snacking on a mature port

ESPECIALLY in winter, noth-
ing makes a finer end to a meal,
(or a better midnight snack, for
that matter) than a wedge of
strong ripe cheese, a plain crack-
er or two and a glass of rich,
dark cockle-warming port.

twice as fast ina container half che size,
this makes them unattractive to collec-
tors and a bargain for those who like a
nip of the real thing night now.

Check the shelves for stray halves of
Dow's Quinta Do Bomtin 1982
($16.05), Gould Campbell 1983
($22.05) and Graham Malvedos 1979
and 1982 ($17.05).

lifetime supply,
at feast a good
head start with
a cellar full of
mature port
whose anniver-
sary had the
added charm of

Alas, the days are gone when a father
would celebrate the birth of a son by
purchasing a “pipe” of port (an amount
equivalent to over 700 bortles) and have
it bottled, laid down and rurned over to
the son when both reached maturity
after 20 years. This lovely custom meant
that the 21-year-old son had, if not a

card.

being the same as his own.

Since mature vintage ports now clock
in at $100 or more per bottle, they're
not a serious option for those whose
taste exceeds the grasp of their debit

Bargains can usually be found, how-
ever, by cruising the shelves for 4 bottles
(375 ml). Because wines mature roughly

Remember even half battles of vin-
tage port still carry a lot of sediment, so
decant them carefully. The best method,
if nat the most aesthetic, is to pour gen-

tly from the bottle to decanter through

a smail funnei iined with a cone-shaped
coffee filter.
And don’t forget the Stilton cheese.

An off-Lonsaale lunch Empire x

From | Page 14

" Prive: Soups and salads $3
* (0 $7; Sandwiches and burgers
$5.50 to ‘$7; Entrees $7. Split

the winter chill from West
Vancouver bones. Rooftop

: patio ready for spring 1997
ai

unch. Should be well worth
the wait.
Location: Old second-
story Granite Café locale at
the northwest corner of 15th

dishes available ($2 surcharge)... Street and Bellevue Avenue.
~ Sumedeck: Small deck in the “Lunch Menu: Big single
rear. : Suramer only. sheet affair featuring a running
P. Manne Drive if pun that opens with Ciao to
you are lucky. A few stalis in Start, Ciac t to Snack (Crispy
e rear. 9 - ‘Asian Spring Rolls, Way out
‘*. Power Lanch Rating: Wonton Soup, Leaning Tower

. 000
". Ciao Mein, 235 15th St,
‘West Vancouver, 922/1117.

® California Moki
* B.C. Rall

© Tamago

* Special Scallop Cone * Chicken Karaage

© Tekka Maki * Spicy Tana Cone Jha Karaage

® Salmon Maki # Salmon Sashimi . Agedashi Tofu

* Kappa Maki ® Tuna Sashimi ® Tonkatsu

® Futo Maki ® Sunomona . Vegetable Tempura
* Salmon * Goma Ae * Oyster Motoyaki

* Tana ® Gyoza * Yokisoba

© Fmitation Cras © Chicken Teriyaki * Miso Soup

© Red Snopper * Beef Teriyaki * Rice

of Caesar, Potato or yam fries,
Caprese Salad, Calamari) and
carries on through Panini Ciao
(Mama Mia’s Club, Shrimp
and Roasted Pepper sandwich,

Visa, Maste:Card and ene Chicken Breast s sand-
- American Express accepted. wich, Turkey Burger, Ciao
Open Monday to Friday for Down B urger); Wood Burning,
funch, every night for _ Pizza Ciao tC hinese /Ttalian
dinner. Vegetarian options. combinations include Beijing's
Quite afew. best and Pisa Pesto); Pasta
Overview: The revitalized Ciao (More fusion here: Spicy
- Granite Cafe now a Place 0 of Linguine stir-fry, Green Curry
. Sino-Roman cuisine Spaghettini); and Saute Ciao
headed by Jason Tro! in part- (Salmon Ponzu, Beef
..,pership with Mark Sager past ‘Tenderloin, East mects West,
3, West. Vancouver mayor and Roasted Scallops).
: everybody’ ’s rumored candi- Food Quality: A sampled
, date to run federally. Meinstrcam Minestrone came
ea nae atmosphere thar in a mini-bird-bath-sized soup
with cross-kitchen pol- bowl with a thick bridge of
lination and culinary experi- melba focaccia bread laid atop.
mentation. New lounge area The minestrone was thick with
lush Tralian leather vegetables in a good savory
sets the informal broth underscored with tart
men’s club tone. New bar-side tomato. Sprinkle heavily with
_ gas fireplace good for chasing parmesan for maximum enjoy-

pe Y pe ¥son

* Salmon Teriyaki

Happy Hour 4
pecials

ment.

Also tricd the Pisa Pesto
Pizza from Ciao’s woodbum-
ing oven. Lovely thin crisp
crust. Not too filling. Topped
with baby shrimp, grilled arti-
choke hearts, sundried tomato

0 and mozza. Good size.
Take home the leftovers with-
out feeling guilry.

Service: Professional ‘and
attentive.

Price: Starters ($2 to $8);
Panini (sandwiches) $9; Pizza
($9 and $10); Pasta and main
entrees ($9 to $12).

Sundeck: Roof top patio
to open when the sun starts

s
Pecking: Tricky at pe
hours. A few spaces “iamated
in covered lot below. Street-
side is the best bet.
Power Lunch Rating:
000%

Qo00

Empire Won Ton House,
119 East 2nd St., North
Vancouver, 988-3238. Visa
one eryday f or lun 1 aa

ev y for lunch

and dinner. Vegetarian
options. Quite a few.

Overview: The Empire
takes Second Street. Open
since 1993 in the old Li
Gardens location on East
Second Street in North
Vancouver City’s Lower
Lonsdale area. Mid-sized,
unadormed dining room.

175 E 1st Street N. Van

Standard issue Chinese cuisine.

Location: Just off
Lonsdale; adjacent to Cheers
restaurant.

Lunch menu: The main
Empire menu is available for
lunch. Extensive culinary vistas
of familiar North American
Chinese food offerings. Chow
Mein, Hot Pot, Foc Yung, ~
Fried Rice, Lo Mein, Noodle
Soups and on and on.

Luncheon specials also
offered. More simplificd selec-
tion here. Eight main choices
(ffom Sweet and Sour Pork
and Lemon Chicken to Beef
Chop Suey and Spicy
Shredded Dried Beef with hot
chili). All come with Soup of
the Day and a choice of chow
mein or steamed fice.

Food quality: Szechuan
Chicken sampled from the
luncheon special listing was

competently made. Not much |

wan fire, however, and

Pie too much celery filler in che
stir fry. Other veg included
snow peas and carrots. Lots of
chicken. Average Chinese din-
ing experience.

Service: Very fast.

Price: All main luncheon
specials go for $5.25; items on
main menu range from $5 to

Sundeck: None.

Parking: Streetside is usu-
ally jammed; a few spaces in
the rear.

Power Lunch Rating: 00

988-5585

Wednesday, February 5, 1997 — North Shore News — 45

Flavour of India

Authentic Indian Gourmet Cuisine

IDINNER 2s I
Tues.-Thur. Excluding Tandoori fo r
Bg Exquisite
| Buffet ‘9% Lunch 12-2pm
Open 7 Days a Week 985-5477
Hours Tues - Sat 5-10pm, Sun & Mon 5-9pm

a dishes. Expires Feb 12/87
Sun & Mon 5-8pm Mon-Fri
: oo 175 E. 3rd St, N.Van. sel ping wt ie of big

OFF GiFT
CERTIFICATE

f

1
i Lrswex Fatrecs ave '
H vahe Sun. to Thur, $30 - 10:00pm, Fe. & Sat 50 - 6:20pm t.,
t Otfer expires February 26/97 Met valid Yolentines Day i .

\ Hours: Lunch Mon.-Fri. 1:30-2:30 Dinner: Mon.-Sun. 5:30-10:30
1448 Marine Duce. W. Van

922-4719

Serving
Burgers and your old favorites
TAZT Marin Prive

426-4858

CHEemow

RESTAURANT

Valentines Day 1 i
4 COURSE MENU P.P

{ SOUP - Brie & Asparagus
SALAD - Watercress, pear & stilton or
Meculun Salad with Raspberry gen” Me
ENTREE — Choice of Beef Wellington,
Chicken Gloucester with Sage
Shirley Valentine Salmon

{| Cupid’s Pasta
DESSERT - Meringue & Passion Fruit
Sorbet with Raspberry Coulis or Swans
with Chocolate Mousse & Strawberry

| Sauce or Filo with mixed fruit inside

topped with fudge sauce

oe Coffee, Truffles)

RESERVATIONS

983- ‘3463 3 (DINE)

dow open for
Cab for Now Hers