Popeyes Canada has been teasing us with the release of their new Chicken Sandwich for about a week now. KFC Canada just released their new KFC Famous Chicken Chicken Sandwich, which uses similar ingredients too.
We had to get Popeyes Canada’s new Chicken Sandwich as it launched today to see how it compares for a better chicken sandwich.
What’s in the New Chicken Sandwich?
It is made with tender all-white meat chicken breast fillet, marinated in an authentic blend of Louisiana seasonings, then hand battered and breaded in our all new buttermilk coating. Served with crisp barrel-cured pickles and Classic or Spicy Mayonnaise, served on a warm and toasted buttery brioche bun.
Classic Chicken Sandwich Taste Test
The brioche bun was very pillowy and soft. The chicken breast fillet was actually still crispy even though we got it for take out and drove 35 mins back home. The pickles were nice and meaty slices, which was nice. There could have been a bit more mayo.
Spicy Chicken Sandwich Taste Test
It’s only the spicy mayo that is different. We did like the extra kick of flavour but it wasn’t too spicy. Our personal taste preferences gravitate to spicy when eating fried chicken.
This was always really good and you can’t go wrong with either classic or spicy.
Final Thoughts
We were pleasantly surprised how good it was for fast food chicken burger. We highly recommend giving it a try. We are a fan of their other menu items and glad this one lived up to the expectation too.
KFC Canada launched their KFC Famous Chicken Chicken Sandwich in original and spicy options. It features KFC’s extra crispy seasoning and Canadian ingredients that set the standard for what a truly famous fried chicken sandwich should taste like.
The KFC Famous Chicken Chicken Sandwich is available in Canada only.
When we saw the news that it launched, we had to put in an order right away to see how it is. If it has the word ‘famous’ in the title, it’s worth a try. We love trying new fast food items to see how it compares.
What’s in the KFC Famous Chicken Chicken Sandwich?
It is made with 100 per cent Canadian farm raised chicken; it is buttermilk marinated and hand breaded in KFC’s famous Extra Crispy seasoning, and is then topped with sweet chunky pickles, creamy mayonnaise and sandwiched between a lightly toasted potato bun.
Original KFC Famous Chicken Chicken Sandwich
The KFC Famous Chicken Chicken Sandwich was pretty good. The mayonnaise and pickles really compliment it very well. As for the chicken, it was juicy and flavourful. The only complaint was the batter around the chicken. By the time we got home, the batter wasn’t as crisp.
As for a fast food chicken sandwich, it’s pretty good because it’s actually chicken meat.
Spicy KFC Famous Chicken Chicken Sandwich
The sandwich also comes in spicy. The chicken itself isn’t spicy, but they use a double spicy mayo instead of regular mayo. It’s not very spicy but it adds more dimension to the sandwich. Both were great and one wasn’t better than the other. It just comes down to personal preference.
We did notice that this chicken was HUGE compared to the other.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a KFC fan, you’ll love this. It’s a solid chicken sandwich for a fast food company. Everything was great but that batter needs to be crispier.
The Canucks Marketplace is a new culinary experience that celebrates favourite local food brands, gives Canucks fans access delicious meal kits, provisions and team apparel, for a premium hockey celebration in the comforts of home. As the Canucks are back on the ice, you can enjoy meal from Rogers Arena delivered to your door or you can do pick up and enjoy a fun fan experience grabbing your meal.
We opted to pick up our order and experience the drive in.
They have partnered up with Top Table Group for offer their line of TopTable2U line of meal kits, Grasse Floral, Nightingale, Dirty Apron, Medina Cafe, Sportsbar, Earnest Ice Cream, Glory Juice, Uncommon Cake, and Farm + Home Grocery. A great selection to get a taste of all those eateries in one place.
We tried a few different items that they had available from their marketplace:
Elisa Burger Kit
Fin’s Party Pack for 4
Banana Cream Pie
Prawn and Scallop Paella with Lemon Aioli
There’s a nice selection for all occasions and for all cooking skill sets. There are some TopTable2U kits that can take a while to prepare.
A few of my favourite things you should consider getting is Earnest Ice Cream, Prawn and Scallop Paella with Lemon Aioli, Banana Cream Pie, Truffle Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Lasagna, and Burrata and Heirloom Beet Salad.
J Squared Ice Cream is the latest ice cream shop to open in Richmond. A lot of talk of their tea-based ice cream flavours really caught the attention of people all over the Lower Mainland. There really isn’t a lot of other places that have a range of flavours revolving around the love of tea.
We love tea, so we couldn’t wait to give it a try.
We were invited for a sneak peek before they open their doors on September 1, 2020.
Menu + Flavours
Taste Test
We got pints of the Shanghai fog, Thai milk tea, and Japanese black sesame. All three were very solid flavours and it’s so hard to go wrong with them. The texture was very smooth and creamy.
At the store, they do have waffle cones available if you’re eating it close by. We opted for pints so we can slowly enjoy at home.
Final Thoughts
They have been really busy since opening and are still working out some kinks. Their line of tea inspired ice cream is pretty good and we can’t to see what else they can create.
The selection of tea flavours are pretty solid and isn’t just Asian tea flavours. Pries are very fair and worth a visit if you’re in the area.
Starbucks just launched their Oat Beverage on the menu. They announced it months ago, but can’t believe it’s here already since so many loyal customers have been wanting this option for years.
They launched it today featuring the Oat latte and the Apple Oat Flat White. Two great hot beverage options. You can also have the oat beverage customized in other drinks if you want to keep it dairy free.
The Apple Oat Flat White is a Canada exclusive, which combines their signature espresso with steamed Oat beverage and Apple syrup, topped with Clove Sugar topping.
What Oat Milk/Beverage are they using?
When I as observing them making the Apple Oat Flat White, they are using the Earth’s Own Oat Barista Blend, which is actually my favourite out of all the oat milks out there.
Taste Test
The Apple Oat Flat White definitely represents the Fall reminds me of the sights of the Apple Orchards in October. The apple syrup doesn’t dominate the drink and works well paired with the espresso and clove sugar. If you want it more subtle, you can always ask for less apple syrup.
You can still taste the creamy texture of the oat milk and stands out.
I like it and I will get it again.
Fall 2020 Starbucks Line up:
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Our signature espresso and milk, with flavourful notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg creates this incredible beverage that’s a fall favourite. Enjoy it topped with whipped cream and real pumpkin-pie spices.
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Starbucks® Cold Brew sweetened with vanilla, then topped with a pumpkin cream cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin spice—a super-smooth fall treat.
Apple Oat Flat White
This Canada exclusive combines our signature espresso with steamed Oat beverage and Apple syrup, topped with Clove Sugar topping. A new Fall favourite!
Oat Latte
Perfectly steamed Oat beverage and signature espresso combine to craft a cozy latte.
Salted Caramel Mocha
We combine espresso and milk with mocha sauce and toffee nut flavoured syrup, topped with sweetened whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a mixture of turbinado sugar and sea salt for the best of both worlds.
Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino
We combine mocha sauce and toffee nut flavoured syrup with coffee, milk, and ice, then finish it off with sweetened whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a blend of turbinado sugar and sea salt for an explosion of flavour in every sip.
Pumpkin Scone
A spiced pumpkin scone topped with sweet icing: deliciously and perfectly created for pumpkin lovers.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin
This moist, perfectly spiced pumpkin muffin—topped with a sweet cream-cheese filling and a sprinkling of chopped, spiced pepitas—offers a delightful balance of salty and sweet.
Pumpkin Bread
A gently spiced bread with pumpkin flavours and pepitas. There’s no doubt this tasty seasonal favourite will get you in the mood for fall
Ways to order
Customers have several options to choose from to enjoy their favourite fall beverages this year, while practicing safe social distancing, including:
Drive Thru
Curbside pickup
Starbucks Delivers (Check the Uber Eats app for availability and restrictions)
Takenaka Food Truck has hit the road serving up Japanese Izakaya in Vancouver. If you love places like Suika, Rajio, Kingyo, or Raisu, you’ll also love Takenaka Food Truck.
They have been very very popular since they just opened, so be prepared for a bit of a line up, but it’s worth it. Takenaka Food Truck is usually located outside a brewery on Fridays to Sundays. It is always best to follow them on Instagram to see where they will be next.
We were invited to check out a few items from their food truck menu.
Menu
Chicken Karaage
The crispy chicken karaage is mixed with their special spice mixture. It was beautifully fried, so it had a nice crisp exterior. The chicken was very tender and full of flavour.
Ebimayo
The ebimayo is made with large plump tiger prawns in a rich and creamy Japanese chilli mayo. We felt like there was a bit too much batter to it, so it took a way from the prawns.
Snow Crab Roll
This roll has snow crab meat, avocado, and tobiko wrapped in rice and seaweed. It was a solid roll and you can really taste the quality.
Wagyu Shabu Shabu Udon
This bowl of comforting udon has thinly sliced boiled beef, radish sprouts. seasoned boiled egg, yuzu zest, Sanuki udon noodle, and their original udon broth. It was a pretty good bowl of udon and that wagyu is really soft and tender.
Wagyu Foie Gras Aburi Nigiri
This has a slice of wagyu nigiri topped with foie gras, truffle salt, and SANSHO sauce. It was so damn good! It was fatty and so tasty that it just melt in your mouth.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we find this is a fantastic option for Japanese Izakaya if you’re ever at a brewery or special event. The food is fantastic and pairs so well with beer. Highly recommend you check it out.
Best to go early before the large rush arrives so you aren’t waiting in line for too long.
Kinton Ramen is a Canadian chain of Japanese Ramen, which originated in Toronto. We actually went to Kinton Ramen in Toronto a few years ago and their ramen didn’t disappoint, so we were excited to try it out again.
Founded by Toronto’s Kinka Family in 2012, Kinton Ramen has earned critical acclaim for its chef-driven Japanese ramen dishes, which feature rich and flavourful broth paired with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Kinton Ramen’s new venture at UBC will be the first West Coast outpost for the celebrated ramen chain, which now boasts more than 20 locations around the world in Canada, Japan and the U.S. The restaurant has received numerous industry awards for its signature take on Japanese ramen – including a Platinum award in the ‘Best Asian’ category at the 2019 Toronto Star Reader’s Choice Awards – and has been voted ‘Toronto’s Best Ramen’ by readers of NOW Magazine for six consecutive years.
They are currently in soft opening mode.
Patio
Kinton Ramen at UBC is a sit down restaurant and because of the whole Covid-19 pandemic, only the patio was open when we were dining here.
Keeping you Safe
In accordance with current public health recommendations, Kinton Ramen has incorporated a number of new safety protocols into its day-to-day operations in order to protect restaurant staff and guests. While the eatery is usually known for its communal-style seating and energetic atmosphere, seating options have been reduced both indoors and outdoors to allow for physical distancing between diners. Additionally, all staff will be subject to pre-shift health screenings, must wear with PPE while interacting with guests, and will sanitize high-touch surfaces and common areas throughout the restaurant on a frequent basis.
Pork Miso
This has soybean paste, pork, corn, garlic oil, and scallions. We customized it with thin noodles, and then added an egg and seaweed.
The broth was very delicious and rice. There are a good amount of toppings included in the bowl. The cha shu was cooked nicely. We did feel the thin noodles were a bit on the soft side, so next time, we would want to ask for firmer noodles.
Veg Original
This has sea salt, fried bean curd, bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, corn, onion ginger oil, and scallions. We customized it with thin noodles, and added on cheese, which came on the side. The broth was very nice, but we did feel the same about the noodles how they were a bit soft.
They have 4 different vegetarian ramens on the menu, which is a specialty just to this location. It’s great that there are so many options.
Karaage
We also got a side of ramen to accompany the meal. It has lemon and a garlic mayo. It was fried really nicely with crisp skin. The meat was also very tender.
Takoyaki
Takoyaki is deep fried octopus balls with tonkatsu sauce, mayo, bonito flakes, and aonori. This was really good and it’s so good to have takoyaki again. It has a nice thin crisp exterior and very savoury on the inside.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it’s an amazing option for those at UBC at the centre of the campus. They do also have alcohol and dessert on the menu if you want more than just the savoury items. The prices are definitely very reasonable and won’t break the bank for a university student.
Teapressu is one of our favourite bubble tea shops on wheels, but recently we found out they have open a storefront in Burnaby on Kingsway. We were very excited, so we decided to give them a visit. Their hours are limited as they are in a very soft opening phase to work out any kinks.
They are known of their teas created using an espresso machine. It extracts great flavours from the tea, making each cup very strong and aromatic.
Their menu has a variety of bubble teas and even vegan options. Plus, soft serve too.
Menu
Pearl Milk Tea Soft Serve
I got the twist where it has the milk tea and vanilla together. Then I also added pearls to it based off their suggestion. It was really good and a nice treat, but it got quite messy when it melted. As the cup in tall and narrow, it would drip down the sides of the cup.
Pearl Iron Milk Tea
This is their number 1 best selling drink on the menu.
I got it at 100% sweetness, but it was a bit too sweet for me. Next time, I would do 50% or even 30%. Nonetheless, the pearls were nice and chewy. The tea was very fragrant too.
Apple Awakening
They have fruity beverages on the menu and my husband tried their Apple Awakening. It was very refreshing especially on a hot Summer’s day.
Final Thoughts
Teapressu is a great addition to the neighbourhood, but they do face tough competition as Chatime is just a shop away. Nonetheless, I do prefer Teapressu for their superior quality and affordable price. Support local as much as possible.
I highly recommend Teapressu, so if you’re in the Burnaby area, check them out.
KFC Canada now has launched their new plant-based chicken sandwich and popcorn chicken across Canada. It is 100% Canadian and made by LightLife, which also supplies other fast food chains like A&W with their nuggets.
The ‘chicken’ patty and popcorn chicken are made with soy, wheat and fava beans. It’s the first plant-based chicken substitute to be served at a chicken chain in Canada. KFC did have a veggie sandwich, but has now been replaced with the plant-based Chicken Sandwich.
After an incredibly successful pilot with plant-based partner Lightlife in 2019, vegetarians and flexitarians everywhere can now experience KFC’s delicious taste at their local restaurant starting August 10, 2020. It is permanently on the menu and isn’t going away. Plant-Based KFC Popcorn will be available for a limited time while quantities last. The duo can be ordered individually, as part of a combo, or as part of a box meal.
Taste Test
KFC chicken sandwiches have always been very very average for us, so we were very excited to try out the Plant-Based sandwich and KFC Popcorn. Upon first look, they both look like a regular chicken sandwich and popcorn nuggets.
Both the nuggets and the chicken patty were very very similar, just different sizes. The exterior is crispy and has the signature KFC spices embedded throughout. The texture is a bit on the dry side, but it didn’t turn me off.
We’ve had a lot of plant-based sandwiches and this was actually pretty good for KFC. It won’t be the best sandwich you’ve ever eaten, but it satisfies the KFC cravings.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by both the Plant-based Chicken Sandwich and KFC Popcorn. We definitely recommend it if you’re curious about them. Best to get the box meal so you can try both items.
The area around The Amazing Brentwood has transformed a lot in the last few years and will continue evolving to bring more people into the area. The latest event to pop up is the Brentwood Great Takeout, a Food Truck Festival presented by Grosvenor and organized by the Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival.
With the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s not your ordinary food truck festival, but a adapted version to keep safe with their families.
This festival will now taking place weekly every Saturday until September 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on part of Grosvenor’s latest development site in Burnaby. The ‘Brentwood Great Takeout’ series is part of Brentwood Community Days presented by Grosvenor and demonstrates the developer’s commitment to building engaging and meaningful public spaces.
I personally loves these types of event happening in our city as it brings our community together and makes it more lively, plus it makes the neighbourhood much more tasty.
We were invited to check out the food trucks at the Brentwood Great Takeout.
Parking
There is complimentary parking available if you decide to drive. There is also lots of public transportation options like the Brentwood Skytrain Station and buses.
Safety
To ensure your family’s safety, hand sanitizers are offered at the entrance and wearing masks are highly encouraged. They limit the amount of people into the festival, one way entry, and social distancing.
Also, note you can’t eat on the premises.
Food and Drink
As the food trucks do rotate weekly, keep an eye on their website to see if your favourite food truck is at the Brentwood Great Takeout. When we were here, we got to check out:
Salt Spring Noodle Bar
Wing’s Outdoor Grill
Indian Delicacy
Slavic Rolls
Los Tacos Hermanos
Lenny’s Lemonade
Betty’s Greek Honey Ballz – Loukoumades
I personally loved Betty’s Greek Honey Ballz – Loukoumades and Indian Delicacy (butter chicken poutine is amazing).
Indian Delicacy – PlatterBetty’s Greek Honey Ballz – Loukoumades Slavic Rolls with Strawberry and Barvarian CreamWing’s Outdoor Grill – Salt and Pepper WingsIndian Delicacy – Butter Chicken PoutineLos Tacos Hermanos – Fish TacosSalt Spring Noodle Bar – Teriyaki Chicken and Veggie Lenny’s Lemonade – Pink Lemonade and Blue Raspberry Lemonade
Final Thoughts
Overall, it’s a quick stop to grab some food. You can’t eat inside the event area, so you’ll have to eat it somewhere close by or take it home. We opted to grab it all to go and enjoy it at home as we live close by.
Bel Café recently introduced their new Bel Box, which is a lunch box on the go and it comes with your choice of a sandwich, a half Tuscan Kale salad, a cookie, and a small drink. Bring it back home or take it to the park for a picnic.
Senior Pastry Chef, Tessa Faulker, recently launched a selection of new pastries including a Cinnamon Morning Bun, rosemary twist, raspberry vanilla scone, miso almond kouign amann, and the ham & cheese bostock.
Lots of new things happening and we were invited to check out these delicious treats.
Bel’s Picnic Box
You can choose from these sandwiches:
Ham and Cheese Mt. Moriarty cheese, smoked ham, mustard, sourdough bread
Smoked Meat Montreal style smoked beef, pickles mustard, rye bread
We got our box with the smoked meat sandwich, chocolate chip cookie, half Tuscan Kale Salad, and Flow Water.
It’s a solid box with everything you need for lunch.
Rosemary Twist
The rosemary twist is quite large and has many flakey layers. It’s like a croissant but twisted with the aroma of rosemary and hints of salt.
Cinnamon Morning Bun
This is covered in sugar and cinnamon, which makes it like a churro croissant. A tad messy to eat, so becareful.
Ham & Cheese Bostock
This was our favourite pastry as we tend to gravitate towards savoury pastries. It had a good texture that complimented the ham and cheese.
Miso Almond Kouign
The miso almond kouign is sweet and delicious like an almond croissant. The miso is subtle but works well.
Raspberry Vanilla Scone
Lastly, the raspberry vanilla scone is pretty standard but a touch on the sweet side. It also has a crumbly texture, so be careful when you eat this.
Final Thoughts
Overall, lots of new things happening at Bel Cafe. Of the things we tried, we really like the Rosemary Twist and the Ham & Cheese Bostock the most. They really have quality savoury pastries that stand out. Cinnamon Morning Bun was good and it reminded us of a churro.
With the weather so great this summer, it’s great to grab a few things and head to the close by parks or beaches.
Raisu is a Japanese Izakaya in Vancouver and their sister restaurants are Kingyo, Suika, and Rajio. They specialize in Teishouku, which is Japanese for pre-set meals. It’s usually chef’s selection of items with miso soup and a bowl of rice.
We usually go to Raisu for dinner, but this was our first time having lunch at Raisu. They actually have some amazing lunch meals and kid sets available for dine-in.
We were invited to check out their lunch offerings at Raisu.
Patio
They have a patio and we always enjoy dining in this area. It is covered with a roof and there are fans to keep you cool.
Dining Room
They socially distance all the guests so eating indoors is comfortable and safe. Staff were all wearing masks too.
Menu
Kids Set $15
The kid sets are meant for children under 12 years old. You get a bit of everything to keep those picky eaters eating.
When we dined here, our Kids Set came with:
Chicken karaage
Ebiten with tartar sauce
Japanese omelet
Salad
Meatball with miso demiglace sauce
Grilled Veggies (bean, pepper, and corn)
Miso soup
Dessert (Japanese Lemon Cheesecake, but changes seasonally)
Drink ( Choice of orange juice, Calpico water, or Calpico soda)
Small Kid snack (Koala Bear cookies)
This is a really fun meal and a lot of adults wished they could have it too. It’s a good selection of fresh veggies, fried food, and treats. It was all good especially that Japanese Lemon Cheesecake. It was a pleasant surprise.
Lunch Meal Special $24
On the menu, you choose 2 items from these 4 available choices:
Chef’s choice sashimi (3 kinds)
Deep fried food (2 kinds)
Today’s meat dish
Today’s grilled fish
The set comes with rice, miso soup, small dish, pickles and salad.
The Chef’s choice sashimi was salmon, tuna and scallop served in a bowl with radish threads, seaweed, sprouts, and tobiko. Very fresh and good quality.
The grilled fish available today was salmon and mackerel served with lemon, minced daikon, and sauce. Mackerel is generally has lots of bones, a touch dry but very buttery in taste. If you don’t like picking bones out, this may not be the dish for you.
The meat dish today was beef steak served with green and mushroom. It was a touch overdone for our liking.
The deep fried food was a jumbo scallop with snow crab, and a 100% wagyu croquette. Solid dishes with the use of panko.
The small dish of the day was braised melon. It’s tasty but a touch on the salty side if you eat it by itself. It’s best eaten with rice to really enjoy this.
The salad, rice, and miso soup complete the meal. A filling lunch and you can’t so wrong with this. Very enjoyable.
Yuzu Lemonade
This is light and refreshing with carbonation and hints of sweet yuzu. Drinks aren’t included in the set, but it’s a nice accompaniment to the meal especially on a hot summers day.
Raisu Punch
This has Calipico, kiwi, pineapple, and aloe juice. we got this omitted with the kiwi because of personal allergies. It’s also a very light and refreshing drink to pair with the meal. It is a bit sweeter than the yuzu lemonade but it has more flavours going on.
Yuzu Parfait
Highly recommended even if you’re super full. Dessert is a separate stomach right? This has RAISU original yuzu gelato, yuzu rare cheese cake sponge cake, and yuzu cream on top. The yuzu gelato is really good and brings this whole dessert together.
Final Thoughts
The lunch sets for kids and adults are fantastic and fun. It’s a good way to try a bit of everything they have to offer. You definitely want to see what is on their daily special menu as it can rotate daily.
Don’t forget to end you meal with the Yuzu Parfait as we absolutely adored it.
Lady M New York has launched their new site ladym.ca to offer shipping to Canada, but it is very costly to Canadians at over $200 per crepe cake. It got Canadians really excited, but then Spiritea in Vancouver began offering Lady M cakes imported from New York by the slice or as a whole cake. You don’t need to spend over $200 to commit to a whole cake as you can now have it by the slice.
We were invited by Spiritea to try their Lady M Cakes to see how it compares.
Prices
Slice of Mille Crepe Cake ($19.50)
Whole Mille Crepe Cake ($225)
Signature Mille Crepe Cake
The quality was superb and not sure what their secret is to keeping it so fresh even though it was imported across the country. It is soft and fluffy with 20 paper thin crepes between their pastry cream. When you look at it, it’s really a work of art. If you’ve ever tried making these on your own, it tasks a lot of skill. This cake just melts in your mouth.
This is the top flavour as it’s what made them famous in the first place. Classic.
Matcha Mille Crepe Cake
This is another popular flavour that gets sold out quickly. Quality was good as well and if you’re a matcha lover, you gotta get this.
Final Thoughts
Overall, quality is fantastic and you can’t argue with that. The price is steep, but you can’t get a taste of Lady M without getting on a plane or ordering it from Lady M New York (the shipping is a pain).
It’s a luxury Mille Crepe Cake, so if you can afford $19.50 for a slice of cake, go for it.
Address: 4151 Hazelbridge Way Unit 1968, Richmond, BC
SunTea is now open in North Burnaby at Kensington Plaza. They specialize in fruit tea, milk tea, dorayaki, and floss cake. Currently, they are in their soft opening phase but we decided to check it out as we live a block away. They have other locations in BC, but I haven’t been to any other of their locations.
They do have 20% off the whole menu during the soft opening, which is nice.
Interior
The space is small, there there really isn’t too much room to social distance as people are either drinking by the window, ordering, or waiting for their drinks. We did observe all the staff wearing masks, which is good.
Menu
Strawberry Frappe
The strawberry frappe is made with fresh strawberries, strawberry slush, whipped cream and cake pieces. It did have a lot of strawberry, so that was nice. The drink was decent, but it didn’t taste outstanding. Just pretty average.
Purple Sticky Rice & Tofu Jelly Milk Tea
I ordered the regular size and it has layers of their purple rice and tofu in the milk tea. The purple rice really wasn’t sticky at all, but it added a nice texture to the drink and the I liked the slight sweetness of the tofu jelly.
It was good and I would get this again.
Blueberry Cream Cheese Dorayaki
The dorayaki was filled with lots of cream cheese and blueberry. Pretty good, but it definitely wasn’t cheap at just under $6 regular price.
The filled was good, but we did feel the pancake was very dry.
Purple Yam Dorayaki
Love the look of the purple yam dorayaki. It doesn’t fall apart and it’s very firm. It has a delicious filling which isn’t too sweet, but we also felt the pancake was dry as well.
Final Thoughts
They are still in their soft opening phase, so they definitely have some things to improve on. I did get a weird vibe when ordering from the staff. Even though I was standing right in front of them to order, they were busy looking at their phone to notice I was trying to order. I had to wave a few times to get their attention.
The drinks are dorayaki can be a hit and miss, but the area definitely needed another bubble tea shop. There’s 3 coffee shops, but no bubble tea shop until now. It’s not my favourite bubble tea shop, but I’ll come here out of convenience. I would get the Purple Sticky Rice & Tofu Jelly Milk Tea again.
Honolulu Coffee is back and they have launched a new Hawaiian-inspired menu of seasonal specialties at its Downtown and Kerrisdale locations in Vancouver.
Available for in-store or takeout service, the new Honolulu Coffee Vancouver summer menu includes a few iced tea and coffee drinks and açaí bowls. We were invited to give these new items a try.
I miss Hawaii, so just having a taste of these new items brings me back to the beautiful sights, sounds, and tastes of Honolulu. Since we can’t travel due to the pandemic, this will do.
Safety Measures
Safety is very important, so they have enforces the following measures to keep everyone safe during the pandemic.
Enforcing in-store one-way flows / separate areas for mobile order pick-up stations
Plexiglas dividers at ordering stations
All tables and chairs sanitized after use
Hand sanitizer available at registers and pick-up counters;
Sanitizing bottles available around seating area for customers
Customer who stay can ask for extra alcohol wipes from a staff member
All baristas will be wearing masks
Social distancing clearly marked and enforced throughout both locations.
Matcha Lychee Soda
The matcha lychee soda is made with a blend of amai matcha sweetened with housemade lychee syrup and topped with San Pellegrino. Mix this us to incorporate all the ingredients in this drink. Very refreshing drink.
Lychee Oolong Iced Tea
The lychee oolong ice tea is made with iced oolong tea lightly sweetened with housemade lychee syrup and offering subtle notes of fragrant gardenia and honeydew melon. Refreshing beverage as well, but would have liked the tea to be stronger.
Honey Coconut Cold Brew
They use cold brew shaken with honey syrup and coconut milk. We love this and would get this again.
Açaí Bowls
They offer 4 different kinds of Açaí Bowls. The frozen base of açaí berries, strawberries, blueberries, bananas and apple juice sweetened with honey. The base of the bowls are all the same, but the toppings change.
You can’t go wrong with any of them as it’s all based on your personal preference.
The Basic
The Basic Açaí bowl is topped with fresh bananas and housemade granola.
The Classic
The Classic Açaí bowl is topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries, bananas, housemade granola and a sprinkle of coconut flakes.
The Hawaiian
The Hawaiian Açaí bowl is topped with fresh bananas, toasted macadamia nuts, almond butter, housemade granola and coconut flakes.
Build Your Own Bowl
If you want to have customizable toppings include fresh blueberries, strawberries, bananas, housemade granola, almond butter, macadamia nuts, coconut flakes or honey, you can definitely make it however you like.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it’s a great addition to the menu if you want something that is refreshing and healthy. Plus, you’ll definitely be craving to go to Hawaii once this pandemic is over. We highly recommend the Honey Coconut Cold Brew.
Santapan Indonesian Grill is the latest food truck to launch in Vancouver. They are currently just waiting for a few permits before hitting the road, but we got a sneak peak of the truck and the menu.
Once they get all their permits, they are planning to be in Kitsilano on West 4th. As they have a commercial kitchen to prep all their food, their dishes and drinks are available for pick up and delivery through UberEats, DoorDash, and FanTuan 饭团.
Sustainability is top of mind, so all their bowls and utensils are compostable/recyclable. The menu is simple and customizable to your taste. love how they use healthier ingredients like fresh vegetables, olive oil (instead of canola), Himalayan pink salt, organic chicken, and no MSG to name a few.
Menu
You first choose the types of dish you want – rice bowl, wrap or salad. Then your choice of chicken, steak or tempeh skewers.
Bali Bowl
The Bali Bowl is the works with coconut rice. It also has romaine lettuce, carrots, edamame, cucumber, green beans, baked potato, radish coins, boiled egg, and standard sauces (Peanut Parti, Sumatra Spice, and Surabaya Citrus).
It’s bigger and more filling compared to the salad. The coconut rice is so good and fragrant. Everything was cooked perfectly.
Gado Gado Salad
The Gado Gado Salad is the works on salad. It also has romaine lettuce, carrots, edamame, cucumber, green beans, baked potato, radish coins, boiled egg, and standard sauces (Peanut Parti, Sumatra Spice, and Surabaya Citrus).
It’s the healthier option compared to the Bali Bowl. Still tastes great.
Roti Wrap
The roti wrap has everything in a whole wheat wrap minus the baked potato. If you’re looking for a grab and go option that isn’t messy, this is it. It’s handheld with no mess. You’ll probably be about the same fullness from the Bali Bowl too.
Chicken and Steak Skewers
Both the chicken and steak skewers are nicely seasoned in bite-sized pieces. During our visit, we did find it was a touch overdone as we would have liked it to be softer and tender.
Tempeh Skewers
This is the vegan option if you do not want any meat. It’s essentially fermented soybeans. It’s not bad at all. Good texture and flavour to go with your meal.
Indo Ice Coffee
This drink has cold brew coffee, coconut milk, and lightly sweetened. Very light and refreshing. The layers are very distinct and the green pandan syrup give is an excellent aroma that pairs with the coffee.
Jakarta Jelly
This dink has organic Indonesian cold brew coffee, coconut milk, grass jelly, and lightly sweetened. It’s a unique drink that you don’t see often. This drink has the addition of the grass jelly.
Final Thoughts
I love seeing the new wave of food trucks opening in Vancouver. Santapan Indonesian Grill gives us a new twist on Indonesian flavours for the West Coast all packaged in a compact food truck.
The sauces can have a kick of spice to it, so if you want a different spice level, definitely ask them for their recommendation.
If you see them rolling around town, definitely give them a try.
Locvl Delivery is a local delivery company based out of Richmond, BC and they deliver fresh florals, cakes, baked goods and other local gifts to your door. With the pandemic, it’s a much needed service to continue celebrating milestones whether it be a birthday, anniversary, wedding, etc.
We just reached 20,000+ followers on Instagram. Something I never imagined when I started this whole foodie journey a decade ago. Thanks for being part of this journey as we eat our way across the city. Locvl Delivery sent us a little gift to celebrate with balloons and The Graze Company’s Graze Box full of delicious goodies.
Delivery
Before your delivery arrives, they will text you before arrival. There is also a link that will let you know exactly where they exactly are. If you’re not home or you’re gifting it to a friend, thats enough time to alter someone to grab the delivery.
Hearts Confetti Balloons
They have different balloons to choose from on their website. You can get the ones with big letters and numbers filled with helium or more simple balloons like these.
This particular one is their Hearts Confetti balloon set.
The Graze Company – Small Original Graze Box
They sent us the The Graze Company‘s Small Original Graze Box for us to munch on. The small size feeds 2 people, but more people can definitely snack on it. It makes a lovely gift as there is a good amount of variety.
There were fruits, veggies, cheeses, meats, dips and even honeycomb.
When it arrived, it was nice and cool. If you aren’t consuming it right away, put it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat it.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Locvl Delivery has some very nice things in their local marketplace to help make someone’s day a little extra special. The cakes from Buttermere and L’otus Cake Boutique are very popular and the delivery fee isn’t too high.
If you want $10 off your first delivery, use the promo code ‘FOODOLOGY10’.
I was recently introduced to Earthling Gluten Free Foods for their Almond Meringue Dacquois. They have put their own twist to this treat with Korean flavour influences and tea flavours too.
They starting making dacquoise during the pandemic as they really missed having them back in Korea. After many trial and error making their ideal Dacquoise, Earthling Gluten Free Foods was born. Their secret is rice flour, which gives it a crispier and chewier texture.
They produce all these Dacquois in a 100% gluten-free commissary kitchen in Vancouver.
Free Delivery and Pick Up
You can get free delivery if you have a minimum order of $40 or more. They delivery to the Greater Vancouver Regional District from Monday to Fridays.
You can also pick up your order at Bobacabana in New Westminster.
Follow them on social media as they do have pop-up events once in a while. See where they will be next.
Injeolmi
This Dacquoise has soybean powder (Kong Garu) dusted shell and kong-garu (injeolmi) buttercream center. This was our favourite flavour of the flavours we tried. Highly highly recommended.
Mugwort
This is a very unique flavour using Korean mugwort herb (Ssuk) infused shell and mugwort buttercream center. It’s very interesting and definitely has an earthly flavour. I was very indifferent about the flavour but my sister was really really into it.
Hojicha Matcha
I love the colours of the Hojicha infused buttercream and matcha infused buttercream. They use the Paragon Tea Room Hojicha and Matcha tea powder in the buttercream. I would have preferred the flavours seperately to be able to taste the tea better.
Vanilla Bean
If you’re not into tea of Korean flavours, they have it with fresh vanilla bean, thus creating a classic french buttercream. Back to the basics is always good.
Lemon Creme
Hiding in the centre is their fresh lemon zested curd center and cream cheese buttercream. Love the vibrant lemon flavour.
Final Thoughts
I was pleasantly surprised by their Almond Meringue Dacquoise. It was my first time trying and it’s a nice snack that pairs well with tea or coffee. If you’re looking for something different to give a friend or family member, this might be it.
