Where Have You Bean! Vegetarian Burger from Chit Chat Burger Bar

Happy Wednesday! Our company had a mini golf team event today, and afterward, we grabbed dinner at Chit Chat Burger Bar. I went for the only vegetarian option on the menu: the Where Have You Bean! burger.

Where Have Your Bean! Vegetarian Burger from Chit Chat Burger Bar
4oz home-made bean patty, brioche bun, green leaf lettuce, cucumber, cheese, caramelized onions, ketchup, and garlic aioli

As you might expect from the name, it's a bean-centric burger. The patty has a mushy texture and, well, tastes like beans. But I rather enjoyed it since I'm a fan of beans.

Where Have Your Bean! Vegetarian Burger from Chit Chat Burger Bar

I'll definitely be back to try their other burgers with my hubby next time.

The OG vs Turkey Day from Big Star Sandwich

Happy Saturday! We did something for the first time today. We went on Open Houses to see what homes (condos or townhouses) are within our price range and those way beyond. The whole exercise felt depressing and made me feel poor. As always, to make me feel better, we grabbed lunch. We decided to try Big Star Sandwich, which is a BC-born chain. The menu and choices are extensive, with over 30 sandwiches!

I chose the Turkey Day (sandwich #01) because it's the first sandwich on the list. With that many choices, going by chronological order seemed like a good idea. It was a delicious sandwich with slices of turkey deli meat and cranberry sauce. It's like Thanksgiving between bread.

#01 Turkey Day from Big Star Sandwich 
Turkey, house-made stuffing, cranberry sauce & cranberry mayo

Meanwhile, hubby went for The OG (sandwich #04) because of the name. He wanted to try sandwiches with the word "Big" but The OG seemed like the best place to start, and boy was he right. It was delicious and the better one of the two sandwiches we tried. The Hickory sticks provided crunch while the lettuce and tomato added freshness. Of course, we shouldn't forget about the tender roast beef and crispy bacon.

#04 The OG from Big Star Sandiwch
Roast beef, bacon, cheddar, hickory sticks, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and deli mustard
(my husband moved the other sandwich on its side for me to see the inside)

II wonder if I should do some ranking of the many sandwiches. Possibly, the next time we visit we choose #04 as the winner of the head-to-head and choose a different sandwich to compare it with and see which one would remain standing.

Homestyle Potato Salad from Big Star Sandwich

Tomato & Roasted Pepper Soup from Big Star Sandwich

Oh, and I almost forgot that we also ordered their homestyle potato salad and tomato & roasted pepper soup. They are both good too, but the sandwich is delicious. I can't wait to come back and try the others. In this head-to-head battle of sandwich #01 Turkey Day vs. sandwich #04 The OG, the latter won!

Mixed Shawarma Plate from Jerusalem Shawarma

Happy Thursday! It's our usual company-paid team lunch, and this week's theme is Middle Eastern cuisine. We decided to walk to Jerusalem Shawarma, which is nearby.

Mixed Shawarma Plate from Jerusalem Shawarma
A generous serving of perfectly cut beef and chicken served on a bed of rice alongside a fresh portion of salad drizzled with tahini sauce

Mixed Shawarma Plate from Jerusalem Shawarma

I tried their Mixed Shawarma Plate, which includes their chicken and beef shawarma on top of rice, salad, potatoes, and hummus. It's absolutely delicious! We love this place.

Here's a list of items I've tried from here so far:

• 1 - Meat Lovers Plate
• 5 - Mixed Shawarma Plate
• 10 - Vegetarian Plate

Blueberry Cheesecake Timbits and Brown Sugar Iced Latte from Tim Hortons

After a fun shopping trip at Ikea, we decided to check out the newly opened Tim Hortons near Jacombs Road.

Brown Sugar Iced Latte from Tim Hortons

This time around, we indulged in their Blueberry Cheesecake Timbits, which are filled with a delicious blueberry jam. 

Blueberry Cheesecake Timbits from Tim Hortons

To my surprise, I also really enjoyed their Brown Sugar Iced Latte. It had the perfect balance of sweetness and wasn't overly sugary.

Steamed vs Pan-Fried Pork Buns from Peaceful Restaurant

Happy Sunday! Today is errands day, which means a stop at Canadian Superstore and Ikea. In between, we decided to stop by Peaceful Restaurant at their No. 5 Rd location in Richmond, BC for lunch. We ordered many of our usuals, so I want to focus this blog on the new items we tried: the pork buns. We ordered both cooking styles: steamed and pan-fried.

Steamed Soft Pork Buns from Peaceful Restaurant
Soft yeasty bun with a pork filling - 5 pieces

The pork buns are exactly the same, but as expected, the steamed one is super soft while the pan-fried version has a crispy bottom.

Pan-Fried Pork Buns from Peaceful Restaurant
Filled with pork and scallions, soft bun, crispy bottom - 5 pieces

I prefer the pan-fried pork buns simply because I love the contrasting texture of the buns.

Below is a list of everything we've tried from Peaceful so far:

Dim Sum 

• A01. Xiao Long Bao Steamed Buns
• A02. Steamed Soft Pork Buns
• A03. Pan-Fried Pork Buns
• A04. Peaceful Beef Rolls
• A06. Cumin Beef and Flatbread
• A12. Pan-Fried Chicken Dumplings
• A17. Deep Fry Sesame Ball

Soups

• C03. Minced Chickwn with Corn Soup

Seafood

• D03. Salted and Pepper Squid

Chicken

• E08. General Tso's Chicken

Beef

• G05. Beef and Broccoli

Vegetables

• H02. Seasonal Vegetables and Crispy Tofu

Sauce Noodles

• K02. Dan-Dan Noodles

Stir-Fried Noodles

• L01. Mu-Shu Stir-Fried Noodles
• L05. Shanghai Stir-Fried Noodles

Rice Dishes

• M01. Peaceful House Stir-Fried Rice
• M02. Yang-Zhou Stir-Fried Rice

Maple Brown Butter Scrambled Egg Loaded Croissant from Tim Hortons

Happy Sunday morning! As part of our routine, we grabbed breakfast at Tim Hortons. However, today is a little bit different, since I noticed in the app that they are promoting two new breakfast sandwiches: Scrambled Egg Loaded Croissant and a version with maple brown butter sauce. I ordered both sandwiches: double stacked, meaning it has both bacon and sausage.

Sausage & Bacon Double Stacked Scrambled Egg Loaded Croissant from Tim Hortons

The Scrambled Egg Loaded Croissant, even without maple brown butter, was delicious. I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed a slightly crispy croissant with a chewy interior. Meanwhile, the maple brown butter sauce provided a sweetness to the savoury dish.

Maple Brown Butter Sausage & Bacon Double Stacked Scrambled Egg Loaded Croissant from Tim Hortons

I loved both and will order them again if they are offered with a discount in our offers.

Maple Brown Butter Sausage & Bacon Double Stacked Scrambled Egg Loaded Croissant from Tim Hortons

Jalapeno Cheesesteak from Meat & Bread

Happy Thursday! It's team lunch day again, and you know what that means - a theme: sandwiches and a visit to Meat & Bread.

Jalapeno Cheesesteak from Meat & Bread
Jalapeno cheesesteak, shredded brisket, provolone cheese, pickled jalapenos, and seared onions

Today, I decided to go with their featured sandwich: Jalapeño Cheesesteak. The shredded brisket was succulent and tender, covered by the creamy and perfectly melted Provolone cheese. Meanwhile, the tangy heat of pickled jalapeños cuts through any greasiness, allowing you to take another bite. Lastly, the sweetness of seared onions, all between crispy ciabatta (I think) bread, is a delicious masterpiece.

Below is a list of sandwiches from Meat & Bread that I have tried so far.

Featured (Seasonal) Sandwiches

• Gyoza Pulled Pork
• Jalapeno Cheesesteak 
• Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese
• Steak Frites

Classi Sandwiches

• Buffalo Chicken
• Meatball
• Porchetta

Angus Aloha Burger from Jollibee

I was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to Canada almost 10 years ago. I grew up with Jollibee, which is why it gives me so much joy when Filipino cuisine gets selected for company-paid team lunch and our primary option is Jollibee.

I have tried many things from their menu (see end of post!) but today I enjoyed their Palabok with two-piece spicy Chicken Joy.

Palabok Fiesta from Jollibee

Then, for dinner, hubby and I came back to Jollibee when we enjoyed their new Angus Aloha Burger. It's as delicious as it sounds.

Angus Aloha Burger from Jollibee

Of course, we ended our meal with Peach Mango Pie and Ube Pie. I knew that I would enjoy the Peach Mango Pie, but I surprised myself with how much I love the Ube Pie. It's not food coloring! It tastes like Ube Halaya.

Peach Mango Pie from Jollibee

Ube is gaining popularity globally, but half the time, they're just purple coloring labeled Ube, so trying something that actually tastes sweet and not just coloring makes me happy.

Ube Pie from Jollibee

Below is a list of Jollibee food items I have tried in Canada.

• Jolly Crispy Chicken (in the Philippines, we call this Chicken Joy)
• Deluxe Spicy Chicken Sandwich
• Aloha Yamburger
• Angus Aloha Burger
• Cheesy Yumburger
• Jolly Spaghetti
• Palabok Fiesta
• Jolly Crispy Fries
• Steamed Rice
• Gravy
• Peach Mango Pie
• Ube Pie
• Pineapple Quencher

Pad Thai and Green Curry from Thai Away Home

Thai Away Home is our go-to Thai food source for company-paid team lunch, but my husband hasn't tried their delicious food. For lunch today, we went to City Square Shopping Centre with my parents.

Combo for 2 from Thai Away Home
Crispy wontons, green salad, hot and sour broth (not in photo), pad Thai, and green curry with jasmine white rice

Hubby and I got the combo for two, which came with crispy wontons, green salad, and hot and sour broth. Hubby chose the pad Thai while I went for my favorite green curry. We also shared Thai Iced Tea.

Pistachio Qottab, Pistachio & Berries Roll, and so much more from Bahar Bakery & Cafe

When I first tried Bahar early this year, my first thought was, "I'd love to bring my parents here." My dad loves coconut-based sweets while my mom enjoys pistachios. That dream came true today.

Coffee Date at Bahar Bakery & Cafe

I'm on annual leave, and my parents decided to attend the first Friday mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral. After Mass and lunch, I was finally able to bring them to Bahar.

Pistachio & Berries Roll from Bahar Bakery & Cafe

Pistachio & Cranberry Cookies from Bahar

We ordered everything I wanted them to try, and as I hoped, they enjoyed the treats and drinks. My dad loves sitting in coffee shops and people-watching, so we spent a few minutes doing that.

Tres Leches from Bahar Bakery & Cafe

Pistachio Qottab from Bahar Bakery & Cafe
An excellent replacement to the pistachio roll when it's sold out

It's a beautiful day. Thank God!

Below is a list of all sweets we have tried from Bahar so far.

• Double Chocolate Croissant
• Marble Cake
• Pistachio & Berries Roll
• Pistachio & Cranberry Cookie
• Pistachio Croissant
• Pistachio Qottab
• Tres Leches

Hot Stone Pho and Rice Noodle Beef Stew from Delicious Pho

The restaurant at 255 Robson Street has always been a pho spot, but it seems like they've changed names from Vietnamese Noodle House to Delicious Pho. Today, hubby and I met with my parents, and we had lunch at Delicious Pho because dad wanted it.

Hot Stone Pho from Delicious Pho

Hubby ordered the interesting and quite impressive Hot Stone Pho. I bet this will be perfect in winter so that your pho doesn't get too cold quickly. The array of meat and the chewy noodle is perfect. We shared and finished this one.

Beef Stew from Delicious Pho

I got the beef stew because I thought it would come with a bowl of rice. Instead, what I got is like a beef stew noodle soup. I'm not complaining because it's delicious, but I truly miss rice when it's covered by saucy beef stew.

It's always such a blessing to take the day off (I'm on annual leave today!) and spend time with my parents.

Breakfast Platter from Nablus Shawarma & Grill

Happy Thursday! I love our company-paid team lunch, especially the chosen theme for each week. It's a great excuse to try new nearby restaurants and cuisine. This week, the competition winner chose Middle Eastern food, and our office in Vancouver ran with that decision and decided to try the relatively newly opened Nablus Shawarma & Grill.

The evening before, I sent Gemini a copy of their menu and asked which dish I should order (i.e., the best one from the region). Nablus is a Palestinian restaurant (according to their website), and I haven't been to one before.

Gemini said to order the Nablus Breakfast Platter (Foul, Hummus, Falafel) for a well-rounded and authentic Palestinian breakfast/brunch experience. I followed AI and ordered it.

Nablus Breakfast Platter from Nablus Shawarma & Grill
A hearty combination of foul (fava bean stew), hummus, 4 pieces of falafel, served with fresh pita bread, pickles, and olive oil

I absolutely love their falafel. It's crispy and extremely flavourful; I dare say it's the best one in Downtown Vancouver. My previous favourite was the one from Döner Kebab in Kitsilano.

The hummus and foul (fava bean stew) were generously covered with olive oil, which felt greasy, but I can never say no to a creamy hummus. The fava bean stew is new to me, and since I have zero idea what it should taste like, I can't say if it's any good. I'm not a fan of it, though.

I usually don't order drinks from restaurants but needed to try Laban Ayran, which is a yogurt-based drink. It was tart and, well, it tastes like yogurt. I'm unsure what else they added to it, but it's great as a palate cleanser.

Will I come back to Nablus? Yes, and I'll try their Saj next time!

Meat Lovers Plate from Jerusalem Shawarma

Thursday is the ultimate cheat day. For dinner today, hubby and I went to Jerusalem Shawarma and it was packed! We ordered and shared the meat lovers plate.

It's too much food for one person! It came with so many things it's honestly overwhelming. It has rice and garlic potatoes for carbohydrates, salad topped with pita crackers to make you feel healthy, creamy hummus for extra flavor, and protein in the form of beef donair, chicken shawarma, and beef shawarma. All flavorful and delicious.

Meat Lovers Plate from Jerusalem Shawarma
Chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, and beef donair laid on a bed of rice and garlic potatoes alongside salad and hummus

Below is a list of platters I have tried from here and will continue to update this list.

• Meat Lovers Plate
• Vegetarian Plate

Vegan Kare-Kare Kulinarya Filipino Eatery

Sarap! After Mass today, we took a walk. In my head, I wanted to go to Surrey for the Filipino Fiesta Extravaganza for Filipino food. When we reached Commercial Drive (after walking from Maple Street along West Broadway), we did a quick Google search just to confirm if it was still in the same location. To my horror, hubby found out that it had been postponed.

Since I still wanted Filipino food, we walked north from Broadway to Kulinarya Filipino Eatery to get my Filipino food fix. Since it was lunch time, we were able to order from the available rice combo meals.

I went for vegan kare-kare. It's a peanut sauce-based stew that's creamy, rich, and goes exceptionally well with rice. Since it's vegan, it came with bok choy, eggplant, and green beans. The usual version comes with beef, but I have always preferred the meatless version. I asked for bagoong (fermented fish or shrimp paste) for an additional umami bomb. It's perfect. I daresay that this is the best kare-kare I've had in Vancouver.

Vegan Kare-Kare Rice Combo Meal from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery
Bok choy, eggplant, and green beans in a rich savoury peanut sauce with jasmine rice

We have had food from Kulinarya before, but it's always been delivered, so it's truly hard to assess how good the food is until enjoyed in the restaurant.

Hubby went for the lechon kawali (fried pork belly) combo with rice, liver sauce (sarsa), and pickled papaya (atchara). In general, I don't eat anything too fatty so while I appreciate the piece he shared, I hate the feeling of fat in my mouth. I did enjoy the atchara though. 

Lechon Kawali Rice Combo Meal from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery
Fried pork belly, served with sweetened liver sauce with jasmine rice, house pickled papaya, and fried egg

For sharing, we got spring rolls (lumpiang shanghai). It's perfectly crispy outside and stuffed with pork inside. I enjoy the sweet dipping sauce it came with. However, the best lumpia in Metro Vancouver is still from Little Ongpin.

Spring Rolls from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery
Hand-rolled ground pork and vegetables, with sweet chili dip

To end our already wonderful meal, we shared a classic Halo-Halo, which is perfect to beat the summer heat.

Halo-Halo from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery
Shaved ice cream with green jelly, sweet beans, tapioca, pearls, coconut jelly topped with ube ice cream, purple yam, leche flan, and pinipig 

Below is a list of the dishes we have tried from Kulinarya so far:

• Batil Patong Noodles (not in the menu)
• Beef Kaldereta
• Canton Pancit Bihon
• Cassava Cake
• Chicken Adobo
• Daing na Bangus
• Halo-Halo
• Kare-Kare
• Laing (not in menu)
• Lechon Kawali
• Spring Rolls
• Ube Brownie
• Turon (not in menu)
• Vegan Kare-Kare

Masala Magic from Ignite Pizzeria

Happy Thursday! Today's team lunch theme is pizza, and we decided to try something new by walking to Ignite Pizzeria at their Yaletown location. I went for the 10-inch (personal size) Masala Magic.

Masala Magic from Ignite Pizzeria
Tandoori sauce, mozzarella, spinach, red onion, garlic, and mixed mushroom

The tandoori sauce had a subtle flavor that played so well with the earthy mushroom and sharp onion. I really enjoyed it, but I'm excited to work my way through their pizza menu to find my favorite.

Masala Magic from Ignite Pizzeria
Tandoori sauce, mozzarella, spinach, red onion, garlic, and mixed forest mushrooms

After we'd devoured our pizza, I couldn't resist getting their tiramisu, which was heavenly and the perfect ending to a busy day (I ate it at home after dinner with my husband).

Vegan Cheeseburger and Crush Fries from Burger Crush

It's a scorching hot and sunny Tuesday. Instead of cooking at home, I asked my hubby if we could have dinner outside. He agreed, so I made him a little list of restaurants I tried as part of my company-paid team lunch that he has not yet tried. One of those places is Burger Crush.

Cheeseburger from Burger Crush
Hand-pressed beef patty

Hubby went for a single cheeseburger, which was absolutely mouthwatering. The juicy tender beef between the soft bun was covered in melty cheese. Then, you get those fresh tomatoes and lettuce. It's a classic delicious burger.

Vegan Cheeseburger from Burger Crush
House-made vegan patty served with vegan cheeseon a vegan bun

Meanwhile, I went for the Vegan Cheeseburger. It has the same fresh tomatoes and lettuce as the beef cheeseburger. However, the soft buns and melted cheese are all vegan. Thankfully, their vegan patty is not Beyond Meat or similar; they made their own, which is better. Since I'm not vegan, I'll get the cheeseburger next time since it was perfect.

Crush Fries from Burger Crush
Topped with fried onions, cheese and original Crush Sauce

We also had Crush Fries! I have been wanting to try this when I was here last time, so I'm glad to share one with my love. Their fries are almost shoestring in thickness and so crispy. The fries, onions, cheese, and sauce make it worthwhile.

Will we be back? Absolutely!

Camp Day Donut from Tim Hortons

Happy Sunday! This morning, as part of our breakfast routine, we indulged in a Camp Day Donut. While I'd like to think I'm being kind and altruistic by supporting the fundraiser, the truth is, I'll try any new donut from Tim Hortons.

Camp Day Donut from Tim Hortons

Spaghetti & Meatballs and Coconut Cream Ravioli from Basil Pasta Bar

Happy Thursday! For dinner, we stopped by Basil Pasta Bar. It's our first time eating in the restaurant since we always have their food delivered.

Spaghetti & Meatballs from Basil Pasta Bar
Spicy rose sauce with 6 meatballs, mushrooms, tomatoes, red onions & spinach. Garnished with mozzarella cheese.

Spaghetti & Meatballs from Basil Pasta Bar
Spicy rose sauce with 6 meatballs, mushrooms, tomatoes, red onions & spinach. Garnished with mozzarella cheese.

I went for the Spaghetti & Meatballs while hubby chose the Coconut Cream Ravioli.

Coconut Cream Ravioli from Basil Pasta Bar
Coconut cream sauce with chicken, mushrooms, asparagus, red onions & peas. Garnished with coconut flakes & fresh basil

Coconut Cream Ravioli from Basil Pasta Bar
Coconut cream sauce with chicken, mushrooms, asparagus, red onions & peas. Garnished with coconut flakes & fresh basil

Below is a list of House Special Pastas we have tried so far from Basil Pasta Bar:

• Pesto Shrimo Linguine
• Maple Bacon Conchiolie
• Coconut Cream Ravioli
• Spaghetti Carbonara
• BC Smoked Salmon Fettuccine
• Spaghetti & Meatballs
• Lemon Chicken Fettuccine

Crispy Tofu with Mix Vegetables over rice from Dingding Restaurant

Happy Thursday! Today's team lunch theme is Chinese food, and we decided to try out the nearby Dingding Restaurant. In an effort to make healthier choices, I opted for the lunch special: Crispy Tofu with Mixed Vegetables over rice.

Crispy Tofu with Mix Vegetables over rice from Dingding Restaurant

Double Bacon Benny and Smashed Avocado Benny at Tap and Barrel Bridges

Happy Sunday! Today, we continued our annual tradition of celebrating one of our many relationship milestones with a delicious brunch at Tap and Barrel Bridges.

As usual, we started our meal with an order of nachos to share.

Nachos from Tap and Barrel Bridges
Cumin-dusted tortilla chips, cheddar, feta, smoked mozzarella, pickled jalapeños, black olives, pico de gallo, green onion, cilantro, and sour cream

My hubby indulged in the Double Bacon Benny, which was absolutely delicious. Even though I'm not usually a big fan of bacon, I have to admit that this dish was something I'd definitely order again.

Double Bacon Benny from Tap and Barrel Bridges
Bacon, Bacon jam, poached aggs, Cajun spice, hollandaise, English muffin, garlic mayo, and micro greens with crispy potatoes

On the other hand, I opted for the healthier Smashed Avocado Benny, which is a great vegetarian option. However, I have to say that it wasn't quite as flavorful as the bacon Benny.

Smashed Avocado Benny from Tap and Barrel Bridges
Avocado, tomato, poached eggs, cajun spice, hollandaise, english muffin, garlic mayo, and micro greens with crispy potatoes

For future reference, here's a list of all the dishes we've tried from Tap and Barrel Bridges so far:

Weekend and Holiday Brunch

• Double Bacon Benny
• Smashed Avocado Benny
• Hearty Hash Bowl with southern fried chicken
• Pesto Prawn Benny (no longer in the menu)

Start and Share

• Fresh Guac & Chips
• Nachos
• Nachos with beef barbacoa

Mains

• Fried Chicken Mac & Cheese
• Creole Sirloin
• Pesto Chicken Linguine with add-on of Creole Ocean Wise Prawns (no longer in the menu)

Hand-Stretched Pizza

• Pesto Prawn Pizza (no longer in the menu)

Dessert

• Sticky Toffee Pudding