barolo

The link provided by Rhea_S above gives you the information on picking limits and a link to closure information, although it is probably easier just to call the DFO office and ask about closures.

Leaving aside the all the obvious jokes - the opening of a food store devoted to dogs in the West End doesn't surprise me at all. There's lots of pampered pooches in Vancouver and already a number of dog bakeries or deli's, not to mention the success of Modern Dog magazine - the lifestyle magazine for urban dogs and their companions. Then there's the dog spas and summer camps.

If you go to Ambleside Park tonight you can join in the Persian New Year festivities including bonfire jumping. I understand there will be lots of traditional food too. Click here for link

Thanks Oyster Guy. Do you know if the BC Honey Oysters now on menus all over Vancouver are Mytilus e., Mytilus g. or something else altogether?

Thanks for the update on Lobster Man products.

Lobsterman sells mussels from PEI: click for Lobsterman web site Most of the shellfish (eg pacific oysters and manila clams) sold here are not native species, but they are cultured here. Mussels for the most part are flown in from back east.

I notice that Jamie was ahead of us all. From the Jan/Feb Vancouver Magazine: "Wild B.C. Honey mussels, from B.C. Mussel Co.’s Discovery Island grounds, are best found at C Restaurant."

There's also BC Honey Mussels now appearing on menus. They are from somewhere around Quadra Island. I don't know what species they are. I know some people who work in shellfish aquaculture, so I'll try to check it out and report back.

OK, here's an explanation from the BC Shellfish Growers: In BC, efforts at mussel culture with the native Mytilus trosullus have been thwarted by both duck predation and massive natural summer mortality before reaching marketable size. A pilot project was carried out in the early 1980's to determine the potential for growing the blue mussel, M. edulis. It met with limited success. Problems of summer mortality, weak byssal attachment and losses due to handling and shipping were the main obstacles to successful culture. Those problems are slowly being overcome and now M. edulis and M. galloprovincialis are being cultured on a small scale. Website is here: BC Shellfish Growers

Leave home shortly after 9:00 this morning and walk down to the Aquatic Centre ferry, picture postcard morning, eight of us on the ferry. On to the island - JJ Bean coffee, bread, fresh halibut, sausage, spinach, two big bunches of daffs for $4, Globe and Mail. Lots of room in the market for strollers, tourists and even the locals. Back on the ferry, walk along the seawall admiring happy dogs on the beach and home by shortly after 10:00. Seems like a good thing to me.

Tim Pawsey also reviewed LilyKate in this week's Courier. His take: likes the room, first take-out encounter was satisfactory, would be inclined to eat in next time. "So far, though, LilyKate-for all its promise and unquestionable style-for the cost, needs more pizzazz on the plate" Full review here: LilyKate Review

Look at the Publik---RIP thread

Aak! Forgive me Neil, I thought you were kidding. "The Saltlik is a renasent steakhouse that speaks to the casual dining market of our times" This fine prose should inspire us as we develop our own little dream restaurant with the fire pit and roving buses.

Hi Treve: Not just reading it - picking up extra copies to pass on to friends and relatives. I have no problems finding it, I'm often at Marquis Wine Cellars and they always seem to have stacks. This month I picked it up at the Cookshop downtown.

Open 'til 7:00 pm Tuesday to Saturday and 'til 5:00 pm on Sunday. Closed on Monday.

Wow, good work and great images. I haven't had the Caramel Chocolat yet, so I will have to make up for this lapse. My two favourites so far have been the Opera (obviously I like it more than your tasting panel did - I really like the combination of textures and flavours) and the Concord Framboise.

Yay, Neil. Are the cheques pouring in yet?

We need a name!

It's not the same without you Eddy, so I'm not suprised it might be closing. They need to hang in there a little longer to get the clientele built up.

I picked up the March/April EAT Magazine this afternoon. A few of the highlights: Vancouver and Victoria hotel dining Artisan Cheese Desserts Asian Palate - as series of articles on Asian influences on BC food - includes recipes

Isn't Jamie the finance guy?

I'll take a few shifts on the garden to help out.

How about that giant ashphalt salb down by Jericho Beach, to the left of the Sailing club. Slightly out of the way, with parking, amazing view, parks board as the landlord, build a boat launch for day sailers etc. Wow, what a Westcost experience that would be. Patio - huge Chef, why me of course ! Can anyone secure the funding ? PM me if you can and I can clear my schedule right away !! Food cost ? As long as all other elements were in line to turn a profit, this could go up to 40 % In order for that to work, it has to come from somewhere - service, beverage cost, little or no rent, or just sheer volume, volume, volume - in order for a restaurant like this to sustain itself, it needs to turn a profit. People have lost fortunes building their dreams. Build a salmon stream right into the park. That would have David Suzuki eating there every day ! How about that as a starting point ? ← OK, this is getting interesting! I like your ideas Neil. And of course we need to make a profit.

Definitely worth trying.

OK, I'll play. I think it would be helpful to pick a location and expand from there. I'll start by suggesting the Boathouse location on Beach. Have at it.