mkjr

I recall that both Bacchus and FS were quite the meat markets (and not sure if that is what she wants to see right now), at least the last times I was there? Perhaps things have changed. What about the bars at the Pan Pacific/Hotel Vancouver or Fairmout Waterfront? I think that you can get food from the main restaurant's at each in the bars. I was staying at the Pan Pacific last week and it was nice. Tis a crappy time of year for the same.

I hope you all managed to score some of the Sea Smoke Pinot that came in the Classics. Scored big on this one some of the 01 Grange and also picked up a 6 pack of some Littorai Savoy Pinot from an agent in the city. Score! Not sure if there is any more out there but the best I have seen in a while. I hear that one should be at the tasting tower at QQ on the 27th as there is going to be some high end champagne's to taste....nummmy.

I did draw conclusions and inferences from the statements that she did make and by doing a little math and making a few assumptions based on the information I know (size of typical tasting portions of wine of 2 oz and a best case scenerio, a mark-up of 100% - with six tasting portions one need not be a math person to figure the per 4 oz glass was $20+ each glass (or assuming a little spillage you get 6 glasses per bottle for $120 a bottle or $60 pre-mark up cost per bottle) and as such I would expect some fairly good wines (although the article notes a $22 per bottle pre-mark up bottle in the mix) and if however, the mark up is higher than 100% the value is inversely proportional to the same). I guess if the pairings were good she might have noted the same? I personally would not have gone with the wine pairings (in any event). The review of the food included more than enough substantive comments for me. Besides, I am sure someone from the restaurant would be more than willing to post and correct Ms. Gill and clarify my assumptions/conclusions/inferences. I will then stand corrected.

Her review of Nu and Rare seem to be pretty fair, although, not possitive (oh well, I guess it's only one opinion). I often agree with much that she has to say but more importantly will this review entice me to try a place like Rare when I am back for the holidays (probably not (mostly given the price tag), but then again, it was not on my radar in the first place). The comment about the wine pairing price seems to also be fair and I have started to see more and more of the wine pairings lacking in value, at least in Toronto. As I am sure people can appreciate, we each have different opinions. I remember openning a 1999 Kracher No. 9 for a friend of mine and he tried it and looked at me and said it's too sweet. Argghhhh.

LOL. This is sooo true.

I was going to say the photo looks like Spadina. I went to this little place on the east side of Huron street (first block before Spadina) just north of Dundas that had outstanding dumplings and noodles that were getting close to rivalling Legendary Noodle on Main street in Vancouver for those who know. There were two places in this small little building complex on Huron, however, the one we went to was the place further north on Huron. I recall my wife and I noting how interesting it was that a competitor should set up next store. The name was "Mother's Dumplings". Great and cheap.

Magic Wok Thread on Ambassador. http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=94570 I also refer to a very high end place on Woodbine but do not know the name.

Too bad. Kind of like book prices I guess.

should have added "....on French wine that the LCBO does not get their mits on"....although it is a very accurate statement with respect to our wine buying habits.

I will have to check my mailer prices but I recall my Kosta Browne Pinots last Feb. were $38 bucks each a bottle for the Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast (took a little while to get to Canada tax free), my 2004 Roar Pisoni was around $40 or so and so too were my Radio Coteau single vineyard Pinots. I also think that my Loring single vineyard Pinot's were around the $40 buck mark also (FYI, they make there way to Canada for around $60 retail but not in BC). There are a few other mailers that I know my prices were around the $40 buck mark for many Pinot's. All dollars above in US$ but at the current f/x rate they are only slightly higher (if you can take your time to get them back tax free that is also 2 or 3 at a time). Forgot to note that there would be a little extra for shipping on these... That said, perhaps a more accurate question is what can you get from California at the BCLDB that has any kind of pedigree. Given the mark ups in BC, I suspect these wines would be closer to $70, in which case you are 100% correct. Although the recent surge in the CDN dollar means that this may change a great deal, but only if they BCLDB passes on the f/x savings to its consumers. Prices for Cali wines have dropped in Ontario. If they have some Landmark wines in BC around I would take them in a second (the board has had them in the past and I know Marquis gets them but not sure if there are any still). In Ontario the Landmark chardonnay and single vineyard pinot's come in just under $40 (and I would drink those over any chard and pinot from either BC or Ontario any day of the week). Sorry but they are just more my style. I have had the Blue Mountain stripes, chard and pinot (and will try a bunch of last years releases when I get to my parents for the holiday's as they get lots of BM) and I must say the chard is probably the best they make (a close second is the Pinot Gris). They are also good - very good wines. Not had any of the others you have listed. However, given my preferences for the types of Pinot's I am drinking these days, I find the Blue Mountain Pinots pretty thin and contain the characteristics that this whole thread is about. I do drink some green wines here in Ontario but I just do not like them much and life is too short to wait for wineries to make wines in a style I prefer. I had the 1999 Blue Mountain stripe a month or so ago and I would have a little concern about its ability to age (although I was not sure if 99 was a great year or not and I am sure many of you may know better) but it was over the hill IMO. I will, in the next few weeks, endevour to try some older (1995 and 1996) Quail's Gate Family Reserve Pinot's that I have had earlier in their lives that were good to very good and see how they are doing now. I drank the initial ones a few years back so my memory would be too write to write about. Edit to add note about shipping costs.

It is sad.

Mmmmmmm......Dick Ann's..........my wife introduced them to me a few years back. It's a must stop on our way to Montreal when we make our trip to stock up at the SAQ. The location we go to is sureal. The wall of huge orders makes me chuckle.

Do you put these details about how you conduct your reviews in the magazine also or can one find it on the TL web-site? Perhaps this may help.

Nice....never heard the phrase "Napa North"....please tell me this is a Calistoga reference as me thinks any reference to Napa in Canada may be a tad in the double point rings or in the numbers. Anyhow, lots of places in Toronto with the forbidden fruit if you would like me to Fed Ex some out to the OP on Fed Ex next flight for you.

That is probably bang on.

I was at Splendido on Saturday and the meal was great. However, it was the second time I have gone with the three course menu and not the full tasting menu and now the second time I have been so stuffed I have not ordered desert. Oh well, it was great as usual even without desert. An interesting observation though, is that my dinning guests at Splendido who have dined at places around the world with more M-stars than I am sure I will get to in my life noted that they had dinner at Bistro 990 during their trip also and preferred the meal there. I have only heard negatives about this place although I will certainly venture there given my collegues opinion, which I highly respect. He also noted Bistro 990 was much lighter on the pocket book (and we even BYOW'd the older vintages of Spottswoode and Togni at Splendido). I must say his comments gave me a little pause.

I never thought about this angle but I will stay with the pasturized stuff given the same. For me I suspect it makes no difference in my coffee or cereal either way.

Yikes......especially at the prices one is being charged for some BC reds (I saw a bottle of Mission Hill Oculus at the LCBO for $57 bucks...PASS). Not the flavour profile I am keen on in the least in my reds. Not sure if you have to walk by the Aussi section before you get to the BC reds but even some of the el cheepos from there have ripper fruit. I guess I must just be a fruit bomb kinda person.

Treadwell or Restaurant Tony de Luca in the Niagara region are the top choices IMHO. I have posted on both and you will not be disappointed. I am going to Splendido again tonight and have been there many times and I think it is the top in TO, although, that said I had an outstanding lunch at Canoe on Wednesday of last week.

I heard that the Bonacini restaurants are considering allowing BYOW and/or may have already applied for the same and I get the feeling more places are allowing it. The new Toronto Life notes places that allow BYOW which I think is a huge plus for people like myself that really only seek these out these days since I like to dine out but mark ups are such a drag (esp. when I have soo much wine that needs to be drunk with many, and I always share with staff) and drain on the pocket book. I raise this issue again also since I was asked to provide advice to wine selections at Harbour Sixty and I checked about 12 of the wines on the list and mark ups were between 400% and 500% on items that were listed on both their list and currently available at the LCBO. One example of the same was the 2003 J. Lohr Seven Oak's Cabernet, a very, very, very marginal wine on a good day (let alone a marginal year such as the 2003 vintage), which was on the list for $100 a bottle (plus 17% tax and tip) versus the $19.95 price tag at the LCBO with very very wide availability in the City. WTF? I have called Harbour Sixty a few times when I have craved a steak and asked if they have BYOW, and the last time I called they noted they have no intention of doing so.......no wonder at 500% why would you. If you would like further examples let me know but the mark up was in many regions on the list. I am sure there is a thread about mark ups just waiting to bring this sort of information to people's attention. Such is life with HS.....I guess

nice review. this is the best way to pick wine. i take points away when people push the whole wine pairing stuff these days. only ever had one perfect match, and that's after years of trying so now i just say screw it and order what I like also. there is nothing like some Krug with a pizza.

Likely not as everyone and their dog takes their camera these days.

I guess my question is whether those around him are getting better service since he is there? I would expect people to come clean if they have affiliations with any places they review also.

What was the price for the burgers? They look like they were pretty filling. I must say I love the very rich burger at Bymark so a few smaller ones to share might be something I would be very keen on trying.

Blue Mountain has sold to the LCBO here in Ontario and I have bought their reserve Pinot here in Toronto (does not come in all the time but I have seen it on the shelf). Consignment works well in Ontario but its hard sometimes to buy a whole case....thank god some agents are getting special 6 packs from wineries. That said, Marquis in Vancouver gets more selection of much harder to find stuff (speaking of California stuff) than agents that I am aware of here in Toronto get, although its very hard to find out what agents rep certain products. As many know, its not like I need more wine to buy....arghhhh mailer hell in the US continues.