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Pinnacle Hotel North Vancouver Christmas Brunch

April 19, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

In today’s #ThrowbackThursday post, I’m sharing my experience of having Christmas Brunch at the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier in North Vancouver (circa 2016). While we enjoy going for a brunch buffet on Christmas, we also didn’t want to spend “too” much. At $55 per person, the price was quite reasonable compared to other higher end Vancouver hotels where it would be closer to $100 per person.

Note: None of the food and drinks in this review were complimentary. This review is done anonymously.

Purchase Tickets

The way to reserve your seat for the Christmas brunch was to buy tickets ahead of time online. The brunch did end up selling out so going in on the day of would not have worked.

Pinnacle Ballroom

The brunch took place at the Pinnacle Ballroom inside the hotel. I was impressed with the beautiful and elegant Christmas decorations. The main focal point of the room was a tall, nicely decorated Christmas tree.

The seating was arranged in a banquet style and you get your own private table based on how many tickets you bought. The round, banquet tables were fitted with red tablecloths and the chairs had chair covers.

Brunch Menu

Various stations were set up just outside the ballroom and the selection of food was very good.

Main Buffet

fresh baked danishes, croissants, banana breads and rolls
mixed gourmet greens with assorted dressings
classic caesar salad with homemade croutons
spinach frisee and wild mushroom with truffle vinaigrette
Asian noodle salad, chow mein, Julienne peppers, baby spinach
house smoked salmon platter with tiger prawns and fresh horseradish cocktail sauce
assorted nigiri, maki, and sashimi sushi
Chef’s omelet action station including spinach, wild mushrooms, bell peppers, onion, ham, baby shrimp, aged cheddar and goat feta
farm fresh omega 3 scrambled eggs
roasted fingerling potato lyonnaise
blueberry pancakes with chantilly cream
double smoked bacon and British banger sausages
chef carved 24 hour slow cooked AAA Alberta prime rib with red wine demi-glace
roast turkey with Chef’s signature gravy and orange cranberry sauce
roasted and steamed winter vegetable
leek and emental scallop potatoes
Pepsi glazed festive ham with sauteed onion rice pilaf
pan seared Alaskan black cod with citrus buerre black

Dessert

Belgian chocolate fondue with fresh fruit and coffee cakes
plum pudding with vanilla rum sauce, dark and white chocolate yule logs, egg nog cheese
cake, gingerbread men, assorted French pastries, petit fours, chocolate decadence cake
chocolate orange mousse, winterberry mousse, fruit and almond flan, fresh baked Okanagan apple pie and pecan pie

Children’s Buffet

house-made pepperoni and cheese pizzas
panko breaded tender chicken and French Fries with ketchup and plum sauce
chocolate mousse Jello and candy station

Overall Impression

In general, I thought that the Christmas brunch at the Pinnacle Hotel North Vancouver was excellent. The food quality and variety was above average although the food was not super fancy as reflected in the pricing. I enjoyed the warm and inviting atmosphere and thought the service was excellent. Staff were very professional, well-organized and friendly. I would be interested in attending a holiday brunch at the Pinnacle Hotel in the future and would recommend them to others. Rating: 5/5

Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier
Address: 138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver, BC
Website: ‎www.pinnaclepierhotel.com/

West Vancouver Indian Food: Swad Indian Kitchen

April 18, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

I’ve been a longtime customer of India Bistro which has been a longstanding restaurant on Davie Street for over 13 years. Little did I know, Kamal Mroke – the owner of India Bistro – had opened a sister restaurant called Swad Indian Kitchen in the Ambleside neighbourhood of West Vancouver just a few years back. I had been told by Mroke himself that the ambiance and cuisine at Swad are rather different compared to India Bistro. Last month, I had the opportunity to visit Swad Indian Kitchen for lunch to try a few of their dishes. Here’s a look at some of their offerings.

Disclosure: All food and drinks in this review were complimentary. Opinions are my own.

Elegant Interior

The interior of Swad is stunning; I’ve never been to an Indian restaurant with such elegant decor before. It’s a bright space with a mix of vibrant blue and yellow tones. On one of the walls is a beautiful rendering of an old growth tree stump. Customers can enjoy the plush seating of upholstered dining chairs and banquettes. This definitely felt like a place where you would go to on a special occasion.

Fun fact: It has been reported that Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart dined here a few times while they were filming Twilight.

Swad Indian Kitchen Menu

On the menu at Swad are tandoori dishes, vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees, rice entrees, naans and more. Mia Stainsby had noted that their cuisine features items from different parts of India and not just limited to Punjab. The food is also meant to be lighter using less butter, less salt, and not too spicy.

With the high-end stemware featured on the tables, Swad is the type of place where you might enjoy a delicious glass of wine to pair with the dishes.

What I Tried

Swad E Lamb ($17)

As I was a judge for the Vancouver Foodster Curry Challenge, I had the opportunity to try Swad’s participating curry. This was the Swad E Lamb which had slow cooked lamb in coconut milk, curry leaves and ground spices.

I thought it was a tasty, light savoury curry with tender pieces of lamb. An above average Indian curry in terms of taste but I thought it could have done better in the competition if there was a bit more creativity and interesting presentation.

Swad Palak Kofta ($15)

I also tried a few other dishes while I was there. The Swad Palak Kofta was a very interesting Northern Indian vegetarian dish; it’s also a favourite dish of the owner. Spinach and gram flour dumplings are cut down the middle to reveal a lovely cross-section of different layers. Served in a fresh spinach and cream sauce. The dumplings were crispy on the outside, but light and fluffy on the inside. They had been simmered in the sauce to absorb the wonderful flavours.

Moogdum Kebab ($22)

Another favourite dish of the owner. A tandoori prepared dish with bone-in chicken thigh marinated in a yogurt and cashew nut sauce. The chicken was moist, flavourful and nicely charred on the outside.

Jeera Rice ($4)

A popular, Northern Indian flavoured rice dish with roasted cumin seeds.

Mango Lassi

We also enjoyed the smooth mango lassi that was sweet, sour and very refreshing.

Overall Impression of Swad Indian Kitchen

I really loved the well-appointed interior at Swad which added to the dining experience. The food was very good and I appreciated that they kept their dishes light. Portions and prices seemed reasonable for the area. I would recommend Swad for Indian food in West Vancouver. Rating: 4/5

Swad Indian Kitchen
Address: 1734 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC
Website: www.swadindiankitchen.ca/‎

Vancouver Hotpot: Liuyishou Hotpot Robson

April 18, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Liuyishou Hot Pot Week 2018 took place this past Chinese New Year where the renowned restaurant chain collaborated with Vancouver Gourmet Tours to offer a special celebration hot pot menu for customers. I had attended a media preview of the menu at Liuyishou’s location in Burnaby and had enjoyed it so much that I decided to purchase the deal to experience it again. This time, I decided to visit the Liuyishou location closest to me which is on Robson in Downtown Vancouver.

Note: One of the items in this review was gifted to me. Opinions are my own.

WHAT IS HOT POT?

For the uninitiated, hot pot is known as a Chinese soup consisting of various raw meats, vegetables, noodles, tofu, seafood and dumplings. These are dipped into a shared pot with a simmering pot of soup stock and eaten with dipping sauce.

CHOOSE A SOUP BASE

The experience starts with choosing a soup base. Liuyishou’s traditional Chongqing style soup base is prepared with special butter, red hot chili, Sichuan peppercorn, and other exotic herbs and spices. It’s meant to astonish all your senses with the spiciness, umami flavours and aromas. If spicy is not for you, Liuyishou also has other bases like Wild Mushroom, Special Pork Rib or Tomato Soup.

PRO TIP: There is an order to cooking raw food in your pot! The order is meat, seafood, mushroom, vegetables and noodles.

MAKE YOURSELF A PERFECT SAUCE

Mix your favourite sauces from the Liuyishou’s sauce bar featuring 20+ sauces, fresh herbs and spices. Cooked food is eaten with your own sauce mix.

What We Tried

I bought the Dinner for 2 deal ($72) which included 2 soup bases, 1 specialty dish, 2 proteins, 1 veggie, 1 starch, 2 drinks and dessert. Beer pairing by Red Truck Brewery is also included in the price.

Soup Base

For the soup bases, we went with the house spicy soup base and special pork rib. Both were very flavourful and satisfying soup bases.

Specialty Dish

We selected a deep-fried pork which had a nice golden exterior and had tender, slightly chewy pork meat on the inside.

Protein

For meats, we had the supreme lamb and beef slices.

Veggies

The mixed mushroom platter at Liuyishou included enoki, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, brown and white mushrooms.

Starch

I loved these deep fried buns from the media event and had to have them again. The buns had a perfect golden exterior and light, fluffy texture. Dip them with condensed milk for maximal enjoyment!

Dessert

For dessert, we enjoyed the bing fen – a cold dessert jelly which soothed the palate wonderfully from the spicy soup base.

And we received some sweet, glutinous rice balls as well (though not noted on the menu).

Meat Barbie

Thanks to Vancouver Gourmet Club, I received a gift order of Meat Barbie. Meat Barbie is wrapped up in strips of meat and diners need to “strip” off the layers to cook the meat in the hot pot. At Liuyishou, the Barbie comes standalone with beef for $25 or as a seafood and meat combo for $50. For my full review on Meat Barbie, visit here.

Liuyishou Hotpot Robson Interior

The interior of Liuyishou’s Robson location is modern with mostly booth seating and a few dining tables.

Service

The Robson location of Liuyishou seemed much busier than the Burnaby one. The restaurant was pretty much full while I was there and I noticed a lot of people had to put down their name on the waitlist. Service was a bit slow for the ordering part, but the food arrived in a timely manner.

Overall Impression of Liuyishou Hotpot Robson

We enjoyed our experience at Liuyishou Hotpot Robson and thought the Chinese New Year deal was of great value. The hot pot ingredients were of a good quality and quantity. I would be interested in enjoying hotpot at Liyishou again in the future. Rating: 4/5

Liuyishou Hotpot Robson
Address: 1542 Robson St, Vancouver, BC

Tasting Plates Coquitlam 2018 Recap

April 16, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Vancouver Foodster’s Tasting Plates made its way to Coquitlam for the first time last month. Attendees visited a selection of restaurants in the Coquitlam area centered around the Skytrain line between Lincoln station south towards downtown. Here’s a look a recap of the evening.

Disclosure: I attended the event as media. All food and drinks were complimentary.

Papparoti

Originating from Malaysia, Papparoti is known for their coffee bun which is freshly baked every 20 minutes. Their buns are soft, light and fluffy and have a crispy top layer of coffee caramel. For the event, we tried their signature coffee caramel coated bun, a coconut rollie (a soft and flaky croissant-like texture pastry with young coconut filling jam) and had a choice of either an ice blended signature chocolate, signature karak tea, or freshly brewed JJ Bean Coffee.

Address: 1196 Pinetree Way, Unit 100, Coquitlam
Website: www.papparoti.ca

Seoul Truck Street Food

Located inside Henderson Place Mall as a stall within a food court, Seoul Truck Street Food specializes in Korean snacks. We tried the K-Town Sandwich, which is a soft bun filled with crispy Dak-Gang-Jeong (Korean Fried Popcorn Chicken), either Red Pepper Spicy, Soy or Garlic flavoured. We also tried their fried Ddeok-Ko-Chi (rice cakes) which came in two flavours: red (sweet & spicy sauce) or yellow (cheddar cheese sprinkled with sugar).

Address: Henderson Place Mall; Unit 2082-1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Instagram: @seoultruckstreetfood

Kulinarya

The third stop was a Filipino restaurant called Kulinarya. There we tried lumping shanghai (spring roll), pork bbq skewer and rice noodles in a takeout box.

Address: 2922 Glen Dr, Coquitlam
Facebook: @Kulinarya

Polito’s Latin Cafe

We then proceeded to Polilto’s Latin Cafe which serves Salvadoran cuisine as well as other dishes inspired by other Latin regions including Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico. We had the mini pupusa, an El Salvador dish featuring thick handmade corn tortilla with filling and paired with “curtido” cabbage slaw and savory tomato sauce. There was also the vigorón which is a traditional Nicaraguan dish consisting of a cabbage salad made with curtido, yuca, and chicharrones, and then all wrapped in a banana leaf. Lastly, we enjoyed the Columbia-inspired patacone which was a deep-fried plantain topped with assorted vegetables and seasoned meat.

Address: 942 Westwood St, Coquitlam
Website: politoscafe.ca

Mariner Brewing

We ended the evening at Mariner Brewing which produces a range of modern and classic craft beers. There we received a tasting flight of four of their beers from the following selection: Northeast IPA, Golden IPA, Cream Ale, Berliner Weisse, Night Sky Mocha Stout, and Horizon Pale Ale.

Address: H-1100 Lansdowne Dr, Coquitlam
Website: www.marinerbrewing.ca

For more information on future Tasting Plates events, visit tastingplatesyvr.com

Robson Street Fine Indian Restaurant: Spicy 6

April 11, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Robson Street is home to some amazing restaurants in Vancouver serving up a wide range of cuisines. If you’re craving Indian food, you might just consider Spicy 6 (Robson & Thurlow) that offers authentic Indian food with a modern twist. Last month, I had the opportunity to visit Spicy 6 and try a few of their offerings.

Disclosure: All food and drinks in this review were complimentary. Opinions are my own.

Charming and Elegant Interior

Spicy 6 is sort of a hidden gem being located on the second level of the building. Walking into the restaurant, I noticed the calm and relaxing atmosphere; it’s a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you sit by the window, you can enjoy the views of Robson Street.

The well-appointed interior boasts beautiful and colourful Indian-inspired murals. The restaurant is more on the fine dining side with its ambiance. White tablecloths with neatly folded napkins and simple floral centerpieces.

Spicy 6 Menu

The chefs from Spicy 6 are from New Delhi and they specialize in tandoori dishes. Some of the tandoori creations on the menu include Mustard Chicken Tikka, Lamb Sheekh Kabob, Tandoori Prawn and so forth. Also on the menu are a variety of non-vegetarian (like Chicken Korma, Saag Chicken, Kadai Lamb) and vegetarian main dishes (like Muttar Paneer, Aloo Gobi, Okra Masala). They also offer a lunch buffet.

What I Tried

Exotic Saffron Chicken ($25)

As I was a judge in the Vancouver Foodster Curry Challenge, I had the opportunity to try Spicy 6’s participating curry. The Exotic Saffron Chicken featured stuffed chicken with cottage cheese in a savoury curry. Served with jasmine rice and naan. I liked how they got creative and stuffed the chicken with cheese; that made the dish much more memorable. A good, savoury curry overall. Spicy 6 end up being the third place winner in the media judge’s category for the challenge.

Tandoori Prawn ($19)

I also tried the Tandoori Prawn featuring jumbo prawns marinated in grounded mustard, yogurt and spiced cooked in a clay oven. The prawns were nicely sized, bouncy and I enjoyed the smokey flavours.

Butter Chicken ($17)

I’ve been looking for new place to order butter chicken for takeout on a regular basis and Spicy 6 just might be it! I really loved their rich, flavourful butter chicken which had a nice balance of sweet and tomato flavours. The chicken pieces were tender and juicy. I would definitely love to have this again.

Naan

I also thought that Spicy 6’s naan was well-executed being crispy and chewy on the outside and light on the inside.

Peshawari Naan ($6)

One of the surprising standouts from the meal was the peshawari naan, which is a sort of dessert naan. I’ve never had a sweet naan before so this was a real treat for me. This naan was stuffed with cashews, pistachio, raisins and coconut. Loved the sweet nutty flavours and textures; it’s really worth having either as a side or dessert.

Overall Impression of Spicy 6

I really enjoyed the rich, flavourful Indian dishes at Spicy 6 and thought the prices and portions were reasonable for the area. I’d certainly be interested in revisiting as well as ordering some takeout. If you do want a nice sit-down experience for Indian cuisine, Spicy 6 has a lovely atmosphere to enjoy a meal. Rating: 4/5

Spicy 6 Fine Indian Cuisine
Address: 1116 Robson St, Vancouver, BC
Website: www.spicy6.com

Assembli in Downtown Vancouver Now Open

March 14, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Cambie Village’s build-your-own pizza and salad eatery, Assembli, has just opened a second location in Downtown Vancouver. Located in the heart of the financial district at 1066 West Hastings, Assembli’s newest location allows customers to customize their own meal at one set price. I was invited to a media event at Assembli last night. Here’s a look at what you can expect.

Disclosure: All food and drinks in this post were complimentary. Opinions are my own.

Build Your Own

Pizzas and salads are made fresh-to-order at Assembli and all priced at $14. The ingredients are presented and labeled in their “assembly” bar. Assembli takes pride in their quality ingredients: fresh, non-GMO, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and local and organic when possible.

If you’re feeling adventurous, the DIY option is certainly the way to go with all the toppings you want. Salad bases include organic mixed greens, romaine, kale and more while pizza bases come in original crust or gluten-free (+$3). Protein choices are aplenty including herb-roasted chicken, cajun chicken, pepperoni, genoa salami, ham, spicy chorizo, bacon, shrimp, herb and olive oil tofu, and more. And there is certainly no shortage of toppings like chili pineapple, pineapple, roasted garlic, roasted root veggies, roasted red peppers and more. There are over 50 toppings to choose from.

Now if you’re feeling lazy and want to keep it simple, Assembli offers house-made selections. For pizza, the selection includes Smooth Crimini Kale (sautéed mushrooms, mozzarella, olive oil tossed kale, artichoke, red onion, white sauce), Carne-Dian (seasoned ground beef, pepperoni, bacon, mozzarella, sautéed mushrooms, red onion, spicy tomato sauce) and more. For salads, there is the O-Mega Braniac (mixed greens, quinoa, cucumber, cabbage, blueberries, beets, avocado salsa, walnuts, seed mix, glory dressing) and so forth.

What I Tried

Having tried Assembli before, I have a few personal favourites. I had to have (again) the Sexy Hippie Salad (brown rice, quinoa, roasted root veggies, celery, beets, parsley, walnuts, apple, honey and dijon dressing) and the Hawaii 5-0 (ham, mozzarella, chili pineapple, spicy tomato sauce).

One attendee ordered a gluten-free crust; the shape of the crust is rather pretty!

Red Truck Beer provided beer pairings for the evening. The selection included Red Truck Lager, Red Truck Ale, and Northwest IPA.

Assembli – Downtown Vancouver
Address: 1066 West Hastings
Website: ‎http://www.assembli.ca

Yaletown Cocktail Crawl: Brix & Mortar

March 10, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

On March 15, Vancouver Gourmet Tours is presenting the inaugural Yaletown Cocktail Crawl – a self-guided cocktail and food pairing experience in one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in Downtown Vancouver. Attendees have 2.5 hours to complete the crawl, and will receive one cocktail and a small appetizer at each crawl stop. Participating in the crawl is Brix & Mortar. I had the opportunity to sample what they will be offering for the crawl at a media preview last week.

Big Flavours in Little China

Absolut Mandarin Vodka, Lychee Liquor, Fresh Lemon, Clove Spiced Pear, Plum Bitters. Sweet and fruity. Served over rocks.

Seyton’s whispers

Grants Sherry Casked Scotch, Yellow Chartreuse, Fino Sherry, Organic Cassis, Fresh Lemon. Tart, refreshing and exciting. Served up (Uses Local Ingredients).

Other perks of joining the Yaletown Cocktail Crawl include:

Discount on food and drinks on the regular menus of the restaurants/bars at any of the stops.
Free membership of Vancouver Gourmet Club and enjoy benefits and discounts for 12 months.
Participate in “Cocktail of the Night” voting contest for a chance to win a ticket for the next crawl in Gastown.
Enjoy discounts on food and drink at the participating cocktail crawl restaurants after the event (subject to availability)
Further discount or gift on the next cocktail crawl

Tickets for the event are $35 (early bird) and $45 (regular). Find out more and purchase tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/yaletown-cocktail-crawl-tickets-43292357607

The Sandbar Now Offers Happy Hour

March 9, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

The Sandbar is a destination seafood hot spot located in the heart of Granville Island with majestic waterfront views. Last month, they launched their first-ever Happy Hour menu which is offered Monday to Friday 3 pm – 6 pm. Available in the bar/lounge, you can enjoy Granville Island Beer, wine and highballs for $5 and delicious food items under $10. I was invited for a media tasting of the Happy Hour menu. Here’s a look at what you can expect.

Disclosure: All food and drinks in this review were complimentary. Opinions are my own.

The Sandbar Happy Hour Menu

The Happy Hour menu features gluten-free, vegetarian as well as Oceanwise menu items. You’ll find smaller bites like avocado chips to larger items like the Chang Mai Wok Mussels. Granville Island pints, red or white wine, and highballs are $5 each.

Drinks

Bites

Avocado Chips ($7)

One must-try of the Happy Hour menu items are the deep-fried, panko-breaded avocado chips. These were insanely delicious (and addictive!) and were particularly good with the chili-lime aioli. The golden panko breading was amazingly crispy.

Brioche Lobster Sliders ($10)

If you’re someone who enjoys sliders for Happy Hour, then the Brioche Lobster Slides are not to be missed. Oceanwise lobster come in a brioche bun with lettuce, red pepper, kale and cauliflower slaw.

Tacos Frijoles ($8)

The tacos are a gluten-free and vegetarian option and come with black beans, salsa fresca, zucchini, feta cheese on a charred tortilla.

Chang Mai Wok Mussels ($10)

The Sandbar is known for their fresh seafood and the mussels did not disappoint. The Thai-inspired broth was very flavourful and had lemon grass, ginger, chili, garlic and coconut milk.

Bay shrimp & avocado stack ($9)

For a bit of seafood and a bit of avocado, this item is a good option. Smash avocado is topped with Oceanwise bay shrimp and comes with a side of housemade tortilla chips. I enjoyed this with White wine.

Overall Impression

The Happy Hour menu at The Sandbar has some very delicious, affordable menu items with gluten-free, vegetarian and Oceanwise options. My top 3 items were the Avocado Chips, Brioche Lobster Sliders, and Chang Mai Wok Mussels.

The Sandbar
Address: 1535 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC
Website: www.vancouverdine.com/sandbar/‎

Just Opened: ZenQ Richmond – Taiwanese Dessert

March 2, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll be excited to know that a new dessert spot has just opened in Richmond. Taiwanese-based dessert chain, ZenQ, has just expanded to a new fourth location in BC. Located at 3471 No. 3 Road, ZenQ Richmond specializes in Taiwanese desserts ranging from their signature collagen-riched grass jelly series to glutinous rice desserts and shaved ice series. I visited ZenQ ahead of their official Grand Opening tomorrow. Here’s a look at what you can expect from this new dessert stop in Richmond.

Disclosure: I was invited to a media tasting. All food and drinks were complimentary. Opinions are my own.

ZENQ RICHMOND MENU

On the menu at ZenQ are a variety of Taiwanese-style drinks and desserts. Drink series include ZenQ Tea Time Collection (like Original Milk Tea and Wintermelon Tea); Handmade Tea (like Jasmine, Black and Blue Mountain Green); and Special Drinks (like Grass Jelly Latte and Mango Refresher).

For desserts, there are Tofu Puddings, Grass Jellys, Creamy Frappes, Royal Sweet Soups, Black Glutinous Rice, Hot Grass Jelly, Waffles and Hot Sweet Soups. Additional toppings are available at an extra charge.

New drink additions to the ZenQ menu include Peach Refresher, Manger Smoothie, Matcha Red Bean Smoothie, Strawberry Slush and more.

Grand Opening Special

For the Grand Opening weekend on March 3 – 4, you will receive a free drink (Pearl Milk Tea, ZenQ Milk Tea with Grass Jelly, or Mango Refresher) with any drink or dessert purchase.

MODERN & SHINY

ZenQ’s new Richmond location is more spacious than the Marine Drive one. There is a variety of seating here ranging from lounge seating, dining tables for 2 or 4 as well as a counter along the window.

What I Tried

Thanks to Chinesebites.com, I had the opportunity to try three drinks and three desserts.

Mango Creamy Frappe ($8.90)

As a lover of mango desserts, I was excited to try the Mango Creamy Frappe featuring fresh mango, mango jelly and ice cream. The mango flavours were more on the subtle side for both the shaved ice and the ice cream but it was overall freshing. My favourite part was actually the mango jelly which had a nice firm yet gelatinous texture.

Peal Milk Tea Creamy Frappe ($7.90)

I absolutely loved this dessert which had lychee jelly, pearl and vanilla ice cream. I love a classic pearl milk tea flavour and this frappe version didn’t disappoint. The lychee jelly was particularly delicious.

Tofu Pudding with Sweet Potato ($8.40)

A must-try at any ZenQ location is the tofu pudding. This time, I had the Tofu Pudding with Sweet Potato, Peanuts, Q Balls and Pearls. An overall very smooth dessert with the tofu pudding being silky; the peanuts being crunchy; the Q balls and pearls being chewy but soft on the inside; and the sweet potato being soft and sweet.

Handmade Taro Milk Tea ($4.70)

If you’re a lover a taro, you have definitely got to try ZenQ’s handmade taro milk tea. The drink had a lusciously smooth taro flavour and actual taro bits in it. It was also very comforting because the drink was prepared

Matcha Red Bean Smoothie

A blend of matcha milk tea, whipped cream with red bean toppings.

Peach Refresher

A peach-flavour drink that comes with pearls and coconut jelly.

OVERALL IMPRESSION OF ZENQ MARINE DRIVE

In general, I enjoyed the desserts and drinks that I tried at ZenQ Richmond. My favourite dessert was the Pearl Milk Tea Frappe and my favourite drink was the Handmade Taro Milk Tea. For their desserts, I like the fact that they have a nice presentation, made with quality ingredients and are not overly sweet. Rating: 4/5

ZenQ Richmond
Address: #130 – 3471 No. 3 Road
Website: ‎http://zenqbc.com/

Just Opened: La Taqueria Main and Broadway

February 28, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

If you’re a fan of La Taqueria, you’ll be happy to know that the popular eatery has opened a new location at Main Street and Broadway. This marks the fourth location of La Taqueria in Vancouver and sixth overall. Taking over the space formerly occupied by Miura at 2521 Main Street, La Taqueria’s newest location features a beer-and-cocktail program and a brand new menu item: mouthwatering nachos loaded with Guadalajara-sourced cheese and toppings like housemade jalapeño pickles, onions, and dressings. I attended a grand opening celebration of La Taqueria Main Street last night. Here’s a look at what you can expect.

Interior

The interior of La Taqueria Main Street features dual-tone palette of teal and navy, graphic tilework and ceramics imported from Mexico, and mix of vintage and reclaimed-wood accents. You’ll find a large communal table, some high top tables, and a few smaller dining tables.

Photo Credit: Leila Kwok

New Menu Item: Nachos

Debuting at La Taqueria Main Street are three tier, doubled-baked house nachos made with corn chips, Guadalajara-sourced cheese, refried beans, onions, jalapenos, sweet corn, sour cream, pico de gallo and creamy chipotle sauce.

Old Favourites

Patrons of La Taqueria’s other locations will also enjoy old favourites like their authentic Mexican meat, vegetarian and vegan tacos.

At the event, I tried the Baja (tempura beer battered seasonal fish) and the Cabo (tempura beer battered prawns) tacos.

Purchase Tickets

Pinnacle Ballroom

Brunch Menu

Main Buffet

Dessert

Children’s Buffet

Overall Impression

Elegant Interior

Swad Indian Kitchen Menu

What I Tried

Swad E Lamb ($17)

Swad Palak Kofta ($15)

Moogdum Kebab ($22)

Jeera Rice ($4)

Mango Lassi

Overall Impression of Swad Indian Kitchen

WHAT IS HOT POT?

CHOOSE A SOUP BASE

MAKE YOURSELF A PERFECT SAUCE

What We Tried

Soup Base

Specialty Dish

Protein

Veggies

Starch

Dessert

Meat Barbie

Liuyishou Hotpot Robson Interior

Service

Overall Impression of Liuyishou Hotpot Robson

Papparoti

Seoul Truck Street Food

Kulinarya

Polito’s Latin Cafe

Mariner Brewing

Charming and Elegant Interior

Spicy 6 Menu

What I Tried

Exotic Saffron Chicken ($25)

Tandoori Prawn ($19)

Butter Chicken ($17)

Naan

Peshawari Naan ($6)

Overall Impression of Spicy 6

Build Your Own

What I Tried

Big Flavours in Little China

Seyton’s whispers

The Sandbar Happy Hour Menu

Drinks

Bites

Avocado Chips ($7)

Brioche Lobster Sliders ($10)

Tacos Frijoles ($8)

Chang Mai Wok Mussels ($10)

Bay shrimp & avocado stack ($9)

Overall Impression

ZENQ RICHMOND MENU

Grand Opening Special

MODERN & SHINY

What I Tried

Mango Creamy Frappe ($8.90)

Peal Milk Tea Creamy Frappe ($7.90)

Tofu Pudding with Sweet Potato ($8.40)

Handmade Taro Milk Tea ($4.70)

Matcha Red Bean Smoothie

Peach Refresher

OVERALL IMPRESSION OF ZENQ MARINE DRIVE

Interior

New Menu Item: Nachos

Old Favourites

Other good reads about La Taqueria Main Street:

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