Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

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 t...

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.

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 w...

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 flo...

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 Thankfu...

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. ...

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'l...

Happy Monday! The process of buying a house is undeniably tough, and I was certainly feeling the stress of it all today. To clear my head and take a break from the paperwork, I decided to treat myself to a surprise box from the Too Good To Go app. I chose the nearby Pizza Pizza for their "Prepared Meals Large" option, and I was thrilled with the result. I received a heavy box filled with 10 large slices of assorted pizza. It was exactly the kind of comfort food I needed to calm my nerves. Too Good To Go  from Pizza Pizza The best part about a haul this size is that it isn't just one meal. We had a delicious dinner and still have several slices left over for the next few days. It is such a practical and budget-friendly way to handle a busy week when cooking is the last thing on your mind! If you are looking for other great value meals in the city, you might enjoy my 7-Eleven Ready-to-Eat b...

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.

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 ...

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. B...

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

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.

Today, I took a mental health day and visited my parents to recharge. We spent a relaxing day in Steveston, enjoying the fresh air and the company. Before heading to the park, we stopped by Lee's Donuts , where I managed to snag a surprise bag from the Too Good To Go app for just $11.99 . Surprise Bag  from Lee's Donuts Suprise Bag  from Lee's Donuts Delicious Donuts from Lee's I was absolutely floored when I opened the bag to find a full dozen donuts. Looking at their current menu, a dozen assorted donuts would normally cost around $35.00 . It is a bit of a shock to see how much prices have risen. I remember a time not so long ago when a dozen was only $20.00. Those were the days! Regardless of the price hike, the quality ...

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!

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...

Inflation has hit every household hard this year, but thanks to the Too Good To Go app, I am able to try new spots without breaking the bank while saving good food that might otherwise end up in the bin. After work today, I checked the app and spotted a deal nearby. The catch was that we only had 10 minutes to spare before the surprise bag disappeared from Pane E Formaggio on Beatty Street. We hurriedly walked and thankfully arrived with just eight minutes to go before the 7:00 pm cutoff. My Too Good To Go Surprise Bag from Pane E Formaggio I paid a total of $7.34 (including tax) for an impressive amount of fresh bread and treats. Here is exactly what was inside: 1x Multigrain Loaf - $5.49 2x Sourdough Twisted Hoagies - $7.98 2x Cookie - Chocolate Chip - $6.10 1x Banana Chocolate Chip - $3.19 That is $22.76 worth of high-quality food for just $7.34! It is such a steal. I was feelin...

Happy Saturday! Today is a special day as I am meeting my sister and her fiancé to help them plan their upcoming wedding. We decided to meet at Granville Island , and while I was checking the Too Good To Go app, I spotted a baked goods surprise box from Terra Breads . Of course, I had to order it! Baked Goods Surprise Box  from Terra Bread in Granville Island purchased through Too Good To Go app The box cost $7.99 plus tax (totaling $8.39) for a wonderful assortment of artisanal treats. To see just how much of a deal this was, I looked up the current prices for these items: Blueberry flatbread ($5.62) Grape Nut flatbread ($5.62) Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie ($5.20) Pain au Chocolat ($5.78) Chocolate Coconut Macaroon ($3.10) The total value of these goodies came to $25.32 . It is such a fantastic deal, especially for a high-end bakery like Terra Breads. Being able to share these while di...

Can you recommend the best bahn mi spot in Vancouver? If you can't, I'll have to stick with my current favorite, Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine on Robson Street. BBQ Sub from Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine Their B7 BBQ Sub is a perfect combination of tender meats (pork, beef, chicken, and meatballs) smothered in a delicious Vietnamese-style barbecue sauce. It's served on a freshly baked baguette with pickled and fresh veggies, and it's all for under $10! BBQ Sub from Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine Here's a list of the bahn mi I've tried from Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine, for future reference: B4. Special Sub (Vietnamese Ham / Cold Cut Meat / Meat Ball) B7. B.B.Q Sub (Pork / Beef / Chicken / Meat Ball)