For the love of chocolate

Chocolate is the answer... whatever the question.

Xoxolat an excellent chocolate store if you are looking for gift for anyone who has any opinion about chocolates.  They carry high quality chocolates that makes chocolate not just a dessert but food that people need to take time to enjoy it.

I attended the chocolate tasting class offered by Xoxolat a year back and the experience makes me enjoy chocolate more.  So, as I am about to visit some friends who have different preferences for chocolates, I took a 1.5 hour bus ride there and picked up everything I needed.

Le 100% -- 100% dark. Organic!
Theo Spicy Chile -- 70% dark. Organic fair trade!
By Xoxolat:
Sea salt & Nibs -- 75% dark. Lavendar -- 75% dark.
Westcoast Breakfast -- Bacon, espresso in deep rich milk chocolate!

My list of favourite stuff in the store goes like this (roughly):
1) Lavendar chocolate bar (shown in the picture)
2) Spicy hot chocolate -- must have for the winter!
3) Chocolate nibs -- They have plenty of selections for this. 
4) TBA after i go back there a few more times!

The first time the chocolate shoes caught my eyes in the mall, I thought they were too fancy as chocolate.  But now, I am planning to get them as presents for some of the ladies ;)
 

Miko Sushi Restaurant

Everytime I passed by Miko Sushi Restaurant, I have an excuse to go to the restaurant down the street for something non-sushi.  This time, I couldn't come up with any good ideas as of why I shouldn't go in.  After a long day at Stanley Park, we were too tired to walk any further for whatever food is there.  So, we went in!  There were a lot of pictures and signatures of ice hockey players on the wall.  The atmosphere is friendly and warm.  It gets crowded as time goes by and we were glad that we made it there before the huge crowd.  All the typical rolls, nigiri, sashimi and cones are on the menu.

Glad to be Home

Woo Ree Jip means "My home" in Korean and true to its name, the restaurant serves a wide variety of home cooked Korean soups and other dishes.  They are well known for their variety of soup.  Their menu has at least 20 types of soups.  Some of them are complete strangers to me but all my friends are team players that each of us order something different to try.  I was sitting at the very end of the table so some, I have not tried BUT since it's 5 minutes away from my house... please anticipate the little foodie's thoughts of the remaining dishes.

Under the Banana Tree

The Banana Leaf Restaurant opens up a new location along Denman Street.  I haven't been there for a long while since the last time it didn't taste home-ly to me.  Anyway, I went because a friend suggested it.  Picky me when it comes to Malaysian food!

Hawksworth

The Hawksworth Restaurant won a few awards in the Golden Plate 2011, which hints me to pay the restaurant a visit with a few friends.  The restaurant has a very nice atmosphere - simple and sleek design -- fitting for downtown Vancouver.

Zakkushi

Zakkushi is one of the few special izakaya around.  They specialize in Japanese skewers.  There are wide variety of those and some other dishes like oden, okonomiyaki, sashimi, salads etc.  But, I still like their skewers best.  It was probably a hit-or-miss because the skewers were extremely salty when I went there to celebrate my birthday a few years ago. It didn't stop me from going back though.  And this time, I am very proud of myself to go back there!

The Boathouse

It was a few friends' farewell party that we decided to pay The Boathouse at English Bay a visit.  I have been there before and my favourite is their Miso Crusted Wild Halibut that I had a few years back.  It was so good but I didn't get it because it is the restaurant's 30th Anniversary and... ... they offered a very reasonably priced 3 course meal for $30.  Of course, I went for it!  Keeping the comments as short as I can ...