Zucchini Mama

Th Zucchini Family (including my parents and our seven-year-old son) is planning a short trip to Seattle/Bainbridge Island. We're thinking of staying on the Island and then popping into Seattle a couple of times during the second weekend in October. Is it fairly easy to pop back and forth on the ferry? Can anyone reccomend a good place to stay on Bainbridge? Mom and I are garden crazy, so that's the main reason we want to stay on the island. Our family is also crazy about Halloween, so we'll be looking for shops with funky decorations and costumes. Below is a list of some of the places we're thinking of getting. Our libraries are closed because of a city strike, so I don't have a guide to Seattle yet, but I was wondering if you could reccomend some good quality casual spots to eat or cool shops for us to check out around the places I've listed. I also love good junk shops. Many Thanks! Lori Seattle: Science Fiction Museum and Children's Museum Museum of Flight (for my dad) Ye Olde Curiosity Shop Flora and Fauna Books 3121 W. Government Way The Secret Garden Bookshop (Ballard) Bainbridge Island: farmer's market Kids Discovery Museum Mesozeo Gardens Bloedel Reserve Bainbridge Gardens

Well honey, if it was offered to me in an old shoe, I'd still probably have drunk it. It's that good.

I would like to echo Sushicat's comments. Chef Colleen's cooking is outstanding-- well-balanced and very grounded. We loved the chef's tasting menu too--every bite. The light was low for my SLR, but here's a picture of the foie gras terrine. (There's a big fat succulent cherry under the terrine.) Paired with the sauterne, it is divine.

Yes, I was wondering about this too. The Capers store on Camble will be so close in proximity to the Whole Foods store. Hopefully the conversations with Michael Pollen will help WF to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Michael Pollen.com

http://www.thebuglady.ca/buying.htm I wanted to put up this website as a source for the copper tape for slugs. I find I have to grow my plants in pots until they are fairly strong, then transplant them so the slugs don't get them. Apparently even old copper pennies in your garden give slugs little shocks. As for wood bugs, they usually just munch on decaying matter. I've never heard of them being a problem. I have gazillions of them in my garden and they never touch the healthy stuff. Also for gardening, check out a local blog called Heavy Petal. She's wonderful and has a good gardening blogroll. I have a nice crop of Cherokee Trail of Tears beans this year. They are a climbing black bean that you can eat green and young or eat them as a pot bean or dry them when they turn purple. I picked up the seeds at Seedy Saturday.

Walked past the old Tomato cafe on Cambie today and was thrilled to see it is to become a second Dadeo's Cajun and Creole Diner and Bar. Whoop! Ate at the location in Edmonton a couple of weeks ago--great calamari in a light, crispy batter and big fat juicy Po-boys. Yeehaw!!!!!

OMG! Thank you for that! I love that watermelon candy dish cookie! I'll be beating a path to their door asap - where on Cambie? Do they have a storefront? The mailing address is off Kingsway. Thanks. ← 3357 Cambie, just south of the former Tomato.

There's a new artisan cake place on Cambie called "Kreation." (604) 871-9119 www.kreationartisancake.com

We passed through Sechelt a couple of years ago and enjoyed the funky Wheatberries Bakery. There are some great bookshops in that town too. Best thing to do is buy seafood off the boats and cook it on the beach, especially if you're up there in spot prawn season. There's a little café in Robert's Creek--The Gumboot Café. I've never been, but it might be fun to check out.

sheo, do you happen to know the name of that deli? Sounds good. I headed to the Good Friday bake sale at the Ukrainian church on 10th near Main. It was a perogie stampede! I managed to score one bag of perogies, some kiebasa, cabbage rolls and two kinds of Easter bread. Most things were gone in ten minutes. Oyama on Granville Island sells good saurkraut. It's actually quite easy to make yourself, too.

Thanks all you seasoned travellers for the great advice! I will be sure he packs containers for macarons and eclairs. Never heard of vin jaune--I'll tell him to keep an eye out for it. I love the idea of getting him to wrap everything in French table linens--smart. I suppose someone's designed the ultimate suitcase for carrying wine (or olive oil). I'll get him to ask at the wine stores how they're packing bottles to take in cargo. Sigh, wish I could go. Next time.

Hi folks, My husband is going to Paris next week for work on MY birthday! He must be punished by being forced to lug big suitcases of gifts back for me. Where do you suggest he goes to shop? Too bad he can't bring back wine because of the current regs., but there will be chocolate, yes lots of chocolate. He's staying in the 6th, nerar the Pomipidou--I have put chococlates from Hermé and Sadaharu Aoki on his list as well as Sauterne-soaked chocolate-covered raisins from Da Rosa. Any other suggestions? Also, some good places to eat in the neighborhood within the cheap-to moderate range would much appreciated. Mercy Buckets, (as we say here in Vancouver).

You can have a breakfast kolachy at the Kolachy Shop! If you love coffee also Café Artigiano--that must be quite close. You must walk up to Sen5es for chocolates and there's Diva at the Met, too.

Since Rare was at the top of Ms. Stainsby's list, I knew she must be a woman of good taste. On the basis of that hunch I went for lunch at Figmint a couple of times and loved it. I've sampled the smoked trout salad, cormeal crusted calamari, and the chicken snitzel. I found the dishes inventive, witty and full of flavour. The chocolate tasting for dessert is incredible: white pot du creme, chocolate fig cake, and a tiny cup of unbelievably creamy spicy hot chocolate with a homemade marshmallow. The first day I visited Figmint, the waitress (tall and blonde) was the best I've ever had in the city. Her attention to detail was fascinating. I will definitely be working my way through the lunch menu over the next few months. Top marks for value, presentation and service.

I don't find myself quoting Jesus very often these days, but since it's almost his birthday... "... neither cast ye your [Rare] pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”

Yay Matt, we need to plant urban food gardens. Everywhere I see a vacant lot I imagine a vegetable garden, but alas, the developer's permits grow faster than radishes. Here is an encapsulated blurb on the Formosa Farm problem from the Farm Folk City Folk -newsletter. Let's help this organic farmer stay in business! "Formosa Nursery (12617-203rd St. Pitt Meadows) an Organic blueberry farm and nursery in Pitt Meadows will be dissected by the Abernathy Connector of the future Golden Ears Bridge (part of the Gateway Project), making farming difficult and dumping tons of automobile-related pollutants onto this certified organic farm. Supporters are showing support for preserving Formosa Nursery by moving the Abernathy Connector to the south boundary of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge at 126th Avenue right of way, where it was originally drawn. You can write in support of protecting this farm: TransLink Board gvtaboard@translink.bc.ca or Premier Gordon Campbell gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca For more information contact Donna Passmore, Transportation-Agriculture Campaigner Fraser Valley Conservation Coalition 604-536-2790 / 631-6210 Background: http://www.mrtimes.com/issues06/094206/new...9nn8.html"

Leeks, all kinds of winter squash, pumpkins, wild mushrooms, sage, fall wildflower honey, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, apples up the yin yang, freshly ground grains from the stone mill in Keremeos, and I'm sure Huntin' Season is open for wild fowl. It is in Saskatchewan, so wear your orange t-shirt, just in case!

The Green Room on Main has become a pet boutique, serving gourmet dog food and such. What's next? Will C become C.A.T., serving abalone kitty treats? Will The Fish Café become the Fish Fud Café?

But Memo, for a real treat you should see the supersized sushi we've been importing from Spain. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/08/13/...ain306253.shtml

http://www.picachef.com/dine/restaurant_2.html In that case I'd reccomend PICA.

For those of you who love jalapeno peppers, UBC farm is having a special tomorrow (the market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as posted by Amy Frye in the Market e-letter: "This week, our cool weather crops start to comeback - pac choi this week, and spinach and peas coming soon. We're bringing in some BC grapes for tomorrow, as well as butternut squash. Also this week: market special on jalapenos - 85 cents a pound! We have some great looking jalapenos at an incredible price, so plan to make some jalepeno jelly, jalapeno relish or jalepeno poppers! (recipes available at market). The forecast for tomorrow looks good, so come enjoy the crisp fall weather and yummy UBC Farm produce!" Also, there is a fundraiser for the farm coming up soon: "The fourth annual Farmade is happening next Friday, Sept 22nd from 3:00 - 7:00 pm at the farm. Featuring music (local bands), BBQ, farm tours, beer garden, kids area and facepainting. Free admission, all ages welcome, free shuttle transportation available. And, the University Neighborhood Association will have an information table if you're interested in learning more about their proposal for a community garden at the UBC Farm. For more information about shuttle routes, visit www.ams.ubc.ca/farmade"

Have you thought of Trafalger's? For sheer variety of good quality desserts, it would be good for a birthday dinner. I like the lemon mousse cake and the seasonal fruit tarts.

Funny that Tomato hasn't been discussed much on these boards. I used to live a couple of blocks from there, but I found it to be overpriced, overhyped, and usually overcooked. If they buy so much organic produce, it's a shame they don't take more care with the food. I have heard from friends that they have had more luck at dinner than I have had at lunchtime. I stopped going a few years ago.

Hi espressobsessed, and welcome! I just used my vintage Nikon with its regular lens. I'm intrigued by your allusion to punk rock touches--do tell! Oh, and ask Dan about where he gets his beef. I had an "AAAA" grade steak at La Bodega in Regina, which was very nice. When I told Dan about it he rolls his eyes and says something about that's not what it's supposed to be called. Ha! I'd never seen that many A's beside a menu item! Keep on "espressing" yourself, we need more reports from the prairies.

We are fans of Rekados as well-a solid neighborhood joint, very child-friendly. I had a good lunch with my son at Crave the other day. We split an order of the beer batter fish and chips. The batter tasted like my mom's--it had the real bitterness of the hops in it. The addictive creamy tartar sauce was full of capers and pickles, and most of the fries were good--golden brown and well-seasoned. I had a glass of their unsweetened iced tea. Service was friendly and prompt and they have finally turned down their music! Thank you!