mramage's Profile
Tap Phong..
I got my mine from George Brown - they had 3 types ranging in price from $30 to $75. They also have the Goerge Brown logo on them.
Masterchef Australia vs Masterchef US
I got to say I actually like My Kitchen Rules over MCA just for the challenges being more realistic for a home cook. Now if MCA goes back to its original ways as they have indicated, perhaps I will change my mind.
When will Top Chef Texas air in Canada?
It depends - sometimes it is after the US season ends, but other times, it is running 5-6 weeks behind while it is still airing in the US. It will air - its just a guess of when. There is no mention of it on the Food Network Canada site, so I am guessing probably after. There is also Top Chef Canada now, so that may push it out as well. I download it today, but the drag is I can't see LCK because the Bravo site blocks Canadian IP addresses.
Michelin Stars for 2012
http://www.gourmandbreaks.com/blog/spanish-gourmet-news/michelin-starred-restaurants-in-spain-2012/
I can't say I was suprised that Can Fabes lost a star to fall to 2 - I ate there In October and while great, I don't think it measured up to Arzak/El Cellar de Can Roca/Sant Pau which are the other 3s I have dined at. What I am suprised about is that Mugaritz continues to sit at 2 stars. That was the best meal of my trip - maybe too out there in some courses to be considered for the 3rd star, but I would no argument if they were granted it. I also thought Tickets deserved a star but I wonder if it had been open long enought to be considered.
Toronto Underground Market - starting in September
And the price has gone up to $10 but tickets are still not on sale. I guess based on the popularity of the event, one should have seen this coming.
Barcelona - 41 Degrees and Tickets in the same evening?
I was there on Friday night, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary - at 8:30 it was about 3/4 quarters full but you could not walk in. I am back at Tickets on Thursday. I was really suprised about the pricing for the food. I had 3 snacks, 6 tapas, and 2 desserts for 60 Euro. My 5 cocktails were about the same price - 12 Euros each.
San Sebastian/Madrid/Seville - What food to buy and WHERE?
Try the La Chinata Oleoteca chain - they are in Madrid and San Sebastian.
http://www.lachinata.es/
Barcelona - 41 Degrees and Tickets in the same evening?
I hit the web-site right at 6pm (EST) 90 days out and managed to get a Friday 8pm reservation for 41, and a Thursday 8pm reservation for Tickets the following week. So it can be done. The fun begins in 2 days.
Feedback on Barcelona Itinerary - Sept 2011
Yes - you can actually see the trains go by in the back court of the restaurant. It is about a 3 minute walk. If you have Google Earth you can see how close it is. If you have some time, take a walk around St. Pol - small town but some impressive architecture.
I was there last year, and was very impressed Chef Ruscadella came out after the meal and greeted each table.
Masterchef Australia vs Masterchef US
The other option, if you know how to use them, is the newsgroups. You need a newsgroup reader and a subscription to a news provider like Giganews. The group alt.binaries.multimedia has every single episode without commercials and they were usually posted 1 hour after the show aired, which in North America was about 8am. There is no spam like you get with the torrents, and because you download them as a complete avi file, you can watch at your leisure. Retention on Giganews is almost 2 years, so you can just do a search for them and they should still be there.
Masterchef Australia vs Masterchef US
I didn't enjoy MC Aus as much this season as the first two seasons - the quality of the cooking was higher, but the personalities were a little bland. What blew me away is the quality of the guest chefs this year (not counting the local Australia talent) - Heston Blumenthal, David Chang, Thomas Keller, René Redzepi, Anthony Bourdain - just to name a few. They even had the Dalai Lama. What did MC US have - 3 judges from minor versions of other MC shows. Matt Preston turned them down. What is sad that the Australian champion only got $100,000 whereas the US champion got $250,000 for alot less work and time away from family.
Lagasse and Acheson new Top Chef judges
I imagine we are going to get a dose of love - Tim Love that is, along with some other chefs from Texas. If they are covering 3 cities during the series, they should have a food truck competition and make them drive - saves on airfare.
Lagasse and Acheson new Top Chef judges
Unfortunately this probably means alot less of Bourdain, but I guess with his new show in development at Travel Channel he probably doesn't have the time. Hopefully Hugh will be as quirky as he was on Top Chef Masters.
It also makes it 2 Canadians on the judging panel (along with Gail)
http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/TV/08/10/top.chef.emeril.ew/index.html?hpt=hp_bn5
Alternative to Vitamix blender
I have done some research on this, and the best alternative I can see if the KitchenAid 5-speed blender. I have seen it on sale for $150. It has a slightly less powerful motor, and it does not have the 7 year guarantee of the Vitamix, but it is heat resistant (important for mixing soups). The Vitamix is #1 in the food industry because of its durability, but for occasional home use, I would go with the KitchenAid.
Madrid/SS/Barcelona Itinerary up for critique
I agree that MB and Etxebarri is alot for one day, if you plan on the tasting menus at both. Since you are going to Barcelona I would suggest going to Lasarte which is also a Martin Berasategui restaurant and is a Michelin 2 star.
Heeney is partially correct - Extebarri is only open for dinner Saturday night, and closed Mondays. By the way Cinq Sentis is my favorite restaurant in Barcelona proper, so hope you enjoy the experience.
Asador Etxebarri Transportation, HELP!
I have rented a car from Bilbao Airport (that's where my plane arrives) for $300 for 3 days in October, but I am also going to Mugaritz on the 2nd day which is also in the countryside. Looking at the terrain, part of the fun might be getting a bit lost as long as I don't miss my reservations. Between the GPS and Google Maps I shouldn't have a problem.
FALLBACK FOR CINC SENTITS HELP
Here is the link for the train schedule:
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/barcelona/index.html
- enter Barcelona-Sants and Sant Pol De Mar. I was off a bit on the time - it is 1 hour - but the trains run every half hour and the last one leaves at 10:16pm, so if you get an early sitting for dinner you are fine. The train station is literally steps from the restaurant. The meal took approx 2 1/2 hours.
Aleta - I forgot about the watercolour - it is great reminder of what was served. Both restaurant also had their own labelled Cava. I am not sure I agree with the food being masculine or feminine, but the look of the restaurants certainly lean in that direction. CDLR is all modern glass, dark wood, and a tree in the middle of the dining area, while Sant Pau is like eating in someone's home.
CDLR is up in Girona - and that is a longer journey - almost 2 hours and it will cost you about 10 Euros for a taxi to the restaurant. You are basically committing for the day if you go, and if you are only in Barca for 3 days, I wouldn't recommend it.
FALLBACK FOR CINC SENTITS HELP
I second Sant Pau - the train ride is only 40 minutes and runs along the scenic coast. Please note the Tasting Menu is much more than Cinq Sentits at 146 Euro, but next to Can Cellar De Roca, was the best meal I have had in Spain in the past couple of years. Chef Ruscalleda also comes out and greets all her diners.
San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants 2011
I also feel it's a bit of an old boy's club, especially in regards to the Spanish ones. 5 of the 7 are in and around San Sebastian, 0 in Madrid or Barcelona (unless you count Sant Pau).
SF Chron top 100 restaurants 2011
I have booked Madrona Manor in May on a visit to SF - he dropped it off the top 100, but in his last return review there did not seem to be anything negative about it, and the personal reviews still look good. Has it fallen off some way in food or service?
Comerc 24 "at the bar"?
If possible, try to get seats on the left of the bar - you will overlook the kitchen - it was like a bee hive in there.
buying molecular gastronomy ingredients
Not in the city - actually in Quebec, but if you don't mind mail order:
http://www.molecule-r.com/
You can get the base kit, and then can buy the individual chemicals as you need them. Comes with a DVD with recipes as well. Also, you can link to a forum as well.
http://www.moleculargastronomynetwork.com/community/chefs.html
Barbados - Naru Restaurant
Depends where you are staying. Mullins is great if you are on the West Coast. I am staying on the South at Accra and have reservations at Champers and Tapas along with Naru. I have ate at Champers several times and never been disappointed. Also, like Josefs in the SLG.
Barbados - Naru Restaurant
Lois - I have a reservation for next week. Given the dishes are more tapas style, what were the prices like, and would a single male diner need 3 or more dishes to make a meal?
Thanks
Mark
Le Creuset 50% off at Home Outfitters on Saturday (Jan 15, 2011)
You might want to have a gander at this that ran in November. Wish I knew what they were offering, before going up to Yorkdale.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/745562
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Yorkdale Cafe
1 Yorkdale, Toronto, ON M9M1B9, CA
Jamie Kennedy to receive Order of Canada
And how to drive yourself into bankruptcy doing it. Though it is nice to see a chef appointed instead of the usual politicians, entertainers, and sports figures. Can Susur or McEwan be next?
Small buns for sliders
I see them in Metro all the time. Usually beside the freezer where they have the frozen sliders.
food apps----any to recommend?
One I like, and its free is BigOven - tons of recipes, and you can do grocery lists, and it has a social aspect as well where you can post recipes.
