canucklehead

I don't think this is a bad thing - Fresco's was good - but it was getting a little stale - I don't think it's how many people want to eat anymore. Waterfront is my preferred dining spot in Kelowna, while the terrace at Mission Hill offers outstanding food for lunch (though at dinner style prices). Regardless - Rod Butters is a very very talented chef - I am sure this new venture will be intresting. It's good to hear that he has re-invigorated his business.

Sorry - I should have posted that I called and they said that they no longer carry the beef. I thought upthread that you did that already. I don't actually shop there (I live on North Shore) - but the crappy service seems out of character (I have friends in the area) - still, no excuse for being short with you.

I think Stong's stocks beef from South America (Uruguay grass fed if I remember correctly). Not really Agentinian - I know.

I wonder if there will be new restaurants jumping into the DOV waters? Now, more that ever - getting bums into seats is paramount for any restaurant.

Oh no! I hope they're ok... Maybe they went back to Japan for an extended visit? ← My understanding is that the husband has got some real health issues. I really hope that a speedy recovery is made - and that they open shop again real soon.

How can it be so serious if we were all smiling? ← Glad you enjoyed it! I really like Alvin's Garden. I am sad that I could not join the meal.

Peter - absolutely awesome write ups! I understand that you are going to have some seriously spicy food this evening. Seriously Spicy. Looking forward to your report.

Peter - absolutely awesome write ups! I understand that you are going to have some seriously spicy food this evening. Seriously Spicy. Looking forward to your report.

VIP serves very good Swatow Chinese - the restaurant itself is really diving - so it's better for take out, and luckily that particular type of chinese cuisine travels very well - in HK you see swatow places with cooked food on display that is served just a little above room temp. Braised duck served with garlicky vinegar, oyster omlete/pancake, deep fried pomfret, and chicke with deep fried pepper leaves - all nice. Thanks for the review of Fraiche - I've been curious about it - especially after it's high placing in Enroute's list of top 10 new places in Canada.

That really needs some reno's - plus a heavy duty power wash from top to bottom.

Fmed - I am so with you on that. When the Skytrain is done - there will be so much great Chinese food that will be so much more accessible. I live on the North Shore - and I hate the fact that I end up driving over three bridges to eat in Richmond. I could list off the places that dot along three road - but I would it would be a ridiculously long long list.

Jade in Richmond... everything seems to be in Richmond these days. Bah!

One nice thing about the change in weather - claypot rice time! Jade does a nice cured meats / rice. The rice is all glossy with duck fat - delicous! I always ask for the crispy rice bits to be soaked with broth and served separately with green onions and cilantro. I hear that SSW does a very nice version also - which is a good thing - because Jade's seasonal menu is completely in Chinese. Frustrating to order.

Excellent. Congrats to Sean and Colleen and the Heather crew. I'm glad to see they're now pouring some fine local R+B product. Link to the review here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...=alexandra+gill ←

For the most part - egg tarts are made from scratch. Certainly the better bakeries would make them from scratch (Michelle's, Anna's, Maxim's, etc...) The amount of stuff made from mixes would be the same as what you find in any normal bakery. But you raise a good question about specifically Asian ingredients such as red bean pastes. I think the key is always to seek out quality bakeries and ask questions.

The newly redocorated Alvin's Garden

Gill gives a pretty big thumbs up reveiw of the new Irish Heather. I myself think the rooms are very nice and the food is a real step up - pretty darned tasty. And filling. That comforting pot pie is really nicely portioned.

Congratulations to Parallel 49 for being in Saveur's list 9 Great Coffees in the latest issue (breakfast issue). Always nice to see a local product recognized.

Would love to hear more! Look for real Hunan dishes (which, unfortunately, would not include dan dan noodles). Beef with pickled peppers, and smoked pork belly with garlic bolts are stuff that I order all the time at Alvin's Garden. The heat should be intense and sharp flavored - but short lived. Looking forward to your next visit.

I'm not sure - but it would explain alot.

Alvin's Garden - if anything - is better than the old Xiang. The food is more focused, and the room and menu layout is miles ahead of what it used to be. A friend of mine says that the S&W Restaurant in Kerrisdale (right below Golden Ocean) now serves Hunan food. Her parents (who are Cantonese) went - but were warned away from anything too spice, and so ended ordering very blandly - but they saw plates piled high with chili's served to other tables. And they knew that they had been steered wrong. Has anyone been?

The other route would be head over to Kirin at the Starlight Casino for dim sum. It's a nice room and the food is good and consistent.

Agreed - Chinese food is very difficult to find on the North Shore. Westview Chinese has a large menu, but generally the food is average. VIP on Marine Drive has Swatow style cooking - but the room itself is a bit of a mess, so take out works out best. Also - you need to know what to order, as most of the menu is given over to lemon chicken and spring rolls.

Not too far off your route are: Alving's Garden (Nelson and Imperial, Burnaby) - searing crazy hot hunan food. Try the beef with pickled peppers and the lamb with cumin. Kirin Seafood Restaurant at the Starlight Casino. Their newest endevour - very nice room and great dim sum. There are a lot of good Korean places in Burnaby also.

Metro is great. Lift - great views and ambience, middling food. Parkside - great food, and a super nice patio and room. V. Romantic. But it means heading into the West End - not far at all really.