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Starbucks is kicking off the new year with the launch of its winter menu, arriving in stores today (Tuesday, January 4th), featuring the returning Pistachio Latte, back by popular demand for its second year.

Pistachio Latte 

The Pistachio Latte features cozy flavours of sweet pistachio and rich brown butter paired with espresso and steamed milk, specially crafted to keep coffee lovers comforted in the new year.

The Pistachio Latte can be ordered hot or iced at stores in Canada for a limited time while supplies last. Learn more about the inspiration behind this returning fan-favourite beverage.

Taste Test

We tried out the Pistachio Latte and it was ok. I would suggest adding an extra shot of espresso so the coffee can shine through the sweeteners. You get a lot more flavours when it’s hot

You can enjoy the brink hot, iced, or blended. Also modifying the drink to have oat milk instead of milk is another good option.

Website: https://www.starbucks.ca/

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.

Address:
4563 North Road, Burnaby, BC

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/basakcafe2020/

Nespresso Coffee is always coming up with new capsules for their different machines. With the pandemic, having a good source of coffee in our home is a life saver. We’ve been able to save so much money by not making regular trips to the cafe.

Aged Sumatra, Ethiopia, and Costa Rica are the latest capsules to be released and it’s actually our favourite capsules too.

Aged Sumatra

Intensity: 8
Espresso: 40ml

The Aged Sumatra single origin coffee is split into two batches for roasting. The first is roasted intensely for a short time, reaching a medium dark colour. The second is roasted longer, thus adding intensity. The flavour profile is woody with a slight sweet after taste.

It is smooth and we love making it into a latte with oat milk.

Ethiopia

Intensity:4
Grand Lungo: 150ml

The Ethiopia Master Origins coffee is roasted in two splits. One is light and the other is medium roasted to keep the aromatic flavours alive. It’s very smooth. It is naturally flowery coffee which gains fruitiness and complexity due to their drying method. You can notice hints of blueberry and a touch of musk.

There is hardly any bitterness and it’s become one of our favourites with a bit of oat milk to pair. This is my personal favourite.

Costa Rica

Intensity: 7
Gran Lungo: 150ml

The Coasta Rica has a roastiness and full body taste with low acidity. It gives it a malty and cereal flavour profile. Similar to the other coffee, they split the roast to develop the flavours. Another solid coffee and like the other ones, we add a touch of oat milk to it.

Final thoughts

Of the three new capsules, I absolutely love the Ethiopia the most. Costa Rica is a family favourite too. I would usually gravitate towards espresso like the Aged Sumatra, but the others blends did impress us.

Website:
https://www.nespresso.com/ca/en

Nespresso has launched 2 new capsules from their Ispirazione Italiana collection – Ispirazione Venezia and Ispirazione Napoli. These will be joining Ristretto Italiano, Firense, Roma, Genova, and Palermo capsules.

These are only for the original machines and not the Vertuo.

We were invited to a media night to try these two capsules in an assortment of beverages.

Ispirazione Napoli

This is one of the most intense capsules with an intensity of 13. This is a dark roast and it is creamy. It makes an excellent espresso and it has low acidity. It’s not for everyone but I was personally drawn to this as I enjoy dark roasts with low acidity.

You can also spice things up by creating a Siciliano Cocktail using:

  • 2oz Sweet Italian Vermouth
  • 1.5oz of Averna amaro
  • 1.5oz of Cooled Nespresso Ispirazione Napoli
  • Sparking Water
  • Orang swath

You pour all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice to chill completely. Then you stain into a chilled glass and garnish with an orange swath.

Ispirazione Venezia

This comes at an intensity of 8 and is a middle dark roast. It is very well balanced with a good mouthfeel. Also excellent if you enjoy darker roasts. I had this in an affogato as well as an espresso and it was really easy to drink. Don’t forget to ad some cherries or shaved chocolate on top to sweeten the deal.

Final Thoughts

My favourite way to enjoy both is to have it as a shot of espresso and then adding some frothed milk to it was a dash of sugar. Simple and delicious.

You can now get the Ispirazione Venezia and Ispirazione Napoli capsules in-stores or online.

Website:
https://www.nespresso.com/ca/en/order/capsules/original

Nespresso has created their holiday capsule collection around the Nordic culture and influences. As Scandinavian-inspired cultural trends like Hygge have been quite popular in the last year. They have partnered up with renowned Danish designer, Louise Campbell, to create a range of limited edition Original and Vertuo coffees, which take design and flavour inspiration from the Nordic countries.

We were sent the Vertuo coffee – Nordic Black, Nordic Cinnamon Swirl, and Nordic Vanilla Princess Cake to try.

Nordic Black

150ml | Intensity 5

For those who love original long black coffees, they have created the Nordic Black. It makes a light-bodied long black coffee with a medium intensity, but you can always add some milk and sugar to make it smoother.

It isn’t too acidic and it is smooth and has some subtle sweet notes. There are hints of cereal and spice in the aftertaste. This was my favourite of the 3 pods as I prefer my coffees unflavoured.

Nordic Cinnamon Swirl

230ml | Intensity 5

The Nordic Cinnamon Swirl brings together a smooth aroma of cinnamon bun notes, and medium intensity of a half Caffeinato blend.

This is a flavoured coffee and on its own, I personally didn’t like it as much. When paired with a sweet treat like a cookie, it’s better.

Nordic Vanilla Princess Cake

230ml | Intensity 5

Nordic Vanilla Princess Cake is based on the iconic Swedish green cake, Prinsesstårta, featuring an indulgent creamy vanilla taste, marzipan sweetness and subtle hint of raspberry paired with the smooth and medium intensity of a Half Caffeinato blend.

Similar with the Cinnamon Swirl, I didn’t like it black. The vanilla and raspberry notes really shined through when eating something sweet as well.

Final Thoughts

It’s an interesting collection that blends a taste of Scandanavia into coffee format. As the holidays are filled with sweet goodies, they have crafted flavoured coffees like the Cinnamon Swirl and Nordic Vanilla Princess Cake that pair well. If you’re more traditional, the Nordic Black is more for you. I’m personally more traditional too.

There are also Nordic Almond Cake and Nordic Cloudberry available for the original machine. We have only reviewed the capsules for the Vertuo machine.

Website: https://www.nespresso.com/ca/en/home


 

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

Pumpkin Spice Cake

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

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

Add a Bit of Milk

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

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

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

White Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Cake Latte

Ingredients

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

Directions

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

Final Thoughts

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

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

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

Nespresso has introduced Barista Creations – their new range of coffees specially designed to go with milk. There are 5 new capsules launched for this line. 3 for the Original machine and 2 for the Vertuo machine.

These were inspired by the expertise of baristas, they make it easy to create coffee and milk recipes in the comfort of your home. It all starts with getting the coffee blend just right.

Chiaro, Scuro and Corto are created for the Original capsules. For the purpose of this review, I have a Vertuo machine, we are reviewing the Bianco Leggero and Bianco Forte.

Bianco Leggero

Bianco Leggero is inspired by the baristas of Brooklyn, who love the natural sweetness of coffee and try to preserve it. To achieve this, Nespresso chose Arabicas from Indonesia and Kenya and applied a uniquely light roast, to create a long cup with smooth, decadent notes of caramel and sweet biscuit when combined with milk.

Each capsule makes 80ml of coffee and recommends you add 120ml of frothed milk on top. Unlike the other Vertuo capsules, they don’t state an intensity as these were made to blend with milk.

I really enjoyed the Bianco Leggero. It’s strong and works really well with the milk. It is definitely smooth and you can taste the subtle sweetness as well. For my personal taste, I like the strong shot of coffee and then more milk added on top.

Bianco Forte

Bianco Forte was to emulate the robust, yet balanced recipes of Melbourne baristas in a large cup. To achieve this, they carefully selected Arabicas from Colombia and Kenya and gave them a contrasting split roast. The result is a rich, roasted and cereal notes that push through the sweetness of the milk you add thus creating a double cappuccino.

Each capsule makes 230ml of coffee and recommends you add 50ml of cold milk then the coffee, thus creating a Reverso Intenso. Unlike the other Vertuo capsules, they don’t state an intensity as these were made to blend with milk. You get quite a lot of natural crema on top with the bold coffee.

Final Thoughts

It’s great that they created these capsules that are tuned to blend with milk. Of the two, I liked the Bianco Leggero a lot compared to the Bianco Forte as its more smooth.

You can now get these Barista Creations capsules in stores or online.

Website:
https://www.nespresso.com/ca/en/barista-creations-for-milk

Nespresso launched Reviving Origins, a new program to restore coffee farming in regions where it is under threat. Through its AAA Sustainable Quality Program, Nespresso is working with farmers in regions that have been blighted by conflicts, economic hardships or environmental disasters.

The announcement comes alongside the launch of new single-origin coffees from Eastern Zimbabwe and Caquetá, Colombia. These exquisite and rare coffees are virtually unknown, and have been slowly disappearing for decades. As a result of Nespresso’s investment and the commitment of partners, coffee farmers in these two regions are starting to rebuild sustainable livelihoods, restore their local economies and bring much-needed development to their rural communities.

Both these capsules made for the Original and Vertuo machines. For this review, these are the Vertuo capsules that we used.

Esperanza de Colombia

For more than 50 years, Caquetá, hidden away in the remote Colombian Amazonas region, endured the turmoil of internal conflict. It’s only fitting then, that the direct translation of this new coffee’s name is ‘Hope of Colombia’.

Esperanza de Colombia is a rich and balanced Arabica espresso, with fruity notes and fine acidity. Each year the Caquetá farmers develop their skills to ensure they continue to achieve such a unique flavour.

The is at an intensity level of 3 and the Vertuo capsule makes a 230ml cup of coffee. You can definitely taste the fruity notes and definitely not too acidic compared to the Tumuka mu Zimbabwe. Good for those who enjoy a smooth cup of coffee in the morning.

Tumuka mu Zimbabwe

Once world famous for the coffee it cultivated, Zimbabwe has suffered 20 years of economic and political crisis. But since the peaceful political transition in 2017, Nespresso has made it their mission to reignite coffee farming in the Honde Valley of Zimbabwe.

Tumuka mu Zimbabwe is a flowery espresso from Honde Valley. It has complex fruitiness and a zesty bright acidity, full of character, with notes of red berries, currants, and cranberries.

The is at an intensity level of 5 and the Vertuo capsule makes a 40ml cup of espresso. Compared to the Esperanza de Colombia, you can taste more of the acidity and it’s nice and bold. You can have it as a shot or mix it with some milk or turn it into an Americano to soften the acidity.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really admire Nespresso for reinvigorating these two areas that have been burdened by conflicts through the Reviving Origins program. It’s also giving customers a taste of coffee from these two regions and ensuring the farmers and their communities are thriving.

We enjoyed both the Esperanza de Colombia and the Tumuka mu Zimbabwe were great and I would drink them depending on if I want a large cup of coffee or a smaller one. Both aren’t overly acidic as it’s at a 3 and 5, which is not bad compared to a 11.

You can now get these Reviving Origins capsules in stores or online.

Website:
https://www.nespresso.com/

Iktsuarpok Coffee Stand is the cutest little coffee shop in Gastown. There are no seats and you just order your drink at the window. Rika and Kento are behind Iktsuarpok Coffee Stand and while we were in line waiting, it was nice to see them chit chatting with us once our order was ready.

We saw them on Instagram and read a few articles online and knew we had to make a visit as their concept was unique.

Menu

The menu is limited with 3 items but you can’t go wrong with them.

White

This is a latte made with Moving Coffee beans, which is from Vancouver too. Milk and espresso never tasted so good. It really hit the spot and the latte art looks great too. Highly recommended.

Green

If you want a matcha latte, they have that too. It’s been pretty popular, so sometimes they run out of it. Be sure to check Instagram to see if it’s available. We initially planned to come here weeks ago but then we noticed they ran out of matcha, so we waited till it was back in stock.

You can ask them to adjust the sweetness or have none at all. The matcha tasted like it was high quality and you can taste it.

Final Thoughts

A lot of people who come here know that its there. Some people miss it completely as it is an obscure location where you have to look at the window to order. They have gained quite a following since they’ve opened. The quality of the drinks show and it’s a unique experience to order your drinks like a drive-thru…or in this case – walk-thru.

They are open on weekdays 8:30am to 4:30pm. On Saturdays, they are open 10am to 4pm.

Address:
30-425 Carrall St Vancouver, BC

prado-inner

Prado Cafe has finally opened their second location in Gastown. Their first location is on Commercial Drive and it’s a loved cafe in the neighbourhood. They really focus on crafting the perfect brew and creating a great atmosphere.

They use Parallel Forty Nine coffee in their brews, plus they have quality baked goods, sandwiches, light snacks and sweets.

I came before work to grab a coffee and a pastry before the work day begins. It’s always important to be caffeinated.

prado-menu

Their drinks are reasonably priced and the staff seem to be friendly.

prado-baked

Some of their yummy treats are presented quite nicely especially their bars.

prado-magic-bar

Magic Bar ($3.60) was chosen because of it’s name. It has chocolate chips, toasted coconut and a buttery sugary mixture like a butter tart.

prado-cappuccino

Cappuccino ($3.60) was really good! Just what I needed for the morning to wake me up.

prado-name

I love how they name some of their baked goods especially the cookie with no name.

Overall, it’s a good addition to the neighbourhood. It’s also a very comfortable space to do some work and sip on coffee. I will definitely be back.

We Rate Prado Cafe:

Address:
100 W Hastings St
Vancouver, BC

Websitehttp://pradocafevancouver.com/

Prado Cafe on Urbanspoon

starbucks-holiday-Chestnut-praline

Starbucks Canada introduces their new Chestnut Praline Latte, which replaces the Gingerbread Latte. When that news was announced, people petitioned to get the Gingerbread Latte back on the menu. Perhaps it was a marketing move to get people to vocalize their outrage…but it worked.

Starbucks hasn’t released a new holiday drink since 5 years ago, but its always fun to try something new.

I found it a bit silly since there’s so many alternatives you can choose from. No need to fuss over a flavour of latte.

starbucks-holiday-red-cups

Chestnut Praline Latte has espresso, steamed milk, and flavours of caramelized chestnuts and spices. Topped with whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs. You can also get it as a Frappuccino.

It was surprisingly good! Definitely on par with the other drinks on their holiday menu.

starbucks-holiday-whipped

I got a little big greedy and asked for A LOT of whipped cream and it kinda fell over on itself. It looked really good before it fell over. No need to be on a diet. I near MORE whipped cream.

Website: http://www.starbucks.ca/

Starbucks on Urbanspoon

creekside-coffee-outer

Creekside Coffee Factory is located in Coquitlam in a small plaza area. They are proud to be serving the freshest coffee possible. They even roast the beans in-house. CoffeeGuy introduced me to this place and told me there was a cafe with a happy Korean man roasting beans, while playing the guitar. I love independent coffee shops because you can really feel their passion for what they do and putting a smile on customers faces.

Since M’s relatives from Korea love coffee, it just seemed fitting to take them to a Korean owned cafe.

creekside-coffee-roaster

You can even watch them roasting the beans. Unfortunately, when we took a visit, nothing was happening here. I wanted to see this machine in action.

creekside-coffee-beans

You can buy the beans too. Once you purchase it, they are prepared right after to maintain optimal freshness.

creekside-coffee-inner

The interior is quite nice and cozy. It’s a good place to sit and chat with friends. Or even just do some homework.

creekside-coffee-plugs

There’s even free wifi and extra plugs for your devices.

creekside-coffee-treats

There are a few snacks a well. We came later in the afternoon, so I think the morning rush bought all the food.

creekside-coffee-cappuccino

Cappuccino came in a huge cup. I ordered a small, but I think a Large came. It tasted great and has lots of delicious foam.

creekside-coffee-iced-coffee

Iced Dew Drip Coffee is one of their specialty drinks and is quite popular. It is made fresh on site every day and has some great flavour and low acidity. M drank his black and it’s a lot better than regular drip coffee.

creekside-coffee-latte-american

Soy Latte and Americano were what the relatives ordered. They were both pleasantly surprised by the strong taste of their drink and totally put a good start to their day. It’s funny how they can’t function without their coffee.

Overall, Creekside Coffee Factory is a good place to get coffee if you are in the area.

We Rate Creekside Coffee Factory:

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/dewdrip

Address:
2773 Barnet Hwy
Coquitlam, BC

Creekside Coffee Factory on Urbanspoon

serious-coffee-line

Serious Coffee is a local coffee chain on Victoria Island. Serious Coffee opened in 1994 in Duncan, BC and has now grown to 25 locations on the island. 20 years has passed since they first opened, but they are still as serious about good coffee since day 1.

I was in the Mayfair location needing to grab a quick coffee before work. Unfortunately for me, everyone else decided to grab a coffee at the same time, so there was a long lineup. The line moved quickly though.

serious-coffee-order

serious-coffee-inner

The interior is cozy, but slightly dated. It definitely does have a nice charm to this place. It’s like home.

serious-coffee-coffee

Small Cappuccino ($3.39) was good! No complaints here. Delicious beans were used and it was nice and strong.

serious-coffee-wrap

Steak and Egg Breakfast Wrap came with a side of salsa. The wrap was grilled in a panini press and had nice grill marks.

serious-coffee-steak-egg

The wrap held together quite nicely and it tasted alright. Nothing revolutionary, but it was a good solid breakfast wrap. You can’t go wrong with this.

serious-coffee-cup

Overall, a good alternative coffee shop if you love supporting local businesses.

We Rate Serious Coffee

Address:
Unit D – 3075 Douglas St.
Victoria, BC

Website:
http://www.seriouscoffee.com/

Serious Coffee - Mayfair on Urbanspoon

La-Brasserie-sign

La Brasserie has been on my t0-eat list for a very long time. I came here for Brunch on a Sunday at 11am and they don’t take reservations. Brunch goes until 3pm, so have you have time to enjoy a taste of brunch. They serve Franco-German food and their brunch menu does look pretty delicious.

They also have a food truck, but obviously they sell different items.

La-Brasserie-inner

I find that if you come right at 11am, you won’t have trouble finding a table as they can seat about 35 people. We decided to sit at the bar, but that turned out to be the best decision ever.

La-Brasserie-bar

Usually 3 women can sit and chat forever, but when sitting at the bar facing the kitchen, you would not hear any of us talking to each other. We were too mesmerized looking at the chefs cook up a storm.

La-Brasserie-cook

We decided on what to order by looking at what the chefs were creating rather than focusing on the menu.

La-Brasserie-french-press

French Press Coffee ($4) in what I needed to kick off the day. The coffee is freshly ground for the order and tasted really good.

La-Brasserie-crepe

Savoury Crepes ($14) has chicken, mushrooms, mornay sauce, and veggies on top. This is what I ordered. It’s not the most visually appealing dish, but I chose it because I love mornay sauce, mushrooms and chicken. It didn’t seem like it would disappoint. It was really good! It’s the type of dish I love. I would definitely order this again.

La-Brasserie-eggs

Roast Pork Neck & Eggs ($14) has poached eggs, potatoes, and hollandaise. TaiwaneseGirl really enjoyed hers and the egg was poached perfectly.

La-Brasserie-poutine

Brasserie Breakfast Poutine ($13) has poached egg, bacon, gravy, truffle oil, and hollandaise all slathered above the fries. CanuckGirl did enjoy it, but after awhile, she was sick of the fries as there were so many. This is perhaps a good item to share among the table rather than eat it individually.

One item that I really wanted to order was the Brasserie Burger. It looked amazing and it’s topped with a mountain of crispy onions. I haven’t been here for dinner yet, but so far, I love brunch here.

We Rate La Brasserie

Address:
1091 Davie St
Vancouver BC

Website:
http://www.labrasserievancouver.com/

La Brasserie on Urbanspoon

Continental-coffee-inner

I was walking down Commercial Drive and I saw Continental Coffee House, so I decided to stop here and grab a coffee. It was cool to see an independent coffee joint in the neighbourhood. The place was packed in the middle of the day with people having meeting, people hanging out with friends, and people doing homework. It’s been around for a long time since 1979. They have been voted one of the best independent coffee shop in Vancouver.

There is also a second location on Main Street, that opened on December 2012.

Continental-coffee-cappuccino

Cappuccino was what I ordered. It was good coffee with a rice strong flavour.

I’ll definitely be back.

We Rate Continental Coffee

Address: 
1806 Commercial Dr
Vancouver BC

Websitehttp://continental-coffee.ca/

Continental Coffee on Urbanspoon

drake-inner

I was meeting up with BaguetteGirl and her other half in Toronto and they took me to The Drake Hotel to eat some brunch.

The brunch menu is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am till 4pm. Whether you are an early riser or wake up past 12, you will make it on time for brunch.

drake-coffee

Coffee ($2.95) is a must in the morning.

drake-scone

Warm Scone Plate ($9.50) has the scones, fresh berries, preserves, and cream. These were some awesome scones! It was crispy on the outside and a bit warm and fluffy on the inside. Probably the best scones I’ve ever had.

drake-chicken-waffles

Southern Fried Chicken + Waffle ($15.95) has an herb waffle, Niagara cherry jam, crème fraîche and maple syrup. I found the cherry jam to be quit sour so it didn’t compliment the chicken or the waffles. The waffle was soggy but the chicken was really delicious and moist.

drake-egg

Caleb Eggs Benny ($15.95) has house smoked salmon, 2 poached eggs, hollandaise sauce on arugula and a poppy-seed bagel. It is also served with home fries.

drake-mex

Drake Rancheros ($13.95) has 2 poached eggs under the  tomato braised beans, arugula and feta. It’s served with crispy tostada, salsa and sour cream.

Overall, it’s a pretty cool place to just hang out for brunch. The hotel has a young vibe and the food is pretty good especially their scones.

We Rate The Drake Hotel

Address:
1150 Queen St W
Toronto ON

Website:
http://www.thedrakehotel.ca/

The Drake Hotel on Urbanspoon

Bouchon-Bakery-outer

Bouchon Bakery is located in The Venetian and there are 3 locations inside. It is owned by world renowned chef – Thomas Keller. He is the man behind The French Laundry and Per Se. This was a major reason why my sister wanted to try out this bakery to see if it lived up to the hype.

We came in the early afternoon and sat outside on the patio for some snacks and sun.

Bouchon-Bakery-enter

The entrance to the Bouchon Bakery is through the inside of the hotel.

Bouchon-Bakery-inner

It isn’t large, so it more of a to go place, unless you sit outside on the patio.

Bouchon-Bakery-counter

There’s a bunch of pastries on the counter. From croissants to cookies.

Bouchon-Bakery-fridge

In their display case, they have macarons, eclairs and sandwiches.

Bouchon-Bakery-snack

We grabbed a latte and a mocha. Both of them tasted horrible. The mocha was very sweet and we could not adjust the sweetness because they didn’t know what half sweet meant. We soon realized this was the case because their coffee comes out of a machine with a press of a button rather than made by hand like how its supposed to be.

Same goes with the latte, it didn’t have that personal touch from the barista. Came straight from the machine.

I expected a bit more from them especially with the name behind the bakery.

Bouchon-Bakery-burnt

Ham and cheese croissant was baked in the oven for us after we ordered. It was burnt on the edges but was pretty good. Not as good as Beaucoup in Vancouver.

Bouchon-Bakery-sweet

Chocolate eclair was small but it was pretty good. The coffee macaron was a disappointment. It didn’t have the right texture and it was really chewy.

Bouchon-Bakery-croissant

Overall, I was a bit disappointed in Bouchon Bakery. I can name a few places in Vancouver that are ten times better. Sigh, I had such high hopes. Perhaps I just have higher standards since Vancouver has some pretty amazing bakeries.

We rate Bouchon Bakery

Address:
3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

Website:
http://bouchonbakery.com/

Bouchon Bakery on Urbanspoon

on-the-grind-bike

Close to my office is a mobile coffee cafe called On The Grind Cafe. It moves around town on a customized bike. I’ve seen it near Science World and Strathcona. It moves around day to day, so it’s never at a consistent location each day.

It’s an eco-friendly cafe as it is powered by solar and pedal power. Plus all their cups are compostable too.

on-the-grind-logo

They get their beans from Matchstick Coffee Roasters, which is a local company with an emphasis on hand-crafted preparation and delivery of single-origin coffees.

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Their prices are quite fair and in my opinion worth the price. It’s so much better than Starbucks! He can also make customized drinks too, so its not limited to just this list.

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Best of all, they take credit cards!!

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Brett is the man behind On The Grind Cafe. He has a huge passion for coffee and great guy to chat with while waiting for coffee.

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Cappuccino ($3.50) tasted great! Plus, I got great view of Science World and False Creek.

They are near Science World Tuesdays and Thursdays for now. And the other days, they are all around town, so it s good to follow them on Facebook or Twitter to see where they are at before you make a trip to get coffee.

We Rate On The Grind Cafe

Location:
varies

Website:
http://onthegrindcafe.com/

On The Grind Cafe on Urbanspoon