SBonner

This stuff is horrid! Too sweet, almost chalky in texture, and not what I expected. Starbuck's need to go to Barcelona and see how real chocolate is made. Stephen Vancouver Canada

Sean hit the nail on the head for his observations re: DOV. As a restaurant owner or manager you have to be prepared for DOV and I think many restaurants are just not prepared for the service levels required to cover so many covers each night for a prolonged duration. I personally never go out to DOV events and would rather pay full amounts to experience a restaurant at its best at another time of year. Patrons who do not reserve or have the courtesy to cancel a reso are a blight on this industry. In the U.K. and Spain a credit card is charged anywhere from 10-50 Euro's for a no show. It is my understanding that in Europe you can get away with this as a reso is considered a contract between you and the restaurant. Happy DOV Stephen

Thanks Andrew... Looking forward to some Imperial Intelligence. Stephen

Hi Neil, All I have heard is that it is an Asian Fusin restuarant with a big budget for ice wine and Sake. It should be opening within a couple of weeks. That's all I know so far. All the wine rep's are talking about it. Cheers, Stephen

Hello Vancouver e-gullet readers. Check out the thread I started here in the Vancouver and Australian board. Our Aussi cousins have some interesting comments on Vancouver cuisine. It is most refreshing to read and should be a wake up call for us! Cheers, Stephen

I'm hearing interesting rumours form the wine rep's about this soon to open restaurant. Any stories to share and inside information available? Stephen

Mostly Martha from Germany is a great food flick. Cheers, Stephen Vancouver, Canada

I fnished off Chritmas eve with a shot of Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Year Old Whiskey and a cup of Iron Budda Oolong tea. On Xmas day, started with a cup of Irish Breakfast, and then straight into some Champagne! I really enjoy strong oolong tea with Christmas cuisine. Cheers, Stephen Vancouver Canada

Hi David, My wife and I always buy wine from La carte des Vins in the El Borne district. They have a great selection of Penedes and Cava. Helpful staff too! http://www.lacartedesvins.com Drop by Comerc 24 for lunch or dinner..it's just around the corner. Cheers, Stephen Bonner Vancouver

I'm a Vancouver e-gullet subscriber and have posed the question in the Vancouver forum on how we view our cuisine compared to "Modern Australian" cuisine. I'd love to hear your views and as well as your postings in our Vancouver forum on our two countries cuisines. We may share a common language, ocean, and proximity to Asia but I'm curious how you view our great restaurants compared to your own. Cheers, Stephen Bonner Vancouver, Canada

We share a common ocean, language, proximity to Asia, and great cuisine. I'm curious from e-gullet readers how they feel about the differences between the cuisine of Vancouver and let's say Sidney and Melbourne. Although I have yet to make a trip to Australia; I've amassed a good collection of "Modern Australian" recipes and have found the flavours, textures, and techniques give then Australian cuisine a slight edge. I open the doors for discussion. Cheers, Stephen

The last three restaurants and meals we enjoyed would be: The truffled scrambled eggs, puff pastry, and oven roasted tomatoes on the brunch menu at Aurora Bistro. The Guiness and Beef Pot Pie ,after a night of much fine wine drinking, at the Irish Heather, my local across the street. The Tasting Menu at "C" on New Year's Eve paired with Tom's wine pairing menu and a pre-dinner bottle of Pol Roger. Cheers, Stephen

We are starting off with some foie gras and a bottle of Bollinger; then walking over to the Irish heather for a New Year's eve dinner Irish style. Next morning some black pudding, truffled scambled eggs, and a bottle of Pol Roger await. Stephen and Helen

We are very familar with the cheeses from Neal's Yard... the only problem is storing and eating all that cheese in our hotel room. We had a great day at the Borough Market and the Wine Wharf run by a friend of ours. Cheers.

Pedro, Great point in reference to the wine list catagories. I should have mentioned that fact in my posting. The restaurants in question also did list their wine selections and vintages as good, excellent, and outstanding as well when they were not Rioja's or Ribero's. In any case the restaurants were great. Cheers from Vancouver. Stephen

Just got back from a short holiday in London and really enjoyed the cheese plate from Vivat Bacchus on Farringdon Street. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Now I'm planning another trip to London for early Spring and does anyone have any recommendations for restaurants/bars with great cheese selections similar to Vivat Bacchus? Thank you. Stephen Bonner Vancouver

We ate at Entretapas on two occasions. Great value food and wine. They open for dinner at 8:30 and fill up fast. They are located just a short walk from the Opera metro station. Stephen Bonner Vancouver

My wife and I ate here last week during our stay in Spain and the food, wine, nad service were great. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visting Barcelona. The set menu was less than 50 Euros p.p. and offered a lot more than we would find in Vancouver at the same price.

My wife and I just got back from several weeks in Spain and highly recommend these two restaurants in Sevilla. They are both on the same street and next door to each other on Felipe II street. Restaurante Victor and Di Vinum. Both offer dynamite wine lists and complexly favoured tapas, 1/2 racions, and racions. Try the regional cheese plate and home made ice creams at restaurante Victor. The wine list at Di Vinum has an extensive selection of regional Spainish wines grouped by Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva. Stellar Cava selection as well. Cheers, Stephen Bonner Vancouver

My wife and I are in London for six days next month and are in the mood for meat. We've heard alot about St. John and Smith's of Smithfields. Any comments would be appreciated.

"Cuisine" from New Zealand is excellent and begs the question how can a smaller country than Canada produce a glossy food magazine comparable with something from the U.K. or the U.S. Excellent articles, recipes, and uberness.... unfortunately I have never seen it on newsstands here in Vancouver.

We are in Seville from the 10th-20th November. Any recommendations for restaurants or bars. Thank you. Stephen and Helen Bonner Vancouver Canada

I would recommend : Umami, Parkside, Coast, and Cru. Enjoy, Stephen

Walked by there tonight! (Thursday) and it's looking pretty close to opening. On a similar note "is Thursday night the new Sunday?" My wife and I dropped by Umami it had one table from 9:00-10:30 and at Wild Rice from 11:00 to 11:30 just two tables, and at the new restaurant "one" in Gastown it closed after we left at 12:05. Any comments?

In Vancouver a handleful of restaurants have had sake lists for a few years but they report not alot of interest in vintage and expensive sake. It does make a change from wine but I've yet to see it as the next big thing.