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BY Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment ON August 15, 2016

Off the Beaten Culinary Path in Richmond, BC

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For aficionados of Asian cuisine, Richmond, BC is a food lover’s paradise.

With over 200 restaurants on Alexandra Road alone, Canada’s multicultural city serves up a variety of flavors – Cantonese, Szechuan, Shanghainese, Northern Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean and Malaysian. While you could start and end your visit on “Food Street,” covering just three short city blocks, Richmond offers an abundance of eateries beyond the city’s Golden Village. So why not wander Richmond’s culinary backroads, watch master chefs in action, and expand your cultural horizons?

Here’s where to find a few of the region’s best discoveries off the beaten culinary path:

Food Courts

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Parker Place, Empire Centre and Landsdowne are among Richmond’s twelve or so food courts offering plenty of places to get your Asian food fix. Whether you have a hankering for BBQ, clay pot rice or pork soup dumplings, stop here to check out local favorites. Stroll through the centers for an overview not only of the food scene, but also for a flavor of Asian decor, trendy fashions and popular art in the speciality stores on site

Our group’s weekend food fest began with lunch take-out from two food stalls at Parker Place Food Court, Lai Taste and Parker Place Meat & BBQ, for tastes of Vietnamese fish subs with a refreshing complement of cucumber and cilantro, succulent roasted bbq pork and duck, and soya chicken.

Parker Place Meat & BBQ

Tip: Arrive early at Parker Place Meat & BBQ. Expect waits of up to 30-minutes or longer at this popular takeout-only venue known for its scrumptious food and friendly service.

Cap off your lunch with the sweet taste of Chinese bubble waffles and dragon beard candy. Like a waffle in reverse, bubble waffles are a Chinese snack with batter inside that can be customized with matcha, Oreos or red bean paste.

Chinese Bubble Waffles

What’s dragon beard candy? “Like a little cloud of sweetness,” the candy is spun sugar made originally with stuffed peanuts, similar to Turkish delight.

Dragon Beard Candy

Still hungry? Head to award-winning James Snacks at Empire Centre Food Court to sample its signature dish, claypot rice, a one-pot dish of meats or chicken and vegetables. Try the Chinese preserved sausage (darker in color than the regular sausage) for a hint of sweetness.

James Snacks Claypot Rice

Tip: Call 30 min. ahead to place your order to allow enough time for the the rice to form a crisp crust and the flavors of the ingredients absorbed into the rice.

At Lansdowne Food Court, be sure to try the juicy pork soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) at R & H Chinese Food.

PicMonkey Collage

On any given weekday, you might catch Wang Mei Ling preparing one of the 40-50 baskets she makes daily (80-90 baskets, 6 dumplings per basket, on weekends). She fills the wheat flour wrappers with minced pork and aspic, seasoned with salt and white pepper, sugar, rice wine soy and ginger. One of my favorite finds!

Richmond Public Market

How about some hand-pulled noodles for your Asian food fest?

Xi'An Cuisine

At Xi’An Cuisine on the second floor of the Richmond Public Market, watch the chef as he demonstrates his noodle-stretching technique before you sample one of the many noodle dishes sold here. You can even pick up ingredients for a home-cooked Asian meal at the grocery store or food shops on the first floor if you want to try your own hand at noodle-stretching.

Hole in the Wall Locations

Small, unpretentious, with a focus on family-friendly food fare for the adventurous, these restaurants might otherwise go unnoticed in their tucked away locations were it not for their loyal followings.

Tip: At many hole in the wall restaurants, you can’t make reservations ahead of time. Expect up to 30-minute waits(at least) for seating depending on the time of day.

Here a few favorites from our weekend extravaganza:

Happy Date Restaurant and Bakery

Start your second day in Richmond with breakfast at this Hong Kong style restaurant with a bakery attached. Enjoy a Chinese donut (crispy on the outside, soft on the inside), dipped in soy milk.

Happy Date Bakery

Follow with a bowl of congee with preserved egg and shredded pork, and you’re all set for the day ahead.

Xin Shun Spicy Crab Hot Pot

Put on your plastic gloves and get your hands dirty when you dive into this dish of spicy stir-fried crab mixed with shrimp, vegetables and meats. What fun – and so delicious!

Xin Shun Spicy Crab Hot Pot

Prata Man

For a taste of traditional Hainanese Chicken, Prata Man is the place to go. Just head to the end of a small plaza on Garden City Way and have a seat at one of the dozen or so tables inside. Here the Hainanese chicken is served cold with green onion and ginger, complemented by chicken oil rice and a clear, hot broth.

Prata Man prides itself on having the highest quality of all three ingredients – the broth, chicken and chicken oil rice – to create the best possible traditional dish.

BBQ Meats at HK BBQ Master

Accessed through a parking lot located under a large supermarket, BBQ Meats at HK BBQ Master ranks high for its superb crackling roast pork, thanks to its use of pork belly.

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Crackling is the crispy skin on cooked pork. Not a fan of crackling roast pork? No worries. The moist, flavorful BBQ duck and pork also drew high praise from our group of food explorers.

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Order the choy sum (a Chinese leafy green like gai lan, but softer and sweeter) as a tasty side dish.

Shibuyatei

Travel is all about discovery, and Shibuyatei is a gem. Located next to a car wash, Chef Takeo Sato runs his one-man restaurant with passion. But don’t let the location fool you.

Shibuyatei

Shibuyatei is billed as one of the best places for authentic “larmen” outside Japan where Chef Takeo previously ran a ramen shop. His focus on flavorful ramen, minus MSG, is evident in every delectable bite.

Sushi Hachi

For an intimate, upscale Japanese dining experience, book a reservation at the exclusive Sushi Hachi, open only for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays. The husband and wife team specialize in serving authentic traditional nigari and sashimi, simply presented.

Sushi Hachi

If you’re not sure what to order, you can’t go wrong saying this magical phrase, “Omakase,” loosely translated as “Chef, I am in your hands.”

Sugarholic Cafe

But wait – Let’s not forget dessert after all our Asian dining! How about a bite of this scrumptious bananas & chocolate honey toast tower from Aberdeen Centre’s Sugarholic Cafe, described as “European high tea meets Japanese sweets.”

Sugarholic Cafe
At least you know what you’re getting here!

After a whirlwind weekend of sampling traditional Asian foods at fourteen favorite eateries in Richmond, BC, it’s time to head home, with visions of yummy Asian dining dancing in my head – and on my palate.

Wander on!

Nancy

Thanks to Visit Richmond BC for showing me a few of the best hole in the wall restaurants the area has to offer! 

What’s your favorite Asian dish, wanderboomers? Please share with us here.

Filed Under: Baby Boomers and Travel, British Columbia, Canada, Food & Dining Tagged With: Asian cuisine, BBQ, Chinese food, claypot rice, food courts, Hainanese chicken, hole in the wall, Richmond BC

BY Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment ON July 4, 2014

Happy 4th of July 2014!

Seattle Center 4th of July 2014

Land of the free . . . Home of the brave . . . In a day marked by BBQs, fireworks and John Philip Sousa tunes, 431 people from 70 nations were honored today as new citizens of the United States in Seattle.  The oldest candidate to be sworn in at Seattle Center’s 30th Annual Naturalization Ceremony was Korean-born Mr. Kyung Ku Lee, age 80.

U.S. American Flag Seattle Center House

For all the years I’ve lived in Seattle, this was the first time I have attended the event. Now I’m wondering what took me so long. What better way to spend Independence Day than welcoming our country’s newest citizens? The celebration included festive music by the Greenwood Concert Band and performances from native Americans and the Total Experience Gospel Choir, reminding me of our country’s strength in diversity.

Maria Mueller and WA State Senator Maria Cantwell

As I listened to the speeches from local dignitaries, my mind wandered, wondering about the individual journeys that each of the 431 individuals had taken to U.S. citizenship. Not to mention the Naturalization Test that each had to pass to get here.

30th Annual Naturalization Ceremony Seattle Center

Did you know that there are 100 civics (history and government) questions for the Naturalization Test? And that to pass the civics test, an applicant has to answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly in an oral test conducted by a USCIS Officer? The USCIS Officer can ask up to 10 questions, but of course applicants have to know the answers to all 100 questions. Here are a few examples. Let’s see how you do (and no fair scrolling down for the answers):

1) How many amendments does the Constitution have?

2) How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

3) Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

4) What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

5) The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. Okay, here’s an easy  one:

6) When do we celebrate Independence Day?

Happy 4th of July, wanderboomers! Oops – hope I didn’t give anything anyway . . .

Now for the (rest of) the answers:

1) 27

2) 9

3) John Roberts

4) give up loyalty to other countries, defend the Constitution and laws of the United States, obey the laws of the United States, serve in the U.S. military (if needed), serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed), be loyal to the United States

5) (James) Madison, (Alexander) Hamilton, (John) Jay, Publius

6) Today, of course!

Be Bold and Wander On!

Nancy

U.S. American Flag Plover Ferry

How do you celebrate Independence Day, wanderboomers?

Filed Under: Holidays Tagged With: 4th of July, BBQ, fireworks, Independence Day, John Philip Sousa, Naturalization Test

BY Nancy Mueller 6 Comments ON July 3, 2013

Have a Happy 4th of July!

U.S. Flag

On the 4th of July, whether you travel solo, with a partner or family, take time to celebrate Independence Day!

Statue of Liberty Close up

Here are 5 festive American 4th of July traditions you won’t want to miss:

1) Watch a parade.

Look for neighborhood parades for an up-close and personal view of the event. Wear your red, white and blue. Wave a flag. Have fun with the clowns. Swing along to marching band tunes. Cheer your local servicemen and women. Heck, you might even want to join the parade before it’s over.

2) Have a picnic or BBQ.

Of course, you’ll need to have plenty of favorite American dishes on hand: potato salad to go with grilled hamburgers and hotdogs; baked beans; corn-on-the-cob; ice-cold lemonade and/or beer; and don’t forget the strawberry shortcake for dessert.

3) Attend a band concert.

If ever there’s a day to listen to the music of John Philip Sousa, this is it. In Seattle, head to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard to see the Seattle Civic Band perform at 2PM. As an added bonus, you can watch the boats cruise through the locks.

4) Stage a reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Let’s remember what we’re celebrating on the 4th of July. On this day in 1776 representatives of 12 of the 13 American colonies approved the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. When in the Course of human events . . . We hold these truths to be self-evident . . .

5) See the fireworks.

Fireworks flickr Camera Slayer

Photo courtesy of flickr – Camera Slayer

Cap off your festive day with a fireworks display. Safety comes first, so be sure to enjoy the viewing from a protected area. Better to keep your pets safe at home in a quiet place.

What are your favorite 4th of July traditions, Wanderboomers?

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, Holidays, Seattle, Travel Experiences Tagged With: 4th of July, American flag, BBQ, Declaration of Independence, fireworks, Independence Day, John Philip Sousa, parade, safety, Statue of Liberty

Hello fellow wanderboomers! I’m a Seattle-based travel journalist, specializing in fun travel adventures for the young at heart. My articles have been featured in Hemispheres, AAA Highroads Magazine and Northwest Travel & Life Magazine where I'm a frequent contributor. When this Wanderboomer isn’t traveling, I help global executives polish their personal and professional brand for long-term results.
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