barolo

Chambar definitely seems to be the poster child for breaking new ground in Vancouver. Although in the novel Stanley Park ,by Timothy Taylor, a fictional but very trendy restaurant was located in the Crosstown area well before Chambar got there. I think Henry's Kitchen was in the La Buca space and was pretty popular so I might put an asterisk beside that one.

I agree about bloggers filling the void with regard to Asian cuisine. I'm not Asian and really don't have a clue, but blogs and folks like Canucklehead, you, Kentan and others have helped me learn much more than any traditional media source.

Thanks for posting that list Kentan. I haven't been following any blogs lately but the list inspires me to do some reading and see if there's a couple that I might want to bookmark.

Opinion without supporting facts or examples is not going to get much traction with me. Of course there is a lot of crappy and unfair stuff written about resaurants all over the web. My point was just that you can't stop the tide. I think most people are discerning enough to know the difference between an ignorant rant and a thoughtful analysis. If not, do you really want them as customers? Unfortunately diners are often not well served by newspapers, commercial websites or blogs. There's lots of places just recycling publicists' news releases so it is not surprising that diners turn to other sources for information. Let's not fight - I'm sure it is crappy to read unfair stuff about your business. And of course you can comment on anything you want about me too. I trust that the discerning reader will decide for him or herself whether you are being fair or not.

This is a forum to discuss dining, what's the point of trying to tell people what aspects they can and can't discuss. We've had lots of owners, managers and servers here criticizing diners and our comments and trying to put the genie back in the bottle. Not going to happen. There's much more positive commentary than negative here, I really don't think there's much to fear. And if it is not posted here, it will still go on Chowhound, Dinehere or elsewhere.

At the same time as I remember it.

Thanks for resurrecting this thread. It's always fun to look back at our predictions. Like Vandan, I have to admit that I did not see much about Vancouver restaurants and what I did see seemed to be pretty standard reporting of the usual suspects.

Hmm, well we'll see. Delilah's is owned by a company with a number of restaurants so it is possible that they are "rebranding" or just truly renovating. But the poster on Urban Diner was clearly stating "closed". Denman Street isn't looking all that healthy right now at that end.

I read over at Urban Diner that Delilah's is closed. Also interesting news at City Food about the old Salt Builing (not Salt in Gastown) in the Athlete's Village that will become a brewpub, bakery, coffee shop. Nice looking building: Salt Building to become brew pub for Mark James

I think a lot of those were safe choices, but it is hard to remember back that far with much accuracy. Le Crocodile around that time was still on Thurlow I think. Was Cherrystone Cove still around then? That was a great restaurant. Angelica was good, I think that was Mark Potovsky post-Cherrystone Cove, but didn't last long. Rob Feenie worked for Potovsky at Cherrystone Cove and also at Le Crocodile.

Gill reviewed Bao Bei this week and she loved it: Full column here: Restaurant review:Bao bei Last week was Poor Italian Trattoria Ristorante, which she loathed: Full column here: Restaurant review: Poor Italian Trattoria Ristorante

Yet another Guu has opened according to today's Georgia Straight:

According to their website, the corner suite bistro deluxe is open: The corner suite. Let's hope they live up to the advance billing and have a long successful run.

Wow, thanks for those pictures.

I see it is the 4th most e-mailed article in the NYT today.

I don't like lining up either, but it seems like lots of Vancouverites do. If you read Joanne Kates in last Saturday's Globe it sounds like Torontonians do too. That's how you know you are at a hip place, accordning to her.

Gill reviews three chain restaurants this week: She likes the baked potatoes: Full story here: Fast-food eateries from afar debut in Vancouver

Care to recommend any?

Mia Stainsby reports that Conde Nast Traveler thinks we have the best Chinese Food in the world. Canucklehead where are you? I want your take on this. Here's the link to Stainsby's story: Conde Nast Traveler magazine says Vancouver has best Chinese food in world And here's the Conde Nast story: Canada wins Chinese Gold

So who, if anyone, in Vancouver do you think is a good food/dining journalist?

Wow, the power of suggestion! Last night I actually considered buying a can of cheddar cheese soup - something I've never purchased before - and looked at the price of a package of KD - something I haven't eaten in a decade or so. As for my shame, I go with the OP: and add that I didn't much like Meryl Streep as Julia in Julie and Julia. I'm not ashamed that I use tetrapak chicken stock, that I buy ketchup as an emergency replacement for tomato paste or sauce, or that I use canned beans pretty much all the time. That KD is still calling to me though.

Gill reviews LUPO and she likes it: Full column here: LUPO: Underdog chef finds you can go home again

Excellent question. I don't know the answer but here is a link to a recent Globe and Mail article on this very question: Is organic milk a healthier option? Aside from the feed difference you've identified, the treatment of cows with antibiotics seems to be the other key difference:

One more I forgot to mention: Chocolatl in Yaletown is closed.

In the February 20th Globe and Mail: For full story click here