Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

Joe & The Juice, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Location: Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Terminal E (U.S. departures, after security) Featured Items: Tunacado Sandwich ($13.95), Joe's Club Sandwich ($13.95), Green Sport Juice (16 oz, $12.50) Verdict: Go for the Tunacado. The fresh, well-seasoned tuna salad beats the chicken, and the cucumber-forward Green Sport juice is a refreshing pairing. I love to travel. I work hard to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ and to save money so we can see the world. My current job is a miracle, seriously. Hubby lost his job three years ago and hasn't found anything full-time since, and yet we're still able to travel. Right now we're at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), about to catch a flight to Los Angeles and then on to Melbourne, Australia. Yes, the company asked me to visit again after my first trip two years ago. It's a miracle. Before the flight, we grabbed a quick light bite at Joe...

There's one popular spot in Vancouver that's closing their doors this weekend, and I hadn't been. Unfortunately. But that changes today. I had surgery a few weeks back and was scheduled to have my stitches removed today, but complications happened and my doctor said to come back in ten days. I'm honestly devastated. I want this healed so I can move on from dressing and wound care. To make myself feel a tiny bit better, we stopped by Their There for brunch. Despite the 35-minute wait and my stomach growling from skipping breakfast, it felt worth it. Their There Kitsilano (Final Days) Location: 2042 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M9 (Kitsilano) Last Day of Operations: September 13, 2026 Featured Items: Matcha latte with oat milk, pandan vanilla bean matcha, egg hashbrown cheese sandwich, buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, tater tots Price Range: Matcha lattes $8.50–$9, egg hashbrown cheese sandwich $14, buttermilk fried chicken sandwich $17, tater tot...

We started our afternoon by grabbing some fresh drinks from The Juice Truck , but when lunchtime rolled around, we decided to head over to Purebread for a bite to eat. While Purebread is famous across the neighbourhood for their legendary selection of sweet baked goods and cakes, today was all about exploring their savoury menu. It turned out to be the perfect little midday treat to break up a busy Monday workday. Location: 5 E 5th Avenue, Vancouver, BC (near Ontario Street) Featured Items: Ploughman's Sandwich ($14), Zesto Pesto Sandwich ($14) Price Range: $14 per sandwich Verdict: A delightful savoury lunch break option with generous ingredients tucked into freshly baked focaccia. The Ploughman's Sandwich ($14) The Ploughman's comes layered with savoury ham, rich cheese, tangy pickled onions, fresh spinach, sharp Dijon mustard, and a smooth garlic mayo, all held together by soft, flavorfu...

After an overwhelming day at work, Hubby picked me up to ensure I did not have to carry my heavy backpack home while recovering from my outpatient surgery. Before heading back, we decided to grab a quick dinner at Wren Café in Yaletown. We were not entirely sure what to expect, but the display case immediately caught our eye, packed with adorable fruit-shaped pastries and cakes! 📍 Restaurant At-A-Glance: Wren Location: 280 Nelson Street, Vancouver Cuisine: Cozy cafe and bistro, comfort food with a bakery case Price Range: $$ (mains around $16 to $19, desserts around $8.50) Must-Order: Tiramisu Good For: A relaxed weeknight dinner, with breakfast and pastries also worth checking out Supreme Pulled Pork Sandwich We started with the Supreme Pulled Pork Sandwich ($18.95 CAD) with Truffle Fries as our side. It is fair to call this an open-faced sandwich since it is served on a single piece of bread. The crusty slice comes topped with creamy,...

If you read my previous post , you know I survived my outpatient surgery! It took around 40 minutes and came with a fair amount of pain, but we were finally on our way home. On the walk back, we could not decide where to grab a quick early dinner. At the last minute, we decided to head to Laura's Coffee Shop , a spot we first visited just nine days ago. Laura's is a small local business that truly deserves the community's support. If you want to learn more about its unique history, this Scout Magazine article on Vancouver's last industrial coffee shops is well worth a read. Since Laura's is only open on weekdays, this was another rare opportunity for us to stop in. 📍 Restaurant At-A-Glance: Laura's Coffee Shop Location: 1945 Manitoba St, Vancouver, BC V5Y 3A1 Hours: Weekdays Only (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM) Cuisine: Classic Diner Favorites, Western & Chinese Comfort Dishes Price Ran...

☕ Neighborhood Gem: Laura's Coffee Shop Address: 1945 Manitoba St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3J3 (Lower Mount Pleasant) Items Ordered: Clubhouse Sandwich with Fries, Pork Cutlet in Curry with Rice Price Range: $12.99 – $21.99 per item The Verdict: An irreplaceable piece of living Vancouver history. Perfectly toasted classic diner sandwiches and hearty Chinese comfort food under one roof. I am always big on exploring and trying new places in our neighbourhood, so after a doctor's appointment this morning, we decided to grab a quick lunch at Laura's Coffee Shop in Mount Pleasant. As I was reading up on this spot, I realized it is truly one of the last of its kind in Vancouver....

☕ Spot Review: Aperture Coffee Bar (4124 Main St, Vancouver) What We Tried: Iced Mocha, Cappuccino, Shepherd's Pie ($12.00), Roasted Chicken Sandwich ($15.00) The Highs: Intimate live jazz performance, spacious backroom seating, and a perfectly toasted chicken sandwich. The Verdict: A cozy Main Street gem! Perfect for catching up over coffee, satisfying comfort food, and enjoying live local music. Today was one of those beautifully slow Saturdays where hubby and I spent most of our morning just relaxing at home. By the afternoon, we were ready to get moving, so we took a stroll through The Pleasant Day Festival , soaking in all the sights, sounds, and delicious food smells along the way. I even treated myself to a new pair of running shoes from F...

🥪 Spot Review: Dante Italian Sandwich (Vancouver, BC) What I Tried: Tacchino e Pesto ($14.50) The Highs: An absolutely spectacular, camera-ready melted mozzarella cheese pull. The Verdict: Good, but sticking to their non-panini cold sandwich options yields a better overall flavor profile! Happy Thursday! If you work in the office or find yourself looking for a satisfying lunch spot, you know how crucial a solid sandwich run can be. For a recent Thursday team lunch, we headed back to a familiar spot to try a different item on the menu: the Tacchino e Pesto ($14.50) from Dante Italian Sandwich. This particular creation comes loaded with roast turkey, melty mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and a vibrant basil spread. When it first arrives wrapped up...

🥖 Spot Review: Obanhmi (East 2nd Ave) What We Tried: Chicken Lemongrass Bánh Mì ($10.70), Deluxe Classic Bánh Mì ($11.70), Spring Roll ($4.45), Shrimp Salad Roll ($9.45) The Highs: The lightly toasted, buttery baguette is perfect. The Verdict: Stick exclusively to the bánh mì sandwiches; the sides are a definite pass. Happy Sunday! Funny story: the Obanhmi chain actually had a location right near our old place, but for some reason, we just never ended up going. I have no idea why! Today, after Mass and running a few errands, we decided it was finally time to give them a try at their relatively new spot along East 2nd Ave, right next to the hand car wash between Ontario Street and Quebec Street. We ordered a bit of everything to get a proper feel f...

🥪 The Battleground: Robson Street Stalls Contender 1: Pressato Sandwich Bar (386 Robson St) Ordered: The Torino ($17.75) Contender 2: Dante Italian Sandwich (360 Robson St) Ordered: The Italiana ($18.00) The Verdict: Dante wins on fillings, but Pressato takes the crown with superior, airy focaccia. Happy Thursday evening, friends! I managed a rare win for dinner tonight and actually left the office before 7:00 PM. Having that extra bit of time meant my husband and I had more than enough daylight to visit a couple of spots on Robson Street. I have actually tried both of these places on separate occasions during our company team lunches, but since my husband hadn't experienced them yet, I knew we had to ...

☕ Cafe Spotlight: Lovelarte (Robson St) Location: 345 Robson St #101, Vancouver, BC V6B 0H3 (Perimeter of Vancouver Public Library Central Branch) The Drinks: 16 oz Mocha ($7.25) Spinach & Egg Muffin: $10.25 (Fluffy egg patty, fresh baby spinach, melted cheddar, touch of mayo) The Vibe: Peaceful outdoor patio, perfect for a quiet morning reset. Happy Thursday! I do not know about you, but it has been a week. Wednesday was an exceptionally long day for me, I had a meeting with a user that kept me at the office until 8:00 PM. Then, to keep things interesting, I was right back at it this morning at 8:00 AM to catch up with our team in Europe. We did a brief, super fun H...

☕ Cafe Spotlight: Pallet Coffee (Olympic Village) Location: Olympic Village (Yukon St & West 2nd Ave—formerly Starbucks) The Drinks: Latte ($6.00) & Mocha ($6.75) Beef Brisket Sandwich: $18.00 (Tender beef, touch of BBQ sauce, greens) Nordic Salmon Toast: $18.00 (Poached eggs, avocado, greens, salmon) Waking up early on a weekend for a routine dental appointment is never the ideal start to a Saturday, but it does offer the perfect excuse to treat yourself to an incredible brunch afterward. To soften the blow of a 9:00 AM appointment, we decided to check out the recently opened Pallet Co...