough lime on your taco.

Barbacoa, Al Pastor, and Carnitas Tacos

Other great hits on this menu are the nopales tacos (my wife's favourite) which is cooked cactus served with Longaniza and all the fixin's. Gringa's, which are folded over tacos on a flour tortilla, cheese, and your choice of taco fillings. My personal favourite, the Mole chicken. Chocolate and Chicken, does it get better than that.

Mole chicken with Beans and Rice

A nice perk of Dona Cata is their salsa bar (see picture below). 8 homemade salsas, ranging from mild, quality taste to "Wow, i am not going to enjoy this experience in about 2 hours" hot.

Dona Cata's Salsa Bar

So, in summary. $2 tacos, 2 margaritas for $8, and if you go here and drop $50, you will eat and drink like a king. Dona Cata is a hit on all levels. Go there with some friends, order 5 tacos, a couple dishes to share, and a michelada (a sort of beer caesar) and a couple margaritas and you will definitely be satisfied or champified (I believe that will now be an official term). So, on that note, enjoy one of these below, please leave your comments and happy eating.

A cold Negra Modelo served always in an ice cold glass

Retrospective Post #1: Phil's Fish Market and Eatery

So as i am new to blogging, and unfortunately for my loyal blog fans, I can't afford to go out every night to eat something amazing, I am going to give you let's call it a history of awesome places where food has entered me, and added the valuable pounds to my growing stomach. Some will be local to Vancouver, and some will be from my past travels. Our first trip down memory lane comes from the trip that my wife and I took last year down to San Francisco and the west coast of the US of A. Moss Landing, California. There really isn't very much in Moss Landing. Some sort of refinery, a marina, and alot of fishing boats. The reason to stop is Phil's Fish Market and Eatery.

We originally came across Phil's while we were watching an episode of Throwdown! with Bobby Flay. It looked so good that my wife and I planned our trip around stopping here for food (not really but it makes a fatter story). The Throwdown item was Cioppino. Cioppino is a fish stew made up by combining the catch of the day with a tomato and wine sauce. Everytime I find out someone is going through the area, I tell them to stop at Phil's and get the Cioppino. It is definitely one of the best things i have ever put into my mouth.

The Cioppino at Phil's Fish Market and Eatery

The Cioppino at Phil's consists of mussels, crab, scallops, prawns, 2 types of fish, squid, clams and whatever other seafood is fresh, along with the most amazing tomato soup you will ever have on the West Coast. This stuff is so good that you can order frozen containers of the stuff and ship it all over the USA(still crossing my fingers for Canadian shipping). Not only do you get a giant bowl of amazing Cioppino, but they also serve it with a green salad and garlic bread. We added 12 oysters on top and made this possibly the most satisfying meal that i have had.

The Aftermath

 Phil's Fish Market made such a good impression us that the next day on our way back up the coast, we stopped for lunch again. This time around we decided to try a bunch of different items, while in the back of my head saying, "Champ, get the goddamn Cioppino!".

Local Artichokes with an Italian Mayo

Clam Strips served in a bread boat

Grilled Sardines

Our lunch this time around consisted of Local artichokes with an Italian Mayo. This is the first time I have had artichokes without butter, and at first, it was weird. After 3 bites it got interesting, and after 10 bites I was hooked. We had the Grilled sardines which were nice, and the clam strips. These were good, but i found them a little to deep fried and battery. We finished off with some homemade Clam Chowder. I have never been satisfied twice by a man like Phil satisfied me.

Satisfied Champ!

So, the moral of the story is if you are heading towards Monterey, California, don't make the same mistake that many others have (Ivan and Mark!). Stop in Moss Landing, go to Phil's Fish Market and order the Cioppino. If you stop twice, don't make the same mistake as i did. Order the Cioppino again.
Or this guy will come and get you...

Please leave your comments and Happy Eating.

Mo Pho

Hello boys and girls. After the long awaited creation of this blog, here is my first post. Maybe i was expecting more out of myself to go on my virgin blog voyage, but it just so happens that i came home to a wife with a sinus infection. Sick wife = Pho for Michael. Not just any Pho. My favourite Pho place in Vancouver. Pho Van!!! (Disclaimer: They might have changed their name to Pho Long)

Menu at Pho Van

 Pho Van lives on Fraser St at 18th Ave in East Vancouver. They have their own parking lot which is very convenient especially since I live downtown. As you walk in, they are a typical Vancouver Pho outfit. Huge fish tank and neon everywhere.

One of the great things about Pho Van is that even if the place is packed, you are generally eating your food within five minutes of ordering. It is lightning fast. So, on to the food. When eating Pho, I always start with a salad roll, and Pho Van doesn't disappoint. They don't have different kinds of salad rolls, they pack everything into one. Vermicelli, pork, cucumber and shrimp along with their peanut sauce.

Pork and Shrimp Salad Roll

 Originally, I was introduced to Pho Van by my buddy Evan, and i was told it as called #24 because that is all he ever ordered. 9 times out of 10 it is what i order as well. 

#24 - BBQ Pork and Spring Roll on Vermicelli

#24 - BBQ Pork and Spring Roll on Vermicelli. God this is good. The pork is cooked just right, and often some shredded pork finds its way into the dish as well. Add lettuce, cucumber, pickled onions and carrots with cilantro and you have a heaping bowl of goodness. The spring roll is deep fried, but just greasy enough to be satisfying. If you go home hungry after this, you need to go on a diet. This is the epitome of Getting Fat With Champ. Being a Vietnamese place, Pho Van has a large assortment of traditional Pho as well. 

#13 - Rare Beef with Rice Noodle in Soup add Beef Balls

 Overall, Pho Van is a great place. Cheap eats (i think the most expensive thing on the menu is 8 dollars), fast service, and quality Pho. I have never been to Vietnam so I can't vouch for the authenticity, but i can confirm tastiness and enjoyability. So there goes, my first blog entry and hopefully not my last. Please leave your comments and Happy Eating.