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Riverview housing plan sparks political backlash

Saturday, July 28th, 2007

Miro Cernetig
Sun

The government wants to build a mixture of market and social housing on the grounds of the Riverview mental health hospital. Photograph by : Steve Bosch, Vancouver Sun

VICTORIA — A major political storm began to blow Friday over the provincial government’s proposal to turn the Riverview lands in Coquitlam into a massive housing development, mixing thousands of condos with social housing for the disabled, poor and mentally ill.

The government is seeking to solve a social housing shortage by trading the site of Riverview psychiatric hospital to private developers in return for a share of the profits to bolster public housing.

But the mayor of Coquitlam, anti-poverty activists and even naturalists who fear for Riverview’s world-class groves of trees immediately lined up in opposition.

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan’s was one of the few voices in favour.

“We definitely do not want to see market housing on the site,” said Coquitlam Mayor Maxine Wilson. “I’m hopeful that the government will respect our point of view and retain the integrity of the site.”

Housing Minister Rich Coleman told The Vancouver Sun on Thursday his officials have proposed as many as 7,000 residences be built on the Riverview site, possibly as condominiums or apartments.

But Coleman said he sent them back to the drawing board to see if they can squeeze even more market housing units into the 98-hectare site.

The plan could generate billions of dollars in real estate deals and mean a windfall of millions for the government.

Developers would be required to turn back some of their profits to the government or build social housing.

However, Coleman said no development will happen without extensive public hearings and the approval of the community. That process isn’t likely to begin until fall, after the provincial cabinet approves taking the idea to Coquitlam residents.

But many of the city’s political leaders were outraged that the Liberal government had floated the idea in the media, calling that the equivalent of waking up in the morning and reading that the government wants to bulldoze Vancouver’s Stanley Park to make way for condos.

“It’s like a secret garden,” said Mae Reid, who has served on Coquitlam council for 15 years and fought to preserve Riverview from such development.

“It’s a place of healing. It’s just a magnificent place,” said Reid. “I’m sure developers would love to have an opportunity to have a new development site. But this is not the right place.

“Our city will not stand by and let it happen at Riverview,” she said. “To tear a heritage site apart and put up condos, I don’t think so. And I’m a realtor. … It smells.”

The controversy is likely to get more heated in the days ahead.

Wilson was scheduled to meet with Coleman on Monday and Coquitlam council has put the issue at the top of its agenda.

The New Democratic Party is criticizing the government for ignoring an earlier task force report that spelled out the community consensus that Riverview should be kept under public ownership and undergo no such commercial development.

“I’m stunned by this,” said Diane Thorne, the NDP MLA for Coquitlam.

“What’s wrong with this is the top-down way this has been thrown out there,” Thorne said.

“The sheer arrogance of it is upsetting the community.”

She suggested even public hearings might not be able to stop the plan. “If the Liberals decide this is what they want to do, they’re going to do it regardless of what the community thinks. And I already know what the community thinks. This is not what the majority want.”

The task force report, presented to the provincial government, seeks to retain Riverview as a haven for the mentally ill, preserve its unique architecture and protect one of the last major green spaces in Greater Vancouver.

To make the site economically viable, however, it also suggests museums, research and teaching facilities on mental health and even expanding the unique site’s availability for movie shoots.

Elaine Golds, past president of the Burke Mountain Naturalists, said the Riverview site should be kept under public control to preserve it as “a healthy haven for the mentally ill,” as a showcase for its century-old architecture and as one of North America‘s most magnificent collections of trees.

“The real treasure on the Riverview lands is the collection of specimen trees that are found throughout the grounds,” the naturalists said in a 2004 report. “It was the vision of [B.C.’s first provincial botanist] John Davidson over 90 years ago to have trees from all over the temperate world arrayed in one location for the education and enjoyment of the people of B.C.

“Today, the trees stand in their full glory and we see Davidson’s creation as he must have envisioned it. Gingko trees (Ginkgo Biloba) from China, a fir (Abies pinsapo) from southern Spain, maples (Acer cappadocicum) from the Himalayas, and a sweet chestnut tree (Castanea sativa) from Turkey all thrive on the sunny slopes of the Riverview lands.”

“This proposal would destroy it, it totally shocks us,” said Golds. “This is a provincial treasure. In Europe when you create something like this it tends to get preserved forever. Somehow in North America we rip them down in a few decades. It’s shortsighted.”

Coleman, who expected controversy over his plans, defended the government’s idea Friday. He has argued all B.C. communities need to embrace social housing and get away from the “NIMBYism” — the not-in-my-backyard syndrome — he says has blocked attempts to build social housing in the past.

But it will be difficult to argue that NIMBYism is what has sparked Friday’s outcry in Coquitlam, where community leaders have consistently backed Riverview’s expansion to care for more of the mentally ill.

“The community of Coquitlam has never agreed with the downsizing of Riverview,” said the NDP’s Thorne.

“This is for private developers, it will be a land grab. It’s not NIMBYism against social housing. It is NIMBYism against market housing, though, it’s NIMBYism against destroying the site, which is what will happen if this went through.”

Jean Swanson, a long-time anti-poverty activist in Vancouver‘s Downtown Eastside, also criticized the idea of putting market housing on the Riverview site.

“I think he [Coleman] is using the homeless crisis to justify massive condo development that will make profits for developers but not do much for the next five or 10 years for the homeless,” Swanson said.

“But in the meantime, the government can tell the Olympic press, ‘Look what we’re doing at Riverview.'”

Not everyone was opposed. Sullivan, who has been pushing for greater utilization of Riverview to provide housing for some of the approximately 1,500 mentally ill living on downtown Vancouver‘s streets, praised the Liberal government’s free-market approach. He said it was similar to the Liberals’ strategy to build 910 social housing units in Vancouver by integrating them into market housing.

“It sounds like very much what is planned for Riverview is very similar to what we’re going to see in the city of Vancouver,” said Sullivan.

“I can tell you that everything that minister Coleman is doing in the City of Vancouver is right on,” said Sullivan. “I believe his approach to social housing in the City of Vancouver is absolutely commendable. And both he and the premier should be supported.”

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

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Real estate broker pushes for home ‘green auditing’

Friday, July 27th, 2007

Industry group’s director calls for mandatory energy evaluation before property can be put on the market

Kathryn Young
Sun

Every Canadian home should have a mandatory energy evaluation before it can be put on the market, says a Toronto real estate broker who is setting up a national green real estate association.

“Within five years, we hope to have mandatory energy audits right across Canada on every resale home,” said Elden Freeman, executive director of the non-profit National Association of Green Agents and Brokers, which has 15,000 members.

Freeman plans to join forces this fall with James Rodgers, executive director of B.C.’s Greener Realty Association, to help teach real estate agents — about 88,000 in Canada — how to promote green homes and encourage homeowners to make energy-efficient upgrades. In Canada, 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to the construction and operation of homes.

“Realtors have a huge opportunity to be very effective communicators,” said Rodgers. “They’re the ones sitting down at kitchen tables chatting about houses.”

He and Freeman believe mandatory energy evaluations — which assess insulation, appliances, furnaces, air conditioners and exhaust fans, and measure how airtight a home is — are the way of the future. Britain plans to introduce them Aug. 1 for houses with four or more bedrooms.

Freeman has begun talks with Ontario officials in the energy and environment departments about energy evaluations as a way to reduce power consumption.

“Weak houses would be forced to improve or sell for less money,” he said.

Rodgers began his green realty company in the Kootenay region 18 months ago. He offers buyers $500 towards an energy audit or site assessment for solar, wind or micro-hydro system.

He also uses such tools as a solar pathfinder to tell clients how much sunlight they’ll have for their solar panels or gardens, a handy tool in a mountainous region.

“The response to green real estate has been incredible,” said Rodgers, who can provide potential homebuyers with references to green real estate agents in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. “There’s market demand right across the country.”

Hundreds of realtors have taken the first course Freeman set up on energy efficiency, which can earn Ontario realtors credits towards their re-licensing, which is required every two years. Participants learned what to look for while examining houses, how to help clients collect rebates for upgrading energy efficiency, find an energy auditor, and determine which changes to make.

A new course this fall will examine sustainable design. Next year, Freeman will add courses on healthy homes and green financing.

Real estate agents and brokers are good at “staging” a home to boost its curb appeal, but rarely mention energy-efficient windows, insulation, low-flow showerheads or high-efficiency furnaces, Freeman said.

Freeman, who has a master’s degree in environmental studies and has been selling homes since 1989, offers an energy audit on all the houses he lists.

“I think this is a fabulous initiative,” said Kathrin Bohr, vice-president of Canadian Business for Social Responsibility. “Small changes can have a cumulative effect. I certainly wish it had been around when I bought my home.”

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

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B.C. targets homeless with Riverview Project

Friday, July 27th, 2007

Miro Cernetig
Sun

Centre Lawn Building at Riverview, B.C.’s old psychiatric hospital that may be transformed into a massive real estate development. Photograph by : Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun, files

VICTORIA — The site of B.C.’s century-old psychiatric hospital may soon be transformed into a massive real estate development that will mix the affluent, the poor, the mentally ill and the disabled, the minister responsible for housing said Thursday.

Rich Coleman said the redevelopment of the old Riverview facility, situated on 98 hectares in Coquitlam, would include market housing, social housing and housing for the mentally ill and disabled, including beds for those who need institutional care.

While firm numbers for the size of the development have not been established, Coleman said he didn’t think early staff proposals for up to 7,000 units were nearly high enough.

Coleman said he didn’t know when the first units of the new project would be available, if it goes ahead, but said the project wouldn’t be completed until after the Olympics.

Coquitlam will have a say on what happens to the site, Coleman said, adding nothing will be shoved down the municipality’s throat. And he suggested Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan, who has suggested more immediate use should be made of Riverview, should butt out of the issue.

Once staff comes back with new plans, they will go to cabinet, which will agree on models for the proposed development by August or September.

This fall, the proposed models will go to public meetings in Coquitlam for input from residents there.

The redevelopment, which would be one of the biggest real estate deals in recent memory, is the B.C. government’s 21st-century vision for Riverview, a controversial institution that Vancouver-historian Chuck Davis describes as having “started up about a century ago as the Hospital for the Mind … operating out of a hay barn on 1,000 acres.”

Coleman, a former real estate developer who oversees the provincial social housing file, told The Vancouver Sun Thursday he sees the institutions grounds as a new community that could be built as a P-3 — the public, private partnerships model the Liberal government has embraced.

That P-3 model would attract private developers to raise capital to build and pay the government for social housing and beds, he said. In exchange, they would be given the right to sell thousands of newly built condos and homes at market rates on one of the Lower Mainlands last great swaths of undeveloped land.

Coleman says it will have to meet local zoning laws, pass public approval and preserve the bucolic green spaces that are one of Riverviews features.

But Colemans plans are big.

So far, early suggestions from government staff are that anywhere from 4,500 or 7,000 units be built at Riverviews expansive compound. Coleman would not say how many of those would be for the mentally ill or social housing, but said from the Ministry of Health, “Ive heard around 1,100 units is what they felt was the number they were thinking they needed integrated into the site.”

But Coleman thinks his staff may be thinking far, too small given the land in question.

The minister sent them back to the drawing board, asking for more housing units on the site, adding that at a similar government site being redeveloped in Vancouver Little Mountain, which sits on six hectares (15 acres), is expected to create 2,000 units, many of them social housing.

“The reality is I dont think either one of those [Riverview] proposals is actually comprehensive enough to take to the public,” said Coleman in an interview.

“Six, seven thousand units on 244 acres in an urban centre really isnt very many. So the question had to be , Are you prepared to take a look at real densities, where you protect green space and at the same time go up…?”

While Coleman stresses Coquitlam residents, and its city council, will ultimately decide what happens, hes thinking condos and towers may be the taxpayers best bet for utilization of the land.

“What wed like to do is have a comprehensive plan here where the amount of density that is on the site actually pays for the health care component so the taxpayer doesnt have to come up with additional capital.”

It is unclear how the residents and political leaders will react to the idea.

But Coleman has said he believes the community, which has long housed Riverview, is ready for the debate.

Coquitlam Mayor Maxine Wilson said shes had general discussions with the provincial government on the use of Riverview, including a discussion a month or two ago with Health Minister George Abbott, but said she was only told the province is looking at ways to better use Riverview.

“If they [patients] were getting the supports they needed, had structure and were treated in a way that allowed them to be as independent as they could cope with, we would be very pleased,” she told The Sun earlier.

“Our citizens … have always been advocates that there be services for mentally ill clients and the phasing out of Riverview was inhumane and the gaps werent filled.”

“At its peak, that site housed thousands of clients …,” she added. “Its always worked in the past.”

Coleman has also suggested that Vancouvers mayor, who has been advocating the creation of more housing at Riverview to ease the social stresses in the Downtown Eastside, butt out. He said it is up to Coquitlam residents to decide how the mental hospital can be best utilized.

“Thats why I take some exception sometimes when the mayor of Vancouver makes his comments about Riverview,” he said. “Riverview is located in the City of Coquitlam. Its not located in the City of Vancouver. The City of Coquitlam will have the public hearing process…. at the front end, in the middle and right through the rezoning process…”

“Were not going to push something down the throat of that community.”

Coleman also indirectly criticized Sullivans earlier musings that some Downtown Eastside residents could be put into Riverview quickly. He was critical of people who “simplistically say move a bunch of people into the empty buildings and let them live there from the Downtown Eastside.”

“It is a non-starter for us,” he said. “I toured the site. And there would be no discussion in regard to doing that. One of the sites … has asbestos, and would probably cost $5 million to tear down and remediate….Some of the old sanatorium buildings have, quite frankly, rats in them…”

Vancouvers dearth of social housing for the poor and shortage of institutional space for the disabled — there are about 13,800 people on the waiting list for social housing across B.C., about 9,000 of them in Greater Vancouver– has drawn international attention in recent months, as Vancouvers 2010 Olympics approach.

Downtown businessmen complained last summer that “aggressive panhandlers,” many of them homeless and suffering from mental disabilities and drug addiction, have been hurting the citys tourism image and cost the province a major convention.

The Economist, a global magazine that has often praised Vancouver as one of the best cities to live, also took politicians to task last year for the grinding poverty in the downtown core.

Not long after that, Premier Gordon Campbell made a major announcement that he was reviewing how the government was dealing with its most vulnerable citizens.

Coleman said that led to both a review of how to better utilize Riverviews land and kick-started a sudden buying spree by the province of rundown hotels in Vancouvers Downtown Eastside that are now being redeveloped by Colemans ministry to deal with the housing shortage for the poor.

But that has not satisfied anti-poverty activists in Vancouvers Downtown Eastside, a neighbourhood that is home to some of the citys poorest and have accused he government of only reacting to the social crisis because of the approaching Olympics. On Thursday, one of Vancouvers most powerful advocates for the citys poor accused the Liberal government of not doing enough.

“Can the tourism industry stand 60 more international articles exposing government treatment of the Downtown Eastside?” the organizers of the Carnegie Community Action Project asked.

“In the last month, both the Washington Post and the UN Population Agency have recently exposed Vancouvers Downtown Eastside as an area where residents endure horrible living conditions in the midst of a wealthy city and country.

“If similar coverage continues for each of the 30 months until the Olympics, that would be at least 60 more international audiences to learn about how government treats poor and homeless people in Vancouver.”

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

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Phones let you reach out and show someone

Thursday, July 26th, 2007

Edward C. Baig
USA Today

Adam and AnnLee Schwadron of Miami try out the AT&T Video Share phone while touring Times Square in New York.

Ever want a friend’s opinion before buying an outfit, but the buddy whose advice you cherish is not with you in the store? Wish you could share your kid’s Little League game as it’s happening with grandparents who live far away?

Now, you can call them on your cellphone and show them live, streaming video of what you are seeing — while continuing to carry on a conversation. These and other scenarios make up the pitch for a first-of-its-kind service launched this week by AT&T (T) called Video Share.

The service mostly worked as promised in my New York City tests with two compatible Samsung phones. But while the potential is there, the initial service is costly, the quality of the experience is far from perfect, and you and the person you are talking to must have access to AT&T’s fastest, so-called 3G, or third-generation, network. That ruled out testing in and around my New Jersey neighborhood. AT&T says 3G service is available in nearly 160 markets nationwide.

Here’s a closer look:

•What you’ll need. Video Share works with one of four handsets, including the pair I tested with a colleague, the $150 Samsung 717 and $100 Samsung 727. The other compatible phones are the Samsung Sync and the LG CU500, each $50. (All prices are with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate; further discounts are available online.) AT&T says more phones that take advantage of Video Share are coming. You and the person you are sharing video with both must be using one of these phones during a call.

•Starting the video. You make a phone call as usual. If you are in a 3G environment, a Video Share prompt will automatically appear on the phone. A tiny 3G status indicator lets you know you’re in 3G territory. If not, you’ll see an “E” representing the slower AT&T Edge data network; Video Share will not be an option. AT&T’s 3G network is based on the geeky-sounding UMTS/HSDPA standards, which permit simultaneous transmission of voice and video.

Only, sometimes the Video Share option was not offered even when I was supposedly in a 3G coverage area. Turning the device off and on again provided a quick fix, like it sometimes does when rebooting a computer. The Video Share option was presented the next time I was on a call.

While on a call, either party can initiate a video session. The person who does so will see an “Establishing a Video Connection” message while waiting for the other person to accept the “(So and so) Wants To Share Video With You” invitation. Once accepted, video from your phone’s camera will be seen on both your device and the other person’s display. Since the whole idea of this exercise is to keep your eyes glued to the screen, the speakerphone turns on by default.

But while the audio conversation is two way, the video is only one way. That means both parties see only the video captured by the person who initiated the video session. You can switch off by shutting down one video feed in favor of the stream from the other phone. AT&T isn’t tipping its hand on when two-way video will be available. For now, you can also save a recording of the video when you are done, possibly to upload to the Web (though not a seamless process).

•The experience. We’re not exactly talking high-definition video here, or even TV-quality video. It’s grainy and choppy. But you can at least make out what is happening on screen. For example, I was able to read newspaper headlines.

I experienced far bigger problems with the speakerphone; there was a lot of background noise, and my colleague and I often talked over each other.

•Pricing. AT&T is offering two expensive monthly Video Share plans. A $5 plan gives you just 25 Video Share minutes a month, with each additional minute billed at 30 cents. A $10 plan gives you 60 Video Share minutes, with each additional minute costing 25 cents. Video Share minutes are charged only to the sender. You can also pay 35 cents a minute on a per-use basis.

•Where this is headed. AT&T says the new service is just the beginning. In the company’s vision of the future, you’ll eventually be able to receive Video Share calls on your PC or TV screen. “This is a very rich area for innovation,” says David Christopher, chief marketing officer of AT&T’s wireless unit. For now, Video Share does give you the sense of “being there.” But the service could be cheaper, and the video and audio quality better.

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Restaurants – Critics Picks For July 2007

Thursday, July 26th, 2007

Sun

A list of restaurants recommended and anonymously visited by Sun restaurant critic Mia Stainsby. Prices are per couple for three courses, with a glass of wine each, before tip and taxes.

$ means $50 or less

$$ means $50 to $100

$$$ means more than $100

– – –

– WEST COAST

Aurora Bistro The first fine dining room on Main St. Inventive food, hip spot. 2420 Main St., 604-873-9944. $$

Bishop’s Consistently one of the city’s best. Almost 100 per cent organic foods. 2183 West Fourth Ave., 604-738-2025. $$$

Bin 941 Tapas bar in tiny eclectic space. 941 Davie St., 604-683-1246. $$/$$$

Bin 942 Creative, delectable tapas dishes. 1521 West Broadway, 604-734-9421. $$/$$$

Bridges For fine dining, head upstairs, and for casual, try the downstairs bistro. 1696 Duranleau, 604-687-4400. $$/$$$

Brix Large tapas selection, 60 wines by the glass. 1138 Homer St., 604-915-9463. $$/$$$

Chow. Delicate textures marries bold flavours. A successful union. 3121 Granville St., 604-608-2469. $$$

Crave Divine comfort food with elegant touches. 3941 Main St., 604-872-3663. $$

Cru Blurs the lines of fine dining, lounge and bistro. Lovely “small plates” or a four-course prix fixe. 1459 West Broadway, 604-677-4111. $$

Diva at the Met High-end food, gorgeously presented. Metropolitan Hotel, 645 Howe St., 604-602-7788. $$$

Feenie’s Comfort food with a modern tweak and quality ingredients. 2563 West Broadway, 604-739-7115. $/$$

Fiction Young crowd, great tapas dishes. 3162 West Broadway, 604-736-7576. $$

Fuel The food sings. A joy! 1944 West Fourth Ave., 604-288-7905. $$$

Gastropod Beautifully controlled flavours, great value for fine food. 1938 West Fourth Ave., 604-730-5579. $$

Glowbal Grill and Satay Bar Hip, happening destination. Creative chef. 1079 Mainland St., 604-602-0835. $$

Lift Bar and Grill Gorgeously perched over Coal Harbour. Sibling to Monk McQueen’s. 333 Menchions Mews, 604-689-5438. $$$

Lucy Mae Brown Intimate space, assertive dishes. 862 Richards St., 604-899-9199. $$

Lumiere Tasting Bar The casual sidekick to famous sibling, Lumiere, next door. 2551 West Broadway, 604-739-8185. $$/$$$

Nu A sophisticated version of casual dining. Beautiful flavours, great atmosphere. 1661 Granville St., 604-646-4668. $$

Ocean 6 Seventeen Regional bistro food at its finest, in a cozy neighbourhood spot in the crook of False Creek. 617 Stamp’s Landing. 604-879-6178. $$

Parkside Handsome room in residential West End, richly flavoured food. Great spot. 1906 Haro, 604-683-6912. $$/$$$

Raincity Grill A Vancouver moment by English Bay. Regional food. 1193 Denman St., 604-685-7337. $$$

Rare An impressive, unique menu. There’s passion here. 1355 Hornby St., 604-669-1256. $$$

Salt Tasting Room Inspired charcuterie style food with wine pairings. Edgey surrounding. 45 Blood Alley, 604-633-1912. $$

So.cial at Le Magasin Supple, flavourful food by Sean Cousins, a food pro. 332 Water St., 604-669-4488. $$$

Show Case West Coast menu that doesn’t shy from adventure. Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Hotel, 1128 West Hastings St., 604-639-4040. $$$

Watermark Stunning Kits Beach view, sexy architecture, casual food. 1305 Arbutus St., 604-738-5487. $$

West Vies for best restaurant in the city. 2881 Granville St., 604-738-8938. $$$

– ITALIAN

Amarcord Food from the Bologna and Emilia Romagna area of Italy, elegantly presented. Clear, natural flavours. 1168 Hamilton St., 604-681-6500. $$

CinCin Restaurant and Bar Seasonal menu with wood-fired dishes. Notable desserts. 1154 Robson St., 604-688-7338. $$/$$$

Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill Fine Italian cuisine with a light touch. 1133 Hamilton St., 604-688-7466. $$$

Don Francesco Ristorante Romantic, classic Italian restaurant with heart. 860 Burrard St., 604-685-7770. $$$

Il Giardino “New Italian” food, light with exotic elements. Big on game. 1382 Hornby St., 604-669-2422. $$$.

Incendio Great wood-oven pizzas, robust lineup of pastas. 103 Columbia St., 604-688-8694. $/$$

Incendio West Same as above, but in modern digs. 2118 Burrard St., 604-736-2220. $/$$

La Buca A neighbourhood restaurant serving quality food, back up by great service. 4025 McDonald St., 604-730-6988. $$

La Terrazza Knock-out looks, intelligent and friendly staff, traditional Italian food. 1088 Cambie St., 604-899-4449. $$$

Quattro on Fourth An Italian restaurant with flair. 2611 West Fourth Ave., 604-734-4444. $$/$$$

– CHINESE

Hon’s Wun-Tun House Slurp noodles and chomp on delicious potstickers. Huge menu. 1339 Robson St., 604-685-0871. $

Imperial Seafood Fine Cantonese food, (expensive) in the lovely Marine Building. 355 Burrard St., 604-688-8191. $$$

Kirin Seafood Exquisite Cantonese food. City Square, 555 West 12th Ave., 604-879-8038. $$$

Legendary Noodle. Handmade noodles, made to order. Funky spot. 1074 Denman St., 604-669-8551. $

Pink Pearl It’s been around forever and is still a going concern. 1132 East Hastings St., 604-253-4316. $

Sun Sui Wah Cantonese cuisine with light, finely tuned flavours. 3888 Main St., 604-872-8822. $$

Szechuan Chongqing An institution for those who love the incendiary fare. 2808 Commercial Dr., 604-254-7434. $$

Wild Rice Modern Chinese food in a sophisticated, hip setting. 117 West Pender St., 604-642-2882. $$

– JAPANESE

Ajisai Sushi Bar Small neighbourhood spot with sushi that sings. 2081West 42nd Ave., 604-266-1428. $

Black Tuna Tapas style Japanese dishes, sushi, lovingly cooked. 202 — 1184 Denman St., 604-408-7557. $$

Bliss Asian Bistro Almost totally organic or wild ingredients. Mostly Japanese tapas, some Korean dishes. 550 Denman St. 604-662-3044. $$

Chopstick Cafe/Shiru-Bay Great atmosphere, intriguing izakaya food, budget prices. 1193 Hamilton St., 604-408-9315. $$

Gyoza King Gyozas reign supreme. Open late. 1508 Robson St., 604-669-8278. $

Hapa Izakaya Young and stylish; great izakaya-style Japanese food. 1479 Robson St., 604-689-4272; 1516 Yew St., 604-738-4272. $/$$

Japone Wonderfully inventive dishes on the ‘chef’s specials’ menu. 8269 Oak St., 604-263-6708. $$

Kingyo Wonderfully crafted interior, interesting izakaya dishes. A slice of Tokyo. 871 Denman St., 604-608-1677. $$

Tojo’s Restaurant The topper in this category. Japanese food at its best. 1133 West Broadway, 604-872-8050. $$$

Toshi Sushi Tiny place always packed for the fresh, tasty sushi. 181 East 16th Ave., 604-847-5173. $/$$

Yuji’s Expect the unexpected. Food takes some creative turns. 2059 West Fourth Ave., 604-734-4990. $$

Zest Japanese Cuisine Grazing style modern Japanese menu in cool modern room. 2775 West 16th Ave., 604-731-9378. $$

– FRENCH/BELGIAN

Bacchus Restaurant Some classics, some nouveau. Expect the best. Wedgewood Hotel, 845 Hornby St., 604-689-7777. $$$

Cafe de Paris Traditional French bistro. Lots of character. 751 Denman St., 604-687-1418. $$

Cassis Bistro Low budget but mod interior. Delicious traditional French bistro fare. Good value. 420 West Pender St., 604-605-0420. $$

Chambar Modern Belgian food. Hot hipster scene. Chef has cooked in a three-star Michelin restaurant. 562 Beatty St., 604-879-7119. $$

Elixir French brasserie in Yaletown; bistro food, haute quality. 322 Davie St., 604-642-0557. $$/$$$

Jules Paris, anyone? Authentic food, authentic feel. Charming! 216 Abbott St., 604-669-0033. $$

Le Crocodile Refined French with incredible wines to boot. 909 Burrard St., 604-669-4298. $$$

Le Gavroche French food in a charming old house. 1616 Alberni St., 604-685-3924. $$$

The Hermitage Beautifully controlled classic French cooking. Quiet atmosphere. 1025 Robson St., 604-689-3237. $$$

Lumiere Chef Rob Feenie redefines restaurants in Vancouver. Tasting menus. 2551 West Broadway, 604-739-8185. $$$

Mistral Authentic Provencal food cooked by former Michelin chef. 2585 West Broadway, 604-733-0046. $$

Pastis French bistro with a lightness of being. 2153 West Fourth Ave., 604-731-5020. $$/$$$

Salade de Fruits Very good value French country bistro. 1551 West Seventh, 604-714-5987. $$

The William Tell A Swiss-French restaurant. Service excels. Georgian Court Hotel, 773 Beatty St., 604-688-3504. $$$

– GREEK

Apollonia Well-prepared Greek food and very good pizzas. 1830 Fir St., 604-736-9559. $/$$

Bouzyos Greek Taverna Lively atmosphere, better than average Greek food. 1815 Commercial Dr., 604-254-2533. $$

Kalamata Greek Taverna A popular souvlaki stop dressed in the familiar white and blue. 388 West Broadway, 604-872-7050. $$

The Main Friendly, funky spot. Wonderful roast lamb. 4210 Main St., 604-709-8555. $$

Maria’s Taverna Friendly service. 2324 West Fourth Ave., 604-731-4722. $$

Simpatico Thirty-plus years old; traditional Greek restaurant with the addition of good pizzas. 2222 West Fourth Ave., 604733-6824. $/$$

Stepho’s Nightly lineups because of low prices. 1124 Davie St., 604-683-2555. $

– INDIAN

Akbar’s Own Mogul-style Indian cuisine. 1905 West Broadway, 604-736-8180. $$

Chutney Villa South Indian cuisine, with dosas, idli and vadas. 147 East Broadway, 604-872-2228. $/$$

Clove An alternative Indian restaurant, funky, cheap beyond belief. 2054 Commercial Dr., 604-255-5550. $

Indica Indian dishes with western tweaks. Charming. 1795 Pendrell St., 604-609-3530. $

Maurya Fine Indian food in glam surroundings. 1643 West Broadway, 604-742-0622. $$$

Rangoli Vij’s casual and take-out next-door sidekick. Impressive. 1488 West 11th Ave., 604-736-5711. $

Samosa Garden Smooth sauces, lovely food, good service. 3502 Kingsway, 604-437-3502. $$

Vij’s Dishes are a symphony of wondrous flavours. 1480 West 11th Ave., 604-736-6664. $$

Yogi’s Hip, contemporary Indian food, perfect for The Drive. 1408 Commercial Dr., 604-251-9644. $

– SOUTHEAST ASIAN

Azia Designy interior; deftly handled pan-Asian food. 990 Smithe St., 604-682-8622. $$

Banana Leaf Homestyle Malaysian food. 820 West Broadway, 604-731-6333 and 1096 Denman St., 604-683-3333. $$

Flying Tiger A menu reminiscent of Asian street food, only stylishly presented. 2958 West Fourth, 604-737-7529. $$

Kedah House Halal Restaurant Malaysian food with a light, nimble touch. 1654 S.E. Marine Dr., 604-325-9771. $

Montri Thai Restaurant Some of the best Thai food in the city. 3629 West Broadway, 604-738-9888. $$

Noodle Box Pan-Asian noodle and rice dishes, in modern get-up. 1867 West Fourth Ave., 604-734-1310. $

Phnom Penh Largely Cambodian but includes Chinese and Vietnamese flavours. 244 East Georgia St., 682-5777. $

Pondok Authentic Indonesian dishes, freshly cooked. 2781 Commercial Dr., 604-872-8718. $$

Rekados Filipino Cuisine Finely cooked and presented Filipino food. Gracious service. 604-873-3133. $/$$

Salathai Thai Dishes are freshly prepared and consistent. 3364 Cambie St., 604-875-6999. $$

Sanafir Pan-Asian and Mediterranean flavours in a trio of dishes. Innovative. 1026 Granville St., 604-678-1049. $$/$$$

Sawasdee Thai Gracious service keeps the regulars hooked. 4250 Main St., 604-876-4030. $$

Simply Thai On the A-list for Thai food. 1211 Hamilton St., 604-642-0123. $$

– SEAFOOD

Bluewater Cafe and Raw Bar Handsome spot. Impressive seafood, impressive wine list. 1095 Hamilton St., 604-688-8078. $$$

C Chef Robert Clark takes seafood to a new level. 1600 Howe St., 604-681-1164. $$$

Cannery Seafood Fine dining in rustic nautical decor on working waterfront. 2205 Commissioner St., 604-254-9606 $$$

Coast Restaurant Yaletown chic, shares kinship with Glowbal Grill and Satay. Seafood emphasis. 1157 Hamilton St., 604-685-5010. $$$

Finest At Sea A fish shop on one side, a fish cafe on the other, serving the ‘finest at sea’. 4675 Arbutus St., 604-266-1904. $

Fish Cafe Unpretentious, straight-ahead seafood at bargain prices. 2053 West 41st Ave., 604-267-3474. $

Fish House in Stanley Park Bold and imaginative seafood dishes by the creative Karen Barnaby. 8901 Stanley Park Dr., 604-681-7275. $$$

Go Fish Fab outdoor fish shack, made with fish from the adjacent Fisherman’s Wharf. 1505 West First Ave., 604-730-5040. $

Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House Fresh shucked oysters, cedar plank salmon, grilled chops. High energy. 777 Thurlow St., 604-669-1940. $$$

Rodney’s Oyster House Specializes in very fresh shellfish and oysters. 1228 Hamilton St., 604-609-0080. $$

– AMERICAN

Memphis Blues Barbecue House Slow-cooked, southern style BBQ. Delish. 1465 West Broadway, 604-738-6806; 1342 Commercial Dr., 604-215-2599. $

– VEGETARIAN

Bo Kong Buddhist-based menu using very fresh ingredients. Mild flavours. 3068 Main St., 604-876-3088. $

The Naam Wide variety of vegetarian fare. Quiet patio in summer. 2724 West Fourth Ave., 604-738-7151. $

– LATIN AMERICA

Banano’s No-frills Venezuelan/Colombian cafe. Delicious arepas. 1223 Pacific Boulevard, 604-408-4228. $

Baru Casually chic South American food for discerning diners. 2535 Alma St., 604-222-9171. $$

El Taco Hole in the wall offering fresh and tasty Mexican fare. 788 Davie St., 604-806-0330. $

Havana Cuban food, tweaked for Commercial Drive. 1212 Commercial Dr., 604-253-9119. $

Latin Quarter Mexican and Mediterranean tapas dishes as well as music in the evenings. 1305 Commercial Dr., 604-251-1144. $$

Lolita’s South of the Border Cantina Casual Mexican food with sparkle. Lots of buzz in the room. 1326 Davie St., 604-696-9996. $$

Mexico Rico A slice of Mexico. Very inexpensive, authentic Mexican cafe. 309 West Pender St., 604-688-7426. $

Rinconcito Salvadorean Restaurant Fresh Salvadorean cuisine. Lovely pupusas. 2062 Commercial Dr., 604-879-2600. $

Tio Pepe’s Yucatan food, nicely prepared. 1134 Commercial Dr., 604-254-8999. $

– MEDITERRANEAN

Provence Mediterranean Grill The menu is a marriage of French and Italian. Lovely flavours. 4473 West 10th Ave., 604-222-1980 and 1177 Marinaside Cres., 604-681-4144. $$

– EASTERN EUROPEAN, CENTRAL ASIAN

Accent Eastern European, French, Russian accents on a continental theme. 1967 West Broadway, 604-734-6660. $$

The Budapest Big doses of Hungarian comfort. Smouldering goulash soup. 3250 Main St. 604-877-1949. $

Rasputin Large selection of vodkas, wonderful live music and dishes such as grilled Georgian cornish game hen. 457 West Broadway, 604-879-6675.$$

– NORTH SHORE

Beach House at Dundarave Pier Spectacular setting for brunch by Dundarave Beach. West Coast cuisine. 150 25th St., West Van, 604-922-1414. $$$

Bistro 1734 Traditional French bistro food in warm, friendly setting. 1734 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-922-8198. $$

Bravo Cucina Traditional Italian, cooked with care. 1209 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-985-3006. $$

Brown’s Restaurant and Bar Casually chic and bustling bistro with burgers, rice bowls, entrees. 1764 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-929-5401. $/$$

Dundarave Fish Market Charming spot; fabulous seafood from the adjoining fish market. 2419 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-922-1155. $

Casual Gourmet A mall restaurant offering gourmet bistro food in a homey atmosphere. Park and Tilford Mall, 333 Brooksbank, North Van., 604-987-4300. $$

Gusto Di Quattro Cosy, warm. Italian food. 1 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-924-4444 . $$/$$$

Higashi West Japanese tapas. Views of Burrard Inlet. 143 Chadwick Court, Lonsdale Quay, North Van, 604-904-3755. $$

La Regalade A truly, deeply French bistro. Wonderful atmosphere. 2232 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-921-2228. $$/$$$

La Regalade Cote Mer Shares the same genes at La Regalade in Ambleside but with emphasis on seafood. 5775 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 604-921-9701. $$$

Mythos Whitewashed walls, azure blue trim say “sun-drenched Greece.” 1811 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-984-7411. $$

Nobu Tiny, with just enough room to make the lovely sushi. 3197 Edgemont Blvd.,North Van., 604-988-4553. $

Ocean Club Chic Yaletown-style lounge and restaurant. Food is imaginative and yummy. 100 Park Royal South, West Van, 604-926-2326. $$

Palki An Indian restaurant with a good grip on the spices. Fresh ingredients. 116 East 15th St., North Van, 604-986-7555. $$

Saltaire Gorgeous roof patio. Good value West Coast food. 2nd floor – 235 15th St., West Van, 604-913-8439. $$

Zen Japanese Restaurant Creative kitchen, quality ingredients. Good sake list. 2232 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-925-0667. $$/$$$

– BURNABY/NEW WEST

Anton’s Gargantuan portions of pasta. No reservations. 4260 Hastings St., Burnaby, 604-299-6636. $$

Boat House Conservative seafood menu. Restaurant overlooks Fraser River. 900 Quayside, New Westminster, 604-525-3474. $$

Bombay Bhel Lovely Indian food. Menu features Mumbai-style snacks. 4266 Hastings St., 604-299-2500. $/$$

The Hart House In Tudor mansion. Exacting West Coast fare. 6664 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby, 604-298-4278. $$$

Orange Room Casual tapas. International flavours. 620 Sixth Ave., New Westminster, 604-520-6464. $$

Pear Tree Small menu, sublime continental food. 4120 Hastings St., Burnaby, 604-299-2772. $$$

Tamarind Hill. Malaysian cuisine, redolent with well-balanced spices. 628 Sixth Ave., New Westminster. 604-526-3000. $$

Taverna Greka Greek cuisine. View of Fraser River. 326 Columbia, New Westminster, 604-526-6651. $$

– COQUITLAM, POCO, PORT MOODY

Joey Tomato’s Mediterranean Grill Casual family retaurant. 550 Lougheed Hwy., Coquitlam, 604-939-3077

John B Pub Above-average pub food. 1000 Austin Ave., Coquitlam, 604-931-5115. $$

Kirin Seafood Restaurant Chinese food for the discriminating palate. 2nd floor, Henderson Place, 1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, 604-944-8833. $$/$$$

Pasta Polo Organic wheat pastas, pizzas. Family restaurant. 2754 Barnet Highway, Coquitlam, 604-464-7656. $/$$

– RICHMOND

Also Lounge and Restaurant A blend of Italian/French with Asian accents and high-end presentation. 4200 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-303-9906. $$

Big River Brewing Co. Pub, serving casual food. 14200 Entertainment Blvd., Richmond, 604-271-2739. $/$$

Bo Kong Restaurant Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. No alcohol. 8100 Ackroyd Rd., Richmond, 604-278-1992. $

The Flying Beaver Bar Funky bar overlooking the Fraser River. 4760 Inglis Dr., Richmond, 604-273-0278. $/$$

Globe at YVR Impressive food, sleek contemporary decor with view of U.S. arrivals terminal. Fairmont Hotel, Vancouver Airport, Richmond, 604-248-3281. $$$

Hon’s Wun-Tun House Noodles and delicious pot stickers, panfried or steamed. 4600 No. 3 Road, Richmond, 604-273-0871. $

Quilon Restaurant Southern Indian cuisine with notably delicious dosas. 6030 No. 3 Road, Richmond, 604-303-0011. $$

The Rainbow Vegetarian Restaurant Deliciously prepared vegan and vegetarian Buddhist Chinese food. 8095 Park Road, Richmond, 604-273-7311. $

Shanghai River Shanghai style cuisine. Dumplings and noodles made in open kitchen. 7831 Westminster Highway, 604-233-8885. $$

Shiang Garden Part of a successful Taiwanese restaurant chain. Impressive seafood. 2200 — 4540 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-273-8858. $$

Sun Sui Wah Impressive way with seafood. 4940 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-273-8208. $$

Zen Fine Chinese Cuisine Multi-coursed tasting menus and personalized dinners. Excellent. 2015 — 8580 Alexandra Rd., Richmond, 604-233-0077. $$$

– SURREY, WHITE ROCK, DELTA, TSAWWASSEN

Big Ridge Brewing Co. A Mark James restaurant and brew-pub. Families welcome. 15133 Hwy. 10, Surrey, 604-574-2739. $$

Crescent Beach Bistro Rustic country spot. Straight ahead food. 12251 Beecher St., 604-531-1882. $$

Giraffe Charming place, eclectic West Coast menu. 15053 Marine Dr., White Rock, 604-538-6878. $$/$$$

Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club West Coast cuisine. Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club, 18150 — Eighth Ave., Surrey, 604-538-1212 $$/$$

La Belle Auberge In a heritage house in Ladner. Sublime French food. 4856 48th Ave., Ladner, 604-946-7717. $$$

Northview Golf and Country Club High-end dining, nestled amid acres of golf fairways. 6857 168th St., Surrey, 604-574-0324. $$$

Pearl on the Rock Modern Pacific Northwest cuisine with emphasis on seafood. Delicious fare. 14955 Marine Dr., White rock. 604-542-1064. $$$

– FRASER VALLEY

Bacchus Bistro At Domain de Chaberton Estate Winery. Limited hours. Mediterranean food. 1064 — 216th St., Langley. 604-530-9694. $$

Bravo Bistro Swish little bistro, run by former Delilah’s restaurant veterans. 46224 Yale Rd., Chilliwack. 1-604-792-7721. $$

The Seasonal Experience Adrian Beaty runs an ambitious kitchen with a Throw Away the menu option. 20226 Fraser Highway, Langley, 604-514-1311. $$

– SQUAMISH AND WHISTLER

Apres Quiet and intimate. Refined regional cuisine. 4338 Main St., Whistler, 604-935-0220. $$$

Araxi Restaurant & Bar Handsome Tuscan looks, regional cuisine. Outstanding wine list. 4222 Village Square, Whistler, 604-932-4540. $$/$$$

Brew House Rustic with cedar and timbers. Casual food for the family and house brews. 4355 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, 604-905-2739. $$

Ciao Thyme Small and crowded but a budget-minded jewel. Great breakfasts. 4573 Chateau Boulevard, Whistler, 604-932-7051. $

Caramba! Mostly Italian but Spanish, Asian and regional flavours sneak in. 4314 Main St., Whistler, 604-938-1879. $/$$

Fifty Two 80 Bistro Every dish a ‘wow’. Gorgeous room. Four Seasons Hotel, 4591 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, 604-935-3400. $$$

Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Co. The brew pub serves casual fare. The Red Heather dining room offers a finer menu. 37801 Cleveland Ave., Squamish, 604-892-2603. $/$$$

Il Caminetto di Umberto Umberto Menghi’s high-end Whistler restaurant. Features include game. 4242 Village Stroll, Whistler, 604-932-4442. $$/$$$

The Roadhouse Diner at Klahanie Pasta, light meals, entrees with West Coast flavours. Shannon Falls, Highway 99, 604-892-5312. $$

La Rua Refined tastes of the Mediterranean with B.C. backups. Romantic. Le Chamois Hotel, 4557 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, 604-932-5011. $$/$$$

Quattro at Whistler Contemporary Italian cuisine. 4319 Main St., Whistler, 604-905-4844. $$/$$$

Rim Rock Cafe Chalet style restaurant consistently offers exquisite food. 2117 Whistler Rd., Whistler, 604-932-5565. $$$

Trattoria di Umberto Tucked away from the throngs but always packed.Lovely affordable Italian food. 4417 Sundial Place, 604-932-5858. $$/$$$

Val d’Isere Fine French, but casual atmosphere. Bear Lodge, 4314 Main St., Town Plaza, 604-932-4666. $$$

Posted in Restaurants | Comments Off on Restaurants – Critics Picks For July 2007

Tot heaven, adult haven on the Drive

Thursday, July 26th, 2007

Mother of two opens doors to kids in strollers with menu of ‘alphabetty’ soup and fruit fries

Mia Stainsby
Sun

Little Nest owner Mary Macintyre with baby Tai

LITTLE NEST

1716 Charles St., 604-251-9994, www.littlenest.ca. Open every day except Monday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

– – –

Once they discover Little Nest, parents of young children will be saying their Hail Marys.

Little Nest was opened by Mary Macintyre for parents like herself, a child-friendly cafe where runny little noses, full diapers, messy eating and even the occasional tantrum are quite all right.

“Parents were feeling quite alienated around Commercial Drive,” says Macintyre, mother of a two- and three-year-old. “They feel hostility and don’t feel welcome in most places.”

When I was there, the tots broke free of their parental chains and sped to the play kitchen area to make their own make-believe meals. There’s a lot of room around the tables to park strollers and for kids to lurch about without bumping into tables. For parents, it’s like a home away from home.

Macintyre is also a good cook. She’s worked as a cook at Lumiere restaurant, helping the pastry chef, and she’s got some delicious food on offer.

For kids, there’s pizza, toasted sandwiches, vegetable and “alphabetty” soup, fruit fries (melon strips with a blueberry ketchup dip), chicken and lettuce roll-ups, cheese plates and silver dollar pancakes on weekends.

For grown-ups, there’s a roster of sandwiches on yummy Georgian baguettes, pastas (which change), soup, salads and all-day breakfasts.

The melon, feta, basil and black pepper salad was delicious, as was a fennel soup with pancetta. Cambozola, prosciutto and fig jam baguette would have been lovely except the fig jam introduced too much sweetness. A savoury rice pudding with apricot compote was addictive.

The coffee’s delish and the desserts have tell-tale signs that Macintyre picked up a few tricks from Lumiere’s pastry chef. We ordered an almond torte but we got a chocolate brownie which was too good (there was no stopping me). A plum cake was nice and rustic and loudly plummy.

Posted in Restaurants | Comments Off on Tot heaven, adult haven on the Drive

Ding Hao presents high quality, authentic cuisine

Thursday, July 26th, 2007

Taiwanese restaurant is pleasing to both the eye and the palate

Stephanie Yuen
Sun

Chef Alan Chen offers Tomato Beef Noodle and Taiwanese Crispy Chicken at Ding Hao Noodle House in Coquitlam. The new restaurant is a welcome addition to noodle lovers living in the Tri-Cities. Photograph by : Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun

DING HAO NOODLE HOUSE

#4 — 2773 Barnet Highway, Coquitlam, 604-552-5777

Cash Only

Open Sunday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday to Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

– – –

In Taiwan, a typical beef noodle soup made with premium beef stock and handmade noodles is as popular as won ton noodle soup in Hong Kong or Pho‘ in Vietnam.

With the increase of Taiwanese visiting or residing here, I am surprised there are only a handful of Taiwanese restaurants in the Lower Mainland.

Needless to say, when Ding Hao Noodle House opened in the Tri-Cities three months ago, it was great news to local noodle lovers.

Neighbourhood Asian restaurants are not usually known for their sleek design and groomed servers. However, Ding Hao has a contemporary decor with a zen-style panel painting of lotus flowers along with tentative and pleasant floor service.

Owner/chef Alan Chen had a desire to open a high-quality restaurant with a professionally designed dining room, comfy and stylish tables and chairs, clean washrooms, organized stations and well-trained staff. Most of all, the menu contains authentic and appealing Taiwanese cuisine.

Cindy Wang, the restaurant manager, stated: “Ding Hao means awesome! Here we serve supreme Taiwanese food using natural ingredients and we do not use any MSG.”

We started with a cold dish of marinated beef shank and bone-side tendon ($3.95), two hot dishes including a very tasty Taiwanese crispy chicken nugget ($4.95) and deep fried tofu.

The shank and tendon were a bit on the dry side. The nuggets, seasoned with pepper, garlic and five spices, lightly breaded and fried, were sublime. The crispy outside, soft inside tofu cubes came with two sauces for dipping.

Ding Hao offers noodles in soup and also dry noodles with choices of toppings. The popular half & half (beef and tendon) hot noodle soup we shared was, indeed, authentic ($7.50/$8.50).

The soup stock, being the essence of taste in any Taiwanese beef noodle house, must be done right in order to bring out the flavours of all the other noodles. This soup broth was delicious — a sign it was made with lots of beef bones, meat, herbs and then braised for 48 hours.

From the dry noodle category, we chose the noodle topped with sesame sauce ($5.95/$6.95).

This is a must-have for Tan Tan noodle fans. Enjoy it while it’s hot or the sauce will thicken up, and add in garlic chili sauce for that extra kick.

Rice topped with signature meat sauce ($3.95) is now my favourite Taiwanese rice plate. Ground pork marinated in Taiwanese sauce of wine, soybean, sugar, ginger, garlic, salt and spices is pan-fried and poured on top of a mount of steamed rice. Other Taiwanese restaurant serve this in bowls, but Ding Hao offers a westernized version by garnishing it with chopped pickled mustard green and serving it on a plate, thus turning this signature rice dish into a temptation.

Handmade beef or pork dumplings are one of the main attractions here. At $4.95 for 10 pieces and $6.95 for 15 pieces, these poached dumplings are non-greasy, delicious and great for sharing.

Like many Taiwanese restaurants, Ding Hao has an extensive beverage menu. Besides flavoured green and black tea ($3.50), there are fruit teas, slush and milk teas.

For 50 cents, they will add pearls, coconut jelly or pudding into the drink. I quite enjoyed my refreshing and aromatic Japanese green tea & red bean slush in a tall cocktail glass.

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Home sales at slowest pace since 2002; prices inch up

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

USA Today

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sales of existing homes fell for a fourth straight month in June and even a small increase in home prices was not enough to lift the gloom surrounding the housing industry.

The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes dropped by 3.8% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.75 million units, the slowest sales pace in 4½ years.

The median home price — half sold for more, half for less — edged up slightly to $230,300 in June, a 0.1% increase from the sales price a year ago. That was the first year-over-year price increase in 11 months, but analysts cautioned that it would take more months to determine whether the downward trend in prices has finally stabilized.

The decline in home sales was larger than had been expected and served to underscore the problems in housing, which is currently in the worst slump in 16 years.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress last week that he expected housing demand to stabilize and housing to be a less severe drag on growth in the coming months.

However, private economists said the existing home sales report raised serious questions about that assessment.

“Housing is contracting at an accelerating pace, taking out with a vengeance the brief stabilization at the turn of the year,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, a private forecasting firm.

The housing downturn is occurring after five boom years in which sales of both new and existing homes set records with home prices soaring by double-digit rates. However, starting in 2006, sales have slumped as mortgage rates rose and prospective buyers balked at the price levels they were seeing in many parts of the country.

Those problems have been exacerbated in recent months by spreading problems in the subprime mortgage market, which offered loans to buyers with spotty credit histories. Rising defaults in those areas are dumping more homes onto an already glutted market.

The sales declines covered all parts of the country. Sales were down 7.3% in the Northeast and 6.8% in the West. Sales fell 2.8% in the Midwest and 1.7% in the South.

The supply of unsold homes did drop 4.2% in June to 4.2 million, which analysts said was a hopeful sign that the price declines may soon come to an end.

Lawrence Yun, senior economist for the Realtors, said that potential buyers have been getting mixed signals about whether now is a good time to buy a home with mortgage rates rising and banks and other lenders tightening their standards, making it harder to qualify for a loan.

“It appears that some buyers are looking for more signs of stability before they have enough confidence to make an offer,” Yun said.

The Realtors are forecasting that sales of existing homes will fall 5.6% this year with prices dropping 1.4%. That would mark the first annual price decline on record.

Yun said that if the price decline turns out to be greater than he is forecasting that would raise concerns that consumers could cut back on their spending by enough to raise worries about a possible recession for the overall economy.

Posted in Real Estate Related | Comments Off on Home sales at slowest pace since 2002; prices inch up

Scottsdale, Ariz.: High-end homes help market, prices

Tuesday, July 24th, 2007

Noelle Knox
USA Today

The most expensive Tom Redmond, owner of Wolf Springs Ranch, a horse-training, boarding and auction company, is selling his 11.25-acre ranch, which he bought in 1999 for $3.2 million, according to property records. Price: $12 million Bedrooms: 7 Bathrooms: 8½ Size: 7,000 square feet (main house) Features: Pool, cabana, tennis court, covered arena, 60 horse stalls in two breezeway barns with ranch office, lounge, breeding lab and stallion stalls. Property also includes a ranch manager’s house with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and 1,764 square feet of space, as well as a trainer’s house with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and 2,371 square feet of space.

Median-price home This home on a cul-de-sac, built in 2005, is on the market. Price: $630,000 Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 3 Size: 3,339 square feet Features: Two lofts, one with built-in cherry wood cabinets; kitchen has granite countertops, cherry wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances; three-car garage; swimming pool.

In Scottsdale, one of the most affluent cities in Arizona, the upper end of the housing market is holding steady and propping up overall home prices, which are effectively flat, says Matt Deuitch, president of the Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors.

“The luxury-home market has fared a little better than the rest of the market over the last year or so,” adds Mike Glover of Prudential Arizona Properties.

Some sellers on Scottsdale’s tony north side who have homes priced over $1 million are having to shave several hundred thousand dollars off their asking prices, but most are still selling in less than 40 days, says Karina Magana, an agent at Help-U-Sell Desert Vista Properties.

That’s impressive, considering there’s a record 45,175 single-family homes for sale in this bedroom community of Phoenix. When sales peaked in Scottsdale in March 2005, there were only about 2,900 homes on the market. “We’ve gone from an all-time low to an all-time high in supply,” Deuitch says.

Still, the sales volume at the top end of the market isn’t enough to make up for the skidding sales for homes priced below $700,000. Compared with May of last year, single-family-home sales in Scottsdale overall are down nearly 23%.

Posted in Real Estate Related | Comments Off on Scottsdale, Ariz.: High-end homes help market, prices

Archive for July, 2007

Restaurants – Critics Picks For July 2007

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

Tot heaven, adult haven on the Drive

Mother of two opens doors to kids in strollers with menu of ‘alphabetty’ soup and fruit fries

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

Ding Hao presents high quality, authentic cuisine

Taiwanese restaurant is pleasing to both the eye and the palate

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

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