TRAVEL | THINGS TO DO | Disneyland Hong Kong / February 19, 2018 by Jenn Chan

When I was 6 or 7 my family embarked on the 22-hour drive from British Columbia to California to go to Disneyland! We piled into the family motorhome, a snug yet well-appointed-for-the-times 30 foot Winnebago style Chevrolet, and took off down the west coast of North America. I can only now imagine it from my dad's perspective as an adult; an epic, cross-continent, family road trip. Pretty grown up for my then 30-something dad, Mr. William John Allan III, a guy who still burned rubber in the family station wagon and was known for his prowess at inducing joyful yet fearful shrieks in two disciplines: à la 4 x 4 and his signature ski boat tomfoolery. Nights spent looking over the two-weeks-worth of homework I was given for fleeing the country and listening to my dad read Narnia books to the family in animated tones. Ya, my childhood was 'deece' as the kids say. Kids say that!

The actual events of my adolescent trip to Anaheim, California and the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland, are a bit of a blur. I remember meeting Goofy, eating cotton candy, seeing the parade, It's a Small World and waiting in line for Space Mountain and then refusing to partake and ruining it for one of my parents as they had to escort me out and mollycoddle me. My intuition tells me that it was likely my mama, one ever-smiling, sharp, gracious and loving Jean Elizabeth Allan (nee Hayward), who did not get to travel through space inside of a mountain on that day and I guess I owe her yet another one. That'll make it 1,000,001 right Mom?

My trip to Hong Kong Disneyland in December of 2017 will not be forgotten! As soon as you switch MTR's, that's mass transit railway to those living outside of city centres, to the Disney Line, the fun starts. Mickey Mouse heads for windows, Jiminy Cricket statues and memorabilia line the walls. Children smile, parents beam and everyone on the train giggles quietly to themselves. You know that feeling! This train only goes to one place, a place where sorcerers, cartoon dogs, princesses, star warriors and demi-gods clammer to get and hold your attention across 28 hectares of happy! There's so much to see!! What do you do first? What should you do? What did we do?

First stop for us was the Hong Kong Disneyland Railway. A leisurely jaunt ringing the park on a faux-vintage steam train to get the lay of the land and plan our attack. I'm a traveller. I get to a new town and I get up high in a building or on a mountain and look around. If I can find lunch at a revolving restaurant all the better. Lunch is usually less busy, more economically priced and, well, it's daytime so you can see! The railway is the equivalent of that, you see where you need to go, where can wait and how popular each is.

Now I can't guarantee you that you are going to have the same experience as me for one simple fact: I am a travel blogger. I am catered to and fussed over and it's a privilege that comes with offering, I hope, a unique and playful insight into the attraction for my readers. As such I did not wait in any lines while I was there. I'm sorry if that enrages you, but those are facts and if you want to stop reading now I don't blame you. Again, I'm deeply sorry :)

My favourite rides of the day included, but were not limited to: the Grizzly Gulch Mountain Runaway Mine Cars (more on that later), the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (a childhood favourite and one I'll always have a soft spot for since he's named for my mom's hometown of Winnipeg), It's a Small World, Hyperspace Mountain (I stood tall and didn't chicken out this time), the Ironman Experience (I was part of a plucky fighter crew who, along with a tiny bit of help from Ironman, saved Hong Kong. You're welcome.), theRC Racer and the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop... Unlike a parent who will refuse to choose their favourite offspring I will tell you which I enjoyed the most... Ready? The Grizzly Gulch rollercoaster is the best rollercoaster I have ever been on in my life! What's your worst fear on a rollercoaster? Is it the drops, the spins or the turns? For me it's the anticipation as you clink, clink, clink up the inclines on your way to a stomach-dropping descent. What would happen if the brakes failed and you rolled backwards really, really fast? No spoilers, but if you're in Hong Kong, enjoy fun, then you need to head to Disneyland for this coaster alone!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

TRAVEL | HONG KONG | Disney Explorers Lodge / February 13, 2018 by Jenn Chan

When does Hong Kong feel like Cancun? Or Bali? Or Phuket? When you walk beside an epic pool, framed by the ocean in a carnival-like, jubilant atmosphere. I, like countless others, have happily been indoctrinated with Disney everything from a young age. Sunday dinner in the formal dining room watching the classics and feeling like you're in centre of the universe. Where else would anyone want to be? The 8 year-old mind cannot fathom it!

Regardless of your age the finishes and the sheer magnitude of the Disney Explorers Lodge will suffice for even the most amenity-crazed traveller. Pools, a spa, a gym, restaurants and a gargantuan lobby that stretches 50-60 feet into the air allowing for, during our visit, one of the larger Christmas trees I've been privy to, greet you as you enter.

Our room was lovely! Very modern and... wait for it... Disney-themed everything right down to the shampoo and conditioner! Two queen beds dominate the space and views across Discovery Bay and its iconic Plaza draw the eye out and the room immediately feels even bigger and fills with light and vibrancy. Outside our window a seawall offers paved walking and biking paths and cyclists, kayakers and murmuring families peddle, paddle, laugh and skip as they pass. The bathroom is very modern and spa-like and the toilet is housed separate from the sink and vanity to allow for families and couples to share the room without issue. We prepared ourselves a few coffees and watched as a family scrambled around the Disney surfboard feature in the gardens below our window. Caffeinated and bubbling with Mickey Mouse energy we set out.

The Chart Room Café was our first stop for some food and view over the gardens. Being after noon and being that I was on vacation I indulged in an icy cold Heineken and enjoyed a quick bite as children raced around the tables in feverish games of unofficial tag; the excitement builds as you watch them! A quick walk around the gardens to admire the landscape architecture, curse the pool's inactivity due to the season and an even quicker daydream about its potential and it's off to the Park. THE Park! The Happiest Place on Earth! I'm going to Disneyland!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

PRODUCT | Hitcase - CRIO - for iPhone X / February 7, 2018 by Jenn Chan

Hitcase CRIO with Wide & Ultra Wide Lens

When you trust your phone to Hitcase it can go from the sweat factory to the glacier to the lake and back again without worry. Poolside Cancun, I've brought it there. Tut tut riding in Vietnam, I've brought it there. Parasailing in Thailand and, ya, I brought it there.

Now I've been loving my iPhone 6 Plus for the last 3 years, but finally it was time to upgrade. I'd been drooling over the iPhone X ever since its announcement back in September and I was able to get my hands on one in November and, of course, I was excited to also upgrade my Hitcase to protect my new baby and I was delighted when I came home a few days ago to a package of Hitcase goodies had arrived in my mailbox! I couldn't wait to open the package and out came a Hitcase CRIO, 2 Magnetic TrueLUX Lens (wide & ultra wide) and a car mount. I was set!

The main thing to me is, of course, protecting my $1800 iPhone for which I had to pay cash for to keep my sweet cell phone plan, but we'll save that for another post. After a few days' use, I feel the CRIO will do just that. I'm usually pretty careful with my tech toys, but there will be times when I get clumsy and it slips from my hand. The Crio is lightweight, but yet thick enough for a 'harder-than-you-thought' drop onto the table.

The Crio also has a built in magnetic plate in the back of its case for all your mounting needs! My package came with this car mount which is super easy to 'mount' onto your car. You simply have to clip the claw onto your vent, lift your phone up to the magnetic circle on the mount, and TA-DA, your phone is now securely mounted onto your car.

One of the biggest difference I noticed with Hitcase's newest offerings is the new lens system. They're now magnetic, snap-on lens instead of their tradition screw on lens. This makes obtaining that wide & ultra wide angle that much easier! Just take off the protective plastic caps & let the magnet do its job - VIOLA, now you can capture the whole room without moving 10 steps back!

Here's some of the tech specs from their website:

THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRUELUX OPTICS

Completely redesigned for even better optical clarity. Available for HITCASE PRO, SHIELD LINK & CRIO

Refined optical design produces the sharpest image in its class
No vignetting, edge to edge clarity
Very low chromatic aberration
Completely waterproof, dust-proof, snow-proof with or without a Hitcase
Two start thread and magnetic LINK™ mounting for ease of use between all Hitcase products
Anodized aluminum construction
Anti-reflective and anti-scratch coatings on all lens elements.

I can highly recommend Hitcase and have counted on them, almost from their inception, to keep my iPhones safe, especially on vacations, as well as allowing me to capture some spectacular angles without having to lug my 90 lb DSLR around everywhere! I can't wait for the Pro & Shield to come into rotation for the iPhone X and I'm sure I'll write another review!

FOOD | Lunch at Fayuca, Yaletown / February 3, 2018 by Jenn Chan

Yaletown is home to many popular and good quality restaurants. If you live in Vancouver you’ve probably patronized more than one eatery in the redeveloped industrial area. Today we are going to Fayuca for lunch. It is located on Hamilton Street near Nelson. Open for less than a year Fayuca is garnering good reviews and a solid reputation for top notch food. North Pacific Mexican is how they brand their style, with the Baja region of Mexico providing inspiration for Fayuca’s menu.

Past the planters with small palm trees and through the front door we go. The room is warm and inviting. Wood and wicker predominate, ceramic tiles bring back memories of hot days in Mexican resorts, and a large swordfish leaps from one wall. The music isn’t the clichéd tourist music you might hear in faux Mexican restaurants. The tunes are new to my ear: pleasant, cheerful and not blaringly loud. The bar seating invitingly beckons one to settle in and stay a while however we instead sit at a comfortable table by the window.

The lunch drinks list has several intriguing choices and soon three of them are sitting on our table. El Diablito is Jenn’s early favourite. Made of ginger beer (non alcoholic) and pomegranate, topped with lime, the pink drink is a refreshing delight. The pomegranate is noticed first with the ginger an enjoyable second note. I claim the Tepache Colada as I am eager to try the beverage made from the peel and rind of pineapples. In pre-Columbian times Tepache was made from corn. The modern pineapple version is just fine with me. Not sickly sweet like pineapple juice, just well balanced flavour and very enjoyable. The third drink is the Jamaica Canela, a cinnamon infused Hibiscus drink. Dark red, almost black at first glance. Sipping it brings back a faint recollection of time spent on a veranda not far from a sub tropical beach.

Cocktails: El Diablito, Tepache Colada, Jamaica Canela

We’ve barely had time to sample our drinks when a Kale and Avocado Salad is presented. The base layer is a split pea hummus with the always delicious avocado and fresh kale topping it. Jenn really, really liked it and I have to agree (despite my normal aversion to leafy greens) that it was quite good. Pumpkin seeds added some crunch and variety.

South of Mexico, past Central America and into South America, we can find a cooking pot from Chile called a Cazuela. The food prepared in this pot, a thick stock of vegetables and meat, is also called Cazuela. Fayuca has a Cazuela of Winter Vegetables on the lunch menu and we dove into this hearty comfort food eagerly. Butternut squash, fennel, sweet potato, red beets, crème fraiche and topped with feta. The tomato/pepper/olive sauce brought everything together wonderfully. A bit of crunch is provided by sliced almonds. This Cazuela is a good choice for a cold winter day, a rainy day, or any old day. I was also impressed with the grilled bread that accompanied the dish. It had a touch of charcoal flavour that was so good!

Kale and Avocado Salad | green beans and pumpkin seeds on Split Pea Hummus — Kale and Avocado Salad | green beans and pumpkin seeds on Split Pea Hummus

Cazuela of Winter Vegetables | Butternut Squash, Fennel, Sweet Potato, Red Beets in a Charred Tomato-Pepper-Olive Sauce with Crème Fraiche and Feta — Cazuela of Winter Vegetables | Butternut Squash, Fennel, Sweet Potato, Red Beets in a Charred Tomato-Pepper-Olive Sauce with Crème Fraiche and Feta

Machaca is often a dried shredded beef but Fayuca’s Machaca con Huevo is made with smoked fish. The scrambled egg with smoked fish, charred avocado and black bean sauce combination on a hearty ancient grain bread made my mouth water for more! This is a dish I could eat often and with gusto. Or maybe I should say “me gusta!”

In many places around the world chicken and rice is a common meal. Common is not how I would describe the Arroz con Pollo that Fayuca serves. The chicken was marvelous, so tender. Beneath the chicken was red rice and sofrito, a tomato based sauce (also used in Italian and Spanish cooking) that infused the rice with layers of flavour. Dribbled over it all was aioli, a garlic sauce somewhat similar to mayonnaise. This was a hearty, satisfying dish.

Machaca con Huevo | Smoked Fish Machaca with Egg Scramble, Charred Avocado, Ancient Grain Bread, Black Bean Sauce — Machaca con Huevo | Smoked Fish Machaca with Egg Scramble, Charred Avocado, Ancient Grain Bread, Black Bean Sauce

Arroz con Pollo | Roasted Chicken with Red Rice, Tomato, Sofrito, Aioli, Greens — Arroz con Pollo | Roasted Chicken with Red Rice, Tomato, Sofrito, Aioli, Greens

We sampled four dishes from the lunch menu and all were winners, in my opinion. Out of curiosity I looked up the translation of the word fayuca and contraband and black market were the results. I’m not sure how the name was chosen for this restaurant but if the only way to get these dishes was on the black market then I would still want to be a patron. The lunch menu is reasonably priced and the food and drinks are delicious. There are some vegetarian options should that be a concern for anyone in your party.

Fayuca
1009 Hamilton Street
Vancouver

Words: S teve McConnell
Photos: Jenn Chan

TRAVEL | DRINKS | Ce La Vi Rooftop Bar, LKF, Hong Kong / January 29, 2018 by Jenn Chan

When you hear "c'est la vie" spoken in polite company it is usually with an exasperated tone and the words signal a kind of indifference as to the outcomes of the day as though they were completely out of one's control; "that's life". The Cé La Vi club lounge/ restaurant/ sky deck, in the decadent, vibrant niche of Lan Kwai Fong in the Central area of Hong Kong, isn't indifferent at all in their pursuit of creating a fun, plush environment to enjoy some pretty world class mixology!

Two words that instantly capture the attention of any photographer/ socialite; rooftop bar. You invite me to a rooftop bar you can be pretty well assured that I will be attending! The shooting from up top was amazing and the service was excellent! The cocktails were very imaginative and well priced compared to the incredible surroundings. Professionals in suits mingled with tourists in t-shirts and groups of ladies dressed to the nines. A birthday party was set up in the corner of the large 25th floor deck celebrating and cackling with that distinct almost musical flurry of giggles and feminine merriment.

After spending the better part of the evening enjoying cocktails and bottles of wine lavished upon us by some very gracious fellow patrons out celebrating... something... Jenn and I retired to the streets and went pub hopping with some of our new friends. As soon as the elevator doors open onto LKF, and it's pedestrian only roadways packed with revellers, it hits you. Cé la Vi is the best bar in LKF. And that is saying something! Tell them you read about it on Jenn Chan Photography and they'll take good care of you!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

FOOD | Omakase Dinner at Bistro Sakana, Yaletown / January 28, 2018 by Jenn Chan

I finally got a chance to check out Bistro Sakana, a little Japanese restaurant nozzled in with other restaurants and cafes on the Yaletown strip. I'm happy to be able to finally try this spot, especially their Omakase menu. I'm also very happy that I came hungry to this meal, because it was absolutely filling!

The Omakase meal has 13 items on the menu, including:

Appetizer
Dobin Mushi
Omakase Sashimi
Tsubugai Tsuboyaki
Lobster Tempura
Smoked Kurobuta
Kegani Kanimiso
Omakase Sushi
Steam Fish
Bafun Uni Cahwanmushi
Wagyu Hobayaki
Madai Gohan
Dessert

I was almost full from just reading the itinerary for the evening to come.

We started off with the appetizer, which included 3 different little items on the plate: Tuna with Avocado, Uni & Caviar, Radish wrapped Smoked Salmon with Mango & Masago, Sea Cucumber in Vinagrette. As some of you may know, I LOVE Uni and Caviar, so when you combined the 2 ingredients along with tuna to make a tartare, it sent my taste buds straight to heaven. The Sea cucumber in vinagrette was so refreshing and unique, this might be one of the first times I've had this good of a sea cucumber. This is a good start!

Shortly after, our next course came, the Dobin Mushi. We loved the presentation, it came in a little clay tea pot with a lid that plays double duty as a bowl. I wasn't sure about the lime initially, but it really adds an extra complexity and flavour to the soup. The Sashimi platter came and my eyes could not believe its presentation! (Look below for photos) This platter came with such a wide variety of sashimi, including Geoduck, Miragui, Minadai, Blue Fin Tuna, Shimaaji, Akami, and of course, the main attraction - the Lobster Sashimi. All the sashimi were super fresh, and most melts in your mouth! The lobster also goes perfectly with the Ponzu Sauce that came with it. Did I mention the presentation of this platter?

Appetizer: Tuna with Avocado, Uni & Caviar, Radish wrapped Smoked Salmon with Mango & Masago, Sea Cucumber in Vinagrette

I will just say now that all the courses came looking nothing short of perfect, and I was impressed with the presentation on most of the dishes, it made my job easy as a photographer! Every course was unique and had its own flavour profile and texture to it. The Welk and Clam in liver sauce is no exception, coming on a hot plate, sitting on a bed of sea salt and kelp.

I feel like I'm repeating myself a lot here with the presentation, but look at this Smoked Kurobuta! Two smoked out domes arrived on our table and we were initially left with guessing what's inside. When the lids were lifted in a skillful manner, we were able to smell the smoke, which added a great smokey flavour to the fish.

The sushi was next, and we were instructed to eat them in this specific order: Ashiaka Ebi Sushi, Hairy Crab sushi, and then the Wagyu Beef Sushi. The Ashiaka Ebi is a very juicy and sweet shrimp, and the wagyu is so tender that it literally melts like butter in your mouth. The garlic chips on top gave it an additional flavourful crunch.

Omakase Sushi: Hairy Crab Roll, Ebi Roll & Wagyu Beef Roll

These cute little packages came next, and as we undid the ribbon, we revealed a great rolled up Madai (Sea Bream) with enoki mushrooms rolled up inside in a natural dashi broth. This bite-size piece left me with a mouthful of flavour and wishing there was more of it!

By this course, we were both starting to get pretty full, but out comes the Wagyu Hobayaki. It was my first experience to have beef cooked tableside, on a little grill, on a Houba leaf. We were told that the leaf was so thin that the wagyu is able to cook overtop, as well as add flavours to the meat. The experience itself is a 10/10 for me. Again, their wagyu is like butter, super smooth, and absolutely delicious with the secret sauce that was cooked with it.

Do you recognize this lobster? Do you feel like you might have seen it before? Well, you are not wrong if you thought it looks familiar, it was the same lobster that we had back in course 3, the sashimi course. This, in my opinion, was a great way to end and round up the meal. The miso soup was so full of flavour, especially with the little bits of lobster meat that came off the shell!

Confession, I have never had a Panna Cotta before. Yes, I know, SHOCKING! I'm shocked myself, and I can't even think of a reason why this might be the case. So, thank you Bistro Sakana for giving my first ever Panna Cotta, and a matcha one at all! They know my heart! The panna cotta was silky smooth and creamy. I loved the bitter taste of the green tea, which matched well with the sweetness of the red bean. I'm not typically a dessert girl, but I ate this whole dessert up, and slurped up every last drop. Boy, am I full!!!

Overall, everything was delicious and left me feeling very full and content. I felt like I needed to be rolled out. A complex menu, amazing selection, absolutely fresh ingredients - I will definitely recommend going in to try their Omakase Dinner!