2roost

In your post you note how you are impressed with the local LDB store - so if privatization comes in and the demand for the products your LDB store carries exist a Private Store will stock them. The private stores currently have little incentive in small markets to be more than "conevenience stores" because they can't compete with the LDB on prices. Once the artificial price advantage is gone the laws of supply and demand will take over - stores will stock what sells and what gives them an advantage over their competitors. Yes the vast majority of "private" outlets will be full of YellowTail and Mike's Hard whatever but so are most LDB stores - if there is demand for, and consumer pressure to stock, interesting niche products they will be there. Given that most of the world manages with a private beverage alcohol retail system I, for one, am ready to give it a try.

Below is an excerpt from my newsletter from October of 2001 - some minor changes have happened but the song mostly remains the same. I have found some BCLDB store managers to be willing to bring in requested products so there is hope As for shelving privatization I think the government's struggles with unionized health care workers and a larger than expected deficit had more to do with it than a DUI (and when is a DUI comedy?). I have no intimate knowledge but I would imagine increased privatization in some form is still simmering away on some Liberal back burner, especially if can generate more revenue than the current system. I also believe that a monopoly can work - just check out Ontario, great selection, better pricing and, in my experience, good customer service. "Those of you who know me will already be aware of my sentiments regarding the stumbling behemoth that is the BCLDB - these people are not our friends. The government of BC is one of the largest single buyers in the beverage alcohol industry in the world and what are we getting in return ? - poor selection, high prices and little or no customer service. For those of you who think all monopolies act this way I would advise you to contact the Ontario counterpart and see the selection/pricing and service they provide (www.lcbo.com is a good starting point). Now I don't want to go off on a rant here BUT the BCLDB has abandoned the consumer in a wash of cheap plonk or ridiculous high priced limited selection items, every year it gets harder for me to find good value while the selection shrinks and the prices go up ( Please don't blame the Canadian dollar - the dollar is only weaker against the US dollar in relative terms over the past 3 years). The buying patterns are bizarre - the sale of French wines is one of the dormant categories in BC yet we have as many red wines from the Rhone Valley listed as all of Australia !!! The only hope the average consumer has is to shop at 39th and Cambie and hope for the best. I urge you to start a dialogue with your local BCLDB store manager and press for the listing/shelf position of the wines you drink if they are not already on his/her shelf. It is for this purpose that I always list the CSPC code numbers on my recommendations. I also urge you to begin to shop at private outlets and discuss your preferences with the manager/buyer in these locations, shop around because if you buy two $15 bottles a week that's $1500 a year on wine - that sort of spending deserves some comparative element. Talk to the manager at the restaurants you frequent if you feel their wine lists are not adequate, if we put enough pressure on the buyers on both private and public levels maybe we will get some more selection and value. Maybe."

Simpatico on West 4th - solid pie, good greek salad and I'm sure you can find an appropriate bottle on the list.

My girls are back from Grandma and GrandDad's and I am happy. A bit of divergence from the straight "what we had for dinner" is in order. GrandDad is a retired engineer who has been a topnotch amateur winemaker for 25 years. About 10 years ago he retired in the Okanagan Valley and I began making the 5 hour trek to help with the crush and have a hand in the winemaking, at that time I was an importer/agent and had some good connections in the Okanagan and Washington State for fruit. The combination of my father in law's technical skills, my access to fruit and our willingness to try out different styles has resulted in some seriously good wine over the years. In an average year we make about 300 Litres of Red and maybe 100 Litres of White, it is stored at GrandDad's and some goes to friends etc, but each trip up we bring some back for us. When wife and daughter arrived home Monday afternoon they had 4 cases of mixed vintages and varietals in the trunk, now GrandDad drinks much more than 50% of the production but he compensates by making sure I get my fair share of the "creme". Included in the most recent shipment were the last 6 bottles of our first "big success" 1996 Syrah from grapes sourced near Milton Freewater, partially barrel fermented and aged 2 years in American oak, SOOOOOO - I ran out and got: Rack of Lamb with dijon crust, roast potatos and acorn squash, much too extravagant for Monday night but .......... the wine was tremendous but showing it's age so we will have to drink it fairly soon. Tuesday - Baked ham, curried cauliflower and couscous - Kim Crawford "pansy" Rose.

Back on board: Friday - ran late, had a couple of cold ones with the lads, picked up thin crust pizza (sausage, spinach and mushroom), quick tossed spinach salad. Valpolicella Classico (Zenato). Saturday - Bachelor Weekend as wife and child are visiting Grandma and Granddad. Dinner out with friends - Greek Taverna (MMMMM) lovely salads and fried cheese followed by roast lamb. Cold beers and "House Red". Sunday - home alone - steak (rib eye) panseared topped with rosemary compound butter, green beans and panfried spuds . Hogue Cabernet/Merlot. I like this thread but the pictures are a bit disturbing.

I have 2 Rivals and they are both brilliant - one is over 20 years old and the other is a large oval which I received as a cherished Christmas gift some 4 years ago. My only advice is to go with the simplest one you can find ie: High, Low, Warm and remember that most "slow cooker recipe books" are poor at best - experiment, after all it's slow (read cheap cuts). Winter is here and I can almost SMELL the butt roast !!!!!!

Monday Night - Roast chicken stuffed with green grapes and sage, risi y pisi and green beans. ( South African Sauvignon Blanc - Robertson) Tuesday Night - striploins rubbed with garlic, shallot, fresh rosemary, salt, pepper and olive oil. Panseared served with mashed potatoes and steamed brocolli. (Trivento Reserve Cabernet/Malbec - Argentina) Wednesday night - braised pork butt (leftover) in cider with curried lentils and carrots and a mixed green salad. (probably an Aussie Riesling) Thursday night - Spaghetti Bolognese with mixed green salad. (Chianti or cheap Argentinian Shiraz/Malbec blend - La Chimiza) That's all I can say for this week.

Can this be true ? Chambar the great being slagged ? Jamie Maw will have your memberships revoked for this. In truth Chambar is simply going through the normal pains of: A) adding a second service (lunch) which means adding, training and ultimately diluting the talent pool of kitchen and service staff. B) being WAY overhyped on opening, particularly in this forum I have been there twice and both were pleasant, interesting, better than average experiences which augers well for the future. I think Chambar will settle in nicely as a solid "must visit" restaurant and wish them well.

Back on Topic I have been a regular Save-On Meats shopper for many years, and while the neighbourhood is sketchy it is not threatening during daylight hours. The shop is spotless, there are always at least 6 counter staff and 2 butchers working. The staff is courteous, fast and don't try to give you a pound and a half when you ask for a pound (a la Meinhardts - "Oh it's a little over, is that OK?"). The butchers happily cut anything you want to order, including shaving frozen tenderloin for carpaccio. I have never tried the lunch counter at the back but I'm sure it is fine. The clientele is a mixed bag of locals (read disenfranchised), middle class and "old money" - I love seeing Benz's double parked while someone runs in for the prime rib. The quality is good to very good and they have a tremendous selection of the kind of cuts Safeway or Armando's don't carry like short ribs, butt roasts, offal etc. The prices are 30-50% less than supermarket and sometimes insanely cheap (my 5 1/2 year old is addicted to their "breaded pork burgers" which work out about $2.50 a pound and lean ground beef is usually $2.29 lb.). There is also a fresh fish counter which is also good (fresh sardines @ $1.79 lb a while back), produce, not great, and bulk spices. It is unfortunate that the elitist attitude of many people would have them assume that the butchers location would indicate poor quality. For Shame eGulleteers.

Not opening soon - December 15th at the earliest.

As a Good Canadian here is my list : Pilsner Urquell Lowenbrau (German brewed only) Guinness Bass Bale Ale Dos Equis Molson Canadian (especially on tap) As for some of the choices for "macro" (McAuslan, Widmer Bros.,Anderson Valley) - I think not.

Since it appears you are in Phoenix, I would suggest you try out. http://www.porterhousepub.com/# or http://www.sonorabrew.com/home.html Spend a bit of time at the Bar, chat with the Bartender - start with the Pale Ales or the Maibock and "find your groove" Good luck and happy tasting.