Foodology
Archive

February 2017

Browsing
In British Columbia

Dairyland Celebrates 100 Years #Dairyland100

Dairyland celebrates 100 years and they have changes their packaging for a limited time. The design is a throwback to their early days. In 1917, Fraser Valley Milk Producers Association began it’s first operations.

Two years later in 1919, they began the Dairyland Home Service delivery by horse and carriage. Even though I wasn’t alive then, it’s nice to know they have been operating for such a long time. I’ve grown up with their products since I was young. I remember as a kid, their milk would be sold in bags rather than the cartons we see today.

Waking up in the morning, it was necessary to have a hot cup of milk or a bowl of cereal before heading off to school.

To celebrate their 100 years, they are holding a few contests on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Dairyland.ca

by
Read More
In product

Doritos Canada: Guacamole Chips Review

Doritos Canada has come out with the limited edition Guacamole chips. I love guacamole, so I was excited to see how they would take the essence of guacamole and transform it into chip form.

The chips have a slight green on colour with the yellow chip underneath shining through. Upon first bite, it had hints of lime and reminded me of a ranch flavour. It really didn’t taste like guacamole at all.

With the last 2 flavours Doritos launched – Ketchup and Guacamole, I definitely prefer Ketchup over Guacamole.

Overall, if you are a Guacamole lover, these chips won’t hit the spot. I would rather make Guacamole from real avocados, then get some plain chips to dunk into it.

If you’re still curious about the Doritos Guacamole chips, we picked up these chip at Save on Foods, but I’m sure you can find this at any major grocery store.

Website: http://www.doritos.ca/

by
Read More
In British Columbia

Lunar New Year with Red Rooster Winery and their Bold New Look

Though the Lunar New Year dinners have come and gone, and I have since recovered from all the gluttony, there’s one dinner that sticks out in my mind. We were recently invited to the unveiling of Red Rooster Winery’s brand new look at a multi-course winemaker’s dinner hosted by Winemaker Karen Gillis and Chef Angus An, owner of Fat Mao.

Although the evolution of asian cuisine didn’t exactly revolve around the pairing of food and wine as did european cultures, Winemaker Karen GIllis and Chef Angus Ahn tag teamed to bring out the best of both words. The wine and food paired together perfectly and we took note of a few wines that we’d bring to our next dinner party! A few of our favourites included the Red Rooster Chardonnay, Reserve Malbec, and Cabernet Merlot.

Coincidentally, 2017 signaled the coming of the year of the rooster – the fire rooster to be exact. Toasting the new year with Red Rooster’s bold new look was especially fitting.

2014 Red Rooster Reserve Rose

Kicked off the night with their reserve rose, a light, dry and fruity rose with refreshing acidity, paired with a soy-marinated quail egg.

2015 Red Rooster Riesling

Next up, we had the riesling. It was a dry, light-bodied riesling with a green citrus crispness, which paired beautifully with the drunken chicken ballotine (red rooster marinated, served with thai fermented bean sauce) and Tuna and Mussel Ceviche (with thai basil and herb vinaigrette and lime juice). The freshness and spices in the dishes paired well with this riesling.

2015 Red Rooster Chardonnay

I usually like my chardonnays with a bit more of a warmer, buttery, and slightly oaky taste but this Red Rooster Chardonnay paired extremely well with the thai fried egg salad (with avocado, asian celery, and cherry tomatoes), and Asian style Bouillabaisse (with black cod, mussels, clams, finished in a tumeric broth).

While we all have our preferences, it’s amazing how those preferences change depending on what you eat with it. This was a light to medium-bodied wine on the cleaner and brighter side with aromas of fresh fruit, apple, pear, citrus and just a hint of oak and vanilla to round it out. In addition to the riesling, this would also work well with many types of chinese-style banquet foods.

2014 Red Rooster Reserve Malbec

This was my favourite of the night! My favourite style of wine paired with my favourite tastes of chinese cuisine – their reserve malbec paired with a braised pork cheek (aromatic and tender, served with steamed buns) and a dry duck noodle (with shredded duck leg, poached egg, and shanghai noodles).

I’m looking back at my notes and all I wrote was, “so good!” This medium to full-bodied malbec was juicy, fruit-forward, and smooth. Lots of juicy red fruit on the palate accented by a bit of spice and rich woodiness. The savoury sweet flavours of the pork and duck noodles were a perfect pairing.

2014 Red Rooster Cabernet Franc Ice Wine

I don’t typically enjoy ice wine because I usually find them too sweet but this cab franc ice wine was a pleasant surprise! I enjoyed this and found the flavours unique with warm strawberry fruit. This was paired with tom ka creme brulee (lemongrass infused coconut milk and fig compote), also unique and tasty!

Website: http://www.redroosterwinery.com/

by
Read More
In Coquitlam

Smoking Pig: Korean Food in Coquitlam

Smoking Pig is a new restaurant that opened up in Coquitlam and it’s opened by the people who created Ramengers. I came here with the family for lunch. The parking is limited as there are only a few spots out front.

They have Korean comfort food like stews, soup, rice bowls, and smoked pork.

Interior

The interior is very simple, but it is decorated with comic books and cases of figurines. The look is a bit confusing as its hard to tell if it’s a family restaurant or a restaurant for younger people.

The menu is very cute as there are piggies drawn for each dish.

Side Dishes – Banchan

Before the dishes we ordered arrived, a few side dishes arrived to munch on. There was pickled radish and cabbage with a light sauce.

Pork & Rice Soup – dwaeji-gukbap

Pork soup with chives, green onions, and pork meat. This is one of the features dishes.

Pork Backbone Stew  – Gamja-tang

Spicy pork backbone soup with meat, potato, cabbage, green onion, and perilla seeds.

Boneless Fried Chicken

You can either choose fried spicy chicken or fried soy chicken. We went with the fried soy chicken with half a chicken. You can also get a whole chicken too.

It was crisp and and covered in the delicious soy sauce.

Fried Dumpling

Fried dumpling comes with 6 pieces and is served with a sweet sauce. The fried dumplings were a bit mediocre.

Final Thoughts

The soups and stews were very delicious and comforting. When I went there, they were short staffed, so a few other items on their menu were unavailable.  There were a few hits and misses, but they have opened quite recently, so they have some kinks to work out.

We rate the Smoking Pig: 

Address:
1043 Brunette Ave, Coquitlam

Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/smkpig

Smoking Pig Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

by
Read More
In Downtown

Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar: Happy Hour

Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar has Happy Hour from 3pm – 6pm daily. The location is great as it’s close to Burrard Skytrain station and also right by the Scotiabank Theatre. I came with a few friend after work to kick off the long weekend.

The Happy Hour menu has food and drinks under $10. It’s a very good deal compared to their regular menu.

Interior

You have to stalk for a table in their lounge as it is very crowded at 5pm. The staff are nice and can help move around chairs to best seat your party.

Oysters

One thing you’ll want to get here are their 2 bucks-a-shuck local oysters. They are Joyce Point Oysters from Sawmill Bay with shallot mignonette sauce and lemons. The oysters were shucked very well and tasted very fresh.

Korean Galbi ‘Dog’

There were no dog hurt in the creation of this item and it’s a fancier hot dog. It uses American wagyu beef in a brioche bun and served with pickled vegetables and chili paste.

House Smoked Salmon Pâté

The house smoked salmon pâté is served with grilled sourdough, pickled red onion, and capers. Very delicious as well. The pate is very smooth and I love the smokey flavour.

Final Thoughts

Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar is a great place to come for Happy Hour to enjoy some appetizers and drinks. I really enjoyed it and I’ll be back.

We Rate Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar: 

Address:
The Sutton Place Hotel, 845 Burrard Street, Vancouver

Website:
http://boulevardvancouver.ca/

Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar - The Sutton Place Hotel Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

by
Read More
In Downtown

Sala Thai: Thai Cuisine in Downtown Vancouver

Sala Thai serves up authentic Thai cuisine in Downtown Vancouver. They are a family-run restaurant and have been operating for over 20 years. I came here with some friends for dinner and it’s been a long time since I’ve been here.

Thai Iced Tea

Thai Iced Tea is a must when going to Thai restaurant. It’s milky and a bit sweet. Highly recommended.

Gai Hor Bai Toey

This is chicken marinated in a chef’s sauce, wrapped and cooked in pandan leaves. It comes in an order of 4 but we added 1 more extra for our group. The chicken was moist inside those pandan leaves.

Golden Angel Wings

These are boneless chicken wings stuffed with shrimp, pork, vegetables, vermicelli noodle, herbs and served with homemade sweet chili sauce. The crisp chicken wings were so delightful and super easy to eat.

Sala Thai Salad

It has green leaves, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, onions and boiled egg with their house dressing. Not a very exciting salad.

Gaeng Dang

This red curry has coconut milk Bamboo shoots, bell peppers and Thai basil leaves. It comes with your choice of beef, pork or chicken. We went with chicken for our dish. It was very flavourful and we ordered 2 bowls of rice to accompany this dish.

Pad Thai

This is their most popular Thai rice noodle dish with shrimp, egg, tofu, bean sprouts and ground peanut. Mix this up and its quite delicious too.

Final Thoughts

Sala Thai has been a great place to go to since they’ve opened. It’s authentic and great to see how they are hiring Thai staff to make sure all of the food stays true.

We Rate Sala Thai: 

Address:
888 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.salathai.ca/

SalaThai Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

by
Read More
In Four Beakers

Campagnolo Upstairs: Dirty Burgers and the Secret Menu

Campagnolo Upstairs is a hidden gem for those who love cocktails and burgers. I came with M and MagMei after work to try out their delicious dirty burger. You enter from the door on the right side and go up the stairs, past the curtain, keep on walking up until you see the bar.

They are open at 6 pm on weekdays; 10:30 am – 2 pm on weekends and long weekends.

Interior

I love how they’ve incorporated the old Fat Dragon BBQ sign on their ceiling.

The bar area has the menu hand drawn on brown paper. The bar has lot of variety and the staff are super friendly.

There are a few tables around the restaurant, but we had a really great time sitting at the bar and conversing with the bartender.

Secret Menu

They have their standard menu with different items, but their secret menu has more of the customization to the dirty burger.

They have fun code names for the burgers, but the staff are super nice and suggest ways to build you burger.

You can add a sunny side egg, crispy chicken skin, pimento cheese, 80g of foie gras, or an additional patty to your dirty burger.

Dirty Burger

Dirty Burger is their take on the classic cheese burger with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a pickle. The size is a bit small in diameter, but there’s so much flavour in their beef patty. It is 4oz, 40-day dry-aged beef patty smashed in a hot cast iron pan.

You would want to order an extra patty or a side of fries to fill your belly a little bit more.

In the Sun

In the Sun is essentially a dirty burger with egg.

You can add additional toppings into your burger. M added an egg to go into it. That yolk is still gooey, so the best way to eat it is to bite a small hole and suck out all that yolk.

It’s super delicious.

Gang Bang

If you want the most stacked burger that they can create, get the Gang Bang. This ultimate burger has two beef patties, a sunny side egg, crispy chicken skin, pimento cheese and 80g of foie gras.

Once you put the buns together, it has a bit of difficulty standing up. It’s more like the leaning tower of burgers. It will cost you around $50 for this burger and it’s super decadent.

Crispy Chicken Skin

Crispy chicken skin is covered in honey, hot sauce and mint. It’s a very interesting combination, but it needed some more salt or a stronger sauce to balance out all that skin.

Drinks

There are lots of cocktails and a few beers on the menu, but I went with the 311 Three Eleven Helles Lager from Coal Harbour Brewing Company. It is a smooth and delicious German-style Lager made in Vancouver.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we loved their burgers and this whole experience. They sell out of their burgers on the weekdays around 8/8:3opm, but if they run out, you can head over to The American, a few shops away for more dirty burgers. They have the same delicious patties but cooked slightly differently.

We Rate Campagnolo Upstairs: 

Address:
1020 Main Street, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.facebook.com/CampUpstairs/

Upstairs At Campagnolo Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

by
Read More
In Canadian

Cactus Club: Frozen Blood Orange Margaritas and Appetizers

Cactus Club Cafe has one of their most stunning locations at Jack Poole Plaza by the Olympic Cauldron. After work, a few of us stopped by to try their new Frozen Blood Orange Margaritas as well as try a few of their appetizers. It’s always best to spend time with friends over good drinks and food. Cactus Club has always been a solid spot for me to some after work for drink and nibbles.

Frozen Blood Orange Margarita

The frozen blood orange margarita has the cool, citrus flavours of blood orange and lime, blended with tequila and Triple Sec. It is topped with a candied orange.

It was a really good drink and I can see it bing a popular drink once the weather in Vancouver starts warming up. It’s only here for a limited time.

Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps

The chicken is cooked in sweet and spicy Szechuan glaze, peanuts, and wontons. On the side, there is Korean chili sauce and spicy yogurt. The lettuce wraps are on the side and you scoop them in and eat up.

Ceviche

The ceviche has lois lake steelhead, sustainably harvested prawns, red onions, thai basil, mint, cilantro, and nuoc cham. The ceviche is delicious and I could eat this all day.

Beef Carpaccio

The beef carpaccio is peppercorn-crusted, and topped with dijon aioli, capers, grana padano and served with crostini. A good appetizer to share and i like the contrast between the grana padano and capers with the beef.

Truffle Fries

The fries are fried and covered with truffle, herbs, grana padano, and garlic aioli. Another great item to add to the table as people can munch on it.

Tuna Stack

The tuna stack is made of Ocean Wise albacore, citrus tamari vinaigrette, nori, sesame, avocado, micro cilantro, and served with wonton chips.

Final Thoughts

Overall, when the table is full of delicious food, drinks and friends, it’s hard to have a bad time. The food was well executed and had fresh flavours and ingredients.

We Rate Cactus Club: 

Address:
1085 Canada Place, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.cactusclubcafe.com

Cactus Club Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

by
Read More
In Delivery

Les Cocottes: Genuinely French Delivery in Vancouver

Les Cocottes is a new Canadian subscription box for delicious French treats right at your door step. This is based in Vancouver, BC and founded by two French ex-pats -Margaux and Lorena. They carefully curate each box with 5-7 of the best French products the duo can find that fits the theme of that particular box.

Whether you have a sweet tooth or you crave savoury treats, their boxes are curated to please everyone. I received a box a few months ago to give it a try.

Inside the Box

Inside are 7 handpicked items to share with friends and family. This particular box had:

  • Foie Gras from Edouard Artzner
  • gingerbread crisps from Edouard Artzner
  • 2 chutneys from Ducs de Gascogne (onion and fig)
  • Fleur de Sel from Le Paludier
  • Prince Vladimir tea from Kusmi Tea
  • Chocolate truffles from Truffettes de France

It comes with 4 recipes to recreate a French Christmas dinner as it was their December box, but you can also create your own super fancy charcuterie board with these items. A French Christmas is just an opportunity to gather around the table with loved ones. Everything in the box is a product from France.

All of these items were very delicious and made me sad when I finished it off since I didn’t know when is the next time I would be able to repurchase the items I love.

We started off by boiling some tea and when that was ready, we put a charcuterie board together with the chutney, foise gras, crisps, and the salt. Then to end it all, we devoured the cocoa truffles.

Final Thoughts

Check out their next box as it will bring you back to life in France. Also, don’t forget to grab your favourite items to pair with the items inside the box. Most importantly, wine.

Website: http://www.lescocottesbox.co/

by
Read More
In product

Yves: Kale & Quinoa Bites, Falafel Balls, and Veggie Ground Rounds Review

Yves Veggie Cuisine can be found at most grocery stores in Canada. It’s a line of delicious and nutritious plant-based snacks and meal options. These are healthy and convenient meal options for vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters. As a meat-eater, I wanted to see how these 3 items tasted. Could I be swayed to like these meatless options?

I tried the Kale & Quinoa Bites, Falafel Balls, and their Original Veggie Ground Rounds. They are very versatile and can be added to any recipe.

Kale & Quinoa Bites

I tried the Kale and Quinoa Bites with a side of salad and some tzatziki. I was very surprised by the taste, perhaps because of the spices they use in it. I used the Kale and Quinoa Bites as a replacement for my usual protein of chicken or salmon. I ate the whole plate for lunch and I felt great.

Falafel Balls

What better way to eat falafel balls than in a wrap. At first, the balls were quite dense and dry, so you would need some sauce to balance it out. I added some hummus and guacamole in the wraps for added moisture.

Original Veggie Ground Round

I tried using this to make quesadillas for dinner. I heated up the veggie ground rounds in a hot pan, added some onion, garlic, mushrooms and sautéed it until it was ready to put between 2 corn tortillas. Then into the oven it went to get crisp. It turned out so awesome as my husband didn’t even realize it wasn’t ground beef or pork.

I liked using this product since it doesn’t have as much fat and oil compared to ground meat.

 Final Thoughts

After trying all 3 products, I enjoyed the Kale & Quinoa bites as a quick item to heat up for a side for a meal. The Original Veggie Ground Round was super awesome for cooking.

If you’re looking a change, these are good options as they contain sources of protein, iron and fiber, have no added preservatives, and are low in fat. You can find these Yves product at major grocery stores in Canada.

Website: http://www.yvesveggie.com/en/

by
Read More
In British Columbia

Science of Cocktails 2017: Recap

Science of Cocktails is back for a second year and the event sold out early this year.

Science World at TELUS World of Science was transformed into Vancouver’s largest laboratory, where the city’s most talented bartenders and chefs will showcase the chemistry, biology and physics behind preparing modern cocktails and cuisine.

1,500 guests were able to enjoy 56 different stations in total within 4 hours, or 5 hours for VIPs.

Proceeds supported Science World’s Class Field Trips for underserved schools in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. This year, they raised over $240,000 for this great program.

Bartenders

Where else are you get to see the city’s most talented bartenders all under one dome? There was no shortage of talent or drinks here.

Amber Bruce, the Bar Manager from The Keefer made a cocktail called the Nitro Lady made of The Botanist Gin, lemon juice, egg, sugar, orange butters and herbs.

Max Borrowman from Juniper created the Draught Diablo mixing El Jimador, lime juice, ginger beer and Odd Society cassis. It was an amazing drink and if you haven’t been to Juniper for their drinks, definitely give them a visit.

Philip Karatryupa and Eric Johnson dubbed the #RiceBae of the night created the Kahlua Krispie Paralyzer with Olmeca Altos, milk, cola, Kahlua and topped with Rice Krispies.

A very unique drink with so many textures and sounds in this cocktail.

There’s so many more awesome bartenders and drinks that I didn’t cover. With over 30 bar stations, I would have hit the floor before finishing all the drinks.

Science and Demonstrations

There were 12 areas with demonstrations and their newest exhibition – Quantum: The Exhibition, the first-ever travelling show on quantum information science and technology.

After having a few drinks to loosen up, going to the different demos and exhibitions were so much fun. I was pretty damn amazed. Science.

Food

To compliment all the cocktails, food is a key part of a great night.

Jesse Hochhausen and his team from Showcase Restaurant & Bar created a dessert using liquid nitrogen, meringue, passion fruit, kaffir lime, white chocolate and coconut tart.

The Keg was serving up Prime Rib Sliders and man was it ever delicious. Hand cut and it was so tender and juicy.

Pork Belly Rice Bowl from Wesley Young of Pidgin was so good when you’ve had a few drinks. Super comforting and that pork belly was full of flavour.

I love a good sandwich especially a Cuban Medianoche Sandwich from Alvin Pillay of Donnelly Group.

Another great bite of pumpkin brulee, puffed black rice, and red onion chutney was from Stewart Boyle of Culinary Capers.

There were 13 food stations of deliciousness. I got full pretty quickly and I wished I could have tried them all. Food definitely runs out faster than the drinks, so make sure you get a bite before the end of the night.

VIP Experience

VIP tickets are more expensive, but has its benefits. Being able to get 1 hour early access to the event really helps you get a head start. Plus, it’s less crowded. If you’re parking, valet parking is a plus.

A tax receipt is given to those who purchasing VIP tickets.

You get access to the World Class VIP Lounge where World Class Canadian Champion bartenders – Shane Mulvaney (2016), Lauren Mote (2015), Grant Sceney (2014) and Jenner Cormier (2013) serve premium cocktails.

It was great to see all these bartenders in action and seeing their skills and knowledge.

Canapés are passed out from Drew’s Catering, so some food comes to you instead of lining up at stations.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I had a great time at Science of Cocktails yet again. It’s definitely worth it as it supports a great cause and also lots of do, drink and eat. Make sure you come right on time to maximize your time here.

Due to huge demand, it is likely that 2018 tickets will sell out even earlier. For those looking to secure attendance for next year, pre-sale 2018 tickets are now available for a limited time at scienceworld.ca/cocktails

by
Read More
In British Columbia

Starbucks Canada: New Blonde Espresso

Starbucks Canada has finally introduced a second choice in espresso with the launch of the Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast. Their signature espresso was created in 1975 and has been the main blend for Starbucks until now.

I was invited to taste the Blonde Espresso in comparison with Starbucks’ signature espresso to learn more about the differences.

The new lighter roasted blend has a smooth and sweet flavour profile that is different from their Starbucks Signature Espresso Roast.

Blonde Espresso vs Signature Espresso

[one_half last=”no”]

Blonde Espresso

  • Light Roast
  • Extra smooth
  • Subtly sweet flavour with citrus notes
  • Medium bodied
  • Creamy and Smooth

[/one_half]

[one_half last=”yes”]

Signature Espresso

  • Dark Roast
  • Rich flavour
  • Caramelly sweetness
  • Full bodied
  • Intense and smooth

[/one_half]

Hot vs Cold

You can have the Blonde Espresso added to both hot and cold drinks. It all depends on what drink you order. Blonde Espresso was created to work well in iced espresso drinks like an iced Americano or Iced Double Shot. I had mine in a flat white, but it can work well in a Latte Americano or Café Americano.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed the Blonde Espresso in drinks that are less milky as it shines through more. For milkier drinks like lattes, I personally prefer the Signature Espresso. It all depends on personal preferences since everyones taste buds are very different. If you are a Starbucks fan, definitely give it a try and you might just love it.

Starbucks Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

by
Read More
In British Columbia

Disney’s The Little Mermaid at Michael J. Fox Theatre: Review


Photo Credit: Natalie De Los Santos

The Little Mermaid, based on the animated Disney film is playing at Michael J. Fox Theatre by Align Entertainment from February 3 – 18.

It is a story about Ariel, a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and risks everything to find love. The Little Mermaid is a classic for everyone’s childhood and it was great to see it being reenacted on stage.

The stars – Elyse Maloway as Ariel, Damon Calderwood as King Triton, Colton Fyfe (Prince Eric), Erin Matchette (Ursula), Julio Fuentes (Sebastian) and Chris Adams (Scuttle) all did an amazing job bringing this story to life.

Before the Show

For M and I, this was date night to have something fun to do in the evening. There were lots of families and couples in the crowd excited to watch the show.


Photo Credit: Natalie De Los Santos

There is a little area outside the auditorium where you can take pictures with your friends or family before and after the show.

During the Show


Photo Credit: Natalie De Los Santos

As the theatre lights dim and the orchestra starts their melody of The Little Mermaid. As anticipation builds, the curtain unveils the show.

The entire show is 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission.


Photo Credit: Natalie De Los Santos

During the show, I was in awe at how well Elyse Maloway played the part of Ariel. Once you listen to her sing Part of Your World, you know she’s worthy of being a Disney princess.

There are also other popular songs like Under the Sea, Poor Unfortunate Souls, and Kiss the Girl.


Photo Credit: Natalie De Los Santos

I won’t get much into the story as most will know the premise, but there are a few scenes where they had to adapt for the stage version for simplification.

Final Thoughts


Photo Credit: Natalie De Los Santos

Overall, we loved the stage performance of the Little Mermaid and was quite blown away. The price is definitely worth it. Since it is located away from Downtown Vancouver, there is free parking at Michael J. Fox Theatre which is awesome.

If you enjoyed this musical, Align Entertainment will be bringing back Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat later in the year and also they will be preparing for Legally Blonde for 2018.

Website:
http://www.alignentertainment.ca/

by
Read More
In British Columbia

Edible Museum: Canadian Food and Wine Recap


Photo Credit: Foodgressing

As we explore 150 years of Canada, a unique pop-up event – Edible Museum was open last week for one day only and it focused on Canadian food and wine history by immersing guests in Canada’s epicurean history.


Photo Credit: Foodgressing

Guests were able to taste and drink through a 2-storey pop-up museum of 5 playful, multi-sensory exhibits to explore the flavours and moments that make Canada more than just poutine. Canada has such a plethora of ingredients that has influenced our diet. They also showcased some of the most awarded VQA wineries.

The evening started off with Steller’s Jay Pinnacle Sparkling to welcome guests into the pop up.


Photo Credit: Foodgressing

The 5 exhibits were hosted by our local chefs and a wineries:


Photo Credit: Foodgressing

From French Canada to First Nations, this was an exciting way to experience Canada’s land, sea all under one roof. They picked a pretty unique venue at The Permanent as well as the selection of chefs and wines.


Photo Credit: Foodgressing

The Edible Museum sold out quit quickly prior to the event. For $22, it was a pretty good price for the event and to be able to try a few drinks and dishes. All ticket sales from this pop-up was donated to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

Website: www.canadianfoodandwinemuseum.ca

by
Read More
In product

Laphroaig Select: Review

Laphroaig, the world’s number one selling Islay single malt and at the end of 2016, they launched Laphroaig Select in Canada. Laphroaig makes excellent Scotch and we always keep a bottle of 10 Year Old in our liquor cabinet.

The liquid inside of Laphroaig Select is hand picked by Laphroaig’s Master Distiller, John Campbell, from the finest casks comprising the Laphroaig portfolio – Quarter Cask, PX Cask, Triple Wood and Ten Year Old – creating a subtle blend of peat, oak and sweetness. The bottles come in 750 mL bottle.

When you drink this, it has a deep smoky taste with a gentle sweetness. As it finishes, it is dry with smoke and spice.

Laphroaig Select is a good introduction to Laphroaig’s line of Scotch.

Website:
http://www.laphroaig.com/

by
Read More
In British Columbia

White Spot: New WS Legendary Pirate Paks

White Spot’s Pirate Pak has been redesigned. Their icon look hasn’t changed since 1968, but on February 13th (Family Day), families will encounter a fun surprise when ordering the classic Pirate Pak.

More than 25 million Pirate Paks have been sold since 1968, when White Spot founder Nat Bailey wanted to provide a unique dining experience for kids.

The ‘WS Legendary’

The interactive Pirate Pak features a fresh cast of animated characters and revamped treasure map, plus the new W.S. Legendary pirate ship that allows kids of all ages to join the crew on their legendary (mis)adventures.

The 3 new characters includes:

  • Captain Beak Rogers, wanted for masterminding tasty heists
  • Penny Poulet, faster than her flipper
  • Drumbstick Nick, no-napkin, never-ceasing nibbler

The Food

Never fear, the food that comes with the Pirate Pak will remain the same. You will get to choose your:

  • Beverage
  • Entree
  • Side Dish
  • Dessert

Same food that will entice your kids, but new look to keep the kids entertained during the meal. The top selling item is their Hamburger, Fries and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

Download the App

In addition to the revamped look, they are launching their first 3D augmented reality kids program by a Canadian chain restaurant. They are bringing Pirate Pak’s to the digital age.

You download the app for your iOS and Android device and you can begin interacting with the menu and the pirate ship to play games like Doubloon Debacle, Bookadoodle Boom, Pirate Ship Battle and Cannon Bowling.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I can see parenting-styles differ when parents take their kids out to restaurants. I wouldn’t want to give them a cellphone to play with as we eat. Other parents just want to get some peace and quiet when going out. I can see this new launch of the pirate pak cater to those who are a bit restless when it comes to sitting still. Some kids need to do something as they wait for the meal to arrive.

As of February 13th, the new Pirate Paks will be launching at all locations.

Address:
405 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.whitespot.ca/kids

White Spot Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

by
Read More
In Cafe

Temper: Pastries, Desserts, and Hot Chocolate in West Vancouver

Temper Chocolate & Pastry is located in West Vancouver in the Dundarave neighbourhood. Owner and chef, Steven Hodge grew up in this neighbourhood and decided to put his years of experience to use by opening up his own shop. He has a plethora of experience working with world renowned restaurants.

Foodgressing brought me along to give a few of their delicious treats a try. I couldn’t say no as I have a little sweet tooth.

Interior

Their interior has beautiful marble on their counters and wood surrounding the shop. Very sleek, modern and beautiful.

In their display cases are their pastries, cakes, chocolates, sandwiches, and other sweet and savoury treats.

Individual Desserts

We started off with a few desserts. All the desserts looked really good, so it was hard decide where start. Some of these have large full cake sizes available.

Coconut Lime Tart

The tart has a coconut mousse, lime curd, chocolate coconut dacquoise on an almond sable crust. Very beautiful tart with it nice colour. The crust was crisp and I love the tartness from the lime curd.

Mango Caramel

I love the look of this cake as it has a galaxy-look to the exterior. I liked the combination of mango and caramel.

Dark Chocolate Ganache Cake

All those layers of chocolate ganache cake and buttercream. It is even topped with a but a gold flakes.

Cheesy Bite

Cheesy Bite was one of my favourite items here. It’s so cheesy and I am so in love with this item. I would definitely get this again.

Hot Chocolate

They are also participating in the Hot Chocolate Festival until February 14th. They have 3 different types of hot chocolate available:

  • Smoking Bullet
  • Princess and the Frog
  • Memoirs of a Geisha

 Memoirs of a Geisha

It has Valrhona white chocolate blended with raspberry matcha. It is also served with a matcha shortbread cookie. The chocolate with dried raspberries that sits on top of the hot chocolate. I love the contrast between the raspberries and matcha. Very nice combination.

Princess and the Frog

This uses Valrhona milk chocolate steamed with pistachio butter. It is served with a rose macaron. This hot chocolate is slightly more traditional and has the rich body of a hot chocolate with the subtle hints of pistachio.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was great to discover another awesome cafe in our city. We are definitely very lucky to have such talented pastry chefs in Vancouver. If you’re in the area, definitely stop by for a coffee, cake or pastry.

We rate Temper Pastry:

Address:
2409 Marine Drive, West Vancouver

Website:
http://www.temperpastry.com/

Temper Chocolate & Pastry Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

by
Read More
Load More