Life in the Lower Mainland (BC, Canada)

My first experience of queso fundido was at Telus Garden, where I really thought they did a great job of it. I spotted the dish again tonight at The Mexican Antojitos Y Cantina , where you have two options: with chorizo (the traditional way) or mushrooms (the veggie option; doesn't cost any less). Queso Fundido ($11)  Flame-melted cheese mixed with your choice of mushroom or homemade chorizo, corn tortillas and pico de gallo . It's an appetizer so portion is smallish. Salty cheese. And only three (?) tacos so be generous with the cheese. Cools quite quickly but doesn't harden for a while. Still, it's not tasty when it's not hot so don't dilly dally! Definitely use the salsa (pico de gallo) provided as it helps to offset the heaviness that comes with basically eating a whole lot of cheese. Overall it's pretty tasty in a salty-tasty sort of way, and if you like stringy cheese it's fun. BUT -- and I can't believe I'm saying t...

Glowbal Group has got Telus Garden monopolized with not just the obvious Glowbal restaurant but the decidedly un-Glowbal-looking little Nosh cafe inside. Glowbal used to have a Glowbal Grill Steaks & Satay and Grill in Yaletown, which honestly didn't impress me with overpriced mediocre skewers. Then they opened various other restaurants including the black-and-gold themed Black+Blue  -- still with great ambiance and mediocre food. Now there's Glowbal. Huge "patio" if you can really even call it that. It's basically outdoor seating that will be really interesting to watch when the winter months hit. Funny birdcage booth seating available outdoors as well. Luxury-invoking black and gold theme inside. Tight-looking ground floor interior as a lot of space is given over to the kitchen. Upstairs seating. Thankfully spacious staircases leading to the washrooms downstairs. Still pricey in the Glowbal style. Robata Platter ($39) chef selection fr...