canucklehead

tdeane - do you use mineral water to compensate for Vancouver's soft water?

Fmed - that is an awesome looking pizza!! That's exactly what I do for my pizza's - overnight rise in the fridge and a high hydration. I've have'nt used a sour dough startes as I think it can overwhelm the flavor of the crust - but I will give it a try in the future.

I really enjoyed my experience at Bazaar also. The service keeps the fun factor high - and the food is technically spot on. I really enjoyed the MG elements, but found myself most drawn to the traditional tapas. The iberco ham brought a tear to my eye. Completely delicous. Flckr pics: Bazaar

So, my friend wanted to arrange a dinner for his wife at the French Laundry, but they could only snag a table for three and they were kind enough to ask me to come along. Lucky! To get it out of the way - let's just acknowledge that the price of dinner is very steep. The tastings are set at $240 (which includes tax and tips) - but with supplements and wine - you can easily double that. For that kind of money - you get Thomas Keller's absolute vision of perfection. And it was perfect - not a single misstep in food or service all evening. The service is remarkable - they can adjust very quickly to what kind of table you are. We were excited about the food and wanted to really enjoy ourselves - and I think we were a good table to serve. There was no up selling pressure at all. No flights of wine to kill your budget - the sommollier was approable and friendly - but obviously extremely knowledgable. My meal consisted of: - Salmon Cornets - Oysters and Pearls - Foie Terrine - Stripped bass en persillade - Sea Scallop Poelee - Cuisse de Poularde avec Mousse de Kanzuri - Grilled Sirloin of Shiga Kuroge Beef - Tete de Moine cheese with hen of the woods mushrooms - Barlett pear sorbet - 'Coffee and donuts' - Opera Cake Flickr pictures here: FL Dinner Pictures Plus we took home FL shortbread and chocolates - which were insanely good. What can I say - the food was sublime. Everything worked together - and there was nothing superflous. As a Chinese food person - I am used to food that is cooked together to bring out and meld flavours. Here - the food is cooked and composed separately - yet coalesce together into a greater whole. Though the cooking is at the opposite end of Chez Pannise in terms of technique - the same respect for quality ingredients and integrity of flavours was paramount. Foams and gels were incorporated in subtle and smart ways. Every single component of the each dish was perfect and worked with every other component on the dish. And yet - there was no wacky fireworks or ego on the plate - it was all about the food and simple pleasure. The first thing that arrives to the table is the famous Salmon cone. How good could it be, right? Fucking awesome - the cone was incredibly buttery with black sesame seeds to give the whole thing bass notes. The horseradish cream was light and luxurious with just the right sharp hit of horse radish - and the salmon tartar tasted like it was chopped last minute - fresh and still 'whole'. I thought, if this was the opening salvo - then the rest of the evening was going to be spectacular. And it was. I started the evening thinking that this would be a once in a lifetime meal - enjoy the experience and move on. But this is one of those rare places that, despite the prices, I could imagine going to again and again. I think my kidney could fetch a decent dollar on the black market - very much unstressed by alcohol, and as a bonus, cradled in enough fat that you could make delicous french fries with them.

At home, I always find a slow rise key in terms of both flavor and texture. Nothing more offputting than when you get that raw beery taste in crusts that have been forced too quickly. I had a bad experience with Rocky Mountain once with a super boozy crust - but others seem to have a good experience with them, so perhaps it was a one off.

Looks like you and Helen had a good evening. I love the Pourhouse. Such assured and well put together food, smart and grown up space, solid and confident service. This place feels like a well oiled machine already. Tremendous addition to Gastown - I've been recommending it to my friends since I was there earlier this week.

I don't think anything of note right now.

You may have to drive out to Coquitlam

Kentan - how does Las Torta compare with the sandwhiches and Duffins on 41st and Knight? Two different animals? (ha!)

Think your choices for Fuel and Kingyo are good. Japadogis charming - but really not a huge culinary pit stop. The condiments are clever - but the hot dogs are relatively standard. Ganache has some incredible cakes - very well done. And Chocolate Arts is fanatical about freshness and technique. If you need to pick up small gifts for your return trip - I think its a great place to do so. I think Blue Water has a very good raw bar - one of the most underrated sushi bars in the city. Salt is still the best of it's ilk in my books. And if you add in the Diamond and Boneta - you can have a pretty good time bar hopping in Gastown. GastroPod is now Maenam. Chef Angus Ang worked with David Thompson of London's Nahm fame. Though I think Thai tends to be a little sweet - the room and food are fresh and modern. I think Market is a great space, tremendous service - with solid high end hotel style food. That's sounds like it might be slight - but I don't mean it to be. Great value for money right now. Make sure you are seated in the Dining room - not the cafe. L'Atro Buca in the West End of downtown is tremendous. The menu is smart and sophisticated and you can gauge your price point accordingly. Always great specials - and the room is the prefect fall venue - warm and cozy. Now that the Canada Line is open - trips to Richmond are ridicoulously easy (in fact - you should take into Vancouver from the Airport). My current favorite Cantonese dinner right now is Jade Seafood. Crab in 'Golden' duck egg sauce, 'great grandfather's' smoked chicken. veggies in fish stock with tofu skins, and pork with lotus root and preserved veggies are exemplary. Fmed is right about Alvin's Garden . Super punchy Hunan heat if you want it. More importanly - their cooking is focused and clean. The flavor profile is very different from Cantonese. Their smoked duck is one of the best I've had. Have you been to Chambar? After 5 years of operations - still a great place for dinner. The cooking is imaginative - mixing Morrocan spices with western technique and local ingredients. If you are looking for a lunch/brunch spot - Medina (which is right be beside Chambar) is my favorite breakfast place in the city. Fantastic beglian waffles (the honey fig marmalade is killer) and a range of Moorish inflected breakfast and lunch treats. Hope this helps - how many days are on in town for?

I am pretty sure that Go Fish serves lunch on weekdays. Spotted prawns may still be in season in early July. I think a nice way to have it is at a Chinese restaurant - stir fried with seafood soy.

Both Okada and Bluewater are quite good - but in different ways. I am a big fan of Okada's easy going vibe - lots of Japanese people go there - and their dinner fresh sheet is exemplary (lunch should be avoided in my opinion). The cooked dinner items at Okada often feature great local ingredients. Beyond that - I love the restaurant's setting - up and above the street - quiet and calm. The freshness at Bluewater really sparkles though - the sushi and sashimi has a glistening brightness that is pretty awesome. Plus the buzz and engergy of the room is at a different level. So - is it worth the extra $$'s? I am not sure what to say. If you decide to stick with Okada - I don't think that's a bad decision.

Yaletown really is just a short hop from GI - the shortest cab ride ever or water taxi excursion. Bluewater raw bar really is exemplary - and Nondual1 is right - if you want, Chef Tabo can really take it up a level. The raw bar is part of the Bluewater restaurant - but you can pull yourself up a seat at the sushi bar and really settle in for some great sushi and sashimi.

If you want to try something differnt in the way of sushi - perhaps give Miku a visit? Their first branch in North America. They char their sushi with blow torches before serving them. The results are mixed - I think - but it is a well run room with very friendly service, though it may be a little out of the way for you. Bluewater in Yaletown has a great Raw Bar with truly excellent sushi - I think one of the best in the city.

annadev How many people will you be? There are a number of restaurants with private rooms which may be a good way to tackle your issue.

Have you been? Looks very promising.

How is Cava - I looked at the Toronto Life write up and their online menu - and it looks very very intriguing. Nothing like it here in Vancouver.

The same management team runs Schezawn restaurant on Saba road - but the food is very very different. Bing Sheng is a famous restaurant in Guandong - and the manager was talking to us about what they could recreate here vs what they serve in China - but it may be a bit of name borrowing. I went tonight and the food was outstanding. The farmhouse rustic dishes are very different from most other HK influenced Cantonese restaurants in Vancouver. The place is packed most nights - I think they are the best Eastside Chinese restaurant right now.

Bing Sheng is a famous restuarant from Guandong Province - and this is their first foray into Vancouver. I've heard very good things and I am keen to try it out.

Through this weekend at least - 13.80 per pound live king crab at many Chinese restaurants throughout the city. I think that SSW in Richmond, does it particularly well. You cannot get this anywhere else in the world for this price.

I think that Kingyo's food is the best - there is focus and discpline in the cooking that other places can lack.

Make sure it is SSW Richmond that you go to - NOT the one on Main St. In Richmond - there is also Jade Seafood - the service is impeccable and their "Great Grandfather's Chicken" quite excellent. Otherwise - there are Shanghainese places like Shanghai River (mentioned above), and Shanghai Wonderful - both in Richmond with reasonably nice rooms. There are also Tawainese places like Dinesty and Vogue with clean modern spaces.

Peter - looks like an awesome meal. I was not there - but that looks like their celery and tofu skin salad. Do they have a chicken and celery salad? Something I will order next time!

I made a reso - but was still seated in the cafe area. The dining room was full. I would ask to be seated at the bar next time. Dining room is very handsome - for $28 you have your choice of two courses and a dessert. I had crab cakes, soy glazed short ribs, and passion fruit pavlova. The food is full flavored and deeply seasoned - the short ribs had rich asian flavors - but not cloying or too sweet. The pavlova was a hard meringue 'egg' with a passion fruit sorbet yolk, all doused with passion fruit pulp. Well executed, service was a little skittish - I suspect because of Jean George being in the house (I almost asked him for his autograph - I know, its sad). All in all - a tremendously fun experience.

Fantastic lunch today - $28 for 3 Courses. Great deal.