Subeez Cafe

By Andy Friday June 29, 2012

Punctuality may just have to yet again make an appearance in this opening blurb. As I’ve said again and again, punctuality is not my thing. With everything going on in my life, how can I be expected to show up to all of my arrangements on time? Since I’m already predisposed to believe that such a string of events has a very low likelihood of happening, I’ve given up trying. This has allowed me to actually complete my tasks as opposed to deviating from them in order to show up somewhere at the scheduled meeting time. On such an occasion, I had placed the task of purchasing a large quantity of, um, entertainment beverages on myself to celebrate somewhat of a momentous event happening in my life at the time. This resulted in me holding up a somewhat large group of people waiting, but luckily, they were kept in the back area of the ever stylish Subeez Cafe. This was quite ideal for our large party, as we were essentially sectioned off onto a raised platform of sorts at the back of the restaurant for a more intimate experience with one another.

Being a bit of a caffeine addict, I ordered an espresso martini ($8), a mix of polar ice vodka, kahlua liquer, espresso, and cream. Being a classy 2oz concoction, the the price was reasonable enough. Admittedly, the espresso didn’t stand out as much as one might expect it to, although it went well enough with the vodka. It was also a little excessive on the foam, in my opinion. Say, aren’t you not supposed to drink alcohol and caffeine together, since one potentiates your GABAa receptors and the other your glutamate receptors, and the conflicting IPSPs and EPSPs would confuse those post-synaptic axon hillocks? Ah well, #yolo, right?

On some kind of false health-kick, I skipped out on the red meat and went for the salmon with quinoa ($19). The fish was cooked reasonably well, being flaky on the top and chewy down below. The jus served to supplement the natural taste of the fish, which was thankfully capable of standing alone. However, I did find its accompanying vegetables, which included baby bok choy, strange, although perhaps this was just a result of the overall nature of healthiness that the dish exudes.

A dining companion ordered the braised lamb shank, which was served with a variety of vegetables. As there were far too many people for me to keep track of, this post will now divulge into photographs of the different dishes that were present at the table, excessive blue hue and all. Since I really don’t have much else to say, I will include some #nowyouknow facts about something remotely relevant to each dish.

The vegetarian wrap with yam fries was also brought over. Contrary to popular belief, vegetarians are still able to get the proper amount of protein in their diets through the consumption of eggs, tofu, and beans!

A salmon burger with fries. Salmon contains omega 3 fats, which are optimal for brain functioning!

Pastas! Pasta is an ideal source of carbohydrates, which is the most efficient substrate for your body to oxidize into energy in the form of ATP. During a sprint, your body will do everything to ensure that enough glucose, the simplest carbohydrate monomer, can be supplied to your brain, as this is its prime source of energy. As such, if your blood sugar begins decreasing to dangerously low levels, this elicits a process called gluconeogenesis in the liver and kidneys, which breaks down substrates to revert back to glucose that would otherwise be used to provide more ATP for your actively respiring cells. Thus, you get tired!

The West Coast Salad! Unlike cows, humans do not have the cellulase enzyme to break down cellulose, a major component of plant cell walls. As such, a lot of this potential energy source remains undigested!

As an afterthought of sorts, I also ordered an apple pie martini. Unlike its espresso relative, the apple flavour came on a bit too strong. The resulting accentuation of the slight taste of ethanol already present in apples made this imaginative drink a bit harder to stomach. I must admit that the cinnamon sprinkled on top was a nice touch.

I apologize for this photo-heavy, word-lacking post. In spite of this, I can say that after a few laughs, extensive good company, and well-designed drinks in a regal urban ambience, I enjoyed this dinner at Subeez Cafe. For an establishment in Yaletown, the place came off as unpretentious, with the servers being accommodating if a little busy throughout the night. I would be more willing to return for a more intimate experience or another large party, especially given how willing they were to accept this little group of rugrats and misfits.

Conclusion: Andy ate a fair amount.