A damp night didn’t dampen enthusiasm of the restauranteurs and patrons for Vancouver Foodster‘s Tasting Plates Chinatown on Wednesday evening. The five eateries, scattered around the neighbourhood, exemplified the diversity in Chinatown as new and old make the National Historic Site their own. From traditional Chinese, to European flavours, to modern Asian fusion, and 35 years face off against 4 months of history.
Checking in at Floata, the traditional Dim Sum & Seafood restaurant, closed off part of their large space for the Tasting Plate diners. While their Tasting Plate of Chow Mein, Egg Roll and Sesame Ball didn’t show off their kitchen to its best, I’ve been to Floata for Dim Sum before and know they’re capable of bringing good flavours to the plate.
The next Tasting Plate brought totally different flavours to the palate, Klaus’s Kaffe Haus. The Coffee and Strudel cafe offered hearty, fair that was perfect for the night’s weather. A quartet of tastes graced their plate; rich Vienna Gulasch Soup, Chinese Strudel (Pork, Bamboo Shoots, Water Chestnut, Mushroom), Asparagus & Mushroom Vegetarian Strudel and a sweet Apple Strudel. All four items were full of flavour and filling, enticing us to want to return for a full-size strudel soon.
Next we wandered over to the longest established Treasure Green Tea Company, on E Georgia since 1981. The welcoming tea shop is pristinely merchandised, like a museum, filled with tea, gifts, accessories and other tea-infused items. The tea hosts prepared and served a trio of Tasting Cups of premium black tea; the 2016 seasonal blend Symphony of Light, sweet floral Romantic Peony and the tart Citrus Melody. As an accompaniment baguette was dipped in Treasure Green Tea’s Camellia Tea Oil, infused with Dragon Ball jasmine green tea reduction.
On Main Street we next found the Le Tigre Food Truck, outside of their restaurant, Torofuku. The truck dished up a plate of zesty fried chicken. Even though it’s called “Don’t Order This Chicken” you really should, order it! The crispy but tender friend chicken was complimented by 7 Spice Mayo, and mixed herb Thai Chilli.
Across the street was the most recently opened participant, Lise Lou’s Chocolate Bar, is a bar that I could regularly be found propping up! The small chocolate, confectionary and ice cream parlour offered a cross-section of their handmade wares. Marc Ice Cream, inspired by their Marc Chocolate Bar – bourbon caramel, marcona almonds, Ruth Bar – strawberry raspberry jelly with crunchy peanut praline, then we got to choose a flavour of Salted Caramel and one of their nearly two dozen signature Truffles
All five restaurants showed their flavours and that the neighbourhood continues to evolve and develop.
If this sounds like a taste excursion, join Vancouver Foodster’s next events, Noodle Mania and during Dine Out Vancouver Festival, Brunch Crawls.