I Love Food Blog

Food Pic Of The Day: White Spot Cheesecake

Food Pic Of The Day:
White Spot Cheesecake

http://www.whitespot.com/

Joey's Babyback Barbequed Ribs

babyback barbequed ribs
slowly braised in spicy honey barbeque sauce, with mashed potatoes & buttermilk dill coleslaw

A Closer Look

Bonus Pic:
French Fries

Overall Thoughts:
Ribs were just okay...nothing special. Would recommend the ribs at Earl's over these.

http://www.joeysmedgrill.com/home
Joey's (Broadway)
(604) 732-5639
1424 W Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6H

Provence Marinaside

CRAB AND SHRIMP CAKES
smoked paprika and tomato mayonnaise, mixed greens, $12.00

WILD MUSHROOM RAVIOLI
white wine, butter sauce with garlic, fresh tomato, herbs, $17.00

SPAGHETTINI
wild pacific prawns, scallops, plum tomato sauce, roasted garlic, white wine, fresh herbs, $24.00

SEAFOOD LINGUINI
sautéed clams and mussels, grilled fish, wild pacific prawns, roasted garlic, tomato sauce, $24.00

Overall Thoughts:
Nice location and nice ambiance.
Food is pretty good however the cost is quite steep...not too sure if I'd recommend this place due to the price. This is one of those places I'd recommend only for special occasions.

http://www.provencevancouver.com/
Provence Marinaside
(604) 681-4144
Yaletown
1177 Marinaside Cres
Vancouver, BC

Pojang Macha

Inside Pojang Macha

Another Look Inside Pojang Macha

Tofu/Veggie Plate

Deep Fried Gyoza

Beef

Chicken Terriyaki

Bacon and Asparagus (Bottom)
Mushroom and Veggie (Top)

A Closer Look at the Bacon/Asparagus

A Closer Look at the Mushroom/Veggie

Fish Cake

Overall Thoughts:
Food was really good! Enjoyed mostly everything.

Final Verdict:
Thumbs Up! Recommended.

Pojang Macha
(604) 569-0852
Mount Pleasant/Main Street
595 E Broadway
Vancouver, BC

Pho Hoang

Bean Sprouts and Fresh Herbs

Iced Dripped Coffee (Before)

Iced Dripped Coffee (After)

Spring Rolls

Beef Noodle Soup
(Noodles Hidden)

A Closer Shot
(Noodles Hidden)

Noodles Revealed!

Final Verdict: Thumbs Up! Recommended if you're a fan of Pho.

Pho Hoang Vietnamese
(604) 874-0832
3388 Main St
Vancouver, BC

Lee's Donuts At Granville Island

Honey Cruller Donut

Honey Dip Donut

Cinnamon Donut

Coconut Donut

Final Verdict: Homer Simpson would approve!

Lee's Donuts
(604) 685-4021
Granville Island
1689 Johnston St
Vancouver, BC

Browns Social House: BBQ Chicken Pizza

BBQ Chicken Pizza:
BBQ Chicken, Smoked Bacon, Fresh Corn, Mozzarella, Rich Tomato Sauce
($13.50)

A closer-shot

Final Verdict:
For the price ($13.50), pizza was just okay...nothing special. Would recommend to go elsewhere if you're looking for pizza.

http://brownsrestaurantgroup.com/brownssocialhouse/category/locations/yaletown/
Browns Social House (Yaletown)
(604) 696-9335
Yaletown
1165 Mainland St
Vancouver, BC

La Maison De L'Original Fairmount Bagel: Montreals Finest Bagels

La Maison De L'Original Fairmount Bagel
Shot from the outside

The line up was all the way out of the front door!!!
Man, was this place busy!

La Maison De L'Original Fairmount Bagel
Close-up shot of the front board sign

The Kitchen

Sesame Seed Bagel

Received it hot and fresh right out of the oven!

Final Verdict: Thumbs Up.
Recommended if you love bagels.
Be warned...there might be a long line up out the front door when you get there!

For a more thorough review, be sure to check out foodosophy who was there around the same time I made my visit:
http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/fairmount-bagel-montreal-qc/

http://www.fairmountbagel.com/
Fairmount Bagel
(514) 272-0667
Plateau Mont-Royal
74 Ave Fairmount Ouest
Montréal, QC

Food Pic Of The Day: Cactus Club The Burger With French Fries

Food Pic Of The Day:
Cactus Club The Burger With French Fries

Tastiest Burger I've Ever Had!!!

http://www.cactusclubcafe.com/

Food Pics Of The Day: Joeys Rotisserie Chicken

Rotisserie Chicken with Mashed Potatoes

Another Shot

http://www.joeysmedgrill.com/
Joey's (Broadway)
(604) 732-5639
1424 W Broadway
Vancouver, BC

Food Pics Of The Day: The Foundation

The Foundation

Maple Been Chile (Menu)

Scrambled On Spinach (Menu)

Maple Been Chile

Scrambled On Spinach

Foundation
(604) 708-0881
Mount Pleasant/Main Street
2301 Main St
Vancouver, BC

Food Pics Of The Day: Favor Eat At Crystal Mall

Favor Eat: Taiwanese Specialty

The Menu

This is what you get when you order it "to go".

The final product with everything put together.

Not much to say here except that I had to wait a very very long time for the food... ~ 15 mins.

Favor Eat at Crystal Mall Food Court
Burnaby, BC

Food Pic Of The Day: "New York Fries" Poutine with Hot Dog and Pop

"New York Fries" Poutine with Hot Dog and Pop

Bubble World

Bubble World Menu Cover

Mango Smoothie Made With Ice Cream
So good I could have had another one!

Beef Roll

Beef Fried Noodles

Beef Noodle Soup

Another Shot of the Beef Noodle Soup

Final Verdict: Thumbs Up

Bubble World
(604) 585-3399
137-10090 152 Street
Surrey, BC

La Grotta Del Formaggio

La Grotta Del Formaggio:
Sandwiches Made To Order

Panini Price List

This is where it all begins...

My sandwich being assembled...

The Final Product.
Focaccia Bread, Bocconcini Cheese, Tomatoes, Sundried Tomatoes, Basil Pesto Mayo

The Inside.

The Final Verdict: Thumbs Up
Recommended if you're a sandwich person.

La Grotta Del Formaggio
(604) 255-3911
Commercial Drive / Grandview
1791 Commercial Dr
Vancouver, BC

Food Pics Of The Day: Homemade Rib Eye Steak/Roast Potatoes/Crimini Mushrooms

Rib Eye Steak with Crimini Mushrooms

Roast Potatoes

Rib Eye Steak with Crimini Mushrooms and Roast Potatoes

Another shot

Food Pic Of The Day: Gigantic Squash!!!

Saw this today and though it was pretty cool...had to take a pic of it!

A Gigantic Squash!!!
Letter-sized paper included for comparison purposes.

Dicks Drive-In & Dairy Dip

Dick's Drive-In & Dairy Dip

The Outside

Dick's Hand Dipped Vanilla Milkshake
Topped with real whipped cream and a cherry

Milkshake was as good as it looks...extra points for being super thick!

Homemade Fresh Cut Fries

Homemade...Fresh Cut. Thumbs up! Nuff said.

Mushroom Swiss Burger
Swiss Cheese, Sauteed Mushrooms, Fried Onions, Mustard

I asked for them to hold the lettuce and tomato.
Thumbs up.

If you're a burger/fries/milkshake person like I am, then Dicks Drive-In & Dairy Dip is for you! It's sort of like the "Moderne Burger" of Ottawa.
You can read my blog review of "Moderne Burger" here:
http://ilovefoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/its-been-long-time.html

http://www.dickshamburgers.com/
Dicks Drive-in & Dairy Dip
(613) 274-3425
Old Nepean
1485 Merivale Rd
Ottawa, ON K2E 5P3

Highlander Pub: Where Men Wear Kilts

New York Sirloin Steak with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Sides of French Fries and Tomato Basil Soup

For "pub food," it was fairly decent, I'd have to say. The mushroom sauce did seem like a canned cream of mushroom soup, with the possibility of some "fresh" mushroom thrown in the mix. The size of the steak was a 12oz., so no complains there. The cut itself was fairly tasty. The fries were nothing to write home about and I wished they could have included more. The tomato basil soup...well, it's hard to mess up on something like that.

I had quite high expectations for this place, and I left slightly disappointed.

I don't see myself coming back here....however, I have read that their nachos are pretty good.

If you don't care too much about food quality and just want to hang out at a pub with some friends and have a good time, this might be the place for you.

Highlander Pub
(613) 562-5678
ByWard Market/Lower Town
115 Rideau St
Ottawa, ON

Hamilton Street Grill

Coke with a Lemon Wedge.
Refreshing!

Bread Slices and Butter.

French Onion Soup.
Standard French Onion Soup...nothing special.

New York Steak.
I've never been a fan of the NY strip cut..but thought I'd give it a try.
I thought it was just "okay"...for a steak house, I expected better.

An "inside" look!
Steak was cooked to my requested medium rare..so no complains here.

Warm Gingerbread Pudding with Ginger and Pumpkin Ice Cream.
The highlight of my meal.
If you ever come here, I recommend trying this dessert.

Overall, my experience was just okay. The highlight was definitely the dessert.

For steaks, I'd recommend going elsewhere...but if you're a dessert person, try this place out for their Gingerbread Pudding with Ginger and Pumpkin Ice Cream.

http://www.hamiltonstreetgrill.com/
Hamilton Street Grill
1009 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5T4
Tel: (604) 331-1511

Chocoholic Buffet at The Sutton Place Hotel

Taken from their website (link below):

CHOCOHOLIC BUFFET

For the love of chocolate . . . The Sutton Place Hotel brings a sweet touch to its tradition of elegance with the unique Chocoholic Bar, the city's only all-you-can-eat chocolate buffet. Famous with local Vancouverites, the Chocoholic Buffet provides delectable offerings including an array of home made luscious cakes, pastries and pies, exquisite sorbets and ice creams, topped only by the Bar's own renowned Brittany crêpes, a house specialty made right before your eyes. Join us for an evening of sinful delights.

• Seatings: 6:00pm - 8:30pm and 8:30pm - 10:00pm

• $26.00 per adult / $13.00 per child (12 years and under)

• Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday

For reservations, please call:
Fleuri Restaurant 604.642.2900

http://www.vancouver.suttonplace.com/Chocoholic_Buffet.htm

Pictures from my visit...

White Chocolate Bavarois

Dream Bars

Chocolate Cheesecake

Cappuccino Mud Slice

B-52 Mousse Cake

White Chocolate Charlotte

Chocolate ...

Chocolate Raspberry Eclair

Chocolate Cupcakes

Truffle Cake

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Choc Mousse

More Choc Mousse

Triple Choc Croissant Pudding

Fruits!

More Fruits!

Chocolate Fountain

Crepe Station

My crepe being prepared...

My plate...

Another plate...

Crepe with Choc Sauce, Whipped Cream and Strawberries

Chocolate Mousse

Overall, I had a pleasant experience.

The buffet does offer a wide variety of options. I made sure to pay the crepe stand a visit twice! The service was good and I did not feel rushed by the time limit.

I'd recommend this place to anyone that has not tried this place out yet.

Chocoholic Buffet at The Sutton Place Hotel
845 Burrard Street, Vancouver, Canada V6Z 2K6
604.682.5511 Fax 604.682.5513
Toll Free Reservations 1.8663.SUTTON (1.866.378.8866)
http://www.vancouver.suttonplace.com/Chocoholic_Buffet.htm

Knorr Grilled Chicken Alfredo Pasta (with Portobello Mushrooms)

After emptying the contents into a pan.

"Cooking" Directions = Heat and Mix

A closer look.

Plated.

You'll be able to find an assortment of Knorr pasta dinners that can be easily prepared/cooked at most of the big chain grocery stores.

Worth trying out if you're a pasta fan and want to have the feeling of doing your own "cooking" at home.

http://www.knorr.ca/en/products.aspx?ENCUGFnZT1Qcm9kdWN0c0luZm8mSUQ9ZmUwMDM=

Food Pic Of The Day: Corner 23

Sliced Beef Roll

Hot and Sour Soup...with Noodles!
Never knew this soup could be served with noodles...guess anything is possible in the culinary world!

Does anyone know what these are?

Update: They are Pig Ears and Bean Curd/Tofu.
(Credit: Numerous contributors in the comments section)

Qoola Frozen Yogurt + Fruit Aberdeen Centre Grand Opening Party!

Thought I'd inform you guys about the new Qoola store located in Aberdeen Centre (Richmond).
Please see below and link for details.

(Picture taken from http://blog.qoola.com/)

Grand Opening Activities: Qoola Frozen Yogurt + Fruit
* WHEN*: Saturday, June 27th
* WHAT*: 12 noon lineup begins
-1230 pm Official ribbon cutting with Mayor Malcolm Brodie
-Gift cards for the first 100 fans
-Lucky wheel spin, free samples, balloons and more!
*WHERE*: Qoola Yogurt + Fruit, 1st Floor Aberdeen Centre, Richmond

For more details, check out:
http://blog.qoola.com/

You can read my review of their Denman location at the following link:
http://ilovefoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/qoola-fresh-frozen-yogurt-fruit.html

Menya Japanese Noodle

Rice Cake
I didn't really care too much for these.
Maybe I'm just not too big of a fan of rice cakes...

Gyozas
These were awesome!
Recommended.

Ramen
Soup was different. Not as rich as Kintaro. Still decent though.

A closer-shot
Notice that Menya uses very thin noodles. Personally, I prefer the ones at Kintaro.

Side of plain ramen
Menya allows you to order a side order of plain ramen. A good option that I took advantage of.

Overall Thoughts:
Decent effort. However, I do prefer the other ones i.e. Kintaro, Benkei and Motomachi Shokudo.

Would I recommend?
If you are a big fan of ramen, it's worth giving this place a shot.

Interesting Note:
They are closed on Sundays!

Menya
401 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-725-9452

Flying Wedge Pizza Company

The Bacon Cheeseburger
Tomatoes, onions, bacon, beef crumble, cheddar, FW Cheesiest Cheese Blend, special sauce

This was one of their chicken pizzas that they were offering for a limited time period

Cheesyrom
Six cheeses...feta, parmesan, cheddar, edam, mozzarella
Fresh tomatoes

Food: 3/5
Value: 2.5/5

Overall Thoughts:
I always think of Flying Wedge as a little overpriced for what you get. The pizza itself is just decent, nothing amazing.

Flying Wedge Pizza Company
Locations: Various (See website below)

http://www.flyingwedge.com/home.html

White Spot Chocolate Passion Cake

Chocolate Passion Cake
Seven layers of fudgy chocolate cake & creamy chocolate icing.
Vanilla ice cream drizzled with hot fudge sauce.

This is one of my favorite dessert dishes from White Spot.
You're getting chocolate cake and ice cream...what more could one want? Whipped cream and a cherry? That's included as well!

I recommend giving it a shot the next time you're wondering what dessert dish to order at White Spot.

Food Pic Of The Day: The Keg Rib Eye Steak

The Keg Rib Eye Steak

Another shot

Yet another one...

One more...

Take-out anyone?

Food Fact Of The Day: Houdini + Cookies

Food Fact Of The Day:
As a child, Houdini often broke into his family's locked cookie cupboard.

Taken from: 2009 Page A Day Calendar (Workman Publishing)

Scoop!

Scoop! Frozen Yogurt (No Toppings)

I went to Scoop! a while ago when they first opened.

A couple of notes on the actual store. Be very very careful when you enter. There is a little step when you walk through the door. Another thing is that the ceiling is really low when you head towards the restroom and Foosball table area...so just be extra cautious and watch your step/head.

The concept is pretty simple. Order the size of yogurt you want, and then there is a self-serve "salad-bar" like area where you get to choose your toppings. These are then weighed together at the end when you pay.

I decided to order just the original yogurt by itself as I wanted to try it in its purest form. Overall I thought the yogurt was just okay...I'd say that I do prefer other ones offered by other frozen yogurt stores such as Blueberry, Froyo Swirl and Qoola.

I might need to pay another visit to see if there are any changes since they first opened.

Scoop!
(604) 569-3338
Kitsilano
2050 W 4th Ave
Vancouver, BC
http://www.scoopyogurt.com/

Food Pic Of The Day: The Keg Prime Rib & Lobster

PRIME RIB & LOBSTER
Slow roasted prime rib with an oven baked Atlantic lobster tail
Served with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Dockside Restaurant InThe Granville Island Hotel : Only Here For The Food?

Smoked Wild Sockeye Benedict
Damage: $15

Shrimp Benedict (Baby Shrimp)
Damage: $15

Classic Eggs Benedict (with Back Bacon)
Damage: $14

A closer look at the Classic Eggs Benny

Pelican Bay Omelette
bell peppers, aged white cheddar, scallions, hash browns and toast
Damage: $14

Belgian Waffles
arctic lingonberry and cloudberry compotes, confectioner’s sugar
Damage: $15

Dockside Pilsner Battered Queen Charlottes Halibut
kennebec frites, tartare sauce
Damage: $16

Wild Sockeye Salmon Burger
grilled, on a kaiser bun and tartare sauce, kennebec frites
Damage: $15

Prior to dining at Dockside Restaurant (located in Granville Island), I had heard that they have one of the best patios in the city. Well, upon my arrival, that did seem to be true. The patio did look fantastic and did seem like it was great especially on a sunny summer day.

Now onto the food....I myself had ordered the classic eggs benny. When the plate arrived, I could tell that the poached eggs were overcooked. So I did the ol cutting into the egg routine to see if there would be any yolks streaming down. Well, nothing. Perfectly solid. Long story short, this happened to more than one of our orders. I believe it was sent back about four times.

The rest of the food items...can't really say too much as I didn't try them. But the overall impression I got was that the food was mediocre at best.

Another thing was the price. I really felt that a lot of the items were severely overpriced. Take for example the Belgian Waffles (3 pieces) for $15. Any local foodies will know that Cafe Medina serves one of the best waffles around town. Matter of fact, for that same price ($15), you can actually get 5 pieces at Cafe Medina. I haven't done a post on Cafe Medina yet, but those waffles are to die for! They have to be the best waffles I've ever had. Be sure to order a side topping when your there. My favorite is the raspberry caramel.

Losing focus now...back on track. So the question is this: when most of you go out to eat, do you only care about the food? KimHo will probably tell you so. Or do you care about everything else such as the ambiance (i.e. patio) and service?

Anyways, back to Dockside. Overall, I felt that the food was mediocre at best. The service could have been better. Would I return? Probably not. Would I recommend you try it? Well, only if you really like patio seating and don't care much for the food and value.

Before I forget, we went here to celebrate some birthdays. Apparently they were gonna charge us $2 per head for a cake fee if we were to have brought our own cake...

Dockside
(604) 685-7070
Granville Island
1253 Johnston St
Vancouver, BC V6H
http://www.docksidebrewing.com/

Food Pic Of The Day: The Keg Prime Rib & King Crab

PRIME RIB & KING CRAB
Slow roasted prime rib with steamed Alaskan King crab legs

Food Fact Of The Day: Number Of Noodles In Every Can Of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup

Food Fact Of The Day:
There Are Exactly 216 Noodles In Every Can Of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup

Taken from: 2009 Page A Day Calendar (Workman Publishing)

Food Pic Of The Day: The Keg Mushrooms Neptune

MUSHROOMS NEPTUNE
Wine simmered mushroom caps with crab and cream cheese.

http://en.kegsteakhouse.com/home

Market By Jean-Georges

Market by Jean-Georges is located by the Shangri-La Hotel in Downtown Vancouver

Bar area of Market

Jasmine Lemonade
Think Jasmine Tea and fizz...that's exactly what this was. Oh, and I can't forget the lemon taste!
I must say that I liked the combination.

Bread + Butter.
Perfect way to start a meal.

Black Truffle + Fontina Cheese Pizza
This was the MVP of my visit here.
A must try!

Parmesan Crusted Organic Chicken
Extra points for the use of organic chicken?
The chicken was good but could have been better if accompanied with a side dish such as some mashed potatoes.

Soy Glazed Short Ribs
Like the chicken dish, I thought this could have been complemented well with a side of mashed potatoes. Aside from that, the Ribs was quite tasty.

Grilled “Market” Burger
Wow...that's what I first thought when this arrived.
Burger overall was okay...not the best burger I've had, but I appreciated the addition of the onion rings.

Mustard, Ketchup and Mayo...these accompanied the burger.

Another shot of the burger..this time fully assembled.
Note that there are TWO patties!!!
And yes, it was as tall as it looks!

Banana Bread + Gelato
A perfect way to end my meal.

Overall, I had a great meal at Market by Jean-Georges. Be sure to try their 3-course meal during lunch time. Don't forget to call in advance to ensure that you'll be able to secure a seat!

Market By Jean-Georges
(604) 689-1120
1128 W Georgia St
Vancouver, BC V6E
http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/vancouver/shangrila/dining/restaurant/market

Food Pic Of The Day: Cheese Pizza and Caesar Salad from Pizza Pzzaz (Granville Island Food Court)

Cheese Pizza and Caesar Salad

Another Shot.

Tip: Be sure to click on each pic for a better view.

Pizza Pzzaz
Granville Island Food Court
#131 - 1689 Johnston St.
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3R9
604-689-9002 Tel
http://www.granvilleisland.com/en/pizza_pzzaz

Food Pic Of The Day: The Keg Escargot

ESCARGOT
Escargot stuffed mushroom caps with garlic and herbs.

http://en.kegsteakhouse.com/home

Restaurant Of The Year: Cioppino’s/Enoteca (Gold) (Restaurant Awards 2009 | Vancouver Magazine)

Someone asked me recently what my favorite restaurant was.
Well, instead of answering that question, I'd like to present you with the Restaurant of the Year for 2009 as voted by Vancouver Magazine.

Restaurant Of The Year:
Cioppino’s/Enoteca (Gold)
(Restaurant Awards 2009 | Vancouver Magazine)

"Bold, hearty flavours are the hallmark of Yaletown’s Cioppino’s (Gold), where chef Pino Posteraro’s pastas are always stellar (“pappardelle with four-hour-braised veal cheeks and porcini mushrooms will make you weep,” said one judge) and his succulent, spit-roasted duck breast with candied-orange reduction is cooked to juicy perfection. A stomping ground for Canucks, politicos, and corporate players, Posteraro’s room also caters private events for visiting celebs like Bill Clinton."

http://www.vanmag.com/Restaurants/Restaurant_Awards_2009

http://www.vanmag.com/Restaurants/Restaurant_Awards_2009?page=0%2C1
http://www.vanmag.com/restaurant/Cioppino_s

As an added bonus, below are some dessert pictures from a visit to Cioppino's.

Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill
(604) 688-7466
Yaletown
1133 Hamilton St
Vancouver, BC V6B
http://www.cioppinosyaletown.com/

Campbell's Healthy Request Vegetable Beef With Barley Soup

Heating it up in a pot.

Served in a bowl.

Goes really well with some buttered toast.

Food Pic Of The Day: Pizza Hut Grilled Chicken Italiano Personal Pan Pizza

Pizza Hut's Grilled Chicken Italiano Personal Pan Pizza
A mouth-watering combination of grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, green peppers, mushrooms and 100% Pizza Mozzarella.

Food Pic Of The Day: The Keg Caesar Salad

KEG CAESAR
Crisp romaine and aged Parmesan cheese in creamy dressing.
Note that there is also a Tiger Shrimp which was ordered as a separate side dish.

http://en.kegsteakhouse.com/home

Strawberry Cake From Haru Bakery

Strawberry Cake from Haru Bakery

Pic was taken from a cell phone camera and so is not that clear.

Had some questions related to my previous post and so decided to do a proper review as opposed to just "Food Pic Of The Day."

I did not get a chance to try this cake. However, it's been described to me as fluffy and light. The inside consists of sponge cake and the outside has whipped cream/strawberries and if you look closely, you'll see some silver candy.

Definitely worth a try!

HARU BAKERY
8685 10TH AVE
BURNABY, BC V3N 2S9

Food Pic Of The Day: Strawberry Cake

Strawberry Cake

Food Pic Of The Day: McDonald's Chicken McNugget Meal

McDonald's Chicken McNugget Meal

A closer-shot

The Keg Tiger Shrimp

TIGER SHRIMP
Black Tiger shrimp grilled with garlic and herbs.

This side dish was great. The use of garlic and herbs worked really well in adding a lot of flavor.

http://en.kegsteakhouse.com/home

Food Pic Of The Day: Perogies From Granville Island Food Court

Food Pic Of The Day:
Perogies from Granville Island Food Court
Not too sure of the name of the other item, but it was not good at all (tasteless and stale)...I believe there was potato and broccoli in it.

Tip:
Be sure to click on the pic for a better view.

Campbell's Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup

Out of the can...heated...into a bowl.

This is a pretty good option if you are looking for something relatively inexpensive and convenient on a cold rainy day. Goes really well with some buttered toast.

Food Pic Of The Day: Pizza Hut Chicken Lovers Deluxe Personal Pan Pizza

Pizza Hut's Chicken Lovers Deluxe Personal Pan Pizza
Slices of tender oven-grilled chicken breast, crisp green peppers, red onions, sliced mushrooms and 100% Pizza Mozzarella.

Food Pic Of The Day: Honjin Sushi - Pork Katsu Don

Honjin Sushi - Pork Katsu Don

Not bad, but nothing special that makes it stand out from other ones.

Azia

Coconut Rice wrapped in Banana Leaf

Curry Beef Brisket Rendang
traditional Malay Curry slow simmered in coconut milk with lemongrass, lime leaves, shallots, garlic, ginger, galangal and tumeric

Roti Canai
hand made Malaysian bread pan fried to perfection & served with curry sauce dip

Mushroom Lover's (shiitake, portabello) Roll

A closer-look at the Mushroom Lover's Roll

Azia is located in Downtown Vancouver. More specifically, it is located by Scotiabank Theatre (which used to be called Paramount Cinema).

The service I'd have to say was really good when I went there. The ambiance is quite inviting with its high ceiling.

Onto the food...the food was just okay, nothing amazing or spectacular. I did appreciate the Mushroom Lover's roll which I thought was the best dish amongst what I had ordered. I liked the presentation of the dish.

The food I felt was just standard. I expected a bit more from this place and was kind of disappointed based on the prices. Not a place that I myself would recommend to others, but if you do try this place out, please let me know how it goes. Maybe I ought to give it another shot?

Azia
(604) 682-8622
990 Smithe St
Vancouver, BC V6Z
http://www.aziarestaurants.com/

EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival 2009

Thought some of you might be interested in the following event coming soon to Vancouver...

The seventh annual event will be returning to BC Place on May 22-24, 2009.

Here are the details:

Festival Hours

Friday, May 22nd, 2009 4PM - 9PM
Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 11 AM - 9PM
Sunday, May 24th, 2009 11 AM - 5PM

http://www.eat-vancouver.com/

The Keg Shrimp Cocktail

SHRIMP COCKTAIL
Chilled Black Tiger shrimp with a zesty martini cocktail sauce.

Another view.

These were very tasty and fresh.
A great appetizer dish to get the next time you're at The Keg.

http://en.kegsteakhouse.com/home

Food Pic Of The Day: Pizza Hut Personal Pan Canadian Pizza

Food Pic Of The Day:
Pizza Hut Personal Pan Canadian Pizza

Costco 1/2 Pound Angus Beef Cheeseburger Combo (With Fries and Pop)

Introducing...
Costco 1/2 Pound Angus Beef Cheeseburger Combo (With Fries and Pop)
Available in the food court section of Costco

This is what you can expect to receive.

What it looks like after assembling the burger.

An inside look!

So it seems like Costco has replaced their Ribs with a new item...a 1/2 pound Angus beef cheeseburger combo that comes with fries and a pop for $5.99.

For a review of the Costco Ribs, see the following links:
http://ilovefoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/preview.html
http://ilovefoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/say-it-aint-so.html
http://ilovefoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/i-only-have-one-question.html
http://ilovefoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/update-on-rib-status.html
http://ilovefoodblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/disappointed.html

Moving on, I was very anxious to try this new item out.

As can be seen from the pics above, you get to assemble your own burger. It comes with a mayo packet as well.

The burger itself...well, I'd have to say it was not amazing. The beef patty itself was somewhat dry and tasteless. The good thing is that they don't use processed cheese!

To be fair though, for $5.99, I'd have to say that's a very good deal considering that you're getting a burger that does not use processed cheese, and that includes a pop and fries.

I will probably give this another shot in the near future.

Potato Heaven At Urban Fare

Mashed Potatoes and Scalloped Potatoes at Urban Fare

I normally like to get a potato dish as my side dish when eating at Urban Fare. This time, I decided to go all out and order both the mashed potatoes and scalloped potatoes. A great complement with many of the other dishes served at Urban Fare.

Phnom Penh Stewed Beef Noodle Soup

Phnom Penh Stewed Beef Noodle Soup

This is another favorite dish that I normally order at Phnom Penh. Like other dishes at this restaurant, the use of herbs i.e. cilantro adds a lot of extra flavor.

Recommend trying this dish the next time you're at Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh
(604) 682-5777
244 E Georgia St
Vancouver, BC V6A

An Absorbing Question

Question:
Why doesn't pound cake weigh a pound?

Answer:
Experts say that the dish was traditionally made with a pound of flour, a pound of butter, and a pound of sugar. (Wouldn't that make it a three-pound cake?)
Interestingly, that same concept explains the name of another dessert: cupcakes.
The original recipes called for a cup each of flour, butter, and sugar, not because they're baked in little paper cups.

Taken from: 2009 Page A Day Calendar (Workman Publishing)

Costco's Kirkland Meat Pizza

Costco's Kirkland Meat Pizza (Pepperoni, Bacon, Beef)

A closer-look

Costco's Kirkland Signature Take & Bake Pizza is a great deal at a cost of $9.99. This can feed about 3/4 people.

Preparation directions are really simple. Simply take plastic lid off, and bake in the pre-heated oven. You don't even need to use your own baking pan as it comes with one already.

I do prefer this pizza over the one offered at the Costco Food Court.

You may not like this if you prefer your pizza crust to be super crispy.

Phnom Penh Dry Egg Noodles: Herbilicious!

Phnom Penh Dry Egg Noodles
What's in it?
Cilantro, Minced and Sliced Pork, Shrimp, Liver, Fried Garlic, Green Onions

This dish is a favorite amongst many returning Phnom Penh diners. I think what makes this dish so delicious is the use of cilantro, which adds that extra flavor! Herbilicious indeed!

Highly recommended when you visit Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh
(604) 682-5777
244 E Georgia St
Vancouver, BC V6A

Corner 23 Red Fermented Pork Rice Meal

Corner 23 Red Fermented Pork Rice Meal

This is another rice meal that I'm a big fan of. One of my usual orders whenever I eat at Corner 23.
As can be seen from the pic above, the rice meal comes with the main entree, a bowl of rice, and three side dishes (normally vegetarian dishes).
The red fermented pork is really well seasoned and is well marbled, resulting in its juicy and tasty, yet crispy mouthfeel.

I recommend trying this out the next time you're at Corner 23.

Corner 23
(604) 879-8815
4008 Cambie St.
Vancouver, BC V5Z

Food Pic Of The Day: Urban Fare Meat Lasagna

Urban Fare Meat Lasagna

Tip: Click on pic for better view

Did You Know? Coffee Beans And Tea Leaves

Did you know?
One pound of coffee beans makes about 50 cups of coffee; one pound of tea leaves makes about 300 cups of tea.

Taken from: 2009 Page A Day Calendar (Workman Publishing)

Qoola (Fresh) Frozen Yogurt + Fruit

I wanted to save my review after having tried a major core of what Qoola has to offer. And by now, I believe I've done just that.

Qoola is located on the West End of Vancouver Downtown. More specifically, they are located on Denman Street, where Cupcakes used to be.

What I like about Qoola is that they offer more than just regular yogurt and any toppings of your choice. For starts, they have come up with their own creations, many of which are really well constructed. On top of that, they also offer waffles, crepes, smoothies and an interesting energy bowl (made with acai).

I've been fortunate enough to meet most of the members of Qoola, all of whom I had great conversations with. They were all friendly, courteous and extremely knowledgeable of their product. So as far as service, I'd have to say that the service has been great during my visits.

The ambiance as you'll see later on below is great. The store is really well lit up and is inviting. It's one of those places that I feel really comfortable hanging out at.

Let's start with the basics. Their fresh frozen yogurt, which contains 100% live and active cultures, is available in four different flavors. Three of them are the staple ones: original, chocolate and green tea. The fourth one is the feature flavor and is meant to change monthly. During my visits, I've seen Pomberry and Strawberry as the feature flavors, both of which I really liked.

For those of you that are concerned about your calories, you'll be happy to know that their original yogurt comes to only 90 calories per serving.

For those that are lactose intolerant, I've been told that one can attempt to eat their yogurts without taking any lactase due to the extra high count of probiotics. Of course, this will vary from person to person.

The great thing about Qoola is that the fruits that they use is always fresh, and never frozen.

Now onto some photos...

Fresh, Healthy, Pure, Natural, Tasty, Fruit, Refreshing...
They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Those are just a few words to describe what Qoola has to offer to every customer that walks in their store.

Gotta love this design.

"What toppings would you like on your yogurt?"
Toppings include: Apples, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Kiwis, Mangoes, Oranges, Pineapples, Raspberries, Strawberries, Watermelons, Sea Foam, Yogurt Chips, Choc Chips, Carob Chips, Pistachios, Granola, Walnut Crumbs, Roasted Pecans, Sliced Almonds, Graham Crackers, Fruity Pebbles, Cap'n Crunch, Cocoa Pebbles, Oreos, Organic Bee Pollen, Greens +, Mini Marshmellows, Mochi etc.

Qoola has come up with their own creations with a variety of toppings.
Variations include: "The W", "Qool-Bama", "Tropic-Q", "Pomberry Sweetie", "Carmel Apple" etc.

Pure Heart + Pure Body
That is exactly what Qoola is all about.

Notice anything?
What I like about Qoola is that they pay special attention to detail.
Still don't see it? Well, the next time you're there, take a look at each table. If you put all of the tables together in the right configuration, it'll give you the figure of their logo...just like a jig-saw puzzle! Cool indeed (no pun intended).

Enjoy a fresh yogurt while watching the day go by...

Saving the environment...one napkin at a time.
Qoola strives to reduce unnecessary waste by offering biodegradable, compostable and recyclable products.

Qoola cares about the environment.
Be sure to throw the above mentioned items in the appropriate bins before leaving.

Stop + Sort

Greenware Packaging = Eco-Friendly

Qoola Original Yogurt: A taste of Qoola in its purest form.
I always like trying a product in its purest form. I don't like adding too much stuff initially. This is no different here. As a matter of fact, after my initial taste, I've found myself ordering this the majority of my latter visits.
I would say that it has just the right creaminess as far as texture and has a good balance of tartness. A refreshing treat indeed!

Green Tea Yogurt with Pistachios

Smore's D-Light
This is one of Qoola's own creation.

Orange Bliss (Orange Slices, Agave Nectar, Coconut Shreds)
Another one of Qoola's creation.
I very much enjoyed this creation. All the toppings went together really well. I especially like the use of the Agave Nectar to make this sweeter.

Caramel Apple (Green Apple Sices, Cinnamon Flakes, Caramel Sauce)
Yet another one of Qoola's own creation.
Another one that I greatly enjoyed. The toppings go really well together.
And yes, it taste as good as it looks.

Qrepe (served with Original and Chocolate Swirl Yogurt + Chocolate Sauce)
Made with a blend of organic wheat and unbleached flour.
You are able to add on yogurt and any additional toppings, syrups, sauces and spreads.
The thing I really liked about this was that it was very light...I didn't walk away with that sick feeling you get after stuffing yourself.

Q*Waffle (with Pomberry Yogurt, Fresh Strawberry Slices and Strawberry Sauce)
The waffle itself is made from organic whole grains (barley, rye, flax, millet and oats).
You are able to add on yogurt and any additional toppings, syrups, sauces and spreads.
Like the Qrepe, this was a great dessert.

Another Q*Waffle, but this time with Original Yogurt
Great for sharing!

A closer shot of the Q*Waffle and Original Yogurt

Qrush
This is a blend of their fresh frozen yogurt and the feature slush. In this case, the feature slush was Pomberry and the yogurt of my choice was the original flavor. You can choose to have it layered or blended. In this case, I got mine layered.
What I really liked about this beverage was that one minute I would be sipping down the slush, and then another minute later I would be sipping the fresh yogurt.
Very refreshing!

Qoolala Smoothie
This is basically a combination of any flavor yogurt and up to 3 toppings blended into a smoothie.
I decided to go with Pomberry as my yogurt choice, and blueberries, strawberries and blackberries as my toppings. This resulted in a very fresh, tasty and refreshing smoothie.

I wanted to try another smoothie. This time I used the feature flavor yogurt strawberry and mixed it with fresh strawberries. Like the above smoothie, the end result was an awesome refreshing strawberry smoothie.

Qool-acai Energy Bowl
Bowl of organic acai and soymilk topped with granola and bananas (sweetened with guarana).
Acai, I've been told is packed with antioxidants and is highly nutritious.
I've been told previously before trying the Acai Enery Bowl that it was an aquired taste. After finally trying it, I'd have to say that I really enjoyed it. It was also very refreshing!

Craving for something to clear your throat after a bowl of ramen at Kintaro/Benkei/Motomachi Shokudo? Be sure to take a nice walk down to Qoola for some refreshing yogurt!

I highly recommend trying this place out!

http://www.qoola.com/
Qoola Frozen Yogurt + Fruit
1116 Denman St
Vancouver, BC V6G 2M8
(604) 801-6338

Food Fact Of The Day: Meatloaf (Singer) Is A Vegetarian

Meatloaf...the food.

Meatloaf..the singer.

Food Fact Of The Day:
Meatloaf (Singer) Is A Vegetarian

Taken from: 2009 Page A Day Calendar (Workman Publishing)

Food Pic Of The Day: Urban Fare Penne Arrabiata with Chorizo Sausages

Urban Fare Penne Arrabiata with Chorizo Sausages

Please refer to my earlier post for a review on the above item.

Corner 23 Fried Pork Rice Meal

Corner 23 Fried Pork Rice Meal

I'm a big fan of this rice meal. One of my usual orders whenever I eat at Corner 23.
As can be seen from the pic above, the rice meal comes with the main entree, a bowl of rice, and three side dishes (normally vegetarian dishes).
The fried pork is really well seasoned and is well marbled, resulting in its juicy and tasty mouthfeel.

I recommend trying this out the next time you're at Corner 23.

Corner 23
4008 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-879-8815

Costco Kirkland Signature Take & Bake Pizza

Another shot with the plastic lid taken off

The Product.

A Closer Look.

Costco's Kirkland Signature Take & Bake Pizza is a great deal at a cost of $9.99. This can feed about 3/4 people.

Preparation directions are really simple. Simply take plastic lid off, and bake in the pre-heated oven. You don't even need to use your own baking pan as it comes with one already.

I do prefer this pizza over the one offered at the Costco Food Court.

If you like your crust really really crispy, this may not be for you. It works well for me as I don't like my crust too crispy.

Myth-Conceptions: Bloody Beef

The Myth:
The red liquid that seeps out of cooked beef is blood.

The Truth:
Very little blood remains in muscle after slaughter and what's left is then removed. The liquid is combination of water and a red-colored (because it's rich in oxygen) protein called myoglobin.

Taken from: 2009 Page A Day Calendar (Workman Publishing)

Salsa & Agave Mexican Grill

Interior of Salsa & Agave Mexican Grill

I believe this consisted of: veggie, beef, beef tongue, and chicken (from left to right)

Close-up of veggie.

I believe this was spicy beef and chicken (left to right)

Beef, cheese and tomato burrito with guacamole on the side

Side condiments

One bad thing about not blogging on food places right away is that you'll tend to forget how it was. This is the case here. I went here a while ago and am finally blogging on it.

Moving on...Salsa & Agave Mexican Grill is located in Yaletown of Vancouver, BC Canada. They serve authentic Mexican cuisine. There aren't that many seats inside, so ordering for take-out might be a good idea if the restaurant is full.

The food itself is great. You get a sense that you're enjoying an authentic Mexican home-cooked meal.

I wouldn't mind returning here again in the future!

Salsa & Agave Mexican Grill
(604) 408-4228
Yaletown
1223 Pacific Blvd
Vancouver, BC V6Z

Blue Sky Root Beer

Blue Sky Root Beer

"The Sky's the limit for a healthy alternative to soda pop. Blue Sky All Natural Soda is delicious and has absolutely no artificial anything in it!"

Decided to try this while I was having a meal at Urban Fare. I'd rate this as a pretty good root beer. It was very refreshing and creamy!

I recommend trying this root beer out.

http://drinkbluesky.com/products/index.php?cat=5&id=11

Food Pic Of The Day: Sciue Mushroom Pizza

Sciue Mushroom Pizza

Please refer to my older posting for a review on Sciue Italian Bakery Cafe.

Food Pics Of The Day: Benkei Ramen and Gyozas

Benkei Gyozas:
A classic Japanese side dish
Tender juicy minced pork, sweet soft Chinese cabbage, and other vegetables.

Benkei Shoyu Ramen
Chicken-pork soup and Benkei`s special soy sauce with cha-siu

Please refer to my older posting for a review of Benkei.

Goodbye Prima Taste (Food Pics Of The Day)

The Prima Taste that used to be located in Downtown Vancouver (Robson St.) is no longer there. This post will just be showing the pics of the dishes that was served at the restaurant. Sorry for the not so clear pics.

Chicken with Broccoli.

Roti Canai.

Beef Rendang.

Not too sure of the name of this dish.

Teh Tarik.

Fried Banana with Vanilla Ice Cream.
Drizzled with Caramel Sauce and topped off with a Cherry.

Home Made Breakfast Burrito

Home Made Breakfast Burrito

Very easy to make.
What you need:
Burrito Wrap (in this case, sundried tomato flavor), Shredded Cheese, Scrambled Eggs, Salsa Sauce

A great morning breakfast meal. Can be eaten on the way to work as well!

Cito Espresso: Coffee Specialist

Tip: Click on each pic for a better view.

Cito House Blend Coffee Beans.

"Cito House blend is blended and roasted in small batches for the perfect cappucino and caffe latte.
This Northern Italian Style Roast features a rich note of caramel when combined with milk.
Incredible body makes this blend ideal for drip coffee and French pot press as well."

Cito Espresso's version of a Latte.

Another version of Cito Espresso's Latte.

Cito Espresso is located in Yaletown of Vancouver, BC Canada. More specifically, it is located near Roundhouse Community Centre and the Yaletown Urban Fare.

When you first walk in, you will notice that the inviting ambiance. The ceiling is high and the cafe is well lit up, without being too bright. There is ample seating and so you normally won't have to worry about not getting a table/seat. In the summertime there are also tables/chairs set up outside which is nice as well.

I'll admit that I'm no coffee expert. I really don't drink coffee that often. However, I'd have to say that I enjoyed their latte. I do however know someone that drinks coffee daily and believes that Cito Espresso serves one of the best coffees in town (yes, even better than Starbucks!).

If you enjoy a good cup of coffee, be sure to pay a visit to Cito Espresso the next time you are around Yaletown!

Cito Espresso
116 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-633-2486

Milestones Wicked Kobe Beef Sliders (Mini Burgers)

Milestones Wicked Kobe Beef Sliders
Three Kobe beef mini hamburgers, simmered in a roasted garlic au jus and topped with mozzarella and crispy onion strings. Served with our Kobe mustard sauce, splash of basil oil and toasted sesames

As a part of my hunt for great mini burgers in Vancouver, I decided to try Milestones own version: Wicked Kobe Beef Sliders.
I'll start off by saying that I didn't care too much for the Kobe mustard sauce...but then again, I'm not that big of a fan of mustard sauce period.
Let's talk about the mini burger. The bread used reminds me of a mini Chinese bun. I actually do like this bun used.
The mini beef patty itself as you may guess is made from Kobe beef. The patty is quite tasty and the roasted garlic au jus, mozzarella and crispy onion strings go really well together.
All in all, it results in a rather tasty and dare I say addicting mini burger.

If you are a fan of mini burgers, I recommend trying this out.

http://www.milestonesrestaurants.com/

Corner 23 Beef Noodle

Corner 23 Beef Noodle

I had this noodle dish a few times already and it it is okay. I don't think that it is better than the one at Taiwan Beef Noodle House (now known as Wangs Beef Noodle House).
If you happen to be dinning at Corner 23, it is worth trying if you are looking for some noodles in soup on a cold day!

Corner 23
4008 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-879-8815

Why Does Pepper Make Us Sneeze?

Why Does Pepper Make Us Sneeze?

Experts say: It's because of piperine, a chemical that creates the biting sensation when you taste pepper. Smell and taste are linked, so when piperline hits the tongue, it also hits the delicate membranes of the nose. When finely ground pepper particles are drawn into the nose, the body tries to get rid of them like it would with any foreign particles, by sneezing.

Taken from: 2009 Page A Day Calendar (Workman Publishing)

Pizza Pzzaz (Granville Island)

Classic Cheese Pizza

I love ordering this pizza everytime I'm at the Granville Island food court. The crust, cheese and pizza sauce just go so well together. Yummy!

Cheese Pizza with Caesar Salad

One slice of pizza not enough for you? They do offer a pizza and salad combo.
Like the pizza, the salad was great. Freshly made in front of you!

If you're at Granville Island and looking for something to eat, I recommend checking out Pizza Pzzaz.

Pizza Pzzaz
Granville Island Food Court
#131 - 1689 Johnston St.
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3R9
604-689-9002 Tel
http://www.granvilleisland.com/en/en/pizza_pzzaz

Food Pic Of The Day: Milestones Mexican Corvina Sea Bass

Milestones Mexican Corvina Sea Bass
Imported Corvina sea bass lighly fried and served with mixed veggies, curly fries, and a splash of Gaucho sauce

Earls Pizza

The Margherita:
fresh basil, rich tomato sauce, mozzarella and white cheddar
I also added: Mushrooms and Bacon

Whenever I'm at Earls and in the mood for some pizza, I normally go with The Margherita pizza and add mushrooms and bacon.
The pizza at Earls is definitely really good. I'm a big fan of their pizza and I'd have to say that they are pretty consistent with bringing out a great pizza. I can't pin point what it is exactly that makes this pizza so good...I think it's a combination of all the ingredients that they use including the crust and the cheese.

I definitely recommend trying the pizza at Earls.

http://www.earls.ca/

Food Pic Of The Day: McDonald's Southwest Chicken

McDonald's Southwest Chicken

Corner 23 Potstickers

Corner 23 Potstickers

These remind me of Taiwan Beef Noodle House's (now known as Wang's Beef Noodle House) potstickers.
It normally comes with a side sauce which unfortunately is not pictured above.
Nonetheless, this is a pretty good side dish to order at Corner 23.

By the way, do they call them potstickers because they have a tendency to stick to pots?

Corner 23
4008 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-879-8815

Food Pic Of The Day: McDonald's Crispy Chicken Classic

McDonald's Crispy Chicken Classic
(I asked to hold the lettuce on this one. )

White Spot Hot Fudge Brownie

White Spot Hot Fudge Brownie
Creamy ice cream, triple thick hot fudge sauce & our chocolate fudge brownie

White Spot's version of a classic dessert dish.
As I would expect, this was a good dessert.

Hurricane Grill Nachos

NACHOS
Classic nachos, hurricane style ($13.99)

I decided to try these as I was in the mood for some Nachos.
It came with the usual works i.e. salsa, sour cream, olives, jalapenos, green onions, cheese.
It was okay, nothing special or mind blowing. But for $13.99, I don`t think it was worth it in terms of the value.

Please leave me a comment to let me know some good spots that offer a great Nacho dish around Vancouver!

Oh yeah...before I forget...
What kind of cheese is not yours?
(Sorry, I had to ask!)

http://www.thehurricanegrill.ca/
Hurricane Grill, The (Yaletown)
1137 Marinaside Crescent
Vancouver, BC
Tel: (604) 488-0555

Food Pic Of The Day: Romana's Pizza

Romana's Classic Pizza:
Pepperoni, Mushrooms, Green Pepper.

Bonus Pic: Close-Up Shot

Please refer to my earlier post on a review of Romana's Pizza.

Benkei

Benkei Noodle (Ramen) Shop

Gyozas:
A classic Japanese side dish
Tender juicy minced pork, sweet soft Chinese cabbage, and other vegetables.

These were pretty good.

Shoyu Ramen
Chicken-pork soup and Benkei`s special soy sauce with vegetables, cha-siu, sliced onion, bamboo shoots, spinach and seaweed.

A great soup base and good choice for noodles used. Although not as tasty as Kintaro, this can be considered a bit healthier and was still pretty good.

Bonus Pic of Shoyu Ramen.

Tastewise, I`d have to say Kintaro is still king. However, Benkei takes second place and is still pretty good.

If you are a fan of Ramen or Kintaro, I recommend giving Benkei a shot!

Benkei Ramen
1741 Robson St
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-688-6980

I Like My French Fries Like This...

MacDonald`s French Fries

I like it when my MacDonald`s French Fries comes fresh, hot and not too golden brown!

A La Mode Pot Pie At Granville Island

A La Mode Chicken Pot Pie
Note from the pic that it also comes with a side salad

What it looks like with the crust broken in and removed.

Bonus Pic: Iced Tea from A La Mode
Perfect on a sunny hot summer day!

A La Mode is located in the food court section of Granville Island. There is normally a line up when you get there. They serve a variety of pot pies.

I tried the chicken pot pie and thought it was pretty good. The best part was breaking the crust in! It also came with a side salad which I really didn't care too much for, but if you're a salad person, I'm sure you'll appreciate it.

Also ordered a lemonade which went really well with the meal.

I recommend paying a visit and trying one of their pot pies!

A La Mode
(604) 685-8335
Granville Island
1689 Johnston St.
Vancouver, BC V6H

Food Pic Of The Day: Cactus Club's The Burger (Close-Up Edition)

The Burger (what used to be called The Feenie Burger)
Available at Cactus Club Cafe

Kettle Brand Krinkle Cut Chips: Buffalo Bleu

Kettle Brand Krinkle Cut Chips: Buffalo Bleu
Brazen spice mellowed by bleu cheese

What the chips look like...

I purchased a bag from Costco after a recommendation from my co-worker.

These were great. Very crispy and tasty. I normally don't eat super spicy food but I was able to eat this without problem.

I recommend picking up a bag the next time you're at Costco.

Costco Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich

Costco Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich
Served with a pickle.
Bread appears to be a Ciabatta Bun.

I ordered this as I wanted something "healthier" from the Costco food court section. I really was not expecting it to be that good. Well, turns out my prediction was right. It was just okay...it wasn't horrible, but I don't see myself ordering this again in the future. I'm sticking with my usuals...i.e. french fries, pizza, poutine etc.

Home-Made Fruit And Yogurt Parfait

Home-Made Fruit And Yogurt Parfait

Fruits: Oranges and Strawberries
Yogurt: Island Farm 2% French Vanilla Yogurt
Granola: Nature Path's Granloa Hemp

Easy to make and very refreshing (and healthy!)

Non-Food Pic Of The Day: You Wanna Know How I Got...

In dedication to the late Heath Ledger who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight. You see...it was all part of the plan...

Tip: Click on pic for a bigger pic.

Food Pic Of The Day: Dominos Pizza

Dominos Pizza:

Crust: Thin and Crispy
Toppings: Pepperoni, Bacon, Mushrooms

Bonus Pic: Closer shot.

A&W Chubby Chicken Burger

A&W Chubby Chicken Burger Meal
Chubby Chicken Burger (No Lettuce), French Fries, Pop (Root Beer)
Sauces: Ketchup and Side Order of Gravy

I don't normally order Chicken Burgers, but I'd have to say this one was pretty good. The french fries go really well with the gravy while the classic A&W Root Beer never disappoints.

http://www.aw.ca/

Might Not Need To Wear A Belt After This One: Tim Hortons Bagel B.E.L.T.

Tim Hortons Bagel B.E.L.T.

Billboard Advertisement.

I'd consider this an alternative to the Tim Hortons Breakfast Sandwich (Bacon or Sausage). This one however seems a little bit healthier as it comes with lettuce and tomatoes. Hoever, I'd say this one is a lot more filling.

Overall this is an okay sandwich. Works well for something quick to-go in the morning.

http://www.timhortons.com/

Food Pic Of The Day: Cactus Club Cafe - The Burger

the burger
aged cheddar cheese, cured bacon, sautéed mushrooms, red pepper relish
with side french fries

Best burger...period.
(I ain't the only one that thinks so too!)

Blog Tip: Click on pic for a larger pic.
Dinning Tip: Request that the burger be cut in half like the above pic.

http://www.cactusclubcafe.com/

Nothing More Refreshing Than A Cold Glass Of Iced Tea!

Iced Tea.
Served with a lemon wedge.

Food Pic Of The Day: Earls Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Earls Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
Tip: Click on pic for better view.

http://www.earls.ca/

Food Pic Of The Day: The Keg Prime Rib

The Keg Prime Rib

(Regular Size)

The Keg's Prime Rib is specially aged for extra flavour and tenderness, rubbed with their unique blend of spices and slow roasted. Hand-carved and served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, horseradish and red wine herb au jus.

Please refer to my previous posts on a review of this food item.

http://en.kegsteakhouse.com/home

Food Pic Of The Day: Home Made Pizza

Toppings:
Freshly Grated Mozzarella Cheese, Pizza Sauce, Prosciutto Slices, Freshly Diced Bacon, Freshly Diced Red Peppers, Freshly Sliced Mushrooms

Crust:
Pita Bread

A closer view.

Café Salade De Fruits: A Classic French Bistro Experience In Vancouver

I had read and heard some very good reviews about Café Salade De Fruits, and since I was in the mood for some Steak Frites, I decided to drop by for lunch.

The first thing to take note of, is their physical location. They are located in a French cultural centre (on West 7th between Granville and Fir). Now, that should by no means discourage you from visiting this place. Read on and you'll find out why...

When I first arrived, I was taken back by how busy they were.

Pause.

Quiz Time: Why do you think Café Salade De Fruits was busy?

a) Tasty Food
b) Great Value
c) Good Service
d) Inviting Ambiance

Answer: Continue reading...

Unpause.

Every diner seemed to be really engaged in their conversations and were enjoying their meals. In particular, there was one table with a huge party. We're talking like say about a dozen people. I was very impressed with the level of service provided for this huge table. I observed the server working as fast possible. What was even more impressive was that the server gladly split the bills for all of them and thanked each and every one of them before saying goodbye.

The cool part is that everything is as French as can be. I noticed the server greeting a female customer that walked in by "Madame." It's these little details that I think sets this place apart from the rest.

My server was extremely knowledgeable and was able to explain the menu with great clarity. Matter of fact, I soon learnt that most of the staff members (including one of the four chefs) were fluent in the French language.

The decor and ambiance made me feel like I was dining at a Bistro in France.

Reminder: Click on each pic for a clearer view of the image.

Laurel and Hardy sitting next to the Eiffel Tower.
Gotta love the attention to detail.
One can almost feel like they are dining at a French bistro in France.

Nice casual ambiance with bright and inviting colors.
Even Tin Tin and Snowy make a guest appearance here!

Rue de la PAIX
Opened in 1806, it is one of the world's most fashionable shopping streets in Paris.
It is also the most expensive street in the French version of Monopoly!

Bread and Butter
What better way to kick off a meal?
The bread was fresh and perfectly complemented with the butter.

Pâté served with tapioca chip, sliced cucumber, pickles and an onion ball.
A great appetizer and definitely a classic French plate.

Entrecôte grillée
(Rib Eye Steak)
A version of Steak Frites, which is a classic in French cuisine.

An absolutely incredible steak! What more can I say? I ordered it Medium-Rare and it was served exactly as ordered. Extra credit to the chef for that.
The steak was really juicy and well marbled, thus adding the extra umph flavor. An added bonus was the peppercorn sauce which perfectly complemented the steak. I also took advantage of the sauce by dipping my fries in it.

It was so good that I finished the whole plate...including every drop of sauce that was soaked up by my Pomme Frites (French Fries).

Another shot of the Entrecôte grillée.

If you like steak and fries (Steak Frites), you must try this!

Pros:
Incredibly tasty
Very reasonably priced ($20.99)
Home-made fries
Very generous portion size

Cons:
You`ll want to return here periodically!

Close-up shot of le Pomme Frites.
These French Fries are made fresh daily and are incredibly yummy!
An absolute must try when you visit.
The plate also came with a side of home-made mayo which I didn't hesitate to use with my Pomme Frites. It was so good that I had to request for another side of mayo, of which the server gladly provided.

I'm no steak expert, but I have been to some of the main steakhouses in Vancouver (i.e. The Keg, Hy's, Mortons, Gothams...also tried the Steak Frites at Pied-A-Terre) and I must say that the steak here ranks up there in terms of one of my favorites. For that price ($20.99) and the cut of steak (Rib Eye), I'd have to say it was a pretty damn tasty steak at a great value!

Tip: I have been told that the Moules et frites is an absolute must try. This is what everyone keeps coming back for.

A friendly reminder that they are Cash Only at Salade De Fruits Cafe.

After a chat with the server, my beliefs were confirmed that indeed most of the customers are ones that return often. This is no surprise to me as I myself would definitely return here periodically in the future.

Bottom Line:
Definitely recommend this to anyone that has not tried this place yet.
If you are looking for great Steak Frites or a classic French bistro around Vancouver, Café Salade De Fruits may be as close as you are going to get.

Oh yeah...the answer to the quiz question posted above is:
e) All Of The Above

Please feel free to leave a comment or two on how your dinning experience was at this place or if you have any recommendations on any other dishes that you enjoyed.
Update: Some people have already posted some comments, so please feel free to go to the comments section to see what others have had to say!

http://www.saladedefruits.com/
Salade de Fruits Cafe
1551 West 7th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-714-5987

Food Pic Of The Day: Milestones Seafood Mix Grill

Seafood Mix Grill
Wild West Coast Coho salmon, Corvina sea bass and tiger shrimp, all grilled to perfection and matched with a trio of house made sauces; Mango, Gogi Berry, Gaucho. Served with spinach, bok choy, grape tomatoes and lavender roasted mini potatoes

http://www.milestonesrestaurants.com/

New York, New York: New York Fries Poutine

New York Fries Poutine

After mixing it in...

Let's talk about their classic fries first. They are hand cut with the skins on and cooked in trans fat free non-hydrogenated sunflower oil. The fries are great to eat just by itself.

Background Info: The Poutine was invented in Quebec, Canada.
In its simplest form:
Fries + Cheese Curds + Gravy = Poutine

I'd have to say that NY Fries serves a pretty good poutine. Is it my favorite poutine? Not quite, but still is pretty good.

If you're a fan of poutine, you either have tried this already, or should try it!

http://www.newyorkfries.com/index.php

Milestone's Portobello Mushroom Chicken

Portobello Mushroom Chicken
Double breast, with sliced Portobello mushrooms sautéed in olive oil with plenty of fresh basil, roasted garlic and reduced reggiano cream served over capellini

Note: I subbed the capellini for Mashed Potatoes

A closer look.

Another close-up shot.

Even closer.

Extra side of sauce.

When you think of Milestones, most people think of Earls, Cactus Club Cafe and Moxies. For me, they are all different and there are certain dishes that stand out at each restaurant.

At Milestones, that dish would have to be the Portobello Mushroom Chicken.

In terms of mushrooms, my favorite would have to be portobello. Put that together with roasted garlic, fresh basil and a reduced reggiano cream, and you get a great sauce that goes well with a double breast chicken. The chicken was tender and tasty due to it soaking up all of the sauce. Before I could finish the chicken, I had used up all the tasty sauce and so had to request for a side of extra sauce to perfectly complement the chicken.

As noted above, I subbed the capellini with mashed potatoes. I normally like to get a side of mashed potatoes whenever I order something like a chicken breast or a steak. Mashed potatoes went really well with this dish.

I recommend this dish if you pay a visit to Milestone's!

Milestone's Grill and Bar
http://www.milestonesrestaurants.com/

Food Pic Of The Day: Earls Grilled Chicken Clubhouse and Caesar Salad

Grilled Chicken Clubhouse
grilled chicken breast, dry cured bacon, tomato, lettuce and rustic onion jam mayonnaise on a toasted ciabatta

With a side of Caesar Salad
romaine and Earl’s baked croutons in our creamy dressing topped with grated grana padano parmesan

http://www.earls.ca/

Those Little Donuts At The PNE Fair

Those Little Donuts.

The transformation...

The product.

One of the reasons I look forward to visiting the PNE Fair is the food. In particular, I look forward to purchasing a few bags of Those Little Donuts.

They are what they are....donuts that are little. But they are also very tempting and like Pringles, once you pop, you can`t stop. It`s especially great when you eat them fresh and warm.

Expect a line up when you purchase these!

Those Little Donuts = A Trip to the PNE Fair!

White Spot Hash Browns

White Spot Hash Browns (and Monty Mushroom Burger).

I know what you're thinking...another Monty Mushroom Burger from White Spot?!
Not quite. This is more of a dedication post to how great the hash browns served at White Spot are. I don't know of any other place that serves as good hash browns as White Spot.
Side note: My pet peeve is whenever I receive stale and dry hash browns that I know have been sitting there for a while...that's a big no-no.

An absolute must-try the next time you visit White Spot for breakfast!

http://www.whitespot.com/

Corner 23 Black Pepper Beef Fried Rice

Corner 23 Black Pepper Beef Fried Rice

I wanted to order something different from Corner 23. I normally get their Rice Meals, but this time I still wanted rice, and so went with the Black Pepper Beef Fried Rice.
The fried rice comes with green beans and scrambled eggs (and beef of course). The fried rice was decent, but not as good as their other dishes. I'd have to say that there was too much black pepper for my liking.
I'd return to Corner 23 in the future, but would stick with their rice meals.

Corner 23
4008 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-879-8815

Earls Pappardelle Alfredo

Pappardelle Alfredo
simmered with fresh cream, garlic and nutmeg, grated grana padano parmesan
added pan fried chicken

I'm a big fan of Papparadelle. Another one would be Tagliatelle.
As can be seen above, Papparadelle is very wide and is normally used for pastas that use thicker/richer sauces.
I am normally hesitant on ordering alfredo-type pastas as I find that they sometimes get too bland after a few bites. Nonetheless, I took the risk and ordered this dish. I thought it was pretty good.
Note that this dish is really filling!

http://www.earls.ca/

Stuart's Bakery Shorbread Cookie

Continuing on my hunt for the best shortbread cookie in Vancouver, I now introduce you to one that was simply amazing. Stuart's Bakery is located in Granville Island and serves a wide variety of baked goods and dessert items including artisan breads, cakes, cookies etc.

The shortbread cookie was not cheap...matter of fact I'd say the price is quite steep. I believe it was about $1.70 for one piece. I was very skeptical on how good this would be but after taking a bite out of it, my buyers remorse was put to rest. Absolutely amazing.

Taste-wise, Stuart's Bakery is on my best list for shortbread cookie at the moment. Yes, better than the Costco Kirkland version, although the Costco one does offer a great value.

http://www.granvilleisland.com/en/stuarts_bakery
Stuart's Bakery
#123 - 1689 Johnston St.
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3R9
604-685-8816

Guido's Pizzeria Garlic Fries At The PNE Fair

Guido's Pizzeria Garlic Fries

Another shot

Guido's Pizzeria Garlic Fries is one of the reasons that I look forward to visiting the PNE Fair each summer. You really can't go wrong with garlic and french fries.
A definite must-have when you visit the PNE Fair!

Garlic + French Fries = A trip to the PNE Fair

http://www.pne.ca/thefair/rides_games_food/food.htm

Food Pic Of The Day: Earls Grilled Chicken Clubhouse

Grilled Chicken Clubhouse
grilled chicken breast, dry cured bacon, tomato, lettuce and rustic onion jam mayonnaise on a toasted ciabatta

A closer look.

I didn't actually order this but I was able to take a bite out of this. From what I recall, this was pretty good.

http://www.earls.ca/

McDonald's Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel Breakfast Sandwich

McDonald's Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel Breakfast Sandwich.

Every now and then, it seems like it's forgivable to have some breakfast from McDonald's. I decided to try their Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel Breakfast Sandwich (BECBBS). Really not much to say here...it was okay for a MacDonald's sandwich. I would order this again in the future if I'm looking for something to fill me up in the morning.

http://www.mcdonalds.ca/

Stuart's Bakery Carrot Cake At Granville Island

Another shot.

Stuart's Bakery located in Granville Island serves a wide variety of bakery items including artisan breads, cookies and cakes. If you've never been here before, you might need about 5 mins to just absorb the sight that is waiting for you on the display cases. You might be saying in your head "I want this...that...this...and this...no wait, I also want this...I want everything!!!"

Today I will be reviewing their Carrot Cake.

Ever eat a Carrot Cake and wish there was more icing on it? Well, you won't have to worry about that if you purchase the Carrot Cake from Stuart's Bakery....there is more than enough icing on this bad boy (which I like!). The Carrot Cake is done really well with a soft, dense texture. Don't forget a glass of cold milk when you eat this!

I recommend paying a visit to Stuart's Bakery at Granville Island if you've never been there~!

http://www.granvilleisland.com/en/stuarts_bakery

Stuart's Bakery
#123 - 1689 Johnston St.
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3R9
604-685-8816

Vina Spring Roll

Vina Spring Roll.

This will review the Vina that appears at Pacific Centre, not the restaurant located on Denman Street.

I'm a big fan of spring rolls. Whenever I'm at Vina, there's only one item that I order. You guessed it right...spring rolls. The spring rolls are consistently good. Crispy skin and tasty filling. Simple, yet good enough to make me come back for more.

Recommend trying these out!

Campbell's Gardennay Fire Roasted Sweet Pepper and Tomato Soup

Packaging Label of Campbell's Gardennay Fire Roasted Sweet Pepper and Tomato Soup

Soup served in a white bowl with freshly cracked salt and pepper.

I was first introduced to this line of soups by Campbell's through some co-workers. I thought I would try this myself. Managed to pick some up at Safeway. It was on sale at that time. Regular price was about $3.00. It was on sale for $2.50 per box. I would say that each box is good for two servings. Definitely a good deal.

Heated the soup up in a saucepan and brought it to a slight boil. Let it sit for a while and then served it in a white bowl with freshly cracked salt and pepper. Also toasted some white bread and spread some Becel Margarine on it.

The best part? The first dive that the toast took into the soup. The soup was really tasty and rich. It was everything I expected when I bought it.

Highly recommended. A great deal if you pick it up at Safeway when it is on sale. Even if it's not, $3.00 is not too bad as you get two servings.

On a side note, this is one of those soups that makes me wonder whether it's worth spending over $5 for a bowl of soup at a restaurant. I've had soups at restaurants in the past that I honestly would not say is better than Campbell's Gardennay Fire Roasted Sweet Pepper and Tomato Soup. Not to knock other restaurants that actually do serve great quality soup.

http://www.gardennay.ca/com_new/about.asp

Earl's Strawberry Magarita.

Earl's Strawberry Magarita (Virgin):
Fresh Strawberry Puree + Citrus Slush

One of the beverages I normally order when I'm at Earls. A refreshing and tasty blend of fresh strawberry puree and citrus slush.

On a side note: I don't look forward to having to stir/mix in the strawberry and the slush everytime it arrives!

http://www.earls.ca/index.asp

Food Pic Of The Day: Corner 23 Pork Hock.

Corner 23 Pork Hock.

Not really my kind of dish, but here is what seems like a staple dish served at Corner 23.
The reviews I have heard so far has been great for this dish.

Corner 23
4008 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-879-8815

Motomachi Shokudo

Exterior of Motomachi Shokudo.

The view from my chair.

Green Tea.

Butchigiri Gyoza:
Pan-fried pork gyoza

New Generation Miso Ramen:
Bena sprouts, onion, BBQ pork, menma (bamboo shoot), green onion, corn, angel aired Japanese leek, white pepper.

Nama-Shoyu Ramen:
Bean sprouts, menma (bamboo shoot), soft-boiled local organic egg, seasoned green vegetables, BBQ pork, white pepper, nori, green onion, herbs. Authentic flavor that comes from unpasteurized raw soy-sauce.

Motomachi Shokudo is just a few doors down from the famous Ramen house, Kintaro (please see my earlier posts for a review on Kintaro). Moto Sho is owned by the same owners of Kintaro.

Motomachi Shokudo uses a special soup that is made with organic chicken and fresh organic vegetables. Their BBQ pork is barely-fed and they strive to use organic ingredients when possible. They do not make use of chemical seasonings.

In case you wanted to know, their Organic Chicken is from Thomas Reid Farm, their Organic Eggs are from Astra Farm, and their Organic Vegetables are from Pro Organics.

The ambiance is quite different from Kintaro. It is not as hot and stuffy as Kintaro. Another thing I noticed was that it was not as noisy. I appreciated the decor...again, quite different from Kintaro.

The service was great. Server was very friendly and attentive to our needs.

Now onto the food...started off with the Butchigiri Gyoza (Pan-fried pork gyoza). It was interesting that only 4 pieces showed up on the plate. However, these were a little bit larger than usual so that was fine. The gyozas were okay...nothing that blew my mind away.

For the main course, my dinning partner had the New Generation Miso Ramen, while I had the Nama-Shoyu Ramen. I thought the Ramen was pretty good. However, I thought that the Ramen served at Kintaro was better. But then again, when I'm at Kintaro, I normally go with the rich soup and fatty pork, which adds a lot more flavor.

I like to think of Moto Sho as a cleaner and healthier version of Kintaro.

If you are a fan of Ramen or Kintaro, I recommend giving this a shot.

Motomachi Shokudo
740 Denman Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-609-0310

Kirkland Signature All Butter Shortbread Cookies From Costco

Packaging of Kirkland Signature All Butter Shortbread Cookies At Costco.

The Label.

Was craving for some Shortbread Cookies so decided to pick up a package from Costco. These are packaged under their Kirkland Signature brand.

I thought these were great. Great texture and great taste. Another great thing about them is that they you get quite a bit for what you pay for (you get 24 pieces for $7.49!). Goes well with a glass of cold milk!

I am currently on the hunt for the best Shortbread Cookie in the city. Please leave me a comment to let me know of anyplace that sells great shortbread cookies.

Orange is just the beginning...

Orange Julius has been around for many years, and they are showing no signs of slowing down. I guess there's something about their drinks that just makes people coming back for more.

There's been a bunch of times when I walked past a long line up and decided to hop in line too for this guilty pleasure. I normally go with the classic original Orange Julius drink. On some occasions I may order the strawberry and banana smoothie. Both drinks are pretty good although I'd have to say that the original is still the better of the two.

By the way, have you ever seen an Orange Julius that is not beside a Dairy Queen?....

Untitled Nissin Noodles.

Update: I have been notified in the comments section that the package says "Asahikawa Shoyu." The noodles are made with Hokkaido-grown wheat. "Asahikawa is a city in Hokkaido famous for it's shoyu ramen." -See comments left by Kathy in Comments Section.
This post is being bumped to the top so that readers can be updated.

Packaging of Nissin Noodles.

Nissin noodles prepared...my way. See below for more info of "my way."

When I try noodles for the first time, I like to have it really plain. i.e. I don't like adding veggies, meat, eggs etc. I do recommend doing so after trying it for the first time. That is of course if you're willing to have it for a second time. The reason for this is that I want to try the noodles in it's purest form. I find that adding something like an egg can change the taste of the noodles/soup quite a bit. So I do like tasting the noodles in it's plain form. If it pasts this test, then the next time I may add some other stuff to it.

These noodles were great. It's as plain as you can get but yet just right. Worth trying if you haven't already. If you are interested, you'll be able to find some at Yaohan Centre in Richmond or Fujiya (Clark and 1st St.).

Clark Fujiya

912 Clark Drive
Vancouver, BC
V5L 3J8
Phone: 604-251-3711

Hours:

Mon-Sat 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sun 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Food Pic Of The Day: Earls Roasted Chicken Quesadilla

Roasted Chicken Quesadilla:
spiced chicken, mild chilies and blended cheeses warmed in a flour tortilla, with salsa and sour cream
served with side of french fries

I didn't order this but did manage to take a snapshot of this dish. The feedback that I got was that the Quesadillas were done well.

http://www.earls.ca/index.asp

White Spot Triple Thick Milkshake.

White Spot Triple Thick Vanilla Milkshake.
Topped off with whipped cream.
Served with metal malt cup on the side.

Another shot of the White Spot Triple Thick Milkshake.

A classic drink served at the legendary White Spot restaurant. These shakes are hand-scooped and triple thick... Great texture due to the extra thickness.

Got to love the extra metal malt cup that comes on the side!

Highly recommended.

A&W Root Beer Float.

Another shot...is the Root Beer half empty or half full?

Bonus Pic: A&W Root Beer Float with a A&W Poutine.

Reminder: Be sure to click on each pic above for a clearer view.

When was the last time you had a Root Beer Float? I myself had one recently thanks to A&W.

Here is the formula for an A&W Root Beer Float:
A&W Root Beer + Vanilla Ice Cream Block ( + Spoon + Straw)

The result? One very creamy cold beverage that you are sure to enjoy!

Tip: Be sure to push the ice cream block down towards the bottom of the cup so that more of the ice cream melts into the root beer and creates a smoother creamier beverage (see middle pic above).

I am definitely a big fan of this drink. I recommend trying it if you have not already.

"Seriously, that is one classic and delicious drink! I grew up with these as special occasion drinks and if we were lucky, homemade versions." -Raidar (see comments section)

http://www.aw.ca/

Food Pic Of The Day: Corner 23 Chicken Broccoli Rice Meal.

Corner 23 Chicken Broccoli Rice Meal.

My buddy insists on ordering this very same dish each time he goes there. I haven't actually tried it myself, so cannot provide a review on it....however, based on the fact that he seems to order it every time he goes here, I'm assuming it's a pretty good dish. The concept is simple. Each rice meal comes with a main dish (in this case the chicken and broccoli), along with a bowl of white rice and three little side dishes.

Corner 23
4008 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-879-8815

Presto Panini Linguine With Tomato Cream.

Linguine with Tomato Cream.

I've read many many great things about the pasta they serve at Presto Panini. I went with the Linguine with Tomato Cream sauce as per the servers recommendations. I'd have to say that the sauce was excellent. The downside was that I thought the linguine was slightly under-cooked. I am however willing to give it another shot in the future due to the numerous great reviews I have read so far. The reviews I've read so far hints that this place is an underground gem for true Italian food.

The ambiance is quite simple/plain and so don't expect any type of Earl's or Cactus atmosphere. It felt like a home cooked meal at a friends place (which is not a bad thing).

For now, I'd say you can't go wrong with the Tiramisu Cake. I'll pay another visit in the future to try their pasta dish again.

http://www.prestopanini.ca/
Cafe Presto Panini
859 Hornby St, Vancouver
Tel: 604-684-4445

Dine Out Vancouver Restaurants Are Now Taking Reservations

Event: Dine Out Vancouver™ 2009

Dates: January 14th 2009 - February 1st 2009

Other Notes: Reservations accepted NOW!!!

Web Site:
http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/dining/dine_out_vancouver

Please feel free to leave comments on where you have made reservations for this year or where you have dined at for this event in the past years and how it was.

Food Pic Of The Day: White Spot Fish and Soup

White Spot Fish and Soup.
With side Tartar sauce and lemon wedge for the fish and crackers for the soup.

Basically a Fish and Chip but subbed the chips (fries) for a soup which I believe was minestrone.
Unfortunately, I didn't try this so am not able to provide a review on it.

Dine Out Vancouver™ 2009

Event: Dine Out Vancouver™ 2009

Dates: January 14th 2009 - February 1st 2009

Other Notes: Reservations accepted beginning January 5, 2009.

Web Site:
http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/dining/dine_out_vancouver

Tiramisu Cake at Presto Panini.

Tiramisu Cake.
Sorry for the very out of focus pic!

Presto Panini is known for their great pasta dishes. From what I've read so far, it's normally really packed on a weekday lunch. I decided to try this out after doing some research on the internet. My friend ordered the Tiramisu Cake and I tried a little piece of it. I was very surprised as I thought it was the best Tiramisu Cake I'd ever had.

If you're a fan of Tiramisu Cake, I recommend coming here just to try it.

http://www.prestopanini.ca/

Cafe Presto Panini
859 Hornby St, Vancouver
Tel: 604-684-4445

Not As Mega As I Thought.

Pesto Pizza (On Left Side)
Cheese Pizza (On Right Side)

I've heard quite a bit about Megabite Pizza...mostly positive. I decided to pay a visit myself to see how it is. Ordered the Pesto Pizza and the Cheese Pizza. I don't like my pizza crowded with too many different toppings. I thought the pizza was just okay. I was slightly disappointed as I was expecting more. The good thing that I can say about this place is that it has a pretty decent price. I can't remember exactly, but I believe I was able to get those two pizzas and a drink (bottled water) for about $6.

http://www.megabitepizza.com/

Megabite Pizza (Granville)
1005 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-687-0002

Megabite Pizza (Commercial)
2440 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Tel: 604-874-8758

Food Pic Of The Day: Costco Poutine.

Costco Poutine.

Already reviewed this previously. Just throwing up another pic for your viewing pleasure.

Beard Papa's

Packaging/Bag of Beard Papa's Cream Puffs.

Vanilla Flavored Beard Papa's Cream Puff.

A look inside the Cream Puff.

So this is what everyone has been talking and raving about. Tried it a while ago and decided to provide my own review on it.

For starts, I can appreciate the effort put into this treat. Walking into their store (on Denman), I couldn't help but realize that I was visiting a very unique store. The service provided was great. From what I recall, you can choose from two main flavors: vanilla or green tea. There might also be other flavors now.

Went with the classic/original flavor vanilla. From what I recall, these aren't cheap....nor were they ridiculously overpriced. After trying one piece, I thought it was okay...I mean I wasn't totally blown away. Was it worth trying? Yeah, I'd say so...would I go back and buy half a dozen occasionally? Probably not.

If you're a big fan of cream puffs, I recommend trying this out. If you're not the biggest fan, I wouldn't say you're missing out on too much by passing on these.

http://beardpapascanada.com/

English Bay
Unit 104 - 1184 Denman Street
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-681-3163

City Square
Unit 26 - 555 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-569-2898

Aberdeen Centre
Unit 3160 - 4151 Hazelbridge Way
Richmond, BC
Tel: 604.295.8193

Crystal Mall
Unit 2320 - 4500 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC
Tel:604-434-6618

Tim Hortons Italian Wedding Soup.

Tim Hortons Italian Wedding Soup.

This soup was not bad at all. I didn't care much for the chunks of meatball but I did enjoy the orzo pasta. Not a bad option on a cold wet wintery day...something we see quite often in Vancouver.

Recommend trying it if you are looking for a soup and just happen to be at Tim Hortons.

http://www.timhortons.com/

Butter Beef: A Must-Try At Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh...serving Vietnamese/Cambodian Food.

Street Sign of Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh Butter Beef.

An absolutely incredible and mind blowing dish. This dish combines rare/medium-rare beef slices with fresh cilantro and fried garlic in a super tasty and tangy sauce. The beef is so soft that it'll melt in your mouth...like BUTTER!!!Like Pringles Chips, once you pop, you can't stop.

Highly recommend paying Phnom Penh a visit just for this one dish. An absolute must-try!

Phnom Penh Restaurant
244 E Georgia St, Vancouver
Tel: 604 682-5777

What does A&W stand for?

Mozza Burger Combo:
Mozza Burger, French Fries, Pop (A&W Root Beer)
Added side of gravy to go with the fries

Close-up of the Mozza Burger.

In terms of fast-food restaurants, I'd have to say that A&W is the one I'd choose to go to if I was given a choice. I find their food more edible than others. I like to think of it as a step down from White Spot.

I normally order the Mozza Burger combo which comes with the burger, fries and a pop. For pop, I normally go with their classic Root Beer. I also normally throw in a side of gravy to go with the fries. There are times when I'll order a side of onion rings instead of fries. The fries are pretty good for fast-food standards. The gravy goes really well. The Mozza Burger is pretty good too...I like the use of real mozzarella cheese instead of processed cheese...definitely makes a big dfiference and seperates them from the competition.

For fast-food chains, A&W would be my best recommendation.

Oh yeah, to answer the question in the title of this post...the initials "A&W" stand for A&W's founders: Allen and Wright.

http://www.aw.ca/

Food Pic Of The Day: Fritz Poutine.

Close-up shot of Fritz Poutine.

Already reviewed this previously. Throwing up this pic for an alternate view (close-up).

A White Christmas Indeed.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all readers of I Love Food Blog.
Above are some pics for your viewing pleasure.

Merry Christmas!!!

A White Christmas Indeed!

Another Angle.

I would like to wish all the readers of I Love Food Blog a Merry Christmas!

Thank you very much for your continued support.

Please feel free to drop any feedback in the comments section on how you think the blog is going so far, what you'd like to see in the future, what you liked/did not like etc.

Happy Holidays,
I Love Food Blog

Corner 23 Milkshake

Corner 23 Mango Milkshake.

Absolutely love this drink at Corner 23. Great flavor and texture. I normally order it towards the end of my meal and get it in a to-go cup. It is also available for stay. They'll normally ask if you want pearls added...I'm really not the biggest pearl or bubble tea fan and so I normally go without them. I've tried other milkshake flavors such as vanilla and it wasn't as good as the mango one.

Note: This is different from the slush so make sure you order the milkshake if that is what you want. I know that sounds silly but it is easy to confuse the two when ordering.

Recommend trying this if you pay a visit.

Corner 23
4008 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-879-8815

Kam Gok Yuen

Soft Tofu With Green Vegetables.

I'm a fan of soft tofu like this one. Goes really well with a bowl of white rice.

BBQ Duck.

Not the biggest fan of BBQ Duck, but the general feedback I get is that this is pretty good. Think BBQ Duck from Hon's.

Fried Pork Spare-Ribs.

This one...big fan of. I really like the spices that comes on these bad boys. Full of taste and flavor. Mouthwatering!

Kam Gok Yuen is a little restaurant in Chinatown that serves good ol chinese dishes. Normally get their food for take-out. If you're around the Chinatown area and would like to try some great Chinese dishes, be sure to drop by!

Kam Gok Yuen
142 E Pender, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 683-3822

Lin Chinese Cuisine...To Go.

Shanghai Fried Noodle with Pork and Spinach.

Great dish for take out. May be a bit too oily for some though.

Shanghai Pan-fried Pork Buns.

A classic shanghai dish...gotta love these.

Worth paying a visit to Lin's Chinese Cuisine if you've never been there yet.

Lin Chinese Cuisine
(604) 733-9696
1537 W Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6

Marcello Pizzeria

Prosciutto E Funghi Pizza (No cheese).

Fettucine with Tomato Meat Sauce (Added Mushrooms).

I've long been a fan of Marcello Pizzeria. The weird thing is that most of the times I come here, I normally get a pasta dish instead. I normally order pizza when I visit Lombardo's on Commercial.

Nonetheless, I've tried the pizza here before too and it's pretty good.

I really love their pasta dish here...especially the Fettucine with Tomato Meat Sauce. I normally add mushrooms to it and it goes superbly. Absolutely delicious.

This place can get pretty busy at times and a little bit too noisy....so keep that in mind when you visit. The service as far as I can remember has been hit or miss.

Recommended if you've never been here.

Marcello Pizzeria
1404 Commercial, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 215-7760

More Monty? (Food Pic Of The Day)

I know what you're thinking...another pic of a Monty Mushroom Burger from White Spot?
But this one is different....this one comes with a side of crunchy golden onion rings!
Did I mention it also comes with a side of Coleslaw?

Urban Fare Scalloped Potatoes

Urban Fare Scalloped Potatoes.
Available at the Cafe side of Urban Fare.

I thought these were pretty good. Very creamy and acts as a good side dish.

Urban Fare
(604) 975-7500
Yaletown
177 Davie St
Vancouver, BC V6Z

Purdy's Ice Cream.

Purdy's Display Case Of Ice Cream.

Used to be a big fan of Purdy's Ice Cream...that is until there was a huge price increase. Nonetheless, Purdy's does offer some pretty good ice cream. I normally get a single scoop in a regular cone. My usual flavors are the Country Cream Vanilla (pictured above) and the Mango Flavor.

If you've never tried Purdy's ice cream, I recommend giving it a shot...although I must warn that the price has increased significantly.

I Like My Costco Pizza When It Comes Likes This...

Costco Pepperoni Pizza.
Super fresh!!! Yummy!

Tip: Be sure to click on pic for a better view.

Back In The Drive-In Days: A&W Onions Rings.

A&W Onions Rings.

Did you know?

There aren't too many fast food joints that serves great onion rings like A&W...well, actually, there aren't that many fast food joints that serve onion rings period.

I'm not the biggest fan of onion rings, but occasionally I do like to order them when I'm at A&W or White Spot.

Most times when I order onions rings from A&W, they come really fresh and hot. The serving size is quite generous for what you pay....great value. The taste is great. Gotta love the batter on them bad boys!

If you haven't tried it, be sure to try them the next time you're at A&W!