Foursquare City Guide Food Adventure

I plan to try one new restaurant per week but to make it more interesting for each week it should be from one of the Foursquare category. For example, on week 1 we will try an Afghan Restaurant then the following week it will be African Restaurant. It's not just one new restaurant; it will be one different category as well.

Partial list of Foursquare category

Why Foursquare? Because I love it!

The Goal

Why do I want to do this? Well, obviously I love to eat. Next, I love to travel and by trying out different cuisines every week is like getting to know that country and culture through their food. Lastly, I want to explore more of Greater Vancouver area. Actually, this adventure only works because Vancouver (and Canada) is such a diverse city (and country).

The Pick

How do I pick which restaurant to try? I consider the following:

• Distance from home and work. I don't want to travel too far if there's one nearby.
• It should be our first time there.
• Foursquare rating. I read this article from a Foursquare data engineer and I appreciate how she broke down how their rating system works which makes me trust it more.
• Budget. It should be reasonable for two people to dine in.

I actually have picked the first 3 restaurants I want to try - Afghan, African, and Ethiopian. 

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What do you think of this plan?

UPDATE! June 2, 2018. The challenge has changed. We did it once a month instead of weekly because it makes sense from a budget stand point and we sometimes just didn't have time.

Happy Pi Day!

Happy Pi Day! To celebrate today's Pi Day, hubby and I went to Granville Island Public Market in search of pie. I didn't know that there's a store that specializes in the cake! It's like pie heaven.

Coconut Cream Pie, Banana Cream Pie, Blueberry Pie, and Apple Pie

Pumpkin Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie, Pecan Pie, Raspberry Rhubard Pie

A La Mode

Located inside the Public Market, A La Mode offers a wide selection of homemade sweet and savoury pies. Whether you’re after a toasty beef pot pie or a sweet slice of lemon meringue, we’ve got what you’re looking for. Enjoy a slice in the market or take a whole pie home to share.
- Granville Island Directory

My Pick

We decided to try Pecan Pie (my fave) and Apple Pie (because it's safe). Our assessment is pecan pie over apple pie, but it was the BEST apple pie we EVER tried. I don't know why, but in the Philippines, when we try apple pie, it always seems sour.

Apple Pie

Pecan Pie

Pi Day story

In my last 2 years in the Philippines, we celebrate Pi Day with a dear friend. Unfortunately, around our neighbourhood, there's not one pie source, and we always end up eating at fast-food chain Jollibee because they have Peach Mango Pie, which is not really a pie. I am not sure what type of pastry it is.

A box of Peach Mango Pie

Meanwhile, last year, I decided to buy a pie from Save on Foods. It was better than I expected to come from a grocery store, but it was not as delicious (not even close) to the Pecan Pie from A La Mode.

Pecan Pie from Save on Foods

How did you celebrate Pi Day?