quattroporte
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Posts posted by quattroporte
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I sometimes watch Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The host is annoying but I like seeing what people I may never know about otherwise are doing that has their local area going nuts over them.
I gotta tell you, I actually like this show. Americans know how to do down and dirty diner food real good, y'all! Too bad we can't get more stuff like that in Canada (can't believe I'm saying that..)
I loathe Restaurant Makeover, which always seems to be on as I settle into bed....
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Recently tried the frozen wild salmon -- nice-size individual fillets in cryovac pouches -- and thought it was quite good. It's also incredibly convenient.
I love the wild sockey salmon....no bones, no skin, no cutting....
Our Costco (in Vancouver) stocks indivdually cryovac portions of tuna...albacore, I believe- about 8 pieces per bag. I threw it on the grill after a quick marinade and it was very good. It was about twice the size of the salmon fillets, and cost about $5.00 less.
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the "Middle Room" at Figmint was recommended
I thought Figmint was closed?
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If they are cerignola's, then yes, they are dyed. Even the green ones. The red and green combination usually comes out at Christmas, and lately I've spotted purple ones. Like, grape purple.
Weird.
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I scored Parkside on a Saturday night.......I kinda feel like I won the lottery!
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Waking up is hard to do.
That’s why I do it several times a night….in order to build character.
By five a.m., sleep was a forlorn thing of the past. I set down to catching up on mail, and, when it was looking vaguely light outside, I went for a walk to take in the morning air.
It was pretty. Clouds with character worked the sky, coasting low with bright swathes of blue between them. A steady stream of cars was pouring up 16th towards UBC, and some brave souls were shuffling about the bus stops.
I stopped in at Choices, and grabbed a few things to make a breakfast out of.
A Comox brie (a little thick, and not as creamy as I might have liked); some cranberry pepperoni; and some pork pate. All of this with stoned wheat thins I admire so much.
And yes, you can tell from the glass that I’m still drinking heavy.
I caught up on the news. Here I’d been lamenting that I was missing out on the fun and games in Thailand, and all I needed was to spend half an hour with the newspaper to see that I was firmly in the midst of the same politics.
Maybe they should start handing out yellow and red shirts here?
After breakfast I wandered the neighborhood.
On 16th there was a place called Japanese Zest that looked interesting. They’re doing a kaiseki menu which does get my attention, but I’d prefer to hear more about this place before committing a meal.
I stopped off down by Broadway, and saw that Moderne Burger was open. You never know when they’re going to shut down for another year’s renovations. I’m good with their burgers, but it’s really their fries and milkshakes I lust for.
Close by, I took a look at db Bistro Moderne and Lumiere. I’ve a call out for a reservation there if they open in time (Yes, I guess I’m one of the “look at me” crowd), but the sign on Bistro Moderne says they’re not opening until the 12th, which puts it past my time frame.
The other one I’d be interested in would be Market, whenever it gets up and running. Current estimates put that in early 2009, though.
Further up the street, I saw that Wild Garlic was gone from Broadway and Arbutus, replaced by Transylvania Flavour. Are these the same folks, I wonder? It does seem coincidental that garlic would give way to the home of Dracula.
The Side Door is gone, replaced by Lola’s. And a number of other small places are boarded up already in that stretch.
At Granville, having done some idle shopping for books and electronics already (Jacques Pepin’s biography is on sale for 4.95 at Chapters, is that worth reading?), I headed South, peering in the window at West, admiring the coffee crowds working out their caffeine addictions (“I can quit it myself anytime”, say I), and ambling in and out of the cookware stores that cluster around here (Cookery, Ming Wo, Wm Sonoma) and then stumbled across Chow.
A number of you had recommended this, as had others outside of egullet. So who am I to argue? I would rather be here for dinner, but when I find myself in a place, at a time, with opportunity, I feel it should be firmly grasped and devoured.
It’s a comfortable room. Maybe that’s just the mood I was in, but when you step inside, you just feel right. Greys and browns, rough worked grey painted floor. Brown tables. Ambient music and good staff. In some ways it made me think of Arbutus in Soho, or Hereford Road in W2.
Comfortable.
I didn’t have a large meal. I took a glass of the Kettle Valley Viognier and admired the menu.
Mind you, I admired the dinner menu more.
A side of frites with harrisa mayonnaise sounded good, but my eyes can be bigger than my stomach at this time of day, and I’d been getting by on one meal a day on average for the last week.
I stuck instead to one main; the house-made cotecchino sausage, dupuy lentils, vegetable soffrito, and winter greens.
I had to ask about harissa. It’s a red chile paste, North African in origin. I was really thinking about those fries.
Next to me, the waitress asked the table how they’d liked the lunch.
“It was really good, but tell them ‘it didn’t suck’. Otherwise it’ll go to their heads.”
I do like being back in Vancouver.
The bread was pully, just the way I like it, with a crust that would exercise my teeth. Some proper butter, that perfectly serviceable Kettle Valley, and I was happy.
The dish arrived, a glistening slab of textured meat atop a pile of lentils, with greens mixed in amongst the brown of the beans. I’m a big fan of French lentils, and you’ll never hear me say bad things about sausages, so this was a perfectly good lunch for me.
It’s one of those pleasant moments, when you can idly stare out the window at the passing traffic, admiring the facial ornamenation on the large bearded fellow in a suit, smoking in a passenger seat. You can ponder things like “how does he get through a metal detector with all that stuff on his face?”
The chef, J.C. Poirier, has a pedigree including C, Lumiere, and Montreal’s Toque, and he’s created a very nice place. They recommended I come back for dinner, which I think is a great idea. I wonder how this would work with sake?
I talked a bit more, and started adding more restaurants to my list.
It’s getting to be a long list.
Hey - I had lunch at Chow yesterday.....1 pm, two gals sitting by the front window. The meal was great - shared the pulled pork croquettes with vegetable ketchup, marinated olives, for my main I had the mushroom soup with truffle oil. First rate all the way.
The waitress mentioned their Sunday December special.....3 courses, $38, and wine at cost.....yes, you read right......cost. Just call first to confirm (in case my ears weren't working after the two glasses of Meyer Family Chardonnay...)
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To my horror, I opened my Wolf 36" gas oven the other day to discover what looks like large burn marks on the bottom of the oven. It looks like someone took hydrochloric acid and a metal scub brush and scratched through the enamel coating right down to the metal, in a perfect square, over what must be the heating element.
I've only had the range for 5 months, and have never cleaned the oven - it just isn't dirty enough to warrant a cleaning. I did put foil on the bottom for Thanksgiving, but from what I understand, the problem with using foil (which you should never do, I discovered) is that it can melt on to the porcelain and can't be removed.
Can anyone enlighten me? I'm having a technician come in to evaluate it, and would feel much better if someone else out there could comment on the problem. I would hate to know that I ruined my dream oven
Thanks!!
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I understood the same about Milan.....but for those of you still yearning for those vine-ripened tomatoes, go to Riley Park Farmers Market and look for the Klipper Farm stand- last week they had a great selection - perhaps 20 different varieties, all vine-ripened. I dropped $41 just on tomatoes......they were fantastic! I've almost had my fill of tomato/bocconcini....almost.
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Freshly-steamed dungeoness crab
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I may get blasted for this, but my choice for a girl's night out would be Cactus Club on Dunsmuir and Burrard, not so much for the food (although I think there's something on the menu to please everyone) but for the "fun" aspect - from what I hear, it's packed most nights and it would be a great place to have some fun and people watch. It also has a great patio.
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I have just returned from a weekend of gardening (and I have the blisters to prove it!) I am starting fresh on land that hasn't seen a rake or a hoe ...well, maybe ever! It is the Sunshine Coast so the land consists of rocks and blackberry bushes....and cedar trees and rocks and more blackberry....
I had a dump truck load of top soil delivered last week and now I dont know if I can afford to buy any plants!
I haven't actually planted anything yet.
I am still trying to figure out what to do with the blackberry bushes that are choking the life out of everything on the property. (They've already killed one rather tall alder 
) I am dead against the use of chemicals but every single person I talk to says the same thing - kill it with the strong stuff!I am looking for alternatives - anything! I will try it.
Is it odd that I am looking for ways to get rid of this mess when there is a big piece of blackberry pie sitting on my kitchen counter right now!
The other day I was at Home Depot and they were selling blackberry bushes......is this some kind of sick joke? Come on over! I will give you all you want for free~!
I suspect the blackberry bushes at Home Depot were the thornless variety. We have one, and it's quite different than the wild ones - our berries are larger, firmer and sweeter. And if you've got little kids, the thornless ones are a blessing.
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Some days you are just not into sides or sauces. These were great without. Last week I made some cheese that turned out quite bland and a little dry in texture, so I made them into gnudi (or gnocchi? I'm not clear on the difference) and they were much improved. Sauteed in brown butter with rosemary, salt and pepper.
I'm not an expert, but I am Italian, and Gnudi means "naked" - I take that to mean without a sauce, and Gnocchi, I assume, are usually sauced. Either way, I love 'em!
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The flank steak is very close to the skirt steak but they are different... the skirt is the "diaphragm" while the flank is the "abs". Both are long fibre meats that have great beef flavor however can easily become tough if cooked improperly.
Sources? Any butcher who is cutting their own meat on site... I'd recommend Hopcott in Pitt Meadows, North Shore Quality Meats in North Van, North Surrey Quality Meats near Guilford, Penguin in White Rock or Dicksons in Langley... where are you?
In Vancouver (Oakridge) - would Granville Island have it?
By the way, I must have cooked it properly last night - tender as can be!
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Does anyone know where I can find skirtsteak? I picked up a flank steak instead, but don't really know the difference between the two.
Thanks.
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I saw mention of both endives - and a few others I've never heard of.
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Today is the two month anniversary of our reno. It started innocently enough, just the kitchen and flooring, then we started knocking down walls, re-routing plumbing and electrical, new lighting, new powder room, and on and on.
I don't know about any one else, but I will never take on a renovation of this size again. We are living in our noisy, dusty, cramped basement in the meantime, and the novelty has worn off.
Frequent arguments with my husband and contractor make some days unbearable. I dream of my new kitchen......stained cherry cabinets, the Wolf and Sub-zero, and plenty of room. We really splurged. Gotta keep my eye on the prize......
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I make an appetizer that everyone seems to rave about, and it's so simple.
Trim belgian endive and spread the leaves, facing-up, on a large dish. Sprinkle tiny bits of beets, toasted walnuts and blue cheese on top, and top with a simple white wine vinegrette and some chives. Sooooo good! And everyone loves finger food, right?
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Yet another rave review for Parkside...
I went with high-hopes and wasn't disappointed. After two horrible Dine-out experiences last year (Cin Cin and Figmint) I was really looking forward to a stellar meal. We all know what it's like to have high expectations and then be sorely disappointed. Not last night. WOW - such a great meal.
I started with a Blood Orange Negroni - delicious, as blood oranges are in season - sweet, tart and bitter - the Campari really sang through.
We both had the endive salad to start - a tangle of greens on a bed of roasted mushrooms and radicchio with a fantasticly-tangy dressing.
No one has mentioned the bread that is served with dinner - so good.....we had two orders of it - the best bread I've had in recent memory. Note to all restauranteurs: Please don't serve cold hard butter with delicately warm bread!!!
I ordered the cod, my husband had the veal scallopine. Once our dishes arrived, I immediately knew he'd enjoy my dish more - it had those bold flavors of olives and tomatoes that he loves, so half-way through we switched. I enjoyed his veal, (buttery tender) the osso buco ravioli, and my favorite, a single crispy sweetbread on a bed of mushroom duxelle.
We both had the ice cream for dessert. I swooned over the white chocolate ice cream....oh man...I don't even want to think about the calories in that....but so worth it. Somehow they work their magic to create a consistency that is infinitely more pleasing than regular ice cream...it's thicker, creamier and richer than most.
We really enjoyed the premium wine pairing - $59 with dinner. Service was seamless. What an unbelievable bargain.
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Had lunch in Richmond, just outside of Vancouver, BC where we just couldn't decide if we wanted to try the sea blubber, stinky tofu, or my favorite, vegetarian goose.
I kid you not.
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^^^Dont think so....it's on Main st in Whistler
I had a friend go to the soft opening Wednesday night. Trust me, they're in Vancouver now.
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I heard that Splitz Grill (the original is in Whistler) has just opened up on Main Street, just south of King Edward and a 5 minute drive from my home.
Goodbye New Year's Resolution....
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Where can I get a real day-after-christmas turkey sandwich, y'know, with stuffing and cranberry sauce, maybe some gravy?
I had a wonderful dinner with a special someone who doesn't eat meat, so it was salmon, plus the usual christmas-type side dishes, but now I'm craving that turkey feeling.
I'm guessing it's boxing day or nothing.
Any suggestions?
Tomato Cafe (when it used to be on Cambie) used to do the best, just-like-home turkey sandwich (no gravy). They had it on the menu year-round because of its popularity. If your craving still persists today, give them a call at their Kits location.
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I thought I saw some sort of teaser ad in this week's Courier....are they coming to Kerrisdale?
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Also saw some at Granville Island. Wasn't but a couple of years ago we could only dream about find them at a retail outlet.
For those really adventurous mushroom hunters, this has been the best year in recent memory for shaggy manes. True, you look like a dork bent down in a grassy field (and you get a few honks and 'wink wink's') but the reward is awesome. Think intense mushroom flavor crossed with truffle. After I ate my fill, I still had enough to freeze for several heavenly batches of risotto.
Here come the tomatoes
in Cooking
Posted
Halve some red bell peppers and remove seeds - lay them on their sides. Add roughly-chopped ripe tomatoes, thinly-sliced garlic and a couple of anchovies in each. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake about 45 minutes until lucious and soft. Don't let the anochovies scare you - there is barely a hint of the sea left after cooking.
Devour, preferrably with some good bread.