T & T Rice Dumplings 粽

it's that time of the year for rice dumplings when its dragon boat festival. unfortunately family friend won't be making any this year so I went early on for T & T ones. since I tried some last year, I went for the same sweet ones instead of traditional. there's 5% off for 3, 12% off for 8, 20% if you buy $100+

- sweetness is just slightly over otherwise perfect

- rice is nice and soft

- unique flavours

- somewhat overpriced but they're the only place offering these special flavours

Eat! Vancouver 2012 Part 2

bought some tickets hoping to drink some wine but couldn't find something i like so spent them on food instead. not really worth buying tickets unless there is something you really want to try

Rob Fennie stage

a ton of fresh herbs

wine area

one of the best looking booths

the only larger branded wine

but seemed like no one approached it

gelato made with maple syrup

unique touch with the maple syrup

won't be too strong taking over the rest of the flavours

2 tickets = $1

got the salmon on the right to use up remaining tickets

4 tickets = $2

Eat! Vancouver 2012 Part 1

went to Eat! Vancouver last Saturday. if i didn't get free tickets, i wouldn't spend $16 to get in. lots of tasters, some freebie, and some coupons. large companies such as McDonalds offered much bigger portions.

bought the seaweed previously from US Costco and its pretty tasty and light

they're bring them into Canada now

the calamari was really good 

McDonalds giving out their new smoothies along with a coupon

known brands gather more people

only hot chocolate was available when i went up

also gave a free dark chocolate bar

not too sweet but not chocolaty enough

Lunch @ Izumi-Ya Japanese

failed to eat before quality dropped but still pretty good

only shrimp tempura was popular therefore fresh

calms were not too clean, lots still with sand

shrimp tempura was fresh and crispy but batter too thick

same quality as ones sold in supermarket 

plain milk ice-cream

could have spent a little money to add in some matcha powder

Izumi-Ya Japanese

160 - 7971 Alderbridge Way

Richmond, BC V6X 2A4

(604) 303-1171

- a lot of people complaining about the increase in price and the drop in quality, this was a marketing scheme to lure customers in the beginning and they were successful, without any advertisements in the opening, the place was packed

- considering the price, they're offering the same food found inside the supermarket so its well worth it

- quality for some food may not as as good

- $11.99 + tax, 1 hr limit, did not see them rushing anyone as no one was waiting outside

- went at 2ish and it was still all full
- slow in clearing plates, the staff were chatting in a corner all the time

- refill was pretty fast, the cold food are the unpopular ones, hopefully they'll swap them out for something else

- would still come once in a while just like eating other hotpot or japanese all you can eat

Style: japanese (日式), buffet, all you can eat

Visited on: May 26, 2012

 

Coming Soon - Lai Ching Kee 黎正記燒臘

noticed a new place opening soon right beside Deer Garden that's going to sell hk style bbq meat. by the looks of it, there's only take out available. most likely trying to attract customers who finish lunch to buy some meat for dinner. i think its not a great place to open since its hard to find parking and its located on the second floor. previous restaurants of the same place all didn't last long so won't be long until we find out if it will survive

Lai Ching Kee 黎正記燒臘

8580 Alexandra Road (Right beside Deer Garden) 

Richmond, BC V6X 4B3 

604-370-3888

hours: 11am - 9pm (closed on Thurs)

style: hk style bbq meat (燒臘)

CLOSED - Lunch @ Northern Delicacy 客滿庭

before Northern Dynasty 金玉滿堂 closed, it was one of my favourite shanghai food places. Northern Delicacy 客滿庭 is owned by the same company, Tropica, but the quality and prices are different. now it eventually became one of my regulars

jelly pork

portion smaller than Shanghai River

bran dough

a bit harder than usual

deep-fried twisted dough stick, chinese doughnut

puffy and soft

won't be too oily

top left: steamed pork dumpling

outer skin looks hard and thick but is actually pretty thin

fresh but light meat taste

shanghai fried noodles

saltiness just right

could have some more meat

Northern Delicacy 客滿庭

4151 Hazelbridge Way (Aberdeen Centre)

Richmond, BC V6X 3R8

(604) 233-7050

-prices went up a bit recently
-easy to find table as usual but some of their booth are uncomfortable
-tea was promptly refilled and food didn't take long

Style: shanghai (上海菜)

Visited on: May 24, 2012

Lunch @ Neptune Seafood Restaurant 龍皇鮑翅海鮮酒家

have been to this place for ages. before renovations, their quality dropped a lot so stopped going for a long time. decided to give it a try

the bowl was too shallow 

pork liver in soup

very fresh and light tasting

top: house rice cake roll

filling is with white radish

light with crunchiness

durain pastry cake

came hot and fresh

not very strong durain taste

not oily and sweetness is just right

sweet crepe with peanut butter

have lots of filling and is much better than other places

just a bit too sweet but still acceptable

Neptune Seafood Restaurant 龍皇鮑翅海鮮酒家 

8171 Ackroyd Rd 

Richmond, BC V6X 3J9 

(604) 207-9888 

-it's another chinese place where you won't get good service unless your a baller customer or a regular

-didn't know how many people family friend made reservation so went in ask assumed there was 7, and the lady was like no reservation for 7, so i called to ask family and he said 5, and lady said none for 5 either. so then i told her i'll wait. after 10 mins, family friend finally came and told me she reserved for 6. finally the lady was like yeah you made reservations but you're late. then i walked up and said i've been waiting here since reserved time. so she finally gave us the table that was empty the whole time i was waiting. most other places usually offer to ask if you are sure about the number of people you have but she definitely didn't cause she didn't even have a piece of paper to write down all the reservations. when other baller regulars came in, she was so friendly and telling them that they'll get a table soon and unfriendly to all the other walk-ins

-food overall was fresh and pretty good, service was average with the rest of the staff

-fried rice and noodles may be a few dollars more than other places

-$1 tea per person

-still acceptable of the service and may come again

-parking will take a while to find but not as bad as other places

Style: chinese (中式), dim sum (點心) 

Visited on: May 22, 2012