Refreshing and Fruity: Tim Hortons' New Sparkling Quenchers

It's a beautiful cloudy day in Vancouver and it's a perfect time to take long walks while enjoying the Blood Orange Ginger Sparkling Quencher and Blackberry Yuzu Sparkling Quencher from Tim Hortons.

Blood Orange Ginger Sparkling Quencher

I was expecting a sweet slightly tangy flavour from the Blood Orange Ginger Sparkling Quencher from Tim Hortons, instead all I got is the bold warm ginger after taste.

I didn't enjoy it, but if you like ginger this is a good option for you.

Blood Orange Ginger Sparkling Quencher from Tim Hortons

Blackberry Yuzu Sparkling Quencher

Why do I feel like they added Yuzu to the name of the drink to make it sound cool and exotic but there's absolutely no yuzu flavour to this drink. It's essentially a sweet blackberry iced drink.

Blackberry Yuzu Sparkling Quencher from Tim Hortons

I am not a fam of both drinks but if you twist my arm to make a choice I would go for the Blackberry Yuzu Sparkling Quencher. The ginger after taste on the first drink is just too much for me.

Have you tried one or both drinks? What do you think?

Cool Down with McDonald's Confetti Cookie Dough McFlurry: A Burst of Color and Creaminess

As the scorching heat wave continues to hit Vancouver, McDonald's Canada has introduced a delightful treat to help beat the heat — the Confetti Cookie Dough McFlurry. Combining smooth vanilla soft serve, colorful candy confetti, and chunks of cookie dough, this McFlurry promises a cool and creamy dessert experience. In this blog post, we'll delve into the details of this vibrant creation, share our firsthand experience, and offer insights into its flavor and texture.

Confetti Cookie Dough McFlurry from McDonald's

The McFlurry is a refreshing treat perfectly suited for hot summer days. The smooth and creamy vanilla soft serve forms the base of this delectable dessert, providing a cool respite from the sweltering heat. As we took our first spoonful, the velvety texture of the soft serve instantly brought relief and a sense of indulgence.

One of the unique aspects of this McFlurry is the addition of colorful candy confetti. While the confetti doesn't contribute significant additional sweetness, it adds a playful burst of color to the dessert. The vibrant confetti speckled throughout the McFlurry creates an eye-catching appearance that appeals to both children and the young at heart. Beyond aesthetics, the confetti also adds a slight variation in texture, providing a subtle crunch amidst the creamy soft serve.

Confetti Cookie Dough McFlurry from McDonald's

The star of the Confetti Cookie Dough McFlurry is undoubtedly the chunks of cookie dough scattered throughout. These generous portions of cookie dough provide a delightful softness to each spoonful. With its own distinct flavor, the cookie dough adds a hint of sweetness and a comforting taste reminiscent of freshly baked cookies. The combination of the creamy soft serve and the cookie dough creates a delightful contrast of textures and flavors.

As we savored the Confetti Cookie Dough McFlurry during the Vancouver heat wave, we found it to be a perfect treat to combat the soaring temperatures.

McDonald's Canada's New Chipotle BBQ Quarter Pounder

McDonald's Canada is constantly innovating its menu, and the latest addition to its lineup is the limited-time Chipotle BBQ Quarter Pounder. With a tantalizing combination of flavours, this burger aims to please both BBQ enthusiasts and burger lovers alike. In this blog post, I'll share details of this new creation, share my first-hand experience, and provide an honest assessment of whether it lives up to expectations.

Chipotle BBQ Quarter Pounder from McDonald's Canada
100% Canadian quarter pound* beef patty topped with sweet and spicy chipotle BBQ sauce, hickory smoked bacon strips, crispy onions, pickles, and two slices of processed cheddar cheese served on a toasted sesame bun.

The Chipotle BBQ Quarter Pounder boasts a 100% Canadian quarter-pound beef patty that forms the foundation of this burger. One of the standout elements is the surprising depth of beef flavour, which caught me off guard in the best possible way. While we don't typically order quarter-pounders, this one impressed me with its juicy and robust taste.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the sweet and spicy chipotle BBQ sauce. Its tangy notes add a zesty kick that elevates the overall flavour profile. Combining the smoky chipotle and the sweetness of the BBQ sauce creates a delightful contrast, making each bite an explosion of taste.

Accompanying the beef and sauce are hickory-smoked bacon strips, crispy onions, pickles, and two slices of processed cheddar cheese. These toppings contribute to the overall texture and flavour complexity. The bacon adds a smoky and savoury element, while the crispy onions provide a satisfying crunch. The pickles offer a refreshing tang, and the cheese brings a creamy richness to the ensemble.

Chipotle BBQ Quarter Pounder from McDonald's Canada

After savouring the Chipotle BBQ Quarter Pounder, I reflected on our experience. While it was undoubtedly enjoyable, it didn't leave a lasting impression that would make it a regular order for me. Although the beef flavour was surprisingly good, the overall combination of ingredients didn't quite match my personal preferences. In comparison, I found the previously introduced Carolina BBQ Quarter Pounder to be a more compelling option.

McDonald's Canada's Chipotle BBQ Quarter Pounder may not be a personal favourite, but taste preferences can vary, and we encourage you to try it and decide for yourself. So visit your nearest McDonald's Canada location to indulge in this limited-time offering, and let us know your thoughts!

Choco Heaven Stuffies Soft-Serve from Stuffies Pastries | Metropolist at Metrotown

 After our dinner at Vina Vietnamese, we grabbed desserts at Stuffies Pastries. We selected the Choco Heaven Stuffies Soft-Serve, a creamy soft-serve topped with a mini chocolate bar, chocolate-dipped pretzel, dark chocolate sauce, and choco rocks in a fish-shaped waffle cone.

Choco Heaven Stuffies Soft-Serve from Stuffies Pastry

I have a bias for red bean paste, so I still prefer the Orient Express Stuffies Soft-Serve we tried last time.

A Classic Twist on a Classic Treat: Tim Hortons' Sour Cream Glazed Donut

The Sour Cream Glazed donut is a classic donut that has been a favourite among Tim Hortons customers for many years.

It has a moist, fluffy cake base topped with a rich, tangy sour cream glaze. Unfortunately, the cake base was dry from sitting in the display case for who knows how long. Thankfully, the sour cream glaze was not overly sweet like what you'll find at Krispy Kreme.

Sour Cream Glazed Donut from Tim Hortons

The Sour Cream Glazed donut is one of many varieties of donuts that Tim Hortons offers, and it is typically available year-round. It pairs well with a cup of coffee or tea, making it the perfect snack for any time of day.

Uncovering BBQ in Richmond: A Review of HK BBQ Master

My brother celebrated his birthday last week, and today, he requested Crispy Roast Pork from HK BBQ Master.

HK BBQ Master is a famous Hong Kong-style barbecue restaurant in Richmond, BC. They were featured in David Chang's Netflix Original series 'Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner' episode with Seth Rogen as they eat through Vancouver.

BBQ Duck waiting to be served at HK BBQ Master

After waiting in line for 5 to 10 minutes which is better than I thought it could be given that it's Saturday lunch, we noticed a sign that you can phone in to pre-order by calling their number: 604-272-6568. We didn't know this, so I hope you find it useful.

When we got to the counter, I ordered 2 lbs of Crispy Roast Pork and 2 lbs of Honey BBQ Pork, and half BBQ duck. Of course, we went to my parent's place right away to enjoy it with rice.

The Crispy Roast Pork looks and tastes familiar. In the Philippines, we call it fried liempo, which I enjoy with Filipino lechon sauce. The crispy golden-brown skin is such a perfect complement to the tender meat. My mouth is watering thinking about it again.

Crispy Roast Pork from HK BBQ Master

Meanwhile, the BBQ duck is not as flavourful as Honey BBQ Pork, but the skin was crispy, and the meat was juicy, so the textures were on point, but the pork dishes were better.

BBQ Duck from HK BBQ Master

The Honey BBQ Pork is my favourite of the meat we ordered today. It has a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavours known for its succulent texture with a sticky, sweet, and savoury glaze.

Honey BBQ Pork from HK BBQ Master

Overall, I want to return and order more meat and enjoy it at home with steamed vegetables.

McDonald's Canada Brings Back the Beloved Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry for Easter 2023

After a savoury and satisfying dinner at Kokoro Ramen, I wanted ice cream, and we spotted a nearby McDonald's. They currently offer a limited-edition Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry for Easter.

McFlurry is a popular dessert item sold at McDonald's. It is a soft-serve ice cream that is blended with various candy or cookie mix-ins and this version has Cadbury Creme Egg.

Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry from McDonald's
Soft dairy ice cream, swirled with Cadbury milk chocolate pieces and a Cadbury Creme Egg® fondant sauce.

It was different and much better than the seasonal Candy Cane Fudge McFlurry. However, I still prefer the classic Oreo McFlurry.

A spoonful of Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry.

We enjoyed our ice cream while walking along Victoria Avenue. We walked almost a kilometre from 41st Avenue going north and reached 36th Avenue. It was a cold, cloudy night and not the best weather for ice cream, but taking an evening stroll with my husband was always satisfying.

Brownie and Muffin from Green Beans Coffee Co. | San Francisco Airport (SFO)

After our delicious late lunch at Proposition Chicken, we grabbed a brownie and blueberry muffin from nearby Green Beans Coffee Co.

Blueberry Muffins from Green Beans Coffee Co

Brownie from Green Bean Coffee Co

It was a good dessert after a savoury meal. Can't wait for our flight to Ontario and finally see family.

Tim Hortons: Farmers Breakfast Wrap

It's a beautiful Friday in Vancouver! We're flying to California today to visit family. To start our trip, we're grabbing breakfast at Tim Hortons at the airport. ♥️

The line was long for Tims. Finally, after around 15 minutes, we got my favourite Farmers' Breakfast Wrap with Sausage & Bacon and a bottle of Orange Juice.

Tim Hortons Farmers Breakfast Wrap

It has everything you want in a breakfast meal: egg, bacon, sausage, and hash browns inside a portable and easy-to-eat wrap.

I can't wait to see my aunties, uncle, and cousin. Thank God for all the blessings. I'm grateful for the chance to travel again. Unfortunately, we received news last Wednesday that will impact our budget. I am a bit scared but always comforted that God will continue to provide for us and reward the work of our hands.

I'll be writing and posting using my phone, so please forgive any grammatical errors and misspellings. I'll edit all posts when we get home.

Chicken Deluxe (Bola Bola) Steamed Buns (Siopao) from Original New Town Bakery (Cambie Village Location)

SIOPAO! I grew up in the Philippines and am hopelessly in love with Filipino food. One of the things I miss is the Filipino steamed buns (siopao), specifically the Bola Bola. In Canada, it's usually referred to as Chicken Deluxe Steamed Buns.

While doing our daily walks, I spotted a siopao sign along Cambie Street. I was pleasantly surprised to find siopao relatively close to our home.

Bola Bola Siopao (Chicken Deluxe Steamed Buns) from New Town Bakery & Restaurant

I'll be back and order half a dozen frozen siopao I can steam at home. My favourite siopao in Vancouver is still from Bao Bakery in Joyce, but I will frequent New Town because it's closer.

Save-On-Foods Sandwiches: Roast Beef & Cheddar Cheese and Ham & Swiss Cheese

I have a confession to make. I love grocery chains with ready-to-eat sections. They're usually reasonably priced and of decent quality. Today, we spent a good 20 minutes walking around the Save-On-Foods Deli &l; Ready Made Meals section deciding which one to try.

Save-On-Foods Sandwiches: Roast Beef & Cheddar Cheese and Ham & Swiss Cheese

If you're in a hurry and looking for a quick and tasty meal option, I surprisingly can recommend the sandwiches from Save-On-Foods, a popular grocery chain in Canada. In this post, I'll share my thoughts on two of their sandwiches: the Roast Beef & Cheddar Cheese and Ham & Swiss.

Roast Beef & Cheddar Cheese Sandwich

The Roast Beef & Cheddar Cheese Sandwich has thickly sliced white bread, mayonnaise, roast beef, sliced cheddar cheese, and lettuce.

Save-On-Foods Ham & Swiss Cheese

Ham & Swiss Cheese Sandwich

The Ham & Swiss Cheese Sandwich is thick sliced white bread, mayonnaise, bold & spicy mustard, layered with black forest ham, Swiss cheese and lettuce.

Save-On-Foods Roast Beef & Cheddar Cheese

For both sandwiches, the bread was soft, and after placing it for 1 minute in the microwave, the cheese was perfectly melted. However, roast beef has more flavour than ham, so I prefer the Roast Beef sandwich.

Save-On-Foods Sushi: Smoked Salmon Roll and Spicy California Roll

Are you a sushi lover on a budget? If so, you may want to try the sushi rolls from Save-On-Foods, a popular grocery chain in Canada. In this blog post, I'll share my thoughts on two of their rolls: the Smoked Salmon Roll and the Spicy California Roll.

Smoked Salmon Roll

It's the better of the two rolls. The Smoked Salmon Roll is sushi rice rolled with fresh avocado, cucumber, and imitation crab meat topped with smoked salmon lox. Save-On-Foods make it fresh in-store every day. I like the fresh avocado's creaminess and the salmon lox's saltiness.

Left: Smoked Salmon Roll
Right: Spicy California Roll

Spicy California Roll

Meanwhile, the Spicy California Roll is, well, spicy. It's the same content as Smoked Salmon Roll, but this time topped with roasted sesame seeds, spicy mayo, and sriracha. Aside from the heat, not a lot of flavour on this one.

Save-On-Foods sushi rolls won't be the best you've ever had, but they are a decent option for a quick, relatively affordable meal. 

Peach Pie from Meinhardt Fine Foods | Pi Day 2023

Happy 3.14 Pi Day!

Peach Pie from Meinhardt Fine Foods

When we were still in the Philippines, hubby, me, and our close friend (and maid-of-honour) celebrated Pi Day, usually at Jollibee, for their Peach Mango Pie. I continued the tradition of eating a pie on Pi Day when I moved to Canada.

• 2022: Veggie Korma Pizza from Panago Pizza (Pizza count as a pie, right? Right?)
• 2021: Chicken Pot Pie from Meinhardt Fine Foods
• 2020: Apple Pie and Chicken Pot Pie from The Pie Hole
• 2019: Coconut Cream Pie and Pecan Pie A La Mode in Granville Island Public Market
• 2018: Apple Pie and Pecan Pie from A La Mode in Granville Island Public Market
• 2017: Pecan Pie from Save-on-Foods

I didn't make any plans on where or what pie to get today. We ended up walking around Meinhardt Fine Food searching for a sweet pie and spotted the last remaining Peach Pie.

Peach Pie from Meinhardt Fine Foods

The crust is not as flakey, but the peach was sweet with a slight tartness.

Trying ALL Stuffed Cheesy Bread from Domino's Pizza

 We were pumped! It's the first game of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the Major League Soccer (MLS) season. We're excited that soccer is back! We also played well during the first half but then... the second half happened, and we're back to our usual losing ways. Sigh.

As part of our back-to-back game experience (the Canucks lost their game today, too), my younger sister and her boyfriend picked up LA Chicken and Domino's Pizza. We had a Pepperoni Pizza, and I asked her to order all three variants of the cheesy bread.

It has a crunchy outside texture with nearly burnt cheese, then the inside is soft, chewy, and cheesy. 

If you like the Stuffed Crust from Pizza Hut, then the Domino's Pizza Stuffed Cheesy Bread is for you.

Domino’s Pizza Stuffed Cheesy Bread
Our oven-baked breadsticks are generously stuffed with mozzarella cheese - Covered with a blend of even more mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Seasoned with a touch of garlic and Romano.

Meanwhile, if you want something more, then the Domino's Pizza Stuffed Cheesy Bread with Spinach & Feta is the one to try.

Domino's Pizza Stuffed Cheesy Bread with Spinach & Feta

Domino's Pizza Stuffed Cheesy Bread with Spinach & Feta
Our oven-baked breadsticks are generously stuffed with mozzarella cheese, fresh spinach, and feta cheese - covered with a blend of even more mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

Lastly, if you love spicy food, the Domino's Pizza Stuffed Cheesy Bread with Bacon & Jalapeno is the one to get.

Domino's Pizza Stuffed Cheesy Bread with Bacon & Jalapeno

Domino's Pizza Stuffed Cheesy Bread with Bacon & Jalapeno
Our oven-baked breadsticks are generously stuffed with mozzarella cheese, bacon crumble, and jalapeno peppers - covered with a blend of even more mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

I'll be happy just ordering the Stuffed Cheesy Bread and maybe one of their pasta than a pizza. It's such a fun day with the siblings.

Matcha Red Bean Smoothie from Chatime Canada

Happy Saturday! Hubby and I went shopping at Richmond Center, and I was feeling parched, so I decided to get the Matcha Red Bean Smoothie. It's part of their seasonal menu.

Matcha Red Bean Smoothie

I like the green tea's slight bitterness and the mushy red bean texture. It's enjoyable.

Japanese Custard Waffle Cakes Monteur Douce Patisserie in Vancouver

After dinner at Tims, we grabbed groceries at Shoppers and walked around at La Win Supermarket. We picked three different pastries from their bakery and frozen dessert section.

Custard Waffle Cakes

From the open fridge near the bakery section, we spotted the Monteur Douce Patisserie Custard Waffle Cakes imported directly from Japan.

Monteur Douce Patisserie Custard Waffle Cakes made in Japan

Creamy custard between a folded waffle.

Four Japanese Custard Waffle Cakes

The waffle was so soft it was like eating the clouds, while the custard inside was sweet. I love it!

Daifuku Red Bean Cake

The Red Bean Cake reminds me of the one we got fresh from Kam Do Bakery.

Made in Japan Daifuku Red Bean Cake

A peek inside the Daifuku Red Bean Cake.

Sausage Bun

We have the sausage buns for breakfast tomorrow.

Plus de Cerises, Mon Chérie and My Fat Vegan Dream from The GOOD Chocolatier | 2023 Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival

Happy Sunday! For the first time, we're consciously visiting places participating in 2023 Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival. Our first stop for the hot chocolate season is The GOOD Chocolatier inside Greens Market along West Broadway.

The GOOD Chocolatier offers two flavours as part of the 2023 Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival

After the 9:00 AM Mass and Pancake Breakfast at Church, we ordered both available drink flavours from The GOOD Chocolatier a couple blocks away.

#73 Plus de Cerises, Mon Chérie

It's a beautiful cup of hot chocolate that took 5-10 minutes to prepare. It was lovingly handcrafted by the friendly person at the counter. It has a strong cherry flavour which reminds me of black forest cake.

#73 Plus de Cerises, Mon Chérie

Darling, why have only one cherry, if everything can be a cherry? A delightful cherry-hot chocolate, dark and rich. Served with whipped cream and house made chocolate sprinkles. Served with a Rum & Cherry Truffle.

- Source: Description on Hot Chocolate Festival website

#74 My Fat Vegan Dream

It's nutty, and I couldn't pinpoint which nuts I was tasting at first, then hubby pointed out that it's chestnut and coconut. The flavour profile of this hot chocolate is more "traditional," with hints and highlights of nutty flavour from the coconut and chestnut. It's also sweeter than the option above.

#74 My Fat Vegan Dream

It’s everything that vegan is not supposed to be, and more. Toasted Marshmallows, Vegan Milk Chocolate, Salted Caramel Fatso, Chestnut, Crunchy Coconut, whipping cream… can you still follow? No? Then you just gotta try. (contains peanuts and nuts). Served with a Big Chocolate-Covered Marshmallow.

- Source: Description on Hot Chocolate Festival website

Both flavours are takeout only and available from January 14 to February 12, 2023, on Friday - Sunday only.

Take advantage of the chance to try the delicious hot chocolate made from single-origin cacao from Ecuador at The GOOD Chocolatier. It's also their first time joining the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival.

Chicken Wings and Chicken Strips from Costco Food Court

Costco Food Court in their Richmond, BC location offers Chicken Wings in 10 or 30 pieces. Unfortunately, the wings are unavailable in the Downtown Vancouver Costco branch.

Chicken Wings

It's good, perfectly fried chicken wings. Crispy skin and juicy chicken meat. It's suitable for parties.

Chicken Strips and French Fries 

We also ordered the Chicken Strips just to try them out. The meat was flavourful, but getting one of the dips would be advisable.

La Win Supermarket with Bakery is now open!

La Win Supermarket is a newly opened Asian grocery located at West Broadway corner Pine Street. It's a cause of celebration that we now have an Asian market within walking distance of our place! Imagine all the frozen dumplings, instant noodles, fresh produce, and meat.

We visited this evening on our way to Shoppers for our weekly grocery run. They're still at the soft opening stages since some aisle is still empty, and we can still see boxes that need to be unpacked.

With that said, we checked out their Bakery section for bread. Unfortunately, it's after work, so only a handful is left, and we got three salt bread.

Salt Bread from La Win Supermarket

We enjoyed Plain Salt Bread, Garlic Salt Bread, and Black Truffle Salt Bread with hot chocolate for dinner this evening. It started raining on our walk home, so a mug of warm cocoa was what we needed.

Plain Salt Bread

The plain one reminds me of pandesal but with a more buttery exterior.

My favourite would be garlic. It has a strong garlic flavour and is so buttery that you can feel your fingers feel slippery.

Garlic Salt Bread

My least favourite is the black truffle because I'm unsure what to expect. It smells like truffle, but I can't justify that it costs more than the other two.

Black Truffle Salt Bread

On our walk home, we discussed trying the different loaves of bread they have. There are matcha, chocolate, raisins, and other variants, and they're only half a loaf. The one thing stopping me from hoarding bread is calories. There needs to be nutritional information on the bread, which is not ideal for a dieting foodie like me.

McDonald's Canada Spicy McCrispy Bacon Deluxe

Happy Boxing Day! Before heading to Millenium Karaoke for a family singing night, we grabbed dinner from McDonald's Canada and specifically ordered the Spicy McCrispy Bacon Deluxe.

The McDonald's website described the sandwich as follows:

The Spicy Bacon Deluxe McCrispy is big on everything, including heat. With our southern-style fried chicken patty on a soft potato bun, topped with shredded lettuce, hickory-smoked bacon, tomato and our spicy Habanero sauce, this sandwich kicks crispy, juicy and tender up to the next level.

Spicy McCrispy Bacon Deluxe from McDonald's Canada

The good news is the chicken was genuinely crispy and freshly made. It was hot when it arrived. Unfortunately, it was not spicy and did not have enough sauce.

Spicy McCrispy Bacon Deluxe Sandwich from McDonald's Canada

The tomato provided some juiciness, while the lettuce provided a different crunch. Lastly, the bacon is just there, but the taste could have been more pronounced. The flavourful crispy chicken was the dominant component both in size and flavour. I just wished there was more sauce!