kimabima

So on a whim I walked over to the fancy new retiremnet home five minutes from my house to see about serving opportunities . After a tour of the lovely place I was hired on the spot and start Monday. I only want to work two days a week and that is fine with them. I get free meals during my shift and the food looked great! I guess in this job market if you breathing and know what a fork is you are hired! I am looking forward to believe it or not. It really is a lovely place (at 3-6,000 a month it better be!)

Thanks for all the advice guys. A retirement home appeals because there is less pressure. The pay advertised isn't too bad-14.00 an hour. I imagine I would start as a busser even there which is fine by me. I don't really want to make a career out of being a server-just would like to make some extra money. We have two daughter in university at the moment and though they pay their own way for the most part it is still costing mum and dad. The retirement homes around here are very nice looking- a couple just opened and from the street anyway the dining rooms look nice. So should I get foodsafe before I apply? My daughter is a server and she says no one has ever asked her for it. I guess I could just say I will get it if needed- it is a one day course and I already know most of it anyway.

After many years as a teacher and a stay at home mum I would like to try my hand at being a server. I notice that quite a few retirement homes here in Victoria (some quite posh!) are hiring servers for their dining rooms. I have absolutley no restaurant experience and I don't have Foodsafe (I am quite willing to get it). Should I get FS before I apply? Any other tips on getting your first job as a server? (do I stand a chance? ) Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks everyone for all the ideas. I will write them all down and let my daughter choose. My daughter is 26 by the way! Do you need reservations for the Hamilton Street Grill? That Japanese dessert place sounds awesome! (sorry for the delay in replying-I asked for email notification of replies and have yet to receive one.)

Thanks so much for all those suggestions. I am staying at the Blue Horizon so all those place are pretty handy. My daughter loves Asian so I think we may try one of those on your list.

I am coming to Vancouver to spend a day shopping and catching up with my daughter. Can anyone recommend a nice, fairly inexpensive and casual restaurant for a mom-daughter dinner? I am looking for somewhere where two can eat for under $100.00 and just relax after a day of retail therapy. Thanks.

Thank you all for the replies. It was Kerry Gold butter that I was looking for. It is used in every recipe in this sumptious looking book. If you like Irish or pub style food I highly recommend you take a look at the book, The Irish Pub Cookbook, byMargaret Johnson. Fabulous photos, easy to make recipes and interesting descriptions of famous pubs around Ireland. The bread recipes call for coarse flour with Odlum or Howrad's brand being recommended. I don't imagine one can find that in around these parts? As far as cheese go I think I maybe able to find some in Thrifty's and perhaps a deli or two in Victoria. Sean, are you in Victoria? I will be in London in February- does cheese travel well?

Hi, I have just received a wonderful looking cookbook called, The Irish Pub Cookbook. I live in Victoria but am sometimes in Vancouver . I am looking for a store that carries Irish cheeses and butter etc. Does anyone have a source for products like these? Thanks.

It's called Quality Foods and it is fantastic. Upstairs there is a Starbucks and a cool kitchen shop. My nephews love eating there- perfect place for kids!

I'd like to add Blair Mart Mediterranean Middle Eastern Foods as a great source for all things Middle eastern They make wondeful gyro sandwiches made with fresh lamb-delicious and a real bargain! The store is full of figs, cheeses, olive oils, breads...fantatstic selection and the owner is just the nicest guy. He is a trained doctor from Dubai and has woked for Doctors without Borders for years. He is unable to practice medicine here in Canada which is such a shame. Blair Mart is located at 924 Pandora Avenue. Phone number 721-1626

I hope you don't mind me asking this. I host alot of Japanese students (I've been doing this for about two years). Every time I take a picture or every picture they show me from home they are giving the "peace sign". Every single picture. Why is that? I mention it to them and they just giggle. Thanks!

I have recently started doing homestay/tutoring for Japanese students here in Victoria BC. The students, ranging in age from 20 to 35 stay in our home for 1-2 week and I tutor them in English for three hours a day. It's alot of fun and as I have never been to Japan I learn as much if not more than they do. I was interested to read that you teach cooking classes. I was thinking of offering cooking classes for ESL students in my home- cooking and English lessons together! Are you teaching western cooking? I'd love to hear more about this and also if you have any idea what western food might be popular. It seems anything Italian is popular! Thnak you for sharing part of your life in such a fascinating country.

Sounds like you had a wonderful time- and the weather was great! Did you get homesick being back in Victoria?

The little place on the seawall (Dallas Road) is called Ogden Point. If you want a place a three year old would really enjoygo to a White Spot restaurant (they are everywhere!)> Kids love their Pirate Packs- food served in a paper replica of a pirate's ship. My girls always enjoyed that. The adult food is just a step above Denny's. The Provincial Museum is fun for kids and the city is full of parks. Beacon Hill Park is very pleasant. Victoria is a quiet, laid back city- not exciting but very relaxing. The ferry trip is wonderful for kids as well. The children's play area on the second floor is a magnet for kids of all ages! have a great time in one of the lovilest places on earth IMHO!

Hi Jen! remember me? I live in Victoria. I stayed at Tigh na mara last year- a lovely spot. We had their Sunday brunch- it is good not highly creative but not bad either. The weather here has been sunny but with a biting cold wind so come prepared! Looking forward to reading about the life of a canuck in CA.

Sorry if I offended John! I love London but with the Cdn dollar as it is against the pound even a cup of coffee (and no free refills) was insanely expensive. Last visit my daughter got use to hearing "No- do you know what that is in our dollar"? Great city though!

As a Canadian I have to tack at least another 30% on to those prices. I do think groceries are more expensive in the States. it's been my experience that many prices are the same but in the currency of the country. Restaurants are definately cheaper up here! London is just insane- how do people survive there???

Thanks again for sharing your life with us. You are a beautiful family. Have a great time down south. never been to that part of the world.......

Well you know the old saying while the cat's away......... Can't wait to see the photos of your dinner. How exciting about the Bahamas- after the winetr you have all endured back east you deserve it!

Hi Jensen!!! I live in Victoria so just wanted to say we miss you up here!!! The cherry blossoms are in full bloom...I enjoyed a beautiful walk along Dallas Road today. What do you miss about Canada? Victoria? I know I would be desperately homesick if I lived outside the country. Do you keep up on Canadian news etc??? (sorry for the hijacking Marlene but since you are out for dinner tonight we have to keep ourselves amused!!!)

Thanks for sharing the Butter Tart Square story Marlene!!! I love the part about the timer going off and the squares still on the counter. Are you sure you didn't already have a Martini????? I have done so much worse- other people's kitchen bloopers are so much more funny though!

That is the cleanest oven I have ever seen! Good on ya!!!!

Oh god Marlene- your DH sounds like mine! He has been given caffenated when he asked for decaf a few times (at least he swears it was) and noe he grills the waitress as well! I hate Starbucks coffee too- sadly there is one a block away and I sometimes buy one there when I am desperate. I immediately regret it. I also love Second Cup- and we don't have a single one here! Nope- the only chain we have is the evil one! All the best coffee shops here are small independent ones and not one of them is near me. (and I live right in town!). Yeah for another Timmmy fan! (I thought you egulleters might not drink such low brow stuff! ) Don't worry- all my qustions will be food related! So what do you think of Pelltier having to eat crow???? (just kidding- inside Cdn political joke!)

Okay so I know what kind of protein drink you like- what is yor favourite coffee??? Don't laugh but I am a huge Tim Horton's fan. We have very few Timmie's out here and none within walking distance of my house (the only drawbck to life on the West coast ). Do you have any trouble with sleeping after all that caffefine or have you built up an amazing tolerance. I LOVE coffee too but anything over three cups in a day and I am wired. This is so much fun asking a complete stranger such nosy questions!!!

You should see our fair city right now. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom- a riot of pink and mauve down every street. It is lovely- unless my dear husband you suffer from hay fever... My sister agrees- she wants her kids to be well fed and she wants to know where they are and what they are doing. I just don't get how other parents can foist their kids on others all the time. (and the parents know- they tell their kids to go to my sisters house!!!). Weird. So would I find Lean Body at a HF store???? I definately would like to give it a try. Thanks for sharing the name with me.