Vancouver was our disembarkation point from our Alaskan Cruise. I wasn’t all that excited because I always thought of it as one of those highly urbanized cities that I had gotten used to. Boy, was I wrong! It’s amazing how a few clicks in TripAdvisor would make the planned 4-day stay seem so short.
As always, I searched for the great restaurants and somehow it led me to this Edible Canada website. It featured different food tours and the Guilty Pleasures Gourmet Tour caught my eye. It offered an afternoon full of gourmet food and wine. And just like that, I put the good ‘ol Amex card to work. I booked for a party of four appetites: Dave and myself, Beans and Momsie
Our adventure began with Kirin Chinese Restaurant — winner of Vancouver’s Best Dimsum Restaurant for 6 consecutive years.
It was a variety of DimSum dishes that brings back memories when I was studying in Cebu. My sister and I would go to this dim sum place behind Rustan’s every weekend. The smell is exactly the same. My nose knows.
I’m not much of a rice person, but this was absolutely delicious.
There was also some huge steamed prawns which I ate before I was able to take a picture…
Next stop was at Urban Fare, it an upscale grocery, almost like Whole Foods , if it were to triple its price.
I had to hoard the Vermeer Cheese and Truffle Hummus. It was to die for. I have the ability to shop for food abroad and never get in trouble with customs. It’s a gift.
Third stop was Jean-George’s Market
Fourth Stop was Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe. I have to confess. I skipped this. I knew it was a chocolate and macaron joint. I thought I have been to this place so I decided to go to Hermes across the street and pick up non-edible but equally delicious stuffs. It turns out, I have never been to this place, I was thinking of Laduree… Anyway, my ever-loving hubby got me a doggy bag of an orange bourbon macaron, and in exchange, I handed him an Hermes receipt. He said it was an unfair exchange. Live and learn, honey.
Fifth and final stop was at Bella Galleteria. This joint is owned by James Coleridge who won in Florence Gelato Festival. Our wonderful guide, Daniella informed us that he was the only non-Italian who won such award. This place is always packed. Being in the food tour, we were able to cut through the lines and I was able to enjoy both Salted Caramel Gelato and Coconut Milk Gelato without muss and fuss.
So after 5 restaurants and 14 meals, I gluttonously ordered Kurobata Terimayo, their specialty, plus Aonori (dried ground seaweed) Fries, coz God forbid I should have hotdogs unpaired with fries….totally unheard of.