Keith Talent
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Posts posted by Keith Talent
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I just read that this particular story has climbed to 8th most emailed article in the newspaper. Great to hear about that many people intersested.
Nothing interests Vancouverites more than tangential mention in the east coast media.
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And I promise not to shill for Pattison anymore today.
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Superpretzels (http://www.superpretzel.com/) are a close alternative. Now that might seem like a tease, because I can't for the life of me remember where I found them in Vancouver. But I know I have. I just can't remember where. Maybe someone else can help out?
Cheers!
This is sad, twice in one day I've recommended Save on Foods. You can occasionally find Superpretzels in the freezer there. They are next to those freakish pizza/calzone hybrid things. I suspect they're seasonal, or at least they are for me, they're the perfect accompaniment to an NFL game in November.
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You can get Buffalo at Save On Foods. Outside of that, I'd suspect that any butcher would order whatever you wanted, (hell the crew at Herringers is so nice, they'd probably come over and cook it if you asked.)
And there's frozen buffalo at Seafair Meats, in the freezer. Ostrich almost everywhere.
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Re-reading my original post, I'm still not certain why anyone feels it to be even slightly provocative. White Spot is horrid, Rob made a mistake lending them credibility and taking their money. I observed the obvious, big deal.
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The North American solution is to send your wife to pick it up, then pretend she's the delivery driver when she brings it home. Works for me.
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Vogue was our local until our local re-education commitee suggested we spend some time on a workfarm in the country and readjust our western imperialist attitudes and now are happier in the less bourgoise environs of Shanghai wind. Agreed about the Earls calibre waitresses, they're friendly and helpful, and speak better english than me.
Taiwanese seem to enjoy things that are both sweet and spicy. Being a Japaleno jelly exporter to Taipei would probably be quite lucrative.
I've said it before, I'll say it again; There's not a bad meal to be had in that mall. Ellie two doors over is my favourite Malaysian spot in town. Not the best Laksa, but everything else is superb. The Japanese noodle shop across from Vogue is excellent, as it the Shabu Shabu place next door.
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There is probably something like this in Vietnam.
There is. How great would it be to instead of having the irritating ice cream man shatter the peace with his tape loop of "The Entertainer" cranked to eleven on his loudspeaker the soothing tones of the soup man were to ring out. In Indonesia a guy with a cart wanders the streets making fresh bowls of soup from his self contained cart. Think Mr. Tube Steak but with Laksa. And mobile. l
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"ome things are not meant to be delivered. As an honorary Chinese person - you should know this. Don't make me revoke your privilages." And as an actual Asian person you should know that the ingenousness with all asian cultures overcoming difficulties regarding food can't be topped. If your defeatist attitude had been prevelant in Shanghai, no one would have ever attempted to get soup inside of a dumpling, too hard. No one would have ever gone through (probably) 842 different (horrid) attempts to make something delicious out of a birds nest before hitting on the one cooking method that made it taste good.
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You can get booze from any online grocery retailer. Well wine and beer at least. If you really need booze you can always get a bottle of Dewars thrown in the back of a cab courtesy of a local liquor store.
Also, Dial a Bottle is happy to bring you a bottle into most municipalities.
And the noodles would hold up fine. They're fine for takeout, they package them separately from the hot broth. The sprouts andf basil are also in separate containers, no deterioration of quality what so ever. And the 2.75 Banh Mi problem is easily overcome, minimum $20 charge for delivery, like every other restaurant in the world has as it's policy.
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I can get everything delivered. Books, booze, crap pizza, shit chinese, hell even apparently narcotics if you know the correct ordering technique. So why the hell no Pho? Why no Banh Mi? Anyone know a pho shop that delivers? I'd gladly move withing the 5Km free delivery radius if I could get pho. And notice, I'm not even fussy if it's good pho, I'd settle for any pho, and sandwich.
Why the hell has capitalism let us down in this vital regard? Adam Smith's invisible hand should be bringing it to me on a platter. Stupid invisible hand. Do I really want to live in a world with disgusting White Spot Burgers available at every Chevron in town, but can't get a nice crusty banh mi made with strangely appealing rubbery meatballs, crisp lightly pickled vegatables, slivers of chili garnished with cilantro and sweet mayo delivered to my door? I say no.
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Yeah, I agree with the whole scenery instead of interior style theory. The only problem is you can only look at the boring assed mountains so many times before you're completely and utterly tired of them.
And thanks Wylman, the organisation is Starr Restaurants (BEWARE - Hyper irritating flash site. The man might be a great designer, but he's total crap at the web.) I didn't look at any menus, the pages were too frusterating to try.
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What is Vancouver's best restaurant interior? I was watching Opening Soon last night of Food, and the programme was about Marcus Samuelsons new joint in Philly, partnered with a local restaurant impresario who has opened ten spots in Phillidelphia, including Morimoto (of Iron Chef fame). All of this gentlemans projects were miles ahead of the design of any local restarant I could think of. What is Vancouvers best designed restaurant? And why does beige factor so heavily in our high end locales? (Think Coast, Lumiere, C.)
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You can walk sober, or drive while drinking, no shame in that.
And I'm not a fan of dinner at Rowena's, they certainly have a fairly strong grasp on the concept of "substantial breakfast" which would be most filling until you made the turn. In fact I bet, (and this is pure unadulterated speculation) that they'd be happy to feed you breakfast at the turn, provided it wasn't too busy, and you organised it with the proshop and kitchen first.
And it's a superb golf course, as well as stellar accomodations in gorgeous surroundings. Close, too.
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So on Sunday we drove by The East Richmond Farmers Market in the parking lot of Cambie Secondary at the corner of Jacombs and Cambie. We thought we'd stop by, maybe get a few things for dinner. I want to be charitable, I want to be positive, I really do support grassroots community efforts, particularly those that will improve the quality of tomatos on my table.
It was sad, and not sad in a charming small town sort of way, sad in the way that there was the sum total of five vendors, four of which supplied crocheted goods. It's new, they're trying and for that I will continue with support, but really they need to boost the vendor count. There was one produce stand, a young girl from Kelowna, taking care of her two young kids, and selling some pretty grim organic vegetables. If anyone is looking for small organic zucchini at 2.50 each, lemme know, I can hook you up.
The Mrs. felt bad and wanted to support someone, anyone, she ended up buy some peanut butter cookies from a kindly old lady who clearly had a grandmother that knew nothing of baking.
If you're in the area, stop by for no other reason than the organisers are trying really hard. They're out telling everyone that soon they'll have more vendors etc. A for effort. The fundemental problem is Richmond is blessed with produce stands second in number only to noodle shops and S class Mercedes. Why do we need a farmers market, well I know why we need it, I don't know what would induce your average citizen to patronize it. I'll give it another try, spend a few bucks if only to remain a net positive in society.
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Two quick points. A) Salumi is worth the drive to Seattle in and of itself. I'll trade the citizens of the Emerald City Oyama, Amis des Frommage and throw in Go Fish for Salumi. Lemme know if you want to go ahead, Seattle.
And the burgers at Fairview Mountain could entirely be made with the prevelant marmots all over the course. Those are one strange patty. Maybe the best way to describe them is Spam made with bison? Or at least they have both the texture and taste of what I'd imagine bison Spam to taste like. Or marmot.
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Anywhere you can get grilled chicken hearts is A-okay in my book. The frightening thing is how damn tasty chicken heart is when grilled. Go early, service is better before the crowds.
That block of Thurlow scares me. Look at the restaurants, mostly touristy, no? Now next time you're overseas look for that block of Thurlow again. You'll see it. I've seen it in London, Paris, Hong Kong, that exact same block. Congrats, you've now found the tourist restaurants. Now run away.
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That's what I thought - but these were labelled as "Abbotsford" blueberries - that's why I was confused.
Looking at the BC Blueberries website (Wow! There's something I never thought I'd write!) I see that harvest starts early July. I'd be very skeptical if with this crappy June we're experiencing led to an extraordinary early start to harvest. I'd guess they're "mislabeled" to state it charitably. I'd not pay a premium for local organic berries for sure.
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Stunningly shocking generousity from C. Amazing. Food, wine, service, hell they even managed to get the weather perfect. I'd usually attribute the fine weather to chance, but seeing how organized the whole event was, I suspect they played a role in it.
Thank you to everyone involved. Finest lunch I've ever had in the city.
And love is been shown to the scallop/pork/morel combo above. My vote for the dish of the event was the oysters to start. How oysters can be made lighter than air so they dissolve on your tongue leaving behind a subtle whiff of the sea I'll never know. They were far and away the best oysters I've ever eaten, second place isn't even close.
And apologies to Leonard, who I'm refered to as Gerald (of Vera's fame) when introducing myself. I don't know why, perhaps the pints at the HSG, or perhaps the hard constanant followed by some vowels ending with a D. Or maybe I'm just an idiot. Sorry.
Thanks again to C.
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Local blueberries aren't ready yet. They must be southern imports.
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I was at Ikea (that's Swedish for "tons of good looking women everywhere you look,) last night and hot dogs are not a buck as previously reported. THEY'RE FIFTY CENTS! Bad rapper or bad dog, you pick. If I'm ever down on my luck I'm moving in near an Ikea, I could walk over and feed my whole family for like two bucks, three if we're hungry. Add the dollar breakfast deal and you wonder why you even bother with a kitchen. It's going to be total irony when the Swedes put Arnie out of business, kitchens will become obsolete, and he'll have to rely on Ikea hot dogs, the very thing that caused his downfall for his protein.
For what it's worth, I'm hoping for anther BSE outbreak. Keep Mr. Salverson employed.
Fifty cent hot dogs! That's like buying a clearance parachute, it's kinda one of those things you don't want the very lowest price on.
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I'm quickly becoming Alexandra Gill's biggest fan, she wrote about Marmalade in todays Globe. She scathed it in such a manner that even I feel bad for the proprietors. Think Maw on Wilsons level heat. I give it two weeks before it turns into a beer-and-nacho hangout
That's hard. Ouch.
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It's not a hideaway if you tell us all where it is.
"Where's Shelora?"
"Hiding on the Deck at the Empress?"
"She sucks at hiding."
Three ounces for eleven bucks and a killer view is a hell of a deal though.
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Unfortunately the Vienna hot dog served at Target is NOT the same as the one served at Chicago hot dog joints. It is specially formulated and made for a roller grill. I had one this past Sunday and found it mediocre. Similar to a 7-11 hot dog.
I'm praying that based on your sig you have far higher standards than I, and I'll find the Target dog good. THen again you've eaten a 7-11 dog, so...
A Tale of Two Sandwiches
in Western Canada: Dining
Posted
Both yesterday and today the missus and I have met over lunch to continue our perpetual task of buying a table and sex...err...six chairs. (<---Clear Freudian slip, I'm not editing it out, I kinda like it.) Anyway, yesterday we went to the Koolhaus Warehouse, sorry Warehaus off Clarke. On the way back to work we stopped at a Banh Mi shop on Clarke, southwest corner of Kingsway. Vietnamese Deli I beleive it was called. And it was a real deli, if I had even the vaguest notion what they were selling, I might have bought something. Anyway, sandwiches were two fifty each. Best Bank Mi I've ever had, with the exception of being light on mayo. Pate, lots of veg, (could have been slightly more pickled), killer bread. Ate it in the car, got crumbs everywhere. Three (big) sandwichs for seven fifty.
Today we went to some antique store across the street from Meinhardt that specializes in mid century modern furniture. Sadly the chairs we wanted were far more attractive in the website than in person, the search continues. Parked right in front of Picnic, went in for lunch. I had roast beef, blue cheese and onion, wife had turkey and roast peppers. ten bucks each, comes with a side salad. Okay, that's pricey but you come to the big city, get ready to pay.
No one is there except for us. I order. The clerk tells we I need to move to the end of the counter to order, never mind the fact that the place is empty, rules and procedures must be followed. They ask if we'd like our sandwiches grilled. Hell yes. All sandwiches should be grilled. Get our order and get in the car. Get to King Edward and Granville, pull out lunch and take a bite. WTF? SPROUTS? WHO THE HELL PUTS SPROUTS ON A PANINI? Sprouts, no lie. No blue cheese, rather generic provolone. The ten dollar sandwich is about the size of an I-pod. Side salad consists of brown at the edges generic baby field green mix served in a 250 ml. plastic container. I have no idea what it tasted like, as they forgot to throw a fork in the bag. Or maybe it was incumbent on me to fetch my own fork. I hate when takeout places don't provide cutlery, and neglect to mention it's serve yourself. Scratch that, I plain hate takeout places that are so effiecent, the make you get your own plastic spork. Thanks for that. I'll bet the labour saving there adds up to at least three dollars a year. Spiffy takeout bag though. If were were grading places based on their chic takeout bags in this city, Rangoli would be first, Picnic second, and Wendy's third. If we were judging takeout, Rangoli would be first still, and Wendy's and Picnic would be battling it out too, probably not for second and third though.
I'm still amazed that I received sprouts on a roast beef sandwich. The chairs we were looking at were circa '73, who knew my sandwich was going to be too.