mkjr

Funny the penalties for allowing a licensee, and the employees of the licensee to consume liquor while working in the licensed establishment are pretty steep at "1-3 3-6 6-9 $1 000 - $3 000". Tis odd how some risks are taken very frequently, while others are taken only on a limited basis - despite the penalties. [i decided to remove my analysis although if you want it PM me. Others can operate as they wish and rely on what Victoria says.]

A little heat is OK.....but sitting in the docks while not in a "refer" bin. Damn! I wonder whether stuff from Europe comes via ports in Montreal? and then is trucked west? Pretty sure the stuff from California is OK, likely sitting in a bonded and temp. controlled warehouse in Napa waiting to be trucked up as needed - who knows though. I recall a story at Cambie where someone noted that the corks appeared to be pushed up on some new Burgs on the floor - true sing of bad things. The staff member replied, pushing down the cork, no they do not. Look for the loose foi or any evaporated wine under the foil edgesl. If the foil is not tightly secured and appears dented. Run....I say Run.

I agree that all stakeholders should have a say in the process and in any change. Changes effect a great many people. However, I would encourage you to examine the situation in B.C., which is "in between" and seems to work very well, certainly not "much worse" that the current LCBO system.

Just my 2 cents but BC's mix of some public and private wine stores seem to work well. For example, Marquis Wine Cellars in Vancouver has an amazing selection of wine from around the world and many wines that the BCLDB and LCBO would, I am certain, love to get their hands but are produced in such small amounts (or have owners who prefer not to deal with monopolies) that it might not be profitable for them to sell (read may not be worth the effort for a case here and there). Marquis also has the choice of bringing in the same products that the board brings in through the same agents that bring wine through the BCLDB (they can even charge a little more or the same price). Not a bad system if you ask me – although I love the wines that I have gotten from Marquis for the last 10 years. There is no reason to think the changes to Ontario’s system can not be incremental like BC’s changes, versus the sweeping changes in Alberta. Why is change such a bad thing? I think the report sparks dialogue amongst “all” stakeholders, including the residents of Ontario and employees of the LCBO.

I think that Monks may fit your price range. http://www.monksgrill.com Although in the summer the Wizard’s base is pretty quiet and there is not match going on. I have had dinner there many times years ago and the dual mountain burger for lunch was always a favourite, more times than I can remember, since the same was usually paired with copious amounts of beer during by ski bum days. I am not sure if they have this burger anymore but it was obscenely large and was only $12 bucks. I second Carumba also. Cheap and not too bad. I have not been to either place for years so take this advice accordingly.

Ouch. Thanks. Have to get a reservation first though but if I do I may decide to pass on BYOW. I guess that may be the objective.

So I guess the native food fishery is over. Does anyone know when the commercial Sockeye fishery opened on the Fraser as I wonder when we can start to see the nice fresh stuff here in Toronto. I hope that I have not missed it. I used to live in North Delta and boy do I miss the days of going down to the Fraser Docks just off River Road.

Many thanks.

Does Per Se permit you to bring your own wine? if so, what is the corkage fee?

Been itching to open the only bottle of this that I have to try it out. I know Parker was lukewarm on it but does anyone think he was off? Is it peaking or over the hill? The lunch sounded like it was a great deal of fun. The last time I was at C was a few years back and it was fantastic. Glad to hear it is still going strong.

I think that $130 for the sampling menu is reasonable – $100 for three courses seems on the high side, although IMHO I would only be going “big” at Lumiere so I would not even consider the three course option. I say that $130 is reasonable because the French Laundry now changes US$175 which is 40% more than when I went in 2000 (chalk part of it up to inflation), Eigensinn Farm now charges a whopping $300 per person (as I found out recently at a benefit dinner in Toronto where Michael Stadtlander was a guest chef) and the last time I was at Susur here in Toronto they charged $150 or so (not sure what the price is now). The one thing that makes the French Laundry stand out in my mind from any other restaurant that I have been to since – noting that when I went there I did not know anything about the place other than what I had been told so I had no idea what to expect – is that I still remember every single dish that I had like it was yesterday. This is in my opinion what makes a place memorable. The only other place that I can say has came close to this experience was Jean Yves Schillinger’s place “JYS” in Colmar – price was about 60 Euro’s for the 6 course sampling menu. I am very glad that Margaret Zind-Humbrecht told us about this place the day we were at the winery in Turckheim earlier that day. http://www.jean-yves-schillinger.com/ I have not had the sampling menu at Lumiere yet (only eaten at the bar and shot the shit with Neil and Sterns and others) and I intend to go regardless of what anyone says, since I firmly believe that each person is entitled to their opinion, just like I am, which is based on all sorts of different facts and benchmarks. Just my 2 cents. The nice think about BC though is not having to pay an extra 8% tax on restaurant food. Damn it adds up here in Toronto.

I think that the Hard Rock Cafe in Casino Niagara would be a good bet for kids - but food would be similar to the Rain Forest - kids can enter on the upper level and do not need to be older than 18 to get in. I have seen many kids at the wineries. Check out Chateau Des Charmes which makes very good wine and is probably the closest winery that I know of from the Canadian side of the falls and is also easily accessed (just off the QEW without having to go too deep into Niagara on the lake – takes about 15 minutes). http://www.chateaudescharmes.com/ If you decide to go into Niagara on the Lake (about a 20 minute drive) then try the restaurant at the Queen’s Landing Inn http://www.vintageinns.com/ which has a fantastic restaurant (and a great local wine list – Lailey Cabernet Franc is a favourite of mine) and I have seen kids there and since they are also a hotel they should be used to kids. I will say it is a little pricey though but lunch is not bad. As for the Anchor in Buffalo, I was there last weekend and I love the original wings. If you take kids go during the lunch hour. Toronto is about 120km away. I say that in distance because if you drive like I do it means less than an hour. If you drive the speed limit it is just over an hour.

I will be driving down from the north to Florida to spend about 2 weeks later this summer. I will be staying in Orlando and Miami (perhaps Tampa). I was looking for advice on any good wine stores along the way. I know of the ABC off Michigan in Orlando which is pretty good and I hear the Wine Warehouse is also good. I am always looking and hope that I may get lucky in my searches and find a bottle of Raveneau, Lafon or some Behrens & Hitchcock. Many thanks in advance for your time.

There is a way for you to do this and with your collection it is worth spending some money on legal advice. BTW, the Charter is of no assistance to your plight (PM me if you or others want to know why not).

You may wish to return via Alberta and find someone there to receive goods to follow and then do a one way rental back to Ontario. I have a friend who lives in Alberta and gets a permit and pays very low taxes and duties on things he buys in the US. He drives his wine from a storage facility near Seattle to Alberta through the US. A long way I know, but I hear it is very cheap. I suggest calling the AGLC. They may be able to advise on what exactly the permit is called. I heard of Saskatchewan doing a similar thing for a person coming from Australia (I think the taxes were about 2-3 dollars a bottle). Remember booze is a provincial matter for the most part.

"And, no you don't pay more." Sometimes depending on the product you may have to pay a little more (maybe a buck or two on more expensive wines). I agree it is very easy to buy through agents. I wish that there was a better way to get the lists of wines agents get (that are not sold at the LCBO - which I understand it a lot of stuff).

Not sure if the place is still as good but "Calories" was always a good bet when I was going to law school. I will flip a note to my old law school prof there and see if there is anything new. The website for Calories is below. I also liked Carvers for some huge steaks and also John's Prime Rib but you really must be in the mood for meat. http://www.caloriesrestaurants.com Looks like Calories has the 1995 Chateau Larmande on the list for $100 and the 1997 Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay for $45. I do not think you can buy those wines at the LCBO or BCLDB for that price. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

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Sweet list - I have been trying to get one like that. 60$ corkage at Susur?

Just curious as to what purpose this serves? What do you hope to accomplish by belittling a substantive review? Please let us know.

I do not think your words in respect of GI are quite fair. The seafood selection at GI is fantastic (particularly, the fresh clams and dungeness crab and other fish selections (5-6 bucks a pound for the crab - and dirt cheap Salmon in about 5 different varieties when in season)), you cannot beat the Lobsterman (for Oysters Clams, Mussels (more than one type) and of course Lobster (not at 15 dollars a pound like SLM – uncooked even when it is in season) and the more exotic Sea Anemones (sic)), the fresh pasta selections at the two pasta shops I used to go to were great and the fresh soup stocks at the Stock Pot (not to mention their soups - that I would die for right about now and would die for some of their cool stocks to make some Risottos without having to fuss about making my own). Also, GI is open all week. Cheese was always just OK at GI, but now that Alison and Alison’s cheese shop is a very short walk from GI, where they have a cheese selection that is second to none that I am aware of in Toronto, Vancouver or Saskatoon (the places I have lived); I think the scale may tip in GI’s favour. But really, who cares when each is very good. There is no value in saying one city has “nothing” compared to another or to say something is a “joke” without putting some substance behind the comments – even with substance to say something is a “joke” does not add much. I like both and think each is unique in their own right. I always like to go to GI when I am in town and shop at SLM every weekend. I would like to try out KM but just too far to walk and impossible to park some days. If anyone has been to Alison and Alison’s in Vancouver, is their an equivalent in the Toronto area?

I heard that Rain was BYOW on the news today and noted few have taken part. I thought people were to post a sign or something and advertise this? I know that each year Wine Spectator’s restaurant survey notes BYOW restaurants, so this may help get the word out but only for those who have a level of their awards. I have just been calling before I go everywhere. Any others out there as there are supposed to be about 500 who have applied. I have been to Jamie Kennedy's and confirm they are BYOW. Great experience and food was great along with the staff. Will go back again this weekend (I would not have gone back so soon but for the BYOW (and it is close to home)). Always nice to take a bottle out of the cellar that I have been looking at for some time. Not sure if Crush is “public” about theirs yet but I am pretty sure they have the endorsement they just have not yet admitted it last I checked.

For those trying to figure out what the exact address of "Zupa's" is, it is located at 342 - 1/2 Adelaide Street West at Peter street as noted by Sadistick.

I agree with you 100%. That being said, I have been to many places that just stick with the "double up" pricing and leave it at that. RC goes a bit further, but again that is just my own 2 cents and based on the prices of things I have bought and see on their list. BTW, I am a huge fan of BYOW, so that may taint my response somewhat when I see a more than double mark up anywhere.

Good old RC. Nice to see the mark-ups on the wine are still as killer as ever. $85 bucks for the (please correct me if I am wrong) $21.95 Morellino di Scansano 2003 (LCBO#992560 released in the Feb 2005 vintages release). Ouch, although not as bad as (on magnitute) the Cherryblock Cab from Sebastiaini on their list for $310 versus the under $100 dollar cost. Reminds me of a line from Wall Street. Cudos on the award though.