Working in the service industry rarely affords me with the opportunity of actually being a customer instead of  just serving one. That all changed last Saturday when my manager called to tell me not to come into work, and to instead go out and enjoy the sunshine ( her actual words!). With a skip to my step and a ridiculous smile on my face I set about my glorious day off. We gathered some of the besties and decided to try Milestones for brunch.

The first thing I noticed was the architecture of the restaurant: the sunlight streaming through the solarium seating area was very cool. We got there at 1pm and the place wasn’t too busy. Immediately we ordered caesars and alcoholic coffees (Hey man, this was a celebration).

The first of only two complaints was that the waiter seemed, at times, to be in LaLa Land. Phil asked for a coffee with no whipped cream, and mango sauce on the side of his french toast. The coffee arrived with whipped cream and the french toast drizzled in mango sauce. We’re a pretty easy-going bunch so we didn’t make a fuss about it. It just seemed odd since our waiter was overly competent with everything else. Then again, maybe he just didn’t like Phil!

My ex-vegetarian gluten-intolerant friend ordered off the comprehensive gluten-free menu: A burger with bacon, and a side salad with lemon chardonnay vinaigrette for $12.99. She said it was amazing to eat a real hamburger again and that it tasted great. Glad you enjoyed it, and welcome back to the club!

Phil had the Strawberry French Toast for $12.99

Thick cut cinnamon vanilla French toast, fresh strawberries, agave syrup and mango cream garnish.

Phil is Mango-phobic, and avoids dishes that come with the exotic fruit. Despite asking for the mango cream garnish on the side  (to dip each bite into, he claimed),it came drizzled all over the plate. But Phil found it surprisingly delicious! I’m happy he enjoyed this breakfast treat, and it looks just as good as it tasted. Using baguette slices instead of bread was a heartier and unique twist on a classic breakfast item.

He also ordered a side of bacon for us to share (thanks Phil!).

Torn between choices, I asked our waiter’s opinion and he suggested I try the Grilled Shrimp California Benedict for $13.99. This was not my first choice, – it sounded kinda weird, and honestly I was hoping he would recommend the Pear and Coconut Pancakes. Alas, his opinion was one of conviction, and I tend to trust staff recommendations.

THE BENNIES WERE AMAZING!

Grilled Shrimp, double-smoked bacon, and house-made avocado salsa over English muffin slices

The shrimps were big and juicy, and they gave you a fair deal of them. The avocado salsa was not over bearing and really complimented the dish. What really rounded out the meal was the Mediterranean salsa served over the breakfast potatoes. It was especially good with a mouthful of the avocado in the Bennie. The hollandaise was alright, not too thick and didn’t overpower the other flavours.

Our other friend ordered the classic Eggs Benedict for $10.99, it looked exactly like mine but less filling. Even if I had wanted to take a photo of it he had devoured half the plate before I got around to taking a picture.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

The prices were reasonable but we all complained about still being hungry. The dishes were beautifully presented and everything tasted great, but we wanted more food! I mean, how much do breakfast potatoes cost to make, really? And only two pieces of fruit per plate? Unimpressed.

The thing about brunch is, you’re hungry enough for lunch but craving breakfast food. You want breakfast priced options but with lunch sized portions, and that was our second complaint about Milestones: tiny portions. Everyone felt this way except Phil, but he has the appetite of a small child, and we were ravenous bears just waking from hibernation.

Taste: 4.5/5
Portion: 3/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5

So, I’ve been having a love affair with peanut butter. Like Franks Red Hot Sauce, I’ve been putting that S#%@ on everything.

The soup is hearty and filling but not overly rich.The chicken stock and mashed potatoes evened out the peanut butter’s thickness and kept it from being too decadent ( if there is such a thing). I really enjoyed it, especially the hint of ginger! Oh, and the chicken was sooo tender!

Rice was the perfect side dish, it balanced out the spice and thickness, and the naan was good for sopping up the sauce. It wasn’t nearly spicy enough for me or Phil, so we added the chili pepper flakes to our bowls. Next time I make it I’ll add more spice during the cooking process.

There are quiet a few steps for making this but don’t let that scare you off!! It’s actually very easy to make, and once you’ve read over the steps you’ll see this can be made in 30 minutes.

The original recipe is from Kayotic Kitchen, and I encourage you to check out the beautiful photos she’s take. She has a lot of the step-by-step photos which made it easy to figure out what to do next. My kitchen has horrible lighting so I don’t take as many “making of” photos. Happy Eating!

Ghanaian Peanut Soup

adapted from Kayotic Kitchen

You Will Need:

1 large boneless skinless chicken breast
1 medium onion
1 chili pepper
1 clove of garlic
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp fresh ginger
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup mashed potatoes
1/2 cup sieved tomatoes
2 cups chicken stock
2 tbps sugar
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp parsley
1 green onion
salt to taste** ( The original recipe calls for 2 tbsp salt, which seems like a lot.  I used 1/4 tsp but use your own taste preferences)

What You Do:

Chop the onion and finely chop half of the chili pepper ( you’ll use the other half for garnish, so cut the chili pepper in small rings). I like spicy food so I made sure to put all the chili flakes into the sauce.

Chop the chicken breast into cubes and set aside.

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pot. Add onions and sauté on medium until slightly translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the chili pepper and crushed garlic (I used a garlic press, Kayotic Kitchen grated it) and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Finally, add you ginger and let ingredients cook another few minutes.

Next, add the 1/2 cup peanut butter, stirring it around a little to help it melt. When melted, add the mashed potatoes and sieved tomatoes. Stir until ingredients form a paste.

Slowly add your chicken stock, whisking as you go. Whisk until mixture is smooth and creamy.

Add 2 tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp chili powder,  1/2 – 1 tbsp fresh parsley, and salt/pepper to taste.

Add chicken cubes and bring the pot to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 15 -20 minutes or until chicken is tender and fully cooked.

Garnish with chili pepper, green onion, and fresh parsley (cilantro works well too). Voila!

Now, for all those Veggie-Fearing Folk: taking out the meat does not mean taking out the flavour – that’s what we have cheese for. Here is a vegetable substituted recipe for pizza snacks - quick, delicious, and easy to prepare.

Zucchini Pizza Rounds

You will need:
1 large zucchini
Homemade tomato sauce, which I have conveniently provided you with a recipe for! The Store bought stuff works too
Parmesan cheese, or the grated cheese of your choice
Any other pizza toppings you might enjoy. I used a finely cut red onion for a little sweetness, and finely cut spinach.

What you do:

Preheat your oven to 400

Slice zucchini into finger-width rounds (Look at those rounds, I found the zucchini at the produce store for like 50 cents! IGA… eat your heart out)

Add a dollop of tomato sauce to each round.
Finely chop whatever pizza toppings you want to include, and scatter over rounds.

Top each round off with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.

Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the parmesan is golden.
Let zucchini rounds cool for 5 minutes, serve and enjoy.

Alternatively, you can make a great non-pizza zucchini snack. Douse zucchini rounds in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and top with parmesan cheese.

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I ordered the Smoked Salmon Terrine. I loved the red onion jam, as it really rounded out the saltines of the terrine. With the grilled baguette this was very satisfying for an appetizer.

Smoked Salmon Terrine with house made red onion jam, grilled french baguette and pickled golden beets

My friends ordered the Flank Steak with Ratatouille. The steak was tender and perfectly cooked, and I especially liked the slight char. The ratatouille was “flavoured perfectly”.  The portion was really small however.

Thinly sliced Flank steak with ratatouille and red wine glace de viand

We debated which entrée to order, each option sounded delicious, however we craved something hearty and ended up all ordering the lamb shank. I did see the salmon leaving the kitchen and felt a pang of regret because it looked very good – however, I was not disappointed with the lamb.

Braised Lamb Shank with sun-dried tomato soft polenta and sautéed haricot verts

The meat fell off the bone it was so succulent, and I loved the creamy polenta/sun-dried tomato flavour combo – that sauce was so good it could have been it’s own dish, I wish there had been more of it! I ordered a glass of the Sandhill Cabernet-Franc, the suggested pairing, and thought it went very well together.

We ordered all three desserts and decided unanimously that the French lemon pie with raspberry coulis and hazelnut whipped cream was the best. It had a tart, fresh (you can almost taste the individual lemons) citrus flavour which was refreshing after the richness of the lamb shank.

I’ve never had bacon in a dessert, so the candied bacon chocolate fudge cake (an important distinction, since the online menu states that this is a fudge, not a cake) sounded like something I should try. The chocolate fudge and hazelnut cream were great. However, I felt the bacon cooked into the cake, although tasty, was underwhelming overall. The pieces were a little too big, so you’d be left chewing on chunks of bacon in the end.

The wild berry parfait with raspberry coulis and white chocolate whipped cream was mediocre, and as my friend pointed out it’s still “just a parfait”. It was a really small portion, despite probably being the cheapest to produce, and only had a scant scattering of berries. It didn’t help that they put such a small portion into such a large cup. At the level of their other fare, if you are going to serve a fruit and yoghurt dessert, it better be amazing.

All in all this was a very enjoyable meal. I will definitely return to The Smoking Dog Bistro as I was impressed with the ambiance and most of the food.

This is it, the most delicious recipe I have ever made. I will never buy pasta sauce again, if I can avoid it, because this recipe from The Little Yellow Kitchen puts them all to shame.

The best part about homemade sauce? Knowing exactly what’s going into the food that’s going into you. Now that I’ve successfully made it once, and know how easy it is, I’ll be making it for years. This recipe is a great template for so many possible sauces.

Second best thing about the sauce: It’s soooo creamy, yet so light - and there’s not even a drop of cream involved! I would be lying if I said I didn’t eat it with a spoon straight from the jar. You will too, trust me.

The recipe makes one brimming jar of sauce. As you can see, I ate it down a bit..

Fiery Roasted Tomato & Garlic Sauce

adapted from The Little Yellow Kitchen

8 tomatoes, cut in half and then quartered (I used Roma)
4 big garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt (what the original recipe called for, however I used just shy of a teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 chicken stock ( or vegetable)
1/4 red wine
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes ( if you like it with spicy like I do)

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350
1) Toss garlic and tomatoes into a large mixing bowl and coat with 1/4 cup olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
2) Pour contents of bowl onto a baking sheet and roast for 1 – 1/2 hours.
3) When tomatoes and garlic are almost finished, let simmer 1/4 cup red wine in a sauce pan.
4) In a food processor (or magic bullet!) add roasted tomatoes and garlic, red wine, 1/4 chicken or vegetable stock, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and the remaining oil. Blend mixture. Enjoy!

I think this sauce would work best over pasta, but I’m going to try it on a homemade pizza tonight!

I spent most of my life hating baked spaghetti, a standard leftovers meal at our house I found dry and bland (sorry Mom!). My issue with baked spaghetti is there’s never enough sauce, and the noodles are always too squishy after being recooked. This recipe calls for a mix of your regular ol’ pasta sauce and Alfredo, double trouble baked spaghetti!  The result, a creamy flavourful and VERY saucy dish. To ensure sauciness only bake the casserole until the cheese starts to bubble on top. Happy Eating!

Double Trouble Baked Spaghetti

Ingredients: Tomato Sauce, Alfredo Sauce, Pasta, Mozzarella Cheese ( or whatever you have on hand), grated Parmesan.
Optional: Red Pepper Flakes, fresh Parsley.

Preheat oven to 350.
1)  Cook pasta in slightly salted water until desired consistency. I used the ends of two bags of pasta – fusilli and rigatoni. It was about 3 1/2 cups in total and we had lots of leftovers. Or, use leftover pasta if you’re trying to clear out the fridge.
2)  Grate mozzarella - the cheesier the better!
3) When pasta is at desired firmness, drain and add to casserole dish. Mix in one jar of tomato sauce and one jar of alfredo. Stir until fully mixed, then cover pasta with cheese.
4) Bake in oven until you see the cheese starting to bubble, about 10-15 minutes. Remove and add grated parmesan.

EAT!

Yes, the season of gluttony is upon us and what better of a way to celebrate than with festive eats. Finger food is a fun feature at a holiday party, who doesn’t like miniature food!? And  it provides the perfect opportunity to try out a few new recipes.

Caprese Popper

I found this inspiring take on a classic at The Party Dress. I love the colours in a Caprese salad, perfect for the holidays, and this presentation gives it a new twist. Because you’re using a whole tomato, it will probably be too juicy for a stand up canape, and no one wants tomato juice/ oil on their party dress. However, as an individually plated appetizer it would be perfect. Check out the website for directions!

Khalua & Pecan Baked Brie

It wouldn’t be the holidays without a little holiday cheer and this Baked Brie recipe sounds scrum-diddly-umptious. The recipe calls for Khalua, but it would be great with other flavoured liqueurs too ( think Amaretto, Peach or your favourite fruit). I absolutely LOVE Brie, one of my fave cheeses because it is so versatile. If you’re craving a less dessert like cheese snack, swap out the pecans for a red pepper jelly spread. I found the recipe on My Life as a Mrs, more great photos and directions can be found there.

Holiday Pancakes

If you have any strength left in you after the 24 days of madness, this is fun idea for a family breakfast. In addition to Christmas morning eggs and bacon, our family has a waffle breakfast sometime between Christmas and New Years. This year I would love to introduce Holiday Pancakes!  Totally time-consuming, but don’t those mini trees look more delicious than regular pancakes?!?

Holiday Pancakes

I found this gem on the Williams Sonoma website, my FAVOURITE cooking/winter store – if only I could live in it!!…. The site is selling the pancake molds with fancy handles but I don’t see why you couldn’t McGyver molds out of cookie cutters. Just remember to grease the insides so the pancakes don’t stick when you remove them. Oh, and don’t burn yourself!

Caramel Popcorn

Colour coordinating food. I need not say more, great way to get in the mood for the holidays. We used to make popcorn garlands to hang on the tree but covering the kernels in caramel and eating them sounds better. This treat also makes a great present, gift wrapped in a mason jar or just in a clear bags with decorative ribbon. Thank Baked Perfection for the recipe.

For the perfectionist, this is the treat for you! No recipe required, just a lot of patience. A mouth full of these would be heaven. Coined by Saucy’s Sprinkles 

Chocolate Chip Stuffed Raspberries

Ingredients: minced garlic and ginger, cornstarch, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, orange zest, orange juice, sugar.

Original recipe here

Marinate beef  while rice cooks. Heat a small bit of oil in the pan, add beef and marinade. Since I wasn’t cooking the steak only reheating it only took a couple of minutes to heat up and for the sauce to thicken.

voila!

2549 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC V5Z
(604) 568-4406
✭✭✭✭✩

Yo quierro La Taqueria, a bustling pinche taco shop specializing in authentic Mexican tacos. Their website boasts of using organic and sustainable products, their two Vancouver locations have line ups out the door, and their menu lets you mix and match your favourites. What isn’t to love?

For $9.50 you get four tacos of your choice, a good deal but still a little on the pricier side. The tacos are small in appearance however filling; if it’s a big Mexican meal you’re craving you will need more than 4, and that’s where it can get expensive… I do wish there was a little more filling, it was just enough to satiate my appetite and then I was done and onto the next one. Heres what I tried:

Al Pastor: Pork marinated in achiote chili with pineapple.

Hands down our favourite. The pork had a smokey char-grilled taste and the pineapples complimented the flavours perfectly.

Al Pastor

Pascado: Grilled seasonal fish with pico de gallo.

No photo, I ate it too fast!

My second favourite because the fish was tender, fresh and the pico de gallo was delicious. A squirt of lime brought out all the flavours.

Carnitas: Pork confit with pickled red onion

This had a subtle pork flavour, but was not as memorable as the Al Pastor. It was visually appealing but lacked a defined flavour.

Carnitas

Beef Fajita: Skirt steak with onions, peppers and cheese.

This was tasty, but didn’t wow me like the other tacos did; something for the less adventurous palate. I added the salsa verde and lime for a little more zest. 

(in the photo below, the Pascado is third from left, the beef Fajita fourth)

 All tacos come garnished with cilantro and a lime.

I will definitely return to La Taqueria, I loved the ambiance (minus the long line/wait) and I would like to explore their menu further.

Everyday from 11am-8pm
gorillafood@gmail.com
604 684 3663
101-436 Richards St.
Vancouver, BC
V6B 2Z4
✭✭✭✭✩

Gorilla Foods is one of those restaurants that believes in the product they’re selling. As all of the food is uncooked, the quality and range of ingredients stands out and defines their innovative cuisine.

When I first heard about this organic/vegan/raw food mecca I was skeptical: sure it sounded cool, but did the food taste good?  I was immediately impressed with the extensive menu offering appetizers and entrées including pizzas, soups, burgers, and pastas (made with a Gorilla Food twist). The open kitchen concept allows you to watch the food assembly, something far more interesting than watching any line cook grill a steak. I was amazed at how their food was prepared and surprised by the versatility of nuts and dates in vegan/raw cuisine.

It was recomended I try the Jungle Coleslaw, “a top ranking cole-salad dressed in a smooth sweet avocado dressing”.

Jungle Coleslaw

It doesn’t seem like a lot of food however it was filling and I left feeling full but not bloated. The dressing had a great flavour profile that exceeded my expectations; it was creamy without being rich, had a sweet element and the sesame seeds added texture.

I followed this up with an Avocado Lime Pie. This was to die for.

Avocado Lime Pie

Avocados when exposed to air turn a darker green/brown, but once I dug into the slice a luscious green interior revealed itself. The lime was tangy and fragrant while the avocado provided a rich creamy consistency.

The “crust” contains brazil nuts, dates and is dusted with coconut and my mouth is actually watering just trying to remember everything about it.

If you’ve got a hankering for something healthy, organic, adventurous and affordable check out Gorilla Food. A well deserved 4 out of 5 stars.