We are going to Russia in February 2013. I read somewhere that Vladamir Putin had a favorite Italian restaurant in Moscow, favored more than Cafe Pushkin. What might it be?

Hi Cassie - you must live in Victoria. So, what do you think about the Deep Cove Chalet?

Well, I need advice now. We will be in Victoria in two weeks for my sister-in-law's birthday and we want to take her somewhere very, very special (elegant and delicous - cost is not a factor). That said, I should know Victoria, my mum was raised there, but I am fresh out of suggestions. They will be at The Fairmont; we will be at the Union Club, and have a car. The Oak Bay Marina used to be good, but we recently heard to the contrary. Is it worth it to drive to Brentwood to The Aeirie, or is there something wonderful in town?

Help!

Short notice - we're leaving Sunday for five days of skiing in Vail...want one or two restaurant recommendations...Continental or typically Coloradan.

Don't overlook Lola - Tom Douglas' new restaurant.

The one you saw was likely a Centellino that uses a glass amphora at the top of the bottle. The wine is poured into the amphora, the vessel is then rotated and pours the wine into the glass. The are others on the market - Vinturi for instance - it does a nice job, but you really do have to wait a bit for good quality wine to fully open up - and it does sound a bit like a Bendix washing machine.

Not sure if this got posted, but I was wondering about approximate cost pp and/orpreis fixe at Le Grand Colbert.

Tell me more about La Cagouille. We will be the guests of our family, most of whom are younger. Do they have a specialty or signature dish? And, what can we expect price-wise?

It's not so much the decor, but, rather, I have heard mixed reviews - some spectacular, some lousy like yours. I'm willing to take a chance - as I have heard that the seafood platter is wonderful. Being from Seattle, we get great fish, and have also enjoyed various selections in Brittany, Maine, and on St. Barth's, where Aquamarine flies mussels in from Brittany every Thursday - and you can buy freshly caught grouper and lobster from the fishermen roadside. That said, I'm trying to find out what to expect price-wise, as our adult kids (and there will be seven of us) want to take us there for our wedding anniversary dinner. Given that there are law school loans being paid off, other considerations, I just hope that they aren't going to be blind-sided by the prices. If they know what they're in for, they can plan for it.

There are seven of us going to dinner at Le Grand Colbert. What I'm unable to find from their website are prices - and we'd like to know what we can expect. We love good wine, but given that we're in France and with the strength of the Euro against the dollar, we're not likely to go overboard (maybe cocktails in our apartment before). Thoughts on prices? Maybe pp?

Thanks.

erankin

We're leaving for St. Petersburg next Sunday - and want to watch the Presidential Inauguration on the 20th. Does anyone know of an ex-pat hang-out (bar or restaurant on or near the Nevsky Prospekt? (And yes, we'll be eating Russian food the rest of the time.)