Lunch from Cooking Ng Ina (putaheng Pinoy) | Best Kare-Kare in Metro Vancouver

Update: The wonderful people behind Cooking Ng Ina has opened a restaurant in Surrey, BC! Check out EATS 23 Bistro.

I wrote yesterday that I have a Facebook Ad discovery, and today the food arrived for us to enjoy for lunch.

The food is as advertised enough to feed four people! Because it's just hubby and me, we have leftover to enjoy tomorrow.

Food from Cooking Ng Ina (Putaheng Pinoy)

They offer Filipino dishes for everyone to enjoy. We ordered Kare-Kare, Siomai, and Sisig.

Filipino Feast from Cooking Ng Ina (Putaheng Pinoy)

Kare-Kare

It's the best Kare-Kare in Metro Vancouver that I've tried so far. I'm comparing this with the ones from Max's Restaurant along Kingsway and Little Ongpin in Richmond.

The Kare-Kare from Max's is too runny (too much broth and not enough peanut butter), while the one from Little Ongpin is the opposite. It's too thick.

Kare-Kare

This one is just the right consistency and has excellent flavour. Cooking Ng Ina served it with spicy shrimp paste (bagoong). Yummy! This is the reason why I cooked extra brown rice this morning to smother it with delicious Kare-Kare sauce.

Sisig

In Metro Vancouver, this is the second time I have tried sisig. The first time is from Pin-Pin. They're both alright. We haven't discovered a sisig that would make us want to order it again. The flavour is excellent, but it's not crunchy the way we like it.

Sisig

Siomai

This one brings me back to my childhood of going home from school and buying Siomai from the street vendors. It's so delicious! They even provide you with soy sauce and chilli oil to dip it in. Amazing.

20 pieces Siomai

Will I order from Cooking Ng Ina (Putaheng Pinoy) again?

Absolutely! I'm already thinking of when I can order it for my mom. Kare-Kare is one of her favourite dishes.

Be sure to send Cooking Ng Ina (Putaheng Pinoy) a message on Facebook to place your order.

Guest Post: JJ's Trucketeria

My only brother wrote this post about his experience eating food from JJ's Trucketeria.

Hello, it is me again, the brother. Last time I posted here, I shared my experience at the Breakfast Table with my friend. On the same day (after the Breakfast Table), we went for Linner/Dunch (a combination of Lunch and Dinner, hehe) at the JJ's Trucketeria food truck at Terminal Avenue in front of Columbia College.

You get an option of which meat will go with your order, the choices are between Filipino BBQ Pork, Lemongrass Chicken and Korean Chicken. I decided to go with JJ's Rice Packers with Filipino BBQ Pork.

JJ's Rice Packers with Filipino BBQ Pork

My friend got a Big Plate with the Lemongrass Chicken, he originally wanted a Filipino BBQ Pork as well but to try two meat, he decided to go with a different option.

The Big Plate with the Lemongrass Chicken

We both tried each other's orders, and both chicken and pork were tasty and creamy, and the garlic rice balances the entire meal well.

Birthday lunch delivery from Mui Garden Restaurant

It's my dad's birthday! He requested for Chinese cuisine and my siblings obliged. The images below are taken by my brother.

Shrimp and BBQ Pork Fried Rice

Chinese Broccoli with Salted Fish

Honey Garlic Spareribs

Sweet and Sour Fish

Yay for food!

Yummy, Fluffy Ensaymada from Kaye Bakes

Last month, I ordered Ube Cake from Kaye Bakes. It was so delicious! I was telling my dad about it, who arrived nearly a month ago from the Philippines (yes, he completed his 14-day quarantine period, and he's healthy as can be which makes all of us happy).

He said, "Baka si Kaye from Winnipeg ang binilhan mo." (Maybe you purchased from Kaye who we knew from Winnipeg). Apparently, they have a Couple's for Christ mentee in their two years in Winnipeg, who also moved to BC after 4 years.

Ensaymada

I contacted Kaye Bakes to ask if they have Cassava Cake because my mom is requesting for it. I also awkwardly ask if they lived in Winnipeg because my parents new a Kaye that loves to bake from there who moved to BC. She said, yes we lived in Winnipeg. I told her my parents' name, and yes, she's the friend my dad is referring to—such a small world.

Ensaymada from Kaye Bakes

I didn't know they knew each other when I ordered Ube Cake last month! I was just looking to support Filipino entrepreneurs and enjoy Ube cake.

My dad is celebrating his birthday tomorrow, so Kaye decided to surprise him with Ensaymada. It's too bad that I can't visit them right now to enjoy the fluffy pastry.

My mom called me, telling me how delicious the Ensaymada is. Thank God for using me to help reconnect my parents with their friends.

Where to get Ensaymada in Metro Vancouver?

Be sure to send Kaye Bakes a message to inquire about their Filipino pastries. I'm still looking forward to my birthday, so I can have a mocha cake.

Call Kaye Bakes: 778-697-8143
Email Kaye Bakes: kayebakes.ca@gmail.com

Lunch from Vera's Burger Shack

After picking a spot and settling down at Kits Beach, my youngest sister, hubby, and I walked to look for a food source. We walked along Cornwall Avenue to see what's open. We decided to buy lunch from Vera's Burger Shack.

What to get from Vera' Burger Shack?

I got Vera's Burger. I didn't understand what the cashier was saying so I just asked him to put Vera's sauce in it, instead of everything (tomato, lettuce, etc.). #facepalm

Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries, Onion Rings, French Fries, and Chicken Strips

I love Romer's Burger, but the meat in Vera's Burger is so much better.

Hubby got the grilled chicken. I made a terrible choice of not putting anything in it. It's probably good for our "diet", but of course, without any sauce, it's dry. The chicken and bun are still delicious, but it could have been better if only I asked them to put everything in it.

Vera Burger

Vera Burger

My youngest sister picked chicken strips. It was surprisingly good. It's well-seasoned with great flavour.

We enjoyed our lunch near Kits Beach under a tree on a blanket. It was great!

Breakfast from COBS Bread Bakery

Sunday! I woke up to my mom's message that they'll pick us up so we can go to Kitsilano Beach. An hour later, we're heading to McDonald's along 4th Avenue (at Balsam Street). We really don't want to buy from McD's, instead, we saw the COBS Bread Bakery across the street and decided to quickly buy croissants from there.

I love this paper bag!

I got a couple Plain Croissants for my youngest sister, a Ham & Cheese Croissant and a Spinach & Feta Croissant for hubby and myself.

Ham and Cheese Croissant

Happy Sunday!

Dinner from Express Pho

Update: Express Pho and all the restaurants between West Broadway and Hemlock (west bound) are closed permanently, because that area will be the future location of the Granville Station.

Takeout Day is all about supporting restaurants as they try to survive and cope with the challenges of a pandemic.

I have ordered from most of my favourite neighbourhood joints, and Express Pho is the last one. I felt sad seeing how they're down to two people in the restaurant (I could be wrong, but they look like a mom and son duo).

If you have the means and if you live near West Broadway and Granville, please order from Express Pho. They're right across Jordan, the furniture store.

Support and Order from Express Pho

We ordered new dishes this time (this blog is useful in recalling what we had the last time we were here).

Dinner Tonight

Vietnamese Spring Roll (2 Rolls)

Curry Beef with Steamed Rice

I love the way Vietnamese cuisine cook their beef. They're always so tender.

Beef Balls, Chicken Balls in Soup (Rice Noodle is in a separate container)

Bean Sprouts and Rice Noodles

I hope this post gets more people ordering from Express Pho and that they don't close (like the Greek restaurant beside them, Bawan Greek). We took a peek in their window, and it's empty. Hopefully, it's just a temporary closure, but it doesn't look like it.