Gaucho Beach Bliss: A Coastal Retreat in Long Beach, CA

Nestled along the sun-kissed shores of Long Beach, Gaucho Beach stands as a testament to coastal charm and relaxation. Our hour at this beachfront haven was nothing short of bliss, accompanied by refreshing sips of pink iced tea that mirrored the vibrant hues of the ocean.

As the waves serenaded the shore, we delved into a delightful array of treats. The chips with Guacamole, a medley of creamy avocado, zesty onion, and jalapeno, drizzled with the richness of olive oil, presented a burst of fresh flavours. The fries, generously coated in garlic butter and parsley, complemented this coastal symphony, offering a perfect blend of crunch and savoury goodness.

Fries with garlic butter & parsley and Guacamole with chips from Gaucho Beach

Gaucho Beach emerges as a destination and an experience—a serene escape where the sea breeze dances with laughter, and each bite carries the essence of a perfect beach day.

Costco Food Court Menu and Prices | Hawthorne Los Angeles, CA Warehouse

I have this obsession with the Costco food court. We went to Los Angeles, California, for the long weekend, and I decided to drop by the nearest Costco, which happened to be their Hawthorne Warehouse. I am so excited to see their menu.

The menu below is from the Costco food court in their Hawthorne Warehouse, Los Angeles, California location and is subject to change without prior notice. All prices are in US dollars and do not include taxes and tips.

Below is a link to other Costco Food Court menus 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	$0.69
Ice Cream Cup Vanilla or Strawberry	$1.99
Ice Cream Sundae Vnilla Ice Cream Strawberry or Chocolate topping	$2.49
Pizza Slice Pepperoni or Cheese	$1.99
18" Whole Pizza Pepperoni or Cheese	$9.95
1/4 Pound Plus All Beef Hotdog and 20 oz pop with refill	$1.50
Chicken Bake	$3.99
Roast Beef Sandwich	$9.99
Rotisserie Chicken Caesar Salad	$6.99
Cold Brew Mocha Freeze	$2.99
Fruit Smoothie	$2.99
Twisted Churro	$1.49

Santa Monica Omelet from The Café inside Hilton LAX

Good morning, sunny Los Angeles! I had minimal plans for this trip except to relax. For breakfast, we ended up at The Café in the lobby of Hilton Los Angeles Airport.

The menu is standard American breakfast. I chose the Santa Monica Omelet, while hubby picked the Southern Corned Beef Hash. Our choices were determined by the names.

The Santa Monica Omelet offers a burst of savoury goodness, with the creamy texture of melted cheese perfectly complementing the smoky crunch of bacon and the tender sautéed veggies.

Santa Monica Omelet from The Café inside Hilton Los Angeles Airport
Bacon, bell pepper, onion, shredded cheddar, and choice of bread

Meanwhile, the Southern Corned Beef Hash gives you the hearty and robust corned beef and the richness and gooey goodness of the eggs. Yum! I prefer the hash to the omelet.

Southern Corned Beef Hash from The Café inside Hilton Los Angeles Airport
Two farm fresh eggs, corned beef hash, choice of protein, and choice of bread

That's it for now! We're taking a Lyft to Long Beach.

Before USA Flight Dinner at Sal Y Limon Mexican Cuisine in YVR

It's a beautiful Friday evening. I asked permission to leave an hour early from work today because we have a flight to catch. We are flying to Los Angeles for the weekend. After going through security and immigration, I chose to have dinner at Sal Y Limon Mexican Cuisine.

Chorizo Quesadillas from Sal Y limon Mexican Cuisine
10-inch flour tortilla filled with melted cheese topped with cabbage and sour cream with chorizo

I chose the Beef Burrito. Meanwhile, my husband has no food preferences but requested that I choose something easy to eat. I picked the Chorizo Quesadillas for him.

Beef Burritos from Sal Y Limon Mexican Cuisine
12-inch wheat tortilla, rice, beans, cabbage, jalapeno, sour cream, and chipotle mayo

The chorizo is definitely the better and more flavourful protein, but the beef burrito is more satisfying.

Can't wait to board our flight!

Poutine at The Cambie Pub

For team lunch, my colleague chose something different and unsual: spud. While baked potatoes stole the show in our Australia office, here in Canada, we embraced our love for all things classic – the iconic Poutine. Our team went to the historic The Cambie Pub.

Poutine with Grilled Chicken from The Cambie Pub
Crispy fries, cheese curds, gravy (vegan) added grilled chicken

The menu boasted a variety of choices, but my gaze was set on the indulgent delight of Poutine topped with succulent grilled chicken. As the rich gravy cascaded over the golden fries and cheese curds, every bite was a symphony of flavors – the savory chicken, the gooey cheese, and the crisp fries created a culinary masterpiece.

Best Japanese Curry in Vancouver at Suika

I'm a Japanese curry aficionado and have tried most (if not all) in Vancouver. My favourite one (and still the best, in my humble opinion) is from Suika, which is why every year on my birthday week, I make time to have a meal here.

After Mass this evening, my husband and I went to Suika for a dinner date. We both ordered our go-to menu items. He called the Double Tonkatsu set while I went for the Signature Beef Curry topped with Tonkatsu. For sharing, we ordered their fried karaage.

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

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

Double Tonkatsu (Pork Loin Cutlet) Set
2 pieces of  fried pork loin cutlet using special fresh panko served with ground sesame and tonkatsu sauce

It's the most satisfying, endorphin-inducing meal. It makes me happy, and for that one hour we spend in Suika, it is my safe haven. I love it.

House Special Pho Noodles from Delicious Pho

It's not a good evening. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC got eliminated from the playoffs at home in front of more than 30,000 people. They're not going to win, but they did enough to draw, but the referee had other plans. It was the most heated I have been in a match in a long time.

After the match, we (my hubby, my brother, and me) decided to eat our emotions. I suggested pho because it's cold.

We end up at Delicious Pho in Robson. Hubby and I got a large 16. House Special with Steak, Brisket, Tendon, Tripe, and Meatball.

16. House Special with Steak, Brisket, Tendon, Tripe, and Meatball from Delicious Pho

It's warm and comforting to satisfy the body. But we're still so agitated after. Sigh.

Indulge in Sweet Bliss: Wicked Cafe's S'mores Cookie

Step into the cozy world of Wicked Cafe in Vancouver and treat your taste buds to the irresistible S'mores Cookie. With a perfect blend of gooey marshmallows, melty chocolate chunks, and a buttery graham cracker base, every bite is a journey into the nostalgic campfire treat.

S'mores Cookie from Wicked Cafe

The contrast of textures and the rich, comforting flavours make this cookie a must-try for dessert enthusiasts seeking a delightful escape. Embrace the warmth and sweetness of Wicked Cafe's S'mores Cookie, a heavenly creation that captures the essence of a classic favourite.