DINE AND DASH


If you can't beat 'em, localize them. Or that's what Loblaws is thinking, anyway. In an attempt to stop hemoraging profits from the bite made by Wal-Mart's entry into the grocery market, the large eastern-based grocery chain say they are considering changing their focus to cater to the growing demand for locally grown food. CEO of Loblaws, Galen Weston Jr., has acknowledged that consumers want local food. But at the corporation's recent annual general meeting, Weston also told shareholders it plans to lower prices. While doing both will pose a challenge, a the company insists it plans to go the "buy local" route with local vendors, local suppliers and local manufacturers across the board. An industry observer commented that Loblaws may be overestimating their ability to fill their large stores with supplies of local, high-quality food at low prices.

Speaking of buying local, Tim Pawsey found an interesting article this morning on treehugger.com about the carbon footprint of sushi. More to feel guilty about we guess. Are we ready for the day when bananas and lemons are considered luxury items. Other than moving to Panama, will being wealthy enough to offset your carbon guilt with tree farms in the Amazon be the only way to indulge in such items in the future? Someone we met recently made a controversial observation. He said: "Everything the entire population of BC is collectively doing to offset their carbon footprints over a period of one year is undone in six minutes by one coal burning plant in China. And guess who is selling all that coal to the Chinese? We are.

Taste of Agassiz takes place tomorrow at June 1st. This event featuring the foods of Agassiz is located at the Agricultural Hall starting at 7:30 p.m., and tiickets are a bargain at $35 each. Featured farmers/products include The Farmhouse Natural Cheeses, Swift Aquiculture (Coho salmon --raised inland only-- wasabi, watercress, Limbert Mountain Farms (all sorts of herbs), Squab, Lamb, oyster mushrooms, honey, and organic hazelnuts from Canadian Hazelnuts. The Slow Food group had a block of 30 tickets available a few days ago and may have some left. If you are interested you can contact them at the Farmhouse Natural Cheese at (604) 796-8741 email: shoggi@telus.net . Victoria Brookes, one of the organizers also had 5 tickets at BrookesV@AGR.GC.CA

Daryle Nagata has returned to the Pan Pacific Hotel as executive chef. Nagata's cooking resume lists employment at the Savoy in London, the five star Hotel La Reserve in Genève, and the Fairmont in Washington DC. where he was appointed to the tasting board of the Culinary Institute of America. But in here in Vancouver he was best known for his elaborate rooftop herb garden. Chef Nagata will again be delighting hotel dining guests with his home-grown fresh herbs infused in his unique dishes - everything from savoury saffron to exotic marshmallow and candied ginger.

Chef Elizabeth Manville, a CityFood contributor, has written to let us know that she has accepted a new position with the Cactus Club Cafe, following Chef Julian Bond as their Product Development Chef. She starts in July. For those of you who don't know, Cactus Club is a multi-unit company with 18 restaurants and the goal of 40 by 2010, so it's growing! Back in the saddle after time away from full time chefing after the birth of her first child, Manville states she is excited to be getting on board with a company that was voted one of "BC's top 25 companies to work for".

To their 35th anniversary, Hon’s Wun-Tun House is conducting a "Give Away and Trivia Question Lucky Draw Contest". The celebration started on April 25th, and will conclude with drawing of the grand prize winner of $1,800 on June 13th, 2007. Get details on entering at any Hon's restaurant location.

TODAY'S PRESS RELEASES

Craving some local suds? Check out Aurora Bistro's "I'm Here for the Beer" menu.

The Opus Hotel is getting bubbly on Thursdays.

Quattro on Fourth is sweet on their new chef.

Vancouver students learn to cook like chefs.

David Owen appointed GM at Gusto di Quattro.

Culinary Team Canada wins gold in Chicago.

FETCHED BY THE MEDIA DOG






THE OUTSIDE WORLD:

Three extremely cool vodka commercials...

On British TV: Edwardian Supersize Me

Canadian prawns processed in Iceland? How some food companies are cheating on their pledge to cut carbon emissions.



BUZZ METER'S TOP TEN SEARCHES FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 2007






PEOPLE:

1) Sean Cousins, Chef
2) Tom Doughty, Restaurateur
3) Janice Lotzgar, Restaurateur
4) Kirk McLean, Hockey Player and Restaurant Owner
5) David Hawksworth, Chef
6) The Glowbal Group, Restaurateurs
7) Lorna Yee, Blogger
8) Fiona Morrow, Media
9) Sean Heather, Restaurateur
10) Dolly Watts, Former Restaurateur and Cookbook Author

PLACES:

1) So.Cial at Le Magasin - Restaurant, Gastown, Vancouver
2) Prima Taste - Restaurant, Downtown, Vancouver
3) Hamilton St. Grill - Restaurant, Yaletown, Vancouver
4) Dona Cata - Restaurant and Retail, North Vancouver
5) Italian Kitchen - Future Restaurant, Downtown, Vancouver
6) Mangia e Bevi - Restaurant, West Vancouver
7) Majestic on Davie - Restaurant and Lounge, Davie Village, Vancouver
8) Mountain Club - Restaurant, Whistler
9) Shaskuka - Restaurant, Westside, Vancouver
10) La Buca - Restaurant, Westside, Vancouver

THINGS:

1) Granville Island Sake
2) Fetch hot dog cart
3) restaurant trends
4) Le Gavroche "Power of Pink" menu
5) Kitsilano Farmers' Market
6) pig bung

7) Red Belly Black shiraz

8) Tantalus riesling

9) Le View Pin wine

10) Goldhamster knives

Number of Countries Logged On: 108 Latest Flags: Cambodia, Cuba

Top 10 non-BC visitors were from:

1) Canada
2) The United States of America
3) England
4) China
5) Australia
6) Germany
7) Japan
8) Singapore
9) Hong Kong
10) Italy