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Thanks very much, everyone, for the responses, links, recipe and tips! Lots to check out, looking forward to getting through all those sites. I'll let you know how my adventure in pickling goes. PS - Never heard them called "sours", either, but I guess the name fits!

Granny smith apples with salt, yum. And they have to be the super sour New Zealand granny smiths, none of this Washington crap. I grew up loving peanut butter and banana sandwiches, so nothing weird there. Tried Elvis' recipe once, fried in butter, but too rich. A very young boyfriend once ran out of coke and mixed rum and Welch's grape juice. Psychedelic puke, man...

I did a couple searches and only came up with pickle juice and Indian pickles. If there's another thread, sorry, I missed it. I've never actually made a jar of those big honkin' deli-type dill pickles, the kind with lots of garlic and dill. Is there a secret/trick to it? Particular type of cuke you should use? Anyone have any recipes/tips they'd be willing to share? I'd like to try it for the first time this summer (and I'm assuming summer is the season?). Thanks!

Thanks, I'll have to check out the market. Sounds a bit like Cioffi's, though -- so dense and crowded I sometimes think I'll crumple to the floor and sob like a four year old. I'd stop going if their stuff wasn't so darned good .... or if I could find a comparable shop not too far away. As for peanut sauce, I know it's Thai, not Malaysian, but Sawasdee on Main St. has, for my money, the best satay and peanut sauce in the universe. Yes, a tad "westernized" but who cares when it's this good.

Wow, there's a blast from the past. One of the best New Year's Eve's I've ever spent was at Orestes. At midnight the waiters were dancing on the tables and hurling plates to the floor. The All-Star Band made up of Powder Blues, Loverboy, Chilliwack and a couple others I can't remember, played all night. The BCTV news team came in and filmed it all. It made the news next night as one of the rockin'-est New Year's in town. Oddly, I can't recall the food (maybe it was me throwing the plates on the floor...) I recall doing the same thing with the menu up and down the street, trying to find a restaurant that deviated from the same mimeographed menu with no luck. That was in Athens.

I'm keen on this too, so thanks. Always found Banana Leaf over-rated, although really liked Kedah when it was on Fraser. Haven't tried their new location yet. San, if I may ask, what's the "favorite Italian market" to which you refer? (I like the one at Hastings and Renfrew; not that one is it?)

Cristo's on Hastings in Burnaby is consistently good. Fork tender roast lamb, great saganaki and the best hummus (lots o' garlic!!)

Haven't done much dining out (too little time, too little cash) but will post the last three so I can comment on two others: 1)Won More Szechuan, Davie and Denman, best lettuce wrap in town 2)Thai Cafe, Hastings in Burnaby, not bad, not great (apparently there's another Thai place opening soon down the block to give it some competish) 3) La Villette, also Hastings, very good, quiet Italian joint Just wanted to mention I love the Legendary Noodle as well (the lamb soup is TDF) and was panicked when I drove by a few months ago and it seemed to be dark and deserted. I thought it might have gone under but glad to hear it lives on. Also, Arne, the Parkcrest Diner, is that the same place that has a lot of take-out deli-type food? I've been there and the food is quite good, basic and cheap. Not sure if it's the same place, though. If not, is the diner worth checking out? What's good? The Chinese and Japanese restaurants in the same strip mall are, meh, so-so.

Canucklehead, I'm with you. I thought I was the only one who for the life of me could not find this place! I was just up in the area yesterday and looked and couldn't find it! I know other posters have tried to explain where it is, but, sheesh! All I can see is a Chinese restaurant on the corner of Kingsway and Willingdon, where the old Chongqing used to be before the health board shut it down for having over the maximum allowable limit of rodent population. Apparently it's not inside the Crystal Mall, and it's not on Willingdon, or anywhere near the Library, so WTF??? I'll check mapquest out, but I'm gettin' mighty frustrated!!! I need spice!! Hey, I know. I'll also call the place. How's that for resourcefulness....

No one's mentioned boiling some beef bones from the butcher (free to $2 for a big bag) for the broth. I spend most of the time on that, letting it simmer for a couple hours along with some onion, garlic, celery ends and a bay leaf. Meanwhile, brown some veal chunks. Veal doesn't need to be simmered endlessly because it starts out so tender! I used to dredge in flour, but I think I'll try the sprinkle method mentioned to see if it makes a difference. Deglaze with red wine or a bottle of good quality dark beer. Add to bone pot (which has been drained, 'course, leaving just the broth) along with potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, maybe some peas and corn, barley, dollop of horseradish, splash of worcestshire, thyme, S&P, simmer until cooked -- enjoy! I used to add diced tomatoes, but find I don't like the taste, makes it kinda sweet. I've heard about adding cilantro at the end for a bit of a kick. Anyone done that? I've never made a chicken stew. Is it as easy and basic as it sounds, or are there endless variations as well?

Thanks for the review! "Kicked my face in" is quite the descriptor. REALLY makes me wanna go... Just to clarify, though, is it inside the mall or outside? I'm in the area fairly frequently around the library and Save-On and really can't recall seeing this place.

Whenever I think of the Boathouse I think of the time I went for their so-called "crab-fest". Can't remember the dish, but will never forget the TABLESPOON of crab in it. If this is their fest, I'd hate to see their gala... But on to topic, that Russian restaurant I'd mentioned somewheres up-thread, the one on Bainbridge and Lougheed, is now kaput. I think it lasted all of four months. Anyhoo, in its place is Howie's Bar & Bistro. Don't know what that is, exactly, but aim to find out. Will post results for the few and far between Burnaby-ites here....

So, ARE we talking about the Hunan place on Main and Marine? I didn't understand the answer. If it's gone, that's a real shame... But there's a Hunan place in BURNABY???? How did I not know of this? Hunan is my fave, but since there are so few around, Szechuan does the trick. Must check out this place in Burnaby of which you speak...

I've also bought fresh free-range at Windsor Meats, Main and King Ed. Pretty good, pricier than most, though, as I recall.

I agree! I used to ALWAYS order mine from Rocky but, you're right, since he retired things have gone downhill. I was guilty to leave them and take my business to Cioffi's but, whaddya gonna do? It's better. I was starting to suspect Rocky's birds were not free-range, particularly after spending a half hour carving the fat off before roasting it....

Laura, when I was a mag editor I would have killed for a sales rep like you, rather than simply wanting to kill sales reps. Astounding how many think pay-for-play is de rigueur. And Dave, I'd echo her sentiments whole-heartedly, particularly in that you keep your integrity in that respect. The second a reader suspects a good review is due to a pay-off, you've lost him. When you say you intend to stay independent, you probably meant not being bought up by a larger company, but I hope you also mean not being in the back pocket of big restaurants? I have no problem with another food publication on the scene. If you can contribute something fresh, useful, honest, informative, entertaining and, dare I say original, you have a good shot. Sophistication, in its too-often superior, snooty form, wouldn't be missed. Good luck.

Mmmmm, that sounds yummy. Turkey was never a big fave of mine, either. Like coffee, it often smelled better than it tasted. Hated the dry, cardboardy way it flaked apart. Then I discovered fresh free-range and never went back. The difference is astounding. Imagine an actual juicy bird! As far as cost, I think it's worth it. You only do it 2 or 3 times a year, and when you figure how much it adds up per person, it's still way cheaper than a restaurant. As far as ordering it from a hotel or restaurant, man I just can't see doing that. I understand where Neil is coming from, that he'd rather spend time with the family (and lord knows he could use a break from cooking), but really, what's involved with a turkey? Stuff it, rub it down with butter and herbs, jam it in the oven and voila. Most of the work seems to be in the carving and gravy, and seems to me you do that anyway with a restaurant-bought bird, no? I just couldn't live without that glorious smell wafting through the house... As for where to pick up one of these fine specimens, I get mine from Cioffi's on Hastings in Burnaby. You order it ahead of time and it comes in fresh, pretty much any size you want. Highly recommended.

Good going! Wish I could get back to Tofino again soon to sample his handywork. Was Clayoquot really that bad? Sounds like a labour code violation to me.

We were at the Wick in mid-May for a birthday and it was, as I recall it from previous visits, superb. I miss the ocean sounds they used to pump in, though. Can't remember what we had but it was all great. The kitchen prepared a selection of desserts in lieu of a birthday cake and it was incredible. Our waiter confirmed that Sarah McLachlan lives just down the beach and comes in regularly. We stayed in the new addition and were pleasantly pleased they didn't mow down the forest when they built on to it. Love the new coffee bar on the beach. Have also stayed and eaten at the Long Beach Lodge; in fact wrote about it for a big US food mag, with particular emphasis on Lisa Ahier. When it came out she was gone. Was my face red. Was bummed that we left early Tuesday and weren't able to check out Sobo. Next time. Ate sushi on the deck at Tough City and were disappointed the quality appeared to have slipped. The views are still fantastic, though. Have also stayed and eaten at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, twice. The first time was when they first opened and the chef had just a fire to cook over (in the tented area). I never knew what incredible things could be done over an open flame... I would love to live in Tofino but I hear the real estate would give Vancouver a run for its money. Sounds like you can live and earn enough, though, to move to St. Lucia???! I must have missed the entry that explained Tofino had moved to the Caribbean. What a dream!

Well, there was the time I didn't have the heart to tell my friend, gulping the bowl of "hot lemon soup" that accompanied her peel and eat shrimp, that it wasn't.... But travelling through Greece, my husband was well fed when, due to translation confusion, I'd order an omelet, and he'd say make that two. Well, guess how many omelets he'd get....

Oh, nooooo, not Chongqing! Say it isn't so!!! You're telling me the best fried green beans in town are tainted? I swear I checked that location out after their Burnaby outlet was cited so many times it was closed down, but didn't see anything. Guess I wasn't looking hard enough. In fact, I'm not going to look now. No, I won't. I also won't go back...sniff.

Crap. I was hoping no one would mention Seawall at the Bayshore...

Thanks a bunch, will check 'em out!

Thanks for the tip, Shelora. Are both places relatively easy to spot while driving by?

The comment upthread, something about eating too much crappy food to try desperately to be satisfied, as opposed to eating a small amount of really good food doing a better job of that makes sense. People don't savor. Eating while rushed or watching TV, next thing you know, you don't remember what you ate let alone whether you enjoyed it. So you have another piece of cake looking for satisfaction. I also think there's something to be said for the theory that food is the new entertainment. Everything's so expensive now we can't take vacations or even go to the movies, so we indulge in Haagen-Daz to make up for it. And with so much bad news in the world, food is definitely comforting. Problem is, more bad news requires more food, next thing you know you're fat, but not really comforted in the long run. In fact, more anxious because you're fat, and news reports keep telling you you're gonna croak if you're fat, let alone be shunned by society. All simplistic, yes, but I bet there's a bit of truth to it. Also, if an organic salad cost the same as a Whopper, I bet more people would opt for the healthier choice. Why does healthy have to cost more? All those cheap burgers are driving up the cost of health care in the long run to treat those blocked arteries. There should be no such thing as a diet. Everybody knows what's right and wrong to eat, there's no secret or magic solution to weight loss. Moderation is key.