In Brunch

Cora: Breakfast and Lunch in Burnaby

July 15, 2016

Cora has finally opened up in South Burnaby, so now I can stop driving a long distance to have some delicious brunch here.

We came with a friend for a quick brunch and just indulge in all their fruit. I’ve been to various Cora locations through out Canada and it’s a place that people have to go at least once.

Interior

On the weekend it was packed but we only waiting about 10 minutes for a table of 3. The decorations in here is consistent with the other locations with the yellow walls.

Drinks

Kale-Mango Smoothie is what the server recommended. It is topped with a strawberry and has kale and grapes on the plate below. The grapes were a bit dirty, so we had to clean it more before we ate them.

We also got coffee, but I forgot to take a picture of it. Non stop refills too!

Breakfast items

Jo Construction has 3 eggs, 3 sausages and 3 strips of bacon served with roasted potatoes and your choice of toast. There’s a bit of fruit on the side too.

10 Star Omelette has bacon, ham, sausages, frankfurters, bologna, spinach, green onions, tomatoes, onions, red and green peppers, mushrooms and Cheddar cheese. Served with toast and your choice of fresh fruit or tomatoes. M got fruit for his side.

Buckwheat blessing is the one item I always get. It comes with 3 sausages and Cheddar cheese rolled in a blanket of buckwheat and sorghum crêpes and served with fresh fruit. I love the balance of the savoury sausages and the refreshing taste of the fruits.

For all the toast we got, there was also jam and peanut butter that came along with it.

Overall, Cora is a solid place to get brunch with friends or family. The food isn’t outstanding, but all that fruit is pretty fabulous.

We Rate Cora:

Address:
7155 Kingsway, Unit 142
Burnaby, BC

Website:
http://www.chezcora.com/

In American

Finding Croissant Doughnuts in Epcot

July 14, 2016

Walking around Epcot, you can’t help but look at the different kiosks to see the different snack options. Strolling along Epcot, I spotted Croissant Doughnuts at the Refreshment Port.

Using my dining plan, I grabbed the Croissant Doughnut tossed in cinnamon sugar.

It was pretty large, but it was drenched in oil and hard to eat. You’ll need a knife and fork for this.Grab a napkin because it will come in handy. I wouldn’t get this again.

We Rate Croissant Doughnut:

Address:
200 Epcot Center Dr, Lake Buena Vista

Website:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/refreshment-port/

In British Columbia

BC Tree Fruits Cider: Apples, Pears and Hops

July 13, 2016

BC Tree Fruits Cider Co has introduced 2 more flavours this year – the Apple & Hops and the Pear Ciders. Their original Apple cider debuted last year. They pride themselves of using no added sugar, water or concentrate. Also, no use of artificial flavourings or colours.

They send me their line up of ciders to give them a try.

Apples

Apple is their original craft cider, blended from 6 different BC Tree Fruits apple varieties.

It is well-balanced with no added sugar or flavours. It proudly lists only one ingredient on the can – BC apples. Also, it’s naturally gluten-free, with a traditional full bodied, and refreshing taste. It has 5.5% alcohol.

Apple & Hops

Apple & Hops is the new dry-hopped cider. It contains 6% alcohol, which is the strongest of all 3. It tastes dry with hints of grapefruit. It’s not too hoppy in my opinion but it was a nice cross between a beer and cider.

Pear

Pear is another new cider made from BC-grown pears. I has 4.5% alcohol, which is the lightest of all 3. It is bright and crisp tasting if tropical fruit with hints of melon.

All 3 kinds were good and not overly sweet, which I found was a problem with other ciders in the market. Of all 3, I liked the Apples & Hops flavour the best. I was surprised since I usually don’t like overly hoppy drinks. Great for patio weather.

You can find these at select BC Liquor Stores, independent beer and wine stores, and restaurants.

Website: http://bctreefruitscider.com/

In British Columbia

BC Lions Food Options at BC Place

July 12, 2016

With the 2016 CFL season kicking off this month, BC Place and BC Lions have introduced a variety of new food and beverage selections for their fans as they know food and the big game are important for the visitors.

Centerplate’s culinary team has been working hard to put together new food options to impress guests. The menu was created by award-winning chef – Will Tse.

Beast on Fire

Beast on Fire is a new stand that is a gourmet deli-style kitchen serving up made-to-order sandwiches prepared right in front of you. You can find them in Sections 217 and 237.

Vegetable Bowl

This vegetarian option has tofu, edamame, lima beans, corn, butternut squash, mushrooms, sweet onions and a ginger sauce.

Smoky Pulled Pork Sandwich

It has slow-roasted and tender pulled pork with a Sriracha BBQ sauce, marinated slaw between two buns. It is paired with crisp potato chips.

Chicken Sausage

The in-house made chicken sausage has sundried tomato pesto, and mozzarella cheese. It is served in a soft hot dog bun and then topped with chive aioli and arugula.

Slow Roasted Prime Rib

This was my favourite item on the menu. It has the prime rib marinated in fresh herbs, garlic, horseradish mayo and stewed onions between 2 soft buns.

The prime ribs is super tender and flavourful.

Beef Jerky

They also have beef jerky that has been marinated, smoked and dried inside BC Place.

New Items at BC Place Concession stands

Foot Long Hotdog

This classic game food has a foot-long sausage with house made chili, cheddar cheese, bacon bits and crispy onions.

You can find this at Dawson’s Hot Dogs in Sections 201, 214, 227, 233, 241, and 249.

“Big Event” Burger

This monstrous triple-patty burger has 6 strips of Applewood-smoked bacon, 3 slices of cheese, special sauces, lettuce, tomato and onion. For me it was a bit too much to handle as the patties are huge. If you have a large appetite, this might be for you.

You can find this at the Lionsgate Grill in Sections 206, 215, 242, and 254.

Sriracha Chicken Poutine

It has tender morsels of chicken in a secret recipe of red wine chicken gravy with Sriracha, sweet onions and roasted garlic. I really enjoyed the poutine and that gravy is pretty awesome.

They also have braised pork belly poutine, popcorn chicken poutine and butter chicken poutine.

You can find these at The Poutinerie in Sections 212 and 239.

Fish Taco

It has crisp cod with a marinated slaw, spiced tartar sauce and pico de gallo in a corn and wheat tortilla. The fish was crisp and had a food amount of tang to balance out the flavours.

They also have Crispy Halibut Tacos and Shrimp Tacos.

You can find this at Steveston’s Fish & Chips in Section 244.

The Thirsty Pigeon

The Thirsty Pigeon found at Sections 203, 234, and 248 have more 30 beers and ciders to choose from.

The list of beverages include:

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Alexander Keith’s IPA

BC Tree Fruit Broken Ladder

Bomber Pilsner

Bud Light

Budweiser

Corona

Goose Island IPA

Howe Sound Garibaldi Honey Pale Ale

Kokanee

Mike’s Hard Lemonade

Mill Street 100th Meridian Amber

Mill Street Tankhouse Ale

Mill Street Organic Lager

Okanagan Apple Cider

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Palm Bay Grapefruit

Parallel 49 Gypsy Tears

Red Racer ISA

Red Truck Lager

Shocktop Belgian White

Stanley Park Amber

Stanley Park Pilsner

Steamworks Pale Ale

Steamworks Pilsner

Stella Artois

Tanker Hard Iced Tea

Wine O’Clock Pinot Grigio

Wine O’Clock Cabernet Sauvignon

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Definitely some good options here to fully enjoy the BC Lions games with friends and have a few delicious items to munch on.

Website: http://www.bcplace.com/visiting/food-beverage

In British Columbia

[Giveaway] 30 Days of Enroot Meals ($450 value)

July 11, 2016

To celebrate my 2000th blog post and reaching 5,500 Instagram followers, we are bringing you an amazing giveaway for 30 days of Enroot meals worth $450.

Enroot is a local Vancouver company providing meals on demand. Their lunch and dinner dishes are prepared locally and delivered within minutes. My coworkers and I order Enroot often during lunch when we forget our lunches or are too lazy to go grab take out. Check out my previous review of their food and services.

Let us know in the comments below which Enroot menu item you would love to try for lunch or dinner. For extra entries, check the widget below.

Contest open to British Columbian residents, who live or work in the delivery zone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enroot’s curated menu contains made-from-scratch meals using only fresh ingredients available in season, including local and organic whenever possible. I really like them since they are supporting the local community and is very environmentally conscious especially with their compostable packaging and utensils. Meals are very affordable and it’s a service I highly recommend, thus why I have decided to partner with them on this giveaway.

Delivery Zone

Enroot’s delivery zone varies from lunch to dinner.

Lunch delivery zone

Dinner delivery zone

In Canadian

Le Cellier: Canadian Cuisine in Epcot

July 11, 2016

Le Cellier Steakhouse is a top restaurant in Epcot and reservations are highly recommended as they are always packed. The restaurant has savour tender steaks, fresh seafood, cheesy poutine fries and other regional cuisine inspired by the provinces of Canada.

As a Canadian food blogger, I had to check out their interpretation of what Canadian Cuisine is all about.

Disney Meal Plan

If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, this requires 2 dining plan credits as it is a signature restaurant. You are then entitled to a non-alcoholic beverage, an entree, and a dessert.

Exterior

Head to the Fairmont hotel replica, where you will find Le Cellier Steakhouse underneath. It is a pretty nice area around this restaurant, so make sure to take a stroll through the different areas when waiting for your seat.

When we got there, they were about 15 minutes behind schedule, so we say around enjoying the view until one of the lovely staff told us our table is ready.

Interior

The interior was like an underground wine cellar, thus the name. I liked the dark warm atmosphere since it had a more cozy atmosphere.

Complimentary Bread

Pretzel Breadsticks, sourdough bread and multi-grain bread came to the table and there was a good portion of it. The butter had a but of maple sugar to it, so it reminded me of honey butter. So good.

Entrees

Le Cellier Filet Mignon has AAA Canadian tenderloin, mushroom risotto, heirloom Toy Box tomatoes, and a truffle-butter sauce.

The Filet mignon was melt in your mouth delicious, but that risotto was very salty. This dish was pretty small, compared to some of the dishes here, but the quality is there.

Black Angus Boneless Rib-Eye has a Fall spice butternut squash purée, roasted marble potatoes, pickled onions, and maple-sage butter. The rib eye is a lot larger than the Filet Mignon, so it’s a better option if you have a big stomach. The rib eye was tender and had a good amount of flavour.

Dessert

Chocolate Whisky Trifle has malted milk panna cotta, caramel popcorn, whisky-caramel sauce, and buttered popcorn gelato. Very cute to have the gelato sit on top of the chocolate lace, but it did break after it arrived on the table. It was a very sweet dessert with hints of saltiness and the slight aroma of whiskey.

Camembert Cheesecake has double-cream cheesecake, cherry gelée, and pistachio cream florentine. It was a unique dessert and not too sweet. I was surprised at how well the pistachio would pair with it.

Overall, the food was good but it is expensive, but good thing we had the Disney Dining Plan. If I wasn’t on the dining plan, I think we would have chosen cheaper options. They also have lunch options, but it isn’t any cheaper on or off the dining plan.

We Rate Le Cellier:

Address:
200 Epcot Center Dr, Lake Buena Vista

Website:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/le-cellier-steakhouse/

In Epcot

Cool Zone: Finding Free Drinks at Epcot

July 10, 2016

At the Walt Disney World Parks, buying cold drinks is pretty expensive. Since the Summer’s are so hot, sometimes fountain water isn’t going to cut it.

Head over to the Club Cool area to sample international sodas from Coca-Cola near Innoventions West inside Epcot.

Walking inside, you can feel free to try any of the 8 flavours for no charge. Other things you can do here is purchase Coca-Cola merchandise. Let’s be real, everyone was free for the free and exotic drinks.

Gurana Kuat is a guarana berry flavoured soft drink from Brazil. it first launched in 1997 and guarana comes from the Guarani word guara-ná, which translated to “fruit like the eyes of people”.
Inca Kola is known as The Taste of Peru, this soda has an unusually sweet fruity flavour similar to bubblegum.
Sparletta Sparberry is from Zimbabwe, a raspberry flavoured cream soda launch in 1955.
Bibo is fruit-flavoured juice from South Africa since 1998. It features characters like Johnny Orange, Taka Strawberry and Paolo Peach. The flavour today was Kiwi Mango.
VegitaBeta is a Japanese soft drink that was launched in 1992. It is a non carbonated beverage with apricot and passionfruit flavors and is rich in Beta-Carotene that contributes to its unique yellowish-orange color.
Fanta Melon Frosty is the top soft drink in Thailand and known for its melon flavour perfect for the hot tropical climate.
Fanta Pineapple is an original flavour from Greece. It has a sweet flavor with no caffeine. There are more than 90 flavors available in 180 countries.
Beverly is a carbonated soft drink marketed as a non-alcoholic apéritif in Italy.

The 8 flavours are fun to try, but there are a few flavours that will make you question why these sodas were ever made. All of them I felt were decent except for Beverly.

Website: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/epcot/

In Cafe

True Confections: Dessert Restaurant on Denman Street

July 9, 2016

If you’re craving for dessert on Denman Street, True Confections is always there to fill that craving. They opened in 1986 to start the first dessert only restaurant. They also have another location on Broadway near UBC.

After dinner, we were in the area and decided to stop by for a sweet treat before heading home.

The place was pretty busy as others were grabbing a dessert around the same time. There are indoor and patio seating too.

All their cakes can be seen in the display case. The cakes are huge and the portions aren’t small either.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is served with whipped cream on the side. A good potion and has a good balance of sweet and sourness. M enjoyed it but I prefer something else.

Chocolate Banana Cream Pie is my kind of pie. The classic banana cream pie smothered in delicious chocolate. I really enjoyed it. Super indulgent and not for those who are on a diet.

Overall, the desserts were ok, but people are more intrigued by their large size. You can’t go wrong with any of the moussy desserts, but some of the larger cakes I feel are a bit dry. It’s also good that its open late at night.

We Rate True Confections:

Address:
866 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://trueconfections.ca/

In Chinese

Kwong Chow: Chinese Food in Mount Pleasant

July 8, 2016

A few foodies were in the area and needed a good cheap place to eat with plenty of seats, so we decided to head to Kwong Chow Congee & Noodle House for some Chinese food. It’s a neighbourhood favourite in Mount Pleasant. A lot of people have talked about this place, but it was my first time dining here.

Preserved Egg and Lean Pork Congee is what we started off with. All scooped up into their individual bowls.

I love congee, it’s like my comfort food. If I had to only have one dish for the rest of my life, it would be congee.

House Special Wonton Soup with tons of wontons and they were able to customize the dish so each people would get at least one wonton.

Sliced Beef and Gai Lan is a solid dish but we did feel it was pretty oily. Even in the picture, it glisten in the lights.

Chicken with ginger and green onion oil on the side. We got half a chicken and it was pretty good as well.

Sweet and Sour Boneless Pork with Pineapples was ok, not my favourite type of dish at a Chinese restaurant. Just a personal preference since I don’t like mixing sweet and savoury items together. Kinda like how I don’t prefer Hawaiian pizza.

Sauteed Pea Shoots with garlic is one of my favourite vegetables. Cooked well.

Yang Chow Fried Rice is a pretty classic fried rice with shrimp, BBQ Pork, and other items.

Rice noodles with sliced beef and scrambled egg was an interesting dish. I think it needed a bit more salt and perhaps it would have been better with rice instead of rice noodle.

Deep Fried Silver Fish was super crisp and I loved the texture and crunch of them. The pepper flakes and garlic really accompany this dish well by giving it a little kick of spice.

Overall, the meal was pretty good, split among all of us, it was a pretty good price. The food isn’t anything fancy, but they have good tasting dishes.

We Rate Kwong Chow Congee & Noodle House:

Address:
3163 Main Street, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.kwongchowrestaurant.com/

In product

PC Insiders Collection: Summer Recipes

July 8, 2016

Summer is here and what better way to celebrate than having a picnic outdoors with friends. President’s Choice took a few of us out for a picnic at Stanley Park to give us a nice sneak peek of the Summer PC Insiders Collection and some recipes to go with those products.

I go to Superstore a few times a week and I’ve been a fan for a long time. Below are a few items that I enjoyed and would remake for my Summer celebrations.

Grilled Bread with Lemon Ricotta and Tomatoes of Yore

Pretty simple to make and you just pile the ingredients on top of each other. Very fresh and showcases the amazing combination of ricotta and tomatoes.

Melon with grilled Halloumi cheese, arugula, radish and pistachio

A great combination and halloumi cheese is an excellent cheese to grill since it won’t melt easily due to it’s high melting point. The cantaloupe-like melon brings the sweetness, and arugula and radishes give this salad a peppery bite.

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Serves: 6
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Ingredients:

Half melon, halved, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
1 pkg (250 g) PC Halloom Semi-Soft Unripened Cheese, cut crosswise in 8 slices
3 Tbsp (45 mL) extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp (2 mL) freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp (15 mL) fresh lemon juice
2 cups (500 mL) loosely packed baby arugula
2 medium radishes, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp (25 mL) chopped roasted pistachios

Directions:

Preheat barbecue to medium heat; grease grill. Arrange melon slices on a serving platter; set aside.
Toss cheese with 1 Tbsp (15 mL) of the olive oil and the pepper. Grill 2 to 3 minutes, turning once halfway, or until lightly charred and softened.
Whisk together remaining 2 Tbsp (25 mL) olive oil and lemon juice. Combine arugula and radishes in large bowl; toss together with half of the dressing.
Arrange grilled cheese on top of melon. Scatter salad on top; sprinkle with pistachios and drizzle remaining dressing around platter.

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Grilled Pico de Gallo Shrimp

This was one of my favourite appetizers! The Mexican-inspired pico de gallo salsa acts as both marinade and sauce in this brightly-flavoured barbecued shrimp appetizer.

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Serves: 6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Marinate Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy

Ingredients

1 pkg (400 g) PC Raw Zipperback Black Tiger Shrimp – Gigantico 16-20 Count, thawed
1 Tbsp (15 mL) PC 100% Pure Safflower Oil
1/2 Tsp (2 mL) ground coriander
1/2 Tsp (2 mL) ground cumin
1/2 cup (125 mL) PC Pico de Gallo Mild Salsa

Directions:

Peel shrimp, leaving tails on. Toss shrimp, oil, cumin, coriander and 1/4 cup (50 mL) of the pico de gallo in bowl, stirring until coated. Cover and chill for 20 minutes.
Preheat barbecue to medium-high.
Place shrimp on grill; cook 3 to 4 minutes per side or until golden-pink and cooked through. Place in clean serving bowl; toss with remaining pico de gallo. If desired, garnish with lime wedges and coriander sprigs. Serve hot.

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Thai Mango Salad

This Thai take-out favourite is easily made at home. Don’t worry about how ripe the mangoes are, it is equally delicious made with green (unripe) mangoes; in fact, it is easier to cut an under ripe mango although it is more tart.

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Serves: 5
Prep time: 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Ingredients:

1 small clove garlic, minced
Half red finger chili, sliced in thin rounds (with seeds)
1 Tsp (5 mL) granulated sugar
3 Tbsp (45 mL) fresh lime juice
4 Tsp (20 mL) fish sauce
1 Tbsp (15 mL) PC 100% Pure First-Pressed Canola Oil
2 PC Flavour Burst Kent Mango
2 carrots, cut in thin matchsticks
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Half sweet red pepper, cut in thin matchsticks
1/3 cup (75 mL) lightly-packed cilantro leaves
1/3 cup (75 mL) lightly-packed leaves PC Fresh Mint
1/3 cup (75 mL) PC Dry Roasted Lightly Seasoned Peanuts, chopped

Directions:

Stir together garlic, chili, sugar, lime juice, fish sauce and oil in large bowl until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
Peel mangoes with vegetable peeler. Cut flesh away from pits. Cut one mango into thin matchsticks and thinly slice the other.
Add mangoes, carrots, onions, pepper, cilantro and mint to lime dressing in bowl; toss to combine. Transfer to platter; sprinkle with peanuts.

TIP: A mandolin is the best tool to achieve evenly julienned vegetables in the minimum time.

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Grilled Jalapeño Brisket Burger

Smoke and spice balance perfectly in this southern-style brisket burger recipe. Grilling the jalapeño peppers tames their heat a bit, and adds extra yummy charred flavour.

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Serves: 6
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Ingredients:

1 pkg (852 g) PC Slow Smoked Brisket Beef Burgers
3 oz (90 g) PC Monterey Jack Cheese with Jalapeño, cut in 12 slices
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
6 jalapeño peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
6 soft white burger buns
2/3 cup (150 mL) PC Texas Caviar Mild Bean Salsa

Directions:

Preheat barbecue to medium heat.
Place frozen burgers on greased grill; cook, lid down, 5 to 6 minutes per side or until cooked through. Top each burger with two slices of cheese; close lid 1 minute to melt. Meanwhile, cook onion and jalapeños in grill basket on grill 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until very tender and blistered.
Open buns; divide salsa evenly among bottom half of buns. Top each with a patty, one-sixth of the onions, and 2 pieces of pepper. Close with top bun and serve immediately.

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BBQ Lamb on Beet Hummus Flatbread

Reminiscent of Turkish-style pizzas called pide, the appetizer flatbread recipe features red beet hummus and crumbled lamb for a fresh and stylish version that’s easy to serve at any summer gathering.

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Serves: 10
Prep time: 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Ingredients:

1/2 lb (250 g) PC Lean Ground Australian Lamb
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp (25 mL) grated onion
1 Tsp (5 mL) toasted cumin seeds, crushed in mortar and pestle
3/4 Tsp (4 mL) ground coriander
3/4 Tsp (4 mL) paprika
1/2 Tsp (2 mL) each salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp (15 mL) PC New World EVOO Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 Tbsp (45 mL) each chopped fresh parsley and mint
1 pkg (220 g) PC Appetizer Flatbreads
1 pkg (280 g) PC Beet Hummus Chickpea Dip and Spread
2/3 cup (150 mL) PC Crumbled Goat’s Milk Chevre Soft Unripened Cheese
Lemon wedges

Directions:

Preheat barbecue to medium heat; grease grill.
Combine lamb, garlic, onion, cumin, coriander, paprika, salt, pepper and oil. Using hands, gently mix until just combined. Form into three 4-inch (10 cm) patties; let stand 20 minutes.
Grill patties 6 to 8 minutes, turning halfway, or until cooked through. Transfer to plate; crumble into small pieces using two forks. Sprinkle with parsley and mint; set aside.
Grill flatbreads 30 to 60 seconds per side or until golden with grill marks; transfer to cutting board.
Divide hummus between flatbreads; spread evenly to cover. Top with lamb and cheese. Garnish with freshly ground black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil, if desired. Cut each flatbread into five pieces; squeeze lemon over top. Serve immediately.

TIP: You can substitute PC Soft Unripened Goat’s Milk Cheese and crumble it yourself if you prefer.

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Loads of Spinach & Parmesan Atlantic Salmon Burgers

I usually don’t like Salmon Burgers, but the PC Loads of Spinach & Parmesan Atlantic Salmon Burgers was so good! It was one of the top items of this picnic.

A few items that I would want to stock up in my fridge this Summer would be the PC Loads of Spinach Parmesan Atlantic Salmon Burgers, PC Sriracha Mayo Sandwich Spread, PC Cream First Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream, and the PC Pico Di Gallo Mild Salsa.

Website:
http://www.presidentschoice.ca/en_CA/insiders-collection.html

In British Columbia

VCBW: Vancouver Craft Beer Week

July 7, 2016

Vancouver Craft Beer Week kicked off a few weeks ago from May 27th to June 5th. There are events throughout the week, but the 3 days festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday was where the largest numbers were in attendance.

People flooded to the PNE Fairgrounds to experience 100+ breweries & cideries pouring 350+ craft beers & ciders from across the globe.

Entry and Tokens

General admission was $35 and covers entrance and a souvenir mug. You have to buy beer tokens for $1.50 each.

Port Moody

There are different areas of the PNE and there was event a Port Moody brewery area that included Twin Sails, Parkside Brewery, Moody Ales and Yellow Dog. All amazing breweries and within walking distance of each other. If you love beer, you’ll love Port Moody and the beer scene out there.

Tofino Brewing Co

One of my favourites was Tofino Brewing for their blonde ale! I jump at any chance to drink this beer since its so light and refreshing.

Sunday Cider

Sunday Cider is Vancouver’s first cidery brought to you buy the guys who created Bestie. Since the restaurant closes on Sunday, they would spend this time crafting different recipes until they found a few good batches.

Dageraad Brewing

Dageraad Brewing is a brewery located in Burnaby and they have a Belgian-style beer called Burnabarian.

Stiegl

Stiegl is an amazing Austrian brewery and even since I visited back in 2008, I have fallen in love with their beer. One drink in particular which is amazing is the Stiegl-Radler Grapefruit.

Phillips Brewing

They are a popular brewery from Victoria, BC. Besides brewing beer, they also have a soda company and a distillery.

I tried one of their lighter beers – Pilsner that also has a clean, crisp and bright taste.

DriftWood Brewing Co

Driftwood Brewery is another local brewery out of Richmond and has grown in popularity quite quickly. I tried the White Bark Witbier. Light, refreshing and has a citrus finish.

Fuggles & Warlock

Fuggles & Warlock pushes traditional styles of beer to the limit, by adding a West Coast flair. Expect some adventurous brews aimed toward adventurous palettes. The branding has a distinct focus on “Geek Culture” with references to video gaming, and pop culture.

I had to try the Strawberry Wit and wow, it was refreshing and had strong strawberry flavours. Very unique especially among the Metro Vancouver craft beer scene.

Fruli

Similarly, Fruli makes premium strawberry beer to but their flavour profiles are quite different.

It was a fun few hours at the Vancouver Craft Beer Week and trying all the different types of beer from all over the world. Good to try some good ol favourites and finding those new ones that tickled my taste buds.

Website: http://vancouvercraftbeerweek.com/

In Italian

The Old Spaghetti Factory: Riverport Richmond Review

July 6, 2016

The Old Spaghetti Factory is right across from the SilverCity movie theatre. We decided to come here for a quick dinner. We thought we had ample time since it was 50 minutes before the movie. You definitely need at least an hour to dine here.

Complimentary Bread that arrives at the tables is a Italian Sourdough Bread with Whipped Garlic and Plain Butter. A nice way to fill up before waiting for the dishes to arrive.

Clam Chowder is New England style with bacon. Pretty basic and there’s really not much to it.

Crisp Green Salad is the side for the gluten-free menu option. Very simple spinach salad.

Minestrone Soup wasn’t very interesting either, but I got a side to go with my salad, which was interesting.

Cheesy Baked Tomato Chicken Pasta has sautéed chicken breast tossed with gluten free penne in al fresca marinara sauce and baked with mozzarella. My sister thought it was ok. Nothing too special about it, but it would be better if there was a bit more sauce.

Lasagna has layer upon layers of pasta, meat sauce and mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan cheeses. M enjoyed it as it was meaty and cheesy.

Caesar Salad was what I ordered. I just came back from vacation and really needed a big bowl of salad. It did the trick but I felt it was a bit heavy on the dressing. The dressing was very garlicky and potent.

Overall, the food was mediocre but when you see the food options near the theatre, there really isn’t much.

We rate The Old Spaghetti Factory:

Address:
110-14200 Entertainment Boulevard,
Richmond, BC

Website:
http://www.oldspaghettifactory.ca/

In Bubble Tea

Shiny Tea: Bubble Tea in Crystal Mall

July 5, 2016

Shiny Tea is a new Bubble Tea shop established in Taiwan back in 2005 and have now opened their second location in Canada inside Crystal Mall in South Burnaby. They have over 360 shops around the world in countries such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Macao, Australia, and most recently, in L.A. and New York.

Their other location is in Richmond, but since I live in Burnaby, this location is more convenient for me to visit.

White Pearl Tea (Original) has Taiwan-style milk tea with sweet potato balls. It got it in a large size and half sweet. Even at the original sweetness, it isn’t very sweet at all. So, having it half sweet was pretty bland. I also noticed the tea taste wasn’t strong at all, it was mostly a milk taste. Even at 50% sweetness, I should be able to taste more of the tea flavour.

Panda Milk Tea is a small size was what Amy ordered. She wasn’t impressed with the drink either.

Overall, we both didn’t like the drink. With so much competition for Bubble Tea in Burnaby and Vancouver, this doesn’t hit the mark. Its very bland and doesn’t have much tea flavour, plus the pearls were not cooked well. I wouldn’t come back.

We rate Shiny Tea:

Address:
4500 Kingsway, Suite 2210,
Burnaby, Vancouver, BC

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShinyTea.Vancouver/

In Car

Honda Fit EX-L Navi 2016: Review

July 4, 2016

M here, and for 1 week I got to drive the new 2016 Honda Fit EX-L Navi. This car taught me that I’m way older than I thought I was. Although it’s fun to drive, I wanted more features and ultimately a bigger car.

Exterior

The Honda Fit didn’t really change all the much between generations. In fact, in some angles while it may seem sleek and sporty, other angles made it seem too round and soccer mom car-ish. The red definitely screamed domestic, instead of sporty. Unfortunately there is no option to put in stock LED headlights.

I still love the proximity key entry system, which means I don’t have to take out my key fob to open the car while entering!

Interior

The Honda Fit is incredibly spacious inside. There’s plenty of trunk space and space for back seat riders. I was surprised on how the driver seat was even when put in it’s lowest setting. The EX-L Navi is the highest trim of the Fit you can buy, so I was very disappointed by the lack of a power seat. The adjustment of the seat was finicky at best.

There was also a lack of any space to place your smart phone while it’s connected to the USB. The small space next to the gear shift could barely hold my iPhone 6+ in place, and would fall off easily. This gear shift area was my biggest grievance of the Fit’s interior. The heated seat buttons were placed in such way, that I would always accidentally press one when placing my phone down. It was frustrating. Speaking of frustrating, the parking brake was also very finicky. Whenever I released the parking brake, it would catch on one of the bottom clicks, not fully going down without another effort.

The best thing about the interior is the cupholder on the left side of the steering wheel. This cupholder could hold a Venti sized drink comfortably, and I found myself using it a lot more than I initially thought.

The navigation system is the same that is found in the Civic, but lacks Apple Carplay or Android Auto. The system seemed to be slower too. The navigation software found in the 2016 Fit definitely is a lighter and less fleshed out system than what is found in the Civic. I found it annoying to work with overall.

The Fit EX-L Navi does have Honda’s nifty LaneWatch blind spot display, which helps you merge right and parallel park. It also comes with a rear camera, but I did find it slow to start with the Fit’s Navi hardware.

All the seats are foldable into various configurations, so if you need to move any large cargo or make an IKEA trip, it’s possible.

Drive

The highlight of the Honda Fit EX-L Navi is the way it drives! This model is fitted with an all new engine that Honda touts is more powerful, yet more efficient that previous ones. The engine is very zippy and driving it with the paddle shifts was incredibly fun.

This small but powerful engine comes with some drawbacks though. The engine is loud when revving, and even in idle, the engine clicks can be noticeably heard in the car. The Econ mode found in all Hondas is completely useless here, as lowering the revs of the engine makes the engine shift unbearably slow, which causes the driver to push harder (which defeats the purpose of keeping L/100km low). Turning Econ mode off is suggested as the fuel efficient engine does it’s job without it.

The steering of this car is surprisingly light, showing off how much of the power-steering the car gives you.

Final Thoughts

At $22,000, I don’t know why anyone would buy a Fit EX-L Navi, when they can get the 2016 Honda Civic EX for $1,000 more. The Civic EX has all the major features of the Fit, but adds in a more powerful engine and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Fit is a fun car to drive and I think you can justify getting the lower trims if you’re on a budget or if it’s your first car of university. It’s fun and easy to drive and I think car modders can mod the car for impressive results. My wife and I had a Fit in university, but now I can’t imagine myself owning one, as gadgets and space become more of a concern.

Website: http://www.honda.ca/

In Four Beakers

Maruyama: Omakase Nigiri Tasting

July 3, 2016

Maruyama has taken over the old Kimura location on Rupert Street. Chef Yoshiya Maruyama was the previous raw bar chef at Blue Water Cafe and has finally opened his own restaurant in East Vancouver.

When my friend told me about it, I got super excited because I love sushi. A few of us went to try their omakase nigiri tasting.

Interior

The space isn’t very large, there are 4 seats at the bar and a few tables on either side of the restaurant. Always best to make reservations.

Omakase Nigiri Tasting

We made reservations to sit at the bar so we could get a full experience and have a chat with the Chef.

They have 2 options for omakase nigiri tasting – $25 and $60 option. After consulting with the Chef, we decided to take the plunge and order the $60 tasting as it has more premium fish used in the set.

When the tasting begins, they ask you if you want wasabi on it or not. Half of the group went with wasabi and the other half went without. The omakase tasting isn’t for everyone as it only has a minimum of 7 pieces. Those with a large stomach might not get full.

Sanma is very soft and has lots of fat. It is brushed with a bit of sauce and covered in a shiso leaf.

This nigiri, I have no idea what it was. In my notes I wrote down “asa”, but I couldn’t find this type of fish online. Either way, it tasted really good.

Akaji was what I wrote down, but I think I miss heard so I have no idea what this is. It is encrusted in the chef’s secret kombu topping, which is kelp.

Isaki nigiri has a slightly chewy taste. Isaki is a grunt fish.

Tobiuo is a flying fish with a soft texture perfect for nigiri.

Tai also has a slight chewy texture but it is rich in flavour.

Scallop Nigiri has a few drop of yuzu and then sprinkled with a bit of sea salt.

Chutoro is a delicious tuna with higher fat content. Very delicious too.

Otoro is the most expensive cut of tuna taken from the lowest part of the belly next to the head. It’s high in fat and super flavourful.

Other Nigiri on the menu

Hokkaido Uni is an additional menu item and when the chef was telling us about it, we didn’t realize it was $19 each. He did warn us that it was expensive and no normal customer would order this and he makes little to no profit off this item.

He adds a speck of wasabi to the top and its ready to eat. The flavour of the uni was amazing, but it was really expensive. It’s an expensive ingredient, so it’s not for all.

Anago is sea eel and he torches it before it gets served. For $5.50, this nigiri was more easy on the wallet compared to the uni.

The flavour and look is unlike what you would find at most Japanese restaurants. It’s fresh and has an amazing taste. He uses his own secret sauce to add on top.

Matcha ice cream with red bean is how we ended out meal. This was part of the omakase, I think because we weren’t charged for it. or maybe it was because we spent so much.

Overall, it was a pretty expensive meal, but its nice to splurge once in a while. I find that the nigiri are his works of art and should really be enjoyed. You need a high level of appreciation for sushi to fully enjoy this experience.

We Rate Maruyama:

Address:
3883 Rupert Street, Vancouver

In British Columbia

VCBW: Vancouver Craft Beer Week Opening Night

July 2, 2016

Vancouver Craft Beer Week kicked off on May 27th at their opening event at the Yaletown Roundhouse presented by Craft Beer Market. There are 32 breweries & cideries with 50+ beers and ciders to sample. It costs $60 and you get 4oz samples of the drinks, passed appetizers, and entertainment.

Hoyne Brewing Co

I started off trying the Summer Haze Honey Hefe. It is light and great for the hot summer days.

Steel & Oak

Tu Meke oceania inspired saison was one of the options made in collaboration with Strange Fellows Brewing for Vancouver Craft Beer Week. Pretty unique taste with notes of spice and pepper in it.

Mission Springs Brewing

Lemon Ginger Radler is a very light beer with nice flavours of lemon and ginger that compliments each other. It only has 3% alcohol, so its very easy to drink.

Stiegl and Erdinger Weissbrau

Both Austrian and German beer companies shared a booth. We were all so excited because they both have amazing beer.

Parkside Brewery

Parkside Brewery is a new brewery that just opened in Port Moody in close proximity to the other breweries like Twin Sails, Moody Ales and Yellow Dog. Their first keg was poured at this event and I was glad I got a taste of the Dusk Pale Ale. It has a good amount of citrus hop flavours and malt.

Field House Brewing

The Sour Wheat Gose is very sour when you first drink it and then with a touch of saltiness at the end. Definitely not a drink for everyone.

Food and Snacks

Food was very hard to spot at this event. Once it came out, people were going crazy just to get a piece. I wasn’t too hungry since I ate ramen ahead of time with a few friends ahead of time.

I don’t remember what food they had since it was impossible to see what came out. I was more focused on the beer.

KIND Snacks was there giving out whole size granola bars which was nice. A favourite was the Salted Caramel & Dark Chocolate.

Seating

There’s no seating indoors as it is all standing room, but there are some tables outside where you can sit and enjoy the beers with friends. Even though it was a rainy day, people still were outside enjoying the fresh air.

Overall, it was a great way to kick off Vancouver Craft Beer Week. There was plenty of beer flowing, but for some people, they definitely wanted more food to be served especially when they’re consuming alcohol.

Website: http://vancouvercraftbeerweek.com/

In Fast Food

Pizza Hut Canada: 5 Cheese Stuffed Crust with Bacon

July 1, 2016

Pizza Hut Canada had their promotion for 5 cheese stuffed crust pizza and if you got a medium or large, they would also stuff it with bacon.

M saw this online and he just had to make me try it. Of course I never say no, since I love all types of food even fast food…especially fast food.

We got the medium Pepperoni Lover’s, which has extra pepperoni and cheese. It’s such has the classic pizza topping that you can’t go wrong with. I try to avoid veggies with my pizza.

As for the stuffed crust, it was pretty hollow and needed more cheese stuffed inside. Maybe 5 cheeses wasn’t enough to fill the cavity. Other areas had more cheese that others. The bacon also wasn’t stuffed inside, it was more on the edge of the toppings area and the crust.

This was just my experience, but maybe at other locations its done better.

Website: https://www.pizzahut.ca/