grill-it

And I'm still waiting for a reservation!!! (I guesss Saturday's are busy! )

I'm sorry - as a techie, I found the best method is to create a simple database - mine's in PHP - but you could use Access or somthing like that... Then you can search by your own criteria. No tasting notes though.... techie: as in, likes technology, but doesn't necessarily know how to use it!

Ok. Sorry to bring this up a year later, BUT: what the heck is 'CAMP'?

I would totally agree with KatieLoeb's suggestion to find an introductory seminar or course that would give you some useful general knowledge to help ease your 'fall' into the infinite worlds of wine. Getting to know and enjoy wine is well worth the effort, and you will soon thank yourself... Also, along the lines of futronic's suggestion, are portugese vhino verde (green wine) which fruity, light low-alcohol perfect for summer fare in the sun. And very cheap too! Well-chilled of course. Good luck!

Oh, and let us know how it turns out!

The 'sweet-salty' thing can be quite pleasant - I enjoy these garlic-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon and fried with a sticky orange 'sauce'. Just delicious, and very unexpected

I don't want to think about it, but tanabutler is mostly right--only it's not a cocktail, per se, it's more of a shot. You drop a shot-glass full of either whisky (in the case of an Irish Car Bomb) or Bailey's into a half-pint of Guinness, and then drink it fastfastfast, before it "curdles." New to this, but: One teenie, tiny correction - that should read PINT of guiness, and not HALF-PINT. Wonderful blog BTW... :) Edit: spelling - only i could bugger up two sentences...

Despite the great point re: recycling, I MUST use plastic. But then again, (like luckyzoe) I'm experiencing a shortfall of plastic bags. I have a puppy, and so I have been finding myself in serious plastic deficit the last couple of months. Now the folks at the office are bringing me their piles of saved plastic bags - and I'm barely keeping up... Here in montreal, a city by-law enforces the use of big trash bags for curbside garbage pickup - the small grocery bag has been outlawed (and its use may result in a 100$ fine!) BTW, before the pooch it was Paper...

Good subject - thx explorer for bringing it up. While I agree with Fat Guy that the 'best' table is subjective - I do feel that every client has the right to expect a comfortable and satisfactory table (within reason, of course) when they dine out. In turn, the service staff should do their utmost to make that possible. This being said, it is the clients responsibility to make their requests absolutely clear. The person taking the reservation, and/or the person assigning seating has no idea whether one prefers a table by window, in a corner, or in a tree. If you're picky, and you are unfamiliar with a restaurant, pay a little visit beforehand if you can - or ask the person on the phone to describe some of the places available. If you have certain dislikes, make them known - ie. ask to avoid corner tables, if you don't like corners. etc. Most good establishments will take the time to listen to their customers needs, and respond to them. In this manner, you lower the risk that you will be unsatisfied with the table on arrival, and you will avoid putting the staff in the sometimes difficult task of re-arranging the seating/reservations. Personally, I have only experienced a limited number of occasions where I have found a table unacceptable - and one of those was a net result of the neighbours. In nearly every occasion, my request to be moved to an alternate table was granted if it was possible. I suppose it depends on how you ask...

Has anyone mentioned la Banquise? It's the best according to my poutine-eating friends. I've honestly never had a 'good' poutine. I love the cheese, I love the fries, I can even stomach some gravy... but the mixture of all three just doesn't do it for me. I'll stick to a nice steak+frites...

Note to Moderator: Would it be alright to move the last few postings to a new topic entitled "Delfino" - I had a hell of time finding this thread (I had forgotten the name of the restaurant) ... I'm on my way to Delfino tonight...

Damned SteamTrain is booked up 'till the end of August... I guess I'll have to wait - and the experience should be worth it! Thanks for the seating tips - I'm on the wiating list for the cabins, or just a table in the Riviera. I'll post a review upon my return! Thanks again!

Wow!! Gourmande - thanks for the detailed review! I have been leaning towards the 'Riviera Club' or whatever they call it... I think I will go! I do have some questions though... How was the view, or were you distracted by the food/drink/music that the ride becomes secondary? How long was the trip overall? I live in Montreal, so I need to include my travel time - and probably accomodations in the Ottawa area... Now I just can't wait!

Oh, and did no one enjoy the little Italy vs Europe animation I posted further up the thread? I thought it was pretty amusing!

In old montreal, there's the Cafe Cluny at the old Darling Brothers Foundry (prince/ottawa streets). It's an art gallery/lunch counter - I eat there often, and lunches can be quite outstanding: bright, crunchy grilled vegetables, anti-pasto, & their daily specials are delicious, if not too rich in creamy sauces. Getting to coffee, i really enjoy their espresso - but it can depend on who's at the counter. The other day a novice made my espresso, and I could almost see the bottom of the cup! Still 99% of the time, it's just right.

Great, thanks! - I was beginning to think noboday at eG had bothered to try it out...

If the parking lots go - they better come up with a MUCH more agressive attitude towards public tranportation. No parking, no transportation, no reason to come to town to EAT. It will be tha death of our beloved restaurants.

that's right Wild P, The stoers you're refering were a part of the Maxi banner, but we're referred to as Maxi & Co. and approximately 1/3 of the retail surface was devoted to non-food items. I don't believe there was more than a dozen or so of those stores - and only 3-4 in the Toronto area... I agree wiht you about any pruchase of Metro-Richelieu - I figured that it would be a large US grocer that might have aspirations for market expansion....

Hah! I had the same awakening when one day I realised that I order mint tea more often than coffee at the second cup. And for Cafe Olympico - (open da night, as I've known it for years) does have great coffee - unfortunately it is much too hip nowadays. Too many people, too much smoke - not fun anymore. I've started going to the other place a block west - don't know the name, but the coffee's just fine without the hipsters...

this is for you Italians out there - and there's a little ditty on coffee in there... http://beta.xko.cz/danny/EUROPE-ITALY.swf EDIT: File size is just below 2Mb

That's just plain frightening, man.... I wonder if he eats out a lot? <-- pathetic attempt at keeping things on topic

Ok. So Supermarkets in Quebec in 100 words or less: Loblaws broke into the Quebec market by buying the Provigo chain. Provigo at the time (in 1999) had just under 300 stores, approx half of which were corporately owned, the rest were independant grocers (like the IGA model) Moreover (and interesting for Loblaws) was the Maxi chain (roughly 80 stores) of large surface outlets similar to the new model of Loblaws stores in Ontario. With the acquisition Loblaw, became Canada's largest grocery reatiler by far. Metro-Richelieu has more stores than Provigo - but not as many urban locations. I think closer to 70 - 75% of the stores are owned independantly. As a grocery wholesaler, they are a powerhouse in Quebec, but will likely be tha target of some sort of corporate takeover in the coming years. Sobey's, Canada's second largest grocery chain (or at least, they used to be) has also made a foray into the quebec market - but not in the same scale as Loblaw. Last I heard they had about a dozen corporate-owned stores in the province. Finally IGA, is, as the name suggests, a large co-op of independant grocers. In 1992, the Steinberg chain went bankrupt - the Steinberg family had previously been forced to sell their interest in the company, and with the help of the Caisse another Quebec entrepreneur (forget his name) had taken over restructuring of the company, but to no avail. The big 3 in quebec (Provigo, Metro, & IGA) at the time divided up the remnants in Quebec (included the beloved 5 Saisons stores), and their stores outside the province were purchased by A&P. Whew...

Thanks for your reply - I know the space, and I shall be visiting soon (and of course, contrary to what my username suggests, I enjoy food prepared in a variety of cooking methods, and not just 'grilled'.) Nevertheless, my own culinary skills, or lack of, dictate that I restrain myself to the BBQ for fear that I might seriously disappoint my dinner guests.

Sorry, I never went to Jongleux, so I am unfamiliar with it's location... so, while you're pluggin' Agapes, why not fill us in as to where the restaurant is located? Tx. Oh, and BTW, I want to know, 'cause I want to go....

I agree with your post entirely. To that effect, I realise that I neglected to mention that some my dinner companions that night seemed to be entirely satisfied with their experience at Modavie, whereas I was not. We mustn't forget that for some, eating is an evil necessity :o