Worst. Bagel. Ever.

I got sucked into this little place called Bagel and Coffee, it was across the street from my (very Japanese) hair stylist, and I’ve been meaning to check it out. Bagel and Coffee is located on the south side (ie. side facing McKim Way) of Pacific Plaza – on the corner of Cambie and Garden [...]

Herb and Olive Ciabatta from Safeway.

Although supermarket bakeries fall short of being real bakeries, of all the chain ones out there, I’d have to say that Safeway is one of the best. (Although that doesn’t really mean it’s good.) At least in my bagel experiences it has been so, and I think this is also true for their other breads. [...]

Never met a vegetable – or a loaf of bread – I didn’t like.

Spring. One of the best times to visit Granville Island. It’s produce heaven!
Organic Heirloom Tomatos:

Hmmm, asparagus. I love asparagus.

 
And a sourdough epi from Terra Breads. What, you mean this isn’t a vegetable?! No way! Oh well. It took me a couple of hours, but I ate the whole thing in one sitting anyway. Seriously, no bread is [...]

La Patisserie – 金磨坊西点

La Patisserie is my favorite Asian pastry shop.
Many Chinese bakeries are known for both traditional Asian goodies (egg tarts, lotus-seed buns, moon cakes), as well as Western-style desserts (mostly of French influence, a lot of cheese cakes, mousses). La Patisserie is one such shop, and makes everything to such excellence. For years they were a small place [...]

White bass steamed with umeboshi (pickled plum) and garlic

White bass is a fresh water bass, and kind of a fishy fish. If you find tilapia fishy (I don’t), this may be a bit fishier than tilapia for you. But the meat is also slightly fattier and juicier, plus it is cheaper than the market tilapia. It’s actually not fishy when cooked with some stronger but [...]

Mix the Bakery: Hummingbird and a poor student’s request.

Went to Mix for lunch again last week. They had the mushroom soup (which was going so fast that by the time I went back for my coffee it was all gone). I love their soups- so home made and thick. This time I tried the Hummingbird and poppy seed bread to go with it - Both were really [...]

It’s all in the yolk.

A buzz in health news headlines of the past few days has been this recent study, published in the April issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which found that eating more than 7 eggs per week causes increased risk of heart disease. This was a 20 year long study done on over 20 000 ”Harvard-educated [...]

All aboard in no time – Crunchy Napa Cabbage Boats

It’s Spring! That means Spring cleaning! So I’ve been spending many a weekend (including the four days of Easter long weekend ) painting the house, throwing out a lot of old junk, getting some new furniture, and rearrranging things.
When you are trapped at home, looking too crappy, dusty, paint-splattered, and are generally too tired to go out, [...]

Weekend’s Happy Latte

Saturday AM. Caffe Artigiano Kerrisdale. Happy grande latte.

 
I bought a 1/2 pound of their Columbia El Castillo. I don’t have an espresso machine, or I’d have gotten their Private Reserve. I’ve also grown to like espresso more than drip brew, but at home this is much better than drinking instant stuff. And on weekends I guess [...]

It’s a mango infestation!

Ataulfo mangos are one of my favorite fruits. Their sweetness can simply not be matched by your large, red-skinned Florida mangos. These miniature ones are even better. I’m not sure what this specific variety is called. Mini-ataulfos? But they are yummy. Of course, you’d have to eat several at once. All the more better.