Specialty Stores and Items

Milk Bar

By in Eateries, Specialty Stores and Items Tags: , , , ,

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I was so excited to learn that Milk Bar was opening a location in downtown Vancouver this winter.  To those of you who don’t know, this is the spot of famous baker Christina Tosi.  You may know her as a past Master Chef judge or as the creator of the “Naked Cake”.

I gathered up a group of my co-workers during lunch one day and we all walked over to check it out.  To be honest, it was completely different from what I was expecting.  That’s not a bad thing, but I think in my head I thought it was going to be like a little bakery where you could grab a slice of cake and sit and eat and socialize with friends.  It’s more like a retail store.  It’s a small section at the back of Nordstrom’s at Pacific Centre.  You can buy cake, individually wrapped cookies, pie, cake truffles and soft serve.

I bought the swirl soft serve (cereal milk and chocolate cereal milk) with cornflake crunch topping.  It was creamy, sweet and delicious.  The cornflake crunch topping was amazing!  The ice cream cups are a bit on the small side, but maybe that was also for the best because I could see anything larger being too sweet.

We purchased a few different items within our group – different flavors of the soft serve, cake truffles and cookies.  Everyone enjoyed what they bought.

Since then my hubby and I visited once more to try some cookies.  I have to say the flavors they have are quite creative.  My hubby got the cornflake chocolate chip marshmallow cookie and I of course bought the confetti cookie (had to get sprinkled!).  We thought the cookies were good, but they were not really mind blowing or anything.  They were just good.

I will definitely stop by again next time I want ice cream and I’ll be back sometime to try the cake.

https://milkbarstore.com/collections

 

 

Goodles

By in Specialty Stores and Items

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My go-to hang-over food is Kraft Mac and Cheese.  There’s something about boxed macaroni – it’s nostalgic and comforting.  Overall though, I’m trying to live a healthier lifestyle.  Me being a food blogger, I want to make healthier choices through the week so I can happily indulge when I hit up all of Vancouver’s amazing restaurants and events.  However, realistically, what sometimes ends up happening is a night of eating, drinking and living my best life (yay) followed by a day of even more indulging in some hang-over food such as KD, usually with a side of guilt.

Being a bit of a superhero movie nerd, I follow (and love) Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot.  I saw that she developed a healthier version of boxed macaroni and cheese.  It has 14 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber with prebiotics and 21 nutrients from plants.  I was definitely intrigued, but highly skeptical that it could taste as good as the brand I grew up on with all those “better for you” stats.  As soon as they began shipping to Canada I put in my first order.

I tried:

  • Twist My Parm – asiago and parmesan with spirals
  • Shella Good – aged white chedar and shells
  • Mover and Shaker – cacio e pepe inspired
  • Cheddy Mac – creamy cheddar macaroni

I selected the variety pack thinking I would try them all and figure out which ones I like best (if any) and maybe I can order those ones again.  I also had the intention of ranking them here, but I kid you not, every time I tried one, my reaction was like “Oh yes, this is so good.”  I don’t have a favorite because they are all my favorite.  I don’t know how they figured out the science to make this happen, but I am so happy they did!  Now when I feel that hang-over craving coming on, I can enjoy it without feeling bad about it.

They’re super easy to make – pretty much the same as Kraft.  They do stress not to rinse the pasta when draining once cooked though.  Adding butter is optional.

It was cool to check out the ingredients on the boxes and see tons of vegetables listed.   I know lots of parents who do the boxed mac and cheese as a convenient lunch for kids.  This would be a healthier alternative with the same convenience.

I’ve already put in my order for my next variety pack and a new flavor too!  I’ll review that one for you after I try it.

Goodles

The Candy Room

By in Specialty Stores and Items Tags: , , ,

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Easily the most fun store on Robson Street, the Candy Room is a feast for the eyes.  I can’t help but feel like a kid in a candy store every single time I’m there.  There are walls and walls of deliciousness!

They carry every candy and chocolate you can think of.  They actually have the largest selection in B.C.  There’s a huge array of unique snacks and candies that are hard to find.  I’ve been coming here for years and each time it’s just a treat.  We love filling up a goodie bag with bulk candies (over 400 kinds!) to munch on during our movie nights or picking up my fave from the 90s, dunkaroos!  My hubby loves getting stocked up on his Payday bars, purchasing a few at a time to keep in our cupboards for when the craving hits.  I make a point to bring my niece and nephew each time they’re visiting so they can try what’s new in store.  My sister buys boxes of the tamarind candies that she loves and can’t find anywhere else.  They have all of the nostalgic candy from your childhood, every kind of Reece peanut butter chocolate, all of the yummy cereals, nerds varieties, Bob Ross candies and the list goes on forever.

This store has been a community favorite since it opened 6 years ago.  It’s a small, family owned business.  They are super friendly and helpful which makes it all the more easy to support a small business like this.

https://www.candyroom.ca/