‘Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love.’  To some, this describes the perfect man.  To others, like me, it illustrates the perfect coffee served at 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters, located at 2152 West 4th Avenue.  The rich aroma of roasted java was lingering heavily at yesterday’s announcement that 49th Parallel and Chip & Shannon Wilson (founders of lululemon and imagine1day) have teamed up to raise money for Ethiopian school children, by serving one of the world’s most rare and expensive coffees from that country: Sidamo Nekisse Micro Selection.

This coffee is grown in volcanic soil at an altitude of 1800 meters – clearly rendering it exceptionally scarce and worth the $30 49th Parallel charges for 12 oz.  The few cafes serving the pricey coffee by the cup are charging addicts $12 a hit.  Clearly the brewing process, which looks more like a beautiful science experiment, is complicated.  A sip of amazing coffee with a bite of a fresh baked good is heaven.

As I entered the media circus, the soft, buttery smell of croissants hit me.  I hoped the odor would linger on my clothes, as Chip and Shannon Wilson said it might.  49th Parallel’s chocolate sour cherry torte is another of my baked favorites.  100% of the pricey coffee’s net proceeds will go to Ethiopian children – the perfect excuse for you to splurge today.

You should follow me on twitter @erin_ireland and check my website erin-ireland.com.

Ciao for now.

Vancouver’s Market by Jean-Georges is located in the Shangri-La Hotel at 1128 West Georgia Street.  It is costly but creations by the three-star Michelin chef are well worth the green.  Don’t you love extra chilled prawns?  Almost as if they were thrown into the freezer for five minutes.  They become seriously refreshing and somewhat firmer; yet retain their extraordinary succulence – especially when drenched in a whipped avocado champagne dressing and dusted with paprika.  ’More prawns, please?’  Two chilly crustaceans were not enough.

Here is the Red Snapper with a piquant nut and seed crust, bathing in creamy sweet & sour broth atop sautéed grape tomatoes and fork-tender fingerling potatoes. Buttery, magnificent sablefish happens to be my seafood of choice, but on days when 400 calories per half fillet feels overindulgent, Executive Chef Wayne Harris’ flavorful flaky selection is hardly a compromise.

Now for the dessert that caused my slight lactose intolerance to seem utterly trivial and irrelevant: the Chocolate Pudding with softly whipped cream and crystallized violets, layered above a nugget of brownie.  The velvety swells of the rolling cream and dainty speckles of vibrant purple are so visually appealing, that staring at this mousse-like dessert almost appeased the instant sweet craving that struck me at first sight.

Visible inspection complete, orgasmic is the only way to describe the taste of this last, exquisite course.  Did I go overboard with my thesaurus or what?  You should follow me on Twitter @erin_ireland and check out my website www.erin-ireland.com.

Ciao for now.

We all have that one special restaurant.  The place we LOVE to go to because the food is decadent, the atmosphere is divine and it never disappoints!  My special restaurant is Arms Reach Bistro on the North Shore.  Nestled in beautiful Deep Cove, Arms Reach looks out onto the water, providing a spectacular view year round.  It’s a cute little bistro with amazing staff, reasonable prices and food that is to die for.  I recommend the Spicy Reach Spaghetti with tiger prawns and handmade sausage, lightly tossed with chilis, lemon zest, tomato sauce and fresh basil.  Also the Veal Scaloppini, which is sautéed in a velvety smooth Italian Marsala sauce, served with garlic whipped mashed potatoes. Also, you must try their Beef Carpaccio and Fresh Malaspina Mussels.  For a closer look at their menu, or directions visit their website at www.armsreachbistro.com.  Bon appétit!

The world is crazy for Japa Dog.  During the Olympics, the unique hot dog stand’s multi-cultural lineup often hit Le Chateau (approximately 40 meters away).  Considering the overwhelming success of the ballpark food’s Asian-American twist, where is ‘Japa Burger’?  Last week, I found its equivalent in Town Hall, located at 1032 Alberni Street.  The rebranded Saltlik’s elaborate dining room and ultra high ceilings are reasons to visit in themselves.  Plus, there’s no better way to feel prior to consuming a big, juicy burger.  Once you’ve absorbed the scenery, noting the cozy fireside dining and the baby grand piano on which live jazz is performed weekly, order the juicy Miso Turkey Burger.

Lathered in a tangy Asian bbq sauce and lemongrass aioli, then finished with fresh baby arugula, you’ll never again be satisfied by mustard, ketchup, and relish.  This simple-looking sandwich proves that it really is all about the sauce.  If you’re not a ‘burger person’, I suggest converting, or trying the Oyster Mushroom Tempura sprinkled with Asian salt.  Observing my hesitation towards anything deep-fried; fun and informative Chef Dawn Doucette took me to the kitchen to demonstrate the very quick oil dip taken by the fungi.

Turns out the appetizer is basically health food.  I dove in, dousing each delicious bite with its green onion and basil mousseline, a creamy tzatziki-like sauce.  Now for some serious health food: the whitest halibut I’d ever seen.  On the inside, its meat was the color of pure snow.  I would love a classic white shirt in this shade.  At the table, champagne butter was generously poured over the moist fillet, surrounded by green beans, roasted fingerling potatoes, tender sweet peas, and crispy capers.

To help develop an appreciation for art, I recently attended a lecture featuring world renowned artist Dennis Oppenheim.  He was interesting, but edible art (like this vanilla pastry cream-filled sugary phyllo cup topped with bruleed bananas, served with rich chocolate gelato) is what I’d prefer seeing in giant proportion on display in English Bay. Japa Dogs are great, but it’s time Vancouver discovers Town Hall’s Miso Turkey Burger – the amazing sandwich that doesn’t cost you $5 and a thirty minute wait in the rain.

You should follow me on twitter @erin_ireland and check out my website www.erin-ireland.com.

Ciao for now.

Warning: The following content is highly unsuitable for vegetarians, vegans, and all other varieties of non-meat eaters.  If you’re a fan of ‘bottomless’ meat served on a sword, then Vancouver’s only churrascaria, Samba Brazilian Steakhouse is the place for you!  Located at 1122 Alberni Street this protein-centered restaurant service, entitled ‘rodizio’, could just be the secret to a perfect body.  (Basically servers bring you food several times during your meal until you can’t eat anymore).  My first churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) experience was at Zebu in Treviso, Italy last summer.

When I arrived I noticed the overflowing salad and meat bar complete with Brazil’s national dish, Feijoada.  Feijoada is a black bean, pork, and smoked sausage stew that is traditionally served over rice, topped with cassava flour, and served with a caipirinha or beer.  Also spotted at the buffet was Brazilian bbq chicken, coconut mahi mahi, guacamole, sautéed shrimp, oysters, mushroom salad and cousous.  But I cannot leave out the “spears” of meat (sirloin tip, lamb, buffalo, pork, sausage, etc.).  My favorite was the juicy lamb, dripping with flavor!  You must try Samba Brazilian Steakhouse!  Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @erin_ireland and check out my website www.erin-ireland.com.  Ciao for now.

I once spent fifteen dollars on soda water at Hapa Izakaya.  Though surprised by the not-so-bottomless pop bill, I remained a loyal and regular customer due to their glorious Japanese tapas and loud shouts of welcome, audible from outside on the streets of Yaletown.  Picking a favorite off of the lively, dimly lit restaurant’s menu is a feat.  The incredible Bintoro Tuna is one of my usual choices.  The thinly sliced, lightly seared Albacore tuna melts on my tongue.  Ponzu sauce (which I’d happily bathe in) is drizzled on top.  Sticking to a fresh theme, the Ebi Avocado Salad is a beautiful, sizeable choice as well.

With Bintoro Tuna lingering on the palette, more sashimi may be in order.  The Wild Salmon (Spring and Sockeye) is a no-brainer at Hapa Izakaya.  This fish is smooth, rich, and delicious.  I could have eaten five, they definitely believe in quality over quantity.  Hapa Izakaya is also home to the best edamame in Vancouver.  Chilled, marinated, and utterly to die for, they’re worth a daily splurge.  You can find Hapa Izakaya at 1193 Hamilton Street.  Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @erin_ireland and check out my website www.erin-ireland.com.

Ciao for now.

Looking for that perfect hot chocolate?  Then you need to try Mink Chocolate Cafe tucked away at 863 West Hastings Street.  (Which is a dangerous place for me to be, standing in between my two weaknesses: Chocolate and Chanel).  The last time I was at Mink’s was for breakfast.  I ordered waffles topped with whip cream and banana slices.  To wash it all down I had a chocolate chai tea latte.  It was DIVINE!  The little touches at Mink’s are what make it so fabulous.  With each meal you get a free chocolate square, and if you eat in your order is brought to you on an adorable silver tray.  Mink is known for their hot chocolates, the barista’s use fresh, pure chocolate ganache.  You won’t find any powders here; just thick, sinfully decadent hot chocolate.  Mink also has coffee, bon bons, chocolate fondue, espresso, parfaits and much more.  If you’re looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth then you MUST go to Mink Chocolate Cafe.  It’s the perfect place to catch up with a friend, or to escape for half an hour!

I know the secret to sickeningly delicious caramelized onions.  A street meat vendor spilled it to me once, his trick is using Coca-Cola.  I found this also works well for mushrooms – I tried this recipe in my kitchen and they were the best mushrooms I’d tasted.  Of course this was before I tried Chef Chris Irving’s mushrooms at Pourhouse Restaurant, located at 162 Water Street in Gastown.

Aside from the mushrooms another to die for side order is the carrot puree, which could pass as a dessert.  Served alongside the Espresso Braised Short rib, (Kettle Ridge AAA organic beef which fell apart with a gentle poke) the creamy root vegetable was amazing.  To my delight, a little birdie revealed the trick: cooked carrots are soaked in orange juice, strained, and then pureed until smooth with a bit of butter and salt.  Also on the plate is a browned sweet potato.  Chef Chris must be trying to kill us beacuse everything was beyond to die for.

The best was saved for last: warm Chocolate Cake served with salted caramel ice cream. Break this hot pocket open to let the smoothest, richest chocolate flow.  Though the entire meal was fantastic, my entrée of choice would have to be a large plate full of wild mushrooms and carrot puree.  It’s the small things that count and when it comes to Pourhouse’s menu the talented Chef Chris Irving has it nailed.

You should follow me on twitter @erin_ireland and check out my website www.erin-ireland.com.  Ciao for now.

The morning of my FMA shoot at Coast Restaurant, I received an email from Glowbal Group’s John-Paul Lamb to bring my oven mitts.  Even though they were dirty I brought them anyways, thinking they may give me some ‘kitchen cred’.  As soon as I walked into Coast I was amazed, the interior of the restaurant was absolutely stunning.  Set in ice, behind the bar, were lobster, prawns and crab – now that’s my kind of bar!  I’d choose a butter-doused lobster over a cocktail any day of the week.   For our demo Chef Josh Wolfe and I were making crab cakes.  I now understand what all the fuss is about and why they’re so popular.  These were the best crab cakes I’ve ever tasted and I’m not exaggerating.  What really blew me away was the simplicity of the dish.

Executive Chef Josh Wolfe had set out our ingredients: diced celery, house-made mayo, thyme, salt and a beautiful, flaky, Dungeness crab.  With Josh’s help I whipped everything together, placed it in a small circular form, pressed in panko bread crumbs, and then quickly grilled either side.  The perfect little cake was placed on a shaved fennel salad and served with house-made tartar sauce.  I’m not even a crab-cake person, but went crazy over this dish!

Whether it’s for the To Die For food or perhaps a celebrity sighting, Coast is the spot to be.  You can watch my segment on FMA with Chef Josh airing this Saturday at 10:30pm on KVOS.  Don’t forget to follow me on twitter: @erin_ireland and check out my website www.erin-ireland.com/.  Ciao for now!

I felt foolish to have not discovered this historic ristorante before – it was clearly no secret.  Celebrities like Charlton Heston and Robin Williams had dined before me.  The impressive feast began with a bang: parmigiano reggiano soufflé with nutmeg and chives – molto soft and fluffy.  It almost felt healthy melting in my mouth – a true culinary feat.  It consisted of a crispy dried apple with a thin strip of blood orange and a candied pancetta.  Appetizer number two was a monster prawn, pan sautéed in a balsamic shellfish reduction; finished in the oven with a topping of grated parmigiano reggiano, you could almost see the flavor.  To wash it all down I had a chilled Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio.

Now for something a little heartier: an Italian staple, the favorite of many.  A must-have…la pasta!  We were served tagliolini with wild mushrooms, herbs, truffle oil and a little parmigiano reggiano.  Mamma Mia!  An Italian rule of thumb: the more extra-virgin olive oil, the better.  The main meal was a sumptuously tender grilled black angus beef filet with arugula, topped with extra-virgin olive oil and shavings of parmigiano reggiano.  Steak without red wine is like a muffin without coffee.  Accompanying our main meal was a 2005 reserve bottle of San Felice’s Chianti Classico, ‘Il Grigio’.  They were the perfect couple. Three and a half blissful hours later, the memorable Italian meal had ended.  Sigh.  Go to Don Francesco’s at 860 Burrard Street in Vancouver for an authentic, delicious Italian meal, you will not be disappointed.

Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @erin_ireland and check out my website www.erin-ireland.com.  Ciao for now.

Other than sushi, there’s only one thing I would eat every single day and that’s hot and sour soup from Urban Thai Bistro. It tops my list of healthy to die for items, I barely believe its nutritional. How can something this good contain a measly 160 calories per cup? Flavours of lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, and Thai spices burst from the soup; which is also filled with juicy prawns, mushrooms, green onions, and tomatoes.  Vancouver’s top fitness trainer, fellow protein lover, and my dining partner Anna Wong loved the menu options too. After our soup we chose the prawn and squid rich Rommitr salad – simply dressed with refreshing lime juice and mint. Being major carnivores, the satays were a no-brainer; as was the meat choice of ‘naturally raised, free-range ostrich‘ If you’re struggling to decide between beef or chicken, ditch both and go for ostrich. It’s a salty cross; it’s a tasty red meat like beef, but softer in texture like chicken. Dunk it with as much peanut sauce as possible!

Next we had one of my all-time weaknesses: ‘Kaeng Kari Gai’. It’s a dessert-like, creamy, coconut yellow curry; if the world was perfect I would enjoy this every day and stay skinny. If you’re a fan of rice pudding (as I am) then this one’s for you: coconut milk sweetened sticky rice, wrapped in jackfruit. It’s oddly satisfying and surprisingly to die for. To wash this beautiful feast down, the friendly servers surprised me with a traditional lychee coconut blended drink called ‘Royal Thai’.  Don’t forget to follow me on twitter: @erin_ireland and check out my website www.erin-ireland.com. Ciao for now!

There’s only one thing that beats a great morning Americano misto – and that’s a bumpin’ morning spot, for which I will lower my espresso standard for.  Urban Fare, located a hop, skip, and a jump away from Yaletown’s yacht-filled marina (177 Davie Street), offers a breakfast menu variety one could only dream of.  It’s also great for people and dog watching.  The bright, though not fluorescent, lighting adds to the perky ambiance.  Not to mention their oatmeal is pretty and plentiful. The choice of toppings include: fresh strawberries, plump raisins, craisins, walnuts, and yogurt.  I sprinkled mine generously with chocolate powder and cinnamon from the coffee bar.  With a lavish produce section in eyesight, your oatmeal’s fruit is guaranteed to be fresh. Not to mention the portions are massive – I could barely believe it.

For something on the savory side, try the double cheese breakfast sandwich.  Cheddar and Swiss cheese cling to a fried egg served in a fresh, jalapeno salsa-brushed English muffin. Perhaps order two?  You could probably afford it with your Americano misto – cheapest in town at $1.79.  Walking sticks are substituted for venti coffees here on the Yaletown seawall, and Urban Fare is the perfect spot to grab your gear and set out – even on a grey day!  You should follow me on twitter @erin_ireland and check out my website www.erin-ireland.com.

Ciao for now.

When dining at an ethnic restaurant it’s nice to be served by someone matching the food’s origin. It adds a little something to the ‘authentic cultural experience’. However, this sentiment does not apply to ‘Samurai Sushi’ where I am happy to be served by anyone.

Samurai Sushi should add me to their payroll under ‘promotions department’. Since I love talking about food I pass along this recommendation almost daily. Specifically, it’s Samurai’s sashimi that keeps me faithful. Located at 1108 Davie Street, their portion sizes are gargantuan. Each inch-long thick piece is almost equal to the length of my iPhone – and when the only thing on your plate is sashimi you need lots of it. That’s why you’ll find me there often (very often). Read this article »

Glowbal Group parties are without fail fantastic.  You know why?  Because they pump out the appies!  Just when you think they’ve run out – platters of glorious, rich, beautiful bites reappear in the hands of graciously sweet servers.  The spicy lobster tiger prawn skewers were exploding with flavor a beautiful sight for protein lovers like me.  Also floating around were braised beef short rib nuggets with truffle aioli (deadly) and oven dried oyster mushrooms.

The focus of the night however was steak (glorious steak) and a new glass-walled meat cooler which has become the unique centerpiece of the room.  I fantasize about hand picking the biggest, leanest piece.  My heart went out to the vegetarians at this party; the thick wafting scent of steak reached the Subway at Mainland and Nelson.  This smell was the secret reason I spent most of the evening grill-side on the enclosed patio.  It was byfar the best spot in the house.

I snuck back there for some cooking too.  Aged beef strip loin was our product, and by the end of the night over 1,200 of these sliders (lathered with horseradish aioli) had been crafted with strips of this flavorful cut as its mouth-watering center.  They were the perfect snack for multi-cocktail-drinking minglers who, from what I’m told, lasted until the wee hours…. Read this article »

Let’s face it, sometimes the weather in Vancouver just plain sucks.  When the rain starts up all you want to do is be somewhere cozy with a hearty, home-cooked meal.  Two words: Burgoo Bistro.  You get the hearty, home-cooked meal without actually having to cook it.  You’ll love the atmosphere at Burgoo, doesn’t matter which of their many locations you’re in, they’re always full.  It’s a great date night restaurant.  It’s never a good thing to be on a date in quiet restaurant, just makes those lulls in conversation that much worse.

Everything on the menu is delicious but I have to single out a few dishes.  First up is the burgoo biscuits, these puppies are made with parsley and warm cheddar.  I think you’re meant to eat them with soup, but I just order them as a side onto their own.  This is probably why I have to wear my skinny jeans sans top button.  Next up is the butter chicken, which is divine, it’s almost as good as my Grandmothers’.  Just don’t tell her I said that – seriously, don’t.  I also have to mention the sunset corn chicken soup.  If you think soup isn’t a meal and can’t be filling, well then you haven’t tried a Burgoo soup yet.   Burgoo is the best darn comfort food in town.  If you don’t finish your meal stuffed beyond belief then try their Bundt cake.  Not only is it fun to say, but it’s fun to eat.  The only thing better than Burgoo is their prices.  You have to love big portions that don’t break the bank.

My favourite meal du jour is breakfast.  This probably goes back to the Saturday morning fry-ups my mom used to make.  We’d wake up to the smell of sausages, fried tomatoes, eggs and hash browns – I can taste the grease as I’m typing.  Must concentrate………

We’ve been brought up with the notion that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  This is one of those sayings that actually holds water.  I recommend starting your day off right by heading to 556 Beatty Street in Vancouver.  Here you’ll find Medina Café, home to the best brunch in town.  Medina has a great atmosphere and is always full of interesting people.  It’s perfect for catching up with girlfriends or chilling out with a good book on a Sunday morning.

As far as the food, it’s all delicious.  I recommend the Cassoulet – two fried eggs served on baked beans, with saucisson de Paris, double smoked bacon and andouille, served with grilled foccacia.  It’s all about the little touches at Medina café.  Don’t forget to order dessert; yes that’s right dessert after breakfast.  I recommend the waffles.  You won’t find any Aunt Jemima syrup here though, its first class all the way.  Medina Café offers syrups such as dark chocolate, fig orange marmalade, raspberry caramel.  To wash it all down try their milk chocolate lavender mocha, or lavender latte – it’s heaven in a mug.

OMG.  Sushi town is MY new town.

My new twitter friend Jeremy Lim recently suggested that I HAD to get to sushi town on the North Shore.  When I receive such passionate recommendations I get there fast.  In this case I made it happen the next day. 

I walked in and was surprised to discover a very nice ambiance.  There were leather booths and dark wood high-tops, stone-tiled walls, a full bar with seating and dim lighting.  I had been expecting something ‘sushi man-esque’ with fluorescent lighting. Jeremy had raved about the gigantic spicy salmon sashimi portion and how, even with his 5’9, 195 lb build, it filled him up.  He also warned me of the hidden sugar in their mayo and their spicy sauce.  I’m not sure if my server understood me when I asked about it, but I decided to stay away to be safe.  I’m on a health kick, so I stuck to my usual tuna and salmon sashimi to see how it measured up to the downtown stuff I’m used to.

It arrived to my table in about 3 minutes and I was blown away.  It was huge!  When I say huge I mean huge!  You can’t beat nine pieces for $7.75.  I’m almost disappointed to have discovered Sushi Town over here at 1227 marine drive on the North Shore, because even if I’m close I’ll feel forced to make a pit-stop. 

You should follow me on twitter @erin_ireland and check out my website http://erin-ireland.com/. Bye for now!