I used to love multiple choice tests at school (as much as one could love multiple choice tests), especially when the answer seemed to jump off the page like frogs on a dynamite pond.

Try this on for size:

What’s black, white and red all over?

a) a newspaper
b) a sunburned penguin
c) Santa with a black eye
d) The Dirty Apron Cooking School in Vancouver

If you answered (d), full points, collect your $200 as you pass Go. If you answered anything other than (d), do it again.

Speaking of doing things again (for the first time in my case), this past Friday evening I found myself enjoying what The Dirty Apron Cooking School was serving up to the class of about 20 students.  And let me be honest with you, it was time well spent!

I introduced you to the concept of The Dirty Apron Cooking School when it crashed open its newly refurbished double doors (and studio/store) to the public last summer.

I also told you some of the reasons why you should try it out - like David Robertson and his highly skilled and professional staff (thanks again, Takashi, for making sure we didn’t overcook our main course!).

Now after having gone to experience things first hand (by the way, the French Class was tres magnifique!), I can honestly say that the way you are treated by every person you meet there, not to mention the tips and tricks you pick up for use in your own kitchen, is like none other in Vancouver.

Having tried one of Vancouver’s rather well ensconced cooking schools not too long ago and established a baseline, there really just is no comparison to what The Dirty Apron dishes up.

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of talented chefs in this city and there are more than enough good recipes to go ’round.  But what really makes The Dirty Apron stand out?  Simple - the way they treat you. And in my mind, no one can take that from them.

I’m sure there is a flurry of activity going on before, during, and after students come through the doors at The Dirty Apron.  But you know what?  You never see or hear a word of it.  All you get is 100% attention by the chefs and staff, access to top-of-the-line equipment (Wolf Ranges, Wusthoff knives, etc.).  I don’t remember the last time that I felt five hours pass by in a span of what seemed like 5 minutes.  Our group had so much fun and and took away something more than fancy food in splashy take-out containers - an experience that is to be repeated.

Over 2,000 (ish) students in their first six months can’t be wrong; they must have all chose (d) too…

darren

We at timinganddelivery.com would like to take this opportunity to welcome its newest partner, Fresh Dish!

Fresh Dish is located at 1412 East 49th Avenue (and Knight) and has at the heart of its reason for being two things we favour: 1) food; and 2) service

Picking your menu, choosing your dishes, and clicking (or coming in) is as easy as it gets when it comes to fine food being delivered to your door.  But don’t listen to me, listen to Fresh Dish’s owner tell you the story:

One of my favourite aspects of their service:

Fresh Dish does all the meal planning, shopping, chopping, dicing and clean up.

We’re excited to showcase Fresh Dish as Corinne and her team offer something quite unique, including a solid focus on service in Vancouver! So…welcome Fresh Dish!

darren

I was forced to take piano lessons as a kid.

So that sucked.

Picking up on that concept, in terms of the ‘that sucked’ factor, the past year or so has thrown a couple of service experiences my way that I think are worth yammering on about:

1. Waiting 15 minutes to order a beer
2. Questioning why scrambled eggs take over an hour to get to your plate
3. Being told what to order, where to sit, and being afraid to suggest otherwise
4. Waiting for wine gums…that never came
5. Feeling like I was at a public camp site waiting in line to use the single men’s washroom at a lounge

And, adding number 6 to the list - waiting over five minutes while trying to make a walk-in purchase of a product at a hair salon (Toni & Guy on Alberni)…twice.

What’s kind of ironic is that there slogan  - Great Hair, Great Service, Everytime. is at most, half true (at least, in my case it is).

Now, before you start swinging for the fences, don’t get me wrong, I have no idea how well they cut hair.  Probably very well…they’ve got an espresso machine and it looks really cool.  Full points.  Not really interested in checking out that side of things…I stay true to my own at Do Hair Studio.

What I am interested in, and what I come there for is their Bedhead product.  It works, it smells nice, and it isn’t that expensive.

But who cares?  That’s not what I’m on about.

Instead, its the fact that on two occasions - once in December and once earlier this month - I dropped into the Toni & Guy store at 1088 Alberni to purchase the product.  On the first visit, I had to wait while the receptionist opened all of the boxes, and I mean ALL of the boxes, from their latest shipment as they hadn’t been upacked.  Unfortunate in that it took some time, but I was OK with it (ish).

On the second visit, I simply walked in, grabbed a bottle, and slapped it down at the till.  Then, I was asked for my name, my last name, my first name, etc in an attempt to locate my name in the system.  I smiled and tried to be polite while and handed them the cash to pay (read: so I could leave), but they kept looking.  Bad move.  The ensuing two or three minutes returned the similar result - nothing.

Concept that I was confused at here:

• customer is in front of you
• customer has cash
• customer wants to purchase product
• customer should be rung into the till and set on her/his way

If I really wanted to be ‘in their system’ I would have mentioned it and given her the information.  Instead, I was in a bit of a rush and handed her the cash to move on.  Hope next time they pick up on these cues.

darren

We were honoured that Craig and the team at LetsGoForDinner Blog ranked timinganddelivery.com as one of the Vancouver’s Top Restaurant Blogs.

Out of 55, we placed 11th! It was certainly a tight race for us folk in on the other side of 5th place (smirk).

So thanks to all of YOU, our readers, for doing what you do (reading). I’ll keep on doing what I do (writing) as long as you stick to the ‘wash, rinse, and repeat’ program with us.  We’ve got some great stuff planned this year, including a reader affinity program with special discounts at all of our sponsors (stay tuned)!!

Its late…just had to share the good news.

Nite!

darren

Have any of you been to The Bay lately?

I have to admit, that aside from the occasional need to get some socks or white t-shirts, I hadn’t been on their frequent visitor list; until recently.

Stepping through the doors at the corner of West Georgia and Granville (674 Granville to be exact) kind of feels like you’re standing in line for the gondola at Whistler (minus the skiis and people in blue coats trying to scan your lift pass).

Madness on the main floor aside, something smacked me right in between the eyes on my latest visit to return a Christmas re-gift I received (a decorative, wooden, tea ‘chest’).

In my attempt to navigate the five floors of what seems like emptiness, I was ‘mapping’ my route out to the ‘wooden tea chest department’ on the elevator map.

And…much to my surprise, beside me was a Bay employee, undercover (read: name tag camo).

Here’s the coles notes:

• took the time to ask if I was lost (felt like a kid at the PNE);
• looked at what I was returning;
• got out at the floor I needed to get out at with me;
• took me to where I want to go; and
• ensured that I got what I needed (read: the $29.99 gift card refund).

Honestly, I kind of felt like I was drifting along in a video game following some sort of directions because I can’t recall the last time in a retail environment (OK…maybe aside from The Boss store…ps - Roberto moved to Oakridge) that an employee took the time, when they were not working, to go out of their way to help a customer.

I’ll be coming back to the lift ticket line-up again.

darren

My family is right in the middle of a kitchen overhaul; ’bout time too. Why do I mention this? Because they’ve got something in common with Town Hall at 1032 Alberni Street - a wall.

When Saltlik flipped the reno switch and transformed into Town Hall late last year, there was something in my mind that made all the difference in the world to the flow of this restaurant: the ‘wall’ of booths that separated the lounge and the restaurant.  When the painters tape and drywall dust faded, much to my surprise I found it to be no more.

And this is a good thing.

If you’ve been to Saltlik before you’ll notice that there are a number of similarities between the two: same massive vertical wine cellar (think Yew but flipped on its ear), same lofty spiral(ish) staircase to the washrooms - complete with what used to be deer antlers above the door (still some sort of animal), same dimly lit ambience, same wide open space with lofty ceilings, and I’m not going to stress this one, but a similar menu.  In my opinion, better.

What I found to be different, and is one of the reasons I’m recommending Town Hall on Alberni, is that our server, and the servers I caught a glimpse of during my couple of visits, were interested in you and your table - reminds me of Pinkys.

On our latest visit, and I’ll call him ‘Brad’, took the time to sift through the wine selection with us in some detail (something I like) and also noticed that some in our party weren’t certain of what they wanted.  He stepped through the entrees in question with vigour and nimbleness, like frogs on a dynamite pond.

Honestly, while there may be a bit of ’same same’ from a number of you who walk through Town Hall’s doors, I’d throw my vote into the ‘but different’ camp.

A shame my parents are keeping their wall; they could have learned something here.

darren

Off to Town Hall (1032 Alberni Street) tonight for a sampling of their sumptuous menu and of course, their service.

Interesting that there hasn’t been much pomp n’ circumstance since the closing of its former footprint owner, Saltlik.  All in the family, I suppose.

Once I emerge, I’ll definitely fill you in.

How about anyone of you guys?  Any thoughts so far on it’s offerning since jumping into  ‘luxury lane’ (read: Alberni b/w Burrard and Thurlow)?

darren

We at timinganddelivery.com would like to take this opportunity to welcome its newest partner, parliament!

Parliament Interiors, located at 115 Water Street in historic Gastown, opened its doors only two weeks ago and is already making a dent on the furniture scene (if I can say that).

I’ve had first hand experience with Colette and the rest of her team and I must say, service is something they’re certainly attentive to. According to their Web site:

We’re three experienced retailers who have combined our vision and passion to create an inspiring new home décor store in the heart of Gastown — Vancouver’s go-to fashion and design district. As native Vancouverites, we know our city, its people and the home décor trends you’re after. Our store is super-cool, fresh (full statement shades of grey and white with pops of colour) and our merchandise is brought to you at impossible prices. If you love open-plan living that’s contemporary and affordable, visit us for an inspiring shopping experience.

Welcome parliament!

darren

The following post was submitted by Nicole, one of timinganddelivery Vancouver’s loyal readers.

If you have a Vancouver service experience that you’d like to share with our readers, just click here!

Society
1257 Hamilton Street
604.629.8800

Mon-Fri 11:30 – Midnight
Sat/Sun 4:30-Midnight

I just couldn’t help it. I was having a moment. It was like a combination of flashbacks from Legally Blonde, Clueless, and House Bunny.
Where was I…..?

As many of you have probably heard there’s a new kid in town, specifically Yaletown, in the old home of Coast restaurant.

She goes by the name of Society.

If you’re thinking pink right now you’re on the right track. In fact the impressive pink chandeliers that occupy the first floor make quite the statement, and who would really expect anything less from the newest addition from the Glowbal Group?

They claim that at Society, “anything can happen” and do I ever believe it after a night out there with a couple of my girlfriends. Not exactly a tale of debauchery but we did have it all: the good, the bad, and the hilarious!

The good

• the food was perfect for a rainy night. The drinks were exactly what we needed. (Try the French Rose if you go.)
• the atmosphere. It was bustling, packed, and everyone seemed to be having a good time or, at the very least, happy to get a seat.

The bad

• the wait, the wait, the wait! The hostesses would benefit from a speech on “under promise and over deliver.” We were told the wait would be about an hour. It turned into two. Not horrible but even over the noise we could hear the tick-tock of our watches and growling stomachs.
• the uniforms. As Elle would say, they were “unfortunate looking.” Not to get on a fashion high horse but the servers should be given a fair shot and the mismatched “wife beater” tank tops were just, well, tragic. Nothing high society about that.

The hilarious

• the service! Like I said, we had an hour wait that extended into two but we were definitely kept entertained. We passed the time in the upstairs lounge and found a game to play; see if you can figure out where the food is supposed to go before the food runner does! I’ve never seen so many delicious dishes wander back and fourth in and around me so often. Luckily in the small space it did look like everything did end up in the right lap before it got cold.
• when we did a couple of check-ins to see about how much longer we would be nestled upstairs a straight answer was elusive:

Hostess: “Wellll, that table over there has started their appetizers but I don’t know how long it’ll take them to eat everything.” Blank stare.
Us: “Ok….(is this happening?)…but can you tell us how many people are ahead of us?
Hostess: Oh, yeah….three!

Eventually we were seated downstairs, had our dinner and the requisite “junk food platter” and continued to be entertained not only by the service, but also by the messy-night-nightclub vibe that was going on in the ladies restroom. Nothing about the experience was boring.

Will we be back? Absolutely. You can bet your society’s secret handshake on it!

Nicole

The following post was submitted by Alex, one of timinganddelivery Vancouver’s readers.

If you have a Vancouver service experience that you’d like to share with our readers, just click here!

House of Clogs
1280 Robson St.
604 685 8710

Very friendly staff…until you need to return something.

I wasn’t told about their “no returns” policy until after I tried to return shoes (unworn, with receipt, a week after purchase). I explained nothing would fit me as their stock is wide, and my feet are very narrow.

The manager/owner gave me a limited-time credit note “as a special favor”. He made me come back over and over to check new stock, but he knew nothing would fit me because he did the ordering.

He seemed to think it was funny.

I called the store two weeks later to ask for corporate info; the manager acted very suspicious and hung up on me.

I’ve lost $160 because of his “policy”, which is only posted on a small sign near the ceiling. The Manager/Owner doesn’t care about customers, just their money.

I worked in Customer Service for 14 years, and never treated a customer like this.

BUYER BEWARE.

Alex M

If you’ve ever talked to anyone from Winnipeg, you may have heard of a strange and ritualistic event that elicits great emotion - “socials”.

If you happen to be from Winnipeg, that’s awesome…keep reading anyway.

Regardless of whether you’ve heard of or been to a social, you’ll probably know exactly what I mean when I reference these typical traits:

• simplistic - just enough decoration and dressing up to get things done
• un-assuming - in looking at the venue, nothing jumps out as being over-the-top (e.g., roller rinks, church basements, and legion halls are  popular venues)
• realistic - prices and portions are appropriate (a beer costs what it should; food is served in appropriate quantities - especially at the midnight cold cuts table)
• purposeful - the intent is clearly known to all who attend and with that in mind, the demographic is quite varied with participation levels usually quite high

So, this may have you asking…what in the world do Winnipeg, socials, Indian food, and Vancouver have in common?!

Lots.

Especially if you happen to find yourself walking along West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano, particularly in the 2000 block (2006 to be exact).

Once there, you’ll find a relatively small sign/sandwich board near a staircase that leads up to an Indian restaurant that is:

• simplistic;
• un-assuming; and
• realistic.

And after the surprise birthday party which a large group of us attended last weekend at The Indian Oven in Kitsilano (2006 West 4th Avenue if you hadn’t yet figured that part out), it most certainly was ‘purposeful’ as well.

Widely recognized for its kick-a$$ butter chicken and location right next to [the former and famous] Bimini’s Pub in Kitsilano, The Indian Oven has certainly carved a name out for itself in the Vancouver restaurant ether.

The service we received was excellent…right portions, right amount of contact, and right type of recommendations and warnings (i.e., there is a category of hot that exists ‘above’ 911 - who knew?).

One thing I will say, though (and I quickly anticipated this after I drank in the Huey Lewis-esque decor upon entering), is that the bills are hand-written.  So, be patient if you’re in a large group, the ability to ’split the cheque’ mid-way through your meal is…well…going to be tough, and that’s putting it nicely.

ps - wear stretchy pants and bring a pillow for after your meal, you’re going to need it

darren

As you may or may not know, timinganddelivery.com welcomes your stories relating to service! And…from-time-to-time we publish some of them - like the one you are about to read. If you think you have a service experience worth sharing (good or not-so-good), send it in!

It had been three years since I had been in to Beauty Bar at 2142 West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano.  So…having just moved back into the neighbourhood with my boyfriend, I decided to pop in.

My reason for stopping by, aside from it being a cool store that is fun, bright, organized and great for gift ideas (my two cents), was to solve the ‘problem ‘of too many products in the shower.

Basically, I wanted to satisfy both male and female “scents” for body wash or soap (read: I like nice soap in the shower AND I wanted to make us both happy…and clean!).

I was greeted by Emma who immediately understood my ‘soap needs’ and pointed me to the “Fresh” product line. She even recommended a product that her last boyfriend liked and sold me on the spot!

What’s more is that Emma also gave some great tips on lip gloss (also from Fresh) as well as body lotions that would be good from pregnant ladies (I have a few friends that might be needing some tummy love soon!).

The soap recommendation was a hit…we love it! Ironically, Darren, my boyfriend, had been into the Fresh store in New York and was instantly drawn to their massive soap display and packaging (see photo on the right).

I went back in last night to find another soap (they’re a big hit at our place) and to do a little more Christmas shopping for the family. Emma was again very helpful, personable and took lots of time to ask questions and get to know her customers. She even told me a story about a couple women who had been in shopping earlier in the day. It is obvious to me that she (and Beauty Bar staff) takes great passion in her job….big points!

To be honest, Beauty Bar’s customer service was so great that I have booked to get my makeup done there before our upcoming Christmas party! What’s cool – Beauty Bar was fully booked that evening (apparently they are the place to go before an event) but Amanda (another great sales girl) squeezed me in.

Wow…Beauty Bar is definitely on my repeat list!

Laura

We at timinganddelivery.com would like to take this opportunity to welcome its newest partner, Savoury Chef!

Savoury Chef is located at 826 Renfrew Street and is focused on two things we are very big fans of: 1) food; and 2) service

According to their Web site, Savoury Chef Foods happily offers a number of different catering services in and around Vancouver and their menus feature seasonal and local products wherever possible.

The back-story:

What began as a small catering business has grown exponentially since Chef Taryn Wa moved into their commercial kitchen space in 2006.  As business continued to increase on all fronts, it became apparent to the Savoury Chef team that Vancouver was in need of a high-end catering company that emphasizes the use of local, organic and in-season ingredients. Taryn Wa is a cook above all else, putting quality ahead of margins when creating menus – and that means quality and flavour always comes first in our business.

We’re always happy to showcase businesses who we believe offer something great back to the community - fresh food, innovative creations, and attentive service.  So…welcome Savoury Chef!

darren

Tommy Ng and Jonker Street epitomize Malaysian Hospitality.

Friendly and welcoming, always ready with a joke and a smile, Tommy Ng is the face of Jonker Street.

At this Malaysian restaurant (on Pacific Boulevard in Yaletown), the food will transport you to the streets of Malacca, Penang and Kuching, while Tommy’s warmth and hospitality will welcome you in and bring you back, time and again.

Unlike the Kopitiam’s (coffee shops) or Hawker Stalls (open-air food courts) native to the region, where the clamorous sounds, colorful sights and pungent smells grab a hold and surround you, Jonker Street exudes a quiet confidence.

And they should.

1) The concise menu offers many Malay staples:

• Satay; Gado-gado; Laksa; Kway Teo; Beef Rendang; Sago.

2) Many of their dishes standout and are absolutely crave-worthy!

• Their Roti Canai presents as a healthy version of the traditional; flaky on the outside yet never greasy, and soft and pipping hot within.

• Their Hainnease Chicken Rice (which owing to the usual grease and gristle, my mum had avoided for years) has amazingly clean flavors, the taste of the dish benefiting greatly from the use of free-range chicken.

3) Service is attentive and friendly, a Catch-22: with only one server (whenever we’ve been there) you get undivided attention.

• Unfortunately,  if you’re at one of the other tables then all that friendliness takes time… waiting for dishes to be  cleared, waiting for drink refills, waiting for the check.

4) Dishes are made to order and even some of the key ingredients (such as the chili sauce that accompanies the Hainnese Chicken Rice) are made in-house; a detail that is not lost on the taste and composition of dishes.

• However, such dedication to authenticity and perfection can prove consequential, as often there are timing issues with the kitchen as dishes come to the table uncomfortably out of sync;  a reoccurring problem for Vancouver restaurants with too small of a kitchen and too few hot plates and burners.

But, I digress. For authentic Malay food and hospitality, Jonker Street is well worth the visit.

~ kath

We at timinganddelivery.com would like to take this opportunity to welcome its newest partner, body politic!

body politic is located at 208 East 12th Avenue (SE corner) and is centred around sustainable design and limitless style.

According to their Web site, it’s about choice, not sacrifice. Independent designers from Vancouver to New York are showcased at body politic.

The back-story:

Growing up in Edmonton, Alberta, owner Nicole Ritchie-Oseen always had a determined spirit and a love of fashion. Packing up this determination (and, she confesses, a lot of clothes and shoes) she set her sights on Vancouver to study fashion merchandising at Blanche Macdonald. The dream turned into reality with a business plan, a location on Main Street, and a name which embodied clothing that is sustainable, ethical, and organic.

We’re always happy to showcase new talent…and service worth checking out.  So…welcome body politic!

darren

I find the hunt for a good read can be as compelling as the book itself and Bibliophile Bookshop, located at 2010 Commercial Drive, is no exception.

This wee gem of a bookshop is the antithesis of Chapters/Borders/Amazon (of which I also spend far too much time in and online), providing a spectacular selection of tomes in all genres in the smallest of spaces without the usual dusty, glorious mess that sometimes plagues the used bookstore.

Open for nearly a decade next year, Bibliophile has managed to stay alive by offering a beautiful selection of used books in every non-fiction and fiction genre while also providing its customers with all the charms of a locally owned and operated shop.

I am always cordially greeted by the owner himself, Mr. Scott Akin or one of his similarly lovely employees when I pull open the heavy door and step through the shop entrance.  Immediately I am transported to a more relaxed world, in which there is nothing more to do but peruse books and expand the neural pathways of my brain by way of words, stories and recipes alike.

Finding myself stumped while searching the high aisles all labeled neatly with country wooden signs, I make a point of asking the staff where or if a book can be found here and inevitably I am directed to its exact location or told that I just missed the last copy.  There has never been a time when I’ve been told, “Well, um, I’m not sure - maybe you should try Chapters/Borders/Amazon.”

Complete with a languid cat who lazes about waiting to be patted, Bibliophile Bookshop is a little corner of story heaven.

- Mercedes

Today was a good day.

I played some tennis.

I got to chill out at Hollyburn on the top patio in the sun.

I rode my bike along the seawall.

I had lunch with a buddy at Yaletown Brew Pub (sorry, Kath…service was ON this time).

And we just got back from seeing Julie & Julia…nicely done, Sony Pictures; kinda makes me want to run out and buy some more Le Creuset or discover what a bouef bourginon is.

But I digress…a lot.

I’m going to step aside for a second and not review the service at a restaurant or a store for this post.  Instead, I want to say something about this amazing city we live in and a bizarre animal that seems to come out more often than not at our public tennis courts around town.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to start arguments.  I also, for the most part, try my best to follow rules.

But for some strange reason, a predatorial and almost caveman-like beast seems to jump out of what appear to be nice and decent human beings at public tennis courts in Vancouver.

This summer, I must have hit at about a dozen or so of our public tennis courts in and around Vancouver (thanks in part to the good folks at Juump). And from my perspective, there are some very angry people out there when it comes to wanting to play tennis (read: waiting for courts and jockeying for position).  Brings me back to a yelling match a friend and I happened to find ourselves in this past week based on the directions our chairs were pointing and to which court we were planning to use.

I know the rules, I was faced the right way; however, he apparently was facing both…and this type of behaviour will simply not stand in the eyes of the tennis court monster.

So to those of you who like to attack based on chair position when at Vancouver public tennis courts when the 30 minutes (but who’s keeping time?) is up…let’s try and relax a little.  If we did, the world may be a better place.  The kind of place where people may want to randomly gather and start singing about buying the world a Coke or something.

darren

props to Szinitch for the cavemen…love ‘em

I really want to LOVE this place, I really really do.

• I love their selection of brews
• They mix a good, strong cocktail
• The menu never disappoints; I’m always able to find the right dish to satiate my particular cravings
• The patio is prime for people watching and basking in the afternoon sun
• The crowd is hip, hot, and pretty darn good looking

So, why does Chill Winston leave me cold? (Because clearly it’s not a location, drink, food thing).

I loathe Chill Winston’s service.

Most recently:

One sunny Sunday we ponied-up to Chill Winston to enjoy a late brunch; something eggy washed down with spicy Caesars.

We were:

• Seated
• Greeted
• And ordered quickly.

And then it all came to a grinding halt.

Basking in the sun is thirsty work, and after much head twisting and contortionism our server must have realized how parched we were because he finally brought us the waters we had asked for when ordering.

Those Caesars? Still M.I.A

When our Caesars  finally arrived (part-way through our brunch), they were accompanied by the refrain: sorry, the bar’s a little backed up. Backed up? It’s hardly a full-house. Heck, it was barely a half-filled house. In fact, although the patio was full, inside, the bar and dining room were quite empty. And it’s not as though we ordered random cocktails with hard to access ingredients, we ordered a brunch staple: a CAESAR.

And besides, you’re a bar. This is your area of (supposed) expertise; making good strong drinks for crowds. It shouldn’t take a bar longer to make a standard cocktail than it takes the kitchen to whip up Eggs Benny. Just saying.

And it must be said, that this is not an isolated incident or bad day syndrome,  it seems to be the norm per our experiences at Chill Winston (although clearly Darren’s Chill Winston experience was quite different). And on this particular day, the norm for our fellow diners, many of whom also looked parched and hungry seated at barren tables.

In my dehydrated state I did toy with the notion that bad, slow service was part of management’s ‘turn and burn’ M.O (if people are too annoyed/thirsty/hungry to linger then they’ll leave quickly. Thus, the shorter the patronage experience the more patrons you can serve). But even by that rationale bad service sounds like a bad idea.

Chill Winston, 3 Alexander Street, in the heart of Gastown at the intersection of Water, Powell and Alexander streets.

Go for the food, the location, the patio and the drinks. But don’t go expecting good, quick service.

~ kath

Recently, I told you my wardrobe’s secret weapon: Albert @ Albert’s Tailors.

Now, I’m going to go ‘The Full Monty’, and let you in on Albert’s cohort in my one-woman fashionista war: Irina Santos @ Cut 2 Fit Tailoring & Dry Cleaning.  Located in the International Village Mall aka: Tinseltown Mall, this family run operation outshines and out-drys the competition.

I no longer live the kind of lifestyle that requires me to spend the better part of my paycheck on dry cleaning, yet when the occasion and outfit calls for it:

• I don’t want to have to sell the shoes to clean the dress
• I need it to be convenient and accessible
• I’d like to find a regular dry cleaner whom I can trust with my clothes

Enter, Irina and Cut 2 Fit Tailoring & Dry Cleaning.

• Beyond affordable, their prices are cheap ($9.80 to dry-clean a 2-piece suit, $4.55 for skirts and sweaters).
• Open 7-days a week and right opposite the Stadium/Chinatown Skytrain station in a mall that houses my bank’s ATM, a liquor store, a drug store and PIVO Public House; it’s all the services I use under the one roof (plus they’re across from T&T), making them an easy addition to my shopping routine.
• Irina and her family care about my clothes; their attention to detail and assurances that my delicates will be cared for are genuine and comforting. Plus, they’re super nice and friendly.

And as an added bonus? I’ve taken alterations to her niece Cecilia, and like Albert, she did a stellar job.

Cut 2 Fit Tailoring & Dry Cleaning, 1137-88 West Pender Street is Fast. Cheap. Friendly. And Family Run.

~ kath

I’m not going to yammer on about the food at Dae Bak Bon Ga (aka Korean BBQ joint)…no sir.

We didn’t come for it; by the smells that were wafting out of the restaurant, though, maybe we should have.

So on to my story.

We were celebrating a friend’s birthday. And, it never seems to get tired…it was time for another karaoke night.

Da Bak Bon Ga was a place I had never known to be in existence (aside from being neighbours with Fog n’ Sudds on Robson).

Nestled deep amongst a labyrinth of blazing bbq tables and a vacuous smoke-filled room is a hallway…a hallway that leads you twisting and turning amidst private rooms.  Dens of song.

Unlike Fantacity, these rooms are smaller, much hotter, and not as well laid out in my opinion.  But what do I know? I can count how many times I’ve been ‘karaoke’ing’ on one hand.

Trying to get the staff to help you, well, that’s another story.

1) it took a very long time to be acknowledged once we were in our room (room 5 if anyone is interested) - read: drink orders didn’t come

2) when we finally tracked down an employee to ask about the echo on the mic, tambourine selection, and how to find the English song list, he wasn’t very friendly (and I don’t think it was a language thing)

3) I had to find the owner of the place to ask about the disco light and volume control

4) no one told us anything about time limits or pricing

I’m not trying to be picky, I’m just saying that if you’re going to through a bunch of karaoke amateurs in a small, overheated room drowned with reverb and mind-numbing graphics of anime characters doing the running man, it would be nice to lay down some ground rules and maybe check on them from time-to-time.

Asking for a tambourine shouldn’t be a big deal,

darren