Patisserie Lebeau

Restaurant: Patisserie Lebeau

Cuisine: Bakery/Dessert/Cafe

Last visited: February 1, 2010
Area: Vancouver, BC (Robson Street/West End/Downtown)

1728 West 2nd Avenue
Range: $10 or less

1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very good 5: Excellent 6: Tres Excellent!!

Food: n/a (didn't try enough)

Service: 3

Ambiance: 4

Overall: 5

Additional comments:

• Family owned
• Famous for waffles
• Authentic Belgian waffles
• Made with butter/natural ingredients
• Unbleached flour, pure vanilla
• No additives/preservatives
• Savoury foods available: quiche/sandwiches etc
• Pay at cashier
• Fresh baked breads
• Baked daily
• Homemade/home baked
• Ready to eat or sold frozen
• Seats 20-30
• Located around industrial area
• Available for wholesale

**Recommendation: Any of their Belgian waffles or Leige waffles (several flavours)

My friend had first introduced me to this bakery by bringing me some waffles from the store. However I managed to discover the actual location quite randomly. I noticed it while driving around that area and I took a quick stop to check it out. I saw the “Authentic Belgian waffle” sign outside and as soon as I walked in I noticed the display case full of them. I put one and one together and was really pleased that I had found it. It’s kind of located in a small industrial/office area on West 2^nd so It’s not an obvious location people would know about. It’s one of those word or mouth places that you would feel lucky to find.

It’s a great place for a quick lunch or coffee break. They have some sweet and savoury baked goods and sandwiches and a nice café set up in the front. It was actually decently busy from local businesses during lunch but the line-up goes fast and there’s actually a lot of seats inside.

They are most known for their waffles obviously. The website claims that they’re a “healthy snack” because it’s made with natural ingredients…but I highly doubt they are healthy or recommended for a healthy diet…even if they’re all natural.

I’ve been to Brussels before so I am very lucky to have tried the real deal…these are quite close to the real deal, but they're not as moist. I would go back to try more stuff because I believe that they can do better then what I had. Let's go in detail...

On the table:

**White Chocolate Lemon (Liege) Waffle 3.5/6

• $2.80
• I would give a 5.5/6 (a bit dry) to their original leige waffle, but not for this white chocolate lemon one.
• There was no white chocolate...at all. I was expecting white chocolate chips throughout the batter but there wasn't. I'm not sure if they melted the white chocolate right into the batter but I couldn't taste any so I doubt it.
• It smelt like lemons though and I could taste the fresh lemon zest and see it.
• The best part of these waffles is the sugar crystals which they call "pearl sugar" - a sugar that's made in Belgium. I call them sugar crystals - they're basically tiny clumps of sugar that's all natural. Some of them melt into the dough and some of them stay clumped and create "crystals". So when you eat it you bite into little clumps of sugar that are delicious! They're not hard like rock sugar, but they're slightly crunchy like little balls of sugar soaked in sugar syrup.
  
• The sugar crystals that do melt during the baking process end up coating the outside of these waffles and make them crispy.
• It sounds sweet and it is, but not overly sweet at all.
• It's really dense and heavy and it was almost bread-like because they're made from yeast. It was like a dense lemon cake.
• As good as these waffles are they could be better because they're a bit dry.

Peach and Custard Waffle 2.5/6

• Brussels waffles stuffed with peach and custard $3.55 (I think)
• I was actually pretty disappointed by this. It’s their most popular stuffed waffle so I had high expectations.
• The biggest disappointment is because they used canned peaches.

• It’s actually a pretty heavy and dense waffle. My friend had bought them that afternoon and they're baked fresh daily. We were eating them about 6 hours later and by then they were already a bit hard, stale and quite dry. I don't think that should have happened that quickly...I don't know though maybe it's because they're "all natural" that they go stale so quickly as well.

• The custard is almost like a pastry cream. It's super thick and almost like a pudding. It's light tasting though because it's not that sweet. I wanted a stronger vanilla taste though. I couldn't see any vanilla bean seeds so I think they just use pure vanilla extract.
  
• There is a lot of stuffing in the waffle, but I just wish it was real peaches...it cheapened it.
• This one has no sugar crystals, it's more bread like.

Tim's Dessert House

Restaurant: Tim's Dessert House - Review on eggballs

Cuisine: Chinese/Dessert
Last visited: Oct. 17, 09
Area: Richmond, BC
Unit 3250 4151 Hazelbridge Way
Price Range: $10 or less

1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very good 5: Excellent 6: Tres Excellent!!

Food: 2 (Just on eggballs)

Additional comments:

• Family owned and operated
• Specializes in traditional Chinese egg batter desserts
• Fresh, made upon order homemade desserts
  
• Relatively healthy dessert - very light not as much sugar
• Eat as dessert or snack
• Gift boxes available
• Cash only

** Recommendation: n/a

I'm obsessed with trying to find the best eggballs in town. My next stop - Tim's Dessert House. It's easy to find in the Aberdeen food court, but the location is the only thing it has going. Looks better than it tastes.

On the table:

• Chinese Eggballs 2/6
• This is the Chinese version of a waffle. It's made of flour, eggs, milk and sugar. They put it in a special eggball waffle maker and it comes out like the above.

• For a further description of the Chinese eggball dessert
  

• At Tim's they use too much flour in the egg batter so their eggballs come out too dense and kind of hard. The ones at Your Dessert are better.
• 
• The trick is to pour the perfect amount of batter into the waffle maker. They pour too much batter so they're unable to create that crispy exterior that makes eggballs so good. It's not airy and light.
• The flavour of the batter is ok, but the dense texture was distracting for me.
• Yes it is made fresh and upon order, but it doesn't matter when the batter/cooking technique isn't right.
  

  

  • They also sell the eggrolls, but I haven't tried them or seen them making it fresh. They could though, I just haven't seen it.

Your Dessert

Restaurant: Your Dessert

Cuisine: Chinese/Dessert
Last visited: Oct. 14, 09
Area: Richmond, BC
Unit 2103 - 8700 McKim Way (In the Admiralty Mall food court)
Price Range: $10 or less

1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very good 5: Excellent 6: Tres Excellent!!

Food: 6
Service: 3
Ambiance: n/a in a food court

Overall: 5
Additional comments:

• Family owned and operated
• Specializes in Traditional Chinese egg batter desserts
• Fresh, made upon order homemade desserts
  
• Relatively healthy dessert - very light not as much sugar
• Eat as dessert or snack
  
• Gift boxes available
• Cash only

** Recommendation: Chinese Eggballs, Seaweed Phoenix Roll with Pork

This is the only dessert place in the food court. They specialize in Chinese desserts that are egg batter based like eggballs and egg rolls. They also make waffles and crepes, but I've never ordered it or seen anyone order it. I'd stick to the traditional Asian desserts - which are more like snacks than desserts. Not really sweet at all, very light.

Everything is homemade and made fresh daily. They don't have much business considering how small the food court is. But I think they make the best Chinese eggballs in town!

It's a husband and wife operation - he usually makes the eggballs (looks easy to make when you watch them, but it does take skill to make them really good) and she makes the Phoenix Rolls (takes skill and technique).

I order the Phoenix Rolls when I actually see her making them, she does it randomly throughout the day.

On the table:

The perfect ratio of soft chewy middle and crispy exterior. Airy and light.

• **Chinese Eggballs 6/6
• This is the Chinese version of a waffle. It's made of flour, eggs, milk and sugar. They put it in a special eggball waffle maker and it comes out like the above.
• It's better than a waffle to me. Not as bread like, but more soft and chewy.
  
• They make it upon order and it's the perfect texture - they use more egg and and less flour. Perfect amount of sweetness too.
• Besides the flavour of the batter, the trick is to pour the perfect amount into the waffle maker. It's excellent here because they pour just enough batter to keep the perfect balance between crispy outer shell and chewy soft middle. It's light and airy and the inside kind of springs back.
• 
• 
  
• **Phoenix Roll with Pork Floss 4.5/6
  
• This is a Chinese egg roll with dried pork floss wrapped inside.
  
• They make them daily so they're really fresh.
• It's really light. Very flaky and crispy paper thin layers of fresh egg roll pastry that are very slightly sweet. It's crispy and crumbly and very delicate. Then you get a salty bite with the fluffy pork floss. Amazing texture and unique flavours!
  
• 
• Pork floss is dried pork - it's almost like jerky but shredded and made really fluffy - almost like a rougher cotton candy. It's marinated in soy sauce and then dried, so it's savoury but has a slight sweetness (like soy sauce naturally does). Asian kids grow up with it.
• It works really well in this dessert because of the slight sweetness. I know it sounds really weird to put meat into a dessert. I guess it's more of a snack than a dessert, although Chinese people would call it a dessert. If you know what to expect I think you'll like it. I love them! I just wish they put more pork floss in these Phoenix rolls.
  

• The Cooking Process:

• 

Adding the pork floss

• 
• 
• Folding the Phoenix roll, must be done quickly before it hardens and becomes crispy.
• 

Set aside to cool.

• 

• They also offer Seaweed Phoenix Roll with pork where they wrap the Phoenix rolls in a thin sheet of seaweed.
• Seaweed and pork floss go hand in hand. It's a great combination that's commonly seen in Chinese cuisine. They both have that salty taste and kind of sweet taste at the same time. I like these ones, but that's because I'm already acquired to the taste.
• Work up to these ones, try the ones without seaweed first if you're not as adventurous. You might want to try each ingredient separately and then try it altogether.
  

Richmond Night Market - Dessert highlights

The Chinese Eggball guy!The Dragon's Beard Candy making stand


Event: Richmond Night Market

Cuisine: Chinese/Asian
Last visited: Sept. 19, 09
Area: Richmond, BC
12631 Vulcan Way (Behind Home Depot)
Price Range: $10 or less

1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very good 5: Excellent 6: Tres Excellent!!

** Recommendation: Dragon's Beard Candy, Deep-fried ice cream

Ok so I know I'm a little late since the Richmond SUMMER Night Market ended a couple weeks ago. But I still want to review it because I want to give attention to things that deserve it. This review will only focus on a few dessert items I had there.

1) Chinese Eggballs (Here it was 1.5/6, usually it's a 4/6)

2) Dragon Beard Candy 5/6

3) Deep-fried ice cream 6/6

On the table:

• Chinese Eggballs/Egg Waffles 1.5/6 (at this stand)
  
• This is basically a Chinese waffle. It's waffle batter poured into this unique waffle-like griddle. The batter is flipped around and coated around the pan to create these "eggballs". They have a somewhat crispy exterior and the inside is soft and chewy when made well. It's also a little hallow. It's more sweet than savoury, but it's not really that sweet at all. It's actually relatively healthy because it's just egg batter.
• 
  
• You can buy it at a couple food stands, but I had to feature this stand because this guy is a local "celebrity". He's THE eggball guy or THE eggball maker. Ithink he's been doing this for well over five years now and the reason why his eggballs draw so much attention is because he puts on an entertaining show. His eggballs themselves are actually not that good...wow that sounds bad. But really, they make eggballs way better at other places. On the last night he was only charging $1 so he had quite a line-up. There always $3 - night market or not, $3 is standard.
• All of his actions are X1000 so he manages to create an entertaining show. He draws a crowd in by being super dramatic in his production process. It's all his marketing! It's also funny because he's clearly NOT Chinese yet he's making CHINESE eggballs and speaking Chinese too (heavily accented I might add, but it's still hilarious and I appreciate it).
• This stand or guy is a novelty. But if you want good eggballs, you're not at the right place. He skimped on the batter, probably because he was afraid to run out before the night ended and all of them were overcooked because the batter was to thin.
  
• This is for pure entertainment.
• Tip: If you want good eggballs I recommend: "Your Dessert" at Admiralty Mall in Richmond or "Timmy's" at Aberdeen Centre - both in Richmond. As long as they don't rush the process, have a decently flavoured batter that's not too sweet or watered down and make it upon order - you're in good hands..
• Dragon's Beard Candy 5/6
  
• This stand is also a popular one. You're almost guaranteed to see them at any Chinese festival or event that has food stands. You can't really make it at home (I don't know anyone that does or would), and even if you buy it at T&T it won't be as good or as fresh, so I suggest you to try it when you see it.

• This "candy" is not the kind of candy you're used to seeing. This is ground up roasted peanuts mixed with sugar wrapped up in "dragon's beard" aka white sugar strands (it's like a Chinese style cotton candy). You get 6 rectangular nuggets in a box.
• When you bite into them the white strands just melt away and then you hit the semi-sweet and very crumbly ground up peanut mixture. It's almost like eating a pocket of cotton candy mixed with icing sugar and ground up peanuts mixed with fine grains of sugar...but not nearly as sweet as the description sounds. The "dragon's beard" or "cotton candy" is a hand-pulled spun sugar (made of syrup) that has been pre-cooked so it's almost elastic like. It's pulled in a big container of glutinous flour (resembles icing sugar but not nearly as sweet and not floury tasting either...it is floury in texture though) to keep it from sticking.
• It takes skill and a true Dragon's Beard Candy maker to make these. There's a technique to it - when you watch him make it you'll know what I mean. He kind of pulls away at it and folds it repeatedly in the flour - then magically he pulls these strands out and passes it on to the next person. This person puts a spoonful of crumbly sweet peanut mixture in the centre and wraps it all up with the dragon's beard. It's a really unique dessert. Try it! Very traditional Chinese. But it's kind of messy so you're guaranteed to get flour/dragon's beard/peanut crumbs or all of the above around your mouth.
• Deep-fried ice cream 6/6
  
• No pictures. But I've tried it and it deserves attention because everyone loves it. It's not a traditional Chinese dessert or anything.

• There's 2 stands that sell it.

• 1) Walk down the first isle and about half way on your right hand side you'll see it. I think it's $4 and you get to select your flavour of ice cream: chocolate, vanilla, mango, green tea I think. Then they dip it in a simple flour batter and deep fry the whole thing. It's pretty big too.

• 2) The second stand is also on the right hand side but about 3-4 stands down. This is the "gourmet" version of deep-fried ice cream. At this stand you don't get to select your ice cream flavour - it comes with the standard vanilla for $3.50. It's also smaller because it's only one regular sized scoop. It's rolled in this cereal-like batter rather than the flour batter. There's actually thought in this one. The stand is actually a catering company for a community centre so their deep fried ice cream actually has a recipe. The batter is crunchy and crispy and it creates a hard shell like exterior after it's been deep-fried. I prefer this one to the other one even though the other one is bigger and you can select your flavour.

• 3) You can find deep-fried ice cream at Mexican restaurants as well because it was technically their invention first if we're going to give credit somewhere. I've also tried it an Indian restaurant - they're all good.

• Tasty Twist Idea: For a healthy alternative to deep-fried and if you want an easy way to make this dessert at home what you can do is take a scoop of ice cream and roll it in crushed up nuts and cornflakes. Put your ice cream ball in the freezer to set for an hour, take it out and repeat the process until it is fully coated.
  
• If you wish you can shallow fry it quickly on a very high heat with vegetable oil. Or take a creme brulee torch and quickly toast the whole exterior.
  

Grizzly Manor Cafe

The famous "Grizzly Manor Cafe" located in Big Bear Lake, California
Literally. There are no hours. If it's closed - it's closed. You better hope it's open!

The amazing chef - cooking up my delicious pancakes!


Restaurant: Grizzly Manor Cafe - Restaurant Review
Cuisine: Breakfast/Brunch/American/Diner
Last visited: August 6, 09

Area: Big Bear Lake, California
41268 Big Bear Blvd
Price Range: $10 or less

1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very good 5: Excellent 6: Tres Excellent!!

Food: 5, but 6 for pancakes!
Service: 6, funny and extremely sarcastic!
Ambiance: 5, sarcastic bumper stickers cover the walls
Overall: 6
Additional comments:

• Located in Big Bear Lake, California (the mountains)
• Famous for big portion pancakes and breakfasts - HUGE portions!
• Biggest, best, and fluffiest pancakes I've ever had in my life
• Hole in the wall - local and tourist favourite
• Cheesiest grilled cheese sandwich
• Ambiance and service with attitude - extremely sarcastic!
• Business hours are random - open and closes depending on owners mood
• Lunch served after 11am if cook is in the mood, no lunch on weekends
• Line-ups
• Plate fee of $1.00 for if you share.
• Warning: Will suffer from food coma, and meals may clog arteries - but it's so damn good!
  

**Recommendation: Pancakes, waffles, only if you dare - The Polar Bear!! (The Biggest of them all!)

If you are ever in California - head to Big Bear Lake, just to visit the Grizzly Manor Cafe. THE BEST, BIGGEST, AND FLUFFIEST pancakes I've ever had in my life. I still dream about them. Its near impossible to finish one. The service, atmosphere, decor, and menu are extremely sarcastic and casual. Get your own coffee. Write your own name. As the menu says "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason...so if you're hungry, be nice!"...be nice! This place is great!! If you come, you better be prepared!

On the table:

• **One Blueberry Cake (Pancake) 6/6
• Made upon order - this is the best pancake I've ever had. It was the size of a vinyl record and it was sooo fluffy! It's nice and thick, your traditional old fashioned style pancake. THE perfect pancake! Loaded with blueberries, this pancake is enough for 2 people. You can't even see the plate it comes on because it's so big. I still dream about this...you can't stop eating it...but you're so full...and at only $4.00 - a bargain
• They offer buttermilk, chocolate chip, and buckwheat cakes as well - you don't come to Grizzly Manor and order a buckwheat - that would piss off the owner.
  
• Short Stack Blueberry Cakes 6/6
• This is a bigger version of one blueberry cake - it comes with 2 pancakes - and you definitely can't finish this on your own. $6.50
• ** Waffle 6/6
• This was equally as good as the pancake. Its normal size to because its the size of a waffle maker. Again really fluffy - the perfect waffle! $5.99
  
• Two eggs with ham, corned beef hash, hash browns, toast 3/6
  
• Exactly what it is. I wasn't too crazy about the corned beef hash though.
• Sissy Boy - Love the name! 4/6
• 1 pancake, 2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon - again, it is what it is.
  
• Farmer's Delight 4/6
• Pork chops, two eggs, hash browns, and toast $11.25
• It comes with 2 pieces of pork chops, and they're not small either
• Kathy Melt 5/6
  
• Hamburger, Swiss cheese and grilled onion on sourdough $8.25
• This was a great burger! They grill the whole burger and the sourdough is all buttered and crispy! Really nice ground beef - 1.25 inch patty and its moist and not dry. The definition of a true American diner burger. It's greasy and good - it has to be to own the name.
• Boring Phil 4/6
  
• You haven't had a grilled cheese sandwich until you've tried this. There is more cheese than there is bread. Double the cheese. Extremely oily - this is what you expect when you order a grilled cheese at an American diner. Delicious if you're a fan of eating melted cheddar cheese on heavily buttered bread. It's a 2-1 cheese to bread ratio. The cheesiest grilled cheese ever.
• ** The Polar Bear
• I did not order this. But more or less tried it with everything on the table. I have to write about it because it's "the biggest of them all". Bacon, 2 eggs, hash browns, and 2 pancakes.
• This is a portion that's big enough to feed a family of 4-6. At only $10.25 this is a major bargain.
• Note: There is an extra plate fee of $1.00 if you want to share