GETAWAY | Long Weekend x Pearl Hotel x San Diego x California

Point Loma—(May 19 to 22, 2022) On a May long weekend "bachelorette party" trip, our group ventured to the Southern California coastal city of San Diego—known for both its large naval fleet next to the Pacific Ocean and proximity to the Mexican border to the South.

KAFFE | Affogato x Sunny M Specialty Coffee & Tea x Richmond

Richmond—Of the many wonderful varieties of places and hole-in-the-wall joints you can find to visit in the airport-adjacent suburb, I have always felt there was a lack of independent coffee shops. So when I heard about Sunny M Specialty Coffee & Tea (originally starting out as a pop-up at local markets) nestled somewhere in Empire Centre, one of many Asian strip malls, I had to pay a visit.

TREAT | New in Town x Mello Donut Shop x Chinatown

Chinatown—(January 12, 2020) The new and modern, Korean-owned Mello Donut Shop—from the same proprietor of the well-loved but short-lived Uyu Ice Cream shop, opened up next door to Umaluma Gelato at the tail end of last year, to an already exciting reception.

KAFFE | Coffee Italian Style x Caffe Di Beppe x Gastown

caffè mocha

Gastown—Caffe Di Beppe, the front-facing coffee shop portion of the two-hander space of Di Beppe, has quickly become a charming little cafe destination after replacing the short-lived Joe Pizza location from the same proprietors behind St. Lawrence and Ask for Luigi, Kitchen Table Restaurants.

FEAST | Dine Out 2019 x Coquille Fine Seafood x Gastown

Gastown—(January 10, 2019) After the new year, we are now fully ready and in the mode of the sixteenth annual Dine Out Vancouver Festival with its many set menu options. Last week, on the first-stop of our Tourism Vancouver restaurant tour, we were treated to the still-newish downtown shellfish eatery Coquille Fine Seafood to sample their various three-course prix fixe dinner ($45) items.

TREAT | Candy Town x Yum Sweet Shop x Riley Park

Riley Park–Little Mountain—The newly opened Yum Sweet Shop on Main Street is full of colourfully ornate decor and a deep menu of throwback treats.

WEEKENDER | YVR Food Fest 2017 x Olympic Village

Olympic Village—(July 3, 2017) The Big Brunch event for Vancouver's sixth annual summer YVR Food Fest (formerly known as Food Cart Fest) assembled some of the city's notable food trucks over the Canada Day long weekend.

TREAT | Beta5 Chocolates x Spring Pop-Up x Cambie

Cambie—(April 7, 2017) Just in time for those April showers, Beta5 Chocolates and owner/pastry chef Adam Chander have reopened their popular pop-up shop (same location as last) to celebrate Easter long weekend and their Springtime in Vancouver themed collection.

TREAT | Beta5 Chocolates x Valentine's Pop-Up x Cambie

Cambie—(February 1, 2017) Strathcona sweets and cream puff makers Beta5 Chocolates have opened a pop-up shop for Valentine's Day alongside unveiling their new seasonal chocolate collection. To make the affair special, the temporary shop features interesting touches like a striking mural from local artist Scott Sueme, a display from Woodreform, as well as chocolate bar collaborations from The Juice Truck and Matchstick Coffee Roasters.

TREAT | (Made by) Mister Ice Cream x Yaletown

Yaletown—Mister is  Downtown Vancouver's latest addition to the nouveau ice cream trend. However, Mister specializes in the liquid nitrogen made variety of dessert. Just opened, they've started with a handful of special flavours (all very different from each other) for every taste and preference.

TREAT | Tangram Creamery x Arbutus x Kitsilano

Kitsilano—Tangram Creamery is Vancouver's latest gourmet small-batch, house-made ice creamery located on Arbutus Street on the westside of Vancouver.

TREAT | Nice Vice Cream x Opening x Yaletown

Yaletown—(February 3, 2016) Nice Vice Cream is Vancouver's first 0% dairy, organic, gluten/soy free, vegan-friendly, plant-based micro creamery. More than just an ice cream substitute for those who are lactose intolerant, NVC aims to satisfy all of your creamy dessert cravings sans dairy with their brand new scoop shop downtown. You may have seen the Nice Vice van around the city or their McArthurGlen pop-up last year.

TREAT | First Look x Uyu Ice Cream x Gastown

Gastown—Uyu Ice Cream, Abbott Street's newest ice cream parlour is now open and serving organic soft serve made from fresh ingredients. "Uyu" means "ice cream" in Korean as they're bringing more of Southeast Asia's dessert culture to Vancouver.

From Sundae to Dessert x Glenburn Soda x Burnaby Heights

Dessert at Glenburn Soda Fountain & Confectionery on East Hastings in Burnaby Heights on February 18 and 21, 2015.



Walking into Glenburn Soda is like travelling back in time and stepping into a 1940-50s soda shop with its fountain service, bar stools, retro styling, and general blast from the past look and feel.

First Look: Earnest Ice Cream x New Location x Mount Pleasant

Dessert from Earnest Ice Cream's new location grand opening in Mount Pleasant on January 19, 2015.



Owners Ben Ernst and Erica Bernardi, who started out selling their artisan ice cream at farmers markets and on their bicycle cart (now displayed above their entrance), quickly outgrew Earnest Ice Cream's first, part-time Fraserhood neighbourhood shop and have finally expanded to their new, spacious, second location on East 2nd Avenue and Quebec Street, near Olympic Village.

First Look: Soft Peaks Ice Cream x Soft Opening x Gastown

Dessert from Soft Peaks Ice Cream's soft opening in Gastown on January 17, 2015.



"A twist on milk." Gastown is abuzz with a new dessert treat invading our stomachs. The brothers Kim (Dan and Ken) have not so quietly opened up and launched their soft serve dispensary inspired by Hong Kong/Korean style ice creameries.

BC Living: 10 Things to Put in Your Mouth

Read my magazine article for BC Living's fall food issue in print and online. I shared my picks for "10 Things to Put in Your Mouth" (full list below). I was tasked to choose ten different dishes from Vancouver restaurants that you must try.

From the Weekend: 3 Days in Portland

Portland Trip: 3 days in Portland wandering the the City of Roses in Oregon from June 26 to 28, 2014.



Escaping the crazy, flash rainstorm outside by lounging inside Ace Hotel's lobby.

Indian Summer Festival 2014 x Opening Gala x Chinese Garden

Indian Summer Festival's ISF2014 opening gala at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Chinatown on July 3, 2014.



An Indian Summer Festival taking place in a Chinese garden serving food and cuisine from Bangladesh, Thailand, China, and Japan. Only in Vancouver.

From Snicker to Doodle x Rain or Shine Ice Cream x Kitsilano

Dessert from Rain or Shine Ice Cream on West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano on May 31 and June 7, 2014.



Beachcombers and 4th Avenue shoppers are flocking to Kits' new local ice creamery. I joined them on two separate occasions to get my cold cream fix and sample their array of homemade flavours.