Chocoholic

Since the Aurora event I have been doing a bit of eating out. First off, on the 14th I attended my first Edible Vancouver event, the Whiskey Wednesday at Shebeen. I never even knew this place existed! What a find, it is a very rustic and cosy little bar behind the Irish Heather with a whiskey collection that will make you stare in awe first and salivate copiously second. We had some absolutely amazing whiskey paired with some of Sean's hearty Irish fare. The list of whiskeys: Green Spot 7-8 year old Irish Whiskey. Very unique and a rare find. Balmenach 1974, my favorite of the evening, deep chocolate and sherry cask flavour. Clynelish 1972, another rare one, lightly smokey and salty with lingering peat. Bruichladdich 20 yr old. Intense and warm, something to bring in a little hip flask on a cold snow day. Michter's Straight Kentucky Rye, 3 year Old. Yep, Kentucky Rye. I have to say I was skeptical, having bad memories of Jack Daniels overdoses in my confused late teenage years. But this rye went down very well with vanilla and cherry tones on the nose and a chewy, spicy finish. The plates of stilton cheese, smoked salmon, bangers 'n mash and Guiness spiked chocolate mousse from Sean's kitchen complemented things perfectly. Andrew Starritt was on hand to talk about the whiskeys we sampled and his knowledge of the subject is very impressive! This week we had people from another studio in town, this meant eating out was to be done. On Monday we went to Capone's in Yaletown. I had never been there before, we had a decent enough meal (kind of Milestone's / Earl's caliber) with some live Jazz music in the background. Tuesday I got to pick the restaurant for a private dinner with a colleague, he wanted seafood so I took him to Blue Water Cafe. This is becoming a bit of a favorite of mine, having been there three times in the last month. It was good as always, I had the duck prosciutto and beet salad followed by the feature of the evening, smoked black cod on a basmati rice pilaf. My colleague had a sushi roll and the wild salmon entree, this all went down well with a bottle of Burrowing Owl Chardonnay. For dessert we both had the mocha praline parfait, I couldn't resist having their 'water for chocolate' martini with that, all very satisfying indeed. As all that wasn't enough, last night I took the now jealous wife to Savoury Coast to have the tasting menu I got at the silent auction during Feast of Fields. We picked a spot at the kitchen bar which turned out very entertaining. We chatted with the line cook manning their wood burning oven and doing various plating throughout our meal. A large group of tourists all had lobster so I witnessed two men carrying the largest stock pot I have ever seen crammed full of lobsters. Anyway, the food came in copious quantities and was very good. We started off with a combination of buffalo carpaccio with a wasabi mayonnaise and spicy calamari in a tomato sauce. This was followed by a starch course, one bowl of corn/squash risotto and a braised pork cheek penne in spicy sauce for each of us. The fish course was oven baked halibut in a spicy broth with fingerling potatoes and clams, the meat was braised rabbit in a tomato sauce. By this time we were thoroughly stuffed, but somehow managed to eat the flourless chocolate cake and vanilla panna cotta desserts as well. We staggered out of the place, exceptionally stuffed but also very content since the food was top notch. If you ever decide to go there, the kitchen bar is a very interesting place to sit and eat a meal. Well, have to go...the Swiss Chalet takeout just arrived

I completely agree, I bought a whole bunch last time after giving it a try. It has a delicate, sweet flavour with enough garlic in there to keep it prominent. It is heavenly when roasted and squeezed on a piece of fresh bread. I have also been slicing the large cloves thickly and using them in stir fries. Hhmmm pieces of sweet garlic the size of water chestnuts...

Yes it is a fundraiser, also I guess you can get the food that was offered at local restaurants and save a drive out to Langley but it is the experience that makes all the difference. Sitting in a field enjoying the sun while sampling food and wine is a very good way to spend a late summer afternoon. If it is a 5 star culinary experience you are after an evening at West will be more suited.

I visited Vista D'Oro farm in Langley today, the location of Farmfolks/Cityfolks annual Feast of Fields fundraising event. I have been going to this ever since I moved to Vancouver and it has never disappointed. The weather was absolutely perfect which greatly enhanced the pleasure of roaming around an extremely scenic farm, plate and glass in hand, visiting the various tents and getting morsels of great food and sips of local wine and brew. Some of the highlights include: Crunchy Thai chicken & peanut cakes and Lemongrass-coconut chicken skewers from Savoury City Foods. Delectable bites with a nice mango salsa that went down very well indeed. Herb roasted pork loin on a baguette with red onion marmalade and peppercress mustard from The Seasonal Experience. The wonderful duck confit / heirloom tomato / mushroom / onion creation from Butirmoth. Roasted corn salad with dried tomato, sweet corn custard on a pophyra seaweed biscuit from Raincity Grill. Wild rice and mushroom risotto with grilled Elk bites from Pair Bistro. Jerked Bison shortrib with heirloom tomato jam, organic pea greens on a plantain cracker from Zin. There were a lot of wineries, but on a hot day in the sun I was perfectly happy with a nice cold SunGod Wheat Ale from R&B Brewing. There was a lot more food to be had, being the carnivore I am, I tend to remember the meat most...I checked the camera, Connie was busy snapping pictures but almost all of them feature Chocoholic Jr. in various states of eating, playing with dirt, gazing at the horses, etc. No food shots I'm afraid. It was nice to see some familiar faces as well, Glenys Morgan (my old Dubrulle Serious Amateur series instructor) and Sean Sherwin from Fiction. Too bad I didn't get to taste their beef carpaccio, some of the food went quickly. This is perhaps my only (albeit small) niggle about FoF, it was a lot busier than I remember from previous years. Some of the lineups were very long. Poor Jr. had to wait almost 20 minutes for some gelato, this is at least 2 hours in toddler time! I now sit here at home, belly filled happily and face still warm from the sun. It was a great day indeed. I am also quite content with the silent auction item I managed to win, a six course tasting menu for two at Savoury Coast. I have been wanting to try that place for some time now. If you haven't gone to Feast of Fields before, I suggest you put it on your long-term calendar for 2006.

Lots of eating, little time to write about it... In fuzzy chronological order with more detail for the fresher ones. Ouisi with the wife and child. An old neighborhood favorite. Quite some time ago, details are vague. C with my regular dining buddy. We had never been before and felt like splurging so we went for the tasting menu and the wine pairing. We were seated on the patio next to a slightly drunk American couple who proceeded to share intimate details of their family life with us. The barrage of stories and offers to buy us bottles of wine (our table was generously covered in wine glasses already) was amusing but distracting, I remember little of the actual food. Our server was tactful enough to seat us separately once it was time to move inside after which we were able to concentrate on the rest of the food which was spectacular. Vij's, I wrote about that in a separate Vij's thread. Last week some time: Cactus Club in Yaletown with a friend who really likes to go there for some reason. It may have something to do with the models/waitresses. The food was pretty decent however, although it was more of a booze exercise than a dining experience. I remember having quite a few spiked frappucinos and various other alcoholic concoctions. Last Friday night: Memphis Blues, Connie went out on a girl's night so I put the little one on my shoulders and walked over to MB. He loves that place and sits patiently in his booster chair while waiting for the food. I got a pulled pork/sausage combo, when I put it on the table Kai's eyes opened wide and he yelled 'SAUSAGE!', much to the amusement of our fellow carnivores. He then proceeded to dig into the food with the fervor of a starved linebacker, frequently offering bits of sausage to the people at the table next to us. He also discovered the dipping sauce which caused a frenzy of paper towel action from his dad. We walked home, tummies happy, stopping by Mac's across the street for some ice cream… Saturday: we walked to MEC for some hiking gear purchases and on the way back popped into Banana Leaf. The Roti Canai are criminally addictive and dipping them into the various curry sauces is food perfection. I had the Beef Rendang, Connie had the black cod with sambal sauce. Jr. munched on pieces of fish, Rendang and enjoyed his banana leaf wrapped coconut rice. Much comfort was had by all. Sunday: fish 'n chips at a little place on the White Rock boardwalk. Big chunks of cod in crispy batter with fries and tartar sauce. Calorie heaven! We all did lots of munching and finger-licking. We then spent the rest of the afternoon on the tidal flat watching Jr. doing large scale mud excavation. Yesterday: Blue Water Café with a coworker from our UK studio. It was the first time there for me and I was very impressed. I had the duck prosciutto and beet salad followed by the ahi tuna. My friend had a half dozen oysters and the sablefish. We also had a bottle of Burrowing Owl chardonnay, light and crisp which worked well with the food. Our server was great, she was very knowledgeable both about the food as well as the wine and had a great sense of humor. It is funny how much a good server enhances your dining experience. I will definitely go back there.

We are in the middle of fruit season. For dessert why not do a simple parfait or something. Get some peaches (make sure they are local!), some blueberries, some cherries, some whip cream and a bit of Grand Marnier. Can't be beat. Tenderland Meats carries buffalo, there is also a buffalo stand that can be found some weekends. If you like a good piece of beef, buffalo will make you very happy. You can ask them about onglets. A chunk of hot smoked salmon with some crackers will do nicely as a pre-dinner munchie. Check out the organic vegetable stand in the middle of the market, across from Oyama sausage. They have great beets, chard and organic greens. They sometimes carry pea shoots as well. Oyama may be able to help you with your duck magrets. There is a mushroom stand there sometimes, they carry mostly dried wild mushrooms but you can find fresh morels sometimes as well. If the honey lady is around, check out her collection. The blueberry honey is especially tasty, could work with your fruit dessert. There is also someone who sells jams, chutneys and pickled peppers under the 'Fresh Flavors' brand. Great stuff if you are looking for condiments for your cheese course for example. Enjoy!

"Red Pepper" has been under construction for many months now. I live around the corner from it and pass by often. It was interested in the beginning (this was early this year or even late last year), now it is a bit of a joke. I wonder who's bank account is being drained by the rent they must be paying while construction starts and stops. Maybe they are out of money and whenever they get some, some activity happens. Anyway, if they ever do open I will pop in and check it out.

We had dinner at Vij's last night, after almost two years I have to admit. We are very loyal customers of Rangoli so that makes up for it I hope! Take out food and weekend patio lunches are a bit more compatible with Jr's presence in our household. Anyway...it was a Monday, no lineup at the door at 7pm and only a 10 minute wait for a table. So far so good! Connie was happy to find Joie on the menu so it wasn't long until we were happily sipping away and munching on the little morsels that the staff handed out. I had the striped bass in sour cream curry and Connie had the grilled kale and chick peas which was intensely flavorful and spicy. The Joie did wonders here to cool the palate for sure. Next up came the mango, eggplant and new potato curry for Connie and the shortribs for myself. The shortribs were delectable, braised in red wine with cinnamon and curry spice which provided a rich, thick sauce that could be mopped up with the cauliflower and honey parantas. Thomas Haas's chocolates were dessert for me (what else could I eat!) and I had to dash into a closing Rangoli to pick up some more of those treats on the way out. Needless to say we loved it, great food, good service, we had a nice evening out. I love Indian food and eat a lot of it in many different restaurants. Sometimes I feel like a classic Vindaloo and will head for a traditional place like Raga on Broadway and get my fill. Sometimes I feel like Maurya (love the naan there) and sometimes if I want a different experience altogether I will go to Vij's again. You can't judge them all alike or say that Vij's doesn't offer authentic Punjabi food since I guess you can really only get that in Punjab. He definitely has his own style and cuisine and I for one am happy we have it in Vancouver. (And walking distance from our house )

I am a bit surprised by the responses so far on this thread, they seem to be on the negative side. Last night as we walked down Granville we noticed the crowd outside Vij's, both on the way up to a dinner at Ouisi and coming back a couple of hour later. We then decided to get a babysitter some time next week and brave the lineup to eat Vij's food again. My big problem is the lineup, spending an hour milling around waiting for a table isn't my favorite thing to do, especially when the babysitter's hourly wage makes my wallet very small and afraid. I'll report back once we have eaten there, the last time was at least two years ago.

On Thursday night I was at Fiction (they were celebrating their 6th year anniversary, congrats Sean and Sue!) and some time after dinner we decided to order some fine Scotch from their sizeable collection and a cheese plate to nibble on. The cheeses were delectable, we picked a creamy & assertive Stilton, a Guinness cheddar, a very flavorful and slightly edgy cow's cheese and a few slices of very creamy brie. The names of these linger vaguely in my mind but will not present themselves I'm afraid. The condiments were very interesting, a small sage pot au creme, a few pieces of hazelnut cake, some fruit compote and a bowl of nuts provided some great flavor contrasts and combinations. As a Dutch expat I sorely miss my cheese. In fact I have a piece of 'Rijpenaer' in my fridge at the moment, a 2 year old intensely flavored and dry Gouda. This cheese is utterly unlike the pale, barely present 'Gouda' you find at the local supermarket. I savor this with some good multigrain bread (and nothing else mind you!) in the mornings. The sizable chunk I picked up in Schiphol airport last month has dwindled to a small piece which I will be finishing off this weekend, to be left bereft of cheese from the motherland... Anyway, the odd cheese plate and frequent visits to Les Amis do a lot to cure the longings.

Fair enough, I didn't mean to have a smokers vs. non-smokers argument (I have had many of those, they all end in a stalemate), just wanted to know what people thought of the smoke-free patio argument that has come up lately. I still think it is too bad that on a lovely summer day I am forced to eat inside because, on a patio (away from traffic and diesel exhaust, there are plenty of those) it is far too likely the table next to you will start producing noxious fumes. It boggles my mind how people can eat and smoke at the same time. PS The Danes weren't too good at death-metalling. The Norwegians however took it to new extremes.

I guess it is all about what is generally accepted in soceity. Arguments about free choice, etc. don't really hold up. I don't smoke but like to listen to heavy music every once in a while, perhaps even over lunch. I wonder what would happen if I dug up my old ghetto blaster and some obscure but highly offensive Swedish death metal and planted myself in a patio full of smokers and let it rip. Would be a fun but short lived experiment for sure.

The description of Watermark as a smoke free restaurant (inside and out) and an article in the Sun today regarding possible legislation for smoke free patios has me hoping that patio dining will become a viable option again. For me, digging into a plate of lovely food, bringing that forkfull of aromatic goodness to your mouth only to be enveloped in a waft of cigarette smoke is like putting your roadster accidentally in reverse while cruising down the highway at 120 km/h. It pretty much ruins the experience. I wonder what the sentiments of fellow Vancouver foodies are surrounding this delicate subject. One of the great benefits of living in Vancouver as opposed to back in Europe where I grew up is having the ability to lead a smoke free life. Except while on a patio that is. How I love to see that change!

Last weekend was spent in Whistler, soaking up the sun and hiking around the Harmony trails. Gorgeous weather, stupendous views and lots of food. A perfect weekend for sure. Saturday morning on the way in we stopped at Whole Foods in Park Royal and picked up some sandwiches from their deli counter. Brie and prosciutto with figs on a toasted ciabatta bun. I had to pull over at the top of Taylor Way since I was too engrossed in consuming the sandwich to safely pilot the family vehicle. Saturday afternoon we strolled through the village and ended up on the Earls patio. We had some appies, dry ribs, a tomato puree soup and a piece of salmon with some rice for the little one. I was more into the Bellinis and the mango Margaritas we had, forgetting the lethal combo of high alcohol drinks and blazing sunshine. Luckily I was able to prostrate myself in the village square watching the live music while Chocoholic Jr. amused the crowd by going into an elaborate dance routine. Seeing a 2 year old do a Saturday Night Fever impression puts smiles on everyones faces. We made the mistake of letting him have a large scoop of ice cream at Earls so he was in hyper mode for many hours afterwards, refusing to sleep until about 9:30pm. At that point we had to drag ourselves downstairs to the restaurant (we were staying at the Westin) called Aubergine with Jr. fast asleep in his stroller. It was too late for a full dinner so we ordered some appies, the crab cakes were especially tasty, so tasty that we ended up ordering another round. We also munched on a salad and finished with a cheese plate and some port. The plate was very generous with dried figs, lots of nuts and sizable chunks of cheese. By the time we were finishing it off it was past 11, the chef came by for a chat and announced he was going home. We took the hint and retired to our room. The next day after a hike on Whistler mountain we had lunch at Araxi on their patio while watching more live music and more of Jr.'s dancing antics. I had the cheese souffle followed by duck confit with a walnut salad, washed down with pints of GI Hefeweizen. The souffle was lovely, with a slightly creamy interior and a good but not overpowering cheese flavor. Duck confit is one of my favorites and it didn't disappoint this time. Connie had a salad followed by their halibut and chips which she shared with the little one. His combinations of dipping sauces, pieces of lemon, fish and garnishes were interesting to behold. He is the Jackson Pollock of cuisine no doubt.

Some time ago: Beach House, on a Sunday afternoon after hiking Hollyburn Peak. These days I have to haul Chocoholic Jr. on my back up mountains, he is comfortably seated in a rather complex contraption strapped to my back. Good for the legs, the child weighs in at a healthy 26 pounds these days, add to that the 5 pound contraption and various items his mother stuffs in it. Much huffing and puffing results. Our hiking companions have a similarly aged little one so her father is in the same boat. Anyway, we arrive at the Beach House, covered in mud, exhausted, hungry and with two energetic almost two year olds in tow. We dominated the (almost empty) patio, only managing to break one glass. It was that magic time in between lunch and dinner so we munched on appies and drank Joie Chardonnay and lots of water. It was slightly chaotic but very enjoyable. Thanks to the staff there for coping with our unruly offspring. Andrew told me later he spotted us on the patio (he wasn't working that day) and feared the worst since we had the most junior waiter. No worries, he did a cracking job. Last week: Earl's on top. Casual meal with an old friend. I was really impressed by the striploin special I had, the anise-flavored reduction it was served with was very tasty and the beef tender and flavorful. The Earl's sized mango Margarita went down well. I love patios in the summer, too bad they are always full of smokers. Last night: Chambar with two buddies. I took the day off and went for a drive with a friend. Whistler, Lillooet, Lytton, Boston Bar, Hope. Lots of windy back country roads, gorgeous views and liberal interpretation of the local speed limits . 6 hours later in Vancouver I was parched and very hungry. Sitting at the (Cham)bar, sampling Belgium beer was exactly what I needed. Our table took longer than expected so we were treated to a free round of beers and later free appies (it took quite a while). I am not a Poutine fan, but their version with Szechuan peppercorns and a reduction of some kind is very good. The rest of the food was great as always, my two friends were both Chambar first timers and both very impressed, vowing to return. I had the game trio, elk, venison and figs wrapped in wild board bacon. Paired with a Chimay Red, this was perfection. Chocolate mousse with their Finit martini for dessert finished me off.

I wasn't able to attend this event (still sad about that) but I was inspired by the slow-cooked salmon. I gave that a try last night with a piece of wild spring salmon. Rubbed it with EVOO, a bit of salt and pepper and cooked it at 190F for about 30 minutes. The piece was quite thick (almost 2 inches) so I cooked it a bit longer than the 20-25 minutes mentioned in this thread. The result was impressive, soft, succulent and juicy, definitely a success. I served it on some organic greens with a blueberry dressing and fresh blueberries. I am addicted to these little bursts of goodness and the salad went well with the fish. Worth a try if you haven't done so already!

After two weeks of traveling for work (UK, Holland, Florida) and much eating on the good old expense account it was time for a jet-lagged and decidedly fuzzy weekend of light fare. Well, that was the plan anyway Friday was my first day back, happily reuinited with the missus and Chocoholic Jr. We ended up at Red Door that evening with some friends, sitting on the patio, working our way through their menu and sharing the plates. Their Bellini-style drink (I forget the name) surely works when sitting in the sun while your brain thinks it is 3am. I vaguely remember their tea smoked duck in crepes and the 'shaking beef' being particularly tasty. Jr. entertained the other guests by running up and down the patio and climbing on empty chairs in attempts to reach interesting items on the tables. Saturday was the HSG beer tasting and brisket munching. Sunday I cooked (Granville Island fresh noodles, mushrooms, asparagus, cream sauce...yum), Monday we got take out from Jumbo Sushi, an old favorite. Yaki soba, udon in soup, gyoza and sushi rolls always work. The little one likes to take his sushi apart, mix it with the noodles and pour some water on it to make a tasty concoction he then enthusiastically devours. Hurray for hardwood floors!

I know a couple of vegans and both have to take expensive vitamin supplements to remain healthy. I guess that beats the price argument. Perhaps they haven't read the vegan handbook but I think any diet that forces you to take supplements is a bit wonky... I am a big carnivore but do try to get free range eggs, organic chicken, ranch-grown buffalo, etc. It's been a long time since I bought a water logged chicken breast in a styrofoam container. This thread reminds me of my two crazy friends who went on a 'caveman diet'. Only eat raw things you can forage yourself. Nuts, fruit, raw vegetables. One of them lasted a week, the other just one day.

Nice coincidence! I am about to fly to Amsterdam from London as part of a business trip. Being an expat Dutchman I am taking the opportunity for a quick taste of Holland. I will be staying in the Schiphol Hilton tonight and tomorrow night. Tomorrow will be a blissful day of nothing meaning I can do some shopping and eating in Amsterdam. Two questions: what would be a good local restaurant in Amsterdam where I can eat on Saturday evening? I can make a reservation tonight so it can't be a place that is booked weeks in advance. Also, I will be on my own. Price isn't much of a concern (bless the expense account ), good food and perhaps a spot to eat at the bar is. Question 2: I will be meeting my parents for brunch on Sunday before flying out of Schiphol. There isn't much time so it will have to be in the airport. Any recommendations for a good brunch place? Any experience with the airport hotel restaurants?

Glamourous expectations aren't limited to the cook's line of work. I work in the games industry, I have spent most of my life in it. I work for a very large games company in Vancouver and most young kids I know aspire a job as a game tester. Play games all day and get paid to boot! yay! Well I have news for you...you get paid minimum wage, have to work in cramped conditions and play the same game over and over again, many hours a day, many days a week. Sounds familiar? A few make it past QA, get into the game teams and start a career. The rest linger for a while and move on. Regarding prices, I am in the UK right now (Guildford, just outside London) for work, last night we went to an upscale Italian restaurant. Thankfully the boss was paying since my little plate of raviolis stuffed with smoked haddock was 10 pounds, the main was 18 pounds and dessert 10 pounds. 38 pounds for food at 2.3 dollars per pound....87 bucks. Never mind the wine we had as well. The same food in Vancouver would cost the same but then in dollars. I doubt food cost or restaurant overhead here is much more than in Vancouver. So where does that money go? Do their cooks get paid more?

Friday night, usual takeout from Jumbo Sushi on 6th & Laurel. My 21 month old now recognises the place and starts enthusing "sussi!" when we pull up. Cheap and cheerful Japanese, but definitely a notch above the average hole in the wall Japanese place. Sunday late afternoon we decided to try the new Red Door "Pan Asian Grill" on South Granville. This place has been open for about 2 weeks now after a record setting construction time of about 6 weeks I would say. Impressive given the fact that they completely tore down the old Bread Garden that was there. The space has the classic red/black colour scheme with mostly black furniture and red accents. Seating is a mixture of tables, bar stools and booths. Booths are good when eating with small kids, the Tiny But Messy One was corraled between his parents in the booth with enough space for toy deployment. Food wise we had potstickers that were decent if a bit bland, won ton soup in a great spicy broth with won tons that actually had discernible ingredients in the filling, a welcome change from the usual nondescript paste that you find in them. We also had the Singapore street noodles, Pad Thai and a shrimp curry. The Singapore noodles were my favorite with pieces of BBQ pork and bacon in a flavorful sauce on egg noodles. The Pad Thai was good, not my personal favorite but the little one had fun trying to fit as many noodles in his mouth as possible. The curry was a bit of a let down, it looked good with lots of crispy green beans but the sauce missed that lemon/spicy taste you'd expect from Southeast Asian curry. This place has potential, they are definitely trying to market themselves specifically to the Earls/Cactus club style crowd I believe. Think of a cross between Wild Rice and Cactus Club. They have the slushy drink machine churning behind the bar and the black-clad servers cruising the room. I mean that in a good way though, I can see it becoming a regular stop since the food was good and authentic enough to make it worthwhile. They do take-out as well, which is great for weeknights. One thing though, trying to eat slippery noodles and sugar peas covered in curry sauce with those laquered chopsticks does not work! I am quite adept with chopsticks but my side of the table was starting to resemble my son's side which he was expertly covering in noodles, vegetables and assorted bits of other food. After Red Door we headed for Churrolicious to try the Churros and hot chocolate. Fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar dipped in hot chocolate is of course always good! Needless to say we came out of there with a comfortable sugar rush. Nice people behind the counter, they gave Chocoholic Jr a little iced chocolate milk, his first I might add. His eyes lit up and he refused to let go of the cup until he drained every last drop of it. The Churros are great, the hot chocolate could do with a version without milk, I remember the thick luscious melted chocolate I had in Spain for breakfast. That's what I am after, I guess I will have to keep melting bars of Scharffen-Berger at home.

** drool ** I put it on my 'things to do this weekend' list. Eat churros and drink hot chocolate. Now it really needs to rain Thanks for the heads up!

Last weekend, La Provence Marinaside for a Sunday brunch. We wait until the little one exhibits signs of imminent napping which is usually around noon, after which we call some friends and make a beeline for the place. He will pass out in the car and sleep blissfully in his stroller through brunch. A 'basket of baked goods' will be devoured, freshly baked croissants and muffins slathered in butter and jam. This is followed by the usual brunch fare, French toast, eggs benny, etc. The food is always good. I guess I just I really like that place for brunch, the room is spacious and light and there is enough place for stroller parking Sunday evening we visited friends who ordered Chinese takeout. It was horrible and I have repressed all memories of it. I was inspired by Jamie's article on Michel Jacob to make a reservation at Le Crocodile for last night. I have to admit after 8 years in Vancouver, this was the first time we ate there. (shame on us!) It certainly didn't disappoint, I had the mushroom and tomato tartlet followed by one of the evening's specials, Caribou tenderloin. I love this kind of game meat, tender and juicy with that little bit of extra flavor telling you that it isn't cow you are eating. It was served with a red wine reduction and seasoned with fresh rosemary. Delicious. Connie had the tuna wrapped crab salad which she loved and another special, halibut in a brown butter sauce. We had chocolate crepes with hazelnut mousse for dessert. Connie remarked that maybe I should do a 'super size me' movie but instead of eating MacDonald's for a month I should eat French food. I am up for the challenge, anyone willing to sponsor, give me a call. Le Crocodile certainly lives up to its reputation, the place seems to run very smoothly, our server was skillful and friendly, the food outstanding. Even Connie who is ever the skeptic when it comes to French food (eeewww...frogs legs!) admitted she really liked it. I am sure won't be another 8 years before I go back there.

This weekend I got some chicken stock from the stock market, a packet of Arborio rice and a chunk Parm Reggiano from the Italian deli. Add some garlic, shallots and asparagus and I had everything I needed to make a nice creamy Risotto. Pan-roasted the asparagus, chopped them up and folded them into the Risotto. I served this with a piece of salmon filet topped with some organic microgreens. This was last night, very tasty indeed. I also got a big bunch of beef shortribs, more stock and mirepoix veggies and did a classic shortrib braise in red wine, a splash of brandy and the mirepoix. The resulting shortrib goodness will be devoured tonight with some of the organic kale and potatoes I picked up as well. Last but not least the peach-curry sausages I got from Oyama (together with some ham and salami for breakfast sandwiches) made a great lunch on some buns with sweet pickled peppers from Fresh Flavors, a GI regular from Westwold who pickles and preserves anything from garlic to blueberries. GI has become an absolute indispensible part of my cooking and eating life...

For the Dutch it is black licorice. Double-salted, intensely flavored small bricks of hardcore licorice-ness. It assaults your tastebuds and slowly melts in your mouth, releasing salty licorice all the way. I grew up eating the stuff and emigrated to Canada. Whenever I get a hold of some I try it on my unsuspecting Canadian friends who are used to the sweet semi-aniseedy tasting stuff they call licorice. So far I have met very few who can eat a single piece without cringing and running for the nearest receptacle for suitable licorice disposal. In Holland there are specialised shops that sell nothing but licorice and it is a ritual for the Dutch child to save up some allowance money and visit the licorice shop for a 1/4 pound baggie of mixed licorice (all black, in many shapes and densities but all intensely flavored) that gets devoured within the usual 30 minutes, usually resulting in a slightly upset tummy and that telltale hint of blackness around the mouth. My mother could tell from a mile away if I had indulged in a bag (which was often) and would postpone dinner a bit, knowing I would be having trouble... Nowadays my licorice fixes are few and far between. Whenever I visit Holland I stock up on the stuff, filling up every nook in my suitcases with baggies from the licorice shop. It's been a while. The cravings are hard to bear...