PaoPao

Thanks for the info, we've already taken care of our Visa's so that's out of the way. The place we're staying is at "Hotel Sol Impanema" at Av. Vieira Souto, 320. It's about a block from the Impanema beach and is supposed to have fantastic ocean views. But I certainly don't mind jumping in a taxi to get to a further loacale if something is worth it. The all you can eat meat place is a definete on our list as well as the above mentioned drinks. I'm looking forward to trying the street food. Especially on the beach!

We hit Rasputin with some friends on Broadway. Very good meal. Between their sampler appys, The chicken dinner (which I thought was outstanding), and a continual flow of their special imported vodka, I almost started dancing a russian jig. This is a place we will certainly be back to! Hawkers Delight on Main for some really tasty Malay "Street Vendor" type food. I love places you can go to and just stuff yourself silly with good food for under $10 pp. Pink Pearl for, IMHO, the best Dim Sum around. Yes, yes, and I have been to Sun Sui Wah...... Take out from Cafe D'lite on 4th Ave. Fantastic Hainese Chicked Rice and Beef Brisket. Shiru Bay on Hamilton. It's not bad for convenience sake since we live so close to it. I definetly wish there was a Gu'u closer by..... And finally Samurai Sushi on Davie. Great portions, fresh, fast, tasty, and reasonably priced. A winning combo.

I heartily concur with 2roost's endorsement of this hearty chestnut of Italian cookery. Julio's way with the braised bone, in this case Jurrasic-sized whole lamb shanks (as opposed to hockey puck portions sawn from the hind legs of oppressed veals), deliver servings adequate to fuel Italian lumberjacks or their equivalent. There are several key items in his braising arsenal that I think separate Sr. Gonzalez-Perini's osso buco from the pack: 1. The braise has soothing notes of cinammon; 2. He doesn't merely ladle the braising liquid over the shanks, but rather reduces it into a properly rich sauce; 3. His gremolata topping (finely diced garlic, lemon zest and flat leaf parsley) is a sunny fedora; 4. While the dimensions are huge, the price ($27) is not. 5. The risotto, whether classic Milanese or the lemon-basil, are models of their class. J. ← Oh man, we are so there! Thanks everyone!

The only time I have ever seen my wife order a full dinner, eat it in it's entirety, then order the exact same thing and eat it again was in Rome. We we're at a street cafe and she ordered Oso Buco. Served very basic with just the shank and a marinara sauce; I have to agree with her, it was awesome. Meat barely clinging to the bone, and the marrow was just amazing. Any similar or different marrow dishes being served in restaurants in B.C.?

Excellent, this give me hope! BTW has here anyone tried "Lift" yet? Love the building, how's the food? I think this may be our alternate if Chambar doesn't work out. We are heading out of town on the 24th for about a month so I really am trying to make the 3 days that we are here for DOV count.

Ever tried Congee Noodle House on Broadway close to Main? They have an endless menu of interesting and tasty items. Kids are there all the time, but I think you'll be hard pressed to get them to give you crayons. This is the #1 place I take my wife to when she has had a hard day. Besides Congee and Noodles, they have expecially good BBQ Items and spicy crispy things (Chicken, Pheasent, etc.). Mmmm, getting hungry for their crispy chicken wings now....... They are open until about 2 a.m. so it's also a great place to stop by after coming back from a late night out.

Hi Ling! We're slowly working through their dispay case... Favs so far would be the Babas (small fluffy rum soaked cake), the creme puffs, a creme puff type cake, and the cookies. They all have Italian names which I am sure upon enough visits will be easier for me to remember. Next to try is the choc. torte. The brothers head back home to Italy every year. That and a good rotation of goodies should hopefully keep new Italian pastry discoveries coming.

Hey don't get me wrong, I certainly wouldn't refuse it if offered

Last night we had about 8 friends over for dinner. For dessert we special ordered from Yaletown Gelatto their "Baba's" which are rum soaked sponge cakes as well as their mocha creme puffs. Everyone totally flipped and thought they were the best things ever! We did get a chance to finally try their Gelatto the other night which was very good as well. I think my favorite place for Gelatto is still Dolce Amore in Commercial. It's hard to get excited about Gelatto though when it's so damn cold.

We've been pouring over the guide books, talking to friends, and getting any and all info on the "not to miss" things to do, eat, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions of great foods, drinks, or restaurants we should try? We'll be there for about 3 weeks and plan to take day trips to neighboring citys as well. Thanks!

We've got reservations at Coast and Il Giardino. The third we want to try is Chambar but i'm thinking this is a lost cause. Starting the first day of DOV reservations, we have been leaving messages without as much as a call back. Anyone else having these same issues there?

Hi Everyone! Fairly new member and 1st time poster here. For my hands down, all time favorite after 6 PM dessert take-out would have to be Picnic on S. Granville. They have a Tropical Carrot Cake that the only way I can describe it is just "Damn!" They make it next store in Meinhardts. Sometimes they have two types there and the difference between the two is night and day ..... so be sure to specify. A good friend of mine is equally smitten with the Fudge Cake they have. Also, close to me in Yaletown is a new Gelatto place on Homer called Yaletown Gelatto. Almost on the corner of Davie and Homer. Three brothers originally from a southern port city in Italy opened it. I've been there 3 times now, but not for the Gelatto which does look good, but for the Italian Pastries they have made. They have Rum soaked sponge cakes, Espresso cream filled puff pastries, and many other tasty items. Since they just opened I think they are still trying to figure out how late they want to stay open. Everytime I walk past there about dinner time (7:30ish), they are still open. With one of the brothers I talked at lenth about the pastries I found at the Mercato in Florence but have had dismal luck finding anything close here. Commercial Drive, etc., has been searched with no luck. Being originally from Italy he said there is a whole internet Italian database of recipes that he can access to find the ones I described. Hopefully he has success finding these tasty treats I described to him. My last submission of late night dessert is The White Spots Fudge Cake. It always seems to work when you are in a late night sugar craving pinch.