Donair Zone - Aldergrove

Welcome to my neighbourhood, Donair Zone! Acceptable quick lunch options, within reach of our office, have just grown by one! I saw the Donair Zone sign some time ago and rolled up to their front door to find them not yet open but yesterday was the day!

Falafel is a healthy, tasty and filling (not too mention affordable) way to get a quick lunch or snack. I am a big fan. Donair Zone obviously is about more than falafel. On my first visit, I tried their regular sized Lamb Donair Plate. At $12.75, this is a decent deal.

On a bed of nicely cooked rice and with a pita, the lamb plate has a bit of several things including a nice salad with beets and feta, as well as the requisite hummus. The lamb itself was moist and tasty and in a generous quantity. I got a falafel to go for later. 

I have proved many a time, that a falafel pita is a challenge to photograph. Sometimes I try taking it apart but then it looks like something exploded. I think I did OK this time.

They make their falafel in house so don't be imagining the frozen things that you can buy at the grocery store (or worse, the dry mix). The vegetable options are several including lightly pickled beets. Tzatziki and hot sauce are among the sauces that can round it out. Very Nice

Poutine is something that I rarely order. Fries, gravy and cheese curds make for a highly overrated almost national dish (since when?) but add some Lebanese ingredients and you have something. I tried their Chicken Donair Poutine with toum for a melty garlic fest! If you have not had toum just Google it. Basically it is mayonnaise made with garlic instead of eggs and is guaranteed to keep colds and vampires at bay. This was amazing!

Among the other things made completely in house are their spit roasted meats, marinated, assembled and roasted here.

This is not their first kick at the can. Donair Zone is related to the Mission branch and previously the Abbotsford store. They know what they are doing and I for one am glad that they have chosen humble Aldergrove for their next stop.

For what it's worth, we give Donair Zone 4 out of 5.

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River Rock Buffet

I am not a buffet kind of guy and I guess that I never really was. I don't like eating with the feeling that I have to eat enough to make it worthwhile (of course you don't have to do that). When we were in Vegas a couple of years ago, we decided that we needed to go to a buffet at least once, to complete the experience. Then about a year ago, Marie's kids took us to an Asian buffet in Tukwila, Seattle. Other than that, I think my childhood experience with my parents at the Royal Fork (OMG) in Bellingham was the last time I indulged in AYCE. But the kids wanted to take their mothers out in advance of Mother's Day and so we opted for the River Rock (full disclosure: this was the Sunday before Mother's Day) and to be fair, my impression was that it is a step or two up from the Royal Fork.

We arrived at an odd time (3:00) and witnessed the changing of the guard. The Sunday morning brunch was giving way to the afternoon/evening spread. You would think it was the best of both worlds as there were waffles and bacon while we awaited sushi that never actually arrived. Still...

There was some decent seafood including shrimp (my personal favourite of what was available) and clams and mussels (Marie's favourite).

Not to mention a tasty Seafood Salad with imitation crab and a white fish ceviche which was also good.

There was an acceptable salad bar ( no blue cheese dressing but actual blue cheese crumbles). Also, there was a hot food table with dim sum, congee and breakfast items. There was a carving table with what appeared to be good roast beef and ham. Finally, there were deserts a plenty!

We kind of browsed and hunted and pecked. I thought this plate looked artfully arranged.

Unless you are 10 years old, don't bother with the corn dog!

The large room is comfortable enough with a nice view. We did not have to wait but I have heard stories of long waits if you arrive at peak times. My overall impression was kind of meh but as I confessed at the outset, buffets are not really my thing. The price all day Sunday is $35 for adults and I am both chagrined and thrilled to say that I qualified for a $5 discount as senior's rates start at 55. 

For what it's worth, we give the River Rock Buffet, 3 out of 5.

Marulilu

While watching the Japanese Netflicks series "Midnight Diner; Tokyo Stories", I learned that there was a wonderful thing called Omelette Rice. We haven't come across it often locally ( it might be that I am just not trying hard to enough to find it). We had it and enjoyed it at Dae Ji Cutlet house but we are certainly not qualified as experts.

Don't blink or you'll miss Marulilu Cafe on Broadway near Cambie. We had browsed their web site and saw that they make several versions of omu-rice and some other things that set us to drooling.

We started with a Rice Burger. This one is a bit teeny but the plate is only $7.99 with a bright tasty salad with sesame dressing and miso soup. The burger is sukiyaki, with greens and a well seasoned and toasted rice bun. Two burgers are only $12.99 so don't cheap out like I did.

Mabo Tofu Don seemed like an interesting bit of fusion. It was mildly spicy ground beef with tofu over rice. The spice was not the Szechuan peppercorn type that I expected. To be honest, I get more spicy spaghetti sauce than mabo tofu. I am not complaining. It was very enjoyable.

Finally, there was the Garlic Omurice with Mushroom Tomato Sauce. The omelette was delicate and perfectly cooked but the rice was definitely not garlic rice. The tomato sauce, rice and egg made a tasty combination but I'm fairly certain that the sauce is basically tomato soup. Once again sort of humble style home cooking is what I am feeling. 

In addition to the Japanese choices, they do all day breakfast, coffees and desserts. The folks here are very friendly. There is seating here for a couple of dozen or so but I'm under the impression that they are mostly occupied. Be prepared to wait a few minutes. We feel like it was worth the wait even though not everything was what we expected. 

For what it's worth, we give Marulilu , 3 1/2 out of 5.

strEATS - Langley

This is both our 200th post and the first time that we have been invited for free food! I assumed it was a mistake as our invitation to try out the offerings at strEATS was addressed to "influencer"! Rather than point out the error, I showed up on this lovely Wednesday evening, met the principles and tried a couple of things. StrEATS is located in the new village that has sprung up in the area around 208th and 80th in Langley. We are calling the area Willoughby.

Of course, if any of you actually read this blog, you would know that I have visited and been impressed with their Aldergrove location. You would already have read about how this is a company with a conscience. StrEATS is a company that gives back to their community in a significant manner (at least in Calgary so far, where they got their start). Their priorities include sustainable food sources and they are a small step from being completely garbage free (recyclable and compostable).

And the food is pretty good too!

Listed under poutine (but not really poutine) was the feature, I Am Root! Fries but including parsnip, carrot and beet. Tasty and impressive with the Thai sauce (one of the sauce choices). Not something that I expected to see on the menu but a creative and healthy alternative to the usual potatoes.

Having tried their decent tacos and fish and chips in Aldergrove, I opted for their version of poke, the Ahi Tuna Rice Bowl. Not bad. Not overly generous with the tuna but it was of good quality. The rice was nicely cooked and the rest of the ingredients were fresh and tasty.

The system is order at the counter and your food gets delivered to you. There is seating for a couple dozen including booths and some window seats. I am a strEATS fan because they provide something different and have a conscience. This is not particularly cheap eats (my complimentary meal including a soft drink came to almost $25) but it is so much better than the fast food that we have grown accustomed too.

For what it's worth, we give strEATS 3 1/2 out of 5 and remember, we're influencers now!

Meat and Bread Test Kitchen - Abbotsford

We don't eat in Abbotsford very often despite living not too far away. My inclination is to drift west when we are hungry and in search of eats. That being said, Meat and Bread, the popular Vancouver sandwich shop (now in three locations downtown) maintains its test kitchen out the Valley and there we were!

Located in a cavernous building that they share with Noodle Box, and that was certainly built for some other purpose, Meat and Bread Abbotsford offers something in short supply in their Vancouver outlets; space!

With a large communal and several smaller tables, we did not have to resort to eating in Victory Square Park as I have done in the past.

Ordering their signature Porchetta sandwich was absolutely a must. With the wonderful cracklings, salsa verde and bread with some texture, this did not disappoint overall. I will say that the pork itself seemed a little disappointingly dry in places. When I watched the roast being carved, I could see that the centre of the large roll could dry out in reaching temperature. It was only that larger chunks of meat that suffered this fate.

The Test Kitchen runs Saturday Specials and this one was a Chicken Souvlaki Sandwich. Again, we found the large pieces of white meat to be somewhat dry! This is offset of course, by very good olive tapenade and tzatziki. The result is a sandwich that is pretty good overall.

We enjoyed a Spicy Dill Pickle (not really spicy) and their Bacon, Beer, Cheddar Soup which was rich and tasty.

Our experience was good at Meat and Bread. The staff were friendly, food was good and the surroundings are comfortable and pleasant.

For what it's worth, we give Meat and Bread 3 1/2 out of 5.

Dal's Poke - Langley

Poke has made it to Langley! A non-complicated healthy meal in a bowl with a multitude of options including some sushi grade tuna or salmon is just what we needed. Don't blink or you'll miss it though.

Dal's is located on Fraser Highway near Glover (just where Fraser Highway begins its one way east stint). They do one thing here and that is Poke at a reasonable price and Dal seems to do a pretty good job.

On my first visit, I started with quinoa, chose spicy tuna/ salmon and a few toppings including edamame, corn and massago with spicy mayo. The spicy added up and I ended up with a mild fire which was very nice. 

The ordering process is simple. Take a dry erase menu and a provided felt pen and choose your base, protein, mix-ins, sauces and toppings. There are no set bowls. A regular bowl is $11.95 and a large (2 protein choices) is $13.95. A few luxury items are an extra dollar or two. Decent pricing for a lunch that is tasty could not be healthier.

On another pass, I got a bowl to go starting with brown rice and added tofu, avocado etc including jalapenos and wasabi mayo. So again the spicy added up.

It's a small place with a couple of tables and window seating (to be honest, we've eaten in much smaller places).

Dalong was born deaf. I wouldn't mention it but he does in his story on their printed menu. In his own words, it did not stop him from doing the things he loved to do. He worked several years at a Japanese restaurant and then discovered Poke and decided to bring it to Langley. I'm glad he did.

For what it's worth, we give Dal's 3 1/2 out of 5, hoping that he will expand his menu a bit in the future.

Congee Noodle House

Congee is possibly the greatest comfort food known to mankind (well, in my opinion obviously). The craving overcame us this past windy Saturday and there was no help for it but Congee Noodle House.

This is one of those places that you have driven past a thousand times (Main and Broadway) and wondered if you should stop (you should). We were seated almost right away in the large dining room. It's a little clattery and busy but not uncomfortable and this is one of those places where the food is the point rather than ambiance! Service is friendly and a team effort. Catch someone's eye and they will help you whether it is their table or not. 

We started with Steamed Shrimp Rice Rolls which were very nice. The noodle was very delicate (to the point of tearing easily) while the shrimp were large and maintained some texture (not overcooked). I was expecting the side sauces that you get with dim sum at some places but it really didn't need it.

We had Beef Tendon and Beef Brisket with Noodle (I forgot to ask for Lo Mein noodles but the rice noodles were decent). Highlighted by a couple of large pieces of tendon that were just soft enough and a generous amount of brisket, this was another winner.

The barbeque was very good also. Three types (kitchen's choice) on rice was only $11 and a decent deal. Duck, roasted pork and barbeque pork were all tasty (not quite HK Barbeque Master but is anyone?)

Finally, there was the HK Style Sampan Congee with Minced Beef that I had been craving. Rich, creamy and hot (be careful not to burn the roof of your mouth like I always do). I am not able to identify all the ingredients but I was aware of the minced beef and some type of intestine. The topping was ginger, peanuts and green onions and a little sesame oil. Wonderful!

Prices are very reasonable and the menu is long. The room is big and noisy and we found the staff to be friendly enough. Most importantly the food is very good. We happily recommend that you give this place a try.

For what it's worth, we give Congee Noodle House a 4 out of 5.