~cayenne~

IIRC, Spectra Group's Red Door on Granville Street, was nominated as Golden Plates 2006 Best Asian.

Touché.

I do question the validity of the vote of Cobb's Breads as best bakery (in Vancouver) and McDonald's as best fries (in Vancouver). It seems more likely that these nominations were influenced by votes from the GVRD rather than just the population of Vancouver proper, who probably had more of an influence on establishments specific to Vancouver itself. Or, perhaps it's the readership in general? But, I'd doubt the majority of typical Vancouver G.S. readers would vote for a conglomerate like either establishments mentioned above.

I'm excited to try this recipe, I adore cilantro, love garlic and lemon! Just purchased all the ingredients (well, the ones that I didn't have on hand). The lentils were labelled as green although look brown and green. They are half pea shaped, not like the little tiny red or yellow ones, so do you think they will be okay? Also, the bulgur looks quite coarse, not fine, wasn't described as either on the label (both items bulk bin bought), say that really fast. Anyhow, should I try grinding the bulgur in the mini chopper to make it finer? Oh, and the chard has red stalks.

Looking over the pamphlet for tomorrow's Dining Out For Life and noticed that there is extremely poor representation from the cities outside of Vancouver proper. Absolutely nothing from Richmond or Surrey which are probably the two most highly populated locales. Hardly any representation from the three main C.F.D.'s that I could see anyway, often the choice of many (though not all) in the 'burbs, besides the obvious option in Richmond, which doesn't seem to be represented very well in general.

Dean Mallel of Stella's Tap and Tapas Bar was on City Cooks with Simi Sara today, and mentioned at the end that they are going to start an operation that sounds very much like Dinnerworks. Apparently his team has been researching extensively in the U.S. where there are many similiar operations, IIRC he said there were locations in Bellingham, Seattle, L.A., Washington, D.C., etc. for about a thousand total. I think the name he mentioned started with S.S. I found it interesting, because I had read this thread, but I wasn't absolutely sure if it there was any connection. Couldn't find any references to it via him or Stella's though. Sure seems like an expanding business opportunity of the future, reminds me of ads we used to see on t.v. a couple of years ago, Boston Garden premade meals I believe, available at grocery stores, perhaps started in Washington State?

Jamie, I caught the tail end of a show that you might like to watch. What I saw was very interesting, and relative to postings you have made. Cost/loss/profit factor enlightening.

Zucchini Mama, I saw Masa Harina (bulk in a bin/bucket) is available to purchase for $1.25/lb or $2.50 (IIRC)/kilo at La Salza Mexican Deli at 4140 East Hastings St. in Burnaby today. Their phone number is 604 299-6485. There was another item beside it in a matching bucket, but I can't remember what it was, I was concentrating on remembering the Masa.

Michele Cake Shop is opening a Richmond branch on Buswell between Saba Road and Westminster Highway, across from the Richmond Public Market. Presumably a branch of the operation located at 6033 West Blvd in Vancouver. Looks like it should be operational in a day or so.

Oh, my goodness, I'm envious. I looooove beet greens. Steamed or quickly stir fried with garlic and enhanced with balsamic, they are much like kale, similiar to spinach. Experiment with them, they can be very delicious, don't toss them! ( I remember them from my youth, when they were abundant in my grandpa's garden. Now, hard to find. ) oh and they are healthy too!

Ack, that's not good. You'd think they'd have got it right, there. I guess perhaps they've morphed into a Chinese version of Mickey D's.

Do you know which one, the one with the insane parking lot by London Drugs on Victoria or the one on on Keefer? Maybe it doesn't make a difference though? Both were incredibly busy last time I was there, I think the Victoria drive one had people lined up outside. That visit was quite awhile ago however. Have you by chance tried any of the takeout from that similiar type place on Commercial Drive (don't even know if it's still there, think there was/is another one on Davie)?

I am Lord of the fry, kneel before me. fud, get your facts straight man, these are rated the best fries in town. I am buying Yam futures right now because we sell so many. Like the gingerbread pudding, they too will become World Famous. ← You must be the reason Costco now sells 5 pound bags of raw yam strips in the produce section. ← That's exactly what I thought when I saw them! I kinda wondered if Neil had a copyright protection that might have been compromised. Interesting timing (it was some weeks back that I saw them, but I lacked the courage to post a comment!) but the HSG yam fries were definitely a hot topic here!

Jordan

<Snip> You should be okay.

Weird huh? Seems the same thing happened in Richmond, close to Kwantlen College. They were always packed, open late, that original decor but it worked. They closed down foooooorever to reno, finally opened in that horrid cold new style, now they are no more. Presumably the same will happen to the one in South Surrey/White Rock, if it hasn't happened yet (closing), the decor is gawd awful.

I agree that post of others recipes and techniques may be an infringement of the original providers intellectual property, and indeed should not be shared verbatim without permission of the originator. The sharing of recommended food shops or services though, isn't that sort of what this forum is about, especially if they are in Vancouver? And surely, any recommendation to their establishment would be appreciated by the proprietors, especially since they are not big box, mainstream operations, but the rapidly disappearing genre of smaller or unique shops. Anything we can do to keep them going is a plus for people like Tony who originally recommended them. jmho.

Which island? Lulu, Sea, Granville, Pender, Vancouver? North or south? East or west?

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.. ← Absolutely it would. I'm thinking that perhaps the organic and/or less mainstream versions would have the original/natural flavours of sassafras and not be just overwhelmingly sweet?

Curious, does anyone know how they cook them/prep them for serving? They seem uniformly crispy around the circumference, as if they've been deep-fried? If grilled, would the center edge (the widest part) be that well done? .....just wondering Edited because of at least one horrid spelling mistake.........

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?

There's a Greek deli on Commercial Drive, southeast of 1st; they make fresh baked spanakopita, as well as cheese only ones or lentil ones, (all delicious), and the baked sweets (baklava, etc.) Also all the cold deli stuff and the bottled oils, olives, etc....... great place.

Perhaps it was: ?Went there a very, very long time ago, therefore I don't remember the details, but I remember the locale.

Very impressive! Certainly an awesome counteract to that recent infamous G&M review.

Where is "here"? ← Canada.