Halal Guys is Not Worth the Hype

Vancouver always seems to gets missed by large popular brands. Vancouver is a major city on the west coast of Canada and often ranks as one of the most expensive cities to live in the world and yet we are never worthy of being a brands first location. Not to throw shade, but how is it that the prairie cities beat us out for iconic eateries time and time again? So when a popular chain decides to finally grace us with their presence, we embrace it with much fan fare and pomp and circumstance as possible. The anticipation of eating the much-touted Halal Guys meant my expectations were incredibly high. It pains me to say this, but The Halal Guys is a hard pass from me. 

For years I have heard stories of The Halal Guys being New York City's favourite Donair brand. With lines snaking around the block, hungry patrons are willing to wait for the perfect platter of meat, rice, and vegetables all doused in the Halal Guys' signature "White Sauce" and "Hot Sauce." A great Donair is defined by the protein which is often a juicy slowly roasted chicken or beef.   

Festa Della Polenta 2023 at Di Beppe Gastown

Italy is not going to happen for me anytime soon because European travel is not cheap! Flights, hotels and spending add up quick, so I have to live out my Italian food dreams in Vancouver. I already love dining at Di Beppe and constantly think about their carbonara with spaghetti because it is so good! This year, I thought I would check out their annual Festa della Polenta. 

Prior to this, I never paid much attention to polenta. Originating from Northern Italy, polenta is typically a coarsely ground cornmeal. Festa della Polenta dates back more than 400 years and continues to be celebrated across Italy each year! Polenta was offered by nobility to hungry townspeople during the famine and has become an annual event across Italy for friends and families come together around the table

To encourage conversation with other diners, Festa della Polenta at Di Beppe is served family style. My friend and I were seated with two other couples with whom we shared fabulous laughs and conversations a plenty all evening long. It was a refreshing change because it is no secret that Vancouverites are not the most approachable of people. In fact, it is a well known fact that making friends in Vancouver is TOUGH. Perhaps Vancouverites need to be pushed out of their comfort zone more and sadly we might need restaurant businesses facilitate it for us by doing communal table dinner services. 

I also loved my outfit from the night. I wore high-waisted black denim with black loafers, brown belt, green & white striped sweater and a lilac-coloured coat. Pulled half my hair back in a claw clip. Simple, easy and comfortable. 

Maenam Thai Food for Lunch

With an ingredient driven menu featuring the freshest ingredients, Maenam never fails to bring the flavour with Thai food. Maenam has mastered traditional favourites like Pad Thai, various curries and roti. Opening in 2009, Maenam had been a dinner focused restaurant, but has recently expanded their meal service to lunch. The team always goes above and beyond to create memorable moments for their patrons and have collected numerous awards, accolades and most recently the Bib Gourmand Award from the Michelin Guide. 

If it were up to me, I would have Maenam's Pad Thai daily because I love the sweet, tangy, savoury flavour combination. I can devote an entire blogpost to their Pad Thai, but it would be remiss of me to not mention their other food offerings as well as their stellar cocktail program. 

Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival 2023

Vancouver may be devoid of all things fun - ahem cancelled New Year's fireworks - but we do make up for it with our food festivities. As 2023 starts to unfold, so begins the 13th annual Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival boasting 65 establishments collectively pouring up 145 unique hot chocolates! 

The Hot Chocolate Festival used to have a small number of participating restaurants making it feasible for me to try nearly all of the hot chocolate creations. As the years have gone on, the Hot Chocolate Festival has grown exponentially and now include several of my personal favourite establishments that I like to frequent year round. 

Another factor restricting me from trying more is the pricing for the hot chocolates. I want to try as many as I can, but the exorbitant pricing for a single hot chocolate has me and others rethinking it. Normally in Vancouver, hot drinks like hot chocolates, lattes, mochas etc would never be more than $7 and that is on the expensive end. For the festival, I found the average pricing was in the $12 range with some going up to $16! That is madness! Sure you can argue that the are served with a treat, but a single small chocolate or tiny donut hole or miniature cupcake is still a major stretch. The insane pricing has been voiced by many Vancouverites this year and I do hope that in the future, participants will reconsider and not price gouge us. 

There were so many hot chocolates I wanted to try, but sadly I was only able to make it to three. I tried The Federal Store, 49th Parallel and Fufu Cafe. I wish I got to visit Whisk as they had a wonderful matcha hot chocolate because we all know I love matcha! 

The Federal Store | The Sasha Velour 

Tucked within a Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, the Federal Store has become a café that has won my heart with its incredible bakery case, particularly the cupcakes! I even celebrated my 29th birthday with their Roasted Strawberry Cake. 

As soon as I heard the name for this hot chocolate, I instantly knew it would be rose flavoured.

The Sasha Velour is a direct nod to the iconic moment from Rupaul's Drag Race in which Sasha Velour sent viewers screaming as she pulled off her wig to reveal a cascade of red rose petals.  

The 66% Valrhona Caraibe Hot Chocolate is infused with cardamom pods and the delicate flavour of rose. The hot chocolate is served with a cardamom sugar rim and a massive cube of pink-hued rose petal marshmallow. Accompanying the Sasha Velour is miniature rose milk chocolate cupcake. 

Rose is a strong flavour and the Federal Store team did not shy in their use, but I love rose water, so I was happy to warm up with the floral spiced hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was not overtly sweeet which can be tricky when using white or milk chocolate. I personally love a rich deep dark chocolate, but in this case, the Federal Store could not have gone with a darker chocolate as it would have masked the delicate undertones of rose. Hard to wrong with a homemade marshmallow and it only made the drink creamier as it melted. I have always loved their cupcakes and the rose chocolate is one of their regular flavours that I have enjoyed on many occasions. 

49th Parallel | Florals and Spice

Many people do not know that you can get amazing hot chocolate from 49th Parallel year round. The Main Street location of 49th Parallel has a special device that warms and stirs melted chocolate keeping it at the ready for when someone wants a glass of hot chocolate. The Florals and Spice is made using melted dark chocolate and infused with cardamom and rose petals. 

I did not get the florals or spice. The dark chocolate was strong and most likely masked the subtle delicate flavours of rose and cardamom. Served with the hot chocolate was a fluffy mini brioche doughnut filled with a spiced chocolate custard and topped with an orange blossom glaze, chopped pistachios and rose petals. As always, their doughnut dough is beautifully fluffy and airy. The glaze was too sweet for me, but the chocolate custard was great. The Peanut Butter & Jelly continues to remain my favourite doughnut at Lucky's! 

Fufu Cafe | Two to Mango

I am a mango girl through and through, and it is not everyday that you see a mango hot chocolate. The hot chocolate is made with a base of Valrhona 55% Itakuja dark chocolate and fresh mango puree and a roasted kuro goma (black sesame) puree. A dollop of sweet mango whipped cream and lemon zest finish the hot chocolate. The mango flavour was fruity and the whip was divine! I have never been big on black sesame, but it brought a wonderful rich savoury undertones to the otherwise sweet mango hot chocolate. Accompanying the hot chocolate was a duo black and white sable cookie (crumble style) with a sweet mango filling. I love mango, and pure mango puree filling is yummy to me. 

Their second hot chocolate was a miso cheese flavoured one which I decided to pass on. I just draw the line at salty miso and cheese in my hot chocolate. It might have been the best hot chocolate ever created. I guess I will never know and I am okay with that! 

BYES

Brunch at Catch 122 Gastown

Vancouver's food scene is constantly evolving with the addition of new restaurants and closures of familiar favourites. With no shortage of exciting new menus to try, it can be tough to circle back to the restaurants I have dined at. It has been years since I have had a meal at Catch 122, so I am glad that I stumbled back into this Gastown brunch favourite. 

There was already a lengthy waitlist for brunch that morning at Catch 122, but when it comes to good food, I never mind the wait. Considering the fickle food scene in Vancouver, the fact Catch 122 has kept itself relevant for nearly a decade - they opened in 2012 - is commendable and only further speaks to how tasty their food is. 

49th Parallel Coffee Roasters Lonsdale is OPEN

49th Parallel Coffee Roasters has officially opened their 5th location across the Burrard Inlet in North Vancouver! The Lonsdale location is a short walk from the Lonsdale Quay and the Seabus dock making it an accessible cafe to meet up with friends. Warm sunshine fills the space courtesy of the floor-to-ceiling windows which are also great for people watching - or puppy watching if you are me!

I have been a longtime fan of 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters' sub-brand, Lucky's Doughnuts. Since the opening of their very first Main Street location in 2012, I have been obsessed with their soft pillowy yeast-risen doughnuts. No other doughnut has come close to the deliciousness of Lucky's. 

Dessert Club takes us to Japan - India for Flight 3

Will Travel for Food Flight 3: Japan-India just took place and it was another big win for the Dessert Club. With Grapes & Soda playing as host, everyone took their seats and eagerly awaited their trays of food. This time around, the menu was vegan/vegetarian focused. Just like a real flight, each patron could pre-pick either the Japanese Tray or the Indian meal tray. I went with the Indian meal while my dining companions opted for the Japanese trays. 

Grapes & Soda has been on my list of places to visit for years, but just never got around to it. The majority of the space is dedicated to the cocktail bar, so it was only fitting that there would be special drinks for the evening. Mixed by Kaname Yasui, there was the Black Sancho Gimlet, a Roasted Banana Coconut Lassi and an Apple Oolong Soda. Of the three, the Apple Oolong Soda was the cocktail for me as I love fizzy sodas and it was on the sweeter side. 

Flight 2 Dessert Club x Potluck Hawker's Eatery

My friends have been raving about Potluck Hawker's Eatery and it was about time I tried it for myself. Pastry Chef extraordinaire, Sam Shem of The Dessert Club, is collaborating with various chefs and restaurants across Metro Vancouver for his Will Travel for Food series. Flight 2 takes us to Thailand and the Philippines! The Flight 2 collaboration between The Dessert Club and Chefs Justin Cheung and Raymond Reyes of Potluck Hawker's Eatery was a 2-day event. 

Since it was a limited event, tickets had to be purchased in advance. It was $55 per person which included a snack, beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), main and dessert. 

• House-made bar snacks

• Choice of beverage (alcoholic and non alcoholic options available)

• Choice of main: Khao Soi Gai (Chiang Mai style curry chicken noodles) or Sisig Sizzle Rice (Filipino minced pig head cast iron rice plate)

• Choice of dessert: Thai Tea Ice cream cake, Halo Halo or Turon with Chocolate Pot de Crème

Ça Marche Crêperie the newest addition to Vancouver House

Another day in Vancouver, another restaurant opened. This time, it is the long-awaited Ça Marche Crêperie, specializing in crêpes from Brittany, France. If there are crêpes involved, you know I will be there, so it should come as no surprise that opening night, I was knocking down their door to be let in already. 

Dinner service on Saturday November 6, 2021 marked the opening of Ça Marche Crêperie. The new eatery is located at the foot of Vancouver House, adjacent to another favourite of mine, Autostrada Osteria. The space is small; therefore limiting the number of diners Ça Marche Crêperie can accommodate at a given time. An eccentric neon sign shines a glow onto an interesting rusted exterior panelling. Guess we can call it industrial rust chic? Inside, emerald green, brass, white and greys make for an elegant upscale setting. The old me would have fawned all over the design, but I now know better than to be blinded by beauty. 

Claudia's Kitchen is upgrading your home charcuterie

Charcuterie has steadily garnered popularity in Vancouver and I only see demand increasing for these artistically arranged meat and cheese boards. Originating from 15th century France, Charcuterie has evolved from only meats to now include an array of accoutrements. Claudia's Kitchen specializes in charcuterie condiments and sent over a package containing their 4 core products. 

Claudia's Kitchen is elevating your home charcuterie spreads. All of their condiments are prepared fresh in Vancouver in small batches. Owner Claudia is making it a point to reduce as much packaging waste as possible, so the condiments are packaged in small reusable glass mason jars. In addition to the condiments, Claudia plans to offer common charcuterie foods like meats, cheeses, crackers, pickles and nuts. 

Fox & Oak Coffee and Doughnuts in Downtown Squamish

There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who like fluffy airy brioche doughnuts and those who prefer the denser cake doughnuts. Brioche doughnuts will forever be my favourite. Perched on the corner of Main Street and Cleveland Avenue in Squamish is my newest doughnut obsession, Fox & Oak. This blogpost is months overdue, so the doughnut flavours I talk about might not be part of Fox & Oak's current lineup.

The coffee and doughnut shop is still fairly new, but has already amassed a loyal following. For the hour that I was there, the line-up warpped around the corner. In fact, I braved the line twice because I had to get more doughnuts to snack on later. 

I have a weakness for fresh strawberries and when they are cooked down with rhubarb, it is just magical. The naturally leveaned brioche doughnt was generously filled with the strawberry rhubarb cardamom jam. Fox & Oak kept the rhubarb and strawberry pieces large, so the jam had a wonderful texture and a fresh sweet taste. The doughnut was finished with a glaze, pie shell lattice and whipped cream. 

National Waffle Day in Vancouver

Krause Berry Farms | Raspberry Waffle

Waffles are this magical food that is acceptable as a breakfast but can also be enjoyed as a dessert. Waffles can be sweet or savoury, square or round, fluffy or chewy, Brussels or liege, fresh or frozen, the possibilities are endless! Waffles also happen to be one of my guilty pleasures that make me happy. 

Needless to say, if I had to pick between pancakes or waffles, I would hands down pick waffles every single time. No matter the circumstance, waffles will forever be superior to pancakes. Prove me wrong in the comments below! 

In Vancouver, Nero Waffles has been the place that I hit up for my waffle fix. There is a Robson Street location, but I prefer the Seymour location that is on the cusp of Yaletown. The location is gorgeous and is a dine-in restaurant setting which really gives it character and makes it more appealing to me. The Seymour location also boasts a spacious patio with heaters for the winter. Basically, the vibes at Nero Waffles are perfection. 

Hand Rolls from Hello Nori are a Must Try

Vancouver is known for its sushi and it happens to be one of my favourite foods. Sushi and sashimi go hand in hand, but my favourite rolls are the vegetarian ones. Yam tempura with avocado for me please! Hello Nori is a fairly new addition to Vancouver and this Robson Street shop has been drawing in some serious crowds. 

What sets Hello Nori apart is their focus on ehomaki-style hand rolls. Ehomaki is like a sushi roll that has its ingredients and sushi rice wrapped in nori (dried seaweed) and served unsliced. Patrons are encouraged to forgo the chopsticks and simply eat the ehomaki with their hands. 

Beating the Heat with the Best Ice Cream in Vancouver

Vancouver has been hit with a heatwave like no other. Temperatures reached 38ºC which is practically unheard of in BC. I think the most we ever hit during the summer months is 34ºC. Tomorrow and Monday is going to be even hotter, surpassing 40ºC. That is scorchingly hot and honestly terrifying. I feel like I am on the beaches of Hawaii, not the Northern Pacific West Coast! 

Needless to say, me and everyone else in Vancouver are just trying to stay cool in this sweltering heatwave. Ice Cream, iced drinks, loose linen clothing, fans, ice cubes and whatever else it takes. So I thought I would make a list of the best ice cream spots in and around Vancouver because not everyone lives in Vancouver City! 

I wanted to get this list up quickly, so I have not had the chance to insert pictures. 

Turkish Coffee with JamJar Canteen Commercial Drive

Years ago I saw a video of Turkish Coffee being made in the Middle East. I had seen nothing like it before. A little coffee pot was placed in hot sand and within moments, a frothy coffee begins to boil up. I have never seen any sort of food or beverage prepared in hot sand before! Needless to say, it was really cool and looked like magic! 

When I heard JamJar Canteen serves Turkish Coffee, you bet I had to go check it out. JamJar Canteen is a  Lebanese restaurant that specializes in Mezze - Middle Eastern Tapas. The space is stunning, with emerald green walls, ornate penny tiled flooring and lovely old-growth wooden beams, but there was no sand in sight. For logistical reasons, hot sand is not feasible, thus JamJar uses a gas burner. 

Maxine's Cafe & Bar is Vancouver's newest brunch obsession

Vancouver was in desperate need of a Europeanesque bistro and Maxine's Cafe & Bar has finally filled that void. Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the space with natural light that bounces off the marble counters, deep walnut-toned wood, and metallic brass accents. What particularly caught my eye is the stunning art-deco arched shelving above the bar that is lined with premium liquor. As soon as I saw the pictures and press releases for Maxine's, I knew I had to visit them. 

Since I am obsessed with brunch, it only made sense that I swung by on a Sunday morning. We were seated out front on Maxine's makeshift patio, as the actual patio undergoes completion. I love the white & red woven bistro chairs because in my head I picture these chairs being used for seating in cute Parisienne cafes! 

Douce Diner scoops out Banana Splits in a retro 50's aesthetic space

My craving for the 1950's diner experience is real! The era was all about the bright hued interiors, penny tiles, cushioned booths, neon signs, and Roc'n Roll. Douce Diner has brought the classic Americana vibe north of the border to the North Shore and needless to say, they nailed the 50's era vibe! 

Douce Diner checks off so many boxes for me with their Pink, Mint and Yellow colour palette, to the intricate penny tiled flooring and the neon pink "Hello Sunshine" sign that overlooks the space. Douce Diner have struck the perfect balance between contemporary and retro. 

Hunnybee Bruncheonette for Delicious Morning Lattes & Ricotta Pancakes

Brunch is delicious and amazing and when it is combined with sun drenched space, makes for the perfect Sunday morning. Hunnybee Bruncheonette is a magical offshoot of the beloved Gastown cafe, The Birds & The Beets, which happens to be one of my favourite places to hangout. Honestly, I could lose hours of my life just sipping a latte and basking in the warmth of the sunshine at either of these locations. 

Hunnybee is at the corner of Gore and Union Street in Chinatown. Wrapping the exterior of the cafe is outdoor seating and tables under a green and white striped awning. Floor to ceiling windows make you feel like you are basically sitting outdoors. Probably adding to that feeling are all the green plants inside and the dried foliage that hangs from the ceilings. 

Heart-Shaped Pizza and Italian Peroni Beer for the Ultimate Romantic Gesture Courtesy of Pizzeria Farina

Nothing says "I Love You" like pizza and beer! With just a few days to go until Valentine's day, Pizzeria Farina is stretching dough into the shape of a heart to share with your sweetheart and to complete your romantic night, every order comes with Italian Peroni Beer. 

The team behind Pizzeria Farina are juggernauts in Vancouver's Italian food scene. Sister restaurants include Ask for Luigi and Caffé Di Beppe, both of which I have dined at multiple times, so I can attest to their deliciousness! The original Pizzeria Farina is on the cusp of Chinatown and will be celebrating their 9th birthday on August 18th! The team at Farina take pride in their Italian pies and swear the secret to a stellar pizza is striking the delicate balance between the dough, sauce and toppings because if there are too many toppings, the flavour of the dough gets lost. Now of course, the foundation to all good food is high quality ingredients. Their Northern Italian-inspired pizzas start with a base of local Anita's organic flour which is mixed with rye and red fyfe. After a 24-hour fermentation period, the dough has deepened in flavour and is ready for toppings. Farina's tomato sauce is made with Italian San Marzano tomatoes and flavoured with salt, pepper, garlic and chilli flakes. 

Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Hype is REAL - Now in Richmond BC!

The HYPE is REAL! Popeyes' Spicy Chicken Sandwich is DELICIOUS. 

Popeyes Chicken came to Metro Vancouver a couple of years ago. The Port Coquitlam location was the first to open back in December 2018, but it is far from where I live. Two more locations followed, Langley and Surrey, but again, I was not willing to make the trek that far. Clearly Popeyes' was upset that I had not come to visit them because their newest location opened a minutes drive away from my house. At this point, it would have been cruel not to give Popeyes Louisiana Style Chicken a try.

I went on day number two, December 2, 2020, of the Richmond Popeyes' opening and I have to commend the Popeyes team's efficiency. Despite the line extending far beyond the front door, I made it to the front in no time and within minutes of placing my order, I was heading to my car with bag of Popeyes Chicken in hand. So do not let the long lines deter you because Popeyes' Richmond have picked an amazing team!