Jeffy Boy

If you'd like to put Ms Gill's credibility into some perspective, check out her (official, I think) bio here. Aside from apparently lacking any formal education or experience in the food or hospitality industry, her "career highlights" are identified as two penned articles: Discovering Celebrities in Compromising Positions: Photographer Takes a Close-Up in Bathroom; and Tycoon Tries Trick-or-Treating Among the Naked and the Fed.

The Rodeo Drive In at the corner of 152nd and Hwy 10 will be closing in Feb 2006. Owner Gerry Hayes confirmed Thursday that he's selling part of the land to the department of highways and the remainder to a private developer. "I decided to sell, I'm getting tired of it. When you're 76 years old, you don't want to make burgers until you're 100," Hayes said Thursday. The bright-orange diner has been a fixture at the corner of 152 Street and Highway 10 since about 1949, Hayes said, adding that as owner of the restaurant since 1988, he's been at the helm longest.

I recently purchased two mediocre German liebfraumilch's, only because they came in bottles shaped like cat statues. One a green bottle, the other red. Not only did I buy them, but I humped them back home across the country, through airports and connecting flights. The wine was crap, as I expected, but the bottles I had to have. If I'd seen them near home I would have seriously considered buying a few cases and turning them into novelty jumbo checker pieces.

That's it. You kids are the reason we can't have nice things in this house anymore!Speaking of kids... Went about 5pm today to Blue Water, intending to have a couple of drinks and an appetizer. Instead stayed for dinner, on the patio, when we saw the "early bird" prix fixe menu. Ordered a bottle of Sancerre, and some Kushi oysters to start which were wonderful. Plump, creamy, delicious. I savoured each and every one. In comes a table of 6 - three adults and three kids. The kids (about 2, 6 and 8) were actually reasonably well behaved. What amazed me though, was that these kids really dug raw oysters. At first I thought "cool, kids who eat oysters". Then, as they chowed their way through a plate of two dozen, I thought "WTF? These children are popping down Kushi oysters at $3.50 a piece, and not even thinking about it. Sure, they may like them, but when they fight over the Game Boy in between bites, I know they aren't having the same religious experience I had! And do you know how long I'd have had to save my allowance to buy even one of them? " BTW, right next door to Blue Water is a Cigar store. I think I overheard a patron say "Naw, don't package it, I'll smoke it on my way out." I recommend the south side of the patio.

You talkin' 'bout my brother?

Do I smell a Georgia Straight Golden Plate award?

Suggestion for those who don't want to line up - show up at 5:25pm and you'll likely have a table when they open at 5:30pm. Then you can watch the jaws drop on people rolling up at 6:00pm when they're told they'll have to wait. I take sick pleasure in it. Especially when it's an overly hip large group who probably won't appreciate the food anyhow... Vij's is in a sweet situation - demand means they don't need to take reservations, and as a result they're full starting at 5:30pm. As for the food, when I go I'm not looking for something authentic. I find the food inventive, exciting and exotic, and the whole experience quite pleasurable.

I'll second the suggestion of Fiction for scotch and cheese. Some fine scotch, great cheeses, and servers who know both. Great way to end an evening out.

Fond but fuzzy memories of the one and only time I attended Folklorama, way back in 1982! I was visiting a friend for the weekend in Winnipeg, and we headed out from his parent's house on Saturday night. I'd never been to one of these festivals, and I was skeptical of my friend's insistence that we would have a good time. Hit one pavilion, don't remember which one, it was a little dead (still early), so we moved on to the Greek pavilion. Holy shit! The place was rocking! Learned about ouzo and Opa!, stayed there all night, had an absolute blast, and I think I may have been carried out. This is a reason to visit Winnipeg!

Note to visiting teams: You might want to leave any players named "Darryl" at home.

I find that the McDonald's in Squamish is the optimal bladder-capacity distance from White Rock when heading up to Whistler. I rationalize free use of their washroom by thinking of all times I've eaten at a McDonalds without using the washroom. I figure I can keep up this behaviour for about another 5 years. At the same highway turnoff in Squamish, the IGA has a surprisingly good selection of stuff, and you're now close enough to Whistler that you can just haul it up in the plastic bags rather than worry about packing it in a cooler.

I recommend the Wine Bar, especially if they've got the live entertainment going. I found the food to be very good, and the atmosphere was fun, especially once the wine was flowing. I didn't eat in the Dining Room, but it looked rather "fancy". I'm sure the food there would be good too.

Some might argue that Cobs doesn't sell bread either.

Those B.G. sandwiches are a really expensive disappointment, nothing like they used to be when made fresh years ago. And, how do they expect one to eat an over mayo'd egg salad on the run (no pun intended) in that type of bread? Messy indeed! ← I use the Bread Garden as a comparison because there is one in the business park where I work, which I use only when I'm truly desperate (like it's 12:50pm, and I've got a 1:00pm meeting that will last the afternoon). I practically cry while waiting in line for a "honey mustard ciabatta letdown". I tell ya, if someone were allowed to park a banh mi wagon in the parking lot they would make a killing. They could charge $6.00 a piece and people would line up.

Totally hooked now on my new banh mi supplier in Richmond - New Asia Deli, off #3 Road, across from the Richmond Centre. I think this place used to be under a different name (Keith??). I've only had the meat ball sandwich - about 5 times now. So good I don't want to venture to their other offerings. My usual order is two to go, which at $3.15 each is really not much at all. They also have a 4 for $11 deal, which I just might try sometime. I shake my head thinking about what I would get at the Bread Garden for $6.30, tax included. The sandwiches are big, wonderfully crusty and flaky, with tasty meatball filling and plenty of pickled veg. I let them "age" on the 10 minute drive back to the office, which leaves the inside more uniformly warm, and the sub a little more compactible, thus reducing the roof-of-mouth shredding that is the price you pay for such a fantastic sandwich.

On the basis of the many recommendations for Au Petit Cafe, we trekked down there today for lunch. Since it was Saturday, not surprisingly we had about a 10 minute wait for a table. I had the #1 sandwich, featuring both meat balls and (pork?) - more meat than I've ever seen in a Banh Mi. Guess that's why it was $4.00. It was very good (the bread was excellent), but it had less pickled vegetables than I like. Also had a seafood pho, which was also good. lemon curd had a beef pho, and we shared some spring rolls, which were quite crispy, with mushrooms inside. All in all, I think the Banh Mi at my traditional haunt, Pho Thy, measures up equally well, and they have (IMO) a more flavourful pho.

Best spot in South Surrey / White Rock is, without a doubt, Poultry in Motion, on Marine Drive in White Rock. Unlike most of the other notable restaurants on Marine Drive, which are on the West Beach, Poultry in Motion is on the Each Beach. It's currently undergoing a renovation, should probably reopen soon. Poultry in Motion is renowned for it's breakfasts, which makes it a busy spot on Saturdays/Sundays when we are likely to go. The breakfasts are pretty traditional - eggs, omelettes, etc., but they do it right. In particular I love their potatoes, which are not "french fries in a different shape" (which I freakin' hate!!), but are new potatoes, pan fried with some onions and peppers. The toast is big honkin' thick slices. The decor is quite casual, like cottage furniture. Coffee is good, and is self-serve. Great place to stop in for a relaxed breakfast, followed by a walk along the beach.

She'd eat it twice as fast if she didn't have to keep one hand on the steering wheel.

When I first read this I thought WTF? thukpa? buff momo? I have no idea what this is. So through my friend google, I found that thukpa looks like a noodle soup, and momo are like dumplings. And I think buff momos would be made with water buffalo meat? The site through the links above has pictures and recipes for a number of Nepalese dishes. Think I'll have to check out Cafe Kathmandu!

I agree with this statement 100%! I've never understood why so many restaurants feel the need to offer such a huge range of dishes on the menu. They can't possibly make them all as well as if they were to focus their efforts on just a few. Anything more than about three appies and three entrees is a waste, and anyone who can't pick from that is a wanker. I think a restaurant that purposely set a very small menu every night, and explained why, could get some real mileage out of it. People would go just to see what was on the menu!

Picked up a flat today at Surrey Farms (152nd & 51ish) for $9.99. Some great strawberries! Ate a whole bunch for lunch right over the kitchen sink. Doesn't get any better.

My guess is that a significant number of patrons of these places are not aware they are paying a premium when compared to liquor store prices. I can see, when the places with a decent selection and best prices are closed, that the convenience is worth a premium. But why would anyone go there during "normal" working hours? Is it for the outstanding service and depth of product knowledge? I doubt it. The two girls working at the newest private store near me had the most perfect blank looks on their faces when I asked if they had any New Zealand whites. About a year ago, some guy was looking to buy up several properties across the street from us, get it all rezoned, and then open up a "neighbourhood pub", complete with cold beer/wine store. At the apparent direction of the city, he tried to soften up those in the "neighbourhood" with tranquil images of lovely brunches with grandma at the neighbourhood "restaurant". Sorry pal, I've seen the clientele that shows up at those places on a Tuesday at midnight in their pickup, stereo blasting, picking up a twelve and leaving only an acid trail of rubber smoke. NIMBY! (geez I sound old...) Why the high-end spirits? No problem - long shelf life and high $/sq.in. Eventually someone will buy it. As for the business model, it's gotta be like 7-11. Convenience. Mark it up. And don't pay any of those union wages. Must be like the convenience stores in Quebec. Have you ever seen the selection in a depanneur in Hull? Most fridge space is taken up by malt liquor in 40 oz bottles.

Surely this was unnecessary.

I agree with Pho Thy! It's my favourite spot for pho, and I love their meatball sub. What's the "house special"?

Anyone been to Habibi's since the handover? Curious to know if/how it's changed.