Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 481

October 26, 2012: Your input would be greatly appreciated!

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to explain the difference between “goofy” and “kooky” to my Japanese girlfriend.  I have already tried – and failed.  YOU are now our only hope.  Please leave your superior explanations in the comments section.  Thanks.

Whew! That was a close one. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

To those of you wondering (which, I’m sure, is almost everyone), my Snow Monkeys eked out a close-shave three-point victory last weekend to creep up to a record of 3 wins and 4 losses in Fantasy Football League play.  Unimpressive admittedly but good enough for seventh place in our 14-team league and a playoff spot if the season ended today.  This week, the team faces a tough match-up against PasswordIsLawren but we’re off to a good start thanks to Doug Martin’s spectacular 33.40 point performance last night.  Now, all I need to do is choose the right RB2 compliment.  Trent Richardson is dinged up but is expected to start.  Andre Brown is the clear back-up in New York but Bradshaw is looking gimpy.  Ballard was my first choice, assuming running duties in Brown’s absence, but there is talk that Brown will suit up this weekend.  So, who do I go with?  Please leave your expert opinions in the comment section.  Thanks.

I mean, honestly – how am I expected to keep updated on late injury reports and set my line-up?  With the help of the internet – and a two a.m. Tokyo time wake-up, that’s how.

I’ll be out and about (“galavanting” as my father used to say) for the next little while but, upon my return, I’d like to check out one of the new Fall shows.  THE best one, of course.  And that would be…..? Please leave your pick in the comments section.  Thanks.

And since I’ll be off-continent, I’m going to miss out on the upcoming presidential election.  Who will emerge victorious?  Obama?  Romney? Virgil Goode?  I’m DVR’ing the election night coverage so no spoilers until I get back!

Planning to hit the amazon store tonight and download a couple of fantastic reads to my kindle.  Any suggestions?  Fantastic reads only, please.  Leave your recommendations in the comment section.  Thanks.

Why is my French Bulldog, Lulu, so hungry tonight?  I’ve given her two extra handfuls of kibble and she continues to park herself under the dog food cupboard.  What gives?  Please post your explanation in the comment section.  Thanks.

Hey, Michael Vick, check it out!  Dog fighting!

Well, dog-wrestling anyway.  Oh, forgot.  Michael Vick isn’t into dog-fighting anymore.  Or, it would seem, scoring touchdowns.

October 25, 2012: Double Birthday(ish) Dinner!

The other night, Akemi and I went out for burgers with a couple of our very favorite Vancouver friends: Steve, Jodi, and their daughter, Gemma.  Per Akemi’s request, we ended up going to Romer’s Burger Bar for their varied menu offerings and those silly iceberg lettuce buns the ladies seem to enjoy.

Steve and Jodi.  Future Vegas travel companions?

Gemma says: “I’m eating! And watching Madagascar 3.”

The Chorizodor.  A pork and chorizo sausage patty topped with cheddar, pepper jack, creamy boursin, avocado, and Diablo sauce.  Tasty – but very messy.

Steve and Jodi ended up surprising both Akemi and I with belated birthday gifts.  A travel kit for me (which saves me the trouble of having to go out and buy one for my Tokyo trip!  How’s that for timing?) and a pug-themed accessory for Akemi:

So cute!

As the dishes were being cleared away, our waitress asked who was the birthday boy because, apparently, they were preparing some sort of dessert in my honor.  I assumed that she had spotted the gift and informed the kitchen who had decided to whip up something for the occasion.  I would have honestly preferred to simply order my own dessert.  BUT it turned out the dessert wasn’t coming from the kitchen. Not exactly.  It was coming from the kitchen via a sneaky Steve and Jodi via Ganache Patisserie: an assortment of delectable pastries including:

My birthday mini-cake

And my favorite: the hazelnut cocoa meringue.

The desserts were totally unexpected but greatly appreciated.  And delicious.  If we do end up doing Vegas with Steve and Jodi in, I’ll have to find a way to surprise them as well.  I’m thinking garden snake in their luggage.

Then, last night, Akemi and I headed over to Fat Dragon for their famed Hog Times dinner.  We were joined by Emma and Robert (who we met at the last family-style dinner at Campagnolo Roma) and our buddy Simon…

Emma and Robert = expert eaters.

Simon = diner, chef, photographer.

I’m usually not a fan of family-style dining which requires you to share a table with complete strangers.  Sometimes, dishes introduced at one end of the table take forever to get to you – and, when they do, it can be slim pickings.  Conversely, if you’re starting with a dish, you may limit your initial serving to ensure everyone at the other end of the table receives a share and, as a result, end up leaving the table feeling hungry.  On the other hand, the family-style setting allows you to make new friends (like Emma and Robert) – which wasn’t the case on this night as the group seated beside us was immersed in their own private conversation throughout.

Still, it was a great meal.  The following photos were snapped by Simon and his far superior camera:

Barbecued Sloping Hill Farm Pig.  They trotted the pork out and posed for the requisite pics.  

Papaya and cabbage salad with lime, green chilies, and crispy shallots.  Akemi loved it.

Jalan Alor chicken wings.  Simon went to town on these!

Stri-fried noodles with smokey drippings.  Smokey drippings? Aka pork fat.  And, yes, they were delicious.

The cheek!  The tastiest, most tender part of the pig.  

Other menu items included bean sprout kimchi, stir-fried Japanese eggplant, BBQ pit beans, butter lettuce and bean sprout salad, Korean BBQ sauce, scallion sauce, and steamed jasmine rice.  The eggplant was a favorite of the table.

For dessert, I ordered a round of Fat Dragon’s famed soft serve ice cream.  That night’s flavor: pandan.

The happy couple

Akemi says: “Oishiiii!”.

In addition, Simon gifted me a box of belated birthday chocolate and macarons.  They were incredible, especially the pumpkin macarons!

Like my birthday dinner at Campagnolo, Chef Ted Anderson was the man behind the meal.  A big thanks to him and the rest of the gang at Fat Dragon/Campagnolo/Campagnolo Roma.

Well, after two big meals, Akemi has decided to eat soup for the foreseeable future.

Tagged: Fat Dragon, Ganache, Ganache Patisserie, hog dinner, Romer's Burger Bar, Vancouver Restaurants, whole hog

October 24, 2012: Are you serious?!!

In Italy, a group of scientists was found guilty of manslaughter for failing to predict a devastating earthquake.  I’m sorry.  I must have missed the major headline.  Since when did earthquake-prediction become an exact science?  In this case, following some preliminary tremors, an Italian scientist was asked if said tremors were the prelude to a much bigger quake.  He said it seemed unlikely.  And so, because an earthquake DID strike and he was proven (sort of) wrong, he and his team were found guilty of manslaughter.  Conversely, if he had answered: “It seemed likely.” and an earthquake DIDN’T strike, would he have been charged for inciting panic and charged the costs of the evacuation?  From Galileo to the L’Aquila earthquake: Italian science on trial

You’re alone at night, closing up shop, when some armed men burst into your place of work.  You have an opportunity to escape out an open window.  What do you do?  Save your life?  Apparently, that sort of behavior if frowned upon at Arby’s.  Arby’s Employee Fired After Fleeing Armed Robbery: ‘I’m Not Going to Die in Arby’s Tonight’

Robo-squirrels, Moroccan pottery classes, and talking urinal cakes. Your tax dollars at work: Wastebook

One more reason real books are better than digital books: Woman’s Kindle account closed  Apparently, even though you’re paying full price for the digital version, you don’t own it.  You’re only renting.

For real?  The 10 Worst Facebook Fails

Today’s entry is dedicated to blog regular, Debra.  Condolences on your loss.

October 23, 2012: Goodbye, Baby

His first name is lost to time.  It was a French name I recall. Michoux? Michaud?  Something like that.  But when we adopted him, we renamed him, choosing Baby over runner-up Sasquatch.  And, over the course of his 15+ years, he was a little of both: frisky, grumpy, playful, troublesome but, always, oh-so-adorable.  I suspect he even had a little dog in his DNA, demonstrating a most un-catlike disregard for personal hygiene that marked his colorful personality (and, unfortunately for him, lead to the necessity for the funny lion cut pictured above), as well as a propensity for extended sneezing fits.

Like most of our animal companions, he went through an early butterball phase, the result of days spent eating, lounging about, and, generally, lying in wait to pounce on the sockless unwary.  In later years, that fluffy lion cut concealed an emaciated frame ravaged by disease.  And yet, despite the early prognosis, Baby proved himself a fighter.  Time and again, he looked to be in his final days and, time and again, he bounced back, resuming his pesky, obstinate, adorably cranky ways.

But these last few days proved too much for him and, last night, Baby finally passed away, peacefully, according to my sis, purring and cuddling to the end.

He was a little guy with a very big personality.  And he will be missed.

I dedicate today’s blog to mom and my cousin, Marolyn, Daisy, and, especially, my sis who took such great care of Baby, especially in his final few months.

October 22, 2012: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Batman Begins!

Batman Begins fantastik but END just better den average.  Direktor Christopher Nolan use Richard Donner Superman as a guide and, strukturally, both movies very similar  wit strong, backstory-rich, character-driven first halves dat eventually give way to typikal nonsensical-actiony back halves.  Direktion and cinematography are brilliant while akting and writing are good – for de most part.

A young Bruce Wayne fall into well where he attacked by bats.  Dis begin life-long phobia/obsession wit de flying rodents.  Sort of like Grover except instead of well, he stumble into de Muppet & Jam Pub, and instead of bats it be Glenlivet, but you get de idea.  Anyway, young Bruce’s week go from bad to worse when -

Dad leave young Bruce wit final message: “Don’t be afraid.  And always hire someone to program your universal remote.”

His parents killed by two-bit thug during botched robbery.  And so, Orphan Bruce raised by cockney butler, Alfred, played by Michael Caine in one of movie’s many strong points.  Alfred prove alternately firm, warm and supportive, a strong father figure wit a wry sense of humor.  De type of dad you want helping you wit your homework and backing you up in a bar fight.

Bruce all grown up

Bruce grow up, obsessed wit twin notions of fear and justice.  Dis preoccupation take him to Asia where he go undercover as smuggler – only to get as busted as Big Bird at a Korean massage parlor.  He end up in prison where he reskued by mysterious man who go by name Ducard.  Ducard work for man called Razalgool, leader of ninja club called League of Shadows.  Dey seem like a nice, capable bunch and Bruce train wit dem.  BUT when he asked to kill poor farmer guilty of crime, Bruce refuse because it go against his moral code – so, instead, he end up burning down de clubhouse killing Razalgool, a bunch of ninjas and, oh yeah, dat poor farmer.

Bruce return to Gotham city where he resume life – much to surprise of everyone who thought he was dead.  Using tech from Wayne Corp. R&D, he create Batman persona and go out at night, fighting crime wit help of Sergeant Jim Gordon, one of few good cops in Gotham.  Like Michael Caine, Gary Oldman deliver terrific supporting performance, playing off equally great Christian Bale who be de best Batman yet – and pretty darn good Bruce Wayne as well.  Still, monster feel Bale’s Brucey missing touch of charm.

Rounding out Bruce’s inner circle be next-to-meaningless charakter of childhood friend and assistant distrikt attorney, Rachel Dawes, played by Katie Holmes.  Oof. Holmes bring nothing to nothing role and only apparent purpose of Rachel be to get captured and reskued from dis guy -

Scarecrow!

Villainous scarecrow lacing Gotham water supply with fear additive.  But it only work when breathed in.  Luckily for his mysterious boss, he get his hands on water vaporizer (?) from Wayne Corp.  Mysterious boss turn out to be – surprise! – Razalgool who not really dead and really – surprise! – Ducard!  After kicking crap out of Bruce Wayne and burning down Wayne manor, Raz plan to use water vaporizer to aerosolize fear additive in water supply and create chaos on Gotham!  Why?  Well, um, he a villain and villains do bad tings, right?

Batman to de reskue!

Final thirty minutes of movie as ridikulous as bad guy’s plan.  It include a speeding train, hysterical citizens, and Jim Gordon using Batmomissiles to take out tracks.  It all a bit silly, especially in comparison to rest of movie dat been pretty brilliant up to dis point.

Verdikt: One of de best superhero movies me have reviewed (minus Katie Holmes) until de last 30 minutes.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10 chocolate chippee cookies.

October 21, 2012: Football, Roast Rib-Eye, Ice Cream, and Anguish!

Awwww, c’mon!!!!

Every damn weekend it’s the same damn thing!  My Snow Monkey put up enough points to beat at least 10 of the 13 other teams in my league.  Only problem is, we happen to be playing one of the 3 OTHER teams.  Well, they haven’t lost yet but it doesn’t look good.  Our opponents, the Autodrafts, have one player left – Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould who has been averaging about 11 points a game.  What will the Autodrafts need to beat me?  11 points!  It all comes down to the Monday Night game.  And here I was looking forward to a good night’s sleep.

As usual, the guys came over today for football, ice cream, and quality time with the dogs…

I made a rib-eye roast for lunch.  After leaving it out for 30 minutes to bring it to room temperature, I dusted it with a mixture of black pepper, fresh thyme, hot paprika, bacon salt, and flour, then made some pierced the meat and slipped garlic slivers into the incisions.  I seared it off and, once I’d achieved that night, crispy exterior, I brushed it with honey-mustard and then roasted it for an hour and twenty minutes at 325.

After tenting it with aluminum foil and letting it rest for ten minutes, I sliced it up and served with a side salad and the ciabatta buns Ivon brought.

Dessert was a triple treat.  Rob made granola:

Akemi baked chocolate chip cookies:

While Genevieve dropped off the latest installment in my ongoing Sunday Morning Ice Cream subscription.  Today = Milk Chocolate Chai (perfect with granola and chocolate chip cookies!):

According to Genevieve, October has been a big success so she is going to start the subscription process for November.  I will, of course, be signing up once again: sundaymorningicecream – Tumblr

Rob

Jelly

Bubba

Lulu

Lulu laments Ivon’s departure.

Finish up your viewings of Batman Begins and join tomorrow’s discussion as our Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes with resident film critic Cookie Monster!

October 20, 2012: Great Print Ads From Around the World!

Bazooka (Duval Guillaume, Brussels):

Utopolis Group of Cinemas:

Kaya King Jumbo Peanuts:

8in1 Dental Snacks:

Pepsi:

Utopolis Group of Cinemas:

Axe Anarchy (BBH, London):

Lifebuoy:

Bose noise reduction headphones:

Audi:

Snowboard Head:

Ortoimplant Dental Clinic:

Post It:

Tagged: funny print ads

October 19, 2012: Mailbag!

Hey, it’s been ages since I’ve done one of these!

noellam writes: “Also, if you are in the business of answering questions today, why is it that even bad potato chips taste good?”

Answer: The fact of the matter is they don’t.  Have you tried those Lays baked potato chips?  They taste like crispy sweat.  I’m afraid you are a salty (as opposed to a sweetie, like yours truly), roughly half the human population that is genetically predisposed to enjoying salty snack treats regardless of quality.  I believe you can find pills to help this condition.  You’ll find it at your local drug store, somewhere between medication for Restless Leg Syndrome and liniment to treat chapped earlobes.

gforce writes: “Did you ever further consider adopting more pugs, as you were a few months ago (that were ultimately otherwise placed)?”

Answer: Yep, think about it all the time.  I’ve hesitated because I’m not sure what the situation will be re: my living situation.  If I’m in Vancouver and I’m staying in the house, then I can certainly make an addition to the pack.  If I’m moving to, say, L.A., or moving into a condo, then getting a new dog may prove trickier.  

Jeff W. writes: “How are things going on the Dark Matter front? Last I remember was that things were stirring. Any updates?”

noellam writes: “Hi Joe, what’s the news on Dark Matter?”

Answer: No news…yet.  

Wendy writes: “Hey Joe, have you eaten at Wilderbeest yet (120 W Hastings?) We were there last night and it was amazing. Great atmosphere and amazing food.”

Answer: Haven’t been yet but it tops my list of Restaurants I Have to Visit.  Crispy pork skin with spiced salt?  Roasted sweetbreads with caramelized buttermilk?  Pork jowl?  Hell, yes!  What did you have?

Tax Dixon writes: “What is the difference between toad stools and mushrooms?”

Answer: Uh, with all due respect, the difference is pretty obvious.

Tam Dixon also writes: “Mr. M., have you watched Arrow yet?”

Answer: Nope.  Recommended viewing?

Sparrow_hawk writes: “what is the best way to use Matsutake mushrooms? Raw? Stir-fried with other food? Added raw to soup or broth and allowed to cook for only a short time?”

Akemi says: 

Made into a simple soup with bonito stock and lemon.

Or simply steamed with rice.

dasndanger writes: “Also, pretty sure that first mushroom is the poisonous amanita muscaria, so I hope you weren’t picking any of those.”

Answer: Right you are.  I just identified it moments ago.  Apparently, it’s a hallucinogen.  Also, occasionally deadly.  Pretty to look at though.

dasndanger also writes: “It was really hard sending him away – he was sooo scared! And so was I. I know the operation is relatively simple, but any operation can have complications. Also, he was soooo scared!”

Answer: I can empathize as I run through these exact same feelings every time my dogs go under.

Sparrow_hawk writes: “Oooh! I just noticed that you added Sky High to the list! My kids always loved that one and they (we) still watch it sometimes.”

Answer: Uh, your kids didn’t happen to love The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, did they?

Sparrow_hawk also writes: “Doing anything besides restaurant hopping in Tokyo this time around?”

Answer: Oh, I’m sure I’ll be able to fit in some outings between all the restaurant visits.  For instance, Akemi has expressed an interest in checking out the weird ice cream flavors at Ice Cream City.  I may also visit the Curry Museum in Yokohama.

Airelle writes: “Joe , How goes the immigration process for Akemi?”

Answer: Seemingly never-ending.  We’re a year into the process.  Earlier this week, Akemi went in for another medical check-up because the last one expired while we were waiting for word.

gforce writes: “As I mentioned before, a couple of weeks ago I was down in the Grand Canyon for a vacation/four day backpacking trip as well as a trip around to the North Rim as well. I love photography and promised to share some pictures, so here they are!”

Answer: Wow.  Great pics.  I should hire you to do some artful shots of the dogs – lounging about, playing poker and such.

archersangel writes: “1. what happened with the dogs you were looking to adopt? (or did i miss that?)”

Answer: See above.  I’m holding off until I know where I’ll be living next year.

“
2. any weird food purchase of the day videos on the horizon? maybe something in tokyo?”

Answer: Chances are good, especially in Tokyo when we visit Ice Cream City.  Seaweed ice cream here I come!

“3. while doing your days of stargate past entries do you think about what could’ve been done differently? should’ve gone with a different actor in a part or wrote a line differently? (for examples)”

Answer: Oh, I’m sure everyone second-guesses themselves in terms of decisions made.  It’s very easy to reconsider choices made with the benefit of hindsight.  As for examples – well, you just gave me a terrific idea for a blog entry.

dasndanger writes: “Do you find Christopher Lee as sexy as Sparrow and I do?”

Answer: While he’s admittedly dreamy, if we’re talking Hammer Films I’m more of a Susannah York or Ingrid Pitt fan.

October 18, 2012: Oh, covering just about everything!

Well, whaddya know: Hallmark Channel Reaffirms Series Order To ‘Cedar Cove’ Starring Andie MacDowell.  Our old friend, Carl Binder, takes the reins of a new series, Cedar Grove, for the Hallmark Channel. According to the interweb: “Production will take place in Vancouver”. And we all know what that means.  Yes!  I’ll finally get the opportunity to make my acting debut.  At present, I’m not sure what recurring role I’ll be playing – the quirky love interest, the mysterious out-of-towner, the eccentric freelance photographer for the local paper – but I’m sure Carl will come up with something spectacular and befitting my thespian talents.

When my sister and I were kids, my father used to forage for wild mushrooms.  Invariably, he would always come back with Shaggy Manes.  Creamy white and bell-shaped, they were utterly delicious pan-fried with with a bit of butter salt, and garlic.  I don’t see them around anymore and, even if I did, I’m not sure I’d have the confidence to correctly identify them.  I mean, what do I know?  Well, I suppose at the very least I know that poisonous mushrooms DO exist unlike, say, unicorns or a good movie about talking cars – which is more than can be said for this family: Family seriously ill after eating wild mushrooms for dinner.  Two points of interest in the article.  The first: “Pakistan-born Noor said she was unaware wild mushrooms could be lethal because it was common to pick and eat them in her homeland.”  The second: “A family was rushed to hospital after a woman mistakenly served “magic” mushrooms she had picked from her backyard.”  Believe me, if they had ingested the “magic” variety of mushrooms, their symptoms would have been very different.  Instead of vomiting and diarrhea, they would have experienced a deep-seeded sense of well-being, a newfound appreciation for the comedic merits of the old Naked gun movies, and a girlfriend tripping out because she is convinced your head is expanding before her eyes.

Coincidentally, we picked up the above-pictured ‘shroom from a vendor at Granville Island today and will be having it for dinner tonight.  It’s (fingers crossed) a perfectly safe matsutake, highly prized in Japan, that Akemi will be preparing two ways: in soup and with rice.  Wish us luck! 

I knew it!  Creativity linked to mental illness, study confirms.  It explains A LOT.

Back in Montreal, Baby cat has bounced back a little.  He’s at the hospital, on I.V., but has resumed eating again and is in better spirits.

Mom pays Baby a visit.

Also in Montreal, sis’s husky, Aspen, is feeling down after his recent chemo session.  I’m sending positive thoughts.  Also, I recommend he sit down to a couple of episodes of Modern Family to help lift his spirits.

Aspen shamed.

Here on the west coast, my dogs are doing just fine (outside of Lulu’s serial vomiting):

Jelly out mushroom-sniffing.

Lulu feeling a little melancholy.

She may be my girlfriend but her heart belongs to Bubba.

Fallen behind on the new t.v. season?  Fret not.  The gang at cracked.com have you covered: The 10 Dumbest Things on TV So Far This Season

Tagged: Dogs, wild mushrooms

October 17, 2012: Birthday festivities and feast!

So much for being on the program.

My Birthday Week festivities continue!  How are YOU celebrating?

Today, I received a little something from Sis (and by “I”, I mean “we” since the contents of the package were for both Akemi and me, and by “a little” I mean a lot).  Mexican chocolate, chocolate-covered licorice, multi-flavored chocolate bars (including peanut butter and banana, and BBQ potato chips), chocolate truffles…Do you sense a theme?  Akemi, meanwhile, went absolutely crazy over the three adorable aprons she received (which she intends to model on her blog tomorrow). Coincidentally, she was up last night, internet-perusing adorable aprons.  No kidding!

She was up late because she couldn’t sleep after the incredible meal we had at Campagnolo earlier that night…

I texted owner Tom Doughty last week and told him I wanted to swing by for a special birthday dinner.  Not only did he make the arrangements, but he even showed up on the night with a handsome new haircut!

Our first course was a lentil and chorizo soup.  It was intensely flavorful, the lentils pureed to a silky smoothness and studded with tiny bites of smokey chorizo.

Alas, forgot to snap a picture of the second course but you’ll have to trust me when I say it looked gorgeous.  And tasted wonderful.  Savoy cabbage, beet roots, courtons and two year cured ham.  Yes, cured for two year and melt-in-your-mouth wonderful.

Bruschetta of andouille sausage, fontina cheese, and walla walla onions.

Our third course, the bruschetta, was an incredibly rich mix of sweet, smokey, salty, and sharp.

Foie Gras with coronation grapes.

Speaking of “rich”, our decadent fourth course almost did me in.  One incredibly lucious pan-seared duck liver.

Veal-stuffed agnolotti with thyme butter and Parmigiano Reggiano.

I was a little worried that the Parmigiano Reggiano would overwhelm here but it married wonderfully, sliced paper thin, with the delicate flavor of the agnolotti.  And that thyme butter simply put it over the top.

Seabass en papillote.

The flavors of our sixth course were clean and altogether fantastic.  One of the best fish preparations I’ve had in recent memory.  Akemi bemoaned the fact that she didn’t have chopsticks on hand to thoroughly pick the very last bits of tasty meat from the bones.

Accompanying the seabass was a nice little kale and sundried sungold tomato salad.

And then, we were presented with our seventh course.  I was expected pork and was surprised by…

Horse filet with glazed onions and chanterelle mushrooms.

I was admittedly leery.  My first (and only) foray into horseflesh was…well, memorable for all the wrong reasons (February 7, 2012: Tokyo Day #11! The gang back home! Okonomiyaki! And my weirdest meal yet! Well, actually not so much a meal as a bite.).  Happily, this preparation fared much better.  Perfectly cooked, surprisingly tender and, to be perfectly honest, very tasty.

Dining with us on this night: Hillary and fellow birthday boy Rob.

Akemi so full she can’t eat another bite.  Unless it’s dessert of course.

Dessert #1: Mascarpone Cheesecake

Most wouldn’t consider it light but I certainly did, especially in comparison to our second dessert.  And I don’t mean that in a bad way.  It was, without a doubt, the best piece of cheesecake I’ve had in ages.

Dessert #2: Chocolate pudding with French toast and vanilla cherries.

As much as I enjoyed the cheesecake, chocolate pudding is more my speed.  And this particular pudding packed a helluva chocolate punch!

Chef Ted and the birthday boy.

A HUGE thanks to Tom, Chef Ted (who designed the menu), and the rest of the gang at Campagnolo for yet another fabulous culinary extravaganza!

And, just in case those nine courses weren’t enough, Rob and Hillary gifted me a little something from their recent trip to Vegas:

A Vosges dark chocolate assortment. 

Damn, that takes me back to the chocolate parties I used to host in the Stargate days.

 

 

Tagged: Campagnolo, Chef Robert Belcham, Chef Ted Anderson, Tom Doughty, Vancouver Restaurants