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In Japanese

Matsuzushi: $25 Omakase in Port Moody

Matsuzushi is a hidden gem in Port Moody serving up $25 Omakase, which is a Japanese term meaning “I’ll leave it up to you”. I was intrigued by a lot of people posting up pictures of this great deal, so I decided to take a few of my friends to check out Matsuzushi. There is lots of parking outside on the street and around the corner.

Interior

There are about 5 tables inside and bar seating as well. It is best to make reservations just in case they are busy for that particular day. The best experience is by the bar where you can see the meal being prepped right in front of you and also you get more attentive service.

The restaurant is a 2 person operation, so service does suffer because of it. It literally is a mom and pop shop. I don’t mind inattentive service as long as there is good value for what you pay for. Others can get bothered by the service.

Menu

$25 Omakase

For $25 per person, you get 11 nigiri, 1 temaki cone and a miso soup. As there were 4 of us, they put all the items in a box to share. As we were not sitting by the bar, we were not told which nigiri was which. We had to rely on our fish detection skills to figure out what was what. Good thing all of us are sushi lovers, so it wasn’t a problem at all.

Our favourite of the night (not because we could identify them) were, toro, uni, tuna, salmon, and Tai.

Final Thoughts

Overall, solid omakase for only $25 and most people who come here order this set. We were all full by the end of the meal and didn’t have to order anything else.

Address:
130 Saint Johns Street, Port Moody, BC

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In Cafe

The Garden Strathcona: Mushroom Bowls and Lattes

The Garden Strathcona is the newest cafe and retail shop in East Vancouver. When they opened their doors a few weeks back, they were praised for their delicious food as well as the abundance of greenery and cute local products available for purchase. I knew I had to make a trip out here with friends to relax and have some food.

Interior

The space isn’t too large but there are spots for small groups. Best with pairs.

Their big glass windows gives lots of natural light into the space, which is good for the plants too.

Menu

Mushroom Bowl

They have a good amount of items on their menu, but we all ordered the same thing – The Mushroom Bowl. It is gluten-free and vegan unless you do the add on’s like pulled pork or their ramen egg.

In the bowl are mushrooms, peas, wild rice, brown rice, black kale, pickled beets, picked carrots, and pumpkin seeds. We added the Ramen Egg for $2 extra and it was worth it. It was a hearty lunch and tasted really good.

The produce is local and organic where possible and all meat and dairy are humanely sourced.

Latte

They use beans from Argo Roasters, who are also located in Strathcona. The latte is made with their Equinox Espresso blend, which has a balanced combination of beans from Brazil, Colombia and Ethiopia. Fair trade and organic too.

You can also purchase Argo Roaster beans here too if you really enjoy the taste.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I had a great time spending the afternoon with my friends just catching up, eating mushrooms bowls and drinking lattes. It’s a nice addition to the neighbourhood with other delicious businesses close by like Strathcona Brewing.

Address:
868 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://thegardenstrathcona.com/

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In British Columbia

[Sneak Peek] Bacio Rosso: Canada’s first Gourmet Cabaret Cirque

Bacio Rosso is a fully immersive entertainment experience, set in a majestic, mirrored, 1920’s red velvet Spiegeltent, imported directly from Belgium.

Imagine Moulin Rouge meets Cabaret meets Burlesque. Guests are seated in the heat of the action with jugglers, contortionists, trapeze artists, magicians, singers and clowns for an unforgettable 3 hour event.

This experience is different that the usual Cirque experiences as it has a combination of Cirque, Comedy, and Cuisine.

Guests get to enjoy a four-course gourmet meal prepared by Vancouver’s award-winning chef, Adam Pegg of La Quercia, recognized as one of Vancouver’s premiere chefs specializing in authentic Italian cuisine.

The Premiere Performance is scheduled for November 1, 2018 in Queen Elizabeth Park and the show will run until the end of the year with a possibility of extension.

We were fortunate to get a sneak peek of the experience tasting the menu as well as seeing a few tricks up close like how to get a table to magically levitate.

Antipasti

The meal begins with a few Antipasti – Pork Loin Tonnato, Pork Cracking, Giardiniera (pickled vegetables) and Grissini (breadsticks). These are great items to pair with their Ferrari Brut.

Primi

The next course, you are served Melanzana alla Parmigiana, which is their gluten-free eggplant lasagna. It was really delicious and one of our favourite dishes. We didn’t realize it was gluten free.

Secondi

You get 3 choices for your entree – slow roasted beef, braised chicken or Polenta with Mushroom. All 3 entree choices are great and you don’t go wrong at all.

Rosticciata di Manzo (Slow Roasted Beef)

Pollo in Umido (Braised Chicken)

Polenta con Funghi (Polenta with Mushrooms)

Dolci

To end the night,  Crema di Limone, which is a lemon cream. It was refreshing and tart as it cleanses your palate from the great meal.

Bacio Rosso is going to be one of the hottest tickets in town. You’ll never know who is in on the tricks and entertainment. Tickets are now on sale with prices starting at $109.

Website: https://www.baciorosso.com/

Location: Queen Elizabeth Park

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In American

Colony Northwoods: Bar and Restaurant in North Vancouver

Colony Northwoods is a bar and restaurant in North Vancouver. This is a great location as it’s in a new plaza close to Seymour Mountain and Deep Cove.

They have a large selection of local craft beers and a variety of new fresh dishes created by Executive Chef Karen Lyons. A good spot after a hike or snowboarding on the slopes. There are other Colony locations in Kitsilano and Mount Pleasant as well.

Interior

The interior is quite large with 130 indoor seating and 130 more on their heated patio. The space looks very nice and spacious with the high ceilings. This location is a lot larger and modern that the other 2 locations.

Drinks

Beers, wines, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages are on the menu. If you don’t see something you want on the menu, you can ask them if they have the ingredients to create something more for your taste.

Corn Dogs

Who doesn’t love a classic corn dog? There are 2 kinds available – regular and veggie. It is house-battered with a Nathan’s Famous Dog in the centre, then served with dijon mustard, and ketchup. A fun dish that comes with 4 pieces so you can share among the table.

Yam Fries

The crisp yam fries are served with a chipotle mayo sauce. Another great items to snack on while you have a drink.

Loaded Tater Tots

Tater tots, an all time favourite is loaded with banana peppers, jalapenos, sour cream, green onions, chipotle mayo, and pico de gallo. If you don’t love banana peppers and jalapenos, you can always ask them to omit them. This was one of our favourite dishes to snack on.

Rainbow Glory Bowl

If you want something a bit more healthy, they have different filling bowls with quinoa, spinach, fried tofu, cucumber, beets, Carrots, Pumpkin Seeds, Almonds, Tahini Dressing. Delicious!

Chicken Wings

Classic pub fare and this one is coated in Frank’s Red Hot, which is always a nice spicy flavour, There is also Lemon Pepper and Sriracha Salted. You can also request salt and pepper as well.

Crunchy Chicken Sandwich

On the bun you have a big piece of crispy chicken with house pickled red onion, arugula, and herb mayo. You can have it served with either fries or salad.

CB Burger

This burger has 100% Pure Beef Patty, aged Cheddar, butter lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and burger sauce. A good burger and nothing complicated.

Baby Back Ribs

This dish has the whole rack of Danish baby back ribs slathered in their housemade BBQ sauce. Then it is served with some veggie skewers and fries. It was a so-so dish as some parts were drier than others.

Salmon Cobb Salad

This hearty salad has a piece of Wild Pacific salmon, grilled leeks, charred corn, gem tomatoes, and their Goddess dressing. It was a large portion and tasted good. The salmon was moist.

Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches

In each order, you get 3 macarons with vanilla bean ice cream. It was surprisingly really good. A bit pricey, but it was the perfect bite to the end of the evening.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the food is good for the price you pay and there really aren’t too many options in this area. It’s a great place to have a drink with friends and some bites together. They have a variety of items if you want a fuller meal or just finger food.

Address:
2100 Dollarton Hwy, North Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://colonybars.com/north/

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In Cafe

Lot185 Cafe and Wine Bar in Downtown Vancouver

Lot185 is located inside the Vancouver Convention Centre West, closest to Jack Poole Plaza. They are a coffee bar by day and wine bar by night. They feature locally-roasted coffee by Moja Coffee, freshly baked pastries made in-house, and tapas with a full wine and beer menu.

The Vancouver Convention Centre has award-winning catering services and with similar staff, they operate out of the same kitchen using the freshest local and seasonal ingredients when possible. Whether you work in the area or are a convention attendee, you’ll have a good bite and sip here.

Cafe by Day

The cafe is great for a quick coffee and pastries in the morning. As most people are on the go, their lines go quickly. There are other cafés in the area, but sometimes it’s nice to try something different. Plus, their pastries are made in-house and are quite tasty.

Menu

Coffee and Pastries

Coffee, teas, and espresso based drinks are popular especially with the morning crowd. It’s best paired with their freshly baked daily pastries, paninis or breakfast sandwiches. You can get these items for lunch too.

Wine Bar by Night

The Wine Bar is open in the evenings from 4pm till 9pm. They have a selection of local and international wines and beers. On the menu are small tapa-style dishes to accompany the drinks. Always good to have nibbles and drinks.

Menu

Small Bites

The menu focuses on their Neapolitan-style pizza that have a thin crust with simple ingredients. They have 3 different varieties – funghi blanca, prosciutto e rucola, and margherita.

The other items are small bites that are meant for sharing like their charcuteries with different meats and cheeses.

Serrano ham and marinated olives 

Manchego cheese and roasted red pepper bikinis

They even have a few homemade dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth.  This is their Tart Au Citron with a vanilla crust, lemon curd, and toasted whipped marshmallow. They also have a few other desserts for those who are into chocolate and other fruity flavours.

Final Thoughts

As Lot185 is inside the convention centre, it is hard to spot from the outside despite the signs.

The wine bar is a great place for people finishing conferences and are looking for a comfortable and chill space to hang out.

Address:
78-1055 Canada Place
(next to Jack Poole Plaza)

Website:
http://lot185.com/

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In Pitt Meadows

Hopcott Premium Meats and Bistro: Fresh Produce and Lunch in Pitt Meadows

Hopcott Premium Meats is a third generation family-run butcher shop located on their family farm in Pitt Meadows. They are committed to bringing quality, local, farm-fresh products to their customers. I personally find it hard to seek a good transparent butcher, so it’s great that there are more options that just going to a chain grocery store.

We spent about an hour here shopping as well as enjoying food at their bistro.

Interior

The space is a good size filled with local produce and goods that will take your meal to the next level. They partner with a lot of great local producers, so you will find some unique products here like sauces, rubs and marinades. Keep an eye out on their shelves because there is a lot of unique items.

Butchery

As beef is raised and grown on their farm, they can guarantee it’s non-gmo, no-added hormones or steroids added. The other local meats are source from reliable local producers as well. If you need some more guidance, their friendly and knowledgeable team can help you make the right and healthy choices for your family’s next meal.

Looking at their display cases, the meat looks fresh and there are so many cuts to choose from.

They have weekly specials posted on their website every week, so you can see what they deals are before you come for a visit. There are some marinated meats too if you want an easy meal.

Deli

Their deli section is large too with different kinds of pepperoni,  salami, and other cured meats. When we were here, all pepperoni sticks were $1, which was an awesome deal.

You’ll also find hams and various types of bacon too.

Fresh Produce

If you’re looking for fresh produce, they have a small section where you can find what you need.

As it’s now apple season, there is an awesome chart where you can see how all the apples in BC compare in sweetness and sweetness. A good guide since I always forget.

Don’t forget gourds and pumpkins too. Since it’s almost October, this means pumpkin pies and beautiful Fall decor.

Whatever is in season, you’ll most likely find here.

The Bistro

Inside Hopcott Premium Meats, you’ll find their bistro serving up homemade lunch and drinks. They use their own meats and locally-sourced ingredients into their menu.

Menu

The prices are fair. It’s a small menu but there something for everyone.

Seating

The bistro has a good amount of seating and on a nice day, you can head out to their patio to enjoy lunch and the sunshine.

Cappuccino

We got cappuccinos to start off our lunch. Nice ratio of foam to espresso, plus a sprinkling of cocoa on top.

Bob’s Burger

We got this because of the name. hahaha. It’s a great cartoon show. This burger has panko crusted pickled Jalapeños, Honey Chipotle sauce, cheddar and Monterey jack cheese , tomato and lettuce in between toasted burger buns. You get your choice of fries or salad on the side.

If you don’t want the added carbs, you can get your burger in a lettuce wrap.

Clubhouse

I love a good clubhouse sandwich, so it has turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on marble rye bread. It was a hefty sandwich as it had 3 layers of bread. Really good and I had to balance it with the fries. I asked them to make them extra crispy too.

Final Thoughts

Hopcott Premium Meats is a great place to do some quick shopping for quality ingredients and while you are there, you can stop for some lunch at their bistro. I’ll be back for sure to get some nice cuts of meat for dinner or even for the grill. Whatever specialty cut you need, they can help you out.

Address:
18385 Old Dewdney Trunk Rd, Pitt Meadows

Website:
https://www.hopcottmeats.ca/

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In Fusion

The Deck Kitchen + Bar: Drinks and Sharable Bites in Richmond

The Deck Kitchen + Bar is located inside the Pacific Gateway Hotel in Richmond. It is situated right by the Fraser River will waterfront views and a patio. They are open for a convenient and casual lunch, dinner, and drinks. Their Executive Chef, Morgan Lechner, delivers fresh, organic, and local flavours to the menu that gives guests a few options. We were invited to check out the space and some of their dishes.

Interior

The deck is heated and would make for a great time during the Summer, but as we went during the Fall season, it feels a bit cold, but there are heaters everywhere. If it’s not enough warmth, just grab a blanket.

The views are still nice all around and as it’s built right over the water, you feel like you’re floating on water as you dine.

They have enough space for small to large groups. Best to make reservations ahead if you have a large party so they can prepare for your arrival.

Food

Happy Hour starts from 3 – 6pm daily, so if you can make it, it’s a better deal if you just want to have a few drinks and nibbles with friends and colleagues.

A lot of the dishes on the menu are more tapas style with a fusion twist.

Sushi Stack

The sushi stack is a popular item and it contains saw tuna, yam, cucumber, avocado, eel sauce, Korean ssamjang sauce, sushi rice, sesame, tempura and nori. One of our favourite dishes of the night.

Ginger beef

This is from their wok menu and it is crispy and served with their chili sauce. Another dish we enjoyed for the texture and the sauce.

Edamame

The edamame is simmered in a dashi broth and cooked with sriracha for added spice. It is served with a sweet mayo dip.

Deep Fried Cauliflower

The deep-fried cauliflower was delicious. It has a nice crispy exterior texture.

Flatbread

They have 7 different types of flatbread on the menu for vegetarians to meat eaters. This one in-particular is the bison sausage with capers, kalamata, feta, confit red onion, peppers, cherry tomato, and basil.

Caesar Salad

The caesar salad has romaine, kalamata, crispy garlic, preserved lemon, radish, and garlic caper dressing. A pretty standard salad and tasted average.

Drinks

The drink menu has beer, cocktails, wine and non-alcoholic options too.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in the area for drinks and small bites, The Deck is a good option to hang out with friends. Some dishes are a tad pricey for what you get.

They do have a few larger dishes for dinner, but there isn’t too much variety.

Address:
3500 Cessna Dr, Richmond, BC

Website:
https://www.deckkitchenandbar.com/

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In product

Easy Snacks Using Natrel Whipped Dip and Spread

Natrel just launched their whipped dip and spread in grocery stores across Canada. They are reinventing classic cottage cheese by adding a gourmet touch. It is whipped to a smooth and creamy consistency. It comes in 3 flavours – chive and garlic, roasted red pepper and plain.

Can’t go wrong with this high in protein and low in calories addition to your snack. I took these 3 flavours to make a few easy dishes to share with friends and family.

Veggie Dip

Using the Chive and Garlic Dip and Spread was great with veggies and crackers. All you have to do it buy some veggies and cut them up. The flavour enhances the vegetables and your guests don’t have to feel guilty about it since its lower in calories.

When I shared it with friends, they did enjoy the Chive and Garlic Dip and Spread. Even with potato chips or tortilla chips, its a great combination.

Toasts

I love a good homemade toast and its a lot cheaper to make at home. I used the Roasted Red Pepper and Plain Whipped Dip and Spread as the base layer to my toast. Then I added items like avocado, tomatoes, corn, radishes, pea shoots, salt and pepper. Or if you like it plain with no toppings, you can do that too. There is no right or wrong way to make toast.

The fun part is being able to mix and match ingredients with different flavours to create something delicious.

Just remember, a good quality loaf of bread really makes the toast stand out because that’s your foundation.

Final Thoughts

There are definitely different dips and spreads out in the market but not that many that you can double up as a dip and spread. Very versatile and gives you more options to do more with it. As it is cottage cheese, you can feel good that its high in protein and low in fat. Plus it tastes good and made with 100% Canadian milk.

You can find this at most major grocery stores across Canada.

Website:
https://www.natrel.ca/en/whipped-dips-spreads

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In Ontario

Ceres Organic Juices Ready-To-Go Organic Fruit Smoothies: Review

Ceres Organic Juices just launched their ready to go organic fruit smoothies at CHFA East, Canada’s largest conference and trade show for the natural health and organics industry.

I was introduced to Ceres a few years ago from my South African co-workers who shared it with us at work. Their juices are organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and kosher. Plus, they tasted really great and comes in pear, peach, passion fruit, mango and guava.

Their new line of to go smoothies comes in 3 flavours –  Mango, Tropical and Apple Berry. These are packed at the peak of freshness to preserve the pure, crisp taste of exotic real fruit from around the world. If you’re really busy, you can get your “five-a-day” recommended servings of fruits and 100% of your daily Vitamin C.

We got a few to try and review.

Tropical

The tropical blend of smoothie has organic mango puree, organic guava puree, organic apple puree, organic banana puree, organic passion fruit juice, organic cherry puree, water, organic orange juice concentrate, dehydrated grinded organic apple and organic lemon juice concentrate, and vitamin c.

At first you can taste the bits of chunky fruit and then the stronger taste of mango and guava. Those 2 fruits give it a tropical taste that is unique from most drinks.

Mango

There has organic mango puree, water, dehydrated grinded organic apple, and organic lemon juice concentrate and vitamin c.

This smoothie has the least amount of ingredients in it because its mostly mango puree. They use the red mangoes unlike the Ataulfo mangoes we usually see in stores in North America and are sweet. The taste is more mild and not too sweet.

Apple Berry

Inside, the Apple berry blend are organic apple puree, organic banana puree, organic blueberry puree, organic strawberry puree, water, organic cherry puree, dehydrated grinded organic apple and organic lemon juice concentrate, and vitamin c.

You get the dominant flavour of the apple and berries, and then the tang of lemon.

Final Thoughts

The best way to drink these are chilled as its more enjoyable. Drink it as you go out the door or even on your commute to work or as a snack. If you need a quick way to get fruits in your diet, this might be for you.

You can find these smoothies at select Ambrosia, Pusteris, and Natures Emporium stores in Ontario.

Address:
https://organicceresjuices.com/

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In Cafe

Cafe Crepe: Sweet and Savoury Crepes in Vancouver

Cafe Crepe started out in Vancouver and currently has 4 locations in BC. There are other locations in Santa Monica, Union Station, Toronto, and even Hong Kong.

Since their humble beginnings in 1999, they have been sharing Parisian crepes with their customers. It’s what draws in most people, but they do have other savoury and sweets on the menu.

Interior

Each location is different but at the one on Robson Street, there are lots of tables inside and can get busy during peak times. There are a few people who get their crepes to go as its hand-held and easy to eat on the go.

Menu

Crepe in the Making

The best part about ordering a crepe is really watching them put it together. The way the batter is spread on the hot griddle and cooked slowly.

The combination of ingredients that get layered on top of each other to ensure each bite will have a taste of each ingredient.

Boeuf Fumé

This has Montreal smoked meat, Swiss cheese, mushroom and creamy dijon mustard. Most people gravitate towards sweet crepes, but savoury crepes are really good and shouldn’t be overlooked. You get the smokiness from the meat and the savoury mushroom and cheese combination that doesn’t disappoint.

Crepe de Crevette

This was the monthly special when we visited. It has tomato, mushroom, shrimp, parmesan cheese, garlic with lemon and capers. A good contrast of ingredients that match well with the shrimp.

Bon Enfants

This is a decadent sweet crepe with Kinder Bueno garnish, hazelnut cream, vanilla wafers, and dark chocolate sauce. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll love the chocolate and hazelnut combination.

Fresh Strawberry and Banana

This has the simplicity of fresh sliced strawberries and bananas with sugar. A good combination.

Nutella

Classic Nutella crepe and you really can’t go wrong with this at all. If you can eat Nutella off a spoon, you can eat it in a crepe.

Final Thoughts

Cafe Crepe has a good selection of sweet and savoury crepes for when you’re on the go or eating in. Sometimes this simple indulgence is all you need. The price of the crepes can be seen as pricey to some but based on the neighbourhood, rent is pretty steep along this neighbourhood. You get more full with the savoury versus the sweet crepes.

Address:
1032 Robson St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://cafecrepe.com/

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In Abbotsford

Where to Stay, Eat and Explore in Abbotsford

Abbotsford is located about an hour away from Vancouver and is situated right by the Fraser Valley with the Cascade Mountains, so there are stunning views as far as the eye can see. You get to take in the views of beautiful British Columbia and enjoy the cheaper prices as it’s away from the major city centre. In the past few years, lots of hidden gems have popped up in Abbotsford due to the in-affordability in Vancouver, which caused more families and small businesses to take root in Abbotsford.

We got to spend a few days exploring small businesses that are transforming the landscape of Abbotsford.

How to get to Abbotsford

There are many modes of transportation to get in and around Abbotsford. As we are from another subburb in Metro Vancouver, we opted to drive as it was more convenient from point A to B.

There are alternative options like taxis and buses too.

Where to stay: Brookside Inn

Abbotsford is home to a handful of hotels, but a unique experience is something you may be interested in. Brookside Inn is a boutique hotel, which is known for their hospitality, creativity, and comfort. They have several themed rooms based off famous movies like – Thomas Crown Affair, Midnight in Paris, and Secret Garden to name a few. In 2018, they were voted #1 romantic hotel in Canada by Trip Advisor.

They are located 5 minutes from Abbotsford International Airport and is close to most attractions in Abbotsford. You won’t be driving very far.

Owners – Chris and Sandi Buis make sure you have everything you need during your stay and it includes a complimentary breakfast in the morning made by Sandi. We felt like a guest in their home and breakfast was very refreshing to have something made at home. A lot of guests rave about her great cooking.

Historic Downtown Abbotsford

Historic Downtown Abbotsford is home to charming boutiques and eateries. In the past few years, more cafes have popped up offering locals and visitors more variety when dining and shopping. It is pedestrian-friendly and if you are lucky enough, you might see them filming TV shows or movies in this charming neighbourhood.

There is also free 2 hour street parking on most of the blocks.

Polly Fox: Gluten-Free Bakery

The Polly Fox serves up 100% gluten and allergen-free baked goods paired with delicious coffee. They also have savoury treats too if you don’t have a sweet tooth.

The cafe is very cute and quaint, a perfect spot to meet up with a friend and have a good chat. It’s great that the pastries were amazing as well. We had the Apple Fritter, Cashew Bar and Raspberry Rhubarb Crumble Bar with a latte.

Very impressed by the quality and the dedication of the owners and staff to cater to those with varying dietary needs.

Habit Project: Juices and Bowls

Right beside The Polly Fox is The Habit Project for cold-pressed juice, smoothies, bowls, and other treats.  Beside nourishing their customers from the inside out, they are dedicated to promoting a balanced life to improve overall wellness.

A lot of their produce comes from the Fraser Valley, so it can be traced back to the producer. What I found interesting is that they are zero waste, so all their juice pulp is returned to farmers to become compost. Plus, all take out containers are compostable too.

Their fresh pressed-juices fly off the shelves as well as their smoothies and açaí bowls are very filling and delicious. We really enjoyed their bowls.

Dions Table

Dion’s Table focuses on healthy food for those on the go. They believe in what the community eats and the environment in which it is grown and fed, which makes Abbotsford a perfect location as it’s situated close to a lot of local farms producing exceptional produce.

On the menu, they are known for their not so traditional stir-frys, paninis, sandwiches, soups and salads. All the items were fresh and has a great taste. A good option in the area if you want veggies. All in a very comfortable and casual setting.

Taves Family Farms: Pumpkins, Corn, and Baby Goats

A trip to Abbotsford isn’t compete without a trip to a local farm for some fun. At Taves Family Farm, there is a lot to do for the whole family. They have U-Pick apples, a pumpkin patch, hayrides, pony rides, corn maze, and a petting barn to name a few.

Their U-Pick apples have a few varieties, so depending on what your favourites are, check on their website to see which ones are ready for picking. I personally love Honey Crisp and Gala. When its fresh, it’s so damn crisp and sweet.

We picked 5 lbs and then bought another 10lb bag of Honey Crisp. Clearly, we really love apples.

Take a hayride into their sunflower patch as it spans 1/4 acres. This is their newest attraction and you can take a hayride to this area and its just beautiful. A lot of great photo opportunities.

My personal favourite part of Taves Family Farm is the petting barn. The little baby goats are so cute and adorable.

If you want to get a little lost, the corn maze is awesome because it can start playing tricks with your mind as you can’t see the end. I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would. We live to tell the tale of the corn maze as we made it out in one piece.

To treat yourself to something delicious, their apple cider slushies are delicious. A little sweet and tart but good for a treat if you need to cool down.

They also have other fresh produce on the farm. Right now since its approaching Fall, they have a lot of pumpkins.

Campbells Gold Honey Farm and Meadery

Campbell’s Gold Honey Farm and Meadery is another gem in the Fraser Valley. Owners – Mike & Judy Campbell run their operation on their 8 acres of land with their colony of honey bees crafting up delicious honey and mead varieties. Besides having great products, they are advocates for a sustainable ecosystem for bee colonies as well as educating the community through workshops.

Mead is an ancient wine and can be traced back to 7000 BC and was recently popularized by medieval TV shows, movies and games. It is created with honey, water, and other spices to create a signature taste. Melomel on the other hand is mead with fruits or berries.

During the wine tasting, we tried:

  • Merry Mead
  • Ruby Slippers
  • Black Beauty
  • Poet’s Passion
  • Spice is Nice

Each wine had its own unique taste from sweet to dry. It’s definitely a treat and something unique to bring over to friends or family’s house.

Besides honey wine, they have a large selection of honey available in all sizes. Their honey bees collect nectar from sources like lavender, berries, and wildflowers to name a few.

They have natural honeys and creamed honeys that can incorporate different flavours like lemon ginger, pumpkin, orange, etc. A good combination if you want to sweeten your cup of tea or to do some baking.

Brambes Bistro at Tanglebank Gardens

 Tanglebank Gardens is home to a boutique plant nursery as well as Brambes Bistro  which creates a farm-to-table lunch to their customers. A lot of the ingredients that go into their dishes comes right from their garden.

As the growing season creates an abundance of produce, they try their best to savour the ingredients and incorporate them into their lunch specials.

Their iced teas are delicious and refreshing. It was nice to know that the mint leaves are source from their garden just a few feet away.

Their heirloom garden tomato soup uses up the tomatoes that were harvested a short while ago to create this yummy special.

Their lunch options are nutritious and very fresh like The Orchard Salad and The Gardeners Sandwich. It has a lot of flavour and good portion sizes too.

When you’re done eating lunch at Brambles Bistro, you definitely want to have a walk around their property to see their fruits and vegetables growing.

Singletree Winery

Singletree Winery is family operated occupying 12 acres with their VQA whites, reds & blended wines since 2010. Mt Lehman Road is home to a handful of local wineries and producers crafting something special in the Fraser Valley.

In 2014, they opened their tasting room and offering a taste of each variety of wine they produce as it overlooks their vineyard. During the Summer, they get busy for wedding season as they have a good space to host an nice outdoor rustic wedding.

During the wine tasting, they help you discover an array of new wines or match wines as close to your taste preference as much as possible. We did partake in trying their sweeter white wines like 2017 Victory, 2015 Late Harvest Kerner, 2015 Siegerrebe, and 2017 Gruner Veltliner.

Definitely take your time with the tasting to really understand the taste profile, history, and potential pairings with the wine.

What is great about Singletree Winery is their commitment to their customers to have a good time at the winery. You can build your own cheeseboard and eat it out in their picnic area. They have worked with local producers like Mt. Lehman Cheese Co. and Chef Pieter to have some delicious accompaniments that go with their wine.

If you walk along the vineyard, you’ll notice several different grape varieties planted like Siegerrebe, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Noir.

Say hi to the Estelle family while you are visiting. They will soon open their second winery in Naramata in the Okanagan, so watch out for that.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I loved the few days I spent in Abbotsford exploring the sights and sounds of the area as well as visiting local small businesses that are changing the community for the better. There are more options to explore the backyard of BC and taste such great produce as well. If you are in the area, I would highly recommend making a quick stop to visit Abbotsford with family and friends.

Looking for more recommendations?

A big thanks to Tourism Abbotsford for helping us make the most out of our trip. Check out their website to help plan your trip to Abbotsford. There is a plethora of activities to do.

Website: http://www.tourismabbotsford.ca/

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In British Columbia

EAT! Fine Cognac: Vancouver’s New Luxurious Cognac Tasting on Nov 6

Cognac has been adored by many for centuries. It is a variety of brandy named after the town of Cognac in France. You can find bandy produced anywhere in the world but Cognac must be produced west of France.

Finding the very best Cognacs in Vancouver is a bit difficult, but EAT! Vancouver has launched a new event called EAT! Fine Cognac on November 6, 2018 that will being together the world’s finest Cognacs all under one roof. To heighten the experience, there will be delightful food pairings to complement the Cognac. What better way to enjoy the finer things in life?

Here are a few of the Cognac producers serving up more than 35 of the world’s most exclusive Cognacs:

  • Hennessy
  • Rémy Martin
  • Courvoisier
  • Martell
  • Château de Montifaud
  • De Luze
  • Camus
  • Bache  Gabrielsen
  • D’usse
  • Maison Gautier
  • Delamain
  • Grand Marnier
  • Mery-Melrose

Many of these Cognacs are currently unavailable in BC, but during the event all Cognacs showcased will be available for purchase at the event from Legacy Liquor. Ticket sales are limited to 200 guests, so get tickets before they are gone.

Date: 
Tuesday, Nov 6th, 2018
7:00pm-9:00pm

Price:
$175.00 + tax

Location:
Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront Ballroom
1133 West Hastings, Vancouver

Website:
http://eat-vancouver.com/eat-fine-cognac/

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In Cafe

Bouchon Bakery: Pastries and Coffee in Yountville

Bouchon Bakery in Yountville California is Thomas Keller’s first and original location for his bakery. This is beside Bouchon Bistro as well as French Laundry a little bit further away.

We came here for a snack in the morning before we headed off to some wineries.

Inside the bakery, there is only standing room to order. A lot of people do take out or sit outside if the weather is nice.

There are treats everywhere and getting just picking 1 item is so difficult so we got a lot to share between the 4 of us.

If you come here earlier in the day, you can see the staff making the pastries. We came later in the day, so there wasn’t much action going on.

Coffee

As everything is take out, they only have to go containers for their coffee and water. Even though we asked for our lattes for here, there are no reusable cup options offered.

The lattes were pretty average and nothing special.

Pain aux Raisins

This is packed full of raisins and they were not too dry. It had a good amount of sweetness to it.

Croissant

The croissant is a classic and it has many flaky layers but we were missing more of a crunch at the end tips of it.

Chocolate Almond Croissant

The almond chocolate croissant is decadent and filled with the almond mixture to give you a sweet kick to your day. Delicious.

Strawberry Cheesecake Croissant

The croissant-like tart has the strawberry cheesecake mixture in the centre. Fun to eat it with a knife and fork so you don’t get messy.

Lemon Tart

The lemon tart was ok but nothing too impressive about it.

Final Thoughts

Bouchon Bakery is a good option in the area, but I found it wasn’t the best bakery I’ve ever been to. There are a few other places that can do croissants better but its all up to personal preference. I thought Bouchon Bakery was ok, but it didn’t wow me.

Address:
6528 Washington St, Yountville, CA

Website:
https://www.thomaskeller.com/bouchonbakeryyountville

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In Napa Valley

V. Sattui Winery: Tours, Tastings, and Picnics in Napa Valley

V. Sattui Winery was our favourite winery in Napa Valley during this trip. They are a family-owned winery with exceptional award-winning wines. The experience at this winery is great as it has tours, tastings, and a picnic area.

We booked ahead for a 1pm tour and met everyone up by the fountain area right by the entrance.

Meeting up for the Tour

Once we got a quick intro, we moved to a different room at the winery to understand the history of how the winery started.

The room had visuals back in the day just to give you an idea of how they ran their business back then.

Afterwards, we moved into the back where we got to see the vineyard. We learned how and what varieties of grapes they grow on the property.

We could go into the vines to pick out some grapes to try. Yum.

They were delicious and sweet. A fun experience to try it fresh from the vines before they get processed.

Next, we move into the processing room where Rob explained the differing methods of creating white and red wine.

At the end of the tour, we were given vouchers to go for a wine tasting in the main tasting room.

Let’s Get Tasting

The tasting room was busy. I would suggest taking your time appreciating each wine to get the best experience. With your voucher from the tour, you can present it to the staff to begin your tasting of 5 wines.

Gamay Rouge

Gamay rouge, a sweeter rose, for those who enjoy sweet wines but not overly sweet. It smells like strawberries and hints of cherry.

Dancing Egg Riesling

Dancing Egg Riesling is awesome because it has such a fun label! Again, for those who enjoy sweeter white wines. It was refreshing with smells and tastes of summer stone fruit and nice acidity.

Old Vines Quaglia Zinfandel

Old Vines Quaglia Zinfandel was jammy, fruity of dark berries/plums, a hint of earthiness, nicely balanced and smoother finish.

Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon is something we will be holding on to age. It’s bold and has aromas of dark fruit, plums, aged cherry, vanilla. Looking forward to keeping it and tasting it again after a few years.

Build Your Own Picnic

The best thing about V. Sattui is that there is a deli and cheese counter to create your own picnic. They have everything you need for the picnic. Even plates and cutlery.

Once you have everything, you can head outside and find yourself a picnic table to set up.

There are lots of spots, so don’t worry about over crowding. Worse case scenario, you can make new friends.

Turkey- Fontina Sandwich

This has house-roasted turkey, arugula, apples, fontina, and chile aioli in this cheesy bun. Really good!

Prosciutto Panini

This also has fresh manchego cheese, and caramelized onion. Simple, yet so delicious.

Turkey Bacon Panini

This is the Turkey Bacon Panini with house-roasted turkey, avocado, bacon, caramelized onion, and the V. Sattui smoky mustard. It pairs well with the Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.

Potato Salad

This has potatoes, mayo, dill pickles, bell peppers and celery for added crunch. Best paired with a Sauvignon blanc.

Caprese

Not your regular caprese but it has tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto. The tomatoes were sweet, mozzarella was creamy and that pesto was fresh tasting.

Final Thoughts

We had a great time and the tour is definitely worth it as it comes with the wine tasting. We spent extra time here creating our own picnic and eating outside in their picnic area. Highly recommended.

Address:
1111 White Ln, St Helena, CA

Website:
http://www.vsattui.com/

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In Napa Valley

Cakebread Cellars: Winery in Napa Valley

Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley offers tastings by appointment with a fee that varies depending on which tasting your partake in. We booked our appointment prior to visiting and it wasn’t an issue.

Cakebread is best known for their Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. They also host a variety of events at their vineyard, so check out their website so you don’t miss out if you’re a fan.

Cakebread Cellars is named after the owners – Jack and Dolores Cakebread. Yes, that is indeed their last name.

You can roam around the property to look at their grapes growing in the vines. It’s a pretty sight.

Wine Tasting

As we checked in for our tasting, we tried the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc. It has sweet fruity notes and would pair well with veggies, chicken or seafood.

Into the Barrel Room

Next, we went into the room where they barrel their wines for aging and to soak in the flavours from the wood and improve its aroma and taste.

Our guide told us a little bit of the history surrounding the vineyard as we got introduced to each wine.

We tried the following wines for the Current Release Tasting for $25 per person:

  • 2016 Chardonnay
  • 2015 Chardonnary Reserve
  • 2016 Pinot Noir
  • 2014 Merlot
  • 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon

We moved around as we went through the list to better appreciate the wine. We moved closer to the barrels to smell the wood inside the barrels as well as see how it’s aged.

Afterwards, our tasting took us out to the vineyard.

We tried a few more wines and tasted the wine grapes off the vines to see how they transform.

Our last stop was their garden and processing area.

The tour lasted about 40 minutes for us as the other half of the group was in a rush. Usually it’s 50 – 60 minutes in length. It definitely quickened the pace but we felt like we were rushed in the end because of them.

Nonetheless, we enjoyed the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from the tasting.

The 2016 Chardonnay has aromas of melons, peaches and apples with a hint of spice. It’s good out but if you want to build some complexity to the taste, you can age for another 5 – 7 years.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of dark berries and plums with a hint of spice. You can age this in your cellar for another 7 – 10 year to get it a bit more mature in taste.

Final Thoughts

For a $25 wine tasting, it’s good that the tour takes us to different areas of the vineyard to taste the wine as well as understand where it comes from.

Address:
8300 St Helena Hwy, Napa

Website:
https://www.cakebread.com/

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In Fusion

Pacific Poke: Now Open in Kitsilano

Pacific Poke has opened their newest location in Kitsilano, which makes 5 locations in British Columbia and Alberta with more on the way. Since 2016 at their original location in Chinatown, they have grown quickly by serving up poke with a Vancouver twist.

You can choose to build your own poke bowls or choose a premade one off their menu.

Interior

The space is pretty narrow, so there are only so many seats inside. Some people eat here and some take it to-go.

They also do delivery too if you need the convenience.

Menu

Build Your Own Poke Bowl

 

You start with deciding if you want a regular or large bowl.

The regular gives you 2 protein choices and 3 toppings. The large gets 3 proteins and 4 topping choices. Most people can do regular but if you’re a big eater, large is good for you.

Once you choose the size, you can choose your base:

  • organic brown rice
  • traditional sushi rice
  • quinoa salad base
  • kale salad base

You can mix it up too with half kale salad and brown rice if you want a bit of both.

There are a lot of protein choices, but my faves are usually sockeye salmon and ahi tuna.

Here are all their protein options:

  • sockeye salmon
  • spicy sockeye salmon
  • ahi tuna
  • spicy ahi tuna
  • crab & shrimp
  • ahi negitoro (ahi tuna belly)
  • seasonal selection varies

Next are the delicious toppings, which I find are pretty unique compared to other places in town:

  • cucumber & jicama
  • tomato kimchi
  • pickled red onion
  • spicy seaweed
  • beets & basil
  • jalapeno salsa
  • organic seaweed salad
  • fresh wasabi peas
  • avocado nori
  • tobiko

Don’t forget the sauce to coat your protein and toppings:

  • sesame miso dressing
  • citrus mayo
  • spicy mayo
  • pacific ponzu
  • wasabi mayo
  • sesame shoyu
  • ludicrous hot

Lastly the crunchy toppings. I personally love the wasabi crunch, but they are all pretty good as it adds texture to the bowl.

Once you’ve built your poke bowl, eat and enjoy!

The Main

The Main is one of their chef creations and a great choice if you’re indecisive on what ingredients to add to your bowl. This has sockeye salmon, spicy ahi tuna, crab & shrimp, jicama & cucumber, avocado nori, organic seaweed salad, citrus mayo, sesame miso dressing, shoyu, yuzu & lime juice, and herbs & sprouts.

Definitely a lot of ingredients packed in here and they all go so well together.

Drinks

After you build your bowl, they tempt you with their awesome beverages – Coco Panda, Yuzu Lemonade, Mango Mint Lemonade, and Yuzu Lemon Tea. All delicious with my favourite being the Yuzu Lemon Tea as my go to.

This time, we had the Coco Panda, which has coconut milk, pandan leaf and young coconut juice. Super delicious and refreshing with the subtle flavour of pandan.

Final Thoughts

Overall, solid poke options at Pacific Poke. One of my favourites in town as it gives you more unique topping choices. Plus their drinks are delicious.

Address:
2151 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.thepacificpoke.com/

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In Cafe

Miss Lina Crepe Cakes: Pastries and Drinks in Richmond

Miss Lina Crepe Cakes in Richmond is another new addition to Alexandra Road for desserts. There have been a few dessert shops in Metro Vancouver opening up that specialize in Crepe Cakes, so it’s interesting to see the demand for them. They also have a liquor license if you want a boozy drink to go with your sweet treats.

We came here specifically for the crepe cakes but they do have other items on the menu like Afternoon Tea.

Interior

The interior is nice and has lots of tables for small to large groups. They try to make the decor look luxurious with the simple and light colours.

Menu

Matcha Crepe Cake

Matcha crepe cake is a classic flavour with 25 layers of matcha creme and crepes. It’s definitely a labour of love to create, but delicious to devour. Matcha is generally bitter, so you will have to like matcha to fully enjoy the balance of sweet and bitter tastes.

Earl Grey Crepe Cake

Earl Grey tea is infused into this crepe cake with a good balance where the earl grey shines through and overall isn’t too sweet. Pair it with some tea and it hits the spot.

Taro Crepe Cake

Have you heard of taro crepe cake yet? It’s a pretty great combination that I don’t see that often. If you are a taro fan, you’ll enjoy this. The natural colour of the taro shines through and it’s very good.

Final Thoughts

The crepe cakes that we tried were very delicious and delicate but can be pricey as you are paying over $12 per slice. Even their rainbow crepe cake has a price tag of $16. Definitely not an everyday indulgence.

Address:
1200-8580 Alexandra Rd, Richmond

Website:
https://www.misslinacrepecakes.com/

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In American

The Girl and The Fig: Dinner in Napa Valley

One of the most memorable meals of our Napa Valley and Sonoma trip was at The Girl & The Fig. We got reservations for dinner through their website a few weeks in advance. There are a few shops in the area, so we got here a bit early and decided to walk a few blocks to check out some stores until our table was ready.

Interior

There aren’t too many tables inside, but luckily, we were seated in their back patio which was really nice. It is a heated patio, so we weren’t worried when the sun went down.

Menu

Complimentary Olives, Bread and Butter

An assortment of olives arrived at the table and they were so addictive. Our favourite ones were the big plump green ones. They are unlimited, so you can ask for more.

Bread and butter arrived too. We were trying to save our appetite since we ordered a lot of dishes, but ended up eating all the bread since it was also good.

The Works

If you want to try a bit of their meats and cheeses, they suggested we try The Works, which has 3 selections of cheeses, cured meats, seasonal fruit, house-made fig cake, spiced nuts and sliced baguette.

The cheeses that we chose were:

  • La Délice de Bourgogne: Full-fat cow’s milk with fresh cream for a rich, whipped texture.
  • Laura Chenel Chèvre: A goat’s milk with creamy texture and delicate flavour.
  • Central Coast Creamery Ewenique: A sheep’s milk that is velvety and white with sweet and savoury flavours.

All of them were delicious, but the Laura Chenel Chèvre as it went with the honey drizzle.

As for the meats, I don’t remember what we got, but we still enjoyed it. The other accompaniments of this board were delicious like the wine grapes, fig cake, and nuts. It all worked so well as finger food before our entrees arrived.

Grass-Fed Steak Tartare

This has a traditional steak tartare with a raw egg, caperberries, lavender sea salt, mustard, and toast. This was really good and fresh. We liked how the pieces of the tartare was not too fine.

Fig & Arugula Salad

We had to get a dish with figs in it because thats the name of the restaurant. This has toasted pecans, Mano Formate pancetta, Laura Chenel Chèvre, and a fig & port vinaigrette. Perfectly dressed and all the ingredients balanced very well.

Duck Confit

We got this dish with 2 duck confit legs. It sits on top of sweet corn, green tomatoes, farro, and a bacon vinaigrette. The legs were delicious, tender and juicy.

Wild Flounder Meunière

The flounder is served with a Yukon​ potato purée, spinach, and lemon-caper brown butter. A nice combination of ingredients and were pleasantly surprised with how good it was.

Steak Frites

The 6-ounce prime flat iron steak was served medium rare with skinny frites, and a roasted padrón butter. We were also impressed with the dish as it wasn’t too salty and everyone loves fries.

Cookies & Milk

This is a fun dessert for adults and kids. You get two warm chocolate chunk sea salt cookies and a vanilla milk shake. It was very delicious and gives you so much nostalgia when you devour this treat.

Profiteroles

This is more like a profiterole ice cream sandwich. It has Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream in the cream puffs and drizzled with bittersweet chocolate sauce and powdered sugar. Also another amazing dessert!

Final Thoughts

We loved every item we ordered and was well worth the price we paid for 4 people. It was definitely the most delicious and memorable meal of our time in Sonoma and Napa Valley. Highly recommended to make a stop here.

Address:
110 W Spain St, Sonoma, CA

Website:
https://www.thegirlandthefig.com/

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