Coop

South Granville area has Cru, Bin 942, WEST, En, Cafe Salade de Fruite, Maurya, Memphis Blues (over-rated in my opinion),Rangoli, Vij's and the new Tamarind Bistro. As well as incredibly trendy stores like Caban, Restoration Hardware, a women's golf boutique, Pottery Barn, Ming Wo's Motiv, Industrial Revolution, and numerous others. Also meter parking, The Stanley and a Mercedes Dealer.

I believe that it would be better to have more teeth, from the steer's point of view.

Keith is that a review? I know I would like to hear about La Regelade.

Ah the memories. Kidneys in mustard demi sauce, Peppercorn steak, bottles of mediocre but well priced Bordeaux. It used to be my favorite place 20 years and 12 odd owners ago. Was terrible the last time we went, about 4 years and 3 owners ago. Heard they are having a come back thogh with Scott Kidd (formerly of Araxi's right?) at the stove. Maybe it's time to darken their door again.

Scout you are more then a lurker, having been to a Burger Club meeting.

Barbara Jo told me she was still printing the tickets. They have charged my Visa though.

Myself and Coop Jr. are definetly interested. We have to go to the Opus event because he's a minor.

It's probably just me but I really love the Frieden Merguez. I have never been to Provence and had the real thing so i can't compare it to anything except what's available here and in Seattle (at le Pichet). I like it grilled and served with roasted potatoes, grilled vegetables and a mediocre bottle of Chianti like Le Fonti 2001. While at Santa Barbara i'll usually get a loaf of the Westview Bakery Pao de Casa.

I have been thinking back about my recent posts.....loved Cru, Parkside, Tasting bar at Lumiere, Fiction, West......the only place I was really negative about in 600+ posts was Joe Fortes when the Fat Guy said it was the best place in Vancouver. I just said I didn't think it was very good. I ate there numerous times, spent lot's of money but just never thought it was worth it. I just don't get the connection between this Cioffi's/ butcher thing and me being negative.... Hey wait a minute!

Although my favorite wines come from Tuscany there are also other great wine regions in Italy. My favorite being Sicily. Try the Nero d'Avola based wines from Morgante and Planeta. There are also fabulous Umbrian wines made by Falesco and Lamborghini.

You may find the recent (2004) Gambero Rosso wine guide of some help. My favorites would be Terrabianca Campaccio 2000, Belguardo La Seggeretta 2001, Batasiola Barbaresco 2000, Pruddotorri di Barbaresco 1999, or Le Fonti, Brolio, or Brancaia Chianti Classico from 2001.

That's me The Nattering Nabob of Negativity. I hate Food, Wine and Restaurants! The only reason I post here is to kill some time between trips to MacDonald's, Burger King and the Fat Guy's former favorite Vancouver place. I suppose that when you get all of your meat deliverd by Sysco you loose touch with the masses.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3694953/?GT1=4529

Maybe try fiction in Kit's. Very good food and Sean the owner does a great job of making everyone feel welcome. Bin 941 may be what you need as well it's close, the food is original and usually well executed and it is a whole in the wall. Be warned it is very popular and does not take reservations.

I hope we have the opportunity to buy it here in Vancouver.

I have an opinon on this so: For pork, panchetta, chicken (free range and bones for stock), veal chops and ground meats, Chioffi's. For Italian sausage and veal, Columbus Meat Market. For Merguez and other sausages The Santa Barbara. For beef, Save on or the Urban Fare. Make sure you buy the certified Angus from the cases, have it cut for you and do not freeze it. For Buffalo..........Just say NO!

We opened a bottle of the 2000 on Saturday. It was closed and had a very strange nose for about a half hour after decanting. Then it opend up into the beautiful wine I expected, very forward with plummy sangioviese fruit. perfectly balanced with a very nice finish. More sangioviese then cabernet in the mouth and on the nose. I compare it to the Segerretta Belguardo 2001 because in our market the prices are comparable. Very much nicer (the Campaccio) for immediate drinking.

I only ask because the price seemed high compared to the $39.90 cdn we can buy the 2000 for here in Vancouver. It's unususal that anything wine wise is cheaper here due to our government distribution system. How would you compare this wine to the Segeretta Belguardo 2001, which I found very closed, even after 2 hours in the decanter.

Is the Campaccio the regular bottling in the tasting notes?

I think you can call them whatever you want. It's when you try to make money off of their years of success, then you may have a problem. Should the maker of a Bulgarian nebbiolo be able to call his wine Gaja? Or for that matter Barolo? However in the privacy of my own home I can call it whatever I want, Barolo, Brunello, or even Petrus.

I have secured my tickets for the Opus event and will be attending with my oldest son. For all you people that have critiqued my restaurant recs,and accused me of being on the take, you can now do it in person.

It's interesting you mention Lamborghini who make incredibly expensive cars, but very good value wine. Campeleone always seems to be a good buy considering the quality. Unlike the Diablo, which is unbelievably expensive. I think this is due to the technology that goes into the manufacturing of such a car. I wonder if any more money goes into the making of Costa Russi then goes into Campeleone?

Does anyone have any comments on the tasting notes and scores in Wine and Spirits magazine? For particular wines their scores seem quite different then Spectator and Parker.

Does anyone have the original stemless tasting glass with the dimple in the bottom and side? I was always emberassed to take it to a tasting. Looking back I probably missed an oppertunity to look like the coolest guy in town.

I think when Parker and Wine Spectator started handing out 100's they left themselves no where to go. To me it's funny not offensive. I have never tried to be perfect or have the perfect experience so I'm rarely dissapointed. I have sure enjoyed some nice Italian wines this summer though. Le Fonti Chianti 2001, Moris Farm 1998 Morellino, Brolio Chianti 2001. Morgante 2001 Nero, Planeta La Sergetta Bianco 02. None were taken too seriously.