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.

Maple Brown Butter Sausage Scrambled Egg Loaded Wrap from Tim Hortons

Happy Thursday! I really enjoy my job. I feel appreciated and productive, and my colleagues are kind people. As part of my mental health management, I sometimes treat myself to the occasional Tim Hortons breakfast on Thursdays. It's the only day of the week I have to be in the office an hour later than my usual 9:00 am.

Maple Brown Butter Sausage Scrambled Egg Loaded Wrap from Tim Hortons

Today, I decided to try their Sausage Scrambled Egg Loaded Wrap with Maple Brown Butter sauce. The first bite was sweet, but everything after that had an eggy flavor because of the scrambled egg. I still prefer the farmer's wrap.

Too Good To Go: Surprise Bag from Deville Coffee

Happy Wednesday! I had an unusual day. My focus was so sharp today that I decided to take a late lunch (4:00 pm) to ensure my flow wasn't disrupted until the 3:30 pm meetings. I happily enjoyed my lunch at around 4:00 pm and was also happily perusing the Too Good To Go app for sweet deals. Then, two deals came up: Caffè Artigiano in Telus Garden and Deville Coffee in The Post.

Surprise Bag from Deville Coffee

I wanted Caffè Artigiano, but it sold out within minutes, so I quickly reserved Deville Coffee while walking there to ensure I grabbed it on time before my lunch break ended. The surprise bag contained three huge (compared to Tim Hortons) donuts for $5.24 (including tax).

Too Good To Go Surprise Bag from Deville Coffee

We have sweets for three days without spending too much. I'm pleased.

Too Good To Go: Baked Goods from 7-Eleven

Happy Tuesday! I was taking my walk home and decided to open the Too Good To Go app to check for any nearby deals. 7-Eleven has a baked goods bag for $3.99 + tax = $4.19. I am really hoping to get a bag of sweet treats.

Ready-to-eat bag from 7-Eleven for $4.19

However, when I got to the store, they only had the ready-to-eat bags ready, which were a dollar more expensive. I happily accepted it and received the following:

• 8-inch pizza sub sold for $8.95
• Rotisserie chicken chipotle wrap - $7.85
• Chicken Caesar wrap - $7.85

We ate the pizza sub with our dinner (too many calories!). I so love the Too Good To Go app.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Ice Cream from Rain or Shine

Is this our last ice cream of summer this year? Who knows? We went to church today for a summer barbecue and enjoyed an array of dishes from perfectly cooked steak, salmon covered in dill, and juicy chicken. Afterwards, we stopped by Rain or Shine on West 4th Avenue for ice cream.

Chocolate Ice Cream from Rain or Shine

I absolutely loved my scoop of chocolate ice cream. Hubby chose the peanut butter, which tastes like peanut butter. They're both great!

Peanut Butter Ice Cream from Rain or Shine

Below is a list of flavors we have tried from Rain or Shine so far.

The Keepers

• Chocolate
• Coffee Toffee
• Peanut Butter
• Salted Caramel
• Vegan Chocolate Peanut Crunch

Seasonal Flavours

• Hot Honey Crunch
• Key Lime Pie

Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich from Costco food court

Happy Thursday! After work, hubby and I went to do our usual Costco grocery run. Before that, we decided to indulge and try their Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich.

Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich from Costco food court

I love the Reuben sandwich, and when available, I try to get it. Costco's Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich has similar tender meat between a bun and for $7.99, I think this is such a great deal!

Spinach and Egg sandwich from lovelarte

Happy Thursday! For breakfast today, I'm having a 1:1 with my colleague. Before that meeting, we grabbed breakfast from Lovelarte. I chose the Spinach and Egg sandwich inside an English Muffin.

Spinach and Egg sandwich from lovelarte

It's delicious warmed up with the English muffin being slightly toasted. It's the perfect healthy breakfast, albeit slightly more expensive than my usual Thursday Tims.

Too Good To Go: Doughlightful Bag from Tim Hortons

Happy Sunday! It's our first time using the Too Good To Go app, and we decided to buy from Tim Hortons at 10:18 AM to see what the Doughlightful Bag contained. It cost $4.99.

The bag contained:

• 1x Blueberry muffin - $2.19
• 1x Chocolate chip muffin - $2.19
• 1x Chocolate chip cookie - $1.69
• 1x Chocolate croissant - $2.49
• 1x Cheese croissant - $2.49
• 1x Honey cruller donut - $1.69
• 4x Honey Glazed Timbits - $0.39 x 4 = $1.56

Doughlightful Bag from Tim Hortons

The value is worth it, and I don't think these items are from yesterday because I saw the employee get them from the display case. I'm a happy camper and will order again near closing time to see if I'll get more.

Marble Cake from Bahar Bakery & Cafe

After Thursday's team lunch, it's become a habit for us to grab sweets from Bahar. Since our favorite Pistachio Rolls were already sold out, I opted for the marble cake and enjoyed it with iced French vanilla in the office.

Marble Cake from Bahar Bakery & Cafe

The marble cake had a hint of pistachio, probably because it was sitting next to other pistachio treats. It wasn't overly sweet and was perfectly moist. I enjoyed it.

Below is a list of treats I've tried from there that I've blogged about. I've tried more, but I always forget to take photos for blogging.

• Double Chocolate Croissant
• Marble Cake
• Pistachio Croissant

Traditional Brazilian Rice and Beans Plate from Brazilliant Café

Happy Thursday! For team lunch today, the theme is Brazilian cuisine. Luckily, Braziliant Café is nearby! We ordered online at around 10:00 AM for pickup at 1:00 PM, and when we arrived at the restaurant, it was packed! Don't get me wrong, it's a tiny spot, but we're still pleasantly surprised at how many people were there.

I ordered the Traditional Brazilian Rice and Beans Plate with top sirloin cap beef because Gemini recommended it when I asked which one to try. The beef was perfectly seasoned and worked so well with the rice, beans, and vinagrete (tomato, onion, and parsley). I also used all the toasted farofa (cassava flour) for crunch. It was perfect.

Traditional Brazilian Rice and Beans Plate (small)
Rice, beans, fries, farofa (cassave flour), vinagrete (tomato, onions, and parsleys), and beef (top sirloin cap)

We enjoyed our lunch in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery under the summer heat.

Below is a list of dishes I have tried from Braziliant:

• Brigadeiros (chocolate, coconut, coffee, and dulce de leche)
• Codfish Croquette (bolinho de bacalhau)
• Pão de queijo with ham and cheese
• Traditional Brazilian Rice and Beans Plate

Pistachio Croissant and Double Chocolate Croissant from Bahar Bakery & Cafe

Happy Tuesday! There's a scheduled power outage at our home, so hubby is with me in Downtown Vancouver. For breakfast, we grabbed our usual Tims, but the star is really stopping by and enjoying pastries from Bahar Bakery & Cafe. They have become my favorite source for treats.

Pistachio Croissant from Bahar Bakery & Cafe

Hubby insisted that I take a picture and blog about them. I highly recommend their Pistachio Roll. It's the best. I have tried many of their baked goods, and I always go back to it. For today, we went for their croissants: pistachio and double chocolate.

Double Chocolate Croissant from Bahar Bakery & Cafe

They're both good, but I'll always go back to the pistachio roll.

Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream from Purdys Chocolatier

I've been craving ice cream in a waffle cone since yesterday. So, after having lunch at home and taking a little rest, we stepped out to grab some ice cream from the Purdys Chocolatier nearby.

Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream from Purdys Chocolatier

I opted for a scoop of the Dutch Chocolate, while hubby went for cookies and cream. Oops, we forgot to take a photo(!) which means we can try again next time. 

I absolutely love their waffle cone dipped in dark chocolate covered in nuts. Here's a list of ice cream flavors we've tried from Purdys:

• Dutch Chocolate
• Espresso Flake
• French Vanilla
• Maple Walnut

Coconut Ube donut and Matcha Cheesecake donut from Lee's Donuts in Granville Island Public Market

After having brunch at Tap & Barrel Bridges, we walked inside Granville Island Public Market for sweets. There were plenty of options to choose from, and we went for the classic: Lee's Donuts. We ordered three different flavours for $10.00.

I'm a simple person. I liked and enjoyed my sugar donut and forgot to take a photo. 🤦‍♀️ We also tried the purple coconut ube donut and the green matcha cheesecake donut.

Ube Coconut Donut from Lee's Donuts

The cake donut itself is great and moist, but both frostings have nothing to give flavour-wise. They're just sweet and colourful. No coconut or matcha flavour.

Matcha Cheesecake Donut from Lee's Donuts

I'm sticking to my usual sugar donut moving forward!

Coffee Toffee and Vegan Chocolate Peanut Crunch from Rain or Shine Ice Cream

It was a beautiful, hot summer day when we grabbed ice cream from Rain or Shine before walking home from Khatsahlano.

My favorite, coffee toffee, was a delightful treat as always.

Coffee Toffee from Rain or Shine Ice Cream

Meanwhile, hubby tried the vegan chocolate peanut crunch, which had a strong coconut flavor, likely due to the coconut milk used instead of milk.

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Crunch from Rain or Shine Ice Cream

Although it was still good, my coffee ice cream in a waffle cone was absolutely amazing. Below is a list of Rain or Shine ice cream flavors we have tried so far.

The Keepers

• Coffee Toffee
• Salted Caramel
• Vegan Chocolate Peanut Crunch

Seasonal Flavours

• Hot Honey Crunch
• Key Lime Pie