Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

Is it even a Canadian morning if you aren’t checking the app for the latest Tim Hortons menu? With the World Cup energy in the air, Tims decided to play ball by releasing four brand-new Timbit flavours. Of course, I had to grab a bag and do the "hard work" of tasting them all for you. Pull up a chair, grab your coffee, and let’s chat about which ones are worth the trek and which ones you can leave at the counter. The Smooch Food Ranking (Worst to Best) 4. The Lime Cheesecake Filled I really wanted to love this one. I was expecting a bright, zesty punch to wake up my taste buds, but it fell a little flat. It wasn't quite tart enough for me, and the dough felt a bit dry. If you’re looking for that citrus zing, this might not be the one. The new Lime Cheesecake flavour was a bit dry and lacked tartness. 3. The Chocolate Crème Brûlée Filled This on...

Happy Saturday! This is dangerous. I'm craving restaurant food but lazy to do anything, and I think delivery is expensive. It's dangerous that we have Mr. Sushi so close that I don't mind wearing a hoodie and even slippers to grab a quick dinner. A quick dinner means two special rolls, veggie yakisoba, and assorted tempura. The Special Rolls: Cheetos vs. Mike's The last time we were at Mr. Sushi I grabbed the first ( Taylor's ) and last ( Karl's ) special roll on the list. This time I got number 2 and 3: Cheetos ($11.75) and Mike's ($12) . Of the first three rolls priced under $12, Mike's is the one I'll order again. Mike's Roll: It’s similar to Taylor's but without the heaviness. It's also a deep-fried roll with cream cheese, but the tuna roll is lighter. ...

After a busy office day and a rich Indian lunch, figuring out dinner can be a challenge. Luckily, I have my own secret weapon: my husband’s food checklist . It is a running list of everywhere I’ve ordered from for team lunches that he still needs to try. Since I’ve had Dingding Restaurant on Seymour for work before, we decided it was finally his turn. While I love a company-paid lunch, nothing beats a dinner with my husband where I can order everything I want without worrying about a budget or if I look like I haven't eaten in a week! The Vibe When we walked in, the restaurant was unfortunately empty, which felt a bit sad. I am always happy to support local small businesses, and the quiet atmosphere meant our food came out fast and the service was attentive. The Spread I’ve learned from my previous visits (like the time I made a note never to order the pork dumplings again!), so we stuck to some proven winners and added a few new items to ...

Happy Thursday, which means lunch was on the company! I was the lucky winner who got to pick the cuisine, and I went straight for Indian food . One of my colleagues is heading back to India for a two-week vacation, and we figured she shouldn't have to wait until she lands to enjoy a good meal! We took a stroll through Yaletown and ended up at Tasty Indian Bistro . If the name sounds familiar, it’s probably because it’s been all over the news lately—apparently, Nick Jonas was just here a few weeks ago! He reportedly loved the Palak Paneer so much he took an order to-go, so you know the vibes are high-status. The Order While the celebrity connection is fun, I’m a creature of habit. I went with my usual: Chicken Vindaloo ($21.00) at a medium heat, paired with their pillowy Garlic Naan ($4.75). My usual order at Tasty Indian Bistro: a medium-heat Chicken Vindaloo, garnished beauti...

Thursdays are my "early bird" days. I’m in the office by 8:00 am, which usually feels like a marathon before the day even begins. To make it a bit sweeter, I’ve started treating myself to a Lyft ride—a little bubble of peace before the back-to-back meetings kick in. Previously, my heart (and stomach) belonged to the Tim Hortons Farmers Breakfast Wrap . But as I’m keeping a closer eye on my sodium and saturated fat intake, I’ve had to bid that salty, savoury friend a bittersweet farewell. Yesterday, my Lyft driver dropped me off right in front of the historic Post building , and I realized I had 10 minutes to spare. I frequent the Loblaws City Market inside The Post at least once a week and have tried almost everything from "The Canteen" hot bar for lunch and dinner, but I was surprised to find they serve a full breakfast spread too! The Discovery It was so early that the price tags weren't even out yet, but the kitchen w...