It's hard to believe we'll be heading back to Toronto in about a month. And just when I was settling back into the swing of things here in Vancouver, revisiting my favorite book shops and discovering amazing new restaurants. At the top of the latter list is Mission on West 4th. I discovered this place while…
February 8, 2013: Pidgin Restaurant!
Akemi and I don't get out as much as we used to but, the other night, we hung up our pots and pans (and packed away the sous vide machine) in favor of a night out. We headed to Gastown to check out Pidgin, one of the newest additions (less than a week old!) to…
January 24, 2013: Quinto Quarto
Last night, Campagnolo Roma hosted another one of its famed Quinto Quarto dinners, an offal-themed culinary extravaganza inspired by the Roman "fifth quarter" feasts of yore. I was flying sort of solo as Akemi had bowed out on account of the far-too-late-for-her 8:30 p.m. seating. That and the emphasis on liver. Like I said, I…
December 20, 2012: Your Handy Wildebeest Guide!
Last night, Akemi and I met up with Simon and Sean for dinner at a restaurant I've been eager to check out for quite some time: Wildebeest. According to the restaurant's website, its focus is on "Meat-centric, off-cut farmhouse fare simply prepared with immaculate ingredients and thoughtful creativity", reminiscent of L.A.'s Animal and Toronto's Black Hoof, two…
October 27, 2012: Travel Day! The Top 11 Things I’ve Been Eating in Vancouver!
Planning a visit to Vancouver and looking forward to sampling some of the city's finest - but not looking forward to playing hit and miss? Well, relax and allow me to guide you through some of the city's tastiest treats. Here are the Top 11 Things I've Been Eating in Vancouver: PEACEFUL BEEF ROLL AT…
October 25, 2012: Double Birthday(ish) Dinner!
The other night, Akemi and I went out for burgers with a couple of our very favorite Vancouver friends: Steve, Jodi, and their daughter, Gemma. Per Akemi's request, we ended up going to Romer's Burger Bar for their varied menu offerings and those silly iceberg lettuce buns the ladies seem to enjoy. Steve and Jodi…
October 17, 2012: Birthday festivities and feast!
My Birthday Week festivities continue! How are YOU celebrating? Today, I received a little something from Sis (and by "I", I mean "we" since the contents of the package were for both Akemi and me, and by "a little" I mean a lot). Mexican chocolate, chocolate-covered licorice, multi-flavored chocolate bars (including peanut butter and banana,…
September 27, 2012: Quinto Quarto dinner! Days of Stargate Atlantis Past! Kindred I!
"In the cuisine of modern Rome quinto quarto (literally the "fifth quarter") is the offal of butchered animals. The name makes sense on more than one level: because offal amounts to about a fourth of the weight of the carcass; because the importance of offal in Roman cooking is at least as great as any of the outer quarters, fore…
September 14, 2012: Feasting at Campagnola! Days of Stargate Atlantis Past! This Mortal Coil!
The other day, I received an email from my buddy, Rob, informing me that this was Passion for Pork Week in Vancouver. What, exactly, that meant I had no idea, but I knew that if pork was the central theme, then the gang at Campagnolo Restaurant were the people to see. I texted owner, Tom…
August 25, 2012: The Perfect Meal! Cos & Effect Kicks Off!
Last night, I had THE perfect meal. And, by "perfect", I mean perfect for me. And no wonder given that my dinner was planned and prepared by Chef Rob Belcham. No one knows my culinary likes and dislikes, leanings and particulars better than Rob and the gang from Campagnolo/Campagnolo Roma/Fat Dragon. Fellow owner Tom Doughty…
July 24, 2012: Dessert and a sandwich and dessert. And more desserts. And Alexander and Sarah!
Seriously. How can anyone say no to freshly baked cookies, even if it means having them for breakfast? In retrospect, they were the perfect food for what lay ahead, full of the carbohydrate and sugar energy I would need to get me through a grueling day of eating. Akemi and I met up with our…
May 30, 2012: Checking out the new kid on the block – Fable Restaurant!
Over on 4th, in the spot once occupied by one of my favorite Vancouver restaurants, Refuel (and my absolute favorite Vancouver restaurant, Fuel, before that), a new restaurant has opened its doors. Almost. The official opening is apparently a couple of weeks off, but lunches and dinners are being served as part of Fable's soft…