Vancouver

I noticed a place I hadn't heard of before today on West Pender called Baghdad Cafe (430 West Pender - next to Cassis Bistro). With the lack of Turkish places in Vancouver I wonder if anyone has tried this place? Cheers!

They didn't seem to be offering any choices at all. (They were quite busy when I was there, and it seemed to just come "as is.") I imagine that if you requested items they would add them if they could though. I definitely want to return and investigate more closely. Cheers!

I think they seem to be setup as a wholesale pita bakery that also serves lunch. So if they can build the wholesale business you just never know. It is quite a large location overall. But I imagine the rent is fairly low based upon the location. Oddly it was packed with business people at lunch. I have no idea where they all came from though. There aren't that many offices nearby that I know of. Cheers!

I had the pleasure of visiting Pita Star at 146 East 3rd Ave, across from the Swiss Bakery and experiencing a true Israeli style falafel pita unlike those you find at the numerous places around town. They bake the pita on-site, so it is incredibly fresh. It doesn't break apart like the stale store-bought ones used at the majority of places in town. It holds together just like it should so you don't end up with a runny drippy mess on your shirt. The falafel itself was perfectly prepared - not the overly crisp microwave warmed types you find around town. It was clearly prepared fresh, pulled out of the fryer and popped right into the pita with a good israeli style salad, some hot sauce, and some excellent humous. They were very generous with the portion as well. There must have been 5 or 6 falafel in the pita. I must say this was by far the most satisfying falafel pita I have had in Vancouver. I will definitely be returning to sample the rest of the menu which includes shawarma, chocolate rugelach, etc. This new entrant to the Vancouver market is a wonderful addition for lunch! Cheers!

I heard that a new Malaysian place will be opening on Pacific someplace near Davie. Has anyone heard the details on this one? Cheers!

I was shopping at China World in Richmond today and they had the brick type available. Cheers!

I'd just suggest giving any of the Singaporean and/or Malaysian restaurants in town a call to ask where they buy theirs. Try Orchid delight on Burrard or Kedah House. I'm assuming you are looking for the block kind. The last time I purchased it was in a store in Toronto's Chinatown. It came wrapped in wax paper. Cheers!

Meh. I've been twice - my first and last time.

One that pops to mind is Caffe Artigiano several locations within a 10 minute walk of the Waterfront. Another idea is to pop across on the seabus to Londsdale Quay. The ride across in the morning is a relaxing way to start the day. Another idea is the Garden Terrace for something a little upscale. My thoughts and best wishes for the next several months....

According to the official webpage at http://www.richmondnightmarket.com/ it runs until October 1st and is open Friday and Saturday from 7pm to Midnight and Sunday and Long weekends 7pm to 11pm. Cheers!

Apparently the preferred term is currently "Mini Donut." See: http://www.minidonutinvaders.com Cheers!

Closed until further notice - canucklehead's reviews pending health board clearance of the stomach. So where did you pick up the bug?!?!?!?!? Feel better!

My apologies to you. I should have stated in the original posting that I had stopped going there for what I thought were questionable sanitary conditions and that now I noticed it was closed and wondered what had happened. I think the message is pretty much the same, but perhaps you would view it as equally irresponsible to post a negative review of a place and then mention it was closed. Let's keep this thread on track and focused on openings and closures going forward. Cheers!

I was actually wondering about it because I've stopped going there after 2 or 3 incidents where I no longer thought the food was safe. Now that I have taken some time to search a bit further I have found that my instinct was 100% correct: http://www.vch.ca/environmental/docs/food/..._closures06.pdf Apparently they were closed on August 9th for poor maintenance and unsanitary conditions. The exact reason I stopped going there, and the reason for my initial inquiry to the board. My apologies if my accurate gut reaction to a closure offended you. Cheers!

Passed by the 24 hour Taiwan Beef Noodle place on Granville in Marpole last night and it was dark. I noticed there was a white paper notice on the door, but didn't stop the car to read it. Any news of what happened? Was it a health board closure? They seem to always be busy. Cheers!

Yup. That is the same plan I saw back in 2004. I didn't know it had actually been approved. When does the neighbourhood get the proposed greengrocers, fish and butcher shops, a pharmacy, cafes and coffee shops? Sounded nice when I read of the plan in 2004. But I didn't know it got the go-ahead. Cheers!

I wonder what happened.

I tried calling Be Ga Ne Korean restaurant in Burnaby yesterday and the number was disconnected. Does anyone know if it is relocating or permanently closed?!?!?!? I'm craving Korean Royal Cuisine!!!!!! Thanks!

Is that plan that was submitted to city council back in 2004 still active? What is going to be going in that area? When? That will be a nice addition to the neighbourhood! Cheers!

What and where is japa-dogs? Sounds interesting!

BART to the 16th and Mission station was the preferred route of most people I knew. I wish we had crepes like that here in Vancouver! Do we? To be fair though, I don't think Ti Couz changed the neighborhood. The dotcom bubble just drove development in the entire bay area. Cheers!

Caribbean Hut Express opened at 4530 Hastings in Burnaby a few months ago. But I haven't seen anything posted on here about it. It apparently relocated from someplace on Granville street where it operated under a different name since 1985. Maybe someone else knows that place? Tried it tonight for the first time. It is a very very casual place. The menu is mixed half and half between Caribbean and Canadian food. The jerk chicken was spiced "just right" and came with a side of rice and peas and a small green salad. The salad was the kind you get in one of the packages at a market. The jerk however was excellent, and the chicken was cooked perfectly. It was a large thigh and drumstick served as a single piece and covered in the sauce. The spicing had enough kick to remind me of the Caribbean. Mixing some of the sauce with the rice and peas made for a flavourful and inexpensive dinner. Grand total was $6.95 for the dish. What a bargain! Some of the Canadian menu items peaked my curiosity, such as their pizza, which has supposidly has some banana and cinammon in the crust. I haven't heard of that one before, and would be willing to try a slice of it just to see what such a sweet crust would taste like. Apparently the original restaurant was run by a lady from Jamaica with the current owners. The Jamaican lady has returned to Jamaica, but her recipes stayed behind. Based on the look of the place, I wasn't expecting to get such a tasty jerk. A pleasant surprise overall! Cheers!

I've got to add: * sfogliatelle from Calabria Bakery * Machaca sandwich from Duffin's donuts * Laugenwecken from Swiss Bakery * Red bean with matcha cream pan at Kei's Bakery * Lamb sag at Al Watan on Fraser * Double boiled ginger custard at Ho Yuen Ke on Fraser * All the breads at European Breads on Fraser Cheers!

Passed by Infinity today and noticed it is opened. Has anyone tried it yet? Website here: http://infinitydining.ca/ Cheers!

Before you doze off, just scroll upthread to May 1, 2005. Apparently people are better at communicating quickly than the bus or egullet. Cheers!