Lunch from Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle

Happy Sunday! It's the last day of the long weekend, and I am back at work tomorrow (still working from home).

We watched The Fiery Priest, which made me crave rice, so we ordered Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodles, our usual favourite Taiwanese dishes.

Taiwanese-Style Deep Fried Chicken Cutlet on Rice

The chicken was juicy inside, and the batter was crunchy, but it was a bit salty for my liking.

Deep-Fried Chicken Nuggets

Same with chicken cutlet, it's good and juicy but a bit salty.

Green Tea Shaved Ice

The Green Tea Shaved Ice arrived in one piece and surprisingly still solid. I guess it did help that the temperature outside is close to 0 degrees Celsius.

Deep-Fried Taiwanese Sausage on Rice

Hubby chose the Taiwanese Sausage, and it's the best thing we ordered today. The sweetness from the Sausage works well with the white rice drizzled with a soy sauce-based sauce.

After trying Chef Hung, my favourite restaurant for Taiwanese dishes is still Redbeef Noodle Kitchen. Do you have a favourite Taiwanese restaurant in Vancouver? Comment below, and I can't wait to try them.

Lunch from Pizza Garden

Our first delivery of the year is from Pizza Garden. 🍕

Do you want a slice?

I ordered two Half and Half Pizza which means we could enjoy four different Neapolitan pizzas. I just picked the first four flavours on the list alphabetically in the option. Apparently, I chose four veggie pizzas and one meat pizza.

Top: Calabria (Tomato sauce, mozzarella, fior di latte, granada padno, capicolla, fennel sausage, hot soppressata)
Bottom: Bianco (Extra virgin olive oil, mozzarella, fior di latte, grana Padano, fresh basil, ricotta cheese, roasted garlic, grape tomatoes (no base sauce))

I enjoyed the Soppressata in the Calabria pizza. However, Bianco was kind of bland. I wish there were more fresh basil.

Top: Amante Spinaci (Tomato sauce, mozzarella, fior di latte, grana padano, spinach, kalamata olives, ricotta cheese, and pesto drizzle)
Bottom: Aglio Arrostito (Pesto sauce, mozzarella, fior di latte, grana padano, roasted garlic, and grape tomatoes)

My favourite is the Amante Spinaci. I realized I absolutely love olives in pizza. However, I am biased for pesto sauce, a winner in the Aglio Arrostito pizza.

As expected, we didn't finish the pizza and have leftovers for the coming days. 

Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings.

Lunch from Lin Chinese Cuisine

We were deciding where to order food for today. We need meals that can last us until the end of the week. I thought of having pizza, but I am just not feeling it. So we end up ordering Chinese food from our favourite Chinese restaurant: Lin Chinese Cuisine.

Lunch from Lin Chinese Cuisine

Pan-Fried Pork Buns

Xiao Long Bao (Shanghai Juicy Pork Dumplings)

Hunan-Style Braised Pork

The Hunan-Style Braised Pork reminds me of the Filipino dish Humba because of the fattiness and general consistency of the sauce. It was unexpectedly delicious and I usually stay away from anything fatty.

Spicy Ma-Po Tofu

I wish the Spicy Ma-Po Tofu has more flavour.

The end of 2021 is almost here, and the whole year felt like a blur.

Dinner from Ramen Gojiro

Happy Sunday! We didn't do any Boxing Day shopping today, which is a first. Instead, we had errands to run, went to Trees for cheesecake, did window shopping at nearby Indigo, and went straight home.

I told hubby I wanted ramen for dinner because it's below freezing outside. So I ordered from one of my favourite restaurants Ramen Gojiro.

I ordered two Original Karaage because it's my absolute favourite and dipping it in the Spicy Ramen broth is fantastic.

Dinner delivery from Ramen Gojiro

Ramen Spicy Chashu

Yuzu Shio Ramen

The Yuzu Shio Ramen is hubby's order, and it's a clear, smooth broth. It's pretty enjoyable.

Because I was feeling greedy, I ordered Pork Katsu Curry Don.

Pork Katsu Curry Don

We ate some of it, but most became leftovers with Chicken Karaage. Perfect for breakfast tomorrow!

Dinner from RedBeef Noodle Kitchen

To say that Redbeef Noodle Kitchen is our second favourite restaurant in Vancouver is an understatement. It's the only restaurant we ordered more than three times this year, and we absolutely love their food. It hits a different spot.

Dinner feast from Redbeef Noodle Kitchen

Curry Chicken Cutlet Rice and Curry Beef Rice

I like the Curry Chicken Cutlet Rice, and it's so nice that the curry sauce is in a separate container. It's like enjoying Chicken Cutlet Rice and having the option to dip it in curry sauce. The Curry Beef Rice is for hubby, and it's so good. I recommend the Curry Beef Rice over the Chicken if you want curry.

Salt & Pepper Popcorn Chicken

My absolute favourite (and must-try item) from Redbeef is the Salt & Pepper Popcorn Chicken. It's still so good.

Steamed Creamy Custard Buns

I was hoping the Creamy Custard Buns would be sweet, but it tasted like salted egg yolks. It's delicious, but not something for dessert.

Malay Sponge Cake

This is another favourite from Redbeef. It's so soft, and in general, I love sponge cakes and chiffon cakes. Hmmm, so good.

Lunch from Le Coq Frit

Hubby and I are in "lockdown" 🤣. I attended a dinner with more than 20 people in Burnaby, and the restaurant didn't check vaccination cards. So we will stay home for 14 days and see if we develop any COVID-19 symptoms. If we don't (I hope we don't), we will head to my parents for Christmas Eve dinner.

With that said, this weekend, instead of going out, we ordered in. I was browsing DoorDash, figuring out where and what to order. We don't have any specific cravings, but I found Le Coq Frit. It's a relatively new restaurant along West Broadway. We pass it by a few times when walking to and from church.

I ordered a lot of things which are to be expected.

Lunch from Le Coq Frit

Our delivery arrived in beautiful bags.

Our delivery arrived in reusable bags, which we kept.

Chicken & Croffles
Croissant waffles with Boneless Thigh Real Crispy Chicken, Jalapeno, and Spicy Mayo.

It's my first time trying croffles, and it's so awesome. It's essentially croissants shaped like waffles. It's flakey and buttery. The Real Crispy Chicken is delicious as well. I wish I had ordered more.

9 pieces Original Black Chicken Wings
Coated with Sweet, Savoury, and sticky Soy-Based Sauce

The "Original Black Chicken" tastes like Korean fried chicken. It's sweet and savoury. We loved it and will gladly order it again.

9 pieces Original Red Chicken Wings
Nashville Hot Chicken

The "Original Red Chicken" is spicy. Hubby said it's too hot and we will not order again. The only thing we didn't try from their menu is the Sweet & Spicy Chicken. I can't wait to visit the store soon.

Classic Signature Chicken Burger
Made with French Artisan Brioche Buns, Chicken Breast, Greens, Pickles, and House Sauce

Is it wrong that I will order the chicken burger as well? I can't wait to try it with another chicken flavour to see if it'll make it better or worse.

French Fries
Deep-fried until golden brown, then sprinkled with seasonings

This is not your typical french fries with just salt. It's actually good.

Yam Fries
A golden crispy, delicious side for burgers.

It's your standard yam fries.

Onion Rings

The onion rings are the only thing I can't recommend. Unfortunately, I didn't like it. Thankfully, everything else was delicious. Can't wait to order from Le Coq Frit again.

Poutine from La Belle Patate | First Meal as a Canadian Citizen

I just finished my Canadian Citizenship oath-taking, and for lunch, we decided to order poutine from La Belle Patate (The Beautiful Potato).

Canada was founded by three groups: the aboriginal (First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people), the French, and the British.

Our lunch today is an appreciation to the French people in Canada.

Left: Smoked Meat Poutine
Right: La Belle Poutine

The Poutine was delicious, but as expected food was coma-inducing. The gravy was good, not too salty, and the curds were melted. I enjoyed the smoked meat too.

Overall, it's good poutine. I think it's the best one I've had so far.

Lunch from Triple O's

Happy Wednesday! Hubby's company is sponsoring a team lunch. He received a $30 CAD DoorDash gift card and used it for lunch delivery from Triple O.

He ordered the Spicy Ultimate Crunch Chicken Bruger with Onion Rings and Strawberry Milkshake. I didn't order anything and enjoyed our palabok leftover from my birthday.

Spicy Ultimate Crunch Chicken Burger
Triple O Description: Sizzling hot! Our spicy, seasoned, crispy breaded chicken breast served with signature mayo, crisp iceberg lettuce, and fresh vine-ripened tomatoes.

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Below is a list of all Triple O menu items (as of this post) and an indicator whether we have tried it.

Trying all Triple O's Burgers

I am going over my old post to find out which burgers I have tried from Triple. O's. I'll summarize it here.

Chicken

• ✓ Southern Buttermilk Chicken Club
• ✓ B.C. Chicken
• ✓ Spicy Ultimate Crunch Burger (in this post)
• ✓ Buffalo Chicken Burger
• Dippin' Chicken Tenders
• Grilled Chicken & Bacon Caesar Salad

Beef Burgers

• ✓ Bacon Cheddar Burger
• ✓ Chipotle BBQ Bacon Melt
• ✓ Monty Mushroom Burger
• Original Burger
• ✓ Original with Cheese Burger
• Double Double Burger

Lifestyle Combos

• Veggie Burger
• Original Impossible™ Burger
• ✓ Fish (3) and Chips
• Crispy Cod Burger

Breakfast

• Original Sunny Start
• Sausage Sunny Start
• Breakfast Club
• Egg BLT Ciabatta
• Jalapeno Breakfast Ciabatta
• Loaded Breakfast Wrap
• Omelette Breakfast Bowl
• Nat's Own Coffee

Sides

• Caesar Salad
• ✓ French Fries
• ✓ Onion Rings
• Poutine 
• ✓ Sweet Potato Fries
• ✓ Garlic Parmesan Fries
• Pickle Chips
• ✓ Cajun Fries
• Cheesecake on a Stick

Limited Time Offer

• ✓ Chicken and Waffle
• ✓ Pizza Burger
• ✓ Chocolate Espresso Shake

Spicy Chicken McNuggets and Trying Li'l Donuts from McDonald's

Happy Saturday! I have wanted to try the Spicy Chicken McNuggets ever since it was released, but we only eat out once a week, and we usually have plans during the weekends, so for the first time in a while, we have a weekend with zero plans.

The only plan for this weekend is to be cozy at home (since it's raining outside) and order in.

Delivery from McDonald's

Is the Spicy Chicken McNuggets spicy?

A year ago, hubby and I ordered a lot (is way too much possible?) from McDonald's. We tried all three Spicy McChicken®, and only the Ghost Pepper had substantial heat to be a little painful.

The Spicy Chicken McNuggets have the same flavour as the non-spicy version, but when it reaches your throat, that's when you feel some heat. It's not painful spicy by any means, but definitely delicious.

What's up with the Li'l Donuts?

McDonald's Canada introduced the Li'l Donuts a couple months back. My brother said he liked it better than Tim Horton's donuts, so I am keen to try it. According to the website, there are six different Li'l Donuts flavours, but there were only three available when we placed the order in DoorDash.

McDonald's Li'l Donuts: Sprinkle Donuts, Crème Brûlée, and Boston Cream

The dough is a bit better than Tim Horton's donuts, for sure, but nothing will beat the freshly made donuts from your favourite neighbourhood shop.

BLT with Grilled Chicken Meal

As if the 10 pieces nuggets are not enough, I ordered a burger for hubby and me.

BLT with Grilled Chicken and Large French Fries

BLT with Grilled Chicken

Quarter Pounder BLT

This is hubby's order.

Quarter Pounder BLT

Quarter Pounder BLT

Aside from lunch/dinner (I ordered too much for two people), I also got 14 Monopoly stickers. In addition, I won a Li'l Donut and a cheeseburger.

October 21, 2021 Update

I think I "peaked" as an Instagram foodie. 🤣 McDonald's Canada's account sent me a direct message asking if they could use my picture. I don't mind, of course. I showed the screenshot of their message to our only brother who created the Instagram account for Smooch Food and he said you could ask for food next time. LOL My younger sister said I should have asked for free coffee for our dad who enjoys McD's coffee.

McDonald's Canada sharing my picture in their Instagram story.

Happy Thursday!

Lunch from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery

Today is my third time ordering from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery, and we have enjoyed all their dishes so far. Today we ordered three dishes and two desserts.

Lunch delivery from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery

For lunch, we enjoyed the fried Daing na Bangus and Kaldereta. Then, we'll have the Batil Patong in the next couple of days. For desserts, we ordered Ube (purple yam) Brownie and Cassava Cake.

Batil Patong
Menu Description: From Roy's hometown, Tuguegarao. Stir fry egg noodles, pork belly, egg, cabbage, carrot, bean sprouts, and ground beef

It is the reason I love trying new dishes. Batil Patong is so delicious, and I hadn't heard of it before hubby pointed it out in the Kulinarya Filipino Eatery menu. It's saucy, and as you can see from the picture, the serving is tremendous - definitely good for sharing.

Daing na Bangus
Boneless milkfish with tomato and onion Ensalada

The Ensalada is so delicious, and of course, boneless milkfish is my favourite fish from the Philippines.

Beef Kaldereta
Hearty beef stew in a tomato-based sauce with potatoes and vegetables

The Beef Kaldereta is spicy and delicious, but the serving size is the smallest among all the things we have ordered from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery. But what it lacks in serving size, it makes up in flavour.

Ube Brownie
Purple yam brownie

Hubby and I can't decide if we liked it or not. It does have a nice ube flavour, and it's not overly sweet, but it feels more like a pudding than a brownie, and I think they should serve it with ube ice cream.

Cassava Cake
Pudding made of freshly grated cassava, egg, coco milk, and sugar

I enjoyed the cassava cake. The top has the texture of egg pie, while the cake itself is moist. The inside is filled with cassava. It's delicious. At this point, we have tried four out of the five desserts that Kulinarya has to offer. I'll wait for Leche Flan to be at DoorDash, and we'll order that next.

I also can't wait to visit them in person.

Lunch from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery

Happy Thursday! I ordered from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery nine days ago, and I love their food so much I ordered again today. However, since it's already Thursday, I only ordered three items to enjoy hopefully until early next week, and I'm most likely order from them (or another Filipino restaurant in DoorDash) by Monday or Tuesday.

As mentioned in my previous Kulinarya post, there are no nearby (within 1-2 km radius) Filipino restaurants to our current place. As such, I need to use DoorDash or other delivery apps to enjoy Filipino favourite dishes.

Backstory: I live in a 2-person household - it's just hubby and me. I used to (still sometimes do) cook one Filipino dish (ulam) a week to reheat and eat with rice for the whole week for breakfast and lunch. For dinner, we usually eat pasta, bread (sandwich), or toasted bagel. I always thought that going to the groceries, lovingly preparing a meal is saving us money. And I think that's still true. But since I'm not feeding more people, I am trying to balance cooking (when I feel like it) and ordering family-style dishes that we can enjoy for a few days and have more variety. 

I am testing it for a few weeks, then see if I'll go over budget with the ordering in strategy or if it would be the same. 

For context, I grew up in a household of six people where weekly trips to the grocery and cooking a family-style meal almost daily are the practice growing up. It makes sense because we're a big household. But, the same strategy won't work for a household with just two people. I tried it, and eating the same dish for more than four days, even with variety (changing side dishes), is not fun. I could try changing the recipe for two people, but that means cooking more frequently, and I don't wanna do that.

Kulinarya Filipino Eatery

Hence, we're here. I ordered two dishes for today: Pork Sinigang (pork tamarind soup) and Filipino-style pork BBQ in skewers. I already cooked brown rice this morning, so we have the perfect partner for the delivered deliciousness.

Pork Sinigang
Pork with vegetables in tamarind soup

The serving of Pork Sinigang is big! I can't believe it. They didn't skimp on the pork and vegetables. I am so happy. I reckon we'll have it for three days (including today). 

Hubby loves Sinigang (I don't), and I attempted to cook it just once because I want him to have it. But finding ingredients is a challenge, and it takes a lot of effort (to me at least) to make it right. So now, I have a source of sinigang for future winter days.

Pork BBQ (4 Skewers)
Grilled pork skewers

The pork BBQ is delicious as well. One order comes with four skewers, so we had one stick each for lunch today, and the other two will be breakfast tomorrow.

Thank God the Dashers delivering our food is handled things with care and all dishes so far arrived in one piece.

Halo-Halo

On top of the two dishes, I also ordered Halo-Halo. It's so delicious, I wanted to cry. I am so happy. I can't believe I haven't had halo-halo for who knows how long and didn't realize how much I missed it.

Halo-Halo
Shaved Ice Dessert

For those who don't know, halo-halo is essentially a Filipino version of shaved ice dessert, but instead of just one type of fruit (like you'll see in Korean and Japanese shaved ice desserts), our version is a mix of different ingredients. Thus, the literal English translation of halo-halo is mix-mix.

I guess you should expect another Kulinarya post by next week. 😋

Dinner from KFC

Happy Sunday! We're watching the Gold Cup games today, and I am seriously craving fried chicken. We ordered KFC using the DoorDash app. I love the Popcorn Chicken Poutine and will order it again.

Boneless Box for hubby

Popcorn Chicken Poutine

Zinger Sandwich

Zinger Sandwich Box

It's the perfect meal to end the weekend.