Hungry Girl’s Guide: Flying Wedge Pizza

During my first four years in university, I spent most – if not, ALL – my time at the library studying. Every Saturday and Sunday, I came faithfully early to score the best seat (according to me) at the library. The best seat is on the 4th floor, right across from the Ford Centre. It was my home away from home for a long time until The Network Hub was built. Once in a while, I stroll back there to read, borrow a book, rent Mary Poppins or just to take in the activities.

Vancouver Public Library

Vancouver Public Library

I used to survive on cheap pizza and coffee, Flying Wedge Pizza back then didn’t fit a student entrepreneur budget, and it was a treat for when I had a major breakthrough or when I was so stressed that I couldn’t get a break. They don’t have seafood pizza anymore but when they did, I was so thrilled. Whenever they were making it fresh, I didn’t mind waiting 10-15 minutes for one to come out the oven. The Network Hub is steps away from well-known, great tasting and affordable pizza shops such Goldies Rustic Pizza, Freshslice and Classic Pizza. While they are all good, none of them come with as much memory as Flying Wedge Pizza.

Flying Wedge Pizza

Flying Wedge Pizza

Flying Wedge Pizza

Today I picked the “Tropical Pig” – it is a Flying Wedge favourite with ham, pineapple, cheddar, garlic and of course good old tomato sauce sitting on some chewy pizza dough. I like my pizza with all the works – parmesan, hot sauce, pepper.

Flying Wedge Pizza

Flying Wedge Pizza

There is my slice of history for you (sorry couldn’t help it with the pun).

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Hungry Girl’s Guide: Posh Hotpot

Posh, according to the menu, is the “First exclusive Japanese Sukiyaki restaurant in North America.”  Sukiyaki hotpot varies significantly from Chinese or Thai hot pot as “Japanese style hot pot [is] made with Japanese low sodium soy sauce.” The soup base most people are used to is Thai hot pot or Chinese hot pot where the broth comes flavoured with many different spices. I was a bit skeptical as I am used to the robust flavors that Thai hot pot provides, not to mention the spiciness that Chinese hot pot offers. Soy sauce based broth sounded boring but what the heck, all-you-can-eat for $15.88 to a hungry tummy works for me. It being the first day of HST, saving a bit of money so I can eat more was an added incentive for me to try this place out.

Posh Hot Pot - Interior

Posh Hot Pot - Menu

The staff was extremely informative; they asked if this is the first time we were here and gave us the low down on how to order. There are two different kinds of all-you-can-eat: Signature Sukiyaki Dinner or a Certified Angus Beef Sukiyaki Dinner for $7 dollars extra. We stuck with Signature Sukiyaki Dinner, I’m not sophisticated enough to distinguish the difference between regular versus certified Angus Beef. I did however add spicy hotpot – just in case I didn’t like the regular Sukiyaki style.

Posh Hot Pot - Regular Hot Pot

Posh Hot Pot - Spicy Hot Pot

Now their spicy pot adopted the Taiwanese style of hot pot, I’m glad I ordered it because it was quite an experience! It contained 15 ancient Chinese herbs with 4 varieties of chilies; you can definitely tell it’s spicy from the color and the aroma.

Pot Hot Pot - Satay + Chili Dipping Sauce

Posh Hot Pot - Vegetable Plate

Posh Hot Pot - Meat Plate

I am quite surprised, the variety of vegetables, bean curd – prepared different ways make this place very vegetarian friendly! I ordered copious amounts of vegetables and even more meat. Their thinly sliced beef is to die for!!! It’s fatty and had a kind of buttery taste to it, I guess I can compare it to Kobe beef. It was even more tasty when dipped into my mix satay with chili oil custom concoction. The waiter did tell us it was better to crack a raw egg yolk into the dipping sauce, whip it and dip the food with it. The premise behind raw egg dipping sauce according to Wikipedia is “mixing a raw egg with the condiments to reduce the amount of ‘heat’ absorbed by the food, thereby reducing the likelihood of a sore throat after the steamboat meal, according to Chinese herbalist theories.” Sure, sounds good to me but I am really not up to getting salmonella so I skipped it altogether although my dinner companion did it and he’s still kicking around.

Posh Hot Pot - Pineapple + 7-up

Their bottomless pop selection deserves a mention; it’s not just your regular whoopity doo pop. They have pineapple and 7-up, peach and 7-up and a few other varieties. I got pineapple with 7-up and it was delightful. Even though it was bottomless, the first serving came in a huge glass so it was unnecessary for me to order another.

Posh was a wonderful surprise and I highly recommend the place. Come hungry, bring some friends and heck, it is so affordable it’s hard to complain about the bill even with the darn HST added.

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A stroll down Commercial Drive

After waking up super early to watch Germany beat England and then Argentina ripping away Mexico’s hope of being in the quarter-final of the World Cup 2010, by 1:30pm I was exhausted. I knew Commercial Drive would be filled with sad faces as there were a lot of Mexican fans watching the game at various pubs/restaurants on the Drive. So, I was glad to be heading away from Commercial Drive to Szechuan Chongqing Restaurant. Fierce name! Now try to pronounce it ten times. Only a few blocks from my house, I was happy to head in the opposite direction of Commercial Drive to dine with Jay (@jaycatalan), Shahab (@shahab604) and two other people who aren’t social media friendly.

The food was pretty good and was decently priced. They weren’t mind-blowing flavours leaving my taste buds screaming for more but it was good wholesome Sunday afternoon food with friends.

Szechuan Chongqing Restaurant - Mu Shu Pork

Szechuan Chongqing Restaurant - Salted fish & chicken fried rice

Szechuan Chongqing Restaurant - Sweet & sour pork

Szechuan Chongqing Restaurant - Boneless Chicken

Szechuan Chongqing Restaurant - Shrimp & Scallop Dumpling

After eating, I thought I’d better walk off what I ate before I headed home to sit in front of a computer again.
Commercial Drive is going through a few transitions with old stores moving to different parts of the street and new stores coming into the neighbourhood. First up is Doctor Vigari, a fantastic store to get locally made and designed furniture, artwork and jewellery. It has now moved closer to 3rd and Commercial from Charles Street. It’s old neighbour, It’s All Fun & Games, also moved to the same block but only a few stores down.

Doctor Vigari - Commercial Drive

It's all Fun & Games - Commercial Drive

The beauty about It’s all Fun & Games is because it is, well, ALL about fun and games. You can find any of your childhood toys – even the small toys soldier figurines – here.

It's all Fun & Games - Interior

It's all Fun & Games - Puzzle Games

It's all Fun & Games - Games & Toys

It's all Fun & Games - Figurines

In the window of Barefoot Contessa was a cute t-shirt that said “Nerds need love too” which made me giggle a bit and want go back to buy it.

Barefoot Contessa - Nerds need love too t-shirt

On my walk back home, I spotted a badass bike. I have no experience with bikes but at first glance I knew it was the kind that would make anyone look uber cool even just sitting on it. I’m tempted to photoshoping myself on the bike… hmmm.

Badass Bike - Commercial Drive

Always on the lookout  for a few good books, I stopped into Bibliophile Bookstore because a Superman book with no title caught my eyes.

Bibliophile Books - Exterior

Bibliophile - Superman book with no title

Bibliophile - Interior

Walking out empty handed, I stopped by Bone Rattle Music – simply because I haven’t been in there before. From kazoos to electric guitars to an unconventional guitar made from cigar boxes, this place had everything but the vuvuzela.

Bone Rattle Music - Exterior

Bone Rattle Music - Interior

Bone Rattle Music - Kazoo

Right next to Bone Rattle Music is Audiopile. A place where you can find vinyl record geeks hanging out all day. It’s an awesome place where I found classic vinyls such as Eazy-E, The Treacherous Three and N.W.A Greatest Hits.

Audiopile - Exterior

Audiopile - Interior

Audiopile - Vinyl Heaven

Audiopile - N.W.A Greatest Hits

Audiopile - Eazy-E

At the corner of 5^th and Commercial Drive are some pretty cool murals.

Commercial Drive Murals

Commercial Drive Murals

Commercial Drive Murals

I have been meaning to take drumming lessons so I stopped by A Small World where they sell crafts from around the world and provide drumming circles.

A Small World - Craft store & drumming classes

A Small World - Drums

Take a stroll in your neighborhood to appreciate all the uniquely different stores, cultures and arts it has to offer. I love Commercial Drive more today than I did yesterday and I didn’t even think that was possible! Forget taking big long extensive and expensive vacation, discover your own neighborhood first – that in itself is a wonderful adventure.

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Hungry Girl’s Guide: New Town Bakery

One of the best things about being at The Network Hub is if I am in the mood for fine dining, I head west about 5 blocks, but if I feel like casual affordable food, I head east about 5 blocks. On this particular day, I was craving for greasy comfort food – the kind that makes you feel like you are wrapped in a warm blanket of childhood memories.

I headed east toward Chinatown to New Town Bakery – it is a Chinese/Filipino restaurant that serves one of my favourite desserts Halo Halo. As soon you walk in, you know they are not trying to sell you ambience or their designer decor. It is no-frills, eat heartily and walk out of there – oh yes, cash only please. The waitresses are nice, friendly and helpful but don’t be mistaken, they aren’t interested in chit chatting with you about the weather. Oh yeah, they have award-wining Steamed Pork Buns, ask for it when you are there, and get extra sauce on the side!

If you are looking for value, comfort food then head to New Town Bakery.

New Town Bakery - Exterior

New Town Bakery - Interior

New Town Bakery - Salted fish fried rice & chicken

New Town Bakery - Crispy chicken and halo halo

New Town Bakery - Grass Jelly

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