Monthly Archives: December 2017

12.27.17
by

[Burnaby, BC] Cold Treats on a Cold Day at Sulmida Dessert Cafe

Shaved IceSulmida Dessert Cafe
4697 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC
Phone: (778) 379-8935

When ordering shaved ice desserts as delicate as a fresh snowfall is tasted off season, some folks may think I’m weird. I couldn’t care less as when Winter is in full swing. Technically, I was here in October, and I can imagine this place struggles during the cold months. But when I’m away from home more, I like to explore.

The evening was mild and I had to check out Sulmida Dessert Cafe, located on the opposite side of where Metrotown is in Burnaby, BC. I had the strawberry vanilla and slowly savoured the sweet milk center. I attempted to consume it like a tootsie roll made by Jack Frost and had no luck. A spoon was needed. My love for local BC berries were met with my taste buds feeling conflicted. They are out of season. I suspect this operation makes do with what they can get from wherever (Mexico).

The single sized servings start around $12 and go higher for share me. After one spicy meal in the area, I had to go for icy to cool my stomach down. The larger fruit slices are soft. When mixed with flash frozen, I was curious as to why have both. I took time to savour my treat as the ambient temperature was chilly enough to prevent everything from melting or softening. At another season, I’m sure these dishes will melt fast.

I knew I should not take too long too, before it became a slushy mess. The vanilla ice cream on top was tops and tastes like Breyers.

It’s a safe bet to assume this place is very popular during the summer months. Shaved ice is a treat in both Asia and Polynesia. I don’t often come across this type of operation in the wet Pacific Northwest but they have been popping up on the Lower Mainland more than the island I call home. Perhaps I should move.

3½ Blokes out of 5

12.16.17
by

Updates on Capital City Comic Con

capital_city_comicon_event.jpgThe groups behind organizing Capital City Comic Con is confident folks far and wide will come to the Garden city of British Columbia to get their geek on. It takes place at the Victoria Convention Center and Crystal Garden on March 16-18th, 2018 and passes are on sale through Ticket Rocket.

Cherry Bomb Toys, The Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) and Tourism Victoria are not resting over the holidays. Announced Friday morning is Patrick Warburton. He’s done many cartoon voices like Kronk in The Emperor’s New Groove and played The Tick (2001) and the narrator, Lemony Snicket in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. To hear him talk about his career will be fascinating. Most will remember him from Senfield but how many people will remember him in Quantum Leap?

Guests announced in previous month include Graham McTavish (Aquaman movie, Preacher) and James Marsters (Buffy). Both are great draws for those people who love their works. More names will be revealed in the coming months, and the plan is to make the star around this city brighter. It is known for Nerd Row where the corner of Broad and Johnson has a high concentration of shops to buy goodies from and the municipality of Oak Bay is recognized as where Gracepoint was filmed. On other parts of Vancouver Island, Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla came to town and so did parts of the western beachscape became the battlefront for War for the Planet of the Apes.

Biago Woodward is one of the convention producers. He said he would love to get more people from Hollywood to take notice in everything this city, if not the entire island, can offer. It’s been used in many a cheery Hallmark movie like A Heavenly Christmas and independent production like Nick Simon’s masterful horror flick The Girl in the Photographs. Disney and Fox sent a crew to this island to make use of Hatley Castle to film Descendants (both movies) and X-Men 2. Deadpool knocked at the door of this historic building to find Professor Xavier. Only time will tell when the second movie comes out if he answered it or not.

“This city has its own tastes, its own feel … we’re going to do what’s best for the city to highlight the tourism and what the downtown core offers,” revealed Woodward.

Continue reading →

12.13.17
by

[Seattle, WA] It’s a Kind of Magic at Marcela’s Creole Cookery

RestaurantMarcela’s Creole Cookery
106 James St
Seattle, WA
Phone: 206-223-0042

If you have not been to Marcela’s Creole Cookery in Seattle, Washington, please do yourself a favour and check them out before they close on December 22, 2017. I discovered this operation while wandering Pioneer Square on a Sunday night. I heard of this diner and was often a passenger in a vehicle whenever my friends and I passed by this area. As much as I would have liked to say let’s stop by here on those past visits, those pals are not obsessive foodies like me.

By the fortune in the need to refuel (I walked over from the nearby Chinatown-International District) and craving something other than American cuisine, this place not only hit the mark but was spot-on. Not many inspired diners offer enough or they are just not authentic enough to give me the tastes I so desire. I ate a little more than I should, and that’s okay.

IMG_20171210_184713683_HDR

Instead of going by order of what I ate first, I have to give their crawfish roll high marks for putting the classic Asian spring rolls to shame. I’ve have many varieties over the years and while a few have a pleasant combination of vegetarian flavours, this mountain lobster really adds a taste to make the crumble wonderful. More meat could have made this single serving perfect; instead it was found in the center like a tootsie roll. Instead of plum sauce, perhaps what I had is a pineapple cayenne mix. Other ingredients included the holy trinity in cooking this style of food with carrot added on top.

Continue reading →