Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Coffee Drink

 

I wanted to try this PSL coffee drink (Frappuccino) from Starbucks since last year, but unfortunately it sold out immediately. So this year I bought it as soon as I saw it on store shelves. I’m actually a big fan of Starbucks coffee drinks that come in this glass bottle. They tend to be delicious because they’re pure cream, sugar and coffee. Well, I’m already a fan of PSL so this limited edition drink did not disappoint. As soon as you pop it open (literally) you are blasted with the smell of PSL, and when you drink it cold it tastes just as good as an iced PSL Frappuccino. I hope to buy a few more bottle this season before they disappear again.

Starbucks: www.starbucks.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4G7WKuAjDA

La Cocina Tortilla Chips

Just like books you should never judge a bag of tortilla chips by its cover or…. bag. Well you know what I mean. Anyways, a friend of mine introduced me to these La Cocina tortilla chips last year when she brought some over to my place. I had seen them before in stores but never bought them because they look like generic chips. But as soon as I tried some I was hooked. They taste like a mix between sour cream, nacho cheese, and salsa. I like to also describe the flavour as being tangy but without being spicy.

These tortilla ships are made in Canada as well, which might seem strange but trust me they are good. In fact I love them so much I tend to eat a bag in a day. I have no shame, these chips are that good.

La Cocina Tortilla Chips: https://www.lacocinafoods.ca/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkXJc58hcYs

Wendy’s Canada Bacon Portabella Mushroom Melt

While Christmas is over and the New Year is upon us and everything sucks after Christmas, there is one thing to look forward to and that’s Wendy’s Canada releasing the bacon portabella mushroom melt. I don’t know about the rest of the world like in the US but in Canada, Wendy’s has been releasing the BPMM in January (sometimes late December). I first started eating the BPMM back in high school in the 90’s! And ever since then I have not stopped celebrating this once a year masterpiece without buying a combo and scarfing it down with all its delicious cheese sauce and mushrooms. This burger is perfect buy unfortunately is here only for a limited time, so get yours while you can. Oh and can we go back to calling it the bacon mushroom  melt again?

Wendys: www.wendys.ca

Blog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdwEwhndjxw

Scarborough Town Centre Beef Patty

I grew up in Scarborough, the east district of Toronto. The biggest mall in Scarborough is Scarborough Town Centre a place where a person or family could shop, watch a movie, meet up with friends and also take public transportation. One of the best things about taking public transportation at STC, was that it was a bus and subway terminal for getting around the city. Unfortunately, once you paid to get inside the terminal you weren’t allowed to enter the mall to buy food if you were hunger. Fortunately in the 90’s they added a small little stand on the corner so that transit users could buy a snack, a newspaper, lotto, cigarattes and coffee (I’m sure a lot of people bought them all at once, lol). My favourite was the beef patty at STC because it was delicious, cheap and a quick meal when you were in a hurry trying to race from one bus to another bus or train. Anyways I recently had the chance to go back to STC and thankfully the same little stand was still there with the mustache owner. Beef patties are now $2.50 and as always are handed to you nice and warm in a white paper bag. Despite the subway now being gone, I’m glad that I can still get my beef patty at STC.

Scarborough Town Centre: https://scarboroughtowncentre.com

YouTube: https://youtu.be/61taH9awYOQ

McDonald's Fries and Gravy

McDonald's gravy is something I have slept on for many years (maybe even decades). I knew McDonald's in Canada had sold poutine for years, but I totally never thought of just getting gravy with my fries. I’m in Toronto and fries with gravy, aka fries and gravy is a staple in Toronto food. I can remember as far back as the late 80’s eating it at my local food joint. It was definitely around before the big poutine craze hit Canada in the mid 90’s. But anyways, this summer I was thinking about fries and gravy when I wondered if I could also get them at McDonald's (who has the best fries). So I went to my local  McDonald's and causally asked for some gravy and to my surprise they not only had it, but had been selling it for years.  The gravy cost $0.79, and it tastes really good.  Now that I’ve had McDonald's fries and gravy, I don’t think I can go back to just regular fries.

McDonald's: www.mcdonalds.ca

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_46TlsD_II

Starbucks Red Cup Day 2023

Here’s the official Starbucks Red Cup Day 2023.  You get this plastic reusable holiday cup for free when you buy a Starbuck’s holiday drink.

Starbucks: www.starbucks.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOoK_CGiLek

Home Remedy: Honey Lemon Ginger Tea

Here’s a short and easy home remedy I use or rather drink when I’m sick, Honey Lemon Ginger Tea.  All you need to do is add fresh ginger to a mug, a squeeze of lemon, a teaspoon of honey (or sweeten to taste), and then mix and mash it all together.  Then add a bag of honey lemon tea or substitute chamomile tea, and pour boiling water.  Let it brew for a few minutes, knowing that the longer it stays in the stronger it becomes (especially the ginger can become very spicy).  I like to keep the mug close to my face and let the vapors unclog my nose.  The benefits of ginger are its anti-inflammatory properties, and it also helps as a decongestant.  I like to drink a couple of mugs a day when I’m sick and they usually always help me feel better, so I hope it works for you too.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXMJXqjywl4

Passion Flakie

Growing up in Canada there were certain staples of Canadian treats that every child had in their 80’s and 90’s lunchbox.  For me at the top was the Flakie (eventually it changed names to the Passion Flakie).  This delicious pastry was made with a flaky crust similar to Filo, with sugar added on the top, and then it was filled with whip cream and an apple-raspberry filling.  Unfortunately as a child, I would always eat them crushed because I wasn’t careful.  Thankfully as an adult I can now enjoy them straight out of the box in immaculate condition.  The best part is, they still taste the same and they bring me back to childhood.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZb8lE7FGxs&t=10s

Vachon Passion Flakie Pastries: https://www.vachon.com/en

IKEA Chili Dog

I was shocked when I found out that IKEA in Canada sold chili dogs.  I don’t know what was more shocking, that IKEA sold chili dogs or that it only cost $1.50 Canadian (about a $1 US)!  Either way, I had to try them out and to my surprise they’re not that bad.  The wiener and bun are basic (almost like what you get at school) but the chili is good and comes with plenty of meat and beans.  For the price and quality this is one delicious chili dog that I recommend anyone try if they visit IKEA in Toronto.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLxra16y0QA

IKEA: www.ikea.com

Perugina Rossana Candy

One of my favorite candies are Rossana hard filled candies.  They have almond and hazelnut flavor, and are filled with a delicious creamy filling.  They’re made in Perugina, Italy and are individually wrapped in this colorful red paper.  Their flavor is unique and unforgettable; I honestly can finish a whole bag of candies in one evening; they’re that delicious.

Perugina Rossana:  https://www.fidacandies.it/en/content/rossana

Ketchup Chips

So it’s Canada Day today.  So Happy Canada Day, Canada!  So, earlier today I was about to open a bag of ketchup chips when I decided to also make a video.  I grew up eating ketchup chips and believing they were the most popular flavour of chips in the world.  But then one day I went to the US, and discovered that they weren’t sold there, and were only a Canadian snack food.  That sucks because it’s such a delicious flavour, that I can’t imagine going a few weeks without eating some.  In fact when I travel to other countries I always make it a point to bring a bag of ketchup chips as a gift to friends, which of course they love.  What better way to spread Canada love than with ketchup chips.

Hostess Chips Wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostess_Potato_Chips

Lays:

www.lays.ca

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg2kk7UFN8I

Viva Puffs Cookies

Viva Puffs are cookies that are filled with strawberry filling, marshmallow and coated with chocolate.  I eat Viva Puffs like a vacuum.  I barely open the box and I start vacuuming them down my mouth like they’re pills to swallow.  I don’t know what it is, but I love them.    These are the best (or worse if you’re on a diet) when you’re gaming because, you just open up the box and start jamming them into your mouth.  The best gaming junk foods are the ones you pop in your mouth blindly (and don’t leave you with messy fingers).

While Viva Puffs have been around for a long time in Canada, it wasn’t until I was older that I started to appreciate them.  It’s like one day I just decided to start eating them, and now I can’t stop.  Besides strawberry filling, Viva Puffs come in other varieties such as raspberry, fudge and candy cane.

Viva Puffs:

https://www.darefoods.com/ca_en/brand/viva-puffs/19

YouTube:

https://youtu.be/B71YAcUoPKA

Crispers

I remember when Crispers were first introduced back in the 90’s.  The commercial would ask whether Crispers were chips or crackers, since they were baked not fried yet came in potato chip flavours (currently all dressed, dill pickle, barbecue, ranch, salt and vinegar).  I thought the commercial sucked because it didn’t entice me to want to try them out.  In fact it would be some time later that I actually first tried them; probably because they were on sale.  Since then I have been eating them because they’re so delicious (barbecue being my favourite).  I like the fact that they’re different from any other snack food, especially chips.  We’re pretty lucky in Canada to have so much variety when it comes to snacks like this, which is why I wanted to feature them.

Crispers:

https://www.snackworks.ca/en/products/crispers

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpI59aGt_Vs

Tim Hortons Pumpkin Spice Iced Capp

Once September creeps around I start craving pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks and McDonald’s.  However it’s been an unusually hot September this year so rather than going for my usual PSL to warm me up, I decided to try Tim Horton’s new pumpkin spice Iced Capp.  It’s basically a regular Iced Capp but with whip cream and a pumpkin spice caramel syrup.  I thought it tasted delicious and I’m definitely going to be drinking more if this heat keeps up.

Tim Hortons:

www.timhortons.com

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_1tnGrmhWU

Mexican Soda: Jarritos

On hot summer days I love drinking ice cold drinks.  I especially love specialty sodas or colas.  One of the most popular brands that I like is Jarritos (little jugs in Spanish), which is a Mexican soda brand.  They come in a variety of flavours such as mandarin orange, mango, strawberry, pineapple, tamarind, lime, guava and many more.  I have a sweet tooth so I also like that these sodas use real sugar, as opposed to North American sodas that use artificial stuff.  Besides the great flavours, what I also think makes them delicious is that they come in old school glass bottles, and depending on your age (usually older); you know soda tastes best in a glass bottle.  Pair Jarritos with some tacos, and you have the perfect way to enjoy hot summer days.

Jarritos: www.jarritos.com

Jarritos Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarritos