Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

Disclaimer number 1: This post is not sponsored by Subway. We just really, really love food. Disclaimer number 2: This post is based on a single experience and individual taste preferences may vary. So, my husband and I decided to go a little crazy today and try every single item on Subway's new footlong Sidekicks and Dippers menu. Yes, you read that right. Every. Single. Item. We figured, why not? We went all in! Let's dive into our honest reviews. Subway Footlong Sidekick and Dipper Footlong Sidekicks: Hit or Miss? We started with the Sidekicks. Let’s start with the sweet stuff. The Footlong Cookie was a definite hit. Warm, gooey, and incredibly moist, it was the perfect indulgence. We’d happily order this again. Footlong Cookie from Subway Next up, is the Footlong Pretzel . Unfo...

Is there anything better than a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie? Costco's Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie might just be the answer to that age-old question. For a mere $3.49, this cookie is an absolute steal. Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie  from the Costco food court Let's talk about texture. The exterior boasts a delightful crunch, especially around the edges, while the inside is a decadent, ooey-gooey dream. It's the perfect balance of textures that keeps you coming back for more. And let's not forget the size! This isn't your average cookie; it’s a generous portion that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie  from Costco food court If you haven't tried Costco's Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie yet, do yourself a favor and grab one the next time you're there. It...

It's Thursday, which means company-sponsored team lunch! With my colleagues on vacation, I had a solo Mexican fiesta at our go-to Patrón Tacos and Cantina. Quesabirria  from Patrón Tacos and Cantina Two corn tortilla filled with melted cheese, beef birria, onions, cilantro, lime, and sour cream. Served with a birria broth. I kicked off my meal with my favourite tortilla soup – a comforting blend of smoky guajillo broth, crispy tortilla strips, creamy avocado, tangy sour cream, and salty feta. It's the perfect prelude to any Mexican feast. Tortilla Soup  from Patrón Tacos and Cantina Veggie guajillo broth served with fried corn tortilla strips, avocado, sour cream, and feta cheese. But the star of the show was undoubtedly the quesabirria. Two soft corn tortillas cradled a mouthwat...

Our Celebration of Lights adventure wouldn't have been complete without a stop at KYU Grill. This food truck's unique Japanese-Hawaiian fusion cuisine was the perfect way to cap off the evening. The Hawaii Shrimp Frites were an absolute dream. The crispy shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the fries, though softened by the delicious sauces, were incredibly flavourful. The combination of spicy mayo, pineapple corn salsa, and mango sauce created an explosion of taste in every bite. It was the ideal dish to enjoy as the sun dipped below the horizon and the fireworks illuminated the night sky. Hawaii Shrimp Frites  from KYU Grill food truck Signature crispy frites, spicy mayo, pineapple corn salsa, mango sauce, green onions, crispy shrimp, and sesame The Celebration of Lights is more than just a fireworks display; it's a quintessential Vancouver summer experience. Th...

Craving something savoury to complement the fireworks? Takenaka's food truck was the perfect answer. Their Japanese fare offered a delicious contrast to the sweet poke bowl we'd enjoyed earlier. The karaage was everything fried chicken should be: crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. A classic comfort food elevated by its Japanese flavour profile. But the real highlight were the truffle fries. The crispy, golden fries were perfectly seasoned with a generous sprinkle of truffle salt, creating a truly indulgent treat. Karaage and Chips with Truffle Salt  from Takenaka food truck If you're a fan of fried food with a gourmet twist, Takenaka is a must-try.

The Celebration of Lights is a Vancouver summer staple. This year, we decided to enjoy the fireworks from the English Bay side, a change from our usual Kitsilano Beach spot. The energy was electric, with crowds gathering to witness the breathtaking fireworks displays which started at 10:00 am. To fuel up for the main event, we indulged in a variety of delicious treats from the numerous food trucks lining the beach. Our first stop was Aloha Poke which brought a taste of Hawaii to Vancouver. Their Classic Poke Bowl with Salmon was a refreshing and satisfying dinner. The combination of fresh salmon, warm rice, and creamy avocado was pure perfection. Thanks to the crunchy mixes and tangy sauces, the bowl was packed with flavour and texture. I was particularly impressed with the quality of the salmon; it was incredibly fresh and flavorful. Salmon Classic Poke Bowl  from Aloha Poke food truck Salmon, ...

This Thursday's team lunch took us to Italy, specifically a delicious adventure in the land of pasta. We ordered from Basil Pasta Bar, and while my Pesto Shrimp Linguine boasted all the hallmarks of a flavorful dish, it fell a little short of its full potential. Let's dissect the beauty that awaited me: perfectly cooked al dente linguine formed the base, ready to cradle the star of the show - a creamy pesto sauce. This wasn't your average pesto sauce, though. Imagine a vibrant green infusion of basil's earthy goodness swirled with the richness of the cream, all gently nudged into a complex dance by the subtle acidity of white wine. Pesto Shrimp Linguine from Basil Pasta Bar Pesto cream sauce with white wine, shrimp, garlic, and spinach. Garnished with parmesan cheese & fresh basil Then came the parade of add-ins: plump, juicy shrimp, their delicate sweet...

We decided to skip the cooking for Thursday's dinner and head to Boston Pizza,   just a couple blocks away. Their summer menu sounded perfect for a warm evening, so we dove right in. I opted for the Barbacoa Nachos! The slow-cooked spiced beef was tender and incredibly flavorful, with a hint of smokiness that perfectly balanced the tangy avocado lime sauce. Each bite was a delightful combination of textures – the crisp tortilla chips giving way to the gooey cheese, the juicy tomatoes adding a pop of freshness, and the jalapeno poppers providing a touch of heat. To make it even more decadent, I added guacamole, the perfect creamy complement to the dish. Barbacoa Nachos  from Boston Pizza Slow-cooked spiced beef over hand-cut tortilla chips topped with cheddar cheese, pizza mozzarella, red onions, tomatoes, green onions, and jalapeno poppers. Drizzled with avocado lime sau...

Tim Hortons brings back the beloved maple bacon  and this year, it graces not just one but two breakfast options: the Maple Bacon Cheddar Croissant and the Maple Bacon Bagel BELT. Maple Bacon Cheddar Croissant The maple bacon is the star of the show, boasting a sweetness that lingers on the palate. This sweet element meets its match in the buttery layers of the croissant, creating a textural symphony. The melty cheddar cheese adds a touch of saltiness, rounding out the flavour profile. Maple Bacon Cheddar Croissant  from Tim Hortons Maple Bacon Bagel BELT The Maple Bacon Bagel BELT starts with a classic – the everything bagel. Toasted to perfection, the bagel offers a delightful chew on the outside and a soft, doughy center. The fresh lettuce and juicy tomato add pops of colour and freshness, providing a welcome contrast to the sweet maple bacon. ...

This week's company lunch transported us to the vibrant flavours of Indonesia! It all started last week with a team photo during our WA-BAGEL lunch. Little did we know, a Bali Bites food truck served as our backdrop, sparking curiosity among our Australian colleagues with its intriguing name and the image of a Komodo dragon. Inspired by this serendipitous encounter, a colleague chose Indonesian cuisine for our lunch today. Our lunch adventure took us near the Park Place building, where the Bali Bites truck awaited. Having spent the past few nights wrestling with the question of "one Indonesian meal to rule them all," I had consulted Gemini. It provided a shortlist of four iconic dishes, each with a brief description - rendang is top of the list! With this information, I chose Rendang Sapi, a dry curry beef brisket, from the Bali Bites menu. This dish served medium-spiced, featured melt-in-your-mouth beef nestled alongside tender potat...

This week has been a rough one. That persistent cough just wouldn't quit, and let's be honest, crawling out of bed for anything but tissues and cough syrup wasn't exactly appealing. But sometimes, a little self-care is the strongest medicine. Enter Trish Juice, my new favourite Vancouver destination, for a delicious (hopefully effective) pick-me-up. Knowing I needed a vitamin boost, I started with their fresh-squeezed orange juice. Bonus points for the buy-one-get-one-free deal – a small victory in a week of feeling under the weather. The sunshine in a glass was exactly what I needed to perk up my taste buds. Trish Juice Wellness Package Now, for the not-so-delicious but hopefully powerful part of my order: the Turmeric Shot. This concoction of turmeric, lemon, ginger, honey, and coconut water sounds exotic, but let's be honest – it's a mouthful, literally and ...

Happy (though still coughing) Sunday! Hubby and I celebrated one of our anniversaries yesterday, but unfortunately, this summer's heat gave me a nasty cough. I've been feeling under the weather all week, even taking a sick day from work last Friday and staying home all Saturday to rest up. Every July anniversary, we have a tradition of going to The Bridges restaurant ( 2023 , 2022 , and 2020 ), which is now part of Tap and Barrel. Despite the sweltering morning, we grabbed a table on their patio, enjoying the stunning view of False Creek and the Burrard Bridge. We opted for the weekend brunch menu, perfect for a relaxed Sunday celebration. To kick things off, we shared their Fresh Guac & Chips. Let's just say I'm having a serious guacamole moment – it's that good! We've always gotten their amazing nachos in the past, but we wanted to try something new. The guacamole was fresh and vibrant, with a perfect chunky textur...

Today marks my first anniversary at work, and what is the theme for our company-paid team lunch? You guessed it — bagels! In fact, it's become a running joke that bagels are the clear favourite, having been chosen a whopping seven times for our weekly lunches in the last 54 weeks. This week, we ventured to WA-BAGEL to taste their unique Japanese-style bagels. I couldn't resist their signature Montreal Bagel Sandwich. The first bite was a revelation – the Montreal smoked meat's savoury smokiness was perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the miso-caramelized onions. They added a depth of flavour that regular caramelized onions just can't achieve. The creamy Japanese mustard aioli tied everything together, adding a touch of tang that cut through the richness of the meat and onions. Montreal Bagel Sandwich  from WA-BAGEL Montreal smoked meat, miso caramelized onions, Japanese mustard aioli...

To celebrate Canada Day, we capped off a fantastic dinner at Salmon n' Bannock with a visit to a true Canadian icon - Tim Hortons! In honour of their 60th anniversary, they're bringing back some retro donuts for a limited time. Blueberry Sour Cream  and Sugar Twist  donuts from Tim Hortons This time around, I tried the sugar twist and the blueberry sour cream donut. Now, full disclosure, I don't have any childhood memories attached to these flavours. But based purely on today's experience? I can't believe they ever took them off the menu! Sugar Twist donut from Tim Hortons I'm a self-proclaimed fried dough enthusiast (baked works are welcome, too!), so the sugar twist was an instant win. The classic combo of crispy, fluffy dough and a generous sugar coating is my kind of dessert ...

We're fortunate to live less than a kilometre away from the only Indigenous restaurant in Vancouver, Salmon n' Bannock. We have been there quite a few times, so I am creating this post as a checklist for future me on which items we have tried. Signature Bannock with Butter Appetizers Available between 3:00 to 9:00 PM ☑️ Signature Bannock with butter and jam Oath of Citizenship Ceremony dinner 🔲 Gluten Free Bannock with butter and jam 🔲 Salmon Mousse with bannock crackers 🔲 Candied Salmon 🔲 Pemmican Mousse with bannock crackers 🔲 Mushrooms on Toasted Bannock with sage-blueberries, brie and bison gravy 🔲 Game Sausage (Rotating Fla...

I am big on annual traditions, and for the past four years, we have had dinner at Salmon n' Bannock close to Canada Day weekend. This year was no different! This afternoon, we walked to Canada Place to see the Canada Together event. It was a beautiful celebration of our country, and it definitely built up our appetites! Then, we walked back across Burrard Bridge and headed straight to Salmon n' Bannock for dinner. My husband ordered the Smoked Sablefish and he gave me half. It is a rich, slightly sweet smoke flavour that paired perfectly with the creamy, balanced sauce. The Haudenosaunee Corn Polenta was a delightful surprise - soft and cheesy, with pops of sweet corn kernels throughout. The fish itself had a firm texture, similar to cod or haddock, but with a subtle oiliness and flakiness that reminded me of salmon. Smoked Sablefish on Haudenosaunee corn polenta  from Salmon n...