Coop

Jamie Good luck in Hawaii. Nice to see you on this board with somew fresh ideas. Unlike mot juste I'm hanging on every word.

Hey! Now just a minute! Vancouver has some porno shops too!

Calgary? Really? Hmmm..No I thought about it and I don't care. They can think what they want about our restaurants, I have never given their's a thought. Didn't Michael Noble move there? So they must have at least one decent place. Right. Hey Jamie Maw. You have to get out more often.

What about Langhe? I think a lot of de classified Barbaresco is sold a Langhe. Prudotorri de Barbaresco makes theirs from younger vines inside the Barbaresco DOC.

Bobby Rivers definetly on my Top 5 list of most useless TV hosts, right behind Mark Summers. I loved that great episode about Kraft Parmessan Unwrapped. I'm Bobby Rivers! Mentioned at least 10 times each episode just in case you forget who he is and start thinking he is Al Roker and Liza Minelli's bastard love child.

Wine Spectator had an excellent article on either Yakima or Walla Walla last year, maybe in September, October. I'll try to find it. What about that Banner Bank on the radio about Dunham cellars and all their friends. Does it mention a restaurant?

I find the Fraser Valley co-operative booth in Granville Island the best for greens. I think they are currently importing right now. Their root vegetables are local though. IMHO, one must eat what is in season if you want to do this organic thing correctly. This is really the worst time of the year for produce though. In the winter I enjoy eating beets, carrots, parsnips, cabbage etc. which are available locally (organic and mass farmed). One can eat seasonally and locally in Vancouver.

My wife just returned from Mexico City with a bottle of this spirit. I had a glass yesterday afternoon and found it to be quite smooth, but still with some agave flavour. What do people think about this light brown coloured liquid?

Best Italian: Anton's Pasta Bar. Need we say more?

It's not Dos Padres. The home of the two most disgusting restrooms in America. Food and service to match! They have acceptable sandwiches at Haggens.

I have always sought out City Food. I find it informative and eye appealling. It seemed to be winding down the last couple of years. That's why I was thrilled to see this edition. I think it's more of a labour of love then a real business for the people involved. I think I must view it completly differently then young one. I found the amount of information to be staggering and for the most part up to date. Of course any publication must be regarded as a guide, not a bible. In Vancouver we must filter through the articles written by Jurgen Gothe (sounds like Jerking Off), Jamie Maw, Anne Garber, Angella Murrills and that wind bag Caren MacSheery to form our own opinions. I was working on my own opinion about Parkside on Saturday night. Now that was some very enjoyable research!

Did Torrefazionne and SBC get taken over by Starbucks?

I just picked this up. It seems to be pretty decent at least as useful as the Angela Murrills book and it's free.

On the North Shore I have had some really nice meals at Marine Drive. I should disclose that a very good freind of mine is the money behind the place, but I think I can say that my judgment is not clouded on this place. The last three meals I have had there were very good. It can be a bit inconsistent though.

Kieth, I think my descriptions of the neighbourhoos is a bit tongue in cheek and also dated as I have been living in Maple Ridge for 17 years now. You don't like the Casa Gelato music...Gelati....Gelati....Gelati.... very catchy. BTW there is an article in Vancouver Mag this month about the decline of the West End (Vancouver at its best and worst all in one neat package) and other Vancouver real estate. As well as Jamie Maw's annual summing up of the Tapas scene.

Here are my favorite neighbourhood spots: Commercial Drive (Trendy Artsy type mixed with Old School Italians) Marcello's. Great pizza and pasta, had bad service once, but that was unusual. Owner mans the wood oven during the busy times. Always busy. Robson Street West (Mix of Japanese and Korean hipsters and trendy West End residents) Gyoza King. Funky interior, great staff, best Japanese tapas in the city. Especially the gyozas and the sashimi. Kintaro. Busy Ramen joint. The chef is obsessed with his craft. Real neighbourhood place. Get in eat, get out Davie Street. (West end hipsters, retirees, gay and lesbian partiers). Bin 941. Creative tapas with a Vancouver feel. Not to be missed. Kit's ( People with Money and little taste) Feenie's Variable quality, but when it's good it's really good. Great Mojito!

We just returned from our annual golf trip to Palm Dessert. we had two very nice casual meals at the Fisherman's Market and Grill. They do a good job, and they don't try to be anything they aren't. The deep fried oyster were very good as were the tatare and cocktail sauces. We had a terrible meal at the Yardhouse in the River's. We have been 4 times and it has gotten worse every time. Oh I forgot to mention the Crazy Coyote taco stand in Cabazon. Great fish taco's (deep fried cod) in corn tortillas with exceptionally good salsa.

I can feel the love you all have for Burgerville, so I will try them on our next road trip. The really dissapointing thing for me was the burger. It just seemed bland and the thick slice of carboard tomato just made it awful. The very traits Extra MSG hates about the IN n Out fries are what I love.

My sons and I were really looking forward to eating at Burgerville and comparing it to our road trip fav. In and Out. Of course geography would make this impossible to do side by side. We had our first (and last) Burgerville experience in Centrallia. How dissapointing. The palce was filthy, the tables were covered in garbage. The gentleman who served us could not have been any less interested. It took him about 10 minutes to get us our drinks and ring in our order. While making my hazelnut shake he took the opportunity to have a nice little visit with one of his female co-workers. The most dissapointing thing though was the Tillimook Cheddar and Pepper Bacon burger. The meat and cheese were greasy and flavourless. All of our burgers had thick slices of white and green cardboard like tomato slices. The fries were obviously frozen Mcains type. We could have gotten a better meal at Burger King. The next day we had a fantastic burgers at the In and Out in Stockton.

Oh yeah. For coffee and panini the best place by far is Artigianno on Howe between Robson and Georgia.

For a great BC type experience try Parkside on Haro. chef Andrey changes his menu daily, the wine list is good and the service flawless. It's also in a very uniquely Vancouver neighbourhood.

http://www.fishermansmarketandgrill.com/ It's okay. It's next to Trader Joe's in Palm Dessert. There are a lot of older people in the valley. Some are active, some aren't. they can all drive very fast though. I will be there next week and I will be golfing everyday and where ever possible I will be walking and carrying my clubs. I am glad that others take carts to speed things up though. BTW I'm 47 and I play faster then my 14 year old. I said faster not better.

BTW there is a pay lot behind (hazelbridge?) it is always empty. Only a loonie for an hour.

did this ever happen?

It was a very rainy day everywhere except in Anacortes where we played. Similk golf course. It's 6,230 yards from the back tees, very hilly and kind of wide open. It's in very good condition, not busy and $15.00 US during the week. Highly recomended! As for the Outback and Krispy Kreme in Burlington, you're on your own!