currypuff

I've been looking on Amazon to see what I could find in terms of vegan, gluten-free baking books, but not really sure which ones would be good... I find sometimes these sorts of books don't have very appealing recipes, and the results turn out to be poor imitations of the "real thing". Does anyone have any recommendations on which would be good books to start with? I don't have true allergies, but food sensitivities to wheat, soy, eggs, dairy, and cane sugar, nuts... *and more ... ugh* But I love baking obviously and all the traditional baked goods and pastries like everyone else! I still eat these things in moderation, but I sure don't feel good after eating them = ( Can anyone recommend books/websites/recipes/other resources...? Sure this information would be helpful to others as well.

I've got chocolate on the brain.... Does anyone frequent Cocoanymph on W. 10th near Alma? They have really good artisan chocolates and the thickest, richest hot chocolates anywhere in the city that I've tried. I'm wondering if anyone has taken chocolate classes here in Vancouver (or anywhere in N. America) and has any recommendations? Also, does anyone have any chocolate books to recommend?

Can anyone recommend some bakeries in Oahu that could do a simple cake for approx 14 people (it's for a wedding, but I don't need tiers or anything fancy)... My budget is around $50... Doesn't have to be custom made. I'm happy swinging into a shop and picking up something in the display case for a reasonable price... I'll be staying on the North shore... not sure if there is sanything suitable up there. I know there's Ted's bakery, but I think they do more pies? Thanks!

I guessing the popular choice would be Thomas Haas... anything in Vancouver though? I'm going to try patisserie lebeau again... but I find them a bit on the small side...

I signed up for the Serious Pastry classes this month... I am DYING to make almond croissant

Thank you for your comments. I know some French but I need to study again! Wish me luck = )... Off to your wine blog!

Not sure if this is better here or in the France forum. Can anyone recommend some nice wineries to visit in this area, particularly in the Sancerre area? Or anywhere else in the central Loire area? I was told by a coworker who tried to tour Bordeaux in her car that it was very rustic... basically just driving up to people's farms and not really set up commercially. I really just want an "authentic" experience... welcome arms from a small family vineyard or something a bit bigger and a chance to buy some wine that isn't stupendously expensive.... Merci bien...

Anyone have suggestions on a good day trip from Paris... I am looking for a good guided tour that isn't too expensive and will run on a weekday (thursday or Friday). I am thinking of going to either Loire Valley or possibly Burgundy. I don't know much about wines... so a guide that will provide a good education as well! Hope this is not too tall of a task. I apologize if this topic has been covered before... search terms didn't come up with anything relevant.

I don't know about the best, but definitely one of the better ones in town. Wazubee on Commercial Drive. Be prepared to pay though. I think it's almost $8! Making your own is preferable = ). I use Tyler Florence's ultimate tiramisu recipe... hehe.

Where can I find it? (I was going to make my own, but I think buying 7 pounds of shelled clams is going to cost a pretty penny! Will canned clams suffice if I were to make my own?) I'm planning on heading down to Granville Island. Hope there is something worthy there! Thanks!

I am pretty sure the translation on Chinese dessert menus is "Double boiled egg white with milk and ginger juice" But I just threw in the yolks because I didn't want to waste. Sounds something like "doon dan" ?? I don't think milk + ginger would set up like custard. Old ginger. I didn't know. I bought fresh as I have no old!

I made this last night, freestyling from 3 recipes I found online. I used this: 2 cups milk 1 tb ginger juice (clearly not enough!) 3 tb sugar (also not enough!) 2 eggs I heated the milk with ginger juice and tempered it into the sugar/eggs mixture. I put the custard into my steamer for approx 10-15 minutes... The texture on top had a bit of a curdled appearance. Is this because of the steam droplets from my pot cover?? Underneath however, the custard was very smooth. One recipe suggested the use of rice vinegar to prevent "egg curdling"... this had little effect. Please help, thanks.

None of those sound familiar.... but I will try to see what I can track down at the local safeway! Thanks guyz...

I would like to make some chili cheese dogs.... the lazy way. Does anyone have any (canned?) chili recommendations for me? Bare in mind that I live in Canada and don't get all the fancy american brands... I have tried Stagg's... I didn't care for it too much. Thanks!

Well, They really aren't making the prices very accessible for lower income families, of which there are many in Vancouver. Honestly, it feels like I have to be an elitist to afford more than one bag of apples... Good point about the prices of apples from smaller producers being higher than I had expected, as apples in markets are usually subsidized in some way. Yeah the line-up for the apple tasting was ridiculous. My friend went on Saturday afternoon and that was the only thing she wanted to do but she didn't bother because she was there a bit too early and didn't want to wait around for so long.

I went to the apple festival yesterday for the first time this year. After supporting UBC farmer's markets throughout the summer, I was stoked! After getting lost at UBC farm, we finally found our way by bicycle to the festivities. I was okay paying $2 admission to get in, but I was expecting more than what was offered. Let me preface this by saying I arrived at around 1:30-2 pm... Had I known this would be "too late" of a time to get to such an event, I probably wouldn't have bothered. Maybe all this headache could have been prevented had I attended on Saturday? First, most of the apples in the apple sales area were sold out. Nevertheless, I helped myself to an overpriced bag of Aurora Golden Gala apples at the overripe price of $6 for a 3 lb bag... that's $2/lb. No doubt they were quite tasty... let's see how they survive baking! Second, I was expecting to get to try some apple cider or juice samples, but there was no such thing. Only 4 litre jugs of apple juice for $8 were for sale.... and I don't think it was even organic. Third, I was expecting the apple tasting to be free... okay maybe this was unrealistic of me to expect... but $3 to taste apples? Fourth, apple pie and candy apples were sold out. I was so bummed because I was hoping a caramel apple would be a little consolation... by now it was around 2:30 pm in the afternoon. I have a feeling a lot of people who came around the same time as me or later were ripped off to some degree. When I left just before 3, they were letting people in for free as everything was "sold out". Anyhow, needless to say I came away quite disappointed. I understand the $2 is to support the botanical garden, which I certainly don't mind doing. However, with apples being one of the cheapest fruits available... and local as well, I didn't expect to pay so much for apples (again they weren't organic even). The least they could've done is give an apple to every person just for coming. It really wasn't fair of the organizers to be charging $2 for admissions during Sunday afternoon, since so many products were already unavailable. The highlight of the event was just walking around the botanical garden and seeing the food plants. We won't be returning next year, unfortunately.

But the Lentia address is in Surrey? I'm a bit confused... do they have an outlet ofr consumers at their head office? Thanks for all the help... 1st stop , Monde Chocolat! The lady told me they have bars up to 10 lbs.

I'm looking to buy big bars of GOOD chocolate (dark chocolate mostly, from El Rey, or Valrhona... I know Gourmet Warehouse does carry big bars of Callebaut, as does Superstore in their bulk section) in Vancouver. Does anyone know any stores I could go to? I tried to e-mail Valrhona's distributor, but I haven't heard from them! Maybe they are not interested in my business. Failing that, what online stores will ship to Canada without too much hassle (e.g. expensive shipping costs, needing my own customs broker, OH GAWD). Thanks for all the help!

I'd like to cut back on dairy... but one of my big problems is cutting butter and milk/cream out of my diet, ESPECIALLY baked goods. Does anyone have suggestions for baking books that have reasonably tasty recipes using moderately easy to find and not overly expensive ingredients? I don't want to have to go out and buy a whole whack of fancy ingredients over and above what I stock in my regular pantry for baking. I've looked on amazon and there do seem to be a few good ones.... Also, does anyone have a coconut macaroon recipe that doesn't involve egg whites?

I also made the banana gugelhopf (I got all sorts of grief from the boyfriend about buying a gugelhopf pan... "How often are you going to make gugelhopf?" well not often with that attitude!) Anyway it was a very good cake... light and fluffy and not too sweet at all despite using rather ripe bananas. I put it in a 9x9 pan and it cooked a bit faster than the recipe had indicated. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Just a thought... you can make donuts with brioche dough. I was just reading about it in Julia Child's book.... not sure what the adaptation is but I can post it if you're interested. I think it just came down to forming the doughnuts and letting them rise for a bit before frying.

Some great ideas here... about the husks, I didn't realize there were husks in the nibs. Is the nib not husk free? I definitely like the chocolate nib caramel combination with some bigger salt granules. Maybe I can do something with Dorie's recipe for World Peace cookies e.g. sub some of the chips for nibs. I need to get me some Fleur de sel! I don't remember seeing nibs at the W. Van store. Are the relatively new? My mom used to work there so you think I'd remember such a thing....

Can anyone suggest some good cocoa nib recipes? I have Alice Medrich's Bittersweet book, and there are a few in there.... I finally found a place to buy cocoa nibs in Vancouver. I seriously have never seen them anywhere else before... I found then in this Body Building store on Davie near Burrard. Seriously weird!

Chef Marco is no longer at NWCAV. He's working in China, according to his website? How about the new pastry instructor? Tim Muehlbauer... has anyone taken courses with him?

Does anyone have any thoughts on the (pastry) program at Vancouver Community College i.e. curriculum, instruction? Tuition is decent @ $5000 for 10 months of schooling and they say it'll get you job ready for entry-level jobs (where else?)... I've pretty much narrowed my sights down on this school... but some affirmations would certainly be lovely...