Weekly Photo Challenge: It’s Not This Time of Year Without…

Posted on November 25, 2016 by stenoodie
Christmas tree

Brookfield Place, Toronto. November 2016

It’s Not This Time of Year Without… a Christmas tree!!!  Even though it has been many years since we have put up a decorated tree in our own home (we just haven’t unfortunately.. even though the actual tree is sitting in the basement), this time of the year just doesn’t feel seasonal and giddy without the first sight of a Christmas tree (and more!).  This is one of the first trees I have seen this year.  It was all lit up, tall and big, shining so beautifully.  When you see one of these in your path, you know that it’s that time of the year! 🙂   Continue reading →

Posted in Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Table 21 Kitchen & Wine Bar Exclusive Launch Party

Posted on November 24, 2016 by stenoodie
Table 21 Kitchen & Wine Bar appetizer

Table 21 Kitchen & Wine Bar located at 2956 Bloor Street West in Toronto

Last night, I attended the launch party of the brand new Table 21 Kitchen & Wine Bar at 2956 Bloor Street West in West Toronto (Etobicoke).  Table 21 Kitchen & Wine Bar was formerly called Stratosphere Gastrolounge and Wine Bar but has now been newly renovated and reimagined with a new chef, new name, and new signage.   Continue reading →

Posted in Complimentary Adventures, Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dim Sum and Chinese Dinners at Grandeur Palace

Posted on November 23, 2016 by stenoodie
Grandeur Palace

Grandeur Palace located at 2301 Brimley Rd in Scarborough

Grandeur Palace is the newest dim sum restaurant to appear in Scarborough after re-inventing itself after the former Dragon Dynasty Chinese Cuisine restaurant at the Chartwell Plaza closed its doors.  Grandeur Palace has completely renovated its interiors so that you cannot recognize the former restaurant’s space at all (other than the washrooms.. the layout is the same but they did jazz it up with new tiles).   Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Gourmet Food & Wine Expo 2016

Posted on November 22, 2016 by stenoodie
Gourmet Food & Wine Expo 2016 wine glasses

Gourmet Food & Wine Expo 2016 located at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building in Toronto

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending my first Gourmet Food & Wine Expo with Ken!  I had never been there before but had always heard about it in the media so I was extra excited to attend and check out what it was going to be like.

This year in 2016, the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo was held at the Metro Convention Centre in the North Building from November 17 to 20, Friday evening into Sunday.  We were there for the Saturday expo (you buy the tickets online or on-site).  We arrived early just after noon and were one of the first handful to arrive.   Continue reading →

Posted in Food, New Experiences | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Hot Star Large Fried Chicken in Tai Po, Hong Kong

Posted on November 21, 2016 by stenoodie
Hot Star Chicken

Hot Star Large Fried Chicken located at Shop 29, G/F, Fortune Plaza, 4 On Chee Road, Tai Po in Hong Kong

Sept 21, 2016 – Hot Star Large Fried Chicken

I finally got the chance to try Hot Star Fried Chicken today!! 😀

After walking by this take-out shop at Tai Wo Fortune Plaza last night,  I made a mental note to come back to try it out.  Hot Star is a well known fried chicken shop originating in Taiwan and when it came to Toronto last year, there were hordes of people lining up for it on the street.   Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Joy Cuisine Restaurant 百樂門囍宴

Posted on November 20, 2016 by stenoodie
Joy Cuisine Restaurant

Joy Cuisine Restaurant located at 2/F., Laguna Plaza, 88 Cha Kwo Ling Road, Lam Tin in Hong Kong

Sept 21, 2016 –  Joy Cuisine Restaurant (百樂門囍宴)

We met up with our longtime family friends today at Joy Cuisine Restaurant in Kwun Tong at Laguna City.

Everything in Hong Kong is so modern and newly renovated that even though I believe I’ve been here before, I couldn’t recognize it at all.   Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

陳根記 Chan Kun Kee (Dai pai dong in Sha Tin)

Posted on November 19, 2016 by stenoodie
Chan Kun Kee Dai pai dong

Chan Kun Kee located at No.3-5, Dai Pai Dong, Wo Che Est Market, Sha Tin in Hong Kong

Sept 20, 2016 – 陳根記 Chan Kun Kee in Sha Tin dai pai dong

What a great authentic experience it was tonight to dine at a real dai pai dong in Hong Kong!

I honestly don’t remember when it was my last time eating at a large, authentic dai pai dong (side market tables) so this was definitely a thrill for the foodie in me.   Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

South Korea 2016 Day 6: Samgyetang and last day

Posted on November 18, 2016 by stenoodie
Samgyet'ang ginseng chicken broth

Enjoying Samgyet’ang, last sightseeing around Myeongdong, and eating at the airport on the last day

Day 6 Korea.  Sept 19, 2016.

It was the last day in Korea today in 2016.  I’m typing this out on the way flying back to Hong Kong.  I’m so sad to leave!  These past 7 days were quite eventful and I enjoyed a lot of different dishes! 😀 😀   Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Magic

Posted on November 18, 2016 by stenoodie
tree of crystals

Snow Museum, Hokkaido, Japan. October 2016

Last month when I was vacationing in Hokkaido, Japan, one of the destinations on our itinerary was visiting the Snow Museum located in Asahikawa, Hokkaido Prefecture.  Inside of this museum there was a long winding staircase that led to a wishing fountain, a hallway full of glassed in icicles reminiscent of a winder wonderland, a cathedral fit for weddings, many magnificent dining rooms, and a gift shop, among many other things.  The entire space was very magical-like and reminded me of the setting in the movie Frozen.  One of the things I saw in the gift shop was this pretty little (Christmas) tree decorated with crystals.   Continue reading →

Posted in Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

South Korea 2016 Day 5: Eating & Sightseeing in Myeongdong

Posted on November 17, 2016 by stenoodie
Eating cheese chicken galbi

Cheese chicken galbi in Myeongdong! 😀

Day 5 Korea.  Sept 18, 2016

Today started off with a happy bang!  After casually getting up around 8:30 a.m., we got ready and went out at 11 a.m. to have breakfast in Myeongdong.

I was looking for a rice porridge shop or something that would serve local Korean cuisine and I was elated when I came across a dakgalbi shop!  What excited me was that this was the spicy chicken galbi with cheese fondue that I had been wanting to try since seeing it in other people’s photos on instagram in Toronto several months back.   Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments