Tea Time in H Tasting Lounge

It has been planned a few months earlier, right after our afternoon tea at Trump Vancouver on one snowy weekend. We have decided that the next tea salon to visit will be the H Tasting Lounge of Westin Bayshore.

Aircraft illustration on the menu cover

H Tasting Lounge is still new to the afternoon tea scene of Vancouver, but it seems it has everything to match other tea salons in all Metro Vancouver could offer.

Live music was playing a favourite song as we were led to our seat, hinting that this experience will be different than others. The weather was lovely, and to our luck, we were seated beside the floor to ceiling window so we were able to see outdoors. The tea menu was presented to us, they carry the same brand of Tea as L' Orangerie's. While waiting for our tea set to arrive, my sister and I savoured the live music as we admired the H Tasting Lounge's interiors. The whole soul of the lounge pays honour of Westin's one-time resident - Howard Hughes.  

The menu has an illustration of an aircraft on the outside and a quote from the man, who was an aircraft enthusiast and a pilot himself: 

These were the unique experiences we had on this occasion: it's our first time having a candy floss, very nicely perched on the silvery trunk to form a pink tree. The whole tea set was presented in four sets - the Ferris wheel tray for the savouries, a glass box for the sweets, a plate for the scones, and the whatsitsname for the candy floss that formed into a tree and underneath it rest the confiture and butter for the scones. No tiered tray and still fab - big plus having a crooner with a seductive voice as background music!

Afternoon tea set

Ferris wheel tray - Learn the art of balancing act ೕ(•̀ᴗ•́)

As for our favourites: Pork bao and the steamed bun with salty yolk filling. The menu at that time seems to have a good mix of the typical afternoon tea fare - scones, cucumber sandwich, with Eastern touch. I am looking forward coming to H Tasting Lounge when they have their own themed afternoon tea in the near future and perhaps get myself a cocktail too. ( ͝° ͜ʖ͡°)つY

Reissue

Visiting this cafe was the main highlight of the day; I pictured myself clearly - me in a charming coffee house, admiring my coffee that was designed by a master latte artist!

There's plenty of coffee places around Metro Vancouver that does latte art, but I haven't encountered who does beautiful frothy sculptures, being in Tokyo where's there a handful of cafe that specialized in latte art, it should be an experienced that I shouldn't miss!

You have arrived!

Reissue Cafe is known for its beautiful masterpieces on their coffee, bring a picture or any image in your mind and few extra hundred ¥; the artist will painstakingly turn your cup of joe into a work of art.  Reissue is located on top of another establishment along the quieter street in Harajuku; once inside I was greeted with a very laidback vibe, I would have probably mistaken it as someone's else house if there's no extra tables around. We were still full from our hearty brunch earlier so we decided to pass from their food in their menu, we are looking forward to the latte art.

My dear husband 🐻ordered to have our baby Concha's photo that we got from his breeder, mine the 3D design - the pink Sugar cubs' character - 'Latte'.

Concha at 3 weeks
Photo credit to Cowboy Up Kennel

Concha on coffee ;)

Unfortunately our orders didn't arrived together, I was hoping that I could get a photo of both orders while the chocolate ink on the froth was still sharp, so pardon my photo of Concha on coffee, the chocolate has (verrry) slightly dispersed. As soon I received the 3D art, I snapped the photo of them side by side right away!

Sugar cubs' Latte and my forever pup Concha

Latte and Concha

Both were beautifully rendered, both tasted great! If I was not pregnant at that time, I would be ordering my second cup of coffee to request for another latte art and for more photos too, I guess sometimes, I can't have too much of the good thing...
They say that having a cup of coffee in a quiet day is one of greatest pleasure in life; having coffee rendered by an artist take this statement to the next level!

The Only 'Bill(s)' That Made Me Smile

Ricotta Hotcakes with fresh banana and honeycomb butter

Metro Vancouver has several names to boast of when it comes to a great brunch; I have been to several of them that my Instagram account has been a testament to my brunch adventures.

One morning, during our second trip to Tokyo, I suggested to my dear husband that we should check what Tokyo brunch scene has to offer; the baby inside seems to want to try a Tokyo brunch experience.

I seemed to noticed that fluffy pancakes are very popular in Japan, so I decided to try to find out what these fluffy pancakes are all about.

Based on my research, this place was dubbed "Best breakfast" by few write-ups on the web; good thing this Sydney-based restaurant chose Tokyo as one of the first cities outside Australia for Bill's international branch. We were planning to visit Reissue Cafe on that day and found out that Bills is just 5 minutes walk from it.

On the way to Bills

Located at the Seventh floor of Tokyu Tower, a short line up had already started to build up by the time we arrived. Not wanting to risk losing our spot, we decided to stay and 15 minutes later our table is ready. I checked the menu to see what else to try but my mind is made up. I came here for their ricotta hotcakes and ordered the herbed garlic mushroom for the side dish.

The pancakes look like flat yellow, pillowy marshmallows on top of the sliced banana. Can't help staring at them, it's nicely plated that I didn't want to eat it right away but my tummy is telling me otherwise. It would've been nice if I am enjoying my latte with a cool 3D design on it!

Pinch me! Pinch me!

Bills' airy interior is very inviting, it's busy without too much of the bustling energy. It would be nice to stay a little bit longer but there's so much exploring of Harajuku area to do, and the queue outside is getting longer. Time to let others have a taste of paradise ♡〜٩( ˃́▿˂̀ )۶〜♡

I finally found the 'Bill(s)' that makes me smile. Next destination...time to have my latte art.

Cruising? Are you on board?

Cruising is not for everybody, from someone who loves being in the water or anything seascape, I understand how uncomfortable it would be if Mother nature decides to rock our watery cradle as we sleep---not fun at all. But all the amenities and activities on the ship help to alleviate your insecurities in traveling the waters.

Deck of Pacific Princess

I am grateful to have experience cruising from my previous job. My Alaskan cruise left me with great experiences one of them is i get to participate in a champagne fountain, and the great deals in the ship's stores helped to jump-start my other hobby: Collecting crystal figurines (Photos will follow up soon).
Here are some of my photos from my trip in the Alaska cruise via Princess Cruises.

Greetings from Skagway

Servers, chef,s, and cooks doing their presentation, for our last night of cruising

Passing through the Great Glaciers

Bye Ketchikan!

Davao: Getting to know you through your food Pt. 1

"If my tummy could extend three times the limit and I was blessed with a laser fast metabolism..."

After staying in Manila for a few days; 🐻 and I flew to Davao city to visit a city where I spent the first few years of my life. I can remember myself speaking the local dialect fluently, being a little girl living a carefree life, enjoying Davao's local fruits, and my first school---L.C.A (now Ford Academy Of the Arts).

Visiting home after more than 20 years of being M.I.A brought a lot of nostalgic feelings now that I have my 🐻 with me in this trip, he gets to see a glimpse of my forgotten past; me rediscovering the old me that I left behind.

Our stay in Marco Polo Davao was fab and action-packed, being the official venue for the 2017 ASEAN Summit, and its delegates, We were caught up in the center of diplomatic buzz!

Marco Polo front entrance (above) and the lobby (top) displaying the hashtag for the 2017 ASEAN summit

Reintroducing Myself to Davao's Gastronomic Delights!

The highlight of my 3-day Davao homecoming was when we signed up for Mel's Davao Food Tour, iI figured that most of my fond memories of Davao are food-related, so going in for a food tour with my 🐻 would reunite me with good old times!

Bayong from Mel's

Bahay ni Tuding (Tuding's Inn), was the meeting point for the tour; We were greeted by Mel Pangan, the Proprietor of the inn, and also our tour guide. Being a local of Davao city, Mel knows all the best of authentic Davao.

Lakatan and Latundan varieties

The first stop of our tour was the Bankerohan Public Market - A big public market where she showcased the "Pineapple Samurais" --- pineapple vendors who can cut the pineapple in less than a minute without touching the flesh inside! The pineapple was served to us as our breakfast.

Pineapples (top right) Sweet potatoes and local cookware for sale (top left)

Using batirol to prepare the chocolate drink

Del Mar Painitan (Painitan from the root word 'init'---means hot/heat.) where the real culinary adventure starts. 

This place seems to be known for its puto maya and the kinutil - a beverage made of coconut toddy, native chicken egg, tablea (chocolate tablet), and evaporated milk. This is my first time having a puto maya, a rice cake made of purple glutinous rice, cooked in coconut milk, with a hint of ginger. It went well with kinutil that I miss so much.

I remembered my father making us kinutil when we're sick, we believe it has healing properties by sweating out the toxins out of the body, locals also claimed this yummy drink as an aphrodisiac! 

Purple glutinous rice 

Puto Maya and Kinutil