NaBloPoMo Day 6 - Janzen Tea and Pho Hoa Restaurant

Janzen Tea and Pho Hoa Restaurant

NaBloPoMo 2017 Day 6 

I was first introduced to Janzen Tea in the summer and happened to go for a late lunch during happy hour.  Happy Hour is a perfect time to try different types of food and drinks because the fruit tea and smoothies, salad rolls, and spring rolls are all on sale.  It's hard not to try a little bit of everything.

We went to the location in Coquitlam 3025 Lougheed Hwy #750 closest to Coquitlam Central Skytrain Station.  On Mondays they have Meatless Monday specials with their Vegetarian Pho.  There are other locations in Vancouver, but I've only visited the location in Coquitlam.  

The hardest part is deciding what you want to try.  Janzen tea is the Taiwanese tea part of the restaurant that serves fruit, milk, smooth or snow sips.  So many different types to choose from.  The Pineapology is pictured below with a shrimp salad roll and peanut sauce.  In the other picture is the vegetarian pho.  I've tried the delicious popcorn chicken as well and spring rolls.  Even just writing this blog is making me long to return to Janzen Tea and Pho Hoa to treat myself to Taiwanese teas and Vietnamese appetizers and pho.  That sounds like a winning combination for the winter.  Time to plan my next trip!

Burnaby French Bakery - Mon Paris Patissiere

Mon Paris Patissiere French inspired bakery has just opened in Burnaby just across from the Metrotown skytrain station on Beresford.  The chef was trained in France and it shows with the complexity and beauty of her chosen desserts.  

On a snowy Burnaby day I ventured out to Mon Paris Patissiere after discovering it on Instagram.  The photos looked beautiful and I wanted to try it.  I ordered ginger fresh tea $2.50 to help me recover from my cold and a Passionata dessert $6 because it sounded so delightful and I wanted a lighter dessert.   From Mon Paris Patiessere website:

"Passionata - Biscuit Madelaine with honey and raw sugar, mango brunoise, and passion fruit mousse."  

It is a quaint cafe with a four tables inside.  When I first arrived it was empty and I had the luxury of choosing a table and taking photos of the beautiful dessert and getting a refill of the soothing ginger fresh tea quietly.  When I left all the tables were full and customers had come through the little bakery.  Good to see for a newly opened bakery in Burnaby!  

Mon Paris Patissiere is lovely and I know that I'll be returning to taste more delightful desserts that's on their menu.  


Mon Paris Paitssiere Menu

Subscription Box Sunday - White Willow Box (April Unboxing)

Dear Vancity Girlfriends,

Our White Willow April Box arrived and we unboxed it!  It was a celebratory occasion.  The box is beautifully designed and I love their motto that is inside the box "Unveil your Surprises".  It is like a wedding in a box.  Everything is pretty and classic.  Carolyn said it's like Pier 1 in a box, now I don't go to Pier 1 enough to know what that means, but let's take a look inside April's White Willow Box.

 1.  Classic Double Pearl Earrings by Cherrypick - classy double sided pearl earrings.  These were in the sneak peak for April's box which led me to actually purchase my first White Willow subscription box and boy, am I glad I did.  Classic and beautiful.

 2.  Natural Foaming Face Wash (Unscented) by Consonant Skincare - I love natural products and this is an award winning cleaner so I'm excited to start using it.  I am a big fan of foaming face cleansers so this one will work itself into my daily routine.  

3.  Gluten Free Artisan Vanilla Bean Cake Mix by NextJen - Such a fancy name for a cake mix.  On my bucket list I want to bake something gluten free so this will help me do just that.  

4.  Earl Grey Imperial Tea Sachets by Harney & Sons Master Tea Blenders - With the Gluten Free Vanilla Bean Cake Mix and the Earl Grey Imperial Cake, I can follow the recipe that was provided in the box to make a Gluten Free London Fog Cake.  Such a brilliant idea!  

5.  Honey Absolute White Soleil Candle by D.L & Co. - You'll have to watch our Vancity Girlfriends YouTube White Willow Unboxing to see this candle.  It already has gone to its new home in Carolyn's elegant wash closet ;)

Overall we loved how this box is curated and put together.  It is done with such beauty and elegance.  It was worth the $48.50 that I spent for the gift box (one time box which includes shipping and taxes).  We loved it so much we are both considering getting a subscription to this one.  Subscriptions are monthly, 3 months, 6 months or 12 months and range from $32-35/month plus shipping.  It's like opening up a box that is as beautiful and elegant as a wedding.  Impressive!

YYoga Free Fitness or Yoga Class in February

February is here which means so is YYoga's #SpreadLove campaign which spreads love by giving everyone a free fitness or yoga class at any of their 13 locations between February 2nd - 16th.  My girlfriend introduced me to YYoga a few years ago and even though I don't go on a regular basis, I love getting a chance to go in February.  Even though I already have a 10 ticket pass that I bought during the Christmas promotion, the #SpreadLove campaign has sparked me to actually use my pass and get a free class too with my friends.    

If you've never been to YYoga this is the perfect opportunity to try!  I'm returning to my favorite yoga instructor's class during this time (Rebekka Walker).  Perhaps I'll spread my heart to try other yoga instructors.  

YYoga Burrard (Downtown Vancouver) is the location that I go to because it is easily accessible by skytrain.  The tea room with David's tea is a great place to relax before or after your class, or spend a bit of time in the dry sauna.  I'm looking forward to my escape from the everyday at YYoga.  Namaste.

Find out more here: http://info.yyoga.ca/spreadlove/