TimK

And apparently soon on Cambie around 12th. Isn't that your neck of the woods Arne?

Very cool graphics, new owner has some cash to make the changes and cash is king. I guess they opened up another Kolachy Co. at one of the Bentall Buildings. May have to take the walk up from Metro for one. Last week they had a "hot wings" kolachy with chicken, blue cheese and hot sauce...was awesome. Keith, enjoy Vietnam, when you back home?

Stopped in at the Kolachy Shop today. It has undergone a renovation and there were some significant changes. I got there late and all they had left were the BBQ Beef....perfect as it was what I was going to order anyhow. No more kolachy's on a shelf and then microwaved. These came out of a steam drawer and even after a 5 minute drive home they were piping hot inside and the outside was soft. Tasted like it had come right out of the oven. Brilliant change. Looks like the new owner spent some money to improve the product and it tasted like it. It had been way to long since I got my kolachy fix and now I am craving another one.

Neil, I checked out your link and didn't see your menu listed for the City Dine event...or maybe I missed it. It looks like the hubby is going to be in Vancouver around that time again and I'm hoping I'll be joining him and we'll be making our trek to HSG as per usual. ← My menu has been submitted, but is not live as of yet.................as I was late. Anyways, we have some old favourites on there as well as some mussels, featuring HKDave's fabulous Chorizo sausage, and of course, the gingerbread pudding. ← Chorizo AND gingerbread pudding? Oh God, so much for my low cholestrol diet. When is your menu going live on the website? I may have to stop in for a late dinner and get my fix during the event. I noticed that this year Open Table was not partnered up with City Dine after we signed up Rare and Metro. I wonder if that will contribute to lower numbers or just more phone calls. The participating restaurants look good this year and I am hoping to try some of them if I can get away for a night.

Jason you are correct on cooking techniques for lean meat.

I have to admit that i saw the posting that you were coming in for your wife's birthday and made a note in Open Table. Busted.

We are also doing City Dine at both Rare and Metro. Last year I belive close to $9000 was raised for the Canadian Association of Food Banks. It is a great event and 3 courses are only $35. I belive the website goes live the first week of August for menus and participating restaurants.

Those pictures were pure torture. Arne, very creative use of the file holder. Will have to use that this summer when I do a little BBQ'ing down south at my mom's place. Brilliant. I am making sure that I am available next year or is there a repeat event coming soon?

My stomach is growling right now. Why oh why did I pass up on this event? And what hat did Arne wear?

Restaurant of the Year= West. Runner up Lumiere Best New Fine Dining= Gastropod. Runner up Rare. Chef of the Year= Scott Jaeger. Design went to Gastropod and Salt Tasting Bar. Best New Informal= Salt. Best Bar/Lounge= Bacchus. Runner up George. Bartneder of the Year= Nick Devine of George. Those are some of the top categories that I recall. I cant find my issue from my gift bag. Was a great afternoon. Gloria Macarenko and Michael Eckford were great MC's and had the crowd laughing for most of the well paced 2 hour event. Looking forward to next year already.

any of the casual dining places in town will have TV's showing the NCAA if you ask. Earl's, Brown's in Yaletown. On Robson Street there is a new place called '72. There are flat screens at every booth so you are sure to get the games you want to watch. Recent reviews were favourable. It is on the north side of Robson in the 1000 block. I hope this helps. Go Razorbacks and go Canucks.

I heard it was over which was the better Kolachy, the chicken club or the reuben.

She is a great addition to Rare, we are very pleased to have her onboard.

I am a fan of Cassis. The last time I dined there I enjoyed the coq au vin AND the beef bourgogne. Oh yeah and the gratin of potato and a side of the cauliflower gratin. And a french onion soup and a lemon tart. Packed up what i couldnt finish and enjoyed it the next day for lunch. With a whisky and a glass of wine it was about $80. I found it very good value. Service was friendly and very accomodating. I am looking forward to my next visit.

How is Winterlicious percieved in Toronto? Here in Vancouver we have Dine Out which runs from January 19th to February 4th. It has mixed reviews from some who think it is a cattle call and stay away from it and others who embrace it and try as many restaurants as possible. I am just wondering what the overall consensus is and would like to compare it to what we are doing on the West Coast.

Cassis Bistro is quite close as is Century.

We will fill the spots I am sure. Every reservation recieves either an email confirmation the day of and a phone call from us. It allows us plenty of time to fill those cancelled reso's. Open Table also helps us with no shows making it easier to know who to be wary of when it comes to City Dine and DOV 2008. It is just one shadow on a great event and we at Rare will be diligent on managing it so that it doesnt have an impact on our service. BTW "Miss Piggy" was called on the weekend for confirmation and she is looking to show Rare off to many of her friends on two nights as well she booked two reso's for her friends who did not have internet. A nice piece of humble pie was served to me that evening.

I think people who perform this stunt should be flogged and then black-flagged for the rest of the year ... and then flogged some more. No, there's nothing technically wrong with it, but you have to be pretty thick to miss how this flies contrary to the spirit of the event. It's like the folk that fill their gloveboxes full of napkins and ketchup from their favorite fast food joints, and then bitch when said fast food joint decides to start handing them out only at the cash register. Doofusses(sp?) A. ← I think it is Rare that has the same girl booking tables of 6 at least 6 times, maybe 8, all in prime time( this is the downside of Opentable ) . In a room that size, it stands out like a sore thumb. ← I am giving her a week to make up her mind and see if she cancels on her own and if not then I am calling her to see what she has decided. At a 40 seat restaurant a no show of 6 or a late cancellation represents 15% of my dining capacity. All I can say is that Open Table has helped alot taking about 90% of our 1200 reservations for the event. Ziv if you are lurking here do I get a discount for plugging your product?

I wonder where that came from? We never asked for Open Table to say anything about who qualifies or not for DOV, we thought everyone did. Interesting. I will send you a PM regarding extended dates for DOV that we are offering in case you can not find your orignal time. If anyone else is interested you can send me an email or PM. Sorry for any confusion.

It's not often that a restaurant website catches my eye, but this one....WOW!.....if they put as much effort into the restaurant as they do the website, then I'm excited. Can't wait......! ← I loved the music on the site. Good luck to Rob and Tom, I can't wait to try it.

I just had the prix fixe dinner at Gastropod. I like the simplicity of the room and the bar stools are awesome. The wine prices are fantastic....$50 for Burrowing Owl Merlot. Congratulations on your opening.

I have a few bottles of Regans No. 6 Orange Bitters I got from the U.S. of A. I am willing to share one. PM me for details.

Definitely George. Chambar has some great cocktails as well.

Thank you to everyone who helped out with the dinner and to those who attended. It was a great night of community. For those who had the wine pairing with dinner here are the wines. Castello della Sala Chardonnay Umbria, Italy 2004 Produced at a 14th century Castle, located 11 miles from the town of Orvieto where the micro-climate makes it ideal for the production of cooler-weather wines such as Chardonnay. L’ecole No. 41 Semillon Columbia Valley, Washington 2004 L'Ecole Nº 41 has been making Semillon since 1983 and is recognized in the industry as one of the top producers of this varietal. Few Semillons show their richness and complexitiy as those produced in Washington State. A 91 point Wine Enthusiast rating. Louis Jadot Cote de Nuits-Villages “Le Vaucrain” Burgundy, 2000 Argyle Pinot Noir Willamette, Oregon 2004 Wine Spectator has called Argyle the “premier winery in Oregon”. This is what a cool, marine climate Pinot Noir is all about. Wine Spectator rating of 89 points. St. Francis “Nunn’s Canyon” Reserve Merlot Sonoma, California 1998 This wine is a monster. Absolutely massive tannins that need to be tamed with food. Try with the bone in Tenderloin or the New York Striploin. Huge intensity of flavour here with cherry plummy spicy fruit and a smoky vanilla finish. A 92 point Anthony Gismondi rating Buller Fine Old Muscat Victoria Australia N/V Reddish amber in colour, with a concentrated raisiny sweetness on the palate and a long, lingering finish. Robert Parker rating of 96 points. Masi Costasera Amarone Veneto, Italy 2001 The Costasera Amarone expresses a particular majesty and complexity. Ideal with red meats, game and mature cheeses also an excellent wine for the end of the meal.

There are some good things in the works. Stay tuned.