International Cuisine in Vancouver: Japadog

I usually think, "What is so good about hotdogs?"  However, Japadog is different.  It brings the patrons a completely different concept and mixed the delicious taste of the Far East with plain hotdogs.  I was quite skeptical about it until I tried it this week.  Prices range from $5 to $10 (Olympic hotdog made for cheering the Japanese figure skater, Mao Asada).  This time, we tried "terimayo" and "okonomi" tastes and they were soooooo good!

 

You would expect a half hour wait or more for this incredible tasting hotdog brand.  Trust me, it is worth it.

Also, you get Japanese professional services, so no pissed off faces here!

Coca Cola Olympic Pins

Coca Cola pins are well designed but comes with a hefty price from 10 to 15 dollars.  I bought 2 and acquired one more from the Athens Olympics.  My wife also got one Roots pin.

Vancouver Olympics Monument: Inukshuk

They have erected an Inukshuk at English Bay in Vancouver for the Olympics.  (near the beach)

Roots Olympic 2010 Fashion Line Up

Here is a look at Roots Canada's Olympic Fashion Line Up.  (Unofficial)
Bag with national flag designs:

 

They have fashion clothing from all major countries:

 

and pins:

 

They also have keychains and t-shirts and I will upload them as I get a chance.

 

Cool BBC Olympic Trailer

Found this cool trailer from BBC in Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JAqz-Kn2KE

Olympic Bus for Vancouver 2010 Winter Games

Here is a sneak peak at the new Olympic Bus:

Downtown Buildings: Olympic Decoration and Konbiniya

The downtown office towers in Vancouver put up their amazing artwork and advertising for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Here is a picture of the Samsung cellphone:

 

Here is a picture of Royal Bank's flying skiier:

All fashion shops released their Olympic lines and local shops have decorations to cheer on their teams.
Here is a picture of the popular downtown convenience store for the Japanese people:  (Konbiniya)
コンビニ屋

Downtown Vancouver Olympic Store Part 2

At the Bay Downtown Vancouver, they added more spaces for international olympics clothings and corners for USA and Russia.  We also saw quite a few Russian and US Athletes today.  One was doing a photo shoot.  We also saw two Team Japan members shopping on Robson Street.
Here is the USA corner:

Here is the Russian corner:

 

 Here is a shot of the Russian mascot:

People told me it is a snowman.  I am not sure what it is yet. 

They even decorated the elevator doors:

McDonald's Olympic Mascot Toys - Canada Only Edition

McDonald's has released a series of Happy Meal Toys only in Canada for the Vancouver Olympics.
Check this for pictures of all 8.
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/Lifestyle/2010/01/12/12437941.html
I was excited and very eager to collect all of them (I am a collector), so I went all over the town to find the figures.  They released 8 of them, and so far I have 5:

 

very cute and worth collecting (note it is 2.00 dollars) 

Picture of Canada's McDonald's Trademark:

KFC New Value Box Meal

Last night, we tried KFC's new value box meal.  The price goes from 3.99 in Canada.  The smallest box is very affordable, comes with drink, fries, pop corn chicken and chicken.  The value is better than toonie tuesday or kids meal.  The large box comes with fries, classic burger, popcorn chicken and apple pie (tastes so so).  Personally, I would recommend the smaller box.

Cute Affordable Doggie Bed for My Chihuahua

I found a cute $5.00 dog bed  in London Drugs (BC, Canada) and thought it is time to buy a new one.  Here are the pictures of my two chihuahuas with the new bed.  It is such an incredible deal!!  The size can fit at least 3 chihuahuas comfortably and has a cute bone shape decoration in the middle.

 

  

 

Bento Lunch Box: Chicken Kara-age Bento

Kara-age　(から揚げ） means food items deep fried.  In Japan, many items can be deep fried: fish, pork, chicken, seafood, etc.  Chicken kara-age is a popular dish that is often offered in restaurants and supermarkets.  Here, the bento is made with kara-age, fries, egg (with green onions) and broccoli.  The sprinkles on top are actually flavoured seasoning, "furikake", commonly used on top of rice.

The DOG (my Chihuahua)

For pet lovers, remember the Dog?  It was super popular in Asia around 10 years ago.  A company created big headed dog characters and released a bunch of cute products: posters, plush toys, key chains....you name it.  It was released in North America as well.  Check this picture....my Chihuahua has big big eyes and looks like "the Dog".        http://www.thedog-clubs.com/pup-ography.html

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Friday Night Dinner: Takana Fried Rice & Spicy Tofu

Friday nights are special; my wife often cooks special dishes to conclude the end of the working week.  This time, she made "Takana Fried Rice", "Mapodofu (spicy tofu)", red and orange pepper mixed with pork and mixed salad.  A total of 4 dishes.  Takana 高菜 is famous from Kyushu (southern Japan).  It is a kind of pickled vegetable.  Asians love it.  However, she made it with a twist again like she always does.  She made a fried rice dished mixed in with Takana.  It is delicious with a different taste, if you love this kind of asian pickled vegetable.  It is worth a try!!

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Product Review: Bona

For people who have laminate floor, hardwood floor or tile floor, I have found a product which works really well and I am satisfied with it.  Bona produces a series of floor caring products and is a Swedish brand.  The cleaning solution is water based and is human and pet safe.  The solution can even be used in cleaning walls and has no smell unlike many of the other brands.  The price might be more expensive. (Basic kit goes for 40 dollars)  Only a couple of importers carries this brand in Vancouver, but if you go down south, even Macy's home store carries this brand of products.  http://www.bona.com/

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Product Review: Furminator Part 2

My wife gave a bath to my two Chihuahua dogs today and they enjoyed drying their fur under the sun.  (Good timing because Vancouver is sunny today...how rare)  She tested the Furminator after bath and found that it is even easier to brush and de-shed after bath.  As you can see, I got a bunch of coat off when they are only small short hair Chihuahuas.

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Bento Lunch Box: Oyako Don

Oyako Don (親子丼）, meaning parent and child rice.  The name describes the relationship between the eggs adn the chicken.  It is a common and popular delicacy in Japanese restaurants around the globe.  However, it can be made at home with common ingredients.

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Cute Olympic Postcard Reminder

I received a friendly cute reminder by postcard from VANOC regarding the Olympic event that I am supposed to attend.  I like the design of the postcard because it contains the cute mascots, which can be another memorabilia by itself.  Basically, it reminds people that they have to book seats on the Olympic Bus to go to Whistler or Cypress Mountains.

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Bento Lunch Box: Shishamo (Willow Leaf Fish)

Today's bento is Shishamo bento (fried willow leaf fish).  Very often, this fish would come with eggs in their stomach.   You can either fry or grill this kind of fish, which is very popular in Japan.  This time, she fried them.  On the side, I had three colors of pepper and pork.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shishamo

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Japanese Traditional Event: Setsubun

Today is the Japanese cultural day of "Setsubun".  On this day, people say "devils go out, good luck come in" and chuck soy beans outside and inside their entrance.  It is to wish for people's health and good fortune for the new year and getting rid of the bad spirits.  At meal time, people will eat a long roll of sushi without speaking to make a wish.  It is also a fun day for kids to wear "oni" (devil) masks.

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