City Food Magazine - Xmas Cocktails and Dinners, Francois Gagnon, Players Chophouse, Basil Olive Oil, Nu Private Dining Room, Pinkys, Loden Hotel, Shannon Wrightson

Wishing all our readers, supporters and contributors, the happiest of Christmas Seasons as well as much joy and good eating in the coming New Year. At CityFood we will be taking a few days off to refresh, regroup and rethink, however the daily cocktail calendar will continue to load daily with new seasonal cocktails from Vancouver's top mixologists -- right up until January 1st. if we get a chance, we many even be back ahead of time to give a sneak peek of the next CityFood issue (in circulation January 2008).

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Hey, it's been a blast but as we come to the end of our Christmas Season Cocktail Advent Calendar, so ends our "Cocktails and Cheese" party.

A special thank you to the talented mixologists of Vancouver who contributed their recipes, and also to photographer Heather Goldsworthy for her wonderful photos. Ah, YouTube, how did we get by before you came along?

For our last cocktail and a wish to all for a Happy New Year, we drop in on Boneta for a special Champagne cocktail prepared by Bar Manager Steve Da Cruz. Then in honour of Boneta's New Years Eve party for hospitality industry staff, we take a "Trip to Wonderland" - a tale of the before and after life of three waitresses who become restaurant reviewers.

TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ---- CLICK HERE.
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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Think it's too late to make plans for New Year's Eve? You are in luck. There are some seats available at Le Gavroche. (See the details below.)

Toast the New Year with a Bonne Année Menu set at $80.00 per person; or choose to add wines for an additional $50.00 per person. Le Gavroche’s New Year’s Cheer is a time-honoured celebration of the year gone with that certain touch of sophistication and flare. For more information or to make your reservation please call (604) 685-3924.

Within walking distance of the business district, downtown hotels, and steps from the Coal Harbour residences, sits Le Gavroche. Take this season to celebrate with the warm and inviting, unequivocally French cuisine of Le Gavroche Restaurant. Dinner from 5:30 p.m. onwards, seven days a week. For inquires or reservations please call (604) 685-3924 or visit the website at www.legavroche.ca.

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Holiday Menus.

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ---- CLICK HERE.
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ---- CLICK HERE.
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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ---- CLICK HERE.
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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ---- CLICK HERE.
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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ----CLICK HERE.
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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ---- CLICK HERE.
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ----- CLICK HERE.
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL -----CLICK HERE
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ----- CLICK HERE
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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On New Years Eve, Zin Restaurant and Lounge (at the Pacific Pallisades Hotel) will be offering their regular menu as well as a 4-course tasting menu by Chef Richard Tyhy that is value priced at $55.

... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Holiday Menus.

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ----- CLICK HERE.
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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THE MEDIA HOUND - THE LOCAL INK
(Thursday, December 20, 2007)

Check out who has been naughty and who was nice, according to the local restaurant review columns, now at the newsstand.

File in MEDIA/Local Ink.

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ----- CLICK HERE.
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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GAGNON FOLLOWS PERRIER AS EXECUTIVE CHEF OF CINCIN
(Directly from the press release - Wednesday, December 19, 2007)

Mark Perrier will be stepping down as the Executive Chef of CinCin. In his place, Top Table Restaurant Group has appointed Francois Gagnon as CinCin’s new Executive Chef (see bio after the jump), who will start in early 2008. Francois joins CinCin from a successful tenure at Blue Water Cafe where he was the Executive Sous Chef for four years, assisting Frank Pabst and being an integral part of Blue’s culinary success. ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Greater Details ... PEOPLE/Chefs ... RESTAURANTS/Personnel Changes.

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HOLIDAY MENUS
NEW YEARS FESTIVITIES AT GLOWBAL GROUP RESTAURANTS
(Wednesday, December 19, 2007)

Make a Glowbal Restaurant Group Location Your Party Headquarters this New Years Eve!
Whether you crave an intimate night out or a splashy affair, Glowbal Restaurant Group has all you need to ring in the New Year in style...

On December 31, leave the party planning to the experts at glowbal grill & satay bar, AFTERglow, COAST, Sanafir and Italian Kitchen. All of the restaurants have planned special events, unique to each venue, that promise exceptional wining, dining and celebrating! ... CONTINUE READING.

Filed in DAILY NEWS/ Hoiiday Menus.

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NEWS HOUND - LOCAL INK
(Wednesday, December 19, 2007)

Alexandra Gill is the latest draft to the media team slamming Players Chophouse against the boards.

Puck Bunnies and Game-night Dregs.

READERS' CHOICE
(Wednesday, December 19, 2007)

Zeus must be angry .... The Koutalianos family produces Basil Olive Oil, a superb quality, organic oiive oil favoured by many of BC's top chefs. Basil Koutalianos is currently in Greece, overseeing the wrap up of the 2007 harvest of his family's single estate olive groves, but what he has to say in his year end newsletter indicates that between acts of God and a tidal wave of retiring British pensioners, the Greek Olive industry are not happy campers these days.

News from the Greek Olive Groves.

Daenna van Mulligen sent us this link to a New York Times business article documenting changes at the Food Network -- the big news being that after 11 years of bamming his way into the hearts of the FN's viewership, the network has put Emeril Lagasse out to pasture. Apparently they are after new markets with new programming, but if putting Rachel Ray in a culinary travel program is the best they can do, we'll be happy to keep the mute button on. Rachel mmmm-ing her way across multiple continents? No thanks.

Changing Courses at the Food Network.

And Cate Simpson supplied the link to this piece by an anal statistics blogger trying to pin down which city has the right to claim the highest number of restaurants per capita population. It will bring joy to those who read spreadsheets for fun, but perhaps the researcher should have included info on what cities have the lowest number of restaurants per overall population. There's a few restaurants in this town that might want to head that way in 2011.

Which City Really Does Have the Most Restaurants per Capita?.

Filed in MEDIA/The Outside World.

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ----- CLICK HERE.
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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TODAY'S PRESS RELEASES
(Tuesday, December 18, 2007)

Pinkys Steakhouse (photo above) is now officially open for business in Yaletown.

The Loden Vancouver Hotel has announced that the opening of Kor Hotel Group's first Canadian property will take place in March 2008. Robert Herman has been appointed Voya Restaurant General Manager and Wesley Joe will be Director of Rooms.

Chef Shannon Wrightson of the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel has snagged a consulting gig with Air New Zealand.

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Press Releases.

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HOLIDAY MENUS
HOLIDAYING LE GAVROCHE STYLE
(Directly from the press release - Tuesday, December 18, 2007)

Vancouver, BC… Le Gavroche Restaurant is celebrating Père Noel’s visit Christmas Eve with a special Joyeux Noel Menu for $55.00 per person, add the exclusive wine pairings and the evening rounds out to a jovial $80.00 per person. Toast the New Year with a Bonne Année Menu set at $80.00 per person; or choose to add wines for an additional $50.00 per person. Le Gavroche’s New Year’s Cheer is a time-honoured celebration of the year gone with that certain touch of sophistication and flare. For more information or to make your reservation please call (604) 685-3924.

In the days leading up to Christmas Eve, venture through a city wrapped in twinkle lights to your dinner reservation at Le Gavroche. Once there, be sure to listen for the festive sounds of The Classic Carollers who, as in years past, may pay an unannounced call. Or relieve your senses from the hum, buzz and bustle of the holiday season with a lunch at Le Gavroche. Le Gavroche serves lunch Monday to Friday, 11:30am to 2:30pm daily.

Within walking distance of the business district, downtown hotels, and steps from the Coal Harbour residences, sits Le Gavroche. Take this season to celebrate with the warm and inviting, unequivocally French cuisine of Le Gavroche Restaurant. Dinner from 5:30 p.m. onwards, seven days a week. For inquires or reservations please call (604) 685-3924 or visit the website at www.legavroche.ca.

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Holiday Menus.

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ----- CLICK HERE
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ----- CLICK HERE
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ----- CLICK HERE
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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OH, C NU GALLERY
(Saturday, December 15, 2007)

Other than new restaurants, 2007 would also seem to be a bumper crop year for restaurants adding on private dining rooms. The latest to expand is Harry Kambolis' fiefdom at the foot of Howe St. ... CONTINUE READING ...

File in RESTAURANTS/News.

Also ...

Click here for news of C and Nu restaurants' special menus and offerings for Christmas and New Years.

File in DAILY NEWS/Holiday Menus.

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TODAY'S CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL ----- CLICK HERE.
To see all cocktails ---- CLICK HERE

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WHO'S GOT IT - THE BUZZ METER For - December 21, 2007

(The most requested information on the site as measured
by Google keyword counter.)

PEOPLE:

1) Scott Baechler - Chef
2) Linda Meinhardt - Retail, Meinhardt's
3) Rob Belcham- Chef, Fuel
4) Deana Lancaster - Media, North Shore News
5) Mark Perrier - Chef

PLACES:

1) Pinkys Steakhouse - Restaurant, Yaletown, Vancouver
2) Dadeo - Restaurant, Cambie, Vancouver
3) Kolachy Co. - Bakery, Library/Stadium, Vancouver
4) Mysala Indian Bistro - Restaurant, Downtown, Vancouver
5) Cascade Room, Restaurant and Lounge, Main St., Vancouver
6) Players Chophouse - Restaurant, Library/Stadium, Vancouver
7) Red Fish, Blue Fish - Restaurant, Victoria
8) Steamworks Transcontinental - Restaurant, Gastown, Vancouver
9) Me & Julio's - Restaurant, Commercial, Vancouver
10) Flying Tiger - Restaurant, Kitsilano, Vancouver

THINGS and Questions:

1) Aurora Bistro's mulled wine recipe
2) gingerbread martini
3) new restaurants in Vancouver in 2007
4) Christmas at the Empress
5) wine gifts

MOST INEXPLICABLE CONNECTION:

none today

NUMBER OF COUNTRIES LOGGING IN (visiting during this year): 137
NUMBER OF CITIES WORLDWIDE (visiting yesterday):108
Number 108 was Etobicoke, Ontario.

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