Enriched @ the Pourhouse.

After Salt Tasting Room, we decided we didn’t want to leave each others company… so what do we decide to do? we eat and drink again. Walked a block or so and landed in Pourhouse – known for their really great old style cocktails, and delicious menu. I don’t know what possessed us to order a charcuterie plate, which is EXACTLY what we just ate, but we did… with a side of fries.

The Charcuterie Plate was a wonder! it came with their home made bread, a salami, housemade proscuitto, a pate, house pickled veggies, and housemade cauliflower relish. Every piece of this was incredibly delicious, and the bread came slightly warmed (which I really appreciated).

CHARCUTERIE PLATE – Pourhouse, Vancouver.

Atmosphere: Busy, Dark, Old-fashioned Bar.
Food: 5 out of 5 yums.
Service: 5/5.

http://www.pourhousevancouver.com

Salt Tasting Room of Wonders.

It’s always a good thing to reconnect with old friends, but it’s always a great thing to do it while eating great food. Hazel suggested that we try out Salt Tasting Room in Gastown, I’m glad she did because it was – to say the least, a culinary experience. Upon walking in I was completely transfixed on the giant chalkboard wall, which included the daily specials. Then I sat down said hi to everyone, and quickly paused and interrupted the conversation with “omg, have you seen all the pigs in this place?” to which everyone turned around and then turned at me and then shook their heads (oh lissa).  The tiniest details excite me, and Salt decided to adorn their brick and wood décor with porcelain piggy banks, and giant pigs grinning. COME ON! Who doesn’t like a grinning pig? Anywho, we sat down and the server gave us the break down of how this all worked.

The break down:
Choice of meat or/and cheese + condiment, and if you want a flight of wine.
– a BUTCHER PLATE = 3 meats + 3 condiments.
– a CHEESE MONGER = 3 cheeses + 3 condiments.
– a BEST OF BC  = 3 locally produced items + 3 condiments.

Remember that big chalkboard with the daily specials? Well you can choose from that for your amazing culinary experience OR if you’re super indecisive like me, you can leave it in their professional hands.

I ordered the Best of BC plate, and a set of wine flights – which I also let them choose. Glad I did, because the end product was pretty amazing. You’re supposed to eat the meat/cheese with the corresponding condiment and corresponding wine. It’s truly a neat experience, and the pairings are supposed to compliment each other to create a utopia of flavors in your mouth.

Here is my final product:

– (meat/cheese) + Condiment + Wine
– Local Chevre + Similkameen  Honey  + Pantape Sauv Blanc.
– Matador & Garlic + Spicy Apple Chutney +Arrowleaf Gewurztraminer.
– Pork Rillette + Guinness Mustard + BS Rose.

I don’t even know where to start or if I should start at all, because everything was perfect.. no lie.  I’m going to make the executive decision to not write about how delicious everything was and suggest that you go there immediately.. like right now if you can.

BEST of BC PLATE – Salt Tasting Room, Vancouver. 

The portions look extremely small but everything is eaten on bread and crackers and its actually really filling. Being full often doesn’t matter when it comes to the word “dessert”. She said goat cheese cheesecake and I said “yes, please”.  It was topped with salted caramel and mixed berries. Firstly it came in a baby mason jar, I’m a sucker for food and or drinks in mason jars. Cheesecake made with goat cheese is genius, it was so creamy with the hint of goat cheese flavor, and not too sweet. Unfortunately we were unable to find the salted caramel in the cheesecake, but the berry compote on top was very delicious. The only negative I had with this was on top of the cheese mixture there was the crumb, sadly it was a nitty gritty kind of feel – we all felt it was a little strange and tasted like sawdust in our mouths.

GOAT CHEESECAKE – Salt Tasting Lounge, Vancouver.

Overall a winner!

Atmosphere: Very nice, and lots of cute PIGS!
Food: 4.75 out of 5 yums (not a 5 cause of the sawdust).
Service: 5/5. So knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating.

http://www.salttastingroom.com/#menu

Finch’s.

We Ran the seawall, and it was kind of a perfect day for it – cloudy with the sun peeking through ever so often. It was nice and breezy, but warm where the sun was hitting. On our run we found this little gem – thought it was a nice little homage to loving Vancouver.

VANCOUVER LOVE – English Bay Seawall, Vancouver.

So today has been an exceptionally delicious food day! After our run around the sea-wall we decided to meet up with Hazel, and she mentioned she wanted to try Finches Tea & Coffee House in Gastown. Just like Acacia Fillo Bar, I was extremely happy to have landed here during my day.

Walking into Finches, it was a total hipster lunch spot, the atmosphere was buzzing with conversation, and the decor was very eclectic. The main wall behind the bar had chalkboards that were set in gold frames – and the chalkboards were filled with the daily specials. There were communal tables, and the wall was filled with many interesting things to look at. We sat near the communal coffee extras, and at that moment they were making cookies on the bar (I was transfixed, and it took every power in me to not stand up and grab one).

We lined up at the bar, and ordered our sandwiches – I ordered the Roasted Walnut, Pear & Blue Brie Cheese. Yeah I know, even the ingredients scream delicious – like you automatically know its going to be tasty. I also bought the daily soup which was a tomato, roasted pepper & paprika soup. There was complimentary cucumber, and lemon water which I really appreciated. I don’t understand why more restaurants don’t do this, its something so small that people really enjoy.

My food came to the table, and for the second time in one day I was in awe and shock. The soup arrived first, and I was pleasantly surprised at the consistency of the soup, and the flavours that erupted in my mouth when I took my first sip. Aurora and Hazel kept saying they could smell the soup from where they were sitting, and it reminded them of what Nonna used to make. Theres nothing I appreciate more than when a smell or taste can take you back to a fond memory, its amazing to me.

TOMATO, ROASTED RED PEPPER & PAPRIKA SOUP – Finch’s Tea & Coffee House, Vancouver.

As I was complacently sipping away at my soup, the server came with my sandwich, and I don’t even know what to say about this. This sandwich has hit the top of my sandwich list, and I will be back for it in a few days I am sure. It came on a french baguette, and had a layer of pears on the bottom with pieces of blue cheese brie, a generous amount of proscuitto, and a handful of moist walnuts, and topped off with oil and balsamic vinegar. The saltiness of the proscuitto, the creamyness of the brie, the sweetness of the pear, and the moist and added crunch from the walnuts it was pure bliss. I can’t even explain it, it was seriously the most delicious sandwich I have ever had. HANDS DOWN! that is all.

PROSCUITTO, PEAR, WALNUT, & BLUE BRIE – Finch’s Tea & Coffee House, Vancouver.

Drool, just drool, its ok no one will judge you.

Atmosphere: Busy, but obviously.
Food: 5 out of 5 yums.
Service: 5/5.

http://www.finchteahouse.com/menu.htm