canucklehead

Is it only news to me that Granville Island is now open till 7pm? I saw it on the side of a bus. Feenie was right - transit is a great way to communicate.

Here's a recipe that I got out of epicurious. It is a decent - if sweet chocolate cake. You need to check on the dairy content of the chips - otherwise it's dairy free (and vegan). The frosting is not so great - and it contains dairy anyways. But I wanted to give the full recipe. OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH COCOA FROSTING (Bon Appetit) A joint effort by Leigh McLean and Sweet Dreams Bakery in Memphis. For cake 3 cups all purpose flour 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups cold water 1 cup corn oil 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips For frosting (Not so good) 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 5 cups powdered sugar 8 tablespoons (about) whole milk 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder Make cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Sift first 5 ingredients into medium bowl. Mix water, oil and vanilla in large bowl. Whisk in dry ingredients. Divide batter among pans. Sprinkle 1/2 cup chocolate chips over batter in each pan. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 15 minutes. Cut around pan sides to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out; cool completely. Make frosting: Beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in 3 cups sugar. Beat in 6 tablespoons milk and vanilla. Add cocoa and remaining 2 cups sugar; beat until blended, thinning with more milk if necessary. Place 1 cake layer, chocolate-chips side up, on platter. Spread 2/3 cup frosting over. Top with second cake layer, chocolate-chips side up. Spread 2/3 cup frosting over. Top with remaining cake layer, chocolate-chips side down. Spread frosting over sides and top of cake. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome; let stand at room temperature.) Serves 8 to 10. Bon Appétit September 1995

Sept 2006 issue (I know - its more than a month away) has a huge spread on Vancouver Island its great food culture - calling it a Pacific Treasure. I did not realize that there were water buffalo's on the Island - why isn't anyone making real mozz and burratta!? Its a great read - the Aerie, Brentwood Bay Lodge, Fairburn Farm, Sooke Harbour House, Cafe Brio, SOBO, Zambri's are all highlighted. The article was written by Max Alexander - is this a local writer/commentator?

It would pain many of you that one of my favorite things to eat is a toasted (japanese style thick white bread) tomato and mayonaise sandwiche. And I mean gobs of the japanese Kewpie style mayo on thick slabs of raw tomato - god my eyes are rolling to back of my head just thinking about them.

Oh yeah - terrible memory. It's gone now - that's why it click into my mind. It is now some sort of Korean style restaurant.

Is it circular with specks of collagen? I think that's shin of beef - I love it too - beefy and good.

Not sure - as they also serve dim sum at that time. Usually - it is not too much of a problem as dim sum is lower margin then the normal menu. Be warned though - I have not heard good things about their dim sum lunches.

Oh - and BTW the Dungeness Crab and Pumpkin dish at Sea Harbour may not be listed on their menu. But they don't usually have an issue to making it for you if you request it.

Dude - I am getting a tummy ache looking at that itineray. I think that you have a very good listing - people may quibble on the ranking of stuff - but I don't see any out and out bad choices. Make reso's for all your meals (except won ton houses) - all your dim sum choices serve dim sum every day. Stay away from Sea Harbour for lunch - blech (their dinner continues to be excellent). Here are some addresses you were looking for: Jade Seafood Restaurant 8511 Alexandra Road, Richmond Tel: 604-249-0082 Golden Szechuan Restaurant 3631 No.3 Road 604 288 9058 I am not sure about Yu's address - sorry. If you go to Shiang Garden - make sure get you get there baked bbq pork bun - the food is hot and fresh - but it is more rustic now. I think that they have discounted items depending when you start your lunch. I was at Sea Harbour recently and I thought their soy braised live prawns were excellent. They prawns are no longer in season - so check with the service managers about how good they are. However - a meal with the crab (which may be as high as $50) AND prawns may be pretty stiff. Stick to their seasonal dish - and order the more home style items if you get the crab and/or prawns. Note that Mak's is down to one location on Alexandra in Richmond. For breakfast - are you thinking of congee. Congee House on Main and Broadway is good (though cleanliness is not so hot). But there are a number of places in Richmond that serve early meals - and will offer discounts if you show up early. May need to do more research.

Ann - really excited to see Vancouver Island through a pro's eyes. I have not really visited and explored the Island in ages.

I think that Famous Foods is all natural/organic. Whole Foods in West Van is the same - and they will have people on hand to help with your purchase. I am sure Capers is also natural/organic - but I am not sure if there is some one hand to help. Depending on what you are trying to buy - you may even want to contact Blue Goose Cattle (www.bluegoosecattle.com) - whom I think are open to the public once a week from there facilites in North Van.

It looked like a pretty full menu at lunch. Dim Sum may not be available during dinner time.

My brother picked up some currywurst from Serengeti Trading in North Van for a BBQ Yesterday. It looked like a rough sausage mix (for some reason - I was thinking that it was a smooth sausauge) and it grilled up nicely. BUT - I did not get to taste any! It went very quickly (ungrateful guests) - so I cannot comment whether it was good or not - I've never had them in Germany so I can't to a comparisons. As Serengeti is run by Afrikaaners - it may be a a different take on this weenie.

So - is the Pastami at Kaplan's the best bet going? You guys rock - Hava Nagila!

Here are Zagat's top rated for Food: 29 - West 28 - Lumiere, Bishops, Vij's, Pear Tree 27 - Tojo's, Le Crocodile, Le Regalade 26 - Ciopinno's, Il Gardino, Villa Del Lupo, Diva, Rangoli, Cru, Gotham, C Restaraunt 25 - Caffe de Medici, Parkside, Bin 941/942, Five Sails, Guu, Aurora, Chartwell, Kirin, Morton's, Blue Water, Go Fish, Bistro Pastis, Chambar Generally - if I was a tourist, I think that I would be pretty happy with most of the ratings above. I don't think the Bin's or Go Fish should be ranked quite so highly. and a savvy visitor would probably not end up at Morton's either. Otherwise - I think its mostly about tweaking the list. Any glaring omissions? (I am assuming that places like Rare One and Nu may be too new to make the list). Nice to see the Pear Tree on the list - chronically overlooked gem in Burnaby (if only they would just lighten up). I agree with Vancouver - the Zagat's is really misses on the mark on Chinese, Malaysian, Japanese.... but that's egullet for.

You give a guy with an overactive appetite, an old digital camera and a big mouth too much credit. Frankly - I love reading about other's experiences and opinions - and if there is a disagreement - all the more fun. I hope everyone keeps on posting (and then posts some more).

As Daddy-A noted - had lunch with him at Watermark today. Building looks great when you are near it. Inside space is expansive and handsome. The menu has been simplified and dumbed down. Seafood chowder, cesar salad, and chicken club sandwiched were all sampled. Nothing evil - nothing outstanding. But really - I think most people go to enjoy the view and just hang out. Daddy-A was suprised that nacho's were not on the menu - given the clientele that seemed to be the target. The place was nicely full when we left. Much has been made of an oppurtunity 'lost' here - but I don't think its a huge issue. I am sure money is being made - and a pleasant hour was wittled away over a great view. Could the food be better - yes - but it was no tragedy either.

Tried Chillo's for dinner tonight - tongue, beef flank, chicken, chorizo tacos. Damned tasty! Salsas fresh and bright. Chillo and his wife Lupe were great - friendly and chatty. Lupe was under the impression that I spoke Spanish - God knows why. Everything from scratch - including the chorizo (which were the Mexcan style - spicy loose ground pork style - rather than cooked up like a sausage). Squeeze of lime to brighten things up. Good.

Had lunch a few weeks back at Kaplan's on Oak Street - and I had forgotten what a nice spot it was. Bustling but not crazy busy and the service was prompt and old school. It was also nice to have the option of having smaller portions. Though the mile high sandwhiches always look impressive in NYC - even attempting to finish one is grueling. Split a sampler that included chopped liver, smoked meat, and pastrami. I probably liked the chopped liver the most - fluffy and flavorful. The real disappointment was the Challah bread it was served on - it was straight from the fridge cold and hard. Not good. I think that I saw that they had egg creams on the menu - but not sure. Next time I'll add a matzoh ball soup to round everthing out.

For more low key ethnic food: For Indian - I've always really liked Saravan Bhavan in Sunnyvale - a fairly close drive from PA. Great vegetarian Indian - dosas, tiffins, etc... Its one of the places that I really miss from living in the Area.

I was at the lobster man today and they had a full selection of oysters and mussels - all with local lables. Can that be right?

No - I have not heard of 'Little Sheep'. When I lived in SFO - I did not eat much Chinese/Japanese food as I would gorge myself whenever I got back to YVR.

I ate this at Empire about 3 weeks ago. ← Did you like (love) it?

I definitely second the recommendations for Farmhouse (classic homestyle cantonese food) and Victoria City @ SHK Center. Other Farmhouse dishes that I love are the steamed egg whites topped with salted egg yolks, veggies, and roasted duck - and if there is a large enough group of you - a clay pot rice. Ask that soup be added to the crusty bits of rice and served as another course - delicous. They have a steamed papaya with coconut milk (with or without bird's nest) that is superb. If you visit Victoria City during crab season - try the flower crab steamed in fai dou wine. When you done with the crab - have yee mein tossed in the remaining sauce so that you get all that sweet winy crabby flavor. For higher end dim sum - you may want to also consider Fook Lam Moon - which is a super old school restaurant. The TST branch is much nicer than the HK side. Man - how I envy you.

I stopped by my Uncle's today and he is trying to make his own Salted Preserved Fish. I love that strong anchovy flavor - and a little goes a long way in flavoring steamed pork patties, fried rice, or even just as an accompaniment to plain white rice. This uncle also has made his own soy sauce in the past. He tooks some fish (salt water - but don't ask me what kind) - and salted them down with pickling salt and pressed as much liquid out as he could by placing the fish between wieghted trays. Rinse and then resalted them and has been drying them in the sun in a wicker basked with some tight wire mesh to keep the flies out. The above is the result after 5 days or so. It has a pleasant, mild anchovy smell right now - but will be subjected to additional sun drying to further preserve the flesh. I am not sure if I want to be part of the first tasting - but my Uncle has been suprised by how easy the process has been so far.