Foodology
Tag

north burnaby

Browsing
In Japanese

Tendon Kohaku in North Burnaby: Review

Tendon Kohaku has opened their second location in North America in North Burnaby inside Madison Centre (106-1901 Rosser Avenue). They have taken over the location of Vancity Credit Union’s previous location before relocating to The Amazing Brentwood.

Their first location is on Howe Street (190-840 Howe Street) in Downtown Vancouver, but it is definitely needed in Burnaby. They are best known for their tempura bowls that have captured diners hearts.

We heard that they were opening for their soft launch with a limited menu, so we decided to check it out for lunch.

Interior

The space is really nice and bigger than I initially thought. A great design and we felt very comfortable. All staff are wearing masks and there is hand sanitizer being offered. There aren’t plexiglass walls dividing up tables, so some are and some aren’t comfortable with that. Personal preferences.

Menu

During the soft opening, they don’t have the seafood tendon, vegetable tendon, chawanmushi, kabocha salad, chicken wings, tomato iiko, and kohaku refresher.

Once they full open, the whole menu should be available.

Hokkaido Milk Tea

The drink container is so damn cute. The Hokkaido Milk Tea is freshly brewed with 100% organic black tea. It’s a solid milk tea, but there is no option to customize ice or sweetness.

Kohaku Banana Milk

This drink is made with 100% organic milk and my husband loves it. I personally didn’t because I just personally don’t like bananas.

Tuna Tataki

The tuna is gently seared and paired with a citrus sauce and some greens on the side. It was good but I wish there were a few more pieces.

Kohaku Tendon

This is the best selling item here as it has a bit of everything. Inside the bowl is rice, Kohaku Tendon sauce, 2 prawns, 1 chicken, 1 squid, 1 baby corn, 2 French beans, 1 shiitake mushroom, 1 kabocha pumkin, and 1 soft fried egg. All tendon bowls is served with pickled ginger and miso soup.

I really enjoyed this and the exterior stayed crisp and the interior was tender. The egg was perfect. Highly recommended.

Anago Tendon

This is the chef recommended item as it has rice, Kohaku Tendon sauce, 1 Anago (Eel Fish), 2 prawns, 1 chicken, 2 French beans, 1 Shiitake mushroom, 1 lotus root, and 1 soft fried egg. It also comes with miso soup and gingered pickles. He absolutely loved it!

Japanese Strawberry Cheesecake

This is their Japanese soft cheesecake served with housemade strawberry coulis. I love how it comes with a little pink shovel. Its very soft and fluffy. A touch sweet.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we really enjoyed Kohaku Tendon in Burnaby. The staff were fantastic and the food was solid. We sat in the booth area and wasn’t too close to other groups.

I also love how if you can’t finish your drink, you can take it to go.

Address:
106-1901 Rosser Avenue, Burnaby

Website:
http://www.kohakutendon.com/

by
Read More
In Mexican

Don Oso’s Restaurant: Mexican Cuisine in North Burnaby

Don Oso’s Restaurant is Burnaby’s newest restaurant in Burnaby Heights on Hastings. There really aren’t many Mexican restaurants in the area, so it was so good to see more diversity in the neighbourhood.

I heard from a few friends that it opened a few days ago and the neighbourhood is really excited to see them open up.

Interior

There are 3 tables inside, so the space isn’t large so it’s hard to social distance properly. They do clean all tables after every use, but when it’s busy, it will feel cramped.

Don Cevichote

This has diced sole filet cooked in a lime bath, then tossed together with tomatoes, onion, and cilantro. It is then mixed with more lime and seasoning. It also comes with chips.

Can’t go wrong with their ceviche. It was pretty good with the right amount of acidity. It’s also one of their most popular items.

Tacos

I ordered one of each taco but I found all of them pretty dry except for the pollo taco. Definitely ask for some extra salsa to add to them or ask them to have extra juicy meat.

Pollo Taco
Shredded chicken slow cooked in tomato, white wine and seasonings.

Carne Asada Taco
Well done sirloin pieces topped with onions, cilantro and radish.

Barbacoa Taco
Slow cooked beer in red wine and spices topped with slaw and cilantro.

Carnitas Taco
Pork shoulder slow cooked and shredded alongside onion, cilantro and pickled onions.

Barros Luco with Palta

This sandwich has thinly sliced grilled beef, melted white cheese, tomato and mayo. I also asked for avocado to be added to it and it was pretty good. The texture of the bun is very soft and goes well with the ingredients inside.

Quesadilla

This has a flour tortilla folded with lots of cheese, peppers and onions served with pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole. You can also add meat to it for an additional charge. I went with just the cheese and they weren’t kidding when they said there would be lots of cheese. Next time, I’ll definitely add some meat to it.

Final Thoughts

Don Oso’s restaurant is very new, so they are working out the kinks. There is definitely room for improvement, but I’ll be back to try more of their menu. I think it’ll be a local favourite as they were pretty busy for a Friday lunch rush. Barros Luco and their Don Cevichote is a must!

When you do take out, make sure they add extra salsa. I was sad I didn’t get some extra spicy sauce, but I should have asked.

Address:
4421 Hastings St, Burnaby, BC 

Website:
https://donososrestaurant.square.site/

by
Read More
In Cafe

Basak Cafe: Waffles and Coffee in Burquitlam

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/

by
Read More
In Event

Brentwood Great Takeout, a Food Truck Festival

The area around The Amazing Brentwood has transformed a lot in the last few years and will continue evolving to bring more people into the area. The latest event to pop up is the Brentwood Great Takeout, a Food Truck Festival presented by Grosvenor and organized by the Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival.

With the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s not your ordinary food truck festival, but a adapted version to keep safe with their families.

This festival will now taking place weekly every Saturday until September 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on part of Grosvenor’s latest development site in Burnaby. The ‘Brentwood Great Takeout’ series is part of Brentwood Community Days presented by Grosvenor and demonstrates the developer’s commitment to building engaging and meaningful public spaces.

I personally loves these types of event happening in our city as it brings our community together and makes it more lively, plus it makes the neighbourhood much more tasty.

The food trucks do rotate, so make sure to check back weekly on the Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival website.

We were invited to check out the food trucks at the Brentwood Great Takeout.

Parking

There is complimentary parking available if you decide to drive. There is also lots of public transportation options like the Brentwood Skytrain Station and buses.

Safety

To ensure your family’s safety, hand sanitizers are offered at the entrance and wearing masks are highly encouraged. They limit the amount of people into the festival, one way entry, and social distancing.

Also, note you can’t eat on the premises.

Food and Drink

As the food trucks do rotate weekly, keep an eye on their website to see if your favourite food truck is at the Brentwood Great Takeout. When we were here, we got to check out:

  • Salt Spring Noodle Bar
  • Wing’s Outdoor Grill
  • Indian Delicacy
  • Slavic Rolls
  • Los Tacos Hermanos 
  • Lenny’s Lemonade
  • Betty’s Greek Honey Ballz – Loukoumades 

I personally loved Betty’s Greek Honey Ballz – Loukoumades and Indian Delicacy (butter chicken poutine is amazing).

Indian Delicacy – Platter
Betty’s Greek Honey Ballz – Loukoumades 
Slavic Rolls with Strawberry and Barvarian Cream
Wing’s Outdoor Grill – Salt and Pepper Wings
Indian Delicacy – Butter Chicken Poutine
Los Tacos Hermanos  – Fish Tacos
Salt Spring Noodle Bar – Teriyaki Chicken and Veggie
Lenny’s Lemonade – Pink Lemonade and Blue Raspberry Lemonade

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s a quick stop to grab some food. You can’t eat inside the event area, so you’ll have to eat it somewhere close by or take it home. We opted to grab it all to go and enjoy it at home as we live close by.

Address:
 2150 Alpha Avenue, Burnaby

Website:
https://greatervanfoodtruckfest.com/events/

by
Read More
In North Burnaby

Peaked Pies: Opening in Burnaby Heights

Photo Credit: Peaked Pies

Peaked Pies is opening their third and biggest location in Burnaby Heights near Hastings and Gilmore. With the Covid-19 pandemic, it has delayed their opening but they now have an opening date of Wednesday, June 24, 2020.

They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

They also have two locations – Whistler and West End. We’ve been to both locations several times and we highly recommend their Aussie Pies. Make sure to get the peaked!! You won’t regret it.

The Burnaby location will now be home to the heart of the Peaked Pies operation with all the pies being made and distributed from there to the other two restaurants, a growing number of grocery stores and breweries, and in the future, more Peaked Pies locations.

Pies

The pies are prepared from scratch and baked in-house from recipes the co-owners have lovingly perfected since they came up with the concept back in 2011.They import grass-fed butter from New Zealand to create rich, flaky pastry, their steak is AA Alberta beef, the chicken is from the Fraser Valley and the vegetables are fresh.

There are currently 12 mouthwatering pie options including steak, bacon and cheese, butter chicken, and Hopper (kangaroo). There’s also vegetarian, vegan and sweet options, as well as seasonal pies like turkey and cranberry.

My personal favourite is the chicken, mushroom and leek. Yum!

You can opt to have your pie “peaked” which means a generous helping of mashed potato, peas and rich gravy is added to the top.

If you think you could fit in a sweet treat after all that then they have lamingtons (chocolate covered sponge squares covered in coconut), salted caramel tarts and vanilla slices to name a few.

Delivery Option

If you’re not ready to dine-in, they have partnered up with DoorDash to offer delivery.

Take Out Option

If you want to cut down on delivery fees, they also do take out.

Catering

They also do catering for private functions if you need a lot of Aussie pies.

Photo Credit: Peaked Pies

Interior

You can dine-in or take-out in the new 2,700 square foot space, which has seating for 22 inside and 8 on the patio. The team from Harmony Pacific Construction and Ply Architecture brought Peaked Pies’ vision to life by bringing the outside in with a hanging pergola structure, giving the large space a light and airy feel in the day, and an intimate and cozy ambience in the evening.

Photo Credit: Peaked Pies

Photo Credit: Peaked Pies

We are very excited to see them finally open as we are located in Burnaby Heights as well. If you’re in the area, definitely check out Peaked Pies.

Address:
4114 Hastings St, Burnaby, BC 

Website:
https://www.peakedpies.com/

by
Read More
In Cafe

Fior di Latte Gelateria And Caffe (FDL Cafe): Now Open in Burnaby

Fior di latte Gelateria And Caffe (FDL Cafe) just opened a few weeks ago in Burnaby Heights. With the Covid-19 Pandemic, it was unfortunate timing as all dining rooms are closed.

If you’ve been to a few farmers markets in Vancouver, the name R. Nathaliae Pattiserie will ring a bell. They are behind FDL Cafe and have so much to offer their customers. Their pastries were stellar! So, I was really excited to check them out again as FDL Cafe.

They are now back for take out and delivery via UberEats.

Chickado Sandwich

This massive sandwich has miso roasted chicken, fresh kimchi from Salty Cabbage Kimchi, avocado, and mixed greens. 1 sandwich can feed 2 people, it’s crazy. Plus, crazy delicious. I love the meaty pieces of tender chicken paired with the creamy avocado and crunchy kimchi.

London Brisket Sandwich

This has a lot of slow roasted beef brisket, which has been dry brined, mixed greens, and cheese. This sandwich is also a winner. The brisket is really tender and so flavourful.

Spinach and Feta Pita

This isn’t your regular pita bread. It’s more like a phyllo pie were it has filling inside. This one has spinach and feta.

Mushroom Pita

This doesn’t look like much from the outside, but wow, it is stuffed with so much mushroom mixture inside. Highly recommended. Just look at that. The pastry is thin and theres lots of mushroom hiding inside.

Mushroom Tart

Clearly, I love mushrooms. They have mushrooms tarts too. The pastry is very flakey and the mushroom is creamy and savoury. Delicious too.

Blueberry Danish

They have a few different types of fruit danishes, but we picked up the blueberry version. It’s very fresh and bursting with flavour. It’s very crisp and enjoyable so make sure you capture all the crumbs that fall.

Bacon Cheese Roll

This is so indulgent. This bacon cheese roll is enrobed with freshly melted cheese in the oven. Highly recommended.

Sour Cherry Turnover

The pastry is so flakey and the sour cherry is perfectly hiding inside. Well balanced in flavour too.

Peach Galette

Another beautiful pastry! The peaches are delicious and paired with the flakey pastry is a good combination.

Final Thoughts

Everything we had hit the spot and we were not disappointed at all. Highly recommend FDL Cafe to anyone in the area. Their pastries and sandwiches are really delicious and it made me crave them even more. We will be back soon.

Address:
4233 E Hastings St, Burnaby, BC

Website:
https://www.fdlcafe.com/

by
Read More
In Delivery

Ça Croustille: French Pastries Delivered to Greater Vancouver

I heard about Ça Croustille on Facebook and people in Burnaby seem to love them, so I decided to put in an online order. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, they would sell their pastries at local farmers markets and pop up event.

Where do they deliver?

They do deliveries once a week and deliver to all regions of Greater Vancouver – White Rock, Surrey, Delta, Richmond, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, and Langley.

What do they have?

They do deliver if you have a minimum order of $20. Their pastries range from $3.50 to $4.50.

  • Butter Croissant
  • Pain au Chocolate
  • Almond Croissant
  • Almond Chocolate Croissant
  • Pain aux raisins
  • Cinnamon Swirl
  • Chocolate Twist
  • Pear Almond Turnover

Taste Test

Some of there’s items I haven’t seen at local cafe and it’s a decent assortment. We enjoyed the Cinnamon Swirl the most and goes well with a cup of tea or coffee.

The almond croissants had a bit too much almond extract as it was very prominent. The execution of the butter croissant and pain au chocolate ended up to very soft and fluffy, but the exterior could have had more crunch. As the pain au chocolate was so bloated, it needed more chocolate sticks inside to balance the ratio.

I was nice to have a box of pastries in the kitchen so the family could munch on it over the weekend. Something to brighten up the day with a delivery.

Butter Croissant
Butter Croissant Cross-Section
Pain au Chocolate
Almond Croissant
Almond Chocolate Croissant
Cinnamon Swirl
Pain aux raisins
Chocolate Twist
Pear Almond Turnover

Final Thoughts

It’s a nice assortment that arrives at the door and would be a great gift. It is a good price and comes with delivery if you meet the $20 minimum.

Website:
https://www.ccbakery.ca/

by
Read More
In Delivery

Agra Tandoori Restaurant: Takeout and Delivery in Burnaby

With dining rooms closed for social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s a great chance to explore some neighbourhood eateries. I live in Burnaby and there’s still lots of family run businesses I haven’t visited yet. Agra Tandoori Restaurant has been on my list, but haven’t been able to make a visit.

They are currently open for take out a delivery via Skip the Dishes. We loved the personalized note on our delivery.

$10 Lunch Specials

On Skip the Dishes, they have $10 lunch specials, so I decided to check them out. It is available Monday to Friday from 11am until 3pm. These are personal sized lunch plates, so it’s hard to share.

Butter Chicken and Rice Lunch Combo

This has boneless chicken nuggets marinated in their special sauce and cooked in garlic, ginger, cream, and tomato sauce. A classic choice.

Paneer Makhni and Rice Lunch Combo

This one has tender pieces of paneer simmered in butter with their tomato sauce then finished with cream. Can’t go wrong with paneer.

Vegetable Pakora

These are deep-fried mixed vegetable fritters. It comes with chutney on the side to dip them into. There is a good amount per order and it is crisp on the exterior and packed with veggies. It’s one of my favourite things to order in an Indian restaurant.

Aloo Paratha

This is unleavened bread fried on a griddle stuffed with potato mixture. It’s made fresh and it’s something I haven’t had before. It’s good but it is a tad spicy.

Garlic Naan

This is garlic leavened bread and it’s a bit different than what I’ve seen at other restaurants as this is incorporated into the bread itself. It’s definitely easier to eat with and nothing sticks to your hands.

Butter Naan

This is their regular butter naan. Simple and classic item to pair with curry.

Bhindi Bhaji

This dish is a vegetarian dish and it’s made with okra, onions, tomatoes, and a blend of spices. It was a nice dish and it’s not too often we have okra. The okra didn’t feel as fresh as I could have been. Usually fresh okra has a slimey and meaty texture to it, but this didn’t. It seemed more dry.

Papadum

Papadum is my guilty pleasure and I absolutely love it. It’s a thin crisp cracker with cumin seeds. I love cumin seeds. You can eat it with other items in the meal, but I just eat it as is.

Final Thoughts

The food was decent for take out and so hard to say what the experience would be like if we dined in. Once the pandemic dies down and dining rooms open again, I’ll definitely be giving it another try.

Address:
3790 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC

Website:
https://agratandoori.co/

by
Read More
In North Burnaby

Sungiven Foods: Asian Trader Joe’s in North Burnaby

Sungiven Foods is the latest Asian grocery store to open up their newest location in North Burnaby on Hastings and Gilmore. They have taken over Westminster Savings Credit Union’s old location to offer an array of Asian grocery store items.

They emphasize that they are dedicated to carry items that are natural, less processed and with fewer additives.

They opened up right on Easter long weekend and it was sure busy with people lining up to get a look even though we are supposed to stay indoors during the Covid-19 Pandemic. I needed to get some fresh fruits and vegetables for the family, so I decided to line up as the line up wasn’t too bad.

They had a promotion for a free pound of garlic mussels with a $25 purchase, but has since run out. I just missed out on it too.

Line Up

The line pictured here takes about 10 – 15 minutes depending on how slow of fast people do their shopping. I did find that a lot of people are taking their time to browse as its a new store.

Safety

To ensure everyone’s safety, they gave out gloves to all customers and wiped down surfaces regularly. They also wipe baskets and carts after each use.

Asian Trader Joe’s

The look of the entire store is very reminiscent of Trader Joe’s in the United States. If you took a quick glance inside, you would actually think it’s Trader Joe’s. You won’t find any of their products here.

Private Brands

Sungiven has their own private brands – Sungiven, OnTrue, OneTang, and Yuho. Usually items from these brands are cheaper and give you bang for your buck.

Fruits
Fruits
Meat section
Sungiven Pork
Bakery Section
Prepared Foods
Kirin Dim Sum
Hot Dishes
Sungiven Tasting Corner
Freezer and snack aisle
Freezer and snack aisle
Freezer and snack aisle
Beverage aisle
Cup noodle section
Juice section
Different aisles of dried goods and snacks
Dried noodles
Instant macaroni
Frozen Cooked Scallop with Cheese
Dried Noodles
Dried Noodles
Spam

Final Thoughts

Not the best time to open up a grocery store during a pandemic, but the neighbourhood welcomes them with open arms. It’s good to have a larger Asian grocery store without traveling a little bit further to get some staple kitchen items. It was definitely needed in the area as there are other smaller farm markets and big box grocery stores with limited Asian produce and goods.

Sungiven Foods in Burnaby isn’t large, but some produce prices are worth it. I wouldn’t drive very far for it as their offerings aren’t unique. T&T has better variety, but sometimes its a touch far to get to if you’re living in Burnaby Heights.

The shelves are a touch bare right now, but hopefully they get more items in stock soon.

Address:
4106 E Hastings St, Burnaby, BC

Website:
https://sungivenfoods.ca/

by
Read More
In Delivery

Royal City Donuts: Hand Made Brioche Donuts Delivered in Vancouver

Royal City Donuts has been selling their decadent donuts at farmers markets and at pop up shops across the Lower Mainland, but with the Covid-19 Pandemic, they had to change the way they do business.

They have plans for a store front, but they’re not there just yet. For the time being, they have opened up their online store to order donuts for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday which will be delivered contactless between the hours of 10am-3pm.

They deliver to Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and the Tri-Cities.

Their orders sell out fast, so you have to check their social media to see when the orders open up on their website. I remember when I was trying to put in my order for Saturday, but while I was checking out, it sold out for that day, so I had to opt for Sunday instead.

They do their preparation from YVR Prep, which is a commissary kitchen located in Burnaby. It’s an awesome space and so many small business start out from that kitchen.

6 Pack

The six pack of donuts come with a random assortment and is predetermined at the beginning of the week when you place your order. There are no substitutions.

All of the donuts were pretty good. They have a nice flavour and texture. There are some execution issues with the filled brioche donuts as there could have had more filling. The other donuts are simple but done well. Their popular Ferrero Rocher and maple bacon donuts didn’t make it into the batch this week, but those are the ones to look out for.

Raspberry Filled Brioche Donut
Strawberry Jam Filled Brioche Donut
Chocolate Pudding Filled Brioche Donut
Chocolate Pudding Filled Brioche Donut
Oreo
Chocolate Sprinkle
Apple Fritter
Maple

Final Thoughts

Overall, they are pretty good donuts. I didn’t love all the flavours in the box, but its a nice assortment to give you a taste of what they have to offer. Besides the 6 pack of donuts, they also have a pack of 4 large fritters and 12 donut holes which is pretty great too.

Plus, you can’t go wrong with free delivery if you live within the delivery zone. Makes for a great gift too.

Website:
https://www.royalcitydonuts.com/

by
Read More
In Cafe

Chez Christophe: Curbside Pick Up, Take Out, Delivery and Shipping Options

My favourite neighbourhood bakery and cafe – Chez Christophe has found a way to get their yummy treats to their customers anyway possible. As they have 2 locations, customers in Burnaby and White Rock will still be able to enjoy their treats.

  • Curbside Pick Up
    Call or order in advanced online
  • Take Out
    Burnaby: 9am-4pm Tuesday through Sunday
    White Rock: 9am-3pm Tuesday through Saturday.
  • Delivery
    Within a 10km radius of their Burnaby location
  • Shipping Options
    Free shipping on orders over $35. This excludes cakes, pastries and showpieces) 

As we are huge fans of Chez Christophe, in the last 3 weeks, I’ve ordered from them at least 5 times for myself and gifts for friends and family. They really make it easy and I love that. I’ve had small to large orders and there is always a way to get the treats with minimal contact during Covid-19.

Make sure to check their social media and website as anything can change quite quickly as the policies for social distancing changes day by day.

Frozen Goods

Chez Christophe has always had frozen goods available in their shop, but now it’s very popular to get a few for yourself and some for friends and family.

  • Butter Croissant (5 pieces)
  • Pain Au Chocolat (5 pieces)
  • Cheddar Herb Scones (4 pieces)
  • White Chocolate Raspberry Scones (4 pieces)

Great item to just have in the freezer when you want to have a sweet treat. Even better if you have kids at home. They can help you prepare it and makes a great activity.

Individual or Large Cakes

Cakes are still available for any occasion. They will help you add a note to the cake too. We personally needed a large cake that feeds 10 and they had them available so it was perfect. No need to go outside as it was delivered to us as we live in Burnaby close to the shop. They can also do custom orders of 20+ servings, but you need to order in advanced so they can get it ready for you.

If you want a little sweet treat, they still have a large selection of cakes. You’ll find something for your sweet tooth.

Fresh Pastries

I’ve missed their fresh pastries a lot. I remember going on coffee dates here with friends, grabbing a coffee and a pastry. They have a good selection of pastries available. My personal favourite are the items that are double baked.

  • Butter Croissant
  • Pain au Chocolat
  • Hazelnut Pain au Chocolat
  • Croissant Puff
  • Ham and Cheese Croissant
  • Double Baked Almond Croissant
  • Double Baked Hazelnut Chocolate Croissant
  • Fresh Fruit Danish
  • Double Baked Almond and Chocolate Croissant

Final Thoughts

I absolutely love Chez Christophe as it’s my favourite pastry shop in North Burnaby. If you want to order, take a look at their website just in case information has changed.

Stay safe out there! Remember to spread some love and cheer as there is definitely too much negativity out there in the world.

Address:
4717 Hastings St, Burnaby, BC

Website:
https://chez-christophe.ca/

by
Read More
In curbside pickup

Glenburn Soda Fountain & Confectionery: Build Your Own Dessert in a Box

Glenburn Soda Fountain has found ways to innovate during the Covid-19 crisis. With dining rooms closed, they really worked fast to keep customers supplied with their delicious treats. I was very impressed that they listened to customers to see what they would want during this time.

They have their regular menu for delivery on Skip the Dishes.

They are currently offering a few limited features for curbside pick up.

  • Build Your Own Sundae Box
  • Float Pack for 2
  • Take Home Pints
  • Pop Shoppe Soda
  • Callister Soda
  • DIY Banana Split Kit

In a span of 2 weeks, our team ordered the Build Your Own Sundae Box, Float Pack for 2, and the DIY Banana Split Kit.

These items are very customizable. You order it in the morning and then it is available for pick up from 4-6pm. Things do change quickly, so make sure you follow Glenburn on social media to see what the latest offers and prices of their different kits.

Build Your Own Sundae Box

It was a Friday, so the end the week off right, we decided to get one for our family. We were able to pick it up with no issues. The packaging is quite nice and easy to carry back home.

We got our sundae kit with strawberry marble ice cream, chocolate ice cream, pretzels, cookie crumbs, almonds, and their hot fudge. It’s very customizable, so next time, we will definitely add brownies into our box.

We had fun layering the toppings with the ice cream. Such a fun activity to end the day with the family. A real treat that we highly recommend. Easily feeds 4 people but we had 7 adults sharing this and had a little nite each. With the leftover hot fudge, we made mochas for the rest of the week.

Float Pack for 2

The float pack comes with cups, straws, vanilla ice cream, and your choice of 2 Pop Shoppe beverages. We went with Black Cherry and Root Beer. Two very classic flavours.

Once you bring it home, just pour the soda right into the cups. Its pretty big, so you can easily turn this into 4 smaller portions as there are 4 scoops of ice cream.

DIY Banana Split Kit

I haven’t had a banana split since 2018 and I was really excited to have it again. Their Banana Spit Kit comes with all the staples that you need to make 2 delicious and beautiful banana splits at home.

The kit includes:

  • 2 banana split boats
  • 2 bananas
  • 3 – 12oz tubs of ice cream – chocolate, vanilla and strawberry
  • 3 – 3 oz tubs of sauce – hot fudge, strawberry and pineapple
  • 1 canister of whipped cream
  • Your choice of walnuts or sprinkles
  • 3 cherries

It was fun to make together with the family and we had debates about how to make the perfect banana split. They did put together a video on Facebook on how to create perfect banana split, but we don’t follow instructions and go with the flow.

Final Thoughts

I love these fun dessert kits where you can make them at home with your family. It’s a perfect thing for the end of the week and just have fun. Sundae in a box was my favourite kit, but you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Follow them on Facebook or Instagram to see what they are offering daily as these kits may change over time.

I love supporting local small businesses during this pandemic in any way I can. If you are looking for a sweet treat and looking for a way to support Glenburn, I highly recommend it.

Website to order Build Your Own Dessert in a Box
https://glenburn-soda-fountain-109212.square.site/#uxVaKL

Address:
4090 Hastings St, Burnaby, BC

by
Read More
In Delivery

Restaurants and Cafes in North Burnaby: Take Out, Curbside Pick up, and Delivery Options

Restaurants and Cafe’s are evolving quickly because of Covid-19. No more dining-in and they have to innovate and change the way they do business.

Since I live in North Burnaby, I wouldn’t want to see any of the businesses to close down permanently. A lot have has to close down for the time being, but it might be a while before things return to normal.

I thought I would compile some of my favourite restaurants and show you what they are doing now. If you would like me to add anything to the list, please email us at diana@foodology.ca or comment below.

Cioffi’s Meat Market & Deli

Cioffi’s Meat Market & Deli opened in 1990 offering the best in Italian specialty cold-cuts, cheeses, and fresh butchered meats. They have expanded since then to offer wholesale, catering, & take-out. They have even opened up their Cucina for more delicious eat.

What they are offering:

Chez Christophe

Chez Christophe opened in March 2013 in Burnaby Heights. Since opening their doors, Christophe has been serving both classic Swiss desserts and pastries along with his modern twists using fresh and local flavours.

What they are offering:

  • Home delivery within a 10km radius of their Burnaby location on orders over $35
  • Take Out by calling or order online with debit and credit only. You can pickup in store or curbside pickup.
  • Free shipping on orders over $35 (excludes cakes and pastries and showpieces)

Glenburn Soda Fountain

Glenburn Soda Fountain is a small, family-owned and run shop serving ice cream and desserts. They offer a wide range of ice cream treats including sundaes, milkshakes and malts. You’ll be transported back in time.

They also have a Kickstarter to back Glenburn Roadside, their second location to serve as a production kitchen for making ice cream, baking and producing their line of retail ice cream sauces. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/glenburnroadside/glenburn-roadside

What they are offering:

The Gray Olive Cafeteria

The Gray Olive Cafeteria serves up seasonal comfort food with an exciting twist. Their food is pretty good and I’ve gotten takeout quite often.

What they are offering:

White Lotus Cafe

This hidden gem in Burnaby is located in the same plaza as Buy Low Food. They specialize in dishes like banh mi and pho. One of my favourite places to order from as there is a $0 delivery fee if you spend $20 or more via Skip the Dishes.

What they are offering:

The Valley Bakery

The Valley Bakery has been in business for over 60 years and they have the largest variety of fresh, delicious cookies, pastries and other baked items in Burnaby.

What they are offering:

  • Phone 604-291-0674 with your order and pay with a credit card. To pick up your order, go to the rear door, phone the store and they will bring your order to your vehicle.

Sopra Sotto

Sopra Sotto just opened their second location in North Burnaby serving up their delicious Italian cuisine.

What they are offering:

  • Temporary Take Out Menu

Green Leaf Cafe

Green Leaf Cafe is a Japanese and Korean Fusion restaurant near Lougheed Mall. They have a wide variety of dishes on their menu, but their aburi oshi are very popular.

What they are offering:

Sfinaki Greek Taverna

Sfinaki is a family-owned and operated Greek taverna in The Heights since 1995. They serve up fresh dishes with homemade family recipes.

What they are offering:

Gaya Sushi

Gaya Sushi is a Korean owned Japanese restaurant serving up Japanese cuisines with a fusion twist.

What they are offering:

by
Read More
In Japanese

Toyo Sushi: High End Japanese Restaurant in North Burnaby

I’ve passed by Toyo Sushi so many times last year and it always seemed to be closed. I was on Instagram the other month and I saw one of my followers going and I had to check it out for myself as it’s right in my neighbourhood.

Reservations

I would highly recommend getting reservations, not because it will be really full as this place is still under the radar. Some people have said their hours of operation is unreliable, so best to make reservations to ensure they are open on the day and time you’re planning to dine.

Bar Seating

The space is a decent size, but bar seating is best if you’re in a small group. Watching the chef prepare your meal is the best. The chef isn’t very chatty, but I always appreciate all the hard work of seeing the meal come to life.

Sashimi Omakase

The sashimi omakase starts at $70 and it is essentially a sashimi platter. We expected the chef to serve it piece by piece as we sat at the bar like at other sushi bars around town. We were the only people at the restaurant, so we watched him make the whole platter and then present it to us.

When we went there, our sashimi omakase had 7 different sashimi and 14 pieces in total. The chef didn’t explain what sashimi was on the plate, but the server told us quickly. I tried my best to remember the names, but some of them looked very similar, so sorry if I accidentally misnamed any.

The sashimi omakase was a great way to try the freshest cuts of sashimi decided by the chef. My favourites were the blue fin otoro and scallop.

Hotate – Scallop
Bluefin Tuna
Aji – Horse Mackerel
Madai – Snapper
Shima Aji – Striped Jack
Bluefin – O Toro
Chopped Hamachi and negi with fresh ginger
Fish is deep-fried and then can be eaten whole

Sushi Omakase

The sushi omakase has 10 pieces of nigiri on a platter and it starts at $60. It was similar types of fish in the sashimi omakase. At first it does seem steep of a price, but the quality is there. The negitoro, ikura, otoro, and scallop were outstanding. The other types of fish were good, but it wasn’t my personal favourite.

Ikura – Salted Salmon Roe
Negitoro
Shima Aji – Striped Jack
Madai – Snapper
Hotate – Scallop
Blue Fin O-Toro
I can’t remember what this one was.
Madai – Snapper
Aji – Horse Mackerel
Bluefin Tuna

Unagi Nigiri

We ordered these both after the omakase because my husband judges a Japanese restaurant based on how they make unagi nigiri. This was really good! Very soft, tender, and packed full of flavour. Highly recommended.

Tamago Nigiri

Another item that my husband judges is the tamago. The side of tamago was thick and had a good balance of sweet and savoury to it. Highly recommended as well.

Kushi Katsu

These are deep fried and battered skewers. There is scallop and prawn in one skewer, chicken on another and then salmon on another. It comes with a dipping sauce too. These were decent. Since the meal we had was very clean and not too oily, this was the only fried dish we got beside the fried fish from the sashimi omakase.

Final Thoughts

The quality is definitely the best in Burnaby. It’s a great little hidden gem in The Heights, but it isn’t cheap. You are really paying for the quality. My husband and I spent just under $200 after tax and tip here. We had to try the omakase, so that why it’s pretty steep. Next time, we will probably skip the omakase and go with our tried and true favourite items.

Address:
3978 Hastings St, Burnaby, BC

Website:
https://www.toyosushi.ca

by
Read More
In North Burnaby

Personas Patio is Now Open in Burnaby

As Vancouverites, we dread the rain, but now with the good streak of hot weather, that good ol’ patio season has begun. Something about having the sun out gives us an extra bounce in our step and makes us more social and of course indulge a bit more.

We were invited out to the Personas Patio in Burnaby to check out the latest menu, enjoy some gigantic drinks, and soak in the sun with great company. I didn’t even realize they had a nice patio until now.

Patio

There is an outdoor bar in this space and a decent amount of seating for small to large groups.

There are umbrellas and some covering just in case the sun is a bit too strong during certain parts of the day.

Menu

Drinks

The drinks are massive and have a nice aesthetic to them. You won’t want to miss their Giant Bellini Bombs or Double Down Coronas Bulldogs served in these huge glasses. You’ll want to bring a friend or two to help you devour them. If you’re not up for a huge beverage, the cotton candy cosmo is very whimsical. There’s an array of drinks on their menu from more boozy drinks to more fruity cocktails.

Double Down Coronas Bulldogs

Giant Bellini Bombs

Cotton Candy Cosmo

Food

Of course food needs to go with drinks or else you’re gonna have a bad night. They have a large menu of shared appetizers, salads, bowls, sandwiches, and some entrees.

Flatbreads

They have a wide variety of flatbreads at Personas. Very easy to share. We tried the Tropic Thunder, Little Italy and the Cheese & Honey. They were all really cheesy and not that flat for flatbread. We noticed, there is a bit of inconsistency between our visits. Our favourite is still the Thai Shrimp.

Wings

There are 2 kinds of wings – classic crispy (dry) or gochujang chili sauce (wet). These were all a bit dry and lacked moisture maybe because it was over fried.

Ebi Prawns

These are tempura prawns paired with Japanese mayo, bonito flakes, and back sesame seeds. Very easy item to share among a group.

Wok This Way

This has lightly breaded and golden fried squid with garlic, sambal oelek and cilantro.

Sticky Ribs

These are slow booked, crispy fried button ribs tossed in a Korean Galbi BBQ Sauce and sesame seeds. These were ok, but similar to the chicken wings, they were a bit on the dry side.

South Beach Salad

This has mixed greens, grilled chicken, corn, black beans, dates, red onion, red pepper, avocado, feta, and a cilantro lime dressing. It was a decent salad if you’re looking for something more healthy on the menu.

Chicken and Waffle Sandwich

This has the crispy chicken breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and maple bourbon aioli between 2 Belgian Waffles. If you want to indulge, this is it. The chicken was crispy and it always goes well with waffles.

Personas Burger

This has a beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, red onion, and their secret sauce between brioche bun. You can add bacon, mushroom and cheddar onto it too. We had this burger last time and we liked it a lot better this time. It wasn’t too saucy and wet like last time.

Prawn Stuffed Sole

This has a red Thai curry sauce, bok choy, edamame, sundried tomatoes, and with brown and puffed wild rice. The sole was tender and good, but we felt like it was a small protein portion.

Seafood Linguini

This has shrimp, salmon, and bay scallops with a garlic Aurora sauce and grilled garlic crouton. Very saucy and there is a decent amount of seafood in this linguini.

Braised Short Rib

This galbi sauce, fingerling potatoes, sundried tomatoes, bok choy and edamame. This was a hit for some but we thought it was mediocre.

Final Thoughts

Personas Patio is a nice hidden spot in Burnaby that I don’t think most people realize is there. Great for the Summer to lounge around with friends. They do have a lots of great creative drinks on the menu, but the food is your standard pub fare. If you’re looking for something outstanding, Atlas Steak + Fish is a nicer option.

Address:
4331 Dominion St, Burnaby, BC

Website:
http://mypersonas.ca

by
Read More
In North Burnaby

[Sneak Peek] The Study Public House at SFU Burnaby

After a much needed refresh of the SFU Pub at the Maggie Benson Centre on the Burnaby Campus, Joseph Richard Group took over the space and give it new life as The Study Public House. Being an SFU Alumni, I haven’t been on campus since graduation, so it was good to make a visit to see what has changed.

The Study Public House has become a social hub where students and staff can relax and enjoy themselves over drinks, food and entertainment.

We were given a sneak peek of The Study Public House before doors open on April 1, 2019 and that’s no joke.

Interior

The large space can fit up to 300 guests at one time. There is also an outdoor patio that will be open with great views of the city.

There is booth and table seating upstairs and it’s great for small to large parties.

The lower floor is awesome and it has vintage pinball games, shuffleboard, pool and ping pong tables. Super cozy and relaxing.

I can definitely anticipate a lot of events happening here with lots of great memories being made.

Menu

Kronenbourg blanc

I love a good beer and Kronenbourg blanc is a fresh white fruity beer. It has aromas of floral, tropical fruit and honeysuckle. Very refreshing.

Watermelon Mojito

A refreshing Summer classic with raspberry vodka muddled with fresh watermelon, mint and simple syrup. Delicious, refreshing and not too strong.

Chicken Wings

There is a pound that comes in each order and you can choose them with Franks Red Hot Sauce, Teriyaki, honey garlic, BBQ, or salt and pepper.

We went with salt and pepper as it’s dry and not too dirty on the fingers. Pretty good wings.

Warm Cheddar and Jalapeno Dip

There is aged cheddar, mozzarella, pickled Japapenos, panko parmesan crumble, cream cheese, béchamel sauce, sweet chili sauce and served with tortilla chips. A good appetizers to share among the table. We were not a fan of the added sweet chili sauce and it made it not as enjoyable.

Fried Chicken and Waffles

There is a large waffle with butter, maple bacon glaze, seasoned chicken, and topped with scallions. The waffle tastes good but don’t wait too long to eat this or else the waffle goes a bit limp. The chicken is more like chicken bites that sits on top of the waffle.

English Style Fish and Chips

This is their version of a traditional English Style beer battered cod with coleslaw, tartar sauce, and fries. You can upgrade to truffle fries for an added cost. It was a large dish and definitely very filling. The cod was very soft on the inside.

Sack o Doughnuts

Carnival-style mini donuts tossed in cinnamon and sugar. It is served with a strawberry compote and chocolate sauce for dipping. This was pretty damn good and would order it again. A fun dessert and it was made just right. Reminded us of the PNE.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Stack

This is a dark brownie layered on a soft and rich peanut butter cookie, topped with a crispy milk chocolate and peanut butter ganache. It is served with whipped cream, crushed peanuts and drizzled with caramel sauce. I love peanut butter and chocolate, so this was music to my tastebuds.

Final Thoughts

The revamp of the SFU Pub is great and I think JRG transformed it into a proper pub that is going to draw the community of SFU to this space for food, drinks, and a fun time. The JRG’s team of Executive Chefs put together a menu that works for a pub and at a good price point too.

Address:
Maggie Benston Centre
8888 University Drive, Burnaby

Website:
https://www.jrghospitality.ca/establishment/the-study/

by
Read More
In North Burnaby

Delicious Holiday Stocking Stuffers with Truffle Pig Farm to Bar Chocolate

With the holidays around the corner, what better way to add a little sweet treat to your family’s stockings than with locally made chocolate company – Truffle Pig Chocolates.

Why support local and Direct Trade

Truffle Pig Chocolates is based in Burnaby, BC and owned by Shelley Wallace since 2007. Recently, she made an ethical stand to source cacao that is direct, sustainable and fully transparent in how its harvested.

They proudly source their cacao directly from farmers with strong human values and pay them a premium above world market prices. Their Central American cacao is grown wildly, beyond organic, without the use of fertilizers or pesticides, which they can guarantee as they make personal trips to the farms to see the whole process. 

They have gone above and beyond by ensuring a completely transparent supply chain with traceable ingredients. I really appreciate this as not all companies go to these lengths to ensure they are doing things right.

Assorted Chocolate Piglets

They have assorted Truffle Piglets if you want a bite sized treat. The piglets come in:

  • 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Peppermint Piglets
  • 47% Cacao Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Piglets
  • 47% Cacao Milk Chocolate Piglets
  • 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Piglets

All great flavours but the most festive one is definitely the Dark Chocolate Peppermint Piglets. Subtle peppermint flavour that isn’t too powerful.

Truffle Pig Bars

Their regular sized bars are a treat and great for sharing. They are shaped like piggies too and looks super cute. They come in:

  • 47% Cacao Milk Chocolate Bar
  • 47% Cacao Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar
  • 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar
  • 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar with Crunchy Almonds and Sea Salt

I’m a sucker for peanut butter and chocolate, so I naturally gravitated towards the 47% Cacao Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar. All of them were great quality and you can’t go wrong.

Chocolate Dipped Gourmet Marshmallows

Inside is a marshmallow enrobed in chocolate and it’s just delicious. Pair it with some hot chocolate and it really hits the spot. My husband couldn’t stop eating these with a cup of coffee.

Princess Collection

The Princess Collection comes in a variety of flavours, In the 5 pack, there is – Earl Grey, Sea Salt Caramel, Lavender, Matcha and Praline.

You can’t just have one hahaha. It makes for a great gift.

Where to Buy Truffle Pigs

You can visit Truffle Pig at their store in Burnaby to meet the chocolate master herself and get it directly from the source. They also have an online store if you can’t make it to the shop.

There are a few retail shops that carry their products – Whole Foods, Urban Fare, The Gourmet Warehouse, and many more across Canada.

Address:
3686 Bonneville Pl #101, Burnaby, BC 

Website:
https://trufflepigchocolate.com/

by
Read More
In Noodles

White Lotus Cafe: Vietnamese Cuisine in North Burnaby

White Lotus Cafe just opened up in North Burnaby in a plaza with Buy Low Foods. A few people told me to check this place out as people in the neighbourhood seem to enjoy it. They serve up a variety of Vietnamese cuisine.

Interior

The space is small inside and there are only about 4 tables. At peak times, it’ll be hard to get a table, so come early or even do take out. They seem to do a good amount of take out and delivery.

Menu

Vietnamese Coffee

An essential item to order at a Vietnamese restaurant is their coffee. It has condensed milk and freshly brewed coffee. It’s a bit strong for some but so good with the condensed milk. Make sure to mix it well.

The White Lotus Platter

You get 2 pieces of each item – BBQ pork skewers, meat patties, spring rolls, and sugar cane shrimp. It also comes with a variety of vegetables, vermicelli noodles, and fish sauce.

It’s a good item to share with the table with the variety of items that comes with this platter.

Com Rice Platter

This dish has broken rice with vegetables and a side of fish sauce and soup. You can choose between lemongrass chicken, lemongrass pork chop, or meat patty. M chose his with lemongrass chicken and added a fried egg on top.

The chicken had a lot of good flavour of lemongrass and was a solid meal.

Bun Bo Hue

This has vermicelli noodles in a spicy beef broth with slices of beef shank, pork meat, and Vietnamese ham. It is then topped with cilantro, coriander, and green onions. You can choose from mild, medium, or hot spiciness level too.

I went with medium and it was quite spicy and I can handle a good amount of spice. Other than that, the broth was clear and clean tasting, which was nice. There is also a good amount of meat in there too.

BBQ Pork Banh Mi Sandwich

We got take out for their banh mi sandwiches to get a good sense of the menu. Their buttered baguette is stuffed with mayo, pate, cilantro, cucumbers, jalapenos, pickled daikon, carrots and BBQ Pork. M added extra meat and fried egg into his.

Cold Cut Banh Mi Sandwich

This has their buttered baguette with mayo, pate, cilantro, cucumbers, jalapenos, pickled daikon, carrots and cold cuts. This is their regular size and it’s still a great size for $5. The bread was crisp on the exterior and fluffy inside. The pickled veggies were a bit sweet for my personal taste, but I still liked the amount of meat.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s a great addition to the neighbourhood with decent Vietnamese cuisine. You can dine in or do take out and the prices are reasonable for the area.

Address:
 5901 Broadway, Burnaby, BC 

Website:
http://www.whitelotuscafe.ca/

by
Read More
Load More