KMPickard

Such a tease you are, Lesley... It sounds like this will be the ideal excuse for a winter visit to PQ. Who needs to ski when you can eat? K.

"Oh my" just about sums it up, Suzanne. Thanks for all the vicarious pleasure. K.

Thanks to all. I think I'll give it try - and the Greek Beef Stew sounds like a great place to start. Like you, Jaymes, I'm leery of leaving even a slow oven on all day when I'm not home. So this may work for me during the week even if I revert to the oven when I have the opportunity on a weekend. K. PS: I thought I was going to come up dry on finding Chipotle peppers in adobo living, as I do, in a rural area. Much to my surprise I found that one of our local groceries carries the Herdez line. Thanks to your recommendation, Jaymes, I'll be trying them out.

I recall that the 2002 Highlights Festival in Montreal had some, actually many, very interesting food events listed. We're thinking of a winter break in February and are wondering if there are any indications of what will be offered in 2003. thanks, kathy PS: Sorry I didn't reply to your Quebec cheese question sooner, Lesley. I didn't realize the importance of note taking until discovering eGullet. I can say, however, that we haven't met a cheese from Ile aux Grues (sp?) that we haven't loved.

We had our first snow in Southern Ontario this week and it got me thinking about comfort foods. I spend many hours at the office and seldom have the time to prepare a meal that involves long braising. Is a slow cooker a possible solution? I love the idea of coming home to an aromatic kitchen and a ready meal, but I'm wondering if the results live up to the manufacturer's promises. Other than the obvious chili, does anyone have any slow cooker favorites? - ones that don't include a can of cream of mushroom soup thanks, kathy

Cabbage Rolls Kathy

Have you made your visit to Ottawa yet Jason? I'm curious about the outcome of your dining adventures there. Your comments would be welcome. Cheers, kathy

A while back, on the Fat Guy site, there was a positive review of "Marika" on the Upper West Side. I recall that Steven Shaw had very good things to say about the chef Neil Annis. Has anyone eaten there since the transformation into Compass? We'll be making a trip to NY at the end of July and I'm wondering if it should go on our "to try" list - along with GT, Picholine and now, after today's thread, Blue Hill. Thanks for the input, Kathy

I had the pleasure of having my birthday lunch at the Wickaninnish in December '01 - and,alas, it wasn't my 19th. This is a restaurant that's definitely about place. The setting is breathtaking - the waves seem like they might break over your table. The food is almost secondary - it was expensive and more than OK but it didn't elicit many sighs of contentment. While in Tofino we ate at "Raincoast" (for four nights running no less) and the kitchen didn't let us down once. It's small so I'd recommend a reservation. Cheers, Kathy

My partner-in-eating and I had a good visit to Ottawa last summer. In fact, we ate at two restaurants that made it to our "Top Ten of 2001" list. "Domus", which is not far from the Byward Market area had meticulously prepared food with the freshest of regional ingredients. I recall a fresh pea soup that was the essence of green. A little north of Hull on #105 is Chelsea PQ and the restaurant "Les Fougeres" .They served the best duck confit I've ever had - bar none. The restaurant is charming and there's a garden that you're welcome to wander through. Great wine list too. It's definitely worth the drive to get there. Bon Appetit, Kathy