Sweetness Up North: 50 Most Excellent Moments from a Vancouver, BC Weekend

O, Canada. How buttery and sweet are thee? 

Delightfully, deliciously so, as Mr. Spy and I found on a recent weekend trip to Vancouver (which is part of what I would call Nanaimo Bar Country). And now, you can share our delicious adventures, photographically at least, with a rundown of our 50 sweetest moments in Vancouver, BC:

1. First Nanaimo Bar of the trip! It was from a chain coffee shop (shame!) but it tasted like heaven.
2. Slight savory interlude: OMG Eggs Benedict from Seb's Market Cafe. Happiness: they have three types of Hollandaise.
3. Banana French Toast from Seb's. Yes!
4. Peanut cake from Anna's Cake House.
5. Danny, the happiest boy to ever eat Peanut Cake at Anna's Cake House.
6. Have I mentioned that I'd love to live in a Cake House?
7. Fresh Gooey Cinnamon Rolls.
8. The gorgeous pastry spread at Liberty Bakery, which looks like it's been there forever.
9. In particular, the Eccles cakes...
10. and the Butter Tarts, which is what we went for.
11. The World Peace Cookie, a Dorie Greenspan shout-out, at Coco et Olive, an adorable little cafe.
12. This sign, which kind of describes my life.
13. Lovely cream-filled chocolates from Rogers' Chocolates. Hazelnut Swirl for Mr. Spy...
14. ...and Maple for me.
15. OMG LOVE: The Granville Island Public Market, which is kind of like a mashup between Pike Place Market and the Reading Market in PA.
16. Intriguing: Orange Nanaimo Bars, Stuart's Bakery, Granville Public Market.
17. ...Eccles cake and more--including Nieman Marcus Cookies!--at Stuart's Bakery.
18. ...sweet jams: Cinnamon Pastry Records, Stuart's.
19. What exactly is a scrumpet? A cross between a scone and a crumpet, found at Muffin Granny, Granville Public Market.
20. Another Canadian specialty: the Date Square, also spied at Muffin Granny.
21. Lychee gelato, anyone? From Pizza Pzazz (I know, terrible name), Granville Island Public Market.
22. Another savory break! Pizza from Pizza Pzazz.
23. Ooh, rainbow roses! Buy me some, Mr. Spy!
24. A gorgeous spread at ChocolaTas, Granville Island Public Market.
25. Tarts!
26. Slabs of decadent caramel from Olde World Fudge.
27. Also, a sweet spread of handmade lollipops with Halloween themes at Olde World Fudge.
28. Poppyseed rolls (Canadian rugelach?) from Siegel's Bagels.
29. Fruit filled bagels, Siegel's Bagels.
30. A view of my new favorite place ever, Lee's Donuts.
31. Wisdom from Lee's Donuts.
32. ...and a cream puff from Lee's, which is what we chose to eat.
33. Chocolate swirl cheesecake from Luella's Fine Foods.
34. Bubblegum ice cream from The Milk Man.
35. Black. Forest. Cake.
36. Tarts and pies galore! At A la Mode.
37. Blueberry bread from Terra Breads (I saw this all around town at grocery shops and coffee shops too).
38. Pause for a sweet self-photo. Fact: we cannot stop looking good.
    
39. Turtle cheesecake!
40. Halloween-hued macarons from La Baguette Bakery.
41. Croissants from La Baguette. Le Yum.
42. Spying Butter's marshmallows at Whole Foods! Sweet!
43. Vanilla salt cookies by Kreation, as spied at Whole Foods.
44. New Hat! Doesn't cover the dopey expression, though!
45. NRG Orbs: what are they? They're very heavy, whatever they are.
46. Question: Does Mona Lisa like sushi? The answer is yes.
47. What we chose from Butter: the Maple Snickerdoodle sandwich.
48. It gets another number to show you the innards. Like, whoa!
49. The raspberry-rhubarb pie from Savary Island Pie Co., not beautiful but very delicious.
50. The peanut butter crispy Nanaimo bar from Savary Island Pie Co. - I will be dreaming of this.

Oh, and there's a bonus! The week after my Vancouver trip, I had a surprise visitor in the shop -- Miss Kickpleat herself! And she brought me a muffin. Totally sweet!

Thanks, Canada, for the memories! For more photos, visit my Flickr page! 

Comments

[Kate]

I only moved to Vancouver a few months ago so still have a lot of culinary explorations to do... this post has definitely helped, thank you!

[Jenni]

Granville Island is my most favoritest place since I was little! Lee's donuts for breakfast... the original glaze warm and squishy and yummy! I love the kid's market... never go through the big door, always the kid's door, which is half the size! Great post!

[Diana]

Your dopey expression isn't! Its inspiring.

[Courtney]

I'm so glad you enjoyed our city! Isn't Granville Island an amazing place? You could eat there for weeks! You should come around for another visit around Canada Day - the Island is absolutely bouncing!

Also, for your next trip, you've got to go to visit the chinese bakeries down Chinatown. They've got some amazing sweet treats!

[Teresa]

First off, I love your blog and drawings and humor....love it.

I just wanted to know how do you manage to not weight 5,000lbs?


Also, how about on your many fabulous trips trying to feature one or two vegan items you have found. I'm vegan and I love reading about your trips and food finding, but give us vegans something to dream about here!!

Keep up the amazing inspiring work!
Eat! Eat! Eat!

[Vivian]

the first picture caught my attention! (:
reading and looking at this post
really makes me want to visit vancouver :]
everything looks so cute and elegant~

[marla {family fresh cooking}]

OMG does this trip look like a blast. That peanut cake is a calling. Love Vancouver. Thanks for sharing your blissfully happy vaca with us! xo

[Cha]

Next time you are here visit Deacon's' Corner at main and alexander for the best French Toast. And if you can get to Deep Cover, go to Honey's for delicious fresh doughnuts and the BEST almond squares!

[Jessica]

You missed out on Charlie's Chocolate Factory!!

[Thomas Sabo Bracelet]

wonderful post! Love your blog. Im sad that I movd from WA before I had a chance to visit your shop.

[yankinmanc]

I had never heard of a Nanaimo bar before reading this, so I made a bath on Tuesday...big success. Everyone loved them and one went to school with my son today in his lunchbox! Yummy! Thanks!

[Caitlin]

The next time you guys come up here, head a few blocks past Butter and try the cupcakes at Kokopelli - I'd consider them the best cupcakes in Vancouver by far! I just had a coconut one and melted all over the couch.

[lyndsay]

LEE'S DONUTS IS THE BEST PLACE EVER with a wonderful story too. Attached is a link!

http://www.cityfood.com/people/merchants/

Their outlook on growth and business in general is refreshing... keep it small, do it right, enjoy!!! ^__^

You gots to tell me the next time you come up to Vancouver and I will make you a cake!!