BC Culture Days Latin America at Pacific Arts Market, Vancouver

Greetings on this rainy Saturday! I am fortunate to reside just a few blocks from Pacific Arts Market. This establishment has recently delighted us with its vibrant events (see Vancouver Night Market), especially those featuring delectable culinary offerings.

Today, our rendezvous at Pacific Arts revolves around celebrating Latin America's rich and diverse flavours. Needless to say, I'm here to savour every delightful dish presented by the participating vendors. We arrived in the area at around 2:30 in the afternoon, and based on earlier pictures, some vendors had already left.

Taquitos from Lita's Mexican Food

Our gastronomic expedition starts at Lita's Mexican food, where the enticing aroma of taquitos beckons. These little gems sport a crispy exterior, and the hot sauce makes it perfect on this chilly day.

Chicken Taquitos from Lita's Mexican Food

If you don't know, taquitos are a popular Mexican dish, often served as finger foods or appetizers. These cheese and meat-filled tortillas are typically deep-fried until they become crispy and golden brown. Lita's taquitos are available in grocery stores, so go check them out.

Mote con Chicharrón from La Yapa

We're venturing into uncharted culinary territory as we try Ecuadorian cuisine for the first time at La Yapa. We picked two delectable choices: the Mote Con Chicharrón and Guagua de Pan.

The Mote con Chicharrón is a revelation. It features mote (hominy), which is corn that has been treated with an alkali to remove the outer hull, causing the corn kernels to puff up and have a soft, chewy texture. It serves as the base for the chicharrón (fried pieces of pork). It is fatty, juicy, and oh-so succulent, harmonizing perfectly with the tender corn.

Mote con Chicharrón from La Yapa

Meanwhile, guagua de pan is a traditional Ecuadorian sweet bread decorated with coloured icing. The bread is slightly firmer than expected and likely became stale due to the cold and rainy weather. I wish I could try this fresh from the oven.

Guagua de Pan from La Yapa

Beef Quesadillas from Mi Casa Cucina Mexicana

Prepare yourself, for what I'm about to share is nothing short of a culinary epiphany. Mi Casa Cucina Mexicana serves up what can only be described as the pinnacle of Mexican beef in Vancouver.

Beef Quesadillas from Mi Casa Cucina Mexicana

The beef is tender, juicy, and bursting with flavour and placed upon a warm tortilla covered with melted cheese. It's a symphony of taste that I can't wait to revisit at their location on the corner of 4th Avenue and Burrard and perhaps again on Cinco de Mayo.

Tamales from Jicama y Perejil

This is my second time trying tamales (a traditional Mesoamerican dish made of masa that is filled with various ingredients, wrapped in a corn husk, and then steamed or boiled), and the first time was also because of a Pacific Arts event. I chose tender chicken enveloped by a tamale's embrace.

Chicken Tamales from Jicama y Perejil

While the chicken's tender is undeniable, the texture of the corn gives pause, exhibiting an unexpected grittiness. Moreover, I know tamales need to be served hot, but this is not warm enough to melt the cheese on top.

Nachos from TACO'N Todo food truck

I have a mild obsession with food trucks and have made a checklist of food trucks in Vancouver.

Beef Nachos from TACO'N Todo food truck

I ordered nachos topped with beef and was pleasantly shocked at the serving size. It's good enough for three people, and we manage to conquer it as a duo. The nacho chips, a personal weakness, deliver pure satisfaction, making this dish a resounding success.

After our food adventure, we make our way to church for the 5 PM Anticipated Mass, and I find myself writing this post inside Blenz Coffee at the corner of West Broadway and Maple. I will edit it at home later this evening.

Customizable Lunch Bento Box from Tokyo in April Restaurant Vancouver

It was a picturesque Thursday with clear skies and sunshine, setting the perfect backdrop for our team's Japanese-themed lunch outing. Our destination was Tokyo in April, a highly-rated Japanese restaurant conveniently located nearby.

Tokyo in April offers a unique lunch experience with its customizable bento boxes. For my selection, I crafted a satisfying ensemble: spicy miso soup, teriyaki beef over rice, a spring mix salad, chicken karaage, and a salmon & avocado roll.

My Custom Bento Box from Tokyo in April

The spicy miso soup was a standout, boasting a balanced flavour profile that wasn't excessively salty but wonderfully savoury. The only hiccup in our culinary journey was the spring mix salad, which arrived unadorned with dressing, seemingly forgotten. Nevertheless, I embraced the opportunity to infuse some greens into my meal.

Spicy Miso Soup that's part of my bento box from Tokyo in April

The teriyaki beef over rice pleasantly surprised me with its sweeter notes, while the salmon and avocado roll showcased the delicate harmony between velvety salmon and creamy avocado. To elevate the roll further, a textural contrast element could be considered, though it still delivered an excellent taste.

Saving the best for last, the unassuming appearance of the chicken karaage belied its bold flavours. Well-seasoned, with a juicy and tender interior encased in a delightfully crispy exterior, it left an indelible impression. I eagerly anticipate indulging in this flavorful dish again on future visits.

If you find yourself near International Village, stop by Tokyo in April for their unique bento box experience.

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

Week Number:

Brazilian: Boteco Brasil Chicken: Nando's Japanese: SUSHI UOmo Japanese Restaurant Bagel: Rosemary Rocksalt Thai: Thai Away Home Bagel (but we went for sandwiches): Meat & Bread

Pies: Peaked Pies Comfort Food: Nene Chicken Burger: Five Guys Burgers & Fries Italian: The Old Spaghetti Factory Vietnamese: Pholicious Japanese: Tokyo in April

Chocoholic Cheesecake from Trees Organic

We're a creature of habit. After having lunch at Suika, we always go to nearby Trees Organic at their West Broadway and Fir Street location.

We have tried most of their flavours and one of the few classic flavours left is the Chocoholic Cheesecake.

Chocoholic Cheesecake from Trees Organic

I love the smooth creamy texture of cheesecake as it is a great contrast to the chocolate crumb crust. Adding milk and dark chocolate to the cheesecake is a chocolate lovers dream.

List of Seasonal Cheesecake from Trees Cheesecake + Organic Coffee

Below is a list of the seasonal cheesecakes we have tried from Trees arranged alphabetically.

Almond Marzipan Cheesecake Apple Crisp Cheesecake Banana Cream Cheesecake Banoffee Cheesecake Coconut Cream Cheesecake Ferrero Rocher Cheesecake Irish Cream Cheesecake

Mango Cheesecake Matcha Cheesecake Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pumpkin Cheesecake Strawberry Cheesecake Taro Cheesecake

List of Cheesecake from Trees Cheesecake + Organic Coffee

Below is a list of cheesecakes from Trees that are always available.

Blueberry Cheesecake Chocoholic Cheesecake Key Lime Cheesecake Maple Walnut Cheesecake

New York Cheesecake Oreo Cheesecake Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Tiramisu Cheesecake

Prawn and Mushroom Creamy Udon from Suika

Happy Sunday! After Mass today, we enjoyed a pancake breakfast by the Knights of Columbus. Then, we walked to the Kitsilano Farmers Market just to window shop.

At 11:35 AM, our lunch adventure took us to Suika, a beloved Vancouver restaurant close to my heart. Without fail, I gravitate towards two favourites on their menu: the Signature Beef Curry with Tonkatsu topping and the irresistible Chicken Dashi Karaage.

Signature Beef Curry with Tonkatsu topping

This is the best Japanese curry in Vancouver. The rich curry sauce spiced to perfection forms the base of this personal favourite. It's generously seasoned with aromatic spices that evoke a comforting warmth. I absolutely love the shredded tender beef in the curry sauce.

Signature Beef Curry with Tonkatsu from Suika
Suika original stewed beef tendon curry with pork loin cutlet

I always choose the tonkatsu as my topping. It is a crispy, golden-fried pork cutlet that adds a delightful crunch. It provides a lovely contrast: the tender, succulent pork inside and the satisfying crispy coating outside covered in the best beef curry sauce.

Chicken Dashi Karaage

Suika has mastered the art of balancing juiciness and crispness with their Chicken Dashi Karaage. Each piece of chicken is an explosion of succulent, tender meat encased in a crispy, golden-brown shell. Yum!

Chicken Dashi Karaage from Suika
Juicy deep-fried chicken thigh, crispy on the outside and filled with rich dashi shoyu flavour

Prawn and Mushroom Creamy Udon

While I stuck to my usual order, my husband chose from Suika's Chef Special menu and picked the Prawn and Mushroom Creamy Udon.

Prawn and Mushroom Creamy Udon from Suika
Udon noodle pan fried in a creamy seaweed sauce and served with garlic prawns and mushrooms.

The udon noodles are chewy, and the creamy seaweed sauce clings to it nicely. Meanwhile, the prawns have a subtle sweetness, while the mushrooms add their own earthy flavour.

I am joyful to be back at Suika. In the past years, we would visit here once a month, but with so many restaurants opening up, we've only been here once a quarter this year.

Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Blizzard from Dairy Queen

As our vibrant stroll through Main Street's Car Free Day came to a close, we couldn't resist the allure of indulging in some delightful desserts to cap off our culinary adventure and get relief from the summer heat. Our sweet journey led us to Dairy Queen, where we faced a dessert dilemma—two limited edition Blizzards, each promising a unique flavour experience.

Our first choice, the Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Blizzard, held the promise of a dessert imbued with the nostalgic flavours of Snickerdoodle cookies. However, this Blizzard turned out to be a surprise of a different kind.

Upon the first spoonful, it became apparent that cinnamon was the dominant player in this dessert. While some may relish the warm, comforting embrace of cinnamon, it overshadowed the other elements of the treat, leaving me yearning for a more balanced flavour profile.

Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Blizzard® Treat from Dairy Queen
Find sugar, spice, and everything nice blended into our Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Blizzard® Treat.

I hated it so much that I needed a different Blizzard and got a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Pie. This delectable creation celebrated peanut butter's rich and creamy allure, harmonizing it with the irresistible appeal of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

REESE'S® Peanut Butter Cup Pie Blizzard® Treat from Dairy Queen
A little salty, a little sweet - satisfy your pie craving with this treat.

With each spoonful, I revelled in the decadent blend of velvety peanut butter and the satisfying crunch of the chocolate cups. It was a symphony of textures and tastes that made me smile.

Below is a list of Blizzard Treats from Dairy Queen that we have tried.

Cake Batter Cookie Dough Blizzard Treat Caramel Fudge Cheesecake Blizzard Treat COFFEE CRISP® Caramel Macchiato Blizzard Treat Cotton Candy Blizzard Treat OREO® Hot Cocoa Blizzard Treat

Pumpkin Pie Blizzard Treat REESE'S® Caramel Pretzel Blizzard® Treat REESE'S® Peanut Butter Cup Pie Blizzard® Treat Skor® Blizzard Treat Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Blizzard® Treat

Lemongrass Beef Bánh Mì from Camion Cafe food truck (includes menu)

Nestled amidst the vibrant festivities of Car Free Day on Main Street, we stumbled upon Camion Cafe, a delightful food truck specializing in Vietnamese cuisine, specifically bánh mì. We decided to give their Lemongrass Bánh Mì and spring roll a try.

Lemongrass Beef Bánh Mì from Camion Cafe
Lemongrass beef, ginger garlic marinade, mayo cucumber, jalapeno, daikon & carrot pickles, and cilantro.

At first glance, the crusty demi-baguette encasing the bánh mì appears too hardy, but beneath this textural exterior lies the star: the lemongrass-infused beef. It's so tender and succulent.

Lemongrass Beef Bánh Mì from Camion Cafe
Lemongrass beef, ginger garlic marinade, mayo cucumber, jalapeno, daikon & carrot pickles, and cilantro.

In contrast to the savoury beef, the cucumber contributed a crispy crunch. At the same time, the jalapeno adds a subtle kick of heat, and the daikon & carrot pickles offer a sweet and tangy contrast that helps cut through the meat's richness.

Spring Rolls from Camion Cafe

We also savoured one of Camion Cafe's spring rolls to complete our culinary exploration. It exhibited a harmonious blend of textures: crispy on the outside and tender and flavorful within.

Camion Cafe food truck menu

Shawarma and Dolmades from Shawarma Time Truck (with menu)

I just love Car Free Day on Main Street. My husband and I made a pact to prioritize food stalls without a physical store and food trucks that we have yet to try.

As we continued our stroll along Main Street, we spotted Shawarma Time Truck. I eagerly ordered one beef shawarma wrap and a side of dolmades, a Mediterranean delight I've adored (thanks to Super Dishes Egyptian Halal Cuisine).

First up were the Dolmades, and they lived up to my high expectations. These delicate parcels, made with vine leaves stuffed with a flavorful mixture of rice, herbs, and spices, were a testament to the artistry of Mediterranean cuisine. Each bite was a burst of savoury, tangy, zesty goodness, and I savoured every one.

4 Pieces of Dolmades from Shawarma Time Truck
Grape vine leaves, stuffed with delicious rice, shaped into little rolls

The beef shawarma wrap had its own charm. The tender slices of beef were generously seasoned and spiced, delivering that signature shawarma flavour. However, it leaned slightly on the saltier side, a touch more than I prefer. Nonetheless, it was a satisfying experience.

Beef Shawarma Wrap from Shawarma Time Truck
Fresh-cut beef shawarma with tahini spreads and your choice of toppings and sauces

Shawarma Time Truck Menu

Below is a picture of the Shawarma Time Truck menu.

Shawarma Time Truck menu