In Downtown

Black Rice Izakaya: Winter Menu

December 29, 2017

Black Rice Izakaya in Vancouver is always trying to have seasonal items on the menu to keep items fresh and also cater to the tastebuds for the winter months. They have released 6 new dishes for the cold winter season.

Interior

There is a lot of space for groups of 2s and 4s, if you have a larger group, best to get a reservation so you don’t have to wait during peak hours.

Hamaguri Dobin Mushi

This has Hamaguri, water, salt, pepper string and yuzu peel. It is a very comforting broth that is peppery and ends with the citrus yuzu peel.

Goma Tuna

You have chunks of the tuna marinated in delicious sauce. Then a crisp rice cake on top. There is also a cucumber cup filled with uni. I liked this dish as it has nice clean flavours.

Kichi Scallop Motoyaki

In the shell is kimchi, chopped bell pepper, butter and cheese. A rich dish due to the butter and cheese, but cooked kimchi is very comforting in the winter months.

Neapolitan Spaghetti

There is soba noodle, tomato sauce, ketchup, bacon, sausage, onion and egg. I found it a touch too sweet, but some people at the table really enjoyed it.

Kimchi Nabe

A hot warming hot pot that is kept warm by the fame under it. It’s not too spicy at all. I find that some kimchi is better is soups where its flavours can really shine through.

Terikayi Wagyu Steak

This sizzling plate has Teriyaki glazed US wagyu beef from Snake River Farms, Monterey Jack and mozzarella cheese with mashed potatoes. It’s cooked till a medium rare for the quality of meat to shine through.

Sake Drinks

Of course it’s not winter without some delicious sake cocktails to go with the meal. With the winter, there is lots to celebrate around the table during the holidays. They have a lot of options on their beverage menu.

Beer

If you’re like me, I enjoy beer more than sake for the crisp bubbly taste. There is Sapporo and Asahi on top, but I usually gravitate towards Sapporo.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the new items are good additiona to the menu to give customer more options during the winter. I didn’t love all the dishes as I prefer more of a clean taste to my food, but I did like the Hamaguri Dobin Mushi and Goma Tuna.

We Rate Black Rice Izakaya:

Address:
782 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.blackrice.ca/

In Cocktails

Botanist Restaurant: Chef’s ‘We’ll Take It From Here’ Menu

December 18, 2017

We wanted to indulge on a culinary night out at Botanist with a few of my foodie friends – Foodgressing and Picky Diner. We decided to do the Chef’s ‘We’ll Take It From Here’ Menu for the whole table for $108 per person. A bit indulgent, but since I just came back from New York, this price was really great in comparison. We went on a Friday night around 6pm and did require reservations as it’s a pretty busy time of year.

Interior

The interior is very beautiful and the perfect setting for any occasion. They even have liven music which is a nice touch. Good for small to large groups.

Drinks and Cocktails

Drinks aren’t included with the set menu, but we got a few different beverages to go with the meal. I went with beer as usual. They do have mocktails too if you don’t drink alcohol. Just ask the staff as they have a pretty extensive drink menu.

Wine Pairings

You can also add wine pairings with each dish in the set menu. Worth it if you’re a wine lover.

Bread

As you wait for the dishes to arrive, they give you some beautiful housemade bread and some butter.

Amuse Bouche

The meal started with a Sturgeon Chicharron, fermented veggies, and dried sturgeon. It was essentially deep-fried fish skin and it was very delicious. The crunchy texture paired well with the fermented veggies. A good start to the meal. This was paired with Zanata Brut.

Course 1: Beet Salad

The next item has textured beets, pecans, orange, and Ashley Goat’s cheese. I simply adore beets, so I loved all the different variety and techniques they used on this dish. Paired with Lucien Crochet Sancerre.

Course 2: Lobster and Sunchoke

This has Sunchoke Velouté, lobster, and chive chantilly. They come to the table and pour the broth into the bowl. A fun way to see the dish come together. The lobster was cooked perfectly. Paired with Roux Père et Fils Chardonnay.

Course 3: Scallop

This has Diver scallop, brussel sprouts, guanciale celeriac foam. A beautiful sear on each side of the scallop on top of the shredded bed of brussel sprouts. The acidity of the sauce worked in the dish to go well with the foam and scallop. Paired with Domaine de la Mora.

Course 4: Bison

This meaty dish has Bison, Saskatoon berry, mushrooms, caulifower. The mushrooms were absolutely amazing to go with the bison. A fun dish to showcase ingredients from Canada. Paired with Perraton Père et Fils

Course 5: Dessert

This dessert is made with Itakuji chocolate pate, passion fruit pulp, and licorice ice cream. At first I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about the dessert after hearing it has licorice. After digging into it, I really enjoyed the passion fruit a lot. The licorice was subtle and not overpowering at all. Paired with Foneseca Port.

Sweet Treat

At the end of the meal, they give everyone a little gift to take home – Chef’s Shortbread using his grandmother’s recipe. A nice thoughtful gift to continue the experience at home.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think it was worth what you get in the Chef’s tasting. We were all full afterwards and each dish was unique and not on the regular menu. Service was great and the staff were all super friendly. I’ll be back for any special occasion.

We Rate Botanist Restaurant:

Address:
1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.botanistrestaurant.com/

In Cafe

Caffè Artigiano: Holiday Drinks

December 16, 2017

Holiday drinks are all around, but if you’re a fan of Caffè Artigiano, you’ll want to enjoy some holiday cheer in their newly renovated Burrard and Hornby Location along with their beverages. Chef Dawn Doucette has paired up with Caffé Artigiano’s Director of Coffee, Michael Ratcliff, for four new drinks, as well as a classic eggnog latte.

Holiday Private Reserve Espresso

Michael’s Holiday Private Reserve Espresso is grown in three different continents, all from family owned, ethical farms. He roasts an organic Kintamani from Bali, Honduras Organic Finca Liquadambar and Ethiopian Limu Gera, then blends the trio of beans into an enticing seasonal take on his signature espresso. Exotic spicy flavours, including notes of molasses, mandarin, strawberry preserve and star anise pair with the dark chocolate flavours of Artigiano’s signature espresso for a subtle, mild blend on its own as an espresso or in a latte or cappuccino.

Orange Mocha Latte

Using organic Italian syrups and their holiday espresso for their Orange Mocha Latte – Chocolate and espresso balance out this subtle Italian flavour combination with a creamy milk foam. It is topped with a crisp orange slice sprinkled with sugar, then dehydrated overnight in a convection oven.

Toasted Marshmallow Latte

A Toasted Marshmallow Latte is fun, sprinkled with mini marshmallows with a serious double shot of espresso.

Peppermint Mocha Latte

Two Christmas inspired drinks include a Peppermint Mocha Latte, blending chocolate, espresso, peppermint syrup and a sprinkle of crunchy candy cane and, serving a whipping cream top.

Gingerbread Latte

Gingerbread Latte is the most indulgent with ginger syrup and espresso topped with whipping cream, caramel sauce and crushed gingerbread cookies.

All drinks are available with regular milk, organic milk (organic milk is no additional charge for children, also available – espresso free hot chocolate), soya or almond milk, now until the new year.

You can indulge in some sweet treats along with your coffee that will equally match the festivities. If you’re looking for a shop for delicious coffee and sweets, check out Caffè Artigiano.

Address:
763 Hornby Street, Vancouver

Website: https://www.caffeartigiano.com/

In Downtown

Hula Poké at Pacific Centre Food Court in Vancouver

November 14, 2017

Hulu Poké is now open at Pacific Centre in Downtown Vancouver serving up Hawaiian-inspired poké bowls and tostadas. There has been a surge of poke shops opening up around the Lower Mainland and there’s no stopping them. Vancouverites love their seafood and clean flavours.

They have 9 different types of pre-built Hula Bowls, so you can’t customize them like other shops. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as those who are indecisive don’t have to think so hard. Those who are picky, may not like these pre-built options.

Hula Bowls

All hula bowls have a base of rice and yuzu kale. There are 6 Hula Bowls and 2 Vege Bowl options on the menu.

Tiki with Togarashi Spicy Tuna
Bahamian with Coconut Rockfish
Lei with Togarashi Salmon
Koko with Gochujang Salmon
Ancho with Ancho Rockfish
Nikkei with Citrus Ahi Tuna
Cali Veg with Miso Ginger Tofu
Sweet Potato with Ancho Sweet Potato

If you don’t like cilantro of red chili peppers, you should tell them ahead of time.

Tiki

This has ahi tuna in togarashi mayo, cucumber, green onion, red chili, edamame, crispy onions, black sesame, hijiki, and cilantro.

Bahamian

This has rockfish, coconut and pineapple salsas, edamame, red pepper, green onion, jalapeno, coconut flakes and cilantro. This reminded me of a Hawaiian pizza of poke.

Koko

This has spicy gochujang salmon, carrots, white onion, avocado, cucumber, kimchi, furikake, black sesame, cilantro, and a miso ginger vinaigrette on the bed of yuzu kale and rice.

Ancho

There is rockfish in an ancho crema tossed in avocado, jicama slaw, green onion, red pepper, chili oil, cilantro and crispy onions.

Lei

This has salmon in togarashi mayo, cucumber, avocado, red pepper, green onion, red pepper strings, spicy peas and furikake. One of my favourites.

Nikkei

This has ahi tuna in peruvian citrus sauce, avocado, white onion, red thai chili, grapefruit, togarashi sprinkle, crunchy peas, black sesame seeds, tossed with wasabi lemon crema. One of my favourites too.

Cali Veg

There is the miso ginger tofu, snow peas, red pepper, avocado, carrots, black sesame seeds, red pepper string, hijiki, and picked cucumber. Apparently, this was a popular dish among vegans.

Sweet Potato

This has sweet potato, ancho crema, jicama slaw, green onion, red pepper, chili oil, cilantro and crispy onions.

Wai-Tais

There are 2 different Wai-Tais, which as fruit-infused coconut waters. There is strawberry hibiscus and pineapple lime. I gravitated towards the pineapple line and it was refreshing with poké.

Kombucha

They have 2 house-made Kombucha – Mint Mojito and Ginger Hibiscus. I had some of the Mint Mojito and it was delicious. It wasn’t too intense compared to some other kombucha I’ve had before.

Lava

This drink has DeVille Coffee poured over coconut milk. It was an interesting drink, but a bit heavy for my tastes

Plantain Chips

If you are looking for something on the go, they have plantain chips that are a bit salty and a bit spicy.

Pineapple

The dried sugared pineapple half coated in a sugar and dipped with coconut. There are 2 pieces to a package.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Hula Poké isn’t for everyone. If you like more control of what goes into your bowl, this isn’t the place for you. For those who aren’t picky and like a good healthy quick meal in a food court, this is your place. It’s refreshing to have a poké shop at Pacific Centre to give customer better options. Even though they have only been open for a few days, it’s really popular for those visiting the Pacific Centre food court.

We Rate Hula Poke:

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/itshulapoke/

Address:
Food Court, 701 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC

In Cafe

Nestle Toll House Cafe’s Sweet Grand Opening in Downtown Vancouver

October 20, 2017

Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip held its grand opening event earlier this month. Roman and I attended and met the owners, Sherry Najafi and her husband. They were proud to share their cafe with the attendees, and even had a corporate rep from Texas attend. The concept behind the Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip started out in Texas back in 2000 and has grown with multiple locations in the US and a couple in Canada.

Upon entering, one is greeted by the sweet smell of delicious baked cookies. What is surprising about this Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip is its extensive menu, which offers cookies, brownies, ice cream, hot and cold beverages and savoury options. Yes, they have flatbreads, wraps and paninis for those whose sweet tooth isn’t as big as mine. They taste pretty good too! Having savoury options makes it a great go-to-spot for lunch, especially being situated on Howe and Nelson Street.

The cafe is spacious and bright and its decor includes words like “Enjoy” and “Relax”, which is a good reminder to take a sweet break in our busy lives.

The treats were sweet and delicious, and we even had the chance to decorate our very own cookie cake! Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip offers large cookie cakes that can be customized for any occasion. We were guided by Jolynn, the corporate rep from Texas, as she showed us tips and tricks on how to decorate with frosting. The theme was Halloween and we tried to replicate a pumpkin on our cookie cakes. Some attendees got very creative and drew ghosts and other festive images related to the occasion.

When they offered ice cream sandwiches with their signature cookies, Roman was on it (for the both of us, since I had forgotten my lactase). You can choose from a variety of flavours and you may choose the cookies you want to sandwich your ice cream in! Roman had the chocolate peanut buttercup ice cream in between two chocolate chip cookies. Needles to say from the look on his face that it was very good!

Next time you’ve got a special occasion or event to go to and can’t think of what to bring, think of a cookie cake and get it customized at Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Address:
980 Howe St #101, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://nestlecafe.com/

In Downtown

Sanrio ❤ Sugarfina Collection at Nordstrom

October 7, 2017

Sugarfina has launched their Sanrio ❤ Sugarfina Collection and it is every kids dream. As a late 80’s kid, I remember watching Hello Kitty and her twin sister – Mimmy going on crazy adventures. Gudetama is a new addition, but who doesn’t love the lazy egg.

There are 7 different kids in the collection:

Hello Kitty’s Mama’s Apple Pie Gummies
Hello Kitty Bow Tie Gummies
Keroppi Donut Pond Jelly Beans
My Melody Sweet Pearls
Badtz-Maru Mischievous Pops
Gudetama Lazy Gummy Eggs
Chococat Chocolate Caramels

Each individual box retails for $10.45, but they also have 2 different collector bento box sets $24.95 and $39.35. Definitely more premium that your regular candy. These are best given as gifts to really impress that certain somebody.

3 Pieces Pop-Up Candy Bento Box

You can mix and match what types of flavours are inside. I got mine with Hello Kitty Mama’s Apple Pie Gummies, Badtzmaru Mischievious Pops and Keroppi Donut Pond Jelly Beans.

I love how they really pack the gummies in the boxes and its all so organized. Of the bunch, I really enjoy the gummies. Very fruity and flavourful. The Keroppi Donut Pond Jelly Beans has a sweet, tart key lime flavour. The Badtzmaru Mischievious Pops lived up to it’s name as it is crunchy chocolate filled with popping candy inside.

Address:
799 Robson St, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.sugarfina.ca

In Bubble Tea

Rad Tea Room: Bubble Tea inside Granville Skytrain in Vancouver

October 3, 2017

Rad Tea Room is in the Granville Skytrain serving up premium bubble tea and drinks made of loose leaf teas. I’ve been keeping an eye out when this would open since it’s always nice to have another option in the area. My friend told me that they opened and we decided to check it out. Imagine it as a hidden gem as it’s hiding in the skytrain station and they actually have some pretty good bubble tea.

Interior

The interior is clean, nice and quiet too. On their menu, they have bubble teas, smoothies, milk tea caps, matcha lattes, tea mocktails and cold brewed teas.

They have a large table in the front if you want to have a big group of friends. Alternatively, there are some seats for smaller groups in the back.

Milk Tea with Pearls

There’s so many versions of milk tea you can create and customize. I personally love the roasted oolong milk tea with pearls. Since the normal sugar levels are lower than most places, I keep it regular sugar and less ice.

Another feature of Rad Tea is that you can ask for almond or soy milk. Great for those who are lactose or vegan to be able to enjoy bubble tea like everyone else.

Cold Brew Pu’er Tea

They don’t serve coffee, but they do have cold brew teas. Today, they had the Pu’er Tea, which is a strong black tea. I love my black teas and this was good to have a good dose of caffeine.

Winter Melon Tea Cap

Another drink I also really enjoyed was the Winter Melon Tea Cap. It has a good balance of flavour and sweetness compared to other places. If you are a fan of Winter Melon, I would highly recommend their version at Rad Tea.

Strawberry Tea Mocktail

If you are looking for something a bit different, they have strawberry inflused tea mocktails with pearls if you want.

Matcha Tea Cap

They use ceremonial grade matcha, so it is deeper in colour and has a stronger matcha taste. I use it at home for drinks too and it’s definitely not for everyone.

Waffles

If you feel like you want something to nibble on, they have waffles served with different sauces for an additional charge. There is Salted Caramel, Lavender Chocolate, Matcha Cream or Dark Chocolate. Our group was torn between the lavender chocolate or the matcha cream. I personally prefer the matcha cream as it isn’t too sweet. The waffle itself was meh since the sauces stood out a bite more.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for an independently owned bubble tea shop outside of all the Taiwanese chains, use loose leaf tea, and has milk alternatives like soy and almond milk, Rad Tea Room is definitely a place you should check out. The location is a bit hidden in Granville Skytrain, but enter through the Dunsmuir Street entrance and you’ll find it at the bottom of the stirs on the right. I’m a tea lover, so what really attracted me in the first place was their good taste in teas and how they balance the sweetness of the bubble tea.

We Rate Rad Tea Room:

Address:
80-678 Dunsmuir Street, (The Granville Station – Dunsmuir Exit)

Website: https://www.radtearoom.com

In Cafe

TWG Tea: Mid-Autumn Tea Service

September 27, 2017

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

TWG Tea Traditional Mooncakes

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

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

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

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

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

TWG Tea Snowskin Mooncakes

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

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

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

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

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

Mid-Autumn Tea Service

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

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

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

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

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

All there canapes here are pretty damn delicious.

Final Thoughts

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

Address:
1070 W Georgia St, Vancouver

Website:
https://vansingdg.com/

In Cafe

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

September 17, 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Address:
335 W Pender St, Vancouver

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

In American

Johnny Rockets: Open in Downtown Vancouver

September 13, 2017

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

Interior

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

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

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

The Rocket

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

Smoke House

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

Bacon Cheddar

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

Onion Rings

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

Final Thoughts

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

We Rate Johnny Rockets:

Address:
755 Nelson St, Vancouver

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

In Downtown

Yui Japanese Bistro: Chefs Reg and Ping introduces new menu

August 1, 2017

Yui Japanese Bistro is launching new items on their menu this month and we were invited to give these items a try. I love dining here as its like a secret hidden gem in Downtown. They hide inside a business building on West Georgia Street and Bute Street. Chefs Reg and Ping are the faces behind these awesome creations and they put their own creative twist to each dish.

Yui Tart

The Yui Tart is made with layers of tuna with garlic dill sauce, salmon flakes, chef special sauce, tempura bites, imitation crab meat, cucumber, flying fish roe, and of course it’s torched on top. The dill stands out in this dish but it matches well with the salmon and tuna. Plus, anything with the torched sauce it magical.

Tai Oshi

This has tai, sesame leaf, crispy shiitake, red pepper thread, and the Chef special spicy sauce. I really enjoyed it as it has just enough to slightly tingle the tongue, not that spicy at all. The ingredients meld amazingly.

Smoke salmon delight

This roll has tuna, chopped jalapeño, avocado, smoke salmon, wasabi mayo, mango salsa, and alfalfa sprout. The jalapeño and the mango salsa counteract and essentially cancel each other out. It was a decent roll, but I felt like it was a bit basic compared to the flavour profile of the other dishes here.

Aburi tuna nigiri

They start off by searing the tuna on a super hot grill. Then they slice it up super thin, then top it off with wasabi and pickle sweet onion on top. A good combination of the ingredients, simple but really helps the tuna shine.

Aburi tai

This nigiri has tai and then topped with a strawberry salsa on top. I thought it was ok as I didn’t like the sweetness from the strawberry. I don’t really like savoury food with any sweetness.

Salmon Oshi

This is a staple item on the menu and it’s a must order item. Highly recommended as the salmon, special sauce, pepper and jalapeño melt in your mouth. Best thing ever.

Final Thoughts

Their menu is expanding and it’s great to see that. The food is great and I love the cozy atmosphere. It reminds me of dining in Japan as they have great hidden restaurants in random parts of the city.

We Rate Yui Japanese Bistro:

Address:
1185 W Georgia St, Unit 102, Vancouver

Website:
http://eatatyui.com/

In Downtown

Pokerrito is open on Hornby Street: Review

July 25, 2017

Pokerrito has opened their second location on Hornby and Nelson. They serve up Hawaiian poké with a Japanese twist in burritos, bowls, and salads. I was watching Wonder Woman with friends and we needed quick bite to eat before the show. We love eating on this street since so many other restaurants have popped up in this area.

Interior

The space is larger than their original Dunsmuir location. It has a similar look as well. All that matters is the food right? As long as both locations are consistent.

Poké Bowls

Hawaiian Classic has marinated ahi tuna green onion, romaine lettuce, lemon, seaweed salad, and sesame seeds. It was supposed to have edible flowers in it, but I guess they ran out of them. Instead, they put sprouts on top. I got it as a bowl with a salad base. I really prefer this combination without all the other toppings as you can really appreciate the marinated ahi tuna without other strong conflicting flavours. When I usually customize my poké bowls in the past, I would load it with anything that would make bowl worth it.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s good to see they are expanding, but there is another poké shop located right next door, so it should be interesting competition. All my other friends ordered poke bowls with a mix of rice and salad as the base. Then, they added their favourite toppings. Love how it’s highly customizable for all taste buds.

We Rate Pokerrito:

Website:
http://www.pokerrito.ca/

Address:
991 Hornby Street, Vancouver

Website: http://www.pokerrito.ca/

In Dessert

The Praguery: Chimney Cake Truck in Vancouver

July 16, 2017

I have a HUGE sweet tooth so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try out the chimney cakes at The Praguery. It was the perfect treat after a day of writing exams (as I was wrapping up my program at RED Academy). The truck was parked in the heart of Olympic Village Square, near the giant birds. I brought along my classmate and friend, Vanessa Shakespeare, and she took the awesome photos you’ll see in this post. Thanks girl!

Upon arrival of the food truck, we were greeted by friendly staff and Jaro (short for Jaroslav), the President and Owner of The Praguery. I could quickly see his passion for his food truck, as he started to explain how the chimney cakes (also know as “Trdelnik”, a popular Czech dessert) they make in the truck are baked fresh daily. He showed us as he started to bake a chimney cake, and we watched in anticipation as the raw, yellow dough turned a perfect golden brown. The chimney cake is then dusted and covered with cinnamon sugar.

We watched patiently as one of his staff members filled the chimney cake with premium soft-serve vanilla ice cream, and topped it off with strawberry compote and premium strawberry sauce. The chimney cake has now become a Strawberry Prague’s Cone. The size of this treat is quite substantial and makes it perfect for sharing, unless you’re the type that doesn’t like to share dessert!

I obviously shared this with Vanessa, and we both enjoyed it! The Prague’s Cone was slightly crisp on the outside, but perfectly doughy on the inside. The cone had a hint of lemon flavour, which was complemented by the cinnamon sugar coating. The premium soft-serve vanilla ice cream was very smooth and creamy. The strawberry compote and sauce added a slightly tart contrast to the overall sweetness of the Prague’s Cone. I made sure I ate enough of the vanilla ice cream before taking bites of the cone, which came of in the direction of the cone’s spiral. This made it really fun to eat!

Jaro also offered me a simple chimney cake with a lemon curd filling. The lemon curd had a bright citrus flavour, which is a good option for people whose sweet tooth isn’t as big as mine.

I asked Jaro how long he The Praguery has been in business, and he stated that it has been a year, with the truck in operation a little over a month now. He started out with a chimney cake booth at the Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza. After customers tried the chimney cakes and enjoyed them, people told Jaro that he should consider having a truck, and here he is today! Jaro is proud to offer this unique and delicious treats, and a Prague’s Cone is perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day.

Lookout for Jaro and The Praguery, which is his eye-catching aqua blue food truck. You can find out where the food truck will be located next on the Street Food App.

Location: Varies

Website: http://praguery.com/

In Downtown

Uninterrupted: Immersive Journey under Cambie Bridge

July 8, 2017

Uninterrupted has transformed Vancouver’s Cambie Bridge into a wild BC river this summer, immersing audiences in the incredible journey of migrating salmon. The spectacle runs just under 30 minutes – and happens 5 nights a week after dusk from June 28 to September 24. Tuesday to Saturdays around 10pm at Coopers Park.

The beautiful cinematography captured in BC rivers is digitally mapped and projected across the underside of the bridge. It was honestly stunning. At first I wasn’t expecting much, but I was blown away. If you haven’t checked it out, you should go.

You can bring your own chair to sit on or lie down at the playground as its very comfortable since the floor is spongey. Very family friendly and runs all Summer.

Website: http://uninterrupted.ca/

In Downtown

Yah Yah Ya Ramen in Downtown Vancouver

July 1, 2017

Yah Yah Ya Ramen opened their second location in Vancouver and they specialize in Yokohama-style ramen. The style of ramen blends tonkotsu and shoyu broth together to give a unique blend of broth. We were invited to try their special Cold Ramen only available in the summer.

Interior

There are 2 larger communal tables inside and a bunch of other smaller table. Lots of space for ramen lovers.

Japanese Ocha

Once of my favourite drinks to have at a ramen bar. You can have it sweetened or unsweetened. I would definitely recommend having it unsweetened so you can taste more of the tea.

Gyozas

These come in 6 pieces per order. A decent pan fried on one side. A good item to share among a table of friends, but it still felt a bit average.

NO. 1 Shoyu Ramen

You will find 3 pieces of toasted sesame, 2 pieces of chashu, egg, spinach, and their pork soy sauce ie-kei soup base. Very delicious and highly recommended if it’s your first time here. You can choose the texture of the noodle (hard, normal or soft), the richness (heavy, normal or light) and oil (more, normal, or less).

Black Ramen Tonkotsu

Inside you will find 3 pieces of toasted seaweed, bamboo shoots, 2 slices of chashu, and ramen egg. Delicious as well. It’s hard to choose between their bowls of ramen.

Mazesoba

In this bowl, you’ll find pork meat, toasted seaweed, bean sprouts, green onions, bamboo shoots and a golden egg yolk. You mix this all up really well and then enjoy. The flavour of all the items coat the noodles and is enjoyable.

Cold Ramen

This is only available in the Summer. It has sliced chashu, sliced red ginger, sliced egg, bean sprouts and cucumber. Mix it up and enjoy. A good choice to cool down for the Summer, but I still have a huge craving for a hot bowl of ramen even if it’s super hot outside.

Spicy Cold Ramen

If you want a kick of heat, they have a spicy cold ramen too. It has sliced chashu, kimchi, seaweed, bean sprouts and cucumber.

Salmon Don

You can have this as a combo with your ramen or on it’s own. The piece of salmon on top is very meaty.

Negi Chashu Don

Another don option if you like their chashu. I thought this was ok as the sauce felt a bit overpowering.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Yah Yah Ya Ramen is a pretty solid ramen shop. With so many ramen shops on Robson Street, they do stand out for their Yokohama style ramen. If you’re in the area, check it out.

We Rate Yah Yah Ya Ramen:

Address: 570 Robson St, Vancouver

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downtownyahyahya/

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 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 Bubble Tea

45 Degree Bubble Tea House in Coal Harbour

May 6, 2017

45 Degree Bubble Tea House in Coal Harbour is a new bubble tea shop close to Stanley Park. M told me about this place, so one day when I was waiting for him to get off work, I came here to get a drink. I love bubble tea, so I’m always on the look out for the best bubble tea out in Metro Vancouver.

Interior

The space is nice and simple with a few tables for groups. I came at 3pm on a Monday, so it was pretty dead. The staff were very nice to guide me through the menu since my order seemed pretty basic. They made a lot of suggestions for me.

Sakura Oolong Mousse

The sakura oolong mousse was very floral and light. It complimented the mousse on top very well. It kinda reminded me of beer because of the colour. It was interesting trying to find the best way to drink this but it seems like they instruct everyone on how to drink it. You press you lips into the cup and tilt it 45 degrees to drink the you get a good ratio of the cream and tea in each sip. If you lift the tab up on the drink, you get too much foam.

Black Tea Mousse

I grabbed this to go. It was delicious but it was stronger because its black tea. A good option if you straight up asian tea without the floral taste. When I ordered this I found it was funny how they tried suggesting other drinks to me too.

Final Thoughts

They have a good selection of coffees and teas. Even a few items were sold out. The teas are great here and brewed fresh, which is awesome. I would definitely come back to try more.

We Rate 45 Degree Bubble Tea House:

Address:
1467 W Pender Street, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.facebook.com/45-Degree-Bubble-Tea-House-1394743023927257/