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!

Hazelnut Cream Puff from Giovane Caffè

Today is our last official day in the office together before we all head off to work from home until January 6th. As a team lead, I wanted to do something special to wrap up the year, so I decided to treat everyone to some sweets!

We originally had our hearts set on some adorable cakes from Daan Go Cake Lab, but unfortunately they had to cancel our order. I guess the "Pigs in a Blanket" cakes were just too popular and sold out! Luckily, Giovane Caffè, right in our building's lobby, came to the rescue.

Hazelnut Cream Puff from Giovane Caffè

I’ll be honest: I haven’t always been a fan of their savory sandwiches, and I used to think their desserts gave Italian sweets a bit of a bad name. However, the Hazelnut Cream Puff I picked up today actually changed my mind! It featured a chewy pastry shell filled with a luscious, sweet hazelnut cream that paired perfectly with a hot cup of tea. It was the ideal companion as we spent the afternoon tidying our desks for the year.

Looking back, 2025 has been a year of growth and challenges. From the difficulty of letting go of my first direct report to the excitement of hiring and training someone new, it’s been a learning curve. A major highlight was definitely getting to visit our office in Cork, Ireland, and finally meeting the team there in person!

I am so grateful to our Almighty Lord for my job and this company. Cheers to a restful break and to giving my absolute best again in 2026!

For future me, here's a running list of everything I've tried from Giovane Caffè so far:

• Breakfast Wrap
• Caprese
• Frittata Panino
• Hazelnut Cream Puff
• Manzo
• Prosciutto 

Yaletown Sunshine from Ignite Pizzeria

Happy Thursday! Today marked our final company-paid team lunch for 2025, and we decided to celebrate the end of the year with a local Vancouver favorite: Ignite Pizzeria.

I ordered the Yaletown Sunshine, and it reminded me exactly why I love their style. They do a thin, chewy crust perfectly! This particular pizza was a vibrant mix of flavors: tangy tomato sauce, creamy vegan mozzarella, earthy spinach, briny artichokes, and smoky fire-roasted tomatoes.

Yaletown Sunshine from Ignite Pizzeria
Tomato sauce, vegan mozzarella, spinach, artichoke, fire-roasted tomato 

It was the perfect, light-yet-satisfying way to end the year on a high note with the team.

I’ve been to Ignite a few times now and they never disappoint. For future reference, here is the running list of pizzas I’ve tried from them so far:

Carnivore Pizza 

• Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto

Herbivore + Vegan Pizza

• Masala Magic
• Yaletown Sunshine

Testing Out Yar Café (Soft Opening Review!)

Happy Saturday! I absolutely love lazy weekends with no errands in sight. After sleeping in and enjoying a relaxing brunch at home, I decided it was time to hunt down a new coffee shop to hang out and finally be productive (time to write some blog posts!).

Mocha from Yar Café

During my search, a new spot called Yar Café popped up on Google Maps in West Broadway, right near the old Toys R' Us location. They are still in their soft opening phase, having only started their journey two weeks ago. It's so exciting to catch a new business early! Naturally, I ordered too much! Here's the rundown:

I started with an 8 oz Mocha, which was definitely on the bitter side. I paired it with the gorgeous Pistachio Kunafa Croissant. Inside, the croissant was packed with crunchy, sweet, shredded pastry (kunafa) soaked in a sugary syrup. Unfortunately, the croissant itself tasted stale. A quick reheat would have brought it back to life, I think.

Pistachio Kunafa Croissant from Yar Café

A quick peek inside the Pistachio Kunafa Croissant from Yar Café

Then, Hubby joined me straight from his dental appointment, and we ordered three more things! The Iced Persian Latte was super pretty, strong, and bitter—perfect for a late afternoon jolt. We also grabbed their Beef Sandwich for a late lunch, which was packed with sliced beef, a house sauce, peppery arugula, tomato, and Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses. It was a delicious, satisfying sandwich, though not exactly mind-blowing.

Iced Persian Latte from Yar Café

Beef Sandwich (House-style) from Yar Café
Sliced beef, house sauce, arugula, tomato, Monterey Jack, and cheddar cheese

Finally, we tried the Tiramisu Danish. It featured sweet tiramisu filling inside what should have been a flaky pastry, but sadly, the bread was stale again, which was really disappointing.

Tiramisu Danish from Yar Café

My verdict for future me (and you!): Definitely order their drinks, which are unique and strong. But for now, until they sort out the freshness, skip the food!

Bubble Waffle from Cha House

I was still feeling a little hungry after our quick dinner at Edo Japan and well, the craving was real!

We headed over to Cha House immediately for a dessert fix. I ordered their signature Bubble Waffle, and it was exactly what I needed to finish off the night. It was absolutely perfect: soft, wonderfully pillowy, and perfectly sweet.

Bubble Waffle from Cha House

Instant happiness! What a delicious end to a long, busy Friday.

Sukiyaki Beef Bento and Crispy Tofu Bento from Edo Japan

Happy Friday! It was a very long day; I worked in the office today because we're totally swamped finishing up year-end tasks. After finally clocking out and before we tackled some Christmas shopping, we grabbed a quick dinner at Edo Japan in their Pacific Centre location.

Hubby was in a classic mood and went for the Sukiyaki Beef Bento. It was a huge plate featuring tender, savory Sukiyaki Beef, plus a satisfying little mix of sides: four pieces of Cali Roll and two crunchy pieces of Tempura Shrimp.

Sukiyaki Beef Bento from Edo Japan with 2-piece Tempura Shrimp and 4-piece Cali Roll

Meanwhile, my tofu phase is still going strong! I ordered the Crispy Tofu Bento. My plate came with perfectly golden and crispy cubes of tofu drizzled with a sweet and savory sauce, plus two spring rolls and two flavorful gyoza.

Crispy Tofu Bento from Edo Japan with 2-piece Spring Roll and 2-piece Gyoza

Everything on my plate was great, especially the tofu and the gyoza! However, here's a note for future visits: skip the spring rolls. They didn't have much flavor, and honestly, the crispy tofu is more than enough to satisfy that fried craving.

After that quick fuel-up, we are ready to hit the shops!

Company Christmas Party from JOEY Burrard

Happy Wednesday and Merry Christmas! Today was our company Christmas party, and it was a blast. We started the evening by spending a fun 90 minutes being kids again, playing all the best arcade games at The Rec Room!

After all that competitive energy, we took a leisurely stroll over to the JOEY Burrard location for dinner. This was my first time dining at JOEY, and I was so excited to see how they stack up against classic Vancouver spots like The Keg, Earls, and Cactus Club. (This is my third Christmas party with my current employer; we did Cactus Club first, The Keg last year, and now JOEY!)

I started with the Korean Fried Cauliflower, and honestly, my mind was blown. I was chatting and taking a few bites, and then it dawned on me: this is not chicken! I seriously had to bite into the middle to double-check that it was actually cauliflower. The flavor was spot-on, and the texture was shockingly like chicken.

Korean Fried Cauliflower from JOEY Burrard
Sweet & spicy Koren chili glaze, pickled fresnos, watermelon radish

For my main dish, I went for the Herb Crush Salmon with truffle beurre blanc, preserved tomatoes, creamy mashed potatoes, and snap peas. I know, I'm that unusual person who orders salmon even when the restaurant is known for steak! While it was fresh and beautifully plated, it wasn't super flavorful. I have to say, The Keg's salmon dish still holds the top spot for me.

Herb Crush Salmon from JOEY Burrard
Truffle beurre blanc, preserved tomatoes, creamy mushroom potatoes, and snap peas

To end the meal, I ordered the Warm Italian Donuts with vanilla mascarpone cream and lemon curd. They were pillowy soft and perfectly tart... but man, it was disappointing that they weren't actually warm.

Warm Italian Donuts from JOEY Burrard
Vanilla mascarpone cream and lemon curd

Overall, it was a fun day of celebrating! Now, I know which of the big three has the best salmon.

Boneless Chicken Thighs and Skewers from Nando's

For dinner tonight, we decided on some flame-grilled deliciousness and headed over to Nando's at their Davie Street location. We always love their signature peri peri chicken!

Boneless Chicken Thigh with Spiced Rice and PERI-Fries from Nando's

Hubby went with the classic combo: the Two Boneless Thighs served with a side of Spiced Rice and PERI-Fries. Meanwhile, I opted for the Chicken Thigh Skewers, accompanied by sides of Golden Cauliflower and Roasted Brussel Sprouts.

Chicken Thigh Skewers with Golden Cauliflower and Roasted Brussel Sprouts from Nando's

It was a great meal overall, but I have a few notes for my next visit (and for anyone else planning a trip!):

• Spice Level: I think the sweet spot is definitely the third level of spice (Medium or Hot, depending on how they name it that day!). Anything higher is just spicy without enough flavor to truly enjoy the chicken and the marinade.
  
  
• Sides: Next time, I'm going to skip the cauliflower; it was just a little too saucy and rich, and the chicken is definitely the star of the show. The Peri Peri Rice is a must-have, though! It works so perfectly with the chicken and is a great vehicle for the sauce.

A solid dinner date! I'm already looking forward to my next peri peri fix.

PERI-PERI Chicken

• Chicken Thigh Skewers
• 2 Boneless Thighs

Sides

• PERI-Fries
• Spiced Rice
• Golden Cauliflower
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Creamy Classic Tori Paitan from JINYA Ramen Bar

Happy Thursday! It was a chilly day, which meant the theme for team lunch could not have been more perfect: Ramen!

We took a quick walk over to our usual spot, Jinya Ramen, which is always a reliable choice for a cozy lunch. I decided to branch out from my usual favorites and ordered the Chef's special of the month: the Creamy Classic Tori Paitan.

Creamy Classic Tori Paitan from JINYA Ramen Bar
Chicken broth: chicken chashu, dehydrated tomato, enoki mushroom tempura, seared corn rib, spinach, butter and chili thread. Served with thick noodles.

Wow, it was delicious! The broth was incredibly comforting and rich (exactly what I needed on a colder day). I especially enjoyed the unexpected addition of the dehydrated tomato. It provided a wonderful, tangy contrast to the rich, creamy texture of the tori paitan broth. Overall, this was a surprisingly successful and delicious Chef's special. Definitely one I recommend if it pops up again!

I've had quite a few bowls here over the years. Below is a list of the ramen dishes I've enjoyed at Jinya so far:

• Creamy Classic Tori Paitan
• JINYA Chicken Ramen
• JINYA Tonkotsu Black
• JINYA Tonkotsu Original 2010*
• Karaage Chicken Ramen
• Premium Tonkotsu Red
• The Red Garnet Ramen
• Spicy Chicken Ramen
• Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen
• Spicy Umami Miso Ramen
• Vegan Red Fire Opal

Hot Chocolate Date at The Belgian Chocolate Cafe

Today was a big day! We had a noon meeting with RBC to finalize our mortgage (huge relief!), and now we have about three hours to kill before BC Place opens its gates for the Whitecaps game. Our first stop for a mid-afternoon treat? The Belgian Chocolate Cafe!

We've actually known about this cozy little spot for years, but we've never properly had the chance to stop by. It was the perfect little "hot chocolate date" to celebrate the mortgage finalization and fuel up for the game.

Hot Chocolate from The Belgian Chocolate Cafe

Butter Croissant from The Belgian Chocolate Cafe

For my order, I kept it classic with a Hot Chocolate and a perfectly flaky Butter Croissant. Hubby, naturally, went for something a bit sweeter, choosing the rich Hazelnut Hot Chocolate alongside a beautiful Pistachio Croissant.

Hazelnut Hot Chocolate from The Belgian Chocolate Cafe

Pistachio Croissant from The Belgian Chocolate Cake

It was such a fun, cozy break. Now I have a serious sugar and chocolate rush! I think I might have too much energy before the game kicks off. Now the real question is: where should we go next to kill the last hour?

Tofu Teriyaki from Kinkura Sushi + Sake

I keep having long days at work. I enjoy it, but I'm absolutely exhausted by the end of the day. For dinner, we stopped by Kinkura Sushi in Davie before walking home.

Dinner at Kinkura Sushi + Sake

I ordered a healthy Tofu Teriyaki while hubby got the Giant Chicken Katsu.

Tofu Terkiyaki from Kinkura Sushi + Sake

I love their teriyaki tofu, especially the sautéed vegetables at the bottom that are covered in the teriyaki sauce. Hubby's katsu is huge, but we both think the pork version is better there.

Giant Chicken Katsu from Kinkura Sushi + Sake

For sharing, we ordered the Chef's Roll, which was totally unexpected. Instead of seaweed, they use a rice wrapper (like what you get on a Vietnamese summer roll). Inside is fresh seaweed and cucumber, all covered in a sweet umami sauce.

Chef Roll from Kinkura Sushi + Sake
Rice paper, tuna, sockeye salmon, ebi, chopped scallop, avo, and cucumber

It was such a delicious dinner. For future me, below is a list menu items you've tried at Kinkura so far:

• Giant Chicken Katsu
• Giant Tonkatsu
• Regular Chicken Karaage
• Takoyaki
• Salmon Teriyaki
• Tofu Teriyaki

Mushroom Mozza Mama Burger from A&W

The burger phase continues as hubby and I grabbed lunch at A&W today.

Hubby went for the seasonal Mushroom Mozza Mama burger. While it doesn't look very appetizing, if you're a mushroom lover, this fast food burger is worth a try.

Mushroom Mozzarella Mama Burger from A&W
Sink your teeth into the deliciousness of cremini mushrooms, real mozzarella cheese, grilled onions and grainy Dijon aioli, all topped on succulent grass-fed beef.

Meanwhile, I got the Spicy Chicken Burger. Hubby said it looked a bit sad. I don't think there's any sauce on it. It was just a good chicken strip, tomato, and lettuce in between two soft buns.

Spicy Chicken Burger from A&W

We got our usual side of onion rings and sweet potato fries.

Below is a list of menu items we've tried from A&W for future reference:

Breakfast

• All Canadian Special
• Bacon & Egger
• Classic Bacon & Eggs
• Pancakes with Syrup
• Sausage & Egger

Burgers

• Baby Burger
• Cheddar Bacon Uncle Burger
• Mama Burger
• Mozza Burger
• Mushroom Mozza Mama Burger
• Spicy Piri-Piri Buddy Burger
• Teen Burger

Sides

• KitKat Turnover (limited time)
• Onion Rings
• Poutine
• Russet Thick-Cut Fries
• Sweet Potato Fries with Chipotle Mayonnaise
• Whistle Dog

Chicken

• BLT Chicken Cruncher
• Chicken Nuggets (limited time)
• Chicken Strips
• Chubby Chicken Cruncher
• Masala Veggie Burger
• Nashville Hot Chicken Cruncher
• Spicy Chicken Burger

Smokehouse Burger from Browns Socialhouse

I'm going through a burger phase, which means ordering Smokehouse Burger from Browns Socialhouse when we had team lunch there today to welcome a new colleague.

Smokehouse Burger from Browns Socialhouse
Cheddar, bacon, caramelized shallot, iceberg lettuce, tomato, pickle, BBQ sauce, and chipotle aioli

The barbecue sauce was excellent in the burger, but I feel like Burger Crush ruined burgers for me. This is good, don't get me wrong, but it's not the best burger in the world.

Double Spicy Tuna Special Roll from Masa Japanese Restaurant

Happy Saturday! We attended Sunday's anticipated mass this evening and attended the Rising Hope Concert in support of Sancta Maria. Afterwards, we had dinner at Masa Japanese Restaurant, focusing on their appetizers and getting one special roll.

Ebi Katsu from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Deep fried breaded prawn with sauce

We ordered their Ebi Katsu, Croquette, and Pork Gyoza. They're all delicious! The pork gyoza is crispy on the outside and perfectly seasoned on the inside, which contrasts the soft and sweet croquette. Then, fresh shrimp coated by panko breading.

Croquette from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Deep fried breaded mashed squash with sauce

Pork Gyoza from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Deep fried dumplings with pork

Afterwards, I was still feeling hungry, so we chose the Double Spicy Tuna Special Roll, and it is spicy. Whew!

Double Spicy Tuna Special Roll from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Spicy tuna, cucumber roll with spicy crabmeat, Tempura flakes on top with spicy mayo

It's a happy dinner supporting our local small business. For future reference, below is a list of menu items we've tried from Masa.

Bento Box

• Teriaki (Beef) Bento Box
• Veggie Bento

Donburi (Rice Bowl)

• Chicken Katsu
• Unagi Don

Japanese Curry

• Assorted Katsu Curry
• Beef Curry
• Chicken Curry
• Shrimp Curry
• Veggie Curry

K-Meal (Korean Food)

• Bulgogi Jeongol
• Kimchi Fried Rice
• Deep Fried Chicken
• Korean Yangnyeom Chicken
• Soy Garlic Korean Boneless Chicken

Platter

• Salmon Teriyaki
• Tofu Teriyaki Platter
• Tonkatsu

Ramen

• Kara Miso Ramen
• Miso Ramen
• Shio Ramen
• Tonkatsu Ramen
• Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen

Special Roll

• Aburi Cheese Monster Roll
• Atlantic Salmon Oshi Sushi
• Crispy Jumbo Dynamite Roll
• Devil's Kiss
• Double Dragon
• Double Spicy Tuna Special Roll
• Grouse Mountain
• Juliet Roll
• Knights of the Round Table
• Romeo Roll
• Sake Bomb Roll
• Secret Garden Roll
• Tekka Bomb Roll
• Tuna Tataki Roll
• Volcano Roll (Salmon)

Starters

• Agedashi Tofu: Original and Diavolo
• Chicken Karaage
• Chicken Wings (salt and pepper with sweet chilli sauce)
• Creamy Prawn
• Croquette
• Ebi Katsu
• Gyoza (Pork)
• Gyoza (Veggie)
• Sushi Pizza: Original
• Takoyaki

Sweets

• Green Tea Mochi

Tempura

• Appetizer Tempura
• Assorted Tempura

U-Don

• Nabeyaki U-Don

Cheeseburger and Vegan Nuggets from Burger Crush

We received free burgers from Burger Crush the last time we dined here, and it's time to redeem them. For dinner tonight, we got a couple of single cheeseburgers with fries, and we also tried their vegan nuggets.

The previous two visits to this spot, I got their 'Veggie Style' Cheeseburger and Vegan Cheeseburgers, and it's not even close to how great the beef Cheeseburger is! I'm not big on burgers in general (I don't crave them) because I always thought the ratio between patty and bun was off. This is the first one that I didn't have to take a sip of my drink between bites. I love it.

Cheeseburger from Burger Crush
Brioche bun, smashed Canadian Angus beef patty, cheese, tomato, onion, lettuce, pickles, and secret crush sauce

Cheeseburger from Burger Crush

Vegan Nuggets from Burger Crush
Their house-made tofu nuggets served with Original Crush

I also surprisingly enjoyed their Vegan Nuggets. Hmmm. Who knew that tofu could be so awesome? I need more of this in my life, especially with their Original Crush Dip. I'll order this again just to try their other dips.

We'll be back since we have one more free burger card to use, and I can't wait to get more vegan nuggets.

Burger Crush has a small menu in which they specialize, and below is a list of everything we've tried.

Burgers

• Cheeseburger
• Vegan Cheeseburger
• 'Veggie Style' Cheeseburger

Fries & Sides

• French Fries (I always order them but don't take photos)
• Crush Fries
• Vegan Nuggets
• Dips
• Hot Crush
• Sweet Crush
• Herb Crush
• Original Crush (I tried it with the Vegan Nutts in this post)

Bacon Cheeseburger Fusion Dumpling from Brooklyn Dumpling Shop

I've had my eyes on the "Opening Soon" sign at the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop on Robson Street, and after what feels like a couple of years, they're finally open! For today's team lunch, the chosen theme is dumplings, and of course, we had to give this spot a try.

Bacon Cheeseburger Fusion Dumpling from Brooklyn Dumpling Shop

I got their Bacon Cheeseburger dumpling, and it's so unusual that I don't know how to feel about it. It's deep-fried dumplings filled with beef. It doesn't really taste like a burger because there's no lettuce. There's supposed to be bacon, cheese, ketchup, and onion, but none of those flavours came through. Okay, maybe I did taste a bit of cheese, but it's still just all beef.

I ordered their waffle fries as my side too, and it was alright. I'm willing to give them another try and will probably order one of their Classic Dumplings.

Original and Deluxe Sandwich from Popeyes

I feel like a headless chicken at work, and a chicken sandwich from Popeyes seems like the perfect dinner.

Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Popeyes

We ordered combo 1 and 2 from their menu, which are the Original Sandwich and Deluxe Sandwich, respectively. The Deluxe Sandwich comes with lettuce and tomatoes to make you feel less guilty for munching on crispy, juicy chicken. I got my Original Sandwich spicy while hubby went with a classic (i.e., no spice).

Classic Deluxe Chicken Sandwich from Popeyes

We got it with a side of Cajun Fries and Onion Rings. It was a great dinner before grabbing groceries at Costco.

Onion Rings from Popeyes

Below is a list of menu items we've tried from Popeyes.

• Cajun Fries
• Chicken Nuggets
• Chicken Sandwich (Spicy)
• Deluxe Chicken Sandwich (Classic)
• Flounder Fish Sandwich
• Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Mashed Potatoes
• Onion Rings
• Signature Chicken
• Tenders