Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

Tag Archives: Eating Out


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July 2015 issue of RCC News is here

This issue of the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News is full of the many wonderful people, events and programs happening in our neighbourhood!

July 2015 RCC NewsGet your latest issue of the RCC News at your local coffee shop, grocery store, library and community centre.

Or click on the cover image to view the new issue.

In this issue:

  • Have a berry berry good summer
  • Green Thumb wins awards and more awards
  • Insights from a stay-at-home dad
  • People with disabilities are normal
  • Paula Carr wins award
  • Eating Out: La Piazza Dario

Do you have a local story to tell or an event to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca.

The deadline for the August 2015 issue is July 10. You are welcome to submit a story from 300 to 400 words, with high resolution photos in a jpg at least 1 MB file size.


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ChoSun Korean BBQ House

3846 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC
604-434-1222

BY PAUL REID

For this rousing edition of Eating Out in RC, we travel to Korea in the form of ChoSun Restaurant for a taste of their traditional barbecued meat.

ChoSun, which has been gracing our culinary crown here in Collingwood for seven years now, really is a fun place to go if you haven’t been there. I’m not sure if it was because of the seating set-up, which kind of divides people into private areas of various sizes (for parties and such), or the fun aspect of cooking the meat right there at your table added some sort of social element, or the cheap drink specials, but for a Tuesday night, the place seemed packed and buzzing with a lively, fun atmosphere. Was it due to some extraordinary food being present? We were about to find out.

As quickly as was possible, which was quick, due to excellent service, my trusty accomplice and I went for the BBQ Combination A: chicken, pork, sliced beef and beef short ribs. Designed for two ($32.95). This came with about 10 delectable side dishes. Even though we were Korean BBQ newbies, we were able to turn out some super-delicious barbecued meat, which doesn’t take long when it’s sliced so thinly. You can’t really go too wrong. My trusty accomplice (and sweetie) handled most of the manouvers on this occasion, though I did throw in a few select moves of my own.

So as you can guess, it was all completely out-of-this-world delicious! And yes, it was quite possible that all of the excitement in the air had something to do with the added excitement of barbecuing at the table. It’s pretty cool.

“It is unique to have the barbecue right in the table,” says manager Jin Soo. “Most Korean restaurants will not.”

Apart from your BBQ meat combinations, you are also going to find a whole lot more on the menu. ChoSun is a fusion restaurant, blending Korean with Japanese and Chinese dishes. “The menu, though,” states Jin Soo is 90 percent Korean. Still you will find a full selection of sushi and rolls, sashimi, donburi and teriyaki, noodles and fried rice.

For Korean cuisine, we have soups: spicy kimchi; seafood and tofu; spicy sparerib and cabbage. We have Bibimbob, which is rice mixed with assorted marinated vegetables, meat and hot sauce; casseroles, spicy or mild. There are delicacies, including tofu with pan-fried kimchi, stir-fried small octopus and vegetables, fried prawn with sweet and sour sauce, and Jobchae (vermicelli noodles with beef and vegetables). There are also plenty of items to go on the BBQ, such as Bulgogi (a deliciously marinated sliced beef), beef tongue, prawns, squid and assorted mushrooms.

So it really could be the great food also contributing to the buzz at ChoSun. It definitely would help explain why the place was packed and received an Honourable Mention for Best Korean Restaurant by Vancouver Magazine. Apart from the great service and fun atmosphere, I’m sure Chef Ki John Kim, with 25 years’ experience in Korean cuisine, has something to do with it.

And hey, the Korean and Japanese beer, soju, sake and wine probably don’t hurt matters. Nor the green tea, mango or chocolate ice cream for dessert. Or that from Monday to Friday, from 11:00am to 3:00 pm, the ChoSun Lunch Box is a big hit. Four lunch boxes featuring beef, ribs, braised ribs, chicken *$8.95-10.95) comes with a wide assortment of side dishes.

It may also be the superb hospitality and philosophy of owner Seo Woong Kim. “I love serving food and introducing people to Korean food,” says Seo Woong, which is why I have three restaurants now.” He thanks everyone from the community who has been keeping him busy all these years and invites everyone to come and try his Korean recipes. “We do our best to continue developing new dishes, to keep our customers happy and coming back.”

No matter how many reasons there might be, the buzz and the words are out! And this time they rhyme.

There’s good food and fun, over at ChoSun! So go there to eat, and bon appetit.

* ChoSun is an ancient name from Korea’s last dynasty in Korean history, which reigned for five centuries, from 1392 to October 1897.

© Copyright (c) 2013 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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Mezbaan

Fine Indian Fusion
3499 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC
604-438-0404

BY PAUL REID

Greetings, food fans. A show of hands―how many of you have discovered the goodness which is Mezbaan? And how many of you are regulars? I am guessing about the same. Let’s go back over the reasons for such an assumption.

Let’s start with the heart of Mezbaan’s popularity―the buffet.

First, we have all of that delicious food. With about 12 main dishes, along with the dessert section, the buffet offers us a generous assortment of gourmet offerings. Usually, it is the Indian classics that we will find here, while on Wednesdays, it is the fusion side of Mezbaan that gets a chance to shine. Indian-style Chinese food; Indian-style Mexican food and lasagna are popular on Wednesdays. In fact, with the exception of the butter chicken and rice, the entire buffet switches into fusion mode. “Total Fusion” is what it has been dubbed.

Secondly, we have the buffet’s all-you-can-eat factor. I don’t know about you, but there is something comforting in knowing that one can eat until their heart is content. Yes, folks, feel free to pig out. As long as you do not waste food, no foul in heading back for more.

And finally, folks, and what sets Mezbaan apart, and scoring high, high, HIGH, on the Gourment/Gourmand’s Scale of Goodness*, is the price for such excellent food. Hold onto your hats, but if you didn’t know already, the fine buffet at Mezbaan’s can be experienced for the amazing pittance of just $7.99!. Did he say $7.99? I did.

But wait, there’s more. That’s for lunch OR DINNER! Yes, on Mondays and Wednesdays, the buffet is available ALL DAY for just $7.99. Wednesdays, remember, feature the fusion goods, so that, my friends, is the place to be Wednesday nights. The buffet, now available every night at Mezbaan, is always an excellent deal, even at its regular dinner price of just $10.95.

In concluson: All you can eat, gourmet food by five-star chefs, here in Collingwood, for less than you would likely spend at McDonalds. Case rested.

Apart from the buffet, Mezbaan offers a full array of Indian and fusion-style dishes. Recommendations include the Mango Chicken and the Prawn Coconut Curry. Actually, all of the coconut dishes are superb. “We do not buy packaged spices,” says Chef T.J., “We buy them whole and then ground them up.”

Chef T.J., co-owner and head chef of Mezbaan, is a former chef at five-star restaurants in New Delhi, who was hand picked to work in such restaurants as Handi and Saffron. Now he is joined by two other five-star chefs: Chef Harry and Chef Mandeep, also from New Delhi.

New at Mezbaan: The chefs at Mezbaan are always introducing new fusion items to the menu. We can also be on the lookout for Indian sweets―coming soon to Mezbaan. Chef T.J. asks that we keep our eyes out for the Mezbaan flyer―which contains their menu for all of your take-out needs, discount coupons, and the entry form for the Mezbaan prize draw. The first draw will be held on Christmas―prizes include dinner for Mezbaan―up to $100 value.

So if you haven’t been to Mezbaan, or it’s been awhile, go taste the deliciousness for yourself and let’s put a permanent line-up outside a door that deserves it. Bon appetit.

© Copyright (c) 2012 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News