Day 0 of Vacation: YVR to NRT to NAIA

Vacation! The last 8 months is all about the next two weeks. We're off to the The Philippines to get married again! In this blog, I'll focus on the things we ate and we ate a lot!

Breakfast and Lunch in YVR

Our flight is at 2:25 PM (Pacific Time), but we're so excited that we're already at the airport at around 9:00 AM. We took a Yellow Cab going to Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and knowing full well that the check-in counter will still be close, we grabbed breakfast at Tim Hortons.

Tim Hortons for breakfast before we leave Canada

By 12:00 NN, we're done checking in and going to security. We're enjoying our Chinese cuisine lunch at a place called Hanami Sushi (yes, I know, it's confusing). After lunch, I asked hubby to buy me Starbucks drinks. We're now waiting at the Gate.

Starbucks!

Japan Airlines

I have a new favourite airline. Actually, it's not the airline that I like exactly but the planes they use. The chairs are arranged 2-4-2. Yes, there are only two seats near the window, so I have the window seat, and hubby is on the aisle seat. It's so much easier to move around without a third person to worry about.

Food

I prefer food from China Airlines. The biggest surprise in JAL flight food is they give you a cup of ice cream. I didn't finish it, but it's such a pleasant surprise.

Amusing to see a local (Vancouver) gelato maker supplying for JAL! Mario's Gelati.

Japan Airlines

Lunch at Japan Airlines

Breakfast at Japan Airlines

Narita International Airport (NRT)

Our plane arrived in Japan, and we have less than 2 hours to go through security and board our connecting flight to Manila. We wanted to explore, but it has to wait on our return.

For now, we went directly to our boarding gate and ate at the closest convenience store. I would have ordered the curry, but it would take 10 minutes, so I opted for their ramen and noodles.

Ramen

Noodles

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)

At around 10:30 PM (Philippine Time), we arrived safely in Manila. I was tired and angry (my default mood after flying trans-pacific). Our flight left Japan 1-hour late, and we were circling around NAIA for around 30-minutes (according to hubby - I was sound asleep when they made announcements) because of airport traffic.

Vegetable Keema Curry and Häagen-Dazs Matcha Ice Cream

That's it for Day 0 of our vacation!

Lunch with Parents at Masa Japanese Restaurant

It's Costco day which means late lunch with my parents. It's our "payment" for driving us home with our groceries from Costco.

First time to watch the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club

Hubby's workplace is sponsoring a company event where we get to watch the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club live at the Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium. More importantly, there's free (unlimited) food.

Sliders, hotdog, corn cob, and fried chicken

The view of the field.

The team lost the game, but I gained weight from all the delicious food.

Main Street Car Free Festival

It's an unplanned date, but we went to the Main Street Car Free Festival. We ate a lot and tried Shameless Buns for the first time.

Shameless Buns

The Little Sausage as our Main Squeeze and Sinigang Fries as our Side Chick

The colourful jeepney-inspired food truck.

Sakay Na! From Manila to Vancouver

Say Hello Sweets

Delicious ice cream to beat the summer heat.

Coffee Ice Cream

Dinner at Smoke's Poutinerie

Friday night dinner before heading to the movies at Scotiabank Cineplex Theatre.

Chipotle Pulled Pork Poutine

Philly Cheesesteak Poutine (flat-iron steak, mushrooms, onions, cheese sauce, and red peppers)

Chacho? Chicken Nacho from KFC

KFC has unusual creations like the Waffle Double Down, but when I saw the Chicken Nacho from KFC, I just had to try it.

Chicken Nacho

Lunch at Bao Down

We had a fun 3 hours of walking playing Pokemon Go. Now, it's time for a much-needed lunch break at Bao Down.

Japoyaki Poutine
Chicken karaage, sprouts, furikake, Japanese curry sauce, sweet tamari, and jalapeno

FLY Rice
Pork Belly sisig style, peppers onions, garlic fried rice, XO sauce, and fried sunny side up egg

2 worlds Collide
Crispy pork, braised pork belly, chicharron, carrots & daikon, and hoisin glaze

Morning Glory
Longanisa Filipino sausage, bacon, egg, hash, hollandaise, garlic mayo, banana ketchup, and sweet soy

I'm surprised at how delicious the food is here. I can't wait to come back.

Dinner at The Keg Steakhouse + Bar

We're celebrating my younger sister's graduation with dinner at The Keg Steakhouse + Bar in Granville Island close to work.

Pistachio Crusted Salmon
Garlic mashed potato, bacon sauteed brussels sprouts, and maple butter

Steak

Brunch at Slickity Jim's Chat & Choux

2021 Update: This place has now permanently closed in this location.

Slickity Jim's Chat & Choux is a small breakfast place in the neighbourhood. They're only open between nine in the morning to three in the afternoon. The vibe is so homey and friendly. I like it. The food was great as well.

Roasted red peppers, feta, and avocado benny served with roast potatoes.

French Toast
Topped with triple berry compote and brandy buttercream

The Breakfast
Two free run eggs sunny-side-up style with roast potatoes and whole-wheat toast with bacon on the side

Dinner at Earls

We want to watch the Whitecaps game, but we don't have a TV. We decided to have dinner here and catch the second half of the game.

Oven Roasted Salmon
Feta, caper, and dill aioli, jasmine rice, and seasonal vegetables

The salmon was delicious. Thankfully, it's what hubby ordered. I tried the Beyond Burger and it was dry. It's such a disappointment because Earls vegetarian burger was delicious, but it's no longer available.

Beyond Burger
100% plant based burger, tomatoes, onions, lettuce pickles mayonnaise and mustard on a toasted brioche bun.

Earls, please bring back your vegetarian burger.

Dessert at Trees Organic

Maple Walnut Cheesecake

Dinner at RedBeef Noodle Kitchen

Friday night means dinner out to make things feel better.

Signature Beef Quartet Noodle Soup

Curry Chicken Cutlet Rice

Salt & Pepper Popcorn Chicken

Mother's Day Lunch at MASA Japanese Restaurant

It's Mother's Day! We made a surprise breakfast for Mama, then we attended Mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral. Afterwards, we had lunch at MASA Japanese Restaurant.

Assorted Tempura

Kara Miso Ramen
Spicy miso flavoured soup base with chashu and egg.

Miso Ramen
Miso flavoured soup base with chashu and egg.

We love you, Ma!

Dinner at Japadog

Before watching Detective Pikachu in Scotiabank Theatre, we decided to have dinner at Japadog across the street.

Oroshi
Freshly grated radish with a special soya sauce. East meets West.

Avocado
Topped with avocado, cream cheese, Japanese mayo, and soy sauce

I love weekends!

Lunch at Aling Ening

I love Saturday and playing Pokemon Go. We also decided to drop by Fraser street where there's a block full of Filipino restaurants. We walked around and decided to eat at Aling Ening.

Adobong Pusit, Langka, Laing, and Dinuguan
with Turon

Halo-Halo with Ice Cream

Friday Date Night with Husband at The Wicklow

Friday night and Whitecaps game at The Wicklow.

Yorkshire Pudding Bowl

Chips & Salsa

Baked Mac & Cheese

Carrot Juice