Dinner at Ramen Gojiro

It's the 6th ramen shop we have gone to in the last 5 weeks as we continue going through the list of the Best Ramen restaurants in Vancouver.

1. January 22 - Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba
2. January 23 - Jinya Ramen Bar
3. January 29 - Kintaro Ramen
4. February 5 - Menya Raizo
5. February 12 - Kinton Ramen
6. February 19 (today) - Ramen Gojiro

---

It's a busy and productive Saturday for us. We started the morning with breakfast I prepared at home. Then, we visited the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Afterwards, we watched the free intrasquad match of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place.

We also realize that we can attend our first in-person Mass at the Holy Rosary Cathedral. Finally, to end the day, we had dinner at Ramen Gojiro.

This is actually one of my favourite ramen places because of those delicious broth-soaked chicken karaage.

Yokohama Iekei Ramen
"Homestyle" pork and chicken broth with shoyu flavour based from Yokohama. Thick noodles with very flavourful broth with depth and complexity

Light Spicy Ramen with Chashu
Our signature broth with a perfect balance of pork and chicken. Spicy sauce with a hint of sweetness

My absolute favourite is the Spicy Ramen, and I dipped our chicken karaage on the broth.

Karaage Original
House-made crispy deep, fried chicken

Mario's Gelati Ice Cream: Panda
The combination of rich black sesame gelato with a vanilla gelato centre. Topped off with roasted black sesame seeds.

For future me, here's the menu of Ramen Gojiro and what you have tried.

Ramen

🗹 Basic / Basic Bakamori

🗹 Spicy / Spicy Bakamori

🗹 Yokohama Iekei

❐ Shoyu

🗹 Yuzu Shio

❐ Vegetarian

Tsukemen

❐ Tsukemen

❐ Spicy Tsukemen

Sides

🗹 Gyoza

❐ Spicy Gyoza

❐ Matcha Vege Gyoza

🗹 Karaage

❐ Fried Rice

❐ Spicy Fried Rice

Donburi

🗹 Pork Katsu Curry Don

❐ Sauce Pork Katsu Don

❐ Chicken Karaage Don

Mini Don

❐ Mini Mama's Chashu Don

❐ Mini Teri Chashu Don

❐ Mini Curry Don

Dessert

❐ Home Made Match Pudding

❐ Bacio Nero Ice Cream

🗹 Panda Ice Cream

❐ Mango Ice Cream

Lunch at BC Place | Blue vs. White match Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Today, the Whitecaps FC hosted a fan and family-friendly Blue vs. White intrasquad match at BC Place. Entrance is free, but it's first-come, first-serve, and only sections 212 to 216 are open. Head coach Vanni Sartini and the first team take on a group comprised of players for the upcoming MLS NEXT Pro squad.

It's good to be back at BC Place!

It's great to be back in BC Place! Since it's first come, first serve, and the gate opens at 1:30 PM, we were already in line at 12:30 PM (because I like being first, haha).

First Fan in BC Place!

After grabbing our chosen seat, I ordered Classic Poutine and French Fries from the Poutinerie. Then, mini donuts just before the game started. I wanted another dozen mini donuts, but they're sold out.

Classic Poutine from The Poutinerie

Mini Donuts inside BC Place

Mini donuts are now my BC Place guilty pleasure. 

The game was alright. I am so excited and terrified for the upcoming season. I want the Whitecaps to do well, and I fear disappointment.

Blue vs. White match Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place

First Filipino-inspired dish in our Fourth HelloFresh Box for 2022

Finally, I'll be able to try HelloFresh's rendition of a Filipino dish, and this week they are offering a Caldereta-Style Ground Beef. Let's see how it went!

Our HelloFresh box arrived Saturday morning delivered by FedEx. Unfortunately, we decided to go on a random date that day, so I couldn't cook any HelloFresh meals.

Superbowl Sunday Brunch and Wednesday Lunch: Cal Smart Turkey Chili

It's Superbowl day, and I know we're going to eat tons of game day finger food for lunner (lunch and dinner), so for brunch, I chose the lowest calorie meal from our HelloFresh box, which is the Cal Smart Turkey Chili with Lime Crema which we also had last year.

Cal Smart Turkey Chili with Lime Crema

HelloFresh Description: Jam-packed with nutrients to keep you strong but still delivering on flavour, this recipe proves you can satisfy that chilli craving.

#MeatlessMonday Valentine's Day Breakfast and Thursday Lunch: Zucchini and Lemon Linguine

We loved this dish last year, and it deserves to be our first meal on Valentine's day! Unfortunately, HelloFresh forgot to add the basil pesto to my box. It's honestly frustrating that I am paying so much money for a premium service that missed an ingredient in two of the four boxes we ordered so far.

Zucchini and Lemon Linguine with Basil Pesto and Goat Cheese

HelloFresh Description: We love zucchini all year long here at HelloFresh, and this dish combines some of our favourite flavours: sweet snap peas, zucchini, and basil pesto. A little squeeze of lemon at the end brings the whole dish together!

Valentine's Day Monday Lunch and Friday Breakfast: Caldereta-Style Ground Beef

The Caldereta dish I grew up with usually includes potatoes (and usually uses chicken). This is a fancy version of the Caldereta, but because of the soy sauce, it's like Pork Menudo without the diced potatoes.

Caldereta-Style Ground Beef with Peppers, Peas, and Rice

HelloFresh Description: We've quickened up this traditional Filipino tomato-based stew by using ground beef. This hearty stew is a perfect family dinner full of peppers, peas, garlic, and hint soy.

Tuesday Birthday Dinner: Bacon Alfredo Pasta

To celebrate hubby's birthday, I picked the meal with bacon to cook for our dinner.

Bacon Alfredo Pasta with Spring Salad

HelloFresh Description: The iconic Roman pasta dish, with a smoky, creamy sauce, peas and bacon, is sure to be a hit with the whole family. Everyone will be licking their plate clean.

Wednesday Dinner and Friday Lunch: Stovetop Pastitsio-Inspired Fusili

I used Almond milk for the milk requirement of this recipe, and I thought there was too much pumpkin spice in the recipe.

Stovetop Pastitsio-Inspired Fusili

HelloFresh Description: Inspired by the classic Greek layered pasta dish, pastitsio, this stovetop version takes a fraction of the time to put together! Then, the pumpkin pie spice blend adds layers of warm, aromatic flavour in just a minute!

Thursday and Friday Dinner: Veggie Chili

We enjoyed this healthy heart chilli last year and decided to order it again this week.

Veggie Chilli with Tortilla Chips and Sour Cream

HelloFresh Description: Simple to prepare, this delicious chilli will have everyone racing to the table with extraordinary flavours. Your bowls will be filled with beans, bell peppers, and tomatoes. We suggest using the tortilla chips to scoop up and enjoy every last bite.

Strawberry Cheesecake from Trees Cheesecake + Organic Coffee

This year it's our first time at Trees Cheesecake + Organic Coffee, and we enjoyed the Strawberry Cheesecake.

Strawberry Cheesecake perfect for Valentine's Day

Below is a list of flavours we tried last year.

• Matcha Cheesecake last June 6
• Taro Cheesecake last June 26
• Mango Cheesecake last July 18
• Peanut Butter Cheesecake last September 11
• Pumpkin Cheesecake last October 10
• Banoffee Cheesecake last November 28 (no blog post)
• Ferrero Rocher Cheesecake last December 26

Lunch at Suika

It's not my birthday, yet hubby made me so happy during his special day. After visiting the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, we grabbed lunch at Suika. It's our first time visiting the restaurant on a weekday, and it's an absolute thrill to find it nearly empty after the lunch rush. It's also our first time back here this 2022.

We both ordered our usual. I had my favourite Signature Beef Curry topped with Tonkatsu (Pork Loin Cutlet) while my hubby ordered a Double Tonkatsu (Pork Loin Cutlet) Set. For sharing, we had a Chicken Dashi Karaage, which was juicier than I expected. Hubby thought it was too oily, but I think it's perfect.

Signature Beef Curry
Suika original stewed beef tendon curry topped with tonkatsu (pork loin cutlet)

Double Tonkatsu (Pork Loin Cutlet) Set
2 pieces of  fried pork loin cutlet using special fresh panko served with ground sesame and tonkatsu sauce

Chicken Dashi Karaage
Juicy deep-fried chicken thig, crispy on the outside and filled with rich dash shoyu flavour.

I absolutely love Suika and highly recommend trying them if you haven't already.

Double-Smoked Bacon, Cheddar, & Egg Sandwich from Starbucks

Yay for birthdays. We are starting today with a free breakfast from Starbucks. We ordered a Venti Caffè Mocha and two Double-Smoked Bacon, Cheddar & Egg Sandwich.

Double-Smoked Bacon, Cheddar & Egg Sandwich

We get free Starbucks gift cards every now and then and absolutely enjoy the free drinks and sandwiches. I am too frugal to spend our own hard-earned money on something as expensive as Starbucks, so it's always a happy occasion when we receive free gift cards.

Superbowl Viewing Dinner at Bar One

Happy Sunday! It's one of the most anticipated events in sports every year: The Superbowl. This year we decided to visit Bar One and watch the game there. Unfortunately, only 8 tables were occupied most of the game, and one table left early before the game ended.

Best Seat at Bar One

We arrived shortly after 3:00 PM and left after 7:00 PM,  We sat at the most comfortable and best view in the whole bar, and during the entire game, we ordered appetizers and because hubby loves the dessert we ended with that. I haven't been in this food coma in a long time.

Loaded Nachos
Crunchy corn tortilla chips loaded with cheddar and Mozzarella cheeses, zesty cheese sauce, pico de Gallo, green onions, and jalapeños. Served with sour cream and salsa.

We devoured their Loaded Nachos and Cheesy Tot Tower during the first quarter.

Cheesy Tot Tower
Crisp potato puffs, topped with cheddar cheese, and queso cheese sauce, garnished with green onions.

We enjoyed the Loaded BBQ Chicken Tots and Thai Chili Chicken Bites when the second quarter started. I highly recommend the Thai Chili Chicken Bites, but the Filipino in me wants to eat it with rice.

Loaded BBQ Chicken Tots
Crispy potato puffs, topped with cheddar cheese, roasted chicken, diced red onion, pickled jalapeños, and spicy southern BBQ sauce.

Thai Chili Chicken Bites
Crispy breaded chicken bites tossed in chilli-ginger sauce and garnished with toasted sesame seeds and green onions.

By the third quarter, we decided to open the menu from Denny's. Yes, the Bar One location along West Broadway shares space with a Denny's. We decided to order Mozzarella Cheese Sticks. 

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Golden-fried with a side of tomato sauce

I wanted some pancakes to end the game and our meals while hubby decided on the cake.

Salted Caramel & Banana Cream Pancake
Two buttermilk pancakes with shortbread pieces and topped with vanilla cream, bananas, and salted caramel

Cookies and Cream Cake
Chewy chocolate brownie with cream cheese and chocolate cookie filling, layered with chocolate ganache and cookie mousse.

The Los Angeles Rams won the Superbowl, and it was a good game.

Lunch at Kinton Ramen in UBC

It's the fifth ramen shop we have gone to in the last four weeks as we continue going through the list of the Best Ramen restaurants in Vancouver.

1. January 22 - Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba
2. January 23 - Jinya Ramen Bar
3. January 29 - Kintaro Ramen
4. February 5 - Menya Raizo
5. February 12 (today) - Kinton Ramen

To start our Saturday, we had brunch at Starbucks (yay for free breakfast sandwiches and drinks), then we ran errands. Hubby had a haircut while I grabbed my Lego from the FedEx inside Staples, and I ended up buying 15 adorable Washi Tapes. 

Thirty minutes later, hubby and I went on a random Saturday date to the University of British Columbia (UBC) and visited the Beaty Biodiversity Museum. After three hours of learning and admiring the different specimens in the museum, we had a late lunch at Kinton Ramen.

I ordered my usual Pork Miso Ramen while hubby had Pork Shoyu Ramen. For sides, we ordered our standard sides as well - Age Gyoza, Takoyaki, and Original Karaage.

Pork Miso Ramen (thick noodles)
Soybean paste, pork, corn, garlic oil, and scallions (extra seasoned egg)

The Pork Miso Ramen was good but not as delicious as Kintaro Ramen. It's a close second, though. I made the right decision of adding a seasoned egg to my ramen. It was delicious.

Pork Shoyu Ramen (with thick noodles)
Soy sauce, pork, garlic oil, nori, and scallions

Our favourite Japanese sides

Takoyaki
Deep-fried octopus balls, tonkatsu sauce, mayo, bonito flakes, and aonori

We order takoyaki whenever it is available, and this is one of the best takoyaki I had in Vancouver that I can remember.

Pork Age Gyoza
Deep-fried dumpling and original sweet chilli sauce

Original Karaage
Fried chicken, garlic mayo, and lemon

My favourite chicken karaage is from Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba. This one is a bit dry, but it's absolutely perfect soaked in the ramen broth. I saved one fried chicken and placed it in my ramen bowl, and it was better.

Kurogoma Cheesecake
Baked black sesame cheesecake

The black sesame flavour is so strong I wish there was ice cream and mochi, or maybe I am just dreaming of the parfait we had last week.

I wonder how long we can continue our ramen streak, but I am all for it. Do you have a favourite ramen shop? Comment below!

Why is Jollibee so popular?

Jollibee is almost here in Vancouver. The latest gossip I heard from the Facebook Filipino group in British Columbia is its opening this February 25, 2022. This is unverified, so please keep your expectations in check. We have been waiting for this opening for more than two years now. My sister's boyfriend is so upset that it hasn't opened yet, and he couldn't eat Peach Mango Pie without driving to Seattle or Calgary.

Why is Jollibee popular?

I am sure people who are not familiar with Jollibee will wonder why the long line when it opens. They might try it and think the food is the same, maybe slightly better than McDonald's, but not think about it again. People will think, why is this jolly bee so popular that Filipinos and fans of the brand alike will endure lining up in the rain (or snow). Here is my attempt to answer those questions.

Answer: Nostalgia and a reminder of home

For Filipinos living abroad, Jollibee is a reminder of the Philippines.

Imagine a parent who had to leave their children and family behind to earn more money abroad, one of their precious memory with their kids was enjoying a meal at Jollibee. Seeing that bee in Vancouver (or anywhere else in the world) will bring back all those memories as they relish a Chicken Joy or Jolly Spaghetti.

For my siblings and me, it's nostalgia. I remember growing up and when it's my dad's payday. My mom would bring us to Bayan (town center) to grab groceries and eat at a Jollibee. Our only brother celebrated his 7th birthday in Jollibee, and our youngest sister celebrated her 2nd birthday in Jollibee, too (she cried and was scared of the mascot). So we had positive childhood memories with Jollibee, and seeing it so close to our new home is something to be happy and grateful for.

Answer: Good food

If it's your first time trying Jollibee and not familiar with any of the dishes, you will not go wrong with Chicken Joy (fried chicken) and be sure to try the Peach Mango Pie. It's a way better version of the pie thing they have at McDonald's.

Third HelloFresh Box for 2022

We received our HelloFresh box last Saturday. I ordered five meals, two of which we already had last year.

Sunday Breakfast and Tuesday Lunch: Chinese-Style Beef Bowls

This is a dish I ordered last year, and thanks to my past self, I added all the chilli garlic sauce this time, and it's so much better. Since we have it for breakfast, I added an egg as recommended. My favourite part of the dish is still the perfectly cooked vegetables.

Chinese-Style Beef Bowls with Garlic Rice and Green Veggies

HelloFresh Description: Chili garlic sauce adds a spicy and zesty kick to this bountiful beef bowl. Taking a pic for the 'gram? #putaneggonit!

Sunday Lunch and #MeatlessMonday Lunch: Mexican 'Un-Stuffed' Pepper Bowls

I surprisingly enjoyed this meal. I am food coma and guiltless about enjoying this meat-free dish.

Mexican 'Un-stuffed' Pepper Bowls

HelloFresh Description: A veggie-full twist on mom's stuffed peppers, bursting with Mexican-inspired flavours! Green onion-spiked basmati and saucy black beans round out these bowls for a satisfying dinner.

#MeatlessMonday Dinner and Wednesday Lunch: Spiced Portobello Fajitas

Too much work and needs more tortillas. I reheated half of the meal for Wednesday (after buying more tortillas) and ate it like a quesadilla. 

Spiced Portobello Fajitas with DIY Refried Black Beans and Lime Crema

Spiced Portobello Fajitas with DIY Refried Black Beans and Lime Crema

HelloFresh Description: Tender-crisp onions and peppers are paired with meaty portobello mushrooms and creamy DIY refried beans in these flavour-packed fajitas! Top with a dollop of refreshing lime crema, and you're good to go!

Tuesday Dinner and Thursday Lunch: Tomato Garlic Beef Spaghetti

We tried this dish last year, and it was great - it's delicious and easy to make.

Tomato Garlic Beef Spaghetti with Sweet Peppers

HelloFresh Description: We've figured out the secret to adding oomph to a simple meat sauce - a splash of soy! The saltiness is a subtle but tasty addition to succulent ground beef, aromatic Italian seasoning and juicy tomatoes. This colourful and flavourful dish is perfect for a night in!

Wednesday Dinner and Friday Lunch: Creamy Parmesan Gnocchi

It's, unfortunately, too salty.

Creamy Parmesan Gnocchi with Spinach and Peas

HelloFresh Description: Golden pan-fried gnocchi add a fun twist to the restaurant classic, Alfredo! Rich cream, melty cream cheese, zesty garlic, and savoury Parmesan make a luscious sauce for this vegetarian supper.

Lunch at Menya Raizo

We have errands to run around the corner of Cambie Street and West Broadway. Afterwards, we decided to enjoy a bowl of ramen in Menya Raizo.

I enjoyed my spicy bowl of miso ramen and the parfait we shared.

Spicy Miso Ramen
Half chicken and half pork with hard noodles. The spicy rich chicken broth ramen topped with corn, green onion, minced chicken, cabbage, bean sprouts, carrot, onion, and chive.

Yuzu Shio Ramen
Half chicken and half pork with hard noodles. The citrus flavoured clear chicken broth ramen topped with green onion, thin sliced Japanese leek, red onion, half seasoned soft boiled egg, seasoned bamboo shoots, and chilli pepper thread.

Spicy Takoyaki
Spicy mayo deep-fried octopus ball.

Raizo Sundae Parfair
Green tea & vanilla ice cream with mochi ball, red bean, black sweet sauce, roasted soybean powder, corn flakes, and whipped cream.

Menya Raizo menu checklist

For future me, here's a list of the Menya Raizo menu as of this post and what you have tried.

Ramen

🗹 Tori-pota Ramen (November 2019)

🗹 Gyokai Shoyu Ramen (March 2020)

🗹 Spicy Miso Ramen (this post)

🗹 Umami Shoyu Ramen (March 2020)

❐ Umami Shio Ramen

🗹 Yuzu Shio Ramen (this post)

❐ Vegetarian Miso Ramen

❐  Vegetarian Tan Tan Ramen

Rice Bowl

❐ Pork Cha-shu Don

❐ Chicken Teriyaki-Mayo Don

❐ Veggie Mapo Don

Side

❐ Tebasaki Chicken Wings

🗹 Karaage (this post)

❐ Gyoza

🗹 Cheese Mentai Gyoza (March 2020)

🗹 Takoyaki (September 2019)

🗹 Spicy Takoyaki (this post)

Dessert

🗹 Kuromitsu Kinako Ice Cream

🗹 Raizo Sundae Parfait (this post)

❐ Raizo Strawberry Parfait

❐ Mango Milk Pudding / Strawberry Milk Pudding / Roasted Tea Pudding / Matcha Pudding

Discount Code for your Google Workspace

What is Google Workspace?

Google Workspace is a cloud-based productivity suite that helps teams communicate, collaborate and get things done from anywhere and on any device. It's simple to set up, use and manage, so your business can focus on what really matters.

 

Here are some highlights:

Business Email

Business email for your domain look professional and communicate as you@yourcompany.com. Gmail’s simple features help you build your brand while getting more done.

 

Access from any location or device

Check emails, share files, edit documents, hold video meetings and more, whether you're at work, at home or on the move. You can pick up where you left off from a computer, tablet or phone.

 

Enterprise-level management tools

Robust admin settings give you total command over users, devices, security and more.

 

Get a free 14-day trial and exclusive discount.

Signup using my link https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/1TRs and get a free 14-day trial, and message me to get an exclusive discount when you try Google Workspace for your business.

Lunar New Year meal in our Second HelloFresh Box for 2022

A HelloFresh box arrived at our front door Saturday morning, which means I get to cook five different meals guided by recipes curated by the HelloFresh team.

Saturday Dinner: Carb Smart Bacon and Spinach Salad

I prepared the Carb Smart Bacon and Spinach Salad for our Saturday dinner with Mushrooms and Shallots. Of course, bacon and Salad shouldn't belong in the same phrase, yet here we are.

Carb Smart Bacon and Spinach Salad with Mushrooms and Shallots

HelloFresh description: What is old is new again! Who knew that mum's sassy spinach salad with a warm bacon dressing would be so "carb smart"? Carb smart is based on a per-serving calculation of the recipe's carbohydrate amount.

Sunday Breakfast: Coconut Kidney Bean Curry

I woke up a bit late for breakfast yet still early for lunch, so I spent my Sunday morning cutting the vegetables to create this vegetarian meal. I added all the chilli, so it was pretty spicy. It's my first time using lemongrass. We had leftovers and enjoyed it Tuesday for lunch.

Coconut Kidney Bean Curry with Green Onion Fried Rice

HelloFresh Description: It's hard to resist the subtle sweetness of this lush kidney bean dish. The bright lemongrass cuts through the richness of coconut milk while chilis give it a nice little kick.

Monday Dinner: Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs

After work, the last thing I want to do is cook dinner. Thankfully, this recipe doesn't involve a lot of slicing. I wish the recipe called for mashed potatoes because the creamy garlic sauce would cling really well on mashed potatoes. We only ate half the serving size and had the rest today for lunch.

Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Parmesan

HelloFresh Description: Tonight's twist on a meat-and-potatoes dinner is rich, creamy, and speedy! We've snuck some spinach into the sauce... the kids won't even notice!

Lunar New Year Dinner: Pork and Veggie Chow Mein

It's a happy coincidence that I ordered an East Asian-inspired dish with our HelloFresh box this week. I cooked the Pork and Veggie Chow Mein with Toasted Sesame Seeds for dinner last Tuesday, and we enjoyed it with our leftovers from Happy Noodle House. Half of the Chow Mein will be enjoyed on Thursday for lunch.

Pork and Veggie Chow Mein with Toasted Sesame Seeds

HelloFresh Description: Practice your chopstick skills on this deliciously sweet, spicy, salty chow mein dish in time for the lunar new year!

p.s. I didn't read the HelloFresh description until I wrote my blog post, so I didn't know they added this meal specifically with Lunar New Year in mind.

Wednesday Dinner: Shrimp Diavolo Linguine

We ordered this dish last year and loved the heat. Unfortunately, they forgot one ingredient - the Italian Seasoning. It's pretty bland with no seasoning, but as such is life. We'll eat half of the linguine for lunch on Friday.

Shrimp Diavolo Linguine with DIY Chili Oil

HelloFresh Description: Chili oil brings restaurant-worthy flavour to this simple but elevated seafood pasta. Steamy linguine noodles hold onto the golden seared shrimp and rich tomato sauce for a perfect bite every time.

I have another HelloFresh box coming this Saturday. Can't wait!