Who loves Italian? I DO!!

If you know one thing about me, it is probably that I love both Italian food AND Italian people. I just can't get enough of all things Italy! In light of this, I decided to visit Al Porto Ristorante in Vancouver which is where the 2010 Winter Vancouver Olympic Games are taking place.

First off, I'd like to apologize for the delay between reviews; my meal at Rare the other day left me pretty broke! I was forced to eat stuff that was growing in my backyard for a few days because I didn't have money for groceries or McDonald's. I do not have a garden in my backyard.

Al Porto Ristorante is on Water Street and the location is oh so adorable! Vines meander up the dainty trellis on the restaurant's exterior, just like the vines in Italy. There are some tables outside you can sit at and I guess have some coffee but I was pretty hungry you know so I walked right inside and said buongiorno to the hostess who made a face at me and then led me to a table near the brick wood-burning oven where a guy was cooking up authentic pizza. This really is JUST like Italy! I wondered if the Olympics would ever be held in Italy.

I was handed a menu by a guy, oh the different pastas they offered! I couldn't believe that a normal-sized restaurant could find so many different ways to put kind of a sauce on some strips of dough. What a world! Pasta is truly a refined food and not crass. The antipasti were all very appealing too, the great thing about antipasti is that they put raw ingredients on a plate for you, so that you don't have to put them on the plate yourself! Personally I think this is an absolute steal for 17 dollars.

After much deliberation, I chose a carbonara dish that looked especially appealing. It had bacon in it. You know a food is fancy when it has bacon in it! Also when egg is the main ingredient! It was pretty good. I also chose the antipasto misto (misty antipaste), a plate that had meat and cheese on it. I ate it with my hands. How fun! It was pretty good too but my hands still kind of smell like prosciutto. I even smell like a real Italian!

I had a good time at Al Porto Ristorante the food was pretty good you guys should definitely check it out when you come to Vancouver for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics (the Winter Olympics of 2010).


This is what I smell like!


Info:

321 Water Street
Vancouver, BC

Phone:

604-683-8376

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It was a Rare pleasure!

Question: Do you love steak as much as I do?

If you answered Yes, then you love steak very much AND you will love the steak at Rare Restaurant in downtown Vancouver. Vancouver is where the 2010 Winter Olympics are being held.

I hope you all love these reviews and will remember them 30 months from now when the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games begin because I just spent 140 dollars on this meal! It was really good though! I started off with the bread that they had out on the table (white linen tablecloths, serious about food AND serious about having good taste!!!). The bread was good it might have been fresh baked but I couldn't see ovens from my table. I could kind of see into the kitchen but I would have needed like a security mirror to see around the corners to look for ovens big enough for baking bread in-house.

It was either sourdough or french bread I can't really tell the difference I've never been able to tell really. Also the butter was soft and easy to spread I HATE it when the butter is cold and hard I have no idea what to do with it so I sometimes have to do this thing where I lay my fork across the candle (assuming candleholder of a jar style) and then set the butter on the fork so the flame will soften it up so I can spread it on the bread really good and smooth. Yes, the butter was soft and smooth without any intervention on my part. Pleasing!

Then I got a salad it was pretty good not enough pepper (she said "say when" and I never said "when" but she stopped anyway). Then I got the steak 15 oz bone-in Tenderloin it was really good I put a ton of A1 steak sauce on it such a good steak. Also I had some wine but it was pretty sour (french wine) and then I ordered the ice cream sundae for dessert it was good.

I think you should all definitely go to this restaurant when you are here in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics it was real good.

This is a steak not THE steak I had but a steak



Info:

1355 Hornby Street
Vancouver, BC

Phone:				604-669-1256
Fax:				778-786-9052

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I am having a love affair with Mr. Pickwick

Mr. Pickwick's Fish and Chips, that is!

They make such good fish and chips also halibut and chips you guys are going to be blown away by the fish and chips that Mr. Pickwick's serves up! They also offer up garlic fries which you will eat and enjoy!

By the way don't go in there expecting to meet the real Mr. Pickwick, the restaurant is named after the owner's pet horse, Mr. Pickwick! How fun!

You guys are going to LOVE eating these fish and chips when you come to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics. I can't wait! Only about 30 months to go!

1007 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC
Phone: 604-681-0631



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Somebody's been eating...

That guy! Look how big his stomach is...the food MUST be delicious in Vancouver!

More restaurant and hotel reviews tomorrow!

And hey, if you have a spare minute, why not roll on over to a GREAT blog about the 2010 Vancouver Olympics at http://vancouver2010winterolympics.blogspot.com/. There is a TON of great info there! I was impressed!

That's it for me for the night, but keep a close eye on this space as there is a LOT of great restaurant and tourism info on the way!

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Good barbecue restaurant!

Okay I went to my first restaurant today in preparation for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games:

Memphis Blues Barbeque House

The ribs were pretty good a little too saucy but the pulled pork sandwich was terrific I highly recommend this place if you are into authentic barbecue (and not too worried about your figure!)


Address and telephone number:

1342 Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC

Phone:	604-215-2599
Fax:	604-738-6852

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Yum! The Olympics aren't too far off!

In anticipation of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, I have launched this blog to research and recommend all the best restaurants in the area. This way, the reader will be prepared for a full itinerary (and a full stomach!) while enjoying the greatest sporting spectacle in the world, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

Check back here often!

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