Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

Ending the year with Lebanese cuisine! Woot! Shish Tawouk Platter Menu Description: Yogurt marinated chicken thighs, oregano, garlic, lemon served with brown rice and salad Baklava

My parents and I got a tour of UBC from my sister, who is about to graduate next year. Since it's not a school day and students are on their winter breaks, there's not a lot of people on campus. Not a lot of stores and restaurants are open as well. We end up going to a joint serving Lebanese food called Jamjar. I remember them having a branch a block away from my place, but this is the first time I'm trying them out. Wrap I liked the food so much that I'm planning to bring hubby to the branch near our place soon.

It's Boxing Day! A day of shopping in Canada. Honestly, it's the only day I buy new clothes. You'll never be able to make me buy clothes that are not on sale. After hours of shopping, we had lunch at Neptune Wonton House. It's the only restaurant with available seats - everything else is full of people. Of course, what to eat at a wonton house? Wonton Noodle Soup, of course. Wonton Noodle Soup

The night before Christmas means time with the family, so lunch is the only time we have to celebrate together. Tony's Fish & Oyster Cafe (and Go Fish) are my fave fish and chips spot in Vancouver. 2-pc Salmon and Yam Fries

I know of creampuffs, but Puffcream is essentially a creampuff in hyper mode. Instead of cream, it's filled with soft-serve ice cream, and it's only available at beautiful Granville Island ferry dock from Popina Canteen. Old Fashioned Menu Description: House made sea salt toffee sauce and toasted slivered almonds Here's a better look of Old Fashioned This is a great dessert all-year-round, though, might be the best when walking around Granville Island during summer.

We played bowling for the first time, and it was hilarious! After such a fun time, we decided to grab early dinner at nearby Old Spaghetti Factory. Chicken Parmigiana Menu Description: A hand-breaded chicken breast, fried to a golden brown, topped with marinara sauce and melted parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Served with spaghetti with marinara sauce or fries Spaghetti with Meatballs Menu Description: Hand-rolled meatballs served with Italian marinara sauce and topped with fresh parmesan cheese The food was good. Service can be improved. But time spent with the family is always fun.

I was waiting for my medicine from the nearby London Drugs and hubby was at his company Christmas party, so here I am enjoying my chicken wrap alone. Chicken Wrap with Greek Salad

The Wicklow is my fave gastropub in Vancouver. They have great food, TVs for sports, and nice service. I ordered poutine during our colleagues and ex-colleagues reunion. Pulled Pork Poutine

I think New York Fries has one of the best traditional hotdogs - french fries (poutine) stand in Vancouver. Pulled Pork Poutine and Hotdog

Because dieting doesn't start in the new year, it starts today. Here's my lunch of squash soup.

After our Craft Beer and Distillery Tour, we decided to have warm ramen for dinner. Using my trusted Foursquare app, I searched Downtown Vancouver for a nearby Japanese place that is still open, and we haven't been, one of the suggestions is Gyoza Bar + Ramen. Awase Miso Free Range Chicken Ramen Japanese Curry Poutine Pulled pork, cheddar cheese, cilantro pickled jalapeno Pork Teppan Gyoza Spicy Miso and Umami Soy Mochi Ice Cream Matcha

Hubby won a Craft Brewery and Distillery Tour at a company raffle. Surprisingly, we're the only one on the "tour," so it was like a private tour, which was awesome. Here is a list of brewery and distilleries that we visited around Vancouver. Parallel 49 Street Kitchen We had a sample of different beer (I can't remember all of them) and we went to the back where they brew it. Odd Society Spirits I'm not a beer girl. I prefer cocktails so this is more of my spot. However, the tour has given me an appreciation for beer. Gin Vodka Strathcona Beer Company The last stop of our tour is Strathcona Beer Company. At this point, I've had more alcohol than I'm used too so everything tasted so much better.

Quick lunch after playing Pokemon GO for hours. #2 Chicken Shawarma and Lamb Menu Description: Chicken shawarma and lamb with rice, Greek salad, garlic sauce, hummus, and pita bread #1 Gyros (wrap) chicken

For dinner tonight, we went to Jitlada. It's one of the last three restaurants we haven't tried in this block. Gaeng Kiew-Wan (Green Curry) and Pad Thai Green Curry Menu Description : Green curry paste with coconut milk, bamboo shoots, squash, eggplant, bell pepper and Thai basil Pad Thai Menu Description : A signature Thai noodle dish. Pan-fried Thai rice-noodle in tamarind sauce with prawns, egg, tofu, bean sprouts, green onion and topped with peanuts Golden Angel Wings Menu Description: Boneless chicken wings stuffed with pork, shrimp, carrot, mushroom, vermicelli noodles and Thai herbs. Served with delicious homemade Chilli plum sauce. Dessert of the Day

I took the day off today and met with mother to have lunch and catch up. We went to Carl's Jr. It's the only branch in Vancouver.

Tandoori Kona Restaurant is at a strip meal along Cambie Road. They serve delicious Indian food. Hubby and I ordered too much, as you can see. Aloo Palak Menu Description: Spinach and Potatoes Tandoori Chicken Menu Description: Traditional boned chicken tandoori We ordered Tandoori Chicken because hubby pointed out that "tandoori" is in the restaurant name so it must be good. Vegetable Samosa Menu Description: Triangular Pastries with vegetable fillings Gulab Jamuns Menu Description: Round Indian cake balls in syrup This one is too sweet for us and we love our sweets!

This is the best deal in the Richmond Center food court. For less than $15, you can get a plate full of your choice of meat, vegetable, and carbs. Food from Bourbon St. Grill

After a day of shopping around beautiful Downtown Vancouver, we decided to have lunch at Café Crêpe. The crêpe is highly recommended (of course). The burger is pretty good too, while the 4 Cheese Cavatappi Pasta is alright. Nutella with banana and hazelnut crêpe with an ice cream scoop 4 Cheese Cavatappi Pasta Menu Description: Gruyere, white cheddar, grana Padano with a parmesan cream Signature Burger Menu Description: 6oz patty, sliced white cheddar, mushrooms, bacon, tomato slice, red onion, arugula, mustard fig aioli, and Portuguese bun

We're beating the Wednesday hump day with healthy sandwiches and warm soup from Tractor Everyday Healthy Foods. Turkey Sandwich and Butternut Squash Soup Beet Sandwich

I crave Kare-Kare, so hubby and I end up at Max's Fried Chicken, a famous restaurant back in the Philippines. When you're here, be sure to get Kare-Kare, eat it with bagoong (shrimp paste), and cover your rice with the thick sauce. Then, get some fried chicken too. I usually end up ordering an extra cup of rice when I'm here. Kare-Kare Max's Fried Chicken

Aling Mary's and Josephine's are the two closest Filipino restaurants to our place so we frequent both places when we're craving for Filipino food (that I can't cook).

It's raining outside and winter is coming soon so a warm pho for dinner seems the perfect call. We went to the closest one at our place, Express Pho along West Broadway (between Granville and Hemlock). #10 Large #18 Large

Pistachio Crusted Salmon Baseball Top Sirloin with Twice Baked Potato Scallops & Bacon

We're celebrating our first wedding anniversary today, and we had desserts before dinner. Two Yummy Donuts for the Love Birds

Yummy Green Thai Curry Spring Rolls Dessert