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First off I have to mention that we didn't actually have the dineout menu because due to a hypothermic incident earlier in the day I was simply not hungry (which really is unheard of). We arrived a bit early for our reso, sat down at the bar with our friends and had a beer. I was wondering if my Guiness was "stamped". My Guiness expert friend told me it "must be". Regardless it's Guiness and I'm generally pretty happy drinking it stamped, tap-decorated, or poured direct from the tap to my mouth. We were seated around 15 minutes to 20 minutes after our reso time but no big deal since most of the group hadn't shown up yet. We sat and ordered some cocktails, the waitress was very attentive. I wanted to express my deepest empathy for the restauranteurs - four of our party did not show. It was a surprise birthday party for my friend and his wife organized it. Two couples simply didnt show. This, I find highly unnacceptable as it is both annoying for the staff and shows lack of respect for the birthday boy. But anyways that's not why I'm writing this. I will admit right now that I've never been a big fan of Joe Fortes. I found the food was average and expensive before. This time around I want to say - my opinion has dramatically changed. Dramatically. I ordered the double pork chop (recall that I wasn't hungry? so yeah ONLY a double pork chop). Sandy ordered a plate of stella bay oysters and the calamari. All the other guests ordered from the dineout menu. The oysters. Stella bay must be like the ocean equivalent of MSG. Absolutely delicious. Every bite, every ocean-flashback salt-of-the-sea sweet morself was mind blowing. The fresh horse radish coctail sauce - bang on. Kudos. The pork chop. Well I will admit that I think it had gotten smaller from the first time I ordered it many many years ago, BUT perfect for my appetite and really delicious. The meat was tender, the thinly sliced fruit was complimentary and the au jus just the right "sexy' consistency and bang on flavour. I have to admit the dineout menu'ers were eyeing my plate. The Calamari - wow. This is a plate that arrived and I was staring at it. It just LOOKED SO GOOD. I immediately attacked it while Sandy looked at me in shock - stop eating my damn food you tard, you have double pork chop in front of you! The dipping sauce...I could butter my toast with that stuff. Yum! Funny, dineout - even though we didn't even order from the dineout menu has put Joe Fortes back on the list of restaurantes I will go to again and again. Good work guys/gals!

Herald Street? Wow I am really surprised they are closed. Perhaps there is a logical explanation?

^ Corollary If you had vaccinations withing 5 years you are probably fine but you might want to call them to make sure. In case people don't know TwinRix is a HepA/B vaccination. Many people get it for travelling so you might already have it.

I just saw on the news that the Foundation had a Hep A incident recently! One of the handlers was infected and they (responsibally) had everyone who ate there go in for vaccinations. This must be tough on the industry as you can't really guarantee protection from incidents like these can you?

You know....PB cookies are my favorite! My cookie recipe was given to me by a college roomate who's expertise was beer. No there's no beer in the cookies but I can't really say it's the best recipe for PB cookies. Come to think of it I have no other recipes for my favorite cookie.

Found out the place that is replacing the Fogg 'n Suds on Lougheed highway is called Soho Bar and Grill they even have a site: [LINK] Amazing it is actually the second restaurant linking burnaby with the one downtown. Here's the blurb: THE SOHO BAR AND GRILL, A TRULY UNIQUE ESTABLISHMENT LOCATED NEAR ENGLISH BAY . A COMFORTABLE PLACE WITH AN ENGLISH/IRISH ATMOSPHERE. CHEAP EATS AND WITH ALL PINTS AT $3.75 (INCLUDING GUINNESS) YOU CAN’T GO WRONG. THERE ARE 18 DIFFERENT DRAFTS AVAILABLE ON TAP ALONG WITH $3.75 HI BALLS. IT’S A HOMEY BAR THAT CATERS TO A CASUAL CROWD, BUT DON’T BE SURPRISED IF YOU RUB SHOULDERS WITH MEMBERS OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS OR FAMOUS CELEBS. THE PLACE ISN’T THAT DIFFICULT TO FIND, JUST LOOK FOR THE DIFFERENT FLAGS ON TOP, OR THE BRIGHT TIKI TORCHES ON THE PATIO. IF YOU ARE INTO SPORTS THEN THIS IS YOUR HOME, FROM HOCKEY, SOCCER, RUGBY (ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIAN), AND ALL YOUR OTHER PAY- PER VIEW EVENTS. ALSO AVAILABLE IS OUR VERY PRIVATE VIP ROOM WITH SEATING FOR 24, WITH FIREPLACE, 4 TV’S AND A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF ENGLISH BAY . THE SOHO BAR AND GRILL AT THE TAIL END OF DAVIE ST, AND ONLY STEPS AWAY FROM ENGLISH BAY.

I heard about Whole Foods or some kind of market going in somewhere around the fairview slopes but I didn't realize they were going to drop it in that spot. Wow. A Whole Foods at that location would be so wonderful for my taste buds yet so evil for my wallet Did anyone catch the name of the place that is replacing Fog 'n Suds along lougheed highway? I rode past it but didn't quite remember the name. Some kinda grill.

8 for me. I have never heard of some of these! Dang! Better start googling them. I've only been dissapointed once at Cannery. I find the food there is really consistently good although I will say that I've been getting a little tired of being told that their oil is infused with lobster Rangoli's isn't on that list? I guess it's too well linked with Vij's

^ I read a review of Aurora Bistro and Habit in the Westender (I think) and it basically defined west coast Canadian cuisine as what's on Aurora's Menu. Not sure if Kurtis and Jeff agree. What is west coast? Must it involve seafood? How far east do you go from here before you stop calling it west coast?

Oh you are forgetting the secret to having your cake and eating it too...pants with elastics (I dub them 'fat' pants). Medical scrubs are excellent substitutes. Then you can have it all!

^ Lots of pictures and make sure to the kitchen volunteers (helpers) for ingredients if you can't find them - chances are they have it and they will bring it out!

Yogi's was my favorite restaurant to dine at regularily when I was living on Commercial. Now on main, there is Foundation and of course the well known Bo Kong . Anyone know if Wink is veggie as well?

They are tearing down the "Crossroads" on Cambie and Broadway to make way for a residential tower and a RAV station. There are rumours of a restaurant opening on the main floor of said residential tower but no news as to what.

^ There is an excellent asian style braised lamb recipe HERE which uses bananas as a flavour ingredient. It is excellent and once the lamb is done you blend the bananas into the sauce and reduce (till sexy). Really good!

^ I too havnt been to Locus in many many months. I'm a little disheartened at the prospect that it has gone down hill a bit. I do recall the drinks being very good tho (good - read - stiff). Thoughtbox mentioned this crazy burrito place BEHIND Aurora Bistro. Anyone try this place?

^ Results from my experiment: - Sushi rice does not keep too well in the fridge even under wraps. I had to sprinkle some additional sushi vinegar onto the rice and microwave it to get it back to a workable state. The flavour was ok though. - I bought some sushi grade fish and asked the sushi chef at the store to show me how to slice it. Damn, hiscarbon steel long blades are sharp! Now I know how to slive fish for nigiri yay! - We made some sushi and it was quite good. I think less sugar, more salt and a bit more vinegar next time! I will post pics once my camera feels like letting me copy them off it

I think this place might have closed as it was boarded up a month or so ago last time I walked by. Alex's Hattori is pretty sexy...but he bought it online.

Yes. The Whip] still holds as one of my favorite breaky places. Although Melriches in Yaletown takes the cake on crispy, salty potato block hashbrowns. I also like Aurora Bistro, truly innovate stuff. I love the use of fruit and meat. I heard many good things about brunch there on weekends. It's on my list. For a quick bite and really good value -> Hawker's Delight Hands down. Japanese food? Try Toshi's . Rumour mill has it he owned "Sushi Village" in Whistler and retired but then opened up this 'little place on main'. I really like the food there. The sweet miso eggplant...my god. There's a new kid in town -> Habit - I havn't tried but I should. For dinner, I also enjoy Locus .

Oh that's a good idea! Unfortunately I don't have one of those awesome asian rice cookers that looks like a thermos. The one I have just has a glass lid which I'm better let's air IN making any rice left in there too long super dry! Since I already fanned it out on a wooden board and "cut" in the Zen I decided to put the rice in a bowl and very carefuly wrapped it and put it in the fridge. This morning I checked the rice and it seems ok (maybe a little dryer than before) but the flavour is nice. Not too overpowering which is what I like. I checked the seal on my plastic wrap and noticed the condensation from the warm rice last night opened a seal in the wrap so I re-wrapped it. I think this might just work!

Age your meat (steak) and use a hanger. At least 2 to 3 days. This one little thing will make a HUGE difference. I totally agree with the "never cook meat until it has reached room temp fist". This is also true. Plus you get to "watch your meat" develop. It's so exciting. Oh boy oh boy we're having meat in 2 days, LOOK at it <drool> And of course...read my sig.

In a class I took we put slices of avocado underneath a chicken "gypsy" soup with veggies, chicken and sprinked with crushed tortilla chips. Yum! The cool avocado gently cooked when the soup was ladled on and it made for a texture orgy (crunchy chips, smooth soup, soft chicken and refreshing avocado).

Well considering the dates on these posts (2002) it's only been what 4 years? Why not ressurect this post? I'm looking for a good recipe for sushi rice. Unfortunately I am limited to what I have at home for ingredients: - Rice Vineger - Kokuho Rose Rice - Sugar - Salt The Recipe I have culled from the inter-web is: Rice ----- * 3 cups Japanese-style rice * 3 1/4 cups water * Rice Cooker Sushi-Zu ---------- * 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar * 2 tbsp sugar * 1 tsp salt Does this look like a good ratio? I have made sushi rice before using web recipes but it always turns out slightly off what I get in good restaurants. Is it really just ingredients that are making the difference or do I have proportions incorrect? I intend (as I am limited on rice gadgetry) to use a rice cooker and a large wooden board to "spread" with. Any help would be great! One other question, can sushi rice keep overnight in an airtight container? Or am I going to have to make it, spread it, fan it the day of use?

That really is a tough corner. Nothing seems to want to stay there. Our company held a few events at RAIN and I will admit it wasn't really that good. Best of luck for the new place, I really hope something sticks because that spot seems to have a curse. The Fog n Suds was never busy on that corner but the food was decent. I guess that's the problem. The curse of mediocrity?

Yeah Seabass is really in some serious trouble so I am avoiding it too even though I will admit that it is one of my favorite fishies. No luck with Lumiere but thanks to a friendly suggestion from IrishGirl and Chris it turns out the tasting menu at Lumiere's is only $0.50 more any time of the year! So what the heck I mind as well just eat there whenever

It's true. The Tasting Bar offers a three-course dinner (from the Lumiere kitchen) for $35, each and every night. Hopefully DOV will help to spread the word. ← Thanks to both of you! I didn't work it out but saving .50? ha! I've been eyeing the tasting bar for a while now and being a Lumiere virgin I think I'll just pick a day outside DOV to go!