How’s your summer?  It has been very hot here in Vancouver and I’ve been looking for different remedies to combat the heat….

On July 25 I will be on Ms. Deborah Moore’s radio show on AM1470 Fairchild Radio 1030am sharp; I will be sharing some of this month’s highlights.

I would love to hear your suggestions and recommendations; email me at goldenapron@gmail.com.  Meanwhile catch up on Instagram for most updates (OO)

FIFA Fever: Rosemary Rocksalt Bagels with Croatian Pork Pate

Did you catch the FIFA World Cup?   Honestly I was never a big soccer fan and I only started to understand soccer a little better since I went to an actual Whitecaps game last year.  We were invited to my food buddy Moto’s house for a fabulous brunch and watch the Croatia vs Russia quarter finals; I was looking for something fitting to bring.. I was in Commercial neighbourhood found Rosemary Rocksalt Bagels (obviously I didn’t know they are there) and picked up half a dozen of Montreal style bagels of different variety; they were fresh and soft with crunchy bits..First impression?  We like them, 4 people ate half a dozen of bagels..For sure I will return to their Main Street location to try out their bagel sandwiches sometime.

We paired the bagels with a creamy Croatian Pork Pate and pickles, picked up from Piast, a European Bakery and Delicatessen on Cambie (and 16th Avenue)…it’s a small little shop which has been around for a long time..

Aburi and Vegetable sushi @ Eat at Yui (102-1185 West Georgia Street (Georgia and Bute)

As a pure sushi lover who has a tremendous respect for Japanese cuisine and food culture; the idea of “vegetable sushi” somehow never sat quite well with me. however after my visit to Eat at Yui, the experience has changed my mind.

This little shop opened in May 2017 and it is tucked away within the Vancouver downtown core, located on ground floor inside a commercial building.

Known for their aburi sushi at affordable prices, we had a feast and ordered quite a few items to sample their offerings: their Yui salad, their signature Salmon, Ebi and Tai Oshi, plus their newly added Gindara (sablefish) Oshi, plus a few pieces of their vegetable sushi.

The vegetable sushi was beautifully prepared and the knife work was immaculate; the eggplant cooked and slightly charred (aburi) to perfection with the miso, the asparagus was served with a herbed pesto (I tasted cilantro),  and the tomato gunkan sushi, slightly charred and added a hint of mayo, the small cherry tomatoes were cut in a perfect bite size and they were bursting with sweetness, it was put together so nicely and easy for the diner to enjoy.   The sushi was put together with care and thoughtfulness, it showed great skills and respect.

They are open for lunch and dinner (except Sundays), they do close early because of operating hours of the commercial building.  The service was friendly; it is a small space and they are busy.  This is definitely not my first and last visit; I will have to pop by sometime to try their lunch items.  As for parking, your best bet is probably on Robson or Alberni Street, then walked down to West Georgia (it’s right at the corner of Bute and Georgia).

Kerrisdale a dessert heaven? Dear Fro and Nana’s Greentea

The Kerrisdale neighbourhood seems to be going through many transformations, slowly yet surely evolving into a younger and vibrant hood and I am so surprised there is such an abundance of Asian dessert places choose to open in this traditional English neighbourhood.

Met up with WhatJoAte at Dear Fro (2070 West 41st, west of West Boulevard) where we shared a mango ice-cream bingsoo and I enjoyed it!   The ice was fine and smooth, the mango was sweet; sometimes it pays off to give the small neighbourhood places a chance.

Usually I am not easily swayed by what is popular or being showcased on Social Media; with all the hype surrounding Nana’s Green Tea I did pay a visit last weekend to find out what it is all about. A Japanese brand famous  for their matcha desserts, I tried the Hojicha  (my personal favourite Japanese tea) Parfait with warabi mochi, red bean, hojicha ice-cream, hojicha jelly and corn flakes…I savored every bite and finished the entire dessert by myself, although I could do with less red bean, it’s strictly a personal preference. The shop operates 7 days a week, the lineup could be quite long; I was there on a Saturday afternoon around 1530 and waited for 15 minutes, limited seating available for dine in.

Sunny Days easy hikes and walks: West Vancouver, Squamish, White Rock and Langley

Working hard to get back into my walking exercise regimen, particularly during the summer months where the weather is so fine;  I try to go outdoors as much as possible!   During the Canada Day weekend when my cousin and wife were visiting from New York, we headed to Sea to Sky in Squamish and Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver.

Last weekend I spent time with my food buddies in Crescent Beach, White Rock and Derby Reach Regional Park Trail in Langley, we logged 17000 steps (some briskwalking involved!) for the day!

Here are some photos taken during our outdoor excursions:

Check out my May 2017 related blog post 

Something to Think about: Going greener…

Are you trying to go greener?  I have been thinking more about this subject over the universal concerns we shared on climate change; gradually I have already reduced the usage of plastic bags, take out boxes, and now trying to more unnecessary packaging.

Recently a new concept (no packaging) grocery store Nada has opened on East Broadway (by Fraser) and I just picked up a couple of beewax muslin cotton food wraps; I am going to use them to wrap my lunches and snacks and see how they fare, review coming up in the next couple months and see how I can establish a new habit!

Any other suggestions?  I would love to hear from you, please email me at : goldenapron@gmail.com