Magic

There are times that are magic.....Sometimes they are hugely magic (birth of our son) and sometimes they are small (watching the dog and the cats play together), and then there are those times in the middle.

We took our annual winter vacation last week up to British Columbia - A couple of days in Vancouver, followed by a week of skiing in the Okanagan at Silver Star. The first night we were in Vancouver we were unsure of what to do for dinner. Our usual move would have been to have had room service while drinking a fabulous bottle brought from the cellar (a 2002 Camespelo was in my bag)... but the room we wanted (Westin Bayshore "old" building, room x15 or x16) wasn't ready and we'd need to wait an hour or so. I went and visited Norton the concierge under the pretense of a recommendation for Dim Sum the next day, but happened to slip that did he think we could get into Feenies for dinner that night.

Next thing I know, he is convincing my 10 year old how fantastic the hamburger is , and how the poutine has a maple hint to it...and voila we have a reservation at 6:15.
We hop in a cab and its off to Kitsilano. We are early and stroll about, it's a typical west coast February night, dark, 40 degrees and a heavy drizzle..we walk, hit a bookshop, browse, and make a few purchases. Then it's off to the main event...

We walk into Feenies , the "casual" annex to the classy Lumiere next door. Vancouver Casual is much different than Seattle Casual, more like NYC or SF casual. We shed our huge ski parkas, and were ushered to an empty room off the bar where one seat had a wonderful view of the kitchen - I though to myself "are we being segregated from the rest of the scene because we don't fit?" but soon that thought left as within 10 minutes the room was packed, and we had some of the best service I seen in a long time - the gal who waited on us was friendly, nice, appropriate, patient, and a real good sport.

My wife had been longing for a whisky sour all afternoon, so a round was ordered, and soon arrived... functional, but not over the top...a bit too much like sweet & sour bar mix, without the jump of fresh squeezed juice. Luckily, the functionality of the bar was quickly forgotten when food started to arrive-

A fantastic salad of greens, prosciutto and cheese - augmented with truly aged balsamic - everything melded in the mouth. but that was just the start. The mains were out of this world. My son had an outstanding burger with frites - very simple but executed with perfection, what looked like a house baked bun, super fresh produce of Tomato and lettuce, and perfectly done ground beef. I shared a bite and was astounded by the flavor that came through - it was if it was the best BBQ of the summer. The condiment arrangement was original, but yet not cute.

My wife had a Shepherd's pie of Duck Confit - hot hot hot...and in a good way ! So many times food is served lukewarm, or what was once hot in the kitchen is merely warm by the time it hits the table. This was hot, and stayed hot through our enjoyment of it. and enjoy it we did, a creamy truffle hinted mashed potato topping with lush duck confit hiding below the surface, accompanied with a lovely pan jus. My wife is not a huge duck fan (though I am), but she was honestly blown away with this dish, and I , well I was wishing I had ordered it - but I hadn't....

I had an amazing piece of sablefish (Black Cod below the border) that was presented in a mushroom broth , with shitakies and a few herbs. Again served piping hot, with rich aromas, and a depth of flavors that made my mouth so happy I almost forgot the confit next to me.

A few bites in, we all were in shock of how lucky we were to be there that night, and how we were experiencing the magic in process...we started talking about memorable meals, both from a food and place perspective...French Laundry....Jean Gorge...Prune...Canlis....Napa Rose.....Market Street Grill....Patit Creek.. when it hit, This food was "French Laundry Good", and it was at that time that our waitress appeared, we let her in on our discussion, and she was honestly interested.

Dessert was a trio of items all good, but not memorable two weeks later...

Happy and feeling magical we bundled back up in our ski parkas, headed out to the street ready to flag down a cab when the magic continued.............

For the past three years we have been going to Parkside when in Vancouver, and have been always remembered by a server who made our son (and his books) feel welcome, remembered the last bottle of wine we had, and something similar that we might enjoy. She had the knack for remembering us, and making us feel comfortable.... So we are out on the street on a drippy Vancouver Friday night, when who do we meet, but this woman ( who I feel terrible but I don't know her name) we chat for a bit, and find out that she is now working at Lumiere.... I think we know where our next dinner in Vancouver will be !

Doom and Unmitigated Failure

Tom Perkins (yes that Tom Perkins of VC fame, HP Board infamy and ex-husband of romance writer Danielle Steele) is quoted on one of the sailing websites I frequent as writing the following –

SailingAnarachy Editors
Your speculations about the yacht Maltese Falcon are simply preposterous. I wish you doom and unmitigated failure.

Sincerely, Tom Perkins

I love the saying “Doom and unmitigated failure” it is just so…… final, so complete, so full of disgust. I can imagine Gene Wilder playing Willy Wonka, following up his famous “I said good day sir!” With a vehement “I wish you doom and unmitigated failure!” However, when used with the proper intonation, the phrase can take on a whole new Eyeore like quality. And better yet the sarcastic / ironic twist can be played as well.

So why am I thinking of this phrase today ? Well I noticed a new store opening up on Queen Anne, on the corner of McGraw and Q.A. Ave, across from A & J …the name appears to be “Eat Local”, but the logo/graphic is so hard to read I’m not sure what it is. It is hard to believe that the proprietor feels that a logo like that will drive business to this emporium …I have no idea what the place is going to be about, but already I’m very cautious – public signage is so important with developing that first impression with the community/retail public. I’d really be interested in reading the business plan and understanding where the owner feels that they will be able to fit into the already crowded Queen Anne consumer market….I honestly wish them well, but from initial indications it sounds like ….“Doom and unmitigated failure”