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brokentelephone

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Posts posted by brokentelephone

  1. The same management team runs Schezawn restaurant on Saba road - but the food is very very different. Bing Sheng is a famous restaurant in Guandong - and the manager was talking to us about what they could recreate here vs what they serve in China - but it may be a bit of name borrowing.

    I went tonight and the food was outstanding. The farmhouse rustic dishes are very different from most other HK influenced Cantonese restaurants in Vancouver.  The place is packed most nights  - I think they are the best Eastside Chinese restaurant right now.

    I went to Bing Sheng a few nights ago. We ordered a tofu & mushrooms dish, beef with ginger in a clay dish, and a fried noodles dish -- only the tofu was good. Perhaps I didn't order correctly, but I was very disappointed, as were my Shanghainese friends!

  2. I went to Franco Manca a few weeks back with my girlfriend. The place was jammed, and we waited probably 40 minutes for a table. We each ordered a pizza margarita -- my girlfriend loved hers and mine was borderline awful.

    Somehow, my pizza was totally underdone -- the base was soggy, and the crust heavy. Hers was somewhat less-so, though I didn't particularly enjoy hers either. I bet it must've just been a bad batch, and am willing to give another try, or maybe I just don't enjoy authentic pizza?

  3. The Bombay Brasserie lunch buffet is very suitable for the elderly, I find.

    It's bog standard Indian in a dated setting, though.

    I thought they were doing it up? Biggest PITA is the way they play on all the zelebs turning up there. Unfortunately it's true. Woody Allen was there last time I went for Sunday Lunch with his nanny or wife or daughter or something.

    H

    You mean the Bombay Brasserie in South Kensington? Why on earth would any celeb go there ? The place is ghastly !!!! I live 2 minutes away, and ate there once -- Masala Zone food at Cinnamon Club prices. I do wonder what the refurbishment will entail.

    I happened to park up by there on Saturday on my way to Waitrose, and it's still well and truly under rennovation. I'm surprised you didn't realise it's a zeleb joint - they really play on it.

    Historcally, I actually liked it. I believe my tastes may have changed since then though...

    H

    I take the tube at Gloucester Road station everyday, and the elevator had an advertisement for the nearby "Light of India" which boasts of it's recommendation by the "American Airlines crew, circa 2003." I always have a good laugh when I read it -- though I haven't seen many stewardesses around, unfortunately.

  4. The Bombay Brasserie lunch buffet is very suitable for the elderly, I find.

    It's bog standard Indian in a dated setting, though.

    I thought they were doing it up? Biggest PITA is the way they play on all the zelebs turning up there. Unfortunately it's true. Woody Allen was there last time I went for Sunday Lunch with his nanny or wife or daughter or something.

    H

    You mean the Bombay Brasserie in South Kensington? Why on earth would any celeb go there ? The place is ghastly !!!! I live 2 minutes away, and ate there once -- Masala Zone food at Cinnamon Club prices. I do wonder what the refurbishment will entail.

  5. Metro is great.

    Lift - great views and ambience, middling food.

    Parkside - great food, and a super nice patio and room.  V. Romantic. But it means heading into the West End - not far at all really.

    I like Il Giardino, especially for a special occasion, more than Villa Del Lupo. The latter is a bit quiet, which might be more romantic, but might also be a bit boring.

  6. I went through a phase where I ate at Saveur fairly often, though eventually I got bored of simply eating without atmosphere. The place really needs a freshening up -- its not overly cheap but looks the part.

  7. There is a great french place near my house in South Kensington that does a terrific Steak Frites dinner special. Everything else on the menu is quite expensive, but the special is around 11 or 12 pounds, and includes a starter!

    Its called La Bouche and its on Brompton Road, near the S. Ken tube!

  8. I'll try to respond.  The link between Copenhagen and Vancouver is that Copenhagen is half the size of Vancouver but has some very, very fine, fine dining restaurants.  Streets above what I've experienced in Vancouver.  If Copenhagen can do it, there's no excuse for Vancouver not to do so.

    There are great local Chinese restaurants all over London, including the burbs.  Therefore, why not in West Vancouver?

    I'm sure there are some very fine Asian/Chinese restaurants here.  But no better than other cities such as London, San Fran, etc.

    My original post was about Fraiche and western fine dining in Vancouver.  The bar, unfortunately, just isn't high enough.  Size is not the issue re Copenhagen.  So what is?

    Interested to know of these 'great local Chinese restaurants all over London'. I've lived in London for 3 years, and have tried a myriad of Chinese places, and not a single one has matched average Richmond Chinese food.

  9. I've been twice and have been pretty disappointed both times, as have most of the people I've spoken to. A friend who owns a very famous Chinese restaurant in Seattle has been a number of times and have been similarly disappointed. That being said, it's cheap and passable.

    Give me Cafe TPT anytime -- more food and hardly more expensive. Plus, gruff service is strangely appropriate whilst eating HK style food.

  10. Unrelated somewhat to the topic, but was just at terminal 3 dropping off my girlfriend and the food there is absolutely dismal. Our last meal together for a few months was a very unsatisfying meal at Pret. The other options were Three Bells (some sort of horrific 'gastropub'), and Ponti's.

    Why are passengers at T5 given higher end options whilst other terminal passengers must eat drivel? I can only assume T5 restaurants are a form of appeasement for the invariable lost-baggage and headache!

  11. Bon Cafe on Main and 33rd is a hidden gem.  It's like the next place to go if Au Petit cafe is busy.  If you don't mind the really minimalistic interior (I sat at a set up picnic table) it's a place worth going.  I like the soup used because it's light and doesn't give you the odd after taste.  The  noodles are thinner than the usual type you find but generally it's pretty big portion.  The sandwiches are good too.

    And as an after (or during) meal treat, you can order bubble tea too.

    They serve pho? Isn't that place Cambodian? The sandwiches are ok, but I love the atmosphere mostly! All the temporary workers and local alcoholics gathering in the sunshine !

  12. Thanks a lot for the suggestions.  Found some interesting possibilities on those websites!

    Anyone else?

    Just to add, don't just reply to individual adverts online, make sure you register with all the major specialist chef agencies. In fact if possible, go in and see them face to face - most will have central London offices.

    You reacting to posted jobs is one thing but if the agencies actually have you on their books you'll be first in line should any opportunities arise before they even get advertised. A lot of chefs are poached/head-hunted this way.

    Good luck.

    Cheers

    Thom

    Sorry to be a total knob, but do you know of any specialist chef agencies off the top of your head? I am not from London originally, and am only familiar with high-street recruiters that I've walked by!

    Josh.

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