edm

the owners of Dan are not the ex-owners of Taka, but two persons who used to work at Taka. The actual ex-owner of Taka went back to Tokyo to open his own restaurant. Or so i heard. I'm sad that the food at Dan doesnt match the quality of Taka... That was a major loss for Kitsilano.

i went to Dan the other night, intrigued by a sushi place with enough wasabi to open between Lumiere and Moderne burger. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the space, and loved talking to the owners who, by the way, used to work at Taka sushi on 4th before it closed down. i didnt go for anything adventurous. Instead, i tried some "classics" such as tempura, agedashi tofu, dynamite roll... And was a bit disapointed by the quality (tempura batter, temperature of the food, flavours), especially considering that i was the one and only customer that night. Maybe they need a little more time to set up and get things right ? Lets hope so, as this is a lovely place with an extremely friendly staff. And we do need a good sushi place in that area. So i'll keep an eye on it... There's one place i highly recommand though : Yoshi, in the west end, at the corner of Denman and Georgia. This place has hard-to-beat-value-for-money lunch deals. From 12$ to 20$, you get a very flavourful, perfectly prepared, cooked and seasoned food. That's one place that sets the standards for me. And by lunch box, i dont mean those stuffed, mediocre piles of food you can get at any corner in the city for 8 bucks. Those suitable for a hungry student's diet. Unfortunately, it's a lot more expensive at night. And for a good reason. Some people describe it as better than Tojo's, both for flavour and value. Try it. Meanwhile, i'll go up on 10th check that Wabi-sabi place. The hunt for the best sushi is on !

i went to the red onion last week, and found the experience disappointing. The place is nice, the service very friendly in this family-oriented burger joint. But the burger was small, dry, the bread not toasted, fries: so-so, and i ended up with a 20$ bill for a cheeseburger, small fries, a coke and a sundae. It's not worth a visit. Yaletown brewing co. has a way better burger. And Moderne is still a reference. Has anyone been to the Splitz grill in Whistler ? So far, the best burger i've had in BC.

Hi, i worked at "la mirande" as a chef a few years ago and it offers some really good bites. It doesnt come cheap, but the produce dont either as they're of very, very good quality. Mostly leaning towards Mediterranean cuisine and strongly rooted and respectful of tradition. Be careful, as there are lots of michelin-starred restaurants in town and around that do not deserve such reward. Go check Villeneuve-les-Avignon, just across the bridge : lovely village that has 2 or 3 good and worhtwhile restaurants.

sorry, i forgot that not everybody has the luxury of a good butcher, who can cut you pretty much any piece of the animal that you'd like. Anyways, there might not be another translation for "echine" than loin. Hope it can help...

well, the phenomenon of gentrification has turned the Bercy neighborhood into a pale imitation of what it used to be. 15 years ago, you could wander though the paved alleys, and visit the wine merchants and producers. It had a strong identity. Now, everything has been rebuilt, and although the result is inviting and efficient, it's lost its soul. Now, you find the usual french food chains, offering mediocre food while making you believe it's authentic. And boy, it doesnt come cheap. Go walk in some parts of north-eastern Paris, or at "la butte aux cailles". Then the left bank, 5th and 6th arrdts, are still my favorite hoods in the city of lights.

"echine" is the part on the back of the animal, between the neck and the fist ribs, above the shoulder. This part can be roasted or braised, as well as grilled or pan-seared when sliced into steacks. Pretty fatty, so not as dry as the "filet". Flavourful. But not exactly the top part of the pig though.

hey guys, if you feel frustrated, just imagine being in Vancouver ! 1 proper cheese shop, 4 or 5 proper wine stores, a handful of decent bakeries, and starchefs who make burgers and think it's fantastic ! In a city that size, it's depressing...

to me, fiedstone bakery makes better bread than Ecco el pane or Terra. They used to sell it at Capers but do not carry it anymore ! Someone else in town might sell it, but i still have to find it... The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, at the entrance of Granville island, sells some pretty good bread too. Give it a try.

Templeton's got a nice vibe, but the food is not worth the trip, really. Vera's burgers i found overcooked, even burnt. The Yaletown brewing company makes a decent one. But let me suggest you something : take the burger club to Whistler this winter, and go to the Splitz Grill. Now that's a pretty good burger, and they're serious about it ! Also try their "a la minute" caramelized banana split. They've got the best burger i've had in BC so far. Not that i am a specialist, my cup of tea being more wine and cheese. But i enjoy a big, juicy burger with tons of toppings from time to time, when i got a crave for junk food.

Slickity Jim's on Main at Broadway is a pretty funky breakfast/brunch/lunch spot. Very decent fare, reasonable prices, good service, and above all, a taste of the "Main St vibe" ! Watch out, packed on week-ends after 10am, and busy most of the week. Joe's grill on 4th has pretty good brunch too (at Arbutus). good bites !

Indeed, plenty of schools do it in Paris. Ecole superieure de cuisine Ferrandi, between Place Montparnasse and St Germain, is probably the most respected cooking school in the city, with great chefs like Martin, Chibois, Pourcel bros. working as "associate professors" to the students. They have 2 restaurants, and do lunch and diner. There's another school in the 17th that does it. And so on... You get search the net for more infos. Enjoy !

Hi Marlena, how do you like "l'avant gout" ? Been there in January, had the 30 euros menu. Left me with mixed impressions. Had the "saumon marine comme des harengs", which was nice, but was disappointed with a "tendron de veau, puree de celeri-rave et beurre noisette" : too dry, and sauce didnt quite do it. Left me feeling like i should have gone for the 10 euros lunch menu, which is a really good deal. Paris' chinatown has indeed some really good and inexpensive vietnamese places. Used to go there every week-end for nearly 20 years, and still go back to the same spots. Try "le tricotin", near the Porte de Choisy subway station. Open non-stop from 9am to midnight, always packed. Really good, simple, reasonably-priced vietnamese. Tasty soups ! But everything there is fresh and satisfying. "La mer de Chine", also in the 13th. Heard a lot of good things about it, and i'm sure it's worth a shot. I deeply miss Paris for the amazing overall quality of the food. The little bakeries, the "Banette 1800" for breakfast, cheese shops, caves a vin and other treasures...

Anyone been to "La mirande" lately ? Thanks for input.

If you don't mind my saying so, that sounds like a personal problem. It sure is, but it might also say something about the level of food in the third biggest city of canada.

Breakfast : Spinnaker's pub Lunch : Zambris (worth going anytime. On saturday nights, they have a set 5- course menu for 40 bucks) Diner : Brasserie L'ecole, Cafe Brio, or out-of-town, for a splurge, The aerie. Vegetarian : Re-bar

for burgers, try Moderne, on Broadway, not far from Lumiere. Or, if you get to go to Whistler, try the splitz Grill. They make the best burger i've tasted so far in BC.

i will not rethink my "rant". France has a lot to learn from americans and spanish chefs... Maybe a little bit. But a LOT ? I'm here, in North America, and i dont see anyone whom i can learn from, at least around Vancouver. And the only person i've learned from happens to be an english chef who trained in France. Dont take it as arrogance. Every country, every person has its specialties, its interests, its History. French chefs dont claim to be the best in the world. French chefs have long ago acknowledged that there's good food outside France. We're surrounded by countries with strong culinary History ! How could it be otherwise ? (by the way, centuries of wars and invasions sure helped influence each other's approach to food, and thanks to the Romans for the wine !...) Unlike others, we do not feel the need to compare ourselves with anybody else, and never think in terms of being the best this or best that. We know how to cook, how to make cheese, pastry, bread, wine, champagne, calvados, cognac...... And we dont need no approval or praise or support from abroad. Our panties are in bunch ! Such arrogance, pay due respect to the French for teaching you anglo-saxons how to move on from countryside cuisine. Let's think of the influence of French cuisine and French chefs in the UK and the US during the past 30 years. And for all the stubborn people on egullet, please read some posts from spanish chefs. They still train in France, as true as Arzak was strongly influenced by Guerard a couple of decades ago. Of course, we have to learn from each other. And you can tell the French learned from the americans: there's some shitty fusion food in Paris ! And if France is such a static and dusty culinary museum, well... just plan your next vacation in Disneyland. They have decent burgers down there. Leave us alone.

Have u tried that small greek place near Jussieu ? From the subway station, head to the "jardin des plantes". Well, not far after that good patisserie-chocolatier, there's a sandwich place. And it's pretty tasty stuff ! Sorry, cant remember the adress though ! At lunch time, there's a big line-up. Just follow the crowd. get a sandwich, get a nice bench in the "jardin", and then head to the "mosquee de paris" for a "the a la menthe" and a pastry. Now that's a pretty enjoyable lunch !

France doesnt need to "reinvigorate its own domestic gastronomic life". Maybe americans and other entertainment addicts should take care of their own backyard. Or keep playing with their latest discovery, Spain. Then why should we care about that article and that sudden interest from Renaud Dutreuil ? The French dont, so why should foreigners ? Hey, Renaud, if you're an egulletee, we already have ambassadors spread around the world : French chefs ! OK, they sure have a big mouth (which is rearely seen as a good thing in North America...), but they know what they're doing. I surely sound aggressive, but i'm sick and tired of listening and reading that much bullshit about France. I think there's alot of young chefs doing a pretty good job. I think the wine industry is moving towards the better. New faces, old techniques and cepages rediscovered, new AOCs rewarding efforts... Overall, care, respect, knowledge and passion. And yes, indeed, creativity. As long as those values will be cherished and shared, and even though i'm far away from it, i wont worry about my own country. NB : As long as the yanks will be piling shit on a plate and calling it 3 michelin star, i wont be listening.

Of course we can ! Here i am in Canada, a tiny bit frustrated though : shopping for good stuff is outrageously expensive, and turns out to be something between a marathon and a pilgrimage ! Yeah, most michelin-starred restaurants are tough working environments. I remember being 20 and starting in a good place, and my mom, because of my harsh stories, would end up dreaming about me slaughtering the chef with a boning knife ! Take what's acceptable, but do not let them become too personal. Being insulted is beyond the acceptable. And eh, you know, they're not used to have people answering back. So if one day you do, choose your words, show some wit and make it clear you're here to work hard, not to be treated like shit ! I've always tried to keep my mouth shut, but at times exploded verbally, and made it clear this was the last time i heard "abruti" or "idiot". They've always been surprised, speachless for a few seconds but got the message. Although sometimes that's enough to loose your job. The less people accept that shit, the less they'll do it. THEY NEED STAGIAIRES ! (whatever they can say about it). Someone's gotta peel those grapes, debone those pig trotters and clean those bones to make stocks ! An important thing though : when you'll look back at your painful experience, you'll also realise how much you've learned. My hardest job was in Avignon, a 1 star, as a cdp viandes. Stayed a summer season, held on to it. Gained a passion for top produce and more skills than any other job since. Good luck from Vancouver ! Damn, i miss those tough but passionate chefs !

Northern Burgundy might be your best bet indeed, beautiful region, chablis and Irancy (great little red wine, light, fruity, medium-bodied, very pleasant) AOCs nearby. And the opportunity to head a bit further down to the Cote de Nuits and its magic AOC that ring the bells : Vougeot, Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanee... There's a strong tradition for good food and excellent wines. Hills and hills of vineyards, easily accessible from the highway... or maybe the Loire region ? Castles and good overlooked wines... Your choice !

Just tried Kim Phung, on Victoria drive just off 41st St. Really nice little vietnamese place. Very busy yet smiling and inviting service, small, cosy, down to earth atmosphere. It feels they just genuinely wanna warm you up with a good bowl of soup, and yep... that feeling is great ! Coming from France, where opportunities for unexpensive, unprententious and good value food are abundant, i was certainly happy to discover Kim Phung. Reminded me of these little authentic places i used to go to in Paris' chinatown. Had the rare beef vermicelli soup and the shrimp and meat rolls. Nicely flavoured stock, deep and rich, not fat, with hints of lemongrass, coriander and just enough garlic and onions. Decent beef, properly cooked + all the usual fixings, basil, soya... Pretty good rolls with a traditional peanut dipping sauce. At 5 bucks the small soup (and small is big enough !), this place is a valuable asset for Vancouver. We need more restaurants like this that offer such simple tasty food and such a great value for money. Thanks for sharing your adresses, coop !