Caffe Rustico - Mount Pleasant

What a lovely dinner, Laura and I had at Caffee Rustico.  Laura had come to help out at the office with Gilbert and I and my staffing problems.  So after an afternoon of work I suggested we stop for dinner.  Thinking of places we liked, both of us remembered Caffee Rustico.  It was as good as ever. The owner is a delight. “It’s so Italian,” said Laura, “Just like I remember our time in Italy.” she said.  It really is. The pasta is to die for. The coffee particularly special, if not unique.  A friend of the owner was there and when we raved about the pasta he said, “I’m from the same district. That’s how our mother’s and father’s made pasta when we were growing up.”
I love Vancouver for the best of ethnic fare. Just a simple inexpensive dinner on Main Street with a friend and dog, very busy dog watching, made for a lovely end to a hard working day. Thank you Caffe Rustico. The food, service, and ambience was superb!

Ranier Provisions, Vancouver

Ranier Provisions, 2 West Cordova, Downtown East Side Vancouver.  This is the most pleasant restaurant I’ve been in for a while.  Very down to earth and simple with great food.  Inexpensive.
There was also a delightful pianist playing upbeat music, not too loud, just right in fact.
The servers were attentive but not intrusive. Everything was clean and pleasant.  Pleasant is the word I keep coming back to.  I really enjoyed my nutritious delicious meatball sandwich lunch, really. Coffee was strong and aromatic.
And quick. I confess, I’m usually in a hurry and worry about the sit down restaurant as opposed to the fast food joint. This place was quick but had that no hurry  feel  you don't get in fast food.
They sell stuff too, which is the ‘provisions’ part of their sign.  Another time I'll check out all the good foodstuff they had for sale on the wall. Made me think of a 19th century ‘provisions’ .  Well done, Rainier!

 

Cafe Bengodi, Seattle

I had the best seafood pasta I've had in a long while. Laura loved her pizza too. The garlic bread was scrumptuous.  The waiter was informative, extremely professional and a true delight.  The street was highly entertaining.  I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves Italian cooking.  Gilbert was happy to sit outside with us, enjoying dog watching as much as we enjoyed the people watching. 

Federico's Supper Club

Federico's Supper Club is literally an institution in Vancouver. I've heard about it for years and passed it on Commercial Street many times, saying, "I just have to go one night."  I've even got so far as to drop by only to find the place packed. Now for 3 years I've tried to book a dinner on Valentine's.  Each year I was too late.  This year I booked two weeks in advance and got an early sitting.
It was best that it was the early sitting.  Friday night I'm not the guy I once was.  Laura looked smashing. Parking was easy.  The club was spectacular.  The band comes on at 10 pm and the dance floor is famous.
Federico is too, because he is a godsend to the community, supporting  all manner of charitable function and taking a central role in the hub of Vancouver party life. Even that day, telling people I was going to Federico's, his praise was sung. by all.  A true gentleman.
There were two long tables of birthday celebrations with young to old involved.  Laura loved stepping back into Italy.  We'd just been in the fall and everything about Federico's speaks to the enchantment of that boot shaped island.
A guitarist played throughout the meal.  I haven't heard such a mistrol of guitar in years.  Collectively we all stopped eating to applaud his intricate renditions of Chris de Burgh's Lady  in Red, so appropriate for a Valentine's evening, and Cohen's Hallelujah, such a wish  for love.
The service was  the best.  White table cloth settings with aproned waiters. I was dressed in a black suit with a black harley davidson tie but half the guys, especially the younger ones, were dressed in shirts and slacks.   Everyone seemed thoroughly intent on our having a fine dining experience.  $45 to $55 dollars were the fixed 3 and 4 course meals with amazing choice. The chef is of course one of the city's finest.  Only the best at Federico's.
The carpachio was delicate perfection.  Laura loved her steak.  I ordered rabbit pasta. I''ve shot my share of rabbits and make a mighty fine rabbit stew myself..  "You know rabbit is a traditional Italian favourite." the waiter commented. And cooked as superbly as it was I was not surprised. It really may have been better than my traditional stew. I loved the sauce that much.
Tiramesu desserts and coffee.  The guitarist played his last song. The band was coming on stage.  It was 10 30  pm. I looked at Laura and said, "Dear, I don't thihnk I can stay awake any longer. Would you mind terribly if we left".
"Of course not, dear, " she said, "It's been a fabulous meal and I've had a lovely time." I was so glad to have picked Laura as my valentine date.
Younger I would have left early to get back to bed to ravish her. If anyone deserved ravishing it was her.   Today 11 pm is bedtime and after midnight I turn into a snoring toad.
That's the trouble with being well fed at my age. After such a fine meal, you want to sleep not dance no matter that dancing is right up there with flossing for wholesome.
We'll just have to return for a Saturday night.  I'm better on Saturday and with an early nap I could probably catch the famous floor shore.  Federico's is certainly a place to keep coming back to.

Sunny Spot Cafe

We've been coming here a decade at least. It's one of our favourite weekend haunts. The fresh squeezed orange juice is terrific. I love the Italian, or Greek breakfast sausage. Breakfast served all day and I love late afternoon brunch. The waitresses are always pleasant. The food is always great. In winter we sit inside. Now in summer we sit outside. Gilbert the dog loves it best as he waits beneath the table where he catches the occasional treats and visits with passing dogs. Today was an especially pleasant day with unexpectant sunshine bringing out shorts and sundresses. People watching at this Main and Broadway corner is increasingly funky too.

Max's Delicatessan and Bakery

http://www.maxsdeli.ca/ A decade back I lived around the corner from Max's Delicatessen and Bakery. As a result it became my favourite place for coffee and often the source of my lunches or dinner. In spring and summer I'd sit outside with my dog on his leash while all the other dogs visitted us. I think it was because of Max's and all the dog lovers who came here that they've opened a dog grooming spa on Oak.

I moved away and only got back occasionally till recently when I've begun visitting again with a friend who lives nearby. I can't get over how nutritious the dinner's are. I've eaten the lasagnas, the chickens, the quiches, the hot potatoes, the salads and too much of the incredible pastry. If you leave out the pastry the food is really healthy for the body whereas the pastry lifts the heart. What's as astonishing is the price. I come away with a whole meal that's literally home made and it costs as little as a fast food combo. The thing is, the delightful staff are almost as quick.

The only difference seems to be that Max's is busier. They've increased the staff and they've also added a fireplace.

And I love it. Tonight I had salmon steak with vegetables By not looking to the left where the pastry resides I was able to get away without indulging in the blueberry creation I've already had a couple of times this month. It can be done.

Laura’s Birthday

Laura turned 17 or some such number that grandmother's use. Birthday's are good excuses to get together with friends for dinner's out and movies. We set out to see Avatar because Kirk and Kirk and Kirk and everyone else raved about it. The only showing available on Saturday night was 10: 30 , the earlier showing sold out by 5 30. So we chose Sherlock Holmes with time for dinner and a walk on Robson.

Two doors over from the Scotia Theatre is this marvelous SalaThai Thai restaurant http://www.salathai.ca/main.htmlon Burrard. We ordered the dinner for two and it felt like we were back at Chris' ,my neighbor in Saipan ,whose girlfriend was Thai. I'd go over and the collection of Thai girls would just love to serve us this great food. The house choices were like that, eating what somebody's mother or the chef figured was a good meal. And it was with spring rolls, soup, prawns, and chicken curry and coconut ice cream disguised by Thai names. Laura said she loved it and regaled me with the tales of the greatest man on earth, her huge human hulk grandson whose 26 lbs and growing. "I nearly threw my back out lifting him at Christmas, he's become so big." (The dad probably uses Harley Davidson supplements for kids....Laura's granddaughter is already a kick ass 4x4 er )

Robson was beautiful at night with the lights. All pretty for the Olympics. Vancouver, a city to be proud of.

Now Sherlock Holmes was a great choice if only for the best dog in movie recently. Beautiful seductress and lovely Victorian near love scenes, major action, great acting and terrific Holmes and Watson, and what intrigue. I was thoroughly captivated, ate a bag of popcorn without knowing it despite being full from dinner. Were it not for the popcorn I would have chewed my fingernails to the bone. This is theatre at it's finest. So much entertainment. I really do think movies are getting better.

Laura loved Holmes and Watson too. Dropping her off at her place I drove my truck home thinking I was born in the wrong time. A carriage with horses has something over even a Ford Ranger Truck. And to be able to carry a sword to duel blackguards and pistols to fire at blackhearts seems superior in some ways than hiring lawyers. They had those too but the choices seemed better in some ways. Though I don't think I'd like to be a peasant. We do much better as peasants today.

I dropped off my laundry on the way out last night and do like clean clothes. The Victorians didn't wash so much and were considered malodorous by the more cleanly Chinese who found the Europeans rather vulgar back then. I loved the period views of Thames and Parliament. I'd love to sail my boat in to that harbor.

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant

Ever since Ethiopian nurses cared so lovingly for my mother in her final days, have I wanted to know more about these people and their country. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia. It's taken 2 years till I've actually eaten at an Ethiopian Restaurant despite passing the Axum on dozens of occasions and saying to whoever was with me, "I really want to eat at that restaurant." http://foodpages.ca/axum-ethiopian-restaurant. It's right on East Hastings at Clark.

Well, tonight I got my chance. It was well worth the wait. The cozy little restaurant was bright with light and colour. The beautiful hostess and chef welcomed us warmly. The menu was vegetarian and meat with chicken, lamb and beef. We started with fresh mango drinks and when it came time to order quickly were asked, "Is this your first time eating Ethiopian." "Well, yes. " Beaming with pride and pleasure, our delightful ambassador told us all we needed to know about what was in store for us.

Not long after we placed our order, the feast began. There was this huge piece of dough almost like an extra extra large pizza base and the spicy lamb and spicy beef we ordered with the mixed vegetarian was poured all over this. Then these little rolled up towels of bread I'd thought at first were for cleaning up served for handling the food. Tearing off bits of them like cloth I used this unique bread to pick up mouthful of exquisite food and literally stuff my face.

Laura used a spoon and ladled her delicacies onto the bread. I was having far too good a time eating with my right hand that I ask the hostess if we had to use the spoon. "Whatever you want," the handsome man with her said, "We like to experience the food with our hands as well in Ethiopia". So I went on with my wanton ways while Laura continued to use her spoon and daintily wipe her lips with one of the many napkins.

All the while people came and went with take out. "This really would be good as take out for watching a movie, " Laura said. "For sure," I answered, hardly looking up.

I was amazed at the beef and loved the potatoes and spinach. The lamb, always my favourite was actually surpassed by the extraordinary spicy marinaded beef. It's not curry. It's something utterly unlike anything I'd eatten before. Ethiopian. And wonderful.

"It's all good for you too," Laura said.

I was busy with my fingers and glorying in the taste and the full feeling growing in my body. Too involved to be thinking about anything else but the next bite. Soon I was literally glowing and with a contented smile pushed myself back from the table stretching my legs, I admitted "I can't have another bite."

The only thing I can say against the Ethiopians is that their chairs don't become recliners. That's the only thing I needed at the end of that meal.

It was only $40 for a feast. There was enough left over for both of us to have another meal for lunch. Our hostess had it all packed up for us to take away when we thanked her praising the food and chef. "I'm so glad you enjoyed our food, " she said.

"We'll be back". Laura said.

And that, we will!