Foodology
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September 2017

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In Brunch

The Gray Olive Cafeteria: Best Brunch in Burnaby

The Gray Olive Cafeteria in Burnaby Heights is a hotspot for brunch on the weekends. I’ve come here quite a bit for brunch and every time, it’s consistent and very delicious. Plus, it’s just minutes away from place.

Interior

The space isn’t large as it’s pretty narrow. It’s pretty hard to fit large groups in here unless you go really early or wait for a while. I usually like to come here around 10am since after than. lines start to form. If you are a group of 2, waits are never that long.

If there is a wait, put your name and number on the list and take a stroll in the neighbourhood. They will call you when your table is ready.

Latte and Iced Coffee

Coffee is best to have in the morning if you love to be caffeinated. If you like it hot or iced, you can’t go wrong pairing it with brunch items.

Thai Iced Tea

They also have 2 versions of Thai Iced Tea, one with half & half and then another with coconut cream. Both of them are super damn good and I’ve had it several times.

Chicken & Waffles

A little bit pricey, but you have 2 fried boneless thighs, waffle, spicy Korean ketchup, maple syrup, and whipped brown butter. The waffles are well made, crisp on the outside a fluffy inside. The thighs we juicy and so delicious.

The Kitchen Sink

This has 2 eggs, sauteed veg, green onions, sausage, bacon, cheese, the g.o. potatoes. A little bit of everything in this bowl and it’s filling.

Pork Belly Breaky Sandwich

This sandwich has a thick cut of pork belly, egg, arugula, chives, chili marinated tomatoes, toasted sesame mayo, and a burger bun. The egg is supposed to be marbled egg, but my friend got it cooked through.

G.O. Potatoes

The side of G.O. Potatoes with the smoked shallot aioli is a must. Those potatoes are crispy and addictive.

Avocado Toast

The avocado toast has mashed avocado on sourdough and topped with oven roasted tomatoes, and balsamic reduction.

Final Thought

Overall, ever since my first bite, I’ve been hooked and have taken so many of my other friends here. A great weekend spot for brunch and I’ll be back.

We Rate The Gray Olive: 

Address:
4190 Hastings Street, Burnaby

Website:
http://www.thegrayolive.com/

The Gray Olive Cafeteria Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In Car

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Premier: Fuel Efficient SUV

Chevrolet has introduced an all-new 2018 Equinox, a five-passenger compact crossover made in Canada. Compared to the previous years model, it is lighter, leaner, and more responsive. I took the Equinox out around the city, the subburbs, zooming along the highways, and into the middle of nowhere. I packed the car with my friends to explore the Othello Tunnels just outside of Hope.

Exterior

From the side, it is a bit boxy, but it help maximize the height of the vehicle and trunk space. There are some slight curves on the side panel of the car and the share of the windows to create an illusion of a sleeker look. It’s hard to see in the white, but it shows more in the other colours.

The hands-free power liftgate is an awesome feature too. When you have your hands full, use the simple motion of your foot to open the trunk. A gentle motion is all you need. Great if you have your hands full with while grocery shopping.

Interior

The interior was very roomy and everyone had ample amount of space. No complaints from any passenger. If you’re tall, you’ll have no problem at all.

The backseats can fold flat with a pull of a lever to increase the size of the cargo area to move large objects.

The sun roof was very large and let in a good amount of light. We occasionally closed it if it got too sunny. Heated seats and a remote starter are standard on all trims of the Equinox.

In the back seats, you have adjustable air vents, an outlet and USB ports. Great features to give control back to the passengers and also charge their phones.

Technology

Technology is increasingly becoming very important when considering purchasing a vehicle. As a smartphone user, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are crucial for me personally. It helps keep some preferences through your phone and makes the dashboard easier to use. Another great feature about Chevrolet vehicles is the OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot that it can provide your passengers access to wifi on their devices. Imagine a car ride where your kids will be entertaining themselves rather than screaming their heads off.

You can charge your phones through the USB ports or their is wireless charging for some devices.

The Premier trim includes such features like dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, power windows, door locks and liftgate, power heated outside mirrors, rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-zone alert and rear-view camera. Definitely no shortage of technology packed in the Equinox. My favourite feature is the surround vision, so it’s easier to park your car virtually anywhere that fits. You get a bird’s eye view of the vehicle due to the system that’s made up of 4 cameras – the standard rear vision camera, a forward-looking camera in the front grille and two on the sides of the vehicle. I didn’t have any more anxiety parking in smaller spots. I had a lot of fun showing off the tech features to my friends onboard.

Drive

There are 3 engines to choose from including a fuel-efficient diesel. Their’s definitely some customization you can do to make it work for you. I found the ride smooth over most road surfaces. You can also engage AWD with a touch of a button to improve traction on icy or snowy roads.

As I was driving in the city and on the highway, the engine was smooth and lively. No problem on inclines or declines.

It was very fuel efficient and didn’t burn through gas like crazy.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, it is packed full of technology to keep you safe, the ride is smooth and comfortable, and has good fuel economy. If you are looking for a compact crossover, give this a try and see how it compares. I personally loved it.

Website: http://www.chevrolet.ca/equinox-fuel-efficient-suv.html

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In Chinatown

The Union: Wings and Beer in Chinatown

The Union is an industrial-chic hub serving creative cocktails and Pan-Asian eats. They have happy hour and weekly features, so my coworkers and I like coming here for celebrations and farewells. Many good late nights have been had here. They have happy hour drink specials and their weekly features. On Wednesday, you get Wings and Beer for $15. Wings and normally $15, so it’s essentially getting a free beer.

Interior

There are long tables for large groups and smaller tables for a more intimate atmosphere.

Menu

  

Indian Masala Wings

These are dry wings using their house curry spices. The exterior is crunchy, but the amount of spices is a bit overwhelming. I tried some of there people’s wings like the Street Hawker Thai and it was delicious.

Beer

With the weekly Wednesday deal, you can choose to have the wings with any Main St Brewing beer. I went with the Main Street Saison No. 7. It has a blend of three Saison yeasts. Light in colour with a golden haze, this Saison shows through with fruity esters, pepper and citrus notes. One of my favourite beers.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s a decent place to go to in Chinatown to have some eats and drinks with friends. It is a bit pricey for some items, but it’s a good atmosphere and the service is pretty good.

We Rate The Union:35rating

Address:
219 Union St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
 http://theunionvancouver.ca/

The Union Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In Cafe

TWG Tea: Mid-Autumn Tea Service

Mid Autumn Festival is upon us on October 6th, 2017 and I absolutely love spending the time with family and friends. One iconic treat from this festival are the mooncakes. This year, TWG Tea narrates the story of the constellation with the Lotus Jade Tea Mooncake Collection, a rich and enduring assortment of patisseries set to inspire and intrigue any epicurean this mid-autumn festival. They have their handcrafted tea-infused traditional and snowskin mooncakes.

TWG Tea Traditional Mooncakes

These luxurious mooncakes are great if you want something unique and to impress your guests. These definitely aren’t your ordinary mooncakes and is really for a special occasion.

Daydream: Wrapped in a baked bold red crust, this surprising TWG Tea mooncake features a blueberry inflected white lotus paste complemented by a unique almond and blueberry purée heart infused with Red Balloon Tea.

Cerise: Encased in a golden crust, this exclusive TWG Tea mooncake boasts a white chocolate & crunchy coconut heart with Amarena cherry surrounded by a brown lotus paste infused with Pu-erh 2000.

Sunset: Wrapped in a golden baked crust, this exclusive TWG Tea mooncake showcases an aromatic Matcha almond paste centre cradled by a red bean paste scattered with melon seeds.

Constellation: This iconic signature of the mid-autumn festival holds within a golden crust a smooth and elegant Singapore Breakfast Tea infused brown lotus filling, a scattering of roasted melon seeds and an embedded salted egg yolk heart. A timeless favourite.

TWG Tea Snowskin Mooncakes

If you’re looking for an icy treat that is outside of the traditional mooncakes, this will get your sweet tooth going. This is definitely more modern.

Moonlight: Decked in jade green snowskin, this mooncake features a lustrous Lotus Jade Tea infused mousseline which cradles a white chocolate heart filled with a sweet Nashi pear marmalade.

Blossom: Emanating the warm glow of a lantern, this brilliant orange snowskin mooncake conceals a Geisha Blossom Tea infused mousseline contrasted by tangy apricot marmalade encased in a white chocolate heart.

Pure: An ethereal satin white snowskin mooncake encases a smooth dark chocolate mousse inflected with the fruity and flowery notes of 1837 White Tea, revealing a heart of tangy blackcurrant marmalade and white chocolate.

Illumination: Concealed in a black snowskin, this exquisite mooncake reveals a brilliant composition of a light, nutty praline infused with 1837 Black Tea and an oriental burst of glowing orange marmalade in a white chocolate heart.

Mid-Autumn Tea Service

If you aren’t looking for gift sets, they have a special mid-autumn tea service for $58 per person with a minimum of 2 people. You get your choice of hot or cold TWG tea, a selection of canapes and your choice of moon cake.

If you’re ever had their teas before, they are very high quality and has   good depth to the flavours. You can always ask them to recommend you a tea based off the mooncake you chose or what teas you usually enjoy.

Such a fancy way to be served mooncakes. Cut and served in small sections.

The canapes pictured here are a bit different, but you’ll get:

  • Miso maple sablefish infused with caramel tea
  • Chinese pork tamale infused with Lotus Jade tea
  • Laksa lobster bisque infused with Earl Grey Pu-Erh
  • Japanese savoury pancake with green onion and cabbage infused with Lung Ching
  • Imperial Lapsang Souchong infused chicken cone

All there canapes here are pretty damn delicious.

Final Thoughts

My favourites among the collections are – Constellation mooncake and the moonlight snowskin mooncake. The mooncakes are pricey, so they are very luxurious and premium. Good for those who you want to impress.

Address:
1070 W Georgia St, Vancouver

Website:
https://vansingdg.com/

TWG Tea Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In travel

Showing Canadian Pride while Travelling

I love travelling around the world and I am proud to call myself a Canadian. In such a globalized world, it’s always a bit hard to tell where everyone is from. Here are a few fun stylish ways to show your Canadian pride without sticking a maple leaf or Canadian Flag on your backpack.

Baseball Caps

Wearing your city’s sports team on a baseball cap is very popular. I was just at the airport and saw so many people sporting their favourite team. Coming from Vancouver, we don’t have a Basketball team, but back in the day, we had the Vancouver Grizzlies. I got my had at Lids as they have a huge variety of hats and other apparel.

The Stripes

These 4 stripes are so iconic to Canada’s history through the Hudson’s Bay Company. The four traditional colours (green, red, yellow, and indigo) were simply colours that were popular and easily produced using good colourfast dyes at the time that the multistripe blanket was introduced around 1800. These four colours are sometimes known as Queen Anne’s colours, since they first became popular during her reign (1702–1714). These colours are still engrained in products at HBC and it’s quite popular.

A post shared by Hudson’s Bay (@hudsonsbay) on

Travel Tags

N/A Stock Company creates these stylish travel tags where you can attach it to your luggage, backpack, duffle bag or even your keys. I love this simple design as it’s not too flashy and those who understand airport codes will know where you’re from. I put them on my carry on bag and I liked that no matter where I go, I can proudly show I’m Canadian.

How do you like to show your Canadian pride? Let us know in the comments below.

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In product

Easy Baked Dilly Salmon

I love simple meals since I usually am strapped for time after work. Litehouse had a super simple recipe for salmon using their Dilly of a Dip. I always saw it as just a dip for veggies, but I was surprised you can do so much more with it. I served it over a pasta salad, but you can have it with anything else.

[tabs tab1=”Recipe”]

[tab id=1]

Makes enough for 2.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pieces of salmon filet
  • 2 table spoons of Litehouse Dilly of A Dip
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Lemon

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Slather Dilly of a Dip of each piece of salmon filet
  3. Season with salt and pepper
  4. Bake in oven for 15 minutes
  5. Squeeze fresh lemon on top
  6. Eat and enjoy

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In Bubble Tea

ZenQ: Now Open in Vancouver

ZenQ is an international dessert chain originated from Taiwan within the same parent company as Chatime. They are quickly expanding in Canada, Vietnam and Hong Kong this year. They specialize in desserts that have grass jelly and Q balls (matcha, yam and taro flavoured).

Menu

Their menu has drinks and desserts.

Waffles

Orea Cocoa Waffle

There are 4 pieces of waffles with a sprinkling of Oreo cookies, bananas, chocolate sauce and a scoop of chocolate ice cream. Good for chocolate lovers.

Fresh Fruit Waffle

There are 4 pieces of waffles too with a drizzle of honey and as scoop of ice cream. The fruits that were on the plate are mangos, strawberry, honey dew, and banana. Of the two waffles, I liked this one because of all the fruits.

Creamy Frappe Series

Mango Creamy Frappe

They have a bunch of different snowy ice desserts, but this one has mango frappe, fresh mango, mango jelly, vanilla ice cream, condensed milk and fruit loops. The mango frappe was delicious and the textures of the mango and jelly went well together.

Tofu Pudding Series

Tofu Pudding No 3

In this dessert, there is Pearls, Q Balls, Peanuts, and Sweet Potato a top tofu pudding. The Q Balls were nice and chewy like mochi.

Hot Grass Jelly Series

Hot Grass Jelly No 2

This has grass jelly, taro, pearls, Q balls, and a ball of brown sugar.The grass jelly and the pearls were nice and chewy.

Royal Sweet Soup Series

Red Bean Soup No 3

Sweet potato in a red bean soup was ok, but we all personally didn’t like red bean soup.

Longan Black Glutinous Rice Series

Longan Black Glutinous Rice No 3

This version also has Sweet Potato right in the centre. The consistency is thicker and you get a lot of texture from the rice.

Oreo Cocoa Ice Diamond

If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll like the oreo chocolate drink.

Hot Hand Made Taro Milk Tea

There are pieces of taro in this and it’s pretty hard to find a taro milk tea with real taro. Make sure you mix this around as the taro sinks to the bottom.

Winter Melon Latte

The winter melon taste is faint as you can taste more of the milk and it has more of an almond taste to this.

ZenQ Milk Tea with Grass Jelly

Classic item to get at any bubble tea shop. Since they do specialize in grass jelly, it’s a must.

Strawberry Black Tea

The sweet strawberry paired with the black tea. Good for those who like a bit of caffeine and a fruity touch.

Mango Green Tea

The mango green tea I felt was a bit sweet for my taste preference.

Final Thoughts

Overall, some food and drinks were a hit and miss. If you want to impress your friends, go with the classic milk tea, waffles, grass jelly desserts or their tofu desserts. It’s good to have more options in town where there are desserts and bubble tea to hang out with friends.

We Rate ZenQ: 

Address:
495 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver

Website:
http://zenq.ca/

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

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In product

7 Eleven: Wasabi Potato Chips

7 Eleven in Japan has Wasabi Potato Chips and my parents brought me back a bag while they were on vacation. What I find so interesting about the perception of 7 Eleven in Canada and Japan is so different. I haven’t stepped into a 7 Eleven in Canada unless I have to, but in Asia, I can’t wait to browse all their aisles.

The texture of the chip was on a wavy chip, which gave the chip better texture. The wasabi spice is pretty pungent and gave me a big punch in the nose just like real wasabi. If you are looking for a chip that is like wasabi, you’ll enjoy these. For most normal people, it’s not a taste you would want to voluntarily want to eat.

Website: http://www.sej.co.jp/in/index.html

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In Chinese

Deer Garden Signatures: Now Open in Burnaby

Deer Garden Signatures has been expanding in the last few months with 5 locations in total. Their Burnaby location is on Sperling and Kingsway. They took over the location of Pearl House Restaurant. I came on the weekend for lunch and it wasn’t as busy as their Vancouver location, so that was great for us.

Interior

There are a few booth-style seating for larger parties, but there is also smaller tables for those with 2 or 4 people. The space isn’t too large but they can still seat a good amount of people here.

Menu

You order your meal using the form provided to you. You can customize your noodles anyway you like. I’ve also noticed prices have gone up since my last visit back in 2014 by a few dollars.

Milk Tea

Whether you have cold or hot milk tea, you still gotta get it. M got the cold house special milk tea and I got the regular cold milk tea. Both were really good.

Laksa Noodles

This is the laksa soup base with beef brisket, beef balls and egg noodles. M loved it and he was able to eat this entire bowl, which is massive.

Coriander and Century Egg Soup Noodles

The coriander and century egg broth is one of my personal favourites. It has a very comforting taste and I had it with beef brisket, fish balls and thick rice noodles. So good! I wasn’t able to finish all the noodles but I tried my very best. Most people end up getting their remainder to go.

Pan Fried Boneless Chicken with Teriyaki Sauce

This chicken was delicious! The skin was crisp and the meat was very moist.

Desert Wings with Ginger

There are 3 pieces to an order and I also love this item too. Very crisp and the ginger is subtle. Pairs so well with soupy noodles.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s a great additional to the neighbourhood. It’s the same ol’ delicious noodles, so they have kept the quality consistent. I’ll be back for more.

We Rate Deer Garden Signatures: 

Address:
7150 Sperling Avenue, Burnaby

Website:
http://deergarden.ca/

Deer Garden Signatures Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In product

Doritos: Sonic Sour Cream Review

Doritos has brought back the Sonic Sour Cream flavour for a limited time in it’s retro packaging. This flavour was discontinued many years ago and many fans are excited for it’s return. My husband was at the grocery store and he bought me a bag since he knows I love reviewing chips.

Upon first bites, I really liked the flavour and texture of the Sonic Sour Cream Doritos. It does taste like sour cream and the pairing with the corn tortilla chip works. No complaints here. I ate it all and I would be happy to buy it again.

Website: https://www.doritos.ca/

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In Hawaiian

Easy Tuna Avocado Poké Bowls

One of my favourite go-to meals to make is my Tuna Avocado Poké Bowls for a quick dinner. The hardest part is finding good sashimi-grade ahi tuna as it’s not always readily available. Talk to your local store to get advice on finding the right product for poké bowls. I try to find Oceanwise Certified ahi tuna as it’s more sustainable, plus I know it’s better for us too.

[tabs tab1=”Recipe”]

[tab id=1]

Makes enough for 2 bowls.

Ingredients:

  • 170g Sashimi Grade Ahi Tuna, Cubed
  • 1 Avocado, Cubed
  • 3 tablespoons Low Sodium Soy Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Sesame Oil
  • 2 sprigs of green onions, sliced
  • Pinch Sesame Seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Fine Red Pepper Powder
  • 2 Cups of Rice

Directions:

  1. Mix soy sauce, sesame oil, and red pepper powder to made marinade.
  2. Add ahi tuna and avocado to marinade and mix together.
  3. Refrigerate mixture for 30 minutes.
  4. Serve on top of rice
  5. Top with sesame seeds and green onions for garnish.
  6. Eat and enjoy.

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In Cafe

Social Crust Cafe & Catering: Food with Heart in Downtown Vancouver

I attended a media tasting that offered more than delicious food. The event highlighted the work done at Social Crust, which is one of Coast Mental Health’s Social Enterprises. Coast Mental Health is an NPO that helps people with social barriers or mental illness recover by providing three essentials pillars of sustained recovery: housing, support services, and employment & education.

Cathy, the Director of Employment Services, shared how Coast Mental Health provides employment and education to youth with social or mental health barriers. The organization does this through a partnership with VCC to provide the Culinary Skills Training Program, which helps youth with barriers learn culinary skills and offer support in finding careers in the food services industry. April, the Communications Manager, created Coast’s website. The site shares inspiring stories of people that have been supported by the organization’s services and programs, along with information on how to get involved, and event updates.

Robert, the Chef Manager at Social Crust, also shared what the program entails. It involves both theory and practical skills, and the students gain real world experience with the face-to-face interactions with customers at the cafe. The first portion is four-months of theoretical and practical skills, which is followed by a six-week work experience practicum. Once the students complete their training and pass the course, some of the students get hired on at Social Crust. The cafe has a set menu, but the tasting featured some new items they plan to introduce. In addition, Robert mentioned that some of the staff have been working at the cafe for two and a half years and have expressed that they would like to learn more, so catering is also offered. This allows the staff to learn a dynamic menu, since each client will have different needs or wants for their particular event.

The attendees had a variety of tasty sandwiches, salads, breakfast items and even smoothies to try. The sandwiches featured were the Chicken & Bacon Club, Provençal Tuna Melt, Butter Chicken Panini, Monte Cristo with Avocado, and Portobello Mushroom & Brie Panini (my personal fave). The Portobello and Brie happen to be two of my favourite ingredients to have in between bread, and the staff at Social Crust does a great job with this delicious sandwich. How can you say no to herb roasted Portobello Mushroom, Brie, spinach, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions pesto aioli, served on a Panini-pressed Ciabatta?

The salads were as pretty as they looked filling and included Seasonal Mixed Greens, Greek Quinoa and the South West. I regretfully missed out on tasting the salads because I enjoyed the variety of sandwich bites a little too much (I didn’t leave room to try everything!).

The breakfast items offered included the Classic Breakfast (which has two eggs made to order, two bacon strips, hash browns seasoned with the cafe’s special-secret seasoning spice, and choice of white or whole wheat toast) and the Chorizo Breakfast Wrap (which has two scrambled eggs, ground mild Chorizo, fried black beans, Monterey Jack, spinach, hash browns, garlic aioli wrapped in a grilled flour tortilla). I could have breakfast for any meal!

It was a hot day and the cafe was pretty warm so I cooled off with one of their smoothies. I really enjoyed the Mocha Smoothie, which has banana, cocoa powder, peanut butter, almond milk and an espresso shot. It was light, refreshing, packed with cocoa flavour, and just the right amount of caffeine for a pick-me-up.

Social Crust’s missions are exceptional quality, empowerment and community, and are all tied together to provide customers with great food while offering opportunities for youth with barriers. The next time you’re in Gastown and are looking for something delicious, warm or quick for when you’re on the go, be sure to drop by Social Crust. You’re stomach, and heart, will be glad that you did.

Address:
335 W Pender St, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.socialcrustcafe.com/

Social Crust Cafe & Catering Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In product

Lays: Sizzlin’ Szechuan Review

Lay’s Canada introduced 2 new flavours of chips and one of them is the Sizzlin’ Szechuan. It comes in Family-size and nothing smaller. The flavour is inspired by the savoury flavours from the aromatic Chinese dish with crispy Lay’s potato chips.

The package has red peppers, but wasn’t very spicy at all. Some others who tried it felt a tingle on their tongues. Perhaps I have a high spice tolerance. The taste is like a blend of spices like garlic, star anise, and pepper. A tad smoky, but it wasn’t a strange flavour at all.

With these 2 flavours they launched, they were both decent.

Have you tried both the Sizzlin’ Szechuan and the Paprika & Sweet Onion? What are your favourites?

Website: https://www.lays.ca/

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In product

Lay’s: Paprika & Sweet Onion Review

Lay’s Canada introduced 2 new flavours of chips and one of them is the Paprika & Sweet Onion. It comes in Family-size and nothing smaller. The flavour is inspired by two iconic kitchen staples in the spice cabinet and transform them into this chip flavour.

You can visually see the paprika on the chip as it makes it a bolder colour. Upon first taste it really reminded us of BBQ chips. It has the smokiness from the paprika and the tang from the sweet onion spice. All of this is on the original chip. I would have liked to see it on wavy or the kettle cooked chips for a better texture.

Have you tried both the Sizzlin’ Szechuan and the Paprika & Sweet Onion? What are your favourites?

Website: https://www.lays.ca/

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In American

Johnny Rockets: Open in Downtown Vancouver

Johnny Rockets has finally opened their first location in Downtown Vancouver. They are expanding fast and their next location is on Oak Street in Vancouver. Since 1986, Johnny Rockets has been a favourite place for all-American burgers, fries and shakes in the States. When we heard they had opened, my foodie friends and I made a visit for dinner.

Interior

The interior has an interesting look that is different from some other locations in the states. They call this ‘Diner 2.0’ for this modern contemporary diner look.

‘

The group of us didn’t know how we felt about the look as it seemed a bit cold compared to the cute retro diner at the older location in the states.

On the bright side, there are plugs and USB outlets at each table so you can charge your phones, laptops or whatever else. On the table, you’ll find difference sauces.

The Rocket

The classic cheese burger has cheddar cheese, leaf lettuce, tomato, white onion and special sauce. They source the meat from Canada for their patties, but I felt the burger was ok. Solid, but nothing special. I ordered the combo, but one thing I didn’t like was the lack of customization, so I couldn’t swap my fries for onion rings even if I wanted to pay more. The fries were mediocre. Nothing wrong with them, but I personally like my fries with a crisp exterior.

Smoke House

This has smoked bacon, crispy onion rings, cheddar cheese, and their Smoke House BBQ sauce.

Bacon Cheddar

It has thick-cut smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, leaf lettuce, tomato, sliced onion and special sauce. The bacon was on point, a very very crisp.

Onion Rings

When you order onion rings, it comes on a tray by itself. My friend ordered a burger with it but they didn’t put it together even though they both on one tray.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the food was ok and didn’t stand out compared to the other options in Downtown Vancouver. If you are a fan of Johnny Rockets, you may like what they’re cooking up.

We Rate Johnny Rockets: 

Address:
755 Nelson St, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.johnnyrockets.ca/

Johnny Rockets Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In Dessert

O! Taho: Filipino-Style Tofu Dessert on Fraser St

O! Taho has been on my list of places to go to for a while to try their Filipino-style Soya Pudding. There’s only a handful of places to get handmade soya pudding in Metro Vancouver, but I’ve never heard of the Filipino version. My friends were having lunch close by, so we decided to come here.

Interior

The interior isn’t very interesting. Simple, but they focus their efforts of their food. There are 2 small tables to eat here, but most people do takeout. They have on the menu Filipino congee, various longanisa, lumpia, empanada, BBQ, halo-halo and the soy pudding. When we were here, they didn’t have any more congee, so we stuck with the soy pudding.

Hot Soy Pudding

We decided to share the 1 serving size for $5. They also have cold soy pudding too. We went with the hot and it is served with the sweet brown sugar syrup and tapioca pearls on top. Mostly everyone takes it to go, but we had some time to kill, so we had it here.

The tofu was delicious and very smooth. I’ll definitely try it cold next time.

We Rate O! Taho:

Address:
4223 Fraser Street, Vancouver

O! Taho Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In Burnaby Central

Jinya Ramen Bar: Open at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby

Jinya Ramen Bar has finally opened in Burnaby outside Metropolis at Metrotown. It’s been under construction for a while, but we are so happy they have opened their doors for a soft opening. Finally, I don’t have to always travel Downtown to get a taste of Jinya. They are a popular Ramen chain restaurant and they have 3 locations in Vancouver so far.

Interior

The space is gorgeous and is similar to the look of the Downtown location in Vancouver. It’s sleek, modern, and hip. They were extremely busy despite the empty seats. Our group of 5 waited 1.5 hours to get seated. Luckily, they have an electronic system through Yelp where it tells you how many tables are in front of you. We ended up going shopping to kill the time.

Menu

Chef’s Special: Karaage Chicken Ramen

This has a chicken broth topped with crispy chicken dressed in chili sauce, green onion, bamboo shoots, seasoned egg, nori dried seaweed. It is served with thin noodles but you can always ask for thicker noodles.

Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen

This vegetable broth is amazing, I personally think it’s one of the best. It also has tofu, onion, green onion, spinach, crispy onion, garlic chips, garlic oil, chili oil, and sesame seeds. It is served with thick noodles instead of the thinner ones.

Pork Chashu

To go with the vegan ramen, I added a side of pork chashu. I put it into the bottom of the bowl and let the broth heat it up and man, was it melt in your mouth delicious!

Jinya Tonkotsu Black

This is one of the most popular flavours.  It has a pork broth base with pork chashu, kikurage, green onion, nori dried seaweed, seasoned egg, garlic chips, garlic oil, fried onion, and a spicy sauce. It is served with thin noodles.

Premium Tonkotsu White

This has a mix of pork and chicken broth and served with pork chashu, kikurage, green onion, half seasoned egg, fried onion, and spicy sauce. This is served with thin noodles. My friend got this without the spicy sauce since she doesn’t like anything too spicy.

Sauces

At the table, there are a few sauces that you can add to your meal – seasoning suace, gyoza sauce and hot sauce.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I enjoyed the ramen here. The waits can be long, but you can always go shopping at the mall until you table is ready. The space is really nice and you’ll love the ramen. My personal top favourite ramen flavours are – Tonkotsu Black and Spicy Creamy Vegan ramen.

We Rate Jinya Ramen Bar: 

Address:
4575 Central Blvd, Burnaby

Website:
https://jinya-ramenbar.com/

JINYA ramen Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In Four Beakers

Rajio Japanese Public House: Osaka-Style Japanese Izakaya in Vancouver

It’s been 3 years since my last visit to Rajio Japanese Public House and I remember a lot of great nights here but I’m glad I’ve come back for more of their Osaka-style dishes.

Interior

The interior is fun and gives you a mix of traditional and modern feels. The space isn’t very large, but there are a decent number of tables.

Rajio’s Famous Fruit Punch

Their cute punch is served in a fresh watermelon or pineapple. Great for the Summer or what you need a smile on your face.

You cab have it with alcohol or without to customize your experience.

Beer

My favourite beverage to pair with Japanese food is beer as it helps cut the grease off some fried items. Plus, I love how light and refreshing it is.

Craft Ginger Ale

They have their original ginger ale recipe with freshly grated ginger, lime, lemon, and sweet brown sugar. It’s definitely different than the ginger ale at the stores since it has an extra kick of ginger balanced by the brown sugar.

Super Rib Steak

This $38 hug 2lb beef rib steak comes with sharp wasabi and a garlic soy sauce. I’ve always ordered their huge steaks before and they are a joy to eat. It is best to be shared among the table. Super tender and medium rare.

Modern Yaki

This is a featured dish, so it’s not on their permanent menu. It is a combination of Osaka Okonomiyaki and Yakisoba. I liked the concept, but the execution wasn’t ideal. As the dish cooled off, the okonomiyaki portion of it peeled off from the yakisoba hiding underneath. It was also quite rich and heavy compared to some other items that we had.

“Uni Bonara” Sea Urchin Carbonara

This was delicious item with the creamy udon paired with the fresh uni and the ikura. I enjoyed it and it was a good twist on an udon dish.

Y Mommy’s Assorted Oden

I love oden as it’s a warm bowl of comfort. There were so many items in this bowl with a bit of karashi, which is a spicy mustard. Put a little bit in as it really transforms the broth. Add more if you love the stingy wasabi-like feeling.

Chef’s Choice Sashimi

You can choose between 7 or 9 different types of sashimi chosen by the chef. It changes seasonally, but you can always ask ahead what you’ll get.

Hot Stone Crab Bibimbap

In the hot stone bibimbap bowl, there is snowcrab, crab miso, ikura, julienned omelet, shiso and scallions with a drizzle of their original sauce and a bit of ginger.

Kushikatsu

These skewers are Rajio’s signature skewers from Osaka. We got an assorted set with a mix of veggies and meat. One of my favourites are the shiitake mushroom, lotus root and eggplant.

Aburi Shime-Saba Sushi

There is delicious cured mackerel with Hokkaido kelp and vinegar is lightly seared and drizzled with a sesame mustard soy. Delicious and I love the taste of mackerel.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the atmosphere at Rajio is lively and fun. The food at Rajio is solid except for a few small misses in certain dishes.

We Rate Rajio:

Address:
3763 W. 10th Ave.
Vancouver, BC

Facebook:
http://www.rajiopublichouse.com/

Rajio Public House Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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