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Cafés

New Autumn Pastries At Burnaby’s Mon Paris Pâtisserie

Paris-trained pastry Chef Elena Krasnova’s French pastry shop in Burnaby has been our go-to for delectable treats for years now. As with any true artist, inspiration comes from many sources, and the recent new offerings at Mon Paris Pâtisserie are inspired by Chef Krasnova’s recent travels. By Catherine Dunwoody Impressed by the abundant, fragrant, fresh lemons on Elena’s annual trip to Menton in the South of France, Elena could not resist creating a Lemon Meringue Croissant that is available only on weekends. Lemon trees dot the landscape in the South of France and are sold in markets and stands on every street corner. Celebrating the citrus fruit that Elena, and her eager customers love seemed like an obvious choice. “The aroma of sun-drenched fruit filled the air in this charming seaside town. As I wandered through the narrow stone streets, I encountered citron de Menton in various forms, from whole…

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Chef Stories

Food Network Canada: Project Bakeover Features Lyra Lou Cakes

Food Network Canada’s Project Bakeover Features Surrey’s Lyra Lou Cakes By Catherine Dunwoody In Project Bakeover renowned pastry chef, master chocolatier and entrepreneur Steve Hodge saves struggling bakeries on the brink of losing it all. His expert advice, combined with interior designer Tiffany Pratt’s talents turning ho-hum spaces into stunning showcases really are the recipe for success. North Shore’s Steve Hodge of Temper Chocolate and Pastry and design guru Tiffany Pratt sprinkled their magic all over a Filipino bakery with a much-deserved makeover. West Coast Food’s regular contributor Catherine Dunwoody chatted with the Surrey-based husband and wife team, Lyra and Abe, about their epic experience on the show. Lyra Lou Cakes owners Abe and Lyra appeared in Project Bakeover Season 2, Episode 5 “Cake it to the Limit”. Lyra and Abe! How did you get involved in the show? Did you apply or did Food Network invite you? Somebody from…

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Canada Line

Where to Enjoy Soufflé Pancakes in Richmond

By Tourism Richmond You may have seen them on Instagram: ethereally light pancakes that are an inch or two high with an irresistible jiggle factor. Richmond has been taken by storm by the worldwide craze for soufflé pancakes. The fluffy pancakes, a hybrid of a classic breakfast item and a beloved French indulgence, originated in Japan but have rapidly migrated westward. They get their characteristic airy height due to a lower flour content and a separation of eggs. Egg whites are whipped into a meringue and then gently folded into a yolk-batter. Cooking them at low heat ensures that the inside of the pancake cooks evenly while the outside has a light golden crust. They’re a tricky dish but heavenly to eat. If soufflé pancakes seem too daunting for you to make at home, there are multiple Richmond eateries where you can try this delicious dish: Milkcow Cafe This South…

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Sweets

Deliciously Decadent Desserts Around Vancouver

By Sonu Purhar Everyone knows Christmas calories don’t count (right?) – and that’s why you’ll find us embarking on pilgrimages throughout the holiday season in search of desserts that even Santa would approve. Read on for our top picks, and be sure to post your own so we can expand our horizons and waistlines. Let’s get this sugarfest started! Clever Cupcakes 109-2985 Northern Avenue, Coquitlam 2 minute walk from Lincoln SkyTrain station. This cute cupcake shop was founded by Juan and Elsa Escobedo, who started the company after searching fruitlessly for tasty, allergy-friendly treats for their kids. Their cupcakes are certainly clever, boasting half the sugar of standard cakes, absolutely no peanuts or nuts, and exquisite designs holding bold flavours of double chocolate, vanilla and caramel. There are also vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives, which means everyone can find a sweet treat that satisfies. View this post on…

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Promoted Feature

Fresh Summer Fruits Baked into Fall Indulgences with Chef Shaun Maclean of H Tasting Lounge

By Jenni Sheppard It’s been a delicious summer in Vancouver, full of hearty beach barbecues, thirst-quenching patio cocktails, and tasty farmer’s markets bursting with fresh fruit and vegetables. Now, as glorious summer sunshine fades into refreshing fall rain, we’re looking for ways to keep those seasonal flavours lingering on our taste buds a little longer. For inspiration, we spoke to Chef Shaun Maclean at H Tasting Lounge about his love of desserts, summer in the city, and how his new galette could make summer last all year. What was the first dessert you ever created and why? My mother has always had a love for a good cheesecake, so that was the first thing I made sure I knew how to do well. What do you love most about creating desserts? It’s the final dish to hit the table. Like the encore of a concert, it has to be a…

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Brunch

Spend the Morning Dining in Burnaby Heights

Images by Ryan Wagner / Good Side Photo Words by Alexis Baran On a dewy morning in Burnaby Heights, the small-town walkable vibe is just the right pace for some relaxed exploration. Sparrows hop through trees and along the streets hunting for crumbs, and residents walk their dogs with cups of hot coffee steaming up from their hands. As the shops put out their sandwich boards and your stomach starts to grumble, there are lots of cafes and restaurants to choose from. Here are a few. The Gray Olive 4190 Hastings Street Three brothers came together to create this spot that serves seasonal comfort food that’ll warm you up for the morning. The menu may change with the calendar but you can always expect something homey with a bit of a twist. Chez Meme Baguette Bistro 4016 Hastings Street Looking for breakfast classics? This small diner is a local favourite…

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Burnaby

Spend the Afternoon Dining in Burnaby Heights

Images by Ryan Wagner / Good Side Photo Words by Alexis Baran Referred to by locals as “The Heights”, this neighborhood in Burnaby prides itself on being full of friendly local businesses and shops in a walkable little enclave. Nearby is Montrose Park where you can access the Trans Canada Trail, with a view of Vancouver’s North Shore mountains. After a bit of a wander, here’s what to eat. Green & Oak Malaysian Restaurant 3760 Hastings Street With a hot cup of tea and a deep breath of fresh spices, this modern eatery is welcoming and friendly. Their style suits couples tucking into warm bowls of soup as well as large family dinners with lots of sharables. Sopra Sotto 4022 Hastings Street Just up the street from Malaysian cuisine is modern Italian meals made with local ingredients. Classic pizzas slide from a stone pizza oven out front, and in the…

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Asian

Dishes for Cooling Off in Richmond

By Tourism Richmond While piping hot bowls of ramen and dumplings from the steamer are comforting in the wintry months, sometimes the palate starts to crave lighter fare as temperatures rise. Richmond’s dining landscape showcases a diversity of summery dishes from Asian countries with hot climates. From appetizers to desserts, restaurants throughout Richmond offer the opportunity for a refreshing, cooling eating experience, allowing you to embrace the summer heat. Salads and Chilled Starters Vietnamese salads epitomize a food culture that has perfected a confluence of flavours and textures. Green Lemongrass (8180 Westminster Highway) offers a beautiful green papaya salad that comes with crunchy julienned green papaya, pickled carrot, Thai basil, caramelized onion, crushed peanuts, and vinaigrette. Choose between shrimp, shredded chicken, shrimp and pork, and beef jerky for the protein. The newly opened and very stylish Com Vietnamese (#120-7688 Alderbridge Way) also features an excellent papaya salad with fresh papaya,…

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Sweets

Icy Cold Desserts in Richmond to Cool the Summer Heat

By VisitRichmondBC.com We’re ready for summer! When the sun is shining, indulge and cool down with one of these five delectable treats found in Richmond, BC. Screamers The Screamer is a half drink, half dessert hybrid that combines flavoured slush with vanilla soft-serve ice cream on the bottom and top. You can pick this treat up at Screamers Soft Serve in Steveston during the spring and summer months. Mango Desserts This juicy tropical fruit’s natural tartness and sweetness is a natural pick for Asian desserts. A great mango dessert should be juicy, fragrant, sweet and most importantly, it should send you on a tropical escape. Mango Yummy (6564 No. 3 Road) features a menu of mango-based desserts including drinks, shaved ice bowls, ice cream bowls and much more. Our top pick is the mango sago with pomelo, made with mango, pomelo, sago, coconut milk, cream, sugar and drizzled with condensed…

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Sweets

Celebrate National Cupcake Day in Metro Vancouver

By Mary Ann Bell Cupcakes are little hand-held delights of the baking world. They’re just enough to feel like you’re enjoying a decadent treat, but not so much that you feel like you’ve eaten the entire cake. With as many variations as you can dream up, they come in simple as well as unique flavours, and are topped with everything from frosting and sprinkles to bacon and pickles. Every February, animal rescue organizations including the BCSPCA are holding their annual National Cupcake Day* to raise money for animals, and what better way to get into the spirit than with a cupcake party? Bake your own or visit one of these Metro Vancouver bakeshops: Pink Ribbon Bakery 103-306 6th Street, New Westminster This funky little shop is New West’s go-to spot for cakes and cupcakes.  With their newly introduced “flavour of the week” cupcakes like Mountain Dew x Doritos, Nanaimo Bar…

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Recipes

Recipe: Pina Colada Panna Cotta

By Executive Chef Manuel Carganilla II, Wild Fig INGREDIENTS Coconut milk (150 ml) 36% cream (50 ml) Gelatin  (2 ct) Granulated sugar (25 ml) Vanilla extract (5 ml) Pineapple Jell-O (50 ml) Kiwi  (for garnish) Honeydew (for garnish) Cantaloupe (for garnish) Strawberries (for garnish) Raspberries (for garnish) Gooseberry (for garnish) Mint leaves (for garnish) DIRECTIONS  1. Place coconut milk, heavy cream, sugar and gelatin sheets in a small pot and bring to medium heat, stirring regularly. 2. Once this concoction begins to simmer, remove immediately from heat. 3. Pour into a mixing bowl and whisk vanilla extract. Put aside. 4. Mix pineapple Jell-O powder with ¼ cup of water; simmer and put aside. 5. Pour pineapple Jell-O into preferred glass or ramekins and let cool in cooler or fridge for 15 – 20 minutes. 6. Once Jell-O is set, pour the coconut milk-cream blend over the pineapple Jell-O and let…

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Sweets

Sweet Sweet Beresford Street in Burnaby

By Kristi Alexandra Tucked away just behind Burnaby’s landmark shopping epicentre, Metrotown, where there’s no shortage of food to wares, is a small culinary enclave to satisfy any sweet tooth. Beresford Street, between Dow and Willingdon Avenues, is home to several cafes boasting homemade sweets with the saccharine quality of authenticity. From bubble tea and waffles, to gourmet soups, fresh pastries and handmade chocolates, this gastronomic haven is the gourmand’s secret gem — it’s a place to dine, sip, and study in relative quiet just steps away from the bustling crowds. EStEA Café | 4466 Beresford St.  EStEA Cafe is the eatery to frequent whether you want to stay for five minutes or a few hours. The quaint cafe recalls a Riverdale favorite, Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe, with a modern Taiwanese influence. Seating less than 20, the cafe has an ambiance as adorable as its treats – with spiraling pink art…

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Sweets

Must-Visit Richmond Bakeries

By VisitRichmondBC.com Who doesn’t want to consume their weight in baked goods? This list of delicious, must-visit bakeries will make you want to throw out your diet, even if just for one day. Go ahead and indulge – try out these six bakeries – three Asian bakeries and three European/North American ones, all located in sunny Richmond, BC. Chinese Bakeries Lido Restaurant 4231 Hazelbridge Way Apparently, pineapple buns are a really big deal around here. Ask just about anyone who has lived in Richmond for any substantial period of time and, assuming that this person is reasonably up to snuff on Hong Kong style bakeries, they’ll tell you that Lido is king of the pineapple bun. Trays of these buns are brought out every 15 minutes, all day long. Bite into a deliciously fresh, hot bun with a slab of butter in the middle and you’ll see what we’re talking…

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Where to Eat

Where to Get Vegan and Gluten-Free Ice Cream Treats in and Around Vancouver

By Catherine Dunwoody Ice Cream has blown up on Canada’s West Coast and charming new shops and parlours are popping up all over. But what about the folks who have allergies, sensitivities or make choices not to eat gluten or dairy? And who doesn’t like a cooling, sweet, creamy treat? Fret not folks, I did the research for you! Here’s my list of the best, where to go for it, and what to taste.  La Glace Try: Most ice creams here are gluten-free so, if you are as well, skip the cone and get a cup. Top your treat with a marshmallow or meringue (also gluten-free). Vegans and the lactose-intolerant will love the Chocohuete, which is made with peanut butter and dark chocolate. It’s dairy-free and made with their own made-in-house cashew milk base. Vancouver Kokomo Try: This is the only place in Canada that serves Cocowhip, a vegan and…

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Cafés

Hey Coffee Snobs! Sip a $40 Brew and Stay Late at Faebrew in Richmond

By Winnie Tam Attention coffee and dessert lovers! There’s a unique game in town that promises to change your perceptions of what a coffee shop is like. Faebrew opened in Richmond in August 2016. The first thing you’ll notice about Faebrew that’s different from other coffee shops is that there’s no menu. That’s because owner Vincent Wong says Faebrew exists to make customers happy, so he’s ready to make whatever they are in the mood for drinking, however weird or outlandish it may be. To illustrate, he’s made coffees that are fruity, coffees that are highly acidic, ones that represent depression…even one with a raw egg in it. And if you don’t like what’s presented to you, you don’t get charged for it, even though Vincent says he’s yet to encounter an unhappy customer. The name Faebrew comes from faeries, and the idea that each coffee served is magical and…

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Sweets

Where to Try Flavor-Rich Saffron Desserts in Coquitlam

By Anna Black If you’re looking for a unique dessert experience in the Coquitlam area, you may want to give saffron desserts a try. The city offers up a variety of choices for this decadent after dinner treat, enjoyed for its orange-hued, earthy pungent flavor. About Saffron Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of the Crocus sativus or saffron crocus. Once considered a luxury item due to its price, it is commonly used today in South Asian, European, and North African cuisine. Common examples of saffron desserts include Persian ice cream, shirini-e keshmeshi (raisin and saffron cookies), harireh (pudding), sohān-e-asali (honey toffee), and gaz (Persian nougat). “Since saffron is a unique and popular spice, our guests love to try any product that contains saffron, and the most enjoyable thing about it is its one of a kind aroma and flavor.” – Bita Askari, General Manager, Urban Gate “Saffron…

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Sweets

Learn how to Pair a Pie at Hilltop Cafe in Langley

By Ashley Lockyer “Decide on a pie, yet?” A voice sings the question while the coffee is topped up. I’m on my second fork-full of an omelette at Hilltop Cafe in Langley, BC. Pie pushing at 8:30am might seem odd elsewhere but here there’s one for every occasion, including breakfast. Despite a sign that has read “home of famous pies” since 1950, slices had been going out of style at Hilltop Cafe for decades. When sisters Andrea Zaiser and Sandy Parley took over in 2011, it became their mission to bring back the pies! It’s been a hit, drawing people far and wide and has even started a food trend for wedding pie instead of cake. These sisters pair pies with meals like sommeliers pair wines with cheese. Andrea offered some advice on what to try when you stop by. What’s best for breakfast? After a hearty, savoury breakfast satisfy…

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Sweets

Icy Cold Desserts in Richmond to Cool the Summer Heat

By VisitRichmondBC.com Feeling the heat this summer? Cool down with one of these five delectable treats found in Richmond, BC. Screamers The Screamer is a half drink, half dessert hybrid that combines flavoured slush with vanilla soft-serve ice cream on the bottom and top. Screamers are a local favourite available throughout the year at Danny’s Market (9040 Francis Rd.). You can also pick this treat up at Screamers Soft Serve in Steveston during the spring and summer months. Mango Desserts This juicy tropical fruit’s natural tartness and sweetness is a natural pick for Asian desserts. A great mango dessert should be juicy, fragrant, sweet and most importantly, it should send you on a tropical escape. Mango Yummy (6564 No. 3 Road) features a menu of mango-based desserts including drinks, shaved ice bowls, ice cream bowls and much more. Our top pick is the mango sago with pomelo, made with mango,…

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Middle Eastern

Glen Drive’s Hidden Persian & Iranian Eats in Coquitlam

By Nikki Hillman In Coquitlam’s city centre, Glen Drive is evolving into a great place to stop for lunch or dinner. There are several Pho, sushi, and waffle stores – and there is a wealth of hidden Persian and Iranian gems. I found myself drawn to The High Street and stopped in at the Urban Gate Bar and Grill for some dinner, and was surprised to find a traditional Iranian/Persian Market attached to the restaurant. The scents of the sweets were enticing as I sat down to order. I asked my server to recommend a traditional Iranian meal and she instantly pointed out her favorite on the menu; Jujeh. This is a classic kebab of chicken, marinated in lemon, yogurt and saffron. The meal also comes with a small salad, barbecue Roma tomato, lemon, onion and saffron rice. The combination of the flavors was delicious but I was won over…

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Sweets

International Dessert Inspiration at Mosquito

By Joyce Chua, Vancouver Foodie Tours This Valentine’s Day, the only dessert-focused fine dining spot in Gastown is having their one-year anniversary. The stylish dining room of Mosquito is chic, dark, and a delightfully dramatic way to share some bubbly and sweets (or cheese and charcuterie). It was a beautiful day in Gastown when I met with Mosquito owners, Alice Wu and Johan Friedrich. As I hustled down the lively cobbled streets, I noted the many signs and sandwich boards straining to catch the attention of those passing by. There was nothing to be seen for Mosquito, but I bustled along, knowing their non-descript door would appear somewhere soon and welcome me to a quiet oasis. As Johan described the inspiration for Mosquito as an “out-of-world experience that heightened all senses,” I could not help but smile, as the idea has completely come to life. The high-ceilings, dark furnishings, sparkling…

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