It is such a beautiful day, and after missing so many festivals this summer, we were definitely not going to skip Car Free Day on Commercial Drive. I am so glad the city chose to fund such a wonderful event. There is something truly magical about watching a busy commercial street close to traffic so people can wander around freely.
Event & Spots Summary
Location: Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC
Featured Items: Wagyu Smash Burger, Korean BBQ Skewers, Grilled Coalho Cheese Poutine, Plain Cinnamon Buns, Lemon Bomb Muffin
Price Range: $3.25 to $24.00
Verdict: An absolute community triumph filled with incredible street food finds and cozy bakery treats!
Naturally, we were there for the food.
Karavan Premium Meats: Wagyu Smash Burger & Korean BBQ Skewers
After walking the stretch, we decided our first meal would be the crispy Wagyu smash burger and sweet-and-savoury Korean BBQ skewers from Karavan Premium Meats. This was actually the first smash burger I ever truly liked. The beef patty is smashed so wonderfully thin that it develops incredible crispy edges while staying juicy rather than dry.
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| Wagyu Smash Burger |
Coupled with the sweet and savoury glaze on the skewers, it made for a stellar first bite. I ordered Combo A for $24, which includes one single-patty burger, two skewers, and a soda can.
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| Korean BBQ Skewers |
Cheese On A Stick by Umbrella Bistro: Coalho Cheese & Poutine
Next, we stopped by Cheese On A Stick by Umbrella Bistro. It was our first time trying their grilled coalho cheese ($7.90), and it is phenomenal. Salty, smoky, slightly creamy, and soft all at once!
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| Coalho Cheese |
We also grabbed their classic poutine ($15.90), where the traditional cheese curds are swapped out for chunks of grilled coalho cheese. The crispy fries were good and the cheese was amazing, though the gravy was just alright. I will always stand by the hill that quality gravy makes or breaks a poutine.
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| Poutine |
Grounds for Coffee: Cinnamon Buns & Lemon Bomb Muffins
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| Grounds for Coffee Date |
To finish our afternoon, we headed inside Grounds for Coffee (2088 Commercial Drive) to blog and sample their plain cinnamon buns. Hubby ordered a chocolate banana frappé while I went for a tart lemon bomb muffin. My lemon bomb was absolute perfection, featuring that classic towering muffin top and a wonderful zesty punch. The chocolate banana drink leaned mostly chocolate, with the banana flavor settling comfortably at the bottom.
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| Lemon Bomb Muffin |
Now, let us talk about the cinnamon bun. I generally dislike cinnamon buns, and honestly, I blame Cinnabon. I always felt the cinnamon sugar or syrup at Cinnabon had a medicinal quality to it (or perhaps that is just the version we get in the Philippines), so I tend to avoid cinnamony desserts entirely. But when you see a sign proclaiming you are steps away from the world's best cinnamon bun, you have to make an exception. We tried the plain version, and it was incredible. No medicinal aftertaste, and not overly sweet (which is the highest compliment I can give anything as an Asian). I should definitely add this place to my list for my parents and youngest sister, since they love cinnamon buns, especially the ones from Ikea!
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| Plain Cinnamon Bun |
Street festivals and local food adventures always remind me why Vancouver summers are so special. Have you ever changed your mind about a dessert you used to hate? Let me know in the comments below!
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