Tomato-Garlic Beef Spaghetti with Sweet Peppers from HelloFresh

Happy Saturday! Our HelloFresh box arrived this morning, and we prepared the Tomato-Garlic Beef Spaghetti with Sweet Peppers for lunch.

Al dente pasta, meaty sauce, and crispy vegetables round up this hearty meal.

Tomato-Garlic Beef Spaghetti with Sweet Peppers

We've figured out the secret to adding oomph to a simple meat sauce – beef stock powder! The saltiness is a subtle but tasty addition to succulent ground beef, aromatic Italian seasoning and juicy tomatoes.

Tomato-Garlic Beef Spaghetti with Sweet Peppers

Chipotle Steak Loaded Wrap from Tim Hortons

Happy Friday! Hubby and I walked to Tim Hortons to support the Special Olympics Donuts and try the Chipotle Steak Loaded Wrap. We had its bowl version last Wednesday, but they didn't have enough chipotle steak to create a second order that time.

Chipotle Steak Loaded Wrap from Tim Hortons

The Chipotle Steak Loaded Wrap has all the deliciousness of the bowl but inside a tortilla. I liked the wrap better because you get all the components on each bite: the juicy, tender steak, perfectly spiced grains, and fresh vegetables like tomatoes and lettuce.

This is definitely the best-loaded wrap/bowl Tim Hortons has released so far. Because it's raining outside, we also ordered a large Chili.

Special Olympics Donut from Tim Hortons

From February 3 to 5, Tim Hortons is bringing back their Special Olympics Donut. 100% of proceeds will go to Special Olympics Canada, which supports Special Olympics Canada athletes across the country.

Special Olympics Donut from Tim Hortons
Chocolate Cake Ring donut with white fondant, sprinkles and whipped topping.

We had dinner at Tim Hortons and had the Special Olympics Donut for dessert.

Special Olympics Donut from Tim Hortons

It's the usual chocolate donut from Tims topped with sprinkles. The donut is a bit stale and dry, but the sprinkles and fondant provided just the right amount of sweetness.

Special Olympics Donut from Tim Hortons

Cheesy Chicken Poutine from Five Star Fried Chicken | La Poutine Week 2023

Happy Thursday! It's a beautiful clear day and evening in Vancouver. There's no rain! Hubby and I decided to take a walk and find ourselves near City Square Shopping Centre. We grabbed dinner at Five Star Fried Chicken for the first time and tried their Cheesy Chicken Poutine which is part of La Poutine Week 2023.

Cheesy Chicken Poutine from Five Star Fried Chicken

The gravy on the Cheesy Chicken Poutine was warm and salty, which is an excellent contrast to the colder cheese curds. Also, the chicken was a bit crunchy compared to the soft, soggy fries soaked in gravy.

Below is the description of the poutine on the La Poutine Week 2023 website:

Cheesy Chicken Poutine

We serve our unique cheesy chicken poutine which made with our signature crunchy fries and fresh gravy, you will also be able to enjoy our spiced fried chicken added in small pieces which we prepared with mixture of 17 different spices and marination of good 26 hours before cooking, the addition of cheese curds will boost the taste to its extreme level. We double the layers of every ingredient used so you can enjoy every bite all the way to the end.

Five Star Fried Chicken's Cheesy Chicken Poutine

We also ordered a Star Combo which includes 2 pieces of fried chicken, fries, and a drink. The batter was thicker than other fast food chain fried chicken, but the inside was well-seasoned and juicy.

Fried Chicken from Five Star Fried Chicken

Juicy, glistening fried chicken from Five Star Fried Chicken

Again, my Filipino-ness came out when I told my hubby that I wanted to eat this with rice and gravy.

Five Star Fried Chicken inside City Square Shopping Centre food court

Japanese Custard Waffle Cakes Monteur Douce Patisserie in Vancouver

After dinner at Tims, we grabbed groceries at Shoppers and walked around at La Win Supermarket. We picked three different pastries from their bakery and frozen dessert section.

Custard Waffle Cakes

From the open fridge near the bakery section, we spotted the Monteur Douce Patisserie Custard Waffle Cakes imported directly from Japan.

Monteur Douce Patisserie Custard Waffle Cakes made in Japan

Creamy custard between a folded waffle.

Four Japanese Custard Waffle Cakes

The waffle was so soft it was like eating the clouds, while the custard inside was sweet. I love it!

Daifuku Red Bean Cake

The Red Bean Cake reminds me of the one we got fresh from Kam Do Bakery.

Made in Japan Daifuku Red Bean Cake

A peek inside the Daifuku Red Bean Cake.

Sausage Bun

We have the sausage buns for breakfast tomorrow.

Chipotle Steak Loaded Bowl from Tim Hortons

Happy Tuesday evening! For dinner on this cold and clear night, we went to Tim Hortons to try the new Chipotle Steak Loaded Bowl.

I also wanted the wrap version, but the location close to us only has one serving left of Chipotle Steak.

New Chipotle Steak Loaded Bowl from Tim Hortons

I feel like it's sacrilegious to say that the beef steak is better than what you get from Chipotle Mexican Grill. It's tender, juicy, and marinated well.

Chipotle Steak Loaded Bowl from Tim Hortons
The loaded bowl features a base of brown rice, lettuce, diced tomato, and cucumber. It's topped with slow-cooked seasoned steak, crispy onions, and the signature chipotle sauce.

The rice was soft and seasoned well. The lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber provided freshness and a change of texture to the dish.

Chicken Habanero Loaded Bowl  from Tim Hortons

Overall, this is way better than the Chicken Habanero Loaded Bowl. Unfortunately, I had to order this again because I needed to figure out what else to try. The chicken was dry, and there was no saving it. Thankfully, the rice and salad were the same ones on the Chipotle Steak Loaded Bowl.

Medium-sized Mocha Iced Capp from Tim Hortons

It's 2°C outside during our walk to Tims, and I still opted for a medium-sized Mocha Iced Capp.