foodgressing, Author at Foodgressing

Santa Breakfast or Brunch in Victoria 2019

October 10, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Here is a list of places in Victoria, BC that are offering breakfast, brunch or afternoon tea with Santa this year.

Santa Breakfast or Brunch in Victoria, BC 2019

Please check with the business for the most up-to-date and accurate information on dates, times, prices and menu offerings.

This list is updated as information becomes available. If you are a restaurant and want to be added, please contact me at foodgressing@gmail.com.

For Christmas dine out options in Victoria, check out my post here.
For Christmas turkey to go in Victoria, check out my post here.

If you are looking at this post on mobile, rotate your phone sideways to see the entire table.

Restaurant	Type	Price	Description	Date/Time	City
Laurel Point	Brunch Buffet	$46 (Adult) $23 (Child 6 - 11) =	A gourmet brunch in the stunning Terrace Ballroom while the kids will feel like they’ve taken a trip to the North Pole. Not only will they meet Jolly Old Saint Nick himself, they’ll get a complimentary photo of their special moment. Plus, they’ll have a cozy spot to watch their favourite Christmas movies and a chance to get creative at the cookie decorating station. Details	Dec 1, 8, 15: 11 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm	Victoria

Related posts:

Christmas Brunch, Lunch and Dinner in Victoria, BC 2019

Where to Get Christmas Turkey Dinner to Go in Victoria, BC 2019

Festival of the Grape 2019: Wine Tastings, Food Trucks

October 10, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

The 23rd annual Festival of the Grape took place this past weekend in Oliver, BC featuring tastings of the best wineries in the region, live entertainment, food trucks, and highly competitive Grape Stomps.

Festival of the Grape 2019 Oliver Okanagan British Columbia

A family-friendly outdoor one-day event held in Canada’s Wine Capital, Festival of the Grape attracts more than 4,500 attendees who have the opportunity to sample a variety of local and regional wines all in the same place.

Festival of the Grape was preceded by the Cask & Keg which took place the night before celebrating local breweries, distilleries and cideries.

Grape Stomps

The most anticipated event at Festival of the Grape was the Grape Stomp where 20+ costumed teams competed in five-minute heats in a bid to be crowned the champion grape stompers of Oliver.

Live Entertainment

Hailing from Penticton and Summerland B.C., Jack and Jill provided the live music throughout the day.

Wine Tastings

Oliver is known as Canada’s WIne Capital where more than half of all wine grapes for BC (the equivalent of more than 12 million bottles) are grown.

This year, 51 wineries were pouring at Festival of the Grape allowing attendees to sample hundreds of wines from Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country and around BC.

VIP Area

New this year is the VIP area which featured seminars, tastings, nibbles, wine pourings and the opportunity for attendees to mingle with subject matter experts and winery owners.

This year’s seminar speakers included Moss – wine educator of “The Vinstitute” at Intersection Estate winery; Derek Uhlemann, Owner of Oliver Eats; Sandra Oldfield on The Golden Mile Bench; and Riedel Glassware.

Food Trucks

Local food trucks presented tasty morsels including Thai, BBQ, donairs, bratwursts, homemade gelato, popcorn and more.

Merchant Market

Many local artisans and vendors displayed their wares, crafts and services at the Festival’s Merchant Market. It was a fun place to find great specialty items and gifts such as glassware, jewelry, clothing, photography, wood crafts, and art.

Kids Zone

The Kids Zone featured interactive games, crafts and inflatables. Kids were also invited to participate in their own Grape Stomp. There were many kid-friendly offerings by food trucks at the festival as well.

As a first-timer to Festival of the Grape, I was impressed with how the festival really showcased the region’s offerings at a world-class level. The community spirit and jovial atmosphere also added to the lovely experience.

My advice to other future attendees of Festival of the Grape is to plan to be there the entire time as there really is so much to do, see, drink and eat!

For more information on Festival of the Grape 2020, stay tuned to www.oliverfestivalofthegrape.ca .

Oliver Cask and Keg 2019: Breweries, Distilleries, Cideries

October 9, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

I had the pleasure of visiting Oliver, BC this past weekend to attend the 23rd Fall Festival Weekend featuring the Cask & Keg Festival and Festival of the Grape. The annual festival brings in thousands of visitors to Canada’s Wine Capital.

Oliver Cask and Keg Festival 2019 British Columbia Okanagan

Taking place at Oliver Community Park on a Saturday night, Cask & Keg was a celebration of local breweries, distilleries and cideries.

Tastings of local breweries, distilleries and cideries

The festival offered attendees a prime opportunity to taste a range of the local breweries, distilleries and cideries all the same place.

Fun & Relaxed Evening

The evening was filled with live entertainment provided by Victoria’s Knacker’s Yard performing traditional Irish, Scottish, English, Australian, and original music.

I loved the beautiful rustic decor which set the ambiance for a fun and relaxed event.

Local Food Scene

To complement the drinks were a variety of food trucks offering tasty morsels including Thai tacos, perogies, donairs, poutine, burgers, mini donuts and more.

Take Home Your Favourite

Attendees also had the opportunity to take home their favourites from the tastings at the festival’s Beer Store.

As a first-timer to Cask & Keg, I was impressed with how the festival really showcased the region’s offerings at a world-class level. The community spirit and jovial atmosphere also added to the lovely experience.

For more information on Cask & Keg 2020, stay tuned to www.olivercaskandkeg.ca.

Vancouver October 2019 Events, Openings and Menu Launches

October 8, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Here is what is happening in Metro Vancouver during October 2019. If you have an event suggestion, please email foodgressing@gmail.com. This list is updated as more information becomes available so check back regularly!

Vancouver October 2019 Events, Openings and Menu Launches

Sept 21 – Oct 6: ‘Wünderbar! An Oktobeerfest Pop-Up’ at Bells and Whistles
Until Sunday, October 6, Bells and Whistles (3296 Fraser Street) will continue to offer its second annual ‘Wünderbar Oktobeerfest Pop-Up’ at the Fraserhood beer hall. During the event, a number of Oktoberfest-themed favourites will return to the menu, including warm pretzels with tangy honey mustard, curry wurst (seared Two Rivers Meats bratwurst or vegan ‘Beyond Sausage’ brat, crispy fries, curry ketchup), the Oktoberfest platter (crispy pork schnitzel, bratwurst, rosemary bacon, braised housemade sauerkraut, German potato salad, mustard and pickles) and more. At the bar, Bells and Whistles will showcase a wide range of classic German beer styles by tapping into local and import brews like Four Winds’ Holz Pils Foeder Fermented Pilsner, Hacker-Pschorr Munich Gold and Paulaner Hefeweizen.

Oct 1: Bawktobeerfest: An Oktoberfest Celebration at Juke Fried Chicken
On Oct 1 from 5 to 9 p.m., Juke Fried Chicken (182 Keefer Street) will put its own spin on the annual German-themed beer-and-food fest by hosting a ‘Bawktobeerfest’ celebration in conjunction with Strange Fellows Brewing. The one-night-only extravaganza will feature a Strange Fellows tap takeover with a ‘Jukefest’ Lager brewed especially for the occasion in addition to Juke’s schnitzel ‘double down’ sandwiches, Juke-brats sausages and more. A limited number of tickets to the event, which includes a frosty pint of the Jukefest Lager and snacks throughout the night, are available for $20 per person at jukefriedchicken.com/bawktobeerfest. Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the event for $25 each.

Oct 2: Defiantly Different: Wildebeest x The Prisoner Wine Co.
Savour the smoke-tinged, spiced flavours of the changing seasons with this exclusive dinner at Wildebeest in partnership with The Prisoner Wine Co. Chef Ian McHale will be preparing delicious locally-sourced West Coast cuisine designed to celebrate the peak of autumn goodness. Prisoner Wine Co. is a pioneer of California’s most luxurious red blends, and will brilliantly pair their bold, rich wines with five dishes including smoked magret duck, sweetcorn agnolotti, Subtilia Ranch wagyu tartare and more. This evening will begin with a canapé reception at 6 pm before sitting down for a multi-course feast. Tickets for the evening are $145 and available at https://kiosk.eztix.co/kiosk-optimised/1280231.

Oct 3: Vegan Harvest Dinner at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar will add a new twist to its award-winning recipe for culinary excellence when the Vancouver restaurant hosts its second Vegan Harvest Dinner on Thursday, October 3. Spearheaded by Boulevard’s Executive Chef – Signature Restaurants, Alex Chen — Canadian Culinary Champion, Vancouver Magazine Chef of the Year and inaugural winner on The Food Network Canada’s Iron Chef Canada TV series in 2018 — each dinner will showcase the creativity of his kitchen team as he redefines the levels of sophistication and flavour of vegan cuisine. Tickets to the Vegan Harvest Dinner are available for $85 per person plus tax and gratuity at https://boulevardvancouver.ca/events.

Oct 5: Papi’s and Friends Dinner at Papi’s Seafood and Oyster Bar
Papi’s Seafood and Oyster Bar Chef Max Straczek will share the spotlight with two fellow alumni of The Food Network Canada’s Top Chef Canada TV series when he welcomes Mark Singson and Wallace Wong to the line at the English Bay restaurant for a Papi’s and Friend’s Collaborative Chefs Dinner on October 5. Guests will enjoy a Prosecco welcome reception before a dinner that will see the trio of chefs trade talents and courses during a culinary collaboration that showcases their respective styles in such dishes as cauliflower panna cotta, truffle donut, mussel cannelloni, slow-cooked cog, congee with local seafood and ‘pumpkin latte’ dessert. Tickets to the event are available for $79 per person plus tax and gratuity at papisoysterbar.com/events

October 6, 13, 20, 27 (and November 3, 10, 17, 24): Sunday Night Movie Series Continues at Bells and Whistles
Fraserhood hangout and beer hall Bells and Whistles (3296 Fraser St.) gives cinephiles a front-row seat to some classic flicks every Sunday night at 9 p.m. during its Sunday Night Movie Series, which continues this October starting with the screening of Major League (October 6). During each screening, guests can also take advantage of late happy hour specials from 10 p.m. to close that include $7 Negronis, $5.50 draught beer, $5 classic hot dogs and $7 chilli cheese dogs and Chicago dogs.

October 6, 20 and 27: Sunday Paella Dinner Series Continues at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Following its recent string of sold-out Summer Seafood Boils, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar will continue its Sunday Paella Dinner Series on October 6, 20 and 27 at the award-winning downtown restaurant. Each event begins with a reception at 6 p.m. where guests will enjoy a glass of house sangria or Estrella Damm Spanish lager before sitting down for a three-course dinner with Chef Alex Chen’s Spanish-inspired West Coast Paella — comprising a bounty of Pacific octopus, local clams and mussels, prawns and chorizo soffits simmered in a saffron and shellfish stock — as the centrepiece. A limited number of tickets to the communal, family style dinners are available for $68 per person plus tax and gratuity via www.boulevardvancouver.ca/events.

Oct 14: Thanksgiving Turducken Feast at Juke Fried Chicken
Juke is inviting family, friends and Thanksgiving ‘orphans’ to gather ‘round and enjoy one of the restaurant’s most-loved menu items when it hosts a special Thanksgiving Turducken Feast. For $35 per person plus tax and gratuity, guests will tuck into a variety of snacks and salads at their table before enjoying a heaping helping of Juke’s signature Turducken — a three-in-one showstopper featuring roasted turkey, duck and chicken along with and array of sides including fried Brussels sprouts, triple-cooked potatoes, cornbread and bacon stuffing, cranberry sauce and more. As seating is limited for Juke’s Thanksgiving Turducken Dinner Feast, reservations are highly recommended and can be made at jukefriedchicken.oftendining.com/ or by emailing info@jukefriedchicken.com. Juke will also welcome walk-in guests if space permits.

Oct 17 – Oct 30: Limited-Edition Seasonal ‘Fall Game and Mushroom’ Menu at Wildebeest
From Oct 17 -30, Wildebeest will continue to underscore its philosophy of working closely with local providers and introduce the newest edition to its rotating lineup of seasonally inspired menus when it features a Fall Game and Mushroom Menu available exclusively at the Gastown hotspot from October 17 through 30. The new menu follows the lead of the restaurant’s recent Spring Field and Forest and Summer Farmers’ Harvest menus and showcase Head Chef Ian McHale and his culinary team’s philosophy of incorporating a wide array of fresh ingredients sourced from forests, farms and fields around the province in a series of unique dishes. As Wildebeest’s Fall Game and Mushroom Menu features are available in limited quantities and served on a first-come, first-served basis, reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the restaurant at 604-687-6880.

Oct 22: Hip Hop Trivia Night at Juke Fried Chicken
Whether you’re a Biggie or a Tupac fan, all Eyez are on Juke Fried Chicken when the Chinatown location of the chicken-and-rib joint (182 Keefer St.) hosts the latest edition of its Hip Hop Trivia Night at 7 p.m. Teams of up to six are invited to take part in five rounds of questions on all things Hova, Dre and Wu-Tang with food and drink specials and prizes up for grabs. Sign up as an individual or a team of up to six via email (info@jukefriedchicken.com), Instagram (@jukefriedchicken) or Facebook (/jukefriedchicken) to guarantee a spot. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Taste of Yaletown 2019: List of Participating Restaurants

October 3, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

The 15^thannual Taste of Yaletown (TOY) makes its return Oct 17 – 27. Restaurants will offer diners the choice of special menus at set prices of $35, $45, and $55, or dining casually with Happy Hour deals.

Taste of Yaletown 2019: List of Participating Restaurants

#MyHappyHour Theme

This year’s Taste of Yaletown is embracing Vancouver’s Happy Hour culture with their #MyHappyHour theme. Participating restaurants will offer Happy Hour menus for Taste of Yaletown, giving diners the chance to experience small dishes and select drinks from their menu.

With #MyHappyHour, diners now have the choice between having a 3-course menu or grabbing a few bites and drinks after work. New this year, #MyHappyHour FREE public Wi-Fi will take you directly to the best Happy Hour spots in Yaletown.

Returning Favourites

Among returning restaurants to this year’s festival are local favourites, Brix and Mortar, House Special, The Keg Steakhouse and Bar and The Greek By Anatoli.

Special Menus and Pairings

Yaletown restaurants will offer special menus and pairings for a limited time, making Taste of Yaletown the perfect time to celebrate and savour Vancouver’s best dining district, revel in the longstanding restaurants and pre-book reservations for holiday parties.

Greater Vancouver Food Bank

For the 15^thyear in a row, Yaletown will be making a donation to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Taste of Yaletown has raised over $115,000 in efforts to support the local community since the event began in 2004.

Taste of Yaletown 2019 List of participating restaurants:

Banter Room
Bistro Sakana
Brix and Mortar
Cactus Club Cafe
Flying Pig
House Special
Little Saigon
Provence Marinaside
Robba da Matti
Rodney’s Oyster House
The Greek by Anatoli
The Yaletown Keg Steakhouse and Bar
West Oak Restaurant
Wildtale
Yaletown Brewing Co
Yaletown Distilling Co

Please visit https://yaletowninfo.com/taste-of-yaletown/ for menu details from each restaurant and join the conversation online using the official Taste of Yaletown hashtag: #TasteOfYaletown.

Festival of the Grape and Oliver Cask & Keg 2019 in Oliver, BC

October 2, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

For the 23rd year, Oliver will see the Festival of the Grape host thousands of visitors this weekend on October 5 and 6.

Festival of the Grape and Oliver Cask & Keg 2019 in Oliver, BC — Credit: Leila Kwok

This fall festival weekend is the culmination of a summer that annually brings visitors to Canada’s Wine Capital from around the world, to experience world-class wineries, stellar food and drink, and the best hospitality around.

This year Cask & Keg takes place on October 5, at 6 pm at the Oliver Community Park. A night of celebrating local breweries, distilleries and cideries, Cask & Keg is an outdoor evening event focused on celebrating the creations from local and regional breweries, distilleries and cideries.

This fun, relaxed evening will be filled with live entertainment provided by Knacker’s Yard, tasty morsels created by a variety of food trucks and locally made artisan wares on display by select vendors.

The very next day, Bacchus comes to visit at noon, with the kick off to the 23rd annual Festival of the Grape, also at Oliver Community Park. Live music will be provided by the raucous rock group Jack and Jill, hailing from Penticton and Summerland, who come to rock with sets lists that include a wide variety of rock and roll music from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. The dance floor will be cutting loose to covers ranging from ZZ Top and No Doubt to Green Day and Queen.

The Festival of the Grape allows the public to sample the best wineries in the region in one place, while enjoying the live entertainment, food trucks and highly competitive Grape Stomp, where costumed teams compete in five minute heats to be crowned the champion grape stompers of Oliver.

New this year is the VIP area which will feature seminars and tastings. A limited number of tickets are available for the VIP access.

The Festival of the Grape is proud to be the home of the Annual Fall Art Sale by the Oliver Arts Council, and will also feature a merchant market, where curated vendors will have their best items available for sale.

Tickets to the event are available online at showpass.com by searching Festival of the Grape 2019 and Oliver Cask & Keg and at the Oliver Visitor Centre, 6431 Station St., Oliver, B.C.

McDonald’s Monopoly Canada 2019: Prizes, Odds to Win

October 2, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

McDonald’s Canada Monopoly 2019 runs October 8 – November 11, 2019. There are plenty of prizes to be won including over 17.7 million “Instant-Win” food prizes, 1.9 million “Instant Win” non-food prizes and 166 “Collect and Win” prizes.

McDonald's Monopoly Canada 2019: Prizes, Odds to Win

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How to Play McDonald’s Monopoly Canada 2019

There are 2 ways to win a prize:

Obtain a potential “Instant Win” Game Stamp
Obtain Game Stamps that comprise a potential Winning Combination for “Collect and Win”

There is no limit to the number of prizes you can win.

Summary [Best and Worst Prizes and Odds]

There are approximately 97,718,408 total Game Pieces (with Game Stamps per Game Piece) distributed this year. The overall odds of winning a prize is 1 in 5 based on the number of Game Pieces.

You have the best odds of winning a medium fries ($2.99, odds are 1 in 26).
You have the worst odds of winning a Dark Red 2019 Yamaha Wolverine X4 EPS ($19,999, odds are 1 in 171,935,386).
The prize with the lowest retail value is a muffin ($1.59, odds are 1 in 28).
The prize with the highest retail value is 5 Million RBC Rewards points from Royal Bank of Canada or a direct deposit or cheque for $50,000 CAD ($50,000, odds are 1 in 16,286,402).

McDonald’s Monopoly Canada 2019 Specially Marked Food and Drinks

Game pieces are found on the following specially marked food and beverage items:

Medium and large hot McCafé beverages (Premium Roast Brewed Coffee, Tea, Mocha, Latte, Cappuccino, Americano and Deluxe Hot Chocolate)
Extra large hot McCafébeverages (Premium Roast Brewed Coffee or Tea only)
Medium and large Fountain Drinks
Medium and large Triple Thick Milkshakes
Big Mac sandwich
Double Big Mac sandwich
Quarter Pounder sandwich
Quarter Pounder with Cheese sandwich
Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese sandwich
Quarter Pounder BLT sandwich
Double Quarter Pounder BLT sandwich
Mighty Angus Original sandwich
Bacon and Cheddar Angus sandwich
McChicken sandwich
Seriously Chicken sandwiches:
- Seriously Chicken with Tomato & Mozzarella with Crispy Chicken sandwich
- Seriously Chicken with Tomato & Mozzarella with Grilled Chicken sandwich
- Seriously Chicken BLT with Crispy Chicken sandwich
- Seriously Chicken BLT with Grilled Chicken sandwich
McWrap sandwiches (excludes More-Ning McWrap):
- Chicken and Bacon Signature McWrap with grilled chicken
- Chicken and Bacon Signature McWrap with crispy chicken Caesar Signature McWrap with grilled chicken
- Caesar Signature McWrap with crispy chicken
10-piece ChickenMcNuggets
20-piece Chicken McNuggets (you get 2 game pieces)
Large Fries
EggMcMuffin sandwiches:
- Sausage ‘N Egg McMuffin sandwich (excludes Sausage McMuffin^® sandwich)
- Bacon ‘N Egg McMuffin sandwich
Hash Brown

Odds of Winning a Food Prize

There are 17,695,017 food prizes to be won. The overall odds of winning a food prize is 1 in 5.53.

You have the best odds of winning a medium fries (1 in 26). The worst odds are for a fountain drink (1 in 62).

The prize with the lowest retail value is a muffin ($1.59) while the prize with the highest retail value is potentially a sandwich ($5.99).

Food Prizes	# of Prizes Available	Odds (as 1 in)	Average Retail Value
Cheeseburger	3,539,004	28	$1.89
Muffin	3,539,004	28	$1.59
Small Hot McCafé	3,362,052	30	$1.92
Small Fountain Drink	1,592,557	62	$1.69
Medium Fries	3,892,892	26	$2.99
Sandwich (Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, McChicken, Filet-O-Fish, Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger, McDouble, Junior Chicken)	1,769,508	56	$1.69-$5.99

Odds of Winning an “Instant-Win “Non-Food Prize

There are 1,904,760 “Instant-Win” non-food prizes to be won. You have the best odds of winning a $20 Skullcandy Gift Card (1 in 66). The worst odds are for a Universal Parks Trip or $10,000 cash (1 in 9,771,841).

The prize with the lowest retail value is a $5 Hudson’s Bay Gift Card ($5) while the prize with the highest retail value is potentially a $10,000 cash ($10,000).

“Instant Win” Non-Food Prizes	# of Prizes Available	Odds (as 1 in)	Average Retail Value
$5 Hudson’s Bay Promotional Gift Card	100,000	978	$5
14 Days of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate	250,000	391	$7.50
$10 Hudson’s Bay Promotional Gift Card	24,000	4,072	$10
$10 McDonald’s Card	12,500	7,818	$10
$20 Skullcandy Gift Card	1,500,000	66	$20
$25 Esso \| Mobil Gift Card	5,000	19,544	$25
$50 Vanilla Mastercard Prepaid Card	600	162,865	$50
$50 Esso \| Mobil Gift Card	1,500	65,146	$50
$50 Cash	7,000	13,960	$50
Roku Streaming Stick	1,111	87,956	$89.99
PKG Carry Goods Prize Pack	334	292,571	$300
Xbox One X Bundle	100	977,185	$506.50
4K Hisense Roku TV	250	390,874	$400
Air Transat Roundtrip Flights for Two	75	1,302,913	$1,800
Bloomex Flowers and Gifts consisting of 4 themed flower and gift or gift packages (e.g., flowers in a hand-blown vase, gift baskets, teddy bears, chocolates or other such gift items) for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas and a birthday or anniversary, standard shipping in Canada included.	20	4,885,921	$1,851
Universal Parks Trip consisting of a 4-day, 3-night trip for winner and up to 3 guests, to winner’s choice of either (a) Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida; or (b) Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.	10	9,771,841	$4,355.28
$10,000 Cash	10	9,771,841	$10,000
Big Mac for A Year consisting of 2 Big Mac sandwiches each week for 52 weeks, awarded as a McDonald’s Card credit for $622.96.	50	1,954,369	$622.96

*Universal Parks Trip retail value (for Orlando) or $4,869.00 (for California) based on Toronto departure

McDonald’s Monopoly Canada 2019 “Collect and Win” Prizes

There are 166 “Collect and Win” Prizes available. You have the best odds of winning Esso|Mobil “Gas for 1 Year” (1 in 3,908,737). You have the worst odds of winning the Dark Red 2019 Yamaha Wolverine X4 EPS (1 in 171,935,386).

The prize with the lowest retail value is a $2,000 Cabela’s Gift Card ($2,000) while the prize with the highest retail value is 5 Million RBC Rewards points from Royal Bank of Canada or a direct deposit or cheque for $50,000 CAD ($50,000).

Game Pieces Required	Prize	# of Prizes Available	Odds of Collecting Winning Combination (as 1 in)	Average Retail Value
Rideau Canal (#101) and Parliament Hill (#102)	Cajun Red 2020 Chevrolet Equinox AWD Premier 1.5L “True North Edition” vehicle	7	13,959,373	$42,895
Lake Louise (#103), Mackenzie River (#104) and Lake Athabasca (#105)	Dark Red 2019 Yamaha Wolverine X4 EPS	3	171,935,386	$19,999
Percé Rock (#106), Miles Canyon (#107) and Columbia Icefield (#108)	$10,000 Cash	10	164,636,783	$10,000
Signal Hill (#109), Peggys Cove (#110) and Tunnels of Moose Jaw (#111)	Cineplex Première Card Prizes each valid for admission for winner and 1 guest to movies at Cineplex theatres in Canada for one year	10	49,124,400	$2,500
Confederation Bridge (#112), Baffin Island (#113) and Bay of Fundy (#114)	$5,000 in Vanilla Mastercard Prepaid Cards	5	103,161,232	$5,000
Algonquin Provincial Park (#115), Wapusk National Park (#116) and Whistler (#117)	$2000 Cabela’s Gift Card valid at Cabela’s and Bass Pro Canadian store locations and the Cabela’s Canada website	75	24,201,802	$2,000
Robson Street (#118), Sainte-Catherine Street (#119) and Portage and Memorial (#120)	$2,000 Hudson’s Bay Gift Card	5	103,161,232	$2,000
Fairmont Le Château (#121) and Niagara Falls (#122)	5 Million RBC Rewards points from Royal Bank of Canada or a direct deposit or cheque for $50,000 CAD	6	16,286,402	$50,000
Montréal Airport (#123), Toronto Airport (#124), Halifax Airport (#125) and Vancouver Airport (#126)	Air Transat “Family Vacation” consisting of 7-night vacation for 4 (two adults, two children) to the Fives Azul Beach Resort Playa del Carmen, by Karisma in Playa del Carmen, Mexico via Air Transat	20	85,961,040	$8,800
Sea To Sky Highway (#127) and Transcan Highway (#128)	25 Esso \| Mobil “Gas for 1 Year”, each payable as $2,600 in Esso \| Mobil Gift Cards (valid at participating Esso and Mobil locations in Canada)	25	3,908,737	$2,600

**Air Transat “Family Vacation” retail value based on Toronto departure

Uber Eats Canada Promotion

Until October 14 11:55 PST, you can get up to $5 off next 3 orders of McDonald’s via Ubereats when you spend $20 or more. Use MCDSMONOPOLY at checkout. Available at participating McDonald’s locations only.

If you haven’t signed up for Ubereats, use my referral code eats-aretaw17ue to get $7 off your first order. This deal cannot be combined with the McDonald’s code above.

Staying at Pangea Pod Hotel in Whistler, BC [Review]

September 30, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Pangea Pod was a welcome addition to Whistler last year as a chic and affordable accommodation for travelers.

Staying at Pangea Pod Hotel in Whistler, BC

As Canada’s first pod accommodation concept, Pangea filled Whistler’s void between hostels and hotels. With its clever design, prime location and budget-friendly price-point, Pangea has been a popular since it opened.

I recently had the opportunity to be hosted at Pangea. The idea of a pod hotel was definitely interesting and with Pangea’s clever design made shared bathrooms not such a big deal.

While Pangea’s style of accommodation might not appeal to everyone, read one to learn about my experience and it might just change your mind.

Check-in Process

To start, the check-in was swift and easy via the self-serve kiosk. A staff member guided me through the various screens at the kiosk where I checked my personal information and submitted my credit card information for damage deposit.

Afterwards, I was presented with a personalized RFID wristband that served as door keys and payment for on-site purchases.

The Suites

Pangea living quarters are divided into 8 custom suites which contain the private sleep pods. The suites all have separate entrances which are only accessible to those guests staying inside the suite’s pods.

High-end, spa-like showers, washrooms, vanities and changing rooms are all individually accessed, enclosed and located within the suites themselves.

I was really impressed with the stylishness of the suites and its amenities. There wasn’t ever a time where I needed to wait for someone to finish using the shower or washroom as these amenities were nicely divided up for individual access.

The Pods

Each boutique pod is lined in wood, fitted with a comfy double mattress and equipped with individually controlled LED lights, a built-in fan, USB and standard receptacle charging points as well as a lockable cabinet for valuables, hanging space for clothes and a storage area for luggage.

Mirrors and artwork create a warm personal space. While the pods do not have doors themselves due to government regulations, curtains provide further privacy.

I found the pod very spacious and comfortable during my overnight stay. Noise was not an issue as there are numerous fans blowing within the suite to provide white noise. I did bring ear plugs and used them as I am a light sleeper. Furthermore, the temperature within the pod and the suite was very comfortable. Wi-fi speed was exceptionally good.

The Living Room

Pangea has a communal space, The Living Room, featuring long shared tables for socializing and cozy sitting areas.

Pangea Cafe and Bar

Pangea even has an onsite café and bar, and outdoor patio on the third floor, which overlook the Village Stroll and offer guests the best of people-watching. The cafe is open for breakfast/brunch, lunch as well as dinner.

Staying at Pangea Pod Hotel in Whistler, BC Review

My friend and I enjoyed “The Standard” brunch which featured an eggs benedict of choice (either Bacon, Salmon or Spinach) and a gourmet coffee. We also enjoyed the Proscuitto Broken Eggs which had roatsed baby potatoes, proscuitto, baked eggs, mozzarella, green onion and truffle oil.

Gear Storage Area

Guests can also store their gear (skis/snowboards/mountain bikes) in the open-plan gear area. There are also private lockers for accessories and outer shell gear.

Overall Impression

I truly had a great time staying at Pangea and enjoyed the cozy, clean, and comfortable stay. There certainly is great value in what they offer and the amenities catered to my needs. I definitely recommend Pangea Pod Hotel for a no-frills accommodation.

For more information, visit www.pangeapod.com.

McDonald’s Tests New Plant-Based Burger in Southwestern Ontario

September 29, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

McDonald’s will be conducting a 12-week test of a new plant-based burger called the P.L.T., which stands for Plant. Lettuce. Tomato.

The P.L.T. is made with a Beyond Meat® plant-based patty that has been crafted exclusively by McDonald’s, for McDonald’s, to deliver the iconic McDonald’s taste customers know and love.

McDonald’s has selected Southwestern Ontario as the exclusive market for its global test, which will take place in 28 restaurants in the region starting September 30th.

The 12-week trial of the P.L.T. will be the first time globally that a Beyond Meat burger will be offered by McDonald’s. The Beyond Meat patty in the P.L.T. has been crafted exclusively by McDonald’s, for McDonald’s, to deliver the iconic taste McDonald’s guests know and love.

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