TEA-HEE - BEL CAFE @ HOTEL GEORGIA - DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER

Walking in the cafe, I was surprised - for I was not particularly a fan of the decor in Bel Cafe. The cafe centered its decor around a modern, stainless steel and casual chic vibe, but I found the cafe to be rather disoriented. My friends really enjoyed the young decor, but I stand to argue that the cafe was cramped and rushing, it felt more like a pop and drop by cafe rather than a tea and macarons high society cafe. The area by the display of cakes and desserts was camped with a 2 meter wall (see lower picture for an idea). I like taking my time choosing cakes, reading labels and looking around, but I didn't get the luxury this time around. 

With such beautiful cakes, they should have designed a nice open area for the customers to gaze at the display in awe!

That said, the cakes were amazing. I tend to order lemon tarts or dark chocolate all the time, because white chocolate tends to dry out my throat (first world problem haha). But my two friends ordered the:

White Chocolate, Kalamanzi, Coconut Dessert

Raspberry Chocolate..... cake of some sort (pardon my memory, I believe this cake is seasonal)

Both chocolates were milled to perfection - not sweet but just a perfect creamy, milky texture. Presentation is simple and crafted. I think these cakes are better than some of the previous cafes I have been to because of the controlled level of sugar. The cakes were only subtly sweet, the focus was on the coconut detail or hints of raspberry. Even more so, I haven't tasted such light, creamy and frothy chocolate in a long time, I only have good things to say about Bel Cafe's cakes. 

In all, I cannot say I would come to Bel Cafe to catch up with a friend for hours and hours. This small cafe afterall, is located on a very busy corner of downtown Vancouver. But I would definitely come to order a few cakes as take out for home get togethers - I would not hesitate at all on the taste and presentation of Bel Cafe's dessert menu. 

801 West Georgia Street

Vancouver BC

604-673-7000

Soul Scent: SWEET PEA & DRENCHED APPLE FLOWER - BATH AND BODY WORKS

I rarely do full out review on candles, for all intents and purposes, the Bath and Body Works semi-annual sale has finished, so I thought I'd cover a few goodies.

That said, I have purchased a few Bath and Body Work candles throughout the past years, but I am not a super fan of these Slatkin and Co. Candles. 

The reason Bath and Body Works' candles fails to keep my heart is because:
: I find the throw of Slatkin and Co. candles to be very inconsistent
: $22.50 for one candle, in a simple thin glass container with a cheap metal cover is rather expensive
: The sleeves that I bought to decorate the candle attracted so much dust I decided to throw it out instead of cleaning it

Candles to me, must give me a sense of luxury and ease. I enjoy a heavy glass, extravagant candle accompanying me while I study or when I take a bath. But these Slatkin and Co candles cut the edge very close to my standards. This year, I repurchased the Sweet Pea along with a spring/summer scent - Drenched Apple Flower, and the sweet scents make up for the packaging.


Sweet Pea brings back alot of high school memories, and today I call this scent my guilty pleasure - it sits in my bathroom to accompany me when I put on make up in the morning. I genuinely do enjoy this scent first thing in the morning. I had initially picked up Fresh Cotton again, for I can never get enough the scent of fresh laundry. I thought this scent would be a perfect addition to my room, specifically in my closet. But the smell of fresh apples caught my eye this time around and Drench Apple Flower replaced Fresh Cotton. I am so pleased that I have been burning this candle all day, everyday.

Finally, for purchasing two candles, I received a free sleeve. I was hesitant to even pick out a free item as my previous experiences with sleeves were mediocre. The sleeves with the intricate designs tended to attract lots of dust between the gaps and between the sleeve and the candle, cleaning was a pain. Secondly, I wasn't too attracted to year's sleeve designs... until I saw this one with a lid. There was only one in the entire store (Pacific Centre) and it was the only one with a lid. I loved the simple design, it kept the sleeve classy. Though I'm not a fan of the foggy rhinestone on the top of the lid, I figured the lid would be off the candle more often than it would be on.

I purchased backups of both candles earlier week, but I only purchase Slatkin and Co candles during their semi-annual two-for-one sale. I do not think they are worth the full $22.50. For almost $25 a piece, there are many many more options in the candle market. 

Brunch Munch - SUVAI RESTAURANT - KERRISDALE VANCOUVER

Suvai is a sweet and cozy restaurant, with a sidewalk patio decorated with garden benches and flowers. As we sat on the side-walk patio, covered under an arch of leaves and blossoms, I temporarily lost myself and thought I was in some place outside Vancouver - probably in Paris or Nice. I can absolutely picture this local and home-ran bistro to be sitting exactly off the streets of France and Montreal.

AMBIANCE | I love local bistros with small wooden tables, white table cloths and shiny silverware. Though it sounds like I am describing a majority of restaurants, Suvai has its own cozy flavour. I shall let the pictures speak its volumes. 
While I has having brunch, next to us sat an older couple, each drinking their orange juice and having a great time. As kill-joy as I was, I was actually playing on my iPad and eating my omlette and the same time. I was promptly interrupted by the older couple, and we actually engaged in a warm conversation as the older gentleman was thinking of purchasing a tablet and wanted to know our feedback! Vancouver is certainly a friendly city, but the atmosphere of Suvai certainly sets up an even more warm and neighborhood enviroment.

FOOD | I have nothing much to rave about the food here at Suvai. The omlette and eggs Benny were of the expected. Portion size was decent. I say the atmosphere certainly increased the food presentation, as the warm feeling of Suvai certainly adds happiness and enjoyment to the meal. 
I have heard that dinner prices at Suvai are leaning rather high, but brunch for $10-18 sounds reasonable to me.  I say, the next time you decide to go for brunch at good old chain Boathouse again, why not give local Suvai a try? The price ranges are similiar, and Suvai's atmosphere is a worth a visit on its own.

We ordered:

Bacon Eggs Benedict

Omlette and Toast

Side of Sausages

2 glasses of Orange Juice 

2279 West 41st Vancouver

V6M 4L3
604-261-4900

Lunch Munch: GUU GARDEN - DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER

I used to love Guu. Guu gastown was my favourite, Guu Garlic on Denman was a close second. Guu Richmond and Guu Thurlow didnt cut the chase for me. 

As I grew older (uhh like in the past 2 years), I started getting very annoyed with loud and crammed restaurants.  The first time in Guu I loved the authenticity of servers yelling warm Japanes greetings around the restaurants, but by the tenth time I walk in, the excitement is gone, and I really rather not wait in line in a stuffy and crowded atmosphere. While Guu izakaya snacks are so unique - each plate being full of surprises, I chose other restaurants such as Aki over Guu. Well, until Guu Garden.

AMBIANCE | Guu Garden is located in the office area of Vancouver. Located upstairs Gyu-Kaku, Guu Garden is much more ventilated, much more open, and much more comfortable. There are floor to ceiling windows that outlook a Japanese garden shaping a simple and earthy environment. Splashed with colourful, but pastel pillow seats, and decorated with simple wooden tables, Guu Garden actually feels like a garden. A simple rural garden, not extravagant, not luxurious, but simple, easy and calm.

We ordered:

Garden Bento 1

Tonosama Bento: Deep friend breaded shrimp & veggies, grilled or stewed fish of the day, four kinds of sashimi, kobachi, rice and miso soup

Garden Bento 2

Businessman Bento: Saikyo miso black cod, three kinds of sashimi, salmon and saba sushi, kobachi and miso soup

Dessert: Sake pulp and Sea Salt Ice cream

Menu found here

FOOD | For lunch, they offered bento boxes ranging from $9-15.80. We ordered two of the $15.80 "Garden" boxes, and while the size looks small, it was actually really filling! Having just returned from Japan, in terms of presentation, Guu Garden is legitimately a restaurant that is plucked from Japan and placed in Vancouver. The placement of the foods are delicate and detailed (even a small umbrella for the grapes) and I would even call the bento box "cute" and "comfortable". The food is also finely made. Each tempura is freshly fried, each sushi is delicately made. 

My favourite of the meal was definitely the dessert. I have been to gelato places with numerous of strange and interesting flavours, but "sake pulp and sea salt" flavour is by far the most interesting and appetizing I have ever seen. The ice cream is based off a vanilla icecream with subtle hints of sake and salt. I absolutely loved it, and would recommend it to everyone. 

M101-888 Nelson Street 
Vancouver, BC V6Z2R9
604-899-0855

TEA-HEE- HELLO KITTY X LADUREE PARIS - GINZA TOKYO JAPAN

This little cafe with a big name was certainly hard to find. Located inside of the Ginza Mitsukoshi Shopping Center, if I did not purchase a travel guide, nor did my homework, I most definitely would have missed it.

Above all, I can now say I am a 90% macaron-er, for I have finally tried the father of macarons, Laduree. The final 10% is my quota left for the original store in Paris. 

 Tokyo Laduree Les Macarons in order from top to bottom:
Cafe - Coffee
Fleur de Cerisier - Cherry Blossom

Fleur d'Orange - Orange Blossom
Rose - Rose
Citron - Lemon

Pistache - Pistachio

I decided to savor my macarons back in the hotel, so I was given a small ice pack to keep the macarons fresh. How cute!

Snack Quack - GODIVA CAFE - HARAJUKU TOKYO JAPAN

Japan is known to have many extravagant cafes like Bvlgari Cafe, L'occitane Cafe etc... I came upon Godiva Cafe in the middle of an extremely hot day and was desperate for a quench of ice down my throat to calm my body down. I initially thought this was a simple drink stand ala Starbucks, until I went upstairs and was in awe at the  amazing and quirky decor. As noted in the pictures below, the cafe is decorated with fake dripping chocolate, along with a gorgeous chandelier, a juxtaposition of cute and classy!

I ordered:

Chocolixir Chocolat blanc au The vert - White Chocolate and Green Tea "Chocolixir"

Tarte Glacee in Dark Chocolate and Strawberry