Taboo - Off colour and off topic

Well we went to the sex show. Yawn. Nothing really new to see. Didn't eat anything (I promise).

Jane did finally got to spank Jada for all the naughty things she's been doing lately. She didn't hit her hard enough though.

There were some other frightful pictures, but I am sparing you the horror!

Cameo Cafe

Here is the update on "Big Al's".It is called Cameo and is on 295 West 2nd.
They are officially opened. It is owned by Dina Livranento, a graduate from VCC who is part Portuguese and part African and Ken Burks, hailing from the Bahamas and owner of the Lions Den on Fraser and 15th.
Big Al is leaving Rossinis in Gastown (where he has been hiding) to cook on the weekends.I stopped in for a quick bite today during the soft opening period. I was the second diner in on their very first day.
The colours are bright - the room resembles a funky cafeteria. Menus are not printed, but the server rambled off gumbo, catfish, salmon and chicken cooked with a southern cajun influence, and Al's signature dishes such as smothered red cabbage and red beans.
I went for the gumbo and it was filled with tender shrimp, chunks of sausage, red pepper, celery and tomato. Perfectly spicy in a rich tomato sauce. Dina brought me some fresh banana muffins and I had to pack them to go, as the gumbo did me in.
Look forward to some great International Flavour with tunes and personalities to match.

Out to Abbotsford

Here's my review from the Vancouver Sun of Medazona's:

A number of times my hunger gets the best of me on trips back and forth from the Okanagan. With an hour or so to go before Vancouver I usually hold off as I really can't face another average meal at a chain restaurant. However, as I discovered last week, there is refuge from fast food just off the side of the highway.
I found Medazonas restaurant in Abbotsford.
The restaurant is located in the Ramada Inn, which caused a bit of reluctance on my part, as I had visited the ABC that it replaced some years ago. But they've softened the interior with some elegant lighting and there were no pancakes on the menu. I breathed a sigh of relief.
The menu is divided into four sections -- from the sky (poultry), the water (seafood), the land (beef/pork) and from the earth (vegetarian). Being the adventurous sort that we are, we grabbed something from each section and ended up with the red rock buffalo sliders, B.C. forest mushroom saute, smoked Chilliwack goose with pumpkin gnocchi, and a giant Alaskan sea scallop with tiger prawns.
It was a busy Friday night, but our server took some time to help us decipher a few dishes on the menu -- in particular, the red rock buffalo sliders. The description read "persimmon mango mayonnaise, potato sourdough, kowari sprouts, onion marmalade and waffle chips," leaving us with a case of mild confusion. The time was well spent as these were the highlight of the meal -- delightful little buffalo burgers, so tender they practically melted in our mouths.


We played with the wine list, which included a good by-the-glass selection, ordering a few different reds and testing out which paired best with each dish. The King's Estate Pinot Noir from Oregon won out as best overall choice.
The mushroom saute was another success. It was wrapped in crisp filo pastry with goat's cheese and a drizzling of aged balsamic vinegar and chive oil -- a blend of six wild mushrooms in a crisp little package.

We had a bit of time between courses, but weren't in a rush.
The scallops arrived wrapped in prosciutto and were served with the tiger prawns, a creamy herb risotto and a ratatouille-stuffed mushroom. Seafood was cooked properly and risotto nicely flavoured.

The disappointment of the evening was the smoked goose. The goose was well-flavoured, but the accompanying pumpkin gnocchi was rubbery and the beef loin ragout made me feel like I was wearing a pair of mismatched shoes. Please separate these items and rework the plate.



Next time you're coming and going from Vancouver, and your stomach is rumbling, give the golden arches a miss and check out Medazonas.
Dinners range from $18.50 to $29.
- MEDAZONAS RESTAURANT
36063 North Parallel Rd.
Abbotsford
(take the Whatcom exit)
info@medazonas.com
phone: 604-864-5744
www.medazonas.com



Jada almost died of nuts in the dessert as she is allergic and was given NO warning. Just look what happened to her hair.

Vera's Burgers

At the risk of being blown off the street by the wind or washed away by the rain, I ventured out to the revealing of the invent the best burger contest at Vera's. Pictured above, much sunnier times.

Top three burgers (1056 entries!!):

1) Thai Me Up Burger by Dan Noble - Vera patt, bun, sweet thai chili sauce, jalapeno, jack or havarti cheese, friend onions, 2 rashers bacon, sauteed peppers, mayo, mustard, lettuce & tomato

2) Cowaabungaa Burger by Brian Chung - Vera patty, bun, guacamole, 2 rashers bacon, turkey patty, shredded cheddar and salsa

3) Mediterranean Hear Burger by Jeffrey Phillips - Vera patty, bun, vera's sauce, hot sauce, chilies, mediterranean mix (olives, feta & sundreied tomatoes), shreede cheddar and guacamole

Jamie Maw, Judith Lane, Andrew Morrison, Tim Pawsey and a BC Lion's team member were the judges. Had they invited me, the Cowaabungaa would have been the top choice.

My camera was out of batteries, so no pics.

Girls do Star Anise

Another rainy evening in Vancouver and I am still getting over a cold. My running has been affected, but I have continued my social calendar with kleenex in hand.
Lori, Rosana and I were booked into Star Anise for dineout. Started out at Rosana's with some SLC Merlot from Mission Hill - nice ripe & rich plum flavour with softened tannins.
Star Anise was less frantic when we arrived than I would have thought. Our meals were nicely put together. Pecan crusted goat cheese, a sri lankan spiced catfish for Lori and I and for Rosana a lamb shank.
I am still having a difficult time eating anything sweet since the Ice Wine Festival in Sun Peaks, so I did a poached pear for dessert. Rosana (always the chocolate lover) dove into a mini chocolate torte and Lori finished with puff pastry pockets with wild berries.
Mission Hill's pinot gris was the wine of choice and suprisingly enough it lasted the whole meal between three.
Look forward to more dining adventures with this crew!

Passport to France

Last night I went to the media launch for the trip to France Passport Program:
Details are below. Highlights were the Moet and Chandon bubbly Le Gavroch's truffled scallops and Cafe de Paris' mac and cheese!

Select Wine Merchants created a “Trip to France Passport Program”. From February 14th to April 15th, 2006, visit any of the 25 participating French restaurants in Vancouver, Victoria or Whistler, get a passport (available at the restaurants) stamped at 4 different restaurants, and return it to Select Wine Merchants for a draw on April 20th.

France is host country for this year’s Playhouse International Wine Festival and is also the feature country at BC Liquor Stores for February and March. You’ll have a great opportunity to learn more about French wines and cuisine.

If you’re the lucky winner you’ll be awarded an unforgettable trip for two with round trip airfare, VIP visits to 6 prestigious French wineries (including Moët & Chandon Champagne,and Château Mouton-Rothschild), two days in Paris, luxurious accommodations and gourmet dinners. Secondary prizes will consist of gift certificates to BC French restaurants, gourmet baskets, French luxury goods and much more. Total prizes are worth an estimated $15,000.


Participating Wineries:
Moët & Chandon (Champagne), Hugel (Alsace), Chartron & Trébuchet (Burgundy), Jaboulet (Côtes du Rhône), Henriques (Côtes du Roussillon), Rothschild (Bordeaux)

Participating Restaurants
Bistro Pastis, Café de Paris, Le Crocodile, Le Gavroche, L’Hermitage, Provence, Provence Marinaside, Mistral, Saveurs, Gérard, Fleuri, Le Smoking Dog Café, Café Crêpes, La Régalade, Chez Michel, Bistro Michel, Bistro 1734, Elixir, Val d’Isère, Le Gros, Deep Cove Chalet, Matisse, Brasserie l’Ecole, Chez Michel Victoria.

Timing:
Starts: Tuesday February 14th
Closes: Saturday April 15th
Draw: Tuesday April 25th

Not making a big Habit of it

I went to Habit and was not impressed. Cold sablefish cakes. Rather tasteless salad and chicken wings just not to my liking. I can't find the pictures although I am sure I took them. Oh well, no need to see anything.

Senova

Flame and I met at Manny Ferreira's new place for lunch. I had a great dish of mussels and chorizo!

Here's my review from Edible British Columbia:

When Ken Bogus threw in the towel at Coco Pazzo, the neighbourhood was buzzing with rumours of what was next for the Kerrisdale location. Stepping up to the plate, Manuel Ferreira, known for his success with Le Gavroche downtown, moved in with an Iberian creation – Senova (Portuguese for new neighbourhood).

The restaurant features clean lines, an open kitchen and spacious interior. The wine vault is worth a visit as it’s built right into the vault of what was the old bank building. Serving tapas all day, lunch from 11:30 am, and dinner nightly no matter where you live,
we recommend you find time in your schedule to visit
For more information click

Senova’s menu combines Potuguese, Spanish and French influences, and the number of delicious choices will make decisions difficult. For tapas you might try the salted cod with pan fried potatoes, grilled sardines, or cumin and fennel seared albacore tuna. For lunch we’ve had caldo verde with chorizo (traditional Portuguese soup made with potatoes and kale), steamed mussels and a fresh Dungeness crab salad.

The wine list is vast, and a “saude”, cocktail, list includes mojitos, caiparinhas (cachaca, fresh lime and sugar), and sangria tinto or blanca (red or white). In the summer, go for some Portuguese vinho verde, a light fresh white with low alcohol for sipping on hot days. At this time of year try something red and lush from the Duoro - perhaps some Quinta da Crasto Duoro Reserva. There are many other international choices and Manny and his staff will come up with all kinds of other suggestions.

If you venture there in the evening, make a reservation. It’s a busy place, especially on Fridays. Tappas style dinner - sharing appetizer plates, would be our suggestion. Perhaps some scallop ceviche, marinated quail, sardines, and polenta with vegetable ragout? Mains include free run baby chicken, Westcoast Bouillabaise and duck breast with confit and port orange sauce. Tasting menus are available at 3 courses for $35, 4 for $45 or 5 for $50 and there are some under 16 choices if you have children in tow.

Senova
1864 West 57th Avenue, Vancouver BC (West of Granville at 57th and West Boulevard)
Phone 604 366 8643
Open daily from 11:00 am to 10 pm
Brunch 10:30 am Saturday and Sunday

Roadblock

I apologize for the lack of updates in 2006. I am trying to launch my career as an infant food and wine writer, and as such have been taken away from my daily indulgences in spilling the goods on just me.
I promise to update soon and apologize immensely to any of those who have not dined with me lately and are eagerly awaiting the next entry.
Gotta go where the $$ is folks.
"Don't you know who I think I am?"

Wedding Fare

Persia arrives in Kitsilano

Port Moody and Liberace

My review for the Sun of Rosana and my trip to the Saint Street Grill in Port Moody is postponed for Publication - here are our thoughts.

Among my New Year’s Resolutions this year I resolved to dine outside of my regular downtown haunts. First up, a trip out to Port Moody to the Saint Street Grill.
Port Moody is becoming a hip little area. A fairly new development, Newport village, bills itself as having “Whistler Inspired Lifestyle” – sporting a trendy wine shop and an Italian deli. It’s hardly what one would call “suburban living”. But, eight years ago, choices were more limited.
Ross Edwards, the owner of the Saint Street Grill, was living in Port Moody and working downtown. “We would decide to go out for dinner and then find ourselves pointing the car downtown”. As a result he and a partner decided to open a restaurant with the ambience and quality of food and service they were craving. The Grill was launched and now has a vast local following.
The restaurant sports white tablecloths and the style feels like mixture of French boudoir and funky antique store. You feel comfortably at home in the dim red light.
We went on a slower night, as January tends to be for all restaurateurs. The bar was well stocked and the wine list is probably the largest in the area.
The menu is French- influenced Westcoast. The bread basked arrived full of artisanal choices. Salads included two different caesars, a warm grilled vegetable and goat cheese. Our choice - warm chicken spinach: tender chicken and an excellent sweet balsamic dressing. Just a lighter hand on the dressing please!

I would have gone for the mussels, but my companion was allergic, so we debated between a Cajun seared calamari, prawns provencal, or the crab and shrimp cakes. The cakes won out and the addition of shrimp and the orange wasabi aioli moved the standard crab cake up a notch.
I did my usual walk-about the restaurant on the pretence of searching for the bathroom and discovered a tent in the back. Draped in Arabic style fabrics, the room could seat 20. I could see my next birthday happening there with belly dancers as an add-on.
Back at the table, dinner had arrived. We were splitting the Loin of Elk and the Beef Tenderloin. The meats were cooked exactly to our liking – the beef so tender it hardly needed a knife. Accompanying vegetables added colour to the plate and the risotto and scalloped potato were divine.

The General Manager, Jay Smith, had been my companion’s favourite server at Umberto’s Il Giardino restaurant downtown. The training paid off, as the service had been attentive all evening.
Our server persuaded us to try dessert, a difficulty after such a meal. He suggested the crème brulee, but we ordered the chocolate brownie. Fortunately he brought both, and it was so good that the brulee was so good that I almost lifted it up and sucked it out of the dish. We took the brownie to go, but I was told later it was equally succulent.

Well, one restaurant down and many more to go. If “Saints” is any indication, I’m on my way to keeping this year’s resolution.

Saint Street Grill
2510 St. John’s Street
Port Moody
Phone: 604 937 7477
Email: SaintStGrill@hotmail.com

Open seven days a week.
Lunch Monday to Friday from 11:30 am
Dinner, 4:30 to close

Lunch at Barney's

Often the tuna burger and fries calls my name from Barney's restaurant on South Granville. I held back and ordered with the salad. Rosana and I caught up and a lazy afternoon whizzed by.

2006

2005 was a year of indulgence. I had lots of fantastic culinary experiences, tried a ton of new restaurants and revisited my old favorites. I laid the initial foundation of my work as a writer and will build on that this year!
As January begins I am looking forward to a month of more healthy experiences and saving some cash in the process. I am training for the May 7 Vancouver marathon, so will post a bit on food for marathon training. I will also be continuing my reviews for the Vancouver Sun, so you can be sure that there will be some decadence in the mix!
Hope 2006 is a wonderful year for all!
Be sure to check www.hautespotsvancouver.com for Vancouver's food and wine events!

New Year's Eve

I started December 31st with a deliciously greasy breakfast at the Market Grill in Granville Island. Arriving at 10 am, it looked like I had beaten the crowds, but 15 minutes later I was fighting for breathing room! Grabbed my coffee and hit the stalls to pick up the ingredients for

1) Tuna Tartare



2) Mushroom Risotto with truffle oil, asparagus, and seared scallops




Dinner worked well. We started with some houmous, pita, olives and antipasto, and ended with thoughts of a trifle that we never got to. (I ate it the next day and approved. There are still two sitting in my fridge as of January 2nd.)
Hit the JetSet party in Stanley Park for a short, but fun evening and I was home in bed rather early for a change!