Mooshmouse

After thoroughly enjoying ourselves at January's Syrah/Shiraz event, we quickly jumped on the bandwagon for this month's Sparkling Wine tasting and dinner. Admittedly, all the men declared "meh" on champagne and sparkling wine in general; clearly, they were in it for the food. I dunnoh... is sparkling wine a chick thing?! From the blind tasting, my neck-and-neck favourites of the wine flight were the Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut Rose (blackcurrant and raspberry) and the De Venoge Champagne, "Cordon Bleu" Brut Select (dry, clean finish, hints of fresh bread and grapefruit, beautifully fragrant). The Batasiolo Moscato d'Asti 2003 (sweet, soft mouthfeel, hints of rose and peach) ran a close second. Food. When is food at Cru not good, nay great? Since Jeff has already outlined the menu and corresponding pairings, I’ll comment on specific dishes. Arne, you would’ve been over the moon for the Oysters Rockerfeller; I certainly was. Jeff, I thought I was going to have to hijack the extra oyster that lemon curd added to your plate. I wasn't fond of the Sumac Ridge Estate Steller’s Jay Brut 2001 on its own, yet it tasted much better when paired with the oysters. Sablefish was, by far, the runaway dish of the evening. The lobster and scallop ravioli offered an excellent complement to the fork-tender fish, but the broth was truly a thing of wonder. Light, fabulously layered flavour. It would’ve been criminal to waste a single drop. Vanilla Pannacotta was creamy yet astonishingly light. As Jeff called it, the miniature “burnt sugar bomb” garnish was a nice counterpoint, both in texture and flavour. Kudos to Mark Taylor, Chef Dana Reinhardt and crew for hosting another outstanding evening. I’m already looking forward to the next one! BTW, thanks for starting this thread Jeff. It’s been ridiculously busy at the Mouse House of late, and I was slow on the draw in posting my comments on this event.

As you said, Scott Jaeger's cuisine at The Pear Tree is in a class unto itself. One of our favourite restaurants in the Lower Mainland. And the gelato at Casa Dolce is, indeed, very tasty. I also love that there's lots of outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying a sweet treat on a warm summer's evening. Make sure to head back and sample their wares Arne. My knee-jerk reaction to this question would be Takumi Sushi, located at 3495 North Road in Burnaby, 1 block up the hill from Lougheed Mall in a strip mall on the west side of the street. Traditional Japanese food and service, stellar sushi (some of the best I've had anywhere in the Lower Mainland), almost always packed to the gills (pardon the pun ). Hopefully montrachet will chime in and give you his expert analysis of their menu offerings. I'd also suggest the Mayan Art Cafe in Port Coquitlam that I posted about on the local Coffeehouses thread. Good coffee is no longer an anomaly in PoCo.

Have to say that I'm ecstatic to have a coffee shop like Prado in the 'hood! So are a lot of other people, apparently, as it was packed on Saturday morning. Owned by an ex-JJBean staffer, Prado offers a different vibe that anything else I've found on The Drive. Hip and minimalist in its decor, to be certain, but that's part of the appeal for me. Friendly baristi with an average of 3 years' experience under their belts who pull a good shot and are very aware of the importance of consistency. The Intelligentisia beans they use definitely have a different flavour profile than the Stumptown that Alistair is currently using at The Elysian Room -- lighter and not as full bodied but still very tasty. No complaints from me whatsoever on the lattes and cappuccinos I've had there to date. Prado also sells lots of great freshly-baked goods for snacking... the peach crumble and cream cheese muffin I'm eating right now is fabulous as are their ginger cardamom cookies. Vin, you were absolutely right when you said: If you're ever on The Drive, be sure to check it out.

My point exactly 3WC.

No, actually, I've never used Green Earth Organics. When Quick.com was in existence and Noah was a wee tot, I ordered from them quite frequently. They were outstanding, and I was sad to see the service go under. That being said, I started to use grocery shopping excursions as an almost zen-like break from Mommy duties and eventually weaned myself off of home delivery. Keep us posted on your reconnaissance efforts!

What she said. Damn fine burger!

I cannot say enough about how incredibly delicious today's lamb burger was at the HSG. Though I usually eat at the speed of continental drift, the burger disappeared in what seemed like 2.2 seconds flat... and I wanted to bring a second one home for dinner this evening. Hands down, one of the best burgers I've ever had. You can bet there'll be many more of them in my dining future. Thanks again Neil!

Haven't eaten at Zagros in years since it was in the space now occupied by Random (1326 Davie). From what I remember, the food was tasty and the service friendly. When I saw that Random had moved in, I thought Zagros was no more... happy to hear that they're still in business and will have to head back for a return visit. Thanks for the tip Sarah!

What about Green Earth Organics?

Actually, I'm not sure. Noah's gelato craving overrode any other dessert considerations.

Yep, that's the one. ← Moka House actually. Note that hip and funky Salt Spring Island spelling. Oop. Sarah beat me to it. At any rate, better espresso than Salt Spring Roasting IMHO. And great sandwiches too.

It was the only coffee within walking distance when I worked in Surrey. They served stuff like Snickers-flavoured lattes. Doesn't that say it all?

Let me preface this post by clarifying that I am neither a pizza aficionado nor an Italian food connoisseur. That being said, the Mouse Family made the trek up Hastings to Da Francesco to taste-test the pizza and had a fantastic evening. It’s always a good sign when the wonderful aroma of tomatoes and garlic envelops you as soon as you walk through the door. We were warmly welcomed by our server and immediately felt right at home in this casual, unpretentious neighbourhood restaurant. The three of shared an order of the Osso Bucco with penne in tomato sauce and a medium Quattro Staggione which combines 4 types of pizza: al funghi (mushroom), veggetariana (artichokes, mushrooms, green peppers and onions), salami, and napoletana (anchovies). Sadly, we replaced the anchovies for pineapple, Noah’s favourite... but I’ll be back for those anchovies! Pizza crust was crispy and not too, too thin with just enough of a doughy bite (yes, Lorna, it had that perfect char on the bottom!). Osso Bucco was good, but the most memorable part of the meal for me was the penne. Perfect al dente pasta and the best sweet garlicky tomato sauce I’ve tasted in a while. I’ll have garlic oozing out of my pores for days, but it was worth every delectable mouthful. To accompany our meal, Ian had a Peroni Nastro Azzuro beer and I had a glass of house red (2003 Amore Osso Rocco). I probably could have tried a little harder with my wine selection but, hey, I was about to order an Aranciata and didn’t want to think about it too much; nonetheless, it was a light, enjoyable red. Dessert was a dish of nutty chocolate gelato with chocolate sauce and a cappuccino made with Saquella Caffe Espresso Crema Gran Forte beans. Ian and I ate it Affogato style: a bit of gelato in the spoon together with some cappuccino. Bliss. Service was friendly and accommodating. Even Francesco himself came out to say hello. And another positive sign was the Italian clientele… food always has a way of bringing out lively conversation with strangers. Dining at Da Francesco felt like sitting around the table in an Italian family kitchen and chatting with friends over a home-cooked meal. No pretense, no fuss. Just good company and good food. Molto bene. We’ll definitely be back.

I'm partial to the Muir Glen salsas for commercially jarred stuff... lots of garlic and cilantro. I believe they're available at Save-On-Foods, Capers and Choices.

After resolving some issues with my camera's memory card, I've finally posted my photos from the eGulleter DOV dinner at West in this album. My only complaint is that the pictures uploaded backwards, so you're viewing them from finish to start as opposed to the right way 'round. Oh well. Though they're long overdue, I hope you enjoy the photos. With all the fallout surrounding DOV hoopla, I thought it'd be nice to reminisce about good meals! Edited to add some positive DOV sentiment.

From what I saw on "Into The Fire" of Carnegie making their own product, pastrami is steamed and corned beef is boiled. Montreal smoked meat would be, as it's named, smoked.

When you're struck by a late-night urge to bake and stay up until 2:15 a.m. making cookies. Just because.

To repeat my comment in Brian's thread on the Montreal forum: Good grief Charlie Brown! This afternoon's episode of "Into The Fire" on FoodTV Canada featured Carnegie Delicatessen and Restaurant. I have never seen sandwiches like those in my entire life. 6" to 8" high, 3 1/2 lbs of meat! Nothing short of extraordinary. The owner's favourite saying: "I only have two rules. First, you can't leave until you finish what's on your plate. Second, if I can see an empty plate, then I know I've done something wrong."

Good grief Charlie Brown! This afternoon's episode of "Into The Fire" on FoodTV Canada featured Carnegie Delicatessen and Restaurant. I have never seen sandwiches like those in my entire life. 6" to 8" high, 3 1/2 lbs of meat! Nothing short of extraordinary. The owner's favourite saying: "I only have two rules. First, you can't leave until you finish what's on your plate. Second, if I can see an empty plate, then I know I've done something wrong."

Sunny afternoon lunch today out on the patio at the Marinaside location of BoJangles Cafe. The three of us shared a smoked salmon sandwich on cheese and onion bread, a tuna salad sandwich on 7 grain, a mango smoothie and a strawberry/kiwi Snapple. Simple fare, to be sure, but it tasted oh so good eaten outdoors on a warm spring day. Szechuan Chongqing on West Broadway and Fir for cheap dim sum with a group of eGulleters on Wednesday. Loads and loads and loads of food, but that didn't stop us from grabbing coffees at The Elysian Room before heading over to La Petite France for Ling's infamous chocolate cake taste-testing. Group favourites were the Moëlleux Chocolat au Rhum and the Sacher Torte. All that dining followed up that evening by numerous martinis and small plates at Ch'i. Sampled quite a variety of dishes; however, I'd have to choose the lotus root chips with sweet chili aioli, the tempura oysters with tobiko, and the coconut creme caramel as my absolute favourites. I can see myself dropping a lot of food and drink dollars at this neighbourhood haunt. Lunch at Burgoo a little while back with Mr. Mouse and a girlfriend. Boeuf Bourgignon over garlic mashed potatoes and a caesar salad for me. Rich stew-y comfort-food goodness and a good healthy dose of garlic and anchovies. Gotta love it. Can't forget dining al fresco at Go Fish two sunny Fridays ago with Daddy-A and Peppyre. Dear husband and I split the halibut and chips and a piece of grilled albacore tuna atop a bed of greens. Also an incredible bowl of BBQ salmon chowder with a little touch of curry. The joint was really jumpin: queue of 10 people before the shutters raised for the day's business, and about 40-50 people on the deck within 15 minutes of opening... a testament to the fabulous food.

Along the same lines of Jamie's suggestion, there's also BoJangles Cafe on Marinaside for more casual fare, 1/2 a block east of Provence. In inclement weather, there are cozy club chairs by the fireplace, perfect for leisurely literary pursuits. The Mouse family stopped at BoJangles for lunch today midway through our seawall bike ride, and we lucked into one of the best sunny tables out on the patio. Food always tastes so much better eaten al fresco, particularly with the knowledge that our countrymen to the east are still freezing in their boots. God, I love this city!

Mmmm. Yukon bacon. Served up in massive quantites at one of our favourite kitschy breakfast places. Ian remembers dining at the Tomahawk with his parents as a kid, staring up at the First Nations artifacts staring down at him, so our meals there with Noah are always tinged with a bit of nostalgia. Makes the bacon taste that much better.

A quick note of appreciation for such a candid and fascinating blog, both in the culinary and visual sense. You've offered us some fabulous insight on life in Dubai, and I've greatly enjoyed reading about your week. Thanks very much!

West, in a heartbeat. I can't say enough about the culinary genius of Chef David Hawksworth; every meal I've enjoyed there has been nothing short of superlative. And, according to your criterion, absolutely memorable. Website is here, the Dine Out Vancouver thread for West is here, and the blowout-over-the-top Chef's Table thread is here. If your fiancee has specific food concerns, you should PM Chef Hawksworth directly to discuss them. I'm sure he'd be more than accommodating.

An article in today's Vancouver Courier noted that Rubina Tandoori is closing its doors on April 1 after 22 years of business. Apparently, Krishna Jamal is packing her bags for a culinary adventure to India and London this April in search of new recipes and cooking methods. Tamarind will be staying open in Jamal's absence. For its closing run, Rubina Tandoori is featuring its annual festival of Indian street food -- Mumbai Masala -- from March 7 to 31. I, for one, will be sad to see it go. Get it while you can.