Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

I'm back at the Olympic Village Save-On-Foods, and this time I walked the whole ready-to-eat area with my phone out. Grocery store meals are one of my favourite no-effort dinners (and you don't have to tip!), so I wanted to see everything they have in one place. 📍 Ready-to-Eat At-A-Glance: Save-On-Foods Olympic Village Location: 1688 Salt St, Olympic Village (False Creek), Vancouver, BC What's Here: The Kitchen (made-in-store deli case, carvery, breakfast), grab-and-go sandwiches and salads, sushi and poke, snack packs and charcuterie, hot meals, self-serve Starbucks, wine and beer Price Range: Food from $4.99 (Mini Spinach Dip Snacker) to $14.99 (whole Lumber Jack Sandwich), coffee from $2.00 Best Deals on the Shelves: Free 12 oz coffee with a breakfast wrap or sandwich, salad plus small hot soup combo for $3 extra, More Rewards free sandwich for 4000 points Good For: Quick dinners, packed lunches, snack platters, breakfast on the go ...

I had a decision to make on whether to go out of my way for the limited edition pastries at the Vancouver Croissant Crawl (September 25 to October 4, 2026). We didn't, but we love walking around Vancouver, so it was a good excuse to try a few. This post is my running list of every crawl croissant I try this year, so I'll keep adding stops as I go. First up: three stops, one very long walk, and a whole lot of flaky layers. 📍 Croissant Crawl At-A-Glance: My 2026 Running List Event: Metro Vancouver Croissant Crawl 2026 (September 25 to October 4) Location: Elaichi Patisserie (Vancouver), C Market Coffee (Vancouver), Mon Paris Patisserie (Olympic Village, Vancouver) Cuisine: Bakery, patisserie, limited edition pastries Featured Items: Chai and Cookie Croissant, Maple Cranberry Pecan Danish, Caramel Roasted Pecan Croissant Roll Price: Maple Cranberry Pecan Danish $7.25 (including tax and 15% tip), Caramel Roasted Pecan Croissant Roll ...

Elaichi Patisserie was part of the first batch of Flavours of Hope , so their name has been on my radar for a while. I got to enjoy their pastries back in October 2023 at BC Culture Days organized by Pacific Arts Market , and of course I follow them on Instagram. When I saw they were opening a physical store, I was so happy and proud. Supporting small local family businesses is the best. Elaichi Patisserie, Mount Pleasant (Soft Opening) Location: 2821 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3G1 (Main Street between 12th and 13th Ave) Featured Items: Samosa Croissant ($6.25 + tax), Chai & Cookie Croissant ($8.50 + tax), Chai ($4.50 + tax) Seating: No tables, but there is a comfy couch. Plan to take your croissant and chai to go. Verdict: A proud, delicious local opening. The samosa croissant is a must-try, and the chai and cookie croissant is perfectly flaky and not overly sweet. They are still in thei...

Team lunch called for pies again, and this time I went with the Mentil Lentil from Peaked Pies. I love how this spot always has a solid vegetarian option that doesn't feel like an afterthought. Peaked Pies, Team Lunch Featured Item: Mentil Lentil Pie ($14.38) Dietary: Vegetarian Verdict: Hearty, saucy, and comforting. Tastes like a good spaghetti sauce baked into flaky pastry. This one is packed with tender lentils, sweet zucchini, earthy carrot, and crisp celery, all simmered in a rich chili basil tomato sauce. It's honestly reminiscent of a good spaghetti sauce, hearty, saucy, and well-seasoned with just enough heat to keep things interesting. On top of that filling sits a generous dollop of creamy parmesan ricotta mix that melts into the sauce as you cut through the flaky pastry shell. Mentil Lentil: hearty filling with a creamy ricotta surprise. Honestly, I'd happily eat t...

I don't hang out with my parents often enough, so when they visit my side of Vancouver, I make it a priority to bring them somewhere special. Today, I decided to introduce them to C Market Coffee along Main Street, Vancouver's biggest coffee shop. This is my third time visiting, and I still remember being here on opening day. C Market Coffee, Main Street (Third Visit) Location: 195 E 36th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5W 4A1 (Main Street) Visit: Family outing with parents Featured Items: K-Ube Latte ($7), Dubai Chocolate Croissant ($10.50), Ultimate Chocolate Nemo Cake ($8) Verdict: A delightful spot to share time with family. The croissant steals the show with its perfect texture and pistachio cream. My parents ordered their usual Americanos while my sister and I decided to indulge in a couple of their signature desserts. We went with the luxurious Dubai Chocolate Croissant and the Ultimate Chocolate Nemo Ca...