The bucket list

As we prepare to move to the east coast, we've determined it necessary to fulfill a bucket list of sorts before we leave the west. And most of it involves food.

Have I told you that I love food? Like REALLY love it? I could be sitting at a table covered in some of the world's best Chinese food, and yet be talking about the Mexican food I had in New Mexico that blew my mind. And now that we're leaving Vancouver, home to some of the best world cuisine in Canada, we've made a goal to revisit some of our favourite gastro-haunts. So, here's a list of what we've done and what we'd like to do, despite our limited time here:

This week: INDIAN

Where: Samosa Garden, on Kingsway.

What: The buffet. Oh-so-awesome tandoori chicken, spicy lamb curry, palak paneer served with tender-chewy naan with mango chutney on the side. Sweet, sweet Gulab jamun for dessert.

Last weekend: CHINESE

Where: Ning-Tu restaurant, on Kingsway

What: Glorious Shanghainese food. Classic siu-long bao, sumptuous fried 'n battered fish, crispy rice served in soup, fried bread with sweetened condensed milk dip. Mmm!

Last week: RAINY-DAY COMFORT FOOD

Where: Burgoo Bistro, Main St.

What: Brie cheese 'n garlic fondue with crusty bread and apple pieces for dipping. Their decadent cheese and parsley biscuits. The main course: Hearty Irish stew with Guinness-braised lamb served over garlic mashed potatoes. Perfect for a cold, rainy Vancouver night!

THE REST OF THE BUCKET LIST

1. SUSHI

Where: Sushi Garden, Lougheed Hwy (not as busy as Metrotown)

What: Oh my, their Alaska roll: Juicy salmon and avo drenched in miso dressing heaven. Huge pieces of rosey, melt-in-your-mouth tuna and buttery-soft salmon sashimi.

2. CHINESE

Where: Chen's Shanghai Kitchen, Park Rd in Richmond

What: Our favourite Shanghainese place of all time. Juicy, juicy siu-long bao, beef-roll pastry, fried dumplings, spicy beef noodle soup. Limited by translation . . . can't explain the tastiness in English!

3. MEXICAN

Where: Dona Cata Mexican, Victoria Dr.

What: Their awesome, authentic tacos, made just the way they should be! Double corn tortillas served with your choice of meat (al pastor, carnitas, barbecoa are my faves) topped with fresh onion and cilantro salad. Best of all: 10 amazing salsa to choose from. Horchata - also a must-have!

4. TAIWANESE (sort of)

Where: Anywhere I can get a decent cuppa

What: Bubble tea. Just a plain, milk tea - no bubbles, actually.

5. ITALIAN

Where: Lombardo's (Commercial Dr.)

What: Authentic and fresh italian cooking. Delicious fire-baked pizzas - anyone of them. Or any of their homemade pastas.

6. ITALIAN again

Where: La Casa Gelato

What: 188 or a billion (what's the number now?) flavours of gelato. Sure, gelato afficionados claim its quality to not be the best, but I enjoy this place. It's like a carnival of colours and crazy flavours, like balsamic vinegar gelato, pear and gorgonzola, and dark chocolate chili. Best of all, they let you sample pretty much whatever you want.

7. Richmond Night Market

Cannot tell you how much I will miss this place. The little dim-sum dishes, meat-on-a-stick, fried red-bean pastries shaped like fish (?!), bubble tea, random Asian imports, and oh, the crowds.

8. A day at a Vancouver beach

So, I'm getting into the not-food-related. I have yet to bring Coram to one of my favourite Vancouver beaches like Spanish Banks. Waiting for a sunnier day than what we've been having.

9. One more hike

Where: Any one of the coast mountain trails

I wish I had more time, at least to scale the Lions or visit Elfin Lakes again. Probably more than I can chew right now with a 10-month-old. Maybe we can do Lynn Valley at least.

10. Take some classic pictures of Vancouver

. . . so I can tell Coram that this is where Battlestar Galactica and X-men were filmed.

If anyone has some suggestions on what we could do before we leave Vancouver, drop me a line!