Pork Hock from Haxen Haus at Vancouver Christmas Market

I now understand why there's always a long line for Haxen Haus. The rotating pork hock is an excellent marketing tool, and the food is worth the hype.

Pork Hock from Haxen Haus at Vancouver Christmas Market

We ordered a half serving with lots of sauerkraut and a piece of bread. It reminds me of Lechon.

My Filipino-ness came out when I told my hubby that I wanted a bowl of rice and Mang Tomas (a savoury Lechon sauce).

I am not a fan of Lechon. I am that one Filipino who will not eat pork Lechon when available. I feel the same about the pork hock. It has a strong pork flavour, and I feel like I'll have a heart attack.

Half pork hock with sauerkraut and rye bread from Haxen Haus at Vancouver Christmas Market

The pork hock was seasoned with salt and pepper. At least, that's what I can taste. Other than that, it's all pork flavour which is perfect with the sauerkraut and maybe beer.

The Haxen Haus food hut has a "Facts about the Pork Hock" tarp. Below is the content.

Facts about the Pork Hock

What is a pork hock and which part of the pig is it?

The pork hock is the part of the pig where the foot was attached to the leg. It's not part of the ham, but also not quite the foot yet; it's the very end of the leg bone.

What is the difference between the half pork hock and the pork hock meat on a bun?

The half pork hock will be sliced up and served with Sauerkraut and a piece of Rye bread on a tray.

The pork hock meat on a bun is a smaller portion of meat put into a bun and topped with Sauerkraut (like a sandwich)

What is a half pork hock?

On the rotisserie you see the whole pork hock. Half of that would be a half pork hock.

Can I buy a whole pork hock?

Yes. One whole pork hock is an order of 2 half portions.

How am supposed to eat the pork hock?

We slice the pork hock fresh from the bone and serve it to you.

Do I get the bone?

Yes, if you order a half pork hock the bone is included in the order.

Is the pork hock gluten free?

Yes, it is. It's marinated with regular spices and herbs like salt, pepper, etc. No wheat.

Is the pork hock a vegetarian dish?

No. The pork hock is part of the pig so it is meat and thus not vegetarian.

Is the pork hock spicy?

Not the pork hock is not spicy but you can add mustard or sauce for different flavours.

Is the pork hock pickled?

No, our pork hocks are not pickeled. In different parts of Germany there are different ways to prepare the pork hock

Below is a list of food vendors inside the Vancouver Christmas Market we have tried so far, and we're almost done trying all of them.

#40 Bratwurst Haus #41 Haxen Haus #42 Das Gulasch Haus #43 Kartouffel Haus #43 Hurricane Potato

#44 Chimney Cake #46 Cheese Me Raclette #45 Das Langos Haus #47 Perogies #48 Das Smoked Haus

#53 Mr. Hotcakes #55 I Love Chocolate #60 Das Apfel Haus #61 Those Pretzels

Cheese Me Raclette in Vancouver Christmas Market

Happy Saturday! We planned to watch the drone show scheduled near Canada Place this evening, but it has been cancelled. So we changed our weekend plans because of the cancellation.

We still grabbed lunch from Vancouver Christmas Market, and our first bite of food for the day was from Cheese Me Raclette.

It's so fun to see cheese bubble and melt and then be scraped off over boiled potatoes and ham.

Classic Raclette inside the Vancouver Christmas Market
Swiss Raclette cheese, melted over mashed potatoes over herbed smoked ham, potatoes, baby dill pickles, and pearl onions.

Classic Raclette

The Classic Raclette is delicious but not flavourful enough to order it a second time. On the other hand, their Cheese Me Chowder is where all the flavour is. Yum! Order it with their grilled cheese and dip it in the delicious soup.

Grilled Cheese & Soup from Cheese Me Raclette in Vancouver Christmas Market

Cheese Me Chowder
Creamy potato soup topped with cheddar flakes and croutons.

Grilled Cheese
Grilled cheese sandwich with gouda & Havarti.

The Cheese Me Chowder is creamy and comforting, perfect for cold winter days. Meanwhile, the Grilled Cheese is one note in flavour but dip it into the chowder, and it becomes a vessel of deliciousness.

This description is in front of the Cheese Me Raclette hut.

What is Raclette?

Dating from the year 1291 in the Alpine Regions of Switzerland and France, raclette (derived from the French word Racler meaning "to scrape" is food theater that roasts a vareity of fatty Raclette Cheese and scrapes them over the vessel of your choice.

Below is a list of food vendors inside the Vancouver Christmas Market we have tried so far, and we're almost done trying all of them.

#40 Bratwurst Haus #42 Das Gulasch Haus #43 Kartouffel Haus #43 Hurricane Potato #44 Chimney Cake

#46 Cheese Me Raclette #45 Das Langos Haus #47 Perogies #48 Das Smoked Haus

#53 Mr. Hotcakes #55 I Love Chocolate #60 Das Apfel Haus #61 Those Pretzels

Knedla at Vancouver Christmas Market 2022

This is the first time we've heard of Knedla when we saw a food vendor selling it at the Vancouver Christmas Market. It really shows how little we know about food from Europe.

We ordered 4 of the 5 available stuffed Knedla flavours. Unfortunately, the Traditional Plum was already sold out.

Knedla is a steamed dumpling from traditional potato dough widely available in Eastern Europe. I apologize for the terrible photos. It may look like it exploded on our plate, but it was worth the mess!

A box of four Knedla

The dough was soft, chewy, and thick. I'll happily eat that on its own or with anything - savoury and sweet. All their flavours are on the sweet side, which my hubby loves. We ordered Nutella, Cookies & Creme, Raspberry White Chocolate, and Raffaello.

Nutella Flavour Knedla

Nutella Flavour Knedla
Nutella Knedla is made for chocolate lovers. We fill our signature potato dough with the original Nutella spread, then coat it with more hazelnuts and cacao.

Our favourite, hands down, is the Raffaello. If you love coconut, this is the way to go. There's a depth of flavour.

Raffaello Knedla

Raffaelo Knedla
For coconut lovers. We fill our signature potato dough with yummy ganache of premium white chocolate, almonds, and coconut, then coat it with thinly shredded coconut.

Raspberry White Chocolate Knedla

Raspberry White Chocolate Knedla
A super refreshing, elevated taste. We fill our signature potato dough with premium white chocolate and locally sourced raspberries,             then coat it with our secret crumb coating.

The Raspberry White Chocolate and Raffaello are definitely flavours geared more towards adults, while Nutella and Cookies & Creme are more for kids or those who love sweets.

Cookies & Creme Knedla

Cookies & Creme Knedla
A fan favourite made for Oreo cookie lovers. We fill our signature potato dough with premium white chocolate mixed with dark cookie crumble the coat it with Oreo crumbs.

We'll definitely come back and try the Traditional Plum next time.

Hurricane Potato at Vancouver Christmas Market

After eating sweets, I have an intense craving for fried potatoes. Yay that there's Hurricane Potato.

Hurricane Potato in Vancouver Christmas Market

You better devour this because it's so cold that it hardens immediately.

Below is a list of food vendors inside the Vancouver Christmas Market we have tried so far:

#40 Bratwurst Haus #42 Das Gulasch Haus #43 Kartouffel Haus #43 Hurricane Potato

#44 Chimney Cake #45 Das Langos Haus #47 Perogies #48 Das Smoked Haus

#53 Mr. Hotcakes #55 I Love Chocolate #60 Das Apfel Haus #61 Those Pretzels

Chocolate Covered Pretzels at Vancouver Christmas Market

Maybe we should have ended our delicious food day with Mr. Hotcakes, but I wanted more, so we went to the I Love Chocolate hut, where they have two chocolate fountains.

We purchased the "2 Chocolate covered Pretzel rods." They gave us two chocolate-covered pretzel sticks - I chose one coated in milk chocolate while the other in dark chocolate.

2 Chocolate covered Pretzel rods

They're both delicious, but I have a bias for dark chocolate.

My hubby was upset. He repeated three times how disappointed he was that he didn't see the process of covering our order with chocolates through the chocolate fountain.

It was already wrapped in plastic. :(

Below is a list of food vendors inside the Vancouver Christmas Market we have tried so far:

#40 Bratwurst Haus #42 Das Gulasch Haus #43 Kartouffel Haus #44 Chimney Cake

#45 Das Langos Haus #47 Perogies #48 Das Smoked Haus #53 Mr. Hotcakes

#55 I Love Chocolate #60 Das Apfel Haus #61 Those Pretzels

Mr. Hotcakes at Vancouver Christmas Market

In this blog, I mentioned a few times that my hubby has a sweet tooth, while I prefer savoury things. We have tried only one sweet vendor in the Vancouver Christmas Market compared to the eight savoury-focused vendors.

#40 Bratwurst Haus #42 Das Gulasch Haus #43 Kartouffel Haus

#44 Chimney Cake #45 Das Langos Haus #47 Perogies

#48 Das Smoked Haus #60 Das Apfel Haus #61 Those Pretzels

Tonight I gave hubby a reign on which sweet vendor we should try, and he opted for Mr. Hotcakes. I hesitated because it looked a little plain, but oh boy! I am happy to be wrong. Don't judge a food by its picture on a poster. It was delicious!

Original Hotcake with Whipped Cream from Mr. Hotcakes

It came out fresh from the girdle, still hot! We chose the Original Hotcake with Whipped Cream, and both agreed this would work well with ice cream. More reason to come back!

The hotcake was soft, while the whipped cream provided a subtle sweetness, and when we reached the bottom, we discovered it was stuffed with sugar(?). All you need to know is it's delicious and deserves a line!

Perogies in Vancouver Christmas Market

After my weekend suffering from stomach ache resulting in throwing up, I think the food gods want to reward me with a happy food day. The stews at Das Gulasch Haus were terrific, and the perogies inside the Vancouver Christmas Market are delicious too.

Potato & Cheddar Perogies
Served with crumbled farmer's sausage from Rempel Meats in Abbotsford, grilled onions, sour cream, and sauerkraut.

The Potato & Cheddar Perogies were perfectly cooked. One side is crispy, while the inside is soft and chewy. But the epic bite includes the crumbled sausage and grilled onion dipped in sour cream, followed by a fork full or sauerkraut. I wish I didn't have to share the perogies with my husband.

Below is a list of food vendors inside the Vancouver Christmas Market we have tried so far:

#40 Bratwurst Haus #42 Das Gulasch Haus #43 Kartouffel Haus

#44 Chimney Cake #45 Das Langos Haus #47 Perogies

#48 Das Smoked Haus #60 Das Apfel Haus #61 Those Pretzels

Beef Stew and Potato Stew at Vancouver Christmas Market

It's the last day of November, and I am slowly feeling much better. I had stomach pain over the weekend, which included throwing up and frequent visits to the bathroom. But I am feeling so much better today, and to celebrate, we visited the Vancouver Christmas Market.

Our first stop is Das Gulasch Haus. We ordered both Tender Beef Stew and Vegan Potato Stew in a bread bowl.

Tender Beef Stew in a bread bowl

The Tender Beef Stew is so much more flavourful than the Vegan Potato Stew, but both are miles away from what we had in 2019. I am happy. This is my most recommended meal in the Christmas Market. Definitely at the top of my must-try list.

Vegan Potato Stew in a bread bowl

Here is a brief background and history of Gulasch displayed around the hut.

Gulasch is a delicious warming stew found primarily in Austria and Hungary, where it had its origin as a shephards dish in the 9th century.

In 19th century Vienna, the centre of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a special type of Gulasch developed with more meat and fine Hungarian paprika.

Below is a list of food vendors inside the Vancouver Christmas Market we have tried so far:

#40 Bratwurst Haus #42 Das Gulasch Haus #43 Kartouffel Haus #44 Chimney Cake

#45 Das Langos Haus #48 Das Smoked Haus #60 Das Apfel Haus #61 Those Pretzels

THOSE Pretzels from Vancouver Christmas Market

I am an obese foodie. I lost 20 lbs from my heaviest weight with slow and steady dieting.

We purchased a big bag of THOSE PRETZELS last night at the Vancouver Christmas Market, and it's so good. Their tagline is accurate, "Once you start, you can't stop." I had to put a post-it near our snack bin to remind myself of my diet.

THOSE Pretzels 🤤

My hubby's employer is having a Christmas party, and I want to lose a few more pounds before it, but boy, the pretzels are making it so difficult. 🫣

Below is a list of booths we have tried so far:

#40 Bratwurst Haus last November 12 #43 Kartouffel Haus today (November 17) #44 Chimney Cake last November 12 #45 Das Langos Haus today (November 17)

#48 Das Smoked Haus last November 12 #61 Das Apfel Haus today (November 17) #61 Those Pretzels (this post)

Non-Alcoholic Apfelwein from Apfel Haus at Vancouver Christmas Market

The non-alcoholic warm apple wine is enough to make me fall in love with my husband again.

I have been dating my husband for more than 11 years, yet today felt like a first date. We shared a warm cider, walking around the Vancouver Christmas Market on a clear, crisp, lovely evening with live Christmas carols playing in the background. It feels like I'm in a Hallmark movie without all the drama but all the love.

A cup of Apfelwein

My issue with taking pictures of drinks is it's hard to make it pretty on its own, yet here we are. The Apfelwein is the perfect non-boozy drink to keep you warm and maybe in love while inside the Vancouver Christmas Market.

Das Apfel Haus

In Germany, the translation for cider is 'Apfelwein', which means 'apple wine'.

Apfelwein was first produced in Frankfurt, due to the surrounding area being one of the richest fruit producing regions in Germany. Over time, some of the freshly pressed apple juice was allowed to fermant and become alcoholic.

Unlime American ciders, which are sweet, German cider has a tart, sour taste. This is because less preservatives and sugars are added in the process, giving it a more natural flavour.

Fun Fact: Frankfurt has become the most popular place to visit in Germany to taste Apfelwein.

Apfel Haus inside the Vancouver Christmas Market

Below is a list of vendors we have tried so far in the Vancouver Christmas Market:

#40 Bratwurst Haus last November 12 #43 Kartouffel Haus today (November 17) #44 Chimney Cake last November 12

#45 Das Langos Haus today (November 17) #48 Das Smoked Haus last November 12 #61 Das Apfel Haus (This Post)

Classic Langos from Das Langos Haus (#45) in Vancouver Christmas Market 2022

After sharing a kartoffelpuffer, hubby and I decided to order and try a Langos.

According to the description near the menu, "Not a pizza. My big brothers are the Elephant Ears, little sisters the Beaver Tails. I'm the Hungarian Langos.

Classic Langos
Garlic powder, sour cream, cheese, bacon, and green onion.

It is essentially deep-fried dough with savoury topping. You also have the option to put Nutella to make it a dessert.

I love the fried dough - greasy and flavourful, but the real winner is the green onion. It elevates the whole dish, so it's not just creamy from the cheese and sour cream or salty from the bacon but actually delicious.

It's a bit messy because you eat it with your hands like a pizza, so be prepared to have greasy fingers afterwards.

#45 Das Langos Haus

Below is a list of booths we have tried so far:

• #40 Bratwurst Haus last November 12
• #43 Kartouffel Haus today (November 17)
• #44 Chimney Cake last November 12
• #45 Das Langos Haus (This Post)
• #48 Das Smoked Haus last November 12

Kartoffelpuffer from Kartouffel Haus (#43) in Vancouver Christmas Market 2022

After a fun evening at the Lighting Ceremony of St. Paul's Hospital Lights of Hope, we decided to walk to the Vancouver Christmas Market in Jack Poole Plaza. We have Seasons Pass, which means unlimited entry.

I am so glad we went. There's a minimal crowd, and everything feels so spacious.

For our first meal, we went for the Kartouffel Haus and ordered the Kartoffelpuffer with smoked salmon, and brie cheese served with apple sauce and sour cream.

Kartoffelpuffer with Smoked Salmon and Brie Cheese

Kartoffelpuffer (German Potato Pancake) with smoked salmon and brie cheese

The potato is pretty bland, but the melted brie cheese, salty smoked salmon, and sweet apple sauce provide all the flavour the German Potato Pancake needs.

The line is long here because everyone wants a stick of the hurricane potato sold at the same booth (#43).

#43 Hurricane Potato and Kartoffel Haus

Below is a list of booths we have tried so far:

• #40 Bratwurst Haus last November 12
• #43 Kartouffel Haus (This Post)
• #44 Chimney Cake last November 12
• #48 Das Smoked Haus last November 12

Cinnamon Sugar Chimney Cake from Transylvanian Chimney Cake (#44) in Vancouver Christmas Market

I don't think people follow my blog except for my husband (Hi, Love!). But if you do, you will know I had a delicious chimney cake from Budapest Bakeshop during our vacation in Ontario. I want that in Vancouver. So I had high hopes when I saw one of the vendors at the Vancouver Christmas Market selling chimney cakes.

Chimney Cake with Cinnamon Sugar as topping

I had the original in Budapest Bakeshop, so I thought going with Cinnamon Sugar would recreate the same flavour, but the cinnamon flavour is a bit too strong for me. The chimney cake is also not as layered as I expected. 

Meat Sandwiches from Das Smoked Meat Haus (#48) in Vancouver Christmas Market 2022

We're at the opening day and hour of Vancouver Christmas Market 2022 for the season, and after enjoying the Farmer Sausage from Bratwurst Haus, we went to Das Smoked Meat Haus. The "Continental Sausage" sign on their booth gave the impression that they also sell sausages or bratwurst.

Since they only have two sandwiches on their menu, we ordered both in their original sizes. The Original Size is substantial already. Now I wonder how big the Grande Size is.

Original Smoked Meat Sandwich
Bonjour! Visions of Montreal smoked meat dancing in your head! The king of deli sandwiches starts with Canada Grade A Beef Brisket, cured, seasoned with a secret family recipe, then slowly smoked and sliced paper thin.

Original Roast Beef Au Jus Sandwich
Mouth-watering Canada Grade A Beef is seasoned and slow-roasted for hours, sliced thin, and dipped in au jus before it's served on a brioche bun.

Both sandwiches are delicious. Hubby preferred the Smoked Meat, while I love the Roast Beef. I'll be happy to order either again.

Farmer Sausage from Bratwurst Haus (#40) | Vancouver Christmas Market 2022

Happy Saturday! Hubby and I went to the opening day of the Vancouver Christmas Market. We purchased the Season Pass to come back to continue exploring the food offerings inside.

Our first bite of food is from Bratwurst Haus. We entered during the first hour of opening, and they're the first food stall in the line. The first drink vendor with a line is the Pyramid.

Farmer Sausage from Bratwurst Haus in Vancouver Christmas Market 

The Farmer Sausage was peppery and was perfectly cooked with a snappy skin and juicy interior. The sauerkraut is an excellent addition as a palate cleanser, so you can just keep digging in.

Farmer Sausage
150-year-old traditional Transilavian family recipe smoked with applewood

Hubby chose the Farmer Sausage because it's a 150-year-old recipe. He's also eyeing the bacon-wrapped one, maybe next time!

Kwek-Kwek from Plato Filipino | "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!"

"Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" is an annual Christmas Market organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver. It's my first time going with my husband, mom, and younger sister this year.

Where to get Kwek-Kwek in Vancouver?

Plato Filipino is such a happy store. My mom, sister, and I ordered a lot of dishes. I had to stop myself at three while my mom just kept pointing at everything. 🤣

I ordered turon. It's my favourite Filipino dessert and I got lumpiang shanghai as well because why not and right before we leave their booth outside has kwek-kwek and barbecue. My sister was excitedly saying, "Ate, kwek-kwek! Kwek-kwek!" 🤣

Kwek-Kwek and Lumpiang Shanghai

Turon

I placed all items we purchased in the air fryer. It came out perfect as expected.

Taho from O! Taho | "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!"

"Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" is an annual Christmas Market organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver. It's my first time going with my husband, mom, and younger sister this year.

Where to get taho in Vancouver?

Last week, we enjoyed taho from Sago Togo, and today we ordered some from O! Taho. Today's taho is closer in taste and smell than what you will get from the Philippines. The syrup is sweeter than the one from Sago Togo, and the tofu itself is also silkier, but the pearls are not the small ones you expect.

Taho from O! Taho

A perfect taho would be tofu and syrup from O! Taho, but sago pearls from Sago Togo.

Caldereta and Lechong Paksiw from Pampanga's Cuisine | "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!"

"Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" is an annual Christmas Market organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver. It's my first time going with my husband, mom, and younger sister this year.

On the right of Mr. Siopao de Langley is Pampanga's Cuisine. 

They have a combo of one rice and a choice of available viand. I selected calderetang baka while the hubby chose the lechong paksiw. 

Lechon Paksiw
Roasted pork cooked in Lechon sauce.

Caldereta
A mild spicy beef stew is cooked in herbs, tomato sauce, potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers.

Both are delicious, but the best part is that they sell balut. We haven't had it in a long time. Balut is a Philippine delicacy that we don't seek out, but when available, you occasionally have. 

Bola Bola Siopao from Mr. Siopao de Langley | "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!"

"Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" is an annual Christmas Market organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver. It's my first time going with my husband, mom, and younger sister this year.

After going through the temperature and vaccine card check, the first food booth to welcome you is Mr. Siopao de Langley. I ordered five (one bag) of bola-bola siopao.

Mr. Siopao de Langley

I will update this post once we enjoy the siopao.

Bola-Bola Siopao Update

The Bola-Bola Siopao from Mr. Siopao de Langley tasted like something you will get from the Philippines. I wish I had some sauce to go with it though.

Bola-Bola Siopao

If you're in Langley, then this is definitely a good siopao place, but since I am in Vancouver I still love the Bola-Bola siopao from Bao Bakery.

Though, I did find The Bao Place in Burnaby near Metrotown. I'll definitely check them out and compare if they are any better than the Bao Bakery.

Puto Bumbong from Max's Restaurant | "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!"

"Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" is an annual Christmas Market organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver. It's my first time going this year, with my husband, mom, and younger sister.

The first food truck we saw outside was Max's Restaurant. You should see how giddy my sister was at the thought of Max's fried chicken.

Max's Restaurant Food Truck

Perusing the menu, I knew I would order the pork barbecue and palabok, then at the bottom of the menu was puto bumbong. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find puto bumbong in Vancouver? I ordered two of the purple rice cake.

It was delicious and nostalgic for Christmas back in the Philippines.

Puto Bumbong

Pork barbecue and palabok

The barbecue was thicker cut, and the palabok was okay as well. However, I prefer both dishes from elsewhere.

We had our Max's food-to-go and enjoyed it in our home with Mama and my younger sister.

Where to buy Puto Bumbong in Metro Vancouver?

Honestly, I have no idea. I am reviewing the Max's Restaurant menu in Vancouver and it seems like the puto bumbong we had is a one-time thing. I will update this post once I found a vendor.

Update:

I found a Facebook vendor selling Filipino snacks and rice cakes: KakaNinz! Her menu includes puto bumbong. I'll order from her, but she's pick-up only. I'll see what I can do.