Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

Vancouver's culinary scene continues to evolve, and ramen enthusiasts have something exciting to slurp about. Nestled in the heart of the city, Menya Juémon has taken over the old spot of Benkei Ramen . My husband and I were lucky to walk by a few days after their soft opening. Dinner at Menya Juémon Our food adventure starts with pork gyoza, and it's perfectly fried with crispy skin, and the filling is flavourful pork. I highly recommend their gyoza if you love the Japanese dumpling. Pork Gyoza from Menya Juémon Crispy & juicy pork dumplings Now, let's discuss the star of the show: ramen. My husband opted for the Umami Shoyu Premium, and what arrived was slightly thicker broth filled with deep dark soy; you can also taste the seaweed flavour seeping through the soup. The thick, chewy noodles so...

purebread in Gastown closes at 4:00 PM, so I couldn't find the perfect time to bring my husband here. Chocolate Espresso  from purebread This is only my second time at purebread because I get too overwhelmed with all the options, from cakes to bread to bars. It's intimidating. Salted Caramel bar from purebread I chose the chocolate espresso loaf, while hubby opted for the salted caramel bar. It is impossible to go wrong with any of their products, and when you need a pick-me-up, this place is a safe haven.

Since I decided to work in the office on a Friday, I asked my husband if he wanted us to have lunch together. I asked him what he preferred lunch, and his choices were a  sandwich ,  pho , or Japanese food , and he picked Japanese. Omurice from Tokyo in April restaurant We went to Tokyo in April, and I got what I really wanted to try: omurice with chicken karaage as the topping. My husband ordered the customizable bento box with miso soup, spring mix salad, beef teriyaki, salmon sashimi, and tonkatsu. Customisable Bento Box  from Tokyo in April The omurice is beautiful with a tender, almost custard-like, softly-cooked, silky omelette that gently covers savoury tomato-flavoured creamy fried rice and traditional Japanese curry sauce (chicken-based) on the side. It's perfect. ...

Thank God it's Friday! We usually work from home on Fridays, but I decided to work in the office today because I'm too lazy to bring my laptop home. For some reason, I was not in the best mood this morning. It's supposed to be a relaxing week in the office because we're not busy, but I don't think I know how to relax. I think I prefer busy work days when I don't notice the time. Anyway, my frown turned into a bit of a smile when I went downstairs to grab breakfast from Bean Around The World. I got a butter croissant and a sausage roll - both could be better. Okay, that's me being nice; they're both not good. Butter Croissant from Bean Around The World However, the barista was friendly and provided enough social interaction for the day to give me a bit of an energy boost to write this blog. I look forward to the rest of the day and the long weekend. I...

It's Thursday, which means company-paid team lunch and the chosen cuisine for this week is Korean. My colleague and I went for Korean fried chicken from bb.q Chicken, a restaurant brand from South Korea. I ordered the Golden Original Wings, and we got Red Chak Chak Fries for sharing. Golden Original Wings from bb.q Chicken Korean fried chicken at its best. Juicy and tender inside, light and crispy outside It's difficult to screw up Korean fried chicken, and the Golden Original Wings delivers. It has enough crisp on the outside and juicy inside. Of course, I fell in love with the Chak Chak Fries. It's flavourful and spicy. As I grew older, I stopped craving spicy food just for the sake of the heat with little to no flavour. The Chak Chak Fries is perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of heat. For amusement, below is a list of our team lunches so far. Wee...

Happy Thursday! I left home earlier than usual today, and surprisingly, the bus I took stopped way earlier and did not proceed until the end of its route, so I decided to walk the rest of the way to the office and spotted McDonald's Mighty McMuffin from McDonald's Canada Get a double portion of hickory-smoked bacon plus a freshly cracked Canada Grade A egg, processed cheddar cheese and savoury sausage on a toasted English muffin. A mighty eat to rid you of your mighty hunger. They are promoting The Mighty McMuffin. It is essentially if the Sausage 'N Egg McMuffin and Bacon 'N Egg McMuffin had an older bigger sibling. It has sausage, bacon, and egg between soft toasted English muffins.

After a spicy lunch at The Frying Pan, my husband requested we get ice cream to cool down. We spotted the Crema Ice Cream food truck and got the Oreo Fiesta Signature Bubble Waffle. We chose a scoop of chocolate ganache to come with the bubble waffle and topped it with M&M, sprinkles, and Oreo pieces. Oreo Fiesta Signature Bubble Waffle  from Crema Ice Cream food truck Choice of ice cream (chocolate ganache), bubble waffle, M&Ms, sprinkles, and Oreo pieces I prefer the S'More Signature Bubble Waffle we tried previously because it has a more varying texture. However, the chocolate ganache is the best chocolate ice cream I've had in Vancouver. It's not overly sweet, and I love the solid chocolatey flavour. Car Free Day in Denman Street is our last summer event; ending it with delicious ice cream is the way to go.

As we continued our afternoon on Denman Street for Car Free Day, I searched Google Maps for restaurant recommendations. I search for restaurants sorted by distance filtered by open now and above 4.5 stars. The first suggestion is Frying Pan Denman. They are known for serving Nashville x Korean style hot fried chicken sandwiches and started as a food truck. I have a confession: hubby, and I love watching Korean dramas, and we're binge-watching My Lovely Liar on Viki. The male and female lead eat Korean fried chicken at 3 AM while watching the Manchester United and Liverpool games. It's such a perfect timing suggestion that I get to each fried chicken right now, too. The Frying Pan From the extensive menu, we chose three things: the Dirty Hot Chicken Fries (medium hot spice level), half original chicken bites, and half Korean Yang Nyeom chicken bites. ...

After my husband finished the Under Armour Eastside 10k, we slowly walked to Denman Street for Car Free Day. The same foodie rules apply where we prioritize food trucks we have yet to try, which means getting four different street tacos from TAPS and TACOS food truck. First up is the pork carnitas taco. The spicy allure of salsa roja danced with the savoury pork carnitas. Then, we took a bite of a roasted jackfruit taco. A surprising and delightful vegetarian option, the roasted jackfruit taco boasted the smoky allure of salsa Morita. Afterwards, we enjoyed the delightful blend of tender meat and a kick of salsa Morita of the roasted chicken taco. The shredded succulent roasted chicken is perfect. I recommend this one. Street Tacos from TAPS and TACOS food truck Last but not necessarily the least is the braised beef tacos. It is adorned with vibrant salsa verde, promisin...

On this unexpectedly clear and beautiful Sunday morning in Vancouver, I found myself at Monaco Café, savouring a quiet coffee date with myself while my husband tackled the Under Armour Eastside 10k 2023. I ordered a delightful trio: a medium mocha, a butter croissant, and a sausage roll. Let's dive into the flavours: The sausage roll was a savoury delight, featuring a juicy hotdog nestled within layers of flaky pastry. Each bite was a satisfying combination of flavours and textures. Turning my attention to the croissant, I discovered a pastry perfection. Soft, flaky, and wonderfully buttery, it checked all the boxes for a great croissant. The only thing that could have elevated it further was a touch of warmth. However, the oversight might have been mine as I forgot to request it from the barista. 😅 Butter croissant, medium mocha, and sausage roll for breakfast at Monaco Café ...

After a delightful day indulging in Latin American cuisine at the Culture Day event organized by Pacific Arts Market , we decided to unwind at Blenz Coffee, conveniently located on West Broadway and Maple, before heading to Mass. Our choices for the evening included the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte, the intriguing Blue Latte, and a delightful Tahitian Vanilla Bean Dacaron for dessert. Latte Date at Blenz Pumpkin Spice has become synonymous with the flavours of fall in North America, yet it remains somewhat elusive to describe. The Pumpkin Spice Latte at Blenz greeted us with its rich, aromatic pumpkin spice aroma. Still, its taste was akin to a regular latte, leaving us curious about its seasonal allure. Pumpkin Spice Latte  from Blenz Coffee On the other hand, the Blue Latte not only captivated the eye...

Greetings on this rainy Saturday! I am fortunate to reside just a few blocks from Pacific Arts Market. This establishment has recently delighted us with its vibrant events (see Vancouver Night Market ), especially those featuring delectable culinary offerings. Today, our rendezvous at Pacific Arts revolves around celebrating Latin America's rich and diverse flavours. Needless to say, I'm here to savour every delightful dish presented by the participating vendors. We arrived in the area at around 2:30 in the afternoon, and based on earlier pictures, some vendors had already left. Taquitos from Lita's Mexican Food Our gastronomic expedition starts at Lita's Mexican food, where the enticing aroma of taquitos beckons. These little gems sport a crispy exterior, and the hot sauce makes it perfect on this chilly day. Chicken Taquitos from Lita's Mexican Food If you...

It was a picturesque Thursday with clear skies and sunshine, setting the perfect backdrop for our team's Japanese-themed lunch outing. Our destination was Tokyo in April, a highly-rated Japanese restaurant conveniently located nearby. Tokyo in April offers a unique lunch experience with its customizable bento boxes. For my selection, I crafted a satisfying ensemble: spicy miso soup, teriyaki beef over rice, a spring mix salad, chicken karaage, and a salmon & avocado roll. My Custom Bento Box  from Tokyo in April The spicy miso soup was a standout, boasting a balanced flavour profile that wasn't excessively salty but wonderfully savoury. The only hiccup in our culinary journey was the spring mix salad, which arrived unadorned with dressing, seemingly forgotten. Nevertheless, I embraced the opportunity to infuse some greens into my meal. ...

We're a creature of habit. After having lunch at Suika , we always go to nearby Trees Organic at their West Broadway and Fir Street location. We have tried most of their flavours and one of the few classic flavours left is the Chocoholic Cheesecake. Chocoholic Cheesecake  from Trees Organic I love the smooth creamy texture of cheesecake as it is a great contrast to the chocolate crumb crust. Adding milk and dark chocolate to the cheesecake is a chocolate lovers dream. List of Seasonal Cheesecake from Trees Cheesecake + Organic Coffee Below is a list of the seasonal cheesecakes we have tried from Trees arranged alphabetically. Almond Marzipan Cheesecake Apple Crisp Cheesecake Banana Cream Cheesecake Banoffee Cheesecake ...

Happy Sunday! After Mass today, we enjoyed a pancake breakfast by the Knights of Columbus. Then, we walked to the Kitsilano Farmers Market just to window shop. At 11:35 AM, our lunch adventure took us to Suika, a beloved Vancouver restaurant close to my heart. Without fail, I gravitate towards two favourites on their menu: the Signature Beef Curry with Tonkatsu topping and the irresistible Chicken Dashi Karaage. Signature Beef Curry with Tonkatsu topping This is the best Japanese curry in Vancouver. The rich curry sauce spiced to perfection forms the base of this personal favourite. It's generously seasoned with aromatic spices that evoke a comforting warmth. I absolutely love the shredded tender beef in the curry sauce. Signature Beef Curry with Tonkatsu  from Suika Suika original stewed beef tendon curry with pork loin cutlet I always choose the tonkatsu as my topping. It ...

As our vibrant stroll through Main Street's Car Free Day came to a close, we couldn't resist the allure of indulging in some delightful desserts to cap off our culinary adventure and get relief from the summer heat. Our sweet journey led us to Dairy Queen, where we faced a dessert dilemma—two limited edition Blizzards, each promising a unique flavour experience. Our first choice, the Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Blizzard, held the promise of a dessert imbued with the nostalgic flavours of Snickerdoodle cookies. However, this Blizzard turned out to be a surprise of a different kind. Upon the first spoonful, it became apparent that cinnamon was the dominant player in this dessert. While some may relish the warm, comforting embrace of cinnamon, it overshadowed the other elements of the treat, leaving me yearning for a more balanced flavour profile. Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Blizzard® Treat from ...

Nestled amidst the vibrant festivities of Car Free Day on Main Street, we stumbled upon Camion Cafe, a delightful food truck specializing in Vietnamese cuisine, specifically bánh mì. We decided to give their Lemongrass Bánh Mì and spring roll a try. Lemongrass Beef Bánh Mì from Camion Cafe Lemongrass beef, ginger garlic marinade, mayo cucumber, jalapeno, daikon & carrot pickles, and cilantro. At first glance, the crusty demi-baguette encasing the bánh mì appears too hardy, but beneath this textural exterior lies the star: the lemongrass-infused beef. It's so tender and succulent. Lemongrass Beef Bánh Mì from Camion Cafe Lemongrass beef, ginger garlic marinade, mayo cucumber, jalapeno, daikon & carrot pickles, and cilantro. In contrast to the savoury beef, the cucumber contributed...

I just love Car Free Day on Main Street. My husband and I made a pact to prioritize food stalls without a physical store and food trucks that we have yet to try. As we continued our stroll along Main Street , we spotted Shawarma Time Truck. I eagerly ordered one beef shawarma wrap and a side of dolmades, a Mediterranean delight I've adored (thanks to Super Dishes Egyptian Halal Cuisine ). First up were the Dolmades, and they lived up to my high expectations. These delicate parcels, made with vine leaves stuffed with a flavorful mixture of rice, herbs, and spices, were a testament to the artistry of Mediterranean cuisine. Each bite was a burst of savoury, tangy, zesty goodness, and I savoured every one. 4 Pieces of Dolmades from Shawarma Time Truck Grape vine leaves, stuffed with delicious rice, shaped into little rolls The beef shawarma wrap had its own charm. T...