Vancouver Trendz [THURSDAY]

The Spice is Right

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Take the best parts of Indian, Chinese, and Thai cooking and you've got Malaysian food, a multicultural blend of spices, curries and other things that make you go "yum." Sounds good, eh? Well, ain't it nice that we've got a great Malaysian restaurant right downtown with prices that can't be beat for dine-in or take-out.

The menu mixes seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes. Its depth will keep you coming back night after night. There's kum heong crab, wok-fried in oyster sauce and spiced with curry. Or the majestic rendang beef curry coated in a coconut cream that must have floated down from the heavens. How about the tenderest of tender lamb shanks braised with ginger, spinach, carrot and leek? Yeah, that sounds good. Just like everything else!

Be sure to try the signature appetizers, too. The chicken, beef or lamb satay skewers will leave you desperate for more. And the flaky roti canai bread, a contribution of Malaysia's Indian community, tastes amazing with a dab of curry dip. And don't forget to top everything off with one of four Malaysian desserts. We like the pesang goring, a fried banana covered in peanuts, swimming in condensed milk and vanilla ice cream.

Drop by for a meal or grab a menu for home. A whole new world of eating waits.

Banana Leaf, 1096 Denman Street (near Comox), tel: 604.683.3333. Other locations at 820 West Broadway (at Willow) and 3005 West Broadway (near Carnarvon).

See their website bananaleaf-vancouver.com for their full menu and hours.

Did you go with the Brand New bag yesterday? And have you entered to win 10 tickets to any films of your choice at the new Vancity Theatre in the Vancouver International Film Centre in this week's Contest yet?