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The Georgia Straight reports that Ganache Patisserie has 5 new desserts out for spring. I don't have it in front of me or I'd type them out for you, but from memory there is lemon based one and a cheesecake made with goat cheese and vanilla. Some competition for the Stilton cheesecake perhaps.

I saw some of their products for sale at Whole Foods when I was there last night; didn't buy any though so no report. Edited to add: it is Wild Sweets I'm referring to.

Hmm. Read the last section of this article by Steven Shaw on his experience working behing the scenes at Gramercy Tavern in New York: A Week in the Gramercy Tavern Kitchen I'll just add a short quote from the article here to give you their perspective: "Technically, Gramercy Tavern doesn't even offer side dishes -- but the kitchen tries hard to accommodate all customer requests, VIP or not. All night, shouts of "SOS," (sauce on the side) "All Meat," (no vegetables), and "Veg. Entree" (a vegetable plate) can be heard in the kitchen." I think there probably are lots of unreasonable requests, the magic is in how you deal with them and that doesn't mean acquiescing every time.

Looks great! Here's some of my recent Granville Island based meals: Let's see I did a pan roasted halibut - yes from Longliner - in (concidentally) a romanesco sauce on the weekend with roasted asparagus - I also like the fat ones and bought them from the Okanagan guys - and potatoes. I also bought a spinach soup from the Stock Market which I had along with Oyama sausage and Terra french epi. And then there was the shrimp salad - shrimp also from Longliner - on toasted leftover Terra challah. And the stilton - actually from les amis - and crackers. And the mussels with pesto and more Terra epi. I still have a cauliflower to make cream of cauliflower soup tonight. I went on Sunday late morning assuming, correctly I think, that most people would have finished their shopping by then. No line up at JJ Bean and not particularly busy.

Great thanks. By the way, I agree that Whole Foods can have good deals. I also think Thrifty's (only in Tsawwassen on the mainland, but I understand they are expanding) often has good produce and prices. They have the best citrus fruit I've had here. It is just a location thing for me, I don't have reason to be on the North Shore often so I forget about Whole Foods unless I make a specific food/wine trip.

Has anyone seen nice looking, reasonably priced baby artichokes in any Vancouver produce stores yet? Or, failing that, where can I buy frozen artichoke hearts?

Cook lots of mushrooms in it, morels if you have them, and use to top pasta, rice, potatoes, toast etc.

I went last year when it was at the Roundhouse. A good event, although some of the food ran out early so you are advised to show up on time.

Yum, sounds great. West desserts are always extraordinary in my experience. Not that the rest isn't.

Wow, that's an amazing staff to seat ratio. I guess they are planning for a lot of takeout. I think they are going after both. After all there is Vera's just down the block. Yes, as Deborah said, there are hordes of tourists on Denman in the summer. That's why there are at least 4 gelato places on that street. I'm sure a familiar looking American franchise restaurant will be just the ticket.

Yipee! I'll be there.

A few more ideas: Vera's Burger Shack on Davie for hamburgers relish on Nelson and Hornby. I haven't been myself but here is a review by Tim Pawsey: click for relish review Lunch Box Soup on Hornby just north of Nelson. Again I haven't been, but I've heard they have some good soups. I think they may be closed for dinner. Good luck to your father in law.

BCBC, the restaurant is still open. At least Arne went to his Wine Festival event on Friday or Saturday as reported in his foodblog - the event looked really good from his pictures. Eddy is no longer there, unfortunately.

I enjoyed a wonderful solo dinner tonight at one of the only formal dining venues here on blustery Cape Cod. But it took me a minute or two to recover from having the hostess/owner pronounce loudly upon my arrival in a quiet, crowded dining room, "Ah... one? A single girl? Aww... that's too bad!". I would have walked out but I was so stunned that I followed her to my table and tried to stifle my shock with a mouthful of bread. I ordered so many dishes, though, that I think they thought I was a food critic. They were (or attempted to be) really, really nice to me. When the hostess came by to check on me and saw that I'd ordered foie gras and sweetbreads, she said something like, "Ah! A woman who eats like a man!" before scurrying away to annoy someone else. I think I'll write a letter. I just found that unbelievably innapropriate. ← Wow, that is incredibly insulting. I eat out alone a lot and I've been impressed at how civilized it has become in Vancouver for a woman dining alone. Maybe it's my age and they think I'm past it anyway but I rarely get such comments anymore. On the "woman who eats like a man" front, I have been warned that a dish is very rich or that the servings are large. My response is "That's OK, I'm hungry". Years ago in Montreal a female friend and I ordered a half bottle of wine to start a meal, then we ordered a bottle of red for the main course. The waiter tried to talk us out of the red, telling us we wouldn't be able to finish it! Needless to say we had no problem finishing the bottle. Those restaurants who have consistently been gracious and charming to me in my solo dining mode get my loyalty and the servers get good tips.

Of course, that's true but the familiarity factor may be more to do - in certain categories - with "brand awareness"/reputation rather than having eaten there...hence, the naming of Lumiere and Tojos to mention just two. [ ← Yes you are right that is probably the case too.

Totally agree. Add in the familiarity factor and you guarantee these kind of results. How many people eat at West in a year vs Milestones? The Straight used to at least have some of their own writers' recommendations and commentary but each year they've cut back on this aspect.

I don't get out for lunch nearly as much as I wish I did but Diva and West are two of my favourites. Enoteca sounds great, but I haven't had the pleasure of lunch there yet.

Great blog Arne. They are all interesting, but it's especially interesting to see reactions to Granville Island and other Vancouver spots that we take for granted.

Ahem, actually yes I do pronounce it Toron-toe. And I am a Canadian, born in Vancouver. ← OIC...you must live in a better neighbourhood than I ← Just down the street in the West End!?!

Ahem, actually yes I do pronounce it Toron-toe. And I am a Canadian, born in Vancouver.

On Denman where the Thai place used to be. Denman and Pendrell or something like that,

Here's a link to Alexandra Gill's review (with the help of few Vancouver professionals) in today's Globe: That Pastry Chef has to Go Edited to add: lots of spoilers in the article. Anne

I walked by last night. It looks as though it will be a while yet. There's a hunk of waferboard over the entrance with a sign saying something like" "Patience, we know you are hungry".

I have to agree this release is not exactly enlightening. Does it mean that the holdouts who would not join the VQA program will participate under the new model? That is what I divined from this comment: "The benefit of this is that it will meet industry demands for an independent and objective governance structure" Anne

Stock Market on Granville Island sells creme fraiche. I can't tell you how good it is, as I haven't tried it myself - I stick to the homemade approximation. As for butter, try Urban Fare or Meinharts, they may carry creme fraiche too. I think a similar request was made in a previous thread, with no Normandy butter located.