Vancouver Food, Travel, Lifestyle & Photography Blog
7-Eleven + foodora have partnered to offer the Rescue Me kit, so you don’t have to leave your bed when sickness suddenly strikes. This includes Advil liqui-gel, Nongshim cup noodles, an orange, Glaceau smart water, Pepto Bismol, Fisherman’s Friend and Halls.
Check out my Instagram post to enter to win a $30 foodora voucher. Open to Metro Vancouver residents only. Giveway ends December 1, 2019 11:59 am PST.
Disclosure: This post is in collaboration with foodora.
Rick’s Family Restaurants has just refreshed their menu with the addition of new breakfast, lunch and dinner items.
There truly is something for everyone as new features include Colada Pancakes, Triple Berry Banana Split pancakes, Mushroom Swiss Style Beef Dip with Angus Ribeye and the Tennessee Chicken Crunch and so forth.
I was invited for a media tasting where I tried a few of the new items from Ricky’s.
Breakfast or dessert? Either way, these Colada pancakes were good. The buttermilk pancakes filled with fresh banana slices and then topped with strawberry topping, pineapple, shredded coconut, coconut syrup and whipped cream.
We also enjoyed the the beef dip sandwich featuring a tender, flavourful angus ribeye on a grilled garlic French loaf served with au jus.
The Tennesse Chicken Crunch sandwich came highly recommended. I enjoyed the crispy, hand-battered buttermilk chicken tenders and the tangy maple Buffalo sauce. The sandwich is topped with Cheddar cheese, coleslaw and ranch dressing on a sesame seed bun.
I was particularly impressed with the thickness of the chicken!
To wash it all down, I enjoyed the Berry Fizz mocktail which had raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberry juice, ginger ale, and soda.
Ricky’s Cafe is located in Burnaby’s SOLO district and boasts a clean, modern and inviting interior.
Another nice feature of this location is that you can enjoy your meal on the patio during the nice, summer weather.
To find out more about Ricky’s new menu items, visit rickysrestaurants.ca.
As the weather gets warmer, spend the day at Queen Elizabeth Park and dine at Seasons in the Park – one of the most romantic restaurants in Vancouver.
Take in the views by enjoying a special Three-Course Weekday Lunch Menu that’s available Monday to Friday for $39 per person. This menu features gluten-free, vegetarian and Oceanwise options.
I was recently invited for a media tasting of the new weekday lunch menu. Here’s a look at what you might want to order.
This gluten-free starter features juicy mushrooms prepared with crab, shrimp
A light,
For
For a vegetarian pasta entree option, there is the mushroom
There are also add-on options to entrees including grilled garlic prawns (+$14), roasted mushroom (+$10) and
For a satisfying finish to the meal, there is the sunburnt lemon tart with zesty
Or if you’re a cake-o-phile, the chocolate cake with chocolate truffle and raspberry coulis is a delicious choice.
I usually like to name my choice items for an ideal three-course menu but I enjoyed all the dishes I tried. Any combination in my opinion would be delicious.
In partnership with Seasons in the Park, I am giving away a three-course prix-fixe weekday lunch for 2. Visit my Instagram for more details!
For more information on the new menu, visit www.vancouverdine.com/seasons
Seasons in the Park
W 33rd Ave, Vancouver, BC
www.vancouverdine.com/seasons/
We all love a refreshing cup of fruit juice but many juices that are being sold in supermarkets are loaded with sugar. As many Canadians are moving towards better eating habits, the Oasis brand from Lassonde has created a tasty and healthier solution.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.
Meet Oasis HydraFruit Organic, a new line of refreshments by Oasis that has 60% less sugar than regular fruit juice blends and is now certified organic. You’ll be excited to know that Oasis HydraFruit Organic beverages contain no added sugar or sweeteners. They’re made up of 50% organic fruit juice and 50% filtered water, for 100% of your recommended vitamin C intake per 250 mL serving.
Furthermore, when you purchase Oasis HydraFruit Organic products, you’ll be supporting buying local since they are processed and packaged entirely in Canada.
Thanks to Oasis, I was able to try a variety of
You can find Oasis HydraFruit Organic product in the juice section of the grocery store. They carry the Canada Organic logo and are available at the following suggested retail prices: $1.69 to $2.29 for a 960 mL carton, and $3.49 to $3.99 for a package of eight 200 mL juice boxes.
In partnership with Oasis, I am giving one reader/follower a prize pack which includes a $15 gift card, an assortment of Oasis HydraFruit beverage, a reusable grocery tote, an organic lunch box and an organic reusable snack bag. Check out my Instagram post for more details.
It’s the season of sunshine and Famoso has launched some new spring/summer creations to enjoy during these good times. You’ll find a satisfying salad, an Indian-inspired pizza and an old-school sandwich on the new menu. I was invited for a tasting of these new items at Famoso on Commercial Drive where these dishes were developed. Here’s a look at what you might order on your next visit to Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria.
Disclosure: All food and drinks in this post were complimentary. Opinions are my own.
The main dishes (Citrus Avocado Salad, Bombay Cauliflower Pizza, and Chicago Style Italian Beef Sandwich) can be enjoyed individually but sharing with friends is encouraged. For dessert, there are authentic Italian gelato or sorbetto options available in single or double scoop.
Famoso also has a summer cocktail lineup featuring four new signature cocktails to perfectly complement the season of social. Or you can get the best of both worlds by enjoying a cocktail to start and following up with your choice of beer or wine.
To start, my guest and I enjoyed the Strawberry Tequila Sol and Elderflower Gin & Tonic.
The Strawberry Tequila Sol was sweet and tart; it was made with tequila, Aperol, agave syrup, fresh lime juice, strawberries and ginger ale.
In contrast, the Elderflower Gin & Tonic was light and herbaceous; it had gin, elderflower syrup, fresh lime, tonic and a rosemary spring.
We tried all the main dishes: the Citrus Avocado Salad, Bombay Cauliflower Pizza, and Chicago-Style Italian Beef Sandwich.
This old-school sandwich was very comforting and featured pulled beef with a house-made honey balsamic glaze in an Italian roll along with pickled Giardiniera vegetables, fresh arugula, and Famoso-smoked veggie spread. The pulled beef was particularly juicy, tender and flavourful.
Light and delicious, this Indian-inspired pizza had mango chutney, fior-di-latte, marinated curry cauliflower, diced mango, red onion, sliced jalapenos, mint yogurt and cilantro. The flavours I got from the pizza were sweet, subtly spicy and citrusy.
For those who love a nourishing bowl of salad, this Citrus Avocado Salad might just be for you. It’s loaded with lots of ingredients like quinoa, arugula, fresh orange segments, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, cucumber, red onion, cilantro and honey roasted walnuts tossed in a citrus orange-orange vinaigrette and topped with sliced avocado. The flavours were mostly citrusy, nutty and sweet.
And for dessert, we had a delicious salted caramel dark chocolate gelato and mango sorbetto by Da Vinci Gelato Originale.
Enter to win a $100 gift card to Famoso to try out this new menu. Giveaway is happening on Instagram and closes Monday, June 11 2018 at 22:59 PST. Open to Canadian residents.
In all, I really liked all the new creations that we tried. I didn’t have a favourite so it would just depend if you were in the mood for salad, pizza or sandwich. The cocktails and desserts were also very good. For more information, visit famoso.ca
Mother’s Day ? is coming up and what better way to show the special woman in your life you love her than to give her the gift of relaxation. Fortunately, with WaySpa, you won’t have the daunting task of finding *the* perfect spa. Mom can choose herself as WaySpa is Canada’s largest spa and wellness marketplace with over 2,000 partner spas.
I have partnered with WaySpa to give 1 follower a $100 gift card. This giveaway is happening on my Instagram page and closes Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 23:59 PST. Open to Canadian residents. Good luck!
To get more ideas on how mom can pamper herself with WaySpa, visit this post.
In today’s 24-7 world, it is hard to keep up a healthy lifestyle especially while trying to maintain or lose weight. Canada’s original meal replacement bar, Nutribar, provide “Nutrition on the Go” by delivering all the essential vitamins and minerals, protein, carbs and fat found in a completely balanced whole foods meal without the required time and energy to prepare it. In comparison to protein bars that are intended as a snack to manage hunger between meals, Nutribar has the optimal nutritional breakdown.
Nutribar meal replacement bars are also regulated under Canadian government guidelines and approved by Health Canada. What’s more, clinical studies show that Nutribar meal replacement bars satisfy hunger and cravings for up to five hours, eliminating the desire to snack between meals.
Replacing two meals a day with a Nutribar meal bar has been clinically shown to lead to weight loss of up to eight pounds over six weeks. You can achieve an optimal health lifestyle with a busy schedule by combining Nutribar meal replacement bars with healthy, nutritious eating the rest of day as well regular exercise.
Nutribar meal replacement bars are available in two formats: Original and High Protein for those with a more active lifestyle.
Original flavours include Belgian Chocolate, Chocolate Fudge, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Creamy Caramel, Deep Brownie Delight, Hazelnut Vanilla, Mocha Almond and Oatmeal Raisin.
High Protein flavours include Caramel Nougat Chocolate Temptation, Chocolate Truffle,Double Chocolate, Milk Chocolate Peanut and Peanut Delight.
Retail price is approximately $3 per bar. For a list of retailers, visit www.nutribar.com. As of April, Nutribar meal replacement bars will be available for purchase online at www.nutribar.com.
Thanks to Nutribar Canada, 3 winners will each win 5 boxes of Nutribar ($75 value). 2 winners are chosen from the Instagram giveaway and 1 from this blog post. Giveaways end May 14, 2018 at 11:59 am PST. Open to Canadians (excluding Quebec).
Disclosure: This post is in collaboration with Nutribar Canada.
Blenz Coffee currently has a promotion where their Americanos are the same price as their drip-coffee! Americanos are great for this time of year as they are calorie-free and affordable with this promotion. ALSO, today Feb 15 is FREE AMERICANO DAY at Blenz’s Bentall 5 location (550 Burrard Street, Vancouver). In order to get a free Americano, customers will have first sample of a drip coffee versus an Americano, so that they can ‘taste the difference’.
Thanks to Blenz Coffee, I am giving two winners each win a $20 Blenz gift card. The giveaway runs on Instagram and ends February 21, 2018 11:59 PST. Good luck!
The 2018 Wellness Show returns February 17 & 18 at the Vancouver Convention Centre with the goal of helping Vancouverites achieve their healthiest, most holistic selves. This year’s show includes more than 250 exhibitors, 100+ speakers, cooking and fitness demonstrations. For more than a quarter of a century, The Wellness Show has been helping residents of the GVRD discover the latest trends in nutrition, fitness, physical and emotional well-being.
The Wellness Show includes exhibitors, speakers and demonstrations on a diverse range of health and wellness topics, including nutrition, exercise, beauty, healthy aging, alternative and holistic therapies, mental well-being, healthy kids and green living, all under one roof, and for one low ticket price.
There are 5 stages including the following:
On Saturday, February 17, join Tosca Reno (best selling author & health expert), Lori Joyce (CEO at Betterwith Foods) , and Aeryon Bela Ashlie (fitness expert & coach) for the Women Empowering Women Panel sponsored by Fresh Magazine.
Table Tennis is an Olympic sport, and the second most popular racquet sport in the world. Experience the physical and mental benefits of Table Tennis and try it out for yourself at The Wellness Show. There will be 4 regular tables, one junior table, and one mini table for the little ones, as well as professional players and coaches to teach you more about the sport!
There’s always lots to see, do and eat at The Wellness Show! Last year over 20,000 visitors came through our doors, and of those attendees, the vast majority spent a minimum of 4 hours exploring, sampling and learning.
Date/Time: Saturday, February 17 , 2018 (10 am – 7 pm); Sunday, February 18, 2018 (10 am – 6 pm)
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre East (Old Convention Centre), 999 Canada Pl, Vancouver in downtown Vancouver.
Tickets: $14.50 General Admission, $12.50 Seniors 65+ / Students with valid ID, $6.00 Children (5 and under free), and $20.00 2 – day, all access pass. Tickets are available online at thewellnessshow.com, or at the door.
Thanks to the Wellness Show, I am giving one winner two tickets to this year’s show and a swag bag. Giveaway ends Feb 11, 2018 23:59 PST. Open to Metro Vancouver residents.
Starting today, Starbucks Canada has a new item to make your breakfast-on-the-go even more healthy. Meet Starbucks Sous Vide Egg Bites – perfectly cooked, cage-free eggs prepared using the French “sous vide” technique. The Sous Vide Egg Bites were introduced to the US market last year (I had seen them myself while visiting Seattle) and just became available in Canada today. I attended a media tasting this morning to try out these non-bread, breakfast goodies.
Disclosure: I attended a media tasting. Opinions are my own.
Sous-vide (pronounced “soo veed”) means “under vacuum” in French and is a cooking technique where vacuum-sealed food is immersed in water and cooked at a very precise and consistent temperature. Sous-vide is preferred method because it doesn’t require extra fats and oils. According to Starbucks, the result of cooking the eggs sous-vide is a creamy, velvety texture with flavour that is rich in flavour. It’s as if you’re eating something indulgent but you’re not.
Starbucks Sous Vide Egg Bites are available in two savoury flavours: Bacon & Gruyere and Egg White and Roasted Red Pepper .
This flavour features aged Gruyere and Monterey Jack cheese, and topped with Applewood smoked bacon. Two Bacon and Gruyere bites are $4.75 and have 310 calories and 19 grams of protein.
This flavour has creamy Monterey Jack cheese, plus spinach and fire-roasted red peppers. Two Egg White and Roasted Red Pepper bites are $4.75 and have 170 calories and 13 grams of protein.
At first bite, I really loved the texture of the sous vide eggs. They’re wonderfully spongy and creamy which is a good kind of addictive. Of the two flavours, I enjoyed the Bacon and Gruyere because it was more flavourful. The taste of cheese was quite prominent and the bacon was appropriately smoky and salty.
Those seeking a healthier , vegetarian option would enjoy the Egg White and Roasted Red Pepper. It’s a lot lighter in taste due to being made with egg whites only. From a nutritional standpoint, the Egg White and Roasted Red Pepper also has less fat (7 g vs 22 g) and less sodium (500 g vs 600 g) than the Bacon and Gruyere per serving.
All in all, these new items are tasty, low-carb and high-protein on-the-go breakfast options. I would gladly order these again as well as recommend them to others.
Thanks to Starbucks Canada, I am giving 2 winners each a $20 gift card to try out the Starbucks Sous Vide bites. Open to all Canadians. Giveaway ends January 23, 2018 23:59 PST.
