DINNER pages

Then a short walk to Beeryani – compound of Beer and Biryani; I skipped the beer, because the Mango Lahsi was fabulous. Had their special Lamb Biryani, but I was so excited to eat it I didn't get a good picture. But here are the Papadums, Tamarind chutney, and Indian pickles. After, we had gelato.

After a difficult day, we're doing okay. Nothing doing tomorrow except maybe Poutine. 

We walked into Stanley Park past a bunch of busy tennis courts to Stanley Park Brewing because we'd found that it offers salads, an apparent rarity here in health-conscious Vancouver (!?!) and after our potato outrage at lunch, that's what we wanted for dinner. Plus a superb house-brewed cloudy IPA, 'The Captain.' Our server Sabrina was personable and funny, said she envied my outfit, recommended the beer.

Finally, some food worth memorializing!

Karai Sushi and Korean Grill on Market Street fed us dinner, miso soup, Edamame, good green tea, and the gorgeous edible pictured at left: the Port Hardy Roll, prawns, (pretend) crab meat, cream cheese, smoked salmon, seaweed and rice with a 'special sauce'. Beautiful to look at, difficult to get into your mouth, and then delicious. We are plotting to return here Sunday week.

And now to bed, to the airport tomorrow by 9am; rain anticipated, showers here, drizzle at Klemtu. Our clothing is packed in garbage bags in anticipation . . . but we would not be disappointed if the rain didn't come true. At this point, the rest of the week is looking sunny.

Every evening of the voyage (except the last one when we appetizered on the foredeck) we sat in the aft saloon and devoured a spectacular spread plus BC wines and ciders while watching Chef Jen prepare and plate our wonderful dinners.  

You may wonder about bears. None yet, but when they appear, they will do so on a separate set of pages to protect their locations from discovery by poachers.

Upon our return, we had cruditées and and Trish’s amazing crab dip, then adjourned to the pilot house en famille for a delicious dinner: chicken in an Indonesian curry sauce, basmati rice, and asparagus with peach shortcake, mango sauce, and whipped cream with a chocolate sauce decoration for dessert.

We repaired early to our small stateroom, and were asleep by 10.

R and I chose not to go on the afternoon excursion, but those who went saw plenty of wildlife and returned with three beautiful wild flowers for the dinner table.

at right: the conquering expedition returns

Dinner was salmon with a maple glaze, grilled zucchini, and sun-dried tomato pasta. There was extra salmon, and R and I tried, and appreciated some Sockeye. Dessert was Apple Pie Cake with maple sauce and whipped cream.

Dinner

On the way back, we could see to the top of the ridge where ‘our’ waterfall had its start (mouseover for detail).

Leaving the cove and starting across the inlet, a view of our boat, Great Bear II, brought the sheer scale of this place into sharp focus.

At dinner (Portobello burgers with onion jam, yam fries, and poppyseed slaw – sorry, no picture – and Fragipani tart), a whale spout across the inlet, a mile away (so no picture), probably looking for Halibut. We hoped he’d come close, but he did not, but performed a beautiful lunge feed, a third of his body emerging from the water, before turning down the inlet and away. Still no bears here.

Today started foggy. Tony and I had our long-postponed talk, but were unable – unwilling? – to solve the problems of the world. Took lunch to Kathy and Eliana and had a lovely time with them. Sun came out. Played Bananagrams with Kathy. 

Came 'home' and had an lovely early dinner: a Caesar and Seafood Stew.

Justino, whose first career was as a professional chef at Izakaya, capably assisted by Vanessa, prepared a Japanese dinner for Jessica, Isadora, Rochelle and me: better'n out! Perfect miso soup – “you just have to be careful not to burn it.” A shiso and salmon handroll was my favorite, but they were all delicious. J & A had made a run to Uwajimaya for a full complement of ingredients.

Bernie Sanders (the cat) supervises everything.

Justino's masterpieces made nine people at dinner very happy. The serving platters – 

chicken pad thai             chicken larb

and my plate – mouseover for numbers.

1. chicken larb
2. pad thai
3. yellow curry
4. green papaya salad