Traditional Aussie Pie, Lamington, and more from Peaked Pies

Happy last day of 2025! Congratulations, you made it! The past couple of days have felt quite overwhelming with planning our move and sorting everything into piles to throw away, donate, or bring to our new place. For dinner tonight, we decided to take a break from the boxes and grabbed a couple of pies and sweet treats from the relatively new Peaked Pies location on West Broadway.

Peaked Pies at home

Having traveled to Australia, I have been craving classic treats like Lamingtons and ANZAC biscuits. I am pleasantly surprised that my cravings can be satisfied right here in Vancouver because Peaked Pies offers both at such high quality. Their Lamington is quite huge compared to the ones I tried in Melbourne, so next time we will probably opt for their Minington, which is their clever name for a mini Lamington. Their ANZAC biscuit is also larger than the ones in Melbourne, but it carries that same delicious, buttery flavor.

A peek inside Chunky Pepper Steak pie from Peaked Pies
Chunky steak pieces infused with ground bacon, layered with a cheddar/mozzarella mix

Now, on to the pies! We ordered the Traditional Aussie, and while I initially thought the filling was not as flavorful as what I had in Melbourne, I realized that taking a bite of the crust and filling together creates the perfect balance. We were hoping to try The Hopper, which features ground kangaroo meat, but they were sold out for the day. We settled for the Chunky Pepper Steak instead, and it was actually even better than the Traditional Aussie. That pepper sauce is truly top notch!

A peak inside Traditional Aussie pie from Peaked Pies
Ground beef, onions, and gravy

We enjoyed our pies at home after warming them up in the air fryer for 10 minutes to get them perfectly flaky. We already cannot wait to come back to Peaked Pies on Pi Day!

A Family Potluck: Christmas Eve Noche Buena

As you know, my sister usually chooses a specific cuisine for our Christmas Eve dinner each year. This year, however, our youngest sister and only brother vetoed that idea. They suggested we do a potluck instead so everyone could bring exactly what they wanted to eat!

It turned out to be such a fantastic variety. Here is what everyone brought to the table:

Mama cooked her sweet Filipino-style spaghetti and prepared a creamy Filipino-style fruit salad. Hubby and I picked up the savory House Special Fried Rice from Lin Chinese Cuisine along with smoky Inihaw na Liempo and crunchy Lechong Kawali from Little Ongpin Restaurant. My sister roasted a tender chicken and made vibrant stir-fried vegetables. Our brother brought a fresh sushi platter from Fukuroku Sushi Express and the chilled drinks. Finally, our youngest sister ordered crispy lumpiang Shanghai from Little Ongpin Restaurant and brought decadent cakes from Costco.

A Family Potluck: Christmas Eve Noche Buena

It was such a feast! I haven't felt a food coma like this in a very long time. It was the perfect way to celebrate together.

For the record, here is a look back at our past Noche Buena themes:

• 2024: Filipino Food
• 2023: Canadian Food
• 2022: Ukrainian Food from Ukrainian Village
• 2021: Korean Food from H-Mart
• 2020: Chinese Food from Lin Chinese Cuisine and Tea House
• 2019: French Food (cooked by my sister)
• 2018: Spanish Food
• 2017: Japanese Food
• 2016 and 2015: Domino's Pizza and my mom's Filipino-style spaghetti

Americano from Dante Italian Sandwich

Happy Thursday! This week's company-paid team lunch theme was sandwiches. Since we have a wonderful new colleague who is vegetarian, we decided to pivot from our usual favorite, Meat & Bread, to somewhere with more options for her. We ended up at Dante Italian Sandwich in their Robson location!

Americano from Dante Italian Sandwich
Roast turkey, stracciatella cheese, potato chip crunch, basil spread, semi dried tomato, arugula

We placed our order online, and I went out for the quick pick-up run. I decided to try their Americano sandwich, which was absolutely stacked with flavor and texture! It came loaded with savory roast turkey, creamy stracciatella cheese, a genius addition of crispy potato chip crunch for texture, a bright basil spread, sweet semi dried tomato, and ton of peppery arugula. It was such a satisfying and flavorful lunch! I love how Dante uses that fantastic, rustic schiacciata bread.

For reference, here is the other delicious sandwich I've tried from Dante so far: Inferno.

Lemongrass Chicken Bahn Mi and Wonton Soup from Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine

Happy Thursday! The theme for our company-paid team lunch today was Vietnamese, and we decided to support the local family-owned gem, Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine, for some bánh mì!

I'm feeling a bit under the weather with a terrible dry cough, so I was definitely craving something comforting and warm. I ordered their B1 - Grilled Lemongrass Chicken Bahn Mi and paired it with a small Wonton Soup for some cozy warmth.

Lemongrass Chicken Bahn Mi from Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine

The bánh mì was delicious! The Grilled Lemongrass Chicken was tender and packed with bright, citrusy, and savory flavor, perfectly complemented by the crisp, cool pickled carrots and daikon, fresh cilantro, and a smear of rich pâté, all tucked into a perfectly crunchy baguette. 

Wonton Soup (small) from Viet Sub Vietnamese Cuisine

Meanwhile, the Wonton Soup was exactly what I needed: a piping hot, clean, and savory broth filled with silky wontons that were easy to sip down. I finished the soup right away during lunch (it was so soothing!) and enjoyed the rest of my delicious sandwich between afternoon meetings.

I always love Viet Sub's sandwiches! For future reference, here are the other bánh mì I've tried here so far:

• B1. Grilled Lemongrass Chicken
• B4. Special Sub (Vietnamese Ham / Cold Cut Meat / Meat Ball)
• B7. B.B.Q Sub (Pork / Beef / Chicken / Meat Ball)
• C6. Wonton Soup (small)

Beef Curry Buns and Pineapple Red Bean Buns from Anna's Bakery

After a long day of viewing houses, I'm absolutely famished. In desperation, we saw Anna's Bakery in Lansdowne, where we're meeting my parents.

Beef Curry Bun from Anna's Bakery inside Lansdowne Centre

I went for the savoury curry beef bun while hubby got the sweet pineapple bun with red bean.

Pineapple with Red Bean from Anna's Bakery

Of course, he chose the better one. I think my curry beef will be awesome once heated up, but there's no time for that since I'm starved.

Grilled Cheeses from Jujo Juice

After our smooth transatlantic flight, we found ourselves with a brief two-hour layover in Calgary (YYC) before the final hop to Vancouver. With both of us still battling a lingering cough, we made a beeline for Jugo Juice, knowing they had the perfect remedies. 

Our first order of business was to stock up on wellness: a fiery Good Shot (packed with lemon, ginger, turmeric, and cayenne—pure immune system defiance!) and a fresh Orange Juice. For food, we went for the ultimate Canadian comfort food with a twist: Grilled Cheese sandwiches. They were far from basic and made for the perfect, handheld airport meal.

I chose the Chicken & Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese, a savory delight built with chicken, spinach, mozzarella, and sweet, jammy caramelized onions. It was warm and barely satisfying.

Chicken & Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese from Jugo Juice
Chicken, mozzarella, spinach, and caramelized onion

However, the real winner, by a delicious margin, was my husband's choice: the Turkey Cranberry Grilled Cheese. This sandwich took the familiar combination of turkey and cranberry and elevated it with a fantastic, nutty layer of pesto.

Turkey Cranberry Grilled Cheese from Jugo Juice
Turkey, provolone, cranberry sauce, and pesto

Fueled by spicy shots, fresh juice, and melty grilled cheese sandwiches, we were ready for the final leg of our journey home.

Black Forest Hot Chocolate from Butlers Chocolate Café

After our fast-paced walking tour, which took us past the exteriors of some of Dublin’s most iconic landmarks—from the medieval walls of Dublin Castle to the soaring spires of St. Patrick’s Cathedral—we were ready for a treat. We headed straight for Butlers Chocolate Café. I had already experienced their famous hot chocolate during my time in Cork and knew my husband had to try it for himself.

Black Forest Hot Chocolate from Butlers Chocolate Café 

While he enjoyed his first taste of their signature hot chocolate, I decided to go for one of their seasonal specials: the Black Forest Hot Chocolate. And it was spot-on! The drink was a perfect liquid version of the classic cake, with rich, dark chocolate notes and the unmistakable, fruity essence of black cherries.

Dubai Donut and Kinder Deluxe from The Rolling Donut

After the spicy delights of our Spice Bag and Dan Dan Noodles from Xi'An Street Food, we needed something sweet to cool things down and signal the end of a truly epic day. And what better way to do that than with a stop at The Rolling Donut? We grabbed a couple of their decadent creations to enjoy back in the comfort of our hotel room with a cup of tea.

Dubai Donut from The Rolling Donut
A delightful fusion of Middle Eastern flavours, filled with crunchy, toasted kataifi pastry & rich pistachio cream topped with our handmade ganache & sprinkled with crushed pistachios. 

A peek inside the Dubai Donut from The Rolling Donut

I chose the Dubai Donut, which offered a delightful fusion of Middle Eastern flavors, featuring crunchy kataifi pastry and rich pistachio cream inside. My husband, meanwhile, went for the Kinder Deluxe. This was all about that familiar taste of a Kinder Bueno, with a creamy filling and a white chocolate hazelnut ganache on top.

Kinder Deluxe from The Rolling Donut
A sourdough donut with a scrumptious Kinder Bueno filling topped with a creamy white chocolate hazelnut ganache and chocolate flakes

A peek inside the Kinder Deluxe from The Rolling Donut

Sharing these sweet, pillowy donuts and sipping tea in our room was the perfect, cozy conclusion to a day that had taken us from the wild Cliffs of Moher to the bustling streets of Dublin, seasoned with history, folklore, and delicious food. It was a well-deserved, sweet reward after so much exploring!

Croissants from Eurospar

After an absolutely magnificent day exploring the dramatic beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, the ancient landscapes of The Burren, and the charming village of Kinvara (complete with its iconic Dunguaire Castle!), it was time for the long drive back to Dublin. As our final stop, we popped into Eurospar in Kinvara for some road trip snacks.

Normally, when you think "grocery store pastries," especially at the end of the day, expectations aren't exactly sky-high. However, we were in for a delightful surprise! We picked up a trio of croissants – a classic, a chocolate, and an almond.

A bag of Croissants from Eurospar in Kinvara

And honestly? They were surprisingly delicious! The plain croissant was buttery, the chocolate croissant had a good ratio of rich chocolate to pastry, and the almond croissant was perfectly sweet. Considering it was late in the day and these came from a grocery store bakery, their quality was still impressive.

Roast Chicken Sandwich and Roast Beef Sandwich from Dirty Apron Nourish

We made it past airport security and are now waiting for our WestJet flight to Calgary, which is already delayed. For lunch, we tried a couple of sandwiches from Dirty Apron Nourish: the Roast Chicken and the Roast Beef.

The baguette was delicious, with a perfectly crispy crust and a soft, chewy inside. I preferred the roast beef, as the chimichurri sauce added a bright, refreshing flavor that balanced out the richness.

Roast Beef Sandwich from Dirty Apron Nourish
Roma tomatoes, chimichurri, arugula, sun-dried tomato aioli

The roast chicken sandwich, on the other hand, was a bit too rich for my taste. The combination of Parmesan cheese and chipotle aioli was simply too much.

Roast Chicken Sandwich
Roast chicken, shaved parmesan, sundried tomatoes, arugula, chipotle aioli

Overall, these were great sandwiches and a welcome break from the usual options like Tim Hortons or Starbucks.

Thanksgiving Stack from Tim Hortons

We're at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) today, catching our flight to Dublin, Ireland, with a layover at Calgary International Airport. As our first meal of the day and before our flight, we decided to give the Thanksgiving Stack from Tim Hortons a try.

Since we'll be missing Canadian Thanksgiving this year, this is an early (sort of) celebration! The stack is loaded with all the expected flavors of a Thanksgiving meal: turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing. We completed our meal with a side of potato wedges.

Thanksgiving Stack from Tim Hortons

While the Supreme Stack was subpar, this one is a messy deliciousness worth a try.

Prosciutto Panino Porta from Ciclo Espresso & Cocteles

Happy Wednesday! I ate my packed lunch a little too early and now I'm starved, so I had to find lunch that's relatively close to the office and decided to give the tiny spot across the street a try. Say hello to Ciclo Espresso & Cocteles The Post.

Prosciutto Panino Porta from Ciclo Espresso & Cocteles
Prosciutto crudo, Italian stracciatella, fior di latte, arugula, shaved parmigiano, and aged balsamico

I ordered their Prosciutto and it looked beautiful, but I found the bread a little too hard for my liking. The prosciutto was salty, which is expected, and when you took a bite with the balsamic, it was perfect. Otherwise, the Parmigiano was creamy but salty too. The arugula will always be good and provided a slightly bitter touch. It's also so messy to eat.

Iced Matcha from Ciclo Espresso & Cocteles

Thankfully, their version of the iced matcha is top-notch. I'll be back for the drink, and I'll probably try a different panino porta, but I'm definitely not getting the prosciutto again.

Too Good To Go: Prepared Meals Large from Pizza Pizza

Happy Monday! Buying a house is tough, and I was feeling the stress, so I decided to treat myself to a surprise box from the Too Good To Go app. I chose the nearby Pizza Pizza and was thrilled to receive a box filled with 10 large slices of assorted pizza.

Too Good To Go from Pizza Pizza

I'm so happy! I was able to satisfy and calm my nerves with some delicious food, and I even have a few slices left for the next few days.

Too Good To Go: Surprise Bag from Lee's Donuts

Today, I took a mental health day and visited my parents to recharge. We spent the day in Steveston, relaxing in a park and indulging in a delicious treat. Before that, we stopped by Lee's Donuts, where I picked up a surprise bag from Too Good To Go for just $11.99.

Surprise Bag from Lee's Donuts

Suprise Bag from Lee's Donuts

Delicious Donuts from Lee's

The bag was filled with a dozen donuts that would normally cost $35.00. I was surprised to learn how expensive their donuts are! I remember when I used to get them from work years ago, and they were only $20.00. Those were the days.

Too Good To Go: Surprise Bag from Pane E Formaggio

Inflation has hit every household hard this year, but thanks to the Too Good To Go app, I'm able to try new spots without breaking the bank and save good food near its expiry date that may end up in the bin.

After work today, I checked my TGTG app and told hubby about the deal nearby, but the catch is we only have 10 minutes to spare before the surprise bag disappears from Pane E Formaggio on Beatty Street. We hurriedly walked and thankfully got there with 8 minutes to go before 7:00 in the evening.

I paid $7.34 (including the $0.35 GST) for all this bread.

My Too Good To Go Surprise Bag from Pane E Formaggio

What did I get for $7.34?

• 1x Multigrain Loaf - $5.49
• 2x Sourdough Twisted Hoagies - $7.98
• 2x Cookie - Chocolate Chip - $6.10
• 1x Banana Chocolate Chip - $3.19

That's $22.76 worth of food that we received for $7.34! It's such a steal. I was really stressed at work that I devoured the muffin way too quickly than I'd like to admit.

I added what I received in the cart on their website

I have not repeated any Too Good To Go spot, but I know that this is my experience and the next time I could receive a completely different deal. But it's what makes TGTG so interesting and fun. Plus, the Asian in me is so happy getting good deals.

Too Good To Go: Baked Goods from Terra Bread - Granville Island

Happy Saturday! I'm meeting my sister and her fiancé today so I can help plan their wedding. We decided to meet in Granville Island where I spotted in my Too Good To Go app that Terra Bread in this location has a baked goods surprise box. Of course, I ordered one!

This box is $7.99 + GST of 5% ($0.40), so I paid $8.39 for assorted baked goodies.

• Blueberry flatbread - $5.62
• Grape Nut flatbread - $5.62
• Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie - $5.20
• Pain au Chocolat - $5.78
• Chocolate Coconut Macaroon - $3.10

Baked Goods Surprise Box from Terra Bread in Granville Island
purchased through Too Good To Go app

It's such a great deal! The prices of each item above were taken from DoorDash and I got $25 worth of goodies for $8.39! I love Too Good To Go.

Almond Croissant and Bread Pudding from The Sweet Spot

Happy Saturday! Exploring the charming Steveston Village means stumbling upon quaint bakeries like The Sweet Spot, offering mouthwatering bread and treats.

Almond Croissant from The Sweet Spot

We couldn't resist indulging in their Almond Croissant and Bread Pudding. The croissant was perfect for munching on as we continued our exploration, while the bread pudding came home with us to be enjoyed later after a quick spin in the air fryer.

Bread Pudding from The Sweet Spot

Both were absolutely divine! I highly recommend this bakery as a hidden gem in Steveston.

Too Good To Go: Surprise Box from Freshslice Pizza in Steveston, Richmond BC

Happy beautiful Saturday, everyone! I took advantage of the long weekend and ventured to Steveston, Richmond BC. There, I decided to finally try the Surprise Bag from Freshslice Pizza, which I found listed on the Too Good To Go app.

I reserved my box and got in line. When it was my turn, I showed the cashier my app and she asked how many pizzas I'd ordered. I told her one, and she confirmed that I didn't want it reheated. She disappeared into the kitchen and returned with two boxes filled with eight slices of pizza.

Surprise Box from Fresh Slice Pizza

She handed me the boxes with the sweetest smile and told me that the second one was free! I was thrilled! My family and I enjoyed the pizza together.

Second Free Surprise Box from Fresh Slice Pizza

The Too Good To Go app is such a fun way to try new places that I might not have otherwise ordered from. I've found some really great deals using the app, and it's always an adventure to see what I'll get in my surprise bag.

Al Pastor Taco from El Compadre

Happy Thursday! I won the weekly team competition this week and got to pick the theme for the company-paid weekly team lunch for all our three offices. I chose Mexican because I really want to try Club Kitchen's new spot: El Compadre. I ordered their Al Pastor Taco, which is what I enjoyed during my trip to Mexico last June. I'm pleased to share that it satisfied my cravings.

Pastor Tacos
3 tacos (double tortilla) full of al pastor with green salsa on the side, pineapple, cilantro / onion, and lime

While the pork is not quite at par with the texture and cut I ate in CDMX, their corn tortilla is exactly the same. It was perfect. I topped my taco with cilantro and onion and squeezed lime over it, then dipped it in salsa before taking a bite. Heaven! Can't wait to give their other options a try.

Vegetarian Breakfast Wrap and Matcha Latte from Artigiano Telus Garden

Good morning! I have a one-on-one with my team today, and before the meeting, we grabbed breakfast at Artigiano in Telus Garden.

Vegetarian Breakfast Wrap from Artigiano in Telus Garden

I had the Vegetarian Breakfast Wrap, which was a delightful surprise. The starchy potatoes and soft eggs were a perfect combination. I also tried their matcha latte, which was sweetened just right with a subtle hint of tea bitterness.

Matcha Latte from Artigiano Telus Garden

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the wrap, as we usually go to Lovelarte for breakfast. I'm eager to try more of their menu options in the future.