Coop

You should skip the Raincity Grill IMHO. You could add Fiction and Cru to your list. Also Rangoli, Vij's new casual place. it's interesting to hear all the recomendations for breakfast. I am always lost when looking for somewhere.

Good Luck Craig. I will miss your weekly wine picks. I geuss I have missed them for a while. i will check out your site though.

Perhaps I became frustrated/"positive" because I was frustrated that no one even posted the faintest of suggestions. I feel a responsibility when people ask the same question on the Vancouver board. I geuss I thought a bit of an attitude may help get a reaction. I have heard that the people of Philly were famous for booing Santa Claus. I geuss now there is no hope. Me and my big mouth.

Good Luck Craig. Thank you for your help. I appreciate your insite into all things Italian. Geuss I will need to sign up at your site.

well thanks for your help. If you come to Vancouver, I recomend Applebee's!

Frescobaldi Campo ai Sasso 2002: Muddy purple, Nose of bubble gum and cheap grape pop. Grape Bubbilicious? Impossible to get past this wierd nose. Thin in the mouth. After a half hour the horrrlble nose left the bare bones of a terrible thin wine. The guy at The Kitsilano Wine Cellar recomended this one. I was leary because of the vintage. The 2000 drank 2 months ago at Cru was very nice. 0 mullets out of 4. 20001 Baltasar Old Vine Granacha: Brilliant purple, Cedar and tobacco, then plummy fruit. Oaky, nice wieght in mouth. Long finish with the flavour of wine and oak. 3 mullets out of 4. Qunta de Camarate 2003 by Jose Maria da Fonseca: Nose with very muscat aromas, honey and Citrus. Very dry in the mouth. Almost like Sauvignon Blanc. After a while the nose turns grassy. This is very cool. Great summer sipper. 3.5 mullets. Camagliano Sant' Antimo Cabernet Sauvignon 2001: This is part of my self imposed Tuscan learning curve. Deep purple, almost black. Nose of Ooives and chocolate. Not the cassis fruit typical of Napa and Bordeaux. Very dry in the mouth seems to have a dry but short finish. I wonder if they changed this vineyard from Sangiovese to Cabernet. If so what a disapointment. Not bad wine by any means, just not as good as Brunello or Rosso di Montalcino in my opinion. Mullet jury currently un-decided. Will re-considers tomorrow. Pantelleria by Pellegrino 2002: I believe this house is huge in the Marsala business. Interesting orange colour, nose like Port, no great Muscat (the grape I believe) aromas. A bit maderized, sweet and cloying. No acidity. might make a nice sauce for veal or chicken. 1 mullet out of 4. The first three wine were purchased from a private wine store in Vancouver B.C. It is a little wierd to get treated like a customer when buying wine in this country. That's why I'm going easy on them for recomending the first wine. It was awful. Anyone who tasttes it would instantly know it's complete garbage. I am doubling my vigilance when it comes to 2002 in Tuscany.

I'm not a big fan of Global knives. They don't fit my rather large hands. I know that the prices on thier Trident stuff was very competitive. I have a huge thing for Kershaw Shun knives right now. Of course I don't "need" one but they are so beautiful. Knife Porn: http://www.kershawknives.com/kitchen/702C.htm Just haven't had the chance to do Parkside lately. Have to do Chambar first anyway.

Hard to believe they would use "hype" to sell something in Ontario!

After several bottles at The Harvest Vine in Seattle, including Finca Sandoval (made by a Spanish E gulletor whose name escapes me) we had a bottle of Ochoa Moscatel (spelling?). It seemed brilliant to me. Very fresh reminiscent of a good Muscat de Beaume. Anyone know the name of the winemaker at Sandoval.

I used Knifex last year and they did a great job. Warning though, if you are a gear head like me you may find it hard to resist all the cool Wustof and Global stuff they have onboard. BTW I haven't been to Parkside since July.

I have spent a fair time in both valleys. I find the biggest difference to be the people. In Napa people seem to be there because of a love for food and wine In Kelowna....well it's just different.

It sounds more like you want a course on general wine knowledge?It really helps to know the grape blends, history etc about wine. Especially if you are to write about it. People in tasting rooms don't need to hear your tasting notes. They generally have the wine in thier mouth, or are about to. however interesting facts about the grapes or the vineyard are always nice.

I went on Friday night and was impressed by the crowds, the products, not so much. The produce was okay but fairly limited. most of the produce section was pre packed salads and crudites. Some were organic but I can cut and clean produce so... The fish department was decent, although i was not impressed by the dead clams. They were on ice instead of in a tank. The mushrooms were the same as I could buy at Save On. The meat looked nice. I bought some sausages (chicken and thyme), we ate them the next morning and they were very good. A bit lean though so cook them slowly in the oven. The bread section was the same as every where else, Terra, Ecco and Mediterannio. Everything else was basically prepared food. I remeber years ago going to Caper's and finding interesting greens, wild mushrooms and even some decent imported cheeses. This place does not have that charge for me.

You're right Jeffy, I just re-read it. Why do new wine regions need to think they can compete with wines at the highest level. Can't they just make nice drinkable wine and let us decide wether it's on a level with the finest wines from other regions. This self promotion is a classic emperor with no clothes. I have drank enough wine in my life to know that they can't make a red wine that consistently rivals even the most mediocre classified bordeaux or aussie shiraz in the Okanagan.

Mrs Coop will be working in Hershey for the next few weeks. Does anyone have any recomendations for good indepedent, casual restaurants for dinner?

Will Mr Feenie be an american chef? I was struck by the comments of Jimmy Roberts after the Ryder Cup. He claimed the Europeans all live shoulder to shoulder on thier continent, while WE (americans) are all alone over here on ours. Hello did you notice there is a country to the north and another to the south? I'm glad they kicked your asses.

Fiction on West Broadway is excellent. I have sat at the bar alone and had a great time there.

Mrs Coop is working in PA. this month so no where exciting: Red Onion for burgers on way to airport to pick up Mrs Coop, who is home to do laundry. It was pretty good. Osteria Napoli for pasta one night during week. Pretty awful really. Kim Phung for Pho one day during the week. Chef next time you are in Seattle you should try Union.

The winery "commisioned" her to conduct the tasting? Puhlease! Seems potentially corrupt to me. I live in Vancouver and have never had the chance to try this wine. Would I be more inclined after reading this? No.

I vote yes. I think the initial airing of the wine will help it open up. I doubt that having it back in the bottle will improve it because there will be no increase in wine surface area.

No I have never posted a tasting note. I think I may start. I am just worried that it's like talking about your last round of golf. No one really wants to hear about the putt you lipped out for birdie. I have to rate my first WTN 2 mullets though I mis-spelled Salcetino in the title.

The story of the student passing from the virus is every parents greatest fear. As the father of two teen boys, I have great sympathy for her family.

After 23 hours. Still tight but more open, some plummy fruit. Like plum jam. Tobacco and cedar as well. I have 3 more bottles. I won't touch one for another year.

I like Salade de Fruites. I think it's great for a casual lunch or dinner. The downside is the food though good is uneventful, the wine list is pathetic and the room is what it is, a small alcove in some sort of government building/school/video store. Good place for mussels. They use packaged frozen crepes!

I agree the izakaya thing in this city is huge. I really like Gyoza king on Robson. It is more old school then the rest. If you go to Sen5es, I really liked the Stilton Cheesecake. I also love Artiggiano, It seems to be the only place in this coffee crazy town that consistently makes great espresso.