v_wang

thanks tsquare...i was looking at a map and maybe, if i can find somewhere inexpensive, i might just stay in luso and be closer to the forest. i leave tonight! eeeeeeeeee!

four and a half days boys and girls, four and a half days! miguel, if we did end up wanting to go to mealhada, is it far from coimbra? as in, could we stay in coimbra and have dinner in mealhada. that hotel you mentioned sounded gorgeous, but a little out of my price range.

yes! i've had this - it was a big, fat olive stuffed with mild gorgonzola. yummy. resulted in far too many martinis.

I had an inkling you were a food writer ;). This is so helpful! My partner is doing a Masters in environmental planning and is, unsurprisingly, very interested in traditional and sustainable farming and harvesting, so I think we'll end up there for sure. Especially since, although I am a complete and total sun worshipper, I did wonder if I'd be bored during four entire days on the Algarve. I'm not really one for tourist resorts, and we are staying at one (Perola Apartments in Albufeira). HungryTraveler's just PM'd me with market info. Looks like my entire trip will be taken up eating!

i like: mi mi on gerrard st. e. - an added bonus here is the cheery decor and lack of blaring fluorescent lights miss saigon and pho hung on spadina xelua on spadina is alright for late night, but perhaps not so pristine now someone tell me more about this goat pho...

ah geez, sorry sorry...you know sometimes, you try and cure your internet addiction? anyway, i couldn't so here i am to say that, although it's been a month and a half, my perigee experience remains memorable enough for me to appear here shame-faced and tell you so. i had been a bit worried that the open concept might interrupt what was supposed to be a somewhat romantic dinner (not romantic romantic, but nice for two), but instead it was a good conversation piece, and having the chefs serve and describe the dishes was a very nice touch. my favourites (among the eight or nine dishes we had, we went for five courses and were served two of the same, i think, and three different): octopus legs dredged in something and fried, served with daikon radish coleslaw a threesome of celery root (pureed with truffle oil, cubed and basted in foie gras and fried, kind of) sweetbreads in a gorgeous, gorgeous swiss chard sauce and my partner's main was a seared squab leg that was apparently to die for ( i tasted, but don't fully remember, but it still gets talked about). he also got a savoury cheesecake for dessert. so nice. the sommelier wasn't as smooth as, for example, the very chatty fellow at rain - i didn't find the wines revelatory, but i would say the evening was fully worth it.

GordonCooks: you shat with Chris McDonald?! (sorry, i couldn't resist)

Miguel, you're far too helpful. At least I have two weeks before I go to read and reread this, and try and narrow it down! I saw that flor de sal piece from the Atlantic that you posted in the other thread - do you know if you're able to visit the harvest area? Thank you so much. ps. you don't really mean it about the besaro piglets and classical music, do you?

I'll be there mid-April - HungryTraveler, where did you get that list of markets? This thread has me even more eager to go! Thanks to Miguel and all

Miguel - i'm happy that you replied. i'll be in portugal mid april and was wondering about restos in lisbon, now i've got the expert opinion. i saw your albufeira suggestions in another thread...what about outside those two places? i don't know where exactly we'll be headed, maybe we should base it on food!

no, but i have a reservation for next week...i'll keep you updated! i have to say, i'm pretty excited.

my two cents: could be a nice little place...oh, but it's run by arrogant asswipes. we sent this last week, and still no reply... January 16, 2004 Attn: Dan Donovan and Jamie Kennedy We are writing to express our extreme displeasure at the treatment we received at your restaurant on Tuesday, January 13, 2004. In case you don’t recall, we are members of the party of 18 whose reservation you accepted, neglecting to tell us until our arrival that our dining time would be limited to one and a half hours. The booking was made by MN, who is by profession an event planner. There is absolutely no way that Ms. N was informed of the time limit when she called, as she is experienced enough to know that 20 people cannot enjoy dinner in 90 minutes. She was told, however, that although your restaurant doesn’t usually take reservations, an exception would be made for our group. If only we had known then that the treatment we would receive would be inexcusable in any situation, anywhere. The occasion was Ms. N’s birthday, which was further ruined by an extremely unpleasant server, Nicholas, who tried to dictate our dinner to the point of first, suggesting we not order wine (is your establishment not a wine bar?), next, making numerous rude comments and gestures and last, refusing to take our dessert order. At this point we spoke with Mr. Donovan, who, after quite a discussion, graciously permitted Ms. N a bit of sweet on her birthday. He then suggested we might return at another date—in a smaller group. Pardon us, but if your establishment cannot handle large groups, perhaps you shouldn’t accept their reservations? Trying to squeeze two groups of 20 into such a small space in such a short time is amateurish and, one might even say, greedy. Since, supposedly, no reservations are taken, it is difficult for us to understand how the group waiting for our table had also made prior arrangements. It is truly unfortunate that our workplace is located across the road from your premises, as hopes for long-term enjoyment of your restaurant have been destroyed. As well, the proximity will continue to provide Ms. N with negative memories of what should have been a special occasion. At the very least, we feel that you owe her a sincere apology, if not an opportunity to experience a more enjoyable dinner, including wines and gracious service. Please feel free to call her at ######## to discuss this further.

Oh, I hope I did that quote right...i've lost the poster...sorry sorry This isn't exactly about food, but it is about groceries. WalMart grocery stores are "forcing" other grocery stores to reduce employee benefits, and so regardless of the consumer, let's think about the workers. I think it's important to realize that WalMart shoppers are, very often, WalMart employees. And that WalMart employees make minimum wage, often, which often isn't enough to feed their families. And so, if this isn't too off-topic, I would like to say that a) It's fair to take big chain stores to task...even if they are offering ok-to-good selection, can their own employees afford to shop there? Can they afford to shop anywhere BUT there? And, if not, shouldn't we be ashamed to patronize them? b) The way to get people to buy good produce and cook meals from scratch is to give them enough time and money to do so. WalMart is currently the top employer in 35 states (from the nytimes, i can dig it up if you like). So 35 states of people are going to be buying convenience food for a long, long time until those of us with the luxury to do so start taking these companies to task.

count me in for People. i just can't help myself.

i can't believe no one has said to use a mortar and pestle! i kind of doubt ancient lebanese women making hummus plugged in their hand blenders. i always make hummus/guac/salsa/tzatziki in them unless i'm making giant batches. i think they do a much better job with little chili peppers than food processors do, and plus look at my big muscles. i agree that draining the yogurt for tzatziki is essential.

i usually process my pesto up without cheese and then add the cheese in bits, when i use it. the basil-nuts-garlic mixture i leave in the fridge til it seems weird. am i going to die?

i don't know exactly what counts as "offal," but i would like to profess my love for bone marrow. mostly i have it in my aunts' stews - that's me, picking through for the round bones and slurping happily - but last weekend i had it poached in a schmancy french restaurant with a little tomato and green onion on top, sided by a pissaladiere with sliced avocado, and it was indeed delightful. best part it, when no one else wants it, more for me.

When doing a big grocery shopping, I always take my backpack. Though often my eyes are bigger than my bag, so I end up with a super-huge backpack and two or three bags, tottering precariously on my bike all the way home. I generally carry a pretty large shoulder bag anyway, so when I'm only getting one or two things, I toss 'em in there, though I have forgotten cheese there overnight before...yum. On the rare occasion that my everyday bag is too small and I don't have my backpack, I get plastic, cause those are easier to balance on a bike. And somehow, with all this effort, we still have a whole cupboard of bags at home. And yeah, trying to pack up my backpack at that tiny little checkout counters with the cashier and lineup all glaring at me...that irritates me.

i've never been to either of these places (i'm a torontonian, but last time in van i enjoyed Vij's and Raincity Grill and a host of other less $$$ places) but i hope the Where mag thing isn't a big determinant here...Where magazine very obviously lavishes praise on restaurants that pony up the ad dollars.