HOLIDAYS IN VANCOUVER

WHEN I MOVED AWAY FROM VANCOUVER, I HAD NO IDEA I WOULD MISS IT SO MUCH, PLUS...MY COUSIN/SISTER I NEVER HAD (SHE HAS A GREAT BLOG BTW) LIVES THERE AND IT WAS SO GREAT TO BE BACK!

SO I AM PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE BACK FOR A WHILE TO REPLENISH MY PHOTO REPERTOIRE, I'LL JUST PUT UP SPORADIC POSTS ON STUFF I DID DURING MY TRIP THERE! ...SOUND GOOD? :)

GRANVILLE ST., VANCOUVER -- DECEMBER 2009

...OF COURSE, UNLESS YOU LIVE UNDER A ROCK, VANCOUVER IS HOSTING THE WINTER OLYMPICS THIS FEBRUARY AND THERE WAS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR THIS YEAR!

GASTOWN

I LOVE GASTOWN. IT IS VANCOUVER'S SOHO...EVERYONE VISITING MUST, MUST, MUST TAKE A STROLL DOWN ITS COBBLESTONE STREETS...

HAVING BEEN THE LOCATION OF "INDUSTRIAL VANCOUVER," GASTOWN'S OLD FACTORIES HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO TRENDY STORES AND AMAZING LOFTS...IT IS THE HOME OF VANCOUVER'S MOST INTERESTING CROWDS--TO SAY THE LEAST!!

IF YOU GO TO GASTOWN WHEN THE SUN COMES DOWN (THAT RHYMES)...DON'T BE TAKEN ABACK BY FOLKS ASKING FOR MONEY OR DRAGS OF YOUR CIGARETTE...JUST...SAY..NO...

THINGS TO DO:

STEAM CLOCK --

It's a Steam clock that chimes every four minutes or so...kind of cool

SALT TASTING ROOM --

My favourite restaurant in the whole wide world...I already wrote about it..check it out

LAMPLIGHTER --

Love this bar...catch a Canucks hockey game here..turns into a nightclub on weekends..get there early

THE BLACK FROG --

Awesome bar...those who are late for Lamplighter go here!

STEAM CLOCK ON WATER ST.

OUR GREAT DINNER AT SALT...THOSE GLASSES WERE ALL OURS

UP THE STREET -- "ALIFE IS BEAU TIFUL"

UNTIL NEXT TIME! HAVE TO PACK FOR MY WEEKEND IN BARCELONA! STAY TUNED...

HAPPY 2010

Wow, major hiatus from blogging...Christmas Holidays you know! :)

last night I realized that I have all these random blog entries from random places with random things and I think an introduction and blog overhaul is in order!

A little background info...I am a city mouse at heart...grew up in the Philippines, moved to the wonderful city of Vancouver to finish University...first 20 something years of my life

Ever since I remember, I have always loved to travel...cities especially...there is something about the air, the restaurants, the way of life...

...six months ago, my life took a major turn for the lucky and I got the opportunity to go and live in Madrid, Spain for about a year...and that's what I did.. :)

So here I am in Spain with the countries of Europe in the palm of my hand, and it is amazing...

This blog is really to share my travels and discoveries with you! Hotels, restaurants, stores and everything else the city can offer you...Hey, maybe you can find some of this stuff useful when you city hop yourself! Enjoy!

OH! And pictures...lots of pictures!

My first trip to Paris in Summer 2009...you will see a few Paris entries here

...haven't been back yet but I intend to very soon..

JAPAWIENERS IN VANCOUVER

NOT SO LONG AGO, I WAS A STUDENT IN VANCOUVER..DORMING OF COURSE..AND I LONGED TO LIVE DOWNTOWN. I'M A CITY MOUSE. MY BROTHER HAD A LITTLE PLACE ON BURRARD STREET (one of the main streets in Downtown Vancouver) AND I WOULD GO STAY THERE AS OFTEN AS I COULD.

...I LOVELOVELOVE BURRARD STREET...

...THE UPTOWN OF DOWNTOWN...

PERFECT LOCATION....STARBUCKS...SCOTIABANK THEATRE...IGA...SUTTON PLACE WINE MERCHANT

AND

japaDOG

AWW, PLEASE READ THEIR SLOGAN?

ON BURRARD AND SMITHE

JAPADOG IS AN ASIAN TWIST TO AN AMERICAN CLASSIC...A MULTITUDE OF JAPANESE CONDIMENTS OF YOUR CHOICE ARE ADDED TO THE WIENIE...TURNING IT INTO AN INCREDIBLY WEIRD, YET UTTERLY TASTY STREET MEAL

THE MOST POPULAR HOTDOG THEY HAVE IS THE TERIMAYO...BUT MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE IS DEFINITELY THE OROSHI...BUT SEE FOR YOURSELF..

MENU

HERE WE HAVE THE OROSHI, THE TERIMAYO AND SOME CONCOCTION WITH WATERCRESS...BEATS ME...

AFTER YOU BUY YOURSELF A TERIMAYO AND A SOFTDRINK...WALK DOWN ONE BLOCK AND RIGHT ON ROBSON STREET

theVAGsteps

VERY MUCH THE LITTLE MET..YES, NEW YORK..WE HAVE ONE TOO

VANCOUVER ART GALLERY, ROBSON STREET

WE ALL KNOW THAT HOT DOG STANDS ARE STAPLES OF CITY LIVING...THERE IS NOTHING LIKE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND GRABBING A HOTDOG ON THE GO...FOR SOME REASON, IT DOESN'T SEEM AS FATTENING WHEN YOU EAT IT ON THE STEPS OF THE VAG VIS-A-VIS VANCOUVER'S "ARTEEESTS," STUDENT'S, STREET VENDORS AND ROBSON STREET SHOPPERS...

...ENJOY YOUR WIENER...HA

GOODNIGHTFRIENDS!

SALT TASTING ROOM--VANCOUVER

LET'S FACE IT, VANCOUVER HAS YET TO BE COMMENDED FOR ITS FOOD TRIP POTENTIAL

CALLING FOODIES AROUND THE WORLD. DISCOVER VANCOUVER. IT'S NEXT TO SEATTLE.

saltTASTINGroom

45 BLOOD ALLEY, GASTOWN

VANCOUVER BC, CANADA

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN ALL OF VANCOUVER. THE FIRST PLACE I TAKE FRIENDS WHO VISIT.

THE LOCATION IS NOT WHAT US VANCOUVERITES CALL WELCOMING. LOCATED IN BLOOD ALLEY, A TINY, OFF BEAT STREET IN GASTOWN (Vancouver's Soho). THE SALT TASTING ROOM IS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE ALL TOGETHER.

THE MENU IS SIMPLE.

GUESTS ASSEMBLE A TASTING PLATE FROM THE CHALKBOARD'S SELECTION OF

10 CHEESES

10 MEATS

10 CONDIMENTS

THE SELECTIONS CHANGE CONSTANTLY, MAKING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE THE SAME SALT EXPERIENCE TWICE.

WHAT I DO, HOWEVER, SINCE I KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT PAIRING WINE, CHEESE, AND MEAT AS I DO ABOUT ASTROPHYSICS...I SUBMIT MYSELF TO THE OH SO TALENTED WAITSTAFF.

AND BOY DO THEY KNOW THEIR STUFF.

MENU GOOD FOR TWO

THAT THEY CHOOSE FOR YOU

BUTCHER PLATE ($15)

(3 meats + 3 condiments)

+

CHEESE MONGER PLATE ($15)

( 3 cheeses + 3 condiments)

+

WINE FLIGHT ($15)

(three 2 oz. tasters)

...or if you are visiting British Columbia for the first time...

BEST OF BC PLATE ($15)

(mix of 3 locally produced items = 3 condiments)

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE MENU

MY FAVOURITE PAIRINGS:

Ash Camembert w/ Quince (aka. Membrillo)

OR

Blue Cheese w/ Honey Comb

RESERVATIONS

IMAGES TAKEN FROM www.salttastingroom.com

GOODNIGHTFRIENDS!