TIMOTHY & RENSHAW table hopping From Russia to China with bib OW ABOUT a quick eastern swing through China and Russia? We'll take along some de-alcoholized wine for refreshment that won’t fog the brain or tire the system. We'll hook up with the regular four-course Table Hopping col- umn next time around. Gourmet China Restaurant, Westview Shopping Centre, North Vancouver, 987-6322 All Chow Meiniacs take note: *The Gourmet China has got a mein for every occasion. Affiliated with other Gourmet China restaurants around town, including the outlet in Lynn Valley, the newest Gourmet opened in early November in the Westview Shopping Centre and features literally hundreds of menu items — | stopped counting at #250. It's a menu for those who like to have a little reading materi- al with their meals. As is common with Chinese res- taurant menus, the selection looks overwhelming, but a lot of the en- tries are simple variations on a theme. The variety of mein-style dishes included on one of the Gourmet’s menus ranges from chow mein to wor mein and on to lo mein. But the Gourmet goes well beyond the mein line. Its menu also focuses on special categories of Barbecue, Steamed Rice, Con- gee (Rice Broth), Canton and Hong Kong style noodles, Hot Pots, and Sizzling Plates. And while the range of the items offered is broad — folk new to the Chinese food game (are there any?) could get lost in the in- tricacies of beef balls, dried squid, singing chicken and sizzling beef — it remains interesting. Table Hopping has yet to sample PIZZA & CHINESE FOOD TAKE OUT® DELIVERY ® NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH LUNCH BUFFET ‘3.75 (sm.) PICK-UP $4.75 ag.) Monday-Friday Nam-2pm #100-900 West 16th St, North Vancouver SOVIET SNACKS...Inessa (left) Perestroika Products Ltd. offer a plate load of piroshki for your dining pleasure. The North Vancouver deli specializes in Russian f the Gourmet’s food, but staff will file a full report following a vist to the restaurant. Watch this spot. Malinda Distributors Inc., 119-255 West First St., North Vancouver. 984-7492, Malinda is the first B.C. com- pany to have its line of de- alcoholized wines stocked in B.C. liquor control department stores. The North Vancouver company handles four varieties produced from Australia’s Loxton Medea Valley. Rhine Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sparkling Brut and Sparkling Blush are all available, and they all taste remarkably similar to regular wines. Alcohol content of the wines is below 0.5 per cent. Calorie con- tent is atso minimal: 30 per 100 ml glass. De-alcoholized wines are a good alternative for those who would prefer to avoid alcoholic bever- ages, but cannot bear the sight, sound or smell of another glass of mineral water, another mug of coffee or another round of natural juices. Perestroika Products Ltd. 1073 Churchill Crescent, North Van- NEWS photo Cindy Goodman and Anna Tsemakhovich of Come to our Mall, listen to our Christmas Mini-Concert Series and enter our Couver, 987-3535. First it was the outbreak of democracy in Eastern Europe, then the tumbling of the Berlin Wall, and now it’s Russian food on the North Shore. The political flood gates are Open and so too are the food gates, so dig in. Perestroika is basically a lun- chtime Russian deli and takeout Operation. Open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, it churns out a hearty selection of rib-sticking grubski guaranteed to put a Cossack-dancing step in sedden North Shore residents and tzim the edges off any Siberian size hungers: Russian borscht, Russian pancakes, fried without oil or fat and served with apricot and rasp- berry preserves, and, of course, Piroshki. Not familiar with Piroshki? Haven't been to Moscow in recent months? Weil, Table Hopping’s Kremlin correspondent reports that Piroshki are Russian pastry rolls stuffed with potatoes, onions, cheese, beef, pepperoni and any- thing else you might desire ona cold night in Leningrad. Diners unite. Meet the Artist Round trip, six days/six @ Contest starts DANIEL IZZARD For Personal Signing of “The Ancient Cedar’”’ LIMITED EDITION PRINT Limited to 300 $225.00 HARRISON GALLERY Saturday, December 8th Time: 1-4 pm. Park Royal South, West Vancouver Saturday, December 15 Time 1-4 pm. 2932 Granville St. Vancouver November 26th. @ Mini-Concerts start Dec. 3rd. No purchase necessary. A skill testing question must be answered to win. } VanCOUVeR Centre malt Onder the Clock, at Georgia and Granville. Between Eaton’s and the Bay. nights deluxe hotel, rental car, attractions, dinner.