Anappetite

Notes on food, life, and travel

  • 3 Unique (and Affordable) Eats in Vancouver

    Let’s be honest – when someone says they LOVE Vancouver food, it’s usually followed by a sushi, hot pot, dim sum, or ramen recommendation. Of course they are delicious; but what really sets the city apart are the unique and mouthwatering eats from all sorts of cultures. I’ve been on a (very difficult, I know…) mission to eat my way through foods that I haven’t had before while I’m in Vancouver, so here are three such dishes that made an impression on me! Kywteiw Moo Toon I entered Thai Basil restaurant after seeing that they served $12 Pad Thai, but…

    Read more: 3 Unique (and Affordable) Eats in Vancouver
    3 Unique (and Affordable) Eats in Vancouver

  • Pre-Final Year Feels

    My most obvious priorities are applying for new graduate jobs, applying for grad schools and scholarships, and studying so that I will actually graduate. These will be taking up the bulk of my time, and although it’s summer, I feel like I’m already being bombarded with ads and advice posts for tech jobs, award competitions, and grad school prep. Though I am a strong advocate for allocating a lot of time to apply for jobs – after all, most of us will spend a huge amount of time working – I feel jaded by most “career influencers” who act as if their…

    Read more: Pre-Final Year Feels
    Pre-Final Year Feels

  • A Calgarian’s First Impressions of Vancouver

    I’m hanging out in Vancouver for a few months, so here are some of my observations from my first stint in the city :). Overall, minus the insane cost of living (which is pretty important), Vancouver seems like a nice city to live in. That said, I don’t personally think the city is an especially impressive place to vacation since there’s no distinct culture or standout attractions. It just feels like a denser, more youthful version of Calgary. Let me know your own thoughts and experiences if you’ve visited Vancouver! Until next time, Ana

    Read more: A Calgarian’s First Impressions of Vancouver
    A Calgarian’s First Impressions of Vancouver

  • Reviewing 3-Course Peking Duck at Ginger Beef Bistro House

    Next to Landmark Cinemas in Calgary’s Country Hills, you’ll find a casual Chinese eatery housed in a classic suburban building with red accents. Though Ginger Beef was invented in Calgary, it originated at the Silver Inn and not the Ginger Beef Bistro House. But that doesn’t take away from its charm… step inside, and you’re greeted by the warm buzz of Cantonese and Mandarin conversations. The air is filled with the aromas of dim sum and a variety of Chinese dishes, making it clear this place is the real deal. Part of what makes it feel like the real deal?…

    Read more: Reviewing 3-Course Peking Duck at Ginger Beef Bistro House
    Reviewing 3-Course Peking Duck at Ginger Beef Bistro House

  • Rating my 3rd year UCalgary CPSC Courses

    Back again for my penultimate year course ratings! Without further ado, here are some of my thoughts on the courses I’m wrapping up right now (will update if anything significant changes after final exams). I’m only rating my Winter courses, as I was studying abroad in the Fall – check out these posts if you’re interested in those experiences. CPSC 413 – Design and Analysis of Algorithms I (Required) This course is super interesting and definitely important for computer science. You learn to think algorithmically, and it will help a lot with coding interviews in the future. There is actually barely…

    Read more: Rating my 3rd year UCalgary CPSC Courses
    Rating my 3rd year UCalgary CPSC Courses

  • Restaurants in Canada vs. in England

    In my opinion, Bri’ish food gets a bad rap and is actually pretty delicious, but how does the overall restaurant experience compare between Canada and in England? Diversity On the diversity front, both countries are absolutely killing it. I’ve had the pleasure of trying some rare (and incredible) cuisines in both, like Yemeni food in Calgary and Sri Lankan food in Oxford. Each country also has its own take on some cuisines – for example, Calgary gave the world ginger beef, while the UK claims chicken tikka masala. England shines when it comes to doner kebabs, while Canada has amazing…

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    Restaurants in Canada vs. in England

  • Calgary Food Network Champion’s Chicken Sandwiches: Cluck N Cleaver Review

    If you’ve watched Top Chef Canada, Iron Chef Gauntlet, Beat Bobby Flay, or others, you may have seen Calgary’s own Chef Nicole Gomes dominate the competitive cooking scene. As an avid Food Network watcher, when I saw her Calgary restaurant Cluck N Cleaver on Big Food Bucket List, I knew I had to find out how her skills translated to its menu. So, I ordered three of their fried chicken sandwiches: the Mother Clucker, the Sando, and el Pollo Loco, each priced at around $15. Mother Clucker Their signature fried chicken sandwich, the Mother Clucker, has 1/4 pound of fried…

    Read more: Calgary Food Network Champion’s Chicken Sandwiches: Cluck N Cleaver Review
    Calgary Food Network Champion’s Chicken Sandwiches: Cluck N Cleaver Review

  • UCalgary Tech Recruiting w/ BobaTalks’ Jeff Nguyen

    While this isn’t quite a tech blog, this post should have some important insights for any UCalgary students interested in a tech career. After seeing that Jeff Nguyen, a recruiter in the student space, founder of BobaTalks (which provides free mentorship for students), and prolific “LinkedInfluencer” (the good kind) was going to have a booth at CalgaryHacks 2025, I knew I had to reach out. As someone deeply involved in both student mentorship and tech recruiting, he seemed like the perfect person to chat with about student recruiting, starting with how UCalgary students can stand out in the job market.  Q: UCalgary has…

    Read more: UCalgary Tech Recruiting w/ BobaTalks’ Jeff Nguyen
    UCalgary Tech Recruiting w/ BobaTalks’ Jeff Nguyen

  • My Study Abroad “Girl Math(s)”

    For the unitiated, “Girl Math” is when you justify spending money as saving money by jumping through a few mental hoops – such as by spending an extra $15 on Amazon to get free shipping. So as a lighthearted and slightly helpful financial overview of my exchange experience from UCalgary to Oxford Brookes University, here are some Girl Math examples I thought about during my study abroad experience. While “girl math” is fun, there’s some truth to it… but make sure you have an overall budget and don’t overdo it ;). Until next time, Ana

    Read more: My Study Abroad “Girl Math(s)”
    My Study Abroad “Girl Math(s)”

  • What on Earth Is an Oxford Uni Crewdate?

    The history and traditions of Oxford University range from terrifying to hilarious, sometimes both, and usually absurd. Going back a few centuries, some examples of this are several murders (one of which led to the creation of Cambridge University in 1209), the constant consumption of beer, the escapades and controversies of the infamous Bullingdon Club, and more. The Oxford “Crewdate” is no exception to this rule. It can best be described as an excuse to drink copious amounts of cheap wine, livened up with interesting traditions to call it Oxonian. When I registered for a crewdate, I had no idea…

    Read more: What on Earth Is an Oxford Uni Crewdate?
    What on Earth Is an Oxford Uni Crewdate?