Lowest calorie breakfast at Tim Hortons

I have resumed my calorie-counting diet, which means I'm always on the lookout for low-calorie items at restaurants.

What's the lowest calorie breakfast item at Tim Hortons?

The oatmeal (maple) is 220 calories regular size, while the hashbrown is 130 calories.

Dinner at Masa Restaurant

After doing a Costco grocery run with my parents and them dropping us off in our Vancouver apartment, we decided to treat them to early dinner at the closest Japanese restaurant at our place, Masa.

My dad had a Tonkotsu Ramen since it's cold outside. You should have seen the face of my mom eyeing the bowl of ramen. My mom had the Beef Teriyaki platter. I had my usual Assorted Katsu Curry while hubby had the Beef Curry. For sharing, we had one of their rolls.

Masa Aburi Cheese Monster Roll
Menu Description: Aburi Salmon, avocado, crab meat with cheddar & Mozza, tobiko

Assorted Katsy Curry
Menu Description: Japanese Curry with Tonkatsu, Ebi Fry 2pcs, Goroke 1pc, and rice.

Beef Curry
Menu Description: Japanese Curry with Beef & Rice

We loved the roll I picked. I can't wait to come back and try the other rolls.

IKEA Chinese New Year 2020 Combo Meal for lunch

With my parents, hubby and I went to Ikea in Richmond to try out their Chinese New Year 2020 Combo Meal.

This is the display for the Chinese New Year.

Lining up to get food.

Here's our table filled with the combo.

Dimsum Combo includes a BBQ Pork Bun, Sui Mai (pork dumpling), Vegetarian Spring Rolls, and Sticky Rice. It came with Daim Cake and Pear Cider.

Here's another photo with the sticky rice open.

Honestly, I would like more of the shumai and pork bun, instead of the cider and cake.

This is the Braised Beef Stew Combo. It also came with Daim Cake and Pear Cider.

The beef is not as tender as I'd like, and I kinda wish they placed it in a bowl with the rice sitting at the bottom and soaking up all those sauce.

Is it worth it?

Not really. I won't be coming back for it. I kinda wish I ordered the meatballs instead. My mom did get a red envelope since she's an Ikea family member. It contains a coupon for a free yogurt. I'm not sure what else they gave out, but if you know, please comment below!

Dinner at Express Pho

Today was a long day at work. I wanted to breakdown during lunch because the stress was unacceptable and has been unbearable. I told hubby that we should have a high-calorie stress eating session. You see, I started "dieting." I started calorie counting again, and I even started doing simple workouts at home. The exercise has been great (not for losing weight, but just to feel better about my body as a whole).

Anyway, this meal was satisfying after a week of not eating a meal from restaurants. On our walk to West Broadway, I was debating in my head whether to eat at Masa Restaurant (Katsu curry is always a comfort food) or Lin Chinese Restaurant (the thought of spicy Dan Dan Noodles is making me happy already). Still, then I realized we haven't been to Express Pho in quite a while, and they would have fried chicken, and I want fried chicken.

Here's what we had:

#9 Pho Chin, Bo Vien
Menu Description: Well-done beef, beef ball rice noodle in soup

I'm going to get this next time! Hubby was so happy with his bowl of pho.

#41 Com Bo Kho
Menu Description: Beef Stew with steamed rice

I have a confession to make. I love Vietnamese Beef Stew. From Vina Vietnamese (the food court Vietnamese stalls), I ALWAYS get the beef stew because it's so tender and delicious.

#1 Cha Gio
Vietnamese Spring Roll

F. Canh Ga Chien
Deep-fried chicken wings

The spring rolls and chicken wings just hit a different spot. I'm so happy!

Note: Express Pho only accepts cash or debit.

Dinner at Whole Foods Restaurant

I know. I know. Whole Foods is a grocery store. However, I just discovered a couple days ago that they have a "restaurant" inside the Cambie branch.

Essentially, you can either ask the friendly employees of Whole Foods to get you food from the fridge case (not sure what it's called), or you can use the containers/plate in the buffet like station.

They have many choices from a variety of soup and salad, entrees and side dishes, and more. They also have a whole keto section.

How much does it cost? $2.95 per gram. I had way too much fun getting food, and I'm kinda hoping to get some more. I tried mostly vegetarian dishes and food from the keto section. If you are craving keto food in Vancouver, drop by Whole Foods grocery food area/restaurant.

Dinner at Subway

I can't even remember the last time I went to Subway before tonight. There are two Subway branches less than a kilometre from our place. We decided to try the branch going west. It was surprisingly busy at dinner time. I've never seen so many people at Subway at the same time, so I'm pleased for the branch owner.

Tonight, we tried Chipotle Steak & Guac grilled wrap and Turkey Mighty Melt. I didn't enjoy the melt as much as I thought I would but that beef and guacamole is a good combination.

Chipotle Steak & Guac Grilled Wrap

Turkey Mighty Melt

For dessert, we shared a Chocolate Lava cookie.

Dinner at Masa Japanese Restaurant

It's the first Monday of 2020 which means a lot of employees are back to work. It's a crazy, long day filled with meetings and I needed a pick me up in the form of my favourite Japanese curry.

Appetizer Tempura

Assorted Curry (I got too excited and started eating before taking a photo)

Chicken Curry which was surprisingly good

Spicy Chorizo Jack Breakfast Sandwich from Starbucks

We decided to have late breakfast after Sunday Mass today at Starbucks inside Indigo a couple blocks from our place.

Spicy Chorizo Jack is my fave breakfast sandwich from Starbucks

Spicy Chorizo Jack and Salted Caramel Mocha Latte

Lunch at Triple O

I haven't been to Triple O in a long time!

I'm pleasantly surprised to see that they have Chicken & Waffle, which I, of course, got. Meanwhile, hubby got the Original Burger with Cheese.

Chicken and Waffle
Menu Description: Our Buttermilk Chicken patty topped with naturally smoked bacon, lightly-spiced maple syrup, aged Canadian cheddar cheese, and our signature mayo sandwiched between two locally-made Belgian-style waffles.

The buttermilk chicken was crunchy and flavourful. You can never go wrong with the delicious bacon and cheddar cheese combo. The waffle is dense, which is expected coming from a fast food place. Overall, I'll try this again.

Chicken & Waffle and my fave side Garlic Parmesan Fries in the background

Got too excited, so we started eating the Original Burger with Cheese
Menu Description: 100% fresh Canadian beef, crisp iceberg lettuce, fresh vine-ripened tomatoes, secret Triple "O" sauce, two slices of cheese and our signature pickle on top.

You cannot go wrong with the Original Burger from Triple O. We keep coming back to this deliciousness. Since my parents live near a Triple O branch, they love Triple "O" Tuesdays when the Original Burgers is just $4.49.

Lunch delivery from Pizza Hut for NFL Playoffs

Hanging out at my parent's place to watch the NFL Playoff games today. We ordered the Triple Treat Box from Pizza Hut.

Congratulations to both the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans on the playoff win! We can't wait for tomorrow's games.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut

Dinner at Benkei Ramen

We were in the area of West Broadway at Cambie and thought of having dinner at Benkei Ramen because it has been almost a year since we last ate here.

I got a set with the Akaoni Ramen Deluxe + Side Beef Curry Rice.

Akaoni Ramen (Spicy) Deluxe
Served with pan-fried minced pork, green onion, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, special roasted garlic oil, roasted sesame, hardboiled egg, and cha-su.

Side Beef Curry Rice

Meanwhile, hubby ordered the Shio Ramen + 3 gyoza set.

Shio Ramen
Served with bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, green onion and cha-su. A mixture of sea salt, kelp, and other delicacies of the sea, blended with slowly simmered pork base soup.

3-pc side gyoza

Is a Big Mac with bacon still a Big Mac?

Hubby and I were walking around the neighbourhood and playing Pokemon Go on this beautiful Wednesday when we saw this ad from McDonald's.

We went on a discussion about whether it's #stillabigmac or #notabigmac.

Is a Big Mac with bacon still a Big Mac?

Dinner at Sushivan

It's raining and cold. Solution? Spicy Korean-style ramen.

Korean Style Ramen (chicken)

Spicy and warm ramen is perfect in this rainy Vancouver weather. For sharing, we decided on the Karage. It was delicious, and I like it better than the spicy chicken Karage. However, the Filipino in me thinks I'll enjoy it more with rice.

Soy Garlic Chicken Karage (this is the small-size)
Deep-fried chicken coated in sweet soy sauce

Hubby ordered the bento box!

Chicken Teriyaki & Sashimi Box
Chicken teriyaki appy sashimi, appy tempura, salad, 4pcs. California roll, and rice

Bento Box is served with miso soup

Afternoon at Starbucks

There are three Starbucks within five blocks of our house. We have a favourite branch. It has a lot of seats, huge windows, and two Pokestop can be reached from inside the coffee shop.

Breakfast Sandwich and Latte

DInner Date at West Restaurant

It's Friday night and we spent the whole day at our house doing nothing - best vacation day ever. At around 5 in the afternoon, we walked to RBC to get some laundry coins. We walked around South Granville before heading to West at 5:30 PM.

I know what I want, so looking at the menu didn't take that long. Service was great, just like last time.

The meal started with complimentary bread, sourdough and sesame buns. The sesame one is so delicious!

Complimentary Bread

We ordered cocktails. Hubby had the "Godfather of Vancouver" while I pick "Velvet Sunrise". Instead of appetizers, we had two servings of West Fries because that truffle aioli it came with is so amazing. Before the fries arrived, they gave us a complimentary Amuse-bouche.

Amuse-bouche

Godfather of Vancouver (Ardbeg 10yr, Glenmorangie 10yr sons of Vancouver Amaretto, lemon twist) and
Velvet Sunrise (Bombay gin, Aperol, housemade rhubarb syrup Angostura bitters, sparkling wine)

West Fries with the best homemade aioli in Vancouver and homemade ketchup.

For the main course, I had the BC Salmon while hubby had the Yarrow Meadows Duck Breast. I like the BC Salmon, but that duck breast is so much better.

BC Salmon 
(olive oil pomme puree, leek, broccolini, chorizo sofrito)

Yarrow Meadows Duck Breast
(swiss chard, smoked squash, preserved cherries, pistachio)

To finish an already wonderful dining experience, I ordered the souffle (i.e the reason I came back) and it was truly heavenly. Though, I thought, the varying texture of the chocolate mousse which hubby ordered is better.

Milk Chocolate Mousse
(candied pecans, cacao nib tuile, maple ice cream)

Guanaja Chocolate Souffle (vanilla creme anglais)

Thank you for the awesome dinner date experience, West!

Boxing Day Lunch at Bubble Waffle Cafe

After hours of shopping, we end up at Richmond Center for lunch. Of course, the Dining Terraces (aka what they call the food court) is full, we're glad to find a seat.

I'm so happy that there's now a Bubble Waffle here. We ordered from there. It was chaotic because of the line. Otherwise, the food was great!

Curry Beef Brisket with Rice

Chicken Nuggets with fried rice

I can't wait to order more of their chicken nuggets (it's more like chicken popcorn). Yay for great food after a day of shopping.