Brunch at The Stable House Bistro

Happy Saturday! We have been living in South Granville for four years this month, and this is our first time to enjoy a meal at The Stable House Bistro.

We had errands to run this morning. First, we went to the nearby local grocery (Meinhardt), then decided to have brunch (our first meal for today). After which, hubby had to pick up a package at Canada Post; next, I needed to drop by a UPS pick-up spot for an exchange gift.

Brunch Board

We haven't done cheese and meat board or anything remotely close to that. However, the Stable House Bistro specializes in small plates and meat boards.

For their brunch board, you have the option for three or five items, and there are eleven possible options. We ordered two five items and picked ten of the eleven possible options except for the smashed avocado.

Brunch Board from The Stable House Bistro

Our brunch board included:

• Bad Dog Bakery Toast
• Potato Roesti - It's a high-end version of potato patties.
• Sourdough French Toast - I highly recommend the french toast.
• Sunny Side Eggs
• Sous Vide Eggs - Of the two egg preparation, this is the one I'll get again.
• Fried Chicken
• Thick Cut Bacon - I can't believe I'm choosing bacon over the fried chicken and sausage, but it's better than the other two.
• House Made Sausage
• Lemon Yogurt, Seed Granola
• Seasonal Fruit

I already planning to come back and have decided that my next brunch board will include the french toast, sous vide eggs, and thick-cut bacon.

From the Stable House favourites section of the menu, I couldn't resist and ended up ordering Popcorn, truffle, parmesan. It's so good.

Popcorn, Truffle, Parmesan

What's your favourite brunch item?

Week 8 of HelloFresh

It's our 8th week of using HelloFresh. It has totally replaced our weekly grocery trips to every other week.

Cal Smart Harvest Beef Soup with Hearty Vegetables
HelloFresh Description: As the weather gets a little colder, nothing is better than a hearty soup to warm the soul! Packed with seasonal veggies in a savoury, aromatic broth, this soup will be just the thing to hit the spot!

Loaded Veggie Penne with Olives and Bocconcini
HelloFresh Description: The clever addition of olive brine and roasted red pepper juice gives this pasta an extra layer of depth and flavour. Keep this hack in your back pocket for when you need to add an extra oomph to your dish!

One Pot Italian Sausage Soup with Cream and Potatoes
HelloFresh Description: A cheeky copycat of an Italian-American restaurant classic! Cozy up to this satisfying soup... made all in one pot! What more could you want? Garlic-Bread? You've got it!

Cal Smart Stewed Harissa Chicken with Peppers and Feta
HelloFresh Description: Harissa is the hero providing smoky spice notes in this heart-warming stew. Tonight we're switching up the stew game by introducing poached and shredded chicken! Calorie Smart is based on a per serving calculation of the recipe's kilocalorie amount.

I have five HelloFresh meals coming next week.

Pandesal, Bibingka, Siopao, at Kung Anu-Ano Pa from Aling Mary's

I think I'm feeling homesick. I miss the Philippines and am too stubborn to admit it. However, my eating and shopping habits are proof since I always crave Filipino food.

Hubby and I walked for 40 minutes to Main Street, where the closest Filipino grocery is located, Aling Mary's. You'll smell the store a block away. It's the scent of freshly baked pandesal (Filipino brioche bun). I got half a dozen pandesal and another six pieces of the ube pandesal with cream cheese inside.

Result of being homesick

Reheating in the oven or even an air fryer makes the pandesal oh so delicious.

Freshly Baked Pandesal from Aling Mary's

Ube Pandesal with Cream Cheese

I also ordered their Bibingka, which is very coconutty and a couple of Asado siopao. 

Asado Siopao and Bibingka

I have wanted Otap (sugar biscuits) and Rosquillos (egg cookies) from Cebu for a long time and found both in the store. 

Otap

Rosquillos

Lastly, I love Piattos, so I got one, and hubby said we should get Pik-Nik as well.

Aling Mary's is such a happy place for me. I was telling hubby that we should move near a Filipino grocery store. He said he'd be worried that I'd buy too much food all the time. 😂

Lunch from Triple O's

Happy Wednesday! Hubby's company is sponsoring a team lunch. He received a $30 CAD DoorDash gift card and used it for lunch delivery from Triple O.

He ordered the Spicy Ultimate Crunch Chicken Bruger with Onion Rings and Strawberry Milkshake. I didn't order anything and enjoyed our palabok leftover from my birthday.

Spicy Ultimate Crunch Chicken Burger
Triple O Description: Sizzling hot! Our spicy, seasoned, crispy breaded chicken breast served with signature mayo, crisp iceberg lettuce, and fresh vine-ripened tomatoes.

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Below is a list of all Triple O menu items (as of this post) and an indicator whether we have tried it.

Trying all Triple O's Burgers

I am going over my old post to find out which burgers I have tried from Triple. O's. I'll summarize it here.

Chicken

• ✓ Southern Buttermilk Chicken Club
• ✓ B.C. Chicken
• ✓ Spicy Ultimate Crunch Burger (in this post)
• ✓ Buffalo Chicken Burger
• Dippin' Chicken Tenders
• Grilled Chicken & Bacon Caesar Salad

Beef Burgers

• ✓ Bacon Cheddar Burger
• ✓ Chipotle BBQ Bacon Melt
• ✓ Monty Mushroom Burger
• Original Burger
• ✓ Original with Cheese Burger
• Double Double Burger

Lifestyle Combos

• Veggie Burger
• Original Impossible™ Burger
• ✓ Fish (3) and Chips
• Crispy Cod Burger

Breakfast

• Original Sunny Start
• Sausage Sunny Start
• Breakfast Club
• Egg BLT Ciabatta
• Jalapeno Breakfast Ciabatta
• Loaded Breakfast Wrap
• Omelette Breakfast Bowl
• Nat's Own Coffee

Sides

• Caesar Salad
• ✓ French Fries
• ✓ Onion Rings
• Poutine 
• ✓ Sweet Potato Fries
• ✓ Garlic Parmesan Fries
• Pickle Chips
• ✓ Cajun Fries
• Cheesecake on a Stick

Limited Time Offer

• ✓ Chicken and Waffle
• ✓ Pizza Burger
• ✓ Chocolate Espresso Shake

Birthday Lunch at Suika

It's a birthday tradition that I need to eat my favourite Stewed Beef Tendon Curry from Suika on my birthday (or the weekend before/after if it's during a weekday).

Because my birthday is today, hubby and I took a day off from work to have lunch at Suika.

We were at the restaurant at around 12:45 PM and all tables are occupied plus three groups are waiting to be seated before us. The hostess said it's a 30 minute wait and have asked if we're willing to wait. Of course we are.

As soon as we were seated, we looked at the menu and know what we want.

We started our meal with 5 Kinds of Shashimi (15 pcs). I love the tuna sashimi! It'll be the one to order again.

5 Kinds of Sashimi
Three pieces each of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, scallop, and Chef's choice.

After the sashimi, my favourite Chicken Dashi Kara-age arrived. It's juicier than I remember. The batter also seems different. It's still delicious.

Chicken Dash Kara-age
Deep-fried chicken thigh served with sansho-jio (Japanese salt and pepper)

Halfway through the Kara-age, my ultimate favourite - Stewed Beef Tendon Curry arrived. I added Pork Tonkatsu. It's as delicious as ever. I love this curry dish so much.

Stewed Beef Tendon Curry
Suika's original Stewed Beef Tendon Curry with fried pork loin cutlet

Meanwhile, hubby tried the new Wagyu Stewed Hamburg Hayashi Bowl. 

Wagyu Stewed Hamburg Hayashi Bowl
Japanese-style wagyu beef stew on top of rice with melted cheese

To end our meal, we ordered two desserts and enjoyed them both.

Kinako Tiramisu and Creamy Chestnut Pudding

We were seated at the bar in front of the movie projection. They are playing the first Toy Story movie. Happy Birthday to me! 🎂

Breakfast at Blenz Coffee AND the rest of our Sunday

Happy Sunday! We have a jampacked day, and it doesn't help that I'm feeling under the weather. We started our day with breakfast at Blenz Coffee.

Just like yesterday, I ordered a toffee nut latte while hubby had to try their eggnog latte. I also ordered a couple Lumberjack Breakfast Wraps and a croissant. We finished our late breakfast at around 10:45 AM and headed to Sunday Mass.

Eggnog Latte and Toffee Nut Latte

After Mass, we had to wait for 15 minutes for our Uber to arrive, and off to BC Place, we went for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC game at 3:00 PM. We arrived at 12:30 PM (talk about excitement!).

Lumberjack Breakfast Wrap

Because we're early and cold, we decided to spend 30 minutes inside Waves Coffee along Robson Street and enjoyed our Dark Chocolate Belgian Mocha. Then, at 1:15 PM, we started lining up to go inside BC Place. They opened the gate at around 1:45 PM.

Our first goal is to buy team merchandise on sale. So, I got a hoodie while hubby picked a long sleeve. Then, we went to our seats and took some pictures.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC VS Seattle Sounders

Hubby and I walked around to buy food. I thought of trying other things, but I am always getting pulled back by The Poutinerie. So I ordered exactly the same thing as last time.

The Whitecaps draw 1-1 and are off to the playoffs! After the game, we took Lyft home. I feel exhausted now that the adrenaline from the match is gone.

For dinner, I wanted warm soup, so we had instant ramen at home.

My Birthday Celebration: Filipino Dishes from Ilocos Fride

It's my birthday weekend! Just like last year, I celebrated with my family in Richmond. We had the same seven people at the party.

As I did last year, I chose a Filipino entrepreneur to support and chose Ilocos Fride. I looked at their menu and decided to order many dishes we usually don't get to enjoy.

We picked up our order at 4:30 PM, and we arrived home at around 5:05 PM. My mom was already peeking through the window, waiting for us (and her favourite - Ginataang Bilo-Bilo) to come back.

My Birthday Feast from Ilocos Fride

I ordered A LOT of food, and EVERYTHING is delicious. Our family couldn't believe how great everything tasted.

Palabok
Ilocos Fride Description: Rice noodle dish with ground chicken or pork, smoked fish, eggs, chicharon (pork grinds), shrimps, chopped spring onions, and sliced lemons on the side.

The main dish of my party was the palabok, and we all loved it. Having the chicharon on the side is an excellent touch since some (specifically, me) don't like chicharon, so I can add as little as possible to the dish.

Pork Embutido
Ilocos Fride Description: Filipino-style meatloaf with ground pork, carrots, raisins, slices of eggs and sausage wrapped in a banana leaf.

My siblings migrated to Canada 8 years ago, and embutido is something we rarely have at home. But when my younger sister saw it, she specifically remembered that this is something you can put ketchup on. So I ordered two embutido, and we only finished one, so we went home with the second one. Yay for breakfast next week.

Rellenong Bangus (Stuffed Milk Fish)
Ilocos Fride Description: Milkfish stuffed with minced milkfish meat, carrots, potatoes, and dried peas.

My dad, our only brother, and I absolutely enjoyed the rellenong bangus. I can't believe how good it is, better than what you can order from Goldilocks in the Philippines. I ordered two bangus, but we only finished one. When I was about to pack the second one, my brother said he enjoyed it, so I decided to leave them the second one (agawan sa take out dahil sa sarap!).

Vegetable Lumpia
Ilocos Fride Description: Filled with carrots, cabbage, green beans, bean sprouts, and vermicelli rice noodles.

I ordered the Vegetable Lumpia with our only brother in mind. One day, he randomly asked me if I had tried a delicious Lumpiang Togue like the one our mom used to buy near his school growing up. I told him no. When I saw this dish in the Ilocos Fride menu, I just had to order it for him. When he took his first bite, I was staring at him, waiting for his judgment.

He said it tastes like as he remembered. Whew! I took a bite, and I agreed. There's a dozen per order, and I left most of what's left with them so that my brother and mom can enjoy it.

Lumpiang Super Shanghai
Ilocos Fride Description: Filled with ground pork, carrots, parsley with a sweet chilli sauce.

Filipino birthday parties won't be complete without lumpiang shanghai (spring rolls). Our favourite spring rolls are from Little Ongpin, and I thought this tasted the same, but with the wrapper thicker. It's perfect for munching on.

Ginataang Bilo-Bilo
Ilocos Fride Description: A dessert or snack made with glutinous rice balls, plantain bananas, sweet potatoes, and tapioca pearls cooked in coconut milk.

I don't eat this dish, but it's our mom's absolute favourite. It's something she and my brother craves for. So while my younger sister and I demolished the cake, my mom and our only brother enjoyed the Ginataang Bilo-Bilo. When I was packing our leftovers for takeout, he said how much he enjoyed the dessert. I know it's his subtle way of telling us not to bring it home. So I told him, don't worry, I don't eat that dish so you and Mama can enjoy it.

The best birthday celebrations are with the people we love over delicious food, and I received that today. I am so grateful to God for all the blessings He provided my family and me.

Something tells me my mom will be ordering the Ginataang Bilo-Bilo again sooner than they'd like to admit.

If you're in Metro Vancouver and sell Filipino food, please send us a message on Facebook with your menu. We would love to try your products (don't worry, I'm not an influencer and would gladly pay and support your business).

My Birthday Celebration: Ube and Mocha Cake from Arts to Bakes

I'm loyal to restaurants and even dishes that I absolutely love. For example, in my favourite restaurant, I have favourite dishes that I always order. For my second birthday in a row, I ordered a cake from Arts to Bakes. 🎂

Last year, I fell in love with her mocha cake, so I had to order it again this year, but I wanted to try a different flavour, so I asked for a half ube and half mocha cake.

Half Ube and Half Mocha from Arts to Bakes

Beautiful Cake

Just like last year, both flavours are excellent! Definitely the highlight of my birthday weekend. My younger sister demolished the ube cake like there's no tomorrow, while I sort of did the same for the mocha cake. To say that it's a hit is an understatement. Even my dad, who doesn't like sweets, ate and enjoyed the ube cake.

Ube with Macapuno side of the cake

Mocha side of the cake

Half Ube and Half Mocha Cake

I'm already planning to order an ube cake for my younger sister's birthday next year based on her reaction to it. 

If you're in Metro Vancouver and sell Filipino food, please send us a message on Facebook with your menu. We would love to try your products (don't worry, I'm not an influencer and would gladly pay and support your business).