After years of research, a steak that I can call my own is finally a reality. It’s no secret that I photograph my steak and describe the sights, the sounds, the smells and the subsequent mastication in a manner that would make the editor of Penthouse Letters blush. In the past, I’ve embarked on various journeys, enjoying a threesome (two 16oz steaks and I) at Italian Kitchen (see ‘Steak vs. Steak‘), moderating the ‘WE Love STEAK‘ flickr group for the voyeuristic folks out there, and even proclaiming Shore Club and Pinkys Steakhouse as having the the best ribeyes I’ve ever set my eyes on in Vancouver.

Recently, I met with the new owners of Capones in Yaletown – Rick Momsen the experienced restaurateur who most recently departed from Flite and Jeff Wiegel who I’ve known for some time and have shared many a steak with. Both expressed interest in expanding their menu and wanted to do ‘ole daddy Raj proud by naming a steak after me – after all, who knows steak better? So given their interest, I treated them to my very fave in the city and said, “match this, if you dare…”

… and they really delivered. For the main event, I brought along two accomplices, Mr. Z and Mr. M, who both previously expressed to me, a deep, dark desire to sample in earthly, exotic delights.

Well, then let them indulge their pleasure and their own standard of values let them make love and drink; let them pass  their old age as they have spent their youth, in banquets, in a state of unconditional surrender to their bellies and the most unseemly part of their bodies… – Sallust – The Jugurthine War

What was delivered was astonishing – a petite 20oz ribeye with a beautiful complexion, cooked medium rare, moist and pink through and through, and garnished with garlic, rosemary and lots of love. What happened after laying eyes on such a beautiful steak is a bit of a mystery – perhaps we’ll never tell, but safe to say, the three of us left the room without saying a single word but nonetheless, very satisfied.

Capones in Yaletown
1141 Hamilton Street (MAP)
Vancouver, BC V6B 5P6

TEL: 604-684-7900

WEB: www.caponesrestaurant.net

HOURS: Brunch: 10:00m – 3:00pm – Saturdays & Sundays, Dinner: 5:00pm – late – Monday – Sunday

On the note of good steak talk, check out Kate Zimmerman’s ‘The Old Man and the Beef,’ HERE.

It was Groucho Marx that once said, “I’m not crazy about reality, but it’s still the only place to get a decent meal.” Well, he was only partially right – Vancouver is rife with ‘safe’ places to get fed – whether it be mega-restaurant chain with the pretty girls or the familiar-to many symbols of American imperialism, none of which make a far departure from the oh-so-standard burger and fries.

Last year, on the Urban Mixer blog, I wrote about r.tl in Yaletown and only about the pretty girls, the aesthetics and the opening party but not much about the food. A couple weeks ago, I was invited to check the restaurant out and satisfy my curiosity as to what r.tl was all about.

Firstly, r.tl, other than being a really cool website address (http://r.tl) purchased from a Timor-Leste website registry (very much like .ca names can be purchased from a Canadian website registry), stands for Regional Tasting Lounge. r.tl is located at 1130 Mainland Steet half-a-block down from Goldfish towards OPUS Hotel.

So what’s the food like?
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