fud

Gorgeous. Magnificent. Meat. I was casually browsing smokers yesterday. What are thoughts on the Weber 2820?

I'm planning on going with some other foodie friends (so long as I'm not sailing in a race that weekend). I'm hoping to get their a bit earlier so I can access some of the foods which were "sold out" last time. Good BBQ and stews are my plan this year around as I missed both items last year (Cassis mmm).

As a BBQ newbie I'm really looking forward to the NWCAV class. That smoked meat that was brought to one of our NWCAV classes really got me interested. mmmm Can't wait. My SO found that making pulled pork wasn't too hard with a slow cooker and nothing but time. Boy does that stuff stain tupper-ware containers. Better get them glass ones.

All my family in Toronto agree. Vancouver Chinese food is better. Hands down. But shopping in TO is certainly better

what kinda special we talking here Canuckle?

Looking for a Japanese Beer Hitachino White or Red from Kiuchi Brewery. http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/beer/beer-...ow=0&SortedBy=2 Anyone seen these beers in Vancouver? They are really good!

Same family? This is very exciting news! I love his wife who absolutely refused to take my order until I had the order down in Spanish.

We thought it was just straight French Toast on observation but if that's banana bread being drenched with egg and cooked. I need to go back...like now.

Sandy and I had a marvelous brunch at Seb's down on Broadway and St. George (about 3-4 blocks east on Main). We got to sit at the counter watching the chef (is that Seb? I didn't ask). That man is a machine and so efficient! The Benny's are incredible and I ordered a side of sausage which was nicely spiced. I can't believe I'd never heard of this place but I really enjoyed it.

Anyone have an updated number for Degustation? I've been searching online but no luck! We're flying to New York next weekend and looking to go there for my Fiance's birthday.

Actually there's always good indian food in Surrey Tasty Sweets & Restaurant Ltd 103-12047 80 Avenue Surrey, BC V3W 1M9 Canada (604) 543-9113 All you can eat Goulab Jamin - Man o man mmmm Not sure about stores tho!

Clearly not for an English paper/magazine.

^ That's horrible news. Here we are again with something that could have been a great concept and a way to really open people's eyes to the world of chocolate and it's completely fallen on it's face. Maybe there's hope that some children will find their love for chocolate there and go on to do more research and become chocolate aficionados.

Thanks Moosh, I'll give them a call!

Any idea who makes wedding mini-cakes? Like cupcakes or mini-cakes? Obviously cupcakes makes cupcakes. I think Anna's makes mini cakes. Any other bakery?

I always fall into temptation and buy the "Jai" or vegetarian meat-like substances. There are several flavours: - Red - Yellow - Brown - Dark Brown Try em out they usually have samples every day. mmmm dark brown cubes. The red is good too

The popular Chinese item is the Thermal Cooker. You put a pot onto the stove and make your soup or whatever and then you stick the whole pot in a giant metal thermal sleeve which keeps the contents hot for hours (2-3). Great way to slow cook something without the need for having it plugged in all day. Only works on things that don't need a constant temperature which would require an active heat source.

Wonderful! I assume they are open all year round? I could totally use some FAC when going to Squamish to visit friends!

^ Cool thread I;ve been looking for a good source for miso. I've tried almost every one from T&T and I'm pretty happy with Aka Miso But I noticed the denman island miso seems to be carried by a distributer who stocks Thrifty Food's shelves. Of course I'm sure of Thrifty's would stock Miso paste.

Went to Smoking Dog Bistro last friday and had a great time. I really like this place. It just seems to spell comfort food with the chalk board menu and the laid back staff. The French onion soup was pretty good - albiet slightly too salty for me. The steak frites was marvellous. That gravy is incredible. I kept taking bread and mopping up the remaining sauce the fries failed to grab. Yum.

Fair enough. I guess they were really impressive the last time I went and I had my hopes high. Can't expect a good mind blow at bargain prices all the time.

^ I was surprised that this year, my current favorite restaurant is Parkside. I went to C last night and although it was solidly good it wasn't mind blowing. The scallops (HUGE) were perfectly seared and the duck consume (and I am no stranger to duck....mmmm duck fat) was a little on the lukewarm side and simply just not as rich and extravagant as I had hoped. The seared salmon was very well done with the inside just nicely rare. The desserts were a little disappointing (only two to choose from as well!) but hey I'm here for the fish and seafood. Still, the service was always stellar and the coordinated plate drop (all 6 diners got their plate simultaneously. I can't say enough good things about this. When all diners get their food at the same time (and I mean SAME time) it removes that lag where polite diners will wait for their colleagues to be served as well. This means your food gets cooler and cooler by the second. When you drop everyone's food at once you get this wonderful ability to eat the food as close to the point as the chef wanted it eaten (at THAT temperature). Love it! Wes

Err I think 3.5 Oz was wrong...probably closer to 1.5 to 2. I just had 4 oz of milk today and realized that can't be right! We went to Gastropod yesterday and I was very mightily suprised. Really good and good value!! The salmon Tar Tar was just excellent. Looked like it was 'cooked' in vinegar acids and the quasi caviar was an interesting idea. The oysters were incredible with a nice horseradish milk. SO's mushroom risotto was a little undercooked but so packed with mushroom flavour. I liked the garlic foam. My own duck confit - althought slightly tougher than I expected - was served with oyster mushrooms that were lightly seared and served with a mushroom/duck emulsification. My dish also had a light foam. My god those mushrooms were good. I was favouring the mushroom over the duck. My god. So good. Cheesecake for dessert. Yum. I love cheesecake. This one was slightly warm with fresh (?) rasberries - if that's possible. SO had banana bread with earl grey ice cream. That's right. Take a popular tea (earl grey, hot) and make it into an ice cream. The combination was amazingly good. I was not convinced beforehand but I know now somehow that the Great Earl Grey must have liked bananas. mmm 3 down 3 to go.

I had a friend who went to Trafalgars for Dinner and he was very pleasantly surprised by their wine paring deal: Dineout - $25 with wine - $28 Did he misread this? $3 for wine? He told me they pour little 3.5 oz glasses with each dish do you get a taste (wine taste!). This I can handle as a full three glasses of wine at dinner would not only make it dangerous for me to walk let alone drive, but I may also fall asleep at the table.

And the pre-dineout was a wonderful time to experience a quieter period before the official dineout. No rushing, no packed house (although it was indeed full!). Good time all round. We had dinner at Figmint on Friday and I must admit that Parkside was definately in a higher class of it's own. Now with FannyBay's comment perhaps Figmint gets bumped into the $35 range barely from the bottom and Parkside sits squarely in the middle to upper end of that range. I do not know if they were meant to compete against each other. I will say that the Figmint Dessert called "Figmint" was beautiful. Figs, chocolate and a perfectly smooth carmel sauce with a generous helping of liquor. It really made my night.