two_drifters's Profile
Chowing itinerary for one day in Vancouver
Okay, I do like the idea for Granville Island, thank you. I think we'll do that and then head to Blue Water.
My husband likes the idea of dim sum more than wineries :) So we'll try to make that happen and then if we have time for 1 or 2 wineries after the ferry trip all the better, if not we'll deal.
Of the coffee places listed above, which are conveniently located for the rest of the itinerary, or close to the aquabus for Granville I.?
Chowing itinerary for one day in Vancouver
So instead of a blowout birthday celebration dinner before heading out to Tofino, we're now thinking of a more stretched-out day of eating. Good eating :) How does this one-day itinerary sound? I would like to keep things relatively close rather than zigzagging from one end of town to the other (I plead total ignorance on Vancouver's layout, my to-do for this week includes buying a city map). This will be happening on a Sunday. We'll be staying downtown that night, and will have a car rental with us.
We'll be arriving into YVR around 9:45 am. Then to either Wicked, Elysian, 49th Parallel, or Artigiano to get jump-started with coffee.
Lunch (here's where it gets tricky and slightly crazy): I want to have either fresh seafood at the raw bar @ Blue Water, OR try one izakaya (Hapa, Guu, Gyoza King, or Kingyo). I love seafood and we live in the SF bay area (Napa) but don't get it too often since husband doesn't partake; that being said, I've never tried an izakaya before and while we have a couple in SF's Japantown it sounds like the Vancouver ones are really special.
Since DH will have very kindly sat through a seafood or Japanese tapas meal with me, I want to take him to an Indian restaurant for his lunch. But where? Raga? I don't want to chance it on Vij's though, but am curious myself to check out the amazing Indian food scene Vancouver has.
Late afternoon snack at Japadog.
A very late dinner at Fuel.
The next morning we'll take the ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay and have no set time to do this, so we were thinking of stopping in Richmond for dim sum (Kirin?). But I wanted to have enough time to explore some Cowichan Valley wineries before making the drive west to Tofino. Would this be unrealistic, though, if we waited to have dim sum around 10 am (when they open) and likely wouldn't catch the ferry until after 12? Yikes, I think I just answered my own question. We'll have to content ourselves with SF dim sum.
Thanks for the help, sorry for the rambling!
Lumiere or West for milestone birthday dinner
Thanks for the recommendations. I think we've decided now on a different slant for our day in Vancouver. I'll be re-posting.
Lumiere or West for milestone birthday dinner
My husband and I will be in Vancouver just one night (we'll be arriving in the morning, actually) before heading to Tofino for five days and would like to have a memorable, blowout dinner in celebration of my 30th bday. I've narrowed it down to Lumiere or West--which one would you recommend? Or is there something else I'm overlooking? (Unfortunately Blue Water is too seafood-centric for my husband).
Thanks! Also, any food recommendations for Tofino would be more than welcome. Sebo is on my list and we'll be there during the Tofino Food & Wine Festival.
Please vet my wine country itinerary
Mendo dinner-- our favorite is Cafe Beaujolais.
Besides Greenwood Ridge, Toulouse, Esterlina (by appt.), Goldeneye, and Roederer Estate are also good options, esp. if you like pinot and sparkling wine (Roederer).
Close to Preston in Dry Creek Valley is Bella, which makes some great zins, including a late harvest which is delicious.
Of your wineries on 4/20 I've only been to Ridge and Quivera, and think they'd both be good choices. You're right, definitely keep Ridge.
4/22: Hartford and Lynmar are two of my favorites in that area. Of the other ones, I've tried Siduri and Martinelli--I would pick Siduri. Martinelli was disappointing for me.
Favorite Sonoma wineries: Chateau St. Jean (it's a bigger one though), Tin Barn (close to the Napa/Sonoma border near Carneros). I don't think you'd be disappointed by Buena Vista, though, or Bartholomew Park which is nearby.
I'd recommend Ad Hoc instead of Bouchon. A prix, fixe menu but it's consistently delicious, which isn't something I've been able to say about Bouchon.
Don't worry about missing FL. You're going to Cyrus after all!
Squid Ink Pasta - Phoenix Area
Saw it at LGO (dried) this past winter...hopefully it's still there?
Southern Utah Report (Zion, Bryce Canyon & Arches (Moab))
Good call on Cafe Diablo. We just got back from a road trip through southern UT and had an excellent dinner there. The other chowhound highlight of our trip was breakfast at Hell's Backbone Grill in Boulder, UT-- I only wish we could have stayed in town long enough for dinner there.
www.hellsbackbonegrill.com
Switzerland recs needed - Lausanne, Interlaken area, Luzern
Luzern-- Wirsthaus Taube near the Spreuerbrucke bridge has good regional dishes, and the rosti there was yummy. We also hit up Fondue House for my fondue craving. Ended up having raclette but their toblerone fondue alone is worth a visit.
Lauterbrunnen -- I loved the delicious fondue at Hotel Oberland. Also when in Lauterbrunnen, take the bus to Stechelberg, where a lift departs for Gimmelwald & even further up, Murren. In Gimmelwald, take a right off the lift (you really can't go anywhere else-- you'll see what I mean =) ) & head to Esther's Guest-house. They open up their barn to sleep in, but Esther also sells deliciously fresh foods from their farm...think yogurt, homemade bread, jellies and cheese. Perfect to assemble a picnic lunch with if you're planning on hiking up in that area. Heaven on Earth.
NFR-- your 8 y.o. will love the mirror maze at the Gletschergarten, next door to the lion monument. heck, you grownups will have just as much fun!
Sorry, can't help with Lausanne. Happy anni =)
Alaska foodie dinner
Marx Bros. Cafe for sure. Been to Jens', Southside Bistro & Brewhouse-- Marx blew them all out of the water.
