Korean restaurant offers adventurous, savory dining, family recipes
Why: When Huisuk Chi married her military husband, Yong Chi, 20 years ago, she couldn’t have known that it would be the start of both a marriage and a culinary career. But as an Air Force wife, Chi who hails from Daegu, South Korea, found herself working in restaurants and in military chow halls. At home and for holidays, she whipped up traditional Korean fare, which her husband always lauded.
After her husband’s retirement from the U.S. Air Force seven years ago, the couple relocated to Vancouver, where they have friends. And a few weeks ago, they began a new life chapter by opening a restaurant, A Little Pine Tree, which features many of Chi’s family recipes. Korean fare dominates the menu, but the downtown Vancouver restaurant also offers burgers and chicken strips at lunchtime.
Atmosphere: Walk into A Little Pine Tree and you’ll notice the kitchen first, where you can see the chef at work beyond a low partition. High ceilings are accented with track lighting and rows of dangling lights, which drape like wild vines cascading from tree limbs. A stained concrete floor and sparse Asian décor give the restaurant an über-modern vibe, with cozy tables scattered around the open dining room.
What I tried: I opted for the bibimbap with beef while my dining companion tried the bulgogi, also with beef. Both dinner entrees come with a choice of soup or salad. I tried the dwen jang soup; my dining companion tried the clam chowder. An appetizer of dubu junk sik, a pan-fried tofu, started off the meal.