I think it’s maybe been even closer to 19 or 20 years, since the change, now that I think about it.
My cousin had to get a drive from the Denver airport back to Boulder to get her passport, making her late for a family reunion in Calgary in 2005.
I didn’t think to bring my passport on my last trip Canada. Immigration officer started giving me grief.
Finally, the Officer quizzed me: San Francisco football team?
I almost blurted out: FORTY F’n NINERS!!!
Luckily I didn’t. 
2 Likes
I am shocked that you managed to get through.
I wouldn’t recommend trying this.
I traveled through immigration at the Vancouver airport , from the States into Canada, 4 months after a Polish citizen was tasered to death in Oct 2007 This was not because he forgot his passport. He didn’t understand what the officers were asking, and they didn’t understand him, and they made a big mistake.
I don’t mess with immigration.
1 Like
This was some time ago, during the Montana/Young dynasty. Any true ‘niner fan mostly refer the club as the forty f’n niners.
We go thru immigration 5~7 x per year. We have global, TSA pre, mobile passport and APEC. NOT gonna get a black checkmark on our record for any reason.
Always treat airline, immigration and all personnel with utmost respect. It’s all yessir and yes ma’am. Does not cost anything to treat others with respect, not necessarily deference.
2 Likes
If only immigration returned the favor. I was appalled at some of the exchanges I witnessed at the INS over several years. Usually towards brown people whose command of the English language was only rudimental.
But they were assholes to pretty much everyone.
1 Like
(post deleted by author)
At SFO bound for Vancouver? Were they Canadian or US immigration officials?
I decided to delete my post, Ernie.
This happened 20 years ago, and I don’t want to ask her about it now.
I realize I took this on an extreme tangent . I won’t go further off topic!
1 Like
This is not true. While the entry requirements continue to change, I believe until relatively recently an enhanced driver’s license (EDL) has been acceptable for land and sea crossings between USA and Canada.
My land crossings in 2024 have been with a passport card and Nexus credential. I’ve never been asked for a passport book.
Air entries are different.
I had no idea that a Canadian could still, in 2024, use an enhanced driver’s license to enter the United States.
I mistakenly thought the Driver’s License was no longer an option, since it hasn’t been an option for traveling to or from Canada to the States by Air since 2004 or 2005.
My bad.
1 Like
No problem. It’s confusing. There are only 5 states that have eligible EDLs, and I understand that the Canadian equivalent is a bigger hassle to get than a passport.
It’s been <10 years since WA warned that REGULAR driver’s licenses aren’t good enough.
I use the US passport card, which I recommend for N. American travel.
I wouldn’t be very surprised if Richmond has better dimsum than SF Bay Area. I haven’t been back to Vancouver for a while so I don’t know how it is like now. But Vancouver got a big wave of HK people and chefs back in the 90s. Its not nicknamed Hongcouver without reason.
SF Bay Area dim sum is decent. Its not bad in the U.S. It has decent classics. But an assessment of its dimsum is only fair if its compared against those in Hong Kong. In my opinion, the top echelon of dim sum just doesn’t exist in the U.S., and that includes those from Koi Palace, the supposed gold standard in the Bay Area. So i don’t think its that difficult to beat SF Bay Area dim sum.
5 Likes
The Mackenzie Room
The Mackenzie Room is a restaurant in the Downtown Eastside neighborhood from chef Sean Reeve and Andrew Jameson, not too far from St. Lawrence where I had dinner the night before.
The daily menu is on a big chalkboard.
They also have some tasting menus available, including a five course Riding Solo ($89) menu for solo diners, which is what I had. I think it pays to go in a group of four to the Mackenzie Room as you get everything on the menu that way if you get the “I Want It All” tasting menu which is also $89 pp.
Amuse - a tater tot topped with crème fraîche and caviar, which is a nice way to start!
Next off the board,
REEDS RADISHES
BUTTERMILK RANCH, BREADCRUMB, TROUT ROE
This dish had three types of radishes, smoked trout roe, and a buttermilk emulsion with dill. It was topped with brioche bread crumbs for crunch. This was very nice, with crispy radishes and creamy tangy sauce. The cubed radishes were pickled watermelon radishes that added a bit of acidity.
CAP’N CRUNCH
HAMACHI, CUCUMBER, LEMONGRASS, SERRANO
Next, hamachi crudo with pickled cucumbers, fresh cucumbers and serrano peppers. This was delicious - essence of cucumber with meaty hamachi.
HIDDEN GEM
CHINOOK SALMON, GEM LETTUCE, PATTYPAN, SORREL
This was a perfectly cooked piece of salmon on top of a carrot puree, with pieces of pattypan squash, little gem lettuce leaves and lemon preserves to add some lemony brightness. Also delicious.
THE FULL ENGLISH
LAMB, BOUDIN NOIR. WHITE BEAN, TURNIP, KALE
The main course was a bit like an English breakfast, kind of. This had lamb saddle roll with herbs cooked sous-vide, blood sausage, meaty maitake mushrooms, a rich demi-glace sauce, turnips, and a puree of flageolet beans, topped with some crispy kale leaves. This was great, all it needed was maybe a fried egg or two 
GOLDEN TICKET
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, BANANA CREMEUX, CHILI
This was described as a Mexican-spiced chocolate pudding. It had honeycomb, banana compote, and jalapeño which was interesting. It was like a delicious fancy chocolate banana pudding with a bit of saltiness.
This was a very enjoyable dinner, and also a good value.
11 Likes
Meo
For a nightcap I walked a couple of blocks to Meo in Chinatown, which was recommended to me by my waitress at the Mackenzie Room. Meo is a sister bar of Michelin starred Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant Kisso Tanto and is next door to it. They also have bar bites available, but I was just there for a drink.
The interior has kind of a cool 70’s lounge vibe.
I had a Grasshopper ($17) which is usually a good choice for a dessert cocktail. Meo’s Grasshopper is a bit different than the usual recipe though - it has sake, crème de cacao, Thai basil, and pandan sorbet. It was light and refreshing, probably the lightest and brightest Grasshopper I’ve had.
I also had a mocktail, the n/a version of their Turkish Sbagliato ($16), made with dealcoholized spirits provided by “Sansorium.” This kind of tasted like a Chinotto soda with a nice herbal tart bitterness. There was a Turkish delight as garnish. Very nice.
Great drinks and friendly service.
15 Likes
The tasting menu at the Mackenzie Room looks and sounds divine!!
2 Likes
Japadog
I was flying back home to SF on Friday evening and had some time for a couple more lunches 
My first lunch was at Japadog, a chain of Japanese style hotdog restaurants established in 2005 as a hotdog stand, which now has several locations in Vancouver. I went to the location on Robson Street in downtown Vancouver, which is a sit down restaurant with some outdoor seating as well.
I had the #1,
Kurobuta Terimayo ($8.89)
Kurobuta Pork, Teriyaki Sauce, Japanese Mayo, Fried Onions, Seaweed
This is apparently their most popular dog, so I tried it. It’s a very good hotdog. The pork sausage was juicy and fatty with a fine mince and some snappiness - it tasted like a hotdog should taste. The bun was soft. The Japanese mayo (I’m guessing Kewpie), teriyaki sauce, and grilled onions added richness, sweetness, and umami savoriness.
I kept it light for second lunch so didn’t try any of the sides, though I was eyeing the various poutines available, because Canada 
Bacaro
Bacaro is a Venetian restaurant in the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Coal Harbour that’s open all day. I had lunch #2 here.
I started with a Harry’s Martini ($18), which was a gin Martini with olives a la Harry’s Bar in Venice. It was a good Martini served ice cold. I wonder if they batch them up like at Harry’s Bar.
I was interested in their aperitivo menu, which features cicchetti, which are like Venetian tapas. I was a little too early for that menu though as it started at 3pm.
Lunch Menu
tunna crudo ($24)
albacore tuna, orange, kale
To start, I had the tuna crudo, which was quite nice. The tuna was good, and there was a slightly sweet orange sauce underneath and some some sweet mandarin orange segments and crispy fried kale leaves on top
bigoli con anatra ($32)
lightly spiced duck ragu, parmigiano reggiano
For a main, I had the bigoli with duck ragu, which was good. The bigoli were very good, like a very thick al dente spaghetti and had a coarse surface which took the sauce quite well. The duck ragu was like a Bolognese sauce but with minced duck, and had a nice ducky flavor. I think it could have used just a tad bit more salt.
Dessert was an espresso that came with a small cookie.
And that’s a wrap for this brief Vancouver trip, which was a success food-wise!
15 Likes
You really ate well, bravo 
2 Likes
Yes, amazing trip!
Positively surprised about the city’s quality of food, especially the dim sum.
2 Likes
You chose the exact two things I would have chosen off that menu - it makes me very happy to see them! Looks like a fairly large portion of crudo is that correct?
As always, thanks for bringing us along on another great eating trip!
3 Likes
Yes it was a substantial portion!
1 Like
