SBonner

Dim sum is always an option. Imperial on Burrard is great. SB

Stay away from the Brewpub at Surrey Place...horrid food and even more horrid service. I'd second Indian cuisine as your best option. SB

Bardot's on Pacific next to Marinaside does brunch (decent and inventive Benny's) and they have several widescreen tv's. Cheers, Stephen

I did a wine and chocolate tasting for a group last night and several said that the event was "child" oriented. SB

Get him to bring back a couple of half bottles of Sauternes...easy to sneak into the luggage. The selection in Paris is huge compared to Vancouver. Stephen Bonner

^ How did you like Jules' Bistro? The Sun gave it a good review this week. Helen and I enjoyed our dinner. Simple richly sauced dishes (cassoulet, lamb shank etc..). Small compact wine list with French and BC selection reasonably marked up and just a nice looking room and friendy service. I'd go again. Stephen

Monday: Jules in Gastown for the cassoulet Tuesday: Chill Winston (beef tenderloin with stilton and bone marrow) Thursday: Rangoli (picked up some take for home) Stephen

Friday or Saturday breakfast at Roast in the Borough. Flaneur Food Hall and Vinoteca in Clerkenwell Wine Wharf at Vintropolis Vivat Bacchus for great S.African wines and great cheeses. Stephen

It's here on ICX ← Joe, you kill me! How do you find this stuff? Interesting that my friend was quoted $16.800 less when he inquired three weeks ago. Great space but the monthly is too high. Thanks, Stephen

I hear the Curious on Powell Street is for sale for $50,000 and $7000 a month. Some nice renovations where done FOH and BOH but $7000 per month for the street Stephen

Helen and I have been to Jules twice this week and highly recommend it for large filling portions of French bistro cuisine. Jules is a nice addition to my hood and just around the corner from SALT. Stephen

I have no opinion about the restaurant, but is anyone else having visions of this Chris Kattan character running through their head? ← I hear that this building has a demolition clause on it so don't expect too many design changes if the building is coming down by 2009. Stephen

Fetzer's Bonterra organic Viognier is superb value if you like the rich nw style with lots of creamy malo notes. Stephen Bonner Vancouver

If I'm thinking of the right person, he was at En before he opened Umami. He's now at Kingyo on Denman St. Lovely guy with a great knowledge of sake! My muddled brain seems to think his name is Hiro. ← Right person indeed! Oh, I'm glad to know where he resurfaced. I've heard great things about Kingyo - must try. Is he FOH, doing the booze? ← Hiro is in charge of the drinks and floor. Stephen

Helen and I shop there every week as it is the closest supermarket to our home. Fridays and Saturdays they have a good deals on fresh scallops and crab. For a quick dinner we usually pick up a 1/2 bbq duck and some cold noodles. My biggest pet peeve of the place is the pre-packaging of veggies and fruit. Cheers, Stephen

Sounds like sloppy wine service to me. I agree with Katie; an 01 should not have that much sediment. I could live with a mouthful of sediment at the end of the bottle but it's not the best way to finish a bottle off. Stephen Bonner

Patisserie Valerie in the Marais District. Stephen Bonner Vancouver/ London

Helen and I enjoyed the food at Bodega last year when on holiday. Good food and environment. Stephen Bonner Vancouver

Cassis Bistro for some comforting French food or Bacchus. Stephen

Monoprix is very nice; Helen and I shop at their Nice location when in France. A better wine shop selection than Waitrose although the Waitrose at Canary Wharf is a sight to behold. Mark....we are waiting for your Waitrose knock off in Vancouver I'm not impressed with Capers or Whole Foods. I'm not sure of this fascination with Irish butter. It's alot less tasty than butter from Australia, the U.K. or France. Stephen

Mark, I'll work for you if you set up a Vancouver Waitrose knock-off. Cheers, Stephen

Drink it and enjoy. Stephen Bonner

Helen and I had a bottle of 1982 Bollinger R.D. in London a fortnight ago from a friend's country cellar and it was still superb. Showing oxidation but not in a negative sense. Cheers and enjoy. Stephen Bonner

That about sums it up... Stephen PS there is somewhere in this maze a whole forum on GI

Mark, Welcome back. Yes I miss Waitrose and the Granville Island market is a pale comparison to the Borough. The Borough Market is a "real" market which the Granville Island is not in my opinion. Cheers, Stephen