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Thanksgiving To-Go Takeout in Metro Vancouver 2021

Posted in Delivery, Dinner, Downtown Vancouver, Holiday, Home Cooking, Joyce, News, Restaurants, Roundup, Special Occasion, Surrey, Take-Out, Vancouver, tagged #TakeOutDay, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, H Tasting Lounge, Meal Kits, Notch8 Restaurant & Bar, Railtown Catering, Takeout, Tap Restaurant, Thanksgiving, The Boathouse Restaurant, Truffles Fine Foods, Turkey Dinner, Turkey To Go, Westin Bayshore on September 15, 2021| Leave a Comment »

While we are working towards establishing some new normalcy, it is still important to remain vigilant and stay safe. Most restaurants are open for dine-in again now, but some of us may still prefer to eat in the comfort of their own home. Therefore, this Thanksgiving, some local restaurants continue to offer a to-go option so we can celebrate with friends and family safely at home. Here is my round-up. I will continue to update this list as restaurants continue to promote their offering.

And make sure to check the order details for each one to not miss out!

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2021 Where to Buy Mooncakes in Vancouver

Posted in Baked Goods, Bakery, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delivery, Joyce, Lower Mainland, News, Richmond, Roundup, Special Occasion, Surrey, Take-Out, Tea, Vancouver, tagged Buttermere Patisserie, Delivery, Maxim's Bakery, Mid Autumn Festival, Mooncake, Saint Germain Bakery, Soirette, Teapurin, To-go, TWG Tea on August 24, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Being Chinese, we celebrate Mid Autumn Festival 中秋節 every year. It is always on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, promising the roundest, fullest full moon of the year. Part of the tradition is to eat mooncakes月餅, a baked pastry with fillings. The most popular versions we used to get in HK are with lotus seed paste or mixed nuts filling, plus salted egg yolk(s). Over the years, mooncakes have evolved. Bakeries have introduced other flavours of fillings such as red bean and lava custard; and some places sell a version called “snow skin” where the exterior is not baked and is made with glutinous rice flour.

Origin of Mooncakes

Do you know the origin of mooncakes? The one version that is forever stuck in my head is that it was created by rebellions in the Yuan Dynasty, who hid secret messages inside baked pastries, and distributed them to plan a revolt to overthrow the ruling Mongols, leading to the fall of Yuan and the rise of Ming Dynasty.

Buying Mooncakes in Vancouver

This year, Mid Autumn Festival lands on September 21, 2021. If you are interested in making your own mooncakes, check out Mama Lam’s recipe for Baked Chinese Mooncake with Salted Egg Yolk Custard Filling that I shared last year. Otherwise, if you are looking to support local businesses and buy some at a store, here are some ideas for you.

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2021 Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea To-Go in Vancouver

Posted in Afternoon tea, Baked Goods, Burnaby, Joyce, Roundup, Special Occasion, Take-Out, Tea, Vancouver, tagged Afternoon Tea, Delivery, Mother's Day, Take-Out, To-go on April 22, 2021| 1 Comment »

As we continue to hunker down with no dining-in service available this year, it looks like Mama Lam and I are going for another afternoon to-go at home this year. If you are looking for something similar with your mom, here is a round-up of to-go afternoon tea available in Greater Vancouver. Pre-order is required but deadline is different for each place. Delivery may also be available.

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Celebrating the Year of the Ox with a Lunar New Year Poon Choi 盤菜

Posted in Dinner, Home Cooking, Joyce, Meat, Special Occasion, tagged Chinese Food, Chinese New Year, 盤菜, Feast, Lunar New Year, Mama Lam, Poon Choi on February 19, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Just a week ago we celebrated Chinese New Year, welcoming the Year of the Ox. And like every other CNY, it’s the perfect the opportunity for us to cook and eat a lot of good food and observe our cultural traditions.

This year, Mama Lam made a Poon Choi / Pancai / Big Bowl Feast / 盤菜. According to Mama Lam, the concept of this giant feast was originated from the late Song Dynasty when Emperor Bing fled to Hong Kong to escape the attack of Mongolians. The villagers in HK hosting the emperor pulled together everything they could find and cook, and due to the lack of serving vessels, they resorted to washing basins to be able to hold all the food. And this village tradition has been passed on and modified to the current form, typically being served for celebrations and special occasions.

How many layers do you think there are in this Poon Choi that Mama Lam made?

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Christmas To-Go Ideas in Metro Vancouver 2020

Posted in Coquitlam, Dinner, Holiday, Home Cooking, Joyce, Lower Mainland, New Westminster, News, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Restaurants, Richmond, Roundup, Special Occasion, Take-Out, Vancouver, tagged #TakeOutDay, Christmas, Meal Kits, Takeout, Turkey Dinner, Turkey To Go on December 2, 2020| 2 Comments »

This Christmas is nothing like before. There will be no big public events, no big company parties, and no big family gatherings. But hey, we can all still celebrate the holiday season with our core bubble.

Don’t feel like cooking this Christmas? Local restaurants and caterers are offering to-go options that you can celebrate Christmas safely at home, while still enjoying restaurant quality dishes. Here is my round-up. I will continue to update this list as restaurants continue to promote their offering.

Make sure to check the order details for each one to not miss out!