Vancouver Bites!

Vancouver Bites into Eat! Vancouver food + cooking festival

Posted by vancouverbites on May 30, 2010 · 1 Comment 

As a self-labeled “regular gal,” it will probably be no surprise to readers that Friday night’s trip to Eat! Vancouver was my first ever food festival adventure. I dragged the aforementioned Victoria downtown to the Vancouver Convention Centre to try some new tastes and maybe learn a little about food and libations.

I got there a little before Victoria and instantly sent her a text: “I’m overwhelmed!”  The place was packed.  It was a chaotic cluster in front of the Bite of Vancouver restaurant pavilion, towards which I was magnetically drawn.  Having bought myself 30 tickets immediately upon entering, I was tempted to spend some of my lucky tickets before Victoria arrived.  “Maybe I’ll just see what’s here…”  Yeah right, I knew what I was doing.  I was about to start my food adventure solo.  Some friend I am.

I walked squeezed down the row of restaurants, but knew instantly when I got to Doña Cata, that I had found a winner.  I saw on sight that the tacos were the real deal.  I coughed up 8 tickets for two authentic tacos.  A rotund patron whined, “Eight tickets?!  They are so small!”  Let me tell you, with most restaurants asking 4-5 tickets per Lilliputian serving, I didn’t understand the objection.  Obviously, this husky visitor had never seen an authentic Mexican taco.  Yes, they are smaller than the super-sized heart-stoppers that you’ll get from an Americanized “Mexican” fast food joint, but the flavour more than makes up for the size.  Quality over quantity here.

Tacos from Doña Cata

Doña Cata was serving pollo (chicken), carnitas (pork), and carne de cordero (lamb) tacos.  I opted for one pollo and one carnitas.  I ate the chicken taco first and thought it was yummy.  The shredded meat was piled on top of two corn tortillas.  Mmm, I LOVE corn tortillas and these were divine.  I asked the server if they were selling the tortillas, which were stacked in bags on the front counter.  Turns out that Doña Cata’s does sell the tortillas, but I will have to visit the restaurant to buy them.  This was probably for the best, as I don’t think I would have wanted to lug around a few bags of tortillas all night.

The topping of fresh onions and cilantro, hot and avacado sauces, and a squeeze of fresh lemon, was a dream on the tongue.  Or so I thought.  Then I bit into the carnitas taco.  The seasoned carnitas blew away what was a damn good chicken taco.  It was packed with flavour.  I never knew pork could be so good.  If you try out the tacos at Doña Cata, and I recommend you do, don’t pass on the pork.

By the time I scarfed down the two tacos, Victoria arrived and she was famished.  So it was back to the food booths.  My next stop was Maurya Indian Cuisine, which was a bit disappointing.  Now, I almost got in an argument over this first impression with a vendor I got talking to later, so I’m willing to give Maurya another try.  I also understand that cooking conditions are not optimal in a little booth.  Certainly not the charcoal-fired clay oven that they are used to dealing with.

I got the “Special” for 5 tickets: basmati rice, Butter Chicken, Chana Masala, and Chili Chicken.  The rice was too oily, the Butter Chicken’s flavour was a bit strong, the Chana Masala’s flavour not strong enough, and the Chili Chicken was dry.  I noticed that Chili Chicken is not on their regular menu and I think that is a wise choice.  Basically, I didn’t take pictures for a reason: the food neither looked nor tasted particularly appetizing.

I was starting to fill up, despite the small plates, so it was time to be a little more selective.  Victoria went for Crave’s lobster salad, which she said was loaded with lobster and simply delicious.  For my last tasting, I couldn’t help but try the Mini Burger with caramelized onions and the Dungeness Crab Cakes offered by Gramercy Grill.  Although there was a bit too much seasoned mayo (chipotle perhaps?) on the burger, the soft bun and sweet onions packed enough flavour to keep the mayo in check.  I have to admit that I am more of a full-sized burger expert, having only tasted the mini burgers at Cactus Club, but Gramercy Grill’s little meatwich easily beats Cactus Club’s trio of mini burgers.

Gramercy Grill Mini Burger with caramelized onions

I guess Gramercy Grill gave all the flavour to the burgers, because the crab cakes were somewhat forgettable.  While these were the crabbiest crab cakes I’ve ever had—they were simply stuffed with crab!—the breaded coating was lackluster.  The breading tasted like…well, bread.  The bread crumb crust was sorely missing flavour!  More onion, garlic, and/or peppers would be a good start!  Despite this, I still want to try Gramercy Grill.  They are having a wine and food pairing event on July 31st for $35, which might be worth a try.

After checking out Chef Paul Yellin’s “Culinary Delights of Barbados,” trying on a dozen Jessie Steele aprons, and listening to the Cutco pitch, Victoria and I were too tired to stay for “Ladies Night!  Beer Basics for Women,” presented by Colin Jack and Rick Mohabir.  Just one more thing I will not become an expert in (oh well, at least I know my tacos!).  While we only spent a few hours at Eat! Vancouver, the memories will last at least as long as it will take to make it in to Doña Cata and Gramercy Grill.