SBonner

I've used the system twice...once it said the restaurant was fully booked but when I phoned the restaurant they had space available ( In Vancouver it seems pretty common for diners to reserve either on line or by phone and still be no shows). In other words if opentable says a restaurant is full; phone and ask a human...you maybe surprised. Cheers, Stephen

Poor old Vancouver.... hopefully one day we will be able to bring our own. In Sydney we brought bottles of wine to resturants with corkage usually being between $8 and $10 a bottle. At Tetsuya's, one of Australias best restaurants, with a wine list better than most Vancouver establishments they charged $15 corkage. On the other hand we drank a bottle of 1989 Grange for less than $200 AUS$ on a wine list in Sydney last week In Hong Kong you can bring bottles just about anywhere other than Western restaurants for no corkage. Cheers, Stephen

Hot chocolate in Vancouver is not great. We make ours at home in the Spanish style with a bit of added cornstarch and a pinch of chili....imagine liquid chocolate pudding....yummy. Cheers, Stephen

Stephen here from Hong Kong Just saw on the local news here that poultry from B.C. is banned in HK. Cheers, Stephen

Is it for home use or for a restaurant? Optimum Control is a great recipe and inventory program but also about $1000. Cheers, Stephen

It would be a fun evening but Helen and I will be spending less than that at our two dinners at Tetsuya's and Rockpool while in Australia that week. Looking forward to reading the reviews of the lucky e-gullet memebers who do shell out $1000. Cheers, Stephen

At Meinhardt's on South Granville they have some lovely imported mashmellows from France. They are long and skinny so easy to cut up into small pieces for hot chocolate. The brand escapes... they were about $2 each. Cheers, Stephen

How about Cafe de Paris, the Sheeben Whiskey House (talk to Sean re: special menu), West, or the Cassis Bistro. Cheers, Stephen

The take away/freezer package prices range between $7 and $8. Usually Helen and I can get by with one package but if we are hungary then we usually open two packages but have a bit left for one of us to eat the next day. Stephen

Helen and I just celebrated our 7th at "C" last week. We had our wedding reception there seven years ago and have only missed one anniversary there. Same staff and they always treat us royally and for that matter anyone celebrating a special ocasion. They are super accomendating if you give them notice re allergies and etc. Cheers and congrats. Stephen

Just finished dinner with a Spanish consulate official and he said it is still an illegal product in Canada. So...unless someone brought it in personally; we will not find it here or at the BB officially for another 14-18+ months. I have never seen it packaged for export so I have no idea of what packaging and labelling would look like. Here's how we buy it in Spain and in London. Sevilla bar Market Day Borough Market Cheers, Stephen

Helen and I decided to drop by South Granville for some shopping and stocking up of freezable Rangoli dishes for those quick late night suppers. Well it was pouring of rain when we arrived and the first whiff of exotic spice sent us straight to a table for a late lunch. It was a pleasure to see Vikram, all too briefly, in his whites enroute to the home show. Helen and I decided on a lunch of cocount curry chicken $11.50 and black cardamon lamb $12.50. Helen opted for a warm glass of chai and I went for a glass of Smoking Loon Viognier (rich malo style with a distinct banana and tropical fruit overtone) it was a great pairing with my chicken. The salad dressing was amzing, I think it is a blend of mint, citrus juice, and possibly cucumber? Round two involved a glass of Lingenfleder Bird Labeling Riesling ( one of the all round great buys with typical green apple, mineral and subtle petrol notes). Both wines are served in the uber cool Riedel overture glasses and a five oz wine pour is a reasonable $6.50. We finished off with a bowl of rice pudding (rich, creamy, and scented with cardamon). Here's a couple of photo's taken from our camera phone...so the quality is not great. coconut curry chicken Black cardamon lamb In a cardamon pod...great food, wonderfully paired and priced wine, and as usual great service. Cheers, Stephen and Helen

As an avid Time out reader and very occasional reviewer (when in the U.K. almost a decade ago) I'm not all together impressed by Time out reviews. Remember their average reader is a British punter who primarily resides in the U.K. with pounds to spare and travels in the E.C or to cheap hot climates. These readers are not gourmets but people looking for good food, enetrtainment, and thrills for a great value. It sucks that the first issue on Vancouver will not highlight a number of places in high stead but does this have anything to do with ad space? Cheers, Stephen PS for those who do not know...Time Out is producing an issue for Vancouver

Does the wine need to be red? If not give some of the Australian Muscats or Tokay's a try. There's nothing wrong with a glass of decnt olorosso sherry as well. If you want a red with a hint of sweetness try an Italian Amarone or ripasso style. Cheers, Stephen

I might add... losing a great sommelier early on, very negative feed back from e-gulleteers during dine out, and only open for dinner. I think the menu was also alittle to complex for alot of Vancouverites to grasp. Sad to see them go and best of luck to the new owners. It is as Jamie said not a great location. Cheers, Stephen

Try a South African Pinotage... lots of fruit and soft tannins. Cheers, Stephen

Interesting to know. It does indeed taste like hazelnuts. In Spain we have paid between 30-85 Euros for a kg. Cheers, Stephen

I chatted with a sales rep from Hills and he said that pata negra is not available in Canada. So I'm not sure where the Bistro is getting it. Cheers, Stephen

I guess the great thing about wifi is almost nobody encypts their internet so you can get free internet in alot of locations I know the Irish Heather has "fatport" access but you do need to suscribe to it. On the otherhand if you sit in the garden conservatory you can get free access from a nearby cafe Cheers, Stephen

From what I understand by Canadian meat inspection standards Pata Negra is not slaughtered to our standards. Big deal! Spaniards have been meating this stuff hanging in tapas bars for centuries and they seem like a pretty friendly abd healthy bunch Thankfully Helen and I are going back to Spain next year for an extended period so we can eat more ham while hanging around in smoke filled tapas bars at 4am. Cheers, Stephen ← I think I ment to say " eating" this stuff...blame it on to many bottles of Rioja actually I'm lying just spent two hours at Cassis and Steamworks. Cheers, Stephen

Hey Roo, We should do a wine and "roo" pairing event Cheers, Stephen

From what I understand by Canadian meat inspection standards Pata Negra is not slaughtered to our standards. Big deal! Spaniards have been meating this stuff hanging in tapas bars for centuries and they seem like a pretty friendly abd healthy bunch Thankfully Helen and I are going back to Spain next year for an extended period so we can eat more ham while hanging around in smoke filled tapas bars at 4am. Cheers, Stephen

I tried the roo at an event at the Vancouver Club back in the summer that was supplied by Hill's Food. I enjoyed it and look forward to some innovative Vancouver variations on its use. It seems pretty common on menus around the globe already. I've had it in London, Barcelona, Madrid, and Florence in the past two years. Cheers, Stephen

Another option could be Wazubeez, just across 1st Avenue, east side of Commercial Drive. Will have music, not live mind you, good beverage choices and food too. ←

Less than a week into October and Steams Works Brewpub is pumping out alot of it's pumpkin ale. Alot better this year! less sweet and great balance of spice, fruit, and malts. Anyone else tried anyother seasonal beers? Cheers, Stephen