Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

Happy Sunday! After dinner this evening, my hubby and I decided to take a stroll and ended up grabbing some sweets from The Golden Horn Turkish Bakery & Cafe on Cambie Street. It was about 15 minutes before closing time, so I grabbed one of each baklava to-go. Walnut Baklava: Sweet and nutty. Hazelnut Baklava: Not my favorite. There was an unusual aftertaste that I didn't care for. Pistachio Baklava: A classic. Coconut & Almond Baklava: As a Filipino who grew up eating a lot of coconut-based sweets, I really enjoyed this one. Kadayıf: Perfect with tea. Chocolate Baklava: Decadent and delicious. Baklava from The Golden Horn Turkish Bakery & Cafe

Tim Hortons has added Butter Tarts to their baked goods menu, and I recently tried one for the first time. The buttery crust was divine, and the sweet filling paired perfectly with my coffee.  Butter Tart  from Tim Hortons While it was a great addition to their offerings, I probably won't order it again.

Happy Saturday! Exploring the charming Steveston Village means stumbling upon quaint bakeries like The Sweet Spot, offering mouthwatering bread and treats. Almond Croissant  from The Sweet Spot We couldn't resist indulging in their Almond Croissant and Bread Pudding. The croissant was perfect for munching on as we continued our exploration, while the bread pudding came home with us to be enjoyed later after a quick spin in the air fryer. Bread Pudding from The Sweet Spot Both were absolutely divine! I highly recommend this bakery as a hidden gem in Steveston.

Happy beautiful Saturday, everyone! I took advantage of the long weekend and ventured out to Steveston in Richmond, BC. While exploring the village, I decided to finally try the Surprise Bag from Freshslice Pizza that I had spotted on the Too Good To Go app. After reserving my box through the app, I joined the line. When it was my turn, I showed the cashier my reservation and she kindly confirmed that I did not need the slices reheated. She disappeared into the kitchen and returned with not one, but two boxes filled with a total of eight large slices of pizza. With the sweetest smile, she handed me the boxes and told me that the second one was actually free! I was absolutely thrilled. It turned into a wonderful moment where my family and I could all enjoy a variety of pizza together. Surprise Box  from Fresh Slice Pizza The Too Good To Go app continues to be such a fun way to discover new places in ...

Thursday's dinner was a spontaneous stop at Sushi Den near International Village Mall. Sashimi Bento from Sushi Den Tempura (3 pieces), sashimi (tuna 2 pieces & salmon 3 pieces), wakame, miso, agedashi tofu (4 pieces), tuna roll (6 pieces) My hubby went for the Sashimi Bento Box, which is a fantastic mix of miso soup, wakame, tempura, salmon and tuna sashimi, tuna roll, and agadashi tofu. House Roll (12 pieces)  from Sushi Den In: Stuffed prawn, mayo, crab meat, carrot, lettuce, mango, and cucumber Top: Tempura, crumb, masago, and house sauce I, on the other hand, opted for a mix-and-match approach. I ordered the House Roll (prawns, mayo, crab meat, carrot, lettuce, mango, and cucumber, topped with tempura crumbs, masago, and house sauce) from the Special Rolls section, along with my usua...

Happy Thursday! I won the weekly team competition this week and got to pick the theme for the company-paid weekly team lunch for all our three offices. I chose Mexican because I really want to try Club Kitchen's new spot: El Compadre. I ordered their Al Pastor Taco, which is what I enjoyed during my trip to Mexico last June . I'm pleased to share that it satisfied my cravings. Pastor Tacos 3 tacos (double tortilla) full of al pastor with green salsa on the side, pineapple, cilantro / onion, and lime While the pork is not quite at par with the texture and cut I ate in CDMX, their corn tortilla is exactly the same. It was perfect. I topped my taco with cilantro and onion and squeezed lime over it, then dipped it in salsa before taking a bite. Heaven! Can't wait to give their other options a try.

Good morning! I have a one-on-one with my team today, and before the meeting, we grabbed breakfast at Artigiano in Telus Garden. Vegetarian Breakfast Wrap from Artigiano in Telus Garden I had the Vegetarian Breakfast Wrap, which was a delightful surprise. The starchy potatoes and soft eggs were a perfect combination. I also tried their matcha latte, which was sweetened just right with a subtle hint of tea bitterness. Matcha Latte  from Artigiano Telus Garden I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the wrap, as we usually go to Lovelarte for breakfast. I'm eager to try more of their menu options in the future.

Happy Wednesday! Our company had a mini golf team event today, and afterward, we grabbed dinner at Chit Chat Burger Bar. I went for the only vegetarian option on the menu: the Where Have You Bean! burger. Where Have Your Bean! Vegetarian Burger  from Chit Chat Burger Bar 4oz home-made bean patty, brioche bun, green leaf lettuce, cucumber, cheese, caramelized onions, ketchup, and garlic aioli As you might expect from the name, it's a bean-centric burger. The patty has a mushy texture and, well, tastes like beans. But I rather enjoyed it since I'm a fan of beans. Where Have Your Bean! Vegetarian Burger  from Chit Chat Burger Bar I'll definitely be back to try their other burgers with my hubby next time.

Happy Saturday! We did something for the first time today. We went on Open Houses to see what homes (condos or townhouses) are within our price range and those way beyond. The whole exercise felt depressing and made me feel poor. As always, to make me feel better, we grabbed lunch. We decided to try Big Star Sandwich, which is a BC-born chain. The menu and choices are extensive, with over 30 sandwiches! I chose the Turkey Day (sandwich #01) because it's the first sandwich on the list. With that many choices, going by chronological order seemed like a good idea. It was a delicious sandwich with slices of turkey deli meat and cranberry sauce. It's like Thanksgiving between bread. #01 Turkey Day from Big Star Sandwich  Turkey, house-made stuffing, cranberry sauce & cranberry mayo Meanwhile, hubby went for The OG (sandwich #04) because of the name. He wanted to try sandwiche...

Happy Thursday! It's our usual company-paid team lunch, and this week's theme is Middle Eastern cuisine. We decided to walk to Jerusalem Shawarma, which is nearby. Mixed Shawarma Plate  from Jerusalem Shawarma A generous serving of perfectly cut beef and chicken served on a bed of rice alongside a fresh portion of salad drizzled with tahini sauce Mixed Shawarma Plate  from Jerusalem Shawarma I tried their Mixed Shawarma Plate, which includes their chicken and beef shawarma on top of rice, salad, potatoes, and hummus. It's absolutely delicious! We love this place. Here's a list of items I've tried from here so far: 1 - Meat Lovers Plate 5 - Mixed Shawarma Plate 10 - Vegetarian Plate

Happy Thursday! I really enjoy my job. I feel appreciated and productive, and my colleagues are kind people. As part of my mental health management, I sometimes treat myself to the occasional Tim Hortons breakfast on Thursdays. It's the only day of the week I have to be in the office an hour later than my usual 9:00 am. Maple Brown Butter Sausage Scrambled Egg Loaded Wrap  from Tim Hortons Today, I decided to try their Sausage Scrambled Egg Loaded Wrap with Maple Brown Butter sauce. The first bite was sweet, but everything after that had an eggy flavor because of the scrambled egg. I still prefer the farmer's wrap.

Happy Wednesday! I had a bit of an unusual day today. My focus was so sharp that I decided to take a late lunch at 4:00 pm to ensure my flow was not disrupted by my afternoon meetings. While I happily enjoyed my break, I spent some time perusing the Too Good To Go app for sweet deals. Two interesting options popped up: Caffè Artigiano in Telus Garden and Deville Coffee inside The Post. I originally had my heart set on Caffè Artigiano, but it sold out within minutes. I acted quickly and reserved the Deville Coffee bag while walking toward the building to ensure I grabbed it before my lunch break ended. Surprise Bag  from Deville Coffee The surprise bag cost $5.24 (including tax) and contained three huge donuts. To give you a sense of scale, these were significantly larger and more substantial than what you would typically find at Tim Hortons. We now have enough sweets to last us for three days witho...

Happy Tuesday! While I was taking my usual walk home, I decided to open the Too Good To Go app to check for any nearby deals. I spotted a listing for a baked goods bag at 7-Eleven for $3.99 (plus tax, coming to $4.19), and I headed over with high hopes of scoring some sweet treats. However, when I arrived at the store, there was a slight change of plans. They didn’t have any baked goods bags ready, but they did have the Ready-to-Eat bags available. Even though those are typically a dollar more expensive, the store offered it as an exchange. I happily accepted, and I am so glad I did! Here is what was inside my upgraded surprise bag: An 8-inch pizza sub (Retail: $8.95) A rotisserie chicken chipotle wrap (Retail: $7.85) A chicken Caesar wrap (Retail: $7.85) Ready-to-eat bag  from 7-Eleven for $4.19 We ended up sharing the pizza sub with our dinner. It was definit...

After a fun shopping trip at Ikea, we decided to check out the newly opened Tim Hortons near Jacombs Road. Brown Sugar Iced Latte  from Tim Hortons This time around, we indulged in their Blueberry Cheesecake Timbits, which are filled with a delicious blueberry jam.  Blueberry Cheesecake Timbits  from Tim Hortons To my surprise, I also really enjoyed their Brown Sugar Iced Latte. It had the perfect balance of sweetness and wasn't overly sugary.

Happy Sunday! Today is errands day, which means a stop at Real Canadian Superstore and IKEA. In between, we decided to stop by Peaceful Restaurant at their No. 5 Rd location in Richmond for lunch. We ordered many of our usual favourites, so I want to focus this post on the new items we tried: the pork buns. We ordered both cooking styles: steamed and pan-fried. Steamed Soft Pork Buns from Peaceful Restaurant Soft yeasty bun with a pork filling - 5 pieces The pork buns use the same filling, but as expected, the steamed ones are super soft while the pan-fried version has a distinctively crispy bottom. Pan-Fried Pork Buns from Peaceful Restaurant Filled with pork and scallions, soft bun, crispy bottom - 5 pieces If I had to choose, I prefer the pan-fried pork buns simply because I love the contrasting textures. There is someth...

Happy Sunday morning! As part of our routine, we grabbed breakfast at Tim Hortons. However, today is a little bit different, since I noticed in the app that they are promoting two new breakfast sandwiches: Scrambled Egg Loaded Croissant and a version with maple brown butter sauce. I ordered both sandwiches: double stacked, meaning it has both bacon and sausage. What exactly is Tim Hortons Maple Brown Butter? If you're curious about the flavour, it’s a sweet, caramelized glaze that mimics the "maple dip" vibe but with a richer, buttery finish. It’s designed to balance out the savory elements like the sausage and bacon. If you enjoy a sweet-and-savory breakfast (like a McGriddle ), this sauce is the highlight of the loaded menu. Sausage & Bacon Double Stacked Scrambled Egg Loaded Croissant  from Tim Hortons The Scrambled Egg Loaded Croissant, even without maple brown butter...

Is this our last ice cream of summer this year? Who knows? We went to church today for a summer barbecue and enjoyed an array of dishes from perfectly cooked steak, salmon covered in dill, and juicy chicken. Afterwards, we stopped by Rain or Shine on West 4th Avenue for ice cream. Chocolate Ice Cream  from Rain or Shine I absolutely loved my scoop of chocolate ice cream. Hubby chose the peanut butter, which tastes like peanut butter. They're both great! Peanut Butter Ice Cream from Rain or Shine Below is a list of flavors we have tried from Rain or Shine so far. The Keepers Chocolate Coffee Toffee Peanut Butter Salted Caramel Vegan Chocolate Peanut Crunch Seasonal Flavours Hot Honey Crunch Key Lime Pie

Happy Thursday! It's team lunch day again, and you know what that means - a theme: sandwiches and a visit to Meat & Bread. Jalapeno Cheesesteak from Meat & Bread Jalapeno cheesesteak, shredded brisket, provolone cheese, pickled jalapenos, and seared onions Today, I decided to go with their featured sandwich: Jalapeño Cheesesteak. The shredded brisket was succulent and tender, covered by the creamy and perfectly melted Provolone cheese. Meanwhile, the tangy heat of pickled jalapeños cuts through any greasiness, allowing you to take another bite. Lastly, the sweetness of seared onions, all between crispy ciabatta (I think) bread, is a delicious masterpiece. Below is a list of sandwiches from Meat & Bread that I have tried so far. Featured (Seasonal) Sandwiches Gyoza Pulled Pork Jalapeno Cheesesteak  Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese Steak Frites Classi Sandwiches Buffalo Chicken M...

I was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to Canada almost 10 years ago. I grew up with Jollibee, which is why it gives me so much joy when Filipino cuisine gets selected for company-paid team lunch and our primary option is Jollibee. I have tried many things from their menu (see end of post!) but today I enjoyed their Palabok with two-piece spicy Chicken Joy. Palabok Fiesta  from Jollibee Then, for dinner, hubby and I came back to Jollibee when we enjoyed their new Angus Aloha Burger. It's as delicious as it sounds. Angus Aloha Burger  from Jollibee Of course, we ended our meal with Peach Mango Pie and Ube Pie. I knew that I would enjoy the Peach Mango Pie, but I surprised myself with how much I love the Ube Pie. It's not food coloring! It tastes like Ube Halaya. ...

Happy Monday! It's a holiday because it's BC Day, which means no work. Woot! It's rare for us to order anything for delivery, but we indulged a little and got pizza from the Canadian chain Pizza Pizza. Creamy Garlic and Cheese Tots  from Pizza Pizza Indulge in next-level snacking with their Creamy Garlic Mozzarella Loaded Tots! These crispy, golden tater tots are topped with a gooey layer of melted mozzarella and drizzled with their famous Creamy Garlic sauce. A perfect harmony of crispy, creamy, and cheesy, perfect for sharing (or keeping all to yourself)! We ordered two 10-inch pizzas, a Canadian Eh! and Creamy Mushroom Florentine. Then, for sharing, we ordered their creamy garlic and cheese tots, which were a bit too oily for our liking. Both pizza flavours were alright. Creamy Mushro...

Thai Away Home is our go-to Thai food source for company-paid team lunch, but my husband hasn't tried their delicious food. For lunch today, we went to City Square Shopping Centre with my parents. Combo for 2  from Thai Away Home Crispy wontons, green salad, hot and sour broth (not in photo), pad Thai, and green curry with jasmine white rice Hubby and I got the combo for two, which came with crispy wontons, green salad, and hot and sour broth. Hubby chose the pad Thai while I went for my favorite green curry. We also shared Thai Iced Tea.

This recipe uses peanut butter and yogurt to create a moist and flavorful cake with a fun swirl. I'm posting it here so I can go back to this recipe later on when I want to bake it again. Yields : 4 muffins Prep time : 10 minutes Cook time : 15-20 minutes   (depending on the model of your air fyer) I baked mine at 15 minutes Ingredients: For the muffins: 1 cup almond flour 1 large egg 1/4 cup yogurt 1/4 cup zero-calorie sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil or butter Optional: 1 tablespoon almond milk (if batter is too thick) For the peanut butter swirl: 2 tablespoons peanut butter 1 tablespoon zero-calorie syrup (or more to taste) Instructions: Prepare the Pan : I greased my ramekin (perfect for the air fryer). Preheat your air fryer to 320°F (160°C). Mix the Wet Ingredients : In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, yogurt, melted coconut oil (or...

When I first tried Bahar early this year, my first thought was, "I'd love to bring my parents here." My dad loves coconut-based sweets while my mom enjoys pistachios. That dream came true today. Coffee Date at Bahar Bakery & Cafe I'm on annual leave, and my parents decided to attend the first Friday mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral. After Mass and lunch, I was finally able to bring them to Bahar. Pistachio & Berries Roll  from Bahar Bakery & Cafe Pistachio & Cranberry Cookies  from Bahar We ordered everything I wanted them to try, and as I hoped, they enjoyed the treats and drinks. My dad loves sitting in coffee shops and people-watching, so we spent a few minutes doing that. ...

The restaurant at 255 Robson Street has always been a pho spot, but it seems like they've changed names from Vietnamese Noodle House to Delicious Pho. Today, hubby and I met with my parents, and we had lunch at Delicious Pho because dad wanted it. Hot Stone Pho  from Delicious Pho Hubby ordered the interesting and quite impressive Hot Stone Pho. I bet this will be perfect in winter so that your pho doesn't get too cold quickly. The array of meat and the chewy noodle is perfect. We shared and finished this one. Beef Stew  from Delicious Pho I got the beef stew because I thought it would come with a bowl of rice. Instead, what I got is like a beef stew noodle soup. I'm not complaining because it's delicious, but I truly miss rice when it's covered by saucy beef stew . It's always s...