kontemporary

Anyone remembering last year's Vancouver Magazine article covering the restaurant awards should recall the side story about such establishments. Sadly of course, no specifics.

Laughing Stock Portfolio? I like that a lot. I believe they have it on the wine list at Aurora Bistro. (The line-up of food sounds soooo good! Especially the pig...and the gravy...oh man.) ← They were also chosen to be one of the wines presented at the James Beard Foundation by the TopTable group. Their first release - the 2003 portfolio - being a successful vintage can only give us a glimpse of the things to come

I'd say Wabi Sabi. Excellent quality in quite a neat little neighbourhood spot. Sometimes "fancy" and "good quality" tend to go hand in hand, but I think Wabi Sabi hits all the right marks.

On the bright side, now we know that all types of people can be lurking on eGullet

The only thing a reader's choice awards says is probably popularity - and not just general popularity, but popularity from the readers of the Georgia Straight, in this case. I found the more interesting of the awards to be the critics' choice. Year after year (though it wasn't as bad as last year) readers have shown us a sense of conveyed ignorance in the rankings. (How does Lumière winning best restaurant match with McDonalds winning best fries? the logic escapes me.) The critics sort of bring the issue to a steadfast balance. This year they divided the critics' choice into Vancouver areas. Surprisingly, the winner of the West End/Downtown/Yaletown section was Blue Water Café. Don't get me wrong and all, Blue Water of course is a great restaurant.. but I have found it not to be able to match up to the consistancy and rigours of restaurants such as Le Crocodile or Parkside (2nd and 3rd, respectively). Surprisingly, Cioppino's or CinCin (they did get lots of wine recognitions this year) didn't make the list either. Congrats on kurtis and chef jeff for winning best of the east side, topping over Habit and Sun Sui Wah. I couldn't think of any other place on the east side to give mighty competition here (unless the PearTree counted) My favourite section was their picks on Best of the West Coast. It was C, Go Fish!, and The Galley Bar and Grill - definitely agreeable.

If you're looking for something unique to Vancouver, perhaps try Wild Rice - it's close to GM place too. Chambar is also a very nice place with excellent Belgian food - go for the moules frites.

The shortly lived vietnamese restaurant (the name escapes me - BC restaurant?) which took over The Green Olive Café which took over a Portuguese restarant (Caravella?) is now taken over by the The Monkey Restaurant and Lounge. Could it be the reincarnation of the Brass Monkey that was taken over by Central on Denman?

I think the attitude from these two last sentences sum up the review rather accurately.

[un]fortunately I will not be able to make my reservation at RARE One for the opening night because I'll be up at Whistler with some friends. I've cancelled so my opentable reservation, so if anyone's interested, quickly get it! EDIT: Yes I meant unfortunately

Good. I can wipe away my tears now! Thank you so much. I'm taking the shortribs out of the freezer as we speak. I have one question about the recipe, how many shortribs are you using? And at the end of the recipe you say,"the important thing to remember is that the rootbeer doesn't get too sweet." What if it does? ← I'm thinking, (and most likely I'm off base), but perhaps it is an encouragement, that root beer is a good choice for not being too sweet, rather than using coca cola in a braising or slow cook recipe? ← Wouldn't the sugar from the root beer help caramelize? But I'm imagining the root beer not to be a bottled commercial soft drink..

haha i was pretty sure there were other times taken off when making my reservation - so don't be so sure I was the only egulleter. it just happens to be that my opentable and egullet usernames are the same EDIT: and the pre-opening dinner looks enticing as well. i'll see how things work out as things are a bit tentative for me

I think it'd probably be even more memorable for those visiting Vancouver and experiencing what our dining scene is like. I don't know what Tourism Vancouver is getting on at, but if I was a tourist in Vancouver during DOV, I would think that Vancouver has a poorly-mannered, poorly-dressed, and poorly-serviced dining culture. After all, you are as good as your first impression, as restaurants often use to justify maintaining standards during the two weeks; but what are the impressions for visiting tourists during DOV? No matter what way you put it, there will always be the coupon clippers and deal shoppers around. It's hard not to be judgmental, but on the topic of food, it seems to be perhaps offensive that some people are more keen on discounting rather than enjoying a meal. And I find word-of-mouth spreads extremely fast, in a city of 2.5 mil (Cloutier rumours, anyone?). I believe the best way to get the most out of DOV is to be clear to customers, without being offensive or judgmental, on what the guideline ares. Are there set times for seatings, other menus offered, etc? Some people are easily offended and sensitive to the slightest 'judgements', so it is on the restaurant's behalf to ensure that there is no miscommunication or harm in doing so. The problem is that it won't do anything about customers whose mantra is 26.75.

For you Godiva fans out there, season two starts on Valentine's day. Urban Rush also had a special on the show today, with Chef Robert Clark making an appearance. I'm looking forward to it

Just a quick note on this. Most restaurants do about a 20 to 30 % mix on desserts, meaning, 2 to three people in ten order dessert. DOV is 100 % dessert mix ! We needed to get the order right out of the gate so desserts would be ready ! Restaurant do not normally do that many desserts - it is dessert madness ! ← Wow, only 20-30%? I find that very surprising, as dessert tends to be usually the highlight for many people at meals!

Didn't I just say that? ← haha I must apologise, I admit to not reading the latest posts before I made mine. sorry about that

On my way to stellas for brunch, i noticed that red burrito was open ! couldn't see the people assembling the burritoes though

I would think you'd be feeling sympathetic for your mother !! I'm going to DIVA tonight, and a relative is treating. Score !

I am getting kinda tired of tuna. Every place has the obligatory ahi tuna dish. I am sure there are one or two other fish in the sea besides tuna and salmon, no? Thats why I like going to the Sandbar. ← You should try the Cannery too; and of course, there's always Joe Fortes. I remember having an excellent ahi tuna dish (3 ways) at bin941 last summer. Their menus change often, so I'm not sure if it's still there.

I thought the tasting bar was 35?

I was just wondering, why isn't yuzu grown here? I think there is an unsatisified market niche for this citrus fruit..

Hi, Thanks for the concern - but no, I wasn't. Not a thing. ← .. are you serious ?! you seem to have taken it extremely positive though; i know that given i was in that circumstance, my review would have not been so glamourous. even though the food was great. did the man with the leather jacket not complain either? i think that the lack of reconciliation, given accidents like these, show a bad part on the service at Bistro Pastis. I'm glad however, that you enjoyed your meal. I have been to Bistro Pastis (not during DOV) before, and had no complaints about my last meal. Very simple, hearty french fare.

A new "natural food store" is opening on Commercial Drive called Quiddity, on the other end of the block from Prado Cafe.

There's a "Pie by Night" opening/opened? on Granville a couple doors down from Sip. There's also jimmy's (hope i got the name right) opening next to the Voda nightclub underneath Aria part of the Westin Grand. Wine bar attached, casual fare.

Quotring a blog entry: "CBC Radio announced as their headlining story at 10 am today that anyone who ate at The Foundation Lounge/Restaurant on Main and 7th on January 7th, 8th, 9th or 14th needs to get a Hepatitis A vaccine and immune globulin ASAP. One of their employees has Hep A and you need to especially seek treatment if you had raw fruits or vegetables, salad or hummus on those nights. Disease Control is offering free Hep A vaccines today at the Ravensong Community Health Clinic at 8th and Ontario today from 2 - 4 pm."

Is that economically feasible for Savoury Coast? I'd imagine everyone just ordering lobster..