Memo

One of the best-kept secrets of a Victoria Summer is - in my opinion - lunch on the patio at Deep Cove Chalet. Outdoor dining at its best! The garden setting on the water is so peaceful. And the food - country French - is rich and satisfying. Try to fit in a visit prior to your 1 night in Victoria - or the morning after. We went for Saturday lunch - country pate, escargots, local rabbit with prunes, veal kidneys in cream sauce... followed by tarte tatin and Pierre's "light" souffle (made to order) with Grand Marnier sauce. WOW!

Fire and Water not only has great food - but an excellent bartender (by the name of Jaymes?).

J&J is a great place! Chef Joseph Wong makes all his own noodles in-house. In future, I recommend you order "General Chau's Chicken" - sauteed chicken pieces coated in a dark, molasses-like caramelized-sugar/soy coating. His flash-fried long green beans are exceptional, too - with their blistered skin, topped with crispy garlic slices.

Sadly, for Victoria, Marnie is leaving Brasserie "l'ecole". The good news, for Vancouver, is she's moving to Vancouver. I believe she'll be working at one of the "Grills" - either RainCity or HamiltonStreet?

This week had a high and a low. First, the low: Little Vienna's Double Chocolate Croissant has gone down-the-hill, so to speak. Flat, flakeless (almost bun-like) pastry. The high: Tim Horton's new Chocolate Danish is - to quote my friend Manny Gluck, visiting from Chicago - "new hope for fast food". Its pastry/crust is very croissant like - with good chocolate filling, but looks somewhat like a rectangular danish with a lattice top. A nice surprise. Here's a photo I took of it - straight from the bag.

I agree - Cafe Brio

Unfortunately, junk is the funk. Some friends had a student visiting from Madrid last summer. He so liked Kraft Dinner that he took home - in his luggage - 144 packages.

Had a revelatory raw-oyster experience last week - at Victoria's recently-opened Rosemeade Dining Room. Chef Richard Luttman served Cortes Island oysters under a champagne & shiso ice (a most fragrant, subtly-sweet granita). Wow!

Chef Garrett Schack at the Temple restaurant, in Victoria, does a local Organic Arugula Salad - with blue cheese, apples & candied walnuts. My current favorite.

Aurora Bistro - to me it is the epitomy of a modern "Canadian-proud" restaurant. I sure hope Chef Jeff re-introduces the root-beer-braised short ribs!

Ferris' Oyster Bar in Victoria - packs a punch. Generous flavors - coupled with ample portions (their side dishes - salads and fries - are huge) make for fantastic value. It's the type of bohemian place I prefer to visit at night (it's a bit morning-after-the-party looking by day).

As far as Mexican reds, from the Baja - LA Cetto's Petite Syrah pairs well with the Mole Negro de Oaxaca. In the past, I've enjoyed the Tempranillo from Santo Tomas with many Oaxacan dishes.

Hugh - once Moss Street Market starts up - talk with the women from Umi Nami Farm (they usually position themselves closest to the corner of Moss & Fairfield). They grow shiso - and can likely supply you with a healthy plant.

Sadly, the choices are slim in Victoria. The best sushi is found in private homes. As an aside, one of the lacklustre restaurant reviewers for the Victoria News [i say lacklustre, because she once remarked - "The lettuce was crisp, and the butter soft."] goes by the name of Sue Shee. Ebizo gets the most popular raves. I personally find their pieces too precious (small). My favorite haunt - Sen Zushi - has changed ownership. I don't recommend a sushi visit.

I realize this is about Vancouver sources, but - if you're ever on route to Sooke Harbour House, check out the excellent pain-au-chocolat @ Little Vienna Bakery. (They call it a "double chocolate croissant".) The bakery is one or two blocks past the main downtown-Sooke intersection light, on the right-hand side.

1. Oyster Po'Boy @ Go Fish - good balance of goo, sauce & bun 2. Venison tartar @ Chambar - incredibly fresh with crisp minced white onion - a delight. NB - absolute best service experience in ages - by bartender Josh (intuitive, with no "attitude", and right on top of everything) 3. Arugula salad @ Temple (Victoria) - fresh island greens with blue cheese, crisp apple and a sweet-smart dressing

Bistro Taiyo is at 321 Wesley Street (No.2) - about two doors up from the Wesley Street Cafe - and almost across the street from Eric McLean's (cheese, cheese and still more cheese) Specialty Foods at 426 Fitzwilliam Street.

The hole-in-the-wall in Dragon Alley is called Cucina (or Pomodori Cucina) - and the chef/owner is Mirjana Vukman. I've always been on the good side of her - but she can really do a Marco-Pierre-White on people she takes a disliking to. Go there to be entertained - and also for her wonderfully-inspired food. Cucina is only open during the day - and closed Sundays. No telephone, either! Foie, her chocolate pate is the dessert you described.

I generally don't do dessert after a meal - except for Pierre's made-to-order Grand Marnier souffle. Exceptional! Follow up your al-fresco lunch at Deep Cove Chalet - with a little walk across the road to the Chalet Estate Winery - only to try their Ortega (avoid the reds)! A perfect summer white. They have nothing in stock - but should be releasing the latest batch any day now! Cafe Brio has the Chalet Estate Ortega on their wine list. As a footnote - I think the Ortega varietal is what Vancouver Island is going to become renowned for.

I'd like to hear about favorite oysters-on-the-halfshell haunts in Vancouver and Victoria. I particularly enjoy a good mignonette accompaniment - not salsas or thick sauces - to complement the oyster's brine. On Vancouver Island, where I live, my three faves are: Brasserie L'ecole (try the Effinghams), Fire & Water at the Marriott, and - surprisingly - the Irish Times Pub on Government St. (their mignonette incorporates Guinness).

Daidoco, in Victoria, uses traditional-Japanese organic greens from Umi Nami Farm in Metchosin. (I believe Umi Nami also supplies Tojo's in Vancouver.)

Two of 2005: - Veal Cheeks @ Victoria's Brasserie L'ecole - Beef Tongue @ Happa Izakaya