*Deborah*

Oh, you missed the scallop? that's a pity. You'll have to come back again!

Of those hotels, I've stayed only at the Empress, but it's undergone some heavy-duty renovations in recent years, and it's looking lovely. If you join the Fairmont Hotels President's Club, you may find that you get a juicy extra or two (room upgrade perhaps). I have friends who went to the Ocean Pointe and enjoyed their stay, as well...Delta Hotels also has a frequent guest program, new membership in which may be to your benefit. Both of these hotels have spas attached, which may also sway your decision. Have a lovely time!

I am too often literal-minded, Shelora...Am I missing your joke?

Dare I mention that Fair Trade IS an option at Starbucks, and the more people who vote with their feet, well, you know.... ← See, what would I know...I shop there as seldom as possible. I don't like their lattes (or their prices) and the whole "lifestyle" marketing makes me roll my eyes. I am just so sick of the homogenization of the world, where everywhere you go there's the McDonald's and the Gap and the Starbucks and the 7-11, etc., etc., ad nauseam. There's a plus side to it, even for me (sudden ubiquity of CIBC bank machines), but I spend my money at the indie shop whenever possible.

That's what I was thinking....

Burrowing Owl '03 Syrah is available at the winery...it may be available elsewhere, I don't know.

Once I had my first pair (early 90s), I felt as though I could die happy. Shallow, but true. And they're the only 4-in. heels I own that feel good on my feet for as long as I care to wear them. If I could die wearing Manolos, eating seared foie gras, in a 911 turbo cabriolet on the Sea-to-Sky highway, I wouldn't mind a bit...as long as I was on the last bite. I reckon that probably makes me an elitist

Wow, I have two bottles of award-winning wine in the house!! *feels special, as this is completely unprecedented* ETA: oh, of course it's not unprecedented, if Dom Pérignon is award-winning. Silly me.

By the same token, hopkin, you can spend a lots of money on your coffee at Starbucks or similar, and not be doing anything good at all for the coffee farmer, but rather paying for stylish décor and lining shareholders' pockets...

Back before I had a mortgage and could still afford to drink my coffee outside the house, I used to get my daily 4-shot large skim latte for nearly $2 less than Starbucks charged for the identical (well, inferior, really) product.

"Pudding" being a general British term meaning what North Americans call "dessert", rather than Jell-O pudding or plum pudding.

Partly a bump, and partly to keep up to date: Aurora Bistro Ba Guo Bu Yi Szechuan Baru Beach Side Cafe Cafe Artigiano Cassis Le Crocodile Cru Dockside Elysian Room En Le Gavroche Go Fish Gotham Guu Henry's Kitchen Hermitage Japone Living Room Long's Noodle House Maurya Modern Club Nu (when it opens) Octopus's Garden Okada Pair Bistro Phnom Phen Rangoli La Regalade Salade de Fruits Saveur Savoury Coast The Ordinary Cafe The Pear Tree Tojo's Vij's Vintropolis Watermark Yuji's

A graham flour biscuit...here is some info from a Brit comparing graham crackers and Digestives. I would say that Digestives would probably work OK in lieu...what do you normally use as a cheesecake base?

Wow! not that it matters to me, but...that was unexpected! M. Lucia, presumably you use vegan chocolate...

Sorry, but what is non-veggie wine?

HA! I mean Tuesday, August 2nd!!! day after the long weekend. Thanks, Karole!

Having (excruciatingly) belatedly realized that Absolutely Fabulous has been catering my office Christmas parties for the past 10 years or something, I have to say that Lynn has the best damn cheese puffs I have ever eaten in my life. The rest of it ain't bad either Edited for spelling.

OK, I finally had a chance to go to my client's restaurant! (Central Bistro on Denman, in the old Brass Monkey space--I proofed the menus and wine list). Harry's been open for a few weeks now, and they are still working through a few things...the deck just went up Sunday and should be open today, and the interior will be going through a few décor changes still, I suppose evolving is the right word to use. I think it looks good already, but it seems there's still more to come. Harry wants to make a little neighbourhood joint in this space, that tourists and others will still want to go, and I think he's well on his way! He's open from 9:00 a.m. for brunch, kitchen open till 12:00, lounge open till "late." Mooshmouse was kind enough to accompany me (and take some doubtless beautiful photos, which I'm sure will be posted eventually) to try out the Flavours of Summer menu: Monday to Wednesday there's a 3-courses for $19 menu, changing weekly. Get it while you can! Not only that, but it was $5 Martini Monday...Christian was on the bar, making up some pretty delectable drinks. Moosh started out with a Sugar Daddy--something we all could use--strawberry vodka, cherry liqueur, and dry vermouth, served with fresh berries. I had a Commercial Drive, to fill my Campari craving, which also included vodka and their great fresh lemonade. We decided to have some crispy chicken and cabbage wontons served with spicy avocado dip, good flavour, which hit that "give me grease now!" spot. Not to say they were greasy, particularly, but they were fried. We like fried On to the menu: we both started with the butter lettuce salad, served with small-diced tomatoes and hardboiled egg, and a delicious mustard and cider vinegar dressing. Very not froufy, very tasty. Kind of what salads were about before they were about 25 different recherché ingredients. Second martinis*: a Geisha Girl for Moosh (sake, plum wine, berry vodka and cinnamon hearts), and a Tokyo Rose for me (melon liqueur, sake, and sweet vermouth). Not that they particularly went with the food, but it's important to do your drink research, don't you agree? Main courses: Moosh had the Wild Salmon served with a wonderful basmati rice cooked with apple and ginger and peas (I had to try it! I love rice and peas), and I had the veal stew...oh so good. Veal and nugget potatoes and carrots and onions, in a creamy rich sauce with thyme. Very classic flavour, I hope this item comes to the regular menu in the fall. For dessert, I had the grapefruit and watermelon granita, served on a cloud of cream, very light and refreshing, and Moosh had the bumbleberry brûlée, which was actually made with sour cream and yogourt, but with the burnt sugar top. Surprisingly good! very rich and creamy, and egg-free. I went on to my third and last martini,* a Purity's Passion, featuring vodka, ruby port, lime juice and cherry syrup. Mmmmmmm. We decided we had not quite sated our hellacious dessert tooth, and Harry had a Milk Chocolate Semifreddo brought over to us....wow. Just wow! really delicious, fluffy and moussey and rich...served with a rhubarb compote that made my little saliva glands scream (in a good way). So I am happy to recommend that you try out Central Bistro. In fact, I am hoping to assemble a small group to try out the 3-course menu on Tuesday August 2 (no Martini specials on Tuesday, but the wine markups are not bad). The menu for the coming week includes a fresh summer pea and chive cream; pear, fennel and orange salad; Chicken Linguine Carbonara with roasted garlic cream (I'm drooling already); Salmon Wellington served with a spinach and bacon salad; a strawberrry bavarian with chocolate cream; and pineapple carpaccio with a fresh ginger semifreddo. I'm a girl on a budget, always happy to find a bargain, and the food is good, too. PM me if you would like to come with and I will make the reservation. * No, I know they're not really martinis, but it's so much quicker than saying cocktail in a martini glass. Edited to correct the date.

Oh, or hop the plane to Victoria and eat at one of the good restaurants over there...the Vancouver Island dining thread has some good recommendations. Of course that's completely at odds with your desire to stay close to home. What about one of the hotel dining rooms? My dad has had some good business meals at the Pan Pacific restaurant. And Diva, as mentioned, is very good.

Ouch. I wonder what the full-length review will look like.

Mooshmouse and I say: don't forget about the club chairs in the Bacchus lounge, right in the lobby! Room service works really well, too

I normally bring a book, magazine or newspaper if I'm eating alone in a restaurant, or a laptop...depending on the venue. Usually a book in a nice place, as the paper is unwieldy. I don't think it's poor manners to read; it's not as though you have tablemates to whom you should be paying attention. I don't mind eating at the bar if they decide to put me there, unless it's particularly raucous...unless there's a hockey game on, in which case, I need no book, and I'll shout with the rest of 'em.

Oh, great news!! Felicitations to the whole family!

Not really sure why you want to sit down to eat with this woman...let alone spend time and money making something delicious for her.

Wow! *tips hat*