November 2015

In Osoyoos

Moon Curser Vineyards: Wine in Osoyoos BC

November 30, 2015

Moon Curser Vineyard was founded in 2003 but under the name Twisted Tree. They rebranded in 2011 to Moon Curser – a name that captures many colourful stories of the Osoyoos area, as well as the renegade spirit of their winemaking.

The vineyard is one of the higher elevated ones in Osoyoos, so you have a good view of the lake.

There’s lots of free parking around the building. Even the view from the parking lot is pretty nice.

Their tasting room is open daily, 10am to 5pm, April through the end of October.

November through March the tasting room is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm and weekends by appointment.

M and I tried a few of the red and whites here. You can try 6 wines for $5, but can be waved if you purchase a bottle.

Award winning wines:

2014 BC Wine Awards – Gold Medal – 2012 Border Vines
2014 Best of Varietal Awards – 2012 Contraband Syrah
2015 Vancouver Magazine Awards – 2012 Contraband Syrah
2015 Vancouver Magazine Awards – 2012 Carmenere
2014 BC Wine Awards – 2012 Dead of Night

They produce a lot more red wine than white wines. They have 8 reds to try and 2 whites.

I love the look of their wines. It’s great they rebranded to give them an edgier look and feel.

If you are driving by Osoyoos on Highway 3/Crowsnest Hwy, you will pass by this winery when coming down from Anarchist Mountain. Stop by for their unique wines.

Address:
3628 BC-3, Osoyoos, BC

Website:
http://www.mooncurser.com/

In Cafe

Prado Cafe: New Location on Fraser Street

November 29, 2015

Prado Cafe opens up their 3rd location on Fraser Street in Vancouver. They also have 2 other locations on Commercial Drive and in Gastown.

They have always been keen on crafting the perfect brew and creating a great atmosphere for their customers.

Their goal is to create a space that feels like it’s a welcoming extension of your home and echo’s the best that the neighbourhood has to offer. With the Fraser location, it has a large space with lots of table for people to bring in their laptop and work away or just have a good chat with a friend.

They use a constant rotation of locally roasted 49th Parallel beans in their coffee.

I usually get 2 types of coffee when I go out – Lattes or Cappuccinos. I’ve always been brainwashed to order those 2 drinks when I was backpacking through Europe during my exchange program in University.

Latte with some extra love. Always great coffee with nice bold flavours.

What I also noticed in this location is the Sodasteam filtered water and sparkling water taps. It’s free and you can consume as much as you want.

In addition to coffee, they have pastries and a few different sandwiches and light snacks.

Overall, its a great addition to the Fraser St area.

We Rate Prado Cafe:

Address:
4208 Fraser Street, Vancouver

Website:
http://pradocafevancouver.com/

In Blairmore

Frank Slide: Largest and Deadliest Rock Slide in Canada

November 28, 2015

Driving from Alberta back to British Columbia, Crowsnest Pass on Hwy 3 is home to Frank Slide. This unique historic mining town was partially buried in 1903 due to a limestone rock slide down Turtle Mountain within 100 seconds.

The rock slide obliterated the eastern edge of Frank, the Canadian Pacific Railway line and their coal mine.

It is noted as one of the largest landslides in Canadian history and remains the deadliest. Between 70 – 90 of the town’s residents were killed, most of whom remain buried in the rubble. Just driving by, you can see all the debris that still lay in the area. Multiple factors led to the slide from the changing weather to the mining operations.

Now, its a popular tourist location to those who pass by this area. There is an interpretation centre where you can learn more about the slide. M and I were on a tight schedule to get back to the Okanagan Valley, so we opted to just drive through the area as I snapped away on my camera.

Address:
Hwy 3 Crowsnest Pass, Blairmore, AB

Website: http://history.alberta.ca/frankslide/

In Osoyoos

Spotted Lake: Attraction in Osoyoos, BC

November 27, 2015

Spotted Lake in Osoyoos, BC is a naturally formed inland lake that has a unique look. We stopped on the side of the Highway and you will spot this small gate at the entrance of the lake. It’s not recommended that you drive down to the lake as it is quite a steep with lots of gravel. I’m not 100% sure if you would make it back up. There’s a sign saying not to go on the lake as it’s sacred.

We made sure to look from afar, but we did notice that there were a few people walking around the lake. In the Summer/Fall, the lake is pretty dry, so all that’s left are the minerals. Thus they grey look. It’s something I’ve never seen before.

It’s only a 15 minute drive from Downtown Osoyoos and you don’t need to spend too much time here.

If you are ever in Osoyoos, make sure you make a stop at Spotted Lake. It’s an iconic attraction and if you’re lucky, this lake might look a bit different that what I saw.

Website: http://blog.hellobc.com/the-magic-of-spotted-lake-in-osoyoos/

In Oliver

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery: Wine Tasting in Oliver, BC

November 26, 2015

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is located in Oliver, B.C. and they are a producer of award winning, B.C. wines. The winery and vineyard lie within one of Canada’s most unique ecosystems. There are over 140 acres of vineyards and they can produce between 28,000 to 30,000 cases of wine each vintage.

The vineyard has a wine making facility that combines state-of-the-art technologies with proven, classic winemaking traditions.

The Guest House

Adjacent to the winery is The Guest House with 11 guest rooms and a gorgeous 25 meter outdoor swimming pool. Look at that amazing view! One of the best views in the Okanagan.

The rooms looks quite nice and I would definitely consider staying here next time when I’m in the area. It’s a great location and a lot of other wineries are in the area.

Sonora Room Restaurant

The Sonora Room Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant featuring local cuisine and Burrowing Owl’s library wines.

They have indoor seating as well as patio seating. If it’s a nice warm day, definitely sit out on the patio.

The philosophy of the food they create at the Sonora Room Restaurant is to showcase many of the South Okanagan’s local producers with their array of local organic produce, fresh, seasonal fruits and artisan breads and cheeses. The focus is on excellence in a relaxed and spectacular vineyard setting.

Wine Shop and Tastings

When you go into the wine shop and tasting room, you will find that you can enjoy 4 wine tastings for $3 with all the proceeds going to the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society. The burrowing owls are an endangered species which resides in the area.

Burrowing Owl makes only premium quality wines, and has received acclaim for all 9 wine types now produced, including international “Best of Varieties” awards, “Best of B.C.” and “Best of Canada” awards.

M and I split a set of tastings. I got 2 whites and he got 2 reds. It is a busy tasting room, but with a bit of patience, you’ll get to do a tasting.

Of course M went with the 2013 Pinot Noir. He really learned to love this during our trip along the Okanagan.

2013 Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Pinot noir releases a concentrated nose of raspberry coulis on a background canvas of violet, soft spice, meaty and vanillin undertones. The palate is coated with intense flavours of wild strawberries and baked dark berries perfectly framed by a juicy acidity and prolonged by notes of cedar, cloves, vanilla and hints of graphite. Enjoy now and serve at 16C (61F) to preserve this nice combination of fruitiness, power and delicacy. Try with a charcuterie platter (salami, grilled sausages, duck terrine) or with a veggie Tabbouleh with touches of cinnamon, mint, raisin and chili pepper. Its sustained aromatics and delicate texture will flavour many simple recipes.

One of our other favourites were the 2012 Meritage.

Vibrant and complex nose with everything from ripe raspberry, cassis, blackberry and prune plum through to dried sage brush, orange zest, clove, black olive, marzipan, dusty vanillin oak and malt. The palate is dry, rich and full bodied with crisp acidity and firm, medium-plus ripe tannins. The structure for aging is framed by plenty of dark chocolate, cocoa, cassis, black plum, black cherry, spiced berry compote, citrus peel and a touch of fig, raisin and leather. Drinking well now, it also shows the concentration to open up and evolve over a decade. Pair with rosemary and garlic studded leg of lamb or lamb tagine. – Rhys Pender, Master of Wine.

You can find Burrowing Owl wines at many restaurants and wine shops throughout British Columbia and Alberta. If you are at the winery, you can get it here too.

Overall, it’s worth the trip and make sure you stop here when you are visiting the plethora of wineries in Oliver, BC.

Address:
500 Burrowing Owl Place, Oliver, BC

Website:
http://www.burrowingowlwine.ca/

In Osoyoos

Adega on 45th Estate Winery in Osoyoos

November 25, 2015

Adega on 45th Estate Winery is right off Anarchist Mountain in Osoyoos, BC. This was our second winery stop in the area. If you’re going to Nk’Mip Cellars, this winery is on the way.

We noticed a few bike tours zooming by and it was a fantastic day to roam around Osoyoos on a bike. No clouds in the sky! I was kinda jealous but I knew my car would protect me against bugs.

The families were originally tree fruit growers in the south Okanagan valley. Now, the folks at Adega on 45th began growing premium grapes in 2009. They are known for their old world charm that meets new world technology in wine production.

Roaming around the vineyard is quite nice. I thought it was cool looking at the grapes and wondering how this becomes wine.

They offer free tastings on all their wine. Its a large open space inside the tasting room. What I liked is that the family members of the estate administer the tastings to all their guests.

I went with the white wines and liked the 2013 Felicidade for its clean, crispy and sweet taste.

M tried the reds and thats more of what he tends to enjoy.

Their patio overlooks downtown Osoyoos on this awesome Fall day. Overall, it was a good visit and definitely make a trip here when you’re in the area.

Address:
7311 45 St, Osoyoos, BC

Website: http://adegaon45.com/

In Canadian

Burger 55: Custom Burgers in Penticton

November 24, 2015

Burger 55 in Downtown Penticton is best known for their customizable gourmet burgers. It’s also appeared on You Gotta Eat Here on Food Network. On the way back home to Vancouver, we made sure to stop here for lunch. Who can’t resist a burger? I know M and I can’t.

When you get to the front door, they outline the way you must order.

You must grab a clipboard with the order form and fill it out before giving it to the cashier. Even if you want a simple milkshake, you have to fill it out.

Filling it out was like doing a test. So many options putting together your lunch.

The interior is pretty cool and hip.

Chocolate Milkshake ($5.25) I haven’t had a milkshake in a long time, so I just had to indulge and order it. It totally hit the spot.

Custom built burger is what M wanted. He had a beef patty, cheddar cheese, back bacon, fried egg and other toppings. M loved his creation. He can’t eat a burger without back bacon and fried eggs.

The Signature Burger ($9.50) has AAA Angus Beef on a 55 bun with 55 signature spread, 55 buddha sauce, dijon mustard, vinaigrette, spinach, tomato, sprout, roast corn and parmesan. This are their built burgers so you don’t have to make a decision on what to add to your burger. Indecisive people should look at that part of the menu.

Maple Bacon baked Beans ($4) is topped with cheese bits. Surprisingly is tasted pretty good too. Not too sweet either.

Corn Dog ($4.75) looks pretty, but it was pretty damn delicious. The batter was thin and added a nice crunch to the exterior of the hot dog. I would order it again.

It was a good lunch and service was quick. I would come back again. The food is nothing fancy but sometimes you just need a good ol’ burger.

Address:
52 Front Street, Penticton, BC

Website:
http://www.burger55.com/

In product

Teavana: Joy 2015 Tea Blend

November 23, 2015

I was a pretty big fan of Starbucks’s Tazo Joy Tea, but it was discontinued a few years ago. It was a pretty good tea blend, but all good things have to come to an end right?

This holiday, Starbucks is selling boxes of Teavana’s Joy 2015 tea with 12 tea sachets in a box for $11.95.

This tea blend has black tea, jasmine green tea and oolong tea with notes of apricot and florals. The difference with this year’s joy tea is the notes of apricot and florals.

Each packet has the tea pouch filled with the loose leaf tea.

You brew it at 96 degrees celsius for 3 minutes. You can reuse the tea bag for extra cups later in the day.

Once it’s done brewing, you can really smell the aroma of apricots. I’ve never been a fan of floral teas because of the artificial fruity smells. The taste of the tea was good but it was just the smell that turned me off.

This particular tea does have a lot of caffeine, so don’t drink it too late at night. M had trouble falling asleep, so he stayed up playing video games and reading.

Who knows what they will do for their Joy 2016 tea blend, but hopefully it will be another unique flavour.

Website: http://www.teavana.com/us/en/tea/tea-blends/joy-2015-flavored-tea-blend-32729.html

In Hotel Review

Best Western Plus Nelson: Baker Street Inn

November 22, 2015

Making our way back to Vancouver, we made a stop at Best Western Plus at Baker Street Inn. We saw this on Trip Advisor and it was one of the top hotels in the town.

It’s conveniently located right off the highway leading into town. There is free parking across the street for guests. You just need to register your vehicle with the front desk. Most guests j-walk to get to their car and it seemed quite normal. Try not to get hit by cars.

The building has a bit of age, but it was ok since we only spent a night here. Didn’t bother us.

We stayed in their standard room with 1 Queen Bed, refrigerator, microwave and view of the mountains. The view wasn’t very impressive as it was obstructed by electric poles and wires.

The room was a tad small, but that was ok since we really didn’t need any extra space. It had all that I needed for the stay. If you were staying multiple nights and need the space, they you’re better off getting a larger room.

The TV had Food Network, so I was super happy. Wifi had a strong signal and was fast so I could go on my computer. There’s a Keurig machine with a few K cups if you wanted coffee or tea.

The bed was comfortable and clean.

In front of the washroom were recycling, trash can and an ice bucket with cups.

The bathroom seemed like it was renovated not too long ago.

Overall, it was a pleasant stay with no issues. Staff were friendly and the place was clean.

Address:
153 Baker Street, Nelson, BC

Website: http://www.bwbakerstreetinn.com/

In British Columbia

Fresh Prep: Dinner Ingredients Prepped and Delivered

November 21, 2015

Fresh Prep Vancouver delivers farm fresh recipe ingredients prepped and delivered right to your door. Being a novice cook, finding time to think about cooking dinner so mind boggling. So…thats why we resort to eating out to often. I’m definitely trying to change my behaviour and trying to cook more at home.

I went on the website and chose the Apple Caramel Pork Chips with Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash. I made sure to check out the recipe on the website in advance to make sure I had all the necessary kitchen equipment and any additional ingredients. I only had to grab butter, so it was an easy meal to put together.

They outline the cooking steps pretty well and it’s not too confusing.

All the ingredients are pre-portioned, so you don’t need to waste time prepping any of the ingredients. Just unwrap and follow the instructions.

Cooking it was a breeze and we ended up with 2 delicious plates of Apple Caramel Pork Chips with Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash.

You must order a minimum of 2 servings for your order, which was fine for couples.

Of course you can make this dish yourself without ordering from Fresh Prep, but I found that having the prepped ingredients save you so much time cooking after work. I get off at 5 and because of traffic, I end up getting home around 6pm, so I always need to resort to a quick meal. Anything that requires more than 1 hour of prep and cooking is really not ideal.

It feels good being able to cook a meal from scratch even though you didn’t cut all the ingredients. Also, you don’t have to waste buying extra ingredients that rot away in your fridge.

On another evening, I had the Tuscan Portobello Caps with Sautéed Collard Greens and Quinoa. I wanted to see how a vegetarian meal would be like.

The portobello mushrooms were very beautiful and large.

Even the greens were beautiful. Zero wilted produce.

M and I got full from this meal. Very healthy and tastes equally as good as the meat dishes.

I’ve seen similar services in Toronto and I’m glad there is one finally in Vancouver. I’d definitely order from them again.

Website: https://www.freshprep.ca/

In British Columbia

Gaea Foods: Personal Chef in Vancouver

November 20, 2015

Personal Chef – Dimitri Georges of Gaea Foods offered up his services for one night to show a few foodies what he offers his clients. We had a dinner party at Sherman’s house to see how the experience would be. I always eat out and rarely considered having a chef come into your home to cook, it was an interesting experience.

Dimitri was born in Aix-en-Provence, France, in a family of talented cooks. From an early age, he decided to work in the Hospitality industry. Dimitri graduated from the Art institute of Vancouver. Having worked in many styles of restaurants offering different cuisines, as well as traveling to India and Nepal (and many more), he has a wide range of cuisines under his belt.

His casual dinner party service includes:

Custom menu design
Food costs
Grocery shopping
Preparation and cooking
Service
Kitchen clean-up
3 – 6 courses

The price varies upon the request, but Dimitri will work with you to see if there are any dietary restrictions and other requests.

Our meal started off with an eggplant with mint pesto and cashew cream. This Hors D’oeuve was a quick bite and can be gobbled up with just one bite. You have the eggplant roasted on the bottom as a base with the other ingredients sitting about it. Good flavours, but I would have liked a bit more crunch to the item. The sunflower seed was a good touch but perhaps he could have made the eggplant like a chip.

Foamy garden pea soup with basil and avocado cream. Don’t you love Sherman’s Chinese bowls for the soup? The soup was good, but I felt like it needed a bit more depth of flavour.

Garden arugula salad with red grapes, cherry tomatoes, and roasted pistachios. It felt a bit basic coming from the chef as I thought there could have been more technical skill putting a salad together. Either way, it was good and fresh.

Salmon tartare on a bed of lentils du poy topped with fresh micro greens. I thought the dish was good and tasty. A good change from eating out as it was clean and light.

Mini pumpkin tart was a two bite dessert and pretty delicious. Nice crunchy shell and the overall dessert wasn’t too sweet.

The tart is served with a Chaga hot chocolate. It was quite rich and thick. Definitely one of the heavier items in the meal.

Overall, it was a nice change having a personal chef come and plan a dinner party for us. What I found with Dimitri’s style of cooking was healthy, raw, and very clean tasting. Nothing in the meal was greasy. For a person that always eats out, it was a nice change. Dimitri was able to explain to us all the dishes, but was lacking a bit of that entertainment factor for a dinner party. Definitely a bit shy, but not necessarily a bad thing. Depends what your style is.

Website:
http://www.gaeapersonalchef.com/

In Calgary

Hotel Elan: Boutique Hotel in Calgary

November 19, 2015

M and I were in Calgary for 2 days during our week long road trip driving across BC into Calgary.

We stayed at Hotel Elan, a boutique hotel located just off stylish 17th Ave Retail and Entertainment District. We chose this place as it was the top ranking hotel on Trip Advisor. It’s also a great location since some of the best restaurants in town is within walking distance.

They have gated underground parking on site for $18 per night for guests. Still a lot cheaper and safer than parking on the street. They also have a Car2Go zone in there too.

Hotel Elan is the only boutique hotel in Calgary to offer combined accommodation and private in-suite meeting spaces designed specifically for business travellers.

We were in their Vista King Bed Suite. Walking in you will see like a mini kitchen without the major appliances.

Keurig coffee machines are free to use. There are K cups of coffee and tea.

It’s nothing fancy, but its nice to have the basics like the sink, microwave, mini fridge, cups, plates and utensils.

Each suite includes a bedroom, bathroom and living room with meeting space for four to six, complete with a private outdoor balcony.

It’s nice to just sit out in the balcony and observe people walking by.

In the room, you also get:

Complimentary calling to 75 countries worldwide
Complimentary dedicated Wifi

Free wifi is the norm now. I couldn’t imagine going on a trip and not having access to wifi. The complimentary calling worldwide is pretty awesome, but sadly I had no one to call.

There’s USB chargers built into the wall unit, so you can plug in your cord for your smartphone devices. The beds were comfy and I liked how there were 2 types of pillows – form and soft.

The only issue I found was that the AC/Heater device in the room did make a fair bit of noise in the evening that we ended up unplugging it.

The TV’s have Telus Optic HD TV, but for some reason I couldn’t find Food Network. We ended up watching a lot of Border Security on National Geographic channel. It’s a pretty addictive show.

In the bathroom, there are heated floors, showers with thermostatic temperature control valves, and heated toilet seats. M loved the heated toilet seats! Everything was very clean and we didn’t have any issues.

The shower is very modern looking and probably my favourite shower that we have encountered on our road trip.

I like their choice of L’Occitane bathroom amenities. SO much better than what other hotels have.

Business Centre

They have a mini business centre with iMacs if you need to do any work here.

Complimentary Happy Hour

Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, they offer complimentary appetizers and a well deserved refreshment after your busy day.

I grabbed a few bites and a beer. They also have wine too. I really couldn’t say no to free beer.

Complimentary Deluxe Continental Breakfast Buffet

They offer complimentary breakfast on weekday mornings from 7:00am to 10:00am and weekends from 8:00am to 11:00am. A nice touch and it was great to be able grab a quick bite before exploring more of Calgary.

They have juice, cereal, yogurt, and fresh fruits.

Oatmeal, tea and coffee.

I grabbed some fruits, meat and scrambled eggs with a cup of coffee. It’s nothing fancy,

Overall, our stay was good, but you can tell some services are geared toward travelling business men and women. I didn’t mind since I liked the extra table space in our room to go on my computer and do work in the evening. The staff were welcoming, great location and clean. I would come back again.

Address:
1122 16 Ave SW, Calgary, AB

Website:
http://hotelelan.ca/

In Cafe

All Seasons Cafe: Dining in Nelson, BC

November 18, 2015

All Seasons Cafe in Nelson BC is a restaurant for local and tourists to dine. Hidden in an alley off the main roads is where you will find the restaurant. They have a seasonal menu derived from the best of the area’s local ingredients. Also, the food and wine are carefully prepared and served in a friendly atmosphere at a relaxed pace to customers.

The cafe opened its door in 1995 on a hunch that this cultured and notorious little mountain town would welcome a neighbourhood bistro serving modern food with a savvy little wine list. We came here on a Friday and it was quote busy.

Complimentary bread arrived at the table with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Nice crust on the bread and very fluffy inside.

Seared Atlantic Scallops ($15) has green peas, chorizo sausage and chevre smashed potato, black pepper and creme fraiche. The scallops were cooked perfectly with a nice sear on each side. The smashed potatoes didn’t seem to pair well with the scallops.

Halibut Cheeks ($29) has a pomme croquette, roasted carrots, shallot herb and saffron beurre blanc. Tasted ok, but it was missing a bit more acidity to balance out the dish.

Mushroom Risotto ($23) has locally foraged and gourmet mushroom blend, arborio rice, roasted roma tomatoes caramelized red onion and fennel, fine herbs, parmesan curls and a white truffle oil finish. M thought this was decent, but nothing too special.

Overall, the food was decent but it was a bit pricey for what you get. The service could have been better as we felt a bit unwelcome here and it was very slow getting our order and paying for the bill. M and I are pretty laid back when it comes to service, but this place did bother us.

We Rate All Seasons Cafe:

Address:
620 Herridge Lane, Nelson, BC

Website:
http://www.allseasonscafe.com/

In Breakfast

Chia Pudding: 3 Ingredient Breakfast

November 17, 2015

I’m not a fan of overly complicated recipes and I like to make breakfast without thinking too much. I really can’t function much in the morning. Less ingredients, the better. Putting together chia pudding with pomegranate seems easy enough.

Chia is a superfood native to Mexico’s central valleys. Chia, often gifted to the Gods, was the third most consumed plant source after corn and beans by the Aztecs and Mayans, who were the first to cultivate the seed.

Chia seeds are light in taste which makes them easy to integrate in your daily diet as they do not alter the flavour of your dishes. You can add chia to smoothies, juices, and other beverages, or throw them in your soups, salads and sauces. Sprinkle chia on your oatmeal, yogurt and cereal, or use chia in your cake recipes as a substitute for eggs or as a thickener. I’m sure you’ve seen it on a lot of Instagram breakfast pictures.

To put together the chia pudding, all you need are 3 things:

1 part chia seed
2 parts unsweetened almond milk
As much fruit as you want

Mix the chia seed and almond milk and set aside until it turns into a tapioca consistency. Once it’s set, add your fruit on top. It can be berries, banana, granola or whatever. I went with pomegranates.

If you need added sweetness, you can use sweetened almond milk, or add in honey, agave syrup or maple syrup. For myself, I found that the fruit helped add the sweetness.

Chia pudding is great for breakfast and you can prepare it the night before. Low in calories and pretty filling.

I used the Prana ProactivChia seeds ($7.99), which is certified organic, kosher, vegan, preservative-free, gluten-free, GMO-free, and sulfite-free. It can be found in more major grocery stores in Canada.

In Four Beakers

Sura: Korean Lunch Set Menu in Vancouver

November 16, 2015

Sura Korean Royal Cuisine on Robson Street draws a large crowd during lunch and dinner time. Their lunch specials are undeniably affordable for those who want to try an array of Korean cuisine. I came here with a few of my coworkers since I’ve never been here.

They have been around since 2008 serving traditional Korean cuisine. They have won multiple awards from Vancouver Magazine and WE Vancouver Best of the City Dining.

Set Course SU – $15 per person includes:

ong–chimi
Green Salad
Yam Mousse
Tang–pyungchae (Acorn Jelly Salad)
Bulgogi (Korean beef)
Potato Pancake
Tang–sooyuk (Sweet and Sour pork)
Grilled Atlantic Croaker
Bossam (Pork belly wraps)
Doenjang Jjigae (Korean Stew)
3 kinds of Side-dishes
Korean Rice Punch

The menu requires a minimum of 2 orders and the set is available to order until 3:00pm daily.

The items on it may change from day to day.

First, soup arrived for each person at the table. It reminded me of a egg drop soup but more gelatinous.

Green Salad has a mishmash of vegetables and fruit. I wasn’t a fan of the oranges and strawberries in it.

Tang–pyungchae (Acorn Jelly Salad) really is quite tasteless, but according for my Korean friend, it’s good for you. I really couldn’t tell you the science behind it.

House Special Spicy Seafood has stir–fried assorted seafood with spicy house special sauce.

Bossam (Pork Belly wraps) comes with the pink pickled radish as the wrap, kimchi, paste and the delicious pork belly. So good! My favourite dish.

Tang–sooyuk (Sweet and Sour pork) tasted ok. Not my favourite but its pretty average.

Rice comes in a little tin. Eat it with the other side dishes.

Marinated Seaweed and mashed pumpkin mousse are 2 of the 3 side dishes. I always can’t get enough of the seaweed.

Kimchi is the last side dish. Delicious and not too spicy.

Bulgogi comes in a large dish and went great with the rice.

Doenjang Jjigae (Korean Stew) has tofu, veggies, and kimchi. It’s not too spicy either. Very good.

Potato Pancake came with 4 pieces as there was 4 of us. It’s was surprisingly pretty good.

Grilled Atlantic Croaker was an interesting dish that arrived. It takes a bit of work to eat it as there are a lot of tiny bones.

Korean Rice Punch was a nice way to end the meal. It’s a sweet rice drink.

All this for for $15 per person is a great deal for lunch. So many dishes arrive and you get a taste of a lot of Korean dishes. At times, we would run out of room on the table to put the food. Some of the dishes are a hit and miss, but still a great price. I love this type of family style dining.

We Rate Sura:

Address:
1518 Robson Street, Vancouver

Website:
www.surakoreancuisine.com

In Kid Friendly

Harvest Community Foods: Ramen and Grocery Store

November 15, 2015

Established in 2012, Harvest Community Foods is a community-driven retail space. As voted on by Chinatown-Strathcona residents, the grocery provides local, seasonal food products. The business also offers Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, further fostering accessibility to B.C. produce.

Chef and owner, Andrea Carlson has revamped prepared grocery eats with heartwarming and sophisticated ramen dishes. More than a market, the store serves as a community gathering place for good eats, conversation, and appreciation of local fare.

When you walk into the store, you will see a variety of products like:

To Die For Fine Foods
Namasthé Tea
Vancouver Island Salt
Bittered Slings
Vancouver Honey
Noble Handcrafted Maple
Sapadilla Soaps
Earnest Ice Cream
Solefood Greens
Sugo Sauce

Of course many more items. It’s not a large store, but you’ll find a bit of everything you need.

Freshly made jams are available too.

Harvest Community Foods draws large crowds during lunch for their Harvest noodles.

It’s made all in-house.

The most popular ramen on the menu is the #39 Ramen with pork shoulder, radish, egg, and candied bacon.

How can you not say no to this beautiful creation. It’s not authentic Japanese ramen, but they put their own twist on it. This is my favourite dish too. The bacon and egg are just amazing.

They also sell some cold sweet treats like Brown Paper Packages Ice Cream and Earnest Ice Cream.

Really, how can you say no to Ice Cream? I used to come here often for Earnest Ice Cream before they opened another location on Quebec and 2nd close to Science World.

They even have drinking vinegar from Pok Pok. No more trips to the states are needed to get these.

If you’re ever in the area, stop by for a bowl of ramen and check out some cool local products.

We Rate Harvest Community Foods:

Address:
243 Union Street, Vancouver

Website:
http://harvestunion.ca/

In British Columbia

9th Annual Fall into the Market: Recap

November 14, 2015

Fall Into The Market was hosted by Liberty Wine Merchants and supported by Bridges, V&J Florists and Granville Island Toy Company. The event was $29.99 and all proceeds from both ticket sales and silent auction prizes directly support the BC SPCA. My sister and I were invited to the event.

The event was held on the 2nd floor of Bridges on Granville Island. It was a beautiful venue overlooking the Granville Street bridge and False Creek.

Trust me, there was no shortage of wine! There was over 75 world-class wines from the Northwest to try.

Some of the wines represented by their ambassadors and marketing companies:

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Andrew Peller Imports

Hahn 2013 Pinot Noir
James Mitchell 2012 Cab
Coopercane 2012 Zin
Conundrum 2013 Blend (White)
Emmolo 2013 SB
Mersoleil 2013 Chard

Appellation Wine Marketing

Stoneboat 2013 Chorus
Stoneboat 2013 Pinot Gris
Stoneboat 2011 Pinot Noir
Stoneboat 2011 Pinotage
Stoneboat NV Piano Bruit

Charton Hobbs

Gray Monk 2014 Pinot Gris
Gray Monk 2012 Cabernet Merlot
Gray Monk 2011 Brut Rose

Christopher Stewart Wine and Spirits

Spierhead 2014 Riesling
Spierhead 2014 Pinot Noir
Barrel 27 2012 Rock and a Hard Place Grenache

Foxtrot Vineyard

Foxtrot Hendrickson Pinot Noir
Foxtrot Hendrickson Chardonnay
Wapiti Rose
Wapiti Viogner

International Cellars

Wente 2013 Chardonnay
Hess 2012 Zinfandel
Hawks Crest 2008 Cabernet
Ironstone Obsession 2013 Symphony

La Frenz Winery

La Frenz 2014 Chardonnay
La Frenz 2012 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillion
La Frenz 2013 Pinot Noir
La Frenz 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Liberty Specialty Imports

Underwood 2013 Oregon Pinot Noir
Klinker Brick Old Vine 2012 Zinfandel

Magnum Consultants Ltd

Mandolin 2014 Chardonnay
Waterstone 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Bogle 2013 Merlot

Marram Wines

Liquidity 2013 Chardonnay
Liquidity 2013 Riesling
Foppiano 2013 Petite Syrah

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Nichol Vineyards

Nichol Vineyards 2014 Pinot Gris
Nichol Vineyards 2012 Syrah

Orofino Winery

Orofino 2013 Hendsbee Vineyard Riesling
Orofino 2013 Home Vineyard Pinot Noir
Orofino 2013 Scout Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Orofino 2013 Beleza (BDX Blend)

Pacific Wine and Spirits

Domaine Drouhin 2013 Cloudline Pinot Gris
Domaine Drouhin 2013 Cloudline Pinot Noir

Painted Rock Winery

Painted Rock 2013 Red Icon
Painted Rock 2013 Syrah
Painted Rock 2012 Merlot
Painted Rock 2014 Rose

Peacock and Martin

Elephant Island Apricot
Elephant Island Viogner
Hester Creek 2012 Res Merlot
Lake Breeze 2012 Riesling
Thornhaven 2013 Syrah
Noble Ridge 2012 Meritage Reserve
Backyard 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon

Richard Massey Wines and Spirit

Zanatta NV Glenora Fantasia Brut
Tugwell Creek Mead 2013 Harvest Melomel
Skaha Vineyards 2014 Mystique
Todd Creek Cider NV Malahop
Synchromesh 2013 Tertre Rouge
Anarchist Mountain 2013 Pinot Noir

Rollingdale Winery & Meadow Vista Winery

Rollingdale 2015 Marechal Foch
Rolilngdale 2014 Unoaked Chardonnay
Meadow Vista 2015 Field White
Meadow Vista 2015 Bliss

The Wine Syndicate

Buehler 2013 Russian River Chardonnay
Laughing Stock 2013 Blind Trust Red
Laughing Stock 2014 Blind Trust White

Vintage Corks Ltd

Tightrope 2014 Pinot Gris
Tightrope 2013 Riesling
Tightrope 2014 Merlot/Cab Franc/Barbera
Tightrope 2014 Syrah

Vintage West

Bench 1775 2014 Suavignon Blanc
Bench 1775 2014 Glow Rose
Bench 1775 2013 Cab Franc/Malbec

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It’s pretty hard to try ALL the wines, but what I love about these events is that you can try so many kinds without having to buy a full bottle. I’m a pretty novice wine drinker and every time, I find something I like.

To pair with the wines, there needs to be a bit of food to go with it. Benton Brothers, Dussas Ham and Cheese, and Terra Breads had bites for all guests.

What better way to go with wine than lots of cheese. The perfect pairing.

Their aged cheddar was fantastic! I really couldn’t stop eating it.

Terra Breads had a lot of samples of their artisan breads. Their cranberry pistachio bread is one of my favourites.

We also found these cute mini quiches that went super fast when they were brought out from the kitchen.

The food compared to the wine was not as abundant, but most people were here to try the different varieties of wine.

Bench 1775 Winery is located in Penticton on Naramata Road where an abundance of wineries are located. They had the 2014 BENCH 1775 Sauvignon Blanc, 2014 BENCH 1775 Glow Rosé, and 2013 BENCH 1775 Malbec.

A lot of people loved talking to the different companies sampling the wine to gain deeper knowledge and appreciation for their wine.

Nagging Doubt – The Pull is a Merlot-based blend, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. There’s only 200 cases produced and the taste is quite fantastic.

Aged 17 months in new and used French and American oak, this wine was hand punched daily for gentle handling and extraction of flavours. 2012 was a warm growing season that has produced a rich, full bodied wine – we feel this is our best vintage yet for The Pull! The richness of the wine is balanced with a beautiful acidity and has notes of black cherry, plum, vanilla and spice on the nose and palette. It is sophisticated but approachable, and is a great wine to pair with anything grilled or roasted, especially lamb.

SKAHA Vineyard Mystique is a blend of Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay grapes.

Fruit forward and juicy with concentrated notes of apple-pear, Okanagan stone fruits, cantaloupe, pineapple and crisp citrus finish. Enjoy as a stand alone or perfectly paired with seafood, chicken, curried dishes or pasta salads.

Meadow Vista Honey Wines created a wine for Farm Folk City Folk for 2015. At first I was caught off guard since I didn’t think Farm Folk City Folk would make wine. It’s a limited edition wine and a percentage of each bottle sold goes towards Farm Folk City Folk and they great work they do in our local communities.

The wine is blend of Pinot Gris and BC Honey.

Painted Rock was sampling a few of their wines too. Ones of the ones we tried was the Syrah,

Layered savoury notes combined with fragrant spice, white pepper and cassis on the nose. Rounded and rich on the palate, with juicy acidity and chalky tannins. More cassis, vanilla and a silkiness that continues with a long finish.

Gray Monk is my favourite Pinot Gris. It’s very affordable at $15.69 from BC Liquor Stores.

Pale lemon in colour, this wine had an intense aroma of pink grapefruit and pineapple and flavours of citrus fruits and apricots. Lively and piquant, this wine is refreshingly zesty and clean. It is a versatile partner to seafood, pasta with cream sauce, white meats and cheeses such as Parmigiano.

Overall, it was a great event if you are the type of person who is on the search for new types of wines from the Northwest. I found some familiar wines that I just love and some new ones that surprised us. The downside is that these events are quite popular, so it will be crowded.

Website: http://libertywinemerchants.com/pages/wine-tasting-events.php

In Contest

[Giveaway] Unibroue’s Exclusive 6-litre Bottle of La Fin du Monde + Event Tickets ($220 value)

November 13, 2015

Did you want to try the biggest and most expensive beer in Canada? For the first time, British Columbians will be able to have exclusive access to only 50 bottles of Unibroue’s La Fin du Monde and 17 Grande Réserve 6 litre bottles at Vancouver’s British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch.

To celebrate, we are giving away a Unibroue prize pack which includes:

Exclusive 6-litre bottle of La Fin du Monde ($149 value)
2 tickets to an exclusive event – ‘An Afternoon with Unibroue’ ($70 value)

Let us know in the comments below Why you want a bottle of the biggest, most expensive beer in Canada. For extra entries, check the widget below.

Contest open to British Columbian residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unibroue’s exclusive 6-litre bottles of La Fin du Monde and 17 Grande Réserve will be the largest and most expensive bottles of beer ever sold in Canada.

For the first time in British Columbia, Unibroue will release the La Fin du Monde ($149) and Unibroue 17 Grand Reserve ($199) in special and limited 6L bottles.

50 exclusive 6-Litre bottles will be available for purchase in British Columbia. Vancouver’s British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch (5555 Cambie St, Vancouver) on Thursday, November 19th starting at 3 p.m.

An Afternoon with Unibroue

The event features beer pairings and exciting cooking demos.

On Thursday, November 19th from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. , the event will official unveil the two exclusive Unibroue products along with the Unibroue Food Truck, driving all the way from Chambly, Quebec. The Unibroue Sommelier Sylvain Bouchard will also be in the store for an exclusive 1 hour (3:00 – 4:00 p.m.) beer pairing seminar and tasting for 24 guests. Ticket holders will have a guaranteed chance to purchase the limited edition 6L bottles (2 per person) of the La Fin du Monde and the Unibroue 17 Grande Reserve.

Tickets are $35 and available to purchase at the 39th & Cambie Customer Service counter or you can email events@bcliquorstores.com to reserve your seats.