Chefe Daniel...A Taste of Home
- sixstrings17
- Mar 14, 2016
- 4 min read
13620 80 Ave, Surrey, BC, Canada V3W3C3
Tel number: 778 591 0101
Chefe Direct (604) 719-4236
Email: chefedaniel1@gmail.com
Updated March 14, 2016
Having gone to Chefe Daniel the first time back in February, we decided a second trip is required to taste the other dishes on his menu. It turns out that the hard opening would be the next evening and we wished we had known earlier as buffet was being served along with live music. We ordered:
Pasteis de bacalhau - cod fish cakes stuffed with cheese as appy
Cogumelos - cream of mushroom with thyme
Linguini com Ameijoas - made with clams and white wine sauce
Paella - pork, chorizo, chicken, shrimps, squid in saffron rice
The cod fish cakes were two pieces of bigger than typical pieces one would do at home or even from a Portuguese deli. It was very moist, yet lightly crispy on the outside. The melting cheese stuffed inside was delicious. The mushroom soup was earthy, rich, and had a very natural taste and creaminess with just a hint of thyme and was very filling. The paella was a huge serving of rice, filled to the brim with meat and seafood all perfectly cooked together. J had a great linguini bowl packed with clams. These dishes are cooked by Chef Daniel himself. The quality has been consistently high, servings are generous, with all quality ingredients. The prices justify the skills of the chef and the quality ingredients in all the dishes. As the first time, chef Daniel came out to greet us during the meal. This place should be a staple to anyone desiring well cooked dishes, warm atmosphere, and friendly staff. With both of us being stuffed, we skipped dessert, even though the creme caramel here is great.
Feb 12, 2016
Bom Dia!
So one evening we were driving in Surrey and saw a "Chefe Daniel..Flavours of Portugal" restaurant. What a surprise to have actually found a new resto, and a Portuguese one at that, in our neighbourhood. Unlike Montreal or Toronto, there's only a tiny Portuguese population in the lower mainland of BC. Well, tonight was the first time we've ever gone to a Portuguese resto not because we don't like the food, but because we've never had to go to one to enjoy it. Growing up in Montreal, you see, my best friend Adelino Da Silva Faia (Adi) is Portuguese, and I frequented his family home as a teenager enjoying great times with his parents, brother Joe, and sister Ana. In essence, they made me a part of their family; often staying in their home, eating whatever they served. Adi's parents discovered quickly that I ate more than their kids, and would always cook extra when I was over to eat. lol
When we all grew up and got married, we'd often get together to enjoy Adi's parent's home-cooked Portuguese meals. From that close friendship, i grew up loving things like chorizo (portuguese sausage), bacalhau (cod), risotto (pot rice), and their amazing pastries, all home made. Having that stuff, well, there was never a need to go to a resto to eat em. Since moving to BC, we've never bothered trying to find one. I guess there's one or two, but they always seem to be closed. A few times every few months, I'd drive into the city to frequent a small store owned by a Portuguese family to buy food stuff like chorizo, olive oil, bread, cod or shrimp cakes. The shop owners soon found out i bought more than their typical customer (I'd buy 20/25 cod cakes, when their typical customer would buy two pieces...they'd actually have to fry more up just for me). Portuguese foodstuff is like being at home since such a large part of my growing up was spent at Adi's house.
So tonight, we had a taste of home after all these years. Chefe Daniel is an authentic Portuguese resto serving very traditional food. Seafood is prevalent in Portuguese cuisine specially cod fish, prawns, crabs, and so are pasta and rice dishes. We started off with:
1) Calho Verde - Kale soup - such a homey dish
2) Grilled chorizo - appy - chorizo is my favorite sausage, eaten as cold cut or grilled as in this case
3) Bacalhau a Braz - Traditional shredded salted Portuguese cod fish, hashed potatoes, eggs, olives, my main meal
4) Risotto seafood - Big bowl of risotto topped with mussels, prawns, clams - Jeanette's meal
5) Creme caramel - dessert
Everything was made in house including all the hot sauces. Chef Daniel himself came out to say hello to us, too.
Well....first bite into my dish brought back memories of times with Adi and his family. The cold Montreal evenings having his mother or father's home-cooked risotto or pasta, whereby I'd still be eating after they'd all be done, with Adi's mother going into the kitchen to get more food just for me while saying "Sam, comer, comer! (eat! eat!)". Adi would look at me and say..."you sure you want more?? You don't have to eat just because my mom keeps piling on food on your plate", to everyone's laughter. The truth is...i couldn't get enough! So it was like eating at home again....obrigado!
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