I'm a big fan of pizza. I am also a big fan of poutine (A Canadian dish. Basically fries, cheese curds, and gravy). But why is it only now I have heard of this amazing Pizza Hut pizza?!

I don't want to sound like a Pizza Hut Ad, but this gooey-looking pizza truly brings out my Canadian spirit and foodie. Why wouldn't you want fries, gravy, beef, and cheese curds on your pizza?

When I go back to Vancouver this coming March, I am DEFINITELY going to have to buy one of these. Just looking at it makes my mouth water.

So what do I think about this pizza?

First of all, Pizza Hut is the only chain pizza that serves this unique Canadian twist on pizza. I mean, I'm sure the advertising images look 100x more attractive then the actual served dish itself, but to me that's not the point. I don't expect too much decoration from chain places like this, but it's the taste of it. I have yet to taste this pizza, but hopefully it's everything I expect: a tomato sauced pizza mixed with gravy, cheese, and french fry crunchiness.

Unfortunately, this good-looking pizza is only sold in Canadian Pizza Hut. Perks of living in Canada. But honestly, I can't wait to get my hands on this greasy pie. Now I really can't wait to go back home.

"And I don't cook, either. Not as long as they still deliver pizza." 

-Tiger Woods

That awkward moment when your previous post was about eating healthy but then you post about your awesome experience in Shake Shack. Just me? Oh. Okay.

For all you foodies out there who's ventured out to NYC, many of you will know or at least hear the name Shake Shack in your visits here. This awesome burger joint is probably one of the best burgers I've had so far. Whether it was the hype or the actual food itself, I had a great time eating here.

Of what I heard about this place, their shakes are supposedly the best in town and their burgers are killer.

691 8th Ave, New York, NY, 10036

So we walked to the Time Square location because it was closest to us. And as we suspected, it was packed. The line literally started outside the restaurant itself.

Even inside, the people were getting ready to grab tables as soon as anyone stood up. After we finally made our orders, we waited and attempted to find seats. Unfortunately, we weren't fast enough for these other hungry New Yorkers. So my roommate Eli googled "places to sit down and eat" and the closest place we could find was Bryant Park. As soon as we got our meals, we ran. Varvar, another one of my roommates, had issues with his shake. "I'm going to finish this by the time we get there. Everytime I take a sip, I tell myself to stop, then I take another sip." By the time we found our seats, I was 3/4th finished with my shake.

StackShack and Fries with Cheese

So I ordered the StackShack (cheese burger with fried and breaded mushroom), fries with cheese, and a peanut butter milk shake. The StackShack was amazing (or I was really hungry). It took me no longer than 5 minutes to devour this amazing burger. The mushrooms were bold and complimented the burger. I also liked the crunch it added to the burger. Their "special sauce" was also great. It had the same color of Thousand Island Sauce and was sweet. The cheese was gooey and delicious and the burger wasn't too bad. Overall, I think this burger was excellent. Much better than 5-Guys or any other fast food burger joints out there.

The Fries with Cheese was okay. Really not much special. It's wavy, but that's about it. The cheese didn't help too much as well. I mean it added a layer of flavor but it could've gone without it. The cheese tasted the most artificial actually. It tasted like the cheap kind of cheese that comes with movie nachos. I also didn't like how it was packed in another container, but I think that was because I ordered mine "to go". Overall, the fries with cheese wasn't anything to die for. It isn't something I'd recommend, but it isn't something I'd tell you not to get. Personally, I would've been satisfied with either choice.

Finally, the Peanut Butter Shake. Oh my god. My expectations for this was high and I am happy to tell you that this was an amazing taste. The peanut butter flavor was very subtle but it was there. It wasn't too powerful. I was afraid that it would just be drinkable peanut butter but its texture was perfect. I mean, being a college student, I've had a good amount of Shamrock Shakes from McDonalds, which I think was really good. But this shake is in a league of its own. Overall, this shake is a MUST HAVE  in Shake Shack. I was between the Caramel Shake and the Peanut Butter Shake, but my peanut butter craving won this time.

Peanut Butter Shake

Really, I'd go back just for the shakes.

Big meals, little tables

This place was a great place to eat. The line was long but the service was quick, the meals arrived in under 10 minutes, and everything tasted great. If you're new to NYC or if you're visiting, this is a place you MUST enjoy a burger in. By the end of this meal, you will have a new set of high standards for fast food burger places.

"You can find your way across this country using burger joints the way a navigator uses stars."
-Charles Kuralt

Started things off fresh today. I know you guys could care less about my wanna try and eat healthy thing and would rather see a bacon cheese burger. The fact that I don't want to be a 600lbs boyfriend and not have 6 rolls for my mom's wedding means that I have to replace some meals for a healthy, green shake.

647 Lexington Avenue (Lexington Ave. between 55th St & 56th St), New York, NY, 10022

Thank god for Juicy Cube. If you're Canadian like me, you'd know places like Jugo Juice or Booster Juice. It's basically the sourness and bold tastes of Booster Juice with the thickness of Jugo Juice. It's all made with real fruit, which is nothing too fancy, but great for my health.

This actually what I ordered. I mean how healthy can you get if you order a drink called "Greenlicious"? 

The place itself is actually very health aware. They sell a lot of protein bars, vegetable chips, kale chips, and even fresh coconuts.

And the menu doesn't just have vegetable shakes, but shakes you guys would probably enjoy!

I've been to this exact juice bar about five times now. Unfortunately, this time around I forgot to order Vanilla Whey Protein in my drink to add sweetness and protein (which was a terrible idea because it meant that I could taste the "healthiness"). Usually it's much sweeter with the extra protein. This is also helpful because I usually workout at 8PM before class and pick one of these up on the way to campus. 

So if by chance you guys go there, I recommend you order a Greenlicious + Vanilla Protein Whey. It'll cost you under $10.

"I think if you shake a tree, you ought to be around when the fruit falls to pick it up"

-Mary Cassatt

For those who missed out on my last update, Fantasy Friday is where I talk about fictional food from video games, movies, and TV shows that I am interested in trying. Now, welcome to my first post for FANTASY FRIDAY!

Let me get this straight: the mash up of Disney and Final Fantasy to create Kingdom Hearts was pure genius. A game full of action with a compelling story that involved epic moments from famous Disney characters, there is nothing more a geek like me could ask for. Seriously, you fight side by side with Donald Duck who's a wizard and Goofy who's a knight. Did I mention Mickey Mouse has a sword? You even fight along side Hercules, Aladdin, and even TRON! I mean, this game was basically your childhood turned badass.

When I played Kingdom Hearts II, I noticed that among Axel, Xion, and Roxas (one of our protagonists), that when things get stressful they go up to the roof of a building in Twilight Town and eat this strange, blue ice cream called Sea Salt Ice Cream.

Axel (left), Roxas (middle), Xion (right)

This ice cream was described to be sweet and salty in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. Its blue color comes from its resemblance to the sea (Duh, "Sea" Salt Ice Cream). Apparently, the director of Kingdom Hearts II, Tetsuya Nomura, had this ice cream when he visited the Tokyo Disneyland Resort and liked it so much that he put them in his games.

Sea Salt Ice Cream

Personally, the reason why I took so much interested in this cold treat was because it was Axel and Roxas' favorite snack. In fact, Kingdom Hearts has a HUGE selection of consumable ice creams to choose from. And when I say huge, I mean HUUUGEEEE!!!

This is a few of the vast selection

Yes, many of those ice creams look a 1000x more delicious than the Sea Salt Ice Cream itself. But as a gamer, you must understand to look past its bold and detailed designs and look at the originals. The Sea Salt Ice Cream is the face of ice creams in the Kingdom Heart series. It's become so famous that it has its own fanbase. Yes, a fanbase for fictional ice cream. It sounds crazy, but many gamers like me share the same feeling for this iconic ice cream. 

Many have made recipes...

                                     

(A video by Feast of Fiction)

fan art...

and even parodies!

                                      

(Video by Pikangie)

As you can see, this fantasy ice cream had a great impact in the gaming community. Even writing about it for this blog is giving me the sweet tooth. Great, now I'm hungry for ice cream.

I hope you enjoyed Fantasy Friday and stay tuned for more to come!

"It's salty... but sweet, too"

-Roxas (Kingdom Hearts II)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner? I'd have avocado any day. A lot of people think, "Avocados? No way! That stuff is full of fat and that'll get me fat blah blah." The truth is... Okay, you got me. Avocados DO have fat. But what you have to realize that not ALL fat is bad for your body. Most of an avocado's calories come from monounsaturated fat, which is considered to be healthy for you. This healthy fat actually lowers your risks of stroke, heart disease, and cancer! It also helps your body absorb nutrients and eases regulation of bodily functions. Not only do avocados contain healthy fat, but it comes with loads of fiber and vitamins!

BOOM! KNOWLEDGE! (Didn't expect that from foodie did ya?)

AAAANNYWAAYSS... *casual transition*

Since I didn't have much food left in the fridge and food delivery stops at 730PM at La Baguette, a diner where they accept our dining dollars, I had to be resourceful. 

So what did I have left? Avocados, toast, eggs, and bread. Enough to make this beauty.

Both healthy and delicious, this fiber-loaded treat is very easy to make.

Ingredients:

-1 egg

-1 slice of bread

-1 avocado

-Butter, oil, or PAM(since I'm in college...) for frying

-Olive oil

-Salt and Pepper

Steps:

1. Toast bread
2. Heat butter/oil/PAM on high heat.
3. Crack egg into pan
4. Cut avocado in half, remove pit, remove skin, dice, mash with olive oil in a bowl until spreadable (if you like it chunky keep it chunkier).
5. Spread avocado mash on toast. Top with fried egg. Season with salt and pepper to your desire.

BOOM! DONE!

Health Tips & A Recipe. You're welcome, foodies. The best part about this meal: the runny yolk. I'm trying to keep it healthy this week because this weekend, I'm hitting up NYC's Famous "Shake Shack." with my roommates. Mmm... Burgers... Fries... Excessive amounts of oil...

"If you have nothing but love for your avocados, and you take joy in turning them into guacamole, all you need is someone to share it with."

-Jason Mraz

Hello once again foodies! I hope you are all doing well! I haven't been posting much this week because of the workload I received from my classes. Not only that, but also this afternoon, my roommates discovered that we had bed bugs in our dorm! That means we have to put every single fabric (shirts, rugs, beddings, etc) in a plastic bag and put them all in the dryer after the pest control visits us tomorrow morning.

With all this hanging on my shoulder, I've been living off protein bars and triple grande cappuccinos. Life has been a bit bitter lately. 

That's a Quest Bar, by the way. It's the most amazing protein bar I've ever had.

On the up side, I am announcing a new weekly addition called Fantasy Friday! As some of you may know, I am, what one may call, a "geek". Yes, I love video games. Yes, I love super heroes. But more importantly, I love food. That is why I am incorporating these two aspects of my life and creating Fantasy Friday!

8-bit deliciousness

Fantasy Friday is where I discuss fictional foods I REALLY want to try from video games, movies, television series, and more! As a foodie, I venture towards searching for the best kinds of things to eat. I take that step to a whole other level(up) and compare these fictional foods to possible dishes and maybe even provide a recipe. Not only that, I'm also going to be giving you, the hungry viewer, a brief history lesson on these pixelated goodness! Be excited for this Friday to fill your life bars with all kinds of geeky food INT!

+1 Food INT
+4 Awesome

"Red Wizard Needs Food Badly!"

-Gauntlet Legends (Video Game)

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But before I go, this is a little sneak peak for the upcoming Fantasy Friday's fictional food...

I wonder what he "seas"...

Today I was working on a paper for my Wednesday class and I proposed the single, most greatest idea to my roommates: "Let's have doughnuts."

And so it began, the journey to Doughnut Plant.

I originally found this place when I watched an episode of the Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." and when I saw it, I just knew I had to go there one day. Since I live in the Upper East Side, it was quite the hike to get W 23rd St. We had to take the 6 train, catch the Time Square shuttle, then hop on to another train (I'm not very good when it comes to traveling by train. I just follow my roommate, Eli). Anyways, after a twenty-minute adventure, we finally made it to the Doughnut Plant.

Doughnut Plant - 220 W 23rd St, New York, NY

This was actually a pretty cheap place. My donuts cost about $3.50 so it was a great price for a delicious treat. It was like a cute, little café and you can tell that they put a lot of work into the place. A nice hole-in-a-wall kind of place.

Even their pillows look delicious!

I was even surprised by their variety of doughnuts you can choose from.

Doughnut Plant's Menu

Like seriously, there was a good amount to choose from.

This is only half of their selection!

But there were two that truly caught my eye:

1) Peanut Butter and Blackberry Jam

and 2) Valrhona Chocolate

Peanut Butter and Blackberry Jam

This beautiful doughnut is one of the most unique doughnuts that I've ever seen. I mean, I'm not one to hop from one doughnut shop to another, but have you ever seen a square doughnut filled with jam? You have? Oh, well I haven't! I was so surprised when I took my first couple of bites and discovered this hidden treasure. 

Yes, that is jam!

This doughnut was really delicious. I devoured this peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwich-inspired treat as if it was nothing. The nuts it's coated with really complimented the texture of the soft dough and jelly with its crunchy bites. If you guys ever go here, this doughnut is a MUST try! This was so good, even my roommate Eli ordered one.

Now comes round two: Valrhona Chocolate and Whole Milk

Valrhona Chocolate (It has a pink thong!)

I can tell you one thing: looks CAN deceive you. This is a direct quote my friend Christian told me when he took a bite, "This taste... this kinda taste like old people." and old people it tasted. The chocolate was so unexciting that it is comparable to a Dunkin' Donut's Chocolate Frosted Donut. For a nice place like this, this basic chocolate doughnut wasn't very good. Thank god I had bought the milk to drain down this disappointment. I mean, yeah, it's cool that it has a little thong, but taste is a HUGE part of the pastry.

Overall, Doughnut Plant is pretty great though I gave the Valrhona Chocolate a bad review. All of my roommates enjoyed their doughnuts and the café was well decorated and a social butterfly with people coming in and out. Doughnut Plant is a place where the bolder you go the better of an experience you will get. The Peanut Butter and Blackberry Jam is not a common flavor for a doughnut, but it's taste was amazing. Unfortunately I can't say too much for their basic chocolate doughnut.

Lesson learned: Try something new and be bold.

"I worship scones and danishes. If I never had another meal, I wouldn't care as long as I could eat pastries and jelly doughnuts."

--Gene Simmons (KISS)

For the past couple of days, my roommates and I have been stuck in our dorms playing video games and watching Netflix due to laziness and failure to be more eventful. Since the weather outside was too dreadful, we resorted to our good 'ol friend, Seamless and microwavable food.

Sushi and Sashimi Combo from AKO Japanese Restaurant

One of the nights, I ordered this colorful masterpiece from AKO Japanese Restaurant and I must say that this is actually one of the better sushi places I found in NYC. Personally, I think Vancouver's sushi is far better than anything I've had in New York so far. The sashimi and sushi was quite delicious and fresh. I also ordered chicken teriyaki from AKO and honestly, it was a waste of money. It couldn't have been any plainer. The chicken was overcooked and the teriyaki sauce was too light. I recommend that you shy away from their chicken teriyaki. Overall, AKO Japanese Restaurant was not as bad as I expected. Yes, I've had better, but for what I know of the Japanese food in NYC, this is pretty good.

As much as I loved my six day break, I could use some sunlight and fresh air.

"I'm not making art, I'm making sushi"

-Masaharu Morimoto

Hi Everyone!

I am super excited to start Vancouver Foodie! I am a first-year college student in New York City where the exploration of amazing food is limitless. Though my home base is in the Big Apple, Vancouver is still my heart and home. As a college student, "freshman-fifteen" will be my greatest enemy, which is why fitness is my other love.

Being a Foodie has always been in my blood. So come on, follow me in exploring my life in New York City and the food that comes along the way. And we'll see, when school break begins, I might even bring the exploration in Vancouver. I hope you enjoy the blog!

"People Who Love To Eat Are Always The Best People"

-Julia Child