Wicked Cafe on W 7th Ave and Hemlock St., Vancouver

Polly and I wanted to check out the street car installed for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic which travels between the Olympic Village Canada Line Station and Granville Island from Jan 21 to March 21.  So, we had our Friday cake meet at Wicked Cafe at 1399 W 7th Ave and Hemlock St., which is on the way to Granville Island.

Wicked-Cafe-4-600x400

It was a bright sunny day with some chill in the air. When we arrived at Wicked Cafe around 11:00 am., it was absolutely full house. We had to sit at the patio even though it’s a bit chilly. Fortunately, the sun was out and seated at the patio felt like a spring day.

Wicked-Cafe-2-600x400

Polly had a Latte for $2.90. It is very common for coffee shop to serve latte with some latte art. If you like latte art, check out this post and click on more for some amazing latte art.

Wicked-Cafe-10-400x600

I decided to have a Chai Latte for $3.55 since… (more…)

Continue ReadingWicked Cafe on W 7th Ave and Hemlock St., Vancouver

Where Can We Find Shaobing in Vancouver?

This is a continuation quest for a reader, Michelle who wrote to me to find restaurants which serve Shaobing. I contacted a few of my Taiwanese friends and two of them recommended me to this place which sells traditional Taiwanese Shaobing. So, I made it a point to check out this place during my ladies meet day with Polly.

Shaobing-4-600x400

My Taiwanese friend, Emily told me that Shaobing stuffed with Chinese donut is a very typical breakfast item.

Shaobing-6-600x400

The place that my friends recommended is located on the second floor of President Plaza in Richmond, next to T&T Supermarket and across Aberdeen Center.

Shaobing-1-600x400

It is a stall at a small foodcourt. The stall name is Yung Ho Soy Drink. Apparently, this name is quite famous in Taiwan.

Shaobing-12Shaobing-11Shaobing-10-200x300

Yung Ho Soy Drink serves various types of shaobing, sweet and savory. Click on the images above to have a clearer view.

Without a doubt, I wanted to try … (more…)

Continue ReadingWhere Can We Find Shaobing in Vancouver?

Waves Coffee in Steveston, Richmond

Polly and I resumed our ladies meet on Friday after a long winter break. It’s great to have some time off with a girl friend for girl talks.

Arkensen was not feeling too well that morning but he insisted to go to school. I told him if he is not getting better, he should come home and call me to let me know. So, I told Polly that we should go to somewhere in Richmond in case Arkensen comes home and I can get home quickly.

Waves-Coffee-Steveston-6-600x400

We ended up going to Waves Coffee in Steveston Village. This franchise coffee house began in 2005 at the corner of West Hasting St. and Richards in downtown Vancouver. The Richmond location is located at 12231 1st Ave, Richmond. There are 2 other major coffee chains in the near vicinity like Starbucks and Blenz Coffee. Canadians sure love coffee a lot.

Waves-Coffee-Steveston-1-600x400

Surprisingly, this place is very big. It has various types of seatings like sofas, counter seatings facing the glass wall and normal table seatings. They even have a kid table with kid chairs. No wonder, there are lots of toddlers here. We also saw some seniors, workers and people having a meeting here at the comfortable sofas. They offer baked goods, sandwiches, hot and cold beverages.

Waves-Coffee-Steveston-5-600x400

Polly got herself a Belgian Hot Chocolate. You have a choice of dark, milk or white chocolate. Polly opted for the dark chocolate. A small cup costs $3.89. I got something from the African Rooibos Tea section. The small cup of  Red Tea Latte costs $3.29. My homemade Red Espresso seemed to have stronger flavour than this.

Waves-Coffee-Steveston-2-600x400

We had three baked goods to share. The first item is a Cinnamon Twist. It is very flaky and … (more…)

Continue ReadingWaves Coffee in Steveston, Richmond

Marble Slab Creamery at Ironwood Plaza, Richmond

Nanzaro reminded me that the Marble Slab Creamery coupon is expiring on the last day of 2009. He is a very persistent teenager and when he wants something, he will keep asking until he gets it. So, Nanzaro and I went for a treat in the lazy afternoon.

Marble-Slab-Creamery-3-600x400

The Marble Slab Creamery in Richmond is located at a strip mall in Ironwood Plaza across London Drugs. We learnt from the server that it has opened since August 2009.

Marble-Slab-Creamery-1-600x400

With a motto of ‘the freshest ice cream on earth’, Marble Slab Creamery travel far and wide to source the finest ingredients; vanilla beans from Madagascar, cocoa from Holland, to the best dipping chocolate from Sweden. The ice cream is made in the store and never processed or preserved. Marble Slab Creamery is established since 1983.

Marble-Slab-Creamery-10-400x600

What differentiate Marble Slab Creamery from other ice cream places is that they have mixins. The mixins ranges from fresh fruits, nuts, candies, cookies and brownies.

Marble-Slab-Creamery-11-400x600

The coupon is for a buy one get one free of a regular cone with one flavour ice cream with a mixin. Nanzaro opted for coffee flavour with Nestle crunch. Instead of the regular cone, he upgraded it to a dipped rolled cone which costs $1.45 extra. Marble Slab Creamery also hand-roll their freshly baked waffle scones in each store.
(more…)

Continue ReadingMarble Slab Creamery at Ironwood Plaza, Richmond

Yavis Club Cheesecake in Union Square, Richmond

It is great working four-day weeks for the rest of the year.

Well, my company is now forcing every employee to clear their accumulated vacation days by the end of the year, saying that if we don’t use it, we will lose it. I used to bring forward 2-3 weeks of accumulated leave every year. So in the effort to clear the days, I decided to take Fridays off for the last 7 weeks of the year.

I did not realize that Fridays are also Suanne’s Cake Meet day with Polly. Suanne was so sweet and decided to spend Fridays with me. So, to make it up to her, I told her I will be her Cake Meet date and we could go to visit the restaurants that are opened in the afternoon and evenings.

Yavis-Club-6-400x600

We went to Yavis Club which we heard so much of their cheesecakes. The Yavis Club is located in the Union Square (along Capstan Way) in Richmond.

Yavis Club is opened from 6PM to late on weekdays. On weekends, they open earlier at 3PM.

Yavis-Club-20-600x400

Nanzaro decided to tag along on our Cake Meet date. He is just bored to death at home because, well, he had been “discouraged” from playing the PS3 for some “transgressions” (to borrow the word from Tiger Woods).

The 2 year old Yavis Club is painted in a pleasant combination red, black and white with polished concrete floor. It is spacious in here but it also kind of dark.

Yavis-Club-1-400x600

The place is very much like a hangout for young Asian girls. We are about the only older customer there. Guys will not be seen in this kind of place if not for bringing their girlfriends here.

As for the menu, it does not have a lot of items but for each item, they have written a story behind it. The menu also described how Yavis came about and that the name is an acronym for “Young, Attractive, Verbal, Intelligent and Successful”. That acronym is based on the book “Psychotherapy: the Purchase of Friendship” by William Scofield.

Yavis-Club-2-400x600

Every cheesecake house is judged by how well they make their plain no-frills cheesecake. They name their cheesecake “The White Romance” ($5.25)

It was very good. It has the rich smoothness which melts in your mouth. Suanne loves this but I find it a bit too rich for my liking. It is presented with a flower made of fruity sauce outlined with chocolate.

Yavis-Club-3-400x600

Their other signature item is called the “Rainbow After The Dark” ($6.25). It is actually not a cheesecake in the true sense but instead it is … (more…)

Continue ReadingYavis Club Cheesecake in Union Square, Richmond

Steveston Cannery Cafe on Moncton St, Richmond

Polly had to drive her twin daughters to the Richmond Oval for a class field trip.  It’s almost lunch time before Polly and I met for our cake meet.   We had to go to somewhere nearby as we only have two hours before Polly have to pick her girls up from school.  So, we headed to Steveston Village.

Cannery-Cafe-5-600x400

We decided to have a light lunch at Steveston Cannery Cafe located at 3611 Moncton St.  The Steveston Cannery Cafe is a cute building with very festives decorations on it’s windows.  That reminds me of Christmas is coming soon.

Cannery-Cafe-4-600x400

The menu is written on black boards high above the counter.  It is a self service place.  You place your order at the cashier, pay for your order and pick up your order there and then.  It is a very down to earth family run cafe.

Cannery-Cafe-1-600x400

Since we wanted only light lunch, we had the Soup of the Day which is squash soup each.  The soup with a seedy roll costs $4.65.  You can just have the soup alone which costs slightly less.  The squash soup is slightly spicy with lots of pepper.  If you like squash soup, try out this Butternut Squash Apple Soup recipe.

Cannery-Cafe-2-600x400

When we entered the cafe, we saw one of the customer was having a cinnamon bun and who can resist a gooey cinnamon bun.   (more…)

Continue ReadingSteveston Cannery Cafe on Moncton St, Richmond

Pastry Club Dessert Cafe on W 41st Ave, Vancouver

Updated: 24th Nov 2014; This restaurant is closed according to Urbanspoon.com.

When Joanne recommended the Pastry Club Dessert Cafe to me, I thought it sounds familiar.  Upon checking my list of places to go for cake meet, apparently it was on top of my list.  What a coincidence.  So, without further delay, Polly and I went to check out the Pastry Club Dessert Cafe in Kerisdale.  They are close on Sunday and the rest of the days, they are opened from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm.

Pastry-Club-Dessert-Cafe-1-600x400

Parking seems to be a problem here.  The servers keep watching out for the parking meter enforcer and we overheard them saying that the parking meter enforcer comes to check the meter everyday.  So, make sure you feed the meter if you park your car in this area.

Pastry-Club-Dessert-Cafe-5-600x400

Pastry Club Dessert Cafe is a small cozy neighborhood type of cafe.  It has 9 tables that serve 2 each.  During our visit there, we noticed that the servers know everyone of her customers except me and Polly.  When a server came to serve a customer seated next to our table, she predicted what the customer is going to order and said to the customer “something never change”.  That shows that the server really knows the customer well and the customer is a regular.

Pastry-Club-Dessert-Cafe-2-600x400

Polly and I were there quite early i.e. way before lunch time.  So, we ordered our regular coffees and desserts from the counter buffet.  Polly had latte while I opted for a stronger cappuccino.  The small coffees cost $2.95 each.

Pastry-Club-Dessert-Cafe-4-600x400

There is only one type of cheesecake that day which is Chocolate Marble Cheese Cake.  A slice costs (more…)

Continue ReadingPastry Club Dessert Cafe on W 41st Ave, Vancouver

Churros and Hot Chocholate at Dulcinea, Vancouver

Updated 30th Oct 2010: this restaurant is closed.

We blogged about Dulcinea in early spring this year when they just opened not long.  Polly wanted to try this place for our cake meet.  I’ve heard that Dulcinea has the churros in place already and it’s a good time for a revisit.

Dulcinea-Choco-4-600x400

We’ll, the first thing I ordered is their signature drink, 1528, a thick Spanish hot chocolate with churros.  I ordered a double shot for the 1528 which costs $4.50 while the churros above costs $5.25.    I must say that the churros we had in Spain is much more reasonably priced.

Dulcinea-Choco-5-600x400

Churros is so good with the thick chocolate drink is because the ridges hold the chocolate well.  I would have ordered more churros if they are cheaper.

Dulcinea-Choco-1-600x400

We also ordered these Hojaldre de Chorizo which is a savoury pastry.  It is like curry puff made with puff pastry.  These are $3.40 each. (more…)

Continue ReadingChurros and Hot Chocholate at Dulcinea, Vancouver

Excellent Tofu and Snacks on Hazelbridge Way and Browngate, Richmond

On the way home after tasting “Mao Ze Dong’s Most Favoured Dish“, I suggested to Suanne that we go get some sweet dessert.

I actually am not that crazy over dessert but I know Suanne will definitely say yes.

Excellent-Tofu-Pudding-11-400x600

We had always wanted to try the Tofu Pudding from Excellent Tofu and Snack. They are located on the strip mall by Hazelbridge and Browngate. It is just a couple of doors away from Lido.

Excellent-Tofu-Pudding-1-600x400

Service was terrible here. The lady manning the long low counter sure looked grumpy and has a face as long as my arms.  No smiles but that’s OK with us. She was kind of not too pleased when we try to asked questions about her menu.

And then she sweetened up when she noticed that we pull out a camera and notebook. She was MUCH more sweeter to us after that and her tone changed.  LOL!

Excellent-Tofu-Pudding-2-600x400

Excellent Tofu is basically a soy pudding place. Their menu is simple. It is either soy pudding with toppings or flavoured ones. They have some tofu based snacks too.

I ordered the one with black glutinous rice. I had an option for either (more…)

Continue ReadingExcellent Tofu and Snacks on Hazelbridge Way and Browngate, Richmond

Thomas Haas on Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver

Angie from seasaltwithfood invited Polly and I for a get together at Thomas Haas in North Vancouver.  Polly and I seldom venture so far for our cake meet although Thomas Haas has been on our list of places to visit, we have yet to travel so far for dessert.  But for Angie’s sake, we made the trip to North Vancouver.  If I remembered clearly, our last cake meet with Angie was at La Petite France last November.

Thomas-Haas-10-600x400

Thomas Haas is located in a kind of industrial area with a private school just across it.  It’s kind of out of the place for a dessert place but believe it or not, this is a very busy outlet.  Customers were taking advantage of the great spring weather to enjoy their dessert at the patio.

Thomas-Haas-20-400x600

Thomas Haas is a chocolatier who believe that passion and integrity is the essence for true artisan craftsmanship.  They showcase their art piece right at the front counter.

Thomas-Haas-3-600x400

Being passionate with their chocolate, they have quite some varieties of truffles and chocolate pieces on their display counter.  But we are not really into chocolate but more for their cakes.

Thomas-Haas-2-600x400

Besides chocolates, Thomas Haas also have a wide range of pastries …

Thomas-Haas-1-600x400

… and cakes.  We love this place already. (more…)

Continue ReadingThomas Haas on Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver