grayelf
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Posts posted by grayelf
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Drove by Dona Cata on Victoria today and experienced a moment of horror at the empty premises and for lease sign. Horror receded when we drove a couple of blocks more and discovered it has only moved to larger digs -- didn't catch the exact address but it is still on the east side of the street, just a bit further north. Phew.
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I dont' know if this has been reported elsewhere but if you're heading to Dona Cata, you need to go a couple blocks further north now -- they've moved down Victoria to bigger digs. Haven't been in yet but spied the change as we were heading home after pho lunch at Kim Phung today (yum).
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If I could make one more request, it would be a photo of the shop front/signage (to help with locating these places from the street).
You mean having an address and seeing the word "Pho" on the storefront isn't enough? Wow, I thought I was directionaly challenged
Something I've been noticing at my usual Pho haunts is a decrease in the amount of Thai basil and bean sprouts served. Even at Kim Phung ... last time I ate there with my wife and a friend and they brought out a small plate that was supposed to serve all 3 of us. Anyone else experiencing this? Is it because they were over-serving us before? Are the ingredients becoming difficult to find?
A.
Quick bump to say that Kim Phung is now our fave pho palace. We've been meaning to try it for ages after having read all the kudos here, but kept getting sucked into Dona Cata for tacos whenever we were out Victoria and 41st-ish way.
/Aside: on the way home we noticed that the original Dona Cata space was empty and for lease but we had only mourned for a block and a half when we spotted the new expanded premises they have evidently moved into since we last visited. Phew./
Today we went with pho in our crosshairs, and pho we got. J went for the spicy broth pho tai as recommended by Arne and others, while I opted for the classic pho tai. Both were excellent, with rich broth, super thin slices of beef and most excellently, bits of cilantro, a thing I have not experienced since eating pho in Montreal. Happy now. Also sampled their lemonade (which is really limeade) and found it excellent. The small pho is still $5.50 which made us chuckle when we realized our drinks at $4 were only slightly cheaper than our meal. If you just had tea and pho, you'd be outta there for $11 before tip since tax is included. Ridiculously cheap. We'll be back.
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I'm officially jealous reading everyone's comments about the new ABNRs. For some reason, Travel and Escape in Vancouver stopped airing new shows after Berlin and has gone back to Episode 1 (Paris). Not that I mind a chance to catch the older shows again but why bail out partway through a season?! Urgh.
You can download most of these episodes for a few dollars off iTunes. This is the U.S. vrsion of iTunes, so I can't guarantee that you'll haves access in Canada.
Thanks, I'll give that a try. Here's hoping they're available on the Canuck version!
No joy. I got excited for a sec because I mistyped the title and it asked me "Did you mean Anthony Bourdain No Reservations" but sadly there were 0 matches.
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I'm officially jealous reading everyone's comments about the new ABNRs. For some reason, Travel and Escape in Vancouver stopped airing new shows after Berlin and has gone back to Episode 1 (Paris). Not that I mind a chance to catch the older shows again but why bail out partway through a season?! Urgh.
You can download most of these episodes for a few dollars off iTunes. This is the U.S. vrsion of iTunes, so I can't guarantee that you'll haves access in Canada.
Thanks, I'll give that a try. Here's hoping they're available on the Canuck version!
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I've seen the Paris episode many times. In fact, I'm watching it right now. It's one of my faves...and reminds me I haven't been to Paris since 2006. I need to get back there...
Speaking of things you may have seen (or in this case heard) before, I found a link to this soundbite a bunch of pages ago with Tony "rapping", apparently with Morcheeba:
http://dukeofstraw.com/yesterday/Lisa.mp3
It comes up a bit strangely, at least it does on my monitor, but once you hit play, you won't care
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first time dov experience! was a great one. we went to salt.
beverage of choice for the evening. i love stouts. this one's not bad. i like storm brewing's black plague stout (available at the whip) and the brooklyn black chocolate stout a bit more than this r&b one though.
started off with a shaved fennel salad. not sure if it's available outside of dov, but it was a nice virgin fennel experience for me
here's the pre-selected cheese platter they had on offer for dov. it was my first time pairing blue cheese with balsamic vinegar...it was actually a great match!
my dessert. a different kind of blue cheese, with honey and pressed fig bread. i could do without the fig bread. it made the whole dessert way too sweet. but then, it's supposed to be a dessert
i've been becoming a total cheese fanatic over the past couple years, and i would've been happy with another course of cheese for dessert.
my wife had the dark chocolate mousse for dessert. raspberry jam on the bottom, bit of salt on top (geddit?). very decadent and rich. again, not sure if they serve this sort of thing outside of dov.
i do love their location and whole concept. the waitstaff were awesome -- so happy and positive, great service, quick refills of bread. would love to come back and relax and eat some great meats and cheeses.
truth be told, i have this type of meal almost every weekend -- baguette from swiss bakery, asst. meats & cheeses from oyama or les amis and beer from brewery creek. but it can be exhausting to hit all these places to set up one meal that i usually eat on the couch or in front of the computer. salt is great for the lazy side of me.
They had the fennel salad when I went a few months back... mmm good.
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I'm officially jealous reading everyone's comments about the new ABNRs. For some reason, Travel and Escape in Vancouver stopped airing new shows after Berlin and has gone back to Episode 1 (Paris). Not that I mind a chance to catch the older shows again but why bail out partway through a season?! Urgh.
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Yeah, I'll be calling them tomorrow morning. If they aren't open I'll try again on Monday. Thanks for posting the number, I won't have to look it up now.
I've never had the experience of a cockroach actually in food but I do vividly remember sitting in a long-gone Japanese resto on Robson watching several of the little fellas cruise up and down the wall behind my dining partner. Having spent a lot of time in Latin America where the critters are rather more prevalent I did not react with as much concern as said dining partner when she saw them
but I still did not return... -
I've never watched this show on Food Network before but I note that the host is making a stop in Vancouver this week. The show is on today (Fri, Feb 8) at 6:30 and 10:30 PST, and repeats tomorrow at 2:30 PST as best I can tell. Might be worth a look...
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Chef Rob Feenie to head Cactus Club kitchensChef Rob Feenie has ended his brief sojourn in the restaurant desert and signed up with the Cactus Club Café chain.
"Food concept architect" ??
I have two degrees in English and I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. And it makes me think of euphemisms like "sanitation engineer" which make me grumpy.
The job title is silly but he needs a paycheque like everyone else.
No argument with that logic but still hatin' on the title babble.
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Chef Rob Feenie to head Cactus Club kitchensChef Rob Feenie has ended his brief sojourn in the restaurant desert and signed up with the Cactus Club Café chain.
"Food concept architect" ??
I have two degrees in English and I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. And it makes me think of euphemisms like "sanitation engineer" which make me grumpy.
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Oh oh, I hope that's not why mine tasted so good
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La Buca last Sunday night -- going away dinner for parental units; tasty beet and endive salad followed by glorious short ribs in red wine reduction with fennel risotto and brocolli rabe; capped off with sharing one of each of the four desserts, of which the standout was the pannacotta for me
Taste of Vietnam on Friday after a particularly viscous Board meeting that ran 1.5 hours late -- great comfort food, quick and yummy, not to mention cheap cheap cheap -- this is what fast food should be. Meatball brochettes here rule!
Phnom Penh Saturday night after another egregious all day Board meeting -- last minute decision to walk over from bro's place, just beat the rush at 6:45. Do not wait, go tonight and order the pumpkin flowers. They are not on the menu, just scrawled on a piece of paper randomly. They are pan fried with whole garlic cloves and are no end of good. Get some deep fried chicken wings and/or squid and maybe something salady (I'd go for the beef over the chicken, or maybe cut to the papaya) and follow it up with a jackfruit or lychee "moo moo" shake* for dessert and I guarantee you will be a happy individual if you like Cambodian fare. Service was also super friendly and helpful which was a bonus, especially considering how slammed they were. The only thing that is a bit offputting is walking up to the resto, as it is next to chicken and fish purveyors which when closed are both aromatic and bleak.
*ironically, no sign of dairy products that I could detect, just smooth fruity icy goodness.
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I almost feel bad saying this, they have them in the vending machine at my work. I never tried them. But I will now...
Hmm, vaccillating between jealousy and fear for your heart health with the coveted crispy morsels so easy to access
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I'm spending May 10-13 in downtown Vancouver. Any suggestions for restaurants,breakfast, lunch or dinner? Middle range to mildly expensive. Any cuisine.
Check out this current thread:
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Basking in post-Munchos glow courtesy of 7-11 at Broadway and Oak in Vancouver last night. Is it possible they have added even more salty goodness since my last bag??
edited to fix stealth-typing related spelling error ('ware egulleting at meetings!)
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Crystal mall: http://www.thecrystalmall.ca/
As an aside, some of the food court offerings are quite reasonable and very tasty as well.
Many thanks! You've expanded my horizons from Yaohan and TandT.
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I fully agree with Canucklehead on Kingyo Izakaya , Fuel and Gingeri .
Maybe also Come Along for dimsum on Kingsway .
I would also recommend Pied A Terre (french bistro on cambie) and La Buca (italian on McDonald) , same owners , god prices , great food .
I'll second La Buca (another great dinner there on Sunday night but do book ahead as it is tiny).
Can't comment on the resto at Social (sorry, really hate that whacky punctuation) but Canucklehead is spot on re the sandwiches. Worth the schlep for lunch, they are huge -- I love to eat and could barely finish a quarter sandwich. Order at the back and then head into the bar area, grab a beer and chow down in comfort.
Since we're talking Gastown, I would also recommend a trip to Jules French Bistro. I imagine this place would fit in decently well in Paris, the food is great, the staff is just French enough to give an authentic feel and the prices are excellent. Don't miss the roast pork with Puy lentils, but if you order it come hungry. I was too full for dessert and that is a rarity. Again, suggest you book early as this place is petite and busy.
I'm always a fan of the fish at Go Fish, although I have occasion to look sideways at the fries
I've never been in Feb because of the whole gotta eat outdoors thing though. Wonder if the line ups are as long now as they are in the spring/summer.... -
Sunrise Pizza , red and white checkered table cloths , liter of house red , parmesan shakers , hot pepper shakers
Whoa (Keanu voice), blast from the past. How many feta Sunrise pies have I et in advanced hangover state? This was the only place for pizza when I lived at 3rd and Commercial oh so many moons ago...
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Grayelf, would love to see a review post from you about Minerva's - I enjoy it for certain reasons, but would be curious to hear your opinion.
Not to worry, if they deliver to Kits, you will see a review the next time the pie jones strikes
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Okay, okay, enough already! Will have to give Minerva's a try -- it was a high school hangout for me but them days is long gone.
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I stumbled past David's Delicatessen [474 Geary, near Union Square] from a Doctor's appointment and thought I had a perfect opportunity to get some home-made chicken soup to soothe my antibiotic-required strep throat and flu.
Being the nice girlfriend I am, I thought I would order a pastrami sandwich on rye with swiss cheese for my BF since I was there, as well as a small container of chopped liver (comfort food for the sick!).
I got home and opened my $9.00(!!!) container of chicken soup to discover thin, watery broth, two chunks of cauliflower and one chunk of chicken. One taste of the flavorless broth and into the trash it went.
Needing to eat *something*, I opened the chopped liver only to discover it was completely turned -- you can smell the smell of rotten food immediately and this definitely had that putrid, sharp aroma.
Lastly, the BF opened his sandwich to discover that no only was there no cheese, but that the meat (while piled quite high), was mostly fat.
How does this place stay in business?
Many thanks for the warning -- we'll be back in April/May for a visit and stay near Union Square!
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Bella, on Homer
Thanks all. Haven't tried Megabite as it's outside our delivery (or pickup) range but will let my brother know! Bella we've had mixed results with ordering out to my sister-in-law's downtown -- a bit heavy on the tomato sauce and the crust is thick for my taste. The loss of Amadeus was definitely a hit for us too; as you may have gathered, we're quite far west so it was a go-to option... We have also tried Rocky Mountain for take out which was decent. Any other west side pizza secrets to share??
Mexican in Vancouver
in Western Canada: Dining
Posted
Thanks for the further info. We'll definitely be checking it out ASAP. Love the 2 beer limit