Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

Happy Thursday! For team lunch, the theme is burgers. My colleague suggested we walk to Devil's Elbow Ale & Smokehouse nearby. We ordered the Devil's Burger, and I was surprised by its quality. It's been a while since I have tried a gourmet burger. The Devil's Burger from Devil's Elbow Ale & Smokehouse In-house ground brisket patty, smoked mayo, tomato, lettuce, creole mustard, beer onions, smoked bacon, smoked cheddar, and brioche bun. The burger starts with the in-house ground brisket patty, providing a rich, beefy, and juicy essence. The smoked mayo adds creamy and subtly smoky notes, while the freshness of tomatoes and the crispness of lettuce add a refreshing contrast. The creole mustard comes in for zesty spiciness, while the caramelized onions provide a sweet, bitter flavour. Lastly, the bacon adds a savoury and salty crunch complemented...

The benefit of the Vancouver Christmas Market 2023 season pass is we can enter as many times as we want. This is our second time at the beautiful market this year. Of course, the goal is to try food items we have yet to try before. I am using this menu I created as a checklist. Thuringer Brat and Bavarian Smokie from Bratwurst Haus Last year, we went for the Farmer Sausage from the Bratwurst Haus. Today, we gave the Thuringer Brat and Bavarian Smokie a try. The Bavarian smokie is as classic as it will get in terms of bratwurst flavour-wise. Bavarian Smokie  from Bratwurst Haus inside Vancouver Christmas Market 2023 Finest cuts of pork, the most flavourful blend of spices, naturally smoked Meanwhile, the Thuringer Brat is impressive. Surprisingly, it was so delicious, thanks to the garlic and marjoram. The latter adds a distinctive and slightly sweet fla...

 Happy Sunday! After Mass today, I decided that I wanted Boston Pizza. Honestly, I am head over heels in love with their Cactus Cuts Potatoes, and I enjoyed that. They also have a new Festively Delicious menu for the holiday season, and we got the New Loaded Pepperoni & Bacon Squarefooter Pizza and a slice of Chocolate Explosion . New Loaded Pepperoni & Bacon Squarefooter Pizza from Boston Pizza's Festively Delicious menu. Square pizza topped with pepperoni, pizza mozzarella, bacon, cheddar, and a classic pizza sauce drizzle A slice of the Loaded Pepperoni & Bacon Squarefooter Pizza  from Boston Pizza The pizza has the expected golden crust, while the abundance of pepperoni, bacon, and pizza mozzarella creates a satisfying and indulgent flavour explosion. ...

Have you tried sleeping in so much that you woke up at 1:00 PM? It's the first time it happened to me, and our first proper meal of the day is from Lin Chinese Cuisine at 3:00 PM. My husband ordered the Noodle Soup with Braised Beef. It reminds me of the beef noodle soup from RedBeef. It's comforting and so reasonably priced! Noodle Soup with Braised Beef  from Lin Chinese Cuisine Meanwhile, I ordered my usual Tan Tan Noodle Soup with Minced Meat, Xiao Long Bao (Shanghai Juicy Pork Dumplings), and Pan Fried Pork Buns. The tan tan noodle soup has a rich and savoury base covering tender hand-pulled noodles. Tan Tan Noodle Soup with Minced Meat from Lin Chinese Cuisine Then, the Xiao Long Bao has a delicate, thin skin encasing a flavourful broth and juicy pork. It's culinary magic! ...

"Maligayang Pasko" is a heartfelt Filipino greeting that translates to "Merry Christmas" in English, and it encapsulates the warmth, joy, and festive spirit of the holiday season. Every year, the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver organizes "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!", a Filipino Christmas celebration. When is "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023? "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" is on December 16, 2023 (Saturday) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Where is "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023? Join the fun and experience "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023 Filipino Christmas at St. Patrick's Recreation Center at 2881 Main Street, Vancouver BC V5T 3G1 How much is admission to "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023? Free. No entrance fee. What to expect during "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023? Below are the activties: Filipino Christmas Market Chris...

'Tis the season to treat our taste buds with the joyous flavours of the holidays, and Tim Hortons has brought two delightful creations to elevate our festive spirits. In this blog post, we'll dive into the enchanting world of the Reindeer Donut and savour the rich goodness of the Chocolate Lava Cookie. Step into the winter wonderland of Tim Hortons and be greeted by the whimsical charm of the Reindeer Donut. This holiday-themed treat is a visual delight, adorned with pretzel antlers, edible eyes, and red nose. Reindeer Donut  from Tim Hortons The Chocolate Lava Cookie beckons for those who crave a warm, gooey indulgence. Bite into the soft exterior to unleash a decadent flow of molten chocolate from the center. The velvety chocolate and the irresistible cookie texture create a heavenly dessert experience. It's a treat designed to make your taste buds dance with delight. ...

Happy Thursday! It's team lunch, and the theme for this week is Middle Eastern. They say the third time is the charm, and it is true in this case. The first restaurant we tried to order cancelled. The second one never confirmed our order, so I ordered the next available restaurant in DoorDash: Albasha Express Shawarma & Falafel. Mixed Chicken and Falafel Plate from Albasha Express We ordered their mixed chicken and falafel plate, which is a lot of delicious food in one packed container. Crispy falafel is an excellent accompaniment to the succulent tender chicken. Everything is delicious. I am reminded why a former colleague loved this place.

Tim Hortons just released a Non-Alcoholic Baileys Flavoured Boston Cream Donut . The donut has chocolate shavings on top in the colour of the classic drink. The Boston Cream donut's traditional creamy custard fillings are enhanced with the essence of Baileys, which means a velvety and smooth texture in contrast to the soft and pillowy donut. Baileys Flavoured Boston Cream Dream Donut  from Tim Hortons Baileys Latte  and Baileys Flavoured Boston Cream Dream Donut  from Tim Hortons Combining these elements would result in a donut that's not just a sweet treat but a luxurious experience. The familiar comfort of a Boston Cream donut would be elevated by adding the Baileys-inspired twist, making it a tempting choice for those who enjoy the iconic flavour without the alcohol content. ...

After IKEA, my husband and I went to Richmond Centre for the Lego store. Then, we decided to grab a late lunch at the Richmond Centre food court. I spotted a new store called Basha. My husband suggested getting both items with the name of the food stall in it: the Basha Poutine and Grill Basha. Grill Basha from Basha in Richmond Centre food court The Grill Basha includes three meat skewers: chicken, beef, and lamb, with lamb being my favourite. However, the Basha Poutine topped with chicken is fantastic. I highly recommend their shawarma over anything from the grill. Basha Poutine  from Basha in Richmond Centre food court It's lovely to see the food court so full of people, like usual.

 My family (parents and siblings) absolutely love the reasonably priced breakfast at Ikea. This morning, we went there for breakfast. Ikea Breakfast with the Family They still have the traditional breakfast with sausage and bacon. Then, they added pancakes with fruit, which was relatively new. Since I am still under the weather, we also got a bowl of soup.

Happy Friday! I have been feeling under the weather the past couple of days, and after getting my flu shot, we decided to have dinner at A Taste of Vietnam. My husband had the classic Special Beef Noodle Soup, which was delicious, while I went for the Wonton noodle Soup with Egg Noodles. It's a classic and oh-so comforting. Special Beef Noodle Soup  from A Taste of Vietnam Of course, we always get the crunchy, deep-fried pork spring rolls. Deep Fried Pork Spring Rolls  from A Taste of Vietnam Either I feel sick, or this is the best Wonton Noodle Soup I've had in Vancouver. I can't believe it's coming from a pho restaurant! Wonton Noodle Soup with Egg Noodle  from A Taste of Vietnam I feel slightly better and definitely feel...

It officially feels like Christmas in Vancouver with the opening of the Vancouver Christmas Market. Last year, we opted to get the Season's Pass for unlimited entry, and we did it again this year. I also documented the menu of the different vendors last year and can spot the new food vendors and items. Since it is opening night, we opted for the new items. Das Späetzle Haus This new food vendor focuses on selling späetzle, which are soft egg noodles, often pan-fried for a delightful crispness. Späetzle with mushroom sauce  from Späetzle Haus Fresh späetzle topped with traditional German mushroom sauce, garnished with pickled cucumber and caramelized onion. Meat Pie with Gravy from Mr. Hotcakes Last year, Mr. Hotcakes focused on selling  hotcakes , as the name implies. This year, they decided to add meat pies with gravy to their menu. ...

Discover the culinary delights of Vancouver's 2023 Christmas Market! Indulge in a festive feast of traditional and international flavours, from savoury bratwurst to sweet, cinnamon-dusted treats. Join us as we explore the mouthwatering food offerings that make this holiday market a gastronomic delight for visitors and locals alike. Vancouver Christmas Market I purchased our season's pass and will be there for opening night to take pictures of the menu and keep this up-to-date. Where is the Vancouver Christmas Market 2023? It will be at Jack Poole Plaza (1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L5). When is the Vancouver Christmas Market? It will run from November 16 to December 24. The hours are displayed below. November 16 to 30, 2023 Monday – Thursday: 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm Friday & Saturday: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm Sunday: 11:00 am to 9:30 pm December 1 to 23, 202...