Location: 866 Denman Street, Vancouver

Phone: (604) 682-1292

Website: www.trueconfections.ca

A weeks ago I went all the way to downtown for dessert cause it was @itsMichelleNgai‘s birthday, along with the gang. It was a perfect time going to a cake shop, since the birthday girl got to have a birthday cake anyway. It was my first time hearing about this place called “True Confections”, and my first coming across the word “confection”. After searching up the word, it finally made sense why it was a dessert place. According to Dictionary.com, the word “confection” means “a sweet preparation of fruit or the like, as a preserve or candy.” Well, in this case…cakes!

This place only serve cakes. All kinds of it. Cream cakes, mousse, cheesecake, shortcake, and pies too.

True Confections on Denman

They have two locations in the Lower Mainland, one was on Broadway and Alma, and this one, we went to, was on Denman. (Just across from Zakkushi on Denman) The decor was fairly dark with dim lights, which gave it a fairly relaxing place for conversations. The place was nearly full when we went in at around 11pm., since it’s a Friday night, I guess it made sense it was that full at night.

There was 5 of us, so we ordered 3 cakes to share:

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Very cheesy!!!

Black and White Cake

This was part of their holiday special, it was alternating Layers of Devil’s Food Cake and Vanilla cake, Vanilla Custard and Chocolate Custard, finished with Chocolate fudge icing.

Milk Chocolate Hazelnut

Being a hazelnut lover, I thought that the hazelnut flavour wasn’t entirely brought out. There was hazelnut flavour, but it wasn’t sensational. The chocolate flavour was too strong, covering the hazelnut flavour.

Overall, the food was so-so. Nothing really was spectacular about the cakes. Being a dessert place, I thought that it could have been better, in terms of taste and texture. The presentation is okay. The service was alright. We got seated right away when we entered the restaurant. Although I did remember that the waitress didn’t have too much of a smile on her face when she took our orders, but being 11pm, I guess she’s human too. The value was definitely not worth $9-11 for a piece of cake. You can easily buy half or a whole cake at Safeway down the road, and I’m sure you will not taste a huge difference. The ambiance of the place is quite cozy, I would say a little stuffy that night as it’s warm inside and quite cold outside. Otherwise, it’s quite modern looking on the inside, one wall is shaped and painted like a cake.

Ratings:

Food (2.5/5)
Service (3/5)
Value (2/5)
Ambiance (3/5)

Dinehere.ca

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HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

Location: 1231 – 8338 Capstan Way, Richmond, BC (Union Square Mall)

Phone: (604) 247-0499 [Telephone Reservations NOT accepted.]

Website: http://www.yavisclub.com

Yavis Club

It’s been awhile since I have visited this dessert place. I first heard of this dessert place in recommendation of my friend Wai, which used to work there. This place is one of the hotspots for couples in a very relaxing atmosphere. Well, not only for couples, but I’m just saying many couples come to this place for dessert. I guess that’s how they get their business. I believe this restaurant is owned by a Christian, as there are messages lying around throughout the restaurant. Especially, this wall shown below.

The Wall

In fact, the entire restaurant from wall-to-floor, has its own story.

The Design Story

I was able to take more shots in here tonight because my girlfriend and I had an early dinner. Hence, an early dessert. We got there around 7:30pm and the entire restaurant is empty. But, it gets pretty jammed pack after dinner time (around 9-10pm). Being the first has its advantages. (Especially, eating!) So, let me take you on a tour of the restaurant.

Flying Petals

Polished Concrete

Black and White

I couldn’t get a picture of the back because there were staff watching us. So, the rest is up to you to explore!

My girlfriend and I weren’t that hungry just because we had dinner, so we got a cheesecake to share. They have a variety of cheesecakes, desserts, and drinks. Check out their website, they’ve got quite a variety.

White Romance

This is their signature dessert, “White Romance”. This is a plain original New York style cheesecake. It’s simple and that’s how they want it. There’s also a story behind this, check it out here.

We decided to combo it up with a drink to make it a little cheaper. The drinks alone are not really worth the price, it’s more than a Tall drink at Starbucks. (~$4-6).

Fresh Apple Honey Fruit Drink

Fresh Apple Honey Fruit Drink

The drink was light and refreshing. The honey was light, not too sweet. And the smell of Apple was just perfect. They probably used Apple extract for taste but it was a good way to end off the night.

Overall, the food is not bad. I have also tried their baked sago pudding, which is pretty good. The service is not top-notch. I don’t think there is an Asian place where you can find top-notch service yet, but this place is on par. The value, I’d have to give them a lower grade here because for the price you pay, you can easily get a bigger portion for the same price elsewhere. The ambiance is where they get you back with all the stories behind the walls, and the floors. Even then, I think the ambiance of the place does change with the atmosphere of people in the room.

Ratings:

My Ratings:
Food (4/5)
Service (3/5)
Value (3/5)
Ambiance (4/5)

Dinehere.ca

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My 24th Birthday Egg Tarts!

Happy 24th Birthday to me! Well, not today. But about a week ago. The best thing about birthdays when you get older and older, it’s not about the presents anymore. It’s about “WHERE AM I GOING TO CELEBRATE?” Moreover, what do I want to eat on my birthday?! I’m not one of those people that think too much on my birthday, I just let it be. I know, not too exciting. But at least it’ll be full of surprises!

You must be wondering why did I get egg tarts on my birthday instead of a cake? Well, thanks to my stomach flu a week ago, my doctor said I can’t have any dairy products for 3 days (and the 4th is my birthday). So, my friends got me egg tarts as a substitute! How thoughtful! =) Thanks to @whoelsecanitbe, @itsMichelleNgai, and @deborah_dph.

The night before my birthday was Milestones Date Night event (I love specials happening around my birthday, it’s great!), so I invited my family, my girlfriend, and her mom for a pre-celebration dinner. And thanks to Date Night at Milestones, it helped me chop the bill down by half! Phew. Actually, they almost over-charged me…but thanks to the beloved Chinese parents, of course, they triple-check the bill so we don’t get ripped off! (One thing I got to learn from the ‘rents.)

Roasted Mushroom & Goat Cheese Risotto Balls

This was on their Date Night special menu. One of four appy’s, this is a lightly fried panko crusted medley of roasted mushroom risotto, creamy Goat cheese & Reggiano cheese. Served on a smoked chilli Arrabiata sauce and drizzled with infused basil oil.

Calamari Steak Strips with Andouille Sausage Ragu

Second up, is their twist on a classic. Thinly-sliced crispy calamari steak served with spicy sausage tomato caper sauce and preserved lemon aioli.

Crispy Honey Phyllo Shrimp

Third up is something that we had before. A crispy coated shrimp lightly fried and served with our honey chipotle glaze for dipping. It was better the first time we had it, but even the presentation this time around wasn’t that great.

Roasted Garlic Caesar

Fourth appy was the all famous roasted garlic caesar salad. “House-made Ciabatta croutons, Reggiano cheese, our signature Caesar dressing. Topped with shaved Asiago cheese and roasted garlic.” One thing that this caesar salad stands out is the garlic, it’s so garlic-y that it hits you before you put it in your mouth. I would vote this as my second favourite caesar salad aside from Boathouse.

Portobello Mushroom Chicken

My girlfriend and I both ordered this dish. It’s a double breast, with sliced Portobello mushrooms sauteed in olive oil with plenty of fresh basil, roasted garlic and reduced Reggiano cream served over capellini. We had this dish before, it was so good the first time that was why we decided to order it again. However, this time was a bit bland and the sauce was not enough. However, we still liked it.

Slow-Roasted AAA Prime Rib Chef's Cut

I believe we ordered 3 of these. “Crusted with our special blend of signature seasonings and served with au jus.” My girlfriend and I both thought the chef’s cut was a bit smaller than the ones we had before. Maybe they were running out, so they had to cut it downsize. But, for this price…it was totally worth it!

New York Striploin with Black Peppercorn sauce

My dad had the new york striploin which was not as good as he thought because the meat was not as tender as the prime rib.

We were all too full for dessert.

Kirin Coquitlam

The morning of my birthday, I along with my family and the girlfriend’s family went to Kirin Coquitlam for Dim Sum. A treat from my girlfriend’s parents. Thank you! Sorry, no pictures.

My birthday dinner was at Shanghai River in Richmond. (One of my favourite Shanghainese restaurants in Vancouver.)

Steamed Pork Bun (XLB)

XLB Sauce

The XLB at Shanghai River is by far one of the best in town. It wins its competitors because its shell is very thin, and it has tons of juices inside.

鮮百合炒黃祺班

My girlfriend and I decided to give this dish a try. It was in the seafood section of the menu. I forgot what the english name for the dish was called, but it was this yellow code from the gulf of mexico stir fried with fungus and other veggies. What struck us was that the fish was from the gulf of mexico. We really had no idea if it was or not, or if it’s just the name. But, the fish was very good. If I was to use one word to describe it, it was very solid!

Szechuan Style Smoked Duck

This dish is also one of the best in Vancouver. The duck is smoked, it’s very tender and juicy, inside and out. Not only is the duck good, the flour bread on the side was also very tender and soft.

高麗豆沙

To end off the night, we had half an order of Reb bean paste puff. It’s called “Go Lie Dou Sa” in Cantonese. At first, the manager didn’t allow us to order half an order. But, when we decided not to have dessert and when I was about to take my bill, he decided to make half an order for me. Talk about not knowing how to do business! This puff is basically made from egg white and then deep fried but inside is red bean paste and outside is sprinkled with sugar. (I have no idea why the sugar it’s pink. Anyone know why?) This wasn’t the best I had, but it was alright.

To end off the birthday evening, of course, I had …

The Box

Nope, not the box!

Chestnut Cream Cake

It’s a Chestnut cream cake from Anna’s Cake House at Lougheed Town Centre. Their cakes are usually not that appealing, but their Chestnut cakes are the best IMO.

There we have it! My birthday meals all-in-one post.

Location: 1147 Granville St, Vancouver, BC

Phone: (604) 568-0749 | Hours: Mon – Sun(dinner): 6:00PM – 12:00AM, Fri – Sun (brunch): 10:00AM – 2:30PM

Website: www.twistedforkbistro.ca

Twisted Fork Bistro

A few weeks ago my girlfriend and I went all the way downtown to visit this very popular French restaurant on Granville. This place only open evenings on weekdays. And first come, first serve. We were hoping to get there around 5:30pm but as always things never go according to plan. We waited for well over an hour and ended up eating at the later round. It was around 8:20pm when we got our table. This was a small restaurant. They don’t have a designated waiting area, but just people standing outside on the streets.

Mussels Tuesdays

This was what we were here for! Mussels night!!

The Restaurant

People eating in front of the restaurant

The restaurant was so packed that there were people eating on the counter right in front of the door. I hope this convinced you to go earlier to avoid a long wait!

Fresh Mussels

One pound of fresh mussels, with cream, herbs and fresh tomatoes, served with frites (Yukon gold, parsnip and sweet potato with herb aioli). The mussels were really flavourful, and they tasted really good with the toasted buns.

Housemade bread

The bread was great, but not as good as the whipped butter. The whipped butter was equally good with the cream dipped bread.

Confit Duck

We decided to get two small forks after the mussels. One of these were the the confit duck and bacon braised cabbage with duck jus and mixed fruit compote.

Braised Short Ribs

The braised short ribs were a little not what I expected, I wasn’t very use to this dish as the Chinese version of this dish is so much better.

Chocolate Terrine

Since, we waited so long for dinner. We decided to have dessert here as well. By then, the restaurant was only occupied for 1 or 2 tables, as they had already run out of mussels around 10pm. The chocolate terrine is a frozen dark chocolate mousse layered with raspberry sorbet, with biscotti crumbs and raspberry coulis. I’m not a fan of sour things but this matched pretty well with the dark chocolate.

Overall, we waited too long to just have mussels and frites that evening. However, the mussels and frites did not disappoint. The other dishes were not too bad, but not entirely my favourites nor were they very memorable. The service was quite friendly and we were well attended for. This restaurant is really small with only a dozen tables and is probably not a good idea with large parties.

Like always, I end my posts with a question! What is your favourite french dish? Let me know in the comments below!

Location: Pinetree Vlg 130 – 2991 Lougheed Hwy, Coquitlam, BC

Phone: (604) 464-5340 | Hours: Mon – Thurs: 4:00PM – 11:30PM, Fri: 4:00PM – Midnight, Sat: 3:30PM – Midnight, Sun: 3:30PM – 10:30PM

Website: http://www.kegsteakhouse.com/en/locations/BC/coquitlam/coquitlam-keg/

The Keg

I don’t think I ever stepped into this Keg in Coquitlam, although they have been opened for more than a year from what I could remember. So, I took my girlfriend here for an after dinner snack. I always can’t eat dessert after a meal for some reason, unless I’m forced upon. Or I really have that separation between dinner and desserts! We came in around 8-ish hoping to get a table right away, but no, there was a wait time of 15mins! I was shocked. However, nobody was in the waiting area. Well, fine! We were in good mood to wait. So, we shifted to the BestBuy next door to take a stroll. I love how restaurants have those vibrating “hockey puck” shape looking things that’ll notify you when your table’s ready.

Our Table

We were shortly notified. But in the span of 3minutes, the time it took us to walk back from BestBuy, our table were given away. I reacted to a WOW! You have got to be kidding. Anyhow, it was just minutes that they had another table for us. But, these people sure worked fast. Yeah, in Canada!

Anyhow, at around 8:30pm, the restaurant was still crowded with people having dinner. Honestly, I never people in Coquitlam had such late dinners, especially when everything closes early here.

Chocolate Cake - $7.95

I always had thought The Keg had their version of the Chocolate lavacake. But, I guess I was wrong. So, we decided on the next similar thing. The Chocolate Cake is layer upon layer of dark, moist chocolate cake with a silky smooth chocolate filling and served with vanilla ice cream and a raspberry puree. The chocolate cake was very moist and chocolatey. And the vanilla ice cream has a very strong mint of vanilla. I’m pretty sure it’s made in-house.

The Fireplace

Ten dollars dessert for 2, much worth it! The ambiance, the service were pretty good. Although, I have to say it was quite loud that evening with so many guests in the house. But, I would say it’s better than having a cup of gelato.

Location: 2611 W 16th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 3X5

Phone: (604) 739-0555 |

Hours: 

Mon-Thu, Sun 8 am – 10 pm

Fri-Sat 8 am – 11 pm

Website: http://www.sweetobsession.ca/

Hints: 

• Small cafe
• Variety of pastries and cakes
• Very little parking, some in the front or else the side streets offer free parking too
• Packed on a Saturday evening

Sweet Obsession

My girlfriend and I stumbled upon Sweet Obsession after my birthday dinner. We originally wanted to try out the famous  Thomas Haas, which happens to be just next to Mistral French Bistro but sadly it was closed. Not knowing the area too well, Yelp came handy and we found Sweet Obsession on West 16th Ave. The place was packed because it was right after dinner time and I guess that’s where all people go when they finish dinner…dessert!

Cakes

Pastries

Sweet Obsession has a variety of sweets and cakes at a fair price.

Menu

Aside from pastries and cakes, they also serve drinks a little cheaper than Starbucks prices.

To Go

Since we were way too full to have dessert after dinner and the place was too stuffy and packed, we decided to get it to go.

Triple Chocolate Mousse

First up is their version of “Triple Chocolate Mousse”, my girlfriend loved it. It’s a layers of dark, mocha and white chocolate mousse on a base of chocolate chiffon.  This is a must have for chocolate lovers, which is not me.

Chocolate Hazelnut Zuccotto

This was my personal favourite, it’s in the shape of a dome and really heavy on hazelnut. A dome of chocolate chiffon filled with chocolate mousse and hazelnut mousse covered in chocolate ganache.

Triple Berry Mousse

For those who likes fruits more than chocolate, this one is so very berry! I believe this is a strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry fruit mousse on a base of vanilla sponge cake, with a hint of Grand Marnier, topped with fresh fruit (aka strawberrry).  The bottom sponge cake was the sweetest, but the mousse was perfect! It was fresh and fruity.

Mocha Dacquoise

I had no idea what a Dacquoise was, so I searched it up. According to Wikipedia, it’s a dessert cake made with layers of almond and hazelnut meringue and whipped cream or buttercream. I guess this is their version of a Dacquoise, which was very interesting. It tasted crispy and soft. However, it could be a messy eat. This is a  mocha buttercream with chocolate meringue. Best of all, gluten free!!

Overall, Sweet Obsession offers a wide selection of cakes and pastries by the slice and in whole. Their cakes tastes not too sweet for the Asian taste buds. If you’re in the area, don’t forget to check it out. Just remember it’s quite hidden.

Location: 1011-1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, BC V3B 8A9 (Henderson Mall)

Phone: (778) 285-5656

Hours: N/A

Website: http://www.thecoffeebun.com/

Hints/Tips:

• Free Coffee till June.21st.2012.
• Fresh buns every 30minutes
• Assorted desserts and drinks
• Breakfast also available
• Free WiFi

The Coffee Bun

I give credits to my girlfriend for finding this place, as she passes by this area quite a bit when she goes home. The Coffee Bun is a nice little addition to the quiet Henderson Mall. Hopefully with “The Coffee Bun” growing more in popularity, it will also liven up the Asian mall as well. This is their second location, the first location being in North Vancouver. It’s been about 4 to 5 weeks since this place has opened, so I decided to go in for a walk.

Free Coffee

For their Grand Opening special, they are giving away a cup of their “the Kicking Horse” coffee for each bun you buy. Wish I had noticed this sooner, but the deal is expiring on June.21st. Their coffee is not instant made, but brewed instantly with their coffee machine. When the coffee comes out, it seemed like they had already added cream but that is not true. However, the looks certainly was deceiving.

The Coffee Bun

The cafe have quite comfortable seatings and feels clean inside and out. I believe they also provide free wifi.

The Counter

The Coffee Bun offers a brunch set, from buns to waffles and desserts. It’s mainly the sweets.

Take-out

I ordered 2 coffee buns for take-out and on coffee to go. The total was less than $6. The average bun was $2.50.

The Original

I immediately opened it  and it was still warm. The top was covered with a coffee flavoured topping, and it had quite a strong sense of coffee. The bun was very soft on the inside. It was quite interesting and reminds me of a Hong Kong style Pineapple bun but topped with coffee.

Custard

My other bun was a custard filled bun. It was still warm and the custard was not super sweet, which was perfect for me! I think I’ll be a little bias here, but all things custard tastes great to me. And this was the perfect combination.

Menu

If you are in the area, I would definitely recommend giving The Coffee Bun a try. It’s a little light snack and you are almost guaranteed their buns are made fresh and warm if you eat-in. I will definitely try the “ice-cream bun” next time, perfect for the summer time! (That is if the rain goes away)

Location: 1059 Alberni St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2V6

Phone: (604) 608-6870

Hours: 

Mon – Fri: 7am – midnight
Weekends + Holidays: 8am – midnight

Hints:

• Sweets / Chocolates / Pastries / Desserts
• Macaroons
• Free WiFi

Thierry

This widely acclaimed dessert/pastry place has become Vancouver’s landmark for a date or just a breakfast/lunch or after dinner dessert cafe. I’ve been recommended by a few of my friends and co-workers to try this place out. So, I selected this place for a special occasion, the girlfriend’s birthday. We originally wanted to try Fur Elise adjacent in Yaletown, but their reservations were full.

Thierry (Inside)

We went after lunch for a mid-afternoon snack. It was fairly busy, actually more busy when we have finished our order. The restaurant is a cafe style with a mirror menu on the wall, but really you can just walk up to the friendly staff and ask for their help. I find it much easier than reading the menu because the thing with desserts is all about the looks. If it catches your eye, you will get it.

Thierry Cakes

Thierry have a wide selection of cakes, pastries, wraps, sandwiches, macaroons, and drinks. Basically anything you could find in a cafe, they will have it. But they are especially known for their chocolates.

Chocolate Succe

I present to you the Birthday cake! This was recommended to us by our server (which I had forgot to ask for her name, but she’s a young lovely Asian girl). The chocolate succe is chocolate inside and out. A hazelnut meringue, chocolate mousse, and 70% chocolate ganache. It was heavenly, speaking from someone who loves hazelnut.

Hazelnut/Coffee Macaroon

We also tried their all famous macaroons. For those who don’t know what macaroons are, they originated from Italy or France and is a light small round cake in the shape of a mini hamburger. Mostly made from whipped egg white and sugar. I liked the hazelnut one more because it was less sweeten than the coffee. The coffee was almost unbearably sweet for my Asian tastebuds!

White Plum Soda

Since it was super hot that day, we just needed something to cool us down.   We wanted to try the elderflower/apple house made soda. But they were all out, so we tried the next best thing, White Plum Soda. This was not your normal pop that you have from the cans, I’m sure they really made this in house. It’s got a very light and refreshing plum taste to it.

The table of Goodies

Aside from all the stuff you can eat in,there’s also a lot of goodies that you can take home, ranging frmo coffee beans, cakes, cookies, and also ice-cream!

The Ceiling

Overall, my impression of Thierry was good. I liked the decors and especially the lights they have on the ceiling and if you look ever so closely, the patterns! The food is pretty good, if you like sweets that is. But they also have a wide range of wraps and sandwiches and such. The staff that served us was very helpful and made me feel welcomed. The prices are typical of cafe prices in downtown Vancouver and ranges, depending on what you get. If you haven’t tried this place out, I’d recommend giving it a try (at least once).

It’s been a week since I’ve visited my own blog. Well, that’s because I have been away on vacation. And even though I was ready to blog about my every meal, however, the limitations of the “high speed” Internet offered at my hotel did not allow me to do so. It was even slower than my phone’s data.

Our first stop was to the Fisherman’s wharf, because that was where we stayed. Our hotel was literally a block away from the wharf, which was very convenient.

Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe

Our first stop was Boudin, one of the landmarks for sourdough and all things bakery. Their clam chowder was also highly recommended by one of our friends. The cafe, which was located downstairs from the Bistro Boudin, was highly occupied by tourists from all over. However, the line moved very fast. It was a very smooth order transaction.

Boudin

There was nearly no cooking involved, it was all just scooping, cutting, and making. By the time we sat down and got our order, we were very hungry. As it was late in the afternoon, after our delayed flight.

Clam Chowder in a bowl – $7.59

There were 2 other types of soups that were served in their famous sourdough bread bowl. I wasn’t a real big fan of sour stuff but the sourness wasn’t overpowering. However, the sourdough was definitely not right out of the oven. It was in fact hard like a rock, which I was a little disappointed. The clam chowder was served New English style. It was very creamy but wish there was more after it was all consumed. There wasn’t too much potatoes like the ones you find in soup cans, but more clams.

Clam Chowder Cans

Inside Boudin you will find a boutique style shop, be sure to shop around for neat things. But be warned, they are not cheap. These Boudin soup cans were like $10 for 2 cans.

Bay Shrimp Salad Sandwich – $8.99

Bay Shrimp Salad Sandwich – $8.99

Next my girlfriend and I shared a Bay Shrimp salad sandwich, which was one of their classics. This was a very light sandwich, my girlfriend thought it was lacking a bit of flavours. But definitely fresh bay shrimps. Again, the sourdough rolls were hard as rock. I’d thought it would be better if at least it’d be toasted or warmed up. However, it was dead cold. You’d definitely need some teeth to bite into this one.

Pier 39

After this, we walked along to the famous Pier 39. Don’t be deceived by the clear blue sky, it was quite windy and cold out. It almost blew us away. But that didn’t stop us from getting something summer to eat.

Dreyer’s Ice Cream

There were 2 stands of this at Pier 39, which is pretty much the same thing. We went to the first one coming into the Pier.

Dreyer’s

There wasn’t a lot of flavours, maybe 20-30 at most. And this was definitely not like a gelato place where you can try out all the flavours then purchase your favourite one.

Cookie n’ Cream

We wanted something chocolatey but not too chocolatey so, we had the cookies n’ cream.

Not too long after that, we decided to go back to Pier 39 for dinner. I had Franciscan Crab and Fog Harbor on my list, but the girlfriend thinks we shouldn’t go all out on our first night. Well, she’s got a point. So we decided to look for something a little less expensive and more worth the value.

We finally came to a consensus of trying Pier Market Seafood Restaurant, situated right in the middle of Pier 39.

Pier Market Seafood Restaurant

This was definitely an original. It was family operated and owned for the 3rd generation, which belonged to the Simmons family. They were the first to start and build this Pier.

The View

The view was great, not sun blazing as we went pretty late (around 7:30-8pm) at night. But it was just the right timing to see the sun disappear.

Pier Market Seafood Restaurant

We walked right in without having to wait. But since our table was right by the door, we decided to wait a tad for a table inside where we can glance the view.

Complimentary Bread

Once again, this restaurant has ties with Boudin which they get their bread freshly delivered every morning. So by night time, you can imagine how hard the bread is. We only dig a piece at it.

Crab Cakes – $11.95

We each had a decent portion of a crab cake for appetizer. It was one of their house specialty served with a Cajun remoulade. The crab cake was decent and was mixed with a generous portion of real crab meat. It’s got a kick to it, not spicy but just a Cajun kick. My girlfriend disliked the cilantro that was mixed with it, but that’s just for someone who doesn’t like cilantro. I loved it.

Shrimp Combo Fest

Both our entrees were ordered from the Specialty menu. My girlfriend got the Shrimp Combo Fest, a combo of grilled shrimp, shrimp scampi and fried shrimp. It is served with cole slaw and choice of rice or garlic buttered new potatoes. Instead of fried shrimp, she got both grilled. Flavours were very rich, especially the shrimp scampi. The wine taste was very strong.

Cioppino

I was very ready for my meal! Cioppino is a classic San Francisco seafood dish and you must try one if you are in San Francisco!

Cioppino – $22.95

A tomato based seafood stew with fresh fish, mussels, clams, shrimp and crab served over pasta. This was an absolute deal, other restaurants in the area charging close to or over $30 for this meal. It was a cold evening, so this meal definitely was a tummy warmer. The stew was perfect, not overpowering the seafood. The portion was extremely generous.

Huge clams

The clams were almost the size of my palm (ok, maybe not quite). But it was close. There was about 3-4 crab legs, huge chunks of salmon and other fish. The mussels were small, maybe not in season. But the broth was so good, I cleared out my plate.

The Bill

Our total before taxes was about $54. And after taxes was just under $61. For a seafood dinner on the pier, I thought this was a pretty good price. The service was quick and prompt, our server was quite friendly (knowing it’s our first time at the Pier). The dinner was relatively cheaper than others nearby restaurants. And if you drive, they will pay for your parking to dine here.

Location: 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd , Tulalip, WA 98271

Phone: (360) 716-1462

Hours: http://www.tulalipcasino.com/dining/eagles-buffet/

Hints:

• Inside Casino
• Lineups are random
• Variety of food
• Seafood Tuesdays

Eagles Buffet

My girlfriend and I were down in the States on a shopping spree at the outlets a couple weekends ago. We were celebrating our two and a half years anniversary. So, we decided to come back to Eagles Buffet, now I haven’t ever reviewed this place. But it’s been at least a couple years since I’ve visited the buffet which is inside Tulalip Casino and right next to the Seattle Premium Outlets. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long in-line. We waited roughly 10 minutes?

Asian Cuisine

In every buffet, there’s always some Asian dishes. It is no different at the Eagle’s. They had a range of dim sum, potstickers, egg rolls, pan fried noodles, vegetables, rice, etc.

Pasta Bar

Then there is the pasta bar, where you can fresh pick your ingredients and it’s made right in front of you. You can pick from a choice of 3 sauces: Marinara, Pesto, and Alfredo.

My Pasta

This is one of a kind, an Alfredo Penne with mushrooms, tomatoes, diced chicken breasts, bacon, bay shrimps, and cheese. It was very hearty and hot!

Mongolian Grill

There is also a Mongolian grill, which you can pick your meats, vegetables, and sauces and it’s also grilled right in front of you. This was a little disappointing because it was way too dry. I think the chefs would have been better off if they had controlled the sauces.

Salad Bar

In addition, there is the salad bar with an extensive choices of salads and also making your own salad. I didn’t have any, my reasoning was if you’re going to eat at a buffet, you always pick the most valuable things first!

Prime Rib

And this is of course the prime rib! They had a variety of meats, including fish fillets, rotisserie chicken, prime rib, and a whole bunch more! I think I had 3 of these alone! In addition to that, I really like their Au Jus. The gravy was a bit too thick, but the Au Jus was perfect.

In addition, they also seemed to be having some sort of Oktoberfest (German) dishes as well. Though it wasn’t October anymore. They were alright.

Salmon Chowder

The chowder was very creamy, but not too thick that I’d have a heart attack after. Full of flavours, but that could possibly be the cream.

Ice-cream

After all that has been done, comes the most attractive part of the meal: desserts! There are quite a selection of desserts here. From pies, cakes, to ice-creams. There are even toppings here for your ice-cream.

Toppings

Cookies and cupcakes

Coconut chocolate mousse cake

Most of the desserts are behind glass, I guess this is less clumsy for people to cut large pieces of cake, as most of the cakes are pre-sliced. Not so great for presentation, but it gets the job done. This particular cake was pretty good, not too sweet but got its kick to it. The raspberry gel was a nice addition to the cake.

Overall, the Eagles Buffet wasn’t too bad. There are a few hits and misses. You just have to choose wisely on what to pick. And if you don’t mind walking into a smokey casino then it is fine. Prepare to wait in-line during prime lunch/dinner times and of course, the weekend where most Canadians go down and do their shoppings.

Location: 22 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97204 (Chinatown area)

Phone: (503) 241-4704

Hours: 24/7 except holidays

Hints: 

• Cash only at all locations
• $0.95 and up
• No shipping
• Must eat within 6-12 hours of buying
• Bacon Maple Donut!!!!
• Lineups!!!
• Hard to find parking/street parking

Web: http://voodoodoughnut.com/

Voodoo Doughnut is pretty much a must visit for the first timers in Portland. It’s not your regular Tim Horton’s. I would say it’s a funky little place hidden in the gateway to Chinatown. We went at night and it didn’t seem to be your safest neighbourhood with bars and pubs on New Years Eve. But despite being NYE, they are opened till they are sold out (which is estimated to be 2-4AM). And on a normal day, they are never closed! Amazing how a doughnut shop can sustain itself like that. It was around 10PM when we went in, and there was a line up (luckily not out the door).

Voodoo Doughnut

We studied the menu for awhile before making our order. It wasn’t the easiest to study.

Takeout

There wasn’t really a place for you to sit, Voodoo was more of take-and-go kind of store. So that’s exactly what we did.

Portland Cream

The ladies got the “Portland Cream”, a raised yeast doughnut filled with Bavarian cream. Topped with chocolate and two eyeballs, which represents the vision of Portland.

Bacon Maple Bar

As guys, we could not resist anything with bacon! The Bacon Maple Bar is a very popular item on the list, a raised yeast doughnut with maple frosting and bacon on top! At first, I thought it was quite an awkward combination. But after taking the first bite, it was such a perfect match. It wasn’t too heavy, the bacon was crispy and mixed in quite well with the maple glazed.

 So which donut is your favourite at Voodoo? Or if there is a doughnut shop in your area, let me know where and what’s worth trying?

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Location: 180-8188 Saba Road, Richmond, BC V6Y 4E2 Phone: 778-297-6820 Hours: 4PM – Midnight | 7 Days a week Hints: 

• Small restaurant
• Paid street parking
• Free side street parking after 9PM

Bubble Fruity

Bubble Fruity

My girlfriend and I discovered Bubble Fruity a few weeks ago through Yelp. We were trying to look for unique Asian dessert places. Surely enough we found Bubble Fruity. We decided to try it out.   We walked in right before 9PM and the restaurant was already filled with people. There were less than a dozen small tables. Some people were waiting for take out, so we waited for roughly 5 minutes before we got a table.

Bubble Fruity

The inside was jam packed. It reminded me of Hong Kong dessert places that I see on HK dramas.

Taro milk with tapioca and pearls

If you want “tong suey” (sweet soup dessert), this is the place to go! They have a variety of Chinese desserts. As well as, bubble tea and snacks. My dessert was pretty good, I loved the smell of it. Though, it seems pretty original. But I thought presentation was a plus.

Grass Jelly Coconut milk with tapioca

My hun got this grass jelly dessert with sweet coconut milk, tapioca balls, and some fruit that looks like tapioca (but not). Hers was cooler than mine, and I thought the flavours were not as even as mine. However, I still liked the presentation. I think dessert is mostly about the presentation, or should I say all food. If not presented nicely, it’s just less appetizing. Overall, I am pretty satisfied I found this place. But I would caution that there may be a bit of a wait as the night progresses. After all, they only do business at night. I would suggest parking on the adjacent streets after 9PM as they are free. So you could imagine why this place would be filled up after 9PM. The desserts here are not cheap, averagely ranging from $4 and up.

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Location: 9309 SW Washington Sq Rd, Portland, OR 97223 (inside Washington Square Mall – next to Sephora)

Phone: 503-620-1100 (no reservations on the weekend)

Hours: 

Website: http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/

Hints:

• Prepare to wait for a long time on weekends
• Arrive early
• Take a stroll in the mall while waiting
• Get the cheesecake even if you are full
• Substitute any ingredients you don’t like

The Cheesecake Factory

Cheesecake Factory has always been a favourite when visiting the US of A. The restaurant itself is obviously known for its cakes. However, they have made it so that people could dining place rather than a dessert place. The funny thing about this place on weekends (not so sure about weekdays) is that they are always packed with people during dinner time. We dined here on a Sunday evening and the wait was well over an hour. Smart enough they had one of those buzzer things that you can take into the mall and it will start flashing and vibrating when your table is ready. Best invention ever!

Bread and Butter

The bread and butter is complimentary. The darker one is better IMO.

Warm Crab & Artichoke Dip – $6.95

We ordered several appetizers to share. The first is a blend of crab, artichokes and cheese served with warm garlic bread. The garlic bread were toasted giving off this crunch. The crab dip was quite flavourful, not bad.

Caesar Salad – $9.95

Roasted Mushroom Flatbread – $5.95

The flatbread was quite worth it in my opinion, only $5.95 on the menu. Fresh mushrooms, garlic, and herbs were used to bake the flatbread. It was enough for 4 to share.

Salisbury Chopped Steak – $14.95

The Salisbury Chopped Steak is my girlfriend’s all time favourite here, I think it’s safe to say mine too. They use Certified Angus Beef chopped steak combined with onions, mushrooms and garlic. It really is the perfect combination, very juicy and filling. It is served with mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy and brocoli.

Factory Chopped Salad – $10.95

At first I was going to get the Caesar until this caught my eye. A blend of chopped romaine, grilled chicken, tomato, avocado, corn, bacon, blue cheese, and apple with their house vinaigrette. For only $1 more than the Caesar salad. It was very filling probably enough to share for 2-3 people. Though I asked for Mozzarella to substitute for the Blue Cheese, but that never happened.

Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake

And to end off the night, of course we had to get a slice of their all famous cheesecake. We decided to share the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake. A Flourless Godiva Chocolate cake, topped with Godiva chocolate cheesecake and chocolate mousse. That’s a lot of chocolate! But I guess if you like chocolate, you can’t get enough of it.

So what is your favourite Cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory? Let me know in the comments section below!

The post An Hour Wait at The Cheesecake Factory in Portland appeared first on eatwith.ROBINLEUNG.com.

Location: #2601, 4500 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC (2nd level inside Crystal Mall)

Phone: 604-559-9111

Hours: Closed every 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Opens at 11:30AM otherwise.

M Dessert

M Dessert opened roughly 3 weeks ago and it offers Hong Kong style desserts. My girlfriend came across another blog post the famous Hong Kong “Honeymoon Dessert” was opening up inside Crystal mall. Being the dessert lover that I am, we decided to go check it out. They copied the Chinese name but not the English, it had seemed.  However, the desserts looked really good in picture.

Black Sticky Rice with Special Ice-cream – $5.95

My girlfriend had the black sticky rice with special ice-cream. I had a hard time finding ice-cream in here, if any. There was definitely milk, condensed milk, and shaved ice. The black sticky rice balls were pretty good, but my girlfriend critiqued something about them (I forgot).

Mango and Grass Jelly with Special ice-cream – $6.25

I was originally going to try their mango and basil seed with special ice-cream, but they didn’t have it in stock. So I went for the next mango thing, which was the mango and grass jelly with special ice-cream. At first, I thought they forgot the mango but it was on the bottom. The grass jelly was very smooth, and a sweeter than hers. The special ice-cream is nothing special, it is just Vanilla ice-cream.

The Bill

Overall, I thought the prices were on the high end for desserts. It wasn’t exactly filling, but also didn’t come in any surprise. Room is limited in the restaurant, there are less than a dozen small tables. And it’s not very decorated. This place, like most Asian places, is Cash only. For a dessert place, I don’t think it’ll last because most people eat dessert after dinner. However, this place opens only till 7pm. It’s more like a snack place, if anything at all. We probably won’t be back often, but if you want a taste of Asian dessert after lunch. This just might be the place.

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Location: 8351 River Rd,Richmond, BC V6X 1Y1

Phone: (604) 244-8448

Hours: Fri – Sat: 7PM – 12AM | Sun: 6PM – 11PM

Website: http://www.richmondnightmarket.com/

Cost: $1.50 $2.00/person for ADMISSION. Except for child under 10 and senior over 60 is FREE.
FREE Parking (if available) + Heavy Traffic waiting times (dependant on what time you go).

Hints:

• Go early for less wait time and more parking spots. It doesn’t matter when you go, it’s crowded period.
• ATM, washrooms available
• Be patient! Especially with the crowd.
• Zoom Pass available ($10 or $20)
• Theme for 2013: Duck Land

Richmond Night Market

Finally, it’s summer in Vancouver with a soaring 20 something degrees Celsius outside. I haven’t visited the Richmond Summer night market yet this year, so it’s definitely my first impression (this year). Although many of my food blogger friends have already been there countless times. But here is my personal experience. Hopefully, I’ll be able to shed some light. First of all, I would like to talk about crowd control. I think this was coordinated pretty well. You could see traffic control even before you reach the intersection on No.3 Road and Bridgeport.

Parking Lot

After entering the parking lot, we still had to walk a mile to the main entrance which I thought was absurd. The early birds should fill up the closest parking first! But it doesn’t seem like they bought into the phenomenon of “first come, first serve”.

Before reaching the main entrance, we could see a huge crowd. (And we thought about walking back to the car). But the line did move pretty fast.

We waited in line for about 10 to 15 minutes before getting inside. Like last year, there were staff selling their Zoom passes while people wait in line. (Talk about good marketing!) The zoom passes are packaged in a bundle of $10 or $20. And they allow you to skip the line and head straight to the entrance. It’s good for those who are regular visitors of the night market. Note: The price to admission have increased a whole 33.3% since last year to $2.00 now.

People!!!

People have just increased by an unknown percent in the past year. It was so crowded that there was barely any room to walk pass. This was only shortly after their opening time but also taking into consideration that people come here for dinner. After we made a round all the food booths, we decided to try a few.

“Fu Jai”

Fu Jai

Unlike most other booths, this one doesn’t have an English name. My girlfriend suggested we try their pan-fried noodles for only $3.50! Although, I saw many people try the pork or beef rice roll which was made fresh right away. Maybe the guy above is “Fu Jai”?

Pan-Fried Rice noodle

The portions was pretty good for its price. Instead of the usual toppings, the rice noodle was pan-fried in soya sauce. Then you get to put on your own toppings, including sesame, Hoisin (seafood) sauce, extra soya sauce, and hot sauce. And I extremely liked this booth because they have chopsticks, unlike most other booths which only have  forks or wooden sticks.

Lao Er BBQ Squid

Lao Er BBQ Squid

There were booths that sold BBQ or Deep Fried squid and we’ve had tried different ones throughout the years, so I suggested we try something different this year. And this is where we made a pit stop at “Lao Er BBQ Squid”. I could smell the aroma from a mile away. We got the #1 menu.

BBQ Squid

It came piping hot that I needed a table to put this on immediately. The squid was cooked well and has a cumin-like taste to it. Even though I had ordered #1, it seemed like a mix of squid rings as well. It didn’t really matter because it seemed they give you the same thing. But nonetheless, the tentacles are the best IMHO. There were plenty for the two of us to share.

Chicken Karaage

We didn’t have this. But we ran into @gwenwyw who ordered from this booth that claimed to have the best Chicken Karaage in the city. I haven’t asked her how it was, but at least you can see the actual thing. (Sorry for the infocus, taking “foodtographs” on the go is an extremely talented skill which I guess I haven’t mastered quite yet.)

Not Yo Nachos

We just had to stop here for some nachos. I promised my girlfriend that I’ll make her some nachos a couple weeks ago, but still haven’t lived it up yet. So this is just to substitute the “making” in the meantime.

Not Yo Nachos

“Not Yo Nachos” came in 5 different flavours, we got the original one. And we got it in snack size, which was $1.50 cheaper than the full size.

Not-Yo Nacho

The original came with chips topped with cheese, taco beef, salsa, green onions, jalapeños, and guacamole. We didn’t get the jalapeños cause they were hot. The snack size was pretty decent for its price, those there appears to be a decent size of guac, but it just wasn’t enough for me.

Honey’s BBQ

Instead of trying the usual skewers booth that has been around for awhile, which now averages at $7-$7.50 for 3 skewers, I wanted to try something new. So we tried the Honey’s BBQ skewers at $7 for 3 skewers. We got 2 lambs and 1 beef.

Skewers

The skewers were kept in a warmer, so it wasn’t made instantly. The skewers were warm at most, but since the sun was coming down, it was getting cooler by the bite. The skewers here are not bad, though I’d prefer it to be warmer. We didn’t get to pick flavours/hotness either, it was just given to us. It had the same cumin-like taste as the squid but this was hotter.

Virgin Cocktail

We stopped for a drink before heading home. Not too many lineups, we decided to try Virgin Cocktail.

Fresh Taro Smoothie (Small)

After studying the menu for awhile, we decided to get the fresh taro smoothie. The smoothie was a decent size for $3.75. But it tasted very bland as if they hadn’t added any sugar or glucose at all. However, we definitely tasted the fresh taro.

The Duck(s)

And of course, if you are going to the Richmond Night Market, you can’t miss the iconic duck that is sitting on dry land. It’s iconic of the giant rubber duck parked in Hong Kong for convention earlier this year by Dutch artist, Florentijn Hofman.

The view

And if you parked a mile away from the entrance, don’t forget to enjoy the sunset when you leave. Watch for pedestrians when you leave, they are usually in a swarm.

What is your impression of this year’s Richmond Night Market? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Location: 1703 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C8 (Across from a Starbucks)

Phone: (778) 706-0694

Hours: 

Mon: Closed
Tues – Thurs: 11AM – 11PM
Fri: 11AM – 12AM
Sat: 9AM – 12AM
Sun: 9AM – 11PM

Hints: 

• Paid parking on Robson / Free hourly parking on side streets
• Last call is 30 minutes before closing time
• Sweet or Savoury waffles
• Street patio available in summer
• Long hours
• Talk of town

Nero Belgian Waffle Bar

Nero Belgian Waffle Bar is apparently “Top 2″ talk of town on Urbanspoon right now. My girlfriend originally wanted ice-cream but too bad Earnest Ice-Cream was still not open for business. So we went for a little car ride until we reached downtown and I pulled out my phone and started reading my “Want to Try” list, it took awhile (long list). I finally stumbled upon ‘Nero’ and here we were.

The Menu

The menu wasn’t extensive, but it still took us awhile to decide what to have because they all sounded so good. It doesn’t matter what you have, you must choose between two of their waffles: Brussels of Liege. The Brussels was a light & crispy waffle, while the Liege was a soft, sweet & chewy waffle. We chose to have the Liege.

“Rudolph” – $9

Sorry for the poor quality, only had my iPhone with me and it doesn’t do too well in poor lighting. The Rudolph came with ice cream, whipped cream, a Belgian chocolate mousse and fresh raspberries drizzled with icing sugar and chocolate. The Liege was definitely chewy, I’m not sure if I entirely liked it though. The chocolate mousse was semi-sweet, probably made from dark chocolate. The whipped cream was freshly whipped and has no sugar added because everything was sweet already. The ice cream (not sure if made in-house) but it was good (says the girlfriend).

Overall, a nice little shop with good waffles. The food was good but I’m not sure if it’s a rave. I know I can’t have it everyday. I would probably want to see more selection of fruits. The service was very welcoming as we walked in. Though this place is more like a cafe, where you pre-order and food gets brought to you. The price is a bit on the high-end, considering it is $4 for a plain waffle. But since it’s almost the only thing they sell, they got to make their money somehow.

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Location: 153-5951 Minoru Blvd, Richmond, BC V6X 4B1

Phone: (604) 270-2919

Hours: Wed – Sun: 9AM – 6:00PM, Closed Mon – Tues

Hints: 

• Afternoon/High Tea available (Wed-Sun 12PM – 6PM)
• Pastries, Macarons, Desserts
• Organic Teas

L’Opera Patisserie

L’Opera is a hidden Patisserie on the streets of Minoru in Richmond. I visited them about 2 months ago, but totally forgot to write a post about them. Never too late. L’Opera is a very small restaurant. You could probably see all the tables and chairs from the picture above. Hence, high tea’s are booked days in advanced.

High-Tea Menu

Their high-tea menu is $25 per person and must be booked 2 days in advanced with a minimum of 2 person. I don’t know who would go high tea by themselves.

Cakes

Macarons

L’Opera offers a variety of cakes, pastries, and macarons.

Croissants

The Croissants, though expensive, but they are to die for.

Ham & Cheese Croissant

Almond Croissant

Chocolate Croissant

The Croissants are super flaky. I was lucky to be one of the first to get there in the morning and it just came out of the oven. Absolutely delicious!

Macarons

The Macarons are nicely packed.

Macarons

The best thing I liked about macarons here is that they are less sweet than most other places (my Asian tooth). I loved the Green Tea (bottom right) and Raspberry (top right).

Raspberry macaron

And for anything fruity, there’s actually a fruit inside! It’s amazing.

Cakes

Since it was my girlfriend’s and her sister’s birthday, I bought 5 different cakes instead of one. I don’t believe they have big cakes, just small pastries. In a way it’s great because I get to try all the different kinds.

Summer Basket

A mixture of strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, and raspberry with a berry mousse enclosed by a wall of dark chocolate.

Banan Mille Feiulle

This was like a banana cream in a big flaky cream puff.

New York New York

You probably guessed it, this was a New York original cheesecake. It was very light in texture and fluffy.

Overall, I was quite impressed with the pastries offering at L’Opera. Everything does add up. But L’Opera does offer some quality pastries. I would suggest getting take out as the place is small. But it does have that bakery shop feel, as well as, the cafe feel.

What’s your favourite pastry shop? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Location: C5 – 2229 Kingsway Vancouver, BC V5N 5A1

Phone: (604) 435-8998

Hours:

Mon – Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: Closed

Hints:

• Bubble Tea spot
• Opens late
• Street parking
• Hong Kong style desserts

LoveDrink Café

I saw LoveDrink Cafe when I was visiting Sushi by Yuji last year. My girlfriend and I were feeling like we needed some Asian dessert! And this place popped up. It was rather early in the evening because we had an early dinner. So the place was pretty empty when we were there.

MANGO SAGO POMELO (楊枝甘露)

I got the mango sago pomelo dessert. A bowl filled with mango cubes, sago and strips of pomelo in a mango sweet soup. The mango was sweet for non-mango season. Quite enjoyable if you are a mango lover, like me.

Coconut Taro and mochi

My girlfriend had a hot dessert. It’s a big taro ball with mini mochi’s in a coconut sweet soup. It was an interesting dessert, though the photo is not entirely all that pleasant. But it did taste pretty good.

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Location: #110-6125 Sussex Ave Burnaby, BC V5H 4G1 (Outside Metropolis)

Phone: (604) 559-6125

Website: http://cafejoie.com/

Hints: 

• Street parking (a few free parking on the side streets)
• Study / hangout place
• Patio available in the Summer time
• Variety of goods and sweets

Cafe Joie

Blogging has been on the back burner for me these days. Maybe it’s the Christmas season where I just want to lay back and do nothing or that this blogging business has taken a toll on me and I just need a break from it. But whatever it is, there’s still a fire inside that makes me want to keep this going for a little longer. Anyhow, I’m picking “Cafe Joie” to visit today (actually more like visited last month). I’ve heard from several of my friends say, you must try this place! Every time I hear this phrase, I’ve already put an expectation on it that it must be REALLY REALLY GOOD! Well, not a bad thing. It’s just that I’ve given this place in my heart a higher expectation.

Anyway back to Cafe Joie, it’s my first time here. This place is right outside of Metropolis and this makes it impossible to find FREE parking. Well, almost! I was lucky to find free parking on the side streets. There’s a few spots that are 2 hours and the rest is just metered parking.

Cafe Joie

Upon walking in, I was surprised how many people are here! It’s almost like a Starbucks but filled with Asians. I’m not sure why all Asians, but I guess this place get its customers through word of mouth. They have a pretty large selection of menu items, wished they’d write bigger so I can actually see the menu.

Honey Latte

The espresso menu wasn’t cheap. But looking at their espresso machine, I knew I’d be getting a good cup of caffeine. (I don’t know much about espresso machines, but I can definitely tell if it’s a good one.) My girlfriend and I shared a Honey Latte. It was too sweet! I definitely tasted the honey, but just too sweet for me (might’ve been better if I had gotten half-sweet). If you have a sweet tooth, this would totally satisfy you.

Macarons

My girlfriend insisted we try their macarons (yes, she’s a macaron lover) and so we did. The macarons were alright, not light enough and a bit too sweet for me. It’s like putting sugar in your mouth (literally). I forgot what these flavours were but maybe I’ll fill you in if my girlfriend remembers.

Matcha Fruit Waffle

We were also told that the waffles here were pretty good here, so we had to try it. There were several types of waffles, we opted for the fruit waffle with Matcha ice-cream topped with strawberries, kiwi, whipped cream and a macaron drizzled with green tea extract. I liked the waffles here, it was chewy (kind of tasted like bubble egg waffles. The fruits were definitely fresh fruits, but probably not in season as the fruits tasted sour. Overall, this was quite enjoyable.

Cafe Joie

One thing I really liked about Cafe Joie is that it gives you a buzzer when your order is ready, so you don’t have to stand there and wait for your order. (Something you don’t see often in a small cafe like this one.) Overall, Cafe Joie was an enjoyable experience. The menu items were priced fair. The ambiance felt bright and awakening. And I would definitely try another of their beverages but probably not spend my money on food.

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A new twist on ice-cream is here! There’s lots to love about ice-cream, especially during the summer time. My girlfriend raves for ice-cream and dreams about opening one up, but …one day! Anyways, Soft Peaks is two brothers (Dan & Ken Kim) owned ice-cream joint. What sets them apart? Their ice-cream is made with Avalon organic milk, a touch of sweetness and churned to smooth perfection. It is all-natural, low calories and low fat! (Ok be honest, I got you at low calories!)

Toppings, it’s all about it! They have an unique array of premium toppings, like yuzu marmalade, organic maple syrup with Himalayan pink salt, or a piece of fresh Fraser Valley honeycomb. Prices range from $4.00-$6.75 depending on size and topping.

Image by Soft Peaks

They are having their soft opening right now until February 1st and be sure to join them for their grand opening on the 5th @ noon!

LOCATION: 25 Alexander Street, Vancouver

HOURS: Wednesday-Sunday ​weekly ​from 12:00pm-9:00pm.

Be sure to check them out soon, softpeaks.ca! For those early foodies, who’s tried it during their soft launch, how was it? Let me know in the comments section below!

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