Tim Hortons culinary team’s test kitchen has cranked out some new treats. Donut lovers across Canada can now experience the latest donuts of their dreams: Filled Ring Dream Donuts.
Available in Strawberry Shortcake and Vanilla Cream Puff flavours, the ring-shaped yeast donuts are filled with a deliciously sweet, light and fluffy filling.
Strawberry Shortcake Filled Ring Dream Donut
The Strawberry Shortcake Filled Ring Dream Donut is packed with both strawberry and vanilla filling, dipped in a strawberry fondant, and then sprinkled with strawberry cookie bark for an added crunch.
The donut had a good ratio of filling to donut, but it is a touch sweet compared to their regular donuts.
Vanilla Cream Puff Filled Ring Dream Donut
The Vanilla Cream Puff Filled Ring Dream Donut features a vanilla filling and is topped with a drizzle of chocolate syrup and a dusting of white donut sugar.
Similar to the other donut, the ratio was good. Not as sweet as the strawberry version, so we did enjoy this a bit better.
Both Filled Ring Dream Donuts are now available at participating restaurants across Canada and can also be purchased via mobile order or delivery through the Tim Hortons app. The Filled Ring Dream Donuts can also be redeemed on the Tim Hortons mobile app for 70 rewards points.
A&W Canada is at it again and this time they have launched the Smoked Gouda Burger. It is only available for a limited time only. When I heard about it, we went to the closest A&W to give it a try. It’s not available on some delivery apps, but perhaps its will show up in a few days.
If you’re in a rush to give this a try, you can dine-in or grab take out at participating locations.
It comes in buddy burger, mama burger, and uncle burger sizes.
What’s in the Smoked Gouda Burger?
It is made with real, melted smoked Gouda cheese, hickory potato crisps, savoury steak sauce, pickles and mayo served on a grass-fed beef patty.
Taste Test
We got the Smoked Gouda Mama Burger and the Smoked Gouda Uncle Burger. The smoked gouda is a really nice addition and the hickory potato crisps add a nice crunch to it, but it can go soggy if you wait too long. Pickled added a nice contrasting tang to the mayo and steak sauce. Pretty solid burger and we enjoyed it.
Final Thoughts
A&W always does limited time only burgers and they’re actually really great. The quality is there and we haven’t been disappointed in a long long time. Kudos to the innovation team that gets to put these fun combinations together.
Starbucks Canada has laucnhed the new Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino blended beverage. Inspired by a nostalgic flavour reminiscent of carefree, fun-filled summer days at the carnival.
What’s Inside?
The Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino features layers of strawberry puree, whipped cream and a blend of funnel cake flavoured syrup, topped with crunchy powdered sugar funnel cake pieces. The Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino blended beverage can be customized with non-dairy options (recommended with oat or almond beverage) to suit customer preferences.
Taste Test
There was a lot of strawberry puree and the funnel cake flavoured syrup in the drink, so make sure you stir well as it can accumulate on the bottom. Even with stirring the drink, the first few sips were still very sweet.
It’s a fun themed drink packed full of sugar. The funnel cake flavoured syrup could be reduced a bit. There are tiny crunchy powdered sugar funnel cake pieces but too small to be reminiscent of a funnel cake.
Final Thoughts
We definitely won’t be ordering this again. I would prefer to have a real funnel cake than drink it. They tried to emulate the taste and experience but it fell too short.
It’s go great to see Burger King finally having a plant-based option on the menu. The Impossible Whopper is made with a flame-grilled patty topped with freshly sliced tomatoes and onions, crisp lettuce, creamy mayonnaise, ketchup, and crunchy pickles on a toasted sesame seed bun. All plants and nothing extra.
We are huge fans of Burger King and the Whoppers, so we had to see if the collaboration between Burger King and Impossible Foods would be a match made in heaven.
The Impossible Whopper Taste Test
After the first few bites, we really couldn’t tell the difference at all. The texture of the Impossible patty had the right texture and the aroma of the char broiled grill. It’s got all the right textures!
It’s available now, so definitely check it out if you want a plant-based alternative at Burger King. We were impressed and would get it again. Great for flexitarians, vegetarians who whoever is curious.
A&W Canada just dropped a new burger – The Harvarti Party Burger. It is made with mouthwatering chimichurri aioli, havarti cheese, red onion and roasted red peppers on a grass-fed beef patty. All nestled in a soft, brioche-style bun.
It comes in 3 sizes:
Harvarti Party Uncle Burger
Harvarti Party Mama Burger
Harvarti Party Buddy Burger
This is a limited time only burger and available at participating locations.
Taste Test
We got the Harvarti Party Uncle Burger and the Harvarti Party Mama Burger from our closest A&W which is just minutes away from us. Within the first bite, I loved it! The sauces are always done so well on their limited edition burgers. It doesn’t feel like it would be from a fast food restaurant at all. All the ingredients worked so well together.
The addition of the brioche bun makes this so good. The burger was saucy but none of it dripped out or made it messy, which was nice. We would get this again.
Krispy Kreme is collaborating with Oreo and they have created limited time only flavours from now until April 18th, 2021 at participating locations. 2 weeks only! We are huge fans of Oreo and Krispy Kreme, so we had to take a drive to the closest Krispy Kreme in Delta, BC to get these sweet treats.
There are 2 options of the donuts to get- Oreo Cookie Glazed Donut and the Oreo Cookied Over-the-Top Donut.
Oreo Cookie Glazed Donut
The Original Glazed Doughnut is covered in an Oreo cookie glaze, filled with cookies and kreme, topped with an icing drizzle and Oreo cookie pieces. This was really good especially when it’s paired with a coffee to balance out the sweetness. As for the cookies and kreme filling, there wasn’t much in it as you can tell from the photo. Other than that, it’s very enjoyable with the generous amount of Oreo cookie glaze. I would definitely get this again.
Oreo Cookie Over-the-Top Donut
This has the Oreo Cookie Glazed Donut, drizzled with chocolate icing and topped with cookies and kreme filling and an Oreo cookie wafer. It’s definitely over the top but so epic for Oreo fans. Its harder to eat with the varying textures, but you can’t deny that it looks great.
Final Thoughts
This was a great collaboration between Krispy Kreme and Oreo. Too bad it’s only here for 2 weeks and then it’s gone. The Oreo Original Glazed Doughnut was our favourite in terms of taste. If you’re there anyways, might as well get both to enjoy the whole experience. Plus, the Oreo Cookie Over-the-Top Donut is great for pictures.
Pizza Hut x KFC is the perfect collab that we all needed to hear. The Popcorn Chicken Pizza is available now for a limited time in Canada. When we saw the online ads, we had to give it a try, so we ordered delivery and it arrived promptly.
What’s in the Popcorn Chicken Pizza?
This has KFC gravy, topped with cheese, sweet corn, and crispy KFC Popcorn Chicken on a pan crust. You can get this in 12″ or 14″.
Taste Test
Upon the first few bites, we really enjoyed it. It was still hot and the crispy KFC Popcorn Chicken was actually crispy. It was a great texture that added to the pizza. The gravy was a great addition and would have actually liked a container of gravy to dunk the slice into.
Clearly, we love the gravy.
Final Thoughts
We highly recommend it and would get it again. As it’s available for only a limited time, don’t delay too long.
As the days become brighter, Starbucks Canada is adding a new oat-based beverages to its menu – the Canadian-exclusive Brown Sugar Oat Americano to provide customers with more delicious plant-based beverages.
At under 200 calories for a grande-size, the beverage features Starbucks Blonde Espresso, brown sugar syrup and water, topped with steamed oat beverage and cinnamon.
Taste Test
A good drink that works very well together, but it a touch sweet, so I would recommend going with one pump less brown sugar. If you order from their app, it’s easily adjustable, plus you can see how many shots and pumps of syrups are in each drink.
Other than that, it was very enjoyable and would get again.
Starbucks is adding a new line of espresso drinks to the core menu—the perfect iced duo will help coffee lovers embrace their day and introduce more plant-based choices into their diet. We give the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso a try.
Combining the trends of cold coffee and oat beverage, Starbucks baristas shake Starbucks Blonde espresso, brown sugar and cinnamon together with ice, and then top it off with oat beverage for a cool lift to help cold coffee lovers power through their day.
Taste Test
The drink is pretty good and I love the combination of espresso, brown sugar and oat milk. The espresso and brown sugar compliment very well, but it is still a touch sweet. It would be good to get one pump of brown sugar less.
All it is missing is some pearls to compare to the offerings of Starbucks in Asia.
Final Thoughts
Definitely worth a try if you love espresso, oat milk, ad brown sugar.
Wendy’s Canada just launched their new Korean BBQ Cheeseburger at participating locations. When we saw it advertised online, we had to go check it out as my husband is Korean. We ordered it online for delivery and it arrived very quickly to our door.
What’s Inside?
The Korean BBQ Cheeseburger has a quarter-pound of fresh, never frozen Canadian beef topped with mix of pickled red onions, spiced bacon, sweet BBQ sauce, jalapeño jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a toasted bun.
What sizes does it come in?
The Korean BBQ Cheeseburger is available as a single, double, or triple.
Taste Test
Looking at the ingredients and tasting the burger, there isn’t anything Korean about this. If it was a bulgogi burger, then that would have been closer, or if there was kimchi.
None the less, the BBQ sauce was sweet and had a hint of spice. The pickled red onions didn’t add much to the burger. If we ate this burger blindly, it would have felt like a regular burger.
Final Thoughts
It’s a decent version of a cheeseburger, but nothing is very Korean about the taste or ingredients.
Eggo has been part of my childhood, so seeing Eggo cereal in store is pretty cool and nostalgic. They are celebrating 50 years in Canada by introducing the new Eggo Chocolate Flavour Cereal featuring mini chocolate-flavoured waffle-shaped cereal pieces, dusted with a chocolate coating. The newest member of the family brings Eggo’s iconic, well-known, much-loved and delicious brand to life in the cereal aisle.
We were sent a box to review from Eggo.
Eggo History in Canada
First introduced in Canada in 1971, Eggo disrupted the breakfast scene with its frozen toaster-sized waffles featuring a great tasting “secret formula” that made serving a hot breakfast both easy and delicious. The beloved brand quickly became a breakfast staple, and the unforgettable “L’Eggo my Eggo” slogan was introduced the following year. To this day, the majority of Canadians can properly complete this famous catchphrase†. An international sensation, Eggo has introduced many different flavours and formats over the years, including the Canadian launch of the first-ever Eggo cereal – Eggo Maple Syrup Flavour Cereal – last year. And now, as it celebrates its 50th birthday in Canada, Eggo brings a new sweet and crunchy chocolate flavour to the cereal aisle with Eggo Chocolate Flavour Cereal.
What’s inside?
It is made with whole grains and containing no artificial flavours or colours, the mini waffle-shaped pieces offer a chocolate flavour that doesn’t quit, and the unique waffle pieces stay crispy in milk. The final flavour surprise is revealed when the cocoa saturates the milk, leaving a bowl of delicious chocolatey cereal milk at the end.
Taste Test
The shape of the cereal is supposed to look like a waffle, but it somewhat looks like a honeycomb too. It has a dominant chocolate flavour and doesn’t get soggy quickly because of it’s thick size.
It is sweet but not too much compared to other cereals in the market. It’s a solid chocolate cereal, but nothing really screams Eggo except for the shape.
I do like this flavour a lot more than the Maple Syrup flavour.
Final Thoughts
It’s a solid chocolate flavoured cereal and it does stay crunchy for a while, which is good if you love the crunchy texture but slow at eating the bowl of cereal.
With this crazy pandemic, Rocky Mountain Flatbread has pivoted their business during this time to offer their new frying pan pizza kits to keep your family safe this Fall. You can have a taste of fresh Rocky Mountain Flatbread straight from your home.
They created these kits for families, foodies and businesses who are looking for fun and fabulous ways to connect over the holidays. With more people cooking at home during the pandemic and looking for fun ways to celebrate virtually over the holidays, the Rocky Mountain Flatbread team has designed a pizza kit that replicates a forno-fired pizza for home kitchens in minutes.
Each Frying Pan Pizza Kit contains two 10″ pizzas and includes fresh local ingredients from their restaurant kitchens. The step by step cooking instructions demonstrate the frying pan pizza method which cooks the base of the pizza on the stove top and finishes it off under the broiler for that forno-fired pizza taste that is so loved at Rocky Mountain Flatbread restaurants.
The Greater Vancouver Food Bank will receive a $1 donation for each pizza kit ordered for take out at Rocky’s two Vancouver restaurants, Main Street and Kitsilano.
Kids Frying Pan Pizza Kit, for Little Chefs
The Kids Frying Pan Pizza Kit guides little chefs to create two 8″ mozza pizzas at home. The kit contains Rocky’s favourite ingredients – organic flour and pizza dough, house made organic tomato sauce, and all Canadian shredded mozzarella along with easy to follow instructions. It also comes with double chocolate brownies for dessert.
My little on is almost 2, but we had fun in the kitchen stretching out the dough, putting on sauce, and throwing the cheese on top. Then, I took care of the cooking portion as she watched.
Dessert was all eaten by mommy, but I won’t tell her what she missed out on. hahaha.
Margherita Frying Pan Pizza Kit
The Rocky Mountain Flatbread team has assembled a Frying Pan Pizza Kit to create two delicious 10″ margherita pizzas using a frying pan in your home kitchen. Rocky’s double fermented organic dough, house made tomato sauce, Canadian cheeses and fresh basil are included along with easy to follow step by step instructions.
I made my kid assemble this also. She was there anyways and she was already having so much fun.
Cooking on the stove top was very easy and simple, but make sure to test your broiler ahead of time. I didn’t realize my broiler turns off when the door is left open as a safety precaution. Luckily, we were able to find another oven to use.
Cosmonaut Cocktail Kits
The Cosmonaut is a cross between a Moscow Mule and Cosmopolitan. Grab a few ice cubes from the freezer before rolling up your sleeves for some cocktail shaking fun. The kit comes with 2 servings.
Ordering
Frying Pan Pizza Kits and Cosmonaut Cocktail Kits will be available via Doordash, and for takeout and online ordering from Rocky’s website at www.rockymountainflatbread.ca
Final Thoughts
If you’re a fan of Rocky Mountain Flatbread and want a fun family activity to keep the kids busy, check out their Frying Pan Pizza Kit. For the parents that need a little something extra just for themselves, grab the Cosmonaut Cocktail Kits to pair.
It was the first time my kid made pizza and she enjoyed it a lot more seeing the effort that went into it.
The kits are great as it has everything you need. Just make sure you have a large pan and a oven.
Forget chestnuts roasting over an open fire, because KFC’s famous fried chicken-scented 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog is coming to Canada on November 9. Inspired by the Colonel’s very own Secret Recipe, the limited edition firelog from Enviro-Log is sold at Canadian Tire stores across the country and online.
“Canada’s winter season and fireplaces go together like an iconic KFC bucket of chicken and gravy,” said Samantha Redman, Chief Marketing Officer, KFC Canada. “It’s the comfort of a warm fire and the delicious aroma of our world-famous fried chicken that makes The KFC 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog a truly hearth-warming and hunger-inducing experience for all.”
2020 is the first year KFC’s 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog will be available in Canada. After launching in the United States in 2018 and returning in 2019, the 11 Herbs and Spices Firelog became a viral hit, selling out in mere hours after going on sale. In Canada, Canadian Tire will be selling the firelogs for $19.99 while supplies last.
“We are thrilled with the overwhelming consumer demand for the KFC Firelog over the past two years and are proud that through our long-term partnership with Canadian Tire, we are now able to make it available to Canadian fans that crave KFC’s 11 Herbs & Spices,” said Ross McRoy, President and Founder of Enviro-Log, Inc.
The KFC 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog is designed and manufactured by Enviro-Log, an eco-friendly, consumer products and recycling company headquartered in Fitzgerald, Georgia.
Basak Cafe recently opened up and I was fortunate to have a passionate foodie follower let me know about them. With the pandemic, it’s never easy to open a restaurant or cafe with the reduce capacity for social distancing. Basak mean crispy in Korean and their waffles have a crunch to them when you bite into it.
As I’m usually in the area, I had to check it out. They are located beside House of Tofu Soup, a few meters away from Han Nam Supermarket and Hanin Village. They are most popular for their waffles and coffee.
The people behind Basak Cafe have worked at many notable restaurants and cafes in Vancouver. They have travelled the world and have been influenced by different tastes and cultures. As they were planning to open a restaurant, they worked hard on developing Korean style hotdogs, but with this location, they decided to start off with waffles for now. I absolutely love Korean corndogs, so I hope they add that on their menu soon.
Interior
There are a few tables inside for small groups and they are all spaced apart and blocked off with clear curtains. I usually do take out, but I felt very safe here, so I dined in here as it was just myself.
Menu
Half and Half Chubby Waffle
I went with the half and half waffle which has matcha and red bean, as well as strawberry. It’s the best option to taste both flavours.
I like how it’s not too sweet and they use real strawberries in their cream, so it’s very very fresh and enjoyable. The matcha is strong and the red bean isn’t too sweet either. Good if you love matcha. If I had to choose a flavour, it would have to be the strawberry.
The waffle itself is a bit darker in colour but it holds up very well the cream and doesn’t go soggy. I ended up doing takeout afterwards for my husband and no issues at all.
Iced Dalgona Latte
I really like their version of the iced Dalgona latte with the dalgona pieces. Very different than the viral trend of whipping up instant coffee.
It was strong and slightly sweet, so it was enjoyed with the waffle.
Final Thoughts
It’s a great cafe to hang out with a few friends that are in your bubble. They are going to have more menu options once they work out any kinks, but I’m excited to see those new items.
If you’re in the area, definitely give them a visit.
Remi Patisserie has their official storefront open in Vancouver after doing a series of pop-ups all over the Lower Mainland. Even in the middle of a pandemic, we can’t resist a sweet taste of Remi’s delectable treats. Remi was the head Barista and Pastry Chef at Origo Club in Richmond and after doing pop-ups, he gained quite a fan-base for his Asian-inspired baked goods.
You can find Remi Patisserie nestled on W 7th Ave near Cambie Street. It’s a few minutes walk from Olympic Village Skytrain or Broadway City Hall Skytrain.
Pre-Orders
I was passing by the area and decided to line up to get a few of their treats. I didn’t pre-order ahead of time, so I had to try my luck. Good thing I got a few of the last items before it was all gone. I kid you not, if I waited 15 more minutes, there would be nothing left in the display cases.
If you’ve had Remi’s baked goods before, you know that pre-orders are a must. To pre-order, you just message them on Instagram. If you don’t have Instagram, you will have to order at the shop. Not the most inclusive option, but that’s what they have at the moment.
Line ups
There are 2 line ups at the shop. One of the left for pre-orders and on the right are the walk-ins. If it’s your first time here, it is a bit confusing.
Small Stuff
A majority of the items left in their store was the small stuff. That’s what they call their bite sized pastries.
We managed to pick up:
Cloud Cake
Mango Mochi 2.0
Hojicha Mochi
Almond Plum Flan
Crispy Choco Hazel Financier
Matcha Mochi Eclair
Tonka Pecan Eclair
All the flavours were very nice, but the ones that really stood out to me were the matcha mochi eclair, crispy choco hazel financier, and the almond plum flan. Don’t get me wrong, the other items are really great too, but these ones are more unique to Remi Patisserie.
They have large cakes if you are celebrating something special. This does include their roll cakes as well. The items rotate seasonally, so make sure to check their Instagram to see what is available.
Final Thoughts
All of his creations sell out in a few hours, so you will want to put in a pre-order to ensure you get all the delicious treats you want.
Overall, everything we tried was solid. Sometimes it’s fun to buy a bunch of items and not know what it is. We were very impressed and we will be back for more. Next time, I’ll preorder.
After going back to work from my maternity leave, a lot has changed as we now have a pandemic and majority of my colleagues are working from home. What once was happy hour right after work has becoming Virtual Happy Hours once a month to bring everyone together. It’s definitely a strange time, but we make it work.
I put together a charcuterie board of my favourite items from my local grocery stores to put together the perfect Virtual Happy Hour for one.
Choose your favourite drink
I love light beers, so I went with Coors Organic as it just launched. We were gifted this a while ago, but I decided to crack it open for a taste test. Very refreshing and has a clean taste so it balances well with the charcuterie board. Simple and not overly complicated.
Some times I do wine, but beer is more of my go to beverage.
Visit you local market
I love going to our local butcher in the neighbourhood as there is always good selection of meats and cheeses for your board. I went with a salami, habanero cheddar, and a regular cheddar.
While I was there I also picked up some crackers grapes, pistachios, artichoke hearts and olives to round out the board.
Spice it up
Condiments are a must, but I went with mustard this time as Smak Dab’s Canadian Maple mustard goes well with meats and cheeses. It has a smokiness and sweetness that pairs nicely.
Other condiments we usually enjoy are raspberry jams, hummus, and tzatziki.
Enjoy
I hope everyone has doing well as much as they can during the pandemic. There has been a lot of negative news in the last year, but we have to count our blessings as there has been some positive aspects.
There’s more and more delivery and pick up options available for groceries and take out. A lot of technology issues that we’re possible and now possible! Families have been spending more time together where possible and we are lucky to have our health.
A&W Canada always comes out with new burgers for a limited time only. I saw an ad for their new Truffle Mozzarella Burgers and I had to give it a try.
They’ve never offered this flavour before, but how can you go wrong with truffle and mozzarella? This is available across Canada except for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
What’s inside?
The Truffle Mozzarella Burgers has a grass-fed beef patty, topped with real mozzarella cheese, grilled onions, fresh lettuce and tomato, and truffle aioli.
What variations does it come in?
They offer the burgers as a buddy burger, mama burger, or Uncle Burger. The size of the patty differs.
Taste Test
We ordered all three sizes as I wanted the Truffle Mozzarella Mama Burger and the hubby was hungry so he got the Truffle Mozzarella Uncle Burger and the Truffle Mozzarella Buddy Burger.
A&W does a great job with the addition of their real mozzarella cheese and fresh veggies in their burgers. What not a lot of people talk about is their amazing sauces. In the past, they get the sauces spot on. The Truffle aioli is very nice and not over powering at all. It compliments the burger nicely.
They did a great job and we love it.
Pro-Tip
If you love their truffle aioli sauce, you can add it on the side to your fries or onion rings for a small add-on.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a fan of A&W already, they do a great job with the quality of their burgers. You’ll definitely love the Truffle Mozzarella Burgers like we do.
It’s only available for a limited time, so grab it for take out soon.
Kraft Dinner and Burger King have launched their KD Bites a few months ago. I saw this on the menu and had to get it. Kraft Dinner is very iconic to those who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s.
The KD Bites are available for a limited time only and are available exclusively at select Burger King locations and can be ordered through Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes and DoorDash.
Taste Test
The KD Bites are small and are definitely 1 or 2 bite pieces. it’s the classic Kraft Dinner Mac and Cheese that is breaded and fried. When you bite into it, you can see the macaroni inside with lots of the cheese. It’s a bit boring on it’s own, but if you add a bit of ketchup, it’ll per perfect.
The little bag of it was around $2, so it’s not a large portion. It’s a nice addition to their regular Burger King Whopper.
Final Thoughts
The taste of the KD Bites isn’t ground breaking and it’s fast food quality. Very nostalgic for those Kraft Dinner fans. My husband loved it and he would get it again.
