Ready, Set, Action!

I need to play a bit of catch-up with you. Lately I have had the energy of an amoeba. Thus, I haven't posted in a while. This last cycle has been particularly vicious one, but I am starting to feel more like myself again.


I hadn't felt well enough to leave the house in a long time so Friday was very special because I got to go OUT! I celebrated by taking Ruby on the Skytrain for the first time and everything went swimmingly. BC Transit has done a great job on making the Skytrain (BC's subway system) completely available for those who use wheelchairs or scooters.



I spent the day in Vancouver and then later ended up in Burnaby. Here are some pictures:

A Square with Walls of Fountains

Very peaceful place to read or have a cup of tea.

A Building I Liked With

a Pretty Fire Escape

Eagle Clutching a Fish




Tampopo Says To Support Your Local Cupcake Shop

(and she prefers Coconut Buttercream Frosting, thanks for asking)






Now, This is Advertising!

The Fountain

I first thought this was really ugly, but by the 3rd

time I passed it it had really grown on me.

Dinosaur Head Fossil

Beautiful Floral Display, Taller Than Me

Skytrain Station

(Open Air with buskers, vendors...)

Vancouver Has a Lot of Fountains

& I Heart Water

Group of 7 Style Eagle

A Very Charming Window

When I was on the skytrain I was watching out the window and we were passing over an industrial area. I watched the various warehouses pass by. Suddenly I did a double take. The back of one of the warehouses looked like a gorgeous brick apartment with quaint window boxes filled with red geraniums. Down below was a street scene and the parking lot looked like a neighbourhood.

All of the sudden it clicked. Of course! It was a movie set. When Mr. O'M worked down town we were used to seeing movie sets. We still see the signs for them all over and occasionally see them when we are driving, it just took me by surprise in that context, looking down over one. I wished I had my camera out so I could have taken one of that particular set. It looked so picturesque!

Trolling For a Great Meal

It is likely that you won't be seeing any negative reviews on this site. It isn't that we haven't experienced ho hum meals or pitiful customer service.





However due to my physical circumstances, I spend a large part of life devoted to using my energies fighting pain. Thus, in my lesisure time I really prefer to focus mainly on the positive. Therefore, I intend to be only sharing my favorites with you.





Today's destination is somewhere truly special. Mr. O' M has been going there since he was 7 years old and it is truly a testament to the owners greatness that it has maintained it's quality and is still as enjoyable. It is a bit of a drive for us as it is located in Horseshoe Bay, but actually the drive is part of the fun! Welcome to Trolls...

Trolls Exterior-Summer Patio Seating

Trolls is located very close to the ferry terminal in Horseshoe Bay. It is nice to watch the ferries come and go as you eat your meal. It is also wonderfully convenient to catch a bite if you are taking a ferry. You can park your car in line and just walk down to the restaurant and have a meal before you sail over to your destination.

Truly Incredible Plate of Fish and Chips

I went through a period where I could not have battered or deep fried foods and I had to abstain from the fish and chips for a couple of years. Thus, I had ample opportunity to sample the many other choices on the Trolls menu. I was never disappointed. Of course their seafood dishes shine but they also have wraps, meat and pasta plates, soup, salads and even a tasty jambalaya that are delightful. Thankfully I am now able to have the fish and chips again as it is truly one of the best that exists.

Two Old Men Chatting and A Nod to the Ferries

The decor is really fun and there are a lot of references to local culture. There is a beautiful First Nations canoe hanging from the ceiling. It is worth it to take a little walk around and see all the little treasures and art tucked away.

Portraits in the Bathroom

The restaurant is full of these charicature portraits of family (Joe Troll opened the restaurant in 1946 and it is still family run) and friends of the establishment. It has been enjoyable as a long time patron to see the number of these portraits grow.

Wooden Kayak on Car Parked Out Front

There is a parking lot out back and street parking out front. There are times when Horseshoe Bay gets really busy and it can be a challenge to find a parking spot. However, all that is required is patience. We usually just circle the block 3 or 4 times and that is all it takes for someone to be moving out of their spot.

There are handicapped spots out front. I am unable to conveniently fit my motorized scooter inside the restaurant. However, both the restaurant and bathroom are fine for those who use a traditional wheelchair or walk with a cane (which is what I do when we go). It it a bit of a squeeze for wheelchairs but both the staff and patrons are always jovial and will accomodatingly help to move chairs a few inches out of the way etc...

There are always neat things to see. I had never seen a wooden kayak like the one in the picture above, until I spotted it on top of a car parked in front of Trolls.

Sewell's Marina

Across the street from Trolls is a beautiful Park, the Boathouse restaurant and this marina. There is a lot to see so it is nice to take a walk after you have eaten. On occasion Mr. O' M and I have rented a boat from the marina and taken a drive on the ocean. Try to go earlier in the day if you are planning this activity as the scenery is incredible and you will have a larger pick of boats.

The Park Across the Street





The Island House

As I mentioned previously, it is a bit of a drive out to Horseshoe Bay but it is so worth it. You can take the Freeway, but at least one way of the drive treat yourself to the Marine Drive Highway. There are so many fantastic houses and views to see along this route. We enjoyed seeing this go from a bare island to a frame to a completed residence.

Cargo Ship

If you enjoy taking pictures, make sure to bring along your camera when you take the Marine Drive. There is a stop with a small pull-off (watch for traffic as it is on a corner and the lanes are not divided) that offers the most unbelievable view of Vancouver and the ocean.

I have enjoyed going to Trolls for lunch, late lunches and dinners...getting to experience the views in different lights.

Trolls is truly a BC institution, one that I am proud to support. They get it right, year after year.

Trolls

6408 Bay Street West Vancouver

Telephone : 604-921-7755

Home Run

Setting Up For the Game

Do you enjoy baseball? It is a game that both Mr. O' M and I love to watch live. As far as playing it goes; I like it when I am up to bat but I am sadly lacking in the pitching and catching departments.

The picture above shows one of the places where I most like to enjoy a game. Can you guess where it is?

Super Mariner's Dogs

This picture provides a hint. Yes, it is Safeco Field in Seattle where the Mariner's play. This picture addresses part of the equation. Safeco field has an impressive array of concession stands. They offer just about any kind of food you could have a hankering for...from Asian cuisine to Mexican.

They offer a treat which I have not sampled called Garlic Fries. That is actually the name of the restaurant.

The smell of hot, buttery garlic pervades the field in a subtle, not overpowering way. Even if you had no intention of eating during the game (I can't imagine this as the concession stands are great!) the "Garlic Fry" phenomenon will get your salivary glands going.

I am not one who is normally mad about hot dogs. If you go to Safeco, don't get a normal dog. Splurge for a Super Mariner's Dog. It is without a doubt the best hot dog I have had in my life. Sometimes we will feel the urge to go to a baseball game and then realize it is largely due to the craving for one of these hot dogs.

A Packed House

Seattle is a city that supports it's baseball team. I was glad that the atmosphere was really nice. We were surrounded by families, groups of young people, older ones...and there wasn't any cursing or drunken behavior. It was people enjoying good old-fashioned sport.

The field has wonderful facilities for the disabled. Call their special needs line and they will hook you up. They provided me with a seat for Ruby, my scooter and a companion seat for Mr. O' M. The seats were fantastic, behind home plate. It's best to book early so as to get disabled access parking.

Pea Shoots, She Scores

The Stems of the Pea Plant

If someone had told me 2 years ago that at three o'clock in the morning I would find myself thinking of the left-over greens lying in my fridge... Yes, not the left-over piece of pizza, or those last oatmeal raisin cookies but a bowl of VEGETABLES...I would have never believed it!

Alas, that was before pea shoots completely captured my heart and taste buds. As of yet, I have been unable to find the actual plant at our markets and so I have been ordering the dish from our favorite Chinese restaurant.

The first time we were there in person I ordered pea shoots in garlic. It wasn't on the menu, but the woman understood what I meant and I was ecstatic to receive the piping hot dish in all of it's green glory.

Ever since then there has been a slight communication problem. I ask for pea shoots which causes a sort of confusion. I get a different employee each time and we dance around different pea words such as "vines", "tips", "stems", "leaves" until understanding is reached.

I find from my wanderings on the web that this is common. There doesn't seem to be a standard name for this dish in English. Some people prepare the stems, some the leaves (I like both). Regardless, the common understanding is that it is delicious.

It is one of the more expensive dishes to order in a Chinese restaurant. It can be pricier than some of the meat dishes. At first, this perplexed me because I read that the plant itself is not expensive to purchase at Asian markets.

However, I have now read that it is a seasonal plant and can be a difficult dish to prepare, being very easy to overcook or undercook. http://www.winterjade.com/delectation/archives/000048.html

I love this dish so much that sometimes I will eat it straight out of the container - cold. It actually tastes really wonderful that way. I think I hear some calling my name right now...

Road Trip

The Coquihalla Highway

We recently loaded up playlists on our I-pod and spent 2 weekends on the road back and forth to Kamloops attending a Convention there.

The first time I drove through Kamloops it wasn't in summer and my impression was that it was a very brown and dreary place. Many subsequent visits have proved how wrong that initial response was. I enjoy spending time there very much. The city is so nice and the people are grand.

The View from the Convention Centre

Just outside the doors is a nice section with benches where you can watch the river pass idly by underneath a bridge where beyond the mountains overlook. It is a beautiful site.

The Lush, Green View From Our Hotel Room

Despite the gorgeous, meandering river and the verdant vegetation (Kamloops means 'meeting of waters' in Shuswap) it is a semi-arid or desert-like area. This can make for some neat views also.

Sage Brush

(Tumble Weed when Dead-

I just love Tumble Weeds Do You?)

Flowering Cactus

Layers

The thing that always astounds me about the scenery in this region is that your eye can begin in front of you and then absorb what is just beyond and keep going, because there is always something more amazing to see in the layer ahead of you.

It was such a fantastic road trip because there was always so much to look at. Truly awe inspiring!

Personal Beer Tap

On a completely different note, we saw one of these in a restaurant and had never encountered one before. The lads who had ordered it said that it held about 10 glasses of beer and cost about $20 Cnd.

Another One Off the List!

I know from reading http://www.chowhound.com/ that I am not the only one that is always looking for the best hamburgers in the city I live in. In Winnipeg this was a hotly debated subject in my family with different members equally loyal to Juniors, VJ's, George's and the like (I'll probably get in trouble for forgetting one of the best...I feel like I am missing one).





Thus, since moving to BC I've been slowly working my way through burger places. I've had some of the best I've ever tasted and some that have paled in comparison to what we can make on the BBQ in our own backyard.





I had been hearing about Fatburger for years since reading about it on food blogs located in the U.S. Then I heard more about it when it came to Vancouver. The thing that held me from suggesting it to Mr. O' M was the name.





Hint: I have a small NAME:FOOD related issue. If you come to my house for dinner I won't offer you Chicken "Breasts". I prefer not to go there. Just 'chicken' will suffice thank you. Therefore, reminding the customers what they would become immediately after eating the product (FAT) seemed like a silly marketing direction to me.





Then I had an appointment at the pain clinic downtown and Mr. O' M suggested trying out lunch there. OK, the moment had arrived. Onward!

Cheerful Interior of Fatburger

The overall black, red, silver and yellow color scheme is very clean and inviting. The menu hangs overhead and is easy to read. There were many things that looked appealing but for my first time I went with a classic Fatburger with all the fixings and added cheese. You have the option of adding things such as an egg to the burger. They also offer Veggie burgers, chili dogs and salads.

The Option of Leaving a Fat or Skinny Tip

I enjoy when restaurants have funny little touches like the above.

The Interior Of the Restaurant

I liked the open-concept design of the place. After we had eaten I walked into the kitchen and asked the 4 employees which one of them had cooked my meal. They looked very concerned and quickly pointed to a young man at the back. I immediately laid their fears to rest and told him that I couldn't leave without telling him that it had been one of the tastiest burgers I've had in years.

It truly was! His huge smile let me know that he was glad to hear it.

The fries were crisp and piping hot. The burger had perfect char and a mildly spicy chili flavor that mixed with the chopped onions and mustard perfectly. It's had me trying to recreate the flavor at home.

As an occasional treat (there's that FAT part of it again) Fatburger wins!

Food In A Tube

Tomato Paste in a Tube

I love food that comes in tube-like containers. It used to drive me crazy, opening a can of tomato paste when I only needed a tablespoon or two for a recipe and then I'd have to freeze the rest until I needed more. Tubes are perfect because you can use just the amount you need, but you often will add little bits into things for taste just because you can. Genius!

I was making a salad dressing recently using this tube of anchovy paste. I've never had a mathamatically inclined mind, but suddenly a possible formula popped into my mind:

Anchovy Paste
+

Snack for Cat


=

Cat Nap

And it worked perfectly! A successful mathamatical equation!