PaoPao

Just got back from Falconetti's Sausage Company located at 1812 Commercial Drive. You can read more about them here. Have to say this is one of the best Grilled Sausage we've eaten here in Van. After talking with one of the brothers, they we're telling us how they make everything there. We decided the best game plan for trying this place would be a full assault. So we ordered a Charurice (their Chorizo), The Sirloiner, The Salmon, The Yucatan Chicken, and the Merguez (Lamb) Sausages. Carman cut them in thirds for us to try and one after another he started bringing them out. Interesting and complimentary sauces we're spread into the delicious home made buns as well as select toppings of onion and peppers. They we're all fantastic, but I have to say may favourite was the Yucatan Chicken, I just loved the spices and the Jalapeño in it. Just when we though we we're done Carman brought out for us a Hot Italian chopped up in a bit of sauce. Our bulging tummies did not stand in the way of letting it sit around very long. Again, yummy. The only thing that would have made this taste better would be a cold beer which at present is not available. Carman assured us in about a week or so he will be able to serve beer. This place is definitely on my list to return to.

Last Thursday a friend with my wife and I tried Burrito Bros. I think Jamie's breakdown is very accurate of the meal and service we had there as well. My wife ordered the Burrito bowl with Steak and was disappointed with only a few bits of meat in this Taco Salad. My friend and I both had the Beef burrito's. Overall impressions we're that they we're alright but a bit bland. I found myself reaching for the Hot Sauce with each bite. A pet peeve of mine with Mexican restaurants is when they don't just serve Chips and Salsa, but instead you have to pay for them. I think they charged $2.99 for them. Obviously it's not the $ but it's the fact that I think it's just annoying to pay for something that is so inexpensive and IMO should just accompany the dish. All in all even though one of my favourite foods is Mexican, I don't think we'll be back. I think if someone in this town actually could make a good Burrito / Taco meal at a decent price point they would make a killing. Because I know all of my Mexican food loving friends are seriously left wanting. The closest, pretty good place we found is Banano's on Pacific.

Just got back from Yaletown Gelato on Homer and Davie, I have to say, the brothers have done it again. They have a new cake called "Angelo" that is a personal size Angel Food Cake. In the center is a vanilla pudding with either fresh Raspberries or Blueberries, then finished off on the top and spilling down the sides ...chocolate. For $2.99 this IMO as a fantastic dessert and a good value. Also new is a chocolate pudding cake that is pretty good as well. The Rum Baba's continue to be a favourite snack for my sweetie. In the next couple weeks they will be finished with construction in the expansion of their space which now fronts on Homer instead of being tucked two doors in. Also, they gave me an inside scoop on an upcoming Gelato variety that they are now working on for all the pampered pooches in Yaletown. Should be interesting, Gelato for doggies . Great gelato, friendly owners, and continued Italian pastry innovations is keeping this place a favourite of mine.

The standout IMO is the Bacon Wrapped Chicken, usually I've had to ask for it as it doesn't make the rounds too frequently. Also their parmesan crusted Filet Mignon I think is quite good as well. On Fri and Sat nights they have Brazilian performances with Carnaval type costumes being worn by the women; and when we were there Capoeira performances by a member of Ache Brazil Capoeira. Both we're entertaining.

T and T Supermarket in Downtown / Chinatown has very inexpensive and tasty BBQ Pork avaiable fresh at their Deli - Meat Counter in the back.

Back when my Bride and I moved here to Vancouver almost three years ago now, one of the top 3 reasons was the food scene. Since moving here, on average we eat out 3 - 4 times per week (dinner mostly). So out of 500 to 600 restaurants we have dined in, the times we find a place that we actually go back is pretty small, maybe 5% of them. 95% are in that "meh" category that for us defines: "I'm glad we went to try something new but It wasn't that great that we would be back". But those 5% that we think are outstanding get rare mentions on this board every once in awhile by me or a few others. Is this supposed to mean that others don't get out as much and may not have had the chance to try them? Maybe. More than likely it is that we just have different tastes than the true "Gourmet". We have eaten at almost all the city's purported "Top" restaurants and it is a rare occasion that I think the food quality and service warrant in value even half of what I end up paying. But with high prices comes perceived value and quality that many people are drawn to, which is fine if that's what they want. In judging my dining experience in a restaurant, if I have to think about the service, the food, the setting, etc., it is distracting from my overall enjoyment. The best meals I've had have been sharing a meal with people I enjoy that everything just happens: great food, great service, relaxing atmosphere, no stress. When this doesn't happen I don't feel the need to immediately run to the manager, but I do give the opinion with my $$$ by not returning. If the waiter or manager comes up to ask, I'll be honest about my experience. If they choose to adjust something in the case of something gone wrong, great. If not, that's fine too. Detailed descriptions in restaurant reviews here in eG really don't do much for me. As everyone’s tastes are different, what someone may describe so eloquently, in my reality is crap. So would more detail really help the "quality" of reviews here? No, I don't think so. Let people write what they want about a place, not be subjected to a form questionnaire that needs to be filled out. As for Foodie Girls review of Lumiere, the thing that really hit home with me when I read it was the similar experience we had at Feenie's. Not the specific description, and the further more detailed description of her Foie Gras Melting in the soup. Peoples experience vary all the time in all different situations. It drives me nuts though when people are criticized for stating their opinion on this board. Instead of criticizing the person giving their review of their experience, why not just chime in with your own experiences with the place if you’ve encountered something different? Now that to me is a much more valid endeavour than half-wit sarcasm about another poster talking about their meal.

Surely this was unnecessary. I can imagine that perhaps in one or the other dish your exceptionally high personal expectations were not met, or perhaps you had a bad night, or perhaps you are from planet Klingon, but to say that you are "still trying to get the bad taste out" of your mouth after a meal at Lumiere must rank as one of the more egregious exaggerations ever posted in this forum. ← Is it really so hard to imagine someone having different tastes or experiences than you? If that's what her experience was, who are you to criticize it?

Who knew fried dough could evoke such passion! I think dillybravo's opinion is interesting and doesn't need to be criticized. Maybe all the sugar from the Churro's Sam has been eating is getting the better of him.

^ Here's a link to a map for the Westham Island Winery. If you follow it you will pass two Strawberry picking Farms (2nd is better and cheaper). Then another click or two down the road is the Winery to dull those pains in your back from bending over and picking all those berries.

Just found this helpful guide through vancouverplus.ca: Domestic Departures (Everybody) * Milestone's Restaurant & Bar (L.3). Licensed, serving breakfast, lunch, & dinner. Watch aircraft. * Cheers Bar & Lounge (L.3). Pub-style sit-down restaurant and lounge. * Tim Hortons (L.3). Watch aircraft. Domestic Departures (Post-security) * Legends Bar & Grill (L.3). Full service restaurant and bar with soups, salads, and hamburgers. * Green Bean Coffee Shop (L.3) Pier B. Sandwiches, Italian panini, salads, baked goods, wine and beer. * Roasters (L.3) Pier B. Newsstand, bar, sandwiches, snacks. Alternating Domestic or International Departures (Post-Security) * Noodle Bar & Deli (L.3). Snacks, newsstand, Chinese and Japanese fast food. Domestic Arrivals (Everybody) * Stanley's Bar (L.2). Sports bar featuring a wide selection of local and imported beverages. Watch Arrivals Gate. Smoking in enclosed area only. International Arrivals (Everybody) * Elephant and Castle (L.2). Sports bar featuring an English atmosphere and a pub style menu. Watch Arrivals Gate. International Departures: (Everybody) * Hanami Japanese Restaurant (L.3). A kaiten (revolving) sushi bar, tatami rooms. Dim sum served daily. Watch aircraft. * Pacific Market (L.3). International and local cuisine in a full service, licensed restaurant. International Departures (Post-Security) * Pacific Lodge Café (L.3). Sandwiches, hot breakfast items, salads, drinks, and pastries. * Peak's Lounge (L.3). Bar, and appetizers, snacks, and sandwiches. USA Departures (Post-Security) * Voyages Bar (L.3). Selection of drinks, appetizers, and snack foods. Everywhere * Starbucks has five outlets: Pre-Security, Post-Security, Arrivals & Departures, International and Domestic. All on L.3, except International Arrivals on L.2. * Toast! Coffee Shop has three outlets: Domestic Arrivals L.2 (Everybody), Domestic Departures L.3 (Post -Security), and US Departures L.3 (Post-Security). For more formal dining, try the Globe@YVR restaurant at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel in the international terminal. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide great views to watch aircraft. West Coast menus offer fresh, local products. The Jetside Bar is a comfortable place to meet friends or business associates.

Steadily for the past two months we have been dissecting our Entertainment Book to try new places. All of the restaurants we have tried so far we have thoroughly enjoyed including: The Cannery, The Denman Street Free House, Wild Garlic, Lombardo's, and a handful of others. I've got about 100 other restaurant coupons ripped out ready to go or pages dog-eared that we hope to try by years end. This book is just such a fantastic value as well as guide to try new places. Has anyone else been trying some of the other restaurants in the E-book? Which have been your standouts?

Last Thursday (I think ) We met some friends at the W. Broadway Wild Garlic. Have to say we we're really happy with everything we ate. Yummy and I arrived a bit late, but we we're able to still taste the Candied Roasted Garlic Appetizer that was ordered. Wow that was tasty. For a special that night, Tenderloin of Ostrich was available. Had to try this. It was served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and some Green Beans. I had never eaten Ostrich prepared this way and hands down I though it was delicious. Very Tender on the inside, braised on the outside, served with a Red Wine sauce. As an added bonus we're able to use our Entertainment Book Coupon which made this meal an outstanding value. I would like to go back for the Garlic Brunch and try some of their other items.

I was in again yesterday talking with some of the staff. I'm feeling kind of sorry for them as it seems like the rainy Sunday and maybe other factors were having customers come in pretty sporadically. Out of all my friends who have tried this place, their opinions echo what has already been written about in this thread. The exception only being some close friends who just love the Brunch's there. I was told that a new revised sit down menu is being released today. Hopefully that will breathe a bit of life and excitement back into this establishment. They have also removed the large overhead menu's above the counter so that they can have more creative license in "changing" things up.

Saturday we we're off to Westham Island for the opening of Strawberrw season. The berries we got we're alot smaller than last year and looked a bit rough. We we're told to come back in about another two weeks and the berries should be looking great then.

Saturday, after coming back from Westham Island buying Strawberries we decided to use our coupons to sample the free Churros. We ordered the regular Churros, the Dulce de Leche stuffed Churro, and the Hot Chocolate. These are a nice little snack. Crispy on the outside with a nice flavor from the sprinkled sugar. Dipping it in the Hot Chocolate was ok, I guess my expectations we're out of whack comparing to what we had before in Spain. The star of our order was definitely the Stuffed Churro, the Dulce de Leche was a great addition to the crispy hot dough. If I was passing by again I'm not sure it grabbed me enough to go a second time.

Oh man, this place looks so good! Coupon for two free Chorros on the website. Just the thought of these things makes my mouth water for when we we're in Barcelona. Fresh Churros with that thick Hot Spicy Chocolate available now in Vancouver? Their geniuses.

Hey, as Keith has so eloquently eluded to, it's an experience that ya gotta go to at least once to experience. If not, who's going to buy all those cell phone covers?

We've been to the Night Market a few different times. Interesting? I guess if you have never been (especially during the blackout). Crowded? Yup. Good food? I looked and looked, tasted and tasted, and there isn't anything there that really would make me want to go back food wise. If you want to go see lots of vendors selling (IMO) lots of crap, while being elbowed eating mediocre to bad food, This place is for you! If you do go, the only thing I think that is worthwhile purchasing is the Electric fly shocker/swatter. For about $2 you can get a great invention that shocks the crap out any little flying bug. Easily puts all other fly swatters to shame.

When we moved into our place it had a Miele Dishwasher. It has a great idea for silverware that you place it on a 3rd special rack at the very top, all of it laying horizontally. Solves the issues you both raise. p.s. - ya, your both nuts

We've had a thread on our local eG board talking about Horsemeat and peoples feelings about it. I can respect if people have reservations about eating certain kinds of meats and I don't think it's appropriate to surprise people in that way. On the other hand, I have been seriously debating doing a dinner party where "Mystery Foods" are prepared and served. The invitees would be warned that any one of the items could be linked to items that they wouldn't previously had thought of eating. So if they decided to attend, then they are informed (but still in the dark).

Here, I agree with you. I would never tried to tell someone what to order, unless they asked for a suggestion. A more likely scenario is for me to ask what looks appealing to them on the menu or whether they've decided what they're getting. ← If I ask you, then sure, it's fair game.

This topic got me thinking about the last time we we're out with a group. We decided to go to a Tapas place. IMO when you have over 4 people in a table at a Tapas place, people are going to go hungry. Now when the 6 of us decide to order, we choose among a tasty menu of selections. Each course comes out and we've ordered 2 or 3 of the same dishes just so it goes around enough for everyone to try. My problem is that I only get enough for a bite of each dish. While for others this at the end of all the courses equates to a satisfying event. For all 6'3", 230 lbs. of me I feel like I have just been teased all night. Never really experiencing a satisfying "Ahhh", that I enjoy so much after a good meal. The delimma is that yes you get to sample alot of different dishes, but at the same time manners dictate that you can't take too much, etc. So now we are at the end of the meal and the burger place down the street is looking very tempting. I just don't like this situation after spending $150 for our portion and still having my stomach growl. It seems though many people who are foodies, just "Love" to eat this way. So inveitable I am torn between wanting to go out with them and enjoying their company, while trying to look content and full noshing on my 1/2 of a Rack of Lamb medallion. Suggesting we order more just implies, more time that people are sitting around watching me eat. Very nice. My new solution is to eat something before we eat Tapas style with others. Seems to work better. Still, the best scenario for when I am out in a restaurant is: I'll order what I want with the intent of eating it fully as my meal. If someone wants a bite, no prob. Maybe I'll try theirs also. But keep your yap shut about what I order unless you had something before, and think I would really like it.

I had a client that every time we would go out to eat, no matter how many people joined us, he always ordered last. Finally one day I asked him why, he responded that he didn't want to order the same as anyone else. Interestingly he never asked or wanted tastes of anyone else’s order either. I think he was a little freaky (in an interesting way of course). I'm getting that same vibe among some of you who need to orchestrate orders. If someone actually tried to tell me what to order out of selfishness and not because they wanted me to "try" their fav dish, that would be my last meal with them. No question. I certainly don't mind giving people tastes once I am into my dish a bit. My Dad had this ultimate contraption that was a fork welded onto the end of a car antenna. When he saw something on another plate he wanted to try he would (half jokingly) sneak the full extension of the antenna out (about 36 inches) and say something to distract you and look away. He was then in your plate fumbling around long enough always to get caught, and cause a pretty good laugh.

Jogoode, what a great travelogue! My then girlfriend (now adoring wife) and I took a similar trip in November of 2003 and spent approx. 7 weeks on the road. We had been talking about doing it and then one November day asked each other what we wanted to do and if we had anything planned for the next 2 months. The quick answer was "road trip and no". So an hour later we had packed her 1987 Honda Accord and started our adventure. Our plan was to circle N. America. Leaving from Vancouver we took the Trans-Canada Hwy E. all the way to Montreal. Then went South to New York and continued down the E. coast all the way to Key West. After that headed west all the way to Los Angeles. Then drove north home to Vancouver. I really wish we took some photo's of the food we ate as it was a great adventure, food poisoning and all. Very brief eating Highlights of the trip we're: Smoked Meat Sandwiches in Montreal, Peel and Eat Shrimp and Key Lime Pie in Key West, Amazing Tex-Mex in Dallas, and Tito's Taco's in LA. There we're tons more though .... I think when we we're finished we had put about 12K - 13K on the ol' Honda. Heh, not to mention about 5 lbs. each on us. Your pictures brought back some great memories, Thanks! Our next road trip is planned in October where we plan to fly to NY and rent a car. After spending 3 - 4 days in NYC we will head north through the Coastal remaining States and eventually get to Nova Scotia. We're planning about a 3 week road trip coming back to NYC and then flying home . I'll be sure to bring my camera and make a travelogue hopefully as good as yours! We just love traveling like this, no real plans, no reservations, just good ideas where we want to go steered by the local people we meet on the way. Cheers!

Chocoholic, we missed you at Le Crocodile by a day! It too was our first time enjoying their food. Started out with the Mushroom and Onion Tartlets given to us to "Wet the appetite". Next we shared a Seared Foie Gras appetizer on greens with Crispy potato special. Yummy then had the Lobster potato salad, while I thoroughly enjoyed the Seared Scallop salad. For main courses my beautiful bride had the Caribou Tenderloin and I inhaled a Bison Rib eye. Both cooked to a perfect Med. rare. Accompanied by a gorgeous '02 Benziger Cabernet Sauv. from Sonoma. For dessert we we're thoroughly stuffed but still did manage to make an order of their Chocolate Ganache Tart with fresh oranges disappear. We loved the little Milk and Dark Chocolate Crocodiles served at the end. The service, atmosphere, food, and especially my company, we're all wonderful.