Pistachio Cream Croissant and more from Avik Café

Today is National Truth and Reconciliation Day, which means no work on a Tuesday. My spouse and I ran some errands at Canadian Tire and decided to hang out and finally try Avik Café along West Broadway between Heather and Ash.

Coffee Date at Avik Café

This café is like Vancouver: diverse. Where else can you find a spot that serves a beef bulgogi sandwich, Vietnamese sub, caprese bite, and chicken pie alongside delicious-looking croissants and traditional Japanese matcha and hojicha? My mouth is watering again just thinking about it.

Chicken Pie from Avik Café

A peek inside the Chicken Pie from Avik Café

I prefer savoury things and got the chicken pie. It's so delicious - it has that sweet and savoury flavour profile that reminds me of Filipino lumpia but between a flaky dough. Then, for a drink, I went for an iced matcha latte. It's unsweetened by default, which is a perfect partner for what my husband ordered.

Iced Matcha Latte and Hot Hojicha Latte from Avik Café

My husband went for the pistachio cream croissant. The sweet pistachio cream on top of the buttery flaky croissant is perfect. He paired it with warm and slightly bitter hojicha.

Pistachio Cream Croissant from Avik Café

I can't wait to come back and spend hours here trying their many baked goods or just people-watching.

Secret Garden Roll from Masa Japanese Restaurant

Happy Sunday! My hubby had dinner with a high school classmate, so I ended up enjoying a meal by myself. I decided to grab a bite at Masa Japanese Restaurant.

Assorted Katsu Curry from Masa Japanese Restaurant

I ordered their Assorted Katsu Curry, which is my all-time favorite. It's the classic chicken curry sauce covering hot fluffy rice and topped with an assortment of fried things like katsu, tempura, and vegetables.

Secret Garden Roll from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Deep-fried mashed squash, avocado with wasabi mayo, spicy mayo, and tomato sauce

I also got their vegetarian special roll: Secret Garden Roll, and I absolutely loved it.

Below is a list of everything we've tried from Masa Japanese Restaurant so far:

Starters & Shares

• Creamy Prawn
• Agedashi Tofu: Original and Diavolo
• Sushi Pizza: Original
• Veggie Gyoza
• Chicken Karaage
• Takoyaki
• Chicken Wings

Tempura

• Assorted Tempura
• Appetizer Tempura

Japanese Curry

• Chicken Curry
• Beef Curry
• Shrimp Curry
• Assorted Katsu Curry

U-Don

• Nabeyaki Udon

Japanese Ramen

• Shio Ramen
• Miso Ramen
• Kara Miso Ramen
• Tonkotsu Ramen
• Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen

Platter

• Tofu
• Tonkatsu
• Salmon Terkiyaki

Donburi (Rice Bowl)

• Chicken Katsu Don

Special Sushi

• Devil's Kiss
• Knights of The Round Table
• Atlantic Salmon Oshi Sushi
• Aburi Cheese Monster Roll
• Crispy Jumbo Dynamite Roll
• Volcano Roll (Salmon)
• Double Dragon
• Romeo Roll
• Juliet Roll
• Tekka Bob Roll
• Sake Bomb Roll
• Secret Garden Roll

K-Meal (Korean Food)

• Kimchi Fried Rice
• Bulgogi Jeongol
• Soy Garlic Boneless Chicken
• Korean Yangnyeom Boneless Chicken

KATSEYE Special: KBBQ Chicken Sandwich from Jollibee

After two open houses with our real estate agent, we decided to grab lunch at Jollibee. It's like going back to our roots as we move forward with our lives.

KATSEYE Special: KBBQ Chicken Sandwich from Jollibee
Our crispy, juicy, hand-breaded chicken breast fillet hand-dipped in a sweet soy glaze with a bold kick of heat, topped with fresh cilantro, red onion, and cucumber slices, served on a toasted brioche bun.

KATSEYE Special: KBBQ Chicken Sandwich from Jollibee
Our crispy, juicy, hand-breaded chicken breast fillet hand-dipped in a sweet soy glaze with a bold kick of heat, topped with fresh cilantro, red onion, and cucumber slices, served on a toasted brioche bun.

Hubby got the new and exciting KBBQ Chicken Sandwich. I thought it was way too strong, but when I took a second bite with the pickles, it became better. Will I get it again? Probably with rice. 😂 Rice is life.

Yumburger from Jollibee

I got the safe and humble Yumburger, reminiscent of my childhood. It's comforting with big decisions upcoming. It's like a warm hug from a comfort food classic.

Below is a list of Jollibee food items I have tried in Canada.

• Jolly Crispy Chicken (in the Philippines, we call this Chicken Joy)
• Deluxe Spicy Chicken Sandwich
• KBBQ Chicken Sandwich
• Aloha Yamburger
• Angus Aloha Burger
• Cheesy Yumburger
• Yumburger
• Jolly Spaghetti
• Palabok Fiesta
• Jolly Crispy Fries
• Steamed Rice
• Gravy
• Peach Mango Pie
• Ube Pie
• Pineapple Quencher

Turkey Chorizo Breakfast Wrap from JJ Bean Café

Happy Saturday! It's a crisp and cloudy Saturday morning that finds us in Olympic Village, visiting a couple of houses. Before meeting our real estate agent for the first time at the first house, we stopped for breakfast and coffee at JJ Bean. I had my usual mocha while my hubby opted for a cappuccino.

Mocha and Cappuccino from JJ Bean Café

For food, we shared the delicious Turkey Chorizo Breakfast Wrap, and it was fantastic. They're the first coffee shop where I've ordered a wrap that wasn't microwaved (looking at you, Blenz) to warm it up. Instead, it was warmed evenly throughout in a panini press.

Turkey Chorizo Breakfast Wrap from JJ Bean Café
Egg, two Rivers turkey Chorizo, potato, red onion, and red pepper hash, cheddar and monterey jack cheese blend, and cilantro lime sauce in a red bell flour tortilla

The wrap had chorizo (which added a bit of heat), melted cheese, and soft eggs.

Laksa from Rice and Noodle

Happy Friday! Hubby has dinner plans tonight, which means I'm by myself running errands. I find myself in the heart of Kitsilano, and after doing what needs to be done (getting meds from Shoppers), I decided to finally try Rice and Noodle.

Laksa Soup from Rice and Noodle
Curry coconut chicken broth, Rice noodle, broccoli, carrot, onion, tofu, cilantro, zucchini, bean sprouts, and boiled egg

It's getting colder, so I decided to warm up with a bowl of spicy laksa with shrimp. It definitely did the trick, but I thought it was a tad bland. I guess my Hello Fresh laksa is more creamy and coconutty, which made this one feel a bit watered down. It was still enjoyable, but I won't order it again, which is fine since there are more than 10 other dishes to try.

Laksa Soup from Rice and Noodle

Thankfully, I also grabbed their spring rolls and peanut sauce on the side, and it made everything so much better. I love peanut sauce!

Spring Rolls from Rice and Noodle Sauce (with a side of peanut sauce)
2 pieces deep-fried vegetarian spring roll

I'll definitely come back since the Panang Red Curry looks good too.

Masala Veggie Burger and Chubby Chicken Cruncher Burger from A&W

Happy Thursday! My hubby and I went to Costco after work. But instead of grabbing dinner before, we did after and closer to home. I was craving a carbonated drink, specifically root beer, which is how we ended up at A&W.

Masala Veggie Burger from A&W 
A crispy patty made with Nanak paneer and real vegetables topped with spicy piri-piri sauce, layers of crisp whole-leaf lettuce, sliced tomato, and red onion all sandwiches between a freshly toasted bun,

Masala Veggie Burger from A&W

I ordered their Masala Veggie burger and it was great. The masala flavor was strong but not overpowering, and you could really feel the veggie texture. It's like a soft and big falafel in between soft sesame buns, topped with fresh lettuce, onion, and tomatoes.

Chubby Chicken Cruncher from A&W
Big, juicy and oh-so-crunchy chicken meets our special Chubby mayo and layers of crisp whole leaf lettuce. All sandwiches between a perfectly toasted brioche-style bun.

Chubby Chicken Cruncher from A&W

Meanwhile, hubby went for the Chubby Chicken Cruncher. Okay, I know A&W doesn't joke about their food source, but this is real chicken. It's crispy chicken topped with the same fresh lettuce.

Of course, I also satisfied my root beer craving.

Below is a list of menu items we've tried from A&W for future reference:

Breakfast

• All Canadian Special
• Bacon & Egger
• Classic Bacon & Eggs
• Pancakes with Syrup
• Sausage & Egger

Burgers

• Baby Burger
• Cheddar Bacon Uncle Burger
• Mama Burger
• Mozza Burger
• Teen Burger

Sides

• KitKat Turnover (limited time)
• Onion Rings
• Poutine
• Russet Thick-Cut Fries
• Sweet Potato Fries with Chipotle Mayonnaise
• Whistle Dog

Chicken

• Chicken Nuggets (limited time)
• Chicken Strips
• Chubby Chicken Cruncher
• Masala Veggie Burger
• Nashville Hot Chicken Cruncher

Pork Dumplings and Salt & Pepper Popcorn Chicken from Dingding Restaurant

Happy Thursday, everyone! The company-paid team lunch theme for the week is Chinese cuisine, so we decided to revisit Dingding Restaurant since we had a great experience there last time.I ordered the Salt and Pepper Popcorn Chicken as an appetizer and the Pork Dumplings (10 pieces) as my main.

Salt and Pepper Popcorn Chicken from Dingding Restaurant

The popcorn chicken was absolutely delicious. It's Taiwanese-style, which is my favorite, with a perfectly crispy outside and juicy inside.

Pork Dumplings (10 pieces) from Dingding Restaurant

Unfortunately, the dumplings were a bit of a letdown. They weren't bad, but they weren't great either. The soy sauce and chili oil helped to salvage them a bit, but I wouldn't recommend ordering them again. Overall, it was a solid meal, but I'm hoping we'll find an even better option next time.

Below is a list of dishes I've had from Dingding:

• Crispy Tofu with Mix Vegetables over Rice
• Pork Dumplings
• Salt & Pepper Popcorn Chicken

Too Good To Go: Prepared Meals Large from Pizza Pizza

Happy Monday! Buying a house is tough, and I was feeling the stress, so I decided to treat myself to a surprise box from the Too Good To Go app. I chose the nearby Pizza Pizza and was thrilled to receive a box filled with 10 large slices of assorted pizza.

Too Good To Go from Pizza Pizza

I'm so happy! I was able to satisfy and calm my nerves with some delicious food, and I even have a few slices left for the next few days.

The Georgia Straight Golden Plates Awards 2024 and 2025: Best of the Bunch Checklist

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

Bakery

☑️ Breka Bakery & Cafe (2024, 2025)

⬜ Livia (2025)

☑️ Purebread (2024)

☑️ Small Victory (2024, 2025)

Breakfast

☑️ Cafe Medina (2024, 2025)

☑️ Fable Diner (2024)

⬜ Jam Cafe (2025)

⬜ Maxine’s Cafe & Bar (2025)

⬜ OEB Breakfast Co. (2024)

Brunch

☑️ Cafe Medina (2025)

⬜ Chambar (2024)

⬜ Jam Cafe (2025)

⬜ Livia (2024)

⬜ Maxine’s Cafe & Bar (2025)

⬜ OEB Breakfast Co. (2024)

Cheap Eats

⬜ Duffin's Donuts (2024)

⬜ Fat Mao (2025)

☑️ Hawkers Delight Deli (2024)

⬜ House of Dosas (2025)

⬜ Jo's Italian Deli (2024)

☑️ Juke Fried Chicken (2025)

Chocolatier

⬜ Thomas Haas Chocolates (2024, 2025)

⬜ BETA5 (2024, 2025)

☑️ Thierry (2024, 2025)

Coffee Shop

☑️ Elysian Coffee Roasters (2024)

☑️ JJ Bean (2024 ,2025)

⬜ Nemesis Coffee (2024, 2025)

☑️ Small Victory (2025)

Comfort Food

⬜ Burgoo (2024, 2025)

⬜ DownLow Chicken Shack (2024)

⬜ Hai Phong (2025)

⬜ Jam Cafe (2024)

☑️ Juke Fried Chicken (2025)

Deli

⬜ Bosa Foods (2024, 2025)

⬜ Cioffi’s Meat Market and Deli (2024)

☑️ La Grotta Del Formaggio (2024, 2025)

⬜ Oyama (2025)

Dessert Bar

☑️ Thierry (2024, 2025)

⬜ True Confections (2024, 2025)

☑️ Cheesecake Etc.(2024, 2025)

Food Truck

⬜ Between 2 Buns (2025)

⬜ Chickpea (2025)

☑️ Mom's Grilled Cheese (2024, 2025)

☑️ Mr. Shawarma (2024)

☑️ Tacofino (2024)

Hidden Gem

⬜ Apollonia Greek Restaurant (2025)

⬜ Hai Phong (2025)

⬜ It's Okay (2024)

⬜ Merci Beaucoup Cafe (2024, 2025)

⬜ Red Accordion (2024)

Hotel Lounge

⬜ Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge, Wedgewood Hotel & Spa (2024)

⬜ The Lobby Lounge & RawBar, Fairmont Pacific Rim (2024)

⬜ Sylvia’s Restaurant & Lounge, Sylvia Hotel (2024)

Hotel Restaurant

⬜ Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge, Wedgewood Hotel & Spa (2024)

⬜ Botanist Restaurant, Fairmont Pacific Rim (2024, 2025)

⬜ Boulevard, Sutton Place Hotel (2025)

⬜ Hawksworth Restaurant, Rosewood Hotel Georgia (2024, 2025)

Pub

⬜ The American (2025)

☑️ Dublin Crossing (2025)

⬜ The Magnet (2024)

⬜ Mahony's Tavern (2024, 2025)

☑️ The Wicklow (2024)

Restaurant: Best Overall

1. ⬜ Published on Main (2024)
2. ⬜ Chambar (2024)
3. ⬜ Botanist (2024)

Restaurant: Best View

1. ☑️ Seasons in the Park (2024)
2. ⬜ Cardero's (2024)
3. ⬜ Miku (2024)

Restaurant: Casual

☑️ Bin 4 Burger Lounge (2024)

☑️ Cactus Club (2025)

⬜ Chancho (2025)

⬜ DD Mau Chinatown (2024)

☑️ MeeT (2025)

⬜ Superbaba (2024)

Restaurant: Fine Dining

⬜ AnnaLena (2025)

⬜ Elisa (2025)

⬜ Kissa Tanto (2024)

⬜ Published on Main (2024, 2025)

⬜ St. Lawrence (2024)

Restaurant: New

⬜ Dovetail

⬜ Dear Gus Snack Bar

⬜ Elio Volpe

⬜ Gary's

⬜ Nui

Restaurant: Patio

⬜ Anh and Chi (2024)

⬜ Cactus Club Cafe English Bay (2024)

⬜ Cardero's (2025)

⬜ Dovetail (2025)

⬜ Joe Fortes (2024, 2025)

Restaurant: Romantic

1. ⬜ AnnaLena (2024)
2. ⬜ Chambar (2024)
3. ⬜ Brix and Mortar (2024)

Restaurant: Seafood

⬜ Blue Water Cafe (2024, 2025)

⬜ Joe Fortes (2025)

⬜ Miku (2024)

⬜ Oddfish (2024, 2025)

Restaurant: Steakhouse

⬜ Black & Blue (2024, 2025)

⬜ Elisa (2024, 2025)

⬜ Gotham (2025)

⬜ Hy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar (2024)

Restaurant: Plant-Based

⬜ Acorn (2025)

⬜ Chickpea (2024)

⬜ Kokomo (2025)

☑️ MeeT (2024, 2025)

⬜ Virtuous Pie (2024)

Restaurant: Vegetarian

1. ⬜ The Acorn (2024)
2. ⬜ The Naam (2024)
3. ⬜ Do Chay (2024)

Donut Bread Pudding from JJ Bean

Happy Saturday! Today's the second round of open houses, and we're taking a little break in between visiting the second and third places. We stopped by JJ Bean for a much-needed rest and refuel.

Donut Bread Pudding from JJ Bean

We shared a Donut Bread Pudding, which is like a bread pudding shaped like a donut. It was super delicious and the perfect treat.

Mocha Shiver and Iced Matcha Latte from JJ Bean

For drinks, my hubby went for an Iced Matcha Latte while I got the Mocha Shiver. They were both great, especially after walking across Cambie Bridge on a sunny day.

Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto from Ignite Pizzeria

Happy Thursday! For our company-paid team lunch, the chosen theme is pizza. We decided to try Ignite Pizzeria in their Yaletown location. I ordered their Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto. I've never had seafood on pizza before, but this is delicious.

Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto from Ignite Pizzeria
Pesto sauce, mozzarella, fior di latte, shrimp, fire-roasted tomato

Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto from Ignite Pizzeria
Pesto sauce, mozzarella, fior di latte, shrimp, fire-roated tomato

The plump shrimp on top of the thin crust is drizzled with the pesto sauce. It's so flavorful and delicious. Since I know we'll be back here again in the future, I thought I'd share a list of the pizzas I've tried so far at Ignite:

Carnivore Pizza 

• Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto

Herbivore + Vegan Pizza

• Masala Magic

Nat's Beef Dip and The White Spot Club from White Spot

It's not a happy Tuesday. This is a stress eating unplanned meal. My colleague was let go today. To make myself feel a little better, we had dinner at White Spot.

The White Spot Club from White Spot
Turkey breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo & chili sauce on multigrain

I ordered The White Spot Club while hubby went for the Nat's Beef Dip. They are both so delicious in their own way.

Nat's Beef Dip from White Spot
Slow-roasted & tender Canadian Certified Angus Beef piled high on garlic bread. Served with au jus

I love the bacon in the club sandwich and of course the layers of turkey breast deli meat. Meanwhile, we absolutely love the beef dip. The au jus (dip) made it so soft and flavourful. We should order it more often.

Did the meal make me feel better? A little bit. Below is a list of dishes we have tried from White Spot.

Snack & Share

• Cheesy Bacon Perogies
• Coconut Prawns
• The Spot's Zoo Sticks
• Poutine
• Garlic Parmesan Fries
• Onion Rings
• Southwest Chicken Quesadilla
• Dippin' Chicken with honey mustard sauce
• Spinach & Artichoke Quesadilla (no longer in the menu)

Spot's Classics & More

• The White Spot Club
• Nat's Beef Dip
• Chicken Caesar Wrap

Pastas & Bowls

• Seafood Fettuccine (no longer in the menu)
• Spaghetti with Meatballs (no longer in the menu)

Hearty Dishes & Mains

• The Spot’s Fish & Chips
• Baby Back Ribs

Burgers

• Avocado Impossible™ Burger
• The Legendary
• Bacon Cheddar Bigger Burger
• Monty Mushroom Bigger Burger
• West Coast Salmon Burger (no longer in the menu)
• BC Chicken Burger
• Brie & Mushroom Veggie Burger
• Pacific Northwest Salmon Burger
• Gochujang Fried Chicken Burger
• Bacon Wrapped Cheddar Burger (limited time item)
• Wagyu Cheddar Burger (limited time item)

Desserts Menu

• Salted Caramel Brownie (no longer in the menu)
• Chocolate Cake Slice with Ice Cream (no longer in the menu)
• Hot Fudge Brownie (no longer in the menu)

Drinks Menu

Non-Alcoholic

• Our Famous Milkshakes: Chocolate

Beef Stew with Rice Noodle from Pho Khanh Express

Happy Monday! My brother started working downtown almost a year ago, and we've been talking about having a weekday lunch ever since. Finally made it happen!

Beef Stew with Rice Noodle from Pho Khanh Express

Pokr Spring Roll from Pho Khanh Express

We ate at Pho Khanh Express since it's closer to his office. I went with my usual go-to, the beef stew, but this time I tried it as a soup with rice noodles instead of rice. It was decent, but I still prefer the version from Delicious Pho.

Chocolate Cupcake and Chocolate Croissant from Whole Foods Coffee Shop

Happy Sunday! My folks love hanging out at coffee shops, and they've already visited all the usual suspects near the corner of West Broadway and Cambie.

Chocolate Cupcake from Whole Foods Coffee Shop

The only place left to try was the coffee shop on top of the Whole Foods, which we checked out today. I ordered a chocolate croissant and a chocolate cupcake, but I'm not going to lie — they weren't that great.

Chocolate Croissant from Whole Foods Coffee Shop

Do I think I'll be back? Probably not.

Spicy Cha-Shu Hakata Tonkotsu from Menya Raizo by Zakkushi

Sunday bliss! Yesterday's open house tour continues today, this time with my parents in tow. Before our house-hunting adventure, we had lunch at Menya Raizo by Zakkushi. On a rainy day like today, a comforting bowl of ramen hits the spot.

Cha-Shu Hakata Tonkotsu from Menya Raizo by Zakkushi
Rich pork broth, thin noodles, pork belly cha-shu, green onion, pickled ginger, kikurage mushroom, and sesame seeds

Gyoza from Menya Raizo by Zakkushi

I indulged in the Spicy Cha-Shu Hakata Tonkotsu and scarfed it down way too quickly. The thin noodles and melt-in-your-mouth fatty pork belly chashu were a match made in comfort food heaven.

Fun fact: Menya Raizo changed ownership within the last decade. Here's a rundown of the menu items we've tried so far:

Ramen

☑️ Yuzu Shio Ramen (February 2022)

⬜ Kotteri Shoyu Ramen

⬜ Umami Shio Ramen

☑️ Cha-Shu Hakata Tonkotsu (this post)

☑️ Spicy Cha-Shu Hakata Tonkotsu (this post)

⬜ Spicy Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen

⬜ Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen

⬜ Spicy Tonkotsu Miso Ramen

☑️ Gyokai Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen (March 2020)

⬜ Spicy Vegetarian Miso Ramen

⬜ Vegetarian Miso Ramen

☑️ Tori-pota Ramen (November 2019) (no longer in the menu)

☑️ Spicy Miso Ramen (February 2022) (no longer in the menu)

☑️ Umami Shoyu Ramen (March 2020) (no longer in the menu)

❌  Vegetarian Tan Tan Ramen (no longer in the menu)

Rice Bowl

⬜ Vegetarian Curry Rice

⬜ Karaage Don

⬜ Pork Cha-shu Don

❌ Chicken Teriyaki-Mayo Don (no longer in the menu)

❌ Veggie Mapo Don (no longer in the menu)

Side

⬜ Aburi Shime Saba

☑️ Karaage (February 2022)

⬜ Edamame

☑️ Raizo Gyoza (this post)

❌ Tebasaki Chicken Wings (no longer in the menu)

☑️ Cheese Mentai Gyoza (March 2020) (no longer in the menu)

☑️ Takoyaki (September 2019)

☑️ Spicy Takoyaki (February 2022) (no longer in the menu)

Dessert

⬜ Caramel Milk Pudding

⬜ Strawberry Milk Pudding

⬜ Matcha Sundae

☑️ Kuromitsu Kinako Ice Cream (no longer in the menu)

☑️ Raizo Sundae Parfait (February 2022) (no longer in the menu)

❌ Raizo Strawberry Parfait (no longer in the menu)

❌ Mango Milk Pudding / Roasted Tea Pudding / Matcha Pudding (no longer in the menu)

Ferrero Rocher Gelato and Iced Mocha from Perfecto Cafe

We found our dream apartment today! My husband and I spent the afternoon checking out three open houses in our price range in Downtown Vancouver, and two of them stole our hearts. I reached out to our RBC-recommended real estate agent for his expert opinion, and we decided to make an offer on one of them. This is such a huge milestone for us! 

Iced Mocha from Perfecto Cafe

Ferrero Rocher Gelato from Perfecto Cafe

In between open houses, we took a little break to relax with drinks and gelato at Perfecto Cafe.

Traditional IKEA breakfast for a loonie

Good Saturday morning! IKEA is helping out the Breakfast Club of Canada by offering their Traditional Breakfast for just a loonie. For every meal purchased, they're donating that dollar to the charity.

Naturally, as fans of a good deal, our whole family (minus our youngest sister who was at work) showed up at exactly 9:30 am and saw the line.

We didn't mind waiting for one bacon traditional breakfast, one sausage traditional breakfast, and their pancakes traditional breakfast. How much did I pay? Just three bucks! 🤯 And since we were there before 10:00 am, coffee was free, too!

Breakfast at IKEA

We enjoyed our meal and left promptly because the place was packed, but we managed to snag one of the long tables.

Too Good To Go: Surprise Bag from Lee's Donuts

Today, I took a mental health day and visited my parents to recharge. We spent the day in Steveston, relaxing in a park and indulging in a delicious treat. Before that, we stopped by Lee's Donuts, where I picked up a surprise bag from Too Good To Go for just $11.99.

Surprise Bag from Lee's Donuts

Suprise Bag from Lee's Donuts

Delicious Donuts from Lee's

The bag was filled with a dozen donuts that would normally cost $35.00. I was surprised to learn how expensive their donuts are! I remember when I used to get them from work years ago, and they were only $20.00. Those were the days.

Chicken Vindaloo from BC Momo

It's Thursday, and you know what that means - it's company-paid weekly team lunch with a specific theme. This week it's Indian cuisine. Unfortunately, our usual go-to Chakra Indian Restaurant is closed. In its place, a Nepali & Indian spot called BC Momo has opened up.

Chicken Vindaloo from BC Momo

I ordered their chicken vindaloo with basmati rice and garlic naan. It was delicious, but I wish the vindaloo was spicier. Otherwise, the service, interior, and food are all top-notch, and our team will definitely be back!

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

⬜ 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

☑️ John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

☑️ Jollibee

☑️ La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop

⬜ Luca Restaurant

☑️ Meat & Bread

☑️ Memphis Blues BBQ House

⬜ Nablus Shawarma & Grill

⬜ 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)

Beef Donair Platter and Kofte (Meatball) Platter from Donair Dude

Today's been a rollercoaster of emotions at work. There's some not-so-great news and some really awesome news, and I'm still processing it all. I was feeling overwhelmed with everything, so we broke fast and had a feast like we didn't have to save money or lose weight for our trip next month.

For dinner, I'm craving a Mediterranean feast of meat and rice. Donair Dude along West Broadway is our closest option, so we head there.

I treated myself to a beef donair platter with rice, a side of salad, baked potatoes, and my favorite dolmades. Their tzatziki sauce pairs perfectly with the mildly spicy sauce to balance out the flavorful meat.

Beef Donair Platter from Donair Dude
Beef Donair meat on a bed of generous portions of aromatic basmati rice with a side of Greek salad, tender baked potatoes, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and their donair sauce and creamy sriracha hot sauce..

Hubby tried the kofte (meatballs), something new for us. Tender and full of flavor, they're unlike any meatballs I've had before. The unique blend of spices sets them apart from Italian or Swedish meatballs. Drizzled with their creamy tzatziki sauce, they're absolutely delicious.

Kofte (Meatball) Platter from Donair Dude
Kofte - Meatball on a bed of generous portions of aromatic basmati rice with a side of Greek salad, tender baked potatoes, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), and their Donair sauce and creamy sriracha hot sauce.

Unfortunately, the falafel and hummus we ordered to share weren't as impressive. I've had falafel at several places before and know what I like, and this wasn't it. The hummus was creamy but bland. Maybe it was overpowered by the burnt taste of the falafel.

Falafel with Hummus from Donair Dude
Freshly fried falafel patties served with hummus

I'm feeling a bit better and have started to list down everything that I'm grateful for today. I'm blessed, and God loves me, and that's more than enough.

Below is a list food items I have tried from Donair Dude so far:

• Beef Pita Donair
• Beef Donair Platter
• Chicken Donair Platter
• Kofte (Meatball) Platter
• Dolmades
• Falafel with Hummus