Exploring Filipino Flavours: A Food Tour of the Pinoy Festival in Burnaby

Happy Saturday! As part of our foodie weekend, we continued the festivities with a trip to the vibrant Pinoy Festival at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. It was the perfect way to celebrate a belated Mom's birthday and Father's Day with the whole family!

Pinoy Festival in Burnaby

Of course, no Filipino festival is complete without exploring the incredible food scene. I embarked on a delicious pork barbecue adventure, sampling skewers from four vendors.

Pinoy Festival in Burnaby

Before I share our food adventure with you, below is a complete list of food vendors at Pinoy Festival.

• Potato Corner
• Kona Ice
• Peace Sweetz (Hawaiian Style Shave Ice)
• Tokyo Katsu-Sand
• Kyu Grill
• Street Food Hustle
• Manila's Finest food truck from Kelowna
• Chay's Delight
• Macau Imperial Tea
• Mukasi Coffee
• Grandt Kitchen Filipino Cuisine
• Hapag Ihaw-Ihaw
• Plato Filipino
• Pampanga's Cuisine
• Boodle Filipino Fiesta
• Manny's Grill

Manny's Grill

Our journey began with a classic pairing - pork barbecue and pancit. Manny's Grill's barbecue took me right back to childhood. The melt-in-your-mouth pork offered the perfect balance of sweet, savoury, and a touch of fatty richness. It was absolutely the best barbecue we had all day, begging to be devoured with fluffy white rice. Unfortunately, the pancit fell a bit short. While flavorful, it lacked the variety of ingredients that make this stir-fried noodle dish truly special.

Pork Barbecue and Pancit from Manny's Grill

Streetfood Hustle Food Truck

My next stop was Streetfood Hustle, where I shared a single pork barbecue skewer with my husband. Their take on the dish was a delightful contrast. The marinade leaned towards a savoury soy sauce base, highlighting the natural flavour of the leaner cut of pork.

Pork Barbecue from Streetfood Hustle

Manila's Finest Food Truck

The next stop was worth the wait! Manila's Finest, a Kelowna-based gem, offered a street food sampler that was an explosion of textures and flavours. The fish balls, kikiam (deep-fried meat spring rolls), and squid balls were perfectly cooked, each bursting with savoury goodness that reminded me of the streets of Manila. This was hands-down the best Filipino street food I've had since moving to Vancouver!

Pork Barbecue and Streetfood Platter from Manila's Finest 

We also tried their pork barbecue, which, while a touch sweet, was unfortunately a bit too lean for my preference. The siomai (steamed pork dumplings) didn't quite live up to my expectations either, lacking the rich flavour I was hoping for. (For delicious Filipino siomai, Macau Imperial Tea still holds the crown so far!)

Siomai from Manila's Finest

Thankfully, their halo-halo completely redeemed itself. This shaved ice dessert was pure perfection, a symphony of colourful ingredients like sweetened beans, jellies, fruits, and leche flan. It had everything you could ask for in a halo-halo, all perfectly balanced. Absolutely divine!

Halo-Halo from Manila's Finest

Boodle Filipino Fiesta

Our final food stop of the day was Boodle Filipino Fiesta. While the wait for their grilled Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog was long (an hour in line followed by another 30 minutes for the food itself), the first bite made it all worthwhile. This hotdog is exactly what I expected, begging for a generous drizzle of ketchup and a plate of fluffy rice to complete the experience.

Red Jumno TJ Hotdogs and Pork BBQ from Boodle Filipino Fiesta 

I also tried their pork barbecue, which delivered the perfect sweet and savoury balance I craved. However, a touch more fat would have elevated it to new heights.

Despite the delicious food, I felt a little lighter than expected. It could be the lack of readily available rice or the long lines between food stops.

A minor suggestion for future Pinoy festivals: having the food vendors with a view of the stage would allow hungry patrons to enjoy the performances while waiting in line. Additionally, placing food vendors closer to the non-food vendors might encourage more browsing, especially for those primarily focused on culinary delights. (For the record, my youngest sister did find some adorable crocheted octopus and snail plushies, while my younger sister scored some beautiful candles!)

Overall, the Pinoy Festival was a fantastic way to celebrate Filipino culture with my family. The food was incredible, and the atmosphere was vibrant.

Warm Springtime Bliss: A Review of Picnic Peach Cobbler Blizzard from Dairy Queen

Warm spring is in full swing, and what better way to celebrate the warm weather than with a delicious and refreshing treat? Dairy Queen's newest Blizzard creation, the Picnic Peach Cobbler, promises a taste of spring sunshine in every spoonful. We enjoyed a mini version of this Blizzard at Metrotown today.

This limited-edition Blizzard boasts a delightful combination of real peach pieces and buttery cobbler pieces, all blended with Dairy Queen's iconic soft serve.

Picnic Peach Cobbler Blizzard from Dairy Queen

The peach flavour is present but not overpowering, offering a refreshing burst of summer sweetness. The cobbler pieces add a delightful textural contrast, with their buttery crumbles adding a satisfying richness to the creamy base.

If you're a fan of Dairy Queen's Blizzards, the Picnic Peach Cobbler is a must-try. It's a unique and flavorful twist on the classic dessert.

Below is a list of Blizzard Treats from Dairy Queen that we have tried.

Cake Batter Cookie Dough Blizzard Treat Caramel Fudge Cheesecake Blizzard Treat COFFEE CRISP® Caramel Macchiato Blizzard Treat Cotton Candy Blizzard Treat OREO® Hot Cocoa Blizzard Treat Picnic Peach Cobbler Blizzard Treat

Pumpkin Pie Blizzard Treat REESE'S® Caramel Pretzel Blizzard® Treat REESE'S® Peanut Butter Cup Pie Blizzard® Treat Skor® Blizzard Treat Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Blizzard® Treat

A Taste of Taiwan at TJ Fest

It's TJ Fest weekend in Burnaby, and the promise of a culinary adventure was too tempting to resist! We arrived shortly after noon, ready to explore the diverse Taiwanese dishes. While the wait times were long (over an hour!), the anticipation only amplified our excitement.

Our exploration began with the Vegetarian Bao Bun. The pillowy-soft buns cradled a savoury filling so incredibly flavorful it was hard to believe it was meat-free.

Vegetarian Bao Bun from TJ Fest

Next up was the Taiwanese Omelette. The sweet-and-sour sauce drizzled on top was a flavour explosion, perfectly complementing the fluffy texture of the egg.

Taiwanese Omelette from TJ Fest

The Vermicelli Stir-Fry was another winner. It evoked a sense of comforting familiarity. The savoury notes reminded me of pancit dishes from the Philippines but with a distinct Taiwanese twist that kept things exciting.

Vermicelli Stir-Fry from TJ Fest

While my usual go-to at Taiwanese food stalls is the popcorn chicken, the Spicy Crispy Tofu seemed a tempting and potentially healthier alternative. This choice proved to be a wise one! The tofu was perfectly cooked, with a satisfying crispiness, and the sauce elevated it to a whole new level of flavour.

Spicy Crispy Tofu from TJ Fest

After devouring our delicious finds (hunger pangs do wonders for your appetite!), we embarked on a 4km walk to Metrotown for some shopping – a perfect way to burn off some of those delicious calories.

TJ Fest is a true celebration of Taiwanese culture and cuisine. Despite the wait times, the delicious food, vibrant atmosphere, and opportunity to experience something new make it a worthwhile adventure. So, mark your calendars for next year and join the festivities—your taste buds will thank you!

Gimme Coxinhas Party Box

Remember that mouthwatering breakfast from New Town Bakery to celebrate the Lunar New Year? Our global food fiesta continued as we embarked on a lunchtime trip to Brazil with a Gimme Coxinhas Party Box! Packed with 30 pieces of deliciousness, it arrived just in time at 12:30. Our colleague, who was born and raised in Brazil, chose all the content of our party box.

While enjoying our food, we discussed which one we liked the most. The chicken coxinha, a classic deep-fried croquette, packed a juicy punch. The cheese balls brought back comforting childhood memories with their pure cheesy goodness. But the surprising champion? The ham & cheese rolls. Their simplicity proved divine, with each bite a delightful harmony of savoury ham and melted cheese wrapped in a flaky pastry shell.

Chicken Coxinhas, Cheese Ball, and Ham and Cheese Roll in our Gimme Coxinhas Party Box

Our sweet tooth wouldn't be ignored! A box of churros, traditional chocolate brigadeiros, and coconut "little kisses" arrived with our party box. The churros, dusted with cinnamon sugar and dipped in dulce de leche, were warm, gooey perfection. The brigadeiros, rich and decadent, satisfied any chocolate craving. And the coconut "little kisses," light and airy, were like tiny bursts of sunshine on the palate.

Dulce de Leche, Traditional Chocolate, and Coconut "little kiss" in our Gimme Coxinhas Party Box

Full bellies led us straight into our meeting with our APAC team. This wasn't just about food; it was about connecting across cultures! Our day was a global culinary adventure, from Lunar New Year breakfast to a Brazilian lunch feast. It fostered a sense of community and reminded us that the world is truly our dinner plate!

Chicken and Fish Katsu from Tokyo Katsu-Sand Food Truck

 Hubby and I travelled to Burnaby to see the festivities at Pinoy Festival.

Pinoy Festival 2023 at Burnaby

There were a lot of booths for Filipino merchandise, Filipino realtors, immigration consultants, and different groups and societies. Unfortunately, there were only four food vendors (not counting Macao Imperial Tea), and they're set up side-by-side. The line is crazy for each one, and they're on top of each other. It's hard to know which line goes to which vendor.

That's why we opted for the food truck Tokyo Katsu-Sand even though the Filipino Pork BBQ skewers smell so good. 🤤

We ordered the Chicken-Katsu and Fish-Katsu. Both are delicious, but the fish is definitely better. Because the bread is perfectly toasted and crispy, the delicate meat of the fish provides such a soft contrast.

Chicken-Katsu
Deep-fried chicken cutlet, shredded cabbage, homemade chicken-katsu sauce, and mustard-mixed mayonnaise

I'll go for the fish again next time. Or maybe the Ebi will be back, and we can try it too.

Fish-Katsu
Deep-fried black code cutlet, shredded cabbage, homemade tartar sauce, and homemade fish-katsu sauce

The Pinoy Fiesta was fun, but I prefer the Proudly Philippines Food and Travel Fair just because there are more food options. 😁 Hubby suggested that each Filipino society could sell its own product or partner with a food vendor for one (imagine buying Bicol Express or Pili Nuts from the Bicol Association).

I'm still deciding whether to travel to Surrey for Extravaganza; we'll see what our schedule is like then. 😁

Pinoy Festival 2023 in Burnaby

Over 25 established Filipino Groups from the Greater Vancouver area and beyond will come together to bring Pinoy Festival 2023 in Burnaby.

Pinoy Festival Burnaby 2023
Image Source: Pinoy Festival - Burnaby Facebook page

When is Pinoy Festival 2023?

Pinoy Festival 2023 is on June 24, 2023 (Saturday) from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Where is Pinoy Festival 2023?

The event is at the Burnaby Civic Square Metrotwon in Burnaby.

What to expect in Pinoy Festival 2023?

Pinoy Festival 2023 will start with a procession 'Hala Bira!

• Experience Filipino cultural performances
• Filipino Indie film showing
• Performances by local Filipino artists like Chordiller, Easy Play, Eskape Band, and Let's Go Boys,
• Filipino Market (Tiangge)
• Food Trucks

To end the festival, there will be a santacruzan, a Filipino pageantry featuring Filipino Beauty Queens.

David Eby, the Premier if British Columbia (BC) will join the event at around 2:45 PM alongside Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). The mayor of Burnaby, Mike Hurley and councilors will also be at the event at around 12:15 PM.

Filipino Market Non-Food Vendors

63 Coffee Artsy Candle Eunoia Naturale

House of Little Bunny Sun City Optics

ARC Bath & Kitchen Solution (Installation and Renovation) JCM Kitchen Treasure Saladmaster

Filipino Market Food Vendors

Chay's Delight Cucina Balai

Macao Imperial Tea Pampanga's Cuisine

Plato Filipino Potato Corner Tokyo Katsu-Sand

Is there an entrance fee for Pinoy Festival 2023?

Pinoy Festival 2023 in Burnaby is free.

Costco Food Court Menu and Prices | Willingdon Burnaby BC Warehouse

The menu below is from the Costco food court in their Willingdon, Burnaby BC location (4500 Stil Creek Drive) and is subject to change without prior notice. All prices are in Canadian dollars and do not include taxes. It is similar to the menu in Costco at Expo Blvd, Vancouver, BC.

Costco is a popular wholesale retailer known for its bulk goods, low prices, and of course, its food court. The Costco Food Court is a favorite among shoppers, offering a range of tasty and affordable food options for both members and non-members.

Below is a link to other Costco Food Court Menu and Prices that I have visited. I am planning to make #CostcoTourism a thing.

• Richmond, BC Warehouse
• Vancouver, BC Warehouse
• Willingdon Burnaby, BC Warehouse
• Hawthorne Los Angeles, CA Warehouse
• South Austin, TX Warehouse

Menu Item	Price
Pop 20 oz with refill	$0.89
Ice Cream Cone Vanilla or Chocolate	$2.89
Ice Cream Sundae Caramel, Chocolate, or Berry	$3.49
Pizza Slice Pepperoni or Cheese	$2.59
18" Whole Pizza Pepperoni or Cheese	$12.99
1/4 Pound Hotdog and 20 oz pop with refill All Beef or Polish Sausage	$1.50
Chicken Strips and Fries	$6.99
French Fries	$2.99
Poutine	$5.99
Gravy	$0.30

Overall, the Costco Food Court is a great option for those looking for tasty, affordable, and convenient food options while shopping at Costco. Whether you're in the mood for a classic hot dog, a slice of pizza, or something else entirely, the food court has something for everyone. So the next time you're at Costco, be sure to stop by and try out the food court for yourself!

My Favourite Taiwanese Food at TJ Fest in Burnaby

It's no secret that I enjoy Taiwanese food, and I wrote here a few times that it started because of a small (now closed) eatery in Makati called Dang Dee. However, my introduction to the cuisine is quite limited to Popcorn Chicken, Taiwanese Sausage, and Fried Pork Chops, usually served with white rice, an egg, and pickled or steamed vegetables.

We went to TJ Fest in Burnaby today, and I got to enjoy all my favourite Taiwanese dishes.

Inside Tinjin Temple

Tianjin Temple in Burnaby organizes annually a festival which showcases their culture with performances and food. It's smaller than the annual Taiwanfest in Downtown Vancouver during Labour Day weekend, but it's less crowded and has better food options.

TJ Fest Stage

They sell many dishes, but we went with what we're familiar with, like the fried pork chop bento box, popcorn chicken bento box, a side of 2x Taiwanese sausage, and Taiwanese pork belly burger. This is our first meal for the day!

Popcorn Chicken Bento Box

The chicken has a crispy, crunchy texture and is tender and juicy. It's savoury, and umami flavour is perfect with soft white rice. The pickled radish is the ideal palate cleanser, so you can take another bite without feeling heavy.

Deep-Fried Pork Chop Bento Box

The deep-fried pork chop is as flavourful and fattier than the chicken popcorn, but it could be more crispy.

Taiwanese Pork Belly Burger

It's folded soft steamed bun filled with a thick slice of braised pork belly, mustard greens, and fresh cilantro. The pork is tender, while the pickled mustard greens add a tangy crunch. It's surprisingly enjoyable.

Taiwanese Pork Sausage

Taiwanese Pork Sausage has the perfect balance between sweet and savoury flavour. Surprisingly, it's not as fatty and oily as I expect it to be. The pickled vegetables did help.

After enjoying our meal while enjoying the performances on stage. We walked around to see the different vendors and enjoyed ice cream from one of the food trucks. As soon as we finished our ice cream, we went to Costco nearby.

Dessert from Stuffies Pastries inside Metropolis At Metrotown

After buying medicine and as we're walking on our way to the food court, I spot the adorable Stuffies Pastry Cafe. I told my husband that we should buy one after dinner.

Orient Express Stuffies Soft-Serve
Creamy, vegan vanilla soft-served with mochi skewer, read bean paste, and rice crispies  in a vegan fish-shaped waffle cone

Yes, it does look like a fish is eating our dessert. The waffle cone was delicious and was perfect with the red bean paste and soft-serve ice cream.

The pastry reminded me of Oishi Manju and Moshi Manju which we enjoyed from a mall stand near the arcade where our mom used to leave us while she goes shopping and running errands. I'll try more Stuffies next time.

Dinner from The Bake House in Metropolis at Metrotown food court

As if the dinner from Manchu Wok is insufficient we decided to try food the The Bake House since we haven't seen it in any of the food courts we've had the chance to visit.

It took as awhile to choose a dish, but settled on the Seafood Alfredo with a side of Croissant and Creamy Mushroom Soup.

Seafood Alfredo
Salmon, prawn, scallop, imitated crab meat, mushroom, and onion

The pasta is better than I imagined coming from a stand in the food court. It's not mind-blowing by any means, but delicious.

The same can be said about the Creamy Mushroom Soup and Croissant.

Dinner from Manchu Wok at Metropolis at Metrotown food court

I have an ear infection on my right ear and setup an appointment with our family doctor this afternoon. He looked at my ear and asked a bunch of questions and gave me a prescription for antibiotics.

After the appointment and buying medication, we went to the Metropolis at Metrotown food court for dinner. We looked at the available options and decided based on whether we've seen it in Pacific Center or Richmond Center food courts.

That's how I end up ordering from Manchu Wok. I'm in a lot of pain because of my ear and just want to shove food in my face. I also don't feel like writing in this blog which is sad because this is one of my happy place.

Dinner from Manchu Wok

I chose three items on top of fried rice. My three items were General Tso's Chicken, Salt & Pepper Fish, and BBQ Pork.

My favourite is the BBQ Pork. It's so fatty and delicious. What I ordered is too much for one person, so hubby and I shared it.

Goldilocks Bakeshop Canada updated Bakery Menu and price as of June 2022

This menu is based on the Instagram story on the Goldilocks Canada account.

Goldilocks Canada Restaurant Menu

You can view the restaurant menu by clicking this link.

Goldilocks Canada Bakery Menu

The prices below are in Canadian dollars and are subject to change without prior notice.

Bread Menu

Bread
Product Name	Description	Pieces or Size	Price
Baliwag Pandesal	Dinner Roll	12 pieces per pack	$3.50
Pandesal	Sweet Dinner Roll	12 pieces per pack	$4.75
Pandeleche	Sweet Hawaiian Bread	12 pieces per pack	$3.50
Pandesiosa	Sweet Milk Bread with butter and sugar		$3.50
Loaf	Available flavours: Buko Pandan Red Bean Ube (Purple Yam) Yellow Bean		$4.25
Cream Cheese Loaf		6"	$3.50
		8"	$7.00

Brownies and Cookies

Brownies and Cookies
Product Name	Flavours	Pieces or Size	Price
Brownies with Walnuts		Slice	$2.85
		Whole	$20.50
Crinkles	Chocolate or Ube (Purple Yam)	Piece	$1.50
		Pack of 6	$7.50
Lengua de Gato	Available flavours: Cookies and Cream Red Velvet Ube (Purple Yam) Vanilla		$6.25
Peanuts with Garlic			$4.75
Sylvana	Available flavours: Classic Chocolate	Pack of 6	$14.00

Ensaymada (Brioche)

Ensaymada
Product Name	Description	Pieces or Size	Price
Cheesy Ensaymada			$3.25
Macapuno Ensaymada	Young Coconut String inside		$3.00
Ube Ensaymada	Purple Yam Filling		$3.00
Ubelicious Ensaymada	Purple Yam brioche and filling		$3.00
Jonah Ensaymada - Regular	Mini Cheese Ensaymada	6 pieces per pack	$5.75
		12 pieces per pack	$10.25
Jonah Ensaymada - Ube	Mini Ube Ensaymada	6 pieces per pack	$6.00
		12 pieces per pack	$10.50

Mamon (Sponge Cakes)

Mamon (Sponge Cakes)
Flavour	Price
Classic	$2.80
Mamon	$2.80
Special Cheese	$3.10
Special Ube	$3.10
Taisan Classic	$6.25
Taisan Ube	$6.25

Polvoron (Manila Shortbread)

Polvoron (Manila Polvoron)
Flavour	Price
Classic	$10.50
Pinipig (Pounded Rice)	$10.50
Cookies and Cream	$11.00
Ube	$12.00
Assorted (3 of each flavour)	$12.00

Filipino Native

Filipino Native
Product Name	Description	Pieces or Size	Price
Bibingka Galapong	Glutinous rice cake with salted egg		$7.00
Buko Pie	Young coconut meat / Fillipino-style coconut pie		$27.00
Cathedral Window	Gelatin Dessert		$10.00
Crema de Fruta	Filipino Fruit Cake		$14.25
Egg Pie	Filipino Egg Custard Pie	Slice	$5.50
		8" Whole	$21.25
Leche Flan	A caramel custard/flan	Slice	$3.75
		6" Whole	$12.25
Puto or Assorted Puto	Filipino steamed rice cake		$9.50
Cuchinta	Steamed glutinous rice cake		$6.75

Hopia - $4.75

Flaky pastry with a paste of different flavours:

• Pork (Baboy)
• Buko Pandan
• Red Bean
• Yellow Bean
• Ube (Purple Yam)

Cake Rolls and Slices Menu

Cake Rolls and Slices
Cake	Flavour	Price
Braco de Mercedes	Lemon Cusard	$13.50
	Ube (Purple Yam)
Buttercream Roll	Chocolate	$13.50
	Marble
	Mocha
	Ube (Purple Yam)
	Vanilla
Buttercream Roll with Macapuno	Mocha Macapuno	$14.25
	Ube Macapuno
Ganache Roll		$14.25
Mango Buttercream Roll		$15.25
Jelly Roll No icing outside	Chocolate	$8.00
	Marble
	Mocha
	Ube (Purple Yam)
	Vanilla
Jelly Roll with Macapuno	Mocha Macapuno	$8.75
	Ube Macapuno

Chiffon & Premium Cakes Menu

Our Chiffon Cakes are iced and filled with buttercream. Our Premium Cakes are made with our royale cake whic is a denser cake than our chiffon (like a butter/pound cake) that has whipping cream icing that has vanilla ice cream mixed into it. We usual store our Premium Cakes in the freezer.

Chiffon & Premium Cakes
Cake and Flavour	Size	Price
Buttercream Cakes: Chocolate Mocha Ube (Purple Yam) Vanilla	8"	$23.50
	8" x 12"	$43.00
Ganache (Dark Chocolate) & Marble (Chocolate & Vanilla Swirl with a ganache filling)	8"	$26.00
	8" x 12"	$45.00
Premium Cakes: Chocolate Delight Coconut Mango Coconut Ube (Purple Yam) Mango Ube (Purple Yam) Cookies & Cream Jamocha Fudge	6"	$20.00
	8"	$27.00
	8" x 12"	$49.00
Premium Cake: Black Forest and Rainbow	6"	$21.25
	8"	$30.50
	8" x 12"	$63.75
Sans Rival	8"	$32.50
	9" x 9"	$39.50
	9" x 13"	$52.75

NOTE: For pricing on bigger sizes, give our store a call to inquire and place your order.

Goldilocks Locations:

Burnaby

Address: 101-3728 North Fraser Way
Phone number: 604-736-7744
* Hours: Monday - Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm

Vancouver

Address: 2833 Main Street
Phone number: 604-876-2464
* Hours: Monday - Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm

---

* Hours are subject to change without prior notice.

As of November 1, 2022 charges on all bags and boxes will apply.

Yaguchiya Ramen is moving from Burnaby to Vancouver

Yaguchiya Ramen announced in its Instagram account that it will be closing the restaurant in Burnaby. Their current location will be demolished to give way for a new building.

Screenshot of Instagram announcement

Their last day at the current location (4679 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 2B3) is on June 20, 2022.

It's not all doom and gloom because they will move to 1521 West Broadway, Vancouver BC (which is the previous location of Bob Likes Thai Food) and be part of the vibrant South Granville food scene.

I am so excited to finally get a ramen shop so close. Right now, the closest ramen shop is in South Cambie (West Broadway and Cambie Street) on the east and Gyo-Para on the west which is all the way in Arbutus street. On northwest, there's Danbo Ramen on West 4th Avenue.

I can't wait to see Yaguchiya Ramen.

2023 September 12 Update:

Yaguchiya Ramen just posted on Instagram that they are moving with Kamei on Broadway at 601 West Broadway.

I can't wait to have their ramen again.

Screenshot of Instagram announcement

Dinner at Acqua Restaurant + Bar

I had a busy Saturday. We were running errands all morning, and at around noon, we were buying food from the "Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver!".

I had dinner with former colleagues organized by the previous company I worked for in the evening. It's pretty awkward to be in the same room with employees who resigned and are still working for the company, to say the least. However, it's nice to see colleagues who became friends.

I had two drinks: Pacific Breeze and She Sells Sea Shells.

Pacific Breeze
Coconut water, iced tea, muddled mint, and lime.

She Sells Sea Shells
Sparkling wine, sweet vermouth syrup, lemon, orange, and soda

For an appetizer, I ordered the Calamari. Meanwhile, for my entree, I selected the Seafood Garganelli Pasta.

Seafood Garganelli Pasta
Salmon, prawns, mussels, pesto, and white wine herb cream sauce (served with garlic bread)

Calamari
Peppers, jalapenos, tartar sauce, and chipotle aioli

To end the evening, I enjoyed a Lava Cake.

Lava Cake
Warm chocolate cake covered with summer berries and ice cream

The food was acceptable. It's nothing to go crazy about, but the portions are small that's why we had to order appetizers and entrees. The drinks were excellent though.

Bingsu from Sulmida Snow Dessert Cafe

Bingsu is something we always see Mike Chen (Strictly Dumplings) eat in his videos when in South Korea. After our ramen dinner at Yaguchiya Ramen, we had dessert from Sulmida Snow Dessert Cafe.

Green Tea and Red Bean Sulmida Mini Bingsu Cups

It was raining this evening, but the cafe is so warm that enjoying the Bingsu is such a comfort.

Korean Dessert Cafe

What is Bingsu?

"Bingsu, sometimes written as bingsoo, is a Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings that may include chopped fruit, condensed milk, fruit syrup, and red beans. The most common variety is pat-bingsu, the red bean shaved ice." - Wikipedia

Dinner at Yaguchiya Ramen

Happy Tuesday! Our family doctor is near Metrotown, which means every appointment is an opportunity to explore the different restaurants in the area.

It was raining all day, which is expected in Vancouver, but we usually just stay home most days. However, the trip going all the way to Burnaby felt so much longer than it really was. The rain, traffic, and everything was such a great reminder why hubby and I decided and wanted to stay in our current neighbourhood close to work, groceries, church, and almost everything we need - except a family doctor, apparently.

It's not all bad. We would grab groceries at The Canadian Superstore and decided to walk the crosswalk, and the first restaurant we saw was Yaguchiya Ramen. I was hesitant at first because the restaurant looked small outside, but it's a decent size inside, and it's well-lit as well. They also checked vaccination cards, and they refused a couple who failed to download their vaccination card. The host recommended they order takeout instead. Thankfully they did without fuss and drama.

Ramen

I ordered my usual Miso Ramen, and it was delicious but not as impressive as the Yaguchiya Special Ramen which hubby ordered. I kept getting a spoonful of broth from his bowl.

Yaguchiya Special Ramen
Pork and chicken broth, three pork chashu, seasoned egg, spinach, roasted seaweed and leeks with shoyu base.

Miso Ramen
Pork and chicken broth, pork chashu, bean sprouts, corn, and chives with miso base.

Sides

For the sides, I ordered Gyoza and Yaguchiya Bun. The Gyoza is as expected from a ramen shop - it didn't taste like it's been in the freezer forever. I love the fluffy buns. I ordered two, but they only have one left, which we had to share.

Yaguchiya Bun (braised pork belly bun) and 5 pieces of Gyoza

I was already telling hubby that we need to come back and try the other ramen when we're in the area again.

Cool History

Here is a short history of Yaguchiya Ramen.

Yaguchiya Ramen is an iekei style of ramen that originated from Yokohama, Japan, in 1994. In 1997, the second restaurant opened in Hiratsuka City. Finally, the 3rd location opened 20 years later (2017) in Burnaby, BC, Canada!

It's been so long since I've had ramen inside a restaurant, and it's such a comforting food and meal. Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful experience.

Lunch delivery from KamayKainan

Happy Friday! For lunch today, I had Filipino food delivered from the KamayKainan Facebook page. I ordered three things: Kare-Kare, lumpiang shanghai, and pancit palabok.

I made a terrible mistake and gave the wrong address. Instead of our street, I gave the closest cross street. Big facepalm. They're nice enough to deliver it still to our house.

This is our order from Kamay Kainan Facebook page in Metro Vancouver

Kare-Kare

Creamy peanut butter stew with shrimp paste (bagoong) is so delicious with rice. Their spicy bagoong is fantastic. This is the kare-kare with most meat and vegetable I have tried. There's not a lot of sauce (compared to Tasty Pinoy BBQ Skewers at iba pa and Cooking Ng Ina (putaheng Pinoy), but the amount of meat and vegetable more than compensate for it. I love how soft the beef is.

 

Kare-Kare

Pancit Palabok

This is hubby's request because we don't usually order palabok, and not many online vendors sell them—Yay for palabok. I enjoyed the chicharon on top (I don't eat chicharon by itself, but when mixed on a dish, I don't mind). There are gigantic shrimps and seafood in it. It's perfect with a squeeze of lemon on top.

I love how colourful the palabok is.

Top-view of the Palabok tray

Pancit Palabok

Lumpiang Shanghai

Lumpiang Shanghai is delicious. This has replaced Little Ongpin as my favourite source of Lumpiang Shanghai. If you have been following my blog (I highly doubt anyone does, LOL), I have a "best" or favourite version of specific dishes, and this has just become my favourite Lumpiang Shanghai. I'm so happy.

Hubby did say it would be even better after it becomes crispy again. I can't wait to reheat the leftovers in my air fryer.

Dear Lumpiang Shanghai, I can't wait to reheat you in the air fryer.

Maja

I don't eat rice cakes (kakanin) in general. But hubby does,       and he approves of this Maja we got for free. Thanks, Lynn, for the free small Maja.

Yay for free, Maja!

How to order?

Send KamayKainan a message on Facebook to place an order. I highly recommend the Lumpiang Shanghai. You can't really go wrong with kare-kare and palabok as well. Happy eating!