Sam Salmon

I never put salt in pasta water.

http://www.van-info.com/octopus/english.html exactly what you're looking for and 100% Japanese-something that's harder and harder to find these days sadly.

Many many times I've posted far and wide on the net about that pit of mediocrity and sludge but will people listen? The widespread acclaim of the Naam is similar to that of the 'Crapilano' Suspension Bridge-and is part of the sheeple phenomenon-which itself is not so phenomenal to those who study history.

There's been some mention of this unique product here but as a bread lover I think this operation deserves it's own thread. Yesterday I stopped by Transilvania (sic) Peasant Bread in the 3400 block W. Broadway and picked up one of most outstanding bread products in the city. A tiny bakery offering only one kind of bread done in a wood-burning oven this bread is delicious and hearty-to say the least. The wood heat somehow converts ordinary ingredients to the nutty rich and complex flavours not found in any other bread I've tasted in the city. The reference to mighty loaf isn't hyperbole-it's rich dark and heavy bread and a loaf must weigh 2 pounds if it's a gram.Rolls are also sold for those wanting a taste before committing to a serious relationship over a number of days My only regret is that my late Uncle Mike isn't here to share it with me-he was an ethnic Ukrainian born in Transylvania and no doubt ate and thrived on a similar bread in his youth.

Mongo-perhaps in time what you envision will happen. However speaking personally there's warmth that comes from reading/holding the printed page that the cold comfort of cyberspace can't ever match.

I think I understand why you want a stone used instead of a grinding wheel-you're concerned about losing the temper of the metal. However if a low speed grinding wheel is used with care that won't happen. It will cost you a fortune for someone to hand shape a new tip on a stone-much more than he cost of a new knife.

As mentioned by Vandan the upscale 'Chip Wagon' never materialized-I just cycled through that lot to have a look and it's exactly as he says-nada

With all due respect if I had one only meal in Vancouver I wouldn't bother with Dim Sum. Greasy little plates of godknowswhat have never done it for me. There are so many excellent restaurants downtown there's no need to travel to a suburban wasteland-save time and hassle stay downtown.

If it's somewhere "that emphasises some unique aspect of Vancouver" then http://www.liliget.com/ is the place for you. Featuring the best of NW Coast indigenous cuisine Liliget is unique in both appearance and content and an experience not to be missed.

I haven't been to Hapa yet but I have been to 2 Guus-Lower Robson & Gastown-the staff in both places shout constantly. I can't speak Japanese very well but I know some of the servers are shouting orders, some are repeating the same orders for no good reson I could determine and some greetings/farewells are being yelled. On a more subtle level I believe that some of the hollering is an attempt to somehow 'build community'.

Yes and Yes.The city downtown is very compact and easy to navigate. If you're doing the cycling tour buy your picnic fixin's @ GI Market then head west along the watrefront-more or less-to Jericho Park or better yet Spanish Banks for a picnic. The city cycling routes are to be found on the municipal web site (somewhere).A trip up to Little India is a treat by bike as well. I must say that the thought of someone paying $C21.95 for the Capilano Suspension Bridge has me stunned-the only phrase that comes to mind is BEYOND DREAMS OF AVARICE!!

That has not been my experience.

HKDave-It's not what he does 'on his day off' it's what he does every morning before he goes to work.The Good News is that he's so broke he had to give up his car so he walks to work. There's also a hygiene issue that the building is dealing with having to do with cleaning up after his apartment bound cat-you don't want to know the details believe me.... Daddy-A I haven't read the book but at one time in the 20th century I was employed in the Industry.My views on substance abuse remain unchanged-abusers are wounded dysfunctional people but they get no sympathy from me. gastropimp-I have to wonder if you weren't 'under the influence' when you posted this bit of nonsense. It sounds like you'd like to rebuild Kits Beach/destroy the pool/existing walk and put up more buildings to sell F&C?.If so check out Steveston first. As a longtime Kitsilano resident-my 25th anniversary is May 15-I can say with certainty the last thing this neighbourhood needs is more concrete and noise. As to that 'prime locale' it's going to be tough for them to operate under the constraints in place plus that expensive new condo development 'coming soon' next door isn't going to like a noisy bar operating late. No more bothersome transient renters complaining it's going to be ratepayers phoning City Inspectors about various and sundry infractions. Interesting times ahead Yes indeed!

Earl's? ROTFLMAO!!! The drunken drug addict that lives next door to me is a Chef @ Earl's-as good reason as any to never darken their door again. His friends are all Kitchen Staff there as well-a more boorish lot of miscreants it would be difficult to imagine.

That could be because they're too cold to smell right-a Mango must be warm to have that 'certain smell'. BTW-a geek-it'll cost you plane fare and more to eat Mangoes from Urban Fare-a very pricey place http://www.urbanfare.com/home.htm I was just there today-some of the prices are decent/competitive many are downright usurious IMO.

I gave up my Costco membership after 7 years-it just wasn't cost effective for a single person. They keep sending me 'membership deals' but it's hard for me to envision circumstances that would cause me to return.

maxmillan-one gem that fits your parameters is East is East -3243 W. Broadway. Indian, Iranian, Afghani and Tibetan food all 100% homemade. Excellent Chai and licensed as well. Very authentic-music and seating to match any Khyber pass truck stop/tea shop.

Umm...No! You must be from some other country because no one in Canada is paid that poorly. I agree with Daddy-A-doubling the GST is the easiest way to determine a fair tip. 20% is achievable 'some' of the time for exceptional service but is not all common.

While the variety of cheese appeals to many the smell does not. An associate of mine lives in the same (quite tony) building and the Strata Council had a devil of a time rerouting the air ducts to stop the smell from the cheese shop from infiltrating the lobby, being sucked up the elevator shaft and blanketing the whole place.

Thanks for the info/photos rbm. I've been using a waterstone for a few years now and am impressed with the results. This jig from LVT is easy to use and it's made my efforts somewhat more uniform.

The local joints-Capers/Choices and their ilk do carry BC organic produce in season. Other than that it's the Farmer's Markets-West End/East Side/Nat Bailey that are your best bet-again in season only. I eat organic in season other than that as you say the imported stuff is often half dead so why bother-think of all the diesel that was burned to bring it here .

Vancouver + suburbs must equal 2 million people-and something like 20% of those are from the Chinese homeland or somewhere in the diaspora-that equals a lot of restaurants. Chinatown in the older part of Vancouver is OK for a visit but the thriving mall culture in Richmond is closer to life in present day Asia. You'll need to be somewhat more specific in terms of what kind of cuisine interests you and a search through the old posts will give you an idea of the volume of choice of offer.

I did a search but came up with very little mention of honey so here's my impressions of a few 'Honeys I Have Known'. I'm lucky to have lived in/travelled to a number of different places-plus a dear friend of mine brings me honey from her travels across the planet. International Mexico-Many, many different honeys from small producers. Generally a light amber product from countless flowers with a bewildering array of flavours.Very good value although I wonder about those hives so close to highways that throng with diesel trucks. Costa Rica-basic Rain Forest product, dark molasses like honey of no special distinction. Colombia-I've just returned from Colombia with 2 special honeys. 1-a Dark Amber with smooth caramel flavour backed with a tiny bite of smoke and tar-amazing. 2-a unique even ambrosial Light Amber honey with one of the most exotic well balanced flower flavours ever-I should have bought a case. Turkey-something altogether different.The bees must have been kept on certain herbs exclusively-more of a medicine that just a sweet.A small taste reveals a background that must be good for a person-thyme, oregano and maybe tarragon along with unidentifiable other herbs.A small 250ml jar lasted me almost 1.5 years and I was sad to see it go-just a small taste did me some sort of good I know. Ecuador-Light yellow with vegetable overtones-sweet and a tad weird. Azerbaijan- a pale yellow honey with a hint of Yarrow-or something like Yarrow. Spain-Buttery almost beyond belief this honey when tasted bloomed in the mouth-a true masterpiece of Apiary. Fiji-another dark Rain Forest flower honey tolerable only in small doses-very rich and complex almost too much so. Trinidad- again dark and complex but with overtones of sharp unknown herbs-ever heard of 'Shadow Benny'? Domestic Prince Edward Island-a Clover for the ages.Sharp almost hot and yet sweet & beguiling-hard to believe it came from such a bucolic locale. British Columbia Mayne Island-Rose honey from bees kept exclusively on rose bushes.Cheap almost given away this small market product is medium amber and unlike the popular image of rose products as sweet as cloying caresses the tongue and challenges the senses. Sayward-from northern Vancouver Island comes honey from both field & forest.Clover, Alfalfa and Pine combine in a quality dark gold liquid with some very well balanced highlights. Fraser Valley-Goldenrod honey-another dark gold 'almost too strong' honey that's fabulous on scones. Tugwell Creek-Vancouver Island a Wildflower honey that has so many intricate flavours I call the taste 'baroque'.

Thanks for the reference to the Cook store http://www.cookshop.ca/store/ looks interesting. I haven't been in that Mall for ages now I have a reason to stop.