Al Pacino takes time from yelling or whatever on screen to talk about how much he likes coffee to the people of Australia. Guess they made him an offer he couldn't refuse? Too much? (via Ad Rants)
Forget the iPhone 4G and iPad, we have fancy scooping ketchup on the market to eat damn it! Sir Kensington's Gourmet Scooping Ketchup was created as the new standard in "an all-natural ketchup that is too exquisite to be squeezed from a plastic bottle." This is the innovation the west needs to stay on top of total world domination. (Via Lovely Package)
Ever wonder if you can stuff waffles with awesome things? Wonder no longer. Slate investigates how waffles stuffed with bacon, chicken fingers, mini-burgers, or peanut butter cups stand up to the old waffle iron. What else would you stuff them with? I'm thinking sausages and cheese?
Pretzel M&M's? Really? Sure why not. They have a lot versions now. Branding is awesome isn't it? Where do they go from here? What else can you put in an M&M? They have tonnes of nuts they could do, Macadamia? Hazelnuts? Anyone up for some Captain Crunch M&M's? Just me? Don't judge. Question: But do they really have nearly 4 minutes of the grumpy Pretzel Guy telling "inside" jokes on Youtube?
He even does Twitter jokes? Too bad it's just crunchy pretzel stuff in an M&M, it's not like it's an actual pretzel covered in chocolate and candy coating. It's just pretzel junk. Gross. But thanks for running the ads every 5 minutes. Awesome!
Three of my favourite things: Pellegrino. Meatballs. Giadia De Laurentiis. Damn you New York. I suppose if any of this could be wrapped in bacon or deep fried this could improve a bit. That is all.
Can we all jut agree that this Burger King ad for their new ribs is kind of the most amazing thing ever? Anyone who doubts the sheer power and ingenuity of the United States of America should just kneel before them now. This is innovation people! (Via Best Week Ever)
So I have been enjoying this new mustard from the Vancouver Mustard Company. When I bought it, I was like, mustard, from Vancouver. Cool. I only noticed last night that it isn't even made here. It's made in Luxemburg. Awkward. Well, it's not like I'm anti Luxemburg, but just makes you wonder how much of the Vancouver Mustard Co goes into the little jars. The website says, "All mustards would be Vancouver Mustard if they could" which must actually mean, made in Luxemburg.
It still doesn't come close to this mustard. I actually think all mustards would want to be made in a place that started doing it in 1747, and has it on tap. Don't get me wrong the mustard is good, I just expected it to, you know, be made here.
Admittedly I'm a little a jealous of iPad. I opted to finally replace my MacBook this week instead. But it wasn't until I saw this picture that I really kind of wanted one, bad. Actually, I want this whole image, the cute Asian girl slicing fruits with a glass of wine. I mean, a rack of lamb or a stuffed veal chop or something woulda been better.
Karl Lagerfeld is kind of bizarrely amazing. GMac is obsessed with him. Obsessed. His latest creation, the new campaign and design for Coca-Cola Light.
And of course it's a box set. Of course it is. This amazing gem will be available at Colette. That turns the smug factor up to 11.
Wait. Huh. What? A few years ago Chester Cheetah was a doped up dude-like cheese addict, now we're supposed to believe he's been mini-sized, puppetized, and is now some sort of creepy evil cheese genius? Does not compute. Or does it?
In honor of St. Patrick and my third generation Irish heritage here is a wonderful video of what Granville Street will look like in about 10 hours. It will be like during the Olympics, only less red and white. Same amount of vomit, just more green stuff.
Olympics? What? Who cares, when we have breakthrough technology in ketchup packets. This is HUGE. "New frontiers in ketchup microdelivery systems! I know I say this a lot, but we all live in amazing times." (Via Maura)
Seriously as much as his cameo in Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations is completely wicked, why doesn't Bill Murray have his own show. Just him doing stuff.
Selleck Waterfall Sandwich: Caribbean Jerk Chicken edition. I honestly don't know how we survived without this website. It's like everything was dark, is now in the light.
Somehow I missed this in November. But it must be a good Monday, since our first two posts are about wine, and amazing artwork. And more work from Brandever for the just outside of the city winery, Backyard vineyards. (Via The Dieline)
The real question is can a 29-acre winery as part of a new housing development called Pepin Brook in Abbotsford make you drink their wine? You had me at wine, and maybe lost me at Abbotsford. But it looks drinkable.
What fresh hell is this! This post is for my friend Daniel, whose passion for meats, specifically all forms of sausage, (that's what she said) is well known. Here is Germany's finest meat magazine, Beef. It was Urban Daddy who said the magazine was "The Esquire of German Meat Magazines" which begs the question, do they have other meat magazines? I want this in english please.
That's what she said. You know, every once and awhile, there is a sentence that encapsulates everything that is good in a few short words. This is one of those.Au Petit Chavignol shows us the way with risotto balls with 36-month old ham for $3. Wowza.
Cheddar fueled mice are kind of awesome too. This Nolan's Cheddar video is downright awesome. Furthermore the mouse is way better at lifting weights than the guy I keep seeing in the gym. What is it with guys spending equal time posing, playing ipods, and lifting weights?
Check out my new article over at Scout Magazine on the long overdue Vokapocalypse. Special thanks to editor Andrew Morrison who took my latest cocktail napkin ramblings and helped turn them into something coherent.
"At my local government liquor distribution branch, there are currently sixty-nine types of vodka in stock. Sixty-nine, and that is just in the 750ml bottle variety. That’s enough to make Stalin spit off his moustache. One can get everything from cheap and blinding plonk to new and pricy brands that defy the liquor’s peasant rep, like the $68.99 bottle of U’luvka from Poland."
My Dad sent me this link today with the note, "Holy Crap, and I have been eating stuff like this for years." It was an article in The Vancouver Sun about the perils of eating ethnic food. Nice to see that print journalism is kicking off 2010 by ruining eating out and slamming ethnic food. Real nice.
I find it interesting that in an article about ethnic food, and particularly one bashing things like butter chicken, the paper chose to look into White Spot's version which, "is 1,779 calories -- almost a whole day's worth of calories. And it contains 2,249 milligrams of sodium--also almost a day's worth." Is it still ethnic food when you eat it at White Spot?
I like that the girls who invented the McNuggetini are still making more savory creations with food and booze. Alie and Georgia's latest creation is The Bloody Bacon & Cheese. it's tomato soup with vodka. And bacon rim and grilled cheese sandwich garnish. Is it too early for one of these? Yummers.
This makes me want to go to Kobe Steakhouse so bad. Must drink rum out of Buddha, must have funny overpriced dinning experience, must see onion ring tower steam. Now! Who's with me? (Via AdFreak)
Was reading Entertainment Weekly today. There is an actual ad for a cross promotion between the new Sherlock Holmes movie and 7-Eleven. Let me get this straight, the movie about a fictional detective in the 1890's is now solving your hunger and getting you to buy product at 7-Eleven. The ad reads, "Mystery Solved. 7-Eleven has great coffee." Yah it does.
And it goes on from there. On the website you can "solve" your hunger with 99 cent "Go Go" taquitos. As a side note, who is buying taquitos at 7-Eleven anyway? Oh thank, heaven?
New Moon. New Moon. New Moon damn it. Curse people magazine and their Sexiest Man of the Year issue where RPattz was robbed, or something. Roger Ebert savaged it in his review this week, "“\Sitting through this experience is like driving a pickup in low gear though a sullen sea of Brylcreem." I'm sure this won't stop the Twihards from melting down all weekend. Don't forget your cheap RPattz approved meatballs at Glowbal nerds.
Speaking of things to look at, check out the Scout Boutique Fashion Show tomorrow will feature Mad Men inspired pin-up designs by Stop Staring and holiday wear by local designer Sweet Soul. (152 East 8th Avenue - right off of Main Street). We're sending our fashionista to cover this, so stay tuned.
SATURDAY
Savage Love author Dan Savage is playing the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (8pm, Tix $25). The narcissist in you can submit questions in advance for additional humiliation when asking those "where do babies come from" stupid questions. it's like an evening with Kevin Smith but not as fun and kind of insulting. What fun.
Something tells me that a bottle of Russian Stoly Vodka (certainly not that lame Swedish Absolute) and a couple hours at the Vancouver Russian Community Centre Christmas Bazaar (11-5pm, Tix $1) stuffing your face would be satisfying. Once you are wasted follow that up with a trip to a real life Etsy show at Cambrian Hall (215 East 17th, 11-5PM, $2) or save yourself the trouble and just get online and look at the wares of Regretsy home of the "Handmade: It looks like you made it with your feet" art.
SUNDAY
Is ZZ Top really playing the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre? Yes, yes they are. (Doors 6:30, Show 7:30, Tix, $85/75) Or if the memories of Back to the Future III aren't enough, there is always the East Side Culture Crawl. If you have an aversion to seeing artists in their natural environment, don't look them in their eyes.
"Sink your teeth into this delicious after-dark offer. The Twilight Saga: New Moon opens on Friday, November 20 and glowbal grill is offering fans of the popular Vampire movie series half-off its decadent Kobe Meatballs with Truffled Spaghetti dinner entree* as the superlative sustenance for the suspenseful flick. Popcorn be damned. Stave your hunger like a superstar."
Shameless Glowbal. Absolutely shameless. Basically it is all about Edward Cullen, er, Robert Pattinson and how much he loves him some Kobe Meatballs. Oh, Vancouver! This press release is kind of amazing with three vampire/supernatural references too:
-Sink your teeth into this delicious after-dark offer
-This is a dish to love at first bite.
-Plan a visit to take advantage of this bewitching special.
Turkey and Gravy soda is one thing. But is tofurky and gravy 100% vegan soda really needed? 6-pack with 3 dessert soda's for $11.99. Thanks but no thanks Jones Soda.
So Absolute Vodka has made 60,000 bottles of special Vancouver edition vodka. It's bright blue and yellow and the artwork was done by local, Douglas Fraser. They are also offering up some sort of $120k prize to support the arts community under the guise of social do-goodery, which is code for branding opportunity. Let me remind you that at the end of the day, it's still just Absolute.
Follow me on this: The absolute bottle is in yellow and blue, the same colors as the province of British Columbia, which are the same colors as Sweden. And the Swedish vodka is giving money to artists! Does this mean we're all Scandinavian socialists now? Somebody better tell Gordon Campbell, stat.
I love living in a world where Mickey Rourke enjoys a Starbucks coffee in a red cup as much as any other human does. I love living in a world where Mickey Rourke goes out on an "outing" with his dog and a blonde about 1/2 his age. This makes life worth living.
According to jerky legend Elizabeth Hurley, "grew to love beef jerky while living in California, where it is as readily available as candy. Made from air dried strips of organic silverside." She's selling meat snacks on her website. Heaven!
1. I think it's frustrating that the one time Natalie Portman is on Top Chef we confirm that she can ruin a steakhouse by demanding they cook vegetarian food. In Vegas? This is worse than when she was in those Star Wars movies.
2. At least Padma was trying to salvage this disaster. Please see above.
3. That and the fact that TVgasm's aply named Dirty Bear won with his mushrooms. PS: Bitter Jen, get it together.
George Clooney dails one in for a new Nespresso coffee spot where after a tragic piano falling accident he sees God, as played by coffee loving, white suited, John Malkovich. This was directed by Robert Rodriguez. (Via Copyranter on Animal)
Have the VANOC lawyers seen these Quatchi and Olympic ring cup cakes? Because stuff will definitely go down if they do. Well, technically this is, "a "brother" of the popular Vancouver Olympics mascot-- let's call him Squatchi!" Scandalicious. Coco Cake Cupcakes made them, and they look totally awesome. Can we get a standing order for these?
FRIDAY
Cinephiles can check out the Vancouver Asian Film Festival all weekend. I almost deleted this since trying to find anything about these films seemingly involved downloading a 44 page PDF. I hate PDFs when I just want the information on the FILMS! (turns out the navigation labeled "Festival" meant "Films")
Try shorts like Bamboozle: "When Katie, a professional mascot loses the head to her panda costume, she consequently loses her job, and now possibly her life!" Or Vagina Vacation: "After having her 18th child Nicole is ready to have another one right away. However her Vagina is not, and takes off on vacation!" But seriously, I hear White on Rice is pretty good. And any write up for a movie named The People I've Slept With suggests it is like a mixture of, "Sex and the City with Will & Grace in a progressive sex comedy about a carnally adventurous Asian American woman who
Or you could just see something like The Men Who Stare At Goats and actually enjoy yourself. Whatever.
How do you decide between Soul Asylum in Coquitlam (Red Robinson Show Theatre) and Chantel Kreviazuk in Richmond (River Rock)?
How do you decide between Neil Sedaka in Richmond (River Rock) and Chantel Kreviazuk in Coquitlam (Red Robinson Show Theatre)? Sedaka's Laughter in the Rain is perfect for this dreary day.
SUNDAY
Four words: David Foster And Friends. End of story. Game. Set. Match. (GM Place) The composer of the Expo Theme, St. Elmo's Fire, and more comes to GM Place to soft-rock out with friends like Philip Bailey from Earth, Wind & Fire.
THE VANCOUVERITE PICK: MAD MEN SEASON FINALE
Or you could stay home and catch the season finale (Title: Shut the Door. Have a Seat. Trailer here) of Mad Men. What will happen to Sterling Cooper? Another Takeover? Will Betty really leave Don? Will he go back to the teacher? Will Peggy stop grossing us out with Duck? Will Roger finally dump that drunk Jane? Will he get Joan back to to SC? Will Connie Hilton predict his grand daughter fame whoring? Will Kinsey shave his beard? Will Sal come back? Will Pete go postal? More importantly what will Don be wearing?
Leave to the French. Of course their years of drunken trickery passed down from thousands of years of French drinking winos have a solution for those times when you just can't open your bottle of wine because you are without corkscrew. Très bien.
Got an email and photo from pop culture aficionado Garnet McElree this morning. Beard Papa's, purveyors of "The World's Best Cream Puffs" is coming to Robson St. This CANNOT end well.
November 3. It's NOVEMBER 3rd! And it's time for Starbucks annual onslaught of red cups. It's like a two month Christmas siege on your caffeine. I don't think they have fully moved the entire line of Christmas into the stores just yet. But they will! By god they will. Sure they have the snowman cookie, and pumpkin in like everything, but they are still pushing the VIA instant so we'll have to wait for phase 2 for a bit. Little known fact, they've been doing this for 12-years now. I forgot how much the red cups irritate me. Enough.
The little Italian joint that you can't refuse, Cibo (900 Seymour St), is Canada’s Best New Restaurant 2009 as chosen by Air Canada’s enRoute magazine. Okay it's an airline magazine award. Okay it's Air Canada too. But out of 37 new restaurants, Cibo came out on top. (Vancouver Sun)
I was at the campanion wine bar UVA the other night and managed to stuff down the potato gnocchi that was in some sort of braised meat sauce. It was incredible. Leave the gun, take the Cibo. And Sebastien le Goff's Dali-stache is still in full effect. What a genius.
Having just rocked a wine event at Salt, this new Yellow Tail ad is affront to all that is good in the world. At least they spent $7 million on the campaign to sell wine that no one in Australia would be caught dead drinking. (Agency Spy)
I want to live, at least for a little while, in Salt Tasting Room's cellar fridge (Blood Alley, Gastown). The Cheese. The wine. The cool air. Last night at Salt's tasting dinner for Okanagan wineries Le Vieux Pin & La Stella was phenomenal. The final merlot served in a deliciously large glass and made you want to just dive into it and take a soak or at least a few laps.
These are two of the best wineries in the province. Period. And spending two hours in a cellar tasting them some more and pairing them with cheese and meat, it was the best Monday ever. Check out the details:
Flight #1
La Stella Vivace Pinot Grigio
La Viuex Pin Sauvignon Blanc
La Stella Leggiero Un-Oaked Chardonnay
Ash Camembert, Piave Saint Paulin
Duck & Pork Salami and Pamploma Chorizo
Similkameen Apricot Chutney, Chrnichons, Cipollini Onions
Flight #2
La Stella Allegretto Merlot '06
Le Vieux Pin Epoque Merlot '06
Le Vieux Pin Apogee Merlot '06
Mike Vitow's Corned Beef, Finocchiona, and Wild Boar Rosemary Salami
Isle of Mull Chedder & CB Stilton
Guiness Mustard, Basque Olives, Similkameen Honeycomb
Seriously. It was intense. And I only broke one glass. That last merlot, and this coming from a non-merlot guy, was epic and was a great last sip. it kind of is like being a vampire, you have that taste of blood on your tongue and you immediately are wondering how you are going to satisfy that feeling again. Sookie! Sookie!
So, I'm heading to Granville Island this weekend to seek out some more of Mike Vitow's beef - apprently he sells this stuff on the last weekend every month there. Poets will write sonnets about meat that good. Shakespeare would be gobsmacked. Like Heaven. Although a dark horse in the night was that Stilton with Honeycomb combo. You wanna talk about good.
Friday
Kick off your 3-martini Friday lunch in style. 11:30 AM at the Hyatt Regency (655 Burrard St) you can go deep inside the vast right wing conspiracy and do lunch at the Fraser Institute. It's a lively discussion on how awesome the new HST Tax is. Enjoy a table for $650 or a seat for $65 while lighting cigars with $100 bills y'all.
Friday is also a bit of throwbacker. You got Blue Oyster Cult at Red Robinson Show Theatre (Boulevard Casino). All you need to know about Blue Oyster Cult I learned from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. And over at the Commodore, Collective Soul the band from the early 90's is back. I mean do you even remember Shine? That was 1993 friends. Wow. And I think they still have that terrible hair.
Lastly, you could escape from all of these with Grape Expectations. This is the adult version of Science World. Wine + Science = Fun! (7-10 pm)
Saturday
Yaletown might still be busy with Taste of Yaletown. Over 20 of Yaletown's joints are still offering special three-course tasting menus for set prices of $25, $35 and $45. Make it drinking game: every time you see small dogs, Lululemon pants, or Ed Hardy shirts you do a shot. Repeat.
But then you could get out of Yaletown and go suburban and see Bob Saget at the Red Robinson Show Theatre. Um, awesome. And maybe if you are opting for the Sagat, you might want to just wait for the banner to be dropped on the Cambie St. Bridge for the Bridge to a Cool Planet enviro-stunt (seemed to have lost the link, too bad). Save on Foods (or Whole Foods for the organic jerks) is just up the street for a dozen of eggs to throw at them for closing the bridge. What for, it might be anyone who follows this part of the bridge shut down, "You can also dress up as your favourite endangered species." Fire away!
Sunday
If you're recovering from the Saturday, you could catch brunch and then rock over the 5th Avenue Cinemas and see Audrey Tatou in Coco Avant Chanel (2110 Burrard at W. 5th)
Vancouver's Granville Island Brewing Co. is now owned by Molson Coors. Not that you'd know by the media advisory they sent me this afternoon.
"Granville Island Brewing and Ontario-based Creemore Springs Brewery are planning to join forces, to continue bringing Canadians superior craft and specialty beers.
Creemore will announce its intention to acquire Granville Island Brewing from Andrew Peller Limited. These two leading Canadian craft brewers, each with specialty product portfolios that complement existing offerings across Canada, will be able to offer their wide range of brands to more markets in Canada, while continuing to maintain their distinct positions in BC and Ontario."
it made the buyout by Molson sound like a pleasant micro brewery buying out another microbrewery. This in the hopes of making it a macro-brewery. But Not once in the press release did it mention that Creemore was bought by Molson in 2005. In fact in The Globe and Mail and burried in their long email of press they point out that Molson wants you to think that it is Creemore making the deal.
So after 25-years they are now part of Molson. Well that totally makes me want to drink it now.
We sent Vancouverite Roving Delicious Correspondent Leslie deep into the heart of Yaletown for a preview of the upcoming and 5th annual "Taste of Yaletown". She came back mostly unharmed, although the non-beer drinker had to endure the stout of the Yaletown Brew Pub and a nasty run in with Truffle Oil.
At the crack of 5:30, we broke up into groups of six, and each group went to three different restos.
First up: Appies at Glowbal
"The Yaletown Light" might be one of my new faves. OJ, sparkling wine, triple sec and Red Bull. We even got two! I’m going to be awake forever. The Appy was beef carpaccio on a waffle-ish potatoe crisp. I only ate one and gave the other to my friend because it had truffle oil mixed in. Truffle oil makes me want to – or think that I have – thrown up in my mouth. The little bit of pumpkin bisque was dee-lish. And the asiago/parmesan “straw” was the best three bites of the night. Because cheese more often than not holds the best bites. Num. Num.
Next Up: Entrée at Goldfish
Sablefish in a coconut/hoisin reduction with black bean and tomato tapenade. Crazy delicious and lots of people’s favourites.
Also a slice of beef sirloin and scallop/prawn skewer. More deliciousness. Both were on tasty green stalky things that made me feel good I was eating even if I didn’t hear what they were.
Last but not least: Dessert at Yaletown Brew Pub
Not surprisingly, it was a bit of a waste on this non-beer-liker. Though, the stout ice cream was actually kinda tasty. Entirely different than I would’ve thought – not beer-y at all really. We got the cutest little sleeve of stout to go with it. Despite its 6 oz cuteness, I didn’t drink a drop. But again, the less finicky friend thought it was great.
Taste of Yaletown runs Oct 15 - 31, 2009. Find more details at the Yaletown Info website. Taste of Yaletown includes over 20 of Yaletown’s fabulous restaurants offering special three-course tasting menus for set prices of $25, $35 and $45. A portion of proceeds raised from each participating restaurant will be donated to The Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
Nothing to do with nothing. But British fish finger advertising is completely insane. And possibly gross. And quite obviously obscene. Who would want to eat fish fingers? (Via Copyranter)
Molson Canadian announced plans today for an 80,000 square foot venue in False Creek to watch hockey on TV. And for $500 a night, $1700 for 4-days, of $8500 for the entire games you can sip delicious Molson Canadian beers and be served food by the very Canadian Wolfgang Puck and the Denver HQ'd Molson Canadian. That's more money than actually seeing the game live, but it is all-inclusive. Oh, and to add insult to Vancouverites, Richmond gets Heineken House. Bummer man.
Is he being ironic? Just having a laugh? Taking the piss? Here's hunkpire Robert Pattinson taunting Kristen Stewart on the Vancouver set of the Twilight sequel with his quirky Canadiana Tim Hortons coffee. She looks like she is not amused but another photo shows her downing it or rolling up the rim or whatever too. Sickos. (via Pop Sugar)
"It’s an admirable attitude, and one that is producing some delicious and affordable cuisines. Over four days, I pursued this accidental (incidental?) fusion style around Vancouver, and the quest led me down some strange and tasty paths.
Frequently, these paths involved hot dogs. Salty, spicy, filling and cheap, hot dogs call out for toppings. They are the perfect guinea pig, so to speak, for gastronomic experimentation."
It got a little awkward in the comments when some dirtbag said, "Vancouver, as a city, is the armpit of the northwest. HOWEVER it has the best Thai Food ever. I nearly passed out from the amazing food we had — it was at an upstairs place with a very generic name, something like “Thai Palace” or “Thai House.” What a douche.
And yet, and yet, we still don't have any dumpling trucks.
The Sun reports and jumps on the bandwagon of sensational stories about imported bulk wine is being labeled and sold as B.C. wine in "Wine consumers 'dumbfounded' over faux B.C. wines" Really? BC wine consumes are concerned about whether or not awful, cheap $9 plonk wines like Peller Estates Proprietor's Reserve, Jackson-Triggs Proprietors' Selection, or $13 Wild Horse Canyon aren't giving them the BC wine experience. Are they nuts? They didn't know this wine was awful crap before?
Vancouver Magazine has one great new feature. Tales from the City is a nicely typeset, spread of why magazines still offer something in the world. Because it looks awful on the web. End of story. Take this example from John Burns in what they are calling Volume 3:
A few years back, I spent a day touring the city with TV chef Anthony Bourdain. He is as acerbic in person as he is on the tube, and the hours passed in a happy blur of cab rides and comped shooters. In the early evening, we found ourselves drinking champagne at the Opus Hotel. Jim Byrnes was playing the blues as leggy PR types and U.K. travel scribes mingled. Suddenly, the smell of smoke. All eyes turn to Bourdain. "Hey," he said, "for once it's not me!" A CBC cameraman who'd been hounding Bourdain has leaned into a candle and set his jacket ablaze. An immaculate blond raised an eyebrow. "Is that young man on fire?" Her companion sipped her campers and shook her head. "Some people."
Starbucks is out and about promoting a new instant coffee product, VIA, and are doing a video road trip with a couple of fun hosts. Including Erin Foley, who was on Last Comic Standing. Not sure instant coffee is the business they need to get into, but whatever. They stopped in Vancouver this week to hand it out and brew some on the Suspension Bridge. Who knew.
Related Starbucks stories:
Seriously wishing I'd bought some Starbucks stock when it was in the total toilet last fall, at $7.06, it's now at $20.76 and climbing. Typical. Never doubt Starbucks friends. Never.
Vancouver's Belgian institution, Chambar is 5-years young. They celebrated this past weekend with a pig roast the likes of which Beatty St. has probably never seen. (More Photos at Rusty Duncan's Flickr)
What's best about Chambar is that they haven't opened up 5 versions of it. They've expanded as an empire in one building. Adding Cafe Medina, the Dirty Apron Cooking School, and their own brand of beer too. (Read more at the Globe & Mail)
I want some Belgian Ale, moules, and frites right now.
Sabering a bottle of champagne is something everyone should know how to do. It goes without saying that sabering expensive wine is kind of dumb. Cooking Issues, which provides the more step by step instructions adds, "While we are clearing the air, many people feel that sabering sparkling wine is useless and wasteful. I disagree. Sabering expensive champagne is wasteful (if you make a mistake). Sabering a $7 cava is an exhilarating and awesome party trick. Whether or not a bottle will saber depends only on the bottle, not the price of the wine – so stick with the inexpensive."
This isn't a new story, but something I've had in my link pile since July. But I for one, welcome our next coffee overlords. I mean, I'll take a cool looking but stealth Starbucks over pretty much everything else. I'm not running out for a Tim Hortons or McDonald's. These look cool if you ask me, and anything to be a respite from the hipsters at places like JJ Bean. So inspired by Starbucks looks decent and they clearly serve beer. And we could certainly use them in areas like at Cambie and Broadway where there are four Starbucks in the area and could use a local cafe that didn't have neon signs in it.
They are expanded in Seattle from the original 15th Ave Coffee & Tea store this fall with another Location called Roy Street Coffee & Tea. I say bring them on hippies. (Via Bitter Wallet and BrandRepublic)
I'm not an economist. Well, not really anyway. I might just be one of the last idiot economists. I take that back, over the years I've been one of a few amateur economists who have put forth the theory loosely termed, "The Unified Hot Girl Theory of the Economy." In short, it goes something like this. When the economy is really good, there are less good looking girls in bars and restaurants. When the economy gets worse, the good looking girls come out of woodwork. This is particularly true of Vancouver, home of the pseudo high-end dinning chains with generous sides of good looking servers. Not really rocket science sports fans.
"...the Hot Waitress Index: The hotter the waitresses, the weaker the economy. In flush times, there is a robust market for hotness. Selling everything from condos to premium vodka is enhanced by proximity to pretty young people (of both sexes) who get paid for providing this service. That leaves more-punishing work, like waiting tables, to those with less striking genetic gifts."
Judging by a recent trip to the new Keg in Yaletown the theory seems to holding true. Hotness was in no short supply. Which like seeing the groundhog's shadow probably means more recession for Vancouver. Well, I told you I wasn't much of an economist.
Say what you will about Giada De Laurentiis, but the woman can cook. The other night I made her Crostini with Sun- Dried Tomatoes and Chickpeas. Then I made her pesto and stuffed it in some nice fat chickens and then served it with a side of her wicked Lemon Spaghetti. Give me a book deal or movie. Especially when I accidentally blended the blade to the food processor in the Blender. Whoops.
Couple of months ago I was in New York and had a dumpling that changed my life. It was an Asian style dumpling filled with Chicken and Thai basil with a spicy peanut sauce served out of a truck on the street. I'm not following that company, Rickshaw Dumpling Bar, on Twitter and when they announce where the truck is, I want to get on the plane to go get some. How did we eat before trucks and the internet?
So why don't we have great street foods in Vancouver served out of cool trucks? It's an outrage. We're hosting the Olympic Games for god's sake. And I want a truck to drive near my house or office to get me delicious food. In Washington DC, the Fojol Bros deliver Indian cuisine via truck in turbans and fake mustaches. GQ just did a best of list of food trucks list that would make your mouth water.
It's not fair. And quite frankly, my belly is sick and tired of it. Our street foods suck here. Do something about THAT Mayor Gregor Robertson!
This is my new favorite thing."Et Tu, Crouton? (The Assassination of Caesar Dressing)" by Ben Douglass. Just love that the crouton is the Brutus in this reenactment. And that Romaine lettuce is downright angry. I would be too, Caesar looks like store bought, and not the good kind. (Via SuperPunch)
Coke tastes better in bottles. And not plastic ones either. The glass ones. They are smaller, and taste ten times better. That's why cafes in Paris still serve 'em that way. Had my first aluminum can of Coke. It's pretty wicked. You can get them at Urban Fare. Awesome.
Can I just say. Thank you Fox News. There is something SO right about this whole story. The anchor. The topic. The breaking news. The tagline. LOVE. And thank you KFC. Well played. And trying to hide this delicious Double Down sandwich in Rhode Island and Nebraska. Shame on you. (Via Streefy)
The Sun goes front page on the confusing, archaic, and knuckle dragging laws of British Columbia. It seems, in BC, a pint is not a pint.
"The federal government insists that anyone who claims to be selling a pint in Canada had better pour a full Imperial pint measuring 20 ounces, or 568.26 millilitres.
The province’s Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, however, stipulates that individual servings of draft beer cannot exceed 500 millilitres or 17.5 ounces — effectively legislating a legal pint out of existence in B.C."
Not sure what is more stupid, the BC legal system, or us.
Coors Light had to pull some ads after their "Colder than most people from Toronto" billboard seemed to, well, offend a couple of Torontonians.
1. Clearly Toronto has no sense of humor. Big surprise there.
2. This ad is not nearly 1/2 as lame as the one under the Cambie bridge that reads "Colder than a souvenir vendor in March 2010". Ha!
3. Clearly Coors Light isn't funny either. At all.
4. And the campaign worked, see, we're talking about it.
5. Coors Light is still no Bud Light Lime.
Another Michael Jackson oddity was that he was Pepsi rather than Coke. That explains everything. Or maybe Coke is just more awesomer. And of course Carlton aka Alfonso Ribeiro was the impersonating Jacko in this spot. Of course he was. Absolutely unbelievable. Pepsi fail?
Very funny Hardee's. Buscuit holes? Really? Well played. And really the website url is nameourholes.com. And yet, I'd eat one right now if they were in front of me. (Via Ad Freak.)
Frank Sinatra and Ed McMahon in a hilarious 1968 Budweiser ad. Love the end tagline. Exit question: Would Frank have drunk Bud Light Lime? I sure hope so.
Was really happy to see the New York Times talk up the Pimms Cup this morning. Must be summer. This is absolutely something I need to master in the next couple of weeks.
“Let’s do a Pimm’s Cup,” I told the bartender. Fizzy, refreshing, a drink that thrives in sunshine: the perfect antidote. He grinned. “A very underappreciated drink,” he said, still smiling, as he fished a bottle of Pimm’s No. 1 from the rear row of bottles, like a cook thrilled to have found a use for the cardamom lurking way back in the spice cabinet.
Love these Perrier ads. This one is called Melt, Beach. Captures why I could drink bubbly water by the liter every day for like ever. There is also Melt, Club. Bubbly good.
I SO want to be about a 6-pack in on this stuff right about now. Steven Seagal is such a genius. When is Tarantino going to turn this guy's career around? It's like seeing the future redemption of Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler all over again. If Travolta can be redeemed after Look Who's Talking anything is possible. (via Graham)
Kind of maybe, sort of, wish I was in this commercial rather than back from vacation today. Although the temperature is much more my style. Bravo Vancouver. You win.
Can you even believe that this was a thing? Max Headroom selling Coke. Still don't really get what sort of weird futuredom this was supposed to live up to. Either way, a bizarre cultural artifact from the 1980s.
New Bacardi ad is pretty cool trip through the past, because as the ads states, since 1862 the best Mojitos are made with Bacardi. Not sure that is true, but the spot is nice.
Swine flu? What swine flu? We're eating bacon! Jim Gaffigan starts bt talking about about his love of bacon. And we are looking forward to our first "Bacone" of the season.
Pretty awesome McDonald's coffee outdoor advertising stunt from last week. This was at 6th and Yukon and was part of last week's free McDonalds coffee promotion. No wonder Starbuck's is struggling. This was done by some nice folks at Cossette West. Neat. (via MediainCanada)
I'm not sure what they put in this Korean Banana Milk, but it must be somethning rad, because it makes a dude pop like he's on So You Think You Can Dance. So good for a Monday.
I have absolutely no interest in eating something called a nut cluster, and certainly not the Crunchy nut cluster variety. Thanks Kelloggs. As Adrants notes, "There's just something wrong with food that resembles left over KFC chicken breading that's congealed to the point where it's nothing more than a fat-laden ball of over-cooked floor scraps."
I went to McDonald's last night in solidarity over this story of a failed robbing attempt at a McDonald's in Surrey:
"Shortly after 11:30 p.m., a man walked up to the drive-thru at a McDonald's restaurant in suburban Surrey, with part of his shirt pulled up over his face. He brandished a knife at the attendant and demanded cash.
As the suspect reached through the window to grab money from the cash drawer, another staffer threw a litre of boiling oil into the man's face." [The Province]
I can only hope the hero pulled a total David Caruso, "That's why I call deep fried" kind of a comment.
The job, technically a "wine country lifestyle correspondent" is pure genius. That this is all generating marketing buzz for 60,000 bucks plus some costs like a microsite. Finally a social media campaign I can get behind. Surely there is no social media bubble to burst here. No sir. Not at all. [Via SF Eater]
Me want. This portable espresso machine powered by CO2 cartridges is both awesome and evil. Need on on my desk. If only so I don't have to ever go to JJ Bean in Yaletown ever again and be served by a bearded hipster slacker. As Jesus Diaz noted, "It will arrive to this country in the fall for $129, so the survivors from the swine flu can have espresso with their human bacon anywhere and at any time." We can all dream. [Via Gizmodo]
For some reason Graham and I thought this was a Milk ad way back in the day. We stand corrected. It' s for HP sauce. The fact that we still could recite the song is a pretty strong sign of the longevity. Even if we got the brand wrong. I knew a lot of cooks at the Keg who sung this non-stop for years. YEARS.
Is it wrong that after a really nice homemade beef dip dinner that I want some of these Burger King Mini-Burgers? I mean, every place has sliders on the menu now, but they have all this ridiculous extra stuff on them. I guess that is why they can charge over $10 for three of 'em. But this Burger Kind ad, and a print ad featuring cute puppies which aren't as cute as mini burgers are invading my mind sapce
May have just intercepted this over the interwebs. "Morning Chelsea. The Big Mac 'with chicken' exists. So maybe I was quick to judge you and your Quarter Pounder with 'chicken!' does too." Genius. (Via Joelle and Grocery Eats)
Took the afternoon off today. A rare feat to be sure. Checked out the Wines of Portugal tasting at the Four Seasons. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon, especially after hitting the cheese plate and the mini beef dips. But enough about that how about the wine? Here are some of my tasting notes and highlights:
Forat de Evora, 2006
This was at the first table. Everything tasted a little flat until this one. It tasted like the earth give it a big wet kiss. It was a gorgeous color, and dry like Stanley on The Office. I like my wine from heritage sites, and Evora is. [Cartuxa]
Adega Coop Borba Reserve 2006
The wine rep here was wearing a pretty sweet sweater/jacket combo and was euro charming. This wine has a smug cork label. It's deep red color masked a nice pepper flavor. I could see myself drinking this at the table with some meats. [Adega Coop Borba]
I do like the new Save-On Foods at 8th and Cambie, and even more excited about the prospects of the Whole Foods moving in across the street (the neon sign went up this past week or so), but I really like the look of these Austrian MPREIS stores. Stunning. These make Urban Fare look like cheap knock offs. (See more atCool Hunting via Brandflakes.)
Ever since my trip to France a few years ago, I've been drinking Sancerre. A few weeks back during a daytime wine party, which funnily enough featured a savory creme brulee (Andrew, I'm still thinking that is a no fly zone sir), I decided to bring a bottle of this Chateau de Sancerre 2006 ($28.76).
The entire group enjoyed it, and while it's not the best Sancerre I've ever had (then again, maybe it is. I could have had a terrible sancerre in Paris but drinking it there makes it taste much better. Go figure) but at the right temperature and with enough breathing room it is a wicked combination of smooth, almost buttery vanilla flavour mixed with that clean citrus flavour. It must be the body, which gives it a little but of a kick that separates it from a Sauvignon Blanc that you may find from say New Zealand or any where in the New World for that matter.
Knowing that Sancerre was once a region that made almost exclusively Pinot Noir until the 20th century is interesting, but knowing that this particular Sancerre is made by the same group that makes Grand Marnier is really interesting. It's not cheap, but it is French. So lets mark this as a potential recession busting special occasion bottle - but i feel like keeping a few bottles in stock in the wine fridge, for emergencies.
I kind of wanted to spend a lot longer in the Cactus ClubBathroom on Broadway & Ash. Not only is it room-y (I want one), with fully automatic soap and waters, but as you can see in the photo you have the couch, coffee table, and fireplace. I know, who wants to sit and lounge out in a bathroom, but if this wasn't in Cactus Club and was in my apartment, I'd be a happy camper - lots reading and enjoyment. No wonder it won best bathroom in the 2008 Georgia Straight awards.
And what you can't really see is a pop-art painting that looks like the Baroness from G.I. Joe - okay, technically she was in COBRA, but whatevs, which is pretty amazing.
My friend Michelle has been a strong advocate for the simple pleasures of Prosecco - the charming Italian version of the bubbly - for some time. Apparently it has something to do with her Italian/Australian heritage and her ridiculous love of all things champagne, real or otherwise. Let's just say that Michelle has been pushing Prosecco on us even before that tart Paris Hilton started endorsing versions of it in a can.
For Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and again this morning, the simple bottle of Valdo Prosecco ($21.49 at the Government Stores) did some yeoman work in some orange juice and just as well on its own as the juice ran out. It's tasty. it's fresh, and in my mind goes down a lot easier than the authentic French stuff. And in these tough economic times Prosecco is a good bargain too, so you can buy two bottles instead of one.
And in fact, the Italians are trying to make Prosecco the same one of kind experience that is champagne to France. [NY TImes]
"The key is to link prosecco to its traditional home.
“We don’t want to end up with something like pinot grigio,” says Primo Franco, owner of the Nino Franco winery in Valdobbiadene, referring to another white wine grape from the Veneto region that today is grown around the world.
Because prosecco is also the name of a northern Italian village where the grape is believed to have originated, the consortium can make an argument, too, that prosecco is a place name that can be protected just like Chianti, Champagne and others."
"Someone alert Sarah Palin and other defenders of "real" America: As the Times reports, our elitist, arugula-eating next President is sweet on a longtime European favorite: salted caramels, which originated in — you guessed it — France." - Jezebel.
The other day in 24 Hours, I saw the full page ad for the 2009 edition of Dine Out Vancouver. It is a hellish two-weeks of hell in restaurants to cater to people who live over bridges, clearly. What struck me was the Dine Out and Stay In packages (the combination of dinner and hotel stays) and the first package specifically:
Comfort Inn Downtown, $150
Pull up to parking, gym passes and accommodation for the night at the Comfort Inn Downtown. Indulge in a 3-course dinner for two at Doolin's Irish Pub, VIP nightclub access and even breakfast in the morning.
Serious? Who does this? Sounds like the most ghetto celebration of food and wine EVER.
Years ago, my amazing Mother would make this cake during the Christmas season. This one must be from 25 years ago or so. My Dad's been scanning our photos for weeks and and weeks and just sent me this one today. Man I want a piece of that chocolate-y goodness right about now.
So after a long wait, UVA's sister joint, Cibo Trattoria (900 Seymour St.) is in soft launch mode. Instead of cooking on the way home, I figured, why not check it out. It didn't disappoint. Sebastien Le Goff, Head of Operations, treated us like gold, as usual. His serving staff was good too., ours had no pretensions. The guy is amazing, seriously.
Let me break it down for you like this. The bruchetta with pea and fresh mozza was heavenly, that is until i tried the best damned focaccia I've had. just virgin olive oil on the side, and in two kinds. Just tell me I'm wrong. I know, its bread, get over it. Shut your face.
Anyway, the Salmon was excellent and perfectly cooked, while the pasta was the perfect portion size and my pasta was stuffed with pork and served with a crazy balsamic. i really don't want to talk about the desserts, since they kind of put me into a mild coma. I'm gonna go back in the next week to make sure, but so far so good.
Totally not ashamed to share that I had a few Bud Light Limes while in Seattle this weekend. A. Didn't want to get scurvy since I consumed a lot of meat (not limited to, but including, prime rib, filet, lots of bacon, and even my pancakes had meat in them). God bless America. B. Ridiculous faux Irish pubs in a box featuring cover bands of U2 need ridiculous drinks in metal bottles to cope with the cheese. C. It was hot, sue me. D. Better than Corona, and I'll stick by that claim.
4% sales declines piled on and caused Starbucks stock to close 61 cents lower. You saw during the day its lowest price in over a year. Now, when you only get a grande drip coffee does that hurt the green lady? But at least the comic ubiquity of the brand is alive and well.
More pundits get in on the action with where the brand might have jumped the shark. [Starbucks Gossip]
Meanwhile I can report that the blended lemonade drink I had today was damned refreshing and way better than the coma inducing mint-mocha frappachino awesome I had yesterday. But here's a quick question, my barista had a mohawk today? Doesn't Starbucks stamp out that kind of faux individualism in employees? At least that's what I always prided my purchases on. You've changed big boy. Then again, someone was walking around my office in a shirt seeming to praise Mao, so what do I know.
From a reader desperate to get us start posting again. Guess what, it worked. Here's a look at the Yaletown Steakhouse, Pinkys from a reader:
"Went to that Pinkys Steakhouse on Saturday. What a douche-a-palooza. The food was alright, but typical Yaletown shite.
If you are going to do a steakhouse, it should probably be better than the Keg and your unique selling feature shouldn't be that you have the cheapest shots of Patron in all of Yaletown. That said, it was good value. $25 for salad, steak/pasta and dessert, but would probably just go to the Keg next time. Still it did have more people in it on that night then I think Lily Kate had all time. PS: how douchy are the wine glasses? I almost refused to drink out of them. "
Pretty sure Britney will now forever etch into my brain the following, "don't drink Dr. Pepper, that's for crackheads like Britney Spears." Thanks a lot bumpkin. It does however turn a delightful jingle on its ear. And no, I wouldn't like to be "a pepper too." I would count this as a PR nightmare for Dr. Pepper.
Dear McDonald's. Your shameless 'viral' attempts at keeping the blessed third heat on your awful creation known as the McRib really chaps my hide. You're sick. That is is all.
Encore Avenue was playing Army of Darkness tonight. One word: rad. Which tickled me mostly because for some reason I was in a Legion/70's era rec room bar in Toronto this week. Clearly trying to avoid the major douchery that was spilling from the earth's core/suburbs for the Bon Jovi concerts (mullets + cougars = a pure hell) was harder than it first appeared. On a light side the 5 Buds + Chili Nachos for $24.99 was all sorts of low brow fun. The fact that our bartender looked like Bruce Campbell was an added bonus. PS: how is Army of Darkness 15 years old already?
Finally, someone else has validated my love of that truly trashy, but truly tasty drink: cider. Apparently, cider is the new fall beverage of choice, and I can't wait to get on board with that. Bye-bye white wine, I'm back on the Glacierberry. But for those with a more sophisticated palette (shades of high school much?), there are plenty of fabulous apple-based bevvies to choose from that don't involve a non-existent fruit. Strongbow comes to mind as the most obvious choice, but for those of you lucky enough to be passing through Ontario, defintely consider giving Magners a try. It is absolutely delcious, and its flavour doesn't hinge on the addition of a lot of sucrose-fructose. Who knew the harvest season could be so tasty?
This one is a few months old, but it sure is nice to see Hennessy promoting a clean weekend of booze free fun. Ridiculous. Although it makes me want to go mock some people fauxsters at Republic very soon. (Via AdFreak)
"I had a period where my chef Marc-Andre [Choquette] quit, then my sous-chef Jeremie [Bastien] quit, then Antoine [Baillargeon] - his right-hand guy - he quit, then Guillaume [St. Pierre], who was doing the fish, he quit - it all came within a month for me," Feenie told the Globe. "Then the same thing happened at Feenie's - all these people left and went up to Chow. It was a big hit for us."
Globe and Mail food critic Alexandra Gill begins her colum with, "I'm feeling crabby. And no, the mood has nothing to do with any gripes I might have about recently reviewed restaurants." Maybe it is because you just lamely started an article about crabs with that line? Sorry to hear about that Alex.
Andrew Morrison over at Urban Diner had him some fun this week. He invented a restaurant called Spanish Tasting Bar, even set up a website, and then some other website wrote about it like news. Well played Morrison. Well played.
Nice to see Artigiano raising the bar on smug coffee. Today they launch the, "staggering $15 per eight-ounce cup ($135 per half pound in bean form), the Panama-grown, 100-per-cent geisha varietal bean is the most expensive coffee ever to hit lips in this coffee-crazy city." See you there.
I just made my friend Anthony dry heave with this video. I think he's completely nuts, because this is totally amazing. This is as Adfreak calls it, "Pizza technology moves forward yet again." The Japanese are amazing, proving once again, Pizza, is there anything it can't do? Luke will love this.
Since Urban Diner called me out for my shameless and pathetic excuses for not blogging - I completely agree with the coined term 'slothtrodden' Morrison! (It's on, sir! Let's hit the town soon you cheeky bastard!) Really, I do - I answer with a trip to Gastropod and a timely review with the $15 dollar 'bacon' taste still in my belly.
But seriously. Gastropod (1938 West 4th Avenue). I didn't know what to think - I mean the constant buzz of the West 4th foodie explosion is enough to just write off crossing any bridges, but then again, why not - they serve Le Vieux Pin wine which is secret code for yummy, I've heard (more on this later, trust me). The brightness of the space - and what my friend Kasia called the clinical "The Handmaid's Tale" uniforms of the waitstuff were a bit much. But the food. Good lord. I think my tastebuds are drunk.
The Salmon Tar Tar was excellent, and anytime - and I mean ANYTIME - you have something that is as ridiculously tasty as the smoked veal sweetbreads - like I said the best $15 piece of bacon. Evah - you have to just abide. The Duck Sous Vide was pretty unreal, but the Lamb loin sausage was particularly insane. Ya, sure, I'll go back to having hot dogs after that? Serve with Malbec and discussion of current politics of Poland and William L. Shirer's classic and voila!
PS: The lemon tarte, however unnecessary, was absolutely ridiculous. Honestly, "lemon tyme ice milk" and fresh basil. You're out of control. Eating this basically made question my place in the universe. Okay, that overstates the facts a bit. But you get the idea.
Andrew Morrison sums up Kits in his latest Westender piece with delightful zest: "On any given day of the week, a stroll down West 4th sees the two generations morphed into one master demographic of Capers-loving, Goretex-wearing, Starbucks-loathing, mountain bike-riding, dog-walking, and restaurant-going shopaholics with more money than sin and equal appetites for self-indulgence and fitness."
All this "foodie" talk, but I have to say I'm with Keith Talent at Urban Diner on the word: "I can’t stand the word foodie. It’s overly simplistic and calculatedly lowbrow so as to offset the pretension of calling someone a “gourmet”. It’s sort of a Rachel Ray vs. Paul Bocuse question."
At anyrate, it's really no wonder I'm scared to cross the Burrard St. bridge most time to say nothing of coming face to face with those Kits eco-robots scare me. In a related piece of news I'm meeting some of my oldest and trusted friends for lunch today at Guu. Apparently I'm so awash with cash I'm paying, but I hope my 'green-y' friends bought this excuse. Feel free to try it yourselves:
"All of my cash is tied up in unethical weapons manufacturing stocks, and oil companies and otherwise in offshore accounts.
Gotta run, my Hummer has been running all day long down in the parking garage and I need to refuel it. See I'm doing my part to support global warming. Aren't you proud?"
I'm sure one of them will still try to sell me some sort of ethical investments anyway.
A weekend with weather as gloomy as this one, calls for some good old fashion coffee blogging, yes? Let me start with a short review of Mink Chocolates Inc. ("On the Park" 863 West Hastings St). Let me just say that if you are having a crap day - say today for instance - go here, drop cash on a mocha with dark chocolate (holy cow) and a chocolate bar, or two. Willy Wonka, eat your hat, sir, this is the good stuff. Sure that combo will run you about $18 bucks, but you'll feel better about yourself.
I tried the "Tawny & Ruby Are Friends" - a bar with port and dark chocolate ganache, and the "Romeo & Juliet" - 1/2 white chocolate and 1/2 dark chocolate ganache. These were ridiculous. And my friend Anthony will be happy to note that they do indeed have bon bons - something he was talking about a few weeks back like he was Peg Bundy. I need to go back to have the chocolate fondue or the insane looking waffles. This store is trouble. And the modern space and branding details are pretty amazing. This experience isn't cheap, but if it was cheap, then you'd probably go everyday and be dead in a week. Okay, chocolate is good for you, go now. It's retarded how good this place is.
Danes Got it Going On.
In the April edition of Monocle - a magazine I mocked at first, and since have become addicted to - there was a write up on Emmery's. A pretty awesome looking place - "It is a unique Nordic mix of chic 7-11 meets Dean & Deluca." Let me get this straight, it's like a fancy cool 7-11. And these aren't everywhere because why? My goodness.
Starbucks Vs. Ethiopia
And this would be more so, after my so-so Americano at Starbucks today. Damn I want me some funky 7-11 cafe of awesome. And speaking of the brand, Starbucks got into a battle with Ethiopia recently over the trademarking of coffee.
Checked out Social, er, I guess that should read, So.Cial (332 Water St.) the other day. I'm not certain if you're supposed to include the period in the name, or not. Quite frankly, anyway you look at it, that increases the potential smugness at least a few points. Although the news, even following the end of the Canucks tyranny on the city this season, that it has some filthy hockey money behind it (Kirk McLean and Bob McCammon) probably evens things out.
It's a nice space in Gastown - old building loveliness with requisite impressive high ceiling awesome - and the concept seems like it should do pretty well in this city - meats, osyter bar, and more meats. Who is to deny that theme? It was lunch and I had a roast beef sandwich with mustard cabbage something or other - which was tasty and massive - the bread was delicious, but almost too hard to consume (artisan bread is cool, but this was hardcore)- even though the bread to start, served with a beanish-y dip was fantastic. The frites, well, they were pretty perfect. Other items, like the chicken sandwich looked great too. And there is something about a $14 sandwich during the lunch hour that is, well, ridiculously fun. So.there.
Okay. Let me explain. And yes, I totally retract this early review. Sure when you opened last year, your unisex bathrooms were sort of cute. Cute in that late 1990's I want to smack Ally McBeal in the face kind of a way. Sure the patio is pretty great - until you realize it is a pretty lame patio in the middle of gastown practically on the street. But last Friday this 'hotspot' had the worst waitress working in the entire city and delivered the worst service I've ever recieved in a bar/restaurant in Vancouver. A dubious honor if there ever was one.
The scene: It took three try's to get the blonde beer I ordered. So close to the three strikes, your out rule. It was like the server didn't want to make money - and that was clear after our table was finished, ready to go, money out ready to pay and 20 minutes went by. I actually went up to her at the computer with cash in hand asking to pay and she had the nerve to say, "No. I have 5 other things to do first can you go see the manager." Say what? You won't take my money? Are you nuts?
The manager tried to help, but he didn't seem to grasp that this girl was completely useless. Although hopefully he got it later, which might explain this job ad. I guess when your service is actually worse and slower than, say, the Cambie, you have problems. And need new wait staff.
I figured that after posting all that nonsense about Smiley's I should offer you just the littlest bit of ginger to cleanse the pallet. In this case it is in the form of Nigella Lawson. Only good comes from spending time with her. Only good. If you don't like her talking about CocoPots, revel in her demonstration of fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Thanka, thanka very much.
In a momment of total weakness last week somehow I ended up at the worst fake Irish pub in the city, Smiley O'Neals. The fact that the Guinness looked like flat Pepsi that had a hobo blow bubbles into it to provide the creamy head was a dead giveaway. The trio of burnt #2 specials - the old Buffalo burger with sweet potato fries. I know - what in the hell was I thinking right? I was too hungry to bother sending mine back. Probably a good call, since I have no idea what possessed one of my dining adventuring friends to replace his burnt burger with the halibut and shrimp burger? What the...
Irish pubs just shouldn't have halibut and shrimp burgers. It's just not right. It's just not right, Mr. Smiley O'Neal. I don't like your fake name either pal. In fact your whole menu seemed just freaking weird. I just don't understand why you need to serve fajitas or an asian stir fry at all. If Gordon Ramsay walked in you would be, well, probably open handed slapped after 15 minutes of verbal abuse. On the other hand your photo gallery is great. Your theme nights of "creepy old man nights" sound awesome!
I thought you also had the most ridiculously poor service in the city. I did until I had breakfast at Whitespot on Sunday for the last time ever. I think every table in this feeble person's section had some sort of issue. You would think at somepoint you would say, "I'm not a good waitress". And yet you still have a job.
1. The bartender Dylan: He lived in the Virgin Islands and makes a mean Surfer on Acid.
2. My new favourite wine: Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc
3. The sushi tower: An amazing mash-up of crab, avocado, cucubmer, rice, soy sauce and wasabi.
4. The plush booths and "mood" lighting
Last week I checked out Kitanoya Guu with Otokomae in Gastown (105-375 Water Street). I haven't left a restaurant that completely stuffed and satisfied from a meal since, well, I can't remember when. Shout out to Ken for dragging me out, translating, and hooking us with more food than needed.
Let me just say. This place is casual. Packed. And features plenty screaming japanese people. Love that. They yell when people come in, when people leave, and when your large Kirin beers are up at the bar. Handy. They were looking for a waiter, but I am pretty sure that large white guy wouldn't really fit in. Or would I...
Where was I? Oh right, highlights from this feast:
Memorable items included: the deep fried brie with mango sauce. Ridiculous. The massive chunks of seared tuna. Retarded. Whatever shrimp we had. It was preposterous. There was about 11 other dishes. There was way too much food.
Boy this is embarassing. Yeeesh. Just yesterday I was saying, "honest to god I was getting sick of Cassis all the time." And then of course I was there for lunch right after it. That's awkward....
Now they probably have one the best BLT's ever. "Pancetta bacon, roasted tomatoes and avocado." Always a great call. But, I've been there. Done that. Many times. So did I really see this on the menu: "Meatloaf Panini - $10.75 Veal meatloaf, roasted tomato chutney, caramelized onion mayo, jalapeno havarti, ciabbata". Um. You had me at veal meatloaf, Cassis, and I stayed for the jalepeno havarti. Good lord. Bonus points: tomato cumin soup that was as crazy as Britney Spears. Serious. Bottom line: you could pay 8 bucks for a Subway sandwich, or your could pay 10.75 for a slice of heaven. Your call.
Downsides: No expresso. Please. And their new website branding is nothing like a french bistro or the joint itself.
Got a special little review of Jules Bistro (216 Abbott Street) hot off the presses:
At first you're going to say: casual French Bistro in the same building as the Lamplighter in Gastown? Are you for real you pompous jackass, Murphy? (clearly...)
But then you're going to go there and say: really? Did I just have the most amazing nearly Parisian Hot Dog on a baguette with delicious mustard and spicy sausage and some frites?
Then you're probably going to say: And the cafe was pretty decent too.
Finally you might say: And there was actually a charming young french girl serving us (although the accent might have been faked. You never know).
You might add: and honest to god I was getting sick of Cassis all the time. (So smug).
I've had two pretty good brunches recently. What this has to do with classic TV is beyond even me. But stay with me anyway. It will be worth it. Sort of.
Now, I know what you're thinking. It's a little bit too hipster, non? Yeah, it probably is. I don't buy it's faux hipstery anymore than you do. The waitresses with the perfect little outfits - complete with I'm cooler than you hats and ridiculous belts. The bartender with that "don't look at me and my perfectly skinny black jeans" look in his eye. Anyway, the food is actually good - although I don't get how these hipsters can even get food to you in a timely manor. The americanos are good (and smugly served with a water on a silver tray) and the chorizo frittata is tasty. I highly recomend sitting there and reading something obnoxious - I chose Mark Steyn's America Alone. Believe me reading this book in a hipster-y retreat like this is quite hilarious. Trust me.
This one is too easy. Any place that has groovy live music for an average Sunday brunch is satisfactorly ridiculous. I had the House Smoked Chicken and Sweet Potato Hash - "fresh tomatoes, scallions, cilantro,
poached eggs, chipotle hollandaise 14.00". Anything with chipotle hollandaise is good. Anything. The ever present champagne and orange juice is an added bonus. I also pretended that I was American on a weekend vacation, which was rather fun.
How does the classic TV fit in? It doesn't really. But walking off the greatest brunch i've had in 2007 was done with DVD shopping. Looking actually. But here's the thing: can you believe these two things are on DVD?
Riptide? Really? Stephen J. Cannell you're a genuis. I love the robot. 1984 was so cute, thinking everyone would have a robot, a boat, and an old helicopter. So cool.
Emergency!Thank God. (original opening here) This was what made life worth living when I was just discovering the magic that is TV. Now it's out on DVD. Best. Thing. Ever.
Good lord, I'm so very glad I went to Sip Resto Lounge (1117 Granville) before going to their website (Reservations at Open Table). Otherwise I wouldn't have gone. And believe me if you stay too long the place becomes a dance club by the sounds of it. That said I shared some great starters, wine, and dessert there on the eve before Dine Out Vancouver ruined the restaurant scene for a couple of weeks. Although it seemed like some of the Dine Out population was already out. Do these people ever go out for dinner? Dine Out Vancouver is pure evil hell. That was our first topic of conversation. Next was the Serbian and Croation fans fighting at the tennis match in Australia. But that is another story, what about the damned food already:
I'm not sure if they do in fact have "The Best Crab Cakes Ever" (bold statement) like they claim to on the menu, but they were tasty - and best of all kind of as good as one of those one-bite brownie deals. Pop 'em in your mouth, yum. Then again when you have Belgium Beer Battered fries served with a bunch of shooters full of sauce you're pretty well setup. Fries and sauces are good - and it was refreshing they they weren't yam fries for a change. Not that I have anything against yam fries. But enough is enough. The 7 Cheesy Dip (how do you go, no it needs more cheese when you have say 5 or 6 cheeses in a dip?) was great and put some of that with the fries. Just do it. It says there is 18-year old Glenfiddich in there somewhere. Sure. The calamari wasn't anything special, but maybe it was because the cheese perogies had lots of chorizo bits with it. Hard to compete. Bonus meats, always a good call.
Oh ya, and the Mocha Bailey's Creme Brulee was completely ridiculous. As is my nature I am writing them a letter to see if they would come make over to my place and turn my bathtub into the biggest creme brulee ever. Yes, it was that delightful. And don't forget, it is open until 2am, which is nice if you want a late night crab cake.
First, was hitching a ride with Jesse in his fairly smug Rover of somesort. I don't say that to mock him, or to sound particularly smug either, but he found a parking spot on Granville in like 5 seconds and so what if he drove that thing all up and over the curb. The homeless kids on the street begged for money in the following way, "You have to give us something for having to watch that." And we did.
That was only the start. We had a fairly strict "two Canuck jersey" rule going into Doolins Irish Pub. There were at least three within the first 5 seconds. Ouch. And when Jesse kept asking our waitress Stephanie for both a Pimms and a cheese plate (it's Doolins) every time she came by, you can imagine, hilarity ensued. Doolins makes you question the whole concept of the Irish Pub and, well, Irishness in general. Thank goodness there is yet another one coming to Vancouver one block over at Smithe and Granville in the old Skybar location called Ceilis. It's not open yet and it looks awful. I no longer question the assertion that there is such a things as "Irish Pub in a Box."
So over to the Granville Room (seriously, did they just play Pixies music when I went to the website? That's just awesome) we went. A cheese plate was had and Jesse introduced us to the infamous Pimms Cup. Or a version of it anyway - served with Ginger Ale, a cucumber slice and an apple slice. Wierd. Smug. Wackily Delicious. (Anyone for a Pimms?) I just can't believe I used to mock the bottle of Pimms behind the bar. The lesson: cheese plate + Pimms = instant awesomeness.
Saw a fairly craptacular Starbucks print ad in the Globe and Mail. It's probably not new, but it certainly is Vancouver. Gastown actually, which is fine but did they really write this copy:
8:45 a.m. Mark and Scooter.
Searching out the fifth (and best) tree for Scooter to pass his hellow to the next pooch to come along. Mark's reward for this little adventure? A double Americano with room. And serious bonus-points for walking his girlfriend's dog.
Life happens over coffee.
Jesus. I don't even know where to start. But who exactly are they trying to get pumped for Starbucks with this ad? He's walking a ratty little dog with a jacket on while Mark's girlfriend is probably sleeping in. Or is that just his cover story? Double Venti Lameness. Okay, that was bad. I regret writing it. So The way I see it #322: Be a man Mark, you pussy.
For about two years - and three or four trips to Oliver for some wine tasting goodness - I've passed the Black Hills Winery. Not that they have ever had a single drop of wine. That was almost enough for me to never bother, but i split a case of thier Alibi 2005 with Dan from WineGlow.
But before you get your hopes up, its already sold out. So i'm just smugly taunting you now. There are probably some restaurants you might be able to pick it up at for a price. Nice for us.
This is a pretty swish wine - and for the price ($23.90) this isn't something you should be breaking out at the end of the night. It's good, so drink it first, by yourself preferably - then break out the boxed stuff for your friends. Okay, I don't do that, much. But I've thought it. The tasting notes talk about grapefruit and limes and that's pretty true - something that comes from the subtle citrus from the 83% Sauvignon Blanc grapey goodness. I'd call it overated, but it's not, it's just so damned smooth and drinkable that it would be crazy for me to do so. Bonus points for the screw top as always.
I *vowed* extra hard this year that after a thoroughly debauched New Year's Eve that I would be well behaved - no more excess, particularly when it came to rich food and liquor. Irony of ironies was that my actual New Year's Eve was relatively tame, but I've since run amok in the few days since when I was supposed to be abstaining.
Yumminess abounds in the plush decor of Bacchus at the Wedgewood Hotel - it's a little old school luxury accompanied by good wine and a damn fine dessert menu.
Hello salsa? Risotto is calling and it wants the title of my new favourite menu item at Bin 941.
And just for a little variety, pints of Strongbow and one of the best people-watching patios in the city can be found at The Fountainhead on Davie.
"One part egg nog, three parts sake!" The Nog-a-sake was the call to arms in last week's holiday episode of The Office. Best Christmas episode of the season. I dare you to try this at a Japanese restaurant this week - although if a place would do this, it's got to be Kobe. Throw that bad boy into a Moose mug - as seen in Christmas Vacation - and you've got a can't miss holiday treat.
Sunday morning it was time for brunch and it's tough to find a good one downtown. So I checked out Cassis for brunch. Just like with lunch and dinner, the food is good and not too pricey. For a low $14 and change the orange juice, coffee and delicious bacon and eggs was totally worth it, Shaun of the Dead zombies walking around be damned.
The bacon was double smoked, and full of just plain yum. The free range eggs were perfect - the yokes a ridiculous golden colour - and the hash browns were awesome. The bonus fruit salad and the best french loaf toast ever was kind of a cheerry on top of a slice of heaven. I felt like a bit of a moron for asking for ketchup, but they had it, and it wasn't a big deal. If I had been in Paris, my guess is I would have gotten a really great snotty, "non." One friend from Wineglow had the Cassis Rissole which looked quite hardcore. Massive bacon bits, mushroom potato hash, swiss cheese and eggs. It was big and looked great. The only question that remained was why the place wasn't completely packed. Still not sure the salt and pepper on the table is sanitary in the long run.
If the idea of these Campari ads featuring Salma Hayek doesn't make your season bright, I don't know what will. [See them all at GoldenFiddle] It gets better/creepier at the website, Hotel Campari. Sure this isn't as cool as this compilation of 1968 Campari ads, but, the what could be?
A bottle for your smugest friend? Make it so. So you can roll Steve Zissou style:
Steve Zissou: Hey intern, get me a Campari. Intern #1: On the rocks? Steve Zissou: [gives him the "gun" thumbs up salute]
Over at Urban Diner, Lorna Yee in her latest Food Porn column writes about a Mac 'n Cheese cook off and gives her own recipe. It's a little dissapointing. Don't get me wrong, the Mac n' cheese sounds more than great, it's more that there just isn't any photos of Lorna actually making said awesomeness. Tease.
The amount of bacon and cheese and cream is pretty amazing, but lets get real, it is no $55 Mac and Cheese at the Waverly Inn in New York. It's 55 bucks because of the mountain of shaved truffles over it. Now that is, smug. "To its credit, the Waverly gave the couple several free glasses of vino. The price probably works out in the end, considering the waiter came by and sneezed caviar in their wine." [More at Eater]
All I can say is, You just knew Graydon Carter had to be involved here. Totally smug. [More smug Graydon Carter here]
Our friend Anthony is currently in St. Petersburg, Russia and we are pleased to bring you his vodka soaked ramblings from the Mother Country for your morning reading pleasure.
"Russia. What can I say? Sorry about that whole "communist" thing...but would it kill you to smile?
Most tourists I've ever met in Vancouver just smile and nod like an idiot when they've tried to ask me "where time chicken"? I usually smile back, and simply point in a randomly selected direction, and say "the pony midnight". They thank me for not ignoring them, we go our seperate ways and we both make fun at how ignorant and uncivilized the other is. It's a sweet deal.
Now, I'm that tourist...with that dumb look on my face smiling saying the three words of russian I know, then getting frustrated and start playing a game of charades all the while instictively blurting out words in my own language...which for the first time in my life is useless to me. Unlike my morning karate dance fighting.
And to add insult to injury with the smug red cups and overcrowded retail junk, you can check out Itsredagain.com or worse, Cheer Pass Central. The former site, is hosted by some creepy sweater wearing Tradition Keeper. [More via: Ad Freak]
In a related story, I had to go to The Hudson's Bay Company this week. I know what you're thinking. Apparently using your passport as a wallet isn't very cool, nor is not having a shower curtain. But honestly, is it really required to be selling Christmas stuff already? The fact that they call their Christmas area, the 5th floor, "Christmas Street" is totally ridiculous. Oh, and it's November.
Nothing screams melting pot like a fusion restaurant - fortunately, in the case of Clove, this has resulted in a melt-in-your-mouth deeeeelite. While I'm not necessarily a huge fan of the whole geometric/Ikea chic decor, I was won over by the charmingly casual server. Despite the fact that he was pretty much there to hang out with his friends at the bar, when he did come over, he was actually quite nice. Or maybe I'm just biased by the fact that he thought it was really awesome that we were rushing through dinner to get to a dodgeball game.
But really, Clove is pretty much about the food, and that's where the place really won me over. Always a fan of the deep-fried, the bhajis were crispy on the outside and tasty on the inside. They were also full of about eighteen different kinds of vegetables, which made me feel healthier than I should have. For a main course I tried the kofta, which had all the elements of a divine spread: dumplings and creamy curry goodness. My dinner companion had the beef salad, and while as a vegetarian I wasn't able to give it a taste, the words "ridiculously tender" were uttered enough times that I was pretty sure she liked it.
Being the world class dodgeball players that we are, we stayed away from the wine for the evening, but I could definitely head back there for a few drinks and some more yummy goodness. Did I mention that there were cushions strewn throughout? I'm not actually a restaurant critic but I know what I like, and Clove definitely gets a gold star from me.
Having a George Foreman Grill in your kitchen is like having perforated toilet paper in your bathroom. Not really a necessity, but a necessity all at the same time. It's what we educated people call a paradox.
I made this last night on my George Foreman grill:
2 Slices of thick bread. Preferably something dense just not crusty
Some smooth peanut butter
Some strawberry jam
Some really soft butter
Start by smothering 1 piece of bread with peanut butter up to the edges. About 1 cm in thickness. Then the other piece with jam, again up to the edges just not as thick as the PB. Now butter the outside of the bread. And lastly, like with any sandwich, you need to create a butter fortress by buttering the sides and filling gaps like mortar.
Place sandwich on center of hot GFG and close lid. (the ideal bread would have been thick enough for the top of the grill to touch the top slice of bread)
In about 6 minutes get ready for the end of that tight body as you know it. You are about to eat what the immortals eat for breakfast probably every day; like Santa Clause, God, his hippy son and of course any surviving Highlanders.
I kept trying to take pictures of the sandwich with my new cyber shot so I could share it, but something wasn't allowing the image to be captured. I could take pictures of other things though.
I almost forgot about this one. Saturday night, a friend took me to a wine tasting. I should have known that this would be extremely creepy because a.) It was in Capilano Mall (North Vancouver’s 2nd most ghetto mall after the awesome Lynn Valley Centre) b.) It was Saturday Night in North Vancouver and c.) Did I mention it was in a Mall?
On one hand the people were ridiculous – I mean a Rotary Club Gala Wine Festival in a freaking mall brings out the freaks. And by freaks I mean drunks that looked like they don’t normally go out, or drink wine. The guy in the sweatpants and old Canucks Halloween logo jacket took top prize. And yes, it was for charity. And yes, I am a total jerk. On the other hand, there was plenty of free food, although mostly from places I would never eat at. But Starbucks was giving out pounds of coffee, which is kind of a nice freebie. But if you want to find cheap wines for drinking everyday, this could be the venue. I’m not kidding. Your “hobo wines of the week”:
Friday night I made the mistake of having some dinner at The Yaletown Brewing Company. Now, the food was fine, nothing special - actually the Mac & Cheese with chorizo was a bit ridiculous - enough cheese in there to kill a Frenchman, or at least a Swiss Frenchie, which is quite frankly good. On the other hand, the only thing good I heard said about the chicken satay was that it was dry. I'm presuming that is bad. But being away from the city for so long, you simply forgot how utterly absurd it is to watch Yaletown douchebags high five every time the Canucks score. If that is your bag, this is your place. Let me explain:
It was 7:00 pm and the place was packed as usual. Full to the brim with, well, you know the types. The guys that spend more time working out than anything else, you know them as the big necked, tight shirted wankers in leather jackets. They have midget (sorry: petite) looking, flat chested, blond girlfriends with crazy bra setups to make them look 19 rather than 14 and they do big "Oh Yeahs" and then tell their girlfriends why they "Oh yeah'd." Thankfully in this urban jungle nightmare there was the Yaletown "fembot" waitress who was serving on the patio. This girl was amazing, in that Deal or No Deal model kind of a way. She must have been French since she was completely indifferent to everyone she was serving with an almost vacant Katie Holmes deadeye stare. I didn't enjoy the service I got, but seeing her completely ignore the high fivers was quite incredible and well worth it.
PS: If you ever want to make some quick money, put on a Firefighter t-shirt and bring around an old gumboot collecting money for charity, any charity - it's clearly a money maker with the drunks in Yaletown to make them feel good about themselves.
Got a positive double secret review of Hapa Izakaya (1479 Robson St.) hot off the presses:
"This place is deliciously retarded. Two words: ebi mayo. Small fun japenese appies and the deep fried chicken was almost life changing! Great prices and fun drinks.They have a hello kitty drink. Seriously, that is fun."
Kind of a shame about the website. But the thought that something deep fried will change my life is exciting.
Andrew Morrisson's shiny new site, Urban Diner is open for business, and I already like it. Especially the pro and con discussion of Rachel Ray. And already learning that there will be a companion site to Salt, called, Pepper and they are blogging it Opening Soon style.
Monday lunches demand to be smug, or at least smugly delicious. And I'd be lying if I told you that I achieved this, as there was no linens or table service, but in a way I did. Checked out Finch's Tea & Coffee House (353 West Pender).
Seriously, the Curried ginger yam soup was pretty ridiculous, and when you add the brie and grape baguette (wrapped brown paper style with a ribbon) and the massive oatmeal chocolate chip cookie and you have achieved a pretty decent lunchtime bit of moral superiority. And the cookie was good enough to forgive the hipster making the sandwich with a goofy mini-fedora. Let's just say that when you wake up in the morning and throw on that kind of hat and brown Chuck Taylors you're mission in life isn't a speedy sandwiche - you're an artist damnit and artists take about 10 minutes to make anything. And the $12.50 price tag was steep but worth it. Bonus points for the three stage duece tables at the windows, which can raise your smugness to a huge level for eating brie sandwiches while on display for the homeless people. And the slight reference to the greatest character in American Pie.
And served with this juicy cheese website and you can mock pretty much anyone you meet all day long.
I recieved an email over the weekend and it was almost worse than getting a press release but certainly worth sharing. Actually a press release would have been better, since it may have had a point of some sort, and yet we still feel dirty and in need of a shower. Now, normally, I would have just copy and pasted it, but the emailer in question actually had the balls to add a disclaimer suggesting the email was subject to copyright and you know how much I hate lawyers. Whatever. We totally feel like Jack Black in High Fidelity right now. "Well, it's sentimental tacky crap. Do we look like the kind of store that sells I Just Called to Say I Love You? Go to the mall."
Anyway, the email was from someone at Food Vancouver - which I link to, even though they didn't bother hyper-linking their own company URL and I had to take the time and copy and paste it into my browswer. God I hate that. But wait there's more. Their amazing email spoke of their magical 53,000 visitors a month and a promising "interesting" food site. Wow, that means i am one of 53,000 visitors now subjected to both one of the least visually appealing and completely not-interesting restuarant guides in the city (yeah, this one really does take the cake). Even Google cleverly ranks them one and two for Vancouver restaurants for your convienence. As Stephen Colbert would say, look it up. I'm sure if you look in about a week it will show up if you google "Vancouver Restaurants Ugly Websites". But I'm just being grumpy and mean now.
Obviously so many people are going to their site, they needed to tell The Vancouverite all about it. The inclusion of a article about the company from The Vancouver Sun - as if that was supposed to impress me - was from May 2006. How cute. Clearly this was more important than, say, their own URL, since this was the only clickable link. Who needs to write a proper email, when you can link to an article about yourself in The Sun. Wow. Thanks.
And the worst part about this is that the website really likes to tell you all about restaurants which can and will cater to your every special dietary need, like how awesome Earl's is. Great. So good for you, congratulations Food Vancouver, we just wrote about your food site. I hope you are happy now.
I'm sure that our complaining about your souless flackery wasn't what you had in mind. And no, we didn't have any quesions about your novel "concept". It is surely heating up the interwebs.
Yep, people are still talking about Salt in Blood Alley. Here's another review and photo sent in:
“Salt eff’n rules. I even took a photo of my gigantic beer. It was served in a wine glass. We were jammed in there, but it does have a super cool vibe, if you can forget about the rats running around in the alley of course. Oh, and the quasi-creepy walk down blood alley! Anyway, there are three choices: cheese plate, meat plate, cheese and meat plate. We let them pick them for us and got a cheese plate and a meat plate. We had ox tongue, a fennel salami and pork tenderloin on the meat plate and I can't remember the cheeses but they all were absolutely killer.
Okay, it’s $15 a plate. But come on, it comes with a huge breadbasket and each meat/cheese combo comes with a condiment to match - peach/pear/apple slices, Guinness mustard, pine nuts, etc. Effing perfect! Great Service."
Last week we had the pleasure of a knocking around a little Q & A session with the man formerly known as Waiterblog, Andrew Morrison. Morrison has parlayed his blogging into a real life career as a powerful food critic in Vancouver, writing for The Westender, Vancouver Magazine and EAT Magazine.
Now he’s hung up his apron, handed in his wine crank, sold his Waiterblog website, and is starting fresh at a new site called Urban Diner. About to launch, His new site, promises even more hot Vancouver dining action – including a resident ‘hottie’ writing about Food Porn among other awesomeness. Now for readers that follow his dining adventures, we talk to this foodie insider about his new site launching soon, his last table as a waiter, his best meal of the year – and his worst, his ultimate fantasy day of gastronomic pleasure and much more.
The Vancouverite: Okay, so how did Andrew Morrison become the waiterblog? And why are you giving all that up to become the Urban Diner? (Or are you just Andrew Morrison now?).
Andrew Morrison: I started Waiterblog on the skeleton of a lefty political blog called Times New Roman Online. This was shortly after Bush won re-election in 2004. I couldn't bear to continue writing about an administration I loathed with every pore in my body, so I shifted my focus to something that was more tolerably familiar: the restaurant scene.
I'm giving it up because there was only so much I could do myself. I had a lot of restaurants asking about advertising on the site. For restaurants, it was a good place to lay down a few marketing dollars, but I was too wary of a perceived conflict of interest, what with my work as a restaurant critic an all. I needed six degrees of separation. I talked with Paul Kamon, the former editor of WhyCook.ca, and hammered out a deal where I could concentrate on editorial and he could run the business side of things. With Urban Diner, there will be a clear division between Church (editorial) and State (advertising). If anyone asks me about advertising now I can say, "talk to Paul".
We've been hearing a lot of really good things about Salt Tasting Room (Blood Alley, Gastown). Basically it seems to be knocking them out of the park. How could it not - meat, cheese, mustard, wine. Kind of a no brainer concept which is nice. Here's a little review that was sent in:
“Vancouver is so boring and passé except for Salt. I like it there. It's yummy and they have wine and they have meat and they have cheese. And then. They bring it to you! It's actually a neat concept. The servers HAVE a clue and such. On the other hand, there are rats in plain view ‘playing’ in the ally. I stole some mustard. It was that good. Dignity…For Mustard!”
With a name like Republic, you might think you'll be witness to bearded greeks running around, Plato style. Well, not really at Republic (958 Granville) you are supposed to get a London style bar experience on Granville. Here's what a member of our double secret review team reports:
"First, they had an amazing cover band. I think its "radio 1" from the cellar. they played killer shit. Second, the place features tonnes of talent in there too and a surprising low percentage of douchebags. The drinks were expensive, but that's to be expected at a place like that but they have epic washrooms as well. it's a pretty cool place."
In 24 Hours this morning, I see this ad, with Tricia Helfer promising a "beautiful woman & a sensual wine" and thought wow, that's crazy. So for the geeky oenephile this may be the closest you get to a babe like Tricia. Sure she's hocking wine, but you could meet her. Go forth and prosper. Don't forget your Cylon suits!
Wowzee. When Andrew Morrison rolls, he rolls big y'all. The intrepid WaiterBlogger goes out with a bang offering a treasure trove of Vancouver Restaurant Scene news (a 2nd Nuba? Yet another Glowbal Restaurant?) and then goes on to say, he's quit the restaurant biz (after 16 years), sold Waiterblog and Waiterforum, is doing a tv restaurant show and he will have a new website soon.
Wow. Like I said, he rolls big. Like Samuel Jackson with a planeload of mother...well you know the rest.
Sally Struthers, call the mothership. This new Starbucks ad which will probably result in Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz having this video blogger how you say, taken off the air. I just love the freakn' delicious vs. starving kids in the Sudan bit. It's gold Jerry. Gold. [Via Adrants]
I read Malcolm Parry's column on Saturday. I know what you're thinking. In his UP PARRYSCORE part he mentioned a very insane Pan Pacific promotion. And in typical Parry style he is in his own world - don't they have editors over at the Sun - nevermind, another post entirely there.
Anyway, the promotion is the "Harley Davidson Experience". For $489 you get the Deluxe Harbour Mountain view room (May 23, 2006 - October 31, 2006) or you can cheap out and get the $389 Deluxe Harbour / Mountain view room (November 1, 2006 - April 30, 2007). And here's what you get:
*1 Night Luxury Hotel Accommodation
*Round-trip limosine transfer to Trev Deeley Harley Dealership in Vancouver, pre and post rental.
*Welcome gift
Can you even imagine the kind of posers who would do this? The horror. The horror.
In the running for one of the best jobs in the city has got to the wine critic for the Vancouver Sun. Anthony Gismondi is the luckiest person in the world. I think I counted 48 words for his wine write ups this weeekend in the paper. Just to review, he drinks wine, writes a few words, done. That is heaven. I think he even gets paid. What a total bastard.
So you'd think, given his position, he could maybe try a little harder than this:
LULU B SYRAH 2004, VIN DE PAYS D'OC, LANGUEDOC
Price: $15.90
UPC: 604174001711
Score: 86/100
Remarks: Yellowtail en francais.
Yellowtail en francais? That's it? That's all you have to say? Dear god man! How is this helping anyone. I can only imagine how many people went out to buy this French gold Sunday. It must take some time to write three words that are both smug and insulting. Best job ever.
Restaurant reviews are often just as good shorter. So here you go with two mini-reviews for our more attention deficit disordered readers. Sent to us by our new "secret restaurant review team". Kind of like silent shoppers but, well how do put this without getting in crap from the lawyers, more drunk. And go:
One of vancouver's great patios. Great design. Great scenery, Great food. And an absolutley amazing, side salad that cost $6 dollars Isn't that usually included, and I wish they had told me that, seeing as it cost almost as much as my main. Killer roast beef/horseradish sangwich too. Plus, the waitresses are "delightful", and more "real" than Cactus Club too. Read not, er, common sense-ily challenged.
Any restaurant with a freaking bouncer is a place I don't want to be in. I didn't eat there, but seemed to be full of total douch-bags. Too trendy, and completely smug. Don't get me wrong, I like their other hotsot, Glowbal, it's got good service and good food. You feel comfortable there. And Glowal isn't as smug.
"...guests sampling the culinary wares of Iron Man Chef Rob Feenie's as he introduced his extensive new menu for Harmony Airways' lucky fliers including smoked salmon and leek frittata, mushroom and goat cheese omelet, roast chicken with choucoutre and pomme puree, herb-crusted beef tenderloin, apple and Mascarpone filled crepes, sesame seed-crusted tuna tataki and my very favorite, the tiny braised short rib burger - yum!"
The Vancouver Sun (July 19th) adds, "That's because Richmond-based Harmony Airways has hired Feenie as its executive chef, charged with creating a menu for its business-class passengers.
Book a ticket and you can find yourself tucking into a Feenie-created squash and mascarpone ravioli with cream truffle sauce, or if you're in the mood for something simpler, roast chicken with choucoutre and pomme puree."
Now, I'm torn here because I like Feenie and his food, and the menu does sound great and I sure do like money a great deal, but this news, after those awful White Spot commercials he was in kind of makes him out to be just a money grubbing whore, doesn't it? TV shows are fine, books check, maybe a condiment of some sort, but these choices seem just wrong, and airline food? Isn't that like Frank Lloyd Wright spending his time designing Dog Houses or McDonalds outlets or something crappy like that instead of Falling Water? Then again if Harmony Airlines were to sponsor this blog for the next year I would probably sleep with their CEO Gary Collins. Damn you, Feenie, Damn you.
Of course, Joy also mentions that Jessica Alba was at Raincity Grill to watch the China fireworks Saturday night. Always with the Alba. Damn it.
You be the judge. But first, it seems The Vancouverite is now getting The Beach House (150 - 25th Street West Vancouver) press releases. What, no free dinners? Anyway, today comes news that after four years of being hidden the City granted approval to launch what the Beach House promises, "will likely be widely regarded as Vancouver’s best location for private dining." Well, that sounds just smug enough to catch our eye. We like the smug. Here's more:
The second floor patio is shut off from the rest of the restaurant, affording guests the kind of privacy that comes without being left behind closed doors. Instead, diners are perched high above a sprawling lawn on an elevated and wind-shielded 50 seat deck. The space boasts uninterrupted ocean views from Lion’s Gate Bridge to Stanley Park, Burrard Inlet, Howe Sound, Point Grey, the Gulf Islands, Lighthouse Park, and the stunning nightly sunsets. As the main floor patio has long been called one of the best in the city (recognised as such again this month by Vancouver Magazine), the new space is bound to impress locals and visitors alike.
Assignment desk: If anyone goes, report back to us. And can somebody explain the story behind the city's 4-year battle to keep this space behind wraps?
Last night a friend had a birthday gathering at Republic on Granville. I was a little sceptical, because while the bars on Granville definitely had a kind of gritty appeal to me a couple of years ago, I've gotten kind of smug and have been avoiding it more recently. Well... imagine my surprise when I find out that Granville street has undergone something of a renovation, and that there are actually some fun new places where you don't fear for your shoes.
But back to Republic - $4 wasabi peas aside, the place is worthwhile if only for their second floor patio. Being high up is much more fun than having strangers walk by your drinks at the second rate street level patios. And their bathrooms are amazing, too. Now, I'm terminally untrendy, but I think I might start making an exception for this place, especially if it means I can make snide comments about the passerbys down below with absolutely no risk of being overheard..
Summer arrived at a ridiculously early hour on Wednesday morning, and brought the nice weather with it. This means that patio season can officially begin. There is one small problem though, and that is the dearth of decent, sunny patios for a post-work beer. Unless you're prepared to skip out early, getting a table is like finding gold dust.
The Kingston on Richards is a nice little patio oasis if you can get a table... There's lots of plants and umbrellas and even a fireplace. Unfortunately its location means that it slips into the shade rather early, but by that point the beer has usually done it's work and it's not a big deal.
Venturing out from the downtown a little is Havana's on Commercial Drive, but since half the city also appears to love it, you're pretty much guaranteed a long wait for a table unless the gods of fate are smiling upon you.
The criteria for a good patio is not complicated - location, good food and good drink. Anyone who has any ideas should throw them out there, because if I go to Steamworks one more time, they're going to know me by name, and I refuse to be Gastown's version of Norm.
Salsa is one of those fantastic, versatile foods that tastes good on or with nearly everything. Trendy food-ites have adapted it in all kinds of fun ways: mango salsa, citrus salsa, and my personal favourite - salsa with goat cheese. Bin 941 on Davie Street does this tomato/goat cheese combination so well that when plans were made to stop by for a few drinks, I found myself dreaming about their salsa for a significant part of the work day.
After all the hype and glory, the Bin did not disappoint me. Served with their navajo fry bread (which is really some kind of deep-fried, frittery goodness), the salsa was tangy and cheesy and everything fun. I almost didn't even notice that their sangria (cheekily called "Bingria" on the menu) was a little bit potent and all the fruit was cut into symmetrical squares. I used to have a roommate who, when making her own pizzas, would insist on placing all the toppings in a symmetrical manner on top of the crust. This fruit put her to shame.
I'm pretty sure there was some kind of crazy pommes frites type dish with a balsamic reduction and cracked black pepper involved as well, but at the end of the day the salsa was my raison-d'être. There are some things you can't go wrong with, but they can still be done very, very right. Yum.
Okay, it is waaaaay to early in the morning to read something like this, "Jason Priestley and Terry David Mulligan are bent on turning everyone into armchair oenophiles with their new wine show Hollywood and Vines." Holy Hannah, this is totally insane. A wine show with Brandon and TDM? You know, I may not be able to drink wine again with these two d-listers talking about. Here's some down right scary details about Hollywood and Vines from today's Province:
Priestley and Mulligan tackle the stodgy topic of wine with a laid-back attitude and a dose of rock 'n' roll. Hollywood and Vines is "something between White Snake and The White Stripes," says Priestley. "It's not just about drinking wine, it's about the lifestyle," Mulligan says. To follow the two on their escapades, Priestley suggests, "open a bottle of wine before you watch the show. You'll have more fun . . . and it'll make our show seem better."
"When it was announced on eGullet that one of their own was opening a restaurant, there was a natural flurry of excitement, followed by a special pre-opening dinner for the tight-knit group of obsessive foodies, waiters, chefs, magazine executives and restaurant critics who make up the local eGullet contingent."
Of course this little review got the eGullet crowd to put down their foie gras and pick up some six shooters. Andrew Morrison, the Waiterblog, described it this way, "Your story read as an attack on eGullet and blogging. Rare One, it seems, just sort of got in the way." Morrison does a good job of laying out the whole bruhahas on his blog too.
Not that there is anything wrong with this whole eGullet forum thing. I enjoy reading about cute dessert chefs like Ling or Hamilton Street Grill's Neil Wyles saying things like, "disclosure - I am Brian's hairy chef lover." It is tres fun. But I do find the format of Egullet is hard to read, follow, and I hate emoticons, so I rare-ly - pardon the pun - go. The fact that this caused postings to be deleted is pretty lame. Alexandra even posted too, but it seems to be gone now. At the end of the day, she did her job. She got people to read, think, and then fight. Sure she's the hatchet woman everybody loves to hate, but every city needs at least one.
The end. "So everybody... set your phasers on stun, cause... THIS CONVENTION'S AHEAD WARP FACTOR NINE, Y'KNOW? RIGHT! ALL RIGHT! WARP FACTOR NINE!"
So we watched the Opening Soon show. We've read the other reviews. Now was our time to venture over to the first/only Latin Cowboy joint, Century (432 Richards St., 604-633-2700). Alas, no website yet. Weak. But yes, it is a totally awesome setting. I got over the whole commie revolutionary angle and enjoyed the space - actually, they could have used more latin socialism me thinks. The place is like a comforatable church and there are plenty of things like this to love about Century, but can I be the grumpy party pooper that wonders aloud if it isn't 'all hat and no cattle'?
If I had just stuck to the chips and dips - the avocado mouse. You mean guacamole, right? was awesome - and just kept eating those all night, I would have been content. Although, even the chips - which were 5 wildly different and good varieties - wouldn't have been as much fun without some Tres Frijoles-Cuban Chorizo and Beans which was, well, beantastic. Now, if I say I washed it down with a "so-four-years-ago" so-so mojito, would you hold it against me? The Malbac was much better. I should have gone with my instincts. I ended with the Braised Shortribs and Beef Cheek. I'm not even clear what this whole yucca root puree was, but it was sure was tasty, and the dish was fine even in half portion form. I'm not too picky when it comes to meats, but it seemed like there was an overkill of weird meats. Oxtail? Really? I won't judge. But the salsa sorbet served with the crab burritos was just well, down right creepy. Not as creepy as the two guys downing the red stripe beers or the three wannabe hipster girls - cough. I mean cougars - who spent all night on their cell phones texting while drinking white zinfandel. Did that really happen?
Lastly. The service. It was nice to see owner Sean Sherwood on the floor serving the bread to the people. Seeing him slumming it at Yaggers after that to catch the hockey game was funny. But here's the thing. The food runner had more personality than the waiter. Oh my, what would Che do? He'd probably come back for more. The chips and the space are worth the visit alone.
This is good Thursday news. Daniel from Wineglow just hooked us up on the wine scoop of the day. Black Hills Estate Winery, who I must point out, have never had a single drop of wine on any of our trips up to the wine region of the Okanagan, has wines for sale as of today. Believe me when I tell you that it is annoying as hell. I see their plan to deprive you of wine is working. They are expanding.
But pass this on while it lasts. They have wine. You can order it now. It's not cheap. And you have to buy by the case - which isn't a problem as far as I can tell. They are now taking orders on both the Alibi 2005 (Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon) and the Nota Bene 2004 starting now, and the Alibi will ship in June. Get it while it's hot. Yum.
On a blackboard, a constantly changing menu will feature ten types of cured meat, ten types of cheese and ten types of condiments.
For $14 you choose 3 items from the meat and cheese sections i.e. 2 cheese & 1 meat, and three matching condiments. In essence you design your own tasting plate and we present it to you with an unlimited supply of bread.
Mmmmm. Meats. I think this sums up what could be most exciting about this soon to be salty gem: "Located in Gastown’s historic blood alley, and accessible only via the alley, Salt’s location will have the look and feel of NY’s meat packing district, right down to the cobblestones. As with the Shebeen, it’s nearest neighbor, it is not seeking to appeal to the masses, but rather to target a specific group, i.e. folk that will walk down an alley to find a gem."
THE ORACLE OF BALTIMORE
A few other things to think about this lazy sunday on the food and wine front. Especially since I missed out on the California wine tasting this week. Kottke.org, which always has great, interesting, links brought our attention to this. Robert Parker gave 90-91 points to adult film star Savanna Samson's 2004 Sogno Uno - an Italian red. Of course, maybe this is a sign of Parker's fall from wine god to mere mortal. Or he is just seeing how far people will go to drink the wines he recomends.
Over at The New York Times' Eric Asimov - who has also been put on the paper's blogroll with his own called "The Pour"- decants Parker today. Parker is like the Sun's Gismondi only thousand times more smug and 100-times as powerful. Definetely worth the read - especially if you have seen the little wine-documentary gem "Mondovino".
Oh, and I tasted a silly Australian wine, Mad Fish this week. It's another critter wine label that claims they are without pretension etc. I think they just collect all the grapes in Australia and mix them together and put pretty labels on the bottle for export. I'm on to you. More on the critter-ification of wines at AdFreak.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
I caught this while I was surfing around. It's a long-winded tirade against some crummy service the writer got at Sammy J Peppers, in Langley no less. This has everything that is annoying about blogs wrapped up with a double shot of why would you ever go to Sammy J Peppers anyway amusement. I would rather eat at McDonald's than waste money at a place like Sammy J Peppers.
*Look out Jimmy Pattison. The new Forbes magazine is hitting the streets with it's annual richest issue. On the cover and coming in at number 746 is Calvin Ayre, head of entertainment gaming company Bodog.com - and, full disclosure, owns the Marketing company I happen to work for. That is absolutely crazy. On the other hand, I guess I can ask for that raise now, prolly? [Ed: "That's funny, I thought you worked here deadbeat?"]
*Rich Mercer has the Liberal Party leadership up on eBay. Current bid rests at $16 million. Mercer's package includes: "Fifteen minute consultation/conference call with the RMR writing staff to craft your campaign message. (Staff includes three high school dropouts and a U of T commerce major. Photo not to scale.) The use of our colour printer for photos and such. Ink cartridge is running low on magenta." Get it done.
Finally. The Dirty Laundry Vineyard website is live. And it looks damn good, right on down the pitch perfect washing instruction-like icons for "tell a friend" and "order wine." Well played. Get some of that Pinot. Now. PS - Thanks to Bernie Hadley-Beauregard for the heads up on this. Thanks for stopping by.
And I thought yesterday's Olympic Closing Ceremony would be Canada's shame this week. Then I endured the new shame that is Brent - the Canadian contribution to The Apprentice. Dare we click on his personal website? Oh dear god. Please tell me that either Peter MacKay is asking for tubby's passport back, or Trump will fire this weasel. Please.
Thankfully New Hampshire is keeping their kick ass state motto - "Live Free Or Die". And yes I will be checking out Matt Pond PA Thursday to hear his New Hampshire at The Red Room. [Ad Freak]
Now that Malcolm Gladwell is blogging now. The point has totally tipped.
Screenhead is just awesome. Case in point: "Mark Crisanti’s odd collage style of image-making creates a surreal mood that kinda feels like Egyptian gods woke up and took to wandering around in new york in the 50s looking for a job."
Yesterday I said Drew Lachey earned perma-d-list status. But even Defamer is suggesting c-list. This better not be a new Cold War scenario where Drew ends up totally becoming a-list. Please say no. Please say no.
This weekend I also finally checked out Lift. This place has the most schizophrenic repuation in town as far as I can figure. A friend of mine famously told me that it is "overpriced, the food is not really that great, but the people watching is excellent, especially of the prostitutes." Seriously anyplace that can have things like that, or better this, "It must have been "cougar hour" or "cougar's night out". I haven’t seen that many women with too much lip gloss and men with bad hair pieces wearing big nouveau riche watches in one setting!" has to have a certain something going for it, right? It's kind of like a train wreck, or a car crash. You just have to watch it and you can't get enough of it.
You don't get that total experience when you go for brunch, which was actually fairly tasty - anytime you can get three different kinds of meat for breakfast is certainly a time where no bad can come of it. But I question how on a Sunday between 11:30 and 1:00 that this place isn't completely full. You have this crazy view of the harbour and you are surrounded by condos and hotels. Yet sitting there at the bland tabletop next to a dirty window and you wonder where the $6.5 million they spent opening this shack really went.
Friday night i checked out Curious (52 Powell Street) the relatively new tapas lounge in an increasingly hipper and cooler Gastown. Anytime you can dine anywhere near to the wonderful streets of Carroll and Columbia it's always a good time. It's a cool, warm and cozy little spot, with different levels and areas sutiable for all sorts of tastes.
The food was less curious than you'd imagine, but it was pretty tasty. Here's the thing though, they seem to be in heavy training mode of new staff. The head waiter was orchestrating the rest of the staff and egging on a table of what appeared to be a table of 10 just old enough guys drinking Jack Daniels shots - which is always nice. Not. Back to the food. They didn't have the Glazed pork and beans - which almost sent us packing - my dining companion doesn't take that sort of thing lightly. The halibut 2 ways (one in a vanilla beure blanc, the other in a chilli cilantro) was great, the veal meatballs - keftedes - were fun (veally good?), the crab and corn fritter was excellent (never enough fritters), and the mussels with loads of bacon and creme were pretty good too (not Chambar good mind you, but good). It's just a shame about the limiting wine list - we ordered a bottle and they seemed like we were insane anyway - with a look of, "you mean the whole bottle?" After a couple of days to think about it though, the food wasn't that special, it was solid, and fun of course, butI can think of worse places to spend two or three hours at a place catching up with an old friend. The casual tempo of the food and the variety of plates make up for any over hyping of the supposed curiousness.
Our waitress was extremly nice, but seemed to be so nervous that it looked like she would crack at any moment. Maybe you shouldn't be a server honey. Although she did a much better job of presenting and serving the wine than the head waiter did. In what planet do you automatically presume that the gentleman ordered the wine and should taste it? On the other hand I think they tried explaining the whole "tapas" concept to us three times, which was silly - are there really that many people who don't know what tapas is? Really?
Lastly, and most enjoyably, making smores at your table is pretty freakn' cool. The marshmallows on skewers and graham crackers plus the small fire at your table = crazy delicious. The end.
Tonight is episode 7 of The Next Great Chef and two Vancouver chefs are faced off against one another. In one corner Laura Sharpe, 22, from Diva at the Met. In the other, Ryan Stone, 23 from The Marriott Pinnacle. Wish I could say that we'd been following this show from day one, but we didn't.
The premise isn't so bad actually, and they've tried to kick it up a notch on the production values, with letterboxing and fairly food network style. The problem is that it lacks any star power and the judges? Come on, the reason American Idol is so successful is because of Simon. If he didn't make fun of the contestents or openly mock them for being fatties or just plain morons, who would watch. Same applies here. There is no drama. I frankly couldn't care less who won. And mentors? Where is the sport in that? And honestly where the hell is the Chairman or the Kitchen Stadium.
How lame. The winner was Laura Sharpe if you even care.
This is pretty awesome. City Food dishes some dirty tales from the cities cheap eats program:
"Most of us have heard the complaint about customers bringing their own teabags from home and asking for a cup of hot water (the cold tap water with dinner, hot water with dessert crowd), but some of the newer tales could give you “gall” stones. One restaurant related how a diner called to request a prime table by the window, asked if they could bring their own birthday cake, and then expected a discount off the $25 tab because they wouldn’t be needing the dessert course. Another elegant French restaurant reported that they had to repeatedly send staffers to check on the restrooms as their Dine Out customers were stealing the toilet paper."
*Out of the blue I bought some Adidas shoes online this week - the Adidas store just isn't cutting it anymore - the Folsom ST espre. I bought them solely for the awesome description online:
If hanging out with nothing to do were a sport, this would be the shoe of choice for elite-level pros with multi-million-dollar contracts. In other words, this shoe is specifically designed for doing absolutely nothing, but being comfortable.
They are kind of the perfect shoe for blogging - since we don't get out of our Pajamas or leave our apartments anyways. Anyways, February 15th at the Edgewater Casino, TBWA/Chait/Day Creative Director Chuck McBride from Adidas will give brand nerds a rare look into, "the strategy, creative and launch of the new
'adidas_1' shoe" New Adidas shoe whoo hoo. [Newswire]
*Hey Vancouverites, can you hardly contain yourself waiting for the big Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee announcement tommorow? They are going to tell us how much extra cash this whole thing is going to cost. Any guesses? [Canadian Press]
*Due to the new city council's failure to accomplish anything but fight, a World Peace Conference set for Vancouver, was cancelled. Vancouver Council 1, Peace 0. [CKNW]
*Attention geeks. The Stargate Vancouver Convention is set to rock you. Monday, March 27th at the scenic Hilton Vancouver Metrotown. Just to be a mean jerk, how awesome will this part be: "Saturday 9pm DESSERT PARTY & DANCE" Suh-weet. The Beau Bridges appearence, a crazy bonus. Really, Beau Bridges. Totally huge star power.
*Kitchen fire this afternoon at the sassy La Gavroche.
*April 28th. Mark it on the calendars if you like Death Cab for Cutie. That's when they hit Vancouver. Too bad that unlike every other Canadian city - Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Calgary - gets Death Cab plus Franz Ferdinand. What gives? [Billboard]
*A very cool story that I saw, but didn't read, until I saw the new Silicon Valley gossip blog from Gawker, Valleywag. It starts with Vancouver community site publisher Bryght and gets into the story of Assemblenow.com - a startup that assembles you furniture - IKEA stuff too.
*Waiterblog reports that Sean Heather, of the Irish Heather (who knew), is set to open up Limerick Junction February 7th. The new space at the old Brickyard will be what Waiterblog describes as, "the most kickass place to watch European sports in town." The name is cool, and will help to isolate the soccer hooligans in one central spot, which will be fun. Meanwhile Curious sounds interesting with the marsmellows and stuff - but I can't take the flash intro on thier site left me wanting to smash my mac into pieces.
*And there are a bunch more openings too. Butirmoth is blogging theirs. Century and Sansifir will be televising theirs.
*Vancouver based Keg Restaurants Ltd had a pretty good 2005 with total sales at $353.7 million for the 52-weeks ended January 2nd - that is up $31.9 million or 9.9%.
*Wine of the Week:Ceder Creek 2003 Meritage ($29.09). First the wine store in Yaletown on Mainland that sells only B.C. was a total disapointment but I'm torn. Is it that you don't want to find $12 wines in Yaletown? Or is it that you do? Not smug enough? Back to the mondo vino dude. I doubt it was done justice with the excellent crab and parmasean bruchetta, but you know what this wine was a big chocolate dipped cherry bomb and that's the way we liked it. I think it was still finishing in my mouth 12 hours later. That is not true, but we could dream. What the hell is a meritage fancy pants?
*The famous local eatery the Normandy might just open once again. CKNW is reporting this evening that owner Joseph Siu might just open at a new location.
*Meanwhile the always charming Jenny Good toys with us by going to Cactus Club. At first I was going to say, wow, that looks like so much fun. But then I step back and say come on, it's a Cactus Club dood. Okay, we won't judge. Much.
Starting today and running to the 15th, the Pan Pacific is celebrating 2006 by turning back the clock with 1986 menus and rooms for 86 bucks. Eggs Benedict for $5.50 and $18 Sunday brunch. Color us underwealmed. Even if the Waffles with magical strawberry butter for $5.25 are to freakn' die for. Enough of that, what about the wine?
Not really our cup of grapes mind you, but the wine list isn't inspired, but it's cheap, and if that got the piano swinging in the bar, you're golden. Although in one comparission the Inniskillin Pinot Noir, $26 this week, isn't the same 2001 wine for $42 on the regular menu. It's from 2002. Sneaky bastards. This could be like Dine Out Vancouver, but only 20 times worse. Party like it's 1986.
A few weeks back we had word of a wine scandal of sorts - that Steamworks wine stores were selling a $22.90 bottle of Dirty Laundry Pinot Noir for an insane $40.53. We checked into their downtown "Wine Thief" store this week and it was now at $27.60 - only a $4.80 mark up now. I wonder if they have lowered it in West Van? The real question we can't figure out, is why this happened? Innocent mistake, or insanity? Either way, we are so done with Steamworks. We also meant to post some info about the wine from the winemakers so here it is:
This is a lovely Burgundy style Pinot Noir – delicate but bright cherry fruit characteristics, a hint of mocha spice and toasty French Oak. The grapes were picked at 24 BRIX, with the wine fermented in stainless steel and then transferred into 2nd and 3rd year French oak barrels for about 10 months. We only bottled 187 cases – so this is a small lot production. I must confess those tasting notes are from a few months back and I haven’t had a bottle recently – Pinot Noir is famous for changing significantly with time/change in the weather etc.
The tempermental grape! Makes me think it might be time to crack a bottle open this weekend! I’ll drop you a short note after I have an updated taste! There are a few restaurants that are serving the wine now and have told me the wine is tasting wonderful now, however I’m certain it will be even better in another year or so. This begs the question – are you looking to open it now or try saving it for a bit!!?? I love Pinot Noir because it is a more delicate red wine – not meant to be a heavy like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz. Suggested food pairings would be salmon, veal, lamb, duck with a cherry sauce, roast turkey, red pasta dishes, try it with eggplant parmesan or a rich herbed mushroom soup!
God I hate mushrooms. Anyways. It looks like they didn't get thier website up and running for the New Year quite yet, but we'll forgive them. This time.
So it's only a couple of short weeks until people who should never be allowed to go out to restuarants capitalize on the two week bridge & tunnel mess that is known as Dine Out Vancouver. Everybody'stalkingaboutit. Now, there's nothing wrong with the concept, it just seems like it's getting a little crazy. Case in point - do people really need to "dine out" with a $15 package at White Spot?
Andrew Morrison, of The WaiterBlog, has the link to a novel little development in Vancouver's busy restaurant scene. The pre-opening blog for a new restuarant in town called
