maxmillan
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Posts posted by maxmillan
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Thanks for the update on Jules. My friends are taking me there this weekend for my birthday.
I hope the service will be a bit better and without the street people.
BTW, how is dessert there?
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I'm no Pho expert, but I keep going back to Thai Hang at 2122 E. Hastings. I go once a week almost, and it is always rockin at lunch. I've tried others, but they aren't the same to me. It's the broth I love.
There are also two more places one block to the east. Of those two, I prefer the one towards the eastern end of that block.
I was there last weekend for their noodles and lemon grass chicken. The noodle was good but the lemon grass chicken is why my family keeps going there.
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My friend received a Liquor Barn flyer and they advertised Yellow Tail Shiraz for $10.99 but with a limit of two bottles per customer. The flyer stated that the BCLDB's regular price is $12.99 .
She called to see if she could get a couple of cases for a wedding. One store said "No" that they don't supply for weddings? Another store suggested running a credit card 12 times to take advantage of the price with the limit. Another store said "Yes" they could supply two dozen bottles for the sale price.
The second question was what the regular price of Yellow Tail Shiraz will be after the sale. It is $14.99 .
I overheard that the LB would buy up the entire supply of a sale item from the BCLDB warehouse, leaving the government stores short on popular items (Yellow Tail, Crown Royal, Grants, etc.) Then they sell it at a sale price, giving the impression that they have better prices and supply when in fact, they sell everything else at $2 to $5 more than the BCLDB. The LB, based in Alberta (USA owned?) has huge warehouses which allows them to do this.
I find LB inconsistent in pricing, service and information, if not deceptive in their advertising practise.
I don't find the LB stores offer the same service as the BCLDB. The clerks are not as knowledgeable. I know there are other private stores (not the LB) in which the clerks have exceptional knowledge. But my discussion here pertains to the Liquor Barn.
Does anyone have experiences they can share about Liquor Barn?
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West Vancouver's "Savory Island Pie Company."
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Pomona's Universal Pectin will gel anything. Learned it from an Amish woman.
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to check out my local organic stores to see if they carry Pomona pectin. I read the site and it looks good in that you can use less sugar on uncooked berries.
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I mashed 10 cups of whole blackberries with two cups of sugar and added three packages of certo. I didn't cook this as I plan to freeze it. After refrigeration I checked the viscosity and it did not thicken any more.
It's fine for toast and pancakes but it would be nicer to have a thicker jam without adding extra sugar and certo.
Any suggestions from the experts?
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. . .
Another tool I bought a couple of years ago at Gourmet Warehouse here in Vancouver is a vegetable peeler with a serrated edge so you can peel things with fragile skins like tomatoes and peaches. As it's canning time, this a great little tool to have as well.
I have been watching for one of these to show up locally. I would love to use it to peel peppers without roasting them first. I am sure I can order it on line but am convinced it will show up soon in a store near me.
I'm near Basic Stock on West 4th. Could you please let me know the name of the brand of peeler?Thanks.
Cook's Illustrated did a review of this peelers and recommended them. I believe Zyliss was the maker.
Bed, Bath & Beyond should carry them. From Amazon:
Thanks so much for the info. Zyliss sure makes great products. Someone recommended the Zyliss garlic press on eGullet and I bought it. It is the best one I've bought yet.
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It was 3am and through bleary eyes I watched in fascination at this infomercial advertising a large toaster size electric rotisserie.
After a few more viewings and browsing through the internet I thought this could offer me roasted meals without using my oven. My place is tiny and I don't like oven food smell permeating my furniture and clothing. I cook on a portable gas range outside (bacon, stir fry, etc.) This rotisserie can make chicken, roast, french fries and so on.
Does anyone have any comments before I buy this?
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. . .
Another tool I bought a couple of years ago at Gourmet Warehouse here in Vancouver is a vegetable peeler with a serrated edge so you can peel things with fragile skins like tomatoes and peaches. As it's canning time, this a great little tool to have as well.
I have been watching for one of these to show up locally. I would love to use it to peel peppers without roasting them first. I am sure I can order it on line but am convinced it will show up soon in a store near me.
I bought one earlier this year at Basic Stock on W. 4th. Perfect for kiwis!
Edited to add: Sorry, not very close to Anna N
I'm near Basic Stock on West 4th. Could you please let me know the name of the brand of peeler?
Thanks.
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Does anyone know which of the vendors sell organic garlic? I want to use them for freezing and planting.
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Zucchinis are now coming out in full force. I made a spray of one part ammonia and ten part water and it seems to work.
Now I want to propagate a blueberry stem I got from a friend but don't know a thing about propagation. I have the fresh stem in a jar of water right now. Do I really need rooting solution to start it off?
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I was thinking of going to Westham Island to pick blueberries. Maybe Bissett Farm? Does anyone have experience going there? They also have Westham Island Winery there and some other farms I think. Not organic, but integrated pest management.
Also, what are people charging for U-Pick? $2/lb?
I wonder how long it will take me to pick $20 worth of blueberries?!!
Judging from what I picked last time, it may take you three hours.
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Not exactly an "ingredient", but I am looking for a source of 8-10 oz. stoneware bowls. Deeper rather than shallow, so as to be usable for soup and soft desserts White (to match some other items). 150 pieces. $2 each or less. Ideas?
Have you tried Puddifoot? http://www.puddifoot.com/
I've seen some ramekins at Buy Low in Kingsgate Mall and the same ones at Welks Dollar Store (Main and 19th) for $1. Welks also has other dishes in the size you want. You may want to check them out or other dollar stores for the large quantity that you need.
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re: slugs
Copper wire or tape is reported to be an effective barrier:
Thanks for the link. I read through it and think I will try some of the methods, especially the ammonia spray.
The oregano seem to work only on areas where I placed them. I wrapped the fresh oregano around the base of the zucchini plant but those little buggers still get at the stem end. I made a poultice with oregano and slathered it around the stalk part and that seem to work, too.
Now I see wood bugs eating some of the zucchini leaves. Either they are attracted to the trail of slug slime or the baby slugs are attracted to them.
Any advice on getting rid of or deterring wood bugs?
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Thanks to the above for answering my strawberry inquiry.
My zucchini plant is being ravaged by slugs. Not big ones, but baby ones that are eating the flower and tender stalk near the base.
I have placed beer nearby which is successful on non-rainy days. But with this recent rain I've been picking out the baby slugs and they keep multiplying. I know to keep the area dry come night time but right now that's hard to do. Should I cover the plant with plastic so the area around it stays dry? I've wrapped and sprinkle fresh oregano at the base hoping this will deter them.
What else can I do?
What are slugs good for anyways?
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At the Global Warming Forum a speaker from Thrifty's explain how they purchase produce from local farms. The interpersonal professionalism and respect between the two is something that can get lost in larger businesses. I hope this does not happen.
For example, if a farmer has a small crop of strawberries due to bad weather, Thrifty's is willing to buy from the farmer at a decent price and pass it on to the consumer. Now, this may not sound good for you and me but the farmer has to maintain a living to ensure future (successful) crops which you and I will enjoy. Supporting local farmers is an important aspect of Thrifty's which I admire.
Thrifty's still does bring in imports but special attention is given to local farmers to appease customers who believe in sustainable eating. There are other factors for supporting local produce which I'm sure has been discussed already.
I have not shopped at Thrifty's but only heard of good things about customer service and quality of products. The only other place I get this from is from Stongs.
Hopefully, the buyout will allow Thrifty's to expand to Vancouver and service and quality will be maintained.
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I had another taste of the blueberries which were cold from the fridge. The Beckman's (Farmer's Market) blueberries were bland compared to the Richmond U-pick. Beckman's blueberries were much larger and softer in texture, not something I like. I'm sure it's because it's too early because last year they were delicious.
The Richmond blueberries were slightly tart and smaller but had more flavor.
My family usually buy the cheaper sprayed berries and, unfortunately, they are tastier.
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I've harvested all the strawberries from my June bearing plant. The weather is now getting warmer and wonder if anything else will grow from this plant.
If not, what can I do to save this plant for next year? Is it possible?
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I picked about 8 pounds of organic blueberries today in Richmond. There was a warm breeze which helped. It took me three hours because a lot of berries were not ripe. There were, however, a few areas where there were an abundance of blueberres.
The fellow who runs this farm is Cambodian, a very friendly guy who fed me homemade Cambodian noodle soup because I was hungry. On my way home I bought more blueberries from the Nat Bailey Farmer's Market. Beckman's blueberries were a little sweeter and a little more pricier but worth it because it's not sprayed.
I would say blueberries will be in abundance from this weekend on at the U-pick.
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Found an organic (practice) farm in Richmond 7040 No. 5 Road (and Granville) in Richmond. They charge a lot if you're picking only a small amount and less if you pick more (over $2 per pound.) They are opened on the weekend but will let you pick on the weekdays if you call and confirm. I found it on this site:
http://www.pickyourown.org/canadabc.htm
From talking to the person, it's not the same place I picked last year but I'm sure there is another farm next door that is also organic which I will have to check out tomorrow.
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Seems like I did the same thing last Friday as Chocomoo. I visited Monde for some Zotter bars and then to Kei's Bakery for some pastry. BTW, I finally got to try their matcha pastry cream filled bun and it was delicious. However, not being use to caffeine, it gave me quite the energy boost.
The Zatar bars I bought at Monde are the apple and balsamic vinegar, passionfruit and walnut and saffron rice chocolate. The next time I'm going to try their curry chocolate and some other unusual flavors. The salesperson told me that they plan to get in over two dozen more new flavors. I'm not a chocolate person so my friends were very pleased to try these bars as well. The one they liked was the passionfruit and walnut.
Has anyone else tried the more unusual flavors?
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I am in the middle of landscaping the backyard, and about to build a kitchen garden. Is it too late to plant a kitchen garden this season? I was thinking about some tomatoes, maybe some herbs... any advice for a novice gardener?
It's not too late. I've planted some seeds in some peat pods and they are germinating. Even the tomatoes are germinating and I planted them in peat pods two weeks ago. With this recent heat, it's coming up like weeds. BTW, I kept some seeds from those sweet yellow tomatoes purchased from Milan two years ago at the Farmers Market and these are the ones above.
I also put out some seedlings of lettuce and kale in some pots and they are coming up nicely. I started these last week.
You can probably start some squashes as well. They grow remarkably well. Tonight I found the culprit slug eating at my zucchini plant. I put out some cheap beer for them to swim in. The trick is not to put it too close to your plants. You want them to steer away from your precious bounty.
I plan to plant garlic bulbs when the squashes are harvested. I've had my first taste of scapes and I'm hooked. The Farmers Market charges too much for them. I got it cheaper at the UBC Farmers Market. Even cheaper if I grow my own. Make sure the bulbs that you plant are organic or they will not sprout.
I missed the UBC Farmers Market presentation on Winter Gardening but I plan to purchase the book by Linda Gilkeson called, "Year-Around Harvest." This book describes winter hardy vegetables that you can grow and simple cold protection methods. She will also be doing the same presentation on Aug 15 and September 22 in Richmond. Also this Saturday, July 7, UBC Farmers Market is having a Summer Fest. You can learn sustainable gardening tips and get an idea as to what you can still plant this month.
The weather looks very good this week so I hope you get a chance to put in some plants.
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Was Apooh there?
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I was disappointed today when I went to Emma Lea on Westham Island to pick raspberries and there was no U-pick. They were picked clean on the weekend. Last year I made it out on the first day of raspberry U-pick and the berries were huge, sweet and plentiful. They did have ready-picked raspberries for sale. They also had strawberries.
I headed to Bissett Farm and picked raspberries. They were not as nice as Emma's but will do for jam. The tayberries were ready with more to ripen this weekend. The taste reminds me of champagne and I think it will do wonderfully for preserving. They also had ready picked raspberries for sale. But I overheard that they get it from Abbotsford and their berries were reserved for U-pick. The ready-picked raspberries looked much bigger and a lot less dusty than the ones I picked. They also had ready-picked BC strawberries. I think after this weekend, it will be the end of BC strawberries. Frankly, I think some of the California strawberries were sweeter this year.
UBC apple festival
in Western Canada: Cooking & Baking
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I went a few years ago and I arrived early. Although a few varieties of apples were sold out, I had a chance to buy a bag that I've not tried before. I also bought an apple sappling and tried as many samples as possible. Yes, it was crowded but I had a great time.
I guess the trick is to get there early on the first day. I don't think paying $6 for a 3lb bag is expensive for a one time try. No one blinks at paying $6 for two bags of Tostitos.
I bought local organic gala apples from Capers and they taste like crap. The apples I buy from the Farmers Market are a little more pricey but so much more tasty. The apples I bought from UBC were also delicious.
I do hope your experience does stop you from trying an earlier time next year. It is so worth it.