On Nikaido and Tea

(Photo from the Steveston Insider)

On a lovely Saturday afternoon in sunny Steveston, my cousin dragged me to this specialty boutique along No. 1 Road. Nikaido is a quiant, cozy store that sells cards, stationery, and many other things you would want to splurge money on - ehem, cutest of all the cute in the world. This is one side of its interior:

(Photo from the Steveston Insider)

They also sell tea, and A LOT of it. I wish I could tell you about each and every kind, but I can only tell you about one since well, I only purchased one kind that day - the Nikaido Mango Ceylon black tea ($7.95).



I was never a fan of fruity tea until I had this particular one and I was blown away in delight. This black tea has a tangy-ness to it that is just perfect. The pieces that make up the loose leaf are authentic (there isn't much of it out there) and have a wonderful aroma. Whenever I steep this tea at night, or in the late afternoon, its aroma fills the whole place with calm, and it's nice. Also, you can use a batch several times without worrying about your next one being too bland. I also bought my tea filter (around $5) from them.

Nikaido also carries a variety of tea of different brands, some made for cough, weight loss, energy boost, or whatever you need. Name it, they probably have it. My cousin got a double matcha and milk oolong. She loves them too.

This was a really good buy. I can't wait to go back and get some more of a different kind! The lovely couple who owns the place are very nice too. They make you feel welcome to take your time and look at what they have in store.

I wish I had known about Nikaido a long time ago. Then I wouldn't have gone back to grocery stores to buy boxed tea. But hey, we learn, we learn.

#Oysters / Rodney's Oyster House

The other day, I was browsing hashtag #oysters on Instagram (yes, I do that) and tortured myself with photos of beds and beds of oysters. I had been craving it for months. I am aware that there are several oyster bars in Vancouver but none of them ever appealed to me for some reason. I never bothered to go. But upon seeing the torturous photos and reading that they were taken in Yaletown, Vancouver, I jumped to my feet and knew I just had to go. Luckily, that Friday, my uncle and I had planned to meet downtown and do another photo walk. Luckily, my uncle, an extreme foodie like me, had been craving the same for months now.

We went to Rodney's Oyster House along Hamilton St. in Yaletown and was guaranteed to be seated in 30 minutes. We went to the waterfront and took a few photos, then excitedly walked back.

We started with their New England Clam Chowder (around $7.50) and it was good. It was very filling. The clams were plentiful. The cream is quite rich, but is contrasted by fresh ground pepper that adds a little kick. I also had been craving for this specific chowder since all of the places I go to only have the Manhattan one, which is a tomato-based chowder. Not my type.



We tried the Scallop Galette (around $12) which features potato encrusted scallops, a salad with vinaigrette, and plum sauce. I love love love scallops so this was excellent for me. Also, the greens were a nice touch. The plum sauce was a bit sour than I expected, but still good.



Nobody should say no to these babies - their Pan Fried Oysters (around $12) was really good. They were fried perfectly and not at all overwhelming.



And of course, what we came for, raw oysters. Beautiful. If you come during their low tide (3 - 6pm Mon to Sat), their raw oysters come at $1.50/pc. Not bad at all. It's only been two days and I'm craving for more already!

They will also give you this nice array of sauces to put on the oysters. They are placed from mildest to hottest. The hottest, the last one called Back From Hell, is INTENSE. It will take your taste buds off, but if you're some daredevil then you'll enjoy this treat.

I honestly did not enjoy the sauces because I thought they overpowered the oysters. But don't get me wrong, they are all excellent. Your server will let you in on the best sauce combination. I just opted to squeeze lemon and pour a bit of vinegar on mine. Unlike myself, my uncle just can't take the thought of slurping these babies right off the shell. I love it. I like the taste of the ~sea~



Halfway thru our meal, we decided we needed something to wash down the taste. We asked our waiter (such hunk, btw) for their white wine selection and he recommended the Babich Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand ($11/glass). Yeah....it's poured into this tiny glass (full to the brim) but still quite pricey if you ask me. It was very very good though.

I had to crouch down to take a sip before I could move the glass without spilling.



It was a very good meal. To think that the only carbs we consumed were the potatoes in the chowder and the complimentary sourdough bread, we were very full and happy. I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys oysters and who isn't meticulous dining in quite a rowdy place (especially during hockey matches. Go Canucks!). If you aren't a fan of raw oysters, they have other goodies too. Check out their menu here: http://rohvan.com

They have a Maritime Room hidden at the stern usually used as a function room, but is also opened to the public during busy hours.



Have a photo of myself in zombie mode.

Photo walk photos to be posted soon!

Rodney’s Oyster House
1228 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 6L2
604.609.0080