I often come across dishes I love, but have no story for them. I don’t know where to include them but I want people to know about them.
These are not necessarily holiday specific, but with the extra free time I’d make them priorities.
With the farm-to-table movement and seasonal menus, you just never know when some of the following dishes might be taken off the menu. However, if it’s a best-seller, most likely it won’t come off the menu even if the ingredients are seasonal.
Also, if you’re tossing any sort of diet out the window for the holidays, then don’t waste time on average food. Just go for the good stuff and make every bite count.
Here are five dishes to try over the holidays.
Durian crème brûlée at Crackle Crème
You love it or you hate it. I used to hate it, but then I had it in Singapore and fell in love. I also try everything until I like it, and Crackle Crème made it easy with their original durian crème brûlée. If you haven’t warmed up to this rich and fragrant fruit, try it this way.
Chicken wings at Boulevard
OMFG. I love these so much I want to cry. The standard in Vancouver for wings is Phnom Penh chicken wings, but these are something else. The Phnom Penh wings are salty and tangy, but these are sweet, salty, and tangy. They’re no ordinary chicken wings and the skin is so crispy and crunchy I assume there’s some modernist technique involved to make them. Think Pok Pok chicken wings in Portland, but better.
Salted apple pie croissant at Beaucoup Bakery
I just came across these a couple days ago, and I now I’m screwed. The croissant is infused with vanilla beans and stuffed with tart caramelized slices of apples. The crumble on top is salty and it’s the ideal balance of sweet and savoury – a flavour combination this bakery is obsessed with. I dig it. Remember to try warming it up and stuffing it with vanilla ice cream – a Follow Me Foodie special ;)
Pumpkin eggnog at West
One of my favourite bartenders in Vancouver, David Wolowidnyk, aces the pumpkin eggnog. He makes one every year and this year is no different. It’s an ideal liquid dessert made with organic pumpkin and spice infused amber rum, organic eggs, milk, and cream. It’s well balanced and goes down too easy, so be careful.
Quiche at Patisserie Lebeau
Thank the lord this is available year round. They’ve had it on the menu for ages and perhaps it gets overlooked, but those who know the menu, know that this is a must try. Sure, get the waffles, but if you miss out on their quiche, I’ll judge you. It’s one of the city’s most well kept secrets, and it shouldn’t be.
Find Mijune home for the holidays! Her first event in the New Year will be hosting the second annual 6 Course Discourse on Jan. 19 at the Edgewater Casino. Get your tickets now!
Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie.
