Viola da gamba
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Posts posted by Viola da gamba
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Hmm - I envy the people that will be eating at both places. Us? We'll be serving leftovers in some form or other. But for our family, the big food day is Christmas - and the goal is not to have to cook seriously (apart from veggies, bread, etc.) for the remaining 12 days of Christmas - or at least until we all start work again on the 3rd. So - apart from leftovers cooked up as goose & ham croquettes, we're thinking stilton & gruyere shortbread, a spinach, avocado & bacon salad with dried sour cherry vinaigrette & chocolates from Sen5es if there are any left - wine choices will be made nearer the time, but there'll doubtless be Kir Royale in there somewhere, assuming Dad remembers the Cassis - and good champagne at midnight, with or without smoked salmon (depending on who's got any energy left). Apart from family, we're expecting to have people dropping in & out all evening to skate on the lake, help with the jigsaw (family tradition - don't ask) & drink hot chocolate - spiked or otherwise - so it will be pretty laid back.
But if I could arrange some of the TOTALLY AMAZING hangar steak that we had at the HSG when we were down this weekend? That would totally be my choice. Meaty, perfect, wonderful steak. And thanks, Chef - we had a fabulous dinner and your staff are great - attentive without being pushy, and very responsive. Now about the 5 pounds I gained ...
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I'm not sure if this belongs here or at the other LDB thread - but I think it follows from what was stated by James. I agree that privatization might help concerning selection, price, etc. in Vancouver or Victoria or other larger centres (but perhaps not Prince George
) - but I really hate to think what it will do to the availability of anything other than mainstream stuff in smaller towns - we're living up North and, quite frankly, have been impressed with the LDB store. The private beer & wine stores? Not so much. That was also our experience in Alberta once you got outside of the bigger towns/cities - privatization works great if you're living in an urban centre or looking for cheap spirits, but keeping an interesting selection of wine becomes more of a challenge. I know the world is centred on Vancouver & Victoria, but hey - we like drinking wine up here too, and privatization would likely make that just a little more complicated.Just my 2 cents.
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When living in Vancouver, we found that the Park Royal guys were great for information, but that the Cambie store was better for selection. We tended to go to Liberty's for specialty products. INterestingly, Mark Anthony's on Oak had - on at least one occasion - some wine that had been "remaindered" from the stock of a restaurant that had burned down - a source of cheap, unusual wine at a very good price that I wouldn't have otherwise looked for. The Alberni St. LDB store used to be quite good - and never too packed.
Interestingly, now we're in Smithers, we've found that the LDB outlet up here is really very good for wine. I haven't talked to them much about why they're good (I think the local wine appreciation club is very involved, given the tasting notes, etc. that are available), but they tend to stock A LOT more than just Yellow Tail, and the prices seem reasonable - and varied - it's not all low end or high end, but a good selection of both. And the stock seems to move. The staff tend to be well-informed, and if they're not, they know (a) who is, and (b) have the tasting notes generally available if you ask.
Last time we were in Alberta - admittedly not in Calgary, but in a town comparable in size to Smithers - we found that the liquor store had very little wine, that it was no cheaper than BC, and that the staff were dreadful. Good selection of cheap rum, though.
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The last of the steak & mushroom pie, stir-fried mayan onions & red peppers with balsamic & habanero, giant chocolate toffee cookies for dessert.
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Most recent lessons learned:
Australian cookbooks have temperatures in celsius, not farenheit - that may be the lightest, fluffiest potato-herb bread I have ever made.
DO NOT forget to turn the pressure cooker down when making soup - unless you want to redecorate the kitchen.
DO NOT forget to put water in the bottom of the pressure cooker when cooking potatoes - it WILL warp.
Popcorn popped in a saucepan without a lid makes a really cool mess (sadly, I had permission - but it was still a lifelong dream that I have now realized).
DO NOT ask Mr. da Gamba what he thinks of the pastry leaves painstakingly cut to decorate the top of the steak & mushroom pie - he can't tell the difference between leaves & fish.
ALWAYS confirm which canister is salt & which is flour when baking at someone else's house. Salt is not a good substitute when doing a flourless chocolate torte.
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Picnic is the cafe place next to Meinhardt's - last time I was there, there were no individual tables (it's a long, picnic like table down the middle) & the service is from the counter at the front ( you place your order, they bring it to you). The sandwiches are great, and IMHO, it's the best hot chocolate in town, but the prices are what you'd expect given the source of the food and the location - i.e. the best hot chocolate in town is approximately $6 for a cup. Unless the post-convocation ceremony is a picnic down at Spanish Banks, I don't think it would fit the bill.
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Oh hey - then I can admit I've never eaten at Wendy's, KFC or Taco Bell. I take it as a sign that the dogs aren't even interested in discarded KFC or Taco Bell wrappers - they can't get enough of McD's garbage, though. Now there's an interesting poll - which fast food joints do our pets most prefer?
ETA - okay - ouch - sorry - but I didn't say I didn't like McD's - I have always found their fries addictive and find the McChicken a total guilty pleasure - I wasn't trying to be snobby - my dogs like the left-overs and wrappers from anything I bring home from non-fast food places just as well.
And I'd like to add to my list - Araxi's and Bearfoot Bistro in Whistler.
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Oh dear - however, at least I have the excuse of no longer living in Vancouver
... Phnom Penh, Bishop's, Tojo's, all of the "new" (and yes, I'm counting the various Guu's as "New") Japanese/Japanese/Japanese places (and I'll even admit I'm not really following the distinctions) listed in Sam Salmon's earlier discussions, Kirin Mandarin on 12th, Parkside, Chambar, C, En (not for want of trying) - this sucks. I'll go back to missing Cru, West, Sun Sui Wah, Le Crocodile et al. now(whimpering softly). Thanks. -
Poor you! I spent 8 years of my life in nearby Houston. Great fishing but that's about it. Oh yeah, there's great powder for downhill skiing. I learned in Smithers.
Don't get me wrong - I love Smithers - I just wish some of the ingredients I took for granted down in Vancouver were more readily available - why, oh why doesn't anyone stock pure sesame oil? The meat selection up here (with the exception of the afore-lamented lamb) is excellent, though - gotta love free-range chicken & turkey being cheaper than any of the store-bought stuff, and I think I'm preferring elk to beef. And yes, the skiing is fabulous, and cheap, and we are spoiled for choice for fishing (mmmm - steelhead & sockeye fresh from the river) - and I'm rediscovering my cookbooks, which isn't bad!
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Jamie:
PS--Can we send up some Tio Pepe? Air drop? Although truth be known, I'll be reverting to form and drinking cleansing ales throughout the afternoon in order to keep my weight up. And the strained relations at arm's length.Thanks for the offer
- but it should be okay - worse comes to worse, there's a bottle of A'Bunadh I'm hiding in case things get really rough. "Up here" is Smithers - the local LDB store has a great selection of single malt, a surprisingly good selection of wine (although none of the 2001 Bordeaux made it up here 
) but they're really not great when it comes to sherry, port or some of the other more traditional spirits (or Merridale cider, worst luck) I'm thinking of drinking Helles to start ... and at least I don't have to worry about any relations - strained, shaken OR stirred, since a certain to remain unnamed national airline put fares up again. -
Pity party for us, as we're not making it home for the first time since I was in England for a year when I was 18 - sad - no local Cowichan Valley roast lamb. Sigh. Instead, we decided to be insane & have a group of 10 (at last count) people over. So, predictably, the food's not going to be very inventive - organic, free range turkey, mashed potatoes (apparently they're expected) and brussels sprouts. After that, I get to play - a starter of wilted spinach with rice vinegar, sherry & dried cranberries (Nice idea, Jamie, but lobster bisque just ain't an option up here for 10 - nor is Tio Pepe!), as an alternative to potatoes, I'm doing roast butternut squash with toasted almonds, nutmeg, salt, pepper & parsley, a winter vegetable tart (gotta have my goat cheese), a cheese plate & miscellaneous biscotti for dessert (don't like pumpkin pie, and will be too full to eat apple pie anyway). People are bringing wine - God alone knows what we'll end up with - I'm planning on sticking to beer at this point ...
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I'd almost be willing to forgive Rob one appearance on Iron Chef, screw it I lie, I'll mock unmercifully forever if he appears on that stupid show.
speically if he does that funky little dance ...
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I haven't eaten there recently - but my dad and I ate there just before I left Vancouver - I agree with the comment above that portion size (wine & food) was a problem, but that the food was excellent. A complaint I made at the time related to the service - our wine waiter ignored me, speaking only to my dad - we were both drinking, and I'm well over the age of 19 - which was a shame, because although I'm *only* female, I was interested in having an aperitif & an after dinner drink (the selection of grappa was very good). The treatment left a very sour taste in my mouth - and is the sort of dinosaur, chauvinistic service I do NOT expect in Vancouver. Which is a shame, because the food was excellent.
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I've never actually had a problem dining solo anywhere in Vancouver - although I think some places (Le Gavroche, for instance) may be better experienced as part of a couple due to ambience, etc.. But as a solo female diner, I've never felt unwelcome or awkward, regardless of the price point of where I eat.
That being said - Cru really is fabulous (or was, last time I was there! Having moved north, it's been a few months
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I so miss the food in Vancouver. Living in the North just isn't the same. However - the three places I last ate (other than home - and we've been eating in a lot too):
Alpenhorn Bistro (Smithers): Dinner - Goat cheese parcels with portabello mushrooms & apricot (I think) sauce; turkey club with cranberry & garlic mayo (you said no padding, and they don't call it aioli on the menu). Good, as usual.
Sun Sui Wah on Main - we were in Vancouver to deal with the dog
- dim sum, what else - excellent pork belly - man, I miss dim sum;Alpenhorn Bistro (again) - Dinner - Smoked Salmon & Spinach aglolotti in a lemon-mustard cream sauce, baked smoked salmon dip to start.
Can't wait to try Chambar next time we're in town ...
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Definitely as it was Poplar Grove who said they have secret stocks.
HMMM - thanks for the update - where in Kaleden did you stay? We love the area & used to stay at the Bears' Den, but Ross & Ed sold up.
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No, sadly - overspent at the Spring Wine Festival & last year's fall wine festival
here's hoping for next year. I hadn't heard that the wineries had kept "secret stocks" - just that a lot of them had sold out (i.e. Poplar Grove) - hmmm - I should contact some of my favourites to see if there's any chance -
I can definitely second Poplar Grove - we were up there for the Spring Wine Festival and grabbed some of both - also the Inniskillin Zinfandel, if there's any left. And do try to get some of their cheese - amazing! As to Restaurants - check with some of the wineries as to whether or not their patios are open - the one at Lake Breeze looked very good. The following site lists the wineries with phone numbers and whether they serve food (no reviews, though).
New Year's Eve: What are You Eating or Serving?
in Cooking
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You'd be more than welcome - just drive to Prince George, turn west, drive another 400 km, and you're there!
