Cafe Archives - Page 22 of 28

In Cafe

Scandilicious: Delicious

March 21, 2013

After finishing dinner on The Drive at Havana’s one dark and rainy Tuesday night, my friends and I were craving something sweet.

We wracked our brains for a while thinking of a dessert place in the area and could only think of La Casa Gelato. It was pretty cold out so we weren’t really in the mood for ice cream.

I hopped onto Urbanspoon and saw a name that I didn’t recognize – Scandilicious. It was only 1 block away so it was perfect!

Scandilicious is a new waffle café that opened on The Drive about a month ago. They serve 5 different types of waffles with so many sweet or savoury options!

Liege – served hot, a dense chewy and sweet waffle
Brussels – The typical waffles you see served at most places
Vaffler – a thin, tender, lightly crispy waffle spiced with cardamom
WOS – Short for Waffle on a Stick
Gluten Free – Good option for those with dietary limitations

They also make their own sauces that they are looking to bottle up and sell soon in store.

When I arrived at the store, I was greeted with such a warm scent. I was also mesmerized by all the options. After debating for awhile, we finally got to ordering.

Vaffler with espresso sauce topped with vanilla ice cream

WOW. This was my absolute favourite of the night. The pairing of espresso with vanilla ice cream is perfect. My favourite part of it was the espresso sauce. It was flavourful, not too sweet, and had a butteriness to it like caramel.

The Vaffler itself on its own was really good and spiced with cardamom, which made it have a nice subtle and light gingery taste to it.

Vaffler with Coconut spread
The coconut spread was similar to the Malaysian Coconut Spread called Kaya but was more flavourful and richer. It wasn’t overpowering or artificial tasting either. It initially looks like it might not be enough sauce but it definitely is enough for such a delicate waffle.

Vaffler with dark chocolate cherry sauce

The dark chocolate cherry sauce wasn’t my favourite but that might also be my taste preference. It was a little grainier compared to their other sauces.

Brussels Waffle with Almond Butter

This style of waffle is one that you see often. It was light and crispy. My friend chose the almond butter that was quite thick and tasted just like ground almonds.

To sum up my experience at Scandilicious, I was surprised and will definitely be back again soon. It’s a great addition to the neighbourhood and provides lots of options for those looking for something heavier, sweeter, or lighter.

The price point is also good – see their menu for prices.

They have lots of sauces and it just so happens they’re hosting a sample night on Friday, March 22, 6pm to 7pm at their quickie take out window. Stop by if you’re in the area (limit one sample per person)! Check out their website or facebook page for more information.

Words of wisdom

Ask them for help and suggestions if you’re overwhelmed by the options
Experiment with flavours and be creative!
Good on the wallet!

We Rate Scandilicious:

Address:
1340 Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.scandilicious.com/

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=1340+Commercial+Drive+Vancouver,+BC&hnear=1340+Commercial+Dr,+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V5L+2T6&gl=ca&t=m&z=16 “]

In Bakery

Beaucoup Bakery & Cafe: Buttery Goodness

March 18, 2013

Beaucoup Bakery and Cafe opened at the end of 2012 and their customers have raved about their amazing croissants. After seeing my sister bring home boxes full of their croissants, I decided to come here with my girls – KoreanGirl and Mandu. They love to eat, so an afternoon catch up session definitely needs coffee and pastries.

On a Saturday afternoon, this place was packed! There were swarms of people almost out the door. There’s not a lot of seating, so you kinda need to wait patiently for some spots to free up.

The croissants smell so good and look good too. Once you walk through the door, your eyes will just stare at them intensely to figure out which pastry you’ll devour.

They have more than just croissants.

The perfect items for 3 girls.

Latte is made with 49th Parallel coffee and went well with the pastries. Anytime coffee that is made with 49th Parallel beans, you know its good stuff.

Macchiato had a cute little heart.

Croissant is very flakey on the outside and soft in the middle. This croissant is definitely one of the crispiest in town.

Look at all those layers! When you bite into it, you will know this is loaded with butter to get the crispiness.

Mini Chocolate Croissant was really good as well. The size was perfect, so you get a few bites without feeling guilty afterwards.

Citrus Scroll was sticky and sweet kinda like a marmalade. It was good, but not overly sweet.

Marcona Almond Bar was one of my favorite treats! It is packed full of nuts on top and a piece of gold foil. Definitely recommended.

Overall, we enjoyed our time here…especially the food. Coming on a weekend, it is quite busy, so the place will be packed. Will definitely be back!

We Rate Beaucoup Bakery & Cafe:

Address:
2150 Fir St
Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.beaucoupbakery.com/

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=2150+Fir+St+Vancouver,+BC&hnear=2150+Fir+St,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V6J+3B5&gl=ca&t=m&z=16″]

In Cafe

Safari Cafe: A Hidden Gem

February 10, 2013

Safari Cafe is a small coffee shop in the Strathcona area outside of Chinatown. I’ve passed by the place a few times and I basically think everything is sketchy in this area. Clearly, I am wrong. One day, my coworkers decided to go for a coffee run and told me this place is the place to go for coffee.

This place was busy around 10am on a Friday. All the seats were occupied and there was a long lineup. This told me that Safari Cafe is definitely a secret gem in the neighbourhood.

The drink menu isn’t extensive, but there are the usual items. The thing about Safari Cafe is that you never know what they will charge you. Sometimes you pay less than whats indicated on the board or sometimes they will give you get a large instead of a medium. It all depends on how the owners mood is.

Adam makes all the drinks and is a killer baker too.

Adam even has his own painting on the wall!

I ordered a medium latte, but Adam gave me a large latte and only charged me $3. I was very surprised and very confused at the same time. I guess he was in a very happy mood that day. Clearly, very unpredictable. The coffee tasted great and no complaints. I’ll definitely be back!

We Rate Safari Cafe:

Address:
1007 Main St
Vancouver, BC

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=1007+Main+St+Vancouver,+BC&hnear=1007+Main+St,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V6A+4L4&gl=ca&t=m&z=16″]

In Bakery

Terra Breads Cafe: Cookies, Sandwiches, and Hot Chocolate

February 7, 2013

Terra Breads Cafe is located in the Olympic Village. They have amazing artisan bread, pastries, sandwiches, and drinks. I recently started working near this area and it’s definitely one of our go-to places for lunch. It gets pretty packed during lunch, so it’ll be hard to find a table.

It’s super close to this stunning view of Downtown Vancouver! Too bad it was a cloudy day.

They have tons of pastries, you will find something that catches your eye.

Chocolate Espresso Cookie was very soft and had a nice subtle taste of espresso in the chocolate cookie. Definitely a nice treat for the mornings.

I got a portobello mushroom panini which also has goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, arugula, house-made chipotle mayonnaise and cracked black pepper. The mushrooms are sourced locally from Richmond too. It was a pretty good panini!

Stand Up and Stout is a hot chocolate infused with Cacao Barry Extra Brute Cocoa and R&B Brewing Dark Star Oatmeal Stout, served with house-made stout marshmallows and an oatmeal raisin cookie. It was really good! Who knew beer and hot chocolate would ever go together. This item is exclusively for the Hot Chocolate Festival.

Overall, pretty awesome cafe in the area. It is usually packed during peak hours, so not the best place to come with large groups. It’s nice place to just chill.

We Rate Terra Breads Cafe:

Address:
1605 Manitoba Street
Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.terrabreads.com/

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=1605+Manitoba+Street+Vancouver,+BC&hnear=1605+Manitoba+St,+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V5Y+0B5&gl=ca&t=m&z=16″]

In Cafe

Leonidas: Its Hot Chocolate Time

February 6, 2013

Foodology Disclaimer: Leonidas invited me to try some of their Hot chocolate to gear up for the Hot Chocolate Festival.

Leonidas is located below Canada Place and serves great hot chocolate to locals and tourists. Besides hot chocolate, they have dessert, coffee and shakes. It is a popular franchise all over the world and a few years ago, it arrived in Vancouver.

They pride themselves of offering chocolates made with 100% cocoa butter – no fillers, no wax, no vegetable oil, no animal fats. Their chocolates are flown in from Belgium and not made in-house.

This year, they are participating in the Hot Chocolate Festival starting Saturday January 19th till February 14th, 2013. These sound crazy amazing, especially the frozen noisette.

Their 4 flavours offered this year are The Frozen Noisette, Tiger Milk, Jamaican Kiss and Boho Secret.

The Frozen Noisette
Melted praline blended into frozen yogurt, topped with a shot of melted chocolate, and finished with crushed hazelnuts.

Everyone LOVED this! You must get this!

Tiger Milk
Leonidas White chocolate, saffron, cardamom, nutmeg, and finished with slivered almonds.

This drink kinda reminded me of Chai tea. It definitely different than all the other hot chocolates.

Jamaican Kiss
Leonidas Milk Chocolate, coconut milk and pineapple rum.

M loved this! It has a stronger taste of coconut than the rum, but is a great combination.

Boho Secret
Leonidas 72% Sao Tome dark chocolate, mint and a secret ingredient.

This was my second favourite and it reminded me of a peppermint patty or After Eight chocolate.

With the hot chocolates, you get a choice of a chocolate, a sample of leige waffle or some treat to accompany your drink.

This is their regular menu.

72% Dark Hot Chocolate is definitely not for everyone. It is very rich and good for people who like dark chocolate. If you enjoy something a bit smoother, the 52% dark hot chocolate might be better.

The hot chocolate is served in a double walled cup, so it stays hotter for longer.

It even comes with a little chocolate.

Champagne Hot Chocolate isn’t on the menu, but you can order it. It is made of the Champagne truffles and is so good! It’s not alcoholic at all, but it adds a nice after taste. I really enjoyed this one!

Earl Grey Macaron had a very nice flavour, but the texture of the macaron tends to stick slightly to your teeth. The macaron didn’t fall apart easily as some other places in town. A good macaron to go with your hot chocolate is always a plus.

Words of Wisdom:

Delicious Dark Chocolates and hot chocolates!
Under $10
Closest Skytrain: Waterfront

We Rate Leonidas:

Address:
#29 – 1055 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC
Website:
http://www.leonidaswaterfront.com/

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=%2329+%E2%80%93+1055+Canada+Place+Vancouver,+BC&ie=UTF8&hnear=1055+Canada+Pl+%2329,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver,+British+Columbia&gl=ca&t=m&z=16″]

In Bakery

Bagel Street Cafe: Mayo, Mustard, Salt & Pepper

January 29, 2013

A time before I started blogging, there would be one place I would go all the time. There was a small little cafe in the Kensington Plaza called Bagel Street Cafe. It is the place to get breakfast bagels in Burnaby. It is owned by a husband and wife and they have operated this cafe for way over ten years.

Every time you order a bagel, they always ask “mayo, mustard, salt, and pepper”. I giggle a little bit every time I hear them say this because its like an automated response. The owners can sometimes be grouchy, but are generally nice.

I ordered the egg florentine bagel on the everything bagel ($4.95). It’s a very simple bagel sandwich but they make it really good! You have the egg with the spinach, tomatoes, and spread.

Overall, the bagel sandwiches are great and not expensive at Bagel Street Cafe. They have a lot of different bagels too.

We Rate Bagel Street Cafe:

Address:
6552 Hastings St
Burnaby, BC

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=6552+Hastings+St++Burnaby,+BC&hl=en&hnear=6552+Hastings+St,+Burnaby,+Greater+Vancouver,+British+Columbia&gl=ca&t=m&z=16″]

In Bubble Tea

Cattle Cafe: All About the Laksa

January 28, 2013

Cattle Cafe has now opened 3 other locations in Richmond, Edmonds, and another on Kingsway. I usually just go to the original locations on Kingsway and Nelson. It’s open late and you get good value for what you pay.

The downside is the service. Its pretty meh, but you can probably get by. We’re experienced a whole range of attitudes from the servers in the past. We only really come here for a quick cheap meal.

Deep Fried Shrimp Skewers (6 for $3.99) looked pretty intriguing. A little bit cruel, but I love eating shrimp. The seasoning they used was good, but I think the shrimp themselves were not fresh, the meat was dry and may have been frozen at some point.

Iced Milk Tea is always a must at any HK style Cafe.

Malay Laksa Soup + fish tofu, beef brisket, and vermicelli noodles is a popular combination for their popular noodles. Mandu and KoreaGirl both ordered this and the loved it.

This was another noodle combination. I just pointed at a picture on the menu, but I didn’t have a clue what it is called. It’s quite big and there’s lots of noodles, but wasn’t as good as the laksa. Probably best to stick with laksa if you don’t want to be disappointed.

Overall, the food is ok for the price you pay. You can probably spend less than $10 and leave full. It’s a popular place to go to for late night meals and they even have a few other locations a few KMs away.

Words of Wisdom:

Parking Underground, street parking
Decently priced food
Noodles are their specialty and items on rice.
Limited seating, best to come in 2 or 4

We Rate Cattle Cafe:

Address:
4885 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=4885+Kingsway+Burnaby,+BC&hnear=4885+Kingsway,+Burnaby,+British+Columbia+V5H+4T2&gl=ca&t=m&z=16 “]

In Cafe

Cafe Savoureux: It’s Coffee Time

January 16, 2013

Cafe Savoureux is located in Richmond on Capstan Way near all those other bubble tea and dessert restaurants. After having Cruzpresso’s Bday dinner at Dinesty, we headed over to this place for some coffee.

This place is known for their coffee and has a variety of different types. If you’re not a coffee drinker, they have teas, slushies, and desserts.

The interior is cute and has very ornate plates and teacups on the walls.

They even have Kopi Luwak for $60! Kopi Luwak is coffee made from the beans of coffee berries eaten and excreted by civets. I’ve only heard about this on the news, but apparently its very good coffee.

Another coffee specialty is the Syphon Style Coffee. It gives you a clean pristine cup of coffee. A few of us ordered the coffee and they said it was really good!

Earl Grey Tea ($5.95) comes in a cute pot and tiny tea cup. The candle underneath keeps it warm.

Floating Coffee ($4.95) has iced coffee with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. M didn’t particularly like this but it might have been due to the funky ice cream cone cup.

Walnut Cheesecake came with the coffee and tea since there was a combo special when we went. It was decent cheesecake but it wasn’t crazy good.

Chocolate Toast ($2.95) is Nutella on top of thick toast.

Condenseed Milk Toast ($2.95) has drizzle of condensed milk on top.

Creme Caramel ($4.95) is quite average too.

Overall, the drinks were good, but the desserts were average. Cafe Savoureux is a nice place to have a drink of tea or coffee but you can probably pass on the desserts.

We Rate Cafe Savoureaux:

Address:
8368 Capstan Way
Richmond, BC

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=8368+Capstan+Way+Richmond,+BC&hnear=8368+Capstan+Way,+Richmond,+Greater+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V6X&gl=ca&t=m&z=16″]

In Cafe

Fung Sing Cafe: New Hong Kong Style Cafe

January 15, 2013

Fung Sing Cafe is a new Hong Kong style cafe. This cafe was previously Sun Yee Cafe Restaurant but has switched owners and a new menu to go along with it. The owner of Fung Sing Cafe was a chef at Curry King and opened Fung Sing Cafe to call his own.

The interior isn’t amazing but there are large tables if you want to come in big groups.

Depend on what set you order, it might come with soup. They have 3 types of soup – cream soup, Chinese soup, and Russian borscht. All of them tasted pretty good. Everyone at our table had their own favorite soup. I personally love cream soup.

Cold Milk Tea is always a must when going to a HK style cafe.

House Special Beef Short Ribs ($10.50) has lots of short ribs and was tender. Pretty solid dish.

Sweet and Sour Pork ($10.50) was really good. I usually hate sweet and sour pork but they make it really good here! The breading is thin, so you can taste the pork inside. Definitely recommended!!

2 item sizzling combination ($12.95) comes with your choice of any 2 meat choices, soup, drink, a sauce and a side. I chose the rib eye steak and the chicken steak. I also chose the side of vegetables and mushroom sauce.

Choice of 2 combinations ($9.95) thats what the menu said what this was. Essentially you choose 2 meats, a sauce, and a side. It also comes with a choice of sauce and drink. Kgirl chose her option with fries.

This is what it looks like if you chose rice as a side.

This one would be the one with the side of vegetables.

It’s a pretty good value for under $10 and you get full. This option is very popular.

4 of us ordered the same thing. It’s simple and good.

Baked Ying Yang Rice (King Size -$9.50) is a must order! It’s huge! It’s so large that I have no idea who would be able to finish it.

Trust me, it’s quite large even if the pictures don’t 100% justify the size. It tastes good and its worth your money!

You can get a choice of dessert if you order a set item. There are 3 options – Mango pudding, tapioca with coconut milk, and ice cream crepe.

The mango pudding is quite plain but still a nice ending to the meal.

The coconut milk with tapioca is typical of a Chinese restaurant, but still good.

The ice cream crepe was a surprise to see.

Once you cut into it, the ice cream just oozes out. Really cool and a fun desssert for kids.

Overall, Fung Sing Cafe is pretty solid and we had no complaints. The price is very reasonable, staff were nice, and food was decent. I’d definitely come back for some of their specials!

Words of Wisdom:

You gotta order Choice of 2 combinations and the Baked Ying Yang Rice
Free parking at rear

We Rate Fung Sing Cafe:

Address:
2128 East Hastings St
Vancouver, BC

Website: http://fungsingcafe.com/

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=2128+East+Hastings+St+Vancouver,+BC&hnear=2128+E+Hastings+St,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V5L+1V2&gl=ca&t=m&z=16 “]

In Cafe

Take Five Cafe: Coffee, Appies, and Pasta

January 4, 2013

Take Five Cafe opened their 10th location in Gastown and this location serves meals and wine in addition to coffee, sandwiches and baked goods. A bunch of us decided to come here for a meeting and a dinner. They have this huge roundtable that is great for a large group of people.

The interior is spacious and has lots of tables on the left side.

On the right side is their bar.

Medium Latte is what I ordered to give me a jolt of energy.

Ethiopian Pour Over is very strong and has 3 times as much caffeine as a regular black coffee. Everyone that gets it here gets very wired and shaky after drinking it.

Tomato Bruschetta comes with 4 pieces and is topped with lots of diced tomatoes, balsamic and herbs. It’s yummy, but can easily fall apart if you’re not careful.

Rotini Pesto has rotini with pesto cream sauce and topped with parmesan cheese. It comes with 2 pieces of toast on the side. It was a strange sight to see pasta at a coffee place. The pasta tasted ok, but was a tad bland and not very fragrant.

Penne with Meatballs has penne tossed with rich tomato basil sauce and topped with meatballs and parmesan cheese.

Chorizo Farfalle has farfalle pasta, dried chorizo sausage, mushrooms, tomato, basil, and parmesan cheese.

Overall, the food here is alright, nothing too spectacular. It’s just a good space to hang out and it’s not too crowded compared to the other cafes in the area. Plus, they serve beer and wine.

We Rate Take Five Cafe:

Address:
62 West Cordova Street
Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.takefivecafe.ca

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=62+West+Cordova+Street+Vancouver,+BC&hnear=62+W+Cordova+St,+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V6B+1C9&gl=ca&t=m&z=16″]

In Bakery

The Last Crumb Bakery & Cafe: Hot Chocolate and Marshmallows

December 25, 2012

The Last Crumb Bakery & Cafe recently opened on Main Street. My sister was trying to get me out of the house, so she suggested we have lunch here. Since I love trying new places, I couldn’t say no.

It is located on Main and 15th near Burgoo. You can find street parking easily, but during busy times, you might have to park a bit further.

The cafe is 2 floors and is quite stunning. The whole concept of this bakery is to feel cozy and comfortable. It’s a great place to relax and catch up with friends over same good pastries and hot chocolate.

There’s a huge window in the back, so you can see them baking away! And they have a cool quote on their window – “Life is Short, Eat Dessert First”.

They have a bunch of different items to choose from.

They even have a few Gluten-Free items like macaroons, scones, cupcakes, and cookies.

They have a lot of different baked goods, I swear, their kitchen keeps pumping out delicious creations.

They are even whole pies on display. They looked so good.

What caught my eye when we first arrived was the board of hot chocolates. So many different kinds!

Almond Hot Chocolate with Almond Milk (M- $3.95) Instead of regular milk, they suggested to make it with almond milk, they assured me it was delicious and it sure was! It was smooth and so yummy!

Homemade Marshmallow ($0.50) was unlike any store bought marshmallow. Its kinda messy when you eat it, but it really can’t compare to anything found in store. If you have hot chocolate, you must order this!

They have a lunch menu at the back of the restaurant with special creations.

Proscuitto and Brie Sandwich with house made onion marmalade, arugula, pear and walnuts. The bread was baked fresh and was still warm when it arrived. The creaminess of the brie and the salty proscuitto always match perfectly.

Chicken BLT Sandwich with bacon, tomato, arugula and Dijon mayo. This was my favorite since the bacon was really thick and full of flavour.

Wild Mushroom Soup tasted alright. It definitely needed a bit more salt to bring out the flavours of the mushroom.

The food here is good, but not jaw droppingly amazing. The items can get quite expensive if you get a drink, sandwiches, and soup. Nonetheless, it is a great addition to Main St! I love how everything is made fresh and they are dedicated in using preservative-free and artificial-flavouring free ingredients.

We Rate The Last Crumb:

Address:
3080 Main St
Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.lastcrumb.ca/

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=3080+Main+St+Vancouver,+BC&hnear=3080+Main+St,+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V5T+3G5&gl=ca&t=m&z=16″]

In Bakery

The Baker & The Chef: A Sandwich Cafe

November 7, 2012

A few month ago a heard much hype from The Baker & The Chef that opened near Hastings and Cambie. They have items like sandwiches, soups, and of course baked goods.

The interior isn’t too large, but has lots of seating for singles or pairs of customers.

The Capilano Panini(Full- $8) has foccacia bread, grilled chicken breast, brie, mixed greens, and pesto. There are sticks of carrots and celery on the side, which is a nice touch. The sandwich was just average and nothing too impressive. It was just disappointing how little chicken there was in the sandwich. As you can see from the picture, it’s all in the center, so when you take your first bite, you won’t get chicken.

Overall, my friend and I thought this place was ok, but with a lot of other sandwich shops in close proximity, it’s hard to compete. It’s cool to get sandwiches named after cool Vancouver streets. Quite creative.

We Rate The Baker & The Chef:

Address:
320 Cambie St
Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.thebakerandthechef.com/

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=320+Cambie+St+Vancouver,+BC&hnear=320+Cambie+St,+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V6B+2N3&gl=ca&t=m&z=16″]

In Cafe

Brioche: Soup, Sandwiches, and Lasagna in Gastown

November 6, 2012

Brioche is located in the Gastown close to both SFU Vancouver and Woodwards. They are known for their yummy comfort foods like soups, sandwiches, and pasta. M and I came here since it half way between both our offices. My last visit was about 2 years ago, so I wanted to see if there were any improvements.

The space is great for chats with friends over coffee and food.

Latte was OK. Couldn’t have been a bit stronger.

Grilled NY Striploin w/ Wild Mushroom Sauce is also served with soup. There are so many different ways of eating this. You can eat it like a sandwich, or eat it like an open-faced sandwich. This item is on the special board usually and is quite pricey when you decide to order it. The menu doesn’t specify price, so it’s really going to hurt your wallet since it’s just lunch.

I tend to order this item when I go to Brioche because it’s filling and the mushroom sauce and the tender striploin is super delicious.

Seafood Bisque was very watery and had more of a lemony tang to the flavour profile. The seafood taste wasn’t as prominent.

Bolognese Lasagna w/ 8 Layer Sauce and contains Bechamel, Salsiccia, Mushroom, and Bolognese. M did enjoy the dish, but for $18 was not worth it. He wouldn’t have ordered this if he knew the price before hand.

Overall, the food is great, but the price is way too much for a lunch. You can end up paying $20 for a dish and a drink.

Words of Wisdom:

Food is a pricey and no visible pricing on dishes
Best in small groups
Panini’s are really good
Parking garage across the street. Discounted parking for SFU students after 6pm.

We rate Broioche:

Website:
http://www.brioche.ca/

Address:
401 West Cordova Street
Vancouver BC

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=401+West+Cordova+Street+Vancouver+BC&hnear=401+W+Cordova+St,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia+V6B+1E5&gl=ca&t=m&z=16 “]

In Bakery

Caffe Divano: New Cafe in North Burnaby

October 31, 2012

Caffe Divano opened another cafe in the Lower Mainland and this location is on Hastings in North Burnaby. I pass by it quite often when I go to Downtown, so I was curious what it offered. KoreanGirl also saw it every time she hops onto the 135 bus, so we made it a mission to have some coffee and chat about what girls normally talk about.

There are lots of tables to sit at and would make a great place to study! We came around 5pm, so there wasn’t a lot of people here.

They have freshly baked goods and when they come right out of the oven, the store smells pretty delicious.

They also have sandwiches, wraps and desserts.

Homemade Oreo Cookie is made of 2 soft chocolate cookies sandwiching vanilla frosting. KoreanGirl and I did enjoy it because the texture of the cookie was great!

Latte was really good! They used 49th Parallel Coffee for this drink and it sure kept me awake all night.

Spanish Latte is a bit different as it contains espresso, steamed milk and condensed milk.

Overall, KoreanGirl and I loved chatting here and having a coffee. The prices are comparable to other cafes nearby. If you are looking for a place thats different than Starbucks, give Caffe Divano a try.

We Rate Caffe Divano:

Address:
4568 Hastings St
Burnaby, BC

Website:
http://www.caffedivano.ca/

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”Enter google map URL “]

In Cafe

Australia Dairy Company: Eggs, Milk Tea, and Milk Pudding

October 29, 2012

Australia Dairy Company was voted one of the best restaurants in Hong Kong for 2012 according to Openrice.com. They are best known for their toast, scrambled egg, and steamed milk. It’s a very popular place and it attracts a lot of locals and tourists.

Even at 3pm, there was a lineup outside. Don’t be intimidated by the line, even though it is long, the service is very fast and efficient that you won’t spend too much time inside.

Bottled Milk was something my little sister wanted. She did enjoy it with the meal.

Hot Milk Tea.

Hot Milk Tea (Included in meal) was good. It is a smaller size that comes with the preset meals.

Toast with egg and ham was very simple, but so full of flavour. I was surprised! The gooey egg was the best scrambled eggs we ever ate!

Macaroni and roasted pork in broth was OK. Nothing fancy. It came with the combo, so I’m not complaining.

Cold steamed milk pudding is what we ordered at the end. Delicious!

Afterwards, we took a stroll to Temple Street to do a little bit of shopping. It’s a good place to barter for bags and wallets.

Overall, the Australia Dairy Company is great for cheap food and the eggs are to die for. As for the long lineup to go inside, it doesn’t take too long to get inside if you have a group of 2 or 4. The service is so quick that it just comes out immediately after ordering. It definitely more popular amongst the tourist for sure.

We Rate Australia Dairy Company:

Address:
G/F, 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=G%2FF,+47-49+Parkes+Street,+Jordan&hl=en&hnear=49+Parkes+St,+Hong+Kong&t=m&z=16″]

In Cafe

DD Mau: Banh Mi Vietnamese Sandwiches in Yaletown

October 28, 2012

DD Mau is a modern Vietnamese Banh Mi Sandwich shop. It’s located close to the Yaletown Skytrain. They sell drinks, salads, vermicelli bowls, and sandwiches.

Avocado Smoothie ($4.50) is made with fresh avocados and almond milk. It’s my all time favorite smoothie! The texture is great and the taste of avocado goes so well with the almond milk.

Thai Tea Latte is a new item they just introduced. I’ve never had anything like it, but it had an array of different spices and flavours. It was refreshing and delicious.

DD Mau Iced Coffee ($3.50) has espresso, sweet condensed milk, and Ice. M said it was the best iced coffee he has had so far. The owner said there is a secret ingredient inside! She wouldn’t tell us, but it was yummy!

Braised Sate Short Rib with Caramelized Onions and Watercress ($12) . This was their special feature when we were there. It’s more expensive than their regular Banh Mi Sandwiches, but M really enjoyed the flavours inside.

The sandwich is cut in half, so its easier to eat. The short ribs were very tender and went well with the pickled vegetables . M liked how the bread was a bit softer than most of the other Vietnamese sandwich places, so it doesn’t hurt the top of your mouth.

Crispy Roasted Pork ($8.80) has loads of duck and the addictive crackling! Kind like Meat & Bread, but with a Vietnamese twist.

Overall, M and I enjoyed the items that we had there. Some items can be expensive like their special sandwiches, but their regular sandwiches are still yummy.

Words of Wisdom:

Limited Seating
All of the sandwiches are good, you can’t go wrong

We Rate DD Mau:

Address:
1239 Pacific Blvd
Vancouver, BC

Website:
ddmau.ca

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=1239+Pacific+Blvd+Vancouver,+BC&hnear=1239+Pacific+Blvd,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia+V6Z+2V2&gl=ca&t=m&z=16 “]

In Bakery

Kam Wah Cafe 金華冰廳: Egg Tarts, Pineapple Buns, and Milk Tea

October 27, 2012

During this Summer, we were caught in a severe typhoon, but despite the warnings, we still headed out for some delicious lunch. Everyone had their umbrellas and if you had shoes on, they were guaranteed to be soaked. The typhoon actually increased in strength throughout the day reaching a No. 10 typhoon warning, which was the highest since 1999.

Kam Wah Cafe is located in the Prince Edward area very very close to Women’s Street. Their specialties are milk tea, egg tarts, pineapple bun with butter, and chicken wings. They have also won the Best Restaurant Awards in 2012 on Openrice.com.

The interior is typical of a Chinese Cafe. It’s normal to sit with strangers since there are limited tables to seat all the customers.

They have news articles along one of the walls of the shop, so you can read what others have said about them.

Hot Milk tea is delicious and needs to be mixed with sugar before drinking. You definitely want to order this if you are getting some of their buns or tarts.

Egg Tarts are very flakey on the outside and nice and firm in the egg mixture. It came very hot, so you know its fresh.

Pineapple bun with butter is their most famous item at the cafe.

The way I eat it is by mushing the bun with a fork until its flat. Then I use a knife and fork to eat it, so I don’t get crumbs all over my lap.

StirFried Beef Noodles was very very good here too. We were pleasantly surprised! It was a bit oily, but still has a great taste!

Overall, I thought this cafe was really good! Definitely take a trip here if you want some good pineapple buns, egg tarts, and milk tea!

We Rate Kam Wah Cafe:

Address:
47 Bute Street, Prince Edward

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=47+Bute+Street,+Prince+Edward&hnear=47+Bute+St,+Hong+Kong&gl=ca&t=m&z=16″]

In Cafe

Starbucks: Introduction of Starbucks Refreshers

October 25, 2012

Earlier this Summer, Starbucks launched their new drinks – “Starbucks Refreshers”. These are cold fruity drinks with “natural energy”. They use green coffee extract, so you get that boost of energy without drinking coffee.

The refreshers come in 2 flavours – Very Berry Hibiscus and Cool Lime.

There was a buy one get one free deal, so I couldn’t give up the chance at trying both and paying way less. I paid in Hong Kong dollars, so it translates to about $3.

Cool Lime is a mix of juice, mint, lime, caffeine, and then shaken with ice. It had a dominant flavour of mint and a secondary taste of the lime. I preferred this over the very berry hibiscus refresher.

Very Berry Hibiscus has not my favorite, but my sister prefered it over the Cool Lime refresher. The berries were not very fresh either.

It’s good that Starbucks is catering to the people who hate the coffee taste, but need the caffeine rush. I personally dislike the taste of both these drinks, but the Cool Lime is slightly better than the Very Berry Hibiscus.

Have you tried these yet?