If you're visiting our lovely neighbor city of Victoria, you NEED to go to Jam! Great breakfast and lunch, and the atmosphere and customer service are equally awesome! The decor might even give you ideas for your own home, and the food will make you say "breakfast is my favorite meal of the day". The blueberry pancakes will not disappoint. Visit Jam Café on 542 Herald St in Victoria, or at jamcafevictoria.com.
Chicco Cafe is a little gem on Robson with parfait, gelato, cake and other delicious baked goods. The variety of parfaits is my favourite part of Chicco and they're just that - perfect! A layered dessert with lots of treats including ice cream, fruit, macarons, pudding, you name it. Top picks include Black Sesame, Green Tea, and Mango. 
Add this to your 'must try' list for Spring/Summer - grab one to go and stroll along Robson!
At Plenty, we love seeing what's happening in our beautiful city. Last night we checked out Uncovered, a student-ran charitable event that allowed local artists to display their work, and attendees to donate funds to the Downtown Eastside charity. It was amazing to see what a small group of people could put together. This event was listed in the Globe and Mail, and listed as one of the "hottest events in Vancouver this week", by the Vancouver Observer. It was organized, fun, and there was great conversation. At the same time, we got to see some really beautiful pieces, read the background stories of these artists, and support an amazing cause. Next time you have a night off, read up on what's happening in your city.
Art Spiegelman was born in Stockholm and immigrated with his family to Queens, New York in 1951. This is the first major exhibition of Spiegelman's work since the MoMA exhibition of Maus in 1992.
Happy Valentine's Day! Hopefully this isn't a surprise if you're supposed to have something planned... but if it is, have no fear, our suggestions are here! Take advantage of the beautiful scenery around our city - the romance will follow.
(via Facebook)
Chewies Steam & Oyster Bar (Kitsilano)
The southern fried chicken is one thing, and the stroll along the beach after a delightful meal is another. They also have a great Valentines Day menu special! (Plus - aren't oysters a food for lovers? Don't quote me on that...)
(via Flickr)
Chill Winston (Gastown)
Keep it casual with an extensive drink list and share a few tasty plates with your date. Walk off the crab cakes and smashed potatoes on the cobblestones of Gastown. If you're still thirsty, stop by Six Acres or The Diamond across the way.
(via Flickr)
Phnom Penh (Chinatown)
Okay, so the view isn't the best... but nothing says love like a perfect plate of chicken wings! Don't forget the luc lac beef, pea tips & butter beef. Whether you're on a date or hanging with your friends today, treat yourself with something tasty - you deserve it.
Whether you think Valentine's Day is too much hype or not enough, it's still fun to make cute treats for friends, coworkers, or peers. We love these homemade lollipops, and it's a great way to spend an afternoon with a friend.
Let's be honest - as we wait for the Spring flowers to blossom, these soggy days aren't Vancouver's best. Luckily there are some fun events to fill up our calendar and get us through to the lighter jackets, floral prints, and distressed light wash denim days. Here are some stops we plan on making in the next month!
(Left) FeastVan - From Jan 18 - Feb 3, some of the tastiest restaurants of East Vancouver will be offering a prix fixe menu. Participating restaurants and companies will donate $1 from every meal to the Strathcona Community Centre Back Pack Food Program, which provides meals to kids in the Strathcona and DTES area. Must-visit on the list: Les Faux Bourgeois.
3rd Annual Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival - What's not to love? A warm hug in the form of hot chocolate. And this ain't no powdered mix! I'm looking forward to the Beta 5 + Juice Truck "Put da Lime in the Coconut" (dark chocolate + coconut milk), and the "Petal of a Rose" (vanilla bean white hot chocolate) at the newly opened Beacoup Bakery.
Street Food City at the Vancouver Art Gallery - Where have all the food trucks gone? In the chillier temperature, most go away to hibernate... but from Jan 24-26, many of your favourite trucks will be gathered at the Art Gallery from 11-3, awaiting your company.
It's a new year with new goals, and around the stores we always start talking about eating healthier. Let's be honest - we don't usually make it that far into the year, but here are some options that have been tried & tested by our staffers. They pass the tasty taste, so there's no losing out!
(Left) Bandidas Taqueria (2781 Commercial Dr.) - A staple in the East Vancouver community, Bandidas is environmentally conscious while serving up fresh, local, and delicious vegetarian menu. Plus there's all day breakfast...need I say more? (Pictured: Doe's)
The Naam (2724 West 4th Ave.) - Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, The Naam is always busy and is always the best meal at 3AM! There's also live music from 7-10pm nightly and a short stroll to Kitsilano beach.
Sweet Cherubim (1105 Commerical Dr.) - A restaurant, bakery, organic & natural food store - it's pretty much a one stop shop. Almost everything is made from scratch and everyone is super friendly. Just the spot to catch up with a friend!
Nuba (Kits, Gastown, Main, Yaletown) - Lebanese cuisine featuring fresh and local ingredients. Something you must try: Najib's Special, crispy cauliflower served with tahini. They also have an amazing drink menu with fresh pressed juices and specialty drinks mixed to order by the friendly bartender.
We love to share anything great, especially if it's a good book that you can cozy up with. Here are our top reads of 2012, the kind of books that get borrowed by every staff member on the roster!
Food trends like cupcakes and macarons are both delicious and abundant in the city, but waffles are making an entrance to make a dessert trifecta. Below are some must-try spots!
Left: Matcha Red Bean Dessert Waffle at Tealips in Burnaby.
Nero Belgian Waffle Bar - 1703 Robson St.
Miura Waffle Milk Bar - 829 Davie St.
And a quick Waffle 101:
Liège waffle: A richer, sweeter, chewier waffle made as an adaptation to brioche dough. The special pearl sugar used in the mix end up caramelizing on the outside when baked.
Brussels waffle: Lighter, crisper, and more rectangular than the liège waffle.
Christmas is now over, and we can look forward to an amazing new year! If you're hosting a New Year's Eve party this year, here is fab punch recipe that your guests will love. It's super easy and one of our favorites.
Outpost Cafe is a cute little place on Fraser near King Edward Ave that I stumbled upon the other day. Though it's not new, it's tucked away on Fraser where you may not often find yourself. If you're in the neighbourhood, I'd suggest you make a pit stop as the place smelled delicious and had a great atmosphere. I only had time for a London Fog, but it's definitely on my list for the next weekend brunch.
Follow them on twitter for their specials!
As we're all aware, gift giving season is right around the corner. If your budget is a little tight, here are some of our favourite DIY projects we've been eyeing. Who knows, maybe you'll save enough to get a cute new outfit for under the mistletoe... or for the countdown to the New Year!
Sock Monkey (left)
Who doesn't love a new, cuddly friend? Sock monkeys are pretty special since they take time, effort, and each one is different. I usually like making mine custom to the person - knit it a little scarf, put on a little bow tie... you get the idea. The one in the picture was one I gifted, his name is Jeffrey. 
You could really use any hot chocolate recipe, but I just love the layered look in this mason jar. Easy and delicious!
This may be under a wedding favor category, but this cute little terrarium makes a great gift for any occasion! With the weather greyer than ever, it's nice to add a little green around the home.
I saw this one posted on a new favourite local online mag, Mish Mash. This is the gift for your fashionista friend. Nothing like a hologram to get you ready for all the late-night parties!
Planning on staying up for Christmas Eve? Having guests over for dinner? Planning to treat your co-workers to something nice? Well, whatever you decide on, this recipe for a No Bake Nutella Cheesecake is the answer to everything.
I found this recipe over the Internet and decided to try it out for myself. It's the perfect dessert to a busy day, paired with a nice cup of hot coffee/chocolate milk.
