Restaurants, Comedy and Long Weekends

A smidge of history: I have worked in around and through restaurants, catering and food/booze for a looong time. Even when I didn't work for restaurants, I was involved consulting or just being an opinionated bitch. I am one of those people who evaluate restaurants in a sweeping glance. Food, service and bar had better be what the decor suggests it to be, or I get, shall we say, disappointed? That said, I love eating out; the culture, the entire experience of being taken care of and fed is one that I will never grow tired of. There are few restaurants that take this as seriously as I would hope. But those that do, get my money. Frequently.

The biggest loot vaccuum is most certainly Chambar. I cannot gush words of love enough to describe how this restaurant leads the Vancouver restaurant scene, on every level. I walk in and feel like a million - and they give me a million, one at a time. The staff, the food (sweet lord help me now, the venison) and the drinks are simply on. I have never ever EVER had a negative experience there, and I have been there a lot. Like three-times-a-week-at-one-point-a-lot. And everytime I recommend it, the people come back with thanks and glowing reviews.

Another is Le Gavroche. It's French, it's swish and old school in all the right places. Go there. Eat and dig into that wine cellar.

People frequently will say, "Yeah, but isn't it expensive?" Yup. You get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap car, you get a shitassed car. Buy cheap food where they chase cheap labour and shortcuts at every turn, that's what your food will taste like. And it's how it will be served to you. Parsley and orange slice for garnish. Cold, wet plate. Glasses from your grandma's house. Velvet paint-by-numbers paintings of Mexican cowboys on the wall, accented by plastic flowers and those eerie barbie doll/knitted toliet paper covers that someone bought at a church rummage sale. And they'll likely be playing country. New country, too. Ick.

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Dane Cook. Where did this guy some from? I've seen "Waiting". I though he was some bit actor that had a funny streak. Holy shit this guy is HUGE, like huge overnight huge. And no kidding he's huge, he's hilarious. Check him out on myspace or at danecook.com. Worth the trip. He does the best "girl" I've seen. Nails us to the wall. "Vicious Circle", his HBO special, is out there on the interweb. Filmed live in front of 18,000 people. Nuts.



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I'm on my third giant cup of coffee. I slept in until 1 pm. I am relaxed and have no intentions of moving out of my apartment until after 10 p.m. Sweet ass. Happy Thanksgiving.
Out.
C