Coop

Best of the year for me was a dinner at Parkside with co-owner Chris as our waiter. A meal at the bar at Lumiere. A dinner at Cru in the spring where we seemed to get VIP service for some reason. Must of thought I was Brad Pitt.

I just read this post from beginning to end. On the first page I found out that Marc Sommers has OCD. So after filpping to FTV and finding his show on time after time I only have one question. Mark did you unplug the iron? I'm going straight to hell for that one. I will be able to catch up on Top 5 while I'm there though.

Omaka Springs was my favorite last summer, the 2003 I think. The 2004 Villa Maria SB is very nice. I agree with "T" on the Feudo d' Elimi. At the same time as discovering it I also found Cousamano 2003 Insolia, very nice. Didn't like the blend with Chardonay that much though tasted soapy to me. Herr Shanken put it on his top 100 list though.

Any chance we could choose something a little more widely available? Speaking for us Canadians, we cannot buy wine from websites or have them shipped to us from wineries.

Well said.

It's illegal.

I buy cheese at Costco as well, just not the Reggiano anymore. Currently in my fridge from Costco, Woolrich goat cheese and a Quebec Brie. I am using them for cooking.

Ouch! Parmegiano Reggiano. I'm not advocating going to Italy for your cheese, just try it from a place that buys whole wheels, cuts them regularly and then wraps them in plastic wrap. I love Poplar Grove Tiger Blue BTW.

I find that the Parmessan Reggiano that is cryovaced (like the Costco stuff) soon looses that ethereal flavour the cheese is known for. Instead it ends up tasting like the plastic it comes in. For me, I like it cut from the wheel in the same postal code it's sold in, and then wrapped in plastic wrap and turned over quickly. Try it from a deli that cuts it fresh from the wheel you will notice the difference. BTW parmessan needs to come from Italy, not Alberta. Like Champagne needs to come from.....Champagne.

I don't think anyone is claiming this is an epic bit of filmwork. A decent story about how two wierd guys with their own obcessions end up spending a week together in a nice bit of wine country. I actually thought Payne's first movie Election told a little better story.

Detroit probably reminded him of Moscow.

Krutov was hilarious. Couldn't have been more obvious.

When he played three lacklustre years for the Canucks.

Urban Fare has decent if a bit dry black truffles. They need to be cooked. Don't expect much information on thier provenence, the counter people don't really know (care). BTW they are at the cheese counter. I made a rissotto with mine, peel them and infuse the boiling stock with the peels. I jullienned the rest and folded it in with about 5 minutes left in the cooking. Truth is you need some good truffle oil to boost the flavour just before serving. Get the oil at the Gourmet Warehouse, not at the fancy Save On (Urban Fare).

I don't really get the mar's bar at the place on the drive. It looked to me like it was frozen and pre-battered. Then he topped it with whipped cream and some sort of red sauce (raspberry) and the guy called me Boss about thirty times. It was gooey and choclatey though.

Good to see he is using the money he stole from us for good not evil.

WMF..WTF?

Don't get me wrong I like Intamacy in a hotel. My favorite chain is the Kinmpton hotel line. The one thing I need most in a hotel is cleanliness. I can't stand the thought of other people using the same bed or bathroom as me. So I need to know that it has been throughly cleaned prior to my arrival. A lot of times I connect old and musty to dirty. I anticipate growing old and mad in a Howard Hughesish obcession with cleanliness. I do plan on dropping into The Wedgewood for lunch or drinks during the holiday and I will check out the lobby and back hall to see if it was just a bad series of nights I was there.

I may be off base with this one, but the lobby has never led me to believe the rest of the hotel could be that nice. I have enjoyed a great dinner in Bacchus, drank often in the bar. Everytime I go to the head through the lobby I just get bad memories of my grandparent's house. Perhaps if I forged on past and into a room I would have a different opinion. No offense to your friends at The Wedgewood though, just my own opinion. On the other hand We had a great stay at Le Soliel, the staff was great and the rooms were new, clean and well decorated (kitchy).

I don't know. I can have lunch across the water at RVYC for about half the price. I love the pictures of the boat houses though. Don't mind those O glasses though. Dishwasher safe!

Mr Maw is quite a throwback in this regard. Those deli sandwichs sure look good. Have you had one Keith? My son insists on a McGriddle before winter golf. May have to find another golf partner.

Arne you will love the Le Soliel. It's very nice if you love over decorated rooms. I do, at least. I have always thought of the Wedgewood as a bit of a dump. Never been past the lobby but if the rooms are like the lobby you can keep them.

Absolut slam dunk for Les Ami de Fromage!

we had breakfast at Elixer after the big night. It was good, no confit though.

Dare I suggest Parkside.