PaoPao

Flakey outside with drizzled chocolate; chewy with much more chocolate inside ...... so good. They are HUGE too!

Have to say again that this place rocks! We had breakfast there this morning and had the PHAT Benny on an Everything Bagel. They serve it open faced with Smokes Meat, Poached eggs, and their Home made Hollandaise Sauce. They couldn't have improved it if they tried. My Boo had the French Toast made from Challa bread with their new option: Absolutely smothered in Nutella. Gotta say that I have never seen my wife so happy eating French Toast. Paired very nicely with fresh squeezed Orange and Guava juice, this is the best breakfast we have had in Vancouver to date. Without question we also had ordered to go: two Ultimate Chocolate Croissants, a Cheese Danish, and a small Strawberry Cheese Danish. They we're very nice and said that we we're going to make someone happy with the to go pastries, but I had to tell them that they we're for us to; and are very happy to eat them soon.

PHAT stands for "Pretty Hot And Tasty " located in Yaletown on Mainland close to Nelson. Or as I like to think of it "Pao's Happy And Tranquil " place. This place is outstanding! Amazing Hot Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwiches with the meat flown in weekly from Montreal. They do have other sandwiches, breakfast items, etc. but I have yet to pull myself away from their premier Sandwich. I summoned up enough restraint to hold myself back and snap a pic before devouring mine today: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?act=mo...md=si&img=14677 Now, here is the "Ultimate Chocolate Croissant" : http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?act=mo...md=si&img=14676 These and a number of other delectable items are baked fresh daily at 5 AM every day. Now I'm not a chocolate person but these are the best I have ever had! No question about it. The other items look just as good including: Bagels, Nutella and Banana Croissants, Tarts, Struedal, Cookies, etc. If you like these things, you'll love it at PHAT!

More and more of the restaurants I go to like Picnic, Lillykate, Provence, etc., have take out counters for the public. I really like this because I can see the food before I buy, then I can take it home and we can snarf it down. Do people tip the person who is getting the food, packaging it and then ringing it up for you? There's inevitably a tip jar, but my usual instinct is to just tip in normal situations i.e. - sitting down in restaurants, bars, hair cut, etc. I feel this is a bit of a grey area because I don't tip the Urban Fair person as they get me a loaf of bread, or the butcher, etc.. What about if you order from a restaurant and go and pick it up for take out, what is the acceptable tip for that as well? Delivery always will get a nice tip from me, but the take out situations confuse me. Is there a rule of thumb for tipping in these situations? I am hoping this doesn't get moved to the General topic as I am curious about what people do in BC.

^ It's always fun to put faces with names as we did last night with the Mooshmouse family and Canucklehead. It even got to be a smaller world when the friends we brought knew the Mooshmouse Dad! We had a fantastic diner as usual. Starting out with the Sharing Plate for Calamari. In my opinion Calamari is usually a pretty average plate when we go to places and order it so often times we skip it. Here though in huge contrast it is very tender, just the right amount of breading for my tastes (which is not very much) and a delicious Tomato sauce to dip it in. With 4 hungry people at the table it didn't last long. Our friends ordered the Vegetarian Pizza and the Osso Bucco w/ penne. My beautiful bride ordered the Osso Bucco with tortellini and I had the Mussels and penne. I agree with D-A's comments about the Osso Bucco, a few more minutes to get really tender would send it off the charts. This was the first time we had menu items other than pizza, and they we're good. I think my heart at Da Francescos still belongs to their pizza though. The place is getting busy, no question about it. At dinner time the tables we're full and the one waitress who does a great job was whizzing around like a whirlwind. We we're there last on the 2nd of March, and at 9 pm or so had the whole place to ourselves. By 8:30 or so last night half the tables we're still full. So word is spreading..... It's bitter sweet because you obviously want the place to be successful, but you also want to keep it for yourself. We can't claim it as a neighbourhood haunt like the lucky Mooshmouse family, but it is certainly worth the drive for us from Yaletown.

Alright, enough politics about the e-card let's get back to more interesting stuff, like the food and places to eat it. Perusing a bit more in the e-book, I've added a few more places in my sights: Stone Grill - Looks interesting, not sure about the whole cook it yourself thing. Whenever I do this at say Shabu-san, I always get too distracted by the cooking items to really enjoy the conversation. Borgo Antico Ristorante Al Porto - Menu looks very tasty and with a name that long you had better be good. Yuu Restaurant - Their Jellyfish with Smoked Pork Hock looks like a must try item. Doolins Irish Pub - Never been, we'll see how it compares to the Irish Heather. The list goes on .... Anyone else?

We're planning be there as well around 7:15 or so. We have some friends who have been wanting to go for awhile and it worked out for tonight.

I was thinking about making this, did you have any of the issues with the cake being over-moist like the reviews in the recipe? ← No issues. It's like it should be as far as moistness, it is a carrot cake..I've never had a dry one! I suspect that the epicurious chefs who had problems with it didn't know what to expect or their understood version of carrot cake was of another type. This is a pretty heavy southern/tropical typically rich, totally decadant cake and really good if that's what you're wanting. I omitted the coconut flavoring and added lemon juice to the frosting. make sure the frosting sets up well before you ice it, even to the point of making the icing the day before refrigerating overnight and whipping it to spreadability. Do use the parchment. It has 'only' one cup of oil..this is lite considering most large carrot cakes have another half cup or so. I forgot to drain the pineapple so mine was REALLY moist. I also used the lowfat creamcheese with no discernable effect. make way in your fridge and it'll keep forever! do make it before it get hot though, the icing doesn't like it hot. Don't forget the ginger, it's what I love about this cake. ← Thanks! I'll let you know how it goes...

Alright troops, the challenge has been thrown down. Can the evil army, infiltrate and be victorious using our golden E-cards all at once? Or will they be thrown back by General Nwyles..... A battle for the ages. Using a strong defence of selective GBP and Hanger Steak allotment gives the General a definite advantage. But do not discount the evil army's cleverness in using funny noses, make-up, and wigs in taking the covert approach....... ugh, bad attempt at humour, I know. Actually the 3 cards per party and the holiday exemptions are listed right in the Rules section pretty clearly. Maybe you should have a photocopy of the rules standing by for any future morons who don't understand the boundaries of the e-card. Except for your beloved evil army of course ...

I was thinking about making this, did you have any of the issues with the cake being over-moist like the reviews in the recipe?

The suspense is killin' me ........

Thanks to all for the suggestions. As my search for great delivery pizza dwindles, as of yesterday I just ordered my Fibrament-D baking stone. While I would absolutely love the convenience of being able to order and have delivered a perfect, crisp, steaming, pizza pie ..... I am realizing that to get what I want, it's going to need to come from my oven. Man I guess I really am a picky old SOB. I'm still not giving up the good fight in finding something downtown ....

Every year we buy this book and have the good intentions of using it up by years end. I don't think we have ever even come close to doing this. While trying different places based on a coupon can be an adventure in itself, overall we have had some very nice meals in places I don't think we would have tried otherwise. As I am just getting a chance to delve into this years book, it reveals some old favourites like: Pink Pearl, Fiddlehead Joes, Wild Rice, da Pasta Bar, HSG, and Spotted Prawn. There are also a large number of places that we haven't tried yet that look very good as well. I'm curious about others experiences who have found dining gems in the city with this great little coupon book .....

Try the special colombian plate that they sometimes offer on the chalkboard. A nice selection of several foods hard to find in Vancouver otherwise. I haven't tried teh Salvadorian yet, but I bet it is good too. Cheers! ← Have to report that I tried the specialty plate yesterday for lunch and OMFG it was great! For $12.95 you get Fried Plantains, Excellently seasoned beef and beans, an arepa (sp?), Chorizo, Fresh Avocado slices, Rice, and a fried egg on top of it all on one plate! I think it's equivalent to the Lumberjack Breakfast for those in Latin America. Topped it all of with a good dose of their picante sauce and ohhhh ....... my Latin Roots we're starting to sprout. Well, that's if I had Latin roots and wasn't Swiss. The owner and her Mom who run the place are so nice and charming too. I told her as of yesterday I was officially addicted to their food. Then afterward made my way over to Lillykate for their Chocolate cake ...... it was about as perfect of a lunch I have ever had. I'm thinking about going again today but in the back of my mind I think it might be a bit embarrassing 4 days in a row....... They'll start to think I'm stalking them for their food ....... hmmmm, maybe I am

Two thumbs up from me on the Congee House as well. Their endless menu as well as a plethora of spicy salty crunchy things is just too addicting.

One of the worst things about living in an area where great stuff is around the corner is laziness. When you have most everything satisfied as far as particular culinary tastes in a 3-5 block radius it just makes that one thing you don't have access to even more troubling. For me it's good delivery pizza. There are just some days a good pizza pie, a movie, a beer or three, and my lady are just what the Dr. ordered. (Not necessarily in that order) I've tried Bella's which is around the corner, Capones, and even Urban Fair. While two of those are not necessarily delivery, they are within a block or two so I can drag my lazy butt over there to get it. All very mediocre. Do any of the higher end Italian places in Yaletown do good pizza? If I can just convince Da Franciscos to open a second location in Yaletown my world would be almost perfect. I've made the trip all the way over to E. Hastings for a pie but inevitably by the time I get it back to my place, that perfect thin crispy crust has gone soggy. So where do you turn to for you pizza delivery cravings? I'm getting so desperate that I may even resort to getting a pizza stone and making it myself! Don't let this happen people!

At Banano's on Pacific Ave in Yaletown (between Davie and Drake) you just have to try their menu! I think I can attribute at least a good 33% of my winter weight to eating the food here it just so damn good. Best Mexican in Vancouver IMO. I'm so thankful that the Grind is now open to balance all the good places I have found in the last 6 months. Not that I am cutting back in anyway on my eating routine, I just am burning the calories more now ... . This years goal: 38 min! Particular standouts are the Beef: Nachos, Burritos, and especially the Enchiladas. They also specialize in Salvadorian cuisine that I have yet to try because the above items are just too good.

The Golden Plate Awards gives me bad flashbacks of when my wife and I first started coming to Vancouver before we moved here. In the hotels we would stay, the first thing the check in usually gives out is the "Where" magazine. It's been a long time since I read this but as I remember it pretty closely mirrors the results of the Golden Plates. More disappointing than satisfying was the common trend. Finally we just came to our personal opinion that these things are "fixed". I like Chef Koo's suggestion about making our own poll and will be submitting my choices shortly. I've seen in other message boards a polling feature that I think would work great here. How do we get something like that added?

Ahhh, I see, it's the addition of the tablecloth that makes it better ....

Kinda not the point PaoPao. Jamie started this thread looking for "white linen" lunches, not a place to go slurp noodles. That, it would seem, is food for another thought. I'll second Moosh's rec for Pastis ... nicest lucnh ever was on a snowy Friday in January this year when "J" & I played hookey. Not sure our Goretex and Sorells (or was that Low Sorells - sorry Jamie ) fit the room, but the Cassoulet and Bouef Borgignon sure fit the weather. A. ← It's a point Arne, made from years of "white linen" lunches and an escape from the monotony of it all. Why would a contrary opinion about a subject thread need to be applied elsewhere? I guess it depends on what your definition of civilized is .... which by the way to me doesn't dictate the action ("slurp noodles") but the experience, tastes, and anticipation behind what is a great "power" lunch.

Sometimes I get tired of everyone’s idea of "civilized". Yes all the places above are nice but it also gets IMO boring. Is one linen napkin establishment really so much more interesting than the next in lunch from dinner? Lunch for me now and also when I had to be with clients was a time to be adventurous and try that new little hole in the wall. A reprieve from all that "civilized" behaviour is what kept me from reaching across my desk and becoming un-civilized with someone. Sure I enjoy the above mentioned restaurants, but it's a dinner thing. Lunch I need a healthy dose of Kintaro's Noodles or Banano's Beef Enchiladas(extra spicy thank you), Havana, Cafe D'lite, etc. Even when I was having lunch with high end clients or out of towners, they liked these places much more as well. Lunch is for adventure; keep the "good boy/girl" facade for another time.

Vindication! I am not alone in drinking Coke with Chinese food! And only Coke. Pepsi isn't strong enough to cut through all the grease and MSG. ← Too funny, my thing is drinking 7-up or Sprite while I eat Chinese for the same reason!

Sorry Ling, I talked to my resident Chocoholic and she didn't know. I told my Boo to find out for you the next time she is there with the Cargo truck loading up for the month.

Welcome to the board Dining Diva! I'm not sure if the board is ready for the wild child that I know in person, but I definitely know everyone will get alot out of your posts. Gotta agree with your recommendation about Dolce Amore on the Drive, hands down IMO, the best Gelato around. The flavor as well as the smoothness has everyone else beat. Not sure how they do it but it's damn good stuff. Plus I really appreciate the size of their large scoops. One scoop in their shop is probably equal to a 2x scoop in other places.

Speaking of cheese related sweets, I just had two cheese Danish’s at MacKinnon’s Bakery on S. Granville. These little morsels of bliss are amazing. Flakey, a little chewy, just the right amount of icing, and a fantastic cream cheese filling. I ate them too fast to get pictures....