canucklehead

Dude! Very cool - thanks for posting about the process. I am always so impressed with people who put themselves out there and start a business. Your menu (and sourcing list) is making me cry. I know it is alot to ask for - but pictures would be great (as if you did'nt have enough to do already). You must be very proud of yourselves.

I guess what is not good about the article is the generally negative picture it paints. Good food experiences should be part of an overall positive visit - and the article creates reasons not to go. I was in Winnipeg a few months ago (early fall) and even though work took up most of my time - I really liked the city. The Winnipeg Art Gallery was something I wish I had more time for - and if I had gotten some pointers on good food - well the visit would have been all the better.

Perhaps you should - the Globe did not have very nice things to say about downtown Winnipeg. Urban Decay is Not a Negative. All cities have their struggles of course. I hope Winnipeg can move forward with increasing tourism in the city.

I think it could work if the target was not the high end (where regional differences really blur) but at what is percieved to be 'locally authentic'. For example - in Kelowna, while I have enjoyed Fresco's and Bouchon - what has really charmed me are the local deli's and German based places. The food may not be a culinary homerum - but it feels real and honest - and I can't get it in back in Vancouver. So - the local voice is important. And if you have some local version of moonshine or beer to extol - all the better.

Jamie - thanks for the generous offer. VC Girl - thanks for the heads up - I will keep it in mind. JeffyBoy - I have no idea how to pronounce the Vietnamese Restaurant - obviously I cannot even spell it correctly. Went to Fresco again last night and it continues to be delicous. Showed up too late for the specials so I had a couple of Chef Butter's signature dishes. Dungessness Crab Cappucino and Braised Shortribs w/ Grilled Aged Tenderloin. The crab cappucino was a deeply flavored bisque with bits of sweet crab meat. The braised ribmeat was served with its mirepoix and the tenderloin was perfectly aged and served rare. The vegetables that came with the entree were cooked more than is currently fashionable - but it showed how proper old school cooking could bring it out sweeter deeper flavor. No room for dessert - but the meal was bookended with a small starter and a chocolate/orange cake bite. All this food for about $50 including a large bottle of water. I can't get over what a great deal Fresco is and how generous Chef Butters is with his food.

I was in Richmond for a couple of client meetings and went and tried Jade on Alexandra - I fould it quite good indeed. They are very imaginative on applying cooking techniques in new ways. Daikon cake is cubed then fried lightly - so that you get a higher proportion of crispy skin to creamy interior. They had a scallop/pea tips dumpling that was excellent, a very good sticky rice, and a truly tasty stirred fried baby bak choy with garlic. The last dish really had nice seasoning and 'wok hai' or 'breath of the wok' which means that the wok used was very hot so that they food was cooked quickly and the innate freshness of the food was preserved. It indicates good kitchen skills that could translate to an excellent dinner. Has anyone been? Not cheap dim sum place - lunch for 5 added up about $105. They are having a special on fresh alaskan king crab - steamed with chopped garlic - for $13.88 a pound. A table for two beside us had a 8 pound crab - I think served in two courses - the legs steamed, then the body made into a soup. It looked good. I would say Jade, Kirin Richmond, and Gingeri are all pretty close in quality - all excellent. Really - you would have to go somewhere really expensive - even in HK to match this quality. Lower on the totem pole would be Shiang Garden and Kirin Cambie. All of these places are a la carte though.

I have friend visting me over next weekend - what would be a good winery to hit for dining. It is off season now - so I am not sure which options are even available. I know there are some suggestions upthread - but just wanted to see it there was anything else that should be on my radar.

Whole Foods in West Van carries it - not sure about seasonality - so they may not have it in stock right now. You can call and check.

Please - no name changes - especially single named places. If people get scared off by the name then they don't deserve to go. In fact - I think the name should be lengthened to make it even more frightening to the food fashionistas: 1) Senhor Rooster's Final Horse Round Up 2) Senhor Rooster Dodgy Eastside Food Emporium with Booze and Stuff, or 3) Senhor Rooster House of Lamb Slaughter

I went in today and had the spicy hot chocolate and it was very nice. Not too sweet and with a nice complex spice - not just relying on heat. It was quite drinkable - with a light texture (almost like they started out with low fat milk). I like the lightness as I find I can only take hot chocolate in small doses when it is overly rich. The owner/operators are youngs guys with alot of passion - finding their way as new business owners and new chocolatiers. Their official opening is apparently still two weeks away. They are still working out some of the details - but it is great to see their enthusiasim.

Further upthread - someone recommended Wildfire Bakery on 87 - I checked it out for lunch. I don't know what is about Kelowna - but there are all these German style deli's and lunch counters - and I love 'em. They are are not trying to create culinary home runs - but just solid homemade food. Check out the irony free decor. Lots of people enjoying fresh hot sandwiches. I had the Roast Beef on a Kaiser. It was mostly - what seemed like brisket - doused in gravy served on a garlic butter toasted kaiser roll. It was really solid little sandwich. Tonnes of tender beef - garlic bread a la old school two for one pizza stands. I really liked it. It reminded me of the sandwiches featured in the PBS travelogue "Sandwiches That You Will Like" - homemade meals done the old fashioned way. I succumbed to having a clam chowder with my sandwich. It was singularly the worst bowl of soup I have ever seen/smelled/tasted. Loaded with so much flour - it was thick stinking curdled mess. Strangely enough - the terrible soup made me like place even more. They have toasted sandwhiches - including a Chicken Cordon Bleu version - that will be bear trying.

It is -15c here and it was time for something cozy. I drove down to Peachland and checked out the Gasthaus. It is a really nice place - none of the pictures online really do justice to how warm and cozy it is to be there. Big fireplace, warm wood, and overloaded with taxidermy. I had the pork hock which came with two bread dumplings and red cabbage. I did not come even close to make a dent into the pork - it was HUGE. Crisp crackling, rich and fatty - what can you say? It was reassuringly comforting - just like the room. After two weeks of being locked in a room with my clients (and another 6 weeks to go) - this was a nice perk of working a out of town gig. Side note - it occured to me that if this was a US town - everyone would be gorging on fast food and weigh an average of 300lbs. In Kelowna - I find the locals very friendly, very fit, and easy on the eyes. Must be the water.

The pho place is actually behind Joey's - its called Huoang Gai (I think). Quite good indeed - but Pho seems so pricey in Kelowna at about $7-8 for a small about $9 for a large. Which seems about a third more than in Vancouver. When choice is limited though... what can you do but pay the price. Went to CC and had their new apple pie which comes with a bourbon caremel sauce and ice cream. The sauce was insane and tasted like they used Tahitian vanilla - very floral and heady. Surprisingly good dessert.

The best item at Au Petite I think is the beef stew w/ tendon and rice. The stew is flavorful and rich - but clean tasting and not fatty. The rice is always so nice and fresh too. I would give Kim Phung the nod for Pho Tai and Bahn Mi. Their Bahn Mi has really flavorful ingredients, more condiments, and cheaper to boot. Plus you don't have to rush and order the bahn-mi before 12:30 to make sure that you get one. The room inside Au Petite is cleaner and the service more cheerful - something that counts when the weather is being so dreary and grey.

No - Rod Butters is the chef at Fresco. Here's there website..it is a relaxed environment and low attitude. But the food is quite good. I wish I was a better wine drinker - so that I could sample BC wines.

The baked goods at the Okanagan Grocery have been very enjoyable. The bread looks like it has been baked in wood fired ovens and has nice chew to them. So this Chocolate Bun and could not resist buying it It was cocoa bread wrapped around Benard Callebaut dark and milk chocolate. I thought it was good - but I think I prefer my chocolate in a more delicate baked good. Dinner at Fresco's was a good as everyone said it would be. We were seated at the counter overlooking the kitchen. Quiet, clean, organized kitchen - Chef Butter was there - quietly overseeing all the food heading out to the floor. No ego in the kitchen with the various chefs (including Chef Butter) cleaning (including the pans) and prepping as needed. Two freebies - Asparagus Soup, Smoked Fish Tart with Lemon Emulsion Fresh bright flavors - really nice way to start the meal. Crab Cakes, Honey Lacquered Duck Breast Both of these were delicious! The Duck Breast came with a cherry taragon gastric - perfect foil for rich succulent breast meat that was perfectly rare. My friend had the Halibut Cheeks These were served over a golden beet broth. The cheeks were very fresh and tasted almost like giant scallops. Two MORE freebies - Brie and Fig Pate, Chocolate Cake Bites: Again excellent flavors. The fig pate and brie were a great match and the chocolate cakes were light textured and melting on the tongue. Incredible incredible value for money - $85 for two before tip (one glass of wine). Great service and really warm welcome from the hostess - Audrey. I am sure that I am going to come back a number of times while I am here on my business project. I will be hitting the other recommendations soon. This is my first time up in the Okanagan in many many years - and it is beautiful. It's no wonder there is such a land rush for property - I would love to be able to buy something on the water... but unless I win the lottery - or knock off my entire family... I don't think it would be possible.

Maclean's Magazine (this is my first look at their new format - Barbara Amiel - ick) has just highlighted some of the molecular chocolate making being done in Richmond BC - by the Dubys. Some of their flavoring include bonito flakes, cabbage, stilton, paprika, and carrot juice. I think that bonito and stilton would work well... they have a storefront in Steveson - but I am not sure if they sell their works. Has anyone been to the store or tasted these creations? Here's the article

I think waylman meant to say he is not sure how 'does' rhymes with 'resos'. I can't spot anything else that would remotely rhyme in your post.

My choice of seasoning - salt, pepper, and a smear of hot British Mustard. The mustard mellows and makes it taste more beefy. That is all you need.

Thanks for the great recommendations. Went to Bouchon - which was lovely - I staggered out of there with a belly full of boullibase, veal chop, and red wine. I am planning to go to Fresco's this weekend - save for my sad sack saturday night. Tonight though, egged on by a certain egulleteer, tonight - I drove around looking for Joey Tomatoes (to see how the servers, um, stacked up against the Vancouver CFD brigade). I was circling around H97 - and drove by Cactus Club, Montana's, etc... and I then it dawns on me - I am a sad dirty old man. Suitably ashamed of myself - I drove to downtown Kelowna with the goal trying the local Thai eatery - but I ended up at Ric's Grill. Had a bone in 16oz rib steak and was very pleasantly surprised. Probably the nicest steak I have had at a CFD chain. Tender, well seasoned but suitably unadorned - nice. Aged for 28 days - but CLEARLY wet aged - it was called Sterling grade (I was told something like the top 15% of AAA grade). Manager came by and said that they were very close to getting a Vancouver location - which would have been just about accross the street from HSG! Well - they came to their senses and chickened out... all worship hanger and GPB!!!

Shelora - old Bis Mereno location. Dude - I've been driving by the joint and stalking it like John Hinckley and you open when I am out of town? Ugh - what have done to deserve this? Anyways - I am very excited about this opening and cannot wait to check it out. The place looks good, the menu is very appealing, and beer is free.

I wonder how much of that work is making the recipes 'home friendly'? It must be a tonne of work to rescope proportions and ingredients. Then again - Trotter and Keller's cookbooks seem designed to present a challenge to home cooks who are up for it. It will be interesting to see what path Tojo's takes.

OG - thanks for the great pictorial and write up! This is something that could have come from a serious food magazine. Thanks for taking the time to share a part of BC that I would not have otherwise known about. I feel blessed to be living here.

I am going to spending alot of time in Kelowna over the next couple of months - so I am glad for the above recommendations. First off - what great deli's Kelowna has. Even the Save-On foods seems to have a really strong selection (San Daniele Mortadella - do they sell in the Vancouver Save On's?). Med Market is fantastic - really large selection of meats and cheese - very busy - so great turnover. Well edited selections of pastas, passatas, and spices - staying away from the chi-chi and concentrating on what people use. It seems like the locals still do alot of home curing and pickling - my client was telling about buying grape juice from Med Market and making his own wine. L&D Meats and Paul's Produce were also good. Illichman's deli was not as good as Med Market - but they had great slabs of dry aged porterhouse and rib roasts (I was really tempted...) Also - they seemed to have the largest selection of Ritter's bars that I have seen in one place. Bought some Blackwell Dairy Ice Cream - Maple Walnut and it was good. Wonder why it is not available down in Vancouver? I was feeling so food optimistic that I even went to try to find some good Chinese food. Well I won't mention the restaurant - and making snarking comments would be like shooting fish in a barrel. Not evil - just not good - in fact I was asked 'Was the food passable?' Saw 'Hector's Casa' for mexican - menu looks okay - but again am I being too optimistic? Also went and dropped by the Bar at the Eldorado - but the menu is pretty heavy duty. The lobster cocktail is now $20 - still a good deal - but I was told that it would not be enough food for a light dinner. The grilled rib chop looked good but at 24oz (and $64) - I need to fast a little before trying to tackling a pound and a half of meat. Had the salami pizza - nice crisp crust - but way way too rich. It came with a wedge of lemon to squeeze over the pizza - and at first I thought that it was over kill - but I was wrong. A big douse of lemon juice did nothing to cut the richness. So far - so good. But it is realy only day 3 of my two month stint. If I find anything interesting I will post about it.

I am supposed to be doing work... Keegan Bay Scallops Dollar Meats Lap Cheong and other cured meats Half of the display case at Oyama Crab and Kabocha Pumpkin at Sea Harbour House cured sausage from Sczhewan Restaurant Thomas Haas Chocolates All of Vancouver Island.