Foursquare City Guide Food Adventure

I plan to try one new restaurant per week but to make it more interesting for each week it should be from one of the Foursquare category. For example, on week 1 we will try an Afghan Restaurant then the following week it will be African Restaurant. It's not just one new restaurant; it will be one different category as well.

Partial list of Foursquare category

Why Foursquare? Because I love it!

The Goal

Why do I want to do this? Well, obviously I love to eat. Next, I love to travel and by trying out different cuisines every week is like getting to know that country and culture through their food. Lastly, I want to explore more of Greater Vancouver area. Actually, this adventure only works because Vancouver (and Canada) is such a diverse city (and country).

The Pick

How do I pick which restaurant to try? I consider the following:

• Distance from home and work. I don't want to travel too far if there's one nearby.
• It should be our first time there.
• Foursquare rating. I read this article from a Foursquare data engineer and I appreciate how she broke down how their rating system works which makes me trust it more.
• Budget. It should be reasonable for two people to dine in.

I actually have picked the first 3 restaurants I want to try - Afghan, African, and Ethiopian. 

---

What do you think of this plan?

UPDATE! June 2, 2018. The challenge has changed. We did it once a month instead of weekly because it makes sense from a budget stand point and we sometimes just didn't have time.

Happy Pi Day!

Happy Pi Day! To celebrate today's Pi Day, hubby and I went to Granville Island Public Market in search of pie. I didn't know that there's a store that specializes in the cake! It's like pie heaven.

Coconut Cream Pie, Banana Cream Pie, Blueberry Pie, and Apple Pie

Pumpkin Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie, Pecan Pie, Raspberry Rhubard Pie

A La Mode

Located inside the Public Market, A La Mode offers a wide selection of homemade sweet and savoury pies. Whether you’re after a toasty beef pot pie or a sweet slice of lemon meringue, we’ve got what you’re looking for. Enjoy a slice in the market or take a whole pie home to share.
- Granville Island Directory

My Pick

We decided to try Pecan Pie (my fave) and Apple Pie (because it's safe). Our assessment is pecan pie over apple pie, but it was the BEST apple pie we EVER tried. I don't know why, but in the Philippines, when we try apple pie, it always seems sour.

Apple Pie

Pecan Pie

Pi Day story

In my last 2 years in the Philippines, we celebrate Pi Day with a dear friend. Unfortunately, around our neighbourhood, there's not one pie source, and we always end up eating at fast-food chain Jollibee because they have Peach Mango Pie, which is not really a pie. I am not sure what type of pastry it is.

A box of Peach Mango Pie

Meanwhile, last year, I decided to buy a pie from Save on Foods. It was better than I expected to come from a grocery store, but it was not as delicious (not even close) to the Pecan Pie from A La Mode.

Pecan Pie from Save on Foods

How did you celebrate Pi Day?

Dessert from Muffin Granny

Granny Muffin offers pastries from cookies, muffins, scones, to freshly made crepe, which we had for dessert tonight.

Crepe

Dinner at Curry 2 U

Stress eating at Curry2U inside Granville Island for some yummy Indian food.

Lunch at Sushi Go

I hate how much I like this place, and I hate how much I enjoy their simple ramen. It's a guilty pleasure.

Gyoza Ramen

Chicken Ramen

Gyoza

Dinner at Triple O

I missed Triple O. When I was leaving with my parents in Richmond, Triple O is the closest food source to us, and I always go here to eat my stress away after a long day at work.

At my current place, there's no Triple O nearby, and I miss it terribly, so every chance I get, we eat here.

BC Chicken and two sidekicks 

Birthday Dinner at Benkei Ramen

We celebrated hubby's first birthday in Canada with ramen! It's perfect for the cold weather tonight.

Miso Ramen
Chashu, bean sprouts, green onion, and bamboo shoots on a mixture of tonkotsu soup with Benkei's miso broth

Shoyu Ramen
Chashu, spinach, nori, green onion, and bamboo shoots on a flavourful clear chicken broth simmered to perfection. A new take of the traditional Japanese soup base.

Small Beef Curry Rice
Sauce is a mixture of multiple fresh ingredients and spices slow cooked until the sauce and the meat is butter smooth.

Valentine's Dinner Date at Noodlebox

Today is Ash Wednesday, and before going to Mass, we decided to have a delicious meal at Noodlebox.

Spicy Peanut Noodlebox

Kung Pao Box

Gyoza

Pre-Valentine Dinner Date at Cineplex VIP Cinemas

Before watching The Greatest Showman, we decided to grab dinner at the Cineplex VIP Cinema. It was an enjoyable experience. The Marine Gateway VIP Cinema lounge has a view of the Fraser River, and on a clear day, you can even see Mt. Baker in the US!

Chipotle Chicken Club Wrap with Yam Fries

Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Poutine

Salted Butterscotch Brownie

Lunch at Celine's Fish and Chips

Celine's Fish & Chips is the only fish & chips place inside the Granville Island Public Market. However, you can grab better ones in Tony's (by the entrance of Granville Island) or Go Fish (along the Seawall on the west side).

Salmon Fish & Chips

Salmon Fish and Chips

Hanging out near Blue Parrot Organic Coffee

The best view inside the Granville Island Public Market is near Blue Parrot Organic Coffee. Here we are enjoying Family Day with our Cappuccino and Toffee Nut Latte.

Cappuccino and Toffee Nut Latte

Lunch at Omi Japan

Omi Japan is the only place inside the Granville Island Public Market where you can get sushi, teriyaki, gyoza, etc.

Chicken Teriyaki

Oyakodon

Dinner at Sprig Contemporary Greek Kitchen

Sprig Contemporary Greek Kitchen is the place inside Granville Island Public Market to get falafel, Greek salad, etc.

Falafel Wrap

Falafel Wrap

Dinner at Pizza Pzazz

Pizza Pzazz is the only place inside Granville Island Public Market to get pizza! For dinner #1 tonight, we grabbed Super Hawaiian and Pesto Pasta.

Super Hawaiian and Pesto Pasta (and a pizza slice looking garlic bread)