Paella Mixta from Paella Guys

Hey! It's the first Friday of December, which means in Downtown Vancouver, the city is lighting up the most enormous Christmas Tree in Western Canada.

After the festivities under the rain, we decided to grab a Paella Mixta from the Paella Guys booth at the back of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Paella Mixta from Paella Guys
Chicken, shrimp, red peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomato, garlic, saffron, and bomba rice

It's warm and rich against the cold rainy night. The chicken and shrimp topped the flavourful bomba rice. Yum!

The Devil's Burger from Devil's Elbow Ale & Smokehouse

Happy Thursday! For team lunch, the theme is burgers. My colleague suggested we walk to Devil's Elbow Ale & Smokehouse nearby. We ordered the Devil's Burger, and I was surprised by its quality. It's been a while since I have tried a gourmet burger.

The Devil's Burger from Devil's Elbow Ale & Smokehouse
In-house ground brisket patty, smoked mayo, tomato, lettuce, creole mustard, beer onions, smoked bacon, smoked cheddar, and brioche bun.

The burger starts with the in-house ground brisket patty, providing a rich, beefy, and juicy essence. The smoked mayo adds creamy and subtly smoky notes, while the freshness of tomatoes and the crispness of lettuce add a refreshing contrast. The creole mustard comes in for zesty spiciness, while the caramelized onions provide a sweet, bitter flavour. Lastly, the bacon adds a savoury and salty crunch complemented by the gooey luxury of smoked cheddar. Encasing everything is toasted and buttered brioche bun.

Trying more food from Vancouver Christmas Market 2023

The benefit of the Vancouver Christmas Market 2023 season pass is we can enter as many times as we want. This is our second time at the beautiful market this year. Of course, the goal is to try food items we have yet to try before.

I am using this menu I created as a checklist.

Thuringer Brat and Bavarian Smokie from Bratwurst Haus

Last year, we went for the Farmer Sausage from the Bratwurst Haus. Today, we gave the Thuringer Brat and Bavarian Smokie a try.

The Bavarian smokie is as classic as it will get in terms of bratwurst flavour-wise.

Bavarian Smokie from Bratwurst Haus inside Vancouver Christmas Market 2023
Finest cuts of pork, the most flavourful blend of spices, naturally smoked

Meanwhile, the Thuringer Brat is impressive. Surprisingly, it was so delicious, thanks to the garlic and marjoram. The latter adds a distinctive and slightly sweet flavour which complements the meaty richness.

Thuringer Brat from Bratwurst Haus inside Vancouver Christmas Market 2023
Medium-fine grind pork with a distinctive blend of spices heavy on the marjoram and garlic

Both sausage is generously topped with sauerkraut, adding that German flare. The distinctive sour taste is such a fantastic palate cleanser when you find the meaty sausage greasy.

Helmi's Potato & Cheddar Perogies

Every year, the pillowy perogies are available in the Vancouver Christmas Market. The only difference is the brand. This year Helmi's is the perogies brand. A serving comes with 6 pieces of perogies topped with savoury crumbled sausage, sour cream, grilled onions, and sauerkraut.

Potato & Cheddar Perogies from Helmi's in Vancouver Christmas Market 2023
Served with crumbled farmer's sausage from Rempel Meats in Abbotsford, sour cream, grilled onions, and sauerkraut

Traditional Plum Knedla

We discovered Knedla last year. It is a traditional Eastern European (mostly sweet) dumpling. When we got it in 2022, the conventional plum was already sold out, so it was our first time trying it this year.

Traditional Plum from Knedla in Vancouver Christmas Market 2023
Back to the roots with sweet plum flavour! We will fill our signature potato dough with locally sourced pitted plum, then coat it with our secret crumb coating,

Traditional Plum from Knedla in Vancouver Christmas Market 2023

I love the soft, doughy texture. However, I discovered that I am not a fan of plums.

What food will we try again next week when we visit the Vancouver Christmas Market? Any suggestions?

Festively Delicious Squarefooter Pizza from Boston Pizza

 Happy Sunday! After Mass today, I decided that I wanted Boston Pizza. Honestly, I am head over heels in love with their Cactus Cuts Potatoes, and I enjoyed that. They also have a new Festively Delicious menu for the holiday season, and we got the New Loaded Pepperoni & Bacon Squarefooter Pizza and a slice of Chocolate Explosion.

New Loaded Pepperoni & Bacon Squarefooter Pizza from Boston Pizza's Festively Delicious menu.
Square pizza topped with pepperoni, pizza mozzarella, bacon, cheddar, and a classic pizza sauce drizzle

A slice of the Loaded Pepperoni & Bacon Squarefooter Pizza from Boston Pizza

The pizza has the expected golden crust, while the abundance of pepperoni, bacon, and pizza mozzarella creates a satisfying and indulgent flavour explosion.

Chocolate Explosion from Boston Pizza
Creamy chocolate mousse with chunks of cheesecake, caramel, toffee, pecans, and almonds on a chocolate crust.

The Chocolate Explosion is a chocolate lover's dream with layers of moist, decadent chocolate cake, chunks of cheesecake, toffee, pecans, and almonds, and a cascade of chocolate and caramel drizzle. Yum!

Cactus Cut Potatoes from Boston Pizza
Spicy and thinly sliced fried potatoes served with our signature cactus dip.

We did not finish the pizza and went home with leftovers. I love Cactus Cut Potatoes so much that I want to return to Boston Pizza and order that.

Noodle Soup with Braised Beef from Lin Chinese Cuisine

Have you tried sleeping in so much that you woke up at 1:00 PM? It's the first time it happened to me, and our first proper meal of the day is from Lin Chinese Cuisine at 3:00 PM.

My husband ordered the Noodle Soup with Braised Beef. It reminds me of the beef noodle soup from RedBeef. It's comforting and so reasonably priced!

Noodle Soup with Braised Beef from Lin Chinese Cuisine

Meanwhile, I ordered my usual Tan Tan Noodle Soup with Minced Meat, Xiao Long Bao (Shanghai Juicy Pork Dumplings), and Pan Fried Pork Buns.

The tan tan noodle soup has a rich and savoury base covering tender hand-pulled noodles.

Tan Tan Noodle Soup with Minced Meat from Lin Chinese Cuisine

Then, the Xiao Long Bao has a delicate, thin skin encasing a flavourful broth and juicy pork. It's culinary magic!

Xiao Long Bao from Lin Chinese Cuisine

On the other hand, the pan-fried pork buns have a golden-brown exterior cradling the succulent pork filling.

Pan-Fried Pork Buns from Lin Chinese Cuisine

I miss Lin. It's now more than a year since we last enjoyed their food, and this is long overdue. The prices are still great, and the food is still comforting.

Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver! 2023 organized by PCG in Vancouver

"Maligayang Pasko" is a heartfelt Filipino greeting that translates to "Merry Christmas" in English, and it encapsulates the warmth, joy, and festive spirit of the holiday season.

Every year, the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver organizes "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!", a Filipino Christmas celebration.

When is "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023?

"Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" is on December 16, 2023 (Saturday) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Where is "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023?

Join the fun and experience "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023 Filipino Christmas at St. Patrick's Recreation Center at 2881 Main Street, Vancouver BC V5T 3G1

How much is admission to "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023?

Free. No entrance fee.

What to expect during "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023?

Below are the activties:

• Filipino Christmas Market
• Christmas Carols
• Pinoy Story Time
• Pabitin
• Parol-Making
• Photo Booth

Filipino Christmas Market

Below is a list of food and non-food vendors in "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023.

"Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023 Christmas Market Food Vendors

Below is a list of food vendors in "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!" 2023.

Boodle Filipino Fiesta Bukobaba Cake It Easy Dale's Goldilocks Hapag Ihaw-Ihaw Filipino Grill

Leavenly Goods Kasama Chocolate Kaye Bakes Keyk Breads Khaykery Macao Imperial Tea

Mr. Siopao de Langley O! Taho Potato Corner Pampanga's Cuisine Shameless Buns Telly's Manila Kitchen

Three different Mamon flavours from KayeBakes.ca

I will update this post when I get more details. Click on the link for 2021 and 2022 details.

Reindeer Donut and Chocolate Lava Cookie from Tim Hortons

'Tis the season to treat our taste buds with the joyous flavours of the holidays, and Tim Hortons has brought two delightful creations to elevate our festive spirits. In this blog post, we'll dive into the enchanting world of the Reindeer Donut and savour the rich goodness of the Chocolate Lava Cookie.

Step into the winter wonderland of Tim Hortons and be greeted by the whimsical charm of the Reindeer Donut. This holiday-themed treat is a visual delight, adorned with pretzel antlers, edible eyes, and red nose.

Reindeer Donut from Tim Hortons

The Chocolate Lava Cookie beckons for those who crave a warm, gooey indulgence. Bite into the soft exterior to unleash a decadent flow of molten chocolate from the center. The velvety chocolate and the irresistible cookie texture create a heavenly dessert experience. It's a treat designed to make your taste buds dance with delight.

Chocolate Lava Cookie from Tim Hortons

The Reindeer Donut and Chocolate Lava Cookie are not just treats; they are an invitation to savour the magic of the holidays. Visit your nearest Tim Hortons and let these sweet delights transport you to a world of festive joy. Wishing you a season filled with sweetness and warmth!

Mixed Chicken and Falafel Plate from Albasha Express

Happy Thursday! It's team lunch, and the theme for this week is Middle Eastern.

They say the third time is the charm, and it is true in this case. The first restaurant we tried to order cancelled. The second one never confirmed our order, so I ordered the next available restaurant in DoorDash: Albasha Express Shawarma & Falafel.

Mixed Chicken and Falafel Plate from Albasha Express

We ordered their mixed chicken and falafel plate, which is a lot of delicious food in one packed container. Crispy falafel is an excellent accompaniment to the succulent tender chicken. Everything is delicious. I am reminded why a former colleague loved this place.