Ki Hon Sushi

Went out for dinner yesterday with some of the girls for sushi at Ki Hon Sushi in Coquitlam. The food was good, I order Lunch Special Box B which came with miso soup, ebi sunomono, 1/2 California roll, 1 ebi, assorted tempura, beef teriyaki & a salad. It was a lot of food & for a  very good price 10.95 (+tax & tip)...I was SUPER full. The service on the other hand wasn't that great, nobody came to refill our tea. The interior is ok, the restaurant is small. We got the biggest table which was just enough space for 4 people, if our party was bigger we wouldn't be able to seat together. The restaurant closes at 8:30 which is really early (>_<) but it is in Coquitlam so it is to be expected. I would go back again.

       Food: 5/5             Service: 3.5/5            Ambiance: 4/5             Price: 5/5

I had a good time spending time with my friends, I don't get to see them a lot...so it is good to meet up & catch up. Hopefully I will get to see them more often from now on (^_^)

Housewarming & Ruckus

On Saturday went to my co-workers house warming party. Her place is nice & a very comfortable size for 2 people (my co-worker & her sister). Her family made a lot of food to feed us. I ate 2 plates, I usually don’t eat that much when I am at someone’s house but the food was really good (^_^) that day I didn’t have dinner since over full from lunch. I played a little with my co-workers nephew...little kids have way too much energy. I felt creative & I didn't have any suitable card for house warming so I made one (^_^) & I got her a $30 gift card from Ikea so she can buy whatever she may still need.

In the evening I went over to hang out with Mama Gen, I got to ride on a ruckus as a passenger & by myself. As passenger I was scared in the beginning, thinking I would fall off the bike but after a while I was OK. It was so scary by myself but I was able to do a few turns (^_^) it was fun but still scary. I am not a very daring person even though I did do some crazy things in Hawaii. But I think I would try it again.

Happy Birthday To Me (^_^)

Yesterday was my birthday but it started on the weekend, a few friends joined me to go hiking on Mount Seymour to celebrate. It was a lot of fun, thanks to the awesome people who decided to join in my craziness (^_^) like 2010 there was still a lot of snow but not as warm or sunny as 2010 but still AWESOME. Can’t wait to go back in summer to hike again. It was a good thing we went to Ihop before the hike, gave me energy to survive the hike. After hiking we weren't really that hungry so we just stopped at Safeway to grap some food. I didn't know they had a place for you to order cooked food. I ordered a Tuscan Chicken combo, which was ok & not too of bad of price for the combo. Saw a corgi dog soo cute, I want one (^_^)

On my birthday at work I received a dozen yellow roses from my manger…so sweet & I got to leave an ½ hr early (^_^) I meet up with a few friends for dinner, it was suppose to be at a sushi place but they close at 8 (>_<) way to early so we went to The Golden Boot since it was right next door. I ordered a pizza again, I had left over’s for today’s lunch. After dinner I went to hang out with Mama Gen’s bf & friend for sushi. There was a BIG surprise waiting for me there, Mama Gen had the restaurant staff turn off the lights (which at that time I had no idea what was going on, I thought they lost power or something) and brought me cake with candles…I was sooo surprised & Happy. Mama Gen is the BEST…LOVE U (^_^) & the cake was yummy...

Mama Gen's Spaghetti alla Carbonara & My Pizza Capricciosa

I got so many awesome gifts from my friends. One of my friends got me a gift card from Metrotown…shopping time (^_^)  another friend got me a pair of sandals at AE (^_^) My BFF got me a beautiful pair of flats from Aldo. Another friend got me a lovely bouquet of flower. I got a lot of birthday wishes from friends, which I am really happy to receive. I have AWESOME friends…I LOVE them all.

Sweet Revenge Again & Yan's Garden

Also on the weekend my BFF & I went back to Sweet Revenge again but this time we invited some of our friends to join us. I was a little disappointed with my Chocolate Mousse Cake that I ordered. I thought it came in a glass cup, I think what I saw last time was the hot chocolate but the cake was still good....just not what I was expecting. We had a good time and enjoyed our desserts.

From left to right top to bottom: Earl Grey Tea, Euro Hot Chocolate, Sangria, Apple Pie, Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake, Zuccotto, Chocolate Mousse Cake

I also joined some of my friends for dim sum at Yan's Garden Chinese Restaurant in Burnaby. The food was only ok. Service was good but don't plan to sit and chat after eating, it gets busy so they want you to leave so waiting customers can have the table but they are not rude about it they nicely ask you. The ambiance is your typical Chinese restaurant. Not sure about price since a friend paid for the whole meal. Probably will not be going back or at least not a restaurant I would suggest to go for dim sum.

    Food: 3/5             Service: 5/5            Ambiance: 4/5             Price: N/A

Bridal Dress Shopping & Ki Sushi

Today I went with my friend (the bride) and a few of her other friends bridal dress shopping or more like trying on dresses to see what suits her best. We went to New Westminster to check out 2 of the stores there. There are also a lot of other bridal shops on the same street. At both shops we found a dress that we & the bride loved. So now it is up to the bride to decide which one is the ONE. Don't have any pictures of the dresses since no pictures allowed until you purchase the dress...booo :(

In between shops we stopped for lunch. We went  to Ki Sushi which was close by. I have been to this place once in 2010 but they renovated since then. The food was ok nothing special. The service was quick for our food arriving and them coming to serve us, which was good since we only had 1/2 hr to eat before our next appointment. I love the new interior, they have some tatami rooms which is where we sat (loved it). The price was pretty good for the amount of food you get. I would maybe go back again if I am in the area but I still prefer Okoman over this place as my go to Japanese restaurant.

    Food: 4/5             Service: 5/5            Ambiance: 5/5             Price: 5/5
 

Birthday & Dine Out

Yesterday was my BFF's birthday we made reservations at DIVA at the Met for Dine out Vancouer 2012 which is an annual restaurant festival where a variety of restaurant offer a 3 course menu for $18, $28 & $38. So it is a good way to try out different restaurants for a good price. This was my 1st year attending. Maybe do it again next year but have to book early to get reservations at the good restaurants.

So here is my review on DIVA at the Met, the food was only ok nothing special. Small portions with fancy decorated dishes. The Ambiance was nice, interior was classy and they had an open kitchen. The service was good, they are very attentive and very polite. The price ($38 + tax & tip) was good for a 3 course meal, we were all full but I don't think I would pay full price for any of it. My final verdict is that I don't think I will return to try there regular menu.

    Food: 3/5             Service: 5/5            Ambiance: 5/5             Price: 4/5

to start: complementary bread

1st course - appetizer 

BFF: Cherry Lane Farm beet salad, goat cheese, hazelnut, apple, rocket, banyuls

mine: Pemberton parsnip soup, Diva bacon

2nd course - main course

 Pacific Provider coho salmon, pine nut, chorizo, bell pepper, black olives, caper vinaigrette

3rd course - dessert

BFF: warm chocolate souffle, valrhona chocolate sauce, pistachio ice cream

mine: caramelized stilton cheesecake, spiced port reduction, rhubarb compote

gift unwrapping...loved the gifts ^_^

Wedding Fair & Potluck

On the weekend I went to the Wedding Fair with my friends who will be getting married in September (I am going to be there bridesmaids:) It was an interesting experience, saw some beautiful displays, awesome photographers & pretty dresses

Later after the Fair I went home to make Kimbap (korean style sushi) for the potluck at my place in the evening. For the potluck we had bacon wrapped in asparagus, shrimp & enoki mushrooms. Home-made spinach dip, kimichi, ginger & home-made tiramisu. My friend also brought over some wedding magazines so we looked though them. Fun time with friends

My friend gave me some candy from her trip to Rome in November (haven't seen her since then). The chocolate was good but the candy called "Pastiglie Digestive Dessetanti Leone" was disgusting. It smelt like soap and almost taste like it too...yike. At first I thought it was soap but I googled it and found there website...it is candy. A interesting weekend (^_^)

Sweet Revenge and Locus

On Saturday my BFF & I had one of those spontaneous days. She was craving dessert so we Googled desserts and we found "Sweet Revenge" read the reviews and they were mostly good. When we got to the place it wasn't open until 7 pm, we were 2 hours early (>_<) It was cold & raining so we went into Blenz to kill time. I wasn't really happy about waiting but my BFF is a lot more optimist then me (I need to learn) she invented some wired games for us to help pass time

When 7 finally came it was soo worth the wait. The dessert was yummy, not overly rich or sweet. It was just right, they're all home-made. We shared a chocolate pudding cake & a white chocolate cheese cake. And earl grey tea, which I added cream & sugar to for the first time, didn't like it that much. The interior is so nice, old English looking. It is a very small place with only a few tables. It was good that we came during opening time because when we left there was a line up. My pictures didn't turn out that great since lightening there is very dim. But I had a good experience at this place and would LOVE to go back again...next time the chocolate mousse...saw somebody order it....looked soo good

       Food: 5/5             Service: 5/5            Ambiance: 5/5             Price: 5/5

After dessert we went for dinner...totally doing this the wrong way but oh well. We went to try a restaurant that was across the street called Locus because it looked interesting. The interior was nice but the food wasn't that great. My BFF & I shared a steak

       Food: 2/5             Service: 3/5            Ambiance: 5/5             Price: 3/5

All in all it was a very interesting day. I like spontaneous days (^_^)

Winnipeg Trip

My trip to Winnipeg wasn't too bad, got to spend time with my family and friends. I went downtown & chinatown. Went to my aunt & uncle's restaurant to eat, eat, eat. My uncle makes the best egg tarts and dim sum..yummy yummy...visited my aunt & uncle's new place where they had fishies. I went to a Christmas party at a friends place. Went with my family to the Forks which is a market with a lot of different one-of-a-kind shops. All & all it was a good trip but once again I see that I could never move back to Winnipeg..it is just way too cold for me and nothing to do but I do miss having my family and close friends around. But I will still be calling Vancouver my home for now (^_^)