Maggi (maggi-mei)

Here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia we bullied our way into the orchid room at the Majestic Hotel. Apparently enjoying a service here is so coveted that reservations... Lire plus Here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia we bullied our way into the orchid room at the Majestic Hotel. Apparently enjoying a service here is so coveted that reservations during the weekday require a month in advance wait and a reservation during the weekend is three months in advance notice. And here we were strolling in just before the 3pm seating and being given a seat right away.

My food travels brought me to Kingsway for sushi. Recommend by my guests as an authentic Japanese restaurant. They were proud to advertise that they were Japane... Lire plus My food travels brought me to Kingsway for sushi. Recommend by my guests as an authentic Japanese restaurant. They were proud to advertise that they were Japanese owned and operated with a hand written sign, visible right on the door as you entered. By looks alone, this wouldn’t be a typical restaurant I would choose at random, or would it even stop me as I walked by. It didn’t have some of the bell and whistles other Japanese and sushi restaurants in Vancouver did. There was nothing visually to set them apart. What they did have was a sign painted red and scraped for a distressed look. A traditional Japanese post that marked its location and lit the way at night. And a wooden sandwich board enticing you with colour photos of their specials and a full written description.

It’s not often that I get an opportunity to indulge in happy hour. Taking advantage of the lower prices means working earlier, having a later lunch or an earlie... Lire plus It’s not often that I get an opportunity to indulge in happy hour. Taking advantage of the lower prices means working earlier, having a later lunch or an earlier dinner. In fact today we were an hour too early and opted to wait for our 3-6pm window to indulge in $4 beers or $4 glasses of wine, and tapas specials at $6. The place was ultimately chosen based on what came up when I googled “happy hour” as well as its proximity to us. Working downtown you are in the hub of happy hour and have your pick of more than a few dressed up bars, each offering what I deem as crafty pub fare. My guest was sold on “Charles Bar” after hearing they had deep fried pickles and deep fried risotto balls. The rush hour crowd was driving away from the city, thus making parking decent with meters up front and around each corner. The restaurant itself was large. Inside, the room was anchored by their island bar, right in the middle of the open space. On either ends of it was additional seating in areas flanked out. Benches, booths, and high tops in corners offered both individual and large group settings. Hard wood floors underfoot, wood plank beams overhead, and varnished repurposed wood tables under arm. My guest of the afternoon described them as being “earthy”. They well matched the simple theme, along with the concrete pillars and florescent light bulbs squared off in cages. The menu offers your pub classics: chicken wings, gourmet burgers and fries, calamari, nachos, pizza, and weekly specials at 1 to 2 dollar discounts. The happy hour menu offered only a smattering of the above, but in my opinion, the most interesting of them all. A pizza with cheese and figs, a braised and grilled pork belly sandwich, and of course all the deep fried, one biters. “Beer pickles”. Beer battered pickle spears with a lemon dill yogurt for dipping. They were fresh from the fryer, each spear had a smoky hotness, the kind that burns your tongue if you go recklessly biting into it. Each pickle quarter pos

I was hanging out with my friend today, and as per tradition, our time together ended with some ice cream. Today we stopped at this newer liquid nitrogen ice cr... Lire plus I was hanging out with my friend today, and as per tradition, our time together ended with some ice cream. Today we stopped at this newer liquid nitrogen ice cream shoppe, by her house. She had mentioned that during her original visit with them they hosted a line up of pretty unique flavours, corn being one of them. So I was eager to step foot inside and try some of these for myself, today. However we were greeted by the sandwich board outside, advertising their list of pretty normal flavours. Creamy ice cream in cookies and cream, salted caramel, and coconut coffee for the vegans.

This was the final stop of our five part taco crawl, and taco number 7 and 8. Good thing too, because we were stuffed. The “Taco Crawl” is an annual event creat... Lire plus This was the final stop of our five part taco crawl, and taco number 7 and 8. Good thing too, because we were stuffed. The “Taco Crawl” is an annual event created and hosted by “Vancouver Foodster”, to celebrate some of his favourite taco places. I was plus one to the the talented “Picky Diner”, who was not only one of the judges of this event; but a friend to “Vancouver Foodster”. We ended up tagging along with “Vancouver Foodster”, touring his own crawl. He was our food guide, giving us context of each place and regaling us with tasty tall tales.

There is no better way to beat a wet and miserable day, than with hot and comforting soup. And what better a place for that, than a restaurant with “soup” in it... Lire plus There is no better way to beat a wet and miserable day, than with hot and comforting soup. And what better a place for that, than a restaurant with “soup” in its title, amongst other descriptives. I was greeted at the door and given my choice of seats. A nice booth in the corner offered warmth and rest from the elements. As is the typical fashion of most Chinese cafe-restaurants, the setting is about practicality, and not much else. Red and black booths for large groups and free standing table tops for couples and small families. Lucky cats waving at the bar, red lanterns hanging over head, and the metal branches of a tree creeping across one wall. The other walls had black boards and posters advertising specials in Chinese characters and late night deals that didn’t list price or content. I would later find out that they definitely catered to their demographic, as the language barrier was a bit of an issue.

Open for two years now, “Liuyishou” serves Chongqing style Chinese hot pot with a whole lot of fun. They are especially known for their elevated spicy hot pot e... Lire plus Open for two years now, “Liuyishou” serves Chongqing style Chinese hot pot with a whole lot of fun. They are especially known for their elevated spicy hot pot experience, and after this post, you will know them for a lot more. This isn’t all you can eat hot pot, you simply order as you go. But I can guarantee all of it is quality, with plenty of value from the self serve cold appetizer and sauce bar, which only costs you $2.50 for unlimited dish refills.

Because our meals together never end in just two, and because we were left unsatisfied with just frozen yogurt. MissVancouverPiggy and I found ourselves searchi... Lire plus Because our meals together never end in just two, and because we were left unsatisfied with just frozen yogurt. MissVancouverPiggy and I found ourselves searching up neighbouring places for an after meal, after dessert, ice cream. We both agreed that the calorie count is pretty much the same between frozen yogurt and ice cream, so you are better off eating ice cream for its taste and texture. Not that we care for or even count our calories. Our search yielded “Paradiso Gelato Bistro”, a tiny corner shoppe for ice cream, coffee/tea, and surprisingly Vietnamese “banh mi” sandwiches. Their banner advertising their home made Italian gelato was promising. And located adjacent to Kitsilano beach, I am sure they saw a lot of success. The statue of a polar bear holding on to a double scoop and cream sugar cone by the door was a cute novelty. Other than that it, the interior had no purposeful visual interest. With minimal seating indoors and a few plastic patio chairs lined out front, the point

We were craving bubble tea, so googled “bubble tea downtown” and found our way to “Tea Wok”, a block away from the Granville skytrain station. Walking to, we no... Lire plus We were craving bubble tea, so googled “bubble tea downtown” and found our way to “Tea Wok”, a block away from the Granville skytrain station. Walking to, we noticed a yellow Hummer parked out front, its personalize licence plate read, “TEA WOK”. Quite the way to advertise their business. Looking in from the gloom and rain things were bright and colourful. Walking in, you are immediately greeted by the same impression. On your left, a cardboard standee of two characters with their faces cut out. The opening allows you the opportunity to place your face into the holes and take a picture. Clever, as their usual demographic loves a random photography opportunity. On your right is a mini boutique of impulse items. A shopping opportunity for iPhone cases, stationary, and make up. Things their clientele might appreciate and purchase. Hello Kitty wine and mascara; novelty USB drives in fingers, beers, and tea pots; and a range of goods from locked iPhones to beauty products. Past the partitio

We were here at “Dosa Hut” to try their Indian taco. This was the starting point and where we registered for the annual Vancouver “taco crawl”. This is a celebr... Lire plus We were here at “Dosa Hut” to try their Indian taco. This was the starting point and where we registered for the annual Vancouver “taco crawl”. This is a celebration of tacos: the traditional, and any dough folding around ingredients savoury and/or sweet. And this festive fun was brought to the community by “Vancouver Fooster”: local food lover, food podcast host, and regular organizer of such crawls. I would later learn that this, and the four other restaurants on this crawl were favoured by our event organizer. He had partnered up with these businesses in order to help highlight them. It worked, because I don’t think I would find myself here on this day, or at all, if it weren’t for this event.