Boiling Point: Hot Pot

I posted about this place earlier, but I didn't get to take pictures of the main course (my bad). This is the same place that serves macaroon ice cream and dessert ice cubes. Typically, they serve complimentary hot rice and ice tea (costs extra) with your hot pot. Since I'm vegetarian, I can't really eat anything here... -__- I have to ask them to take out the meat, which is pretty much the bulk of the price...anyways, their options are delish. What's nice is that each "pot" (more like a bowl) is single-sized, so you can get a taste of each type if you come in a group :D But that doesn't really apply to me because I don't really have many vegetarian friends... Q_Q

 

Oh one more thing: they don't use gas to heat your soup, so breathing is not as nauseating. I believe they use paraffin...it's pink :3

 

Fish Curry Hot Pot~~ <3

Redmond: 16118 Ne 87th St, Redmond, WA 98052
Bellevue: 1075 Bellevue Way Ne, Bellevue, WA 98004
 

Kukai: Ramen and Izakaya

I used to be a regular at this place...until I had to go to Canada Q_Q This place..is the sheeeeeet. Kukai is very authentic Japanese ramen; before it hit the western part of the world, it was a common and loved chain in Japan. The best part for me? They have hot guys to stare at ;D The second best part: Hello Kitty Beer (like, wtf...I can't even find those at T&T markets). Oh and of course, the ramen is just superb. The price range is also pretty moderate (about $10-$14, and approx. half as much for the izakaya items), and it's filling warm for those cold, wet days in the temperate rainforest. I would give this place...15/10.

 

 

 

Vegetable Ramen

 

14845 Main St, Bellevue, WA 98007

Seoul Tofu House: quick dinner

This place isn't really meant for it's quality, but it's efficient, cheap, and convenient. If you're vegetarian, be aware that most of the many dishes they provide have meat in it. Also, they use A LOT of oil...I almost felt like having a heart attack.

4538 University Way NE, Seattle, WA  98105

Spoon Kitchen: Modern Malaysian

I was quite impressed with the menu; although I wouldn't call this place authentic, they offered a lot of legit Malaysian dishes and served it in a chic and sophisticated manner. Although it's pricey, especially since the dishes are medium-sized, experiencing a fresh take of the traditional Malaysian cuisine is worth the miniature splurge.

Mango salad

Roti canai, calamari, and chicken satay

Sayur lemak

Pisang goring

1909 4th Ave W, Vancouver BC V6J 1M7

Seedlings at UBC...again...(it's too good)

I went back...because it's affordable vegan food <3 Maybe I should come here every week and make it a regular post, haha

Chai spice bar with seasonal salad (alfalfa, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, carrots, purple cabbage, apples)

Seedlings at UBC

This volunteer-run vegan café is quietly tucked at the edge of campus. Everything feels thrifty, environmental, and healthy. Even though they only accept cash, the food and drinks are quite cheap for being organic. Unfortunately, Seedlings isn't open for very long; they close at 4pm, which means I can't pack my dinner -_-

 

From left, clockwise: Peach crisp, Earl Grey tea, brownie bite

 

Green tea with milk and honey, chickpea burger

Thea Koerner Graduate Centre

6371 Crescent Rd Vancouver, BC V6T1Z2 V6T1Z2

Downtown adventures~~ Hot chocolate comas and Japanese food truck and...crickets??

No regrets <3 The richest cafes downtown serve expensive hot chocolate for the festival, but it's worth...unlike the powdery hot chocolates or ones filled with syrup, Thierry and Bel Café definitely used high quality cocoa powder. (Also, I had to take pictures of Thierry because everything was just too beautiful...if you want to splurge and indulge, then this is the place to go. 

 

 

 

This hot chocolate from Thierry was called he Domincan: "The base of this hot chocolate is 67% Los Ancones chocolate by Paris chocolatier Michel Cluizel." It also comes with a cream puff, which they call the Tonka Bean cream Choux. To me, it just tasted like a cinnamon flavored cream puff with lots of egg yolk in the bready parts. Still delicious <3

 

 

This one from Bel Café (located in a hotel) is called the Rainforest Hot Chocolate. It's topped with mint leaves and mango whipped cream and served with brittle. I also ordered macarons because I just couldn't resist...I got the carrot cake and dark chocolate flavors.

 

 

The weirdest options from the hot chocolate festival were the "Don't Bug Me" and "Flu Shot". First off, the "Flu Shot" is straight up liquid white chocolate that tastes a little bit like condensed milk. It comes with a cough drop...classy, ahaha. It's a bit awkward to squirt in your mouth, and it's quite drippy; try not to inject too much or it'll actually taste like medicine.

If you can already see, the "Don't Bug Me" comes with scrumptious crickets! But in all honesty, it felt pretty morbid and disgusting to touch the crickets and eat them at first; I had to dip the heads of the insects in whipped cream because I couldn't stand the thought of crushing the eyes. True, insects are generally not very aesthetically pleasing to look at. However, if you don't try it because of your fears, then shame on you. These crickets just taste like junk food, like chips. It's one of those things where you have to try it at least once.

Since it's absolutely unhealthy to just drink hot chocolate for lunch, we stopped by Mogu, the Japanese food truck. I ordered the Kabotcha Croquette burger with a side salad. The Japanese lady meticulously wrapped packaged everything so neatly :3 It was also really yummy; it had squash croquette and avocado, and the side salad had a really tasty dressing...I think it's because they put MSG in it O_o My friend ordered the Karage chicken.

 

Thierry: 1059 Alberni St, Vancouver BC V6E 1A1

Bel Café: 801 Georgia St W, Vancouver BC V6C 1P7

Mink Chocolates: 863 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3N9