City Food Magazine - Postings for May 2008

In the Photo: Chef Warren Geraghty of West and his appetizer dish of Sablefish Noisettes, Artichokes and Saffron Barigoule.
Photo by Jackie Connelly Photography

CHEF'S NEW INGREDIENT - (MAY 31, 2008)
SABLEENES

In their efforts to more fully utilize food animals, chefs have been bravely experimenting, if not frightening their customers, with the introduction of such novelties as tongues, ears, feet and other "less popular" cuts of meat onto their fine dining menus.

The seafood department is getting no exemption from these trendy ideas about waste reform either. The greater dining public may not be ready for fins and eyeballs, nevertheless, fish carcasses are being reexamined for overlooked tasty bits that hitherto may have been flung from the backs of fishboats as seagull buffet.

From this search has come the sableene (pronounced like Mabeline), and it's an item that's not turning out to be a hard sell at all. ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in RESTAURANTS/Dish on the Dish .... FOOD/New Product ... SHOP/Local Product.

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MILESTONES - (May 31, 2008)
CLAUDE VIOLET

Tim Pawsey has passed on to us some sad news.

"Claude Violet, the former owner of Domaine de Chaberton Estates winery has died. He was truly a pioneer, as well as being utterly charming -- a bright light in the Fraser Valley."

From the Domaine de Chaberton website:

In 1975, Claude and Inge Violet, having sold their winery and vineyard in France decided to start afresh in the New World. The pioneer spirit was not new to the Violet blood line as Claude’s family had been in the wine business since 1644. After visiting California, Ontario and the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Claude and Inge purchased the land where the present site of the Domaine de Chaberton and the Bacchus Bistro are located.

Claude quickly became known as the “Mad Frenchman” when word spread that he planned on planting wine grapes in the Fraser Valley. People within the burgeoning wine industry in British Columbia scoffed at the idea of growing wine grapes in the rain drenched Fraser Valley but the shrewd Frenchman had done his homework. After doing much research, Claude had found that the property was located in a microclimate with weather conditions much like those that exists in northern France. ... CONTINUE READING...

Filed in DRINK/Wine News. ... and ..PEOPLE/Winemakers.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS - (May 29, 2008)

Subeez says it plans to move the menu at its popular Howe Street hangout to a “new, 21st Century direction”.

The Farmers Market rolls into Granville Island on a strawberry concrete truck this June 5th.

Hamilton Street Grill has a steak dinner deal.

Morton’s The Steakhouse will present Grilling 101, the first in the Morton’s Master Class series.

Fairmont Royal York in Toronto get buzzy with bees.

New fashion trend: faux leopard skin covered tasers.

Boiled breakfast eggs get a military defense.

FOR DETAILS ON THE ABOVE CLICK HERE.

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Announcements.

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CHEF'S MENUS/ALFRESCO DINING
C LAUNCHES NEW SUMMER MENU

"Broken Spot Prawns with Grapefruit", "Crispy Skinned Halibut", at C Restaurant the patio is open and the items on the menu are half price if you chow down at lunch. See the complete new summer menu here.

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Greater Details ... RESTAURANTS/Chefs Menus

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COFFEE - (May 27, 2008)
CAFE FEMENINO - COFFEE THAT COULD CHANGE A WOMAN'S LIFE

Canterbury Coffee has announced that they have just become a western Canadian distributor for Café Femenino -- a very special coffee imported from Peru by a small West Coast company called Organic Products Trading Company, or OPTCO.

OPTCO was founded in 1989 by Gay Smith and her husband Garth, with the express goal of developing and importing high quality certified organic and fair trade coffees. Today their company is a recognized industry authority on certified organic coffee, but they do far more than just sell better coffee. They are also one of the pioneers of the Café Femenino project.

What is Café Femenino? In 2004, OPTCO, along with several other organizations, founded the Café Femenino® Coffee Project, a program created to teach and empower women coffee growers in rural communities around the world.

As their literature states: Despite numerous advances in many parts of our world, the marginalization and oppression of women still occurs, especially in areas of extreme poverty. In urban areas of Peru, the abuse rate is estimated at 41%. In rural communities, the isolation results in an even higher abuse rates. In coffee producing countries, they are often mistreated physically and emotionally – and financially.

The Café Femenino story is about helping women to be able to provide for themselves and their families, and of hope for a better life. ... CONTINUE READING ....

Filed in DRINK/Coffee ... FOOD/new products ... SHOP/Green Products.

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EAT VANCOUVER FESTIVAL NEW PRODUCT - (May 23, 2008)
AMBER WAVES OF ... FISH?

Smoked rockfish is a specialty seafood product, that up till now, we’ve only seen processed and sold commercially out of Alaska, with the principle market being Japan. (We wouldn’t be surprised to hear however, that custom smokers in and around Tofino were making smoked rockfish to order for customers.)

Ocean Amber, however, is a new BC company that is attempting to make a go of marketing the product direct to consumers. Sisters Sheryl and Debbie Mann and their family are introducing the item to the public this weekend at the EAT! Vancouver: Everything Food + Cooking Festival, and if you are attending you'll have the opportunity to try a slice.

Golden in colour around the exterior and creamy white inside, the fish has a light smoky flavour and a firm texture. It would make a much less expensive substitute for smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, bagels and cream cheese, or as the Mann family is showing it, simply as an hors d’oeuvre on a toothpick.

Defining what exactly a rockfish is however is a more complicated business. ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in EVENTS/EAT! Vancouver Show ... FOOD/New Products ... SHOP/Local Products.

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EAT! VANCOUVER FESTIVAL NEW PRODUCT
IN THE WEEDS - (May 23, 2008)

If you are an eco-conscious cooking professional, you will soon be able to wear that fact on your sleeve.

Chef-types attending EAT! Vancouver, the Everything Food + Cooking Festival this weekend will want to check out the booth for Chefwear by Blackwood.

The Vancouver-based company that specializes in uniforms and apparel for the food and hospitality industries will be introducing a new fabric at the show -- one that is made from a blend of naturally grown hemp and bamboo fibres.

Sounds kind of scratchy, no? A prospect no chef juggling flaming sauté pans in each hand wants to deal with. But contrary to expectations, the material is as soft and flexible as cotton or linen. What’s more, it hangs just like the more traditional fabrics and may be even more durable, absorbent and breathable. It even has an anti-bacterial quality – good for when action on the line gets mean and sweaty. ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in EVENTS/EAT! Vancouver Festival. ... and SHOP/Green Products.

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EAT! VANCOUVER FESTIVAL NEW PRODUCT - (May 23, 2008)
TABOO - CANADA'S ONLY ABSINTHE

If we were the bohemian type and Starbucks was licensed, we’d probably want to hang out at the local café, cradling a glass of Taboo in our fingerless gloved hands and staring morosely at a sheet of our upcoming production schedules.

Thankfully, in Canada, we wouldn’t be arrested for it either.

Canada’s only genuine absinthe, Taboo is an “almost new” product, having been in distribution in BC and Alberta for a mere six months. It is produced by Okanagan Spirits, the Vernon-based company that bears the distinction of being not only Western Canada’s first artesian distillery (they produce excellent eau-de-vies), but also recognized as a Master Class Distillery by the World Spirits Organization in Austria. ... CONTINUE READING...

Filed in EVENTS/EAT! Vancouver Festival .... DRINK/Cocktails .... SHOP/Local Products ... REGIONAL/Okanagan.

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VIEWERS' HEADS UP - (May 22, 2008)

Chef Rob Feenie joined Montreal super star chef Martin Picard, among others, at a fund raising dinner in Toronto last night for the James Beard Foundation. Here's the first review via the Food Network's blog. Incidentally, Picard (of Au Pied de Cochon fame) seems to be getting his own TV show, The Wild Chef.

Two thoughts:

1) Parmigiano-Reggiano with oysters? hmmm...
2) To name yet ANOTHER column or blog "Food for Thought" takes no thought at all. We can't believe that there are still people out there who think this is clever or original.

ADDED May 23, 2008: Beppi Crosariol wrote this more illuminating report for Friday's Globe & Mail. He vouches for the oyster/cheese combo. ... TO SEE PHOTOS CLICK HERE.

File in PEOPLE/Chefs.

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Further to our earlier announcement on the passing away of Chef Soren Fakstorp, the memorial will be held this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Dunbar Heights Baptist Church, 3996 West 17th Ave. It is open to all of Chef Soren's friends and colleagues in the industry.

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EAT! VANCOUVER FESTIVAL NEW PRODUCT - (May 21, 2008)
SOUP'S ON AT HAPPY PLANET

Happy Planet is a privately owned, community-minded, eco-aware and health conscious BC company known for selling fresh, organic juices.

Now they have extended their line to soups, and having sampled a few of them we think they are worthy of a recommendation.

The soups come in six versions: Berkeley Butternut Squash, Moroccan Chick Pea, Armenian Red Lentil, Louisiana Corn Chowder, Tuscan Tomato and Thai Coconut. “Like the juices their labels boast of many trendy virtues: low fat, low salt, vegetarian, gluten, stabilizer and preservative free, and in most cases also dairy free. Four of the six varieties have even earned the right to be labeled “organic.” ... CONTINUE READING...

Filed in EVENTS/EAT! Vancouver Festival/CityFood Choice Product.
... and FOOD/New Products ...SHOP/Local Products.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS - (May 21, 2008)

Whitecap Books was well represented at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards held in April in London, England. The Definitive Guide to Canadian Artisanal and Fine Cheese by Gurth Pretty won first place in the category for Best Cheese Book. Wild Sweets Chocolate by Dominique and Cindy Duby was awarded a second place for Best Chocolate Book; Indulge by Claire Clark was awarded second place for Best Dessert Book; and Libations of Life by Dee Brun won third place for Best Spirit Book. Congratulatons to the authors.

Next up on Whitecap’s social calendar is a barbecue party to celebrate the launch of Memphis Blues Barbeque House: Bringin’ Southern BBQ Home, the new cookbook by Park Heffelfinger and George Siu, the men behind the successful Vancouver-based restaurant, Memphis Blues Barbeque House. The party takes place June 7, 1 – 3 p.m at Johnstones Barbecues & Parts, 165 Pemberton Ave, North Vancouver. The event is open to the public at no charge. Consider it an excellent opportunity to get an autographed copy of the book and taste some of the delicious recipes inside.

CityFood contributor Rhys Pender has just opened his own wine school in the Okanagan. Starting in September, WinePlus will offer the courses of the internationally recognized Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) as well as traing programs designated for winery, retail and restaurant staff. Rhys has been instructing WSET courses since 2002. Course details and registration will be launched on www.wineplus.ca in mid-June 2008

Meanwhile, a former business associate of Rhys’, James Cluer of Fine Vintage Ltd., has just received his Master of Wine certification after an eleven year pursuit of the highly prestigious title. Congratulations James. The right to be called a Master of Wine is considered the pinnacle of qualification in wine, with just three people so designated in Canada, 25 in North America in total, and 265 worldwide. Sommelier Barb Philips of Vancouver was also recently certified as one of the three Canadian Masters of Wine, and is currently the only female Canadian MW. .... CLICK HERE FOR MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS ...

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Announcements.

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NEW FOOD STORE - (May 20, 2008)
SECOND SOUTH CHINA SEAS STORE ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING

The second location of the South China Seas Trading Co. store has been in soft opening status for over a month now, much to the delight of customers living within its Commercial Drive neighbourhood who never found it especially convenient to traipse down to the original store at the Granville Island Market.

So far they have nearly had the place to themselves, however owners Don Dickson and Joyce Chang are getting ready to announce SCS II's grand opening to the rest of the world, so watch for drop by traffic to increase dramatically. ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in SHOP/Shop Talk.

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NEW PRODUCTS - (May 20, 2008)
VITALA MILK

Thanks to a local dairy, it’s now possible to drink your fish.

Well, maybe not the “fish” but the ingredient that has had many people increasing the amount of seafood in their diet despite concerns over mercury levels and declining species sustainability levels. That ingredient would be docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Omega-3, an essential fatty acid believed to promote the healthy development of brain, heart, eyes and nerves. ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in FOOD/New Products ... and ... SHOP/Local Products.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS - (May 16, 2008)

Congratulations to Eric Pateman of Granville Island's Edible BC and his wife Gail, on the birth of their beautiful daughter, Meiko, on May 10th, 2008. See the baby pics here.

In just over a week, the Island Chefs’ Collaborative in Victoria will be hosting their first big local food event “Defending our own Backyard". They invite you to come out and taste a bit of the island while learning what’s happening in the cuisine and agriculture scene on Vancouver Island. The event takes place Sunday afternoon, May 25 from noon until 4pm at Fort Rodd National Hill National Historic Site (map). Parking is available at the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre and a trolley will take you the short distance to the event. Tickets are $45 and available at BC Wineguys (Cadboro Bay Rd.), Mattick’s Farm VQA Wine Shop, The Wine Barrel, Smoken Bones Cookshack, Spinnakers Spirit Merchants, Six Mile Liquor Store, Travel With Taste Tours, or by phone at 250-391-4458

A couple of very interesting women will soon be visiting Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks store just outside Granville Island. On May 23, BC-born author Kate Jacobs will attend a “Six O’Clock Salon event for her new novel Comfort Food, and will then follow that up with a book launch event in her hometown of Hope at the Blue Moose Café on Sunday, May 25th. In Comfort Food, Jacobs explores the popularity of cooking television and the rise of the ‘foodies’ through the fictional story of Augusta “Gus” Simpson, a celebrity TV cooking show host on the brink of turning 50, who is watching her hard-earned success take a downward turn. Jacobs earned earlier media attention with the release of her first book The Friday Night Knitting Club, the movie adaption of which which has been optioned by Universal Studios for a film starring Julia Roberts. Also coming soon to Barbara-Jos Books to Cooks for a cooking demo and book launch is Diana Kennedy. The famous cookbook authour and one of the world’s foremost experts on regional Mexican cuisine, Ms Kennedy has been awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle - one of the highest honors in the country - for her service in promoting the arts and culture of Mexico.

For the next six to eight weeks, Raincity Grill will feature local spot prawns (delivered fresh daily by Organic Ocean’s Steve Johansen) on their newly released 100 Mile tasting menu. See more details and the complete menu here.

Just a reminder that Boneta restaurant in Gastown is now open for lunch from Tuesday through Saturday offering favourites from Chef Jeremie Bastien’s kitchen such as Bison Short Rib Dips with Obligatory Greens, Bacon & Egg Caesars with Homemade Worcestershire Sauce, his signature Poutine (full of cheese curd and gravy goodness), as well as a rotating line up of daily specials. Boneta is also due to open their new patio on the corner of Cordova and Carrall, in fact, considering this weekend’s weather, it’s probably already happened. Reservations are recommended for the restaurant, on the patio it's first come, first served. 604-684-1844.

...MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS CONTINUE HERE ....

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Announcements.

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IN MEMORY - (May 16, 2008)

This has been a sad week. Within only a few days of each other the world has lost two great men. First the artist Robert Rauschenberg, who died on Monday at the age of 82, and today the winemaker Robert Mondavi, aged 94.

Both men will be greatly missed by their respective communities, and will leave a legacy that will live on long after them. Both were such legends that it is almost redundant to list their lifetime of accomplishments, but for a bio of Robert Rauschenberg we refer you to this special video.

In honour of Mr. Mondavi we post our favourite portrait of him, not one of his face but of his hands cradling grapes -- a photo taken for the cover of the Journal of the American Institute of Food and Wine.

Inside the journal, a dedication was written to Robert Mondavi by (the now also deceased) R.W. Apple Jr., and we would like to reprint his words here.

... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in DRINK/Wine News.

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VICTORIA GIN - (May 15, 2008)

If 2007 was the year of the 100 mile menu, then perhaps 2008 will become known as the year of 100 mile drinking.

Helping to promote that possibility is the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, who have just come up with their own in-house gin.

A project to help celebrate the grand old lady’s 100th birthday, Victoria Gin is more than just a custom label slapped on a bottle of premium spirits. The handcrafted gin was distilled by local winemaker Ken Winchester of Winchester Cellars, who used the winery’s wood-fired copper pot still to blend ten locally grown, organic botanicals, from juniper berries to rose petals (plus one secret ingredient known only to the distillery). ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in DRINK/Cocktails ... and .... REGIONAL/Victoria.

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THE OUTSIDE WORLD - (MAY 15, 2008)

To quote New York Magazine:"They're sweaty, profane, covered with tattoos, and totally unavailable on both days and nights — what woman can resist that, right? Yes, chefs are the ultimate sex objects for a certain sort of girl, as a piece in this week's Time Out New York points out. But you knew that already, didn't you?"

And as seen above left, the first photos of Meryl Streep decked out as Julia Child are starting to leak into the Bloggo zone. It is also being reported that actor Stanley Tucci has been cast to play her husband, Paul Child, in the upcoming Julia Child bio pic. Should be fun. Although they will probably have to dig a trench for Tucci to stand in during his scenes next to Streep. Julia was 6' 2" and as Paul often remarked, "a whole lot of woman". ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in MEDIA/Outside World.

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OKANAGAN - (May 15, 2008)

BIBO WINE BAR OPENS IN OSOYOOS

Wedged into a block of small, flat-roofed Mom and Pop shops on Main Street, Bibo Wine Bar may be the hippest thing to ever happen to Osoyoos.

The one week old watering hole (opened May 8, 2008) is the latest project from Chef Brad Lazarenko and his restaurants partners in Edmonton's Manduco Restaurant Group , the people who also brought us the Passa Tempo restaurant at the Spirit Ridge Hotel and Resort. Many of the kitchen staff and design associates are also Passa Tempo alumni. ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in REGIONAL/Okanagan.

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WEBSITE STATISTICS - (May 14, 2008)
FUN FACTS

Yesterday we almost broke through the 300 mark for number of cities worldwide visiting CityFood Online in one day, but not quite. Even so, 299 is the daily record so far. City totals for the week numbered 905, and for the month, 1,542. In one year we have seen people log on from 155 countries.

Truly, its astounding how the interest in our BC food and wine scene has spread to such far flung corners of the globe. Potential vacationers? Business investors? Perhaps it is no coincidence that most of our international viewers are located in major cities renowned for their restaurant culture, or from wine growing rural regions. ...CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in THIS ISSUE/Web Stats.

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DINE AND DASH - (MAY 13, 2008)

Word out of Seattle is that Chef Kerry Sear is selling his Cascadia building and location and moving his restaurant operation back under the roof of the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle, taking on the title of Hotel Executive Chef in the process. Here's a statement from the real estate blog www.urbanashley.com.

"..Kerry Sear, the owner and chef of Cascadia Restaurant in Belltown is selling the space where the restaurant is located (2328 First Ave- 1st between Bell and Battery) and transitioning to the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences to become the executive chef of the hotel and director of food and beverage for the hotel and residences.

The restaurant is listed for $1.25 million but Sear is not interested in selling the name or menu. Prior to owning and operating Cascadia, Sear spent 15 years working with Four Seasons in Vancouver B.C, Toronto and Seattle, and will continue to focus on Northwest cuisine with ingredients from local markets, ranchers and farmers.

Cascadia will remain open until the space sells so if you are looking forward to their awesome Happy Hour (mini-burgers, my fav) on a beautiful summer evening…you better not waste anytime! ..."

One needs a play book these days to keep track of what winery is playing on who's agency team. The latest rumour from the wine industry (unconfirmed) is that Charles Heidsieck and Piper Heidsieck Champagnes are leaving their former Vancouver agents, Maxxium, and taking their account to Select Wine Merchants – the take over happens June 1. Select has confirmed that they have hired on Scott Oliver (of Fosters) as their new COO.

Details on the new Blackberry 9000 a.k.a. "the Bold" were released yesterday (skip the Salon ad), and one of the reasons given for the effort put into its stylish design was due to consumer desire for something that looked "fierce when they put it down on a restaurant table". In honour of the Bold, we link to this You Tube video. Nothing to do with food, we just think it's cute.

How others see us: Exhibit # 1.

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Dine and Dash.

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THE OKANAGAN - (May 13, 2008)
MORE UPDATES ...

A sneak preview of Penticton's Amante Bistro.

and ...

Honk if you feel like a winner!

Filed in REGIONAL/Okanagan ... and DRINK/Wine News.

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KITCHENS - (May 12, 2008)
THE FARM PROJECT

Renowned German designer, Mike Meiré, on assignment for Dornbracht, a manufacturer of bathroom fixtures, put the blitz on sterile, industrial-styled kitchens with a mobile kitchen installation which has touring the major art fair markets of the world for the past two years.

All that recessed lighting and uber sleek surfaces are just “so done and over with”, he declares.

In the “Farm Project”, Meiré turns the urban kitchen into a farmyard-like working studio that comes across as a playpen mix of ethnic deli, farmers market and high school science lab, each version reflective of the culture of its geographic local. At the Milan exhibit, a stuffed Canada goose hangs from the pot rack, trout swim above the sink and a future prosciutto snuffles about in a hay bed next to the icebox. In Miami, a box of cornflakes is stashed next to a case of Premier Cru Bordeaux. ... CONTINUE READING, VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP ...

Filed in SHOP/Kitchens. ... and MEDIA/Art and Design ...

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READER'S HEADS UP

The May 12th, 2008 issue of The New Yorker features a profile of Alinea's Chef Grant Achatz (a star of the molecular gartronomy movement) and his battle with tongue cancer.

A Man of Taste.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS - (MAY 11, 2008)

Congratulations to Brooke Winters, a graduate from the Culinary Arts Institute of Vancouver Island at Malaspina’s Nanaimo campus, who recently won a gold medal as Canada’s top junior cook at the Knorr Junior Culinary Competition in Montreal. Along with the gold medal, she received $2,000 and a trip to Erfurt, Germany to accompany Junior Culinary Team Canada in October 2008. Winters is currently employed at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria.

In only five years, Calgary-based Bellstar Hotels & Resorts has grown from just one resort under management in Canmore to nine resorts in operation, and seven more on the horizon in Alberta and British Columbia. (Within a few years, they expect to have more than a thousand resort condo units under management.) This summer will see the opening of two new resorts: Strand Lakeside Resort in Vernon, BC, and Blackstone Mountain Lodge in Canmore, Alberta; plus the completion of the Villas in Phase II of Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa, (located next to the Nk’Mip Winery) in Osoyoos, BC. Vancouverites may remember Bellstar Exec VP Jon Zwickel as the former proprietor of Hot Dog Jonny's.

...MORE ANNNOUNCEMENTS AFTER THE JUMP ...

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Announcements.

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REGIONAL REPORT/SUNSHINE COAST - (May 9, 2008)
PAINTED BOAT RESORT

The newest buzz magnet on the Sunshine Coast these days is the Painted Boat Resort Spa and Marina, newly constructed on the former site of the old Lowe’s Resort, and due to open for business early this summer.

At CF Central it seems like birth announcements for new luxury time share resorts lands on our desk every day, but this one has a couple of features that make it stand out from the pack: 1) ownership by a developer with a long history for accommodating demanding eco-sensitive building standards, and 2) serious intentions to make the resort restaurant a central focus and resource for the surrounding community. ... CONTINUE READING...

Filed in REGIONAL/Sunshine Coast.

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SHOP TALK/COOKWARE - (May 8, 2008)
INVASION OF THE POD PEOPLE

Flowers die, and chocolates make her worry about getting fat, right? So what to do about Mother’s Day?

More than likely she’d prefer that you just called her more frequently, but if a gift is a “must do” on the agenda, then why not consider getting her a new pet for her kitchen counter?

We say “pet” because the more we look at it, the more the Nespresso’s new compact Essenza D90 machine starts to resemble a cute, little penguin. Even when it's filling a white espresso cup, the operation reminds us of those televised National Geographic specials showing Antarctic birds sheltering eggs or feeding chicks on top of their feet. ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in SHOP/Cookware. ... DRINK/Coffee.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS - (May 7, 2008)
AND OTHER MONKEY BUSINESS

The following is a preview listing of upcoming calendar events for the next two weeks, and divided as to food, wine dinner and charitable fund raising events.

TAKING PLACE TODAY

Monkey see, monkey do do … Today at its Kitsilano Café location, 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters (2152 West 4th Ave.) will debut both their exclusive (in Canada) stock of Devon Estate Selection 795 Arabica, and new book written by coffee guru Instaurator, titled the Espresso Quest.   The Devon Estate 795 is a unique product because it is picked and chewed by monkeys in India. Over ripe coffee cherries are selected and eaten by the monkeys who stash the beans in their mouth-pouches for several hours. Later they sit in a safe place to eat the juicy cherry and spit out the coffee beans. These beans are then manually collected by workers and flash-processed. $25.00 per 12oz bag.  www.49thparallelcoffeeroasters.com. 604-420-4901 ... MUCH MORE ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Announcements.

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HOTELS - (May 5, 2008)
A NEW HOTEL FOR DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER

The following is directly from the company press release ....

ParaYso Hotel Vancouver has Finalized Land Contract at 620 Seymour Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

(Posted : Mon, 05 May 2008 15:50:41 GMT)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada, -- Rancho Santa Monica Developments, Inc., has signed an irrevocable contract of purchase and sale for the lands at 620 Seymour Street for $5,500,000 Canadian Dollars.

The Company plans to build a Hotel with a roof top bar lounge, of up to 91 nicely designed interior suites, and energy efficient Hotel. The interiors will be exquisite but will be for the 20th century where beauty, green and energy are of high concerns. The development is lead by Graham Alexander, a developer of hotels in Mayan Riviera Mexico and Chilliwack, B.C., Canada. ... CONTINUE READING.

Filed in RESTAURANTS/News and Rumours.

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REGIONAL
OKANAGAN SPRING WINE FESTIVAL - (May 5, 2008)

We're back from a brief trip to the Okanagan with a notebook full of news and stories. Here's a sneak peek of the two hottest new restaurants in the Valley. In the photo at top: Chef Ned Bell's 8,000 sq. ft, new restaurant Cabana Grille, currently under construction on Lakeshore Drive in Kelowna (and due to open this May long weekend). Below: two shots of Abul Adams' And Rose Amante's one-year-old, tiny but chic Amante Bistro, located on Main Street in Penticton.

more coming up later ....

Filed in REGIONAL/Okanagan.

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WHO'S GOT IT - THE BUZZ METER For - May 14, 2008

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

PEOPLE:

1) Colleen McClean - Chef, Irish Heather, Vancouver
2) Eric Savics - Partner, Tantalus Vineyards, Kelowna
3) Neil Schroeter - Chef, Okanagan
4) Thierry Busset - Pastry Chef, Cin Cin, Vancouver
5) Bob Duncan - Citrus Expert, Vancouver Island

PLACES:

1) Eighteen 27 - Restaurant, Vancouver
2) Keg Restaurant - Restaurant, Yaletown, Vancouver
3) Mysala - Restaurant, Downtown, Vancouver
4) Irish Heather - Restaurant, Gastown, Vancouver
5) Passa Tempo - Restaurant, Osoyoos, Okanagan
6) Revel Room - Restaurant, Gastown, Vancouver
7) Cabana Grille - Restaurant, Kelowna, Okanagan
8) Tequila Kitchen - Restaurant, Vancouver
9) Chow - Restaurant, South Granville, Vancouver
10) La Stella - Winery, South Okanagan

THINGS:

1) Vancouver restaurant news
2) lamb popsicles
3) Chefs for Life
4) Restaurants on 4th Ave.Vancouver
5) Sean Sherwood and new hotel

BEST QUESTION OF THE DAY:

Name of fondue/wine bar coming from London?

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

Number of countries logging in (in one year): UPDATE: 155

Number of cities worldwide (visiting yesterday): 299

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

1) Greater Vancouver, BC
2) Victoria and Vancouver Island, BC
3) New York, New York
4) Toronto, Ontario
5) Minneapolis, Minnesota
6) Montreal, Quebec

7) Sydney, Australia
8) London, England
9) Portland, Oregon
10) Houston, Texas

Cities with most page counts per visitor (visiting yesterday):

1) Red Deer, Alberta
2) Oliver, BC
3) Scottsdale, Arizona
4) Medina, California
5) Torino, Italy
6) Houston, Texas
7) Penticton, BC
8) Amity, Washington
9) New Westminster, BC
10) Seattle, Washington

*** TO CONTINUE CLICK HERE ***

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