Smooch Food: Love Letters to Every Bite

A Sunday Morning Ritual: Tim Hortons Custard Tart Our Sunday began with a peaceful walk from home toward the church for morning Mass. There is a certain quiet beauty in the Vancouver streets on a Sunday morning—a stillness that invites the soul to rest. We decided to pause for a quick breakfast at Tim Hortons , the perfect moment to try their newest release and add another chapter to my smooch-worthy quest for local treats. Practical Bites & Prices Alongside our usual breakfast, we shared the latest addition to the pastry shelf. Here are my honest thoughts on this Sunday treat: Custard Tart ($2.69): The heart of this tart—the custard—was creamy and sweet , pairing beautifully with a hot cup of coffee. However, the crust was a bit of a heartbreak ; it felt stale rather than flaky . If the pastry had just a touch more crispness , it would have been a total winner! Custard Tart from Tim Hortons The Tart Rankings In my search for the perfect bi...

Happy Thursday! Today brought our usual company-paid team lunch, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the theme: Indian cuisine . Since I had just experienced such a wonderful , decadent feast at Mount Everest Kitchen the night before, I knew today was about making kind , smart choices for my body. While I am usually the first to reach for my favourite rich curries, I stayed disciplined and chose a simpler path. It felt like a virtuous yet deeply satisfying way to fuel a busy office day. Practical Bites & Prices A dear colleague, who shares the rich heritage of India, mentioned that the dal would be delicious paired with rice. It was so tempting , but I stood my ground, anchored by the memories of last night’s indulgence. Here is the comforting duo I enjoyed: Yellow Dal Fry ($19.00): These yellow split lentils were aromatic and perfectly tempered with onion and tadka. Every spoonful felt like a warm , nutritious hug in a bowl. Yellow Dal Fry fr...

🏔️ A Soulful Supper: Mount Everest Kitchen & Bar It was a solemn Ash Wednesday, and after attending Mass, hubby and I set out for dinner with our dear 89-year-old friend. After going back and forth on where to settle, he suggested Mount Everest Kitchen & Bar . They’ve recently opened a beautiful new location in the heart of Kitsilano at York Avenue and Yew Street, and it felt like the perfect place to gather. Our friend had visited just a few nights prior, and the wonderful staff remembered him immediately. Their kind hospitality shone through as they treated us to complementary carrot ginger soup on the house. To God be the glory for the gift of friendship and such warm welcomes! Practical Bites & Prices This was the one meal where I truly lacked any sort of control or worry about my diet or health . I haven't eaten this much food in about two months, but every savoury , rich bite was a joy . Here is our docume...

Birthdays simply aren't complete without a cake to mark the milestone. After our lovely dinner at HALINÁ Modern Filipino Kitchen , I asked hubby what his heart desired, and he chose a classic chocolate cake. We took a scenic walk down Nanaimo Street to Cake It Easy , a bakery that celebrates Filipino-inspired flavours. I confess, I really wanted to try their vibrant ube cake, but since it wasn't my birthday yet, hubby had his pick! We brought our treats home to enjoy with a warm cup of tea after our brisk 5km walk from Nanaimo back toward Main Street. This walk was the perfect way to burn off those HALINÁ carbs and make room for birthday sweets. Practical Bites Cake It Easy is a gem for those who love traditional sweets with a modern twist. Here is what we shared for the final celebration of the night: Chocolate Dubai Cake: This was a decadent and rich choice. It featured smooth chocolate mousse and crunchy pistachio kataifi in the middle, t...

A Birthday Tribute: Modern Filipino Flavours at HALINÁ Today is hubby’s birthday, which means a mission to fulfill his specific food wish. This year, I failed. He requested suman , and despite searching our usual spots around Joyce and Fraser, we came up empty-handed. To compensate for the lack of suman, we headed to the one-year-old HALINÁ Modern Filipino Kitchen + Bar in Vancouver . I’ve seen their modern Filipino dishes popping up on my Instagram feed for a while, and I was keen to finally taste their creative take on our favourite classics. Sharing this special day with you, hubby, is my greatest joy. Even without the suman, our time together felt like a gift . Happy birthday, love love! Practical Bites & Prices We settled into the vibrant atmosphere of HALINÁ to see if their innovative menu lived up to the hype. Here is our birthday documentation: Lumpiang Shanghai ($16.00): I still think Little Ongpin ’s...