Mooshmouse

Oh no. You saw right. Those are the bottle prices. We were there last year for a friend's 40th birthday celebration... thankfully, it was just appies and cocktails or we would've broken the annual vino budget in one evening.

While stuffing our faces with chocolate tarts at Bravo Bistro late last night, I suggested the idea of a chocolate ganache kolachy. It'd be pricey, certainly, but I know eGulleters would gladly buck up for it!

You've got it. Almost spells deathknell right from the get-go.

Looking forward to your review!

Not wanting to be a nay-sayer, but my two experiences at Vintropolis have been less than stellar... rather "meh" IMHO. Overpriced and overrated. Still, I'd be willing to give it one more shot at redemption. If it's any comfort to the vegetarians in your crew, I found the seafood salad to be the most palatable of the menu offerings I've sampled.

Interestingly enough, located on the east side of Nanaimo, 1/2 a block south of 1st Avenue in Vancouver. I've been wondering about this place as I drive past it almost every day.

Are you talking strict vegetarians, pescetarians, poultry-tarians? What about Zin Restaurant and Lounge on Robson Street? Hip party room and they're great at accommodating large groups. There are small plate and main dish vegetarian options, even broader if you include seafood and chicken, and their dessert menu speaks for itself.

My vote would be for a venue other than the Hammie. No offense Neil... you know that I see you probably once every week to week-and-a-half for food. I'd say focus on beef first, with other types of burgers brought in by consensus after we've exhausted our burger joint options. After all, we need to be order the same burger in order to evaluate them fairly and my waistband won't accommodate two restaurant burgers in one sitting. Toppings? I vote for cheese too, unless there are lactose-intolerant burgerites among us.

Dare I suggest that we wait until after Dine-Out when there's a little less echo in the pocketbooks?

Now, now. Neil. Lee. Let us not deviate from the all-encompassing food-first Rules that govern our online forum. Any and all talk of virtual cyber burgers must be disseminated in the manner outlined below. In triplicate. Please. (insert "tsk, tsk" emoticon here)

Ah yes. The Rules. Capitalized, to be certain, for us plebians. According to Andy Lynes, I believe that Burger Club falls within The Rules as it is "food specific". Of course, we will perform a post-modern deconstructionist analysis of the burgers and post our findings' thesis at end of said event. Coop has scorecards. That certainly legitimizes our proposed outing. Coop and Ling will have to refresh our collective memory on which toppings are and aren't allowed. But I do recall that the meat patty itself must be beef. Burger on!

I'm in for either Browns (trying a new restaurant is always good) or The Red Onion (reminiscent of UBC days).

Aye, says the omnivorous mouse. Everyone needs a good cholesterol hit every now and again!

Shame on you Mooshmouse. ← For not yet fully reading the Awards, or not liking Yellowtail?! As with montrachet, I'll gladly take those wet noodle lashings for the latter!

Mark Taylor discussed and distributed copies of the VanMag Wine Awards at Cru's recent Shiraz/Syrah dinner. I found the criteria especially interesting: what would you take home to serve with dinner this evening versus what would score most highly on a Wine Spectator review. Have only had a chance to give the awards a cursory glance, but I do like what I've read so far. However, as discussed at our table that evening, I must be one of about four people in the entire Lower Mainland who is not a fan of the ever-popular Yellowtail Shiraz.

Another improvised "what's in the pantry" Sunday night dinner with all members of the family pitching in. Dear husband and 3 1/2-year-old son handled most of the mise en place as well as a good chunk of the washing up. Our son especially loved "bashing", buttering, and rolling up the stuffed chicken breasts. Gotta love in-home sous chefs! End result: chicken breasts stuffed with a simple bread crumb and herb dressing, jasmine rice, and diced tomatoes and cukes tossed in a honey dijon vinegarette.

Okay Ling. We know you wanted us to think you were looking for The Elysian Room. It's in the same building as the 5th Avenue Cinemas, around the corner on the northeast side. You can always get your espresso to go and then walk across Burrard to shop for some "romance".

Had not one but two coffees from The Elysian Room on Thursday: one cappuccino in house and one latte to go. Both outstanding. As I mentioned to Alistair, I usually take a little bit of sugar even in my espresso drinks -- chalk it up to nostalgia for all the sweet Filipino coffee/cafe au lait that I grew up with -- but the cappuccino and latte were so rich and smooth that I didn't bother with the extra sweetness. Yummy. However, I stopped in with the rest of the Mouse clan after lunch for another cappuccino and an apple/cranberry/oatmeal cookie. I found today's cappuccino to be more bitter than Thursday's and had to add my usual teaspoon of sugar. Mr. Mouse also had the same comment on bitterness with his Americano, but he stuck it out black as usual. Another day, another coffee. At least I got rock-star parking both days.

During the colder months, I often get requests for simple comfort food. Mediterranean Beef Stew with tomatoes, carrots, and kalamata and garlic-stuffed olives. And apple crumble with dried apricots/blueberries/cranberries thrown in for good measure.

Yalumba 'Y' Series Viognier (and its counterpart by La Frenz) has been the latest and greatest on my white wine list since about November. With any luck, I'll be able to pick up both the Grenache and the Planeta 2003 la Segreta Rosso at some point this week. Thanks to both Coop and Andrew.

Perhaps my caffeine-ridden brain is failing me, but I think the Hammie's warm gingerbread pudding is served with ginger and pumpkin gelato. Neil, our friendly neighbourhood gingerbread pusher, can correct me if I'm mistaken. Pumpkin or cinnamon, it's damn good gelato.

Mario's Gelati sells cinnamon gelato at their Amato Gelato Cafe (88 East 1st Avenue). You can purchased hand-packed tubs to take home. IMHO, Mondo Gelato is the best in town, but Mario's takes a definite second place over La Casa Gelato. Just my two cents worth.

I'm sorry but.....HOLY SHIT!! That's a lot of money! I hope they had some brilliant wines and champagnes for that. ← Ditto on the HOLY SHIT!! I damn near spit my latte all over the computer screen.

Thanks for providing us some parameters to help narrow the focus. With most Vancouver restaurants, everything but the finest dining is more casual than you'd find in other metropolitan centres like New York. Though it is a somewhat casual small room, Cru's culinary offerings are second to none, and the service is fantastic. Parkside's decor is more upscale but it still has a similar relaxed atmosphere... and you certainly can't go wrong with Chef Durbach's menu. I'd also suggest Coast, Fiction and Glowbal, or Saveur as a more formal choice. Vancouverites are notorious for last-minute bookings. For an important event like yours, I'd make a reservation about 3 weeks in advance... but, then, I'm a "planner"! Good luck with your decision making.

Ain't no tellin' whatsoever that you're an engineer. Uh-uh. No siree bob.