Monthly Archives: December 2013

The Chalet at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Hotel

On Christmas, we went up to Whistler and experienced the Sleigh ride and fondue dinner combo (from $99).
We got there a bit late, around 7pm. It was already dark, and we were the only ones on the sleigh, so we got a private tour.

The sleigh was pulled by two working horses. We were given blankets, and boy was I glad, cuz I was freezing! It was too bad that it was so dark because we couldn’t see much, but we got a ride through the ‘night’ scene of Whistler. The tour guide also sang, making the ride more fun. Be dressed for the weather!

Then it was a 3-course dinner including cheese and fondue & dessert at The Chalet at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler hotel.A very cozy and warm restaurant.

The dinner starts off with salad. Then the fun fondue dining begins with a cheese fondue with vegetables, followed by Fondue Chinoise (broth based) served with beef tenderloin, prawns and salmon. For dessert, chocolate fondue with fruits and marshmallows! :D

The server was very friendly and helpful, especially since our fire kept burning out. The taste was delicious, and since you can cook your meat as rare or well as you wanted, it was perfect. I am not really a chocolate person, but loved the chocolate fondue! Mmmmmm!

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Start off with salad

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Cheese fondue!

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Main fondue Chinoise

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Dessert!

An excellent experience during the winter holidays!

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Gem Chocolates

Gem Chocolates on Urbanspoon

I’m not so much of a chocolate fan. I don’t hate it, but I could live without it. However, with Sheepie who’s become a hard-core hobby-chocolatier, I’ve slowly grown to know more about the difference in tastes. We have gone to several chocolate stores, but I must say, that I actually like Gem Chocolates the most.

It’s a very small shop in Kerrisdale with 4-5 chairs at the counter by the window. The wall is blue, the room is sparse in terms of decor, but there are many selections of chocolates available. The price per chocolate wasn’t listed, but Sheepie got 7 pieces, and came just over $12. I ordered 2 pieces with a small tea latte which came out to be $6.30 (including tax).
When I used to buy Lindt chocolate, I thought they were really expensive…now after going to check out Thomas Haas, Chocolate Arts and Koko Monk, it seems like we’re slowly getting used to getting charged more than $1 per piece. Of course, Lindt is manufactured by the millions, while these local chocolatiers make it by hand.idearabbit_gemchocolates1

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Glenn Knowles – owner and chocolatier

idearabbit-gemchocolates2idearabbit_gemchocolates6Look at all those selections! :D

So pretty!!!idearabbit_gemchocolates5idearabbit_gemchocolates3

  Sheepie bought a lot :P Truly gems!

Glenn Knowles is the owner and chocolatier. Sheepie kept talking to him, not surprisingly (as many chocolatier seems to be), Glenn knows German so they were chatting away in German. Glenn had just been experimenting some new flavours and gave some to us (we came with a group of 5 ppl). The first one was caramel. We tried guessing what the fruit flavour was, and many of us thought it was apple, but it was passion fruit. It was very good. When he knew I was Japanese, he told me he had just gotten some shiso (perilla – herbal leaf) mixed in with chocolate. I’ve had shiso in sushi, salads and pickled vegetables, but would have never expected to go well with chocolate. But surprisingly, it was really good! I hope next time I go back, he’ll have it as an actual chocolate!

I just love how pretty they all look!! From patterns from transfer sheets, to marble looking colours, or sprinkles. Very simple, but cute and designy. For those who are gluten-sensitive, these chocolates are for you! They are gluten-free and made with organic, fair trade chocolates.

Glenn is very friendly, and I love his chocolates! I must go back to try more :)

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I did end up going back again, and this time, I tried the two front  and far right chocolate in the above photo. The famous Berry Blue (the cube with blue transfer sheet patterns on it) tasted a bit alchololic, but none-the-less, ‘berry’ good. ;) Rich in flavour. I love~

The new Shiso chocolate that he was experimenting the last time we were there had been made (far top right), and Glenn told me that he left the actual leaves inside so that flavour was much richer. Indeed. I tried one and I was very impressed. Very unique and tasteful. I wish I could get my parents to try it.

The Caramel Creme (blue dome) had the caramel ooze out as soon as as I bit into it. Mmmm….so fun to taste all the flavours!

Easter Special

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For Easter, I tried his Coconut gelato. OMG! SOOOoooooo good! And I was expecting a small single scoop like many other gelato places, but it was huge! I shared it with Sheepie. My friend also got it and he loved it as well. The best coconut gelato around. I must go back for more…idearabbit-gemchocolate11Of course, being Easter and a creator of IdeaRabbit, how can I not try the bunny decorated chocolate? So cute!!

 Taste: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot    Price for Value: carrotcarrotcarrot

Atmosphere: carrotcarrotcarrot    Service: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrotcarrot
Location: carrotcarrot

Jinya 陣家

Ramen Jinya 陣家 on Urbanspoon

We went to Jinya on a Friday evening around 7pm. I had heard that you had to line up and wait, so was happy to see that we were able to get a table as soon as we walked in. However, it was constantly busy, and there was always at least one group that would wait at the door for 5-10 minutes.

Before Jinya, the location had a different ramen-ya – Ezogiku. They were the early, perhaps even the first ramen-ya here in Vancouver. They used to be really small, and ghetto, but it was really popular as it was the only place you could dine out for ramen. I still remember the cramped 5-6 seating tiny restaurant over back 20 years ago.

Like many popular ramen-ya, there were tables, counters and big tables where strangers sat next to each other as you ate. I really don’t like this style. A ramen-ya is not a place to take your date haha – unless you both agree that you like this eating style. I prefer to get my own private table, and not have to squeeze in between unknown strangers and listen to their conversation.idearabbit-jinya22

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Small selection on menu

I also can not stand the Japanese servers shouting “Ichimei-sama desu” (one person has arrived) and each of the customers orders across the restaurant. The restaurant is already loud enough with customers jam packed into the restaurant. Yes, I am Japanese (sort of lol), but I don’t like it, and usually don’t end up going back (like Guu for example), even though their food may be good. I am just not the hussle bustle, let’s cram into a small area in very loud place to dine. But that’s just me. :P

I ordered the Shio Ramen $9.75 which was quite oily. It seemed that it lacked a bit of ‘koku’, and the men (noodle) was again very thin like Marutama Ramen‘s). Sheepie also didn’t think anything too much of his cold soup-less Tan Tan Men $9.75. With people waiting, they bring you the bill right away, and feels like they expect you to go right away. No pressure right?

idearabbit-jinya25Shio Ramen $9.75

idearabbit-jinya26idearabbit-jinya23Tan Tan Men $9.75idearabbit-jinya24

Will we return? Likely not, unless I’m dragged over by a friend that really wants to go there. One friend said he liked it, but he thinks their ramen is loaded with MSG. He said he didn’t feel too well afterwards. I also talked with another ramen-lover friend, and he said he really liked Jinya. So did this Japanese guy…so I guess it’s just us who’s not really into it… I dunno, I’m into the traditional, simple, not-super oily soup ramen. Perhaps I’m too old fashioned :P

Jinya – Second Round
This time, I went in with my dad for lunch on a weekday. It was still crowded, but not full house. It seemed a bit more roomier and breathable than last time. This time, we sat on a high stool at a big oval table. As we sat down the group at the table got up and left so we had the entire table to ourselves.

A friend had mentioned that the Black Tonkotsu Jinya ramen was pretty good, so I decided I’d give that a try this time. $11.25 (noodles in pork broth with pork chashu, kikurage, bamboo shoots, green onion, seasoned egg, dried seaweed, black garlic oil, garlic chips).

idearabbit-jinya8Black Tonkotsu Jinya $11.25

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idearabbit-jinya9Miso Ramen

This time, I had my dad (a Japanese born+raised) as guidance on how real Japanese ramen is suppose to be. Although previously, I have been complaining about really thin and al dente ramen, after my dad tried it out, he said that ramen was suppose to be thin for shio/shoyu. He ordered the Miso Ramen which had much thicker noodles. I felt both men (noodles) were al dente, but he said it was cooked properly through. This has changed my thinking on ramen. I had always remembered ramen in Japan to be like the ones at Menya. But perhaps I have been wrong. Of course there are tons of different kinds of men and soup base, each location with their unique flavours and texture but perhaps I had gotten use to one type of ramen.

With that in mind, I tried out Jinya’s ramen with a new perspective. Although I wasn’t still too big of a fan of the type of men they used and the soup was a bit too oily, I didn’t think it was as bad as last time. However, the price was a bit outrageous. Even my dad thought it was way too pricey for ramen.

 Taste: carrotcarrot     Price for Value: carrotcarrot

Atmosphere: carrotcarrot     Service: carrotcarrot
Location: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot