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You are here: Home / Archives for Type / Casual

Standing Egg Coffee in Koreatown on North Road

March 18, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

It might be difficult to fathom a place in Koreatown that can offer an elevated coffee experience likes ones you would find in Gastown and Kitsilano.  But tucked away in a corner of a multi-level Korean plaza is Standing Egg Coffee that is likely to satisfy coffee aficionados.  After seeing some Instagram posts about them (including affogatos and 3D coffee art), my friend and I decided to pay them a visit.

Note:  This is not a sponsored post.  This food and drinks were not complimentary.  I did not receive any compensation or incentive to share about my experience.  The coffee shop did not know that I am a blogger.

standing egg coffee

Sophisticated and Moody

Walking into Standing Egg Coffee, I immediately took notice of the sophisticated yet moody interior.  The shop has practically no natural light coming through, but I like how their design still sets a cozy environment with the overhanging industrial lights and warm, earthy tones.

standing egg coffee

standing egg coffee

The main focus of the room seems to be the shelving unit in the middle featuring a display of coffee brewing equipment.  On top of the unit are several pallet boxes lined up two rows.

standing egg coffee

They also have set up a hanging rack of loyalty cards arranged alphabetically.  It seems like a practical idea so that customers won’t need to carry an extra card on them.

standing egg coffee

On the side walls, an eye-catching display of several cold brew coffee drippers.

standing egg coffee

What We Tried

Standing Egg Coffee uses coffee beans by Calgary’s Phil & Sebastian and serves pastries by Chez Christophe.  One of the things that my friend and I were looking forward to at Standing Egg Coffee were the 3D coffee art.  They had advertised their 3D foam bear coffee art a few times on their social media.  When we placed the order, the barista told us that it could only be created for the cappuccino.  We were fine with that but then the barista said that they normally don’t do 3D coffee art during peak times as it takes too long to create it.  I was a little taken back by it considering how much they advertised the 3D coffee art on their social media.  Furthermore, they did not note that it was to be offered during non-peak times only.  After letting her know that we had come from Downtown Vancouver, she begrudgingly decided to make it for us.  When we got our cappucino with the 3D foam bear, it certainly was less impressive than the ones they advertised.  The one we got was considerably less foamy.  It was still cute but disappointing.

3D Bear Cappucino Art ? followed by a face-off ?? | Thanks @risubaby for hand modelling . #monday #mondays #coffeeart #eatfamous #video #foodvideo #buzzfeed #buzzfeedfood #cafe #videooftheday #3dlatteart #3D #bear #cappuccino #cappuccinoart | Music by Bensound.com

A post shared by FOODGRESSING.COM | Areta (@foodgressing) on Feb 20, 2017 at 4:10pm PST

We also had a matcha affogato which had vanilla ice cream in a glass and then matcha green tea on the side.  Pouring the matcha green tea over vanilla ice cream created a dessert with a rich, creamy taste but also slightly bitter.

Matcha ? affogato ?- a most delicious way of bringing together refreshing #matcha green tea and ice cream | Hand modeled by @risubaby #NotSponsoredJustLove . #matchagreentea #affogato #videooftheday #fridaynight #fridayfun #happy #shenanigans #pour #dessert #desserts #dessertporn #lifeisbeautiful #foodblogger #foodblog #tea #fridayfunday #cafe

A post shared by FOODGRESSING.COM | Areta (@foodgressing) on Feb 24, 2017 at 5:40pm PST

The Chez Christophe pastries that we had were the Sweet Potato Cake and the Tea Tart.  The cake had sweet potato chunks and whipped cream layers in a sponge cake.  The tart had tea anglaise, blueberry confit, English breakfast ganache in a sweet crust.  Both were okay and were more sweet than pastries I have had from Thomas Haas.  The cake was light and fluffy with appropriately sized potato chunks.  The blueberry confit could be less sweet and the crust was a little hard to cut through.

First up, the “Sweet Potato Cake” with sweet potato chunks and whipped cream layers in a sponge cake. Then, the “Tea Tart” with tea anglaise, blueberry confit, English breakfast ganache in a sweet crust. Hand modeled by the lovely @risubaby #NotSponsoredJustLove ? . Cheers to having a good weekend, everyone! ? . #vancouver #foodblog #blog #fridays #tgif #fridaynight #cakeporn #cakes #blogger #foodgressing #foodblogger #bloggerlife #bloggerstyle #march #weekend #weekendvibes #weekendfun #videogram #igvideo #desserts

A post shared by FOODGRESSING.COM | Areta (@foodgressing) on Mar 17, 2017 at 3:57pm PDT

Overall Impression of Standing Egg Coffee

I was disappointed with how much less impressive the 3D foam bear was than the ones they presented on their social media.  The pastries by Chez Christophe that we tried were sweeter than I expected.  Service at Standing Egg Coffee could be friendlier.  Rating: 3/5

Facebook: @standingeggcoffee

Standing Egg Coffee Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Filed Under: Casual, Coffee, Restaurant Review

New Fraser Neighbourhood Pub: The Eastwood

March 14, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

New in Fraserhood is a neighbourhood pub, The Eastwood, which opened this past December at 4245 Fraser Street.  The Eastwood is a refreshing addition to the area which has been popular for coffee aficionados due to Prado Café and Bows & Arrow Coffee Roasters.  The concept behind The Eastwood is a laidback, local bar where people can come to enjoy comfort foods, have a few drinks and watch a hockey game on one of their many flat-screens.  I was recently invited by The Eastwood to learn more about their story and their menu offerings.

Disclosure:  I was invited for a media tasting.  All food and drinks in this review were complimentary.  Opinions are my own.

the eastwood fraser street east van

The owners of The Eastwood, Alex Kyriazis and Ari Demosten, built and designed The Eastwood’s interior.  Kryiazis owns a design and fabrication company and has manufactured reclaimed-wood furnishings for restaurants like MeeT on Main.  The dining area has a capacity for 60 people and is mainly of steel and salvaged wood.  The room feels like it has a lot of character but with a rustic kind of feel.

the eastwood fraser street east van

The Eastwood Menu

The dishes served at The Eastwood have Tex-Mex and Asian influences.  For starters, there are classics like nachos, wings, tacos followed by some trendier items like tuna poke.  Fries lovers will be impressed by The Eastwood’s variety of fries options by Spuds including Fraser Fries, Chili Cheese Fries, Lemon Pepper, and poutine.  Side dips and additional toppings are available.  As for mains, you’ll find salads, sandwiches, Ocean Wise seafood, steak, pasta and more.  Their handheld items range from The Basic B to some Asian-fusion options like Crispy Chicken Banh Mi and Waffleburg.  They use 100% Canadian certified meat.

What I Tried  

For my media tasting, I was able to choose what I wanted to try and I went with the following:

  • Beergria ($11)
  • Nachos ($16) with yam fries ($+2)
  • Crispy chicken banh mi ($15)
  • Waffleburg ($15)

To start, there was the Beergria, a beer cocktail made with Kronenbourg Blanc, peach ciroc, orange juice and lemon juice.  It was the first time that I had a beer cocktail and I quite enjoyed it.  The taste was more on the beer side than cocktail so kind of citrusy beer.

the eastwood fraser street east van

The nachos were a cheesy hot mess of three cheeses, black olives, picked jalapeno, green onion, tomato, sour cream, pico de gallo and guacamole.  I thought the portions of other ingredients versus chips and cheese were good.  Most of the bites were chips, cheese plus a little bit of something else rather than just chips and cheese.  The guacamole, in particular, was excellent: rich, creamy, fresh, tangy and nicely flavorful.

the eastwood fraser street east van

the eastwood fraser street east van

the eastwood fraser street east van

The Waffleburg is a new addition to their menu and it stood out to me.  I missed the now-closed Miura which was famous for their waffle burgers.  The waffle burger had a 6 oz waffle patty and bacon with melted cheese overtop and then sandwiched between two waffle buns.  On the side, bourbon maple syrup for some extra drizzle.  I found it easier to eat by cutting up the waffle and patty into smaller pieces and eating them together rather than taking one big bite.  The waffle bun was light and fluffy but the patty could be more moist and juicy.  One of the surprises to the meal were just how good their yam fries were just.  I don’t find myself usually raving about yam fries but the ones at The Eastwood were wonderfully crispy, well-seasoned and super addictive.  I would recommend the upgrade for them.

the eastwood fraser street east van

Another unique menu offering at the Eastwood was the Crispy Chicken Banh Mi – a handheld with a sort of twist.

the eastwood fraser street east van

Rather than a traditional French Baguette, this banh mi uses ciabatta.  The ciabatta had a crispy crust and then soft and airy on the inside.  The crispy chicken was pleasantly “crispy” and had a nice additional Asian flavours from the miso dijon aioli and daikon slaw.  My only feedback would be perhaps to reduce the thickness of the ciabatta.  It’s just a lot of bread proportionately speaking in my opinion.

the eastwood fraser street east van

Overall Impression

I see potential in The Eastwood in becoming a favorite, local watering hole.  Their menu is interesting with classic comfort foods but also some trendier, Asian-fusion options.  I also enjoy the fact that their seafood items are Ocean Wise.  Rating: 3.5/5

The Eastwood Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Filed Under: Casual, Just Opened, Media Event, Restaurant Review

Breka Bakery & Cafe in Downtown Vancouver

March 8, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Breka Bakery & Cafe is one of my favourite bakeries in Vancouver.  They have three locations in Vancouver (Fraser, Bute and Davie) and the Davie one is my regular go-to bakery.  One of the great things about Breka is that they are open 24 hours which makes it a convenient place to study, grab coffee or even late night bites.  Breka has an amazing selection of baked goods, cakes, and gourmet sandwiches.  Their pastry section is particularly mouthwatering with items ranging from cookies, donuts, tortes, strudels to slices of cake.

Breka bakery cafe vancouver davie downtown

What I Tried

Breka saves me the trouble of needing to preorder a cake or pie for a party because they have them ready-made on display.  On a few occasions, I have picked up their blueberry and raspberry tortes ($12.50) to bring to workplace potlucks.  They’re hits with my coworkers and they get eaten up rather quickly.  I love the crumble topping and sweet blueberry and raspberry filling.

Breka bakery cafe vancouver davie downtown

Breka bakery cafe vancouver davie downtown

Breka bakery cafe vancouver davie downtown

Their cookies are oh-so-good and not overly decadent.  The cookies are priced $1 each and have made great treats at the office.  I have tried the birdsnest, Belgian chocolate brownie, chocolate chip cookie and white chocolate pecan cookie.  My favourite is the birdsnest because of the jam filling in the middle.

Breka bakery cafe vancouver davie downtown

I have also enjoyed a chocolate dipped almond horn ($4.25) which had a moist and chewy interior under a crunchy almond coating.  Bonus points for some simple latte art ($3.25).

Breka bakery cafe vancouver davie downtown

As for savouries, their sausage rolls ($2.25) make a great to-go treat.  I love the flaky, golden pastry and the pork filling is delicious.

Breka bakery cafe vancouver davie downtown

Overall Impression

Open conveniently 24 hours and with a great selection of food and coffee, I continue to be a fan of Breka and would recommend them.  Rating: 5/5

Breka Bakery & Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Filed Under: Baked Goods, Casual, Coffee, Downtown

Certified Organic Bakery: A Bread Affair

March 8, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

A Bread Affair on Granville Island differs from most bakeries in town because they are BC’s first certified organic bakery.  Their baked goods are made with ingredients that are free of GMOs, chemicals, and pesticides involved with the growing of the ingredients.  Furthermore, there are no additives, stabilizers or preservatives in their products.  On Granville Island, they operate a stand-alone building across the public market building.  You’ll find street performers entertaining crowds just outside their shop along with some benches where you can sit down and enjoy their treats.

a bread affair granville island

A Bread Affair sells organic artisan breads, cookies, pastries and sandwiches.  It seems more like a grab-and-go sort of place as there is no area for eating-in inside the shop.

a bread affair granville island

a bread affair granville island

I had heard that their croissants are some of the best in the city and decided to try them out.  In terms of pricing, they are a bit more expensive than other bakeries in town that are famous for croissants like Thomas Haas and Beaucoup.  At A Bread Affair, a plain croissant is $4 compared to $3 elsewhere.

a bread affair granville island

The plain croissant I tried was excellent – buttery, flaky, and golden brown.  I liked how the croissants did not leave much grease on your hands.  And when you first bite into it, there is that wonderful crunch sound.

a bread affair granville island

On another visit, I tried their pain au chocolate which was also very good.  I thought there was a reasonable amount of chocolate embedded within the layers.

a bread affair granville island

a bread affair granville island

Overall Impression of A Bread Affair

The croissants from A Bread Affair that I tried were excellent.  However, I felt that their taste and quality did not differ significantly from croissants I had from other top notch bakeries and cafes in town that are not certified organic.  Unfortunately, I am not appreciative enough of the organic aspect of their baked goods to pay a premium for them.  Rating: 3.5/5

Website: www.abreadaffair.com

A Bread Affair Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Filed Under: Casual, Granville island

Granville Island Gelato & Coffee

March 4, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Granville Island Gelato & Coffee is sort of a hidden cafe on the island.  It is located along the boardwalk behind Sandbar restaurant and the Arts Club.  This place serves 18 flavours of homemade gelato and sorbetto, fair trade and organic coffee along with other cafe staples like soups, paninis, and baked goods.

granville island gelato

granville island gelato

granville island gelato

Last summer, my family and I celebrated Canada Day on Granville Island.  And since it was a nice, warm, sunny day, I decided to get my son a gelato cone from Granville Island Gelato & Coffee.  There was a bit of line as many people were seeking to cool off from the heat.  The single waffle cone cost close to $5 ($4.25 for the single scoop and $0.60 extra for the waffle cone).  Even though it was busy, the girl at the counter still allowed you to sample a few flavours.

granville island gelato

I went with the strawberry flavour which had a nice, smooth, creamy texture though nothing to write home about.  At nearly $5 for a single scoop, the amount of gelato given wasn’t that impressive.  I guess you would say that it is fairly priced for being on Granville Island.

Overall Impression

The gelato we tried from Granville Island Gelato & Cafe was average.  At the price they charge, I wouldn’t return again.  But then again, they probably cater to tourists anyways.  Rating: 3/5

Website: www.gigelato.com

GI Gelato & Coffee House Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Filed Under: Casual, Coffee, Dessert, Granville island, Restaurant Review

The Only Cafe: Royal Belgian Coffee Service

March 1, 2017 by foodgressing 1 Comment

The Only Cafe in Kitsilano came to my attention when I saw their Groupon deal for Royal Belgian Coffee Service. I must admit that I’m not a coffee snob (though I love a good cup of joe) and decided it would be interesting to learn more about this type of coffee brewing. It was only recently that I found out just how many ways to store your coffee there actually are, and I was fascinated to learn. The deal seemed to garner much interest as it is currently sold out; it was priced at $18 and included desserts for two. A few weeks ago, my husband and I ventured to The Only Cafe to see what Royal Belgian Coffee brewing was about.

royal belgian coffee service the only cafe kitsilano

Kitsilano Cafe

But first a bit of background on the Only Cafe. This newish, independently-owned cafe has been open almost a year now and is located in Kitsilano (near West Broadway and MacDonald). The coffee they serve is direct trade travelling directly from the farmer to the roaster and includes beans from Columbia, Burundi and Yemen.

royal belgian coffee service the only cafe kitsilano

The interior is a comfortable setting with soft, white walls, natural wood details, and small floral accents. And around the counter, a display of various coffee-making contraptions which highlight that The Only Cafe is a serious place for an elevated coffee experience. During my visit, I saw many customers on their laptops working. This seemed like a good place to hide and get work done over great coffee.

Not a Coffee Snob!

One of the more remarkable aspects of the Only Cafe is that they allow outside food. Furthermore, they are so environmentally friendly that you can bring your own cup. Regardless if it is a tumbler or a paper cup from somewhere else, you will receive a cup discount.

Royal Belgian Coffee Experience

Reservations were required for the Royal Belgian Coffee service. When I phoned it, they weren’t very busy so we went right away to the cafe. For coffee, we went with Yemen’s rarified coffee. Up until that point, I had no idea that Yemen made coffee. It was then that I learned that it was illegal to grow and sell coffee beans in Yemen before. Now with government powers relaxing, the country has started to let the world know of their coffee. The yemen coffee profile features plumy and floral aroma to start with a very sweet body and long finish. Maybe sites like the Neptune Coffee blog would be able to teach you how to make these sorts of drinks at home I am sure!

royal belgian coffee service the only cafe kitsilano

In a nutshell, Royal Belgian Coffee brewing involves brewing coffee using two chambers where vapor pressure and vacuum produce coffee. While I’m not going into all the technical details, I would recommend this article from Serious Eats on how the process. But alas, I have a posted a video below on how it appeared to me:

Really enjoyed the Royal Belgian Coffee service @theonlycafevancouver ?? in Kitsilano. This involves brewing coffee using two chambers where vapor pressure and vacuum produce coffee. With the Royal Belgian Coffee experience, you can enjoy three brews each with a different taste. This happens at your own table and you can watch the process. . We went with Yemen’s rarified coffee. Up until that point, I had no idea that Yemen made coffee. Did you know that it was illegal to grow and sell coffee beans in Yemen before? Now with government powers relaxing, the country has started to let the world know about their coffee. The yemen coffee profile features plumy and floral aroma to start with a very sweet body and long finish.

A post shared by FOODGRESSING.COM | Areta (@foodgressing) on Mar 1, 2017 at 5:50pm PST

With the Royal Belgian Coffee experience, you can enjoy three brews each with a different taste. This actually involved quite a bit of tableside service from the barista owner who explained the flavour profiles each time. Quite a friendly, knowledgeable guy who was patient with non-coffee experts such as myself. The first brew was very strong; the second was smooth and slightly sweet; and the third tasted closer to an Earl Grey tea and was the sweetest. My favourite was the second brew.

royal belgian coffee service vancouver

For treats, we went with an almond croissant and a vegan raspberry cheesecake. Speaking with the barista owner, I learned that the almond croissant is made with a plain croissant by Faubourg with the addition of their homemade almond spread. The reason is that they prefered their own almond spread with the croissant. I thought the intentions were good, but presentation-wise it did not appeal to me so much. I didn’t quite like that they had precut the almond croissant in order to put in the almond spread. The vegan raspberry cheesecake, on the other hand was very delicious with a creamy, nutty filling with a nice amount of sweetness. I couldn’t quite taste the raspberry but it definitely tasted fruity.

royal belgian coffee service vancouver

Overall Impression

It was quite a fun, educational and delicious Royal Belgian coffee experience at The Only Cafe. I was impressed with the community-oriented vibe and friendly barista-owners. I’d recommend giving this place a try. The vegan cheesecake is a winner in my books. Since I visited, I have been looking online for new and exciting new ingredients to use in my hot drinks for at home. A great website I have found reviews coffee beans and other products to make your morning that little bit sweeter. Check out littlecoffeeplace.com. Rating: 4/5

Website: www.only-cafe.com

The Only Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Filed Under: Casual, Coffee, Kitsilano, Restaurant Review

New Mille Crêpes Cake Cafe: L’otus Cake Boutique

February 4, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

If you’re a dessert lover, L’otus Cake Boutique is the kind of place that is worth the drive.  It’s a new dessert cafe which opened in Richmond a few weeks ago and they offer different flavoured mille crêpes cakes – a classic French cake with alternating layers of crêpe and cream.  My friend, Alice, is a mille crêpe connoisseur having made crêpes cakes herself (see video here).  This past week, we visited L’otus Cake Boutique to see just how good their crêpes cakes are.

l'otus cake boutique richmond

Modern Cafe

Located at 8580 Cambie Road across Continental Centre, L’otus Cake Boutique is a small, modern cafe that seats about 20 people.  The space is bright and clean with white and grey marble details.

l'otus cake boutique richmond

The mille crêpes cakes are freshly made in-house throughout the day and I noticed they were coming out of the kitchen periodically.

l'otus cake boutique richmond

The display case has lots of tantalizing goodies.

l'otus cake boutique richmond

 

l'otus cake boutique richmond

L’otus Cake Boutique Menu

The mille crêpes cake flavours that were available at the time of my visit were matcha, Earl Grey and mango.  The matcha and Earl Grey are $8.00 a slice while the mango one is $13.80!  There is a premium charge for the mango mille crêpe cake because the mangos are imported from the Philippines.  On their menu are other mousse cakes, Mont blanc and cheesecakes (matcha and pineapple) but these were not available at the time.  The girl at the counter said they only have whatever is on display.

l'otus cake boutique richmond

L’otus also offers espresso-based beverages and teas to go along with your dessert.

l'otus cake boutique richmond

The mango mille crêpes cakes are certainly a premium cake!

l'otus cake boutique richmond

What We Tried

Alice had a matcha latte ($5.25) which came in the most pretty sakura-inspired matcha chawan.

l'otus cake boutique richmond

We shared matcha and Earl Grey mille crêpes cakes.  Both cakes were oh-so-good and were moist, light, creamy and flavourful.  The mille crêpes cakes were more cream than crepe as the crepe layers were thin while the cream layers were thicker.

My favourite was the Earl Grey mille crêpes cake because it had such a delicious Earl Grey flavour.  I also found the cake to be quite fragrant from the bergamot.

l'otus cake boutique richmond

l'otus cake boutique richmond

Also delicious was the Matcha which had a decent green tea flavour.

l'otus cake boutique richmond

And the cakes are so easy to cut into with just a fork as shown in my video below:

Creamy, light, moist and flavourful Matcha and Earl Grey Mille Crepe Cakes ???#omgsogood . All this YUM at the new @lotuscakeboutique | Thanks to Dr. @risubaby for fabulous modelling ? . #cakes #tea #matchalatte #matchagreentea #latte #veryvancouver #vancouverfood #vancouverlife #saturdaymorning #saturdayfun #foodgressing #happy #eater #desserttable #desserttime #japanese

A video posted by Foodgressing.com | Areta ? (@foodgressing) on Feb 4, 2017 at 11:33am PST

Overall Impression of L’otus Cake Boutique

I quite enjoyed the skillfully crafted mille crêpes cakes at L’otus Cake Boutique.  Their mille crêpes cakes are worth trying and I’d be interested in having their other desserts in the future. Rating: 4/5

L'otus Cake Boutique Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Filed Under: Casual, Coffee, Dessert, Just Opened, Restaurant Review, Richmond

Crystal Mall Bubble Tea: Cafe Eggstatic

January 14, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

If you ever visit Crystal Mall, you might have noticed a sweet smell in the air just outside the market area.  It’s coming from Cafe Eggstatic, a small eatery serving bubble tea and bubble waffles.  While Cafe Eggstatic isn’t the only place serving bubble drinks and snacks in Crystal Mall, they are the only one located on the ground level.  And because they are near an entrance, they tend to be noticed right away.  On a recent shopping trip to Crystal Mall, I decided to try out some of their items.

crystal mall bubble tea

Cafe Eggstatic Menu

Cafe Eggstatic offers a variety of beverages including milk tea, fruit tea, slushes, smoothies, cream floats and more.  Prices seem to be on par with other bubble tea houses in the city ($3.50 – $5).  One of their more unique drinks involve using bird’s nest, a delicacy in Chinese cuisine.  Cafe Eggtastic incorporates it into a coconut or mango slush.  Below are images I scanned of their menu.

crystal mall bubble tea

crystal mall bubble tea

For snacks, they offer bubble waffles in classic ($3.50) or season flavours ($4.50).  Bubble waffles seem to be a popular item offered by Cafe Eggstatic.  The area where they make them is viewable and is very active.

crystal mall bubble tea

On this particular visit, I noticed their seasonal flavour was a cheese egg waffle (choice of cheddar or mozzarella) topped with Parmesan cheese.

crystal mall bubble tea

What I Tried

At Cafe Eggstatic, I ordered the following:

  • Matcha bubble waffle ($4.50)
  • Cheese bubble waffle ($4.50)
  • Hot taro milk tea ($3.75)

Let’s start off the bubble waffles.  They were just OK and I’ve had better elsewhere (Bubble Waffle Cafe, Bubble Queen).  It wasn’t super crispy on the outside and the dough was a bit tougher and chewier than I would like.  The waffles were average at best.  The matcha bubble waffle had reasonable matcha flavour.

crystal mall bubble tea

There was disappointment regarding the cheese waffle.  On their sign, it said that it would be topped with Parmesan.  However, when I received it, there were no Parmesan toppings.  I asked the server about this and she mentioned that the Parmesan topping would have been included as a filling *if I made the request ahead of time*  I mean, if your sign says that it is a topping (as seen on the photo above), the customer shouldn’t need to have to make sure that it is included.  In a way, I felt like it was a scam to get you to buy the cheese waffle with the thought of having extra Parmesan.  It just wasn’t a very good way of treating customers.

crystal mall bubble tea

The taro milk tea was too sugary and masked the taro flavour.

crystal mall bubble tea

Overall Impression of Cafe Eggstatic

If an eatery says that something is included on their own sign, the customer should not need to have to *confirm it.*  It’s just shady behaviour.  The matcha bubble waffle was the only reasonable item I thought and everything else was just disappointing.  Rating: 2.5/5

Cafe Eggstatic Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Filed Under: Bubble Tea, Burnaby, Casual, Restaurant Review Tagged With: Crystal Mall

Osoyoos Eats: Market at Spirit Ridge

December 31, 2016 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

When my family and I visited Osoyoos a few months ago, we stayed at Spirit Ridge at the Nk’Mip Resort.  One of the more casual eateries on site was the Market which served breakfast and lunch items.

spirit ridge market

spirit ridge market

The Market is basically a cafe where you can eat-in or grab and go.  There have seating inside the cafe and on the patio.  You might want to even go to one of the tables around the pool which is close by.

spirit ridge market

On the menu are breakfast wraps, baked goods, frozen treats and espresso-based drinks.  Coffee is by Spirit Bear Coffee company.  You can also order from the resort restaurant, Mica, and pick up the food at The Market.  I was able to find a copy of their menu online.

spirit ridge market

Aside from coffee, they also serve cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks.  This makes sense as the cafe is located very close to the pool so pool goers can get drinks from here.

spirit ridge market

For breakfast one day, I went with a regular drip coffee ($3.50), breakfast wrap ($7.00), and a croissant ($3.25).  The breakfast wrap was average and had scrambled eggs, roasted red peppers, herbs and aged cheddar.  A little pricey for $7 but that is expected at a resort.

spirit ridge market

The croissant was also average and was reasonably buttery and flaky.  I’m not sure that they bake these on-site.  They’re likey brought in from a local supplier.

spirit ridge market

spirit ridge market

Overall Impression of The Market

I thought that it was an average cafe experience.  Nothing to write home about nothing to complain either.  Reasonable taste and quality food for an on-site resort cafe.  Rating: 3/5

Market at Spirit Ridge Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Filed Under: Casual, Coffee, Osoyoos, Restaurant Review, Travel

Good Earth Coffeehouse Vancouver + GIVEAWAY!

November 14, 2016 by foodgressing 12 Comments

Looking for a new place to sit back, unwind and enjoy a good cup of joe?  You might just want to check out Good Earth Coffeehouse‘s newest locations in Vancouver.   The popular Alberta-based coffee franchise recently celebrated grand openings on Alma Street (Point Grey) and at Capilano University (North Vancouver).  I had the pleasure of visiting the Alma location to try out their food and beverage offerings.

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good-earth-coffeehouse-vancouver

Modern & Inviting

Good Earth Coffeehouse on Alma has an inviting, modern and spacious feel.  There is a nice variety of seating arrangements including a cozy lounge area, a counter by the window, a communal table, and various dining tables.  With a tall ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows, the space feels cozy and comfortable for relaxing, studying or getting together with friends.

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Good Earth Coffeehouse Menu

On the menu are the usual espresso-based drinks including macchiato, latte, mocha, cappuccino, and espresso.  Good Earth is committed to being socially and environmentally-conscious; they work with farmers who promote environmental sustainability, and establishes direct trade practices to help improve communities where coffee is grown.  Many of their coffees are Rainforest Alliance Certified which means that they meet comprehensive social and environmental standards.   Cold, handcrafted drink options range from craft cold brew coffee, smoothies and more.  The tea menu also features teas from exotic origins and traditions including spicy Chai, rich Matcha and African Rooibos.  Aside from caffeinated beverages, Good Earth Coffeehouse also serves beer and wine.

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I was certainly impressed with the number of food options at Good Earth; there seems to be more choices than your typical coffeehouse.  You’ll find breakfast items, fresh baked goods, soups, salads, sandwiches, panini, flatbreads and more.

Breakfast

Breakfast is the important meal of the day and Good Earth has some solid options.  I tried the very wholesome breakfast sandwich with whole eggs, cheddar cheese, bacon and a tomato slice.

good-earth-coffeehouse-vancouver-breakfast

Forget instant oatmeal (eek!) because Good Earth serves steel-cut oatmeal.  You can even customize your oatmeal with choice of three toppings like fruit and nuts.

good-earth-coffeehouse-vancouver-oatmeal

Fresh Baked Goods

A good cup of coffee deserves an amazing pastry.  Good Earth prepares baked goods from scratch and delivered fresh from the oven multiple times per day.  The chocolate hazelnut crunch, cranberry blondie and butter croissant were scrumptious treats to go with a delicious coffee.

good-earth-coffeehouse-vancouver-alma

I also found that the green tea latte and the toasted seed roll made a good pairing.

good-earth-coffeehouse-vancouver-roll

Soups, Sandwiches & Flatbreads

For a lunch and dinner, Good Earth’s salad, soups and flatbread make excellent choices.  I tried the minestrone soup, wild rice and edamame salad, kale pesto flatbread and Sicilian flatbread.  Be sure to get a cold beer or a glass of red wine for good measure.  The flatbreads were very tasty with a good topping to dough ratio.  I highly recommend them.

good earth coffeehouse

Want to Try Good Earth Coffeehouse?

I am giving away to four winners each a $50 dollar gift card to Good Earth Coffeehouse.  The giveaway is happening on this blog post and on my Instagram.  I will select two winners from each.  Blog giveaway ends November 21, 2016 23:59 PST.  Open to residents of Metro Vancouver only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

@GoodEarthHq now has two locations in Metro Vancouver (Alma and Capilano University)! Here is your chance to try them out. 4 followers (2 on Instagram and 2 on the blog) will each win a $50 gift card ☕️ To enter on Instagram: – 1⃣ LIKE this post 2⃣ FOLLOW @GoodEarthHq + @Foodgressing 3⃣ TAG a friend (unlimited entries but must tag different friends each time) – Giveaway closes Monday, November 21 at 22:00 PST. Open only to Metro Vancouver residents. ☕️ – Per Instagram rules, we must mention this is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram’s term of use.

A photo posted by Foodgressing.com | Areta ? (@foodgressing) on Nov 14, 2016 at 7:11pm PST

Hours and Location

Good Earth Coffeehouse Alma is now open at 2505 Alma Street.  Hours of operation are Monday – Saturday from 6:30 am to 9:00 pm, and Sunday 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

For more information, visit http://goodearthcoffeehouse.com/

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Casual, Coffee, Coffee Shop, Giveaway, Just Opened, Media Event, Restaurant Review Tagged With: coffee, giveaway

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Foodgressing is a blog that highlights the food adventures of one hungry Vancouverite. Read More…

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