*Deborah*

I seemingly (unknowingly) ate some horse at a recent eGullet-pal event in Vancouver. At the time, there was a bit of pussyfooting, but then afterward the Mr. Ed jokes were too many to ignore. I think I was the only person present (out of 18? or so) who had any reservations about it when the topic came up...some of the others had completely enjoyed horse meat on some other occasions, and we Gulleters are encouraged to try anything. My list of "no, thanks" items is short, but horse it on it. I don't mind, it was only a little bit, and I'm not so much of a drama queen as to have a hissy or anything, but although the flavour was pleasant, I will not order it again, for completely unscientific reasons. If I had the choice to make again, and had been told plainly, I wouldn't have eaten it. If others want to, it doesn't bother me, but even if it were the dish of the gods or something, even if it tasted like foie gras for one-tenth the price, I would not knowingly eat it any more than I would dress my cats and roast them with olive oil and thyme. [/emo] Plenty of other people don't mind, though; or would have let their appreciation of the flavour override their emotional reaction, so...I don't know.

Okay, I'm willing to buy that this one is just my own personal quirk, but to me it always seems sort of inappropriate for the server to draw attention to how much I ate. My feeling is, unless it's a situation where quantity is salient, e.g. one of those "Eat the 72-ounce steak and you get it free!" places, just don't mention it. But that could just be me. ← I'm thinking it's not the quantity they're commenting on, per se; but the fact that you liked it so much and, therefore, it was good.

Consider me a willing volunteer for comparative duck studies in contemporary Vancouver restaurants. It seems to be all I ever eat, anyway.

W00t!

Oh, I know -- I was just saying that the hipster doofus crowd has started using that lingo thanks to Tony & Co.! ← Oh, yeah, the doofuses... (I loved that episode when they went to Napoli and were complaining that they couldn't get just some macaroni and gravy )

Ha, Chris, they were talking like that in Sout' Philly before the Sopranos were a gleam in HBO's eye.

That's my #1 as well. As far as I'm concerned, all plates should be cleared at the same time. ← I am coming to accept that I am in a minority with this, but my dad is the slowest eater in creation, and I simply loathe sitting with the remains of my meal before me for 20 minutes while he finishes. So does my mother. It doesn't matter at all how good or bad the dinner was, I don't like to have to look at it while waiting for my dad to finish. I don't think he feels any more or less rushed if my mum and I do or don't have plates...he takes as long as he takes, and we're used to waiting for him. On the other hand, I've had servers try to take away my plate while I still had cutlery in hand...and I think that's worse. Wait till I finish chewing, please! I agree with easily 90% of the long post above, but I must say that I don't understand the antipathy toward Champagne before a meal...I've had many meals with Champagne to begin and end and something lovely and red in the middle; it's quite common for birthday or other celebrations in my family. Mais peut-être on est mal-élevée...?

I really do enjoy them, but I guess for me a lot of it is about finding a good lunch for under $10. And as much as I love the kolachys (and I do), Jason's soups are a huge part of the attraction

Alas, no Strawberry Rhubarb today...the butter chicken was good, though! (Keith, I could take a little more spice, and a little bit more sauce, but that's just me, I'm sure--I like my curry pretty spicy! )

Kolachy Keith informed me today that tomorrow's feature will be butter chicken. I may have to go to two kolachys, no soup...

I am the poor relation in all this: white, red wine, two kinds of balsamic, and rice wine. I use the balsamics and rice wine vinegars the most... *wondering if I have to surrender my decoder ring*

I've only eaten at the bar at two places in Vancouver: Hamilton Street Grill and Wild Rice. That was my first time at Wild Rice (during Dine Out), and I've been meaning to go back, Trevor was knowledgeable and nice and didn't make me feel at all odd for eating alone (which I must say has happened from time to time in restaurants, and it really cheeses me off). HSG, of course, is HSG It's great when you're alone as you get to have your back to the room and there's someone to chat with from time to time. As long as you keep drinking (not usually a problem for me ), they're happy to have you. HKDave ate at the bar at Feenie's many times while he was here in town, maybe PM him, Jamie, if you want to know about his experience (I don't think he's spending a lot of time in the Vancouver forum these days).

My initial thought is something cream-puffy or éclair-ish, since those are things I really like...but all of the items you mention sound good, especially the brownies with ganache, yum! The only nutty thing I can think of is a pecan tart, and you already have two pastry/shortbread items, so that feels like it might be too much. How about some sort of item with pistachios on top? or something caramel...or a carrot cake square with a dollop of cream cheese icing on top, and a nut on top of that? I'm hungry!

That's exactly it. I'm very much of a giver, and I have friends who it's great to go *out* to dinner with them, or drinks, but I don't invite them over for a special meal anymore as they have never invited me for one (and they do have them).

So a few co-workers and I ventured up Robson (542 Robson, between Richards and Seymour) for a pie for lunch. The guys had one recently and liked it enough to go again. I have only tried this one before me now (Veggie Samosa, as I like kidney with my steak and theirs seemed to have none), and I'm just ...meh about it. $6 for a 5 inch pie ? it feels like a lot of money for a just OK product. Maybe I'd like the meat pies more than this one, not that there's anything wrong with it or anything. I got a nice salad with it, I asked for a small ($2.50) and she only had the large ($4.50) but she only charged me for the small...the greens are pretty nice and there are a few slices of cucumber in there, some strawberry slices (less than one strawberry's worth), a couple of sliced grape tomatoes (is that what they're called? the really small ones) and a half-dozen pecan halves. This is the large... I feel like I've paid sit-down prices for take-out, it just feels a bit overpriced. I will be back at the Kolachy Shop as usual next week, no fear. Edited to add that the ranch salad dressing is really good (homemade).

Generation X--albeit the old end--here. Eventually, I stop inviting people for (fancy) dinners at home when they never return the favour. I don't mean snacks, I mean three courses that take time and effort (and, yes, money). I don't expect necessarily the same level of food or favour in return, but I do expect something. As far as bringing wine or whatever, most of my friends do have the manners to bring some kind of hostess gift with them, although I tend to be a compulsive enough hostess that I am always prepared, beverage-wise. I never expect wine or beer unless the person has said they would or (close friend, impromptu plans) if I asked them to pick something up as I didn't have a chance to. On the other hand, when I have people over for a party, and I'm supplying food for a crowd, I will usually have some liquor and mixers, and people will bring their own as well, that's just usual with my friends. I seldom, if ever, arrive for a meal or a party empty-handed. And I do keep a mental list of social obligations.

You pay the Plan Checkers' (drawing and documentation reviewers) overtime yourself, rather than expecting the taxpayers to pay it for you, is my understanding. This means that your BP applications etc. can go through more quickly.

Superlative Lounge!!! We should open that!

I agree, Zuke, writing like this is rapidly heading into the "grilled to perfection" land of eye-rolling hyperbole for me...purple prose, as my Byron prof called it.

Yeah, I'd take a Taco del Mar fish taco over the other available fast food any day of the week. I haven't had any others, but I liked it. Of course my childhood love was the Filet-O-Fish, and it may just be a throwback for me...

Any place with a Wonder Woman booth has to qualify as a diner, meatloaf or no, and despite the inclusion of rosemary in their home fries. The Templeton may be a post-modern diner, but it is a diner nonetheless, IMO.

If you expect the other stores to close, I fail to see the increased competition...?

Oh, my girlfriend took me to that dessert place once, reallly good cakes!

Oh, the flavour was good to my tastebuds. It's not hyper-sweet chocolate, but it sets off the tartness of the lemony goodness. My jaded palate was indifferent to the crust, but good golly was that lemon gooooood. I also took home some mini tarts (lemon and chocolate ganache, sorry no photos!), as well, so the (now) ex-Boy could try, and he enjoyed them very much

Speaking of where to find, does anyone know a good place for tarte au sucre?