Taiwanese Egg Cake and Popcorn Chicken from Family Lin | Taiwanfest 2023

After savouring the delectable delights from Tai Dog at Aiyaohno Cafe during our visit to Taiwanfest, we couldn't resist the allure of returning food vendor - Family Lin.

What awaited us was a taste sensation that instantly won our hearts: the best deep-fried Taiwanese chicken popcorn with salt & pepper. Each bite was a symphony of flavours and textures, a perfect blend of juiciness and crispiness that left our taste buds dancing in delight. I dare say if Family Lin had a restaurant nearby, it would undoubtedly become a personal favourite, perhaps even dethroning Redbeef Noodle Kitchen as my go-to source for Taiwanese-style chicken popcorn.

Deep-Fried Salt & Pepper Popcorn Chicken from Family Lin at Taiwanfest 2023

But that wasn't all we discovered at Family Lin's booth. We also had the pleasure of trying their Taiwanese Egg Cake, a delightful surprise that added a touch of sweetness to our savoury adventure. The cake was wonderfully soft, its texture reminiscent of a sweeter, egg-shaped pancake. What truly set it apart, though, were the crispy edges that added a delightful crunch to each bite. While I enjoyed its soft and slightly sweet interior, my husband was captivated by the crisp edges that perfectly balanced flavours and textures.

Taiwanese Egg Cake from Family Lin at Taiwanfest 2023

If you're the proud owner of this fantastic eatery, consider this a call-out from an ardent food lover. Your culinary creations deserve to be celebrated and shared. Please drop me a message with your location - great food like yours should be savoured and promoted!"

Deep-Fried Pork Belly Tai Dog from Aiyaohno Cafe | Taiwanfest 2023

Every year, as our annual Labour Day weekend tradition, we go to Taiwanfest for a delightful taste of Taiwanese cuisine. While Sasaya Bistro has always been a familiar face at the festival, this year brought a pleasant surprise – not one, but two new food vendors! Among them was Aiyaohno Cafe,   selling 'Tai Dog.'

At first, my husband and I thought it would be similar to Japadog, offering hotdogs with Japanese-style toppings. However, we were in for a surprise. Tai Dog's approach was refreshingly different. Instead of the usual, they took the hotdog bun, coated it in crispy panko, deep-fried it to perfection, and then crowned it with succulent pork belly. 🤯

Deep Fried Pork Belly Tai Dog, a collaboration creation between Taiwanfest and Aiyaohno Cafe

The result was a delightful contrast of textures and flavours. The bun was crispy on the outside yet wonderfully soft on the inside. The pork belly, with its tantalizing combination of fatty and crunchy elements, was the star of the show. It was beautifully balanced by the refreshing crunch of cucumber.

Tai Dog from Aiyaohno Cafe

In a word, it was unique and, more importantly, delicious. As I savoured every bite, I couldn't help but think, 'Could I please have this with some soy milk?' 😋

Tai Dog Menu from Taiwanfest

Frikandel Special from Dutchlicious | Dutch Street Market

Happy Sunday! We spent most of the morning and early afternoon in Downtown Vancouver. There's a Dutch Street Market north of West Georgia along Granville Street, and we stopped by a food trailer called Dutchlicious.

After perusing the menu, I decided to go for the most interesting - a frikandel and Dutch fries. Frikandel is skinless sausage topped with onions, curry ketchup, and mayonnaise. Because it is skinless, the exterior was crispy, while the interior was moist and tender.

The savoury sausage was topped with sweet onions and mayonnaise, but the unique condiment is the curry ketchup. It is a popular condiment in Germany and other European countries. It is ketchup mixed with curry powder, sauce, and other seasonings. It is tangy and slightly sweet with a hint of curry flavour.

I love curry and instantly loved the Frikandel topped with curry ketchup.

Combo 4 Dutch Fries (Large), 1 Frikandel Special

We also ordered Dutch fries and were uncertain about what makes it "Dutch." It's thicker than what you typically get from fast food chains and smelled unusually good, but it tastes like you're regular deep-fried potatoes.

According to my research, we should have ordered Dutch Fries Special. It's the thick-cut fries with mayonnaise, ketchup, onions, and ketchup curry. It sounds delicious.

I also noticed that their menu includes Indonesian influence, like satay and spring roll, which makes sense since Indonesia was a former Dutch colony.

Pure Indulgence at Chez Christophe in White Rock, BC

Nestled in the heart of White Rock, Chez Christophe is a little slice of Switzerland that promises a sweet escape from the everyday hustle and bustle. As you step inside this charming café and chocolate shop, you're transported to a world of delectable Swiss chocolates, tantalizing cakes, buttery croissants, delicate macarons, and an array of specialty desserts that will make your taste buds dance with joy.

After brunch at nearby The Wooden Spoon, our visit to Chez Christophe was a sweet journey. Two desserts, in particular, caught our attention.

Christophe's Tiramisu: A Coffee Lover's Dream

If you're a coffee enthusiast, Christophe's Tiramisu is a heavenly creation you won't want to miss. This delightful dessert boasts a luscious mascarpone mousse that perfectly balances the rich flavours of coffee-infused whipped ganache. This is nestled on an espresso-soaked sponge, adding a lovely textural contrast. Each spoonful is a harmonious blend of creamy and caffeinated, making it the ideal choice for coffee lovers like me.

Christophe's Tiramisu from Chez Christophe
Mascarpone mousse with coffee-infused whipped ganache on an espresso-soaked sponge

Caramel Brownie: A Symphony of Textures

The Caramel Brownie at Chez Christophe is a masterpiece in textural contrast. This dessert features a pecan brownie base that's both nutty and indulgent. You'll find a delightful coconib crunch atop the brownie, offering a playful crispy element. The journey continues with layers of caramel mousse, each bite a sweet, velvety pleasure. The dessert concludes with a generous drizzle of dark chocolate monte, adding a rich, cocoa-infused finish to this symphony of flavours and textures.

Caramel Brownie from Chez Christophe
Pecan brownie, coconib crunch, caramel mousse, dark chocolate monte

Chez Christophe doesn't just offer desserts; it provides an experience. It's where Swiss craftsmanship meets the passion for creating exquisite sweet treats. Whether you're craving a classic like Tiramisu or seeking adventure in the form of a Caramel Brownie, Chez Christophe is a destination that guarantees sweet satisfaction.

So, the next time you're in White Rock, take a delightful detour to Chez Christophe. You'll discover that each treat here is a work of art, and every bite is a moment of pure bliss.

Brunch Date at The Wooden Spoon in White Rock, BC

Happy Labour Day long weekend! Hubby and I discussed going to White Rock using the double-decker bus and finally did it today.

We left our home early (6:30 AM) and enjoyed the cool summer morning at White Rock. We waited for The Wooden Spoon to open at 9:00 AM and were pleasantly surprised that all tables were occupied within 15 minutes.

Hubby's rule is to order any namesake food items, so I got The Wooden Benny while Hubby chose The Spoon Huevos Hash.

The two spoonfuls of huevos hash I took from hubby are filled with beans and pico de gallo. It was a bit spicy, too. It's definitely more complex than the Benny.

The Spoon Huevos from The Wooden Spoon
Corn & bean succotash, baby potatoes, feta, avocado, pico de Gallo, tortilla strips, cilantro lime crema, and sunny side eggs

The Wooden Benny came with two double-smoked bacon on top of a cheddar chive buttermilk biscuit instead of the usual English muffin. The biscuit is chewier and provides more savoury notes than an English muffin.

The benny also came with two soft poached eggs; one was perfectly runny, while the other was about 30 seconds overdone. It came with a simple vinaigrette salad and garlic potatoes.

The Wooden Benny from The Wooden Spoon
Two strips of double-smoked bacon, onion jam and chive gremolata
All benedicts come with two poached medium eggs on a half-cheddar chive buttermilk biscuit, served with champagne hollandaise, heb and garlic baby potatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette salad.

It was a fantastic brunch date with my husband at White Rock.

Dulce Apple Fritter Dream Donut from Tim Hortons

Yay! A new dream donut from Tim Hortons, the Dulce Apple Fritter Dream Donut, is now available.

It's Labour Day weekend, and we're going to White Rock this morning via the double-decker bus so my husband can see and experience it. 😅 Before that, we walked to Broadway-City Hall Canada Line station and stopped by Tim Hortons so he could try the delicious Savoury Twists.

Dulce Apple Fritter Dream Donut from Tim Hortons

Then, we noticed the new Dulce Apple Fritter Dream Donut. It has a strong cinnamon flavour, which overpowers any apple sweetness from the apple. Not even the dulce de leche drizzle on top can save it.

Dulce Apple Fritter Dream Donut from Tim Hortons

This is my biased opinion since I am not a fan of cinnamon flavour. 🥹

Little Bacon Cheeseburger from Five Guys Burgers & Fries

It's Thursday, which means free (company-paid) lunch! This week's theme is burgers; my colleague suggested Five Guys Burgers & Fries.

I ordered a Little Bacon Cheeseburger with all-the-way topping and regular cajun-style fries.

Little Bacon Cheeseburger from Five Guys
Fresh, hand-formed patty hot off the grill with American-style cheese and strips of crispy apple-wood smoked bacon on top. Add as many toppings as you want.

Let's start! The buns arrived soggy, which is to be expected of delivered food. The beef was not as juicy as I'd liked, but it's possible that the buns absorbed all the goodness. The toppings are standard fare, but the bacon is the best. I'm not a fan of bacon, but that was perfectly crispy, adding much-needed texture to the burger.

Their fries are not made for delivery, which makes sense and is acceptable. The fries of Popeyes have better cajun seasoning.

For my amusement, below is a list of our team lunch so far:

Week Number:

1. Brazilian: Boteco Brasil
2. Chicken: Nando's
3. Japanese: SUSHI UOmo Japanese Restaurant
4. Bagel: Rosemary Rocksalt
5. Thai: Thai Away Home
6. Bagel (but we went for sandwiches): Meat & Bread
7. Pies: Peaked Pies
8. Comfort Food: Nene Chicken
9. Burger: Five Guys Burgers & Fries