PlanitV

Calling all early java junkies! Call Barbara jo at Books to Cooks to let them know you are coming to the Anthony Bourdain "The Nasty Bits" early morning book signing on Monday, June 12 - from 8 to 9 AM but store doors open at 7:30. 604 688.6755 so your coffee will be ready. No tickets, just an idea of how many to prep for.

The Quady Dessert Competition this year is being held once again at the North West Culinary Academy of Vancouver - thanks to them for hosting! As mentioned above, it's for all levels of chefs and cooks. This year we have changed the categories and instead of 1st, 2nd, etc. there will be gold, silver and bronze as well as 1st Place overall. This way recognition will be given to those presenting excellent desserts at each levels. The top 10 scores will have their desserts served at the Trade Day Luncheon at the Wine Festival - 510 industry guests, lots of exposure for those who make it to the top 10. First prize is a 4 day pack horse fly fishing trip to the High Sierra - all winners have loved it! Great time away from the kitchen. The competition is in it's 18th year and the quality of the desserts is astounding. So professional, tasty and beautiful. Entry forms are available at on the front page. Click the label of Essensia. Print and fax your entry in. Deadline Feb. 10th, 5pm. Photos are viewable there, too. Tell your fav pastry chef or cook to join in. I know that it's tight for time, but the feedback session with the judges afterward is great and competitors get to meet some of the other pastry cooks, too. There is limited viewing at NWCA for guests, but there is always a bit of room to squeeze in a few keeners. Let me know if you would like to come and we'll see what space there is. It will run 2 days - Saturday and Sunday, Feb 26/27, noon to 5ish.

You have to try Thomas Haas' in North Van. Liquid chocolate - delish!

A while ago (this month) we were at the Yellow House for dinner, but not for a real dinner. We went for a dinner of appetizers. You know, one of those "Let's just try the first part of the menu for a change - small plates dining". Well, the server, bless his soul, was right into it. We asked for a selection and let the kithchen decide on the choices. This is often a recipe for disaster at the end of the meal when the bill comes, but they were great. Not too expensive, just a little; very tasty bites, great service, a romantic and a very busy room that buzzed but didn't shout. We'll go back for the main courses another time and would recommend YH to anyone for good food, staff and ambiance.

This'll be the first Cornucopia that I will have missed since being involved in the organization of the very first one way back when. I must say that although my heart is still with the concept of a food and wine fest at Whistler, I agree with Jamie when he suggested a change of season. The Pemberton/Darcy growing season just begs for more visitors and the restaurants now closed for staff breaks before the REAL season starts at the resort would be open and pleased for guests who appreciate their efforts after a visit to a farm. Seems to me like Cornucopia is needing a bit of refresh. I still remember the mushroom seminar given by Richard (can't remember his last name - ex chef for Umberto) who made one pine mushroom flavour a soup for a room full of enthusiastic foragers all while instructing us on how to properly and sustainably harvest the noble local fungi. This kind of workshop is now being offered by the Slow Food folks, I assume. ...ahhh, now that was real food! that was a real seminar! and the wine was tasty, too. Looking forward to everyone's photos - except the chocolate dipped women if they are there this year. Wendy

Just back from a lovely dinner at Coast, another Yaletown spot with a good jolt of fries with almost every course. Yummy, crunchy and perfectly salted. What is it about Yaletown? Is there something in the water that makes good fries?

Just stumbled upon this thread and you've all just hit my soft spot. Ever since that year in France I have been searching for the best butter locally. Thanks for all the suggestions. I've tried the Dairyland and several others, but it's not right at all. I'll give Lactania a try again. It didn't work for me the last time I tried it. Cold, hard, salted, melt in your mouth and worth every penny if you can find it. Wedged onto a piece of bread...delicious. I'm heading out to Agassiz on your recommendations.

Well, tomorrow morning early we leave for this much discussed and planned trip. I can't wait for the break and am looking forward to many of your suggestions. With the latest from Syrah Girl and everyone else's posts the coast is looking pretty good and tasty at the moment. Can't bloody well wait! Maybe we'll see you all in a little spot en route licking our chops. See you there and will report back next week.

I should have started a new thread since we have decided to head to the Oregon coast by heading east from Olympia. Are there any great places to eat/stay from Olympia to Aberdeen to Long Beach to Astoria? Then we'll hit the Oregon coast with everyone's suggestions from there.

Cardamom bread reminds me of a Danish roommate I had years ago. Her mom used to make the best cookies and desserts at Christmastime. A couple of the recipes came my way and Liz baked like a fiend. The house indeed did smell wonderful. I will have to dig those recipes out and try them again. In the meantime, I will definitely go to Haslo, along with everyone else it seems. Ahh, the Danes, the Swedes. Thank you!

OK, so now we've looked at the map and decided to head west from Olympia and drive the southern part of the Washington coast from Aberdeen, Long Beach, Ilwaco to Astoria. We'll hit the Oregon coast on down from there and take notes for everyone. Any suggestions for good spots to stay/eat en route?

We now have plenty to keep us busy eating and drinking for our 10 day holiday. I will post our reports for future travellers when we get back. Tonight we are just finalizing our overnight plans (and Manzanita looks like an absolute MUST!) We will stay at reasonable places, with Stephanie Inn the fanciest. Between the coast and the wine country we will have a fabulous time and thanks to all who have pumped up their favs and been honest with their rejects. We will run out of time to go all the way south as originally planned. There's always a next time. Ta much, Wendy

We were the lucky giftees of a Weber smoker last summer, which I see in the photo of that fabulous post. I have never thought of smoking tomatoes, but will soon. We had a feast of pork - ribs, short ribs and country ribs yesterday while experimenting with marinade/no marinade. So delicious then and delicious again as leftovers at lunch today. Pumpkin the cat loved bits and bites, too. Yeah, Weber!

Love that smoked oysters and martini idea! I can almost taste them now. I am taking notes like mad and will try to hit all the highlights. Everyone has a story it seems. I may need a serious cleanse afterwards, but it'll be worth it. A little game of golf is also in the works, it seems. We do golf from time to time and although I wanted a drive/eat/read/drink/do nothing holiday, a little golf will snag us en route. Thanks for the note about Bend. I haven't been there for years, but loved the high grassland drive. Didn't know anything about restaurants there then and am glad I do now.

Thanks all. I will add your notes to my itinerary and try to hit as many as we can. Sounds like there's many little hidden gems on the coast (and en route). I think after the Stephanie Inn, we'll head south and even make it to Bend - the circle tour - down to the Rogue and up the middle so there will be lots to explore. Wendy

My sweetie and I are heading to Portland and the Oregon Coast the first week of August. We were there last year and did a one day drive to the coast from Portland. We promised ourselves that we'd come back this year with more time. We have booked into the Stephannie Inn, but I'm wondering what we shouldn't miss in the way of food, wine, stuff to do. Any suggestions out there?

That's great! Glad to hear that there is another crazy person trying to get the word out about our town's eateries. We seriously need more regular voices out there. Congratulations, look forward to it!

Quite right, ZM, we had a wonderful evening at Aurora. Great food and wonderful ambiance and a good chat with Curtis and Jeff. Thanks Daddy-A for the directions to this thread.

Anyone eaten at Aurora Bistro recently? We have a night out and would like to go somewhere we haven't been to yet.

I love Les Amis and Allison and Alice, but I live on the North Shore and when I don't want to hit the bridge, I head for C The Cheese Shop in Park Royal South, just up from Whole Foods. The price is better, the selection just right. The owner (can't remember his name, sorry) said that the same truck drops off cheese first at his place, then heads for WF. Same cheese, waaay different prices. Plus you get to support the small biz guy. The best place for Reggiano is Bosa's, I think, though I'd like to hear if there's a better place pricewise and I agree that plastic becomes the dominant flavour in Costco's version.

EAT is showing it's strength with great articles, provincial coverage (well, the bigger bits), lots of content (you've gotta laugh at the mag that has the courage to include an article of ways not to use a napkin! - with photos). Good stuff for all.

Me too. And that was my point. Our fair city has an amazing group of folks in the sweet kitchen that we don't ever hear about except through this kind of forum. What do you all think about how to better get the word out? I'll be sending a little survey all 25 who entered Quady, to see what they think. They all loved getting together. They don't have an opportunity to get together except through the odd drinks at the bar, but for the most part it's the exec chef/owner who gets the press, even though we all love desserts too and it's a shame that the 'dessert restaurants' become the standard for the average dessert-a-holic. There's way better out there! W. And by the way, the North West Culinary Academy was an excellent venue.

Oh dear, nom de plume blown. Thanks for the repair. I'm just new at this and will have to get a handle on all the little tricks. Thomas H. was there all right, but as competitor coordinator and didn't judge. He's been a keen supporter for the past few years and it's great to have him in the kitchen assisting with the competitors. He really understands things, keeps things light and professional to boot. And as for the desserts, I can't tell you how impressed everyone was with the quality. Good stuff. W.

Here's more for the aching sweet teeth in this city...and a followup for the Wine Fest. This year there were 25 entries in the Quady Dessert Competition - the most ever and a testament to the creative pastry chefs and cooks working quietly in their corners. Glad to see the photos on this thread, and for all the drooling chocoholics in the room, have a look at the finalists of that competition. The neatest thing was that it was an all in one competition - students, pastry chefs and cooks did their best. Vancouver is just about to burst with the goodies these guys prepared. Have a peek...and the winner was... Fumiko Moreton, Terminal City Club - who'da thought...? Chef David Long did! quady photos