Happy Halloween!

Saturday, October 31st, 2009 :: 10:05 am

Stay safe and don’t eat too many candies! ;-)

Halloween Candies

Shutter speed: 1/40s / Aperture: f/3.2 / Focal: 43mm / ISO: 1000


Halloween Pumpkin

Shutter speed: 1/80s / Aperture: f/3.2 / Focal: 45mm / ISO: 1000

Effortless

Monday, October 26th, 2009 :: 11:16 pm

Gary Chaw 曹格 in Vancouver @ The Centre

Gary Chaw Vancouver Concert

Shutter speed: 1/60s / Aperture: f/4.0 / Focal: 200mm / ISO: 1600

Golden Leaf

Sunday, October 25th, 2009 :: 11:45 pm

Golden Leaf

Shutter speed: 1/500s / Aperture: f/4.0 / Focal: 200mm / ISO: 100

Toratatsu Japanese Tapas Bistro

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 :: 11:38 pm

A while ago I was looking up restaurants in the Vancouver West End area and came across Toratatsu Japanese Tapas Bistro on Denman, just across the famous Kintaro (which I have yet to visit). I’ve been past this area a couple of times before but I have no idea how I missed it! Apparently the restaurant is owned by the same chef as Shiru-Bay Chopstick Cafe, which is quite a surprise.

The decoration is quite modern, with ceiling lights that look like the Ikea ones, and the daily specials written on mirrors. It’s quite an intimate place, I would guess that it holds 40ish people, with dim lights. Their food was quite creative and special – with good portions. For their rolls, they torch the tobiko on the sushi right at your table!

We had a great meal there, it’s a “definite visit again” restaurant for me!

“Power Roll” and “Dragon Roll”

Toratatsu Sushi Rolls

Shutter speed: 1/25s / Aperture: f/3.5 / Focal: 50mm / ISO: 1600


Toratatsu Chopsticks

Shutter speed: 1/8s / Aperture: f/3.2 / Focal: 50mm / ISO: 1600

Toratatsu

Shutter speed: 1/15s / Aperture: f/3.2 / Focal: 50mm / ISO: 1600
Busy night

Toratatsu

Shutter speed: 1/25s / Aperture: f/3.2 / Focal: 18mm / ISO: 1600
Specials written on the mirror

Toratatsu

Shutter speed: 1/8s / Aperture: f/3.2 / Focal: 18mm / ISO: 1600

Toratatsu Candle

Shutter speed: 1/25s / Aperture: f/3.5 / Focal: 50mm / ISO: 1600

Toratatsu

Shutter speed: 1/8s / Aperture: f/3.5 / Focal: 38mm / ISO: 1600

Enough with the interior.. we’re here to eat!

Fresh Spring rolls – with a twist!

Toratatsu Fresh Spring Rolls

Shutter speed: 1/8s / Aperture: f/3.2 / Focal: 40mm / ISO: 1600
Certainly not your average spring rolls!

Toratatsu Fresh Spring Rolls

Shutter speed: 1/6s / Aperture: f/3.2 / Focal: 50mm / ISO: 1600

This is where it gets interesting! Cheese Tofu – Creamy mascarpone tofu, toasted almonds, a touch of honey, served with baguette. I can’t describe what this tastes like… but essentially it’s very soft cheese with a hint of sweetness!

Toratatsu Cheese Tofu

Shutter speed: 1/10s / Aperture: f/3.5 / Focal: 40mm / ISO: 1600

Power Roll (Bbq eel and cream cheese) and Dragon Roll (Prawn and avocado with salmon caviar, topped with tobiko), torched in front of us!

Toratatsu Rolls Torched

Shutter speed: 1/60s / Aperture: f/3.5 / Focal: 38mm / ISO: 1600

Toratatsu Power Roll

Shutter speed: 1/15s / Aperture: f/2.8 / Focal: 50mm / ISO: 1600

Toratatsu Dragon Roll

Shutter speed: 1/20s / Aperture: f/3.5 / Focal: 50mm / ISO: 1600

Toratatsu

Shutter speed: 1/8s / Aperture: f/3.5 / Focal: 18mm / ISO: 1600
Dessert menu!

Toratatsu Dessert Menu

Shutter speed: 1/8s / Aperture: f/3.5 / Focal: 18mm / ISO: 1600
We opted for the Azuki Senbei Ice Cream – totally awesome!

Toratatsu Azuki Senbei Ice Cream

Shutter speed: 1/6s / Aperture: f/2.8 / Focal: 50mm / ISO: 1600

Tongue Out

Monday, October 19th, 2009 :: 11:57 pm

Cute Old English Sheepdog

Shutter speed: 1/100s / Aperture: f/3.5 / Focal: 64mm / ISO: 100