No Speaka Italiano?
ITALIAN WINE VARIETALS FOR DUMMIES


Between the focus on Italian wines at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival and tasting presentations by the Enoteca Italia (Italian Chamber of Commerce), you'll probably encounter more bottles of vino over the next couple of weeks than in a lifetime of pizza parlours. But if labels with wine grape names such as "Negromaro" or "Vermentio" have you thinking "Huh?", here's a little cheat sheet to help you get you started. (With apologies to the purists out there.) ... CONTINUE READING.


Filed in DRINK/Stories Behind the Wine Labels.





























ADVENTURES ON THE WINE FESTIVAL TRAIL

Come along as we log our experiences and pose challenges to the vital organs while tackling some of this week's many options at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.

Day One: Italian winemakers who would sing Amore, if only you could hear them.
Day Two: "Say 'Brunello di Montalcino' like you are furious with your lover.

Click here to read.

Filed in DRINK/Wine Festival Log.




ANNOUNCING FRAICHE - (February 27, 2008)
(Directly from the Press Release.)

This Friday, February 29th, 2008 (Leap Year…or Sadie Hawkin’s Day) marks a Fraîche start with the opening of a new restaurant.

Executive chef and owner Wayne Martin of Vancouver’s CRAVE on Main Street, and former executive chef of the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, is pleased to announce his second restaurant with the opening of his new venture on the slopes of West Vancouver, Fraîche. ....CONTINUE READING.


Filed in RESTAURANTS/Previews.



























ANNOUNCEMENTS - (February 28, 2008)


This year's Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival has begun and we'll be back with a few reports on how that is progressing, but in the meantime, here's a few announcements from other outposts on the food and wine front.


Even though Valentines Day has come and gone, Chris Stewart and Andrey Durbach have decided to boost the romance factor of their Parkside restaurant on Haro Street with room upgrades that include the addition of several pony walls to separate tables, new Riedel glassware, white tablecloths, and candlelight. The intention of the revamp is to increase Parkside's more intimate and sophisticated atmosphere in contrast to the more casual one of their other properties of La Buca and Pied-a-Terre.


From now until April 30, 2008, The Fishhouse in Stanley Park will be displaying the artwork of Mia Weinberg in their Fireplace Room and Garden Room. A Vancouver artist, she creates delicately beautiful digital photograms that call attention to the tiniest fragments of organic matter. Ms. Weinberg believes there is potential in the microscopic to bring us face to face with something we too often forget: that life on this earth is full of wonder, full of mystery.


The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society has announced that the 14th Okanagan Spring Wine Festival will be expanded in 2008 to a length of 10 days from May 1 through May 10, 2008. With a record 79 member wineries participating, there will be close to 100 events over the 10 days throughout all of Okanagan Wine Country.” In addition to the wine tastings, major events during the festival will include "What’s In The Bag; Taste The Aromas of Coffee"; Pinot Gris – The Other Chardonnay; Wine paired with Canadian Dairy Cheeses; and a "Sinful Chocolate and Heavenly Wine Seminar". Another additions to the 2008 Okanagan Spring Wine Festival include the promotion of Kelowna’s Life & Arts Festival on the second weekend, plus the addition of a new food and wine event in Penticton on May 10 called Chefs & Wine. in this event, three guest chefs will present live cooking demonstrations featuring delicious items you can make at home.


Sean Heather reminds us that this March 17th will be the twelfth, and the last St. Patrick's Day at the Irish Heather's current location. (They will be moving to a new Gastown location at the end of the next month. Says Heather: "In Ireland, when a person dies, we gather together to celebrate their life; the good and the bad......we call this a wake. So March 17th will launch a series of events aimed at waking the Heather and Shebeen. We will keep you posted." Meanwhile back on the feast day of Ireland's most famous patron saint, the Irish Heather will be offering a series of packages tailored to suit various needs. As demand is expected to be high, you will need to book early. Click here for details.


Michael Dinn and Heidi Noble have put out a last call regarding orders for their 2007 Vintage Private Release of Joie wines which will close tomorrow (on Friday February 28th). If you have not already sent in your order you may do so by downloading a form off the website at www.joie.ca/whatsnew.htm. This will be your only chance to buy wines directly from the new Naramata winery as they do not yet have a tasting room.


les amis du Fromage are having a year end inventory sale on their cheeses, tools and equipment and condiments. Check their website at www.buycheese.com for details.


Need a little getaway from the Wine Festival? Don't forget So.cial at Le Magasin just around the corner. The Gastown restuarant will be offering a wine festival special of housemade truffles, roaring 40's blue cheese, housemade crackers and a glass of wine for $20.08 untiil March 2. In addition, when it gets warmer and a little busier, they also plan to offer their entire wine list by the glass. Look for beer tastings coming up too, as well as other tastings/seminars. We will keep you advised.


Speaking of the Wine Festival, be sure to check the Wine Diva's website at www.winediva.ca for daily updates and tastings notes as this years' festival (highlighting the wines of Italy and sparkling wines) proceeds through the next two weeks. And something new - her Pinkness, Daenna van Mulligen, has added to her online presence with a second, companion website that offers score ratings for all the wines she tastes, as well as a helpful notation on the method she uses to arrive at them. Check it out at www.winescores.ca.


Filed in DAILY NEWS




NEWSSTAND IS OPEN - (February 21, 2008)

There's all new copy at The Newsstand.

This week, Carolyn Ali of the Georgia Straight talks about the skilled labour shortage being experienced by the BC restaurant and hospitality industry and how companies such as the Cactus Club organization hope that recruitment of hi-profile employees such as Chef Rob Feenie will help them to attract the best people.

"Star power. Chef Rob Feenie undoubtedly has it, and Cactus Club Cafes undoubtedly hope to cash in on it. The Vancouver-based chain’s recent appointment of Feenie as its “food concept architect�? may draw more customers. But Feenie’s association could also attract a whole different set of VIPs: potential employees..."

BC Restaurants Put Staff Recruitment on the Menu. (Georgia Straight, February 21, 2008)


While we are on the subject of Rob Feenie, Canada's Iron Chef sent us this comment with regards to the recent article in the Village Voice which casts doubt on the credibility of the American Iron Chef Competition (See link to the article further down this page)

"Just to set the record straight, we earned every ounce of our victory against a chef who had only lost 4 times out of 80 victories. I am still the only Canadian to win, and I dare any chef to try, as it is far from bogus. It was one of the most difficult hours any of us have ever had to deal with. It's always easier from the outside looking in to comment. I am very proud of our victory and what it said about Canadian chefs, and their ability to compete with the best." -- Rob Feenie


Getting back to the local print, today's features include:

The District on Lonsdale
DJ Kearney and sparkling wines
KoKo Chocolate Creations on Denman
BC Albacore Tuna
Masa Shiroki
Applause Japanese Restaurant
the new chef at the Observatory
The Wine Festival's 30th Anniversary
One guy losing his mind during lunchtime in his office cubicle ... and more ....


Filed in MEDIA/The Local Ink.

WINE EVENTS - (February 20, 2008)
SELBACH RIESLING AND BARBECUE TASTING AT THE TERMINAL CITY CLUB
(Directly from the press release).

German Riesling and barbeque just naturally go together, and Memphis Blues Barbeque House and the Waldorf Wine Group are pleased to announce that Johannes Selbach, of Selbach-Oster Winery will be present for a tasting at the Terminal City Club on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 from 6 to 8 p.m. This is not your stuffy, sit down, swirl your glass kind of tasting! The setting is fun and informal.

The Germans have paired pork with Riesling for centuries. Come hear Johannes Selbach describe how he makes his delicious, award winning wines and then taste them for yourself. Barbequed meats will be provided by Memphis Blues Barbeque House.

Tickets can be purchased for $20.00 from the Terminal City Club. Tickets are limited, call Kathy at 604-488-8643. The Terminal City Club is located at 837 West Hastings Street, in downtown Vancouver.

Memphis Blues Barbeque House first of four locations opened in 2001, and are co-owned by Park Heffelfinger and George Siu.


Filed in DAILY NEWS/Greater Details ... and ... EVENTS/Complete Events Calendar

__________________________________________________

PLACES:

1) O Bistro - Restaurant, West Victoria
2) Uva Moda Hotel - Hotel, Vancouver
3) Steveston Pizza - Restaurant, Steveston
4) Tequila Kitchen - Restaurant, Yaletown, Vancouver
5) Le Regalade - Restaurant, West Vancouver
6) So.Cial at le Magasin - Restaurant, Gastown, Vancouver
7) Hotel Georgia - Condo/Hotel, Downtown, Vancouver
8) Sonova - Restaurant, Kerrisdale, Vancouver
9) Fraiche - Restaurant, West Vancouver
10) Boneta - Restaurant, Gastown, Vancouver

THINGS:

1) Wine Festival wine picks
2) Granville Island Sake
3) Vikram Vij and John Bishop dinner
4) Agicola Marrone
5) Prosecco Sommariva

BEST QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What's the dirt on Christine Cushing?


WHO'S INTERESTED IN OUR FOOD AND WINE SCENE ...

Number of countries logging in (in one year): 140

Number of cities worldwide (visiting yesterday): 110

Top ten cities for number of viewers (visiting yesterday):

1) Greater Vancouver, BC
2) Greater Toronto, Ontario
3) Victoria, BC
4) Calgary, Alberta
5) Seattle, Washington
6) Winnipeg, Manitoba