Foodology, Author at Foodology

In BBQ

Hanwoori: Korean BBQ in Burnaby

May 30, 2017

Hanwoori Korean Restaurant in Burnaby is popular for their Korean BBQ Set meals. We came here on Mother’s Day and they were all booked up with reservations, but they still told us to show up early at 5pm as there would be seats open.

Interior

There is some ventilation in the restaurant, but it isn’t very powerful. If you are dining here, don’t wear your best clothes as they will smell. All the tables here are booth seating.

Korean BBQ

We went with Combo B, which serves 4-5 people. This comes with:

prime beef ribs
sliced beef
sliced chicken
spicy pork marinated in house special BBQ sauce
deep-fried pork and vegetable dumpling
stir-fried vermicelli noodles with pork and assorted vegetables
beef bone broth
steamed rice
5 complimentary side dishes

The deep-fried pork and vegetable dumpling came out first and it comes with 6 pieces. Crisp on the outside and savoury on the inside.

The stir-fried vermicelli noodles with pork and assorted vegetables was delicious and it has dominant flavour of soy and sesame.

All the meat arrived in one huge plate.

They add butter to the BBQ grill plate and begin placing the prime beef ribs first.

As we waited for the meat to be cooked, we nibbled on all the side dishes.

The grill does burn after awhile, so make sure to ask the staff for a new grill. We changed ours about 4 times in total.

Seafood pancake

We ordered the seafood pancake to add some more to our meal. It was good and had lots of ingredients packed inside. The way that they cut it, there ends up to be 16 pieces.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a good meal, but we stunk like BBQ afterwards. Every single piece of clothing was smoky.

We Rate Hanwoori:

Address:
5740 Imperial Street, Burnaby

In Brunch

Fergie’s Cafe: Eggs Benny and Caesars in Squamish

May 29, 2017

Fergie’s Cafe in Squamish is a popular destination for brunch on the weekend. It was bumping on the long weekend and we were in for a little bit of a wait. The kitchen was backed up by 40 minutes, but that didn’t stop us or anyone else from continuing to wait.

Order

We lined up to order first before getting a seat.

Seating

There is indoor and outdoor seating, but it was a very nice and hot day outside, everyone opted for and patio seat. As we waiting, we relax on their sun-drenched deck and enjoyed the fabulous views as our food was being prepared.

All the food is fresh, locally-sourced and lovingly prepared.

They gave us a spoon with a number, so when our orders are ready, they’ll bring it over.

Drinks

Coffee is a must to go with brunch. Always helps me keep awake. We also got a cinnamon bun to share too. Delicious.

Matcha latte is on the menu too.

One of the best drinks is the Caesar, you can get it as a single or a double. It’s made fresh and you can tell they don’t skip any corners with this caesar.

Eggs Benny

Dubliner Benny has a homemade butter biscuit, sauteed onions, apple, bacon, poached eggs, hollandaise, Dubliner cheddar and a side of hash.

Smoked Salmon Benny has a homemade buttermilk biscuit, smoked salmon lox, poached eggs, avocado, capers, hollandaise, and a side of hash.

I loved it! So good and simple but full of taste. I would highly recommend this.

Ratatouille benny sits on a bed of hash, steamed kale, eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, and poached free-range eggs with hollandaise. Dee really enjoyed this benny.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we loved the brunch here! Such a nice hidden gem in Squamish. We will definitely be back for more bennies and caesars in the future. If you’re passing by Squamish, definitely add this to your list of places to visit.

We Rate Fergie’s Cafe:

Address:
70002 Squamish Valley Rd, Squamish, BC

Website:
http://www.sunwolf.net/fergies/

In Cafe

Galileo Coffee Company: Coffee Break in Britannia Beach

May 28, 2017

Galileo Coffee Company is on the way up to Squamish and Whistler. It is located by Britannia Beach, which is where there Britannia Mine is. A lot of people were here early in the morning either getting coffee or lining up for the washroom. It was recommended to me by a friend that I come take a visit.

There is lots of parking out front, so it wasn’t too crowded. People usually don’t stay too long. They either have a quick bite or get take out.

Interior

Inside, there are a few tables to relax at. They have more tables outside too. There was a decent sized line up, but they are pretty quick and efficient to getting your order in and making it. The line up for the washroom was a bit longer.

Coffee

An americano and a cappuccino were our coffees of choice for keeping us awake as we continue to Squamish. I got the cappuccino and it hit the spot.

We put on our lids and rolled out.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was nice stopping here for the views and just to refresh ourselves before driving further along our journey.

We Rate Galileo Coffee Company:

Address:
173 BC-99, Britannia Beach, BC

Website:
http://galileocoffee.com/

In Seafood

The WaterShed Grill in Brackendale, BC

May 26, 2017

The Water Shed Grill is in Brackendale, BC, which is minutes away from Squamish. It has a casual bar and restaurant with West Coast eats with a riverfront patio.

This places sits right right above the Squamish River and is absolutely beautiful.

Interior

The interior has a very casual feel and as a local or a tourist, you’ll fit right in. The view from the heated patio is awesome. If you are into sports, they have a few screen to watch the game.

Blue Lip Steamed Mussels

The mussels are in a creamy white wine and garlic broth. It is served with focaccia bread. The mussels weren’t as plump, but it still tasted good and naturally sweet.

Local Fish and Chips

You get 2 3oz filets of local cod dipped in a beer batter and then its deep-fried. It is served with fried, tartar sauce, coleslaw, and wedge of lemon. It was pretty good and you can taste the quality of the cod. Moist and delicious.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s a very great place to have food and drinks with friends. The food is very Westcoast and they source their seafood from sustainable places, so thats great. They also have good burgers too.

We Rate the Watershed Grill:

Address:
41101 Government Rd, Brackendale, BC

Website: http://thewatershedgrill.com/

In travel

6 Easy Ways of Going Green and Saving Money

May 25, 2017

The City of Vancouver has a plan to become the greenest city by 2020 to tackle environmental challenges. We are seeing more local companies lead by example by having Zero Waste Events, construct green buildings, and finding better ways to green transportation. So, what can we do as individuals in BC to make a difference in where we live? Here are a few tips to get you started.

Reusable Shopping Bags

I really despise plastic bags these days as they are overflowing the drawers of my kitchen. I really make it a mission to say no to plastic bags when possible. I love to use fabric tote bags for their durability and the look of it, but it can be bulky if you’re storing it in your purse. Grocery stores are also encouraging the habit by making customers pay $0.05 or $0.10 when they use one plastic bag.

Recycle and Compost

Did you know, about 50% of a typical residential household’s garbage is food scraps and food-soiled paper products. As mandatory recycling and composting is spreading from city to city, it’s getting slightly easier to get into the habit of recycling and composting. Some employers encourage this habit too.

Use a reusable mug for coffee, tea or water.

It’s been a while since I’ve drank from plastic water bottles. There’s no issues with tap water in BC, so I rarely buy water when I go out. I do have a preference for really cold water, so I like using these S’Well-like water bottles. S’Well is an amazing brand but it’s pretty pricey. There are a lot of cheaper versions out there that still perform well.

Green Cleaning Products

There are a lot of green product on the market for cleaning your home like reusable microfiber cloths and natural all-purpose cleaners. Whatever you use to clean should be healthy for you and your family. There are also tons of all natural cleaners that you can make at home without purchasing premium green cleaning products if you want to keep the cost down.

Car Pool

Living in the subburbs, carpooling is something we do every day. Of course there are other alternative modes of transportation like public transit, walking or biking, but we prefer the convenience of being in our own vehicle. To be even greener, there are a lot of great electric and hybrid vehicles out there.

We tried the 2017 Ford C-Max Energi a few weeks ago and in a week, we only used 0.5L of gas. It runs on electric power for about 28 kms before it starts using fuel. These types of vehicles are eligible for Provincial incentives of up to $5,000 in BC and some employers even match that amount. Provincial incentives are higher in Quebec and Ontario.

Energy Saving Light Bulbs

Being smart about the lightbulbs you have in your home can have cost savings on your electricity over time. Buy Energy Star certified lightbulbs as they use a 70-90% less energy, on average, than light fixtures with traditional incandescent bulbs.

In Japanese

Pepper Lunch Canada: New Location at Garden City Central

May 24, 2017

Pepper Lunch Canada has opened their third location at Garden City Central, the big complex with the Wal-Mart. You’ll find the same great food sizzling on their cast iron plates.

When you walk in, you order right at the counter and then go get seated. We were invited back to Pepper Lunch to check out the new space and try a few items off them menu, I’ve been a fan of Pepper Lunch since they first opened in Canada. I find it a lot better than some locations in Asia since they put in more care in the quality of ingredients that go into the dish.

Spicy Pork Pepper Rice

The hot sizzling skillet has pieces of spicy pork, rice, corn, pepper and green onions. The skillet cooks the pork quickly, so make sure to mix all the ingredients together. It’s not too spicy and it just gives you a little kick.

Chicken Gyoza

Grilled to perfection, just look at all those lovely marks. It’s a great item to order and share with your friends. I would order this again.

Wagyu Beef Pepper Rice

Sizzling beef sounds so good. You don’t need long for the meat to cook and you probably want it a touch pink in the centre to really taste the flavour of the beef.

Mushroom Veggie Burger

This dish always amazes me as it’s so savoury due to the amount of mushrooms inside the patty. It’s a veggie patty that any meat eater would enjoy, except if you don’t like mushrooms.

Unagi Pepper Rice

The unagi pieces are in an egg mixture with the pepper rice in the centre. When it arrives at the table, I would mix it up right away so it doesn’t get over cooked especially the egg.

8oz Slice Angus Steak

The pieces of Angus streak are really juicy and delicious especially when its just at medium rare. If you don’t want to over cook it, a good tip is to put it on top of the veggies.

Kobe Burger with Egg

Another one of my top favourites. The burger is cut into 4s and is very succulent and juicy. The veggies balance the dish pretty well.

Beef Yaki Udon

This is a dish I haven’t had before. It is beef yaki udon and it’s mean to be mixed before eating.

Mochi Ice Cream

For dessert, you can order some mochi ice cream too. Sometimes it’s good to have a touch of sweetness to the end of the meal and it’s not too large, so its prefect. My favourite ones are vanilla and black sesame.

Final Thoughts

I honestly love Pepper Lunch for a good quick meal and now we have 3 locations to go to. I’ll be back.

We Rate Pepper Lunch:

Address:
1625-5791 McClelland Rd, Richmond

Website:
http://www.pepperlunchcanada.com/

In Downtown

Kobe Japanese Steak and Seafood House: Teppanyaki Dining Experience

May 22, 2017

Kobe Japanese Steak and Seafood House specializes in Teppanyaki Dining Experience and has been around since 1969. They require reservations and can fit up to 120 people. I’ve always known about it and wanted to go try it. M and I received a SocialShopper voucher for a complete hibachi teppanyaki dinner experience for two people and wanted to come try it for our anniversary. We made reservations online and came here on a Wednesday evening. The dinner included teppan shrimp appetizer, shabu shabu soup, rice, seared vegetables, beef, tiger prawns, teriyaki chicken breast, green tea and ice cream for dessert.

Izakaya Lounge

The lounge is on the main floor and they have drinks and some other nibbles that you can order.

Dining Area

The main dining area is upstairs and there were tons of people already at 6pm. The seating is a bit tight since they tried to maximize space. We got seated but then had to wait until 6:40pm until the table was all complete. So, we grabbed some drinks. Drinks are extra and aren’t included in the voucher.

I went with Tiger, a Singaporean lager that has a light, crisp, and clean taste.

M got a small size of sake to enjoy with his meal. Both very great options to have with teppanyaki as it compliments the flavour profiles.

Shabu Shabu Soup

Everyone started with the Shabu Shabu Soup, which has fried onions, mushrooms and some green onions in this tasty broth. A good way to start the meal.

Food + Entertainment

Once the chef started, we got really excited to see the electrifying fire on the hot hot grill. I loved seeing the fire and feeling the heat emanating from grill.

They have 2 different sauces to dip your meat and vegetables. One was a garlic sauce and the other was a ginger sauce. Both good sauces, but I didn’t use it too much since the food was already flavourful.

Seared Vegetables

As the table was celebrating a few different things, they seared vegetables on the grill with a I <3 U and an onion tower that went up in flames.

Super fun to photograph too. Those flames definitely went up high.

The veggies were cooked well and had good flavour.

Teppan Shrimp Appetizer and Tiger Prawns

They cooked the shrimp together on the grill. The teppan shrimp and the tiger prawns had a noticeable texture and taste difference.

The tiger prawns had a nice bounce in texture and was more plump.

Beef

When we got our steak, we were asked how we would like it cooked. We went with rare.

It was cooked more to a medium rare, but that was ok too. The steak was good and went well with the dipping sauces.

Teriyaki Chicken Breast

There was then the Terikyaki Chicken Breast cooked on the grill with soy sauce, butter and salt.

Then the bean sprouts are steamed up and served with the chicken.

All the food put on the plate doesn’t look appetizing, but the food was decent.

Ice Cream

The meal ended with a scoop of ice cream with a cute umbrella. We got green tea and mango.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a unique experience and I’m glad we got a chance to try it. The food was decent but because of the similar sauce used for the different proteins, the flavour profile was mostly soy sauce and butter. $68.99 for a Teppanyaki Dinner Experience for 2 people through SocialShopper was a good deal. They usually have these deals, so you never have to pay regular price again.

We Rate Kobe:

Address:
1042 Alberni St, Vancouver

Website: https://koberestaurant.com

In Happy Hour

Urban Thai Bistro: Happy Hour in Yaletown

May 21, 2017

Urban Thai Bistro has happy hour from 3 – 6 pm and 9 – 10 pm. $4 drinks, $6 appetizers, and $8 salads. Since Summer is coming very soon, what better way to celebrate than happy hour after work. We invited to try all their happy hour items.

Interior

The interior has lots of space for small to large groups. They also have a patio. There are a few ornate statues inside and gives this restaurant a modern Thai look and feel.

Drinks

Thai Iced Tea is a must here. The unique taste of the tea with milk and added sweetness. It’s very addictive.

Thai Iced Coffee is on the menu as well. This was really creamy and sweet, which I didn’t like too much. I would have liked a bit more coffee intensity in this.

Royal Thai is another popular beverage. It is a mix of fresh coconut milk and lychee.

Appetizers

Fish Cakes comes with 6 pieces topped with onion, cucumber, sweet chili and a fried basil leaf.

Vegetarian Spring Roll are deep-fried to a golden brown colour. There is a sweet chili sauce on the side.

Urban Thai Shrimp Balls were good to munch on with some beer. It comes with 6 pieces, so its good for groups to share.

Wings comes in 3 different flavours – red curry, chili basil and sweet & Sour.

A good combination of sauces and wings. Recommended for happy hour with beer.

Thai BBQ Chicken was good with a nice char on the outside.

Thai BBQ Pork was really good and comes with many slices.

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce was ok, but a bit on the dry side.

Calamari with crispy batter and a sweet chili sauce. All shaped like rings.

Crispy Fish with homemade sauce was good when it’s fresh out of the fryer.

Salad

Spicy Beef BBQ sits in a lettuce cup. The slices were thin but not very spicy.

Spicy Thai Prawns Salad was not that great. The prawns didn’t seem that fresh.

Chicken Lettuce Wrap is always a fun dish to have at the table and get interactive with your food. The crisp wrap with the savoury filling.

Som Tum Papaya Salad was ok.

Final Thoughts

Overall, some items were hit and miss but anything deep fried with drinks can’t go wrong. They have a lot of options of the happy hour menu.

We Rate Urban Thai Bistro:

Address:
119 Hamilton St, Vancouver

Website:
http://thaihouse.com/urban-thai-bistro/

In Brewery

Callister Brewing Co: Co-Working Brewery

May 20, 2017

Callister Brewing Co has a unique concept and they operate as a co-working brewer. They support independent, talented brewers to grow their business by creating accessibility to equipment and commercial facilities. They currently have Boombox Brewing, Real Cask, and Lightheart Brewing in this co-working brewery.

Tasting Room

The tasting room was busy around dinner time as there was a huge group here. It seems like craft breweries are popular for bachelors and bachelorette parties. There are a few long tables and some smaller tables in the form of barrels.

Flights of Beer

As usual, I asked them for their less hoppy beers on the menu. I got the Lightheart Brewing ‘Brain Candy’ Pale Ale, Real Cask Brewing Black Burn Bitter, Callister Brewing ‘Das Alt’ German Alt Bier, and Boombox Brewing Mystify Barrel Sour.

Of the bunch, all of them were meh, but I did enjoy the Boombox Brewing Mystify Barrel Sour. My friend didn’t like any of the beers in her flight.

Snacks

They have sine awesome snacks created by East Side Beer Food. There’s stuff like pretzels, pepperoni sticks, samosas, and twisty cheesy bread. All so good and indulgent. I got the spicy pepperoni stick and it had a nice kick to it. Best brewery snacks.

Final Thoughts

Overall, they have a lot of different beers, but a lot of them were mediocre.

We Rate Callister Brewing:

Address:
1338 Franklin St, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.callisterbrewing.com/

In product

Handfuel: A Snack that’s Fuel in Your Hands

May 19, 2017

Handfuel is a Toronto based company founded in 2015. They focus creating flavourful and nutritious products for health conscious consumers across Canada. They currently have a line of trail mix with 4 types:

Almonds
Antioxidizer
Energizer
Vitalizer

Each one has their own unique flavour profile and health benefits. You can eat it our of the bad or add it to any recipe.

Energizer

This has a mix of roasted almonds, pistachios, sultana raisins, golden raisins, and sunflower kernels covered in spices. It has a sweet and fragrant cinnamon chai flavour profile. This is rich in Vitamin E, and Minerals including Copper and Magnesium.

Antioxidizer

This has raw walnuts, pecans, strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries. It provides a balanced assortment of antioxidant packed fruits and raw nuts that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. I really enjoyed this mix as it isn’t salted or has spices. Very clean and raw taste.

Chia Pudding

I added the Antioxidizer to my chia pudding and it added a nice texture to it. I mixed the chia seeds with almond milk and once it was set, I put the nuts and dried fruit on top.

Of the 2 kinds, I liked the Antioxidizer mix more that Energizer mix. For my personal taste, I didn’t like the added spice, but I can see it blend well with other dishes.

Website: http://www.handfuel.ca/

In Brewery

Powell Street Craft Brewery in East Vancouver

May 18, 2017

Powell Street Craft Brewery is small independent microbrewery in East Vancouver close to a bunch of other breweries too. The brewery opened December 2012, but moved into their current tasting room in 2014. We came here to visit their tasting room and grab some beers.

Tasting Room

The tasting room is cozy and there are only a few tables here. There is a small look into the brewery from the tasting room. All those large containers making our favourite beers.

Flight

I always love getting flights so I can try a bit of everything. I asked them to choose 4 beers that weren’t as hoppy. They chose Dive Bomb, Test Batch, Old Jalopy and the Ode to Citra. All 4 were really good and I would order them again.

Snacks

They have some snack here to go with the beer. I got the honey garlic sausages and it had a good flavour. A bit floppy in texture compared to some other sausages out there.

Overall, I really enjoyed the chill atmosphere and great beer.

We Rate Powell Street Craft Brewery:

Address:
1357 Powell St, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.powellbeer.com/

In product

Krave Gourmet Jerky: Krave Sticks

May 17, 2017

Krave Gourmet Jerky just launched their brand new Krave Sticks in 3 different flavours:

Sesame Garlic Beef Sticks with Sweet Potato
Spicy Red Pepper Pork Sticks with Black Bean
Rosemary Lemon Turkey Stick with White Beans

We received 2 kinds in the mail to give it a try. I am a pretty picky snacker, but I really do enjoy jerky as a snack.

Sesame Garlic Beef Sticks with Sweet Potato

The taste profile really reminds me of Korean bulgogi because of the sesame and garlic. The sesame and garlic are strong so it masks the beef taste, but the texture of it was good. One thing I didn’t like was the casing for the jerky as it wasn’t adhering to the beef.

Spicy Red Pepper Pork Sticks with Black Bean

Having this really reminded me of Spicy Korean Bulgogi because of the spicy red pepper. It has strong tastes of the garlic in this pork stick. The black bean has a it hard to notice. The casing on this one wasn’t as loose as the Sesame Garlic Beef Sticks.

Overall, both products are good and snack worthy. With both flavours, they have a Korean flavour profile to them, so if you like Korean cuisine, you’ll like these jerky sticks from Crave Gourmet Jerky. I wasn’t able to get my hands on the Rosemary Lemon Turkey Stick with White Beans, so I have to keep looking for that.

In Downtown

La Taqueria: Taco Shop in Downtown Vancouver

May 16, 2017

La Taqueria has their new location on Hornby Street, which has 90 seats and also offers counter service for convenient food on the go. Happy Hour runs from 3pm–6pm daily with $4 Margaritas to toast the end of a long workday.

This location is the largest of all their locations. You will find the same delicious tacos and burritos.

Burritos

Seven Burritos have joined the existing menu of tacos and quesadillas, and are substantial meals on their own—weighing in at approximately one pound per burrito—with authentic Mexican fillings wrapped in fresh flour tortillas.

Carne in Adobo Burrito has Braised Sirloin Tips in Adobo Sauce, served with Pico de Gallo, Charro Beans, Cilantro and Tortilla Chips.

Fish Baja Burrito has Beer Battered Ocean Wise Cod Fillet, Served with Chipotle and Wasabi Mayo, Sweet Ponzu, and Cilantro and a touch of Salsa Fresca.

Rajas con Crema Burrito has Authentic Rajas con Crema (Roasted Poblano Peppers), served with Black Beans, Chipotle Mayo, Sauteed Mushrooms and Kale, and Mozzarella Cheese.

You can always dress it up with more sauce.

Tacos

The best part of La Taqueria are their tacos. Little bites of deliciousness.

De Lengua Taco is braised beef tongue.

Carnitas Tacos has pork confit with pickled red onions.

Calabacitas taco is a vegan option with zucchini, sweet corn and bell pepper medley topped with queso fresco.

Tinga de Pollo taco has chicken with chorizo in a chipotle tomato sauce, topped with Mexican cheese and sour cream.

Drinks

There are tons of drinks to have with your meal. Alcoholic and noon-alcoholic options.

Slushie Lime Margaritas

Horchata

Tequila shots

Coronita Extra

Final Thoughts

A great lunch option at La Taqueria to add to the Downtown core. There are lots of seats and you can’t go wrong with their burritos or tacos. They make ordering efficient, so if you’re tight on time, you can get take out.

Address:
586 Hornby St, Vancouver

Website: http://www.lataqueria.com/

In Brewery

Andina Brewing: Ceviche and Beer in East Vancouver

May 15, 2017

Andina Brewing Company in East Vancouver. It was founded by Colombian/Canadian brothers, Andrés and Nicolás Amaya. The Amaya Brothers have lived in Vancouver for more than 18 years and are passionate about beer, music, culture, and family and friends.They offer an environment that is a unique blend of South American and Canadian flavours. If you are looking for something new and out of the ordinary stop by their brewery and try the Ceviche paired with their beers.

The Tasting Lounge

You can get growler fills at the counter or enter the Tasting Lounge with lots of tables to enjoy your drinks and food. It was pretty busy on a Saturday night, so we had to wait a little bit until we were seated.

What’s a better time than having a few beers with friends and having fun.

Ceviche

Ceviche preparation and consumption is practically a religion in the coastal South and Central America. In Andina you will have a ceviche lineup that includes Peruvian, Colombian, Mexican and vegetarian versions. I ordered the House Ceviche with shrimp and it comes with 3 plantain chips. We all loved it and was surprised at the quality. It is a bit expensive, but it is so worth it.

Tasting Flights

The tasting flights for with 4 types. I didn’t know what to choose so I got them to suggest 4 kinds that were not too hoppy.

Totuma, Kölsch
Ay Ay Ay, Pale Ale
Andina, Session Ale
Mapalé, Milk Stout

Overall, I really enjoyed our time here with ceviche and beers. Definitely check this brewery out.

We Rate Andina Brewery:

Address:
1507 Powell St, Vancouver

Website: https://andinabrewing.ca

In Car

2017 Ford C-Max Energi: Review

May 14, 2017

This week we got to try out the 2017 Ford C-Max. This tall town car was definitely something I wouldn’t have picked out of a line up to test drive, but by good fortune, I got to commute with it for a whole week.

Exterior

The C-Max is a very boxy looking car, that doesn’t scream sporty, but more “Dear me, look at the time, I do believe its elevenses.” The car looks big, but it’s actually quite compact, it’s only pretty tall.

The trim that we got to try was the SE, so there weren’t any cool features to accentuate the look of the C-Max on the exterior. The White Gold is very luxe though and complement’s the non-sporty feel of the car.

I don’t mind that the C-Max looks a lot like it’s Fusion brother. I actually prefer the compactness of the C-Max to the Ford Fusion.

Interior

I think the 2017 Ford C-Max has the best lowest trim interiors I’ve ever seen a Ford car have. There aren’t overly sized plastic bits anywhere and the fake leather and metal trims around the dashboard are actually quite muted and mature. I’m still not a fan of the huge chunks of plastic on the steering wheel that controls the cruise control and no hands calling.

Apple Car Play is available in the C-Max which I love. However, I found the startup of Apple Car Play to be a little slow. Ford has this annoying quirk of the audio not stopping when you turn off the car, and only stops when you open the door. This makes listening to your iPhone or iPod extremely annoying when you unplug before opening the car door. The audio reverts to terrible radio music until you quickly fling open the door in agony. Why can’t the audio stop when the car is fully off?

The dashboard has a nice physical speedometer flanked by 2 LCD screens that show you how you’re driving and how much battery you have left. Although this trim did not have leather seats, the cloth seats were pretty serviceable. The gear shift also felt really good to use.

Since the car is tall, you don’t need to bend down as much getting into the vehicle, which was actually pretty nice. There is lots of leg and head room in the back for those who are tall.

One thing you will lose out on with the C-Max is the trunk space due to the battery.

Drive

The C-Max is an interesting half electric vehicle and half hybrid. The car on Auto EV mode stays in fully electric mode until the battery runs out of juice which I averaged about 25 km. Then it turns into a Hybrid car using a decently sized 2.0L 188hp engine.

My entire time commuting to and from work, I never used the gasoline engine which was great! The C-Max is perfect for those who use their car mostly for the commute. Driving efficiently and never using the gas engine was a fun challenge and something I loved striving for.

The C Max handles surprisingly well! Taking sharper turns, the car was a joy to drive. I actually prefer driving the C Max over the previously reviewed Ford Fusion. The car is small so compact spaces of parking was a breeze, also thanks to the rearview camera.

Final Thoughts

The C-Max is a great option for those who want to buy a cheaper hybrid and/or electric vehicle. If you use your car mostly to commute, this car will not need a lot of fill ups. Unlike other EVs though, you can take long trips without fearing the loss of power. The car is not a great sporty looker, but it handles a lot better than it looks and was a pleasure to drive.

Website: http://www.ford.ca/cars/cmax/

In Burnaby Central

KFC Canada: Boneless Original Tenders Review

May 13, 2017

KFC Canada has just introduced their boneless original recipe chicken tenders and I made the mistake of posting about the crispy tenders when I thought I ordered the original recipe chicken tenders. After they kindly told me I had the wrong product, I made it a mission to go out to another location to get the correct tenders. It turns out that some mall locations don’t have the space to create boneless original recipe chicken tenders due to the space constraints. You will have better luck at the stand alone locations. I went to the one near Broadway and Fraser in Vancouver.

Boneless original recipe chicken tenders

We got 8 pieces of original recipe tender, popcorn chicken and lots of honey mustard sauce. The tenders are made with real Canadian farm-raised chicken. The honey mustard sauce is pretty good with a subtle hint of sweetness. We made sure to get lots of it.

All the pieces are different shapes, but very plump and moist. I really like the breading, which KFC is best known for their secret 11 herbs and spices.

Overall, these were delicious tenders. Between the crispy tenders and the boneless original recipe chicken tenders, I would have to go with boneless original recipe chicken tenders. I would definitely get these again.

Website: http://www.kfc.ca/

In British Columbia

Tim Hortons: Perfectly Uncomplicated Latte

May 12, 2017

Nothing is more Canadian than Tim Hortons. They recently released their new look for their cups with a bunch of super iconic Canadian things illustrated on the cup. That’s not the only thing new at Tim Hortons, they just launched their ‘Perfectly Uncomplicated Latte’.

The hand-crafted beverage is made with a balance of espresso and freshly steamed milk to deliver a premium coffee experience. Over 3,500 Tim Hortons across Canada have new espresso machines, so customers from coast-to-coast can experience the same perfectly uncomplicated latte. Some smaller locations won’t have these lattes.

As a coffee lover, I found it interesting that Tim Hortons would up their game on lattes as their last iteration was pretty lacklustre. I started drinking coffee when I was in Vienna spending a semester studying and the 2 simple ingredients really spoke to me and also kept me awake for many nights of late night studying. So I like a strong cappuccino or latte.

After having the Perfectly Uncomplicated Latte as well as their cappuccinos, it’s a good cheap option that will satisfy your coffee cravings. Of course this won’t beat the artisan hipster coffee that will run you about $4 – $5.

Tim Hortons new lattes will be available in one size (medium) across Canada for $2.99 before taxes. It’s a good price and great to grab if you’re in a hurry.

Website: http://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/index.php

In Chinese

Mr Chili Noodle House: Chongqing Cuisine in Burnaby

May 11, 2017

Mr. Chili Noodle House in Burnaby specialized in Chongqing cuisine. Sherman had a coupon he had to use up before it expired, so he was nice enough to invite myself and some other foodie friends to check out this place. I’ve passed by this restaurant so many times, but never though about coming here till now.

Interior

The interior is beautiful. It reminded me of a cafe, but with no coffee. I didn’t expect this place to look so nice and modern.

Drinks

You can ask for tea or water when you get a seat. The cups are really cute too.

Spicy Pig Ear

The pig ears were thinly sliced and had a good amount of spice to them. It was really good.

Chicken with Chili

So damn good. This is their smaller size and the chicken was so moist and flavourful. Even if you took the chili sauce away, the chicken would be fantastic on its own. I would highly recommend this.

Hot and Sour Potato Vermicelli

This was definitely spicy and it had a good balance of spice and sourness. There is minced meat and peanuts in here too.

Beef Noodle Soup

There are chunks of beef in this soup with nice marbling of fat. The broth was clean and not overly salty. They don’t use any MSG in their dishes. A good sold beef noodle but I felt like it was missing something.

Spicy Fish Tofu in Soup

This is one badass dish with tons of Szechuan peppercorn and the fish and tofu hiding inside. We tried not to eat the peppercorns as it would numb our mouth. The soup wasn’t very spicy at all.

Curry Beef Brisket Pot

Here is a pretty big bowl of curry to share with the table. You probably want to order this with some rice.

Stir Fried Green Beans

The stir fried green beans were ok, but we found it to be a bit old as it didn’t have a nice crispness to it.

Kung Pao Prawns

This dis was ok as well. You need to grab a piece of chili to go with the prawns to balance out the sweeter sauce with the pepper.

Final Thoughts

The spicy dishes were super delicious but a few other dishes were a miss. Its still really good to have a Chongqing restaurant in North Burnaby as its hard to find.

We rate Mr Chili:

Address:
3760 Hastings Street, Burnaby

Website: http://www.mrchilinoodlehouse.ca/