Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 546

March 5, 2011: Dog fitness! The Vancouver farewell tour continues! "Greetings to you the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket, from Mr. Willy Wonka!! Present this ticket at the restaurant gates at eight thirty on the evening of the ninth day of March and d

With two weeks to go be our (probable) move to Toronto, I'm no closer to: a) finding somewhere to stay, b) finding something to drive, or c) figuring out how I'm going to get my dogs there.  Ashleigh was kind enough to volunteer (herself and a friend who may or may not know she's been volunteered) and help out, but I'm still torn over whether I'd be better off making one trip or two.  On the surface, one trip would seem ideal but I have a feeling attempting to control and coordinate two dogs at a time may be a hell of a lot easier than attempting the same with four – especially when Bubba starts howling and gets the rest of the gang to follow suit.  Given the fact that I may be living out of a hotel when I first get there, two may be easier to handle that first week. Also, two trips mean twice as many items I can transport.  Then again, two trips also means twice as many trips.

On the bright side, the dogs' new diet and exercise regimen is paying off – to varying degrees.  Jelly started at 17.2 lbs two weeks ago, weighed in at 17.0 last week, is now an aerodynamic 16.4 lbs.  Bubba, 26.0 lbs even two weeks ago, trimmed down to 24.6 lbs last week, is now a relatively light on his paws 23.8 lbs.  Lulu, 24.0 lbs two weeks ago, then 23.4 the following week, is now almost down to her fighting weight at an even 23.0 lbs.  Finally, Maximus's progress has been slow, but at least he's headed in the right direction.  25.0 lbs two weeks ago, 24.8 lbs last week, now boasting a trimmer waistline at 24.6 lbs.  At this right, he should be ready to fly by mid-June.

Anyway, hopefully Christine, our dog-sitter, will have more luck getting them out and about.  Our daily walk routine consists of taking Jelly out for a meandering stagger-about, then venturing out with the other three who all do their own thing when we hit the sidewalk.  Bubba's a runner, Maximus likes to take his time and Lulu does this thing… Well, this is just a snippet of what I have to put up with -

My farewell Vancouver tour continued last night with dinner at Miku on West Hastings.  Excellent sushi and a little taste of Japan on the menu -

 

Shirako tempura!

Boy, this took me back…to THIS specifically -

It was the first time I'd seen it on a North American menu and I was curious what the staff was calling it.  Back in Japan, the waitress at the hotel where I first sampled it referred to it by the innocuous moniker "milt".  At Miku, they were going with "fish roe" which is close but not quite…

After dinner, we enjoyed the best ice cream in Vancouver at Bella Gelataria.

 

James, the owner, has a bunch of terrific events upcoming.  Terrific events I'll miss because I'm heading off to Toronto.  But, for those of you lucky enough to be in the city, Bella Gelataria will be kicking off a Cherry Blossom festival April 4th!  In addition, James has a bunch of new products in the works including -

 

His version of spumoni.

 

And much, much more!

The farewell tour continued today with a visit to DB Bistro Moderne which, sadly, is scheduled to close its doors next weekend.  The place was hopping and Manager Chris Gonzalez was kind enough to accommodate us with some comfy bar seats -

 

I had my consistently good salmon and avocado club while Akemi enjoyed a squash risotto.  We had a hard time deciding on desserts so I made the executive decision to go with all of our choices -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battle Sundae: S'more Sundae with malted fudge Sauce, graham cracker ice cream, and toasted Meringue (left), and Pumpkin Pie Sundae with pumpkin custard, creme brulee foam, speculoos cookie, and ginger ice cream.  The S'more Sundae was the hands-down favorite

But these two desserts were our faves: Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarte with caramel pecan nougatine ice cream (left) and Sticky Toffee Pudding with roasted apples and brown butter ice cream.  It was close, but the Sticky Toffee Pudding won the day.

Before we sat down, Chris admitted to being a tad jealous because he'd had drinks with Chef Rob and Chef Ted the other night and, apparently, they are planning an unbelievable goodbye feast for yours truly.  Refuel (and Fuel before it) has been my favorite dining destination over my time here in Vancouver.  It was where I held my annual chocolate parties, where Marty G. and I would go to broaden our culinary horizons by dining on everything from lamb heart tartare to pig tail consomme, where I'd drop in for a quick and casual bite when I didn't feel like cooking.  I'll miss it (and Tom and the gang) a lot and have no doubt they'll send me off in fine style with a multi-course meal to rival the ones I'm going to enjoy in Vegas next week.

Hey, speaking of Vegas – check out what also came in the mail from the super-secret restaurant, e by Jose Andres (check out the intriguing details here: March 3, 2011: Gauntlet! The dish on that super-secret restaurant! And lunch at Refuel!):

 

I never thought my life could be...anything but catastrophe...but suddenly I begin to see a bit of good luck for me...'cause I've got a golden ticket!

Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom!

justin1985 writes: ""@SaveSGU The reason we can't continue SGU is the same reason we can't continue any of show…unfortunately, not enough viewers. [...]" Comments?"

Answer: Sure, makes sense.  Of course, it begs the question "Exactly what is enough viewers?".  Unfortunately, there's no straight answer because it: a) depends on the time slot and b) depends on the show.  It's not a level playing field.  In hindsight, airing on Friday nights was clearly preferable to airing on Tuesday nights while airing during the summer (which is where SGU was supposed to originally air) is much MUCH better than airing during the fall.

don writes: "Do you think that a decision on SGU movies being made will largely be decided by the ratings on the back half of season 2?"

Answer: The ratings of the back half of season 2 will have absolutely no bearing on whether or not Brad and co. proceed with movies.

jojo writes: "Have you thought about staying in a hotel, temporarily, or maybe even for a while, until you find something better?"

Answer: That's the way it's looking.  Hope the hotel doesn't mind dogs.

Expletive: BMP writes: "Bey, you're always eating the best, but I must ask; how much did all of that cost?"

Answer: Considerably more than tacos at your local Mexican eatery, but considerably less than a passion for golf, a love of video games, or a drug habit.

Stentor writes: "Hey Joe, any idea what time the Thomas Haas store on Broadway closes on a Wednesday night?"

Answer: Pretty early.  5:00 or 5:30 I believe.

hal ehrlich writes: "I was wondering if you guys have thrown any ideas around for another incarnation of Stargate?"

Answer: Nope.

Tammy Dixon writes: "Will you have to sign a non-disclosure before dining at the super-secret restaurant?"

Answer: Possibly.  There's a "We respectfully request that guests refrain from the use of video or still cameras as well as mobile phones during their dinner serve at e" clause on the reservation form I signed.  I anticipate being frisked on the way in, so will be purchasing a small camera I can hide in my mouth to avoid detection.

Quade writes: "1) What ever happened to the 20+ episodes per season, 1 new episode a week excluding holidays & December format?

2) Do you think the change from that format to this new "mid-season hiatus", airing episodes sporadicly through the year is what is actually hurting the TV industry?"

Answer: Chalk it up to the networks' changing tastes/needs.  As to whether breaking a show up hinders or hurts it – I'd go with the latter, especially in the case of serialized shows.

Luis writes: "What happens to the SG Set at the end of SGU? are most of the writer's and producer's already gone to other projects??"

Answer: The sets are still standing as Brad and co. await word on possible movies.  As for the writers/producers – some have moved on, some stand ready to start work on a continuation of the storyline should they receive the green light.

March 5, 2011: Dog fitness! The Vancouver farewell tour continues! "Greetings to you the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket, from Mr. Willy Wonka!! Present this ticket at the restaurant gates at eight thirty on the evening of the ninth day of March and d

With two weeks to go be our (probable) move to Toronto, I'm no closer to: a) finding somewhere to stay, b) finding something to drive, or c) figuring out how I'm going to get my dogs there.  Ashleigh was kind enough to volunteer (herself and a friend who may or may not know she's been volunteered) and help out, but I'm still torn over whether I'd be better off making one trip or two.  On the surface, one trip would seem ideal but I have a feeling attempting to control and coordinate two dogs at a time may be a hell of a lot easier than attempting the same with four – especially when Bubba starts howling and gets the rest of the gang to follow suit.  Given the fact that I may be living out of a hotel when I first get there, two may be easier to handle that first week. Also, two trips mean twice as many items I can transport.  Then again, two trips also means twice as many trips.

On the bright side, the dogs' new diet and exercise regimen is paying off – to varying degrees.  Jelly started at 17.2 lbs two weeks ago, weighed in at 17.0 last week, is now an aerodynamic 16.4 lbs.  Bubba, 26.0 lbs even two weeks ago, trimmed down to 24.6 lbs last week, is now a relatively light on his paws 23.8 lbs.  Lulu, 24.0 lbs two weeks ago, then 23.4 the following week, is now almost down to her fighting weight at an even 23.0 lbs.  Finally, Maximus's progress has been slow, but at least he's headed in the right direction.  25.0 lbs two weeks ago, 24.8 lbs last week, now boasting a trimmer waistline at 24.6 lbs.  At this right, he should be ready to fly by mid-June.

Anyway, hopefully Christine, our dog-sitter, will have more luck getting them out and about.  Our daily walk routine consists of taking Jelly out for a meandering stagger-about, then venturing out with the other three who all do their own thing when we hit the sidewalk.  Bubba's a runner, Maximus likes to take his time and Lulu does this thing… Well, this is just a snippet of what I have to put up with -

My farewell Vancouver tour continued last night with dinner at Miku on West Hastings.  Excellent sushi and a little taste of Japan on the menu -

 

Shirako tempura!

Boy, this took me back…to THIS specifically -

It was the first time I'd seen it on a North American menu and I was curious what the staff was calling it.  Back in Japan, the waitress at the hotel where I first sampled it referred to it by the innocuous moniker "milt".  At Miku, they were going with "fish roe" which is close but not quite…

After dinner, we enjoyed the best ice cream in Vancouver at Bella Gelataria.

 

James, the owner, has a bunch of terrific events upcoming.  Terrific events I'll miss because I'm heading off to Toronto.  But, for those of you lucky enough to be in the city, Bella Gelataria will be kicking off a Cherry Blossom festival April 4th!  In addition, James has a bunch of new products in the works including -

 

His version of spumoni.

 

And much, much more!

The farewell tour continued today with a visit to DB Bistro Moderne which, sadly, is scheduled to close its doors next weekend.  The place was hopping and Manager Chris Gonzalez was kind enough to accommodate us with some comfy bar seats -

 

I had my consistently good salmon and avocado club while Akemi enjoyed a squash risotto.  We had a hard time deciding on desserts so I made the executive decision to go with all of our choices -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battle Sundae: S'more Sundae with malted fudge Sauce, graham cracker ice cream, and toasted Meringue (left), and Pumpkin Pie Sundae with pumpkin custard, creme brulee foam, speculoos cookie, and ginger ice cream.  The S'more Sundae was the hands-down favorite

But these two desserts were our faves: Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarte with caramel pecan nougatine ice cream (left) and Sticky Toffee Pudding with roasted apples and brown butter ice cream.  It was close, but the Sticky Toffee Pudding won the day.

Before we sat down, Chris admitted to being a tad jealous because he'd had drinks with Chef Rob and Chef Ted the other night and, apparently, they are planning an unbelievable goodbye feast for yours truly.  Refuel (and Fuel before it) has been my favorite dining destination over my time here in Vancouver.  It was where I held my annual chocolate parties, where Marty G. and I would go to broaden our culinary horizons by dining on everything from lamb heart tartare to pig tail consomme, where I'd drop in for a quick and casual bite when I didn't feel like cooking.  I'll miss it (and Tom and the gang) a lot and have no doubt they'll send me off in fine style with a multi-course meal to rival the ones I'm going to enjoy in Vegas next week.

Hey, speaking of Vegas – check out what also came in the mail from the super-secret restaurant, e by Jose Andres (check out the intriguing details here: March 3, 2011: Gauntlet! The dish on that super-secret restaurant! And lunch at Refuel!):

 

I never thought my life could be...anything but catastrophe...but suddenly I begin to see a bit of good luck for me...'cause I've got a golden ticket!

Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom!

justin1985 writes: ""@SaveSGU The reason we can't continue SGU is the same reason we can't continue any of show…unfortunately, not enough viewers. [...]" Comments?"

Answer: Sure, makes sense.  Of course, it begs the question "Exactly what is enough viewers?".  Unfortunately, there's no straight answer because it: a) depends on the time slot and b) depends on the show.  It's not a level playing field.  In hindsight, airing on Friday nights was clearly preferable to airing on Tuesday nights while airing during the summer (which is where SGU was supposed to originally air) is much MUCH better than airing during the fall.

don writes: "Do you think that a decision on SGU movies being made will largely be decided by the ratings on the back half of season 2?"

Answer: The ratings of the back half of season 2 will have absolutely no bearing on whether or not Brad and co. proceed with movies.

jojo writes: "Have you thought about staying in a hotel, temporarily, or maybe even for a while, until you find something better?"

Answer: That's the way it's looking.  Hope the hotel doesn't mind dogs.

Expletive: BMP writes: "Bey, you're always eating the best, but I must ask; how much did all of that cost?"

Answer: Considerably more than tacos at your local Mexican eatery, but considerably less than a passion for golf, a love of video games, or a drug habit.

Stentor writes: "Hey Joe, any idea what time the Thomas Haas store on Broadway closes on a Wednesday night?"

Answer: Pretty early.  5:00 or 5:30 I believe.

hal ehrlich writes: "I was wondering if you guys have thrown any ideas around for another incarnation of Stargate?"

Answer: Nope.

Tammy Dixon writes: "Will you have to sign a non-disclosure before dining at the super-secret restaurant?"

Answer: Possibly.  There's a "We respectfully request that guests refrain from the use of video or still cameras as well as mobile phones during their dinner serve at e" clause on the reservation form I signed.  I anticipate being frisked on the way in, so will be purchasing a small camera I can hide in my mouth to avoid detection.

Quade writes: "1) What ever happened to the 20+ episodes per season, 1 new episode a week excluding holidays & December format?

2) Do you think the change from that format to this new "mid-season hiatus", airing episodes sporadicly through the year is what is actually hurting the TV industry?"

Answer: Chalk it up to the networks' changing tastes/needs.  As to whether breaking a show up hinders or hurts it – I'd go with the latter, especially in the case of serialized shows.

Luis writes: "What happens to the SG Set at the end of SGU? are most of the writer's and producer's already gone to other projects??"

Answer: The sets are still standing as Brad and co. await word on possible movies.  As for the writers/producers – some have moved on, some stand ready to start work on a continuation of the storyline should they receive the green light.

March 5, 2011: Dog fitness! The Vancouver farewell tour continues! "Greetings to you the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket, from Mr. Willy Wonka!! Present this ticket at the restaurant gates at eight thirty on the evening of the ninth day of March and d

With two weeks to go be our (probable) move to Toronto, I'm no closer to: a) finding somewhere to stay, b) finding something to drive, or c) figuring out how I'm going to get my dogs there.  Ashleigh was kind enough to volunteer (herself and a friend who may or may not know she's been volunteered) and help out, but I'm still torn over whether I'd be better off making one trip or two.  On the surface, one trip would seem ideal but I have a feeling attempting to control and coordinate two dogs at a time may be a hell of a lot easier than attempting the same with four – especially when Bubba starts howling and gets the rest of the gang to follow suit.  Given the fact that I may be living out of a hotel when I first get there, two may be easier to handle that first week. Also, two trips mean twice as many items I can transport.  Then again, two trips also means twice as many trips.

On the bright side, the dogs' new diet and exercise regimen is paying off – to varying degrees.  Jelly started at 17.2 lbs two weeks ago, weighed in at 17.0 last week, is now an aerodynamic 16.4 lbs.  Bubba, 26.0 lbs even two weeks ago, trimmed down to 24.6 lbs last week, is now a relatively light on his paws 23.8 lbs.  Lulu, 24.0 lbs two weeks ago, then 23.4 the following week, is now almost down to her fighting weight at an even 23.0 lbs.  Finally, Maximus's progress has been slow, but at least he's headed in the right direction.  25.0 lbs two weeks ago, 24.8 lbs last week, now boasting a trimmer waistline at 24.6 lbs.  At this right, he should be ready to fly by mid-June.

Anyway, hopefully Christine, our dog-sitter, will have more luck getting them out and about.  Our daily walk routine consists of taking Jelly out for a meandering stagger-about, then venturing out with the other three who all do their own thing when we hit the sidewalk.  Bubba's a runner, Maximus likes to take his time and Lulu does this thing… Well, this is just a snippet of what I have to put up with -

My farewell Vancouver tour continued last night with dinner at Miku on West Hastings.  Excellent sushi and a little taste of Japan on the menu -

 

Shirako tempura!

Boy, this took me back…to THIS specifically -

It was the first time I'd seen it on a North American menu and I was curious what the staff was calling it.  Back in Japan, the waitress at the hotel where I first sampled it referred to it by the innocuous moniker "milt".  At Miku, they were going with "fish roe" which is close but not quite…

After dinner, we enjoyed the best ice cream in Vancouver at Bella Gelataria.

 

James, the owner, has a bunch of terrific events upcoming.  Terrific events I'll miss because I'm heading off to Toronto.  But, for those of you lucky enough to be in the city, Bella Gelataria will be kicking off a Cherry Blossom festival April 4th!  In addition, James has a bunch of new products in the works including -

 

His version of spumoni.

 

And much, much more!

The farewell tour continued today with a visit to DB Bistro Moderne which, sadly, is scheduled to close its doors next weekend.  The place was hopping and Manager Chris Gonzalez was kind enough to accommodate us with some comfy bar seats -

 

I had my consistently good salmon and avocado club while Akemi enjoyed a squash risotto.  We had a hard time deciding on desserts so I made the executive decision to go with all of our choices -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battle Sundae: S'more Sundae with malted fudge Sauce, graham cracker ice cream, and toasted Meringue (left), and Pumpkin Pie Sundae with pumpkin custard, creme brulee foam, speculoos cookie, and ginger ice cream.  The S'more Sundae was the hands-down favorite

But these two desserts were our faves: Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarte with caramel pecan nougatine ice cream (left) and Sticky Toffee Pudding with roasted apples and brown butter ice cream.  It was close, but the Sticky Toffee Pudding won the day.

Before we sat down, Chris admitted to being a tad jealous because he'd had drinks with Chef Rob and Chef Ted the other night and, apparently, they are planning an unbelievable goodbye feast for yours truly.  Refuel (and Fuel before it) has been my favorite dining destination over my time here in Vancouver.  It was where I held my annual chocolate parties, where Marty G. and I would go to broaden our culinary horizons by dining on everything from lamb heart tartare to pig tail consomme, where I'd drop in for a quick and casual bite when I didn't feel like cooking.  I'll miss it (and Tom and the gang) a lot and have no doubt they'll send me off in fine style with a multi-course meal to rival the ones I'm going to enjoy in Vegas next week.

Hey, speaking of Vegas – check out what also came in the mail from the super-secret restaurant, e by Jose Andres (check out the intriguing details here: March 3, 2011: Gauntlet! The dish on that super-secret restaurant! And lunch at Refuel!):

 

I never thought my life could be...anything but catastrophe...but suddenly I begin to see a bit of good luck for me...'cause I've got a golden ticket!

Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom!

justin1985 writes: ""@SaveSGU The reason we can't continue SGU is the same reason we can't continue any of show…unfortunately, not enough viewers. [...]" Comments?"

Answer: Sure, makes sense.  Of course, it begs the question "Exactly what is enough viewers?".  Unfortunately, there's no straight answer because it: a) depends on the time slot and b) depends on the show.  It's not a level playing field.  In hindsight, airing on Friday nights was clearly preferable to airing on Tuesday nights while airing during the summer (which is where SGU was supposed to originally air) is much MUCH better than airing during the fall.

don writes: "Do you think that a decision on SGU movies being made will largely be decided by the ratings on the back half of season 2?"

Answer: The ratings of the back half of season 2 will have absolutely no bearing on whether or not Brad and co. proceed with movies.

jojo writes: "Have you thought about staying in a hotel, temporarily, or maybe even for a while, until you find something better?"

Answer: That's the way it's looking.  Hope the hotel doesn't mind dogs.

Expletive: BMP writes: "Bey, you're always eating the best, but I must ask; how much did all of that cost?"

Answer: Considerably more than tacos at your local Mexican eatery, but considerably less than a passion for golf, a love of video games, or a drug habit.

Stentor writes: "Hey Joe, any idea what time the Thomas Haas store on Broadway closes on a Wednesday night?"

Answer: Pretty early.  5:00 or 5:30 I believe.

hal ehrlich writes: "I was wondering if you guys have thrown any ideas around for another incarnation of Stargate?"

Answer: Nope.

Tammy Dixon writes: "Will you have to sign a non-disclosure before dining at the super-secret restaurant?"

Answer: Possibly.  There's a "We respectfully request that guests refrain from the use of video or still cameras as well as mobile phones during their dinner serve at e" clause on the reservation form I signed.  I anticipate being frisked on the way in, so will be purchasing a small camera I can hide in my mouth to avoid detection.

Quade writes: "1) What ever happened to the 20+ episodes per season, 1 new episode a week excluding holidays & December format?

2) Do you think the change from that format to this new "mid-season hiatus", airing episodes sporadicly through the year is what is actually hurting the TV industry?"

Answer: Chalk it up to the networks' changing tastes/needs.  As to whether breaking a show up hinders or hurts it – I'd go with the latter, especially in the case of serialized shows.

Luis writes: "What happens to the SG Set at the end of SGU? are most of the writer's and producer's already gone to other projects??"

Answer: The sets are still standing as Brad and co. await word on possible movies.  As for the writers/producers – some have moved on, some stand ready to start work on a continuation of the storyline should they receive the green light.

March 5, 2011: Dog fitness! The Vancouver farewell tour continues! "Greetings to you the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket, from Mr. Willy Wonka!! Present this ticket at the restaurant gates at eight thirty on the evening of the ninth day of March and d

With two weeks to go be our (probable) move to Toronto, I'm no closer to: a) finding somewhere to stay, b) finding something to drive, or c) figuring out how I'm going to get my dogs there.  Ashleigh was kind enough to volunteer (herself and a friend who may or may not know she's been volunteered) and help out, but I'm still torn over whether I'd be better off making one trip or two.  On the surface, one trip would seem ideal but I have a feeling attempting to control and coordinate two dogs at a time may be a hell of a lot easier than attempting the same with four – especially when Bubba starts howling and gets the rest of the gang to follow suit.  Given the fact that I may be living out of a hotel when I first get there, two may be easier to handle that first week. Also, two trips mean twice as many items I can transport.  Then again, two trips also means twice as many trips.

On the bright side, the dogs' new diet and exercise regimen is paying off – to varying degrees.  Jelly started at 17.2 lbs two weeks ago, weighed in at 17.0 last week, is now an aerodynamic 16.4 lbs.  Bubba, 26.0 lbs even two weeks ago, trimmed down to 24.6 lbs last week, is now a relatively light on his paws 23.8 lbs.  Lulu, 24.0 lbs two weeks ago, then 23.4 the following week, is now almost down to her fighting weight at an even 23.0 lbs.  Finally, Maximus's progress has been slow, but at least he's headed in the right direction.  25.0 lbs two weeks ago, 24.8 lbs last week, now boasting a trimmer waistline at 24.6 lbs.  At this right, he should be ready to fly by mid-June.

Anyway, hopefully Christine, our dog-sitter, will have more luck getting them out and about.  Our daily walk routine consists of taking Jelly out for a meandering stagger-about, then venturing out with the other three who all do their own thing when we hit the sidewalk.  Bubba's a runner, Maximus likes to take his time and Lulu does this thing… Well, this is just a snippet of what I have to put up with -

My farewell Vancouver tour continued last night with dinner at Miku on West Hastings.  Excellent sushi and a little taste of Japan on the menu -

 

Shirako tempura!

Boy, this took me back…to THIS specifically -

It was the first time I'd seen it on a North American menu and I was curious what the staff was calling it.  Back in Japan, the waitress at the hotel where I first sampled it referred to it by the innocuous moniker "milt".  At Miku, they were going with "fish roe" which is close but not quite…

After dinner, we enjoyed the best ice cream in Vancouver at Bella Gelataria.

 

James, the owner, has a bunch of terrific events upcoming.  Terrific events I'll miss because I'm heading off to Toronto.  But, for those of you lucky enough to be in the city, Bella Gelataria will be kicking off a Cherry Blossom festival April 4th!  In addition, James has a bunch of new products in the works including -

 

His version of spumoni.

 

And much, much more!

The farewell tour continued today with a visit to DB Bistro Moderne which, sadly, is scheduled to close its doors next weekend.  The place was hopping and Manager Chris Gonzalez was kind enough to accommodate us with some comfy bar seats -

 

I had my consistently good salmon and avocado club while Akemi enjoyed a squash risotto.  We had a hard time deciding on desserts so I made the executive decision to go with all of our choices -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battle Sundae: S'more Sundae with malted fudge Sauce, graham cracker ice cream, and toasted Meringue (left), and Pumpkin Pie Sundae with pumpkin custard, creme brulee foam, speculoos cookie, and ginger ice cream.  The S'more Sundae was the hands-down favorite

But these two desserts were our faves: Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarte with caramel pecan nougatine ice cream (left) and Sticky Toffee Pudding with roasted apples and brown butter ice cream.  It was close, but the Sticky Toffee Pudding won the day.

Before we sat down, Chris admitted to being a tad jealous because he'd had drinks with Chef Rob and Chef Ted the other night and, apparently, they are planning an unbelievable goodbye feast for yours truly.  Refuel (and Fuel before it) has been my favorite dining destination over my time here in Vancouver.  It was where I held my annual chocolate parties, where Marty G. and I would go to broaden our culinary horizons by dining on everything from lamb heart tartare to pig tail consomme, where I'd drop in for a quick and casual bite when I didn't feel like cooking.  I'll miss it (and Tom and the gang) a lot and have no doubt they'll send me off in fine style with a multi-course meal to rival the ones I'm going to enjoy in Vegas next week.

Hey, speaking of Vegas – check out what also came in the mail from the super-secret restaurant, e by Jose Andres (check out the intriguing details here: March 3, 2011: Gauntlet! The dish on that super-secret restaurant! And lunch at Refuel!):

 

I never thought my life could be...anything but catastrophe...but suddenly I begin to see a bit of good luck for me...'cause I've got a golden ticket!

Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom!

justin1985 writes: ""@SaveSGU The reason we can't continue SGU is the same reason we can't continue any of show…unfortunately, not enough viewers. [...]" Comments?"

Answer: Sure, makes sense.  Of course, it begs the question "Exactly what is enough viewers?".  Unfortunately, there's no straight answer because it: a) depends on the time slot and b) depends on the show.  It's not a level playing field.  In hindsight, airing on Friday nights was clearly preferable to airing on Tuesday nights while airing during the summer (which is where SGU was supposed to originally air) is much MUCH better than airing during the fall.

don writes: "Do you think that a decision on SGU movies being made will largely be decided by the ratings on the back half of season 2?"

Answer: The ratings of the back half of season 2 will have absolutely no bearing on whether or not Brad and co. proceed with movies.

jojo writes: "Have you thought about staying in a hotel, temporarily, or maybe even for a while, until you find something better?"

Answer: That's the way it's looking.  Hope the hotel doesn't mind dogs.

Expletive: BMP writes: "Bey, you're always eating the best, but I must ask; how much did all of that cost?"

Answer: Considerably more than tacos at your local Mexican eatery, but considerably less than a passion for golf, a love of video games, or a drug habit.

Stentor writes: "Hey Joe, any idea what time the Thomas Haas store on Broadway closes on a Wednesday night?"

Answer: Pretty early.  5:00 or 5:30 I believe.

hal ehrlich writes: "I was wondering if you guys have thrown any ideas around for another incarnation of Stargate?"

Answer: Nope.

Tammy Dixon writes: "Will you have to sign a non-disclosure before dining at the super-secret restaurant?"

Answer: Possibly.  There's a "We respectfully request that guests refrain from the use of video or still cameras as well as mobile phones during their dinner serve at e" clause on the reservation form I signed.  I anticipate being frisked on the way in, so will be purchasing a small camera I can hide in my mouth to avoid detection.

Quade writes: "1) What ever happened to the 20+ episodes per season, 1 new episode a week excluding holidays & December format?

2) Do you think the change from that format to this new "mid-season hiatus", airing episodes sporadicly through the year is what is actually hurting the TV industry?"

Answer: Chalk it up to the networks' changing tastes/needs.  As to whether breaking a show up hinders or hurts it – I'd go with the latter, especially in the case of serialized shows.

Luis writes: "What happens to the SG Set at the end of SGU? are most of the writer's and producer's already gone to other projects??"

Answer: The sets are still standing as Brad and co. await word on possible movies.  As for the writers/producers – some have moved on, some stand ready to start work on a continuation of the storyline should they receive the green light.

March 5, 2011: Dog fitness! The Vancouver farewell tour continues! "Greetings to you the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket, from Mr. Willy Wonka!! Present this ticket at the restaurant gates at eight thirty on the evening of the ninth day of March and d

With two weeks to go be our (probable) move to Toronto, I'm no closer to: a) finding somewhere to stay, b) finding something to drive, or c) figuring out how I'm going to get my dogs there.  Ashleigh was kind enough to volunteer (herself and a friend who may or may not know she's been volunteered) and help out, but I'm still torn over whether I'd be better off making one trip or two.  On the surface, one trip would seem ideal but I have a feeling attempting to control and coordinate two dogs at a time may be a hell of a lot easier than attempting the same with four – especially when Bubba starts howling and gets the rest of the gang to follow suit.  Given the fact that I may be living out of a hotel when I first get there, two may be easier to handle that first week. Also, two trips mean twice as many items I can transport.  Then again, two trips also means twice as many trips.

On the bright side, the dogs' new diet and exercise regimen is paying off – to varying degrees.  Jelly started at 17.2 lbs two weeks ago, weighed in at 17.0 last week, is now an aerodynamic 16.4 lbs.  Bubba, 26.0 lbs even two weeks ago, trimmed down to 24.6 lbs last week, is now a relatively light on his paws 23.8 lbs.  Lulu, 24.0 lbs two weeks ago, then 23.4 the following week, is now almost down to her fighting weight at an even 23.0 lbs.  Finally, Maximus's progress has been slow, but at least he's headed in the right direction.  25.0 lbs two weeks ago, 24.8 lbs last week, now boasting a trimmer waistline at 24.6 lbs.  At this right, he should be ready to fly by mid-June.

Anyway, hopefully Christine, our dog-sitter, will have more luck getting them out and about.  Our daily walk routine consists of taking Jelly out for a meandering stagger-about, then venturing out with the other three who all do their own thing when we hit the sidewalk.  Bubba's a runner, Maximus likes to take his time and Lulu does this thing… Well, this is just a snippet of what I have to put up with -

My farewell Vancouver tour continued last night with dinner at Miku on West Hastings.  Excellent sushi and a little taste of Japan on the menu -

 

Shirako tempura!

Boy, this took me back…to THIS specifically -

It was the first time I'd seen it on a North American menu and I was curious what the staff was calling it.  Back in Japan, the waitress at the hotel where I first sampled it referred to it by the innocuous moniker "milt".  At Miku, they were going with "fish roe" which is close but not quite…

After dinner, we enjoyed the best ice cream in Vancouver at Bella Gelataria.

 

James, the owner, has a bunch of terrific events upcoming.  Terrific events I'll miss because I'm heading off to Toronto.  But, for those of you lucky enough to be in the city, Bella Gelataria will be kicking off a Cherry Blossom festival April 4th!  In addition, James has a bunch of new products in the works including -

 

His version of spumoni.

 

And much, much more!

The farewell tour continued today with a visit to DB Bistro Moderne which, sadly, is scheduled to close its doors next weekend.  The place was hopping and Manager Chris Gonzalez was kind enough to accommodate us with some comfy bar seats -

 

I had my consistently good salmon and avocado club while Akemi enjoyed a squash risotto.  We had a hard time deciding on desserts so I made the executive decision to go with all of our choices -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battle Sundae: S'more Sundae with malted fudge Sauce, graham cracker ice cream, and toasted Meringue (left), and Pumpkin Pie Sundae with pumpkin custard, creme brulee foam, speculoos cookie, and ginger ice cream.  The S'more Sundae was the hands-down favorite

But these two desserts were our faves: Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarte with caramel pecan nougatine ice cream (left) and Sticky Toffee Pudding with roasted apples and brown butter ice cream.  It was close, but the Sticky Toffee Pudding won the day.

Before we sat down, Chris admitted to being a tad jealous because he'd had drinks with Chef Rob and Chef Ted the other night and, apparently, they are planning an unbelievable goodbye feast for yours truly.  Refuel (and Fuel before it) has been my favorite dining destination over my time here in Vancouver.  It was where I held my annual chocolate parties, where Marty G. and I would go to broaden our culinary horizons by dining on everything from lamb heart tartare to pig tail consomme, where I'd drop in for a quick and casual bite when I didn't feel like cooking.  I'll miss it (and Tom and the gang) a lot and have no doubt they'll send me off in fine style with a multi-course meal to rival the ones I'm going to enjoy in Vegas next week.

Hey, speaking of Vegas – check out what also came in the mail from the super-secret restaurant, e by Jose Andres (check out the intriguing details here: March 3, 2011: Gauntlet! The dish on that super-secret restaurant! And lunch at Refuel!):

 

I never thought my life could be...anything but catastrophe...but suddenly I begin to see a bit of good luck for me...'cause I've got a golden ticket!

Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom!

justin1985 writes: ""@SaveSGU The reason we can't continue SGU is the same reason we can't continue any of show…unfortunately, not enough viewers. [...]" Comments?"

Answer: Sure, makes sense.  Of course, it begs the question "Exactly what is enough viewers?".  Unfortunately, there's no straight answer because it: a) depends on the time slot and b) depends on the show.  It's not a level playing field.  In hindsight, airing on Friday nights was clearly preferable to airing on Tuesday nights while airing during the summer (which is where SGU was supposed to originally air) is much MUCH better than airing during the fall.

don writes: "Do you think that a decision on SGU movies being made will largely be decided by the ratings on the back half of season 2?"

Answer: The ratings of the back half of season 2 will have absolutely no bearing on whether or not Brad and co. proceed with movies.

jojo writes: "Have you thought about staying in a hotel, temporarily, or maybe even for a while, until you find something better?"

Answer: That's the way it's looking.  Hope the hotel doesn't mind dogs.

Expletive: BMP writes: "Bey, you're always eating the best, but I must ask; how much did all of that cost?"

Answer: Considerably more than tacos at your local Mexican eatery, but considerably less than a passion for golf, a love of video games, or a drug habit.

Stentor writes: "Hey Joe, any idea what time the Thomas Haas store on Broadway closes on a Wednesday night?"

Answer: Pretty early.  5:00 or 5:30 I believe.

hal ehrlich writes: "I was wondering if you guys have thrown any ideas around for another incarnation of Stargate?"

Answer: Nope.

Tammy Dixon writes: "Will you have to sign a non-disclosure before dining at the super-secret restaurant?"

Answer: Possibly.  There's a "We respectfully request that guests refrain from the use of video or still cameras as well as mobile phones during their dinner serve at e" clause on the reservation form I signed.  I anticipate being frisked on the way in, so will be purchasing a small camera I can hide in my mouth to avoid detection.

Quade writes: "1) What ever happened to the 20+ episodes per season, 1 new episode a week excluding holidays & December format?

2) Do you think the change from that format to this new "mid-season hiatus", airing episodes sporadicly through the year is what is actually hurting the TV industry?"

Answer: Chalk it up to the networks' changing tastes/needs.  As to whether breaking a show up hinders or hurts it – I'd go with the latter, especially in the case of serialized shows.

Luis writes: "What happens to the SG Set at the end of SGU? are most of the writer's and producer's already gone to other projects??"

Answer: The sets are still standing as Brad and co. await word on possible movies.  As for the writers/producers – some have moved on, some stand ready to start work on a continuation of the storyline should they receive the green light.

March 5, 2011: Dog fitness! The Vancouver farewell tour continues! "Greetings to you the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket, from Mr. Willy Wonka!! Present this ticket at the restaurant gates at eight thirty on the evening of the ninth day of March and d

With two weeks to go be our (probable) move to Toronto, I'm no closer to: a) finding somewhere to stay, b) finding something to drive, or c) figuring out how I'm going to get my dogs there.  Ashleigh was kind enough to volunteer (herself and a friend who may or may not know she's been volunteered) and help out, but I'm still torn over whether I'd be better off making one trip or two.  On the surface, one trip would seem ideal but I have a feeling attempting to control and coordinate two dogs at a time may be a hell of a lot easier than attempting the same with four – especially when Bubba starts howling and gets the rest of the gang to follow suit.  Given the fact that I may be living out of a hotel when I first get there, two may be easier to handle that first week. Also, two trips mean twice as many items I can transport.  Then again, two trips also means twice as many trips.

On the bright side, the dogs' new diet and exercise regimen is paying off – to varying degrees.  Jelly started at 17.2 lbs two weeks ago, weighed in at 17.0 last week, is now an aerodynamic 16.4 lbs.  Bubba, 26.0 lbs even two weeks ago, trimmed down to 24.6 lbs last week, is now a relatively light on his paws 23.8 lbs.  Lulu, 24.0 lbs two weeks ago, then 23.4 the following week, is now almost down to her fighting weight at an even 23.0 lbs.  Finally, Maximus's progress has been slow, but at least he's headed in the right direction.  25.0 lbs two weeks ago, 24.8 lbs last week, now boasting a trimmer waistline at 24.6 lbs.  At this right, he should be ready to fly by mid-June.

Anyway, hopefully Christine, our dog-sitter, will have more luck getting them out and about.  Our daily walk routine consists of taking Jelly out for a meandering stagger-about, then venturing out with the other three who all do their own thing when we hit the sidewalk.  Bubba's a runner, Maximus likes to take his time and Lulu does this thing… Well, this is just a snippet of what I have to put up with -

My farewell Vancouver tour continued last night with dinner at Miku on West Hastings.  Excellent sushi and a little taste of Japan on the menu -

 

Shirako tempura!

Boy, this took me back…to THIS specifically -

It was the first time I'd seen it on a North American menu and I was curious what the staff was calling it.  Back in Japan, the waitress at the hotel where I first sampled it referred to it by the innocuous moniker "milt".  At Miku, they were going with "fish roe" which is close but not quite…

After dinner, we enjoyed the best ice cream in Vancouver at Bella Gelataria.

 

James, the owner, has a bunch of terrific events upcoming.  Terrific events I'll miss because I'm heading off to Toronto.  But, for those of you lucky enough to be in the city, Bella Gelataria will be kicking off a Cherry Blossom festival April 4th!  In addition, James has a bunch of new products in the works including -

 

His version of spumoni.

 

And much, much more!

The farewell tour continued today with a visit to DB Bistro Moderne which, sadly, is scheduled to close its doors next weekend.  The place was hopping and Manager Chris Gonzalez was kind enough to accommodate us with some comfy bar seats -

 

I had my consistently good salmon and avocado club while Akemi enjoyed a squash risotto.  We had a hard time deciding on desserts so I made the executive decision to go with all of our choices -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battle Sundae: S'more Sundae with malted fudge Sauce, graham cracker ice cream, and toasted Meringue (left), and Pumpkin Pie Sundae with pumpkin custard, creme brulee foam, speculoos cookie, and ginger ice cream.  The S'more Sundae was the hands-down favorite

But these two desserts were our faves: Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarte with caramel pecan nougatine ice cream (left) and Sticky Toffee Pudding with roasted apples and brown butter ice cream.  It was close, but the Sticky Toffee Pudding won the day.

Before we sat down, Chris admitted to being a tad jealous because he'd had drinks with Chef Rob and Chef Ted the other night and, apparently, they are planning an unbelievable goodbye feast for yours truly.  Refuel (and Fuel before it) has been my favorite dining destination over my time here in Vancouver.  It was where I held my annual chocolate parties, where Marty G. and I would go to broaden our culinary horizons by dining on everything from lamb heart tartare to pig tail consomme, where I'd drop in for a quick and casual bite when I didn't feel like cooking.  I'll miss it (and Tom and the gang) a lot and have no doubt they'll send me off in fine style with a multi-course meal to rival the ones I'm going to enjoy in Vegas next week.

Hey, speaking of Vegas – check out what also came in the mail from the super-secret restaurant, e by Jose Andres (check out the intriguing details here: March 3, 2011: Gauntlet! The dish on that super-secret restaurant! And lunch at Refuel!):

 

I never thought my life could be...anything but catastrophe...but suddenly I begin to see a bit of good luck for me...'cause I've got a golden ticket!

Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom!

justin1985 writes: ""@SaveSGU The reason we can't continue SGU is the same reason we can't continue any of show…unfortunately, not enough viewers. [...]" Comments?"

Answer: Sure, makes sense.  Of course, it begs the question "Exactly what is enough viewers?".  Unfortunately, there's no straight answer because it: a) depends on the time slot and b) depends on the show.  It's not a level playing field.  In hindsight, airing on Friday nights was clearly preferable to airing on Tuesday nights while airing during the summer (which is where SGU was supposed to originally air) is much MUCH better than airing during the fall.

don writes: "Do you think that a decision on SGU movies being made will largely be decided by the ratings on the back half of season 2?"

Answer: The ratings of the back half of season 2 will have absolutely no bearing on whether or not Brad and co. proceed with movies.

jojo writes: "Have you thought about staying in a hotel, temporarily, or maybe even for a while, until you find something better?"

Answer: That's the way it's looking.  Hope the hotel doesn't mind dogs.

Expletive: BMP writes: "Bey, you're always eating the best, but I must ask; how much did all of that cost?"

Answer: Considerably more than tacos at your local Mexican eatery, but considerably less than a passion for golf, a love of video games, or a drug habit.

Stentor writes: "Hey Joe, any idea what time the Thomas Haas store on Broadway closes on a Wednesday night?"

Answer: Pretty early.  5:00 or 5:30 I believe.

hal ehrlich writes: "I was wondering if you guys have thrown any ideas around for another incarnation of Stargate?"

Answer: Nope.

Tammy Dixon writes: "Will you have to sign a non-disclosure before dining at the super-secret restaurant?"

Answer: Possibly.  There's a "We respectfully request that guests refrain from the use of video or still cameras as well as mobile phones during their dinner serve at e" clause on the reservation form I signed.  I anticipate being frisked on the way in, so will be purchasing a small camera I can hide in my mouth to avoid detection.

Quade writes: "1) What ever happened to the 20+ episodes per season, 1 new episode a week excluding holidays & December format?

2) Do you think the change from that format to this new "mid-season hiatus", airing episodes sporadicly through the year is what is actually hurting the TV industry?"

Answer: Chalk it up to the networks' changing tastes/needs.  As to whether breaking a show up hinders or hurts it – I'd go with the latter, especially in the case of serialized shows.

Luis writes: "What happens to the SG Set at the end of SGU? are most of the writer's and producer's already gone to other projects??"

Answer: The sets are still standing as Brad and co. await word on possible movies.  As for the writers/producers – some have moved on, some stand ready to start work on a continuation of the storyline should they receive the green light.

March 5, 2011: Dog fitness! The Vancouver farewell tour continues! "Greetings to you the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket, from Mr. Willy Wonka!! Present this ticket at the restaurant gates at eight thirty on the evening of the ninth day of March and d

With two weeks to go be our (probable) move to Toronto, I'm no closer to: a) finding somewhere to stay, b) finding something to drive, or c) figuring out how I'm going to get my dogs there.  Ashleigh was kind enough to volunteer (herself and a friend who may or may not know she's been volunteered) and help out, but I'm still torn over whether I'd be better off making one trip or two.  On the surface, one trip would seem ideal but I have a feeling attempting to control and coordinate two dogs at a time may be a hell of a lot easier than attempting the same with four – especially when Bubba starts howling and gets the rest of the gang to follow suit.  Given the fact that I may be living out of a hotel when I first get there, two may be easier to handle that first week. Also, two trips mean twice as many items I can transport.  Then again, two trips also means twice as many trips.

On the bright side, the dogs' new diet and exercise regimen is paying off – to varying degrees.  Jelly started at 17.2 lbs two weeks ago, weighed in at 17.0 last week, is now an aerodynamic 16.4 lbs.  Bubba, 26.0 lbs even two weeks ago, trimmed down to 24.6 lbs last week, is now a relatively light on his paws 23.8 lbs.  Lulu, 24.0 lbs two weeks ago, then 23.4 the following week, is now almost down to her fighting weight at an even 23.0 lbs.  Finally, Maximus's progress has been slow, but at least he's headed in the right direction.  25.0 lbs two weeks ago, 24.8 lbs last week, now boasting a trimmer waistline at 24.6 lbs.  At this right, he should be ready to fly by mid-June.

Anyway, hopefully Christine, our dog-sitter, will have more luck getting them out and about.  Our daily walk routine consists of taking Jelly out for a meandering stagger-about, then venturing out with the other three who all do their own thing when we hit the sidewalk.  Bubba's a runner, Maximus likes to take his time and Lulu does this thing… Well, this is just a snippet of what I have to put up with -

My farewell Vancouver tour continued last night with dinner at Miku on West Hastings.  Excellent sushi and a little taste of Japan on the menu -

 

Shirako tempura!

Boy, this took me back…to THIS specifically -

It was the first time I'd seen it on a North American menu and I was curious what the staff was calling it.  Back in Japan, the waitress at the hotel where I first sampled it referred to it by the innocuous moniker "milt".  At Miku, they were going with "fish roe" which is close but not quite…

After dinner, we enjoyed the best ice cream in Vancouver at Bella Gelataria.

 

James, the owner, has a bunch of terrific events upcoming.  Terrific events I'll miss because I'm heading off to Toronto.  But, for those of you lucky enough to be in the city, Bella Gelataria will be kicking off a Cherry Blossom festival April 4th!  In addition, James has a bunch of new products in the works including -

 

His version of spumoni.

 

And much, much more!

The farewell tour continued today with a visit to DB Bistro Moderne which, sadly, is scheduled to close its doors next weekend.  The place was hopping and Manager Chris Gonzalez was kind enough to accommodate us with some comfy bar seats -

 

I had my consistently good salmon and avocado club while Akemi enjoyed a squash risotto.  We had a hard time deciding on desserts so I made the executive decision to go with all of our choices -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battle Sundae: S'more Sundae with malted fudge Sauce, graham cracker ice cream, and toasted Meringue (left), and Pumpkin Pie Sundae with pumpkin custard, creme brulee foam, speculoos cookie, and ginger ice cream.  The S'more Sundae was the hands-down favorite

But these two desserts were our faves: Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarte with caramel pecan nougatine ice cream (left) and Sticky Toffee Pudding with roasted apples and brown butter ice cream.  It was close, but the Sticky Toffee Pudding won the day.

Before we sat down, Chris admitted to being a tad jealous because he'd had drinks with Chef Rob and Chef Ted the other night and, apparently, they are planning an unbelievable goodbye feast for yours truly.  Refuel (and Fuel before it) has been my favorite dining destination over my time here in Vancouver.  It was where I held my annual chocolate parties, where Marty G. and I would go to broaden our culinary horizons by dining on everything from lamb heart tartare to pig tail consomme, where I'd drop in for a quick and casual bite when I didn't feel like cooking.  I'll miss it (and Tom and the gang) a lot and have no doubt they'll send me off in fine style with a multi-course meal to rival the ones I'm going to enjoy in Vegas next week.

Hey, speaking of Vegas – check out what also came in the mail from the super-secret restaurant, e by Jose Andres (check out the intriguing details here: March 3, 2011: Gauntlet! The dish on that super-secret restaurant! And lunch at Refuel!):

 

I never thought my life could be...anything but catastrophe...but suddenly I begin to see a bit of good luck for me...'cause I've got a golden ticket!

Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom!

justin1985 writes: ""@SaveSGU The reason we can't continue SGU is the same reason we can't continue any of show…unfortunately, not enough viewers. [...]" Comments?"

Answer: Sure, makes sense.  Of course, it begs the question "Exactly what is enough viewers?".  Unfortunately, there's no straight answer because it: a) depends on the time slot and b) depends on the show.  It's not a level playing field.  In hindsight, airing on Friday nights was clearly preferable to airing on Tuesday nights while airing during the summer (which is where SGU was supposed to originally air) is much MUCH better than airing during the fall.

don writes: "Do you think that a decision on SGU movies being made will largely be decided by the ratings on the back half of season 2?"

Answer: The ratings of the back half of season 2 will have absolutely no bearing on whether or not Brad and co. proceed with movies.

jojo writes: "Have you thought about staying in a hotel, temporarily, or maybe even for a while, until you find something better?"

Answer: That's the way it's looking.  Hope the hotel doesn't mind dogs.

Expletive: BMP writes: "Bey, you're always eating the best, but I must ask; how much did all of that cost?"

Answer: Considerably more than tacos at your local Mexican eatery, but considerably less than a passion for golf, a love of video games, or a drug habit.

Stentor writes: "Hey Joe, any idea what time the Thomas Haas store on Broadway closes on a Wednesday night?"

Answer: Pretty early.  5:00 or 5:30 I believe.

hal ehrlich writes: "I was wondering if you guys have thrown any ideas around for another incarnation of Stargate?"

Answer: Nope.

Tammy Dixon writes: "Will you have to sign a non-disclosure before dining at the super-secret restaurant?"

Answer: Possibly.  There's a "We respectfully request that guests refrain from the use of video or still cameras as well as mobile phones during their dinner serve at e" clause on the reservation form I signed.  I anticipate being frisked on the way in, so will be purchasing a small camera I can hide in my mouth to avoid detection.

Quade writes: "1) What ever happened to the 20+ episodes per season, 1 new episode a week excluding holidays & December format?

2) Do you think the change from that format to this new "mid-season hiatus", airing episodes sporadicly through the year is what is actually hurting the TV industry?"

Answer: Chalk it up to the networks' changing tastes/needs.  As to whether breaking a show up hinders or hurts it – I'd go with the latter, especially in the case of serialized shows.

Luis writes: "What happens to the SG Set at the end of SGU? are most of the writer's and producer's already gone to other projects??"

Answer: The sets are still standing as Brad and co. await word on possible movies.  As for the writers/producers – some have moved on, some stand ready to start work on a continuation of the storyline should they receive the green light.

March 5, 2011: Dog fitness! The Vancouver farewell tour continues! "Greetings to you the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket, from Mr. Willy Wonka!! Present this ticket at the restaurant gates at eight thirty on the evening of the ninth day of March and d

With two weeks to go be our (probable) move to Toronto, I'm no closer to: a) finding somewhere to stay, b) finding something to drive, or c) figuring out how I'm going to get my dogs there.  Ashleigh was kind enough to volunteer (herself and a friend who may or may not know she's been volunteered) and help out, but I'm still torn over whether I'd be better off making one trip or two.  On the surface, one trip would seem ideal but I have a feeling attempting to control and coordinate two dogs at a time may be a hell of a lot easier than attempting the same with four – especially when Bubba starts howling and gets the rest of the gang to follow suit.  Given the fact that I may be living out of a hotel when I first get there, two may be easier to handle that first week. Also, two trips mean twice as many items I can transport.  Then again, two trips also means twice as many trips.

On the bright side, the dogs' new diet and exercise regimen is paying off – to varying degrees.  Jelly started at 17.2 lbs two weeks ago, weighed in at 17.0 last week, is now an aerodynamic 16.4 lbs.  Bubba, 26.0 lbs even two weeks ago, trimmed down to 24.6 lbs last week, is now a relatively light on his paws 23.8 lbs.  Lulu, 24.0 lbs two weeks ago, then 23.4 the following week, is now almost down to her fighting weight at an even 23.0 lbs.  Finally, Maximus's progress has been slow, but at least he's headed in the right direction.  25.0 lbs two weeks ago, 24.8 lbs last week, now boasting a trimmer waistline at 24.6 lbs.  At this right, he should be ready to fly by mid-June.

Anyway, hopefully Christine, our dog-sitter, will have more luck getting them out and about.  Our daily walk routine consists of taking Jelly out for a meandering stagger-about, then venturing out with the other three who all do their own thing when we hit the sidewalk.  Bubba's a runner, Maximus likes to take his time and Lulu does this thing… Well, this is just a snippet of what I have to put up with -

My farewell Vancouver tour continued last night with dinner at Miku on West Hastings.  Excellent sushi and a little taste of Japan on the menu -

 

Shirako tempura!

Boy, this took me back…to THIS specifically -

It was the first time I'd seen it on a North American menu and I was curious what the staff was calling it.  Back in Japan, the waitress at the hotel where I first sampled it referred to it by the innocuous moniker "milt".  At Miku, they were going with "fish roe" which is close but not quite…

After dinner, we enjoyed the best ice cream in Vancouver at Bella Gelataria.

 

James, the owner, has a bunch of terrific events upcoming.  Terrific events I'll miss because I'm heading off to Toronto.  But, for those of you lucky enough to be in the city, Bella Gelataria will be kicking off a Cherry Blossom festival April 4th!  In addition, James has a bunch of new products in the works including -

 

His version of spumoni.

 

And much, much more!

The farewell tour continued today with a visit to DB Bistro Moderne which, sadly, is scheduled to close its doors next weekend.  The place was hopping and Manager Chris Gonzalez was kind enough to accommodate us with some comfy bar seats -

 

I had my consistently good salmon and avocado club while Akemi enjoyed a squash risotto.  We had a hard time deciding on desserts so I made the executive decision to go with all of our choices -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battle Sundae: S'more Sundae with malted fudge Sauce, graham cracker ice cream, and toasted Meringue (left), and Pumpkin Pie Sundae with pumpkin custard, creme brulee foam, speculoos cookie, and ginger ice cream.  The S'more Sundae was the hands-down favorite

But these two desserts were our faves: Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarte with caramel pecan nougatine ice cream (left) and Sticky Toffee Pudding with roasted apples and brown butter ice cream.  It was close, but the Sticky Toffee Pudding won the day.

Before we sat down, Chris admitted to being a tad jealous because he'd had drinks with Chef Rob and Chef Ted the other night and, apparently, they are planning an unbelievable goodbye feast for yours truly.  Refuel (and Fuel before it) has been my favorite dining destination over my time here in Vancouver.  It was where I held my annual chocolate parties, where Marty G. and I would go to broaden our culinary horizons by dining on everything from lamb heart tartare to pig tail consomme, where I'd drop in for a quick and casual bite when I didn't feel like cooking.  I'll miss it (and Tom and the gang) a lot and have no doubt they'll send me off in fine style with a multi-course meal to rival the ones I'm going to enjoy in Vegas next week.

Hey, speaking of Vegas – check out what also came in the mail from the super-secret restaurant, e by Jose Andres (check out the intriguing details here: March 3, 2011: Gauntlet! The dish on that super-secret restaurant! And lunch at Refuel!):

 

I never thought my life could be...anything but catastrophe...but suddenly I begin to see a bit of good luck for me...'cause I've got a golden ticket!

Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom!

justin1985 writes: ""@SaveSGU The reason we can't continue SGU is the same reason we can't continue any of show…unfortunately, not enough viewers. [...]" Comments?"

Answer: Sure, makes sense.  Of course, it begs the question "Exactly what is enough viewers?".  Unfortunately, there's no straight answer because it: a) depends on the time slot and b) depends on the show.  It's not a level playing field.  In hindsight, airing on Friday nights was clearly preferable to airing on Tuesday nights while airing during the summer (which is where SGU was supposed to originally air) is much MUCH better than airing during the fall.

don writes: "Do you think that a decision on SGU movies being made will largely be decided by the ratings on the back half of season 2?"

Answer: The ratings of the back half of season 2 will have absolutely no bearing on whether or not Brad and co. proceed with movies.

jojo writes: "Have you thought about staying in a hotel, temporarily, or maybe even for a while, until you find something better?"

Answer: That's the way it's looking.  Hope the hotel doesn't mind dogs.

Expletive: BMP writes: "Bey, you're always eating the best, but I must ask; how much did all of that cost?"

Answer: Considerably more than tacos at your local Mexican eatery, but considerably less than a passion for golf, a love of video games, or a drug habit.

Stentor writes: "Hey Joe, any idea what time the Thomas Haas store on Broadway closes on a Wednesday night?"

Answer: Pretty early.  5:00 or 5:30 I believe.

hal ehrlich writes: "I was wondering if you guys have thrown any ideas around for another incarnation of Stargate?"

Answer: Nope.

Tammy Dixon writes: "Will you have to sign a non-disclosure before dining at the super-secret restaurant?"

Answer: Possibly.  There's a "We respectfully request that guests refrain from the use of video or still cameras as well as mobile phones during their dinner serve at e" clause on the reservation form I signed.  I anticipate being frisked on the way in, so will be purchasing a small camera I can hide in my mouth to avoid detection.

Quade writes: "1) What ever happened to the 20+ episodes per season, 1 new episode a week excluding holidays & December format?

2) Do you think the change from that format to this new "mid-season hiatus", airing episodes sporadicly through the year is what is actually hurting the TV industry?"

Answer: Chalk it up to the networks' changing tastes/needs.  As to whether breaking a show up hinders or hurts it – I'd go with the latter, especially in the case of serialized shows.

Luis writes: "What happens to the SG Set at the end of SGU? are most of the writer's and producer's already gone to other projects??"

Answer: The sets are still standing as Brad and co. await word on possible movies.  As for the writers/producers – some have moved on, some stand ready to start work on a continuation of the storyline should they receive the green light.

March 5, 2011: Dog fitness! The Vancouver farewell tour continues! "Greetings to you the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket, from Mr. Willy Wonka!! Present this ticket at the restaurant gates at eight thirty on the evening of the ninth day of March and d

With two weeks to go be our (probable) move to Toronto, I'm no closer to: a) finding somewhere to stay, b) finding something to drive, or c) figuring out how I'm going to get my dogs there.  Ashleigh was kind enough to volunteer (herself and a friend who may or may not know she's been volunteered) and help out, but I'm still torn over whether I'd be better off making one trip or two.  On the surface, one trip would seem ideal but I have a feeling attempting to control and coordinate two dogs at a time may be a hell of a lot easier than attempting the same with four – especially when Bubba starts howling and gets the rest of the gang to follow suit.  Given the fact that I may be living out of a hotel when I first get there, two may be easier to handle that first week. Also, two trips mean twice as many items I can transport.  Then again, two trips also means twice as many trips.

On the bright side, the dogs' new diet and exercise regimen is paying off – to varying degrees.  Jelly started at 17.2 lbs two weeks ago, weighed in at 17.0 last week, is now an aerodynamic 16.4 lbs.  Bubba, 26.0 lbs even two weeks ago, trimmed down to 24.6 lbs last week, is now a relatively light on his paws 23.8 lbs.  Lulu, 24.0 lbs two weeks ago, then 23.4 the following week, is now almost down to her fighting weight at an even 23.0 lbs.  Finally, Maximus's progress has been slow, but at least he's headed in the right direction.  25.0 lbs two weeks ago, 24.8 lbs last week, now boasting a trimmer waistline at 24.6 lbs.  At this right, he should be ready to fly by mid-June.

Anyway, hopefully Christine, our dog-sitter, will have more luck getting them out and about.  Our daily walk routine consists of taking Jelly out for a meandering stagger-about, then venturing out with the other three who all do their own thing when we hit the sidewalk.  Bubba's a runner, Maximus likes to take his time and Lulu does this thing… Well, this is just a snippet of what I have to put up with -

My farewell Vancouver tour continued last night with dinner at Miku on West Hastings.  Excellent sushi and a little taste of Japan on the menu -

 

Shirako tempura!

Boy, this took me back…to THIS specifically -

It was the first time I'd seen it on a North American menu and I was curious what the staff was calling it.  Back in Japan, the waitress at the hotel where I first sampled it referred to it by the innocuous moniker "milt".  At Miku, they were going with "fish roe" which is close but not quite…

After dinner, we enjoyed the best ice cream in Vancouver at Bella Gelataria.

 

James, the owner, has a bunch of terrific events upcoming.  Terrific events I'll miss because I'm heading off to Toronto.  But, for those of you lucky enough to be in the city, Bella Gelataria will be kicking off a Cherry Blossom festival April 4th!  In addition, James has a bunch of new products in the works including -

 

His version of spumoni.

 

And much, much more!

The farewell tour continued today with a visit to DB Bistro Moderne which, sadly, is scheduled to close its doors next weekend.  The place was hopping and Manager Chris Gonzalez was kind enough to accommodate us with some comfy bar seats -

 

I had my consistently good salmon and avocado club while Akemi enjoyed a squash risotto.  We had a hard time deciding on desserts so I made the executive decision to go with all of our choices -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battle Sundae: S'more Sundae with malted fudge Sauce, graham cracker ice cream, and toasted Meringue (left), and Pumpkin Pie Sundae with pumpkin custard, creme brulee foam, speculoos cookie, and ginger ice cream.  The S'more Sundae was the hands-down favorite

But these two desserts were our faves: Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarte with caramel pecan nougatine ice cream (left) and Sticky Toffee Pudding with roasted apples and brown butter ice cream.  It was close, but the Sticky Toffee Pudding won the day.

Before we sat down, Chris admitted to being a tad jealous because he'd had drinks with Chef Rob and Chef Ted the other night and, apparently, they are planning an unbelievable goodbye feast for yours truly.  Refuel (and Fuel before it) has been my favorite dining destination over my time here in Vancouver.  It was where I held my annual chocolate parties, where Marty G. and I would go to broaden our culinary horizons by dining on everything from lamb heart tartare to pig tail consomme, where I'd drop in for a quick and casual bite when I didn't feel like cooking.  I'll miss it (and Tom and the gang) a lot and have no doubt they'll send me off in fine style with a multi-course meal to rival the ones I'm going to enjoy in Vegas next week.

Hey, speaking of Vegas – check out what also came in the mail from the super-secret restaurant, e by Jose Andres (check out the intriguing details here: March 3, 2011: Gauntlet! The dish on that super-secret restaurant! And lunch at Refuel!):

 

I never thought my life could be...anything but catastrophe...but suddenly I begin to see a bit of good luck for me...'cause I've got a golden ticket!

Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom!

justin1985 writes: ""@SaveSGU The reason we can't continue SGU is the same reason we can't continue any of show…unfortunately, not enough viewers. [...]" Comments?"

Answer: Sure, makes sense.  Of course, it begs the question "Exactly what is enough viewers?".  Unfortunately, there's no straight answer because it: a) depends on the time slot and b) depends on the show.  It's not a level playing field.  In hindsight, airing on Friday nights was clearly preferable to airing on Tuesday nights while airing during the summer (which is where SGU was supposed to originally air) is much MUCH better than airing during the fall.

don writes: "Do you think that a decision on SGU movies being made will largely be decided by the ratings on the back half of season 2?"

Answer: The ratings of the back half of season 2 will have absolutely no bearing on whether or not Brad and co. proceed with movies.

jojo writes: "Have you thought about staying in a hotel, temporarily, or maybe even for a while, until you find something better?"

Answer: That's the way it's looking.  Hope the hotel doesn't mind dogs.

Expletive: BMP writes: "Bey, you're always eating the best, but I must ask; how much did all of that cost?"

Answer: Considerably more than tacos at your local Mexican eatery, but considerably less than a passion for golf, a love of video games, or a drug habit.

Stentor writes: "Hey Joe, any idea what time the Thomas Haas store on Broadway closes on a Wednesday night?"

Answer: Pretty early.  5:00 or 5:30 I believe.

hal ehrlich writes: "I was wondering if you guys have thrown any ideas around for another incarnation of Stargate?"

Answer: Nope.

Tammy Dixon writes: "Will you have to sign a non-disclosure before dining at the super-secret restaurant?"

Answer: Possibly.  There's a "We respectfully request that guests refrain from the use of video or still cameras as well as mobile phones during their dinner serve at e" clause on the reservation form I signed.  I anticipate being frisked on the way in, so will be purchasing a small camera I can hide in my mouth to avoid detection.

Quade writes: "1) What ever happened to the 20+ episodes per season, 1 new episode a week excluding holidays & December format?

2) Do you think the change from that format to this new "mid-season hiatus", airing episodes sporadicly through the year is what is actually hurting the TV industry?"

Answer: Chalk it up to the networks' changing tastes/needs.  As to whether breaking a show up hinders or hurts it – I'd go with the latter, especially in the case of serialized shows.

Luis writes: "What happens to the SG Set at the end of SGU? are most of the writer's and producer's already gone to other projects??"

Answer: The sets are still standing as Brad and co. await word on possible movies.  As for the writers/producers – some have moved on, some stand ready to start work on a continuation of the storyline should they receive the green light.

March 4, 2011: Farewell dinner with my long-time nemesis!

Last night, in preparation for next week's Vegas culinary extravaganza, I hit one of Vancouver's top fine dining destinations: West Restaurant on Granville.  Joining me on this special evening – none other than my long-time nemesis: Ashleigh.

She was fashionably late, as nemeses are wont to arrive, which allowed me to peruse the various menus, enjoy a Moscow Mule, and build my game plan…

I opted for a seat at the chef's table which allowed an unobstructed view of the goings on in the kitchen. I was entertained by some wonderful plating techniques but, alas, no Ramsay-esque pyrotechnics.

Eventually, she showed up, offering some lame excuse about traffic and what-not although I'm sure I spotted her not twenty minutes earlier outside Pottery Barn shaking down a couple of school kids for pocket change.

Ashleigh settles in. What is she thinking here? I'll tell you: "Oh, shit yeah. The camera thing."

I decided to go all out – and dragged her along, kicking and screaming, through a formidable feast.  It was the March Tasting Menu for me, but I switched out the sablefish in favor of the risotto, added two pasta dishes, two sides, and a whack o' desserts.  She went with the dainty Vegetarian Course.

Following our amuse-bouches, we were served our first course: a tender and tasty squid tempura with quinoa, heirloom radishes and salsa verde for me, and some very good heirloom beets with organic garden greens, Salt Spring Island goat cheese, hazelnuts, and saba for her.  We were off to an excellent start.

Round two:

Gala apple and parsnip soup with creme fraiche and horseradish.  I'm a huge fan of parsnips and, in this dish, they married marvelously with the sweetness of the apple.  Wow!





Qualicum Bay scallops with cauliflower, liquorice, oats, and bourbon barrel aged maple syrup.  This was an outstanding dish, one of my favorites of the night.

We were out of the great strong.  Four for four!  But hit a couple of bumps in the next course -

Gnocchi with poached free range egg, cultivated mushroom, and tomato fondue.  The gnocchi were incredibly flavorful but the undercooked egg white was runny and unpalatable.





Tagliatelle with Haida Gwaii sea urchin, fresh fish and shellfish, white shoyu, and wasabi tobiko.  I was really looking forward to this dish but, alas, the ingredients didn't really come together for me.  I was expecting it to be a little sweeter.  The pasta was also a tad overcooked.

As I mentioned, I also ordered a couple of side dishes: a nice, crispy kale dish and -

Some highly addictive truffle fries!

Then, it was time to move on to our fourth and final savory course.  Ashleigh had the Cannelloni au Gratin with Pemberton potato and leeks, cultivated mushrooms, melted gruyere, and just a hint of truffle oil.  Loved it.  I had the biodynamic aged risotto with BBQ Peking duck, abalone mushroom, and tofu skin which, while good, left me a little underwhelmed.  I'm still not sure what, exactly, was Peking about the BBQ duck.

We supplemented our fourth course with -

What was this again? Ashleigh? Damn, don't recall and it's not listed on our take-home menu's - but if you happen to find yourself at West, bring up this pic on your iPhones when you order. It was fantastic.

Next up, we were served a little pre-dessert comprised of a slice of grapefruit and some sort of mango or apricot pudding.  Ashleigh seemed to enjoy it.

With that minor distraction out of the way, it was time to finish big with not one, not two, not three, but FOUR proper desserts: Pavlova with angel food cake, blood range mousse and papaya in saffron syrup (didn't like the tartness of the mousse); whole wheat chocolate cake with tamarind cream (the surprising subtlety of the cake was overwhelmed by the tartness – yes, again – of the accompanying coulis); baked apple sponge cake pudding with apple pecan ice cream, maple candied bacon, pecans, and raspberry coulis (I can't believe I'm saying this but the bacon was the culprit here –  too present in the ice cream and texturally unpleasant); and, my favorite -

Chocolate coconut bread pudding with chocolate panna cotta and panda leaf anglaise. Superb!

I had a bite of each dessert, then sat back and watched Ashleigh plow through the rest.

Why do you think they call her The Cleaner?

We were stuffed.  They cleared away the plates.  Then presented us with a couple of end-of-meal bites…

Come on. You know you want it.





There you go!

A magnificent meal, excellent service, and wonderful company.  A precursor to the Vegas trip, I hope.

As we headed out, Ashleigh celebrated the fact that she'd survived the multi-course mayhem -

Until I reminded her that it was a solemn occasion because I would soon be leaving town.

Better.

Well, I hate to admit it, but I'm going to miss her.

Especially when it comes time to sending mail or complaining about my lunch order or not finding me a book shelf for my office.