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In Cafe

Tim Hortons Canada: Kit Kat Donuts and Drinks Review

Tim Hortons in Canada quietly launched their new Kit Kat menu featuring 2 treats and 3 beverages. It’s great to finally see some new items that fit more with their brand as the last few items like omelette bites and Beyond Meat Burgers didn’t really suit them very well, nor did they taste good.

They launched these 5 items:

  • Caramel-Filled Donut with Kit Kat
  • Chocolate Truffle Bar with Kit Kat
  • Kit Kat Iced Cappuccino
  • Kit Kat Hot Chocolate
  • Kit Kat Latte

I had to go to the closest Tim Hortons to check out all these Kit Kat items to see if they were any good.

Menu

Caramel-Filled Donut with Kit Kat

It is essentially a caramel-filled donut with chocolate frosting and Kit Kat crumbs on top. The donut has a really good ratio of filling to donut, so there is caramel in every bite.

The one problem I find is that it is very very sweet. The caramel with the chocolate frosting and then the topping of Kit Kat was a bit much.

Chocolate Truffle Bar with Kit Kat

The chocolate truffle bar is topped with whipped cream and Kat Kat pieces. I actually found this to be much sweeter than the Caramel-filled donut. My husband liked it but not a win for me. I could feel the cavities creeping on.

Kit Kat Iced Cappuccino

Tim Horton’s classic Iced Capp now comes in Kit Kat flavour. It has the regular Iced Capp ingredients but with added Kit Kat syrup inside when they mix it. It is then topped with whipped cream and Kit Kat pieces.

It was alright but it did have the essence of Kit Kat flavour.

Kit Kat Hot Chocolate

I got the Kit Kat Hot Chocolate in a small size and it is their regular hot chocolate but with Kit Kat syrup. I can see this being a fun treat for the kids.

They put a lid on my hot chocolate so the whipped cream melted and the kit kat got soggy. It used to look really delicious. Get it without the lid if you want your kids to enjoy it visually a bit more.

Kit Kat Latte

The latte comes in Medium, so no small size. It is a regular latte with the Kit Kat syrup inside. This does have a better balance of the syrup and the latte so it isn’t overly sweet. It has a nice aftertaste of the Kit Kat.

Similarly with the hot chocolate, when you put the lid on, the whipped cream dissipates and the Kit Kat crumbs get soggy.

As I was observing them, I could see the Kit Kat syrup container. As the container is unmarked, I think these items are limited time only.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely adore Kit Kat treats but these Tim Hortons creation using Kit Kat are way too sweet. I will stick with my classic go-to items like steeped tea, coffee and honey crullers.

Website:
https://www.timhortons.com

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In Event

Bells & Whistles: Wünderbar Oktobeerfest pop-up

Bells & Whistles is located near Fraser and Kingsway in Vancouver. They have a rotating tap of beers and a variety of food items to pair with them.

Of course, there is also something going on at Bells & Whistles. Right now, they have launched their Wünderbar Oktobeerfest pop-up until October 6, 2019. If you can’t be in Germany for the real thing, celebrate in style at Bells & Whistles.

Interior

There’s always a lot of different events hosted at Bells & Whistles. I love the centre of the room with the long tables and big screen. If you aren’t into mingling, there are other cozier tables if you want to be in the comfort of your friends.

At the rear of the restaurant, you can play some skee ball and shoot some hoops.

Menu

Seasonal Beers

I am loving all the beers on the menu. There is a good range of Oktoberfest beers from Germany to Vancouver. I tried the Persephone Oktoberfest and its a good beer from Gibsons, BC. Its a German Märzen that is an amber lager with hints of caramel, spices, and malt.

Warm Pretzels

The little round pretzels are more like buns and they are served with a tangy honey mustard dip. It came out super hot and steamy. Best eaten warm as it’s the best way to enjoy it. They honey mustard sauce was pretty good.

Currywurst – Vegan Edition

They have currywurst made with Beyond Bratwurst on top of curry ketchup fries. As a meat eater, this was very impressive. The curry ketchup really ties that taste together. All the meat eaters were so into this. They do have their regular bratwurst made with Two Rivers, which is also good.

Oktober Feast Platter

If you’re sharing a meal with friends and want a bunch of things to nibble on, the Oktober Feast may be a good option. It has pork schnitzel, Two Rivers Bratwurst, rosemary bacon, German Potato Salad, sauerkraut, mustard and pickles. Really good quality meats they use.

All items are easily sharable among 2-4 people. Not a full meal, but just nibbles.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Smoked Pork Shank with celeriac remoulade, green cabbage and hickory sticks are inside this. It is served in a milk bun with fries but you can always swap it with onion rings too.

This was my favourite of the 3 sandwiches. Lots of flavour from the pork and the other ingredients balance it out.

Eggplant Schnitzel Sandwiches

This has fried eggplant, braised sauerkraut, and a caper and mustard aioli. It is also served in a milk bun with fries but we got onion rings instead. The eggplant was pretty chunky and tough to eat. As the skin in pretty tough and the center of it more soft, the eggplant schnitzel would slide around. Even though it is called a schnitzel, it didn’t resemble it at all.

When you bite into the sandwich, you can only taste the eggplant as the aioli and saukraut doesn’t stand out at all.

Pork Schnitzel Sandwiches

This has fried pork cutlet, braised sauerkraut, rosemary bacon, and a caper and mustard aioli. It has all the same items as the eggplant schnitzel but with the pork instead of eggplant. I liked the crunch of the pork schnitzel. It’s not as large and extravagant as schnitzels you can find in Germany, but a decent portion in a handheld format.

Streusel Sundae

There is the base of the vanilla soft serve, streusel topping, and a caramel-apple compote. It’s always nice to end the meal with a sweet treat. It does melt quickly as it is soft serve. I enjoyed the crunch of the streusel and the sweetness that comes with the caramel-apple compote.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a place to celebrate Oktoberfest with friends, check out the Bells and Whistles Wünderbar Oktobeerfest pop-up. Some items are a hit and miss, but there are a few surprises like the Currywurst with Beyond Bratwurst option. The Oktober Feast Platter is a good item to share among the table too with high quality meats.

Address:
3296 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC 

Website:
https://www.bellsandwhistlesyvr.ca/

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In French

Jules Bistro: French Bistro Hidden in Gastown

Jules Bistro is a French bistro hidden in the heart of Gastown. I’ve passed by so many times that I am shocked I’ve never noticed the place. They have been around since 2007 when Chef Emmanuel Joinville moved to Canada.

On the menu, you’ll notice a mix of classic French flavours with a West Coast twist. They do have classic French dishes and then you’ll notice a good amount of seafood dishes on the menu too using fresh and local ingredients where possible.

We were invited to check out Jules Bistro. The hubby and I decided to make it a date night away from Baby E.

Interior

The space is a good size and they also have a patio outdoors in the front open on nice warm sunny days.

Good for groups too but make sure to reserve ahead of time.

The ambiance is quite nice and during dinner time, I love that they is live piano music that sets the mood.

Menu

Kir Royal

I started with the Kir Royal, which is a classic French cocktail. This has sparkling wine and Creme de Cassis. It is served in a flute and is about 3oz. It was good and I enjoyed it a lot.

Pinot Noir

My husband is into his pinot noir. There is actually a large variety of wine on the menu and can be confusing to navigate. You can ask the staff to help pick the perfect wine for the evening.

Bread and Butter

The bread and butter arrives before the dishes start arriving. It’s pretty decent bread and since we only had a piece each, they suggested we pack it to go as it makes great French Toast for the next morning.

Homemade country style pate

Pate is essentially liver and not for everyone. I like pate but my husband hasn’t taken to liking any pate I’ve made him try. The pate is smooth and full of flavour. It pairs well with the pickled and toasted bread. There’s quite a bit of pate in the dish, so you’ll probably want more bread to spread the pate on.

French Onion Soup 

French onion soup is another French classic made of beef broth, onions, and topped with gratinée. It comes out super hot, so make sure it cools down a bit before you dig in. It has a depth of flavour and my husband really enjoyed it.

Dill Marinated Salmon Carpaccio

I decided to go more West Coast with my appetizer and I just can’t resist a good salmon carpaccio. There is lots of fresh dill, red onions, salty capers, and the base of house smoked salmon. I really enjoyed it too.

Ribeye steak

My husband can’t resist a good steak when he sees it on the menu. It is 12oz and he asked it to be cooked medium rare. He also chose to have scalloped potatoes on the side as it was highly recommended.

The steak was cooked perfectly and had so much flavour.

Roasted Rack of Lamb

I was debating if I should go with another more West Coast inspired menu item, but I couldn’t say no to the lamb. It is served with sautéed potatoes and corn. It also has a rosemary jus which was very nice and fragrant.

The lamb was perfectly cooked at medium rare and hit the spot. I wasn’t a fan of the sauteed potatoes and corn. I should have swapped it out for something else or gotten another side.

Melting Chocolate Cake

This is served in this ceramic container with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream on top. It wasn’t what I expected it to be like as we couldn’t see the chocolate batter inside ooze out. It was mostly contained in the container, more like a soup. It did have a nice dark chocolate flavour which was enjoyable.

Latte

I ended off the dessert with a decaffeinated latte. Something about a nice warm latte really readies me for the night. I ate a lot and now it’s time to go home and end the night.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we did enjoy our date night at Jules Bistro. The classic French dishes were great and done very well. I absolutely adore the live piano music to really set the mood during dinner time. The staff are super friendly and very knowledgable about the menu.

If you’re looking for French cuisine that isn’t pretentious, check out Jules Bistro.

Address:
216 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.julesbistro.ca

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In Bubble Tea

Catoro Cafe: Cat Cafe in Vancouver

Catoro Cafe is the newest cat cafe to open up in Vancouver. They have partnered up with Cat Therapy & Rescue Society, a no-kill policy organization that takes in stray cats and readies them for adoption to find them a forever home.

I have had 2 adopted cats for the last 6 years and they are just the most precious creatures. Mew and Gandalf named after Pokemon and Lord of the Rings characters are the most sweetest cats ever and we only met them for about 10 minutes before adopting them. Back then, there were no cat cafes where you can take your time to play and understand their personality for hours before you choose to adopt. It’s a big commitment and you want to make sure their personality matches you and your household.

This is why I am a big fan of cat cafes because you can take your time knowing the cats, it’s all vetted so the cats are in good condition and its a suitable match.

Of course there is no obligation to adopt at all. If you’re not in the neighbourhood for a cat and just want some cat time without the commitment, thats what cat cafes are for. Some people may not be able to keep cats because they’re renting or just don’t have the time to take care of them. You can hang out with them at Catoro Cafe from 15 minutes to 2 hours if you wish.

Catoro Cafe is one half cafe and one half cat forest. We were invited to check out the space. I was excited to check it out as I’ve been to Cat Cafes around the world.

Cafe

You will walk into the cafe first to check in for the cat forest, order your snacks and beverages, or just observe the cat forest from afar. Good for those who are allergic or scared of cats.

They have a wide range of drinks which is surprising because I wouldn’t have imagined a cat cafe to have some decent drinks. They aren’t a bubble tea shop, but I like the wide variety. There is brown sugar milk teas, fruity drinks and even Vietnamese iced coffee.

Menu

Catoro Milk Tea

This is essentially milk tea and I always get this when I go to any new cafe to see if they can make a decent milk tea. They definitely did deliver as it has a nice black tea aroma and it’s not too sweet. The pearls had a good texture too.

Sparkling Lychee Rose with Crystal Jelly

This isn’t as effervescent as I imagined, but you will get a strong lychee taste and then the rose follows. The bottom on the drink has the crystal jelly. Make sure to mix the drink up so any syrup that sinks to the bottom of the cup can be combined together.

Really Strong Vietnamese Coffee with Condensed Milk

I love their collaboration with local company – Ca Phe. They are known for the Vietnamese inspired beverages and treats. The Vietnamese coffee is strong, but so damn good if you’re a coffee lover. I like to get it with condensed milk to smooth out the taste and give it a kick of sweetness. This is served hot, but I would have liked a cold version.

Reuse

What is very important to the owners to ensure there is as little waste as possible, which I admire a lot. They use compostable straws and cups. Diverting as much waste as possible helps our community. They also sell bamboo straws too that can be reused.

Cat Forest

Before entering the cat forest, you have to pause to take off your shoes, put on slippers, sanitize hands, and put away large bags before proceeding. They want to keep the place as safe and clean for humans and cats as possible.

The staff are really nice to interact as they are really knowledgeable about the cats and their personalities. That’s 40 cats that they need to know.

There are lots of tables inside to sit down, but a lot of people just wanted to hang out with the cats, so there was minimal drinking and chatting among guests as the star of the show are those cute cats.

You’re only allowed to bring in drinks from the cafe because they can ensure none of the ingredients in them will harm the cats just in case they get their paws on them. Sometimes cats are sneaky and will knock stuff off the tables.

On the table are diagrams of all the cats available for adoption as well as their names. They have quite a lot of options. Some are in the cat forest and some others are hiding in the back if they need a break from all the human interaction.

For the ones that want to play, there are lots of toys to interact with the cats. From feathers, to bells, to balls and even the popular cat laser, they will go nuts if they’re in the mood.

My friend doesn’t have any pets and was blown away by all the kitty love at Catoro Cafe. Such sweethearts especially Amber.

Some of the cats have absolutely amazing stories. Princeton was born without eyelids. When he was 6 months old, they did surgery on him to move some of this skin on this cheeks to create ‘eyebrows’. His is a very beautiful and adorable cat and I can’t stop thinking about the eyebrows. I hope he finds his forever home soon.

This cat doesn’t know whats about to happen hahaha. Always best to approach the cats slowly so they don’t freak out.

The staff don’t allow you to pick up the cats, but they can plop them in your arms. This is because they know which cats will tolerate being held. It’s quite nice since my cats at home will never be held or caressed because they just hate it.

Once your time is over, you can change out of the slippers and grab your things. They also have a lot of lint rollers too just in case a few cat hairs get on your pants. I actually found very very little cat hair on my pants, so the cats are well groomed and I’m impressed.

As a cat owner, my short haired cats shed on me like crazy. I probably need to groom them more often.

Final Thoughts

It’s definitely really busy at Catoro Cafe on the weekends, so make sure you make online reservations ahead of time. Weekdays are easier for walk ins if you want to spontaneously go hang out with some cats. They also have a bunch of different deals, so check out the website and social media to find out what they are.

Catoro Cafe is a great addition to Vancouver and super fun for kids and adults. I’m sure the cats have fun too. Of all the cat cafes I’ve been to in my travels, this is definitely very whimsical with the Totoro theme. Of course they can’t copy everything exactly because of copyright issues, but they do a good job.

Address:
666 East Broadway St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://catorocafe.com

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In pizza

Pizza Art: Lahmajoun, Turkish Kofte, and Pizza in Burnaby

I’ve been living in Burnaby since I was born and the food scene is always very diverse and I just love family owned businesses. Pizza Art opened up in Burnaby 3 months ago replacing Grano Pizza.

The family that owns it now is Turkish and they have added a few unique items on the menu – Lahmajoun and Turkish Kofte. Of course they have regular pizza options and some more fun flavours too like Mac & Cheese, Roast Beef, and alfredo sauce pizza too.

They source their meats from Alberta and they use quality ingredients. Their dough has a nice chew and it isn’t greasy at all.

Interior

It is a small shop with a few seats inside. You can get pizza by the slice for $2.15, which is popular. You can also get delivery through their website or order through delivery apps like Skip the Dishes or Door Dash.

Menu

Lahmajoun

Lahmajoun is essentially a meat pizza, sometimes even known as a Turkish Pizza. Pizza Art’s version has ground meat, veggies, pizza, and spces spread thinly on a thin piece of dough. It is meant to be wrapped with the toppings which can include lettuce, parsley, pickled onions, tomato, and lemon.

All you do is wrap it up and enjoy. It’s pretty unique and you definitely don’t see this at many places around town. Our friend loved it so much, he’s probably been back for this 3 times already.

Turkish Kofte

This is a type of kebab made of ground beef and they serve it with onions and tomatoes. It is wrapped around their pizza dough and it becomes like a sandwich. The Kofte was very soft and juicy.

Salmon Mist

This was one of our favourites! It has a lot of fresh and fragrant dill, paired with salty capers, tomato sauce, and red onions. They use BC wild salmon for this pizza.

Tuna Mild

The other side of that Salmon Mist pizza is the Tuna Mild. This has tomato sauce, tuna with mayonnaise, red onion, corn, and lemon. This was one of our favourites too and the combination of mayo with tuna wasn’t fishy at all.

Garden Rocket Funghi

This has alfredo sauce, mozzarella, Fior Di Latte, grana padano, mushrooms, red onion, and topped with fresh arugula. One of our top favourites too. How can you go wrong with mushroom and cheese. The arugula added a nice peppery finish.

Margherita

A classic pizza to order and it has tomato sauce, mozzarella, Fior Di Latte, and then topped with fresh basil, tomato, and olive oil. They pick the basil leaves off their basil plants, so it is very fresh.

Shrimp Bianco

This seafood pizza has alfredo sauce, mozzarella, shrimp, spinach, chopped garlic, and red onion. It’s a simple pizza and the ingredients work in harmony so nothing overpowers each other. It might even need a kick of spice to really enhance the flavours.

Shrimp Club

They don’t just have one shrimp pizza, they have two. This has Thousand Island sauce, mozzarella, wild pink shrimp, parmesan, and parsley flakes. We found this very odd to have Thousand Island sauce as the base, but apparently they did some market research and found it popular among Asian countries.

Butter Chicken

This butter chicken pizza has a butter chicken sauce as the base, mozzarella, cheddar, spicy chicken, red pepper, and red onions. It has a little kick of heat to this, which is nice.

BBQ Chicken

The BBQ Chicken pizza has BBQ sauce, mozzarella, grilled chicken, red peppers, red onions, and a BBQ drizzle on top. This is good if you like BBQ sauce. The grilled chicken was decent.

Meat Lovers

It’s not everyday you see roast beef on a pizza. It has tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, roast beef, ground beef, and cheddar. It is delicious.

Nutella Pizza

The Nutella Pizza only comes in medium size with Nutella, banana, strawberries, chocolate chip, chocolate drizzle, blueberries, and icing sugar.

Definitely a dessert pizza and great for kids or those with a sweet tooth. It’s a good combination with their chewy dough. The whole pizza sounds super sweet, but it wasn’t because of their dough, so the ratio of it balances out.

Final Thoughts

There are definitely a lot of pizza shops in Burnaby, but if you love supporting local family businesses and finding something unique with creative pizzas, definitely check out Pizza Art.

Our favourite items was the Lahmajoun, Salmon Mist Pizza, Tuna Mild Pizza, and Garden Rocket Funghi.

Address:
7239 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC

Website:
https://www.pizzaart.ca

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In product

Clearly Kombucha: Black Currant and Raspberry Ginger Reviews

Clearly Kombucha is now available in Western Canada. Clearly Kombucha was founded in San Francisco offering customers a kombucha that has a crisp taste, isn’t vinegary, and no sediments. Last year, Molson Canadian acquired Clearly Kombucha, they are working hard to expand into new markets.

Where can they be found?

Their Black Currant & Raspberry Ginger flavours can be found at all 37 Costco West locations (Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba).

How much is it?

A six-pack with 3 Black Currant bottles and 3 Raspberry Ginger flavours was found in BC for $13.89 with a $4 discount. Of course the prices will vary and this is only accurate when this article was written.

Black Currant Clearly Kombucha

The Black Currant Clearly Kombucha is subtly sweet with mild carbonation. Very refreshing with berry notes. It doesn’t have the vinegar taste as they have advertised, but there is a sour tang from the fermentation. This was a really good flavour.

Raspberry Ginger Clearly Kombucha

The Raspberry Ginger Clearly Kombucha was effervescent and had a dominant raspberry taste with the ginger coming through as well. It is well balanced so the ginger isn’t too strong or overpowering.

Final Thoughts

There are definitely a lot of different kombucha on the market as it is really clear unlike a few others where there are floaties and other sediments in them. At 30 calories a bottle, this isn’t bad at all and is a nice treat.

If you are a fan of Kombucha, check out Clearly Kombucha.

Website:
https://clearlykombucha.com/

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In coffee

Nespresso Pumpkin Spice Cake: Review

Nespresso has brought back the Pumpkin Spice Cake coffee exclusively for the VERTUO system for a very limited time only. They launch limited time only flavours of capsules seasonally, so I was actually curious what they would craft up for the Fall. Similarly with other companies, pumpkin spice is on the top of that list.

Pumpkin Spice Cake

The capsules are a 5 on the intensity scale and makes a 230ml cup of coffee. It has cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and sweet pumpkin flavours blended with Arabicas from Ethiopia and Brazil to give you a taste of Fall.

When it brews in the machine, you really get the aroma of pumpkin spice and sets the tone of the season. You just want to curl up on the couch and sip away at the cup of coffee.

Add a Bit of Milk

When you add a bit of milk, the pumpkin notes are softened for a sweeter and smoother coffee. I actually prefer this way as it tones down the acidity.

To further enhance the taste, you can add your favourite syrup too. They suggest adding chestnut syrup if you are a fan of the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL). I just added a hint of simple syrup to mine. Whichever way you decide to do it, there are great combinations to be made.

Below is their recipe for Nespresso’s White Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Cake Latte:

White Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Cake Latte

Ingredients

  • 1 capsule Pumpkin Spice Cake 
  • 2 tbs. white chocolate sauce 
  • 2-3 oz. milk 
  • Caramel sauce, optional 

Directions

1) Pour white chocolate sauce into bottom of mug 
2) Froth milk. Add frothed milk and foam to glass 
3) Brew capsule directly into mug 
4) Drizzle with caramel sauce, or more white chocolate sauce 

Final Thoughts

You have to enjoy Pumpkin Spice to like this variation of coffee. You either love it or hate it. The coffee does have the pumpkin spice notes which are quite incredible.

I’m definitely ready for the Fall. Are you?

Website:
https://www.nespresso.com/ca/en/order/capsules/vertuo/pumpkin-spice-cake-limited-edition-capsule

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In Cafe

One Bowl: Healthy Lunch and Dinner Options in Kerrisdale

One Bowl is a cozy and casual cafe located in Kerrisdale. They specialize in healthy food options that use high quality ingredients and lower in calories.

The Kerrisdale neighbourhood has a lot of great restaurants from large chain restaurants to locally owned cafes like One Bowl. If you’re looking for something healthy that would pair well with your diet or have dietary restrictions, One Bowl is pretty appealing.

Their approach is to use seasonal ingredients while keeping the purity of their ingredients so its organic and unprocessed as possible. They want the ingredients to shine through without it being overshadowed by dressings and spices.

Interior

The space is cute and there are a few tables inside for small groups. They can host private parties for up to 20 guests in the evenings, just contact them for more information.

The space isn’t too cramped, so if you need some extra room or have kids, it’s not a bad place to visit.

Menu

Sirloin Steak Mushroom Bowl

This bowl has a base of mixed wild rice, kale, mixed greens, wild mushrooms, picked beets and cabbage, tomato, radish and pea shoots with the sirloin steak and egg. There is also a raspberry balsamic dressing on the greens. A very hearty bowl with clean flavours.

At 433 calories, it’s pretty impressive.

Truffle Chicken Bowl

The truffle chicken bowl uses chicken breast, and has wild rice, mushrooms, greens and an egg. The chicken was cooked nicely, but could have used a touch more salt and pepper to bring out more flavour. The mushrooms were delicious with a lot of umami flavour that paired well with the ingredients in the bowl. Also, the truffle oil is nice and fragrant.

This was our favourite of the two bowls. The chicken was very moist and tender. At 370 calories, this isn’t bad at all.

Final Thoughts

The bowls do range from $13 to $19 depending on the ingredients, so it can get pricey. Nonetheless, they do use quality ingredients and isn’t too salty or saucy. You leave feeling good as it has a clean taste. As there isn’t a lot of sauce, some would say its a bit bland. We were impressed by the low calories of their dishes.

If you’re in the Kerrisdale area and you want something healthy, definitely check out One Bowl.

Address:
5687 Balsam St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.onebowlvancouver.com/

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In Bubble Tea

[Sneak Peek] Baroness 小黑糖 Canada opens in Vancouver specializing in Brown Sugar Bubble Tea

Baroness 小黑糖, a boutique bubble tea brand from Taipei specializing in brown sugar bubble tea is now open in Vancouver. This is their first location outside of Asia as the other locations are in Hong Kong and Taiwan. They are planned opening in Malaysia and Vietnam too.

With so many other bubble tea shops in Vancouver we wanted to see how they compare. They took over the previous Broadway location of InTea, which became popular for their white rabbit bubble tea.

Vancouver has gone through the brown sugar bubble tea craze and people either love it or hate it. Baroness prides themselves on quality and has done a lot of quality control to ensure they can offer their customers the best. They have a mix of ingredients imported from Taiwan as well as local items like the Earth’s Own Oat Milk Barista edition.

We got a sneak peek to see what Baroness has to offer their customers.

Interior

The interior is a decent size and has seats for 2’s. Most people will grab their drinks to go, but if you can snag a seat, that is great.

Menu

Menu Provided by Baroness Canada

Purple Yam Fresh Milk 

This is one of their signature drinks and I can see why. The purple yam they use makes the drink very vibrant. I was observing how they make this drink, it’s definitely not fresh yams and was a dehydrated purple powder.

Upon first sips, it was pretty good. I ordered 50% sweetness and it was perfect. It would pair well with their taro balls.

Thai Milk Tea 

The Thai Milk Tea was very good as well. At 50% sweetness, it was just right where you can taste the tea and isn’t overwhelmed by the sugar.

I liked it with grass jelly, but you can also do the brown sugar with pearls but I felt like it was too sweet.

Uji Matcha Latte 

Uji Matcha Latte was pretty good. As usual, we recommend 50% sweetness and it had a better balance between the milk and matcha. It would go well with the pudding if you’re looking for a topping.

Brown Sugar Oat Milk with Pearls

The pearls were chewy and had a good texture. I found that there was a good ratio of brown sugar and pearls with the oat milk that wasn’t too sweet. I also got this 50% sweet.

Fresh Milk with Brown Sugar and Pearls

If you want the usual fresh milk with brown sugar and pearls, it’s pretty good. Make sure to mix it up to incorporate everything in the drink. It’s pretty good actually.

Final Thoughts

It’s great that they have Oat Milk for those who are lactose intolerant. Even if you’re not lactose intolerant, oat milk tastes really good. It has a good mouthfeel and a great replacement for milk.

There are a lot of customization that you can do to the drink and the toppings tasted really good. We didn’t try the whole menu, but their specialties are the brown sugar series and oat milk series.

If you’re in the area on West Broadway or passing by to/from UBC, check out Baroness.

Address:
2790 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Website:
www.baronesscanada.com

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In Japanese

Jinya Ramen Bar Launches New Vegan Menu Items and Drink Pairings: Review

Jinya Ramen Bar has quietly launched their new vegan menu items. Even though I’m not a vegan, their Spicy Creamy Vegan ramen is incredibly delicious. Once I had that broth, I was hooked. I honestly order it every time, sometimes with a side of chachu. I really appreciate the work that goes into crafting the ramen.

A few new item have been launched on the menu to give vegans and vegetarians more options. The vegan taco, vegan bun, and vegan rice bowl have been added.

Vegan Taco

This has soy meat, guacamole, and cilantro on a crispy taco shell made of wonton skin. It was really good and if you didn’t tell me what it was, I would think it was ground pork. I like the use of the wonton skin shell as its very crispy and didn’t seem to get soggy.

Vegan Bun

This has a steamed bun stuffed with pea protein patty (Beyond Meat), avocado, cucumber, and vegan mayo. When I took the first bite, I instantly knew it was Beyond Meat. I was very impressed that Jinya is on board with offering Beyond Meat on the menu. The patty has a good texture.

Vegan Rice Bowl

This is their plant-based rice bowl with soy meat, corn, atsuage tofu, cilantro, pickled red onion, and fried broccolini over steamed rice.

It’s a pretty sizeable portion and you’ll definitely get full. The tofu is served cold and most of the items are more room temperature. They did note that it’s supposed to be served this way. We did find that it needed more sauce as there was a good amount of rice.

Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen

It uses a vegetable broth, tofu, onion, crispy onion, spinach, garlic chips, garlic oil, chilli oil, sesame seeds, and served with thick noodle.

The broth is really amazing and the addition of the garlic oil and chili oil were delicious. They give you a good amount of tofu too, so you will be full after eating this ramen.

You can also add sides to the ramen like their egg, bamboo shoots or Brussels sprouts to make the meal more filling.

Drink Pairings

Jinya Ramen has a fully stocked bar with bartenders, so if you are looking for something to pair with the vegan dishes. Here they are.

Yuzu Fizu

Yuzu Fizu is their selection to pair with the vegan tacos. They use simple syrup, yuzu, carbonated water, and topped with 1908 Empress Gin. The yuzu gives an added sweetness that mellows out the gin. It was very refreshing.

Asahi Dry Black

This is the pairing to go with the Vegan Bun. This is one of my favourite beers too as there are notes of liquorice, chocolate, coffee, and nuts. It is easy to drink.

Sake

They have a variety of sake on the menu that pairs with their regular items and vegan items.

Oku No Matsu: Yusa Junmai Ginjo was what they highly recommended to have with the vegan rice bowl. It is well balanced and textured, soft sweet flavours, and has a clean finish.

Houou Biden – Akaban Junmai Daiginjo was their suggestion to go with the Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen. This is served in a wine glass to amplify the deep melon flavours and smooth textures.

Suutsu Fashion

Whisky based drink and it was like an Old Fashioned. I liked how they use one large ice cube to keep the drink cool. It had a good balance of the bitters and the garnish of the orange peel and cherry opened up the flavours.

Final Thoughts

I am a regular at Jinya Ramen Bar and their vegan options are very good, but the ramen is definitely pricey. Nonetheless, it is one of the best vegan ramen I’ve had so far. If you want to indulge and treat yourself, this is definitely it.

The vegan rice bowl is a good option too if you don’t want anything soupy. The vegan bun and vegan taco are good accompaniments too if you are super hungry.

Website:
https://jinya-ramenbar.com/

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In Downtown

Hawksworth offers Charming Events Spaces and Catering Services in Vancouver

With the holidays coming up soon, planning special gatherings may have already started. Planning ahead is key since venues and caterers get snatched up pretty quickly. If you’re a fan of Hawksworth located in Downtown Vancouver, they have their exquisite York Room for private events. Also, they have their catering services that will come to you wherever your event is.

York Room for Private Dining

The York Room at Hawksworth Restaurant can fit large groups of 63 people seated or 80 for a standing reception. The room overlooks the Vancouver Art Gallery and the surrounding areas.

The room takes you back to the 1920’s filled with chandeliers and ornate heritage pieces, while paired with modern technology that will work for an array of private events from receptions, birthdays, to business meetings.

Hawksworth Catering

Hawksworth has a catering division that can cater weddings, galas, office luncheons, and just about anything you can think of.

You can choose from their menu of options or request something personalized that suits you theme, budget, and any other preferences.

We were invited to get a sneak peek of what they are able to create a 4 course menu situated in the The York Room with similar dishes from the Hawksworth Restaurant. The dishes were all seasonal using the freshest ingredients available. The dinner was crafted by Chef de Cuisine Antonio Sotomayor.

Amuse Bouche – peach, heirloom tomatoes, and Nasturtium
Starter – Octopus ceviche, kohlrabi, orange and tomatillo.
Mid-Course – Suckling pig, miso honey, radish, and tarragon
Main – Yellow Meadows Duck, beets, gooseberry, pumpkin seed
Dessert- Dark chocolate, Chantilly, raspberry, and almond.

Final Thoughts

It’s good that there are more options than just the Hawksworth Restaurant if you’re looking to have larger special events but still have the same dishes or even different ones that fit your party.

Website:
https://hawksworthrestaurant.com/

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In Afternoon Tea

Harry Potter Inspired School of Magic Afternoon Tea at Trump Champagne Lounge

School of Magic Afternoon Tea is back again this year at Trump Champagne Lounge in celebration of the iconic Harry Potter series. This is their second year offering up the School of Magic Afternoon Tea theme, so you’ll be able to experience a new set of savoury and sweet creations crafted by Pastry Chef Fumiko. Whimsical items like Deathly Hallow Ganache Cake to Butter Bubble Beer are on the menu. Chef Fumiko and her staff worked hard creating all these fun treats.

The School of Magic Afternoon Tea set is $65 per person and available as of Monday, September 15, 2019. There is also a $118 option served in cage with a glass of sparkling wine and a limited edition dessert box.

Menu

Tea Selections

The menu has a selection of black teas, Red Teas, Green Tea and Herbal Teas. There are sugar sticks and cream on the table to mix it however you like.

Scones

There are 3 different scones that are part of the set:

  • Philisopher’s Scone (Red Velvet)
  • Jelly Bean Scone
  • Matcha Scone

These are served with homemade clotted cream, lemon curd, strawberry and rhubarb jam. Very fun scone options that you won’t find anywhere else.

Sweets

Do you start off with sweets or savouries? If you are a sweet tooth, you’ll definitely start with all the delectable sweets.

Golden Snitch Chocolate Truffle

There is also salted caramel inside as well. This was definitely one of the sweeter items in the set.

Butter Bubble Beer

This unique twist on butter beer has bubble tea pearls and non-alcoholic butter scotch. Its definitely not like the Butter Beer at Universal Studios, but it was like butterscotch and soda with pearls.

Deathly Hallows Valrhona Dark Chocolate Ganache Cake

This was delicious and had a good balance of sweetness. Definitely one of our favourite sweets. Loved the texture of the ganache cake and the nuts.

Harry’s Favourite Treacle Tart

This has vanilla Chantilly with chocolate garnish. It wasn’t too heavy at all nor was it too sweet. Just the perfect balance.

Cauldron Mousse

This has ube mousse with mascarpone whipped cream. Yet again good balance of sweetness and ube flavour in this treat. Plus it looks really cute.

Muggles Book of Magic

The detail of the book and sorting hat is stunning! It is made mostly with baumkuchen cake, a German pastry. Very delicious.

Hogwarts’ Acceptance Letter Sugar Cookie and Harry Potter Sugar Cookie

These look very cute and gave it the Harry Potter vibes but the icing on the sugar cookie is hard and a tad thick.

Magic Wand

This is a chocolate covered cookie stick. Imagine Pocky but tastier. We did feel like the candies and sprinkles did takeaway from the overall taste.

Savoury

To balance out the sweets, savoury treats are an important part of the set. I personally love savouries, so bring it on.

Pretzel & Cheese Broomstick 

The cute broom stick is made with Havarti cheese and Chives. Very creative. Wouldn’t have thought it would look great but it does.

British Sausage Roll

You can eat the sausage roll in a bite or 2. Very simple.

Smoked Chicken Tea Sandwich 

This was essentially a chicken salad sandwich. Pretty standard.

Steak and Guinness Pie

This is definitely more Irish, but this is a similar item sold at Universal Studios at the Leaky Cauldron inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter area. It’s a 2 bite pie that works for in an afternoon tea set.

Mrs. Sprout’s Pasty 

This is a British style crispy pocket with seasonal vegetables. Crisp on the outside and stuffed with the delicious vegetables.

Ron’s Chicken Leg

They use a lemon honey garlic spice on the leg and it tasted home made and comforting. I would definitely recommend eating this right away as it will go cold and won’t be as enjoyable.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the School of Magic Afternoon Tea is very visually appealing and it great for any Harry Potter fan. There is a lot of creativity that goes into each item to reflect that theme and it’s not your cookie cutter cucumber sandwich and scones. They really put the effort in making this a fun experience.

As for the tastes of the sweets and savouries, items are hit and miss. We would recommend starting with the savouries first as they should be eaten warmer.

Address:
1161 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.trumphotels.com/vancouver/the-trump-champagne-lounge

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In Coquitlam

Dairy Queen Canada: Pumpkin Pie Blizzard Review

With September here, everything is pumpkin spice themed in anticipation for October. Dairy Queen’s Blizzard of the Month is Pumpkin Pie and this is pretty exciting! I was very curious how this tastes.

As the weather is changing from Summer to Fall, I love this time of year as you can start putting on a light jacket or sweater. It’s not too hot and not too cold. Perfect time to eat some ice cream too.

We went to our local Dairy Queen in Coquitlam to check it out before it’s gone at the end of the month.

You can get this in 4 different sizes:

  • Mini
  • Small
  • Medium
  • Large

Pumpkin Pie Blizzard

The pumpkin pie blizzard has pumpkin pie pieces blended with their vanilla soft serve, then topped with whipped topping and nutmeg.

The colour was a dull orange with the dollop of whipped cream and the sprinkle of nutmeg on top. As I took the first few bites, I was impressed by pieces of pumpkin pie and the sharp taste of the pumpkin pie incorporated into the vanilla soft serve. I definitely wasn’t disappointed as it matched what my expectations were.

If you’re a fan of pumpkin pie or pumpkin spice, I think you’ll enjoy this. Grab it before it’s gone as it’s only her for a limited time only.

Website:
https://www.dairyqueen.com/ca-en/

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In Fusion

Torafuku: 4th Anniversary Omakase Menu

Torafuku celebrates their 4th year anniversary with a special omakase set. Omakase is a Japanese term that means “I’ll leave it up to you”, where the meal consists of dishes selected by the chef. I absolutely love these dining experiences as you get a taste of what the restaurant offers.

Their options are 7 course omakase for $45 per person or 10 courses for $55 per person, with amuse bouche and bonbons added on top. It is an awesome deal and only available during dinner until September 22, 2019.

Ever since they started Le Tigre food truck back in 2012, I was a huge fan because of their Kick Ass Rice Bowl. The sauces and flavours were just so good and addictive. As Torafuku opened up in 2015, it was exciting since I work just a few blocks away. There are usually great deals to be had here whether it be their lunch menu, Dine Out Vancouver, or their omakase.

We covered their regular $45 omakase a few months ago when I dined with my family. It was a great menu, so when they launched their 4th year anniversary omakase, I was excited to return. The 10 courses for $55 per is a steal and you will be bursting from the seams.

Here is a quick look at the dishes.

Amuse Bouche

The amuse bouche arrive to give us a taster before the menu starts.

  • Marinated Tomatoes with Shiso Leaf
  • Cheese Terrine with Hibiscus Jelle
  • Forged Mushroom Tart with Yuzu

A nice touch and I absolutely loved the mushroom tart. I am a huge huge fan of mushrooms.

Rabbit Food

This has a base of kale salad with gem tomatoes, lemon juice, grated parmesan, quinoa crunch, anchovy buttermilk dressing.

I absolutely love this dish and yes, I can make friends with salad. Props to you if you understood that reference. The salad is well balanced and love the quinoa brunch.

Chef’s Daily Sushi Rolls

Kick Ass Rice 3.0 roll has torched pork belly, furikake, cucumber, avocado, shiso, miso mayo, and fuku hot sauce.

Dy-No-Mite roll has prawn tempura, avocado, cucumber, steelhead salmon, mango and 7 spice aioli.

Both rolls were delicious and very flavourful. They really know how to balance the flavours and textures.

Fuku Style Kushiyaki – Cherry Tomato, Mochi and Corn

The mochi was so good. It is a house handmade sticky rice cake on stick, prepared daily with furikake and miso mayo. The corn was addictive and we couldn’t stop eating it. Corn is in season, so it was so good a naturally sweet.

Catch of the Day

This is their daily fresh fish ceviche. It was really good and fresh!

Higher Steak

This delectable dish has Wagyu beef tataki, cabbage slaw, crispy garlic, scallions, and citrus ponzu. This was a great dish as well. The tender and fatty beef goes so well with the ponzu.

Everyday I’m Brusselin’

This has Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, black bean balsamic vinaigrette, crispy chick peas, fried quinoa, and toasted almonds.

I love the abundance of vegetables in this omakase and the textures and flavours were so on point.

G-Tao’s Chix Wings

This has fried chix wings tossed in General Tao’s secret sauce and has broccoli on the side. I found it was overly sauced and sweet for my personal liking.

The Steak Out

This is made with a beautiful AAA rib eye 12oz., charcoal grilled, tamari butter, chimichurri, and seasonal veggies. So good! Who knew tamari butter would be so addictive with rib eye. Cooked perfectly too.

Gone Fishin’

This has a crispy whole market fish, toasted shrimp, crispy shallots, soy bean crumble, tamarind sweet and sour sauce. The fish that was available when were were there was sea bream, which has a nice meaty texture.

They debone it table side and its always a fun sight.

Mango Madness

This is served in a jar with Coconut Panna Cotta, mango sago and passion-fruit puree. The subtle coconut flavour in the panna cotta go really well with the mango.

Magic Stick

Chocolate Ganache, hazelnut feuilletine, raspberry coulis, and vanilla orange. It was rich and chocolaty which I enjoyed. The salt on top enhances the flavour too and gives it a salt and sweet combination.

Featured Anniversary Cocktails

In addition to the menu, they have a few featured cocktails to celebrate their anniversary and they are $16 each.

All 3 drinks are outstanding! They have an amazing cocktail program and the drinks are top notch.

Tom Yum Caesar

Suntory Roku Gin, fresh gem tomatoes, Thai spices and herbs, lime, fish sauce and cilantro.

Passion Libre

Los siete misterios doba-yej Mezcal, fernet branca, egg white, passionfruit, iron goddess tea syrup, and red Thai chilis.

XOXO

Calvados Brandy, Grand Marnier, lemon, pandan syrup, and Bitter Sling crabapple bitters.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully you’re able to make it for their 4th Anniversary Omakase as it’s quite a steal for either the 7 course or 10 course option. Only available until September 22nd 2019, but a lot of the dishes are on their regular menu.

Alternatively, you can order off the regular menu or call them to reserve omakase for your group. They are really easy to work with if there are dietary restrictions. I’ve always had a good time here when I dine with friends and family.

Address:
958 Main St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://torafuku.ca/

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In British Columbia

[Sneak Peek] Purdys Chocolatier: Ruby Cherry Almond Bar and Ruby Praline Review

Sweet treats made with Ruby Cocoa Beans have been very trendy in the last year. Purdys, a Vancouver-based Chocolatier known for their delicious confections. My go-to items are always their hedgehog chocolates and original ice cream bars.

The latest items to come out of the Vancouver Factory Kitchen, is their ruby confections – Ruby Cherry Almond Bar and Ruby Praline. It is slated to be launched Canada-wide on September 13, 2019 known as International Chocolate Day, with samples in-stores as well. These are crafted from 100% sustainable ruby cocoa and will be available in all of Purdys’ 84 retail shops and online.

Did you know, every creation at Purdys uses 100% sustainable cocoa, ensuring their cocoa farmer partners and co-ops are supported by programs that improve their profits and the livelihoods of their families and communities. I love supporting companies like these to ensure their values to part of every process.

Ruby chocolate has a very unique taste. It tastes fruity and creamy, which is very different from traditional milk or dark chocolate. As a bonus, it is pink in colour as well from the result of the selection and crafting of ruby cocoa beans that undergo a shortened fermentation process. Thus meaning, ruby chocolate has no colours or fruit flavourings

Ruby Cherry Almond Bar

This Ruby Cherry Almond Bar has tart cherry and roasted almonds that enhances ruby’s natural flavour and adds texture to balance the sweetness.

We enjoyed the Ruby Cherry Almond Bar as there is great texture and the sweetness of ruby isn’t overpowering. This was our favourite of the two new Ruby creations.

Ruby Praline

Ruby Praline melds the sweet and salty taste combination. Purdys has taken their famous almond purée, combined it with berries and wrapped it in a ruby shell. The taste results in a creamy fusion of salty praline, bright fruit and the sweet natural taste of ruby.

There is a good amount of almond purée on the inside, but we just didn’t like the texture as much.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it is a nice addition to the Purdys line up of chocolates in-stores and online. The distinct taste of ruby does stand out. The Ruby Cherry Almond Bar and Ruby Praline are quite different, so if you like more texture then the Ruby Cherry Almond Bar is for you. If you like a smooth texture, Ruby Praline is for you.

Website:
https://www.purdys.com/

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In Richmond

JiangHu 江湖-台式鍋物熱炒: Taiwanese Pot & Wok Cuisines Review

JiangHu Taiwanese Pot & Wok Cuisines is located in Richmond serving up Taiwanese Pot & Wok dishes. This new concept brings together authentic Taiwanese pot dishes and creative stir fry cuisine to Vancouver.

We were glad to see a different type of Taiwanese restaurant that isn’t a bubble tea cafe or beef noodle shop. Don’t get me wrong, I love those places, but we wanted to see more diversity in Taiwanese cuisine and this is what we were looking for.

They meld distinctive Taiwanese flavours with modern culinary techniques and local produce that gives JiangHu it’s unique Vancouver twist. Plus, all the dishes are large and meant to be shared.

We were invited by JiangHu to check out a few of their signature dishes on the menu.

Interior

The space is bright, nice and modern. You’ll find smaller tables as well as larger ones for bigger groups.

They do accept reservations on their website via OpenTable for small to larger groups (20+). If you need anything specific, just give them a call.

Menu

Deluxe Seafood Platter

This is one of this signature dishes and it’s filled with fresh seafood like lobster, crab, clams, scallops, white shrimp, mussels, and seasonal veggies.

It’s a pretty huge portion served on a large plate that will just make your friends and family want to take a lot of photos. For $188, this serves about 4-6 people. When it arrives at the table, they tell you to heat on simmer for 5 minutes to incorporate the fresh seafood with the sauces.

There are 2 types of sauces you can choose from – spicy or beer steamed with garlic. The spice level can be adjusted to suit your spice tolerance from mild to very hot. The beer steamed with garlic is very fragrant.

The seafood platter was cooked very well and you can taste the freshness of the seafood. Our favourites were the crab and the lobster, but hard to go wrong with these items. The only thing that wasn’t up to par was the scallop vermicelli, which felt greasy and not as much flavour. Other than that, it’s a solid dish that is great for groups.

This also comes with a jug of Wintermelon Tea.

ShaoJiu Chicken Pot with Full Bottle of Wine

This was a very exciting dish as it was lit. When it’s set on fire, everyone in the restaurant notices. The chicken pot incorporates a lot of medicinal properties and ingredients. These items are stewed for over an hour.

With the inclusion of the full bottle of wine, it wasn’t too alcoholic at all. The chicken is really tender and flavourful. It’s balanced really well and the soup is also tasty. With this pot, you can always add on extra items to make it more full like veggies or other proteins. It’s a great item for the winter.

Stir Fried Lobster with Glutinous Oil Rice

This is another signature dish on their menu. Typically made with red sturgeon, they have replaced it with lobster to incorporate the freshness of the East Coast. They stir-fry sakura shrimp with steamed glutinous rice, then add sliced pork belly, mushrooms, scallions crisps, and then topped with sesame oil and soy sauce.

The dish was delicious and comforting. The lobster was also meaty and tender. The lotus leaf also gives a lot of flavour to this dish too.

Stir Fried Chicken Pot

The chicken is stir-fried with a variety of seasoning and spices to have a very aromatic and fragrant dish. It does pack a punch of spice, so its not for those who can’t tolerate spice, or you can ask them to make it less spicy.

Taiwanese Burgers

The Taiwanese Burgers are a bit on the pricy side as you get 2 for $14.95. The pork belly meat is marinated for 2 hours and then wrapped with gio bao and topped with peanut powder, pickled cabbage, coriander, and plum sauce. It was pretty delicious and the pork belly does melt in your mouth. Definitely one of the better ones we’ve had in Vancouver.

Stir-Fried Lamb and Vegetables with Satay Sauce

The sliced lamb meat is stir-fried with their house-made satay sauce and paired with the crisp dark green leaf. Another tasty dish but it does have a hint of spice to it too.

Taiwanese Oyster Pancake

The oyster pancake was delicious as there was a good balanced of oyster, cabbage, and eggs. They cake it really thin so it does get crispy. Very enjoyable.

Deep Fried Sweet Taro Ball

This was delicious. It is fried but not greasy or too sweet at all. A great dish that reminded us of Taiwan. It’s not at a lot of restaurants in Vancouver, but we just devoured these up.

Deep Fried Oysters

Another delicious dish. The oysters were plump and full of flavour It is also served with shrimp chips which is a nice touch.

Deep Fried Fish Skin with Egg Yolk

When you know, you know. Deep-fried fish skin is a huge trend right now, but rightly so because its so delicious. Tasty and crispy. Music to our ears every time we munch on these.

Popcorn Chicken with Fried Yam

This is a different take on Taiwanese popcorn chicken. It was a hit and miss depending on your tastebuds. Some could take the plum, some found it a bit hidden.

Octopus Beak Balls

This was really good. So tender, tasty and delicious. We haven’t seen this anywhere else in Vancouver! Highly recommended.

Grilled Pork Neck with Miso Sauce

They use pork jowl marinated in miso and other seasonings then BBQ on a low temperature. This was good and we liked the char from the BBQ as it caramelizes the sauce.

Final Thoughts

Overall, JiangHu Taiwanese Pot & Wok Cuisines really impressed us. All the dishes tasted great particularly their fried and stir fried dishes. Prices seem reasonable on the menu, but the bigger seafood dishes can be a bit pricey.

We will definitely be back as the Taiwanese flavours were well incorporated into the dishes.

Address:
Unit 100-7911 Alderbridge Way,Richmond BC

Website:
http://jianghu-cuisine.com

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In British Columbia

[Sneak Peek] Molson Canadian: Local Chilliwack Hops Harvested For Classic Lager

Beer is definitely my go to beverage as I find it very light and refreshing to have over a meal with friends. With the explosion of breweries in Vancouver over the last few years, it never really occurred to me where the process of beer starts out. Every beer tour I’ve been to, they show the process of brewing, fermenting, and packaging. All of them skip out the most important step of where it truly begins – the farm.

When Molson Canadian invited us to Sartori Farms, I was excited to see the hops up close as I’ve only seen pictures. Also, I was mind blown to hear there are a good amount of farms in BC producing hops.

Sartori Farms isn’t open to the public, so this is an exclusive look at their hop production.

Here are a few amazing things we learned during our trip to Sartori Farms.

Fraser Valley, the Optimal Growing Region for Hops

Along the 49th Parallel is an ideal latitude for growing hops that meets the unique requirements that contributes to Molson Canadian’s signature taste. The climate is also ideal as we have dry warm summers that create the perfect environment to grow hops.

Since 1880’s there have been hop farms in British Columbia. Varieties like Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Cashmere, Nugget, Magnum and Lumberjack are harvested and processed into beers that we know and love. Each variety has its unique aroma which gives beer its unique taste.

The yellow centre of the hops has all the oils and aromas that the farmers are looking for. It smelled just like beer with citrus notes. I was very surprised.

Sartori Farms is family-owned and operated and they have been growing hops for the last 13 years before the boom of the craft beer scene. Chris Sartori, has taken it upon himself to be dubbed the unofficial hops master. Going into the hop business, he saw opportunity as not many farmers were investing into this crop at the time. He is very particular about the hops he creates and ensure the highest quality that he can produce.

The hops are then processed, dried, and palletized where it will be passed on to Molson Canadian to create the lager.

Locally Grown and Produced Ingredients

For the Molson family, keeping locally grown and produced ingredients are key to Molson beers even since they were founded in 1786. Molson Canadian is made with ingredients that reflect Canada like Prairie barley, Canadian water, and recently hops from Chilliwack.

They helped build the barley industry in the prairies since 1786 and spent decades working with local hop farmers.

Elevate Your Dining Experience with Food and Beer Pairings

Food and beer go hand in hand. Molson Canadian is a really clean and crisp lager that surprisingly pairs well with fresh local ingredients. During our long table luncheon, we had:

  • Cheddar + Beer Soup
  • Chilliwack Roast Corn Salad with pimento pepper chipotle
  • BC Wild Salmon Medallions with shallot tarragon, gluten-free crust and wasabi dip
  • Braised Beef Short Rib with parsnip puree and local veggies
  • Blueberry Shortcake with crème pâtisserie

The light sweet aroma is so smooth in the lager that the pairing with Molson Canadian brings out the natural sweetness in the dishes. With heavier dishes like the braised beef, it helps lighten the flavour to give it a better balance.

Instead of pairing your beer with the usual burger fried chicken and pizza, it’s so versatile to have it with a wide variety of dishes to enhance the flavour, aroma and texture.

Final Thoughts

Molson Canadian has always been a very easy lager to drink – clean, clear and crisp. They choose the best ingredients that reflect Canada like the use of Prairie barley, Canadian water, and hops from Chilliwack.

Molson will be opening their newest brewery in Chilliwack on September 17, 2019, where it will be added to their list of Canadian breweries in St. John’s, Moncton, Montreal, and Toronto.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Molson Canadian. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Molson Canadian.

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In Fast Food

Taco Bell Canada: Toasted Cheesy Chalupa Review

Taco Bell Canada has just introduced their new Toasted Cheesy Chalupa. Canada among one of the 10 countries launching the Toasted Cheesy Chalupa as part of Taco Bell’s largest-ever global product launch. Instead of launching in one country first and testing how it does.  It will be available internationally in Aruba, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Puerto Rico and the United States.

The Toasted Cheesy Chalupa is not just the year’s biggest chalupa innovation from Taco Bell (so they claim), it is also the largest global release of a menu item from Taco Bell since the Naked Chicken Chalupa in 2017. 

As Canadians, it’s always annoying to see the US have more exclusive items on the menu. I always have to cross the border to get a taste.

Toasted Cheesy Chalupa Review

This filled with seasoned beef, then piled with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, grated cheddar cheese, and reduced-fat sour cream inside the chalupa shell toasted with 6-month aged sharp cheddar cheese.

They put the Chalupa shell inside out for me…for some strange reason. Nonetheless, the whole toasted cheesy chalupa was there. I found the cheesy chalupa shell to be too thick and chewy like Greek flatbread.

The whole experience wasn’t cheesy at all as there could have been a lot more cheese on the chalupa shell and inside. I expected it to have more crunch as well.

I found the Naked Chicken Chalupa to be far superior. Do you need to go out right now to get the Toasted Cheesy Chalupa? I would say definitely not.

Website:
https://www.tacobell.ca/

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