True Canadian and All the Specialty Sides from Panago Pizza

Hubby and I realized that this is our last New Year’s Eve in our current apartment, so we decided to recreate our very first one here. Back then, we had very little money since we had just married and moved into our first apartment ever. We celebrated that year with Domino’s pizza and Timbits.

True Canadian Pizza from Panago surrounded by all the sides
Panago website description: Organic tomato sauce, extra pepperoni, bacon  mushrroms

For our NYE dinner tonight, we decided to switch it up and order from Panago Pizza. I chose the True Canadian, which features tangy tomato sauce, spicy pepperoni, smoky bacon, earthy mushrooms, and a combination of melty mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese. It is a classic, reliable combination.

Mozzarella Triangles from Panago Pizza
Panago website description: A thin breading of tasty mozzarella triangles baked to perfection

What I really want to focus on are the three Specialty Sides we ordered: Mozzarella Triangles, Stuffed Gnocchi, and Mini Panzerotti. Unfortunately, only the Mozzarella Triangles were acceptable. They were cheesy and crispy, exactly what you want from a snack. 

Stuffed Gnocchi from Panago Pizza
Light and fluffy gnocchi filled with a rich, tangy cheese blend

The Stuffed Gnocchi had an unusual aftertaste that we couldn't quite pinpoint, which was disappointing.

Mini Panzerotti from Panago Pizza
Panago website description: Mini but packed with flavour - golden pockets filled with gooey mozzarella and zesty tomato

The Mini Panzerotti also missed the mark because it was mostly bread with very little filling. Plus, the filling that was there was mostly tomato sauce without any of the promised mozzarella.

Churro Bites from Panago
Bite-sized churros rolled in cinnamon and sugar with sweet caramel filling

We finished our meal by trying their Churro Bites. They were alright, but largely forgettable. I want to like Panago, but this was a rough experience, especially since they removed my favorite pizza, the Veggie Korma. I will probably still come back, but I will likely focus only on the pizzas and skip the sides entirely. Or, I might just stick to supporting the other Canadian pizza chain, Pizza Pizza!

For future me, below is a list of things we've had from Panago.

Pizza

• Pesto Chicken
• Pesto Vegetarian
• True Canadian
• Veggie Korma

Sides

• Chicken Bites
• Garlic Cheezy Bread
• Mini Panzerotti
• Mozzarella Triangles
• Stuffed Gnocchi

Desserts

• Chocolate Chunk Pretzel Cookie
• Churro Bites

My Husband's Checklist

As you've probably gathered from my previous posts, I enjoy the free company-paid team lunch every Thursday. As a result, I've been to quite a few food joints that my husband hasn't tried yet. This list is to help us keep track of all the places we need to visit together.

☑️ A la Mode Pie

☑️ Al Basha Express

⬜ Bali Bites food truck

☑️ bb.q Chicken

⬜ BC Momo

☑️ Blaze Gourmet Burger

☑️ Boteco Brasil

⬜ Brazilliant Café

⬜ Brooklyn Dumpling Shop

⬜ Browns Socialhouse

☑️ Burger Crush

⬜ Casereccio Foods

⬜ Cafe Medina

⬜ Chit Chat Burger Bar

⬜ Dante Italian Sandwich

⬜ Devil's Elbow Ale and Smoke House

⬜ Dingding Restaurant

⬜ Disco Cheetah

⬜ El Compadre (part of Club Kitchen)

☑️ Five Guys Burger & Fries

☑️ Gimme Coxinhas

☑️ Grand Chinese Restaurant

⬜ Hawker's Delight

⬜ H-Kitchen inside H-Mart

⬜ Ignite Pizzeria

☑️ JINYA Ramen Bar

☑️ Jerusalem Shawarma

⬜ JOEY at Burrard

☑️ John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

☑️ Jollibee

⬜ Khao Thai by Legato

☑️ La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop

⬜ Luca Restaurant

☑️ Meat & Bread

⬜ Mediterranean Grill

☑️ Memphis Blues BBQ House

☑️ Nando's

⬜ Nene Chicken

☑️ New Town Bakery & Restaurant

⬜ Original Joe's

☑️ Patrón Tacos & Cantina

⬜ PAUL Le Café

☑️ Peaked Pies

☑️ Pelicana Chicken

⬜ Pho Georgia Express

⬜ Pholicious

⬜ Pokerrito

☑️ Rosemary Rocksalt

⬜ Steve's Poke Bar

☑️ Straight Brooklyn Pizza

⬜ Talay Thai Restaurant

☑️ Thai Away Home

☑️ Thai Express

⬜ The Banter Room

⬜ The Cambie Pub

⬜ The Greek

☑️ The Old Spaghetti Factory

☑️ Tokyo in April

⬜ Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine

⬜ WA-Bagel

☑️ White Spot

⬜ Yopo Sweet Mandarin

❌ Chakra Indian Restaurant (closed)

❌ Davie Dosa Company (closed)

❌ Sushi UOmo (closed)

❌ Nablus Shawarma & Grill (closed)

Traditional Aussie Pie, Lamington, and more from Peaked Pies

Happy last day of 2025! Congratulations, you made it! The past couple of days have felt quite overwhelming with planning our move and sorting everything into piles to throw away, donate, or bring to our new place. For dinner tonight, we decided to take a break from the boxes and grabbed a couple of pies and sweet treats from the relatively new Peaked Pies location on West Broadway.

Peaked Pies at home

Having traveled to Australia, I have been craving classic treats like Lamingtons and ANZAC biscuits. I am pleasantly surprised that my cravings can be satisfied right here in Vancouver because Peaked Pies offers both at such high quality. Their Lamington is quite huge compared to the ones I tried in Melbourne, so next time we will probably opt for their Minington, which is their clever name for a mini Lamington. Their ANZAC biscuit is also larger than the ones in Melbourne, but it carries that same delicious, buttery flavor.

A peek inside Chunky Pepper Steak pie from Peaked Pies
Chunky steak pieces infused with ground bacon, layered with a cheddar/mozzarella mix

Now, on to the pies! We ordered the Traditional Aussie, and while I initially thought the filling was not as flavorful as what I had in Melbourne, I realized that taking a bite of the crust and filling together creates the perfect balance. We were hoping to try The Hopper, which features ground kangaroo meat, but they were sold out for the day. We settled for the Chunky Pepper Steak instead, and it was actually even better than the Traditional Aussie. That pepper sauce is truly top notch!

A peak inside Traditional Aussie pie from Peaked Pies
Ground beef, onions, and gravy

We enjoyed our pies at home after warming them up in the air fryer for 10 minutes to get them perfectly flaky. We already cannot wait to come back to Peaked Pies on Pi Day!

The Georgia Straight Golden Plates Award: Best by Cuisine | Checklist

This is my personal checklist of the winners in The Georgia Straight Golden Plates Awards 2024 and 2025: Best by Cuisine. I did not include categories I don't particularly like (e.g. alcoholic beverages).

African

⬜ Axum Restaurant (2024)

⬜ Harambe (2024, 2025)

☑️ Simba’s Grill (2024, 2025)

⬜ Kilimanjaro Snack House (2025)

Caribbean

⬜ Baby Dhal Roti Shop (2024)

⬜ Calabash (2024, 2025)

⬜ Havana (2024)

⬜ The Lion's Den Cafe (2025)

⬜ The Patty Shop (2025)

Chinese

⬜ Bao Bei (2024, 2025)

⬜ Dinasty Dumpling House (2025)

⬜ Dynasty Seafood Restaurant (2024)

⬜ Mott 32 (2025)

☑️ Peaceful Restaurant (2024)

Filipino

☑️ Goldilocks (2024)

☑️ Hapag Ihaw-Ihaw (2025)

☑️ Jollibee (2024)

☑️ Kulinarya Filipino Eatery (2024, 2025)

☑️ Max's Restaurant (2025)

French

⬜ Le Crocodile (2024, 2025)

⬜ Les Faux Bourgeois (2024, 2025)

⬜ St. Lawrence (2024, 2025)

Greek

☑️ The Greek (2024, 2025)

⬜ Loula’s Taverna (2025)

⬜ Mnimes Restaurant & Bar (2024)

⬜ Nammos Estiatorio (2024, 2025)

Indian

⬜ Sula (2024, 2025)

⬜ Tasty Indian Bistro (2024, 2025)

⬜ Vij’s (2024, 2025)

Indigenous

☑️ Salmon n’ Bannock (2024, 2025)

⬜ Mr. Bannock (2024)

⬜ Tawnshi (2025)

⬜ Tradish’s The Ancestor Cafe (2024, 2025)

Italian

⬜ Ask for Luigi (2025)

⬜ Giardino Restaurant (2024)

⬜ Magari by Oca (2025)

⬜ Savio Volpe (2024, 2025)

⬜ Pepino’s Spaghetti House (2024)

Japanese

⬜ Kishimoto (2024)

⬜ Miku (2024, 2025)

⬜ Minami (2024, 2025)

⬜ Oku Izakaya (2025)

Korean

⬜ Kook Korean BBQ (2024)

⬜ Kosoo (2024)

⬜ Nui (2025)

⬜ Sooda Korean BBQ (2025)

☑️ Sura Korean Royal Cuisine (2025)

⬜ Zoomak Korean Tavern (2024)

Latin American

⬜ Cuchillo (2025)

⬜ Havana (2024, 2025)

⬜ Ophelia (2024)

⬜ Suyo (2024, 2025)

Malaysian

⬜ Banana Leaf (2024, 2025)

☑️ Hawker's Delight Deli (2024, 2025)

☑️ John 3:16 (2025)

⬜ Potluck Hawker Eatery (2024)

Mediterranean

⬜ Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca (2024)

⬜ Hydra Estiatorio Mediterranean & Bar (2024)

⬜ Minerva's (2025)

⬜ Nuba (2024, 2025)

⬜ Selene Aegean Bistro (2025)

Mexican

⬜ Chancho (2025)

⬜ La Mezcaleria (2024, 2025)

☑️ La Taqueria (2024)

⬜ Ophelia (2024, 2025)

Middle Eastern

⬜ East is East (2024)

⬜ Nuba (2024, 2025)

⬜ Superbaba (2025)

⬜ Zarak (2024, 2025)

Pacific Northwest

⬜ Botanist (2025)

⬜ Dovetail (2025)

⬜ Forage (2024)

⬜ Published on Main (2024, 2025)

⬜ Water St. Cafe (2024)

Persian

⬜ Cazba Restaurant (2024, 2025)

⬜ Delara (2024, 2025)

⬜ Sahel (2025)

⬜ Zeitoon Restaurant (2024)

Spanish

⬜ Bodega on Main (2024, 2025)

⬜ Como Taperia (2024, 2025)

⬜ Cuchillo (2025)

⬜ España Restaurant (2024)

Thai

⬜ Baan Lao

⬜ Kin Kao (2024, 2025)

⬜ Maenam (2024, 2025)

⬜ Sawasdee Thai Restaurant (2024)

Vietnamese

⬜ Anh and Chi (2024, 2025)

⬜ DD Mau Chinatown (2024)

⬜ Hai Phong (2025)

⬜ Lunch Lady (2024, 2025)

A Family Potluck: Christmas Eve Noche Buena

As you know, my sister usually chooses a specific cuisine for our Christmas Eve dinner each year. This year, however, our youngest sister and only brother vetoed that idea. They suggested we do a potluck instead so everyone could bring exactly what they wanted to eat!

It turned out to be such a fantastic variety. Here is what everyone brought to the table:

Mama cooked her sweet Filipino-style spaghetti and prepared a creamy Filipino-style fruit salad. Hubby and I picked up the savory House Special Fried Rice from Lin Chinese Cuisine along with smoky Inihaw na Liempo and crunchy Lechong Kawali from Little Ongpin Restaurant. My sister roasted a tender chicken and made vibrant stir-fried vegetables. Our brother brought a fresh sushi platter from Fukuroku Sushi Express and the chilled drinks. Finally, our youngest sister ordered crispy lumpiang Shanghai from Little Ongpin Restaurant and brought decadent cakes from Costco.

A Family Potluck: Christmas Eve Noche Buena

It was such a feast! I haven't felt a food coma like this in a very long time. It was the perfect way to celebrate together.

For the record, here is a look back at our past Noche Buena themes:

• 2024: Filipino Food
• 2023: Canadian Food
• 2022: Ukrainian Food from Ukrainian Village
• 2021: Korean Food from H-Mart
• 2020: Chinese Food from Lin Chinese Cuisine and Tea House
• 2019: French Food (cooked by my sister)
• 2018: Spanish Food
• 2017: Japanese Food
• 2016 and 2015: Domino's Pizza and my mom's Filipino-style spaghetti

CF Richmond Centre Dining Terraces (food court)

CF Richmond Centre is a shopping destination, but its food court, the Dining Terrace, is a culinary journey of its own. Located on the second level, this vibrant food hub is constantly evolving with new stalls and exciting menus, making each visit a unique experience. This list aims to capture the current landscape of the Dining Terrace, helping you navigate the diverse and delicious options available right now.

Please note that this list is based on the date of publication and the stalls can change without prior notice.

☑️ A&W

☑️ Basha

☑️ Bourbon St. Grill

☑️ Bubble Waffle Cafe

☑️ Curry Express

✔️ Dairy Queen / Orange Julius

⬜ Dinesty Dumpling

⬜ Don Tacos

⬜ Edo Japan

⬜ Fairbee Bubble Tea

✔️ Jugo Juice

✔️ KFC

⬜ Kung Pao Wok

✔️ New York Fries

✔️ Opa! of Greece

⬜ Real Fruite Tea

✔️ Subway

✔️ Thai Express

⬜ Umi Japanese Eatery & Udon Bar

❌ Koryo Korean BBQ (closed)

☑️ Vina Vietnamese (closed)

Metropolis at Metrotown food court

Metropolis at Metrotown is not only a shopping mecca, but its food court is an expansive and diverse dining destination. As one of the largest food courts in Western Canada, it's a bustling and ever-changing space that can be overwhelming for first-time visitors and a regular stop for many.

New vendors are always popping up, so this guide is a snapshot of the offerings as of the publication date and is subject to change without prior notice.

✔️ A&W

☑️ Bourbon St. Grill

✔️ Bubble Waffle Cafe

✔️ Burger King

⬜ Cazba

☑️ Chronic Tacos Mexican Grill

☑️ Crepe de Licious

✔️ Curry Express Indian Cuisine

✔️ Dairy Queen / Orange Julius

✔️ Freshslice Pizza

✔️ Jamaican Mi Juicy

✔️ KFC

⬜ Koya Japan

☑️ Manchu Wok

☑️ Nando's

☑️ New York Fries

✔️ Opa! of Greece

✔️ Starbucks

✔️ Subway

✔️ Thai Express

✔️ Tim Hortons

⬜ U-Grill

☑️ Vina Vietnamese

☑️ Bake House (closed)

✔️ Chachi's (closed)

☑️ Chef Tony Dimsum (closed)

CF Pacific Centre Urban Eatery (food court)

CF Pacific Centre, located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, is a major retail destination, and its food court, the Urban Eatery, is a key part of the experience. This underground dining space is a bustling hub for shoppers, office workers, and tourists alike, offering a wide array of choices from well-known chains to unique local spots.

The food court is constantly evolving, with new vendors appearing and others moving on, so this list is a snapshot of the offerings as of the publication date and is subject to change.

☑️ A&W

⬜ Cazba Persian Grill

☑️ Cha House

✔️ Dairy Queen / Orange Julius

☑️ Edo Japan

☑️ Flaming Wok

✔️ Jugo Juice

☑️ New York Fries

☑️ OPA! of Greece

✔️ Subway

☑️ Taco Time

☑️ Thai Express

☑️ UMI Sushi Express

☑️ Vina Vietnamese

☑️ Chachi's (closed)

❌ Hula (closed)

☑️ Living Foods (closed)

Opa! Platter and Opa! Fries from Opa! of Greece

Happy Christmas Eve! For lunch today, we stopped by Pacific Centre for some last-minute shopping and grabbed a quick lunch at the Urban Centre food court. We decided on some Greek food from Opa! of Greece to keep us going.

We ordered the Opa! Platter with a chicken skewer. It was a full plate featuring succulent chicken, fluffy rice, golden oven-roasted potatoes, a refreshing Greek salad, warm pita wedges, and creamy tzatziki. The tzatziki is always so great. Dipping the pita bread into it is such a delicious experience.

Opa! Platter from Opa! of Greece
Chicken skewer served with rice, oven-roasted potato, Greek salad, pita wedges, and their famous Opa! tzatziki.

We also ordered their Opa! Fries. These are crispy fries tossed in aromatic herbs and a splash of bright lemon, but what really made them amazing was the tangy tzatziki on the side.

Opa! Fries from Opa! of Greece
Crispy, golden fries tossed in herbs and lemon juice, served with their famous OPA! tzatziki

It was the perfect, fast, and flavorful meal to power us through the rest of our holiday errands. Now that the shopping is finally done, we are officially ready to head home, relax, and enjoy the magic of Christmas!

Italian Combo and Turkey Pesto from Mangia's Sandwiches

Happy Monday! I am working from home today and tomorrow, December 23, and one of the best parts about living just a block away from South Granville is how much I can get done during a one-hour lunch break. I managed to run to Purdy's to buy last-minute gifts for the family and still had time to grab a quick bite at Mangia's Sandwiches.

Italian Combo from Mangia's Sandwiches
Italian Mortadella, Prosciutto & Balsamic Glaze

Hubby chose the Italian Combo, which features Italian Mortadella, Prosciutto, and a sweet balsamic glaze. I opted for the Turkey Pesto, which was filled with smoky turkey and aromatic basil pesto. Both of our sandwiches were served on their crusty original baguette and topped with creamy fresh mozzarella, vibrant red peppers, crisp dressed lettuce, and juicy tomatoes.

Turkey Pesto from Mangia's Sandwiches
Smoked Turkey & Basil Pesto

After enjoying our sandwiches, we took a quick walk back home and got right back to work. It was the perfect productive midday break!

Tuna Tataki Roll and Yaki Udon from Sushivan

We have been watching the Korean drama Ghost Doctor lately, and it gave me a sudden, intense craving for Korean-style ramen. After our coffee date at Bean Around The World, we walked over to Sushivan. This is definitely one spot I am going to miss in South Granville once we move!

Korean Style Ramen with Chicken from Sushivan

I ordered the Korean Style Ramen with chicken. it arrived steaming hot and spicy, which was perfect for warming up on a cold and drizzling Vancouver day. Hubby went for the Yaki Udon with beef. Since my ramen was so spicy, I couldn't fully taste the sauce coating his noodles, but the udon itself was chewy and perfectly cooked.

Yaki Udon from Sushivan
Beef, vegetables, and bonito

For sharing, we grabbed the Pork Gyoza which came with a divine sauce. We also ordered the Tuna Tataki Roll. One of the many reasons I love Sushivan is that their Special Rolls menu has remained constant for the years I've lived nearby, making it so easy to work my way down the list. 

Pork Gyoza from Sushivan

Tuna Tataki Roll from Sushivan
Seared tuna, crab meat, avocado, cucumber, asparagus, garlic, and unagi sauce

The Tuna Tataki roll features fatty seared tuna along with creamy crab meat and avocado. What makes it unique is the refreshing, crunchy element from the fresh cucumber and asparagus. It was so good!

For future reference, here is the updated list of everything I’ve tried at Sushivan so far:

Appetizer

• Gyoza (Pork)
• Ika Karage
• Chicken Karage
• Soy Garlic Chicken Karage
• Spicy Chicken Karage
• Takoyaki

Bento Box

• Teriyaki Box (Chicken or Beef)
• Sushi and Sashimi Box
• Teriyaki and Sashimi Box (Chicken or Beef)
• Salmon Teriyaki & Sashimi Box

Donburi

• Unagi Don

Special Roll

1. Alaska Roll
2. Awesome Roll
3. Alien Roll
4. Spider Roll
5. Love Love Roll
6. Rainbow Roll
7. Caterpillar Roll
8. Dragon Roll
9. Philadelphia Roll
10. Tuna Tataki Roll

Tempura

• Seafood Tempura

Udon / Meal

• Yaki Udon (Beef)
• Chicken Katsu
• Kimchi Fried Rice
• Korean Style Ramen
• Cream Crab Udon

Sausage Roll and Double Chocolate Croissant with Nutella from Bean Around The World

Happy Saturday! I have to be honest and admit that I’ve been so unproductive at home lately. For real! When I’m stuck in the house, I’m just in no mood to blog or deal with the endless list of tasks for our upcoming closing and move to our new place.

To break the slump, hubby and I headed to Bean Around The World at their South Granville location. Sometimes a change of scenery is the only way I can actually focus and get things done. Of course, a warm Mocha paired with a savory sausage roll provided the perfect motivation.

Sausage Roll from Bean Around The World

Hubby went with an unsweetened Matcha Latte and paired it with a decadent Double Chocolate Croissant with Nutella.

Double Chocolate Croissant with Nutella from Bean Around The World

It worked! I finally powered through all my moving-related emails and caught up on all my blog posts. Now, the only things left on the list are errands that aren't computer-specific like grabbing dinner, cleaning the bathroom, and vacuuming. Ugh. Adulting is hard, but at least the mocha was good!

The Festive Feast at Nando’s

Happy Thursday! I had a massive craving for rice today, and honestly, my last trip to Nando’s left me feeling a bit dissatisfied. I knew I needed a redo to get exactly what I was looking for, so we headed back for dinner to try The Festive Feast Platter.

This platter is designed for four people, but we decided to go for it anyway! It comes with a Whole Chicken, Large Garlic Bread, Large Fries, an Extra Large Spiced Rice, and four Natas for dessert. I even upgraded the fries to Spiced Fries because you can't go wrong with that extra kick.

Large Garlic Bread, Large  Spiced Rice, and Large PERI-PERI Fries part of The Festive Feast at Nando's

Four Natas as part of The Festive Feast at Nando's

Plainish Whole Chicken from Nando's

We ordered the whole chicken "plainish" and then grabbed a bottle of the Medium sauce from the station to cover it ourselves—it was perfect. I loved and enjoyed every single bite. There is just something about their flame-grilled Whole Chicken that hits differently, and their rice and fries truly rock!

Since it’s meant for a group of four, we obviously had plenty of leftovers, which meant getting to enjoy the whole feast all over again the next day. I left feeling so happy and finally satisfied!

Hazelnut Cream Puff from Giovane Caffè

Today is our last official day in the office together before we all head off to work from home until January 6th. As a team lead, I wanted to do something special to wrap up the year, so I decided to treat everyone to some sweets!

We originally had our hearts set on some adorable cakes from Daan Go Cake Lab, but unfortunately they had to cancel our order. I guess the "Pigs in a Blanket" cakes were just too popular and sold out! Luckily, Giovane Caffè, right in our building's lobby, came to the rescue.

Hazelnut Cream Puff from Giovane Caffè

I’ll be honest: I haven’t always been a fan of their savory sandwiches, and I used to think their desserts gave Italian sweets a bit of a bad name. However, the Hazelnut Cream Puff I picked up today actually changed my mind! It featured a chewy pastry shell filled with a luscious, sweet hazelnut cream that paired perfectly with a hot cup of tea. It was the ideal companion as we spent the afternoon tidying our desks for the year.

Looking back, 2025 has been a year of growth and challenges. From the difficulty of letting go of my first direct report to the excitement of hiring and training someone new, it’s been a learning curve. A major highlight was definitely getting to visit our office in Cork, Ireland, and finally meeting the team there in person!

I am so grateful to our Almighty Lord for my job and this company. Cheers to a restful break and to giving my absolute best again in 2026!

For future me, here's a running list of everything I've tried from Giovane Caffè so far:

• Breakfast Wrap
• Caprese
• Frittata Panino
• Hazelnut Cream Puff
• Manzo
• Prosciutto 

Yaletown Sunshine from Ignite Pizzeria

Happy Thursday! Today marked our final company-paid team lunch for 2025, and we decided to celebrate the end of the year with a local Vancouver favorite: Ignite Pizzeria.

I ordered the Yaletown Sunshine, and it reminded me exactly why I love their style. They do a thin, chewy crust perfectly! This particular pizza was a vibrant mix of flavors: tangy tomato sauce, creamy vegan mozzarella, earthy spinach, briny artichokes, and smoky fire-roasted tomatoes.

Yaletown Sunshine from Ignite Pizzeria
Tomato sauce, vegan mozzarella, spinach, artichoke, fire-roasted tomato 

It was the perfect, light-yet-satisfying way to end the year on a high note with the team.

I’ve been to Ignite a few times now and they never disappoint. For future reference, here is the running list of pizzas I’ve tried from them so far:

Carnivore Pizza 

• Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto

Herbivore + Vegan Pizza

• Masala Magic
• Yaletown Sunshine

Testing Out Yar Café (Soft Opening Review!)

Happy Saturday! I absolutely love lazy weekends with no errands in sight. After sleeping in and enjoying a relaxing brunch at home, I decided it was time to hunt down a new coffee shop to hang out and finally be productive (time to write some blog posts!).

Mocha from Yar Café

During my search, a new spot called Yar Café popped up on Google Maps in West Broadway, right near the old Toys R' Us location. They are still in their soft opening phase, having only started their journey two weeks ago. It's so exciting to catch a new business early! Naturally, I ordered too much! Here's the rundown:

I started with an 8 oz Mocha, which was definitely on the bitter side. I paired it with the gorgeous Pistachio Kunafa Croissant. Inside, the croissant was packed with crunchy, sweet, shredded pastry (kunafa) soaked in a sugary syrup. Unfortunately, the croissant itself tasted stale. A quick reheat would have brought it back to life, I think.

Pistachio Kunafa Croissant from Yar Café

A quick peek inside the Pistachio Kunafa Croissant from Yar Café

Then, Hubby joined me straight from his dental appointment, and we ordered three more things! The Iced Persian Latte was super pretty, strong, and bitter—perfect for a late afternoon jolt. We also grabbed their Beef Sandwich for a late lunch, which was packed with sliced beef, a house sauce, peppery arugula, tomato, and Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses. It was a delicious, satisfying sandwich, though not exactly mind-blowing.

Iced Persian Latte from Yar Café

Beef Sandwich (House-style) from Yar Café
Sliced beef, house sauce, arugula, tomato, Monterey Jack, and cheddar cheese

Finally, we tried the Tiramisu Danish. It featured sweet tiramisu filling inside what should have been a flaky pastry, but sadly, the bread was stale again, which was really disappointing.

Tiramisu Danish from Yar Café

My verdict for future me (and you!): Definitely order their drinks, which are unique and strong. But for now, until they sort out the freshness, skip the food!

Bubble Waffle from Cha House

I was still feeling a little hungry after our quick dinner at Edo Japan and well, the craving was real!

We headed over to Cha House immediately for a dessert fix. I ordered their signature Bubble Waffle, and it was exactly what I needed to finish off the night. It was absolutely perfect: soft, wonderfully pillowy, and perfectly sweet.

Bubble Waffle from Cha House

Instant happiness! What a delicious end to a long, busy Friday.

Sukiyaki Beef Bento and Crispy Tofu Bento from Edo Japan

Happy Friday! It was a very long day; I worked in the office today because we're totally swamped finishing up year-end tasks. After finally clocking out and before we tackled some Christmas shopping, we grabbed a quick dinner at Edo Japan in their Pacific Centre location.

Hubby was in a classic mood and went for the Sukiyaki Beef Bento. It was a huge plate featuring tender, savory Sukiyaki Beef, plus a satisfying little mix of sides: four pieces of Cali Roll and two crunchy pieces of Tempura Shrimp.

Sukiyaki Beef Bento from Edo Japan with 2-piece Tempura Shrimp and 4-piece Cali Roll

Meanwhile, my tofu phase is still going strong! I ordered the Crispy Tofu Bento. My plate came with perfectly golden and crispy cubes of tofu drizzled with a sweet and savory sauce, plus two spring rolls and two flavorful gyoza.

Crispy Tofu Bento from Edo Japan with 2-piece Spring Roll and 2-piece Gyoza

Everything on my plate was great, especially the tofu and the gyoza! However, here's a note for future visits: skip the spring rolls. They didn't have much flavor, and honestly, the crispy tofu is more than enough to satisfy that fried craving.

After that quick fuel-up, we are ready to hit the shops!

Americano from Dante Italian Sandwich

Happy Thursday! This week's company-paid team lunch theme was sandwiches. Since we have a wonderful new colleague who is vegetarian, we decided to pivot from our usual favorite, Meat & Bread, to somewhere with more options for her. We ended up at Dante Italian Sandwich in their Robson location!

Americano from Dante Italian Sandwich
Roast turkey, stracciatella cheese, potato chip crunch, basil spread, semi dried tomato, arugula

We placed our order online, and I went out for the quick pick-up run. I decided to try their Americano sandwich, which was absolutely stacked with flavor and texture! It came loaded with savory roast turkey, creamy stracciatella cheese, a genius addition of crispy potato chip crunch for texture, a bright basil spread, sweet semi dried tomato, and ton of peppery arugula. It was such a satisfying and flavorful lunch! I love how Dante uses that fantastic, rustic schiacciata bread.

For reference, here is the other delicious sandwich I've tried from Dante so far: Inferno.

Lemongrass Chicken Bahn Mi and Wonton Soup from Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine

Happy Thursday! The theme for our company-paid team lunch today was Vietnamese, and we decided to support the local family-owned gem, Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine, for some bánh mì!

I'm feeling a bit under the weather with a terrible dry cough, so I was definitely craving something comforting and warm. I ordered their B1 - Grilled Lemongrass Chicken Bahn Mi and paired it with a small Wonton Soup for some cozy warmth.

Lemongrass Chicken Bahn Mi from Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine

The bánh mì was delicious! The Grilled Lemongrass Chicken was tender and packed with bright, citrusy, and savory flavor, perfectly complemented by the crisp, cool pickled carrots and daikon, fresh cilantro, and a smear of rich pâté, all tucked into a perfectly crunchy baguette. 

Wonton Soup (small) from Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine

Meanwhile, the Wonton Soup was exactly what I needed: a piping hot, clean, and savory broth filled with silky wontons that were easy to sip down. I finished the soup right away during lunch (it was so soothing!) and enjoyed the rest of my delicious sandwich between afternoon meetings.

I always love Viet Sub's sandwiches! For future reference, here are the other bánh mì I've tried here so far:

• B1. Grilled Lemongrass Chicken
• B4. Special Sub (Vietnamese Ham / Cold Cut Meat / Meat Ball)
• B7. B.B.Q Sub (Pork / Beef / Chicken / Meat Ball)
• C6. Wonton Soup (small)

Company Christmas Party from JOEY Burrard

Happy Wednesday and Merry Christmas! Today was our company Christmas party, and it was a blast. We started the evening by spending a fun 90 minutes being kids again, playing all the best arcade games at The Rec Room!

After all that competitive energy, we took a leisurely stroll over to the JOEY Burrard location for dinner. This was my first time dining at JOEY, and I was so excited to see how they stack up against classic Vancouver spots like The Keg, Earls, and Cactus Club. (This is my third Christmas party with my current employer; we did Cactus Club first, The Keg last year, and now JOEY!)

I started with the Korean Fried Cauliflower, and honestly, my mind was blown. I was chatting and taking a few bites, and then it dawned on me: this is not chicken! I seriously had to bite into the middle to double-check that it was actually cauliflower. The flavor was spot-on, and the texture was shockingly like chicken.

Korean Fried Cauliflower from JOEY Burrard
Sweet & spicy Koren chili glaze, pickled fresnos, watermelon radish

For my main dish, I went for the Herb Crush Salmon with truffle beurre blanc, preserved tomatoes, creamy mashed potatoes, and snap peas. I know, I'm that unusual person who orders salmon even when the restaurant is known for steak! While it was fresh and beautifully plated, it wasn't super flavorful. I have to say, The Keg's salmon dish still holds the top spot for me.

Herb Crush Salmon from JOEY Burrard
Truffle beurre blanc, preserved tomatoes, creamy mushroom potatoes, and snap peas

To end the meal, I ordered the Warm Italian Donuts with vanilla mascarpone cream and lemon curd. They were pillowy soft and perfectly tart... but man, it was disappointing that they weren't actually warm.

Warm Italian Donuts from JOEY Burrard
Vanilla mascarpone cream and lemon curd

Overall, it was a fun day of celebrating! Now, I know which of the big three has the best salmon.

A Feast of Sides from Pizza Pizza

It’s game day! Today we gathered at my parents' house to watch the Whitecaps Western Conference Finals against San Diego. It was a full house: my parents, my brother, my sister and her fiancé, and, of course, me and hubby!

For the official game-day fuel, I had to order from the official pizza of the Whitecaps FC: the Canadian chain, Pizza Pizza! It's so fun to be with the whole family watching a high-stakes game, especially if they win (fingers crossed!).

We kept the main event simple and classic with an X-Large Classic Cheese Pizza. But we went all out on the sides! We got Garlic Cheese Fingers, a huge basket of Single Onion Rings, Jalapeno Poppers, Double Curly Fries, and Tots with Peppercorn Ranch dip.

Garlic Cheese Fingers from Pizza
Our Garlic Cheese Fingers are baked to golden perfection, topped with melted mozzarella and a buttery garlic spread. Whether you're sharing or keeping them all to yourself, they're the ultimate sidekick to any pizza!

Onion Rice from Pizza Pizza
Looking for a snack? Try our Single Onion Rings, the perfect treat to satisfy your cravings.

Tots with Dip (Peppercorn Ranch) from Pizza Pizza
Dive into snack time perfection with our Tater Tots with Dip! These golden-brown, bite-sized delights are made from premium potatoes, baked to crispy perfection while maintaining a fluffy interior. Pair it with one of our famous dipping sauces - this duo is your ultimate comfort snack!

Jalapeno Poppers from Pizza Pizza
These spicy, comfort-food classics are fried to order and stuffed with zesty cream-cheese filling. And, of course, very poppable. Comes in order of 8.

I remembered to take photos of all those great sides, but guess what I totally forgot to photograph? The one and only pizza we ordered! Classic mistake when you’re rushing to get back to the game.

Anyway, here's a look at everything I've tried from Pizza Pizza ever:

Pizza

• Canadian
• Classic Cheese
• Meat Supreme
• Mushroom Florentine

Sides

• Chicken Bites
• Creamy Garlic and Cheese Tots
• Curly Fries
• Garlic Cheese Fingers
• Funnel Cake Stix
• Half Moon Cheesy Bread
• Jalapeno Poppers
• Onion Rings
• Potato Wedges
• Tots with dip (Peppercorn Ranch)