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In German

Deutsches Haus (Vancouver Alpen Club): German Cuisine in Vancouver

I’ve passed by Vancouver Alpen Club numerous times and I’ve always been curious about Deutsches Haus, which is located inside in the lower level.

We love German cuisine and have been to a few restaurant in Vancouver. Our friend is German and wanted to find some good authentic German cuisine, so I suggested we go to Deutsches Haus.

Interior

The interior is definitely dated and has an old smell to it as well. We did see many people make reservations for dinner time and it was busy by 7pm on a weekend. They have small to large tables and can fit a lot of people.

Menu

Krombacher Pils

You can get this in 300ml, 500ml, or a pitcher. We went with the 300ml and it was delicious!

Pretzel

This was fresh from the oven and it definitely was because it was piping hot. Good texture and size, but we wanted some more salt sprinkled on top.

Feast for Four

Since there were 4 of us, it made sense to get the platter for 4 so we can try a bit of everything and get a feel for this restaurant.

This comes with 1 full size oven roasted pork hock, 4 schnitzel, 4 Bavarian meatloaf, and assorted sausages. It is then served with spatzle, red cabbage and sauerkraut.

When it arrived at the table, it was definitely enough for 4…perhaps even 5 people.

The roasted pork hock was crisp on the exterior and so tender and flavourful on the inside. This was my favourite item on the platter.

It is also very oily, so it’s hard to eat a lot of it.

The schnitzel was quite a good portion size too, delicious as well when paired with the mushroom gravy.

It was my first time having Bavarian meatloaf and it was like a soft spongey spam. It definitely took more getting used to.

The sausages were good too but I wished there were more of it. The red cabbage and sauerkraut was very authentic according to our German friend.

The spätzle is an egg noodle dumpling an it accompanied the platter well. Pour some of the mushroom gravy or the other sauce and it’s great.

Black Forest Cake

I’ve had Black Forest Cake a lot when I was a kid, so I have been avoiding it for a very long time. Their Black Forest Cake has layers of chocolate cake, cream, and cherries. We liked the fact that they didn’t use the canned Maraschino Cherries.

Apple Strudel

This came piping hot our from the oven and served with whipped cream and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Final Thoughts

Overall, pretty good German food from Deutsches Haus. The schnitzel and the roasted pork hock were my favourite items on the menu. It was good to try the platter to taste as much as we could since it was our first visit.

Next time, I would come back for a plate of Schnitzel.

Address:
4875 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.vacbc.ca/

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In Afternoon Tea

Picnic Inspired Afternoon Tea in Vancouver’s Trump Champagne Lounge

I have been very impressed by the Afternoon Tea sets created by Fumiko Moreton at The Trump Champagne Lounge . Every time they come up with a new tea set, I am just in awe at how creative they can get. I’ve been to a lot of afternoon teas in Vancouver and you can definitely return here without getting bored.

For their Picnic Inspired Afternoon Tea set, instead of the usual 3 tiered tower, it is served on a custom made picnic bench that holds all the sweet and savoury treats.

The Summer Picnic Afternoon Tea set is $65 per person and available as of Monday, July 22nd, 2019.

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

The Scones that come with the set are:

  • Peach Pie Crumble Scone
  • Chopped Chili and Sweet Corn Pinwheel Scone
  • Matcha Scone

The scones are accompanied with homemade clotted cream, lemon curd, and a strawberry & rhubarb jam.

I like the variety of scones with different flavours. My favourite was the chopped chili and sweet corn pinwheel scone. It doesn’t go with the condiments as it is good on its own.

Cucumber Lemon Tea Sandwich

Savoury Selections

My favourites are always the savouries in an afternoon tea set.

  • Cucumber Lemon Tea Sandwich
  • Deep Fried Oyster with tartare sauce
  • Watermelon and feta salad
  • Seven Layer Dip with Tortilla Chips
  • Chicken Karaage Skewer

My favourites were the Cucumber Lemon Tea Sandwich, Chicken Karaage Skewer and the deep fried oyster.

Seven Layer Dip with Tortilla Chips
Chicken Karaage Skewer
Deep Fried Oyster with tartare sauce
Watermelon and feta salad
Flamingo Meringue Pop and Pineapple Cookie Pop

Sweet Desserts

The items here will satisfy your sweet tooth and I love how creative each item is. You won’t find these is any other afternoon set in town.

  • BC Fruits ‘Sandwich’ Cake
  • Pina Colada Mousse
  • Carrot Cake Slider
  • Fresh Cream Eclair ‘Dog’
  • Clam Shell Meringue Macaron with Pearl
  • Flamingo Meringue Pop
  • Pineapple Cookie Pop

I was really impressed by these items. Fumiko Moreton is so talented, I’m always in awe. The BC Fruit ‘Sandwich’ Cake reminded me of a Japanese Roll Cake and it was just perfect. The Carrot Cake Slider was good and moist, plus I love how it was transformed into a slider. The Clam Shell Meringue Macaron had a great mouthfeel and texture too.

Clam Shell Meringue Macaron with Pearl
Pina Colada Mousse
BC Fruits ‘Sandwich’ Cake
Carrot Cake Slider
Fresh Cream Eclair ‘Dog’

Caged Afternoon Tea

If you want to be a little bit over the top, you can get the Picnic Afternoon Tea served in a cage with a glass of champagne, and a special dessert box for $118. A bit pricey, but good for those who really want to impress.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed the Summer Picnic theme for their afternoon tea. All the items were crafted well and worked with the picnic theme.

For $65 per person, it’s not a bad price at all and it’s unique compared to the other afternoon tea sets in Vancouver. I highly recommend it!

Address:
1161 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC

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

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In Brunch

Highlight Cafe By Re-UP BBQ: Brunch in New Westminster

Highlight Cafe by Re-UP BBQ is located in New Westminster. They specializes in Southern-inspired takes on the classic brunch dishes. It’s the best combination and you can’t go wrong.

Re-Up BBQ was one of the first food trucks in Vancouver serving up delicious BBQ in Downtown. They were around for 3 years until their food truck got hit by a bus. They did end up opening a food stall in the River Market serving up their classic BBQ items. Now, Highlight Cafe is their next venture.

Interior

There is lots of space inside for groups of 2s, 4s or even more if you push some tables together. Sadly they don’t take reservation.

Menu

3 Way Biscuit Sliders

The 3 way biscuit sliders is a recommended item. It’s a good way to try three different meats for brunch. As there are 3 sliders, it’s best to share among the table as 3 biscuits is quite a bit to eat.

The Fried Chicken slider was the favourite of the 3. Cooked perfectly with a nice crunch on the outside, while still moist and tender on the inside.

The Beef Brisket slider was good too and had a nice natural taste.

The Pulled Pork slider is seasoned well but was a tad dry. Perhaps it needed a bit more BBQ sauce to moisten it up.

Re-up Smoked Salmon Eggs Benny

The Re-up smoked salmon eggs benny has two soft poached free run eggs on a toasted buttermilk biscuit, smoked salmon, mango, Hollandaise sauce, house spice, and served with hand cut hash browns.

It was the first time seeing mango in a smoked salmon benny but it worked. The sweetness and tang from the mango complimented the hollandaise and the salmon. It all had a nice texture and worked really well together. There was also a good amount of smoked salmon too.

Iced Matcha Latte

The matcha latte was disappointing and was too milky. It needed a lot more match powder in it. From the colour, it looks very milky.

Iced Mocha

The mocha was better but it had a very strong syrup taste to it even when it was mixed up.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the food was pretty good and there are great twist to brunch classics. The pricing is a little bit higher, but the quality is there. We would definitely come back in the future to get more of their fried chicken.

It’s a good addition to the area and kid friendly too.

Address:
538 6th St, New Westminster, BC

Website:
https://highlightbyreupbbq.com/

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In Burnaby Central

Metropolis at Metrotown: Snack N Snap

Snack ‘N Snap your way through Metropolis at Metrotown’s Grand Court with larger-than-life food art displays, sampling from sweet & savoury snack retailers, pop-up treat carts, Workshop Wednesdays to make your own tasty treats, and contest giveaways. This is open now till July 28th!

We got a sneak peek of this area to check out all the cool displays.

There is no shortage of fun here if you plan ahead of time so you can full enjoy this area.

Larger than Life Displays

There are tons of opportunity to take photos! There is a giant pink donut, 10-foot lollipop tree, cupcake house, gummy bears, jumbo pretzel, huge gum ball machine and melting popsicles.

Workshop Wednesdays

Every Wednesday, there will be DIY Decorate your own sugar cookie with Sugar Sugar Studios! Guests will be able to decorate your own cookie to take home. You can register through  www.metropolisatmetrotown.com .

Walk up spots are available on a first come first serve basis.

Wednesday, July 17 and 24. 3PM and 4PM .

Sampling Days

Thursdays and Fridays throughout the exhibit are the sampling days from 2pm-3pm each day from various retailers from Metropolis at Metrotown.

Guess the Jelly Beans

Guess the Jelly Beans in the display case and win. Shoppers can guess daily how many hundreds (or thousands) of jellybeans are in the display case and enter their guess for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree.

Get Social

During the exhibit, you can snap endless selfies in front of the jumbo displays, share photos on Instagram by tagging @metropolisatmet and #METSNACKNSNAP, and enter for a chance to win a prize pack or a $500 Metropolis at Metrotown gift card.

Follow @metropolisatmet on Instagram and Facebook to learn about the various giveaways by Metropolis at Metrotown and its retailers for this event.

Website:
https://metropolisatmetrotown.com/events/2019/07/11/snack-and-snap/

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In Cafe

On Yogurt: Dorayaki with a Twist in Downtown Vancouver

Dorayaki is much love by Doremon and fall into any sinister trap that involve this sweet treat. Dorayaki is a Japanese treat made of pancakes sandwiched with red bean.

On Yogurt in Downtown Vancouver has launched a line of dorayaki sweet sandwiches. There are 5 in total, 3 have their signature rolled gelato and 2 others have other fillings.

  • Creme Brulee
  • S’More
  • Milk Tea Rolled Gelato
  • Matcha Rolled Gelato
  • Nutella Rolled Gelato

We were invited to give these a try.

Menu

Milk Tea Rolled Gelato

This was our favourite of all the Dorayaki. It has 3 rolled sheets of Milk Tea gelato, black sugar pearls and whipped cream. The taste of the milk tea was really good. Pearls had a good texture as well.

Make sure to eat it fast before the gelato starts melting because it’ll get messy.

Matcha Dorayaki

The matcha dorayaki has matcha rolled gelato, red bean paste, and crispy rice. We found this to be a bit sweet, probably because of the added red bean.

S’more Dorayaki

This has coffee crunch paste, chocolate cereal and the fluffy marshmallow. Definitely one of the sweeter items in this series.

Creme Brûlée Dorayaki

The Creme Brûlée has seasonal fruit and the fruits we had were blueberries and strawberries. Pretty good as well.

Nutella Banana Dorayaki

A classic combination and you can’t go wrong. This has Nutella rolled gelato, Nutella paste and banana.

Milk Tea

Their milk tea rolled gelato is pretty darn good, so we had to get the drink. It normally comes with small pearls, but we asked to have it with the big pearls, which are used for desserts only. Pretty good!

Final Thoughts

Overall, the creative dorayaki is a great idea and it give customers more options. The version with the rolled gelato can melt pretty quickly, so when eating it like a sandwich, you don’t want any of that gelato to melt away or fall out. If you’re a fan of gelato and dorayaki, definitely check it out. We highly recommend the milk tea version of the dorayaki.

Address:
95 Smithe St, Vancouver, BC 

Website:
http://www.onyogurt.com/

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In British Columbia

Starbucks Canada: Tie-Dye Frappuccino Blended Beverage Review

Starbucks has launched a new limited time only Frappuccino Blended Beverage only available for the next few days until it runs out. This drink utilizes tropical fruit flavours and the look of Tie-Dye.

The drink is definitely eye catching with it’s vibrant colours of blue, red and yellow tie-dye swirls, and is topped with vanilla whipped cream and dusted with blue, red and yellow powder.

These colours come from red beet, turmeric and spirulina. Most people’s first thought is that it must be food colouring, but it’s not. It is sprinkled into the cup first before the blended yellow beverage is added to the cup.

We did notice that over time, the dusted powder colours sink to the bottom as the blended beverage is just yellow and nothing is mixed into it. If you want pictures, better take it fast.

Nonetheless, it’s all about taste right? It tastes like pineapple as the dominant flavour and then hints of coconut or banana. Definitely tropical as they noted. The taste wasn’t bright and vibrant as I would have imagined. At first taste, it reminded me of this medicine I used to have as a kid as it was also tropical flavour.

Would I order this again? Probably not, but I think it’s more for the aesthetic. Someone out there would want this.

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In British Columbia

Dogs N Roses Food Truck: Fusion Hot Dogs around Metro Vancouver

Inspired by Guns N Roses, an American Rock and Roll Band, Dogs N Roses is not a band, but a Food Truck serving up fusion gourmet hot dogs with no boundaries. We’ve seen the classic Hot Dog vendors around Downtown, then Japanese inspired Hot Dogs were a trend, now Dogs N Roses is spicing things up at parties, local events, weddings, etc. Mostly you can find them at Moody Ales in Port Moody.

We caught Dogs N Roses in Coquitlam when they invited us to try their menu.

Menu

House Made Pork Smokie

This is a house made Italian pork smokie on an organic brioche bun, served with kimchi mayo, red onions, black sesame, Furikake sprinkles, fried onions and green apple pearls. This was our favourite of all the hot dogs as it was juicy and tasty.

Beef Wiener

Like the other hot dogs, this is in an organic brioche bun with organic sauerkraut, dijon mustard and fried onions. This also comes with mayo, green onions, fried onions and pearls. It was good but was a tad salty.

Spicy Bulgogi Chorizo

This Spicy Bolgogi Chorizo hot dog has sesame coleslaw, green onions, gochujang mayo, pineapple pearls and cilantro. It definitely has a nice amount of heat to this hot dog.

House Made Pork Kebab

The house made pork Kebab is essentially a burger with with artichoke sumac cheese, green onions, asian sesame coleslaw and yogurt pearls. It’s a good size but a bit messy to eat as there coleslaw falls out easily, but it does add a nice crunch to this. The yogurt pearls were a bit odd for us as it adds a tang of sweetness.

Poutine

This has crispy coated fries with five spice gravy, cheese curds, fresh house made kimchi, Szechuan and black sesame mayo, topped with green onions, fried onions and cilantro.

There is a little bit of everything in this poutine so it’s not traditional at all. As you can see by the options that it’s very extra. The taste does lean towards the spicy and salty side. We felt that there was a bit too much going on. We did like the fries as the base, so we would definitely get regular fries next time instead.

Final Thoughts

If you see Dogs N Roses around town, definitely check them out as they are pretty unique for their unconventional hot dogs. All of they fo come with a lot of sauce and toppings. The sweet pearls are the ones you find at frozen yogurt places which is very interesting but not that bad. I wouldn’t have ever thought it would work together.

The buns & dogs are really good, but all the sauces makes the bun soggy if you don’t eat it right away. Also, quite messy to eat as they all came with mayo, green onions, fried onions and pearls.

We would recommend the house made pork smokie, half sauce if they can, no white onion and a side of fries. If you spot them at places like Moody Ales, it goes great with a ice cold beer.

Website:
https://www.dogsnrosestruck.com

Location:
Varies

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In product

Nespresso Canada: Limited Edition Capsules Inspired by Australian Iced Coffee

It’s Summer and Nespresso has launched two limited edition capsules inspired by Australian Iced Coffee. The collection includes two capsules, Long Black Over Ice and Flat White Over Ice. I usually drink my coffees hot and never occurred to me that I could make an iced beverage with the Nespresso. Silly me.

Both coffee blends have recommended On Ice recipes, to which you can incorporate Nespresso’s limited edition Monin gourmet syrups – including vanilla, caramel and coconut flavours.

Long Black Over Ice

The coffee in the capsules have a combination of South American and East African coffees known for their fresh, fruity and floral aromatics which have been lightly roasted.

They suggest starting with ice and sparkling water in a cup, then adding the coffee on top to create a full-bodied long black over ice.

Long Black Over Ice Recipe

  • 4 ice cubes
  • Sparkling water (120ml for Original or 90ml for Vertuo)
  • 1 x Nespresso Long Black Over Ice coffee capsule
    (25ml Ristretto for Original or 80ml Double Espresso for Vertuo)
  • Optional: 10ml Monin coconut syrup

The addition of the coconut syrup really adds a depth of coconut flavour to this and it works.

Flat White Over Ice

These capsules use a blend of darker roasted coffees with bold spice notes. The taste stays strong when blended with milk and the aromas are balanced by the milk’s sweetness. You pour milk over ice and finish with the coffee for a smooth, creamy texture and a full-bodied finish.

Flat White Over Ice Recipe

  • 4 ice cubes
  • Cow’s milk (120ml for Original or 90ml for Vertuo)
  • 1 x Nespresso Flat White Over Ice coffee capsule
    (25ml Ristretto for Original or 80ml Double Espresso for Vertuo)
  • Optional: 10ml Monin caramel syrup

Of the two options, flat white over ice was my favourite. Alternatively, Oat Milk is a very good substitution for Cow’s milk if you’re lactose intolerant or just looking for a dairy alternative.

Sweeten Things Up

To add a surprising finish to your iced coffees, Nespresso has partnered with gourmet flavoured syrup brand Monin and is offering a limited edition set of mini (50ml) syrups in Vanilla, Caramel and Coconut flavours.

Adding a dash of coconut syrup with the Long Black Over Ice or savour the taste of caramel with the Flat White Over Ice.

The syrups do really enhance the coffees flavour and cuts out any bitterness and acidity.

Ice Cube Tray

Don’t forget that ice cubes really makes or breaks these drinks. Nespresso has these great silicone ice cube trays that make perfectly square cubes.

To get nice clear cubes, boiling the water to remove air bubbles helps the water molecules stick together better. Cool down the boiled water, fill up and freeze the trays.

Final Thoughts

I loved the flat white over ice and I usually enjoy my coffees with milk. For both capsules, the coffee tasted great but I gravitated more to a flat white as its similar to a latte.

If you have other espresso capsules at home, you can actually run the espresso pods twice to make a double espresso for the recipes mentioned in this blog post.

With the hot summer weather, definitely cool down with these 2 different recipe inspirations to remind you of Australia.

Website:
https://www.nespresso.com

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In British Columbia

Tim Hortons: Poutine Review

Tim Hortons has brought back the limited time only poutine on the menu. I’m assuming they brought it back because of Canada Day. The last time it was offered was June 2018 and it received quite a bunch of mixed reviews from customers. As I missed it last year, I made sure to give it a taste for myself.

An iconic Canadian fast food chain like Tim Hortons can’t get poutine wrong right? Well, we are about to find out.

The Tim Hortons poutine is made of 3 things – wedge fries, gravy, and cheese curds. It is then served in a paper box.

First of all, wedge fries aren’t very traditional, so upon first sight of the advertisements, I thought it was a bit strange. I’m assuming they added this because wedge fries are already on the menu. All they need to add is the gravy and cheese curds.

Upon first taste, I didn’t mind the wedges, but we did notice the gravy has a very strong black pepper taste and was a bit watery. The cheese curds are from Montreal, but the quality was mediocre. It melted fast so it tasted like melty mozzarella that is gummy and sticks to your teeth.

For fast food poutine, its ok, but don’t have expectations where it will be great because it won’t be. All the fast food poutine options I’ve had so far, I haven’t found one that hits the mark.

If you see this at Tim Hortons and peaks your interest, you can give it a try, but you’ll probably be disappointed like us.

Website:
https://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/index.php

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In Chinese

Liuyishou Hotpot Richmond: First Location in Canada and Newly Revamped

Liuyishou Hotpot was founded in 2000 and has grown from a single location on a small street in Chongqing, China to over 1,200 locations around the world. Liuyishou Hotpot in Richmond is the very first location of North America and it’s become the first location to undergo the international hotpot chain’s recent brand refresh in North America.

After a 3-month renovation, Liuyishou Hotpot Richmond has reopened its doors with a brand new look.

We were invited to check out the space and try their signature items.

Interior

The space is bright and there are tons of booth seating. There is ventilation at every table, so you won’t be smelling too much like hot pot afterwards.

Menu

Selecting your broth

To being your hot pot experience, you need to select the types of broth for your table. You can choose your pot to have 1, 2, or 3 different broths.

Our table went with Liu’s House Special Soup Base, which is spicy and the Tomato Soup Base, a non-spicy option.

Sauce Bar, Fruit and Snacks

Don’t forget to visit the sauce bar to grab your sauce for the hot pot. There are also lots of fruits and snacks there to if you want something more to your meal.

Above the bar are signs with sauce recommendations, which I loved because most of the time I’m just putting sauces and ingredients together hoping it will be ok.

I made mine with mashed garlic, sesame oil, green onion and coriander. It was pretty good and I like how their sesame oil are in these cute cans.

We did grab some fruit for the end of the meal as its pretty refreshing.

Drink the Broth

Before you begin the hot pot, they suggest giving the broth a try, but only with the non-spicy broth. They scooped everyone a bowl to try.

Sliced Meat to order

What I really loved about Liuyishou Richmond is that their meat station is visible from the dining area, so there are no mysteries about how the meat is prepared. They use an industrial grade meat slices to cut all the meat so thinly.

House Special Beef and Lamb Platter
Hand Sliced Beef
Supreme Marbled Wagyu Slices (Small)

How long do you cook the items for?

Each setting has a piece of paper indicating how many seconds or minutes you need to cook a specific item. I thought this was quite handy so you don’t end up overcooking or undercooking something.

What to Order?

There are a lot of options from meat, seafood, veggies, and carbs on the menu to accompany your hot pot.

My favourite items besides the sliced meat were the beef balls, cuttlefish balls, frozen tofu, crown daisy, shrimp paste with roe, and fried bean curd.

The items were liked the least were the Pacific White Shrimp as it was weird that it looked like a frozen popsicle stick. It also took a bit longer to cook too. Another item that was disappointing was the Argentinian Shrimp because it wasn’t cleaned, so there was still the vein with the poop inside.

Hand Made Beef Balls
Hand Made Cuttlefish Balls
House Special Shrimp Paste with Roe
Deep Fried Pork
Duck Blood Cake
Fried Bean Curd
Hand Made Noodle
Pacific White Shrimp
Argentinian Red Shrimp
Frozen Tofu
Chinese Fried Donuts with Shrimp Paste
House Special Beef Tripe
Crown Daisy (Tong Ho)
Fried Buns with Condensed Milk
House Special Yogurt
House Special Yogurt

Final Thoughts

Overall, I enjoyed the hot pot experience at Liuyishou. What I do admire is how they have their meat slicing station in the open for all customers to see. All the meat is sliced to order and it hasn’t been sitting in a freezer for days.

My favourite dish was the sliced beef and lamb platter as it looks very unique and no other place has this kind of presentation. You can’t go wrong with any of their other sliced meats either.

Address:
4731 Garden City Rd #150, Richmond, BC

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In Brunch

Me + Crepe: Chinese Breakfast Crepe, Tea Eggs, and Tofu

Me + Crepe is known for their traditional Chinese Breakfast called Jian Bing. They currently have 5 locations Greater Vancouver, so no matter which city you’re in, Me+ Crepe is somewhere close by.

We were invited to the Burnaby location inside the Old Orchard Shopping Centre for lunch.

Interior

The interior has 6 tables and its a good spot for a quick breakfast or lunch if you’re in the area. A lot of people were here for the lunch rush.

Most of the tables have chairs for 2 people. There was only one table for a group of 4.

Menu

You can check in on Yelp for an extra free egg or you can Instagram or Facebook a photo as well.

Soymilk

One of their popular drinks here is their soymilk, which you can order ala carte or as part of the combos. It comes hot or cold, but whichever one you decide, it both tastes delicious and goes well with the Jian Bing. I personally like it cold but my parents liked it hot.

Tea Infused Egg

This also comes with the combo, or you can get it free by checking into Yelp or taking a photo on Instagram or Facebook.

I really enjoyed the eggs and there was a good amount of tea flavour in the eggs. One of the better ones I’ve had so far.

Peking Duck

Crepes (Jian Bing)

We ordered a few of the different crepes on the menu.

With more than 23 ingredients that can be customized into each crepe, you can create any crepe and flavour you want (or pick from the menu of specialized crepes. I’m indecisive, so we got 4 of the pre-made ones.

  • Bing: Origin
  • Double Down
  • Lamb Cumin
  • Peking Duck

We got a mix with the Chinese donut and Fried Fritter. I felt that the fried fritter helped keep the shape of the crepe better as well it was more crispy.

All of them were pretty filling as combos. For the Bing:Origin, I wish I added a few more item inside to make it a bit more filling compared to the other three. Nonetheless, overall delicious.

Double Down (BBQ Pork & BBQ Duck)
Bing Origin
Cumin Lamb

Tofu ‘Now’

These items are so unique that I’ve never had anything like this in Vancouver. They are served hot and have a lot of flavour from the sauces.

We tried three different options on the menu.

  • Traditional Tofu ‘Now’
  • Spicy Tofu ‘Now’
  • Hot & Sour Tofu ‘Now’
  • Century Egg Tofu ‘Now’

These are essentially savoury version of tofu pudding. Of the four we tried, I liked the traditional Tofu ‘Now’ with the preserved and fermented veggies. It’s a unique taste and really reminded me of mapo tofu. If you like mapo tofu, you’ll enjoy the Tofu ‘Now’.

Hot & Sour Tofu ‘Now’
Traditional Tofu ‘Now’
Spicy Tofu ‘Now’
Century Egg Tofu ‘Now’

Final Thoughts

Overall, we were impressed with Me+Crepe. So many options and very customizable to your taste. It’s a quick and casual spot for breakfast or lunch. Highly recommend getting your crepe as a combo.

Address:
#27 4429, Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 2A1

Website:
http://www.meandcrepe.com

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In Fairview

Tojo’s Restaurant: Cocktail Hour in Vancouver

Tojo’s Restaurant just launched their cocktail hour featuring new libations and a seasonal selection of small bites. This new menu is available Thursday to Saturday from 4 to 6 pm.

Parking here can be a bit tricky during rush hour but there are a few complimentary visitor parking spots in the back.

You can expect a delicious new cocktail list, as Tojo’s has teamed up with award-winning mixologist and Canada’s Top Bartender 2019, Jeff Savage. Tasty libations are arguably best enjoyed with good food, and Chef Hidekazu Tojo has created a new small bites menu, which are updated seasonally to pair with the new cocktail list. 

Here is a sneak peak of their cocktail hour.

Tojo’s Pickles

This has a mix of seasonal vegetables. It is light, tart and crunchy. Best paired with the Nitobe Garden Fizz mocktail.

Edamame

This is a very healthy snack that is boiled and lightly tossed in sea salt. It comes in a regular size and a large size. It’s a good item to snack on as you have a drink like the Tokaido 53 cocktail.

Miso Mustard Lotus Root

The lotus root is crunchy and in the middle of the lotus room is the miso mustard, which gives it a slightly spicy taste. The texture and hint of spice works really well. This pairs well with the Japanese Highball.

Citrus and Sea Salt Wings

This dish uses organic chicken and its prepared Tojo-style, which means the the drumsticks are transformed into lollipops and the wings cut in half, so its mess-free. They suggest pairing this with the Japanese High Ball too.

Tojo Maki

This is the most popular item at Tojo’s. This is the pioneer of the modern California Roll using local Dungeness Crab, avocado, spinach and egg rolled inside-out with sesame seeds on top. Give this a try with the Tojo’s Milk Punch cocktail.

Dragon’s Sweet Potatoes

This is a hometown favourite from Kagoshima. These little sweet potato nuggets have a nice texture and is a touch sweet which is nice and enjoyable.

Dashimaki + Caviar

This has a few pieces of Japanese egg omelette and topped with Ikura and tobiko. Very delicious and I love the hints of saltiness as the ikura and tobiko as they pop in your mouth. Yet again, you can pair this with Tojo’s Milk Punch.

Tojo’s Tuna

This is Chef’s signature dish with wild albacore, and a wasabi sesame sauce. It comes in 2 sizes – regular or large depending on how much you’re craving Tojo’s Tuna. The tuna is very fresh and the sauces go well together. You can try this with the Tokaido 53 cocktail.

Seafood Salad

This uses their freshest seasonal seafood and it does change depending on what’s available. I enjoyed all the seafood as there was a good variety to it. The Salaryman cocktail pairs with it.

Cocktails

Tokaido 53

A vibrant martini riff inspired by journeys on the ancient road connecting Kyoto and Edo. Bison Grass Vodka, Kazuki Gin, Herb and Citrus Oil.

Salaryman

A stern cocktail best used to signal the end of the workday. Japanese Whisky Blend, Notes of Matcha and Black Sesame.

Kitsune Gimlet

A bright, fresh cocktail that’s as cunning and playful as it’s mythical namesake Kazuki Gin, Yuzu, and Honey. A well balanced cocktail.

Tojo’s Milk Punch

Eastern flavours and Western techniques meet in this milk punch, named after the Iconoclast himself. This is made with Bank’s 5 Island Rum, Shiso, Sencha, Mint, Lime, and Clarified Milk.

This was my favourite cocktail that we tried. You get aromas of the milk yet the cocktail is clear. I was very very impressed with the different techniques that are used to create this beverage.

Japanese Highball

This is made with Suntory Toki, Bittered Sling Lem-Marrakech Bitters, and Soda. You can really taste the Suntory Toki and the bitters. Not my favourite, but it pairs well with fried food.

Nitobe Garden Fizz

Vibrancy and earthly bounty come together in this drink honouring the beautiful Nitobe Memorial Garden. Seedlip Garden 108, Matcha, Herb, Citrus Oil, and Soda.

This is a mocktail and does not contain any alcohol at all. I like their use of the Seedlip Garden 108 as it gives this drink a herbaceous aroma similar to gin.

Final Thoughts

The cocktail hour is a great way to enjoy the taste of Tojo’s and exceptional cocktails created by Jeff Savage. The prices are reasonable and you can have a good catch with friends or even make new friends here.

Address:
 1133 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://tojos.com

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In Event

BC Place: New Food and Drinks Items for 2019

Are you heading to BC Place this season for the BC Lions or Whitecaps games? BC Place and CentrePlate are always looking to innovate and enhance the game day experience with new food options.

We were invited this year to check out the BC Lions game to experience the new, healthy, vegan, and other hidden gems available at the stadium. Having a drink and food item in hand while cheering on your home team is a sign of a good time.

Boom Kitchen

What’s Cooking at Boom Kitchen in section 210 or 244? There are comforting dishes like the Korean BBQ Chicken Bowl that has a delicious amount of spices rubbed onto the chicken and it just brings this dish together.

Other items on the menu include Nachos, Grilled Cheese, Macaroni & Cheese, and lastly the Super Happy Veggie Bowl (vegan and gluten-free options available).

Beast on Fire

The Beast on Fire can be found in Sections 217 and 236. They have their amazing slow roasted prime rib!

On the menu is also their chicken & waffle sandwich, bacon wrapped footlong dog, and the fiesta burrito bowl.

We had a taste of the carved prime rib sandwich and man, it was good.

A lot of fun and delicious items here. Do note the images are sample sizes and aren’t reflective of the regular size.

Beast Unleashed

Tacos, Burger, and Sliders are what you’ll find at the Beast Unleashed.

They even have the Beyond Meat Burger that has been very popular in 2018 and 2019. Its good that they have this awesome option for those who want to eat less meat or have dietary restrictions.

Shrimp tacos, prime ribs tacos, and Korean chicken tacos aren’t your ordinary tacos. It has a twist to them.

Bombay South Asian Kitchen

There are a varieties of curries here at section 220 of the stadium at Bombay South Asian Kitchen. All the curries served here are gluten-free and served with basmati rice, naan bread and green onion cilantro mix. They have butter chicken, chana masala, and lamb curry

The Poutinerie

At Sections 212 and 239, check out the Poutinerie for classics but also butter chicken poutine. How great is that?

Other Food Stations

There are lots of other food located around the stadium like the outrageous burger, chicken strips and fries, charcuterie boards, sushi, noodles and much more.

Ice Cream Float

You can find ice cream floats throughout the stadium at the concession stands. It doesn’t have to be your regular root beer and ice cream. It can be made with Coke, Dr Pepper, or what ever your favourite soda happens to be. It is made to order and will make you feel like a kid again. Whether it’s for an adult or a kid, you’ll enjoy this.

Final Thoughts

It was awesome to see such diverse and premium offerings you normally wouldn’t see when you think about stadium food. The prices are definitely competitive against the normal stadium fare of hotdogs and nachos. Personally, I’d go with the Prime Rib sandwiches and the awesome Prime Rib grilled cheese! Go Lions Go!

Website:
https://www.bcplace.com/visiting/food-beverage

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In BBQ

Kuan Zhai Road: Chinese BBQ Skewers in Vancouver

Kuan Zhai Road is a new Chinese Restaurant on the Border of Vancouver and Burnaby. They specialize in Chinese BBQ, grilled fish and spicy food.

I saw a few friends loving this place, so I made them take me with them. I love Chinese BBQ skewers and spicy food, so this seemed like the place for me.

The parking lot is small, so it fills up really fast. Most people just park on the side roads as there are more spaces.

Interior

The space has small to large tables so you can come with a few people or lots of people. You can also call ahead to reserve.

The are booth-style seating and smaller rectangular tables too. The space is a bit dusty and cluttered with storage in the dining area.

Menu

BBQ Skewers

The menu has a variety of skewers cooked in an assortment of spices like cumin. Most of the skewers had the same spice. Our favourite varieties that we got were Taiwanese sausage, shrimp, chicken gizzards, and pork. There are more adventurous items like duck tongue and lamb testicles if you dare to try.

The skewers were ok, but one of my friends felt it was a bit bland and could have used a lot more seasoning. We did ask them for a container of spice to make it spicier.

Smashed Cucumbers

This was really good! A good balanced between the chili oil, and vinegar. It complimented the skewers very nicely.

Spicy Pot

On the menu, you can order their spicy pot, then go to the large fridge to select your skewers that will be boiled in the hot and spicy broth for $6.90.

Each skewer is $0.69 and doesn’t matter if it’s meat or veggies. We didn’t want veggies, so my friends and I went for all the meat.

Once you collect your tray of skewers, they clip on your table number so they know the skewers belong to your table. You would think this would be straight forward right? The first time the hot pot of skewers arrived, we looked at it and it had vegetables so we knew right away it wasn’t ours. They couldn’t find our pot, so they made us pick all our skewers again. This time, I made sure the table marker was the right one so it doesn’t go to someone else’s table.

It was definitely annoying but we decided to give it another shot. When the second hot pot of skewers arrived…there were vegetables again so that meant it wasn’t ours. As we told our server, I don’t think she believed us, so we showed our pictures of the skewers on our phones and how we do not get skewers with veggies because we are all about the meat life.

They took the pot away and gave it to the correct table and then tried looking for our hot pot. It was probably 15 minutes later until the finally found our pot.

We ordered medium spicy for our hot pot, but it wasn’t very spicy at all. I was surprised it wasn’t any hotter as some Chinese food can by really spicy.

Final Thoughts

This visit was definitely a miss for us. I’ve heard it’s really good. Either way, I did have patience so I wasn’t too bothered by the service as there was always some food at the table to nibble on. In the end, they did give us $30 worth of vouchers to use next time. They definitely have some kinks to work out.

Address:
3488 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC

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In product

Sabra: Limited Edition Salsa Verde Hummus

I love hummus especially when there is a kick of spice in it. Sabra has launched a limited edition Salsa Verde Hummus for this summer.

The limited time offering includes Sabra’s Classic Hummus topped with tangy roasted tomatillos, jalapeños, cilantro and lime. I’ve tried most of the Sabra flavours and I love the kick of spice in this flavour. It’s not too overwhelming and it compliments it nicely.

You can eat it straight out of the containers with some veggies to dunk it into, but why not get a bit creative? They recommend using this to compliment the grilled veggies of this Summer and use it in a wrap or a bowl.

We made a Grilled Hummus Meal Jar to incorporate the freshest flavours of summer with the Salsa Verde Hummus. It worked really well and kept us full.

There’s many ways to use hummus, just check out their recipes to get more ideas for lunch or dinner.

Website:
https://sabra.com/ca/

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In Chinese

Vitality Steam Seafood Restaurant in Richmond

Vitality Steam Seafood Restaurant is the winner of the Ocean Wise Sustainable Seafood award from the 2019 Chinese Restaurant Award. They are best known for their unique steamed seafood experience. It’s been very popular in China for the past few years, but finally it’s in Richmond, BC.

They have partnered up with a lot of local suppliers to ensure their seafood is Ocean Wise certified and is a sustainable choice to continue to keep our oceans healthy. Vitality Steam Seafood restaurant uses Blundell Seafoods, Fanny Bay Oysters, Ocean Mama Seafood and Tri-Star Seafood as some of their suppliers.

Interior

There are a lot of booth seating inside with the steaming contraption in the middle of the table. Best for people in groups of 4 or 6. It is pretty spacious inside too.

Fanny Bay Oyster with Pickle Congee

You can choose to have congee cook throughout your meal. When it arrives, they pour it into the bottom of the steamer with water so it will slowly cook.

What I love about this is that the juices from all the seafood drips into the congee, so you get a delicious seafood-infused congee in the end.

Very delicious and we liked it even more when we added a dash of soy sauce to it for salt.

Japanese Style Black Cod

Not everything on the menu needs to be steamed. There is Japanese-style black cod and its very delicious and fatty. Highly recommended.

Pan Fried Scallop

There are some pan fried scallops too. They were big and plump!

Live Spot Prawn

The spot prawns were definitely alive and jumping around before being put into the steamer. The spot prawns are in season so they were plump and sweet. The price per pound can fluctuate depending on the market price.

Live Dungeness Crab

The crabs are beautifully presented on an ice platter before putting them into the steamer. Having this steamed really highlights the delicate and sweet meat.

Live Scallop

The texture from the live scallop and the pan fried scallop is so different. This had a soft texture and you can really taste the quality. They also put in vermicelli noodles on top for steaming.

Live Manila Clam

The clams were fun to watch as they steamed. They would slowly open up to indicate they are done. The quality was really good and each clam was plump.

Deluxe Korean Abalone

Seeing the abalone steamed like this is pretty interesting as it’s usually braised. With steaming, it is a bit tough as it’s such a big piece.

Organic Shrimp Fried Noodles

The are fried noodles with organic shrimp if you want something a bit more filling to compliment the meal. The shrimp were plump and very delicious but the noodles were a bit oily.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s a new experience in Richmond featuring high quality steamed seafood with the Ocean Wise certification. Steaming is a good way to taste the natural sweetness and delicacy of seafood. It’s a fun interactive way to cook too.

If you love fresh seafood and want to impress some out of town family or friends, definitely check out Vitality Steam Seafood.

Address:
8500 Alexandra Rd Unit 140, Richmond, BC

Website:
http://www.vitalitysteamseafood.com

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In Hot Pot

The Dolar Shop: Premium Hot Pot in Richmond

The Dolar Shop is a global chain specializing in premium hot pot experiences with 52 locations and over 3000 employees worldwide. This is their first location in Canada.

Each customer orders their own individual hot pot and then shares all the other dishes at the table. A great way to do hot pot and not share any germs.

I was invited by The Dolar Shop and I brought my parents and sister to experience this type of hot pot.

Waiting Area

The waiting area is pretty nice. There is a claw machine for kids, snacks, hot tea, and even complimentary phone chargers. I was definitely impressed as they really care about their guests even before they begin dining.

Interior

The restaurant has a lot of booth style seating and great for small to large groups. Each table/booth has their own indiction stove for everyone’s individual hot pot.

The space is very comfortable and mostly has white decor, which makes it look very clean and enjoyable.

30% off Deal

If you dine at Dolar Shop on Monday – Friday between 2pm – 5:30pm or 10 pm – 12am, you get to enjoy 30% off your entire bill (except alcohol).

You must begin dining at 2pm and finish by 5:30pm to get the deal. Be sure to follow them on their social media account for more details as this deal is available at the writing of this article and might be subject to change.

Appetizer, Fruit and Sauce Bar

For an additional $3.99, you get access to the sauce bar as well as appetizers and seasonal fruits. You do get The Dolar Shop Sauce made right at your table, but if you wanted a few different flavour options, the sauce bar is a great choice.

Look at all those sauce combinations that you can create!

There are 3 different kinds of appetizers.

It’s nice to have some fruit and appetizers to nibble on before the meal begins.

The Dolar Shop Sauce

They make the Dolar Shop Sauce table side with green onions, garlic, cilantro, Thai chili and soy sauce. If you don’t like spicy, you can omit the Thai Chili. Its nice to see they make everyone’s sauce in front of the table and it’s delicious too.

Soup Base

There are 6 different kinds of broth to choose from and they are around $6 – $9 per pot. I personally like the combination so I can dip the meat into the spicy portion and veggies into the non-spicy side.

Combination of Szechuan Hot & Spicy with The Dolar Shop Spare Rib Broth
Pepper Pork Tripe and Chicken Broth
Pork Leg Bone Broth
Mushroom Broth

Balls and Paté

It’s not a hot pot without balls and paté right? They don’t have a large selection of balls or paté on the menu, but it’s very tasty and fresh.

Secret Agent Balls (Secret Off Menu Item)
Noodle Forming Shrimp & Fish Paté

Meats

There is a large selection of beef on their menu and some lamb. The quality of the items were really good and they offer premium beef like wagyu and A5 Miyazaki Beef. All very delicious as well.

Selected Beef Platter with boneless short rib, boneless beef plate, beef tongue, and wagyu cubes
A5 Miyazaki Beef
Thick Cut Wagyu
Crispy Pork

Seafood

Their seafood options are pretty large too with live seafood sold at market price, so the price does change depending on the season. They have tanks of seafood so they are very much alive.

To get a taste of the seafood menu, the deluxe platter is a great option.

Deluxe Platter with Shrimp paté, jumbo scallop, wagyu cubes, King Crab Legs, raw oysters, and white shrimp.
Sea Cucumber Meat

Fungi

Mixed Mushroom Basket with wood ear mushroom, enoki mushroom, oyster mushroom, Shimeji mushroom, shiitake mushroom, and king oyster mushroom.

Vegetables

Gotta have veggies to balance out the meal.

Veggie Basket with napa cabbage, lettuce, snow pea sprouts, spinach, tong ho and purple lettuce.
Fried Bean Curd
Frozen tofu, Seaweed Knots, Quail Eggs and Gluten

Starch

Tri Colour Hand Crafted Noodles

Complimentary Ice Cream

At the end of the meal, everyone gets complimentary ice cream. The cone is nice and crisp and the vanilla soft serve is filled all the way down into the cone, so you get a lot of ice cream.

It was a perfect end to the meal.

Final Thoughts

My family and I were impressed by The Dolar Shop! The service was great and the staff was very informative and gave a lot of good recommendations on what to order as the menu is a bit overwhelming with so many choices.

A lot of the ingredients we ordered with our hot pot was very fresh and flavourful. You can decide to be more fancy by othering the platters if you have guest you want to impress or go with the other cheaper options. It is still more expensive than some other hot pot options in Vancouver, but you are going to get great service, and quality ingredients here.

I like the use of the individual hot pots as you don’t have to share broth and spread germs. Plus, it’s just nice to have different hot pot broths.

Address:
5300 No 3 Rd, Richmond, BC

Website:
http://www.dolarshop.com/en/Global.htm

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In British Columbia

[Sneak Peek] Chatime BC x Vitasoy Collaboration

Chatime BC and Vitasoy has launched a collaboration for a limited time only. There are 3 drinks created with Vitasoy products – Purple Dream, Secret Blossom and Golden Aura. You will have to act quickly to catch them all before they are gone. Each week, one drink will be featured so after that week is over, it’s gone forever. These are only available in the large size for $6.95 with no customization allowed.

Vitasoy has always been a childhood favourite drink and this collaboration with Chatime is so amazing. Very exciting as these are 2 awesome brands that I enjoy.

We were invited by Chatime BC to try the Purple Dream, Secret Blossom and Golden Aura drinks as part of this collaboration with Vitasoy.

Purple Dream

June 28 – July 4, 2019

Purple Dream is made of Vitasoy, fresh purple yam, taro and pearls. Of the 3 drinks, this was my favourite. I loved the purple yam and the taro combined with the Vitasoy. It wasn’t too sweet and the pearls are a great addition. Highly recommended.

Secret Blossom

July 5 – 11, 2019

The Secret Blossom drink has Vita Chrysanthemum tea, rose, and snow fungus. It was good and floral with the addition of the rose. The snow fungus added a nice texture to the drink as well. This was my second favourite flavour.

Golden Aura

July 12 – 18, 2019

The Golden Aura has Vita Lemon Tea, pineapple bits, raspberry and ai-yu jelly. As Vita Lemon Tea is generally more sweet than the other flavours, this drink was a lot sweeter than the other two drinks. I had high hopes for this drink as I love lemon tea, but was too sweet for my personal preference.

Available at these locations:

  • 1545 W. Broadway, Vancouver
  • 1274 Robson St, Vancouver
  • 6075 W. Boulevard, Vancouver
  • 2740 E. Hastings St, Vancouver 
  • 6361 Cambie St, Vancouver
  • 9100 Blundell Rd, Richmond
  • 8351 Alexandra Rd, Richmond
  • 5216 Kingsway, Burnaby
  • 2250 Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby
  • 10255 King George Blvd., Surrey
  • 130-2950 King George Blvd., Surrey
  • 2755 Lougheed Hwy., Pt. Coquitlam 
  • 51 Sixth Street, New Westminster
  • 2980 Island Highway North, Nanaimo
  • 1306 Douglas St., Victoria

Final Thoughts

These new drinks were a pleasure to try and the use of the Vitasoy beverages worked pretty well! If you’re near a Chatime in BC at the participating locations, definitely check it out.

Website:
https://www.chatimebc.com/

All drinks in this blog post was sponsored by Chatime BC but all opinions are all my own.

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