From nostalgic eats to some outrageous creations, check out my video for some highlights of the food lineup at the The Fair at the PNE.
Disclosure: I attended a media tour at the PNE.
Vancouver Weekend Brunch Spot: H Tasting Lounge
Weekend brunch is now available at H Tasting Lounge at the Westin Bayshore from 11:30 am – 4:30 pm from Saturday to Sundays. Here’s a look at what you can expect from the menu.
To start, I enjoyed The Peaceful Garden – a zero-proof drink that was absolutely refreshing. It had jasmine pearl tea, elderflower and citrus.
I personally enjoyed the Lobster Roll ($17) which had a delicious, sweet delicate flavour and a creamy mayo. It’s served with a kale and hibiscus salad on the side. The lobster flavour was nicely prominent.
The Crab Benny ($19) was a popular choice at our media event featuring dungeness crab, herb salad, Matchstick sourdough, free-range egg, and Hollandaise. I personally enjoy sourdough bread so it was nice to have it in a benny as opposed to a traditional English muffin.
Another brunch entree available is the Nicoise Salad ($17) featuring albacore tuna, soft-boiled egg, haricots verts, tomato, and elderberry-anchovy vinaigrette.
There was also the Hash ($18) which was a bowl full of comfort food: fingerling potato, chorizo cotto, confit shallot, brussels sprouts, sweet corn, tomato, arugula, and soft poached free range egg.
The Quiche Lorraine ($13) was filled with pancetta, gruyère cheese, and zucchini.
H Tasting Lounge if known for their afternoon tea service which is served 11:30 am – 4 pm and priced at $55 per person.
Chef Shaun Maclean was at the event to present the afternoon tea selection presented in an adorable golden Ferris Wheel.
Savouries included scone with dried cherries, prosciutto croissant with lemon cottage cheese, smoked salmon bagel with caper cream cheese and dill, prawn salad charcoal bun with old bay aioli and herb salad and free range deviled egg with wasabi mayo.
The sweets were lemon tart with rock sugar; Earl grey ganache tart with raspberries and mint sugar; tiramisu; and beignet with blueberry filling.
Every afternoon tea set is also complemented with a bonsai candy floss.
From brunch to afternoon to dinner and sips, there’s something for everyone at H Tasting Lounge. For more information, visit htastinglounge.com.
H Tasting Lounge @ Westin Bayshore
1601 Bayshore Dr, Vancouver, BC
www.htastinglounge.com
Araxi Longtable Dinner 2019 Recap
This past weekend, the ninth annual Araxi Longtable Dinner Series took place in Pemberton, BC. The event is known for being British Columbia’s most compelling and ambitious al fresco dining experiences and this year’s dinner took place at the base of Mount Currie on North Arm Farm.
Executive Chef James Walt and Chef Jorge Muñoz-Santos crafted an exclusive four-course menu showcasing superlative regional dishes with renowned Restaurant Director Neil Henderson orchestrating all aspects of service for the event.
The Reception
Guests first enjoyed a pre-dinner cocktail reception with live music, passed canapes and beverages.
The canapes included Gazpacho with Herb Oil; Goat Cheese + Beet Caponata; Smoked Yarrow Meadows Farm Duck with BC Corn; and Grilled Octopus with Romesco.
The selection of beverages offered were Steller’s Jay Sparkling Brut 2015; Quails’ Gate Chardonnay 2016; North Arm Sour (Gin, Cassis, North Arm Farm Blueberry, Lemon + Apple Juice; and Garden Party Punch (Sherringham Distillery Seaside Gin; Lemon Sherbet, Carrot + Ginger, Soda).
The Dinner
Bar Oso presented Housemade Fresh and Cured Charcuterie. This included Yarrow Meadows Farm Duck Liver Parfait; Smoked Ham Hock and North Arm Farm Vegetable Terrine; Fraser Valley Pheasant and Okanagan Apricot Terrine; The Finest Prosciutto, Bresoola and Chorizo Cured Meats; Il Caminetto Baked Breads, Crostini and North Arm Farm Vegetable Pickles. Paired with LaStella LaStellina Rosato 2018.
Il Caminetto presented GoodField Farms Heirloom Tomatoes, Buffalo Mozzarella “Caprese” Housemade Fresh Pasta, North Arm Farm Leaves and Herbs. These included Jesse’s Tomatoes with Basil Emulsion and Balsamic Pearls, and Fresh Casarecce Pasta with Smoked Goat’s Cheese Fonduto. Paired with CedarCreek Platinum Block 4 Pinot Noir 2014.
Araxi prepared the Duo of RR Ranch Beef Charcoal Grilled Beef Striploin and Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks with North Arm Farm Young Root Vegetables and Tender Shoots. Paired with Burrowing Owl Athene 2016.
For dessert, we enjoyed a Golden Eagle Blueberry + Lemon Chiffon Gateau and Araxi Signature “Harmony Ridge” Chocolate Ice Cream Bars. These featured Aquilini Family blueberries with layered lemon mousse cake and Chef Aaron’s custom blended chocolate ice cream two ways. Paired with Fort Berens Late Harvest Riesling 2017.
Congratulations to all the culinary teams from Bar Oso, Il Caminetto, and Araxi for putting on an unforgettable evening. The Araxi Longtable Dinner will be returning in 2020. For more information, visit araxi.com/longtable/.
Uber Eats Promo Code for $7 Off First Order
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Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Release Date 2019: August 27, 2019
Starbucks lovers can soon enjoy the taste of fall with the return of the beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte on Tuesday, August 27, 2019.
Celebrating its sixteenth year, Pumpkin Spice Latte has become a cultural phenomenon, synonymous with Fall, and is Starbucks top-selling seasonal beverage of all time, having sold an estimated more than 424 million since 2003!
Starbucks Ingredients
Starbucks PSL is made with real pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. It’s handcrafted with espresso and steamed milk and topped off with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin spice topping.
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Customization Ideas
Like all beverages at Starbucks, you can customize your PSL so it’s just how you want it!
- A Twist on Temperature: Enjoy hot, iced or as a blended Frappuccino!
- Diversify Your Dairy: Try non-dairy alternatives such as soy, coconut or almond!
- Lighten Up: Ask for fewer pumps of sauce, “less whip” or “no whip.”
- Kick up the Caffeine: Add an extra shot of our Signature Espresso!
Pumpkin Spice Latte Fun Facts
- The original handcrafted PSL® was born in 2003 at a research and development space at Starbucks HQ in Seattle.
- During the development process, the team brought real pumpkin pies into the Liquid Lab, even pouring espresso shots on top to find the perfect flavor.
- When it first launched in 2003, the PSL was only available in 100 Starbucks stores in Vancouver, BC and Washington, D.C. Today, PSL is available in nearly 50 countriesthroughout the Americas and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) regions.
Starbucks x Uber Eats
PHave you heard Starbucks delivers? From August 19-25th, 2019, add ‘STARBUCKS5’ to the promos section of your Uber Eats app and get up to $5 off your Starbucks Delivers orders all week long. This offer can be used more than once – enjoy!
Where to find Mooncakes in Vancouver 2019
As summer fades away and the leaves turn brown, it’s that wonderful time of year to gather and give thanks under the Harvest moon. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture and some people compare it to North American Thanksgiving.
The most iconic food associated with the Mid Autum festival is mooncake. The mooncake is stuffed traditionally with red bean paste, fruit, egg yolk, nuts or lotus seed paste. Its round shape symbolizes “unity” or “reunion” and best wishes.
From the traditional to the modern and unique, here are a few places in Metro Vancouver that offer mooncakes for your Mid-Autumn Festival celebration.
This list is updated as more information becomes available. Please contact me at foodgressing@gmail.com to be featured.
Soirette
This Mid-Autumn Festival, Soirette has unveiled the Koi collection. Made entirely from scratch with whole ingredients, this limited edition collection is available by pre-order from August 28 to September 13.
Soirette is offering the Deluxe Mooncake Gift Box ($92) with 8 unique mooncakes with flavours like Vietnamese Coffee & Salted Cream; Pineapple & Lime Leaf; Kaya Toast; Durian & Gula Melaka Lotus Paste; Salted Duck Egg Cookie & Curry Leaf; Milk Candy & Blueberry Tea; Burnt Coconut & Thai Milk Tea; and Ruby Cognac & Pistachio.
Also available are Mini Snow Mooncake Gift Box ($48) and Mini Vegan Baked Mooncake Gift Box ($36).
Soirette Pastry Boutique
1433 West Pender Street, Vancouver
www.soirette.com
L’otus Cake Boutique
The 2019 Mooncake Assorted Collection at L’otus Cake Boutique in Richmond includes Salted Egg Custard Lava, Yuzu Custard and Mocha Custard.
L’otus Cake Boutique
8580 Cambie Rd #103, Richmond, BC
www.instagram.com/lotuscakeboutique
Wild Sweets
Wild Sweets in Richmond is offering a Limited Edition Chocolat ‘Moon Cakes’ Bouchées Series. These mooncakes feature the typical “dough” component, a cooked paste filling as well as a single origin “Trinidad Gran Couva” cocoa bean to bar soft dark chocolate ganache.
The mooncakes are enrobed in dark chocolate and are decorated with an embossed disc of almond paste and hand-painted with cocoa butter colours. A set of 4 (128g @ 32g each) retails at $12.50.
Wild Sweets
12191 Hammersmith Way #2145, Richmond, BC
www.dcduby.com
La Patisserie
La Patisserie is a traditional Chinese bakery shop in Richmond. They are currently selling their mooncakes collection and pre-order is also available. They have noted that they sold out before the Mid-Autumn Festival last year so customers are encouraged to buy the mooncakes ahead of time.
Credit: La Patisserie 
Credit: La Patisserie
La Patisserie 金磨坊
1405-4771 Mcclelland Road, Richmond, BC
www.instagram.com/la_patisserie_bakery
Kirin Restaurants
Kirin Restaurant (multiple locations) is offering a Mooncake Gift Set of 4 ($46.80) or individual mooncakes at $12.20 each. The filling choices include White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolks or Red Bean Paste with Double Yolks.
Kirin Restaurants
Vancouver Downtown, Vancouver West, Richmond, New Westminster
www.kirinrestaurants.com
T&T Supermarket
T&T Supermarkets (12 locations across the Lower Mainland) takes the “cake” in terms of options of mooncakes. They import many mooncakes from Asia including brands like The Peninsula Hotels, Hang Heung, Wing Wah and so forth. Check out their online promotions page for a look at what they have available.
T&T Supermarket
www.tnt-supermarket.com
Saint Germain Bakery
Saint Germain Bakery is another local chain bakery offering mooncakes with 6 locations (Richmond Centre, Oakridge Centre, Aberdeen Centre, Metropolis at Metrotown, Guildford Centre and Coquitlam Centre). They are offering mooncakes in gift sets of 4 or 8.
Credit: Saint Germain Bakery 
Credit: Saint Germain Bakery
Saint Germain Bakery
www.saintgermainbakery.com
Pizzeria Farina: New Location, $8 Pizza Specials, New Flavours
Pizzeria Farina is celebrating its eighth anniversary this August by featuring $8 pizza specials at its original location (915 Main Street) on Sunday, August 18 before launching a new Farina Pizza a Legna outpost in North Vancouver at 119 2nd Street East later in the month.
Farina Pizza a Legna (North Vancouver)
Located in North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale district, Farina Pizza a Legna (Italian for ‘wood-fired pizza’) will offer a full-service pizzeria with seating for 50 in a bright and spacious dining room and another eight on an outdoor patio.
Long beloved for its take on authentic, Napoletana-style pizza, a Legna will migrate many of the Main Street favourites to the new location while also offering an expanded menu of antipasti, insalate, pastas and desserts for dine-in and take-out.
At the bar, a Legna will feature local craft beer and Prosecco on tap, an all-Italian wine list, selection of amaro and grappa, and house-made bottled cocktails.
8TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
In honour of its 8th anniversary on Sunday, August 18, Pizzeria Farina at 915 Main Street will be featuring its popular Napoletana style Marinara, Margherita, Funghi, Quattro Formaggi, Calabrese and Finocchiona varieties of pies for $8 (dine-in only) starting at 5 p.m. and ending when the dough runs out, with a limit of one pizza per customer.
New Pizza Flavours
Pizzeria Farina has also launched a few new pizzas: Ortolana, Crudo and Boscaiola.
Ortolana
Roasted tomatoes and peppers, zucchini, arugula and Piave cheese, red sauce
Crudo
Prosciutto crudo, red sauce, arugula, Parmesan
Boscaiola
Prosciutto cotto, mushrooms, peas, white sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella
For more information on Pizzeria Farina or to stay up to date on all the latest developments, go to pizzeriafarina.com, become a fan of /pizzeriafarina on Facebook and follow @pizzeriafarina on Instagram.
Where to find Daifuku Mochi in Vancouver
Daifuku Mochis are Japanese treats consisting of a small round mochi (glutinous rice cake) stuffed with sweet filling. The most common filling is sweetened red bean paste (called anko in Japanese) but other varieties have included whole pieces of fruit as well. Here are a few places which offer Daifuku Mochi in Vancouver.
Asomi Mochi
Asomi Mochi is a local business which offers mochis stemming from a family recipe. They come in different flavours like purple yam, chocolate, regular, cheesecake, matcha or double strawberry. The filling is either red bean or cheesecake (the new option) along with a whole strawberry. Red bean mochis are 1 for $5 or 2 for $9. The cheesecake mochis are 1 for $6 or 2 for $10. You can find Asomi Mochi at the Richmond Night Market or you can order from them online.
Asomi Mochi
www.instagram.com/asomi.mochi/
3 Quarters Full
3 Quarters Full Cafe is a Taiwanese cafe located inside Denman Mall in the West End neighbourhood. They offer regular mochis stuffed with red bean paste and a whole strawberry as well as taro. They do not use preservatives in their mochis.
3 Quarters Full Cafe
1789 Comox St, Vancouver, BC
www.facebook.com/3quartersfullcafe/
Cake’Ya
This Japanese bakery in Port Moody has been known to offer Daifuku Mochis were red bean paste with a whole strawberry as well as chestnut filled ones. Customers are encouraged to call ahead to see what they have available.
Cake Ya
3256 Saint Johns Street, Port Moody, BC
www.facebook.com/CakeYa/
Taro Desserts and Bubble Tea at 3 Quarters Full Cafe in Vancouver
3 Quarters Full Cafe is one of my favourites places to eat in the West End as well as a place for delicious Asian desserts. As someone who loves Taro-everything, 3 Quarters Full Cafe has a nice selection of taro desserts which use real taro (not artificial taro such that the food appears bright purple).
Pictured above is the Taro Roll Cake, Taro Mille Crepe Cake, Taro Mochi and Taro Bubble Tea with Pearl.
The taro desserts all had a nice taro flavour. The Roll Cake is nicely light and fluffy. The Mille Crepe Cake has paper thin crepes alternating with layers of taro. The Taro Mochi does not use preservatives and had thin, chewy glutinous outer layer and a tasty taro filling.
You can also order from 3 Quarters Cafe via foodora (delivery or pickup) and Ritual (pickup only).
3 Quarters Full Cafe
789 Comox St, Vancouver, BC
www.instagram.com/3quartersfullcafe
Animal Bread from Kanadell Japanese Bakery
Kanadell Japanese Bakery is a local purveyor of Japanese baked goods mainly selling at Farmer’s Markets around the Lower Mainland. On my recent trip to the West End Farmer’s Market, I decided to try their infamous Animal Breads that are filled with nutella.
Priced at $4.50 for a set of 2, these Animal Breads were a nice snack that I enjoyed while exploring the Farmer’s Market. There wasn’t a great deal of Nutella incorporated so it didn’t make a mess. I enjoyed the breads for their novelty factor. The bread was a bit on the denser and chewier side.
Kanadell posts their markets and events schedule here and you can find their breads at Suzuya Japanese Market, Konbiniya Japan Centre ,and UBC Bookstore.
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Foodgressing is a blog that highlights the food adventures of one hungry Vancouverite.