Old Spaghetti Factory

Just like how my family visits COWS Ice Cream every time we're in Whistler, the Old Spaghetti Factory has become a routine of ours as well. The portions are large enough so the hunger will stay away until dinnertime and the prices are very reasonable considering the tourist-y location.

All entrees come with a starter of either minestrone soup or garden salad and end with a scoop (or maybe two) of ice cream and a choice of coffee or tea. Look for the "It's all included" sign on the menu. For $12 to $15, one can have a complete meal at a convenient location in the heart of the Whistler Village Stroll. My aunt hails this restaurant as the best value in all of Whistler, she sometimes coming for both lunch and dinner.

Fresh Loaf of Sourdough Bread

Shortly after being seated, the waiter or waitress will bring a small loaf of sourdough bread for you to nibble on as you read the menu. Warning: This bread is highly addictive and dangerous for those trying to avoid carbohydrates. It's impossible to stop stuffing this soft, warm bread into your mouth. They give free refills of this bread too! Consider sharing one plate of pasta if self control is a difficulty. Refined carb overload galore! The whipped butter is rather tasteless though. Whipped to the point of being like...air. Fresh bread tastes good enough by itself, no need to add unnecessary fats.

Garden Salad with Sesame Dressing

My parents and I ordered two pastas to share amongst the three of us. It was just the right amount of food.

Seafood Fettuccine Alfredo

The first pasta was the Seafood Fettuccine Alfredo.There were plenty of small scallops and shrimp, but that's as 'fancy' as the seafood gets. Then again, this large serving of pasta only cost $14.25. I enjoyed the thick al dente fettuccine noodles. The alfredo sauce is very traditional, not much to it rather than cream and butter. But it got a bit too heavy near the end and I saw the butter start to separate and rise to the top. Definitely save this dish for a 'cheat day'.

The second pasta we shared was the Spaghetti with Spicy Meat Sauce. The spice was different from the type of spiciness we had anticipated; it was more herb-y... Not very special but did the job. 

My brother ordered the Chicken Parmigiana and it was a really large portion for $14.95. A large breaded chicken cutlet with a portion of speghetti with tomato sauce. Two people with a smaller appetite than a growing teenage boy can share this and still be full. However, I can't speak for the taste as I didn't try this dish. 

We all ended our filling lunch off with a cup of coffee or tea and some spumoni ice cream, which is Old Spaghetti Factory's version of Neapolitan ice cream but with pistachio, chocolate, and vanilla. The pistachio doesn't have much flavour, so don't expect to get some fancy expensive gelato. Whoever scooped our ice cream this time was very generous as we got two large scoops in each cup, yay! 

We made our visit on a Sunday afternoon during lunchtime. I made a reservation in the morning before heading out to the farmer's market to ensure we'd have a table. Better safe than sorry since sometimes they're so packed there's a one hour wait list. That wasn't the case this time though, despite it being a weekend. The entire restaurant had ten or so groups when we arrived at noon. I had asked to be seated outside on the patio, which is a nice environment but it was just too hot on a sunny August day. Fruit and vegetable plants decorate the patio, but they're kind of...overgrown or dying, haha.

Old Spaghetti Factory is a family-friendly restaurant to go to when you need to fill hungry tummies and have a place to chat and relax. Food isn't five-star quality but it's acceptable and affordable. Service is kind but not always promt; it depends on how busy the restaurant is. Our server came back often to ask how we were doing at the beginning of our meal but less near the end. She did remember our requests for more bread and water when we asked for them. There isn't any major reason for my family to not come back for pasta when we're in Whistler.

I apologize for the lack of photos in this post; I thought I had past photos of the dishes I had this trip as we seem to order the same few things. But I was wrong so hopefully on my next trip (maybe next year?), I'll be able to make a second review with more photos.



Love from Coconut Crumpet's Corner ♡

Purebread

Purebread Whistler Village storefront

My motivation for getting up every morning is breakfast. Having Purebread just a block away from my stay in Whistler (close to the IGA entrance to the village) gives me something very exciting to look forward to at the beginning of the day. Just another reason to add to my list of why I love Whistler.

Display of baked goods at Purebread Whistler Village

There is no difference between me walking into this bakery and a kid in a candy store. Zero. Nada. There are too many baked goods to even fit onto the display counter all at once. Scones, pies, cakes, loaves, brioche, cookies, brownies, and croissants are overflowing from behind the glass. Then there's the plethora of fresh loaves of bread sitting on shelves behind the cashier. It is a dessertatarian's heaven. 

Purebread Scones (and other goodies behind)

Their scones are some of their best sellers, be sure to get there early in the morning because they sell out by afternoon! My mission was to try all the [sweet] scone flavours, which I was very close to accomplishing, unfortunately for the calories I attempted to burn right before eating them... But it was all worth it. These scones are absolutely massive, a good four inch square of buttery, dense, crumbly, perfection of a scone. The scone itself is not very sweet at all, the sweetness of the whole scone solely depends on the drizzle of icing on top. And I think that level is perfect.

Lavender Eary Grey Scone & Lemon Basil Blueberry Scone (with Apricot Vanilla Bean Scone in the back)

Ingrid's Village Cafe

Ingrid's Village Cafe

In the middle of the Village Stroll in Whistler lies this tiny cafe that is loved by both locals and visitors alike. Although I walk past this cafe at least six times a day, I would have never thought to go in if it weren't for the good reviews seen on the Internet. The cafe is not very noticeable as there's no big sign displaying their name and their small patio section is attached to three other restaurants. Look for the 'home cooking' neon lights or an A-frame sign that says stuff like "vegan! hot chocolate!" (Sorry, that's all I remember...), or a patio full of people enjoying burgers out of plastic red baskets.

Garden Veggie Burger ($6.95)

I got the Garden Veggie Burger which is a patty of shredded vegetables in a multigrain bun with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, green bell pepper, shredded carrots, alfalfa sprouts, avocado, salsa, and mayonnaise. This was an absolutely massive burger. Tall and thick! 

The patty was labeled is gluten free and vegan but it also was 'with mozza'. I'm not sure if mozza meant mozzarella cheese, so if you're vegan you may want to double check with an employee. And also tell them 'no mayo' (which I forgot to do...) When eaten, I thought the patty was a bit too wet, being on the verge of tasting undercooked. The mushy texture made the feeling rather strange. As with most vegetarian burgers or low-fat meat patties, the flavour relies heavily on spices. Which is healthier because the spices substitute the lard's job of providing flavour. But for those new to vegetarian burgers, just be prepared. Let's just say the Garden Veggie Burger looked appealing but the taste was rather anticlimactic. The Superior Veggie Burger made of lentils and vegetables could potentially taste better as apparently, Ingrid's is famous for that.

A short mention for the toppings: I'm glad the avocado was thickly spread on the bottom bun; nothing worse that looking forward to some creamy avocado but just getting a tiny sliver. However, the alfalfa sprouts were a totally different story. There are like three sprouts sticking out in the photo, and that's about how much was actually in the burger. Smaller than a pinch. -insert unimpressed face here- All the other vegetables were (I think) present in the burger. Even though the whole patty is made from vegetables, I like to include as much veggies into each meal as possible. Can't go wrong with more cellulose right?

Ingrid's Village Cafe is a great place to pick up a breakfast wrap or a simple soup and sandwich lunch for under $10 inside the village. Sandwiches, burgers, and wraps are all built to order. The prices are extremely reasonable and affordable, great for a day where you don't feel like spending a ton of money to dine at some fancy five-star restaurant or just need something quick and easy. I would love to come back and try some of their other items. Maybe their daily soup or the new Avocado Breakfast Wrap. Ingrid's is like Subway, but with more exciting choices.

The menu and prices can be viewed on their website. 




Love from Coconut Crumpet's Corner ♡

A Blackberry Breakfast of Pancakes and Muffins

Fresh Blackberries

August, the month for blackberries. These delicate, plump berries that resemble raspberries aren't around for long. Their expensive price tag at the supermarket make it a 'once in a while' special treat worth splurging on. The fresh flavours of blackberries + lemon + ricotta create wonderful light summer treats. I have incorporated this combination in two recipes: pancakes and muffins.

Blackberry Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Last week, I made some Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. I loved those light-as-air pancakes so much I had no troubles deciding on what to do with the leftover ricotta cheese. More pancakes! (If you've read my Hawaii post, you may know I have a weakness for pancakes) Blackberries work just as well with lemon and ricotta and best enjoyed in the form of these fluffy pancakes. Using the pancake batter recipe linked above, but just replacing the blueberries with blackberries in the sauce.

Blackberry Lemon Ricotta Muffins

For the sake of trying a new recipes some of the ricotta went towards a batch of muffins. Same three flavours, but in a completely different form.

Hatley Gelato Scoops

On past vacations to Whistler, my family would only get ice cream from COWS Ice Cream, sometimes even twice in a day. But after seeing the small vendor stand for the Whistler-made Lucia Gelato earlier in the day at the Sunday Farmer's Market, we wanted to give the local gelato a try. Hatley's Gelato Scoops is one place Lucia Gelato can be found.
 
At 9:30pm, my family decided to go out for a stroll before jumping into bed. Suddenly mom said she was in the mood to have ice cream so we dropped by Hatley's to get some. Even though the store opening hours stated they closed at 9pm on Sundays, the doors were still wide open and employees didn't look like they were cleaning up anytime soon so we walked in.

Lucia Gelato at Hatley Gelato Scoops

There wasn't any of the cool flavours from the Farmer's Market like panna cotta or coconut cookie dough. Instead, mom chose Strawberry Guava and Pineapple Coconut Peach, both were sorbets. Most of the available flavours were fruit based sorbets and there were a few richer flavours like peanut butter, mocha, and chocolate. The pistachio was completely sold out, too bad...

Strawberry Guava and Pineapple Coconut Peach Sorbet

The Strawberry Guava was the better flavour of the two. The texture was smoother and both fruits could be tasted in each bite. Guava being the stronger flavour. The Pineapple Coconut Peach was more icy. Peach was the dominating flavour in this scoop. Next was the pineapple and the coconut was like non-existent.

This two scoop medium cup of sorbet cost $5.50, which is a very normal price for ice cream in Whistler. However I don't really like sorbet as it tastes like a popsicle than ice cream. Even though COWS doesn't serve the most amazing ice cream on earth, I'd rather use my $5.50 at COWS Ice Cream than at Hatley. 



Love from Coconut Crumpet's Corner ♡

COWS Ice Cream

Visiting COWS has become a tradition for my family when in Whistler. I've grown up looking forward to eating COWS Ice Cream on every trip since elementary school. The smell of freshly made waffle cones travel out the doors making it impossible for anyone passing by to resist going in.

COWS Ice Cream

Line ups can get insanely long in the late afternoon and at 9pm during the summer months. When we went on a Friday night at 9:30pm, the line up still curved out the door past Bessie the cow. Everybody in line seems to have no problem with waiting half an hour for ice cream because we're all tourists and are trying to kill time anyways. Look at the punny cow jokes written on t-shirts, postcards, and other souvenirs or admire their collection of every cow related item possible to amuse yourself as you make you way closer to the counter.

COWS Flavours and Pricing

The prices for ice cream in Whistler are pretty high, be prepared to pay at least $5.50 for two scoops of ice cream. COWS is no different. Scoops are decently sized here but the quality seems to have declined. I'm not sure if it's because as a kid any ice cream tastes good, or if the company has actually changed the quality. They claim to have the creamiest ice cream because of the 16% milk fat milk used. I guess they didn't use enough of that fatty milk because the ice cream wasn't as dreamy creamy as it should be.

PEI Strawberry Ice Cream & Moo York Cheesecake Ice Cream

My family wasn't really in the mood to have a ton of ice cream after eating a hearty barbeque dinner. We got a two scoop cone to share. Since COWS originated from Prince Edward Island, I figured the PEI Strawberry flavour would be pretty good. However it was rather disappointing as it tasted like a standard strawberry ice cream purchased from the grocery store. No chunks of fresh strawberry or anything exciting like that. 

The bottom scoop was the Moo York Cheesecake. Cheesecake is a common flavour that can be hit or miss. It's a miss here. There was only the faintest hint of cream cheese that could only be tasted if you really pay attention. Even a supposedly rich flavour like cheesecake wasn't that rich at all. As mentioned earlier, the base of the ice cream is not creamy enough.

The waffle cone everyone continuously inhales while standing in line is very tasty. However, I don't remember the cone being so thick. Maybe it's just to give more strength to the cone so it doesn't crack as the ice cream melts inside. COWS' freshly made waffle cones are great!

The verdict? I'll come for the sake of tradition, even if I have had better ice cream at Bella Gelateria. The waffle cones are worth standing in line to smell too. (It must be a business tactic to lure customers in) The ice cream is better than the Lucia Gelato sold at Hatley's nearby and cheaper than La Bocca Gelato, but it's still not jaw-droppingly amazing. The quality seems to have gotten worse but since there aren't that many places to get ice cream in Whistler, COWS is still one of the best choices. COWS is open from 10 to 10 everyday. Doors will close and cut the line up promptly at 10pm.



Love from Coconut Crumpet's Corner ♡

Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Raw Vegan Tart

Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Raw Vegan Tart

Raspberries and chocolate, a dreamy combination of sweet and tart. My family is down to the last few raspberries from our trip to Krause Berry Farms so I took the opportunity to incorporate them into some kind of chocolate dessert. This recipe is a no bake, super easy, and uses minimal equipment. It's a tart that looks extravagant enough to bring to a dinner party. No one has to know it is vegan and can also raw!

Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Raw Vegan Tart

I managed to put this tart together in one hour, the pressing in of the crust taking most of that time. It sat in my fridge while my mom took us grocery shopping for our upcoming 'glamping' (glamorous camping) trip. By the time we returned home with an entire cooler of food for the barbeque, I was hungry and ready for a sweet snack. So hungry that I forgot to sift icing sugar over the tart to make it prettier. All that was on my mind was "photograph then eat". Oops~ Natural animal instincts, okay?

The vegan mousse is quite impressive. If made with a stronger machine like a Vitamix, the texture could become a lot smoother. My 'antique' food processor did an okay job but I could still feel a few clumps of mac nuts. I was so surprised as to how airy and light the mousse is! Looks like real mousse and feels like it. It's amazing what nuts can turn into whether it be a custard for Nanaimo Bars or a crust for a Banana Cream Pie, nuts are a healthy and satisfying alternative to highly processed store-bought food with zero nutrition and who-knows-what in it. Plus, it's been loving made with your own hands and effort~

Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Raw Vegan Tart

Next time I make a this tart, I'll have to either make the sides shorter or double the mousse filling. The final product will look more 'normal' and less like a boat (as my mom described it as). But aesthetics aside, this is absolutely delicious. I couldn't stop eating after one slice and helped myself to another. The chewy and naturally sweet crust is just as good eaten alone. This wetter version of the crust used in my Nanaimo Bars holds its shape a lot better and doesn't crumble at all. I can imagine it working beautifully in mini individual tarts.

The overall tart is very lightly sweet with no refined sugars whatsoever. Most Asians prefer less-sweet desserts so this tart suits those with that preference. As for myself, I would probably add a tad bit more honey and cocoa into the mousse to give the dessert a more robust flavour. I mean, if you're going to eat dessert it might as well be one that truly satisfies your craving for glucose. 

When in a rush and need a delicious and nutritious dessert, try making this Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Tart! It won't disappoint any taste buds ;)

Click below for the recipe