kurtisk

Actually, feel free to bring one more friend, it seats four!! It is too bad that it's on the tiny side, but increasing the space would just take away from our already-too-small dining room. I think that simply 4 seats makes it kind of fun and intimate! And, again, you get to hear all that cursing... k.

Yeah, just down the street... http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=62979&st=30 k.

Just wanted to pipe in for a sec to point out that while an icon doesn't appear under Aurora Bistro in the Guide (I'm guessing we joined up too close to press time), we are indeed part of the Ocean Wise program, which encompasses every fish item on our menu ( http://aurorabistro.ca/menu.htm ). With our local/sustainable focus, I thought that some of you might wonder why we weren't part of it. But we are. 'Kay thanks! k.

I HATE that 'no dancing' thing. It's sooo Footloose and bullshit. k.

Tinhorn Creek 2003 Kerner Ice Wine. Deee-licious! k.

I love it when people dine at the bar. You get to be within yelling distance from the kitchen, everyone keeps an eye on you, and if you're really lucky- you get to hear me curse when a keg inevitably blows right at the busiest point in the evening. k.

Yes, Little Frog, you're sweet as pie (tarte?) and I meant to throw you out a big thanks for making this all come together. It looks like the Cranberry/Lavender & Green Tea/Ginger were the favourites of the bunch, you can expect to see those pop up on our cheese/dessert list soon. k.

Thanks to everyone for comin' out! Getting feedback on what you liked/disliked about 'em is much appreciated. Special thanks to Chris Stearns for steppin' into the ring for his shortest bartending stint ever! k.

Awesome. Pretty damn awesome. Reminiscent of the watchamacallit they served as the last course in Big Night. What was that called again? k Edited to add "Timpano!", that's it! Just for fun, I also found the recipe here...

For the casual fan? Yup. ISG is a LOT more studying and coin... k

Ahhhh... I thought he was still doing both as has been the case in past years. My bad.

For a well-rounded, basic knowledge I heartily recommend the WSET course at the NWCA with Mark Davidson. He's taught half the city about wine... k.

Plus Cuppa Joe, too! I think there's still room for more of an artisan (dare I say 'upmarket'?) coffee place around Main & B'way. The coffee at SoMa, while in a nice room with decent staff, is not well-made and of the dusty-cardboardish variety. Cuppa Joe is rather generic and boring. The best coffee around is at Lugz, still not superb but quite decent, but the room could use some sort of focus (ie- more chairs, better layout) or at least a good scrubbin'. If the new place were to do an Origins program, or follow an Artigiano route, I think they'd do quite well. Either way, Main & B'way seems to be sittin' & sippin' central and I don't think the saturation of the block would hurt them. Different strokes, right? k.

I was about to write a big Oliver manifesto, but Karole summed it up perfectly. She knows her stuff and you should do as she says! k.

Ok, PM me if you'd like to come by Aurora to try some of our Mead samples with us next Wednesday November 2nd between 5:00 and 6:00. We don't have a ton of it, so I've only got room for a dozen or so people. Jeff will provide some cheeses, nuts and sweet things to pair with the samples we have on hand. This will be a very casual, just-standing-around-the-bar thing and we ain't even gonna charge you for it. Anyone who'd like to stick around for dinner afterwards, we'd be more than happy to have you. k.

I'm confident in saying that West never disappoints. Prix Fixe, early, late, at the bar, a Monday, a Saturday, whatever. Go for it! k.

Thanks, Moosh, I was so NOT self-serving that I completely neglected to mention Aurora Bistro. I LOVE that place! heh! k.

Provence Marinaside. Daily Breakfast, Weekend Brunch. Great coffee, service, food and view. http://www.provencevancouver.com/marinaside/ cheers, k

To my knowledge, they're down to their last few seats. Anyone keen might want to jump on it... k.

I haven't. But it's not in the old Velvet spot, it's more toward Hemlock. I think it's a donair place in Velvet... While we're on it, anyone know what Yoo Choi from Velvet is doing now? k edited 'cause sometimes I can't spell worth shite

Y'know, I've seen this comment pop up a little more often lately, and I find it kind of harsh. Many restaurants have financial ups and downs, it's not always the most lucrative business, but I think that any restaurant's business (behind the scenes) dealings shouldn't be fair game for public fodder. Generally, this type of "information" is heard 2nd/3rd/4th-hand, and like I said- irrelevant. Over the years I've heard the whole "cash-only with suppliers" tale about hundreds of restaurants, and 99% of those places are still here, if not amongst the most critically-acclaimed, successful places in town. Were any of them ever on a cash-only basis? Who knows...and who cares? k.

I LOVE Burrito Brothers!

To me? Kinda. I mean it's The Globe And Mail, which I love dearly, and rarely do you see that kind of tone anywhere in it's pages. I dunno, being an industry guy or not, I think criticism is an excellent thing, I just don't like it when people are unnecessarily harsh, in any arena really. Is it her right? Totally. It's simply something that doesn't work for me, and obviously many others here. I think there's something to be said for civility, wittiness, criticism and the like without being just plain mean. Interesting dialogue here, us all articulating what we want and don't want to see in a restaurant review. All of it valid, all of it fair. k.

Except she has a hell of a lot more influence... And, really, I don't know many people (eGulleters included) who would be so flat-out insulting. btw- has anyone here who's really fired up actually sent a letter to the editor? -edited to ponder that last question

Interesting. While I don't know the entry requirements and red tape side of things, and having tasted a zillion BC wines over the last little while, I'm surprised that the Black Hills Nota Bene wasn't in there, as while it's released quite early (like many of our local juice), I findd it to drink well and have a great mix of structure and fruit. I'm curious as to if the Laughing Stock Portfolio was in the running; if this is their beginning I'm quite looking forward to enjoying their journey. Hmmph! k.