Turns out the house had its power back on and I didn't need my flash light. Boring!

The Lunar New Year is another name for what is known as Chinese New Year and 2017 is the year of the Rooster. It starts today and will last until the Lantern Festival on February 15th. Every year represents a different animal in a cycle of 12 years which make up the Chinese Zodiac. Each animal comprises one the five elements: wood, water, metal, fire and earth. 

This year of the rooster is supposed to be the year of Fire. It is the 10th animal in the cycle. The Chinese culture believe each animal and their elements affect what the year will bring to each of us.

Chinese New Year celebrations will be happening all over the world over the next of the few days. 

Gong Hei Fat Choi

A couple weeks ago I blogged about Dine out Vancouver starting their Dine Out Vancouver Festival and completely forgot about White Rock's very own food festival "Taste White Rock" formerly known as "Bite of the Rock".

It's another great opportunity for people living south of the Fraser River in the Valley, instead of heading to Vancouver they can try some of the fabulous restaurants in White Rock. The festival starts tomorrow January 18th and runs through February 5th, there will be select White Rock restaurants offering set menus from $10, $20, $30 or $40. Many of which are also offering entertainment.

This annual event is presented by the White Rock Business Improvement Association. Taste White Rock promises to be an excellent opportunity to try a new restaurant or an old favourite for very reasonable prices. 

For details on participating restaurants and their menus visit Taste White Rock

I thought I would do the same thing I did in my last blog for Dine Out Vancouver and give mini reviews of the ones we have been to for your reference and then let you decide. If you click on any of the restaurants, you will be taken to their website to decide for yourselves. Even if you don't like the Taste White Rock 2017 menu options, most restaurants will still offer their regular menu. I am not sure we have ever been to Taste White Rock but we have been to many of the local restaurants in the past. 

Bin 101 Wine & Tapas In all fairness we have only been once, it wasn't very busy...strange for a Saturday night. But we were looking for something different and thought we would pop in last year. But we weren't ovely impressed. Perhaps we need to try them again before I can give a better review. We love to share different thigns when we go out...so Tapas you would think would be a godo idea. Not a big fan of their bruschetta as they put way too much into it and I do not liek Gorgonzola cheese. 

Five  which used to be known as Five Doors Down...I haven't been since they changed names and I believe ownership. But I have been for lunch and dinner and enjoyed both meals. Another place I think my husband and I need to make it back to. 

Uli's Restaurant They have the best hamburgers ever. First time I tried a burger that wasn't well done. Because they grind their beef fresh, they can cook it to your desired temperature. I was a little skeptical when we went a few years back, but they really did make a delicious burger. Unfortunately, I can't really comment on anything else...since we haven't been back. Not because we didn't enjoy our meals, but because we usually head down for dinner and I would rather have a burger for lunch than dinner. 

Onyx Steakhouse nothing but good things to say about Onyx. We have had their prime rib dinners on the weekend and steak at other times. Wec love Burrata cheese and their salad is delicious..I wouldn't expect anything less. If you love cheese, you have to try this salad.

The Hemingway We tried them for the 1st time this past summer. Every one of the Joseph Richard Group locations is slighlty different then the next. We went knowing what to expect and knowing we would get a decent Townhall type meal. Great place for a casual affair. Again you cannot go wrong with any one of their locations. 

Cosmos Greek Restaurant Ok I have mentioned many times that my husband and I are big foodies. He grew up working in a Greek restaurant and we have had Greek friends. So we finally tried this place last summer and were disappointed. We always judge a Greek restaurant by their ambiance and most of all by their "Tzaziki" if they don't make good Tzaziki then they don't make the cut. Sorry Cosmos we likley won't be back. We may have been tainted by the mediocre Tzaziki but it made the rest of the meal mediocre too. 

Help support mental health here in Canada by supporting Bell Let's Talk today!

For every text message sent, long distance call made, tweet and Instagram post using the #BellLetsTalk orFacebook video view and use of Snapchat geofilter share of the Bell Let's Talk image - Bell Canada will donate 5 cents to help fund mental health initiatives across Canada.

Clara Hughes as the face of Bell Let's Talk gives people a sense that if an Olympic athlete who always seems to have a smile on her face can have mental health issues and be okay...than so can anyone. It also goes to show that it doesn't matter what walk of life you come from, mental health issues can affect just about any one of us. The stats are that 1 in 5 of us will suffer some form of mental illness in their lifetime. Clara and Bell are not only trying to bring awareness to mental health but help to remove the stigma that always seems to follow. I know from my own family...if there was ever any issues it was better not to talk about it and hope that it will just go away instead of dealing with it. Which likely only makes the problem worse as people ignore that the family member needs help or makes the family member feel ashamed.

At this time of year when it is cold and wet or snowy outside depression seems to hit even the least likely of us. If Bell Let's Talk can help spread the word I am all for it. Whether you tweet, make a call send a text, post on snapchat and instagram or share the image on facebook...it's easier than doing just about anything and it's a way to make a difference. So help me support Bell Let's Talk day!

For more information on Bell Let's Talk visit their website at the following link:

Bell Let's Talk 

Saturday nights' are typically date night for my husband and I. Which usually means dinner and a movie or dinner with friends. Last night we tried to get into a local restaurant for an early dinner...but they were all booked up until 8pm. But that didn't work since our movie was to start at 7:30. We decided to head to White Rock to see what we could find along the strip. Along the way we decided we should check out My Shanti again. It's been 2 years since our last visit, we were due. 

Being the foodies that we are and that we love Indian food, we can't figure out why we haven't been back. Unfortunately there aren't many places in the Fraser Valley that we love to frequent, so we end up heading to Vancouver most times....we forgot all about My Shanti.

We were pleasanty surprised to see Vikram Vij working when we walked in. We have followed him on Dragon's Den and even before. Still haven't had the pleasure of trying his Vancouver location "Vij" but were excited when he opened "My Shanti" a couple years ago. Even more excited we got to meet him during our visit this time.

I admit I "fangirled" and wanted to get this photo taken with him, I was honoured to meet him. But more importantly I was impressed with his presence in the restaurant. He's become a Canadian celebrity, but you could tell he was a restauranteur first and foremost. There wasn't a single table that didn't get his attention more than once. He wanted to ensure that everyone was enjoying their "My Shanti" experience to its fullest. The table beside us the woman looked as though she was cold and he wanted to ensure she was comfortable. Then he visited our table a short time later and commented on how he liked my nose ring. As he recently had his nose pierced with his daughter. He took her to get hers done and decided why not get his done too when she said it didn't hurt...well he disagreed...IT HURT! 

We have often visited a busy restaurant and never understood why the owner or manager wasn't pulling up his sleeves and helping out when things were falling behind. Either in the dining room or the kitchen. But not at My Shanti, Vikram Vij barely stood still the entire time we were there for dinner. He was quite happy to have his photo taken with me, without hesitation. Then helping to serve a table or even visiting our table again while we ate our dinner insisting on giving me more sauce to eat with my roti. We couldn't have had a better host. We will surely be back, the servers were attentive and the food was delicious!

 

I don't usually take photos of my food. But I wanted to share the delicious dishes we enjoyed. When we first sat down we were served an array of tasty seasoned light chips. Then we wanted to try a few things that we hadn't tried before. We started with Vikram's Favourite Snack (which was crisp naan bread with a creamy cashew sauce and pieces of portabello mushroom...Similar to a small flatbread). 

For dinner we ordered Paneer (which is Indian cheese served with vegetables...slightly spicy flavour). Chicken Korma (chicken in a cashew garlic sauce)...probably our favourite dish....the chicken was so tender and moist and the sauce it was in was delicious! So delicious there was only a very small piece of  chicken left but enough sauce to dip naan in...so we had them wrap it up and we brought it home. The last dish we shared was the beef dish, short ribs in coconut milk with curry leaves and saffron. To help soak it all up we ordered roti and the meal was rounded off with jasmine rice. 

My Shanti is not your typical Indian restaurant, it is a fusion of the various regions Vikram has travelled throughout India. The decor is colourful and inviting. The staff friendly and attentive. We highly recommend visiting their restaurant if you haven't yet!

Ok don't laugh this really is a thing! I saw something come up online and had to check it out.....and guess what January 19th is National Popcorn Day. Not only that but there's also a National Popcorn Month, but that is not until October. Who comes up with these things I wonder....

Since Popcorn is probably one of my favourite if not my favourite snack, I thought I would blog about it..A healthy snack too, that is until you put all kinds of stuff on it. I admit I do like a little butter on my popcorn sometimes...I am a sucker for "Kernels" popcorn with Salt and Vinegar on it and of course who does not love Caramel corn.

Hope everyone enjoys a little popcorn today in honour of National Popcron Day!

Have you ever had a real estate question, or just wanted to know what the market was like? Well Kara, Erinn and myself will be on hand at one of the Starbucks locations in Cloverdale - 17967 56th avenue (Hwy.10 beside the RBC branch) to answer as many questions as we can this coming
Saturday January 21st from 1-4pm.

We will be offering FREE Starbucks Regular Coffee and treats. It's an opportunity to ask us questions about what the market is doing in your neighbourhood, or maybe something you heard in the news. This week the new BC partnership program came into affect for First Time Home Buyers...maybe you were wondering how this might benefit you as a First Time Home Buyer. 

Maybe you have been thinking of selling your home and/or buying a new home...but you don't know where to start, or who to call. Come by and meet us! We would be happy to help you with your next move!

No pressure, no sales pitches, no obligation! Just a chance to meet a local team that has been helping homeowners for over 10 years. We come with lots of experience and knowledge to share.

I am not usually one to toot my own horn...and debated on whether to post or not....but I was too excited not to share. 

I am ranked #2 in my office for the 1st time ever, but I wouldn't be there without an amazing team behind me. Without amazing clients, without their trust in me and the team, I would never rank at all. I wouldn't be here without my wonderful husband who has been my biggest cheerleader for the last 10 years and supported me through the ups and downs of many markets over the years. Without my daughters understanding when I was so busy I barely had time to spend with them this last year. 

I shared our accomplishment in an earlier blog about ranking top 1% out of all Fraser Valley Realtors, but ranking #2 in our office was never expected. I have consistently been in the top 5 for a good number of years and knew I would remain in the Top 5, but was so excited when I found out where I ranked in my office out of 40 realtors. 

Happy to be a part of such an amazing office that was ranked #1 in our category overall for 2016! A year of many great accomplishments and a great way to start 2017 off, looking forward to all that this year has to offer. 

The BC Liberal government's Home Partnership Program starts today. The program is intended to help First time home buyers with their 1st home purchase. With housing prices having climbed so much over the last year, this is supposed to be a measure to help alleviate some of this concern. For Buyers that have saved some money but not quite enough as prices have climbed, this loan will help bridge that gap.

The BC Home Partenership Program  is a loan to assist First Time Home Buyers with their minimum 5% down payment. It is not designed to be their only source of downpayment. The loan will be interest free and payment free for 5 years and registered on title as a 2nd mortgage. 

In order to qualify you must have been a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the last 5 years. 
- have lived in BC for a year
- Of course have never owned a home anywhere in the world 
- qualify for a high ratio mortgage 
- Home purchase $750,000 or less
- combined gross family income cannot exceed $150,000
- the home purchased must be the principal residence for 5 years 

At any time during the 5 years you can repay this loan without a penalty. In the 6th year interst will then start to accrue and payments will be required to be made on the principal and interest amortized over 20 years. 

To read more about how to qualify and how to apply visit the following link or speak with your mortgage broker:

The BC Home Partenership Program 

Dine Out Vancouver 2017 starts January 20th and runs until February 5th. 

Dine Out Vancouver 2017 boasts 17 days of culinary excitement with delicious meals at fabulous restaurants for great prices!!!
The catch is that you must make your reservations sooner rather than later. 

My husband and I are really big foodies, over the years we have made it out to quite a few of the restaurants that take part in Dine Out Vancouver 2017. Some of the restaurants we have been to, but not always during Dine Out Vancouver 2017. As you can see we obviously love Italian food...in fact that is probably our go to, especially when we don't know what or where we want to go. In such cases, we will often opt to head to one of our favourites. There are a few more restaurants that we love that do not participate in Dine Out Vancouver 2017 but we will leave those for another blog. 

In all honesty not everyone in the list is a favourite or even one we would frequent again or at least not often. I will give them all a mini review for your reference and then let you decide. If you click on any of the restaurants, you will be taken to their website to decide for yourselves. Even if you don't like the Dine Out Vancouver 2017 menu options, most restaurants will still offer their regular menu. We have often went in during Dine Out Vancouver but decided we preferred something else on the restaurant's main menu. Either way you can't go wrong. 

Italian
CinCin Ristorante & Bar - one of our favourite Italian restaurants, the service, the food, the ambiance...all Top Notch!
Cafe Il Nido - quaint little place tucked away with a nice courtyard patio in the summer, delicious food and great service
Poor Italian Restaurant  - excellent place to take the family, our girls love this restaurant
Francesco's Ristorante Italia - one of our go to places over the years, food is always delicious
Federico's Supper Club - usually a stop during the Italian Cultural festival in the summer on Commercial Drive
Frankie's Italian Kitchen & Bar - not really one of our favourites, food was ok...more of a chain style restaurant, lacks the ambiance of a finer Italian restaurant
La Terrazza - visited them for the 1st time during Dine out last year and very nice restaurant, not our favourite but still good food
Lombardo's Restaurant - delicious pizza and another great stop during the Italian Cultural Festival 
Mangia e Scappa - Fort Langley - they don't have a website, only real italian restaurant that we have in Langley, pizza is pretty good done in a stone oven


Steak and Seafood
Black + Blue - we have been for dinner and then my husband has been for functions. Wasn't the best experience in a large group, but we did enjoy our dinner the few times we had been before. Wagyu steaks and macaroni sticks are delicious!
The Boathouse Restaurant - been to a few locations, excellent place to take the family for a seafood dinner...we have been a few times...which is funny because my husband does not eat seafood...he usually finds something else on the menu. 
Chop Steakhouse & Bar - Richmond restaurant near the airport right off the highway, been there a couple times and a decent restaurant. Nothing exceptional to boast about, but good nonetheless
The Keg Steakhouse & Bar - we have been to a few, usually because there was either nowhere else to go or because friends suggested it....always found Keg restaurants to be a little over-rated (again my opinion, would rather spend that kind of money in a fine Italian restaurant or non-chain style restaurant)

Asian cuisine
Hapa Izakaya any of their locations are good and it is one of my husband's go to places with his colleagues for lunch downtown. They offer great tapas style Japanese dishes as well as delicious entrees. Never had a bad meal there. Their "Kalbi" beef short ribs are delicious and usually one of our favourites and my husband loves their Ishi-Yaki stone bowl dishes.

Casual
Dunn's Famous Restaurant's known for their Montreal Smoked Meat sandwiches...although the best outside of Montreal we have found is "Estrella's" in Langley
Cactus Club Coal Harbour has some great views of the North Shore Mountains and Stanley Park, when we want something we know we head to Cactus Club..in Langley that is usually our go to place for a chain restaurant.
Moxie's Grill & Bar - they are part of Dine Out...but in all honesty we have not been to a Moxie's in years...Food is ok, usually a place we go for a quick bite before dropping our daughter off at the airport when she's heading back to school...but  haven't even done that in a while. 
The Old Spaghetti Factory - ok, so they are part of Dine Out Vancouver....used to be a favourite when we were kids...(kids do not have any taste...) it's a family style restaurant so maybe great if you don't want to take your kids to a nice restaurant. Every few years we give them a try...but only to be disappointed each time. They are supposed to be Italian...but I couldn't bring myself to include them in that category...just seemed wrong. Sorry Old Spaghetti Factory...but its true.
Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. - Delicious flat bread and they even offer pizza making parties. How fun is that! Love too that they support local by keeping their ingredients local and organic. 
Romer's - My husband has been to a few of their locations (hazzard of working downtown Vancouver, he gets to visit a lot of amazing restaurants and I insist he take me every once in a while to some place new) Their burgers are delicious! I believe I had the Magic Mushroom burger...I mean how can you go wrong when you put Boursin cheese on it...yum!
Tap & Barrel any location...I have only been to the North Shore location. Lots of fun, vibrant atmosphere, great place to grab a bite wih friends

Mexican
Las Margaritas Restaurante y Cantina - Unfortunately, the last couple times the food was just ok. But whenever we are in Kits, I always insist on stopping by and picking up a tub of their delicious Salsa and large bag of tortilla chips to go! 

Not only are there great deals at many of your favourite restaurants but many hotels are offering special pricing during this time too. I never realized they also have some great events during Dine Out Vancouver 2017 and wish I had time to check them out. Events like Brunch crawls, Craft beer and Taco Tours (not for us because we don't drink beer...but what a great idea with Craft beer being such a craze right now), Secret Soiree sounds like fun and so many more....definitely going to plan to check the events out for next year.

For more details on the participating restaurants, events and hotels visit the following link:

Dine Out Vancouver 2017