Sabich and Falafel Bowl from Planted Food Truck

Happy Sunday! My husband finished the BMO Vancouver Half-Marathon. Woohoo! Congratulations, Love. After his run, we checked out which food trucks were available in the Street Festival. There's Roasted Revolution, Japadog, Dos Tacos, and Planted. We have tried the first three so it makes sense to try Planted.

I ordered the Hetzi Hetzi Bowl, which means getting half Sabich and half Falafel bowl.

Hetzi and Hetzi Bowl from Planted Food Truck
Half Sabich (house-made pita, hummus, tahini, zhug, amba, tomatoes, cucumber, pickles, fried eggplant & cauliflower, pickled red onions, and chopped parsley)
Half  Falafel (house-made pita, tahini, amba, zhug, pickled red cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, shifka peppers)

It's the most moist falafel I have ever tried. Yum! I enjoyed the fried cauliflower and eggplant. There's also heat coming from shifta peppers. The hummus is perfectly creamy. I love everything!

Below is the menu of Planted Food Truck.

Planted Food Truck Menu

Costco Food Court Menu and Prices | Willingdon Burnaby BC Warehouse

The menu below is from the Costco food court in their Willingdon, Burnaby BC location (4500 Stil Creek Drive) and is subject to change without prior notice. All prices are in Canadian dollars and do not include taxes. It is similar to the menu in Costco at Expo Blvd, Vancouver, BC.

Costco is a popular wholesale retailer known for its bulk goods, low prices, and of course, its food court. The Costco Food Court is a favorite among shoppers, offering a range of tasty and affordable food options for both members and non-members.

Below is a link to other Costco Food Court Menu and Prices that I have visited. I am planning to make #CostcoTourism a thing.

• Richmond, BC Warehouse
• Vancouver, BC Warehouse
• Willingdon Burnaby, BC Warehouse
• Hawthorne Los Angeles, CA Warehouse
• South Austin, TX Warehouse

Menu Item	Price
Pop 20 oz with refill	$0.89
Ice Cream Cone Vanilla or Chocolate	$2.89
Ice Cream Sundae Caramel, Chocolate, or Berry	$3.49
Pizza Slice Pepperoni or Cheese	$2.59
18" Whole Pizza Pepperoni or Cheese	$12.99
1/4 Pound Hotdog and 20 oz pop with refill All Beef or Polish Sausage	$1.50
Chicken Strips and Fries	$6.99
French Fries	$2.99
Poutine	$5.99
Gravy	$0.30

Overall, the Costco Food Court is a great option for those looking for tasty, affordable, and convenient food options while shopping at Costco. Whether you're in the mood for a classic hot dog, a slice of pizza, or something else entirely, the food court has something for everyone. So the next time you're at Costco, be sure to stop by and try out the food court for yourself!

S'more Signature Bubble Waffle from Crema Ice Cream & Desserts

After a deliciously savoury lunch enjoying all my favourite Taiwanese food, I saw a lady holding a bubble waffle and saying aloud, "I want one!" They're available from Crema Ice Cream & Desserts food truck. I love the bubble waffle addition to their menu. It provides a crispiness to the creamy ice cream.

We ordered the S'more Signature Bubble Waffle and chose Cookie Monster for our one scoop of ice cream. We happily ate the dessert near Avondale Park.

S'more Signature Bubble Waffle from Cream Ice Cream & Desserts food truck
Cookie Monster ice cream, vanilla waffle, chocolate sauce, graham crackers, and toasted marshmallows.

My favourite part of the dish is that portion of scorched marshmallows. The slight warmth from the char made it so good! It's like how freshly baked bread smells and tastes. Perfect dessert right here.

What is Bubble Waffle?

According to ChatGPT, "Bubble waffles, also known as egg waffles, are a popular street snack in Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. They are made from a batter that is cooked in a special bubble waffle maker, which creates a unique shape and texture with crispy edges and soft, chewy pockets."

My Favourite Taiwanese Food at TJ Fest in Burnaby

It's no secret that I enjoy Taiwanese food, and I wrote here a few times that it started because of a small (now closed) eatery in Makati called Dang Dee. However, my introduction to the cuisine is quite limited to Popcorn Chicken, Taiwanese Sausage, and Fried Pork Chops, usually served with white rice, an egg, and pickled or steamed vegetables.

We went to TJ Fest in Burnaby today, and I got to enjoy all my favourite Taiwanese dishes.

Inside Tinjin Temple

Tianjin Temple in Burnaby organizes annually a festival which showcases their culture with performances and food. It's smaller than the annual Taiwanfest in Downtown Vancouver during Labour Day weekend, but it's less crowded and has better food options.

TJ Fest Stage

They sell many dishes, but we went with what we're familiar with, like the fried pork chop bento box, popcorn chicken bento box, a side of 2x Taiwanese sausage, and Taiwanese pork belly burger. This is our first meal for the day!

Popcorn Chicken Bento Box

The chicken has a crispy, crunchy texture and is tender and juicy. It's savoury, and umami flavour is perfect with soft white rice. The pickled radish is the ideal palate cleanser, so you can take another bite without feeling heavy.

Deep-Fried Pork Chop Bento Box

The deep-fried pork chop is as flavourful and fattier than the chicken popcorn, but it could be more crispy.

Taiwanese Pork Belly Burger

It's folded soft steamed bun filled with a thick slice of braised pork belly, mustard greens, and fresh cilantro. The pork is tender, while the pickled mustard greens add a tangy crunch. It's surprisingly enjoyable.

Taiwanese Pork Sausage

Taiwanese Pork Sausage has the perfect balance between sweet and savoury flavour. Surprisingly, it's not as fatty and oily as I expect it to be. The pickled vegetables did help.

After enjoying our meal while enjoying the performances on stage. We walked around to see the different vendors and enjoyed ice cream from one of the food trucks. As soon as we finished our ice cream, we went to Costco nearby.

Choco Heaven Stuffies Soft-Serve from Stuffies Pastries | Metropolist at Metrotown

 After our dinner at Vina Vietnamese, we grabbed desserts at Stuffies Pastries. We selected the Choco Heaven Stuffies Soft-Serve, a creamy soft-serve topped with a mini chocolate bar, chocolate-dipped pretzel, dark chocolate sauce, and choco rocks in a fish-shaped waffle cone.

Choco Heaven Stuffies Soft-Serve from Stuffies Pastry

I have a bias for red bean paste, so I still prefer the Orient Express Stuffies Soft-Serve we tried last time.

Pork Lemongrass and Beef Stew from Vina Vietnamese | Metropolis at Metrotown Food Court

 We went to see our family doctor after work today because my right ear has been painful. After our appointment, we crossed the street to Metropolis at Metrotown Food Court.

I wanted beef, so I chose Vina Vietnamese and my favourite Beef Stew. Hubby chose the Lemongrass Pork, which is surprisingly better, albeit harder to eat, because it's a slab of meat.

I love the caramelized crispy exterior of the pork and the surprisingly tender inside.

Lemongrass Pork from Vina Vietnamese

Beef Stew from Vina Vietnamese

I love the Beef Stew of Vina Vietnamese in their Richmond Centre and Pacific Centre locations because the beef is very tender and falls apart easily. However, this one is tougher than I expected.

Overall, I am satisfied with our dinner. I am praying that my ear heals.