Just Can't Get Enough of Fable

OK, so I know what you might be thinking- hasn't Little Miss Locavore already blogged about Fable before?  Several times?

The answer is yes.  And, while I am not usually in the business of doing multiple posts on the same restaurant, I feel compelled to sing the praises of Fable each time I go because it is just THAT GOOD.  And, as impossible as it may be, it keeps getting BETTER with each visit.

The other reason for the repeat post is that I had a bit of a different Fable experience this time around in that I went with a large group of friends and had a set menu.  At first, I must admit that I was a bit skeptical of the set menu set-up, having been to group dinners at other restaurants before where the food just seemed mass-produced and boring.

But this was not at all the case at Fable.  Instead of receiving ho-hum, cookie cutter food, we were treated to what I would consider as Trevor Bird's "greatest hits", many of which were served family style so that we really got a sense of the magic that Trevor and his team have up their sleeves.  And believe me, every single one of our tastebuds were awed and amazed.

What I was also very impressed by was the quality of the service.  With such a large party, plus a near full restaurant otherwise, things have the potential to go sideways but not at Fable.  Our servers were cool as cucumbers as they took our orders, brought our beverages and food and even honored our every request.  They even took the time to chat with us for a short while and give us menu suggestions. If I did not know better, I would have said I was at a best friend's dinner party.

Although I decided it best to make it a "no-booze" night (had a 24-hr shift coming up the next day!), many at the table were not as boring as I and chose cocktails and wines from Fable's thoughtful beverage list.  The cocktail list is sure to please all-comers, with quite an extensive list of creative cocktails including alcoholic and non-alcoholic.  The wine list includes a vast selection of BC wines by the glass and bottle for decent prices.  I cannot wait to imbibe the next time!

I will not go into too much detail about each dish, as I have already described most of them in previous reviews (see here).  Plus, why would you want to torture yourself by reading about them when you can go and taste them all for yourself?

Our meal started with White Cheddar Cornbread (the special bread of the day) which was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with the perfect amount of cheesy goodness baked in.  I am not usually one to dig into the bread bowl, but there was no way I was missing out on this!

Don't you just love getting an appetizer before the appetizer?  I am not usually an Oyster fan, but because I do not honestly believe that anything bad can come out of Fable's kitchen, I dressed both in the accompaniments of grapefruit+orange segments and pickled horseradish and confidently knocked them back.  Good call on my part- the pairing of the citrus and oyster was divine!

I have had the Chickpea Fritters many times and it never ceases to amaze me how sinfully delicious these are!  The oh-so-crispy exterior will send shivers running through you, as will that creamy, cooling sauce and the tangy pickled onions.

Perhaps one of Fable's most famous dishes is the Canned Tuna, a dish that Trevor Bird prepared during his very successful showing on Top Chef Canada.  This little pot from heaven, made with fresh tuna poached in olive oil, is something that every human being should have on their bucket list to try before they die.  They have had it on the menu since they first opened and, based on its rave reviews, I do not see it disappearing any time soon:)

The third and final family-style appie was the Flat Bread, a perfect sharing plate topped with kale, mushrooms, pearl onions and bacon.  Here is what was left of ours after only a few minutes. Lucky I snapped the pic when I did!

The tasting dinner's main dishes are served individually and there is a choice of four options.  Although the fish I had on my last visit was exquisite, I decided to see go veggie-style and order the Gnocchi.  And was this ever a smart move.  The gnocchi were panfried in pesto so that they really took on a deep, herby flavor.  The texture was what really did it for me- crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside.  The little pillows were dressed up for spring with seasonal veggies including, peas and pea shoots, a beautiful pea puree and meaty mushrooms.  This is spring comfort food at its finest!

Others at the table enjoyed Slow Cooked Spring Salmon (I had a taste-sublime!) and the Steak Frites (those triple cooked potatoes are something, let me tell you!).

As with the appies, dessert was presented family style, and consisted of Gorgonzola Cheesecake and Lemon Meringue Parfait.  Although everyone was admittedly pretty stuffed by this point, these disappeared in record time.  Way to end with a bang!

I agree 100% with the multiple foodie awards that Fable has received for "Best New Restaurant", but I would take it a step further and call it Vancouver's best restaurant overall.  Fable has the whole package - amazing food most importantly, for good value, prepared and served by people who seem genuinely passionate about what they do.

Hats off to you, Fable.

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Crepe Heaven at La Creperie Boheme

It saddens me to think of the number of times I have walked past La Creperie Boheme at the Farmer's Market and have not stood in line (however long!) to wrap my hands around one of their handmade crepes.  And I ask myself why?  Why have I waited until today to take the dive into one of these little delicacy?  I am not sure that I will ever be able to answer this question, but I hope that you will learn from my mistake and try one of their crepes at your first possible opportunity!

And this is an opportunity that you will have to seek out as you will not find a website, a facebook page or even a twitter link.  If you google them, you will come up with a few Yelp and food blogger reviews, and that is about it!  But I think this is all part of their charm!  They remain a little hidden secret of the Vancouver Farmer's Markets (the only place you will find them) for all dedicated market goers like me:)

Their colorful truck will catch your eye from a distance, as will the ever-long line-up!  And you must be patient- these crepes are quite intricate and take a while to make.  But as eager as I was to sink my teeth into my long-awaited crepe, I could have spent hours watching them preparing my crepe, layer by layer, ingredients by ingredient.  It was mesmerizing!

These are not your run-of-the-mill crepes by any means.  While some are more straightforward (ham and cheese, greens and cheese), others are made of very unique combinations of ingredients that are local and seasonal, many of which are from the market.  And they are not stingy with the toppings at all!  The ingredients are layered on carefully, one by one, with tender loving care, and then folded into a thin yet hearty buckwheat crepe.  It is a veritable work of art:)

After major deliberation, I chose the Spinach Sunflower, complete with their own bechamel sauce, tomtato, heaps of iron-packed steamed spinach, beautiful goat cheese, crunchy sunflower seeds and then completed with a mound of fresh greens dressed with vinaigrette.  I was chatting with some Boheme regulars in line who keep coming back for more (why wouldn't you?).  They ordered the Chevre (likely my choice for next time- sweet caramelized onions and goat cheese!) and another quite unique crepe (the name escapes me) with  smoked marlin- fancy that!

Sunflower spinach

Le Chevre

For those who have room for dessert, there are also a variety of sweet crepes available.  I have no doubt that these are delicious too and should not be passed up by anyone with a sweet tooth:)

What a great find this is, and it is yet another reason to come down to the weekend Vancouver Farmers Markets scattered all around Vancouver!  Check out the Vancouver Farmer's Market website  (http://www.eatlocal.org/markets.html) to find the Market nearest you and learn which vendors will be at each location.  

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A Sustainable Seafood Soiree at Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar

1095 Hamilton St  Vancouver, BC V6B 5T4
(604) 688-8078

Tastiness Factor: 7/10

Atmosphere: 4.5/5

Service: 5/5

Locavore approved? YES- dedicated to serving the freshest and the most sustainable seafood possible.  They have an "Unsung Heroes" menu that exposes guests to less well known seafood that is right on our doorstep.  Here is a little exerpt from their menu that highlights their dedication to sustainable seafood:

With so many great new restaurant popping up all over Vancouver lately, I have busy following online reviews and the twitter feed about which I should visit next and then trying frantically to keep up with my "to-go" list .  This weekend, though, I thought we would switch it up a bit and rediscover some old favorites instead.  After a great meal out with friends at Acorn on Friday night (see Acorn review here), Hubby and I were excited for a nice romantic couple's night at Bluewater Cafe on Saturday.

Blue Water Cafe is located in Yaletown, right in the heart of downtown Vancouver.  Yaletown, known as the "yuppie" part of Vancouver, has many hip restaurants and bars and attracts many of the professionals that work nearby.  Bluewater's exterior fits in perfectly with the Yaletown vibe.  It is quite minamalist, with a sea-blue awning and a simple yet sharp sign that draws the attention of passerby.  The interior is significantly more elaborate and the room is much larger than you might expect from the outside.  There are several focal points, including a bar next the entrance where guests can enjoy cocktails, a sushi bar and a large open kitchen.  There is certainly a formality to the space with a hint of a nautical team to make it feel less "stuffy".  As with most restaurants in Vancouver, you will find quite a spectrum in terms of dress, with some in suits and dresses, and others in shorts and t-shirts.

The most impressive part of my dining experience at Bluewater was the impeccable service.  From start to finish, there was not one part of the service that I could find fault in.  From the hostesses at the front, to the efficient and knowledgeable server who took our order to those who brought our dishes,  they all made service seem effortless.   In terms of service alone, there are few places in Vancouver that can measure up to Bluewater.

As previously mentioned, Bluewater had a nice bar where guests can sit and enjoy a drink.  There are is quite a selection to choose from, including a unique cocktail list, a very extensive wine and beer menu (lots of BC wines, at a variety of price points), and an impressive collection of spirits (you name it, they have it!).  Hubby and I have recently jumped on the cocktail bandwagon, and we were eager to see what Bluewater had to offer.  I initally chose to Lowland Mist (auchentoshan, peach puree, allspice and lemon) but unfortunately they had ran out of peach puree so the server redirected me to Jacob's Ladder.  It is gin-based with a hint of chartreuse (a French , herbal-infused liqueur) and lightened with basil and cucumber. Although it was not my drink of choice (I have had many similar herb-based cocktails and was looking to try something new), it was very well-balanced and refreshing. 

Hubby ordered the Kentucky Bramble, a bourbon-based cocktail with blackberry preserve to add a hint of sweetness which Hubby enjoyed very much.

It was then onto the food.  The menu includes more than just the typical appetizers, mains and desserts.  It also has a raw bar section which includes sushi from the raw bar (many come to sit around the sushi bar and enjoy sushi and raw plates for their meal), a "live tank" section for ordering whole crabs and lobster (depending on what is fresh and available), and a "seafood on ice" section including an impressive selection of oysters and their infamous "seafood towers" (quite a site to see!).  There is certainly something for everyone, for every occasion, at Bluewater and one can visit multiple times and have a completely different experience depending on what section of the menu they order from- a "choose your own adventure" of sorts. 

We were first treated to complimentary bread that came with a both a red pepper hummus (I ended up licking this up with a knife sans-bread, much too yummy to leave even a drop behind) as well as a unique seaweed butter with yuzu that my husband was a bit skeptical of at first, but then came to appreciate for its originality.

Hubby, who is likely going to turn into an oyster by the end of the summer since he eats so many, just had to try some of Bluewater's mollusks.  They offer a very impressive selection of oysters from BC, Washington and the East Coast.  Hubby chose the  BC Kusshi Oysters, a smaller variety of oyster that is one of his favorites.  They were extremely fresh, served on ice, with a red wine mignonette and horseradish that really complimented the oyster without being overbearing. 

For my appetizer, I chose the feature appetizer of the night, the spot prawns.  Last year, I felt that I had missed out on spot prawn season, so I really wanted to get my fill during the short season this year.  Lucky for me, we got there just in time and I snagged the last plate of the night! The spot prawns (heads and tails removed) were served straight up, plain and simple, and had a naturally creamy texture.   They were served on a bed of asparagus (including asparagus shoots) and ramps, with a pea shoot garnish, and beneath that, an beautiful green herb puree.  Although it was a very refined and well executed dish, I was dismayed when it disappeared in only a few small bites!  I thought that, for 17.50, it should have had a bit more substance, either by the way of more spot prawns (there were only 5) or more vegetables (would have loved more of that delicious asparagus).

For his second appie of the night, Hubby ordered his second favorite seafood preparation after oysters- the Ahi tuna tataki.  Although it was not quite as he expected (more of a plain tuna sashimi with soy sauce than the more "jazzed up" version that he is used to) there was no denying that the tuna was of top quality and had a wonderfully smooth texture. 

Because Bluewater does seafood so well, I just knew that I had to have their Sablefish, even though I usually stay away from broth-based fish dishes (fish floating in broth just does not appeal to me).  Just as I expected, the fish was absolutely perfect (cooked exquisitely) and after my miniscule appetizer, I was pleased to find a nice sized portion.  But I must say,  the rest of the dish fell flat for me.  Although the boy choy had the surface area to soak up the salty and flavorful broth, the small grains of quinoa floated around awkwardly and were not able to absorb its flavor.  The fish was wonderful but the rest of the dish did not excite me.  

The Qualicum Bay Scallops that Hubby ordered as his main once again demonstrated how skilled the chefs at Bluewater are when it comes to preparing seafood.  The scallops were seared to perfection and almost melted in your mouth.  The citrus sauce was nice and light so as not to overpower the dish.  Again, however, the rest of the plate was a bit of a miss.  Hubby was a bit perplexed by the huge (and I mean HUGE) pile of endive (or were they onions?) beneath the scallops.  It is a good thing he loved onion!  The wild rice griddle cakes were a nice in both texture and flavor but very tiny and left him wanting more.  

Even after the bread, oysters, tuna and scallops, Hubby was still hungry and felt like he needed some starch to satiate himself (and I eagerly dug in too!).  He therefore turned to the sushi menu and ordered the Dynamite roll that I eagerly dug into as well.  Although the big juicy shrimp set this roll apart from those found at the average sushi restaurant, the rest of the roll was a bit last luster and we could not really taste the spicy mayonnaise.  And with only 6 pieces, we were still left with room in our bellies!

In keeping with the outstanding customer service offered throughout the night, we were treated to a nice little sweet bite at the end of our meal.  A very nice touch!

In terms of service, dedication to sustainable seafood and skill in preparing seafood, Bluewater is definitely among the best in the city.  Overall though, I cannot count Bluewater among my current favorite restaurants.  For me, the meal lacked "wow" factor.  With a bill of almost $250 for the two of us, I expected more in terms of quantity, originality and flavor.  While the seafood was undeniably excellent, the rest of the meal just felt a bit flat.  With so many places on my wishlist still to visit, it may be a while before I head back to Bluewater.

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Thoughtful Vegetarian Cuisine at Acorn

Tastiness Factor: 8/10

Atmosphere: 4/5

Service: 3/5

Locavore Approved? YES (nightly "Harvest" dish featuring seasonal ingredients from local farmers, "limited time only" ingredients such as nettles and fiddleheads) but could do even better (Some dishes stay on the menu a bit too long- perhaps a chalkboard would be better so that dishes could be changed more frequently based on local availability of ingredients)

Acorn, opened now for almost a year, was the first to bring the concept of vegetarian fine dining to Vancouver.  Since its opening, other vegetarian joints have popped (Heirloom on 12th, the brand new Graze on Fraser), giving vegetarians more to order than the classic pasta and tomato sauce that appears as the token vegetarian option on many menus.  Acorn has shown that it can hold its own against Vancouver's best and brightest when it snagged an honorable mention in Vancouver Magazine's Best New Restaurant category.  This is not really a surprise considering the head chef, Brian Skinner, has worked at European Michelin star restaurants in Europe including the infamous Noma in Copenhagen, once named as the world's best restaurant.  He then was involved in debuting vegetarian restaurants in London and New York.  We are fortunate to have such an experienced chef back here in Vancouver.

I visited Acorn several months ago with Hubby and had quite enjoyed my meal.  I have been yearning to go back for some time but carnivore Hubby has not been so keen on this idea.  I was very pleased when a couple of work colleagues who had never been to Acorn before wanted to give it a try.  The three of us ladies went on a triple date there last Friday night.

The storefront for Acorn, located just north of King Edward on Main is quite minimalist, but the big acorn on the sign helps in identifying them.  Inside, the decor is simple, with lots of foliage and greenery that reminds me of a rainforest.  They have some unique lighting that kicks up the hip factor.   They have lovely white shutters on the windows that can be opened wide to let in some fresh air on nice nights. Tables are fairly close together but I did not feel too crammed in.  There is a nice bar with a few seats where diners can wait (and there usually is a wait, at least on the weekend) and enjoy a glass of wine or a signature cocktail (see below).  Be sure to make a trip to the washroom while you are there- you will be treated to the sounds of singing birds as you take care of business.  

Unfortunately, service on the night of our visit left a lot to be desired.  While the server that initially showed us to our table was quite friendly, our main server of the evening was rather curt, to the point of  being rude.  After ordering some drinks, we were enjoying some good conversation and were in the mood to enjoy our beverages before ordering food.  This plan did not seem to sit well with our server who interrupted us every couple minutes to take or food orders, getting seemingly more and more impatient each time.  What really took the cake for me was that our menus were whisked from underneath us after we ordered our appies.  When I asked to keep one in front of me so that we could discuss which mains we would order, I was told that menus were to be kept at the side of the table because we would spill something on them and they could then not be used for other guests.  I felt as though I was a child being scolded!  This really left a sour taste in my mouth.

Fortunately, our food arrived in a timely manner and helped to dissipate my annoyance.  We ordered three appetizers and three mains plus one dessert, and shared all of them so that we could taste as many dishes as possible.   Here were our selections for the table:

The wine list is small but has many local options that include some of my favorite wineries (Joie, Blue Mountain).  The prices per glass are quite reasonable.  They also have an abbreviated cocktail list (only 4 creations) but I see that they are looking to hire a new bartender so perhaps this will expand.  Although there is not a whole lot to choose from, I did enjoy the Mirror Lake which was very refreshing (lots of lime and mint) and not too sweet.  Although it was made of bitters, ginger beer and bourbon, it did not have an overwhelming alcohol taste.  It is a very attractive beverage with a pretty rim of red at the top, and the slice of candied ginger on the side of the glass was a nice touch.

Then it was onto the food. We ordered three appetizers and three mains plus one dessert, and shared all of them so that we could taste as many dishes as possible.   Here were our selections for the table:

Kale- One of my dinner companions loves kale and makes a mean kale salad of her own so she was keen on seeing if Acorn's version could stand up to hers.  Fortunately, it did hit the mark.  This play on Caesar Salad was kicked up a notch with tempeh "croutons", crispy capers and strips of asiago cheese. Although it was a bit overdressed for my liking, the dressing had a very pleasant creaminess that was surprisingly light.  This salad could easily be a meal on its own- even this "small" size!

Chickpea- These little crunchy legumes were a great appetizer for the table, especially if you like spice!  The piquillo peppers packed a nice zip and the smoked tomato coulis added even more heat.  The addition of mint added a welcome balance to the spiciness.  I would recommend this more as a sharing dish as it might be a bit too much of the same for one person. 

Fiddlehead- This was a the table favorite of the all of the appetizers and my favorite part of the whole meal.  The fiddleheads were beautiful both in presentation and flavor and they were prepared beautifully. The light butter sauce was cleverly placed at the bottom of the dish so as not to soften the fiddleheads or mask their flavor.  Although I appreciate the fact that the the polenta and the walnuts may have been added for textural diversity, I think that it made the dish too "busy".  The fiddleheads were delicious enought to stand up on their own, especially as a first course. 

Stinging Nettle- What a beautiful dish with so many shades of green!  It was spring on a plate!  I loved the variety of mushrooms (who needs protein when you have all of this mushroom meatiness!) and the gnocchi was cooked beautifully.  I also enjoyed the creaminess of the creme fraiche that laid underneath.  I did think that they went a bit overboard with the number of peas on the plate, and I would have appreciated more of the nettle flavor to come through. 

Halloumi- Although online reviews have given this a big thumbs up, this was by far my least favorite dish.  Hubby ordered this when we went together when Acorn had just opened and he was not a big fan either.  I think the purpose of keeping it on the menu longterm is to appease meat eaters that are "dragged" here by a friend or significant other (kind of like Hubby was) but I think they could do much better.  This dish is just way to heavy and clunky (one bite of that deep fried cheese was more than enough for me!).  The creamy peas and the fried zucchini cake were decent on their own and, combined with lighter ingredients, would have made good sides.  I propose that Acorn try to dazzle self-professed meat eaters with delicious vegetables prepared in creative ways instead of defaulting to the deep fryer!

Havest (israeli couscous, baby carrots, radish, mushroom puree)- The concept of this dish is wonderful in that it showcases seasonal, local ingredients and is what I think Acorn should do a lot more of instead of sticking to the same menu items for months at a time.  I remembered enjoying the Harvest very much on my first visit so I was keen to see what they had in store this time.  Unfortunately, I was a bit let down by the lack of flavor in this particular dish.  There was way too much dry isreali couscous (no need for this much starch!) and the mushroom puree was a bit bland.  I do, however, commend them for bringing together ingredients that highlighted the transition from winter (carrots, mushrooms) to spring (asparagus, radishes) and for letting the vegetables be the focal point.   

 

Lemon- This beautiful, petite dessert that was a welcome contrast to the mostly over-sized appies and mains.  The lemon filling was wonderfully tart and light (a perfect palate cleanser!) and the tart was buttery. I would, however, have liked the taste of basil to be a bit more promient to make it a bit more complex in flavor.  The small meringues and cassis jellies were like little jewels on the plate and really made the dish pop.

Overall, I had a lovely evening out with my very fun (and foodie!) co-workers at Acorn.  The meal was very good in general, but there are certain things that I think could be better.  First of all, I think that some dishes were perhaps over-thought and over-complicated, despite the short and sweet one-worded names as they appeared on the menu.  Although I agree with "jazzing up" the veggies a bit, sometimes more is better and an extra 1-2 elements on the plate would have made it more successful than having 4-5 extra elements.  Secondly, I think that the portions are too large and too much of the same for one person.  I do not believe that they are meant to be sharing dishes but I was very pleased that we shared as I could not have eaten all of any one of those dishes (except maybe the fiddleheads) to myself.  And I usually have absolutely no trouble finishing everything on my plate!

Despite these suggestions, I commend Acorn for starting a new fine-dining vegetarian revolution here in Vancouver.  It is about time that vegetarian food gets the recognition that it so deserves!

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Fusion Tapas at PiDGin- Yet Another Gastown Hotspot

350 Carrall St
Vancouver BC
604.620.9400

Tastiness Factor: 8/10

Atmosphere: 4.5/5

Service: 4/5

Locavore Approved? YES (website describes their efforts to support local farmers and fisherman, and as a bonus they also support their community through local fundraising initiatives.  Seasonal ingredients including spring vegetables and spot prawns.  Nice selection of local beers)

PidGin has been in the news a lot lately, but not for the reasons they had intended.  It opened in February of this year, and pretty much since the beginning of its short life, it has become the victim of protesters fighting back against the gentrification of the downtown East Side.  Their unfortunate location right across from Pidgeon Park, a favorite hangout of the protesters, makes them a prime target.  While this is no doubt difficult for this new restaurant as they aim to break into the ever-growing Gastown restaurant scene, they are not bowing to the pressure as we found out on our first visit there this past Saturday night. 

PidGin is quite unassuming from the outside, and one might walk right past without noticing it if they didn't know better.  Its black exterior with bars on the door may be interpreted as being uninviting, but I think it adds an element of mystery and intrigue that is in keeping with the whole experience.

PidGin's exterior is a sharp contast to its interior, which is largely done in white with dark undertones.  The lighting, desinged and crafted locally, is very unique with lamps shooting off in all directions overhead.  There is a mix of seating options including booths (very comfortable), bar seating, and both low and high individuals tables.  Although the design is avant-guard and hip, there is quite a relaxed vibe which lends itself well to tapas style dining.  There is obviously lots of attention payed to small details such as the stylish heavy white clipboards on which the menus were presented, the chopstick holders that doubled as a chopstick stand and the chic black envelope for the bill at the meal's end.

Service was friendly and attentive.  Our server was helpful in explaining all of our dining options (a la carte, prix fix, snacks).  Bottles of water (free of charge) were always replaced just as they ran out.  My only small criticism is that the space is quite loud and we had trouble hearing our servers' descriptions of the dishes which was pretty important considering the many different elements on the plates. 

PidGin has a nice beverage list, with a selection of unique cocktails, wine by the bottle and by the glass, beer, sake, sherry and single malts.   We had just gone to The Diamond for drinks beforehand for cocktails so we went with wine and beer.  My hubby was especially happy that they offered an assortment of beers from 49th Parallel Brewing which are made just down the road in East Van.

The food concept at PidGin is a fusion of Japanese, Korean and French.  I found the concept somewhat similar to Bao Bei (read more on this here) but a little lighter on the Asian side.  Although some may argue that the trend of fusion cuisine should be long dead, I think that PidGin pulls it off quite well to create quite a unique dining experience.  With some many new tapas-style restaurants opening in the past few year in the city, I think that PidGin is clever in trying to diversify itself.  The menu is also unique in that it offers a wide variety of dish sizes, from snacks to small plates for one, to small plates for sharing to entree size dishes.  This variety makes it amenable to almost any type of dining experience that one may want.  Snacks and drinks after work, a business meeting, an intimate date, a group of friends- they have it covered.  On the flip side, this may also be a bit confusing, as diners may not know which dishes serve their particular needs on any given night as they are all listed in one large list.  We found the task of sorting this out a bit daunting and therefore we took the lazy way out and ordered the premium prix fixe menu ($55/person) and gave control to the chef to send out whatever he so desired (items change daily).

Oyster shot, apple, horseradish- I am not an oyster fan by any means, but this was about as close as I have come to actually liking one.  Hubby, the oyster expert, really enjoyed it.  The apple grenada was superb and its sweetness was nicely balanced by the zippy horseradish.

Spot prawn ceviche with grapefruit and cilantro- I was super excited to get a spot prawn dish as these little gems are available for only a few weeks a year so I need to get my fill now!  This ended up being one of my faves.  The spot prawns were undeniably the star of the dish with a light sauce that complemented rather than overshadowed them.  The sourness of the grapefruit gave the otherwise mild dish a nice little kick.  The presentation was beautiful.

Beef tartare, wasabi tobiko, miso cream cheese, cucumber- Hubby has had his share of beef taratre and he enjoyed this version.  While if was not the best he has ever tasted, he commented on the smooth texture which was contrasted by crispy tobiko and frozen cucumber (this was cool).  Cream cheese was unexpected but surprisingly worked well with the other elements.  

Rice crackers, sweet soy anchovies- A co-worker had recommended this little snack so I was pleased to receive it as part of our tasting menu.  Unfortunately, it ended up being my least favorite dish.  I found it quite clumsy.  Some of the rice crackers were broken into such small pieces that they could not act as vehicles to get the salty little anchovies to one's mouth, so I was puzzled as to how best to tackle it.  Furthermore, I found the anchovies to have an off-putting texture.   Having said this, hubby had a different opinion and really enjoyed the dish, mostly because of its extreme saltiness.

Parisienne gnocchi, radishes, sorrel- This dish, another of my favorites, was served in a very delicate and pretty manner, and then we were told to had to stir before eating to meld all of the flavors and textures.  The gnocchi were some of the softest and lightest I have ever had.  The thinly sliced radishes were not only beautiful but also added a nice crunchy texture.  The sorrel was the main component in the sauce (what a pretty color!), which was light yet surprisingly complex in flavor.

Mushrooms, sugar snap peas, egg, soy yuzu brown butter-This was the table favorite, ever for the meat eaters!  The egg was wonderfully salty and it paired perfectly with the meaty mushrooms.  The snap peas were super fresh tasting.  Simple in concept, but again a very complex dish that came together just right.  

"Dan dan" kohlrabi noodle salad, tofu, almonds- This was a light dish, with "noodles" made of kohlrabi, which was well placed before the next two entree-sized dish that was next to come. The sauce was a nice mix of salty and sweet.

Scallops, fried polenta, brussel sprouts, XO, caper raisin- Although this dish had some high points, the scallops sadly overcooked (a major no-no in my books).  They did, however, have a nice sear.  The fried polenta was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside but was a bit dry (could have used a  sauce).  I did quite enjoy brussel sprouts (both leaves and stems) which were brilliantly green and fried to perfection.  All elements were good but there was no real wow factor and the components were not tied together.

Half duck, carrot cake, oranges, spices- This was another table favorite.  There were two different preparations of duck on the plate (confit under sliced duck) and both were succulent.  The portion was very generous.  The carrots which were cooked in duck fat were amazingly tender and flavorful.  The  carrot cake crumble and puree was unique and delicious (tasted just like carrot cake!).  The hint of orange added a welcome lightness to an otherwise heavy dish.  This was a home run.

Meringue, yuzu curd, vanilla, celery- This was, in my opinion, the perfect dessert- light, refreshing, and a great palate cleanser.  The yuzu curd tasted like a more pungeant lemon curd and the vanilla bean creme was amazing (could have eaten a bowl of this!).  The celery was a bit of a throw-away as there was not really enough of it on the plate to have any substantial impact.  Celery excluded, this was really special!

A caution to those who are watching their pennies- PidGin is not a place to go on a budget!  Our meal came to almost $200 when it was all said and done.  Perhaps a bit excessive for the amount of food that you get.

PidGin obviously strives to push the boundaries with unique, unexpected combinations of ingredients prepared using a variety of cooking techniques.  While such complexity has the potential to result in confused and disjointed dishes, I thought that, for the most part, PidGin succeeded in making balanced dishes in which the natural flavors of the ingredients still shone through.  In addition, the atmosphere and the menu is well suited to a variety of different dining experiences, from date to work meeting to a group of friends out for drinks.

Glad to welcome PidGin as another great addition to ever-growing fleet of Gastown foodie destinations!

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