BCinBC

Sasskitty, is that what that place is called? I always referred to it as the "Norweigan Deli" (oops wrong on that front too). Regardless, I love these sandwiches and will vote accordingly in the Chef Koo Platinum Uber Palate Awards. Pro: they have a "Brian" sandwich Con: it is not the best PS: very possible to eat one on your own (edited for spelling)

I agree with most of what Keith said, so to avoid the rush I hail our lords and masters, the Dolphins! But... I think the phenomenon of geniuses dying broke and alone is not as hard and fast a rule now. A roundabout way of me saying that not everything that is popular is crap (I think mostly because of the speed of information these days). The Stephen King example: is it great literature? F'ed if I know. Is it entertaining? Yeah I like his older writing. Horror appeals to the masses, but that doesn't mean all horror writers are bad. (Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Edgar Allen Poe...) You are a consumer; you have to decide what the popular choice means to you. Okay I've strayed into some sort of philosphical hole. How about "Chef Koo's Platinum Uber Palate Awards"? Edited to add: PS I hate Raymond too. Edited 2nd time to add: I don't actually think S.King is a "genius".

Thanks for the welcome, Ben. Indeed I learn something new from most of the threads I read on this site! My Dad was very young when he came over; were he still with us, he'd be 67. I don't know if HK was a stop on the trail, but it would seem to make sense (your reference to "sik fan"). And I do credit my wife for expanding her culinary horizons. Her parents are British (who by my father-in-law's own admission "cook the shit out of everything"), plus she only used to eat chicken and some fish, so there have been definite leaps and bounds! She didn't even react as much as my sister did the first time my Dad pulled the old "I'm really going to eat this ornamental fried chicken head" routine!

Tell me this isn't what I think it is....No chocolate involved, right? ← Sorry to (possibly) gross you out Rehovot, forgot the regionality thing! M&M is a meat shop here in BC - so no I was not eating candy coated meat!

Okay, I was lured over by Ben's post in the Vancouver forum and have read this thread with interest. Some personal background (admissions?): 1st gen Chinese, born in Victoria, BC, parents both from South China, Dad emigrated '50s, Mom '60s, 1st language Cantonese but when I started school I lost almost all of it and to this day I can barely (if at all) get by (and don't even try with any sort of dialect). I completely identify with Canadian culture and refer to myself as Canadian, but obviously my Chinese heritage has played a part in my upbringing and there are things that will always be ingrained (food and way of eating likely being most prominent). My family visited China and Hong Kong when I was very young (7), but I have some distinct memories. I *hated* being so crowded everywhere in HK. The poverty in the countryside really made me appreciate what we have here. And the meals! My favourite was when our van broke down in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, but we were fortunate enough to be close to this pig farmer. To this day I'm not sure if he had some fresh kill lying around or what, but I ate what was most likely the best chow fun I'll ever have in my life. Something I learned reading this: I think my father's side may have been from Toisan, because although the norm for dinner would be "sik fan", my father's father would have said "hek fan". And I could not understand most of what he said. But I would call those deep fried dumplings "ham sui gok" not the Toisan name (and they have always been slightly sweet to me, whether that's sugar or sweet potato in the dough I don't know). Unlike my siblings, I used to *love* haam yee, particulary on rice or as "haam yee yook beung" (the old "meat cookie"). Perhaps I'll ask my Mom to make it next time I visit, because I'm not really willing to have my house smell like that (not to mention my poor wife who's caucasian). Anyway, to avoid rambling I'll just say thanks to Ben for starting yet another thread that I now have to follow! Cheers! PS: Has anyone read the book "The Accidental Asian" by Eric Liu? Even though he's Mandarin and it takes place in the States, I still identify with much of what he has to say.

Elitist foodie I am not; still very green around the edges, at the bottom of the learning curve, insert cliche of choice here. I agree with all above comments on the Straight awards, but I'd also be interested in the results of Chef Koo's Platinum (Diamond?) Plate Awards. As such, I will participate and I hope everyone else does too. After all, you can't complain if you don't vote! (Uh, unless it's the Straight awards I guess )

Wow amazing pix from the Bis Moreno dinner, guys. I had a slight squeamish factor on the idea of horsemeat, but I'll try (almost) anything once. Now having seen it, I'm definitely more tempted. (Though my usual done-ness is medium rare, but who am I to argue with the chef. ) Lee: you mentioned that the tenderloin was buttery in texture. Did Chef Moreno (or anyone else in the know) mention how the other cuts would be, texture-wise? Some parts tend to cook much further than rare - for example, would one slow roast a horse shoulder or would that turn out really stringy? Is every cut treated as though it was beef? Curiosity piqued.

Awesome blog D-A! So great to see the city depicted through your lens, it should serve as a reminder not to take what we have for granted.

Sat dinner: halibut fillets (started pan seared, finished under broiler), asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes with my new ricer (wow how fluffy compared to the old masher! next time I'm roasting the garlic too) Fri dinner: cheated with frozen M&M meat pies because had to rush out to meet friends Thurs dinner: soup and some fruit because I had to rush out to meet friends Wed dinner: roasted chicken breasts w/ garlic & lemon, snap peas, fried rice Basically if I have the time, dinner can be okay but if there is 1 hr or less between work and socializing, it's often junk food. I guess I'm no Rachel Ray, tee hee.

Sorry Eddy, hope I didn't strike a nerve. Good luck with the new project, and of course be sure to post updates!

Any update on this? Latest Cityfood reviews the Davie location (and gives you some ink Eddy ). Edited twice to add: sorry Eddy is this what you were talking about above?

Candia Taverna - rich and falling off the bone - W10th across from Safeway / RBC. I think it's $14 and the platter is huge. Beware of wooden bench seats though, wear well-padded pants.

Same boat. Cantonese was my first language, but I lost most of it when I started school. Reading and writing - none. Stares from Chinese-Chinese people - many. Here's an interesting method my brother developed: when you find dim sum order forms with both Chinese and English, keep the form. You can use is as kind of a cheat sheet for when you find yourself in those Chinese-only menu situations. A variation: go to the restaurant first with a Chinese reader. Make notes on the form of what you actually ate. Reuse form as required.

Hmm, the guy told me they made their own but I could have been sold. If it is Mario's, I'm going out to buy a litre later today!

Just the gelato I mentioned earlier Ling. It sounds like you're more of a chocolate girl (sorry, woman) but I really have to push the pistachio. Of course you can always get a 2nd scoop of something else!

Sorry to quote myself, but as I was driving by last night I remembered to look at the doorfront. The place is called La Belle Epoque, 3306 Cambie, if you're interested.

Hey let's not generalize on the Vancouverites (or westcoasters)... Birthplace: Victoria Pronounciation: Tronno or Tranna Reason: laziness

I agree barolo, used to enjoy reading the Straight awards when they printed reader comments and such. I will still give it a scan for interest's sake, but this forum has really become my reliable source for informed opinion. And a chuckle if Coop is online.

Never am I as frustrated as I am when driving in Richmond (not that there's anywhere in the lower mainland that's a pleasure to drive, unless it's 3 AM and the roads are clear... and this is a subject for another website). But yes when my Dad lived in Richmond, there was never a problem finding a decent yet cheap meal. On the flip side, I think that because the competition is so fierce and the pricing so cheap, Richmond is also the home of the highest turnover of restaurants. How often do you drive by a place you ate at last week, only to see a For Lease sign in the window? Usually nothing wrong with the food, just the whim of the consumer. Or someone opened across the street with $2 dim sum before 11 AM.

Possibly it wishes it has parallels to Kitchen Confidential, but in reality it does not. Whereas Bourdain (IMO) writes with stark plain honesty, often with an edge, the writing in the first episode of Godiva's was trying too hard and ended up (to me) contrived. Restaurant jargon piled on excessively looses it's effectiveness. And the characters are not the characters you see in KC. Most of them are not real. At all. The photo of Bourdain with his kitchen mates on the cover of KC: people who look like this would not be welcome on the set of Godiva's.

Yeah it's always Tranna or Tronno for me, never with the 1st "o" or the 2nd "t". And never, ever do I pronounce it "the Big Smoke".

I must say that when I first saw Molto, I had a hard time with Mario and his Mario-isms. However, ever since he's been on ICA my respect for him has grown immensely. He consistently outperforms Flay (why is that guy an Iron Chef again?) in both aesthetics and creativity, and he comes across as humble. Now when I watch Molto, the Mario-isms actually cause a chuckle.

Your cheque is in the mail, ha ha. PS - speaking of CSI, there was an episode where an exec chef was chopped up by his sous in the kitchen after the hostess killed him in a jealous rage. Bet you'd like that one.

Don't have the insider angle so I can't be totally sure about the realism, but I'm pretty sure. Irishgirl - yes the plate sabotage scene was terrible! Andrew you mentioned the entertainment factor, which I agree often precludes realism for profession-based fictional shows (eg CSI). But I felt it kind of struck out there too. The kid selling pot storyline - tacked on garbage, possibly some writer's lame homage to BC?! Even the Wreck Beach scene was disappointing . It sort of felt like the writers went to waiterblog, copied and pasted all the lexicon, and poked in the occasional noun or verb to complete the sentences. Normally I'd be glad to see another show based in our town, but in this case I actually wish it was taking place somewhere else. Kind of embarassing.

I found this thread in the "archives" ie last month and wanted add my thoughts. A little background: I used to LOVE the RAT, where many many Friday or Saturday evenings were pissed away. Someone mentioned the bar downstairs of the Georgia too, I think you're talking about the Cameleon - another favourite from back in the day... almost got arrested after a night there... memories. And Luvafair, where I shared the first slow dance with the girl I would eventually marry - to Smells Like Teen Spirit. Although I've slowed down in my old age, here are the places I like, for the atmosphere moreso that the food - or price of drinks for that matter. Frog & Firkin on Broadway - had some good nights there, including the night Brazil knocked the Brits outta the World Cup. I think Saturdays they have double highballs on for $5. Including Crown! Granville Room - a little more yuppie because of its location but lots happening and a good place to people-watch. And I believe they have Smithwicks on tap - very good thing. Doolin's - someone already mentioned it so I guess I'm seconding it. You meet the most interesting people in the smoke pit there. Of course for live venues The Commodore is still king.