Award-Winning Irish Coffee from Vice Coffee

After breakfast, we started our official Sunday with mass at the beautiful Pro-Cathedral. Following that, I enjoyed a little essential Dublin retail therapy! I managed to snag a great belt from Penneys (the Irish name for Primark) and then found a truly beautiful, traditional scarf from Aran Sweater Market, which will be a perfect souvenir.

All that walking definitely deserved a break, so we made a return trip to Vice Coffee. My husband finally got to properly savor the Irish Coffee, a must-try on his list, while I indulged in a pastry.

Fancy Frankie Irish Coffee from Vice Coffee
Award winning Irish coffee with Teeling small batch, espresso, demarara, and spiced orange cream

I ordered their Lemon Bar, and it was exactly what I needed! It was a brilliant balance of flavors: wonderfully tart from the fresh lemon and perfectly sweet from the sugar base. After all the rich savory foods, that citrus zing was absolutely perfect.

Lemon Bar from Vice Coffee

It was a great afternoon of culture, comfort, and a little bit of indulgence.

Full Irish Breakfast and Ham & Cheese Toastie from Jay Kay's Cafe

Even with a sore throat making me feel a bit under the weather, we weren't going to miss out on one of my husband's food quests: a true Full Irish Breakfast. We made our way to Jay Kay's Cafe, a local spot that came highly recommended.

While our hotel's buffet has all the elements of a Full Irish, the difference here was immediately clear. My husband's plate was a masterpiece of flavor, with two savory pork sausages and two crispy bacon rashers. The golden fried egg was perfectly cooked, and the crispy baby potatoes were a delightful change from the usual hash browns. The plate was rounded out with a side of sweet beans, earthy fried mushrooms, a juicy grilled tomato, and some toasted sourdough bread with tangy Ballymaloe relish.

Jay's Full Irish Breakfast from Jay Kay's Cafe
Two pork sausages, black and white pudding, two bacon, fried egg, crispy baby potatoes, beans fried mushrooms, grilled tomato, and sourdough toast with Ballymaloe relish

The real standouts, however, were the black and white puddings. Unlike the gritty versions we'd tried, these were incredibly smooth and flavorful, with a wonderful, almost creamy texture.

For my breakfast, I opted for something more soothing: a ham and cheese toastie. This was a super-flattened sandwich with sweet honey and mustard-glazed ham and melted cheddar cheese on toasted bloomer bread. The tangy Ballymaloe relish was a fantastic addition, offering another beautiful depth of flavor.

Ham & Cheese Toastie from Jay Kay's Cafe
Home-baked honey and mustard glazed ham and cheddar cheese

To help combat our sore throats, we both happily ordered a Turmeric Shot. This potent little mix of organic turmeric root, ginger, apple, and cracked black pepper was just the thing we needed to start the day.

Turmeric Shot from Jay Kay's Cafe
Organic turmeric root, ginger, apple, and cracked black pepper

Despite not feeling 100%, this breakfast was a true highlight — a combination of classic Irish comfort food and a much-needed wellness boost.

Irish Stew and Boxty Platter from Gallagher's Boxty House

After a day exploring the ancient wonders of Brú na Bóinne valley and the Newgrange mound, our appetites were ready for a hearty Dublin dinner. Our initial plan was The Brazen Head, but after my fantastic experience on the food tour, we pivoted to Gallagher's Boxty House.

My husband had three key food requests for this trip: an authentic Irish stew, a proper Irish coffee, and a full Irish breakfast. For dinner, he opted for the very same Irish stew I had sampled last Friday during my food tour. It was exactly what he was hoping for: deeply savory, comforting, and packed with tender meat and vegetables.

Gallaghers Irish Stew from Gallagher's Boxty House
Lamb stew, root vegetables, potatoes, barley, and selection of bread

Meanwhile, I decided to dive headfirst into their namesake with the Gallagher's Boxty Platter. This was an incredible journey through all things boxty! The platter featured:

• Boxty Fries: While normal fries are good, these were on another level entirely. They boasted an incredibly crispy exterior with an almost unbelievably fluffy interior, a perfect potato experience.
• St Tola Goats Cheese on Boxty Loaves: The soft, tangy goat cheese paired beautifully with the tender boxty loaves.
• Pico de gallo on Boxty Loaves: This combination was interesting, though perhaps not my favorite of the bunch.
• Boxty Pancake topped with Bacon Lardons and Blue Cheese Sauce: Decadent! This was a tad too oily, but the richness of the bacon and the creamy, pungent blue cheese sauce was absolutely amazing and satisfying.
• Honey & Chilli Glazed Boxty Dumplings: These little boxty "gnocchi" were a delightful surprise. With a hint of spice and a tarty kick from the glaze, they acted as a fantastic palate cleanser amidst all the rich flavors.

Gallagher's Boxty Platter from Gallagher's Boxty House
Boxty fries, St Tolas goats cheese on boxty loaves, boxty pancake topped with bacon lardons and bluue cheese, and honey & chili glazed boxty dumplings 

The Boxty Platter was an adventurous and delicious way to explore such a versatile Irish staple. It was a perfect end to our Saturday!

Beef and Guinness Pie and Traditional Cottage Pie at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre

After a morning immersed in 5,000 years of history, visiting both Knowth mound and Newgrange, my appetite was ready for some hearty Irish comfort food. We had lunch at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, which is managed by Brambles Café, and decided on two of the classics.

First up was the Beef and Guinness Pie. It arrived warm and fragrant, and I was immediately struck by how rich it was—much more so than I expected! The gravy itself was dark and savory with the distinct, malty-bitter notes of Guinness, which added a wonderful complexity to the tender beef. It was a hearty, warming dish that's perfect on a cold Irish day.

Beef & Guinness Pie inside the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre

A peek inside the Beef & Guinness Pie inside the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre

We also sampled a Traditional Cottage Pie. This dish was the ultimate classic comfort food. It had a savory filling of minced beef and vegetables in a thick, rich gravy, all topped with a generous layer of creamy mashed potato. The crust was beautifully golden and provided the perfect, satisfying counterpoint to the soft, warm interior.

Traditional Cottage Pie inside the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre
Boyne Valley Beef with Mashed Potato top

A spoonful of Traditional Cottage Pie inside the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre

Both pies were a great way to refuel and get a true taste of traditional Irish cooking. A simple, delicious meal!

Wicklow Mutton Stew from B Bar inside The Clayton Hotel

After a day of eating out, I finally gave in to my laziness and decided to dine in at The Clayton Hotel's B Bar. I ordered the Wicklow Mutton Stew, hoping for a hearty and cozy end to my Friday.

Wicklow Mutton Stew from B Bar inside The Clayton Hotel

The stew arrived steaming hot, which was a great start. However, I was surprised to find that it was more like a soup than a thick, hearty stew.

Wicklow Mutton Stew from B Bar inside The Clayton Hotel

Despite its thin consistency, the mutton itself was incredibly flavorful, showing that it had been cooked to perfection. Unfortunately, that rich flavor didn't carry over to the broth, which was bland and under-seasoned.

Dark Mocha from Insomnia Coffee

I’m in a busy Dublin Spar, waiting for my food tasting tour to kick off, and I’ve found my little piece of morning calm: a small dark mocha from Insomnia Coffee.

Insomnia is ubiquitous here, and for good reason. My dark mocha is the perfect pre-tour treat — it’s just the right size, rich with a proper kick of dark chocolate, and definitely strong enough to tackle the day.

Mocha from Insomnia Coffee

It’s these simple, local routines that make a city feel real. A quick stop, a little caffeine and chocolate comfort, and I'm fueled up and ready to go explore the best of Dublin's food scene. Cheers to the small things!

The Clayton Club sandwiches from B Bar inside The Clayton Hotel

After taking the train back to Dublin from Cork, I felt famished but was genuinely too lazy to go out again. So, I ended up having dinner right inside my hotel at B Bar, the restaurant in The Clayton Hotel.

I wasn't really sure what to order, so I settled on The Clayton Club sandwich. It was served on a toasted multi-grain sourdough roll and was stacked with juicy and tender grilled chicken, crispy smoked streaky bacon, a fried egg, fresh iceberg lettuce, plum tomato, Swiss cheese, and tarragon mayo. It was both satisfying and delicious.

The Clayton Club from B Bar inside The Clayton Hotel
Grilled chicken, smoked streaky bacon, fried egg, iceberg lettuce, plum tomato, Swiss cheese and tarragon mayo. Served on a multi-grain sourdough roll.

What a great dinner to cap off a beautifully blessed day!

Signature Dark Hot Chocolate from Butlers Chocolate Café

After a wonderful time in the Cork office, where we indulged in some delicious barmbrack from Dunnes and enjoyed a nice cup of tea, a colleague and I decided to stop for hot chocolates at the quintessential Irish café, Butler's Chocolate Café.

Signature Dark Hot Chocolate from Butlers Chocolate Café

We continued our engaging conversation about work, leadership, and career over these comforting, creamy, warm, and sweet chocolatey drinks.

Spiced Beef Sandwich from The Oliver Plunkett

Happy Thursday! I’m officially counting today as Day 1 of my vacation, with yesterday feeling more like "Day 0." Since my husband is attending his conference all day, I decided to take the train to Cork, where my company has an office. It was a great excuse to meet the team and join the company-paid weekly team lunch!

I specifically requested a Spiced Beef Sandwich — after all, Gemini said it was the one thing I had to try in Cork!

The team decided to bring me to the historic and touristy pub, The Oliver Plunkett, which, thankfully, seems to serve the Spiced Beef Sandwich year-round.

Spiced Beef Sandwich from The Oliver Plunkett
Caramelized onions, tomato, whole grain mustard aioli, and mixed greens

The sandwich itself is reminiscent of a Reuben, but it’s surprisingly lean, without being overly salty or fatty. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It tasted like a deli sandwich, and I loved that it didn't feel processed or overly dressed. It was the perfect Cork lunch.

Dublin Coddle from The Hairy Lemon

Happy Wednesday! We finally made it to Dublin International Airport and arrived safely. We breezed through passport security, grabbed our bags, and were about to head to the bus area for our hotel when, to my surprise, a car was waiting to pick us up. It turns out my husband's conference had organized airport transportation. After checking in and freshening up, I took a much-needed nap while my husband went out to meet some friends.

After about an hour's nap, I decided to have a late lunch or early dinner at The Hairy Lemon. My very first meal in Ireland? A Dublin Coddle. One colleague had suggested it, while another Irish colleague made a face when I mentioned I was going to try it.

Dublin Coddle from The Hairy Lemon
Pork sausages, Bacon slowed cooked with root vegetables and fresh herbs, creamy mash served with brown salad

I absolutely loved it. It's a warm, hearty stew filled with tender sausage, savory bacon, and potatoes. It has a rich, slightly thick broth where the potatoes are soft and creamy, and the onions have nearly melted into the base. The thyme and other seasonings gave the dish a wonderfully earthy aroma and savory depth. It warmed my tummy after the long flight, making me one very happy traveler.

Tira-Meow-Su from Daan Go Cake Lab

I've been seeing this spot in the news for weeks, and now that the initial hype has died down and I'm on annual leave — I'm finally here at Daan Go Cake Lab in their Vancouver, BC location! They have so many beautiful and adorable cakes: everything from a ramen bowl and a boba cup to a cup of Tira-meow-su — a perfect play on words for tiramisu with a cat on top.

We started with something savory and got the Croissant Hot Dog Puff. It's just like those classic hotdog buns you get from Asian bakeries, but this one is wrapped in a flaky puff pastry.

Croissant - Hot Dog Puff from Daan Go Cake Lab
A flaky croissant Puff wrapped around a juicy hot dog, delivering a savoury twist on a classic favourite.

Then, for our sweet treat, we went straight for the adorable Tira-meow-su. That cat is simply too hard to resist! The dessert is a hardened milk chocolate shaped like a mug, filled with luxurious mascarpone cream, and hides the surprise of coffee-soaked ladyfingers at the bottom. Yum!

Mira-Meow-Su from Daan Go Cake Lab
Contains: Marshmallow cat, SangTao Vietnamese coffee, mascarpone cream, crème légère, and vanilla chiffon

Mira-Meow-Su from Daan Go Cake Lab
Contains: Marshmallow cat, SangTao Vietnamese coffee, mascarpone cream, crème légère, and vanilla chiffon

Because it was so hot outside, we also got cold drinks: a Strawberry Matcha Cream and an Uji Matcha Latte. Definitely go for the strawberry cream; it's much sweeter.

Strawberry Matcha Cream and Uji Matcha Latte from Daan Go Cake Lab

Just a heads-up: the shop is more geared toward to-go orders, so it's not the ideal spot for hanging out for an extended period of time.

Ube and Pandan Mochi Brownie from Avik

I tried Avik for the first time last Tuesday with my husband. At that time, all I could think about was how much I wanted to bring my parents here. And I finally did it today.

They got their usual Americano, and I made them try the Pistachio Cream Croissant, which hubby and I also enjoyed last time. My mom loves pistachio.

Ube and Pandan Mochi Brownie from Avik

Meanwhile, I went for the two variants of mochi brownie: ube and pandan—both familiar since I grew up in the Philippines. First, the mochi texture is just perfect. The top and bottom provide the brownie-ness (I'm making words up) or maybe it's just the square shape. The pandan flavor tastes like pandan, but the ube is just purple with no distinct ube flavor. That's okay—the sticky mochi sweetness is still there.

Ham & Cheese Croissant Sandwich from Avik

Hubby arrived and ordered their ham & cheese croissant for his lunch. It's delicious too. Hmm. I have enjoyed the two savory things we've tried from Avik and can't wait to come back and try the others too.

Spiced Vanilla Filled Ring Donut from Tim Hortons

Happy Sunday morning! With our breakfast today, we ordered and enjoyed the new donut from Tim Hortons: Spiced Vanilla-Filled Ring Donut.

Spiced Vanilla Filled Ring Donut from Tim Hortons

Spiced Vanilla Filled Ring Donut from Tim Hortons

I love the cinnamon sugar outside, and I was greeted by the vanilla filling on my first bite. It's good, but I prefer it without the filling.

Lemon Yakult and Oreo Choco Slushie from Macao Imperial Tea

Happy Saturday! To prepare for our upcoming trip to Ireland, we hit the bank for some cash. Then, we chilled at Macao Imperial Tea's new location on Granville Street. It's got a coffee shop vibe with a dash of cool. I feel like a trendy teen, if that makes sense.

Lemon Yakult with Mango Popping Bobba from Macao Imperial Tea

For drinks, I sipped on the Lemon Yakult with mango popping boba. It's a perfect blend of sweet and tart. My hubby played it safe with the Oreo Choco Slush, an ideal summer pick.

Oreo Choco Slushie from Macao Imperial Tea

In terms of food, my hubby indulged in the Korean Coffee Bun with custard. It had a crispy exterior and a robust coffee flavour, balanced by a non-overly-sweet custard.

Korean Coffee Bun with Custard from Macao Imperial Tea

A peek inside the Korean Coffee Bun with Custard from Macao Imperial Tea

I went for the savoury garlic cream cheese bun. It had the same crispy exterior but was filled with cream cheese. Again, no overpowering flavours, but a delightful mix of textures.

Garlic Cream Cheese Bun from Macao Imperial Tea

Can't wait to return and explore more of their baked goods.

Deluxe Omelette Curry and Beef Curry from Tendon Kohaku

Japanese curry is my go-to comfort food, and it was the perfect kick-off to my two-week vacation from work. Unfortunately, our usual spot, Mr. Japanese Curry, closes early at 7:45 p.m., and we were still downtown when it got close to that time. A quick Google Maps search led us to Tendon Kohaku.

I ordered the Beef Curry with a side of Katsu, my usual combo, and it was delicious. The curry itself wasn't quite as flavorful as Suika or Mr. Japanese Curry, but the beef was tender and thinly sliced, just like at Suika. Either way, I was happy with it.

Beef Curry from Tendon Kohaku
Japanese style curry with marinated beef on rice

Tonkatsu from Tendon Kohaku
Japanese-style fried pork cutle 

My husband got the Deluxe Omelette Curry, which came with katsu and tempura, but the real star was the fluffy egg covering the rice. Yum!

Deluxe Omelette Curry from Tendon Kohaku
Japanese style curry with Japanese pork cutlet, prawn Tempura, omelette on rice

We also ordered the Best Value Platter to share, which came with takoyaki, spicy karaage, french fries, and chips. It was a great way to try a variety of dishes, and it was all really good.

Best Value Platter from Tendon Kohaku
Spicy fried chicken, takoyaki, thin sliced potato, and french fries

To finish our meal, we got their Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream, which has a distinct milk taste. It's the perfect ending after our spicy curry.

Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream from Tendon Kohaku

Would I go back? Probably!

Breakfast Wrap from Giovane Caffé

Thursday is my usual "treat myself" day, but today's cold, drizzly weather inspired me to try Giovane Caffé instead of my go-to Tim Hortons.

Breakfast Wrap from Giovane Caffé

I ordered the breakfast wrap, a tortilla stuffed with scrambled egg and a tomato sauce that seemed to be missing any bits of ground meat. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. 

Breakfast Wrap from Giovane Caffé

Here's a list of everything I've tried from Giovane Caffé so far:

• Breakfast Wrap
• Caprese
• Frittata Panino
• Manzo
• Prosciutto 

Whiskey Bar and BBQ inside BC Place

I haven't been to many stadiums, but the food at BC Place is impressively delicious.

We walked around the stadium before the big finals and saw a couple of new spots, including the Whiskey Bar and BBQ near section 212. They had three food options: Poutine Burger (which seems to be a Whitecaps special), Cowboy Ribs, and Cornbread Chili Bowl. We got the burger and ribs, and they were both so delicious.

Let's start with the burger - it's a good, juicy patty between slightly toasted brioche buns (which is the best place to start with any burger), and they topped it with pulled short rib. They added fries and a bit of curds inside too, to make it into a poutine, but they were unnecessary.

Poutine Burger from Whiskey Bar and BBQ section 212 inside BC Place
Brioche bun, Angus beef patty, pulled short rib, fries, cheese curds, house mayo, served with Miss Vickie's kettle chips

Now, let's discuss the ribs. They're smothered in barbecue sauce and fall off the bone tender. However, my favorite part was the potato salad - they go so well together.

Cowboy Rib from Whiskey Bar & BBQ
BBQ glazed slow cooked baby back ribs (half rack), served with a side of potato salad & coleslaw 

It was a great food evening, and it was made even better by the Whitecaps winning.

Pistachio Cream Croissant and more from Avik Café

Today is National Truth and Reconciliation Day, which means no work on a Tuesday. My spouse and I ran some errands at Canadian Tire and decided to hang out and finally try Avik Café along West Broadway between Heather and Ash.

Coffee Date at Avik Café

This café is like Vancouver: diverse. Where else can you find a spot that serves a beef bulgogi sandwich, Vietnamese sub, caprese bite, and chicken pie alongside delicious-looking croissants and traditional Japanese matcha and hojicha? My mouth is watering again just thinking about it.

Chicken Pie from Avik Café

A peek inside the Chicken Pie from Avik Café

I prefer savoury things and got the chicken pie. It's so delicious - it has that sweet and savoury flavour profile that reminds me of Filipino lumpia but between a flaky dough. Then, for a drink, I went for an iced matcha latte. It's unsweetened by default, which is a perfect partner for what my husband ordered.

Iced Matcha Latte and Hot Hojicha Latte from Avik Café

My husband went for the pistachio cream croissant. The sweet pistachio cream on top of the buttery flaky croissant is perfect. He paired it with warm and slightly bitter hojicha.

Pistachio Cream Croissant from Avik Café

I can't wait to come back and spend hours here trying their many baked goods or just people-watching.

Secret Garden Roll from Masa Japanese Restaurant

Happy Sunday! My hubby had dinner with a high school classmate, so I ended up enjoying a meal by myself. I decided to grab a bite at Masa Japanese Restaurant.

Assorted Katsu Curry from Masa Japanese Restaurant

I ordered their Assorted Katsu Curry, which is my all-time favorite. It's the classic chicken curry sauce covering hot fluffy rice and topped with an assortment of fried things like katsu, tempura, and vegetables.

Secret Garden Roll from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Deep-fried mashed squash, avocado with wasabi mayo, spicy mayo, and tomato sauce

I also got their vegetarian special roll: Secret Garden Roll, and I absolutely loved it.

Below is a list of everything we've tried from Masa Japanese Restaurant so far:

Starters & Shares

• Creamy Prawn
• Agedashi Tofu: Original and Diavolo
• Sushi Pizza: Original
• Veggie Gyoza
• Chicken Karaage
• Takoyaki
• Chicken Wings

Tempura

• Assorted Tempura
• Appetizer Tempura

Japanese Curry

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

U-Don

• Nabeyaki Udon

Japanese Ramen

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

Platter

• Tofu
• Tonkatsu
• Salmon Terkiyaki

Donburi (Rice Bowl)

• Chicken Katsu Don

Special Sushi

• Devil's Kiss
• Knights of The Round Table
• Atlantic Salmon Oshi Sushi
• Aburi Cheese Monster Roll
• Crispy Jumbo Dynamite Roll
• Volcano Roll (Salmon)
• Double Dragon
• Romeo Roll
• Juliet Roll
• Tekka Bob Roll
• Sake Bomb Roll
• Secret Garden Roll

K-Meal (Korean Food)

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

KATSEYE Special: KBBQ Chicken Sandwich from Jollibee

After two open houses with our real estate agent, we decided to grab lunch at Jollibee. It's like going back to our roots as we move forward with our lives.

KATSEYE Special: KBBQ Chicken Sandwich from Jollibee
Our crispy, juicy, hand-breaded chicken breast fillet hand-dipped in a sweet soy glaze with a bold kick of heat, topped with fresh cilantro, red onion, and cucumber slices, served on a toasted brioche bun.

KATSEYE Special: KBBQ Chicken Sandwich from Jollibee
Our crispy, juicy, hand-breaded chicken breast fillet hand-dipped in a sweet soy glaze with a bold kick of heat, topped with fresh cilantro, red onion, and cucumber slices, served on a toasted brioche bun.

Hubby got the new and exciting KBBQ Chicken Sandwich. I thought it was way too strong, but when I took a second bite with the pickles, it became better. Will I get it again? Probably with rice. 😂 Rice is life.

Yumburger from Jollibee

I got the safe and humble Yumburger, reminiscent of my childhood. It's comforting with big decisions upcoming. It's like a warm hug from a comfort food classic.

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
• KBBQ Chicken Sandwich
• Aloha Yamburger
• Angus Aloha Burger
• Cheesy Yumburger
• Yumburger
• Jolly Spaghetti
• Palabok Fiesta
• Jolly Crispy Fries
• Steamed Rice
• Gravy
• Peach Mango Pie
• Ube Pie
• Pineapple Quencher