sasskitty

My father (the recipient of said tagine) was chatting with a woman at a local store that sells Moroccan wares, and lots of Tagines. She herself is Moroccan and said that the one with the hole on top can be used for both stovetop and oven cooking, but without the hole, should be used in the stove only. I didn't hear WHY however, but I understand your comment about the hole in the top. Who knows... maybe I'll have to get one for him with a hole and one for me without so we can both experiment

You guys ROCK MY WORLD! Thank you!!! I will check those links, head off to Home Sense and will buy my dad yet another interesting cooking item (he spends too much time reading cooking magazines and listening to cooking shows). I spent hours looking for chestnut flour for his stocking last year. THANK YOU AWESOME EGULLETEERS!!! May your stockings be filled with truffle oil and your your toddies hot and magical. Cheers Erin

Hi all...its been awhile since I've posted (I have been lurking). One of my new year's resolutions is to post more and attend more events in the new year. So this is my plea for help. I am looking to purchase a Moroccan Tagine for my father for Christmas. There are some lovely ones available at the Cook Shop, but I am looking for one with a hole on the top of the lid. Apparently, the ones with the hole on the top can be used stove top and in the oven, but the ones WITHOUT can only be used in the oven. Sigh. I know, its 5 days before Christmas, but I have been looking for this for a month now...and I just thought of emailing the egulleteers!!!! Silly me. I will be Christmassing on the Island, so a Victoria/Duncan/Nanaimo location to purchase this little beauty would be fab, or a place in Vancouver area would also work well. Thank you all!!! Cheers Erin

Not a stupid question AT ALL!!!!! Yes, they are open for lunch...be warned however...REALLY SLOW SERVICE:):) Really friendly though, which seems to make up for it! Tell me how it is! I haven't been by in a couple of months or so, and I feel bad (they don't get alot of customers, so they remember EVERYONE, and I always feel guilty after an extended absense...note to self...lunch on SAturday...) I you enjoy it...( I always feel intimidated making egullet recommendations...I quake in fear actually ) Won Ton King a gang hang out? COOL! I have ALWAYS wanted to join a gang...this might be my opportunity!!! And BC in BC...um yeah...I am with you with the grilled cheese on mayo Cheers Erin

If its any consillation, I leave even MORE isolated at Victoria and Marine I understand your need to find close food. BC in BC- The greek place of which you speak is DEAD at dinner (which has always scared me...we have been, and the food was just okay when we were there, but that was a few months ago). The giant Chinese restaurant next to it (Wonton King I think) is supposed to be quite good...but we haven't been yet, so don't quote me. It is ALWAYS full! Now, for a lunchy atmosphere a bit more east from you, Pocions on Marine just east of Victoria is interesting. Homemade polish specialities (the pear cake is stuff that dreams are made of), and very OBVIOUSLY homemade...not pretty to look at, a bit lopsided...but tasty. The coffee is pretty good, and the perogies, when they have the blueberry ones, are killer. The potato cheese ones aren't bad either. A darn good grilled cheese as well, but I always ask for no mayo (unless you like mayo on your grilled cheese? Some do...my mom ALWAYS puts it on hers, and she can usually be a really good cook! ). Be warned however. REALLY relaxed service. But the food is nice and unpretentious, and great for a grey vancouver afternoon!!! I too am interested to find things in this neighbourhood...and I sense an adventure to Japone for M and I in the near future!!!! Thanks for the recommendation all of you!!! If you like Fish and Chips, try the King's Fare on W. 73 between Oak and Granville. Fish and Chips...yum...haven't tried Go Fish yet, so I can't compare...but I quite like the King's Fare. I know that Jamie has done a review, so he can offer his 2 cents on the comparison of the 2. THey have only 2 kinds of beer-light and dark- and that just makes me laugh Nice atmosphere, and if he is still with us, they have a big old golden lab outside the door waiting for free belly rubs.

Have you (or has anyone) gone to that Frederico's on Commercial? I'm kinda curious. ←

There are some great markets on Marine drive (not marine way which is the more main street) just between Royal Oak and Byrne road, near Mandeville gardens. My favorite is Hop On (probably because of the name) They have a fabulous selection of herbs, and really reasonably priced. They are also the best place to get Arugula-a giant HEAD for $0.99. Enjoy!

Weeknight, but the restaurant WAS full...reservations are a must I would say! Enjoy! Can I come???

Went a few weeks ago and the service was great...very attentive and helpful. Our tea was never empty, our water always full and the saki kept flowing and flowing. We asked lots of questions about the food, and she was filled with knowledge and advice on what to pick. We weren't dissapointed by any dish. Admittedly, we were a two top as well, but the table beside us was 8, and they seemed to be getting the same service we were. Love that place...gotta go back soon...yummy.

Damn you all.... tried my first Kolachy (I know...so behind the time) (bbq beef) and soup (amazing curried squash). SO GOOD I bought an assortment to bring home tonight...don't know how well they warm up, but I am sure that if they are even HALF as good, we will have a new addiction in my house. sigh..... getting fatter each day I check out e-gullet....

Coop..NEVER use a washroom in a hole in the wall deli...you are taking your life into your hands...its like using a gas station washroom...or the one at the Crime Lab (consistently alarming...) I will take your suggestions and check out the Bahn Mi at Ben Do. I still like their sandwiches though...a matter of taste I suppose Of course, I only have them about once every year as they are so huge...probably something to do with the thickness of the meat???

Thanks for reviving the thread...here's my input...all of these places are right near my ex workplace in South Burnaby (apologies now for codine induced spelling errors)...thought I'd give the burbs a quick plug... La Charcuterie in Burnaby at Kingsway and Boundary La Charcuterie has a large sign proclaiming "The Best Sandwiches in North America". I don't know if they are the best as I have not tried ALL the sandwiches in North America, but they may be the BIGGEST! This Danish Deli has lots of interesting Danish delicacies to peer at, but their sandwiches are the stuff of LEGEND. There is always a pretty big line up, and the sandwiches are around $5.00...and they are IMPOSSIBLE to eat on your own. Lots of good quality deli meat and cheese with a veggie or two thrown in wrapped up in brown paper...yum (not the paper...the sandwich). The "special" sandwiches are named after regular customers and local businesses ie. The Telus, The BC Ambulance Service (probably due to all the hardening arteries with all the meat...) etc. The Fraser Park Restaurant on Byrne road south of Marine Owner Anton is a German trained butcher and he and wife from the Phillipenes have some amazing food to offer. The Beef Dip and fries is a steal at $6.50 and comes with 3 halves of a sandwich (yes, I realize that 3 halves does not make mathematical sense...but its true) with yummy home made gravy and killer fries (with a mysterious spice on them...yummy, but mysterious). Awesome breakfast served all day and he makes his own sausages and carves and cures his own meat. And some of the specials are...interesting with a German/Phillipino twist on classic favorites. Red Square- Just off Marine just past Boundary Previously plugged by Daddy-A in his blog, this place has great piroshki, pelmeni, varenki, borscht and kielbassa that can be grabbed to go, or bought in bulk (or, if you are chatting with the owner, you can stand and snack...mmm...snacks). The cheese bread is killer and the rye bread is TO DIE FOR. The pelmeni are a staple in our freezer at home. Of course, I work downtown now, so no more lunch time visits for me. I live near all of them, but sadly, they aren't usually open when I'm at home...say Daddy A...feel like grabbing some pelmeni for me next time you are down there??? just kidding

FOO HONGS! HOORAY FOR FOO HONGS! I too am an "Islander" and have many fond memories of Foo Hongs! My parents used to take me there when we were all having a night out and I would shriek with glee (I would have been about 5 when I started this) FOO HONG CHOP SUEY, and then giggle madly. And the Blue Fox is a FABULOUS victoria breakfast place. Memories... Our place would be Cardero's...we went there for our first date and Mr. Sasskitty had the worst oyster burger ever We also had an amazing waiter who made the evening perfect and memorable for us!

Oh Persian food...yum...yum...yum. The restaurants I would say are the best bet are all in North Vancouver. KashCool is good, but I haven't been in awhile as I have a friends mom who cooks my Persian dishes for me (best to go to the source...no?) And...if you don't know what to order...my standby favorites are... Khoresht Fesenjaan- Chicken with walnut and pomegranate juice Polow-Rice with a yummy crispy layer Zereshk Polow:Chicken with rice, barberries and saffron I will ask around and post when I hear more... mmm....food....craving persian food...

Mine too was not in Vancouver-. It was at a little pizza place on the island in Cobble Hill and I had just turned 13 and was hired as ALL of the following... 1. Waitress 2. Busser 3. Head Chef 4. Video rental clerk (of HIGHLY questionable videos) 5. Payroll clerk (I payed myself out of the till) I was usually the only person on when I worked there, so I had to do EVERYTHING when I was on shift generally...which was a TRUE learning experience. The then owners (new owners now...no videos...GREAT pizza) were perpetually stoned and hot boxed the bathroom. He was the delivery guy, and they raised attack dogs, and when I handed him a pizza to be delivered, I had to bring my hand in REALLY quickly, for fear of the dog sitting in the front seat of the truck. He also got arrested for a botched attempted bank robbery. Needless to say, most of my customers were It was weird...very weird. I did however learn the following. 1. An irrational fear of ham 2. How to make the worlds best pizza sauce 3. Pizza knives make for good security when you are by yourself at 2 am 4. Debbie did Dallas and alot of other cities according to the video boxes 5. You can get a 2nd hand buzz off of a hotboxed bathroom 6. Police officers are very good tippers 7. How to make a pizza from dough to table in under 20 minutes I now work in Communications...but I dream of being a chef. As long as I don't have to use any ham.

Fatzos (now Slimz...NOT the same)

I wholeheartedly second the vote for Poplar Grove's Tiger Blue! ←

I live near there and I know EXACTLY the market of which you speak, and it IS a great market...and it is very hard to get help...but worth the adventure. Victoria Drive at the south end has some great little places. One is an interesting market at 36th and Victoria across from Dawat. It is an East Indian Market so you can get some great supplies for East Indian cooking! Their paneer isn't bad if you don't want to make your own, and their mango drinks are fabulous! And then you can go to Dawat to get some AMAZING samosa! mmmm....samosa....I hear lunch calling...

Some other suggestions for good indian grub. I echo all the other suggestions and would like to toss in the following... For a mean samosa, check out Dawat on Victoria near 33rd...the rest of their food is average (although they have new owners, so that may have changed), but their samosa are still fantastic. Tandoori King is good...but you need to get the right one. There are two- both on Fraser near 65th...however you want the one ON 65th (I think its called "the original tandoori king), not Fraser. The spinach naan is to die for and their palak paneer is and their Chicken Tikka, when made spicy, is INCREDIBLE!! mmmm...I know what I am having for dinner tonight!

A friend of mine is taking the cake decorating course at the cookshop (she LOVES it by the way) and she got some of her supplies there but most of them at Michael's craft warehouse, which apparently has better prices for the same items. Go figure huh? By the way...if you are handing out samples of the cake...

We use SPUD (www.spud.ca) at the office and they are great. I agree though...you get a fair amount of surprise ingredients if they need to replace things, but the quality has always been fantastic. SPUD also delivers organic meat (frozen) and other ingredients. Mr. Sasskitty and I are going to be getting home delivery from them soon. Good luck and let us know how it goes...

Hooray for the reschedule! Count Mr Sasskitty and I in if we can make it! We went for dinner at Cardero's the other night, and I was craving a burger...and might I say it was quite good. Not as rare as I would like, but nicely seasoned and a great bun-a lightly seasoned ciabatta bun. And their fries are good (but no fry dip...mmmm..fry dip. Ling-the Red Onion dip is a dilly yogurty sour cream dip...mmmm...dip) Cheers

Sigh....would love to come on the 14th but I have a previous engagement. The Red Onion's burgers are quite good, but might I recommend wearing a bib...every time I have gone I have left wearing a fair amount of my burger. And make sure you order the fry dip...mmmm...fry dip... Have fun! I look forward to the results, and count Mr Sasskitty and I in for the next round!!!

Thanks for the great suggestions...I had forgotten about Joes and the Ordinary...brilliant...Joe's makes a great Corned Beef Hash for breakfast...yum. Have been to the Locus for dinner and the amazing martinis (if you get the right bartender) but haven't tried for brunch....but we will be now! Forgot about the Hot Pepper too...love their breakies for sure! Great...we have brunch covered for the next little while! Woo hoo! Thanks again...

We are weekend breakfast junkies, but we are looking for somewhere new to us. We have gone to Fatzos most recently (good breaky, bad coffee) and avoid places like the Sunshine Diner, Sophie's, Cafe Zen because of the ridiculous line ups. Any thoughts? We will willingly embrace diners and are looking for something reasonably priced! Cheers