Wild Tangerine

Order the house special. Do your research. Do not be afraid to try the dish critics rave about even if you're not initially drawn to it. This is a lesson I am happy to say I have learned.

When living in St. John's I enjoyed reading Karl Wells' reviews of local haunts. Reading those critiques was different than reading a restaurant review in Edmonton though - chances are I'd been there before and had my own take on the kitchen's offerings. Karl's insights were simply a yardstick to measure my own opinions against.

In discovering Original Fare Dot Com, I have taken to reading reviews before dining out at a new cafe. Before heading to Culina, I heard overwhelming praise for the steak with dirty mashed potatoes, blue cheese and chocolate sauce. I tried it. I loved it. I look forward to eating it again. I rarely order red meat at a restaurant and tend to think chocolate is best served for dessert. This said, I am very happy I took a leap and trusted the view of the foodies.

Last evening, Greg and I joined some friends at Wild Tangerine. Before leaving the apartment, I read review after review that sang the praises of the shrimp lollipops with wasabi yogurt. I am not normally the biggest fan of wasabi; I do not mix it with my soy sauce when eating an unagi roll. However, the shrimp skewers wrapped in angel-hair phyllo pastry were memorable. The yogurt had a welcome kick. I will be sure to order them again.

The decor of the restaurant was fun too. Check it out:

Wild Tangerine is located in Oliver and is run by brother and sister team, Wilson and Judy Wu. Call ahead; reservations are highly recommended.