Nero Belgian Waffle Bar- I Can Eat Their Waffles All Day

Nero Belgian Waffle Bar is located on Robson and honestly, I have heard so much about it over the past few months. I heard they serve up some great authentic belgian waffles so I was determined to give it a try.

The sign isn't very eye-catching (at least compared to the McDonalds sign next door) so you might miss it the first time around, like me.

I really enjoyed the mismatched wooden boards on the wall as well as the little bicycle piece on the ledge. It gave the whole area a rustic feel.

The Bresilienne Liege Waffle ($8.90) consisted of a soft and chewy liege waffle topped with vanilla ice-cream, whipped cream, hazelnut crumble, and caramel sauce. I chose the liege waffle this time, but you always have the option of choosing the brussel waffle instead.

This waffle looked ridiculously delicious and let me tell you, it tasted even better than it looked. The liege waffle had the perfect density and chewy texture that I was looking for, and the hazelnut crumble was just the cherry on top.

My favourite way of eating the waffle is to cut a piece off, grab a chunk of ice-cream with it, and then swipe a bit of whipped cream on top before eating it all together. :D Oh, that's the life. For around 9 bucks, Nero can make you feel like you are in Europe eating an authentic belgian waffle. Needless to say, I will be back for more.

Based on these reasons:

• cute little place for tea time or dessert
• waffles are beyond delicious
• my favourite is the liege waffle!

Service Rating: 3.5/5
Food Rating: 5/5
Price: $-$$

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Happy Eating!


courtesy of http://www.augustinswaffles.com/5-great-waffle-toppings/

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Cockney Kings Fish & Chips- Deep Fried Extravaganza

Cockney Kings Fish & Chips is located on Hastings near SFU Burnaby and is a local favourite for many students. They have All-You-Can-Eat fish n'chips (cod only and you get a pop) from Mondays to Wednesday for less than 10 bucks.

Meta Knight has suggested this place multiple times in the past few years but I never really wanted to try it until now.

This is their takeout menu. Interestingly enough, they have a large variety of options from regular fish and chips to battered hot dog and fish tacos!

The kitchen is open so you can watch people make make deep fry your food.

If you get take out like us, they will wrap your food in newspaper and give it to you just like that. This made carrying it back home a difficult task because we didn't even have bag to put everything in it. It's a cool idea but just not very practical.

We ordered the 2 pc Halibut and Chips ($12.25) so imagine our surprise when we opened the package and saw not two, but almost six pieces of fish!

Obviously, a few of the six pieces were small, but all together, this '2 piece set' was of epic proportions. If we had known they were going to be so generous, we wouldn't have ordered an appetizer.

The fries were not double fried (my favourite) so they were limp and soft. Not that great.

We ordered the most expensive fish because we thought it was going to be the softest in texture. I once had Halibut fish and chips at Pajo's in Steveston and the fish melted in my mouth. This one was not the case. Instead of the silky smooth texture I was looking for, it tasted rough and a bit dry. It wasn't bad. But it tasted no different from cod which sucked because we paid more money for it.

We thought the 2 piece fish and chips were not going to fill us so we ordered Calamari ($6.99) to share too. The squid was not fresh and it was apparent to us from the first bite. Nonetheless, it was passable.

Overall, for around 20 bucks, we received a hell of a lot of food. It could have easily fed four people so you do get bang for your buck. However, just don't expect the quality of fish to blow your socks off. Cause... it most likely won't.

Based on these reasons:

• solid fish and chips location with a diverse take out menu
• AYCE fish and chips from Mon-Wed!! 
• you'll feel like grease after eating their food because everything is deep fried
• gigantic portions for an affordable price

Service Rating: N/A

Food Rating: 3/5

Price: $-$$

Overall Rating: 3/5

Happy Eating!

courtesy of http://www.more-funny.com/2011/01/funny-fish.html

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Vancouver’s Top 5 Restaurants on The Water

[Kirby: Hi everyone! I want to share with you guys another guest post today. This post is written by a talented entrepreneur (and foodie!) by the name of Thomas Jones and he will be writing about the top 5 restaurants in Vancouver with the best view of our scenic coastline. These are great ideas for your next Valentines or Anniversary date with your muffin/sweetie/cupcake. After all, what's better than dining next to the water in the 'most beautiful place on Earth'!]

It is not a secret that water in many forms has a calming, stress-reducing, and relaxing effect on the human body and mind. For this reason health advocates inspire the drinking of water, consumers purchase replicas of waterfalls, millions of tourists flock to the beaches each year, and customers are drawn to restaurants that not just tempt their palate with their menu selections, but also provide a psychological spa, by offering dining in view of the water.

 In this day and age of hustle and bustle, taking the time to unwind and eat a meal in a relaxing water themed restaurant is more than just a meal. For many patrons enjoying their meal while enjoying the view of the water is a mini-vacation for the mind. Vancouver, with its remarkable landscape and shores, is a paradise for the weary and hungry resident and tourist alike.  Ranked by business magazines as one of the most liveable cities worldwide, Vancouver is home to a number of restaurants that offer customers an amazing meal alongside an amazing view of the water. Vancouver's water-themed restaurants are great places to escape the stress of everyday life while enjoying a meal alone or with company. 

photo courtesy of modernmixvancouver

The Raincity Grill

This is a restaurant in Vancouver that offers the greatest views of boats sailing into the city on the English Bay, along with a "farm to table" philosophy. It features a majority of organic ingredients used to create the masterpieces on its menu and a wine list that showcases local wines. One of the favorite dishes on the menu is their roasted sapo bravo pepper linguini, served with local arugula, watercress, and basil.

courtesy of vanfoodies

The Teahouse Restaurant

Formally known as the Sequoia Grill, The Teahouse Restaurant offers a stunning view of Ferguson Point, along with an atmosphere of fine dining. While out on the patio patrons can admire the view that this restaurant claims is "the longest sunset in the city," and enjoy a selection like Wild Mushroom Ravioli off of their diverse menu.

courtesy of guntermarx

Bridges Restaurant, Bistro & Bar

Patrons will find themselves not only enjoying a view of False Creek, (where fishing trawlers can still be seen coming in with buckets and baskets of fresh catch from the sea), but also the local seafood menu. Their menu includes items like their famous local mussels roasted in garlic herb butter and advertises daily beer specials.

courtesy of tripadvisor

Lift Bar and Grill

Located on Coal Harbour, Lift Bar and Grill features fire pits for group dining and was named Best Patio, Best New View, and Best Restaurant just one year after it opened. One of their specialties includes beef tenderloin with lobster gnocchi and pico de gallo.

courtesy of panoramio

The Observatory

Located on Grouse Mountain, this restaurant features a staggering view of the mountains, the ocean, and of the city of Vancouver. Patrons can satisfy their appetites with one of their fine menu selections such as Braised Beef Shortribs, squash gnocchi, and Brussel sprouts.

For those diners that want to actually "escape" out to the water, Vancouver's best kept secrets are the Harbour Cruises. Patrons can enjoy the view of land while eating their meals out on the water. The cruises offer floating restaurants and bars and the experiences usually last around 2 1/2 hours. Servers provide guests with information on the areas and the calm inlet water provides smooth sailing.

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About the guest blogger:  Thomas Jones is as much of a home renovator as he is a big eater.  Having spent most of his life in the DIY game, he now satiates his love of water with Falcon Pools.

Happy Eating! 

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Kintaro Ramen- Cheese All The Way

If you live in Vancouver, you most likely have tried ramen before. It's pretty hard not to with the abundance of ramen restaurants all over Greater Vancouver. Out of alllllll these restaurants, I have chosen my favourite, and it was a pretty easy decision.

Kintaro is located on Denman street (they used to have another location in Richmond but it closed down.. :( Boo!) and you can see a lineup outside the door almost every time you walk pass it.

The menu is pretty simple with only less than 10 varieties of ramen. My personal favourite is the cheese ramen because it combines two of my favourite foods, melted cheese, and noodles in soup!

The Cheese Ramen ($9.95) comes with light pork soup base and your choice of fatty or lean pork (always get the fatty one! It's wayyy better). It also has bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, green onions, corn, and two types of cheese.

The cheese... oh the cheese. I love how they give you a giant handful of shredded mozzerella along with a thick slice of another type of cheese. When it melts into your noodles, the combination is heaven.

Action shot! Sorta.

Meta Knight's favourite ramen is the Miso Ramen ($8.95) and it is "flavoured with a blend of soy bean pastes from four different Japanese regions and twelve spices". He gets this pretty much every time so I'm thinkin' it's pretty good.

I love sitting at the counter because I can see the chefs in action!

Based on these reasons:

• ramen is consistently delicious every time
• the long lineups every day speaks for itself
• quantity and quality for an affordable price
• CHEESE RAMEN IS DA BOMB.

Service Rating: 3/5

Food Rating: 4.5/5

Price: $

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Happy Eating!

courtesy of http://joyreactor.com/post/515350

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Easy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese Recipe

If you ever have leftover pumpkin from making pumpkin pie for the holidays, you might wonder to yourself, what can I do to use it up? I was in the exact position a few weeks ago and decided to search for a mac and cheese recipe that incorporates pumpkin so I could use up my leftover canned pumpkin!

I found a recipe to my liking called "Easy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese" by Inspired Taste so I gave it a try in hopes of a successful cheesy lunch.

Easy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:
1 16-ounce box uncooked elbow macaroni
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni as directed on package. (Usually between 7 and 10 minutes). I added some random broccoli to spruce it up. :P

2. While macaroni is cooking, melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. 

3. Stir in flour and cook while stirring, 1 minute. 

4. Remove from heat and stir in milk. Place back onto heat and bring to a simmer. Simmer and stir 1 minute until thickened.

5. Stir in salt, pepper, nutmeg, mustard and pumpkin puree. Add 2 cups of cheese then cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted.

6. Drain macaroni. Add macaroni into cheese sauce and stir until coated.

7. You could serve the macaroni and cheese now, or bake in the oven with extra cheese. To bake in the oven, pour into a 3-quart casserole dish then top with remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese.

I served it as is and didn't bake it in a casserole dish. 

This recipe was incredibly easy to follow so I really enjoyed it. The end product was creamy, savoury, and surprisingly didn't taste very pumpkin-y! With that being said, this recipe would be great for parents trying to sneak some veggies in their child's diet. 

Tis the season and Happy Eating!

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Gokudo Shabu Shabu Hotpot- This Shabu Shabu is Not Too Shabby!

I knew Gokudo Shabu Shabu Hotpot existed in Richmond but for whatever reason, I never made the trip to try this place out. One day, my good ol' friend Cupcake told me once again about his great experience at Gokudo and I thought, this is it, I MUST try this place out soon once and for all!

I arrived around 6pm-ish with two of my friends and we had to wait a good 15 minutes for a spot. We were all surprised at how busy it was despite the early dinner time.

You can choose to order soup base and side orders separately, but I say just go with the Hotpot Combo since the work is all done for you and you just have to choose your meat, drink, and carb type.

I went with the Lamb Hotpot Combo ($13.95) which consisted of their 'House Special' soup base (tasted like chicken broth), a plate of veggies/frozen meatballs, dipping sauce, carbs (I chose udon), a drink, and a plate of meat.

I was pleasantly surprised at how generous they were with their meat. My meat plate is on the right side and to be honest, I only finished half of the meat because it was too much for me. >.<

The veggie plate had plenty of chinese cabbage, pumpkin, mushroom, corn, tofu, tomatoes, meatballs, baby corn, and a raw prawn. I actually really enjoyed Gokudo mainly because of this veggie platter because all of the ingredients were really fresh. As well, I am a variety type of girl so this 'everything in little portions' was the perfect approach for me.

I didn't go crazy over the 'House Special' soup base because it just tasted like a better version of chicken broth. However, it is never a bad thing to eat a little healthier. Who needs thick satay soup when this clear soup cooks your food just as well? :P I'm sure a lot of people (who <3 bold flavours) disagree with me on this but health conscious girls know what I'm talkin' about. Holla!

As for my beverage of choice, I went with the Melon Tea which was highly recommended by Cupcake. It was my first time trying it but I gotta hand it to him, I really enjoyed the refreshing light taste! I would have preferred a cold refrigerated can but drinking it at room temperature was still okay.

Sorry for the overexposed pictures by the way. I realize iPhone pictures can never replace camera photos! 

Service Rating: 3.5/5
Food Rating: 3.5/5
Price: $$ ($10-20)

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Happy Eating!

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