Tsujiri Richmond

I had waited for almost a year before attempting to the check this famous green tea dessert place out.  It didn't start off great.  I made an reservation for an early dinner on a weekday via OpenTable but my reservation got canceled twice by the restaurant with no explanation given.  I left them a voice message but obviously no one returned my call.  Finally I got myself a reservation for two on a Saturday afternoon almost a month later. 

We ordered a Japanese Style High Tea set with Usucha, a Matcha Souffle Pancake and an Unagi Dashi Chazuke just for myself. 

The Japanese Style High Tea set which is a Japanese sweet and soba noodle sampler: Sakura mochi, pink mochi with pickled sakura, Kinako Warabimochi, Macha Warabimochi, monaka, chocolate lava cake with Matcha filling, Koicha Opera Cake, Matcha soba with unagi and another one with candied salmon.  The High Tea set really show case the traditional Japanese sweet that you rarely can get in Vancouver.  

Unagi Dashi Chazuke

The Matcha Soufflé Pancake is too wet and not airy enough.  Hojicha ice cream is good but portion is too small.  

I am mostly impressed by the pink mochi with pickled sakura.  I got some salted sakura in a small jar to make sakura tea and it has an acquired taste that I personally didn't really enjoy it.  I am so surprise that the pickled sakura pairs so well with the sweet pink mochi.  I was also impressed by the monaka.  The wafers has this nutty flavour and the red bean filing is on the lighter side.  When eating with a shiratama dango altogether provide a complex texture and flavour. 

I have to say that I didn't really enjoy my Usucha. It is just too bitter and too thick for me.   

Aterina

Drunk Octopus

我們其中三個揾間餐廳食下嘢，Tripadvisor對Aterina很高評價。所有食物都好有heart。我們坐出去露天座位，with perfect weather perfect sun。待應小姐為我們逐一介紹Today Special，又給我時間慢慢睇餐牌。我們係regular menu點了Marinated Anchovies做前菜。主菜我們點了Today Special的Drunk Octopus和Tuna Steak。

Marinated Anchovies鹹魚仔好正，一啲都唔鯹，魚身還很軟。配麵包一齊食已經可以食好幾大片。Tuna Steak係待應小姐心水推介，吞拿魚煎得好靚火喉剛剛好，但冇驚喜。另一個主菜是將八爪魚鬚同紅酒焗好幾小時焗到腍軟，再放上米飯上面焗十多分鐘讓米飯吸收八爪魚的精華。依個我就覺得好有驚喜好好食。我們食下又傾下又嘆下陽光，過咗一個非常愉快的上午。

Marinated Anchovies

Tuna Steak

Tirasusta (Carob Cake with Bitter Orange Jam)

之後同待應姐姐傾起，她説餐廳剛開業大家都冇乜信心因為菜式都是地道的家常菜，誰會花錢食。但後來好評如潮，因為食物跟足傳統做，食客自然吃得出心機所在。甜品想點carob cake或basil cake，最後揀咗carob cake但蛋糕質地比較實，有啲失望。朋友第二天再自己去吃，點了我冇食到嗰個basil cake説非常吃好（不忿！）

Como Taperia

朋友whatsapp聚舊，我們去依間2019新餐廳。朋友看了Air Canada和American Express 合作推介本年度Top 35餐廳。Como Taperia是其中一間，西班牙Tapas式餐廳。餐牌用很多西班牙文所以睇咗一陣先决定到。點了炸馬介休球(Croquetas de Bacalao)，蒜蓉蝦(Garlic Shrimp)，煮蛤蚧(Clams in Vermouth)，薯塊八爪魚(Galician Octopus)和青囗。

先評評我的家鄉菜一炸馬介休球，一啲魚蓉丶魚碎、魚肉都見唔到更食唔到。而且炸魚球非常濕，一啲texture都冇。其他菜味道也不突出，蒜蓉蝦味道很淡。蝦是雪藏蝦但蒜蓉不夠重完全食唔到味道。薯塊八爪魚上已經放了roasted paprika粉但都係冇味道。

朋友冇睇清楚餐牌，點了個$26青囗，原來係西班牙青囗罐頭，跟homemade薯片上。之後上網睇，Amazon誠惠$6。好伏！

新餐Waiter冇作什麼介紹。問他青囗兩丶三種名字有什麼分別也只是說來源不同。一直到我們吃得差不多才問我們要不要點餐包，但之前有很多碟已吃完攞走，冇留低啲汁點餐包吃。大家都是半飽離開。而且價錢不便宜，如果想有西班牙tapas氣氛，食物和消費便不要妄想了。

Messa 結論：Not going back