Postings for March 2008

An AFDJ from our friends at Salt Tasting Room. We'll take a tasting trio of the two retro items with a bottle of Lonesome Charlie.


ANNOUNCEMENTS - (April 1, 2008)


In Vancouver:

Gastropod restaurant recently introduced its new Spring menus, which now includes a new early prix fixe option. Between Sunday and Thursday, before 7 pm, diners can choose three courses for $35. Like all of Chef Angus An's menus, the Early Menu will change seasonally - the first incarnation of the menu includes his signature Salmon a la Gastropod and the return of the Gastropod Cheesecake.


In honour of their 30th anniversary, Le Gavroche restaurant is offering a 3-course menu of classics for $30. Happening now through the end of May, the $30 menu will change every 10-14 days, providing more opportunity for you to enjoy classic dishes from years past. For more information, or to make your reservation contact Le Gavroche at 604-685-3924.


Boutique Hotels & Resorts of British Columbia (BHRBC) will welcome L’Hermitage Hotel to its portfolio of properties in May 2008. The new boutique hotel is a collaboration between Canadian firms Lawrence Doyle Architects and Gomberoff Bell Lyon Group, and designed to be reminiscent of Chicago’s modernism ... "grand and gracious architecture with a dramatic street edge, anchored by an impressive podium of cast stone, brick and concrete". Situated on the corner of Richards and Robson Streets, each of L’Hermitage’s 60 suites will feature designer furniture, plasma televisions, 4-piece baths and petite kitchenettes. Guests will also be able to enjoy a health club and an intimate Library Lounge where a complimentary continental breakfast will be served each day. Other BHRBC properties include the new Cove Lakeside Resort in Westbank, The Oswego Hotel in Victoria, Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler, and the upcoming Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet,

FOR MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS CLICK HERE.

Filed in DAILY NEWS/Announcements.




MEDIA HOUND - The Local Ink
(March 28, 2008)

The local reviews are all on board at the newsstand, and this week's big focus is neatly divided between West Vancouver's new restaurant, Fraiche (Yes from the Sun), (Yes, Yes, from the North Shore News), and Zen Fine Chinese in Richmond. Is the newly famous Zen the "best Chinese Restaurant outside of China?" as declared by New York-based writer Jennifer 8? Not really, says the Globe and Mail's Alexandra Gill. On the other side of town, Mr and Mrs. Chowtimes remain non committal, although they do observe that the place seems a tad exhausted (chef, staff, and glassware). More interesting though is that they have photos of all the courses.


On the Airwaves: Tune into CFUN 1410 today at Noon as wine guy David Scholefield talks post-house fire on the Best and Food and Wine Show with Anthony Gismondi and Kasey Wilson.



Not So Local Ink:


The New York Times Style Magazine, T, runs a large profile on Vancouver in the Sunday edition. Mentions go to such restaurants as Aurora Bistro, Boneta, Blue Water Cafe, Cobre and Chow. In the Hotel department, Surprise!, the Loden gets the Times' nod of approval even though it has yet to open.


New York-based Saveur Magazine praises Vancouver's Barbara-Jo's Books to Cooks in their list of 10 Favourite Cookbook Stores. Contributor Jeffrey Alford writes: "Barbara-Jo McIntosh's quirky shop in the Fairnview neighbourhood of Vancouver could easily be mistaken for an art gallery. The cookbooks, comprising a wide choice of newly published titles, and older, out-of-print treasures, are beautifully arranged on well-lit wood shelves and tables. In a welcoming kitchen at one end of the room, authors and chefs give classes on everything from how to make tiramisu to the principles of molecular gastronomy." All true, but "quirky"?


Filed in MEDIA/Local Ink.



































IN THE LETTER BOX - (March 27, 2008)

There are many times we wish we had a public comment feature for this website. The reason we do not is because 1) the program the website uses was not designed to include one (believe it or not), and 2) we have been reluctant to engage in that way for fear of not having enough time and resources to monitor an open letter box. However, it is something we can put on our wish list with the server if our readers request it. In the meantime, we do welcome letters from the public and will do our best to post them so that all sides of a discussion may have equal time. Here's a couple of feedback letters we have received in response to recent postings on CityFood Online.
... CONTINUE READING ...


Filed in DAILY NEWS/Letters.



DINE AND DASH - (March 26, 2008)

Thierry Busset, Cin Cin’s top drawer pastry chef is in Paris today, finalizing the purchase of some very specialized cooking equipment. He’ll need them when he and Jack Evrensel (owner of Top Table Group Restaurants) open their new haute pastry and chocolate shop in Vancouver. No location has been announced yet (they are still finalizing the real estate deal), but we can expect to be buying the city’s best gateaux before summer (nope, sorry, got that wrong, we mean Christmas). The name of the new shop? “Thierry”, but of course.


If you have been wondering what Chef Connor Butler has been up to lately in his baroque restaurant lair near the entrance to the Granville St. bridge, then just ask Nancy. Public relations whiz Nancy Wong has just taken on the eccentrically talented and ponytailed chef as her latest client. Other local restaurants represented by Wong include Wild Rice, Cobre, Provence and Provence Marinaside. ... CONTINUE READING ...


Filed in DAILY NEWS/Dine and Dash.

EMERGENCY NEWS - (March 25, 2008)
WINE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS’ HOME GUTTED BY FIRE
Call to action among industry to help.

On Tuesday March 25, 2008, the family home of DJ Kearney and David Scholefield was destroyed by fire. A public plea is being made to assist the family, and a trust account has been established at the North Shore Credit Union. Donations can be made to the “Kearney/Scholefield Fire Trust,” account # 179986-04 at any branch of the North Shore Credit Union; those not on the North Shore can also donate. Email fire@ccltd.ca for instruction.

The occupants of the home: Kearney, Scholefield and Kearney’s two teenage sons Sean and Alex, escaped without major injury, but sadly, the family’s pet cat perished, and the home and its contents are ruined. The family has insurance, which will cover the basics, but as in any emergency situation, there are essential and immediate needs to take care of. ...CONTINUE READING...


Filed in PEOPLE/Sommeliers.

RESTAURANT NEWS - (MARCH 22, 2008)
UPDATES FROM THE GLOWBAL EMPIRE

In a busy town, who’s busier than Emad Yacoub, Jack Lamont and their multi-restaurant owning Glowbal Group?

Not many, we’d say. Here’s the latest update:

The Glowbal Group has taken an 8,000 square foot space on Alberni (across the street from their immensely popular Italian Kitchen, and just down the block towards Thurlow), where they intend to have a new restaurant operating by early 2009. This will be a concept similar to Italian Kitchen (swank design, at least one big lounge section) except that the menu focus will be on seafood. The multi level site will be big enough to also house a commissary kitchen and admin spaces for their separate and growing catering business.

How will this new version of seafood restaurant differ from their Coast restaurant in Yaletown? ... CONTINUE READING ...


FILED IN RESTAURANTS/News and Rumours.

WHISTLER - (March 21, 2008)
A PREVIEW OF NITA LAKE LODGE

When we were at Whistler a week ago, we dropped into the newly opened luxury hotel in Creekside, Nita Lake Lodge (located at the terminus of the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station), and although the outdoor light was falling fast, we were able to get a few quick shots of the interior: the lobby and lounge areas; one of the bedrooms with its king size bed, loft-high ceilings and hideaway kitchen-in-a-closet feature; the on-site cafe (the current hot spot in Creekside for coffee and casual meals); as well as the gorgeous view across Nita Lake from Jordan's Crossing dining room's wall-sized picture windows. ... CONTINUE READING ...

Filed in REGIONAL/Whistler and Pemberton.

WE READ IT SOMEWHERE ... - Magazines
WHAT MAKES A GREAT CHEF, EGGSACTLY?
(March 20, 2008)

Experts say that the best way to separate the chefs from the cooks is to test them with something that is easy to make, yet devilishly difficult to make perfectly -- such as a simple omelet.

Local chefs who dream of cooking within the DB Bistro Moderne empire, might want to peak inside the March 2008 issue of Gourmet magazine. It includes an article entitled "Chasing Perfection", wherein the author, Francis Lam, writes at length about the experience of cracking eggs under the tutelage of Chef Daniel Boulud. ... CONTINUE READING ...


Filed in MEDIA/In Print.

THE MEDIA HOUND - The Local Ink
(March 20, 2008)

Links to the food and wine articles from this week's local press can now be found in our MEDIA Section. And thank goodness for the digital age. It's The Golden Plates issue at the Georgia Straight, and despite that damned annoying Sony cellphone ad that insists on splaying itself between you and whatever you are trying to read on the GS website, its still better than wading through the annual shakedown of "Thank You" ads in their print version.

The articles, if not much of the awards lists (not ill chosen so much as predictable, although we heartily second the motion on the nod to Blue Water and Chef Frank Pabst), are worth the effort to get to. In fact, the best read this week is Angela Murrills' feature interview with Chef Rob Feenie, where the Cactus Club's new "food architect" declares he is happy just keeping it real.

Meanwhile in the North Shore News, Deana Lancaster offers a substantial interview with the current man of the hour, Daniel Boulud, and in the process, fills us in on any details left unsaid about the Feenie's to DB Bistro Moderne transition, except of course, what everyone really wants to know, "the numbers".

We've added one new local to the list. After leaving Beyond Robson, Degan Beley has started a new blog, Vancouver Ethnic Eats, to focus on our city's wealth of small international restaurants. Like the delightfully unpretentious Chowtimes.com, it seems like a project unlikely to overlook the smaller and less flashy players in the restaurant chase game.


Filed in Media/Local Ink.

ANNOUNCEMENTS - (March 19, 2008)

Despite a declared submission deadline of March 17th, the CBC still haven’t found a star chef for their new televised cooking show, so if you think you have the right stuff, there’s still time to apply. Here’s all the information. Of course they want you to be able to cook like a pro, but remember, it’s TV, so it’s really all about personality, personality, personality.


Since March the 10th, C restaurant has been offering an “Ethical Luxury Tasting Menu” created by Chef de Cuisine Quang Dang and featuring Bamfield pinto abalone. (C Restaurant is the only restaurant worldwide to serve this product.) Other courses include Qualicum beach scallops as well as Queen Charlotte Island Dungeness crab. These days “ethical” and “luxury” are not an oxymoronic combination. Especially in a case such as this where the items featured -- produced and harvested in a sustainable manner -- are highly sought after, and hence not exactly inexpensive. This 10 course menu however, is priced at $130 per person (a reasonable $13 per course). Does it taste luxurious? Well Martha liked it. Martha Stewart, that is. The queen of the homemaking arts was recently in Vancouver as a guest speaker for the Power Within conference, and while she was in town she treated herself and three of her associates to an ethical sampling.


The Vancouver tea merchants, T, have created a tea blend to raise funds for the Terra Nova Schoolyard Society. All proceeds from the custom blend of organic rooibus will be earmarked for Society projects such as the completion of their on-site teaching kitchen. Complete details on the tea, how to order it, as well as info on the Terra Nova society itself are available here. Also of note, is the date set for another Society fundraiser, Chefs to the Fields, which is scheduled this year for August 10th, as well as their “Breakfast Bash” which will take place on May 28 and 29th. (We will have these events listed in the online CityFood calendar shortly.)


The fourth and final dinner in Le Gavroche’s 30th Anniversary series will be the Bordeaux Extravaganza, happening on April 9th. This truly extravagant event, which comes with a price tag of $1,500 per person, features Bordeaux vintages dating back much further than 30 years. Guests will be treated to wines from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 60s and 80s, all skillfully paired with a six-course dinner. More information can be obtained by calling Le Gavroche at 604-685-3924.


If you are in the mood to explore the Euro scene before the Easter weekend and don't have the actual Euros to make it happen, you should check out two international menus on offer until March 23rd. Chef Ryan Gauthier is taking his menu at Italian Kitchen to the region of Lombardy; while over at Coast Restaurant, Chef Josh Wolfe is sailing for the southern shores of France. Click on the links to see the full menus for both.


Calling all parents. The Easter Bunny will making an appearance at the Winter Farmer's Market this Saturday, March 22. The kiddies will be able to join in an Easter scavenger hunt with all participants winning a sweet surprise for their efforts. For the adults in the crowd, the farmers will be having one of their famous raffles for prizes donated by the market vendors - tix are $1 each, members get 2 free raffle tickets. Helping the big EB, Look for the organic egg vendors of Langley Organic Growers, Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm, Klippers Organic Acres and Goat's Pride Dairy.


Also from Your Local Farmers Market Society, the opening dates for the 2008 summer season have just been announced, and they are:

Trout Lake (East Vancouver - 15th and Victoria Drive) - Saturdays, May 17 - October 25
Nelson Park (West End - 1100 Block of Comox Street) - Saturdays, June 7 - October 25
Kitsilano (Kits Community Centre - 10th and Larch Street) - Sundays, June 1 - October 26
Riley Park Community Centre (30th and Main Street) - Wednesdays, June 4 - October 22

We will be getting these into the online calendar as soon as possible, as well.

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PEAK OF THE SEASON - (March 19, 2008)
HOLY, HOT CROSS BUNS!

What would Easter be without hot cross buns, the food item that is as traditionally associated with the holiday as chocolate bunnies and coloured eggs, but with more religious justification. At least the historic sweet bun. filled with currants and leavened with yeast, displays a characteristic cross on its top crust as a symbol of the crucifixion.

But considering the usual insiped samples available in supermarket bakeries this week, the challenge is where to find the best ones, without going to the trouble of baking them yourself, of course. ... CONTINUE READING ...


Filed in FOOD/Peak of the Season.

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MEDIA - (March 18, 2008)
THAT'S A WHOLE LATTE COMPUTER

Imagine you are sitting in your neighbourhood Starbucks, and all of a sudden people start schlepping in full-on desktop computers (complete with CRT monitors, printers and keyboards) and commence setting up for business.

You might wonder if it was a joke, and well, you'd almost be right. In this video, three people actually did just that while two of their compatriots secretly filmed the reaction of the cafe's other patrons using concealed cameras ... CONTINUE READING


Filed in MEDIA/Video.





PHOTO GALLERY - (March 18, 2008)
MEDIA LUNCHEON WITH DANIEL BOULUD

David and Manjy Sidoo, owners of Lumiere and Feenies, held a luncheon last week to announce their partnership with New York Chef Daniel Boulud.

In attendance were a number of local celebrity chefs such as David Hawksworth, Robert Clark and some who need only a first name reference: Umberto, Pino, Vikram. Food critic Tim Pawsey who attended the event on behalf of the Vancouver Courier shares his photos, as well as the menu.

(By all accounts it was the scallops that proved to be the gastronomic hit of the day).


Filed in MEDIA/Photo Gallery.




PEAK OF THE SEASON - (March 18, 2008)
THOMAS HAAS CREATES CHOCOLATE TREATS FOR EASTER

Now, how cute is this?

The little chocolate car and driver, created by Chocolatier Thomas Haas, is just one of the many whimsical (and deliciously edible) designs on sale for Easter at Haas' workshop and retail store in North Vancouver. We think this one would be equally appropriate as a present for someone who has just passed their Drivers License test.

Check out some of the other designs here, two of which (35-lb. dinosaur-sized Easter eggs), were created specifically as fund-raisers for the North Shore Rescue.

Filed in FOOD/Peak of the Season





PERSONNEL CHANGES
RICARDO FERREIRA STEPS UP AS RESTAURANT DIRECTOR OF CINCIN
(March 17, 2008)

Vancouver, BC - Ricardo Ferreira has been appointed as the new Restaurant Director of Vancouver's venerable Italian restaurant CinCin, bringing over 15 years of hospitality experience amassed in leading restaurants throughout Vancouver and the UK.

Previously, Ferreira was the Restaurant Manager of CinCin's celebrated sister restaurant Blue Water Cafe, where he was an integral member of the front-of-house team since 2002. For three-and-a-half years prior, he worked for Vancouver's Relais & Chateau designated Wedgewood Hotel. ... CONTINUE READING ...


Filed in RESTAURANTS/Personnel Changes ... and PEOPLE/Restaurateurs-Managers.





ANNOUNCEMENTS - (March 18, 2008)

In honour of Earth Hour, Vancouver restaurateur Harry Kambolis will be shutting off the lights at his three restaurants on Saturday, March 29th. In keeping with their philosophy of Ethical Luxury, C Restaurant, Raincity Grill and Nu Restaurant + Lounge will flick the switch and serve by candlelight between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Enjoy this first annual event, this year unique to Vancouver, while dining in the warm glow of a softly lit room. For more information, or to make your reservation please contact C Restaurant at 604-661-1164; Raincity Grill at 604-685-7337; Nu Restaurant + Lounge at 604-646-4668. You won't be alone in the dark. Earth Hour began last year in Sydney, Australia, during which more than 2 million residents and businesses turned off their lights for one hour, reducing Sydney's energy consumption by 10% for that hour (the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year). This simple, yet powerful act has caught on. As a result, at 8 p.m. on March 29, 2008, millions of people in some of the world’s major cities (including Vancouver) will unite and switch off for Earth Hour. For more information on Earth Hour, visit www.earthhour.org.


The deadline for nominating a person for the Western Magazine Awards Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award is March 31, 2008. The award is open to anyone in the magazine industry. Anyone can nominate a person and there is no entry fee. Simply send the foundation an e-mail with your nominee’s name, title and career achievements along with an explanation of why this person should be considered for this award. The winner will be selected by a committee appointed by the Western Magazine Awards Foundation Board and will be celebrated at their Gala Awards and Dinner on Friday June 20, 2008 at River Rock Casino Resort. Please send your nomination to corey@westernmagazineawards.ca before March 31, 2008. More information as well as a list of previous winners is available on the foundation's website at www.westernmagazineawards.ca.


Tequila Kitchen will open for lunch this Wednesday (March 19th) with a “Soft Opening” limited a la carte menu. Soft opening remains until March 31st with a limited a la carte menu at lunch and dinner as well as an evening tasting (or sampling) menu at $25 per person. Lunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.


The snow has melted, spring has sprung and the herd of cattle at the Elkin Creek Guest Ranch need sorting, branding and to be taken out to pasture to graze. One of the last remaining cattle drives in Canada, want-to-be cowboys and cowgirls of all ages and riding abilities are invited to take part in this authentic adventure with the Elkin Creek Guest Ranch’s “Annual Cattle Drive” weekend package. Set to take place this May Long Weekend from May 16 to 19 the popular 3-night package is priced at $825 based on double occupancy and includes three-nights of accommodation, meals, cattle drive, and the complete Elkin Creek Guest Ranch experience.


The British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association and the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society announced today that the Kelowna's 5th Annual Wine and Dine program was once again successful. The program was offered to stimulate business at 52 restaurants over a 17 day period from January 18 through February 3, 2008. Featuring a three-course prix fixe dinner at $15, $25 or $35. The program resulted in 15,400 incremental meals sold as part of the promotion and over 10,000 glasses of wine – a record in wine sales.


Les Dames d’Escoffier (BC Chapter) is accepting applications for their 2008 Scholarship Awards, supporting the advancement of women in hospitality and culinary fields. Awards are based on merit and ability, and vary in amount according to the program they support.
The Dames offer these scholarships to women of all ages who are keen to begin basic training in these areas and to women already skilled in these fields, who seek to refine their expertise. Applicants must be B.C. residents. Scholarships awarded in the past have supported advancement in wine and sommelier studies, food and wine writing, culinary education, culinary institutions in Canada, the US and Europe, cheese making , children’s cooking, business, pastry and chocolate making, arts of the table. In addition the Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver is again generously contributing three $2,500 scholarships—one for each of their three terms. These scholarships will be awarded through Les Dames d’Escoffier to successful candidates who enroll in the one-year Professional Program or the 15-week Professional Culinary Program at Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver. Pacific Institute of the Culinary Arts is also offering four scholarships of $2500 each—one for each intake—to be applied to the full time Diploma Culinary Program or the Baking and Pastry Program. Application forms for all these scholarships may be obtained by visiting their website at http://www.lesdames.ca/scholarship Application deadline is April 30, 2008. Contact Glenys Morgan glenysmorgan@shawcable.com for further information.


On Monday March 10th, 2008 the Chefs’ Table Society of BC held the First Annual Fundraising dinner at Elixir bistro moderne, raising $11,650 for the society. This collaborative effort brought together Vancouver’s leading chefs, sommeliers, food producers and wine media to create a unique and entertaining dining experience for guests. The Chefs Table Society of BC would like to thank their many wine sponsors for donating the wine for the dinner and all of the other contributors whose generosity contributed to the great success of the event.


Two items from UBC Farms:
1)This is you first chance of the year to get your hands on some tasty produce from the UBC Farm! The Friends of the UBC Farm and Sprouts will be having a table in the SUB concourse this Wednesday and Thursday, March 19 and 20th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of "Responsible Consumption Week". They will be featuring UBC Farm spinach, kale, cabbage, purple broccoli and purple cauliflower, as well as the popular UBC Farm canvas bags to carry it all home in. 2) The Friends of the UBC Farm invite you to their First Annual Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt taking place on Monday March 24th at 11 a.m. at the UBC Farm. For details, see the pdf poster at http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm/bunny-2.pdf. Space is limited to 50 kids, so please register by Friday, March 21st to friendsoftheubcfarm@gmail.com.


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