Category Archives: Media

Asian British Columbia Canada Complimentary Cuisine Japanese Location Vancouver

Suika Snack Bar – VANEATS.ca “SupaSUIKA” Preview

With the great sunny and record breaking heat of late in Vancouver, it feels like an early start to summer, so the timing of this latest package from VANEATS.ca featuring Suika Snackbar is perfect.

#SupaSUIKA by VANEATS.ca

Let’s look at the menu via Kevin and Billy..

  1. Salmon Battera, sockeye salmon, salmon caviar, spicy cod roe mayo, Japanese basil, avocado shiso
  2. Magical Mojito Pitcher, choose from watermelon, pomegranate and aloe flavours (regular price $28)
  3. Steak Salad, diced & marinated AAA beef filet steaks on organic greens topped with watercress and beets
  4. Ma-Po Rice Cake, deep fried rice cake with spicy ground pork sauce
Since we arrived a bit earlier than my reservation time, I chose to sit out on the patio and enjoy the remainder of the sun along with the mojito pitcher. Then plan was to drink some, then head inside to eat and finish the (final) Canucks game of the playoffs, but we ended up eating everything outside.
#SupaSUIKA by VANEATS.ca

First up, the magical mojito pitcher. We both couldn’t decide on which flavour, so we asked our server for her favourite, and aloe it was. Light, refreshing..would have liked more of those jelly aloe vera bits, most of them seem to have sunk to the bottom. I basically ended up drinking the entire pitcher since Val had to drive later. Wooooo!

#SupaSUIKA by VANEATS.ca

Next came the Steak Salad, diced & marinated AAA beef filet steaks on organic greens topped with watercress and beets.

#SupaSUIKA by VANEATS.ca

The next item, Ma-Po Rice Cake, deep fried rice cake with spicy ground pork sauce, is something different and I thought it was done well, but Val wasn’t a fan. She thought it was spicy, the szechuan numbing kind..while I thought it wasn’t spicy at all.

#SupaSUIKA by VANEATS.ca

The 4th item of the package was Salmon Battera, sockeye salmon, salmon caviar, spicy cod roe mayo, Japanese basil, avocado shiso.

#SupaSUIKA by VANEATS.ca

Since it was starting to get a bit chilly outside, we ordered an Oxtail Ramen for some warmth and additional carbs.

Oxtail Ramen at Suika Snackbar

This VANEATS.ca SupaSuika package is good value, and not just because of the mojito pitcher’s $28 price point, but for the quality of food that Suika consistently puts out! Don’t miss it as it’s on sale now and expires June 30th.

#SupaSUIKA by VANEATS.ca
Phone: (604) 730-1678
Suika on Urbanspoon
British Columbia Canada Events Location Media Vancouver

Glowbal Group – Black+Blue Rooftop Patio Opening

Time flies. It’s been a short year and a half since Glowbal Groups Black + Blue opened on October 30th, 2011, and on April 24th, 2013 they celebrated the opening of their brand spanking new rooftop patio. It contains a complete kitchen and a Wood Stone Charcoal Broiler oven! No words, just pictures.

Black+Blue Rooftop Patio Opening
Black+Blue Rooftop Patio Opening
Black+Blue Rooftop Patio Opening

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Alcohol Beer British Columbia Canada Complimentary Location Media Richmond

Pumphouse Pub – Beer Cocktails Long Table Dinner

At the relatively quiet intersection of Blundell & No. 2 Road in Richmond, BC is a pub that serves up an amazing craft beer selection. Really, it’s a pretty cool place to be in as it’s got actual personable history, not some cookie cutter pub layout.

Pumphouse Pub
Of course, their beer selection is helped as they’ve got a working relationship with Beerthirst.
Pumphouse Pub

I was invited out to one of their longtable dinners, usually they are just a pour of beer paired with a dish, but this time it was beer cocktails.   read more »

Alcohol American Bar Barbecue Beer British Columbia Burgers Canada Complimentary Cuisine Location Media Pub Type Vancouver

Falconetti’s East Side Grill – VANEATS.ca “Falconetti’s Fix” Preview

I’ve only ever had great experiences at Falconetti’s and so with an opportunity to visit my old friend on the Drive, I was pretty darn jaunty. (Wait, what adjective did I just use?!)

For $16, this package from VANEATS.ca includes:
1. Mini Poutine, freshly made pepper gravy drizzled over real Quebec cheese curds
2. Slow Smoked Pork Ribs, smoked in-house with our special rub then slathered in our Tequila BBQ sauce
3. Falconetti’s Famous Sausauges, choose 1 of any of their gourmet, home made sausages
4. Phillips Beer’s Blue Buck, two 4oz glasses of a deep amber coloured beer with a crisp finish featuring a delicate hop aroma

Asian British Columbia Canada Chinese Cuisine Events Location Media Richmond

The 5th Annual Chinese Restaurant Awards Ceremony

2013 Chinese Restaurant Awards

Since 2008, the Chinese Restaurant Awards has recognized the best Chinese food Metro Vancouver has to offer through its Critics’ Choice Awards and its Diners’ Choice Awards. On February 26, 2013,  Founding Director Mr. Craig Stowe and seven esteemed Greater Vancouver judges celebrated the winners of 20 Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards of Greater Vancouver and, for the first time, the winners of 10 Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards of Greater Toronto

Hosted at the Show Theatre at the River Rock Casino Resort with emcees Dawn Chubai (Breakfast Television, CityTV) & Sunny Chiu (OMNI Television), I watched some live cooking demonstrations, tasted some creations by Executive Chef Andy Liu of Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant, Executive Chef Wing Ho of Fortune House Seafood Restaurant, and Chef Hung Ching-Lung of Chef Hung’s Beef Noodle.

2013 Chinese Restaurant Awards

From Chef Wing Ho, pan-fried Alberta beef skewers with cumin powder.

2013 Chinese Restaurant Awards

From Chef Hung Ching-Lungchampion beef shank and tendon and handmade noodles in soup, also the recipient of 2013′s best Taiwanase Beef Noodle.

2013 Chinese Restaurant Awards

Not bad..you can get it for $11 in the restaurant, which…I haven’t tried (yet?).  read more »

Belgian British Columbia Canada Complimentary Cuisine Dessert European Events Location Media Type Vancouver

Hot Chocolate Festival 2013: Leonidas Belgium Chocolates

I was invited to visit Leonidas last Friday to try some of their hot chocolates being featured in the 3rd Annual Hot Chocolate Festival. To my surprise, I found myself in a cute little shop with a gorgeous display of confectionery goodness.

chocolates

Leonidas is a world renowned name in the chocolate circuit. With more than 1400 stores in 40 different countries, it boasts Belgian excellence everywhere it is sold. What makes them unique is that their chocolates are 100% cocoa butter, with no added wax or vegetable oils. read more »

Events Media

Hot Chefs Cool Jazz

Back in October, I was invited to a dinner event called Hot Chefs, Cool Jazz, held in the Burnaby Dominion hotel. The proceeds from the ticket sales were to support CCFCC Bocuse d’Or Canada and this year’s representative/candidate Alex Chen, it was also to help the local and regional efforts of a local charity, Breakfast for Learning. In total, 16 chefs came out to cook and support.

2012 Hot Chefs, Cool Jazz

As this was a fundraiser, I’ll just let the pictures show for itself the amazing spread of food that was available that night. read more »

British Columbia Canada Events Location Media Vancouver

Operation: Full Kettle

On December 20th, 2012, 6 young women put together a fundraising event called Operation: Full Kettle for the The Salvation Army Vancouver Community & Family Services.

“Why the name Operation: Full Kettle?

The Salvation Army is renowned for their red kettle that appears every year during Christmas for street donations. Our mission this Christmas is to fill their kettle at a fast and impressive rate!

A total of 8 different establishments came out to volunteer (!) their time and food for this worthy cause. A cash bar was available, as well as a raffle with some pretty awesome prizes. At the end of the night, $13,417.56 was raised, quite an impressive number for a one night event.
The venue, District 319, is a multi-purpose location and has played host to other events such as the 1st Annual Vancouver Foodie Feast and the Apothic White Wine launch.
Operation : Full Kettle

Operation : Full Kettle

Operation : Full Kettle

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British Columbia Canada Complimentary Cuisine Location Media Vancouver Western

Ravenswood Winemaker’s Dinner with Joel Peterson at The Flying Pig

Ravenswood Winemaker’s Dinner with Joel Peterson at The Flying Pig Restaurant in Yaletown, October 30th, 2012.

Ravenswood Wine Dinner at The Flying Pig Yaletown

I could hardly contain my excitement when I received the email invitation for this event from Heather, as the past wine paired dinner (Robert Mondavi at Blue Water Cafe) I attended was spectacular. I had no doubts that this event would be equally amazing, and so on Halloween Eve, I made the trip out to Yaletown and skipped my dodgeball duties. Sorry VDL!

Ravenswood Wine Dinner at The Flying Pig Yaletown

“In this brave new enologically altered world, where wineries compete to produce wines that mimic the
latest darling that’s captured wine reviewers’ fancy, we stand by our love of Old-World winemaking.
Ravenswood continues to set a standard for uncompromising wines that are true to the places where
the grapes grew – nothing less, nothing more” said Joel Peterson. read more »

Canada Events Location Media Ontario Toronto

Inniskillin and Soma Chocolatemaker Tasting — Toronto, ON

This is a guest post by Sally Chan, my dear friend in Toronto. I broke the phone with her and we’ve eaten at Lee and Burrito Boyz. She attended this event for me and here’s her write up!

I’ve been to the SOMA Chocolatemaker several times at the Distillery District location. It’s always tough to decide what to get, but each time I make sure I leave with something either for myself or as gifts. Surprisingly I haven’t been to their King Street West location even though I walk by pretty often. This was where the Inniskillin and SOMA Chocolatemaker tasting event was held. It was an indulging evening of wine and chocolate pairings crafted by winemaker, Bruce Nicholson, and chocolatier, David Castellan. Inniskillin Estate Chef David Penny also prepared three appetizers with suggested wine pairings.

I honestly know very little about wine. Even though I visited several wineries in Niagara during a wine tour this summer, I still find the whole experience around it very overwhelming. But I know for a fact that I’m starting to love whites and ice wines. And a chance to indulge in chocolate? Yes please!

There were a total of five tasting stations throughout the store, each with a different wine and chocolate pairing:

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