urbandiner

I'd be interested to see what prices you find in the US. I was at the store a few days ago and compared prices to what was found online and the Breville Panini Press is about the same price ($99.95). The prices in general are not cheap but they're fair compared to what you'll find online (in US dollars). What I like about the store is that they carry brands and products we don't already have in Vancouver. You pay a premium compared to other brands, perhaps, but depending on what's important to you (e.g. quality, functionality, aesthetics, value, price, etc.) it's nice to have the options.

Since switching my entire family to soy, we've tried Lactaid (a lactose-free milk), So Nice, Sunrise, Silk and another brand I don't recall at the moment. Basically, we've tried them all. We now use Silk exclusively. It's less "beany" as you say and you can buy in bulk at Costco (3 pack for $7.99, I believe). Unopened, the boxes last quite awhile. I even use it for baking and cooking (not exactly the same but in small quantities you can't tell the difference). Starbucks uses Silk soy as well. I like the Chinese version of Sunrise soy milk but prefer it sweetened and expect the beany taste it delivers. Great with fried Chinese donuts! Just doesn't taste great with my tea.

So many suggestions, so little time! Generally, Union has had the most positive response so I'm going with that venue. The others, however, I plan to visit in the near future. Thanks for your suggestions--it's helpful when you don't know the city inside-out. Cheers.

Approximately 12 people. Crush looks like a viable option. I'm not too concerned about the noise because we have a big group and will likely be the noisy bunch! This isn't meant to be a formal dinner to "do business", more a social gathering to get-to-know each other. Thanks to all for your suggestions so far!

Thanks for the tip on Tavolata. I like that Crush has a diverse menu and Dahlia Lounge looks good too. I'll check out the other places online as well.

I'm looking for a great venue to entertain clients in Seattle. They are all men in their early 30s from Vancouver. Would appreciate your suggestions for a venue that has great food, an even better atmosphere for entertaining, and is located either in downtown Seattle or Bellevue. I've looked at Tavolata and Union online but have tried. Tavolata looks like an interesting room. Union looks a tad too upscale (quiet and catering to the romantics in the room)? Your suggestions would be appreciated. Many thanks!

Just returned from Madrid and, not thinking, I tried making reservations for 8 different restaurants recommended by fellow foodies and all were booked for the entire week we were there. Not sure about August but if you're heading to Madrid, be sure to reserve beforehand!

I've been meaning to add my experience at HSG for some time and this post reminds me to do so. I brought my partner to sample the much-talked-about steaks at HSG. We ordered appies and were pretty full of gorgonzola and salad but were so impressed with the rib eye, we ate the entire dish--each! My partner had been on a vegetarian diet for 9 months for health reasons and went on a ballastic "give me meat" diet for 6 months and could not find a good piece of rib eye anywhere. He was raving about our experience at HSG to friends for weeks. We were also chatting it up with our waiter (can't remember his name but he also works at GM Place?) who was very friendly and attentive. Great steaks, great service ... think we'll be hitting HSG again this week

Perhaps not gourmet but certainly a good time for a family. We had dinner out for a special occasion with 10 people (half of whom were kids) and they loved eating outdoors. Staff were accommodating and patient as well. We had a similar experience at Parkside mid-week and the staff were fantastic ...

Now that the outdoor weather is upon us, you may want to check out patio-equipped restaurants. Kids love the fresh air and aren't confined to a single space and there's usually lots to look at while they're dining. Fish House (Stanley Park) and Monk McQueen's (Granville Island) are great, kid-friendly spots. There's also Provence (Marinaside) for a fantastic brunch menu. Parkside (off Denman Street near English Bay) also has an outdoor area ...

I've been. Pretty sure it's a daily breakfast menu, although we had it on a Saturday. There's a brunch menu on Sundays. My husband and I really enjoyed our breakfast - he had the beans on toast (served as 2 sunny side up eggs on top of very tasty baked beans on top of brioche toast. I had the eggs benedict - nice ham, perfectly poached eggs (soft, just as I like 'em) and a very nice Hollandaise sauce, served with yummy potatoes. Interesting tea selection, great coffee, great service. Loved it and hope to return soon. ← Thanks for sharing your experience -- I hope to indulge sometime next week.

Has anyone tried breakfast at Figmint? Their menu looks pretty tasty but I need to check if it's an everyday option or weekend menu: http://www.figmintrestaurant.com/pdfs/menu_breakfast.pdf

Are pai bao buns the same as the ones you get at T&T? Creamy, pale yellow colour, soft texture, kinda sweet and crazy addictive? If so, I must head to Osaka asap. Love those buns. Michelle's being so close by, I keep my egg tart eating for when dear ol' dad brings 'em over as a treat (which is quite often, I must say). I do enjoy a hot, freshly baked tapioca pudding, which I never think to order unless it comes with a banquet style dinner (weddings or baby's month-old celebration).

A friend and I tried Gastropod a few weeks ago and found the experience ok. The room was quite sleek -- nice, clean lines and comfortable seating arrangements (although my partner thought the tables were a wee bit close for his comfort -- I reminded him that in France, these tables would be considered plenty spacious). We were warmly greeted at the door and our coats were taken promptly. Our waitress was sweet, patient and informative. Upon reviewing the menu, we did find it limited but went for the duck. I thought it was quite tasty but did not blow my mind. We had an interesting banana dessert that was fantastic (will definitely have it again). Service was great. Food was ok for the price point. Dessert was delicious. Will definitely try again ... maybe when new dishes pop up.

A his and hers tasting menu... 9 courses One seating, the table is yours for the night. The rest of the week we will be running the Valentine's menu as a choice of 4, 6 or 9 courses. The rest is a surprise for the guests to discover on the special day. ← That sounds incredibly sumptuous! Thanks for sharing.