As I spend more and more time sampling the gastronomic offerings here in New West it is becoming apparent that Piva Modern Italian is probably the best this city has to offer.

Well at least for those of us with slightly more refined palates that is.

Sure, if all you want is a simple plate of spaghetti you can go across the street to the “Factory” for that.

But don’t be surprised when you find yourself less than thrilled with your food.

The good pasta place is Piva.

And I have a craving for good pasta tonight.

But before we get to the main event we are starting with the Caprese Salad.

Tomatoes, mozzarella, basil with olive oil and balsamic drizzle

So simple, so delicious.

Strong basil flavour complements the mild mozzarella and both pair well with the acidity from the tomatoes and balsamic.

A very nice start.

Which was followed by a beautiful pasta dish.

Perfectly cooked prawns and scallops (and pasta) together with an incredible white wine tomato sauce made a delicious dish with multiple levels of flavour.

Sweetness from the seafood added a surprising initial taste which preceded the bright, fresh tomato sauce.

Tonight’s pasta dish satiated my craving completely. And only further confirmed my suspicions about the best place to eat in New West.

9/10

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Honestly I’m not even sure how I ever found the place. I happen to be walking by on my way to the chocolate shop and found this place completely by accident.

It really doesn’t look like much from the outside does it?

But inside you will find it a comfortable and warm atmosphere that’s very well appointed when you compare it to the outside of the building.

While it is a very nice spot though, we are here for the food.

One thing I have at every Thai restaurant I go to is Crispy Shrimp Wontons. It’s my baseline. Is it weird that every Thai restaurant I’ve ever been to has had crispy shrimp wontons?

These were about as good as they get.

Hot and crispy right out of the fryer, served with a sweet chili sauce. The marinated shrimp had a really beautiful flavor and that crunch is fantastic.

Here we have Tom Yum soup. This is a new dish for me.

When you try new things sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Well we all lost on this one.

Not only were the prawns overcooked and chewy, the hot and sour soup base didn’t appeal to us at all.

The upfront sour taste was there, but there wasn’t that subtle sweetness you’d expect.

We did win with another new dish to us, Massaman chicken curry.

This curry is a little different than other Thai curries I’ve had.

There’s a warmth from spices in this curry, more similar to Indian curries that the yellow, red and green Thai curries I’m more familiar with. Like the other Thai curries it does have slight sweetness that coconut milk imparts. As is the custom, it is served with Jasmine rice.

Our last dish tonight was Fried rice with chicken.

A very mild flavour, but more flavourful than most Chinese fried rice dishes I’ve had. Lots of yummy vegetables and a good portion of chicken in there. Solid dish. Didn’t blow me away though.

Overall, a very nice meal in a very nice spot, quite unexpected. We will be back for sure.

8/10

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I like OEB at Brentwood but lineups at this time on a Saturday are probably 2 hours long,. Neither of us is willing to wait that long, even for a breakfast as good as OEB can dish up. After a quick Google search we decided on Eggbomb+ at the City at Lougheed.

Walking in I get a distinctly Asian vibe. It’s very modern inside with lots of bright lights and shiny white surfaces. But it was the Minion figure at the seating area that was a dead giveaway. And then we saw the robot delivering food. Next dead giveaway.

After waiting only 10 minutes to get a table we were presented with the small novel that is their menu.

Fortunately it’s half pictures though so decision making won’t be too bad.

I’m starting today with a Banana Latte.

That was surprisingly good. Too often banana flavoring can be very artificial but in a coffee it didn’t come across that way. And the caramelized banana garnish is a really nice touch.

For breakfast I had Eggs Benedict.

It is served, very untraditionally, on a piece of sourdough bread.

For most of my life I’ve always avoided ordering and eggs benedict if it wasn’t served on the traditional English muffin. I had too many bad experiences.

But recently as more and more non-traditional versions have been popping up I have ventured out and tried them. With varying degrees of success.

I had a surprisingly good Eggs Benedict on cornbread at El Santo.

I had an absolute terrible Eggs Benedict on focaccia bread at Piva.

Today’s version was quite good. Would I rather it be on an English muffin?

Yes.

But as an alternative this wasn’t all that bad.

The eggs were cooked very well, I always ask for a very soft poach now to avoid overcooked eggs.

The Hollandaise was good enough to be indistinguishable between freshly in-house made and a packet powder-based sauce.

The potatoes were crispy and very tasty. Personally I could do without the salad but it was okay.

Merilynn had a breakfast sandwich with prawns.

This missed the mark a bit.

The brioche was sliced way too thick. It would be difficult to try and pick this up and eat it.

What she disliked the most was the yogurt inside the sandwich. A plain Greek yogurt would probably have been quite good but they added a flavored yogurt and it ruined the overall flavour balance of the sandwich. But on a positive note the prawns were very well cooked.

So how does EggBomb+ rate in the breakfast world?

Overall pretty good I would say. 

The service was excellent. The food was good. It’s just not my favorite atmosphere.

7/10

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Boodles Gin is a dependable and well-crafted London dry gin that delivers a solid, traditional experience. Its aroma is clean and classic, featuring juniper as the star, supported by soft herbal and earthy undertones. There’s a subtle hint of spice that adds a pleasant warmth to the nose.

On the palate, Boodles is smooth and mild, with juniper leading the way, complemented by coriander, angelica, and a whisper of citrus. Its flavor profile is straightforward and balanced, making it an excellent choice for gin purists who appreciate simplicity. However, it may lack the complexity or bold character that some gin enthusiasts seek.

This gin performs well in traditional cocktails like gin and tonics or martinis, where its clean profile can shine. While it may not stand out in more adventurous or flavor-forward cocktails, it’s a reliable choice for everyday use.

Overall, Boodles Gin earns a 7/10 for its quality, approachability, affordability and classic style. While it doesn’t push boundaries or deliver extraordinary depth, it remains a respectable and versatile option for fans of a traditional London dry gin.

BCLD $29.99

7/10

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Amalaya wine is truly a remarkable experience for the senses.

This Argentine gem, known for its vibrant and unique character, offers a delightful balance of fruit-forward flavors and smooth, well-integrated tannins.

The Malbec-based blend presents rich notes of ripe berries, complemented by hints of spices and subtle oak. Its deep, expressive color and smooth texture make it an excellent companion for a variety of dishes, from grilled meats to hearty stews.

Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or just starting your wine journey, Amalaya offers a memorable and enjoyable sip every time.

Highly recommended!

The post Amalaya appeared first on Gregs Food Blog.

Now I have had them some before but it’s always been in an a la carte style restaurant.

Today we are going for the trolley service style and this will be my first time experiencing that.

The first thing to note about this place is the sheer size of it.

There’s got to be 100 tables in here.

The second thing to note is the diversity of the people eating here. Or should I say lack of diversity of people eating here.

In today’s day and age a lack of diversity would usually be considered a bad thing but when it comes to finding good ethnic foods I’m looking for a distinct lack of diversity.

We didn’t see very many white faces in here. Which indicates to me we’re in for some excellent food.

The only thing I’m going to skip for sure today is the chicken’s feet. I’ll eat a lot of different stuff but for me that’s one food that just doesn’t grab me.

So if you don’t know what trolley service dim sum is…. Servers walk around the restaurant with trolleys piled high with different types of dumplings, noodles, rice dishes, spring rolls, etc.

You can take what’s there or wait for the next trolley. Every few minutes another trolley comes by with different food and you just keep eating till you’re full.

And we did.

I didn’t take pictures, these are off their menu.

Spring rolls, steamed pork buns, pork and shrimp dumplins, egg tarts, chow mein and sticky rice in lotus leaves.

Everything was excellent.

But the experience is what makes it really great.

And it was a great experience.

8/10

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But it was closed. Posted hours indicated it was open but definitely no one was there.

All right, what else is around here?

Pasta Polo isn’t too far, and it’s been a little bit since we’ve been there. Good enough.

Have you ever been served at a restaurant by someone who is just a little bit too good at their job.

Annoying almost?

I’ve had some incredible service at restaurants. Hell’s Kitchen being a prime example. The service there was perfect. They knew when to be there and when not to be there. How much to say and how much not to say. It really was something to behold.

Our server today did provide very good service. But they just encroached a bit too much and overspoke a little too often.

And funnily enough I had this server the last time I was here also.

But all that aside we were here for the food.

Prawn Penne Carbonara.

I have always enjoyed this carbonara here. It’s not a real carbonara. It’s a cross between a carbonara and an alfredo I think. But it’s still excellent. Fresh in house pasta always makes a difference.

The whole dish was cooked well. I think it’s just bacon, not pancetta or guanciali, but it works well. The pasta is creamy and very flavourful. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, not robbery at all.

I decided to have the Baked Cannelloni.

Which was a very good choice.

Veal, herbs and cheese stuffed pasta in a wonderful marinara that’s maybe as good as mine. Maybe.

Often in tube pasta dishes the filling can be very dry but Pasta Polo’s version is not. And just look at all that gooey, crispy mozzarella cheese on top.

Finished off with some fresh cracked pepper and a big helping of grated parm and you have a really nice meal here.

As usual Pasta Polo did not disappoint.

8/10

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And in the Coquitlam/Port Moody there is no shortage of them.

Tonight is my first time at Mariner.

It’s a nice little spotbut maybe not the best location. I much prefer brewery row.

At any rate, to the beer!

I started with a dark lager.

It may look heavy but it’s not.

This is such a great beer. Chocolate and caramel flavours but in a light, refreshing beer.

I also had a Mango Ale.

This is a perfect summer Ale. Even in December.

The mango comes flavour come through perfectly. And apparently it’s low carb. It certainly doesn’t taste it

Then the pineapple coconut sour.

I did get some coconut but the pineapple was so subtle you wouldn’t know it’s there if it wasn’t on the menu description.

Not ok sour either.

Some breweries really take the “sour” to an extreme. And make their beer undrinkable. This was just sour enough to be good.

Got a Smash burger to go with all that beer from the food truck parked outside

Smash burgers are not my favorite. I prefer a thick, juicy burger. But it did the job.

The beer was good, the burger was fine, the atmosphere is nice, but the location sucks. I really prefer brewery row by Rocky Point.

7/10

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Unfortunately this visit didn’t go as well.

To start with it was a grey, somewhat miserable day.

The coffee was good. The view not so much. And much too chilly to sit on the great patio today, even with the heaters.

As for breakfast, the chefs (there were 3) weren’t paying much attention this morning.

Absolute minimum amount of Hollandaise. The eggs were overpoached. The bacon just a bit too crispy and the English muffin completely dried out. I’m guessing par toasted and then finished just prior to serving.

All three of them probably had a hand in this abomination.

Merilynn has the granola and yogurt.

The granola was really good, but the yogurt was plain Greek style. A vanilla or honey yogurt would be much better.

While it is a nice spot the horrible attempt at making Eggs Benny today might make this visit to Keenan’s our last.

4/10

The post Keenan’s at the Pier appeared first on Gregs Food Blog.

This beer is a little hard to pin down.

It’s dark like a stout (it’s an ale) but it’s really light on the palette. (like an ale)

Normally with a dark beer you get a very heavy drin, I can only drink one or two Guinness myself.

But Dark Matter is a completely different story.

You get that chocolatey, toasted flavor but a very light and creamy beer.

It has fairly low ABV at 5.3% so you can have a few and not get plastered.

I’ll definitely be keeping these in the fridge from now on.

9/10

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