Glenburn Soda & Confectionery

Glenburn Soda & Confectionery in Burnaby is the ultimate summer treat that all must experience. This 1940's inspired ice cream and soda shop provides customers with an old-school experience.The menu offers milkshakes, ice cream sodas, cones, floats, malts and sundaes. There is a list of specialty sundaes which I gravitated towards. I have heard so many good things about this place and my friend highly recommended it. Per her suggestion I decided to bring my dad and treat him to some old-fashioned sundaes, something I thought he would really enjoy, and he did! Who wouldn't enjoy some delicious ice cream on a hot summer day? 

Everything about this place displayed a vintage vibe; the decor, servers uniforms, the straws, music and the vintage style ice cream dishes. I was in pure heaven surrounded by it all and the sweet aroma. 

When we arrived it was quite busy. Before we ordered we waited for a seat. Once we got a seat we looked at the specialty sundae menu and were greeted by about 14 different options! It was difficult to choose which sundae to try. One of the owners was working and took the time to answer any questions we had. 
After much contemplation I decided to get the Sweet and Salty Pretzel Sundae; caramel pecan fudge and vanilla ice cream, layered with house-made peanut butter sauce (you can choose butterscotch) and crushed salty pretzels. Garnished with whipped cream and a pretzel twist. Doesn't that sound amazing?!

My dad opted for the P.B Supreme; Chocolate ice cream topped with peanut butter sauce(can you tell we like peanut butter?) and vanilla ice cream topped with hot fudge. Garnished with peanuts & chocolate sprinkles. Served in a unique vintage "duo" dish. 

Each sundae was $8. I personally think it is a great value. Not only is the ice cream delicious but the experience was very memorable. 
xoxo,
Soph 

Joe Fortes

Joe Fortes, an extremely well-known and popular Seafood and Chophouse restaurant located in the center of Vancouver welcomes guests from all over the world. They offer a unique bar menu which features some of their popular (mainly seafood) dishes. Between the hours of 4pm-6pm you receive 50% off their bar menu items.I arrived at around 4:30pm and the bar area was quite full, luckily we got a seat. 
My friend and I ordered Joe's Onion Rings accompanied by blue cheese dip and ketchup as well as crisp calamari with sun-dried tomato aioli (my personal favorite). 

We also ordered the Mini Lobster and Shrimp Rolls.

Between the two of us we left the restaurant full and satisfied. The Joe Fortes Appy Hour is a great value and allows you taste a variety of specialty seafood dishes. 

xoxo, 

Soph 

Beaucoup Bakery & Café

Beaucoup Bakery, most famous for their croissants, is a fairly new French-inspired bakery. This small bakery is located at Fir and West 6th, a trendy little area. When you walk in you are welcomed by the scent of freshly baked pastries. The bakery is quite small but has some seats where you can sit and enjoy your coffee and pastries. My friend and I biked all the way there and when we arrived (~12:30 pm) it was quite busy and were lucky to have gotten a seat.Having heard such great things about their scones I knew I had to try one. I opted for a sweet one, a lemon blueberry and white chocolate scone. It was so delicious! The best scone I have ever had. It was sweet but not too sweet and dense but still crumbled. I am yet to find a scone that can beat it. 

My friend got the cheese and green onion scone. It is a great option for lunch. It was filling, savory and you could taste the main ingredients. 

We also decided to order some of their seasonal pastries which we shared. I chose the Strawberry Yogurt cake and my friend ordered the fresh fig tart. The presentation of both desserts were beautiful, especially the fig tart! 

As for the treats themselves, I just found them to be good. They did not stand out to me like the lemon blueberry scone did. The strawberry yogurt cake was sweet and infused with the taste of strawberries. It had a gelatin texture that was interesting,but I found it a bit odd for a cake. The fresh fig tart was nice. It had some fresh figs on top, a fig coating, a vanilla and orange cheesecake like filling and a spiced crust. My favorite part was the crust. I found the tart had quite a few different flavors and not all of them complimented each other.I would really like to go back to Beaucoup Bakery and try their Vanilla Rhubarb cheesecake. I have heard great things. 
xoxo,
Soph  

Blacktail Florist

A fairly new culinary addition to Gastown, Blacktail Florist offers dishes using BC's local ingredients. It was not only the name of the restaurant that captured my attention but the menu,West Coast dishes that feature local and unique ingredients. 
The restaurant is bright, warm and welcoming with booths and neutral wood. 

I was looking forward to trying the Wild Mushroom Poutine and it did not disappoint. The highlight of the dish was the mushroom gravy. It was thick and complimented the cheese curds and wild mushrooms well. This left me in awe of the delicious combination of flavors. I highly recommend this dish! 
My friend ordered a fish dish. Roast scallops, clams, barley and sunflower shoots. I had a taste of the dish and it was delicious. You could tell the ingredients were fresh and the barley was flavored well. Another dish that would have left me very satisfied as a main.  

For dessert my friend and I chose to try Flowers ($9); Rose and Elderwood Ice, Charred sour cream, crushed berries and rhubarb.The dessert was slightly disappointing.The presentation was incredible but I felt the "floral" flavor was missing. The ice had a sweet refreshing taste which I appreciated but I could not taste the elderwood or the rose.I expected more from a $9 dessert.   

Overall, I had a great experience at Blacktail Florist. Their main dishes are fresh and delicious. Unfortunately, I found the dessert underwhelming. 

xoxo,

Soph

Bufala Pizzeria

As a pizza lover I was happy to hear of the new pizzeria opening up in town. Bufala just opened earlier this week in Kerrisdale and was brought to you by restaurateurs James Iranzad and Josh Pape(owners of Wildebeest restaurant). “We both grew up in Kerrisdale and are keen to share the food we love with the neighborhood,” said co-owner James Iranzad. Bufala has already captured the hearts of many foodies and being the pizza lover I am I had to pay a visit immediately.When you first walk in you are greeted with the scent of pizza dough and basil. The casual and rustic vibe is welcoming, along with the staff. We were seated immediately at a communal table and were given menus. The menu has a selection of inventive appetizers and pizzas from which we chose two appetizers and a pizza to share. We got the Smoked Mackerel Salad ($12). I really enjoyed the unique addition of apples and mackerel in the salad. The dressing was light and the choice of vegetables were slightly bitter. I would say it is a good summer salad for vegetable and salad lovers. The other appetizer we ordered were the Trio di Bruschetta ($8). Be sure to ask your waiter what the chef selection is for that day. I really enjoyed the anchovy bruschetta, much to my surprise. 

The pizza we ordered, Pesto & Ricotta ($14) was out of this world! It was one of the most delicious and fresh pizzas I have ever had. It was topped with fresh ricotta, basil pesto, pine nuts, grana padano and bianco. 

The crust was both crispy and chewy and complimented the cheesy and aromatic pizza.A must try if you are to visit! 
I am looking forward to paying another visit and trying their oxtail pizza and meatballs. 
xoxo,
Soph

French Pastries: Faubourg

Earlier this morning my friend and I decided to have a sweet treat to start our day off right. We visited Faubourg in hopes that it's famous pastries would satisfy our sweet tooth and it did not disappoint. Faubourg offers Vancouver a unique and authentic Parisian experience. With an array of savory and sweet options it was a difficult choice to make but I opted for their best seller, the Lemon Tart ($5.60). I love everything lemon flavored and this tart overwhelmed my taste buds with zesty flavor.

A small patio was available, allowing customers to enjoy their desserts and the sunshine.  

xoxo,

Soph

Pie Day!

Lately I have been having frequent cravings for pie. 

Today, my friend and I decided to satisfy my cravings by going for an afternoon snack. 

We heard about this tea lounge,Pekoe,that offers a WIDE variety of loose leaf teas and alongside the tea they offer homemade pies using fresh and organic ingredients. 
I ordered the Four Berry Pie along with a Strawberry and Cream Rooibos tea. The tea and the pie were delicious, both infused with summer berries. The pie was fresh and filled with sweet and tart seasonal berries. 
My regular partner in crime ordered the Chocolate Banana Cream pie along with a Pumpkin Cream Rooibos tea. 

If you decide to order a tea and sit in you have the opportunity to pick your own tea cup and saucer set from a selection set up on a side dresser at the back of the store. I thought this was a very unique touch. 
After satisfying our pie cravings we went shopping (of course) around the neighborhood before my job interview.
xoxo,
Soph

Sweet Obsessions

What could be better than dessert while catching up with a friend? 

Yesterday, I had a wonderful catch-up with one of my oldest friends over some delicious and decadent cake. 
We went to a local dessert shop,Sweet Obsessions. They specialize in cakes, pastries and desserts which are made on site. 
With such a wide selection of desserts to choose from deciding was difficult. Once we decided we took a seat and ordered. I chose a slice of the Hedgehog cake and a lemon bar and my friend ordered a slice of the Tiramisu. 

The Hedgehog cake was light but lacked the strong hazelnut flavor I was expecting. It had layers of hazelnut chiffon and hazelnut chocolate butter cream with Frangelico. Although it satisfied my sweet tooth I was slightly disappointed by the lack of hazelnut and Frangelico flavor. But the lemon bar I ordered was fantastic. It was not too sweet and not too tart, the perfect balance. 

My friend and I both left with our sweet teeth satisfied. 
I would recommend Sweet Obsessions if you are looking for a wide variety of light and not too heavy desserts. 

xoxo,
Soph 

Whistler Adventure

On Thursday my friend and I headed to Whistler with our school for a 3 day music trip. We had quite a bit of spare time to explore and discover new places. When we first arrived we were craving pizza so we went on a mission to find the best pizza in Whistler Village and we succeeded. We each got a slice of pizza. I got vegetarian and my friend got ranch. It was so good that we went back for another slice! Afterwards we went to the grocery store and picked up a pint of green tea Haagandez Ice Cream to bring back to the hotel. When we got back to the hotel we put on our pajamas, face masks and got out some spoons so we could devour the ice cream while we lay in bed and watched some TV. It was a great way to start off the trip! 
The next morning we had the opportunity to enjoy our breakfast and the beautiful view on the hotel balcony. 

After breakfast we had some Mass Choir rehearsals but afterwards we had some free time to explore the village. We looked around at some of the shops and stopped at the famous COWS, a very popular ice cream shop in Whistler. I ordered the Apple Pie ice cream and my friend ordered the Moo York Cheese Cake ice cream. After exploring we then went back to the hotel to change and get ready for dinner. We dressed up and then headed out for dinner at Earls. We were promptly seated and served. My friend and I both ordered noodle dishes. I ordered the Hunan Kung Pao, which is wok fried noodles served in spicy ginger soy sauce and seared vegetables. My friend ordered the Mediterranean Linguini. We both really enjoyed our dishes and each others. Haha

After our meal we started walking back to our hotel but couldn't help but notice the huge SALE signs at GAP. So naturally we had to go inside and see for our selves what sales were being offered. There were some great deals! I found an oatmeal colored, oversized cardigan for only $9.99! What a deal! So I was very pleased with my after-dinner purchase. 
The next morning we woke up early so we could go to PureBread for breakfast. 

There were so many delicious options to choose from but I opted for the Drunken Apple Blondie ($3.50).

My friend got the Raspberry Cheesecake Brownie ($3.50) which was also really good and was very flavorful.

After breakfast we were very busy with music commitments so we did not have too much free time that day except for dinner time. We headed to Mongolie Grill for dinner. Mongolie Grill is a restaurant where you choose/make your very own stir-fry. You have the opportunity to choose from a variety of fresh food items and sauces and then you get to watch the chef grill your selection on a traditional Mongolian Grill. And with your dinner comes rice and soup (we both decided on the Hot and Sour soup). 

And that was our last night in Whistler! 

Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to try the Green Moustache, an organic juice and live food bar. It looked absolutely delicious! Maybe next time!

Cheers to many more enjoyable trips with friends <3

Have a great week!

xoxo,

Soph

Weekend Sleepover

I started off my amazing weekend with my bestie and some much needed ice cream. We headed to Rain or Shine to grab some. I ordered a scoop of London Fog and a scoop of one of their seasonal flings, Brown Butter Snickerdoodle. My friend ordered a scoop of Honey Lavender and a scoop of Oatmeal Praline Rum Raisin. Rain or Shine makes their ice cream in house and uses fresh, natural and sustainable whole ingredients sourced locally, seasonally, and organically. The ice cream served here is absolutely amazing and worth every penny. I highly recommend the Brown Butter Snickerdoodle!  

After ice cream we walked around a bit and wandered into Ayoubs Dried Fruits and Nuts Bar. It was a very interesting shop that offered many unique and healthy snacks. My friend and I were heading to a movie after so we decided to pick up some munchies. I got a bag of Lime and Pepper Cashews and my friend got dried cucumbers (they were so good!).

After we got our snacks we walked around some more and went into Urban Outfitters. There were a ton of sales in Urban Outfitters and an item that caught both our eyes were dainty necklaces. We found the perfect necklace with the perfect meaning and the perfect price and both bought them. We then headed to Davids Tea to pick up some hot tea before the movie. After we got our tea we went to the movie theaters to watch The Other Woman starring Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann. We got to the theater a bit early so we found the perfect seats and settled down. The movie was so funny and had a great ending. A must see movie for a girl's night out! 

The next day my friend and I headed downtown to pick up a pair of shoes we have been wanting to get for a long time. With each others support, we mustered up the courage to both get a pair of Tory Burch flats (the "Reva" flats with gold hardware). It is something we have been wanting to get together for a really long time so it was an exciting purchase for the both of us. After our splurge purchase we shopped around a bit more and then had sushi for lunch at one of our favorite sushi restaurants. 

All in all it was a great weekend filled with memories, adventures and a great new pair of shoes. 

Have a great week!

xoxo,

Soph

Basho Cafe: Sunday Treats

This past weekend my friend and I visited Basho Cafe, a family run Japanese Cafe that has recently opened up in East Vancouver. 
We arrived just in time for the Afternoon Tea special which is a hot matcha latte accompanied by 3 sweet treats from a selection of freshly baked, mostly gluten/vegan and matcha delights. My matcha latte came with a chocolate chip cookie, a mochi chocolate brownie (gluten-free) and a piece of their matcha brownie.

Afternoon Tea Special ($5, after 2 pm) 

Chocolate Chip Cookie- chewy and fresh 

Mochi Chocolate Brownie- unique, filled with flavor, interesting texture 

Matcha Brownie- fresh,gooey,sweet and ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! This is a treat I would order 1000x over again, I highly recommend! 

Another thing that I loved about this cafe is the environment and atmosphere. Both the decor and the staff were welcoming and genuine. The decor was handmade by the owners and offered a unique touch that cannot be found at most cafes. 

The menu consists of baked goods, drinks and there is a small selection of lunch options which I will be trying next time I go. 

I really enjoyed this cafe. The baked goods were incredible and both my friend and I will be coming back to indulge in more. 

xoxo,

Soph

Sunglasses + Donuts

After school my friend and I headed to Urban Outfitters to pick up some sunglasses and then go to our favorite, Lucky's Donuts, for an afternoon snack. 

At Urban Outfitters we both picked up a pair of sunglasses. I got the Emma sunglasses in black ($18) and I absolutely love them! I put them on the minute I bought them. 

Afterwards we headed across the street for donuts. I got the Cookies N' Cream donut. It was so yummy and the perfect treat to end off the week.

Have a great week!

xoxo,

Soph

Birthday Celebration!

On Saturday I treated my friend to dinner, for her 18th birthday. I chose the restaurant Whet at Granville Island because of the waterfront view and the selection of food offered. 
We arrived at around 5:30 and were promptly seated. We requested to sit on the heated patio because of the Waterfront view and fresh air. It took a while for us to make up our minds about what to order but I decided on the Beet Salad. This salad caught my eye because it contained an array of ingredients that I thought would compliment each other perfectly, and they did! My salad contained a mixture of red and golden beets, winter greens, candied almonds, goats cheese, maple balsamic reduction and crispy noodles. It was so delicious and it was presented beautifully! 
                               

The birthday girl ordered the Killer Fish Tacos. The tacos had pan seared fish (cod, I believe), lime, cajun spices, lettuce, valentina crema, cilantro and salsa served on two corn flour tortillas. To be honest I was surprised by the portion (small, only two)for the price and surprised that they were not served in taco shells. Nonetheless, they tasted absolutely incredible!! I may have had a bite or two. Haha 

After we finished our meal I presented my friend with a birthday cupcake from Cupcakes. I got her the matcha green tea cupcake because it is limited addition and it had cream cheese icing (her favorite)! The cupcake was alright. I love anything that is green tea but the cake itself was a bit dry. However, the icing was incredible. Not too sweet but it complimented the cake very well! 
We had a great experience at Whet! The day was beautiful so we had the chance to appreciate the beautiful view from the patio. The service was great and they were very kind to take lots of pictures for us. 

If I were to go back to Whet I would go during their happy hour special (4pm-6pm) and order the fish tacos. During the happy hour special they are sold for $5 per "taco". Which comes out to be a better value for your money. If you ordered this way it will also give you the opportunity to try the steak strip and the chicken taco. 
After we ate we walked around Granville Island for a bit and then came back to my house for a night in. We changed into comfy clothes and snacked on ice cream and fruits while we watched Monsters University. It was a nice night and a great way to end spring break! <3

Have a great week!
xoxo,
Soph

Weekend: Tractor Foods and BBT

On Friday my friend and I decided to try out Tractor Foods for lunch, an everyday health food cafe. This cafeteria-style cafe offers an array of salads, soups, stews and sandwiches. At Tractor Foods healthy means simple and fresh ingredients that are high in nutritional value. Although they do not claim to be solely vegan or vegetarian they are heavily vegetarian based and do have gluten-free menu items. 

We both tried the summer quinoa salad. This contained organic quinoa, fresh blueberries, butternut squash and mint. It was very refreshing although more flavour would have been appreciate(dressing?). I also had half a grilled avocado which was absolutely delicious! My friend also decided to try another salad, the grilled asparagus (which I had a taste of). It was quite good! It contained grilled asparagus, broccoli, butternut squash, pecans and ricotta cheese. 

This small cafe was quite busy for a weekday, I was honestly shocked. At one point there was a lineup going out the door! It is obviously a very popular place and I can understand why.  
From what we ate we could tell that all the ingredients were fresh and seasonal. 
I would highly recommend this cafe for lunch or dinner. The prices are quite good for the quality that is provided. Each salad is $3.25 and there is a wide variety to choose from. 
Next time I would love to try one of their stews or sandwiches which seemed to be quite popular. 

Today my friend and I decided to get some bubble tea (boba) from the Soho Tea Room. When we arrived we were surprised by a special offer. Between 2-5pm with every bubble tea order you get a free toast(something similar to french toast but HK style). 
I ordered a black milk tea slush with tapioca pearls and the condensed milk and peanut butter on thick toast. It looked delicious but I decided to save it for my dad because he loves sweet things and ANYTHING that has to do with peanut butter. The bubble tea was so yummy and the tapioca pearls were fresh and chewy, just the way I like it! I can't wait to go back. 

Fashion posts to come, I promise! 
xoxo,
Soph

Bella Gelateria

On Sunday my friend and I visited the famous Bella Gelateria for some good quality gelato. When we walked in I was a bit shocked by the size. I expected a much bigger and grander space due to all the hype, many awards won and the mass of customers. Nevertheless it was set up as a cute little Italian cafe that provided a cozy atmosphere. 

We set our stuff down and headed to the selection of gelato flavors listed. 
I decided to order and try a scoop of the Organic Green tea Matcha and my friend tried the Lavender Early Grey.
The gelato was delicious-rich and creamy, you could tell the finest ingredients were used. Bella Gelateria is best known for their dedication to preserving the true artisanship of old-world handcrafted gelato.  They choose quality over quantity, with a goal to capture natural flavors in each season and handcraft them to perfection for their customers. The gelato is made fresh daily and the flavors change everyday based on the weather or the season. They are located by the waterfront which is perfect for sunny days. You can enjoy the sunshine, the beautiful view of the city and your delicious gelato. 

A flavor that I am looking forward to trying next time I pay a visit is the black sesame, a unique flavor that most gelato places do not offer. 
xoxo,
Soph

Donuts

On Sunday morning my friend and I went for breakfast at Lucky’s donuts, the best donuts in town. Once we arrived we ordered our donuts. I ordered the lemon poppy seed donut ($3) and my friend ordered the maple apple bacon fritter ($3.50).

We sat down to eat our donuts and the first bite that I took I knew these were the best donuts I have ever had. Lucky’s donuts prides themselves and their donuts as authentic, hand-crafted and genuinely delicious (all true)! They make their donuts fresh throughout the day using high quality natural ingredients. Everything is made from scratch and they strive to source locally and seasonally.

I loved this place! There was a variety of donut flavors and they were fresh and filled with flavour.
xoxo,
Soph

Fondue, Pretty Views and Shopping

Yesterday, my friend and I decided to go downtown to do some much needed shopping, and eating of course! 
The first food place we headed to was Mink Chocolates. When we arrived my friend and I ordered the personal fondue. It came with melted Minks milk chocolate, seasonal fruits and poundcake. The presentation was so cute and it was a great treat!

Afterwards we began our shopping extravaganza.Unfortunately, today I didn't find anything I wanted to buy, a first for me!

Doing all that shopping got us hungry and we went to one of our favourite sushi places downtown and ordered California rolls. While eating we watched the Olympic games on the restaurants TV, not something you can do everyday. 
After we saw the hockey game and finished our sushi we headed out to go take some pictures at the waterfront. It was such a beautiful day yesterday. It is starting to feel like spring, finally!

Afterwards we headed home, to my friends house. We had a pretty relaxing evening. We saw a movie- Baggage Claim. It was a really cute movie and was pretty funny. Then we had a delicious dinner... YUMM! After we ate we went for an evening stroll and ended off our night with manicures <3 
It was a great day filled with yummy food and great memories! 
Have a great weekend! 
xoxo,
Soph

SCOOP!

After a long week of school my friend and I visited a frozen yogurt place for a nice refreshing treat; SCOOP! It is a much smaller business than Pinkberry or Menchies, but in my opinion it is much better! In every bite you can taste the quality of the yogurt. My friend chose the original frozen yogurt and I chose the blended matcha green tea. We could choose from a variety of toppings and sauces. To my frozen yogurt I added pomengranite seeds and it complimented the green tea flavour perfectly! 
SCOOP! also offers waffles (I need to try next time), juices, smoothies, hot drinks and their signature in-house made mochi. 

I really loved the layout of this frozen yogurt place!

xoxo,

Soph

Rainy Days and Cafes

It was such a rainy Monday afternoon, but that didn't stop me from visiting this cute little cafe in a residential area. 

My friend and I went to a local cafe to catch up and grab a bite to eat. 

She chose the soup of the day and I chose the Coconut black rice Pudding. 

It was absolutely delicious and I loved the cute presentation!

This cafe had a cozy and organic vibe about it that I loved. 

They are well-known for their espresso bar but surprisingly I didn't order any coffee! Maybe next time :) 

xoxo,

Soph