Manolo

Thanks for the heads up on the Struie! There also seems to be a few quiet released Barolos along with some other Classics like leftover items around.

Well reading this thread got me hooked and I ordered the book. I've made the duck procuitto and was happy and confident enough to go ahead and try the fresh bacon and the pancetta. The results have been fantastic. Finding pink salt locally in Canada proved to be and interesting exercise, but I managed to get 2 different types. First was called "Ready cure" from Canada CompoundCanada Compound. I got the spec sheet on this product and it was about 1% Sodium Nitrite. The second product was a closer match to pink salt and I found this one at Malabar Super Spice and it's called "Sure cure" and it contained 6% sodium nitrite. I found a whole belly (about 10lbs) at a local Asian market for $21cdn. Split it in half, 1 for the fresh bacon and other pancetta. I decided to add maple syrup to the bacon cure since i wouldn't be able smoke it. The bacon came out great, I will never again buy bacon... I just took down the pancetta and fried up a chunk and wow! I will never again buy pancetta! Thanks to everyone on this thread for providing me some insight and inspiration to try something like this. Here are a few pics i snapped during the process.

The Wine Spectator website recently ran a video with Harvey Stieman discussing Wine and Chocolate pairings here.

This looks similar. Steelite has alot of great looking tableware.

It's been very wierd lately, there have been a number of items that have quietly appeared on the shelves. I walked into Summerhill about a week ago and there was a bunch of different 2001 Barolo that was never announced.

I was sitting at the back table with a friend that I got the class as a gift for. Boy did I feel lucky when they pulled out that 77 Grahams.

sadistick, i think I had some of your tarts at a recent Port tasting class at the Summerhill store. If so, those were damn good!

I have had the exact same experience in this store. I will never return, there are too many other shops out there carrying the same items with decent service.

Philly's liquor stores are State run much like our LCBO. But it helps that thier Chairman enjoys his wine.

I think the Italian butter at Schefflers is from Beppino Occelli, I've picked some up there before.

Just remembered another place I've ordered from that is located in London Ontario, Hasbeans.

jayt90, I just found these 2 recently Birds & Beans and The Grean Beanery . I've used Merchants of Green Coffee but I found them too expensive. As for larger orders there is someone from Toronto that frequently posts on the Coffeegeek.com forums quite a bit, Andrews Green Beans. His prices are some of the lowest I've seen.

I was going to pass on this release but ended up picking up 6 of the Meandro. I had to try 3 different stores before I found any. I have yet Ito try it but am looking forward to it. I also grabbed a bottle of the Crios Cab to try and found it got better with some time in the decanter, it was ok at $13.

I think this is the same situation as with the 97 Coutet Sautern & Pol Roger champagne a few releases back. They didn't show up at the stores in time for the release but eventually were in the stores about a week late.

Please report back on how it goes. I never tried roasting wok style. I have always used modified popcorn poppers that I picked up at various Goodwills.