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?

If you're going anywhere near Carmarthen you should stop at Albert Rees in Carmarthen Market and get some "Carmarthen Ham" which is air-dried. Less creamy and saltier than serrano for instance but delicious all the same and surprisingly good crisped up under the grill. ← Carmarthen market is a pale shadow of what it was but still worth a detour - apart from Albert Rees , the fishmonger next door to them is great for Sewin and for really fresh Newquay (Ceredigion) or Aberaeron landed mackerel. There is also an excellent cheese stall with loads of local cheeses (run by a really enthusiastic Dutch woman). She'll have both Perl Las and Perl Wen in various states of ripeness , and Gorwydd caerphilly (actually from near Tregaron) as well a good choice of local goats cheese. Swansea market is the place for laverbread (and for cockles). As you head further north , look out for excellent mussles from the Menai straits. If you pass through Aberaeron try the honey ice cream at the Hive on the Quay. (and check out Ffynon Las vineyard). In Lampeter , you'll find Conti's , an old fashioned "Brachi" , that still makes its own ice cream. (Directly across from Conti's, there is "y Popty" , a bakers that makes excellent Bara Brith and good Welshcakes). Mario's (of Swansea) make good ice cream that is widely distributed. Franks (Ammanford), Cadwalader (Criccieth) and Llanfaes Dairy (Brecon) are other good ice cream makers. Look out also for La Belle Rouge , who make a water buffalo icecream near Aberystwyth. You should certainly try Penderyn (a Welsh single malt whisky) and Brecon gin. You might also want to try Danzy Jones , a revival of a traditional style of whisky liqueur . (avoid Toffoc - the toffe flavoured vodka though). Somewhere along the line fit in a pint of Brains mild, a pint of Felinfoel Double Dragon and a pint of Reverend James. There is a real revival in Welsh cider going on - look out particularly for the three ciders (and a perry) from Gwynt Y Ddraig, cider and perry from Seidr Dai and cider from Toloja. Gethin PS, I probably ought not to admit it, but I also really like Braces welshcakes with rasberry jam - stick them in the microwave for 30 seconds - but be careful not to scald your mouth with boiling jam as you bite iinto them. You can get them in most co-op shops . ← Cheese (hopefully raw?), mackerel, cockles, bacon, whiskey, gin, cider, and jammy welshcakes sided by a scoop of water buffalo ice cream. That's all I'm eating for the next week. Can't wait. Actually, although much of this sounds like comfort food, it'll be downright exotic to me.

Excellent suggestions, thanks very much. Here is my itinerary more or less...We'll be starting in Abergavenny, then into the Black Mountains and onto Gwent levels for some coastal foraging. Apparently we'll lunch at The Foxhunter which is meant to be good. Then on to Llangoed Hall in the Wye Valley, Brecon, Llanwytd Wells, Drovers Rest Restaurant, Ewephoria, a canal trip along the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Snowdonia National Park, and a couple of nights at the West Arms Hotel. Should I be excited? It sounds like we'll be eating a lot of lamb. I'll be sure to try some crab and local butter and Black beef and potatoes, and of course, ales. I'm going in a week.

Thanks FannyBay, incredibly helpful! I make it to Vancouver a few times a year, so I've been to a handful of the restaurants you mention but have never been to CinCin and hear its a city classic. You know that old Girl Guide saying: Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold? Stalwalts don't stick around for long without a city's support. I like to mix it up when I visit.

I'm heading to Wales in a week's time: What are some of the delicious indigenous foods I must try while there? A top five would be helpful, anything from a very special tomato to a very sinful dessert.

I'm hitting Vancouver at the end of the month and I'll be pretty busy with work stuff but I do have an opening for a later dinner one night. (As always, so many delicious restos, so little time.) I've been given the following options: Salt, CinCin and FigMint. Which do I choose? Also, based on the forum discourse, it seems like Salt is only open for dinner. True? I think this sort of thing would make for a perfect luncheon or afternoon snack...or breakfast for that matter.

So, someone mentioned further up that Susur closes for August. And I just noticed a couple of restaurants on College are also closed for the month. I guess on the one hand it makes good fiscal sense, but on the other, it strikes me as bizarre. Is this a common trend in T.O. (Note: I may do an article on it if it is...)

Saddly, Henry Burger is closed... Has been for almost a year now I think. The casino restaurant, the fancy one anyway, is Le Baccara. They also have a buffet restaurant, but I don't think that's the one she was referring to. ← Yes, it was Le Baccara. I've been there twice, once for a tasting menu, the other, a la carte, and found everything to be lovely both times.

I just got back from yet another fun-filled trip to Ottawa (I was actually taking a pastry course at Le Cordon Bleu; I highly recommend it!). I ate at Beckta and it was as good as ever, as was the fancy resto in the casino (name escapes me). Signatures, the fine dining restaurant at Le Cordon Bleu is meant to be good too (especially if you love foie), and Domus in the market is always seasonal and delish. A couple of other choices in the market are Eighteen (but it's been a while since I ate there) and an interesting boite called either Black Cat or Fat Cat; they're doing a cute take on molecular gastronomy, and by cute I mean they have you sniff a squeezebottle of, say, coffee beans with your dessert. And then they take it from you when the guy at the next table needs to sniff it with his dessert. Adorable. But yes, smaller population, so less choice. And I think every restaurant should be closed on Canada Day so people can swim and watch fireworks and BBQ.

I love the east coast: In Halifax try Da Maurizio (sp?) for upscale Italian, Bis (world cuisine on the waterfront), Fid, Basil's, Sushi Shige, Chives Canadian Bistro, Tribeca for cocktails and snacks, and Le Cave for a quirky late night slice of cheesecake. In PEI go for a lobster supper of course, also hit the Inn at Bay Fortune (stay there and eat; it's expensive but a truly memorable experience). Harbour House is pretty okay. In St. John's there's a great place, I think on Water Street (maybe George) but I can't remember the name (sorry). The outside is a bit yuppie looking, so ask around, or you'll spot it. I also liked Cioppino's for it's kitchy looks, great service and down-home Italian menu. Have fun.

I've never understood why 'Peggers are so hard on themselves; I love the place. And yes, I did eat at a couple of spots that fit our June-June rules: Cafe Kohler, a very excellent bakery, and the other was a restaurant at a golf club, the name of which escapes me. Last year I ate at the Loop, which I've just learned is kaput. By the way, just because I've signed on doesn't mean people should stop been testy about the enRoute thing. It's kind of fun/funny.