Type Archives - Page 56 of 125

In Bakery

Fondway Cafe: Milk Tea and Cake

December 8, 2015

Fondway Cafe is the latest cafe to open up in South Burnaby right by Metrotown. It is literally a few steps away from the skytrain. They specialize in coffee, tea and asian-inspired pastries.

The space is quite nice with a lot of natural light coming in. Very hip.

They have a Chinese and English menu available. At first I grabbed their Chinese menu and had no idea what I was reading. I’m such an asian disgrace.

They have a pretty large collection of tea along one of their walls.

During peak hours, it’s pretty hard to find a seat. It’s getting quite popular.

Once you order and pay, you get a giant clip with your order number.

Milk tea with grass jelly is served in a super cute cup. The drink wasn’t too sweet, which was great. It tasted pretty awesome and it definitely rivals some of the best milk teas in town.

Cheesecake with burnt sugar on top was a dense type of cheesecake. Not too sweet which caters to the asian tastebuds.

My friends got their Okinawa milk tea and they though it was pretty good.

What more could you want? Girl talk, milk tea and cake. Best combination ever.

If you are a coffee lover, you may want to try some of their specialty coffee drinks like their cold brew on tap and their soda coffee.

Overall, I love the space and its a great place to chill with friends. You definitely have to grab a slice of cake and milk tea when you’re here.

We Rate Fondway Cafe:

Address:
4462 Beresford Street, Burnaby

Website:
http://fondway.ca/

In Oliver

Jackson-Triggs Vineyard: Wine Shop and Tasting

December 7, 2015

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Winery is open year round. Jackson-Triggs is a blend of our founders’ names,
Allan Jackson and Don Triggs, who established the winery in 1993. They also have another vineyard in Niagara.

They are Canada’s most awarded winery. Pretty awesome to see all their hard work pay off.

Driving through the estate was awesome too since there were winding roads of grapes.

Their wine tastings consisted of both Jackson-Triggs and Inniskillin wines.

There is a long bar and of course since it’s a popular winery, there were a lot of people. We had to wait a little bit to get to the bar.

The tasting room was nice and there are 2 areas.

We tried their complimentary wines which consisted of a red and their ice wine.

We took a liking to their 2014 Jackson-Triggs Reserve Riesling Ice Wine. Usually we don’t like ice wine but this one was really good.

Honey golden in colour with intensely sweet densely layered flavours of tropical fruit, apricot and honey backed by crisp acidity, a thick mouth feel with an extended elegant finish. This Icewine pairs beautifully with rich seafood, sushi, and a variety of ripe cheeses.

It was one of the memorable wines from our roadtrip, so a few weeks later we bought a bottle of the ice wine for a friend.

You can purchase both Jackson-Triggs and Inniskillin wines here.

Address:
7857 Tucelnuit Drive, Oliver BC

Website:
http://www.jacksontriggswinery.com/

In Bubble Tea

Chatime Burnaby: Long Lines, Incorrect Drinks

December 6, 2015

Chatime Burnaby finally opens up in the suburbs right on Kingsway and Royal Oak just steps away from Boiling Point. I’m a big fan of Chatime when they first opened a few locations around Metro Vancouver since their Roasted Milk Tea with Grass Jelly is freaking amazing.

KoreanGirl and I came here after dinner to get our Chatime fix and the line was half way out the door. We didn’t mind since there was nothing else to do for the day.

The interior is spacious with a good amount of seats, but most people were getting their drink to go. We waited in line for 20 minutes and it was quite strange how slow it moved. Soon, the line built up so it was almost out the door. Some customers walked in and immediately walked out cause it looked like chaos.

Getting closer to the counter, you could see the bottleneck was near the cashier area with their under trained staff. The cashier was confused by most orders and there always seemed like there were 3 people around the ordering counter trying to figure out the next drink to make. Clearly large communication issues really held up the line.

Once we put in our order, it was another 10 minutes for our drinks. They almost gave us someone else’s order but we made sure it was ours before we grabbed it.

My half sweet roasted milk tea with less ice was the most disgusting bubble tea I’ve had in a long time. The staff really rushed through the orders and didn’t take much care in making them.

My drink tasted overly sweet with lots of ice. I’ve had this drink over 10 times at various Chatime locations in Richmond and Vancouver and this was the first time it tasted terrible.

I had high hopes for this location, but there seems to be more kinks they need to work out with training staff to be more efficient and improve accuracy of orders. I came a week after opening, so I thought any little kinks would be sorted. Clearly not. I would avoid this location for the next little while. I left pretty angry and it ruined my entire night. I’m usually pretty chill about everything but when the service and product both suck…theres nothing you can be happy about.

We Rate Chatime Burnaby:

Address:
5216 Kingsway, Burnaby

Website:
http://www.ichatime.com/

In Brunch

Tableau Bar and Bistro: Weekend Brunch

December 5, 2015

Tableau Bar and Bistro is located close to Coal Harbour under the Loden Hotel and is known for their traditional French bistro fare. The meals are prepared by Executive Chef Marc-André Choquette.

We came here for Dee‘s Birthday Brunch to celebrate being a year wiser.

Their interior combines old world classic bistro elements with modern touches and a French-inspired menu that blends classic culinary flavours of Paris with the use of fresh west coast ingredients.

All brunches start with coffee, at least for me it does. I can’t function without it these days. I think I ended up getting 3 refills.

For others, it’s all about the cocktails to accompany brunch.

Bacon Caesar consists of bacon infused vodka, clamato, and a nice slice of crisp bacon on top.

1181 has gin, elderflower, lemonade, sparkling wine

Patisserie Basket ($12) was what we started off with. It consists of daily baked pastries croissant, pain au chocolat, muffins, and maple pecan danish. Sometimes the items in the basket may change. For us, they didn’t have any more maple pecan danishes, so chocolate banana bread was substituted. It was a good items to order for the large group of us. Everyone would try a piece.

Croque Monsieur and Frites has toasted, honey ham, gruyère cheese, with the added free range egg on top. They ran out of frites when we were here, so the alternative was potatoes.

Florentine Eggs Benedict had perfectly poached eggs on top. The spinach was delicious.

Shaved Brisket Eggs Benedict had a good portion of brisket.

Mushrooms on Toast is one of the featured items. I am a sucker for mushrooms, so I just gravitated towards this dish. It has a fried egg on top with creamy mushrooms, and toasted brioche on the bottom. The mushrooms were beaming with flavour from that sauce.

Overall, it was a good brunch with great friends to celebrate another milestone.

We rate Tableau Bar and Bistro:

Address:
Loden Hotel, 1181 Melville Street, Vancouver

Website:
http://tableaubarbistro.com/

In Penticton

Painted Rock Estate Winery: Tastings in Penticton

December 4, 2015

Painted Rock sits on a spectacular bench overlooking the eastern shore of Skaha Lake in Penticton, B.C.

This 60-acre property has a unique microclimate that is particularly suited to the production of premium wines. This winery embraces the traditions of the old world and the imagination of the new world.

The tasting room is absolutely beautiful and very modern. There’s no other winery that has a look like Painted Rock.

Tastings are $10.00 per person and are redeemable upon wine purchase.

I’m mostly a white wine drinker so I took a liking to their Chardonnay. Other than that, the red wines ones were a bit too much for my taste.

Outside, the view is spectacular and there are more tables outside to sit and enjoy the sun.

It’s a very popular spot to have a Summer or Fall wedding. I just love the look of this place. I stood here for a while just basking at the beautiful view.

Address:
400 Smythe Drive, Penticton, BC

Website:
http://www.paintedrock.ca/

In Cafe

Mui Garden: Curry Beef Brisket and Fried Rice

December 3, 2015

Mui Garden is a Hong Kong style Cafe and they have been around for so long that it just makes me feel nostalgic every time I dine here. The hand written posters on the walls in all Chinese characters, the big booth seating and so many variety of dishes on the menu.

It was a super cold day in Vancouver, so M and I didn’t want to travel to far for a quick dinner.

M and I came here at 5:45pm just in time for their Tea Time Menu, which have lunch sets for a cheaper price before the dinner time rush.

Curry Beef Brisket set comes with rice and soup on the side.

Winter melon soup with pork was the soup of the day.

The curry has big tender chunks of beef brisket and some potatoes. The portion was good for one.

Shrimp and BBQ Pork Fried Rice was what M got. He used to order this all the time when he was in university. M thought it was pretty mediocre in taste.

Overall, the food is pretty average and nothing too special about it, but most people come here for a quick cheap meal.

We Rate Mui Garden:

Address:
4265 Main Street, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.muigarden.com/

In Oliver

Silver Sage Winery: Sweet Wines in Oliver, BC

December 2, 2015

Driving in Oliver, BC, you really get to explore wine country. There’s so many wineries in this town. M and I spent the day driving around and found some pretty unique wineries.

Silver Sage winery is a small organic winery. No chemicals or sugars are added throughout the entire process and the wine contains no tannins. The first thing that drew me in was their beautiful cellar doors.

When we were here, they had a large amount of their wines available for tasting. All free of charge.

White

2014 Gewurztraminer
2014 Pinot Blanc
2014 Sage Grand Reserve

Red

2013 Merlot
2012 Pinot Noir
2014 Sunset
2012 Midnight Tango

The wines all are naturally sweeter, which I quite enjoyed. We tried all the wines and none of them really disappointed.

Dessert Wines:

2012 Merlot
2014 The Pearls
2014 Blueberry
2014 Pinot Blanc
2014 The Flame
2012 Raspberry

Overall, great tasting experience. A few favourites were the Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Flame, and Sage Grand Reserve. If you like your wines a little bit sweeter, you’ll enjoy their wines.

Address:
32032 87th St, Oliver, BC

Website:
http://silversagewinery.com/

In Farm to Table

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co: Flatbread Pizza on Main Street

December 1, 2015

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co has 3 locations in Vancouver. One on Main St, Park Royal and another in Kitsilano. They are best known for their pizza making parties as its fun for families or a large group of friends.

They currently are featuring a 3 course meal for $19. I was invite to check it out.

You can choose your starter which you can pick their traditional salads or feature soup of the day.

The mains are their small traditional flatbread pizzas.

Then you can end your meal from choosing either their double chocolate brownie, baked cheesecake, seasonal sorbet or vanilla ice cream.

Their dishes feature local and organic produce, free range organic meats & OceanWise seafood. Each dish is handcrafted daily in house.

All of their flatbread pizzas, pastas, salads, daily soups and desserts are available gluten free. Great for people with allergies.

M and I got a coke each in addition to the meal. Coke and pizza go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly.

Field Mushroom soup served with a slice of flat bread. Good flavours with a slight hint of spice. You can’t go wrong with it.

Fig and Goat Cheese Salad is one of their most popular salads. It has assorted greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, goat cheese, black mission fig dressing and Vancouver grown sunflower sprouts. It is also served with flatbread on the side. Nice fresh salad with just the right amount of dressing.

Naturally Meaty Traditional Flatbread Pizza has organic tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy certified organic ground beef, kale, Italian sausage, shaved red onions, roma tomatoes, herbs and asiago cheese.

It has a nice thin crust and crisp on the outer edges, but the centre of it seemed a bit droopy. There wasn’t a lot of beef or sausage on top which I was a tad disappointed in. Despite that, they did balance the amount of toppings on the pizza so its not overly loaded.

Italian Fennel Sausage Artisan Flatbread Pizza is 10 inches and is bigger than their traditional flatbread pizzas.

It has organic tomato sauce, roasted local red bell peppers, Italian sausage, roasted garlic cloves, semi-dried roma tomatoes, caramelized red onions, Mozzafina Di Latte and Goat Cheese.

When we picked up a slice, all the toppings just slid off. The flatbread didn’t told all the toppings in place. The peppers seemed to weigh it down.

The pizzas were a hit and a miss. I love that they use local and organic ingredients, which made the meal a lot healthier that a regular pizza. I just felt the flat bread wasn’t crisp enough in the centre.

Baked Cheesecake with a Toasted Coconut base was a nice treat to end the meal.

Warm Double Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream was my favourite. You also can’t go wrong with this classic dessert.

The 3 course meal is a good deal since the pizzas are already more than $10.

We Rate Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co:

Address:
4186 Main Street, Vancouver

Website:
http://rockymountainflatbread.ca/

In Osoyoos

Moon Curser Vineyards: Wine in Osoyoos BC

November 30, 2015

Moon Curser Vineyard was founded in 2003 but under the name Twisted Tree. They rebranded in 2011 to Moon Curser – a name that captures many colourful stories of the Osoyoos area, as well as the renegade spirit of their winemaking.

The vineyard is one of the higher elevated ones in Osoyoos, so you have a good view of the lake.

There’s lots of free parking around the building. Even the view from the parking lot is pretty nice.

Their tasting room is open daily, 10am to 5pm, April through the end of October.

November through March the tasting room is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm and weekends by appointment.

M and I tried a few of the red and whites here. You can try 6 wines for $5, but can be waved if you purchase a bottle.

Award winning wines:

2014 BC Wine Awards – Gold Medal – 2012 Border Vines
2014 Best of Varietal Awards – 2012 Contraband Syrah
2015 Vancouver Magazine Awards – 2012 Contraband Syrah
2015 Vancouver Magazine Awards – 2012 Carmenere
2014 BC Wine Awards – 2012 Dead of Night

They produce a lot more red wine than white wines. They have 8 reds to try and 2 whites.

I love the look of their wines. It’s great they rebranded to give them an edgier look and feel.

If you are driving by Osoyoos on Highway 3/Crowsnest Hwy, you will pass by this winery when coming down from Anarchist Mountain. Stop by for their unique wines.

Address:
3628 BC-3, Osoyoos, BC

Website:
http://www.mooncurser.com/

In Cafe

Prado Cafe: New Location on Fraser Street

November 29, 2015

Prado Cafe opens up their 3rd location on Fraser Street in Vancouver. They also have 2 other locations on Commercial Drive and in Gastown.

They have always been keen on crafting the perfect brew and creating a great atmosphere for their customers.

Their goal is to create a space that feels like it’s a welcoming extension of your home and echo’s the best that the neighbourhood has to offer. With the Fraser location, it has a large space with lots of table for people to bring in their laptop and work away or just have a good chat with a friend.

They use a constant rotation of locally roasted 49th Parallel beans in their coffee.

I usually get 2 types of coffee when I go out – Lattes or Cappuccinos. I’ve always been brainwashed to order those 2 drinks when I was backpacking through Europe during my exchange program in University.

Latte with some extra love. Always great coffee with nice bold flavours.

What I also noticed in this location is the Sodasteam filtered water and sparkling water taps. It’s free and you can consume as much as you want.

In addition to coffee, they have pastries and a few different sandwiches and light snacks.

Overall, its a great addition to the Fraser St area.

We Rate Prado Cafe:

Address:
4208 Fraser Street, Vancouver

Website:
http://pradocafevancouver.com/

In Oliver

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery: Wine Tasting in Oliver, BC

November 26, 2015

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is located in Oliver, B.C. and they are a producer of award winning, B.C. wines. The winery and vineyard lie within one of Canada’s most unique ecosystems. There are over 140 acres of vineyards and they can produce between 28,000 to 30,000 cases of wine each vintage.

The vineyard has a wine making facility that combines state-of-the-art technologies with proven, classic winemaking traditions.

The Guest House

Adjacent to the winery is The Guest House with 11 guest rooms and a gorgeous 25 meter outdoor swimming pool. Look at that amazing view! One of the best views in the Okanagan.

The rooms looks quite nice and I would definitely consider staying here next time when I’m in the area. It’s a great location and a lot of other wineries are in the area.

Sonora Room Restaurant

The Sonora Room Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant featuring local cuisine and Burrowing Owl’s library wines.

They have indoor seating as well as patio seating. If it’s a nice warm day, definitely sit out on the patio.

The philosophy of the food they create at the Sonora Room Restaurant is to showcase many of the South Okanagan’s local producers with their array of local organic produce, fresh, seasonal fruits and artisan breads and cheeses. The focus is on excellence in a relaxed and spectacular vineyard setting.

Wine Shop and Tastings

When you go into the wine shop and tasting room, you will find that you can enjoy 4 wine tastings for $3 with all the proceeds going to the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society. The burrowing owls are an endangered species which resides in the area.

Burrowing Owl makes only premium quality wines, and has received acclaim for all 9 wine types now produced, including international “Best of Varieties” awards, “Best of B.C.” and “Best of Canada” awards.

M and I split a set of tastings. I got 2 whites and he got 2 reds. It is a busy tasting room, but with a bit of patience, you’ll get to do a tasting.

Of course M went with the 2013 Pinot Noir. He really learned to love this during our trip along the Okanagan.

2013 Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Pinot noir releases a concentrated nose of raspberry coulis on a background canvas of violet, soft spice, meaty and vanillin undertones. The palate is coated with intense flavours of wild strawberries and baked dark berries perfectly framed by a juicy acidity and prolonged by notes of cedar, cloves, vanilla and hints of graphite. Enjoy now and serve at 16C (61F) to preserve this nice combination of fruitiness, power and delicacy. Try with a charcuterie platter (salami, grilled sausages, duck terrine) or with a veggie Tabbouleh with touches of cinnamon, mint, raisin and chili pepper. Its sustained aromatics and delicate texture will flavour many simple recipes.

One of our other favourites were the 2012 Meritage.

Vibrant and complex nose with everything from ripe raspberry, cassis, blackberry and prune plum through to dried sage brush, orange zest, clove, black olive, marzipan, dusty vanillin oak and malt. The palate is dry, rich and full bodied with crisp acidity and firm, medium-plus ripe tannins. The structure for aging is framed by plenty of dark chocolate, cocoa, cassis, black plum, black cherry, spiced berry compote, citrus peel and a touch of fig, raisin and leather. Drinking well now, it also shows the concentration to open up and evolve over a decade. Pair with rosemary and garlic studded leg of lamb or lamb tagine. – Rhys Pender, Master of Wine.

You can find Burrowing Owl wines at many restaurants and wine shops throughout British Columbia and Alberta. If you are at the winery, you can get it here too.

Overall, it’s worth the trip and make sure you stop here when you are visiting the plethora of wineries in Oliver, BC.

Address:
500 Burrowing Owl Place, Oliver, BC

Website:
http://www.burrowingowlwine.ca/

In Osoyoos

Adega on 45th Estate Winery in Osoyoos

November 25, 2015

Adega on 45th Estate Winery is right off Anarchist Mountain in Osoyoos, BC. This was our second winery stop in the area. If you’re going to Nk’Mip Cellars, this winery is on the way.

We noticed a few bike tours zooming by and it was a fantastic day to roam around Osoyoos on a bike. No clouds in the sky! I was kinda jealous but I knew my car would protect me against bugs.

The families were originally tree fruit growers in the south Okanagan valley. Now, the folks at Adega on 45th began growing premium grapes in 2009. They are known for their old world charm that meets new world technology in wine production.

Roaming around the vineyard is quite nice. I thought it was cool looking at the grapes and wondering how this becomes wine.

They offer free tastings on all their wine. Its a large open space inside the tasting room. What I liked is that the family members of the estate administer the tastings to all their guests.

I went with the white wines and liked the 2013 Felicidade for its clean, crispy and sweet taste.

M tried the reds and thats more of what he tends to enjoy.

Their patio overlooks downtown Osoyoos on this awesome Fall day. Overall, it was a good visit and definitely make a trip here when you’re in the area.

Address:
7311 45 St, Osoyoos, BC

Website: http://adegaon45.com/

In Canadian

Burger 55: Custom Burgers in Penticton

November 24, 2015

Burger 55 in Downtown Penticton is best known for their customizable gourmet burgers. It’s also appeared on You Gotta Eat Here on Food Network. On the way back home to Vancouver, we made sure to stop here for lunch. Who can’t resist a burger? I know M and I can’t.

When you get to the front door, they outline the way you must order.

You must grab a clipboard with the order form and fill it out before giving it to the cashier. Even if you want a simple milkshake, you have to fill it out.

Filling it out was like doing a test. So many options putting together your lunch.

The interior is pretty cool and hip.

Chocolate Milkshake ($5.25) I haven’t had a milkshake in a long time, so I just had to indulge and order it. It totally hit the spot.

Custom built burger is what M wanted. He had a beef patty, cheddar cheese, back bacon, fried egg and other toppings. M loved his creation. He can’t eat a burger without back bacon and fried eggs.

The Signature Burger ($9.50) has AAA Angus Beef on a 55 bun with 55 signature spread, 55 buddha sauce, dijon mustard, vinaigrette, spinach, tomato, sprout, roast corn and parmesan. This are their built burgers so you don’t have to make a decision on what to add to your burger. Indecisive people should look at that part of the menu.

Maple Bacon baked Beans ($4) is topped with cheese bits. Surprisingly is tasted pretty good too. Not too sweet either.

Corn Dog ($4.75) looks pretty, but it was pretty damn delicious. The batter was thin and added a nice crunch to the exterior of the hot dog. I would order it again.

It was a good lunch and service was quick. I would come back again. The food is nothing fancy but sometimes you just need a good ol’ burger.

Address:
52 Front Street, Penticton, BC

Website:
http://www.burger55.com/

In Hotel Review

Best Western Plus Nelson: Baker Street Inn

November 22, 2015

Making our way back to Vancouver, we made a stop at Best Western Plus at Baker Street Inn. We saw this on Trip Advisor and it was one of the top hotels in the town.

It’s conveniently located right off the highway leading into town. There is free parking across the street for guests. You just need to register your vehicle with the front desk. Most guests j-walk to get to their car and it seemed quite normal. Try not to get hit by cars.

The building has a bit of age, but it was ok since we only spent a night here. Didn’t bother us.

We stayed in their standard room with 1 Queen Bed, refrigerator, microwave and view of the mountains. The view wasn’t very impressive as it was obstructed by electric poles and wires.

The room was a tad small, but that was ok since we really didn’t need any extra space. It had all that I needed for the stay. If you were staying multiple nights and need the space, they you’re better off getting a larger room.

The TV had Food Network, so I was super happy. Wifi had a strong signal and was fast so I could go on my computer. There’s a Keurig machine with a few K cups if you wanted coffee or tea.

The bed was comfortable and clean.

In front of the washroom were recycling, trash can and an ice bucket with cups.

The bathroom seemed like it was renovated not too long ago.

Overall, it was a pleasant stay with no issues. Staff were friendly and the place was clean.

Address:
153 Baker Street, Nelson, BC

Website: http://www.bwbakerstreetinn.com/

In Calgary

Hotel Elan: Boutique Hotel in Calgary

November 19, 2015

M and I were in Calgary for 2 days during our week long road trip driving across BC into Calgary.

We stayed at Hotel Elan, a boutique hotel located just off stylish 17th Ave Retail and Entertainment District. We chose this place as it was the top ranking hotel on Trip Advisor. It’s also a great location since some of the best restaurants in town is within walking distance.

They have gated underground parking on site for $18 per night for guests. Still a lot cheaper and safer than parking on the street. They also have a Car2Go zone in there too.

Hotel Elan is the only boutique hotel in Calgary to offer combined accommodation and private in-suite meeting spaces designed specifically for business travellers.

We were in their Vista King Bed Suite. Walking in you will see like a mini kitchen without the major appliances.

Keurig coffee machines are free to use. There are K cups of coffee and tea.

It’s nothing fancy, but its nice to have the basics like the sink, microwave, mini fridge, cups, plates and utensils.

Each suite includes a bedroom, bathroom and living room with meeting space for four to six, complete with a private outdoor balcony.

It’s nice to just sit out in the balcony and observe people walking by.

In the room, you also get:

Complimentary calling to 75 countries worldwide
Complimentary dedicated Wifi

Free wifi is the norm now. I couldn’t imagine going on a trip and not having access to wifi. The complimentary calling worldwide is pretty awesome, but sadly I had no one to call.

There’s USB chargers built into the wall unit, so you can plug in your cord for your smartphone devices. The beds were comfy and I liked how there were 2 types of pillows – form and soft.

The only issue I found was that the AC/Heater device in the room did make a fair bit of noise in the evening that we ended up unplugging it.

The TV’s have Telus Optic HD TV, but for some reason I couldn’t find Food Network. We ended up watching a lot of Border Security on National Geographic channel. It’s a pretty addictive show.

In the bathroom, there are heated floors, showers with thermostatic temperature control valves, and heated toilet seats. M loved the heated toilet seats! Everything was very clean and we didn’t have any issues.

The shower is very modern looking and probably my favourite shower that we have encountered on our road trip.

I like their choice of L’Occitane bathroom amenities. SO much better than what other hotels have.

Business Centre

They have a mini business centre with iMacs if you need to do any work here.

Complimentary Happy Hour

Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, they offer complimentary appetizers and a well deserved refreshment after your busy day.

I grabbed a few bites and a beer. They also have wine too. I really couldn’t say no to free beer.

Complimentary Deluxe Continental Breakfast Buffet

They offer complimentary breakfast on weekday mornings from 7:00am to 10:00am and weekends from 8:00am to 11:00am. A nice touch and it was great to be able grab a quick bite before exploring more of Calgary.

They have juice, cereal, yogurt, and fresh fruits.

Oatmeal, tea and coffee.

I grabbed some fruits, meat and scrambled eggs with a cup of coffee. It’s nothing fancy,

Overall, our stay was good, but you can tell some services are geared toward travelling business men and women. I didn’t mind since I liked the extra table space in our room to go on my computer and do work in the evening. The staff were welcoming, great location and clean. I would come back again.

Address:
1122 16 Ave SW, Calgary, AB

Website:
http://hotelelan.ca/

In Cafe

All Seasons Cafe: Dining in Nelson, BC

November 18, 2015

All Seasons Cafe in Nelson BC is a restaurant for local and tourists to dine. Hidden in an alley off the main roads is where you will find the restaurant. They have a seasonal menu derived from the best of the area’s local ingredients. Also, the food and wine are carefully prepared and served in a friendly atmosphere at a relaxed pace to customers.

The cafe opened its door in 1995 on a hunch that this cultured and notorious little mountain town would welcome a neighbourhood bistro serving modern food with a savvy little wine list. We came here on a Friday and it was quote busy.

Complimentary bread arrived at the table with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Nice crust on the bread and very fluffy inside.

Seared Atlantic Scallops ($15) has green peas, chorizo sausage and chevre smashed potato, black pepper and creme fraiche. The scallops were cooked perfectly with a nice sear on each side. The smashed potatoes didn’t seem to pair well with the scallops.

Halibut Cheeks ($29) has a pomme croquette, roasted carrots, shallot herb and saffron beurre blanc. Tasted ok, but it was missing a bit more acidity to balance out the dish.

Mushroom Risotto ($23) has locally foraged and gourmet mushroom blend, arborio rice, roasted roma tomatoes caramelized red onion and fennel, fine herbs, parmesan curls and a white truffle oil finish. M thought this was decent, but nothing too special.

Overall, the food was decent but it was a bit pricey for what you get. The service could have been better as we felt a bit unwelcome here and it was very slow getting our order and paying for the bill. M and I are pretty laid back when it comes to service, but this place did bother us.

We Rate All Seasons Cafe:

Address:
620 Herridge Lane, Nelson, BC

Website:
http://www.allseasonscafe.com/

In Four Beakers

Sura: Korean Lunch Set Menu in Vancouver

November 16, 2015

Sura Korean Royal Cuisine on Robson Street draws a large crowd during lunch and dinner time. Their lunch specials are undeniably affordable for those who want to try an array of Korean cuisine. I came here with a few of my coworkers since I’ve never been here.

They have been around since 2008 serving traditional Korean cuisine. They have won multiple awards from Vancouver Magazine and WE Vancouver Best of the City Dining.

Set Course SU – $15 per person includes:

ong–chimi
Green Salad
Yam Mousse
Tang–pyungchae (Acorn Jelly Salad)
Bulgogi (Korean beef)
Potato Pancake
Tang–sooyuk (Sweet and Sour pork)
Grilled Atlantic Croaker
Bossam (Pork belly wraps)
Doenjang Jjigae (Korean Stew)
3 kinds of Side-dishes
Korean Rice Punch

The menu requires a minimum of 2 orders and the set is available to order until 3:00pm daily.

The items on it may change from day to day.

First, soup arrived for each person at the table. It reminded me of a egg drop soup but more gelatinous.

Green Salad has a mishmash of vegetables and fruit. I wasn’t a fan of the oranges and strawberries in it.

Tang–pyungchae (Acorn Jelly Salad) really is quite tasteless, but according for my Korean friend, it’s good for you. I really couldn’t tell you the science behind it.

House Special Spicy Seafood has stir–fried assorted seafood with spicy house special sauce.

Bossam (Pork Belly wraps) comes with the pink pickled radish as the wrap, kimchi, paste and the delicious pork belly. So good! My favourite dish.

Tang–sooyuk (Sweet and Sour pork) tasted ok. Not my favourite but its pretty average.

Rice comes in a little tin. Eat it with the other side dishes.

Marinated Seaweed and mashed pumpkin mousse are 2 of the 3 side dishes. I always can’t get enough of the seaweed.

Kimchi is the last side dish. Delicious and not too spicy.

Bulgogi comes in a large dish and went great with the rice.

Doenjang Jjigae (Korean Stew) has tofu, veggies, and kimchi. It’s not too spicy either. Very good.

Potato Pancake came with 4 pieces as there was 4 of us. It’s was surprisingly pretty good.

Grilled Atlantic Croaker was an interesting dish that arrived. It takes a bit of work to eat it as there are a lot of tiny bones.

Korean Rice Punch was a nice way to end the meal. It’s a sweet rice drink.

All this for for $15 per person is a great deal for lunch. So many dishes arrive and you get a taste of a lot of Korean dishes. At times, we would run out of room on the table to put the food. Some of the dishes are a hit and miss, but still a great price. I love this type of family style dining.

We Rate Sura:

Address:
1518 Robson Street, Vancouver

Website:
www.surakoreancuisine.com

In Kid Friendly

Harvest Community Foods: Ramen and Grocery Store

November 15, 2015

Established in 2012, Harvest Community Foods is a community-driven retail space. As voted on by Chinatown-Strathcona residents, the grocery provides local, seasonal food products. The business also offers Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, further fostering accessibility to B.C. produce.

Chef and owner, Andrea Carlson has revamped prepared grocery eats with heartwarming and sophisticated ramen dishes. More than a market, the store serves as a community gathering place for good eats, conversation, and appreciation of local fare.

When you walk into the store, you will see a variety of products like:

To Die For Fine Foods
Namasthé Tea
Vancouver Island Salt
Bittered Slings
Vancouver Honey
Noble Handcrafted Maple
Sapadilla Soaps
Earnest Ice Cream
Solefood Greens
Sugo Sauce

Of course many more items. It’s not a large store, but you’ll find a bit of everything you need.

Freshly made jams are available too.

Harvest Community Foods draws large crowds during lunch for their Harvest noodles.

It’s made all in-house.

The most popular ramen on the menu is the #39 Ramen with pork shoulder, radish, egg, and candied bacon.

How can you not say no to this beautiful creation. It’s not authentic Japanese ramen, but they put their own twist on it. This is my favourite dish too. The bacon and egg are just amazing.

They also sell some cold sweet treats like Brown Paper Packages Ice Cream and Earnest Ice Cream.

Really, how can you say no to Ice Cream? I used to come here often for Earnest Ice Cream before they opened another location on Quebec and 2nd close to Science World.