Rain City Grill - Vancouver

...is located in Vancouver's English Bay section.

They have a 2 course prix-fixe lunch for CA$22. I had a raspberry iced tea (CA$2.95) and the grilled caeser salad (asiago, caesar dressing, croutons) and mussels. Both were very good.

Then I topped it off with a berry tart with lavender ice cream (CA$8.50) - yum.

Grub Street Food Festival - Part 4

And now for the desserts!

I had to try a fried pie from Melt Bakery. I was torn between the apple and pumpkin, but since it was a blustery Fall day and I've had fried apple pies before I chose the pumpkin ($5). It was fried on the spot and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Yummy!

Then I couldn't resist trying a coconut lemon tartlet from Grandaisy ($4). It was a substantial tartlet - very moist and more coconut than lemon.

Del Posto

Is the NYC Meat Packing District restaurant co-owned by Mario Batalit and Lidia Bistianich located at 85 Tenth Avenue.

I was fortunate to dine here with clients so everything was expensed. I liked the nibblies served at the bar - mixed nuts, home made potato chips and dried pasta coated with parmigiano reggiano (upscale cheetohs!).

I started with a Bellini cocktail ($12). At 7:30 the restuarant dimmed the lights so there are no food photos....sorry!

Our table was given a large basket filled with warm bread - foccaccia, olive rolls and long baguettes. We were also given creamy butter and house made lardo.

"M" and I both ordered Lidia’s Lobster Salad alla Catalana with Tomato and Celery for an appetizer ($22) - this had nice, big generous chunks of lobster.

"S" had the Insalata Primavera della Terra with Citron Vinaigrette ($16) and "J" had the Prosciutto (several slices).

"S" and "J" both ordered the Wood-Grilled Lobster with Malloreddus & Salicornia for their entrees ($39) - whole lobster poached, split and grilled.

"M" and I both ordered the Hand Made Orechchiette with Lamb Shoulder Sausage, Crispy Morels & Minted Soybeans ($24) - tender little ears of pasta with flavorful sausage and minty beans.

"J" had the Chocolate Ricotta Tortino, Toasted Sicilian Pistachios & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Gelato for dessert ($15) and "S" had a single scoop of strawberry gelato and decaf coffee.

"M" had a cup of black tea.

I finished up with the Pineapple Crostata, Champagne Vinegar Caramel & Vanilla Gelato ($15) - a wonderful grilled pineapple tart.

The plates and glasses were all over sized and several times we heard them being dropped in the kitchen. Ouch!

Le Pain Quotidien

There are several locations in NYC. I went back to the one on West 40th Street across from Bryant Park. This mixed fruit tart was $6.50.