Nickelodeon and FYE in the United States have teamed up to create a holiday version of their famous Rugrats, Reptar bar – Reptar On Ice. I missed getting their original Reptar Bars last year, so I made sure not to miss it again. They have also released their larger Deluxe Reptar Bars shaped like Reptar.
Reptar on Ice
The bars come in a 5 pack and individually wrapped. It makes for great gifts to give friends and family who have a bit of 90’s nostalgia. I remember watching Rugrats on TV and Reptar was the coolest dinosaur around. It’s great that they finally made the bars in real life for fans to indulge in.
Each bar is made up of milk chocolate and the centre has a bright blue frosting that will turn your tongue ice blue. The bar tastes ok like any other milk chocolate bar. The fun part is really just the blue colour lurking inside.
Deluxe Reptar Bar
There are 2 versions of this – one with the Christmas Tree Packaging and another with Snow packaging. Both have the same Reptar Bar inside. You can’t go wrong with either as its just aesthetic.
It has green frosting filled caramel milk chocolate with peanut crunch. Once you take it out of the package, you can really smell the sweet caramel milk chocolate.
When you bite inside, you can see that green frosting that will turn your tongue green. Green like Reptar.
Final Thoughts
I would still get this again either of the Reptar Bars and give this out to friends as it’s so iconic to those who grew up in the 90s. Get it before it’s gone because it won’t last long.
Empanada Papa serves up hand made empanadas with unique flavours using fresh, high-quality ingredients. Ian, the man behind Empanada Papa delivered a bunch of savoury empanadas to the office with their sauces to give us a taste of these Spanish treats.
You can find them crafting up empanadas at Commissary Connect, which is a shared commercial kitchen between some of Vancouver’s most talented and delicious small businesses.
Empanadas
The size of the empanadas are good and it’s not too small. I found for myself, eating 2 was enough for lunch. If you’re a large eater, then maybe 3. They also sell salads too if you want to balance out your meal.
As all the empanadas look the same from the outside, they stamp one of it with a number and it corresponds to the flavour inside.
They offer a few different savoury varieties:
1. Papa’s Empanada: Maple pulled pork, onions and roasted red bell peppers.
2. Smith Empanada: Shredded beef, carrots, corn and celery with aromatic seasoning.
3. Tarone Empanada: Shredded beef, orange, onions, peas and rice are seasoned with tropical herbs and a spicy kick.
4. Celine Empanada: Sweet honey-maple-cinnamon ham and Jarlsberg cheese.
5. Abuelos Empanada: Authentic Mexican with shredded chicken, mole sauce and grilled corn and zucchini.
7. Chula Empanada: Shredded chicken, with a full bodied flavour of coconut, curry and peanuts with roasted onions.
8. Hank Empanada: Vegan friendly. Peas, beans, and broccoli with sensational seasoning.
All of them were actually really tasty. The exterior was crisp, the dough was thin, so there was a good amount of filling inside.
Of the flavours, our top favourites were Papas, Smith, Chula and Hank. This was mostly because of the combination of flavours and spices.
Sauces
They have two sauces that go with the empanadas – Spicy Tomato and Sweet Mango. The sauces compliment the empanadas very well with it’s depth of flavours. Smoky Tomato was our favourite as it reminded me of a very flavourful marinara that isn’t too sweet. The mango was also good as it add a complimentary tang to the empanadas.
Where to get Empanada Papa
There are a few ways to get a hold of Empanada Papa.
You can get them catered if you have a large order and you can directly contact them with more information about your event or party.
You can get it delivered to you as they work with delivery companies like Foodee, Uber Eats, and Door Dash.
You can order for pick up for their freshly baked or frozen empanadas.
The last option is visiting select supermarkets for them like Spud.ca and Meinhardt.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we really enjoyed the empanadas and it’s not like everyday we have them either. It’s pretty hard to find really good ones around town. It’s great there is another option in Vancouver to get empanadas. If you are craving some empanadas, definitely give them a try.
Taco Bell Canada introduced the new Triple Double Crunchwrap with double the amount of seasoned beef. It comes in original and spicy versions. Looks pretty darn good from the posters and how can you go wrong with more meat and cheese? The original crunchwrap is a treat to eat, so how can this go wrong at all?
Menu
Looking at the menu, you can get it as a combo or a big box. If you aren’t up for all that food, you can get it a la carte. They also have coupons on their website too if you want to save some money.
There are two layers of seasoned beef, warm nacho cheese sauce, and crispy tostada shells. Wrapped up and grilled in a flour tortilla with crisp lettuce, diced tomatoes and sour cream.
In reality, the crunch wrap is more flat in nature compared to the advertisement. I went with the original version and added their hot sauce to it as I ate it. You’ll want to eat it right away at the restaurant to enjoy the crunchiness of the tostada shells. I waited till I got home and it go slightly limp. They layers of beef are quite thin, so you don’t really get a lot of it as you can see. There also could have been more nacho cheese sauce too.
The advertising made it seem like it was overflowing with beef and cheese, but that isn’t the case. If you are already a crunchwrap fan, you can give it a try but don’t expect anything too different.
As the holidays are here and gatherings happening every week until Christmas, going empty handed to friends or family’s home for dinner may not feel great. Here are a few suggestions of affordable local and international wines that are around $20 or under. You can find these at most provincially-owned liquor stores across Canada.
Wine o’ Clock Shiraz, BC – $8.49
This is a fruit-forward Shiraz bursting with flavours of juicy blackberry and black cherry, with a hint of spice. Smooth with a well-balanced finish.
A delicate copper pink colour with aromas of ripe strawberry, white grape, watermelon and sweet floral. This rosé has a medium-sweet, light to medium body mouth-feel and refreshing flavours of watermelon, strawberry and grape. Notes of red berry tea, strawberry, melon and honey linger on the finish.
Food Pairing: seafood, chicken and pork.
2018 Canyon Road Cabernet Sauvignon, California – $9.95
Hailing from the coastal, sun-drenched region of California, Canyon Road is known for producing exquisite, affordable wines designed with food in mind. Canyon Road’s crowd-pleasing Cabernet Sauvignon is a worthy gift for the host/hostess extraordinaire on your list because of its versatility. It delivers notes of dark fruit and spice.
Food Pairing: Beef, lamb or venison
Barefoot Chardonnay, California – $10.95
A great bottle of Chardonnay is a wonderful gift to add to the wine rack or the dinner table. Barefoot Chardonnay is full-bodied and ultra-ripe, with aromas of yellow apples, ripe pear and toasted nuts.
Food Pairing: Simple seafood, light chicken dishes or salads
2017 Santa Rita 120 Reserva Especial Merlot, Chile – $12.35
For the wine aficionado on your list, Santa Rita 120 Reserva Especial Merlot is as elegant as it is steeped in history. The 120 Reserva Especial Merlot is a red-violet coloured wine, with intense fruity aromas and notes of red fruit and flower, vanilla and tobacco. This Merlot is a thoughtful, quality present for those hard to impress neighbours and co-workers!
Food Pairing: Salmon and red meat
2017 Sumac Ridge – Private Reserve Gewurtztraminer, BC – $12.99
The #1 selling Gewűrztraminer in BC Liquor Stores has quite a history, dating back decades with consumers. It matches up to the holiday, from occasion to menu to refreshment value. Flavours of citrus and spice.
Food Pairings: Fruit Salad, Ceviche, Gravalax, Pasta with Spicy Tomato Sauce, Sushi, Raw Fish, Spicy Chicken Stir-fry, Fresh Cheese, Cream Cheese, Chocoloate-dipped Strawberries, Crepes Suzette, Spicy Seafood hotpot and pho
La Marca Prosecco, Italy – $17.95
Add a touch of sparkle to a wine lover’s holiday with a bottle of La Marca Prosecco. This zesty Italian sparkling wine is bright, clean, and easy to drink.
It’s the perfect gift for the bubbly host/hostess on your list. Terrific as an aperitif, yet versatile enough to serve with appetizers, the pop of La Marca’s bottle marks the start of an unforgettable evening.
Food Pairing: Roasted nuts, cheese, poultry and seafood
Quails’ Gate Chasselas Pinot Blanc Pinot Gris, BC – $17.99
Chasselas was the first vinifera grape planted on the Quail’s Gate estate and has a long history at the property. As one of the most iconic wines at Quails’ Gate, this white blend is made in a fresh, fruit-forward style to complement those long summer days. They’re proud to share that the varietal is the number one selling BC VQA white wine in British Columbia.
Food Pairing: Poultry, Seafood
2016 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand – $20.20
A stunning expression of Sauvignon Blanc, this star-bright white shines with the joyful spirit of the season. Its vivid acidity and citrus notes excite the palate.
Food Pairing: Salads, seafood and vegetables
Steller’s Jay Brut, BC – $20.99
Steller’s Jay sparkling wines are hand crafted in the Okanagan Valley using the traditional French “Methode Classique.” First produced in 1989, Mountain Jay Brut stays true to its tradition by remaining one of Canada’s preeminent sparkling wines. White peach and golden hues flatter the ripe orchard fruit and citrus blossom aromas in this crisp and complex sparkling wine. Rich flavours of toasted nut and red berries layer the palate, resolving to a soft and creamy floral mousse finish.
Food Pairing: Seafood, fruit
2013 Ghost Pines Chardonnay, Winemaker’s Blend, California – $20.95
Ghost Pines is for that friend who lives by the mantra, “Chardonnay All Day!” This traditionally styled Californian Chardonnay is an expressive, enticing wine offering flavours of baked apple, pear and lemon cream, accented by an elegant finish of sweet vanilla.
Food Pairing: Roasted or grilled chicken
Mission Hill Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, BC – $21.99
Zesty grapefruit flavours zip across a palate edged with notes of damp herbs and snow peas, as well as a hint of roasted nut. It’s a rich yet refreshing wine with intense aromas of passion fruit, nettle, grapefruit, lemon and lime.
Food Pairings: Seafood Salad, Smoked Salmon, Oysters, Pasta with Cream or Mushroom Sauce, Baked White Fish in Butter Sauce, Soft-ripened cheese, Chicken Sandwich, Prawns, Scallops
With the holidays around the corner, what better way to add a little sweet treat to your family’s stockings than with locally made chocolate company – Truffle Pig Chocolates.
Why support local and Direct Trade
Truffle Pig Chocolates is based in Burnaby, BC and owned by Shelley Wallace since 2007. Recently, she made an ethical stand to source cacao that is direct, sustainable and fully transparent in how its harvested.
They proudly source their cacao directly from farmers with strong human values and pay them a premium above world market prices. Their Central American cacao is grown wildly, beyond organic, without the use of fertilizers or pesticides, which they can guarantee as they make personal trips to the farms to see the whole process.
They have gone above and beyond by ensuring a completely transparent supply chain with traceable ingredients. I really appreciate this as not all companies go to these lengths to ensure they are doing things right.
Assorted Chocolate Piglets
They have assorted Truffle Piglets if you want a bite sized treat. The piglets come in:
70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Peppermint Piglets
47% Cacao Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Piglets
47% Cacao Milk Chocolate Piglets
70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Piglets
All great flavours but the most festive one is definitely the Dark Chocolate Peppermint Piglets. Subtle peppermint flavour that isn’t too powerful.
Truffle Pig Bars
Their regular sized bars are a treat and great for sharing. They are shaped like piggies too and looks super cute. They come in:
47% Cacao Milk Chocolate Bar
47% Cacao Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar
70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar
70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar with Crunchy Almonds and Sea Salt
I’m a sucker for peanut butter and chocolate, so I naturally gravitated towards the 47% Cacao Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar. All of them were great quality and you can’t go wrong.
Chocolate Dipped Gourmet Marshmallows
Inside is a marshmallow enrobed in chocolate and it’s just delicious. Pair it with some hot chocolate and it really hits the spot. My husband couldn’t stop eating these with a cup of coffee.
Princess Collection
The Princess Collection comes in a variety of flavours, In the 5 pack, there is – Earl Grey, Sea Salt Caramel, Lavender, Matcha and Praline.
You can’t just have one hahaha. It makes for a great gift.
Where to Buy Truffle Pigs
You can visit Truffle Pig at their store in Burnaby to meet the chocolate master herself and get it directly from the source. They also have an online store if you can’t make it to the shop.
There are a few retail shops that carry their products – Whole Foods, Urban Fare, The Gourmet Warehouse, and many more across Canada.
Dundas Eat + Drink are at it again offering up another epic food challenge. Last year, they introduced their Six O Pho challenge where you have to finish a 5lb bowl of pho in under 30 minutes.
Earlier this year, they launched a whole new vegan and gluten-free menu
to accompany their other items on the menu. What better way to cater to
those with dietary restrictions than to offer the first ever vegan
eating challenge.
With a growing vegan community, it makes sense to offer this so more people can give food challenges a try.
Vegan Bun Bo Hue Challenge
The Vegan Bun Bo Hue Challenge totals a whopping 3 pounds of just noodles and toppings. This doesn’t include the broth. It has deep-fried tofu, king oyster mushroom, thinly sliced vegan Vietnamese ham, rice noodles, and a sour and mildly spicy veggie broth. You get 20 minutes to devour this whole bowl.
Finish noodles, toppings, and soup in 20 minutes. If you fail, you have to pay $25, which isn’t too bad at all.
The fastest five to finish will go into a final table round where they contend for a $500 worth of cash and prizes and each of the five will automatically receive a $100 gift card to Dundas.
This challenge is on until December 30, 2018.
Regular vs Vegan Bun Bo Hue Challenge
We weighed the total weight of everything and the bowl, it totaled – 5.45kg, which is over 12 pounds. My friend was able to eat a total of 1.96kg which is 4.28 pounds. With the super hot broth, it’s definitely very difficult to finish it all unless you have a stomach of steel.
For $25, this is an affordable eating challenge where it won’t break the bank. It definitely has more the 2 regular bowl fulls of pho.
The regular Vegan Bun Bo Hue was obvious a breeze to finish and costs $11.75.
Final Thoughts
The broth and toppings were really delicious for a Vegan Bun Bo Hue. There is a good depth of flavour and has a good kick of spice to it. If you didn’t tell me it was vegan, I probably wouldn’t have noticed. My vegan friend was very impressed with the taste too even though the challenge left her bursting at the seams and sweating a lot.
Starbucks Canada is ready to reveal its latest and largest store with the opening of the new Starbucks Reserve Bar as of Tuesday, December 11 at 700 W Pender Street (at Granville) in Pacific Centre. With over 4,000 square feet, they can seat 150 guests. This is the largest Starbucks in Canada and features their rare and exclusive small-lot coffees.
This location is the 4th Starbucks Reserve Bar to open in Canada and Vancouver is lucky to have two Reserve Bars now. The other location in Vancouver is located on Main Street.
Interior
This large space is a stunning spot for locals and tourists alike to meet but most of the fun comes from sitting at the bar, chatting with the knowledgeable baristas, and watching them move around the laboratory-like setup as they personalize your cup of brew.
A wall of windows lines the length of the store flooding the space with natural light and drawing customers in. Design elements include a prominent coffee bar crafted from rich walnut wood, copper accents reminiscent of the company’s flagship Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle, and a striking backdrop of Michelangelo Marble. It’s distinct brown, black, and gold colouring calls to mind coffee growing regions around the world.
At the back of the shop, you can get your usual beverages and food if you like your classic Starbucks order.
What to expect
Featuring rare Starbucks Reserve coffees, the bar gives baristas a platform to engage in a dialogue with customers over a variety of brewing methods, from the state-of-the-art to the time-honoured, including: a manual Black Eagle espresso machine, Clover brewing system, Chemex brewer, Siphon, coffee press, and Nitro Cold Brew taps.
One of the most unique experiences is getting your coffee brewed using the Siphon. It’s picture worthy and is a sensory experience.
It’s a great way to try different brewing methods made by the experienced baristas. You’ll definitely learn a thing or two.
Menu
Exclusive Drinks
There are a few amazing drinks that you can only get at Starbucks Reserve Bars. My personal favourite is the Hazelnut Bianco Latte made with Starbucks Reserve espresso, steamed, house-made hazelnut praline–infused milk. It is amazing and tastes like a liquefied Ferrero Rocher. SO damn good! You can also get it iced too.
Don’t forget their affogato if you are looking for a cool sweet treat. You can have it the classic way with a shot of espresso or you can make it a float with their cold brew.
Exclusive Small Plates
Say hello to Chorizo Mac & Cheese, which is surprisingly good for Starbucks. It costs $7.95 and sits at 680 calories.
The other item is their pear, bacon, and brie flatbread for $6.95 and at 270 calories.
Final Thoughts
There is lots to discover at Starbucks Canada’s newest Reserve bar in Downtown Vancouver from exclusive drinks to exclusive food.If you’re int he area, give them a visit.
Spade Coffee in Vancouver serves up brunch all week long on Commercial Drive. It’s a cozy cafe serving up coffee, spirits, treats and small plates. If you want a cocktail and croissant, you can do that too. It is owned by Sammy Piccolo, an award winning Barista and the owner of Prado Café.
What differentiates Spade Coffee is their freshly baked in-house Italian pastries, classic egg sandwiches as well as plenty of authentic Italian tapas and family-style dishes to transition you from day to night.
Interior
There are long communal tables as well as smaller ones throughout the cafe. It’s a chill spot and there are people catching up, people on their computers, and people who are just chilling over a coffee and book.
Brunch Menu
Latte
Coffee is a must here since they have some great beans and talented baristas to craft up your drink.
Breakfast Bowl
The Breakfast Bowl has arugula, seeds, house pickles, marinated artichokes, roasted red pepper, two poached eggs, and prosciutto.
It was simple, light and one of the only options that has minimal carbohydrates on the menu. Since my doctor put me on a strict diet, I love how there are options on the menu.
The yolks were poached perfectly so it oozed with grace.
Meat Breakfast Sammy
The meat breakfast sammy has a poached egg, prosciutto, aged cheddar, onion jam, green mayo, and greens on a brioche bun.
A solid choice to pair with coffee and tasted good.
Final Thoughts
A quick brunch for the 2 of us Spade Coffee on Commercial Drive. The atmosphere is chill, so its very casual and a great space to catch up with friends over brunch and coffee.
Ganache Patisserie has launched their newest Bûches de Noël which will feature 2 modern interpretations of the classic yulelog and 2 of their classic flavours. We got a sneak peek of these 4 flavours of their Bûches de Noël.
Traditional Bûche de Noël Bûche au Marron Café
Bûche au Marron Café takes a coffee chiffon cake rolled with a Zephyr Caramel coffee ganache, a chestnut mousseline filling, chestnut pieces and vanilla buttercream finish.
Both yulelogs are decorated with meringue mushrooms, fondant snowflakes, woodland inspired chocolate decor in contrasting colours.
The cake is super most and surprisingly good. A nice strong coffee aroma when devoured.
Bûche au Chocolat
Bûche au Chocolat takes a chocolate roulade sponge rolled with a dark chocolate ganache and dark chocolate mousseline filling with sour cherries and chocolate buttercream.
This one reminded us of Black Forest Cake due to the chocolate and cherries, but of course an elevated version.
You can order yule logs in 2 sizes depending on how many people you intend to feed:
8” size (feeding 8-10 people) for $46.95
12”size (feeding 12-15 people) for $65.95
Modern Bûche de Noël
Bûche Caramel Cafe Pistache 2018
This starts with a base of moist chocolate cake covered with a coffee cocoa nib crunch supporting a duo of espresso milk chocolate mousse and Zephyr Caramel chocolate mousse while a hidden core is composed of moist chocolate cake, a dark chocolate mousse with cranberries and a pistachio parfait. The entire bûche is sprayed in milk chocolate velvet with a dripping Zephyr Caramel chocolate glaze and is adorned with marbled milk and white chocolate leaves, pistachios, cranberries, cocoa nibs and white chocolate bark bookends.
Eating this was a symphony of flavours and a lot of textures from the pistachios, cocoa nibs, and cranberries.
You can order this in 2 sizes depending on how many people you intend to feed:
6″- $39.95 feeds 6-8 ppl
12″- $69.95 feeds 12-15 ppl
Bûche Coco Amande Chocolate
This is comprised of a dark chocolate almond mousse studded with caramelized almond pieces surrounding a middle of a coconut cream, pineapple curd and toasted coconut sablé with a chocolate coconut brownie base. The bûche is covered in a coconut chocolate glaze with glittery gold glaze stripes, white chocolate bark, caramelized almonds, white and dark chocolate crispearls, coconut shavings and dark chocolate curls and endplates.
If you love almonds, this is the cake for you.
You can order this in 2 sizes depending on how many people you intend to feed:
6″- $39.95 feeds 6-8 ppl
12″- $69.95 feeds 12-15 ppl
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for something unique and festive this year to take to holiday get togethers, check out Ganache Patisserie for their Bûches de Noël.
You can now pre-order and available in-store starting Sunday December 8th, 2018. They advise to order in advanced for pick ups between Dec 20th and 24th as holiday hours will be in affect afterwards.
If you want something smaller, don’t forget about their smaller cakes made just for the Fall and Winter.
The Sauce Pasta Cafe is located on Denman Street in the West End. They recently opened up serving up pasta on the go as of December 1, 2018. This is their first location offering up customers high end gourmet Italian pasta, great prices, and the convenience of take out seven days a week.
They have also partnered up Foodora and Skip the Dishes as delivery options if you don’t want to venture out.
Interior
There are a few bar seats inside, but it’s mostly designed for take out. You order right up at the counter where you can choose your sauce and pasta.
Menu
Building your Pasta
You can choose these types of pasta:
Penne
Fettuccine
Gnocchi
Gemelli
Rigatoni
Spaghetti
Pappardelle
4 Cheese Ravioli
Of these, 3 of these are fresh – fettuccine, gemelli and pappardelle.
You can then pick your sauce:
Marinara
Arrabiata
Alfredo
Creamy Mushroom
Rose
Nonna’s
Vodka Cream
Pesto
Daily special
Did you know, most of the sauces are made in-house everyday and they try to use simple ingredients that are preservative-free as much as possible? All the sauces are made with love and real ingredients.
Don’t forget the add ons!
Add mushrooms, peas and spinach to your order for free
Meatballs/chicken is extra $1.50
Special Braised Beef Shank with Spinach over Pappardelle
This was delicious! The pappardelle had a nice chew to the pasta that’s al dente. One of our favourite dishes of the night.
If you see this special again, it’s defintiely worth it.
Gnocchi with Vodka Cream Sauce
The gnocchi is very light and fluffy in texture. As for vodka cream sauce, it has a sour and refreshing taste, which doesn’t feel too heavy. There is a slight bitter taste but not too noticeable. We just like the sour/tomato-creamy combination.
The box wasn’t as full as the other dishes we had.
Fresh Fetuccine with Nonna’s Meat Sauce
The box was packed to the top! Nonna’s Meat Sauce is the most popular and its marinara sauce is made in 3 different ways – part baked, part simmered, and part fresh tomatoes added in.
The fettuccine could have been more al dente as we felt it was a bit soft. If you feel like the sauce is a bit thin, you can ask them to put in a bit more so your pasta is bathing in the delicious sauce.
Focaccia Bread
A good size of focaccia bread, but we wished it was served warm to go with the pasta.
Final Thoughts
I can see this doing well in the Summer as some may want a quick meal to take with them to English Bay or the different beaches to eat, plus the prices are affordable. You can choose to have it in a paper or plastic container depending on your preference.
McDonalds Canada launched their new Seriously Chicken Asiago & Bacon Burger and Garlic & Herb Seasoned Fries on the menu for this winter. We had to give it a try to see how these items are.
It’s not a very holiday line up, but their drinks are more festive this time of year.
Asiago & Bacon Seriously Chicken
This burger is made with 100% seasoned chicken breast, asiago cheese, bacon, leaf lettuce and tomato, with Swiss cheese sauce and rotisserie seasoned sauce, all on a Brioche-style bun. You can choose to get it the chicken grilled or crispy.
The brioche bun is toasted but probably a little bit much, so it was more burnt. Maybe it was just our experience. We got our chicken breast crispy instead of grilled. It went well with the bacon and asiago, but there could have been more bacon in bigger pieces. Also, it was odd how the tomatoes were cut up in halves so it would fall out easily.
Herb & Garlic Seasoned Fries
The classic McDonald’s fries are cooked until golden brown and sprinkled with a festive-inspired blend of parsley, oregano, thyme, garlic and sage.
The fries didn’t look very impressive at all. It was more limp in texture. The seasoning was a good combination.
Final Thoughts
There’s no need to rush to McDonalds right away to try their new Seriously Chicken Asiago & Bacon Burger and Garlic & Herb Seasoned Fries. It tastes like previous items that they have released in the past, but only available for a limited time. You can’t go wrong with the McDonalds classic items on the menu either.
As the holidays are here, what better way to celebrate than with some sweet treats. It’s really not the holidays if chocolate isn’t within arms reach. A lot of people love baking homemade treats, but sometimes there is just no time when juggling so many obligations at once. For this holiday, I’ve been lacking energy to really ‘wow’ my guests with homemade treats since I’m pregnant, so a few new items for the PC Insiders Collection this winter has made entertaining a lot easier.
Some of the new sweet items include:
PC Luxury Biscuit Assortment
PC Milk Chocolate Bar with Toasted Coconut
PC Crunchy Chocolate Hazelnut
PC Milk Chocolate Toffee Hazelnut
What I enjoy doing with these items is displaying them nicely on the dessert table, so guests can pick and choose what they want to eat. The luxury biscuit collection has all the classics and looks fantastic when laid out instead of inside the tin. Having some dried fruit or fresh fruit along with all the sweets definitely balance out the table. You can keep this display up throughout the evening. Who says you can’t have dessert before a meal?
This is just one of many options you have if you’re looking for something quick to put together without baking anything. All the items are very affordable and saves lots of time.
To check out the full PC Insiders Collection for this winter, visit their website. There are savoury items, sweet items, and great dishware.
Pokey Okey in Richmond, BC is serving up a luxurious creation – The Ruby Bowl that will sell for $100 from Friday December 7th till Sunday December 9th in limited quantities. We had a sneak peek of what to expect.
This poke bowl takes inspiration from different cuisines that Chef Victor He had from his travels and culinary experiences. Their goal is to elevate the concept of Surf and Turf and to highlight the quality of Canadian ingredients.
What’s in the Ruby Bowl that justifies the $100 price tag?
The Ruby Bowl is made with:
Lobster Rice
Butter Basted Lobster
Torched Wagyu Tenderloin
Frisee Salad
Lobster Hollandaise
Yuzu Daikon Oroshi
Black Garlic Truffle Aioli
Flying Fish Roe
Shaved Black Truffle
When you order in-store, it can take about 10 – 15 minutes to prepare as there are a lot of ingredients that go into this bowl and it’s made to order so you know it’s fresh.
The wagyu is seared to perfection, but it is still rare as the slices are stacked on top of each other with lots of overlap. You can ask them to torch it for longer if you prefer not so raw meat.
The wagyu has so much flavour and the yuzu daikon oroshi really adds a nice acidity.
The lobster tail has the delicious Lobster Hollandaise sauce and shaved truffles. I just kept dunking the lobster tail into this and it was so good.
Under all of this is the lobster rice and boy, it’s good too.
Final Thoughts
This $100 luxurious poke bowl isn’t for everyone since not everyone has that much extra money to drop. It tastes really good, but their regular bowls are just as good with prices ranging from $11 – $16.
YiFang Taiwan Fruit Tea is now open on Kingsway near Boundary. They are best known for their fruit teas as well as brown sugar pearl latte, which is only available during certain times during the day.
They only accept cash and debit.
YiFeng Fruit Tea
It is made with Taiwan pineapple sauce, fresh passion fruit, apple, orange and jade tea. I got it with 30% ice and 30% sugar. One of their most popular drinks and it doesn’t disappoint at all. I love the passion fruit seeds as they are crunchy when you bite down on them.
Black Sugar Soft Pearl Latte
Chewy black sugar peals in sun moon lake black tea and fresh local organic milk. You can’t change the sweetness level or ice levels with this drink. The pearls and the brown sugar come warm while the milk and tea are cold on top. Make sure to give it a nice mix when you’re about to drink it.
It was ok, but there was a bit too much brown sugar to milk tea ratio, so it was sweeter than other places.
Black Tea Latte
This has sun moon lake black tea and fresh local organic milk. M order this with 50% sweetness and 70% ice. It was ok compared to the other places around town.
Final Thoughts
It’s a good addition to the neighbourhood even though there are a lot of other bubble tea shops in the area. It just gives people more choices.
The 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In is a sleek hybrid vehicle that gives customers more options to save on gas consumption while relying on electric power. Personally, I’ve been looking for a good hybrid or electric vehicle in the near future, so test driving this vehicle was very exciting. With the EV rebate for some Canadian provinces, it makes the price points more appealing. As a Honda owner myself, I have a Civic and has been very reliable so far.
There are 3 power trains available for the Honda Clarity – hybrid plug-in, EV and Fuel Cell. All great options, but it really depends on your driving habits and weekly routes. The hybrid plug-in gets about 75 kms before it runs out of battery and switches over t0 gas. You’ll need a dedicated place to charge your vehicle whether it be at home, work or some other location.
Exterior
At first glance, the exterior is very sleek, modern and edgy for a sedan. The lines and shape of the curves are nice.
It is a mid-sized 4 door sedan with beautifully designed headlights.
Interior
The drivers and passenger side is very nice with the design on the dash and materials used.
When driving around in electric mode, it’s very silent and you don’t hear too much noise from the outside.
The back seats have a good amount of head space as well as leg room
Tech
The 8 inch screen comes with my favourite features of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and rear view camera when backing up. There are also lots of safety features to give you a better view around the car as well as keeping your family safe.
Drive
When the vehicle is using electric power, it is so quiet and and accelerates with good force. Very good first impressions.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it’s a pretty solid vehicle that won’t disappoint. It is comfortable and has a great range when driving along highways.
Hippie Snacks has added two new products to its lineup: Cauliflower Crisps (in Original and Classic Ranch flavours) and Avocado Crisps (in Guacamole and Sea Salt). I love trying new products especially when companies make us think of consuming vegetables in a new and different way.
In the last year, Cauliflower has been the carbohydrate alternative and can be found in pizza crust, rice replacement and now crisps. I don’t mind this since my doctor told me to cut down on sugars like carbohydrates as I’ve developed gestational diabetes during my pregnancy. I was excited to try these crisps to see if it would quell my cravings for chips.
The cauliflower and avocado are seasoned with sea salt, seeds, and herbs, and baked for a crunchy texture. Both types are made with real ingredients you can actually pronounce, with 5g of protein in each serving.
Cauliflower Crisps (Original)
This is baked with real cauliflower, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and a touch of sea salt. I liked this as you get the flavour of cauliflower and would go really well with a dip like hummus. This was my personal favourite as its so versatile.
Cauliflower Crisps (Classic Ranch)
The ranch flavour really goes well with the cauliflower crisp. Easy to eat a whole bag too.
Avocado Crisps (Guacamole)
This was my husband’s favourite. It is baked with real avocado, pumpkin seeds and a touch of cayenne pepper among other spices to give you that guac taste.
Avocado Crisps (Sea Salt)
This is made with real avocado and seasoned with sea salt, seeds and herbs. I like the addition of the seeds as it gives it a nice crunch. The avocado taste is very mild.
Final Thoughts
We have seen veggie chips pop up in stores in the last few years, but what I like about Hippie Snacks and their version is that it has few ingredients, which you can actually pronounce. I’m Team Cauliflower, but the husband is Team Avocado. We can agree to disagree, but both kinds were good. It’s all about personal preferences.
Jia Plus Fusion Cafe is located in Osprey Village Market in Pitt Meadows. I wouldn’t have known a Taiwanese Cafe was located here in this area. I had to give this a try with my friend to see how it is.
Interior
There are a few seats inside but wasn’t too busy on a weekend for lunch. Very simple interior.
Ginger Pork on Rice
The bowl has a bed of rice with thin slices of pork belly, ginger, onions and a delicious sauce that drips down into the rice. It was interesting to see the use of pork belly in this dish instead of other cuts of pork.
BBQ Chicken Sandwich
The steamed bao was soft and warm, filled with BBQ chicken, sauce and arugula. I was surprised by the amount of ingredients inside. Lots of BBQ Chicken and they did not skimp on it.
Spicy Wonton Soup with Noodle
We ordered the spicy wonton soup with noodle to give it a try. It was surprisingly good. The broth had a nice kick of spice and the wontons were yummy.
Black Milk Tea with Pearls
I couldn’t come here without ordering a bubble tea. I got the black milk tea half sweet with pearls. It was good but I wish the tea was slightly stronger.
Red Bean Wheel Cake
What is so interesting to find here are wheel cakes. This one is filled with red bean. The exterior is very crisp and the centre is soft.
Custard Wheel Cake
This wheel cake is filled with custard. It was really good and my favourite of the two flavours.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it is a good addition to Pitt Meadows as you don’t see too many Asian fusion cafes in the area. The food is good and very comforting if you want a big bowl of hot soupy noodles for the colder months of the year.
Address:
10931 Barnston View Rd #102, Pitt Meadows, BC
Tim Hortons Canada has just launched their Timmies Minis Packs. The Timmies Minis menu lets parents and kids build their own meals as they select one of three entrées, one of four sides and one of five drinks to suit their tastes. Instead of a toy, the box comes with a fun activity book that will change monthly, as well as crayons. 10 cents from every pack purchased supports sending local youths from low income homes to camp.
If you’re looking for a snack, adults can order this too even if you don’t have a child with you.
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Main:
Mini Chicken Wrap
seasoned grilled chicken tucked in a soft tortilla with lettuce and cream cheese
Mini Melt
a grilled cheese sandwich made with cheddar cheese nestled between slices of soft white bread and topped with a blend of melted mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheeses
Chicken Strips (2 pieces)
two tender pieces of seasoned, breaded chicken breast served with sweet and sour sauce.
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Side:
Apple Slices
Mini Potato Wedges
SunRype Fun Bites
Black Diamond Cheesestrings
Drink:
White Milk
Chocolate Milk
Orange Juice
Apple Juice
Water
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The location that I went to only had 2 entrées and 4 drink options but it might be because of the location I went to has a limited menu. The price did vary based off entrées choices or location too.
I went with the chicken strips, apple slices and apple juice for my order. It is what you would expect as fast food quality.
I can see kids loving this as there’s so much in the box to discover. It’s good that you can customize the food items so its slightly better than other options. If you order this more than once a month, the activity book will be the same.
