VanGrrl's Profile
mariage freres tea
I love Mariage Frères tea also... especially Wedding Imperial. Unfortunately Urban Tea switched to serving and selling Thé O Dor teas and no longer sell MF. It is a hard tea to source locally ...it is available in NYC at Dean and Deluca and some places in California but super hard to find here. Keep me posted if you find a local source. I recommend Wedding Imperial and Marco Polo as well as Earl Grey Blue.
Great deals at Costco
I love their bags of small zucchini for grilling,baby bella mushrooms that are presliced, the Liberté 0% Greek yogurt, the Sabra Hummus (artichoke/spinach), chicken and brie agnolotti, the lowfat sliced havarti, their box of tomatoes on the vine, and the pack of frozen tuna that I use to make a sashimi salad. Ooh, and my latest find is their bocconcini in a two pack - not sure of the name but each package has one large mozzarella ball. It is so creamy, soft and amazing!
Great idea for this thread - always great to get tips for local finds!
Decent pizza in Vancouver
Just went back to Presto Cucina in West Van (on Marine) last week and it was amazing!! Garlic chicken on one half and tomato and bocconcini drizzled with balsamic ... fantastic! Has anyone been to the one in Kits?
Where can I find farro in Surrey/Vancouver?
I've seen it at the two Urban Fare stores downtown (haven't been to the Yaletown one, though).
We finally get email notification!
Yippee! So glad they finally added this feature.
In the email I got, these were the deets:
Now available on Chowhound: Email notifications! That means that you can get an email when someone comments on a Chowhound thread that you've started or commented on.
Because we don't want to bombard anybody with notifications, we're launching the service with an automatic opt-in only for less frequent Chowhound users. (You can opt out on the Notifications tab in your profile.)
If you are a Chowhound regular (thank you!), we're starting out by NOT opting you in. But if you would like an alert when there's activity on one of your threads, please go to the Notifications tab in your profile to opt in.
Royal Milk Tea in Vancouver
They serve it at Chicco Cafe and Dessert Bar on Robson (1584 Robson). They have wonderful desserts and all sorts of cool drinks. Worth checking out!
Recommendations Near Pacific Rim Hotel - Vancouver
Mink - chocolate and espresso cafe near the Waterfront Hotel - try the dark chocolate mocha
Guu (Otokomae) - izakaya Japanese restaurant (Gastown)
Salt - charcuterie and cheese plates with a nice wine menu (Gastown)
What are you baking these days? Part IV [old]
I'm planning on making these divine chocolate cookies that a local chocolatier is famous for:
Thomas Haas Chocolate Sparkle Cookies
* 1/2 lb bittersweet chocolate
* 3 T butter, room temp
* 2 eggs
* 1 T honey
* 1/3 c sugar, plus more for rolling
* 3/4 c ground almonds
* 2 tsp cocoa powder
* pinch of salt
* powdered sugar for garnish
Melt chocolate on top of a double boiler, over simmering water. Cut butter into small pieces and mix into the heated chocolate until melted. Beat eggs with mixer, gradually adding the sugar and honey until light & the mixture falls in thick, smooth ribbons from the beaters (about 10 minutes). Fold into the chocolate-butter mixture. Add the cocoa powder and salt to the ground almonds & mix; gently add to the chocolate mixture.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a small ice cream scoop to form the dough into 1 inch balls. Working quickly, roll the balls in granulated sugar. Place on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake at 325 degrees F for about 12 minutes, until the centres are most, but not wet. Cool slightly. Dust lightly with powdered icing sugar.
Wholewheat Pastry Flour in Langley, Surrey, Abbotsford?
I've found the smoothest wholewheat pastry flour is in the bulk section of Whole Foods. When I have bought it packaged at stores, it is not nearly as finely milled. I actually use it for all my recipes that call for white flour and you don't even notice because it is so finely done.
This recipe for triple chocolate espresso cookies calls for it and was my first foray into the world of WW pastry flour.
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001408.html
Red Espresso - have you tried it?
@grayelf - :) Yeah, renos can be all-consuming. Well, I'm sure you'll enjoy it once you start using it.
@Gustoffer - it is sometimes on sale at Choices but good to know there is another cheaper source. I love it in the evening for a caffeine free drink. I will def have to try it with hemp. Sounds good!
Help finding yummy bakery goods for bridal shower
I don't know what the prices are for ordered goodies and this email is probably too late but Ganache in Yaletown if fabulous and they have amazing pastries and baked goods. A nice place to go for a coffee and treat with a friend too. On Homer just past Davie.
Red Espresso - have you tried it?
Clutterer - yams!? really?! Soy milk does have it's own *particular* flavour so maybe it's worth trying it with real dairy milk or just straight to get the flavour of the red espresso. Then you can see if it still tastes like yams ... I am loving it as a caffeine free evening drink from my e. machine. I have seen it around and it's now coming up in a lot of food mags/sites.
grayelf - are you still using your new espresso toy?
"Healthful" baking/desserts--best cookbooks?
101cookbooks.com is an excellent resource as well as Elana's Pantry (http://www.elanaspantry.com/). I have started to use agave nectar (low on the glycemic index) and whole wheat pastry flour in my baking. There are many recipes out there. Also, you can sub applesauce or prune puree for fat in many baking recipes. Good luck!
Fresh roasted beans in Vancouver?
Thanks for the recommendations. Was at Michi Espresso Cafe today and the barista (who made a superb mocha) recommended Origins Coffee in Granville Island.
http://www.yelp.ca/biz/michi-waffle-and-espresso-bar-vancouver
http://www.originscoffee.com/
Red Espresso - have you tried it?
I've heard it makes very delicous coffee. And such a cool tool!
Fresh roasted beans in Vancouver?
Is Mr Lee's still selling Stumptown coffee? I've heard that is amazing!
Red Espresso - have you tried it?
It tastes like a slightly sweet strong tea. Rooibos has a sweet flavour and it goes really well with a bit of steamed milk and a touch of agave nectar, even. It is really good!
Where to find kefir culture versus grains or starter kit in GTA???
Try and get some of the grains from that website posted above. I did and it is amazing! It makes yummy kefir for very little money. The commercial starters are not the same. Good luck with your kefir adventures!
Red Espresso - have you tried it?
Yes, do, as it is delicious. I have tried it iced too and it's excellent.
Gourmet food shops in Vancouver
You will be within walking distance of Urban Fare on Alberni Street and H-Mart on Robson which is a Korean supermarket. Hope you have a wonderful time!
Red Espresso - have you tried it?
I just picked this up yesterday and tried it out. It is a finely ground rooibos that you can brew like espresso in the machine, french press, moka pot etc. I made a red espresso latte with skim milk and added a little agave nectar. So good! I love my coffee but this is a nice treat too.
Have any of you tried it?
http://www.redespresso.com/
I found it at the Choices Market downtown but it says on the website that they serve it at the Bread Garden ...
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Bread Garden
889 W Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6C3B2, CA
Authentic Greek Yogurt
The Krema yogurt is 11%MF. At least it's not 28%, but it's still high fat ...
Downtown Lunch Time Sushi Recommendation
At Shuraku, I love the tuna tataki and the sashimi salad. Also, the grilled sablefish lunch set is simply divine.
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Shuraku Restaurant
833 Granville Steet, Vancouver, BC V6Z1K7, CA
Make me a muffin -- a Chowhound Challenge
I think my all time favourite muffin is from Giada on the Food Network for some Lemon Ricotta Biscuits (muffins). They are moist, lemony and simply divine! I upped the lemon and used whole wheat pastry flour.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/nonnas-lemon-ricotta-biscuits-recipe/index.html
Downtown Lunch Time Sushi Recommendation
How about Shuraku on Granville and Robson across from Urban Outfitters? They have really good food.
http://www.shuraku.net/pdf/LunchMenu-legal120308.pdf
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Shuraku Restaurant
833 Granville Steet, Vancouver, BC V6Z1K7, CA
Cute brunch/cafe spot somewhere vaguely near the library
I know this is overdue for the OP, but Cafe Medina is nearby too and tasty!
556 Beatty (bw Pender and Dunsmuir)
http://www.medinacafe.com/
Ucluelet Wow
Norwoods is excellent, isn't it? I went the last time we were in Tofino. We did a hike near Ucluelet and then went for lunch at Norwoods. The food was phenomenal and the ambiance excellent.
http://www.norwoods.ca/
Searching for a bakery with authentic German rye bread (with caraway) in Vancouver
I would try Fraser Bakery and Konditorei - this is where my dad gets his traditional poppy seed roll. (6553 Fraser Street)
Recommendations for prix fixe meals in Vancouver?
I recommend Market on Alberni next to the new Urban Fare. They have a wonderful prix fixe menu and I loved the lunch I had there.
