Tacos and Churros from Tequila Cocina | Mexican Restaurant, Cantina & Brunch.

Happy Thursday! Like many others, my New Year's goal is to lose weight and manage my health more effectively. I decided to ask Gemini for help with my choices. For dinner tonight, I mentioned we were eating at Taco and asked for suggestions that would be heart-friendly, liver-friendly, and high in iron.

Tacos from Tequila Cocina | Mexican Restaurant, Cantina & Brunch.

The recommendation was to order the Carne Asada and Frijoles tacos. They were both so good! I was surprisingly impressed by the creamy mashed beans, and the tender top sirloin topped with sharp raw onions and fresh cilantro was truly top-notch. Hubby wanted the Al Pastor, which we also ordered. I checked if this was okay to try, and since I had only finished half of my lunch earlier, it fit into my plan. The marinated pork was good, though it wasn't quite at that authentic Mexico City level.

Frijoles Taco from Tequila Cocina
Mashed beans topped with feta cheese served on a 4" corn tortilla

Pastor Taco from Tequila Cocina
Marinated pork and pineapple. Topped with onion and cilantro served on a 4" corn tortilla

Carne Asada from Tequila Cocina | Mexican Restaurant, Cantina & Brunch.
Top sirloin. Topped with onion and cilantro.

The restaurant provides crunchy free chips and spicy salsa to start the meal. While the advice was to enjoy them in moderation, I honestly ate a bit too many because I have zero control when chips are right in front of me!

First bowl of chips and salsa from Tequila Cocina | Mexican Restaurant, Cantina & Brunch. 

Jamaica from Tequila Cocina | Mexican Restaurant, Cantina & Brunch.

To end the night, we shared warm churros with cold ice cream. The suggestion was to take just a small bite and brush off the sweet sugar. Instead, I enjoyed two of the mini churros dipped in silky caramel and rich leches sauce, though I did manage to resist the ice cream entirely! 

Churros with Ice Cream from Tequila Cocina | Mexican Restaurant, Cantina & Brunch.

Churros with Ice Cream from Tequila Cocina | Mexican Restaurant, Cantina & Brunch.

Churros dipped in caramel from Tequila Cocina | Mexican Restaurant, Cantina & Brunch.

Churros from Tequila Cocina | Mexican Restaurant, Cantina & Brunch.

We walked home feeling satisfied, especially knowing I made an informed decision about my order.

Rigatoni Arrabbiata with Meatballs from Casereccio Foods

Happy Thursday! It was our first team lunch for 2026, and we decided on Italian cuisine. We ordered from Casereccio Foods. Last night, I actually started asking Gemini to help me eat more healthily based on my specific health conditions, and it suggested I order the Rigatoni Arrabbiata with Meatballs as a satisfying but balanced option.

Rigatoni and Meatballs on Arrabiata from Casereccio Foods
5-hour slow cooked tomatoes with dried chilies, garlic, parsley, and parmigiana  

The ridged rigatoni was perfectly al dente, and I made a conscious effort to eat it all very slowly. The fiery Arrabbiata sauce was made with spicy chili flakes and tangy tomatoes, which paired so well with the savory meatballs. Taking my time to enjoy each bite really made a difference in how I felt after the meal.

Below is a running list of the pasta dishes I’ve tried from Casereccio so far:

• Rigatoni Arrabbiata with Meatballs
• Spaghetti Pesto Verde

Indian Favourites from Tamarind Tales

Happy Sunday! We have been stuck at home for the last two days watching Korean dramas and continuing the endless cycle of packing and sorting for our upcoming move. After Mass today, we grabbed our usual breakfast at Tims and did a grocery run at No Frills. On our walk back home, we passed by Tamarind Tales along West Broadway. We have seen this specific spot change from a Japanese restaurant to two different Indian restaurants, with this being the second one. We decided it was finally time to try it before it changes again and before we move away from the area!

Lunch at Tamarind Tales

We ordered our favorite Indian classics: Chicken Vindaloo, Palak Paneer, Tandoori Chicken, and a Bread Basket featuring four different types of bread. 

Bread Basket from Tamarind Tales
Butter naan, roti, garlic naan, and laccha paratha

The basket included buttery naan, traditional roti, aromatic garlic naan, and flaky laccha paratha. The laccha paratha was easily my favorite! The bread basket is an awesome choice because it allows you to experience the best variety of Indian breads in one go.

Goan Chicken Vindaloo from Tamarind Tales
Chicken and potatoes cooked in spicy vindaloo sauce

The fiery Goan Chicken Vindaloo was spicy and the succulent chicken was incredibly juicy. It paired perfectly with the fluffy white rice. However, the charred Tandoori Chicken was the best of all the dishes we tried; it was smoky and tender. 

Tandoori Chicken from Tamarind Tales
Bone-in chicken marinated in yogurt and traditional masala spices

I ordered the Palak Paneer mild, and this is the first time I have had a version that was still excellent even without the heat. Most Palak Paneer I have tried becomes bland when made mild, but this velvety spinach puree was flavorful and went so well with the breads.

Palak Paneer from Tamarind Tales
Indian cheese cooked in a roasted garlic, cumin, and spinach sauce

To finish our meal, we shared our favorite Indian dessert: Rice Kheer. It was creamy, sweet, and provided the perfect cool down.

Rice Kheer from Tamarind Tales
A creamy Indian rice pudding slow cooked with milk, sugar, and caramom

Tamarind Tales also offers a lunch buffet from Thursday to Saturday between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. I already cannot wait to come back!

Breakfast Tacos and Szechuan Shrimp + Pork Dumplings from Earls

Happy New Year and welcome to 2026! Our first meal of the year was at Earls. We woke up a tad late today and were rushing to make the 11:00 AM Mass, so we walked over to the nearby Earls for brunch afterward. I have made a personal decision to have a meal at Earls every New Year, a tradition we also kept in 2024 and 2023.

Szechuan Shrimp + Pork Dumplings from Earls
Chili crunch, black vinegar, roasted peanuts, and green onions

Szechuan Shrimp + Pork Dumplings from Earls
Chili crunch, black vinegar, roasted peanuts, and green onions

To start our meal, we ordered the new Szechuan Shrimp + Pork Dumplings, and they were absolutely divine. The delicate paper-thin wrapper was filled with succulent juicy pork and tender shrimp. The dumplings were drizzled with and sat on top of a bold tangy sauce made of dark black vinegar, spicy chili crunch, toasty roasted peanuts, and fresh green onions.

Breakfast Tacos from Earls
Scrambled eggs, aged white cheddar, pickled red onions, avocado, chipotle crema, crispy potato pavé, and garden greens 

For my brunch, I tried the new Breakfast Tacos. These featured soft flour tortillas filled with fluffy scrambled eggs, sharp aged white cheddar, zingy pickled red onions, creamy avocado, and smoky chipotle crema. The dish was served with brittle crispy potato pavé and peppery garden greens. I really enjoyed the greens. I had only ever seen potato pavé in a YouTube video before, so I was happy to finally try it, though it was a bit too oily for my taste. The tacos were alright, but nothing truly wave-worthy.

Earls Breakfast from Earls
 Eggs sunny side up, dry-cured bacon, sourdough toast, crispy potato pavé, and garden greens

Hubby went for the Earls Breakfast, which consisted of bright eggs sunny side up, salty dry-cured bacon, and crusty sourdough toast. His meal was also served with the same potato pavé and garden greens.

Ultimately, the company of my husband made this meal so much better than the food itself. For reference, here is the updated list of items we have tried at Earls:

Brunch

• Crab Cake Benedict

Handheld

• Beyond Burger
• Garden Burger
• Roast Beef Sandwich
• Vegetarian Burger

Mains

• Half BBQ Ribs
• Oven Roasted Salmon

Noodles + Bowls

• Garlic Prawn Spaghetti
• Truffle Tortellini
• Truffled Parmesan Chicken

Shareable

• Warm Spinach + Three Cheese Dip
• Yuzu Calamari

Soup

• Clam Chowder

Steaks

• Canadian Prime Sirloin (9oz)
• Filet Mignon
• Filet + Peppercorn
• 12oz Prime Striploin (12oz)

Desserts

• Key Lime Pie
• Molten Gingerbread Cake
• Sticky Toffee Pudding Bowl

True Canadian and All the Specialty Sides from Panago Pizza

Hubby and I realized that this is our last New Year’s Eve in our current apartment, so we decided to recreate our very first one here. Back then, we had very little money since we had just married and moved into our first apartment ever. We celebrated that year with Domino’s pizza and Timbits.

True Canadian Pizza from Panago surrounded by all the sides
Panago website description: Organic tomato sauce, extra pepperoni, bacon  mushrroms

For our NYE dinner tonight, we decided to switch it up and order from Panago Pizza. I chose the True Canadian, which features tangy tomato sauce, spicy pepperoni, smoky bacon, earthy mushrooms, and a combination of melty mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese. It is a classic, reliable combination.

Mozzarella Triangles from Panago Pizza
Panago website description: A thin breading of tasty mozzarella triangles baked to perfection

What I really want to focus on are the three Specialty Sides we ordered: Mozzarella Triangles, Stuffed Gnocchi, and Mini Panzerotti. Unfortunately, only the Mozzarella Triangles were acceptable. They were cheesy and crispy, exactly what you want from a snack. 

Stuffed Gnocchi from Panago Pizza
Light and fluffy gnocchi filled with a rich, tangy cheese blend

The Stuffed Gnocchi had an unusual aftertaste that we couldn't quite pinpoint, which was disappointing.

Mini Panzerotti from Panago Pizza
Panago website description: Mini but packed with flavour - golden pockets filled with gooey mozzarella and zesty tomato

The Mini Panzerotti also missed the mark because it was mostly bread with very little filling. Plus, the filling that was there was mostly tomato sauce without any of the promised mozzarella.

Churro Bites from Panago
Bite-sized churros rolled in cinnamon and sugar with sweet caramel filling

We finished our meal by trying their Churro Bites. They were alright, but largely forgettable. I want to like Panago, but this was a rough experience, especially since they removed my favorite pizza, the Veggie Korma. I will probably still come back, but I will likely focus only on the pizzas and skip the sides entirely. Or, I might just stick to supporting the other Canadian pizza chain, Pizza Pizza!

For future me, below is a list of things we've had from Panago.

Pizza

• Pesto Chicken
• Pesto Vegetarian
• True Canadian
• Veggie Korma

Sides

• Chicken Bites
• Garlic Cheezy Bread
• Mini Panzerotti
• Mozzarella Triangles
• Stuffed Gnocchi

Desserts

• Chocolate Chunk Pretzel Cookie
• Churro Bites

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

⬜ Brooklyn Dumpling Shop

⬜ 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

⬜ JOEY at Burrard

☑️ John 3:16 Malaysian Delights

☑️ Jollibee

⬜ Khao Thai by Legato

☑️ La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop

⬜ Luca Restaurant

☑️ Meat & Bread

⬜ Mediterranean Grill

☑️ Memphis Blues BBQ House

☑️ 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)

❌ Nablus Shawarma & Grill (closed)

Traditional Aussie Pie, Lamington, and more from Peaked Pies

Happy last day of 2025! Congratulations, you made it! The past couple of days have felt quite overwhelming with planning our move and sorting everything into piles to throw away, donate, or bring to our new place. For dinner tonight, we decided to take a break from the boxes and grabbed a couple of pies and sweet treats from the relatively new Peaked Pies location on West Broadway.

Peaked Pies at home

Having traveled to Australia, I have been craving classic treats like Lamingtons and ANZAC biscuits. I am pleasantly surprised that my cravings can be satisfied right here in Vancouver because Peaked Pies offers both at such high quality. Their Lamington is quite huge compared to the ones I tried in Melbourne, so next time we will probably opt for their Minington, which is their clever name for a mini Lamington. Their ANZAC biscuit is also larger than the ones in Melbourne, but it carries that same delicious, buttery flavor.

A peek inside Chunky Pepper Steak pie from Peaked Pies
Chunky steak pieces infused with ground bacon, layered with a cheddar/mozzarella mix

Now, on to the pies! We ordered the Traditional Aussie, and while I initially thought the filling was not as flavorful as what I had in Melbourne, I realized that taking a bite of the crust and filling together creates the perfect balance. We were hoping to try The Hopper, which features ground kangaroo meat, but they were sold out for the day. We settled for the Chunky Pepper Steak instead, and it was actually even better than the Traditional Aussie. That pepper sauce is truly top notch!

A peak inside Traditional Aussie pie from Peaked Pies
Ground beef, onions, and gravy

We enjoyed our pies at home after warming them up in the air fryer for 10 minutes to get them perfectly flaky. We already cannot wait to come back to Peaked Pies on Pi Day!

The Georgia Straight Golden Plates Award: Best by Cuisine | Checklist

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

African

⬜ Axum Restaurant (2024)

⬜ Harambe (2024, 2025)

☑️ Simba’s Grill (2024, 2025)

⬜ Kilimanjaro Snack House (2025)

Caribbean

⬜ Baby Dhal Roti Shop (2024)

⬜ Calabash (2024, 2025)

⬜ Havana (2024)

⬜ The Lion's Den Cafe (2025)

⬜ The Patty Shop (2025)

Chinese

⬜ Bao Bei (2024, 2025)

⬜ Dinasty Dumpling House (2025)

⬜ Dynasty Seafood Restaurant (2024)

⬜ Mott 32 (2025)

☑️ Peaceful Restaurant (2024)

Filipino

☑️ Goldilocks (2024)

☑️ Hapag Ihaw-Ihaw (2025)

☑️ Jollibee (2024)

☑️ Kulinarya Filipino Eatery (2024, 2025)

☑️ Max's Restaurant (2025)

French

⬜ Le Crocodile (2024, 2025)

⬜ Les Faux Bourgeois (2024, 2025)

⬜ St. Lawrence (2024, 2025)

Greek

☑️ The Greek (2024, 2025)

⬜ Loula’s Taverna (2025)

⬜ Mnimes Restaurant & Bar (2024)

⬜ Nammos Estiatorio (2024, 2025)

Indian

⬜ Sula (2024, 2025)

⬜ Tasty Indian Bistro (2024, 2025)

⬜ Vij’s (2024, 2025)

Indigenous

☑️ Salmon n’ Bannock (2024, 2025)

⬜ Mr. Bannock (2024)

⬜ Tawnshi (2025)

⬜ Tradish’s The Ancestor Cafe (2024, 2025)

Italian

⬜ Ask for Luigi (2025)

⬜ Giardino Restaurant (2024)

⬜ Magari by Oca (2025)

⬜ Savio Volpe (2024, 2025)

⬜ Pepino’s Spaghetti House (2024)

Japanese

⬜ Kishimoto (2024)

⬜ Miku (2024, 2025)

⬜ Minami (2024, 2025)

⬜ Oku Izakaya (2025)

Korean

⬜ Kook Korean BBQ (2024)

⬜ Kosoo (2024)

⬜ Nui (2025)

⬜ Sooda Korean BBQ (2025)

☑️ Sura Korean Royal Cuisine (2025)

⬜ Zoomak Korean Tavern (2024)

Latin American

⬜ Cuchillo (2025)

⬜ Havana (2024, 2025)

⬜ Ophelia (2024)

⬜ Suyo (2024, 2025)

Malaysian

⬜ Banana Leaf (2024, 2025)

☑️ Hawker's Delight Deli (2024, 2025)

☑️ John 3:16 (2025)

⬜ Potluck Hawker Eatery (2024)

Mediterranean

⬜ Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca (2024)

⬜ Hydra Estiatorio Mediterranean & Bar (2024)

⬜ Minerva's (2025)

⬜ Nuba (2024, 2025)

⬜ Selene Aegean Bistro (2025)

Mexican

⬜ Chancho (2025)

⬜ La Mezcaleria (2024, 2025)

☑️ La Taqueria (2024)

⬜ Ophelia (2024, 2025)

Middle Eastern

⬜ East is East (2024)

⬜ Nuba (2024, 2025)

⬜ Superbaba (2025)

⬜ Zarak (2024, 2025)

Pacific Northwest

⬜ Botanist (2025)

⬜ Dovetail (2025)

⬜ Forage (2024)

⬜ Published on Main (2024, 2025)

⬜ Water St. Cafe (2024)

Persian

⬜ Cazba Restaurant (2024, 2025)

⬜ Delara (2024, 2025)

⬜ Sahel (2025)

⬜ Zeitoon Restaurant (2024)

Spanish

⬜ Bodega on Main (2024, 2025)

⬜ Como Taperia (2024, 2025)

⬜ Cuchillo (2025)

⬜ España Restaurant (2024)

Thai

⬜ Baan Lao

⬜ Kin Kao (2024, 2025)

⬜ Maenam (2024, 2025)

⬜ Sawasdee Thai Restaurant (2024)

Vietnamese

⬜ Anh and Chi (2024, 2025)

⬜ DD Mau Chinatown (2024)

⬜ Hai Phong (2025)

⬜ Lunch Lady (2024, 2025)

A Family Potluck: Christmas Eve Noche Buena

As you know, my sister usually chooses a specific cuisine for our Christmas Eve dinner each year. This year, however, our youngest sister and only brother vetoed that idea. They suggested we do a potluck instead so everyone could bring exactly what they wanted to eat!

It turned out to be such a fantastic variety. Here is what everyone brought to the table:

Mama cooked her sweet Filipino-style spaghetti and prepared a creamy Filipino-style fruit salad. Hubby and I picked up the savory House Special Fried Rice from Lin Chinese Cuisine along with smoky Inihaw na Liempo and crunchy Lechong Kawali from Little Ongpin Restaurant. My sister roasted a tender chicken and made vibrant stir-fried vegetables. Our brother brought a fresh sushi platter from Fukuroku Sushi Express and the chilled drinks. Finally, our youngest sister ordered crispy lumpiang Shanghai from Little Ongpin Restaurant and brought decadent cakes from Costco.

A Family Potluck: Christmas Eve Noche Buena

It was such a feast! I haven't felt a food coma like this in a very long time. It was the perfect way to celebrate together.

For the record, here is a look back at our past Noche Buena themes:

• 2024: Filipino Food
• 2023: Canadian Food
• 2022: Ukrainian Food from Ukrainian Village
• 2021: Korean Food from H-Mart
• 2020: Chinese Food from Lin Chinese Cuisine and Tea House
• 2019: French Food (cooked by my sister)
• 2018: Spanish Food
• 2017: Japanese Food
• 2016 and 2015: Domino's Pizza and my mom's Filipino-style spaghetti

CF Richmond Centre Dining Terraces (food court)

CF Richmond Centre is a shopping destination, but its food court, the Dining Terrace, is a culinary journey of its own. Located on the second level, this vibrant food hub is constantly evolving with new stalls and exciting menus, making each visit a unique experience. This list aims to capture the current landscape of the Dining Terrace, helping you navigate the diverse and delicious options available right now.

Please note that this list is based on the date of publication and the stalls can change without prior notice.

☑️ A&W

☑️ Basha

☑️ Bourbon St. Grill

☑️ Bubble Waffle Cafe

☑️ Curry Express

✔️ Dairy Queen / Orange Julius

⬜ Dinesty Dumpling

⬜ Don Tacos

⬜ Edo Japan

⬜ Fairbee Bubble Tea

✔️ Jugo Juice

✔️ KFC

⬜ Kung Pao Wok

✔️ New York Fries

✔️ Opa! of Greece

⬜ Real Fruite Tea

✔️ Subway

✔️ Thai Express

⬜ Umi Japanese Eatery & Udon Bar

❌ Koryo Korean BBQ (closed)

☑️ Vina Vietnamese (closed)

Metropolis at Metrotown food court

Metropolis at Metrotown is not only a shopping mecca, but its food court is an expansive and diverse dining destination. As one of the largest food courts in Western Canada, it's a bustling and ever-changing space that can be overwhelming for first-time visitors and a regular stop for many.

New vendors are always popping up, so this guide is a snapshot of the offerings as of the publication date and is subject to change without prior notice.

✔️ A&W

☑️ Bourbon St. Grill

✔️ Bubble Waffle Cafe

✔️ Burger King

⬜ Cazba

☑️ Chronic Tacos Mexican Grill

☑️ Crepe de Licious

✔️ Curry Express Indian Cuisine

✔️ Dairy Queen / Orange Julius

✔️ Freshslice Pizza

✔️ Jamaican Mi Juicy

✔️ KFC

⬜ Koya Japan

☑️ Manchu Wok

☑️ Nando's

☑️ New York Fries

✔️ Opa! of Greece

✔️ Starbucks

✔️ Subway

✔️ Thai Express

✔️ Tim Hortons

⬜ U-Grill

☑️ Vina Vietnamese

☑️ Bake House (closed)

✔️ Chachi's (closed)

☑️ Chef Tony Dimsum (closed)

CF Pacific Centre Urban Eatery (food court)

CF Pacific Centre, located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, is a major retail destination, and its food court, the Urban Eatery, is a key part of the experience. This underground dining space is a bustling hub for shoppers, office workers, and tourists alike, offering a wide array of choices from well-known chains to unique local spots.

The food court is constantly evolving, with new vendors appearing and others moving on, so this list is a snapshot of the offerings as of the publication date and is subject to change.

☑️ A&W

⬜ Cazba Persian Grill

☑️ Cha House

✔️ Dairy Queen / Orange Julius

☑️ Edo Japan

☑️ Flaming Wok

✔️ Jugo Juice

☑️ New York Fries

☑️ OPA! of Greece

✔️ Subway

☑️ Taco Time

☑️ Thai Express

☑️ UMI Sushi Express

☑️ Vina Vietnamese

☑️ Chachi's (closed)

❌ Hula (closed)

☑️ Living Foods (closed)

Opa! Platter and Opa! Fries from Opa! of Greece

Happy Christmas Eve! For lunch today, we stopped by Pacific Centre for some last-minute shopping and grabbed a quick lunch at the Urban Centre food court. We decided on some Greek food from Opa! of Greece to keep us going.

We ordered the Opa! Platter with a chicken skewer. It was a full plate featuring succulent chicken, fluffy rice, golden oven-roasted potatoes, a refreshing Greek salad, warm pita wedges, and creamy tzatziki. The tzatziki is always so great. Dipping the pita bread into it is such a delicious experience.

Opa! Platter from Opa! of Greece
Chicken skewer served with rice, oven-roasted potato, Greek salad, pita wedges, and their famous Opa! tzatziki.

We also ordered their Opa! Fries. These are crispy fries tossed in aromatic herbs and a splash of bright lemon, but what really made them amazing was the tangy tzatziki on the side.

Opa! Fries from Opa! of Greece
Crispy, golden fries tossed in herbs and lemon juice, served with their famous OPA! tzatziki

It was the perfect, fast, and flavorful meal to power us through the rest of our holiday errands. Now that the shopping is finally done, we are officially ready to head home, relax, and enjoy the magic of Christmas!

Italian Combo and Turkey Pesto from Mangia's Sandwiches

Happy Monday! I am working from home today and tomorrow, December 23, and one of the best parts about living just a block away from South Granville is how much I can get done during a one-hour lunch break. I managed to run to Purdy's to buy last-minute gifts for the family and still had time to grab a quick bite at Mangia's Sandwiches.

Italian Combo from Mangia's Sandwiches
Italian Mortadella, Prosciutto & Balsamic Glaze

Hubby chose the Italian Combo, which features Italian Mortadella, Prosciutto, and a sweet balsamic glaze. I opted for the Turkey Pesto, which was filled with smoky turkey and aromatic basil pesto. Both of our sandwiches were served on their crusty original baguette and topped with creamy fresh mozzarella, vibrant red peppers, crisp dressed lettuce, and juicy tomatoes.

Turkey Pesto from Mangia's Sandwiches
Smoked Turkey & Basil Pesto

After enjoying our sandwiches, we took a quick walk back home and got right back to work. It was the perfect productive midday break!

Tuna Tataki Roll and Yaki Udon from Sushivan

We have been watching the Korean drama Ghost Doctor lately, and it gave me a sudden, intense craving for Korean-style ramen. After our coffee date at Bean Around The World, we walked over to Sushivan. This is definitely one spot I am going to miss in South Granville once we move!

Korean Style Ramen with Chicken from Sushivan

I ordered the Korean Style Ramen with chicken. it arrived steaming hot and spicy, which was perfect for warming up on a cold and drizzling Vancouver day. Hubby went for the Yaki Udon with beef. Since my ramen was so spicy, I couldn't fully taste the sauce coating his noodles, but the udon itself was chewy and perfectly cooked.

Yaki Udon from Sushivan
Beef, vegetables, and bonito

For sharing, we grabbed the Pork Gyoza which came with a divine sauce. We also ordered the Tuna Tataki Roll. One of the many reasons I love Sushivan is that their Special Rolls menu has remained constant for the years I've lived nearby, making it so easy to work my way down the list. 

Pork Gyoza from Sushivan

Tuna Tataki Roll from Sushivan
Seared tuna, crab meat, avocado, cucumber, asparagus, garlic, and unagi sauce

The Tuna Tataki roll features fatty seared tuna along with creamy crab meat and avocado. What makes it unique is the refreshing, crunchy element from the fresh cucumber and asparagus. It was so good!

For future reference, here is the updated list of everything I’ve tried at Sushivan so far:

Appetizer

• Gyoza (Pork)
• Ika Karage
• Chicken Karage
• Soy Garlic Chicken Karage
• Spicy Chicken Karage
• Takoyaki

Bento Box

• Teriyaki Box (Chicken or Beef)
• Sushi and Sashimi Box
• Teriyaki and Sashimi Box (Chicken or Beef)
• Salmon Teriyaki & Sashimi Box

Donburi

• Unagi Don

Special Roll

1. Alaska Roll
2. Awesome Roll
3. Alien Roll
4. Spider Roll
5. Love Love Roll
6. Rainbow Roll
7. Caterpillar Roll
8. Dragon Roll
9. Philadelphia Roll
10. Tuna Tataki Roll

Tempura

• Seafood Tempura

Udon / Meal

• Yaki Udon (Beef)
• Chicken Katsu
• Kimchi Fried Rice
• Korean Style Ramen
• Cream Crab Udon

Sausage Roll and Double Chocolate Croissant with Nutella from Bean Around The World

Happy Saturday! I have to be honest and admit that I’ve been so unproductive at home lately. For real! When I’m stuck in the house, I’m just in no mood to blog or deal with the endless list of tasks for our upcoming closing and move to our new place.

To break the slump, hubby and I headed to Bean Around The World at their South Granville location. Sometimes a change of scenery is the only way I can actually focus and get things done. Of course, a warm Mocha paired with a savory sausage roll provided the perfect motivation.

Sausage Roll from Bean Around The World

Hubby went with an unsweetened Matcha Latte and paired it with a decadent Double Chocolate Croissant with Nutella.

Double Chocolate Croissant with Nutella from Bean Around The World

It worked! I finally powered through all my moving-related emails and caught up on all my blog posts. Now, the only things left on the list are errands that aren't computer-specific like grabbing dinner, cleaning the bathroom, and vacuuming. Ugh. Adulting is hard, but at least the mocha was good!

The Festive Feast at Nando’s

Happy Thursday! I had a massive craving for rice today, and honestly, my last trip to Nando’s left me feeling a bit dissatisfied. I knew I needed a redo to get exactly what I was looking for, so we headed back for dinner to try The Festive Feast Platter.

This platter is designed for four people, but we decided to go for it anyway! It comes with a Whole Chicken, Large Garlic Bread, Large Fries, an Extra Large Spiced Rice, and four Natas for dessert. I even upgraded the fries to Spiced Fries because you can't go wrong with that extra kick.

Large Garlic Bread, Large  Spiced Rice, and Large PERI-PERI Fries part of The Festive Feast at Nando's

Four Natas as part of The Festive Feast at Nando's

Plainish Whole Chicken from Nando's

We ordered the whole chicken "plainish" and then grabbed a bottle of the Medium sauce from the station to cover it ourselves—it was perfect. I loved and enjoyed every single bite. There is just something about their flame-grilled Whole Chicken that hits differently, and their rice and fries truly rock!

Since it’s meant for a group of four, we obviously had plenty of leftovers, which meant getting to enjoy the whole feast all over again the next day. I left feeling so happy and finally satisfied!