Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

It was a dumpling-themed week for our company-paid team lunch! We decided to order from Brooklyn Dumpling Shop , a spot that has gained quite a bit of buzz for its unique fusion flavours. If you have followed my previous food adventures, you might remember that I tried their bacon cheeseburger dumplings last time. To be honest, they were not quite my cup of tea. This round, I decided to stick to the classics to see how their traditional offerings measured up. The Taste Test: Xiao Long Bao and Chicken & Scallion I started with the Pork Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) , which were $11.50. In my books, the hallmark of a great XLB is that rich, savoury burst of broth. While these were acceptable, they unfortunately were not soupy enough for my liking. Giving the Pork Soup Dumpling (Xiao Long Bao) a test lift! Unfortunately, this one didn't have as much soup as I hoped for. ...

Happy Lunar New Year! We had lunch at Peaceful Restaurant at their Kitsilano location and enjoyed four different dim sum dishes. It is good to be back at one of the spots that Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives visited in Vancouver. Xiao-Long Bao Steamed Buns The first dish to arrive was the 8-piece Xiao-long bao steamed buns. We have not had these in a while, and they have a very strong pork flavour. After slurping the savoury soup, I like to dip them in the vinegar sauce to add a sourness that helps cut through the richness. Xiao-Long Bao Steamed Buns from Peaceful Restaurant Pan-Fried Chicken Fried Dumplings Next were the 8 pieces of Pan-Fried Chicken Dumplings. The skin is perfectly crispy while the inside remains hot and juicy. The chicken flavour is quite distinct, and the dipping sauce provides a nice sour note to balance the oiliness. Be sure to eat these quickly because the wrapper can lose...

As you can see from my posts, I am a creature of habit and delicious food. We ate at Peaceful Restaurant less than two weeks ago , but I already had a craving for the Dan Dan noodles. After shopping and finding amazing deals at Canadian Tire, we had lunch at Peaceful and ordered the same things. Dan Dan Noodles The Dan Dan Noodles are what brought me back so quickly. I love that spicy, tangy peanut sauce. It is even better once you mix all the ingredients together to make sure every strand of the hand-pulled noodles is coated. Dan Dan Noodles after mixing up the ingredients Xiao Long Bao (you can rarely go wrong with getting these) The Beef Roll is a must-try at Peaceful Restaurant Cheers to more food! Dishes We Have Tried at Peaceful Restaurant (So Far!) Peaceful Beef Roll: The absolute star. Crispy green onion flatbread with five-spiced beef and hoisin sauce. Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings): Steamed buns filled with minced pork, ginger, and ...

We first heard of Peaceful Restaurant on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives . It is one of the places Guy Fieri visited in Vancouver, so we tried it once and we keep coming back. For today's lunch, hubby and I ate with my mom. Peaceful is known for their hand-pulled noodles, so we ordered all noodle dishes. We usually have a "default" set of dishes we like to compare across different spots. We ordered the same dishes we recently had at Lin's Chinese Restaurant and Fortune Garden Restaurant to see how they compare. Our spread included Xiao Long Bao, Dan-Dan Noodles, and Shanghai Stir-fried Noodles. Xiao Long Bao Steamed Buns Filled with minced pork, ginger and a savoury sauce Shanghai Stir-fried Noodles Shredded pork, cabbage and light soy sauce ...

It was my birthday week, and the Filipino in me was having a serious craving for rice! You know how it is—sometimes nothing else will do. While we were walking around Cambie Street, we decided to stop by Peaceful Restaurant to satisfy that craving and have a nice, peaceful dinner. Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings) You can't go to Peaceful without getting the Xiao Long Bao . There’s something so satisfying about that first bite when the hot broth hits—just be careful not to burn your tongue! These were a great way to start our birthday meal. General Tso's Chicken The General Tso's Chicken is always a crowd-pleaser. It has that perfect sticky, sweet, and slightly spicy glaze that pairs perfectly with—you guessed it—plenty of rice! Peace Ho...