Food Day in Granville Island Public Market

We spent the whole day in Granville Island primarily playing Pokemon Go and just hoarding one of the tables. We watched tourists come and go and enjoy our beloved Granville Island Public Market.

Breakfast at Blue Parrot Organic Coffee

Matcha Latte and Toffee Nut Latte

Lunch from Kaisereck Deli

Perogy Plate: Potato and Cheddar Perogy and Spicy German Sausage

Dinner from Gourmet Wok

Fried Rice, Fried Fish, Kung Pao Chicken, and Pork BBQ

Desserts from GI Gelato & Coffee House

Pistachio and Coffee Gelato

Dinner at Cineplex Cinemas

I was disappointed by the food offering. I don't know, but I was expecting it to have as many food choices as they have in their Marine branch, but they only serve like 9 items and even the snack bar didn't have Outtakes - only popcorn. Food was still good, though. Expensive but good.

Chicken and Pesto Panini with Potato Salad

Italian Panini with Quinoa Salad

Dessert for the day: Eclair

Waffle Double Down for Lunch at KFC

I have a secret to tell you. I love KFC. I tried KFC in 4 countries (out of the 11 I've been to). KFC Philippines has the best gravy. Meanwhile, KFC Malaysia has the most flavorful spicy chicken. KFC China (at the airport) is usual (no crazy flavour when I was there. Lastly, KFC Canada has the least tasty chicken. Well, until we tried their Spicy Chicken with Waffles.

Chicken and Waffles

I enjoy chicken and waffles. When I go to places that offer breakfast, it's one of the things I looked for (followed by Eggs Benedict or Omelette). It's no question that we are going to try Waffle Double Down when we saw an ad for it.

KFC's Waffle Double Down

The verdict? It's crunchy outside, soft inside waffle in between two crunchy, spicy, boneless fried chicken. Instead of mayonnaise, the sauce is maple syrup. It was great!

Unfortunately, it's available for a limited time only, so be sure to try it while it's still available.

Foursquare Adventure (Afghan Restaurant): Afghan Chopan Bakery and Diner

In celebration of Foursquare Day, I am starting a world tour (while staying in Metro Vancouver) with food based on the Food categories of Foursquare!

Afghan Restaurants in Vancouver 

First on the Foursquare alphabetical list of categories is Afghan Restaurants. According to Foursquare, four restaurants are categorized under Afghan Restaurants.

Foursquare Map

We decided to try Afghan Chopan from the list because it's affordable, and it's accessible. "East is East" is closer to our home and has a higher rating, but the food is a mixture of Indian and Afghan cuisine, so we went to Afghan Chopan instead.

Afghan Chopan Bakery and Diner

It's a small place (with about 9 chairs and 3 tables), but the branch on No. 3 Road is closing permanently on April 20, 2018. They have a new branch around a 10-minute walk near the Richmond Public Market at Westminster Highway.

Afghan Chopan Bakery and Diner Menu

Afghan Chopan Bakery and Diner Menu

Ashak for Appetizer 

They have three choices for appetizer - Bolani, Mantu, and Ashak. Before going here, I was reading Wikipedia about Afghan food, and because of that, I decided to get Ashak. I initially want Mantu, but I thought it's close to Korean Mandu, so I went for something different.

Ashak for Appetizer
Menu Description: A very delightful and common Afghan recipe, steamed dough with leeks topped with sauce and yogurt.

The dumpling itself is cooked well, and it wasn't chewy, and it's not fried, so it's not crunchy either. The sauce on top is delicious. I love beans. The sauce shows more of the personality of the cuisine. In the Philippines, we have soy sauce and chilli flakes as we like our food saltier. It seems like Afghan cuisine, loves their spices and well, tomato-based dishes.

Pallow and Kebab for Main Meal

I chose Afghan Chopan because I think it's affordable and oh boy was I blown away. Jomar ordered Assorted Kebab while I got the Pallow Special. There was so much food! I think it's suitable for 3 people. Everything is so good! I will go back just for the Pallow! It's mildly spicy and incredibly flavorful. Meanwhile, the Kebab was seasoned well, tender, and melts in your mouth.

Pallow Special
Menu Description: Tender pieces of beef shank beneath Afghan steamed basmati rice served with side vegetable.

Assorted Kebab with side salad
Menu Description: One skewer each of chicken, shami (ground beef), and tekka (beef tenderloin) kebab

We finished everything, just the two of us.

Ferny for Dessert 

Based on the food we've tried, it's evident that Afghan food isn't into extreme. I mean so far, nothing we've had is TOO spicy or salty, so I wasn't expecting the only dessert in the menu to be sweet. It's called Ferney, and I was right that it wasn't delicious.

Ferny
Menu Description: Milk Pudding made with a hint of cardamon and topped with Pistachios.

It was soft, and when we started digging in, it slowly lost its form. The pistachios on top provided crunch and texture to the whole thing.


Have you tried Afghan food before? How was it?

Dinner at Sushi Bang

Dinner!

Bento Box

Ramen, Karaage, Gyoza

Lunch at Church's Chicken

After Mass, we had a quick lunch at Church's Chicken.

Chicken Sandwich

We love chicken!

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. 

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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