Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

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 gotten married and moved into our first apartment ever. We celebrated that year with Domino’s pizza and Timbits. While we were recreating a sentimental memory, Panago has been busy with their 2026 'Panago For It' refresh, emphasizing 100% Canadian-grown ingredients. It felt right to order the Large True Canadian (as part of their $26.25 Churro Special promo) to celebrate our last big night in this apartment with a truly local staple. 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 t...

They say you can’t pick a favourite child, but in the Vancouver food scene, the "Best of the Bunch" categories come pretty close. These are the heavyweights—the bakeries that wake us up with the scent of butter, the romantic corners where we’ve shared our deepest secrets, and the "cheap eats" that keep our hearts (and wallets) full. This is my personal documentation of The Georgia Straight Golden Plates Awards: Best of the Bunch. As I look through this list, I see a map of my life in this city—the milestones celebrated at Seasons in the Park and the rainy Tuesday comfort found at Breka. It’s a grounded reminder that whether it’s fine dining or a food truck, a truly "smooch-worthy" bite is about the feeling it leaves behind. Bakery ☑️ Breka Bakery & Cafe (2024, 2025) ⬜ Livia (2025) ☑️ Purebread  (2024) ☑️ Small Victory  (2024, 2025) Breakfast ☑️ Cafe Medina  (2024, 2025) ☑️ ...

As a lover of local flavors and hidden gems, I’m always looking for the next "smooch-worthy" bite across the Lower Mainland. This is my personal checklist of The Georgia Straight Golden Plates Awards 2024: Best Restaurant by City . Abbotsford ⬜ Bow & Stern (2024) ⬜ Brodeur’s Bistro (2024) ⬜ Greek Islands (2024) Burnaby ⬜ Anton’s Pasta Bar (2024) ⬜ OEB Breakfast Co. (2024) ⬜ Wild Flour Pizza Co (2024) Chilliwack ⬜ Frankie’s (2024) ⬜ Greek Islands (2024) ⬜ Bozzini’s (2024) Coquitlam ⬜ My Greek (2024) ⬜ Golden Boot (2024) ⬜ John B. Pub (2024) Delta ⬜ Tasty Indian Bistro (2024) ⬜ RiverHouse (2024) ⬜ Marios (2024) Langley (city and township) ⬜ Saba Bistro (2024) ⬜ Wendel’s Cafe (2024) ⬜ Viva Mexico Restaurant (2024) Maple Ridge ⬜ The Sunflower Cafe (2024) ⬜ Big Feast Bistro (2024) ⬜ Ban Chok Dee (2024) New Westminster ⬜ Piva (2024) ⬜ El Santo (2024) ⬜ Wild Thyme (2024) North Vancouver ⬜ Fishworks (2024) ⬜ Sushi Mahana (2024) ⬜ To...

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 carri...

There is something so incredibly romantic about a kitchen that masters just one thing perfectly. Whether it’s the chew of a traditional Montreal-style bagel or the golden crunch of fried chicken, these specialty items are the true heartbeat of Vancouver’s culinary soul. This is my personal documentation of The Georgia Straight Golden Plates Awards: Best Specialty Items. It’s a roadmap of the specific bites that make our city so unique—and a checklist of the "smooch-worthy" treats I can’t wait to indulge. Bagel ⬜ Mish Mish (2025) ☑️ Rosemary Rock Salt  (2024) ☑️ Siegel’s Bagels  (2024, 2025) ☑️ Solly’s Bagelry (2024, 2025) Barbecue ☑️ Chinatown BBQ (2025) ☑️ Juke Fried Chicken  (2024) ☑️ Memphis Blues BBQ House  (2024, 2025) ☑️ Rosie’s BBQ and Smokehouse  (2024) ⬜ Slim's BBQ (2025) Burger ⬜ Between 2 Buns (2025) ☑️ Bin 4 Burger...

They say home is where the heart is, but in a city like Vancouver, my heart is scattered across every neighborhood—from the cobblestones of Gastown to the bustling energy of Commercial Drive. This is my personal documentation of The Georgia Straight Golden Plates Awards: Best Restaurant by Neighbourhood. It’s more than just a checklist; it’s a collection of memories already made and a map of the "smooch-worthy" dates yet to come. Cambie Village ⬜ Vij’s (2024) ⬜ Potluck Hawker Eatery (2024) ⬜ Las Tortas Mexican Gourmet Sandwiches (2024) Chinatown/Strathcona ⬜ Phnom Penh (2024) ⬜ Chambar (2024) ⬜ DD Mau Chinatown (2024) Commercial Drive ⬜ Lunch Lady (2024) ⬜ Havana (2024) ⬜ La Mezcaleria (2024) Fraserhood ⬜ Savio Volpe (2024) ⬜ Nammos Estiatorio (2024) ⬜ Say Mercy! (2024) Gastown/Railtown ⬜ Ask for Luigi (2024) ⬜ L’Abattoir (2024) ⬜ Water St. Cafe (2024) Grandview-Woodland ⬜ Pepino’s Spaghetti House (2024) ⬜ Via Tevere (2024) ⬜ Red Wagon Cafe (202...

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. ...

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 ✔...

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 ...

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) ...

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. ...

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'...

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 l...

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-r...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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 q...

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.

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...

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 fant...