Mandorlata Calda and Amerena Calda at Giovane Caffè | 2023 Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival

It's a beautiful rainy Sunday and perfect for trying a couple more hot chocolates that are part of the 2023 Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival.

Both hot chocolates are not sweet. Think of the sweetest hot chocolate you've ever tried and water it down. That's what both chocolate tastes like.

Hot Chocolates from Giovane Caffe

The Amerena Calda stayed warm under the mountain of whipped cream while the Mandorlata Calda was definitely miles colder.

If you can't decide which one to get, the vanilla amaretto cookie served with the Amerena Calda is definitely on the sweeter side, which is perfect for both hot chocolates.

I like the crunch from the crushed almond bits on the Mandorlata Calda.

If you ever get both hot chocolates, I recommend ordering one of the sweet treats on the counter.

Below is the description of both hot chocolates in the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival website.

#69 Mandorlata Calda

Rich cocoa powder and creamy almond butter. With its hint of cinnamon, topped with cinnamon sprinkles and crushed almond bits, this hot chocolate features traditional Italian almond flavour.

Served with a cantucci cookie on the side.

#69 - Mandorlata Calda

#70 Amerena Calda

A dark chocolate cherry-infused hot chocolate made with plant-based milks, topped with chantilly cream and dusted with chocolate shavings. This drink is a nod to the Italian Tartofu.

Served with a vanilla amaretto cookie.

#70 Amerena Calda

Below is a list of the flavours and vendors we have enjoyed so far.

• #02 Florals and Slice from 49th Parallel Coffee + Lucky's Doughnuts
• #69 Mandorlata Calda from Giovane Caffè
• #70 Amerena Calda from Giovane Caffè
• #73 Plus de Cerises, Mon Chérie from The GOOD Chocolatier
• #74 My Fat Vegan Dream from The GOOD Chocolatier
• #122 Fat Elvis from The Pie Hole
• #136 The Drink of Kings from Uno Gelato
• #137 Vancouver Sunny Rush from Uno Gelato

Holiday Poutine and brunch at Fable Diner & Bar | La Poutine Week 2023

Happy Sunday! My husband and I walked to Fable Diner & Bar to try their Holiday Poutine which is part of La Poutine Week 2023.

After Sunday Mass, I called Fable Diner & Bar to confirm if the Holiday Poutine was available because when I checked on their menu online, it was under the Dinner section, which is served after 5:00 PM. The nice person over the phone said yes, we could order it during breakfast or lunch because it is part of La Poutine Week. Yay!

Hubby and I walked across Burrard Bridge to Downtown Vancouver and discussed our plans, dreams, and other random things. I love spending time with my husband and am truly blessed to have him in my life.

We arrived at Fable and were promptly seated. When we were about to order, the pleasant server informed us that the Holiday Poutine was not part of the brunch menu. I told her I had called earlier to check if they were serving it before coming here. She asked the kitchen staff, and they could prepare it for us. Yay!

Brunch from Fable Diner & Bar in Downtown Vancouver

We ordered the Holiday Poutine, Roast Duck Pancake, and Trucker's Plate.

Holiday Poutine

It's Thanksgiving on top of fries instead of mashed potatoes. The fries were hot and perfectly cooked - crispy outside and soft inside. The gravy has a subtle flavour and is less seasoned than I expected. The shredded turkey was dry, while the stuffing and cheese curds worked surprisingly well. The best flavour of the whole dish is the dried cranberries - they provide tartness and sweetness to the plate. I also like the freshness of the green onions on top.

Holiday Poutine from Fable Diner & Bar
French fries, shredded turkey, cheese curds, stuffing, dried cranberries, turkey gravy, and green onions.

Holiday Poutine from Fable Diner & Bar

Roast Duck Pancake

I remember watching a Triple D (Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives) where Guy Fieri visited Fable Diner on Main Street and ordered the Roast Duck Pancake.

First, let me start by saying how unique this pancake is. You won't get this at your typical IHOP, Denny's, or even other diners.

Roast Duck Pancake from Fable Diner & Bar
Shredded roast duck, pancake, kimchi, green onions, kewpie, hoisin, and crispy biz.

The pancake was soft and sweet, and hubby pointed out that it was bigger than expected. The topping is spicy because of the kimchi but is balanced out by the creaminess of the kewpie (Japanese mayo). The roast duck was a bit on the dryer side, but I do love the crispy "biz" which is crispy fried shallots, puffed rice, and sesame seeds.

Trucker's Plate

For our second breakfast plate, we ordered the Trucker's Plate with the thick-cut pork belly, two sunny-side-up eggs, toast, pancakes, and breakfast potatoes.

I love the toast. It's not your typical square-cut bread. Everything else is usual from any fast food joint.

Trucker's Plate from Fable Diner & Bar
Thick cut pork belly, sunny side up eggs, breakfast potatoes, pancake, and toast.

Overall, I am happy to finally visit Fable and spend time with my husband, talking about life, Philippine news, and other things that amuse us. I highly recommend the Roast Duck Pancakes.

Simply Sausage Sandwich from Tim Hortons

We almost always start our Sunday at Tim Hortons. Today I ordered the Simply Sausage Sandwich and Simply Canadian Bacon Sandwich.

However, it seems like they gave us two Simply Sausage Sandwich - one in an English Muffin and the other in the Homestyle Biscuit.

Simply Sausage Sandwich - English Muffin from Tim Hortons

Simply Sausage Sandwich - Homestyle Biscuit from Tim Hortons

I was happily enjoying my sandwich when hubby pointed out that there was no egg. To be fair, the name did say simply sausage, so no egg is to be expected. But at least there's a slice of cheese.

Overall, I think it's worth it for $2.99 plus tax.

Creamy Dijon Mushroom Chicken Stew with Smashed Potatoes from HelloFresh

We cooked the Creamy Dijon Mushroom Chicken Stew with Smashed Potatoes for Saturday dinner from our HelloFresh box.

The chicken was tender, and the dijon mustard surprisingly added that extra layer of flavour to the rich, well-seasoned stew. Meanwhile, the mashed potatoes were perfectly creamy, and the spinach added colour to the dish.

Below is the description from HelloFresh:

Creamy Dijon Mushroom Chicken Stew with Smashed Potatoes

In this luxurious stew, chicken and mushrooms simmer away in a tangy, rosemary-kissed, Dijon cream sauce. Smashed potatoes are just the side you need to soak up the rich flavours. This meal will bring a taste of France to your table any night of the week!

Creamy Dijon Mushroom Chicken Stew with Smashed Potatoes from HelloFresh

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