Celine's Life Adventure

I have a secret to tell you. I love KFC. I tried KFC in 4 countries (out of the 11 I've been to). KFC Philippines has the best gravy. Meanwhile, KFC Malaysia has the most flavorful spicy chicken. KFC China (at the airport) is usual (no crazy flavor when I was there. Lastly, KFC Canada has the least tasty chicken. Well, until we tried their Spicy Chicken with Waffles. Chicken and Waffles I enjoy chicken and waffles. When I go to places that offer breakfast, it's one of the things I looked for (followed by Eggs Benedict or Omelette). It's no question that Jomar and I are going to try Waffle Double Down when we saw an ad for it. KFC's Waffle Double Down The verdict? It's crunchy outside, soft inside waffle in between two crunchy, spicy, boneless fried chicken. Instead of mayonnaise, the sauce is maple syrup. It was great! Unfortunately, it's available for a limited time only so be sure to try it while it's still available. More chicken and

In celebration of Foursquare Day, I am starting a world tour (while staying in Metro Vancouver) with food based on the Food categories of Foursquare! You may read more about "World Food Tour" on this link . Afghan Restaurant category First on the Foursquare alphabetical list of categories is Afghan Restaurants. According to Foursquare, there are four restaurants who are categorized under Afghan Restaurants. We decided to try Afghan Chopan from the list because it's affordable and it's accessible. East is East is closer to our home and has a higher rating but the food is a mixed of Indian and Afghan food so we went to Afghan Chopan instead. Afghan Chopan Bakery and Diner It's a small place (with about 9 chairs and 3 tables) but the branch on No. 3 Road is closing permanently on April 20, 2018. They have a new branch around 10-minute walk near the Richmond Public Market at Westminster Highway. Afghan Chopan Bakery and Diner Menu Afghan Chopan B

I want to write posts to help immigrants in Canada with their career. This post is for new immigrants who were fully employed white collar workers from their home country and yet unsure on how to move forward with looking for work in their industry or field in Canada. In this post, I will share with you my opinion and stand on whether you should go take a temporary job. I have been in Canada for only 2 years so the wounds are fresh and I want to share the lessons I learned. What is a temporary job? As the name implies, it's supposed to be temporary. These are the type of work unrelated to your career goals. This is the type of work that will help you earn money to meet your families needs. According to Wikipedia , Temporary work or temporary employment (also called oddjobs) refers to an employment situation where the working arrangement is limited to a certain period of time based on the needs of the employing organization. What are examples of temporary jobs? These are

Spring is here! It still rains more than usual but flowers are starting to bloom and the cherry blossoms are out and beautiful. There's a row in our street! I feel so blessed every time I see them. Mewtwo I caught my first Mewtwo last Friday in Pokemon GO! There were like 50 or so people at 10 in the morning on a non-working holiday in Downtown Vancouver. It was unexpected and I am impressed. Walking Downtown After the raid, we decided to walk around Downtown and it was my first time (yes, more than 2 years in Vancouver and I still haven't visited all the tourist spots) to see the Olympic Cauldron. I didn't expect it to be that big. Olympic Cauldron Downtown Vancouver We walked around the section of the Seawall and learned so much about the interesting people in BC's history by reading all the display information available. The Drop Canada Place It was a great way to spend a holiday morning! I love this city.

Now a days, it's so easy to get food from restaurant from another part of the city. With the rise of food delivery apps like UberEats, DoorDash, SkipTheDishes, and so many others, it's so convenient to get your favorite burger without having to leave the comfort of your homes. This post is my review of each apps that I have used and the results. DoorDash Let's start with the one I use almost once a week. At Gumstix , we have our team weekly lunch and I am the one assigned to arrange food delivery or make reservation on rare occassions that we decide to leave our office. DoorDash is my go to app because of the Group Order feature. I just have to pick a restaurant, click Group Order, and send the generated link to my colleagues so they can add their order. We even have a set limit for each person so that we can stay on budget. As of this post, I have ordered 32 times at DoorDash from 24 different restaurants. Check out our Weekly Team Lunch map below. DoorDash is

I have been living in Canada for almost three years now. Life is good here but I always think of ways to help the Philippines. I have been helping Filipino entrepreneurs in Vancouver, BC go online . I also sponsored two Filipino child, Paul Syrus (through Compassion Canada) and Princess Mae (through World Vision Canada). I have been exchanging letters with them and am getting to know their families and communities. Lastly, Jomar and I have been doing our best to look for imported products from the Philippines. Our soy sauce and vinegar is Datu Puti. We almost always have Lucky Me Pancit Canton in stock just in case. We recently purchased Sunflower Crackers because I missed it. We also have Ligo sardines or sometimes Mega depending on where we did our grocery shopping. Lastly, just yesterday we found Boneless Bangus on sale! It's only $5.00 CAD and that's cheap! One bangus is usually $8.00. I should have purchased more but we have a small fridge. Oh and one time at the

Jomar and I did a no eating out challenge for one month. As soon as we can eat out again, we made an agreement to only eat at a restaurant once a week (before our challenge we dined out on average 3-4 times per week). The Plan I plan to try one new restaurant per week but to make it more interesting for each week it should be from one of the Foursquare category. For example, on week 1 we will try an Afghan Restaurant then the following week it will be African Restaurant. It's not just one new restaurant; it will be one different category as well. Partial list of Foursquare category Why Foursquare? Because I love it - just check out my post two years during Foursquare (4.16.16) day. The Goal Why do I want to do this? Well, obviously I love to eat. Next, I love to travel and by trying out different cuisines every week is like getting to know that country and culture through their food. Lastly, I want to explore more of Greater Vancouver area. Actually, this adventur

Happy Pi Day! To celebrate today's Pi Day, Jomar and I went to Granville Island Public Market in search for pie. I didn't know that there's a store that specializes in the pie! It's like pie heaven. Coconut Cream Pie, Banana Cream Pie, Blueberry Pie, and Apple Pie Pumpkin Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie, Pecan Pie, Raspberry Rhubard Pie A La Mode Located inside the Public Market, A La Mode offers a wide selection of homemade sweet and savoury pies. Whether you’re after a toasty beef pot pie or a sweet slice of lemon meringue, we’ve got what you’re looking for. Enjoy a slice in the market or take a whole pie home to share. - Granville Island Directory My Pick We decided to try Pecan Pie (my fave) and Apple Pie (because it's safe). Our assessment is pecan pie over apple pie but it was the BEST apple pie we EVER tried. I don't know why but in the Philippines when we try apple pie it seems always sour. Apple Pie Pecan Pie Pi Day story In

Sushi, maki, teriyaki, udon, and donburi bowls - Omi Japan has it all! If you crave any of this and a bit more while in Granville Island, this place has it. I have been twice so my recommendation is pretty limited.

Curry2U is your plane ticket to India while inside Granville Island Public Market. As of this post, I have eaten here 70 times (the most in Granville Island). When I was new in Gumstix, we practically eat here everyday. Curry2U Curry 2U is the environmentally-friendly brainchild of Shaffeen Jamal, a second-generation restaurateur with a long family history of serving Vancouverites. The Jamal family’s earlier restaurants–the multi-award-winning Rubina Tandoori and Tamarind Indian Bistro–earned a loyal following. We continue that tradition with a firm focus on value, sustainability, and mouth-watering Indian dishes from the heart of the Granville Island Market. - Granville Island Directory My Pick This one is easy. I kept coming back for the butter chicken . It has become an unhealthy comfort food during stressful days. We always get the Bombay Box which includes rice, lentil, one vegetable dish, and one meat dish. Evening Combo If you love spicy food and if it

If you go anywhere in Granville Island and don't eat one of the three or more places where you can get fish and chips, then you're missing out! Celine's Fish and Chips is the only place you can get fish and chips inside the Granville Island Public Market. Celine's Fish and Chips Celine’s offers only the finest fish the ocean has to offer. Enjoy the classic cod and chips or try something a little more adventurous, like deep fried oysters or calamari. Lots of selection and lots of flavour – a seafood lover’s dream! - Granville Island Directory My Pick I have been to Celine's four times and I get the Salmon and Chips every time. I didn't enjoy it the first three times, probably because it was for dinner and everything is just way too oily for my liking. The most recent one though was spot on. Crispy batter, crunchy fries, and fresh pink salmon. It was great! Salmon Fish and Chips Though, if you have time to spare and want the best fish and chi

If you have been checking out my blog so far, you would know that I work close to Granville Island and for my first year, my colleagues and I would eat lunch daily at the Granville Island Public Market. It's been my goal to try all the food places in the market and I, finally, finished it last month. Tips and Thoughts Best place to sit: Near Blue Parrot. The tables in that section is big enough to hold 6-8 people, ideal for big groups plus it has the best view. Best time to visit: If you have time to spare, I highly recommend going after the lunch crowd. During summer months, bus tours stop at Granville Island for lunch and it's nearly impossible to get a chair and it's just crowded. I enjoy the peace of the market for early dinner or late snack between 4-6 pm. Don't forget that the market closes at 7 pm. Lunch time crowd enjoying outside Water source: If you don't want to spend money on drinks or just want water, there's a drinking fountain

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I have a love-hate relationship with Canada. Now I am giving you the Top 3 reasons why I love Canada. Family My Ohana is here. Below is our photo in Richmond Center celebrating my parent's anniversary. Feeling Vacation I still feel like that I am on a vacation. I have been here for two years and the sense of wonder is still there. Take for example, how the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage look at night. We always walk here and I never notice how it looked at night. Or you may stumble upon a series filming while walking Downtown. Additionally, here's a mural in a parking lot along Granville Street. It's impressive and worthy of a pause just so you could take a photo. This is what I love about Vancouver. It allows you to pause and appreciate life - well, only if you let it. Diversity More than the acceptance I feel in Canada, diversity allowed me to grow and accept culture . Moreover,

After Mass last Saturday, Jomar and I decided to take a trip to Memphis without living Vancouver. How? By trying barbecue from Memphis Blues Barbecue House in West Broadway. Memphis Blues Barbecue House I love barbecue. Whether it's Korean or Filipino-style, barbecue tastes so good! It's tangy and sweet and a bit of heat. Yum! Going to Memphis Blues, I have no idea what to expect all I know is that You Gotta Eat Here visited this joint. Jomar and I (like we always do) order a starter, main course, and dessert. BBQ Poutine For our starter, we picked BBQ Poutine. I mean, we're in Canada, of course we'll pick the poutine. Honestly, it was a debate between BBQ Nachos or BBQ Poutine and well, you know what won. BBQ Poutine It was sooo good. The fries is crispy even though it's smothered and drowning under the weight of the pulled pork and BBQ sauce. The cheese (though not as melted as I would like) provided a creamy texture. Moreover, the serving size is

Fish and Chips is not popular (at least I don't think so) in the Philippines. However, on my second day in Canada, my parents brought Jomar and I to Pajo's in Steveston, Richmond to try exactly that. I was surprised at how big the portions were and well, you can never go wrong with fries, especially if it's unlimited and you can come back for more. Also, I have always liked salmon (whether raw, grilled, or in a soup) and seeing and eating it in deep fried goodness was amazing. Tony's Last Friday, Jomar and I went to my favorite fish and chips place in Vancouver so far - Tony's Fish and Oyster Cafe located near the entrance of Granville Island. I have been her 16 times (as of this post) because I love their salmon and yam fries. Salmon Fish and Chips with Yam Fries Another reason I love this place, it's a walking distance to work. When I am stressed out or needed a feel good food Tony's is my go to place. Moreover, I can enjoy it in all seasons whe

Growing up in the Philippines, I only heard of the famous Philly Cheesesteak in movies or when watching Food Network. Thus, it shouldn't come as a surprise that last Satuday was the first time I tried a Philly Cheesesteak from The American Cheesesteak Co. in Vancouver. I have an uncle and cousins in Philadelphia and when I visit my goal is to try a Philly Cheesesteak while in Philly. The same way I was so estatic to eat Japanese Katsu Curry in Japan and Vigan Empanada in Vigan. The American Cheesesteak Co. Jomar and I went to St. Paul's Hospital for the last weekend of Lights of Hope and decided to have dinner here. Why? First, it's close to Granville Street where we will take the bus going home and second, I remember seeing the You Gotta Eat Here episode featuring them. Therese and I are attempting to try most of the restaurants John Catucci went to. Here's a map of restaurants the show visited in BC as of Season 5. The Philly VS New Yorker Since it's

When you hear or read the word hope , what comes into your mind? For me, hope is that little voice telling you that something good is coming. Hope is expecting things will be better even if it may not seems right now. Light of Hope Jomar and I went to Downtown, Vancouver last Saturday to view the Lights of Hope in St. Paul's Hospital. This display of lights is part of their annual fundraising activity to provide hope and support to the patients and caregivers of the hospital and all the supported institution of St. Paul's Foundation. Staying Hopeful As I write this post, I kept coming back to the question, what makes you hopeful? Think and reflect about it. During the moments of your life when all is lost and you feel totally lost and hopeless, why do you keep living? What makes you get up and live another day? My sources of hope First, my faith makes me hopeful all the time. When I feel scared or when I worry, I pray. Those few minutes of silence and prayer remi