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In Cafe

Faubourg: Lavender Tea, Lavender Latte, Lavender Pastries and More

Are you a fan of lavender? Faubourg in Vancouver has launched their lavender collection containing  new items that will tempt lavender lovers. Through these new items, they are taking guests to the lavender fields of Provence France. If you love lavender, you definitely want to check out these treats and drinks.

As we came here for a tasting, all the pastries we tried were sample sizes and do not represent the normal portion sizes.

Lavender and Strawberry Pastry

This has lavender honey and sage mousse paired with a sweet strawberry gelee and a lavender vanilla sponge cake.

Blueberry and Lavender Opera Cake

It has layers of blueberry infused almond sponge cake, blueberry jam, lavender ganache, finished with a blueberry gelée.

Lavender Earl Grey Macaron

Macaron infused with lavender and earl grey.

Blueberry and Lavender Chausson

This flakey pastry is filled with a blueberry and lavender jam.

Lavender Black Tea Latte

Lavender Latte

Final Thoughts

The introduction of all these lavender items are actually really delicious. My two favourite items were the lavender latte and the blueberry and lavender opera cake. The other items were good too, but if I had to choose one drink and one treat, those would be it. You can find these new menu items in their lavender collection at all locations – West Vancouver, Downtown, and Kerrisdale.

Address:
769 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://faubourg.com/

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In Dessert

Perverted Ice Cream: Not so Sexy Ice Cream in Vancouver

Perverted Ice Cream is the latest dessert shop to open up in Downtown Vancouver. They are known for their stylish black and white brand with creative ice cream combinations on their menu. I was Downtown with my friends and we decided to stop here for a sweet treat to the end of the night.

Interior

The space is really small, so it’s all grab and go. There is a very very tiny waiting area with merchandise you can purchase.

Some of the items here are cheeky, but still not too perverted.

Matcha Macho Man

This has cream and chocolate swirl soft serve, Mondo matcha, coconut crumble, and black chocolate wafer in a naked cone. It’s essentially a dressed up twist cone. The flavour combination was ok.

Cocoa-Dependency

There is chocolate soft serve, chocolate sauce, and chocolate pieces all in a naked cone. This is a go to for the chocolate lovers out there.

Beg For S’more

This has chocolate soft serve, cocoa, chocolate sauce, graham cracker, and toasted marshmallow.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the flavours were decadent, but the ice cream cones really didn’t wow me. It wasn’t perverted or X Rated enough for my liking. Their marketing and branding are great but felt like it fell through when we ate the ice cream.

Address:
797 Thurlow St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://pervertedicecream.com/

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In Downtown

Ramen Taka: Ramen Challenge in Vancouver

Ramen Taka aka Ramen Takanotsume is launching their Giga Ramen Challenge on June 1st and it’s not for the faint of heart. I came to watch my friend Maggie attempt this challenge and wow…it’s not easy. In 30 minutes, you must finish the whole bowl unassisted. There is the equivalent of 5 bowls of ramen in there. If you fail, you pay the price of 4 bowls. For example, if you got the Shoyu, that is $11.95 x 4, which is $47.80. If you are victorious, it’s free.

She loves a challenge, so she was drawn to it right away. Make sure you reserve ahead of time to ensure they have time to put it together.

Giga Ramen Challenge

The big bowl of ramen start off with their delicious broth that is topped with their delicious seasoned Hokkaido lard. You can choose shoyu, shio or miso as your broth. Their broth os made with a mixture of pork bones, veggies, and seafood simmered for many hours to be able to get a deep flavour in the broth.

Maggie went with the Dragon’s Dewdrop Shoyu Ramen for the challenge as it’s lightest of the flavours and she felt like she had a better chance of finishing it.

As they built the Giga Ramen, it kept getting bigger and bigger. It’s crazy how much goes into this.

Even the staff were curious about their first competitor and wondered if she could do it all.

Regular Sized Ramen

This is the regular size, so it’s a good portion for those who aren’t up for the challenge. I got the Dragon’s Dewdrop Shoyu Ramen too as it was recommended for first timers. The piece of chashu and seaweed were huge as it sits on the side of the bowl, and the egg, black fugus, green onions and bamboo shoots accompany the delicious noodles and broth. I was surprised by the broth and how good it tasted for a shoyu based broth. I do like my broths more fatty, so it’s definitely not for everyone. It is also piping hot as, so you need to wait a bit before digging in.

BEGIN THE GIGA RAMEN CHALLENGE

This in comparison to the regular bowl is colossal as it is 5 times larger. I won’t spoil the outcomes if Maggie finished it or not, but you can read her blog here. She also has a video, so you can watch every detail of sweat.

Are you ready for the Giga Ramen Challenge?

Faceboook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/ramentaka.ca/

Address:
841 Bidwell St, Vancouver, BC

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In Downtown

Kurumucho: Japanese Taco Shop in Vancouver

Kurumucho is a Japanese Taco Shop in Vancouver. M and I wanted to grab a bite before seeing a movie, so we decided to come here for some of their unique tacos. The menu looks very healthy, so it is one of the better options in the area.

Interior

The shop is small and very narrow. There are many seats but its suited for groups of 2 or 4.

Menu

Spider Sushi Taco

There is a whole soft shell crab in this tempura seaweed taco shell. There is also multigrain sushi rice, avocado, cucumber, alfalfa sprouts and their aurora sauce. It was pretty good with different textures and not heavy at all.

Soy Garlic Salmon Sushi Taco

In this tempura seaweed taco shell is wild sockeye salmon, multigrain sushi rice, avocado, cucumber, spring salad mix, soy garlic sauce, sesame seeds and nori on top. The quality of the salmon was really good and the taco overall had clean flavours. I enjoyed it.

Pork Brisket Kakuni Taco

This taco is a bit different as it’s on a tortilla wrap. There is pork brisket, spring lettuce mix, avocado, cayenne pepper, cilantro, Jalapeño, tomato, onion, pickled ginger, and a mustard garlic sauce. They highly recommended their taco and it was good.

Chicken Breast Karaage

We shared this dish and it was also delicious. It has the deep fried chicken breast with tonkatsu mayo. On the bottom of the bowl is spring lettuce mix. The chicken was surprisingly moist for chicken breast.

Beets Marble Ice Cream

This ice cream caught our eye and we had to get it. It has coconut milk, soy milk, cane sugar, beets, coconut oil, salt, guar gum, vanilla powder, vanilla extract and lemon juice. It is organic, vegan and gluten-free. We were pleasantly surprised.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the food at Kurumucho was delicious. I like how there are a lot of items on the menu that cater to those who are vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free. The sushi tacos are unique and they do a good job creating those tempura seaweed shells.

We Rate Kurumucho: 

Address:
985 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC

Website: https://www.kurumucho.com/

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In Cocktails

Dublin Calling Rooftop is Now Open on Granville Street

Dublin Calling is a Irish Pub and Kitchen on Granville Street. They recently launched their rooftop patio for the Summer for guests to gather over drinks, food and savour all the sunshine that will come our way. The the main floor, they have a lot of games like skee ball, darts, pool, ping pong and TV screens for the ultimate party setting. Check out our previous article about the space.

Rooftop

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Just head upstairs to the 3rd floor and you’ll find the rooftop. There are 2 bars  to get your drink on and also lots of high tops and booth seating for seat small to large groups.

They can seat up to 283 people in this space and is open until 2am.

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It’s one of Granville Streets only roof-top patios, so you’ll get lots of natural light if you want to kick back and relax after work.

Drinks

They have lots of drinks on tap, cocktails, caesars, and even margaritas in buckets.

This is such a cute idea since I don’t know who’s has ever drank an alcoholic drink out of a child’s pail. It definitely caught the attention of many people on the rooftop. Slowly everyone started getting this too.

Address:
900 Granville St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://dublincalling.com/vancouver/

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In Downtown

Assembli: Custom Pizza and Salad, One Flat Rate in Downtown Vancouver

Assembli has opened their newest location in Downtown Vancouver in the Oceanic Plaza Towers close to Burrard and Pender. They specialize in two things – custom-made salads and pizza. All for one flat price of $14 with any topping you desire. If you’re indecisive just like me, there are a few pre-selected options on the menu.

You won’t see any surprises on your bill for your salad or pizza. It’s very customizable to your taste, so if you hate onions or mushrooms, you’ll never have to see them again.

The ingredients they us are fresh-non-GMO, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and local and organic where possible.

Interior

There are a few tables and seating by the windows, but a lot of people end up getting it to go.

Menu

 

Order Online

If you’re in a rush, you can order your meal online to skip the line. Easy and simple if you have a very short lunch break.

Kale Caesar Salad with Chicken

This is one of their options and I added a protein, which doesn’t increase the price. In the bowl is kale, romaine, home-style croutons, parmesan, Caesar dressing and herb roast chicken.

Carne-Dian Pizza

This has seasoned ground beef, pepperoni, bacon, mozzarella, sautéed mushrooms, red onion, and spicy tomato sauce.

It goes right into their oven which is heated to 700 degrees to get this pizza nice and crisp. I really like the carne-dian as it is a meat-lovers pizza. Can’t go wrong with this unless you’re a vegetarian

Beer

If you’re looking for a drink, they have beer on the menu to pair with their pizza.

Final Thoughts

It’s a good addition to the Downtown area where a lot of financial buildings are. If you’re looking for quick, customizable meal options, here it is.

Address:
1066 West Hastings, Vancouver

Website:
http://www.assembli.ca/

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In Downtown

Vancouver International Wine Festival: International Tasting Room 2018

One of our most anticipated wine events of the year is the Vancouver International Wine Festival and specifically, our favourite event is the International Tasting Room event. Featuring 173 wineries from a total of 16 countries with tickets ranging from $79 to $95, it’s at an approachable price point especially with so many choices to choose from.

A look inside the International Tasting Room

The room is divided into two sections with one dedicated on the featured region and the other dedicated to wines from other countries. Bread, crackers, cheese and many other snacks are also available throughout the session between the two areas. Featured countries for 2018 were Spain & Portugal.

The event is always well organized, so you won’t run into situations where tables run out of wine or people are dashing madly to fill their glasses.

Famous for their reds, Spain & Portugal boasts beautiful, rich, and bold reds at some very affordable prices.

Our Favourites

A few of our favourite discoveries this year included:

We can’t wait for next year’s featured region, California!

Website: https://vanwinefest.ca/

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In Cocktails

Science of Cocktails 2018: 1500 Attendees Raising $276,695

Science World’s Science of Cocktails returned for its 3rd year this February and it was just as dazzling as the years before. Yes it is a fundraiser, but don’t expect a stuffy gathering of the elite with crab cakes, standing tables and polite applause. In Vancouver, we do it our way. Like other annual city favorites, it’s where people gather to watch artists of their respective crafts pour their hearts out (into our cups) for a great time out.

It was a sold out house of 1500 and raised $276,695 to support the Science World Class Field Trip Bursary, which allows kids from underserved schools an opportunity to go on a free class field trip to Science World. Remember staring up at the giant twinkling disco ball that is Science World while your teachers counted you?

Help bring memories to more kids at next year’s event on Feburary 7, 2019. Tickets will start at $125. Note that you can get a tax receipt when you purchase a ticket too. Sign up to be notified when they go on sale: https://www.scienceworld.ca/cocktails/tickets.

As for what to expect, this year 35 new creative cocktails headlined this year, all different from 2017, with 11 food stations run by local favorites like Pidgin, Bao Down the Donnelly Group and more. Don’t let the cute cups fool you, trust the safety goggles, these drinks mean business.

Last year I took my time and listened to all the science, like how they made a boulevardier as an ice cream . This year we tried to conquer the whole circuit before the night ran out. Whatever your pace, this is a night is perfect cocktail lovers.

My favorite this year was “The Mystique” with Hendricks gin, Fentiman’s tonic water, Ms Better’s Bitters green strawberry bitters, lime juice and butterfly pea flower ice cubes. I’m a sucker for anything with butterfly pea.

If molecular caviar yuzu pearls is not “science” enough for you, guests have the freedom to roam around and enjoy all the little wonders, experiments and exhibits that make up Science World too.

Detailed Old Fashioned with Lot 40 using titration

Muddling liquid nitrogen to make a Nitro Margarita

The Perfect Gin & Tonic with a basil edible “toothpaste”. Sounds really weird, but is very tasty.

Salted Rob Roy with salted caramel sauce featuring liquid nitrogen encapsulation.

Smoked Rosemary Caesar

 

Cubano of Havana Club rum, honey, bitters and sous vide bananas.

 

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In American

Cocktails and Canapés at The Victor

“To the victor belong the spoils.” After arriving on the sixth-floor rooftop, I already felt like a winner about to enjoy my prize. The evening was elevated with spectacular views of BC Place, a water feature, and ambient lights. The Victor is located at Parq, Vancouver’s newest casino with two luxury hotels. The Victor is one of four restaurants at this entertainment destination, and is cleverly named to reflect the “spoils,” or wins, guests may experience while they stay, dine or play at Parq.

The Victor offers the ultimate dining experience with it’s classic North American steak and seafood menu.

The meat carving station, fresh seafood and sushi bar, salad station and dessert bar were impressive to say the least. Since the restaurant boasts its steak and seafood, I quickly navigated to these areas, after picking up a little bubbly.

The meat carving station had striploin steak that was perfectly seared to a medium-rare. It was tender, moist and oh-so flavourful! Grainy mustard and chimichurri were served as complementary accompaniments to this cut of beef. This is definitely a must-try!

The fresh seafood bar made my eyes widen in excitement, when I saw crab legs, oysters and clams on display. The sushi bar was impressive as well. The rectangular dishes of various nigiri and rolls looked elevated. I am usually skeptical of a restaurant that offers both steak and sushi, but I was impressed with the quality of sushi at the restaurant.

There was a lovely and enticing dessert bar, which showcased some items on their menu, plus candy.

The dessert that stood out amongst the rest was the Crème Brûlée Donut. It is a creme-filled puff topped with hardened caramel, which is reminiscent of sugar that is torched on top of a traditional crème brûlée. It was sweet, creamy and oh-so indulgent!

The food wasn’t the only impressive thing about The Victor. The restaurant staff were very friendly and hospitable. I talked to a few and asked what they liked on the menu. Their responses were so passionate, I could tell that they really liked what they recommended! I found out that the really good sushi wasn’t out that night, so I will make a return visit just to try the Hamachi Nobu Style.

The restaurant is adjacent to a lounge, which is a great space for cocktails and convo with great company. It’s a lux space to wait, have a drink, and look out the window to enjoy the city view.

If you’re looking for a delicious cut of steak, fresh seafood, and an elevated space for cocktails, make your way to The Victor, Vancouver’s newest dining destination.

Address:
39 Smithe St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.parqvancouver.com/restaurants/the-victor/

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In Downtown

Ancora Waterfront Dining & Patio: Pescatarian Tasting Menu

Ancora Waterfront Dining & Patio just released their Pescatarian Tasting menu from February 19 till March 31. The menu has 5 Peruvian-Japanese fusion dishes by executive chef Ricardo Valverde.

I personally love tasting menus as it gives you a glimpse into the chef mind and see more creativity than on a regular menu. Plus, the ingredients that go into the dishes are fresh and in season. Plus, you might discover a new favourite dish.

Pisco Sour is the national drink of Peru and we got a little taste before the meal.

Amuse

This taster has lobster bisque, coconut espuma and crispy quinoa. This had a strong and flavourful lobster taste. A good way to kick off this pescatarian menu.

Causa Mixta

This has a selection of shell fish like scallops, white fish, shrimp, and mussels. There is also yam, nori and acevichado sauce.

This is paired with Seastar Stella Maris 2014 from Pender Island, BC. It is a blend of Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris.

Matane shrimp risotto

This dish has cauliflower, hazelnuts, preserved lemon and thyme. The dish was delicious and the texture was very nice. The hazelnut was an interesting element added to the dish but I loved it. The preserved lemon added a good amount of tanginess and the thyme and lemon flavouring went well together. All the flavours in this dish really complimented each other.

This is paired with the Prima Volta Chardonnay 2015 from the Okanagan Valley.

Aji panca glazed sablefish

The sablefish is paired with quinoa crackling, kale gomae, and smoked potato puree on daikon. The sablefish was cooked perfectly and the flakiness it was melt in your mouth. I enjoyed every bite of this dish.

This is paired with the Kettle Valley Reserve Pinot Noir 2013 from Okanagan Valley.

Picarones

Picarones are like a lighter version of a donut.

This is a Peruvian classic with pecans, fig syrup and Lucuma ice cream which tasted like delicious gingerbread. The flavours tied well together and was a joy to finish the meal on this sweet note.

This is paired with the Late Harvest Sperling 2014 from the Okanagan Valley. Great to see all the local BC wines paired with the menu picked by their sommelier team.

Final Thoughts

For $59 per person or $99 with wine pairings, it’s a good price and you will be leaving satisfied.

Address:
1600 Howe St #2, Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.ancoradining.com

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In Dineout

BlackBird Pub House: $20 Dine Out Vancouver Menu

This year’s Donnelly Group Dine Out Vancouver menus blend new food program highlights with a number of fresh dishes created by the culinary team. With hearty entrees, satisfying vegetarian options, and tempting desserts-all made-from-scratch-Donnelly Group is proud to offer delicious, value-packed $20 Dine Out menus. Donnelly Group’s culinary team Alvin Pillay, Sarah Stewart, and Chris Stewart have put their stamp on menus which are built around a core group of 14 dishes, mixed and matched to create unique offerings with multiple options at each location.

I went to dine at BlackBird Pub House near Burrard and Dunsmuir with my husband with the added wine pairings too.

This special menu goes on from January 19th till February 4th 2018.

Interior

The space is large and super packed during happy hour, but if you come after 6:30pm, it’s not as crazy.

Kale Caesar

The kale caesar has green apple, garlic croutons, and pumpkin seeds. A good portion for the first course and the dressing is light which I enjoyed a lot. It is paired with Summerhill ‘alive’ organic white from the Okanagan. It was delicious and I liked how the green apple played off notes from the wine.

The BC VQA wine suggestions are from Bar & Beverage Director Trevor Kallies, and this year, each selection is available singly and in different sized pours for sipping, sampling, and sharing.

Cauliflower & Brie Soup

The soup had a hearty depth of flavour with a base of charred lemon yogurt. This was paired with the Gehringer Cabernet Merlot.

Brisket Cavatappi

There is tomato, oregano, olives and grana padano. It’s a pretty big portion with a big chunk of tender shredded brisket. Very comforting and not overly complicated. The only ingredient that threw me off a little bit were the olives.

This dish is paired with Tinhorn Creek Merlot which goes well with the sauce.

Spicy Lamb Shepherd’s Pie

On top is the sweet potato mash with bourbon bbq gravy and on the bottom is the spicy lamb. It was interesting to see it some in a pot since it’s not really a shepherd’s pie.

This was paired with Adega Malbec.

Chocolate Praline Bar

It has peanut butter in the centre and topped with sweet cream and bits of peanuts.

It is pair with the Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, which pairs really well with the dessert. My husband loved it as it has a palate of citrus, baking spices and toffee framed by notes of vanilla and oak.

Coconut Panna Cotta

The coconut panna cotta is topped with peach compote and candied ginger. Along with 2 ginger cookies. This portion was larger than the chocolate praline bar and there’s quite a bit to it.

I had it with the Monkey Shoulder, a blend of three Speyside Single Malts aged in ex-bourbon casks which impart a smooth and mellow vanilla flavour into the whisky with hints of zesty orange, honey and spiced oak.

Final Thoughts

For a $20 3-course set meal, this was pretty good and affordable. If you get the pairings, it will definitely be a lot more than you imagined, but you don’t have to pair with every single dish. All the dishes were good except, the Spicy Lamb Shepherd’s Pie. The best dish of the night was the coconut panna cotta.

We rate BlackBird: 

Address:
905 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver

Website:
http://donnellygroup.ca/the-blackbird

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In Bar and Grill

Dublin Calling: New Party Pub and Kitchen on Granville Strip

There’s a new Irish Pub in Downtown Vancouver and it has taken over the former Ceili’s location. It is Dublin Calling and it has opened its second location in Canada right on the Granville Strip. The first location opened in Toronto in 2015 and has been successful. Dublin Calling will be your new go-to spot to watch the big game and kick back with a few beers and Irish-inspired pub grub with a modern twist. Roman and I checked the place out and here’s a recap of what to expect.

Interior

 

Dublin Calling’s space is large enough to have a group event. There are plenty of TV screens so you can catch the game. In between appetizers, you can enjoy pool, ping pong or darts. We noticed some people lingering in the corner by an arcade game and quickly realized it was a Super Shot Basketball arcade. Roman and I enjoyed challenging each other on it, as we both tried to gain a high score. Too bad we didn’t make any bets since I scored more baskets between the two of us!

Food

We had no expectations for the food as we know that pub food is pretty much standard in terms of what is offered. However, Dublin Calling pleasantly surprised us with what they had. In addition to trying the Shepherd’s Pie Bites, we tried the Roast Beef Stuffed Yorkshire Pudding (with mashed potatoes), Mini Sliders, Fish & Chips and Forest Mushroom Pizza. The Irish-inspired pub grub was tasty. The modern twist was found in dishes like the Pulled-Pork & Mango Pizza. First of all, you don’t expect pizza at an Irish pub. Second of all, I would have never thought to combine pulled-pork and mango together. The savouriness of the pork was complimented well by the sweetness of the mango. It was unexpected, but it was good! We also really liked the Shepherd’s Pie Bites. Can’t go wrong with deep-fried mini Shepherd’s Pie with Guinness bacon cheese sauce! It was the perfect appetizer in a place like this.

Shepherd’s Pie Bites

Roast Beef Stuffed Yorkshire Pudding with Mashed Potatoes

Pulled-Pork & Mango Pizza

You’re sure to be entertained with all the games, TV screens and tasty bites that Dublin Calling has to offer. Just looking for a place to drink? They have a variety of beer on tap too. With the holidays around the corner, this spot is sure to be bustling with work parties and get-togethers. If your looking for a casual spot for a fun night with friends, Dublin Calling is the place.

   

Website:
https://dublincalling.com/vancouver/

Address:
900 Granville St, Vancouver, BC

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In Downtown

Black Rice Izakaya: Winter Menu

Black Rice Izakaya in Vancouver is always trying to have seasonal items on the menu to keep items fresh and also cater to the tastebuds for the winter months. They have released 6 new dishes for the cold winter season.

Interior

There is a lot of space for groups of 2s and 4s, if you have a larger group, best to get a reservation so you don’t have to wait during peak hours.

Hamaguri Dobin Mushi

This has Hamaguri, water, salt, pepper string and yuzu peel. It is a very comforting broth that is peppery and ends with the citrus yuzu peel.

Goma Tuna

You have chunks of the tuna marinated in delicious sauce. Then a crisp rice cake on top. There is also a cucumber cup filled with uni. I liked this dish as it has nice clean flavours.

Kichi Scallop Motoyaki

In the shell is kimchi, chopped bell pepper, butter and cheese. A rich dish due to the butter and cheese, but cooked kimchi is very comforting in the winter months.

Neapolitan Spaghetti

There is soba noodle, tomato sauce, ketchup, bacon, sausage, onion and egg. I found it a touch too sweet, but some people at the table really enjoyed it.

Kimchi Nabe

A hot warming hot pot that is kept warm by the fame under it. It’s not too spicy at all. I find that some kimchi is better is soups where its flavours can really shine through.

Terikayi Wagyu Steak

This sizzling plate has Teriyaki glazed US wagyu beef from Snake River Farms, Monterey Jack and mozzarella cheese with mashed potatoes. It’s cooked till a medium rare for the quality of meat to shine through.

Sake Drinks

Of course it’s not winter without some delicious sake cocktails to go with the meal. With the winter, there is lots to celebrate around the table during the holidays. They have a lot of options on their beverage menu.

Beer

If you’re like me, I enjoy beer more than sake for the crisp bubbly taste. There is Sapporo and Asahi on top, but I usually gravitate towards Sapporo.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the new items are good additiona to the menu to give customer more options during the winter. I didn’t love all the dishes as I prefer more of a clean taste to my food, but I did like the Hamaguri Dobin Mushi and Goma Tuna.

We Rate Black Rice Izakaya: 

Address:
782 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.blackrice.ca/

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In Cocktails

Botanist Restaurant: Chef’s ‘We’ll Take It From Here’ Menu

We wanted to indulge on a culinary night out at Botanist with a few of my foodie friends – Foodgressing and Picky Diner. We decided to do the Chef’s ‘We’ll Take It From Here’ Menu for the whole table for $108 per person. A bit indulgent, but since I just came back from New York, this price was really great in comparison.  We went on a Friday night around 6pm and did require reservations as it’s a pretty busy time of year.

Interior

The interior is very beautiful and the perfect setting for any occasion. They even have liven music which is a nice touch. Good for small to large groups.

Drinks and Cocktails

Drinks aren’t included with the set menu, but we got a few different beverages to go with the meal. I went with beer as usual. They do have mocktails too if you don’t drink alcohol. Just ask the staff as they have a pretty extensive drink menu.

Wine Pairings

You can also add wine pairings with each dish in the set menu. Worth it if you’re a wine lover.

Bread

As you wait for the dishes to arrive, they give you some beautiful housemade bread and some butter.

Amuse Bouche

The meal started with a Sturgeon Chicharron, fermented veggies, and dried sturgeon. It was essentially deep-fried fish skin and it was very delicious. The crunchy texture paired well with the fermented veggies. A good start to the meal. This was paired with Zanata Brut.

Course 1: Beet Salad

The next item has textured beets, pecans, orange, and Ashley Goat’s cheese. I simply adore beets, so I loved all the different variety and techniques they used on this dish. Paired with Lucien Crochet Sancerre.

Course 2: Lobster and Sunchoke

This has Sunchoke Velouté, lobster, and chive chantilly. They come to the table and pour the broth into the bowl. A fun way to see the dish come together. The lobster was cooked perfectly. Paired with Roux Père et Fils Chardonnay.

Course 3: Scallop

This has Diver scallop, brussel sprouts, guanciale celeriac foam. A beautiful sear on each side of the scallop on top of the shredded bed of brussel sprouts. The acidity of the sauce worked in the dish to go well with the foam and scallop. Paired with Domaine de la Mora.

Course 4: Bison

This meaty dish has Bison, Saskatoon berry, mushrooms, caulifower. The mushrooms were absolutely amazing to go with the bison. A fun dish to showcase ingredients from Canada. Paired with Perraton Père et Fils

Course 5: Dessert

This dessert is made with Itakuji chocolate pate, passion fruit pulp, and licorice ice cream. At first I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about the dessert after hearing it has licorice. After digging into it, I really enjoyed the passion fruit a lot. The licorice was subtle and not overpowering at all. Paired with Foneseca Port.

Sweet Treat

At the end of the meal, they give everyone a little gift to take home – Chef’s Shortbread using his grandmother’s recipe. A nice thoughtful gift to continue the experience at home.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think it was worth what you get in the Chef’s tasting. We were all full afterwards and each dish was unique and not on the regular menu. Service was great and the staff were all super friendly. I’ll be back for any special occasion.

We Rate Botanist Restaurant: 

Address:
1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.botanistrestaurant.com/

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In Cafe

Caffè Artigiano: Holiday Drinks

Holiday drinks are all around, but if you’re a fan of Caffè Artigiano, you’ll want to enjoy some holiday cheer in their newly renovated Burrard and Hornby Location along with their beverages. Chef Dawn Doucette has paired up with Caffé Artigiano’s Director of Coffee, Michael Ratcliff, for four new drinks, as well as a classic eggnog latte.

Holiday Private Reserve Espresso

Michael’s Holiday Private Reserve Espresso is grown in three different continents, all from family owned, ethical farms. He roasts an organic Kintamani from Bali, Honduras Organic Finca Liquadambar and Ethiopian Limu Gera, then blends the trio of beans into an enticing seasonal take on his signature espresso. Exotic spicy flavours, including notes of molasses,  mandarin, strawberry preserve and star anise pair with the dark chocolate flavours of Artigiano’s signature espresso for a subtle, mild blend on its own as an espresso or in a latte or cappuccino.

Orange Mocha Latte

Using organic Italian syrups and their holiday espresso for their Orange Mocha Latte – Chocolate and espresso balance out this subtle Italian flavour combination with a creamy milk foam. It is topped with a crisp orange slice sprinkled with sugar, then dehydrated overnight in a convection oven.

Toasted Marshmallow Latte

A Toasted Marshmallow Latte is fun, sprinkled with mini marshmallows with a serious double shot of espresso.

Peppermint Mocha Latte

Two Christmas inspired drinks include a Peppermint Mocha Latte, blending chocolate, espresso, peppermint syrup and a sprinkle of crunchy candy cane and, serving a whipping cream top.

Gingerbread Latte

Gingerbread Latte is the most indulgent with ginger syrup and espresso topped with whipping cream, caramel sauce and crushed gingerbread cookies.

All drinks are available with regular milk, organic milk (organic milk is no additional charge for children, also available – espresso free hot chocolate), soya or almond milk, now until the new year.

You can indulge in some sweet treats along with your coffee that will equally match the festivities. If you’re looking for a shop for delicious coffee and sweets, check out Caffè Artigiano.

Address:
763 Hornby Street, Vancouver

Website: https://www.caffeartigiano.com/

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In Downtown

Hula Poké at Pacific Centre Food Court in Vancouver

Hulu Poké is now open at Pacific Centre in Downtown Vancouver serving up Hawaiian-inspired poké bowls and tostadas. There has been a surge of poke shops opening up around the Lower Mainland and there’s no stopping them. Vancouverites love their seafood and clean flavours.

They have 9 different types of pre-built Hula Bowls, so you can’t customize them like other shops. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as those who are indecisive don’t have to think so hard. Those who are picky, may not like these pre-built options.

Menu

Hula Bowls

All hula bowls have a base of rice and yuzu kale. There are 6 Hula Bowls and 2 Vege Bowl options on the menu.

  • Tiki with Togarashi Spicy Tuna
  • Bahamian with Coconut Rockfish
  • Lei with Togarashi Salmon
  • Koko with Gochujang Salmon
  • Ancho with Ancho Rockfish
  • Nikkei with Citrus Ahi Tuna
  • Cali Veg with Miso Ginger Tofu
  • Sweet Potato with Ancho Sweet Potato

If you don’t like cilantro of red chili peppers, you should tell them ahead of time.

 

Tiki

This has ahi tuna in togarashi mayo, cucumber, green onion, red chili, edamame, crispy onions, black sesame, hijiki, and cilantro.

Bahamian

This has rockfish, coconut and pineapple salsas, edamame, red pepper, green onion, jalapeno, coconut flakes and cilantro. This reminded me of a Hawaiian pizza of poke.

Koko

This has spicy gochujang salmon, carrots, white onion, avocado, cucumber, kimchi, furikake, black sesame, cilantro, and a miso ginger vinaigrette on the bed of yuzu kale and rice.

Ancho

There is rockfish in an ancho crema tossed in avocado, jicama slaw, green onion, red pepper, chili oil, cilantro and crispy onions.

Lei

This has salmon in togarashi mayo, cucumber, avocado, red pepper, green onion, red pepper strings, spicy peas and furikake. One of my favourites.

Nikkei

This has ahi tuna in peruvian citrus sauce, avocado, white onion, red thai chili, grapefruit, togarashi sprinkle, crunchy peas, black sesame seeds, tossed with wasabi lemon crema. One of my favourites too.

Cali Veg

There is the miso ginger tofu, snow peas, red pepper, avocado, carrots, black sesame seeds, red pepper string, hijiki, and picked cucumber. Apparently, this was a popular dish among vegans.

Sweet Potato

This has sweet potato, ancho crema, jicama slaw, green onion, red pepper, chili oil, cilantro and crispy onions.

Wai-Tais

There are 2 different Wai-Tais, which as fruit-infused coconut waters. There is strawberry hibiscus and pineapple lime. I gravitated towards the pineapple line and it was refreshing with poké.

Kombucha

They have 2 house-made Kombucha – Mint Mojito and Ginger Hibiscus. I had some of the Mint Mojito and it was delicious. It wasn’t too intense compared to some other kombucha I’ve had before.

Lava

This drink has DeVille Coffee poured over coconut milk. It was an interesting drink, but a bit heavy for my tastes

Plantain Chips

If you are looking for something on the go, they have plantain chips that are a bit salty and a bit spicy.

Pineapple

The dried sugared pineapple half coated in a sugar and dipped with coconut. There are 2 pieces to a package.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Hula Poké isn’t for everyone. If you like more control of what goes into your bowl, this isn’t the place for you. For those who aren’t picky and like a good healthy quick meal in a food court, this is your place. It’s refreshing to have a poké shop at Pacific Centre to give customer better options. Even though they have only been open for a few days, it’s really popular for those visiting the Pacific Centre food court.

We Rate Hula Poke:

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

Address:
Food Court, 701 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC

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In Cafe

Nestle Toll House Cafe’s Sweet Grand Opening in Downtown Vancouver

Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip held its grand opening event earlier this month. Roman and I attended and met the owners, Sherry Najafi and her husband. They were proud to share their cafe with the attendees, and even had a corporate rep from Texas attend. The concept behind the Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip started out in Texas back in 2000 and has grown with multiple locations in the US and a couple in Canada.

Upon entering, one is greeted by the sweet smell of delicious baked cookies. What is surprising about this Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip is its extensive menu, which offers cookies, brownies, ice cream, hot and cold beverages and savoury options. Yes, they have flatbreads, wraps and paninis for those whose sweet tooth isn’t as big as mine. They taste pretty good too! Having savoury options makes it a great go-to-spot for lunch, especially being situated on Howe and Nelson Street.

The cafe is spacious and bright and its decor includes words like “Enjoy” and “Relax”, which is a good reminder to take a sweet break in our busy lives.

The treats were sweet and delicious, and we even had the chance to decorate our very own cookie cake! Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip offers large cookie cakes that can be customized for any occasion. We were guided by Jolynn, the corporate rep from Texas, as she showed us tips and tricks on how to decorate with frosting. The theme was Halloween and we tried to replicate a pumpkin on our cookie cakes. Some attendees got very creative and drew ghosts and other festive images related to the occasion.

When they offered ice cream sandwiches with their signature cookies, Roman was on it (for the both of us, since I had forgotten my lactase). You can choose from a variety of flavours and you may choose the cookies you want to sandwich your ice cream in! Roman had the chocolate peanut buttercup ice cream in between two chocolate chip cookies. Needles to say from the look on his face that it was very good!

Next time you’ve got a special occasion or event to go to and can’t think of what to bring, think of a cookie cake and get it customized at Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Address:
980 Howe St #101, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://nestlecafe.com/

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In Downtown

Sanrio ❤ Sugarfina Collection at Nordstrom

Sugarfina has launched their Sanrio ❤ Sugarfina Collection and it is every kids dream. As a late 80’s kid, I remember watching Hello Kitty and her twin sister – Mimmy going on crazy adventures. Gudetama is a new addition, but who doesn’t love the lazy egg.

There are 7 different kids in the collection:

  • Hello Kitty’s Mama’s Apple Pie Gummies
  • Hello Kitty Bow Tie Gummies
  • Keroppi Donut Pond Jelly Beans
  • My Melody Sweet Pearls
  • Badtz-Maru Mischievous Pops
  • Gudetama Lazy Gummy Eggs
  • Chococat Chocolate Caramels

Each individual box retails for $10.45, but they also have 2 different collector bento box sets $24.95 and $39.35. Definitely more premium that your regular candy. These are best given as gifts to really impress that certain somebody.

 

3 Pieces Pop-Up Candy Bento Box

You can mix and match what types of flavours are inside. I got mine with Hello Kitty Mama’s Apple Pie Gummies, Badtzmaru Mischievious Pops and Keroppi Donut Pond Jelly Beans.

I love how they really pack the gummies in the boxes and its all so organized. Of the bunch, I really enjoy the gummies. Very fruity and flavourful. The Keroppi Donut Pond Jelly Beans has a sweet, tart key lime flavour. The Badtzmaru Mischievious Pops lived up to it’s name as it is crunchy chocolate filled with popping candy inside.

Address:
799 Robson St, Vancouver

Website:
https://www.sugarfina.ca

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