Eventually a glum, very unhappy looking waitress wandered over to my table. I explained my breakfast routine – a coffee or two while I caught up with the morning news, and then breakfast. Three or four minutes later she returned, bringing some attitude along with a cup of lifeless, weak half-brewed tasting coffee. “HERE,” she said, plopping down the cup and walking away. Five minutes after emptying my cup, the same girl brought a second cup of the same boring coffee.

On a positive note, the lighting was good, allowing even my old eyes to easily read my paper from almost any location. The washrooms were also neat and clean. However the food prices were outrageously expensive and the cook showed little skill in preparation or presentation.

To keep an even playing field from week to week, I planned to order the same breakfast each time. But the De Dutch offered no poached eggs, even though they did feature Eggs Benedict on the menu, which is basically made using poached eggs topped with Hollandaise sauce. I ordered eggs over easy rather than pointing out this discrepancy. Despite the high prices, the sausage was cut very thin, about an 1/8 of an inch thick, and you got six little pieces. in total you ended up with less than an inch of sausage. The rye toast was also cut thin, and was hard with almost no butter. There was an accompanying green salad on my breakfast plate, what’s up with that? The garlic tasting dressing did not mix well with the eggs and sausage. The potatoes reminded me of the ones my mother would make me when I was a child – little cubes that you poured from a plastic bag and heated in the oven. Good when Mom made them but not here.

While I wasn’t happy with my overpriced fare, the rest of the menu offered no better choices. A basic omelette would set you back $11, and a Farmer’s omelette was $17. Farmers I know would be smart enough to find a place that offers omelets for a lot less. Eggs Benedict ranged in price from $9.50 to $14.50 for the Seafood version.

As I listened to the chit-chat of the other customers, it was obvious that they came from the nearby hotels. There were no regulars here. (I wonder why?)

My bill for sausage, eggs, potatoes and toast came to $12.44 including taxes and coffee. Crazy! With a begrudged 15% tip my bill came to $14.30…. OUTRAGEOUS! Think about it folks my breakfast budget is $10.00 including everything and tip.

I will not be returning to the De Dutch. The service and the coffee were bad, the food was disappointing and over-priced and the atmosphere – non-existent.

Let’s rate the De Dutch Pannekoek House on Robson!

Service: 3
Cleanliness: 8
Atmosphere: 2
Coffee: 2
Food:4
Price: 1

Over all Score = 3.3 out of 10… I recommend you stay far, far away from the De Dutch on Robson Street.

As a Realtor, my days are unpredictable. Breakfast is the only time of day I can call my own, I love my morning coffee, reading the news paper and eating great breakfast food.
Two things I am very good at, the first – Real Estate, the second – Breakfast.  So when I decided to write a blog each week I did my homework.   Every Real Estate Agent in this city is rehashing the same old Real Estate Bla Bla bla! Who needs more of that?  That leaves me ….breakfast, I am starting my trek looking for the perfect Vancouver breakfast place. And hope you come along.
Please write me if you have something to ad or if you think you know the perfect breakfast spot.  I would love to meet you there for breakfast.

I have chosen 6 categories,each with subcategories for rating each place I blog about.

1 = awful,  10= great, with room in between for all the rest.

Service: including friendliness, promptness and overall impression of the server.
Cleanliness: Including the staff, the tables, condiments, dishes, floors and the washroom.
Atmosphere: What was my first impression, was it a happy place to start my day?
Coffee: How it tastes, how fast it comes and how often the refills show up.
Food: Is it what I ordered, the way I ordered it, was the toast buttered to the edges and the overall presentation.
Price: Is there value for the money I paid? Generally I am happy to pay $10.00 including tip.

Joe’s Grill – Vancouver breakfast Blog #1

My search began at 948 Denman Street in the West End, at Joe’s Grill. My preference for breakfast runs distinctly towards the average diner/cafe, and from the outside Joe’s Grill looked pretty average and urban. Inside, it was upbeat, clean and somewhat trendy. The bar was bright and the waitress stood in the centre, keeping a watchful eye on the customers. A row of dimly lit booths lined the left side of the room. A corresponding line of tables and chairs were on the right.  I chose the table in the front window, as it was bright enough to read the paper by.  A stack of newspapers covered a table by the door, encouraging the customers to settle in for a morning read.

Each table had two coffee mugs with the cutlery tucked inside. The place was clean and orderly. Within seconds of my arrival a friendly and attractive waitress (Anna) came by with a coffee pot.

I’d no sooner settled into my paper and coffee than she was back to take my order. I explained my morning ritual – two cups of coffee while I scanned the paper for news, then breakfast. Her eye was always on me to ensure my cup never went dry – or perhaps she thought that I looked friendly and attractive too.   Only wishful thinking… LOL.

As I scanned the diner I deduced that this was not a tourist spot, but a hangout for locals – at least this time of year in the early days of autumn. The clientele seemed to know each other, and they ordered “the regular” from the waitress.

I finally ordered two eggs poached medium, well done sausages, rye toast and home fries. I often have a hard time getting the poached eggs the way I like them, with the whites cooked and the yokes runny.  Today – perfection!  Prior to leaving I checked out the washroom, which was clean and well stocked.

The price kept with my expectation, coming to $8.50 including coffee and taxes, rounding out at $10.00 with a 17.5% tip.

Joe’s Grill was a big hit in my books.  The coffee was hot, plentiful and had that unmistakeable and comforting taste of diner-brewed joe. The home fries were hot and crispy, the butter went to the edges of the toast, and the service was great.  My only recommendation for improvement is for better lighting. The dim interior made the front window seat the only decent choice for newspaper reading.

Let’s rate Joe’s Grill!
Service: 8
Cleanliness: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Coffee: 9
Food: 9
Price: 7

Overall…. 8.2 = Very Good – Give Joe’s Grill a try.

The small boutiques are great for finding that one of a kind belt that matches your dress perfectly, or the pair of shoes that look amazing with your outfit for that upcoming wedding. Pick up a Latte at 49th Parallel (2152 West 4th Ave) and start shopping!

Here are a few of my favorite places:

Beauty Bar (2142 West 4th Ave 604/733/9000)

Amazing selection of makeup, fragrance, candles, home décor, and products you cannot find anywhere else.

I buy my Voluspa candles, body wash and lotion there. Also notable finds: Tocca fragrances, Demeter fragrances and Fresh skin and bath products. Beauty Bar is a great place to buy your girlfriends a special gift as well as treats for yourself!

Paboom (2209 West 4th Ave 604/738/1050)

A great place for cute knick knacks for the home as well as a good selection of cards and small gift items. Dishes and kitchenware galore as well as bathroom décor items, all at amazing prices. The Roger La Borde cards are original and cute, as well as priced at just $3.95.

Gravity Pope (2205 West 4th Ave 604-731-7673)

The West End’s source for shoes, shoes and more shoes. From casual Converse and Van’s to Marc Jacobs and Fornarina heels – this is the place to get the season’s hottest styles. The selection is amazing and they always have my size!

After a rigorous shop, head to Las Margarita’s (1999 West 4th Ave 604/737/7117) outdoor patio for the best Burritos and Margaritas in town. They do not take reservation’s for the patio, but it is worth the wait. The patio, shaded by summer foliage and large pine trees, is the best place for a lovely relaxed summer lunch with friends. The house made-fresh daily tortilla chips and fresh salsa are amazing. The chips are perfectly salted and the salsa is spicy and not at all chunky, made with the perfect amount of cilantro and garlic . The burrito platter for $13.95 is my usual order. With your choice of either chicken or beef, served with rice and refried beans, it is more then enough to satisfy your hunger after a morning of shopping. They also have an extensive margarita list. All made from fresh fruit puree and juices. I recommend the strawberry margaritas made from fresh strawberries, lime, lemon juice with Sauza Gold Tequila and Triple Sec –it is sinfully refreshing on a hot day. Glasses are $6.25 and pitchers are $27.95. Go for a pitcher!

As you enter the newly renovated space of Charm Modern Thai and Bar, you can’t help but agree, as you are instantly enveloped in warmth, comfort and style.

Operating a Thai restaurant is certainly nothing new for this highly successful entrepreneur. The difference with Charm is that it is so much more than a restaurant. Chen has done an outstanding job of creating a sophisticated and modern yet comfortable and relaxed social space. The red velvet booths, bamboo accents, urban electric music and modern bar all contribute to the vibrant environment—and make Charm somewhere you could go to spend time with friends or meet new ones, while enjoying some outrageously delicious contemporary Thai specialties, created and prepared by talented executive chef Tipnarie Kulsiriwanich.

Charm’s menu of exquisite dishes includes ahi tuna sashimi with hints of red chili and spices; tom kha lobster bisque with lemon grass, coconut cream and a “gentle kick of spices”; perfectly prepared curry sablefish; tamarind duck with sweet chili sauce; and a truly authentic pad thai made with fresh tamarind juice. Thai tea ice cream, hand churned by Chef Tipnarie herself, is a perfectly soothing and flavourful complement to a chocolate chili torte—rich chocolate married to the subtle fire of a chili pepper.

Chen, of the Thai House Restaurant Group (which includes the Thai House Restaurants, Urban Thai Bistro, Chilli House and Samba Brazilian Steakhouse) has undeniably busted out of the mould, introducing Vancouverites to a new concept in Thai dining. He takes his inspiration from his travels to cities such as Barcelona, London, Hong Kong and New York, all of which are beginning to feature an increasing number of Asian-themed bars and lounges. After experiencing and studying new trends in Thai dining abroad, he was motivated to bring some of his new concepts home to Vancouver.

Fresh new ideas in hand, Chen then spent a whole year trying to find a place that would capture the essence of the experience he was trying to create. He finally found an ideal space in Yaletown that included the one unique design detail that he insisted on  incorporating—an open kitchen.

When you visit, take your time to experience Charm fully for all that it is—an exceptional restaurant, a hip and sexy lounge, and a place where you can truly relax and feel comfortable. Charm will fascinate, allure and delight you—just as its name promises.

For more information please visit charmmodernthai.com.

I have been a die hard fan of Elephant Island Orchard Wines since 2000. Discovered by accident while touring Naramata on a scooter – it was love at first taste.

Del & Miranda Halladay started the winery on the land Miranda’s grandmother bought. Nestled in the Naramata hills surrounded by cherry trees, it is an amazing spot.  Elephant Island wines are made from 100% fruit, not mostly grape infused with some fruit essence, like most “fruit wines”, which means the true body and flavour of the fruit comes through, in taste and scent. All fruit is local and grown in the Okanagan or surrounding areas, picked and processed by Del and his team and you can feel the love put into these wines.

We were greeted warmly in the cellar by Salt’s staff as well as Del and Miranda themselves. Elephant’s signature Rosemary Swizzle cocktail was handed out and introductions made. The tasting featured six offerings from the 2008 vintage; Pear, Cherry, Black Currant, Crab Apple, Apricot and Framboise.

Cherry, Black Currant and Apricot would have to have been my favorite of the six.

The Cherry was so flavourful, dark and moody and not as sweet as you would imagine a Cherry wine to be. The aroma wet your palate before even taking your first sip.  Rated as 0/1 on the Sweetness scale, it paired amazingly well with the Stilton Blue cheese topped with Similkameen honey. Classified as a dinner wine, it is perfect to serve with red meat or a spicy curry dish.  This is a red that I feel would appeal to even the non-red drinkers, as it is not overly dry or oaky.

Black Currant, we were told, was the wineries love or hate wine. You either love it or hate it. The sniff test proved confusing to me, at first I thought no..it was too pungent, I wouldn’t like it. With the second sniff it grew on me and upon trying a sip I knew it was love for me. Complex and intricate, it leaves you wanting more, there are so many levels of flavour that I found myself still attempting to define long after swallowing. Fennel Salami and Comte cheese was the pairing choice for the Black Currant, which complimented it perfectly. An interesting fact about black currant; one black currant berry contains more vitamin C and antioxidants then a whole orange. Imagine how many berries go into a single bottle?  So a glass a day, would just be good common sense, right?

Salt’s most well known charcuterie pairing would have to be Mike Vitow’s Corned Beef and their house-made Guinness mustard, the beef is so tender and juicy, it almost melts in your mouth. Topped with a dollop of the grainy Guinness mustard – it is heaven. The Apricot dessert wine went down well with the beef. The smell was true to fresh apricots, blindfolded I would not have known the difference. The colour was a beautiful golden, natural color derived from the crushed skins of the Apricot. A high 8 on the sweetness guide, a quarter of the glass was plenty. I imagine it would taste amazing drizzled on vanilla ice cream or over cheesecake.

We were also lucky enough to taste the not-yet-bottled Stella Port, made using a Spanish technique called “solera”. A “mother barrel” was started back in 2001 and each year they release ½ the barrel and replace it with the newest years vintage. So, the effect is layers upon layers of flavour that is years in the making. It is absolutely amazing. I am not a huge Port fan, but this was a treat. Rich chocolate notes with hints of Stella cherry throughout.

The evening was topped off with a celebratory glass of Pink Elephant and a basket of Stella cherries to take home, picked fresh that morning. Pink Elephant is the winery’s feature sparkling wine. Pink in colour with the perfect amount of carbonation, it was a treat we were happy to receive.

Salt Tasting Room is located in Blood Alley, in the heart of Gastown. The next featured winery is another BC gem, Blasted Church, also from the Okanagan. They will be in the cellar Monday, August 24^th at 7:00PM. Tickets are $65 and available for purchase on Salt’s website.

Rosemary Swizzle Cocktail Recipe
1 part Gin
2 parts Crab Apple Wine
1 splash of fresh lime juice
½ tsp simple syrup
Topped with soda and a sprig of rosemary

For information on Salt Tasting Room and their upcoming events: www.salttastingroom.com

For information on Elephant Island Wines: www.elephantislandwine.com

The appetizers offered consist of Chicken, Lamb, Beef, Calamari, Halibut or Prawns. Each appetizer ordered is prepared three different ways, representing the respective regions.

The calamari was our choice; Mediterranean style: herb breaded with fattoush salad and preserved lemon aioli, Indian inspired: grilled and served in a spiced yellow curry, and finally, Asian influenced: spicy salt and pepper with wok fried peppers and green onions. I would have to say my favorite of the trio was the Asian style. It was flavourful and the batter was not oily and the squid not rubbery in the least, it was extremely delicious. Each trio is well priced at $14.00.

Cocktails are a journey all unto themselves. With ingredients such as rose water, muddled oranges, yuzu puree and fresh passion fruit, they are exotic and original.

There are several main entrées ranging from Milk Braised Leg of Lamb with basmati rice and grilled papadum for $15.00, Togorashi Seared Ahi Tuna accompanied by crispy Asian salad and ginger soy for $19.00 and the Pistachio Crusted Halibut with filo wrapped puy lentil and summer vegetables for $21.00.

The philosophy at Sanafir is all about sharing and experiencing different flavours, so for our main course we decided to stay adventurous and have the share plate for two at $19.00 per person. Served on a large platter, there was an abundance of flavourful dishes. The Korean style baby back ribs marinated and topped with toasted peanuts and green onion were grilled perfectly, packed full of flavour and the meat fell off the bone. The Punjabi butter chicken was generously spiced with lots of depth, a change from the watery and flavourless butter chicken a lot of places are serving these days. The kanafa wrapped tiger prawns with watercress crème fraiche were plump and juicy. Personally I found the goat cheese stuffed lamb kibbah with pistachio caramelized onion, orchid beans and baby spinach very salty, it was a nice idea, but less salt so that more of the flavour could come through would have been good. The bowl of house fried rice with pork, shrimp, egg and chicken complimented all the dishes perfectly.

Sharing dessert is always a good idea. Sanafir offers three for $11.00, or each for $4.50. Go for three. Choices are: flourless Chinese 5 spice chocolate cake with sweet red bean sauce, banana and mango spring rolls with plum wine chocolate ganache, moghlie Persian rice pudding, cardamom baked yogurt with Okanagan fruit compote, burnt orange baklava, and Turkish Coffee pot de creme. All are splendid.

For reservations call: 604-678-1049
For directions and menu’s: www.sanafir.ca

The Loden Hotel, Vancouver’s posh new boutique hotel in Coal Harbour, is hosting Mercury Rising, small and intimate cocktail parties every Thursday night from 4pm to 9pm (weather permitting) in the Halo penthouse suite.

Smart cocktails on a fabulous patio, beautiful people, the amazing scenery of Coal Harbour, and yummy fresh fire-grilled appies – is there a better way to end a long summer day caged in the office?

The atmosphere is reminiscent of New York, the hotel oozes big city class, but is small enough to make everyone feel welcome. The two bedroom Halo suite is an amazing space, with floor to ceiling windows letting in tons of natural light, white decor accents, butter-cream leather walls and plush oversized couches, it is easy to make yourself right at home. Outside, the rooftop wrap-around patio is buzzing, with several large loungers and huge parasols so you can either chill in the shade, or soak up the sun. Resident Voya DJ Clayton Cooper keeps the vibe flowing with a great mix of lounge and house music that keeps the crowd lingering long after the sun sets.

Be sure to stop in and check it out this Thursday – I’ll see you there!

Loden Vancouver
1177 Melville Street
Vancouver, BC
604/639/VOYA

Perhaps the timing was just perfect in fact, as we have arrived at Farmer’s Market season in the Lower Mainland and it sure makes this whole eating local thing easier.

The Kitsilano Farmer’s Market runs every Sunday 10:00am – 2:00pm until October 25^th. It’s located at the Kit’s Community Centre (10^th & Larch). There I was, opening day at 10:00am sharp, in line for my home grown organic field greens, fresh dill, chives and golden nugget potatoes. There were fresh  pastries and hearty breads from The Bread Affair, spicy and uber-fresh salsa from Momma Nellie’s, flavourful shitake mushrooms from farms in Richmond,  as well as apricot and pecan loaves from Carole’s Country Kitchen, lovingly prepared using recipes I’m sure Carole’s mother handed down to her. What a difference fresh and locally made products make! Not only are you supporting the local economy and your neighbors, but you can feel good about knowing where your food comes from. Alisa and James refer to it as “traceability” in their book – being able to trace the journey your food has taken prior to it ending up on your plate.

Ladner Village Market is by far the biggest market in the Lower Mainland. The selection and quality are second to none. Every other Sunday, starting June 14^th from 10:00am – 4:00pm and running until September 13^th , the market occupies the entire length of 48^th Street in the heart of Ladner’s town centre and every Ladner resident comes out to shop. With so many farm’s in such close proximity the selection is amazing. Fresh strawberries, potatoes, beets, carrots, herbs, salad greens and blueberries. Ken Stefanson from Gabriola Gourmet Garlic  is a regular at the market, and a trip there wouldn’t be complete without a sample of his Garlic Chutney. Qualicum Cheeseworks Oh-la-la Jill and Island Bries are an absolute treat, and a steal of a deal at 3 for $20.00. The Salad Sister’s Calamansi salad dressing is my all time favorite especially paired with fresh butter lettuce, strawberries and goat cheese. Last but not least,  Bean Boy’s black bean Hummus is a must, smooth and creamy with some southern heat, pick up some organic corn tortilla chips from Whole Foods on the way home and you are set.

Granville Island Market is always reliable for the best in fresh produce, meats, cheeses, seafood, pastry and bread in the city. My favorite Sunday activity is to head down a few empty market bags, filling them up with random and interesting  finds…and then figuring out how to incorporate them into a weeks worth of meals. Heirloom tomatoes are super hot right now and the selection at Organic Acres is excellent. Charcuterie from the Oyama Sausage Company is top notch, and when craving a really good Thai curry dish, be sure to stop by the South China Sea’s Trading Company for fresh lime leaves, black garlic, and coconut milk. Personally for me, soups in the summer don’t work but I am secretly looking forward to fall so I can “stock up” on  The Stock Market’s delicious in-house made soups. Soups like carrot & dill, butternut squash, and green pea scream cozy fall days to me!

We live in the most beautiful city in the world, with some of the most amazing local products available to us, so this summer try to eat local if you can. It’s well worth it!

For information on Vancouver Farmer’s markets – check out: www.eatlocal.org

For information on the Ladner Village market: www.ladnervillagemarket.com

And for information on Granville Island Market: www.granvilleisland.com

Palm fronds, mirrored walls, dimly lit lanterns and vintage black & white tiling are just a few of the poignant but not overbearing features that set a mood of 1940’s middle eastern charm.

We were seated quickly by Anna at a great table overlooking the entire restaurant. The long open bar at the back that runs the length of the restaurant with just a peek into the kitchen was bustling with staff pouring generous glasses of red and bringing out plate after plate of mouth-watering Hummus and Taboulleh.

For cocktails I decided on the Lime-Cucumber Fix at a very reasonable $8.50. Made with Organic Lime Juice, Cucumber and Agave Nectar with what seemed like more then a shot of White Jimador Tequila. Served in a martini glass rimmed with sugar and chilli powder it had all the refreshing and cool qualities of cucumber but with a punch of heat, a very smart juxtaposition of flavour.

Appealing appetizers (or Mezze in Lebanese) made for a difficult choice…I was torn between the classic Hummus made with organic chickpeas, garlic, lemon and tahini for $5.25 or the Labneh, a dip made from fresh-pressed yoghurt topped with extra-virgin olive oil and zaatar spices for $5.00. After much debate I made a play for the Hummus and I am glad I did. It was creamy and smooth with the perfect amount of garlic. I find Hummus can easily be much too much about the garlic, but it was perfect. I was also pleased to see whole wheat pita instead of the doughy white pita served at most places.

The hormone-free and non-medicated Beef Tenderloin done medium-rare was my entrée of choice for $17.00. Served with tahini rice and caramelized onions with the side of roasted potatoes. The portion of beef was on the smaller side but packed full of flavour. Grilled with slight char on the outside and a perfectly pink centre. The caramelized onions were crunchy and tasty but I wished I had a few more to last me to the last bite of steak. The creamy and flavourful tahini rice was good, a neat spin on plain old rice. The roast potatoes were unfortunately on the dry side, thankfully left over hummus from my appetizer solved that problem.

After another Lime-Cucumber Fix and a few minutes to digest I decided against dessert although I was very tempted by the Cardamom Custard which would have been a perfect light finish to the meal.

Overall I was extremely pleased with both the service and the quality of food. I left full and satisfied and not smelling of heavy garlic, which is a huge bonus when dinner is only the first stop of the night!!

The décor and ambiance is worth experiencing. I felt so very chic, it was like stepping into a sultry and mysterious foreign land.

I would definitely go back to Nuba!!

Nuba Restaurant
207 W. Hastings
Vancouver B.C.
604.688.1655

http://nuba.ca/

If you want somewhere more elegant, YEW Restaurant & Bar (791 W. Georgia) is the gorgeously revamped old Garden Room in the Four Seasons Hotel. The theme is arboreal with plenty of wood accents (including a maple-slab communal table) and has a variety of different booth, table, and lounge seating options. The tired sandwich standards get rejuvenated with chicken tikka with tamarind and spicy apple chutney, all on masala durum bread. Besides more substantial mains, such as the steak frites and the crispy-skin grain-fed chicken, a personal favourite is the black truffle mac and cheese that will kick Kraft Dinner soundly to the curb.

And if your workplace is a little more eastward toward Crosstown, make a point of lunching at Café Medina (565 Beatty), the daytime sibling of next-door Chambar, where waffles (with irresistible toppings like lavender milk chocolate) reign supreme. Ease the guilt before the sweets and order the saffron-fragrant bouillabaisse or the spicy Moroccan meatballs with roasted vegetables, as well as hummus, yogurt, and cucumber salad.