Friday, January 28, 2011

yummyweb.com

Next time you want Take Out--Check Out: yummyweb.com

yummyweb.com is a site that offers delivery menus from over 160 restaurants in the Greater Vancouver Area.  In addition to peer recommendations yummyweb.com offers pictures, so delivery is no longer a shot in the dark.

You can choose your city and then order online for no hassel take out.  Japanese Fries will be confused with  Japanese Rice no longer.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Slow Start

Today I was surprised to receive a Slow Cooker at work from Treena.  She mentioned she had an extra one last night when we were talking about how I was planning on cooking my chicken dinner.  Treena is a Slow Cooker: she layers the bottom of the Cooker with carrots and onions (and potatoes?) and then the chicken on top.  The chicken then slowly cooks in it's own juices for 8 hours and the finished product is fall off the bone meat.
Bravetti 3 Quart Slow Cooker

I'd have to take her word for it--until today. I've never had a Slow Cooker before nor have I ever had a chance to use one.  I'm very curious and looking forward to comparing the Slow Cooker to my cherished Pressure Cooker. I might have a little convincing to do though--Son of a Fireman might not be too keen on letting leave an appliance on for a several hours. But we'll see, sounds like a Rib Cook Off will in order soon.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Faint of Stomach

Adam said to me the other day, "Oleg told me something, but you don't want to know." And of course, since I have not evolved from the playground mentality, I wanted to know right then and there what was he on about.  

"Remember last Spring when Guu was closed?".....yes, it was closed for a time and all coming back to me: Adam,  Jeorgy and I were at Guu and Jeorgy asked the waiter why was the restaurant closed for a week? The waiter said something like the fridge broke down and needed to be repaired. Apparently not.

According to Vancouver Coastal Health

Re-inspection subsequent to Closure Order. Rodent excrement still present on dishes and food contact surfaces. General sanitation still unsatisfactory. Plumbing repairs have not been completed. Rodent-proofing is still outstanding. Closure Order remains in effect.

After my initial shock (Adam and I had eaten there just days ago) I considering my background. My Mom stores her eggs throughout the year outside of the fridge, my family will leave cooked food out to be eaten all day; all year round, my Dad told me once that the best Taiwanese Beef Noodle houses keep the same broth for years and just add water, etc. 

I've lived in Shanghai where the local butcher cuts his meat on the side of a dusty main street and I'm still alive, so it's not the end of the world.  Adam and I then got into a discussion about what can best be described as "food snobbery". Speaking for myself: Yes, Gastown is old--Rats are probably everywhere and probably in my building. 

I'm ok with eating at someone's house who may have a pest problem and I plan on going to more 2nd and 3rd world countries; however, I think that restaurants have an obligation to keep a professional level of clean. After all, what are you paying for when you eat at a restaurant? When I go out for a meal, I am expecting that I am paying for someone who has gone to culinary school in whatever respective style to cook for me in a licensed establishment. I am not ok with patronizing restaurants that have neglected to maintain a minimal standard of clean.

Do You Want to Know Who Else is Dishing-out Dirt?

Irish Heather, La Casita, Six Acres, Jules and Incendio all have Rodent problems. Blarney Stone, Sitar and Jade Dynasty (in Chinatown) have both Rodent and Cockroach problems.

Restaurants that up to par include: Steamworks, Pourhouse, Cork & Fin and L'Abbatoir  

If you want to look up other restaurants in Vancouver go to: www.foodinspectionweb.vcha.ca/Main, but it's not for the faint of stomach.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Gourmet by Association

"....If I ever won the lottery I would not only start up a restaurant--I would have a group of companies called Gourmet by Association."

I still haven't won the lottery (and maybe never will) but this blog is the start.