It’s the 10th annual Taste of Yaletown, and from Oct. 16-30 select Yaletown restaurants will be offering set menus for $25, $35, or $45.
While events like these have pros and cons and are not necessarily representative of a restaurant on a regular night, there is a charity aspect to support.
A portion of the profits raised during Taste of Yaletown is donated to The Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and since starting the dining event they’ve helped raised over $100,000.
Unfortunately a few of my favourite restaurants in the neighbourhood are not participating, but from the list that are, I’d recommend Bistro Sakana. There are other good options, but I’m zoning in.
Bistro Sakana often gets overlooked by the ever-so-busy Minami, which I’m also a fan of across the street, and it’s a bit of a shame because it’s a solid restaurant.
I’ve been on a regular night and tried some of their signature dishes, and their Ocean Wise shiro miso toro red chili aburi is phenomenal. Fresh tuna belly is marinated in Junmai sake and miso, layered with rice, box pressed, flame torched, and topped with red chili and key lime slivers.
They also offer a sockeye jalapeño aburi with spicy mayo sauce and jalapeño peppers, which is reminiscent of Minami’s signature aburi salmon oshi sushi, but I have to let Minami win on that one. However Bistro Sakana’s shiro miso toro can perhaps rival the Minami salmon oshi… I know, bold words, but I stand by them.
Nonetheless you can actually try them both (sockeye jalapeño aburiand the shiro miso toro) along with other signature dishes during Taste of Yaletown because Bistro Sakana is offering a signature sampler platter.
If you miss out going during the event, I strongly recommend going back and ordering the crunchy filo scallop and prawn as well as the black sesame-encrusted tuna tataki drizzled with yuzu-shiro-miso sauce.
Bistro Sakana deserves some spotlight because it’s not just the restaurant receiving “overflow from Minami” like some assume.
Just like Minami they specialize in West Coast-inspired Japanese cuisine rather than traditional.
I want to avoid the word “fusion” because I tend to think of “fusion” as bastardized attempts to re-create traditional dishes, which is not what they do. Sure every dish might not hit the mark, but there’s thought and care in execution.
I can’t speak for portion sizes or value since I haven’t tried the customized price fixe menu, but I’ve tried 90 per cent of what the menu offers and only hope they deliver the impressive standard I’ve experienced before. Bistro Sakana is offering all the house favourites and specialties, which I see lacking from other restaurants, and when it comes to price fixe menus, the signatures should be there.
Find Mijuneat Mise en Place, a sold-out fundraiser in support of our dear Chef Tina Fineza’s fight again breast cancer on Oct. 19. She will also be at the 5 course Ruffino winery dinner at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar by Chef Alex Chen on Oct. 20, and “Naked and Dressed” at the Vancouver Aquarium on Oct. 27.
Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie.
