LUNCH MUNCH - McCORMICK & SCHMICKS SEAFOOD RESTAURANT - BELLEVUE WASHINGTON

I popped by Bellevue recently to pick up a few things from the wonderful Bravern, thus going to one of my favourite venues for lunch. I always spare an hour to visit McCormick & Schmicks when I come Bellevue. I love the clean wooden decor, complete with textured glass, wine displays and individual private booths. The nautical feeling of this restaurant is fine and inviting, truly completing my vacation mood. 

Clearly this restaurant is very photogenic!

We ordered:

Smoked Salmon Benedict - Smoked Salmon Lox Topped with Poached Eggs and Hollandaise

Crispy Fish Tacos - Cilantro Aioli, Southwest Jicama Slaw, Charro Beans 

The bread tasted like a sweet blueberry cake! It was quite a delightful addition to the meal. Overall, the food is pleasant to average. I am hesitant to try their dinner, but for $11-15 a lunch entree, complete with such a lovely atmosphere, the M&S company never ceases to disappoint me. 

700 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425-454-2606

Brunch Munch - THE DISTRICT SOCIAL HOUSE - NORTH VANCOUVER LONSDALE QUAY

I always think Fish and Chips when I go to Lonsdale Quay. But one sunny mid morning, I was starving like a monster, I passed by The District, and took on the courage to try something new. I was surprised. 

AMBIANCE | I sat outside on a sunny day.  The table was sticky. But thats okay, it was the expected. The one thing that annoyed me the most was the slow service. The restaurant was busy. But sitting in the patio put us in a terrible disadvantage because the waitresses were sometimes more caught up with customers inside. But it was a nice day, I was okay with waiting.

  

We ordered - 

Brunch Benny

Breakfast Migaz

FOOD | Apparently the Brunch Benny is widely popular, I heard two other tables around be informed that it was sold out. I guess I got the last one. I understand why it is so popular, it was so good! The herbs, garlic and sausages, complete with a half cooked egg benny, drizzled with some inhouse sauce was perfect. The fries with some fresh tomato sauce, tabasco and ketchup were the best comfort food I have had in a while. The Migaz was braised beef stirred together with potatoes and eggs. I am not a fan of braised beef, but the sauce was amazing. Overall, a very very well put-together brunch. I see myself driving all the way to North Van just for its brunch. I loved it. 

13 Lonsdale Ave
North Vancouver, BC V7M 2E4
778-338-4938

TRIP GUIDE - SUSHI DAI - TSUKIJI FISH MARKET TOKYO JAPAN

I have never in my life, waited in line, standing on my feet for FOUR HOURS. 

But for the legendary Sushi Dai, I woke up at 2:30AM, and had the meal of a lifetime. 

TRIP GUIDE SUSHI DAI |We finished our Tuna action around 5:50AM and sprinted to Sushi Dai. I saw a line of people (say around 40-50) and thought people were waiting for the bus. When we got to Sushi Dai we saw approximately 20 people in front of it, then obaasan scolded us to another line - what I thought was the bus line. Obaasan kindly informed us that the current wait time (at 6:00AM) is 4 HOURS. We really waited for 4 hours and ate around 9:45. Sushi Dai closes at 2pm sharp, So if you plan on arriving anytime after 8:30AM, I say you'd probably will not get in. You need to expect at least a 3-4 hour wait time. The line only gets longer and longer, and there are only 13 seats in the restaurant, people after us were waiting anywhere close to 4.5 - 5 hours. 

SUSHI DAI | I have heard puns everywhere that Sushi Dai is "Sushi to Die for". I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. I honestly believe Sushi Dai is as close to the word "fresh" as anyone can ever eat. The fish are perfectly translucent and my clam was still moving when served. The moment we entered the restaurant we were greeted with multiple "thank you for waiting! arigatougozaimasu!". Because there were only 13 people in the restaurant, the chefs were able to connect and interact with everyone - such as asking "where you from!" or "how do you enjoy your stay in Japan!". The chefs are so cheerful and I suddenly forgot I just stood on the street for 4 hours.

Sushi Dai is expensive, but the entire journey here in the Tsukiji Fish Market (see previous blog post) has been unforgettable. The adventure beginning at 2:30AM until waiting in line for 4 hours, with nothing to do we were literally playing rock paper scissors for an hour, we could only wait for time to pass slowly. But the anticipation only made Sushi Dai more delicious. The desire for the hyped sushi and the feeling of seeing the sushi only to still be counting the hours until it is finally in my mouth. But Sushi isn't only famed for its line and extravagance, its quality lives up to its name and reason why it IS famed and extravagant. Four hours is alot of time, but by the time we left Tsukiji it was only 11:00AM, for some tourists, its only the beginning of their day. 

There are two course choices of "trust the chef" (3900 yen/ $51 CAD) or "standard"  (2500 yen/ $33 CAD). We just waited 4 hours, its a no brainer for us to pig out on the deluxe menu. The Chef menu or "Omakase" consisted of 10 nigiri sushi, 4 sushi rolls, tamago (sweet egg) and one extra item of your hearts pleasure. We even added on 2-3 more sushi each on top of the regular menu. 

Otoro/ Tuna Belly/ Fatty Tuna

Hirame

Miso Soup

Uni/ Sea Urchin

  

Aji/ Horse Mackerel

 

Ika/ Squid

Akagi/ Red Clam

Lean Tuna

 Shira Ebe/ Baby Shrimp

 Tamago/ Sweet Egg

 Unagi/ Sea Eel

 Scallop

 Otoro/ Fatty Tuna (again!)

Brunch Munch - SUVAI RESTAURANT - KERRISDALE VANCOUVER

Suvai is a sweet and cozy restaurant, with a sidewalk patio decorated with garden benches and flowers. As we sat on the side-walk patio, covered under an arch of leaves and blossoms, I temporarily lost myself and thought I was in some place outside Vancouver - probably in Paris or Nice. I can absolutely picture this local and home-ran bistro to be sitting exactly off the streets of France and Montreal.

AMBIANCE | I love local bistros with small wooden tables, white table cloths and shiny silverware. Though it sounds like I am describing a majority of restaurants, Suvai has its own cozy flavour. I shall let the pictures speak its volumes. 
While I has having brunch, next to us sat an older couple, each drinking their orange juice and having a great time. As kill-joy as I was, I was actually playing on my iPad and eating my omlette and the same time. I was promptly interrupted by the older couple, and we actually engaged in a warm conversation as the older gentleman was thinking of purchasing a tablet and wanted to know our feedback! Vancouver is certainly a friendly city, but the atmosphere of Suvai certainly sets up an even more warm and neighborhood enviroment.

FOOD | I have nothing much to rave about the food here at Suvai. The omlette and eggs Benny were of the expected. Portion size was decent. I say the atmosphere certainly increased the food presentation, as the warm feeling of Suvai certainly adds happiness and enjoyment to the meal. 
I have heard that dinner prices at Suvai are leaning rather high, but brunch for $10-18 sounds reasonable to me.  I say, the next time you decide to go for brunch at good old chain Boathouse again, why not give local Suvai a try? The price ranges are similiar, and Suvai's atmosphere is a worth a visit on its own.

We ordered:

Bacon Eggs Benedict

Omlette and Toast

Side of Sausages

2 glasses of Orange Juice 

2279 West 41st Vancouver

V6M 4L3
604-261-4900