Amy Rosen

Too funny. My roommates gained the "freshman 15" eating Liberty Mocha when we were at McGill. I kept warning them, "I'm telling you, it's the yoghurt", but they wouldn't listen. Although it has got to be the most delicious yoghurt ever made, I've got a real problem with the fat content. The label should say, "Let's be very clear about this; you can eat this yoghurt or a scoop of ice cream. Six of one, half a dozen of the other."

Hmmm, advanced technology. I guess that's why they don't want to share. (By the way, that's my first emoticon, ever.)

Give me a minute to wipe the grease from my fingers and open up the information folder ...(I've already started in on the chipotle lime; disturbingly delicious). Okay, the press release is dated March 26, 2007 and it says they're launching their Crunch brand of kettle cooked chips, Restaurante and Arriba brand tortilla chips throughout Ontario, Quebec and Eastern Canada starting THIS MONTH. So, I guess this means any day now. But the release also notes: "For the time being, Westerners can take heart that not everything Old Dutch that is sacred to them will be shared with everyone else. Some Dutch favourites, including the famous Old Dutch twin-pack box, will still only be available in Western Canada." Now, I don't know what this whole twin-pack thing is all about, and why a box of chips is so sacred that they won't share it with the rest of us. But suddenly I want one real bad.

I arrived home this evening to find a PR gift box full of Old Dutch bags. Let's see...there's Dutch Crunch chipotle and lime kettle cooked chips, Dutch Crunch Mesquite BBQ kettle cooked chips, Arriba Buffalo Wings tortilla chips (mixed feelings about that one), and Dutch Crunch jalapeno and cheddar kettle cooked chips. No normal chips, which is what I'd really like to try, but I guess what I'm trying to say is, this marks the launch of a new Old Dutch campaign: After being available only west of Thunder Bay for 53 long years, Ontario, Quebec and Eastern Canada will soon have Dutch dreams of their own. There. I think I've earned my gift bag. Heh.

All of the info I need. Done and done. Thanks!

Hi all, I'm doing a little sleuthing (not for an article) about where one can eat vegan in Vancouver. I'd like to get about a dozen ideas, both high-end (silver-domed service) and as low as they go (incense and hairy armpits), before I come for my next visit. Not to worry, I'm not turning vegan. Not in this lifetime, anyway. (Note: No offense to egullet vegans, although doubtful there are any. Seriously, what's life without cheese?!)

Darn. Does this mean Le Chou is gone too?

I wasn't talking about you, if that's what you're asking. As I said before, in many forums, be it B.C. or Ontario, I've seen rumours spread by those in the city who should know better.

While that is true, I think when noted restaurant critics in the city say "that's too bad" it almost goes towards confirming the rumour. Of course we must take all with a grain of salt, but I'd hate to see a great restaurant's business affected because of a false rumour. It works the other way too, bien sur, and many rumours later turn out to be true. But I think people should err on the side of caution.

Well then, you've got to got to Starfish or Oyster Boy for an oyster tasting: What a unique experience that would be for your students. My other Toronto picks (for non too high end) would be Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar (or lunch at the Gardiner), Lee, Terroni (on Queen West) and Bar Italia. And Kultura is the hottest new spot, so that might be fun for an all out hipster T.O. experience.

I've seen this sort of thing happen before in online forums and I think it's such a careless and dangerous act (unwittingly spreading false rumours). I would say that before anyone writes "I heard" they should do some research and make sure they can back it up with hard evidence.

You can now read this year's (with links to all past) enRoute's Best New Restaurants feature at enroutemag.com, along with several food themed stories from the November issue.

It's nice to see some positive responses regarding the enRoute thing. I wasn't understanding where all the anger was coming from (specifically in the Montreal forum), seeing as most of the people who responded hadn't even seen this year's issue yet. I guess I don't see how trying to inform visitors on what's new and tasty in Canada is a bad thing.

My vote's with the Art of Eating as well. Behr's writing might be close to humourless, but he digs deeper than anyone else, and new info is always interesting.

Wales: A hotbed of ice cream. Who knew?