Tira-Meow-Su from Daan Go Cake Lab

I've been seeing this spot in the news for weeks, and now that the initial hype has died down and I'm on annual leave — I'm finally here at Daan Go Cake Lab in their Vancouver, BC location! They have so many beautiful and adorable cakes: everything from a ramen bowl and a boba cup to a cup of Tira-meow-su — a perfect play on words for tiramisu with a cat on top.

We started with something savory and got the Croissant Hot Dog Puff. It's just like those classic hotdog buns you get from Asian bakeries, but this one is wrapped in a flaky puff pastry.

Croissant - Hot Dog Puff from Daan Go Cake Lab
A flaky croissant Puff wrapped around a juicy hot dog, delivering a savoury twist on a classic favourite.

Then, for our sweet treat, we went straight for the adorable Tira-meow-su. That cat is simply too hard to resist! The dessert is a hardened milk chocolate shaped like a mug, filled with luxurious mascarpone cream, and hides the surprise of coffee-soaked ladyfingers at the bottom. Yum!

Mira-Meow-Su from Daan Go Cake Lab
Contains: Marshmallow cat, SangTao Vietnamese coffee, mascarpone cream, crème légère, and vanilla chiffon

Mira-Meow-Su from Daan Go Cake Lab
Contains: Marshmallow cat, SangTao Vietnamese coffee, mascarpone cream, crème légère, and vanilla chiffon

Because it was so hot outside, we also got cold drinks: a Strawberry Matcha Cream and an Uji Matcha Latte. Definitely go for the strawberry cream; it's much sweeter.

Strawberry Matcha Cream and Uji Matcha Latte from Daan Go Cake Lab

Just a heads-up: the shop is more geared toward to-go orders, so it's not the ideal spot for hanging out for an extended period of time.

Ube and Pandan Mochi Brownie from Avik

I tried Avik for the first time last Tuesday with my husband. At that time, all I could think about was how much I wanted to bring my parents here. And I finally did it today.

They got their usual Americano, and I made them try the Pistachio Cream Croissant, which hubby and I also enjoyed last time. My mom loves pistachio.

Ube and Pandan Mochi Brownie from Avik

Meanwhile, I went for the two variants of mochi brownie: ube and pandan—both familiar since I grew up in the Philippines. First, the mochi texture is just perfect. The top and bottom provide the brownie-ness (I'm making words up) or maybe it's just the square shape. The pandan flavor tastes like pandan, but the ube is just purple with no distinct ube flavor. That's okay—the sticky mochi sweetness is still there.

Ham & Cheese Croissant Sandwich from Avik

Hubby arrived and ordered their ham & cheese croissant for his lunch. It's delicious too. Hmm. I have enjoyed the two savory things we've tried from Avik and can't wait to come back and try the others too.

Spiced Vanilla Filled Ring Donut from Tim Hortons

Happy Sunday morning! With our breakfast today, we ordered and enjoyed the new donut from Tim Hortons: Spiced Vanilla-Filled Ring Donut.

Spiced Vanilla Filled Ring Donut from Tim Hortons

Spiced Vanilla Filled Ring Donut from Tim Hortons

I love the cinnamon sugar outside, and I was greeted by the vanilla filling on my first bite. It's good, but I prefer it without the filling.

Lemon Yakult and Oreo Choco Slushie from Macao Imperial Tea

Happy Saturday! To prepare for our upcoming trip to Ireland, we hit the bank for some cash. Then, we chilled at Macao Imperial Tea's new location on Granville Street. It's got a coffee shop vibe with a dash of cool. I feel like a trendy teen, if that makes sense.

Lemon Yakult with Mango Popping Bobba from Macao Imperial Tea

For drinks, I sipped on the Lemon Yakult with mango popping boba. It's a perfect blend of sweet and tart. My hubby played it safe with the Oreo Choco Slush, an ideal summer pick.

Oreo Choco Slushie from Macao Imperial Tea

In terms of food, my hubby indulged in the Korean Coffee Bun with custard. It had a crispy exterior and a robust coffee flavour, balanced by a non-overly-sweet custard.

Korean Coffee Bun with Custard from Macao Imperial Tea

A peek inside the Korean Coffee Bun with Custard from Macao Imperial Tea

I went for the savoury garlic cream cheese bun. It had the same crispy exterior but was filled with cream cheese. Again, no overpowering flavours, but a delightful mix of textures.

Garlic Cream Cheese Bun from Macao Imperial Tea

Can't wait to return and explore more of their baked goods.

Deluxe Omelette Curry and Beef Curry from Tendon Kohaku

Japanese curry is my go-to comfort food, and it was the perfect kick-off to my two-week vacation from work. Unfortunately, our usual spot, Mr. Japanese Curry, closes early at 7:45 p.m., and we were still downtown when it got close to that time. A quick Google Maps search led us to Tendon Kohaku.

I ordered the Beef Curry with a side of Katsu, my usual combo, and it was delicious. The curry itself wasn't quite as flavorful as Suika or Mr. Japanese Curry, but the beef was tender and thinly sliced, just like at Suika. Either way, I was happy with it.

Beef Curry from Tendon Kohaku
Japanese style curry with marinated beef on rice

Tonkatsu from Tendon Kohaku
Japanese-style fried pork cutle 

My husband got the Deluxe Omelette Curry, which came with katsu and tempura, but the real star was the fluffy egg covering the rice. Yum!

Deluxe Omelette Curry from Tendon Kohaku
Japanese style curry with Japanese pork cutlet, prawn Tempura, omelette on rice

We also ordered the Best Value Platter to share, which came with takoyaki, spicy karaage, french fries, and chips. It was a great way to try a variety of dishes, and it was all really good.

Best Value Platter from Tendon Kohaku
Spicy fried chicken, takoyaki, thin sliced potato, and french fries

To finish our meal, we got their Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream, which has a distinct milk taste. It's the perfect ending after our spicy curry.

Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream from Tendon Kohaku

Would I go back? Probably!

Keftedes from The Greek

Thursday is team lunch day, and since the weather is not cooperating, we decided to have our lunch delivered by UberEats.

Keftedes from The Greek
Four traditional lamb and beef meatballs served over long grain rice, topped with homemade tomato sauce and shredded saganaki cheese. Served with Greek salad, fresh grilled pita and tzatziki

I ordered the Keftedes lunch entree. It came with a delicious Greek salad, pita bread, and tzatziki. Of course, the star is the keftedes covered in tomato sauce. I'm not a fan. I love the fluffy rice and the tender meatballs, but I didn't enjoy the sauce. I'll stick to the gyro next time.

Breakfast Wrap from Giovane Caffé

Thursday is my usual "treat myself" day, but today's cold, drizzly weather inspired me to try Giovane Caffé instead of my go-to Tim Hortons.

Breakfast Wrap from Giovane Caffé

I ordered the breakfast wrap, a tortilla stuffed with scrambled egg and a tomato sauce that seemed to be missing any bits of ground meat. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. 

Breakfast Wrap from Giovane Caffé

Here's a list of everything I've tried from Giovane Caffé so far:

• Breakfast Wrap
• Caprese
• Frittata Panino
• Manzo
• Prosciutto 

Whiskey Bar and BBQ inside BC Place

I haven't been to many stadiums, but the food at BC Place is impressively delicious.

We walked around the stadium before the big finals and saw a couple of new spots, including the Whiskey Bar and BBQ near section 212. They had three food options: Poutine Burger (which seems to be a Whitecaps special), Cowboy Ribs, and Cornbread Chili Bowl. We got the burger and ribs, and they were both so delicious.

Let's start with the burger - it's a good, juicy patty between slightly toasted brioche buns (which is the best place to start with any burger), and they topped it with pulled short rib. They added fries and a bit of curds inside too, to make it into a poutine, but they were unnecessary.

Poutine Burger from Whiskey Bar and BBQ section 212 inside BC Place
Brioche bun, Angus beef patty, pulled short rib, fries, cheese curds, house mayo, served with Miss Vickie's kettle chips

Now, let's discuss the ribs. They're smothered in barbecue sauce and fall off the bone tender. However, my favorite part was the potato salad - they go so well together.

Cowboy Rib from Whiskey Bar & BBQ
BBQ glazed slow cooked baby back ribs (half rack), served with a side of potato salad & coleslaw 

It was a great food evening, and it was made even better by the Whitecaps winning.

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.

Pistachio Cream Croissant and more from Avik Café

Today is National Truth and Reconciliation Day, which means no work on a Tuesday. My spouse and I ran some errands at Canadian Tire and decided to hang out and finally try Avik Café along West Broadway between Heather and Ash.

Coffee Date at Avik Café

This café is like Vancouver: diverse. Where else can you find a spot that serves a beef bulgogi sandwich, Vietnamese sub, caprese bite, and chicken pie alongside delicious-looking croissants and traditional Japanese matcha and hojicha? My mouth is watering again just thinking about it.

Chicken Pie from Avik Café

A peek inside the Chicken Pie from Avik Café

I prefer savoury things and got the chicken pie. It's so delicious - it has that sweet and savoury flavour profile that reminds me of Filipino lumpia but between a flaky dough. Then, for a drink, I went for an iced matcha latte. It's unsweetened by default, which is a perfect partner for what my husband ordered.

Iced Matcha Latte and Hot Hojicha Latte from Avik Café

My husband went for the pistachio cream croissant. The sweet pistachio cream on top of the buttery flaky croissant is perfect. He paired it with warm and slightly bitter hojicha.

Pistachio Cream Croissant from Avik Café

I can't wait to come back and spend hours here trying their many baked goods or just people-watching.

Secret Garden Roll from Masa Japanese Restaurant

Happy Sunday! My hubby had dinner with a high school classmate, so I ended up enjoying a meal by myself. I decided to grab a bite at Masa Japanese Restaurant.

Assorted Katsu Curry from Masa Japanese Restaurant

I ordered their Assorted Katsu Curry, which is my all-time favorite. It's the classic chicken curry sauce covering hot fluffy rice and topped with an assortment of fried things like katsu, tempura, and vegetables.

Secret Garden Roll from Masa Japanese Restaurant
Deep-fried mashed squash, avocado with wasabi mayo, spicy mayo, and tomato sauce

I also got their vegetarian special roll: Secret Garden Roll, and I absolutely loved it.

Below is a list of everything we've tried from Masa Japanese Restaurant so far:

Starters & Shares

• Creamy Prawn
• Agedashi Tofu: Original and Diavolo
• Sushi Pizza: Original
• Veggie Gyoza
• Chicken Karaage
• Takoyaki
• Chicken Wings

Tempura

• Assorted Tempura
• Appetizer Tempura

Japanese Curry

• Chicken Curry
• Beef Curry
• Shrimp Curry
• Assorted Katsu Curry

U-Don

• Nabeyaki Udon

Japanese Ramen

• Shio Ramen
• Miso Ramen
• Kara Miso Ramen
• Tonkotsu Ramen
• Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen

Platter

• Tofu
• Tonkatsu
• Salmon Terkiyaki

Donburi (Rice Bowl)

• Chicken Katsu Don

Special Sushi

• Devil's Kiss
• Knights of The Round Table
• Atlantic Salmon Oshi Sushi
• Aburi Cheese Monster Roll
• Crispy Jumbo Dynamite Roll
• Volcano Roll (Salmon)
• Double Dragon
• Romeo Roll
• Juliet Roll
• Tekka Bob Roll
• Sake Bomb Roll
• Secret Garden Roll

K-Meal (Korean Food)

• Kimchi Fried Rice
• Bulgogi Jeongol
• Soy Garlic Boneless Chicken
• Korean Yangnyeom Boneless Chicken

KATSEYE Special: KBBQ Chicken Sandwich from Jollibee

After two open houses with our real estate agent, we decided to grab lunch at Jollibee. It's like going back to our roots as we move forward with our lives.

KATSEYE Special: KBBQ Chicken Sandwich from Jollibee
Our crispy, juicy, hand-breaded chicken breast fillet hand-dipped in a sweet soy glaze with a bold kick of heat, topped with fresh cilantro, red onion, and cucumber slices, served on a toasted brioche bun.

KATSEYE Special: KBBQ Chicken Sandwich from Jollibee
Our crispy, juicy, hand-breaded chicken breast fillet hand-dipped in a sweet soy glaze with a bold kick of heat, topped with fresh cilantro, red onion, and cucumber slices, served on a toasted brioche bun.

Hubby got the new and exciting KBBQ Chicken Sandwich. I thought it was way too strong, but when I took a second bite with the pickles, it became better. Will I get it again? Probably with rice. 😂 Rice is life.

Yumburger from Jollibee

I got the safe and humble Yumburger, reminiscent of my childhood. It's comforting with big decisions upcoming. It's like a warm hug from a comfort food classic.

Below is a list of Jollibee food items I have tried in Canada.

• Jolly Crispy Chicken (in the Philippines, we call this Chicken Joy)
• Deluxe Spicy Chicken Sandwich
• KBBQ Chicken Sandwich
• Aloha Yamburger
• Angus Aloha Burger
• Cheesy Yumburger
• Yumburger
• Jolly Spaghetti
• Palabok Fiesta
• Jolly Crispy Fries
• Steamed Rice
• Gravy
• Peach Mango Pie
• Ube Pie
• Pineapple Quencher

Turkey Chorizo Breakfast Wrap from JJ Bean Café

Happy Saturday! It's a crisp and cloudy Saturday morning that finds us in Olympic Village, visiting a couple of houses. Before meeting our real estate agent for the first time at the first house, we stopped for breakfast and coffee at JJ Bean. I had my usual mocha while my hubby opted for a cappuccino.

Mocha and Cappuccino from JJ Bean Café

For food, we shared the delicious Turkey Chorizo Breakfast Wrap, and it was fantastic. They're the first coffee shop where I've ordered a wrap that wasn't microwaved (looking at you, Blenz) to warm it up. Instead, it was warmed evenly throughout in a panini press.

Turkey Chorizo Breakfast Wrap from JJ Bean Café
Egg, two Rivers turkey Chorizo, potato, red onion, and red pepper hash, cheddar and monterey jack cheese blend, and cilantro lime sauce in a red bell flour tortilla

The wrap had chorizo (which added a bit of heat), melted cheese, and soft eggs.

Laksa from Rice and Noodle

Happy Friday! Hubby has dinner plans tonight, which means I'm by myself running errands. I find myself in the heart of Kitsilano, and after doing what needs to be done (getting meds from Shoppers), I decided to finally try Rice and Noodle.

Laksa Soup from Rice and Noodle
Curry coconut chicken broth, Rice noodle, broccoli, carrot, onion, tofu, cilantro, zucchini, bean sprouts, and boiled egg

It's getting colder, so I decided to warm up with a bowl of spicy laksa with shrimp. It definitely did the trick, but I thought it was a tad bland. I guess my Hello Fresh laksa is more creamy and coconutty, which made this one feel a bit watered down. It was still enjoyable, but I won't order it again, which is fine since there are more than 10 other dishes to try.

Laksa Soup from Rice and Noodle

Thankfully, I also grabbed their spring rolls and peanut sauce on the side, and it made everything so much better. I love peanut sauce!

Spring Rolls from Rice and Noodle Sauce (with a side of peanut sauce)
2 pieces deep-fried vegetarian spring roll

I'll definitely come back since the Panang Red Curry looks good too.

Masala Veggie Burger and Chubby Chicken Cruncher Burger from A&W

Happy Thursday! My hubby and I went to Costco after work. But instead of grabbing dinner before, we did after and closer to home. I was craving a carbonated drink, specifically root beer, which is how we ended up at A&W.

Masala Veggie Burger from A&W 
A crispy patty made with Nanak paneer and real vegetables topped with spicy piri-piri sauce, layers of crisp whole-leaf lettuce, sliced tomato, and red onion all sandwiches between a freshly toasted bun,

Masala Veggie Burger from A&W

I ordered their Masala Veggie burger and it was great. The masala flavor was strong but not overpowering, and you could really feel the veggie texture. It's like a soft and big falafel in between soft sesame buns, topped with fresh lettuce, onion, and tomatoes.

Chubby Chicken Cruncher from A&W
Big, juicy and oh-so-crunchy chicken meets our special Chubby mayo and layers of crisp whole leaf lettuce. All sandwiches between a perfectly toasted brioche-style bun.

Chubby Chicken Cruncher from A&W

Meanwhile, hubby went for the Chubby Chicken Cruncher. Okay, I know A&W doesn't joke about their food source, but this is real chicken. It's crispy chicken topped with the same fresh lettuce.

Of course, I also satisfied my root beer craving.

Below is a list of menu items we've tried from A&W for future reference:

Breakfast

• All Canadian Special
• Bacon & Egger
• Classic Bacon & Eggs
• Pancakes with Syrup
• Sausage & Egger

Burgers

• Baby Burger
• Cheddar Bacon Uncle Burger
• Mama Burger
• Mozza Burger
• Teen Burger

Sides

• KitKat Turnover (limited time)
• Onion Rings
• Poutine
• Russet Thick-Cut Fries
• Sweet Potato Fries with Chipotle Mayonnaise
• Whistle Dog

Chicken

• Chicken Nuggets (limited time)
• Chicken Strips
• Chubby Chicken Cruncher
• Masala Veggie Burger
• Nashville Hot Chicken Cruncher

Pork Dumplings and Salt & Pepper Popcorn Chicken from Dingding Restaurant

Happy Thursday, everyone! The company-paid team lunch theme for the week is Chinese cuisine, so we decided to revisit Dingding Restaurant since we had a great experience there last time.I ordered the Salt and Pepper Popcorn Chicken as an appetizer and the Pork Dumplings (10 pieces) as my main.

Salt and Pepper Popcorn Chicken from Dingding Restaurant

The popcorn chicken was absolutely delicious. It's Taiwanese-style, which is my favorite, with a perfectly crispy outside and juicy inside.

Pork Dumplings (10 pieces) from Dingding Restaurant

Unfortunately, the dumplings were a bit of a letdown. They weren't bad, but they weren't great either. The soy sauce and chili oil helped to salvage them a bit, but I wouldn't recommend ordering them again. Overall, it was a solid meal, but I'm hoping we'll find an even better option next time.

Below is a list of dishes I've had from Dingding:

• Crispy Tofu with Mix Vegetables over Rice
• Pork Dumplings
• Salt & Pepper Popcorn Chicken

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.

Donut Bread Pudding from JJ Bean

Happy Saturday! Today's the second round of open houses, and we're taking a little break in between visiting the second and third places. We stopped by JJ Bean for a much-needed rest and refuel.

Donut Bread Pudding from JJ Bean

We shared a Donut Bread Pudding, which is like a bread pudding shaped like a donut. It was super delicious and the perfect treat.

Mocha Shiver and Iced Matcha Latte from JJ Bean

For drinks, my hubby went for an Iced Matcha Latte while I got the Mocha Shiver. They were both great, especially after walking across Cambie Bridge on a sunny day.

Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto from Ignite Pizzeria

Happy Thursday! For our company-paid team lunch, the chosen theme is pizza. We decided to try Ignite Pizzeria in their Yaletown location. I ordered their Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto. I've never had seafood on pizza before, but this is delicious.

Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto from Ignite Pizzeria
Pesto sauce, mozzarella, fior di latte, shrimp, fire-roasted tomato

Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto from Ignite Pizzeria
Pesto sauce, mozzarella, fior di latte, shrimp, fire-roated tomato

The plump shrimp on top of the thin crust is drizzled with the pesto sauce. It's so flavorful and delicious. Since I know we'll be back here again in the future, I thought I'd share a list of the pizzas I've tried so far at Ignite:

Carnivore Pizza 

• Mediterranean Shrimp Pesto

Herbivore + Vegan Pizza

• Masala Magic