Sometimes I don't understand this city.

Case in point: a very charming, romantic French bistro called Elixir. The food; interesting, tasty and authentic. The atmosphere; romantic, intimate, private and quiet. The location; part of a small, trendy boutique hotel complete with a happening bar full of celebrities and celebrity spotters all keen to be seen and see. 

If you think the above description of the bistro sounds like somewhere you would like to visit, then you are like me and probably in your 30's or above. If you think it sounds boring, stuffy or not fashionable enough, then you are probably working for the hotel. 

I state all this because I visited this restaurant last night and was very disappointed to find that it has become the Vancouver cliche that I try to avoid at all costs. It has become nothing more than another magnet for the above mentioned crowd, (Vancouver's movie star and movie star wife wannabees). 

I know there are plenty of other nice respectable places for older people to enjoy, but why did this place have to change so drastically? It seems this hotel is no longer content to have a small bistro serving good food attached to it, they want a destination; read hot spot, and they don't seem to care if this comes at the expense of the food, decor or clientele. 

Who cares about the older couples enjoying a good quality Coq Au Vin or steak frites with Bearnaise sauce? Get the large groups of young(ish), loud, wannabees to sit around the park benches they have installed, get them drinking shots and flirting with the servers, dancing on the tables and spoiling dinner for anyone looking for a quiet evening. 

Why has this happened? Is Vancouver so frightened to retain some charm, class or dignity? Never before have I lived somewhere with such an emphasis on how wonderful and desirable it is to be wealthy and famous and I find it vulgar. Call this my British snobbery, pragmatism or call me an old bore, I don't care. What I do care about is why it's increasingly more difficult to just sit down and have a nice meal without loud tables of people swearing and screaming right next to you, groups of people trying to look like they just finished shooting their latest movie and a general lack of something good to eat.