Gnocci at Home

Pescatore's ... Don't bother

Jenn and I couldn't have chosen a worse place for her birthday dinner. We both remember it being really good- a couple of years ago. But now the food is like the dust that hangs off of the blinds and table lamps. Dingy and dry.

Let's start with Jennifer's Blackened Halibut with Crab.(what you see here is pretty much actual size).

Menu descriptions are so misleading. When you are at a Seafood House that specializes in seafood you kind of expect more. And we live on an island for Christ's sake! The menu described a grilled piece of halibut with crab and hollandaise and spring vegetables on the side. Mhhmm... Halibut, there. Crab, we think it was crab but man alive did it ever look like pollack! We were both expecting a crab leg or two. And have you ever had cold hollandaise? Very not delicious or appealing. I like curry. In an Indian restaurant. Where they know what to do with the curry. I do not like curry on my fucking giant piece of cauliflower or limp and flattened piece of... eggplant? Squash? I'm not even sure what the hell it was... We both had the same veg and the same gross seasoning. If you're going to curry anything- in a seafood restaurant, for the love of god say so. All this for the stunning cost of $37.00.

On to my Sooke Trout, stuffed with crab and brie (from a farm I'm sure) with gratin potatoes and the disgusting curry vegetables.

Again- actual size. Dry dry dry dry dry... it was dry. I'm guessing they sat awhile prior to the server bringing the plates. I liked the gratin potatoes though. Clearly done on the finest of mandolin settings and layered excessively. Did I find any brie? No. Crab? Yes, the same unclear crab on the halibut. The cheap ass button mushrooms on top were good though, most things are that are soaked in some oily substance. Vegetables? Pushed to side of plate where they stayed. Less than Jenn's though, only $27.

We had a starter but the picture is AWOL. 5 (why 5? can't you see there are two of us and even out the amount? Asshats) Jumbo prawns with a chili dipping sauce. This was by far the grossest thing either of us have EVER EVER ordered anywhere! 5 Jumbo prawns battered and deep fried. They were so greasy when we lifted one out a drop of grease was hanging off the edge. Crispy? Not on your life. We tore them apart and ate the prawn, over cooked and rubbery. The chili dipping sauce... fucking hell. It was so oily that every time I tried to mix it, I lost. The oil won. I'm not even sure to begin to tell you what it tasted like as I'm still not sure myself.

Our server was kind enough, very meek, when she asked us how it was going. We told her, she wasn't even sure what to say. I think servers are very use to people just lying and not saying they're disappointed. We know it's not her fault, she didn't make anything. Unfortunately, she's the one dealing with us, she gets to hear it.

Was any of our shit fest dinner comped? Of course not. Tourist season has started you know. There will be endless suckers sent their way. This weekend... 55,000 tourists coming off of 8 cruise ships. Will they head there? Probably. Will they ever return? Probably not.

Local restaurants like Pescatore's really need local loyalty.
We live here all year around, so does everyone we know and dine with. Will we return to Pescatore's? Never again. And will I recommend it because of it's good location and long gone reputation? Just the opposite. I will be telling people about the most awful meal I've had in a long time.

2009 West Coast Tattoo Convention- Review

Bah. One of the least ambitious shows I've been to. So much so I couldn't even be bothered to dig out my camera. Ken took one photo of a wall of masks for a retailer. I came across one sweet woman at a shop booth, she was selling the prints. I bought one (pictured below, already framed- thanks Ikea). Rows upon rows of booths with grumpy looking people (tattooers and others) seemingly wishing they were elsewhere. Any where else.

Corey Miller from Six Feet Under was signing autographs. You might recognize him from L.A. Ink. Which wasn't mentioned anywhere FYI because he was there with his own shop! Felt for him. Constant line up, but he was gracious and a vetern at the smile/grip and grin. I'm not sure why anyone would want an autograph. What exactly do you do with it once you get it?! Do you read it over and over again?

My biggest BAH... the contests! JHC. So you sign up for say... Large men's colour. 4 judges in this case at a table on a stage (a big stage). "Beer" garden directly in front, viewer seating in front and around. 'Bob' comes up, shows his work to the judges, walks away. Everyone did! Would it be so inconvenient to walk 5 feet and let anyone else see it. No wonder there was zero crowd participaction. This is the only show I've been to that this has happened with. The others required the 'contestant' to give the crowd a look. Also, was it necessary that the "MC" continually work on the music equipment shit that was on the floor? He even answered his cellphone at one point. Clearly he is very important. Asshat.

Great trophies though. Custom skateboard decks.

I did find a tattooer and a shop (in Calgary) that I might visit. Blackbird Studio. Was going through Nick Luit's portfolio- Loved it. He does the cleanest traditional tattoos. My favourite of the show.

http://www.blackbirdcustomstudio.com/

That's it. I'm jaded.

Maisie ignoring me while I post this.

Crazy Maisie

Easter... another reason to eat

Someone is going to be the fool...

But it won't be me! Inside 2 of these cupcakes is a 'surprise' for someone at my office. Half of a hard boiled egg. Yuck!! But don't fret! There's enough icing to hide any foreign taste. I hope.

I ate my way through Vancouver

So full...

Is it just me...

Or are these pickles huge?! I didn't use any photo trickery 'cause let's be real here, I have no idea how to. There are 10 pickles in the jar and it weighs 7 pounds (mmhmm...I weighed it). Ok. That's it. Was so freaked out I had to share. Happy Sunday! Don't forget to set your clocks ahead if you haven't already.

Tarts and Tattoos

...I started the outline of my new "legwarmer". I suspect it will be done at the end of March. I really don't look forward to the needle on bone. Being 40%ish body covered now you would think I'd be immune to a little uncomfortable. That's all the whining I have in me for today :)Going to knit!

I only want to knit!

I've been taking knitting classes for about a year now. I feel pretty confident I can go at anything as long as there is a pattern in front of me. Before our last class ended (mittens- finished 3 pairs already!) we asked for another class as we wanted the leg warmers our super cute instructor Lindsey was wearing. She wouldn't give them to us so we had to make them. Here's the first 3 inches of the top. I'll post as they get to progress points. BFF didn't want to make leg warmers, she's making a baby sweater jacket thingy... her Boston Terrier, Saidie will probably end up wearing it. I'll post that when it happens too :)

PS: Ang, I hope you're proud. I think a sweater for Maisie is in the near future.