Daddy-A

Wow! 2 Months to wait, and my mouth is watering already! I don't know if this will change any of your GREAT recs, but we've booked at room at The Inns at Trillium Station. Any of these places near there? (I will plead complete ignorance of your city, but I can read a map and "The Pearl" & "Knob Hill" are on it. I can fake it ) I hear that! We have pretty darn good Pho too! We'll be missing our local Farmer's Market that weekend, so we'll be sure to visit yours! There was a picture on extramsg.com of a mountain of morels ... get me a pan and some butter! Something tells me I'm going to gain weight this trip ... are US pounds worth more or less than Canadian kilograms?? DA

You're on my home turf now! I highly recommend The Pear Tree. It's pretty small, so make reservations. They have set seasonal menus, and a day sheet featuring whatever's fresh. My faves are the Lobster Capuccino, and the Braised Lamb Shanks. Nice wine list too. Good selection of BC wines. I haven't been to The Hart House in a while ... and the last time it was for a wedding so it wasn't off the menu anyway. From what I remember it's a worthwhile visit as well ... the location is right beside Deer Lake. Very pastoral. If you have to choose between the two ... Pear Tree all the way. If the weather is good, you may also want to consider Horizons. It's up on top of Burnaby Mountain, so be sure to reserve a table near the window ... the views are amazing! But ONLY if the weather is good. The clouds really like it up there, and the food, while good, isn't good enough to compensate for the loss of view. You'll have a better meal at one of the other two. If you're looking for dessert ... consider After Eight. It's on Hastings, just East of Willingdon (South side of Hastings). Deserts, coffees, and he may have his liquor liscence by then (martinis & desert wines). Not super-fancy, but he's a good guy, coffee's good (no relation btw ) and I like to support the locals. Cab fare from the Radisson to downtown will be about $20-25 depending. Seriously though ... Pear Tree. DA

Jim, Thanks for the input ... and as it turns out there will only be my wife and I going, so it makes moving around from place to place a bit simpler. Been reading lots about clarklewis ... am looking forward to the olive oil I may have more questions if you Portlanders are up for it? Nice website btw Jim ... may be talking to you in a couple years about Tuscany. DA

OK so maybe we Canucks are a little slow ... but we just got to see the first episodes of ICA. I'm not sure if it was covered in this thread, but the floor-guy was Kevin Brauch. He hosts a show on Food Network Canada called "The Thirsty Traveller." A really great show ... but how he landed the ICA gig I don't know ... he knows his booze, not his fois gras! I've been watching IC for about 5 years now ... and was anxiously awaiting the new version. I DO NOT count William Shatner's version. He should have stuck to Priceline ... Only comment on tonight's ICA ... where was the audience?? If there's one thing that a North American production could have improved on over the Japanese, it would have been the audience. Could you imagine Kitchen Stadium pounding out "We Well Rock You" or the look on Sakai's face as everyone started doing the wave? They missed a great opportunity there. We get the next 2 episodes next Sunday ... I tried to avoid reading the results, so please avoid printing spoilers here if you can help it! DA

Still looking or is there another post that already answers my search? DA

In BC, we call it pop. Even had a store once called the Pop Shoppe ... the fancy spelling making the pop extra special. What about people who call potato chips "crisps"? DA

Are you talking about the Morning Side Cafe? It's either that or the Treehouse. Fulford Harbour is pretty small. The Morning Side has IMO some of the best baking anywhere. Their cookies in particular ... amazing what you can do with spelt (sp?) these days. However, there is one item on their menu I would actually swim Active Pass for. Their Veggie Burger is simply the most amazing meal between two slices of bread (foccacia) I have ever eaten. The patty is a deliscious collection of chick peas and other grains. But the killer addition is a piece of smoked tofu. I am a cheese lover, and I didn't even miss it on this burger. The flavour was very similar to smoked ghouda. Fresh tomatoes, mayo and pest round it out. Incredible! They have a brick oven on the patio, and some really funky carved cedar benches and tables. If you check out the patio roof you'll notice its an airplane wing! Damn! Gotta make a trip there soon! DA

Gastropimp: See, my knowledge is not just limitted to addiction I agree, Lynn Canyon is the better spot to visit, and definitley a better spot to picnic (can you even bring food into CSB?) Coop: Duplo is like Lego on steroids ... big stuff for little folk. Not sure what this has to do about a weekend in Vancouver tho' DA

But Keith, they have just opened up the new "Treetop Adventures"! And if you look on their site, you can get a coupon good for $1 off (not to be combined with other offers/promotions/coupons). That's gotta just scream VALUE.

First off ... you are asking us locals about our home town and not just making assumtions, which immediately takes you out of the category "ignorant yank" IMO. Thanks for that. Thursday: You can also try Mom's on Denman (I believe they're still open) down near Robson. It's kinda close to Stanley Park so pick up a cone and do the Seawall. I like Foodie's suggestions ... and its about 11km (6.5 miles) around the Seawall Do Tojo's if you want sushi, Blue Water if you want seafood. I can't speak to omakase (wife has some serious seafood alergies ... and I can't drop a c-note on dinner without her ) but Tojo-san is the best at what he does. All my out-of-town friends go there without fail when they visit. Friday: I've not been to Kirin, but you may also consider The Banana Leaf or Tropika (14th & Cambie) ... both are Malaysian and very good. Granville Island is an entire afternoon ... possibly an evening if you let it. There is an amazing market. Why not browse ... pick up a few nibblies and a bottle of wine from the VQA store (also in the market) and have a picnic on the hill at the east end of the island, down by the hotel? Bard On The Beach puts on great Shakespeare ... but its primarily an evening thing ... although they do have 4pm shows on Saturday. You may have to skip Burnaby ... ... but if you don't, also consider The Pear Tree. It's not Korean, but it's one of my top 5. Saturday: Best dim sum is Sun Sui Wah. Come hungry. The Capilano Suspension Bridge is great, but touristy. Although not as "impressive" the bridge at Lynn Canyon has better hiking, and is FREE. Dinner ... either Cru or Bis is great. You man also try Bin 941 or Bin 942 ... the bins are small, so be prepared to wait. Sunday: All your thoughts look great ... you may have to recover from Saturday night though Monday: les amis ... sigh ... I do love a piece of pungent, ghastly stinky cheese! Enjoy your trip! DA

You're talking about Honey Donuts I believe ... best in the city IMO. DA

A group of us from Vancouver, BC are planning a road trip to the Brewfest July 23-5 in Portland. While i'm sure we can get the usual nibblies on the festival site, we're interested in enjoying a couple of your city's restaurants. A couple things to keep in mind: 1) As of right now, our Canadian dollar will buy about 72 cents US ... in other words the tab will be about 40% more for us. We'd like to keep the tab to around $20-$30 US per person, wine n/incl. (hopefully we'll have had our fill duirng the day) 2) Think local ... ingredients, chefs, cuisines ... definitely not looking for a chain restaurant. Any help Portland egulleters can offer will be appreciated and returned in kind for any of you coming to Vancouver! DA

Report from the kitchen ... I would have to agree with the previous posts here re: Cioffi's sausage ... good, but not great. We had the "Sage & White Wine" Italian grilled (with a nice risotto.) "Underseasoned" was how Canadiancook described their sausages, and I would have to agree. Having said all that they were certainly a hell of a lot better than anything I have picked up at Costco Faint praise perhaps. But since Cioffi's is on my way home from work, that old convenience factor pops up once again. Perhaps I'll have to drive home via The Drive now ... DA

Intersting where this thread has ended up ... As a born-n-raised Vancouverite (okay, Burnaby, but I get points for proximatey) I love how this city jumps up and speaks out when we are compared with the EAST. And yet ... Wiener dogs? Really? We are the wieners of Canada? Being a Jack-Russel Terrier owner, I respectfully submitt the Jack is an equally suitable, if not somewhat "cooler" comparison. But your point is well taken. By the way, I'm with Keith on the issue of the pre-dining doobie. The subtleties of cevice or ahi would be lost on me (grilled eggplant perhaps not ). Besides, I can't imagine how I could enjoy anything while hacking up a lung. No ... I think I'll stick with a glass of well-paired (not peared) grape to accompany my chow. DA

Cioffi's is on East Hastings near Gilmore (think NBI ) in North Burnaby. Cool little place. Look for the results tonight ... ooo the anticipation. DA

I've been buying sausage from Cioffi lately ... actually been buying LOTS from there lately. Just picked up a new sausage "flavour" today ... white wine & sage. Going to have them tonight with a pumpkin risotto. I'll let you know how they turned out. DA

You are correct sir! Now that I think about it ... Bourdain probably does the "underground eating" thing better than anyone. Just what I was thinking after I read the article. I think what interested me perhaps was the concept of having an "exclusive" experience ... somewhat like that special fly-fishing spot, or favorite look-out, or obscure musician ... that you'd much rather nobody else discovered lest it be somehow spoiled by becoming popular or mainstream. Maybe some of the new restaurants offered up by jamiemaw will meet the need.

So I guess we'd expect a Kurt Cobain-type chef in a mac jacket then? DA

Something I spied in the Seattle Weekly online about a group called Gypsy. Classified as an "underground fine dining fraternity", they produce "raves" for foodies. Anybody know if something like that exists here? If not, what can be done to start it? DA

Damn, I think I'm keeping that one. Is this one of those things that will keep me out of public office .... please? DA

The secret to Cioffi's is to get there around 5 and grab a number! I might be stereotyping here, but most shoppers at Cioffi's are making dinner around 5. Friday afternoons and Saturdays are the worst! Good call on the White Tusk rice. I agree, do your homework and you'll do okay. Same thing works for line-ups here too. 5-6pm seems to work. Or when the Canucks are playing. DA

Sam - My point about the book had more to do with the fact that drug use in the that industry is hardly unusual based on that one book. I'm no expert on the restaurant industry, but I know a thing or two about drug abuse ... and many don't want or need your sympathy. Your understanding perhaps, but it doesn't appear like there is any. One good stereotype deserves another ... what is it about Vancouver and NIMBY? I was born here, and I'm still amazed at how certain neighbourhoods (Kits???) complain bitterly about Vancouver being "no fun city" while at the same time bemoaning the fact that a new restaurant is going to add some more traffic to their evening constitutional.

OMG I am so tired of this whole Atkins thing. It's ruining a perfectly good baking industry. Just like anything, the key to a balanced diet is ... MODERATION. Anybody going to see Supersize Me? Lee's gets a vote from me ... as does Honey Donuts in Deep Cove. Get there early since they're best when warm. DA

Earl's? ROTFLMAO!!! The drunken drug addict that lives next door to me is a Chef @ Earl's-as good reason as any to never darken their door again. His friends are all Kitchen Staff there as well-a more boorish lot of miscreants it would be difficult to imagine. Sam - Have you ever read Tony Bourdaine's Kitchen Confidential? Drug use is hardly a precursor for lack of creativity. Hell, if it was, the entire music scene in the 60's and 70's would have been pretty damn bleak. Earl's has never really thrilled me as far as a dining experience. I usually relegate it to family gatherings where I know getting my entire clan to visit Cru just wouldn't happen. Earl's is safe, predictable, but is a huge step above Boston Pizza (for example) ... although I must admitt I'm getting kinda tired of Kung Pow (sp?) and only 2 pizzas on the menu! I was soooo bummed out when they dropped the Nasi Goreng. Jamie, any idea as to when this new venture will come to Vancouver?

Coop! I know the place! My kids live out in Pitt Meadows so I drive past every now and then ... past the Indian place I mean ... never even noticed the porn shop. Good to know there's a place I can take the kids for decent Indian without having to return to Vancouver. There was also a pretty good place for suhi just off Harris. New owners now. Not so good. DA