barolo
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Posts posted by barolo
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Well there was an article in last week's Business in Vancouver titled "Granville Island poised for a major makeover" which suggests that the CMHC is focussed on improving the public market.
"[The public market] is responsible for a good part of our revenue, so we're very vigilant in terms of keeping it fresh and being in a position where we're able to attract people to the island and to the market,"The article quotes developments such as the Whole Foods plans for Broadway and Granville as well as Save-on-Foods and Capers plans in same vicinity as driving Granville Island changes.
It also notes an increase in market sales since the 7:00 o'clock closing but acknowledges that the increase may be to general economic conditions, not the change in hours.
They are also doing an urban design study, transportation studies and I know that they are looking at doing major upgrades to some of the island infrastructure.
Blackberry Books also was closed for renovations today, I noticed. I think we can expect more changes and renovations, rather than less, in the next while.
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Buddy's is the one by Terra Breads - at least that is where there is a big empty space today.
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Either way, it will be good for business.
Two reviews in one week with very different outcomes.
People will read into it what they want. We all read them for different reasons.
Mia is informed and well written, and does lots of research and reads like a restaurant review.
Alex's style is different. She has read all of the threads and blogs on Rare so she is informed, and the piece was interesting. I am a little shocked to find Brian and Tim in her crosshairs, but that was how she saw it. Do we all have our collective backs up because we feel a bit slagged, or perhaps because one of the contributors here was slagged? Oh well. we will get over it. Brian already has.
The more we go round and round about this, the more validity her comments have.
This site has become less critical than in the past. Her comment rings true .
Criticisms and negative comments are almost immediately called into question by someone, if not someone from the establishment that is being criticized. It grows a little tiring having to defend yourself because you did not care for something. Not every item hits it out of the park and nor should we pretend that it does. Not every item is to everyone's taste, and nor should we try and convince them that they have tastebud problems. We have seen that kind of armtwisting go on. It certainly takes the honesty out of the posts, and if you do not think people are holding back because of the before mentioned actions, you are as deluded as the boys Ling dates, thinking they are the only ones she is seeing! It is time someone started her own site called "Lorna's Loveland".
It is time we got back to "Eat, Chew and discuss" rather than "Eat, hold back, censor yourself to not hurt anyone's feelings, or retract your statements at the first sign of controversy".
Anyhoo, just my $.02 for now
If you do not think this will be good for Rare, look at the amazing amount of traffic this thread has had despite the sit crashes. People are interested and anyone with half a brain will form their own opinion.
I agree.
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^ Except last year they were platinum, this year they've degraded right down to paper.
More accurate reflection of their value
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That might have something to do with my age. Once upon a time, the Straight was the default alt-voice in this city. Ir contained a lot of deeply probing investigative reporting, and famously fomented the Tom Campbell/Gastown riot. It also broke a lot of environmental stories 0 remeber Bob Hunter? Is the front end just token lip service now?
As far as food writing is concerned, I think Angela Murrills is one of the most literate culinary journalists in the country. That being said, I wouldn'y envy anyone having to ride shotgun with a readers' poll.
I'm old enough to remember the the Tom Campbell days too. In fact I was babysitting for some people who got caught in the Gastown riots. They were pretty serious Baptists, so the whole thing was a major trauma for them. Maybe I'm just too old to appreciate the paper - I just look at the food section and the arts stuff, I never bother reading the rest.
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Given the Straight's supposed hipness quotient and investigative, vox populi political writing, do you think it might seem to some observers an abbrogation of integrity? Or merely - like most found art - just a funny kind of self-exposure? They're far from the only guilty party though in this egg and chicken exercise; I can assure you that any self-respecting editor holds his nose while the ad department cracks the yolks.
Well actually I am surprised at how many people see the Straight as anything more than an entertainment weekly, but that is a reflection on me, I suppose. I would guess that the vast majority who pick up the Straight are looking for the reviews and entertainment listings (surely not the ads for the sweetest transexual in the West End).
The juxtaposition of advertising with content in many Vancouver periodicals is chuckle inducing - found art indeed.
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The Golden Plates don't seem all that bad to me. They are what they say they are - the places that Georgia Straight readers cast their ballots for. The opportunity for ballot stuffing aside, by their nature they will reflect businesses that are well known and/or have lots of outlets. Clearly lots of people buy Cobs bread and McDonald's fries - you don't need Golden Plates to tell you so any more than you need them to tell you that Starbucks sells lots of lattes.
I can't disagree that having so very many categories seems to serve the selling of ads, but it also seems that restaurants benefit from the recognition - many of them post their awards in their windows and on their websites. After all, they are businesses and it never hurts to be given a public thumbs up by the people who actually come in to spend their money.
Even if places like Lumiere and Tojo's are recognized for their reputation rather than the voters' dining experience, that in itself tells us that those are the places the voters likely will choose when they get that promotion or celebrate an anniversary. And the chefs and owners have evidence that their reputation remains intact.
And after all, it provides evidence to those who see themselves as more savvy that they are, in fact, staying ahead of the crowd.
As for what is "independent", well there's lots of other categories, aside from coffee, where you could make the same distinction and argument - just more awards to hand out and more ads to sell.
The West Ender and Vancouver Magazine also have People's Choice awards, it seems like a relatively harmless practice to me.
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Another vote for CellarTracker.
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I believe they had a visit from the Health Inspector that resulted in a lot of requirements. Vancouver Coastal Health
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There was an "Opening Soon" episode about this restaurant that was pretty entertaining: Opening Soon - Afterglo. There was the chef trying to understand what the owner meant by "beauty cuisine" and the psychic hired to drive out evil spirits residing in the space.
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I had a look at the menu, looks great. I suspect it is a little close to where my parents are located. Is Van Isle near where the Blue Peter and Jespersen's Boats are located??
Yes, Jespersen's is right there.
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Link to Dock 503 website, map and menus on the site. I echo the recommendation.
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Godiva's won't be renewed, according to this story in the Globe today.
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Our last class was Monday, featuring crab cakes with pinapple salsa and chili sauce, sun dried tomato crusted halibut, roast duck and creme brulee.
The halibut dish was demonstrated by Dave, one of our classmates and a very accomplished cook who is featured in the Vancouver Sun food section today. He won a recipe contest run by the BC Chef's Association with the halibut recipe and one of the prizes was the Serious Foodie class. It was a great way to end the class - the student becomes the teacher. Thanks to Tony, the culinary students, the staff and my fellow students for making the classes so successful!
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BIG BONUS which I don't remember reading in the other Serious Foodie thread is that the fulltime students volunteer their time to wash all our dishes.
We did have professional students and staff setting up and prepping some of the ingredients as well as helping us with equipment and techniques, but the dishwasher was not a student as far as I know. But yes, it is a bonus to not have to do the dishes after cooking.
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People were staring at us when we were leaving though, probably because they didn't expect to see a little old Chinese lady there!
Well they were probably thinking "I hope I'm still going to restaurants like Chambar when I'm 92!".
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Raincity Grill is closed for renovations from March 12-19.
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What about Dinnerworks on 3rd @ Pine just east of Quince-is it open?
Yes it is, here's a link: Dinnerworks. I haven't heard from anyone who's actually been in to check it out.
Dinnerworks sounds like fun but am I wrong, it seems I'd actually have to do the cooking, which is exactly what I'm trying to avoid - not 'cause I don't love cooking, but because I'm not supposed to be active at all. I'm not even supposed to type using my left hand right now ...
Dinnerworks has a takeout option as well as the "make your own". Click on "Questions?" and then "Pick up and Delivery".
I'm looking forward to your reports.
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What about Dinnerworks on 3rd @ Pine just east of Quince-is it open?
Yes it is, here's a link: Dinnerworks. I haven't heard from anyone who's actually been in to check it out.
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A quick note in yesterday's edition of The Daily CityFood that Sean Cousins, formerly of RainCity Grill, is now at the helm of Ocean 6 Seventeen. Jeremy Knightly from the Vancouver Club and Virginia Jensen from the restaurant at Mission Hill Winery round out Chef Cousins's BOH crew.
Wonder if this staffing change will have any significant impact on the service issues that people have been kvetching about as of late.
Waiterblog posted a link to the newsrelease and I see that Cousins is actually a co-owner now, as well as Executive Chef. From a read of the newsrelease, I conclude a few changes are in the works.
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Pan-o-Pan is worth a try: Pan-o-Pan Fine Foods 253 E. Broadway. Not quite westside but close.
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David Bains column in the Vancouver Sun last week confirmed rumours that a sports bar is to be opened in the old Quay space. The owner of the Quay and the new bar owns Bodogs - an online gambling site. The new bar will be called Bodogs as well. Apparently he makes a ton with the site and just wanted the restaurant so he had somewhere to hang out. Nice.
Wonder if he is single!
Here's the scoop on him: Banned city promoter makes Forbes list (Vancouver Sun)
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The Globe's Ms. Gill has a hit and run review of Century today.
Here's a link to the story: Hey, Che, it's a new Century
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Here's a few ideas, nothing earth shattering. Tortellini with a few dipping sauces, cheese baked olives, a small cube of cheese, a grape tomato separated by a folded basil leaf, fruit and cubes of cake alternating, grapes coated in a mixture of cream cheese, goat cheese and herbs, felafel, little kibbeh, stuffed dates.
Top 10 cities for foodies: MSNBC Travel picks ...
in Restaurant Life
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Perhaps the list is related to the 10 city tourism organizations that have doing the most promotion recently?