gingerpeachy

You just needed some lorne (square sausage) and a slice of clootie dumpling. Takes me back to my Granny's breakfasts, when I was a wain.

I can't get past that statement. Persuading the bride to take something she doesn't like seems like asking for trouble.

Good choice. Have a great time.

Oh yes: the Tiki room at the Waldorf! I love that place.

What price per head for food are you planning on?

That certainly is the beancurd and celery. The aforementioned duck hotpot, was actually a chicken dish - probably my least favourite of the night. Thanks to Peter for documenting our gluttony - and giving us an excuse to go in the first place.

Patrick - considering DB and Lumiere haven't opened yet, it's hard to tell who they are better/worse than, don't you think?

I second Chow (never been disappointed), and would add Gastropod on West 4th - Chef Angus An is one of the city's most talented, and he just scored two of the best bartenders in town as well. I'm sure you're familiar with Chambar, but I mention it because I know you're a big beer drinker. Also, in Gastown, try Boneta. If you're on Commercial Drive, you should check out Lime: great sashimi with live music. For high end, Lumiere is reopening on Dec 10th, backed by Daniel Boulud, with the old Feenie's turned into DB Bistro Moderne. And Voya at the new Loden hotel is also getting excellent press. Otherwise, Vij's and Phnom Penh are always worth another visit.

I'm hoping someone may have a suggestion for a decent, but not too expensive bar/restaurant where a group of women (could be anywhere between 6 and 12 of us) attending a conference might spend a Friday evening. A relaxed vibe is essential - we all know each other online, but have never met, so we are likely to be a bit noisy - but we also want to be able to see and hear each other. It needs to be somewhere we can stay and drink. Income levels vary widely, so I want to find somewhere that won't make those with a limited budget feel uncomfortable. We are coming in from all over North America. We are staying at the Omni hotel next door to the zoo - which I hope does not mean we are in an restaurant wasteland. Many thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

If you'd walked on a hundred yards, you'd have found the Gumboot Restaurant. On Friday night, the special was a rib eye steak - which looked great.

Girls night out? Boneta or Chow. Both have a good vibe and great cocktails. And girls need cocktails

Anything new or changed in the last year? Am headed up to Robert's Creek for the weekend. Thanks.

Just on the sandwich thing: you might consider offering different sizes. Here in Vancouver we have a Jewish deli that offers 'full order' and 'not so hungry' sandwiches, and a butcher's deli that uses circular foccacia and you buy a 1/4, 1/2 or whole . (A whole one can feed a small family!) They also throw in a bag of housemade potato chips. The butcher's sandwiches are generously filled and priced very competitively and the line ups are out the door and down the street.

"Abysmal" is usually how Chinese food in London is described by my friends and colleagues. ← But London wins on Thai and Indian - hands down. And Greek and Persian and... I'm not sure the original argument was about ethnic restaurants, though.

I would seriously doubt Rare opening any time soon and, in any case, the previous chef de cuisine is no longer associated with the restaurant. I would switch C with either Chow or Gastropod. Both use the best local products - Chow is more classical in its preparations (and also has a lovely bar with some of the best cocktails in town). Gastropod is more cutting edge in style and cooking methods - minimalist room. The 3-course for $49.50 menu is an absolute steal. www.chow-restaurant.com www.gastropod.ca

I would add Chow, Gastropod or Vij's to your dinner options. If the weather remains as good as it is right now, you will have no problem enjoying the outdoors here. Stanley Park is worth at least a day of anyone's time. For culture, head out to the Museum of Anthropology towards UBC - you can combine it with the West side beaches or a walk through the endowment lands, perhaps. For getting your bearings at the beginning of your trip, I recommend the Vancouver Lookout at the top of the Harbour Centre - just don't go to the restaurant.

A friend of a friend is undergoing rehab at Beth Abraham Family of Health Services, 612 Allerton Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467 and the food is less than inspiring. Is there any good delivery and takeout in the area?

Anyone know if you can buy a loaf of bread made with red fife wheat in Vancouver? Thanks.

Thank you. I had thought of Betty's, but would prefer something baked to order. Pick up isn't a problem, as I'll be in Yorkshire for the birthday itself.

I need to order a birthday cake for my MIL's 70th birthday. Looking for recommendations for bakeries in N.Yorkshire either in York or in the general Easingwold/Boroughbridge neighbourhood. I'm in Vancouver, BC, so would prefer to do this online. Any help much appreciated.

So, I just made my first meringue and it was a disaster. Dark beige on the outside, nice and puffed up when it came out of the oven, then it fell, leaving a thin crumbly exterior and a spongy white interior. I used a Jamie Oliver recipe for basic French meringue and thought I'd followed it to the letter. What could I have done so wrong?

I second the silestone counters - excellent. We got ours from Home Depot, believe it or not. Cheaper - and they outsource the fitting to a specialist company.

A small bite handed around on trays and eaten standing up is a canapé. An hors d'oeuvre (according to my copy of Elizabeth David's French Provincial Cookery) is indeed a starter - a plated appetizer.

I am planning to bake a 5lb fresh wild sablefish (black cod) in salt tomorrow night. I see some recipes suggest using kosher salt plain, others with egg whites. This is my first try at this technique: 1) Does using the egg whites make a significant difference? 2) Any tips for the crust and skin removal stage? Thanks.

Can I jump on this thread? I've just booked a week in Mazatlan for the first week in January. We are two adults and two kids (9 and 2 1/2). Any good family-friendly places we shouldn't miss?