BBT Shop: And we have a winner!

Been hearing about this new bubble tea place and Adorables won their door prize of 10 free bubble teas, so why not drop by for free food (Thanks Adorables) =D

Restaurant: The BBT Shop (visit their website here)

Location: 4651 No. 3 Road, Richmond (under Superstore)
Cuisine: Coffee, Bubble Tea, Bubble Waffle
Price range: $5-10

Date of visit: January 31, 2015
Atmosphere: 4.5/5
Staff/service: 5/5
Food variety: 4/5
Food quality: 5/5
Buck worthy? 5/5

I couldn't decide what drink to get, so opted for a Triple Decker Bubble Waffle ($6.25) instead. They said we could use the free bubble tea card like a gift card, so this was "on the house" aka on Adorables ^-^ The bubble waffle was crispy on the outside, chewy and moist on the inside! Also not overly sweet, it went well with the banana, strawberries, Nutella, and whipped cream. Yum!

First, they put in a lot of effort making the presentation beautiful. I love the care they put in. Secondly, the bubble waffles and other ingredients were very fresh and tasty. Finally, the interior was clean and open. I like the Rubik's cubes they put on every table! Gives you something to do, and if you solve one, you get a free drink! Can't wait to try other items on their menu =)

Fishermen Sushi: I'm back already!

Brought our Hong Kong visitors to Steveston for a feel of how fishermens' harbors were like and ended up for more food after our quick tour!

Restaurant: Fishermen Sushi (visit their website here)

Location: 130-12251 No. 1 Road, Richmond
Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi, Seafood
Price range: $10-15





Date of visit: June 14, 2014
Atmosphere: 4/5
Staff/service: 4.5/5
Food variety: 5/5
Food quality: 4.5/5
Buck worthy? 5/5

I lured them here with cheap, fresh Oysters aka kaki pon ($0.75 each). Ordered a first conservative round of two dozen and they were slurped up quickly. Fresh and flavorful, they smoothly made their way into my digestive tract.

Felt weird not ordering anything else, and my daddy dearest doesn't eat raw much, so we got an Agedashi Tofu ($4.75). It was very fresh and crispy.

As well, we got Takoyaki ($4.95). These were creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Lovely.

Got another round of oysters . . .

 . . . And quickly gobbled them up too!

The waiters were super efficient and nice even though we only ordered their special oysters mainly-- which was great. I hate places that treat you poorly because you're not "ordering enough". Props to them! =)

Recipe: Sugar Cookies (Korilakkuma shapes!)

To match with the Rilakkuma cookies, I also made a batch of sugar cookies to look like Korilakkuma. With many many thanks to my daddy dearest, since I didn't have a mould for it, he just crafted me one like MAGIC. So lucky of me =D

Ingredients:
60 mL     margarine
125 mL    sugar
1             egg
2mL        vanilla
---------------------------

300 mL flour
2mL      baking soda
1 mL     cream of tartar
1mL      salt

Some Useful Utensils:
Measuring spoons
Measuring cups (dry and wet)
Big bowl
Wooden spoon or mixer
Cookie sheet
Parchment paper
Cookie cutter
2 pairs of chopsticks
Rolling pin
Oven mitts

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 375^oF.

2. Cream margarine and sugar. 

3. Add egg and vanilla and beat well. 

4. Measure dry ingredients in a separate bowl. 

5. Add dry ingredients SLOWLY to creamed mixture.

6. Chill overnight in a container (I tried some unchilled, it was just more sticky)

7. Line two sides with chopsticks (each are reversed, so its more even)
This helps with rolling out a more even dough!

8. Cover with parchment paper and rolllll =)

9. Cut out shapes. 

10. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, or parchment-lined sheet. 

11. Bake 6-8 minutes, then place on cooling rack (I've decorated these as well ^^)

Also made elephants~

Recipe: Pretzels

After my Seattle trip, and seeing the price of pretzels, it reminded me I had a good recipe on my own, so decided against buying one, and came home to make my own =) The simple recipe is at the very bottom (without pictures). Hope you all have fun with it, and enjoy! =D

Ingredients:
250 mL warm water
15 mL    yeast
5 mL      sugar
---------------------------
750 mL flour (split into half)
30 mL   margarine or butter, softened
1 mL     salt
15mL    sugar
30 mL (2 tbsp) Garlic Plus Powder or Italiano or other herbs you like from their line (from Club House) **FOR HERB PRETZELS ONLY!!! Don't put in any for plain ones =)**
---------------------------





500 mL water (fill up half your pot)
10 mL   baking soda
---------------------------
1         egg
30 mL water
coarse salt (optional, for plain pretzels only)

Some Useful Utensils:
Measuring spoons
Measuring cups (dry and wet)
Big bowl
Wooden spoon
Knife
Cookie sheet
Parchment paper
Oven mitts
Small pot
Flat seive
Brush
Small bowl (for the egg)

Method:

1. Mix together warm water and 5 mL sugar.

2. Sprinkle yeast on water evenly, and let sit until yeast dissolves.

Some yeast should still be on the top, but its ok if they've all sunk, just make sure
not to have one spoonful in a clump!

3. In the big bowl, mix together 375 mL flour, margarine, salt and sugar.
(I use my hands to mix the margarine in to make a crumble-like mixture)

4. Add in softened yeast and mix with wooden spoon.

5. Add the remaining flour (usually I only need to add about 250 mL more)
until dough is no longer sticky.
6. Knead dough for 5 minutes. **For Herb Pretzels, this is when you
slowly add the Garlic Plus Powder while kneading! Knead until
evenly mixed =)**
7. Cover dough with plastic wrap and/or towel for 10 minutes 
(I just place it in my oven-- It's not on though!!)

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper!

8. Cut into 6 or 8 even portions (about 3oz), roll into a line.

Overlap once

Twice

Flip down, it takes a bit of practice, but you can shape it afterwards =)

9. Shape into pretzels, cover, let rise on parchment paper-lined
cookie sheet for 10 minutes.

10. Bring 1/2 pot of water and baking soda to a boil. Gently place risen pretzel
in the water. Remove when pretzel floats-- which is almost immediately
to a few seconds.

11. Place on greased/ parchment paper-lined cookie sheet (you can use the
same one as you did for the rising).
12. Bake at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes in the middle rack until lightly golden
in color.

13. Make egg wash by beating egg and mixing with 30 mL water.

Brush baked pretzels with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse salt
(for plain pretzels).
14. Cool on racks, or eat immediately =D This is a pic of the herb pretzel,
with the plain ones in the background =)

Recipe:

1. Mix together warm water and 5 mL sugar.
2. Sprinkle yeast on water evenly, and let sit until yeast dissolves.
3. In the big bowl, mix together 375 mL flour, margarine, salt and sugar. (I use my hands to mix the margarine in to make a crumble-like mixture)
4. Add in softened yeast and mix with wooden spoon.
5. Add the remaining flour (usually I only need to add about 250 mL more) until dough is no longer sticky.
6. Knead dough for 5 minutes. **For Herb Pretzels, this is when you slowly add the Garlic Plus Powder while kneading! Knead until evenly mixed =)**
7. Cover dough with plastic wrap and/or towel for 10 minutes (I just place it in my oven-- It's not on though!!)
8. Cut into 6 or 8 even portions, roll into a line.
9. Shape into pretzels, cover, let rise on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet for 10 minutes.
10. Bring 1/2 pot of water and baking soda to a boil. Gently place risen pretzel in the water. Remove when pretzel floats-- which is immediately to a few seconds.
11. Place on greased/ parchment paper-lined cookie sheet (you can use the same one as you did for the rising).
12. Bake at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes in the middle rack until lightly golden in color.
13. Make egg wash by beating egg and mixing with 30 mL water. Brush baked pretzels with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse salt (for plain pretzels).
14. Cool on racks, or eat immediately =D

Enjoy~~

Mini Munchie: The Coffee Bun Bakery & Cafe, Coquitlam

Having been disappointed the last time I came here, since they had run out of the item I wanted, I came back again to try my luck! So happy they weren't sold out today!
Restaurant: The Coffee Bun Bakery & Cafe (visit their website here)
Location: 1011-1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Cuisine: Korean, Coffee, Bakery
Price range: $5-10




Date of visit: October 24, 2012
Atmosphere: 4/5
Staff/service: 3.5/5
Food variety: 2/5
Food quality: 3/5
Buck worthy? 3/5

The inside always smells soo good!! I love their sweet freshly-baked bun smell =D The store was pretty full when I walked in, so I was worried for a moment that they had run out of Ice Cream Bun ($2.85) again! Luckily they still had them today =) Well, considering it's lightly raining and freezing cold, I guess it wasn't as popular of a choice. We had a wait a while before we were served though, even though there was no line up =(

I got two (which ended to be $6.00 with tax), to share with the family, but I noticed their bun seemed to be flatter than the other location. When I got it, I felt they were missing something already. I was kind of disappointed when I bit into it, the bun wasn't very fresh =( It gave me a slight oily feel, and the cold bun wasn't the same texture as I remembered it to be (not as chewy). Guess I do have to travel all the way to North Van for a yummy Ice Cream Bun =( Their coffee is fair trade though! Maybe I'll try it someday! They have a bun + drink special for around $5 with tax!

Mini Munchie: Mucho Burrito, Downtown Vancouver

Just got off volunteering, and my friend said he knew where there were cheap eats to fill my tummy before work =D I don't know why, no matter how many times I go downtown, I still manage to get lost and have no sense of direction there. Everything just looks the same! Luckily, this place was close, and my friend escorted me there =P It was a fine fine sunny day, so we sat outside to enjoy our $5 burritos (special pricing for Monday) =D

Restaurant: Mucho Burrito (visit their website here)
Location: 988 Davie Street, Vancouver
Cuisine: Mexican
Price range: $5-10




Date of visit: September 3, 2012
Atmosphere: 3/5
Staff/service: 3/5
Food variety: 2.5/5
Food quality: 3/5
Buck worthy? 4/5 (cuz it was only $5.00!!)

Our order actually got mixed up, since you kind of "build" your own burrito, and my friend and I chose different things, and they messed up on the last thing: the MEAT *sadface* Oh well, it wasn't that bad. I ordered the pulled pork, and it was really tender and flavorful. The fillings weren't positioned nicely, and I get a bit OCD about it, cuz I had a while where I only had beans, rice, and salsa-- NO PORK ='(

These were really big though, and for only $5.00+tax, I think it's a great deal and it fills you up! Might not come here again, cuz downtown has so many more choices, but if I'm desperate for something close by, you might just see me wandering there again =)

Mini Munchie: The Coffee Bun, Lonsdale Quay (North Van)

Restaurant: The Coffee Bun
Location: 147 Chadwick Court, North Vancouver
Cuisine: Snack (Korean?)
Price range: $3-8 per bun
Date of visit: August 19, 2012


Atmosphere: 4/5
Staff/service: 4/5
Food variety: 2.5/5
Food quality: 4/5
Buck worthy? 4/5

Went on a hike at Lynn Canyon today, and was already eyeing this place when I first walked by it. It's actually located near Lonsdale Quay, right by the SeaBus! I was so excited about seeing that they had something called an ice cream bun, and wanted to try it. I finally succumbed to it after the hike, and I was glad I did!

The Korean lady (owner?) was really friendly there! The shop is a cute little shop, and smelled SOOOO delicious, I just couldn't walk out empty-handed! I ordered the Ice Cream Coffee Bun ($3.50), and when I got it, I was so excited to try. The bun was crispy on the sides, and they used vanilla ice cream for the filling. I was surprised it worked out together so well! Chewy bun, soft vanilla ice cream-- I was in heaven! (Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, since I was really tired and hungry after the hike, but it WAS seriously good, maybe a little on the sweet side)

I told my brother afterwards, and I was informed that there was another one at Henderson mall, guess I'll give that one a try some time too! :D