Tag Archives: cake

Croissanterie La Marseillaise

Croissanterie La Marseillaise Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - ZomatoThis was the second time visiting the cafe. The first time, I only had a tea with a friend, so I wanted to give it another try for their desserts. Same as last time, the cafe is pretty bare although being right on Granville in busy downtown. Also, like last time, the first thing you notice as you go in are the flies swarming around in the middle.

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idearabbit_croissanterie-la-marseillaise1Despite some reviews of rude customer service, we had a pleasant woman serve us. When Sheepie was picky on which cake he wanted, the lady came around to the front of the counter to see which one he was pointing at.

idearabbit_croissanterie-la-marseillaise2I ordered the Chocolate Cup $4.95.

 

idearabbit_croissanterie-la-marseillaise6 idearabbit_croissanterie-la-marseillaise7I love cream, but this was a HUGE load of cream. There were more custard cream in the cream puffs – though surprisingly only in one of them. It tasted good, but I was done when I had a third of it.

idearabbit_croissanterie-la-marseillaise3 idearabbit_croissanterie-la-marseillaise4Sheepie had 2 cakes and a Drip Coffee (12oz) $2.65.

When I couldn’t finish my Chocolate Cup, I asked for a to-go box, and the lady gladly packaged it up for me.

Not sure why it’s so empty, but it does make it a bit lonely to be in there with no customers. I’m not sure, but it seemed like one person came in to use the bathroom, the other to charge her phone? and another man was eating out on the patio tables, even though I don’t think he was their customer.

We usually go to Breka around the corner, which is why I thought we’d try something different for a change. Good customer service, but unfortunately, this wont be replacing our Breka.

Taste: carrotcarrotcarrot    Price for Value: carrotcarrotcarrot

Atmosphere:  carrotcarrot   Service:  carrotcarrotcarrot
Location: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrotcarrot

 

Escape! at Elements Casino

Escape - Elements Casino Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - ZomatoDisclaimer: *This was a complimentary meal. This post was not edited or written for monetary compensation, and are solely my opinions and observations.

Hours of Operation: Monday to Sunday 24 Hours
Address: 17755 60th Avenue Surrey B.C. V3S 1V3
Phone: 604.576.9141

idearabbit_elements-casino18I was kindly invited to the newly renovated Casino Elements for their exclusive dinner; a seven course dinner with all-you-can-eat dessert! I was pretty stoked!

It was hosted on a Friday evening, so trying to get from downtown to the location in Surrey took us 2 hours! However, it was totally worth the drive!!

idearabbit_elements-casino19idearabbit_elements-casino1 idearabbit_elements-casino3 idearabbit_elements-casino2Dinner was held at Escape! on the second floor. It was an open space, easily seating over 100 diners. One side is all glass, letting in natural light to brighten the room. There is a stage on one side where there are free live entertainment from bands, local acts, stand-up comics every Friday and Saturday night. Check their website to see who’s performing.

idearabbit_elements-casino4I started off with a Shirley Temple which was tropical and beautifully presented, getting me into a ‘summer’ like mood. It tasted good too! It’s been a while since I last had one :P

idearabbit_elements-casino20The executive chef Raymond Mah, nicknamed ‘Chef Ray’ cooked up a seven course meal for the event. Keep in mind that these items are served on various days.

idearabbit_elements-casino61. Tomato & Bocconcini, Sundried Tomato Pesto, Balsamic Glaze (Rating: 5/5)

MMMMmmmmmmm! Just loved it! The tomatoes were fresh and firm. The small mozzarella cheeses were semi-soft and the mix of herbs and balsamic glaze were just perfect! I could have just stuffed myself completely with this one dish!

idearabbit_elements-casino52. Antipasto Salad, Grilled veggies, Salami, Basil (Rating: 3/5)

Selection of cooked carrots, onions, red and green peppers, mushrooms and salami. Sheepie and I thought the onions were squid! LOL. This is just me, but I usually cook my veggies quite raw since I like the hardness or crunchiness (even if that means not getting the most nutrients from them, like  cooking mushrooms brings out more potassium), but I like them raw (or close to it). Something about gooey veggies that I don’t find as appetizing. I would still eat it of course. Since most of the items were plain (except the saltiness of the salami), it would have been nice to have some additions of olives.

idearabbit_elements-casino7Pork Loin, Grainy Mustard Apple Sauce (Rating: 4/5)

Beautifully presented with the colours and layout. The meat was super soft and juicy. It was very impressive!idearabbit_elements-casino8Baby Back Pork Ribs, Whiskey Smoked BBQ (Rating: 5/5)

I’ve rarely had ribs in my life (can I call myself a foodie then? lol). In fact, I don’t really remember ever having one in a good restaurant. I think I’ve avoided wings and ribs because they tend to be greasy and have rarely any meat to chew on. However, these ribs were huge and presented on a wooden board. These ribs were amazing! Wow! Glazed with rich, smokey BBQ sauce, the meat was plentiful and moist.  A big thumbs up!

idearabbit_elements-casino9Portuguese Paella (chorizo, shrimp, peppers, tomatoes, saffron) (Rating: 5/5)

Sheepie wasn’t overly thrilled, but that’s because he’s not a big fan of rice to begin with. My friend also commented that it wasn’t the dish she cared for, but I loved this dish! It was dryer than most paellas I have had, which I actually like better than some which are stickier and mushy. As a person who loves fried rice, this was a delight for me, lol.

idearabbit_elements-casino10Clam & Mussels in a Cioppino Broth

It turned out that the shells I picked up were all empty…so no comments on the contents of the shells, and it wasn’t much of a stew but the tomato was enriched by the herbs, wine and seafood umami.

idearabbit_elements-casino12Lemongrass Chicken w/ Mango Chutney (Rating: 4/5)

Sheepie LOVED this dish the most. He fell in love with it. The meat was juicy, with the right amount of burnt charcoal flavour on the edges. The pineapples gave it a sweet touch while at the same time giving it a cheerful and energizing visual appeal.

idearabbit_elements-casino21 idearabbit_elements-casino13Smoked Beef Brisket, Natural Jus

Nicely roasted on the outside, but kept super juicy and moist inside. It was 1/3 fat, so Sheepie and I ended up cutting those parts off, but otherwise, the natural jus covered brisket was delicious!

idearabbit_elements-casino11Salmon, Bacon Carbonara Jus (Rating: 4/5)

The salmon were soft and savoury.  The lightly flavoured cream went really well with the fish. I love salmon, so I had several pieces, hehehe. idearabbit_elements-casino14King Crab Legs, Garlic Steamed w/ Green onions (Rating: 3/5)

Sheepie and I found it to be a bit too salty. On top of that, the legs were topped with a lot of garlic. Like A LOT. Sheepie, who has a deficiency of tasting garlic, didn’t notice, but I found it very garlicky. Don’t get me wrong, I do love garlic, but it was a tad bit too much, so I had to scrap off a spoonful from some. The meat otherwise was superb quality.

idearabbit_elements-casino15Crab Claws, Butter Poached (3.5/5)

With most of us full, no one was from our table was attempting to go through the hassle of carving out the meat from the claws…which was unfortunate. Such good meat, rare to get and expensive to order! I did take some home, and had some there. It was loaded with a lot of meat, though slightly a bit fatty from the butter. But as a person who no longer have butter in her fridge (for about 5 years now), I become sensitive to when butter is used.

idearabbit_elements-casino22idearabbit_elements-casino16 idearabbit_elements-casino17idearabbit_escape_elementscasino_26Afterwards, there were unlimited desserts at the Diamond Buffet downstairs. I tried the vanilla and chocolate mix soft ice cream in a cone.

idearabbit_elements-casino24I also had the chocolate mousse pudding. Light and not overly sweet. Sheepie who has quite a bit of sweet tooth was in heaven!

WOW! All I can say is, what a paradise dinner! The staff were very professional and friendly. The food was amazing – just wished we had more time to eat them all!

Afterwards, we were given a tour of the casino, and the Encore Rewards card to play at the slot machines. I think I’m a bit addicted now! LOL.

Taste: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrotcarrot    Price for Value: N/A

Atmosphere:  carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot   Service:  carrotcarrotcarrotcarrotcarrot
Location: carrotcarrotcarrot

Fondway Cafe

Fondway Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - ZomatoDisclaimer: *This was a complimentary food event. This post was not edited or written for monetary compensation, and are solely my opinions and observations.

I was kindly invited by Chobee check out Fondway Cafe right across from Metrotown mall – making it very convenient for both drivers and public transit riders. The cafe could benefit from a lit signage above the cafe as it can be easily missed on a dark street and surrounding. However, the interior bright lights are sure to welcome you into the new cafe. (relocated from their previous location in Crystal Mall)

idearabbit-fondwaycafe1The interior was bright, open and spacious. Their decor was slightly hipsterish with vintage furniture, but very modern.  idearabbit-fondwaycafe3Large, easy to read blackboard menu. Gives it a personal touch and welcoming feel. Fair prices!idearabbit-fondwaycafe4Tons of selections on teas! They have more than 60 different blends of teas that come from all over the world.Each tag indicates the ingredients, ratings on ‘Concentration’, “Acidity’, or ‘Caffeine levels’, and how it is beneficial to our health. Tells you the cost per 100 or 50 g and also explained in Chinese. Very well thought out and designed/displayed. Their tea is brewed with a special machine ‘Teapresso’ that uses a 9-bar water pressurizer to extract the best flavour out of each and every kind of tea!idearabbit-fondwaycafe5Handcrafted sign. Food presentation was well articulated. I love how much attention is put into the details.

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There were an abundance of food available to try. It was amazing! idearabbit-fondwaycafe6Vintage and cute decor.idearabbit-fondwaycafe7Samples of tea to try out. I first tried the very left one, Passion Fruit. It’s very refreshing, I think it’d be great for the summer season. Later on, I tried the Caramel Tea – the smell of caramel was strong (in a good way), and I kept sniffing my cup because the smell was so delicious. Mmmm….idearabbit-fondwaycafe8All the ingredients were fresh, and delicious!idearabbit-fondwaycafe9 idearabbit-fondwaycafe10Consideration into all the details – even the little signs for food.idearabbit-fondwaycafe11Their menus were creative, printed on clear transparencies and nailed into a wooden board. Very slick and unique.idearabbit-fondwaycafe12Need to cleanse your mouth? Some lemon infused water, nicely and interestingly displayed.idearabbit-fondwaycafe13Very Asian sandwiches with the crust cut-off. idearabbit-fondwaycafe14The beautiful salads in interesting bowls. The leafy greens were nice and crisp, the dressing was light and the vinegar was refreshing.idearabbit-fondwaycafe15 idearabbit-fondwaycafe16Cool table top, but slightly hard to eat on if you have lots of plates with the raised rims. But still very unique. Love the double glass cups! Enhances the taste if the tea – looks beautiful and light to carry.idearabbit-fondwaycafe17 idearabbit-fondwaycafe18Interesting hooks for your coats and bags. Very convenient!idearabbit-fondwaycafe19 idearabbit-fondwaycafe20These Creme Caramel were my favourite! It was super smooth. Not too sweet. The syrup was runny, but it reminded me of the ones I used to eat while growing up. Fair price too! I’ll definitely be back for more of these :D idearabbit-fondwaycafe21Creativity fills the walls above our heads.idearabbit-fondwaycafe22Their ‘specialty’ dink – coffee with nitrogen gas! Their cold brewed coffee is infused with the gas to create a silky texture and bubbly taste – making it more creamier and richer.idearabbit-fondwaycafe23My plate: the waffle was chewy, but the texture was something I prefer – a bit denser. Not too sweet. The bite-size appey wasn’t so bite-size. It was a bit too big and fell apart several times while attempting to eat it. However, the ingredients were nice and fresh. Great mix of smoked salmon, lettuce, cheese and crackers.  Same goes for the sandwich – the ingredients were crisp and tasted light. idearabbit-fondwaycafe24The cream is light, and the flavour of earl grey in a cake is a new pleasant flavour. I love earl grey, and while I have tried earl grey gelato’s before, it was a first for a cake. Fair prices too. I had bites from the bottom due to the nuts on top. For that reason (nut allergy), I didn’t try the chocolate cake.idearabbit-fondwaycafe25Concentrated Chocolate Cakeidearabbit-fondwaycafe26So beautifully made!idearabbit-fondwaycafe27 idearabbit-fondwaycafe28This was a coffee with honey and lemon. It was refreshing. With ice and the zesty taste, it would be great for the hot summer.idearabbit-fondwaycafe29Cheesecake! Spongy, and dense. Not too sweet, but quite creamy.

Unfortunately,  since the pieces of food were large, I didn’t get a chance to try everything at the media event. But that means I’ll have to come back to try out more!idearabbit-fondwaycafe30Unique vintage furniture.idearabbit-fondwaycafe31 idearabbit-fondwaycafe32Last but not least, as a take-home gift, I got two tea bags of their wonderful teas. Love the care and effort in their branding, packaging, and great, friendly staff. The teas were amazing. I wish I had more room in my belly to drink and try out more. I’ll be back for sure! Must come back with Sheepie and/or friends. If it were in my neighbourhood, I’d be going to it all the time!

If you want to have a special sneak peek, check out their grand opening happening this Saturday!

——–  Fondway Cafe Grand Opening!   ——–
Saturday. Nov. 21, 12:00 – 7:00pm
4462 Beresford Street, Burnaby
Next to Metrotown Skytrain

A set menu will be provided for an entree fee of $20 dollars, there will be two options to choose from. Go check it out! You wont be disappointed!

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Taste: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrotcarrot    Price for Value: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot

Atmosphere:  carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot   Service:  carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot
Location: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrotcarrot