Lovin' Lobstah at Richard's on PEI

This past week, I took some vacation time to stand in my bestie's wedding on PEI.  It. Was. Awesome!  The wedding was lovely, but the party that followed was one for the books.  And the next day, we had to get all gussied up again!  The groom is an art director, and had planned a series of photoshoots with Halifax photographer Scott Munn; what a day.

After the wedding, the party and the photoshoot, we were all pretty pooped and decided to have some beach time and one last incredible meal.  I wish I had taken a photo of the view as we sat on the rooftop deck at Richard's Fresh Seafood Eatery and looked out onto the bay. Richard's is an institution on PEI.  It's a place where the line goes down the street and the wait is 45 minutes - but it's worth every minute.

My friend and I split two items on the menu:  the fish & chips for about $12.95 and the lobster roll for $11.  Holy Cannoli - that shit was good!

The fish & chips were delicious.  THREE pieces of panko-breaded haddock were lightly fried and had the most amazing crunch.  The fish within was still soft, flaky and moist.  Buried underneath all that fishy goodness was a basket of yummy fries that were golden brown and crispy - just the right amount of salt too.  

Fish & Chips

The lobster roll though, was absolutely incredible.  The toasted, buttery bun was piled high with huge lobster chunks, a very light mayo dressing and just a hint of  onion to impart flavour and celery to give it crunch.  These islanders really know how to do it.  In fact, it made me a little envious.  The lobster comes off the boat around the corner, enabling them their low $11 price tag.  A roll like this in Hali would easily have cost $18.  It took alot of effort to pass half of it over to my friend...

Lobster Roll

Jam-packed with fresh lobster goodness!

Richard's also serves house made tartar sauce.  This was a new flavour combo to me, but one I'd buy in bulk if it were available.  With a creamy base, there were hints of sundried tomato, dill, smoked paprika and hot pepper that made for one intriguing bite.

After dinner, and as the sun set, we had a lovely walk on the beach.   The sand between my toes and the sun on my face made me giddy with satisfaction.  With my belly full and my body letting go of the tension that lingered during the busy day, I was happy as the clams lurking in the sand beneath my feet.

I'll say "yes" to Sushi Nami anytime!

One of the only meals that I'll never turn down is sushi.  I have to be in the mood for pub food, pizza, Mexican or fine dining, but it's a rarity when I say "no" to some delicious raw fish. Of late, our favorite spot to go is Sushi Nami Royale.  The quality of sashimi is great - important since we eat so much of it; there is a pretty good variety; and between 3-5 pm and 9:30-11:30 pm, they have a Tsu-Nami menu, where food AND booze is 20% off!  Ding, ding, ding! It's a no-brainer.

We make a serious effort to try different things when we eat at Sushi Nami, but one thing stays the same: the Sashimi Appetizer - a great deal at the regular price of $9.95, and even better when it's 20% off. The pieces of tuna are like candy and the salmon is plump and supple on your tongue.  I'm not a huge fan of the Surf Clam, but do love the little parcels of snapper wrapped around pieces of cucumber.

Sashimi Appetizer $9.95

2 Salmon, 2 Tuna, 2 Snapper & 2 Surf Clam

We also generally try to have a salad (or two!).  On this occasion, we order both the Kani and Sunomono  salads.  SN also does a good size portion of the Hiyashi Wakame (Japanese Seaweed Salad) for $6.95.  The Kani salad is delicious and creamy.  With shredded crab meat, and long strands of carrot and cucumber, I like to twirl it around my fork like spaghetti.  The good amount of avocado adds another creamy layer while also playing the role of the 'cherry on top'. 

Kani Salad $7.95
Crab Meat, Cucumber & Flying Fish Roe

The Sunomono salad is pretty delicious too - but definitely not for the faint of heart as serious octopus tentacles are involved.  Again, the texture of the shredded seafood is what I really love, paired with the slight crunch of roe.  The sauce here is based on soy and is quite mysterious.

Sunomono $9.95

Shrimp, Cucumber, Crab Meat, Octopus & Seaweed

And because a good roll is always nice, we opt for the Spicy Scallop roll which is pretty tasty with the spicy sauce and tempura bits.  A spicy salmon/tuna is a good 'go-to' as well, but the Fusion rolls are really special.   I'll have to make another trip to Sushi Nami soon to illustrate what they are all about!

Spicy Scallop (6pcs) $ 5.95

Chopped Scallop, Green Onion, Tempura Bits & Spicy Sauce

But you can't have sushi without a bit of deep fried...so we try the Karakuchi Shrimp Fry - three large shrimp stretched on skewers and deep fried in tempura batter, then coated with a spicy sauce. What a crunch!

Karakuchi Shrimp Fry 7.95

Lightly fried Shrimp and coated with the house Spicy Sauce

 

This is such a great deal and is really one to take advantage of.  How can you go wrong with a guaranteed 20% off almost everything in your order?  I say "almost" as there is a specific Tsu-Nami menu with limited items, but I'm sure your palate will be more than satisfied with those available.  

jane's to go? I'll take that!

At the end of June, myself and my staff fun day team managed to pull off one of the most adventure-packed staff fun days to date.  Using our  powers of persuasion, we managed to have a day full of excitement capped off with gourmet-good food.

We started off at 9am with a session of laser tag at Alpha Strike.  That shit is sooo much fun!  I have never squealed and giggled so much in my life -- and being able to take down my boss didn't hurt ether!  When we were finished, we boarded an Ambasstours double decker to take us to our next destination: Kartbahn in Bayer's Lake.  We speed around the track for an hour or so and once we had our fill of burnin' rubber,  got back on the bus to pick up lunch - a gourmet brown bag from jane's on the common.

We had preordered the week before from an incredible selection of smoked salmon, roast beef, turkey, ham and cheese and veggie sandwiches.  With these came a drink and two side salads; broccoli with dried cherries, fennel and nuts and a tasty orzo and chickpeas with sundried tomatoes.  To top it all off: a decadently dense gluten free brownie, which I took home and later warmed and topped with vanilla fro-yo and fresh raspberries.  

If you're ever looking for a great quality lunch or need a change from fast food, this is the spot to go.   Fer real, this part was the highlight of my day, and wayyy better than take-out pizza!

Nacho Action at Gatsby's

A couple weeks ago in late June, I filmed a commercial for Nova Scotia Tourism as part of the 'My Nova Scotia' campaign.   On June 17th,  I stood on the corner of Argyle Street across from Durty Nelly's,  in the same position for three hours...on 2 ft. high apple crates.  Yup, that's 180 minutes without moving my lower body - which by the end was wrapped in a tarp to keep the wind off of my tender tootsies.

When all was said and done and we wrapped shooting at 11 pm, all I could think about was a) a calf massage and b) nachos.  By the time I dragged my tired carcass to Gatsby's, I was ravenous and ready to storm the kitchen.  Thankfully, my pal took matters into his own hands and ordered a platter of nachos and a bowl of meaty chili.

That was a pretty good move if you ask me.  Two of my favorite (edible) things are melted cheese and a good bowl of chili.  In the state I was in, a pile of chili topping a cheese-coated, salty corn chip was pure heaven.  A bottle of beer made it all the more blissful.

I feel as though I'd be doing With Bite readers a disservice if I didn't say that the nachos were alright - I remember them being much better.  They have all the good stuff: loads of cheddar and mozza cheese, red and green peppers, tomatoes, red onions, jalapenos and the addition of sweet pineapple if your palate so desires.  I think I was just a tad underwhelmed because the cheese wasn't thoroughly melted.

                                            

The chili was a pretty standard ground beef chili with the usual additions. The server was thoughtful enough to divide the portion into two smaller bowls - she knew where our heads were at. :)

                                            

If this review sounds somewhat negative, it's not my intention.  Gatsby's has consistently good pub fare, but it's just that: Good.  It's not mind blowing, and it certainly isn't gourmet, but it's inexpensive, tasty fare that hits the spot just when you need it to. 

When I'm in the mood for pub food and beer, Gatsby's is pretty go-to, especially on Tuesdays when the apps are 1/2 priced.  In addition to the 'chos and chili, I've also had a tasty quesadilla and a nice bowl of mussels in a white wine-based broth.

Hankerin' for Henry House

Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had never had a Reuben sandwich.  Several people were shocked about this fact, but I didn't really see it as a big deal.  I'm actually not all that much of a sandwich gal.  I like the occasional Bahn Mi or a little hot turkey action over the holidays, but most of the time, I could take it or leave it.

And then...I went to the Henry House. I've been a few times before and on this particular occasion, for some random reason, my psyche was jonesin' for some the smoked meat. As far as my research goes, the HH has a pretty standard edition: (marbled) rye bread topped with sweet Thousand Island dressing, tangy sauerkraut, nutty Swiss cheese and a pile - I mean pile, of smoked meat.

Well...I'll have that again. I tried to do the noble thing and save half for later, but failed miserably.  The slight heat from the meat's seasoning mixed with the subtle flavor of the Swiss cheese is a flavour combo that I'm sure to crave again.  Not to mention the yummy, crispy, skin-on fries that filled out the plate.

Reuben Sammy

                            

My pal's lobster roll was huge!  With big 'ol chunks of lobster, including a full claw, the mayo-based dressing was light and didn't overpower the lobster's delicate flavour.  Paired with a tasty Caesar, she was a pretty happy gal.

Lobster Roll w/ Caesar Salad

With our bellies full, we finished off our pints on the patio.  If you're in the South end of Halifax, the Henry House has a great patio on which to spend a sunny afternoon.  And it's not bad in the winter either!

Quick fix at Il Mercato

A few weeks ago, well....maybe months, we dropped in to Il Mercato pre-movie for a quick meal.  This was pre-reno, so I'd love to stop in again to check out the new digs! 

Since movie-theatre popcorn was in my imminent future, I decided to go for a lighter meal, in the form of a tomato-based herb-y soup filled with mussels, shrimp and scallops.  The soup - at a mere $9 - ccombined with a piece of toasted baguette and a glass of white wine, ended up to be the perfect snack and a nice alternative to a heavier pasta/pizza.

  

Italian Seafood Zuppa

My friend had the fettuccine dish below; a rich, cheesy sauce and nice salty prosciutto with a pile of perfectly cooked pasta.  Though he really enjoyed the dish, it was a touch too salty for me, what with the Parm and prosciutto being salty already.



Fettuccine, Prosciutto di San Daniele, sweet peas

cream & Parmesean

I'd love to say that we had a good time here, but we left less than enthused.  Though several waitstaff begrudgingly made contact with our table, our server's attitude was less that hospitable.  It's unfortunate that we went out for a nice meal, and felt as though our server resented us for sitting in her section, or...god forbid, asking a question about the menu!

Fujiyama: Eat in, or Take Out!

Mmmm- sushi!  Sushi is one of my favourite eats here in Hali.  It's just one of those meals that I could eat at any time of day, and the only late-night dinner I can really get into....Unless it's a greasy feed on an early Saturday am.  You know what I'm talking about....

This particular sushi experience is Fujiyama, the sushi spot that has taken over the old Le Cave location. I like this spot because I can count on its quality and creativity.  This blog post incorporates two dinners from Fujiyama - one on site, and one take-out.  I felt the need to write about the take-out, as it's not too often that your food quality remains intact when taken off-site.  On this occasion - and many times thereafter - it was.

Shrimp and Veggie Tempura 

How could you go wrong with this one?  Tender veg and plump shrimp in a light, crispy coating.

Chef's Sushi for Two

I was so glad that we ordered this dish - it really gave me the opportunity to try all types of sashimi and decide which ones I truly liked - the Butterfish was our favourite!  We really appreciated the fact that our server let us substitute the eel rolls for an additional salmon sashimi.

Deep Fried Banana

I could take or leave this dessert.  This was the only thing that really appealed to me on the dessert menu, but it tasted kinda funny...and I'm pretty sure the whipped cream was from a can. :S

And, for take-out...

Salmon Sashimi, Spicy Salmon Rolls & 

Tokyo Scallop Roll - Spicy scallop and avocado 

rolled in soybean paper with eel sauce and spicy sauce

Soybean paper is so tasty!  If ever you come across a roll enclosed in this deliciousness, go for it!  You'll appreciate the change from the texture of the usual nori, and it's quite tasty too!

Shrimp Tempura- Just as good at home...