Foodology, Author at Foodology

In Cafe

Faubourg: Lavender Tea, Lavender Latte, Lavender Pastries and More

June 17, 2018

Are you a fan of lavender? Faubourg in Vancouver has launched their lavender collection containing new items that will tempt lavender lovers. Through these new items, they are taking guests to the lavender fields of Provence France. If you love lavender, you definitely want to check out these treats and drinks.

As we came here for a tasting, all the pastries we tried were sample sizes and do not represent the normal portion sizes.

Lavender and Strawberry Pastry

This has lavender honey and sage mousse paired with a sweet strawberry gelee and a lavender vanilla sponge cake.

Blueberry and Lavender Opera Cake

It has layers of blueberry infused almond sponge cake, blueberry jam, lavender ganache, finished with a blueberry gelée.

Lavender Earl Grey Macaron

Macaron infused with lavender and earl grey.

Blueberry and Lavender Chausson

This flakey pastry is filled with a blueberry and lavender jam.

Lavender Black Tea Latte

Lavender Latte

Final Thoughts

The introduction of all these lavender items are actually really delicious. My two favourite items were the lavender latte and the blueberry and lavender opera cake. The other items were good too, but if I had to choose one drink and one treat, those would be it. You can find these new menu items in their lavender collection at all locations – West Vancouver, Downtown, and Kerrisdale.

Address:
769 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://faubourg.com/

In news

[Sneak Peek] McDonald’s Canada: World Taste Tour

June 16, 2018

McDonald’s Canada is launching their World Taste Tour with new menu items using influence from Australia, Italy, China, Mexico and France. There are 5 menu items being launch at different times through June 18 till July 29th. You definitely don’t want to miss any of these burgers if you’re a McDonalds fan. I will definitely be checking all these out when they hit stores across Canada.

Chinese Szechuan Burger
Available June 18th to July 1st.

With crispy wontons, Szechuan sauce and a black & white sesame seed bun, it’s a taste you’ll want to write home about.

French Crème Brûlée McFlurry
Available June 18th to July 29th.

With caramelized sugar pieces and crème brûlée syrup, it’s a veritable pièce de résistance.

Mexican Bacon Queso More-ning McWrap
Available June 18th to July 29th.

With crispy bacon & spicy queso sauce, it’s a piñata of flavour.

Italian Pesto Chicken Sandwich
Available July 2nd to July 15th.

With fresh arugula, pesto aioli sauce and shaved parmesan, all roads lead to McDonald’s.

Aussie BBQ & Egg Burger
Available from July 16th to July 29th.

With a freshly cracked egg and smoky BBQ sauce, you’re in for a g’day.

In Dessert

Perverted Ice Cream: Not so Sexy Ice Cream in Vancouver

June 15, 2018

Perverted Ice Cream is the latest dessert shop to open up in Downtown Vancouver. They are known for their stylish black and white brand with creative ice cream combinations on their menu. I was Downtown with my friends and we decided to stop here for a sweet treat to the end of the night.

Interior

The space is really small, so it’s all grab and go. There is a very very tiny waiting area with merchandise you can purchase.

Some of the items here are cheeky, but still not too perverted.

Matcha Macho Man

This has cream and chocolate swirl soft serve, Mondo matcha, coconut crumble, and black chocolate wafer in a naked cone. It’s essentially a dressed up twist cone. The flavour combination was ok.

Cocoa-Dependency

There is chocolate soft serve, chocolate sauce, and chocolate pieces all in a naked cone. This is a go to for the chocolate lovers out there.

Beg For S’more

This has chocolate soft serve, cocoa, chocolate sauce, graham cracker, and toasted marshmallow.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the flavours were decadent, but the ice cream cones really didn’t wow me. It wasn’t perverted or X Rated enough for my liking. Their marketing and branding are great but felt like it fell through when we ate the ice cream.

Address:
797 Thurlow St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://pervertedicecream.com/

In Brunch

Skye Cafe & Bistro: Brunch in Regina

June 14, 2018

Inside the Saskatchewan Science Centre, you will find Skye Cafe & Bistro serving up fresh, local and seasonal cuisine to their guests. Located right by Wascana Lake, they attract locals and even travellers like me to their approachable menu that is simple and full of flavour. Chef Louise Lu and Chef Milton Rebello created Skye Cafe & Bistro really wanted to treat guests like they were dining in their home.

Interior

The interior is beautiful with the warm light fixtures and the natural light coming in from the windows. It was pretty busy for a Saturday morning so you might want to make a reservation if you’re in a larger group to ensure a seat.

Tea

Steeped loose leaf tea is available in Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Green Sencha, peppermint or Rooibos. A good warm drink in the morning.

Morning Glory Smoothie

This smoothie is made of banana, strawberry, coconut milk and honey. It’s only available on the weekend but it was good and delicious. It has a prominent taste of banana and strawberries so the coconut milk wasn’t strong.

Crab Cake Benedict

The dish has Yukon gold potato hash, poached eggs, citrus hollandaise, house greens, crab cakes and asparagus.

The Weekender

This perfect breakfast dish has 2 eggs cooked sunny side up, potatoes, toast, salad, and your choice of bacon or sausage. I of course went with bacon. It was a well rounded dish and the egg yolks were nice and bright.

Final Thoughts

Brunch at Skye Cafe and Bistro was great. The dishes were well rounded, fresh and delicious. If I’m ever in Regina again, I’ll definitely be back.

Website:
https://skyecafeandbistro.com/

Address:
2903 Powerhouse Dr, Regina, SK

In British Columbia

A&W Canada: Wild-Caught Cod Burger

June 13, 2018

I love it when I see new items at A&W. They recently introduce their Cod Burger and Cod Wrap for a limited time only. They have never had a fish burger on the menu yet, so this give customers a new option. I got this for lunch as a meal and upgraded it to onion rings instead of fries.

Cod Burger

You will find hand cut strips of sustainably sourced cod, coleslaw and tartar sauce between two buns. As the cod is in strips, it was like fish sticks, but more moist of course. The cod held tightly between the bun and didn’t shift too much. The sandwich itself isn’t too large, so I felt like I needed the onion rings and drink to get to that point.

A&W has partnered with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to be able to get their burger and wrap certified as wild and sustainable. It’s a big step as not all fast food companies can say their seafood is caught with sustainable practices and keep the oceans well balanced to keep the ocean healthy.

Catch the Cod Burger or the Cod Wrap for the limited time since you never know when it will be off the menu.

Website: https://web.aw.ca/en/our-menu/burgers/cod-burger

In lunch

Baba’s Homestyle Perogies: Canada’s Drive-Thru Perogy Shop in Saskatoon

June 12, 2018

When I was in Saskatoon, a lot of people recommended we go to Baba’s Homestyle Perogies for some lunch. They are Canada’s only Drive-Thru Perogy Shop, but haven’t heard of anywhere else in the world with such a thing. If you wanted a quick stop for them, you don’t have to get out of the car.

Storefront

We headed to the the other side of the building at the entrance so we could eat our meal inside. The interior isn’t anything interesting, but there are a few tables, a counter to order, and some freezers with items you can purchase.

They sell and produce a lot of perogies each day from this warehouse. They never seem to stop.

Super Combo

The super combo is the best item to order for a little bit of everything. It comes with 2 cabbage rolls, a smokie, and 5 perogies. The perogies are topped with real bacon, sour cream and onions. It was absolutely delicious and is a great price. The perogies were like pillows. Very delicious and I wish I could take them with me.

Address:
720B 51st St E, Saskatoon, SK

Website:
https://babasperogies.com/

In British Columbia

Get Energized with Jugo Juice for their 20th Anniversary

June 11, 2018

Jugo Juice has been cranking out new drinks for their 20th anniversary as well as reintroducing their classic drinks from the past. They have 6 new drinks that launched in the last few weeks for their cold brew and matcha series – Jugo Java, Berry Buzz, Outer Space, Matcha Peachu, Never Too Matcha, and Meet Your Matcha. Mega Matcha and Gold Digger are two new items outside of the series. We got a chance to try them all and here is our take on them.

Are you a cold brew lover?

Cold brew has a lower acidity compared to regular coffee, plus it gives you an extra jolt to your day. It is full of antioxidants, phytochemicals and chlorogenic acids to help support healthy blood sugar levels. Each Jugo Juice coffee-based smoothie contains up to three servings of fruits and vegetables, no added sugar, and no artificial colours or ingredients. Below are the 3 drinks with cold brew.

Jugo Java

This has cold brew coffee, bananas, dates, unsweetened almond milk, and coconut milk. It is refreshing and sweet. You will notice strong taste of banana with subtle hints of coffee. This was our favourite of the 3 drinks.

Berry Buzz

The Berry Buzz has cold brew coffee, blueberries, raspberries, no added sugar frozen yogurt, and apple juice. It’s great they partner up with Fiasco Gelato based in Calgary for their frozen yogurt. As we taste the smoothie, it has a sour apple taste with coffee after taste.

Outer Spice

There is cold brew coffee, cinnamon, ginger, banana, dates, and unsweetened chocolate almond milk. An interesting combination of ingredients which was like a chai latte.

Can’t get enough of matcha?

Matcha is Japanese green tea and it’s been a hit in cities around the world. It boosts energy, memory and overall concentration. It helps detoxify the body and has been known to protect your liver and heart. Each matcha tea-based smoothie from Jugo Juice contains up to four servings of fruits and vegetables, no added sugar, and no artificial colours or ingredients. Below are 3 of their new menu items with matcha.

Matcha Peachu

This has matcha, dragonfruit, peach, mint, apple juice, and cranberry juice. A little bit on the sweeter side and reminds us of strawberry jam.

Never Too Matcha

There is matcha, pineapple, apple, lemon, spinach, apple juice, and orange juice. You will notice the prominent pineapple taste, which is a bit sweet.

Meet Your Matcha

You will find matcha, blueberries, bananas, and unsweetened almond milk in this drink. This was our favourite from their matcha green tea menu as it is light and not too sweet.

Gold Digger

In this smoothie is mango, lemon, peaches, unsweetened almond milk, ginger, turmeric , cauliflower, and tropical juices. It is a bit bitter with the added tumeric and cauliflower.

Mega Matcha

The Mega Matcha smoothie blends the delicious and unique flavour of matcha green tea with pineapple, unsweetened almond milk and our vanilla whey protein to create the ultimate on-the-go smoothie, packed with 25g of protein plus a kick of caffeine from the matcha. It was super subtle, not sweet at all. You’d have to really enjoy matcha to like it.

Final Thoughts

With so many new drinks on the menu, you have lots of choices to add some energy into your day. Switch up your caffeine routine for something you can feel better about.

Website: https://www.jugojuice.com/

In Dessert

Milky Way Ice Cream in Regina

June 10, 2018

Milky Way Ice Cream is a Regina staple for locals even when it is -20c outside. That means no melting ice cream. It’s something I’ve never experienced before. When I visited in early June, the weather was around 20c, so this place was buzzing with people getting cones. There is free parking out front and in the back.

Banana Split

I got a classic banana split because I haven’t had one as a kid. It has a whole banana cut into 2 slices, 3 scoops of vanilla soft serve, chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, pineapple sauce and whipped cream. All they were missing was the cherry on top. It was pretty big, so it was really hard finishing it all.

Final Thoughts

If you want some nostalgia, you’ll definitely want to come here. They even have twist cones too.

Address:
910 Victoria Ave, Regina, SK

Website:
http://www.milkywayicecream.com/

In Canadian

The Willow on Wascana: 6 Course Tasting Menu in Regina

June 9, 2018

Our first dinner in Regina was at The Willow on Wascana to indulge on their 6 Course Tasting Menu to get a taste of their take on Saskatchewan regional cuisine. Their menu is seasonal, so it does change up. They have been open since 2004. They are Regina’s only restaurant overlooking the lake of Wascana. The patio was closed when we went due to the weather, so we sat inside and still enjoyed the view of the lake from our seats.

6 Course Tasting Menu

The tasting menu is $75 and you can add the wine flight for $35 extra or their premium wine flight for $55. We went with the tasting menu as it was a great way to get a feel for their menu. Plus, sometimes I get indecisive when choosing dishes, so I like to leave it up to the experts.

Amuse Bouche

We started off with the Moroccan chicken drumette with chili oil. I like the subtle amount of chili oil to give it a better depth of flavour. The spices they used were really good too.

Shrimp Taco

This has pickled selva shrimp and tomato salad with avocado lime cream, Coteau Hills feta and cilantro with crispy tortilla crumble. The shrimp was delicate and full of natural sweetness. The dish was like a deconstructed taco and I liked it.

Gnudi

These ricotta parmesan dumplings are tossed in sage brown butter with preserved lemon vinaigrette and micro greens sautéed greens. The parmesan is prevalent and was enjoyed with the brown butter sauce.

Rocaan Chicken

This has Ras el hanout spiced chicken breast on creamy sesame chick pea puree with charred eggplant salsa and mint gremolata. I enjoyed this as the chicken breast was very moist and the spices were tasty.

Petite Mole

This has mole spiced petite tenderloin on fried polenta with Pico de Gallo, sautéed greens and ancho garlic crema. The polenta was a good accompaniment to the tenderloin, but the tenderloin was more on the medium side rather than medium rare.

Cheesecake

This is not your average cheesecake. It has goat cheese lime cheesecake with house made sesame snap, apple miso caramel and candied walnuts. We enjoyed the goat cheese lime cheesecake but the sesame snap was a smidge thick and ended up sticking to our teeth a lot rather than having a good snap.

Drinks

I got the Paloma, which is a tequila based cocktail with grapefruit juice, lime and soda. My friend got a virgin drink and asked for something fruity.

Final Thoughts

This place is a gem in the Summer especially with the views from the Wascana Lake. Dining on the patio would be gorgeous. We were stuffed after all 6 courses, it was actually a good size and gave us a taste on dishes using seasonal Saskatchewan ingredients to create delicious flavours.

Address:
3000 Wascana Dr, Regina, SK

Website:
http://www.willowonwascana.ca/

In Airplane Meals

Air Canada (AC8570): Vancouver (YVR) to Regina (YQR)

June 8, 2018

To get from Vancouver to Regina, we chose to fly with Air Canada for their price and timing to make the most out of our days in Saskatchewan. Our flight was at 8:55am on a Friday and it was a full flight.

Boarding

We waited patiently as we boarded the plane at 8:25am. They checked out boarding passes and looked at our ID. As Canadian Citizens, we showed them our drivers license. If you are from another country, a passport is required. Boarding went smoothly and got to our seats.

The Flight

The 2 hour flight was on their Air Canada Express plane, which was a 2-2 configuration for seats. The overhead compartments are smaller than other flights I’ve been on, so getting my carry on to fit was a bit of a challenge and needed some pushing. Alternatively, you can store your carry on under the seat in front of you. Then you can put your personal bag up top.

The leg room had ample space, but then again, I am 5”3. So, I’m a bit on the shorter size.

Meals

We were offered a complementary beverage, so I went with my usual sparkling water with the full can as I get pretty thirsty. I always ask for the full can.

Entertainment

The entertainment system has some of the latest Cineplex movies, TV shows, games, song and flight information. There are wi-fi options available too.

If you need to charge devices, there is a USB port.

In-Flight

As for timing, the flight arrived and landed on time with minimal turbulence. Everything was as expected.

Final Thoughts

Even though people complain about flying with Air Canada, I’ve never had any issues with them and also the price is very good in comparison.

As we descended upon Regina, our Saskatchewan journey begins for the next 5 days.

In Regina

Exploring Graffiti in Cathedral Village

June 8, 2018

I love seeing tasteful graffiti up on public walls, it’s like an outdoor art gallery that captures the fun and joyfulness of a city. When visiting Regina, we wanted to take a look at Cathedral Village for their cute shops and vibrant graffiti that line the alleys of the neighbourhood.

Where is it?

On 13^th Avenue between Albert Street and Elphinstone Street are alleyways and buildings covered in a multitude of murals created by local artists. There is tons of free public parking in the area to stop and wander around. Most spots were 2 hours maximum.

How much time to spend here?

We spent about 45 minutes in the area walking up and down both sides of the street as well as going down alleyways.

What Can I See?

Once upon a time Cathedral Village wasn’t a vibrant art community. It was riddled with graffiti from gang rivalry. Of course this didn’t look very appealing on businesses, churches, and even homes. The locals took it upon themselves to curb their behaviour by commissioning artists to craft murals. The murals are lovely and you can see many different types of techniques and artistry.

We wandered up and down the street to find the murals hiding between buildings and in alleys. If you blink, you might just miss one. Keep your eyes open as there are quite a few.

From animals to abstract trees, there is something that will catch your attention.

If you’re looking for an Instagrammable mural, you’ll find it here to pose with.

One of my absolute favourites is this brick wall with individually painted bricks that reveal a big image of a laughing person. Very creative.

Final Thoughts

If you love public art, you’ll enjoy wandering around Cathedral Village in Regina especially with the beautiful Summer weather.

Website: http://www.cathedralvillage.org/

In Canadian

Over the Hill Orchards and Winery: Supper in the Orchard

June 7, 2018

Over the Hill Orchards and Winery is hosting their Supper in the Orchard series and are located 30 minutes outside Regina. They have partnered with the Canadian Culinary Federation (CCFCC) Regina and have invited chefs to create a 4 course meal for guests using mainly ingredients from local Saskatchewan farms. If you really want to experience something unique, you’ll want to come here. Most of the proceeds do go back to the CCFCC which sends their junior members to locations across North America for training.

On June 2, the day that we went for Supper in the Orchard, Curtis Toth from The Hotel Saskatchewan, Autograph Collection created us a 4 course meal with an asparagus theme. Along with Sous Chef Brett Stecyk, it was a fun evening to see the meal come together.

The Cost

The supper is $65 or $90 with wine pairing. You can also purchase individual glasses of wine for $6, and non-alcoholic beverages for $3.25. It’s not a bad price since you get a unique meal which you can brag to friends as you show them pictures. I made a reservation a week in advance and they took my credit card information just in case I cancelled. They send you an email confirmation with invoice and a map to get to the orchard.

Arrival

Getting to the orchard was a fun drive, but as you get closer by following your navigation, make sure you follow the signs. If you encounter a very steep hill driving up, you’re in the right direction. Going up can be scary as the view is limited, so just drive slowly.

When we got to the top, we parked and made our way inside. It was windy and cold, so they didn’t have drinks on the patio. Usually if its a nice day, you will see people come early to enjoy the views of the orchard and hills. We got our drinks and made our way to our table and chatted with our tablemates before the meal began.

Asparagus and English Pea Salad

The first dish has charred asparagus, marinated peas, pea puree, sous vide egg , cracked pepper and burnt leek and lemon aioli. It was so damn delicious and a sous vide egg is heavenly. The flavour of the peas and asparagus are so fresh and work well together. This is paired with the Over the Hill Peach Chardonnay as it is an off-dry wine that isn’t as sweet.

Asparagus and Cucumber Gazpacho

The second dish of the evening has the refreshing asparagus and cucumber gazpacho topped with prosciutto smoked parmesan and camelina oil. We slurped it all up and wanted more. Good flavour combinations. This was paired with the Over the Hill gewurztraminer.

Dry aged Striploin

The main dish of the night was delightful. It was sous vide striploin that was seared on the outside. It is served with asparagus gremolata, buttered asparagus, smoked fingerling potatoes, mushroom jam and natural jus. The centre of the striploin was medium rare and showcased the piece of meat. This was paired with the Over the Hill Pinot Noir.

Lemon and Greek Yogurt Cake

You will find zucchini coulis, lemon curd, Over the Hill Sour Cherries, tarragon meringue and pumpkin seeds praline. Who knew zucchini would go well in a dessert. The skilled chefs made it happen. This is paired with the Over the Hill Apricot Riesling.

Tour of the Orchard

As you noticed, each course is paired with their wines from the orchard. They guide you on a short tour of the orchard but as the day we went, the weather was bad, so it was omitted. If you come here on a sunny day, you can see where the fruits grow and hear the process of how it becomes the products that you enjoy.

Final Thoughts

As the night concluded, we settled our bills and enjoyed the sunset as the night ended. I really enjoyed the meal and a visit out to the orchard. It was a unique experience that I would highly recommend if you are in Saskatchewan.

Website:
http://overthehillorchards.ca/

In Bakery

Gabi & Jules: Pies, Pastries and Coffee in Port Moody

June 6, 2018

Gabi & Jules is a bakery in Port Moody for pies, pastries and coffee. I love the concept of the cafe as they are huge supporters of the local community and provide employment opportunities to individuals on the Autism Spectrum. As their eldest daughter has autism, they really wanted to become advocates of the autism community and show how capable their team is with all their abilities rather than disabilities.

Interior

The interior is nice and cozy with a lot of natural light that comes from the front of the shop. A lot of the tables are set up in 2’s and 4’s but if you go early, you can probably combine the tables together for larger groups.

The pastries is where you will be drawn towards. A lots of different items to choose from and I had a hard time deciding.

They also sell a few things beside pies, pastries and coffee.

Gibraltar

This not so common coffee style has 2 shots of espresso with some steamed milk. It is served with a puff pastry cookie. I enjoyed this as it is stronger and has less milk than a cappuccino or latte.

Cappuccino

My friend ordered the latte and looked good.

Herbed Ricotta and Semi-Dried Tomato Crostata

This was delicious as it was warmed up. The crust was flakey and the tomato and ricotta worked well together for a savoury pastry treat.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

This is good paired with coffee or tea. It’s not too sweet and is a pretty sizeable portion.

Final Thoughts

I like this cute space and a good start to the morning by coming here. I love what they stand for and I’m glad I’m supporting them fight the stigma of dis’abilities’.

Website:
https://gabiandjules.com/

Address:
2302B Clarke St, Port Moody, BC

In Car

2018 Ford Explorer Limited: Review

June 5, 2018

I live in Burnaby, BC, which is a suburb 30 minutes away from Downtown Vancouver. There is so much to explore in Burnaby as it is quite large. One of my favourite spots to get a great view of the city is from Burnaby Mountain. You can see the Japanese totem poles with the backdrop of the mountains and the rest of the Lower Mainland.

We had the 2018 Ford Explorer Limited for the week to test out and it was a perfect place to test out the car with the amount of hills in the neighbourhood. Check out what we thought of the 2018 Ford Explorer Limited.

Exterior

This full-sized SUV has a new and cleaner look with their new grille and distinct front and rear fascias, as well as LED lighting. With use of LED lighting, it is brighter, durable, lasts longer, and more energy efficient. I really like those lights as its so much easier to see at night.

The grill reminds me of chain link mail or scales of a fish.

There are 5 new wheel option if you want to customize it to suit your style. The one of this vehicle is the 20″ premium lustre nickel-painted aluminum wheels. The chrome body accents on the bottom of the SUV is a nice touch to give it more character. From the outside, you wouldn’t think this is a 7-seater vehicle, but it is.

Did you know, there is a Hands-Free Foot-Activated Power Liftgate? If your hands are full and you need the trunk open, just wave your feet along the rear of the vehicle and it will automatically open up. One of my favourite features.

Technology

The interior is just as important as the exterior to give you comfort for all types of adventures. For me I rely on technology to make my adventures as smooth as possible. With auto-dimming rearview mirrors, I don’t have to squint my eyes when other people have bright headlights especially at night.

Rear view camera, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, and blind spot detectors are my other favourite features. When I drive larger vehicles, I want to make sure I get full view of the whole vehicle when getting around town and when I park. There are a lot of built in features that I haven’t mentioned but they come in handy when you need it like power heated steering wheel.

Drive

The drive was very smooth and has good handling. If you have 1 person compared to a full SUV of 7 individuals, you’ll definitely feel the difference.

Third Row Seating

If you need extra room in your vehicle for people or cargo, the vehicle has a third-row PowerFold feature where you can configure it to your needs. In the trunk, you can find 4 options to choose from. You can fit quite a bit of cargo in the back. If you need additional space, you can fold down the 2nd row too.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a full-sized SUV with lots of room for the family and cargo with flexible configuration, this is a good option. The car looks great and is packed full of safety and entertainment features to make any adventure comfortable.

Website:
https://www.ford.ca/

In appetizer

DIY Rice Rolls For Bacon Lovers

June 4, 2018

The best dinners are those that are interactive and surrounded by friends. My friend was telling me about how her coworkers were adding in bacon for their twist on Vietnamese Rice Roll wraps. It sounded like a great idea, so we decided to make it at my place for our usual Saturday night hangouts. Mostly it was healthy, but its up to you to control your bacon intake. hahaha. Sadly, I have no self control.

What I love about this is that it’s just minimal prep work and then you get a fun meal out of it. If you have kids, they will definitely enjoy putting their meal together. Plus, who doesn’t love bacon? You just need the rice rolls and then you can get creative with whatever ingredients you want inside. You can do all julienned veggies and bacon or you can add some vermicelli noodles like we did to balance it all out.

I like my bacon crispy so we got different types of bacon and cooked them in the oven as we prepared the rest of the ingredients. My favourite was the Sweet Ghost Pepper Bacon from President’s Choice as it added a kick of flavour.

Off into the over it goes. We had so much bacon that it barely fit on my cookie sheets. Once you have everything ready, it’s time to get the dinner started! I love that no matter what ingredient combination that you have in the rice roll, it tastes very fresh.

[tabs tab1=”DIY Bacon Rice Wraps”]

[tab id=1]

Makes enough for 4 people

Ingredients

1 package of rice paper
1 package of bacon (or 2 if you really love bacon.)
Green Leaf Lettuce
Vermicelli noodles
1 Avocado
2 Red Peppers
1 Cucumber
1 bunch Cilantro
Bean Sprouts

Directions

Cook bacon as per package instructions and set aside. Best if bacon is crisp.
Place a pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil. Boil rice vermicelli noodles as per package instructions. Drain noodles and run cold water over the noodles. Drain as much waster as possible and set aside.
Clean and slice red peppers and cucumbers in long julienne strips.
You need to wet the rice paper before wrapping. We have a shallow bowl with hot water to dip them in for half a second.
Add in your ingredients and roll it up like a burrito.
Eat and enjoy.

Tip: You can also add some hoisin sauce, or sriracha, or peanut sauce to go with the rice rolls for added taste.

[/tab]

[/tabs]

In Downtown

Ramen Taka: Ramen Challenge in Vancouver

June 3, 2018

Ramen Taka aka Ramen Takanotsume is launching their Giga Ramen Challenge on June 1st and it’s not for the faint of heart. I came to watch my friend Maggie attempt this challenge and wow…it’s not easy. In 30 minutes, you must finish the whole bowl unassisted. There is the equivalent of 5 bowls of ramen in there. If you fail, you pay the price of 4 bowls. For example, if you got the Shoyu, that is $11.95 x 4, which is $47.80. If you are victorious, it’s free.

She loves a challenge, so she was drawn to it right away. Make sure you reserve ahead of time to ensure they have time to put it together.

Giga Ramen Challenge

The big bowl of ramen start off with their delicious broth that is topped with their delicious seasoned Hokkaido lard. You can choose shoyu, shio or miso as your broth. Their broth os made with a mixture of pork bones, veggies, and seafood simmered for many hours to be able to get a deep flavour in the broth.

Maggie went with the Dragon’s Dewdrop Shoyu Ramen for the challenge as it’s lightest of the flavours and she felt like she had a better chance of finishing it.

As they built the Giga Ramen, it kept getting bigger and bigger. It’s crazy how much goes into this.

Even the staff were curious about their first competitor and wondered if she could do it all.

Regular Sized Ramen

This is the regular size, so it’s a good portion for those who aren’t up for the challenge. I got the Dragon’s Dewdrop Shoyu Ramen too as it was recommended for first timers. The piece of chashu and seaweed were huge as it sits on the side of the bowl, and the egg, black fugus, green onions and bamboo shoots accompany the delicious noodles and broth. I was surprised by the broth and how good it tasted for a shoyu based broth. I do like my broths more fatty, so it’s definitely not for everyone. It is also piping hot as, so you need to wait a bit before digging in.

BEGIN THE GIGA RAMEN CHALLENGE

This in comparison to the regular bowl is colossal as it is 5 times larger. I won’t spoil the outcomes if Maggie finished it or not, but you can read her blog here. She also has a video, so you can watch every detail of sweat.

Are you ready for the Giga Ramen Challenge?

Faceboook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/ramentaka.ca/

Address:
841 Bidwell St, Vancouver, BC

In Kitsilano

Red Beef Noodle Kitchen: Taiwanese Beef Noodle in Vancouver

June 2, 2018

Red Beef Noodle Kitchen specializes in Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup and it recently opened up near Cypress and 4th. I was looking up new restaurants that opened up and this one popped up. It looked good, so we decided to stop by after work for dinner.

Interior

The space is large and there are tables on either side of the table. Best for groups of 2’s or 4’s.

Salt and Pepper Popcorn Chicken

The popcorn chicken comes with green beans and fried basil. It goes well with the Taiwanese Beef Noodles and I do like the little bit of green with the dish.

Signature Beef and Tendon Noodle Soup

This only comes in one size for $12.95. It’s a good price as the noodles are very soft and delicious. The broth is tasty too.

You get a few chunks of beef that are tender and not too chewy. There were 3 large chunks of tendon too. It was a solid bowl of Taiwanese Beef Noodle.

Premium Red Beef Noodle Soup

This dish is more expensive at $18.95 but you get beautiful slices of certified angus beef. You get a choice between clear or spicy broth. When the dish is ready to be served, they come table side and pour the hot steaming broth over the beef so it cooks. They also give you a bowl if to put the meat aside if you don’t want it to over cook.

When it’s cooked, it doesn’t look visual appealing, but it is delicious. The meat is fatty and tender. Also the broth had a nice sweet corn taste to it.

Final Thoughts

Both versions of the Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup were good. We both left very full and the soup broth were deliciously comforting. The service was mediocre but usually thats the way it goes at Chinese restaurants. If you’re looking for some Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup in Vancouver, add this to your list.

We Rate Red Beef Noodle Kitchen:

Address:
1947 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.redbeef.ca/

In Event

We ate at 32 stalls at the Richmond Night Market so you don’t have to

June 1, 2018

Richmond Night Market is one of the hottest places in Vancouver this Summer for locals and tourist to experience. The market has been open since 2000 and is one of the largest night markets in North America. We are very lucky to be able to experience the plethora of food stalls that attracts over 1 million visitors each Summer.

This year they are open May 11th, 2018 till October 8th, 2018.

The line ups to get inside will be long, so if you plan on coming often over the Summer, definitely try getting their zoom pass to get in faster.

This year, we were invited by Tourism Richmond and ChineseBites to eat our way through 32 food and drink stalls. We didn’t have to visit them all but we couldn’t be stopped.

Here is everything we tried:

Roasted Pork Hocks

Chef James Roasted Corn

Chef James Xin Jiang Man BBQ

[Recommended]

Senbei Japanese Seafood Cracker

Rainbow Churro in Ice Cream

Mamak La Mac and Cheese [Recommended]

Popcorn Shrimp

Big G Large Fried Chicken

Dumpling Master – Rainbow Dumplings

We are Difference – Chinese Donut Sandwich

Tsuga Fry House – Deep Fried Onion Flower

Sippy Tea – Roasted Milk Teaffee with Coffee Jelly [Recommended]

Okonomi Bites – Okonomiyaki Poutine

The Phamily Table – Braised Pork Belly

Milk Cha – Slip Cup Milk Tea and Baby Bottle Milk Tea

Asomi Mochi [Recommended]

Mr Crabzy – Stuffed Crab Claws

Whata Food – Brazillian Cheese Puffs

Chicking – Korean Style Pa Dak Chicken

Cupping 8 Cafe – Durian Tofu Cheesecake

Big Beard Super BBQ – Deep fried Squid [Recommended]

Big Beard Super BBQ – Lamb Skewers

Waffle Tower – Activated Charcoal with Golden Flakes [Recommended]

Tropical Bar – Pineapple Drink

Icy Bar – Summer Special Icy [Recommended]

Rotato [Recommended]

G8 Taiwan Kitchen – Taiwanese Stinky Tofu

Teppan Bossom – Korean Style Pork belly [Recommended]

Taiayaki

Cookies N Cream

Virgin Cocktails with Lights

Sugar Cane Juice

Final Thoughts

We made our way through 32 food and drink stalls. Some were hits, some were misses, and some were just plain gimmicks. There are still a lot more booths that we didn’t cover, but we were able to make a small dent into what is available. Hopefully this gives you an idea of the food and drinks available at the Richmond Night Market. By the end of the night, we were stuffed to the brim.

Address:
8351 River Rd, Richmond, BC

Website:
https://richmondnightmarket.com/