*Deborah*

Sounds like the Copperhead Road exit just south of Kamloops on the 5. I've never eaten there that I can recall, but I concur that it's a good store with a large snack selection.

I had a glass of '03 tonight, Karole...suggest you contact the winery and get some.

Commiserations. I hope that your people were still vertical when they left, after 3 bottles of absinthe among 18...

Vachon pastry...Quebec's answer to Hostess Ding Dongs I would say. I normally don't eat the Jos. Louis, I eat the May West.

I had a very good meal at L'Emotion when it was La Toque Blanche, but haven't been since then...one thing that may help you decide is that Parkside has a lovely patio, and AFAIK, L'Emotion doesn't. I think everyone here knows that Parkside is among my very favourite restaurants, though

There are a number of Latin American countries bordering the Caribbean, Arne.

Beer with a straw? not since I was in junior college. "Umbrella drinks" yes; but scorn on the bartender who serves me whiskey on the rocks (or straight!!) with a straw. For iced pop or other restaurant beverage, yes, as my front teeth are sensitive to ice (I guess this is inconsistent with the whiskey, but then again, I'm inconsistent ).

What's California Chicken Salad? I'm partial to curried chicken salad and chicken salad with white grapes in it.

Our own Chef Metcalf seems to have done an incredible job for Mooshmouse's Mothers' Day breakfast

They have their Occupancy Permit; they were training staff off-site; my understanding is that they are open for business today, although I could be wrong.

We can go to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, then stop in at the Superlative Lounge for a nightcap.

I have to ask as KT did, how is it that wine from Europe (Champagne) is coming to us by sea? or is it that the trains unload at the port? or is it just Australian/California wines? Sorry if I'm dense.

Um, sustainable tuna issues...Bluefin is a no, but Ahi is OK (if caught properly...).

Occupancy Permit granted.

Recent meals: Dinner last night with Mooshmouse and some other friends at Hamilton Street Grill. The rest of the party had appies, but I treated my upset stomach to a Campari and soda and some of the special Seafood Risotto....wow! lovely risotto! with fish and shrimp in, and prawns, mussels and scallops on top. We drank a Mission Hill Five Vineyards Pinot Grigio with. For dessert, we shared some GBP (ginger is good for your digestion, after all), and Neil brought out some fabulous sorbets: blueberry, passionfruit, and a green apple that really sang in my mouth. We also got a nice half-bottle of red dessert wine....I’m trying hard to remember, Wild Goose Black Brant? Moosh or Neil will correct me I’m sure. I am somewhat hindered in my recollection by the double Grand Marnier I had a taste for, to send me off to a sweet and dreamless sleep. Happy meeting with snacky_cat and new eG member mamacat! Sunday was the Feenie’s Burger Club outing, discussed there. After the delicious burger, I also had the molten chocolate cake with peanut butter sauce anglaise and milk chocolate ice cream. It was pretty good, although much more molten than cake...I think I would have preferred a little more cake to it. Nice flavours though. Last Thursday, I took a girlfriend to Chambar for a pre-Beck show birthday dinner. It’s the place for birthdays, it seems; Sean Sherwood was also there with a birthday celebration This is my meat-and-potatoes girlfriend, and I was a touch hesitant to take her to Chambar but she looked at the menu online and figured she’d be able to manage. I had a Bellevue Kriek to start, and she had her usual rum and coke. I had the Moules Congolaise with a Saison Dupont for my main, and she had the halibut on a lemon-yogourt blini, which she liked very much...she also helped me with my frites. For dessert (much more important than a starter!) she had the Dame Blanche (vanilla ice cream with Belgian chocolate sauce and a chocolate tuile cigar), and I had the waffle with chocolate sauce and a Chambar coffee (with Chambord). I can’t remember the last Belgian waffle I had, so I’m not sure how this one would compare to others; I found it a bit ...heavy? but we ate up every bite, of course.

Um, I'm interested in this statement, and confused a tad. So you want to read about food you dislike and can't cook? Please expound. I'm not being arch here: I just want to understand. ← My impression was that she's tired of reading on eGullet about all the wonderful food people eat, when her budget is too tight to afford such herself. I sympathise, ditsydine

My mum and I had a really delicious meal at Burrowing Owl's Sonora Room last month: good, fresh ingredients, well prepared; excellent wine; good service. The surroundings weren't really luxe or anything, but we wouldn't hesitate to return...that was my first time eating there, and my mother's second; maybe we were lucky. Or maybe I'm just indulgent with anyone who can properly sear a duck breast I can't remember if they had others' wines on the list. Edited for piss-poor spelling-in-a-hurry.

Cheers, Arne!

I think that may be the main reason he sent her home. She was not going to stand up for herself. ← I was trying to figure that: was it better to be more team-oriented and lie for them and not whine about someone else being mean, or better to stick up for yourself, as you say. I'm hopeless at strategies, and would probably be the first one "off the island."

I've only seen the last two episodes, but I hope Jessica gets the boot PDQ, snotty little cow. "Elsie, did you get support from the team tonight?" *pause* "Yes, Chef." MY ASS!

Could you direct me to the Home in Merritt. I realize that it's a town that's hard to get lost in (and usually I'm only in the mood to gas and go at the Super-Save, where they sometimes have good hot dogs on a grill in support of Women's Softball/Rotary/League of Nicola Valley Transvestites). Occasionally I fight off the hordes at the Tourism BC kiosk at the crossroads, but the only gas you're going to get there is from the chronically underdone dogs--they usually chime in right around the toll booth. Speaking of which, the new restrooms there have a sign over the toilets strongly suggesting that you not drink the water. And I'll keep an eye out for that doughnut shop--Does it have a name? ← Doubtless the doughnut shop has a name, but I know not what it is. I will be through on the long weekend though, and should be able to tell you then. It's an independent, AFAIK. If you take the 2nd Merritt exit (heading north on the 5, where the McDonald's is) The Home restaurant is past the Petro-Canada, on your right. I believe it's past the ABC Restaurant, but it's similarly situated in a motel. Good burger.

Jamie, as a frequent passer-through of Hope and Merritt, I must say that I prefer the Home restaurant in Merritt to its namesake in Hope. I have had a decent doughnut and hot chocolate at the doughnut shop near the Petro-Can in Merritt, late late one night. I refuse to eat anything that isn't prepackaged and fully chemicalized by a national (or multinational) purveyor of snacks from a gas station...The gas station sushi phenomenon makes me green without even having to take a bite.

Yes, the burger came cut with plastic picks through it to help keep the halves from toppling over. I didn't mind too much, as it was very moist and if I'd been holding the whole burger the whole time, I think the bun would have been really mushy by the time I was finished. Also, it gave me an excuse to pause. I consider a burger and fries finger food...it doesn't taste quite the same when you cut it up, somehow! and my mouth is certainly big enough to accommodate this baby I must say, that was a delicious burger! juicy, beefy...I don't much like when you get a burger and it tastes more like a meatloaf. This was tasty beef. And how nice to not have it well done.

The condiments: L-R - Relish, Dill Mayonnaise, Ketchup, Chipotle Mayonnaise The whole burger and those luxe fries: And opened:

You have to watch out with those SkyTrain drivers, Lee. *worried about you*