butter flour milk sugar

aunt stella's handmade cookies & cakes.

{{ nutella in the morning }}

from here

On Sunday, we made crepes for breakfast. I love crepes and I haven't had one for so long! Not only had I not had crepes for a long time, I hadn't had nutella for a looooong time.

This hazelnut flavoured chocolate spread is probably one of my favourite things in the world. It's great with thick toast (only with Asian bread though because they are sweeter in general. It's okay with regular white bread, but significantly not as good). It's great with banana slices in a sandwich and it's great with banana slices in a crepe. It's great. period.

note:

Unlike a regular white loaf of bread , asian white loaf doesn't have that round top, but is actually a perfect square in cross section. Slices of approximately 1" is most ideal for thick toast. Spread nutella on the bread and make a shallow cross with the knife across the top. Put this in the toaster oven until it's warm and a little crunchy at the top. yum!

Other common spreads for thick toast are: peanut butter, strawberry jam, butter, and, condensed milk.

As I was randomly searching on the internet, I found out that there is actually a World Nutella Day. I should've known. I mean, why wouldn't there be? It's on 5 February and I can't believe I missed it this year! Anyway, now i know for next year.

While we are talking about chocolate, I had a full pack of Ritter sport just now. It's my overeating self acting out again. I feel so sick and it's completely my fault. Where did my self-control go? I seem to be able to control myself better over the weekend. School sucks. Schools stresses me out. School makes me eat. I need to go to Bikram.

Anyway, Ryan and I have found great recipes that we want to try out this weekend. Excited!

{{ Grocery list }}

Things I wish to buy:

• Fig Jam
• Maple Syrup
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Apples
• Yellow Tomatoes
• Cob's Coffee & Date Loaf
• Steel cut oatmeal
• fresh carrots
• yellow split pea
• Patisserie Bordeaux's almond croissant

{{ Must Visit Soon }}

originally uploaded by emshim.

Patisserie Lebeau

I haven't been for weeks, actually months. We had planned on going, but we can never find the time when everybody's available.

Soon. I promise. Soon.

Panini for lunch

Second time making bread. The first time I made foccacia: rosemary and jalepeno with cheese. This is a farmer's loaf. It's very very dense. When it is done, the bread sounds hollow when you hit it at the bottom. 

We made panini from the bread. We made an eggplant casserole the day before and used it as fillings for the panini. 

I love having a panini press. 

Delicious

apple goodness

first time making a tart

apple tart

delectable.

summer is here

nutella and banana crepe, anyone?

Sustainability

Vancouver is one of the leading cities of sustainability in Canada. Today I went to EPIC Expo (Sustainability Living Expo, Green Living Exhibition) that is held in the newly expanded Vancouver Convention Center. We've been getting beautiful weather here in Vancouver yet I don't have my camera here to take photographs. Anyway, the building looks dashing in the sun. The green roof and the peculiar exterior shape of the building make it one of the most unique buildings in Vancouver. The interior is just as impressive. The wooden panels on the ceiling made it very, well.. West Coast. 

I bought a pair of earrings today from the Expo. This vancouver based brand is Billy Would. I've forgotten how much I adore wooden jewelry. Along with beautiful jewelry, the business card is absolutely adorable. 

There was a fashion show while I was there, and there were some very unique, sustainable, stylish and comfy looking clothes. I really liked this green top by Rio Rain but the sizes they had were too big for me. 

I really want shoes and clothes...

PS Had an almond croissant from Patisserie Bordeaux for breakfast. I think I might actually try something different next time - Pain au Chocolat. 

PSS I am in love with the miche bread from Patisserie Bordeaux. I bought a loaf and ate half a loaf within the hour. It's 'that' delicious. 

What's my next green step?

A morning walk

I went to bed pretty late last night; however, I got up fairly early and decided to go for a walk. I started walking down 10th and was amused by how cute some of the houses were. It wasn't a good day for taking photos. It was a dark, gloomy day (at least in the morning). I still enjoyed myself though. 

Bottom Right photo: This house looked quite out of place. All the other houses were cottage-like little houses and this one was more modern looking than most. At the top window, a mannequin can be seen. Every time I walk or bus by, the mannequin is always dressed in a different garment. I wonder what the owner of this house does for a living? A designer? Perhaps. 

According to Ryan, I never shut up about this bakery. The thing is, it is so peculiar and inviting. It's extraordinary. It stands out from its surroundings. I have yet to try the bread there. My intention was to get the artisan peasant bread from there today, but it was closed today. It seems like most unique patisseries and boulangeries are closed on Mondays. One of my favourite places, Patisserie Bordeaux, was closed today as well. I was craving for an almond croissant...

I've gone to Transivania Bakery numerous times to try to get the famous, rustic peasant bread, but I was always 10 steps too late. They sell out very quickly. When I eventually get a loaf, I will write another blog. 

Folkart Interiors is a Canadian antique store located on 10th just before Alma. Like the bakery, the shop has character. Many stores weren't open yet when I was taking my walk so I could only peek in. It looked like a very fascinating store. It reminds me of a lifestyle in the country. It's soothing and relaxing. 

PS The weather seems to be getting better and better. Maybe summer is finally coming..

PSS 3 more exams.

coco et olive - my new favourite place

I have been talking about going to coco et olive for the longest time. Today I finally did. Coco et Olive is located in Kitsilano near Alma. There is a 17 bus stop right outside of the cafe. If you take the B-line and get off at the Alma stop, you'll have to walk a little bit. It's roughly across from the Eatery.  

This place is absolutely adorable. It's owned by a French couple. There is wireless internet and a wonderful place for studying and for people to meet up and snack. I got myself an americano, a pain au chocolat and a (I don't remember what it is called) almond macaroon. They are so delicately made that it was absolutely worth every penny I paid for.  

The almond macaroon was unlike anything I've tasted before. I am usually not a fan of macaroons because they are exceedingly sweet, but this one was perfect. It's moist inside and has got a lot of almondy flavour.  

The pain au chocolat was equally good. The dough - is that what you call it? - or the pastry part is very very tasty. Unlike some other ones I've tried, this tasted fresh and delicate. I could taste that the chocolate inside is of pretty good quality. It was "oh my!" so good.  

There were so many different things I wanted to try but I've decided to save it for another day. I stayed there for a couple of hours and was very efficient with my studying. I also saw some unsalted organic peanut butter that looked very tasty. I will definitely go back again - maybe soon than expected - and try some of the other delicious treats!

Croissants!!

I have forgotten how much I love croissants. 

I have decided to take exploration trips all over Vancouver to try to find the best croissants. I made my first short trip between my classes today to Patisserie Bordeaux. Their almond croissant is their specialty. I've never had an almond croissant before and I was more than excited to try it. The croissant itself looks smaller than any other croissants I've ever tried before, but the amount of sliced almonds on top and the almond paste buried within the flaky dough is generous. The dough has a lot of texture when you chew on it. I was snickering like a fool as I sat on a stool by the window by myself in Woodward, savouring this delectable treat. Unlike the stale-tasting croissant I had this morning from the cafeteria, this one satisfied my day.

Vancouver Croissant has an attractive website that tells me that their croissants are something special. They have 29 different types of croissants and 4 certified organic croissants. The Burnaby location is where they manufacture the croissants and sell frozen ones by boxes. Capers carry their fresh croissants. I can't wait to make a trip down to 4th Ave. 

William Sonoma sells croissants made by pastry chef Jean-Yves Charon. I think you have to order them and then they get mailed to you. These are frozen ones as well and they are supposedly really really good. 

It is most unfortunate that I do not have a freezer, a kitchen, or an oven. With frozen croissants, they can be taken out the night before and leave in room temperature for proofing. They will double in size and teasingly say "poke me, poke me." Then you poke them and say your ooooo's and ahhh's. You then put these fellows into the oven and when they are golden on top, it is time to enjoy a freshly baked croissant!

Maybe next year...

In the mean time, there is more croissant hunting to do. 

COBS vs Terra Breads

Vancouver's most well known bakeries are COBS and Terra Breads. I must admit, even though there were COBS on the island, I've never tried it until I came to Vancouver. COBS started in Vancouver in 2003 and has stores all over Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the first store in the States opened in 2007, located in Bellevue, WA. Of all the different types of bread I've tried from COBS, I love Cape Seed the best! When Ryan and I go out to Kits to get groceries, we always stop by COBS to pick up some Cape Seed Loaves. The smell of the sesames and poppy seeds always lured us into eating slices on the bus. Like all breads, they are best eaten fresh. Just last months, we tried their scones. I think the one with chives is really good. During the Christmas holiday, my family bought one with jalapenos in it. My parents are huge fans of jalapenos so they absolutely loved it. 

It was recently that I've come across Terra Breads. I have always heard about it and have been told that I would like it better than COBS. I guess it is because I take the 99 B-line more often than the 4 so I don't go down to 4th avenue very often, which is where the closest Terra Bread is located. When I finally went down there, I was blown away by the huge selection of baked goods they have. I didn't even know where to begin. I didn't know which one to try first!

One of Terra Breads' characteristics is that they use the method of sourdough culture. It is defined as "a mixture of flour and water which attracts the natural yeast from the air and from the flour" (Terra Breads). This makes the dough rise slowly and eventually the bread will have a beautiful crust and be moist inside. When I saw the different types of bread they have, all the loaves looked super hard on the outside. The lady at the store told me that a crisp crust with the inside being soft and moist is the most preferable. I guess I just had bad experiences with really really hard crust. 

The first loaf I bought at Terra Breads was the green olive loaf. It's delectable. I preferred it over the Pane di Casa Olive Loaf from COBS, which was made with black olives. I don't know if it is because black olives are saltier than green olives but the Pane di Casa Olive loaf was a little too salty for me. I was astonished by the amount of olive used in the bread though. I haven't tried enough of the loaves from Terra Breads to be 100% certain of my preference of the two bakeries. Right now I'm still leaning towards the buying loaves from COBS - probably because of my hesitance with hard/crisp crust. However, Terra Breads is the winner of the two for pastries!!

I went to Terra Breads with my mum earlier this week and we bought three baked goods: Peach tart, apricot oatmeal cookie, and their most popular blueberry (with chunks of white chocolate) bread. We had them for dessert that night when we had dinner at Ryan's. We all loved the blueberry bread. I've had similar ones from Blue Chip Cookies from the SUB at UBC. The one from Blue Chip is called the fruit scone and had all sorts of different types of fruits on top with little chunks of, I think, cream cheese. Don't get me wrong, the fruit scone from Blue Chip is quite good but after trying the blueberry bread from Terra Bread, the difference is significantly noticeable. The dough is absolutely to die for. It's chewy. It's moist. It's Wow. 

The day after I've tried the blueberry bread, I wanted to try the grape bread that I've been eyeing. Mama and I went to Granville Island the next day because she needed to go to Maiwa, which is a crafts store that sells yarns, knitting tools, dyes etc. PS. My mum weaves and is recently very interested in dying yarns. Anyway, we were at the public market where another Terra Breads store is located. I took the opportunity and purchased the grape bread. It is absolutely amazing, I think I like it even better than the blueberry bread! I love grapes. 

I told my friend Alexis about it and she found it weird to use grapes in baked goods. I encouraged her to try it because a lot of times we are used to what we like that we are hesitant to try things that sound strange to us. An example would be zucchini bread, which is one of my favourite things to make. 

Terra Breads also sells homemade granola. I ate it yesterday with vanilla yogurt (it was also the first time I've eaten granola with yogurt; I usually eat it with soy milk) and I have to say that it was the best granola I've ever had! I could really taste the honey in the granola and the taste of all the nuts was deliciously present. There are so many ingredients in the mix that I was completely satisfied after eating it. Terra Breads uses organic ingredients in most of of their breads, as well as in the granola. Terra Breads first opened in 1993 and has been a peanut-free bakery since 1996.

Both COBS and Terra Breads do not sell day-old breads. At the end of the day, they give their leftover breads to charity and community kitchens. 

I will continue to go to both bakeries because both are equally superb. Terra Breads originated in Vancouver as well and has three locations:

Kitsilano Bakery and Cafe (the original location) - 2380 West 4th Avenue

False Creek Bakery and Cafe - 53 West 5th Avenue

Granville Island Bakery - Public Market

As for COBS, which stands for Canada's Own Bread Store, it is everywhere. The closest ones to UBC are located at:

2837 West Broadway

2320 West 4th Avenue (just a couple of stores down from Terra Breads)

Images via COBS et Terra Breads

Ottavio Cafe in Oak Bay

Last weekend when I was back in Victoria, mother and I decided to visit this cafe in Oak Bay that we've heard so much about. Ottavio is an Italian Bakery and Delicatessen located in the Oak Bay village. I must admit, I never go to the Oak Bay village. It's quite a ways away from where I live and it would require many transfers to get there by public transportation. 

We had grilled panini that were very delectable. I love the atmosphere and the things they sell there. There's bread, cookies, baked goods, salamis, cheeses, imported crackers and sauces, freshly made dips and spreads. I love everything about it. I like it almost as much as pure vanilla. Pure vanilla is a little smaller and doesn't sell as much stuff, but it is cozy. The food there is delicious, especially there panini, soup and salad. The selection for baked goods is smaller but all the baked goods are absolutely beautiful. The patio at the back and the interior both look very inviting. I haven't been for awhile, but I'll make sure to take some photos next time I go. 

 I should try some sometime

they look absolutely delicious

The brioches they sell looked absolutely yummy but I was way too full to eat another one. And when I've decided that I'm going to buy one to bring home, they were all gone...

Families bring their children to the cafe, each with their own toques and scarves. They were adorable. It was these little angels who were munching on the brioches that I wanted!

I liked the crow

This little store besides the cafe looks equally inviting

There is another cafe that I want to try in Victoria called Cascadia Bakery, which I heard it one of the best! I don't know when I'll go back to Victoria again, but I intend to discover more delicious places in Vancouver, which I am sure there are many.