Our burly performance classes are back on.  The studio class sizes are small and have requirements to be masked & vaxxed.  Or folks can choose to Zoom in.   

Showcase

Most exciting of all… we’re also going to have a student showcase!  We haven’t performed on stage in a year.  Oh goodness we are looking forward to the hustle & bustle of the time leading up to a performance.  

Androsia

Kells & I are in Androsia Wilde’s Island Gyal Flow.  This is our first progressive with Androsia.  We’re looking forward to flowing and exploring our heritages. 

Cherry on Top

We are also taking Cherry On Top’s Art of Burlesque Starlet Level for intermediate levels.  We’ll be rocking, rolling and perfecting how to give face. 

Stay tuned N&Kers…

No Reservations

Because we were going to a show, we were hoping to make reservations. I checked online 2 weeks before. Son of a buggerball: no reservations during peak times, such as Friday & Saturday after 6 pm. Open Table was right on their site so I tried to book anyways. It wouldn’t allow me to book after 4:45 pm. Our show was at 9 pm so 4:45 would be way too early. I also went to the Open Table app, thinking it might be different. And, nope. Grrr.

The Waiting Game

Half of our party got there before 6 & told that it would be an hour wait to sit inside. So they were seated outside, waiting for us. K&I joined and the 4 of us planned our drink orders (mojitos, V&T, margarita). Things were going ok.

As per the timeline above, we had 20 minutes left to wait for a table inside… but were told by staff that it’d actually be another 40. And apparently, once we ordered patio-side, we’d have to stay put.

The patio seating was assembled-to-order and so it wasn’t 100% comfortable. 2 of us felt that we were in the walkway. But our waiter assured us that we weren’t. And the heaters were keeping us warm. And we were hungry pups. So we figured we’d stay.

However, after another few minutes, our bottoms got cold. Our Gentleman Out-of-Towner got up to speak with the inside folks. He asked for our table listing back. We were told it’d be 1.5 hours. So he reminded them that we were already on the list, just a few minutes prior. Then they said 40 minutes.

When our waiter returned, we again inquired. She checked and told us 1.5 hour wait, even though at this point we were there over an hour. She said once we had ordered the food, inside folks assumed we’d just stay outside and took us off the list… and plus the restaurant had full reservations. Hmmm…

Eat Drink Man Woman

Drink and food service was slow. We ordered appies and said we would all share. Kells hates cilantro, so the waiter made suggestions. I ordered poblano & corn dip. K ordered the avocado tostones. And, the tostones came with cilantro. The waiter apologized and sent it back. Our out-of-towners got mussels, which were fab.

Our Gentleman Out-of-Towner ordered a 3rd beef taco, which never came. Me n Lady Out-of-Towner ordered the flat iron steaks, which were salty but good. The side was a fantastic cauliflower number. K ordered the prawn tacos, which were good with tasty sides.

Mains came 10 mins after appies – which was poor timing. Seemed like we waiting forever for our drinks… then our appies… then it all came spilling out on small table. (For comparison: There were other folks on the patio as well, and they received their food & drinks in a timely manner. One of the tables had 7 or 8 people.)

Would we recommend this restaurant?

K&I have been here before and it was an enjoyable experience. My last time was years ago, just before the fire. Kells’s last time was more recent: after the renos and change in ownership. So, this experience was different and not 100% positive.

But if you’ve never tried Cubano food, definitely go – especially for brunch. And if it’s peak dinner time, we would recommend making an early reservation. That way you’ll get a seat inside, and hopefully your food in a timely manner. If 4:45 is too early for dinner, go anyways. Then take an after-dinner stroll through The Drive, and get yourself a delicious Italian espresso or gelato… or do some window shopping and people-watching.

So, we were herded off to a cosy private room upstairs. Menu was closed but it was a 3 course affair.

For starters: We could choose the Mushroom Truffle Cream soup or Caesar salad. We all ordered salad. This was crispy, bacon-y, dressed in the garlic creamery and topped with delightful curls of parm. I love a good Caesar salad. However, I find that most restaurants drench gorgeous green romaine hearts in some awful glue-like dressing. And I end up forking off the dressing to try to eat the now-wilted romaine.
Second course: I chose the Wild BC Salmon. Most others chose the short ribs. Portions were huge and hot. Seasoning was spot-on.
Third course was a deconstructed berry cheesecake. This was the bit of sweet to end the night. Each table also had assorted macaroons and other too-sweet crunchies. A thin slice of dark chocolate cake and an espresso would’ve ended the meal perfectly.
After we ordered, wait staff brought out the surprise appies – skewers of protein like satay chicken, grilled shrimp, etc. Defo delicious but also a bit odd to eat without side plates.

Wait staff were whisper quiet and quickly filled our wines and waters without asking. Their area to move around was a little cramped with 3 round tables, with half the room carved out for the slides and presenter. It was Christmas party time so whenever the doors were kept open, we could hear the din outside. I’m not sure what they could have done about the noise besides keeping the doors closed. (But during service, this is not possible.)
Ok… but what about the rest of the restaurant? Hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, muted lighting, dark wood walls made for an intimate feel, without the cramped space. There are various dining areas: outside, lounge, bar side, mezzanine and private rooms.

Kells has been here before and enjoyed it. Like me, she also thinks this is reminiscent of Purple Café. Our review is here.
Recommendation: if you like traipsing into downtown Vancouver, eating in a busy trendy North American restaurant, then Glowbal should be on your list.

When I was heavier, I felt bombarded with images of thin, smooth-skinned, tall ladies as ‘beautiful’. If it was North American media, then tanned vixens. And if Bollywood media, then fair-skinned maidens. No one looked like me: pear-shaped, bespectacled, with frizzy unkempt waves & darker skinned… unless it was an actor who played an evil Bollywood mom. Or, was the star of a self-named comedy show (see posts on Tips 1-4, 5-8, 9-10). And I wasn’t any of those adjectives either!

And these thin women were portrayed as The Ultimate Show Ponies, dripping with confidence, promise, fulfilling lifestyles, happiness and sex appeal. Today, I say “Bravo!” to advertising and entertainment sectors for the deep ingrainment. They worked hard to get that image across.  At the time, it didn’t occur to me that I didn’t know anyone else that looked like that, either. Move over Manson² and Heaven’s Gate, Media is the Ultimate brainwasher.

Keep in mind, my teen years were spent poring over glossy magazines with shiny images, talking on the phone with friends, and watching TV. We didn’t have internet or cell phones. My escape was TV and staying up late reading books¹. So growing up with rigid ideas of what the perfect 2-D body looks like makes a regular 3-D girl feel less-than.

In all honesty I thought once I lost weight³, I would be happier. Things would magically fall into place. Of course this is real-life, not a fairy tale.

Happiness is something you attain. It is not bestowed upon you.

I had to really think about what would make me happy. I love reading, photography, the theatre

and writing. I love all kinds of dance. I am happy when beautiful things surround me: people, clothes, art, wine, food. And I am happy after I have challenged myself.

I try to do things to push my personal boundaries like co-writing this blog. (Yes, I love writing but it’s not easy to put yourself out there.) I’ve taken loads of pictures, in public. Then put up these up for you all to see.

And last week, I started a burlesque class with Kells. Yes, burlesque. I love how bawdy, welcoming, tongue-in-cheek, flirty, raucous it is. And we had no idea about its fabulously clandestine history. 

This is an intro class, with a lovely range of ladies across sizes, ages, shapes and abilities. About one third took the class to push themselves, have fun and become more comfortable in their own skin.  Some of the same reasons as N&K!

I would say I’m a happier person, having pushed personal boundaries and embracing all aspects of myself. Am I positive and happy 100% of the time? Of course not. Real life has ups and downs. But if you want to lead a more fulfilling lifestyle…

you gotta wake the F up. Self-evaluate and make a plan of change.

Don’t just chug along with life. Grab it by the horns and point it in the right direction!

Footnotes
1 Thanks Judy Blume, Stephen King, Danielle Steele, Isaac Asimov for keeping me up too late
2 Charles, not Marilyn
3 According to a female family member, all I needed to do in my teen years, was lose weight, get rid of unsightly zits and get toss the glasses. (She was unsure of this last thing, as presumably, there were attractive librarians with glasses.) This aunt was a solid support to me. She never lied. But, she encouraged my strengths and didn’t let me forget them. And I adored her. (She was the next best thing to sliced bread!) So when she gave me this unsolicited bit of advice, which came out of the blue, I was heartbroken.

This post is based on the Carnaval del Sol, which is a spicy festival for the Latin Americas.

.   .  . L  a s t   year we tried

This year we tr i e d .  .   .

Cubana BBQ

These guys were not ready at 1 pm when we came by. I probably waited an hour for the food.  They had lots of staff, who were all working hard.  But they didn’t communicate with the crowd. Cubano sandwich was good but maybe had a quarter cup of protein for a huge hoagie-sized bun. We ordered beef for our other dish, and this was the size of a deck of cards. (Others ordered chicken which was an entire leg. It barely fit in the box!) Beef was a bit tough. But both dishes were tasty.

Portions were disappointingly small.  I don’t think this place was worth the wait.  Next time, I will go when there is no line up, and defo order the pollos!

Mi Casa Mexicana

We ordered the tamale (jalapeno & cheese), cochinita pibil and pambazo. We’ve had tamales before but not like these ones. As we sat down, a woman excitedly asked us where we got the “authentic Mexican food”. Simply fantastic food! You must try.

Find Mi Casa Mexicana

Cocadas Coconut Smoothies & More… (Venezuela)

Festival Review

Nals and the Mr have gone the last few years. We are pleased to see that the Carnaval has gotten bigger and better organized (from its grassroots in Trout Lake).

Last year, the weather was hot AF and the main stage was right in the middle of the eating area.  It was hard to sit and chat, as the music was blaring.

Footnotes

1 aka yuka, manioc, Brazilian arrowroot. Mmm this is also a staple of Fijians. Read more

Typically, poké bowls consist of a rice base, raw fish (or tofu), seasonings, veg and dressing.
Unfortunately, we haven’t had authentic Hawaiian Poké‏ (yet)… so bear with us².‌

Westcoast Poké is on Cambie in Vancouver, BC. It’s all long wooden benches and a clean look. Food is good. And, they have this spicy homemade sriracha style hot sauce that’s actually spicy!¹ Staff is friendly & service is quick.

MMM yummy The Main Poke Bowl at Pacific Poke on Main Street

We wanted to feature Pacific Poké on Main Street, as we’ve been there many many times.

Nals gets The Main with a base of half kale and half brown rice. It has: sockeye salmon, spicy ahi tuna, crab & shrimp. Veg: jicama, cucumber, avocado, nori and organic seaweed salad. Dressings: citrus mayo, sesame miso dressing, shoyu, yuzu & lime juice, herbs and sprouts. Nals isn’t into the seaweed salad so she subs for ginger and pickled red onion… and she gets the sweet & tangy topper. Each bite is a little different and freaking awesome!

You can choose another pre-made option or make your own.
Ambience: casual cafeteria style with long benches to sit. Some window and outdoor seats.
Best time to go: before/after lunch/dinner hours, as there can be a lineup otherwise. But, the line up goes quickly.
Parking: metered on Main, limited free on Prior.
Transit: easily accessible by bus.

Conclusion:

Pacific PokÉ is amazing.

Footnotes
1 When Nals says “actually spicy”, she means that there was some tongue tingling. But the subjective rating is medium spicy, on lower side. (Ick. How many times have you ordered the spicy something or other, and it turns out to be like dishwater?)

2 (But let’s not nose-turn, either. Us British Columbians know a thing or two about fresh fruits de mer, right?)

For more info on food trucks:
This NPO helps the food truck industry.
This app helps folks to locate a particular food truck on any given day.

Mr. Nals & I decided to venture out for Canada Day. As we were hungry for lunch, we decided to try TLC Poutine and The Frying Pan.

TLC Poutine

They’ve got a few different kinds of … you guessed it: poutine! Poutine originated in our very own Quebec. Traditionally, it is a plate of hot potato fries topped with squeaky cheese curds and hot gravy.

And paying a non-homage to our fine-frogger friends on C-Day, we decided to get The El Mexicano. It’s got the usual suspects: seasoned ground beef, sour cream, tomatoes and cheese. It was hot, crispy and tasty. Other topper options are Montreal Smoked Meat, BBQ, etc.
The acronym TLC is not for the compassion phrase or the movie or the musical group… it stands for Tin Lizzy Confessions. They’ve got a range of trucks that feature various things like Donut Glazed Grilled Cheese, Fhat Dawgs & Wiggle Chips and Fish & Chicks & Poutine.

→ Find them here.

Festivals and events are an awesome one-stop exposure to a variety of food trucks.
But, the selection diminishes when you weed out the mundane lemonade, hot dog and potato tornados… as such, the food line ups for the non-mundane were crazy long.

So we left for greener pastures and stumbled upon the FRYING PAN, a few blocks away³.

We ordered the Crazy Burger. This is a big juicy piece of fried chicken (white meat) on a soft bun with shredded, dressed cabbage. This is the “crazy” spicy burger which has a burn that comes a bit late to the show, and lingers . It was delicious, crispy and hot. Delightful.
If you like spicy food, you will find this burger at a medium scoval² level. That is, you feel the burn but it’s not ear-popping-get-me-some-cold-ass-milk-!²

Staff was friendly. Totally appreciate that it’s made-to-order but it would’ve been awesome to know that we would have to wait >20 minutes for our order.
→ Find them here FB or on IG @theFryingPan604

Conclusion

We’d probably try the TLC Poutine truck again… but dang there are so many other trucks out here!
We’d absolutely visit The Frying Pan again. We’d also love to try their Korean BBQ rice bowl, hand squeezed organic¹ lemonade and yuzu tea.

Leave us a comment below.

Which food trucks have you tried?

Which ones would you like to see us review?

Footnotes
¹ In theory, organic is good. Organic to N&K means grown like we would in our own backyards – outside with little-to-no pesticides, and minimal chemical processing. We like the idea of “organic” because the only junk that we want is in our trunks. Legally, organic has different meanings so make sure you check out that legal whatnot.
²Scoval units measure the heat levels in a particular pepper. And though milk sounds odd, something neutralizes the heat. (That’s why raita accompanies Indian food and sour cream accompanies Mexican food.)
³An idea for those food truck owners who don’t get into a festival or event… just park outside, a few blocks out, but on the potential route of pedestrians.

Rooms

• appearance: good size, muted blues and ivory colours with wood accents.
• in-room amenities: queen bed (firm but fluffy with tons of pillows), blackout curtains, coffee machine with coffee & tea, microwave, fridge, sofa, writing desk, luggage rack, dryer, toiletries and full bathroom.

Hotel Amenities

Continental breakfast (pastries, beverages, cold cereal and make-your-own waffles), very small
pool, small hot tub, small lounge area outside of pool, small gym (free weights, universal, treadmill, elliptical) and a small lounge area in lobby. More deets here.

pool, small hot tub, small lounge area outside of pool, small gym (free weights, universal, treadmill, elliptical) and a small lounge area in lobby. More deets here.

Considerations

Our room faced west, so our view was of the shrub border (in the parking lot). If you want a room with a view, choose the top floor (ie: 4th), and in the middle of the building and facing southeast.
There was no balcony and our window was small.
The service & guest elevators are 1 and the same. It is also slow.

Location

Easy to find on Sumas Way, near Old Spaghetti Factory on Sumas Way.

Easy to find on Sumas Way, near Old Spaghetti Factory on Sumas Way.

To Do

I was working & thus out from 6-5. But me mumsey got to explore.
There are large chain stores for shopping within walking distance. 7 Oaks Mall and Highstreet for hardcore shoppers. You’ll need transport to access these bad boys.

eats

There are restaurants nearby – small, large (OSF, Wings), fast food (McDonalds, KFC, BK, DQ) and coffee (Starbucks), western (Boston Pizza) and ethnic (small mom-and-pops). According to Google’s Street View, there is a drive-through corn hut. I didn’t see one. (But, he picture captured the gas at $1.22/L, which is a price that we saw how many years ago?)

Conclusion

I’m probably not going to stay overnight again in Abbotsford as I reside in the GVA. However, I would consider staying at a Coast hotel elsewhere. It’s not shi-shi, but it is clean and has large rooms with appropriate amenities.

⇓ N&K Tip ⇓

Don’t put your electronic key card near your phone as it will de-magnetize.

Like this review?

Then you’ve got to check out our other Hotel Reviews: Seattle, Vegas, Palm Springs & Harrison Hot Springs.

… we planned a little reunion restaurant review at Deacon’s Corner.

I took a client to this place maybe 8 years ago. I would’ve classified it as a bit of a dilapidated puppy. Boy has it ever been upgraded! Well, welcome to the hipster-y³ diner, my friends.
Alrighty let’s get down to brass tacks¹…

Our orders

DJ & I got the egg scrambles. As a meatlover, his was Farmers sausage with hash browns and toast. He enjoyed his dish. My order was the Mexican with flavourful eggs & salsa with the hash and sourdough toast.

Deacon’s Mexican scramble

The fair maidens shared deliciously huge meaty burgers with sides of delectable poutine and hot-dayam chili fries.

Deacon’s Chicken Giant with a mess of poutine.

Portions

were huge. I finished mine because I was a hungry lil piglet. The girls & DJ didn’t.

Waitstaff

Deacon’s Canuck burger with chili fries.

were supes busy on the weekend brunch hours. So the food took a little while to pop out on the conveyor belt². But that gave us time to chat and not feel guilty about the long wait line.

Waitlisted line

Yes there is one (during peak times) so someone in your party should get there a bit early to put a name on the list… or just be prepared to wait.

Rock star parking

was surprising easy to find right on Alexander. There are plenty of options on Powell, Water & Cordova. (This is all metered pay parking.) Fair warning: during weekdays or special events, you will be hard pressed to find parking. And it’s kitty corner to DTES. There are also a few transit options.

Kells has been here before and enjoyed the waffles and benedicts.

Conclusion

∴yes we recommend this place if you want diner food that’s a bit pimped up, but in a casual atmosphere.
⇓ N&K tip ⇓
Take a brisk walk or leisurely stroll at Crab Park at Portside or New Brighton Beach after your meal. There are a lot of Gastown shops to look at, too. (Or better yet, pop over to Cadeaux Bakery for a lil somethin’ somethin’. Here’s our scintillating review.)

DTES sights including yums at Cadeaux Bakery
Footnotes
¹Brass tacks or brass tax? Defo the former, as per the grammar police.
²I’m taking artistic license here. (aka: a bit of a fab fib.)
³Gentrification is a topic for another day. But to get started did you know there’s a controversial restaurant named PIDGIN near Pigeon Park? And that there’s an eatery that used to be a jail?

Have you tried the diner?

Feel free to comment below.