Raspberry Mojitos

If the sun ever comes back out, you will totally want to check out this recipe for raspberry mojitos. A girlfriend made them for us last week and I can confirm that they tasted just as delicious as they look.

Ingredients:
3 sprigs fresh mint
2 teaspoons sugar
5 to 8 raspberries
3 tablespoons of lemon juice or 3 tablespoons of lime juice, fresh
1 1/2 ounces light rum
Club soda, chilled

Directions: 1 In a tall thin glass, crush or muddle part of the mint and raspberries. 2 Add the sugar and lime juice and stir thoroughly. 3 Top with ice. 4 Add rum and mix. 5 Top off with the club soda (or seltzer). 6 Add a lime or lemon slice and the remaining mint. 7 Serves one.

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Re-Up BBQ = Pulled Pork Heaven!

Picture from Sherman's Food Adventures (Amazing food blog!)

I'm getting hungry all over again just thinking about the pulled pork sandwiches from the Re-Up BBQ cart, located at 700 Hornby St.

If you're a meat eater, this is one foodie pit stop that you cannot miss out on. Open Monday through Saturday, 11:30am-3; pop by early because it's not uncommon for them to sell out. I can only think of a hand full of things more upsetting than getting geared up for one of these amazing sandwiches, only to find there's none left when you arrive.

For less than $10, there are few spots in Vancouver that can satisfy your taste buds (and your wallet) like Re-Up BBQ.

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I Left My Heart in Tokyo

I've mentioned my love for the Vancouver food cart scene before, and after a recent visit to Kimono Koi Crepes, that feeling is stronger than ever.

Located at the corner of Georgia and Granville street, this pink cart is serving up the most delicious crepes in town. I indulged with the Banana Brownie crepe, which is stuffed with a huge chunk of chocolate brownie, some bananas, custard, chocolate sauce, Nutella and whipped cream. Very tasty!

If sweets are not your thing, they have a list of savoury crepes too, including a divine looking ham and cheese option.

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Chronic Taco

After hearing it described as "the Subway of tacos" I was iffy to check out Chronic Taco. Not that I don't like Subway, but mostly because when I picture meeting up with my friends for a late dinner on Friday night, I don't picture a fast food spot.

I'm so glad we decided to check this place out. Though the assembly line tacos do remind me of Subway, the atmosphere was on another level. Did I mention Chronic Taco is licensed? Say goodbye to flat fountain pop and hello to a cold Corona. (The perfect beverage to wash down your spicy taco).

I tried a few different tacos, and have to say that my favourite is definitely the beer battered fish taco. Just take a look at these pictures and try to tell me you're not suddenly in the mood for Mexican tonight! The beauty of Chronic Tacos is the price. How do you say "dirt cheap" in Spanish? 

We checked out the Broadway and Cambie store, but there will be one at 4th and Burrard opening later this year.

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The Buzz Cafe

In Vancouver there's a Starbucks on every corner, and season after season the hottest accessory is toting around their famous paper cup. I'm all for trends, but this causes coffee tunnel vision. There really are other (and better) coffee shops out there.

One of my downtown favourites is The Buzz Cafe, which also houses Harrison Galleries. This shop is unique because not only do they serve fantastic java and paninis, but it's also an art gallery. With couches spread out among the art, it's the perfect spot to cozy up with a book, a latte and let a rainy Sunday afternoon fly by. The shop is located at Smithe and Homer and they have a pumpkin spice latte that rivals anything else you've tried in this city.

So next time you're looking for a java fix, skip Starbucks and try something new. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by what the local shops have to offer!

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Guu is Guud

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I had never been to Guu before this past weekend. It has got to be Vancouver's premier Japanese restaurant. A must try for foodies across the city.

If you've ever been, then you know that not only is the food amazing, but the atmosphere is one of the best parts about Guu. The staff is yelling, laughing and essentially putting on a show for their guests. It's fast paced casual dining and I love it.

Salmon-Carpaccio

They have several locations across the city, and even one in Toronto. We went to the Robson St. location which is dubbed "Guu with Garlic". A few of our dishes were served with these amazing crispy garlic chips that added the perfect flavour to an already phenomenal culinary experience.

One can get pretty thirsty eating Japanese food all night with its trademark salty taste, and Guu has just the thing; the Guud Caesar! Their trick? Adding a splash of orange juice. It was one of the best Caesars I've ever had, and I fancy myself quite the Caesar connoisseur. (The result of one too many Sunday brunches with some "thirsty" girlfriends).

If you've been holding out on Guu, there's no better time than the present to check them out. And remeber, it's called the present for a reason. Put Guu on your Christmas list because this is one gift you will love!

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Acme Cafe

I know I just wrote about food a couple of days ago, but I can't ignore the amazing lunch I had at Acme Cafe on Monday!

For those of you who haven't heard, it's a new spot in Gastown at 51 W. Hastings. Very small, and diner style, Acme Cafe serves up home made soups, delicious baked treats and a quiche that makes you want to ask for seconds. The quiche comes with the soup of the day and a salad, which were both fantastic. I purposely put one bite of the quiche aside so that after my soup and salad were gone, it would be the very last thing I tasted. Strategic eating; it was that good.

I was eyeing the tables around me to see how their food looked, and I must say, those sandwiches were looking pretty tempting. Just as I was starting to plan my week around tasting their entire menu, my server informed me that they had one gentleman come in four times last week! At least I know I'm not alone in this new found love.

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Fresh | Local | Wild

Kudos to the city of Vancouver and all of the recent gourmet street food carts that have been popping up. Case in point, Fresh, Local, Wild, located on Granville St. at the corner of Robson.

When they say this food rivals your favorite restaurant, they aren't kidding. I had the Hot Smoked Northern Coho Salmon Sandwich, and the Chanterelle Mushroom Poutine (as pictured). Wowsa! As far as the sandwich is concerned, the coleslaw was the cherry on top for me; talk about perfection! The salmon was beyond fresh. (It seriously tasted like it had been swimming in the ocean a mere hours before it entered my tummy.)

Photo Courtesy of Maurice Li 

As a person who was born and raised on the east coast, I know poutine. We have poutine carts on every block, but none of them are smothered in chanterelle mushrooms. I am loving this twist on my old favorite.

Chef Josh Wolfe and Andy Fielding were both hanging out at the cart when I stopped by. These guys are friendly, chatty and above all else, excited about what they're selling.

I was telling a friend about Fresh, Local, Wild and they were immediately concerned about the price. "How expensive is this place?". Surprisingly, not expensive at all. A poutine at Mega-Bites costs $5.99. They make it in the microwave and the fries come out of a deep freeze. A poutine at F.L.W. costs a mere $3!

Do yourself a favor and check this cart out. It's amazing and the only problem with something this good is it means I'll need to increase my gym routine because there's no way I can stay away.

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Sunday Brunch

Mimosa station

My girlfriends and I try to do Sunday brunch as often as we can. We're always on the search for the next restaurant with the most creative menus, and coolest vibe. So much so that we hadn't even thought of ever cooking breakfast ourselves.

That all changed this weekend when we came together for one of our favorite's birthday.

We had brunch... at HOME!

It was amazing. I mean, the pictures speak for themselves. We had cheese platters, fresh made fruit salad, pastries, a keish that was to die for, chocolate dipped strawberries, and of course, mimosas.

This definitely proved to me that you don't have to go out to the trendiest restaurant in town to have the best time and eat the best food.

Suddenly this morning's toast and apple doesn't seem so appealing.

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Sibling Rivalry

No, no, not like the competition you and your sister have, I'm talking about the wine!

One of my girlfriends has been drinking Sibling Rivalry white for some time now, but last night we decided to have a glass (or two... or three...) of red. I was impressed!

The wine is created by a group of three brothers in Ontario. They describe Sibling Rivalry as "About outcomes. The sum of the parts that make up the blends we produce, and the sum of the partnership known as the Speck Brothers".

Aside from yummy vino, Sibling Rivalry also has really cool branding. Their website is awesome, with a section for you to submit your very own sibling rivalry stories. I read a couple of them and was brought back to my teenage years, when my sister and I would fight over everything. Now that we're both in our mid twenties (she's almost exactly one year younger than me) we've become super close. I think it's safe to say, next time I see her I'm bringing a bottle of Sibling Rivalry and I'm sure that after a couple of glasses, we'll be reminiscing about "the good old days" in no time!

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Friday Feature Recipes

When I hear the word Guacamole my mouth immediately starts to water.

I first discovered "guac" back in university. Turns out I'd been missing out on the most amazing part of nachos my whole life. My roommates and I quickly became addicted, camping outside the grocery store, waiting for fresh avocado arrivals to get our next fix (I'm exaggerating a little bit here).

The best part about guacamole is that you really can't screw it up. There isn't really a need for a recipe, since you can put whatever you want in it and still be happy with the outcome. But for the sake of having a guideline, this recipe is key;

Ingredients
3 avocados - peeled, pitted, and mashed
1 lime, juiced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup diced onion
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions
1.In a medium bowl, mash together the avocados, lime juice, and salt. Mix in onion, cilantro, tomatoes, and garlic. Stir in cayenne pepper. Refrigerate 1 hour for best flavor, or serve immediately.

Personally, I would suggest a bit more lime juice and a lot more cilantro. I'm also a big fan of spice, so I like to add in a chopped jalapeno.  
 

 
The sun is shining and it's the Friday of a long weekend (basically the last weekend of summer). Why not have your friends over for a Corona on the deck, and whip up some guacamole for the perfect afternoon fiesta!

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Friday Recipe

I’ve been pretty absent on the web this week as I’ve been in meetings in Toronto, and last night hopped a flight to New Brunswick to visit with friends and family. It’s always fun to come home and see my loved ones, and even more fun is having my parents cook for me!


Tonight we’re hosting a BBQ with the traditional summertime favourites - burgers, sausage, chips & dip and my number one summer treat; corn on the cob! My recipe today is a simple twist on my old time fav, BBQ corn on the cob.

• Soak the corn (husks still on) in a pot of cold water, and let it soak for 2-3 hours
• Now place the wet corn (still in their husks) directly on the BBQ at a low temperature
• Close the cover and let it steam for about 15 minutes.

Voila! This couldn’t be easier, even if it tried. The best part is that the corn is so juicy it hardly needs butter. (Now that our clothes are feeling a bit snug, we’re asking ourselves why we gave in to all of the ice cream, patio beers and corn dog cravings all summer).

Celebrate the end of the season with a BBQ of your own, and let me know your corn on the cob secrets!

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The Secret Garden

About a month ago, I went to the Secret Garden Tea House with some girlfriends for high tea and yummy treats. I wasn't sure what to expect, since I'd never been to anything like that before, but we got dolled up and headed over with high hopes of finding our new Sunday "hang out" spot.

First off, they have a huge list of teas available, (I had the Lemon Mango Punch, which was just as amazing as it sounds).

Secondly, the treats were out of this world. Seriously delicious sandwiches, scones, and sweets. For those two reasons alone, I definitely recommend a visit.

The atmosphere was so calming, it reminded me of my Great-Grandmother's house, except for some reason this was more fun and my Great-Grandmother couldn't bake like that (sorry Nana).

It was a teeny bit expensive at $25 per person, but I would say for the experience, it was so worth it.

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Friday Feature Recipes

Since I'm trying to expand my cooking skills, I'm going to start including a Friday Feature Recipe post. If you give my reco a try, let me know your thoughts and suggestions!

Today we had a potluck lunch at work, organized by the social committee, which I am a part of. It was a huge success and a great opportunity for everyone in the office to show off their kitchen skills. I decided to make a Greek salad, and though I'd never made one before, I think it was a hit!

Here is the recipe I used:

1 Pint of Grape Tomatoes
1 Green Pepper

1 Cucumber

1 Small Red Onion

6 ounces of Feta Cheese
1/2 cup of olives

3/4 Cup of Olive Oil

2 table spoons of vinegar

2 table spoons of lemon juice

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of Oregano

First I chopped up the veggies, and in a separate bowl I mixed the dressing. Easy as can be!

The only down side of a potluck is the inevitable over eating, followed by a sleepiness that can only be compared to a deep coma.

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Subeez Cafe

With this dreary weather we're having today, you're probably not thinking about where you're going to have brunch with your girlfriends this weekend. Lucky for you, I'm always thinking about food.

One of my favorite brunch spots in the city is only steps outside my front door; Subeez Cafe. Located on the corner of Homer and Smithe st., Subeez showcases trendy art (including a crazy centaur statue) that changes every month, and one delicious breakfast menu.

I tend to stick to the Mushroom & Goat Cheese Eggs Benny, but I have tried almost all of the items on the menu, including the Strawberry French Toast (oh my god, so good) and the Classic Breakfast, which comes with baked beans.

Everything on the Breakfast Menu is under $15, leaving room in your budget for the perfect Sunday Caesar.

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Wild Garlic Bistro

24 hours and counting, and I still can't get the taste of garlic to go away. A small price to pay for one of Vancouver's best kept secrets. Wild Garlic Bistro is a cute little spot in the West End. The menu revolves around garlic, which I am a huge fan of.

I went with a girlfriend of mine for a Saturday night treat. We shared a few of the items on the Tapas Menu, including the Slowly Roasted Candied Garlic with Crostini and the Roasted Garlic & Camembert Cheese Fondue. I don't need to tell you it was delicious, that would be stating the obvious, but what I will tell you is how impressed I was with the price points, ambiance, and quality of food. On top of yummy grub, this place has some of the cheapest drinks I've seen in town!

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