Chicken Tikka Kathi Roll and Nutri Kulcha from Chai Wagon

Happy Saturday! I worked extra overtime this morning for about five hours before hubby knocked on the door to see if I was finished. After work, we walked to Chinatown to buy necessary items for an upcoming company event. It felt like work had completely taken over my precious weekend!

Ginger Chai from Chai Wagon

To take some well-deserved time back for myself, we decided to hang out at the nearby Chai Wagon. I remember seeing their original cart in front of the Save-on-Foods on Cambie, but we never gave it a real shot. Their new location at the corner of East 2nd and Main Street is so close to our new home that it would be a shame not to support them.

Chicken Tikka Kathi Roll from Chai Wagon

I finished more than ten blog posts while sitting here and happily enjoying my half-sweet Ginger Chai. There was a subtle ginger flavor, but mostly it was warm and comforting, especially since it was raining cats and dogs outside. I enjoyed my steaming drink with a Chicken Tikka Kathi Roll. It was delicious because the saucy chicken tikka and crisp veggies were perfectly wrapped in soft paratha bread.

Pistachio Hazelnut Latte from Chai Wagon

It is almost a tempting sin to have something this tasty so close to me! I might end up coming here every time I have a strong craving for something sweet and savory. Hubby chose the Pistachio Hazelnut Latte, which was sugary and crunchy with chopped pistachios on top. He paired it with a spicy Nutri Kulcha. It was a massive amount of food! Since it was our first time trying it, we found it savory, zesty, and wonderful. I wondered if it would be good with rice, but hubby insisted it went perfectly with the soft kulcha bread.

Nutri Kulcha from Chai Wagon

I will probably be here once a month to catch up on my personal blogging or when I want to try that aromatic biryani bowl that everyone else seems to be eating!

Veggies Delight Tofu and Classic Pad Thai Combo from Thai Chili Wasabi

Happy Friday! I am feeling quite stressed because I have to work overtime this weekend. This is a rare request from our workplace, but it is totally valid since we are currently drowning in work.

Veggies Delight Tofu from Thai Chili Wasabi
Vegan, vegetarian favourite & gluten free friendly tofu stir-fry with mixed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, green bean, snow pea, bean sprouts, and white onion) gluten free Thai garlic ginger suace

After work today, hubby and I walked to Staples on West Broadway to pick up a small package. Afterward, we were planning to try Saiko Sushi, but it was packed with people. We decided to cross the street instead and enjoyed a quiet and lovely dinner at Thai Chili Wasabi. There was an Indian spot in this location before that we never got to try, so I am pleased to finally be here for a relaxing dinner.

Crispy Spring Roll from Thai Chili Wasabi
Fried vegetarian rolls (cabbage, carrot, glass noodle, green bean, onion) with homemade sweet chili sauce

If I were not strictly dieting, I would have totally ordered their green curry. However, I still very much want to lose excess weight, so I went for the healthier but still absolutely rocking choice of Veggies Delight Tofu. I absolutely love their soft tofu soaking up the savory stir-fry sauce. I ate only half of the steamed rice, though I did make a sinful choice by enjoying the crispy spring rolls. They were crunchy and piping hot when they arrived, making them the perfect little reward for my stressful week.

Classic Pad Thai Combo from Thai Chili Wasabi
The word famous Thai noodle stir-fry with chicken and 3 shrimps, egg, thin rice noodle, bean sprouts, green onion, Tamarind citrus Pad Thai sauce

Hubby enjoyed his Classic Pad Thai Combo, which was the ideal mix of sweet and savory flavors. The staff was extremely friendly too!

Builid Your Own Poke Bowl from Pokerrito

I finally remembered to take a clear photo of my team lunch! Since I started disciplined dieting, I keep forgetting to take photos of the tasty Vietnamese dishes and other diverse cuisines we have tried so far. However, I managed to capture a shot of my healthy poke bowl today.

My Poke Bowl from Pokerrito 
Mixed greens, salmon, fresh tuna, green onion, cilantro, Kale, romaine lettuce, classic shoyu, tomato, edamame, radish coin, ginger, sweet corn, and tamago

Gemini suggested specific ingredients that would be best for my nutritional diet. My bowl from Pokerrito was a vibrant mix of crispy mixed greens, fresh salmon, and silky tuna. I topped it with sharp green onions, fragrant cilantro, hearty kale, and crunchy romaine lettuce. For flavor, I added classic shoyu, juicy tomatoes, tender edamame, peppery radish coins, zingy ginger, sweet corn, and soft tamago.

It was a refreshing and satisfying meal that made me feel energized for the rest of the work day!

Ham & Cheese Croissant and Peppermint Tea from Lumiere Cafe

After Tims, we went back to our first home as a married couple. Our cozy rental studio, located just a block away from Granville Street, was our home for eight years. Returning the keys today and saying a final goodbye made me feel quite emotional.

Ham & Cheese Croissant from Lumiera Cafe

Afterward, I walked to Suki to get my annual haircut while hubby went back to church for a meeting. Once I was finished, I decided to walk to Lumiere Cafe to wait for him. While waiting, I enjoyed a warm cup of refreshing peppermint tea and a savory ham and cheese croissant. They were both perfect for this typical rainy Vancouver day.

Peppermint Tea from Lumiere Cafe

I have been disciplined with my dieting for a full month now. While I know I can technically eat whatever I want, sometimes it just feels simpler to go back to eating everything without any constant worry. It is a challenging journey, but I am sticking with it!

Below are my picks for the food and drinks I've experienced at Lumiere.

Drinks

• Hot Chocolate
• Large Mocha Frappé 
• Peppermint Tea

Food

• Garlic & Cheese Bun
• Ham & Cheese Croissant
• Matcha NYC Suprême
• Salted Egg Yolk Croissant

Butter Pecan Tart from Tim Hortons

It is our first Sunday morning at our new place. We realized it is quite a long commute to our current church, involving a brisk one-hour walk or a twenty-minute bus ride followed by a nine-minute walk. We really want to keep going there because it is such a wonderful community.

After Mass, we stopped by Tim Hortons for our usual breakfast and to try the Butter Pecan Tart and Custard Tart. Unfortunately, the creamy custard tart was completely sold out, so we settled for two of the nutty butter pecan tarts instead.

Butter Tart from Tim Hortons

I thought the flaky crust on the butter tarts they served a few months ago was much superior. The current one felt a bit different and less buttery. What happened, Tims? Despite the minor snack disappointment, it was a peaceful morning spent together.